Early Milestone Post.....

BigDragon

Coming up on my 1000th post so instead of pissing it away on some rubbish gag I thought I'd get a bit introspective and talk sh1te about me and poker. Here it is........

BigDragon

….or how Poker has eaten me up.


I like poker, and I think that is my problem. The killer instinct is dormant in me. It raises its head every now and again and says ‘Boo!’ but its scaring nobody. I can play a bit and calculate odds but in the end I do stupid things too often. For what it’s worth here’s my take on the whole sheeebang….

About 18 months ago I decided that my back had had enough of rugby and I was going on a journey of self discovery….i.e. I was giving up the demon liquid stuff for a few months! The only problem was that for the previous my social life consisted of drinking! After a couple of home games a guy suggested the Fitz for a change and I head in for a Friday night to play the 50/50. All I can remember from that game was Pat Vickers eating the head off me, in a nice way, for playing a hand very badly. What I mean to say is I took his chips by rivering him with some muck that looked pretty. I drove home with a feeling I can only assume that junkies get after their first fix. I was determined to learn more about this game and did a search on the net and came across a site called boards.ie.

When I went to France on holiday for the first time I had very little French and had never driven on the right side of the road. Roundabouts were a total fcuking mystery. That’s how I felt when I read about betting on the come, runner runners, up’and’downers, TPTK, middle pins, and the like. Where’s my Poker-English dictionary Mr Eason? But you know what? I felt at home. Then a certain Devore posted about a guy who did something on a final table etc etc and I knew it was me and I got that junkie fix again. Next thing I know I’m learning loads and playing more. Eventually I start giving a certain dealer a lift home most Fridays and he starts talking about hands and positions and plays he’s seen dealing and things that I had never noticed. This guy can’t afford to play the tournaments I’m playing and he has me, and most others, in his pocket when it comes to strategy and play.

I know nothing.

Then a stupid thing happens. I win a tournament. It’s too fcuking early for me to win one. I don’t get big headed but I realize I CAN win them and that’s nearly worse as I want to win more. Bye, bye social life. Now for those of you that cry foul on gambling, I didn’t have a massive social life to begin with. TV became less of a hobby, that’s all. I am starting to get to an age where the whole pub/club thing every weekend is getting to me and tournament poker took over so it really was just a zero sum equation.

So am I a gambler now, do I have another addiction to deal with? I don’t know. I read once that a gamblers MRI scan of his brain whilst gambling is nearly exactly the same as that of a coke addicts’ brain on coke…go figure. The way I see it I like poker. I never play BJ, rarely bet on sports and know feck all about horses. So maybe I’m a poker addict. Yes possibly, but I pay my bills and look after my responsibilities and pension so how different is it from drinking it in the pub. The fact that Im playing online as I type speaks volumes, but it says more about the buyin ($3 rebuy) than me I think. Im ‘in the money’ btw.

My tournament game is improving all the time but I have to work harder than a lot of people that just arrive and have ‘game’. I’m getting happier about poker maths and conditional probability but my game theory and ‘reads’ need a lot of work. Overall, I’m a bad player. Slowly I’m getting better but if I don’t see improvement I could just go away. My biggest problem is probably fear. After talking with Sverre Sunbho at the Irish Open I know this is a big problem of mine and probably stops me finishing higher in fewer tournaments than lower in many….you know what I mean! I also have to get away from the tendency to fit my ‘read’ to suit my holding. If it looks like a set, walks like a set and quacks like a set then it’s probably a set and not a flush draw that my top two are ahead of.

In a way, I think that’s why I’ve started Onepercentpledge. To tie me to live poker. The genesis was to help people but maybe the implementation was for selfish reasons. It’s too early to tell.

The level of game I play leaves me open to ego in the levels I should be killing. There is a pub game locally that I should be killing because the standard is so poor. I have only played it once and wrote it off as a waste of my time but in the long run I know there is money there. But it’s not the ‘end of the month in the Fitz’. Aim high shoot low.

