S.O.S: Tired of being a losing player.

[shysti]

I don't know what it is I need to do! Maybe it's my half ass attempt at MTT's because I know even if I make right decisions, I'll be donked out at some point.

Maybe, it's my impatience with STT's that perhaps, if I played them consistently I would be a winning player, but due to not having the patience to do thousands of them to find out.

I am all over the place, mtt's, stt's, cash games!! I don't want to quit poker because I am not a quitter, but I am tired of being a donater

[shysti]

Here's a random 22 MTT from midnight last night, I was tired and donked out of this one, just to give an idea of what's been going down:

The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

---Tournament Summary---
$22 MTT: Finished 290/519 for $2598
Data for 50 hands.
You played 11 hands (22.00%)
You raised 3 times preflop (6.00%)

5 8 MP2 (M = 50.00; f+f+c+F)
4 3 MP1 (M = 50.00; f+c+F)
7 4 UTG+1 (M = 50.00; c+F)
K 7 UTG (M = 50.00; F)
9 Q BB (M = 50.00; f+f+f+f+r+f+f+c+F)
3 8 SB (M = 49.33; f+r+c+f+c+f+f+F)
6 A CO (M = 49.00; f+f+f+c+f+F)
6 A CO (M = 49.00; f+f+f+c+f+F)
J Q CO-1 (M = 49.00; c+f+c+f+F)
2 A MP2 (M = 49.00; f+c+f+F)
Q J MP1 (M = 49.00; c+f+F)
5 4 UTG+1 (M = 49.00; f+F)
4 A UTG (M = 49.00; F)

-----Hand 1-----
Hero's M = 49.00
PokerStars Game #11821736782: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/09/02 - 00:13:26 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1460 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: IADAWG (2100 in chips)
Seat 4: kirk67 (1470 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (180 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (2290 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1470 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (3080 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1470 in chips)
emb98: posts small blind 10
shysti: posts big blind 20
Preflop: shysti dealt Q 5
dafuzball: folds
wiselites: calls 20
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: folds
mnj1963: calls 20
emb98: calls 10
shysti: checks
Flop: 3 2 8
emb98: checks
shysti: checks
wiselites: checks
mnj1963: checks
Turn: 9
emb98: checks
shysti: checks
wiselites: bets 20
mnj1963: calls 20
emb98: calls 20
shysti: folds
River: 8
emb98: checks
wiselites: bets 120
mnj1963: folds
emb98: folds
wiselites collected 140 from pot
wiselites: doesn't show hand


6 4 SB (M = 48.33; f+f+f+r+c+c+f+F)
6 T BU (M = 32.00; f+f+f+r+f+f+F)
6 7 CO (M = 32.00; f+f+f+p+f+F)
K 7 CO-1 (M = 32.00; f+f+r+f+F)
9 6 MP2 (M = 32.00; f+p+r+F)
6 T MP1 (M = 32.00; f+f+F)

-----Hand 2-----
Hero's M = 32.00
PokerStars Game #11821817954: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/09/02 - 00:19:46 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1455 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1415 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: IADAWG (1950 in chips)
Seat 4: kirk67 (1380 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (615 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (1965 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1440 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (2930 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1870 in chips)
kirk67: posts small blind 15
mnj1963: posts big blind 30
Preflop: shysti dealt 9 9
emb98: folds
shysti: calls 30
dafuzball: raises 150 to 180
wiselites: folds
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: folds
mnj1963: calls 150
shysti: calls 150
Flop: T Q 7
mnj1963: checks
shysti: checks
dafuzball: bets 90
mnj1963: raises 345 to 435 and is all-in
shysti: folds
dafuzball: calls 345
Turn: 5
River: T
Showdown:
mnj1963: shows Q T (a full house, Tens full of Queens)
dafuzball: shows A A (two pair, Aces and Tens)
mnj1963 collected 1425 from pot


