All of my loyal readers have probably been wondering where the hell I've been. After all, I haven't posted since like January, probably thought I fell off the face of the earth... at least the poker earth.
Truth is, my mind (and bank account) needed a serious break from poker for awhile. I kept saying that I needed a break, so I took one. I'm not gonna lie and say I haven't played at all in five months, but it's been very minimal, maybe a total of like five sessions.
But, I'm back. Since my triumphant return to the felt, I feel a ton more confident in my game. Good results contribute to that warm, fuzzy feeling of course, but even in the sessions I'm losing I feel pretty good. Happy to say that, despite limited sessions, I'm probably having my best poker year. All in all I'd say I'm up somewhere around the $1,000 mark for the year, a good chunk of which has come in the last few days.
I'm seeing things better now, not getting as tunnel-visioned as I had previously. Sure, there are a few instances--like a couple hours ago when I thought I had the nut straight but was felted by, you guessed it, a higher straight--where I lose my head, but for the most part things have been well. I'll probably head up to AC in a couple weeks once I scratch together more of a bankroll (funny, I'm up a G but only have about $500 in my left pocket) to play in some cash games, maybe hit a tourney or two.
I was looking online for the new Gus Hansen commercial, but unfortunately I can't find it so I'll explain the premise. Poker, in it's rawest form, is very much like storytelling, and the object of poker is basically selling your story with as high a succession rate as possible. I think this hand illustrates my point well:
PokerStars Game #17581390396: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/05/21 - 01:36:43 (ET)Table 'Hermentaria II' 9-max Seat #3 is the buttonSeat 1: my_gem ($702.80 in chips) Seat 2: jigrig08 ($37.15 in chips) Seat 3: khinster ($59.05 in chips) Seat 4: Doikito ($23.75 in chips) Seat 5: mindcirkus ($202.15 in chips) Seat 6: mike8557 ($197 in chips) Seat 7: rouel111 ($164.60 in chips) Seat 8: Tripset30 ($220.75 in chips) Seat 9: ba dum dum ($424.75 in chips) Doikito: posts small blind $1mindcirkus: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [7s 7c]
mike8557: folds rouel111: folds Tripset30: raises $4 to $6ba dum dum: folds my_gem: calls $6 jigrig08: folds khinster: folds Doikito: folds mindcirkus: folds
*** FLOP *** [As Qs Ac]Tripset30: checks my_gem: bets $8Tripset30: calls $8
*** TURN *** [As Qs Ac] [3d]Tripset30: checks my_gem: checks
*** RIVER *** [As Qs Ac 3d] [9s]Tripset30: bets $15my_gem: folds Uncalled bet ($15) returned to Tripset30Tripset30 collected $29.50 from potTripset30: doesn't show hand *** SUMMARY ***Total pot $31 Rake $1.50 Board [As Qs Ac 3d 9s]Seat 1: my_gem folded on the RiverSeat 2: jigrig08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: khinster (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: Doikito (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 5: mindcirkus (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 6: mike8557 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: rouel111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: Tripset30 collected ($29.50)Seat 9: ba dum dum folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Little background: I came to the table with $120, and throughout the session my_gem, a loose aggressive player, had pretty much assumed that I was a pretty straightforward player and had given me entirely too much credit. Of the $240 I profited during this session, $200 of it probably came from him. But, back to the hand.
Obviously he doesn't have an ace or he'd at least call on the river, but this hand makes my point perfectly. I sold him on the fact that I had a hand like A-K or A-J, possibly even A-Q (though I doubt it). Had I continuation bet on the flop, he probably would have read me as weak, because weak players usually don't bet a set on the flop. So, I satisfied him and I check-called the flop, checked the turn because I wanted to continue my "slow play", and then, the kicker, value bet the river. Didn't think for a second he had an ace, so I figured I could get away with such a seemingly by-the-book play.
Did I make him throw away the best of it? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that by selling my story I didn't have to find out.
Good to be back.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Writing in an Effort to Move On...
This hand has been in my head all day, and in order to clear my mind for the upcoming Midnight Madness tourney on Full Tilt, I have to get it off my chest.
$17,000 Guarantee last night. 16 away from the money in an 800 or so person tourney. Blinds 250-500. Did I make the right choice?
Full Tilt Poker Game #4938880384: $17,000 Guarantee (36847476), Table 73 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:29:31 ET - 2008/01/21Seat 1: cp10990 (11,254)Seat 2: TommyC_107 (9,422)Seat 3: BSOX04 (8,116)Seat 4: PSCPRODIGY (15,179)Seat 5: Tripset30 (6,512)Seat 6: IgotdanutsAA (2,274)Seat 7: mauzinho2 (8,432)Seat 8: Veghead9 (7,669)Seat 9: Merrito (11,058)cp10990 antes 50TommyC_107 antes 50BSOX04 antes 50PSCPRODIGY antes 50Tripset30 antes 50IgotdanutsAA antes 50mauzinho2 antes 50Veghead9 antes 50Merrito antes 50Tripset30 posts the small blind of 250IgotdanutsAA posts the big blind of 500The button is in seat #4*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh As]
mauzinho2 folds
Veghead9 folds
Merrito calls 500
cp10990 folds
TommyC_107 folds
BSOX04 has 15 seconds left to actBSOX04 folds
IgotdanutsAA: jesus christ
IgotdanutsAA: my luck
IgotdanutsAA: nice catch
PSCPRODIGY raises to 2,008
Tripset30 raises to 6,462, and is all in
IgotdanutsAA folds
Merrito calls 5,962
PSCPRODIGY has 15 seconds left to act
PSCPRODIGY has requested TIME
PSCPRODIGY raises to 15,129, and is all in
Merrito calls 4,546, and is all in
PSCPRODIGY shows [Qd Qh]
Tripset30 shows [Kh As]
Merrito shows [Ad Ac]
A little background (as the tournament window is open in the background): PSC, the button, had raised pretty much every button, so I felt like I could take a shot there. What I didn't count on was that Merrito would limp with aces. All honesty, I just didn't think he had the creativity to pull such a stunt, especially from middle position.
The only thing I kind of wonder about is what if I had just called PSC there? Does Merrito still re-pop? If he just smooth calls, I get away from that hand on the flop (which came J-10-blank).
Dan Harrington says to fold pretty much anything outside of Ks or As that close to the bubble. I don't know.
All I know is that I got to play for now.
$17,000 Guarantee last night. 16 away from the money in an 800 or so person tourney. Blinds 250-500. Did I make the right choice?
