Addiction factor of Online Poker

[M3boy]

Would be interested in others comments here :

I have been cutting back on my internet play - in preparation for the WSOP and have done this since approx 2 weeks ago.

With just under 3 weeks to go, it is getting hard! The temptation to enter MTT's online is great, but I am resisting temptation (at the mo, probably playing one MTT every 3 days or so)

Anyone else giving the online scene a miss in preparation for WSOP? And if so, how are you finding it?

Myself - ITS BLOODY HARD!!!

[SuffolkPunch]

Conversely, since I have just lost my job, I am having to INCREASE my internet play ahead of the WSOP. And typically I seem to have walked into Bad Beat hell since I've been playing for financial reasons rather that just for some fun. But it is horribly addictive. I can't put the laptop down.

[M3boy]

BadBeat Hell?!?

This is the reason I think I would not be able to play for financial income - still working on the temprement and the dreaded Tilt factor

[SuffolkPunch]

I'm playing small-ish MTT buy-ins for now coz luckily I have some money behind me, but here is what has happened in last four:

PokerStars $50+5, 295 entries, money down to 27, finished 34: set beaten by straight on river.

Betfair £10+1, 100 entries, money to 10, cashed in 7th.

Betfair £10+1, 165 entries, money to 18,finished 21, straight beaten by runner runner flush

Betfair £10+1, 130 entries, money to 18 (I think), finished 24, set beaten by higher set on turn.

Now that's annoying!  But I'll be back for more today!

[RED-DOG]

I only stop when real life gets in the way. If I am forced to go without poker for a day or two, the urge to play becomes iressistable.


Bad beat hell? You HAVE to learn to accept bad beats, Now matter who you are, or how good you are, the bad beats will never go away. In fact, the better you play, the more bad beats you get. because you always get your money in with the best hand.

I believe that no poker player can reach his true potential until he gets the bad beat demons under control. Banish all negetive thoughts about bad beats, Otherwise, like a costermonger who can't stand the smell of fish, you're in the wrong job!

[mikkyT]

As usual, Red hits the nail firmly on its head.

[SuffolkPunch]

Yes, good points very well made.

[Woodsey]

I always leave a tournament happy if I've been knocked out by a bad beat because it means I've played well and always got my money in with the best hand. I find if I look at it this way I don't get upset too much about it any more.

[TightEnd]

Perhaps strangely, I seem to find Live Poker very addictive, Online Poker less so. Live I can play for hours and not even approach the onset of boredom. I love observing people, working out what their hands are even if I am not in a pot and the cut and thrust of the competitve challenge.

Online I do not get the same buzz. It is more of a chore and an "hourly rate" type thing. I don't suffer from bad beat tilt but I do suffer from "haven't played a hand for ages must play 10 7 off" syndrome that then undoes hours of hard work!

Coincidentally and unsurprisingly, my live results since I started keeping accurate records are way in excess of my online results.

If I go three nights without playing live I am literally suffering withdrawal symptoms!

[matt674]

I have to admit i wasn't sure whether i'd be able to cope without playing online poker. I too gave it up about 2 weeks ago in the build up to the WSOP but apart from the odd blonde tourney i havent played at all and too my surprise i don't really miss it that much.

I've played a couple live tourneys and fortunately managed to win one of them outright which i think probably helped me in trying to resist the temptation to play! I'm going to stick to playing a few more live tourneys before going over to Vegas and then we'll see how i feel when i get back.

To be honest i think the break is doing me good, i know i play far too much online - so i think taking time out and realizing that i'm not as addicted as i thought means that when i come back i'll play less online and play a few more live tournaments instead, even though online is much more convenient.

[ACE2M]

I have turned some corner now, in that i want to play more and more when i have won but lose all my desire to play when i have a losing session.
Won 3 tournies over the last week and have been playing like mad all the time and winning constantly, some builders outside my house woke me up a 8.20 this morning so i thought i would catch the last of the die hard americans at the cash tables, i took some awful beats and did my brains in.

Instead of being really pissed off and starting to chase (which would have been a certainty a few months ago) i logged off and have no desire to log back on.

[Longy]

I can't think of a day when i have had spare time in the last 18 months where  i haven't played online, i am complete addicted to the game. Even when i go away on holiday, when i get back i can't wait to play. Its lucky im a winning player or i might well have a hole in my bank balance.

[M3boy]

Matbe I didnt make myself clear with regards to Bad Beats.

I CAN handle the beats, like someone said, you only get a bad beat when you are a mile ahead and get people to commit stacks of chips.

What I meant was, the "pressure" factor of "needing" to win to make a weekly wage - its the pressure I dont think I could handle - specially with a large family.

[thetank]

Bad beats are great, because I know I can handle them.

That other players can't leads to a lot more dead money floating around the STTs.

I think the best way to deal with an addiction is to keep yourself busy. Taking time off internet poker is always good, but make sure you have another activity to partake in to take your mind of it. DIY, gardening, Chess, silly computer games etc.

[M3boy]

OK, I'll take your advise................................

So off to Walsall for the £50 rebuy it is then lol