What am I to do?

[savagegamble]

Hello, all this is my first post, but I have been reading

posts on 2+2 for along time now, so if I come across in the

wrong way forgive me. I am looking for some advice that

only you experienced poker players can offer me, for I am

only 19. Let me begin, I started playing when I was 16

after watching "Rounders" still my favorite movie, by

playing on the internet, for it was the only place to play

at my age, by the time I was 17 I had a fake ID that

allowed me to play at local cardrooms at cosistently made

money, so I quit my job and played low limit poker online

and in real life in all my spare time, all my friends

played poker and were at least 21 so it was a social thing

to do. I felt that I was much better than other players at

pretty much all of the games that I played in so I began

moving up limits and making more money. It was when I was

18 and had just graduated high school that a friend of mine

and me decided to go to the commerce for more than a couple

of days. I stayed there for almost 2 months and played the

20-40 and 40-80 and made what I though was rediculous

amounts of money about $30,000, I was plating about 14

hours a day, after paying for the hotel and other expenses.

I used this money to move out, buy a car and pay to go to

school. This was about 6 months ago. After paying for

everything I was left with about 15,000 and monthly bills,

I had been fluctuating anywhere from 10-20k the last couple

of months while spending also. Everything was going

perfect, actually much better than I ever thought was

possible a few years ago. Then the year 2004 came and

disaster struck. I went on tilt playing heads up 15-30

online and lost 5000, usually this never happens and I

would say that I am a well diciplined player. This was a

devastating blow to my bankroll and left me with about

12000. Then lost 2000 at the local 40-80 the next day,

horrible runs of cards. I decided to stop playing short

handed which are my favorite games to rebuild with less

risk. However I have lost the last 17 of 18 sessions, and

lost heavily, my play has not been bad nor have I gone on

tilt, I simply can not drag a pot I play very tight then

when I get hand it gets drawn out on over and over, I know

that there is short term luck but when I am only winning 3

pots in an 8 hour session, I am starting to wonder. I just

can't win, its like the poker gods are punishing me for

going on tilt a while back. So from the start of the new

year my bankroll had gone from a healthy amount to a mere

2500 and rent is due the 1st sigh. If things arent bad

enough I have to start school on the 2nd and will only be

able play about 40 hours a week, so my question is to all

you experienced players is, had anything like this happened

to you, and if so how did you get of this rut, if I go bust

there would be very serious consequences, and playing the

limits 10-20 and lower just isn't fun anymore, I enjoy

playing with a few good players. If you have any advice,

comments, or anthing to say at all I will be very thankful.

[IlliniRyRy]

that's rough man. incredible story. Your risk tolerance is through the roof, I don't think that's healthy dealing with all those swings. If you're going to play 40-80 anywhere, you should have at least $20,000 that you can lose without changing your lifestyle. No matter what kind of a bind you're in, you shouldn't be gambling money you can't lose. It's just common sense. If you really feel you can beat the high limit games, I say just stick it out and play as much as you can, but within your limits. That's all you can do.

[anatta]

You do not have the bankroll now for middle limit poker. You did good, made some money. Don't be stubborn and go broke. Pay the rent.

I think you should take some time off, get a job, study hard. You have a long life to play poker.

Either that or put the rest of your roll on Carolina - moneyline. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]