I just did something really dumb
 

I looked at the games that were available to play. Found a 200:400 game with two other players in it (both better than me), calculated out the EV for the game (-$400/hr) and than sat down to play. I lost 6 grand in 45 minutes and left. It's a curious thing there are really only 3 things that affect our poker results. Our ability, level of education, and doing what we know to be right.

Our potential ability cant be changed and so that leaves us with education (the combination of study and experiance), and doing what we know to be right.

I suppose the best ring player in the world probably has a win rate of around $400/hr. I also suppose I will never break $50. I wonder how much I will fall short because of what I dont know, and how much I do that I should not.

I cant figure it out precisly of course but I think with the two plus two gang plus Cooke, Caro, Reese, and Brunson if I am honest with myself it almost has to be because I do things I should not. Anyway I am curious about what you folks feel is the lesser of those two evils.

Ps. I find when I do a lot of dumb things if I take some time off and read Anxiety and the executive by Schoonmaker it helps.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

'doing' the right thing has consequences *good or bad*.

'knowing' what that thing is, makes no difference in the world.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

The answer to your poll is contextual.

If you have more knowledge than your opps, application
is the primary key.

If knowledge is about the same, then both apply. More
towards knowledge for a novice, more towards application
for an expert.

If you knowledge is worse, then there is a limit to
how helpful the application is. Again, specific circumstance
will modify this.

Everything above to a matter of degree, of course.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

The answer is that your long term losses come from lack of information. How can anyone here answer otherwise? I know I'm not the only one who has read Sklansky's fundamental theorum of poker...

This question is like asking "do people like to lose money on purpose?".

I should clarify something. Even though you calculated your expectation in the 200/400 game to be negative, did you actually expect to have negative results. If you didn't, then your understanding of expectation in that instance was impaired.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

It's a silly poll because not having enough information is by definition what hampers your winrate provided that you evaluate odds rationally. Not applying information you already have hurts your winrate much less than being prevented from making perfect decisions 100% of the time.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

Warren,

We ALL do dumb things, but you are one of the rare few who admits it openly.

Al

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

Most definitely is not applying the knowledge we have.


Just busted out of a tournament when i decided the guy had AK.

Flop comes A86.

And then i decide to put it all in w/ JJ anyway.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

I forgot to add that I believe that the most common problems in poker occur because we don't apply the information we have. For example, virtually everyone knows better than to play too many hands and to go too far with them, but what are the two most common errors?

Regards,

Al

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

Indeed I have come to realize that that phychology (controling my own that is) counts for alot more than I had origionally thought. I cant agree in my case however that it is the two variables playing too many hands and going to far with them. When I look at the statistics it is always the same problem, playing against opponants who are smarter than I am. Which is much worse.

Re: I just did something really dumb
 

[ QUOTE ]
Indeed I have come to realize that that phychology (controling my own that is) counts for alot more than I had origionally thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a profoundly valuable insight. Some one else on the thread said:

This question is like asking "do people like to lose money on purpose?".

The answer of course is: yes. Players are people, and people are moved and motivated by unseen, murky unconscious/subconscious motivations.

Getting to the bottom of these motivations is what makes you a whole person. And derivatively, a great player.