I have a High Variance Disease (I think)

[Troll_Inc]

So I sat down about 2 hrs ago, and dropped 2 buyins playing 2-4 person table very quickly. I was playing more aggressively than normal, but HU it's hard to tell if you are just getting unlucky or playing poorly.

But then the last 1.5hr, I've been all over the place. Still way more variance than normal and I'm down 3 more buyins. Overall, I think that I've gotten my money in on the right side of things, but less than usual. I'm playing bigger pots but with less of an edge than my usual game where I get the money in with more of an edge but for smaller pots.

This isn't a sob story, I just want to know:

How to I evaluate my play, is it possible to do it rationally? I have pokertracker, but I'm not sure exactly what to look for.

Do I just go with the flow because this is kind of fun? Is this not a sickness, but really the cure?

Basically I want to know if I'm still playing good poker, or did I turn into a maniac and I'm going to lose all my money?

BTW, I'm trying to trace the origin of this new affliction and I think I'm trying to emulate RoundTower's playing style.

p.s. Since I started this post, I'm back up 2 buyins, so only down 3 right now. That's just plain crazy variance for me.

[TheRempel]

a) What level are you playing? Playing LAG at $25 PLO is like boinking Beset's wife, even he doesn't wanna do it.

b) Is a five buy-in swing going to cripple your bankroll?

c) Are you getting your money in well, with fold equity when applicable?

d) Are you avoiding bluffing calling stations?

If you can learn a high variance style you will be better able to play against laggro players.

[BluffTHIS!]

Troll,

If you are going to play sh'd then you have to expect a lot of variance because you have to play more and can't wait for as good of hands as on a fuller table. Also you have to realize that sh'd tables are a lag's home turf and you can lose a lot just calling lag raises and then folding the flop or calling with weaker draws and made hands than you normally would. It's a whole different ball game. So if you want less variance then play full ring or full 6-max tables. Otherwise you had better have more of a cushion in buyins in your roll because you are going to keep having to play hands without the edges you get from playing selectively fewer hands on fuller tables.

[Troll_Inc]

a) What level are you playing? Playing LAG at $25 PLO is....[STUFF ABOUT MODERATORS WIFE DELETED]

b) Is a five buy-in swing going to cripple your bankroll?

YES, LAG AT PLO25, AND I HAVE BEEN AT 12-15 BUYINS RECENTLY FOR CASH GAMES. SO IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I COULD GO ON TILT AND LOSE IT. WHEN I SET UP A NICE PLAY, HAD MY OPPONENT WHERE I WANT HIM AND HE WRIGGLED OUT OF MY HANDS, I FELT MONKEY TILT COURSING THROUGH MY VEINS, BUT ONLY FOR ABOUT A HAND THEN I GOT IT BACK UNDER CONTROL.

c) Are you getting your money in well, with fold equity when applicable?

YES, I THINK SO MOST OF THE TIME. I WAS PUSHING A LOT OF 60/40 SITUATIONS THOUGH WHICH I DONT USUALLY DO, USUALLY I WAIT FOR TURN WHERE I'M MORE OF A FAVORITE. BUT AT THE TURN, FOLD EQUITY IS HIGHER BUT PROFITS LOWER. I CAN SEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHY 60/40 PLO NEEDS A HIGHER BANKROLL.

I GUESS ONE THING I COULD DO IS EMAIL MYSELF EVERY IMPORTANT HAND AND PRINT OUT LATER AND ANALYZE EACH ON twodimes.net. I MIGHT BE DELUDING MYSELF ABOUT MY PLAY.

d) Are you avoiding bluffing calling stations?

GOOD POINT - I DONT REALLY CONCENTRATE ON THIS ASPECT BUT I SHOULD IDENTIFY THESE PLAYERS AND MAKE 100% SURE I'M NOT MAKING A MISTAKE HERE. I DO KNOW THAT I RARELY BLUFF. I'LL SEMIBLUFF ON THE FLOP WHEN I HAVE TWO DRAWS GOING FOR MY HAND, BUT I DONT CONTINUE WITH HAND IF I WAS CALLED AND DIDNT HIT.

If you can learn a high variance style you will be better able to play against laggro players.

YES, I AGREE. SINCE READING 2+2, I AM NOW ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DIFFERENTIATING THE MANIAC AND A DANGEROUS LAG.

(sorry for the caps, hope no one reading with a hangover)

[JT Money]

ummm, two thumbs down with the caps.

[krypto]

I wanted to chime in on a couple of things. One is playing online instead of at a B&M. Sometimes we just get on and play because the time is right and we don’t really have anything else to do. But it turns out we are not really focused. The spouse is screaming at us the dog is peeing on the carpet and the kids probation officer calls up all pissed off. And yet that pair of aces looks pretty good a the turn with 4 folks going at the pot. Sometimes we sit at the computer focused and ready to play, other times we just sit there because that’s what we do after a few drinks. Guess which time we are going to lose our buyins?

Also has anyone noticed since UB has that $50-100 game going all the time there are a lot of LAG wannabes on the lower level games?

K

[beset]

[ QUOTE ]
a) boinking Beset's wife, even he doesn't wanna do it.


[/ QUOTE ]

May I suggest you try here? Hope it works out!