Full Tilt Poker Game #4938880384: $17,000 Guarantee (36847476), Table 73 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:29:31 ET - 2008/01/21Seat 1: cp10990 (11,254)Seat 2: TommyC_107 (9,422)Seat 3: BSOX04 (8,116)Seat 4: PSCPRODIGY (15,179)Seat 5: Tripset30 (6,512)Seat 6: IgotdanutsAA (2,274)Seat 7: mauzinho2 (8,432)Seat 8: Veghead9 (7,669)Seat 9: Merrito (11,058)cp10990 antes 50TommyC_107 antes 50BSOX04 antes 50PSCPRODIGY antes 50Tripset30 antes 50IgotdanutsAA antes 50mauzinho2 antes 50Veghead9 antes 50Merrito antes 50Tripset30 posts the small blind of 250IgotdanutsAA posts the big blind of 500The button is in seat #4*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh As]
mauzinho2 folds
Veghead9 folds
Merrito calls 500
cp10990 folds
TommyC_107 folds
BSOX04 has 15 seconds left to actBSOX04 folds
IgotdanutsAA: jesus christ
IgotdanutsAA: my luck
IgotdanutsAA: nice catch
PSCPRODIGY raises to 2,008
Tripset30 raises to 6,462, and is all in
IgotdanutsAA folds
Merrito calls 5,962
PSCPRODIGY has 15 seconds left to act
PSCPRODIGY has requested TIME
PSCPRODIGY raises to 15,129, and is all in
Merrito calls 4,546, and is all in
PSCPRODIGY shows [Qd Qh]
Tripset30 shows [Kh As]
Merrito shows [Ad Ac]
A little background (as the tournament window is open in the background): PSC, the button, had raised pretty much every button, so I felt like I could take a shot there. What I didn't count on was that Merrito would limp with aces. All honesty, I just didn't think he had the creativity to pull such a stunt, especially from middle position.
The only thing I kind of wonder about is what if I had just called PSC there? Does Merrito still re-pop? If he just smooth calls, I get away from that hand on the flop (which came J-10-blank).
Dan Harrington says to fold pretty much anything outside of Ks or As that close to the bubble. I don't know.
All I know is that I got to play for now.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Win Streak?
My last session of 2007 (at least I think it will be) was a pretty profitable one: +$150 playing $.25-$.50.
But, unlike last session, where I needed to hit lucky to come out on top, I had a real, real solid session, almost to the point of flawless. I played close to the vest and whenever there was a big pot, I made sure I was putting my money in with the best of it. My reads were on point and my deductive reasoning was dead-on.
There were three big hands:
PokerStars Game #14206837580: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 15:56:12 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #7 is the buttonSeat 1: jarrad007 ($48.30 in chips) Seat 2: reda0010 ($10 in chips) Seat 3: SD-native24 ($60.40 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($61.10 in chips) Seat 5: Caillette07 ($3.45 in chips) Seat 6: diablo4824 ($30.10 in chips) Seat 7: CaptainPL ($27.75 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($56.25 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($47.50 in chips) nickianthony: posts small blind $0.25Tripset30: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Ks Ah]
jarrad007: calls $0.50reda0010: folds SD-native24: calls $0.50canalla18: folds Caillette07: raises $2.95 to $3.45 and is all-indiablo4824: folds CaptainPL: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: calls $2.95jarrad007: calls $2.95SD-native24: calls $2.95
*** FLOP *** [Jh As 5s]Tripset30: checks jarrad007: checks SD-native24: bets $2.50Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7jarrad007: folds SD-native24: calls $4.50
*** TURN *** [Jh As 5s] [Ts]Tripset30: checks SD-native24: bets $10Tripset30: raises $27.05 to $37.05 and is all-inSD-native24: calls $27.05
*** RIVER *** [Jh As 5s Ts] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [Ks Ah] (a flush, Ace high)SD-native24: shows [Th Js] (a flush, Ace high - lower cards)Tripset30 collected $85.80 from side potCaillette07: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $13.35 from main potSD-native24 said, "you are so lucky boy :-)"*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $102.15 Main pot $13.35. Side pot $85.80. Rake $3 Board [Jh As 5s Ts 4s]Seat 1: jarrad007 folded on the FlopSeat 2: reda0010 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: SD-native24 showed [Th Js] and lost with a flush, Ace highSeat 4: canalla18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: Caillette07 mucked [Kh Ad]Seat 6: diablo4824 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: CaptainPL (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 9: Tripset30 (big blind) showed [Ks Ah] and won ($99.15) with a flush, Ace high
Okay, let me first address SD-native's comment. Maybe I was lucky to hit my flush on the river, but with top pair and the nut flush draw, I don't think I'm going anywhere. Plus, what the hell is he doing calling a check-raise on the flop with middle pair, especially when I'd played maybe 15% of my hands prior to the flop? Come on, now.
PokerStars Game #14207065056: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 16:05:41 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #7 is the buttonSeat 1: jarrad007 ($43.60 in chips) Seat 2: reda0010 ($9.25 in chips) Seat 3: SD-native24 ($14.75 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($62.55 in chips) Seat 5: ehans21 ($49.25 in chips) Seat 6: diablo4824 ($27.85 in chips) Seat 7: CaptainPL ($28.20 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($58.05 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($97.85 in chips) nickianthony: posts small blind $0.25Tripset30: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [6s 5s]jarrad007: folds reda0010: folds SD-native24: folds canalla18: folds ehans21: folds diablo4824: raises $1.50 to $2CaptainPL: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [3s 4s 5d]Tripset30: checks diablo4824: bets $2Tripset30: raises $4 to $6diablo4824: calls $4
*** TURN *** [3s 4s 5d] [7d]Tripset30: bets $11diablo4824: calls $11
*** RIVER *** [3s 4s 5d 7d] [Qc]Tripset30: bets $9diablo4824: calls $8.85 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [6s 5s] (a straight, Three to Seven)diablo4824: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $53.25 from potdiablo4824 leaves the table*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $55.95 Rake $2.70 Board [3s 4s 5d 7d Qc]Seat 1: jarrad007 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 2: reda0010 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: SD-native24 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: canalla18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: ehans21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: diablo4824 mucked [9c 9s]Seat 7: CaptainPL (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 9: Tripset30 (big blind) showed [6s 5s] and won ($53.25) with a straight, Three to Seven
Diablo had been playing fairly tight, and I felt like I could outplay him after the flop. In a lot of cases I'm getting about 2-1 on my money, and even though that didn't end up being the case I figured it was worth a shot.
I couldn't have asked for a better flop. 3-4-5, giving me top pair, an open-ended straight flush draw and, obviously, an open-ended straight possibility. I checked, and he bet. I figured he'd fire in some sort of continuation bet, and he did. After he called my check-raise, I definitely put him on an over-pair but no better than 10s. I would have heard about it.
