I can’t stop playing poker

[pepitannikita]

Poker Clif~~

Thank you for your post! While I have lacked the discipline of total attention to details that you describe, I nevertheless had a similar approach to learning/playing poker. Although my case was different, I learned in fake money games online and then played my first real money games in $3-6 limit games where I stayed for the next 2,000 hours.

I did grind out LONG hours at the tables. It was tough to beat the game because there was a $3 button drop plus a $1 jackpot drop taken out of every hand. I was restricted due to lack of transportation to a need to take the bus so that meant at times that I would, of necessity (dire financial circumstances which precluded ability to take taxis), pull an all-nighter after already having played a session, meaning I had missed the last bus at 10 p.m. so I couldn't leave until after 6 a.m. on weekdays or 9 a.m. on weekends.

So while I had sat down for the first time a complete poker retardo (and oh my, how I could regale you with stories of the things I did and thought! LOL!), I nevertheless always believed that I could learn this game and would beat it to the extent of regularly supplementing my meager disability income.

I am academically inclined, open to learning without that ego involvement thing that seems so glaring in so many newbie players (being 50, female and fat might helo in that regard)--LOL.

I'm just sort of hitting some points to say that I was serious about the game. I very much LIKED and ENJOYED the game and it was a lot of FUN also-- the learning process itself was fun. But it was also WORK and I approached it that way, as a business, keeping very detailed records, including how much I had to spend for bus fare, what I tipped the dealers-- these were "expenses" that I would not have normally have had were I NOT playing poker and I needed to account for them. I deducted those amounts from my bottom line poker profit.

So when I would hear folks mocking the "no fold 'em hold 'em" $3-6 limit games (which were the lowest games the casino spread) and comment upon the players in them as being people who didn't care about the money because it was such small amounts, it hurt me. I cared very MUCH about the money and the money MATTERED to me and made a difference in my life. I found out that even with the variance fluctuations that I consistently made a certain hourly rate average that I could almost count on and so that is why I began logging in 40-60 hours a week then. Heck, I had always worked overtime when I was in management so extra hours wasn't a foreign concept. I just knew that the more hours I played poker, the more income I would produce and my records provided evidence of this.

Now, I've highjacked this thread away from the OP long enough so time to get it back on track! LOL.

Just wanted to concur with what you had been saying in your excellent post. Not all of us who play at low limits are in the same category. There is nothing wrong with those who are primarily social players, enjoying the game, having fun, blowing money. Indeed, I make money sitting at their tables and have fun with them while I do so!

Those who are more serious-minded and who play long hours are not necessarily addicts, either.

I guess everyone has a story to tell and it's interesting "meeting" folks here on 2+2 and hearing some of theirs.