I'm kind of new here but I dabble in online poker a bit and can relate to what the OP is saying. Even when I play just one MTT I just don't have any fun. Wading through 1000 people and end up busting because some guy shoves 98 into your AA because he thinks your stealing.... Sometimes I feel that taking prop bets on the type of bad beat that busts me would be more profitable than actually playing the tournaments themselves... haha Seriously though,I love poker and have had a little success online but nothing can take the place of live poker IMHO. More interaction, instant gratification when you win a tournament or big pot at a cash game and basically a more stimulating atmosphere. I know that I don't even feel like a person sometimes when I'm sitting at an online table because of the lack of interaction involved. If you get sick of online poker, take a trip and have some fun at a real card room/casino. I know I'm always refreshed and ready to go back to work or play online when I get back, even if it is just for the weekend.

havent really read anything besdies the OP but this is exactly how i am all the time, i mean ive gotten used to it... get burnt out... take long breaks and then start back up again. i dont even play mtt's that much but i mean any form of poker is the same... ive tried it all sng's/cash/live/mtt's... have made over 100k in each of those and still nothing satisfies u if you have to much of it. i think its more life +ev to just take necessary breaks and stop surrounding yourself with poker. you seem like a smart guy so im sure you'll get thru it but yah it def takes a tuff mentality to get thru it all

I agree with OP that there is usually only one or 2 happy peeps in Tourneys. Personalily the thing that usually grinds me about MTTs is the top heavy pay out structure, prob why a lot of MTT players have to play for first, even though that might mean making somewhat reckless plays late in game.

Though I would prefer a less top heavy pay out structure I understand the majority of people prefer it this way. Usually I can get pretty deep but only get 2 or 3 times the buy in for even making it to the final 2 tables. Am always like 20 people away from thousands of more profit which grinds me more. I would prob be more profitable if the top 20 got paid more and the top 5 got paid less as I find it is hard to get to those coveted spots.

Thanks for the compliments fellas, I apprecaite it a lot. One thing I want to comment on, someone touched on it earlier, is cash games surely aren't easy now a days as people are making them out to be. The games that a lot of MTT grinders would switch to, say 1/2nl to 5/10nl are filled with regulars who for the most part play pretty solid vs most randoms I would say, people will disagree too though. This makes the transition for someone who plays strictley MTTs trying mix in cash games full time much tougher than say 3-4 years ago where anyone playing ABC poker could easily win a few buyins during a session. Not that anyone playing full time doesn't realize that probably, but its tough. Against regulars which most tables have 2-3 at i'd say even with reasonable game selecting, you have to build an image/history, get involved and take lines to get them to pay you off. There are differences in each level a lot which are suttle but so key to beating the games for a better bb/100 ratio longterm, like I said earlier they take time and effort to learn or at least for me they do.

We had a pretty long discussion a few months back that was pretty cool about what percentage of ranked MTT players could be reasonable winners at 6 max nl 1/2nl ranging to 25/50nl. It was very interesting though because it showed just how different a perception strictly MTT players who occasionally dabble in cash opinions varied from some grinders or realistic views from experienced MTT players in all forms of the game. I was shocked how many people thought they would just run over 1/2 or 2/4nl no problem. Can you imagine losing -10 buyins in say a 2k-3k hand sample? It happens and if it doesn't happen then your probably not pushing your game or your opponents as hard as you should to increase your winrate.

MTTs and Cash are both a lot of fun, MTTs definitely are more exiciting like IWEARGOOGLES said earlier, but to enjoy them longterm you still have to have that grasp of how sickening it can get along the way too and not get overwelmed by bubbling another FT or 6th in the 5050 etc. Its a really good subject to discuss because I mean this is what a lot of us on this fourm do for our profession for the time being, so why not discuss the ups and downs more. Everyone goes through these periods where poker is straight pitts, but during those times just enjoy your friends, family, gf more and take a break. All those should help with the game we all love to play.

MTTs are akin to a trek across the Sahara desert - long, long dry spells interspersed with the occasional welcome oasis.

Currently on a downswing of roughly 40 MTTs with one minor cash and cannot win a 70/30 when it matters let alone a 50/50.

Nothing unusual in that, I've played MTTs for 5yrs and made a profit every year it's just when you are in a low you can't see it ending. Looking back on my records it is very noticeable that the big cashes come in bunches......with those oh so enjoyable long runs of nothingness.

Nature of the beast.

 

Originally Posted by TheGfactor

Thanks for the compliments fellas, I apprecaite it a lot. One thing I want to comment on, someone touched on it earlier, is cash games surely aren't easy now a days as people are making them out to be. The games that a lot of MTT grinders would switch to, say 1/2nl to 5/10nl are filled with regulars who for the most part play pretty solid vs most randoms I would say, people will disagree too though. This makes the transition for someone who plays strictley MTTs trying mix in cash games full time much tougher than say 3-4 years ago where anyone playing ABC poker could easily win a few buyins during a session. Not that anyone playing full time doesn't realize that probably, but its tough. Against regulars which most tables have 2-3 at i'd say even with reasonable game selecting, you have to build an image/history, get involved and take lines to get them to pay you off. There are differences in each level a lot which are suttle but so key to beating the games for a better bb/100 ratio longterm, like I said earlier they take time and effort to learn or at least for me they do.

We had a pretty long discussion a few months back that was pretty cool about what percentage of ranked MTT players could be reasonable winners at 6 max nl 1/2nl ranging to 25/50nl. It was very interesting though because it showed just how different a perception strictly MTT players who occasionally dabble in cash opinions varied from some grinders or realistic views from experienced MTT players in all forms of the game. I was shocked how many people thought they would just run over 1/2 or 2/4nl no problem. Can you imagine losing -10 buyins in say a 2k-3k hand sample? It happens and if it doesn't happen then your probably not pushing your game or your opponents as hard as you should to increase your winrate.

MTTs and Cash are both a lot of fun, MTTs definitely are more exiciting like IWEARGOOGLES said earlier, but to enjoy them longterm you still have to have that grasp of how sickening it can get along the way too and not get overwelmed by bubbling another FT or 6th in the 5050 etc. Its a really good subject to discuss because I mean this is what a lot of us on this fourm do for our profession for the time being, so why not discuss the ups and downs more. Everyone goes through these periods where poker is straight pitts, but during those times just enjoy your friends, family, gf more and take a break. All those should help with the game we all love to play.

First of all I really appreciate all of the comments and thoughts in this thread, there is a lot of well written stuff in here (except for my last sentence obv). This is true that online cash games have gotten way tougher over the last few years. Thankfully live cash games are still very soft. I was playing some $1-$2 online the other day and the players were much tougher then even the biggest game that I ever play live, which is $10-$20 at Commerce. I truly feel that even at 10 times the limit the games are softer live. It is so much easier for the live fish to play cash instead of tournaments that often start in the middle of the work day, so I think that live cash games have progressed even slower than live tournaments, which have both progressed much more slowly then any form of online poker. People that grind 1/2 and 2/4 online that have never played live would be almost shocked at the horrible play at 5/10 and 10/20 in live cash.