I think internet poker ruined me...

[DeadManJay]

I started out playing Party .50/1 and 1/2 and after ~50k hands I got brave enough to go try my luck at the B&M casinos. I had been frequenting Biloxi casinos for about a year before Hurricane Katrina wiped out the local action for a few months. After that I went back to 4-tabling online. Now I'm back to playing in the casino and I catch myself playing so many hands that I shouldn't be, out of pure boredom. I think getting used to the fast pace of internet poker has made me extremely impatient. Any advice on how to begin correcting this? Anyone else had this problem?

[Zele]

Pay that much more attention to your reads. Condsider it a luxury you don't have 4-tabling.

[lapoker17]

drink while you play.

[DeadManJay]

I've honestly thought about that, but I always thought that I'd probably get stupid and play even more trash than before.

[lapoker17]

yeah, but you won't care.

[DeadManJay]

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, but you won't care.

[/ QUOTE ] /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[mosdef]

Just socialize, try to have fun. Some people will talk back. Not everyone is a nit.

[wrschultz]

Hm... I would say try to find someone to talk to, or maybe bring a CD player and some headphones if you get that bored? Generally I would say just try to watch every hand and see what your opponents do as it will help you GREATLY through the night...

[zuluking]

[ QUOTE ]
drink while you play.

[/ QUOTE ]

nh

[lefty rosen]

Play big bet poker. I can't play limit live poker anymore for the same reason(at least what I used to play limit wise). Now I play 100NL and that is a more cautious game by nature so I pay much more attention to my opponents habits.......

[d10]

[ QUOTE ]
Play big bet poker. I can't play limit live poker anymore for the same reason(at least what I used to play limit wise). Now I play 100NL and that is a more cautious game by nature so I pay much more attention to my opponents habits.......

[/ QUOTE ]

This sounds like a bad idea for someone having problems with patience. I just try to have fun when I play live. Online multitabling is about as boring as it gets. There are so many distractions to enjoy at a live casino. I don't really know what to say because I don't have this problem. Getting involved in a hand is not what makes live poker enjoyable for me.

[rowdyclassmate]

<< drink while you play. >>

I like this idea. When I drink, it forces me to stop thinking so much and just act. Yes, you will want to play every hand - but just resist it. And when you do come in with pure junk, don't be too obliterated to have lost all sense for playing well post-flop!

[JooWish622]

play better, read the god damn posts to figure out the answer to this...

god dammit 2+2... whats the point of having this website if people keep asking "how do i get better" questions

[smoore]

[ QUOTE ]
play better, read the god damn posts to figure out the answer to this...

god dammit 2+2... whats the point of having this website if people keep asking "how do i get better" questions

[/ QUOTE ]

That is exactly the point. Different "how do I" posts are from different levels of thinking and all can help SOMEONE.

[FishNChips]

play one limit higher?

I am BRd for 3/6. When I go to the cardroom (about every other month) I play 4/8 Kill and I played 8/16 Kill last time I was there (a couple of friends usually play that limit and they assured me it was beatable or I wouldn't have tried it). Trust me, you'll play tight! Its also a good way to "take a shot" because (in general) the B&M games are softer than on-line at same limits.

If variance scares the bejeebies out of you and you don't want to play higher, than (as others have suggested) use it the time to get better at hand reading.

Also, it helps if there are attractive employees or patrons to break up some of the boredom... sadly, this doesn't really apply at the cardroom I play at.

Good Luck!
FishNChips

[grim1234]

[ QUOTE ]
play better, read the god damn posts to figure out the answer to this...

god dammit 2+2... whats the point of having this website if people keep asking "how do i get better" questions

[/ QUOTE ]

for most people the whole point of the forum is to get better. posts like this are interesting imo.

[DayTripping]

One piece of advice I've read a lot is to stay tuned into the action when you are not in the hand and try to figure out what the players are holding. Theoretically it should cure boredom AND improve your game at the same time.

If that doesn't work, there's always Ritalin.

In all honesty though, if you find that there is nothing you can due to cure you're boredom/impatience in a B&M setting, then you should quite simply stop playing casino poker and stick to the Internet. It can't be stressed enough how important patience is when it comes to being a winning player.

[JooWish622]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
play better, read the god damn posts to figure out the answer to this...

god dammit 2+2... whats the point of having this website if people keep asking "how do i get better" questions

[/ QUOTE ]

for most people the whole point of the forum is to get better. posts like this are interesting imo.

[/ QUOTE ]

How is this post interesting? why does this need to be posted? If he's playing too many hands, there are possibly thousands of posts on 2+2 that pertain to what hands to play/where to play/etc. This post actually is a "how can i play tighter" question.

I sound like a dick, im tired, i apoligize in advance.

