A Reddit user admitted to losing over $300,000 playing poker and encouraged people to ask him any questions.
Of course, encouragement was barely needed for this kind of headline.
But to get things going, "ObligatoryRetard" started a Reddit thread with the catchy title, "I'm a losing amateur, lost $333k. Ask me anything."
The author has logged 2,500 hours at the tables (his loss rate is $133 per hour) and played 63,498 hands.
The only stakes he conquered was NL $1/$2, where he won $12,684 in 492 hours.
Our hero's biggest losses were at NL $1/$3 (-$54k in 828 hours), $2/$3 (-$32k in 177 hours), $2/$5 (-$59k in 490 hours), and $5/$10 (-$81k in 168 hours). $56k was lost in baccarat at a rate of -$1.5k per hour.
The thread's readers figured out. "Only play Sundays, 8-9 hour sessions. $1/$2 Holdem. Problem solved. You owe me like at least $10k in future savings over losses."
– The hungry horse 5k boot camp is starting to sound like a good deal now
– For real. Should probably sign up for that 😂
– If you can actually afford this I guarantee you're living a way better life than 80% of r/poker.
– I’d agree with that.
– I'll take the over on 95.
– He doesn't need to win at poker. He already won at life. Being a whale is the endgame for poker players.
– I already lose my appetite after losing a few hundred, how are you able to lose 333k…
– Well if I look at it hourly -$133/hour doesn’t seem so bad… right?
– Three or four cents a second. Mere pennies!
– What the hell is going on at the end of the graph?
– My downswing 💀
– Does it count as a downswing if you never had an upswing?
– There’s a few upswings in there!
– The real question is: what's your job ?
– Small business owner.
– I’d argue: large business owner.
– Everything in perspective right?
– Curious to know why you seem to do good at 1/2 but really bad at 1/3 and 2/3 ?
– Mostly played 1/2 when i first started and was playing with people that were also pretty new to the game.
– Are you simply okay with the fact you can lose so much and look at it as a hobby that costs a lot of money?
How do you deal with it mentally? Both from the perspective of losing so much and also knowing you’re probably a big target for sharks?
– Pretty okay with the losses, recently it’s been brutal though since I feel like all of my sessions have been losing and the data would track that.
Mentally I don’t really stress about it, it’s pretty much fun money for me and as for being a target for sharks I don’t really care much about that either, as long as they’re giving action, I’m happy to give them a shot.
– Do you still enjoy playing?
– Of course, if I didn’t I wouldn’t play.
– That is not a downswing that looks like tilt at the end.
– Probably not tilt, i don’t really get upset at anything at the table unless it’s someone berating the dealer. Still enjoying poker just mildly annoyed at the results moreso.
– Honest question, you seem smart and successful, why do you think you're so bad at poker? Are you even trying to win?
– Pretty sure i’m just too wide pre and too aggro post along with the fact I hate folding rivers to opponent aggression. Definitely try to win pretty often but at lower stakes it’s tough not to punt off a $500 or $1k buy in since it doesn’t mean a ton to me.
– So like roughly what percent of your net worth is this loss?
– Probably 2-3%? Liquid net worth not including business assets.
– Okay yeah u can definitely afford it lol, plz continue keeping the game alive.
– Move up until they respect your raises?
– Highest game I can regularly play is $5/$10 so unfortunately nowhere else to move up to!
ObligatoryRetard started a similar thread on Reddit earlier this year , but his losses were a bit more modest back then.
– I honestly respect the fact that you still track. I feel like 99/100 in your shoes would stop tracking just so they didn’t have to see the loss.
– Seeing the loss makes me want to get better 🤷♂️ I’m sure eventually I’ll become disciplined enough to fold pre.
– What do you think is holding you back from becoming a winning or break even player? Do you feel like you are a good player?
– Mostly discipline. I definitely wouldn’t say I’m a “good” player – i mean data indicates otherwise right? With enough beating of my head into a brick wall I’m sure I can win over the long run too but hey, maybe not!
– What is your source of enjoyment from poker? Everyone has their different reasons for playing.
– I like to think that I’ll eventually win but data indicates otherwise. I also just love playing massive pots 🤷♂️
– Have you considered trying out a hobby that doesn't cost more money per hour than 99% of people make from a job?
– I have! Unfortunately my other hobbies are equally expensive.
– How do you feel about studying poker to improve your game?
– I do actually study a fair bit, I just don’t actually have the discipline to fold postflop and in gambley games I’m also way too wide pre.
In all honestly if I were just disciplined enough to play tag poker I would probably get paid off on my image for the last 5 years 😂
– The sample is too small, come back when you have played 10,000 hands.
– 💀
– Are you able to avoid it and take a break if you need to?
Does your hobby cause strain on any personal relationships due to the $$?
– I took probably a 6 month break last year while I was working extensively on my business so yes I can definitely take a “break” if needed.
I’m sure if people knew how much this “hobby” has actually cost me they would throw up but it’s no one’s business to know what I do with my money. My family isn’t one that really gambles a ton so they wouldn’t take kindly to it.
– paistings?
– I wish, that man’s a legend.
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