Why do I have so much trouble moving up?

[ElSapo]

A year ago I played a lot of 3/6. Like a lot of posters here, I won a fair amount of money. And then at some point my expectations got out of wack from reality - I lost a bit, lost a bit more, tilted, and so on. When it was all said and done I had withdrawn the bulk of my bankroll (to protect it from myself) and I began again -- much like what Gamblor was discussing.

Since then, I've done the same thing a few times. Building small amounts of money to moderate amounts, cashing out, and so on.

In the last couple of months I've become determined to move on. I do believe I can beat games higher than 2/4, but lately that's what I stick myself at.

Bankroll is not really the issue - - I am more than bankrolled for 3/6, approaching 5/10. It's the actual money involved, I think.

I just played a 3/6 hand a moment ago. I raised with AKs, got two callers and was bet into on the flop. I raised, and bet the turn. On the river, checked to me, and I wanted to check behind. I wanted to, but I know he'll call with many, many hands I beat. I bet, he called, my hand is good but I find that my hands are sweating.

Playing 2/4 it's automatic.

Why is there this much difference for me? And what can I do to get over it?

I also have weird tilt issues with bankroll levels in general -- say I sit down with $2200 in my bankroll. I win $130, and have $2330. Then I lose $40. For some reason, this irritates me as I've dropped below some sort of weird "mark" of $2,300.

I have some weird money issues and I'm trying to find ways to get over them.

ElSapo

[Sundevils21]

don't keep going back to "cashier" to see what your total is. Just check at the beginning and ends of sessions. Helps me not fret over a couple pots here and there.

[J.R.]

I declare you a 3-6 player. Set the party client so that when you open up the client, all you see are 3-6 hold'em tables. Play poker. The limit is irrelevent becuase this is the only limit there is (for you). Don't think in terms of winning or losing bets, think only in terms of getting in x number of hands each week. Play those number of hands. Keep doing it. Don't look at games in other limits. Don't constantly check the cashier. Meet you hand goals. You are a 3-6 player.

[SirArthur]

I used to continually monitor my BR during a session, and I found that it negatively impacted my play.

Here's an example, I'd think to myself, I'm up just over $200 this session, if I get involved with this speculative hand, and miss my draw I won't have a plus $200 session going.

So anyway, I try not to look at my BR until I'm done with my session, sometimes I can't help myself, but I don't look that often or at all anymore. Since I've overcome my BR obsession, I've noticed that my play, and profits have improved.

[LetsRock]

To me it's absolutely critcal to focus on SB and BB. Forget the dollar amounts.

It's natural to freak out a little when moving up. "$20? on one bet? Are you crazy? I can play for half an hour on $20 at 1/2!"

It's critacal to focus on the betting structure and play your game according to the BB relationship. Count the pot in number of bets rather than dollars. Look at your stack in terms of number of bets rather than dollars. It's easier to do live than on-line because everything is reppresented in dollars.

ALso, there's nothing wrong with sticking to a limit that your'e comfortable at. It's better to make a steady profit, then to risk playing scared at a higher limit.

[Reef]

you think about losing $70 in a day as losing a pair of sneakers and dinner.. don't. Think of it as chips and paying off the downward swings of standard deviation. Anyway, you're playing all on profit aren't you? As long as you keep learning is the main thing.

[GuyOnTilt]

you think about losing $70 in a day as losing a pair of sneakers and dinner.. don't.

I have kind of the opposite problem (okay, not really opposite, but I don't the right word): Whenever I make an impulse buy or spend a little extra than I had planned, I always justify it by thinking of it in terms of my hourly rate. This seriously has turned into a problem I think. I'm pretty good with money management, but I just spend too frivilously a lot of times. I went to go pick up some coasters the other day from BB&B and by the time I hit the cashier, I had spent just over $600. The problem is when she told me my total, it didn't even phaze me. I just thought, "Eh, two extra hours worth of wages spent," and pulled out my money clip. Sure I can afford it, but shit like that adds up after a few months (this has been going on for several now) and I don't think it's a good habit to engrain in my lifestyle anyway. Does anybody else have this problem??? I seriously need to find a way to keep myself from thinking in terms of hourly rate when I go shopping.

I bought a PC and monitor to use for a 10 day period when I would have otherwse been computerless. It ran me about $2k (I just bought a cheapy), but I justified it by saying that it'd more than pay itself off by the work I'd be able to do and then gave it to my sister, who could've used a new one, when I was done. Granted that is much more justifiable, it's just a good example of the mindset I have when I make purchases, and I don't think it's healthy or good for me.

GoT

[turnipmonster]

a while back a longtime professional jazz musician told me that no matter what I did for a job, to always try and live below my means. I think this advice has helped me in a lot of ways.

--turnipmonster

[ElSapo]

Let me get this straight --

Your hourly rate playing poker is to the point where dropping 2K for a computer or $600 in BB&B doesn't phase you? No, I don't think I've had that problem yet, but I can hope...

I'd give a serious response, but it only seems like a problem if you're buying stuff you don't need or want rather than need.

ElSapo

[O Doyle Rules]

Hey El Sapo,

I believe I used to see you alot at the $3/$6 tables and I always regarded you as a very solid player. I too seem to suffer from being able to detach myself from the dollars lost when playing poker. I have comfortably settled in playing $5/$10 and $3/$6 where I have adjusted to the actual dollars that can be lost.

This is where our stories are similar. Twice I have attempted the limits of $10/$20 & $15/$30 only to suffer big downswings. I sometimes think I have really messed up in that I should have cashed my profits at the lower limits instead of dropping that profit playing the higher limits.

However, my longterm goal is to become a winning player at the higher limits and I realize that I must forego some short term profits to be able to realize that goal.

I think you need to determine what exactly your goal is playing poker. If your goal is to cash x amount of profit out of the game each month, then pursue a strategy that will help you to reach that goal. If your goal is to play higher limits, focus on that and "try" to forget about the short term profit. Whatever your goal is to be, make sure it is one that makes you feel content about your poker playing. Hope this helps.