Taking A Break

[Jibalob]

Happy New Year.

Some of you may remember some of my recent roll-donking antics, basically I've gone from 17k to busto in a couple of months (although I did actually withdraw about 7k).

I know I can beat the games up to and including 10/20 LHE but am currently on super-mega-monkey-life-tilt and can hardly remain patient and calm enough to even beat the micro stakes right now.

So, I'm taking a break from poker, I have a few VIP freerolls this week but after that I'm gonna cashout and spend the rest of January just studying poker and not actually playing. By February I hope to be in a fit state to start playing again.

Has anyone else here taken a break like this before due to life-tilt? What difficulties did you have (if any) when returning to poker? Any tips on fighting the itch to play also appreciated

[biondino]

Are you really, really sure you're going to not play? Or are you going to get tempted back in after a week, playing some small games, low stakes, doesn't really matter, etc. etc? Do you have the discipline to stay away until you truly have got your issues sorted?

[Jibalob]

Thats pretty much the whole point of the exercise - self discipline. I used to have no problem at all in this area but the past couple of months I have just been plain awful with it.

If I can't keep myself disciplined enough to stay away for a month then I shouldn't be playing anything more than the occasional donkament on a rainy saturday night anyway.

I will be helping out my dad and my cousin with their poker skills so hopefully that will help ease the itch a little.

[biondino]

That's cool - sorry to be mr cynical!

As for your question about getting back into poker afterwards - yes, you WILL be rusty, unquestionably, your instincts will be dulled and you'll find yourself without a clue in marginal spots. Just play sensible, ABC poker, nittier than usual, until you feel in the zone again, and if you do feel yourself either tilting or being out of your depth for whatever reason, quit straight away and collect your thoughts before going back.