Non-Poker Poker Leaks

[Snowslide]

Today's Word : Discipline

*Side note- incomplete rant/post.

Hello All,
Thanks for reading the post. I don't know where I will end up with this post, and I don't even know if I am looking for replies or input. I basically have to get some poker related thoughts into print somewhere, and thought maybe someone else out there may be able to benifit somehow from this post.

At the end of October (my 26th birthday) I will have been playing poker for one year. I am currently a losing player. There are many leaks in my game, but the biggest one is being plugged today. I need to quit smoking pot. I simply don't have the skills to balance poker/drugs/life effectivly. The year was certainly not wasted though, as I am only a losing player due to the fact that I win, get cocky (high) and flush it away at limits too large for my bankroll, chasing the big tourny paydays.

My living situation is going to change drastically in the next 3-4 months (basically for all 2006). My wife and I are moving away from our city, and are going to be living in Edmonton for a year. We are using it as kind of a "get life on track" year. Our financial strain will be reduced significantly, and our life style will allow for more free time. So, more free time, with a lot less bills to pay. Hmmmm, sound like a good year to really try and excel my game and see where it can take me (us actually, my wife plays about as much as I do, and by looking at track records, she is the better player).

I think I need to take this month off from playing, and really dive deep into what is working for me, and what isn't when it comes to life/poker, and come up with a better laid out "poker plan".
That being said, I am about to play in my last tourny for a little bit, stars sunday $200. Starts in 5 minutes, so I am outta here. Have more to post, but want to focus on the tourny.

Peace, and thanks again for listning to my little rant.
See you ITM.
*mike*

[Hoss1193]

I would certainly think that choosing cards over weed would be the +EV move, regardless of whether you start winning or not. Good luck, man.

In my own case, I've noticed that I drink far less since I started playing. I didn't consciously try to "quit"...I simply don't drink when I play, and I play a lot. I still drink...in fact, one of my other hobbies is home brewing, and we have wine with dinner about 3-4 times a week. But the days of drinking several beers each evening are long gone. I know that has been positive for my game, and even more importantly, has had a positive impact on my life.

more free time + less financial strain + quitting pot = a good time to start with better stuff like opium, hash, etc...

Seriously, I think you're making a very good choice that will(obviously) have a positive impact in all areas of your life, not just your poker game. There's a time for everything, and it sounds like it's your time to get out of that cycle. Good for you and good luck with making a step in a better direction.

[AASooted]

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The year was certainly not wasted though, as I am only a losing player due to the fact that I win, get cocky (high) and flush it away at limits too large for my bankroll, chasing the big tourny paydays.

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That being said, I am about to play in my last tourny for a little bit, stars sunday $200. Starts in 5 minutes, so I am outta here. Have more to post, but want to focus on the tourny.

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You might consider posting this in the Psychology forum. I'm struck by the fact that you cut short a post about playing tournaments above your bankroll so you could play a $200 tournament.

If discipline and chasing big tournament payoffs is really your problem, it may take more than just changing cities to solve it. I'm not trying to be sarcastic. It just seems to me that you've identified a problem but may have difficulty solving it.

I wish you the best of luck.