I havent played a MTT in a month and I actually ran very good in december. Dont really miss them yet

I agree with OP MTTc should all take a good hard look at grinding sits, and dropping the higher variance MTT's.

HSMTTs are pretty brutal if you don't have a massive life roll and need to rely on them as your sole source of income, and you aren't one of the best players. I can really relate to your current feelings. A month ago I was ready to throw in the towel completely and maybe even rejoin the workforce, but it seems like every time I am ready to give up on them, I bink and get sucked back in by that incredible rush that comes from shipping a big score.

As far as not having success on sundays... well, that must really suck. Up until the last two weeks, I've always had the opposite problem. I think threatening the poker gods with departure is a really good step, though. Anyways, looks like you pwn mttsngs, so it sounds like you have a pretty good plan. I wouldn't give up Mtts completely tho. I think you should just drop the toughest tourneys on your schedule, and keep grinding the fields you have a significant edge in.

Man, I am terrible at giving advice and this post is pretty much useless... but, you are a pretty damn good player, and, honestly, it's only a matter of time before you bink a 50k+ score imo.

Thanks for the kind words, Halowax, I appreciate it. I don't know how many other MTTers can claim to be up around 80 K on weekdays - without a score over 15 K - and be a losing player on Sundays. I throw away 5 K every Sunday and I can't imagine there being any logical explanation for that besides bad luck.* I can think of three hands over the last year that I lost in the final two tables of majors and lost around 100 K in equity. The problem with "it's only a matter of time until I bink something" is that there is a very precise time until I graduate - May 2011 - and I want to have a substantial "life" bankroll by then.

At the very least I want to grind SNGs for a while, pocket some cash, then worry about taking some shots again.


* I know that there are a lot of poker players who are much better than I am. I am not claiming to be nearly as good as Menlo, DJK, etc. But still, I am easily +ev in every thing I play in on Sundays.

Martin lawrence didnt free the slaves so quitters like you could quit on your dreams. come on, think of the courage it took for outkast to tell all those people to get off their bus...

all im sayin it you can do it. gl in sngs.

Thanks. Hmm, it's Friday night. WUG BAC?

Oh God I really do have to play the double guarantees next week, I just looked at the schedule, that is so sick. Consider it a last hurrah for weekday MTTs; don't think I am coming back for good if you see me next week at the tables. I'll still try to play 500 SNGs on the side to stay near the pace I want for SNE.

you're not staying backed for these sit and gos right?

lol poker

seriously though tournaments are for people who can mentally accept the fact that a lot of things are out of your control and don't let swongs bother them

if you just aren't capable its good to be able to admit that to yourself and do something else you can be successful at

i cant say i "sympothize" with your situation bc i find it hard to believe you have come close to running the furthest below expectation of anyone who has ever played poker- but at the same time i do know how frustrating tournies can be especially deep in big ones

gl with w/e you do

+1 white water raf ride

you make those of us who havent given up feel stronger OP

FWIW I really don't think a lack of mental toughness has much to do with my decision to go back to SNGs. I just need to make sure that I make a lot of money this year so that I can have some savings for when I graduate.

and here I was just starting to think you were decent! Haven't you had some impressive scores lately?? Are you backed? I find mtt's enjoyable, but I have never been backed for anything other than a 10k here and there.

Sundays are pure variance and you know thiiiiiiis maaaaaaaaaaaaaan... being down on sunday's is an affliction of many people, but all it takes is one score. I won't give u a speech because obv I am up a ****load on sundays (brag) but if you keep playing, i am sure you will hit something nice. I have a horse with same problem as you, and it was tilting me to the point where I wanted to cut him off on Sunday's, but I knew better, and sure enough a few weeks ago he hit for like 45k and then the next day won another 20. If you don't want to play mtt's good for you, but doubt you are "over" anything... oh and maybe u just suck =)

needs more love

Hey man,

As far as I can tell from playing with you both in MTTs and SNGs you are a very good player.

