Starting to get frustrated with poker. I'll go on multi-week or month streaks of being a winner with a decent ROI for that period, and then i'll go on a long losing streak, have to move down, and ultimately am just breaking even. the only good that comes of this is i have more points for a custom FTP avatar.

for those that this is applicable to, what one thing (the last thing) did you fix to become a winning player?

I stopped looking for magic bullets/quick fixes/shortcuts and worked on my game.

Stopped thinking of poker as a lightning in the bottle win big money quick game.

I concentrate on the long run and that has made a huge difference for me in HUSNG's.

yeah ive been working on my game too. but it occurred to me that eventually as im improving i'll change something and that will be what causes me to tip the scales and become a winner.

Lots of practice, a willingness to make tough folds, and a lack of ego.

started working harder.

Hmm, Ive done alot better since i got away from turbos to a much slower structure again (from 3 min blinds to 10 min).

Sample size still but i know im a endgame fish who got tired of getting crushed in flips and coolers vs fish at the 50/100 level

when i played slower and made good notes

Started playing my own game. Stopped trying to think what 2p2 players would do, whats standard, what Spamz or Hokie would do, started trying to understand how my specific ranges affected their specific ranges and interpreting things within the context of actual gameflow. Started having confidence in my reads. Discipline (although still somewhat lacking at times).

Also remembering that most people are pretty ******ed. They don't adapt, they are transparent. Don't level yourself into spewing into fish or stagnant regs. Just own their low level thinking asses by playing solid values. Understand where your edge comes from vs each player and don't get too caught up in minor FPS.

Attempted to actually think and adjust to different player types instead of playing a set strategy that was just a blend of stuff I had read but didn't really understand.

I started value betting way thinner. And way bigger.

Working on my tilt

Stopped caring about the money, and started playing each hand as good as I could in that moment with the information I had... It's a game of information, the more info you learn early in the match, the easier your life will be.

I like this thread ..

Well, good br, starting to aim thinking just 1 level above my opponent and not trying to chase too complex situations which didn't occur.
Also started looking at my roll as buy ins not just cold cash and learned that aggression pays off

Still strugling with my ego and esp when someone tries to abuse me (in game) and afterwards I always fight back irespectively of the consequences. Also I started playing only when I have desire to and not force myself into increasing the daily volume.

Work harder?

It might delight you to know that there are multiple key concepts that separate mediocre and good players.

In the spirit of being less douchey, it'd be easier for us to give you suggestions on key aspects to focus on if you let us know what games you play and what problems you face, maybe post some HUD stats.

most important is to obv beat the game with ur playstyle.
second is imo to understand variance/roi/tilt/downswings.

i'm not looking for that. this is just a show and tell.

i just introduced this thread with my problem to illustrate the pain of being just a little bit less than a winner and to explain my motivation for posting this.

that's an action item for you. update me on monday.

think about what you are trying to accomplish everytime you feel like betting, and think about if your objective is logical, and then find the best bet size to accomplish such objective.

ie

villian has shown strength by calling 2 sts on K2956r, and we hold 99, I dont think he is going to fold, so I will overbet shove to get value from his hands.

vs

villian has shown strength by calling 2sts on JT38sss6, and we hold 99, I dont think he is going to fold, but I am going to overbet shove because I am an idiot and do not bluff in the right spots

Good post


I think just putting in the effort to study, review hands and get in volume goes a long way. But I also think there are plateaus that people can reach or that ppl have certain eurika moments that can greatly advance there game. I've had a few so far (though i have such a long way to go) such as Mer's excellent "22 flawed reasons" article, getting involved in a study group (had a lot of small eurika moments) and most recently binking the free coaching with RbJ.

Obviously starting to think in terms of ranges was a big one, but this was more of a gradual transition for me - from thinking in terms of my hand strength.

wp nh etc

got a links to mers' 22 flawed reaons article?

Frankly the best book you can get is for free here on 2+2. Go to the stickys on the game you want to play and copy them. Like it says in http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/78...-bible-213100/ there is great freeware for book writing that I use http://www.spacejock.com/yWriter5.html?yWriter5 Download it and set up chapters on a topic like 3 betting or bet sizing and then you can copy and paste articles from 2+2 or magazines or where ever and have your own book. I have 540,000 words in mine now.

here it is

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/18...ussion-866126/

He posted it on 2+2 a couple months back and it's in the stickies