Why am i my own worst enemy?

[harvman2022]

Looking to get some advice from the smart people..who clearly aren't me.
I've been struggling with this for some time and I hope I can get some good advice.
I've bee trying to take poker a lot more seriously the last couple of years. I like to play live, but I don't get a chance to do it too often in a year. I typically go and play the local 1-3NL and more times than not leave with a bigger stack than I started.
This, however, never translates to online poker.
For some reason, my game becomes far too loose, way too aggressive and usually an extreme amount of bingo.
I have had runs where I play a solid game, stick to the range charts and position but then it quickly turns into playing 10 6 suited under the gun and going all in on a flop of 10 5 2 rainbow because the guy that 3 bet me has to be bluffing.
This never happens when I play live poker......is this because it's slower and the chips are more tangible?
Is it possible to be a fairly good player live and just a complete loser online?
Any advice would be gladly appreciated.

 

[Grabobbe]

I kinda do the same online... After playing for an hour or two, I tend to get a bit bored, and not care if I bust out. Perhaps because the nice freerolls are quite late in the evening Danish time, and I wanna go to bed. Hehe

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

I feel your pain/struggle/discouragement. I used to wonder the same thing back when I started playing online. The main thing I figured out for it being this way is that online is way more convenient and way less expensive. You know how it is when you go to a casino or cardroom, you get cleaned up and get dressed, then you grab some moolah and drive to where-ever and play some cards. You have a night planned ahead of you so you're gonna play it accordingly. Plus, you're playing w/a stack of chips at 1/3 NL, somewhere around 400-600 if not more, so you're more likely to play more hands as well which will take more time to reach your goal of a stack size or bust out. Online it doesn't matter. The convenience is too great. If you bust out online, you can jump right back in in an instant. You don't have to run to an atm or even put on shoes.
I did find a strategy for online play that differs slightly from brick-n-mortar. It does require more patience to pick your spot and all that but wading thru the donks is just something we all have to do now and then.
I will say that for a more serious game, play sng's during the day. It's much more relaxed and the players are easier to read and bluff. More straight forward, imo. GL man.

 

[azteca6]

You have to have a lot, a lot of patience, not all hands win, that's what you have to take into account and see the behavior of the table and how the cards are going to turn out.

 

[paddyswarrior]

It happens, and more often the more you play. Just try to learn from each game

 

[Rahatis]

Live games here is at least twenty times easier than online. I see people at the live tables that would be losers even in online freerolls.

 

[Cooking]

I think when I play live I usually play more focused because it's only one table at a time and I usually play several tables at the same time when I'm online.

 

[Emily Trott]

I kinda do the same online... After playing for an hour or two, I tend to get a bit bored, and not care if I bust out. Perhaps because the nice freerolls are quite late in the evening Danish time, and I wanna go to bed. Hehe

Boredom, and/or wanting something to be finished, is the death knell for successful play in any sport. Normally you would make a play because you want to win the hand, but in this case you'd only be thinking about getting the game over and done with. I've found that telling myself to "Just stick with it." helps.

 

[puzzlefish]

Looking to get some advice from the smart people..who clearly aren't me.
I've been struggling with this for some time and I hope I can get some good advice.
I've bee trying to take poker a lot more seriously the last couple of years. I like to play live, but I don't get a chance to do it too often in a year. I typically go and play the local 1-3NL and more times than not leave with a bigger stack than I started.
This, however, never translates to online poker.
For some reason, my game becomes far too loose, way too aggressive and usually an extreme amount of bingo.
I have had runs where I play a solid game, stick to the range charts and position but then it quickly turns into playing 10 6 suited under the gun and going all in on a flop of 10 5 2 rainbow because the guy that 3 bet me has to be bluffing.
This never happens when I play live poker......is this because it's slower and the chips are more tangible?
Is it possible to be a fairly good player live and just a complete loser online?
Any advice would be gladly appreciated.

Are you playing 1-3NL online too? Or are you microstaking it?

 

[dreamer13]

Every person has natural genes of anger, excitement, talent and intelligence. Everyone understands this differently and does not always use it correctly, sometimes to the detriment of the game, haste is a bad helper, listen to your inner voice and use a talisman for good luck.

 

[fundiver199]

It sounds like, you are just not taking the game serious, when you play online? Maybe this could be, because you play far lower stakes, than you do live? In a 1/3 game you most likely buy in for 300$, and if you are used to playing for that sort of money, maybe its difficult for you to take an online game for 10$ or maybe even a freeroll serious?

Another factor might be, that live there is a feeling of embarrasment to the other players, if you donk away your stack, and this does not excist online, where you are just a screen name to the other players and usually dont even interact with them. Except maybe if someone send you a throwable or something.

One tip might be to give yourself a bankroll like maybe 500$, and then set your deposit limit to zero. In that way losing the money will force you to stop playing, and perhaps that could motivate you to play better, so that you can continue playing? Another way to fight boredom online is to multitable. Or if you play cash games, go to the fast forward tables. Zoom, Rush whatever its called on different sites.

