How to teach yourself to play only with a good hand? I noticed that I often play almost all hands and play very aggressively. I notice it and I understand what's wrong. I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

You have to control your game. I play in this way only the bigger the blinds, the more I shake my aggression and play only certain hands. Almost every pair and AK, AQ, AJ, KQ, KJ,

If you're having this problem, self control alone isn't going to do anything for you. So I suggest you sit down at a cash table where the blinds are 10 dollars. or higher if you like. Play every hand as you currently do and see how you feel after about an hour of that. Do this everyday for a month, and I GUARANTEE you will be cured of wanting to play every hand.

Well you know what the problem is, so it will be easier to over come. Your problem reminds me of my tilt problem I had when I first joined CC about 6 years ago. For 6 months all I worked on was my very bad tilt problem. And you have to do the same thing. You catch yourself playing any and every hand you go back to the way you want to play and you keep your problem on your mind at all times, and you keep going back over and over, and before you know it you will be playing your game with the good hands. But at times some of those hands have their place in your game. That's another lesson

But if you will be honest with yourself, you have a problem with wanting to be in the action all the time. You can't fold and wait for a better hand. That's too slow for you and it's no fun or exciting. If you don't get these problems under control. you will see many BRs go down the drain and fast. Or are you willing to pay that price just to have your heart pumping with excitement every time you are in a hand no matter if its a wining or losing hand. This is a fact and I'm not the only player that has to do this in order to stay in the game until the good hands start coming, I have set for the whole first hour and folded 90% of the hands I got. And most of the time it was worth it just to get to the FT

GL to you

Originally Posted by BriceNice

If you're having this problem, self control alone isn't going to do anything for you. So I suggest you sit down at a cash table where the blinds are 10 dollars. or higher if you like. Play every hand as you currently do and see how you feel after about an hour of that. Do this everyday for a month, and I GUARANTEE you will be cured of wanting to play every hand.

LOL. Well I don't know if I'd call this good advice, but I'd also be surprised if you were not cured, if you followed it. Broke (or badly bent) but cured.

Maybe play more than one game, say four at the same time. That should keep you occupied.

Originally Posted by Aleksandr Sarpov

How to teach yourself to play only with a good hand? I noticed that I often play almost all hands and play very aggressively. I notice it and I understand what's wrong. I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

If you know that you are doing it then just stop doing it, I don't believe that you are doing it unconsciously, you know you have a problem with it but you keep doing it, that is not unconsciously that is lack of discipline.

If you are playing every hand you will be extremely exploitable and a good player will take your entire stack in no time. You have to pick and choose your aggression or it will cost you a lot. Get a opening range hand chart and follow it to a T for a while until you know it like the back of your hand. At that point you can adjust your opening range to suit the table you are at. good luck.

Originally Posted by BriceNice

If you're having this problem, self control alone isn't going to do anything for you. So I suggest you sit down at a cash table where the blinds are 10 dollars. or higher if you like. Play every hand as you currently do and see how you feel after about an hour of that. Do this everyday for a month, and I GUARANTEE you will be cured of wanting to play every hand.

That is, if I will be many and often lose from this, then I will stop doing so? Well, maybe. Just do not want to spend a lot of money on it)

Drink a soothing calmly fold the card and play only a strong hand, in 90% against the aggressive style you will be in a winning situation, conservative poker is the key to success especially at many table tournaments

Originally Posted by PapaC

Well you know what the problem is, so it will be easier to over come. Your problem reminds me of my tilt problem I had when I first joined CC about 6 years ago. For 6 months all I worked on was my very bad tilt problem. And you have to do the same thing. You catch yourself playing any and every hand you go back to the way you want to play and you keep your problem on your mind at all times, and you keep going back over and over, and before you know it you will be playing your game with the good hands. But at times some of those hands have their place in your game. That's another lesson

But if you will be honest with yourself, you have a problem with wanting to be in the action all the time. You can't fold and wait for a better hand. That's too slow for you and it's no fun or exciting. If you don't get these problems under control. you will see many BRs go down the drain and fast. Or are you willing to pay that price just to have your heart pumping with excitement every time you are in a hand no matter if its a wining or losing hand. This is a fact and I'm not the only player that has to do this in order to stay in the game until the good hands start coming, I have set for the whole first hour and folded 90% of the hands I got. And most of the time it was worth it just to get to the FT

GL to you

This is a very good advice. Thank you. When I read it, it became clear why I started playing each hand. Firstly, I really get bored fold. Secondly playing turbo tournaments very often my entire stack goes to the blinds in anticipation of a good hand. In the third often it happens so I throw off for example 4 K, and the flop comes 44K

Originally Posted by Zorba

If you know that you are doing it then just stop doing it, I don't believe that you are doing it unconsciously, you know you have a problem with it but you keep doing it, that is not unconsciously that is lack of discipline.

