Changing directions

I'm going to try and change the focus of this thing a bit. Going to try and be bit more specific on poker related problems I'm having and get more out of this.

That being said....

Last night lost a buy-in in a regular .50/1.00 live game I've been playing. This game has changes a bit since I started playing it last year, it's gotten a bit more aggro post flop and people seem to be making more big plays. It's still an ATM when you can make some hands, but it's got me pulling my hair out as of late.

I hand two hands that made up most of my losses last night, one was a loose call (that I make 1000 times, given the opp. The other well.....)

Hand 1 went like this.

I've got Kd Td in the CO. Ultra super LAG donk (ATC, from any position) makes it $4 from UTG+1, MP calls, I call, BB (another LAG) call.

Flop is Ah Kc 3h
BB leads for for $7, UTG+1 calls, I call.

Turn is a Kh
Check around

River 9d
BB leads for $15, UTG+1 raises to $40.
Now, this means NOTHING. I've seen this guy bluff off more rivers than I can count. He also could have a mid-A....even a 3, for that matter. I'm sure he doesn't have a flush, and a bigger K is really all I'm worried about, I call, BB calls....which gets me worried.

I am shocked at showdown.

BB K8
UTG+1 AA....wow, he played this hand really well.

Hand 2
This hand kind of set me off, a little more than it should because of the circumstances, but it had been a frustrating night.

5 limpers to me and I've got KJ in the BB, I check.

Flop is 6 8 J

I lead for $5, MP calls

Turn 7

I lead for $12, MP calls

River 3

I check, MP bets $20, I call

MP shows 67, nice flop call buddy.

Hands like TP OOP are really kicking my butt lately. Mainly because most of the games I'm playing in my leads are getting called and I get zero info as to where I am. I'm getting called by bottom/mid pair, draws, I get no opportunity to shape the hand. I guess I can play hands like this a little weaker, maybe gear down from 2/3 pot bet to 1/2 pot bets, but then I feel like I'm just building a pot for chasers. At the same time, I don't want to get back to the "Bet Pot" trap I fell into many moons ago.

I'm concerned that my aggression is limited to initial aggression and I'm not sticking to my gus by 3-betting more to position raises. I still feel like this game is pretty soft, but I am struggling on how to attack it. I think if I ramp up the aggression with more reraises and jamming I can really take control, but I'm still getting lost more than I should

I'm seriously considering subscribing to PokerXFactor here in the near future for my online stuff. Given my online roll, that's a big investment, but I could use some outside help. +1 is great, but I'd like to watch some full session/tournament videos and get a different perspective on things.

Getting drilled in LL NL

It's kind of embarrassing, but I am getting owned at cheap NL ring games lately. I keep saying I'm going to stay away, but sometimes I just hop in. I'm not playing bad or anything, but I just get in these ridiculous spots with overpairs and have lost 4 buy-ins over the last week with them.

Case in point, this evening at Stars ($25NL, 6 max)

I've got QQ OTB, LAG donk (40/15/6) makes it .75 from UTG, MP calls, I make it $2.25

Now, I could have made it more, but I don't mind seeing a flop 3 ways vs. mid/big aces and all the other crap that might call. On a scary board, I can still pitch it.

Anyway, both call. Flop is 2c 8c Jh

Check to me, I lead out for $4.25 (2/3 pot), UTG jams for another $30. Gee, wonder if he has a flush draw? I call. Ks on turn, fucking 6c on river. He flips KcJc.

Easy (and correct) call here, but I just keep running into big draws that keep getting there. Add that to my wonderful ability to push into monsters/dominated hand in tourneys and SnGs and you have a wonderful little run going.

So annoying. I run like shit. Make an FT to get back to even for the last 3 months and then run shitty some more. Poker is fun.

Burnout?

I've been really sluggish when it comes to poker lately.

I'm trying to play live, when I can, and have been doing OK. I checked my records for the last 4 months, I'm 16 for 18 in live sessions (.50/1.00 and 1/2 NL) and up around $1500. The problem is that I feel like I'm not as enthused or excited as I should be. I used to count down hours to my next live session, now it's OK, but not the same.

