when is enough enough?

THEROCK573

would you still play poker if you were big losing player over a lenghty period of time??

reason i ask is because ive just been sat next to a reg there who ive played against for years on here, his game gets worse and worse every time i sit down with him, hes lost over 5 figures in total and thats just mtts, i dread to think what his cash losses are, now he most likely has a good job and this is money he can afford to lose but surely if you just love poker and are not prepared to improve your game then you would just play free rolls or micro stakes games rather than donating money every night. im not complaining either cos its obviously good for everyone else that these people play.

DoubleAAA

Like you said, he probably can afford the losses and perhaps looks on this as entertainment which of course we all pay for whether it be going to the casino to have a flutter or a night out on the town, even the cinema all becomes -EV.  If he were to play freerolls or micro stakes perhaps he would not get the same entertainment (frill).

THEROCK573

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

Like you said, he probably can afford the losses and perhaps looks on this as entertainment which of course we all pay for whether it be going to the casino to have a flutter or a night out on the town, even the cinema all becomes -EV.  If he were to play freerolls or micro stakes perhaps he would not get the same entertainment (frill).
Posted by DoubleAAA

fair shout, what about you personally though?? would you still play if you were losing large amounts of money weekly even if you could afford it?

unknown_username

No.

waller02

No I think there would be a time when I quit and found another hobby. Don't get me wrong, I hardly rip up the tables, far from it, but I do win a bit every now and then. That's what gives me the buzz. I could not enjoy the game if I was losing over and over again. But some people obviously do and fair play to them because average players like me rely on them!!!

DOHHHHHHH

If they were a big winner they probably wouldn't enjoy it as much. I probably win more than 90% of online players. I reckon 90% of online players enjoy playing online more than I do.

Most competent, semi-pro, pro players call a poker session a grind for a reason 

I enjoyed poker a lot more when I was a losing/break even/small winning player.

But no, I wouldn't keep pumping money into the game over that length of time.

peter27

Interesting question!

Personally I would continue to play (even if I were a losing player) as long as:

1) I enjoyed it
2) It did not affect my "life roll" - by that I mean I would not have to compromise finances in any other aspect of my life :-)

IDONKCALLU

dohhhh makes sense here   i make money but dnt enjoy it as much as i used to the guy who just plays the odd mtt and loses all the time alot better well if he can afford it y not

jdsallstar

I suppose this isn't quite the same thing but I've been on bad run since the start of the year and just kept playing and playing and playing hoping it would turn round. Playing to around 1am every night. Last night and tonight I have ran golden and made a lot of my losses back and I'm packing it in for the night already. Dunno maybe there's something in that maybe not i.e. chasing losses, satisfy your competitive spirit or ego or something.

But yeah I think I'd definitely hit a ceiling were losing money continually, no matter how many small wins in between, would just become annoying, frustrating and boring!

THEROCK573

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

dohhhh makes sense here   i make money but dnt enjoy it as much as i used to the guy who just plays the odd mtt and loses all the time alot better well if he can afford it y not
Posted by IDONKCALLU

yeah i get you and dohhhhs point, im the same really, i dont enjoy poker as much as i used to when first starting out, i just play for the money but this guy whos lost a shed load is actually grinding every night not just playing the odd tournament every now again, cant be any fun surely.

DoubleAAA

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

In Response to Re: when is enough enough? : fair shout, what about you personally though?? would you still play if you were losing large amounts of money weekly even if you could afford it?
Posted by THEROCK573

If I were losing money playing poker I would stop immediately and go find something else to do.

DivsDreams

Nice post guys. Great question... Im probably very sad, but id imagine if I lost all the time id still love the game. Unless it was making my life hell as in I was in debt etc. I still get a buzz out of winning, any stakes. any time. Maybey just my will to win and h8 of losing. But as you say he could try to improve. Easy to improve Imo.

ACEGOONER

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

In Response to Re: when is enough enough? : If I were losing money playing poker I would stop immediately and go find something else to do.
Posted by DoubleAAA

Yes but some people have degen personalities and dont know when to stop? 

