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Any successful poker players ever lose passion for the game and just quit?

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  1. SCTrojans SCTrojans is online now

    Los Angeles, CA
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:24pm)

    Ever since I got home from my trip to Niagara and Foxwoods, I've almost completely lost my drive/desire to play poker. I find myself not wanting to play online, even on Sundays. Id seriously rather sit on my ass watching tv than play online. Even when I do force myself to play because its "what I should do" I find myself not caring at all and losing interest while playing, and tilting like a mother****er.

    I guess what I'm wondering if any of you personally or know people that this has happened to, and what happened. Did they quit completely and haven't played since? Did it take a lengthy break to spark their interest again? I dunno I'm just starting to lose hope that I can continue to play a lot of poker and enjoy doing it, which is obviously something I would like to do because of the money it provides.

    What i'm going through in poker is a recurring theme in my life... I have a very obsessive personality, get very good at something, and drop it really quickly forever. Started with sports, specifically golf... then MTG... then a few video games (nerd)... and then poker... but I really, really don't want it to happen to poker.

    Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Its kinda a depressing situation =/

    Thanks,
    Scott
     13
  2. -BlackFours- -BlackFours- is offline

    Newington, CT
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:26pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    I have a passion for poker, teach me

    EDIT: Go back to school if you don't feel like playing poker
     31
  3. j_money24 j_money24 is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:28pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    take a break. a couple weeks or a couple months. the passion will probably come back. who knows, maybe if you tutor me in how to play well your passion for poker will come back.

    just saying....

    <span>lol, j/k obv. </span>

    <span>or am i?</span>
  4. abdaar abdaar is offline

    Beverly Hills, CA
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:29pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    Learn different forms of poker.
  5. Cuthroat187 Cuthroat187 is offline

    Norwalk, CT
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:30pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    I know it is cliche around here, but take a motherfucking break son
  6. yellowsub yellowsub is offline dive dive dive

    Athens, GA
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:30pm) in reply to Cuthroat187

    scott

    search "TheBryce" on 2+2.
     
  7. TiltinShoes TiltinShoes is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:30pm) in reply to -BlackFours-

    I assume this has happened to lots of people before. I would say don't play for awhile (dunno how long exactly) but I mean you have the means to go several months without playing. If you never get hungry again, move on to something else. If you get the itch go crush a few tournaments. Not trying to be a dick but you can't ask us about your feelings. Only you know the truth inside.
  8. mattg1983 mattg1983 is offline buying action

    Round Rock, TX
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:31pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    im quitting
     12
  9. nadatell nadatell is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:31pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    What i'm going through in poker is a recurring theme in my life... I have a very obsessive personality, get very good at something, and drop it really quickly forever.

    My friend does the same thing, he's not a top pro but was a good player, he used to play online all the time and then 1 night FT'd both tourney's he played at the same time and hasn't played online since (we still play live once a week).
  10. KingPariah KingPariah is offline

    Boone, NC
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:34pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    I don't know how much cash you play but maybe playing more cash which would allow for a more flexible schedule and provide a new challenge if you haven't played a bunch of ring games..also a poker-less vacation for a while would certainly not be a bad idea..you can get burned out doing any job, no matter how much you love it, so take a break, play less hours, play new games (try mastering horse or something) and re-evaluate then
  11. Jaybone2315 Jaybone2315 is online now Professional Couch Ruiner

    San Diego, CA
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:34pm) in reply to nadatell

    Have you just lost interest with online poker or just poker in general?
  12. gosalukis83 gosalukis83 is offline

    Murphysboro, IL
    United States

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:34pm) in reply to nadatell

    If you arent having fun playing it then try something new like mentoring for fees.

    Maybe taking a few months break to explain the game to some other people will help your boredom.

    EDIT: Arent you in your senior year @ USC? Why dont you take this final semester and live it up bro. Take the entire semester off and concentrate on your degree and on having as much fun as possible. Take a HUGE Spring Break trip and bang tons of broads.
  13. jtown1010 jtown1010 is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:35pm) in reply to mattg1983

    You've played pretty hardcore for a very long time, you could easily be completely burned out, or you could just be regularly burned out and a month or so off will re-invigorate your passion for the game. Why not just take some time off, with no specific plan at all for the future, then see where that takes you?
  14. 8888kush 8888kush is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:35pm) in reply to mattg1983

    why not quit and start playin high stakes golf with ivey, daniel and them...jk. invest most your money and just vacation the rest your life and only play on sundays or somthing. Def dont grind out if your not wanting too, id just play the wsop and party your ass off till you have liver failure or contract too many std's!
  15. andressoprano andressoprano is offline whaddya think of my game?

    Anchorage, AK
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:37pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    I used to play pool 8 to 10 ours a day since i was 13 till my middle 20's, then all off a sudden i got tire dof it, couldn't enjoy it anymore. There was nothing new on it, if that makes sense. It felt like i'd seen all possible variances on the game, altough pool, like poker , it's a game you never completely master, but it comes the point where you can't improve as fast as you used to, so it gets bothersom.
    But, after a break, i did enjoy it again, even if i never tought ( or could) go pro. It was just a hobby. What i try to say it's that when you put too many hours and passion in something, it's normal to go thru periods where you get tired of it, but i'll be back, don't worry. Specially people like you who can live the excitment of the big events, the poker fever i'll get back at you again. But a break sounds like a good idea.
    Thats my 2 cents.
     1
  16. dtools22 dtools22 is offline

    Worcester, MA
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:37pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    You have the money already. Take a bunch, go to Aruba with a bunch of friends for 2 weeks, get drunk, get laid, and repeat for 14 days. Come back feeling great.