Online has been much more of a grind. I'm on a little downswing of late and wondering if I might have some leaks I'm not picking up on. I'm getting deep regularly, but seem to have this wonderful gift of pushing into monsters or dominated situations. Variance probably, but still wears on you. I made a FT a week or so ago, which was nice and I've had some deepish cashers in some other MTT's, but....I don't know....I'm rambling. I knew when I decided to quit online cash, it would be much more subject to variance, but you know how I am. Sometimes, I think I'm borderline bipolar, but that's another post for another time.

I have a hand which kind of illustrates what I'm agonizing over. Sometimes, I feel like I'm too loose, but then a hand like this comes up and I feel like a total nit.

80/1000 left and I'm just below average (T10000) with AQ off on the button, blinds are 300/600/75. Chip leader (T45000) leads for 1800, MP (T35000) reraises to 6000. I tank and fold. My reasoning is that while the chip leader may be flexing his stack, MP most likely has a hand, and with the size of his raise, I have no FE. In essence, in a situation where there's better than a 50% I'm at least in a race, I muck.

Which goes deeper into a problem I may, or may not, have. I have no problem with initial aggression. Hell, I'll bet/lead with anything, given the situation. My concern is deeper aggression, 3rd and 4th bets. I'd like to really look into this more, but I'm not sure how to address it. It's hard to describe, but if I have a hand when it happens, it's easy to see.

I don't know. At least I'm not busto.

Good times

I'm on a nice little run over the last couple of days.

As you know, I've been lamenting about how bad I've run over at Full Tilt. On Thursday night, I FT'ed the 7PM on my last $10 for some life. I'll be honest, the 7PM $10 at FT could be one of the softer, cheap MTT's out there. At the same time, I went pretty deep in the $5 rebuy at Stars. I got coolered a couple of times, sucked out once, and busted when I ran JJ into KK. Still, it's pretty exciting to go deep in two tourneys at the same time. The result is my online roll is right back where it was about 2 months ago before I went on this nasty run....which isn't much, but enough to keep me occupied.

Went to Caesar's last night to play some $1/2 and did OK. Won about $150, but real frustrated because I felt like I was sitting at an ATM that didn't work quite right. 3-4 lagtards and a couple of calling stations and I couldn't make a hand. Best hand I had all night was a 10 high flush and I couldn't bet it. I have no idea how much I could have made at that table if I make any sort of hand. Instead, I walk away a small winner....which is good, but oh, the possibilities.

I think I've finally decided that I'm keeping my ring action live and using online stuff for tourneys and SnG's. Live is just too soft compared to online and there are no good live tourney structures. Also, I like playing tourneys. For all of the sick beats and roller coaster type situations, it kind fills that competitive side for me. There's a different skill set to MTT's and I've got a little better grasp on that than I do cash. LIve, I don't have to be great, just smart.

I would also like to officially declare that I have separated my poker money from my "regular" money. I hope to keep it that way.

*ugh*

I've been running shitty. Tonight, I figured I'd play shitty, too.

4 $15+1 SnGs, played like I total idiot the first two, letting weak draws catch up. The third one I righted the ship only to lose my millionth race in a row. Finished 2nd in the last one by letting everybody else beat each other up.

I don't know if I need to play more or play something different. My BR has been on a steady slide for 6 weeks now and is getting close to that "uh oh" stage.

I'm not panicking, just trying to figure out what's going on.

Boat trip this week, maybe the tide will turn.

If not, I'll keep buying lottery tickets.

Wonderful new trend

I seem to have been blessed with a new gift.

Any time I'm in a situation where I'm jamming with ATC, I seem to push into dominated situations.

LOL donkaments

I've been playing almost zero cash online and been focusing on SnGs and getting back into MTTs.

I forgot how enjoyable it can be getting deep and then busting on a shitty hand and making $20 for your 4 hours.

Tonight, played in three tourneys. The first one was a little $5 double stack at Full Tilt. I bled down to 2K in chips, got it all in PF with JJ vs. 10 6 and Q T....lolz. Q spiked the turn. Meh.

