RayPowers 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Slightly ranty, and I will use profanity, but not bother to work around the profanity filter, so ****ing deal with it.I simply don't know why I am here any more. I have not been involved in a good strategy discussion on the forum for eons. The few posts I do to the strategy subforums are not widely responded to. The occassional smart alec comments I make get nuetral to positive reactions, but really, I can be a smart alec on any forum, why do it here?I played a whole one MTT last week, and zero ring games. In my MTT I went out in under ten minutes when I tried to go maniac to force someone out of a pot and they called me with bottom pair and still knocked me out. I don't have the budget to play worthwhile stakes, so I'm down to the idea of grinding for hours upon hours at microlimits if I want to build up a bankroll to get to where I feel that playing with money is worthwhile. I'm half tempted to cash out what little I have right now and just switch back to play money and play purely for fun.On the other side, while I can say that, I'm also reading the strategy section here and at 2+2 every day. I just finished SSHE and am studying the quizzes and back questions like a madman. I read Super System, Super System 2, Play Poker Like a Pro (yeah yeah I know it sucks), and Theory of Poker. My brain wants to take it seriously, my patience is having huge issues, and the rest of my life seems to be telling me I just don't have time to deal with this poker shit, with that whole real job, wife and two kids thing.Is anyone else in this mode? Am I just reliving teenage strife and woe at age 35 somehow? Wtf? Thoughts? Opinions? Sacrifical virgins? Any and all would be appreciated.Ray Link to post Share on other sites
stealfromblind 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I read Super System, Super System 2, Play Poker Like a Pro (yeah yeah I know it sucks), and Theory of Poker. My brain wants to take it seriously, my patience is having huge issues, and the rest of my life seems to be telling me I just don't have time to deal with this poker censored, with that whole real job, wife and two kids thing.I recommend you read Greensteins book to help with the "taking it seriously" problem. Its a great read and I think it will help your problem. And the best way to cement the things you'll learn in the books you've already read is to read a chapter or two before a session and then apply what you've learned. I'm not sure taking the quiz is going to do you as much good in the long run because it doesn't help you adapt what you've learned to your specific playing style. Link to post Share on other sites
ajs510 122 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I had this problem for a long time, and then I discovered the subtle joy that is Pot Limit Omaha. Games are plentiful, players are lacking in talent. Life is good. I erased 6 months of Hold Em' losses in one month of PLO gains. Link to post Share on other sites
stealfromblind 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I had this problem for a long time, and then I discovered the subtle joy that is Pot Limit Omaha. Games are plentiful, players are lacking in talent. Life is good. I erased 6 months of Hold Em' losses in one month of PLO gains.you play high or 8/b? Link to post Share on other sites
RayPowers 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its not a matter of winning or losing. Technically, I am a winning player. I say technically because, while I have more money than when I started, the amount of time I have put into playing would put my hourly income at like 5 cents an hour. The amount I made is not a function of me not being that good, but being stuck at super microlimits due to no bankroll.The real issue focuses on the idea that I have the wife and kids, a full time job, a consulting job, and very little budget. So, I don't get a lot of time to play, and when I do play, I play microlimits because its all I have the budget to play. I have an intense desire to learn how to play well, so I read a lot of books, which also conveniently takes away from what little time I have to play. Then I come on to things like FCP, and I post and read, and after a while I sit here and hit this chain of logic:1. I'm spending enough time on poker for it to be work instead of play2. but without a budget I can't really make it pay off as work.3. I really don't have the monetary situation where I can spend the amount of time I really would want/need to do make it pay off as worksooo4. why am I bothering to play for money5. and if so, why am i bothering to spend so much time on these forums?The easy answer is "because I love poker and I love learning about poker." But in my situation in life, is that enough of a reason to dedicate as much time and effort as I do to it?Boy I'm a cynical mofo today.Ray Link to post Share on other sites
krup24 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Poker does not = lifeI recommend a break a month or so. Refocus.Set goals both longterm and shorterm.If you can't get to where u want to be, quit. Link to post Share on other sites
akoff 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 steafromblind I thought you were going to kill yourself........now would be good time for it....Ray take a break read super system 2 again and again and again. Spend a few months building a bankroll the old fashon way....skimming of the top of your income. I am not talking 100.00 per week. Couple bucks here and there will add up to a baby bankroll in a few months when you are ready to start playing again.I have been there 36, two kids.....I am lucky enough to not have bankroll problems but i have had to get creative on occasion. When you play cards you must play within your bankroll but also for enough money to hold your interest....They are not always the same amount....If play less then 2/4 NL or 5/10 limit i get bored and play poorly. Internet play compounds the problem more then B/M play. K/10 off suit looks SO SO much better online then in live game. WHY???? Damn if I know but it does.So take a break and relax. The game will come back to you.... Link to post Share on other sites
