August Thread: Goals, Winrates, Updates.

[melioris]

I only have a few things to add to what Johnp wrote. And I offer this only as my 2 cents and not to condescend or lecture the youth or anything like that. In fact, John wrote it all so well that his qualifications count for me too.

You need to be exceptionally disciplined about how you manage poker. Right now it isn’t a big deal because you don’t have a lot of responsibility and it is fine with you to fuck around, but poker can be a terribly destructive force and the way to mange that is to stay completely in control of it. That means when you state some goals to yourself (like not giving the 10/20 a crack for a month) then you need to stick to those goals to ensure that you are controlling poker and poker is not controlling you. Because the deal is when you allow yourself to break these promises with yourself (that is all a goal like this is, really) then you allow how you manage your poker playing to become more emotional, and that is how your kick ass poker skills slide into gambling and then you are doomed. Don’t get in the habit of breaking your promises to yourself and then you don’t have to worry. Your other goals (like 4ppBB/100) are not completely in your control and are more traditional goals, but not taking a crack at 10/20 is a poker management issue and there is no room to fuck around with those goals at all. I agree with John that it is probably ok to play at those levels even if it is a little beyond your bankroll, just know why you are doing it when you give it a try. “fuck it, I’m bored” is not good enough when you have promised yourself you won’t try for a month. Furthermore, you are starting college in a few week, which promises to be a mind-blowing time consuming experience, so maybe instead of moving up in levels right now the best thing is to stay at 5/10 NL and if it is getting boring, don't play as much? But really, WTF do I know from down here an order of magnitude or more below your levels?

Your drinking analogy is apt except I think gambling can be more destructive than booze, just because I think it is easier to become addicted to gambling and have that ruin your life than it is to become a full blown alcoholic and have that ruin your life. But this might a debate for another time.

[Aequitas58]

Paragraphs. Use them.

[lightfungus]

I honestly think JD is where he is because he had this incredible urge to compete...sure he can do this at the same level, but I guarantee you he would not be where he is this fast if he followed bankroll management. I mean really guys, do you think he followed the 5% and was able to get a 75k bankroll in less than a year? from fuckin play money? JD, I think you have to find a balance between what you have been doing to get where you are and being more responsible so your roll doesn't take these periodic steps backwards...this is hard for most (maybe even all) pros to find, from what I hear. But be careful going to school, as your attention will be focused in different directions and your game isn't going to be as sharp as it is now during the summer when you have nothing else to do. So for now, you have to start literally cutting yourself or something if you sit down at 10/20NL and stick with things you can beat until you are ready to challenge them correctly, and seriously. Frankly, 10/20 is almost within your bankroll, but I think your major problem is the tilting, that absolutely has to stop, and it will when you are tested with more things in life that require self-control...I know you said you are good in life, but isn't poker a part of your life ? So learn how to chill with the tilting, and then keep attacking the game like you have been, thats my 2 cents.

[Talking Poker]

Here's the thing... I don't care if you have $10 million in your bankroll. If SOMETHING (and it doesn't matter what) made you literally write down a "goal" of not playing in the $10/$20 NL game... then don't do it. It doesn't matter if your roll can handle it or if you aren't feeling challenged enough or if you are on a rush or if you are tilting or anything else. You set a goal that is 100% within your control. So meet it.

To use JD's analogy, if I made a goal to not drink for a month, you can bet your ass I wouldn't drink for a month. There would be a reason I set that goal, and whatever it was was obviously important enough for me to make a goal... so that would be that - no drinking. Even if I put myself in a situation where I was tempted, I just wouldn't do it.

Maybe it's self control, maybe it's maturity, or maybe it's just a fundamental personality trait, but I honestly don't understand how people can't NOT do something when they've made it a goal of theirs. Don't get me wrong - addiction (like a drug addiction) is different... but for something as simple as "don't play in a certain poker game," when you can't meet that goal for 30 days, I think you have to give some serious thought to finding out why... Addiction is the only thing that makes any sense to me. Other than that, I guess it could be laziness/indifference, but if that's the case, then why make goals in the first place??? They must have meant something to you for you to write them down.

[PShabi]

A car battery and nipple clamps.