Fearless Poker Inventory

[Rushmore]

There is a particular group which touts the use of a "fearless moral inventory" as an exercise for understanding one's nature, and further identifying the problems which require attention.

Let us, then, each inventory what we consider the three things that are our greatest weaknesses as poker players. Let us do this openly and honestly, then we'll all hug and say a prayer.

I'll start, in no particular order:

1.) I have failed to REALLY dive headlong into the math.

2.) I sometimes play when I know I should not, either because I am distracted or the game's not good for me.

3.) I sometimes forsake small EV for longer shots at bigger scores (with, obviously, mixed results). I guess I mean I get greedy.

Whew. Now I feel clean.

Keep coming back. It works if you work it.

Or something.

[scotnt73]

1)im scared to move up higher than 3/6 online even though i have the bankroll for it
2)i sometimes play hands like KJo from early position when im a little tilty or running really well and immedialy feel like a fish after doing so
3)i cash out more money than i should from my bankroll for things i dont really need

[Gamblor]

1) I can't be bothered to read most poker books more than twice.

2) I don't look at chips as money, but rather as keeping score - this translates into being numb to big and small losses financially, but insanely angry competitively speaking. It also skews my value of money in the real world. ("A thousand dollars? Pshaw, I can make that in a good run at 15/30 on Party" - Note, I have never used the word Pshaw out loud before)

3) I play when I'm tired, angry, hungry, sleepy, whiny, happy, smelly, and sad. I play when I'm irritable, when I'm high, when I'm drunk, pretty much whenever I just want to zone out for a few hours.

[Rushmore]

Thanks for sharing, Scot!

If you are aware of #2, then you're probably right that #1 is a problem.

#3 is just bookkeeping. You can handle that.

Keep it simple.

[Rushmore]

Thanks for sharing, Gam!

#1 is either a laziness or ego problem. Or maybe your retention is so good that it's not a problem at all.

#2 is not a problem at all. Most people should even HAVE such a problem!

#3 is sharing a little too much of yourself.

Here in "these rooms," we discourage any acknowledgement of our own smelliness.

Let go and let God.

[gonores]

1) I can't make myself play a satisfactory number of hours, regardless of what I do.

2) I seldomly use 2+2 for individual hand analysis any more. Some of it is because I find the advice less and less useful, but I also attribute some of this to ego. I fear that I, a "professional" player, could be called out on some sort of novice error that I somehow never learned. Many players I respect have a good idea for what I claim to earn, and I fear I may lose respect when I am exposed for the fraud I am.

3) Until very recently, I refused to give up the short-term EV necessary to learn other games.

4) I take the time to review a session maybe 1 in 10 times.

5. I tilt way more often now than I did 6 months ago. I still don't think I tilt as often as most 2+2ers, but I don't like the trend.

[moondogg]

1. I have stopped attempting to improve myself.

1a. I never post hand histories or participate in the discussions anymore. (Not that I did that much, but nothing is less than something)

1b. I barely ever enter the strategy forums any more.

1c. I used to have difficulty with concentrating on watching the game when I'm not in a hand. Now, I don't even attempt it.

1d. I can't remember the last time I've played only one table when I could be playing 3.

1e. I still pull all of my hand histories into PT, but I barely ever look at my stats. I mostly just use it for populating my buddy list and notes.

1f. Between July '03 and March '04, I read most of the "required reading" (TOP, HEP, HEPFAP, WLLH, TPFAP, Carson, etc) at least 4 times each. I haven't even opened any of those books in four months.

1g. I am confused about what to do in many situations. The best part is, I know I used to know what to do. So, I just raise.

2. I am a shameless bonus whore. /images/graemlins/grin.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif

Seriously, at the beginning of the year I reset my backroll to $300, and planned on improving, playing one table at a time, learning the game, reading the players, working my way up, yadda yadda yadda. A few bonuses came up here and there, and I thought "I'll split my time: I'll take a break each month for a few days to do some bonuses, and I'll work on my game the rest of the time". Now, I am neck-deep in a backlog of bonuses, and it's just -EV for me to concentrate on one table for less than $5/hr when I can sleep through 4 tables at $30/hr. A few grand later, it's even harder to actually try.

I was starting to get ahead of the bonuses and have some "me" time, but then Homer had to go and publish the casinowhores info (you magnificent bastard).

Birthday in August, so I've been holding off getting SSHE, to making it an easy gift option for friends and family (who better have the damn sense to get it for me). Maybe that'll inspire me.

Oh yeah:
3) I'm a prick, a drunk, a bit of a slob, a computer geek, a late sleeper, an obnoxiously self-rightous conservative, and I f'n hate cats.

[Losing all]

1) If I could stick to my budget and really live on the cheap a few months I could move up.

2) I'm way too results oriented. the swings scare me, even though I always have a proper roll, and confidence in my skill.

I need to fix 1 and quit being a pusss about 2.

3) Sh!tload of acid in my youth. I don't drool or poop myself, but the damage is done, and I don't think I could ever be a top notch expert because of it.

[fsuplayer]

[ QUOTE ]
2) I'm way too results oriented. the swings scare me, even though I always have a proper roll, and confidence in my skill.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have the same problem. I try to remember the maxim "You're never as good as your great sessions, and you're never as bad as the bad ones."
I remember it, but I still find myself doubting myself after a rough stretch (ie break even or slightly down for a few days/week on Party).

Anybody else do this?

Oh yeah, I am a wuss about moving up too, but i will break that in vegas this weekend...the big game awaits...well, maybe /images/graemlins/crazy.gif!!!

fsuplayer

[fsuplayer]

oh yeah...i tilt more than i would like to admit

[turnipmonster]

always good to post your faults! here's some of mine:

1) I spend a lot more time thinking and discussing poker than I do actually playing.

2) I am very bad about spending money out of my bankroll and not paying it back, which impedes progress

3) I tend not to pay as much attention to my opponents as I should when playing online.

as a side note, I wish I wasn't so results oriented in limit poker. I feel like it's not as bad to be results oriented in big bet, not sure why (maybe because I have better results lol).

--turnipmonster

[Rushmore]

I tend to always believe the absolute worst about every poker situation, i.e., I always believe that my opponent flopped big or just sucked out on the turn/river, etc.

Mason once pointed this out to me in a post, and, to be honest, I didn't really properly heed his advice.

I'm coming along, but I've still got a ways to go.

Interesting postscript: This malady applies to my holdem game. I have the exact opposite problem in my Omaha game, particularly pot-limit, where I just cannot believe that my top set is no good, especially headsup.

OK, it wasn't that interesting.

[turnipmonster]

I am a little like this too, particularly when playing limit. I just suck it up and bet anyways and am continually amazed when they don't have it

[OrangeHeat]

1. I tilt

2. I play when upset/tired/know better.

3. I call turn checkraises from weak tight players too much.

All 3 are related - do you see why?

Orange