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ROY ROUNDER: HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR ONLINE POKER GAME
This column is provided free of charge by Coach Rounder. "Roy Rounder" is the pen name of a successful professional poker player and author.
This column is provided free of charge by Coach Rounder. "Roy Rounder" is the pen name of a successful professional poker player and author.
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
I was wondering if I should quit playing but am I not sure if it's the right decision. I play NL and win 75% of the time usually $50 to $100. However, I have a big problem with tilt. I have actually gone on tilt and lost $1000 in one session. The tilt hand or hands (usually 1 BB doesn't impact my play) is something like this. My hand QJ board Q3J - I raise a big amount and get called. Turn is a Q - go all in and get called. River is a K and I lose to QK. I know its dumb to go on tilt but I can't seem to control it - is it lack of experience (I have been playing for 1 year)? Or do I need to take up bowling?
Thanks
J.H.
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Well, if you're winning 75% of your NL poker games, then you're on the right track...What you need is DISCIPLINE. The next time you sit down to play, here's what I want you to do...Tell yourself the MAXIMUM amount of money you can afford to lose in this one session of cards. Then give yourself a maximum of what you can WIN. And as soon as you reach one of those numbers, I want you to...IMMEDIATELY STOP PLAYING! Seriously. For example, decide before your next game that if you're up $300 at any point, you'll get up and leave. Or if you are down $200 at any point, you'll leave. Period. Stick to that plan and see how it works.
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Dear Roy,
PLEASE HELP. I am an avid reader of your e-mails. I love your advice and apply everything to teach to how I play. Here are 2 things I am having a hard time getting past and it is making me resent the game...
#1 They say the less hands you play the more you will win... correct? Why is it that since I am a tight-agressive player I always seem to be the lowest at my table in chips. All the loose players are catching all the cards AND the money. When I do go to bet, since it's not often...everyone folds. This is SOOOO frustrating when I really have something. It happens even when my bets are not huge, maybe just double the blind or something.
#2 How do I get past when I fold a hand like K 3 and 3 3 K comes up on the flop or something like that? That may be a bit extreme but you get the point. When you play tight you fold alot of crap but in turn you have to live with the decision when you see a killer flop that would have made your hand. Both of these things are really bothering me and majorly effecting my play. I would be greatful for any type of response. It doesn't have to be in a newsletter, as I'm not looking for that...JUST HELP!!!
Hope to hear from you.
[name withheld]
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Listen. I wouldn't normally include this question here since you wanted a personal response... but you've hit some VERY IMPORTANT points. And many readers are going through the SAME EXACT THING AS YOU. It's immediately obvious to me that you're playing TOO TIGHT for your game. The way I know this is because everyone is folding as soon as you bet! Here's something you can IMMEDIATELY do to improve the action you get on your "monster" hands:At your next game, I want you to raise the pot pre-flop with a 2-3x big blind raise. I want you to do this with BAD CARDS. When everyone folds, SHOW your cards... and say something like, "C'mon guys... no one had my six high beat?" Do this a couple times. This will immediately set you up for action later. Got it? Good. Now that I've given you a "quick fix", let's talk about the REAL PROBLEM that's happening here...First, you're getting very EMOTIONAL. And that's not good. Second, you're hanging on to a BELIEF that "the less hands you play the more you will win"...You're forgetting about CONTEXT. Every poker game and opponent is different. And therefore the "best" way to play in any given situation is different. Your starting hand selection in a 5-player cash game against your buddies WON'T be the same as your starting hands in an online MTT with 100 players. Make sense? When you hear a bit of "poker wisdom" or advice, don't treat it as an "ultimatum" that's relevant for any game, any time. If you need to loosen up to get more action, do it! Don't just sit there and be stubborn. Do what works, and keep adjusting your game until you see the results you want. The great thing about poker is that you can ALWAYS try new things... test out new methods... and continually refine your style of play. Hope that helps.
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Hey, Roy..
Just a quick note to tell you that since reading "tournament tactics", I have had two first place and seven third place finishes in $5.00 Sit & Go online tourneys.
So thanks again for sharing your methods with us.
M.
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Great work!
