It’s said that the average person needs to accrue 10,000 steps per day to stay fit and healthy. Since playing poker is a somewhat sedentary lifestyle, especially for those who take the game seriously and play professionally, it can be a challenge for poker players to achieve this daily benchmark.
When you think about poker players, the last thing you’ll probably consider is their physical health and mental wellbeing. But when you consider some poker tournaments will play for 10-12 hour sessions and online poker grinders will look to play for a similar timeframe, it can be hard for serious poker players to find the time and energy to dedicate to looking after their bodies.
It's not just physical stamina either. We’re talking mental stamina too, since poker is a battle of minds as much as cards. Fatigue, inadequate posture and diet can all contribute towards making poor decisions at mission-critical moments at the felt. That’s why players are increasingly honing their pre-tournament preparations, making sure to factor in sufficient exercise and sleep before their next big session.
Peak physical and mental fitness = endurance and success
For anyone with aspirations to become an elite-level poker player, you’ll need bucketloads of endurance. When it comes to the biggest live poker tournaments, like the Main Events of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and European Poker Tour (EPT), these tournaments can run for several days on end. Those who can grind it out to the final table and beyond don’t just require mental fortitude, they need physical stamina too.
If a poker player has peak physical fitness, their endurance levels will inherently improve, allowing them to stay switched-on for multiple levels of play per day. Thereby keeping the threat of hyper-fatigue firmly at bay. Aerobic exercises are important to improve and maintain cardiovascular health. Swimming, running or cycling are just three of the most effective aerobic activities a poker player can combine into their lifestyle.
Poker also places huge demands on you, from the first hand to the last. In fact, every hand you play is likely to involve some kind of important decision to be made, whether it’s a tight fold or an exploitative raise. Periodic exercise doesn’t just improve your heart’s health, but it can also ease cortisol levels. Cortisone is your body’s stress hormone. An overbalance of this can cause rash and reckless gameplay. Keep cortisone in check and poker players are more likely to take clear and calculated decisions under pressure.
Balanced diet and hydration
Peak fitness doesn’t just demand regular exercise. It also requires a well-balanced diet and adequate hydration. What you put into your body has a direct impact on your performance as a poker player. While sugar-filled snacks and treats may deliver a short-term rush, it can cause an unwanted mental crash in the medium-to-long-term.
If you’re serious about playing and winning at poker, consider liaising with a nutritionist who can recommend certain foods or diet plans to keep you on the straight and narrow. Whole foods, lean proteins and fresh vegetables should be staple additions to your meal planner. Keep your body hydrated, too. This alone improves and maintains your cognitive function.
Leading poker pros have led the fitness charge
In 2018, Dutch poker professional, Lex Veldhuis, who is a member of Team PokerStars, entered a fitness prop bet with fellow poker pro, Jason Somerville. With an increased focus on eating right and working out properly, the duo entered a bet requiring them to work out at least five times weekly for a minimum of half-an-hour per session. If either player failed, they had to fork out a “quit penalty”, with weekly fines also paid for failing to rack up the five workout sessions.
Ultimately, a strong body and mind creates a strong poker player. One that can handle stressful scenarios, endure long sessions and think with clarity about their own gameplay and that of their opponents. It’s clear that, as with so many other professions today, exercise and mental wellbeing is now a necessity in a poker player’s arsenal rather than a nice-to-have.
