Ok, I'm a donk... help me recover

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading and reading, playing in my game of choice (low entry fee SNG's at FTP) and have come to the realization last night that basically after about 25-50 games, I'm the donk.

Normally I play pretty tight then loosen up as the field thins, but last night I made a total donk move. I went all in with top two pair Ks and Js against an obvious flush.

What my questions surround are the fact that reading through the Beginners information, it talks a lot about your mindset, your knowledge and your aggression levels. I know I play pretty passively, and I'm working on that, but is there a training type tool that will help me with the 'realization' part? I mean something that will help me quickly (as there are time constraints when playing hands online, like 15 seconds) that I'm staring at a flush... sometimes it is too easy to get roped into the "I have the top two pair, can't be beat" mindset and push all in.

Like a flashcard flop simulator or something... to train people on what is possibly the best hand on the table?

Other advice greatly appreciated... I'm about halfway through reading the Beginners Digest posts.

first things first, make sure you're using a 4 colour deck (go to options and change there). That way you can always see if there's a flush or flush draw out there.

on that specific hand, if you're fisrt to act, put in a probe bet, about 1/4 pot (assuming you're not gonna be pot commited). if he plays back then he's prob got the flush and you can fold and wait for a better spot.
If he put you all-in and you think he has the flush...erm...FOLD?!!! - you don't need software to tell you that.

Don't waste money doing the classic "I know i'm beaten, but... he could be bluffing, i'll just call this once...oh! i was right, i was beaten" FOLD

Thanks WillburForce, but I was first to bet on that one and if I had 'seen' the flush possibility I wouldn't have bet. My problem is less about knowing that I'm beat, it's about recognizing the possibilities... is there any way to get better at that aspect as a beginning stage?

(thus the flashcard/primer/software to train you to read possibilities faster)

well if you're struggling with just knowing hands, maybe play the "play" money tables for a bit.
no offence, but if you're only playing 1 table and can't see when there's a flush out there, you're gonna lose!
I don't know if there is any software, but the best way to learn is just to play some games.
Play the pretend money for a while and you'll soon pick it up.
GL! :)

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Originally Posted by Monty3038

Thanks WillburForce, but I was first to bet on that one and if I had 'seen' the flush possibility I wouldn't have bet. My problem is less about knowing that I'm beat, it's about recognizing the possibilities... is there any way to get better at that aspect as a beginning stage?

(thus the flashcard/primer/software to train you to read possibilities faster)

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Don't beat yourself up too bad. Just the fact that you realized immediately that it was a bad move is a good first step. Believe me when I say that over time you will get better at reading the board, bets and players to get better at making calls and/or bets.

Btw, your next step will probably be folding too many hands because you will put villian on the nuts every time. That too is a normal progression.

Yes, well I have played play money for quite a while... it is quite a bit different than real money. Also, being able to 'see' the potential is normally there, but for some reason I tend to 'lock in' on what I have, missing the potential for their hands sometimes, I know it will come in time, I just see it as my major leak at this point.

GatorJH, I'm kind of at that point already, putting them always on the high pairs or trips. I have folded way too many and tried to up my potentials, but seem to be taking a beating lately, was holding my own for a couple of weeks, now am dropping BR and want to stop that. I've slowed down to playing one game at a time to pay more attention, trying to take notes (which is cumbersome when trying to learn to read players)... just trying to get back to where i was. But I think you are right, I'm playing a bit tight... folding to pressure a bit much, especially when I am on the bubble.

you should probably get into the mindset that poker is not about your hand, its about their hand.

watch some of the videos on this site! They'll help you recognize what to look for. I like Spenda's micro limit series but most of them will help you. Even though its ring game and you play tourny's it will help you. Also play limit for a while. It might cut down your losses a little and will teach you to look for draws and such. Good luck!

Good advice on the videos, I haven't gotten that far to get to them yet... thanks!

Good point Bair, maybe I'm a little too 'protective', meaning that I worry that I don't have enough when it shouldn't matter, it is what I portray having.

Yeah, try to get into the habit of thinking about what opponents have. What does their betting pattern suggest? What would they have called with PF? Stuff like that.

Everyone plays their own cards when they start out, evolving to thinking about opponents holdings is all part of the journey, it only gets more complex from there.