The Taraz Cycle
 

1. Play tight early, pushbot late

2. Enjoy a solid month or so of winnings

3. Loosen up early because "I'm obviously playing well"

4. Enjoy more success (possibly by catching some lucky breaks)

5. Begin FPS because "damn, I'm so good!"

6. Begin downswing because "they suck out" or "how can they call!"

7. Continue FPS and loose early play because "it's just variance"

8. Continue downswing/breakeven streak

9. Begin thoughts of "I might suck"

10. Continue downswing/breakeven streak

11. "What the hell, I can't be this bad, variance is a bitch"

12. Review hand histories

13. "Oh wait, I do suck"

14. End FPS, tighten up early

15. Play tight early, pushbot late

16. Enjoy a solid month or so of winnings

17. "Damn I'm good"

18. Loosen up early . . .

It never ends [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

Why can't you end if if you realize the problems?

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

I wish I knew. Maybe it's boredom with playing the "right" way. I also think it might have to do with moving up and down levels. I primarily play the 33s now, but I was used the 55s, then I moved down to the 11s after I got a new monitor to try multitabling. People's calling ranges and tendencies are much, much different at the various levels.

I also don't really realize that I'm doing it when I loosen up and start FPSing. All the plays that I make seem to "make sense" but they aren't worth it in SNGs.

For example, I'll limp AQ in early position, the flop will come rags, and I'll decide to call a bet because "they couldn't have hit that flop and at least I have overcards". I'll miss the turn and check/fold because I realize calling down would be bad.

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

If you are bored you simply shouldn't be playing. That will lead to the greatest number of mistakes as you are pointing out. If you aren't having fun playing the right way and winnning, then it's just something that's not for you. Maybe you should stick to ring so you can vary your play more.

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

Wow, I have the exact same cycle I'm trying to break. Nice post!

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

I appreciate your advice, but the sitaution isn't as dire as I might have made it out to be. Playing the "boring" way isn't always boring, but when I don't get hands for a few tournaments I sometimes branch out. And I'm definitely not going back to ring games, SNGs have been very good to me for the past year or so.

The main reason I posted this is to remind myself if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

I think I go through this cycle over and over and over.....

QQ - what is FPS?? (I prolly should know this)

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

Mez - Fancy Play Syndrome

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

tks

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

[ QUOTE ]
what is FPS?? (I prolly should know this)

[/ QUOTE ]

Originally posted in SS a million years ago.

Old Lori post plug

Lori

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

If you're getting bored, play more tables.

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

[ QUOTE ]
Reged: 11/04/03

[/ QUOTE ]
who registered before our beloved Lori?

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

This one is the earliest date possible (Unless the admins got one day earlier, I seem to remember they didn't)

That is the date they changed the forum format and I'm still not used to this new one [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

There were people here a long time before me though.

Lori

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

just got out of cycle yesterday, once i realized i was even in the cycle. if you only posted a week earlier

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

Fair enough. You realize your problems so you can eventually learn how to deal with it. If I am ever bored while playing:
Talk to other 2+2rs
Post on forum
Do anything poker related

If I do poker related things I tend to stay more focused on the task at hand. If I talk to the gf or do other things I FPS a lot too.

Re: The Taraz Cycle
 

[ QUOTE ]
If you're getting bored, play more tables.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's funny you mention this because I decided to try 9 tabling a while back and had my best run ever. I thought it was a little hectic at times, but maybe I'll give this another try. If I don't have time to think about making fancy plays I won't make them [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]