How Do You Know If You Suck Or Not?

[Jayray 0]

Ok- Obviously, I don't post alot, more of a lurker...but I consider myself fairly decent at NL but seem to be in a bit of a slump. Now before you read further, I will warn you that I play only a fraction of what most of you do, so my data points are limited. Here goes....I started playing hold em about the same time that everyone else did a few years back with the whole Moneymaker boom and all, and have done consistently well in my home game (weekly game $10 buy-in with around 8-12 players every week and I am up $510 for the year last year). I have only played live (in a casino) poker twice, once at Caesar's in Indiana, and once at Argosy near Cincinnati. Online, I usually play FT , mostly $5 sngs and the occasional .05/.10 games ($'d in several MTT's and donked most of it off "learning" Omaha last month). So for the results: My Caesar's trip went well, as I bought into the 1/2 game for $150 and ran it up to ~$815 or so......Argosy completely sucked, I bought in for $200 and went bust in about 2 hours. But I don't feel like I misplayed any big hands...seemed to get rivered everytime I hit a flop....So my question is....if you feel like you have a solid understanding for the game....understand how to interpret betting patterns, etc. and change gears when needed.....how do you A) Adjust your play to weaker players that may be drawing out on you? or B) Identify the leaks in your game that may be leading to the outdraws? I am perfectly willing to except that I suck, if that is the case, but I really feel like I am a solid player that just seems to be in a slump. I would like to think that this is just variance, but I don't want to keep dropping money if there is something that I can do to easily determine where I should be playing. To top it off, my poker BR is made up of any spare money that happens to come along, so I don't really have the money to go out and test any new theorys immediately...could be that I am playing above my limits and perhaps need to grind it out for a while at the .05/.10 games..don't know...just looking for any perspective from any of you that have experienced something similar.ThanksJayRay

[Jeepster80125 0]

Ok- Obviously, I don't post alot, more of a lurker...but I consider myself fairly decent at NL but seem to be in a bit of a slump. Now before you read further, I will warn you that I play only a fraction of what most of you do, so my data points are limited. Here goes....I started playing hold em about the same time that everyone else did a few years back with the whole Moneymaker boom and all, and have done consistently well in my home game (weekly game $10 buy-in with around 8-12 players every week and I am up $510 for the year last year). I have only played live (in a casino) poker twice, once at Caesar's in Indiana, and once at Argosy near Cincinnati. Online, I usually play FT , mostly $5 sngs and the occasional .05/.10 games ($'d in several MTT's and donked most of it off "learning" Omaha last month). So for the results: My Caesar's trip went well, as I bought into the 1/2 game for $150 and ran it up to ~$815 or so......Argosy completely sucked, I bought in for $200 and went bust in about 2 hours. But I don't feel like I misplayed any big hands...seemed to get rivered everytime I hit a flop....So my question is....if you feel like you have a solid understanding for the game....understand how to interpret betting patterns, etc. and change gears when needed.....how do you A) Adjust your play to weaker players that may be drawing out on you? or B) Identify the leaks in your game that may be leading to the outdraws? I am perfectly willing to except that I suck, if that is the case, but I really feel like I am a solid player that just seems to be in a slump. I would like to think that this is just variance, but I don't want to keep dropping money if there is something that I can do to easily determine where I should be playing. To top it off, my poker BR is made up of any spare money that happens to come along, so I don't really have the money to go out and test any new theorys immediately...could be that I am playing above my limits and perhaps need to grind it out for a while at the .05/.10 games..don't know...just looking for any perspective from any of you that have experienced something similar.ThanksJayRay

Read Harrington on Hold'em, 1,2 and 3.Read Small Stakes Hold'em.Repeat.