That’s where I am today, having one of many ‘why play poker moments’ wondering if things will change. Ninety percent of all players are losers and I am one of them. Not by much but close enough. I can count on one hand the number of players that would admit to that. Winning, and a winning image are important in poker. Bollox! Confidence is more important than winning because, one comes before the other. I truly believe that. Confidence is not ego though and a few of us here need to learn that to improve.

Above all friendship and the inevitable group dynamics in a selfish game keep me at it and here on boards.ie. I know about 5% of the surnames of people I trust here and that is weird but good.

Plan B, get a mentor and move on with a few ideas and experiences. CV’s to…………. ‘It’s all good’ as Damien Dempsey said.

Dub13

Very nice and honest post Dave,Congrats on the 1000th post.

One thing from your post freaks me out a bit....did you drive on the left in France..:eek:

Ollieboy

Nice post mate and I guess its the same story for most people here.

jbravado

Pretty knew to the boards scene but is one of the best posts I have read here.:)

Gholimoli

nice post Mr D .
all i can say is been there ,came throught it,went there again ,came through it ...you get what i mean.

Marq

Excellent read, nice call.

NickyOD

BigD is the nuts.

Culchie

Nice one Dave.

For what it's worth, I reckon you're one of the best players around, and well overdue a positive spell of variance.......and definitely one of the best blokes around as well.


Ugly as sin, but shure what can ya do.;)

myflipflops

ur a gentleman to play against dave and a player i respect lots. if ur a "losing" player at the moment then just give it a few months and the attitude you bring to the tablle will turn that around.

note culchie: im very confident im uglier than him!

Iago

Very impressive post Dave, Kudos to you!

I'm kind of in the same boat as you right now, I'm wondering whether it's worth the effort anymore. I've gone from playing 6-8 hours in a session to 1-2, I've gone from playing 4-5 days a week to sometimes only once a fortnight.

I am "up" to date, although only $7K over 12 months is hardly anything to be screaming about and frankly it hardly seems worthwhile any more. That I'm going through a period where I'm constantly being outdrawn or losing in 52/48 situations as well as never hitting my draws doesn't help matters. To be honest I simply don't think I'm good enough to make money in the long term at this game, so a break is long overdue.

Anyway for what it's worth, I think that was an excellent open and honest post from yourself, and having played against you a number of times I would add my voice to the crowd saying that it's only a matter of time before you become a consistent winning player. You have all the tools, just need a spot of good variance to make the difference and that will come.

Hitman Actual

Excellent post, Dave, and like everyone else said I definately think you're selling yourself short on your own perceived ability. Although sometimes it's not a bad frame of mind cos it makes you constantly try to improve.

Your comments on fear/confidence are interesting as well. I think the whole variance thing has a big hand to play in this; when you're not running well, confidence can be hard to find, and some fear inevitably creeps in.

I can remember you getting into the top 20 of the Fitz EOM game a good few times, and getting horribly outdrawn, so it's only a matter of time before a big win comes along.

strewelpeter

BigDragon wrote:

……….

‘It’s all good’ ........

Great reading Thanks.

ArmaniJeanss

Iago wrote:

I am "up" to date, although only $7K over 12 months is hardly anything to be screaming about and frankly it hardly seems worthwhile any more.

7K in a year for a hobby is not to be sniffed at - its serious cash and you are obviously a way better player than average. You could give up poker and take up a lot of expensive hobbies - I'd say stick with it, 7K a year is serious wonga. Dont worry too much about translating it into an hourly rate - its not your job.
Let the pro's worrry about that sort of thing.

BigDragon.
Excellent post, very interesting.

patmac

Iago wrote:

I am "up" to date, although only $7K over 12 months is hardly anything to be screaming about and frankly it hardly seems worthwhile any more. That I'm going through a period where I'm constantly being outdrawn or losing in 52/48 situations as well as never hitting my draws doesn't help matters. To be honest I simply don't think I'm good enough to make money in the long term at this game, so a break is long overdue.

