have I fallen out of love with the game?

Red_Devil · Jan 24, 2014

Hey guys, hope everyone is well?

Recently I took a break from playing & set myself a challenge to read as many tournament poker books as possible, as I felt that sng's and tournaments were my strongest & favourite game. I desperately want to improve, but i'm finding all the info is becoming a little overwhelming. This is going to sound strange, but the more I read, the more I fall out of love with playing! It makes me feel like I will never reach the standard required. Why should I be loading up my money if I can't be the best player I can be? I think i'm asking too much of myself. Can any winning players on here help me to change my mindset or a better way of structuring my learning? I want to get back playing again, but for whatever reason I continue telling myself I need get better before I reload. I have been out for around 2 months now.

Cheers

BoddJonar · Jan 25, 2014

Hey dude!

The information in books can be overwhelming.
This game is hard both practically and theoretically, and altough it's individual for people, usually it goes well with doing both at the same time!
After reading a chapter, practice it in the game.
After a while you get the hang of it, and can move to the next level.
Worked for me when starting with Mtt's and SnG's

Cheers

Arjonius · Jan 26, 2014

Improving isn't just a matter of accessing as much information as possible. As noted, the more you try to absorb at once or in a short time, the more likely you'll experience some degree of confusion or incomplete understanding.

Another element is prioritizing what you'd be best served to learn at any given time. This will allow you to structure what you learn in a reasonable sequence - like the normal way of learning anything complex.

steveiam · Jan 27, 2014

For me the biggest thing that has changed my online game is getting a hud/tracker like Holdem manager. You can then review all your stats to find where your leaks are and then you will know where to focus your efforts to improve. For example I found my PFR was to low compared to my VPR so I have been working on my aggression and calling less.

I don't see the point in reading every book because you will find the game has moved on in the last 5 years.

RamdeeBen · Jan 27, 2014

Red_Devil said:
Hey guys, hope everyone is well?

Recently I took a break from playing & set myself a challenge to read as many tournament poker books as possible, as I felt that sng's and tournaments were my strongest & favourite game. I desperately want to improve, but i'm finding all the info is becoming a little overwhelming. This is going to sound strange, but the more I read, the more I fall out of love with playing! It makes me feel like I will never reach the standard required. Why should I be loading up my money if I can't be the best player I can be? I think i'm asking too much of myself. Can any winning players on here help me to change my mindset or a better way of structuring my learning? I want to get back playing again, but for whatever reason I continue telling myself I need get better before I reload. I have been out for around 2 months now.

Cheers

To me it seems like you're wanting to improve so quickly purely from a profit point of view. You desperately want to improve your game so quickly you're willing to read/learn everything you can to ultimately win some money but quickly?

This is great but I think you're trying to run before you can walk. What I mean is that, you're just taking in so much information that there's only so much of it we can process at a time so you're becoming just so overwhelmed that it's probably draining you, thus you have already had enough before you have started. It also doesn't help that I assume you just want to win quickly that's why you're wanting to improve at such a rate. It's not just a case of reading everything all the time, it's about reading good stuff and taking that stuff in so it sticks. It's pointless reading tons of stuff if it's doing the absolute opposite of what it should be.

Your post sounds very much like I used to be. I'm still one who wants to learn all the time and when I do something I do it obsessively but I spent way to much time at some points where I really didn't enjoy it so you really need to take some breaks from time to time and just study a little less, play less and do other things non poker related.

The point here is that, it seems like you're having to force yourself to want to do this which is obviously going to lead to bad results overall like in anything we do in life. If we feel forced or have to do something, the results are never great. I'd take some time away completely from poker until you get that urge to enjoy the game first again.

EvertonGirl · Jan 27, 2014

Like everyone has mentioned don't rush with your studying as you will not understand completely by rushing into things, you will only confuse yourself more.

Learn a little bit at a time and then with what you have learnt take it to the tables and practice till you think you have fully understood that part. Then you can decide to move on and learn something new and add that to your practice.

GL with your study and GL @ the table

d44ve · Jan 27, 2014

I think its like a writers block.... You just have to step away for a little while and it will come back to you.

I have had this happen to me before and I took a vacation from my winnings, and the next thing you knew. .. as soon as I was back, I was ready to start playing again

DonV73 · Jan 27, 2014

It seems like you want to improve without losing some money, or without making mistakes. I think that is impossible (except for when you try with play money, but I dont think thats a good way for practice).

Also, try not to read a whole book at once. Read one chapter for example or even a few paragraphs and put that into practice.

MasterOfDisaster · Jan 27, 2014

Only read pokerbooks if they are really new the rest is so quickly outdated.

IE if you would have read something like supersystem 8 years ago you could have been a winner easily, now you should be happy to get break even with the same info.

Akorps · Jan 27, 2014

The ratio between playing and studying generally needs to be in favor of much more time spent playing and gaining experience, and in thinking about the game, and going over your hands, than in reading.

Cano_arg · Jan 27, 2014

I'm new here. For play freerolls, I must have 65 post?

Red_Devil · Jan 27, 2014

joining cardschat was the best thing I did for my game. The advice I receive on a regular basis here is top notch. Once again....Thanks to everyone. I have invested in a HUD & hopefully it will serve me well

. Your all right, I am trying to take short cuts with the books & taking on too much, when I would probably be better served reviewing my sessions & just chatting with you guys on here.

cotta777 · Jan 27, 2014

Hi red devil,

its important not to take every piece of information to literal.
every player has different success methods, you can gaurantee even the greatest players in the the world have disagreements over which method of play should be better than another and we all have a comfort zone in which we apply in order to play and produce our A game or best way to make the most money subject to our surrounding.

