looking for isome input

[luckystraights]

After spending most of yesterday playing cash games instead of tournaments which I would usually do, I've come to thinking that I may be playing my styles back to front.

My usual approach to tournaments, is to play tight, rarely make gambles and punish the table when I hit, as well as steel the odd pot, or make a semi-bluff now and then, initial this proved very profitable, but I seem to be running even lately, wondering if I'm playing too passive, maybe even a bit scared of entering the pot without a great hand.

Conversely in the cash games, where I began playing like a rock, I've started to enter far more pots, with hands I'd spit at in a tournament, even if heads-up and seem to be thirsting for some action, as grinding it out doesn't seem to wield much return on the time invested.

Does this smell like simply a discipline problem, or are adjustments needed?

Thoughts, feelings, input anyone ?

Thanks.

[RagingAZN]

That sounds kinda right in my uneducated opinion

Alot of guys tend to tighten up in tourneys and play loose in cash games...But that's just what I think. Personally, I'm a bit like you, tighter in tourneys than in cash games. It probably also depends on the stakes. However, are your results pretty good with those styles? Because if you are doing well, you must be doing something right so I wouldn't worry.

Hopefully some more experienced players can comment? 

[Detroitdad]

tight? how do you play tight? hmmmmmmmmm


B

[luckystraights]

I'm just going through a period of doubting myself.

I'm not happy with my run in Sit-N-Go's, compared to how well I was doing when I fist started, and its having an effect. I think my game has improved since then, but I'm also aware that I have tightened up.

I'm a little lost at the moment, had a few days of doubting my own abilities recently, I know I can read people and asses situations pretty well for my experience, but that alone isn't paying off for me. I think a gradual loss of confidence in the Sit-N-Go's, and an eagerness to build my bankroll, after some lucky double ups in the cash games has lead to this predicament,  but not sure how best to get beyond it at this point.

[luckystraights]

tight? how do you play tight? hmmmmmmmmm


B

Compared to my home game play, I've become a real rock almost online, in the sit-n-go's at least, and constantly find myself in situations with little maneuvering room, and then when the situation is right for a move or the cards warrant some defensive or aggressive action, it often doesn't come out good for me, so I'm beginning to wonder if theres something I could be doing differently, so when I'm in such a spot I can come out of it with chips, rather then being committed to it.

[NotFadeAway]

Remember that playing good poker is about making decisions and playing situations.  Don't make it so that you have to play loose or tight, but adjust based on the situation.  Early in a sng tight play is wise, but later on it will usually hurt you.  However, this is when you have to focus on individual decisions in each hand.  Sometimes you should shove a certain hand and sometimes you should fold that same hand (even with the same blinds) based on a change in the situation (chipstack, position, previous action, tendencies of your opponents, etc.)
For sngs try to think in terms of blind stages and adjust your play for this.  Also, make larger raises.  Many of your raises seem to be too small, and often should turn into shoves instead of raises (such as in the nines example in this thread.)  Also, look for Collin Moshman's sit and go book and study it.  It will help immensely with sng play.

[Martini]

If you are playing microstakes cash games I would say you can loosen up more but don't go crazy. Your profit is going to come from donks that will call down with second pair or shove in with a gutshot. Play solid starting hands and bet aggressively because the fish who have no concept of pot odds will pay WAY too much for draws.

[luckystraights]

My friend says I'm thinking too much about it, but I can't help it, been really stressed about my play recently, and that in itself might be having a negative effect.

I feel like I've lost a lot of confidence recently, and I keep questioning my play over and over.

[luckystraights]

Also, look for Collin Moshman's sit and go book and study it.  It will help immensely with sng play.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I'll buy it as soon as I can, just ordered HOH 1.

[Martini]

Dude, if poker is stressing you out this much at $1 buy-ins, I think you really need to consider if this is the way you really want to make a living. You've got to figure that it is going to be even more stressful when dinner and rent depend on you cashing in a tourney.

[luckystraights]

Dude, if poker is stressing you out this much at $1 buy-ins, I think you really need to consider if this is the way you really want to make a living. You've got to figure that it is going to be even more stressful when dinner and rent depend on you cashing in a tourney.

Its the questioning my own abilities, and the nagging doubts that bug me, I don't hold much self confidence, so a large string off unlucky beats have probably had an affect.

 edit : actually, in a round about way, you've hit the nail on the head,  thinking about it now, I expect poker to be the only career I'm likely to settle with, if that doesn't work out, I'm back to being screwed, so I've placed lots of pressure on myself I guess.

[NotFadeAway]

My friend says I'm thinking too much about it, but I can't help it, been really stressed about my play recently, and that in itself might be having a negative effect.

I feel like I've lost a lot of confidence recently, and I keep questioning my play over and over.

I've been in that situation before where I can't seem to win and see my roll going down for a while (namely during the summer of 2006, when I kept seeing my previous winnings going down a little at a time.)  However, it took study, practice, and hard play to get my bankroll back to where it was (and far, far past it, for that matter.)  Study, play, and pay close attention to the suggestions of people on this site (especially those like Martini who are really good poker minds.) 
By the way, confidence is one of the keys to success at poker (especially since it's a 100% mental game), so do what you need to in order to get your confidence back.  Don't allow bad beats to put you on tilt, but make sure that your bets are large enough to force your opponents to be incorrect in playing weak hands.  Anyway, good luck in getting back on track.  Just pay attention to the (good) advice offered on this site and get plenty of play in online (playing hard and focused when you play) and you should be fine.  Becoming a winning player is tough and no one ever stops improving, so just make sure that you don't get discouraged or accept playing at a weaker level just because your opponents are (occasionally) winning this way.

[luckystraights]

Thanks I really appreciate your advise and wisdom. If I ever make it, I will how you both big time.

[Langham]

Lucky, you say you're excited to build up your bankroll, that's fine. But building a bankroll takes longer than losing it. Be patient and try to set realistic goals for yourself when your at the table in terms of profit.

I play .25/.50 cash games, and buy in for 50. If I can make a $5 profit an hour, that's fine with me. But again, I'm not trying to make a living at poker.

And again, take a step back - confidence shouldn't come from teh end result of a hand, and tourney, or a night. If you're making the right reads or plays consistently, the results will come.

One last comment about tight play in tourneys. If you're folding early in a tourney, remember, you're building an image of tight play. When they blinds hit 25/50, try and put a raise in when you're in position to see if your opponents have noticed you tight play early. And it doesn't matter what your cards are. If it's all folds to you on the button, and you have anything, make it 3x the BB.

Betting is about gaining information on your opponrent's hand!

[luckystraights]

One last comment about tight play in tourneys. If you're folding early in a tourney, remember, you're building an image of tight play. When they blinds hit 25/50, try and put a raise in when you're in position to see if your opponents have noticed you tight play early. And it doesn't matter what your cards are. If it's all folds to you on the button, and you have anything, make it 3x the BB.

Thats something I often freeze at online. Having seen people call any size raise with almost anything, I find it hard to sometimes fire a bullet in a steel attempt. Comes down to confidence issues again, online I expect to get called all the way. If my stack is over 20 BB's, I like to try and steel a pot with high suited connectors like QJs, or KQs, giving me something to work with if I'm called, and if it goes to showdown those hands shouldn't affect my image with anyone who has picked up on it.