Wow, I am terrible

[Griovejas]

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I seem to be having a problem moving up a limit, and I shouldn't be. This is very nano/micro stuff, but it is killing me.

I started my bankroll at $25 on Pokerstars. I have built that up to $120 playing .05/.1 over the course of a few months. I only recently got Poker Tracker, so I only have about 3k hands in there right now. I am at 16bb/100 winrate, which I know is insanely not possible long run. Overall though, I feel I have a good handle on .05/.1 and can beat the limit solidly.

As soon as I move up to .25/.50, I lose it. I become either over aggressive trying to win pots or I become passive, afraid of putting too much money in and losing it, which is poker suicide. I end up calling down when I KNOW I am beat, but I call down anyway. This isn't ALL the time, but I do it enough that I lose money.

I am not playing with money I can't afford to lose, the money is actually inconsequential right now. I eventually would like to build up to play on Party Poker at the .5/1 level and make a few bucks there. But how am I ever gonna be able to handle that when I freak out at .25/.50?

I just don't understand it. Something is wrong with me =P

[/ QUOTE ]

It's normal. I tried and failed 3 times to move from 5/10 ct to 25/50 ct on Stars. It's a huge relative move, so nothing surprising if it's not always successful. Sooner or later you'll crack it.

[POKhER]

.05/1 is very different to .25/.50.

i've moved up through the ranks started at .02/.04 and currently sit on top of around $275 and play .25/50

My main problems were(See if you can relate):
"I wanted the pot, it was huge! Maybe if i get lucky i can win it *Call call call*"

"Ah man, Ive lost lots ill just call now i think ill win... *Wins* ahh shoot i could of made more money there".



Anyhow, .25/.50 are alot tighter, You very rarely have the odds to call your gutshots(Atleast on my site), Reads are more vital and you MUST concentrate.

We can't really help you as your PT stats are to low(3k hands is not enough). Its your attitude that YOU must change, i recently moved up to .50/1 god i lost 60BB downswing(To bad beats) and now must move down to 25/.50.

Also your not even at 300BB so i recommend moving up at around 320bb so you have a "downswing barrier" where you have money you dont mind losing before you hit your 300BB.

I find this helps alot, as i dont play scared and can play like i played .05/10 which i crushed.

Good luck,
PH

[Nilbud]

I know exactly how you feel. I started at .02/.04 on PS and I've now been playing .25/.50 for about a month. It's a lot bigger jump in money than you think, and even if you aren't worried about the money, there is always ego to consider. I was killing .05/.10 for 7.5 BB/100 and I assumed I'd carry on right were I left off when I moved to .25/.50. Well, I can tell you that didn't happen!

For me it was a combination of fear + bad card + bad play with bad cards.

I have found that, when you have a good hand, you have to play it well after the flop to make money on it. You can't just fire away expecting everyone to come along for the ride. Also, I learned about betting and raising when you have a pot equity edge on the flop. That is one way to win some really big pots. There are also fewer players that will bluff with absolutely nothing like they do at .05/.10. That doesn't mean they don't bluff in certain situations, but you actually have to pay attention and use reads a bit more.

After about 6k hands of mostly breakeven, I'm now starting to feel comfortable and I've crept up to 2 BB/100. I know you say that the money doesn't bother you, but assuming you play poker to win, the possibility of losing your bankroll at a new limit instills its own brand of fear that can make you weak-tight. Give it some time, and study the postflop section of SSHE.

[Nilbud]

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I sort of see .5/1 as the end of "solid pre-flop is all you need to win" and 1/2 is where you start to learn how to manage the flop and remaining streets.

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Have you played .25/.50 at PokerStars? I would argue that you'll only break even, or show a very small profit if you play the "solid pre-flop is all you need to win" game. That's exactly what I was doing, and only when I starting studying postflop did I begin to show a profit.

In any case, I don't think any of us are playing just to stay afloat, and if you can make money postflop...