Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/4866/graph9iu.jpg

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Fold preflop.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Dude .35 BB/100 is a monster winrate.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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Dude .35 BB/100 is a monster winrate.

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.38, actually.

bling!

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Well, it's better than losing. Look on the bright side: you'd totally be crushing the game if there was no rake.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Only 182,000 hands? You need to put some more time in. You are just getting started.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Oh wow. A 90k breakeven stretch doesn't sound like much fun. I think at that point you can consider that you're not really a winning player.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

what game?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

I sure hope you enjoy the game.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I think at that point you can consider that you're not really a winning player.

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There are much better players than you who would disagree.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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Oh wow. A 90k breakeven stretch doesn't sound like much fun. I think at that point you can consider that you're not really a winning player.

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Perhaps, but then the 329,000 hands before that were pretty misleading.

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/6627/db34ek.jpg

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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what game?

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3/6 full, primarily

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

It could be worse, you could be just about dead nuts even like I am, actually slightly losing over my last 120K. Maybe in another 60K I can crank out a +700BBs and be happy.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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It could be worse, you could be just about dead nuts even like I am, actually slightly losing over my last 120K. Maybe in another 60K I can crank out a +700BBs and be happy.

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wtf?

Pokerbob, Microbob, you... me.

Seriously, wtf?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

I'm not sure I've played 329k hands lifetime.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

Dude this year has been incredibly chitty. Even live has been ugly. I played a 10/20 at the Taj this past Monday in one of the best games I've seen in a long time, like 5+ to the flop for multiple bets almost every hand for like 6 hours. My VPIP in that game was probably like 7% including blinds. I mean I had NOTHING even close to playable, nothign even suited, not even 3 gappers. I was praying for some MW suited hands to play, any pockets, etc...but just too many 62o, 82o, K4o, Q3o, etc hands. I was drooling with a towel duct taped to my jaw it was that good. But as expect, the big hands got cracked...gonna happen in games that loose, but even monsters were getting cracked...boat lost to runner runner double board pair bigger boat, overpairs to rivered 2 outer sets, dominated hands rivering kickers, big pockets losing to an Aced river, etc. Same type of hands that I've been battling all year, nothing new, not whining, it's just the reality of the entire year. I can't wait for 2005 to just end so I can feel like its over! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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3/6 full, primarily

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I think you should move up. You were playing that game back when I was, over a year ago. You are leaving lots of money behind by not moving up in stakes. Of course, you have probably heard this before so take it for what you will.

My apologies if this is considered content.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

"
wtf?

Pokerbob, Microbob, you... me.

Seriously, wtf? "



I don't believe I should be counted among that group.


I was not playing a +EV game. I suspect that you other guys possibly were (although not necessarily).


As I recall, you play a ton of tables for some lengthy hours.
It's very easy to start missing stuff when you do this (both about your opponents...and about how something might have changed about your game).


I would love 0.38BB/100 instead of my losing stretch...but that kind of win-rate still really sucks (especially over that many hands) and you might not be playing as well as you were previously.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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As I recall, you play a ton of tables for some lengthy hours.
It's very easy to start missing stuff when you do this (both about your opponents...and about how something might have changed about your game).


I would love 0.38BB/100 instead of my losing stretch...but that kind of win-rate still really sucks (especially over that many hands) and you might not be playing as well as you were previously.

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During this stretch I've made numerous attempts to improve my game, not because of the bad run, but because I naturally want to be a better player.

I've gone through many coaching sessions, read many new books, re-read my old books, and focused on reading the strategy forums as opposed to General, Zoo, Aff/RB, OOT etc. I've tried to absorb as much information as I can and apply it to my game.

My wife suggests that I just go back to my weak-tight 1BB/100 strategy that was proven over many many 100s of thousands of hands. Problem is, I forgot how to play like that. It's not that I've turned into a LAG either:

http://img336.imageshack.us/img336/9652/blinds0jd.jpg

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

"strategy forums as opposed to General, Zoo, Aff/RB"


what a great idea. maybe I should do that sometime.


"I've gone through many coaching sessions, read many new books, re-read my old books, and focused on reading the strategy forums"


sounds pretty good to me.
just keep working....or take a break. whichever (or both).


How many tables are you playing though?? Have you tried cutting down a little bit for some of your sessions just to focus on more details?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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How many tables are you playing though?? Have you tried cutting down a little bit for some of your sessions just to focus on more details?

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8, and unfortunately it's very necessary to do so at the moment. I took a very long hiatus after my son was born in August, and unfortunately the bankroll depletion and subsequent sucking have made playing for "extra" very important (hopefully it comes through this month).

Also, quarterly estimated taxes are due on the 17th of January... I may have to ask for an extension (if allowed).

My God life sucks right now.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

How many hands have you played at 3/6?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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How many tables are you playing though?? Have you tried cutting down a little bit for some of your sessions just to focus on more details?

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8, and unfortunately it's very necessary to do so at the moment. I took a very long hiatus after my son was born in August, and unfortunately the bankroll depletion and subsequent sucking have made playing for "extra" very important (hopefully it comes through this month).

Also, quarterly estimated taxes are due on the 17th of January... I may have to ask for an extension (if allowed).

My God life sucks right now.

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You're quite obviously a solid player, things will turn around soon. What was your win rate before?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

If you could lose less in the BB you'd be up a ton. Shorthanded play helps with this.

