Natural8 Ambassador Adrian Attenborough's Top Tips for Staying Focused
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During the 2022 World Series of Poker, talented Aussie and Natural8 Ambassador Adrian Attenborough stole the headlines throughout his unbelievable run in the 2022 WSOP Main Event, pulling off two of the gutsiest plays of the series on Day 7 of poker's most famous tournament as well as setting Twitter ablaze following a 19-minute tank during heads-up play.
Attenborough, who was pipped to the Main Event title by Espen Jorstad, recently dished out some words of wisdom on how to stay focused while playing poker and provided some interesting perspectives on the topic.
On the Live Felt
Attenborough points out that in live events and live poker, one of the biggest factors in losing is due to a player having a lack of sleep, as he admits his a-game escapes him when he's sleep deprived.
"Amongst the regulars, there seems to be a competition about who grinds the hardest and who’s played the longest sessions – as if playing long sessions is the mark of a true poker player. I don’t buy into that," Attenborough noted.
"I’ve never played for longer than a day because I just quit if I get too tired. Some people will stick around for days because “the game is so good, how can I leave?” but poker will always be there tomorrow. I’d rather leave early and play well tomorrow than keep playing just a bit longer because of a particular whale in the game."
For Attenborough, it's all about being aware of how his body is feeling. So, if you're someone who starts a session off strong but always seems to slip up after 12+ hours a play, then maybe think about shaving off a couple of hours off your play time as that could massively boost your win rate. Poker will always be there tomorrow.
Limit Distractions When Playing Online
Of course, there's more to poker than just playing on the live felt. Online poker may be your preferred method of playing the game and while in your own home you could be more prone to distractions.
Attenborough stresses the importance the limiting these hindrances and has found one of the best ways to stay focused is by putting his phone on 'Do Not Disturb,' and putting it out of reach to avoid doomscrolling on social media apps.
"Sitting up straight in my chair is another helpful tip, as slouching puts you in a more relaxed mindset," said Attenborough. "I’ve also found that talking about ranges and hands out loud as I’m playing helps keep me engaged, but if you do that, remember to stop when you play live poker!" he added.
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Attenborough's 7 Top Tips for Staying Focused
- Get your sleep as you'll play better when well-rested
- No one likes to play on an empty stomach so keep snacks nearby for longer sessions
- Take breaks as a brief moment away from the table can clear your head and make you less likely to burnout.
- Understand that not every session will be a winning one. Accept the lucky and unlucky situations that come with poker
- Stay engaged by what players are doing, you may pick up a live read which can give your winnings a boost.
- Remember to enjoy yourself
- Study off the tables and study Game Theory Optimal (GTO)
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Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum's proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.
