ITH Poker Forum

[AlamedaMike]

Thanks Ed - yes, suited is a raise - the sim s/w recommended raising - I do not trust it much - the point is that there is a way to play the hand that will result in a bigger pot - the trick is to learn the expert play that will provide the maximum return. The sim s/w is not necessarily the best to use. It is experience and advice from experts like yourself.

Work in progress for sure. But, I like your recommendations - I would not rasie with KJo in the bkinds in a real game, but raising a oesd seems like a good plan.

Thanks again.

[AlamedaMike]

2. You tilt easily and quickly

Yes, Ed your are right! I do tilt easily. I was playing and was dealt 68o in the BB. Flopped the nut straight and lost to a run-run flush. He had 68s UTG - same straight 4-5-7 but one of his suit hit the flop.

I went on tilt because I did not like the way I played the hand and I was angry at my bad luck.

I sit there for 2 hours and calmly watch players win with trash: Q4o, 98o, J3s, K2o, A6o, the list goes on and I am playing good cards and not winning. Then this hand happens (I finally hit something) and I feel myself starting to tilt.

These players are playing so badly that I should be able to beat them. Instead of remaining calm and keeping control of my emotions I lose it. My only option was to leave and I did.

I did not even play my small blind.

[AlamedaMike]

Page intentionally left blank

[AlamedaMike]

Since I posted this and got a reply from Ed (July 10th) I have played 171 hours of 6/12 and 3/6 limit hold'em. At that time I set aside $1800 for a bankroll to last me until next year. Set my mind to it, re-adjusted my game and attacked one more time.

Well, I am winning $350 ($2,150 bankroll) which is a whopping $2.05/hr. But, at least it is in the black.

$3/hr at 3/6 and $1/hr at $6/12. One small bet per hour is much better so I am sticking with 3/6.

Click for a large picture if you are interested.



8/23 I was winning $15/hr at 6/12 and then ran into a bad run (tilted off $1,450 in three 6/12 sessions). This is only 171 hours and not at all enough to be meaningful but it is a start (over).

I have to control tilt and other emotions and keep at it.

About 3-4 years ago a player mentioned to me that the secret to winning at limit poker is not to lose too much at one time. Maybe he was on to something?

[Bluedaq]

Yeah but have you improved ?!

[AlamedaMike]

Page intentially left blank

[Bluedaq]

Its more important to just to improve then to being a winning player at these levels. I guess winning breeds confidence but if you can look at the player next to you and you have 3-4 years experience and come back from a hole or tough spots.

[AlamedaMike]

Its more important to just to improve then to being a winning player at these levels. I guess winning breeds confidence but if you can look at the player next to you and you have 3-4 years experience and come back from a hole or tough spots.

Of course, I have improved. When I first started to play hold'em I was a total :fish. I have more to learn and it looks like poker does not come natural to me so it is just hard work and a lot of perspiration.

I think that 95% of the outcome of each hand is pure luck and 5% skill. The more hands played the more skill takes over to maybe 10%. :) That small percentage is what makes the difference long term imo.

I even missed a few of these hidden-outs-revisited.html

Can you imagine how many players would get most of these wrong? Four years ago I barely knew what an out was much less the nuts. I could not calculate the odds of hitting my hand and calculating pot odds. :) Here fish, fish please join my game.

Edit - Have I improved since 7/10/07 ? yes, but not that much. In the 20 sessions that make up the 171 hours have I improved my game enough to justify a win or am I just getting better cards and getting luckier?

Good thought provoking questions.

Honestly I think that I have made a few changes.

0) Play more 3/6 than 6/12 (softer games)
1) increased my aggression with suited cards
2) lowered my aggression with offsuit cards (ATo+,KTo+,QTo+,JTo)
3) reduced semi-bluffing (bet good hand, fold bad hands, check/call with good draws)
4) tightened my cold calling standards (raise or fold)
5) tend to take a break after a bad beat(s) or significant win
6) paid more attention to my emotional state
7) increased my patience and discipline
8) take the game more seriously (play more for money not for fun)
9) work hard on following low limit strategy recommendations (study the books).
10) don't play when tired, stressed or if I have lost interest (focus).

I made more changes than I thought.

Time will tell.

[AlamedaMike]

I am mostly talking to myself here since I have no questions and no one has asked any?

I have officially quit 6/12 until further notice. I have been doing well at 3/6 and plan to remain there until such time I feel that I can move up to the next level and beat it.

I have won the last 17 of the last 25 sessions and in the black.

[AlamedaMike]

I'm still working on it. I can't quite get it but getting closer.