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Poker Systems & Poker Player Qualities/Strengths
Looking for some advice, and sorry about the length to begin with. I've broken this post into three sections: my background, the qualities of a strong player, and my personal development plans.
My Background
I've been playing poker for almost 10 years now. Mostly online though a few times a year live. My level of play is lacking in quite a few areas (namely self control), though my instincts have made some pretty good improvements. It's safe to say I'm addicted.
Over the past 10 years, I haven't played winning poker, and on a personal level exercised extremely poor self & emotional control. I've lost a lot of money. I'm ridiculously competitive, and refuse to give up mastering the game. I've started reading every book under the sun on poker, and have started to recognize some of my glaring mistakes. I believe that winning over the long run is a combination of a multitude of factors, and so I've been working on a system of guidelines and rules to govern my behavior.
I'm 31 years old. My goal isn't money. It is mastering myself and mastering the game. It is becoming self aware of my weaknesses and capitalizing on my strengths. It's becoming a successful poker player. Not necessarily a pro, but a competent, disciplined, knowledgeable player.
What makes up a strong poker player?
I'd like to ask you guys to rank these in terms of their overall importance to becoming a well rounded player. Here's a list of the factors the complete poker player should have ranked in their order of importance:
- #1) Experience
- #2) Self Control
- #3) Emotional Stability
- #4) Good Instincts
- #5) Patience
- #6) Reading Abilities
- #7) Situational Awareness
- #8) Focus
- #9) Mathematical Abilities
- #10) Maturity
My Plans For My System & Personal Development
As I mentioned earlier, I've been doing a lot of reading, and my biggest flaw is money management. I've got my wife to agree to allow me to stake a last ditch effort to beat this game, master myself, and become a winning player.
We've agreed to a bankroll of $5000. There will be certain rules that govern play.
#1) On any given day, the maximum amount that can be risked is 10% of the full bankroll.
#2) If the 10% is lost, no more can be withdrawn on that day.
I need to be schooled on money management, because that's all I've come up with so far? I play NL cash games, so what should be the max big blind I should go for if I sit down with $500?
One of my real weaknesses is tilt. I am a master of killing myself (which plays off my lack of self control). In almost every instance of live play, I'll build a sizeable chip stack. Then one, maybe two, or even 3 bad beats or errors in play on my part come through. I immediately begin playing way more hands than I should, and end up losing my entire stack. What are some strategies you guys use to avoid going on tilt? My worst episode was after the best run of my life. I won over $5k after starting with only $1k. They picked me apart like hyennas picking over a gazelle.
I'm looking at my play through a new prism. I'm looking to master my play and exercise proper self control and restraints as well as emotional control. I think this is my greatest flaw. It's probably the biggest reason I go on tilt so often. I'm in good control for the first 2-3 hours at the table, and then lose it. I think another reason I go on tilt is because of greed. I'll say, "Ok, when I'm up $1000, I'm out", and I'll make it to $850-900, and play stupid cards because I get over anxious in getting to my goal.
As you guys win, do you set chips aside and say, if I lose everything else, I'm walking away, but I'm not touching these chips.
What books would you recommend for mathematical analysis and bankroll management? I've heard the good players just know the odds based on memorization. So I'd like to do that too.
Thanks again for any advice!
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