Starting Over - I need some advice

[ItalianFX]

I normally play 1/2 6-max or 2/4 6-max, but I'm a losing player and I'm leaking big time. It has been getting frustrating working on those bonuses, but still losing anyways. The last two days I moved down to .10/.20 6-max on Absolute, starting the table with $5, and leaving with less. I'm not writing this because I feel sorry for myself. I'm taking a stand and telling myself that I want to start over and do this right. I know variance is a big part of the game, but variance won't do me any good if I lose more than I win.

Bankroll does not matter, but let's say I have $500 and I don't want to have to reroll if I don't have to (being conservative).

My questions are:

1. Which limit (6-max) should I play to be able to survive a big downswing while getting the most out of my play?

2. What should I concentrate on the most, i.e., hand reading, preflop play, postflop play, pot odds? Or at least, what are the most important parts of +EV play?

3. What do I need to be thinking about during play, i.e., player's tendencies, HUD stats compared to their plays, blind stealing, blind defense...etc?

4. What should I NOT be worried about, i.e., short-term results...etc?

5. What should I do to study the game, i.e., continue playing as much as possible, review hand histories, respond on the forum to other player's hands, post my hands, read books?

I probably seem like a pest to most of you, but it is time to get as serious as I can about this game because I want to be successful ASAP in the right amount of time.

Here are some stats on my play right now (although very short-term):

Total $ Won: (310.35)
Total Hands: 8,890
Hours: 108.80
BB/Hr.: (1.38)
BB/100: (1.69)
VP$IP: 18.41

I know most of you can't stand posts like this, but I'm just asking for help. It's time to do things right.

And honestly, for the player(s) who help me out the most to turn my game around, I am willing to reward you for your time. I'm a man of my word. I'm not asking for a coach, but merely, someone to guide me in the right direction.

[milesdyson]

500 bucks, go to party 0.5/1 6max.

work on your preflop play mainly at first. go on a mission to figure out why your vpip is 18 and around here 25 is the norm.

[WelshChip]

First thing that stands out is the Vp$IP stat that you have, you should be aiming for 23 - 25% on the 6 max tables. I would agree with miles to hit the party tabels with the $500 that you have.

Start right from the basics with your preflop play and getting all basics i.e pot odds, cleaning up your outs and get them to a high level.

Best way to learn i think are all the online internet forums like this one and the numerious others, there are alot of very good players which are willing to share their welth of knowlage.


WelshChip

[ItalianFX]

I use this Preflop chart, good/bad/anything better?

Preflop Starting Hands Chart

I modified it so it's a little easier to read for me along with my table up at the same time, but it's the same nonetheless.

I will begin my new adventure by sticking to this stictly.

[jba]

Italian,

have you read abdul's preflop strategy guide? rather than follow a chart exactly, think about why you are deciding to play KTo in some situations and not others. or against which players and tables you can 3bet KQs, etc...

know what I mean? you're not going to actually learn much from following a chart (though if you don't have the basics down it's definitely very helpful)

just my .02

[Happydaz]

[ QUOTE ]
Italian,

have you read abdul's preflop strategy guide? rather than follow a chart exactly, think about why you are deciding to play KTo in some situations and not others. or against which players and tables you can 3bet KQs, etc...

know what I mean? you're not going to actually learn much from following a chart (though if you don't have the basics down it's definitely very helpful)

just my .02

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi jba

I agree with your sentiment here, but it seems Italian needs some structure and work on basics before he can delve into stuff like abdul's writings. That's why the chart he linked to would be a great thing to follow. Nothing wrong with memorizing a chart and then, once you have it down pat, start to think about why you are doing what you're doing. That's how I did it, anyway [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Btw that chart is pretty solid.

[ItalianFX]

[ QUOTE ]
Italian,

have you read abdul's preflop strategy guide? rather than follow a chart exactly, think about why you are deciding to play KTo in some situations and not others. or against which players and tables you can 3bet KQs, etc...

know what I mean? you're not going to actually learn much from following a chart (though if you don't have the basics down it's definitely very helpful)

just my .02

[/ QUOTE ]

Never heard of that page until just now. I found it and will read it in a few minutes. Thanks.

And just for future reference: Abdul's Short Table Strategy

[StellarWind]

[ QUOTE ]
work on your preflop play mainly at first. go on a mission to figure out why your vpip is 18 and around here 25 is the norm.

[/ QUOTE ]
No! No! No! This is very bad advice.

Continue to play tight and work hard on your postflop play. Once your postflop play is solid and you are confident in it you can slowly start adding hands preflop. Playing tightly will not have any serious impact on your chances of being a winning player at 0.5/1. Most of your profits at that level are made by using strong starting hands to flop good hands and pulverize clueless opponents.

Postflop skills are where the money is. The only really important thing about preflop is don't completely screw it up. Any reasonable preflop strategy will work pretty decently.

The big advantage of playing tight is the hands between 18% and 25% are only marginally profitable for me. For OP they will be a constant source of losses because he doesn't have the postflop skills needed to make them profitable. They will also drive his variance up and it sounds like he needs some peace right now.

In summary let me say that in the bigger scheme of things it doesn't matter whether you open KJo UTG 6-handed or steal from the cutoff with JTo. It never did and it never will. Things like knowing how to value bet the river and when to get away from trap flops are what the game is all about. Not preflop nuances.

BTW, Mr. Wookie is dead right. I started this game two years ago literally not knowing the rules. I don't analyze other people's hands for their benefit. Doing the analysis myself has taught me almost everything I know about poker.

[ItalianFX]

Thanks guys for everything. I have been reading a lot, but so much that it's way late and I need to get some sleep so I can do it again.

I'm going to be starting a police academy on Monday (Jan. 9th) so most of my day will be committed to that, but when I am not busy with that or other personal things, I will be studying again, more and more.

Please keep the advice coming. It is really helping out a ton!

[_TKO_]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
work on your preflop play mainly at first. go on a mission to figure out why your vpip is 18 and around here 25 is the norm.

[/ QUOTE ]
No! No! No! This is very bad advice.


[/ QUOTE ]

This isn't bad advice for short-handed.