In this chapter, Elliot Roe provides a structured approach to time management, ensuring that poker players maximize their efficiency and maintain balance in their lives. He introduces a four-part scheduling framework that prioritizes foundational activities, recovery, study, and playing time. The goal is not just to increase volume, but to optimize performance and sustain long-term success.
The Four Key Areas of an A-Game Player’s Schedule
An effective poker schedule is built in the following order:
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Foundational Activities – Planning, nutrition, fitness, and sleep.
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Recovery – Time for mental and physical recovery (hobbies, leisure, social time).
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Study – Structured skill improvement and technical training.
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Playing Time – Actual poker sessions, including warm-up and cool-down routines.
Most players incorrectly start by scheduling playing time first, but A-Game Players prioritize preparation and recovery to optimize their performance.
A-Game Exercise: Creating Your Schedule Template
Step 1: Set Up a Weekly Schedule
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Create a document with each day of the week and 24-48 time slots per day (hourly or 30-minute intervals).
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This serves as a template for weekly planning, ensuring all essential activities fit into the schedule.
Step 2: Schedule Foundational Activities First
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Planning: Set aside time for weekly and/or daily reviews to adjust and optimize your schedule.
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Nutrition & Fitness: Schedule regular meals and workouts to maintain physical and mental sharpness.
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Sleep: Allocate consistent sleep time—even if your schedule is unconventional, aim for quality sleep to sustain long-term performance.
Step 3: Add Recovery Time
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Many players neglect recovery, leading to burnout.
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Recovery includes:
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Leisure activities (video games, Netflix, hobbies).
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Social time (family, friends, relaxation).
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Active recovery (massages, sauna, meditation).
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A-Game Players schedule at least one full day off per week, with two to three days off being common depending on volume.
Step 4: Schedule Study Blocks
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Avoid passive study (e.g., watching random training videos without taking notes).
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Be deliberate—schedule specific topics for each study session.
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Most top players aim for 5-10 hours of study per week.
Step 5: Finally, Add Playing Time
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The last step is to schedule your poker sessions.
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Your schedule will vary depending on your format:
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Online cash games: More consistent session start/end times.
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Online MTTs: Fixed start times but unpredictable end times.
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Live cash games: Schedule based on peak hours but allow flexibility for good games.
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Live MTTs: Plan sessions around tournament schedules and breaks.
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Include 15-30 minutes for warm-up and cool-down routines on both ends of your session.
Key Takeaways – The Benefits of Scheduling
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Conscious scheduling leads to better time management and lower stress.
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A well-structured schedule allows you to fit in everything without feeling overwhelmed.
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The goal is not rigid adherence but intentional decision-making.
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Without a schedule, players often waste time and accomplish less.
By following this framework, players can achieve maximum efficiency, balance their poker careers with their personal lives, and sustain long-term profitability and well-being.