Sunday 29 December 2013

A New Year, A New Life

Off topic (poker) for a second:
Do you ever get that feeling that you've spent so much time doing a lot yet when you reflect back on the year. You can't remember anything worth while or worth mentioning?

That is how I feel now. I can only recall several memorable events. The rest of the time? I have no clue where it went or what I did. I'm sure I could go through PT3 or PS3 and check how many hours I spent playing poker or video games. But what good would that do?

This makes me think... What makes what you do worth while? I believe I need to break from my pre-programmed thinking that anything that doesn't increase my social standing is not worth spending time on. Sure, I'd gone out drinking with friends from time to time but I could have easily stayed at home and watched my favourite movie over again. The only difference is in one scenario, I lost £20-30 and in the other I gained and lost nothing.

What you ultimately choose to spend time on, is at the end of the day, your decision; and if at the end of the year, you think its pointless or not worthwhile then why do it in the first place? I personally think that anything you do which you can learn from or something which is thought provoking is worth spending time on.

Hmm interesting that we use the word spent/spend when it comes to time, as if its a currency. I suppose it is a metaphysical commodity, a very important one. 

So rather than saying I think I wasted/spent my time wisely. I suppose I should just say:
'I spent my time and I should be happy'

Enough of that. In terms of poker (much like my life) my goals are constantly changing. I suppose I'm a jack of all trades but master of none and as such, I see that when I play certain games, my play too robotic/predictable. I think I should specialise in one particular type of game before I go and play everything.

The question is, what game? The obvious choice is PLO but with all of the material out there, its just become a huge rock garden now. I haven't played for months, Its just not fun anymore. My favourite game types I would say are 2-7FLTD, 2-7NLTD, FLO8, NLO8, 6 Card Omaha (6CO) and maybe Badugi since its so different.

The only problem is that the player pool in most of these games are small and probably mostly full of regulars who know what they're doing. The good thing is there aren't that many resources for study whether they're books or videos or forums. It'll also have to be a game which I can track, which excludes most of the games. Between FL and NL, there is an argument for different optimal strategies for each betting structure and the major difference is that bad play is punished much more severely in NL games.

I think it would have to No Limit Omaha Hi-Lo (NLO8), as frustrating the game can be, its also fun with so much more to consider. Its a game where you can be a favourite equity-wise on the TURN with no made hand, just draws against top set. 

I guess thats it, Happy New Year Everybody.
I'll just leave a quote from one of my favourite poker players. Its something to consider.

"Keep blaming circumstances and other things you can't control for the losses in your life, and you will never win.. ever.." - Takezo1980