I approached the 101 FWY at 7am and decided to go right. Unfortunately, Vegas is to the left. I went to jury duty and, as always, sat around all day for nothing. The only highlight was a young woman in pink. She was the only thing worth looking at. Everyone else was really tough on the eyes. Then I saw a baby with one eye at Starbucks. It looked like she was born without a right eye rather than losing it later. She was really cute anyway.
After only 4 hours sleep and a long day of sitting around and reading, I'm kinda tired. Its now almost 3:30am Thursday morning and I'm ready to hit the road. But I'm not sure I can stay awake for that long drive to Vegas by myself. It goes by fast with someone to talk to.
An option is to get some sleep and leave before midday. But its supposed to be 103 to 107 degrees along the way and I'd really like to avoid driving in that...out of respect for my Bullitt.
I'll make up my mind in the next 15 minutes. Either way, I will be in Las Vegas today.
SEEYa
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Feelin' Better
I woke up feeling better today. I think I'm healthy again. Unfortunately, I have to report for jury duty on Wednesday. I have group 038. They called 003 through 029 for today so I knew my group would come up. Sure enough, I just called the notifaction line and got the bad news.
I have been thinking about just not going. I mean, come on, what are they going to do? Until now, it hasn't been a real option since I have been sick. But now I'm thinking about it. If I do go to JD, best case will be hanging around for one day then hitting Vegas on Thursday. Worst case, I get selected for a jury. Then who knows. But I doubt I would be chosen as I have a background in insurance claims investigation. They apparently don't like taking people who have a solid understanding of the law and contracts. So, even though I don't do that work anymore, I'll still tell them that I do.
I haven't made up my mind yet. Sin City could be in the cards for tonight or Thursday. I am really dying to play and, hopefully, make some money.
SEEYa
I have been thinking about just not going. I mean, come on, what are they going to do? Until now, it hasn't been a real option since I have been sick. But now I'm thinking about it. If I do go to JD, best case will be hanging around for one day then hitting Vegas on Thursday. Worst case, I get selected for a jury. Then who knows. But I doubt I would be chosen as I have a background in insurance claims investigation. They apparently don't like taking people who have a solid understanding of the law and contracts. So, even though I don't do that work anymore, I'll still tell them that I do.
I haven't made up my mind yet. Sin City could be in the cards for tonight or Thursday. I am really dying to play and, hopefully, make some money.
SEEYa
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Its Not a Sport But...
I'm happy to say that I have not recently had to hear the whole "is poker a sport" discussion. Its always been a pathetic subject as far as I am concerned. Its not a sport. But there are elements common to poker and sports.
This occurred to me today as I watched the French Open tennis finals between Nadal and Federer. Damn those guys are great! And (spoiler alert), althought it didn't come down to a fifth set, they each had moments of being in control of the match and their opponent. The momentum swung several times. That's a huge aspect of athletic competion. When one side has a big lead, they can slow things down, playing safer to protect the lead. But that opens the door for the opponent to take an aggressive stance and turn things around.
It can work the same way in poker. Whether in a tourney or cash game, it comes into play. You hear about people being able to change gears during play usually when describing some winner's "skills" in confusing his opponents. Its not just about playing the same type of hand in different ways so nobody can put you on it. I think the true skill is knowing how to find a spot where you can take control of the course of play (momentum) then maintain that.
Many times, I have started a session slowly, just waiting for a playable hand to get things going. I've noted in the past how important it can be to win the first hand so you don't have to play from behind, as far as stacks go, from the get go. So its easy to play when your picking up cards, hitting draws, and have alot in play. But when its not going that way, someone else is certainly rolling and raising and you're usually playing from behind in every hand. Its hard to push back in those cases and make things happen for yourself.
I recently found myself in just such a spot in our home game. In the first tourney of the night, I started off hot at a passive table. I was able to take the lead in many pots and take down several without making hands. The result was a 2nd place finish. In the second tourney, play was significantly different. Several different players with different styles than my first table of the first tourney. Mainly, there were more calling stations. I didn't win any of the first 4 hands I played and found myself needing to reevaluate my approach. I was going to have to tighten up and take advantage of the players who would most likely pay me off while avoiding them when I didn't have a made hand. That's what I call "Folding Into First." Play became uneventful for me and the next thing I knew, we were three-handed and I had the chip lead. I had picked up some momentum when we got to the bubble and kept it going. The result was another 2nd place finish. The same good result thanks to knowing when and how to switch things up.
