Bye bye August....I'll miss you

Well, I'll fondly remember August as the month I came out of the worst stretch I can remember. I started the month with $20 in my UB account. I'm ending the month closing in on $400. I did almost all of it practically broke and playing .10/.25 NL and $10 SnGs. I will admit that I did make a pretty big change in how I played and I think that had a lot to do with my success, but the cards did seem to agree with me a bit more, as well.

I've really started to mix it up better and have definitely started to understand "good" aggression. I don't think I could ever go into maniac mode, but I have no problem making a strong raise with 7 9. Not all that long ago, I was a rock. Big aces and pocket pairs only. I might have played suited paint in late positions, but, for the most part I was dead tight.

I had a bad run over the weekend (as you can see from a couple of posts ago), but a first and second in a couple of $20 SnGs and I'm right back where I was. I really like the way $20's play out, so I might just stay there. I've dabbled at the .25./50 NL tables, but they are tight and hard to get any action. I will probably stay at the cheap NL cash games for a bit longer as they are sooooo easy. I've also started to play cheap pot limit Omaha....that could turn out to be a goldmine.

Overall, I have to think that this month I've grown more as a poker player as any other time I can think of. I'm starting to see things a bit differently and making some laydowns that I used to either press or chase with.

I'll be really excited if September can be as good as this month. I might start to have a real bankroll.

Stay tuned.

:D

You don't actually buy the "taking time off" thing do you?

LOL

I really don't know what to say.

I had been spinning my wheels just trudging along, not really making any big gains or losses. Then the weekend hit.

Horrible.

Through a combination of bad play, bad cards, and bad judgement, I've managed to give back 1/4 of my BR in two days. Actually, most of this occured today and in the space of 6 hours.

I really don't know what happened, well, I do, but don't know what triggered it. As you know, when you play for a solid stretch and just continue to look at rag after rag, it can wear on you. At the same time, that's the beauty of cash games...there's no pressure other than the 1 1/2 blinds you're losing every 8 to 10 hands. If you catch a run of 30 to 40 horrible hands, just pitch them and go on. Well, I guess I got impatient and started pushing. That, coupled with overvaluing my hands....well, it got pricey.

The backbreaker of the day was a hand where I was on the button with 8 9 suited, there were 3 limpers in front and I made it 3X BB...just to take a shot. Flop was 8 9 A with two diamond. MP bet the pot, call, and the next guy reraised all in. Well, I thought this was a blatant flush draw move and got all happy with my two pair.

Bad idea.

Called the all in (which put me all in) and saw the worst thing possible....the guy had a set of nines.

*Sigh*

I look back and just remember pondering the call. The pot was just so big at that point and I really liked my 2 pair. A rather expensive lesson on overvaluing a hand.

I think I'm going to take a couple of days off and de-pokerize myself. I also played in 4 different MTTs this weekend and had a pretty rough time there, too. 1st MTT, lose with set vs. flush. 2nd, no cards, did what I could and got deep into 2nd hour. Played horrible in the 3rd MTT and didn't even make it to break. Finally, the MTT late last night, I played really well, but lost two huge pots on 3 outers both times...probably the best I played all weekend.

I've played a ton this weekend and have 3/4 of my bankroll to show for it.

I'm still way up for the month, but I just feel horrible right now.

I'm taking a few days off.

Trudging along, singing a song

Not a whole lot to report, kind of a slow week.

I've been playing some, but had a couple of bad days and gave back a couple of buy-ins.

My latest lesson is that aggression is good, but should be used wisely. The last couple of days, I've went in trying to steamroll the tables I've been at. When you're playing cheap, it just doesn't work that much. Add in the fact that my cards sucked and "voila".....bye, bye buy-in.

I must admit, I was getting pretty silly. I was making 3X BB bets from MP with suited one gappers.....and not just every once in a while. I had one hand that kind of pissed me off where I came in with junk suited and hit two pair. Problem was, the board was suited and, well, you probably know the rest.....I lost.

I'm going to reel it back in a bit and probably focus on tournaments this weekend. It's probably not the best decision from a BR standpoint (unless I pull off a final), but I feel that while I'm improving as a cash game player, my strength is still tournament play. In fact, Syndrome (one of the better CP players) has asked for my input on an MTT article he's putting out. Don't know how much of it he will use, but I'm focusing on maintaining a stack in the mid levels and bubble play. I feel honored to even be asked. Just hope I can put some useful info out there...as long as it's not used against me.

Poker-wise, things are still pretty good. I've taken $20 and rolled it up to over $300 playing $10 SnGs and .10/.25 NL......not bad. I definitely like being the aggressor, but I've still got to learn when to tone it down.