7k in a year and your not happy! I've been playing for 3 months now and I am about break even, If I could make 700 in a year I'd be very happy.

bill_ashmount

patmac wrote:

7k in a year and your not happy! I've been playing for 3 months now and I am about break even, If I could make 700 in a year I'd be very happy.

If I could break even i'd be delighted.....:(

TacT

very nice post BigD. Try to stay positive though! Things will turn around and go your way with a little or a lot of persistence.

ionapaul

TacT wrote:

very nice post BigD. Try to stay positive though! Things will turn around and go your way with a little or a lot of persistence.

Yep, I agree - g'wan the Dragon!

5starpool

All together now, lets give Dave a hug.........

I'd be in a very similiar situation to you Dave, a slightly better than break even player live. Surely something good will happen soon. Or not.

G'luck.

kincsem

Nice post, Dave. I always like to see you at my table, not because you are a fish, as you are more shark than fish, but because you are witty and will talk about things other than whose turn it is and how much is the bet.

I think we play for the competition more than the money. Many players have/had a sports background and still like to compete.

At the moment I am "training" for the Wicklow 100 in June. It is a non-competitive bicycle ride in Wicklow. So I spend a few evenings a week killing myself on the bike, with the aim of an even bigger ordeal in June. It's just competition of sorts. I'm down about two grand in new bikes and lycra.

Hitman Actual

5starpool wrote:

I'd be in a very similiar situation to you Dave, a slightly better than break even player live. Surely something good will happen soon. Or not.

This is from the guy who's constantly in the Fitz tournament league final... you jest, surely?

5starpool

lenny_leonard wrote:

This is from the guy who's constantly in the Fitz tournament league final... you jest, surely?

Here are my stats for the last 8 months for interests sake. Seems to be quantity more than quality. The vast majority of these are in the Fitz. To be a very profitable player you have to be in the top 3 far more often than I am.

Tournaments played: 129 (that many :eek: )
Final Tables: 39
Top 3: 12 (not good enough)
Win or Split: 6
Profit: ~1500 (certainly not good enough)

Cash Sessions played: 81 (all round of each or omaha only)
Profitable: 43
Profit: ~1200

Amount staked to earn this meagre profit: ~30k

These are all live figures, and probably shows why I don't have enoungh spare time to play online what with this day job thingy interfering.

I have several areas of bothe my tournament play and cash play that I need to improve on that I know of, and probably lots that I don't know of. The amount staked there is not really relevant probably as I don't stake money that I don't have. I went on a bad streak from mid Nov - mid Feb which cost me a good chunk and I am only still recovering. The perception of a winning player is not necessarily a true one. I am one - barely, and not enough for my liking.

Edit: Hope I haven't ruined my rep here and revealed my fishiness. damn me if I have. Took my honesty and openness pill this morning though.

Sorry for hijacking Dave

Hitman Actual

5starpool wrote:

Took my honesty and openness pill this morning though.

Sorry for hijacking Dave

Dave started the whole honesty thing with his post, apologies for hijacking as well (but I was interested, 5star!). Hopefully it will get back on topic now!

califano

5starpool wrote:

Profit: ~1500 (certainly not good enough)

Is this minus tips?.

My live form is a succession of duck eggs but i usually get a good run up the stand side before flattering to decieve. Next time im wearing blinkers!.

5starpool

thats after tips.

ollyk1

Is there anybody truly surprised at BigD's post?? There are a lot of live players who I personally consider are reasonably solid (and definitely are better players than I) that are losing money or barely breaking even over an extended period. I don't feel bad for them becasue I'm losing money too and at least we are enjoying ourselves and in the long run not losing a large amount of cash on a per night basis.

I thought Dom's tournie figures were very interesting as they reveal he wins €11 per tournie played on average. I think if a regular dublin casino tournie player looks at his stats for the best and worst rolling 6 month periods in the last two years he'll see that he's either lost €10-20 per night or won on average €10-20 per night.

I think Dom's figures are highly commendable and about right for a decent above average player for the level of cash risked in regular tournies and the hurried structure of the games.