Only advice I have for you is to be careful as far as counting on making SNE. To do it with only SNGs at a $60 ABI you would have to put in huge volume. Ya it's doable, but very tough - because it's so many hours of playing.

I was contemplating going for SNE at the beginning of last year (via mainly SNGs), gave up around January 20. Was just too much grinding for me; I also didn't like that it really takes away from developing as a poker player. I mean when you are just focused on the volume, your win rate - and improving as a player will take a backseat.

GL with whatever you decide to do.

Most Sunday tournaments are idiotic and are the virtual equivalent of Martingaling black or red on the roulette wheel. I would be psyched if my backers cut me off from Sundays. Just don't play them, problem solved.


Edit: As online tournaments go, the Sunday 500 and Tilt 150r are decent tournaments.

I am backed by Dipthrong and DJK, and like I've already said in this thread, I have nothing but good things to say about both of them. I went very deep in makeup last year and I got out of it by raping in December/ early January. The second I got out of makeup I went on a 12 K downswing. That's not a huge deal for someone playing 100Rs (the afternoon ones are pretty damn soft imo), but basically I am paranoid that I will go deep in makeup and not make money from poker for several months again.

If I did decide to go for SNE and I made it, I don't see how I couldn't make at least $150,000 this year. I need the money.

EDIT: Another point that is important that I haven't mentioned yet. When I was deep in makeup I wanted to switch to SNGs, but I was never going to leave my backers in makeup and I wasn't going to grind my way out of 50 K in makeup with $60 SNGs. I suppose I could still play some MTTs this year, but if I get SNE, that bonus money is a sure thing.

Ironically, to this point in my poker career I have made money in the 100Rs and the Sunday 500. My ROI is comically low in $200 FOs.

Really? A 12k downswing and you quit?

Enough of you and we'll be called the MARSHMALLOW CITY or the CITY OF QUITTERS.

are you really sure you want to leave all this behind?

Poker Stars $20+$2 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t125/t250 Blinds + t25 - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

JAY54BEAR (BB): t11251 M = 19.57
Swiper24 (UTG): t2428 M = 4.22
ibancasas (UTG+1): t5541 M = 9.64
Hero (MP1): t4260 M = 7.41
nissiegrande (MP2): t2930 M = 5.10
ajent (CO): t11635 M = 20.23
handup1 (BTN): t6591 M = 11.46
animal vlax (SB): t2942 M = 5.12

Pre Flop: (t575) Hero is MP1 with A A
2 folds, Hero raises to t588, nissiegrande raises to t2905 all in, 1 fold, handup1 calls t2905, 2 folds, Hero raises to t4235 all in, handup1 calls t1330

Flop: (t11950) 3 9 Q (3 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: (t11950) 8 (3 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t11950) 5 (3 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t11950
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
nissiegrande shows Q K (a pair of Queens)
handup1 shows 9 9 (three of a kind, Nines)
handup1 wins t2660
handup1 wins t9290

Poker Stars $10+$1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t200/t400 Blinds + t50 - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

canagian (MP2): t8680 M = 8.27
tankbuilder2 (CO): t13842 M = 13.18
GOONIE4LYFE (BTN): t7408 M = 7.06
triKKed (SB): t3918 M = 3.73
11_SKOAL_11 (BB): t7990 M = 7.61
Hero (UTG): t11857 M = 11.29
bbear9 (UTG+1): t13422 M = 12.78
Phat Bap (UTG+2): t7564 M = 7.20
mkwon1ny (MP1): t21527 M = 20.50

Pre Flop: (t1050) Hero is UTG with A A
Hero raises to t994, 4 folds, tankbuilder2 raises to t1600, 3 folds, Hero raises to t3760, tankbuilder2 raises to t11600, Hero raises to t11807 all in, tankbuilder2 calls t207

Flop: (t24664) 8 K 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Turn: (t24664) Q (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: (t24664) 7 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t24664
tankbuilder2 shows Q Q (three of a kind, Queens)
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
tankbuilder2 wins t24664