mcpickl 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its not a matter of winning or losing. Technically, I am a winning player. I say technically because, while I have more money than when I started, the amount of time I have put into playing would put my hourly income at like 5 cents an hour. Â The amount I made is not a function of me not being that good, but being stuck at super microlimits due to no bankroll.The real issue focuses on the idea that I have the wife and kids, a full time job, a consulting job, and very little budget. So, I don't get a lot of time to play, and when I do play, I play microlimits because its all I have the budget to play. I have an intense desire to learn how to play well, so I read a lot of books, which also conveniently takes away from what little time I have to play. Â Then I come on to things like FCP, and I post and read, and after a while I sit here and hit this chain of logic:1. I'm spending enough time on poker for it to be work instead of play2. but without a budget I can't really make it pay off as work.3. I really don't have the monetary situation where I can spend the amount of time I really would want/need to do make it pay off as worksooo4. why am I bothering to play for money5. and if so, why am i bothering to spend so much time on these forums?The easy answer is "because I love poker and I love learning about poker." But in my situation in life, is that enough of a reason to dedicate as much time and effort as I do to it?Boy I'm a cynical mofo today.Rayusing the word "work" in here so often is a red flag. i joke at work that poker is my part time job, because i make a small amount of money from it, but its never work. i play because i love it. i love the game. i love the competition. i love trying to figure out hands. i love thinking about my game while i'm at work(luckily as a mailman, my job doesnt require much thinking about the job).i suggest you quit until you dont think of the word work again while thinking about poker. find the love.bonne chance Link to post Share on other sites
speedz99 145 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Don't stop posting in General. We need as many funny people as possible. That's why I post here so much...for the laughs during an otherwise dull workday. Link to post Share on other sites
BigFish 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Here is what I do when I get into a similar funk:Take some time away from the game to clear your thoughts (continue to read)Relax, and do something you really enjoy (golfing, fishing, hanging out with the family).Try to save up a little money to put back into a bankroll so that you can maybe step up the limits a little. One of Mike Caros rules of poker is (I am paraphrasing): To be good at poker you must understand all of the important principals of the game, but to be a great player, you must put those principals to use. Anyways good luck with the forums, try to post specific hand history’s and leave out the results of the hand until later in the thread for best results. Link to post Share on other sites
speedz99 145 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Oh, and nobody responds to me in Strat either. But that's because they all know I'm not very good. Link to post Share on other sites
MarionSauce 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its only because Smash hasn't been posting lately. Link to post Share on other sites
gobears 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 To the OP, I'm 41, married with three kids, have a full time job which is more than a full-time job during peak periods.So, our family situations sound similar. I play poker because it's fun and it's challenging. You mentioned playing poker just for fun with no real $ at stake; unfortunately, that really isn't poker for me. I know some friends who play that way, but you might as well play rummy or old maid for fun then.It sounds like you're in a situation where you don't have enough discretionary $ set aside to play poker at a $ level high enough where it seems worthwhile to you. Unfortunately, you either build your bankroll by grinding up or you save enough extra $ to have a bigger starting bankroll. When I started a year ago, I played $5, $10 and $20 MTTs and played a lot of SNGs at the same range. I also read a lot of poker books (HOH 1 and 2 especially since I play a lot of MTTs) and a lot of strategy postings on this forum and broke thru in the early part of this year with some MTT wins and final tables to where I can play some higher $ MTTs now.Perhaps you feel constrained by your family responsibilities - if it was just me, I would think about quitting my day job and trying out the fulltime poker profession but with a family to support, it's not worth the risk for me at this point. Maybe later, when the house is fully paid for and I have plenty of cushion sitting in a bank account.Hope that you stick around by the way - nice to hear from someone in the same demographic as me :-) Link to post Share on other sites
krup24 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its only because Smash hasn't been posting lately.I know its been great. Link to post Share on other sites
RayPowers 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Author Share Posted October 3, 2005 Don't stop posting in General. Â We need as many funny people as possible. Â That's why I post here so much...for the laughs during an otherwise dull workday.Funnily enough, immediately after my post here, I jumped on another thread, stared a funny retort, then cancelled the post. Oops. I'll work on keeping up the funny. Sometimes the little one liners are the best.On another topic, Marion's new avatar shows her to be soooooo cute. I wonder if we could market a Marion Sauce Sleepytime Cuddle Doll?Back on topic:The "work" statement is indeed an alarm, but the people saying quit it and go do something you love is a bit odd because I love doing poker. I guess the real suggestion is "go do something ELSE you love," but most of my other options there are drinking and sex, and both of those are at the whim of my wife. :)Ray Link to post Share on other sites
