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balt999
11-19-2002, 01:13 AM
Something strange to me happened while I was playing 4-8 Hold em at Texas Station in Las Vegas on Saturday....I found myself bored to death...As a result I didn't play my best game and ended up having a losing session.

As I was driving home, I found myself saying, "This isn't fun anymore." I'm a winning player, so it wasn't a string of bad luck or losing sessions that brought this thinking on..It's just the grind of the entire thing....Playing poker scene..

I love the game of poker, so is there anything I could do to avoid the burnt out I feel right now?

Incidently, I told myself I'm nothing going to play for a while...hopefully, I can get out of this funk and enjoy the game of poker once more...

Jimbo
11-19-2002, 01:33 AM
balt999,

Try playing Keno for a few hours, watch a golf match during a 2 hour long rain delay and eat some bland pudding. After this poker will again seem exciting!

Vehn
11-19-2002, 02:02 AM
Play higher.

PokerBabe(aka)
11-19-2002, 02:32 AM
Actually, Vehn's suggestion is not so out of bounds here. Sometimes, the very preditability of the game you play causes boredom. If you are routinely beating the 4-8, it may be time for a little change of scenery. Take off a week or so and then move up a limit. LGPG, Babe

Zeno
11-19-2002, 03:16 AM
Learn some new games - 4/8 omaha high-low, or 1-5 7-card stud. Rest- Read a few good books. Challenge yourself and play at a higher limit as others have suggested. Or -

Quit altogether and Do something else.

-Zeno

D.J.
11-19-2002, 05:20 AM
You might try a new poker room, Texas Station is not very exciting, also, playing higher will at least help you concentrate more and play better. Or... you could do what I always do, take a couple days off, watch Rounders, and head straight for the casino, this usually does it for me, it's kind of like a pump up movie for poker players. Kind of like I used to watch The Natural before big baseball games, hope that helped.

-D.J.

Mike Gallo
11-19-2002, 09:14 AM
Since I do not have to play for a living I feel the exact same way. I have too many other things I would like to do with my free time, other than play cards.

I took a semi break, and I dont know when I will return either. I didnt stop playing because of bad beats or anything like that. I just needed a break.

If you identified a problem, then correct it and move on. You will be back in the saddle before you know it.

Michael /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

ripdog
11-19-2002, 03:21 PM
I have been in your shoes, driving home from a session and thinking about how much fun I didn't have. I wound up taking about a year off. My wife would always ask why I didn't want to play anymore and my reply was always that it just didn't sound like it would be any fun. Take a break and don't play again until you want to. No time limits. Stay involved with this site, though. Good luck and I'm certain that you'll find your lust for the game again.

balt999
11-19-2002, 05:11 PM
Thanks for the advice!

I think the boredom comes from the fact of the limits I play. I'm a winning low limit player, who plays with the same faces almost every week, so I know just about how everyone plays and I know what button to push and when to push them...the social security rocks are easy to manupilate at the Station Casinos. I can easily make 60-70 bucks every time I play with them....

I'll play at the Mirage 10-20 about once or twice a month, and in the times I've played, I've won, and enjoyed the challenge more cause the players were always different, but what's holding me back from playing those limit consistently is my bankroll (Hey, gotta pay my bills first).

I think Vehn's solution of playing higher limits is a good suggestion, and will probably take his advice and play more 10-20 or 15-30...

Then again, I just need time away from the game....to recharge my batteries.....and that means no online playing this week....but I love the game too much so I may be back in the game this weekend...Also, it will give a chance to do some Christmas Shopping before the rush

11-19-2002, 09:07 PM
Hey Balt,
I can relate totally. I did total immersion in the poker scene for a couple of years.
And I was only break-even on average. So can't say that I'd not have burned out If
I could say "I was a kick-but win xx BB and hour" guy. Never played above 10-20
either so can't say about the "big games" either.
.
But let's face it... if beat the game is easy for you... and you don't want to do it for
a living... it's going to get boring. Consider if you could shoot par at golf everytime...
Granted 40 million dollar endorsment contracts would be real excite a la T. Woods. Must
be nice.
.
On the other hand... even if you did do it for a living... then it would just be work. And
at some point... 'less it's your first love... it'll get boring too. The game *is* work. You
have to *think* at all times... or at least when the moves you have to make aren't
totally clear. Besides, no Victoria's Secret models mary 4-8 players do they? I mean
only Celebrity and other high buck careers that pack that elite socio-economic sort of
status really keep people going anyway, right? Ok... Ok.. so maybe Medical Doctors and
some other moralistica careers keep people deeply satisfied too. But in general I think
most folks are trapped in hum-drum s*ck crap working class-dom anyway... and feel they
are missing the "big time" from time to time anyway. So you're not alone.
.
So anyways, I've been off the scene for couple of years. With only $5 games here
in Colorado to go too... only been up there a few times. Lost worse than I ever did
at the Mirage on a percentage basis. But... I'm mainly a lowly stud player. It's mostly
HE here. So gotta learn new tricks... adjust, blah blah blah.
.
But... after being off the strip for 3 years I do miss hitting the scene and having the
freedom to "work" my own hours etc. I'm still here reading 2+2 forums right?
.
And well... I always found it interesting to play in other regions. Tunica, the river boats
around Indiana, some other spots. Haven't been to Foxwoods yet.
.
So... bottom line... take some time off... try some new venues. See how you feel.
.
Personally, I suspect most folks who don't make a living from it fall in and out of the
game. I find it the same with my other hobby type things... be it cars, music, golf,
just whatever. I just don't think humans were engineered to do one focused thing
all the time.
.
Sincerely
Frank</pre><hr>

11-20-2002, 01:21 PM
You're posting on 2+2.

bob2007
11-20-2002, 07:16 PM
Try playing online. I love it right now. Short handed and heads up gets my juices running.