Why am I always losing at poker?
 

There could be several reasons. Let's list them off:

1. The books I have read are total garbage and have taught me a losing strategy.

Possible but unlikely. The books I have read are highly recommended on this forum. A lot of players have read them and improved their play, ergo I am forced to assume that is not the cause

2. Internet poker is rigged

Almost impossible. Why would I be targeted for constant bad beats when the highest limit I play is .25/.50?? Bad beats happen live too, that's why bad players play, they have a chance to win no matter how bad they play

3. Incredible unending bad luck

Some bad luck yes....but no amount of random bad luck can explain this losing streak.

So we come down to it. Occam's razor. The simplest explanation is usually the correct one, and I have finally pinpointed it

4. I am a bad player that cannot overcome my lack of skill and will always be a losing player

This is the only explanation that fits. So what to do about it? I have been playing for 4 years, and over the first 3, I won some money. Over the last year, I have lost nearly 3/4 of my winnings (not all at once, slowly but surely). I am forced to recognize that I can no longer win and as such must quit. I have cashed out almost all money, leaving a bankroll for .02/.04 if and when I feel like losing again. I have guaranteed that I have made at least a small amount of money for all the time I have put in.

The decision has been made, and while it is painful to admit that I suck, well I suck and it's time to get out. Poker was fun at one time...but that time is long past.

Good luck and play well all, use the skills you have that I do not.

Shargaas

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

I think it is safe to remove #2 and #3.

#1 Never been a fan of books. I don't think poker can be learned by reading. Also even if we assume the books were good that doesn't mean the strategy they taught you were appropriate for the level you are playing.

I think that is the most likely answer. You are playing .25/.50 limit online. That isn't poker. That is bingo. My usual live game is 10-20 and 20-40. If I sat down at .25-.50 it would take me some time to adjust to the game. If I tried to play the same as I play 10-20 I'd lose. The problem is you read books to learn poker rather then understanding poker so you can't adjust and the strategies are for higher limits.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think it is safe to remove #2 and #3.

#1 Never been a fan of books. I don't think poker can be learned by reading. Also even if we assume the books were good that doesn't mean the strategy they taught you were appropriate for the level you are playing.

I think that is the most likely answer. You are playing .25/.50 limit online. That isn't poker. That is bingo. My usual live game is 10-20 and 20-40. If I sat down at .25-.50 it would take me some time to adjust to the game. If I tried to play the same as I play 10-20 I'd lose. The problem is you read books to learn poker rather then understanding poker so you can't adjust and the strategies are for higher limits.

[/ QUOTE ]


He didn't say he played limit, if that's what you mean

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

I only played limit. If I played no limit, I am sure I would have lost every penny in my bankroll.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I only played limit. If I played no limit, I am sure I would have lost every penny in my bankroll.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why do you only play one game? Limit hold'em? Learn some other games. Maybe you suck at limit hold'em, but at the same time you might be the biggest talent in PLO, let's say. Playing just one game and saying you suck is ridicolous. Plus, you won money before, so you clearly don't suck.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

It seems at one point that I could indeed win, but over the last 12 months, I have steadily lost, meaning that either the players are better, I have become a worse player, or a combination of both. The rate that I am losing is becoming alarming and as I iterated in my original post, the reason is my own lack of skills.

As for playing other games, I appreciate the suggestion and if I had any confidence at all, I might have tried other games, but I have read nothing on any other games and without understanding those games, I cannot risk losing more time and money.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

I would also consider the possibility that it might be a concentration issue. At 0.25-0.50 can you actually remain interested in the game enough to stay focused?

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

The only certain way to tell that you suck is if you never understand whats going on at the table.

3 things:
- Getting in your opponent`s head.
This means understanding their thought process and strategy ( if any )
- Finding the weaknesses and flaws in their strategy.
- Finding a way to exploit those weaknesses.

If those 3 things don`t sound familiar to you then yeah...you probably suck but according to your posts I don`t think this is the case, you don`t sound like a sucker OR a typical loser who will blame everything on bad luck.

Poker is really like that saying "If you can`t find the sucker blah blah you are it blah blah".
Cliche I know but very true.

Table selection is everything.
If you can label a table "profitable" before you even sit on it means you understand the 3 things I mentioned and you already have a plan on how you gonna pimp the suckers. [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

He is playing 0.25-0.50 limit. There is nothing going on in his opponent's head and they have no strategy.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
He is playing 0.25-0.50 limit. There is nothing going on in his opponent's head and they have no strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly. Only way is to play profitable hands, and simply outplay the others and hope they don't suck you out.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

you cant outplay them because they dont fold

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
It seems at one point that I could indeed win, but over the last 12 months, I have steadily lost, meaning that either the players are better, I have become a worse player, or a combination of both. The rate that I am losing is becoming alarming and as I iterated in my original post, the reason is my own lack of skills.

As for playing other games, I appreciate the suggestion and if I had any confidence at all, I might have tried other games, but I have read nothing on any other games and without understanding those games, I cannot risk losing more time and money.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's the point. You don't have enough confidence in yourself. If you want to be a good player, you need that confidence. Also, you need to like the risk and challenge of playing other games and bigger games. You don't seem to be that kind of a guy. I'm not saying this is true but from your post, it seems like that. I don't know you enough though.

I see you are still playing these micro limits. I get mad if I don't move up in limit for two months and you can play these low limits 4 years? No matter you have no confidence and are bored. You need that gambler inside you and you don't get it by playing low limits for 4 years.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

you worry too much, you only once

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think it is safe to remove #2 and #3.