From a personal standpoint, I'm kind of bummed as my house refinance has turned into a total SNAFU and has put me in a tight spot financially. It will get worked out, but this is going to be a tight month, hence, I'm not going to be too adventurous online (i.e. dabbling in higher levels).

Parentwise, this is a cool part of the year for me as my son is starting marching season. Geeky as it sounds, I love me some marching band and our school is defending state champs. We're moving up in class, but they've got a cool show this year and it should be fun. From a poker standpoint, it kind of kills my live weekend play for a couple fo months.....but there are times when life is more important than poker.

Yeah. I said it.

Something to remember for tournaments....

If you push AQ suited and have THREE people go all-in over top of you. You are behind. Fold.

Why do I get possessed by an idiot from time to time?

You play all of the time, you spend a good chunk of the time you don't play talking and writing about poker....and yet, you still find ways to play stupid.

Last night, I'm playing in the midnight $10 MTT at UB. We're at the 150/300 level and I'm cruising along with around 4500 in chips (about average) with 90 people or so left (out of 390). I'm dealt AK in the cutoff. UTG bets out 700 and is called by MP. I sit there for a minute. I know I'm behind and this might be a good hand to just get away from, but noooooooooooo, I decide to fire at it and reraise to 2000. UTG moves all in (he has me covered) and at this point I make another brilliant decision and call.

Now, the good news is that he had QQ, so it ends up being a coinflip. However, I don't like coinflips because I hardly ever win one. Guess what. My track record holds up as it goes rag-rag-rag-rag...and just to add insult to injury.....queen.

There are so many other ways I could have played this...or not played it at all. I felt so good about how I had played and do a bonehead thing like this.

I want an bigger MTT so bad I can taste it....it will happen.....just don't know when.

It used to be a good game, but now it sucks

There is a place in town that hosts regular HE games two to three times a week. The games are fairly cheap $25-$50 buy-in with a decent blind structure. This is the game that got me started and where I had a ton of success as I was learning the game. I look back fondly, because it was a great place to learn and the poker was actually pretty good. I made out pretty well for the first 7-8 months of my poker career and, well, I enjoyed going out there.

Then something happened around April-May. A lot of the guys who were regulars quit coming and a whole new batch of players came in. At first, I thought this was great as they were all new and had no clue as to what they were doing. Weak, passive calling stations that jumped at any suited ace and thought small pairs were gold.

Well, I've discovered something. In this type of environment, if you don't have a hand, you are dead. It's really not any fun as you can't make any moves because you'll always get a caller. Oh, it's great on those nights where you get AA, AK, KK, etc., but on nights where you might catch one or two big hands, you have to pretty much play with your fingers crossed. I hate it because it's in town and where I pretty much learned how to play and now it's unplayable.

I'll give you an example. Blinds were escalating (300/600) and I was flirting with being short stacked at around 7000. Im in the SB and get 4h 5h, UTG, MP, and the button limp, so I think this is a primo opportunity to pick up some chips and move in (mind you, I've played less than 10 hands all night). Fold around to the button, who says...and I'm not kidding "I've had good luck with this card all night...I call" and shows Js 6h. 4 hearts hit the board and I'm gone.

SHE CALLED FOR ALMOST ALL OF HER CHIPS WITH J6 OFFSUIT.

I'm going to miss that game. Because I just can't play in that environment and there's better games and more money online.

A good poker player knows what games to play and ones to avoid.

I'm avoiding this one.

Hey moron, don't try and give all back in one night...

Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but I did take a nice hit.

I played some magnificent poker tonight....problem was my table wasn't smart enough to notice it.

Note to self: if you see people calling each other down with Q2, you need to watch how hard you push.

I sat down at a table that should have been a goldmine and ended up dumping about 1/4 of my BR.

A loose table full of calling stations. Great situation. Unless you're drawing rags and have somebody on a crazy rush. Your favorite moron here wasn't getting much, so I was trying to be creative. I played a couple of mid suited connectors hard and paid dearly both times.

My favorite hand went like this.....

I've got 8d 9d in MP, UTG limps, and I make it 3 1/2X BB. Button calls and UTG calls. Flop goes Jd Qc 2d. Flush draw, pretty much why you play these hands, right? UTG checks and I bet out the pot. Button folds and UTG calls. Now, this has me worried. You usually only see check-calls vs. made hands or draws. If he's got a hand, I'm behind and if he's on a draw....well....I'm sure he's got something higher than a 9 of diamonds.

Anyway....the turn brings a 4h and UTG checks again. Here's a moment that really kicks my butt. With the check call, he could be in the lead or the same draw, but with better cards. So, rather than feed the pot, I check behind him.

The river brings a 10s and me the dumb end of a gurshot straight. I should be good to go. UTG bets out the pot. Now, this confuses me as I go back a play the hand in my mind and figure he had something like J 10 and the 10 gave him 2 pair, so I come over top and double the bet. He calls.

