Getting sick of poker (not because of bad beats)

[Dentist]

About a year ago I really liked poker, bought the books, computer programs, etc.

I played about 10-15 hours a week live.
I'm an above average player, probably slight -EV, but not horrid.

Then I found internet poker and really got into tournaments. I began to do quite well at them (especially Pot Limit and in the last month have taken a 1st and 2nd at multi-tables, winning nearly $3000).

However, my desire to play is slipping considerably.
I now only play live if it's my monthly "Dentist's" social game, or if someone absolutely wants me to go with them.

I play 1-2 internet tournaments a week (never a ring game, that bores me to tears) and they are OK, but after winning one my desire to play has actually gone down. Much like I just "beat" a video game and then you don't want to play it anymore.

Omaha bores me, Limit hold 'em bores me to tears, don't even ask me about limit stud.
I have played some NL live and that interests me...somewhat.

Even worse is that I really enjoyed poker more before it became "the thing" to do. I enjoyed WPT season 1, now with all these celebrity shows and rip-offs poker has been degraded.

I'm sure it's more profitable now for everyone which is great... but unfortunately the game bores me now.

I hate it that I can't play in my Tuesday limit hold 'em tourney at my local B&M because it's so popular now that you have to be there at 11:00 AM to get it (some of us work)

I hate it that when I was at Mandalay Bay that I got my ass out of get to play the $30 buy-in tourney at 7:30 AM, just to be told that the 10:00 tourney sold out in record time by 7:20 AM... are you kidding me?????????

I liked the dark underground image of poker that Rounders presented, the mystique.

I do not like it when poker comes up in conversation that people now liken it to these horrendous celebrity programs.

But more than anything... I'm just bored with the game.

I've found other things that interest me more. Like right now I'm really into working out, upgrading my profession skills, etc.

Poker on the net is nice because it gives me a multi-task when I'm watching the game (but only tournies... ring games are CRAP).

What is wrong with me? Where did the love for this game go?

The worst part is, when you don't stay on top of it, I know I'm slipping, especially in limit hold 'em.
I'm probably a borderline fish these days in a limit ring game. I've gotten pounded on my last 3-4 trips to the casino, and not had fun doing it.

I don't have the desire to read the books, work on my game, or anything....

Should I quit, or just keep playing less and more casually?

[blackaces13]

Sounds like you need to completely give it up for a while. In time you may come back to poker or you may not, either way its for the best. Why would you play something that you don't enjoy? You're not obligated to play a certain amount a week.

If you give it up and find that you miss it, then start up again and you may discover you have a new zeal for the game. But if you give it up and feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders and you don't miss playing at all, then never play again and be glad you quit. Either way you win.

[MRBAA]

Play when you want -- it's a hobby right?

[roGER]

Thanks for a painfully honest post.

Perhaps your desire will return after a break away from the game? If it doesn't, you can always play a few hands competently if you find yourself in Las Vegas for a convention or business meeting or whatever.

A dirty secret of poker that rarely (if ever) gets discussed is how stupifyingly boring it is if you play well. It's for this reason I urge all serious players to make a serious effort to move up to the highest limit they can beat. As David Sklansky said in "The Theory of Poker" - it's winning money that makes poker enjoyable.

Obviously every now and again an interesting hand comes up, but over 80% of the time it's fold, fold, fold, fold, fold... Doing that for $20+ an hour makes sense. Doing it for $2.50 an hour much less sense. Doing it and losing if only a little, or just about breaking even makes no sense at all, really...

Enjoy your break from the game - I suspect you will be back, if only after several years, simply because poker is the easiest hobby I've come across where you can make some nice "fun-money" to suppliment your regular income.

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

- roGER

[LetsRock]

Take a break.

If you feel like playing, then play. IF you don't, then don't.

I guess I'm having trouble with what your quandry is. Is is really that complicated? [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

I don't like tomato juice, so I don't drink tomato juice.

[HDPM]

You are not alone. My interest level has gone down a lot. I also have the problem that I can't win enough to make a big difference to me (due a combination of bad play, enough money, ability to beat smaller games only, lack of time to put in games I can beat, etc....) but I can lose enough to make myself mad. Not a good combination. Having a profession also changes your perspective. I deal with higher stakes stuff than poker games, as do you. I don't get a huge thrill playing. So I'd rather have a good time in a gamne, BS and drink or something. Not a recipe for profitable play. So I don't play much right now. Sometimes my interest picks up and I play a little more.

[Dentist]

good cut and dry post...

I guess I was looking for some way to spice up the game and enjoy it more...

I "want" to like poker... maybe when the popularity goes away (in 2-3 years) I'll like it more again...

[jerome baker]

relax. everything is ok. no need to fight it. if u dont feel like playing poker, dont feel guity about. just do something else that makes you enjoy life. i guess poker is kinda like realationships for you, once the challenge is gone it might be time to find something else. take goodd care.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I "want" to like poker... maybe when the popularity goes away (in 2-3 years) I'll like it more again...

Hmmmmmmmmm. Well, I am neither a psychiatrist nor do I play one on TV, so I'll refrain from analyzing that one.

For me, the popularity of poker makes me like it more. People see my beat up NEPC hat and ask, "did you really play in that?" I say yes, and they go on to talk about how the WPT is their favorite show, etc. I usually give them my number and say "If you're getting a game together, give me a call."

They never do. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[NaobisDad]

Let me say I can understand how you feel. I live in Holland where poker isn't such a big thing yet, but my perception is that it is certainly gaining in popularity.

I (too) would lose interest for the game if EVERYONE ALIVE was busy at it, no matter how much better I would be than most. Poker was always something mysterious to me, something played is smokey backrooms. If it were to lose that feeling, to me it would become less enjoyable as well. I think it's partly that which makes me enjoy the fact that people see it as gambling, that they see me as a gambler/cardplayer. It's to do with the image of the game, and I like it just fine. If poker became the next american football, I'd sure regret it. Which is probably why i have extremely mixed feelings about shows such as WPT etc.

Also, you are not obligated to enjoy poker.