If you want to make more money you have to risk a lot more money in tournies with better structures and hope you are still a winning player at that level.

My personal opinion on BigD's situation (and I hope you don't mind me stating this publicly Dave) is that about 6 months ago you started playing a lot of bigger buyin games with €250-€500+ buyins which was a correct strategy to try and make more money from the game in the long run. Unfortunately you got repeatedly kicked in the stones and slowly this caused you to retrench a bit from your natural game and maybe the BR for poker whilst physically available at all times perhaps mentally was a bit too high to keep risking without an effect on your play?

I know I personally have a BR which has become depleted of late and as I start to hit what I personally find an unacceptable downswing its effecting my play. This doesn't mean I don't have pleny of cash in the bank account or I'm not making other investments etc but there comes a point when I say I'm spending too much on this hobby and I go back to playing a lot less until I maybe get a decent win.

This is the key difference between an amateur and a pro. A good pro gets up in the morning and its like yesterday didn't happen and he plays to maximise return today and doesn't retreat into his shell. So in conclusion you aren't a pro Dave but so what? You are a bloody good player and you get a lot of entertainment from your hobby and meet a lot of interesting (as well as obnoxious) people.

Just take the positive from the game/hobby Dave and maybe scale back a bit and go back to good quality smaller games until you get back on a bit of a winning streak and get your confidence back. You don't have to be making €10,000's from the game for it be fun.

GL

Olly.

5starpool wrote:

Edit: Hope I haven't ruined my rep here and revealed my fishiness. damn me if I have.

P.S. Fish.

jimbling

Firstly, an excellent post Dave.

ArmaniJeanss wrote:

7K in a year for a hobby is not to be sniffed at - its serious cash and you are obviously a way better player than average. You could give up poker and take up a lot of expensive hobbies - I'd say stick with it, 7K a year is serious wonga. Dont worry too much about translating it into an hourly rate - its not your job.
Let the pro's worrry about that sort of thing.

this is an extremely important point to all non-pros. You do NOT have to turn your profits into an hourly rate. It will probably make you think your wasting your time. But are you really?? do you still enjoy playing poker? do you prefer a game of poker to sitting on your arse watching ****e TV all night?

if you can make anything from €1 and up a year from something that you enjoy and treat as a hobby..... then you're better off than most.

I've made about 6k since I started playing this time last year. I've paid for a Holiday in the states (and vegas), paid my tax and insurance on my car and added a few grand to my savings....... I am extremely happy about it all.


Obviously its a different story if you're aspiring to turn pro... then you need to look at this to find out what your capable of.

califano

ollyk1 wrote:

I thought Dom's tournie figures were very interesting as they reveal he wins €11 per tournie played on average

If 5starpool's stats were the watermark of even the average tournament player(actually im sure his stats are a lot better than the average tournament player) im wondering is it worth it to even be playing mid range buy-in live games for anything other than enjoyment?.

5starpool

I doubt it is possible to earn a living from the regular tournaments in the Fitz. I play partly for the enjoyment of poker, partly because I know I have a decent chance of winning now and then, and partly because I am sick. And also because I know that over time I don't 'lose'.

ollyk1

rounders123 wrote:

If 5starpool's stats were the watermark of even the average tournament player(actually im sure his stats are a lot better than the average tournament player) im wondering is it worth it to even be playing mid range buy-in live games for anything other than enjoyment?.

Eh did you not read my comments on this in my blog?

If the average player loses the reg plus a portion of tips (from the odd win) every night of course Dom's figures are a lot better than average. Are you really playing mid range (€50-€100 buyin) tournie games with an expectation of massive profit?

Another way to think about this is to consider the BR required to play these tournies ~€1000-€1500 say and compare that to a low buy-in live cash game (BR should be >€3000 for the minimum live cash game imho) and how much money you'd expect to make on average from such a cash game.

Bottom line is you aren't risking enough to make serious money live. Online is probably another story and I can't shed any light on it in any event.

ollyk1

5starpool wrote:

I doubt it is possible to earn a living from the regular tournaments in the Fitz. I play partly for the enjoyment of poker, partly because I know I have a decent chance of winning now and then, and partly because I am sick. And also because I know that over time I don't 'lose'.

