Parallel
Not sure if this is interesting or not but thought I would write it anyway.
I starting playing poker 3 years ago - at first I was the usual fish, no concept of the game.
I bought in numerous times until I was down $400 US, and started to read, lurk on forums and in general try to get better
Over the past year I have to recoup my original deposit +
Then all of a sudden (after cashing out and redopositing $200 to get a bonus) I started to get decimated - couldn't win a hand, went on permanent tilt and almost lost it all
Parallel
Golf - I would say I am an above average golfer, similar to poker I loved the game, read, practiced, took lessons and made a goal to reduce my handicap by 4 stokes to get to a single digit cap - over the course of the summer I played 60+ rounds and in August reached my goal.
Next summer I made another goal - 2 more strokes off - same schedule etc and all of a sudden my cap went up instead of down and i just started to play stupid.
Played with a good friend and he made a comment that was just great insight - he said I didn't look like I was having any fun - and he was right
After that round, things got better, I worried less about my goal and just had fun and tried to make the right decisions, sure enough I played well and really enjoyed golf again.
Parallel
After playing angry all the time, cursing the chasers and not having much fun, I kind of remembered my golf lesson - started to play a little less poker and when I did made sure it was fun and that I as making good decisions, and if it wasn't I just shut off the computer - and like my golf game I started to win again, built my $200 back up, cashed my bonus and continue to win, not all the time but its fun again - which is the point I guess - I am never going to be a pro golfer, a serious amateur maybe, and I will never be a pro poker player, and most likely never a serious amateur - I play because it is fun and challenges me, and if I can win a little money to buy stuff or go places cool
cheers
Scots
I starting playing poker 3 years ago - at first I was the usual fish, no concept of the game.
I bought in numerous times until I was down $400 US, and started to read, lurk on forums and in general try to get better
Over the past year I have to recoup my original deposit +
Then all of a sudden (after cashing out and redopositing $200 to get a bonus) I started to get decimated - couldn't win a hand, went on permanent tilt and almost lost it all
Parallel
Golf - I would say I am an above average golfer, similar to poker I loved the game, read, practiced, took lessons and made a goal to reduce my handicap by 4 stokes to get to a single digit cap - over the course of the summer I played 60+ rounds and in August reached my goal.
Next summer I made another goal - 2 more strokes off - same schedule etc and all of a sudden my cap went up instead of down and i just started to play stupid.
Played with a good friend and he made a comment that was just great insight - he said I didn't look like I was having any fun - and he was right
After that round, things got better, I worried less about my goal and just had fun and tried to make the right decisions, sure enough I played well and really enjoyed golf again.
Parallel
After playing angry all the time, cursing the chasers and not having much fun, I kind of remembered my golf lesson - started to play a little less poker and when I did made sure it was fun and that I as making good decisions, and if it wasn't I just shut off the computer - and like my golf game I started to win again, built my $200 back up, cashed my bonus and continue to win, not all the time but its fun again - which is the point I guess - I am never going to be a pro golfer, a serious amateur maybe, and I will never be a pro poker player, and most likely never a serious amateur - I play because it is fun and challenges me, and if I can win a little money to buy stuff or go places cool
cheers
Scots
Comments
With Poker, I find myself getting into the same pattern. At my home game a few months ago. I went on serious tilt after a bad beat and rebought too many times. I was angry and not having fun. I played horribly and lost lost lost. I thought about it afterwards and knew my mistake. Have some fun with it. I played 100% better the next time.