Need advice on improving my game. Where do I go next?

Ok, need to swallow my pride and ask for help here. Seems I've hit a wall as far as improving my game.

I've been playing poker seriously for a year. By this i mean i've been trying to better my game for the past year but i've played poker badly on and off for years prior. I play online as well as a couple monthly games, one with coworkers, one with family, where i can consistently win a couple bucks ( I prefer live games).

My game of choice these days is Hold'em. I've read TJ Cloutiers book, 'Championship Pot Limit and No Limit holdem' which really tightened up my game, and gave me a good foundation on what cards to play, when to play them and when to raise with them. I've read Mike Caro's book of poker tells, and found that many of the tells listed I was catching on my own even before reading the book (in life in general i'm fairly good at reading others). I tend to do much better playing 'live' games rather than online because of this.

It seems however that for the past 2 months i've been hovering at about the same skill level (despite increasing my amount of play) and seem to actually be doing continually worse...

Online I typically play in freeroll MTT's (i used to consistently place between 50 and 40th place, but now consistently seem to place in the high 300's), I only finished 'in the money' once at 18th place.

I've also been playing in some sit'n go tourneys online (lately though many have been for 'play money' because my online play has been so bad lately). I was consistently winning for a while but then went on a bad slide and lost about 80% of my small bankroll in one day (I just couldn't make anything work). Now I'm at the very tip of my bankroll with little left but want to build it back up rather than reload, so I've been playing super tight in the few times i've ventured back online. Things have been a little better, but i still feel like there's much improvement to be had.

One of the 'style' changes i tried making during my 'downslide' was to try to loosen my game up a bit. My problem was that i was playing way too tight. I started to find that when i did come with a hand in the MTT's I'd raise and everyone would fold. I found that I'd consistently make it to late stages in the tournament but be two short stacked and forced to make moves with mediocre hands. So i tried loosening my play so that I could build a bigger chip stack early on. However, by loosening my game i find that i consistently make bad plays that cost me more money and i exit the tourney early. I'm rather frustrated since i feel like i'm capable of better play.

I really want to get moving in the right direction again, even if it means starting back at square one.

Originally Posted by thirteen

One of the 'style' changes i tried making during my 'downslide' was to try to loosen my game up a bit. My problem was that i was playing way too tight. I started to find that when i did come with a hand in the MTT's I'd raise and everyone would fold. I found that I'd consistently make it to late stages in the tournament but be two short stacked and forced to make moves with mediocre hands. So i tried loosening my play so that I could build a bigger chip stack early on. However, by loosening my game i find that i consistently make bad plays that cost me more money and i exit the tourney early. I'm rather frustrated since i feel like i'm capable of better play.

Loosening up your game makes it worse. Stick to tight play, and you will win. Since everyone folds to your raises because you are percieved as a tight player, then use it as an opportunty to introduce some deception to your play. Try smooth-calling or check-raising etc.

Also try stealing some blinds when you are in late position with OK hands. I like doing this around the cut-off with something like Kxs or 1 gapper (J9 and QT are my personal favorites). It's important to remember that your goal is to steal the blinds, not to enter a pot against a large stack. Also, the further away from the button you try this, the less it looks like a blind steal. You would be surprised at how effective this play is, especially around the bubble.

Originally Posted by G3O

Also try stealing some blinds when you are in late position with OK hands. I like doing this around the cut-off with something like Kxs or 1 gapper (J9 and QT are my personal favorites). It's important to remember that your goal is to steal the blinds, not to enter a pot against a large stack. Also, the further away from the button you try this, the less it looks like a blind steal. You would be surprised at how effective this play is, especially around the bubble.

Hmmm... This is a good point, typically I've tried this from the button or the cut off seat and end up getting called, usually by a mediocre hand that probably though I was trying to steal the blinds. I should try this from middle to late position.

[quote="thirteen"]

Originally Posted by G3O

.. typically I've tried this from the button or the cut off seat and end up getting called, usually by a mediocre hand that probably though I was trying to steal the blinds. I should try this from middle to late position.

But don't try it in too early of a position. In case you do get called (which, by the way, will invariably happen) you still want to have the advantage of position. Also, don't do it with junk hands. When you get called by other mediocre holdings, then at least you are not behind. Timing is key.

Another point/ benefit of this move- if you get raised on a blind steal, then seriously think about folding. This advertises that you went for the steal and failed. This is a good thing, because it means more action when you do have a hand to raise with.