My poker dreams are slowly fading away…

Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
My poker dreams are slowly fading away…

From my point of view; I think the field is getting harder to beat every day.

The sites promotions are not as good as what they used to be.

I lost most of my motivation for grinding. Right now I'm taking a break from the grind.

I don't know what to do to regain my motivation.

Maybe there are books or videos that could address that subject.

Any suggestions?
 
TimovieMan

TimovieMan

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 16, 2016
Total posts
2,264
Chips
0
Taking a break is the correct thing to do in this case, imo.

Re-adjust your goals (i.e. stop grinding for max $ but play for fun and to improve as a player), and/or go do something non-poker related.
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Total posts
4,734
Awards
14
Chips
77
maybe take a break, or like 50 used to say " switch ur style up and watch the money pile up" ie try new games and or sites
 
Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
Re-adjust your goals (i.e. stop grinding for max $ but play for fun and to improve as a player), and/or go do something non-poker related.
I liked the extra money poker has brought me over the years. But I don't have as much fun playing anymore.

I already started many non-poker related activities; but they are not as profitable in terms of money. :(
 
A

alexis8888

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Total posts
419
Chips
0
Just play. I have no any poker dreams but have enough fun playing poker. Money cant buy happiness.
 
wilpinsi

wilpinsi

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 11, 2013
Total posts
1,321
Chips
0
the myth of losing interest in poker.

1- you is losing every day, it wears

2 when realizes will not get anywhere, think that all is lost, and so plays no interest, it will take you to a single place to defeat

3 where you will find motivation to go back and this time stronger than at the beginning?
within yourself, then that this player, the champion, just knowing wake him,
not discouraged by little, the big players also went through these obstacles, and still won!

4 follows fighting, you will realize that we can often change, just for this want.

*** good luck.
 
Dorugremon

Dorugremon

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Total posts
456
Awards
1
Chips
19
This is not very helpful. Let's take 'em one-by-one.

"My poker dreams are slowly fading away…"

What dreams? I can "dream" all I want about a 1st place finish at the wsop, but what's important is what I might do to make it happen. You don't start with unrealistic "dreams": you set realistic goals. You also need to get acquainted with Vera Variance: Lady Luck's uglier, meaner sister.

There are times when you will lose your ASSSSSSSS, not because you did anything wrong, but because your fishy opponent hit that one outer, and did it more than once when you got it in good against him. Don't think of it as a loss. Think of it as a temporary loan that will be paid back with interest, because it will (unless they blow it at the Craps tables). There's no limit to the fish that'll replace him.

Last night SUCKED: I'd hit it with hands like AK, AQ, AJ, TT, JJ and miss every last one. I ran 0-for-5 with pocket kings. It happens, and there's not Thing One you can do about it, other than lose less than any rec-fish would do with the same hands in the same situations. The best you can do is stay off tilt, and wait for Vera to go pick on someone else.

If you stay on top of it and do your best to always play your A-game, you'll come back. You could spend more time rubbing your luck box. :D

"From my point of view; I think the field is getting harder to beat every day".

No it isn't. I don't know of any venue, live or on-line, where I can see more fish than I could visiting Sea World. Quite frankly, I am baffled trying to figure out how they could make the silly mistakes they make.

"The sites promotions are not as good as what they used to be".

Less competition since Black Friday. Thanks Congress! Thanks Barack! NOT! "Land of the free and home of the brave?", not any more it isn't.

"I lost most of my motivation for grinding. Right now I'm taking a break from the grind".

Nothing wrong with taking a break, if that's what you think you need to do.

"I don't know what to do to regain my motivation".

See above.
 
G

Gump877

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 27, 2016
Total posts
74
Chips
0
Maybe try some different poker variants that you don't normally play. I do best at NL tournaments but still play 0/8, Omaha and mixed games to keep it interesting. Not sure what games you play but the NL grind Definitely gets boring. Setting goals also helps keep you motivated or adjust your routine around. If bankroll or busting isn't a issue, taking shots at higher stakes would always make me focus more and would usually reduce any stress at stakes I would normally play. Could try advancing your game, take on new angles that your not that familiar with like mastering the LAG strategy will give you a lot more action and becomes more satisfying IMO when you win. Sometimes playing to much you just start to leak with out realizing it and you just need to take some time off the game.
 
lorres1991

lorres1991

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Total posts
452
Chips
0
What sites do you play on? I feel the same way playing on poker stars, then I head over to party poker and the games are so much easier it makes my head explode. They have some nice bonuses and stuff too, and the Missions have given me like $30 in free stuff from a $20 deposit, not even counting the deposit bonus I'm working on.
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
I think the best suggestion would be to take some time off of poker. People can get burnt out on anything that they do often no matter how much they love it. Doing the same thing day in and day out can wear you down.

I've had phases where I've stopped playing poker for a week or two and usually don't even think about it until something triggers me that reminds me of poker that will make me want to play again.