Its Sunday night and my plan has been to go to Vegas tomorrow. Oops. I forgot that I was summoned for jury duty this week. Luckily its in Ventura county where they assign you to a group number and have a phone system to let you find out if your group has to report the next morning. My group is 038 and Monday is groups 001 through 003. I have to call in each evening this week to find out if my group is selected. I might not have to report at all. I'm still going to Vegas, though. When I leave will all depend on how well I feel and the jury duty. My plan is still to hit the road tommorrow but now I'm going to leave at night so I'll have already been able to find out about JD. And I'm still not 100% healthy either.
Thanks to a cough, I didn't sleep at all on Friday night. In fact, I gave up trying to sleep after 45 minutes and just watched TV until leaving early for the pool tournament that started at 9am. I played the worst offensive game of my life but was able to keep things interesting with some creative defense. Our team won even though I lost. I didn't have to play in the matches that evening so I skipped the event all together and played both poker toureys at Paul's house. Beforehand, Kid Crash, Kirk and I met for some beers. The combination of tired and a couple beers didn't effect my play but I know I appeared loopy as I was talking up a storm throughout the first tourney. No points, no cashes. Then I dropped a little in the side games. But it was fun. We finished up at 3:30am. That's a damn good run at Paul's. Of course, we finished with the traditional Del Taco run.
On my way home, I encountered a fool in red shorts and shirt walking in the middle of the road. I drove as far away from him as possible as I passed. I hope he was only drunk or high. But in L.A., he might have been completely straight and sane. Some people are just assholes. I made it past him and home without incident.
After 40+ hours I was finally able to sleep. Woke up at 5pm Sunday. I hope I can sleep tonight and maybe I'll feel up to snuff tommorrow.
SEEYa
This occurred to me today as I watched the French Open tennis finals between Nadal and Federer. Damn those guys are great! And (spoiler alert), althought it didn't come down to a fifth set, they each had moments of being in control of the match and their opponent. The momentum swung several times. That's a huge aspect of athletic competion. When one side has a big lead, they can slow things down, playing safer to protect the lead. But that opens the door for the opponent to take an aggressive stance and turn things around.
It can work the same way in poker. Whether in a tourney or cash game, it comes into play. You hear about people being able to change gears during play usually when describing some winner's "skills" in confusing his opponents. Its not just about playing the same type of hand in different ways so nobody can put you on it. I think the true skill is knowing how to find a spot where you can take control of the course of play (momentum) then maintain that.
Many times, I have started a session slowly, just waiting for a playable hand to get things going. I've noted in the past how important it can be to win the first hand so you don't have to play from behind, as far as stacks go, from the get go. So its easy to play when your picking up cards, hitting draws, and have alot in play. But when its not going that way, someone else is certainly rolling and raising and you're usually playing from behind in every hand. Its hard to push back in those cases and make things happen for yourself.
I recently found myself in just such a spot in our home game. In the first tourney of the night, I started off hot at a passive table. I was able to take the lead in many pots and take down several without making hands. The result was a 2nd place finish. In the second tourney, play was significantly different. Several different players with different styles than my first table of the first tourney. Mainly, there were more calling stations. I didn't win any of the first 4 hands I played and found myself needing to reevaluate my approach. I was going to have to tighten up and take advantage of the players who would most likely pay me off while avoiding them when I didn't have a made hand. That's what I call "Folding Into First." Play became uneventful for me and the next thing I knew, we were three-handed and I had the chip lead. I had picked up some momentum when we got to the bubble and kept it going. The result was another 2nd place finish. The same good result thanks to knowing when and how to switch things up.
Its Sunday night and my plan has been to go to Vegas tomorrow. Oops. I forgot that I was summoned for jury duty this week. Luckily its in Ventura county where they assign you to a group number and have a phone system to let you find out if your group has to report the next morning. My group is 038 and Monday is groups 001 through 003. I have to call in each evening this week to find out if my group is selected. I might not have to report at all. I'm still going to Vegas, though. When I leave will all depend on how well I feel and the jury duty. My plan is still to hit the road tommorrow but now I'm going to leave at night so I'll have already been able to find out about JD. And I'm still not 100% healthy either.
Thanks to a cough, I didn't sleep at all on Friday night. In fact, I gave up trying to sleep after 45 minutes and just watched TV until leaving early for the pool tournament that started at 9am. I played the worst offensive game of my life but was able to keep things interesting with some creative defense. Our team won even though I lost. I didn't have to play in the matches that evening so I skipped the event all together and played both poker toureys at Paul's house. Beforehand, Kid Crash, Kirk and I met for some beers. The combination of tired and a couple beers didn't effect my play but I know I appeared loopy as I was talking up a storm throughout the first tourney. No points, no cashes. Then I dropped a little in the side games. But it was fun. We finished up at 3:30am. That's a damn good run at Paul's. Of course, we finished with the traditional Del Taco run.
