I'm about to stop playing poker.

[strde635]

I'm fed up, and heres why.

A little background info about me:
I'm a student at FSU and a major in mechanical engineering. So, im 20, and i know all the mathematics there is to know in the world. I've mastered calculus down to a science. So basically, yeah i get statistics.

My skill level at small limit holdem:
I've been playing online at partypoker for almost a year now at small limits (.50/1.00). Online, i am a winning player at about 3 out of 4 of my sessions (by that i mean make a profit)

Most of us know who've played online understand just how tight those players are. To reap a profit at these table, i must be a tighter player. For example, i know to fold KJo in early position... and fold AQo to a raise from early positon. And i understand the theory behind these plays.

I've read Skalinski/Malmuth Holdem for advanced players, and Skalinski/Malmuth Small Stakes Holdem. I understand everything in it.

So in short, im a tight/agressive (tight/weak when i dont hit top pair, a strong draw, or better on the flop, i fold.)
I don't take chances to draw out unless i have the pot odds to justify it.

My beef with poker:
After winning at online holdem, i figure why not try real life holdem at the small time casino where i live (tallahassee, FL). All they offer is 2/2$ straight holdem.

After sitting down at the table and watching a few hands i realize the huge difference between REAL LIFE and online poker. The pots are huge! At these tables, there will normally be 7 players that see the flop! 3 that call until showdown! I figure i will bank a ton of money, but the complete opposite has happened to me. I've lost 240$ over the past week at this place, normally buying in for 60$ and playing tight/agessive.

"Losing 240$, 120 bets, how?" you ask.
Let me tell you. To ABSOLUTE fish when i have a premium hand (AA, KK, QQ, Aks, AQs).

Overall ive had AA 4 times, and raise (of course) each time i get them. Normally the players at these tables will even cap it off for me. So thats fine with me, cause i hold the best possible hand when the money went in. Whats more disturbing is that 6 other players will COLD CALL these bets and see the flop with ABSOLUTE GARBAGE HANDS.

Every single time i've had AA (4 times) i've lost to someone drawing out to two pair or better. Because they never fold! EVER! Calling stations are winning! My problem: ALL of my (AA, KK) premium hands that get capped preflop FALL EACH TIME to garbage. No joke, those 4 times ive had aces, and 2 times that ive had KK, Ive lost to someone calling with K2s, 67o, 10/2o, 68o, JJ, and 6/3o. Quite amazing i think. Im frustrated at all hell that im losing money with premium hands, and even more frustrated that fish playing garbage hands are taking it!

Wait, theres more instanity to come. I've had QQs three times, lost each time to some calling station drawing out. There are normally about 3/4 calling stations everytime i play at this casino at my table alone, so they are always in the hand.

Even more, when im the one on opened ended straight or a flush draw, it never comes! I've had these draws 10 times and not a SINGLE ONE has come in! Normally i check raise for value on these draws against so many players, but my confidence that they will come in has approached 0%. Theoretically i should have made about 33.33% of these draws.
Reality, 0%.

So my premium hands hands and flush/straight draws have fallen each time at this casino.

I've also had AK three times, and its fallen three times (1 time i hit an A or K on the flop and it lost to two pair, the other two times i folded because i missed the flop and had no draws.)

I've had about 20 pocket pairs that i've limped with (5+ players preflop makes it profitable). I've never made a set on the flop.

So, In short, Fish who call to the river with garbage hands are taking my money. I understand that this could be a bad string of beats, as i've only played at that casino for a total of 12 hours.

But losing with these draws and premium hands each time is STATISCALLY impossible. I can't believe the hands that im losing to!

I should have profited hundred of dollars by now, instead im down -240$. I dont make loose preflop calls, call raises cold, or call/bet/RR on the flop without correct odds. Why am i losing? What can i do? WHY ARE THE MOST PROFITABLE TYPES OF PLAYERS TO HAVE AT A POKER TABLE ( CALLING STATIONS) TAKING MY MONEY?

I dont I'm an expert at holdem, but i know im better than any of the foolish old men (calling stations) at these tables.

Im going insane here guys.
Help.

[Annorax]

[ QUOTE ]
WHY ARE THE MOST PROFITABLE TYPES OF PLAYERS TO HAVE AT A POKER TABLE ( CALLING STATIONS) TAKING MY MONEY?


[/ QUOTE ]

Because you touch yourself at night.

[DING-DONG YO]

Having a bad run over 12 hours of live play is not statistically impossible at all.

Also, read WLLHE by Lee Jones if you haven't already. That book gets dogged on 2+2 a bunch, but it was written for exactly the type of B&M situation you are describing.

[PartySNGer]

Also, at these types of tables AA-QQ go down in value and suited connectors and smaller pairs (for set value) go up.

[Lestat]

Different games call for strategy adjustments. No offense, but you're not quite as good as you thought you were. You need to read your books again and learn what adjustments you should be making. One thing's for sure...

If you can't beat bad players and real good games, you'll never beat real good players and tough games.

[itsmarty]

Take a walk down the hall to someone in your dorm that has studied statistics instead of calculus. They can help you understand the long run (which you've read about in Sklansky books but have not, earlier assertions aside, understood). Four hands, ten hands...those are laughable numbers during which any result is possible.

It's not easy to hear, but you have a lot to learn about poker. Your comment that you win 75% of sessions on line proves right off the bat that you don't understand what it means to win at poker. The nice thing is, you're not alone; we all have a lot to learn about poker. Read the small and micro stakes forums on this site and post hands when you're ready (not bad beats, but hands you're genuinely curious about after lots of reading and studying other hands and responses).

Martin

[Sykes]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, at these types of tables AA-QQ go down in value and suited connectors and smaller pairs (for set value) go up.

[/ QUOTE ]

you are [censored] retarded. AA is the best hand, PERIOD. I don't care if it's HU or vs 9 players.

Give me any hand vs 9 others and I'll take AA every single time.

Just because the number of times AA loses vs 9 people doesn't mean it loses value.

[bruin]

If you know so much about math then why don't you understand the simple, fundamental concept of variance?

[kyleb]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Also, at these types of tables AA-QQ go down in value and suited connectors and smaller pairs (for set value) go up.

[/ QUOTE ]

you are [censored] retarded. AA is the best hand, PERIOD. I don't care if it's HU or vs 9 players.

Give me any hand vs 9 others and I'll take AA every single time.

Just because the number of times AA loses vs 9 people doesn't mean it loses value.

[/ QUOTE ]

While this is true, it is much tougher to play high pocket pairs, which inexperienced players perceive as "losing value."

In a large multiway pot, playing big pairs is often tricky and need to be folded routinely, something a lot of players can't do.

Besides, his comment is not technically wrong. Big pairs do go down in value while suited connectors go up in value, especially in loose/passive low-limit games.

[ckmo]

[ QUOTE ]
im 20, and i know all the mathematics there is to know in the world.

[/ QUOTE ]

haha man thats great.


If losing $2 dollar bets makes you that angry, yea you might as well quit