Going On Tilt And Playing Bigger Games

I really have to control myself. I went on mega-tilt the other night and crept up to the .25/.50 & $1/$2 levels. No worries though - I survived. But, I made a huge mistake by doing that and put a larger portion of my bankroll at risk while already on a downswing.

The play at those levels is really not that much different than the lower levels. One key thing is that if you are not used to those levels, you may find some of the bets and stacks intimidating. The only way around this is to see bets not as monetary values, but multiples of the blinds or pots: he bet the pot, instead of he bet $100; she bet 4x the blind instead of a $8 raise...etc. This way your emotions are not part of your game.

With all that being said, I am now back to the correct table dictated by my bankroll.

Experience, A Great Teacher

My Uncle used to tell me that if I was smart I'd learn from other people's experiences instead of making those same mistakes myself. Being told that at a very young age my naive mind reasoned that without my very own experiences I would somehow be cheating myself out of experiencing life. I promptly vowed to not learn from others and to make my own mistakes. Brilliant. Thankfully, I am more wiser than I was, but while my Uncle could not be more correct there are some things that you must experience - even if you know about it from others! Gasp!!! Let me explain.

Put simply, reading and comprehension do not go hand in hand - you can read something, but not necessarily grasp the concept (sometimes we have apparent meaning and more deeper layers of meaning, but let's leave that out of the equation).

Where exactly that I read this I am not sure, but I am sure that I've read it a couple of times here and there; it goes something like this: when you play don't be concerned about winning or losing, just play correctly and the money will follow.

Now, I have to admit that I never fully understood this. What I mean is how can someone play and not be concerned about the money? We are all there to win not the game, but the money! If I wanted to play a game correctly I would go play chess and never wager a dollar.

This past weekend however, after losing half my bankroll, the next day it dawned on me that playing pots and trying to win the money and not lose blinded me from correct play. I was in an auto-aggressive mode where I couldn't understand why my AQ would constantly lose to a 2 or a 4, or why when a hand screamed a straight I did not fold and thought I was being bluffed.

It was an expensive weekend, but I learned a valuable lesson that will save me money in the future. My Uncle was right. Too bad, I did not grasp the entire concept the first time and had to experience this for myself.

Wicked Chops Reader Appreciation Freeroll

I busted out of the freeroll about 2 hours into it; from 1500 participants I felted around 232.

I had about 10,000 in chips and was playing real well. With A 2, I mini'ed from the button around 200/400 blinds; SB folded and BB being deeper than me called w/ 25,000 in chips.

Board came 9, 9, A. Giving me 2 pair, I bet the pot. With some thought I was smooth called. Turn was a K giving me a flush draw to my two pair. I read him for a 9, if I was wrong then a higher A. I had outs though and pushed, he called. River was a brick. Bust and then bed.

Check here for the winner.

Wicked Chops Freeroll

Good thing: I am registered (you can too). Prize = $3,200 seat to the Borgata Winter Poker Open.

Bad thing: It's 9pm EST and already 95 people are registered (max 3,ooo sumthin').

While tournaments are not currently 'my thing,' as I prefer cash games better, an opportunity like this I cannot pass up. I remember my other tournament adventure, but 1st was only $100 - I will have to get plenty of rest beforehand.

Poker Culture

There is a current poker culture, no matter how much I close my eyes to it on this blog. I realize if I am to properly document my poker growth, then I have to look beyond me into our current poker state:

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

-John Donne

While I am not going to cover every event, I will touch upon some things that either affect me directly or indirectly, or things that occupy my mind.

That being said, here are two blurbs on the latest:

1. A Pennsylvania judge ruled that poker is a game of skill; the Poker Player's Alliance should wipe off their newspaper; a small step in an uphill battle against the UIEGA
2. Looks like I'm going to have to buy this book (Elements Of Poker), as everyone is talking about it.

