That's the way it goes

[M2d]

I've been in a starting hand funk lately that I haven't been able to shake. I'l playing less than 10% of my hands, blind included for the past six hours (four sessions). This isn't some overly detailed record keeping on my part. just an observation that, in the ram/jam game I'm playing, most pots are raised, and I end up playing less than once per loop on a ten handed table.
Anyway, this bad stretch has resulted in my winning only 5 hand in these past six hours. To make matters worse, two of these hands were of the raise preflop, everyone fold variety, and a third was bet and take it down on the turn with six small bets in.
None of this matters big time to me, since I accept the fact that bad runs happen. It would have been bad if I was getting starters to play and ending up with the same result, I guess.
given that my table image in this game is squeeky squeeky tight, what would a good preflop strategy be? raise and all fold preflop is definately not the norm in this game and only happened the two times that I accomplished the feat (yay me!!).
As an example, I open raised with AA second to act, and all folded. I raised the next hand with AK off, and people were phoning the casino to call my bet. of course the flop missed completely and I mucked on the flop.
I'm sure that people tended to shy away from the first raise since I was being so tight to that point. I also think that much of the action I got on the second was due to disbelief that I could catch a raising hand twice in a row.
Is there anything I can do to get more callers to my good hands, short of loosening up and playing bad hands more (facetious alert, no need to respond)? Hell, I probably would have lost the AA hand if it played out, so I don't mind the blinds so much.

[brad]

'for the past six hours (four sessions). '

come on youre cluttering up the forum.

[M2d]

Not sure what you mean. My question isn't valid? I only point this out to show that I've been running badly for a few days, and that the players have reacted to it (in my opinion). what is a length of time for me to run badly that makes my inquiry a valid one? name a number and I'll re-post this when my streak gets that high.

[brad]

i dont think anybody reacted to it i think it was just bad luck nobody had a hand when you had AA.

but i mean if you win like a pot every hour for 6 hours, then i dont think you can say youre running bad.

but it could definitely be an indication that for some reason the game has gotten tougher. in that case position becomes more critical.

[Jeffage]

6 Hours is nothing. Come back when you run bad for like 2 or so weeks of regular play (everday). For me 6 hrs isn't even one session, I often play 8 hrs at a clip and believe me you can run bad for much longer than you have (like, weeks or longer). Rather than worrying about this, your best bet is to remember major confrontations u get into and post them on the appropriate forum if u are unsure you played them correctly.

Jeff

[M2d]

Ok, how about running poorly since april. Howabout averaging a pot every 50 minutes or so since then in about 300 hours?
I don't think it can wholly be explained by playing badly, since I've won money for three years straight (700 hours a year for 3/4 bet/hour in a pretty tough 15/30 game).
The six hours I wrote about were the last six I played since I came back from a break (took time off from playing to concentrate on school and fishing). I started playing in another game (6-12 in another room) where they know me by face, but not well enough to categorize my game. The past two weeks, I've played only in this new game with mostly the same people, so they've had a chance to see and react to the way I've been playing lately.
I posted here because I thought it was interesting that a normally superloose, super aggressive game suddenly shut down when the new player/super tightass raised all of a sudden. I was wondering if my play had affected the table's thinking all of a sudden. Sorry if a post about the thought process of my opponents doesn't belong in the psychology forum. Please tell me which it would be more appropriate in.

[M2d]

The game definately hasn't gotten tougher. I was just surprised that a field that will, almost to a man, call any number of raises with any two suited suddenly couldn't find anything to play.
As I stated in a post below, this pot an hour thing has been happening for far longer than six hours. I only used that because it was the last six I played in this game and since I've started playing again. Also, it's in this new game that I started playing in, so the thought processes of these players wouldn't apply to my play in hours before that.

We all have been there. Don't feel bad my one 13 hour session(yes thats 13 hours of nothing but poker)I had, I only won 3 pots in 13hours. Boy did I get hammered. It just hurts to think about it. /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

Anyways, hang in there like someone else said streaks will come of multiple sessions were you just flat fall on your face or you can't even muscle your chips towards the pot for serveral hours at a time.


Its hard for everyone we just have to get through it. If we can do that then we will be in alright in the long-run.


Tbolt76

Like they all say, you're using such a small sample space with no empirical data to back anything up. Regardless, there was a point early in my career where I felt like I never one a pot. I used to come away from the casino after fourteen losing sessions in a row and ask myself, "can't I even just get lucky and win"? But I couldn't. Looks like your image may be a little tight. There's things you can do to change this without even playing more hands, but when you do play a hand make sure they know it. If you have crap in the BB and flop bottom two pair and win a fatty pot let them know it. Then they'll call your aces. The thing NOT to do is fold JQ off UTG when you're fresh and just starting and limp with it later in the night after getting beat up without the structure of the game changing at all. No cold-calling UTG raises with KQoff in middle position. Take a look at the Mid, High-Stakes forum, they'll teach you how to be a better player, because in the end that's what it really comes down to.

See if u can swallow this one. I've been a winning player for many many yearsand ran into this. Three sessions in a row I never one a pot, NOT ONE. U probably dont believe this, but its the God awful truth. So what you are complaining about is just whining.We've all been thru it and take it in stride. Do the same

[M2d]

I wasn't complaining. My original query was regarding the mindset of the other players. The details of the bad streak were mentioned to fill you in on the possible ways the table viewed me.

[bernie]

i think what he's saying is, he doesnt consider 6 hours over 4 sessions to be a real streak. and neither do i...since i used to play about 6+ hours per session.

this doesnt translate into a weeklong streak for you. sorry. it's just not. i used to play 20-30 hours a week, and when you hit a 2 week run of bad cards, you really feel it. so you can figure youre streak could go for a couple months at your rate...

however, you may need to adjust a little in this game. though it may be costly. so if its a ram and jam game, to adjust for cheaper, limpin with your better hands. the only other way is to raise with lesser holdings. which can work great in a little tamer game, but i wouldnt necesarily do it on a cap happy table. th cost is too high...

this may affect hands later on when you limp. they may not raise, but just limp behind you. then, if it starts getting calmer, switch to raising with lesser hands. see how you could actually control the table a little?

just pick your spots....and be aware of the texture of the table, AND the texture change when you enter the pot...

b

[bernie]

much better information in this post about your play

"Howabout averaging a pot every 50 minutes or so since then in about 300 hours? "

this line, along with your your description of how players are adjusting to you tells me that they know how you play. im guessing your playing too tight overall. not meaning in a cap happy game, but even in the typical games. you have the 'nut' player tag, and even the fish know when you enter the pot. i doesnt really sound like you alter your play much. whether preflop or post flop
ive been in this situation and learned more ways to play the hands, and loosened up my game some.

this may or may not be the case, but it's worth looking into. it's one thing to have them grimace when you sit at their table, but another when theyre not giving you any action. find the balance....

b

[mike l.]

"I also think that much of the action I got on the second was due to disbelief that I could catch a raising hand twice in a row."

my recommendation then would be to always raise the hand *before* you pick up aces.

[bomblade]

The first time I moved up to 10-20, I went 4 straight hours folding. I played a blind or two, but didn't play a single hand outside of the blinds. I've had sessions where I'll go 2 hours without playing a hand, including the blinds sometimes.
What I do now, is play a questionable hand now and then. If you fold for 2 hours straight, and get KQs, and raise, you won't get the action you want. (not always) So, if I've folded for one whole round, and have folded my late position hands, and see K8s in MP, I'll play it. I don't want the image of being squeeky tight. IMO