Help, I'm drowning

I started playing No Limit Hold 'em about a year and a half ago. My cousins taught me how to play one night after thanksgiving dinner. I loved the game. The next day I went to my cousin's house and played in a home tournament with about 8 other people, and I won. Looking back, it had to have been fluke luck, because I didn't know 1/10th of what I know now about NLHE.

Over the past 18 months I've learned alot, from here, from books, from other websites, etc. I've read HOH vol 1, and Doyle's Super System. I've been careful not to swallow the information whole, taking whatever advice seems to fit best into my game. For example, Doyle suggests that you should ALWAYS play the next hand after you win a hand, that way you get on "runs" and build up an intimidating table image. That kind of advice doesn't seem very compatible with the online Sit n Go.

Anyway, bottom line, after 18 months, I'm still a losing player. I get reminded of that whenever I call a raise with a drawing hand (with proper pot odds of course), make my draw, and crack someone's big pair. I'll get ridiculed for being a donk, and have my sharkscope stats thrown in my face. I'm down about $1200 - $1400.

I took a little break from poker and I came back rested, re-educated, and clear headed. I started last Sunday (about a week and a half ago) with a $300 bankroll playing the $10+1 Sit N Go's on Full Tilt. If I lose a few in a row, I'll drop down to the $5+.50's just to calm myself down.

As of yesterday, I had lost about $90 of my $300 bankroll. I've tried to play a variety of different games to try and find which suits me best. 5 or 10 Sit n Go's. Full Tables and 6-max. Ring .10/.25 and .25/.50 ring games, and a few Multi-Table tournaments.

I sat at a $11 MTT last night with 371 players. I placed 7th. Since last Sunday that was probably the sixth or eigth MTT that I've played in and it was my second final table. After that I sat at an $11 6-max sit n go and placed first. Now my $300 bankroll is $349

Now the questions:
Is my $49 profit consistent with solid play at the types of games I'm playing? Or did I just get lucky last night? I don't think I did anything differently than I had been doing for the last ten days, so I'm wondering if I just had the cards last night and there are still leaks in my game.

I'm still trying to decide which format is best for me (ring games, sit n go's, MTT, full tables or 6 max). About how many of one particular type of game should I try before I know whether or not its the right choice?

What software is out there to track progress and stats? I tried checkyourbet. com, but I would prefer something without so much manual input.

I think the biggest leak in my game is focus. Most of the time I'll watch my opponents, try to read their betting patterns, think out loud "what does that raise mean?" or "What could he have that would make him do that". But once in a while I'll flop top pair/top kicker and start betting thinking "This guy is an idiot for calling/raising me, I can't wait to take his chips" only to find that he's hit a set and my chip stack is now crippled. Immediately after the hand I realize, "I should have known, or at least suspected something". It's dumb plays like this that have been the difference between placing 10th and 110th in the MTT's that I've played.

I know what I'm doing wrong, but I do it anyway.

I know you may need some hand histories and better stats to answer these questions, but what tips would you give someone like me to help become a more consistent winner?

This should probably be posted in the SNG forum.

You've basically got 30 buy-ins for the $10+1s...that's okay but not great for a beginner. I'd stick with the $5+0.50s for now if I were you.

Your last question is way to general, so for a general answer I'd say read all the strategy stickies in the SnG and MTT forums. Others can advise on SNG software etc.

Welcome to FTR, btw.

Thanks,

I know those are some very general questions.

I've read most all of the articles on FTR, I'm not what you would call a "beginner". I mean, I know how to play poker, I need to work on consistency, and think about my hands a little more.

Basically, I'm wondering if anyone else has been in this position. You've done all the research, you've read books, articles, forums, etc. You've played for a while, across a lot of different game types. You know the moves, you know the plays. But despite all that, you're not winning.

I feel like I'm on the right track, I just need to know the next step to take me across the winning/losing line.

lol, EVERYONE finds themself in this position starting out. You are not alone.

The difference between the winners and the losers is that the winners apply themselves and soak up as much knowledge as they can to improve their game while the losers just wallow in their mediocrity. You've taken a great first step toward putting yourself in the win column by posting here.

I'd advise sticking with one game for the moment and work on mastering it. Sounds like SnGs are your thing, so start posting hands/questions in the SNG forum. There are lots of accomplished players on here ready to help you out.

You will not win 100% of the time. You will not win 50% of the time. But if you play well consistently, with an appropriate bankroll for the stakes you are playing, you will win enough of the time to make a profit.

I'm just fractionally on the winning side of that line but hop from one side to the other occassionaly!

In my opinion, the difference is discipline

I'm pretty new to the game. Been playing cash limit games for only one week now. I started losing straight away when I first started playing. A week later and I am consistently winning. Now I have been doing a lot of studying. Though I would have to say the most important thing that has improved my game is Poker Tracker. I think it is a must if you want to improve your game. It has helped me find so many leaks in my game, and the stats reinforce how important position and pre-flop hand quality are.

wow the way I wrote this makes it sound like a sales pitch :)

Anyway, if ya serious about playing poker get it. And try out Poker Ace HUD aswell.

Edit: When I say I am consistently winning after a week I am not implying I am anhilating the game. Still got a LONG way to go and so much to learn.

SnG forum is your friend.

I'll try and answer your questions roughly in order.

30 buy-ins is fine as you as you don't tilt, and that you set a level to move back down to 5.5s if things don't go well.

2 games is obviously an insanely small sample size to see if you're a winning player, don't read too much into it until you've done ~300 SnGs.

I'm trying to work out which game is best for me as well. I'm trying cash games but my tournaments instincts to steal the blinds turn me into a laggy maniac.

You might want to get pokertracker and poker ace HUD, especially if you play cash games.

It sounds from this like you struggle with hand reading. IMO, the SnG format requires the least hand reading skill post-flop, and is largely about assigning ranges preflop as the blinds get bigger. This may suit you.

The biggest tip is patience. You could be a winning player but have -10% ROI over 100 SnGs, it is just variance. Post hands, improve, profit.

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...oker-36043.htm