[NicksDad1970 0]

I understand how you feel. I play pretty small stakes. I loved FCP when they were part of Pokerroom because of all the $5 tourneys. I've won probably 6-7 $5 and $10 MTT's. Anywhere from 125 people all the way up to 650 people. I got 2nd in a 20+2 with 1800 people. I've even won a couple other $20 and $30 MTT's. I've played live and won maybe 5 of those anywhere from 30 people to 100 people. But ins from $25 - $100.But I donk it up so much I really lose faith in my reads and overall abilities. I look back and think "anyonecan win a tournament". I just feel like I was very lucky. I mean I must have SOME skill. I just don't know what it is or what I need to work on. It's like for example DN and I could make the very same play. He did it because he knows exactly what he's doing. I just did it without any knowledge.I hope I'm making sense

[Pot Odds RAC 23]

Check your pockets. If after a year or so of serious poker they are full of $ you do not suck. If they are empty, you suck.

[Zach6668 513]

I could seriously write a thesis of a reply to the OP.But I'm tired and in class.

[fleung22 1]

if you have to ask...YOU SUCK

[Zach6668 513]

if you have to ask...YOU SUCK

Actually, not really.The beauty of poker is that everyone thinks they are awesome. It really isn't until you can evaluate your play critically, and actually ask/examine whether or not you suck, that you can actually begin to really develop. Sometimes.

[Jayray 0]

fleung22 Posted Today, 10:37 AM if you have to ask...YOU SUCK Thanks for the wonderful insight........overall, I was up just over $1100 for the year last year.....but I am not sure how much of that I can attribute to playing well vs. what could be a weak home game and a lucky run at Caesars......

[fleung22 1]

Actually, not really.The beauty of poker is that everyone thinks they are awesome. It really isn't until you can evaluate your play critically, and actually ask/examine whether or not you suck, that you can actually begin to really develop. Sometimes.

i didn't actually read anything...i'm just being a jerk

[umop-apisdn 0]

So my question is........how do you A) Adjust your play to weaker players that may be drawing out on you? or B) Identify the leaks in your game that may be leading to the outdraws?

The answer to A and B is make them pay the wrong odds to hit their draw. If they're making 1 or 2 outters, nothing you can do. However, if you're letting them draw for flushes and/or straights cheaply, then you're going to get burned.Also, at 1/2NL - play some drawing hands of your own (ie: Ax suited for cheap). Don't sit there waiting for top-10 hands - it's boring, and frustrating when they do get cracked by 89o.

[Dogpatch 2]

To the OP, as noted somewhere above, examining your play is good. But before we get to that... are you reading books? Studying to improve your game (to me) is one of the best things you can do. If you don't understand the plays you're making, then yea, you've just had a lucky run. Skimming over your post, I'm not sure what you're BR is, but you need to decide what it is and play a limit that it can support. You might even want to play slightly lower and really focus on good solid play. Do that for awhile and see where you stand.

[11 to 1 0]

So my question is....if you feel like you have a solid understanding for the game....understand how to interpret betting patterns, etc. and change gears when needed.....how do you A) Adjust your play to weaker players that may be drawing out on you? or B) Identify the leaks in your game that may be leading to the outdraws? I am perfectly willing to except that I suck, if that is the case, but I really feel like I am a solid player that just seems to be in a slump. I would like to think that this is just variance, but I don't want to keep dropping money if there is something that I can do to easily determine where I should be playing.

I think you know the answer - if you read the books you know everyone has bad times, it's a wave, you ride it. But if you feel like you aren't learning anymore, not progressing at all, maybe you need a new tactic. Learn a new game if you mostly play holdem, read a new author, play at a different level. Also, if you are up, why don't you have a bankroll? Do you just spend that money instead of create a bankroll? Might also be time to ask why you are playing and see if you want to get serious or not. If not, you are having a slump, no biggie ride it out.

