Focus

Concentration is the most underestimated mental skill in poker. Poker Toolkit helps you map your concentration patterns with a 10-question questionnaire covering 4 dimensions.

Why Analyze Your Focus?

Without awareness of your focus:

• You play beyond your concentration limit
• You don't know what conditions favor your A-Game
• You don't recognize the signals of lost focus

With a map of your focus:

• Optimal planning: play when your conditions are met
• Early detection: identify signals before mistakes
• Session protocol: create routines to maintain focus

The 4 Dimensions of Focus

1. Focus During Session (3 questions)

Identify your optimal conditions for playing your best poker.

What you define:

• Your concentration conditions (environment, physical, mental)
• Your best time slots
• Your maximum concentration duration

Example: "Silence + well rested + morning + max 2h30 = my best sessions"

Usefulness: Create a pre-session checklist. If 80%+ conditions are met, play. Otherwise, postpone.

2. Loss of Focus (2 questions)

Spot your alarm signals to know when to take a break or stop.

What you define:

• How you recognize loss of concentration (autopilot, impatience, fatigue)
• At what moments you typically lose focus (after bad beat, after X hours)

Example: "Check/fold on autopilot + urge to check phone = time to stop"

Usefulness: Create a mental alarm list. As soon as 2-3 signals appear, break or stop.

3. Distractions (2 questions)

Identify your distraction sources to eliminate them proactively.

What you define:

• Your main distractions (technological, social, environmental)
• The origin of your internal distractions (boredom, anxiety, frustration, fatigue)

Example: "Phone notifications → airplane mode. Boredom → add tables."

Usefulness: Create an elimination protocol before each session.

4. The Zone (Flow State) (3 questions)

Understand how to enter and stay in flow.

What you define:

• How you recognize being "in the zone"
• Your routine to enter it
• What pulls you out of it

Example: "5min breathing + clear objective = I enter the zone. Bad beat = I exit."

Usefulness: Create a reproducible zone entry protocol.

Creating Your Session Protocol

Based on your answers, create a protocol document:

## My Session Protocol

### Prerequisites
☐ 7h+ sleep
☐ No major concerns
☐ Phone on airplane mode
☐ Setup verified

### Timing
✅ Mid-morning (9am-12pm)
❌ Avoid: after 10pm

### Maximum Duration
⏱️ 2h15 max (stop before losing focus)

### Zone Entry Routine
1. 5 min breathing
2. Reread session objective
3. Reminder: "Process > Outcome"

### Alarm Signals
🚨 Check/fold autopilot → 10min break
🚨 Urge to check results → 10min break
🚨 Eye fatigue → Stop

### Actions if Leaving Zone
- Bad beat → Mandatory 10min break
- Interruption → Breathing, resume

Integration with Levels (A/B/C Game)

Cross-reference your focus with your levels:

• A-Game = Optimal focus + Conditions met + Duration < limit
• B-Game = Average focus (80% conditions) or after break
• C-Game = Lost focus (signals present) or duration exceeded

Decision: If you're not in A-Game or B-Game, don't play.

Free vs Premium

Feature	Free	Premium
View existing answers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Answer the 10 questions	❌ No	✅ Yes
Modify answers	❌ No	✅ Yes
AI Coaching accesses data	❌ No	✅ Yes

Integration with AI Coaching

AI Coaching has access to your focus answers and can:

• Analyze: "You maintain focus 2-3h max. I recommend 2h sessions."
• Create a personalized protocol based on your answers
• Remind your signals: "You're check/folding on autopilot? That's your signal. 10min break."
• Optimize your schedule: "You're more focused in the morning. Only play 9am-12pm."

Concrete Use Cases

Player Who Tilts at End of Session

Problem: 4-5h sessions, systematic tilt in the last 2 hours.

What the questionnaire reveals: "I maintain focus 2-3h max"

Solution:

1. Strict limit at 2h15
2. Phone alarm at 2h
3. If wanting to continue: 20min minimum break

Player Who Never Finds the Zone

Problem: Always distracted, never their best poker.

What the questionnaire reveals: Phone notifications, no entry routine

Solution:

1. Phone on airplane mode
2. Create routine: 5min breathing + objective
3. Conditions checklist before playing

Pro Player Wanting to Optimize Volume

Problem: Wants to play 6h/day but mental fatigue.

What the questionnaire reveals: More focused in the morning, 2-3h max focus

Solution: 2 separate sessions (9am-11:30am + 3pm-5:30pm) = 5h of quality

Player Who Tilts After Bad Beat

Problem: A bad beat destroys the session.

What the questionnaire reveals: "Bad beat pulls me out of zone"

Solution:

1. Strict rule: bad beat → mandatory 10min break
2. During break: breathing + "It's statistics"
3. If 2 bad beats in 30min → Stop session

Usage Tips

Filling out:

• Be honest: no "ideal" answer
• Give concrete examples
• Revisit every 3 months

Daily use:

• Pre-session checklist
• Monitor your signals
• Respect your time limit
• Session journal

Related Pages

• Mental - Overview
• Levels (A/B/C Game)
• Leaks
• Goals
• AI Coaching

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Focus isn't an innate talent: it's a skill that can be mapped and optimized. Fill out the questionnaire now.