Rookie psychology question

[jayknabl]

This is for all you seasoned players who've moved through a couple limits now...

I play 6max ring on Stars. I started off with a BR of $50. It's now grown to where I'm rolled to play $10NL for a couple weeks until i move up to $25. I've been through this circle before. Here's my problem. I often get sick of grinding 7 tables at $10NL, feeling like the income pace is just far too slow. I crush the games, they are almost ridiculously easy for me, but i get impatient. I take my BR and take a shot at higher levels, say $100NL, and immediately cut my roll in half by a) playing scared, and b) making mistakes that my BR would normally cover in $10NL.

I understand the concept of BR management. I understand the concept of patience. My issue is actually mentally conditioning myself to stick to them.

I'm curious as to whether or not any other winning players have felt the same over the course of their playing, and how they've dealt with it. Any tricks to keep yourself content with where you are? Happy in the grind?

Thinking of the end goal? Sedative drugs? Anything?

Thanks dudes.

[spoonitnow]

Moving up through the limits really makes you appreciate the time you put in, and in all reality, the time you put in at micro-stakes putting together a small bankroll is an investment in achieving a higher hourly rate when you move up. Plus on PokerStars, you open yourself up to FPP bonuses as you move up that you can't really until you're at least at 25nl/50nl.

I'll use 50nl 6-max as an example. If you run +2 ptbb/100 at 80 hands per hour per table, you'll be making $1.60 an hour per table, or over $10 an hour if you're still 7-tabling at that time. You'll also probably be Platinum Star VIP level at that point, which gives you about another $5 an hour (accurate, see link in my signature) of the $650 bonus, so you'll really be at a little over $15 an hour, which isn't bad at all for a hobby.

It sounds like your problem is really just discipline and accountability though. Maybe you should start an operation thread and post to it every day that you play so that you're held accountable for not jumping into a game you're not bankrolled for. Then there'll be motivation for staying on the micro-stakes grind and building a bankroll instead of gambling it up and losing half (or more) of your bankroll over and over.

Hell, maybe someone should start a micro-stakes support group or something for people to bitch at each other for playing over their bankroll. Just a thought.

[Warpe]

Whether you realize it or not, you are playing with scared money when you have too much of your roll at the table, which translates into playing bad poker. You HAVE to play with a stack you can comfortably lose, or else you're just not playing your best.

I never bring more than 10% of my roll to the table, and most here will say it shouldn't be more than 5% (20 buy-ins for cash games) if that's all you've got to play with.

Also, $10NL and $100NL are entirely different games in terms of opponent skill levels. If you MUST take shots, the highest you should be going is $25NL. Otherwise you're just asking to get your ass handed to you.

[bigslikk]

The occasional MTT (one that you're rolled for) might help keep things interesting. Yeah... I used to think grinding was a little boring too. Then I got a job at a desk. PLZ LEMME GRIND!!!

[jyms]

When you find yourself grinding $100NL over and over and it gets boring you will be doing the same thing as you do now. It's not the money it's the excitement your after, but you don't have the balls to gamble without the roll behind. You need to nip these feelings in the bud now, or your destined to be busto on a regular basis. Learn that poker is played in a controlled environment where we have the edge. The bankroll to back up your game is one of your primary edges.

[dev]

Trainer makes a point that's hitting home with me. We have to decide what we're in it for. If you're in it for the rush, taking a shot for half your roll then grinding back up afterward might make sense. If you're in it to make money or to get better, you just have to grind it out.

[jayknabl]

You need to nip these feelings in the bud now, or your destined to be busto on a regular basis. Learn that poker is played in a controlled environment where we have the edge. The bankroll to back up your game is one of your primary edges.

Great advice. Believe me, I've been trying VERY hard to cut the feelings out, and i feel like this time it's working. Honestly, at $10NL, I feel like my only leak is my lack of dicipline. The cash comes in steadily, it's my own fickleness that messes it all up. But I've been consciously working on changing my mindset.

One thing that's helping me is streaming talk radio in the background while I play. Whereas I used to read, or watch a movie (while 7 tabling no less) which i know at least subconsciously reinforces my boredom with micro stakes. Talk radio is weird, it's background noise, not too engaging so I can still focus on hands and math. Some people like water noises and exotic bird sounds- I guess I like hearing people talk.

One more thing that's been helping has been adding tables. I find that when i play 8 or 9 all at once, I have no time to be bored. It's a challenge. And luckily for me, I haven't noticed a decrease in play quality from playing so many at once.

So for anyone who might be experiencing the same problem as I am- try some of the above on for size!

Thanks for the input.

[Aces]

Even if just taking a shot, I don't know why you would want to jump from $10 to $100. Take an occasional shot at $25 if you must, or mix in one or two $25 with your other $10 once your BR will support it. If you succeed slowly add more $25NL, if not drop back to all $10NL.