The Perils of Exhaustion
How does fatigue affect tells? It’s a signifi cant question because most people are not aware of their own tells, something I have discussed repeatedly in these columns and through my teachings. I’ve also explained that most of us are unaware how alcohol, stress, or fatigue affects us and our ability to both conceal our own nonverbals and detect those of others.
Unequivocally, stress and fatigue, as well as alcohol and drugs, affect tells in every way imaginable. These factors infl uence how well we can observe our opponents as well as our ability to prevent tells from leaking. Let me clarify.
As a commercially licensed pilot and as an observer of human behavior, I can attest to how poorly we all perform when we are tired, mentally fatigued, or under the effects of alcohol or drugs. Our motor skills suffer signifi cantly. They become unpredictable and our reactions become slower and less reliable. After 80 years of studying pilots, the military, NASA, and the FAA understand that fatigue consistently correlates with failures in operation and lapses of concentration. Additionally, human physiologists tell us much about fatigue we should take into consideration.
For the serious poker player, your body and your mind should be something over which you exercise good stewardship. Keeping both mentally and physically healthy is something many professional poker players believe is a key to success. Phil Hellmuth often talks about how important both mind and body are to winning. He doesn’t talk about this in a “New Age” sort of way, but rather in a very practical and scientifi c way which has obviously benefi ted him. Consistent exercise, sleep, and focus training will allow your body to be better suited for any activity, but as a poker player, this means so much more.
Fatigue, as well as alcohol or drugs, affects our central nervous system. It makes our immune system weaker, affects blood sugar levels, and can throw hormones out of kilter. You aren’t just “tired” in the typical sense. Fatigue can affect emotions and in extreme cases can cause depression. It affects our endocrine system, our circulatory system, our respiratory system, even our visual acuity. All these systems and we haven’t even gotten to the big one: Fatigue affects our brain. Some people are more affected than others, and we will be affected differently each and every time. What you eat, your age, the altitude, and your environment all have an infl uence on how your body will react to fatigue.
With such unpredictability, why risk it? If you are going to play poker as a profession, treat your body and mind as an enterprise. You have to exercise and eat well. Although some poker players believe exercise is moving chips from right to left, more must be done. To be mentally fi t, you should train yourself to endure long hours of play where you will make thousands of decisions and observations. Develop your body to deal with all the factors associated with major events. The noise, close quarters, obnoxious people, emotions, your own fears and apprehensions, personal or heath related issues, and anything else you can imagine affecting your game. If you think of the last time you were at the table, any possible external variable will play a role. Make sure that you know what you are getting yourself into. Quite simply, it’s not easy to concentrate when your wife is about to give birth or your bankroll is on the line. Concentration is affected by your surroundings and when concentration is affected, you’re vulnerable and become a weaker observer.
Once most players settle down their emotions at the big event, they’ll begin to control their tells and put on their best poker face. That is great in the beginning, but humans have limits. That poker face is controlled by a non-poker brain which, when tired, says “I don’t care what you look like any more.” Yes, your brain is bailing on you and there goes your poker face. Instead of a stoic look, you’ll appear as if you’re ready to leave the offi ce after a long day of work — very easy to read. Not only are you giving away your entire story, that same non-poker brain will focus on others less and less and will pick up fewer tells. Additionally, your fatigue will cause an increase in misinterpretations of your observations. Your guard is down and you won’t make the right decisions. You’re not just feeling tired, you are vulnerable and unveiled. Just what another poker player wants at the table… right?
It’s clear that stress and fatigue wear you out mentally, but you may think that physically you are fi ne. Guess again. When fatigued, your face is easier to read and prone to leak information, especially around the eyes and the mouth. Your shoulders and neck will also reveal a signal of exhaustion. Everything that I mention in “Read ‘em and Reap,” regarding these areas becomes more visible because the brain no longer has the energy or interest in maintaining that poker statue. Remembering to keep a stoic fi gure when sitting on a monster hand requires energy that is no longer available. These micro-gestures are information leaks and, according to facial expression expert Dr. Paul Ekman, these occur because our brain cannot totally contain our sentiments when we are weak or tired.
Seems like a losing battle, right? It is for most, but you can train yourself to stay above this fatigue. Stay healthy and strong. Your diet during a day of poker should be as close to normal as possible so your blood sugars are not all over the place. This is not a vacation. You can’t go on a food binge to comfort yourself because it affects so many of your body systems.
When you feel that you are getting tired, get up from the table often and walk around. Humans are not designed for sitting, but rather walking. Physiologists call the calf a “second heart”. By walking around you release pooled blood from your lower legs which helps to get rid of a buildup of lactic acid which can cause the shakes after stress. Other physical solutions include rotating your neck and shoulders, moving around and drinking plenty of water. Water is especially critical for those that are playing out west where it is recommended that you increase your intake by 40 percent each day.
Put eye drops in your eyes if you need them, wash your face and hands. Go to the bathroom and freshen up. Look at something other than poker tables! In a way, this helps to sort of reboot your brain. Your brain was designed to work best when confronted with variety. Amazingly, even for children, theme parks grow tiresome after a day or two. If what you are doing becomes monotonous, your brain will look for something new. Take the time to clear your mind and thoughts. Remember, the game will still be there when you are mentally and physically ready to return.
You’ve been in these situations before, so next time be ready to take action to prevent fatigue. Keep your body at its maximum potential. As you feel fatigue start to set in, take steps to regain control of your body and mind and go back to what you do best: building your chip stack.