This is the problem that I do unconsciously. As soon as I start to notice it again, I immediately stop. But then I start concentrating more on the players, on their game. Because of what again I cease to control myself

Originally Posted by TheNutz4You

If you are playing every hand you will be extremely exploitable and a good player will take your entire stack in no time. You have to pick and choose your aggression or it will cost you a lot. Get a opening range hand chart and follow it to a T for a while until you know it like the back of your hand. At that point you can adjust your opening range to suit the table you are at. good luck.

And can I more about the range of hands? I've heard a lot about him, but I still do not understand what it is

This is what separates a professional poker player from a fish. He knows how to play marginal hands, he has them in his range. To earn the skill of playing loose-ag you have to understand that no matter who you are , if you play every single hand, you lose. You must avoid these things and play only premium hands (at first), and only after it you can try the variety of other hands you would like to add to your range.

Originally Posted by Glebtyzhnyh90

Drink a soothing calmly fold the card and play only a strong hand, in 90% against the aggressive style you will be in a winning situation, conservative poker is the key to success especially at many table tournaments

I know that this is the key to success.) On this and I think my game is very bad. Yes, I fish.))) But I would like to do without pills. Soothing is unlikely to help, and the tablets from the fact that you are not yet a fish.))

Try giving yourself another criteria to think about besides the strength of your hand before entering the pot - such as position. Consider your position along with your cards and ask yourself how many opponents get to act after you? Play your super premium hands from any position but try to save speculative hands that need help for late position.

Originally Posted by VizziVizo

This is what separates a professional poker player from a fish. He knows how to play marginal hands, he has them in his range. To earn the skill of playing loose-ag you have to understand that no matter who you are , if you play every single hand, you lose. You must avoid these things and play only premium hands (at first), and only after it you can try the variety of other hands you would like to add to your range.

That is, drop everything that is worse than AT and the pair below TT?

Originally Posted by Ruminate

Try giving yourself another criteria to think about besides the strength of your hand before entering the pot - such as position. Consider your position along with your cards and ask yourself how many opponents get to act after you? Play your super premium hands from any position but try to save speculative hands that need help for late position.

I always pay attention to the position. But only in the question of how many more people will be able to enter and whether to steal the blinds. I did not think about the fact that it depends on the position whether to play the hand. Thank you for your advice.

Originally Posted by BriceNice

If you're having this problem, self control alone isn't going to do anything for you. So I suggest you sit down at a cash table where the blinds are 10 dollars. or higher if you like. Play every hand as you currently do and see how you feel after about an hour of that. Do this everyday for a month, and I GUARANTEE you will be cured of wanting to play every hand.

I wouldn't agree with this advice. You will lose your whole bankroll in no time and you want to fix a problem, not create another one.

Stop playing, for now, do some research on hand strength and position.

Download flopzilla, have a play around and learn how certain hands do against others, get used to what the top 15% of hands are.

Equilab is also another good piece of software to have a play around with, learn about equity, what equity you have against villains range.


When you do play, bear in mind that you have a massive leak in your game and opening nearly every hand will eventually get you hurt and exploited by a decent player. Play tight, too tight for a start if you have to, then you can start widening your range but get the folding under control,

Have something like this open when you are playing to get used to what hands you can play in what position.

This chart is a little wider than I would play but it is a good starting point to get your head around and only playing stronger cards in position will help your game without doubt.

Good luck!

I tried to play only strong hands. For the test went into the cash game with $ 0.8. An hour later came out having $ 2.42. Not a bad result. You must now always behave yourself so. All thanks for the advice. If there are more tips, always happy to listen.)))

Originally Posted by steadman0

Have something like this open when you are playing to get used to what hands you can play in what position.

This chart is a little wider than I would play but it is a good starting point to get your head around and only playing stronger cards in position will help your game without doubt.

Good luck!