Unless you are the homeless dude you lives outside the Fitz who seems to be doing alright on the sambos!!

BigDragon

Firstly thx for the hugs but this really isn't an ego post. Im sure there are plenty that think it is. This post was coming the point of view that I wanted to post a 1000th post that had some substance.

I had a good and honest think about me and poker. Achievements, likes, dislikes and goals etc. It developed from there. The biggest thing for me was to be honest and in public. Honesty is going to play a bigger part in my game.

Im going to be working on my cash game soon and am going to put some serious effort into it. However, I cant do that with mithout being honest. Poker players, in general, lie through their and mostly to themselves.

I wanted people to think about what poker means to them and what they want from it.

This is not about the the Hectors, Fuzzboxes or RoundTowers. Its about the Iago's, 5Starpool's and BigDragons.

Hijacking welcome, if it opens up discussion.

'A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step but youre fecked if you don't have a map' Old Westmeath proverb nicked from a Chinese fella.

5starpool

ollyk1 wrote:

Unless you are the homeless dude you lives outside the Fitz who seems to be doing alright on the sambos!!

Seems that he isn't homeless at all. Apparantly the story is that he has a house in Donnybrook but just wanders the streets the whole time cause he is a few sandwiches short of a freeroll......

I bet he is richer than you or me.

ollyk1

5starpool wrote:

Seems that he isn't homeless at all. Apparantly the story is that he has a house in Donnybrook but just wanders the streets the whole time cause he is a few sandwiches short of a freeroll......

I bet he is richer than you or me.

Didn't I say he was doing alright!!!

I won't take your bet either Dom because I know how much I'm worth!!

califano

ollyk1 wrote:

Eh did you not read my comments on this in my blog?
.

Believe me im an avid reader. Actually i just checked back and i must confess i dont think i made it through that entry. when i seen '((3/7 * 1170)+ (4/7 * 252) ) *(1-X) + X *0 = 120 Solving for X' my head spun:D

I have no head for numbers. Or reality!

ollyk1

rounders123 wrote:

Believe me im an avid reader. Actually i just checked back and i must confess i dont think i made it through that entry. when i seen '((3/7 * 1170)+ (4/7 * 252) ) *(1-X) + X *0 = 120 Solving for X' my head spun:D

I have no head for numbers. Or reality!

That was the wordy version rounders!! I was going to build a stochastic model and everything and then I realised it was only going to tell me what I already knew LOL!

The poker boom is like any other gold rush in history, the guys selling the shovels are the ones who really get rich!

Hitman Actual

BigDragon wrote:

Its about the Iago's, 5Starpool's and BigDragons.

Ahem, I'm in that group too without a doubt. I've about four years of tourney results, from the Merrion €20 rebuys to the Fitz EOM game. About 250-300 tourneys, I reckon. But I've never done a proper analysis. 5starpool's results has got me wondering if I'm actually winning at all. I assumed I was... :eek:

The Snapper

Culchie wrote:

Ugly as sin, but shure what can ya do.;)

Reason enough to leave the pubbing and clubbing behind.:D

On a serious note though, I honestly find it hard to believe you are not a winning player!

Any chance you'll share some Sverre Sundbo wisdom. Sounds interesting.

Top bloke Dave

RoundTower

For the curious, and for anyone who thinks I must be raking it in, and because I'm feeling honest too:

Inspired by this thread I've just done some analysis of my tourney records from last year.

I played 60 tourneys, almost all in the Fitz, mostly €20 to €100. Total cost €12280 including €748 in rake.

I cashed out €11690 after tips for a net of -€590. Don't know how much I tipped but probably no more than €500.

Looks like I need rakeback.


(This year I'm down I think €1500 from 4 tourneys, but I'm not honest enough to go and check it.)

