Do you play to win or just to make a profit?

[Roccoa3]

I play to get better. I'm not a huge fan or grinding without feeling like I'm getting better

 

[ayahuasca]

What you're doing is like asking a fisherman if he likes to catch fish.

It would be the same if I asked a fisherman if he likes to catch a fish or just enjoy the process of fishing It takes all sort to make the world.

 

[Oliver Wayne]

I play only to make profit. And to make a profit you must to win. Everything is connected.

 

[ayahuasca]

I play only to make profit. And to make a profit you must to win. Everything is connected.

We're talking about tournaments. Making a profit doesn't always mean winning

 

[0_5v]

It depends on the tournament and the prize structure. I feel I'm a learner still after only 10 years of casual play at casino, and pub poker once a week with tournaments every 3 months, as well as pokerstars. At the casino I have cashed with ratio of 50 % and win $ is 3 to 1 of buyin, so that is ok, but no huge payouts. So for the Casino I look to get profit.

In pub poker I have played for 5 years and got sufficient points for all but one tournament, and have been in the money only once. For that scene I'm there for the fun more than the money. Also I like to learn from these regulars how people show in their face or hands etc what they have, and my reading skill is much better now. Unfortunately my acting correctly on the "read" skill is not yet tuned. So I'm working on that.

 

[SaintNick1968]

Obviously what you're trying to do is make the most money. That might sound obvious but a lot of people ignore ICM and go completely for the win or try to limp into the money at all costs. Neither of these is the correct solution. Understanding ICM (the independent chip model that shows that each chip doesn't have the same value in a non winner take all tournament and that every chip gained is worth less than every chip lost) will help you find the right balance between aiming for the win only and trying to crawl up the pay ladder based on the pay structure of a tournament. There's a lot of articles and information about this concept that you could look at, and the push/ fold software 'ICMizer' has helped me greatly in putting this concept into practice. There can definitely be spots where ICM and ICM pressure can have a huge effect on how you should be playing. Hope that helps!

 

[TryTo]

I play to learn to play poker. To make profit on high limits. It's a waste of a time where I am now, not a profit.

 

[Roger1960]

I try to get into the money first. Lately, I have been thinking about changing that mentality. I find this way of playing I seem to most of the time be short stacked and scared as the money phase starts and get beat out by bad hands by higher stacks, which makes sense. They are trying to knock all of the other players out, they have the stack to do it. So why not call.
It is a lot better feeling having that bigger stack and calling the short stacks. lol I am constantly trying to get better at going farther in a tourney.

 

[Roger1960]

A lot of good scenarios in these posts, this is what I love the most about CardsChat. Getting the insights of how other players think.

 

[Sergiy777]

PROFIT, PROFIT, PROFIT!!!

 

[sryulaw]

What is your main goal while playing?

Winning or placing?

Do you relax and start to play not so thoughtfully as soon as you're sure you will get a piece of prize pool in any case?

Today my goal is to make volume of game, and to improve my technique, I believe that the more I play, I am evolving even though I do not have financial profits, I am gaining knowledge of the game ..
In about 10 months then I want to be profiting from the money.

 

[ph_il]

I play to win.

Winning = Profiting
Profiting =/= Winning

As an MTT player, I'd rather miss out on 19 min-cashes and win the 20th MTT than settle for 20 min-cashes and 0 wins.

 

[cata1999]

I play poker to make a profit but every time I tend to win.

 

[imnoobpoker]

I play to win and for the fun. The profit is always welcome

 

[Brandom1]

I play to win 1st. I wanna win every tourney that I play to boost my stats and make my resume even more impressive but in the long run we all play for the money but the prestige is my overall goal.

 

[1putnik]

What is your main goal while playing?

Winning or placing?

Do you relax and start to play not so thoughtfully as soon as you're sure you will get a piece of prize pool in any case?

Play for your own pleasure and enjoy the game. Show yours best game no matter with what result, just play how you can, being relaxed and calmly, then profit and money wouldnt make you waiting for thems, youll see..

 

[Djmickre]

I play because I enjoy the game, not to turn a profit.

 

[SydTheCat]

Would love to think I'm gonna win every time I play, I look at that final table payouts and hope to get there, but my first goal is to make it ITM.
Once I reach that goal, I set another one for the next payout ,and so on until I reach the FT.

 

[Acunaaldje]

Profit, but there has to chance a lot 😹😹😹😹

 

[akmost]

I play thinking in stages and depending on my stack. For example, in CC freerolls, i play first for be a top 60. After to be in the prized positions, after to be top 15 and then for final table. After the final table, I play like a new tournament.
If my stack is so short close to the bubble, I wait for mini profit and do not take risks, but if my stack is way big I play normal in any phase and look to raise/mantain the stack until the FT.

Many times I eliminate near bubble not only in CC freerolls because I play to go as deep as I can and of course the main goal is the final table. I am not satisfied with a min cash

Go hard or go home haha , Good luck!!

 

[bigjay2007]

Nice to make the money any time, but if i have what i think is the best hand going to the flop, turn or river, I will most often take my chances. This may explain why i have not scored the big tourney victory that I'm looking for. I have won some small entry tourneys and being aggressive with premium hands is still the best way to go if you ask me.

 

[alfiyka]

if I write that play for fun-this is not the complete answer. If you write that play for money-also not true-I have no such patience and skill as professionals.I think everything is connected with adrenaline.We enjoy the game and win.

 

[Luan]

game to earn profit and win at the same time. for the sake of generating profit in a good and regular tournament and gaining experience at regular tables and being known as a regular player (note: correct me if I am wrong)

 

[lagfishbilly]

In tournament poker you should always be playing for 1st place. The only exceptions are satellite tournaments and maybe a scenario where you have bought in way over your budget and need to min cash.

 

[393700]

I play for fun, but it's always nice to win, even a small amount, but you feel like a winner.