Coffee

Coffee is perhaps the most widely used cognitive enhancer in poker, delivering caffeine and antioxidants that can significantly improve tournament performance when consumed strategically. The poker benefits of coffee include: • **Enhanced Alertness and Focus**: Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing feelings of fatigue and improving attention to detail—crucial for picking up on opponents' patterns and tells • **Improved Processing Speed**: Research shows caffeine can increase the speed of information processing by 5-10%, giving players an edge in calculating pot odds and making decisions under time pressure • **Increased Working Memory**: Studies have found coffee consumption improves working memory, helping players better track previous betting patterns and hand histories • **Strategic Timing Benefits**: When consumed at key tournament inflection points (like after meals or during afternoon lulls), coffee can counteract natural energy dips To maximize benefits while minimizing drawbacks, most elite poker players follow specific coffee protocols: consuming 1-2 cups (100-200mg caffeine) early in tournaments, avoiding consumption within 6 hours of sleep when playing multi-day events, and pairing with adequate hydration to prevent the dehydration that can impair cognitive function.