ok i have posted a couple times today, but i would like some input on what you would do and what your opinons are.

so i've been playing online poker for almost a year, i started seriously getting into it about December of 2004, playing more and more per day, reading books, trying to become the best poker player i could be.

i only deposited about $50 into a few accounts UB, Paradise, pokerstars etc. i've tryed all of them.

im sure you've seen from earlier posts i mostly play $5 and $10 sngs w/ tournys here and there. the most i've ever won, is i'll make $50 here or there every other week, and cash some out, for some extra spending money. i've made 2 decent scores, i won a $5 tourny in lat JAN for $900 and in early FEB won a $100 sng and played some $3/6 and did well for a few hundred.

Since then, i have made no money, and i mean no money, my UB (where i mostly play) account will look something like this during a week: Day 1=$80, 2=$150, 3=$120, 4=$100, 5=$75, 6=$40, and on day 6 i'll get on a run and get it back up again, thats hows its been going for months now, when i do get it up i try to play some higher limits to actually make some money but when i lose it takes me back down, and i have to work it up again.

so im thinking of quitting because i probably spend about 4hr a day min on the computer playing online poker, nothing else. Im in sales, im 22yrs old, i made over 50K last year in my full time job, bought a car, a boat, had lots of fun last year on the lake wakeboarding. Since playing online poker i have had no motivation to work full time, i have not made one decent sale this year, i'll be lucky to make half of what i made last year, (well not half, be lucky to make 30K) so i feel like im turning into a Low-Life, i mean, im sitting here all day on the computer, my girlfriend feels neglected, my job is going down hill, and for what? what do i have to show for this, oh i bought a new more comfortable mouse, and a wireless connection for my laptop......

i also have really bad attitude outbursts when i do lose, i just cant help yelling at the other guy, which usually turns into a "online" fight, so im probably not respected at the tables. I mean i think it's pointless, i actually am not playing poker because i like the game, im playing to win a quick buck, and try to become this consistant winning player. i dont think it's worth it.

anyone have these type of problems? or any input on the situation, im sure some of the "ranked" players probably went through this before they were ranked.... i hope anyway.

Very honest post. I know this is somewhat hypocritical, but some of you may already know that I have strong feelings against most people playing poker for a living. You have pointed out some of the negative aspects of playing poker for a living. When it really comes down to it, there are many negatives and only a handful of positives.

Most people do not have the skills or temperament to be a successful player in the long run.

<SPAN> </SPAN>

<SPAN>mmobuis2001, </SPAN>

<SPAN> </SPAN>

<SPAN>Soccer Mom is right, you need a break.<SPAN> </SPAN>Maybe a day, a weekend or week.</SPAN>

<SPAN>Go out to dinner with your girlfriend, have some FUN, and you will play better after a few days off.</SPAN>

<SPAN>Don�t play to make a buck, play because you love to play.<SPAN> </SPAN>That�s probably why you </SPAN>

<SPAN>Get mad when you lose.<SPAN> </SPAN>You are trying to make money in a game that has a</SPAN>

<SPAN>Degree of luck to it.<SPAN>
</SPAN>
It sounds like you are pretty good. </SPAN>

Hey M,

Had to respond because I can relate to what you were saying to some degree. First of all, it IS possible to play poker part-time because of a love for the game AND have a good deal of success--just not the level of monetary success that Wachovia was referring to.

I went through a tough period a few months ago. I have a successful career that I truly love, but it seemed to be losing its excitement as I became engulfed in poker. My wife was starting to get seriously worried and pis$ed off becuase I was playing too much. I found myself feeling all-around shitty because I was doing nothing except playing poker, working, eating and sleeping, when I used to play basketball a few nights a week and workout---which is key for my sanity! I made a decision to set aside one night each week and one day over the weekend to play either online or in live games (exceptions can and have been made for special tourneys and boredom!) Since I started doing this, my job has improved, the wife is happy, I've been physically feeling better and last but not least, I feel as if my game is improving and I'm much more focused when I do play. Don't get me wrong, I still get my poker fix on my off-nights by posting here, reading some books or watching on TV, but I've also been able to return my focus to the other parts of life that I was neglecting. There can be a good balance---you'll know when you find it.

Good luck.

Well, from my own experience [which isn't that much], if you are not making money, you aren't playing like you should--I think very seldom there are true "bad streaks", mostly it is a combination of bad luck and bad play and bad luck is usually not sustained. Make sure you always look at your "game-meter" before you play. If it is low, you need to drop down a little bit or don't play at all. Like my man Mike Caro says: "Money that you don't lose buys just as many things as money you win." I think you have a couple problems here: 1) If your real-life isn't on the up and up...your poker game is not gonna be either. We all know how psychology affects our winnings/losings. Matter of fact I don't think I've ever played my "good game" when things aren't going right in my life. You can't bring that stuff to the table and it's hard to leave it at home when you are sitting at home. 2) Bankroll management--IMO you can't play stakes that give you the swings you are talking about if you are looking for consistent cash.

