Poker: The Big Question?

**JusKhn** · 08-03-2009 05:37 PM

Ok, let me start this off by saying I am a long-term statistically losing player online. I started out playing a little over a year ago, online, and at first I was just a really tight player, only playing a few hands. I had minimal success, also had no idea how to control my bankroll. As soon as I would win anything significant (to me), I would jump in a $100 or more buyin tourney, only to fail miserably.

Now fast-forward to today. I have changed my NLHE game considerably, I think for the better. I open up with a wider range of hands, try to build my stack for deeper play, but also play more post-flop poker than pre-flop poker. I honestly usually get my chips in with the best of it. I really think I am a good player, maybe I'm not. I just can't keep believing all of the beats happen to me. I mean honestly almost every single time I play, I get my chips in with the best of it, and 80% of the time (it seems) end up losing all or most of my chips.

I know everyone says variance is part of the game. But, is it variance when it happens 70-80% of the time? I have loads of HH's to prove that point. Yes, just like some out there, I tilt occassionaly. But, more times than not, I am getting it in good, and getting out bad.

I guess this is more of a whining thread, the more I read my writing, but honestly my question is.... Should I just give it up? Is there something I should be doing differently (Should I play more like a donk)? Or... Is this game just not for me?

Thanks for reading. Thanks for any comments. I am prepared to be abused with the "quit whining/get over it" responses, but am hoping for some good advice mixed in, as well.

Take care, good luck,

Justin

**DevilFish73** · 08-03-2009 08:37 PM

Justin your concerns/fears are shared by many on this site including myself.. My suggestion would be to ask yourself if you have done everything possible including self control/buyin management? Have you considered getting a poker coach? Or subscribing to a site like Poker Pwnage for help? Have you done some analysis on the type of game you are strong in and the type you are not? You might try using Sharkscope for this type of analysis. Lastly do you play for fun or do you want to do this for a living? If you play for fun is it fun? If you play for a second income then you really should do everything you can to improve all aspects of your game including bankroll management before giving it up.

Good luck

**morgy9** · 08-03-2009 08:52 PM

maybe someone can help me out with a couple questions. 1- on ft poker does it auto track you for the tournement leaderboard or do i have to sign up for somthing? 2- is there any advantage to being an iron man other than the cool icon, and is it hard to do? by the way it was a good tourney yesterday with some good play. thanks in advance for the help

**DevilFish73** · 08-03-2009 09:02 PM

Wade not sure how the leader board works exactly so no help there.. The Iron man would be silly not to sign up for since it is free and offers some cool bonuses.. Qualifying for the Bronze (bottom) level isn't all that difficult and you get entered into a 10K free-roll at the end of the month and half of the players don't show..

Originally Posted by morgy9

maybe someone can help me out with a couple questions. 1- on ft poker does it auto track you for the tournement leaderboard or do i have to sign up for somthing? 2- is there any advantage to being an iron man other than the cool icon, and is it hard to do? by the way it was a good tourney yesterday with some good play. thanks in advance for the help

**JusKhn** · 08-04-2009 01:46 AM

Thank you Devilfish for your awesome response. I started playing thinking I was going to be able to do something monetarily with it, as most I'm sure do. But, obviously it hasn't turned out quite the way I envisioned. I have considered a coach of some sort, but wouldn't know the first place to look for one. As for the self control/buyin thing, that is an awesome question... I haven't practiced it so much, as it shows in my stat line. I never really put much thought to it, until late, and still have opportunities there. I am going to check out Poker Pwnage, thanks for the heads up on that. I know I have a bit to still learn about the game, and I can't thank you enough for your insight.

This post came abruptly after losing some crazy hands late in tournaments, but lately that has been how it has gone. I don't understand why people don't respect a solid table image sometimes, and the fact that (seems like) 9/10 times they end up getting so lucky.

I am most likely focusing on the wrong things, and again, cannot thank you enough for the response and great insight.

Take care, good luck

Justin

**TYggShipIt** · 08-04-2009 01:50 AM

Leader Board on Full Tilt site is auto..

Check out the MTT Leaderboards.. Whoop Whoop.

Anywayz if you rank when you display the boards, they will have 1-10 then if your on it.. 35. You...

Can always use the calculator and figure out your points at the bottom. GL love to be a part of One atleast.

**JQofClubs** · 08-04-2009 12:55 PM

Playing loosely pre-flop is a good way to get chased down alot.. My suggestion would be to tighten up pre-flop or be prepared to fold alot more post flop. I used to play loosely in tourneys the way I do in cash games, but lately I have been tightening up in tourneys and I have seen alot of success. I suggest reading Phil Helmuth's "Play Poker Like the Pros" or one of Dan Harrington's books on tourneys. I read Helmuth's and it completely changed the way I view tourneys. Like Harrington says "It's all about survival," it sounds so simple but once you understand the philosophy you look at tourneys in a totally different way. Good luck!

**dyehard** · 08-04-2009 01:40 PM

I have probably been playing as long as anyone on this forum. I feel like I am just now starting to figure out how to be profitable. I'm not saying that it will take you 8 years to become a good player, but certainly after 1 year you cannot come to a conclusion that you won't get any better and should give up. The best thing that you did for your game was joining BBP. This is when my game really started to improve.

Also, as far as your bad beats, we all experience them. Twice this year I went on weeklong stretches where I was losing to 2 outers seemingly every tournament. I am not a high volume player so 2 seperate week long stretches is a lot. It all evens out in the end.

If you enjoy playing poker AND want to be profitable, keep playing and make it a point to work on your game by interacting in the forums and reading books and watching videos.

GL