What do you play for?

So as not to hijack the other thread I have moved my question here....

How do other people approach the game online as far as building bankroll, improving game, and do most of you play for the enjoyment of the game or simply to try and make as much $$$ as possible?

Comments

  • Make $$. I don't think there's much other reason to play online unless you're just learning to play. For the past few months I've been in more or less break-even mode as I'm trying various games/limits etc, to see where I can make a decent profit.

    I mean there's no social aspect, etc,etc. Just you and that little screen that I frequently toss across the room.
  • Well when I first started playing it was all about getting better.  So I wouldn't lose as much money.  I then read some books got good enough to win a little bit on certain games.  It then became more about money as I tried to grind out to build a bankroll.  The more I went for money the less fun it was.  I have now come to the point that I do not want to make poker into a job.  So I now want to become a better poker player in all aspects of the game.  My goal is to be able to play any style so as to fit the table conditions.  I guess the player I would most like to be like is Eric Seidel.  In an interview with him he said that some players think he is a rock and others think he is a maniac.  That level of adaptability would be great.  So now money is just a scorecard.  And I want the highest score possible

    Paul
  • As far as online play go, probably the number 1 thing is to making money, with enjoying the game being second. Unless you're learning to play, or playing on a very limited bankroll simply for enjoyment (the micro/play money tables), this game is much better live (for social aspect etc)
  • I play for $$$$ online. I spent 5 hours last night playing live at Casino Windsor and it cost me $100. I was card dead for the most part but I didn't care, the table was filled with drunken idiots and the show they put on was well worth the $100.
    When I play live I try to have fun as much fun as I can but still try and make some cash while there. Thats why I play mostly low limits like 3/6 or 2/4.
    Online is strictly business and the only goal is to make as much money as possible and improve my skills.


    Red
  • I play to win!

    It is not about the money or prestige, but playing to win. I am building my poker bankroll to play larger and larger buyin events.

    so far so good, and who knows what the future will bring.

    Acid Joe, See ya at the WSOP event 2.
  • Dead Money wrote:
    It is not about the money or prestige, but playing to win. I am building my poker bankroll to play larger and larger buyin events.

    Bankroll = money?
  • westside8 wrote:
    Dead Money wrote:
    It is not about the money or prestige, but playing to win. I am building my poker bankroll to play larger and larger buyin events.

    Bankroll = money?

    What I was trying to say was, It doesn't matter the level of $. I play always just as focused when $5 is on the table or $ 500.00. Its mostly about the experience.
  • When I started playing, it was because I needed SOMETHING to do during the winter months. From spring, summer, and fall, I'm out fly fishing or camping or hunting, OR SOMETHING, but during the winter months, I stay indoors, suffer from SAD, and dream of opening day.

    When I first started playing, wifey didn't mind, it kept me busy and occupied and I didn't moop around like a sleepless grizzly.

    It's been almost 2 years now, and I must say the game has taken over much of my life. I study poker, I play poker, I google poker, and absorb almost anything related to the subject. Now I play for several reasons.

    1/ It's a night out. Whether its a buddies place, or having people over, or going to a local pub to play, it gets me out of the house and socializing again.

    2/ It's competitive. Nothing like matching skills against others and seeing who comes out on top.

    3/ It's all about the money. For sure, it was expensive to learn to play, and I'm still learning, but I'm starting to see a better curve on the graph upwards. And winning money is a great buzz.

    4/ It's never ending learning. I'm a Lean Manufacturing Manager in my work world, so I'm always looking for ways to improve things, even if just marginally. I bring the same desire to my game, wanting to learn more to improve more. Ever game I play, either home, online, or club, I try to learn something new for the next time, and make myself a better player for it. But just ask anyone who plays against me, I've still got a long way to go.