I have alot to learn...those are just my opinions because I've shared your pain.

Hey buddy, I can only agree with most posted above. I think WACHOVIA nailed it exactly. I did have the same issue as you when it came to work and focus and other things in life. You know most of my story but I was making over 250k/yr at my 'real world' job. I am not suggesting you do what I did, but I chose the commit rather than the quit as WACHOVIA correctly and directly put. I chose to quit my job and committed as I was more profitable in poker. I think if you choose to do opposite of myself and I probably recommend doing that, HAWKHILL's 'fix' is very smart and needed.

Simply said, playing poker for money will most definitely hinder your ability to focus on your job and it goes the other way too. Your job/girlfriend/real life will hinder your ability to really focus on poker.

I found myself playing every day for a year, not missing one day before I finally left my job and realized that poker was my new career. Don't do this to yourself...... been good to me but as was also said above, it's tough.

wachovia had a good, well thought out post, but unfortunately i disagree with it entirely. it sounds like mmobious doesn't play poker to earn money, he plays cause he likes the game.

Actually, no, he said clearly that he does NOT play for the love of the game but rather to 'make a quick buck'.

This might go against the stream a little, but I would recommend that you quit.

I don't think that commit is really an option for you. You are already very committed to the point that it is having a serious impact on the rest of your life and you aren't even making any money. If you look at the impact on your sales job, you are playing 4+ hours a day and LOSING 25K a year!

Just stop.

Get out and see your clients. Take a weekend away with your girlfriend. If you want to play poker, make it a low stakes home game with a few of your buddies with a couple of beers so that it is a social situation and you are not isolating yourself.

That's my advice. Withdraw all your money from your online accounts and just stop.

-JD

good answer.

Just a few thoughts in my humble opinion....

1) With such a small bankroll, don't withdrawal any of it for extra spending money. Let's pretend you still had the $900 in from your tournament win. Would your fluctuation from 900 to 850 to 950 be as stressful as your swings from 100 to 50 to 150? Probably not because you aren't close to scraping bottom. Set a goal for your bankroll. Once you hit your goal (say $1000) then take a small percentage (10% or less) out for extra spending money, then set your next bankroll goal.

2) Think of your bankroll as a stock. No stock on the market goes up everyday, but a successful company's stock will trend positive over a period of time.

3) The sacrifices you must make to be successful in poker are much the same as your current profession. The more time and effort you put into sales, the more successful you will be. Same holds true for poker.

4) Playing one tournament per week will only worsen your situation. You already stated that you don't love the game. If you don't love the game then you should have no trouble walking away from it entirely. If your true motivation is to just make money, you will fail miserably only playing one tournament per week. You will be rusty and your skills will never progress.

5) Don't play over your head. I'm hoping you know this already, but here are a few guidelines to follow. Have 30 buyins for tournament/SNG play, 300 big bets for limit play, and 15 max buyins for NL cash game play. With a $200 bankroll that means you should be playing in $5 tournaments and SNGs, .25/.50 limit, and .05/.10 NL. Once you have the proper bankroll, move up a level, one level at a time. If you can't consistently beat the new level then move back down. If you don't you will go broke.

M, I felt the need after reading the responses to my opinon to respond with a bit of a clarification. NSXT2 knows exactly what I meant because he's been there. I very much respect his opinion because he has paid the price to be succesful in this BUSINESS. You see, I was in no way trying to dog you, but to give you a realistic and brutally honest opinion of what I believe your only two options are. I also agree with godseyt. Playing once a week you will not improve as a player and it will be very difficult to win money. Take a look at my most recent blog. I address this issue of the reasons that a person plays the game. If you were going to open a small business you wouldn't do it spending 4 hours a week and expect to make any money, would you? Maybe I'm crazy, but it amazes me how people think that they can make money at poker, consistently, on just a few hours a week. No disrepect is meant, just an honest assessment.

man, you guys are good, feel like i should be paying $xxx/hr for your services. Thanks a ton, i slept on it now, and you are all totally right in the diff. types of opinons.

im taking a huge break for awhile, and playing poker "part-time" on my own time instead of forcing the issue, there's been countless things that i could rather be doing then playing online poker, you know it's been 2months since i've went to the movies and/or gone out to eat? i basically live at tim hortons drive thru and hungry howies for the "quick food".

anyways love the help, i'll still play and try to improve, but if im not "feeling" good about wanting to play and if want to play because i really want to play instead of "well nothing better to do maybe i cant get my account $$ up" then im not gonna play.

i also think the bankroll post was really benificial, that was probably my biggest problem right there, not knowing my limits, i would play $10's w/ 80-100, and $5's no matter what, if i was over $130 or so i'd play a couple $20's.

you guys helped alot, i'll get back here in awhile, and calm down.

Agree completely - I just had a very similar experience and now poker is fun again.