Perhaps the better question is when does profit become the primary reason for playing? I know in my case profit is still not a primary reason for playing. It wasn't 20 years ago when I would occasionally go to a casino with the intent of getting $50 worth of entertainment. It surely wasn't in the early days of internet play.
While almost everyone here has ragged me about my poker philosophy, and my use of play money games to learn nearly all the basics and most of the advanced stuff about the game, I still find myself playing play money RUSH, or ZOOM, or even a regular play money tourney. I still maintain, that the only thing impossible to learn in play money poker is the 'scared money' aspect of gambling. Old saying is that if you can afford to flush money down the drain, you can afford poker. Well, change that to if you ENJOY flushing money down the drain then you could do that or play poker.
I am not trying to make a living on poker, I enjoy the game. A day of live poker around here (L.A.) is still cheaper than a day at Disneyland, or probably a date night at the latest movie. After a big tourney win, I typically find myself at big cash tables where I am a losing player, and always remind myself I am a loser at cash tables. I also find I have less fun losing at cash tables than I do at tourney's.
Vinny, you mentioned you did well at tourney's, but think the holy grail is ring?
My philosophy allows me to explore the theories of poker freely. A grinder has to learn the moves, and apply them fearlessly to succeed.
In my case I also think that over the years, my ring game villains have marked me as a fish, and play me that way. I think it is not something that can change much, even if my game has changed. If those villains play me that way, rather than the way they would play an unknown, my game would need to be extra special to overcome my ring game history.
So, all that (^^^) is prelude to my suggestion that if you feel some need to be a grinder, you should think that you need a pro coach, and pay him as if you were a golfer and wanted Tiger to teach you, or at least a golfer who realized a glitch in his swing and was willing to pay someone to work on that glitch.
DJ. another masterpiece post on your behalf. thnk you.
Im going to answer the question related to tourneys and cash.
I really believe and am pretty sure that im a half descent tourney player. but because i would like to reach a point where i am making good profit on a regular basis, i dont think tourney is the way to go.(due to the fact that i mentioned the words "
REGULAR BASIS").
From what i understand, none of the serious grinders or professionals are tourney players strictly. I could be wrong here.
The thing is, that although i love my tourneys and do appreciate the andrenaline rush they provide,assuming you have a deep run, i believe that the play is really mechanical after a point and luck plays a huge part after the blinds exceed a certain point.
In cash, the good player will see his net won line go upwards . the bad player will see it go downwards.
also in cash games, your playing your hard earned cash, so there is no room for mistakes. every decision must be based on various factors where in a tourney its pretty straightforward:
"Hmmmm... lemme see, i have 8BB left its folded down to me , i have pocket 8's,god be with me"
i just think cash is harder and more challenging. the problem is that right now, i dont have the cash to play the cash limits that i wanna be playing. And i cant really build it up from playing 2NL and moving up levels. i dont have that kind of discipline.
cause ive done it in the past and i really cant do it again. its tooo straining.
Best case scenario for me right now would be to win a tourney. 2K and above and go play some 50NL properly rolled.
that is one of my goals for 2013.
and to be honest, lately im playing alot of tourneys and im running pretty good in most of them. just havent hit the big score yet.(im sure its due)
Tonight im going to play the big 109 on stars. im depositing 100 euros and if i win, then im going to be on good track. if i lose, theres another 100 bucks that i didnt play within my BR.oh well....
