Why haven't I won?

Tyler Durden · #1 05-17-2005, 01:28 PM

Here's your chance to rip me a new one.

Why haven't I won a real tourney? No weekday supers on Party. None of the big Sunday tourneys. My biggest online score is just over $9k. I mean even a player as bad as CSC (just kidding) has won the Stars 350k.

I know it takes a lot of luck down the stretch to win and I've lost a few big flips in my day but I know there's flaws in my game also. So if any of you know what they are I'd love to hear it.

thanks much

nightlyraver · #2 05-17-2005, 01:34 PM

You lost because you suck! Bottom line....

he he, just kidding...

MLG · #3 05-17-2005, 01:41 PM

honestly, you don't think ahead when you play hands. you focus on the decision your confronted with now and not how the different options you have will play out on future streets and create different future decisions. Thats why you always find yourself in such tricky turn and river spots. You need to think ahead more, come up with a consistent coherent plan for a hand when you make your first decision.

Tyler Durden · #4 05-17-2005, 01:45 PM

ok that's what i'm lookin for. thanks much.

GtrHtr · #5 05-17-2005, 02:36 PM

I think I understand your very good point here, but could you provide an example of a recent hand of yours and your thinking process?

MLG · #6 05-17-2005, 02:50 PM

sure, lets say I defend my big blind agains an MP raise with like 108s and the flop comes 8910. Great I have a nice flop for me, but its super tricky. The instinct is to now say I have 2 options, bet or check. Really though I have a lot more. Bet with the intention of calling a raise, bet with the intention of reraising a raise, (maybe even bet with the intention of folding to a raise ewwww). Or you can check with the intention of raising, or check with the intention of calling. Each of those options has more lines to take into account on the turn.

My thinking might go something like this. I'm going to bet out on the flop into the raiser suspecting that there are many hands that I beat which he will either call or raise with (over pairs, overcards with a J, J10) and only a few that are ahead of me (88/99/1010/JQ). If I get called my plan will be to bet any non 4 straight card and to check call the 4 straight, and then check fold the river. If I get raised I will move all-in on the flop.

This is 1 possible line, the best line depends on all sorts of factors at the table. The important thing is thinking about those possibilities when you make your first decision.

jon_1van · #7 05-17-2005, 02:57 PM

This is a very good post.

GtrHtr · #8 05-17-2005, 03:28 PM

Thanks Mike, your answer was exactly what I was looking for - although my original "I think I understand" only covered about half of your thinking process.

Very keen insight and thanks again.

IHateKeithSmart · #9 05-17-2005, 04:01 PM

Nice post mlg. This reminded me of the hand I busted out of the super with last night. Didn't have my head in the game, steal gone bad, and didn't think it through. Next thing you know, I'm out with a bit of a dazed feeling.

I need to work on my concentration and thought process when playing online. I don't have the problem live, since there are less distractions (which probably explains why I tend to finish higher live).

bugstud · #10 05-17-2005, 02:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
honestly, you don't think ahead when you play hands. you focus on the decision your confronted with now and not how the different options you have will play out on future streets and create different future decisions. Thats why you always find yourself in such tricky turn and river spots. You need to think ahead more, come up with a consistent coherent plan for a hand when you make your first decision.

[/ QUOTE ]

this is a perfect description of that a6 hand that was posted earlier. I do this a lot too FWIW.