I recently got a job for minimum wage and for the past two and a half months I've been losing my $300-$400 checks.

It's so hard to stay away from the poker table. I've been a losing player for over eight years because of some bad play but mostly poor BRM.

I haven't told my parents yet but I left rent (in cash) on the kitchen table along with my debit card and ID card so I won't be able to access my bank account without their assistance. I left a note saying I lost my money playing poker. (I was suppose to be saving up money for a car so they won't be too happy.)

Do I have a gambling problem? Is playing LLSNL with only 1.5-2 buy-ins "gambling"?

Has anyone had this problem? If so how did you overcome it and save up a BR without being tempted to play?

I don't want to be a degenerate scum ball for the rest of my life.

I'm in the same situation as you working near min wage job. I don't ever gamble with my paycheques though, those always go to paying off credit card bills. I dont have to pay rent, so I guess I'm more fortunate than you.

I only bring 1-2 buyins at max and if I lose, i take a break until around pay day, not affecting my original bank roll at all. If you crave to play but don't wanna lose the money, just buy books or study the game to get better. Wouldn't it be better to invest to improve your skills rather than losing the money over and over due to the same problem?

yes

You know as much as I want losing players at the table, I gotta connect with my humanity on this one and tell you this:

You know those gambling addiction hotlines exist for a reason right? Dial that number homez. Pronto.

short answer is yes sir you should quit gamboolin. In fact over 95% of the people out there should. If you don't quit at least poast up who you are and where you play so that 2+2ers can take your $...seems like the right thing to do to me (keep the $ in the community)

rolf... don't listen to them OP. you can turn it around. i took $200 ATM withdrawal 3 weeks ago and ran it up to $3,000 playing part time. you can do it too, just read/study before you sit in another game.

preferably without the rent money.

Either that or take out a loan

Why didn't I just go all-in here ?

Early today: $1/$1 NL

Hero: $175 stack
V: $80 stack

Hero bets $7 with AQcc, V calls.

Flop comes 6Q4r.

($14 pot)

V bets $11.

Hero calls.

($37 pot.)

Turn comes Kd putting two diamonds on the board.

V insta-shoves for ~$60.

Hero tank-folds.

Pretty sure I was good...

Yes you should quit for now at least.

I love poker but when you are getting to the stage where you are constantly losing your pay cheques and losing money that you NEED eg Money required to pay for rent and buy a car...i would classify that as having a gambling problem. I dont think it would be that bad if you were only losing disposable income (money left over AFTER paying off expenses etc).

Also, like other people have said, it sounds like you need to study up before you play again...constantly losing at LLSNL for 8 years is pretty bad tbh no offence just gotta be realistic in these situations

I didn't lose my rent money. It's on the kitchen table right now.

i think you played it well. find easier opponents.

How about this one?

$1/$1 NL

Hero: $250
V: $100

Hero is OTB with 77 and raises to $13.

V is in the sb, tank-calls.

(Pot is $24)

Flop comes 8h 6h 2s.

V checks. Hero bets $20.

V goes all in for ~$70.

Hero tank-calls.

Turn Qc.

River As.

V shows TT.

Hero mucks but V asks to see the cards. Dealer shows my hand. V (Older asian guy) goes "WOW you calling with that?" and scoops the pot.

There are some big red flags that tell me you probably do have a gambling problem. Admitting it is the first step to improving, and would put you way ahead of all the gambling addicts that are in total denial.

Playing poker is always gambling in the short run no matter how many buy-ins you have. Also, no matter how good you are, losing 1.5-2 buy-ins is very easy to do.

You shouldn't play if you're a losing player and need the money. Take those $300-$400 checks and save them up and that will add up over time. It's way better than losing it at the tables and feeling horrible about it.

Edit: If you really love the game, you could take a break from the game (maybe 6-12 months at least), and use the extra time to study up, and don't play again until you've improved a lot, and have enough of a roll that you can lose 3-5 buy-ins and you'd be okay. If you can't follow a plan like this, then you'll be stuck doing the same thing that you've done in the past, and in that case you should seek some help.

You need to click on this link and call them immediately.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/hotlines

After 8 years, if you haven't figured things out, you are never going to do it. Stop thinking that this is something you can control and turn around. Just because others can doesn't mean you can, too.

In addition, we aren't the people you should be talking to any longer. Reading 2+2 will just feed the beast. You should talk to the people in the link and never come back to this site again. My suggestion is to ask for a self-ban. It is for your own good.

I'm going to lock this thread, mainly because it is turning into a blog.