Then of course, the seven comes on the turn. A lot of people check there, but knowing that he had an overpair I figured it better that I bet because if I check he's just checking behind me. Plus, if I check it's almost screaming out that I have a straight and I'm gonna make a value bet on the river. By betting it almost looks like I'm trying to scare him off the hand.
And then, well, pot odds probably forced him to call on the river. At that point there was like $44 in the pot and he merely had to call an additional nine. Funny, some dude after the hand was like, "Are you kidding me?" To paraphrase what Doyle Brunson said, you're supposed to hit your draws sometimes.
PokerStars Game #14207617909: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 16:28:30 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #9 is the buttonSeat 2: reda0010 ($9.50 in chips) Seat 3: poker.fr ($49.50 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($62.65 in chips) Seat 5: ehans21 ($55.20 in chips) Seat 6: Monarch44 ($50.50 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($57.30 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($125.15 in chips) julienlebcbg will be allowed to play after the buttonreda0010: posts small blind $0.25poker.fr: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kd Kh]canalla18: raises $2 to $2.50ehans21: folds Monarch44: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7reda0010: folds poker.fr: calls $6.50canalla18: calls $4.50
*** FLOP *** [9d 4c 6d]poker.fr: checks canalla18: checks Tripset30: bets $12poker.fr: folds ehans21 is disconnected canalla18: raises $43.65 to $55.65 and is all-inTripset30 said, "jesus"Tripset30: calls $43.65
*** TURN *** [9d 4c 6d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [9d 4c 6d 7h] [9c]*** SHOW DOWN ***canalla18: shows [Qs Qc] (two pair, Queens and Nines)Tripset30: shows [Kd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Nines)Tripset30 collected $129.55 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $132.55 Rake $3 Board [9d 4c 6d 7h 9c]Seat 2: reda0010 (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: poker.fr (big blind) folded on the FlopSeat 4: canalla18 showed [Qs Qc] and lost with two pair, Queens and NinesSeat 5: ehans21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: Monarch44 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: Tripset30 (button) showed [Kd Kh] and won ($129.55) with two pair, Kings and Nines
Obviously this was a huge hand. I had a feeling it would be when Canalla raised to $2.50 pre-flop, a huge raise anywhere except in some of the home games I frequent. I have no idea why poker.fr cold-called, but I guess it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that Canalla just smooth-called.
The flop wasn't really scary, but I admit I was really shook when Canalla made it $55.65 to go. For a moment I thought, "Damn, isn't this some karma? I sucked out on aces last night with kings, and now he's hit his set on my kings." However, I quickly determined that that couldn't be the case.
$2.50 UTG with nines, sixes, or fours? That's suicidal, and that's not the type of player I'd determined Canalla to be in the two hours or so I sat with him.
Obviously, the only other hand that scared me would be aces. While $2.50 UTG could fulfill that criteria, smooth calling against me with position and with establishing a tight image just wasn't feasible. I put him on queens or jacks and called. Thankfully, I was right.
This is a hell of a way to end 2007. Now, let me go get some money out from ePassporte.
Finally.
But, unlike last session, where I needed to hit lucky to come out on top, I had a real, real solid session, almost to the point of flawless. I played close to the vest and whenever there was a big pot, I made sure I was putting my money in with the best of it. My reads were on point and my deductive reasoning was dead-on.
There were three big hands:
PokerStars Game #14206837580: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 15:56:12 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #7 is the buttonSeat 1: jarrad007 ($48.30 in chips) Seat 2: reda0010 ($10 in chips) Seat 3: SD-native24 ($60.40 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($61.10 in chips) Seat 5: Caillette07 ($3.45 in chips) Seat 6: diablo4824 ($30.10 in chips) Seat 7: CaptainPL ($27.75 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($56.25 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($47.50 in chips) nickianthony: posts small blind $0.25Tripset30: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Ks Ah]
jarrad007: calls $0.50reda0010: folds SD-native24: calls $0.50canalla18: folds Caillette07: raises $2.95 to $3.45 and is all-indiablo4824: folds CaptainPL: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: calls $2.95jarrad007: calls $2.95SD-native24: calls $2.95
*** FLOP *** [Jh As 5s]Tripset30: checks jarrad007: checks SD-native24: bets $2.50Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7jarrad007: folds SD-native24: calls $4.50
*** TURN *** [Jh As 5s] [Ts]Tripset30: checks SD-native24: bets $10Tripset30: raises $27.05 to $37.05 and is all-inSD-native24: calls $27.05
*** RIVER *** [Jh As 5s Ts] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [Ks Ah] (a flush, Ace high)SD-native24: shows [Th Js] (a flush, Ace high - lower cards)Tripset30 collected $85.80 from side potCaillette07: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $13.35 from main potSD-native24 said, "you are so lucky boy :-)"*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $102.15 Main pot $13.35. Side pot $85.80. Rake $3 Board [Jh As 5s Ts 4s]Seat 1: jarrad007 folded on the FlopSeat 2: reda0010 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: SD-native24 showed [Th Js] and lost with a flush, Ace highSeat 4: canalla18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: Caillette07 mucked [Kh Ad]Seat 6: diablo4824 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: CaptainPL (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 9: Tripset30 (big blind) showed [Ks Ah] and won ($99.15) with a flush, Ace high
Okay, let me first address SD-native's comment. Maybe I was lucky to hit my flush on the river, but with top pair and the nut flush draw, I don't think I'm going anywhere. Plus, what the hell is he doing calling a check-raise on the flop with middle pair, especially when I'd played maybe 15% of my hands prior to the flop? Come on, now.
PokerStars Game #14207065056: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 16:05:41 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #7 is the buttonSeat 1: jarrad007 ($43.60 in chips) Seat 2: reda0010 ($9.25 in chips) Seat 3: SD-native24 ($14.75 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($62.55 in chips) Seat 5: ehans21 ($49.25 in chips) Seat 6: diablo4824 ($27.85 in chips) Seat 7: CaptainPL ($28.20 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($58.05 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($97.85 in chips) nickianthony: posts small blind $0.25Tripset30: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [6s 5s]jarrad007: folds reda0010: folds SD-native24: folds canalla18: folds ehans21: folds diablo4824: raises $1.50 to $2CaptainPL: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [3s 4s 5d]Tripset30: checks diablo4824: bets $2Tripset30: raises $4 to $6diablo4824: calls $4
*** TURN *** [3s 4s 5d] [7d]Tripset30: bets $11diablo4824: calls $11
*** RIVER *** [3s 4s 5d 7d] [Qc]Tripset30: bets $9diablo4824: calls $8.85 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [6s 5s] (a straight, Three to Seven)diablo4824: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $53.25 from potdiablo4824 leaves the table*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $55.95 Rake $2.70 Board [3s 4s 5d 7d Qc]Seat 1: jarrad007 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 2: reda0010 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: SD-native24 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: canalla18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: ehans21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: diablo4824 mucked [9c 9s]Seat 7: CaptainPL (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 9: Tripset30 (big blind) showed [6s 5s] and won ($53.25) with a straight, Three to Seven
Diablo had been playing fairly tight, and I felt like I could outplay him after the flop. In a lot of cases I'm getting about 2-1 on my money, and even though that didn't end up being the case I figured it was worth a shot.
