Lost a lot playing higher limits online, can someone help me

[thwang99]

Hi all,

I've played a little 10/20 in the past, but lately due to the games on Party, I've tried to dabble in some 10/20 and 15/30 games. Doing ok, won about $900 the first session, then the next session at high limits I won $500, then a few days ago I have a losing session of $1100 (this was playing 3-6 up to 15/30, but mostly at 5/10). I believe most was due to bad luck, but some was due to bad play, I'm sure.

One person at the 15/30 table was VERY aggressive but also very lucky, and kept beating me (I would have probably $800 more if he wasn't so lucky and I won those pots). But I stayed even though I was losing, due to him.

Now, the most I normally play is from 1/2 up to 5/10. I've been averaging about $30-$40/hour (playing 3 tables, playing whatever table is good). Now I should just be satisfied with this win rate, but I want to take a crack at winning $60/hour by playing 10/20 and 15/30.

The games (10-20 and 15-30) sometimes have 9BB average pots, in those games I'm sure I can win, but I only have $1400 on deposit at party currently (not my BR, I can always add more). I feel it's my "poker" BR though.

Anyways, hope I'm coherent, it's almost 3am now. Any advice based on what I've said so far? I'll be posting some hands later. (I have a similar post in the low limits about a horrible losing session too, but it wasn't nearly as bad as this losing session money-wise).

[thwang99]

Oh, I should add, I didn't really lose "a lot" since I was playing higher limits. When you combine the 5/10 up to 15/30 play, I probably lost $600 at 15/30, and the rest at 5/10 and a little 10/20. Probably 80-100 big bet lost that session.

I have a feeling I should have lost half this amount. The other half was due to bad play. I made some calls where I was pretty sure I was beat (for example raising AA preflop, flop J66 and someone bets out, I just call to the river).

[nicky g]

If you aren't comfortable with the swings/losses, don't play at that limit. You won't be able to play at your best, as you've seen.

[RydenStoompala]

You are targetting an hourly rate that is not in keeping with either your bankroll or your comfort zone. When you went up in stakes you got beaten up by a "lucky" player who apparently took you into the turn and river a few too many times. Cranking it up from a 1-2$ game to $20-40 is a strange range to play, and in online poker it is possible to hit a mid-to-high limit game that plays just like the $3-6 holdem games at live casinos. If they smell you are nervously chasing hands, you will be bet out of the game. Play the lower limits and play in the "five players max" games until you have the cash and the ability to go upstairs. You'll enjoy it more.

[KOS]

I did a similar thing to you Thwang, I was playing great in the 2/4 and 3/6 games, and decided to step it up, so I played some 5/10 with minimal success, and then hit the 10/20. For a while I broke even in the games after being down a few hundred in the first couple minutes. Then I was playing some 2/4, was tired and was down $50 in the 2/4 game. I thought to myself "That's one small pot in the 10/20 game", so I sat down and lost $300 in about 10 minutes.

I haven't played 10/20 since then. My game was never sharp in there, and I just didn't want to lose anything, even though I have been playing with other peoples money for a while now. I have much more fun in the low limits games, so that's where I play.

[Dynasty]

Losing $600 at 15-30 in a short period of time is a normal occurence for every winning player. Be prepared for it. Get used to it. Or don't play 15-30.

[thwang99]

Yes, that seems to be the general advice, to avoid playing beyond your BR and "comfort zone". A $600 loss is a lot for me (about 3-5 playing day's worth of winnings gone in a short period of time).

But it's so tempting, the 15-30 games on Party have $250-$300+ average pots a lot of times, and there'd be usually 2-3 bad players, and sometimes 1 really bad player that maybe plays 66%+ of their hands for example. The main difference I've noticed from the low limit (3-6 to 1-2) games that average 9BB pots is that there's more raising, and fewer people in each pot. There's less situations to play draw hands I've noticed.
- Tony

[DaBartman]

Everyones comments so far are right on the money, especially Dynasty's. One thing no one mentioned is the possibility of collusion on line in the higher limits. This bullsh*t goes on in B&M rooms, but it is usually easier to spot. I will say though that it is not nearly as prevalent as it was in years past. Human nature being what it is, online higher stake games must have more of this than B&M. BE CAREFUL!

[zooey]

1. Go over an hours worth of your play with a fine tooth comb, looking for a) blatant mistakes, and b) close decisions.

2. Estimate how much your "a" cost, make sure you are not being results orientated, and try to understand how you were feeling and what you were thinking as you made those mistakes. PLaying better by lecturing yourself and adding tension to "play right" was not that fruitful for me until I decided to first really understand the intangible rewards I get from my mistakes, and realize those feelings and desires were natural and ok. (e.g. the thrill of hitting longshots, taking down a nemesis, disfunctional self-punishment, etc)

3. Post the b hands. Not being preachy but I think those belong here, and your original post might be better addressed in the psych or internet forums.

4. Get Pstat working for Party. You'll recoup your losses in the first day. [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Best,

Zooey

[droidboy]

Let me echo what Dynasty said. When I sit down to play. I think absolutly nothing about swings of 20-40 big bets. This holds for both winning and losing. Even after winning 100 big bets, I still know that one bad run can wipe out all of that profit. The higher limits are much more volitile, and much more challenging.