4 J UTG (M = 28.00; F)

-----Hand 3-----
Hero's M = 28.00
PokerStars Game #11821837240: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/09/02 - 00:21:17 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1455 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1415 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: IADAWG (1950 in chips)
Seat 4: kirk67 (1365 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (1395 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (1995 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1260 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (2315 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1870 in chips)
emb98: posts small blind 15
shysti: posts big blind 30
Preflop: shysti dealt 2 6
dafuzball: folds
wiselites: folds
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: folds
mnj1963: calls 30
emb98: calls 15
shysti: checks
Flop: K 3 9
emb98: checks
shysti: checks
mnj1963: checks
Turn: 8
emb98: checks
shysti: bets 100
mnj1963: folds
emb98: folds
shysti collected 90 from pot
shysti: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 4-----
Hero's M = 29.33
PokerStars Game #11821846737: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/09/02 - 00:22:02 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1455 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1415 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: IADAWG (1950 in chips)
Seat 4: kirk67 (1365 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (1365 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (1965 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1320 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (2315 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1870 in chips)
shysti: posts small blind 15
dafuzball: posts big blind 30
Preflop: shysti dealt 9 J
wiselites: folds
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: calls 30
mnj1963: folds
emb98: folds
shysti: calls 15
dafuzball: checks
Flop: 4 A 6
shysti: checks
dafuzball: bets 90
kirk67: folds
shysti: folds
dafuzball collected 90 from pot
dafuzball: doesn't show hand



-----Hand 5-----
Hero's M = 28.67
PokerStars Game #11821856291: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/09/02 - 00:22:47 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1455 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1415 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: IADAWG (1950 in chips)
Seat 4: kirk67 (1335 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (1365 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (1965 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1290 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (2375 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1870 in chips)
dafuzball: posts small blind 15
wiselites: posts big blind 30
Preflop: shysti dealt 4 6
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: folds
mnj1963: calls 30
emb98: folds
shysti: calls 30
dafuzball: calls 15
wiselites: checks
Flop: A 9 T
dafuzball: checks
wiselites: checks
mnj1963: checks
shysti: bets 110
dafuzball: calls 110
wiselites: folds
mnj1963: calls 110
Turn: K
dafuzball: checks
mnj1963: checks
shysti: checks
River: 4
dafuzball: checks
mnj1963: checks
shysti: checks
Showdown:
dafuzball: shows T A (two pair, Aces and Tens)
mnj1963: mucks hand
shysti: mucks hand
dafuzball collected 450 from pot


K 5 CO (M = 25.56; f+f+c+c+f+F)
9 2 CO-1 (M = 25.56; f+f+c+f+F)
K 8 MP2 (M = 25.56; c+f+f+F)
3 K MP1 (M = 25.56; c+f+F)
9 5 UTG+1 (M = 25.56; f+F)
4 9 UTG (M = 25.56; F)
T 4 BB (M = 25.56; r+f+f+f+f+f+c+f+F)
8 3 SB (M = 24.89; r+f+f+f+f+f+f+F)
5 3 BU (M = 14.73; f+f+f+f+c+c+F)
8 3 CO (M = 14.73; f+f+f+c+f+F)
9 T CO-1 (M = 14.73; f+c+r+f+F)
3 Q MP2 (M = 14.73; f+c+f+F)

-----Hand 6-----
Hero's M = 14.73
PokerStars Game #11821994904: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/09/02 - 00:33:46 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 5' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: RalphWiggam (1210 in chips)
Seat 2: twistin 1 (1295 in chips)
Seat 3: IADAWG (2515 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: kirk67 (1720 in chips)
Seat 5: mnj1963 (1530 in chips)
Seat 6: emb98 (1220 in chips)
Seat 7: shysti (1105 in chips)
Seat 8: dafuzball (2850 in chips)
Seat 9: wiselites (1575 in chips)
IADAWG: posts small blind 25
kirk67: posts big blind 50
Preflop: shysti dealt K A
mnj1963: calls 50
IADAWG has returned
emb98: folds
shysti: raises 115 to 165
dafuzball: folds
wiselites: folds
RalphWiggam: folds
twistin 1: folds
IADAWG: folds
kirk67: folds
mnj1963: calls 115
Flop: 2 6 Q
mnj1963: checks
shysti: bets 150
mnj1963: raises 1215 to 1365 and is all-in
shysti: folds
mnj1963 collected 705 from pot
mnj1963: doesn't show hand


J Q UTG+1 (M = 10.53; f+F)