Poker is a bit of a paradox in that sense, it brings together people with competitive instincts but in no way have a tendency to gamble on other things. Then you have people who just like to have a flutter on anything and poker is one of those things that satisfies that craving. It is an addictive game after all for some. 

F_Ivanovic

The thing that is true of any form of gambling is that even if you lose money over time you will still get the occasional wins - which is what makes it worthwhile for those that do lose money. I'm sure if they always lost and never won they would quit but that's never going to be the case!! 

GEO68

I am sure there are plenty players out there who lose a fair bit but continue to play as the buzz of binking the odd cash keeps you going . A fair bit of cash to some is relatively small to others . Five figures over 5 years is probably not an issue if you can afford it & £12k loses over 5 years is only £46.00 a week , people spend more than that on ciggies.

rainman397

Good afternoon all
As alosing player, i still loveplaying poker, although not very good i was a lot worse when i first started.
I have a small budget of £40 per week and i have always made that last.
Winning the odd low level tournament keeps me interested.
I also think Chris Moneymaker winning the wsop main event, means we can all dream of the big one.
When ever i deposit money i no longer count it as money, but how many tournaments it can buy me into.
Dont get me wrong  i would love to be a better poker player, and live the dream of making a profit out of playing.
But that  means putting  a lot more effort in away from the tables.
All the best.
Rainman397
 

F_Ivanovic

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

I am sure there are plenty players out there who lose a fair bit but continue to play as the buzz of binking the odd cash keeps you going . A fair bit of cash to some is relatively small to others . Five figures over 5 years is probably not an issue if you can afford it & £12k loses over 5 years is only £46.00 a week , people spend more than that on ciggies.
Posted by GEO68

Exactly, puts it into perspective that does. I know I'd much prefer to be spending £12k over 5 years on poker as opposed to ciggies.

BigBluster

I personally know some extremely wealthy people who are consistent and solid losers on skypoker. I know no-one on here will ever do it, but it always makes me laugh when someone criticises a self-made millionaire as being a 'donk' or a 'losing player' or a 'fish'.

Instead of spending a couple of hundred quid at the theatre or indulging fine wines at the finest restaurants, sometimes people choose to play online poker for their fun.

Never judge a book by its cover.

THEROCK573

In Response to Re: when is enough enough?:

I personally know some extremely wealthy people who are consistent and solid losers on skypoker. I know no-one on here will ever do it, but it always makes me laugh when someone criticises a self-made millionaire as being a 'donk' or a 'losing player' or a 'fish'. Instead of spending a couple of hundred quid at the theatre or indulging fine wines at the finest restaurants, sometimes people choose to play online poker for their fun. Never judge a book by its cover.
Posted by BigBluster

nobodys critsizing anybody, get of your soapbox!!!

rancid

enough is enough when you can't pay your bills

Phantom66

How many Bingo players are winners - keep going though.

Depends why you do it in first place and whether you enjoy it.

If you can afford losses but get something out of it surely up to individual taste.

YOYOY

Reading some of the posts in the chat and bbv sections does make me wonder if some people actually enjoy playing. I guess it's the one advantage rec players like myself have over the players who treat it more as a livelihood.

I know that if something i was doing as a "fun" passtime got me as wound up as some of the posters on this site, i wouldn't be doing it for long. 

FlashFlush

The problem is a lot of players (me included) get their "fun" from making money and clicking that withdraw button. So when you're running bad and a game you don't particually enjoy as much anymore is actually costing you money, you think why do I bother? That's when a player's true colours come out and shows how they react when things don't go their way.

A losing player, almost expects to lose, and any return they get on their investment is a bonus. So winning is a surprise rather than expected.

gerardirl

I think its very sad to see people say they dont enjoy playing. Surely enjoyment and quality of life is more important than grinding and not enjoying making a modest profit in poker? Ok if you dont have enough income and you rely on this poker money then fine but I imagine thats very exceptional.

Most of us earn money and we can either die with it in our bank account or we can spend it. So after necessities we spend it on pleasure. I dont see playing poker as any different to going to the cinema. paying for tv subscription etc. Personally I play because i really enjoy it and provided im not losing more than i can afford there is no issue.

Ger