Must-move to the main game...

The casino I play in has a 20-40 game that goes 24-hours everyday, and usually there is at least one and sometimes up to 3 must move tables to feed it. For some reason, I find that as I'm moving through the must-move tables I can build my stack and feel good about my game. Then I go to the main game and the wheels fall off. The game tends to be pretty wild and I get all caught up in it an the next thing I know instead of going home up two racks I'm a one rack loser. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this "phenomenon".


On the drive home last night I was wondering why this happens. I came up with several Puppy-related reasons: fatigue, starting to feel TOO good about my game and trying to out-play everyone, etc. But I also considered some non-Puppy factors. For example, other people in the main game have been playing for several hours as well (at least 3 yesterday had been there 12+ hours). People who have played that long tend to be either stuck or way up. Those who are stuck are trying to get it back and playing a crazy range of hands. Those who are way up may be "playing their rushes" and play a crazy range of hands. As a must-mover, I'm the only one at the table who hasn't had time to figure everyone else out yet.


Clearly, it's my problem and I have to fix it within my own game, but I would be interested to hear if anyone else sees this main-game factor at work and has some suggestions?

I've had the same problem at times and I attribute it the fact that the people at the main game are, on average, stronger players. They've played for hours without going broke, and that's usually not an accident. I've found that a lot of the good and profitable action in the casinos where I play comes from loose, passive, and much less experienced players. You do not find as many of them at the main game, for obvious reasons. And any inexperienced and too loose players you do find there are either catching all their cards, or carrying a huge bankroll -- either way those guys can kill you in the short run.

"The casino I play in has a 20-40 game that goes 24-hours everyday, and usually there is at least one and sometimes up to 3 must move tables to feed it."


My playing situation is identical except that on average the main game is the toughest game. I sometimes "recycle" when called to the main game (sign up again with a one-hour delay before allowed to play $20-40 again).


Of your proposed reasons for not doing well in the main game, I think this is the weakest:


"People who have played that long tend to be either stuck or way up. Those who are stuck are trying to get it back and playing a crazy range of hands. Those who are way up may be "playing their rushes" and play a crazy range of hands. As a must-mover, I'm the only one at the table who hasn't had time to figure everyone else out yet."


First, you've had plenty of time to have an eye on the main game to get a pre-feel for who is gambling and who is not, especially if you play at the same place frequently and already know the cast. Second, even coming in cold, it shouldn't take too long to figure out who is solid and who isn't. Third, if you've got winners and losers playing "crazy ranges of hands," that's typically cited as a reason for winning, not for losing.


"I came up with several Puppy-related reasons: fatigue, starting to feel TOO good about my game and trying to out-play everyone, etc."


That's probably it. If you routinely start your day by playing a snug, alert game, you might try using the forced move as a time to reset, putting your +/- standing for the day out of your mind, as if you hadn't played for a month. Works for me.


Tommy