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

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Here's what I did. I went through a really sharp period at Party 3/6 where my win rate was solid and I was taking money out regularly. Had a bit of a crisis and needed extra cash for X-mas presents, so I made a big withdrawal and subsequently hit a really bad streak so my online bankroll got pretty crippled. I took some time to identify what game types gave me the biggest advantage and made a commitment to only play those games as a means to build up my bankroll.

I now play primarilty 2-table NLHE SNG's at 'Stars ($10 or $20). This is where my best risk/return space exists. If I'm above my target win rate for the week, I'll play in one satellite for the $200 + 15 NLHE. If not, I continue with my SNG's. (props here to Copernicus, whose posts on the Tournament board on solid SNG play have helped me greatly)

For variety (and my biggest enemy has always been a yen for too much variety - ask my ex wives [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]), I also play Stud/8, no higher than 1/2. At these levels, tight aware play is serving me quite well.

I am specifically avoiding hold'em ring games until my bankroll is at least equal to the level it was before my last big cashout.


I estimate that my poker time will be broken down to 80% SNG, 20% stud/8 cash for the next 3 months or so.

The point is, honestly assess where you have the biggest edge and don't let ego get in your way. I'd been fighting may way through the swings at HE ring games for too long. I decided it was time to pick a specialty and stick to it.

[Gomez22]

I know you don't want to start at .50/1.00 again, El Sapo, but have you ever thought about doing your own OIC thing? I started doing that myself and find that I tend to play much better because it gives me good short-term goals, which I really enjoy, considering hold em is a long-term game.

[harboral]

Be honest with yourself, and the rest of us 2+2'ers...... you want advise, but don't want to drop back in limits. WELL - almost every post said drop back, get refocused and start over. There is no easy fix. If you can't stand the 50 cent game, make yourself play that limit and win at least 100 units before you move - hey, three tables that's only about 10 hours, then do the same with the next limit.

[ElSapo]

you want advise, but don't want to drop back in limits.

Yes, but dropping back from 3/6 and 5/10 to .5/1 may be a tad on the excessive side.

[Your Mom]

I was running really badly for a while as well. Finally decided to buckle down and play my best poker- no more paying off like a slot machine. Anyway, I started 2 5/10 SH games at Party last night. A buddy came over and was clicking the buttons while me and my girl ate dinner. We won about every damn hand we played and were going nuts- hifiving, mouthing the opponents (not on chat, just out loud to ourselves), just acting like complete asses. Played 1.5 hours and booked a 700 buck win -one of my biggest days ever. Poker was fun again. I think you just need to have some fun with poker and you will play better. Find what makes it fun again. It will lead to prosperity.

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]
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...

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, if you don't want to drop back down to .5/1 then at least set yourself up with a reasonable bankroll so you won't start playing scared with your "experiment" money. Even if the bankroll is replenishable it will be quite depressing if you do go bust. Start with $400 and play 1/2. If you can't beat the 1/2 tables because of some leaks you won't beat the better tables.




[ QUOTE ]
...realistically, I'm looking for a goal, something to keep me focused.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you thought of doing some bonuswhoring? You'll have the clearly indentified goal of playing x amount of hands to earn x amount of bonus. The nice part is that since you you only have to break even at the tables to make money, you may begin to play in the more natural, tighter, ABC style that likely helped to generate your previous profits, without going for the fancy plays that increase your variance. This may just be what the doctor ordered. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[Bob T.]

I think you need to figure out why it is that you are playing, and what made the game enjoyable. Then you can redirect your efforts, in a way that you find rewarding.

I think that you might have found some things that seemed to work, and then tried to apply them mechanically to a lot of situations. Then the game got boring, you didn't play well, and you ran poorly.

I might suggest that you try and play one table at a time, and just to play the hell out of that table. It doesn't matter what limit. Figure out what mistakes everyone at the table is making, and figure out how to play to take advantage of those mistakes. Then do it.

Use the knowledge that you have acquired in playing holdem, and go and play other games. Stud, Omaha, and their hilo variations. Play triple draw low on UB. You will learn something new, and that might be fun. You will probably learn something that will make you a better holdem player also.

Do something like the OIC, and start at whatever level you need to, and then work your way up. Maybe you will get to try some new limits.

Or just take a week/month/year off, and go do something else.

[Brian]

I agree 100% with Bob T., especially the part about taking some time off. I think the game may have become a grind for you, and that's not fun for anyone. And it especially sounds like a grind if you don't want to drop way back down in limits. It happens to the best, and I've certainly had to do it a few times.

-Brian

[lostinthought]

It sounds like your playing holdem primarily..
Have you considered working on another game like 7stud, or PLo8?

[Nottom]

Sit n Go's are also a nice change of pace from the normal ring game grind.