Z
Zer0-0uts
Rock Star
Silver Level
Like many, when I first started playing poker I had no clue when to call or when to fold or what to do it each situation. I had no idea or concept of outs, or pot odds or any of that. I would call down on a hunch or on a 4 out gut shot or whatever for why ever. I didn't know any better. After loosing enough money I learned a thing or two and started playing with a better understanding of what I was doing and why I was doing it. Because of this my game improved some and I started making a little money here and there.
As I started reading some stuff and learning a thing or two I discovered that tight play won money a lot of the times. I ran with this idea and my play developed into a very nitty style. In fact I became so nitty that if my cards ran cold I would just sit at a table for hours on end in a game until I was blinded out. I got sick of this and I began to force myself to play a looser aggressive game. I still will not go to far with it but my game has loosened up quite a bit.
The thing is as I am leaning into more of a loose game and I am calling down more without having to hold the nuts to felt a hand I am starting to get a better feel for when I have the best of it and when I am beat. The only problem is there has been a few times as of recent where I had a semi decent starting hand, like JJ or 10 10. Not the best but not the worst. I raise pre flop. It folds around to someone in late position or in the blinds and then they re-raise real big. Everything inside me is screaming, "Let the hand go. You are beat. You have been playing a good game. They know they have you beat. They are not bluffing. They have aces. JUST FOLD NOW YOU DONK! FOLD!!!"
And I still call.
I call and they have aces. I bust out or my stack is crippled and I am cursing and calling myself names. I am so close to believing it, but there is still a part of me that remembers the nit who would fold anything at the slightest bet. That part of me thinks, "They are just bluffing. Do not let them do that to you. Stand your ground."
I know the second voice is wrong. I know I am beat but I can not fold. How many times will it take? How many hands must I loose before I trust my gut instinct and act on what I feel to be right? Is there anything I can do to help me get through this slump or is it just a matter of time? Do I really just need to loose enough hands to get the point?
Anyways your thoughts and opinions would be great.
Thank you,
Zer0
As I started reading some stuff and learning a thing or two I discovered that tight play won money a lot of the times. I ran with this idea and my play developed into a very nitty style. In fact I became so nitty that if my cards ran cold I would just sit at a table for hours on end in a game until I was blinded out. I got sick of this and I began to force myself to play a looser aggressive game. I still will not go to far with it but my game has loosened up quite a bit.
The thing is as I am leaning into more of a loose game and I am calling down more without having to hold the nuts to felt a hand I am starting to get a better feel for when I have the best of it and when I am beat. The only problem is there has been a few times as of recent where I had a semi decent starting hand, like JJ or 10 10. Not the best but not the worst. I raise pre flop. It folds around to someone in late position or in the blinds and then they re-raise real big. Everything inside me is screaming, "Let the hand go. You are beat. You have been playing a good game. They know they have you beat. They are not bluffing. They have aces. JUST FOLD NOW YOU DONK! FOLD!!!"
And I still call.
I call and they have aces. I bust out or my stack is crippled and I am cursing and calling myself names. I am so close to believing it, but there is still a part of me that remembers the nit who would fold anything at the slightest bet. That part of me thinks, "They are just bluffing. Do not let them do that to you. Stand your ground."
I know the second voice is wrong. I know I am beat but I can not fold. How many times will it take? How many hands must I loose before I trust my gut instinct and act on what I feel to be right? Is there anything I can do to help me get through this slump or is it just a matter of time? Do I really just need to loose enough hands to get the point?
Anyways your thoughts and opinions would be great.
Thank you,
Zer0