Lack of Confidence

xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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Hey guys,

i joined cardschat about 2 or 3 months ago and I've been learning alot since then. Since joining, I was up about 200$ and my career earnings was at -300$. I know this isnt good haha but it was a step towards improvement, seeing as I was a winning live player but a huge sucker online lol. I had to pull off the money i had due to some expenses at home, so two weeks ago, I made a deposit and was hoping that I could make the final leap and turn a profit.

Now currently down about 600 overall and I dont know what to do. I feel like i'm playing ok, but ive recently taken some really harsh beats. Now im not here to complain about those, I'm here bc I honestly have lost all confidence I have in my poker game. I just dont know what to do haha, I feel like every time I sit down that I know I'm just going to lose.

Does anybody have any helpful tips for regaining confidence? other than the standard "drop down in stakes, re read some books" I've done both of those and its not working haha

thanks in advance
 
Jillychemung

Jillychemung

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Have someone sweat you, nothing like another person's POV to confirm you are playing well and it's just variance.
 
Poof

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I have been there many times and usually need to take a break from cash. (that is where I experience it most). I almost know that when I raise PF I am going to whiff the flop and then get stuck, my c bet called and I bleed chips.
I then will switch over to 1 table sng's, and sometimes the 1 table sng's of a different game of poker, usually the 8 game is a nice break.
Usually when I go back a couple days later I am refreshed.
Good luck.
 
T

tcummo

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try taking a short break and think
about the game instead of playing,
try railing good players,
dont play if you are feeling negative
you need to feel POSITIVE when playing
watch and wait, learn as much as you can
then go nail them mofo's
good luck
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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i had a buddy whos a winning online player sit and watch and he told me the same thing haha, "its just a cooler, you'll pull out of this soon" blah blah haha

I mean, its not just cash games, but tournys too lol (which i understand the variance in mtt's is out of control ) I think I have the skill to pull through it, I just dont know what to do anymore
 
ericgarner118

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One good way to find out whether it is a cooler or if your online game isn't up to par, is to go get a some tracking software. Pokertracker and HEM both have free trials that you can use to help you analyze your game better. I would recommend taking a little break from poker. Stop playing it completely, on land and online. Use this time to step back and think about the game. Read a book, watch some training videos, watch some "poker tv", play around with pokerstove and check out stats, do anything you want (aside from sit at a table). Doing this will help you re-asses your thoughts on poker. You'll be able to come back to the table with a clear head and probably a few more tricks up your sleeve. Before you start playing again, go download pokertracker or HEM and get that all setup. Then start playing again. Drop down a lvl or two from where you are used to playing and give it your A-Game. Drop down to 1 table and grind out a few thousand hands. Once you have a decent sample size check out your stats in pokertracker and see how you stand. I would also highly recommend throwing up a couple of your hands (both winners and loosers) in the HA section and see what others have to say. If after all of this you still aren't confident in where your skills are (I'm not saying you'll be great, but you'll know EXACTLY how good/bad you actually are) you may need to take a little vacation from poker.
 
Arjonius

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When I run bad, I try to look as soon as possible to determine how much I'm contributing to the downswing. In theory, it can be just variance at work, but in practice, I've never run bad for more than a few days where I found myself completely blameless.

As to what leaks to look for, I think that varies a fair bit from person to person, but I have some that tend to creep in more often / easily (I suspect many people are similar in this regard), so I look for them first.
 
jazzaxe

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Definite need to track your hands as others have suggested. You may have a systematic leak where you are putting money into pots when you should fold. Bad beats are always accepted risks, especially if you are ahead on the flop. Check to see which street costs you the most, and find if you are weak on the flop or turn. Also may be leaving too much on the table and folding. The tracker can show the betting patterns
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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yea i have pokertracker 3 trial but it just expired last night haha, im playing in a free tournament at school today and winner gets a prize package, so i think im going to take a break from playing online atleast for a couple of days to clear my head
 
Dreams of Tragedy

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welcome to poker variance, it suxs my only way to beat it is to take a break and then return after the variance has pass
 
KoRnholio

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Yeah there's going to be lots of times you get the money in bad, but were right to do so because the other guy could have many other holdings rather than what he had on that specific hand.