[I AM GOD 0]

Ok- Obviously, I don't post alot, more of a lurker...but I consider myself fairly decent at NL but seem to be in a bit of a slump. Now before you read further, I will warn you that I play only a fraction of what most of you do, so my data points are limited. Here goes....I started playing hold em about the same time that everyone else did a few years back with the whole Moneymaker boom and all, and have done consistently well in my home game (weekly game $10 buy-in with around 8-12 players every week and I am up $510 for the year last year). I have only played live (in a casino) poker twice, once at Caesar's in Indiana, and once at Argosy near Cincinnati. Online, I usually play FT , mostly $5 sngs and the occasional .05/.10 games ($'d in several MTT's and donked most of it off "learning" Omaha last month). So for the results: My Caesar's trip went well, as I bought into the 1/2 game for $150 and ran it up to ~$815 or so......Argosy completely sucked, I bought in for $200 and went bust in about 2 hours. But I don't feel like I misplayed any big hands...seemed to get rivered everytime I hit a flop....So my question is....if you feel like you have a solid understanding for the game....understand how to interpret betting patterns, etc. and change gears when needed.....how do you A) Adjust your play to weaker players that may be drawing out on you? or B) Identify the leaks in your game that may be leading to the outdraws? I am perfectly willing to except that I suck, if that is the case, but I really feel like I am a solid player that just seems to be in a slump. I would like to think that this is just variance, but I don't want to keep dropping money if there is something that I can do to easily determine where I should be playing. To top it off, my poker BR is made up of any spare money that happens to come along, so I don't really have the money to go out and test any new theorys immediately...could be that I am playing above my limits and perhaps need to grind it out for a while at the .05/.10 games..don't know...just looking for any perspective from any of you that have experienced something similar.ThanksJayRay

Go to church more and I will make the River card a blank!-I AM GOD

[Tantalar 0]

Play tighter than the guy next to you

[Startled 0]

my data points are limited....this is just variance...I am playing above my limits

FYP.You'll never know how much you suck unless you play a lot more hands. I'm ahead thousands at 1/2 since I started playing it, and still have major learning to do, and have no idea what the long run will bring. I'm pretty sure there's a payback coming.

[zsta2k6 0]

If you are the back end of a fan, you suck....If you are the front end of a fan, you blow....Either way, chances are you are gay.PS: Yoda told me you suck, well too.

[NoSup4U 0]

If the other players in the chat window tell you that you suck, you are good.If they tell you 'nh', you suck.Mark

[WhatArunAA 0]

If the other players in the chat window tell you that you suck, you are good.If they tell you 'nh', you suck.Mark

haha.. QFT!!

[lengthy 0]

what I think you need to do is continue reading everything poker related you can get your hands on. also, find a player that you feel is better then you and have them examine your game. see if they can find where you have holes. you could post some of your hands that you feel could have been played better at twoplustwo forums and have people let you know how you could have played them better.I think the same way someone had said about everyone thinks they are great poker players. in my opinion its the players who realize that they are not gods gift to poker that are you going to continue progressing. they are the ones that are not going to feel that there game is rock solid and that they know everything there is to know. just because your asking this doesn't mean you suck, although you might, it just that you know that you can improve.

[finztotheleft 0]

The best way to evaluate your play online (and then apply it to your live play) is to invest in (or get it free through pokersourceonline) pokertracker. Then you can see how many bb/100 you make, how loose/tight you are, and how passive/aggressive you are. It forces you to see some harsh realities about your game. Good luck !

[offset 0]

Actually, not really.The beauty of poker is that everyone thinks they are awesome. It really isn't until you can evaluate your play critically, and actually ask/examine whether or not you suck, that you can actually begin to really develop. Sometimes.

So true. It wasn't until about 3 months ago when I realized I was barely a winning player and that I really sucked that I started to play well and actually improve when I noticed I made a mistake.

[EStormOk 0]

How Do You Know If You Suck Or Not?You'll just have to trust me on this one, I SUCK AT POKER. (But at least I know it!)

[ChrisRichey 1]

If the other players in the chat window tell you that you suck, you are good.If they tell you 'nh', you suck.Mark

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Magsugal 0]

At the end of the day/year/decade it does not matter whether or not u have $$ in your pockets, it matters whether or not u make the correct decisions while playing ur hands.Once you can look back at your play and be honest and truthful to yourself about the decisions you made, your game will improve and you will begin to play winning poker.The loser checks his pockets for money, while the winner checks how he played.

[Abbaddabba 0]

There's zero connection between how good people think they are and how good they actually are.That includes everyone who's reading this post. That means YOU!