Poker Sucks
Monday, February 11, 2008
Boy, I sure do hate poker. In fact, I think I'll quit playing. From here on out, I am going to change this blog over to my true love, commenting on Dear Abby opinions. Cause everyone knows Dear Abby is the next big thing.
No, really, I hate poker. I mean, what kinda game toys with your emotions like this. I won't even go into details, but really, this game is designed for masochists. Play well and you can still lose. Lose and its harder to play well. The easiest access to the game is via the Internet, but its also seemingly the most frustrating form of poker.
Take yesterday. I played my first round HUC6 matchup against Australian poker pro Jeciimd. Before we could jump into a HU game together, I ended up in two games against scrubs, beating them easily. Finally, Jecii and I get into a game and I end up busting when my A3 turns a wheel and Jecii just happens to have 36 for the nuts. Fuck! Naturally, we played our second in our best-of-three match immediately after, using FT's new "Rematch" function. A quick explanation: After a HU match, a window pops up asking if you want a rematch. If both players agree, the next match starts.
As is often the case (and this is also, notably, Jordan's No. 2 Rule of Poker), Losing begets Losing, and I played like trash in the second game. It didn't help that my chosen strategy, relentless pressure, doesn't match up to a player dealt monster hands (by Jecii's own admission, as I meekly folded most of the time to his re-raises). I almost wished that Jecii was taking advantage of my earlier loss, but that's not how Jecii explained it.
What's a boy to do?
Let's be real. None of this is anything new. I've even previously wrote the post, "Dear Whiny Poker Player" admonishing people for these very complaints. In my heart of hearts, I even know that this bitching and moaning is not only useless, but actually counterproductive. But I am trying to use this as a cathartic exercise. Bitch, moan, get it all out, and get back to it. I will not quit poker. I cannot quit poker. But I sure as hell need a break.
What's a boy to do? The answer is to get back in the game the way it works for me, namely, live poker. I haven't played live in weeks, mostly due to a very busy work life (I was in the office Sunday, yippee!) and home life (Playa del Carmen, I miss you so...). It also doesn't help that my schedule and my prime home game outlet have not matched up. It's gotten to the point where I'm toying with re-entering the world of underground poker in NYC. The major thing holding me back is my dwindling bankroll compared to the action junkie NYC games and my desire not to be robbed, raided or shot.
What's a boy to do? Probably plan a trip to Atlantic City or see if my buddy el Jefe wants to go to Buffalo for a weekend (while he is hanging out with our old fraternity, I hope to skip town and hit the Niagara Falls casinos). Maybe I'll bite the bullet and attend another Roose game out in the dangerous, deserted and isolated landscape known as (shudder) Queens. Maybe I'll pull that trigger on my goal to make a poker-centric vacation in an exciting, exotic locale like Mississippi or Indiana.
All I know is that for the time being, I need to reconsider my online play...again...and probably take some more time away from the game to gain some perspective. At least there's finally some decent television on (I'm looking at you, Lost, Terminator, the Wire, and Prison Break) and I recently learned about the hilarity that is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Now go read about poker elsewhere. Because until next time, make mine anything but poker...for probably about 1 day until I'm back to suckling on the poker teet.
posted by Jordan @ 10:57 AM,
7 Comments:
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At 12:47 PM,
smokkee said...
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dear whiny poker player,
a change of scenery is not gonna change your results. bad luck can follow you anywhere. review your game, make the necessary adjustments and get back out there. ez table selection, rakeback, no tipping, etc etc makes online poker way more attractive. GL -
At 12:53 PM,
Jordan said...
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Smokkee, that's a very narrow-sighted view of the situation. It's not about a change in scenery. Live poker is a different game. Those differences are why I enjoy it more. Online poker is fine for what it is, but the benefits of table selection, rakeback (which I do not get) and no tipping does not make up for the shortcomings of online poker, like the inability to read players' body language or prompt them for verbal information or be in a social setting.
I still will play online, but its not my first choice. -
At 12:53 PM,
Pokerwolf said...
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Sounds like you have the same problem I do online:
You jump into the next game too quickly. (Kinda hard not to do that in the HU6 match, but you get my point.)
I generally play just one SnG and if I don't play well or if I lose even when I'm playing right, I take a break. That way, I won't automatically sign up to play something else on tilt or in a "I'll do better this time, dammit!" frame of mind. -
At 2:56 PM,
Unknown said...
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Good to have you back, Jordan. You're too good of a player to be down for too long. I"m sure it will be fine.
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At 3:03 PM,
Riggstad said...
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Its always sunny in philadelphia is pure gold. Sometimes I pretend to spend time with wifey by playing online next to her while she watches her shows.
It works for us.
but when she started watching sunny, I couldn't help but tune into the show and tune out the online cash tables.
Very funny stuff.
Take your time coming back. Bad luck is what it is. the only way not to be exposed to it is not to play. -
At 5:35 PM,
Booby Stealz said...
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i feel you dawg.
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At 6:00 PM,
smokkee said...
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i guess i do look at poker from a profitability aspect. live games are definitely more fun. if you enjoy the social aspect more then that's where you should be. even with girly chat and BDR, online poker doesn't even compare to sitting down with a group of friends and donking it up.
