Totally lost

[alreet]

Ok guys ive completely lost the plot and fallen to pieces. I was cruising along at 9BB/100 after 40k hands of 25NL. Was just about 2 move up2 50NL & decided to read Slansky's new No Limit book. Since reading the book a couple of times my last 20k hands at 25NL have been -0.3BB/100 !!!!. wtf has happened? i know ive ran bad but can u run bad for 20k hands? a few examples from today are AA cracked by AA. AA split pot with AQ, just to highlight 2 examples, there's many many more. Ive even tried going back to how i used to play before reading the book and im still losing! this is sickening considering i was a successful 200NL player 2 years ago.

My confedence has completely gone and my game is a total mess.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[jackvance]

Ok, I'm so NOT reading that book now..

[zenbitz]

"Apes don't read philosophy"
"Yes they do, Otto - they just don't understand it!"

[andr3w321]

I'm only speculating but I would guess that the concepts outlined in the book only apply to 200NL and above. At lower stakes you basically just have to play very conservatively, rarely bluff, and not even coninuation bet very often.

[benny999]

I don't think it's the book, but maybe it is if not intended for playing the avg 25nl fishes.

So my advice, after I just had my longest downswing ever- around 20k hands at 50nl started +12 buyins ended at like +0-1 buyin, so basically the same as you. What helped was taking a 2-3 day break, analyzing questionable hands (I'm sure it's not all caused by you losing all in AA vs AA pre flop or whatever), playing one table at a time of 5max (also at a new, fishier site), taking notes when I do something dumb, summarizing those notes, etc. During the downswing part I was playing 6-8tables-too many for where I was at. Now the last 3-4k hands, +14 buyins +variance rules..

[alias2211]

the book isn't making you lose. stop that.



who can spot the worst 20k hand period from my last 3 months of play? i can spot several instances where over 20k hands i'm on a downswing. 20k hands is nothing overall, so you should use it as a benchmark point for neither positive nor negative gains.

take a break for a week, reread that book and move down a level or two to get your confidence back.

[a500lbgorilla]

plz post hands at 30k and 36k

[r8ed]

Downswings happen to everyone. It's the players who can handle them and not overanalyze that are able to pull out of them quicker. I'm not one of those players. I have a couple down sessions and I'm questioning everything about my play. A couple suckouts or just losing several large pots and I either tighten up too much or loosen up too much at times. I'm trying to change that.

Just try to recognize when your play is changing based on some rough hands and head it off right away. If you ran well over a large period of time then you probably have skills to make money long term if you stick to your game.

After seeing alias2211's chart I don't feel so bad. $13,000 downswing in 3k hands is insane.

Good luck.

[alreet]

Well i moved up2 50NL and wow, the standard is awful, its 10x softer than 25NL. Saying that ive just had a bad session, lost 5 buyins. Had 32 pocket pairs and hit trips once. If i dont make 10BB/100 ill be suprised.

Just had a nice hand to finish the session off nicely.

***** Hand History for Game 4769633761 *****
$50 NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, July 20, 17:14:25 ET 2006
Table Table 108129 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 4
Seat 4: NormanKenk ( $64.76 )
Seat 3: BackPlague ( $155.68 )
Seat 6: xodtheman ( $62.62 )
Seat 1: SKY7777 ( $37 )
NormanKenk posts small blind [$0.25].
xodtheman posts big blind [$0.50].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NormanKenk [ As Ks ]
NormanKenk raises [$1.75].
xodtheman raises [$7.50].
NormanKenk is all-In.
>You have options at Table 109785 Table!.
xodtheman is all-In.
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ad, 8s, 9c ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Jc ]
xodtheman shows [ 9d, Jd ] two pairs, jacks and nines.
NormanKenk shows [ As, Ks ] a pair of aces.
NormanKenk wins $2.14 from side pot #1 with a pair of aces.
xodtheman wins $124.24 from the main pot with two pairs, jacks and nines.

[andy-akb]

A 20k downswing is unlikely at the microstakes, it can happen yea, and Ive experienced some big ones but a lot of those were because my game isnt as strong as it should be. Reading Sklanskys new book wont hurt your game, misapplying concepts will. To the people that say it doesnt apply to low limits, this book is theory it isnt about specifics, theory can and should be applied at all levels of the game and the book explains how to adjust against different players.

The only advice I can give you is to keep playing through this, post some hands, and review your own sessions, both winning and losing ones.

[alias2211]

reet-

don't be results oriented:

http://twodimes.net/h/?z=1842578
pokenum -h as ks - 9d jd
Holdem Hi: 1712304 enumerated boards
cards win %win lose %lose tie %tie EV
As Ks 1065219 62.21 638951 37.32 8134 0.48 0.624
Jd 9d 638951 37.32 1065219 62.21 8134 0.48 0.376

or every 3 times you run it, you will win allin twice. take that bet all day long to chinatown.

IF you make decisions at the tables that are +EV
AND you practice good bankroll management,
you WILL win at poker in the long term.

if it sounds formulaic that is because it is.

i became a winning player when i stopped getting pissed off at suck outs and learned to love them. now i just look to get my money in while i'm ahead, that is really all you can do in this game. variance will work itself out.

[Werddown]

a few examples from today are AA cracked by AA. AA split pot with AQ, just to highlight 2 examples, there's many many more.

Comments like this one make me think that you're being results oriented and it's just variance.

I'd say the most important thing is that you don't get too passive just because you've lost a few buyins. You have to stay aggressive and continue to play poker the way you know its supposed to be played.

[alreet]

My roll is currently 2.1k im not sure thats enough for party 6max 50NL

[Rockymv]

My roll is currently 2.1k im not sure thats enough for party 6max 50NL

I'm new to 6max, but I'm pretty sure 40 buyins for any kind of 50NL is plenty.

[Miffed22001]

My roll is currently 2.1k im not sure thats enough for party 6max 50NL

I'm new to 6max, but I'm pretty sure 40 buyins for any kind of 50NL is plenty.

20 buy ins is moer than enough

Your only 8 stacks at 50nl from being rolled for 100nl.

[Wyvver]

Happens to alot of people it seems.
You had a style that worked for you, then after reading the book you got dozens of new things that you want to bring into your game...of course this wont work right away.