I NEED A MENTOR.

MrTeddyKGB · #1 08-12-2005, 10:43 AM

I need help getting to the next level, I may have gone as far as I can by myself. I have read every book on poker, the 2+2 books probably 100 times. I read the post here every single day, (probably the most important). I played B&M for two years part time with some sucess. I Jan. I switched to Internet and have played over 500k hands and have made 6 figures this year. I mostly play 10/20 six max and the short 20/40 and 30/60 games on party. My win rate has not been that impresive (around 1.5 bb/hund. 4 tableing). Most of my success can be attributed to my opp. weak play and my stamina. I play around 2k hands per day, never tilt, or feel the least bit badly about a downswing. I also never beat myself up about mistakes, I am all I got. For a long time I felt like I was getting better everyday but now my game is starting to get stale, like I am playing on auto-pilot.
How does a very experienced, hardworking, dedicated mid-limit player become elite. I played chess before I played poker. There is no shortage of top flight chess books written by players you know are world class. There are no shortage of masters to guide you along. In poker this is not the case. Most of the non-2+2 books are fluff IMO. I got Howard Lederer's DVD after visiting his website and reading his hand analisys. His DVD was made for new players. I would never buy a chess book that told me how the peices moved. Why would I buy a poker book that told me the rules. How many times can I read HPFAP, TOP and SSH. Is this forum the only place where deep poker thinking is going on. How did guys like Phil Ivey and Ted Forrest get so good. I doubt they are math genuises. I spoke to Scotty Nygen (sp) one tourniey, he is not.
I doubt anyone on here plays as much or thinks about poker as much as I do. I am really motivated to be a top player and have almost unlimited time to devote to it. I need help to use my time efficently. If any one who has been there and has a strong math background (Ed Miller) wants to take me under there wing for a piece of my action I would be open or pay an hourly fee to ask specific questions to someone with a strong background in game theory. If I can't find a coach what else can I do. Any advice anyone. I heard Phil Helmmoth is comming out with a new book..

phish · #2 08-12-2005, 11:01 AM

How you described yourself sounds very solid. Never tilt, never bothered by downswings. Very impressive. Wish I could say the same thing.
If you want to move up, you'll probably have to sacrifice some profit in the short run. I'd start off playing 50/100 or 100/200 but only one table at a time. You won't learn much if you're four-tabling. Review your hands afterwards. You will learn and find many nuances you haven't noticed before. And this will make you a better 30/60 or 20/40 player later also.

MrTeddyKGB · #3 08-12-2005, 11:26 AM

Thanks for the advice. But I don't want to moveup, I do not think I am ready. I want to learn more, there has to be another way besides trail and error. I never met a chess master that was not tought by another master. I want to play the biggest games one day, I am not sure I am on that path. Its not so much about money as it is about the challenge. I wanted to be a chess grandmaster but got tired of being poor. I just need help using my time better, what should I be studying, how do I approach this situation. My goal is to be a world class LHE player I need a stronger analytical base. Sometimes I will think I am the best then Scnides or TSP will post some anayisis and I will be like I suck...

seabass74 · #4 08-12-2005, 11:32 AM

Get a coach, I've e-mailed Barry Tannenbaum regarding this and his advice seems strong. I'm also impressed by Tommy Angelo although I'm not sure if either of these guys play in bigger games than you.

You do seem very solid imo and probably ready to move up.

deacsoft · #5 08-12-2005, 06:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Barry Tannenbaum

[/ QUOTE ]

MrTeddyKGB · #6 08-12-2005, 06:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Barry Tannenbaum

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you know anyone that has used him. I read his article in card player. Some of his advice seems weak-tight.

PokerBabe(aka) · #7 08-13-2005, 09:44 AM

Both Barry Tanenbaum and Tommy play higher than 30-60, but not routinely. Barry and Tommy have different approaches to coaching, but I am sure either one of them can improve your game. FWIW, Barry is my coach.

LGPG

Babe. [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

phish · #8 08-12-2005, 11:33 AM

Moving up will teach you more. The players at the higher limits are better, sometimes much better. It will be like you eyes will be opened to a whole new dimension of the game.
Frankly, you cannot get better unless you play with better opponents. And that means moving up.

MrTeddyKGB · #9 08-12-2005, 01:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Moving up will teach you more. The players at the higher limits are better, sometimes much better. It will be like you eyes will be opened to a whole new dimension of the game.
Frankly, you cannot get better unless you play with better opponents. And that means moving up.

[/ QUOTE ]

I play the 30-60 and 80-160 at bellagio sometimes and always feel like I am beating the game. At least I see my opponents making what I feel are mistakes. I doubt this will teach me how to use game theory to call bluffs or how to give value to backdoor outs ect... This kind of stuff that I learned from the 2+2 books I doubt I could have ever figured out on my own. I am sure there is a lot more I am missing. How do I know if I am bluffing enough or to often. I know how to identifiy mistakes and exploit them, I just want to make myself unexploitable. I doubt just my judgement is enough against top flight players. There is no "New In Chess" for poker to keep up with the latest theory. If I am going to spend this much time on poker I need a good teacher. If not then I will just 8 table 15-30 on auto pilot and go back to chess or something I guess.

capone0 · #10 08-12-2005, 12:03 PM

I think most big time players grinded there way up or took a leap due to a tourney win. Big time players did have mentors, but the only way to get better atleast online is to play against them, how else would you expect to get much better?

Most top flight pros give away basic secrets but they don't give away all their secrets atleast in their books. Obviously you've had tremendous success this year, and 1.5 BB/100, 4 tabling aint shabby. I say give higher limits a try and then analyze what your doing wrong and what the better players are doing correctly.

Obviously you have the roll to give it a try. I think a lot of the big players on 2+2, gave higher limits a try and have gotten better. I know from reading Bicyclekick's posts, playing higher limits has made the lower limits pretty basic, maybe something similar can work for yourself.