How can I control this?

[ELDuran]

My poker skills are average. I make little to no money at all. I'm working on this to begin making money. As of now I'm pretty much a break even type player. I know I need to improve a lot. I understand the odds and therefore I play the better hands and most the time I know when to fold. I don't bluff because I need to learn to do so. Anyways, sometimes I get a bad beat or a bad read and I end up losing my buy-in. I don't over value my hands but I find it hard to fold a flush sometimes or a set. Because of this I end up losing my buy-in. When this happens instead of quiting or continue playing on the same blind I get the urge to move up in blinds to get my money back. So far I have gotten my money back everytime but I know one big loss at a higher blind can put a big dent on my bankroll. How do you guys control thuis urge? I'm having a hard time doing so. thanks in advanced!

[taz115]

There is no special technique... you just have to not do it. Players that are unable to control this type of behaviour usually are always long term losers, even if they are quite capable of beating the usual limit.

The PokerMindset is a great book that talks about why tilt occurs, recognizing it and taking measures to limit the amount you tilt. I really recommend that you read it if you have this problem... but it may not help if you cannot decide for yourself that you are simply not going to try this under any circumstances.

[janeg]

I try to think about in terms of the cost of paying for lessons. You can pay $1 a lesson or $10 a lesson; at both tables you learn essentially the same lessons. Which one are you going to sit down at?

[AlamedaMike]

[ELDuran]

Thanks for the quick responses guys. I really have to stop doing that. Here's another question for you guys. I don't bluff in my games and I think that may be the reason why I'm not making money. What books do you guys know off that are excellent for someone like me that wants to learn to bluff. I've tried bluffing but I find it hard to do so on-line. People don't believe you and they end up going over the top of you. I quickly fold. I need help here. I want to add bluffing into my game.

[AlamedaMike]

Book of bluffs by

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Bluffs-How-Bluff-Poker/dp/0446695629/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8843912-6391044?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190303982&sr=8-1

is the only one that I know of. You have to build a story to bluff. If you are going to bluff you need to act just like you have it (betting patter for online). Think how you would play the hand if you have what your are represwenting and then do that.

I raised the flop and checked the turn. A flush card hit the river and I bet like I had the flush and they folded - if they had the flush I was dead.

[the_hawk]

[DP_Machine]

Perhaps, you can ease your way into things. I'm not sure if you're meaning a stone-cold bluff or any bluff whatsoever. But if you haven't tried or if you've shied away from it, try considering throwing out some semi-bluffs where you're betting into a hand that hasn't been made yet, but if/when you do make it, you're holding the nuts and looking to extract as many chips as possible from your opponent(s).

If that club is already in your bag, then to go on what other members have said, another tip is to try and mix up your play every so often. If you feel that the players to the left of you are generally tight and can fold cards more readily than some calling-stations, see if you can bet out to get them out of the hand. Another option is to try stealing blinds when you're in late position and you believe that it's possible to steal blinds because the blinds will only play good-to-premium hands.

Being able to do this and find the right time to do them will make you a better player and eventually get you out of the break-even mode.

[JasonG]

Read, Read, and when you are done, READ SOME MORE.

I actually studied the low limit games to get a grasp on the basic poker concepts. Once I started to break even, and then make money, I moved to No Limit. Now I am not pro, but this was a hell of a lession for me, on the cheap. Now I play $ 40 live S&G's and I do well.

I have read about 6 books, but it goes beyond that. Read them again, study them. Practice them. Just like back in High School with Math. You need to do problems, not just read how to add 1+ 1. Do this 4 or 5 times a week for an hour at a wack and see where you stand in 6 months.

There are 2 books out by Neil Myers. I would suggest them or at least his first, Quick & Easy Texas Holdem. Has a DVD too. A bit dry, but educational to give you a good foundation
http://www.holdempokernow.com

There are tons others, but get suggestions and dont just pick up any book. Read the reviews or ask here.

Collin Moshmans book was a great book too, but I would study others first.

Bluffing, I just didnt do it. You are new and a decent player can see though that. If you keep bluffing with bad cards, then will tear you apart when they get monsters.

Just the advice from a novice who has been in your position.
Jason

[Hermann the Lombard]

I don't know what limit you're playing but assuming low limits then bluffing generally doesn't work because the donk doesn't know he's beaten or at least he "just gotta see 'em." This applies to semi-bluffs as well, but at least there you may end up with the best hand. Critically, the fewer the foes the easier the bluffing. One or two may fold, three *might,* and four almost never will.

That said (and I'm playing nanolimits: .05/.10) I have had some success pushing certain players around with TPNK or even overcards but it's the same thing: pick the players, pick the board, play it like you've got it...and at limit don't do it very often.

Now if I could only follow my own advice consistently...

[jeffnc]

I control the urge simply be being somewhat risk averse by nature. I play at stakes where I'm not devastated if I lose a few buy-ins. You have to play this way because you have to be willing to put your stack at risk if you're going to play good poker.

So I'm not too risk averse to do that. But I am risk averse with regard to my overall bankroll. So I wouldn't move higher to get my money back unless I
- was willing to lose more buy-ins there, in absolute terms
- had the bankroll to cover it, in relative terms
- knew I had a signficant edge in the game

By "absolute" and "relative" terms I mean that I wouldn't risk $1 if my total bankroll were only $2. I'd risk $200 if my total bankroll were $5,000. But I wouldn't risk $1 million even if my bankroll were $25 million. I have the bankroll, but it's just too much money for me.

[jeffnc]