I couldn't have asked for a better flop. 3-4-5, giving me top pair, an open-ended straight flush draw and, obviously, an open-ended straight possibility. I checked, and he bet. I figured he'd fire in some sort of continuation bet, and he did. After he called my check-raise, I definitely put him on an over-pair but no better than 10s. I would have heard about it.
Then of course, the seven comes on the turn. A lot of people check there, but knowing that he had an overpair I figured it better that I bet because if I check he's just checking behind me. Plus, if I check it's almost screaming out that I have a straight and I'm gonna make a value bet on the river. By betting it almost looks like I'm trying to scare him off the hand.
And then, well, pot odds probably forced him to call on the river. At that point there was like $44 in the pot and he merely had to call an additional nine. Funny, some dude after the hand was like, "Are you kidding me?" To paraphrase what Doyle Brunson said, you're supposed to hit your draws sometimes.
PokerStars Game #14207617909: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 16:28:30 (ET)Table 'Bishop III' 9-max Seat #9 is the buttonSeat 2: reda0010 ($9.50 in chips) Seat 3: poker.fr ($49.50 in chips) Seat 4: canalla18 ($62.65 in chips) Seat 5: ehans21 ($55.20 in chips) Seat 6: Monarch44 ($50.50 in chips) Seat 8: nickianthony ($57.30 in chips) Seat 9: Tripset30 ($125.15 in chips) julienlebcbg will be allowed to play after the buttonreda0010: posts small blind $0.25poker.fr: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kd Kh]canalla18: raises $2 to $2.50ehans21: folds Monarch44: folds nickianthony: folds Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7reda0010: folds poker.fr: calls $6.50canalla18: calls $4.50
*** FLOP *** [9d 4c 6d]poker.fr: checks canalla18: checks Tripset30: bets $12poker.fr: folds ehans21 is disconnected canalla18: raises $43.65 to $55.65 and is all-inTripset30 said, "jesus"Tripset30: calls $43.65
*** TURN *** [9d 4c 6d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [9d 4c 6d 7h] [9c]*** SHOW DOWN ***canalla18: shows [Qs Qc] (two pair, Queens and Nines)Tripset30: shows [Kd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Nines)Tripset30 collected $129.55 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $132.55 Rake $3 Board [9d 4c 6d 7h 9c]Seat 2: reda0010 (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: poker.fr (big blind) folded on the FlopSeat 4: canalla18 showed [Qs Qc] and lost with two pair, Queens and NinesSeat 5: ehans21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: Monarch44 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: nickianthony folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: Tripset30 (button) showed [Kd Kh] and won ($129.55) with two pair, Kings and Nines
Obviously this was a huge hand. I had a feeling it would be when Canalla raised to $2.50 pre-flop, a huge raise anywhere except in some of the home games I frequent. I have no idea why poker.fr cold-called, but I guess it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that Canalla just smooth-called.
The flop wasn't really scary, but I admit I was really shook when Canalla made it $55.65 to go. For a moment I thought, "Damn, isn't this some karma? I sucked out on aces last night with kings, and now he's hit his set on my kings." However, I quickly determined that that couldn't be the case.
$2.50 UTG with nines, sixes, or fours? That's suicidal, and that's not the type of player I'd determined Canalla to be in the two hours or so I sat with him.
Obviously, the only other hand that scared me would be aces. While $2.50 UTG could fulfill that criteria, smooth calling against me with position and with establishing a tight image just wasn't feasible. I put him on queens or jacks and called. Thankfully, I was right.
This is a hell of a way to end 2007. Now, let me go get some money out from ePassporte.
Finally.
Luck Starting to Turn (Flop or River)?
I really shouldn't jinx myself, especially when technically I'm still playing. Hold up, let me leave the table so that this becomes official.
Wow, I just got felted...
Just kidding, but honestly with the kind of year I'm having, would you have questioned it?
Weird session tonight. I thought I played real solid, probably one of my better overall showings of the year in terms of how I played. And yet, I should have been felted. Twice.
PokerStars Game #14195964704: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 04:30:42 (ET)Table 'Ilioneus III' 9-max Seat #8 is the buttonSeat 1: viva el rio ($8.50 in chips) Seat 3: n2itiv4real ($19.15 in chips) Seat 4: Claedeus ($11 in chips) Seat 5: rain6804 ($52.50 in chips) Seat 6: HelenofPoker ($56 in chips) Seat 7: Tripset30 ($56.50 in chips) Seat 8: mayhem29 ($90.45 in chips) Seat 9: lordvolk ($50.25 in chips) lordvolk: posts small blind $0.25viva el rio: posts big blind $0.50rieke07: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh Kc]n2itiv4real: folds Claedeus: folds rain6804: folds HelenofPoker: raises $1.50 to $2Tripset30: raises $4 to $6mayhem29: folds lordvolk: folds viva el rio: folds HelenofPoker: raises $14.50 to $20.50Tripset30: raises $36 to $56.50 and is all-inHelenofPoker: calls $35.50 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [8s Ks 6s]
*** TURN *** [8s Ks 6s] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [8s Ks 6s 4h] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***HelenofPoker: shows [Ad As] (a pair of Aces)Tripset30: shows [Kh Kc] (three of a kind, Kings)Tripset30 collected $109.75 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $112.75 Rake $3 Board [8s Ks 6s 4h 7h]Seat 1: viva el rio (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: n2itiv4real folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: Claedeus folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: rain6804 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: HelenofPoker showed [Ad As] and lost with a pair of AcesSeat 7: Tripset30 showed [Kh Kc] and won ($109.75) with three of a kind, KingsSeat 8: mayhem29 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: lordvolk (small blind) folded before Flop
Pretty lucky. HelenofPoker criticized me for re-raising all-in pre-flop, but honestly I put him/her on queens through tens not because I'm an optimist, but because he/she had been playing erratically and I had re-popped him/her pre-flop before and I thought he/she was trying to send a message. Of course, the whole third raise thing should have let me know what was up, but whatever... won't be the last time I suck out, I thought.
