I’ve been playing poker regularly for almost a year now and there are 2 local Tournaments that I play most weeks. The first is a small game that averages about 10-15 players and the second is a bit bigger at 30-40 players. I still feel like I am learning the game (and the players) so I don’t have huge expectations of success when I play, but I’m starting to get some consistent results...even if I don’t quite understand them.
I’ve been frustrated for a while because I perform a LOT better at the smaller game. I probably take home cash about half the time on average which I think is pretty good, however the larger game I am striking out consistently. I’m still trying to figure out why that is but I am starting to get some ideas about things I should work on or experiment with to see if I can lift my results at the bigger game.
Overall I would describe myself as a Recreational Player who loves a bit of Banter and I am very comfortable joking around with other players that I know. I feed off the energy of the table that I am on and I have tended to develop a fairly tight playing style. I am typically playing Exploitatively so I think one of the reasons why I am having success at the smaller game is because I know the other players well enough that I can outplay them in certain scenarios. At the bigger game I struggle with this aspect because I don’t know the other players so well. There is just too many of them and even the players that I do know often end up on different tables to me. My confidence is lower at the bigger game and the energy on the tables is sometimes non-existant.
There are also a lot of older players at the bigger tournament and I feel like the older ones are not only more experienced players but I think they also are typically better at reading other people with good Emotional Intelligence. Especially the older ladies – they know how to sniff out those bluffs and are very good at Hand Reading. Looks can certainly be deceiving and Tournament Poker is one of those games where the sweet little old lady is the most dangerous player you will come up against!
I’ve watched a few videos and read a book or two but I haven’t gone too hard at improving my game because I am mostly playing for fun and I prefer to learn from practice rather than theory. However, I do digest tips here and there if I can. It is often the maintaining of discipline and patience which I struggle with the most. I think it’s important to understand your own strengths and weaknesses – not just your opponents. If you’re a poker player do you really know yourself and what makes you a good, or bad player? Any advice for me?