Hi Fox - you cute little devil. Any suggestions on how to deal with frustration and keep from going all in? I have sat many a time letting the blinds eat me away - have good cards and think this is my shot - which only brings my stack down until I just get fed up and go all in just to all out!!! Can give me some of your stratigies to keep this from happening??

Well Barb, great question. You almost stump me, but you know I'll have an answer for everything. LOL
May not be the correct one for you or anyone else, but it does work for me more times than not. To me, when I finally figure that something works better then 50% for me in the way I play, I tend to remember it and fall back to it and build from there.
First off, I think patience is most important. Don't let anything take that away from your game from beginning to end. You might have to even mute chat on everyone. I've done that before. I also use the sitout mode often. I will just get up and walk away for a minimum of 10 minutes. Do anything. Just clear your mind! Sometimes it's just all in what cards your perceiving to be the "Good Cards". A change in perception can be critical.
We all know a big slick is a great hand, Right? Well, I'm here to tell you, I've lost many a hand to this infamous deceiver just as an example.
There have been games where I've had several or more of them in succession. My thoughts were, after I lost bunches on the first couple I had, the odds were on my side this time. It's just got to hit. I'd bet bigger. Yeah Right!
The next time this happened, I remembered what had happened earlier. I couldn't hit the floor if I fell out of my chair!
I just walked away. I came back, tightened up hard. I folded for 25 minutes before I got somethin to play. I limped in. If I didn't have pockets or 10/K or higher, or suited connectors 10/J or higher, I folded. I also folded if I got raised. If I didn't hit top anything, I folded unless it was checked to me. Did this till I won a hand.
I also payed a bit closer attention to what position I was in when I won, and how many players were in.
Something else I do is pay attention to how many people are in the hand "ALL" the time. This is a subject all in it's own.
I'll give you a tiny bit to start for now.
If you have pocket 9's, so so hand? Worth a limp in? All in? Which? When for each decision? Fold?
I read somewhere that poc 9's where the best odds pockets to play.
Personally, I been stung way too may times with this type of hand for the way I play. I play a bit more conservative now unless late in play and only 1 or 2 callers with a check and there is at least 2 lower cards after flop. You have a pretty good chance of hitting 2 pr or set. Still risky because of the overcard on board. That's why I watch the betting if any and how many are in hand. If there are a bunch of people in hand, I will either check or fold only. If there are only a couple, I will then make my decision to either push in a blind bet and watch one more round of betting for the turn. Or I will push some odd figure in the pot. Something that usually always draws people to pay closer attention to me not the board or there hand. I call it slider psychology. I always use the method of betting that's available that offers me to create my own bet like the "Slider Bar", or space where you type in your own bet. I use whatever method that's offered when I am in tighter situations. This has worked for me so many times. I make people fold more times than not just because it instills a thought out there that "hey, I'm being played" Yes, I admit, I get caught sometimes, but that's why my bet would usually be in the neighborhood of 180 with my stack of 2500. Still got plenty to play with if I lose. If you get reraised, you can then fold. Pretty good bet theres a top pair out there, or 2 pr or a set already. If he calls, pretty good bet he has a lower pair and fishing for that set or double pr also. Your oponent may be smart enough also to have watched your play abilities earlier and just call you putting the burden back on you to wonder if he has nuts or not. Decisions will be more clear as hands unfolds if you pay attention.
One other thing is, I pause between certain bets at times. If you do it right, it will create someone to make a careless call. More on that later too. Just another tool.
I just want to say that this may not be by the book play methods. These are some of my tools that I've learned as I try to progress in my play abilities. I get many a day when I can't seem to do anything right on the tables. I surely have learned now to just stop playing way sooner than later like I use to do. My losing streaks as I've called them, are much much shorter than they ever have been. Like I said, "many a day now", instead of many a weeks like it used to be.
Just falls back to paying attention, remembering all the things (tools)you learn from all the people you talk to or play with. Just pull the little tools from your knowledge toolbank that you need, or think you need to get the job done. Then put those tools back, remembering that it worked or didn't, for the next time you're in that situation, so you can use that same tool again or try another. It's all education.
Good luck, hope this helps and may your toolbox get full.
Fox

Question:
Is there a standard size bet in proportion to pot size in NL Holdem? I know a standard raise is about 3 times the bet. I haven't been able to find anything about betting pot size.

Answer:
You are correct that a standard size pot-opening raise is about 3-4 times the big blind. Also, a standard raise or re-raise is usually about 3 times the bet or raise unless there are many other factors that dictate otherwise such as an opponent that has a propensity to call bigger raises, an opponent that folds to any size raise if he/she doesn't have the goods, you or your opponent's short stack or many other factors that can come into play.

