Variance

Beau x1

Hi, I play micro stakes on stars.

I generally have quite good BR management, but I always find myself sticking to the same financial figures after a while. Is there any way in beating variance? My mates will make LOADS of money in a matter of days and then lose it soon after. I'm just wondering what I can do to beat this. I'm playing 2c/5c on stars, and its really doing my head in. I'm playing a good game and I'm patient, but when its not long after I win a nice pot that I get sucked out on by some calling station on the river.

Mr.Plough

I generally have quite good BR management

don't worry about it then

TommyGunne

Its a grind but grind it out. Thats the only way to beat it. Just read, study, post and play.

RoadSweeper

OP, good to hear you have good BR management, its essentail to win at poker in the long run.

You say you have a good game, but i'll bet there is loads of room for improvement.
I recommend posting up hands you played your confused about and posting up pics of you poker tracker or Holdmemanager stats.

The lads on here can give you a few pointers and , from experience its done me the world of good.

zuutroy

Whats the question?

cooker3

Just keep playing more hands and you will eventually move up

phantom_lord

need to do a bit more than just play hand imo

robinblinds

Play some heads up games.

Grafter

You don't say if it's limit or no limit.

If it's no limit, you can reduce variance by leaving the table after you win a big pot and before the calling station outdraws you on the river.

Join another table. Rinse and repeat.

(Before anyone jumps on me, I know this is not good overall poker advice, but it is the answer to the OP's specific question)

monoP54

Lots of people jump from tables after any sort of a good touch.
.....some don't even wait for the next hand to be dealt - these are definitely professionals imo.
I might try this myself so people could respect me too.

Lao Lao

Beau x1 wrote: »

Hi, I play micro stakes on stars.

I generally have quite good BR management, but I always find myself sticking to the same financial figures after a while. Is there any way in beating variance? My mates will make LOADS of money in a matter of days and then lose it soon after. I'm just wondering what I can do to beat this. I'm playing 2c/5c on stars, and its really doing my head in. I'm playing a good game and I'm patient, but when its not long after I win a nice pot that I get sucked out on by some calling station on the river.

First off, well done on having good bankroll management. This is and will be vital for you to succeed at poker in the long term.

By saying you have proper bankroll mgmt, I assume that you have a min of 20 times the max buy in, i.e. $200 in your A/c.

On the basis of this, I would reccomend one of two things to you

1) I would suggest that you lodge another $300 dollars and move up to 10c/25c(25NL). IMO, there is little or no point playing 2c/5c (10NL) as the value of the max buy in ($5) is pittens and you might as well be playing for play money. I honestly can't see anybody taking this level serious in any way shape or form and may very well be the cause of why you get sucked out on so much. Don't get me wrong 25NL won't be a whole lot better standard but with a good solid knowledge of the game you can easily beat it and build your bankroll to the point where you are able to play 25c/50c (50NL) and so on.

2) Quit poker now. Some would argue that if you can't beat (10NL) then there is something wrong! However as mentioned above, it may just becasue that nobody takes this level serious. So, if you've got an extra $300, move up to 25NL but if after say 20K to 30K hands,you have not built up a bankroll for(or not even got close to) 50NL, then I would say poker is just not for you.

Hope the above helps, best of luck

B

zuutroy

Moving up levels because you can't beat people who don't take the game seriously at the lower limits isn't good.

Lao Lao

zuutroy wrote: »

Moving up levels because you can't beat people who don't take the game seriously at the lower limits isn't good.

True, but I did qualify my 1st point by telling him that maybe he should just quit poker as he is not beating 2c/5c. IMO 2c/5c is a joke and not worth playing

Tight Ted

Beau x1 wrote: »

Hi, I play micro stakes on stars.

I generally have quite good BR management, but I always find myself sticking to the same financial figures after a while. Is there any way in beating variance?

I'm playing a good game and I'm patient, but when its not long after I win a nice pot that I get sucked out on by some calling station on the river.

You are not as good as you think you are. Join a training site.

tipp86

It may be that you think your playing every hand perfect! But you most likely are not.

I would agree with posting up a few hands every now and again!
I think most people here could say they could look back at a time when they thought they were playing perfect.

But when they look back now they realise how many leaks they had and find it hard to imagine how they thought what they were doing is right.

I remember a time when playing tournaments at the latter stages i wouldnt have dreamed of pushing unless i had a big hand but over time through reading, posting etc.... I learned how to adjust my range this is just one eg.... but i have many i could quote.

I think if you follow the advice given here and you look back at this thread in a year you relly should realise how much your game has changed.

mdwexford

A lot of bad advice on this thread.

OP i think your mistaking what variance is. Id guess that you havent played nearly enough hands to know whether you're a winner in your chosen game, winning a stack and then losing a stack in the same session isnt exactly nasty variance, having a 30k breakeven stretch when your playing pretty good solid poker is.

If you cant beat 5nl DO NOT MOVE UP STAKES, keep playing hands and improving and eventually things should click for you if you put the effort in. This whole thing of donks calling with crap and sucking out on people is rubbish, if you cant beat 5nl you certainly wont be able to beat 25nl.

I also have a feeling you dont use a tracker which although maybe not that useful for opponents at that level will be very helpful for finding leaks in your own game and plugging them.