Poker Still Sucks, Just Not THAT Way
Monday, February 11, 2008
I felt it necessary to post a quick addendum to my last post, Poker Sucks. I appreciate the support in the comments, but I wanted to make clear that my recent distaste for poker does not arise merely from the lows of losing. Nor does it come from inevitable suckouts. "Poker Sucks" merely because I am not having fun when I play.
If you are a professional poker player, the most important thing may be winning (in the long term, or good decision making in the short term). However, I am not a professional. I am a recreational player, one who takes the game very seriously. Poker does not pay my rent, but it is how I choose to spend a great amount of my free time. So, while winning may be the most important thing for a professional, the most important thing to me is that I am enjoying myself. This may mean that I am winning and therefore am enjoying myself, but it can also mean that even when I am not winning, I am having a good time or getting something out of the game. That is where poker has been lacking lately.
Losing is a part of poker. That's why I wrote Dear Whiny Poker Player in the first place. If you complain every time a 80/20 underdog hits, then you will be complaining 20% of the time. If you complained every time you lost three coin tosses in a row, you'd be complaining roughly 12.5% of the time. If you are complaining that much, either you don't understand the game of poker or you love complaining.
I am not complaining because of losses. That's the nature of the game. I am, however, a bit beside myself when it comes to my recent distaste for the game. I sincerely believe that it comes from my stagnant online poker game. I should work on my game, but the real question I ask myself is, why? Why spend that time right now when it isn't fun? I don't need online poker to pay my rent, so why dedicate so much time and emotion to something that isn't fun.
Once again, I have to remind everyone that I am a degenerate poker player (time-wise, and not quite stakes-wise). This is all temporary. In fact, I may end up playing the Hoy tonight, if only for the fact that I can't make the Bodonkey tomorrow. So, this distaste is countered when I'm playing something fun, like blogger tournaments or live poker. THAT is why I want to get back into live games. It's just more fun for me.
So, I hope that makes everything clear. I am not "out of love" with poker because of some losses. I am merely bored with online poker and when I'm bored with it, taking bad beats or even playing poorly makes me dislike the game even more. I acknowledge that I will continue to play poker but I also strive to play the type of poker that I find fun. And frankly, that's a hard idea to argue against.
Until next time, make mine live poker or perhaps a blogger tournament but likely not online poker for another couple of days at which point I will be bored and probably play online poker. So, in other words, Until next time, make mine poker!
posted by Jordan @ 3:40 PM,
4 Comments:
-
At 7:46 PM,
Jamie said...
-
You're always welcome at your prime home game outlet (I assume you meant me! HAHA).
Also, I moved my Southern California poker trip to May 1 - May 7. I'm flying into LA, hitting Bicycle and Commerce casinos and then taking a leisurely multi-day trip down to San Diego and back, hitting lots of poker rooms on the way.
Wanna come? -
At 8:17 PM,
Jordan said...
-
Hmm...the sad truth is, I don't even have a week's worth of vacation available. But maybe I can swing a flight down and meet you for a segment. Where will you be on what weekends?
-
At 9:31 PM,
Booby Stealz said...
-
lol you're right. its pokerstars.
hope you had a good vaca..post some pics so i remember what warm weather looks like. -
At 10:41 AM,
kurokitty said...
-
Speaking of vacations, maybe a break could help. The donkery will still be there in the online 'verse when you get back.
