My discipline problems(little to no content)

bosoxfan · #1 11-30-2005, 10:26 AM

While following bonuses I play on a bunch of different sites. This past month I've played on Abosolute, Party, Stars and Paradise. While playing on Absolute and Stars I played my normal game and made money while clearing the bonus.

When I played on Party and Paradise I find myself opening up too much and it's hurts my winrate. I think I do this because the tables are looser and other players seem to be worse so I play hands I normally wouldn't. I guess my view is these guys suck so I can win with my marginal starting hands OOP.

This is a selfish post, I'm writing more for me in hopes that seeing it will help me to stay focused no matter where I'm playing. Thanks for reading.

benkath1 · #2 11-30-2005, 10:41 AM

I'm having the same problem. I think tiltaholic 'back to basics approach' is my line for repair. This has been my first month in the red this year. I am completely lost and have no confidence. I am going to play in the KOTKP this week(if I get home in time) and that will be it for poker for me this week. Starting Monday, I'm a newbie again.

IronDragon1 · #3 11-30-2005, 10:43 AM

Interesting-

Personally I have almost the exact thing happen to me-I play a more reckless style when I'm playing for bonuses and more solid when not.

To each their own demons however.

beaster · #4 11-30-2005, 11:16 AM

Try and figure out your goals for playing. Do you want to be a better poker player or are you content to play break-even poker and make your money with bonuses? If it's the latter you'd focus on getting as many hands in as possible. If it's the former, you'd concentrate on your game, play less hands (i.e. 2-3 table instead of 4-table), study and respond to hand posts, and take bonuses as they come for what they are -- bonuses.

I had that same struggle this past month. I was clearing bonuses left and right 4-tabling but I felt like my winrate was suffering. With the quick decisions that needed to be made, I was occasionally making the wrong one (at times very costly). I've dropped down to 3-tables and feel like I have been playing better poker and am much happier for it. Maybe I'm missing out on a couple hundred bucks in bonuses this way but I'm ok with that. I want to move up and make my money from poker winnings, not just bonuses.

That's just me. What's important to you?

#5 11-30-2005, 11:30 AM

I'm sure its a VERY small sample size, but I have been amazed at the horrendous play on Paradise. I started clearing the first timer bonus and had a donk LAG cold call 3 pf with 54o only to turn a 4 and river a 5 to crack my AA with a capped turn and riv! This was at .5/1 LHE.

Take it from me, TAG is the only way to go while clearing bonuses. I have a few sites that I only play to bonus whore, and a few favorites where I go to play and try to find my favorite fish. I try to set a tangible goal of clearing the bonus and making $50 in winnings, thus I hope to net $100 in 500 raked hands at Paradise. Interestingly, this has kept me at the optimal clearing level of play instead of pushing up to my normal limits. I don't have the deposited bankroll to play even 2/4!