Should I be discouraged?
 

I went to a casino for the first time last night. I played 3/6 Limit Hold'em, and bought in for 130 (I forgot 20 bucks at home somehow, so I didn't buy-in for 150). The night was pretty inconsistent for me. I started out well, stealing some pots with at a six-handed, fairly tight table. Then, I got this great run of starting hands, and that's when it all went downhill.

In a span of about 30 hands, I was dealt QQ,QQ,JJ,77,55,55,AQs,AQo,AJo,ATo,KQs and KJo. Of those hands, I was only victorious with the pocket fives, because I hit a set twice. The rest, I missed to flop completely, or was outflopped. Given the 10 unprofitable premium hands, I was down to about 25 chips. Luckily, I was able to triple up when I flopped an OESFD and hit the flush, and I won a few other small pots to get back up to 116, meaning I was only down 14 for the night. I had to stop then after three hours of playing (about half as much as I wanted) and I felt has though I could've won my money back.

After all that, I felt extremely poorly about how I played, but I also felt as though I got extremely unlucky. I know I shouldn't expect everyone of my premuim hands to hold up, but since virtually none of them did, I feel lost. My best hand of the night came when I made a loose call in MP with 9d7d and got really lucky.

What should I think? Was I just particularly unlucky, or should I reevaluate my game?

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I felt extremely poorly about how I played, but I also felt as though I got extremely unlucky.

[/ QUOTE ]

yea, getting those hands hurts, and weve all got our bad beat stories. the point is, if u were breaking almost even at the end of the night, down 2.5 bb, it could have been much worse. try posting some of the hands u didnt feel you played well. if you cut out the fat of poorly played hands (ahhh, 1 big mistake is a lot more than 3 bb) then you change from a small negative, to a 1 or 2 bb winner.

so, post some hands and try to polish your play, but if ur getting discuouraged after 1 night, or thinking "i do well when i play crap cards like others " then this might not be the game for you.

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

[ QUOTE ]
What should I think? Was I just particularly unlucky, or should I reevaluate my game?

[/ QUOTE ]

Both!!!

First of all, everyone should always be in the process of constantly reevaluating their game. Even the best football players in the world are training in the off season and in between games.

If you can remember any specific hands that you'd like feedback on, post them on here and it may help to have others evaluate too.

Secondly, it does sound like you were unlucky. It happens. Variance is a bitch! Some days you play less than perfect poker, the decks smacks you upside the head with great flops, turns and rivers, and you make a killing. Other days, you play absolutely perfect poker and you run card dead and lose. It's the nature of the beast! Don't get discouraged over one session.

(But if it makes you feel any better - I lost $900 last night! Didn't win a single pot in the last 3 hours I played. Unless you count that one hand where we chopped the blinds!)

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

I'd re-evaluate your game if you consider AJo, wierd sevens and fives and A10o premium hands. They are playable but dont excpect to win with them every time. AS far as the rest of your game who knows try posting a few hands and see what happens

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Luckily, I was able to triple up when I flopped an OESFD and hit the flush...

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope you didn't lose value on this hand because you were shortstacked. That would be bad. Take more money to the table with you. $100 can go in one orbit.

Everyone has nights like you describe. Sometimes you think it would be better to be dealt 82o for a couple orbits. Hang in there and analyze your play.

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

How many pots we're raised pre-flop? re-raised? capped?
How many players saw each flop?
How many players saw the turn? River?
Was there much betting on the turn? RIver?
Was there much raising on the turn? River?

What was your position at the table relative to the aggressive players?

Depending on the answers to these questions (and more), I probably would have played more, or fewer hand than you listed.

And yes, sometimes you can be in a loosey-juicy game, play perfect and lose your ass.

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

Post a couple hands from that night that were tough decisions for you. The collective wisdom of this forum will make sure you didn’t miss anything. Other than that, just read, study and learn to get better.

I used to only read and post here when I had a bad run to get my game back in line and to get my confidence back. Now, I read and post more regularly and I can say my game is better and more consistent.

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I had to stop then after three hours of playing

[/ QUOTE ]
Asking for advice on about 90-100 hands must be the most atrocious sample-size-issue-post ever to grace the SS Forum! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Seriously OP - how do you expect anyone to give constructive criticsm on your play when all you've given is a few starting hands. You say that you feel like you played poorly - why? You also say that you feel you were unlucky - why?

It seems to me like you're making judgements about your play based on how much money you went with versus how much money you left with. It's called results-oriented thinking and it's not an accurate way to evaluate your performance in any game that involves a combination of luck and skill.

To effectively anaylze your play, you need to extract specific situations for your session(s) that you feel you need advice on. Post them and ask for feedback from the community.

Good luck!!

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I had to stop then after three hours of playing

[/ QUOTE ]
Asking for advice on about 90-100 hands must be the most atrocious sample-size-issue-post ever to grace the SS Forum! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Seriously OP - how do you expect anyone to give constructive criticsm on your play when all you've given is a few starting hands. You say that you feel like you played poorly - why? You also say that you feel you were unlucky - why?

It seems to me like you're making judgements about your play based on how much money you went with versus how much money you left with. It's called results-oriented thinking and it's not an accurate way to evaluate your performance in any game that involves a combination of luck and skill.

To effectively anaylze your play, you need to extract specific situations for your session(s) that you feel you need advice on. Post them and ask for feedback from the community.

Good luck!!

[/ QUOTE ]

While this post is a little harsh, it is also (mostly) correct. I also suggest you post some hands.

Re: Should I be discouraged?
 

I think OP is looking for us to help his confidence. So, I'll add: this has happened to me, and I am sure it has happened to everyone who has been playing limit for any appreciable time. Variance is a bitch.

Just don't forget to enjoy yourself and take all the knocks with a good disposition because you know that luck is random.