-----Hand 7-----
Hero's M = 10.53
PokerStars Game #11822028692: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/09/02 - 00:36:20 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 43' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: AustinHepCat (3635 in chips)
Seat 3: erc007 (2750 in chips)
Seat 4: stosmel (1353 in chips)
Seat 5: shysti (790 in chips)
Seat 6: mickelson (4230 in chips)
Seat 7: sumotua (1337 in chips)
Seat 8: joeybabe (4595 in chips)
Seat 9: hyperno (5160 in chips)
joeybabe: posts small blind 25
hyperno: posts big blind 50
Preflop: shysti dealt T J
AustinHepCat: raises 100 to 150
erc007: folds
stosmel: folds
shysti: calls 150
mickelson: folds
sumotua: folds
joeybabe: calls 125
hyperno: calls 100
Flop: 9 3 9
joeybabe: bets 400
hyperno: folds
AustinHepCat: folds
shysti: folds
joeybabe collected 600 from pot
joeybabe: doesn't show hand


8 J MP1 (M = 8.53; f+f+F)
K 5 UTG+1 (M = 8.53; f+F)
3 5 UTG (M = 8.53; F)

-----Hand 8-----
Hero's M = 8.53
PokerStars Game #11822081641: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/09/02 - 00:40:26 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 43' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: crochunter88 (1305 in chips)
Seat 2: AustinHepCat (3410 in chips)
Seat 3: erc007 (2675 in chips)
Seat 4: stosmel (1303 in chips)
Seat 5: shysti (640 in chips)
Seat 6: mickelson (4230 in chips)
Seat 7: sumotua (1562 in chips)
Seat 8: joeybabe (5045 in chips)
Seat 9: hyperno (4985 in chips)
stosmel: posts small blind 25
shysti: posts big blind 50
Preflop: shysti dealt K 5
mickelson: calls 50
sumotua: folds
joeybabe: folds
hyperno: folds
crochunter88: folds
AustinHepCat: calls 50
erc007: folds
stosmel: calls 25
shysti: checks
Flop: 4 J 8
stosmel: checks
shysti: checks
mickelson: bets 100
AustinHepCat: raises 150 to 250
stosmel: folds
shysti: folds
mickelson: raises 350 to 600
AustinHepCat: raises 2760 to 3360 and is all-in
mickelson: calls 2760
Turn: Q
River: 5
Showdown:
mickelson: shows 8 8 (three of a kind, Eights)
AustinHepCat: shows J 9 (a pair of Jacks)
mickelson collected 6920 from pot


T 2 SB (M = 7.87; f+c+f+f+c+f+F)

-----Hand 9-----
Hero's M = 7.53
PokerStars Game #11822112163: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/09/02 - 00:42:50 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 43' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: crochunter88 (1305 in chips)
Seat 3: erc007 (2625 in chips)
Seat 4: stosmel (1253 in chips)
Seat 5: shysti (565 in chips)
Seat 6: mickelson (7690 in chips)
Seat 7: sumotua (1562 in chips)
Seat 8: joeybabe (5170 in chips)
Seat 9: hyperno (4985 in chips)
mickelson: posts small blind 25
sumotua: posts big blind 50
Preflop: shysti dealt J A
joeybabe: calls 50
hyperno: folds
crochunter88: folds
erc007: folds
stosmel: folds
shysti: calls 50
mickelson: folds
sumotua: checks
Flop: 5 9 7
sumotua: checks
joeybabe: checks
shysti: checks
Turn: A
sumotua: checks
joeybabe: checks
shysti: bets 110
sumotua: folds
joeybabe: folds
shysti collected 175 from pot


7 2 CO (M = 9.20; f+f+f+f+f+F)
K 4 CO-1 (M = 4.60; f+f+f+c+F)