Then...
PokerStars Game #14196140302: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 04:50:23 (ET)Table 'Ilioneus III' 9-max Seat #1 is the buttonSeat 1: KMERCURIO ($46.45 in chips) Seat 2: rieke07 ($10.95 in chips) Seat 3: n2itiv4real ($46.35 in chips) Seat 4: Claedeus ($12.55 in chips) Seat 5: rain6804 ($59.95 in chips) Seat 6: HelenofPoker ($20.85 in chips) Seat 7: Tripset30 ($105.40 in chips) Seat 8: neveragain18 ($49.25 in chips) Seat 9: lordvolk ($39.25 in chips) rieke07: posts small blind $0.25n2itiv4real: posts big blind $0.50*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh Kd]
Claedeus: folds rain6804: folds HelenofPoker: folds Tripset30: raises $1 to $1.50neveragain18: folds lordvolk: folds KMERCURIO: raises $3.50 to $5rieke07: folds n2itiv4real: folds Tripset30: calls $3.50
*** FLOP *** [9s Th 8d]Tripset30: checks KMERCURIO: bets $2.50Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7KMERCURIO: raises $34.45 to $41.45 and is all-inTripset30: calls $34.45
*** TURN *** [9s Th 8d] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [9s Th 8d 7c] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [Kh Kd] (three of a kind, Kings)KMERCURIO: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $90.65 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $93.65 Rake $3 Board [9s Th 8d 7c Kc]Seat 1: KMERCURIO (button) mucked [Ac As]Seat 2: rieke07 (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: n2itiv4real (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 4: Claedeus folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: rain6804 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: HelenofPoker folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: Tripset30 showed [Kh Kd] and won ($90.65) with three of a kind, KingsSeat 8: neveragain18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: lordvolk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
This time I'm a little more careful with my kings pre-flop, only calling the re-pop, not wanting to balloon the pot too much before the flop. I check the 8-9-10 flop seeing if he showed any weakness, and in my opinion a bet of $2.50 after a re-pop to $3.50 was weak, totally post-oakish and that he had A-K. Of course, when he came back over top of me I saw that he read Super/System II, too. Why I called, I have no idea. I forget completely what I was thinking at the time, if anything. Actually my "guess" at the time was that he had either jacks or a set from the board, and I went with jacks, praying that a 7 or Q didn't fall. I didn't think I'd need the king on the river to win.
Goddamn, I got so lucky. Twice.
But, the way this year has been, maybe I was due for a miracle suck-out. Maybe this is the kind of thing that can jumpstart my 2008, for it has been a porous 2007 poker-wise and legally.
Anywho, some poker resolutions for the year 2008.
Wow, I just got felted...
Just kidding, but honestly with the kind of year I'm having, would you have questioned it?
Weird session tonight. I thought I played real solid, probably one of my better overall showings of the year in terms of how I played. And yet, I should have been felted. Twice.
PokerStars Game #14195964704: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 04:30:42 (ET)Table 'Ilioneus III' 9-max Seat #8 is the buttonSeat 1: viva el rio ($8.50 in chips) Seat 3: n2itiv4real ($19.15 in chips) Seat 4: Claedeus ($11 in chips) Seat 5: rain6804 ($52.50 in chips) Seat 6: HelenofPoker ($56 in chips) Seat 7: Tripset30 ($56.50 in chips) Seat 8: mayhem29 ($90.45 in chips) Seat 9: lordvolk ($50.25 in chips) lordvolk: posts small blind $0.25viva el rio: posts big blind $0.50rieke07: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh Kc]n2itiv4real: folds Claedeus: folds rain6804: folds HelenofPoker: raises $1.50 to $2Tripset30: raises $4 to $6mayhem29: folds lordvolk: folds viva el rio: folds HelenofPoker: raises $14.50 to $20.50Tripset30: raises $36 to $56.50 and is all-inHelenofPoker: calls $35.50 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [8s Ks 6s]
*** TURN *** [8s Ks 6s] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [8s Ks 6s 4h] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***HelenofPoker: shows [Ad As] (a pair of Aces)Tripset30: shows [Kh Kc] (three of a kind, Kings)Tripset30 collected $109.75 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $112.75 Rake $3 Board [8s Ks 6s 4h 7h]Seat 1: viva el rio (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: n2itiv4real folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: Claedeus folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: rain6804 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: HelenofPoker showed [Ad As] and lost with a pair of AcesSeat 7: Tripset30 showed [Kh Kc] and won ($109.75) with three of a kind, KingsSeat 8: mayhem29 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: lordvolk (small blind) folded before Flop
Pretty lucky. HelenofPoker criticized me for re-raising all-in pre-flop, but honestly I put him/her on queens through tens not because I'm an optimist, but because he/she had been playing erratically and I had re-popped him/her pre-flop before and I thought he/she was trying to send a message. Of course, the whole third raise thing should have let me know what was up, but whatever... won't be the last time I suck out, I thought.
Then...
PokerStars Game #14196140302: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2007/12/30 - 04:50:23 (ET)Table 'Ilioneus III' 9-max Seat #1 is the buttonSeat 1: KMERCURIO ($46.45 in chips) Seat 2: rieke07 ($10.95 in chips) Seat 3: n2itiv4real ($46.35 in chips) Seat 4: Claedeus ($12.55 in chips) Seat 5: rain6804 ($59.95 in chips) Seat 6: HelenofPoker ($20.85 in chips) Seat 7: Tripset30 ($105.40 in chips) Seat 8: neveragain18 ($49.25 in chips) Seat 9: lordvolk ($39.25 in chips) rieke07: posts small blind $0.25n2itiv4real: posts big blind $0.50*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh Kd]
Claedeus: folds rain6804: folds HelenofPoker: folds Tripset30: raises $1 to $1.50neveragain18: folds lordvolk: folds KMERCURIO: raises $3.50 to $5rieke07: folds n2itiv4real: folds Tripset30: calls $3.50
*** FLOP *** [9s Th 8d]Tripset30: checks KMERCURIO: bets $2.50Tripset30: raises $4.50 to $7KMERCURIO: raises $34.45 to $41.45 and is all-inTripset30: calls $34.45
*** TURN *** [9s Th 8d] [7c]
*** RIVER *** [9s Th 8d 7c] [Kc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***Tripset30: shows [Kh Kd] (three of a kind, Kings)KMERCURIO: mucks hand Tripset30 collected $90.65 from pot*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $93.65 Rake $3 Board [9s Th 8d 7c Kc]Seat 1: KMERCURIO (button) mucked [Ac As]Seat 2: rieke07 (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 3: n2itiv4real (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 4: Claedeus folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 5: rain6804 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 6: HelenofPoker folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: Tripset30 showed [Kh Kd] and won ($90.65) with three of a kind, KingsSeat 8: neveragain18 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: lordvolk folded before Flop (didn't bet)
This time I'm a little more careful with my kings pre-flop, only calling the re-pop, not wanting to balloon the pot too much before the flop. I check the 8-9-10 flop seeing if he showed any weakness, and in my opinion a bet of $2.50 after a re-pop to $3.50 was weak, totally post-oakish and that he had A-K. Of course, when he came back over top of me I saw that he read Super/System II, too. Why I called, I have no idea. I forget completely what I was thinking at the time, if anything. Actually my "guess" at the time was that he had either jacks or a set from the board, and I went with jacks, praying that a 7 or Q didn't fall. I didn't think I'd need the king on the river to win.