He had a straight, too. K9.

I love when the river brings me a hand and all it really accomplishes is putting me in a position to lose lots of cash.

The infuriating thing is the flop and how he check-called with nothing but an over. Then again, I was at a loose, low limit table, so I should have been ready for anything.

Had another hand like that that was fairly pricey. Then again, when you're looking at J 3 os for most of the night, you just take your lumps and go on. I'll just have to spend the rest of the week making it back.

I will note that the same moron was up to $140 at a .10/.25 table. So, it's safe to say that somebody, somewhere liked him.

Wow....what a weekend

I like playing good poker.

I like playing good poker and making money even better.

I really like doubling my BR in a 3 day span.

Thanks to a little tightening up and some tips from the CP crew, I'm learning how to win without any cards. Played in the $30, $9500 guaranteed on UB last night and made a strong run at the final table, finishing 13th out 370. The amazing thing is that during the entire tournament, I only had 6 pocket pairs and nothing higher than JJ. Went out with AJ vs AQ when the A hit the flop. I beat myself up a bit, but I had position and realize it probably was the right play given my stack and how the other guy had been playing.

Today, played very little, but did win a SnG which now makes a 1400% increase in my BR over the last 2 1/2 weeks. I'm not going to rush jumping limits as I now understand why playing at the proper limit is verrry important. You can't let one or two bad sessions put you in a tailspin and can't be afraid to lose a buy-in at any time. When you're scared...you lose your edge.

I'm looking forward to my next chance to play a tournament as I feel pretty good about how I'm playing. The only problem is that with my work and family schedule, I can't play more than one or two a week. The cash games and SnGs are a lot easier to squeeze in. For a tournament, you have to be ready to commit somewhere between 3-5 hours and that's hard for me to do on a regular basis.

As for now, I'll just keep grinding away. If things continue, I may be moving up in the near future. I now realize what a big decision that will be.

Same old stuff (which is good)

I keep playing and things keep going on a positive note.

Had an excellent night last night, tripling my buy-in. I have now taken increased my online stash by 900% over the last 2 weeks....awesome.

I'm doing my best to keeping things on an even keel. All I'm playing is .10/.25 NL and $10 SnGs....that's it. I now understand why playing within the limits of your BR is important. You can't be afraid to lose a buy in, because then you become defensive, and then you're done.

One problem that I have (along with most of the poker world) is getting away from big pocket pairs or overpairs. There are times where you have to know that even AA is just a pair and could be way behind.

A couple of nutso hands last night, one good one bad.

The bad hand was nuts. I had JJ in MP and made it 5X BB to go. I got FOUR callers. Flop bring K J (yes) 4 with two diamonds. BB (almost broke) goes all in for the pot, I come over top for enough to put the other two guys all in (no flush draws). That didn't work. BOTH called and another damn diamond hit the board on the turn. Board doesn't pair.

Here's what I was up against.

SB shows AK (no diamonds)
Me set of jacks
CO Kh 4h
Button Ad 10d

The button made the biggest contribution as he was the one I was trying to run out, if the stupid CO doesn't call, I bet he folds. It cost me $14, so it wasn't the end of the world.

I made it back....and then some on this hand.

I'm in MP with QQ and UTG (Loose) doubles it, two more callers in front, so I make it 10X the BB (yeah, it was healthy, but I didn't want to take a chance with the bitches). Button (decent player) calls and UTG calls.

Flop bring 3 3 10 rainbow. UTG checks.

Now. I figure that UTG probably has AK/AQ and missed. I'm pretty sure I'm in the lead, so I bet the pot....the button moves all in, essentially putting me all in. Why? If he had 10's this would be the worst play of all time. If he had AA or KK he would have reraised PF, I'm guessing AK, JJ, or 99. So, I'm calling. Then, out of the blue, UTG calls. What the hell? I'm sticking with my AK/AQ read. I think about it for a looooooong time and end up calling. My reads were spot on with UTG having AK and the button having JJ. The bitches do not disappoint and I pull down an $80 pot at a .10/.25 table. Nice.

Herein is the problem. I probably should have just let the QQ go in front of the two all ins. Big overpairs have probably cost me more money against sets and two pair than I care to think about. Then again, I don't know if there's a magic cure for getting away from them because about 1/2 the time, they're still the best hand.

Worked out last night. That's something I'll have to work on.

Suddenly, I don't feel so stupid

Remember that last post where I was lamenting my horrible day.....it got better.

6 hours later and I've recouple 2/3 of what I lost over the last 2 days.

Want to hear the funny thing? The largest pot I pulled down? AK. The very hand that had drained me of my money yesterday and today.

