Getting Better. Even if it means reading a book.
Posts tagged adrenaline rush
Winning Poker — How to Crack the Code
Feb 9th
I enjoy the process of figuring things out. Puzzles make me feel alive. Get my brain swirling about in the best of ways.
You probably think I am going to say that poker is the biggest puzzle I have ever encountered. Not true. That award goes to being a husband and father. Much harder AND much more rewarding. But poker comes in second.
There is something so enticing about the puzzle that we call poker. With all the books, discussion groups and casinos, there are literally thousands of avenues to explore that can you help you crack the code. Most of us have tried them all. So why aren’t more of us winning? As I’ve said before, I am not a winning poker player, so I often ask myself why I play?
To crack the code.
More than money, ego, bragging rights or that adrenaline rush of getting a one-outer on the river, I play poker simply to figure out what it takes to be a winner. What is that formula?
I keep a book of all my sessions:
When I play. For how long. What stakes. What game. Won/lost amount. Who I play against.
This book is a cryptic puzzle that I desperately want to figure out. Somewhere in those pages is the answer as to why I don’t win more money at poker.
Some of the answers are obvious: I play when I am tired. I play against better players. I go on tilt and give away my last $30 (did that last night!). I play too long. I play too loose when I am winning. I don’t leave when I am losing.
On closer look, I realize these are not results, but really symptoms. There is something deeper. Something within myself that prevents me from winning more money. Not sure what that is yet.
I just started reading a great book: The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. It says that rich people think differently than poor people. This reminded of Alan Schoonmaker’s book, Poker Winners Are Different.
Both books imply that rich people and winners (in poker this is often the same thing) have different wiring in their brain.
If that’s the case, then I guess I need brain surgery. Now I need to figure out how to pay for that.
Maybe I’ll win the WSOP Main Event. A few million should cover the surgery, right?
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
Gung Ho or Don’t Go
Jan 23rd
You can’t have ambivalence when you play poker. You are either gungho rock out with your cock out, or don’t play. Poker players sense weakness. If you display any softness, they WILL eat your balls. Trust me, it hurts.
Sometimes my family schedule opens up on a night when I am completely tired. It creates such conflict for me. The universe conspires to give me a free night, I should rally the troops and seize the free time. However, I don’t feel up for it. Herein lies the rub.
In truth, I can’t bear to pass the opportunity to play cards, even if I’m exhausted. I suddenly have the feeling that this will be the last time. If I don’t go now, I’ll never again experience the exhilaration of poker’s body drenching adrenaline rush. (That sounds gay).
Nine times out of ten I go, and nine times out of nine, I lose. Not only that, I start off losing.
After 2 buy-ins, I buckle down. By 2AM, I have actually rallied back to even. I consider leaving, but 2 things cross my mind. First, I hate the idea of playing poker for 6 hours and breaking even. It sounds stupid, but I would rather lose than break even. At least I have something to show for my time: an empty pocket. Second, if I leave now I will never ever in my whole life have the time, energy or means to come back. This will DEFINITELY be my last time ever playing poker. Since this IS my last time, might as well go out with a bang. A poker binge, if you will.
On these nights, I don’t leave until the absence of chips states the obvious. Pal, you’re done. At 4AM, I am $400 poorer and ask myself why the fuck I even went in the first place. 3o minutes later I am home. The moment I step through my front door, I wonder if I have any time next weekend to go back. Instantly I catch myself. What the fuck am I thinking?
If I wait until next weekend, life will get too complicated and I’ll never get there. Better go back tomorrow.
I play because I have the bug.
Why do you play? Let me know at stories@whydoiplaypoker.net
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