On my way home, I encountered a fool in red shorts and shirt walking in the middle of the road. I drove as far away from him as possible as I passed. I hope he was only drunk or high. But in L.A., he might have been completely straight and sane. Some people are just assholes. I made it past him and home without incident.
After 40+ hours I was finally able to sleep. Woke up at 5pm Sunday. I hope I can sleep tonight and maybe I'll feel up to snuff tommorrow.
SEEYa
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
OMG, I'm Back Agaiaaan!
Gosh it seems like just a year ago yesterday that I last wrote. I was thinking about it today and finally wrapped up a thought about it that began several months ago... I no longer think anyone would care to read about what's up in my life because telling the tales involve either bitching or bragging. Or at least I see how it could come across that way. When I began posting my thoughts over a year ago, the subject matter was mainly about work and that is something people definitely relate to. So even when I was pissing and moaning, I figured someone out there would relate. In fact, that was the whole point of posting my thoughts. It helped me understand that I wasn't the only one hating my job and shit like that. (you may notice I got tired or that last sentence before I could finish it.)
Well I am going to try to start writing again with no particluar goal in mind. If anything, it is interesting to go back over the things I wrote many months back just to see how or if my perspective has changed. I drafted a few things that were never posted because they were either unfinished or too personal. Looking back, there was some good stuff in those texts that I could expound upon or draw ideas from for new compositions. And I will certainly try to start writing about poker again.
I always like to read others' poker posts. One thing common among them is self aggrandizing one's own skills (not sure about that prase). People talk about their losses from major suck-outs or how they continually trounce everyone they come up against. Yet they don't play professionally or even derive significant funds from playing. Well, I do play professionally but have never stated my own superiority. That is about to change...sort of.
I haven't managed to play much in the last couple of weeks. But in the past couple months, I feel confident in saying I have been playing top notch. I started focusing on reads, trying to put people on hands whether I was in the hand or not. It has resulted in better overall play. My reads have been, for the most part, spot on. Sometimes even getting the right read on an opponent from no particular information. I think that is a side effect of paying attention. In addition to excellent reads, I've been making correct decisions. Barry Greenstein calls it the optimal play.
I feel great about myself as all this has come together. I've simply been playing terrific poker. Unfortunately, I have to admit my monitary results don't tell the same story. I guess that is the sad potential outcome of no-limit play. You can play perfectly for hours only to be drawn out on in one big hand that basically ends a long session. That's what has happened most recently. One way around this would be to play limit games. But I'm not too fond of limit Hold'em and Omaha and Stud just aren't played much in L.A. The simple fact is that NLH is where all the action is. At any hour of any day I can be in action in a NLH game in about 30 minutes whether its 10-20 or 1-2 blinds. Besides, I am damn good at it. I'm hoping I will just go on a month-long rush.
It needs to happen soon, though. I love to play and would like to continue being able to call it my profession but that can't happen until I start to pay some bills out of my table stake.
One thing I realized just yesterday is that I have been wasting my time. I have the freedom to go anywhere I want whenever I want. So I don't need to stay close to home when I could hit the road at the drop of a hat. I've been a little sick this week so home is the place to be. And I have a team pool tourney in Simi Valley this weekend so I have to stick around for that. But come Monday, I'm putting rubber to the road and heading to Vegas. The WSOP is underway so I won't have any trouble finding action all week long. Now is the time. But I'll be doing it differently than ever before.
I have always had a plan for Vegas trips including (especially) a place to stay. Not this time. I could book a cheap room somewhere but why bother, really? I already have reservations at MGM for the week of July 1 when I will be there with Joanna and her friends from England. This time, I'm flying solo so I might as well wing it for a change. And who knows. I might spend to first 48 hours in a game so a room would go waste. Or I might come up winner in the first session or two and be able to choose nicer accommodations. If all else fails, I could get a cheapo off-strip litterbox just to sleep and clean up. I checked online and there are plenty of places available. I swear there are so many hotels now, the town might not be able to sell out anymore. (kissed!)