Isn't irony ironic?





One thing I'm really starting to understand....checking is bad.
TJ Cloutier said it best...."Bet, raise, or fold"

I had a visitor today....

His name? Tilty McTilt.

Well, how about Mr. Moron.

Remember that post I made about how TPTK isn't that wonderful in the face of a reraise. Well, I must have forgot that....TWICE.

AK, meet a set of twos

or, better yet,

AK, meet quad nines.

T2P say 'bye,bye' to $50 in two hands.

Expensive memory lapse as I chopped my online BR in half.

I feel stupid.

I guess you can't win every day...

First real bad day I've had in a while. Lost around 1/4 of my online BR on a day where I made one bad call, ran into 2 monsters, and had a fish pull two of the bigger suckouts I can remember.

What I lost because of me:
Had AK suited 2 off of the button, 4 limpers into me, I make it $2 total (.10/.25 NL), guy to my left calls, button moves all in for $15. Now, to me, this is screaming somthing along the lines of 10 10, JJ, or QQ...all coinflip situations. It's early and I feel like gambling (baaaad T2P), so I call. Hit my K on the flop and feel pretty good as rags come on the turn and river. I quit feeling good when he shows AA. Don't really understand why he moved in PF, guess he didn't want to have to think about playing a big pair. I guess overbetting PF was a good move, got me in there.

Note to self: at a full table when somebody comes in over top all in and all you have is AK (2 high cards) lay them down and move on.

The rest of the day I just tried to play solid and just had a rough time of it. Lost $6 when I had KJ suited on the button and made it .75 PF, 3 callers. Flop K 5 7, check, check, I bet the pot and get a caller. A on the turn and I bet $3 to see where I stand, reraise, I fold...he shows pocket 7's.

The other component of the day is the hardest one to swallow. I flopped a set (10's) and couldn't shake a fish off of his flush draw. There was $8 in the pot at the turn with 3 clubs on the board, I bet out $10 to try and take it down, he calls and the 4th club hits the river. He called me down with AJ (J of clubs). What a fish.

Overall, I'm not complaining. I was selective and played my hands strong. If I had a piece of it, I took a solid bet at it...well, unless I had a 2 and there was an A on board in early position.

Had a real good table at night, but never had anything to move with...caught a couple of hands late, but we were 6 handed by then and nobody wanted to play.

There's always tomorrow.

Poker CAN be fun.

Posts on back to back days, wow.

I wish I had some money to REALLY put this to the test, but I think I can say things are definitely on the upswing.

About a week and a half ago, I put $25 bucks in my UB account for the bi-weekly CP forum tourney on Wed. night. Played decent, just never got any cards to get started. Anyway, I've been playing off and on on with that $20 since then.

10 days later I now have run that up to $120, not bad. Really not bad if you consider I did almost all of it at .05/.10 and .10/.25 NL tables. I did manage to throw in a $10 SnG win in there, too, so that helped.

I know the cards were running bad, but I've realized that I lost a lot of money in situations where I would hang on to a hand too long. I learned that it's OK to sit there for a while and bleed blinds rather than throw money out there trying to run that crowd off....too cheap, won't work.

Playing cheap NL almost exclusively right now. Played in 2 $10 SnGs (won one) and the $10 midnight tourney at UB...where I made one of my quickest exits ever. I raised 4 hands the entire time, the same guy reraised me each time. The last time I had JJ, he came over top, I moved all-in, he called with QQ....thanks for playing. No big deal.

Cards are going better, looking forward to moving on. As for everything else, well, that's a different story. Fatboy here is looking into gastric bypass and it looks like my insurance is going to put up a fight. Remember where insurance actually did something for you other than just take your money? The boss is out of town this week....so that will be like a vacation. He is beginning to wear on my last nerve. Micromanager to the nth power. Luckily, I'm the computer geek and he needs me, so he leaves me alone.

Now, if I can survive this refinance fiasco, maybe things will start looking up.

One week into August...

Meant to put something up earlier, but I've been lazy.

I can sum things up in one sentence....things are definitely getting better. They're far from wonderful, but I'm on the positive end...for a change.

Still predominantly playing the cheaper NL games, but kicked it up a level to .10/.25. Quality of play is still about the same, but ther'es a lot more earning potential. I've been pretty happy with my play, with the exception of one hand where I just couldn't get away from QQ and turned a solid session into one where I lost a little bit.

Note to self, if you make a solid raise PF and get a caller, have an overcard hit, bet at it, and have somebody come over top....you're probably beat.

I've been making some pretty good laydowns. I'm really starting to realize that TPTK isn't really that great of a hand and it's better to let it go in the face of a checkraise.

Not much else to tell you, not making any huge runs, but still feel better. Looking forward to seeing what the next month brings.