    I'm still learning the game, with all it's little nuiances and traits, so although I would like to say I play mostly to make money, I think the real answer would be I play because it's something I can truly enjoy...competitive, rewarding, social, and intellectual all at the same time.
  • I'm a Lean Manufacturing Manager
    Ohhhhhhhh... there's an opening I could drive a truck through!
  • HEY!!! Be nice!!!
  • Online is 90% about making money. Poker, Blackjack Whoring...is it all fun? Nope, but, it makes money and I like that.
    10% of online is fun, 1.20 SNG's with Wally and BigE, play money omaha with DrTyore, SNG's and MTT.

    Live...I have way more fun than I should. I"ve had some decent results but, I go to Bristol cause its a blast, too many great guys and players and pepi's to name.

    Who can forget freerolling in Vegas in 05...that was FUN.
  • Wolffy,
    your numbers are pretty close, but I would add %20 for the experience of play. My reading ability has gotten so much better from seeing all those hands online. No substitute for real game-play. And of course then I have more fun live.
  • I play to have fun.

    I play to win money to have more fun.

    I play to have money.

    In live(home) games I play to have even more fun but the money doesn't hurt.

    Casino is about money
  • Huh interesting question:
    I play because I enjoy poker, and I am highly competitive
    Therefore I play to win, and since I play for money - I guess I play to win cash
  • I play to have fun.

    I play to win money to have more fun.

    I play to have money.

    In live(home) games I play to have even more fun but the money doesn't hurt.

    Casino is about money

    That is almost the same reasons I play.

    I love to play games of all types. Board games, computer games, video games, I love them all. So my main reason to play is for fun.

    That being said it is more fun to win, then to lose so even though I playing for fun, I’m playing to win also.

    I also enjoy watching poker when I’m not playing it. I enjoy seeing peoples reactions and how they play win or lose. To me it is the ultimate reality show.
  • Interesting comments, thanks. I used to think I did it for fun but I think in retrospect I did it for money and fun was a side product of winning money, I've been very fortunate to have good friends help me along the path to become a better player without some of the initial set backs or loses that others have had (Wolffhound). My profit graph has always, overall, climbed...mind you I play low levels but hey up is up, and up is good! At some point last year I think it went from fun to an obsession...I focused on whoring as much as I could on any site as fast as I could...I stopped reading, stopped learning, stopped improving, stopped having fun but continued to make money? I'm at a crossroads now trying to decide...do I continue to take advantage of every reload bonus I can and just try to make as much as possible to pay for this that and the next thing? Or do I take a step back, slow down and try and have fun again?

    I'm going to do a little test over the next month and slow down on my poker playing, that is in the sense that I'm not going to have 4 windows open all the time whoring away. I'm going to make a point playing 1 SNG or MTT at a time, focusing on the table see if I actually learned anything over the past year. I'm going to finish Harrington 1 and 2 and try to improve my tournament game, that for me is the most fun, live or on-line and ultimately that is what I want to be the best at. I'm going to play 10x$20 sng's and 10 $10 MTT's (usually would only play $5 or less) and see how it works out and then re-evaluate....am I still going to whore...yeah you have to but I won't be doing it as fast nor will I let it consume as much time as it has.

    I played in the forum tourney last night (with no other poker windows open), threw some tunes on, had a couple beers and although I was severely outplayed I had a lot of fun, it was nice to play against players like BBC Z, the main, zero, and all the others from this forum....and let me tell you having those three to your left is very tough.....I thought I played well to start but as the blinds increased and the pots became larger I learned a few things, those guys really outplayed me later in the game but I got much more out of that then I ever have 4 tabling .50/1.00 ring games. Incidentally I ended up going out to BBC Z when he called my all-in with 72o...my mighty 33 did not have a chance (he had odds, a big stack and I was very short stacked...nor complaint with his play..just sucks losing to the worst hand in poker lol.)

    Anyways, thanks for letting me ramble and thanks for the insight, it's interesting to see how each individual approaches the game, I'm sure in a month I'll have a different view, time will tell.
  • (he had odds, a big stack and I was very short stacked...nor complaint with his play..just sucks losing to the worst hand in poker lol.)

