Game specialization

[IrishDave]

Wanted to talk a little about how our personality applies to our poker game. I'm sure that most of you, like me, watch the TV events and have heard: "he's a cash game specialist" or "a great tourney player". I've been thinking back over my online poker career, such as it is, and I've realized that my personality affects my success in the various poker venues.

We have a number of people that like to play, and do well in, the large events with thousands of entries. We have other folks that thrive in the ring games, either limit or no limit. And we have still others that consistantly show in the SNG type of events or smaller tourneys. How much does our basic personality affect our play and should we choose the venue that best suits us?

I probably have the best results in SNGs and smaller tourneys. My ring game success is spotty at best and I know I'd suck in huge tourneys so I've never entered. Why do I do better in the smaller, faster events - I'd say it fits my personality better. I'm a type A in that I like results to come at a high rate of speed and I don't have the patience to play for 4-5 hours in a sitting. Given this, I should find the ring games my natural environment; however, this is where the conservative side of my personality kicks in. With a SNG or small tourney, I've limited my investment - whereas a ring game has no built in limits.

Realizing that my inherent personality affects my play is I think a good first step in selecting the right type of game for me. I think for the next month or so, I'll concentrate specifically on SNGs and see how the bankroll fares. This may be worth a look for some of you as battling your natural personality traits by selecting the wrong type of game could be bad for the bankroll...

 

[tenbob]

Good thread Dave, personally i am a more of a sit and go player, dont really have the patience for either the ring games (even though im playing .25-.50 NL a little ) or the huge tournies.

However there is one tourney on stars that i try to play once a week, its the €5+.50 turbo game at stars, the blinds go up every five minutes, I came second in one of these a few weeks ago for €800, and the full thing took a little over 2 hours.

Personally i like the smaller quicker games, like yourself, but i can see the appeal of the huge MTT's.

 

[Grumbledook]

I've put my hand at most things, though most of the time I play limit holdem ring games.

Starting to play the 6max games now swings have been wild, coupled with my bad play not helping.

Every game takes a different approach, depends what mood I am in.

Now while people say its better to specialise in one thing and get good at it, there is something to be said for learning the others.

Game selection being a good one, if you happen to be really good at one game and either there isn't one going, or there is but its really tough. Then you may well be better switching to another game.

Also playing one thing all the time gets hellava boring!

I like to play stud8 on occasion to keep things fresh.

 

[chicubs1616]

I have found myself switching around types of games every few months. I will usually get into certain "modes" and play one type of thing, etc.

I think that I play all of the games well (at least above average) and I have made a profit in MTTs, SNGs, and cash games.

Currently, I am playing low buy-in MTT's ($1-$5.50) and SNGs ($1.75-$6.50), and the occasional cash table (.25/.50 Limit Hold'em).

 

[buckster436]

I would have to say im a tournament specialist, i dont mind the 2, 3, 0r 4 hours it takes and as long as i feel pretty good i do ok in these, the sit & go`s i also do ok at, but when it comes to the ring games i think i stink, dont know though. The other week i had to play 20 raked hands to clear a bonus of 10 bucks, well i played a ring game and lost 30 bucks in 20 minutes, so it actually cost me $ 20 to get the free $ 10. i just seem to not do good in the ring games, i am guessing you have to use a different strategy and i havent figured that out yet. I am mostly a no-holdem player but on occasion i play stud,razz and omaha, but it seems like i do my best in tourneys. If i can ever figure it out i might be a good ring game player to. Any suggestions on how i can improve my ring games would be appreciated>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> buckster436:icon_salu

 

[IrishDave]

Actually Buck, the change required in shifting from rings to tourneys is what prompted me to write this. I suspect we all have a natural tendency towards a certain type of game and if we get away from that we don't do as well. I'm pretty sure I'm best suited to play in short, fast tourneys and some are more comfortable in slower longer events. The big cash swings in the rings tend to make me nervous and this affects my game in a bad way. As long as I stay at less than 2/4 I'm OK but when I try to go higher, I tend to play my money and not the cards...

 

[chicubs1616]

Dave, if you are playing higher limits and are paying more attention to your money, etc. I suggest putting a piece of paper over your cash amount at the table. It is a primitive 'tilt blocker'...

If you find yourself worrying too much about your stack and not playing solidly, not knowing what your stack size is can help.

There is also a program that you can Google for, I think it's called Tilt Blocker and it's just a little box that you can put over your chip count so you don't think about it every hand.

 

[astuziasbalordito]

I am definitely a tournament specialist, in fact the only cash games i would ever play would be crazy pot limit games with a ton of gamblers.