Defining Moments

Success is not an independent event, but a result of decisions and actions that have transpired over a period of time. If you are lucky, there's a special moment when you have a revelation of sorts and something clicks in your head (aka., 'aha moment') resulting in a quantum leap of your understanding and outlook.

About 11 months ago, I was fortunate to be reading Card Player Magazine (more fortunate was that it's delivered free to my job and I know the guy in the mail room). So, after reading this article my game was never the same. I stopped playing my cards and started to play my opponent's cards. HUGE! It really opened up my game and it was never the same. It's titled Three no-limit hold'em 'giveaways' and should be read by anyone serious about poker.

Going Down, But Not Out Of The Show

"I thought you were dead" - MRFOXWOODS (a player who hadn't seen me for awhile).

I have to admit that I am very happy with my ability to 'dip' down a level (or two) when things are not going right. Some bad play and a ton of bad luck can jeopardize anyone's bankroll. And minus the tilt factor + bankroll management one will survive to flop quads another day.

It's happened to me again, that is I went on a huge cooler this past weekend and lost a ton. And again, I managed to make most of it back putting me in rebuild mode for this past week.

While playing around three different levels for several weeks, I can't say that I will be committed to any one level: I've played hands that can barely pay for a newspaper and others that can buy an iPod; I've run hot and cold; been in a good mood and bad; played against fish and sharks. What is trying to be said here is that my level is fluctual depending on myself and the game (i.e., table selection). Why pigeon hole myself to one game at one level, when there may be something juicer above or below?

Next entry: Goals.

Happy New Year

Well, it's the new year and a lot of blogs by tradition are publishing year-in-review posts. Not I...don't think I've been poker blogging long enough to do one of those, plus I just don't want to be cliche.

There is some news however! I have managed to make most of my bankroll back (95%) on Bodog from a previous huge loss (45%), keeping me ahead by a huge percentage. Also, I've managed to make half of my roll back on PokerStars, keeping my losses down. I'm happy about both situations.

Another thing I can reflect on is this blog as a whole. Although, I'm used to a large readership base from my previous endeavor, the minuscule traffic here does not phase me one bit - proving to myself that this blog is a fit for my needs and not the masses.

Have a great 2009!

Hardships With Moving Up

Ever since I've moved up on Bodog to .25NL, I've suffered some huge coolers. What would happen is that I would lose 30, make 1o back, and then lose 20 again. My trips would lose to a fullhouse maybe 3 times for some huge hands and I've suffered some bad coolers as well ever since I tried to move up levels. My play has been very good, but unfortunately bad luck is over-riding my play (conversely, my play at the same level on PokerStars has been huge).

It's been a very frustrating experience, but I remain untilted. If I lose the $$$, I've allocated for this level I will move back down and rebuild. By the end of this weekend I should know where I stand.

Busted Flush Draw & Ass Ended Straight

Lately, bets are flying all over the tables. Yesterday's session, got me out of a slump I've been having for the past few days.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (3 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($15.50)
SB ($33.75)
Hero (BB) ($22.60)




Preflop: Hero is BB with J, 10
Button raises to $0.50, SB calls $0.40, Hero calls $0.25
Flop: ($1.50) 9, 8, 7 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets $1.25, SB calls $1.25, Hero calls $1.25
Turn: ($5.25) 6 (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets $2.50, SB raises to $6, Hero raises to $20.85 (All-In), Button calls $11.25 (All-In), SB calls $14.85
River: ($60.70) 2 (3 players, 2 all-in)
Total pot: $60.70 | Rake: $1

Results:
Button mucked 9, A (one pair, nines).
SB had 10, K (straight, ten high).
Hero had J, 10 (straight, Jack high).

Outcome: Hero won $59.70

I made the HUGE overbet for a couple of reasons: to protect against the flush draw/at the same time making it expensive if they want to try to draw out on me; I was hoping the SB had a 10 and would have to call.

What's In An Icon?

