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[aokrongly]

...

[UncleBuddy]

2. Do not Pre-Act using the action buttons when playing. You think, what's the big deal, I know I'm folding 24o on the button, so why not use the preaction buttons? The answer is that it is a symptom of a bigger problem, so cure the symptom to keep the bigger problem at bay. Plus, you never really know what you should do until you see what actually happens. Case in point. I had 24o with the chip lead on the button. Previously I would have pre-clicked fold and checked my email during the hand. But I can't do that now (the rule says so). So there I sit. Blinds are 15/30, UTG raises to 60 (now I know I'm folding, but I can't pre-click, so I wait). Everyone else but 2 players Calls. There are 5 people in the pot. The blinds have shown a predisposition to call as well. If everyone is playing A something or face cards, then that's as many as 14 Aces and faces used up!!! (out of 16) They're all interfering with each other's hands. I have crap, but pot odds are good and card odds are better than you might expect, plus I have twice the stack of anyone else. So I call. Flop the nut straight and knock another player out. Now I have 3x more chips than anyone else. Why? I didn't preclick. That may happen 1 time in 10 hours of play, but the discipline is the point.

Exellent, excellent point. I would have never thought of this. I owe you a beer if we ever meet.

By the by, I think the amount of reflection and thought you put into a break even week shows that you have what it takes to continue playing pro. Congrats again.

[soupie]

I dont do eveything like you, but i appreciate your excellent post. For some of us playing more than one tourney at a time actually helps our concentration. There is nothing i like better than 4 tourneys going at one time and a perfectly quiet house. A very rare event around here, but I love it.

[DBL0SVN]

Some excellent points you've posted on how easy it is to lose it and go on Tilt as well as great ideas on how to stay focussed. I know I have a reasonably good game but need to work on my focus if I want to improve, so your post has been really helpful. Keep up the good work!

[DrumzCT]

Very good post. I had a similar experience this week where I went into "recovery mode". Started playing multiple sng's at once, which while may be good for other guys is not good for me. Also accidentally clicked into a limit sng and I never ever play limit.

I will definitely be implementing some of your "cures"

[youngblood]

after reading this i got into a tournament,and wow...

i could never really do good in tournaments and didnt know why,
well i am playing as we speak and im sitting in 18th place with the blinds at 200/400 25 ante and my stack is at 38,936 with 440 players remaining

stratch that,i just took 2 people out and sitting with 90k

pretty intresting stuff,im gonna keep using what your talking about and see how many times i do good

[Spook]

Wow, I don't know how I missed this post... I've been on here almost all day every day for the last 2 months. You bring up some excelent points and several things that I know I need to incorporate into my game.

Thanks

[Chicago_Kid]

I used to be a fundamentally sound 45% ITM, 35% ROI player when focussed on ST-SnG's. Recently, I have moved over to limit ring games. I've tried to strut my stuff back into SnG's lately and I've been getting creamed. I think a lot of this is due to impatience and lack of focus.

I will also say that 4-tabling in limit ring, and then trying to switch back to full concentration on a single tourney is REALLY tough. The level of focus and patience is on another level entirely.

As a bit of advice to other readers, if you do the same, make sure you allow for an adjustment. Otherwise, you might drop 6-7 SnG's in a row before you know it!

I think some of your tips will get me back on track, particularly the comment on the "no-auto action" buttons....so true for any NL game.

[aokrongly]

Since that post I've moved to playing on some sites that don't allow multi-tabling - like Pacific Poker. I did this for a couple of reasons.

1. It keeps me focused, which increases my win rate.
2. I can take advantage of some bonuses.
3. "online pros" or really solid players love multi-tabling. So, the sites that don't allow it have more average players and less "pros". So it's easier pickings.

I've also found that playing NL ring game can be very profitable and at times can be faster. If nothing else I can be the one who dictates when I'm done and not the length of the tournament. I've only recently started playing them, though, so it may be a short term success. But I think my NL tournament experience directly translates. Plus the blinds never go up!!

[Alibi]

Patience is a problem for me.

I'll start playing poker and only halfway through the SnG I'll realize that I'm tired or angry, and then start playing horribly out of my game.

Thanks for the advice though

[Les_Worm]

Nice Post. I don't really play MTT but if I ever begin to I will keep this post in mind.

[aokrongly]

There are all sorts of situations where this applies outside MTT. It's easy to become impatient on ring games and SnG's as well. Nice avatar by the way.