Opinions please

[M3boy]

I used to play poker to make money.

Now dont get me wrong, I still play poker to make money, but it is what I do with the money that has changed.

Before, I was driven by the desire to play more and bigger tournaments - which I think is selfish given my family. Dont get me wrong, the family did get treated and new items were purchased for the home, but mainly it was for me to play more/bigger tournamnets.

My thoughts now are that winnings are to be as a treat for my family and not for me (as long as I have enough back to play the next tourney) - as poker is not my only source of income, I do not have to keep a poker bankroll.

Good idea or bad idea?

Do you think this will make me play better or worse or not change?

Opinions please

[Longy]

Interesting, morally, being a good person etc sounds like a good idea.

As for whether it will improve your poker is really personality dependent, on the upside there is definite motivation in doing something for your loved ones is this a greater motivation than doing it for yourself. For some people yes, others no such is human nature.

Also if it does motivate you have to balance with the pressure that brings, will you be thinking at the poker table that if you win this tournament that you can take the kids/wife on holiday and if you don't (long term) will you feel you have let them down.

I suppose after my babbling it really is a case of only you know best what motivates you and makes you play good poker.

[M3boy]

Longy - thanks for that.

You touched on the essence of my thoughts - Pressure

[madasahatstand]

Longy - thanks for that.

You touched on the essence of my thoughts - Pressure

i was going to take 5% of you but if you are feeling the pressure    lol

[M3boy]

i was going to take 5% of you but if you are feeling the pressure    lol

lol, what I meant was will the pressure increase/decrease if you change the reason you are playing for.

[madasahatstand]

i was going to take 5% of you but if you are feeling the pressure    lol

lol, what I meant was will the pressure increase/decrease if you change the reason you are playing for.

yes thats what they all say   lol

[thediceman]

I was in a similar position about a year ago but felt the game was changing and I wasn't not enjoying as much. The key difference for me was poker winnings was my main source of income so had to decide do I totally change my lifestyle.

Personally I've found the game more enjoyable since I've not had to win as I can be more flexible in my play rather than worrying about if I'm grinding out a living or not. Due to other commitments I play a lot less than I did previously but have found that my results are considerably improved especially MTT's. It's also improved my overall lifestyle as other interests get more time rather than me being at a poker table more often than not.

In your situation when poker winnings are a bonus the key question is how important and how much fun is it to you to play in the larger events in relation to not playing them. Will you BADLY miss them or will you be happy to redirect that money for other things.

[M3boy]

I was in a similar position about a year ago but felt the game was changing and I wasn't not enjoying as much. The key difference for me was poker winnings was my main source of income so had to decide do I totally change my lifestyle.

Personally I've found the game more enjoyable since I've not had to win as I can be more flexible in my play rather than worrying about if I'm grinding out a living or not. Due to other commitments I play a lot less than I did previously but have found that my results are considerably improved especially MTT's. It's also improved my overall lifestyle as other interests get more time rather than me being at a poker table more often than not.

In your situation when poker winnings are a bonus the key question is how important and how much fun is it to you to play in the larger events in relation to not playing them. Will you BADLY miss them or will you be happy to redirect that money for other things.

Good post.

Miss the big tourneys? it would be unture if I said I wouldnt - how much I would miss them? I am unsure.

One thing I am sure of - misconstrood or not, is that I have the ability to play the big tourneys AND play them well.

[thediceman]

Most poler players would love the opportunity to test their own game at a higher level and naturally we all believe we can compete at that level. I'm sure you have the game to play at that level and as a key part of being a poker player is having belief in yourself.

Maybe your post is more about re focusing on what is most important to yourself at this time in your life, is it the occassional, yet affordable poker treat for yourself or are you givng more consideration to your home lifestlye. I'm not suggesting you are neglecting one for the other but if you give up the big games it is obviously going to effect other aspects of your life. The consideration is will the change improve your life to a degreee you don't regret the sacrifice. Maybe it's a case of playing fewer comps rather than totally giving them up and these will become even more fun yet you improve other aspects of life.

It's normally a work vs life balance question. Yours however is a work vs life vs poker question.

Chasing a dream can be fun but spending more quality time with the family works for me. Well it does for now , as me another time and I might have a different opinion.

[thetank]

If you're playing primarily to treat the family, would this make it harder to make aggressive desicions near the final table?

The chestnut advice of locking in a winning session being detrimental to long term EV. In this situation, there is added personal value to mousing up and going home a hero with 5th place money.

[bobby1]

Most poler players would love the opportunity to test their own game at a higher level and naturally we all believe we can compete at that level. I'm sure you have the game to play at that level and as a key part of being a poker player is having belief in yourself.


hi mate,

This is the argument I have trouble understanding and could be an answer to Paul's opening post.

Why do people feel the need to keep taking the step to the next level? If you are winning an amount you are happy with at a certain level why would you decide to make it harder for yourself to keep winning by taking on better players at higher stakes?. Having a bigger bankroll doesn't mean you have to shoot for the stars does it? Surely it means you can take some of that roll and enjoy spending it, that is what most people do with the money they earn.


The circuit events in the UK are littered with really good poker players that are skint, they are the ones that can win consistently but choose to spend 1-2-3k a time on entering tourneys at a high level, chasing the poker dream. Why?

I have a lot if respect for Tikay coz he has the cash to play where he wants but he chooses not to chase the dream and stick to comps he enjoys and makes money playing.

M3 I think your view is right, if you have a good win spend it on whatever makes you happy, if thats your family thats great but if it is more poker then enjoy it.

[Jon MW]

...

This is the argument I have trouble understanding and could be an answer to Paul's opening post.

Why do people feel the need to keep taking the step to the next level? If you are winning an amount you are happy with at a certain level why would you decide to make it harder for yourself to keep winning by taking on better players at higher stakes?. Having a bigger bankroll doesn't mean you have to shoot for the stars does it? Surely it means you can take some of that roll and enjoy spending it, that is what most people do with the money they earn.

...

If you're playing poker to earn money then sticking with the games you know you can beat is absolutely the way to go.

But if you're playing the game, at least partly, because you enjoy the intellectual challenge then raising that challenge to the next level up is surely the next logical step?

[steeveg]

poker is just gambling,whats the point of gambling if you dont spend the money,if you have no intention of turning pro or moving up the limiits why just leave the cash to whittle away going in a few big tournaments,, you are now getting a lot of satisfaction from treating your family, ive seen a lot of people have some nice paydays gambling only to let it trickle away, i bet you feel more like a winner as well, gl