Does poker ever feel cruel to you?

Mig32 · Jul 4, 2025

Absolutely, I’ve felt that way too.

Sometimes I do everything right — make solid reads, play with discipline, avoid tilt — and still end up on the losing side. It can feel cruel and unfair, like the game is testing your patience more than your skill.

But over time, I’ve learned that this is part of poker. It's not always about winning in the short term, but about staying consistent and emotionally balanced through the swings. It’s tough, but that’s also what makes the wins so rewarding.

wushibala · Jul 5, 2025

I agree with you — poker really does require endurance.
Personally, I call it “game discipline,” because in many tournaments you won’t get great hands often.
In those situations, all you can do is stay patient and wait for the right moment.

Stringy · Jul 5, 2025

the cruelest, like main villain typa stuff. like cash game all in with pocket aces and boom some fish with a 72 gets a full house type of villain

bowserdon · Jul 5, 2025

Oh yes,many times I have an unbeatable hand that gets beaten.I scream and curse but it doesnt help.Now I try and accept it and move on

Blue_Fossil · Jul 7, 2025

So....playing a little online cash game today....just $10 buy in.

A few hands in I have QQ from the SB. Button limps (.10), I raise to .40; BB Folds, BT calls.

Flop is 10 8 4, all clubs. I check, BT bets .50, I call. Turn is 10h. I check, BT checks. River is Qd....a boat for me! Nullifies his flush or trips 10s! I check; BT bets $2.00, I raise to $6. He ultimately goes all in. I call.

He turns over 10 10.

RUFKM!!!!!????

stank12345 · Jul 9, 2025

YES YES YES every day it is the cruelest game on this green earth and also the most fun when things are going your way

Alaercio da Rocha · Jul 9, 2025

This was in a single tournament. Does that answer your question?

pvs80 · Jul 9, 2025

Yes for me too, sometimes I feel done with it for a while, but that feeling passes as well, in fact it helps to take a break often, also for the mindset

ratbat615 · Jul 9, 2025

yes I do because most of the times I am in with the best hand and loose on the turn or the river . but that's poker gambling luck is a part of the game . all you can do is make the right decision and hope for the best , but in the long run you should be profitable .

Ivan Basic · Jul 9, 2025

yes,

you are at mercy of the system

sandy358 · Jul 9, 2025

Vovk said:
Sometimes you play well, stay focused, make smart decisions — and you still lose. It seems that poker is not about honesty, but endurance. Have you ever felt that the game was too hard?

Thing that pisses me off the most in poker is when after a pre-flop shove I lose to a hand I lose to anyways, but lose in some sort of sadistic way like 4 card straight / flush / set / etc. I know it's extremely specific, but in other cases you just have to accept that crap happens, while with those it just feels personal.

TeUnit · Jul 9, 2025

When you run below expectations for any significant period of time it does feel a bit cruel, but I try to look at it as just being that much closer to the sunny side of variance.

4rrowwhy.1207 · Jul 9, 2025

I just started playing and I've been contemplating on this the past few weeks lol. My pocket Kings have been toppled over by River Ace numerous times this week.

Zennnyy · Jul 9, 2025

I have had times where i feel like submitting defeat, like i will never grasp poker in the way i want to, i go to study and watch webinars and feel degraded but then i get the odd reminder from a friend of mine who is much much ahead of where i am at the moment that i notice his struggles are just the same as mine but he's been doing it longer and has been through where i am at one point, it was a progress reminder for me and some people might not have that..

so its okay to feel discouraged, deflated and defeated, take a we break and break the door down tomorrow!

sibkaz · Jul 9, 2025

Poker is not tough, it teaches you to take things as they are, think and analyze more... You can't always win, and understanding this makes you be more careful and attentive)

tihomir_kula · Jul 10, 2025

Poker takes a lot of my time. Too long tournaments!

888NOX888 · Jul 10, 2025

Poker is constantly cruel to me, but it doesn't matter, I still play and return to the game after long breaks.

dzsire · Jul 10, 2025

After every bad beat.
After every losing hand, you may feel like the game is cruel, but what if you won every hand? It would be boring. The variety is what makes the game brutal and at the same time appealing.

ClassyChad · Jul 10, 2025

The cruelty is relative.. Like with any sport or gambling game.. The highs are ecstasy and the lows are devastating. The key is to regulate your emotions and to understand and accept the nature of the game and the ups and downs that come along with it.

Garik777 · Jul 10, 2025

Yes, I have felt many times that poker can be cruel and the game is hard. I feel it especially in expensive tournaments

nelomec · Jul 10, 2025

Vovk said:
Sometimes you play well, stay focused, make smart decisions — and you still lose. It seems that poker is not about honesty, but endurance. Have you ever felt that the game was too hard?

I've felt like this sometimes, but I've learned that it's part of poker, we don't always win when we play well, it's the variance factor, the important thing is to know that in the long run, if you play well, you will win more than you lose.

fernandofcp · Aug 3, 2025

Poker will always be cruel! When poker isn't cruel to me, it's cruel to my opponent. It's all a matter of perspective for the player affected by poker's cruelty. Sometimes poker is kind and generous, but more often than not, it will be cruel. There's no point in deluding yourself with poker, because it always reveals a harsh reality. The most we can do to mitigate poker's cruelty is to study, prepare, and hope for luck.

HandsOff · Aug 3, 2025

It can be frustrating at times when bad beats pile up. But when things go well that balances it out later. Joy and sorrow often go hand in hand.

Dushka · Aug 4, 2025

Sometimes so very cruel, so they move(((

fernandovr · Aug 4, 2025

Absolutely! Sometimes it feels like the deck has a mind of its own. You do everything right, put your opponent in a tough spot, and then the river brings that unlikely out.

Does poker ever feel cruel to you?

Mig32

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wushibala

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Stringy

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bowserdon

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Blue_Fossil

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stank12345

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Alaercio da Rocha

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pvs80

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ratbat615

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Ivan Basic

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sandy358

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TeUnit

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4rrowwhy.1207

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Zennnyy

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sibkaz

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tihomir_kula

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dzsire

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ClassyChad

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