    If that is not to your liking, get a girlfriend (I have no idea if you have one or not) and have a relationship with someone that has nothing to do with poker. Just distance yourself a bit. It's ok not to play for a few weeks and months to relax is ok. Even for a pro.

    Hope this helps.
  17. FishOnTilt FishOnTilt is offline

    Sioux City, IA
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:38pm) in reply to KingPariah

    go back to school 2nd semster
     
  18. Camronius Camronius is offline

    Beerse
    Belgium

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:38pm) in reply to KingPariah

    job @ cardrunners, xfactor?
  19. Jennifear Jennifear is online now

    Niagara Falls, NY
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:40pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    Scott-

    It's a shame that you feel this way. You are very talented, and I hope you can regain your passion so that it feels like less of a "job", and more of a fun "hobby" again.

    Some suggestions

    - Play a different form of poker than you are used to for a period of time
    - Challenge someone to a side bet to make it more interesting... I think this may make your competitive fires burn again!

    Good luck regaining the desire to play!

    (Edit: I think dtools' suggestion > mine)
  20. The Universe The Universe is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:41pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    Yes. Me. A few years ago I won a fairly large tournament in the original FTOPS and after like a month of limited cashes and just kind of spinning my wheels I just stopped playing. Im not sure that a break is a helpful thing, I assume that it is all relative to each individual and their experiences but for me I took some time and started playing hu sngs. It was a new challenge for me and thats really what got me started again. There were a few other things I did but ill spare you...pm me and ill give you my aim if you want to talk about it lol. gl though.
     
  21. fergwrx fergwrx is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:47pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    start a business...
     1
  22. firewalkwithme firewalkwithme is offline

    Chelsea, MI
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:48pm) in reply to dtools22

    If you do end up going to aruba go look up this chick Natalie Holloway...you might have to do some digging to find her but from what I've heard she was a fucking blast.

    My advice....cash games. Not the grind tournaments are, easy to get up and leave, far less variance.
  23. Rocky Rocky is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:51pm) in reply to SCTrojans

    Don't let poker consume you.
     
  24. Green Plastic Green Plastic is offline

    Chicago, IL
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:53pm) in reply to Jennifear

    Yea, i've definitely been there before. You just have to take some time off, and immerse yourself in some other things. Quite a few guys get burned out after their first 2-3 years.

    Most highly successful poker stories goes something like this (note, not like this for degens):

    realize poker/online poker exists, play a ton. think about it every waking hour, read about it, talk about it, etc. You aren't very good yet.

    Start to win/win a lot...really start to make money. Play as much as ever, love the game, and start to get used to the lifestyle, think about all the new options you have.

    Keep winning, spend less time studying the game, more time enjoying your success, traveling, playing. Starting to enjoy the game less

    Go on a bad downswing, or realize that you dont NEED to play as much in order to sustain a comfortable life style, and start to play less.

    Ive seen this happen to many people, and its happened to me. It's not a bad thing, and deep down you still love poker, its just that you don't love playing ALL DAY LONG, which is and always has been unhealthy.

    Honestly, take some time off. Get a new hobby, do some other things, and come back in a few weeks.

    good luck, let me know if you want to talk about it or something.

    tc
  25. jalman1 jalman1 is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:56pm) in reply to Rocky

    i have lost the passion for the game........i dont rly ejoy playing but its something that i have to do for money becuz it pays a lot better than any college job. i wish i had the degen qualities that so many on this site. i just wish i had that passsion back

    sigh
    107 3
  26. TheWacoKidd TheWacoKidd is offline haters gonna hate

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:58pm) in reply to Green Plastic

    <span>"realize poker/online poker exists, play a ton. think about it every waking hour, read about it, talk about it, etc. You aren't very good yet.</span>

    <span>Start to win/win a lot...really start to make money. Play as much as ever, love the game, and start to get used to the lifestyle, think about all the new options you have.</span>

    <span>Keep winning, spend less time studying the game, more time enjoying your success, traveling, playing. Starting toe njoy the game less</span>

    <span>Go on a bad downswing, or realize that you dont NEED to play as much in order to sustain a comfortable life style, and start to play less."</span>

    wow that is me described perfectly... especially the last one
     1
  27. LVpokerdealer LVpokerdealer is offline

    Las Vegas, NV
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 10:59pm) in reply to jalman1

    Take a break, do some traveling. Then come back with some fire and win millions
  28. SCTrojans SCTrojans is online now

    Los Angeles, CA
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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 11:01pm) in reply to TheWacoKidd

    yeah tc scares me
     13
    Thread Starter
  29. traction traction is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 11:03pm) in reply to TiltinShoes

    Taking a vacation and hanging out with my dogs works for me.
     
  30. Kcannon Kcannon is offline

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    Jan 16th, 2008 (1/16/2008 11:05pm) in reply to LVpokerdealer

    come to FL and we can play some golf :)
     
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