the next step for my poker "career"??

Ok, its been a while since my last post, so please bare with me....

When I first started playing about 16 months ago, I played small stakes no limit home hold em games(.25-.50 cent binds).. Most of my competiton didn't take the games seriously or care about winning or losing. I, on the other hand, am always trying to improve my game( and win some money along the way). Just recently I heard about a big $1-$2 NL game that included some tough competion in a nearby city. I was glad to hear the news and decided to take a shot at sitting at this game.

My first night there I bought in for $100 and was playing semi-scared just because its much more money than I am used to playing for. I did pretty well and cashed out at about $325. At this point I was playing very tight poker and my only goal was to increase my bankroll. Every night that I have gome back to that game I have won less and less money. Tonight I broke even for the first time (however it is only my forth night and I am not that worried about my stalling progress).

I have found that my opponents are starting to catch onto the way I play and I am starting to get less and less action.

My question to you guys is this: What can I do to get myself back on track and playing great poker with some confidence? I know that the only way to improve at the game is through practice, and that's exactly what i'll keep doing. Also, for those of you who have been through similar experiences what did you do to take your game to the next level??

I know it's daunting moving up, I have to keep looking at the larger numbers as just multiples of the BB.

As long as you're playing within your bankroll and playing winning poker, I wouldn't worry about it, unless it's the rent money ;)

As far as getting less action... I don't know. I haven't played with the same people repeatedly before. I do remember hearing something about having to give action to get action though.

I'm sure someone with more wisdom will chime in here ;)

play a few more marginals/suited connectors, if you hit something awesome then great. If you dont.. make a bluff, if they all fold then show the hand and laugh at them as they weep from folding their pairs to your undercards. If you get played back at then fold straight away, that way it will be obvious you were making a bluff.. hence you will hopefully get more action out of them on later hands.

don't do it often though as they will catch on and call you, by the time they start calling you you want to be back onto playing solid and show them the nuts a few time. Then repeat the process.. you'll have them losing their minds (and money) in confusion if you get it right.

If you lose some money then dont stress too much, thats how you learn. Just dont play with money you cant afford to lose.

You need to not be playing scared, if you cant put all your chips in on the nuts at the flop because you're worried that the guy with the flush draw will suck out on you then you need to play a lower stakes game.

If you're just not used to gamboling with a 200 stack, you'll probably never be able to loosen up enough to get the action you once enjoyed.

-'rilla

When you sit down at a poker table, you shouldn't be concerned about money. Those chips in front of your aren't money any more, they are poker chips. If you are concerned about the money on the plays you make, you will never win in the long run.

So when you sit down, don't think 'OMG WTF THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY HERE!', just be comfortable and play your own game, no scardy-cats allowed!

I've noticed when I play higher stakes than I normally do, I get a bit more nervous (except online) and I've also noticed I play alot better.

Hey man, heres the secret to keeping those guys guessing.

don't do the same thing everytime. Think about they expect you to do, and use that to get more money from them. pretty simple right?

See for me, the money factor never has been something to dent my confidence/cool... so no advice there. As far as doing something to get them from knowing what your doing, there's so much.

Start wearing odd clothes if you've got a big enough pair to not care what they think. It gives em something more to think about, hell, throw a bag over your head and cut out to eyes... you may be goofy, but they're not getting a read on you from the head up...

Play something other than PP's and 10-A, you'll learn to love what can come out of the emphamis 6-7 suited...

Try bluffing... If your scared about the money, then your obviously sticking to your cards and your cards only. If you trust your reading abilities enough, throwing a bluff in will be key especially when they think your very tight from their past experiances

BIG and RICH had it right. You play tight, and your action will dry up. Loosen up when your image is tight, and then tighten up when your image is loose. Against good players, you always have to be playing against the grain of your running image.

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Originally Posted by AcesInTheHole

See for me, the money factor never has been something to dent my confidence/cool... so no advice there. As far as doing something to get them from knowing what your doing, there's so much.

Start wearing odd clothes if you've got a big enough pair to not care what they think. It gives em something more to think about, hell, throw a bag over your head and cut out to eyes... you may be goofy, but they're not getting a read on you from the head up...

Play something other than PP's and 10-A, you'll learn to love what can come out of the emphamis 6-7 suited...

Try bluffing... If your scared about the money, then your obviously sticking to your cards and your cards only. If you trust your reading abilities enough, throwing a bluff in will be key especially when they think your very tight from their past experiances

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i'd recommend not even worrying about tells, and not worrying about the tells you give off, they are not accurate enough to rely on .. it isnt the WSOP you can relax and play your game, nobody is even watching.

reading peoples hands by the amounts they bet should be the biggest indicator of what your opponent holds.

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Originally Posted by Element187

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Originally Posted by AcesInTheHole

See for me, the money factor never has been something to dent my confidence/cool... so no advice there. As far as doing something to get them from knowing what your doing, there's so much.

Start wearing odd clothes if you've got a big enough pair to not care what they think. It gives em something more to think about, hell, throw a bag over your head and cut out to eyes... you may be goofy, but they're not getting a read on you from the head up...

Play something other than PP's and 10-A, you'll learn to love what can come out of the emphamis 6-7 suited...

Try bluffing... If your scared about the money, then your obviously sticking to your cards and your cards only. If you trust your reading abilities enough, throwing a bluff in will be key especially when they think your very tight from their past experiances

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i'd recommend not even worrying about tells, and not worrying about the tells you give off, they are not accurate enough to rely on .. it isnt the WSOP you can relax and play your game, nobody is even watching.

reading peoples hands by the amounts they bet should be the biggest indicator of what your opponent holds.

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i dont know about you but thats not how my live games are at all...the place i play at is full of players who will stare you down for a minute timing how fast you breathe. if you can find me a game where no one watches for tells please inform me ;0