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#1
08-23-05, 05:10 PM
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Come on guys …
We should be beyond this by now. Johnp’s is an excellent post, but should be common knowledge to all serious players. I play poker because it is a beatable game if I make better decisions than my opponents. I don’t play slot machines, because it is not. On any given night, I might lose a bundle playing poker, and some guy is going to hit a jackpot on the slot machine. But, in general, the more hours I play poker, the more money I have. The more hours I play slots, the less I have.
Duh. It’s interesting to me that TP’s original post spun the thread in this direction, because I think the two topics are related. When I’m grinding away at my 2/4 tables, I’m not playing a very sophisticated game. I’m rarely bluffing, I’m rarely slow-playing. I’m betting when I have it, folding when I don’t, chasing when it makes sense. I’m not all that ‘good’ a player, but I don’t need to be, because my opponents are worse. |
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#3
08-23-05, 10:36 PM
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I'm not even sure how we got here. This "direction" wasn't at all the intent of my original post. This was:
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#4
08-24-05, 12:26 PM
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To me, getting better at poker is about two things.
1. Managing your psyche during the inevitable losing streaks. You really need to have a consistent game, whether you're winning or losing. 2. Recognizing the fact that you can play bad poker and win, and play good poker and lose. Also, recognizing the difference in your own play in each circumstance and be willing to admit that while some losing was due to bad luck, some was also due to bad play. |
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#5
08-24-05, 01:32 PM
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bad is relative (long and somewhat philisophical)
Bad compared to who? what level? I quit playing golf because no matter how much I tried I stopped getting better (and it stopped being fun). I was shooting in the upper 80's, lower 90's for years and never could reach the next level. I never considered myself a good golfer, but I consistently beat the group of guys I played with. Someone, a pro or a club owner, once told me that 90% of the players out there never legitimately break 100. But they can't build courses fast enough for all of these bad golfers.
Most poker players will never reach the success of the guys you see on TV, but those guys probably represent the top 1% or less of all poker players. The fact that you read and participate in a forum such as this shows that you have the desire to improve and will probably be a successful player even if you never become a great player. I pissed away a lot of money (for me) making small deposits and losing it all in a night, a week, or a month playing full table ring games. I started reading books and forums before I deposited any more money. I switched to playing Sng's and I haven't had a losing month in six months. I don't consider myself a great, or even good, player. But I've found a niche in which I can be a successful player. I'd still like to move up in buy-ins and learn to be successful in higher limits, ring games, and games other than hold'em. For now I'm happy playing in, and making money in SnG's until I can afford to take those jumps. Set long term goals. Play within your means (bankroll). Have fun. |
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#6
08-24-05, 02:42 PM
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In case anyone wasn't aware, the title of my original post was just to get your attention (which I think it did, based on the number of responses in this thread).
The point was that I don't think most poker players (including winning players and even top pros) are as good as they think they are... |
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