Some problems that need fixed ASAP

[BLaCKDiAMoND]

Couldn't find an existing topic to post this and/or didn't want to hijack someone's thread so here goes...

I've had the worst run since I started playing online these past few weeks. My bankroll has dipped to a measly $158. At the end of February, my bankroll was at $390. For about 2 weeks, I was catching all the cards and it seemed like every air-hitting c-bet worked to perfection. However, the last 3 weeks have been nothing but disaster. The bad beats have definitely been there, but I surely can't blame my loss completely on bad luck. So I reviewed some hand histories and session logs and here's what I came up with - bad beats excluded.

Problem #1 - I am winning small pots but losing big ones. The pots I am losing are 2-3x the pots I'm raking in. When my hand is good, I try and get the most out of it but I lately I get little to no action, resulting in a small pot on the flop or turn.

Problem #2 - My c-bets are not working like before. Partly this has to do with me c-betting out of position because loose-calling stations are calling my pre-flop raises with junk. I have also been getting check-called a lot lately.

Problem #3 - I am playing about 25% of my hands on average. That's too much. Occasionally I will get myself in trouble by playing risky hands out of position. Examples would be AXs or QJo from middle position.

Problem #4 - Too many distractions lately. I simply have not focused even close to 100% on poker. Either the web browser is open, or the kids are fighting or my wife is interrupting. This has to stop. Either I play when I can focus solely on poker or I don't play at all - period.

Now issues number 3 and 4 have been addressed and can easily be remedied. My question for some of you experienced players who frequent this beginner's forum (and for that, we thank you) is what's the best strategy for fixing problems #1 and #2?

And by the way, I mostly play FR NLHE with the occasional SnG/MTT.

[mrhappy333]

Problem #4 - Too many distractions lately. I simply have not focused even close to 100% on poker. Either the web browser is open, or the kids are fighting or my wife is interrupting. This has to stop. Either I play when I can focus solely on poker or I don't play at all - period.



This used to be a big problem for me too.

[rvrking22]

The best way to fix a problem is to admit you have one. So your on the right track to hopefully fixing these problems. Ok im not pretending to be an expert who you called out to help fix problems but I thought I could at least try and help you out.

To problems #1/#2: This happens to all of us, a streak were nothing seems to be going our way. At the start we are crushing the limit, c-bet working 100% of the time, we make that badass bluff on the river and take down a nice pot, we hit the nut hand on the flop and everyone seems to think they have the best hand and you stack one or two people....etc. Then comes this "bad" streak were we cant hit shit and everyone is out-drawing ,nothings working. During this time because of human nature we tend to want to make things happen, so instead of playing solid TAGG (15-17% PF), we are playing way over agg, and putting in 25%+ like yourself. And all this does is achieve is make the situation worst.

So to problems #1/#2: 1) Play through the streak, eventually things will even out
2) Write down goals such as, " I will only play 15% PF and think about each decision before I go forth with the action. This one I think will help you the most. Everytime you play look at the goals you set for yourself and at the end of each session evaluate the session and see if you did just as you said you did.

3) Analyze your play and identify where you seem to be making mistakes over and over again. You seem to have already done this, so this one you have under your belt.

4) Have FUN...you have to be having fun in order to play well. For instance if the last six sessions you lost 3-5 BI, and you just arent feeling it. Then dont play, if will only lead to bigger problems. If this seems to be the case. Take a couple of days off, and start fresh...I do this all the time and it has worked wonders.

I think if you set goals (write then down and look at them before each session), think about your play, have fun...you should be out of this streak before to long. Remember have the time its not even a "bad" streak, its bad play that seems to keep repeating itself. I hope this at least gives you an idea of how to go about fixing your problem and I wish you the best of luck ( well more like good play, but what the hell, lucks always good too)

[BLaCKDiAMoND]

Your comments to #1/2 are amazingly spot-on. Thanks!

I have started an operation blog for my goal of hitting $1K. There I have stated some rules/additional goals that hopefully will help get me there.

