Finally happened

Talking Poker · #1 08-21-06, 10:49 AM

bdawg? How many screen names do you have here?

I'm honestly not even sure how to respond to this, since this is such an individual thing. For some people, taking a break is best. For others, moving down is best. And for others, just keeping on grinding away is best.

I've had a pretty bad year myself (online). For the most part, I don't think I'm playing badly, but my win rate (lose rate) is much worse than previous years. This has left kind of a bad taste in my mouth for poker, so I've really all but stopped playing. Well, I say that, but I still play - the difference is instead of grinding out thousands and thousands of hands every month (which really is what you need to do, especially as a limit player, to establish and maintain your win rate), now I just play what I want to play in. I'll play in some big satellites for trips and some fairly big buy in tourneys, I'll play NL instead of my usual limit for cash games - hell, lately, I've been playing HORSE. I don't know... I guess for me, losing consistently when I know I am playing ok really bugs me... so I need to mix it up. If I don't, I start playing worse.

For you pshabi.... honestly... I don't think moving down in stakes is THAT horrible of an idea. You say that's going to get you mauled by the Rake.... but so what? The lower games are soft(er) enough to make up for the rake AND THEN SOME - assuming you are talking about playing online. If you are talking about playing 1/2 in a casino, yeah, GL beating the rake. But I say move down (try some 2/4 or 3/6 before going all the way down), get your groove back, and you'll be back at your usual games in no time.

bdawg31 · #2 08-21-06, 11:07 AM

I sent pshabi a long, rambing PM - but yeah, i feel his (and everyone else on this string's) pain. I had to do the whole 'start from scratch' thing and so far its been one of the best decisions i have made in poker for some time.

I had to get into the mindset of starting over. I sort of tried to do that one or two times before, but i found myself buying into big MTTs or playing higher-than-i-should NL cash games. I had to clean out and totally commit to starting over.

So, I cashed out a decent amount and i have put what i have lost from my winnings behind me. That was a big step. The last 2-3 weeks i am back to the grinding machine. I mix my games up quite a bit and i am back to having fun again (winning definitely helps).

I talked a bit with TP about this - but i am a big fan of mixing up your games to keep you fresh. Especially for the limit grinders out there. Even if its a game where you might have a small -EV - just play it at a low limit for a night. Get some experience at a new game and get recharged to go back to what you specialize in.

This has worked out nicely for me - as i have played a fair amount of Razz, both Studs and both Omahas. This is translating well for HORSE - and it also gives some other tourney options.

ChipFish · #3 08-21-06, 12:07 PM

That's a HUGE understatement.
It is the BIGGEST Step. And hard to do.

bdawg31 · #4 08-21-06, 01:58 PM

Definitely hard to do. I think i FINALLY have myself looking at it like "Okay, stage one is done - i made $x amount overall - not too shabby. Close the book on that chapter and start again."

I know TP always talks about how once that money is in your pocket - its yours to lose. Its not 'house' money. And that is 100% true. But, once that money is gone, its gone. I can't play with the only thought in my mind is to make that back (which i did for a while). It drives you crazy - and makes it so easy to go on tilt. I just play each session as its own. Again - easier said than done.

JDMcNugent7 · #5 08-21-06, 02:09 PM

god anyone would get bored as hell from playing medium stakes Limit for so long and girinding for that long.

switch to NL. seriously.

Boobie Lover · #6 08-21-06, 02:11 PM

I second this.

MAYHEM45 · #7 08-21-06, 02:22 PM

Thirded.

bdawg31 · #8 08-21-06, 11:07 PM

Yeah, i hear ya. I want to do that. Right now i am mixing in some NL games into my 'slumming' (my little term of affection for playing the stakes i am playing at right now). I do $50 and $100 NL right now - when i say i am starting over - i am starting over.

I need to get some kind of roll built back up. The 'surest' thing for me to do that is grinding with some NL mixed in. I want to eventually go to No Limit as my main game of choice. Start out low and get better at it. But, that is a bit down the road.

Gordogg · #9 08-21-06, 11:58 PM

My opinion is that so many people are playing hold em now that they are only getting better as time goes on. The fish have either gone broke or gotten better at the game. Not saying there isn't a ton of fish out there still, but the fishing has become tough.

I like the idea of playing on a different site when running bad, just because it looks different and is a change of routine. I also like playing different games like stud and O8, because it changes shit up. Then go back to your bread and butter when you feel better about your holdem game.