Well I've been playing for about 10 years now, mainly off and on, although the past 2-3 years I've been playing very regularly live and online, mainly cash games although I've played tourneys regularly as well. Maybe I just suck more than I thought cuz I know a lot of people are kinda supposed to be like that, but at times it seems to me like you may as well play roulette. AA against T8 on a J94 is basically a dead even coinflip and neither one are going anywhere in a raised pot the majority of the time, I realize the fold equity of 10-8 to make fancy plays with check raising but nobody believes that **** in this day and age because everyone does that if they play that hand. Only one example I know but I don't want to make this post too long just to prove my point, which is basically that everyone is in there trying to get their slice of the pie with these fun all in moments, nobody is here to try to play small pot poker anymore so someone has to get screwed over with these stupid gambles which is why I say you might as well play roulette instead of waiting for a hand. If I play to trap by smooth calling aces preflop or something of this nature it seems like I just get screwed over by trapping weaker players who will end up hitting whatever they were going for later on when I get it in ahead and pot committing them, even AA against any pair or KQ suited is only 4:1 and it's just amazing how often they hit on me when I'm doing this and it just seems like all I did was pot commit some newb who got saved by the river every friggin time.

Maybe I'm unlucky, as it did literally take about 23 years for me to get lucky in real life for my first time. Anyway, I'm just here to share my thoughts and try to get some thoughts from other people, yeah I'm not saying I'm quitting because obviously I made this post because I'm still ruminating upon the game that I do honestly love, I could go on about more thoughts but I know everyone's busy here grinding it out so this is just a start. Good luck, hope to here soon, thanks for reading, all that good jazz.

EDIT: If you're curious I've basically made about $200 in the past 2 years of playing 300K hands online. This is unacceptable given a good portion was in .25/.50, .5/1, and 1/2 although the majority was .02/.05, .02/.04 and .5/.10, and about the same levels for tourneys as well. I've beaten the rake. there were times I pulled $1k off a site or the casino but given the time invested, I would've been better off going back to school or researching the stock market or something.

stay at the tables

about 1 time in 5? OMG SOOOO AMAZING!!!

Fair points although unsubstantiated. Stay at the tables? Ok...well it's been a little expensive lately for me to do that so I'm thinking it's best to take time off to let the tilt wear off a bit before I come back. And to the person who likes the 1 in 5 thing..I think you don't realize we're already agreeing that 1 in 5 isn't amazing, but my point that I may not have clearly explained was that trapping is not often a good strategy in my opinion because I find myself drawn out on because it seems like they'll draw out every time I try this by hitting their 2-5 outer. You could argue that slowplay kills you, but if you know these degenerates aren't folding anyway and assuming the same cards would've come out regardless, then you actually saved a little by not inflating the pot. Problem is I've had KK vs AA far more often than AA vs KK, and in the former I can't remember the last time I actually spiked my K and sucked out, but in the latter it happened to me one of the last times I played and a good number of other times. I've been running pretty bad for sure, in fact one of the reasons I wanted to take a break was because the only times I got offset by all these coolers and suckouts was by sucking out myself. Anyway thanks for the responses.

Good luck on the break man hope you come back soon and get off tilt.

Enjoy your suckouts, remember it means you got the money in good. Taking a break isn't going to help.

The advice you need is the advice you will refuse to hear.

Well I consider myself pretty open minded so you could try me anyway. I've got ideas for what you might say but I don't like to assume.

switch to new games m8...try some PLO if you haven't already....

I think he want to play a game that is less like roulette

Hahaha yeah I've played PLO from time to time it's pretty seriously a suckout magnet, it's mostly just the same thing but accelerated, boat vs boat, set vs higher backdoor boat draw + flush draw..more potential to win and lose faster.

I would recommend getting coaching. I was experiencing about the same issues as you so what I did is recommitted to the game by watching more training videos and reading more books. I recommend deuces cracked for a training site and reading books like "kill them all" and "the razors edge" (MTT strategy). If you give up then you ultimately lose. If you find the same results, continue your study binge and good luck.

I am a newbie posting, but have lurked here to learn for awhile...that said...

It sounds to me like you are expecting a little too much from the levels of poker you are playing at. I know people can win significantly at any level, but maybe you just are never going to be THAT good.

Why not just play for fun then? Why does everyone who plays poker have to absolutely clean up? We go play a frustratingly brutal game of golf in hopes of rarely hitting a great shot, or making a beautiful birdie putt, but most of the time golf is expensive and frustrating. But we still go back constantly. I think we also play golf for the relaxation and fun as well. Why not poker?

I NEVER play poker for money without trying my best, but sometimes I do approach it looking to just have a good time as well. A diversion, maybe.

Try just going to play and loving every minute of it. See what happens. I am curious what you experience, because I have felt exactly like you several times.

It's funny this is the first post I'm reading today, because I was having the same feeling about poker.

I've played 1/3 and 2/5 live for the last 2 years and can't seem to avoid losing my stacks, while trying to push someone off a draw. People at these limits never seem to fold, regardless of how much it costs them. Even playing deep stacked, people are still risking $500 on OES or. flush draws.

I always feel like my moves are justified because my read was right and I got my money in the middle when I was ahead. But I feel like it might be a leak in my game risking all in moves with hands that can easily be beaten with a few more cards.

Last night I played a big hand with AKs, hitting top pair on the flop and raising all in when a Reg made an over bet. I was sure he would fold any drawing hand, but he insta called with a flush draw and hit. I was the 64% favorite when I got it in, but I too am starting to think it's the wrong move.



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Yes, edges are getting smaller. But at NL5-NL50 there's still a ton to be had. You need to spend more time studying if you want to improve.

I view poker as a hobby. I go with it in my own pace. At times I study more, and my game improves. At times (even years) I just mostly play, and don't get much better or worse (mostly just observe in side how the games are getting tougher). I don't feel frustration because I have no expectations. It's just a way to pass time and keep my head (more or less) sharp.