Break even player syndrome...

I have been playing poker for the past 3 years very consistantly and just can't turn a profit any longer. My first and 2nd year went very well, I probably won about $14,000 playing poker part time. This last year I have been unable to turn over $1000 and I play poker probably 15-25 hours a week. I play a wide range of Online, Home games, and live casino games. I have posted my 40k hand history online for review and no one said anything was way off. I am a tight semi-aggressive player and just feel like I can't catch a card to save my life.

Does this happen to everyone? Am I playing bad? Am I just not cut out to be a "winning" card player? Do I need to do something to improve my game?

Please help, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Don

What I currently do:
Read Card player and two plus two
Track all hands on poker tracker
Track every dollar won and loss
I have read many of the good books out

[trentcroad]

I've read a number of posts from respected members who have had streaks over 40K. So its def not uncommon.

No doubt your play does suffer though even though you are working hard on it.
All I would say is to post hands in the forums and keep playing through. MAybe cut back on some tables if u play online.

Good luck anyhow.

[ianlippert]

Limit or NL. I was beating the low stakes games for about 6 months and then went on a month long break even streak, 15K hands. I had heard about these happening in Limit poker but I wasnt really prepared for. I decided to start playing NL, less variance.

[nuclear500]

[ QUOTE ]
Track every dollar won and loss

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats probably part of the problem. You are looking at your wins and losses on an individual basis rather then "after this week I'm up xxx"

For a very small part time player, 3-8 hours a week, its not so bad, but someone playing over half a regular work week needs to not look at the small picture as you are clearly playing for a big picture profit.


Of course, take that advice FWIW as I already stated I'm an extremely small time player.


Not that I'm saying tracking every sit down and cash out and tournament entry and return on investment is a bad idea, but you mention it specifically which stands out to me as something you focus on more then you probably should. You probably let downswings effect you more as you continue to see red in the books.

[bicyclekick]

I just broke even (well, had a couple big losses and it took me 50k hands to get back to where I started) for 50k hands.

[Felix_Nietsche]

In my opinion the minimum sample size to judge your poker skill is 250K hands. In 250K hands you run into KK v AA about 40-50 times. In a sample of 40+, is big enough to rule out the luck factor.

To answer your question, I think players are getting better. The guy who was a fish two years ago either (1) Quit playing or (2) Got better as he gained more experience. New fish will still start playing but semi-pro players are praying for the sequel to Rounders to come out. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Perseus]

[ QUOTE ]
In my opinion the minimum sample size to judge your poker skill is 250K hands. In 250K hands you run into KK v AA about 40-50 times. In a sample of 40+, is big enough to rule out the luck factor.

To answer your question, I think players are getting better. The guy who was a fish two years ago either (1) Quit playing or (2) Got better as he gained more experience. New fish will still start playing but semi-pro players are praying for the sequel to Rounders to come out. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Or for ESPN to finally show another amatuer winning the main event...

[Xizor]

The new James Bond movie "Casino Royale" will feature a large amount of Hold'em as a part of the plot. Should bring back the fish to where they belong, at our tables [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

What I mean by track every dollar won and loss, is I document each session in poker charts and track my trend. I do not look at every session and get deppressed with 1 loosing session. I am deppressed with my play over the last year not few weeks.

Don

Is 250k really whats needed to break the luck factor? I used to read 10k. As far as what I play, I normally play 100 NL to 3-6 holdem online and 4-8 to 8-16 in the casino. I have been working REALLY hard on improving my game. I love to play so much that I don't think I could ever quit unless I started losing so atleast I can be semi-happy not winning and hopefully one day it will come!

Don