The long ball Playing in tournaments is stressful enough, constantly having your brain in overdrive mode, calculating, analyzing, recalculating, watching every move your opponents make. But let’s take it a step higher, let’s talk about the huge poker tournaments that can stretch for nearly a full 24-hour day. One constantly asked question is: “How?” It’s not necessarily that people wonder how to win them, it’s that people wonder how we even play all the way through them. The truth is, as much as it is about know-how, massive field multi-table tournaments also require endurance, whether online or on the felt live. There are a few tips that you can follow though if you find yourself knee deep in the middle of one of these monsters about 8 hours in. The first things is all about preparation. Exercise is a great way to keep the blood flowing. I find that a few push-ups and a little cardio during the breaks not only lets me get my mind off the poker game for a few minutes, but also stirs up the glucose and gets the energy and metabolism going. Stimulants are another must have in my book. Caffeine is the recommended substance to use, but not in the form of soda, unless you just plan on downing an entire 12 pack or three over the course of the poker online tournament. While the caffeine you get from a soda is just as potent as any other source, I prefer to caffeninate a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade. This way you’re getting the best of both worlds, electrolytes and the stimulant effect of caffeine. Next, if you know you’re going for the long haul, the night before, get some rest, and take a short nap a few hours before the tournament begins. Just be sure to set the alarm so you don’t oversleep and miss the buy-in.