GGPOKER

Your environment helps to shape your results

Picture two poker players with identical skills. One grinds on a laptop in bed, squinting at tiny cards while Netflix plays in the background. The other sits at a dedicated desk with a large monitor, a comfortable chair, and zero distractions. After 10,000 hands, who has the better win rate?

The answer is obvious. Yet most players never think seriously about their poker workspace. They download GGPoker, open some tables, and wonder why they make careless mistakes during long sessions.

Your environment directly impacts your decision quality. Build a workspace that sets you up for success.

PLAY TEXAS HOLD’EM POKER!

The Hardware Foundation

Monitor Setup

Screen real estate matters more than you think. Playing poker on a 13-inch laptop screen cramps your ability to see clearly, read bet sizes accurately, and spot timing tells. And is even worse when playing on multiple tables.

Minimum recommendation: A 24-inch monitor at 1080p resolution. This comfortably fits 2-4 tables without overlap.

Optimal setup: A 27-inch 1440p monitor, or dual 24-inch monitors. This allows 4-6 tables to be tiled perfectly, while leaving room for PokerCraft and other tools.

If you’re serious about volume, consider an ultrawide monitor. A 34-inch curved ultrawide can easily display 4 tables in a row without overlap, keeping all action visible at once.

Mouse and Keyboard

A responsive mouse prevents misclicks. There’s nothing worse than folding the nuts because your cheap mouse misclicked. Invest in a reliable gaming mouse with accurate tracking.

Your keyboard matters less for poker, but comfortable key switches reduce fatigue during long sessions. A keyboard with a wrist rest can prevent strain over thousands of hours.

Chair and Desk

You’ll spend hours in this chair. A poor chair leads to back pain, which leads to discomfort, which leads to rushed decisions and shorter sessions.

Look for:

• Lumbar support – Maintains proper spine alignment
• Adjustable height – Your eyes should be level with the top third of your monitor
• Armrests – Reduce shoulder strain
• Breathable material – Prevents overheating during summer grinds

Your desk should be deep enough to position your monitor at arm’s length. Too close strains your eyes; too far makes cards hard to read.

GGPoker Client Settings

Once your hardware is sorted, optimize the GGPoker client itself. Click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the lobby to open settings.

Table Appearance

The settings window presents four main appearance options: card design, deck back, background, and felt color. Key adjustments:

• Four-color deck – Find this under “Table Theme” settings. This is essential for multi-tabling; distinguishing clubs from spades and hearts from diamonds at a glance prevents costly misreads.
• Card design – Choose clear, readable cards. Some themes look stylish but reduce readability.
• Table theme – Higher contrast themes (darker backgrounds with bright cards) reduce eye strain during long sessions.
• Card Squeeze – Under Settings, look for “Card Squeeze” on the left side. Disable this to see your hole cards immediately instead of the dramatic reveal animation.

Sound Settings

Sound cues help you track action across multiple tables without constantly staring at each one.

Enable:

• Action alerts – Know when it’s your turn
• All-in sounds – Never miss a crucial moment

Disable:

• Chat sounds – Distracting and rarely useful
• Chip sounds – Becomes noise when multi-tabling

Set volume low enough not to be jarring but loud enough to notice through headphones if you’re listening to music.

Bet Slider and Hotkeys

Default bet sizing buttons save time and reduce errors. GGPoker allows you to customize these.

Recommended presets:

• Preflop: 2.5x, 3x, 4x (for various positions and situations)
• Postflop: 33%, 50%, 75%, 100% pot

Using preset buttons instead of the slider prevents costly misclicks. Nothing ruins a session like accidentally betting 10x pot with a bluff.

Rush & Cash Autofold

If you play Rush & Cash (GGPoker’s fast-fold format), there’s a useful autofold feature. You can set a percentage of your worst hands to automatically fold, or add specific hands to always fold. By default, this doesn’t apply when you are on the button, small blind, or big blind positions.

Important: Third-Party Software

GGPoker prohibits third-party tracking software and HUDs. Don’t waste time trying to set up external tools – they won’t work and could put your account at risk. Instead, rely on the built-in Smart HUD for opponent statistics and PokerCraft for your own analysis. You can download hand histories from the last 90 days for offline analysis in tools like PokerTracker, but real-time HUDs are not permitted.

Table Layout Strategies

How you arrange tables affects your ability to process information.

Tiled Layout

Tables arranged in a grid with no overlap. Best for 2-4 tables. You see all of the action simultaneously, but the tables are smaller.

Pros: Never miss action, easy to track all tables

Cons: Smaller table size, requires a larger monitor

Stacked Layout

Tables overlap, with the one requiring action popping to front. Better for 6+ tables.

Pros: Tables remain large. Excellent choice for smaller screens

Cons: Can miss action on background tables, requires good sound alerts

Cascade Layout

Tables are slightly offset so you can see the edges of every table. This is a reasonable middle ground between tiled and stacked.

Start with the tiled layout if you’re new to multi-tabling. As you add tables, experiment with other arrangements to find what works best for you.

Eliminating Distractions

Your workspace should encourage focus. Every distraction can cost you money.

Digital Distractions

• Close unnecessary tabs – Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit don’t improve your poker
• Turn off notifications – Email and message alerts pull attention from the tables
• Use a separate browser profile – Keep your “work” browser clean
• Consider website blockers – Apps like Cold Turkey block distracting sites during sessions

Physical Distractions

• Phone – Put it in another room or use Do Not Disturb mode
• Television – Even a TV in the background will split your attention more than you realize
• Other people – Let housemates know when you’re grinding

What About Music?

Music is personal. Some players focus better with background music; others need silence.

If you listen to music:

• Choose instrumental tracks (lyrics can be distracting)
• Keep the volume low enough to hear the game sounds
• Avoid podcasts or talk shows – anything that requires active listening

Session Preparation Rituals

A consistent pre-session routine primes your brain for poker.

• Clear your desk – Physical clutter creates mental clutter
• Close all non-poker programs – Start with a clean digital slate
• Review goals – What are you working on this session?
• Check your state – Are you tired, tilted, or distracted? Maybe don’t play.
• Set a session time limit – Know when you’ll stop before you start

This routine takes just a few minutes and will significantly improve your overall focus.

Physical Comfort During Sessions

Long sessions require attention to your body:

• Water within reach – Dehydration causes mental fatigue
• Healthy snacks available – Blood sugar crashes affect decision-making
• Room temperature – Too hot makes you sleepy; too cold makes you tense
• Lighting – Avoid glare on your screen; use ambient lighting behind your monitor to reduce eye strain
• Regular breaks – Stand up, stretch, and look away from the screen every hour

Key Takeaways

• Invest in a proper monitor – 24 inches minimum; bigger is better for multi-tabling
• Access settings via the gear icon – Bottom right of the lobby
• Enable four-color deck – Found under Table Theme; essential for multi-tabling
• Disable Card Squeeze – See your cards immediately instead of the slow reveal
• Use Smart HUD and PokerCraft – Third-party HUDs are banned; these are your only options
• Eliminate all distractions – Digital and physical

Your Next Move

Look at your current poker setup. Be honest. Is it helping you play your best, or is it holding you back?

You don’t need to spend thousands on equipment. Small changes make a difference. Enable a four-color deck right now. Close those extra browser tabs. Move your phone to another room. These cost nothing and will improve your focus immediately.

Build your workspace with intention, and the results will follow.

Your A-game deserves an A-game environment.