-----Hand 10-----
Hero's M = 4.60
PokerStars Game #11822154152: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/09/02 - 00:46:10 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 43' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: crochunter88 (1305 in chips)
Seat 2: mocycle (4050 in chips)
Seat 3: erc007 (2625 in chips)
Seat 4: stosmel (1403 in chips)
Seat 5: shysti (690 in chips)
Seat 6: mickelson (7365 in chips)
Seat 7: sumotua (1487 in chips)
Seat 8: joeybabe (5395 in chips)
Seat 9: hyperno (4885 in chips)
hyperno: posts small blind 50
crochunter88: posts big blind 100
Preflop: shysti dealt 6 6
mocycle: raises 200 to 300
erc007: folds
stosmel: folds
shysti: raises 390 to 690 and is all-in
mickelson: folds
sumotua: folds
joeybabe: raises 610 to 1300
hyperno: folds
crochunter88: folds
mocycle: folds
Flop: K 3 A
Turn: 4
River: 9
Showdown:
shysti: shows 6 6 (a pair of Sixes)
joeybabe: shows A K (two pair, Aces and Kings)
joeybabe collected 1830 from pot



-----Hand 11-----
Hero's M = 4.60
PokerStars Game #11822154152: Tournament #59097044, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2007/09/02 - 00:46:10 (ET)
Condensed history provided by the Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) from http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com
Table '59097044 43' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: crochunter88 (1305 in chips)
Seat 2: mocycle (4050 in chips)
Seat 3: erc007 (2625 in chips)
Seat 4: stosmel (1403 in chips)
Seat 5: shysti (690 in chips)
Seat 6: mickelson (7365 in chips)
Seat 7: sumotua (1487 in chips)
Seat 8: joeybabe (5395 in chips)
Seat 9: hyperno (4885 in chips)
hyperno: posts small blind 50
crochunter88: posts big blind 100
Preflop: shysti dealt 6 6
mocycle: raises 200 to 300
erc007: folds
stosmel: folds
shysti: raises 390 to 690 and is all-in
mickelson: folds
sumotua: folds
joeybabe: raises 610 to 1300
hyperno: folds
crochunter88: folds
mocycle: folds
Flop: K 3 A
Turn: 4
River: 9
Showdown:
shysti: shows 6 6 (a pair of Sixes)
joeybabe: shows A K (two pair, Aces and Kings)
joeybabe collected 1830 from pot



The Tournament Trimmer (v1.1.4w) was developed by JeffreyGB at http://www.FlopTurnRiver.com.

[givememyleg]

Hand 6, do you always cbet this small? I bet you bet bigger with AQ here.

I don't like Hand 7, Hand 9 is even worse. Your stack is too short to be seeing flops.

[thelipkin]

What is your question? Leg pretty much summed up what went wrong with that tourney, but I feel like you already knew that.

[shysti]

I guess my question is that I need a plan of attack on becoming a better player, other than just playing more.

I think focusing and having to be organized is what I need, but being ADHD, it's kind of hard. Not that I have an excuse but I love this game, and just need advice I guess I dunno.

[dev]

hand 9 absolutely has to be raised.
hand 10...
Someone might disagree with me here, but you don't have any fold equity here, and you still have a couple rounds to go before you're forced in. I think you can wait for a better spot. Once someone shows strength and you know you can't make them fold, it's just bad business to put your stack at risk.

Another thing to realize, this is one tourney! Just one. You have to play a lot, and I mean a LOT to get an idea of whether you're any good or not. Multi some turbos and post them here, I'm sure if you have any major leaks we can help plug them.

About ADHD, I'm in the same boat, I think a lot of us are. There are two solutions, suck it up or take drugs for it. I've got an aversion to drugs so I'm thinking about chamomile tea or something... Anyway, using it as an excuse CAN'T help.

[thelipkin]

Well, there are lots of good basic plans of attack on this site already. IF those don't seem to work for you, what modifications would you need to/would be willing to make to make poker work? What concessions does adhd force you to make, and can you live with them. I feel like a lot of the problem might come from the tension between how you feel like you SHOULD be playing, and how you are physicaly able to play. Or maybe it isn't about adhd at all. Only you know for sure.

So, lets talk, what ideas do you have specific to you and your situation?

[shysti]

Ty for the input guys, by no means am I using ADHD, as an excuse, I said that previously. However, though thinking rationally, it does have an affect I believe.

I am willing to do whatever it takes though to become a winning player, if that means me dropping the money to a site like cardrunners, or PXF, then so be it. Poker is one of those things I've found in my life that's going to be a life long obessesion, so I at least want to be in the black in regards to this.

