Mental blocks for bankroll building

I've noticed that when building a bankroll from a low amount, there seem to be various mental stumbling blocks along the way.

For instance, since my last withdrawal, I've been trying to grind my roll back up to 10000, but I started with 250.

Upon hitting 1000 a few weeks ago, I just haven't been able to progress at all.
I really think having 4 figures makes me care less about certain situations and I seem to be more willing to call all-ins light in cash games because I'm reassured by having loads of cash behind me, which realistically isn't true.

My sng game hasn't suffered so for the time being thats what I'm playing, but has anybody else experienced anything like this?

Hell yes, for me it was when I was playing 50NL at stars and was going to move to 100 at 3K. I just bounced back and forth between 2.5 - 3 K for months.

I think it was largley for the reasons you mentioned, subconsciously loosening up etc.

I am now bonus whoring round the sites and the smaller goals - load $600 and try to leave with ~1000 seems to work better for me. I'm not even sure how much is lying in my Neteller, it will probably activate the doomswitch if I look!

Of course this means that I now just play 25NL and cheap S&G's, but i'm just a hobbiest and this suits fine; and you can still buy a PS3 with the earnings now and then.

Definately. Trying to start an operation to get my bakroll to $1000, I started with 140, got up to 250, weeble-wobbled between 170-230, then fell back to 140. I'm now taking a break and gonna start up soon after my head is cleared.

Perhaps you are playing overrolled? Read ginger's overrolled thread in this forum, and follow some of the advice.

This kinda thing happens to me always when I'm over $1000. Nowadays I just withdraw $100 when I hit $1100. I'm sticking to 50NL until I resolve some mental problems with my play.

I'm feeling I'm ready for higher limits very soon though.

Good to know I'm not the only one.
I've built the roll up to 10k a couple of times now but always needed the money so withdrew.

Always the same at certain points. 5k was a big one the last time, I was there for 3 months within about 200 dollars.

I don't believe I'm playing overrolled, even when I take shots higher I have the same incorrect line of thought.

Hmm, maybe I should find a room were I can't look at the cashier.

Just give all your money to me after each session, I promise I won't tell you how much you have

I would have thousands upon thousands in my bankroll if I just got a fucking part time job and stopped withdrawing.

But jobs suck.

You play professionally? Or still in school but poker is your only income?

P.S.-the Quick Reply box is awesome.

When you're in a game, forget about your roll.
Concentrate fully on the task at hand. If you have the slightest doubt in your mind, you'll fail.

Don't make decisions just because you have the roll to support it (i.e. chase pricey draws). Make logical/sound decisions only. Also, never ever focus on building the roll. You put undue pressure on yourself this way.


Pressure and doubt are your mind's #1 enemies. Learn how to control and dominate them.

Originally Posted by Zee Devee

P.S.-the Quick Reply box is awesome.

QFT

Originally Posted by Zee Devee

You play professionally? Or still in school but poker is your only income?

School, poker is the only income. When youre withdrawing 600ish a month, it creates a huge barrier to moving up in stakes. I cant even imagine how much money i've made in my career, I'd probably be well over 100k by now if I didnt keep withdrawing. If you withdraw funds when you're playing less than about 2/4, you're seriously stunting your long term profitability.

But the trade off is that I work when I want, as much as I want, and even though I continually have monetary obstacles to moving up, I have far more disposable income than any 20 year old ever needs.

Guess its a grass-is-always-greener thing.

Damn. I wish I could even get my bankroll up to 600ish.

$1k is quite a mental block. The first time you look into your account and see 4 figures is really cool and you feel like your acheiving at poker and are really good.
then you start doing dumb stuff and all of sudden you splutter. Then you go down and try to figure whats wrong and most of us eventaully figure it out and start building.
Its really an example of the newbie circle of death kicking in, and its quite hard to get around.
the bets thing you can do is get back to the grinding and remember that you are making decisions and not making money and then you realise what playing good poker is all about again and contiune to make money.
btw, the next stumbling block is moving to 100nl

I had a stint when I first started playing in '04...I built to about 1500 and I couldn't make 1600 for the life of me. Took me like 3 weeks to break 1600.

Aside from that, my only real "problem" has been some of the limit jumps. When I have half of my weekly paycheck on each table (and the whole paycheck if I double through), it's definitely hard to treat it how I should.

It really caused me some emotional swings.

I think there are a lot of mental blocks that occur like this and they all come from being results oriented. Maybe you should try not looking at your results during your sessions or something. If you're up for it, try not looking at your results for a week

I wish I could, but Pokerstars is evil and makes you look at the cashier when registering for a tourney.

I guess it's an area where the only solution is to get over it and play smart.
Much easier said than done though.

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

I think there are a lot of mental blocks that occur like this and they all come from being results oriented. Maybe you should try not looking at your results during your sessions or something. If you're up for it, try not looking at your results for a week

i wish i could do this for just one session. I find myself looking at PT way too much throughout sessions.

Originally Posted by Bode-ist

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

I think there are a lot of mental blocks that occur like this and they all come from being results oriented. Maybe you should try not looking at your results during your sessions or something. If you're up for it, try not looking at your results for a week

i wish i could do this for just one session. I find myself looking at PT way too much throughout sessions.

i turned PT off and it helped. My HUD also (not that i really used it) and didnt import HHs for a week to see what happened,

Originally Posted by euphoricism

I would have thousands upon thousands in my bankroll if I just got a fucking part time job and stopped withdrawing.

But jobs suck.

Fucking right!

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Originally Posted by Bode-ist

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

I think there are a lot of mental blocks that occur like this and they all come from being results oriented. Maybe you should try not looking at your results during your sessions or something. If you're up for it, try not looking at your results for a week

i wish i could do this for just one session. I find myself looking at PT way too much throughout sessions.

i turned PT off and it helped. My HUD also (not that i really used it) and didnt import HHs for a week to see what happened,

Did -1377 happen :P

Since the beginning of this year I was dreaming of playing $100nl (started playing $10nl) and since I do I hit a mental block. Going from 100nl to 200nl seems to be the biggest hurdle for me with regards to motivation.

Someone please tangle a stripper and some weed in front of my nose so I pull my weight.

Talking about bankrolls I was perusing the 2+2 micro stakes results thread at my leisure and saw the following -

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...0&fpart=3&vc=1

Blackice781 claims to be playing 50NL with a 20K bankroll (Towards the bottom)

Is he jokeing? If not that has to be probably the dumbest single thing i have seen posted in a long time? (Including 90% of FTR commune!)

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Originally Posted by Bode-ist

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

I think there are a lot of mental blocks that occur like this and they all come from being results oriented. Maybe you should try not looking at your results during your sessions or something. If you're up for it, try not looking at your results for a week

i wish i could do this for just one session. I find myself looking at PT way too much throughout sessions.

i turned PT off and it helped. My HUD also (not that i really used it) and didnt import HHs for a week to see what happened,

Did -1377 happen :P

-2k or something now

ouch that sucks =(