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Dear Roy:
Been a avid reader for a while now. I love your newsletters. Have a couple of questions regarding this email that you just sent. 1/ I dont know if its only me but, I make money on the low stakes sit & go $5 or $10, thats where I get my "bank roll" which averages $200 but on the cash games its where I loose it. When I get down to $75 I start playing the S&G again. Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES and I sad that i am part of that 99% loosing stat you mentioned. I play $25 or $50NL up to 6 players, sometimes I win but most of the times this is where I loose my cash and I have several friends that have the same "symptom". What is going on here??? I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time. I am sure there are hundreds of readers like me, can u suggest something? Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play? Let me give u an example. [Long "bad beat" story withheld] Can we get some 6 handed cash game advice? We would really appreciate. Thank you.
G.P.
Miami, FL
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Oh jeeze. All right man... listen closely: You're making THREE CRITICAL MISTAKES. And you need to fix them IMMEDIATELY or else things are just going to get WORSE.
MISTAKE 1: "Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES" This is a BELIEF that you need to release. The TRUTH is this: "Real money" is made in the games where you can WIN... and NOT LOSE! If you're winning $200 in low-stakes Sit and Go's, you may want to try your hand at a $20 Sit and Go. And then $30 ones. Why are you so attached to winning the ring games? Is this an ego thing? There's plenty of money in the Sit and Go's, and if those are working for you, why not keep playing them?
MISTAKE 2: "I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time." OK, this worries me. You say you KNOW HOW to play short-handed... but you always lose? And you lose almost EVERY TIME? It sounds to me like you DON'T know how to play at short-handed tables. Maybe you know the RULES...
but that's about it.
MISTAKE 3: "Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play?" The answer to this is "NO". An emphatic NO. If I could increase the font size on these two letters, I would... And if I were in a room with you right now, I'd write "NO" on a post-it note and super glue it to your forehead. Get my drift? OK, I'm going to be brutally honest with you. You're demonstrating the beginning symptoms of a gambling ADDICT. Yep, that's right. ADDICT. It's something I don't talk about nearly enough in my newsletters, but it's a very serious topic. People lose their ENTIRE lives to gambling addictions. And of the VERY FIRST THINGS that initiates the process is this thought: "Maybe if I move to higher stakes I'll do better." Let me save you a lot of pain and agony and tell you what will happen if you move to higher stakes. You'll lose MORE money... FASTER THAN BEFORE. It's true. I know, because I've made this mistake in the past. What's REALLY happening here is you're SEARCHING for a "logical reason" why you can't beat the short-handed tables online. And you're REFUSING TO ACCEPT the fact that it's YOU to blame. Yes, YOU. You just don't have the "mojo" to beat them yet. But it's OK! That's what I'm here for buddy. I'm here to teach you how to play better and improve your skills. Before I do that, promise me you'll do this one thing...LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR! OK, I'm made my point. Here are three quick ways to improve your skills at the short-handed tables online:
1. Take LONG BREAKS between Sit and Go's and short handed ring tables...These are two COMPLETELY different games. To be successful at both, you have to adjust your style DRAMATICALLY.Tight, "survival-focused" play is what works for Sit and Go's. Aggressive, "bully" play is what works for short-
handed ring games. In Sit and Go's, you want to win a FEW BIG HANDS and otherwise stay out of things. But in ring games the pots won't be as big. Three way all-ins are much less common! I recommend stealing blinds and bullying fish in ring games... that's the quickest way to win lots of chips. THE POINT IS, you can't just go immediately from a Sit and Go to a short-handed cash game and expect to win. You need to "readjust" your thinking first... and start fresh.
2. Watch what winners do. If you're really serious about mastering this part of your game, you need to just WATCH a few games and NOT PLAY. Log in to your favorite poker room, open up a short-handed "cash" game, and just WATCH. Watch what the CONSISTENT WINNERS do. Take notes. Then watch the LOSERS. Spot their mistakes. Find out what it is they're doing WRONG. This is a very useful exercise in becoming a stronger player...