I'm not too much into poker player icons where a site may let you choose from a predetermined list, or allows you to upload one yourself. But given the opportunity, I will select something.

Some will tell you that you can gain a lot of information from a players icon, stating that you can get some kind of indication of who's behind the remote mouse: an aggressive player may choose to show something violent or intimidating; or a softer player may chose to have their kid or dog (my dog happens to be my PokerStars icon). Some choose not to show anything for various reasons, but even when not choosing one may say something like you don't want to give away information.

I wouldn't read too much into any of this as some players intentionally try to mislead others, proving you can't rely on any reads you may think you have from a picture, and simply becuase sometimes a pic is just a pic. The best thing to do in getting a read on another player is betting patterns, and what have when they show down.

The below is my player icon; read into it if you may...

UB Gives Pot To Hellmuth Who Mucked!

Go read how UB gave Phil Hellmuth a pot who mucked his hand to a player who had 3 of a kind, with Phil acting casually. Epic.

Stage #XXXXXXX: Holdem (1 on 1) Normal $200/$400 - 2008-12-20 04:15:23 (ET)
Table: FIR AVE (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 4 - PHILHELLMUTH ($4495 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOUBLEBALLER ($7494 in chips)
PHILHELLMUTH - Posts small blind $100
DOUBLEBALLER - Posts big blind $200
*** POCKET CARDS ***
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $300 to $400
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $400 to $600
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $400 to $800
DOUBLEBALLER - Calls $200
*** FLOP *** [Js Kc Kh]
DOUBLEBALLER - Checks
PHILHELLMUTH - Bets $200
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $400 to $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $200
*** TURN *** [Js Kc Kh] [2h]
DOUBLEBALLER - Bets $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Raises $800 to $800
DOUBLEBALLER - Raises $800 to $1200
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $400
*** RIVER *** [Js Kc Kh 2h] [9c]
DOUBLEBALLER - Bets $400
PHILHELLMUTH - Calls $400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DOUBLEBALLER - Shows [Kd Qh] (Three of a kind, kings)
PHILHELLMUTH - Mucks
PHILHELLMUTH Collects $5599 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($5600) | Rake ($1)
Board [Js Kc Kh 2h 9c]
Seat 4: PHILHELLMUTH (dealer) (small blind) won Total ($5599) HI: ($5599) [Mucked] [2s 10s]
Seat 6: DOUBLEBALLER (big blind) HI:lost with Three of a kind, kings [Kd Qh - B:Kh,P:Kd,B:Kc,P:Qh,B:Js]

Unbelievable. I would like to play there b/c the play is so bad, but in light of tihs and the whole superuser scandal, I'll play elsewhere (looks like I don't have to look so far as there are much more worse play at PokerStars lately - former UB'ers?).

Stability

The way I see it there are no guarantees in the stock market, but I will push all-in with the nuts. And they call poker gambling.

$500 Freeroll

Being that I was amped for the Blogger's Tournament, but was unable to make the bodonkament becuase of registration issues, my fingers were pretty itchy for a challenge. Luckily, I found the $500 freeroll on Bodog starting at (unfortunately), 9pm EST.

After some grinding and luck I ran deep somewhere between 70 to 90 people around 12:55 with 78,000 in chips.

Knowing my stack, knowing the time, knowing the amount of players left, and knowing what time I had to be up left me at odds end if I really wanted to continue, but I couldn't quit now.

Then it happened.

About 1:30 am, I lost about 1/3 of my stack on a play I know I should of made AQ suited (the second one in a row), against a all-in reraise...KK. Another, was my preflop raise with JJ and a call, with a K on the board...he had it - I wasn't listening to the little voice. That was about another 20,000 and left me SS.

With my mind going toward the side of mush, and my enthusiasm wailing, and knowing what I would have to do to rebuild I knew it could easily run past 3am...I decided to have fun and push.

I busted out at 66th...63rd was in the money. It was a good experience and fun. No regrets.