my version of ray zee's "the different stages in a player's life"

[Josh.]

article can be found here . it's good stuff and i suggest that everyone read it

here is the real version though. if you are just starting out, you should take this seriously

1. player starts off playing low limit games. this is when poker is fun. he constantly figures stuff out on his own. at this point, the player can choose to enjoy the game, or get good at it

2. player discovers books. this is exciting for player, as now he can consistently beat his friends, or go into a casino and hold his own in 3/6 limit or 1/2 no limit. however, the player learns that he must play tight which is less fun

3. player discovers 2+2. great, now he can get all the strategy help he wants. but player is now in a sea of better players playing more tables making more money, so poker is now about getting better, and more importantly making more money. also, player realizes he must play at least 4 tables because that's the thing to do.

4. player really picks up the game and starts making loads of money. player loves poker

5. player reads BBV and sees how much more the other players are making, so he decides he has to move up. player faces the brutal reality that the games are not so easy anymore and hits his first real downswing. now all of a sudden poker is not fun anymore. instead it's a constant struggle, but it's essential to keep playing and getting better

6. this i call the "in too deep" stage. player now dislikes poker immensely. but he realizes that making money will never be so easy, so he has no choice but to keep playing. and he can't just play at a leisurely rate. he realizes that he will regret every second he didn't spend playing poker, so he is now forced to play everyday, as much as possible. once the player reaches this stage he is trapped. no one can escape the appeal of many hundreds an hour and the possibility of early retirement. but a bad session can ruin a day.

7. poker consumes player and he eventually becomes completely miserable, hating every second from the time the first table is opened until the last one is closed


i'm still in stage 6 but i'm pretty excited for stage 7