It can be anything from obvious like seeing Phil Hellmuth eating food on my TV or something like hearing the word "bankroll" or something strange like seeing a desirable luxurious lifestyle/location
Often I come back playing better than I left.
 
xpvictor1

xpvictor1

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Total posts
532
Awards
5
Chips
2
I understand .. but luckily .. only dreams ??

I hope only your dreams have been shattered and not your bank account or relationships. Life provides us with ample opportunity to switch up our dreams or perhaps just have more realistic expectations. I was divorced .. then I realized there was "life after wife" (new wife is wonderful). Believe me , there is life after poker too.
 
pescaofish

pescaofish

Academic Poker
Loyaler
Joined
Nov 8, 2013
Total posts
2,027
Awards
10
PA
Chips
97
Gorak from me been playing for about 7 years but only as entertainment, I will say try some other games as Badugi, 2/7 Lowball or Razz they are easier and fun the only problem is that there are very few games but if you find them it will be fulfilling. :)
 
quick

quick

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Total posts
1,348
Awards
1
Chips
67
Others are right, take a break, evaluate what you want to get out of poker.

For me switching sites and having people who play regularly and who are better players than me in my life have helped me immensely. Now I play with a goal of profit but also find myself getting more excited and getting pumped to sit down and play, to maneuver around tricky spots, to know i folded correctly, or that I value betted and went to value town. To see spectacular bad beats and just take it all in. To just embrace it all and accept it all. if I still totally sucked at poker it wouldn't be fun as fun but I've come to terms with the fact that people play for different reasons and for some poker is different meanings to them. And I'm honest with myself , if i really don't want to play today i won't. If I sit down and find myself bored or tilted, nowadays I'm taking a break.
 
F

freestocks

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Feb 24, 2013
Total posts
2,351
Chips
0
There are less and less players and promo's since the poker boom.
 
H

Hero4real

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Total posts
8
Chips
0
It aint about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward, thats how winning is done!
 
Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
People can get burnt out on anything that they do often no matter how much they love it.
I think I'm burnt out because I played too much and the results were not like they used to be.
 
Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
Others are right, take a break, evaluate what you want to get out of poker.
I mostly play poker for the extra money it gets me. I paid for my car (used) with my poker earnings. Now I'd like to play to replenish my bank account.

But if you take the money factor out of poker or you make it harder to win then I'm not going to play for long in that context.

Also all the constant VIP program changes and the mergers from sites all over the place is giving me extra work that I really don't need at this moment.
 
ismagul

ismagul

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Total posts
125
Chips
0
whenever i go broke i always feel the same way i always think of quiting
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
I think I'm burnt out because I played too much and the results were not like they used to be.

This could be correlated with playing too much without a break. Yes, the fields are also getting tougher which probably plays a big part too but when you add constant 7 days a week playing on top of that it's going to show up in your results.

I remember a story from Doyle Brunson talking about playing online and someone was sweating him and he told Doyle he was playing bad. Doyle mentioned thinking he was actually playing decent and he didn't realize till later that it was a result of playing too much without taking any breaks.

I've looked for this story so I could tell it accurately but can't find it. It may have been in one of his books. Can't remember now.
 
Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
This could be correlated with playing too much without a break.
I admit that I've been playing too much for too long.

Maybe that is one of the problems with MTT's. Once you are in, you have to play until you bust or win. That may mean eating in front of the computer or staying up late.

I wished I could win a big amount before taking a real break. Right now I limit myself to freerolls.
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
A break doesn't have to be months. Even a week off or a CC freeroll a day for a couple of weeks could go a long way if you do decide to take some time off.
 
E

ELDONKOII

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Total posts
95
Chips
0
you have to constantly adapt your game altho unless u are playing mid stakes tourneys and cash you arent ever gonna beat the field with just strategy because ,theres 20 million poker wannabes playing the low stakes and a few pros mopping up the fish lol... take a look at where you lost and why you should have folded ...winning a hand wont always win the tourney but folding one might :)
 
Gorak

Gorak

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
2,944
Chips
0
Following the advice of some ITT; I reduced my poker activities to almost freerolls only.

I think I paid less than 1$ of rake this month. I still managed to make about $100 from the freerolls. :)

But my passion for the game has not returned yet. I guess I'll have to wait some more.
 
A

andreii955

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Total posts
447
Chips
0
dreams remain dreams, reality is different, we all want to win the jackpot you win the jackpot but only one. There will always dream and I dream to win the tournament but it's hard WOSP.
 
S3mper

S3mper

Poker Not Checkers
Loyaler
Joined
May 13, 2013
Total posts
8,355
Awards
2
US
Chips
123
Following the advice of some ITT; I reduced my poker activities to almost freerolls only.

I think I paid less than 1$ of rake this month. I still managed to make about $100 from the freerolls. :)

But my passion for the game has not returned yet. I guess I'll have to wait some more.

Are you able to play some live poker? I find live poker to be a little more enjoyable. Get to have some human interaction with people who share a passion.
 
Top