Rambling about Discipline

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Caryn

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I've been inactive here for quite a bit... took a very long break from playing because I was running really bad, consistently, and I'm aware that this often means I need to break to examine my "leaks". Personal responsibility and whatnot.

Anyways, I'm easing back into playing and have taken note of some things that I thought I'd bring here for discussion, partly for advice and partly for general discussion.

First of all-- I need to stick with Limit tables. I prefer no limit, but I do not have the bankroll to play there yet. I have no shame in admitting I'm a lowroller-- I'm a single mom who plays RECREATIONALLY, not for a living, but I'd still like to improve my game and have a profitable hobby or side hustle. So for that reason, I'm sticking with the limit games.

Secondly, I've lost a skill that I used to be really good at. When I first started playing at a casino, I was so good at walking away when I was ahead. Wouldn't matter if I was up $60 or $600, I was profitable because I was consistent. I was also playing NL back then and without a problem, but I digress.

Somehow, for some reason, after all the "studying" I've done... I've lost this ability. It's my newest leak and something I need to identify, personally, why I choose to "play through" a downswing/variance. Why I no longer leave when I hit a win cap ("I'm running good, enjoying myself, don't want to leave right now") or when I've hit a stop loss ("it could turn around"...)

Yesterday, I should have left. I surpassed my wincap: bought in for $100, turned it into $500 within the first hour!!!:D... but I kept playing and at the end of the day I packed up and cashed out with only $29 :eek: only because I'd be even MORE upset with myself if I allowed it to continue dwindling back down to $0.

Sorry, this is a long ramble but let's discuss discipline. I know I'll get it back-- that's my focus this week before I play again. I'm only playing once a week from now on, and I'd like to see what y'all suggest for staying disciplined and knowing when to walk away. :confused:

PS- This is NOT a tilt-related question either because that actually did not apply. I still left feeling good because I'd had a fun day, losses included... just regretful of losing that discipline.
 
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MrSamsa

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Well, as long as you are making good descision's it shouldn't matter when you get up and leave. It sounds like however once you have a stack you start losing focus. It could also be that perhaps you don't understand the difference between big stack and shortstack play. Which is a problem of my own that I try to work on.

Shortstack descision's and starting hands are easier while the deeper you get,the more pressure can be applied to you. For instance stacking off with pocket aces for 20bb's is going to be standard on pretty much any flop regardless of board texture because of pot odds and stack to pot ratio's, but doing the same with 150 or 180 bb's would be ridiculous and often only get you called by better
 
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Caryn

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Thank you for replying. I can be a short stack ninja at NL cash tables. Used to always exploit the big stack bullies who'd push into me harder... BUT that really only works when you're actually getting the cards, position, circumstances in your favor...

And, I have really seen my cards go to **** ever since I won a Benz last year. Not just running bad, running REALLY bad and then when I do get a good hand, I get coolered hard. (set vs. high set, boat vs. quads, you name it!)

At least that's how it felt, it's why I stopped playing for so long. I was 90% sure I made the right move everytime but kept catching the raw end and couldn't get a break. So I took a break, and did some studying. Now that I'm easing back into it, I'm going back to where I'm more comfortable at the limit games. It's chess vs. checkers, but it's also the one place where bankroll/stack size doesn't matter as much.

It's funny watching a NL player try to win at Limit actually. Preflop action & c-betting are useless... you WILL have 70% of the table chasing to the river, and you just have to adjust your play to understand that you can't shut it down. Personally, I love playing limit BECAUSE there's fish who miss the river so in the long term it's more profitable than the fish who hit the flop at NL.

(In my experience, again... I'm a lowroller with a smaller bankroll so I tend to play tight aggressive but only as aggressive as a short stack ninja can... while the big stack bullies seem to love cracking aces with 64off lol)
 
Shells

Shells

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Running bad really does suck! But, it's good to see you are easing yourself back into the game. And of course, stick with whatever you feel most comfortable with.

I remember when you announced you had won the Benz, and we were all so excited and happy for you! :)
 
This Fish Chums

This Fish Chums

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Disclaimer: This is a massive problem for me. If I'm winning I just keep playing to win more. If I'm losing, I just keep playing to turn it around.

With that said, I do think I have some advice for you. Ask yourself if there is any major difference in your non-poker life now compared to where you were at before. Are your expenses higher? Are you deeper in debt? Did you have another child, or did your children grow up to a point where they needed more or less attention? Did you get a promotion at work? My point here is, if something major has changed in your life, then really examine how that difference could be causing you to stick around too long at the poker table. It could even be that there is an aspect of your non-poker life you are trying to avoid. Obviously, don't answer this in the board, just ask yourself if something like this could be affecting your play.
For me, it gets worse when I am in debt. I feel like I need to win more to win my way out of debt. Never works.

Something you could try is instead of giving yourself a win limit, give yourself a time limit. Whether you're winning or losing you'll quit when the time expires. I've never been able to do it, but if you can do it, then the question becomes why do you have the discipline to stop at a time period and not at a winning/losing amount.

Another possibility is that subconsciously you feel like you had stopped playing for so long that if you end this one session you may decide to stop playing again. Something like that could be affecting your ability to stop.

In the end, I have no clue how to solve this problem. If you figure it out, let me know.
 
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Caryn

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Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply! This is actually really solid advice, and it makes a lot of sense. I will say (publicly) that one thing in particular really struck a cord in an unexpected way lol.

Man, one of the things I love about this game is-- win or lose-- there's always something to go introspective about and a lesson to learn haha. Today I was made aware of something else-- after the fact-- and it's hard to put into words but I'm curious if anyone else goes through this too...

I'm empathetic. For the most part, I never thought it impacted my game play but I think today, some combination of that AND law of attraction kicked in. I had 3 players all around me who were all complaining about having the second best hand everytime, etc. Up until a certain point, I'd been playing with an average number of wins & losses but I swear after a 1/2 hour of them complaining to me, I started experiencing the same. It wasn't just a perception shift... and I realize how silly it sounds so I hope that's making sense.



In other words, I'm going to have to move tables or something if I'm ever surrounded by the negative nancies. Even when I run bad, I keep it to myself but I swear I absorb that energy when it's around me haha. At least, that was the lesson when I went for broke *today*. (Sigh)
 
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Caryn

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Thank you! I still can't believe that happened, and I hate adding a "but" because it is a big deal...but I swear it feels like the lotto curse! Part of me wants to hit the bad beat jackpot for my next big win, but part of me is also afraid of how bad things could go afterwards if I do! lol
 
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