Royal27 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Its only because Smash hasn't been posting lately.where has smash been? And, I'm so glad you went back to this avatar instead of Vader. :-) Link to post Share on other sites
bigcoled 1 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 When I opened this post I was hoping you were going to be typing about Yao Ming or Shaquille O'neal, but since you weren't I didn't read it.....but, good luck any ways with whatever you're doing.... Link to post Share on other sites
stealfromblind 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 K/10 off suit looks SO SO much better online then in live game. WHY???? Damn if I know but it does.I think the OP was looking for advice from a winning player. Link to post Share on other sites
alf13 0 Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 I had this problem for a long time, and then I discovered the subtle joy that is Pot Limit Omaha. Games are plentiful, players are lacking in talent. Life is good. I erased 6 months of Hold Em' losses in one month of PLO gains.AMEN. Link to post Share on other sites
chappy3 0 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 maybe a thread hijack, but....hey marion, are you topless in that picture? Link to post Share on other sites
clingfree 0 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Just a suggestion:Take a break, 3-6 weeks should be just about right. Stay away from anything poker during this time. No books, no online play, maybe hit the forum here once a day for 20-30 minutes, no more.Go get a mindless part time job that you won't feel bad about quitting in a few weeks/months. Delivering pizza is what I did. Save the money you make and when you feel sufficiently rested and ready to try some poker again you have a decent bankroll to get started.Once you are ready to play again, choose a limit that is 2 or 3 levels below what your BR would normally allow you to play. Work your way up the limits as you see fit, making sure you are a winning player at each level.Good luck and hope this helps you. Link to post Share on other sites
Ottawa_Biatch 288 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Wish you the best man. Get better Link to post Share on other sites
finztotheleft 0 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Hang in there Ray. I think the suggestions to take a break are good. Another option is to try a different type of poker or site. I usually play low limit hold em and was starting to get in a rut. Recently I found the frequent daily freerolls on Absolute for NL holdem and it has really reenergized my game. I realize that I am not the most gifted player, but scraping my way to the money (top 18 out of 2000) is an accomplishment for me. Find someway to challenge yourself. Many of us have to limit our poker bankroll to keep marital harmony, but can you beg for some more ? Call it a Christmas or birthday present ? Good luck... Link to post Share on other sites
pokerglory 0 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Slightly ranty, and I will use profanity, but not bother to work around the profanity filter, so censored deal with it.I simply don't know why I am here any more. I have not been involved in a good strategy discussion on the forum for eons. The few posts I do to the strategy subforums are not widely responded to. The occassional smart alec comments I make get nuetral to positive reactions, but really, I can be a smart alec on any forum, why do it here?I played a whole one MTT last week, and zero ring games. In my MTT I went out in under ten minutes when I tried to go maniac to force someone out of a pot and they called me with bottom pair and still knocked me out. Â I don't have the budget to play worthwhile stakes, so I'm down to the idea of grinding for hours upon hours at microlimits if I want to build up a bankroll to get to where I feel that playing with money is worthwhile. I'm half tempted to cash out what little I have right now and just switch back to play money and play purely for fun.On the other side, while I can say that, I'm also reading the strategy section here and at 2+2 Â every day. I just finished SSHE and am studying the quizzes and back questions like a madman. I read Super System, Super System 2, Play Poker Like a Pro (yeah yeah I know it sucks), and Theory of Poker. My brain wants to take it seriously, my patience is having huge issues, and the rest of my life seems to be telling me I just don't have time to deal with this poker censored, with that whole real job, wife and two kids thing.Is anyone else in this mode? Am I just reliving teenage strife and woe at age 35 somehow? Wtf? Â Thoughts? Opinions? Â Sacrifical virgins? Any and all would be appreciated.RayHaha - I was in a similar funk when my cards were cold and my bankroll basically stayed the same for a month. I often wondered "wtf am I doing playing this?"I am in a similar situation (real job, wife, kid). I have read the books you've mentioned and am also currently finishing SSHE.I spend time on the forums reading but have a hard time finding any new "interesting" concepts.I was playing in a 20 man tourney last weekend when the wife and kid were away and was playing well. It simply dawned on me that I enjoy the game - I enjoy reading plays, reading people, making plays, pulling in pots.And to do that well, you have to be free of distractions. You need to have patience.You can't do it with a 1 yr old popping his head into the home office every few minutes, you can't do it with a project deadline hanging over your head, you can't do it when you're worrying about finishing off a SNG before your wife yells for you to come out for dinner.As well, you can't play well and enjoy it with playmoney.When it comes to online poker, I choose to play early in the morning or late at night.Patience and discipline. And stop clicking the cashout button every couple of weeks because it's hard to build a bankroll that way! Link to post Share on other sites
MarionSauce 0 Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 maybe a thread hijack, but....hey marion, are you topless in that picture? :shock: NO!!In your dreams, right? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now