Quote:
Originally Posted by fuzztacular
Hey man just wanted to chime in. You came to this forum not looking for advice about stopping to play, but rather continuing your goals for poker. You can't blame us for telling you stop playing - you've lost too much money than you can afford and should be focused on paying off your debts, and getting rid of your bad habits (poker). But I know you're not gonna stop playing, at least not yet. So I'll give you some poker-related advice.
The way you're approaching the game is a losing one – you're looking to make $, rather than to get better. The only way you can become a winning player is to lose the mentality of trying to make money, and instead try to make the most +EV decisions in the long run. You need to be diligent about reviewing hands. I mean 3-4 hands in depth AT LEAST from every session. You should be posting on here and asking users for feedback. Approach the game with intellectual curiosity, rather than emotional dependency. This practice of constant review and improvement is a way to build sustainable success in the long run. You're treating this last $50 as though your life depends on it, which isn't gonna help you win. Emotional attachment to money in poker will be your greatest downfall.
Someone once told me stupidity is defined as repeating the same mistakes over and over. You are finally practicing bankroll management which is a good first step. But go further. Buy a sub to a training site. Take studying seriously. Stop focusing on what's in your bankroll. Review hands from every session. Try to start actually improving your skills rather than just playing hoping hoping and hoping your bankroll will grow because in the long run it won't without a ton of skill improvement. Send brokenstars a PM asking very nicely if he's still willing to give you a free coaching session. You won't profit in poker by getting Aces vs Kings and running well (you'll be on the flip side of that coin just as often in the long run). You profit by making plays that other people aren't and having a superior strategy.
It's not as hard as you think it is to become a winning player. But as others have mentioned, you need to put in the work. And that means away from the table. Don't repeat the same pattern and mindset of losing. If you can't enact that level of discipline to get yourself studying, you will continue to lose. Give yourself a kick in the ass and change your whole mindset. It's a fresh start. The 50k is in the past so stop trying to win it back. Start trying to improve.
Now these are the kind of words of encouragement I was looking for! Thank you sir.
It seem's that I have gotten this thread off to a really bad start. Either everyone is so caught up in the amount I have lost, or I am not fully articulating what it is that I am trying to say.
I have every intention of getting some hand histories in here, I just haven't gotten around to it yet (I am still re-familiarizing myself with the WPN software as I hadn't played on there in a year or so. Specifically I am having trouble getting hand histories. But my intention is to post hands where I am unsure of my line and ask for advice and constructive critisim)
Actually, I am not looking at the money at all (other than in terms of # of Buy-ins for whatever level I am playing.) I am ONLY interested in improving as a player, and being able to beat the game and move up in stakes. The money will come with the improved skill.
At some point I will do a twitch or a live stream. While I am certainly not good, I really am not nearly as bad as you folks think I am....
I don't have access to PM for some reason (perhaps because I literally just made this account on Tuesday?) but I do hope to get some coaching at some point. But again, I really think my problem is rooted in patience and discipline more than anything. When and if I do get a coaching session, if they can show me otherwise I will certainly be glad to make any adjustments needed to improve my game. But often time (like 80 to 90% of the time) I know when I am making a bad move, but just haven't had the discipline to reverse course. But again, I am trying to change that.
In any event. I am here to learn. I am here to improve. This wasn't some pity party thread, this wasn't a cry for attention. This was an honest to god attempt at finding some help to improve my game. I don't see any reason why I can't be a winning poker player, but I also at times don't fully know why I am a losing player either. Obviously, making those big lay downs will help a lot. But I'm sure it can't just be that, can it? I expect in a month or two that I will have gotten better and playing tight and making those folds when I need to, but I still expect to be a more or less break even player at that point (If i am not, then hot damn! I found my leak) and at that point, once I have started to develop some good habits, I will very much actively seek out more advice and coaching. Right now, I am just trying to learn how to not go broke. Gotta do that before I can really learn how to win money, right?