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How to Improve Your Chances of Winning a Poker Tournament

50 Hands A Day:
Whenever I am getting ready for a poker tournament I try to play at least 50 hands, every single day in an online poker room and on the weekends I go to the casinos and play 100 hands a day and sometimes I play right thru the day and the night The more hands you play the better you will be when the day of the tournament arrives. Laying more hands will allow you to feel more confident when you get to the tournament and you will have a better feel for how difficult it is to make specific hands

A medium sized poker tournament can take as long as half a day before a winner is declared and the really big ones can take 2 days of playing. Sometimes you could be sitting at the poker table playing for up to 5 hours without a break in the game. This can take its toll on the body and the mind, so before the game arrives here are some ways to help prepare your mind and your body.

Fuel for the Body:
Many people like to fill up before a poker tournament because they do not want to get hungry during the game, but eating a big meal before hand can cause you to need to go to the bathroom during the game. This is bad because it will break your concentration. If you have to hold it in you are thinking about not making a mess and can start to make bad decisions. What you need to do is to start eating well balanced meals 2 weeks before the tournament. Proper meals on a regular schedule will regulate when you have to use the rest rooms and when you will want to eat. Before the game you will know how often you will get a break and when the start time is and can create a schedule around that time table.

Keeping the Body in Shape:
If you want to be at your best during a poker tournament it is to your advantage to be in good shape. A healthier person will have a better endurance level and will not get tired after several hours on playing poker. Many out of shape people have a tendency to get sleepy and then sloppy in the way they play

Regulate Your Sleep:
By making sure you get a full night sleep every night and wake up at the same time every day for several weeks your body will repair itself faster, and the schedule will help you get a better night sleep. In return this will help keep your mind working while playing in the tournament. The average human needs 8 hours of sleep. Some people can get less sleep and be fully rested and some need more sleep. Make sure to get the optimal sleep for you.

Homework:
Just playing many hands of poker and taking care of your body is still not enough to give you that big win. You should be reading books on strategy, watching poker on TV and another good idea is to go to watch a different tournament. This will allow you to see first hand what is going on. This offers you the best chance to watch the people and practice getting a read on people and the strategy. Once you can figure out someone's strategy you can then figure out what type of hand they have and this gives you the type of edge needed to win a poker tournament.

Hopefully these tips will be as helpful for you as they have been fro me over the years.