Finding out you're a break even player

[lemonPeel]

Anyone out there like me who deep down believed himself to be a winning player at low-limit tourneys, sitngos and live low limit cash games find out that after 5 months of trying pretty damn hard to find out you just play well enough to keep your money?

Did you feel kind of depressed, or did u find relief that you don't lose any money?

As for me, I really am obsessed about poker. I think about it all day, I dream of it at night, I relive my worst beats and think about all the what if's that a few coin flips in a MTT would of become had I won those. Do I have a problem? I'm really getting to the point where I'm a little scared that my whole life is all about a card game that if I didn't play wouldn't matter because I neither win nor lose at it.

Anyways, what I'm getting at is for someone like me, believing that I was a winning player was a big part of my whole sense of self ever since I set aside a separate bank roll to play only poker, and after 5 months I haven't moved up or down even though I study, think about and play massive amounts of poker.

[mackthefork]

I'm a losing player at MTTs, theys just not my game at all, find your game and work on it, don't feel bad about breaking even either most people lose money at poker.

Regards Mack

[SNOWBALL138]

As long as the stakes aren't significant for you and you aren't neglecting other areas of your life, then breaking even at poker or even losing a little bit isn't necessarily a problem. I think you're a victim of the macho poker culture where your personal self worth is counted in BB/100.

I have a secret for you. You are worth more than your the money you win. If you enjoy the game, great. If you don't, quit.

[mackthefork]

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I think you're a victim of the macho poker culture where your personal self worth is counted in BB/100.


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Especially on here, 9/10 people are lifetime losers at poker, its nothing to be ashamed of breaking even. Also agree enjoying the game is a big step towards becoming a winner.

Mack

[Jailhouse]

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I think about it all day, I dream of it at night, I relive my worst beats and think about all the what if's that a few coin flips in a MTT would of become had I won those.



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I have found "if only" thinking to be self defeating and a waste of time. Perhaps you expend to much mental energy thinking about your beats where you would be much better served using that time to think about how you can improve. When you spend time thinking about the game, that's what you should be thinking about.

-J-house

[Aytumious]

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I think about it all day, I dream of it at night, I relive my worst beats and think about all the what if's that a few coin flips in a MTT would of become had I won those.



[/ QUOTE ]

I have found "if only" thinking to be self defeating and a waste of time. Perhaps you expend to much mental energy thinking about your beats where you would be much better served using that time to think about how you can improve. When you spend time thinking about the game, that's what you should be thinking about.

-J-house

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This is really a key to becoming a winning player. You can let your mind spin for hours with what ifs. Focus on decisions and not results; be decisive not tentative. You really can't win if you cloud your thoughts with what abouts and could have beens.

[DarkForceRising]

How about bagging the tourneys and just focusing on the limit games? The luck factor is just so irritating that I don't even play them for fun anymore (as if spending 4 hours in an MTT only to go out on the bubble or win some paltry amount is fun). Even when I have got deep into the money it did not compensate for my time and previous entry fees.

Give some SnG's a shot if you really love the no limit thing. Otherwise, if you stick with limit ring games, get a rakeback deal and do a lil' bonus whoring I'll bet that you will be much happier with your results in the next five months.

It took me 3 1/2 years to get my act together. Make a plan and stick with it. I doubt that you have a problem- just a passion.

Now, go get 'em, sport! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[lemonPeel]

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How about bagging the tourneys and just focusing on the limit games? The luck factor is just so irritating that I don't even play them for fun anymore (as if spending 4 hours in an MTT only to go out on the bubble or win some paltry amount is fun). Even when I have got deep into the money it did not compensate for my time and previous entry fees.

Give some SnG's a shot if you really love the no limit thing. Otherwise, if you stick with limit ring games, get a rakeback deal and do a lil' bonus whoring I'll bet that you will be much happier with your results in the next five months.

It took me 3 1/2 years to get my act together. Make a plan and stick with it. I doubt that you have a problem- just a passion.

Now, go get 'em, sport! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

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Well, to be honest if it werent for the huge scores I've made in a couple of MTT's, I wouldn't be break even right now as I seem to lose a huge amount in limit games, the small stakes variety. I think its mainly cuz I'm very loose and aggressive and just seem to do much better in a tournament setting.

[Rasputin]

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Well, to be honest if it werent for the huge scores I've made in a couple of MTT's, I wouldn't be break even right now as I seem to lose a huge amount in limit games, the small stakes variety. I think its mainly cuz I'm very loose and aggressive and just seem to do much better in a tournament setting.

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Then bag the low limit holdem or learn how to play it. It's not hard to become a moderately winning player at low limit games. Read Small Stakes Holdem and go from there.

[AceCraig]

If you like the game and it does not affect your life negatively then keep playing. Maybe cut back a little of your play time and do other positive ativities.
If youre playing to win money then maybe you can cut back time playing and try something else to make money. Ex. a part time job.