play in general

asmithx

what are ways to improve my play around the bubble im one of those players who become extremely tight and im folding my big blind to a raise almost everytime, other players will notice that and obviously take advantage but i cant bring my self to re raise with a bad hand and hope they fold cashing for me is more important. 

I personally dont think im very good at poker, i think its more down to having the right cards, the right flop and luck. 

I reset my stats at the beginning of the year and im pretty much just breaking even i seem to have a good day which is then followed by a bad. 

The other day i managed to cash in both the main and the mini which is something i haven't been able to do in a long time but i still don't think that was down to the way i played more folding all most all my hands and having people bust before me.

I know im not aggressive enough at all and i defiantly lose a lot of value with my hands because if someone's calling my raises it always puts doubt in my head that i have the best hand and it sometimes ends up check check on the river even though i was miles ahead.

I also dont understand percentages and positions its something i never new was that important till i started watching alot of live poker tournaments online is there anything out there that will help me have a better understanding of it all which may improve my play in general because im defiantly a scared player and people notice that. 

Thanks 

weecheez1

In Response to play in general:

what are ways to improve my play around the bubble im one of those players who become extremely tight and im folding my big blind to a raise almost everytime, other players will notice that and obviously take advantage but i cant bring my self to re raise with a bad hand and hope they fold cashing for me is more important.  I personally dont think im very good at poker, i think its more down to having the right cards, the right flop and luck.  I reset my stats at the beginning of the year and im pretty much just breaking even i seem to have a good day which is then followed by a bad.  The other day i managed to cash in both the main and the mini which is something i haven't been able to do in a long time but i still don't think that was down to the way i played more folding all most all my hands and having people bust before me. I know im not aggressive enough at all and i defiantly lose a lot of value with my hands because if someone's calling my raises it always puts doubt in my head that i have the best hand and it sometimes ends up check check on the river even though i was miles ahead. I also dont understand percentages and positions its something i never new was that important till i started watching alot of live poker tournaments online is there anything out there that will help me have a better understanding of it all which may improve my play in general because im defiantly a scared player and people notice that.  Thanks 
Posted by asmithx

I am definitely not qualified to give advice on poker but it seems to me that it's more of a confidence issue with you the fact that you can cash in the main and mini in the same night proves you can play start believing in yourself more and this should show in your poker if the cash is the most important thing you might be playing at too high a level 

asmithx

and History #988820306 (19:35 09/01/2016)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
asmithx	Small blind		75.00	75.00	18395.00
rundagame	Big blind		150.00	225.00	4265.00
	Your hole cards	A K
lenny959	Call		150.00	375.00	3775.00
GASFRY	Raise		450.00	825.00	5742.50
joeandtt	Call		450.00	1275.00	18967.50
betimbet	Fold
asmithx	Call		375.00	1650.00	18020.00
rundagame	Fold
lenny959	Call		300.00	1950.00	3475.00
Flop
		J 5 10
asmithx	Check
lenny959	Check
GASFRY	Check
joeandtt	Check
Turn
		Q
asmithx	Check
lenny959	Check
GASFRY	Bet		300.00	2250.00	5442.50
joeandtt	Call		300.00	2550.00	18667.50
asmithx	Call		300.00	2850.00	17720.00
lenny959	Call		300.00	3150.00	3175.00
River
		7
asmithx	Check
lenny959	Check
GASFRY	Bet		450.00	3600.00	4992.50
joeandtt	Fold
asmithx	Call		450.00	4050.00	17270.00
lenny959	Fold
GASFRY	Show	Q A
asmithx	Show	A K
asmithx	Win	Straight to the Ace	4050.00		21320.00

asmithx

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
GASFRY	Small blind		100.00	100.00	4442.50
joeandtt	Big blind		200.00	300.00	18467.50
	Your hole cards	A J
betimbet	Fold
asmithx	Call		200.00	500.00	21120.00
rundagame	Fold
lenny959	Fold
GASFRY	Call		100.00	600.00	4342.50
joeandtt	Check
Flop
		2 A 9
GASFRY	Check
joeandtt	Check
asmithx	Bet		600.00	1200.00	20520.00
GASFRY	Fold
joeandtt	Call		600.00	1800.00	17867.50
Turn
		K
joeandtt	Check
asmithx	Bet		600.00	2400.00	19920.00
joeandtt	Call		600.00	3000.00	17267.50
River
		Q
joeandtt	Check
asmithx	Check
joeandtt	Show	4 A
asmithx	Show	A J
asmithx	Win	Pair of Aces	3000.00		22920.00

asmithx

theres two examples where ive started to doubt i have the best hand i just dont know how to play it differently 

bbMike

Just quickly, in hand one there is no reason not to go all in pre-flop.  You're looking for chances to get chips to help in your tournament.  Here there is already 1275 in the pot before it gets to you, and you are only playing 2300ish.  You don't want to be drawing here vs everyone with so much in the middle. 

Just think, if everyone then folds you have added 50% to your stack without having to fight for it. It's highly unlikely that the player who called the 450 raise has a hand that dominates you (only KK or AA), and the player before him might have only raised because of the limp. If someone does call with a hand like JJ then that's fine too we have a good chance of getting a good stack to take forwards.  

