2001 Sngs Completed. My Thoughts.

[Myst]

I finally did it. 2 long months have passed by and I have finally catapulted over the 2000 mark. During that time period, I 8 tabled the 22s, 33s, and the 55s, and have small sample sizes for each (notice I say small, Ill reinterate later). My exact stats are below:

Overall
Sngs Played: 2001
Total Profit (With Rakeback): $7639.00
Total Profit (Without Rakeback): $6455.00
ROI: 10.5%
ITM: 36.3%
Hourly Rate (With Rakeback): $35.34
Hourly Rate (Without Rakeback): $30.84

20+2
Sngs Played: 1000
Total Profit (Without Rakeback): $1840.00
ROI: 8.4%
ITM: 35.5%

30+3
Sngs Played: 695
Total Profit (Without Rakeback): $3795.00
ROI: 16.5%
ITM: 37.3%

50+5
Sngs Played: 306
Total Profit (Without Rakeback): $820.00
ROI: 4.9%
ITM: 36.6%

According to my spreadsheet, I perform twice as well at the 33s than at the 22s, yet perform at 33% of the efficiency of my $33 results at the $55 tables. Does that mean my play is best suited for the $33s??? Of course not. All this is due to variance and variance alone. Even after 2000 Sngs, I still dont have a good grasp of what my true ROI and true hourly rate is. My 22 stats should be on par, if not higher, than my stats at the 33s. My sample size of 300 Sngs at the 55s still doesnt tell me, with 100 % certainty that I am a winning player at the level. Even after 2000 Sngs, at most, I have a vague idea of what I am accomplishing through my hours of play.

I post this only because I have yet to see a sample of this size posted on the forums. I dont really care what you guys think of my numbers, whether they are either "good" or "bad". These labels that people often use to describe their own ROI and ITM statistics are truly pointless. You don't really know anything from a such small sample size. Stop focusing on the numbers, and instead start focusing on improving your own play.

After 2000 Sngs, at least I know this... focusing on individual results in particular tournaments, on being unable to control your emotions, on being unable to take the multitude of bad beats, can only be detrimental to your overall game and psyche. A player in this for the long haul understands that variance is a beast that can never be tamed, and the best he can do to have some semblance of control over this game of chance is to make the best possible decision everytime he has to make one. Be emotionless and firm, and the results will come.

Here's hoping for another 2000 tournament run. Whether it'll be more or less succesful than my first 2000, I truly have no control over. Nevertheless, I still hope that I'll be able to move up to 8-tabling the $109s by that time. I cuurrently 8- table the $33s with my 125 buyin bankroll, and plan to move up when I build a 100 buyin bankroll for the $55s.

Best wishes to your tournament runs.

-Myst