My real problem - don't enjoy online poker anymore...!!!

[toxtox]

Hi guys, i had just posted a thread about how i've been trying out the lame strategy of setting a win/loss amount per day. i realized that what i really was doing when i started this strategy was just looking for a reason to quit early everyday after about 2 hours on average, rather then playing ~30 hours a week like i have been doing for the past 2 years.

the reason i'm looking for a reason to quit everyday is simply becuz i dont enjoy online poker anymore, and driving to the casino is just out of the question for everyday.

my problem is that i make more then twice as much at poker then i would at any job i could find. for the past two years ive made more then 100K a year, whereas with my pathetic real world qualifications i couldnt find a salary above 40K. besides, i wouldnt love any of the other jobs i could get anyway...

so my question......... is there any way to bring back the fun to playing online for a living????????????????????????

[Allinlife]

move up

[toxtox]

u mean move up in limits? i used to play only 15/30 full tables, but i dont like playing that limit shorthanded, and find i make just as much or more playing 5/10 shorthanded, shorthanded is my game. hi stakes arent, and i dont get anymore of a thrill at the 15/30 games, which i still occassionally go to...

i guess im just not a poker lover and have to accept that /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[awval999]

Let's see--

If you play ring-- Try a SnG, nothing big or anything, just something different. Even if you lose you might enjoy the change from limit to NL.

I play 1/2 and 2/4, and I do quite well. But when I get bored of limit I try some NL SnG.

Let me tell you, I really really suck at SnG's. No matter if its 5+1 or 10+1. But I play them occassionaly because they are a change and I enjoy them, even though I lose.

I think in your other post you said you play 10/20 6-Max. Possibly try full ring. Or maybe 20+2 SnG's, or maybe some NL.

You probably won't maximize your winrate and such when you play the games you aren't the best at, but when I play the SnG's I kinda feel like playing the ring games again.

Playing 30hrs of ring games a week is a drag. So try to change it up with some different games.

[toxtox]

ur probably right, i should mix it up more, play some SnGs or some NL/PL ring games. would have to study up alot on the NL game though.

i just don't understand how some people play 8 ring games at a time, 25-40 hours a week and still seem to love the game, wish i could be like that.

[awval999]

I dont know how they do it either. Mix it up for sure.

And definetly play lower SnG's and NL ring. You play 10/20 shorthanded. So take a stab at the 50NL ring. Losing 50 won't obviously affect you, but it will be fun.

Same with SnG's. Try the 30+3's. I laugh when I lose the 5+1's, but I try and they are fun, maybe try the 3-Table ones.

[toxtox]

thanks for the suggestions, ill try them and hope it helps renew some of the old fun of poker - that was why i got into the game in the first place...it wasnt even for the money. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[OrianasDaad]

Here's a few ideas. Some are rather extreme, most aren't too tough.

Learn a new variant of poker. Omaha is proving to be a very fun, and very different game than holdem, and has revived my flagging interest in poker. Whether it's a new variant, a new betting structure, or moving from ring games to tourneys sometimes change of scenery is all you need.

When you aren't playing poker, do something constructive with those winnings. Spend a few hours researching companies each day and invest some of that money ( the motley fool (http://www.fool.com)). This will provide a good and productive diversion when you don't feel like playing poker.

Start a website related to poker. Mabye a blog, some strategy, you know how it goes. I'm sure you've read enough of them online.

Get a new hobby. Learn to program. Play chess. Read new books. Learn how to play an oboe. Something to keep your brain working.

Take a vacation. A break. Don't burn yourself out. Take the signifigant other on a surprise cruise. Take the kids to Disneyland.

No signifigant other? Well. There's an interesting diversion right there.

Volunteer for a charitable organization.

Get a job. Yep, you heard me right. Ideal jobs are part-time, seasonal, and/or unskilled. Pizza delivery/courier jobs are perfect for this. When you get sick of working for someone else, you'll find yourself back to playing poker again.

Move closer to a casino. If you are single, then this shouldn't be too difficult to do. If you are settled, well that may be a bit tough.


Not all of these will generate more interest in poker. You, my friend, are in control of that aspect. No external stimuli will make you interested in the game again.

[SinSixer]

[ QUOTE ]
for the past two years ive made more then 100K a year

[/ QUOTE ]

Genius OP has made 200k playing poker over the last two years, but comes here to ask the question "Would it work if I quit each day once I am $300 ahead."

Please.