Taking a break is a fine idea and something I do fairly often. Also, which limits are you playing online? It's good to keep in mind that live vs online the limits vary a LOT. a $1/2 blinds NL cash game live is often equivalent to about a 25NL (10c/25c) blinds online game.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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its like oh i have pocket kings against q 10? and then flop comes 678, 9 on the turn and its just so depressing lol
 
timboslice4

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Usually i take a break. Right now i would take a break until friday and use the promotion that is given on full tilt. When your losing promotions sometimes help you get back in the swing. Play low stakes cash or RUSH and it will take the pressure off when you know you are gonna get $25 credited to your account from full tilt.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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yea true, i played a live tourny today and got 4th so I'm kinda thinking I can do it again haha
 
D

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I don't think I have much advice to offer because I fall victim to down swings just as bad as the next guy although I must say I think the greatest mistakes players do is try to tweak their play for a few minutes realize their still losing and continue to tweak until an hour later their playing a style their definitely not comfortable with and most time 10x times worse then their regular play.

Have faith in your play with the mind set that in the long run you'll be in the profit.
 
twoturntablez

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I had the same kind of thing a few months ago, I play live at least twice a week in 30+ tourneys and 3 hours a night online. More than a year ago I felt I was a good player, I was getting great results, happy with my game.(live game).

Then I realised I wasnt making the final 3 so often at all. I couldnt make any money on a cash table. I was so boringly break even. My lovely lady was finishing later than I often. I took a break from playing but wasnt able to stop thinking about poker. I looked around some strategy sites and yes, I did read some chapters of books.

The break gave me a little renewed confidence, when I did sit down to play I felt fresher, I had been self analysing, thinking about when and why i was busting, even though there would be good arguments for entering the hands that knocked me out, and whilst I could be happy about those spots, those hands and those positions I wondered if I could have done something earlier, held on for something later, maximised in the middle of the game. Just thinking thinking thinking. It was the only time in more than 2 years I stopped playing for just a couple of weeks and Im happy with the outcome. I still yearn for more information, more experience and more wins though. I reccomend a short break, hopefully the cogs will turn, things drop into place and you'll come back with some confidence and results.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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haha lets hope right? i know variance comes and goes, so it wont stick with me forever
 
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I like the way even though youve lost 300 dollars you consider it a career lol.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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well it still is? im trying to turn it around being the point of the post
 
pokerhead

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this the nature of this game, sometimes you will gain & earn well but onetime you will lost your capital thats 100% true. so don't worry , increase your confidence level then will success.
 
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TorreyB

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It looks like you had some really nice wins at 5NL (on FTP) today.

The one thing I noticed right off the bat was your playing KJo from the BB with an UTG raiser. Despite it being a really nice won pot, playing out of position with a dominated hand could work out to a big money leak over time. The 95o after nothing came on the turn and calling villian's bet at a chance for a 4 outer.

Also, where's your aggression? Your play was so passive and straight forward post flop. Lots of opportunities missed due to allowing people to walk over you.
 
xdeucesx

xdeucesx

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haha the 9 5o was actually a miss call on my part, i wasnt paying 100% attention cause of my roomate haha so i played that entire hand on accident ( i know thats pathetic, but its true haha) and I admit I loosen up at the 5 nl and I know thats not advised, but I like seeing lots of flops and throwing it away if nothings there

Yea I know I was playing passive today, not advised lol but in my defense, I was flopping monsters so I was attempting to let others catch up to me (the set of 8's, flopped straight, turned nut flush)
 
jho

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I know exactly what you mean by lack of confidence. There are too many holes in my game which I'm trying to fix by reading more books an being more selective in my hand selection.

When I run dry on not cashing, I just take a break like others mentioned. Being in the best state of mind I found like tcummo mentioned helps me best.
 
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pokerfaced

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Take a break. It's apparent you need to have the proper mindset before each and every game.
 
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bigbigbucs

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I feel like eevery time I sit down that I know I'm just going to lose.

That one line from your post say's it all!. IF you think u gonna lose u are probaly right. Guranteed! 100% will refund you're missery. Attitude dude change it up xdeuecse, Make it positive. And if u go to a table and think u gonna lose dont even buy in. Good luck, and Remember the little engine that could, I Think I can!. Simple but I hope this helps. Bigbigbucs
 
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