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Lacking Motivation
Wilhelm
Member Posts: 1,730
I recently read an article in Poker Player magazine about beating PLO25. I don't really have any interest in beating PLO25, but I paid for the magazine so I was going to get my money's worth.
The main thing that jumped out at me was a very simple point, but one that it's worth reminding ourselves every now and again. When you sit down to play poker, make sure you really want to. I've lost count of the amount of times I've played a cash session or tournament, donked off all my chips and then thought that I'd rather have been playing FIFA 12.
After giving some thought to the reasons I might want to play poker, one stands out above others; to win money. I've come to a realisation that I only enjoy poker if I am winning. I think this is a natural reaction. I've noticed that if I go on even a small downswing my motivation to play diminishes, and I'm sure this is having an effect on my game during the downswings.
It makes me wonder how professional players get through downswings. They have to play but they can't be looking forward to the next session.
So what's the solution? To take a break? Well, I don't really want to. I'm not enjoying losing money, but I still want to play. I want to do something I do not enjoy. It's a real kerfuffle.
Comments
i was in a similar situation myself not really knowing what to play or when to play,etc.
so that's when i began my dym challenge 4 monthe ago.
now i'm not suggesting that you do the same thing for one minute,but 4 me anyway it has worked wonderfully.
i have a focus to play, a set target to reach and a real enjoyment of the challenge.
some might even argue that i'm playing too much,but i think it's better than not playing enough.
i get what you mean about only enjoying it when you are winning,same here,don't think anyone really enjoys losing,do they.
but having losing sessions is all part of the deal when you sign up to play on-line poker,it's like 'fish going with chips'it will happen.
again i get over this by taking the month 'as a whole' and providing i have made some profit,then i am happy,something that i think many more players could/should start doing.
anyway,
just thought i'd share this with you.gl with whatever you decide
dev
to make that leap to become a pro i imagine these players have the confidence needed to keep playing when its going against them. bankroll management helps take some of the sting out of the downswings and most top players control themselves in terms of how long they play during losing sessions etc so that during winning sessions they win more than they lose during losing sessions.
"Always reach for the moon, cause even if you miss you land among the stars."
But yeah, 99% of us don't do this for a living, if you were then you can say like many other people (not just poker players) 'I don't particularly love my job but it pays well', but as we don't do it for a living, the only reason to do it is for enjoyment.
Find a level, you can beat even if it's 4NL or £1 DYMs or whatever, get better if you can't beat it, and if that's the best level you can ever beat, then so what, at least you'll be playing and enjoying winning. I'd rather enjoy winning at 4NL and be unhappy about losing at 50NL.
So when I set myself a goal in poker, I do hammer it, but I don't treat it much different to many other habits/addictions/hobbies.
No doubt there are people who are super addicted though, like any other gambling. and like you (no matter how much I enjoy the game) I could never carry on playing if I was a habitual loser. I've seen some people on Sharkscope that are more £2000 down, and some people who are literally 10 times that down, I don't understand how you could continue to play when it's like that. It's sometimes an unfortunate truth, but these people are needed to keep the break even and winning players in the game.
Also some people see it as just paying for entertainment, in the same way people who pay £40 to go to a concert, some people are happy to pay £40 to get the excitement of playing poker, seeing if you're 2 outter comes in etc and couldn't care less if they win or lose. More of them please lol.
Ger