Do you still enjoy playing poker?

I remember when I started playing at 2NL and absolutely loved poker. I couldn't get my hands on enough books, couldn't watch enough videos, and I was head over heels learning and playing the game. Even when things got rough while moving up, I was still able to put in the hours and I genuinely enjoyed playing. My goals felt attainable and because they were all within reach, it caused me to just keep working harder.

Fast forward to the present, I just can't seem to do it anymore. I'm a winning player with the sample to prove it, I recognize when I tilt and I'm disciplined enough to stop my bad sessions, but the love for the game is just not there anymore. Winning has stopped feeling good, losing feels absolutely terrible, and winning just feels more like a relief that I wasn't losing. The thought of sitting down and loading up some tables is dreadful and I'd much rather be doing more enjoyable things. I've tried to take a break from poker hoping to come back with my newly rediscovered passion for it, but the game still feels as bleak as when I had left it.

Do you still enjoy playing poker?

I hate every minute of it =p

I've played 50K hands a month or more for the last 5 years both while working, and playing almost 2 years for a living, and I am once rebuilding again from nothing after pulling my roll for life reasons. This is the third time for me starting from basically nickels left on a site in June to what is now $50NL again. I love it. It's bought me so much. I don't think I could take it if I ever was stuck at the SSNL's for more then a few months mind you. This is my last shot at getting past $200NL though. I don't' want to sit and play against a table full of taggs trying to eek out some RB and 1bb/100, to have some playing around money. That would make me puke.

So no, not sick of it, still love it. But seriously want to get better than I am now.

Try some new games like Panorama Holdem and Loose Cannon Holdem where you get to see the cards. I still love the game.

Write a book about your success and the keys to getting to be the player you have become. It will be helpful to us less fortuanate and might inspire the love of the game you are missing.

Yes i enjoy playing and i feel very blessed for having the opportunity to get into it

This is an interesting question for me. I tend to be an "all in or nothing" kind of person. I'm either into it or not at all. So far I've been able to keep poker as something I do for fun. When I don't enjoy it I stop playing it.

This is also why I'm not very good at poker. To become good I'd have to power through the parts I don't enjoy (variance/mental blocks/plugging leaks/etc).

It's interesting that to become really good at poker one must invest so many hours into it that most will inevitably come to hate it by the time they finally become competent.

Mostly yes, sometimes no. I try to avoid it when no. If no then don't force it IMO. And if more often no definately not something to persue longterm other than for fun.