The Quest to Become a Poker Player
Well, I am still trying to become one. But that’s what makes this game so great – the quest to become the best player possible.
I thought I would record my experiences up to this point in order to hopefully help some others who are right behind me in their evolution as a player. I have read a very large portion of the posts in these forums, and have seen a lot of tremendous advice. I have also read some people’s experiences and have wondered to myself “why can’t I experience that too”, and other posts and thought “glad I didn’t do THAT!”
First off, let me just say this. This site is the best thing that can happen to your poker game. I don’t even remember how I found it, but I am so glad I did. READ EVERY STICKY POST IN THESE FORUMS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. It will save you a load of stress, heartache, and false confidence. You need to understand things like bankroll management, the psychology of losing, and the newbie circle of death (all sticky posts in this forum.) You need to understand that it is foolish to blaze your own trail to success in this game. Why suffer through all the mistakes and bad moves and incorrect play, etc when someone else has already done that for you? Read up from the experienced ones, learn from THEIR mistakes and minimize your own. RE-READ the really good posts and strategy guides over and over and over again.
You must apply everything you learn in increments. It’s too much to do all at once. Focus on particular areas of weakness or ignorance and get these things integrated into your game. Then re-read a post or two and work on the next thing you choose to improve on.
Post hand histories and questions for the better players to help you out on. One thing I have noticed here is that you will not get berated or made fun of because you played a hand or play in general like a big ole guppy. They will help you out. Just humble your mighty self a little and be willing to listen and learn.
I played poker on a site for almost a year for just play money. A whole year for play money. Imagine the bad habits, etc. I just could not see myself putting my hard earned money into a site to just lose it. That’s the way I thought. On Christmas of this year, I found myself with an extra $50 bucks of expendable money. I figured that it would make more sense to get a bunch of play online in penny poker games than to take that $50 down to a casino and blow it there in 3 hours.
I have no heroic story from that point forward of how I built a $10,000 bankroll in 3 months. I also have no tragic story of how I blew the same $10,000 bankroll and am now starting over again – this time the right way. I took my measly $50 bucks and I grinded it out in micro limit 1c/2c games for a long time. I would take some winnings from that and play a 50c or $1 tournament. And I did this over and over again. My focus wasn’t to make money playing poker at this point, it was TO GET AN EDUCATION. (Let’s face it, you can go out and beg on the street and make more money than playing penny poker day and night.) My bankroll never dropped to under $35 at any time. When it did, I would tighten up and focus on small wins to build it back. I never play out of my comfort zone. Today I play a wider range of tourneys and ring games – but I still follow the bankroll rules posted here.
I never went on extended tilt or on extended losing streaks. Every loss was an opportunity to learn. I never vent on anyone for playing badly, even when they suck out on me. I never beat my chest and scream “I am the greatest” either. I have become a very patient, even tempered player. This is the one thing and the only thing that I believe I can brag about – nothing else. I have LEARNED to become a VERY even tempered player. And I feel this is the basis that will allow me to continue to grow. I don’t think I’m great or all world just because I won a $3 Freezeout with 160 players in it. And I know I don’t suck just because I have a bad night. I am confident that I am always getting better, every day, little by little.
And so now my $50 is worth $450. I got a free $10 to sign up on another site 3 weeks ago and that is now worth $180 and growing faster than the other $50 did for me. My wife is happy because I got 7 months of entertainment and some profits from that measly $50. Technically I am a winning poker player. My bankroll is steadily (and slowly) growing. As I move up in levels of ring games and tourneys the growth quickens up some. That's the way (right now) that I like it.
Some day I may actually MAKE MONEY in the real sense of making money playing poker. Actually, I know that I will. But I am still getting my education, my degree in this game.
And so the quest continues…….