#1 Never been a fan of books. I don't think poker can be learned by reading. Also even if we assume the books were good that doesn't mean the strategy they taught you were appropriate for the level you are playing.

I think that is the most likely answer. You are playing .25/.50 limit online. That isn't poker. That is bingo. My usual live game is 10-20 and 20-40. If I sat down at .25-.50 it would take me some time to adjust to the game. If I tried to play the same as I play 10-20 I'd lose. The problem is you read books to learn poker rather then understanding poker so you can't adjust and the strategies are for higher limits.

[/ QUOTE ]

There are so many things wrong w/ this post I don't even know where to start.

Books are fundamental in learning, especially at small stakes. .25/.50 is not BINGO. If you don't understand why, I don't know what to say.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

Learning to play poker from books is comparable to social science students who learn stats but never really understand them. They have no idea what a standard deviation is or why it matters but they know how to calculate it. They get the job done but you can't compare them to someone who actually knows stats.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Learning to play poker from books is comparable to social science students who learn stats but never really understand them. They have no idea what a standard deviation is or why it matters but they know how to calculate it. They get the job done but you can't compare them to someone who actually knows stats.

[/ QUOTE ]

You need the books to build a fundamental basis of the game. Once you understand that, you can move on and explore other ways to approach the game. But to say "Books are useless"; is just wrong.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

Give me an example of a fundamental basis a book would teach me?

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Give me an example of a fundamental basis a book would teach me?

[/ QUOTE ]

Counting outs. Implied odds. Raising for a free card. Blind stealing. Cold calling.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

You need a book to teach you those things? The first 4 are things you should be able to just figure out by thinking about the game. But lets say the person never took finite in high school and they are not the bright. One short book should introduce the basics.

I also don't see how the strategy in most books would be of much use at 0.25-0.50. In fact it would actually screw most people up as they would be doing things that simply don't apply to microlevel. I have never played 0.25-0.50 but I did try to teach someone and used 0.50-1.00 for that. The game is just bingo. Getting fancy will actually hurt your play at this level.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need a book to teach you those things? The first 4 are things you should be able to just figure out by thinking about the game. But lets say the person never took finite in high school and they are not the bright. One short book should introduce the basics.

I also don't see how the strategy in most books would be of much use at 0.25-0.50. In fact it would actually screw most people up as they would be doing things that simply don't apply to microlevel. I have never played 0.25-0.50 but I did try to teach someone and used 0.50-1.00 for that. The game is just bingo. Getting fancy will actually hurt your play at this level.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I guess I along w/ the millions of people buying 2+2 books just aren't smarty pants like you.

The funniest part is how you think "Getting Fancy" will hurt you. If you took the time to read a book, you would know that "Getting Fancy" isn't a key to beating SSHE. Surely someone as smart and good as you should be playing $5,000-$10,000 limit right?

BTW- Even a good player like Howard Lederer admits he sucked at 4-8 limit for 2 years before he read SSHE.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need a book to teach you those things? The first 4 are things you should be able to just figure out by thinking about the game. But lets say the person never took finite in high school and they are not the bright. One short book should introduce the basics.

I also don't see how the strategy in most books would be of much use at 0.25-0.50. In fact it would actually screw most people up as they would be doing things that simply don't apply to microlevel. I have never played 0.25-0.50 but I did try to teach someone and used 0.50-1.00 for that. The game is just bingo. Getting fancy will actually hurt your play at this level.

[/ QUOTE ]

I see you are a stranger to SSHE by Ed Miller

Re: Why am I always losing at poker? TRUTHFULLY?,,,,,
 

why do you lose at poker? TRUTHFULLY HERE IT GOES........

1) the other players are outlucking you
2) when you are getting outlucked you tilt and keep losing from bad plays
3) you have bad bankroll management
4) you need motivation to win and be good

fix those and you might win

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]

I see you are a stranger to SSHE by Ed Miller

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I am unfamiliar with it. When I started playing poker there were books but they were hard to get so no one read them. It wasn't like now where there is an entire shelf at Chapters devoted to poker. There also was no online game so 3-6 / 5-10 was the lowest you were going to find.

There has always been bad players but if you compare the level of play between the pre-book, pre-poker on TV 24/7 and now it is like night and day. The game is so much easier now then it use to be yet the percentage of players who read books has increased dramatically.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

Wow is about all I can say here.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

i would suggest to try no limit or omahapotlimit...

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

Buy this book.

The Psychology of Poker by Alan N. Schoonmaker, Ph.D.

Do all the worksheets at the end of each chapter.

Reevaluate how and why you play.

Adjust, and try again.

My guess is that you play too many hands and enjoy the "thrill" and/or the "action."

It is also possible that you play for other reasons. But when you finish the book, you'll have a better frame of reference for how to think about poker so you can make money at it.

Re: Why am I always losing at poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You need a book to teach you those things? The first 4 are things you should be able to just figure out by thinking about the game. But lets say the person never took finite in high school and they are not the bright. One short book should introduce the basics.

I also don't see how the strategy in most books would be of much use at 0.25-0.50. In fact it would actually screw most people up as they would be doing things that simply don't apply to microlevel. I have never played 0.25-0.50 but I did try to teach someone and used 0.50-1.00 for that. The game is just bingo. Getting fancy will actually hurt your play at this level.

[/ QUOTE ]

Right. And SSHE (Yes, a book!) clearly sets that out and presents a winning strategy for limpfests -- based on playing better cards and getting better implied odds. I wouldn't recommend Stox's book for someone playing micros but certainly there are aspects to the game that can be learned from books.