I'd post the link but I don't have 10 posts yet...

[dev]

2) Write down goals such as, " I will only play 15% PF

I love everything rvrking22 said except this.
Setting goals is a great idea, but this one might work against you.

If you think you're playing too many hands, think of the hands on the outskirts of your preflop range and look them up in PT, are they winning?

Take a look at your position stats, are you playing a lot OOP? look up specific hands from the earlier positions.

A goal that really helps me is "I will study as for as long as I play" This includes working with PT, posting and reading here, reading books, etc.

[BLaCKDiAMoND]

Hi Dev. I get what you're saying. If I'm catching cards left and right, I'm definitely not going to limit myself to 15%. If I'm getting great cards in proper position, I'm playing them no doubt. Also, and this is just basic fundamentals, if it's folded to me on the button or the small blind, my hand range will open up a bit from the top 19-24 hands, but by no means does that mean I have to get adventurous.

For the past few weeks, my hand selection has been a little suspect and combined with questionable post-flop play and some horrific bad beats, my bankroll has suffered, making my goal of hitting $1K farther out of reach.

I am really going to limit myself to the top hands and grind it out. I will add more hands as I go on but only when I feel it's necessary and when I'm ready. Like my operation thread states - I'm starting over from square one. It's time to stop pussy-footin' around and get serious if I want to make a go at this.

[rvrking22]

Yeah i guess that was more on the lines of an example and not actually advice, but i do agree with you there dev....sorry maybe should have stated that. I'd glad you liked the advice Blackdiamond, and I hope everything works out, which if you put in time I have no doubt you will reach all of your poker goals...

[Fnord]

Stop running bad.

[dev]

Stop running bad.

how?

[BLaCKDiAMoND]

Stop running bad.

The answer to all our problems! Now if I can just find that magic wand...

[pgil]

I think you may need to start folding sooner in hands where you think you are behind. Study some of your medium sized losses and see if you can find a better spot to fold than the one you found (or didn't find) and make sure you know why it's a better spot.

Look over your big hands that aren't getting paid. Sometimes your opponent just doesn't have a hand to pay you off, but sometimes you are either playing them too fast (trying to get it all in asap) or slowplaying too much and therefore not building pots early enough in the hand. Try to find different lines that you can use to extract more from your opps probable range.

Remember, putting opponents on ranges isn't just a tool to save us money and allow us to fold, it is also a great way to maximize our profits when we are ahead. If we can narrow their hand down to a few possible holdings we can find better bet sizes, and make as much as possible off of them.

[trump]

I've also been having the "losing big posts, winning small" problem. I think in my case I've been playing too soft post flop and letting villains catch up to me. Then by the river I'm committed to the hand mentally if not by pot size.

[BLaCKDiAMoND]

I've also been having the "losing big posts, winning small" problem. I think in my case I've been playing too soft post flop and letting villains catch up to me. Then by the river I'm committed to the hand mentally if not by pot size.

I'm the opposite. I raise big pre-flop to isolate. But lately, I've been getting some crazy pre-flop calls from opponents with junk hands. When I've got a great hand like QQ or AK and the flop comes all rags, I figure I'm still ahead. Lately this hasn't been the case and my c-bets have been killing me.

[dev]

I've also been having the "losing big posts, winning small" problem. I think in my case I've been playing too soft post flop and letting villains catch up to me. Then by the river I'm committed to the hand mentally if not by pot size.

I'm the opposite. I raise big pre-flop to isolate. But lately, I've been getting some crazy pre-flop calls from opponents with junk hands. When I've got a great hand like QQ or AK and the flop comes all rags, I figure I'm still ahead. Lately this hasn't been the case and my c-bets have been killing me.

I'm spending a lot of time digging for leaks, trying to get thru a really rough run. The only things I've seen is that I'm 2nd barreling a little too thin sometimes and occasionally felting with overpairs where I might be able to get away. My edge really comes from the smaller pots, and I'm winning those, but I'm losing enough of the big ones that I'm only barely beating the rake.