I have just come off a bad day of poker and am concerned for my future in poker.?

Question

I went to the casino when I turned 18 and won a shootout tourney then gave part of it back playing 1-2 NL. I came back the next day and won about $60 in the cash game, giving me about $100 in winnings. Then I went to a different casino and played 4-8 limit. I saw very few good hands, and no premium hands(10s were the best I saw, and both pots I won came with AJ). I lost my $60 buy-in, and my $40 rebuy. Should I continue playing poker, and which game would be best?

Answer 1

give it up

Answer 2

You need to do some SERIOUS reading about poker.  There are literally tons of books out there on poker.  I'd recommend books from 2+2 publishing as they are for the most part serious poker books.

That being said...you are playing way too high with the amount of money you have.  Poker can have big fluctuations even for good players.  For rank amateurs like yourself it is a huge roller coaster ride until you learn how to really play the game.

Don't convince yourself you know what you're doing just because you won a shootout.  It could have been total luck or very bad competition or likely both.

Answer 3

Your problem was probably trying to change things too fast. No-limit is a different beast from limit and requires a somewhat different mindset. As a general rule, limit poker requires a much tighter game, since it's harder to force out the opposition and nearly impossible to bluff. It also sounds like you had a bad string of luck the 2nd day, which can occur on any game.

Answer 4

Winning or losing a hundred bucks is no big deal. If that's enough to make you give up playing then I doubt you had much interest in it in the first place.

Remember, gambling is simply a form or recreation for 99% of the people who play it. If you're not having fun, then don't play. If you don't feel you can afford it, then don't play. But if you enjoy the game and can afford to spend some money now and then, there's no reason to stop.  

Answer 5

It sounds like you are confused about poker, and perhaps have a lot to learn about the game.

First off, poker is a long term thing.  What matters is how you do over the long term.  Even the best poker players in the world will have a bad day, it's called variance.  No matter how good you are, sometimes the cards will go against you.

Secondly, no limit and limit are two very different games.  You can't just jump from one to the other as if they were the same game.  As a new poker player you should pick one and learn all you can about it.  Don't imagine you can play them both the same way.

Finally, think about bankroll management.  You never want to put yourself in the position of going broke in one night.  You need to have discipline and control what happens to your bankroll.  If you win one night and then put all your winnings on the line the following night you will never make any progress.

I don't know if poker is going to work out for you, but you do need to study some more, that's for sure.