(.16) should be reasonable to achieve.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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It could be worse, you could be just about dead nuts even like I am, actually slightly losing over my last 120K. Maybe in another 60K I can crank out a +700BBs and be happy.

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wtf?

Pokerbob, Microbob, you... me.

Seriously, wtf?

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i had tolbiny sweat me a few times around when the graph below started. coincidence?

http://img283.imageshack.us/img283/7428/20k5tt.jpg

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

I am realizing that I don't play anywhere near the amount of hands needed to improve to the level I desire. Hey x2ski, how long did it take you to play that many hands?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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How many hands have you played at 3/6?

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500,000+

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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You're quite obviously a solid player, things will turn around soon. What was your win rate before?

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A little over 1BB/100 for 350,000+ hands, so I don't think I'm very solid at all.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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If you could lose less in the BB you'd be up a ton. Shorthanded play helps with this.

(.16) should be reasonable to achieve.

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Yeah, I worked out that if instead of (.28) I was at (.20), I would have roughly an extra $10k in my pocket right now during this hand sample.

I've read Abdul, I've read Pohl, I've read all the 2+2 books, I've read The CardsSpeak blog regarding blind defense, along with various other random 2+2 posts (reading this one as I write this) and Google searches.

Does anyone have suggestions on definite solid reading regarding this stuff? All that I've read so far is certainly useful information, but I'm pretty risk-averse, and can't really envision positive results given the fact that when I currently "defend" I rarely hit the flop at all, not even bottom pair, and when I do I'm getting wicked play-back against me.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, although I'm thinking the post I linked to above has some pretty convincing stuff so far.

Thanks.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I am realizing that I don't play anywhere near the amount of hands needed to improve to the level I desire. Hey x2ski, how long did it take you to play that many hands?

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I average 3,000-6,000 a session (6-12 hrs). I try to get in 50,000+ hands a month, but if I actually applied myself and worked 40 hours a week (hell, 30 hours a week) like a friggin' adult, I'd get in way more.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

You read poker books, and post and discuss poker outside of 2+2- these are parts of being a professional player. Just cause you don't play 40 hours a week doesn't mean you aren't putting in 40 + hours of "work" per week.
I might also try breaking up some of your session. Playing 3-6 hrs straight is going to make it very hard to play your A game the whole time.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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Playing 3-6 hrs straight is going to make it very hard to play your A game the whole time.

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I take a smoke break every 1,000 hands (2 hours or so).

Unfortunately, smoke breaks end on Sunday (hopefully). Maybe I'll start taking short walks or something, lest people in my neighborhood start thinking I'm a perv stalking children every few hours.

Was that the proper use of "lest"?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

You should play 2/4. You'll make a lot more money.

-SmileyEH

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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How many hands have you played at 3/6?

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500,000+

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OMG, don't you get bored?

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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How many hands have you played at 3/6?

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500,000+

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OMG, don't you get bored?

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I don't get anxious to play anymore, if that's what you're asking... But break-even/losing stretches are anything but boring to me.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

I haven't read all the replies but in case nobody mentioned this it's likely you're folding too much postflop.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I've read Abdul, I've read Pohl, I've read all the 2+2 books, I've read The CardsSpeak blog regarding blind defense, along with various other random 2+2 posts (reading this one as I write this) and Google searches.

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Why not play some 3/6 6-max? Experience is the best teacher.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I haven't read all the replies but in case nobody mentioned this it's likely you're folding too much postflop.

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Folding too much or not going to showdown enough?

Regardless, I thin I've got a problem with both.

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I am realizing that I don't play anywhere near the amount of hands needed to improve to the level I desire. Hey x2ski, how long did it take you to play that many hands?

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Improving to the level you desire is not necessarily more likely to happen by playing lengthy sessions of 8-tabling. It's just a way to grind out income (although improvement CAN come...I just don't agree with the implication that it's mandatory).
you do need to play hands...but a half-million isn't necessary to be a better player.
people became good players long before the internet....pre-internet it would be pretty tough to play more than 100k hands in a year.


Playing FEWER tables and studying will improve your game.

Many would argue that playing that many tables for that long would make it extrmely difficult to improve one's game (although some 2+2'ers have seemingly proven that idea to be incorrect)

Re: Man, My Last 182,000 Hands have really Sucked.
 

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I am realizing that I don't play anywhere near the amount of hands needed to improve to the level I desire. Hey x2ski, how long did it take you to play that many hands?

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Improving to the level you desire is not necessarily more likely to happen by playing lengthy sessions of 8-tabling. It's just a way to grind out income (although improvement CAN come...I just don't agree with the implication that it's mandatory).
you do need to play hands...but a half-million isn't necessary to be a better player.
people became good players long before the internet....pre-internet it would be pretty tough to play more than 100k hands in a year.


Playing FEWER tables and studying will improve your game.

Many would argue that playing that many tables for that long would make it extrmely difficult to improve one's game (although some 2+2'ers have seemingly proven that idea to be incorrect)

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I'm single-tabling Poki right now practicing some blind plays.

FWIW I'm tearing ass after 269 hands (.429 sb/h wetf that means).

You might be on to something there Bobber... Obviously you're right, but it's hard to cut down when you begin to rely on a certain earn whilst including "extra".

"whilst" - how'd I do with this one? British people are funny.