Do we take the game too seriously?

[Lefty Blue]

Just a thought provoking question.

I'm not talking here about the recreational player who plays the game just for fun. This is about those of us who would like to learn enough to either make a living at the game or at least supplement our income.

I have met players who obsess about making the right decision on every hand. They do this so much they don't realize they just went broke.

For myself on my online poker I just look at my balance about once a week. I'm at the point where I realize I'm not losing but I'm not winning much. Of course, I'm only playing a couple hours a week.

I seem to do better at live poker but play ONLY a few times a year. DAMN work gets in the way!

The question I ask myself is are my results due to normal fluctuations?

So my friends, if you're just having fun or trying to make some money don't let poker take over your life. Play to live, not live to play.

 

[Pulsar]

I take poker seriously,too, and not just because money is at stake! I want to do everything better than the rest,but this I cannot and solutions I have not yet found!But this cannot continue forever,sooner or later I will either succeed or throw this game!

 

[MrPokerVerse]

Not sure how to answer this question so I'll approach from different perspectives. Being serious should not be confused with small variance or basing the amount of time you play by you're bankroll. That is a normal occurrence of poker, serious or not.

Players who normally analyze hands are the serious players looking at profit. If you make the right call and you lose, it is still the right call. The majority of the members here are serious players. They are getting the most from a site like this. You are taking time away from the table learning, rather than playing.

You mention the word obsess and I will take it out of the context you intended. Think there is a further distinction between serious and obsession. Those who are spending lot time at the table and neglecting other priorities is a huge problem. Sometimes that line is hard to realize. Those who cross it, think they are just a serious player.

The question you proposed toward the end of the post. In answer to that, how do you handle the fluctuation and what are you prepared to do regarding it? That is where it gets serious on the subject.

 

[infonazar]

My game brings me pleasure. In addition to enjoying the game, sometimes I get a cash reward. Poker has become part of my life and it does not hurt me at all.
Good luck.

 

[dear7]

I do. I have to take it seriously.

 

[Eric Salvador]

I have 3 people that I'm close with that have real opportunities at playing professionally. One supplemented his income and began to invest that money into businesses to bring in more income so he has more time to play. He plays online and live but has very poor BRM. Another is playing with a small bankroll and 50% of his expenses are paid by poker leaving very little room to build a bankroll. The other works with me and is very profitable online and rarely plays live but does well when he does. Each studies away from the game with books, webinars, coaching and websites. They're all lacking a BRM. If what you want to do is play for a living you need to find ways to minimize you current job or find other ways to match that income to free up your time. Also you study the game more to improve your online play. You can for sure increase you profits with what you do away for the table. Don't play outside of you bankroll. Whatever your bankroll is divide it by 50 and that's the games you should play. If you have $100 for a bankroll don't play MTT that are more than $2. I'm in the same boat as you and I'm just trying to figure out what everyone else is doing and how they're doing it. If you have people you can talk gameplay with is huge too. I hope this helps, good luck friend!

 

[Badbunny]

I started seriously since last year but still I get no result I keep informing me and reading a lot, that is still learning.

 

[Lefty Blue]

Still learning too

This might turn into an interesting thread.

I still remember at the beginning. I might as well have tattooed FISH on my forehead.

My worst mistake at the beginning was treating poker like blackjack. If I had Jack 8 suited in late position I bet it. Too bad I didn't know what to do with it.

But now that I'm not losing money, hopefully I can take it to the next level.

Thanks to all who replied so far. And thanks to the rest who will in the future.

 

[duretsie444]

i am quitting the game i cant win i have no luck After losing set of Kings to Quad Aces i give up God does not want me to win Do yourself a favor and give it up you might win a few times but the losses and stress involved far outweigh the winning sessions

 

[VivicvrMga]

I play every day an average of 4 hours, but I feel the same as you are not losing but evolving little too. I believe I have to change the strategy to become more profitable

 

[guicor30]

Money tables and you should not play tournaments.
with respect to not seeing your balance, I recommend you keep track of your balance because you can make a good management of your banckroll, remember that according to your bank will be your investment to sit at the tables.


Good luck at the tables.

 

[damgold]

I take, i always want to improve and want to win many tournaments.

 

[freestocks]

I take the game too seriosly mostly when I lose. It is kind of like yelling at a car that cuts you off.

 

[Lheticus]

I'm more deadly serious about poker than any other game I play. A lot more potential for money involved in this than things like MtG or Smash Bros.

 

[Kenzie 96]

No matter how much you study, your game, watch videos, read & get coaching, if you don't practice BRM your just gambling.

 

[Dora]

Every activity we produce, whether it's a game or a job, should be taken seriously.

 

[Dailon Arroyo Blandon]

I take very seriously when playing poker for several reasons ... the first one is because my money is at stake ... second because one of my goals in becoming a professional poker player ... and third because I hope I can earn enough and live poker ..!

 

[stuhawk5]

Sometimes I take it too serious, but then I realise that if I'm not having fun, why am i here at all?

 

[Cam54]

I wouldn't say too seriously but then that's me I have always been highly competitive ... I loved sports when I was younger and always would strive to play my best ( Hockey ... Baseball .. shooting pool even ) for me if I am going to do something I want it to be the best I can ... I am retired now and you could say poker is recreational ... that doesn't mean I do not try hard .. study a lot .. talk to other players ... and continue learning poker as best I can ... it's my nature ..

I can't just do something for fun, although I have fun playing poker if I win or if I lose, and if I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't do it .. it does not make me upset to lose but I instantly have a desire to fix what I did wrong, or confirm that even if I lost I played correctly , and will spend much time and effort in doing so...

I certainly didn't spend as much time at the casino when I had to work every day .. and to top that all I think there has to be balance .... in my case that means family ... children .. grandchildren ... and several other distractions .... too many, the way I attack poker might be too serious, even though I really do not have aspirations to be a pro ... I just want to do my best ....

 

[Newzooozooo]

Hello !
I take a very serious attitude to the game.
I try to play and study every day, but unfortunately there is not always such an opportunity.
And I am very upset if I lose.
Good luck.

 

[duretsie444]

i am the same way i do not like to lose i dont say nice hand when i get beat out of a pot especially when it makes a huge dent in my stack. Anyone that says "nice hand" when you get coolered needs some serious mental help

 

[duretsie444]

when its your money you have to take it very serious If you were playing with someone else money its different You can play more relaxed and play better but that has yet to happen to me

 

[Lefty Blue]

Someone started a thread "Is poker better than sex".

That's when I KNEW some people go to far!

 

[KevinLee]

I think that allowing anything to take over your life is not a good idea. Having said that, some people enjoy the challenge that poker presents and will practice, read, and study in order to test themselves. Too much of anything is bad, heck, drinking too much water can kill a person.

 

[ritehere]

If you don't take it serious then it's simply a hobby.