This is a great table. many thanks. I will print it out and keep it to myself. It is very convenient and easy to use. thanks again

I understand your problem and i have the same feeling. I want to play lots of hands, but it,s impossible to win each hand. You need to better work on yourself. If you want to win you need to fold bad hands without a position. Also i can advice you hyper-turbo tournaments. There is more luck when skill in this tournament, so it,s easier to win there, even with bad hands.

Originally Posted by BriceNice

If you're having this problem, self control alone isn't going to do anything for you. So I suggest you sit down at a cash table where the blinds are 10 dollars. or higher if you like. Play every hand as you currently do and see how you feel after about an hour of that. Do this everyday for a month, and I GUARANTEE you will be cured of wanting to play every hand.

Verry good point after few experiments like this one you'l be thinking if is ok to play evan AA)))

Originally Posted by EvE2K

I understand your problem and i have the same feeling. I want to play lots of hands, but it,s impossible to win each hand. You need to better work on yourself. If you want to win you need to fold bad hands without a position. Also i can advice you hyper-turbo tournaments. There is more luck when skill in this tournament, so it,s easier to win there, even with bad hands.

Now just played such a tournament. Has spent the whole stack on the blinds. Not once did not call. Had bad hands. Made rebuy and again the whole stack went to the blinds. Made another 1 rebuy and went good cards. Played a little, but then after getting an A10 and opening on the flop 9KJ called all-in another player. And lost everything. Q did not come. Apparently late as it is inherent in girls.

i use something like this

Categoria 1: AA, KK


Categoria 2: QQ, AKs, AKo, JJ


Categoria 3: AQs, AQo, TT, 99


Categoria 4: AJs, KQs, 88, 77


Categoria 5: AJo, ATs, ATo, KQo,

KJs, 66, 55

Categoria 6: A9s-A2s, KJo, KTs,

QJs, QTs, JTs, 44,

33, 22

Categoria 7: A9-A2, KTo, QJo,

On 1st category i will allways call all ins 2nd i will call BB raises in rest i will ignore in most of casses

help to control situation a bit more but you have the button so you shall be the one that control the situation

Originally Posted by Yoo

Verry good point after few experiments like this one you'l be thinking if is ok to play evan AA)))

АА it's very very bad((

Originally Posted by Aleksandr Sarpov

How to teach yourself to play only with a good hand? I noticed that I often play almost all hands and play very aggressively. I notice it and I understand what's wrong. I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

I think this is one of the many components of poker skills - not thinking about your cards - aggression is good, but without thinking about enemy cards, you can not control it in a wide range, it's also not a mistake, but until you see the flop, consider That the opponent has missiles on his hands and you must understand how to defeat them. Good luck to you

Sounds like you want to be in the action no matter what. It can get boring if you fold all but the best cards though. I open a play money table when I am in a tournament to allow myself that freedom. I let my loose playing free there and keep it tight for the tournament. Give it a shot.

Eventually you realize that you can't play every single hand. So don't worry that much!

"Tight Agressive"

I dont think what you eat matters with hand selection. Maybe watch some videos and read some books and really try to put together ranges for each position.

Good question.

When I started playing poker I played every hand.

It took great effort and practice to fold.

Learn well the lessons of the game and stakes in all positions or... hands.

Originally Posted by Aleksandr Sarpov

How to teach yourself to play only with a good hand? I noticed that I often play almost all hands and play very aggressively. I notice it and I understand what's wrong. I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

You are a loose aggressive player, so your personality is aggressive and that is hard to change. But the winning players are tight aggressive, have a list of hands that you want to play pre flop written down in front of you, and play those aggressively.

You play only good hands ... depending on your position you can open the range of those hands ... I recommend you search the internet for some poker school, there you will find information on the range of hands to play according to your position ...

I couldn't help myself and I got "the best" answers .

You have to control your game.

If you know that you are doing it then just stop doing it

If it was that simple to just stop doing it, then probably OP wouldn't even ask that question...

Originally Posted by Aleksandr Sarpov

I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

There is a great book dedicated to subject of tilt, fear, motivation and learning poker in general called The Mental Game of Poker. I am reading it right now and it addresses the problem you have and many other problems.

There is learning model called "Adult Learning Model" and the book describes it as:

Level 1 — Unconscious Incompetence. You don’t even know what you don’t know. In other words, you’re blind to the ways that you lack skill, which isn’t necessarily good or bad. For some players ignorance is bliss.