Basically what im saying is just because a book says something you dont have to mirror that book.
You take on your own style of play which suits you and you apply all the important stuff that you need to your game, such as knowing how to exploit players, being able to read ranges and having a firm understanding of poker and all its concepts.

in fact over reading books wont benifit you, instead you should watch top quality players in turorial videos and get upto scratch with everything a Reg needs to know.

the one thing most players do wrong is they learn everything they can and once they do they dont put the practice and time into being creative using their own creativity to add something else to their game that winning regs aren't doing

Red_Devil · Jan 27, 2014

Hey Cotta

.

Thanks for your input. I have my own style, aggressive (admittedly a little spewy at times, but I wasn't afraid to try new things). I didn't have a HUD, so that didn't help! I did ok before I stopped playing in December 13, winning a Sunday Mil sat, cashing the sunday Mil in 568th for 400 dollars which at the time I was chuffed to bits with, as this was a huge step up for me & a big boost to my bankroll. Final tabled the Stars 2.50 180 man regularly, finishing 2nd 3 times!! Not winning it still haunts me to this day, especially as ev time I was stacking my opponent at least 3:2. I just became frustrated with a dry spell & my inability to win a tournament, I kept asking myself why...? I suppose it's easy to question your ability throughout a dry spell & joining this forum has done worlds for my confidence. I certainly wont be playing by the book, more adding things to my game that I feel is solid advice! Suppose I am just too eager atm & need to set more achievable targets with regards to my study & my game.

degen909 · Feb 3, 2014

ramdeebam said:
To me it seems like you're wanting to improve so quickly purely from a profit point of view. You desperately want to improve your game so quickly you're willing to read/learn everything you can to ultimately win some money but quickly?

This is great but I think you're trying to run before you can walk. What I mean is that, you're just taking in so much information that there's only so much of it we can process at a time so you're becoming just so overwhelmed that it's probably draining you, thus you have already had enough before you have started. It also doesn't help that I assume you just want to win quickly that's why you're wanting to improve at such a rate. It's not just a case of reading everything all the time, it's about reading good stuff and taking that stuff in so it sticks. It's pointless reading tons of stuff if it's doing the absolute opposite of what it should be.

Your post sounds very much like I used to be. I'm still one who wants to learn all the time and when I do something I do it obsessively but I spent way to much time at some points where I really didn't enjoy it so you really need to take some breaks from time to time and just study a little less, play less and do other things non poker related.

The point here is that, it seems like you're having to force yourself to want to do this which is obviously going to lead to bad results overall like in anything we do in life. If we feel forced or have to do something, the results are never great. I'd take some time away completely from poker until you get that urge to enjoy the game first again.

what they're saying and most importantly.have fun.that's why most people started playing in the first place is to have fun. everything else will follow suit.

Red_Devil · Feb 5, 2014

degen909 said:
what they're saying and most importantly.have fun.that's why most people started playing in the first place is to have fun. everything else will follow suit.

Cheers Degen

TheNoobie · Feb 5, 2014

You cant play on your best level if you are not playing at all. Just because it gets harder doesnt mean you should immidiately quit. Whats easy in this life? I havent seen anything that can be turned into profit and is both profitable and easy. To be the best player you can be you need to keep playing even when it gets harder and harder. In poker you will learn way better from your losses than your victories, because when you lose it costs you money. You wanna be better? Do the best you can, you cant just quit. Youre not falling out of love with the game, you just are not sure whether it is worth the hassle to actually get better or its not. But it is worth it, because if you get used to quitting every time this get hard you will not achieve anything. You wouldnt want to live with memories like these, that you gave up when you could have just kept trying.
And remember - Every thing you learn about this game, even the smallest thing, puts you ahead of someone who isnt trying.
When someone puts you in a bad situation - dont say "Why me?", but say "Try me!.
Good luck and dont give up, everything could happen if you are ready to sacrifice enough.

Jacki Burkhart · Feb 6, 2014

I went on a similar "book nerd" warpath about 3 years ago....I found my game temporarily suffered as I tried to implement too many different "advanced" strategies without really having the good base skills to build on.

I read "kill everyone" which I thought was a great book, but now I feel like I need to go back and re-read it because there was so much I didn't understand back then that I do understand now....

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Do little experiments. Read a strategy or tactic, try it out a few times, analyze how well it worked or didn't work and then figure out WHY it worked (or didn't work) take it apart down to the nuts and bolts....then after you fully grasp it you can keep it or leave it, or just save it for a rainy day but one thing that will happen is you'll recognize that move later when you see it....

have I fallen out of love with the game?

Red_Devil

Enthusiast

BoddJonar

Visionary

Arjonius

Legend

steveiam

CardsChat Elite

RamdeeBen

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EvertonGirl

Professional Fish

d44ve

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DonV73

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MasterOfDisaster

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Akorps

Rock Star

Cano_arg

Rising Star

Red_Devil

Enthusiast

cotta777

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Red_Devil

Enthusiast

degen909

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Red_Devil

Enthusiast

TheNoobie

Rock Star

Jacki Burkhart

long winded rambler...

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