I have a great banker also. I was asking him about not being able to use my debit card to play poker on Americas Cardroom. I said that it was a poker site, he asked one or two questions about my poker playing, and he said, "I umderstand how it works. My dad makes money playing online."

He told me that it had nothing to do with poker, because a lot of debit cards (including the one isssued by my local bank) don't work for international transactions.

Damn theres some cool stuff in this thread. I can relate to tons of it. I usually just say I'm unemployed so that they have no reason to ask what I do.

One day I came into my house to see my uncle. He has a degree in Mathematics and teaches it at tertiary level. Always thought he was pretty clever.

Anyway he started talking to me in a really authoritative tone as if I knew nothing. I tried to answer and explain stuff thinking he would be pretty understanding. How wrong I was! Throughout the course of the argument I got asked/told:

•I will be in debt and to make sure accounts are in my name because if they are in my mums name debt collectors will seize her stuff
•I am addicted to gambling
•I know very little about the world
•Poker is pure gambling/doesn't involve math and you can't win in the long run
•Took no notice of any evidence I provided and said that if you have 'street smarts', you don't need evidence

He also thought I was being dishonest about a lot of stuff, and said "If something takes longer than 30 seconds to explain, it's usually bull****"

I don't know if he was pissed that I can make money in this way or if he is just really stupid. Either way, I lost all respect for him and his intelligence that day. These days I don't bother explaining poker to anyone unless they are genuinely interested and open minded about it.

+1

I met my wife back when I was playing online/live in 2010. Since it was the beginning of the relationship I feel she was probably a little concerned, but she observed from a distance without getting too involved. - She took notice that I was a good player, and never touched any other games (BJ, slots, Roulette, etc) at the casinos.

We're married now, and only play to supplement our income. I only play live at the local card rooms as it currently stands, but she pretty much just asks "so was it a good night?" - Yes means I made money, No means I didn't. Not much else is said. She supports me and knows I'm a good player.

She told me she'd support me playing for a living, but at this point in our life I don't feel it would be a good decision. As of right now I'm happy to use it as supplemental income and just work my way up in stakes.

It's amazing when you have someone by your side who you know supports you even during swings. I could come home and tell her I was down two buy-ins (she knows the limits I play) and she'd probably just say "Bummer, you'll get 'em next time, baby."

I actually think she'd be a great player herself, but she just never took interest.

It's really awesome that you were able to find somebody who is that open-minded. Having a partner who is that supportive of you playing poker as an avocation will help give your relationship in other ways, and hopefully provide years of longevity to your marriage!

Had this as well. Aunt walks in as I am playing a few tables of 10NL. And starts freaking out, mind you I have been living on my own for 2 years AND taking care of a 12 year old brother who lives with me. And she start praying to the gods for me, asked my whole family and neighbourhood to pray for me because the devil has got his hands on me. I was going to lose all my money and everything I had and me and my brother would roam the streets for food.

Ooh the stupidity.

Who'd have thought, man who prefers saying he's unemployed than he plays poker runs into trouble explaining it to a relative.

Reason why Ivey is the best poker player and why poker is luck

5* post

My wife is cool with me playing poker too.
She just says , it would be nice if you won some money for a change
i think she would be a far better player then me but she prefers to spend her time with real people . She mad .

+1.

My girlfriend and I have been dating for a year and a half now. She never knew anything about poker and was definitely skeptical at first. I had a poker tournament series the first two weekends we were dating so that was odd for sure.

Now she doesn't mind it at all. She's really supportive, and it makes it hurt so so so much less to not worry about coming home to "oh, you lost? Well I guess we won't be going on that trip this fall..." and guilt trips like that. She has seen me win over the long term so she understands the swings.

I did something in the beginning of the relationship that helped. She knows I have my poker bankroll, but she doesn't know what the amount of it is. I kept that separate (I would tell her if she asked, but she has never asked) but I would take out small sums of money to get her flowers or take her to dinner here and there and just tell her "poker paid for this". I think that helped too.

juu aar an idiat if juu not tel piipal tat u plei pouka aas ta miining ov laif iz tu sei ta tings aas tei aar. Sori abaut joo baad ingliz.

so.....that is the meaning of life?

I cannot believe that that guy has a thousand posts writing like that

All I can say is, having a woman in your life understand and support your Poker improves your game a thousand-folds! You just cannot lose when you know deep inside that the cash you will rake in at the end of the night will impress your girl. Doesn't matter if you have to fold that raggity suited hand just because that skinny Asian kid raised your straddle 3 times in a row, or that you have to float/pot with nothing against that old nit that always c-bets and backs down on any remotely scary turn but overbets if he still likes him hand.

My mother however, never supported me when I played Poker as a student. If I had won she'd be like 'meh' and wish me good luck on my next session. If I had a losing session, all hell would break lose! "WHY did you have to play?" - "Did I not tell you it is a bad habit?!" - "Do you have any idea how many hours of work you just flushed down the toilet?" - "WHY did you have to go lose your money at the Casino?" - "EVERYBODY loses at the Casino". Logic would go out the window. Math and expected value would go out the window.

best threat on 2p2 lol

So good

+1000

Every person does this.

My friends all know I play poker and don't ask me the stupid questions that most of the ppl ITT seem to get asked on a regular basis. As long as i keep picking up the tab at the pool hall at 10$ a pop per pitcher, they couldn't care less where the money comes from.

I did however make the mistake telling the girl that cuts my hair that I played poker. Even after trying to explain that its not all luck and the better players will get the money in the end. She said something like "yeah, but i still feel like there's a lot of luck involved and its still gamboling". I just quit trying and sat there quietly.

I was outside calling a buddy to see if he wanted to shoot some pool (pool hall i play at is right next door) and she walks out and sees me standing next to the BMW I was driving around at that time. Her attitude changed almost instantly.

Now whenever I walk in she's like I remember you, you play poker!

edit: Parents were another thing. First time I told my mom i won a 22$ tourney for just under 4k she's like wow we need to take u to vegas. Then when I told her I'm going to quit my job she's like, "so you're just going to play poker?".

My dad was much easier and even told me to bring my laptop over so he can watch me play on a sunday. I did one time and after I busted all my tourneys he asked so how did you do? I was like I dunno think I lost like 50$ or something and he's like thats 2 bottles of whiskey son!

"Oh you have been running good at the Casino? That's awesome bro. Any chance you can stake me some funds? I will pay it back as soon as my check comes through next week."

good bannage

tomorrow ill take a day off and read the whole thread

gold

good stuff....

Conversation I had last week with my mom:
I just won $250 at 1/2 live cardroom

Mom: Where did you go last night?
Me: This cardroom nearby
Mom: WHAT!?! Who runs it?
Me: This Asian businessman. The whole place is really nice and homely though.
Mom: What stakes did you play for?
Me: The blinds were 1/2 dollars.
Mom: What does that mean?
Me: I bought in for $200.
Mom: WHAT!? You're a student, you shouldn't be wasting your money like that.
Me: Well if you cared to ask I've gone multiple times and have won 75% of the times I went. In fact, yesterday I made $250 in three hours of playing.
Mom: Well it's all luck, you'll lose everything if you keep playing.
Me: No I won't, poker is a game of skill.
Mom: You can't control what cards you get.
Me: I know, but I have control over how I play the certain hands I play, and I use a lot of variables to make my decisions. But I can tell you don't care about that. If you want to have an adult conversation about this, I'm ready any time.