play poker, but don't have anyone to relate too

I play poker (try to get to that professional level) and I have a weekly home game that I play with friends, but none of them are as serious as I am (they mostly just play on the weekends) so I can't really relate with anyone around me.

The only thing I can relate to is poker forums mostly sharing thoughts here and there, but honestly I don't have the one person you talk to that most people have.

Some peeps are very lucky to have a Poker Pro listen and relate to what they told them and in return the pro has helped them out in advice.

I think having someone to relate with gains confidence to being a better player, and adds alot more +'s to your repertoire. You can also share your problems with each other, and learn from them and each other as well.


Just wondering if anyone else has someone to relate to and if you do who is it? Family member? Friend, online acquaintance, Poker pro, etc.


If you don't have a poker pal, what gets you by?

I understand what you're saying. I'm in a similar situation where I play home games and lots of people enjoy it, but they all laugh b/c I take it so seriously. There's one guy who's pretty into it, but just complains about bad beats and doesn't study the game at all (doesn't really think he needs to know pot odds, for example).

So, I take the two-hour drive to my closest casino (Turning Stone in NY) and play there about twice a month. I talk to other players, play the entire day, and then come back and analyze my game. I also frequent 3 forums where I get feedback from my virtual poker buddies.

It's tough, but the internet has given us the opportunity to overcome the difficulty.

Good luck!

Perhaps we are uniquely fortunate here in Toronto, but we have something that has really helped me, called The Red Hot Poker Tour - there are other tours, but this is really the biggest

www.redhotpokertour.com

The concept is pretty simple - a bar pays a certain amount of money to the organizers who bring a poker tournament to the bar - anywhere between 60-80 people - there are currently over 5000 members - there is no money involved - though the winners of the Tournament of Champions got a free trip to Vegas and entries into some tournaments.

There are 2 main advantages. First, you can practice your tournament play ona regular basis with no financial risk. It is just a fun night out.

But the main advantage is that you get to meet guys who are fairly serious about poker with whom you can share stories and against whom you can compare yourself. Here in Toronto we also have a very strong underground poker scene - this is how Daniel Negreanu cut his teeth - and this is a great way to get into that scene.

So what I would suggest is to seek out the places where people are playing poker on a fairly serious level and make some friends there.

[Paragon]

I am very fortunate to have a good online acquaintance to discuss poker with. Since we both use AIM and have our computers on all the time, we can always paste hands and leave messages and ideas. It's almost like we've had one continuous poker conversation for a year.

Not sure how this helps you any, but I'm basically confirming that for me, having an online poker buddy has probably been the most influential factor for my improvement. I highly recommend getting one [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[srm80]

a poker pal? what? I have 3 poker pals, TOP, HPFAP, and SSHE

Having a live person to discuss poker concepts with is a very good thing. Continue to look for people at games who are good. What the person said about reading is important because when you find someone who understands poker the discussions are a 2-way street.

I think we should start a big brother poker program lol.
I have 2 friends who play Pro, (Im in college) we hang out all the time, and are good drinking buddies, and they showed me the starter ropes, but since poker is like a job for them they refuse to talk about it outside of playing time which we about never share. Theyre great, one of them got 2nd in the $215 rebuy like 2 months ago (50gs or something), and I know I can learn alot from them but they wont share!
I hear your pain,

anytime you want to chat poker you can im me
SN is Larmie44
I sit 1/2,3/6 and occasionally 5/10, usually 8 hrs a week or so depending on free time.
cdl

[Peter Olley]

I, Like Scorpio have a similar "bar" league here in southern New Jersey. About 70-80 players a night, you can find a game within an hours drive every night of the week. Similar prizes to Scorpios also. Its a great night out and from talking to or just listening to the other players you will find out the ones that are serious and the one's that are just looking for the glory. Probably 1/2 play the game "I will have a boat load of chips or I am on the boat down river by the break". You learn who they are very fast and can pretty much gauge the cards they will be drawing to. It's a great time to be had and the woman are hmmmmmm.....THe Nutz [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

www.satellitepokerleague.com

Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I made this thread in a different forum and a couple of peeps told me to visit 2+2. I've been a member for a couple of weeks now and I must say it's a great forum. Reading a bunch of 2+2 publishings have finally drawn me to come to this site and it's a great thing. Only thing is wish I came here sooner.

[roxtar]

I would definately recommend these bar freerolls to anyone looking to "network" with other poker players. You'll have to deal with drunks and some of the most awful donkey poker you've ever seen in your life but you're bound to meet up with 3 or 4 people that are very astute to the game.
That's how I met up with all the guys in my newly established home game.