(My) Irrational Behavior

[lwestatbus]

I need suggestions on getting past something I've caught myself doing quite a bit of in the last two or three months. The history has been steady growth in my bankroll over three years of play followed by a huge downswing in Fall of '07 and then steady growth this spring but marked by large swings. What I find myself doing is quitting an otherwise lucrative table in which I've invested quite a bit of time learning the players so I can lock in my winnings.

Another thing I've noticed is that I've become much more fixated on goals for winning, in particular not having a losing month and trying to stay above my $1,000 lifetime winning target. I never used to have these fixations but now I do.

The bottom line is that I'll have time to play poker, I'll want to play poker, and I'll have been at a table with all of the elements for success but I'll decide to quit that table and abandon all the information I've gathered and whatever table image I've generated. But a few minutes later I'll be back looking for a new table. I can lose at the new table but not feel so bad but if I lose my winnings at the same table where I won them I feel like an idiot. So to avoid that I quit before I can lose.

This makes NO sense but I'm having a hard time stopping the behavior. (Sometimes I'll rationalize it by finding a SnG instead of another ring game and telling myself I'm just looking for something different.)

[odlozilik]

Well, I wouldn't say your behavior should be considered as bad or not adequate. Actually, I like to rotate the tables too. Even though it might not be rationalistic, I seemed to have better results in the beginning of the session at the table. Maybe the point can be while I am always multitabling, others can read my play better then I can read them, so better not to stay too long (there's usually only 1 or 2 regular players on the table at the time, the rest of the players are somehow unknown, or I didn't notice them yet).

[alf1052]

Do you really think that stuff has any effect on results. I doubt it. For me, I move when my comfort zone needs a tweak. Stop thinking and go with your gut on emotional ssues.

ALF1052

[lwestatbus]

Wow, Alf, was this your first post? I feel so honored.

Welcome to the Forum.

Since posting this way back in May a lot has changed. I had a huge month in June going up $540 (at $2/4 and $3/6 FL ring games). This put me so far ahead of my $1,000 milestone that the pressure was off as was the sting of some huge swings in prior months. I now find myself back to more 'normal' table changing decisions. I'll leave when I get tired but most often when the nature of the table changes--usually when it tightens up or a profitable wacko or two leave.

Welcome again.

[alf1052]

Larry: It's my pleasure. Winning always makes one feel a lot better. I'll be at the Bellagio in October. It's crowded but has a nice buzz. What's your favorite spot?

[lwestatbus]

I have a real soft spot for Caesar's Palace and the Golden Nugget as I've never lost at either location in multiple visits. I get hammered at Binion's by the No-Fold'em crowd. My parents live in LV so I get out there once per year for a week's worth of play.