It shouldn't bother you if you bust by playing it that way, as over time it will work out for you once you add the folds and races together (and you may even be called by AQ here). Add to that, the times you do get a good chipstack you'll find it way easier to make the money and beyond, and that's what it's all about, the money is all at the top.

Hand 2, you'd find it easier to play by raising pre-flop. Because you didn't you under-repped your hand and got paid, but there's no way to really know you're ahead here as you can't discount any of the weird two pairs for example.

BigRonnieC

In Response to play in general:

what are ways to improve my play around the bubble im one of those players who become extremely tight and im folding my big blind to a raise almost everytime, other players will notice that and obviously take advantage but i cant bring my self to re raise with a bad hand and hope they fold cashing for me is more important.  I personally dont think im very good at poker, i think its more down to having the right cards, the right flop and luck.  I reset my stats at the beginning of the year and im pretty much just breaking even i seem to have a good day which is then followed by a bad.  The other day i managed to cash in both the main and the mini which is something i haven't been able to do in a long time but i still don't think that was down to the way i played more folding all most all my hands and having people bust before me. I know im not aggressive enough at all and i defiantly lose a lot of value with my hands because if someone's calling my raises it always puts doubt in my head that i have the best hand and it sometimes ends up check check on the river even though i was miles ahead. I also dont understand percentages and positions its something i never new was that important till i started watching alot of live poker tournaments online is there anything out there that will help me have a better understanding of it all which may improve my play in general because im defiantly a scared player and people notice that.  Thanks 
Posted by asmithx

I will give you the most honest answer I can. It comes down to two things - temperament and appreciation of pay out %s. 

Forget stack size and hand odds. You could be the chip leader and freeze near the bubble, or you could be the short stack and boss people in the knowledge that others are tight and you'd "only" shove top hands.

I do not play MTTs anymore because I lost that temperament. I cashed well and was hugely profitable for a while - because I had that temperament. I would take a loss on the bubble on the chin and had a great record at final tables. I once shoved (as 2nd biggest stack) in SB with KK when BB was big stack - he snap called with AA and I was out. 2-3 hours gone and wasted. Forget the money. Meh. Check my other table and see whn next £100 or £200 gtd started.

Similarly I would mess about with weaker hands (and often suck out) with smaller stack near bubble knowing people were tight. 

I couldn't do that now; things happened in my life, I took a long break from poker and now I just play low low stakes DYMs.

Secondly, the payout as winner is huge compared to 2nd and similarly massive gaps follow from 2nd-6th or however low it pays out. It pays to win, not to be meek. Why spend 3 hours to DYM when you could do it in 35 mins in a sit n go? Go for the win and win 20 x buy in - but you can't just overcome logic when your temperament screams no and your heart is racing. You have to have that killer instinct to win or go bust. 

asmithx

Hand History #990210275 (22:30 12/01/2016)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
dermot1963	Small blind		50.00	50.00	6040.00
LmfaoAllin	Big blind		100.00	150.00	2802.50
	Your hole cards	3 3
MMA250	Fold
ROBBIE762	Raise		300.00	450.00	2225.00
LIVERRIVER	Call		300.00	750.00	2110.00
asmithx	Call		300.00	1050.00	2002.50
dermot1963	Fold
LmfaoAllin	Fold
Flop
		4 Q K
ROBBIE762	Bet		500.00	1550.00	1725.00
LIVERRIVER	Call		500.00	2050.00	1610.00
asmithx	Fold
Turn
		3
ROBBIE762	Bet		900.00	2950.00	825.00
LIVERRIVER	Call		900.00	3850.00	710.00
River
		3
ROBBIE762	All-in		825.00	4675.00	0.00
LIVERRIVER	All-in		710.00	5385.00	0.00
ROBBIE762	Unmatched bet		115.00	5270.00	115.00
ROBBIE762	Show	Q Q
LIVERRIVER	Show	K K
LIVERRIVER	Win	Full House, Kings and 3s	5270.00		5270.00

asmithx

only on sky! that fold though FML.

BigBluster

Your AJ hand is interesting. As the K hits, then the Q, you fear that your hand is getting worse with each card when in fact it is getting better. AK and AQ were beating you anyway! What were you afraid of - some sucker with a Q2 or K2 who just made two pair?

You made a full pot bet on the flop, 1/3rd of the pot on the turn and no bet at all on the river - your bets were decreasing as your hand was improving!

BigRonnieC

In Response to Re: play in general:

only on sky! that fold though FML.
Posted by asmithx

It has happened me a few times, post flop and pre flop when folding a limped raise with a hand that you think "this could be tasty but it is early days and I want to look tight" - queue straight flush/quad/full house on flop - coulda woulda shoulda...

GILLS69

                                 Hi Asmith.
                                               Your situation isn't unusual at all.As for 'BUBBLEPHOBIA',it's just a question of stack size V pot size and how much you are playing for to cash.Stick to your ABC's of poker (patience,position and strength of bet),If you have a decent stack,there's nothing wrong with floating with poor cards with the possibility of hitting the flop or bluffing on later streets depending on how big the betting is or how you read your opponents.(Make notes during the game-it's valuable ammunition).
                               If you're low chipped at bubble time then pick your spot and let the poker gods decide the outcome
                                                                                     Hope this helps-run well,
                                                                                                                        Jim