I have sort of found my groove. I have been playing 100% SnGs as opposed to Ring Games. All I can say is i profit more in SnGs than in Ring and that's a pretty good reason to stick with them. I like the 5 table SnGs for the high margin of a 1st place as opposed to playing 1 table SnGs and having a smaller win margin. That implies that I can survive the larger field. But the WHYs of my choices are kind of scary.
1. I suspect the reason I succeed in SnGs is is that the change of pace as blinds increase and the number of players decreases (and then increases as one table is dispersed and redistributed) implies that I like to "play people" as opposed to "play poker". I like to bet, and I whole heartedly believe that if a hand is weak enough to call on it is probably bad enough to fold. Clearly there are times you HAVE to call and clearly there are times when I bet and have to fold upon a reraise.
2. I also prefer turbos to regulars since then other people fail to adjust. In other words, i suspect that I have better knowledge of number of players and how it changes your hand selection. I can really piss people off with blind stealing since with 3 players, for example, i put a lot of value in any A or something typically "mediocre" like TJo while others simply wait for the standard 19. I believe this is an advantage but man do people call me all kinds of names when they finally decide to defend against my steals and actually see my hands. Of course having taken 5-6 blinds, losing one with a 4x bet is a minor profit. So I wonder if I unconsciously "look" for opportunities when playing ring game and i am deceiving myself. Regardless i am avoiding ring games till i analyze my play a bit more. i still play very tight at beginning since the blinds ain't worth stealing
3. I (practically) cannot win my 1st 2 SnG tourneys of the nite. I think that this can be probably just be attributed to "I only remember the bad starts" but my latest surge (minor compared to regulars here, but great for me) has basically had me playing 1-2 SnGs that i lose and by the 5th I have placed ITM and often first on 2 matches. That is an overall profit on 45 man SnGs but it seems consistent. Last nite i preceeded my $11s with 2 losing $6s and did pretty dang well. I was actually thinking of just playing 2 $1+.20s like a wild man to "get it out of my system" then proceeding with whatever stake SnG my BR allows.
4. I have a habit of "representing" the best available hand after a lot of limpers of minor raisers play. IMO if the turn shows 3 diamonds and everyone is playing panzy poker I raise. It usually wins small pots. I know to fold a reraise usually but I still sometimes think "maybe he's trying the same thing" and get BURNED.
5. In a field of 9 if I have suited holes and my suit comes up on turn I overanalyze and figure that "what are the odds of 2 people having 2 diamonds in the whole" and even with suited rags I push. Am i an idiot here?
I have other more minor issues to list but i have to work.
Anyone recognize these issues and have a recommendation for fine tuning them into better play. I really think that each of these issues has advantages and are profitable in the long run. I don't necessarily want to make MORE money with these but i want to recognize when to just fold and lose less.
Thank you in advance.