Goddamn, I got so lucky. Twice.
But, the way this year has been, maybe I was due for a miracle suck-out. Maybe this is the kind of thing that can jumpstart my 2008, for it has been a porous 2007 poker-wise and legally.
Anywho, some poker resolutions for the year 2008.
- Limit my play of marginal hands: I'm trying more or less to get back to a tight-aggressive style in an effort to limit the constant teeter-totter nature of my results. I know every now and then I need to mix it up, but playing 8-5 suited everytime? Nopes.
- Shore up my play on the turn and river: I can really change that to all facets of hold 'em, but I need the most work on the turn and river, because that's where I'm losing most of my money. I get way too involved with just medium strong holdings at those points.
- Pay more attention: A big reason for my poor 2007 was my inability to read opponents or capitalize on tendencies, which used to be a pretty decent facet of my game. For one reason or another I've had trouble focusing at the poker table. I've become too tunnel-visioned in my own holdings.
- Stay positive: I mean both in net and in attitude. I've been so down on my play that I'm almost shell-shocked every time I sit down. I need to start trusting my instincts and just make the right play for the given situation.
Yeah, team Tripset had a down year, but then again so did 50 Cent. While I don't have near his bankroll, I can take a lesson from him in maintaining swagger.
2008: Get Rich or Stop Playing
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Slump Broken?
Really, you say?
Is it possible that Justin "Tripset30" Cherot actually had a good session?
That produced profit?
Yes, it is. By no means am I claiming to be world-beater (especially after blowing a sizeable 3-1 chip lead in my last sit-n-go), but I think tonight I had my most solid session in about six months. I only played two low limit sit n go's tonight, but I saw some really encouraging signs that my slump is, if not done, about to be a memory.
Sit-n-go poker is definitely different than cash game poker, but I can take principles learned from playing tonight and apply them to my next cash game. One thing I did tonight that maybe I hadn't done in a long time is really focus, and I think I can attribute that to the fact that making a profit at such small limits wasn't as important to me as working on my game and making the correct decisions at the table. Or, if not always making the right decision, at least not the costly one.
I made some good laydowns and some hands where I called with the thinness, once for all my chips. My recall was sharp and my deductive reasoning was on point. I felt like tonight was a real good night...
But, perfectionist that I am, the last hand I played tonight really bugs me.
My dumbass didn't save the hand history, so I shall re-construct it in pure Justin Cherot form.
Lemme set the table:
Five or six hands into heads-up with the blinds at 100-200 (quick tourney). The villain, a loose-aggressive but solid player, had me by about 1500 chips, like 7500-6000 or something like that. I came in with the chip lead but he was the aggressor, raising every button and check-raising two flops when I led out.
The hand before I felt like I had had the best hand with a pair of fours on a K-K-4-6-A board, but I folded, not wanting to risk my tourney life on a pair of fours. The next hand, I guess I try to send a message by raising on the button with K-3 off, a message that I'm not easily bullied or detered by attempts at bullying. I wasn't surprised when he called. After all, heads-up is a different ball game.
The flop came 4-6-3, two spades. He checked to me, and I fired $400. I wanted it to look like a continuation bet, because I thought that at that point I was winning. I wanted him to check-raise, and he did exactly that, a min. raise, same shit with the K-K-4 flop the hand before.
I really thought I had him, and I just smooth-called. Yes, I was slow-playing bottom pair because I thought I had him.
The turn was a K. Money card, especially in heads-up! I checked to him, this time hoping I could get a check-raise in. He bet $1200. I thought for a minute and really thought he was trying to run me over. Then, I back-tracked. Maybe he really did have a set, or 5-7. But, I came back to my senses. Why wouldn't he just let me hang myself, why wouldn't he just check-call? I re-popped all-in, and when he paused initially I thought I had caught him, maybe even scared him away from the hand.
Turned out his Internet connection was weak. He had 7-5 of hearts. I prayed futilely for the miracle K or 3, but, well, even online poker shouldn't reward such a miscue.
You can make the case that, especially in heads-up, once I hit the turn as hard as I did there was no turning back. But, honestly, I got outplayed. Hey, it happens. More often than it honestly should, but it happens.
That doesn't change the fact that for the most part I felt really good about tonight. I'm hoping I can ride the momentum.
"We just might be okay... after all."
Is it possible that Justin "Tripset30" Cherot actually had a good session?
That produced profit?
Yes, it is. By no means am I claiming to be world-beater (especially after blowing a sizeable 3-1 chip lead in my last sit-n-go), but I think tonight I had my most solid session in about six months. I only played two low limit sit n go's tonight, but I saw some really encouraging signs that my slump is, if not done, about to be a memory.
Sit-n-go poker is definitely different than cash game poker, but I can take principles learned from playing tonight and apply them to my next cash game. One thing I did tonight that maybe I hadn't done in a long time is really focus, and I think I can attribute that to the fact that making a profit at such small limits wasn't as important to me as working on my game and making the correct decisions at the table. Or, if not always making the right decision, at least not the costly one.
I made some good laydowns and some hands where I called with the thinness, once for all my chips. My recall was sharp and my deductive reasoning was on point. I felt like tonight was a real good night...
But, perfectionist that I am, the last hand I played tonight really bugs me.
My dumbass didn't save the hand history, so I shall re-construct it in pure Justin Cherot form.
Lemme set the table:
Five or six hands into heads-up with the blinds at 100-200 (quick tourney). The villain, a loose-aggressive but solid player, had me by about 1500 chips, like 7500-6000 or something like that. I came in with the chip lead but he was the aggressor, raising every button and check-raising two flops when I led out.
