I have issues. Please assist

[SuperDave9x19]

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.

[jackvance]

This is all rather typical overanalysis, playing against what you know is right while halfway realizing it, etc. I think there is really no other "solution" than finding a way to get your emotions under control. When you play for hours on end, it's much more valuable to play a consistent decent game, even if it has some suboptimal decisions now and then, rather than trying to squeeze the last drop of money out of every hand. The latter will make you a losing player.

I just played 6 hours for over 50ptBB/100. But looking back on it, I mostly remember that I was basically droning, grinding. The times I play a game where I'm really caught up in the moment, I'm excited and in high spirits and want to play every hand to the max, I just always lose money..

[TLR]

point 1: Basically what you are saying is you understand the structure of the tournament and know how to pace yourself. This is a must for a winning Sng player

2. I play mostly turbo myself. It has higher variance and it is more a preflop then postflop, but they are shorter and u get more action. The problem with the 45 man one is that on the final table M is like 6-7 so it is a very hectic game at this stage. Regarding blind stealing - again this is a must in tourneys and even more so in turbos.

3. you did not mention sample size, if it happens for 1 week it may be variance, if it happens for a long period of time you need to go over the HH and figure out why. you may be too eager to action when you just sit down.

4. I dont like this move against more then 2 opponents, and you got to do it only when you have position.

5. I think this is a leak, long range playing any 2 suited will be EV-, I can see the value of limping Axs or suited connectors 78 and up in LP, but more then that I think it is EV-