Elements of a losing sslnl player - Page 2 - Live Low-stakes No Limit Poker Forum

I would add that losing players focus too much on short-term results. How often do you see someone stack off their last $100 or less because they want to double up or bust and go home? That $100 is 1/2 to 1/3 of a buy-in for the next time they play.

The corollary to this is the player who goes through an extra buy in or two because they are trying to "get even." Unless this is the only time they are ever going to play poker, they are usually better off going home, licking their wounds, getting their mind right, and coming back than donking off more buy-ins when they are tilted, running bad, or both.

Either way, it's usually better to humbly cash out a little, or quietly leave when you've reached your limit, than to keep chasing the "win" for that one session.

This is MONEY
Joeyblaze talks about this in a similar way but pertaining to a stop win. Most of llsnl is building a bankroll to play 2/5 or 5/10 and packing up a 300 or 400bb winning session after an hour is never a bad idea, even with whales at the table. No ego just money.

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09-07-2014 , 09:20 AM

#27

AbqDave

old hand

Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 1,649

How bout this one: playing to win pots.

The only valid way to keep score is by how much money you make over time. And the only way to do that is, over time, to make lots and lots of little decisions better than the other guys.

I will say this, though. If you're inclined to be an aggressive player, playing to win pots is a losing proposition. But I like the idea of playing for stacks. Meaning, the short term goal in any given session is to win villain's stack eventually. I think that gets you into a good headspace.

Great post, certainly COTM-worthy.

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09-07-2014 , 10:07 AM

#28

floppinnothing

grinder

Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 482

I'd like to add: Playing otherwise garbage hands that, at the time played, qualify for a promotion/high hand/bad beat.

I've fallen into this trap MANY times and I think I've finally learned my lesson. Limping constantly costs a ton of money over a 4-5 hour session and when you finish and are way down it's tough to admit that this was the main reason.

Thoughts?

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09-07-2014 , 12:44 PM

#29

spikeraw22

The Situation

Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 8,741

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoExcuses

This is really only applicable if that entire amount is at stake. If you're at a table of whales who are 100bb deep you boulder leave just because you're up. Unless you're on winners tilt keep at it. What you don't want is for 20% of your roll to be one bad decision away from disappearing. If you're deep at the table then rack em up.

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09-07-2014 , 01:31 PM

#30

NeverGetsThere

stranger

Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 2

Not sure if this is worth adding or is common to others, but one of my worst leaks is staying in a bad bad game on auto-pilot. My local casino often has only a single 1-3 game going. More than once, late at night or mid-afternoon, I see a good LAG pro grinder rack and leave because the game is bad. I stay like a dope, even if I've been soul-read a couple times and not paid on my hands by the guys at the table. wtf am I thinking here? So bad game selection might be a core element of a losing player.

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09-07-2014 , 02:28 PM

#31

dunderstron!

adept

Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 842

Solid thread.

Two things to add:

1. Not value betting big enough on the flop and turn.

2. Not value betting thinly enough on the river.

3. Paying passive players off when the raise.

These are pretty big leaks. If we are playing a strong range and hit the flop well, we should be betting between 2/3 and full pot most of the time. We should also be bet/folding a lot of the time.

Next thread topic idea: how winning players lose at LLSNL. (Top entry: barreling a calling station imo)

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09-07-2014 , 08:33 PM

#32

gutshot000

centurion

Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 183

in your hand example I like raising the turn, maybe another thing can be to know your image, if you've been losing be less likely to bluff

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09-08-2014 , 01:36 AM

#33

BaconMaker

grinder

Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 555

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunderstron!

This is a great reply. When I'm feeling off, I see these leaks come out. Especially #1 and sometimes #2. Rarely #3. I hate paying off nits or fish. I'm totally taking these to the table tomorrow.

Last edited by BaconMaker; 09-08-2014 at 01:37 AM. Reason: Clarity

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09-08-2014 , 01:45 AM

#34

Nozsr

old hand

Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 1,722

Quote:

Originally Posted by solfege

I don't know if this counts as playing backwards or playing scared, but not being willing to exercise FE by semi-bluffing with big draws. I've seen live players often check/call flop and turn with a royal flush draw or some other type of huge combo draw, whiff on the river, and have their opponent turn over just second pair that they certainly would have folded to a flop raise and/or turn barrel.

That's me. Even though I seem to miss more than my outs would imply, I gotta remind myself to shove anyway. It's one loooong session and it evens out.