The Quest for Fun
I like poker quests. There's something about having a short-term goal that keeps things at the table interesting to me. My last two quests have been focused on earning a certain amount in a certain way, and I fell short on both. I find that moderately irritating - not completing a quest, which defeats the primary purpose of poker and questing in the first place - to have fun! For me, after all, poker is still just a hobby.
I have been on a horrible slump for several months. I might have passed through this slump already, and be out the other side of it, had I the temerity to just grind through. I don't. When the beats pile up it effects me to the extent that it is best that I play less. Thus, if I am going to have a 40,000 hand slump, it's going to take a while to get through it because my rate of play slows down markedly. It's just not fun to take multiple two-outters in a session, and when it happens I quit playing for a few hours. It saves me many broken mice and undeserved cross words at my family. I have overheard my children warning each other, "Watch out for Dad, he's having a bad night at poker," too many times.
This month's quest I am out to put the joy back in my game. If it ain't fun, I ain't doing it at the table. Fortunately, clearing $200 in Party bonuses amuses the pee out of me, so I am likely to finish that, although I may be doing it at $25 NL tables circus-style (playing short-stacked and only the top 4 hands). There's something about circus-style play that amuses me to no end so far. I think I will likely do some freerolls and some $10 SNGs, too. A few cheap buy-in MTTS at Betfred might be good. Maybe some $50 NL or PLO, I enjoy those games. Even a juicy $5/10 game is not out of the question if my head is in the right spot that particular night. Wherever the spirit takes me.
It's a GAME. I am going to PLAY it. Happy Flopping!