Poker Stars $25.00+$2.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t75/t150 Blinds - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

RBCPeter (BTN): t3825 M = 17
platypus1983 (SB): t1965 M = 8.73
I*bettor*bet (BB): t7735 M = 34.38
diverjoules (UTG): t7705 M = 34.24
Hero (UTG+1): t3300 M = 14.67
Hookerje (UTG+2): t1450 M = 6.44
FelipeXIV (MP1): t1270 M = 5.64
4serious20 (MP2): t2265 M = 10.07
plastikcards (CO): t5620 M = 24.98

Pre Flop: (t225) Hero is UTG+1 with K A
1 fold, Hero raises to t450, 4 folds, RBCPeter raises to t900, 2 folds, Hero raises to t3300 all in, RBCPeter calls t2400

Flop: (t6825) 3 Q 7 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Turn: (t6825) K (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: (t6825) 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t6825
RBCPeter shows K A (a flush, Ace high)
Hero shows K A (a pair of Kings)
RBCPeter wins t6825


Poker Stars $50+$5 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t25/t50 Blinds - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

ronader (UTG): t7100 M = 94.67
funnygut (MP): t2780 M = 37.07
Hero (CO): t1850 M = 24.67
hateordie (BTN): t3875 M = 51.67
ezcomezgo55 (SB): t2285 M = 30.47
Mikeelectric (BB): t2410 M = 32.13

Pre Flop: (t75) Hero is CO with A A
2 folds, Hero raises to t150, 1 fold, ezcomezgo55 calls t125, Mikeelectric calls t100

Flop: (t450) T 5 6 (3 players)
ezcomezgo55 checks, Mikeelectric bets t100, Hero raises to t400, ezcomezgo55 calls t400, Mikeelectric raises to t2260 all in, Hero calls t1300 all in, ezcomezgo55 calls t1735 all in

Turn: (t6420) K (3 players - 3 are all in)

River: (t6420) 2 (3 players - 3 are all in)

Final Pot: t6420
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
ezcomezgo55 shows 7 A (a flush, Ace high)
Mikeelectric shows T K (two pair, Kings and Tens)
ezcomezgo55 wins t870
ezcomezgo55 wins t5550


Poker Stars $11+$1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t15/t30 Blinds - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

EsEskaliert (BTN): t1745 M = 38.78
captain808 (SB): t960 M = 21.33
Mahorkka (BB): t2070 M = 46
khanrava (UTG): t1320 M = 29.33
Hero (UTG+1): t1490 M = 33.11
facbiv (MP1): t1420 M = 31.56
Phily88 (MP2): t1670 M = 37.11
gerzat63 (CO): t2495 M = 55.44

Pre Flop: (t45) Hero is UTG+1 with A A
1 fold, Hero raises to t90, 2 folds, gerzat63 raises to t150, 3 folds, Hero raises to t450, gerzat63 calls t300

Flop: (t945) K 8 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, gerzat63 bets t2045 all in, Hero calls t1040 all in

Turn: (t3025) J (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t3025) Q (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t3025
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
gerzat63 shows Q Q (three of a kind, Queens)
gerzat63 wins t3025

Like I said I know a 12 K downswing is nothing; I went 50 K deep in makeup last year. But if I stop now I can grind out of MU within a month or so and then keep all of my action in SNGs, as I will only need a ~10 K bankroll.

For me this is more about the rewards of reaching SNE. If I play 36,000 SNGs, those rewards, totaling around $120,000, are guaranteed. SNGs seem like a pretty sure thing for me, and I really, REALLY want to make a lot of money before I graduate.

I've always wondered why certain players seem to dominate during the week and suck on sundays and vice versa. I guess like you said, chalking it up to variance makes the most sense. If you do decide to play SNGs I don't see any reason why you should pass up the huge equity mtt's on sundays (espec rebuys like the $22^3 or w/e). GL

this thread is a f joke

The regression of your profit does NOT make me feel bad for you.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm really not. Getting my peers' perspectives on a serious career change is helpful to me.