Internet Poker no more

[lazaroonie]

I used to enjoy playing poker online. I only ever recall making one deposit on Ladbrokes Poker, I think, for about £40 4 years ago. This became like a personal "goodies" bank account for me - I wanted a new playstation, dvd player, flight to go and see celtic, just withdraw a few hundred quid from the old account, and voila, free money.

this continued on other card rooms - I remember depositing $50 on Doyles Room back in the day, and then having a run on STTs where I couldnt stop finishing 1st or 2nd, eventually taking out about $1500 for a few weeks work.

I have never kept records, but safe to say- I was up - a good amount up over the years. Then it all changed. I dont know exactly when it changed, but it did. instead of withdrawing money, I found myself depositing, and then depositing again, and again. Suddenly the good days were over, and it was costing me a bloody fortune.

In trying to indentify why this should be the case I started analysing what was going wrong. The obvious thing to come out that was the undenyable fact that I wasnt "getting any cards".

People who know me, and have played with me live know that my song of lament is that I never get any cards. I actually believe this to be true for most poker players. There are some people who go thru extraordinary  statistical blips and pick up hand after hand of premium and playable cards. I can actually honestly say that has NEVER happened to me. But getting back to the matter in hand - being card dead isnt always a bad thing - it keeps your decision making easy, stops you throwing money into the pot that you will lose, and teaches you that you need to make a move every once in a while.

This is where my problem lies...In my experience there seems to be a new rule in internet poker which says "though shalt not pass" - I can wait for good position, play a pot, watch a difficult flop get dealt, setup an elaborate play on the turn - only to be called by some donkey with bottom pair and no other draws. Of course he wins the pot and thinks he's phil sodding ivey.

This seems to happen whether its $2 $20 or $200 buyin. Put simply, you will always get a caller. And it is for that reason, I have decided its not for me.

Instead, I plan to get out and play more live poker. I am a decent poker player - I am going to channel all my energies and finances that previously were getting gobbled up on the internet, into travelling far and wide to play this great game the way it was meant to be played. Mostly due to other business constraints I will be confined to glasgow/edinburgh, but I hope wherever possible to explore other places.

This time I am going to keep records of my play - and I believe that I can show a profit, even after expenses have been accounted for. I plan to publish these records, and also any interesting stories I pick up along the way on the forum.


I have actually just uninstalled all the poker clients from this pc - only another 2 to go !

[kinboshi]

Certainly are a lot of callers.  Which is why I've gone back to playing cash online, and playing fewer tournaments.  It's certainly working for me.  The 'variance' in the tournaments I've been playing (low buy-in freezeouts) was killing me.  In cash, even at the lower levels, I seem to be rewarded.

Best of luck fella, horses for courses

[RED-DOG]

Good luck laz. Remember to record ALL your expenses, juce/travel/food/drink etc. I will be very interested to see how you get on.

[TheChipPrince]

I could boringly argue that surely players calling every hand down is brilliant news long term blah blah blah, but i wont! GL!

[TightEnd]

Good luck, will be interesting to follow this

[DesD]

Best of luck Laz.

[Colchester Kev]

coming to Waterford then big boy ??

[lazaroonie]

coming to Waterford then big boy ??

aye, it is still the plan to come - although the main event starting on a friday is a ball ache. I am considering coming for the saturday night 250yoyo event - you reckin that will get a good turnout?

[lazaroonie]

actually, scrub all of that - I am just going to give up on society and personal hygeine and sit here playing asteroids until the computer gives up the ghost

[thetank]

No great loss I'm sure Laz, I remeber you talking of how you found online poker boring anyway.

Unless you're pulling in silly amounts of money, internet poker is just a very dull way to waste a lot of time.
This is my considered opinion after a few years grinding on the interenet, and all I got was a few years older.

Poker is a fantastic game, meant to be played in the casino, there I'm sure you will enjoy it for years to come.

[cambo]

fair enough laz...if the varience is kicking ur ass that hard that you feel you have to quit give it a shot just playing live games- but wheres the value?...what comps do you have in glasgow and edinburgh that will make it worth ur while making the trip into town? example sunday night....riverboat you have the £20 re buy ...full of cheats, teams working etc... cincins £30 freeze 20-30 players..rubbish money not worth the effort same with the wabash unless your just going for a few beers with mates just for a game and have a laugh.

best value comp on the net thats winnable standard wise...price and numbers is the £35+4 game on hills on a sunday £7.5 ADDED! min £4k to the winner max 250 players and a better structure than ull find in most average online tounreys and deff better than any live game in glasgow....you were saying about people calling all the time ...but you know that happens in most live games of the £20-£100 games in glasgow aswell...ive played with you a few times (although not for ages) and know ur a decent player that should turn a profit...but to turn ur back on the net is losing money long term for you imo.

i know myself im miles infront in these games we play live in glasgow/edinburgh over the last couple of yrs but its nowhere near the money that can be made online .

all im saying is dont give up on it (online) at the end of the day ur opponets dont get anymore sets or flushes than you over the period ...dont lose heart

cambo

[thetank]

More to life than "value"

For instance....value

[Colchester Kev]

coming to Waterford then big boy ??

aye, it is still the plan to come - although the main event starting on a friday is a ball ache. I am considering coming for the saturday night 250yoyo event - you reckin that will get a good turnout?

yep, will be a big field, all those people busted out of the main event and with a hotel booked for the whole weekend, gtd a decent turnout i should think.

[Ironside]

there is always the £100 + 1 rebuy in aberdeen cambo

or the weekly £25 freeze with 60-90 runners

and travel aint that expnesive

and you get the benifit of actually conversing with people as you play

[cambo]

ironside i usually play once or twice a week live ...a £25 freeze with 40ish players and a 10er rebuy with anything from 50-90 players. these games are all good being out with ur mates and i have my fair share of success in these aswell but ull never turn the same profit for hrs spent etc than playing online. bit of both is required i enjoy live poker much more than online ...its way more fun ....anyway hope to see you at the stanley more often laz