Hi all,

I am stuck in a cycle with poker and I am wondering if anyone lose has this same cycle or have any tips to get out of it... (sorry if this is a bit rambly)

So it starts with not playin poker for a few weeks, I may have been focusing on something at work, exam or just generally not in the mood to play.

I decide that I fancy playing some poker so make a deposit online or go to a live game. My mindset at this stage is purely trying to play my A game at stakes that are enjoyable and win what I can but in the main have fun.

Because if this relaxed mindset and playing very low and comfortable stakes I find myself making a profit. Very quickly this can grow and grow as I dominate the comfortable games.

Let’s say an example would be i deposit £100 and my bankroll grows to £300 in the first week.

I’m elated, my mind stays timising that profit up by 52 weeks! £10k tax free profit a year! Now that is a huge sum of money to me and I start imaging the new stuff I could buy!

As I get into the second and third week of play my mind has now moved from enjoin the game and playing my best when I am in the mood to grinding every hour possible in order to make that £200 a week and therefore £10k a year.

I leave work at 5pm on the dot to quite literally jog home to play. I’m tired, I play. I can’t be bothered, i play. My friends want to go to the pub, oh no I play poker instead. (Maybe not the last one but you get my point)

I became obsessive about winning more and more and there I nothing I want to do more than play. I look at people winning millions from the game and imagine myself in their shoes.

Eventually i even start dreaming of playing full time, work suck now and I start to watch the clock until 5pm when I can go and play.

Eventually I can’t win at the rate that I expected and I start to tilt, play stakes I shouldn’t and eventually lose a big amount.

At this point I am almost relieved, I take a break from poker and can go back to normality.

It may sound like I am a full on addict but it’s annoying because if I just aimed to play for the enjoyment I am sure I could grind out a decent amount each year but I get too greedy.

Anyone else be this problem?

The mental images (day dreams) that the mind creates projected from the most recent winning sessions is worth looking into. It is, in fact, an absolute necessity.

What are these mental images created by?

What's the root of this image making?

Who is the image maker?

Answering these questions, one sees the root of the 'problem' and from there one can proceed. All other activities or suggestions can only skirt around the issue.

Hi chiggs and thanks or the response!

I suppose I don’t enjoy my job but I am heavily invested in it (exams, experience etc) changing jobs could work or it could just be the same problem.

The reality s I want to play poker full time but this is just not a realistic solution based on my skill level and results.

Anyone else have similar thoughts?

I'm sure this kind of thinking/behaviour is pretty normal for someone who wants a way out of their present circumstances.


Try improving your circumstances in other ways: most notably health and fitness and working toward the career you want. As most successful players have found, money and poker success doesn't bring lasting happiness; only the freedom to pursue happiness. Excess amounts of money may make this easier, but it isn't essential.

Prioritise the improvement of other areas of your life and be grateful that you’ve found the most amazing hobby in poker. This includes study - if you find the right study sources you will find that many poker pros are incredible people and you can learn so much from them off the felt.

If poker success comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. Qualitatively, it shouldn’t make much difference if you’ve worked hard outside of poker to get your life to where you want it to be.

The question is, where do you want it to be?

Viewing it as a fun hobby rather than a way to make $ consistently makes me far more content.

Set a schedule, and only play during those times, even if you want to play more due to the earning potential.