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What to do about poker friends?

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What to do about poker friends?

Postby Yogadude » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:14 pm

I am reaching my limit with some of my poker playing pals and dont know what to do. They complain to me about bad beats so often that I am realizing that these guys who want to be "pros" are nothing more than compulsive gamblers. They refuse to keep records (would you go to any professional, dr, lawyer, accountant that didnt keep notes?), they play above their heads, they play too many hours, they tilt and steam after a few bad beats and then I have to listen to it.

I try to be a casual teacher to them, not giving too much advice and letting them learn on their own but it seems that almost no one has what it takes to do what a small handful of us do, namely, beat the game.

At one point do I say, "Look Mr X, I have known your for 5 years and you have lost every single year, at what point do you think you should quit?"

Just blowing off some steam..U got friends like this too?

YD
If everybody was able to make a living off of their hobbies the world would be a much better place.
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Postby Molina » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:50 pm

Mercifully, no.

The dark side of me says to cut yourself loose from them and then take all their money off them, bcause you're a professional you need to be paid while they solicit your attention for bad beat stories.

The good side of me says to try and organise a friendly cash game between you all. And then take all their money.

Personally I'd wait until I get annoyed and then give them a 30 second lambasting and end the sentence 'but hey, do whatever you want', that might learn 'em.

Molina
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Postby Cactus Jack » Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:15 am

Don't know where I heard it but I love this: "Women don't want to hear what you think. They want to hear what THEY think in a lower voice." Doesn't apply here, but I love the line.

People don't want to hear the truth. That's the truth. They want sympathy. Most often, they know what they're doing is wrong, but they just can't help themselves, for whatever reason.

You'll never change your friends' minds, and changing friends won't help. It will be with you wherever you go. I love bad beat stories. How a guy handles bad beats tells me where he's at, how much he really knows. Bad beats are the primer for the pump that flows out the cash. I'm in it for the M-O-N-E-Y.

Bad beats are part of the psychology of poker. With a psychological edge, combined with superior skill, and a sprinkling of luck here and there, I'm way way up on them.

So, here's a suggestion. When they tell you bad beat stories, analyze them. Figure out what happened. Was it bad playing on the part of the loser? Did the winner really have the proper odds to chase? Even morons catch cards. You can probably learn a lot from listening to the bad beat stories, if you try. That makes the inevitable profitable. That's good, because you're going to have to listen to them, no matter what.

Or better yet, keep the company of people who don't play poker. That's actually the better, because occasionally you gotta give your brain a rest.

Just a suggestion from someone who has finally given up trying to change the world.

CJ
"Are the players better as the stakes go up? It's not an exam; it's a buyin." Barry Tanenbaum
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Postby TheUnknownPlayer » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:23 am

Well, years ago I had business cards made up and during one of the inevitable bad beat stories I would apologize and tell them that professional ethics would not allow me to listen now but if they would call my office during business hours I'd be only too happy to listen. The business card said:

1-900-BAD BEAT

99 cents per minute. Call the caring professionals

It workd for a while - till this company in New York contacted me and told me to stop giving out their number or face legal action...

TUP
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Postby iceman5 » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:44 am

And yet , you gave out their number again. Its no wonder you hide your identity. :lol:
iceman5 [As]
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Postby briachek » Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:30 pm

That was you?!?!?!?!?! I'm contacting my company's team of lawyer right now to sue your ass.
Brian [Js][9s]
Anyone who gets in a fair fight, has no tactical skills.
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Postby UWPg » Mon Apr 11, 2005 6:06 am

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Postby Rhound50 » Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:08 pm

"Its a pink handbag not backpack damn it." Godlikeroy

"From playing full tilt I wanna smash every garden gnome I see. That travelocity commercial puts me on instant tilt."
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