Poker and Girlfriends

[Monolith]

I think that, at some point, it will come down to "poker or me", and you'd better know ahead of time which way you will go. You're doing well, and she likes the money, but what if/when you hit a long streak of cold decks? I wish you luck...

[dudeoflife]

I've been dating my gf for almost 5 years now and we've come very close to breaking up over poker. I don't play that often during the week since I work so Sunday is my day to play poker all day. Well to her that means poker is my no.1 priority and blah blah blah. I would play Friday Sat Sun if it was up to me but I compromise. You need to decide how much you're willing to compromise and either she's with it or not. Like Professor Petrovsky said, " We can't run who we are...Our Destiny chooses us."

[Rainclouds]

After reading this thread I realize I'm lucky.

I have to play poker in our living room, as we live in a small apartment. Whenever I'm in a session, my girlfriend realizes I want to focus and then she tries not to distract me (she does occasionally, but that's no problem).

I think the main cause of this is that she's an intelligent girl who fully understands what poker is about when I explained it to her, and therefore she accepts it. She even encourages me to play more hands (I'm lazy and play about 1-2 hours a day) because she knows it's about hourly rates.

If my girlfriend wouldn't allow me to play poker, I would have serious problems with that. Not because I couldn't play poker anymore, but because I would have a girlfriend who could not understand and accept something I explained to her.

[coolmoedee]

I work 4 days a week and try to play poker every night after work once I've made dinner (usually she does but she usually works 2 hours later than I do so I make dinner for her sometimes.) She has no problem with me playing as long as I dont freak out when I take a bad beat. I used to play big MTT's and if I was close to a good payday and took a bad beat (which seemed daily at the time) I would freak out and get mad and be a bear to be around. She would then lose it on me because I was letting poker affect my mood and our relationship. Now I take the good beats with the bad ones and dont get too pissed. I will be much more upset on the inside then the outside but I cant show her how frustrated I am somtimes or she will get pissed. Usually were just sittin in the living room smoking weed and watching TV after work, or on the weekend if were both home. What's the difference from watching TV and watching a computer screen. I still talk to her and watch the TV while im playing too, I will however tune things out if im concentrating in certain tournament situations. If you guys are at home together, and your not doing anything important, then why not play poker. I tought her how to play but she only likes playing at the casino so she watches TV, and I play poker,,,,its worked for 4 years now, shouldn't be a problem in our lives unless I make it one.

[tarheeljks]

[ QUOTE ]
If you truly love this girl and feel like there is a real future for the two of you, give her what she wants. It sounds like she is frustrated that you are playing while she needs/wants your attention. Give it to her. At the very least play less when she's home or play less tables so you can interact with her easier while playing.

Here's the thing. Poker isn't going anywhere, but if you neglect the feelings of the person you love, she may very well leave. Is that what you want?

[/ QUOTE ]

sounds like sage advice