The hand before I felt like I had had the best hand with a pair of fours on a K-K-4-6-A board, but I folded, not wanting to risk my tourney life on a pair of fours. The next hand, I guess I try to send a message by raising on the button with K-3 off, a message that I'm not easily bullied or detered by attempts at bullying. I wasn't surprised when he called. After all, heads-up is a different ball game.
The flop came 4-6-3, two spades. He checked to me, and I fired $400. I wanted it to look like a continuation bet, because I thought that at that point I was winning. I wanted him to check-raise, and he did exactly that, a min. raise, same shit with the K-K-4 flop the hand before.
I really thought I had him, and I just smooth-called. Yes, I was slow-playing bottom pair because I thought I had him.
The turn was a K. Money card, especially in heads-up! I checked to him, this time hoping I could get a check-raise in. He bet $1200. I thought for a minute and really thought he was trying to run me over. Then, I back-tracked. Maybe he really did have a set, or 5-7. But, I came back to my senses. Why wouldn't he just let me hang myself, why wouldn't he just check-call? I re-popped all-in, and when he paused initially I thought I had caught him, maybe even scared him away from the hand.
Turned out his Internet connection was weak. He had 7-5 of hearts. I prayed futilely for the miracle K or 3, but, well, even online poker shouldn't reward such a miscue.
You can make the case that, especially in heads-up, once I hit the turn as hard as I did there was no turning back. But, honestly, I got outplayed. Hey, it happens. More often than it honestly should, but it happens.
That doesn't change the fact that for the most part I felt really good about tonight. I'm hoping I can ride the momentum.
"We just might be okay... after all."
Monday, December 10, 2007
Seriously...
Try this exercise.
Find the last time I reported profit in this blog (and no, that's not including the sarcastic $3 post)I made. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Okay, I think I found it, but the funny part is I wasn't really reporting a "profit". It was more an amusing anecdote about how "well" I played A-K. The only thing that really tipped me off to that being a "profit" post is because I went into the whole Prahlad Friedman rap in the end (if you really haven't seen it by now, click his name). I was happy, giddy like a little school girl in church.
I'm not saying that poker ever used to be easy. Quite the contrary. I remember nights getting my ass handed to me in the beginning when I first started playing. Shit, I even remember sometimes playing against Langan (a freqeunt commenter on this blog) and asking if I could check or not. Mis-read boards, out of position bets, the whole nine. I would give people money.
I guess what I'm saying is that I really shouldn't be struggling the way I am. My poker growth chart would go something like this, and I guess I've been playing consistently for, what, almost five years now:
My first year I played with Monopoly pieces while still learning the rules.
Between my first and second year I went from worst to maybe second best at my now disbanded home game (the best player in that game I don't think really plays anymore).
Between my second and third year I was inconsistent but every once in awhile I would show flashes of brilliance that would really make me think I can turn this into more than just a typical hobby. Coincidentally this is also when I started playing online for money.
And, then there's this year, the equivalent of my senior year at poker university, the year where I should have put together all of the inconsistency and maybe--just maybe--worked my bankroll into something substantial, not like six figure substantial but decent.
But, let's be real.
I have developed so many holes in my game over the course of the past year that I feel I'm beyond repair. If this isn't rock bottom, I do not want to know what that feels like. I've read all these books and watched all these movies and yet, I have no concept at all of what it really means to have and maintain a bankroll. I'll do something dumb like play $1-$2 knowing that I only have like $1200 in my real account. I've played all of these hands and yet, I still call with two pair with a straight or flush possibility on the board when it's OBVIOUS that I have to make that laydown. I read and read and read about not being too loose, or at least not loose passive, and here I go, limping from early position with 5-4 off-suit trying to hit God knows what on the flop. I bet when I should check, check when I should bet, get run over by bullies, etc., etc.
Dog. I fucking suck.
Unlike in previous years, I do not feel myself getting any better or growing as a poker player. I keep making the same dumbass mistakes that most reasonable people learn within minutes of learning how to play hold 'em. And, here's the kicker.
I've found a somewhat consistent home game, and with all honesty you know what? I am by far the worst player in that game. It's not even that tough a game! But, I am by far the absolute worst player in that game.
I can't even name a player I'm better than right now. I really can't.
I've got to stop kidding myself into thinking I can do anything with this game.
Find the last time I reported profit in this blog (and no, that's not including the sarcastic $3 post)I made. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Okay, I think I found it, but the funny part is I wasn't really reporting a "profit". It was more an amusing anecdote about how "well" I played A-K. The only thing that really tipped me off to that being a "profit" post is because I went into the whole Prahlad Friedman rap in the end (if you really haven't seen it by now, click his name). I was happy, giddy like a little school girl in church.
I'm not saying that poker ever used to be easy. Quite the contrary. I remember nights getting my ass handed to me in the beginning when I first started playing. Shit, I even remember sometimes playing against Langan (a freqeunt commenter on this blog) and asking if I could check or not. Mis-read boards, out of position bets, the whole nine. I would give people money.
I guess what I'm saying is that I really shouldn't be struggling the way I am. My poker growth chart would go something like this, and I guess I've been playing consistently for, what, almost five years now:
My first year I played with Monopoly pieces while still learning the rules.
Between my first and second year I went from worst to maybe second best at my now disbanded home game (the best player in that game I don't think really plays anymore).
Between my second and third year I was inconsistent but every once in awhile I would show flashes of brilliance that would really make me think I can turn this into more than just a typical hobby. Coincidentally this is also when I started playing online for money.
And, then there's this year, the equivalent of my senior year at poker university, the year where I should have put together all of the inconsistency and maybe--just maybe--worked my bankroll into something substantial, not like six figure substantial but decent.
But, let's be real.
I have developed so many holes in my game over the course of the past year that I feel I'm beyond repair. If this isn't rock bottom, I do not want to know what that feels like. I've read all these books and watched all these movies and yet, I have no concept at all of what it really means to have and maintain a bankroll. I'll do something dumb like play $1-$2 knowing that I only have like $1200 in my real account. I've played all of these hands and yet, I still call with two pair with a straight or flush possibility on the board when it's OBVIOUS that I have to make that laydown. I read and read and read about not being too loose, or at least not loose passive, and here I go, limping from early position with 5-4 off-suit trying to hit God knows what on the flop. I bet when I should check, check when I should bet, get run over by bullies, etc., etc.
Dog. I fucking suck.
Unlike in previous years, I do not feel myself getting any better or growing as a poker player. I keep making the same dumbass mistakes that most reasonable people learn within minutes of learning how to play hold 'em. And, here's the kicker.