I ate some dinner and then played a $9 +.90 360 max and a $10+1 (10 min levels) both at Stars. I played really well and got deep in both. In the 360 max, I just kind of hung around, lots a small ball, but it started getting late and I pushed from the CO with 66 w ~9BB left. BB woke up with AA, GG me.

The $10+1 was much more interesting. I pulled a major suckout at 100/200 when I had about 2200. MP limps, I've KsQh and push, BB calls for 1800, and MP calls.

MP AdAc
BB AsQh

Stars throws me 4 hearts and I triple up. From there I go on a little heater and play some pretty solid poker. I shoot up to 2nd in chips when I have JJ in the hijack (blinds 400/800/50) with T16000, one limper I make it 5000, BB (T10000) calls.

Flop KK4, he jams, smells like a Stop and Go, I call, he shows TT.

After that, I lose a bit in a hand with AK where I make a raise and c-bet. Villain had a mid-pair that held up. I hung around the top 20 until we were down to 50 or so then went nasty card dead. On top of that, I kept getting surrounded by big stacks that wouldn't let me breathe. Down to 31, I get KJoff in the CO and get the chance to push. BB instacalls with K8. Flop K 8 4.......thanks for playing.

This is the 3rd MTT in the last 10 I've played where I really felt like I had a FT in me and came up short. I like what I'm seeing, but would like to follow through and make an FT. Frustrating, but I know to expect it.

Playing the $100K guaranteed at Stars tomorrow, that should be interesting. Will probably play a couple of other little tourneys or some SnGs. Hopefully, I can have a good day.

Blecccchhh.

Got to play live for the first time in a while. It's a smaller game (.50/1.00 NL), but the play isn't horrible and you can make a couple hundred on a good night.

Tonight was not a good night.

I had the two LAGgiest players dead to my left and when I didn't have to deal with them, 3 calling stations. On top of that, I was pretty much cold decked for the evening and never got close on a flop. I pretty much bled off about $130 through 5 agonizing hours.

Well, there was this hand.

I have JJ in the CO with about $85 in front. MP (crazy stupid maniac) makes it $3, I repop to $12, he calls.

Flop T 4 K

He checks, I lead out for $15, he calls (he will call anything)

Turn 3

He checks again, I figure I'll fire one more bullet and see what happens. I bet out $30, he calls again. At this point, I'm done

River is a T

He checks, I check, he turns over 9 T. Nice.

I played pretty well, just couldn't get anybody to fold and never made a hand. Nothing monumentally stupid, so, that's oK.

No other good poker stuff. Don't know what the weekend has in store, signed up for the $100K guaranteed @ Stars.....that should be interesting. I'm sure I'll play some SnGs and might try a MTT or two. Need to get off this cold run as my BR is getting skimpy.

Slowly getting back in

Life beats suck.

I'm beginning to think there is some sort of sensor on my bank account and when it hits a certain level, life goes to shit.

In the past week, I've had the following crap happen

Crack in my front door
Front porch awning tear during storm
Plumbing issues with bedroom toilet
Dryer bites the dust




As far as poker goes, well I hadn't played a hand until tonight.
Played in 4 $15+1 turbos at Stars lost 3 races and QQ < AQ.
I also played in a $10 MTT w/10 minute levels, got pretty deep 150/900, but TT loses to AQ.

0-fer in races today. Go me.

Feel pretty good, though. Kind of bummed as I was planning on a boat trip (Caesar's) tomorrow night and that fell through. I may play a little home game, just have to see how it pans out.

I would like to quit running crappy pretty soon, though, my BR is taking a beating.

Plan on playing a bunch this weekend.

Maybe I can start putting something interesting on here.

Slow going

No poker for the last 3-4 days. Taking a little time off.

Just got back from a little family trip in Gatlinburg, TN. Lots of time in hot tub and relaxing. Talked to the wife about playing more live, she didn't flip out.

At this point, I'm leaning toward using online as a way to keep sharp and focus on what live play I can put in. Right now, I like the idea of playing a minimum of 3-4 live sessions a month. That's not a lot, but considering I'm 2+ hours away, that's better than I've been doing. Also, I feel like live 1/2NL is pretty safe and feel confident in being able to do well there.

Probably not going to play any until after the 4th. Going to Caesar's on the 6th, hope to have good news then.