Problem dealing with short term losses.

[Wyrm2]

Hey all, I'm looking for suggestions on how to address this minor, but annoying problem. I'm a decent microlimits player (about 2.7BB/hr over 10,000 hands) who for the moment is pretty happy playing there.

My problem is that I get frustrated early in my seesions when I get down a few BB. I don't tilt in the classic sense that I start playing like a maniac or playing any two cards, but really marginal hands start looking better and better (stuff like Q-To UTG etc... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ). In addition, I find myself chasing a lot more with stuff I should be folding with. Again, I'm not chasing with 9-4 on a A-K-Q board or anything, but I am playing some -EV situations.

I realize that we are supposed to treat each session as part of a long session, and that I am winning overall, but I always start to feel stuck after dropping a few hands early. I realize that eventually I'm going to have to just get tougher about it and cope, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts, suggestions, ploys, techniques, etc... to help cope with this sort of thing.

Thanks

[OrangeHeat]

Try this:

Set a piece of paper next to your puter or have a spreadsheet available. Make three columns on the paper:

1. Good decision
2. Bad Decision
3. Some Good/Some Bad/Dunno

After every hand add a tick to one column, number 1 if you feel confident you played well, number 2 if your kicking yourself, and number 3 if you played it so-so.

Also request the HH for the so-so's.

Now as your playing ignore your $$ bankroll and watch your decision bankroll. The decision bankroll is what counts - those are the results you need to be watching and analyzing not your $$ at any point in time.

Works for me when I am running bad and am being results oriented. Probably a good idea for anytime though.

Try it out and let me know if it works for you too.

Orange

[1800GAMBLER]

I've just started back after a long break and struggling the same.

I'm going to employ a 'poker bouncer' and 'poker psychologist' the poker bouncer knows how to play and when i make a wrong decision he's going to hit me and the psychologist will ring a bell. Eventually i'll fear the noise of the bell. Then i'm going to just leave the bell on the table so when i drop my head in shame i hit the bell and the fear runs through me.

[pretender2k]

I have started sessions that cost me 10% of my small bankroll. I do one of two things:

1. Quit immediately because I realize I am not in a mood for some reason to see the long run.

2. Imitate the tightest players I know. This will not be perfect but it will tighten you up and stop the maniac thing.

I have found with experience I either follow number 1 or play on because I can see the long run because I can now sit at a table loosing 25% of my bankroll and still see that I am playing better than 70 or 80% of the players there.

I have lost half my bankroll in a week and got it back over the next month. Maybe this perspective has helped. Give it time. Learn from casinos. The only difference between a casino offering their games and us is that when we sit down at a poker table we choose to have the advantage. We may loose in the short run like a casino but in the long run we always win.

[Al Schoonmaker]

If you are averaging 2.7 BB/hour over that long a period of time, you are doing EXTRAORDINARILY well. Granted, at micro-limits the players are easy, but the rake is enormous. Hardly anyone is averaging 2.7 BB/hour in ANY game. I certainly don't come close to that figure.
I think it's desirable that you want to do something about this leak in your game, but it must be a rather small one.
In other words, don't beat yourself up too much about it.
Regards,
Al

[Wyrm2]

Thanks for all the comments... I know it's not a big leak, but I feel like I should have control over it before I move up, largely because I was very loose when I started playing. I consider it a lack of discipline more then anything.

[Al Schoonmaker]

Almost everyone was very loose when they first started playing. Don't beat yourself up over it.
The critical questions are:
1. How well do you play now?
2. Are you continuing to improve?
Regards,
Al