But before all that, Saturday will include the afformentioned pool tourney and the home poker tourney at Paul's. In addition to the normal payouts, we are doing a point system and small percentage from each buy-in that will go to a big tourney at the end of the year. I'm currently at the top of the points race with 24 (5 for a 1st place finish, 4 for second, etc.) and a nice lead. The points will translate into extra chips in the final tourney. I think its 200 chips/point. So I'm already going to be in great shape. If things go well in the pool tourney, I won't be able to play in the first poker tourney this week so I'm kinda torn. I don't want my team to lose at pool but I really don't want to miss any poker at Paullywood Park. And with all this going on, I already had to pass on seeing Tesla at the HOB Sunset. That sucks. I guess I could have worse troubles.
This turned into quite a post. Maybe I'll be able to make a habit of it.
SEEYa
Well I am going to try to start writing again with no particluar goal in mind. If anything, it is interesting to go back over the things I wrote many months back just to see how or if my perspective has changed. I drafted a few things that were never posted because they were either unfinished or too personal. Looking back, there was some good stuff in those texts that I could expound upon or draw ideas from for new compositions. And I will certainly try to start writing about poker again.
I always like to read others' poker posts. One thing common among them is self aggrandizing one's own skills (not sure about that prase). People talk about their losses from major suck-outs or how they continually trounce everyone they come up against. Yet they don't play professionally or even derive significant funds from playing. Well, I do play professionally but have never stated my own superiority. That is about to change...sort of.
I haven't managed to play much in the last couple of weeks. But in the past couple months, I feel confident in saying I have been playing top notch. I started focusing on reads, trying to put people on hands whether I was in the hand or not. It has resulted in better overall play. My reads have been, for the most part, spot on. Sometimes even getting the right read on an opponent from no particular information. I think that is a side effect of paying attention. In addition to excellent reads, I've been making correct decisions. Barry Greenstein calls it the optimal play.
I feel great about myself as all this has come together. I've simply been playing terrific poker. Unfortunately, I have to admit my monitary results don't tell the same story. I guess that is the sad potential outcome of no-limit play. You can play perfectly for hours only to be drawn out on in one big hand that basically ends a long session. That's what has happened most recently. One way around this would be to play limit games. But I'm not too fond of limit Hold'em and Omaha and Stud just aren't played much in L.A. The simple fact is that NLH is where all the action is. At any hour of any day I can be in action in a NLH game in about 30 minutes whether its 10-20 or 1-2 blinds. Besides, I am damn good at it. I'm hoping I will just go on a month-long rush.
It needs to happen soon, though. I love to play and would like to continue being able to call it my profession but that can't happen until I start to pay some bills out of my table stake.
One thing I realized just yesterday is that I have been wasting my time. I have the freedom to go anywhere I want whenever I want. So I don't need to stay close to home when I could hit the road at the drop of a hat. I've been a little sick this week so home is the place to be. And I have a team pool tourney in Simi Valley this weekend so I have to stick around for that. But come Monday, I'm putting rubber to the road and heading to Vegas. The WSOP is underway so I won't have any trouble finding action all week long. Now is the time. But I'll be doing it differently than ever before.
I have always had a plan for Vegas trips including (especially) a place to stay. Not this time. I could book a cheap room somewhere but why bother, really? I already have reservations at MGM for the week of July 1 when I will be there with Joanna and her friends from England. This time, I'm flying solo so I might as well wing it for a change. And who knows. I might spend to first 48 hours in a game so a room would go waste. Or I might come up winner in the first session or two and be able to choose nicer accommodations. If all else fails, I could get a cheapo off-strip litterbox just to sleep and clean up. I checked online and there are plenty of places available. I swear there are so many hotels now, the town might not be able to sell out anymore. (kissed!)
But before all that, Saturday will include the afformentioned pool tourney and the home poker tourney at Paul's. In addition to the normal payouts, we are doing a point system and small percentage from each buy-in that will go to a big tourney at the end of the year. I'm currently at the top of the points race with 24 (5 for a 1st place finish, 4 for second, etc.) and a nice lead. The points will translate into extra chips in the final tourney. I think its 200 chips/point. So I'm already going to be in great shape. If things go well in the pool tourney, I won't be able to play in the first poker tourney this week so I'm kinda torn. I don't want my team to lose at pool but I really don't want to miss any poker at Paullywood Park. And with all this going on, I already had to pass on seeing Tesla at the HOB Sunset. That sucks. I guess I could have worse troubles.
This turned into quite a post. Maybe I'll be able to make a habit of it.