I've found a somewhat consistent home game, and with all honesty you know what? I am by far the worst player in that game. It's not even that tough a game! But, I am by far the absolute worst player in that game.
I can't even name a player I'm better than right now. I really can't.
I've got to stop kidding myself into thinking I can do anything with this game.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Mike Caro's Threshold of Misery
It's no secret: for the past six months I have played some of the most awful poker known to man. The support from my poker playing friends has been everything from "Hang in there" to "Take a hiatus". I'm more leaning towards the latter, but I've always been an optimist. Sooner or later the numbers will catch up, I'll start playing better and I'll have a WSOP bracelet.
Just making sure you were paying attention.
But, after one particular session a couple of weeks ago where I played horrendous, I went back to the drawing board for a minute and picked up Doyle Brunson's Super System 2, a title that Jim McManus, author of Positively Fifth Street, says makes no sense at all. Well, the title I don't neccesarily get, but when players drop as many jewels as they do in that book, it could be Doyle Brunson: Limping Made Gangsta for all I care. For anybody reading this blog, you're not really any kind of poker player until you've read the book.
I mention Super System because as I was glancing back over some chapters on trying to piece back together my fundamentals, I stumbled over Mike Caro's chapter. Now, I know he has his own book and everything with a lot of the same information, but there was one section in particular that got my attention, and it sums up a lot of not only what's been going on at the poker table, but my life as well.
I shall give you the most important snippet from his "Threshold of Misery" section:
"Few concepts have resonated with students more than Caro's Threshold of Misery. I continually receive letters, e-mails, and face to face thanks from both poker players and people in the "real world", telling me how much this simple truth has meant to them.
"Here's how it goes: suppose you're a small to medium limit player, and you can envision yourself comfortably losing a maximum of $1,500 today. I'm not suggesting that you'll be happy about losing that much, just that you can comfortably handle it and that anything more will begin to feel uncomfortable.
"Okay, now you find yourself down $500, then $1,100, then--before it registers, you've zoomed past $1,500 and are losing $1,800. You've entered dangerous territory. And it gets worse. And worse. Hours later, you find yourself losing $4,530. Now, your mind is numb. I believe that most people at this point can't mentally comprehend added losses. It all feels the same. You've crossed into Caro's Threshold of Misery, which is the point where mental and emotional pain is maximized and anything further won't register.
"You must be aware when you cross that threshold, because beyond it decisions don't seem to matter. This is true in real life, too. When romances unravel or businesses fail, you might cross the Threshold of Misery and stop caring about making critical decisions. That's because the pain is already maximized and anything else that goes wrong can't add to the agony... at these times, in poker and in life, the secret is to keep performing like you care."
And, I can say that on the poker table and in some other portions of my life, this theory rings so true. I can almost feel myself get that way in live cash games, when I get a big hand cracked and the next hand raise with 5-4 off because deep down I know that if I lose that pot it's not going to make me feel any worse.
On a grander scale of poker, from game to game I mean, it's like losing $40 isn't going to be that awful. Why? Because I've dropped a couple thousand this year, and what's another $40? That's the wrong way to approach poker.
That's the wrong way to approach life.
Even though shit really isn't panning out the way I thought it would, with poker, school--shit, my relationships, I have to get out of this mindset that, "Oh, who cares what I do? Everything's fucked up anyway."
Like Caro says, no matter what the results are, I have to keep performing as though I care, as though there is something at stake. That's the only way I'm going to bust out of this slump. No small ball gimics. No drastic changes in strategy (for the most part). I just have to perform the absolute best I can.
In all facets of life.
I used to give a fuck, now I can give a fuck less?
Fuck that, I done been under enough stress.
Just making sure you were paying attention.
But, after one particular session a couple of weeks ago where I played horrendous, I went back to the drawing board for a minute and picked up Doyle Brunson's Super System 2, a title that Jim McManus, author of Positively Fifth Street, says makes no sense at all. Well, the title I don't neccesarily get, but when players drop as many jewels as they do in that book, it could be Doyle Brunson: Limping Made Gangsta for all I care. For anybody reading this blog, you're not really any kind of poker player until you've read the book.
I mention Super System because as I was glancing back over some chapters on trying to piece back together my fundamentals, I stumbled over Mike Caro's chapter. Now, I know he has his own book and everything with a lot of the same information, but there was one section in particular that got my attention, and it sums up a lot of not only what's been going on at the poker table, but my life as well.
I shall give you the most important snippet from his "Threshold of Misery" section:
"Few concepts have resonated with students more than Caro's Threshold of Misery. I continually receive letters, e-mails, and face to face thanks from both poker players and people in the "real world", telling me how much this simple truth has meant to them.
"Here's how it goes: suppose you're a small to medium limit player, and you can envision yourself comfortably losing a maximum of $1,500 today. I'm not suggesting that you'll be happy about losing that much, just that you can comfortably handle it and that anything more will begin to feel uncomfortable.
"Okay, now you find yourself down $500, then $1,100, then--before it registers, you've zoomed past $1,500 and are losing $1,800. You've entered dangerous territory. And it gets worse. And worse. Hours later, you find yourself losing $4,530. Now, your mind is numb. I believe that most people at this point can't mentally comprehend added losses. It all feels the same. You've crossed into Caro's Threshold of Misery, which is the point where mental and emotional pain is maximized and anything further won't register.
"You must be aware when you cross that threshold, because beyond it decisions don't seem to matter. This is true in real life, too. When romances unravel or businesses fail, you might cross the Threshold of Misery and stop caring about making critical decisions. That's because the pain is already maximized and anything else that goes wrong can't add to the agony... at these times, in poker and in life, the secret is to keep performing like you care."
And, I can say that on the poker table and in some other portions of my life, this theory rings so true. I can almost feel myself get that way in live cash games, when I get a big hand cracked and the next hand raise with 5-4 off because deep down I know that if I lose that pot it's not going to make me feel any worse.
On a grander scale of poker, from game to game I mean, it's like losing $40 isn't going to be that awful. Why? Because I've dropped a couple thousand this year, and what's another $40? That's the wrong way to approach poker.
That's the wrong way to approach life.
Even though shit really isn't panning out the way I thought it would, with poker, school--shit, my relationships, I have to get out of this mindset that, "Oh, who cares what I do? Everything's fucked up anyway."
Like Caro says, no matter what the results are, I have to keep performing as though I care, as though there is something at stake. That's the only way I'm going to bust out of this slump. No small ball gimics. No drastic changes in strategy (for the most part). I just have to perform the absolute best I can.
In all facets of life.
I used to give a fuck, now I can give a fuck less?
Fuck that, I done been under enough stress.
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