Need Help!!! ADVICE

[ibnathan7]

Well I have been playing poker for about 2 years now. I have read multiple books (HOH 1&2, Pshchology of Poker, LGB, LBB etc.) I understand theory and how and when to apply it. I consider myself a good poker player with great potential but still losing. I can read people especially well in a Live games. I am okay at reading people online. My initial goal was to start to build a bankroll from the .5-.10 NL at Pokerstars. I deposited $200 dollars and started from there. The problem is that I get really, really bored at that limit. So I take shots at higher limits. I built my bankroll up to $1200 in just a few days. Playing all the way up to 2-4 NL and then going back down. Well last nite playing 2-4 nl I got stuck in a big hand and lost 400. No problem I'll go down a few levels and recoup or so I thought. Lost it all had a bad run of cards and then with my last 400 i went to 5-10 NL and built it back up to 600, and then I got involved in a hand were set over set was flopped unfortunately I had the bottom and lost. Please any advice will be helpful. Any stories that you have and how you created you bankroll will truly help. I don't doubt that I can play just doubt how to manage bankroll and being patient enough to play at the lower limits (THEY DRIVE ME NUTS). Again to me I feel like I play better at the high limits but unfortunately I do not have the roll. Thanks

[KurtSF]

This should be obvious even to you - don't play outside your roll. You know the problem, now stop doing it.

Also, if you're bored try adding more tables instead of moving up.

[deacsoft]

It seems that you're already aware of your problem and are just looking for some positive reinforcement. So, you know what you've got to do. I will add the following though...

You consider yourself "a good poker player with great potential". You went on to add "I am okay at reading people online" and "I get really, really bored". There's a huge hole to fill/plug/fix right there. Being able to read hands is the most important skill in poker. You admit to only being "okay" while playing on-line. Yet you're bored while playing on-line? Sounds like your slacking in a key area. You should be watching every hand like a hawk and trying to improve your hand reading skills. There should be no room for boredom whatsoever. If you want to tap into the "great potential" you speak of it's time to put the work in.

[zzzzzz75]

Similar story... maybe able to help...

When I decided the dump the grind and make poker more than a hobby went through a very good learning experience. Discovered its NOT about ego, its about consistently making (or trying to make) the right play, based on the Situation! It was a 40 minute drive to the nearest casinos, my target game was 20/40, but some days that game was flat out ROUGH, so would look at the 15/30, again too rough to be very profitable, now I had to honestly ask myself.. can I gear down to the 6/12 and make something today? If not it was IMPERITIVE that I pick up and go home, i'd just spew in the 6-12. Ego couldnt matter, so what if I could the beat the standard crew at the 20/40, this crew would chew me up and spit me out, or at best I'd be bustin my balls to pay the rake and gas.

When the game was good, i'd jump right in, get a solid line of play on the table and at about the 3-4 hours mark, go brain dead, i'd spew off multiple bets to the lone rock with top two when he was STILL repopping me. Ego aside, discovered red-bull and took a 20 minute walk, brain break at the 3 hours mark.

Next came a move, and my only solid choice was online, felt like playing with blindfolds and handcuffs on. I was at home, comfy, tv on in the background, friday night and sluggin a few beers- this caused massive spewage at first, the smaller blinds were pennies and even if I got stacked, who cared, was basically a small blind anyway, only problem here was, this was my ONLY game.

Live was VERY bankroll anal, it was business, and why invest when the situation just wasnt right? Online, I didnt transfer this- took 3-4 beatings of similar $200 buy-ins to cure this habit. Look up Risk of Ruin for your game and level, know how much you need to theoretically never go broke. And now if im gonna drink, or lose interest, I pick up a .10 to 4.00 tourney and spew there.

Online is a test in self discipline, I havent beat all my leaks (forums, freecell, icq while playing, drinking) but at least understand I have these issues now and will play light, some spewage I can afford. Moving up is a reward now, for good play at the prior level, and lately had to withdraw funds for rl and mve back down, no big deal- i'll grind right back up.... I hope [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Hope this helps a little, also just lately took a trip to Vegas when a thought hit me and shook me to the core. Was running ragged, blackjack hands galore, 9-2, 8-3 the like, this lasted a good 40 minutes and my excitement, interest was waning and I thought, hell if i was online, i'd add two more tables and this run would be over in 5 minutes...