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Need poker mentor or just help in general

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  1. Gospy Gospy is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
    United States

    Posts: 106
    Joined: Sep 06

    Dec 21st, 2006 (12/21/2006 4:57pm)

    Well, I'm somewhat new to online poker. I have been playing about 3 months now. I just deposited $100 on my 18th birthday to see what I could do with it, and I have been playing since. I have been playing in general in home games or whatever for like 2 years now. I've played in Indian casinos as well. I have read a few books on poker, I am a member of Cardrunners and I have read tons of articles online. I make a little money online, the majority of it in cash games as my tournament play is fairly weak. I play $25NL on stars pretty much exclusively.

    Here's my problem. The amount of time I play doesn't really justify the amount of money I am making. And, for the last few days I've taken bad beat after bad beat. I'm down about 3 buy ins. I always feel like I am getting it in with the best of it, but it's never good enough. Like for example, I had aces cracked by 56o after the guy hit a gut shot on the river even after I put pressure on the flop and turn. And, aces cracked by JJ after I hit a set on the flop, only for him to hit his runner runner straight.

    Just to explain my experience. I know pot odds and all the mathematical stuff. I understand position. I play pretty tight (viewed flop ~20-25%), but I'm trying to get into more of a LAG style. I don't know, I guess I just don't know what I need to do to take my game to the next level. It seems like no matter how hard I try, people don't believe my raises. I get AK, and I raise 4x BB and get 4 callers, that's ridiculous. Especially when I get beat by ace-rag.

    I know there's not a whole lot of info here, and I might just be venting, but any advice on how to get better is greatly appreciated. I've put in a lot of time and I just don't feel like it's going anywhere.
  2. raisethis2 raisethis2 is offline

    Homer Glen, IL
    United States

    Posts: 3,063
    Joined: Jul 06

    Dec 21st, 2006 (12/21/2006 6:55pm) in reply to Gospy

    Well, you answered your own question. The online game allows really poor players to exercise extremely poor judgement because there just isn't the hostility and blank stares like there would be in a live game with competent players. This annonymous feature allows anyone to play for the price of a buy in. To you and I $25 is a "fair" buy in but to some annonymous types, it's not much to risk at all.

    The issue for you is "how to be successful at your level." Mentors are not cheap but there are a few around who are willing to help you with your game. Jennifear is probably the most sought after.

    What I don't know is if anyone would be willing to shadow you and offer a few suggestions to tune up your game.

    While I'm of no value to you what-so-ever, the free advice I will offer is to reduce your calling % to about 15% max (try that) and when you feel you are ahead in the hand pound it so hard they must respect your bet.

    Gl.
  3. PocketSims PocketSims is offline

    Posts: 1,638
    Joined: Nov 06

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 12:42am) in reply to Gospy

    with having cardrunners i think that is 1 of the best mentors around. you also say bad beats that is how u want to lose if u think about it cause that means u are not being out played just unlucky. Keep getting your $ in with the best hand and u will aventually show a profit.

    ps
  4. ZEKAgrinder ZEKAgrinder is offline

    Cookeville, TN
    United States

    Posts: 968
    Joined: Sep 05

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 12:55am) in reply to PocketSims

    Cardrunners is great....if you have mtt questions you can pm me if you want.
     
  5. mayhem920 mayhem920 is offline

    Montreal
    Canada

    Posts: 150
    Joined: Oct 05

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 1:24am) in reply to Gospy

    I don't think you can afford a mentor with that bankroll. Stick to cardrunners and keep posting and reading their low limit forum for advice. I'm sure you'll get a lot out of that and the videos. If you're still struggling after all of that, then maybe you should take a break from this game and do something else until you have enough cash to bankroll yourself at NL $25 or NL $50 without panicking when you go through a 10 buy in swing.

    And you shouldn't be thinking LAG for this buy in. Before you reach NL200 you'd be spewing if you wanna be loose. In fact seeing the flop over 20% for full ring is waaay too loose for any level, and for 6 handed you need to keep it around 18% at 25NL.
  6. Gospy Gospy is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
    United States

    Posts: 106
    Joined: Sep 06

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 1:42am) in reply to mayhem920

    Ok, then I'll try to tighten up some more. Thanks for the advice guys, I think I am gonna just try grinding out $5 and $10 SnG's and just keep watching Cardrunners videos. I think I'll also start adding money from outside to my bankroll, so I can handle the swings better. Thanks again.
    Thread Starter
  7. ashleigh009 ashleigh009 is offline

    Bloomington, IL
    United States

    Posts: 369
    Joined: Dec 06

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 2:02am) in reply to Gospy

    DON'T ADD $$ FROM OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU DON'T MIND LOSING IT. I'm sorry if this is going to sting, but it seems you are a losing player, yet can't afford to lose. The 3 buyins at 25NL obviously bothers you enough that you made a nice long post. I think you should focus on being able to win before you add any more money into poker.

    Now I know this sounds harsh, but it's coming from a peer and it's honest. I haven't put outside money into poker for 2 years. I set myself a bankroll of 400, and grinded it out at whatever limit i needed to until my bankroll would grow. This is the way to learn to win. If you keep adding and adding and adding you'll never be able to be honest with yourself about your skill and your winnings; and you probably won't get as good as you would be able to otherwise.

    I just want to reiiterate how bad of an idea I think it is to add money where you are now. Tight doesn't mean good, and raising 4x PF w/ AK doesn't make you a pro either when you end up chasing down an Ace when the flop comes Q93. I think you should try to grind it out at lower limits with whatever bankroll you have, or if need be make a 1 time deposit that you'll promise to be conservative with.

    PS: if you ever want to talk cards or have me shadow you, just IM me. I love to help players out because it took me so long to start to figure things out and i know how much i could have used a mentor
  8. Gospy Gospy is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
    United States

    Posts: 106
    Joined: Sep 06

    Dec 22nd, 2006 (12/22/2006 2:28am) in reply to ashleigh009

    I understand completely. I don't consider myself a losing player overall. It was just the sting of like 3 buy ins in such a short period of time. I mean in tournaments I don't have a strong record, but I am up in cash games overall. I am about at where you set yourself. And, all of that money is money that I have grinded out, not anything I put in except for the $100 I deposited. I understand what you are saying, and I wanted to make it a goal of mine not to deposit any more money. But, I guess I just let it get to me. So, I think you're right, and I'll just keep trying to grind it out at lower limits and learn along the way. I guess like you said I won't be as good as I could be if I grind it out, and honestly, I should be focusing on getting better instead of making a lot of money fast. And, your offer is definitely appreciated, maybe I'll hit you up on AIM sometime. Thanks for the advice.
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