3. When things aren't working, switch tables. A common mistake that happens to players in ring games (especially EGO-driven players... ahem) is that they JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN TO GET UP. If you're out-matched at a 4-player table, YOU WILL LOSE. Fortunately, this is usually IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS. You can tell when you're outmatched when every time you get a good hand, everyone folds. And each time you try to BLUFF, everyone calls. Your opponents are reading you like a book. And instead of fighting a long uphill battle, just get up and MOVE TO ANOTHER TABLE!!! Don't be so damn proud. Just get up and try another table... because here's the good news: WHEN YOU FIND A TABLE THAT "WORKS", YOU CAN MAKE A TON OF MONEY QUICKLY! When things start going well, they'll KEEP going well with those same opponents. Ring games don't usually have many "swings". The winners keep winning. And the losers keep losing. Period. So if you START losing, use that brain of yours and find some place where you can start winning. All right...Before I wrap up this issue, I want to leave with ONE FINAL THOUGHT.Here it is: WHERE you play poker is just as important-- if not MORE important-- than HOW you play. When I say "where", I mean: - Which GAME TYPE you choose. (MTT, STT, Heads-Up, Ring, etc.) - The STAKES you choose. - The POSITION at the table you choose. - And the online CASINO you choose. The reality is, you probably have the skills to excel in CERTAIN GAMES, but not in others. If you're a "losing" poker player right now, you could probably be a WINNER... just by making better decisions on WHERE to play. Interesting, huh? So the million dollar question becomes...How do you "know" the right game type, stakes, and casino to play at? And the ANSWER is what I've covered in my bonus eBook, "The Psychology Of Winning Online Poker". Inside this 43-page bonus you'll read EXACTLY the step-by-step SYSTEM I use to beat the different GAME TYPES at two of my favorite online casinos.
Your Friend,
Roy Rounder
GET COACH ROUNDER FREE!
BACK TO ONLINE POKER STRATEGY, TIPS AND HINTS
OR ONLINE POKER CHEATING SOFTWARE TOOLS
Disclaimer...
We do not promote illegal, underage gambling or gambling to those who live in a jurisdiction where gambling is considered unlawful. The information within this site and newsletter is being presented solely for entertainment purposes. We will not be held responsible for any personal loss of wagers or damages you may incur. Anyone concerned about having a gambling problem can contact Gamblers Anonymous for further information.
I was wondering if I should quit playing but am I not sure if it's the right decision. I play NL and win 75% of the time usually $50 to $100. However, I have a big problem with tilt. I have actually gone on tilt and lost $1000 in one session. The tilt hand or hands (usually 1 BB doesn't impact my play) is something like this. My hand QJ board Q3J - I raise a big amount and get called. Turn is a Q - go all in and get called. River is a K and I lose to QK. I know its dumb to go on tilt but I can't seem to control it - is it lack of experience (I have been playing for 1 year)? Or do I need to take up bowling?
Thanks
J.H.
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Well, if you're winning 75% of your NL poker games, then you're on the right track...What you need is DISCIPLINE. The next time you sit down to play, here's what I want you to do...Tell yourself the MAXIMUM amount of money you can afford to lose in this one session of cards. Then give yourself a maximum of what you can WIN. And as soon as you reach one of those numbers, I want you to...IMMEDIATELY STOP PLAYING! Seriously. For example, decide before your next game that if you're up $300 at any point, you'll get up and leave. Or if you are down $200 at any point, you'll leave. Period. Stick to that plan and see how it works.
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Dear Roy,
PLEASE HELP. I am an avid reader of your e-mails. I love your advice and apply everything to teach to how I play. Here are 2 things I am having a hard time getting past and it is making me resent the game...
#1 They say the less hands you play the more you will win... correct? Why is it that since I am a tight-agressive player I always seem to be the lowest at my table in chips. All the loose players are catching all the cards AND the money. When I do go to bet, since it's not often...everyone folds. This is SOOOO frustrating when I really have something. It happens even when my bets are not huge, maybe just double the blind or something.
#2 How do I get past when I fold a hand like K 3 and 3 3 K comes up on the flop or something like that? That may be a bit extreme but you get the point. When you play tight you fold alot of crap but in turn you have to live with the decision when you see a killer flop that would have made your hand. Both of these things are really bothering me and majorly effecting my play. I would be greatful for any type of response. It doesn't have to be in a newsletter, as I'm not looking for that...JUST HELP!!!