SEEYa
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Poker Folks
Lately, I have been more interested in the many types of people that play poker than the specifics of the games I have been playing. My results have been quite positive. But I find it interesting that I have not been focusing on my cards and hand histories when going over things in my head. I think that is at least partly good. I'm not all hung up on money.
I've been rolling along for a few weeks, playing very tight and never losing much in any session. All my wins have been significantly larger than any of my losses by session. However, that all took a turn in my last day at the office. On Monday, I played my regular game at the Bike starting at my usual time. But the crowd was a little different. There were four 5-5NLH tables running and a quick overview of each showed an overabundance of type players. That's not exactly what I like to see. The result is usually no action until two players get involved with set over set or something like that. And that described my table perfectly.
I managed to more than double my stack when I flopped bottom set against a tight player who had a big over-pair. So I had about $1100 in play when I picked up Ad-Ah in late position. I raised and four of us saw the flop. It was 8-high, all hearts. UTG lead out for $50 and the next player called. The next to act folded and I decided to raise to $150 thinking that I had the best hand. Then the original bettor moved all-in. I thought he probably had a set but may have had pocket 10s with a heart. It didn't take me too long to call. He had Jh-Th and no other hearts appeared on board. The call was for another $480. I had no problem with my play or the results at the time. In hindsight, however, I should have given the guy more credit. I figured I was most likely behind so I was gambling with what I hoped was 11 outs.
Not long after that, I saw a free flop from the blind with K-To. I lead out on a K-8-5 board and got two callers. The turn was a T. I liked that card as I didn't put either opponent on A-Q or A-J...they were in the cutoff and on the button and, being tight themselves, would have raised pre-flop with those hands...Q-J was out of the question because neither would call the flop with it. This time, there was only one caller. The river was an A. I didn't like that one because I felt I could be up against two pair. If I was, a bet would be followed by a raise that I would be committed to call as I only had $125 left. If I checked, I thought, I might only have to call $60 or $80 to find out. So I checked. The guy moved in for $150! Oops! As I replayed the hand, it was clear that he would have played it the exact same way with a set of fives. It was less likely that he would have A-8 and not at all likely that he would have any other combination to make up two-pair. But I thought I might still be good and had a good price to find out. So I called. A-8 it was. Chips; table 18!
I won a few pots with my next buy-in to help bulk up my stack. Then I landed the black Aces in the small blind. Several players had limped and I raised. 3 out of the 5 called. 7-5-2 flop, all black. I was first to act, obviously, and bet out. There was a raise from middle position and everyone else folded. I reraised and he moved all-in. This time, it would cost me my remaining $240 for a pot of over $700. Again, I should have given this guy credit because he is so tight...and I did. But there was enough of a chance that he had an over-pair like Ts or Js and 3-1 on the call so I called after exclaiming that it felt "let a set but I have no read." Ducks for bottom set and they held up. Chips; table 18!
Now normally, I would quit after dropping two buy-ins. But there were so many chips in play at the table (thanks in part to me) and I wasn't really running "bad" so I decided to stick around.
Again, I built upon my new stack when I found A-Ko on the button. An early player min-raised to $10 after a few players had limped. I had seen him do this once before with A-K in the same position. Then the cutoff raised to $25. I decided to flat call to disguise my hand. Both raisers and I went to the flop: 8-3-8. It checked around and the turn brought a K. Now the min-raiser bet out $50. The cutoff raised to $100. I thought about reraising but decided I could just call and get heads up in position against the cutoff. I really thought the min-raiser would bail out. Instead, he raised $250 more. Now I really thought he had A-K. After the cutoff folded, I was looking at a potential chop. I had $440 more and put it all in as there was one card to come and he might actually lay down A-K even for just $190 more. He was that tight. After deliberating, he called. Nothing of note on the river and he held out his cards, ready to muck. I said, "I think we're chopping," and turned mine up. He was clearly surprised as he revealed 8-6. He expected me to have him kicked, probably with a suited A. Oops again.
That was the end of the night for me. Of course, I took it all in stride. But I've been going over it ever since. I've come to two conclusions. 1) I wasn't betting to find out where I was as I should have. Instead, I was betting having convinced myself that I had the best hand. 2) Each time the money went in, I was behind. That is unusual. I tend to have way the best of it in big pots or I get away from big hands when I know I am beat. That didn't happen this night.
I was a bit shaken after that outing. It was the largest single session loss I've ever incurred. But it hasn't harmed my confidence and, I hope, it hasn't altered my game. I'm looking forward to getting back in action tonight. There should be one more week of good action at the Bike while the Winning O' The Green tourneys are running then I'll be off to Vegas for a long weekend of poker and pool.
