I run bad

I run my Streak for the Cash up to 10 and then Buffalo can't finish at home against the lowly Browns. Sad. So I have 99 run into 1010 on a board of 245 and then my streak goes to shit after I make an impressive run.  

How else can I run bad?  I guess the rest of my life is running pretty well.  My computer freaks out from time to time but mostly it has been running smoothly as of late.  I hasn't happened in a bad way lately - the way that requires multiple restarts and battery removal -  just the good way where all it requires is a quick restart.  

The more I think about it, the more I realize that running bad is a state of mind.  It's a function of your ability to think the worst of yourself.  I think that is how poker players are.  They are eternal pessimists.  If they get it in with the best of it, they immediately ponder how they could possibly lose it.  I think that way.  But why?  All you can do as a poker player is get it in while you have the best of it.  While that does not happen every time, it does happen most of the time.  If that was not true, I would not be a winning player.  Once I get it in with the best of it, there is nothing else to do.  

Tonight,  I thought my bet of Buffalo was +EV and I still think it is.  I would make the same bet again if I had to.  That's all I can do.  If this one time it turns out to be -EV, then so be it.  I can do no more.  

This is the attitude I need to really concentrate on.  Results do not matter.  Decisions are the most important part of anything.  I try to make the best decisions, the most +EV spots I can get.  If the results don't follow, I have to remember that they eventually will.  Stick to the grind. Stick to what you do.  If what you do is +EV then you get +V, even if you feel you are running bad.

Things I Do

What do I do well? I thought I would make a list.

I know correct hand ranges for opening the pot in and out of position.

I know how to attack weakness with bluffs/semi-bluffs.

I know how to take someone down to Value Town.

I know how to play in position against weak opponents.

I know how to properly size bets depending on situations.

I know how to determine hand strength.

I know what it takes to stay mentally tough.

I know how to exploit my tight image.

I know how to release a hand.

I know how to switch gears.

I know how to translate board texture and table texture.

I have good money management.

What do I need to work on?

I need to not let my emotions control my actions.

I need to lose all distractions affecting my play.

I need to learn to pick off bluffs.

I need to avoid getting bluffed.

I need to become more aggressive in position.

I need to not worry about my plus/minus and concentrate on each hand.

I need to get to level 3.5/4 thinking.

I need to get finances in order to play optimally.

I need to be more patient when donkeys go on heaters.

I need to see the big picture while in the trenches.

I need to not involve other people when I'm upset.

I need to realize that Rome was not built in a day.

A revelation? This all happened in like 15 min.

I just pwnd .05/.1 and I'm not sure why.  I had $3.45 left in my FullTilt account and just ran it up to $11.85 in 20 minutes.  I spent some time watching CR/Stox videos and am already feeling the effects. I want to be the best I can possibly be and I may be on my way.  I am very excited for Monday.

Full Tilt Poker $0.05/$0.10 $3 Cap No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BB): $11.35
UTG: $4.65
MP: $8.70
CO: $6.70
BTN: $5.85
SB: $3.00

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is BB with A 8
1 fold, MP calls $0.10, 2 folds, SB calls $0.05, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.30) K 2 9 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP checks

Turn: ($0.30) 8 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.30, MP calls $0.30, SB calls $0.30

River: ($1.20) 7 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP bets $0.80, SB folds, Hero calls $0.80

Final Pot: $2.80
Hero shows A 8 (a pair of Eights)
MP shows 3 J (King Jack high)
Hero wins $2.55

I Pwn MSNL

Full Tilt Poker $0.05/$0.10 $3 Cap No Limit Hold'em - 4 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BB): $9.15
CO: $6.55
BTN: $7.80
SB: $6.30

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is BB with 8 Q
2 folds, SB calls $0.05, Hero raises to $0.30, SB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.60) 6 8 6 (2 players)
SB bets $0.40, Hero raises to $1, SB raises to $2.70, Hero calls $1.70

Turn: ($6.00) 7 (2 players)

River: ($6.00) 4 (2 players)

Villain mucks Kc10d

PWN

Full Tilt Poker $0.05/$0.10 $3 Cap No Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BTN): $6.35
SB: $5.15
BB: $5.65
UTG: $5.70
CO: $7.25

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is BTN with Q J
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.35, 1 fold, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($0.75) 2 Q Q (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.50, BB calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.75) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

River: ($1.75) 9 (2 players)
BB bets $0.10, Hero raises to $0.80, BB calls $0.70(AcKc)

How about a blog?

So I have been avoiding blogging because I've been getting run over lately. I mean hard. Get hit by a car type of running over.

I had A8 against AA on a board of A82

I had JJ on a board of QJQ and lost to KQ when a K spiked.

I had second nut flush with J8h on a board with the Ah and Kh.

I had JJ on a board of Jh10c9h8h.

I had 89d on a board of 10d Jh 5d 3h Qc.

And now on the other side of it all, I had two set of Jacks today.  One was a double up and the other was  a big pot.  I also raised with 35s and flopped 246.  Sickening.

So what is poker?  What's it all about?  I've been doing this for 5 months now and wow, what a roller coaster.  I have had some crazy swings.  And the thing is, I didn't have any swings for the first month, my best month.  It was the month of 16 winning sessions in a row.  I would love to make a run like that again.  I could not agree more with the saying that playing poker for a living is a hard way to make an easy living.  I mean that is truth.  This is no walk in the park.  I have been hit in the face with some tough situations.  I have been on the highest of highs and more recently the lowest of lows.  I lost 3 buyins in one session just last week.  It was brutal.  I was in the most unlucky of spots.  

I am not sure if this is true but I think playing 9 handed does something to poker.  I have been a lot less consistent since switching to the Horseshoe, where they play 9 handed only AND, probably more importantly, have better players.  But having better players cannot explain everything because I still consider myself the best player at my table at any given time.  I have just taken some brutal beats.  

Perseverance and mental toughness is something you must have to player poker.  There was this guy at the table today who was livid, and I mean LIVID, every time something bad happened to him.  Imagine being in the BB and having the guy next to you straddle.  This made him livid.  Imagine having to fold after you limp because someone raised.  This made him livid.  I raised once and he folded while showing only his middle finger to the table.  He must have rebought 5 times and everytime he lost he mumbled 'son of a bitch' under his breath, threw his cards into the muck, punched the felt, and had the greatest look on his face.  He was obviously the biggest donk ever 3.0.  I kept laughing.  It was extremely amusing.