Tell me what to do with $200....

ElSapo · #1 12-09-2003, 12:13 AM

Six months ago, I started running good.
Four months ago, I started running really good.
Two months ago, I started running flat.
One month ago, I started running bad.

It's not the cards. It's me. Simple.

Some of it is expectation - I think I ran unreasonably good for a while and my expectations got out of wack.

Some of it is playing patterns. About when the flat streak started, I began a new job which allowed me to play at work. I'm certain I wasn't playing my best then, and as a consequence may not have been taking it all as seriously as I should have.

I've tried several things - I started playing one table at a time, I moved around in limits (all for which I was adequately bankrolled for) and tried playing some NL or some tournaments.

In any event, I'm looking to break this trend, and I'm asking for advice. I've basically set aside $200 to start over with. And I'm asking everyone where I should begin.

Quite honestly, I don't want to start at .5/1, so, if you don't mind, let's avoid that suggestion. Yes, I know, bankroll considerations and all that, but I'm not really working with a finite bankroll. I can replenish it, I've played my way through .5/1 and 1/2 and 2/4 and 3/6, beating all of them for a time...

...realistically, I'm looking for a goal, something to keep me focused. I intend to stop playing at work, b/c I think it's counterproductive (to my playing, of course, not to work)...

Advice welcome. Let me have it...

ElSapo · #2 12-09-2003, 12:35 AM

A thougbt I wanted to add.

I think I made a lot of money playing too tight. I chose to draw very little, even when I probably have the odds to do so. I was dumping almost everything short of top pair. I avoided gutshots, even when I may have had the rights odds, and I didn't bother with something like bottom pair, top kicker, even when the pot was offering me good odds.

In recent weeks, I've been playing a bit differently. More suited connectors, more drawing to two pair if I close the action, and am getting good odds, etc. It likely has added some variance to my results.

Just some of the things I consider...

I wonder if I didn't hit some form of that "stage in a poker players life" where, while not every hand seems to have value, more than do seem to...

(if that makes sense)

BottlesOf · #3 12-09-2003, 12:46 AM

It's kind of hard to give meaningfulo advice, not really knowing your financial situation. Why don't you try playing 1/2, and do a OIC type thing at the site of your choice? If you have more money and cringe at the thought, start at 2/4.

ElSapo · #4 12-09-2003, 01:05 AM

That's the weird thing. I mean, I started at .5/1 and worked up to 3/6 and some 5/10... It isn't really about the money, so much. I think I lost focus along the way.

The bankroll I cashed out was enough to play 3/6 consistently. But it was, er, shrinking. I feel like I need to start over, somehow.

BottlesOf · #5 12-09-2003, 01:43 AM

I'd definitely use this time to [re]-read some books. Go over one's you've already read, and read a new one. It's some times nice to get away from the game, study, build some confidence, and then get back at it. Even if you don't radically change your stakes, on some level, you feel like you're starting anew.

Good luck.

slavic · #6 12-09-2003, 02:28 AM

ElSapo -

You have quite a few hands under your belt at this time. Go back and really read through HEPFAP again and the Theory of Poker. I mean really sit down and read them and relate them to hands you have played. It's amazing how things come alive as you work through the concepts. It's like studying math theory, any monkey can learn the process but few understand it.

Here is another thing I like to do, when I'm looking for sporty fun. I will grind a 5/10 game for 4 or 5 hours online, just as tough as I can. Mind in every hand, note taking like a maniac, track the players and eak out every bet I can.

Then as a treat I'll go play a sit and go. $6 or $11 and I get to be the maniac I want to be for 60 to 100 hands.

The suprising thing is I money in most of those tournies.

rayrns · #7 12-09-2003, 09:00 AM

I was having problems at $1/2 at Stars. Not as high as you have been but I decided the problem was me, so I withdrew enough money so that I had to start again at .25/.50. But not to long there. I am back up at .50/$1 and will stay there till I have the money to go back to $1/2. At least at Stars. I WILL NOT put any additional money in this account "if" it can be helped. That way I must play to the best of my ability if I want to continue. I think if losing the money doesn't hurt, then errors can continue or even escalate. If you have been able to handle higher limits, just drop down 1 or 2 and play your way back up.

davidross · #8 12-09-2003, 09:40 AM

Almost exactly one year into playing I tapped out. I ran real bad for a month and lost 12 months worth of winnings. Like you I couldn't stand the thought of starting at micro limits again so I took $600 and started at 2/4 (I also could replenish if needed). But I started with the mindset that this was my last $600. I promised myself I wouldn't go up in limits until I had 250 BB's for the next limit.

THis seemed to refocus me and I played well. I have never had to rebuy again.

You cannot make a bankroll last 5 months without being a winning player. You will find your game again. Play smart and within your capabilities.

Festus22 · #9 12-09-2003, 10:18 AM

Your post really struck a chord with me. I'm going through the exact same situation. I ran $130 to $2500 in a few months at micro levels and now am absolutely stuck for the past month (around 5000 hands). I believe I'm playing as good as I've ever played but just as you said, is it really the cards or is it me?

PM me with any revelations you may have regarding this issue. Maybe we can start a support group or something [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

Al_Capone_Junior · #10 12-09-2003, 10:18 AM