Is it wrong to set goals ... ?

The Prophet 22

Lou, Devin, Dave, CanadaKev, Camblor

You guys have all played in the big events, WPT and the World Series. The title is my question. Here is what I mean.

Can I set a goal to say:

1) I won't go out of the tournament in the first blind level.

2) I will not go out of the tournament on day one.

3) Make the money

4) To win the tournament

I think I know the answer, but am interested to what you have to say.

For example, I have KK UTG, blinds are 300/600/100. I raise 2000. Guy in MP goes over the top for 30,000. Folded back to me. I have 26, 000 after I made my 2000 bet. My goal was to make it to day two. I can't put this guy on a hand because of the hugh overbet, maybe pocket 22 or 33, maybe A rag or A face. I rule out AA because of the huge over bet.

I think best to fold and take another shot. I mean I have only invested 2000 here in this sistuation

Prophet 22

What would be some examples of good goals heading into a big tournament.

Do I have to call here with KK

Cye99

I thinks its great to set goals. The ones you want to set are the wrong ones in my opinion. In your example your letting the goal you set effect the way you play. In setting a goal it should make you focus on playing your best poker.

Just my opinion.

Pinhead

As far as the KK question in the original post, what is your most important goal? Are you playing just to make it to day 2 with no chips, because if that is the case just sit there and do nothing but shove AA PF and if you happen to see a flop, fold anything but the nuts. Seems fairly ridiculous to say you think he has a hand like 22 or 33 and then fold KK, doesn't it??

If getting to day 2 is Goal #1 and this is the last hand of Day 1, then fold away and be happy you accomplished your goal, but IMHO folding here when you feel he doesn't have AA is about as weak tight as you can get


In terms of actually setting goals, I feel like it is a solid plan, but obviously you can play your best poker and still not have the cards go your way so I wouldn't put too much stress riding over a short term goal like making day 2 in a tournament. You see a lot of LHE cash game players setting goals like xBB/100. Try adapting this idea and setting a goal for ROI or ITM% which would obviously be a much longer term concept

JohnnieH

The Prophet 22 wrote: »

4) To win the tournament

This is the only goal that should be on your mind. It supersedes everything else.

So get your chips in the middle with KK.

What did the vilian have, AK?

AcidJoe

I don't think it's wrong to set goals. I do it on a regular basis. You should be setting yourself up to win a tourney provided it's all money. Now on the satellite things it's just qualify as far as I'm concerned.

Last night in the FCP protege tourney with 3 going on to the seat 7 qualifier 5 people left I raised my QQ and same situation as you describe Brent, and I get Mr. Aggressive coming over the top all in. I folded it. If it was a money game I maybe call. I was chip leader when in the same situation I ended up getting my JJ in vs KK. The push monkey did have the high pair. Just prior I hit my q when QQ vs AA to put us at 5. I decided after these hands I was going to make top 3 come hell or high water which I did.

If it was a money tourney I think I get in there and scrap far more rather than just make 3rd. You got to win some races and get lucky to take any tourney down. If you feel your ahead go for it.

I think goals should be long term because the making it to day 2 or making it to the 4th level really don't go anywhere because you could get in with the best and have 8ball flop quad 9's on you early in a tourney.

Goals are what should drive you forward and make you feel like you've accomplished something when you get there. If we didn't strive to improve we'd all be mediocre poker players who never improve and the luckiest SOB wins.

moose

AcidJoe wrote: »

Last night in the FCP protege tourney with 3 going on to the seat 7 qualifier 5 people left I raised my QQ and same situation as you describe Brent, and I get Mr. Aggressive coming over the top all in. I folded it. If it was a money game I maybe call. I was chip leader when in the same situation I ended up getting my JJ in vs KK. The push monkey did have the high pair. Just prior I hit my q when QQ vs AA to put us at 5. I decided after these hands I was going to make top 3 come hell or high water which I did.

Change in thinking Joe?

http://www.pokerforum.ca/showpost.php?p=94637&postcount=13

The Prophet 22

For the record, this hand came out of the WPT this weekend as well. So it wasn't me at the table.

Prophet :2h :2s

pkrfce9

Hey Brent. Look at them more as guidelines to help you make good decisions. For sure you don't want to bust in the first level, you want to make it to day 2 and make the money in your overall quest to win the whole thing. I think overriding this, though, is making good decisions based on the goal.

With the KK hand, you had to give yourself at least 70% chance to double up. Sure, that means you've got around a 30% chance to be going home but just think how much better chance you have to progress with all those chips. You're almost never going to hold the immortal nuts so you've got to embrace the risk.

AcidJoe

moose wrote: »

Change in thinking Joe?

http://www.pokerforum.ca/showpost.php?p=94637&postcount=13

I guess the answer is yes. I've adopted a less aggressive style (ie less willing to risk all my chips). and it seems to be paying off for now. Just had a 6th today on FCP for $138 in a $11 freezeout. I guess it really is all about balance.