[DeadManJay]

You're misunderstanding my question. I wasn't asking how do I play tighter, I have no problem playing tight online. My question was how do I get over this boredom that I believe happens because live play is so much slower than the internet multi-tabling that I'm used to.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
You're misunderstanding my question. I wasn't asking how do I play tighter, I have no problem playing tight online. My question was how do I get over this boredom that I believe happens because live play is so much slower than the internet multi-tabling that I'm used to.

[/ QUOTE ]

Zele and mosdef offer great advice. Take advantage of the aspects of liveplay. Try striking up a conversation or two. Work on your reads.

Also work on counting the pot. Internet play really spoils you for keeping track of what is in the middle. This will keep you occupied and is a skill you need to have anyway.

[rwanger]

[ QUOTE ]
You're misunderstanding my question. I wasn't asking how do I play tighter, I have no problem playing tight online. My question was how do I get over this boredom that I believe happens because live play is so much slower than the internet multi-tabling that I'm used to.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been saying this recently myself. Mulitabling on the internet has killed my B&M interest. Everytime I go, it's slow and boooring. 25 hands per hour? PLEASE. You're probably playing more than 10 times that.

Sadly though I don't have an answer. Maybe play a game you aren't used to? (Omaha/Stud/etc).

I did play live recently and it was super boring, until I started talking to some of the other players about playing online. At least the conversation kept me from wanting to shoot myself.

PS - like you, I played waaay to many hands. For example, limping with 72s on the button. "I can outplay these chumps." "I could hit a flush!". I did the latter (but not the former), and lost my stack to the nut flush.

Another reason it might be boring, is because playing the same limit live that you do online, you will find the players are much worse live. The won't seem like thinking players and you probably will give up trying to pay attention to them and their tells, since they aren't even sure how strong their hand is. That is the frustrating part. Maybe a case for moving up in limits for live play.

[bobhalford]

I have so much more fun playing live than I do online that I don't really get bored. I can fold hands for 90 minutes and get frustrated, but not bored. Sometimes I bring an ipod. Other times I've brought the paper with me (if it's an early session), but I've stopped doing that cause it's bad for my image. I think if live play bores you this much, you should just stick to the internet no? The advice other people give about watching hands you are not involved in and working on your reads is great. If that's not enough for you, then just 8 table the party poker. What else is there to say?

[Man of Means]

Make a sport out of spotting tells. Try to predict players' holdings when you're out of the hand. Chat it up, network, flirt with waitstaff. Make jokes, even stupid ones. Continue to play solid poker.

[Bulbarainey]

I'd get a pocket PC and just mess around with it, I did that for a while when I had mine, and I think im going to get another. OR if your phone is one of the supported pokerroom phones, play one table of PR and one live table at the same time

[magoo]

Here's how: Realize there is a difference between playing online where your "hand" and opponents "hands" are pre-determined (by a computer program), and live play.

[ QUOTE ]
You're misunderstanding my question. I wasn't asking how do I play tighter, I have no problem playing tight online. My question was how do I get over this boredom that I believe happens because live play is so much slower than the internet multi-tabling that I'm used to.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Nomad84]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's how: Realize there is a difference between playing online where your "hand" and opponents "hands" are pre-determined (by a computer program), and live play.

[/ QUOTE ]

As opposed to live play where your "hand" and your opponents' "hands" are pre-determined by a ShuffleMaster?

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
I have so much more fun playing live than I do online that I don't really get bored. I can fold hands for 90 minutes and get frustrated, but not bored.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just happened to browse through Vorhaus's Killer Poker Online, and a lot of what he had to say cautioning B&M players about online play really resonated. I'm ADD, and sitting in a chair at a real poker table my mind wanders -- but i can somewhat mitigate that by playing with chips, or watching the dealer count the rake, or staring at a hot girl three tables over. The ideal is to focus on other players, and I'm getting better at it, but the point is that a B&M is full of sensory experiences that keep me from getting bored in the same way as online poker.

[AKQJ10]

[ QUOTE ]
As opposed to live play where your "hand" and your opponents' "hands" are pre-determined by a ShuffleMaster?

[/ QUOTE ]

Or predetermined by a manual wash, riffle shuffle, and cut. After the cut everyone's hand is preordained in community card games (unless the dealer exposes a card in the deal).

[gilbert]

[ QUOTE ]
I have so much more fun playing live than I do online that I don't really get bored. I can fold hands for 90 minutes and get frustrated, but not bored.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes, i feel the exact same way.

sometimes when i'm sitting at the table for over an hour without getting a playable hand i think about walking around or going to play blackjack or something but i can't stand the thought of missing a hand that i could play.

so i don't think i get bored just frustrated.

also, drinking helps.