Level 2 — Conscious Incompetence. Now you’ve become conscious of what you don’t know. But that doesn’t make you skilled, it just means you know what skills you need to improve. Becoming conscious happens from either your own insight or insight that is shared with you by someone else.

Level 3 — Conscious Competence. If you’ve reached this level, it means you’ve done some work and/or have had enough repetition to gain some skill. The only catch is that in order to be skilled, you need to think about what you’ve learned … otherwise, you return to being incompetent.

Level 4 — Unconscious Competence. At this level, you’ve learned something so well that it is now totally automatic and requires no thinking. Unconscious Competence is the Holy Grail of learning, and by far the most important concept in this book.

It seems like you are on level 3 when it comes to preflop game, so that is promising. Now, what you need to do is to put it to level 4. Some of the people gave advice to have some kind of preflop charts and that is great idea. I recommend reading that book as it is really good for understanding similar problems with the game, which you wouldn't diagnosed yourself.

When I was learning starting ranges, I played one table only and I had charts for every position in front of me at least for open-raise (when everybody folded to me). I tried to play according to the charts and when I knew them well, I could play without charts (btw. remember that charts are only starting point, following them in some games will be disaster).

On other spots like facing a raise or 3bet, I tried to mark hands that I wasn't sure and then tried to search for such spots (I am pasting link to ebook that covers 3bet and vs raise ranges below). Practice all of that until you are doing it unconsciously and you will face much less tough spots.

Check out:
- Preflop open-raise ranges on upswing poker: https://www.upswingpoker.com/preflop/
- Ebook on preflop game strategy in general: http://robmafpoker.com/free-e-book-redline-ninja-preflop/
- Different hand classification (Slansky, Helmuth etc.): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_%27em_starting_hands

Originally Posted by Aleksandr Sarpov

How to teach yourself to play only with a good hand? I noticed that I often play almost all hands and play very aggressively. I notice it and I understand what's wrong. I start to control myself, but after a while I again unconsciously turn to an aggressive game with almost any hand. How to stop playing like this? Can eat what that special training?

I will tell you about my strategy in tournaments, maybe it will help you to develop your strategy.
At the initial stage of the tournament, I try to play every hand, if none of the opponents raises the stake more than half the pot, I also fold pocket pair if the opponent has made ALL. I play a very good card in a very conservative manner.
In the middle stage of the game I play more aggressively and play only with a good card and increase the opponent's bet. With a pocket pair I make a bet of 3BB.
In the late stage of the game I play tight-aggressive and from time to time I change the strategy.
Thank you for your question!

You need to understand and remind yourself more often that any discarded unsuccessful hand will bring you money. Every time you fold, you earn. Your final profit does not depend on winning banks, it depends on the right decisions.

Guys, I came up with a way. Now I'm using the chart + sensations. Every time looking at the chart of hands I think and I do not go into unconscious aggression. Well, I include my favorite music. So it turns out calmer too.)

One good trick is to remove your hand from the mouse, put it back only after you have decided what you do.

You just have to define your hand ranges from each of positions and play depending on situation or fold them..Poker is sometimes luck game but often not

Originally Posted by steadman0

I wouldn't agree with this advice. You will lose your whole bankroll in no time and you want to fix a problem, not create another one.

Stop playing, for now, do some research on hand strength and position.

Download flopzilla, have a play around and learn how certain hands do against others, get used to what the top 15% of hands are.

Equilab is also another good piece of software to have a play around with, learn about equity, what equity you have against villains range.


When you do play, bear in mind that you have a massive leak in your game and opening nearly every hand will eventually get you hurt and exploited by a decent player. Play tight, too tight for a start if you have to, then you can start widening your range but get the folding under control,

That was the whole point of the statement, it wasnt meant to be good advice, or to even be taken seriously, but it still would be effective. You can stop yourself from getting too many speeding tickets by setting your car on fire. Not ideal, but 100% effective.

Originally Posted by TeUnit

I dont think what you eat matters with hand selection. Maybe watch some videos and read some books and really try to put together ranges for each position.

I'm reminded of your shove with 72os on your BB iirc and you won against my AA at BOL.

Originally Posted by Zorba

I'm reminded of your shove with 72os on your BB iirc and you won against my AA at BOL.

not really sure what your point is

Originally Posted by TeUnit

not really sure what your point is

Just kidding Te, it worked for you that day.