TrueDub

ollyk1 wrote:

There are a lot of live players who I personally consider are reasonably solid (and definitely are better players than I) that are losing money or barely breaking even over an extended period. I don't feel bad for them becasue I'm losing money too and at least we are enjoying ourselves and in the long run not losing a large amount of cash on a per night basis.

This, along with a lot of other sentences in the same vein on this thread, sums me & my attitude to poker up nicely.

I play for fun. I'd love to be Phil Ivey, playing for millions every day, but it's not going to happen. I have a lot of things going on in my life that take up the time & money I could use to improve my poker. I'm not going to give them up.

I'm very involved in a particular volunteer organisation, which takes a lot of time & effort. I play and organise a lot of cricket around Leinster, which takes a lot of time. I have a good job, which pays me well and in general isn't the worst way to earn a living.

Therefore, poker is a hobby. Like a lot of other hobbies, it costs a few bob to enjoy. So does horse-riding, mountain-climbing and bike-riding, to name 3 other hobbies off the top of my head. In those pastimes you use money to buy equipment, in poker the money is your equipment.

I've made practically no money in the live tournies I've played, but I've had a hell of a good time and met a lot of nice people. I play a lot online, but the amount of money it costs me is relatively low.

So why do I play? It's partly the intellectual challenge, partly the fun and partly the competition. I keep a log of wins & losses, and if I told my mother the figure in red at the end of the log, she'd be unhappy. But she wouldn't bat an eyelid if I said I'd spent the same amount on a computer, or a cricket bat, or on flights to somewhere for a holiday.

If poker's your income, it's a real job, with all the stresses & responsibilities that entails. If, like me, it's your hobby, who cares about a few wins or losses?

Don't get me wrong, if I won the Irish Open, or the Fitz end-of-month, I'd be only delighted with the cash. But I'd be happier with the achievement, and also with people I respect saying "There's Jim, he's a good player".

Hasn't happened yet, but God loves a tryer!

BigDragon

RoundTower wrote:

For the curious, and for anyone who thinks I must be raking it in, and because I'm feeling honest too:.......

Dave

Forgive me, but I was of the understanding that you were killing the online
game 'for your level' and I didnt mean to suggest that you were rolling in $$ just very successful 'at your level'. My point was success related not $$ related.

Apologies.

Dave

BigDragon

The Snapper wrote:

On a serious note though, I honestly find it hard to believe you are not a winning player!

One of the points I was trying to make about poker players. Perception is a killer to your game as you can get caught up in the projection of an image and damage your bankroll. This links in with Olly's point about me moving up a level and taking a beating (in 'bad beat' terms) knowing I can live at that level but my BR cant let me.

The Snapper wrote:

Any chance you'll share some Sverre Sundbo wisdom. Sounds interesting.

It was great. I interviewed him for Antesup.com and the link is on the front page (however is not working at moment....DEV!!!!) When its back up I would urge everyone to listen.

ionapaul

TrueDub wrote:

Don't get me wrong, if I won the Irish Open, or the Fitz end-of-month, I'd be only delighted with the cash. But I'd be happier with the achievement, and also with people I respect saying "There's Jim, he's a good player".

Sorry for going waaaaay off topic, but this part of your post reminds me of one of my favourite The Office quotes:

David Brent wrote:

You grow up, you work half a century, you get a golden handshake, you rest a couple of years and you’re dead. And the only thing that makes that crazy ride worthwhile is ‘Did I enjoy it? What did I learn? What was the point?’ That’s where I come in. You’ve seen how I react to people, make them feel good, make them think that anything’s possible. If I make them laugh along the way, sue me. And I don’t do it so they turn round and go ‘Thank you David for the opportunity, thank you for the wisdom, thank you for the laughs.’ I do it so, one day, someone will go ‘There goes David Brent. I must remember to thank him.

If I ever see the Brentmeister General, I will thank him...from all of us.

The Snapper

Assuming a general trend of marginal profit / loss among posters. I wonder if we have expectations beyond our novice abilities and experience. It is after all, a very complex and multi facetted game.

