Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[77dave]

Tom, i remember a little while ago you were talking about software to use when playing online poker.

Did you start using any? How do you feel about it now?

[RED-DOG]

Tom, i remember a little while ago you were talking about software to use when playing online poker.

Did you start using any? How do you feel about it now?

I didn't use any, the very idea of it horrifies me. Imo it turns poker into an automated, number-crunching, assembly-line type process.

However.....

the peeps I talked to did convince me that I was at a serious disadvantage without it. Faced with this dilemma, I decided to concentrate on playing live instead of online. It was great, why didn't I do it sooner? I was grinding out a decent living and having a ball in the process.

I was playing cash at DTD. It was like going to a social club every night. life was toasty. For the three months from September to November, I made a steady £500 pw + expenses, and that's plenty for someone with my simple tastes.

But...

In December, the wheels came off. In 12 consecutive outings I lost approx £500 per trip, which pretty much cancelled out the previous 3 months work.

It started, as it often does, with a series of almost unbelievable beats, I was ok with that at first, I know that sort of thing can happen, but the downswing went on for so long that I started to lose confidence in my game and, no doubt, play badly into the bargain.

My bankroll is limited. I don't want to be one of those peeps who just keep bashing away until they go skint and then start nipping their friends, so, for the moment, I'm taking a few days off.

I'm not quitting (Yet) I'm playing small stakes online and re-evaluating. Just getting my head together and forming a battle plan.

I might go back to playing live, (I can't believe that the game I was beating has become unbeatable)

I might try to find a niche online (Perhaps multi table stt's or cash on a site that doesn't support tracking equipment)

I haven't decided yet, but I will let you know.

I may even go back to work. Scrap iron and non-ferrous metal is making a good price at the moment.

[Tractor]

Tom, didnt you build a good online roll from from playing mtts on Ladbrokes, do you not play mtts any more?

[Longines]

Tom, didnt you build a good online roll from from playing mtts on Ladbrokes, do you not play mtts any more?

Exactly what I was thinking. Not an alias I ever wanted to see on my MTT table.

[77dave]

much respect for implementing good bank roll management, something i really need to improve in my game.

i understand you dont want to use software to play online. There is software that helps you with your own game without telling you how others play, maybe you would consider this?

[GreekStein]

Do you game select at DTD Tom?

Let's say there was one seat on the direct right of someone like Mitch and that's it would you wait for a better game or would you sit?

I mean obviously not gonna get to sit down with position on Hopkin every time you play.

[kinboshi]

Do you game select at DTD Tom?

Let's say there was one seat on the direct right of someone like Mitch and that's it would you wait for a better game or would you sit?

I mean obviously not gonna get to sit down with position on Hopkin every time you play.

Was going to ask the same question.  It can be too easy to sit at a table at DTD and stay put if the banter's good.  I'm only a recreational player (and not a good one), so it probably matters less to me than you - but I know I should consider table selection a lot more than I currently do.

Also Tom, have you tried the 0.50/1 games as well?  Opportunity for profit is there, although obviously a lot less than the 1/2 games.  However, you'd probably see a far steadier profit each week/month.

[RED-DOG]

Thanks for the replies guys. Answers coming in order.

[RED-DOG]

Tom, didn't you build a good online roll from from playing mitt's on Ladbrokes, do you not play mitt's any more?

Yes, I did build a good bankroll online playing mtt's on Ladbrokes, but Laddies used to be a "Stand alone" site that offered the long clock, deep stack, bigger buy-in smaller field comps, and they were my bread and butter. Now they have amalgamated with several other sites on the Microgaming network and they only offer small buy-in re-buys, not my cup of tea at all.

Add to this the fact that by now, there are a lot of bright young guns who have been bashing away online for a couple of years and have played a trillion hands. it's a steep learning curve and there are some bloody good players out there. Add to this the tracking software and suddenly, online poker is very tough for an old boy like me to beat.

Tough, but hopefully not impossible.....

[RED-DOG]

much respect for implementing good bank roll management, something i really need to improve in my game.

i understand you dont want to use software to play online. There is software that helps you with your own game without telling you how others play, maybe you would consider this?

What kind of software? and what would be the point? They could still use their software against me.

I think I would have to play something other than cash, where, I assume, (Correct me if I'm wrong) tracking software is most effective.

[RED-DOG]

Do you game select at DTD Tom?

Let's say there was one seat on the direct right of someone like Mitch and that's it would you wait for a better game or would you sit?

I mean obviously not gonna get to sit down with position on Hopkin every time you play.

I never EVER sit on the right of Mitch. (Ask him) and I table select as much as I can.

I don't think that's the problem though. as I say, I can't believe that the game has suddenly become unbeatable for me. I think I've just had a really bad run and got a bit gun-shy. My confidence has taken a bashing.

BTW- For those of you that are familiar with the £1/2 game at DTD, what would you consider to be an adequate bankroll?

[GreekStein]

much respect for implementing good bank roll management, something i really need to improve in my game.

i understand you dont want to use software to play online. There is software that helps you with your own game without telling you how others play, maybe you would consider this?

What kind of software? and what would be the point? They could still use their software against me.

I think I would have to play something other than cash, where, I assume, (Correct me if I'm wrong) tracking software is most effective.

If you see your own stats, you'll know when you're raising too much from certain positions, c-betting too many flops etc etc so regardless of your oponents, if you're really anti tracking everyone you can make your own game as tough and leak free as possible.

[  ] I use these

[ X ] Not playing proper volume and multitabling online again til I do.

[Woodsey]

To BR Q- If your doing it for a living not less than 10k

[kinboshi]

Do you game select at DTD Tom?

Let's say there was one seat on the direct right of someone like Mitch and that's it would you wait for a better game or would you sit?

I mean obviously not gonna get to sit down with position on Hopkin every time you play.

I never EVER sit on the right of Mitch. (Ask him) and I table select as much as I can.

Is that because he'll nick your food? 

I don't think that's the problem though. as I say, I can't believe that the game has suddenly become unbeatable for me. I think I've just had a really bad run and got a bit gun-shy. My confidence has taken a bashing.

BTW- For those of you that are familiar with the £1/2 game at DTD, what would you consider to be an adequate bankroll?

I think that £10K wouldn't be an inappropriate bankroll for the 1/2 games. 

[RED-DOG]

Do you game select at DTD Tom?

Let's say there was one seat on the direct right of someone like Mitch and that's it would you wait for a better game or would you sit?

I mean obviously not gonna get to sit down with position on Hopkin every time you play.

Was going to ask the same question.  It can be too easy to sit at a table at DTD and stay put if the banter's good.  I'm only a recreational player (and not a good one), so it probably matters less to me than you - but I know I should consider table selection a lot more than I currently do.

Also Tom, have you tried the 0.50/1 games as well?  Opportunity for profit is there, although obviously a lot less than the 1/2 games.  However, you'd probably see a far steadier profit each week/month.

I have considered the 0.50/1 games, and I may give them a go, but I would imagine that the rake hits them hard.