I hate poker, I use to love it, but emotions can determine your appetite. It irritates me that some one can be absolutely horrible at poker and still win. Yes, I know it’s gambling, but there is a lot of skill involved, and this is proven through people who consistently make a living off it, like Daniel Negranu, or Doyle Brunson, or Annie Duke and so on. When it comes to something like football or any other sport not anyone can play it and beat the best. I guess that’s the appeal of poker, you can be the worst player on the planet and beat the best player on the planet. Some where a long the line, this notion started to anger me; more like the experiences angered me.
I was playing at this game in New Paltz and I raised four times the big blind pre-flop, I was under the gun, and there were seven people after me; I had pocket kings. I figured I would get one call or everyone would fold because I was playing tight that game, so I knew people would take the raise seriously. I didn’t want some one to limp in with an ace seven and beat my kings, so I thought if I raised four times the big blind, it would scare away any ace rags, and it did. But it didn’t scare away this idiot named Gary who re-raised. so I re-raised all-in and the moron called me with 4 2 unsuited. And guess what… the moron got a straight.
It just bothers me you can do everything right in poker and still lose, and on the contrary, you can do everything wrong and still win. It just doesn’t seem right. It reminds of life too much. When I play a game, I want to escape from life, not be reminded of it. This is where my hatred of poker is rooted.
Should I still play the game that when I lose I’m absolutely miserable and have a skinnier wallet? And on the opposite side of the spectrum: should I not play the game that when I win I’m absolutely ecstatic? I could play less, which I have been doing anyway since I graduated from New Paltz. Only time will tell, but until then, I still have a hate/love relationship with poker…. come to think of it, why did I think poker would be different from anything else?
January 14, 2008 at 2:44 am |
You have never played any medium and/or high stakes games. When you are playing with pocket change the overall tendency is for people not to give a fuck and let it ride, it is just fun. The medium stakes and above are a whole new game that requires skill and the occasional gunslinger mentality to make a big raise with a 7-5 offsuit to steal a pot on a flop. Until you have played a real game you cannot decide whether you love/hate poker or even have the stones to really play. That penny ante shit doesnt count!!