    Actually, theres no way I had odds for that call, it was purely an entertainment move.
  • Dead Money wrote:
    I play to win!

    It is not about the money or prestige, but playing to win. I am building my poker bankroll to play larger and larger buyin events.

    so far so good, and who knows what the future will bring.

    Acid Joe, See ya at the WSOP event 2.

    I do the same. I try to build my bankroll slowly and then enter in larger buy-in SitnGo's and/or Sat tourney's for a shot at a bigger prize. In live cash games, you have to grind and have a stomach of steel. Some players are better at live cash games than in tournaments and vice versa. However, there are those who are great at both. Just keep in mind that texas holdem is what I call calculated gambling. In essence, you can learn all the lessons in life by playing poker and watching the movie Scareface ;)
  • a better question would be... rank your reasons for playing poker. because we all have an affinity for each aspect of poker but to differing degrees.

    me...

    70% money
    10% competition
    10% fun
    10% the ladies
  • i PLAY CUZ I LOVE THIS GAME. winning cash is just an added bonus. Poker is great money is great.
  • I play for the competition value. I did the same with Chess and Backgammon. The only way to really judge yourself and your opponents is to wager something. The "make it hurt if you lose" technique. If everyone was just trying to have fun I think the limits would not matter at all, as the game doesn't change at any level.

    That siad, I play for money. I play at the highest limit my bank roll will allow and with the intetion of racking up the highest score ($$$) possible. That tells me I beat everyone. And thats why I really play.

    The money I win can the give me the real fun I want. An upgraded car, new motorcycle, new TV, an all expenses paid vacation.

    That keeps giving me the incentive to play higher and better than the rest. If I was still struggling to pay rent and eat just to keep my bank roll alive then somethings wrong and the picture needs to be looked at again.

    and oh yeah.... chicks dig poker players!

    G.
  • I was just reading Canadian Poker Player where Dean Stone wrote an article about "Motivation in Poker", it pretty much relates to the discussion so far in this topic. If anyone is interested, its in the issue where they covered the BCPC (volumn 2, issue 12).
    (or if you see me every so often, ask me for it)
  • westside8 wrote:
    I was just reading Canadian Poker Player where Dean Stone wrote an article about "Motivation in Poker", it pretty much relates to the discussion so far in this topic.  If anyone is interested, its in the issue where they covered the BCPC (volumn 2, issue 12).
    (or if you see me every so often, ask me for it)
    http://www.canadianpokerplayer.com/pokerarticles/article.asp?article=343
  • beanie42 wrote:
    westside8 wrote:
    I was just reading Canadian Poker Player where Dean Stone wrote an article about "Motivation in Poker", it pretty much relates to the discussion so far in this topic. If anyone is interested, its in the issue where they covered the BCPC (volumn 2, issue 12).
    (or if you see me every so often, ask me for it)
    http://www.canadianpokerplayer.com/pokerarticles/article.asp?article=343

    Thank you beanie, knew you would come through :D
  • Originally I just started to play because my group of friends weren't playing MTG anymore.

    Then once I saw I was somewhat decent at it, I played to get better, and eventually moved up to making money.

    Haven't had any huge cash wins, a few thousand US is the most, but I almost don't play for much so I guess it's all relative.


    Jay
  • Very interesting thread -- I'd like to start another "why do others play poker?"  But, heck this was a good question.  I had thought of many ways to express why I play, but the quote in Harrington's book does it very well.

    The Man: To the true gambler, money is never an end in itself, but simply a tool; as language is to thought.
    From The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

    I guess I'm a gambler -- but really don't view myself as a gambler.  I try to "be the casino" giving action and bad odds to anyone who wants to play.  So, for me it's not an excercise in gambling. 

    Cheers
    Magi
  • Hey I like that Magi. Great way to explain poker to someone who argues its no different then any other form of gambling.
    Instead of playing against the house, if you work hard enough and are good enough you get to >>be<< the house.
Sign In or Register to comment.