Why most of us lose...................

[mikelow]

Beacuse we're not good enough. I think most of us have to realize our talent levels (mine isn't very high) and make a decision--do we want to keep playing anyway?

You and I have put our egos aside and decide to get better at the game or try to be something else.

Since I don't want to be a fish anymore, I have given up playing for now. Tha's my decision, what's yours?

[brad]

i think its important (at least in loose games) to be able to keep your head on while gambling it up. heh.

took me a year to learn not to play if i dont feel like it but my bankroll thanks me for it heh.

[Flopped]

Good for you. Most people lose playing poker. It takes certain qualities to win significant money playing poker. Most of you don't have those. Deal with it. Quit, or just play for fun.

The cowards never started and the weak died along the way.

[astroglide]

do you have anything to contribute other than recommending people quit?

how about posting some hands or some hand analysis?

[Flopped]

If mikelow shows up at the poker table, I'll try (and will probably succeed) in taking his money. But here, in this limited environment, I can afford to tell him the truth. He ain't got it! And he is smart enough to realize it.

Posting hands won't help mikelow (or dozens of others on here). I will not perpetuate this myth.

Yes, poker is a great game. Beatable. but to win significant amounts, it takes a special set of skills and work. There seems to be this myth that all it takes is reading some books and maybe posting online. I don't believe that.

I'm not a casino shill, or book peddlar. I just tell it like it is.

Eventually I will post some hand analysis, but that aint what the floatsam need.

[Tommy Angelo]

The ONLY reason that most players lose is because of the rake. There is no other reason. There can be no other reason.

Tommy

[pufferfish]

Wow, I spend most of my time on the "Small Stakes" forum so I don't know your posts that well. However, you are one of the people I pay attention to.

Personally, I know that I have virtually no natural talent. I know that I'll never make it big. I also know that I'm a fish to many, and a shark to few. I don't care.

I am fascinated by the game and if I can make some money playing that's just gravy.

Hope you decide to come back.

[Ed Miller]

2+2 has been attracting the trolls recently...

[Mikey]

I have AsQh in the BB,

fish limps in mid position, it's folded to the SB who calls. I raise, Fish calls, SB out of respect for me folds, he know I'm not going to be raising with garbage.

Flop is Qd 9s 7s

I bet fish calls.

Turn is the 6s.

I bet fish raises.....

I say to myself....MUCK IT...you are done...he either has the flush.....two pair....a set.....you know it because he's RAISING YOU ON THE TURN!!!!!! FOLD!!!!!!!!

Ok....but you know what....I have outs to a flush.....Yeah......that's it....now the pot is offering me....(6 1/2 to 1) to river this flush..... and I know I'll get paid off if I hit....ok.....I'll call.... river... red rag....

I check with the intention of folding....he bets....

I call...(because I let my emotion get in the way)
he shows me the gutshot straight he made with 5c8s.

$20 down the drain, stupid river call.....I KNEW I SHOULDN'T CALL HERE!!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING!!!! This guy is only going to raise with the nuts/near nuts....why are YOU PAYING HIM OFF!!!!

Then there are those times I try to bet cute and go for a river check raise!!! RIVER CHECK RAISE ARE YOU NUTS!!! Those don't work.....so I lose a BB there.....and here.

Then.....there are those times.....I say....ehh.....i'll limp with 55, 44, 33, 22, 66, 77, 88, UTG......when i know there is a good chance i'm going to be putting in 2 bets with this hand....or.....ahh.....i'll limp with A8s, A7s, A6s, A5s, A4s...etc....because I know how to get away from it......sure.....then you flop your little draw....and you miss....and more money down the drain.....

Or....

Hmm....I have an idea.....let me make a Level 2 move on a Level one player...

A fish limps UTG with J9o....it's folded all the way around to me on the button and I raise with ATs. Flop is K 9 4.

He checks.....I bet he calls.....

Ok....with a king high flop....if he called here, he's not going anywhere....

then I think.....yeah but let me bet again....because.....maybe he'll fold..... I bet and he calls.

then on the river.....falls a blank....

he checks.... well the only way to win this pot....is if I bet here.... I bet...... he calls..... and wins....

"WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!!" He's not going to fold what am I nutz!!!! If he's not going to fold on this flop what the hell else type of flop is he going to fold on.....I really outplayed myself here..... I don't count the flop bet...but I should........$20 turn bet....$20 river bet....$40down the drain tyring to make a level 2 move on a level 1 player.

This is why....there is so much more to this game....than the cards itself.

Do you see why it's so hard...errors like this cost money.....and these things what to make you kick yourself in the nuts when you drop 6 BB, instead of winning 8 in the session or win 12 BB when you should have won 17. It adds up....and then pretty soon....you are wondering where the hell you went wrong??

[astroglide]

for openers, i wasn't replying to you, i was replying to Flopped

"fish limps in mid position, it's folded to the SB who calls. I raise, Fish calls, SB out of respect for me folds, he know I'm not going to be raising with garbage."

it sounds like the sb is an idiot, and it sounds like you're proud of an image of not raising with sub-premium hands. this enables people to destroy you on small flops because they'll take initiative from your 'oh well' attitude every time you miss (which will be 2/3 of the time with any 2 different cards).

you're considering mucking top pair, top kicker, NUT FLUSH DRAW to a raise on the turn when the board isn't paired?

i can see why it's so hard _for you_