Maybe if this old man spills his guts on this subject, it will enlighten some people, and the result will be less blogs here, crying because the author got beat, and "needs to vent", or less cats being kicked across the room ! First off, if you get that worked up over losing a poker hand, or getting knocked out of a poker tournament, you have serious issues, that go beyond any poker game, go see a shrink ! It is a game ! It is suppose to be fun, and when you lose, you should be mature enough to show a little good sportsmanship, and let the rest go !
Those who need to "vent" are actually doing one of two things ; #1 showing their poker immaturity. or #2 looking for sympathy ! ....... Maybe they didn't get hugged enough as a child, or maybe they were overprotected as a child and can't deal with not having their way ! You know, the spoiled little brat, we all remember one from somewhere in our past, well they grew up, and are still of the frame of mind they should have everything their way !
There just is no good reason to get so pissed off over a game, that you have to take out your frustrations in a blog, by punching thru a wall, tossing the computer out the window, or by kicking the cat ! There is something else fueling that fire, deal with it !
Why do those players play those god awful hands and win against me all the time ? Ever heard that one ? Well wake up silly, not everyone is as good at poker as you are ! Online poker is probably made up of 75% novice, or "unskilled" players. 10% of the players know enough about the game to recognize when someone isn't playing it like they would, or have read somewhere that it should be played. 10% more are the really decent players who can consistently deposit money won in their bank account instead of continually depositing on the poker sites. 3% who can make a living playing online poker, and 2% are "professional" poker players, and I use that term loosely !
With 3/4 of the online poker players you will run into on any given day being unskilled, or novice players, doesn't it stand to reason that there are going to be a lot of bad plays you are going to have to deal with ? A lot of them don't know that A6 off suit should be folded in early position, hell a lot of them probably don't know what "early position" is ! The level of play isn't really a consideration either, there a lot of people with big bucks out there in this world, they aren't all poor folks like me and most of you. To some people losing a couple of hundred bucks a night is just the price of a little entertainment, so what, a couple of hundred to them, is like a couple of bucks to us !
Most of them know going in they are going to lose their money, and can afford it, they just want to have some fun ! If you run into these people on the felt, then expect they will play hands you wouldn't, protect your money, don't play them the same way you would play a table full of players with skill levels as good as yours, or better ! Adjustments in your game, will be necessary, if you want to get some of that cash they are spilling onto the online tables. Just don't whine and cry when they beat you in a hand, or knock you out of a game, if you had played them better, wouldn't you have won their money, or knocked them out instead ?
Everybody likes to win, and nobody likes to lose, but the difference in a mature poker player, and one who isn't, is evident in the way they accept defeat, and victory as well ! A gracious winner gets respect, as does someone who can lose with grace. Calling people names, kicking the cat, punching holes in walls, and writing "vent" blogs, is a sign that you just haven't matured as a poker player yet, so work on it, and remember, it is just a game ! The next time you are watching the pros play on television, notice how the respected ones graciously accept getting knocked off a final table where a Million dollars, or more, is at stake, and strive to be like them, instead of a computer throwing, wall punching, cat kicker, that needs to "vent" !
....play on ...Tc....
© Copyright 2010
51 comments
AMEN !!!
I like ur way of thinkin TC !!!
Another great blog Tc...I have found that I seem to have more success when I stay calm, cool, collected...and a little baked..cough cough cough...Peace
I NEED TO VENT ...... LMAOOOOO J/K
well I agree it does show a little immaturity ....... but ask your self this ???? your telling me that when you obviously just got took out of a big tourney with big pay out that you don't say dammit or something when it happens ???? Well that is your way of venting some just get a little to invovled in venting LOL ..... wow and you have never seen a pro (VENT ) before ........ some are known for doing it and some are known for what you said leaving quietly and with respect to the others
Well TY for the blog TC and best of luck to ya and have fun
Hickoid
I learned a valuable lesson the ONLY time I posted a bad beat hand. I learned it wasn't a bad beat at all. I learned that I made a mistake in betting my hand which caused me to get KOed by a 35os. How did I learn this...
I posted the account of that hand and got some valuable feedback from better poker players. Instead of crying about it, I asked for feedback on the hand.
So, instead of whining about it... Post your hand history information and ask for some feedback. Who knows, maybe it wasnt the Donkey's fault at all.
- 4FlushCrush
Very nice blog TC, great reading.
I have to admit though I have been guilty of this, only not as far as posting blogs in here about it,lol. After reading this blog I can say I sure will think about what i say after I get donked out of my game by someone who isn't even a member of the league, or who just plays anything and wins. I by no means am a professional at this game, and have only played live poker 2 times, so I can see alot of points you have given here.
One thing for sure you said, this is suppose to be fun.. and that is the way I look at it in our league games and the private games i play in. Yes i do try for them points or them pennies, or even dollars sometimes, but I try to have fun doing it..
Thanks so much for writing this..
Well said TC..., not that i would call myself a "mature" poker player with the experience of 7 month of playing the game...
And i dont have a cat (or dog), my walls are made of concrete, so punshing really hurts and throwing my computer would solve the problem being beat at poker, as i only have one and could play anymore...
sometime i do feel like doing all of the things mentioned, but i am trying to be a sportsman in the british sense, so losing a big hand or getting kicked out of a tourney, i try to find ways to improve my game, learn from whatever happend and not repeat the mistake...
I dont object to "venting blogs", they show that i am not the only one donking or getting a bad beat, but i do object to kicking cats & dogs and namecalling, mostly i just get amused by the latter....
Keep on venting guys & girls, if u think it helps, that -in my understanding- is one of the reasons why we joined a (this) forum and nobody is forced to read those blogs anyway, right?
See u all the felts & good luck...
THx Tc,.. good blog as usual,.. when I get beat I am not pleased, when i get bad beat, I examine the hand and usually find that I played wrong,.. good example, I was playing yesterday in the 10 dollar double up like you said,.. 6 players left and i get dealt
, I call and the board comes, 
other guy takes me in, and he has 
you guessed it, next two, 
I'm out 6th,.. arg,.. why did i get involved with that hand, if I pass, two others are on the brink,.. my bad, no use getting angry, just had a lesson forcibly reinforced,..
i LOVE your blogs topcat. i stopped reading those bad beat blogs a long time ago- they're boring. it's like that friend you have that always tells you they're dreams. who cares!!! Have a wonderful day friend.
People get angry over me by beating them with 65 in the BB when they don't even raise me with QQ.. gets annoying after awhile
If there were no bad beats, it wouldn't be poker.
Yes, I could understand getting a little bit mad over getting sucked out on the bubble, but just let go and play another, don't stay there and talk trash to the others.
Nice blog, TC, very educational, but why would we kick the cat?
I love your blogs tc and have more respect than you know for you and your actions on this site...but, I have to voice my opinion (and that is all it is) on this subject. If you can't vent to your "friends" then that word is used loosely!
I am sure and look forward to counterpoints as I am fully aware, we don't all think alike...but I do consider myself friends with all!! So, let me have it!!!
BAT
We all have different ways of venting and we may not all agree on how an individual vents but respect and politeness goes along ways.
CC
I had a great day yesterday on the felts T C ,and I think it's time to try your
theory. It makes sense to me and i see no reason for me NOT trying it out.
I think it's very , very possible to win EVERY one that I play !
TALK-2-YA-LATER ~
I'm with ya on this one for sure! Like Rowanlea, I stopped reading those a long time ago. But I will read the ones who ask how they could've played it better.
As to "venting", I just give my desktop one good whack! stand up, stretch and move one.
Love your "awareness" blogs TC!