[toxtox]

thanks again daad, i do actually have a very well balanced life though, i dont just sit around playing online poker /images/graemlins/smile.gif so i dont think new hobbies will help, hehe, i have alotta fun wen im not playing poker, its just those few hours a day pokertime that i am bored as hell.
i am thinking of moving closer to a casino...im a single young woman so can pretty much go wherever. thanks for all ur suggestions, ur so helpful. reading ur post i realized what i probably just need to do is take a break then return to poker and mix it up, and maybe even come at it with a different outlook...(for example instead of thinking about how much i dont enjoy it, maybe think more about how much better it is then many other jobs..)

as for sixers comments, i figured someone would say something like that. wen i posted the comments about quitting at 300$ a day, maybe u didnt notice that i said i KNEW it wasnt a good idea, but i wanted to know WHY exactly everyone is so against it. i did emphasize too that i never quit a juicy table no matter if i hit the daily amount 5 times over.....dont act like im an idiot for asking questions...just cuz i do well at poker in practice doesnt mean i know everything about poker in theory.

[Non_Comformist]

[ QUOTE ]
OrianasDaad

[/ QUOTE ]

Good post.

[4thstreetpete]

I'm almost in the same boat but not entirely. I haven't played too much poker this month as I'm trying to take a little break from it because I've been playing nonstop for close to 2 years taking very few days off in between. For me it's pretty much all about the money.

For me I'm a little bit concerned. I play about 20+ a week and I'm looking forward to quiting my job within 2 years. By logic if I had so much more free time I would be able to put in at least double my hours online if I wasn't working, but now I'm not too sure if this is still possible. I know what people mean when they say playing 40+ hours a week and not getting burned out is hard to do. I play half that and I'm getting a mild burnout LOL.

A few things I've tried which seems to work is:

1)Buy something nice for yourself, give yourself a treat with the money you've won. Go on a vacation/cruise. I recently went on a spending spree and bought lots of useless items like an ipod and video game systems stuff like that. Reminds me of how much money I'm actually winning that I don't think about.
Lots of times you just see your bankroll as numbers on the screen but when you convert it into material goods then you realize, "hey that's a lot of money". I generally don't spend any of my poker winnings because I'm saving up for a new place. Usually it goes to bills and food.

2)Take a short little break. This is quite a good idea, becaue you come back all freshed and ready to go. I still do enjoy the game and sometimes when I take a short break I find out how much I miss the game and ready to come back and kick some ass.

3)Learning a new variation of poker is good too. There are so many lucrative games out that most people don't try. Theres players in these games that are much worse than holdem players. There's always new fish that are jumping into games like omaha and it's variants. Learn to play this well could be very profitable for you.

4)If you don't have a job why not do some volunteer work? take part in your local charities. It'll be good for your soul and you'd feel so much better about yourself. When I do plan to quit my job I will most surely be involved with some charitable organization. Gotta so something useful with your time.

Good luck!

[threei]

Great post Daad.

Just about evrything he said is good advice. Your burned out right now and almost everbody goes through it. Get a real job for 6 mos to a year. Your lover of poker will come back and you'll truly appreciate how great it is to play poker for a living.

Have you conisidered learning to trade stocks/futures? If you're a successful poker player, you could probably be a successful trader.

[Freudian]

[ QUOTE ]
u mean move up in limits? i used to play only 15/30 full tables, but i dont like playing that limit shorthanded, and find i make just as much or more playing 5/10 shorthanded, shorthanded is my game. hi stakes arent, and i dont get anymore of a thrill at the 15/30 games, which i still occassionally go to...

i guess im just not a poker lover and have to accept that /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone playing full time should get a second pokergame. Try stud/omaha/whatever. You will definately burn out on grinding the same thing every day.

And of course not everyone likes playing poker for as much as you have to do. Perhaps its just not in your personality to so.

[Uglyowl]

The main problem I would see in playing online poker for a living is lack of communication with people.

Maybe find a part time job for 10-20 hours per week.

[KingDan]

[ QUOTE ]
quitting at 300$ a day, maybe u didnt notice that i said i KNEW it wasnt a good idea, but i wanted to know WHY exactly everyone is so against it. i did emphasize too that i never quit a juicy table no matter if i hit the daily amount 5 times over

[/ QUOTE ]

Suppose you make $100 per hour and usually play for 5 hours a day. In your first hour, you ran well, so you made $300. You decide to quit, afraid in the next two hours you are 'due' to give some of it back. But still, on average you will make $400 more dollars by playing.


But I doubt you make over yearly.

[driller]

If the choice is between doing something you don't really like for 100k/yr or 40k/yr, seems like an easy choice. Be glad you have the skill, most people don't and would love to have your problem.

Most people don't really love their jobs. That's why they call it work. People do it to eat, support their families, have money for their hobbies or vices, etc.

Why don't you move to Vegas or SoCal, or somewhere that has plenty of card rooms? From what I hear on this forum, if you can be successful on line, you should be able to win at live poker.

[afk]

[ QUOTE ]
move up

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks.

No seriously, thanks. I've been bored of poker recently too. I started to learn shorthand and dropped down in limits to do it but I just got bored. This is just what I needed to hear.

[Frequitude]

Whore Casinos.

I'm getting a little burned out from playing 15 hours per week since January (yeah yeah...). So I read TheMetetron's site and joined the bonuswhores.com forums. Blackjack is fun again now that it's +EV.