I still find it hard to believe...

[BigBaitsim (milo)]

That there is so much money to be had. At least the posters at 2+2 all profess to be winners. I just can't imagine hundreds of people paying poker websites and dropping money in casinos day after day. I mean, I buy-in for a measly $50 and it's all uphill from there, and I'm not that good. Doesn't it all end at some point? Don't the fish swim away, or are they all replaced by new and tastier fish? Is the sky falling or is it propped up by an endless supply of bad players and their money. I still find it hard to believe that anyone could read a few books and be good enough to make decent money playing poker. Can someone help me with this conundrum?

[Hallett]

You are absolutely right. This is like a money tree. There must be a ton of people out their having their cars reposesed, and getting divorced. As a frame of reference,after purchasing Ed's book, I put $75 on Party. I now have $734. This is in two weeks, playing .50 - 1.00. I was a winning player before, so I am not certain how much credit should go to Ed, but regardless, it is amazing. I am certain that I ow Ed a beer or several if I ever go to Vegas.

As hard to believe as it is, there are enough fish for all of us 2+2'ers.

[zuluking]

[ QUOTE ]
As a frame of reference,after purchasing Ed's book, I put $75 on Party. I now have $734. This is in two weeks, playing .50 - 1.00.

[/ QUOTE ]

In the last month, playing .50/$1, I am down $300. Had it not been for Ed's advice, I'd probably be down $500-$600. Be thankful for the streak you are on, and get ready for the dark side. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Hallett]

[ QUOTE ]
Be thankful for the streak you are on, and get ready for the dark side.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are absolutely right, the run I am on is unsustainable, and I am certain that I will drift down to a more reasonable rate. I just hope I don't CRASH to a reasonable rate, which is what happened when I decided to try 3-6 a few months back. Made a killing in the first two weeks, then got my goodies handed to me. [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[Atropos]

"In the last month, playing .50/$1, I am down $300. Had it not been for Ed's advice, I'd probably be down $500-$600. Be thankful for the streak you are on, and get ready for the dark side."

I dont think that this can be a streak. Its impossible to lose 300$ at party 0.50/1 with good game selection and semi-ok poker skills. I play 4 tables all the time, and I have never lost more than 90BB, but seen more bad beats than ever in my poker career.
I think it's rather ideas like always capping JJ preflop in multiway pots, than an ominous "bad streak" that makes you lose...

[zuluking]

[ QUOTE ]
Its impossible to lose 300$ at party 0.50/1 with good game selection and semi-ok poker skills. I play 4 tables all the time, and I have never lost more than 90BB, but seen more bad beats than ever in my poker career.
I think it's rather ideas like always capping JJ preflop in multiway pots, than an ominous "bad streak" that makes you lose...

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I've stopped capping with JJ preflop/multiway. Now I just re-raise with 5 2 offsuit! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[jtr]

[ QUOTE ]
I dont think that this can be a streak. Its impossible to lose 300$ at party 0.50/1 with good game selection and semi-ok poker skills. I play 4 tables all the time, and I have never lost more than 90BB, but seen more bad beats than ever in my poker career.
I think it's rather ideas like always capping JJ preflop in multiway pots, than an ominous "bad streak" that makes you lose...

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi, Atropos.

I'm new here, so I may be pointing you to something you've seen already. But there's an excellent post by Clarkmeister that critiques the sort of thinking you're employing here. Not looking for an argument, as I agree that anyone who lost 300BB at Party 0.5/1 certainly should take a careful look at their game, just in case. But I think Clarkmeister makes some excellent points about how this sort of thing really can happen to good players (FWIW my own worst streak so far was -180BB at Party 3/6; I've only played about 55000 hands over the last 6 months).

Here's the post I'm talking about.

[gamboolman]

People like to gamble. Always have, and always will. With the internet and poker booming, its a big ocean full of all kinds of fish.

..............My problem is that I play in the freshwater rivers that are full of Piranhas. They are mighty good "Fish" to catch and eat, but when I fall out of the pirogue into a school of hungry Piranhas, well that there is no fold'em hold'em.

[Greg J]

[ QUOTE ]
There must be a ton of people out their having their cars reposesed, and getting divorced.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah and there are also plenty casual players that want to try thier hand at the game that is so cool that they see on TV, and are willing (and able) to blow a couple of hundred of their paycheck for entertainment. A lot of these guys will bust out quickly, but we have all seen fish that run lucky hand after hand, and take down pot after pot. Eventually sharks will take these guys down, but that thrill of winning will bring those guys back.

I'm not sure that poorer players are going anywhere. There is another thread about this on this forum with anecdotes about kids playing Hold em for fun, but are not reading books and informing themselves about the game. Is this a new generation of fish? Maybe. I hope so.

[Wahoo91]

I put $75 on Party. I now have $734. This is in two weeks, playing .50 - 1.00.

How many hours is this over?