So You Think You're all That?!?

Well let me first start this by saying, yes. I thought I was all that and a bag of chips at poker. I was Mr. BigHead. I won all my home games, a small tourney in my town, heck I couldn't be beaten. Then I thought to myself, time to get rich. Time to join the internet gambling party. Let me just say this...... I have learned a big lesson. Internet poker is so much dif. than live poker it's almost not in the same category. The thing is, I'm not the best, I'm barely good. I know what to call with, pot odds, and bluffing. Thats about it. I try to study other players but most of the time they switch styles just as much as anyone else. So whos to say what a good card player is? Let me tell you. Pay attention to tournements, If you or someone you know constantly cashes in tourneys, They are the ones to learn from.

So, where I am getting at is, if you started out as Mr. Bighead like me and want to admit it with a story, and on how you got better Please do so, I am verry excited about this thread because It's for learning purposes. So don't be shy, don't feel stupid for admitting anything, be mature and lets hear your stories!!!!

I'm still Mr. BigHead. 4 years and running

But really, poker is a very humbling game. Even the best lose more often than they win, and a huge aspect to success in the game is accepting losses regardless of your skill level.

Once in a while I still go on 'unbeatable' streaks only to have the poker gods give me a nice smack in the back of the head to remind me that variance has it's eye on me

good thing is that i dont really have an ego at the table, at least ive been trying not to have one. just been trying to play my game and let things happen as they will; do what i need to do and see how i fare.

Well I won my home games too, and a local tourny. I had already tried internet poker, and like you, learned that I had a lot to learn. So I read some books, notably Harrington and Gordon's green book. And I then played some more and turned $20 into $350. I thought I was pretty hot. And I think I became more loose and aggressive. And then there was this losing streak..... Now my bankroll is at $200. My ego has been taken down a peg or two, and I realise I still have a lot to learn, including controlling emotions and that TILT.

LMAO at this thread but so so true.

I personally myself haven't played a live game so wouldn't know..but i do know the difference from going from freerolls to cash games and that is totally different.game play. Usually the higher the stakes the better the players.

At least you recognise the problem and are willing to work with it, that proves to be a great player in the making

aloe

I've never really thought I was all that... only when I'm drunk.

In internet poker I've always won... I've never deposited a dime into it and so far all my profits together are $1K+... I always had bills to pay so I always withdrew my winnings, though. I know I'm not the best, and I lose a hell of a lot more than I win... I just grind away and eventually hit big in an MTT.

The one time I thought I was all that and Mr. BigHead was when a bar was having a local tourney for a $10 buy-in and I schooled everyone there. Taking advantage of drunk players was so easy for me... I'd make them lay down big hands when I had rags (just to piss them off), then seem weak and small c-bet when I hit the flop hardcore and they'd try to steamroll me. That was fun times. I finished 2nd out of 80-ish players.

Yeah I know what you mean. My problem is confidence - if I win some big pots I think I'm the bees knees and become over confident. If I lose confidence I play bad poker - limping when I should raise and folding when I should call.

Man, I need to come to terms with the variance then I could play more consistently.

I think we've all had a stage where we thought we were invincible. I know I did.
Realization of the truth will usually follow at some point and knock that invincibility right out of you.

I'm not sure why good luck and bad luck always seems to come in streaks, but these runs can seriously damage your poker playing skills, i.e. overconfident when you keep winning and underconfident when you keep losing.

I've found though that playing overconfidently is much less destructive to your game than playing overcarefully - this comes down to the old rule that says aggression wins.

One time I woke up, started playing a tournament, and realized that I was no good at this game. Been about 3 months since then, I've gotten some help and made some progress (I hope).
True story.

LMAO vanq. I think thats why I love this game so much, no matter how good you get, you can get either way better or worse. Truly a game of both luck and skill, and I've said it before lets hope the skill wins =)

Ty for your replies all, I'm sure theres more out there that need to post on this topic tho =)