Hope to hear from you.
[name withheld]
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Listen. I wouldn't normally include this question here since you wanted a personal response... but you've hit some VERY IMPORTANT points. And many readers are going through the SAME EXACT THING AS YOU. It's immediately obvious to me that you're playing TOO TIGHT for your game. The way I know this is because everyone is folding as soon as you bet! Here's something you can IMMEDIATELY do to improve the action you get on your "monster" hands:At your next game, I want you to raise the pot pre-flop with a 2-3x big blind raise. I want you to do this with BAD CARDS. When everyone folds, SHOW your cards... and say something like, "C'mon guys... no one had my six high beat?" Do this a couple times. This will immediately set you up for action later. Got it? Good. Now that I've given you a "quick fix", let's talk about the REAL PROBLEM that's happening here...First, you're getting very EMOTIONAL. And that's not good. Second, you're hanging on to a BELIEF that "the less hands you play the more you will win"...You're forgetting about CONTEXT. Every poker game and opponent is different. And therefore the "best" way to play in any given situation is different. Your starting hand selection in a 5-player cash game against your buddies WON'T be the same as your starting hands in an online MTT with 100 players. Make sense? When you hear a bit of "poker wisdom" or advice, don't treat it as an "ultimatum" that's relevant for any game, any time. If you need to loosen up to get more action, do it! Don't just sit there and be stubborn. Do what works, and keep adjusting your game until you see the results you want. The great thing about poker is that you can ALWAYS try new things... test out new methods... and continually refine your style of play. Hope that helps.
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Hey, Roy..
Just a quick note to tell you that since reading "tournament tactics", I have had two first place and seven third place finishes in $5.00 Sit & Go online tourneys.
So thanks again for sharing your methods with us.
M.
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Great work!
*** QUESTION FROM READER ***
Dear Roy:
Been a avid reader for a while now. I love your newsletters. Have a couple of questions regarding this email that you just sent. 1/ I dont know if its only me but, I make money on the low stakes sit & go $5 or $10, thats where I get my "bank roll" which averages $200 but on the cash games its where I loose it. When I get down to $75 I start playing the S&G again. Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES and I sad that i am part of that 99% loosing stat you mentioned. I play $25 or $50NL up to 6 players, sometimes I win but most of the times this is where I loose my cash and I have several friends that have the same "symptom". What is going on here??? I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time. I am sure there are hundreds of readers like me, can u suggest something? Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play? Let me give u an example. [Long "bad beat" story withheld] Can we get some 6 handed cash game advice? We would really appreciate. Thank you.
G.P.
Miami, FL
>>> MY COMMENTS:
Oh jeeze. All right man... listen closely: You're making THREE CRITICAL MISTAKES. And you need to fix them IMMEDIATELY or else things are just going to get WORSE.
MISTAKE 1: "Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES" This is a BELIEF that you need to release. The TRUTH is this: "Real money" is made in the games where you can WIN... and NOT LOSE! If you're winning $200 in low-stakes Sit and Go's, you may want to try your hand at a $20 Sit and Go. And then $30 ones. Why are you so attached to winning the ring games? Is this an ego thing? There's plenty of money in the Sit and Go's, and if those are working for you, why not keep playing them?
MISTAKE 2: "I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time." OK, this worries me. You say you KNOW HOW to play short-handed... but you always lose? And you lose almost EVERY TIME? It sounds to me like you DON'T know how to play at short-handed tables. Maybe you know the RULES...
but that's about it.
