playing well consistently
	
	
		How do you play your A-game all the time?
By this I mean:
* laying down hands you know are beaten
* respecting pot odds
* only calling with implied odds if they really exist
* playing tight when necessary
* playing loose when necessary
* getting value rather than scaring people out of pots
I've been looking at my last few sessions very closely, it would be easy not to cos I can look at the overall result and simply feel smug that I'm up a few buy-ins. BUT, it should be more. 
I don't mind badbeats, I mean, I hate them - but I know that for the 6/7 times I win when I'm 6/7 favourite, I have to lose once. So it's not really a badbeat in the grand scheme. And that's fine.
I do mind losing big pots that I've played badly. Two come to mind today. I 3-bet KK and the 40-0.4 (>100 hands) 4-bet. Three options - call and hope for the set, fold, push. Only the first two make sense (purely read and context, I was sitting there knowing "AA" but....) and I deserved to lose 90bb from my 250bb stack. And another, KQs in a crazy limped pot and KJJ flop it should be an easy fold to the check-raise push. 
I think the difference between profit and BIG PROFIT is about sticking to the points at the top. (maybe others I've missed?)
My question is: HOW? Some of you must manage it... and I want to figure it out here at 25nl, even though I'm rolled for 50nl (and almost 100nl!)
Thoughts?
	 
	
	
	
		Re: playing well consistently
	
	
		
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by daven
				
			
			* respecting pot odds
* only calling with implied odds if they really exist
			
		
	 
 At the donkstakes, if you find a player that follows these points, make a big note of him- he's a rare one.
Oh yeah, be sure to let me know- because I have  yet to find one.
	 
	
	
	
		Re: playing well consistently
	
	
		
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by bigslikk
				
			
			
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by daven
				
			
			* respecting pot odds
* only calling with implied odds if they really exist
			
		
	 
 At the donkstakes, if you find a player that follows these points, make a big note of him- he's a rare one.
Oh yeah, be sure to let me know- because I have  yet to find one.
 
			
		
	 
 They don't exist and if they do they move up like instantly due to the horrendous play
	 
	
	
	
		Re: playing well consistently
	
	
		
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by daven
				
			
			How do you play your A-game all the time?
By this I mean:
* laying down hands you know are beaten
* respecting pot odds
* only calling with implied odds if they really exist
* playing tight when necessary
* playing loose when necessary
* getting value rather than scaring people out of pots
			
		
	 
 if you figure all that out please let me know...
	 
	
	
	
		Re: playing well consistently
	
	
		
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by DaNutsInYoEye
				
			
			if you figure all that out please let me know...
			
		
	 
 it seems that the simple act of writing about this has helped. 
And that the consensus is that I should be fit and disciplined, and to imagine having to try explaining my play to a jury :wink: 
more thoughts on this are slowly coming together...
	 
	
	
	
		Re: playing well consistently
	
	
		
	Quote:
	
		
		
			
				Originally Posted by daven
				
			
			How do you play your A-game all the time?
By this I mean:
* laying down hands you know are beaten
* respecting pot odds
* only calling with implied odds if they really exist
* playing tight when necessary
* playing loose when necessary
* getting value rather than scaring people out of pots
Thoughts?
			
		
	 
 Since we're resurrecting this thread and since it fits in nicely with an irc discussion last night regarding anxiety I'd like to share my thoughts.
To play your top game you need to be well prepared.  Spend five or ten minutes, or however long it takes you, to focus on your strengths and weaknesses.  Make an achievable goal for the upcoming session and write it down.  Close your eyes and visualize how you are going to play to reach your goal.