Now let's answer your question. Unlike a raise or re-raise there is no standard sized bet. The beauty of No-Limit Hold'em is the ability to manipulate the size of the pot to influence whether your opponents are getting the proper odds to make certain plays. Of course, your read or analysis of your opponent's likely holdings is imperative. Take for example, a situation where you are highly confident that your opponent has a bare flush draw (no pair or any other draw) on the flop. We know that your opponent is about 2-1 against making his/her flush with two cards to come provided you are not holding any of their flush cards. If, based on the pre-flop action along with the blinds (and possibly antes) the pot contains, let's say $1,000, any bet you make that is $500 or less - your opponent would be getting proper odds to call your bet. Therefore, irrespective of what you may be holding a bet of $600 or $700 or more by you would effectively price your opponent out of the pot. Think about that and play with it a little then embark on the wonderfully satisfying path of exploiting your opponents!

Question:

At one point, I decided that Online Limit Hold'em was the devil's work!
I do really well in NL but any limit games suck my bankroll dry. Why is this?
Answer: 
I hear this all the time. I find that it's quite a challenge to move from online No Limit Hold'em poker to online Limit Hold'em poker. 
This question is indicative of a player that entered the online poker realm in a No Limit competition and has since honed their skills accordingly. There is most definitely a different selection of folks that play Limit Hold'em games. Many seem to be much more complacent to build bankrolls slow and steady instead of the sheer terror of what No Limit Hold'em games can bring.

Online Limit Hold'em poker requires far more patience than in Pot Limit Hold'em or No Limit Hold'em game. That's because the fear factor is almost non-existent in a fixed wager structure. You’re more likely to call hands you normally wouldn't call and so would your opponents. Most of your competition is there just for that reason.

Most online No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Hold'em players get crushed in online Limit Hold'em games. Usually at the lower Limit Hold'em games because they fail to adjust to the table.

Your pocket Aces, (AA) is still the best starting hand! Problem is, in Limit Hold'em, your maximum raise will not be enough to push out players if they feel they have a marginal and/or playable Hold'em hand, or if they like to gamble!

In Low Limit Hold'em, say .05/ .10 through $1.00/$2.00, you play your cards! Period! Do not play the board and do not bluff. In most cases, pot odds will force even a good player to chase an inside straight draw.
Pot Odds:  the amount of chips in the pot and the cost to see -vs- the chances of missing your desired card or cards. In Hold'em 85% of all hands are determined by the River.

Starting hands are the key. In online Limit Hold'em, if you miss the flop, your pot odds better determine the play. If you have the nuts bet and raise!  If you’re on a draw, bet and raise. If a player comes alive after what looks like a useless turn card or river card, they probably hit. It's time to figure out how strong your hand really is. If the board pairs at the river, be very cautious, get out unless you think it is a pure bluff. It might be a set or trips.
Remember, trips are 2 of a kind on the board and one in your hand. A set is two in your hand and one on the board. A set is stronger than trips! Reason, trips, everyone has a pair!

What gets most players into trouble in online Limit Hold'em is the relative low cost to call a hand. Pot odds may say to fold but it's cheap, right?
If you find yourself needing two running clubs after the flop for a flush or
-An Ace, Jack or King to make top pair
-Or you’re on a straight draw

It's time to realize that you can justify a call or raise but remember this, it's easy to fold if you have to match the pot or go all in in Pot Limit Hold'em or No Limit Hold'em, but .50 here, $1.00 there in Limit Hold'em coupled with a low dollar Limit Hold'em game can cost you a pile of money if your not seriously focused on your cards and the players at the Limit Hold'em game your in.

Online Limit Hold'em is a great game for beginning Bankroll building, but with caution! Do not let the cheap bet lure you into calling when you should fold. There will be times when Pot odds dictate you stay in because so many players called pre flop.

Bluffing is rarely an option. If you don't have sufficient outs on the flop, best to proceed with extreme caution or even fold over the long run rather than nickel and dime yourself to death.

Just some friendly tidbit answers from different folks who are well versed in Texas Hold'em Limit online poker. Check the URL below for more insight from solid online Texas Hold'em players at our forum.

Best of Luck and remember to always pay attention at the tables!

"How does one get off Tilt"?
I've been geeting lousy hands, so what happens, (and I do recognize it), is that by the time I get some good hands, I am so frustrated, and/or tired etc, that I get complacent with position, acceptable starting hands, stubborn on letting them, (my supposedly first good cards) go when it's time to muck, or just go all in to make it or break it.

1. Analyze yourself and your play - are you on tilt (making bad play after bad play or getting crap cards and bad luck.

2. If on Tilt!
A. Write down a list of starting hand be strict!- FOLLOW It!
B. Track your stats non-stop How many hands am I playing, How many am I winning...(I track daily now)
C. Never call all-in with out the nutz - this kills the psyche - making tilt last longer - Never make a decision before the situation presents its self.
D. Before sitting down to play - read a Poker book or article by a solid poker player, get solid words of advice going through you brain - not thoughts of self doubt.