MISTAKE 3: "Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play?" The answer to this is "NO". An emphatic NO. If I could increase the font size on these two letters, I would... And if I were in a room with you right now, I'd write "NO" on a post-it note and super glue it to your forehead. Get my drift? OK, I'm going to be brutally honest with you. You're demonstrating the beginning symptoms of a gambling ADDICT. Yep, that's right. ADDICT. It's something I don't talk about nearly enough in my newsletters, but it's a very serious topic. People lose their ENTIRE lives to gambling addictions. And of the VERY FIRST THINGS that initiates the process is this thought: "Maybe if I move to higher stakes I'll do better." Let me save you a lot of pain and agony and tell you what will happen if you move to higher stakes. You'll lose MORE money... FASTER THAN BEFORE. It's true. I know, because I've made this mistake in the past. What's REALLY happening here is you're SEARCHING for a "logical reason" why you can't beat the short-handed tables online. And you're REFUSING TO ACCEPT the fact that it's YOU to blame. Yes, YOU. You just don't have the "mojo" to beat them yet. But it's OK! That's what I'm here for buddy. I'm here to teach you how to play better and improve your skills. Before I do that, promise me you'll do this one thing...LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR! OK, I'm made my point. Here are three quick ways to improve your skills at the short-handed tables online:
1. Take LONG BREAKS between Sit and Go's and short handed ring tables...These are two COMPLETELY different games. To be successful at both, you have to adjust your style DRAMATICALLY.Tight, "survival-focused" play is what works for Sit and Go's. Aggressive, "bully" play is what works for short-
handed ring games. In Sit and Go's, you want to win a FEW BIG HANDS and otherwise stay out of things. But in ring games the pots won't be as big. Three way all-ins are much less common! I recommend stealing blinds and bullying fish in ring games... that's the quickest way to win lots of chips. THE POINT IS, you can't just go immediately from a Sit and Go to a short-handed cash game and expect to win. You need to "readjust" your thinking first... and start fresh.
2. Watch what winners do. If you're really serious about mastering this part of your game, you need to just WATCH a few games and NOT PLAY. Log in to your favorite poker room, open up a short-handed "cash" game, and just WATCH. Watch what the CONSISTENT WINNERS do. Take notes. Then watch the LOSERS. Spot their mistakes. Find out what it is they're doing WRONG. This is a very useful exercise in becoming a stronger player...
3. When things aren't working, switch tables. A common mistake that happens to players in ring games (especially EGO-driven players... ahem) is that they JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN TO GET UP. If you're out-matched at a 4-player table, YOU WILL LOSE. Fortunately, this is usually IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS. You can tell when you're outmatched when every time you get a good hand, everyone folds. And each time you try to BLUFF, everyone calls. Your opponents are reading you like a book. And instead of fighting a long uphill battle, just get up and MOVE TO ANOTHER TABLE!!! Don't be so damn proud. Just get up and try another table... because here's the good news: WHEN YOU FIND A TABLE THAT "WORKS", YOU CAN MAKE A TON OF MONEY QUICKLY! When things start going well, they'll KEEP going well with those same opponents. Ring games don't usually have many "swings". The winners keep winning. And the losers keep losing. Period. So if you START losing, use that brain of yours and find some place where you can start winning. All right...Before I wrap up this issue, I want to leave with ONE FINAL THOUGHT.Here it is: WHERE you play poker is just as important-- if not MORE important-- than HOW you play. When I say "where", I mean: - Which GAME TYPE you choose. (MTT, STT, Heads-Up, Ring, etc.) - The STAKES you choose. - The POSITION at the table you choose. - And the online CASINO you choose. The reality is, you probably have the skills to excel in CERTAIN GAMES, but not in others. If you're a "losing" poker player right now, you could probably be a WINNER... just by making better decisions on WHERE to play. Interesting, huh? So the million dollar question becomes...How do you "know" the right game type, stakes, and casino to play at? And the ANSWER is what I've covered in my bonus eBook, "The Psychology Of Winning Online Poker". Inside this 43-page bonus you'll read EXACTLY the step-by-step SYSTEM I use to beat the different GAME TYPES at two of my favorite online casinos.
Your Friend,
Roy Rounder
GET COACH ROUNDER FREE!
BACK TO ONLINE POKER STRATEGY, TIPS AND HINTS
OR ONLINE POKER CHEATING SOFTWARE TOOLS
Disclaimer...
We do not promote illegal, underage gambling or gambling to those who live in a jurisdiction where gambling is considered unlawful. The information within this site and newsletter is being presented solely for entertainment purposes. We will not be held responsible for any personal loss of wagers or damages you may incur. Anyone concerned about having a gambling problem can contact Gamblers Anonymous for further information.