Odd question I know but here’s the background info.

Left poker for about 6 years. I played it to survive through the recession (live 1/2nl mostly). Started working again and let it go.

Recently I bought a laptop, about 5 weeks ago and made $3100 in 2 weeks with 14 cashes out of 52 tourneys. (27%) including 4 1st places in low limit MTTs. Had the cards go my way a few times but I played textbook Harrington on Hold Em type poker.

The last 2 or 3 weeks I been the fish at the table. Trying insane bluffs, only concerning myself with implied odds when drawing etc etc. mainly playing a super lag style that doesn’t fit me apparently.

So I’m down about $700 for the month so I’m still up overall. I sit in front of the laptop and say ok I’m gonna adjust to the table and play tight at loose tables and vice versa but at some point I’m back to this Super LAG fish because it’s fun until I’m out of the tourney.

Its like I lost my self discipline and became a degenerate.

I expect people to make comments trying to be funny but I’m dead serious. Has anyone gone through this and came out of it?


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Yeah I have
It's called "playing for fun"
The things you mentioned are not typical behavior of a "reg"

Maybe it wasn’t a question for a poker forum. I was just thinking maybe it wasn’t a unique thing and something others go through sometimes. Getting bored with the poker part of it and more attracted to the gambling part of it.

Was hoping maybe someone been through it and said I took a week off and got back to business or something. I don’t know.

I started out playing the cards and making moves here and there based on reads I would get. Then I started trying to make players lay down hands with air etc etc. For some reason I can’t get away from it. Maybe it is the rush of playing on the edge.

Like when I know someone is flat calling a weak A that paired up and I got the right read and I’m firing money. Playing with the same players on a smaller site people caught on and I know it. I still play like that knowing they figured me out. I like that rush.

In a perfect world I would tighten up and when in hands with a player that probably has tons of notes on me I’d get paid off on premium hands. Like I know all this and still chase that rush.

Saying all this actually helped I think. I don’t have any poker playing friends so I haven’t really talked about it. Seeing the words as I say them is giving me clarity.

If I find myself doing it again then maybe I set off some gambling addiction or something and may have to step away and take that in to consideration. I wouldn’t say I’m Phil Helmuth but in a $5-$10 buy tournament I know how to play it better than most when I’m playing poker and not whatever it is called I’ve been doing lately.

Apologies for ranting then answering my own question but thanks for reading to those that did.


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It's 100% fine to write the things you wrote... As you mentioned it mostly helps you...
As long as you know that you play poker for fub and can afford it, it's fine...
But be aware you are not playing poker , you are "gambling" ...
The rush, the " I wanna make him fold to have fun" is gambling...
Be aware not to get addicted...
Cheers and good luck at your journey