 

[eberetta1]

I have always felt you should play the version of poker that pays you money. I may like a different type of poker, but then I try to spend only a portion of my winnings at this losing version of poker. Losing being the poker version not usually paying me money. I lose money playing NL, I make money playing Omaha hi/lo.

You found live poker does you well, and online you should not lose all the winnings that you derive from playing live.

 

[Luvepoker]

One thing I have read often from professional players is this. The online games are harder. I have known a few players who win or break even at the casinos that can't win online. One reason maybe the level you're playing. If you are playing 1/2 online the players, you may be playing play at a skill level maybe 20/40 live of higher. I cant say from experience but again I have seen this said many times by professional players and tend to believe its true.

 

[amonlima]

That's why I always say that the most important thing in poker is discipline, in live poker we have more attention and people around us, I guarantee that you don't do some nonsense for fear of other people's judgment, what I advise you is the following : When you feel bad about having lost a good hand or get impatient, get up from the table, take a cold shower if possible and then come back and always put in your mind that you have high control and discipline, it's not easy but we have to try improve every day. That's it, hope I helped buddy. Gl on the tables!

 

[German629]

Hello, harvman 2022! I may give You only an one advice: if You don't get satisfaction and profit game in online, then play only live Poker!

 

[riff_raff312]

This saying "my own worst enemy" refers to a person who continues to make the same mistake over and over again!
This is a hard habit to break i know i have caught myself many times repeatedly chasing a open ended straight or that flush that never comes .
The sad part about this game we all love and hate is some times the cards do come and it's happy time!
So my advice is play and have fun if you need a break take one don't get stressed out it only makes it worst.

 

[PupsikCat]

For me, plus online poker, if you have a computer and the Internet, you can play at any time, even during the day, even at night, while not depending on any of the usual partners who then work, then sit with the children, not from the schedule of tournaments in any poker club. you can always choose a tournament to your liking. And comfort level. If it is more convenient for someone to fall apart in a chair, with their legs up to the ceiling - please. And more ukcha pluses online. Offline poker requires a certain perseverance and patience, about 25 hands are played per hour and it is often difficult for an impatient player to restrain himself. Online, this player can choose for himself such an optimal number of tables, so that he is not bored on the one hand and to keep up with the game on the other hand.

 

[harvman2022]

Are you playing 1-3NL online too? Or are you microstaking it?

No..playing the lower stakes....usually .05-.10nl up to .25-.50nl
I tend to agree with some of the other people responding....maybe online is just not for me and I should stick to live play where I can actually do well and enjoy it

 

[GARCIA PABLO DANIEL]

Playing live is completely different, it's not as mechanized as playing online, I have a lot of factors influence poker, it's exciting to play this card game, my idea is to learn game strategies

 

[Pokerpoet2]

There is a lot of difference between Live and On-line Poker, first of all the number of hands per hour, also the Blind structure is faster rising every 8 or 10 minutes on-line, as opposed to every 40 minutes to an hour in live events, then of course you have a very big difference between MTTs and Cash games.
Whichever game you choose you need to approach them with a different strategy and thought process.
I used to like playing on-line before playing a Live event simply because it sharpens your skills and you can relax more at a live table. you just don't feel the same amount of pressure.
Also at live games you are able to study your opponents better looking for little tells, whereas on-line you only have betting patterns to go off, I used to use a Card guard at live events with Pocket Rockets on one side and once someone came up to me and said " I spotted your Tell, every time you have a good hand your card guard is face up, but when you are bluffing it is face down" I just laughed and replied "I never noticed which side I was using, it is only there to guard my cards" but after that I always made sure it was face up, because if he really believed that rubbish then the joke was on him.

 

[Rmi]

Sorry for my reasoning, I believe that in each movement and in each situation at a poker table there is valuable information to win a tournament, if you get bored it is because poker would not be your thing and you should focus your mind on another stuff.

 

[ggguybrush]

You're getting bored for sure. You need to work on your concentration and try to focus differently. I've been on the same spot and I think it wasn't about the game itself, but my motivation or simply not feeling like playing poker that long. I'd start with playing online elsewhere, or maybe quit poker online for a while and try again after a few weeks.

 

[mattiebumpo]

No..playing the lower stakes....usually .05-.10nl up to .25-.50nl
I tend to agree with some of the other people responding....maybe online is just not for me and I should stick to live play where I can actually do well and enjoy it

If you are not able to adjust your online play to be more disciplined and focused, then it is probably better not to play for money online. Maybe just stick to free rolls to practice new strategies or just don't play online at all. Stick to live play since it suits your game and personality better.

 

[ROYALROAD]

Tell yourself not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Every day, whatever you do, all day long.

 

[AmeliaT]

Personally, I also find it easier to play online. It is very simple and easier. Maybe if poker is hard for you, try something else? I love slots, so maybe try playing them and tell me how you like it