Thanks for spilling you guts about your poker life styles but even if I won the WSOP and $7.5 million my parents would still not understand it. They just don't believe in any kind of gambling and think anyone who does it will lose.

i know this is sorta off the thread topic but all you who consistently make money what sort of games is it done in? Limit/NL/MTT/SnG etc. I use poker for fun and slowly lose money ( like losing 5dollars a month) and i know the main problem is my skill but i wonder if the games im playing have anything to do with it.

Surf, I play NL SnGs ($10-$30 depending on current bankroll) and MTTs $20-$30.

I make a small but reliable return on the SnGs (though there are some swings) but it's the MTT wins (or final tables) that give me a nice return.

The nature playing these games means that there can be long periods without cashing out and although I certainly don't intend to lose money I don't mind waiting between big wins and my primary objective is entertainment.

The "serious" money makers seem to be found grinding it out on the Ring tables where a more consistent return can be made. I've tried it and wanted to scoop out my eyes with a spoon through boredom. I like the adrenaline kick of the tourneys.

If Deme was around he'd tell you he plays tourney when he wants a break from proper Poker.

Horses for courses

For me it's limit Hold'em since the game is so popular but so is NL. I'm pretty good a Razz but you can't find it at too many sites, Full Tilt is the only one where I also play hold'em at. While you might be better at a game that is dead it doesn't make any sense to play it. I would concentrate on limit Hold'em since the game will be around for a long time. I think too many people play NL online. The game is more complex and thus harder to win money at. For the really good NL players this is a dream since too many bad players play NL. I mean one mistake and you lose your whole stack. I saw a $31k pot the other night at UB and the guy lost his whole stack in one shot.

It's funny you bring this up because I had to correct a few people on another forum with this same misconception, I'll link what they said to here after I link this thread to them, maybe we can open their eyes. Because they need to be educated. It's just another stereotype when they think they know more about the subject than we do.

If you go here look up my thread on who is taking the bigger risk and it's in the meeting personals section around page 4 and find lusty's comment, in fact I'll post it here tell me what you think of this person's comment.

http://www.frederick.com/forum/forumhome.asp

Here's this persons' comment I had to laugh then correct them:

Hey Shawn,

Just a thought here.

Poker is gambling. Ask yourself, why do they call it gambling? You have a big chance to loose. You are taking a risk, a foolish one. In gambling, unless you are cheating, you have a certain amount of risk because you cannot control enough of the situation. the cost is to high.

Why do you think the Casino's in Las Vegas make so much money? Millions upon Millions of people every year get a bug up there ass and think that they can beat the odds. Are you saying that you are any different than those millions of people. If you are saying that, then you are, indeed, a fool. Those who hold the cards have the advantage.

As for the girl you spoke of (the coworker) She will hold her own cards. She may not see that yet, but she will. School, direction and the desire to beable to control your future is something that to many of us lack.

All I'm trying to say to you, buddy, is that in cards, while you may think you can outsmart the odds, you cannot. Eventually, they will catch up to you. These are some of the reasons that gambling is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Have you ever gone to a horse racing track and looked around? Have you seen the people who can barely dress themselves., the ones who you know are spending money they really can't afford? Is that how you want to be? A Bum. I thought you were smarter than that.

If you think you can make money at cards, you're wrong! Wake up!

Gambling is also very addicting, much like smoking, booze, drugs or porn. None of those things are very good for you, and you know it. What makes Gambling any diff? Nothing, it is no different. the reason all of these things are addicting is because they are easy, they provide instant gratification with the promise of some great reward at the end. That reward is never actuated.

Just a thought, Shawn.

Maybe you should try to do things because they are hard, not because they are easy. Counting cards is to easy, at first, then you loose.

OMG LMFAO This is surely the best post of the summer!

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“There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about.” - John von Neumann

My bro got me and my girlfriend into poker. She loved it and was pretty good. She didn't mind me playing at all, watched me online, played herself, joined in our home game, played heads up with me. She joined a card club with me and came with me and we went to our 1st live tourney together, even tho she had work the next day....she busted out early on but I made the final table and was there until 4am....she was on her own most the night while I played poker, she had work next day, but she didn't complain once. She cheered me on and was nothing but supportive.

The greatest girlfriend ever, right?!

I went poker mad. Threw myself into it. My girlfriend loves it too, I can play it as much as I like!!

From not even knowing whether a flush beats a straight, in 4 months I bought countless books, dvds, a chip set, watched hours on TV, played online for hours every night, started a weekly home game, joined a casino, joined a cardclub. When my bro's around we now talk about nothing but poker. All we do is talk, read, watch, or play poker. We are slowly getting all our friends hooked and turning them into poker nerds.

From loving the game and thinking it was good fun, in 4 months my girlfriend is sick of it. Her eyes now glaze over if she even hears the word 'poker'. She thinks poker is taking over my life, she hates it, cos I've taken all the fun out of it. I take it too seriously. I get too upset when I lose and too excited when I win. I'm obsessed. My conversations with my bro and mates and everyone are nothing but poker. I love poker more than her.

So now I'm like every other non-single poker playing bloke in the world. I can't play nearly as much as I 'd like. I have to hide it. I have to lie about how much I play. I hardly ever go to the casino or the card room, cos she won't come with me anymore. Our home games are a rare species. I'm not allowed to watch it on telly anymore. She bites my head off if she catches me with it stuck in a poker book.

So don't worry lads, you may wish your wife/girlfriend was poker mad, but it won't make no difference in the long run!!

haha yeah that one cracks me up I say yeah I don't like curvaous women either.

This is what killed it for you. It took me some time to get past it, but for the most part I am indifferent to my wins/losses on any given session or hand as long as I can keep my head straight and keep winning in the long run.

Watch the WSOP...what do (most) of the well known pro's do when they win or lose a big hand? Nothing. They move on. It drives me crazy to see those players that are screaming when they win and freaking out when they lose. Act like you've been there before!!!

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"Ok, this is for the game. How you doin' over there? NOT TOO GOOD!"" -Bubble Boy

It's because like them, many of society aren't educated on the fact that those of us involved into poker KNOW what we are doing, we did our homework, so that we won't be like the mindless millions who go into the casino giving away their money each year.

Education is keen, letting them rest on their convictions and not educating them of their own ignorance is a crime.