Operation > Fix my BRM problems by calling me an idiot
Hello everyone.
Long time reader.
I know I'm new here, and it does seem a little selfish to just start a thread without giving back first, but I promise you I plan on running my mouth now that I've created an account :)
Soooo, here's my story. I've played poker for about a year total over a four year span. Most of the knowledge I've collected is from first hand experience, and reading on forums like these. I've lost a lot, I've made a lot. More recently (read: last 2 months), I've actually managed to create winning behavior. Things like, using PT/hud (properly), examining my game, weeding out my weaknesses, not playing while I'm tired/upset/drunk/etc, and a few other things that are making me successful. My major problems in the past were playing outside the realm of what i was comfortable with (I would play an sng, ring games, mtts, and horse, in the same sitting), playing when i really wasn't focused, and most important, very poor BRM. At one point, I was down as much as $5k, as of last month, I had broke even on my last cashout, and now I'm playing with winnings.
All sounds good so far right? Well no, after my last spint of variance being on my side, my bankroll went from $5k to $130 (this was after my cashout, i was at about $10k before). At first I thought maybe I really was just playing lucky. After serious analysis and consideration, I realized I play a good poker game. Good enough to win. However, I had really, really, really, really poor BRM tendencies. I would win a BI at 100nl and then blow it on a 1,000 player MTT. The way I GOT to 10k in the first place, was by running good at 5/10 nl (which I had absolutely no business playing, at the time was around 1/3 my roll).
So all of these things taken in to account, I sat down, as a new person, and opened a few 6-max 10NL tables, with my $130, and started grinding. Soon I was up to $200. So far so good right? Wrong again. Stupid me decides to jump to 6-max 25NL. I won. In fact I'm still winning. Right now I'm at $400. The problem is, now EVERYtime I sit down to play, I want to play 50NL. At the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of my sessions, I want to play 50NL. I fear that I have no way of keeping myself in check. I THINK I want to focus on getting my BR to $750 before I move up to 50NL, but I just can't convince myself it's necessary. So the point of this operation, is a short term way to force myself into good BRM. I guess I think if other people are keeping tabs on me, I won't be able to do stupid things like move up way too early.
So, tell me how important BRM is. Tell me how much of an idiot I am for wanting to play 50NL with $400.
Also, I'd like your opinions on BRM at different levels for a decent winning player. At the lower levels, I see it as you may not need as many BIs, because play is so poor that even with variance it's tough to lose 5+BIs. Is $750 right for 50NL? More? Less? How about for 100NL?
Also, in the future here I'd like to discuss multi-tabling 6-max (fast), since this is the primary method of my play. When I'm comfortable at a level, I'll play 5-7 tables. When I first move up I'll play 4-5 tables. I find I can manage this pretty well.
Also, I'd like to discuss use of PT or other HUDs, and what info are on them, and how you use them at these levels.
Thanks for listening! And don't forget to call me names :D I'm off to play some 25NL!
