Irieguy
10-02-2004, 07:26 PM
I have commented before on the potential dangers of getting too wraped up in your spreadsheet. Nonetheless, I still keep very accurate records almost all of the time and have accumulated over 1000 SNG results at the $33 and $55 levels. So, I "know" what my ITM% and ROI% are and can wield those numbers like a porn-star's phalus when battling other 2+2ers with publicized endowments over the fine points of SNG strategy.
But I'm running badly right now. It got to the point where it was starting to feel like I shouldn't even bother playing a session... I should just enter -55 on my spreadsheet 4 times in a row and then go do something else. I realized I was at a psychologic nadir when I flopped a set of kings with a board of K-6-3 after getting all-in preflop. When the hands were revealed, and I saw my opponent's 7-7; I instantly thought "oh crap, he could make a running straight." He did, and I knew my head was wrong.
I rarely "quit" the game for very long, but starting a new business gave me the distraction I needed to cash out and take a break. Upon my return a week later, I lost 8 SNGs in a row and my ROI finally dropped below 20%. So, I moved down in limits. I dusted off my $33 spreadsheet and gazed lovingly upon my numbers. Then I kept on losing... and losing... and my $33 results were starting to look like my $55 results.
Then my problem became crystal clear: I'm an ITM junky. To make matters worse, it appears that I'm also physically addicted to any ROI >25%. When I can't get some ITM or my ROI drops too low, I get physically sick. I looked through the phone book for a support group, but there aren't any. I reviewed my addiction medicine resources, but couldn't find a medication to combat my withdrawal symptoms...
So I deleted my spreadsheet. That's right, It's gone. I no longer know what my ROI is. My only indication of success or failure is my bankroll, and that is hardly changing since my losing streak has forced me to move down so many times that at my current rate I'll be at the "play money" tables by Wednesday.
But the withdrawal symptoms are waning. I slept last night. I might play some poker later today... just for fun.
My name is Irieguy, and I'm an ITM addict.
PS- I didn't delete my $55 spreadsheet, that would be ridiculous. I need to know when it's time to move up to the $100's once I snap out of this streak, right?
But I'm running badly right now. It got to the point where it was starting to feel like I shouldn't even bother playing a session... I should just enter -55 on my spreadsheet 4 times in a row and then go do something else. I realized I was at a psychologic nadir when I flopped a set of kings with a board of K-6-3 after getting all-in preflop. When the hands were revealed, and I saw my opponent's 7-7; I instantly thought "oh crap, he could make a running straight." He did, and I knew my head was wrong.
I rarely "quit" the game for very long, but starting a new business gave me the distraction I needed to cash out and take a break. Upon my return a week later, I lost 8 SNGs in a row and my ROI finally dropped below 20%. So, I moved down in limits. I dusted off my $33 spreadsheet and gazed lovingly upon my numbers. Then I kept on losing... and losing... and my $33 results were starting to look like my $55 results.
Then my problem became crystal clear: I'm an ITM junky. To make matters worse, it appears that I'm also physically addicted to any ROI >25%. When I can't get some ITM or my ROI drops too low, I get physically sick. I looked through the phone book for a support group, but there aren't any. I reviewed my addiction medicine resources, but couldn't find a medication to combat my withdrawal symptoms...
So I deleted my spreadsheet. That's right, It's gone. I no longer know what my ROI is. My only indication of success or failure is my bankroll, and that is hardly changing since my losing streak has forced me to move down so many times that at my current rate I'll be at the "play money" tables by Wednesday.
But the withdrawal symptoms are waning. I slept last night. I might play some poker later today... just for fun.
My name is Irieguy, and I'm an ITM addict.
PS- I didn't delete my $55 spreadsheet, that would be ridiculous. I need to know when it's time to move up to the $100's once I snap out of this streak, right?