Confessions of a donk
I originally started a thread in the full ring forums, but I feel this really belongs in the micro board.
Basically, I went broke. I'm a microlimit player so I really didn't lose too much, but enough to make me take some time off and question my play. After some helpful 2p2er responses I took a few days off to read up and examine my play. Here is my conclusion, I hope others in the same position might be able to take atleast one or two points away from this.
" Well I've been studying full time these past few days and I've found quite a few holes in my play.
For one, I was limping most SC's and PP's instead of raising. Actually, I was limping way too much crap that I should have raised or folded. I plan on taking the open limp almost completely out of my repitore.
Second, position. I knew about the importance of position, but looking back on my HH I never really put my knowledge to use.
Third, tilt. I really need to keep an eye on myself when I tilt. I did ALL the things you're not supposed to do: kept playing when I was angry, playing crap hands, playing for revenge, and moving up to a large table to quickly win my money back (instead I lost almost my entire BR in one hand.) I also experienced winners tilt. After taking $25 to $400 in two weeks I thought I was the nuts, and really started loosening up my play. After all I was awesome, how could I lose with 72o???
Fourth, post flop play. I needed much more help in this area than I initially though. This includes betting patterns, relative hand strength, and reading opponents. I am still working on this, but I have been making great progress.
Fifth, not participating in 2+2. I've read the posting guidelines and plan to start posting hands where a) I lost a lot of $$$, b) I won a lot of $$$, c) I did not win as much as I think I could have, and d) hands that totally confused me.
Sixth, thinking I was much better than I was. This is kind of included in my winners tilt statement, but I think I really got ahead of myself. I assumed that since I was winning so much I could stop reading and learning. I felt I was "totally awesome" and did not need to improve my game. I'm currently sitting with $0 in my account, so I guess I wasn't as good as I thought.
Seventh, proper bankroll management. I started out way ahead of myself and could have busted out much sooner than I did. In addition, I should have dropped down to lower stakes when my bankroll got smaller but I did not. I thought I was "too good" for the lowers stakes and my ego refused to let me drop down.
Eigth, realizing bottoming out was not the end of the world. The night I lost my entire bankroll I just stared at the cashier: $0. I started thinking that maybe I just sucked at poker and almost quit. I now realize that I just needed some help with my game.
I've taken some time off of poker to step back and my eyes have been opened. It was very hard to admit that I needed help. My ego would not let me admit it at first. However, once I sat down and told myself "Johnny, you're not as good as you think," I've been able to spot many of the holes in my game. As a result I've been able to hopefully patch them up.
This reply was not easy for me to write. It was tough to sit down and start examaning all the holes in my play. It was hard admitting to the fact that I was simply playing bad poker.
You know what though? Now that I've done it my play will go to levels I've never thought possible. Through hard work and discipline I will take my game places I did not know existed two weeks ago.
I hope this post will help others in my position, I know it has completely changed poker as I know it.
*Wow, after finishing this post I feel refreshed and re-energized. See you all at the tables! "
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