Francis DuBois

by Francis DuBois
(Cincinnati, Ohio)

My oldest boy

Our father, who art a winner
Hear my prayer.
I need your help, your help would be grand
and would help me pay off my mortgage.
Give me this day (or sometime soon)
your personal view on my play.
Forgive me my donkishness,
as I forgive those donks drawing out on me.
Lead me not to chase gutshots,
but teach me to get paid off with middle pair.

I've been playing NL HE for a year now. I started the weekend of my 6th wedding anniversary. My wife is an expert rummy player, and after the 536th loss to her, I decided to start playing poker again.

I'm mainly a tourney player, and play cash games to win buyins. Unfortunately, I am caught in this endless cycle of cashing a tourney (four for $500-$900 online) and playing tourneys exclusively till I have to play cash again.

I've been playing poker all my life, but only in the last six months realize I have to work to win. I'm not aggressive enough with middle holdings, and (with that knowledge) tend to make stupid moves.

Father Ashley's analysis

Thanks for applying to the poker disciples program.

Ah yes, the old problem of being caught between two fires. You feel that you're a specialist tourney player, but haven't the bankroll to prove it.

Do I take it correctly that you revert to playing cash to raise a bankroll for the tourney play?

Let me ask you another question. Unless I'm a complete idiot (answers on a postcard please. Ed.), you must be a losing tourney player overall, otherwise your bankroll from those cashes would still be intact and you wouldn't have to play cash at all.

If so, why play tourneys at all?

You seem to have a decent insight into your weaknesses, which will help us a lot when we work together.

I need more information to analyse your game better. Once we've scheduled a session, I'll understand your goals and ambitions and be able to help you.

Nice prayer, by the way!

UPDATE: we've begun our sessions. Please check the Comments page for more on Francis' play and my thoughts about his future development.