I think perhaps, I need to find out what my niche is (MTT's, ring, stts, hybrid of 2 w/e) and stick to finding out everything I need to do to become good at it. Then again, maybe an outside perception can help me pin-point what I need to do even more so, hence my reason for starting this thread.

I don't want it to turn into a pity party, more so than a "think tank" of options and ideas to help one advance forward.

[dev]

You're not alone in any case. I actually thought about doing a video and asking people to critique my thought process through the hands. That might not be a bad idea if it catches on, what do you think?

[shysti]

Great Idea! I have snag it, which is a video capturing software, maybe I should put it to use and make some vids on youtube or something. I have to find my mic.

[thelipkin]

Finding a niche is very helpful. It doesn't need to be what you always play, but just deciding what you enjoy most, and what you are most consistent in will help you clear your thinking up a ton. Having fewer things to worry about will always help. To clarify, you don't have to just play one type of game, but knowing in your mind what game you are committed to will help you a lot.

Also, the single most helpful thing I can say is that you need to be able to learn how to give your self good advice and trust it. Sites like cardrunners are very good to get new ideas, but are not always the best places to turn into a confident poker player. Sometimes just asking yourself for advice and going through the motions of solving a problem logically can do great things to stabilize how you play.

Somebody can tell you how to play 1000 times, and sometimes you just need to teach yourself the same thing once to really get it.

[shysti]

Ty !

[DBL0SVN]

I guess my question is that I need a plan of attack on becoming a better player, other than just playing more.

Shysti, have you read HOH1&2 ? Lots of great advice and will give you a 'plan of attack' for all stages of the tournament.

[shysti]

I've read, and own all 3 books

[Hubris1]

When I first started playing poker I played a few home games, did ok and got the bug. I put 50 bucks into poker stars six times and busted every time, not surprisingly, I was playing either .10/.25 or .25/.50. I was making about 70 grand a year at the time, so I didn't really care about the cash, but I wanted to be a winning player.

So here's what I did, and I recommend you do the same. I cashed out any money I had on pstars or gave it away, down to the last penny. I made the resolution that I would turn 1k play money into 100 grand, if I did that, then I would re-deposit 50 and work my way up from the bottom. Starting at .01/.02 and slowly moving my way up to .05/.10 and all the ranks above that. I made resolutions at each rank and didn't move up, regardless of how tilted/pissed/drunk or angry I was.

It was the last deposit I ever made. When I was playing regularly I was pulling in a reasonable 15--20k extra a year. I ended up giving up ring games and focusing on tourney play and I had 15 some wins, 7 or so online and 8 live, including a few in vegas, my first live win at the Luxor I put in the Vegas section awhile back.

I ended up quitting poker play for a good year or two, it was too time consuming and didn't relieve stress enough for someone with a high stress job, I'd rather be surfing, at the gym or chasing girls. I just started getting back into it again, and instead of dropping in a grand or two, which I could easily do, I've started at the very bottom again and made the same resolutions I made before.

If you are playing in a 22 dollar buy in tourney and you aren't a winning player something is very wrong. Start at the bottom and work your way up. If you hit a rank and you stop being a winning player, then focus on that rank or move back down and think about it. Not only will it be SO much cheaper to learn you will learn plays from players that you won't learn at higher stakes. For example, in a 20 dollar buyin game, if you intentionally make a play to make the player think you are being fishy from a number of plays you regularly saw in the 3 dollar buyin rank, you'll get a hell of a lot of bites. Starting small and building up is not only safe for your bank roll but it'll give you rock solid game as you move through the stakes.

Edit: Not meant as bragging btw, I know there's plenty of way more profitable players here, but just giving an example of why to learn cheaply.

[jdubs]

I dunno...seems as though you have the knowledge, you are just not applying it? Maybe not being patient enough? I struggle with this, even when I know the correct play I sometimes won't make it- due to just having lost alot of my stack, or on the other hand, being huge stacked and thinking I am invincible. Or being card dead for 20 hands and getting antsy to play anything that looks "decent". Patience is one of the most difficult things to master i have found- but I know my results show when I am more patient, good things tend to happen. Not advocating being a rock, mind you- just being patient, especially with a short to medium stack. It's VERY easy to think you are more short stacked/desperate than you sometimes are!

I have been thinking of trying the PXF thing too... let me know how it goes if you try it.