How long do you play?

[mammajamma]

[shadowman]

My sessions are usually around 6 hours with a break after 3-4 hours. I play at 700-800 hands/hour simply because the machines I play are slow (Atronic). I have played around 1200 hands/hour on faster machines.


 
I only play one machine ... again, due to the way the machines are set up.

[Lucky Larry]

Good question Phil.

We normally play between 6-8 hours per session. Physically I have to frequently move in the chair to ease back pain. To insure breaks I constantly drink bottles of water (you know that recommendation - 8 glasses per day-input/output .   Who knew the casino was therapeutic!   

My bigger concern is that after several hours I tend to lose mental concentration and begin to make mistakes so I have to get up and take a break to refocus.

[brmcc74]

I used to play VP several hrs without moving. However, I am re thinking this. A nine year old boy developed a blood clot in his leg after playing video games for too many hours. A few peeps have collapsed and died after leaving an airplane from blood clots due to prolonged inactivity. SO, I am convinced we are better off moving around after two hours of any activity, be it riding in a car, computering or playing VP. Besides, a break will help us wake up and stimulate those brain cells for better focus and playing, hopefully leading to more wins.
A news broadcast recommended blinking several times after twenty minutes when using the computer, to give our eyes a break. I suggested this to a friend who has eye problems. He replied that we automatically blink many times in twenty minutes and there is no need to consciously think about blinking.
 I often only have a few hours to  play in local casinos. However, on casino trips, I can skip eating and entertainment and play non stop for eight and more hours. Why am I always surprised to realize how many hours I have been playing! Blame it on the casinos with no clocks in sight!
There are some tips for staying awake when driving long distances that could be transferred to playing VP for hours. Stopping every two hours and walking around for a few minutes helps. Something as simple as eating an apple or drinking orange juice or water, whistling and yawning can help one become more alert. Once, I was advised by a physician to keep a child awake while driving from one emergency facility to another. Open the window for fresh air, turn up the radio or sing loudly would all help. Try singing in a casino and see the reaction.
Great points here about physical well being. I know that I have pushed myself way too far more than once.

[marie meijer]

Good question Phil.

My bigger concern is that after several hours I tend to lose mental concentration and begin to make mistakes so I have to get up and take a break to refocus.
 
Good point, L L. This qualifies you as normal, in MHO. Laughing is also supposed to help revive us when we near that catatonic schizophrenic aura. One older gal always hummed LOUDLY while playing VP. 'Never a tune I have ever heard before! I have not seen her for the longest time. I can only surmise that some disgruntled loser took her out or hired a hit man for her. (I didn't do it!)

[Ambassador E]

when i go the casino.i always take my mp3 player with me it has 8 hours of music on it.with a pause every 2 hours.when the break comes i get up and get a soda or do something else.i also have a tendency to sing along.ive found out that cuts down on people sitting next to me.

[Frank Kneeland]

when i go the casino.i always take my mp3 player with me it has 8 hours of music on it.with a pause every 2 hours.when the break comes i get up and get a soda or do something else.i also have a tendency to sing along.ive found out that cuts down on people sitting next to me.I do that to. I've found that "Man in the Box" by Alice and Chains is a real bank clearer. I've been told I do a really good impression of Layne Staley, not that this is considered a good thing...Just don't sing "My Way" or a Filipino might kill you!~FKReferences: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killings  

[Tomcat1569]

[QUOTE=Ambassador E]when i go the casino.i always take my mp3 player with me it has 8 hours of music on it.with a pause every 2 hours.when the break comes i get up and get a soda or do something else.i also have a tendency to sing along.ive found out that cuts down on people sitting next to me.I do that to. I've found that "Man in the Box" by Alice and Chains is a real bank clearer. I've been told I do a really good impression of Layne Staley, not that this is considered a good thing...Just don't sing "My Way" or a Filipino might kill you!~FKReferences: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killings   [/QUOTE] LMAO, Frank ... now I've been forewarned

[spxChrome]

I play about 1200 hands an hour, mayb even faster on some of these new turbo machines.  As for the hours I play until I win, sometimes that takes longer than others but on average about 8-10 hours 2 to 3 times a week.  Sometimes more if I go on an overnight trip hardly ever less unless I am on vacation or something.

[FloridaPhil]

What do you consider a "win"?  If I only stopped on when I got a Royal, I would be there a very long time...