The adventures of an average poker player aged 57 and 3/4

I started playing texas holdem about five years ago, I used to play cards when I was a teenager but havent played much for 30 years, but the
idea of playing anytime appealed to me and I have been playing constantly ever since.

I started off at the Poker Room(now Bwin) playing limit then moved on to small stakes no limit, I remember the first time I played NL I lost my bank within 5 hands, but didnt we all

I was determined to improve as a player so I bought lots of books, Super System and Harrington On Holdem etc and steadly moved up in stakes from 0.05-0.10 to the giddy levels I play at today, 0.05-0.10, i.e I didnt move up, well once in a while maybe I'll try 0.10-0.20 or even OMG the nosebleed stakes of 0.25-0.50 now and then, but quickly move down again because it doesnt matter what I read or how I play I am never going to be anything other than an average player. I read about these wizz kids who are playing $1000-$2000 within a year of starting playing poker, well that aint me

I have tried NL but I can play well for an long time but then make a stupid mistake and lose my stack, In NL in any case I always get bullied
I am ok at Sit N Go's, they seem to suit my style of play and I actually make money at PLO but only cos most players are atrocious at it

Not for me the $12 million for winning the WSOP, my biggest win was $660 in a MTT on Cake a couple of years ago, and to me that was like winning a WSOP bracelet and I was on a high for a week

I have played on well over 30 sites and have got open accounts at about 10 cos I tend to go off a site when I get a bad beat there and move somewhere else, which I guess is a bit stupid. I am a butterfly, flitting from site to site trying to find the magical one where I can win constantly, but no luck up to now

I have used Poker Tracker and HEM and Holdem Indicator and I guess I must be super thick cos I look at all the stats and my head explodes

I reckon I could have a one on one coaching session with Phil Ivey and it wouldnt do me any good but...

It is not all doom and gloom, since I started playing I have kept details of every session I have played and in 5 years I have never had a losing year, I have never won much but I cant complain, I play poker mainly cos I love it not to win money, although that is always welcome

I love chatting when I am playing and reading and sending emails and playing chess, yes, you've guessed it, I have the attention span of a gnat, always have had always will have

The same is true of Poker Forums as of poker sites, I have been a member of lots of them and have never found one that suited me until I joined here, although I have been a member over a year, it has only been in the last couple of months that I have discovered what a great place this is, all the people on here are so friendly and the games and tourneys are brill, and I find the threads and discussions are really interesting and informative, and I think I am a slightly better player lately, only slightly tho

I am sure for every internet poker sensation like Duuur there are thousands of players like me who are not fishes(tho some may say I am) but just average players who love poker, the suck outs, the bad beats, the chat, and the sheer enjoyment of the greatest game in the world, and of course all the wonderful friends I have met through poker

I am never gonna stop trying to be a better poker player but win or lose I will be a poker player and hopefully a member of this great forum for life

Col, I think you underestimate yourself a little, but then humility is always an admirable trait.

We love having you here, too! ♥

Don't be so hard on yourself. If you've never had a losing year you are ahead of probably 90% of the poker players in the world. You play for reasons that make you happy. You contribute to the community by being part of forums like cards chat. All good stuff.

It's all good dude but, don't be giving up on getting somewhere just yet.

I say:

Post more often on here and spend a lot of time in the HA section we have here.

If you're not already trying to hand read then start now! A big part of the game that micro stakes players are missing is putting their opponent on a hand. Instead they just look at their hand and how it coordinates with the board and play on from there.

Be more aggressive sometimes, it seems as that is an aspect in your game that you are missing.

I know you're just having fun with poker and that's great! But don't give up on becoming a mid stakes player or whatever just yet, I think you can get there.

I'd also recommend you continue to play in the CC league....for two main reasons:
1) you're on my team
2) you're kicking butt


BTW We really do enjoy having you on the team

thanks Pete for your kind words

If I am kicking butt you are kicking whole
worlds and universes and I am so lucky to
have you on my team

You are so right, I try to hand read and now and again I get it right and it does make you feel good if you make the right call for the right reasons and
you are so right with the aggression, I am not an aggressive player, I tend to
sit back and observe and I am a lot more aggressive these days than
I used to be but compared to a lot of players these days I am not

I have never been aggressive in life or in poker and one of them need to change and I am trying

one thing that always sticks in my mind, I read somewhere that you should never play with scared money and that is what I do, in sit n go's I am fine cos it isnt money, but in cash games my money is scared which is stupid cos although I am not rich i dont play with money I cant afford to lose, but something always stops me forgetting about the money and concentrating on my cards

poker, like life is complicated

exactly why I play SnG's... no matter how many times I'm forced to push my stack to the middle, I'm still risking the same buyin

Hey great post Colbefc! I really enjoyed reading it.
Now when I see you on the table in a CC tourney, it'll be neat remembering having read this thread here.
see you around CC & gl on the tables!

Glad there are others like me in the world.

yes, there are many like me I guess

I do everything that is wrong when I am
playing poker

apart from one thing

I LOVE IT