WSOP Europe / Matthew Pitt / 23 September 2008 / Leave a comment

Playing in a major poker tournament, whilst fun and exciting, can actually be a tiring and stressful experience. Players can find themselves sat in the same position for up to fifteen hours a day, calculating pot odds and working out whether or not their opponent is bluffing or if they have what they are representing.

The possibility of being caught bluffing or being bluffed, performing mental arithmetic multiple times and playing for vast sums of money can cause stress and anxiety which in due course can cause fatigue and mental tiredness.

As a player needs to stay as relaxed and mentally sharp as is humanly possible, to have an edge over their opponents, they are always looking for ways to de-stress whilst confined to the same seat for hours on end.

Some players prefer to listen to music whilst they are playing, as hearing their favourite music can "chill them out." It also has the added advantage of drowning out the table chatter so they can concentrate on playing their own game. On the flip side there is a possibility that by not listening to their opponents chatter that they miss some possibly vital information.

Drinking alcohol is one method used by many people, not just poker players, to relax. A couple of drinks can put the drinker at ease and allow them to feel more at ease at the table but any amount of alcohol will cloud a player's judgement, often detrimentally, and it has the added downfall of needing the toilet more!

The newest relaxation technique employed by players in poker tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker Europe, is to receive a head and shoulder massage whilst seated at their table.

As little as five years ago, this idea would have been scoffed at, but fast forward to the present and you will usually find a team of masseuses on the rail of major poker events. The upcoming WSOPE in London will be no different as players will be able to receive a massage, whilst they play, from one of the girls from the company, Xhilarate.

Massage has been clinically shown to reduce anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate, all of which will be in a raised state if you are involved in a large pot or a difficult situation. There is also suggestion that for a period after the massage has ended, mental alertness, especially with respect to making calculations, will be at its peak, all of which is great for a poker player.

If you are lucky enough to be playing in any of the four bracelet awarding events at the 2008 World Series of Poker keep your eye out for one of the Xhilarate girls. You could be quite literally rubbing shoulders with the pros!