That works for me, tilt is a mental thing, it takes a change to correct - find what works for you...

You will beat tilt - make sure you know how you did it and start as soon as you realize it is happening - will make the next one even shorter - after a while they are just cool spots in one long rush of cards..

Most people hit tilt from playing one game and going straight into another. I find it pays to walk away for a while and just relax, constantly thinking where you are doing wrong will only input the thought deeper into your mind.

If you have tilt at one particular site, leave the site well alone for a few weeks, move to smaller sites, with small freerolls, 200 - 300 max players, placing higher up the list will build confidence again. If freerolls are not where you wish to play, go to micro tables and play as small a table as you can find. Go back to the basic building a bankroll I went into about on my winning at Hold em page.

Another trick sometimes will get you out of hot water temporarily is the 21 rule.That is if both your hole cards do not add up to 21 fold them, this includes pocket tens, do not be tempted to play them.

Playing two hands in an hour and winning them will serve you better than chasing a winning hand and losing. Remember that Hold em is 99% boredom and 1% sheer heart thumping terror!

The root cause is self confidence in any case and the only cure is winning - the problem with that is the desparation to win again cause tilt to get worse. The 21 rule is good solid advice and is easy to remember, hence; follow.

The ole tilt monster rears it's head for everyone. No exemptions. So, what we do when it visits is up to us. It doesn't take me long now to catch a downward swing in my play. I have recognized a few of my own personal signs that alert me now for this so called monster in my play. When she visits, it usually starts off with one of these.
1) A sudden hard hit by someone else that in my eyes got lucky. Example, AQ suited in hand, there is A, 4, Q, 8 on board giving me top 2 pr. Betting commences. Usually 1 other left. River flops a 3. I bet, he calls. Hands flop, Taken down with a set. He went all the way with a pr of 3's, on a hope and caught.
Basically if I see someone catching and beating me on a hope, It raises a flag for me. Doesn't mean I stop playing. Just means it's time to scrutinize more.

2) My second flag is my stack. If my stack goes down by 1/3 or more, relatively quickly, a flag comes up. That's when I think about stopping. I'll all of a sudden just fold everything and wait till the blinds just pass me then I will just sit out and walk away. I conciously make my mind go to a different thought pattern. I might pick up a crossword puzzle for example. Spend 10 minutes focussing on it. Then come back to the tournament. That breif sepparation mind from game works for me more than not. Believe me, that 10 minute sit out period costs me less than staying in and playing. So I might lose a set of blinds! I'll come back to the game and take out my will play these, won't play these hands sheet and start over. If that doesn't work, then I've done everything I can and I will either change sites I am playing on, or totally walk away till the next day.

3) This one, you'll probably all laugh at but it is so true for me. It's when I take off like a raped ape in a tournament. It used to be that I would enjoy the ride till I started going through that tunnel. Once I entered the tunnel, it was pretty much over. Someone forgot to open the other end of the tunnel. I had entered it full blast, not paying too much attention because I couldn't lose. Then when I got smacked, it was a bad beat. Well, not really. But that's just ourselves justifying what happened to our luck turn.
If I take off now like that, I watch all plays real close. I set a spot and changeup. I tighten up and it usually saves me for a lot closer to if not the final table.
The bottom line, like has been said, you have to find what works. You won't get off tilt till you win!
What do I need to do to win! Change games! Change to play chips! Change sites! Change rooms! Change thoughts! How many hits can you take and still keep that positive approach you started the game with? Did you even really truely have a clear 100 percent positive thought process when you started the game! I catch myself playing too much at times. No way I can keep the same level of thought process in all games. It is draining. I'm trying to play more now when my head is right for the game. This nets my stack not debits it. Try it!

Oh, 1 more thing - DON'T BLEED IN SHARK INFESTED WATERS
What I mean by that is simple, dont tell anyone your on tilt!

Re-address your play and make appropriate changes or leave.
A solid player probably already had his fingers in your stack and knows your tilting anyway but if you announce it, more chances your chip stack is going to be used for a free for all.
Fox

Here's one for ya Fox;

Question:
If one player has A-2 and the other has A-3, then the player with A-3 wins the pot. But why on some occasions do the same players sometimes split the pot? This has happened to me several times. Can you tell me why this happens?

My answer is this;
The reason why A-3 sometimes splits the pot with A-2 and sometimes ties with it (A-2 even beats A-3 sometimes!), corresponds to whether by virtue of the board (the five cards in the middle) two, one or none of the hole cards play in the respective hands. For example, on a board of A-K-10-4-5, A-3 and A-2 split the pot because the best hand that can be made by each hand is A-A-K-10-5. A-3 will beat A-2, on a board of A-K-3-8-9 of course. And A-2 will beat A-3 on a board of 3-4-5-Q-J. Most of the time though, if there is no 2 or 3 on the board the two hands will tie.

May all your flops be made full!

Fox