how to know if you're playing well

[Dr1Gonzo]

Just wondering how you can measure if you're playing well when you're down at a certain level.
I realise this is probably not many hands to go on but I have played
-: 1,500 hands at $0.5/$1 and was +6BB/100
-: 1,500 hands at $1/$2 and am -3BB/100

I think I'm playing okay at the higher level but I can't really tell.
I've got Poker Tracker so any advice on how to analyse the stats from that would be great!

Thanks.

[bottomset]

1500hands really is nothing, breakeven/losing stretches can go 20k+

I've always taken the play my best, work at my game, and let variance, learning run their course

[drzen]

You just have to go with how you feel about it. You can do the right thing and get shafted or do the wrong thing and get lucky. A few big pots can make a rubbish player look good over a short stretch. Post a few hands here. You'll soon find out whether your play is up to scratch.

[Frostbeard]

I agree with bottomset. I just finished about 3k hands at Party 1/2, up 40 dollars. However, I lost a 60 dollar pot with KK. This stands out because, if, instead of losing around 14, I had won 60, I would be up 114 dollars. This is a huge swing, which greatly affects your winrate even after 3000 hands, and this was just one.

So instead of focusing on that, just do what bottomset said.

[Stardust]

Think about rake structure too, Pokerroom and Party rakes more than Prima for instance and that will affect your winrate.

[Dr1Gonzo]

Is there some extra stuff I could be looking at in Poker Tracker to help in the meantime though?
For instance should my VPIP be below 20% and how should my flop aggression look, rivers seen, etc. be ?

At least, that might help my confidence in knowing I'm making the right plays more often than not.

[Bubbles]

Breakeven stretches are EXTREMELY common. The fact that you're not making any money over 6k hands or whatever doesn't mean anything. This is what my .5/1, 1/2 and 2/4 (90% 6-max) graph looked like. Breakeven and losing stretches is simply something you have to learn to live with, they're essential parts of poker.





Ps. And you really, really need to get PT. Right away, chop, chop.

[OziBattler]

Ill just add that pokergrader (google it) can be useful as well if you play on stars or party. you can insert a big bunch of exported hands into it and it grades your play. It might just serve to confirm what you already know but it will also help identify if you are running hot or cold.

ozi

[sharpie]

If I've had a losing session and I feel good about my play afterwards chances are I played well.

If I've had a winning session it's a little harder as I might think I was playing well but just got good results, but if I feel like I played bad after a winning session chances are I did.

[Bubbles]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there some extra stuff I could be looking at in Poker Tracker to help in the meantime though?
For instance should my VPIP be below 20% and how should my flop aggression look, rivers seen, etc. be ?

At least, that might help my confidence in knowing I'm making the right plays more often than not.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you playing full ring or short-handed? This is what my (mostly) short-handed stats look like. This style works for me.