Yet, we expect to master the fineries of this wonderful game in a short space of time ( two years for me ). Of course some do so very quickly and possibly these are the George Best's of the poker world. Personally, I'm more of a Kevin Keegan and have to work at it to make even small improvements.:( I suspect this to be the case for the vast majority of poker players.

There can't be many hobbies that provide for a small profit / expense as you serve your apprenticeship.:D

ntlbell

The Snapper wrote:

A Personally, I'm more of a Kevin Keegan and have to work at it to make even small improvements.:( I suspect this to be the case for the vast majority of poker players.

There can't be many hobbies that provide for a small profit / expense as you serve your apprenticeship.:D

Kevin Keegan LOL


"I'd love it if i take down this next POT! LOVE IT!"

Brilliant.

patmac

Wow what a thread sounds like a Gambler's anonymous meeting makes ye sound human. Maybe you won't be slapping the newcomers around the back of the head everytime they try and raise a topic that's been done before but they don't know it.
This one time I had AA and this guy called me 2,7os and guess what etc

BigDragon

patmac wrote:

Wow what a thread sounds like a Gambler's anonymous meeting makes ye sound human. Maybe you won't be slapping the newcomers around the back of the head everytime they try and raise a topic that's been done before but they don't know it.
This one time I had AA and this guy called me 2,7os and guess what etc

Touche.

ollyk1

patmac wrote:

Wow what a thread sounds like a Gambler's anonymous meeting makes ye sound human. Maybe you won't be slapping the newcomers around the back of the head everytime they try and raise a topic that's been done before but they don't know it.
This one time I had AA and this guy called me 2,7os and guess what etc

Pat,

This thread is for the benefit of people newish to the game but someone who has gotten over the "Wow bad beats happen" stage. If you'd prefer people who have been playing the game for a while keep their good advice to themselves then you are going the right way about it.

I don't think BigD, roundtower, 5starpool or anyone else contributing to this thread has learned a whole lot from the thread but a lot of people I see playing every night of the week could learn a lot from it. I personally think BigD's comment above is pure gold and worth serious $$$$'s to a guy playing a while on a good run with a wad of poker cash at his disposal. Remember you heard it here first.

Perception is a killer to your game as you can get caught up in the projection of an image and damage your bankroll.

To be honest about the GA comment I think people need to embrace the gamble in the game more, not less, if they want to make money. The great players and the pros embrace the gamble - amateurs shy away and therefore lose. Its like a pensions investor at age 20 investing in cash sure your nominal value may not fall but you are locking yourself in on a real loss.

Have you any constructive comments to make on the topic yourself Pat or do you just want to have a go at people or persons unknown?

brianmc

ollyk1 wrote:

To be honest about the GA comment I think people need to embrace the gamble in the game more not less if they want to make money.

This is where I am at the moment.

My bankroll is down. I haven't lost the shirt off my back or anything but the reason it's down is because I said feck it, and bought into the Fitz €500 a couple of months ago. Similarly for the €270 game last month. Again for a bit of an underfunded swing online. I've spent enough this year to make me think about it - not enough though to actually affect any aspect of my life though. I'd be break even or making a small profit if I had more of that ever scarce resource - discipline.

I'm not going to stop playing poker. I guess that's addiction. Poker though, whether I'm addicted or not, is still fun for me. I don't want to stop playing poker. I know that. There are times though when I know that I am flirting with the gambol monster that has crushed many people in the past.

All I have to do now is realise that all of this is happening and I'm unlikely to stop it. Learn to avoid the gambol monster. Learn some discipline. Improve my game. Enjoy the gamble! Try and keep it profitable.

Disclaimer: The following statement is a "generalisation" - as such it is likely to be wildly inaccurate in many individual cases.

I think most of us on here flirt with the gamble monster from time to time. I doubt there are very many who have never ever played above their limits or bought into a bigger game than normal as a bit of a treat some dreary Saturday.

I think it's worth realising this and learning to appreciate the pleasure of the gamble in it to help improve our respective games.

shaydy

Great Post Dave!
Shay