Why is it so hard?

[David]

A little personal poker history.......

I used to play small to medium stakes limit holdem (up to 20/40) and some NL tournaments. After taking up the game several years ago I did fairly well in the limit games and decided to try a few NL tournaments. I did fairly well from the very start. I cashed in my very first NL tournament at the Orleans Open (12'th place out of about 400 players).

At this time I found that I loved the atmosphere of a NL tournament and started playing them as often as possible, both live and on the internet. I did very well. I had several cashes in 5 figures and several more in 4 figures. Then, along comes the reemergence of NL live games.

I have started playing NL/PL ring almost exclusively. I play 3 times a week live and a couple times a week on the net. Without blowing my own horn, I have become a virtual machine at the NL/PL ring games, especially live. What bothers me is the apparent regression of my tournament play at the same time. I am not just talking results either. I can see a real deterioration in my play. Pushing too hard when I should back off. Always pushing the smallest edge, an aversion to the slightest hint of having to play a small stack (get a stack or get out), looking over at the NL ring game getting started and wishing I was there instead of "stuck" in this tournament.

Anyone else? Why is it so hard to change gears and excel at both NL/PL ring and tournaments? I can't quit the ring games, that would be insane, but I would like to regain my tournament edge. How?