SEEYa
I've been rolling along for a few weeks, playing very tight and never losing much in any session. All my wins have been significantly larger than any of my losses by session. However, that all took a turn in my last day at the office. On Monday, I played my regular game at the Bike starting at my usual time. But the crowd was a little different. There were four 5-5NLH tables running and a quick overview of each showed an overabundance of type players. That's not exactly what I like to see. The result is usually no action until two players get involved with set over set or something like that. And that described my table perfectly.
I managed to more than double my stack when I flopped bottom set against a tight player who had a big over-pair. So I had about $1100 in play when I picked up Ad-Ah in late position. I raised and four of us saw the flop. It was 8-high, all hearts. UTG lead out for $50 and the next player called. The next to act folded and I decided to raise to $150 thinking that I had the best hand. Then the original bettor moved all-in. I thought he probably had a set but may have had pocket 10s with a heart. It didn't take me too long to call. He had Jh-Th and no other hearts appeared on board. The call was for another $480. I had no problem with my play or the results at the time. In hindsight, however, I should have given the guy more credit. I figured I was most likely behind so I was gambling with what I hoped was 11 outs.
Not long after that, I saw a free flop from the blind with K-To. I lead out on a K-8-5 board and got two callers. The turn was a T. I liked that card as I didn't put either opponent on A-Q or A-J...they were in the cutoff and on the button and, being tight themselves, would have raised pre-flop with those hands...Q-J was out of the question because neither would call the flop with it. This time, there was only one caller. The river was an A. I didn't like that one because I felt I could be up against two pair. If I was, a bet would be followed by a raise that I would be committed to call as I only had $125 left. If I checked, I thought, I might only have to call $60 or $80 to find out. So I checked. The guy moved in for $150! Oops! As I replayed the hand, it was clear that he would have played it the exact same way with a set of fives. It was less likely that he would have A-8 and not at all likely that he would have any other combination to make up two-pair. But I thought I might still be good and had a good price to find out. So I called. A-8 it was. Chips; table 18!
I won a few pots with my next buy-in to help bulk up my stack. Then I landed the black Aces in the small blind. Several players had limped and I raised. 3 out of the 5 called. 7-5-2 flop, all black. I was first to act, obviously, and bet out. There was a raise from middle position and everyone else folded. I reraised and he moved all-in. This time, it would cost me my remaining $240 for a pot of over $700. Again, I should have given this guy credit because he is so tight...and I did. But there was enough of a chance that he had an over-pair like Ts or Js and 3-1 on the call so I called after exclaiming that it felt "let a set but I have no read." Ducks for bottom set and they held up. Chips; table 18!
Now normally, I would quit after dropping two buy-ins. But there were so many chips in play at the table (thanks in part to me) and I wasn't really running "bad" so I decided to stick around.
Again, I built upon my new stack when I found A-Ko on the button. An early player min-raised to $10 after a few players had limped. I had seen him do this once before with A-K in the same position. Then the cutoff raised to $25. I decided to flat call to disguise my hand. Both raisers and I went to the flop: 8-3-8. It checked around and the turn brought a K. Now the min-raiser bet out $50. The cutoff raised to $100. I thought about reraising but decided I could just call and get heads up in position against the cutoff. I really thought the min-raiser would bail out. Instead, he raised $250 more. Now I really thought he had A-K. After the cutoff folded, I was looking at a potential chop. I had $440 more and put it all in as there was one card to come and he might actually lay down A-K even for just $190 more. He was that tight. After deliberating, he called. Nothing of note on the river and he held out his cards, ready to muck. I said, "I think we're chopping," and turned mine up. He was clearly surprised as he revealed 8-6. He expected me to have him kicked, probably with a suited A. Oops again.
That was the end of the night for me. Of course, I took it all in stride. But I've been going over it ever since. I've come to two conclusions. 1) I wasn't betting to find out where I was as I should have. Instead, I was betting having convinced myself that I had the best hand. 2) Each time the money went in, I was behind. That is unusual. I tend to have way the best of it in big pots or I get away from big hands when I know I am beat. That didn't happen this night.
I was a bit shaken after that outing. It was the largest single session loss I've ever incurred. But it hasn't harmed my confidence and, I hope, it hasn't altered my game. I'm looking forward to getting back in action tonight. There should be one more week of good action at the Bike while the Winning O' The Green tourneys are running then I'll be off to Vegas for a long weekend of poker and pool.
SEEYa
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