Been there, done that...

<-$1635 >

...and I didn't like it one bit. This is a very bad post to start being timely again, but I guess I have to sometime.

Another horrific night for me and my non-existent bank roll. It started off decent and it turned into a roller coaster which I could handle. Down to 100, back to 160, back to 80, then 120...etc. I finally lost it with Kings to a back and forth raising match with apparently AQ...all in pre-flop, hit his ace, the rest is history.

I rebought and built my stack back to 600. Lost a chunk of it on a hand where I had queens and had to fold to my opponent putting me all in on top of the 100 I had just bet. I folded. Straight possibility on the board. I dwindled down and got trapped badly on a hand where I had K10 of spades. The flop came A A 7 with two spades. We checked it down to the river where the river came a deuce of spades. I bet 20, he made it 40, I made it 80. He went all in and I instantly called only to see him flip A 7. Stinger.

I proceeded to get 100 more out of pure gamble and shoved with pocket 10's and doubled up. I then caught a flush on the river which also gave me about 1/2 my stack more. Up to 300. Feeling good about it we played a few rounds and I looked down at A8. I raised to 20 preflop and both called. The flop came 5 6 7 rainbow. I bet 40 and one folded, The next person made it 130... I had 200 left in front of me and I shoved. He instantly called. The turn was a 4. The river was a 3. 8 high straight. He flips 8 9. ....I'm beyond myself. A bad night overall. Apparently I should be used to nights like this seeing as I have them quite too fucking often. Ha. I'll bounce back, first I need to collect some debts from people so I actually have some $ to donk off as I have gotten accustomed to. Maybe I can pull off an upset once in a while.

<-$2135>

Definitely feeling like the bug now.

<-$825>

Apparently after a positive that I was too tired to write about I had three negatives that I was even more reluctant to write about, therefore the posts were put on the back burner to the point that I kept forgetting about them. As time passed by I can't remember what happened night-to-night. I definitely need to try to get back to writing on a daily basis like I used to. Obviously I'm in a deeper hole than I was, the main reason being suckouts. The other reason is me being susceptible to going on tilt. In my last session I was having a good night and was up 3x when the place I was playing at combined the two short handed tables they had into a good table. Unfortunately I couldn't handle the gamble a couple of players brought with them; especially when one hand put me on severe tilt. I usually am good about avoiding tilt, not this night. AQ suited vs 105 off. I raise to 45 preflop, called by two. Flop Q 10 blank, I bet 50 to which the Asian (lol) shoves for 50 more, I call he shows the 10 5 and catches a 10 on the river. He proceeded to suck out on a couple other people before he lost all his stack. I have said this time and time again, you absolutely WANT people like that at the table in the long run. It just sucks a lot when you are the victim of the pre-implosion of their stack.

Let me rewind and see if I can remember some key hands in the downhill battle that I've endured lately.

In a nutshell:

+550 - Really good night inside and out. Only bought in once and lasted till game break. My peak was exactly a thousand stack which I gave back 200ish on to the same person I took it from near the end.

-600 - I got in very deep this game, was in deeper than the 600 I lost - with the last buy in I managed to get a few measly dollars back and 'only' be down that much on the night.

-160 - This night I started of playing superbly. I built my stack up fast but not with monster hands. Numerous times I played the person in the early going and was correct. I won one big hand with just a pair of aces and shitty kicker. I had my stack up to 700 a few hours in and thought it was going to be a great night when I ran into two hands. The first one was Aces, of course. People overplay big hands like that, I have learned not to. I made sure only a premium hand (or so I thought) would see a flop. It was raised to 20 which a bunch of people called preflop, 6 I think. I made it 125 total. I got one caller. The flop came king high and a bet of 40 was made into me and I raised it to 150 which was quickly called. He only had 40 behind... I didnt understand the call. The turn came a king and I knew I was beat...I still bet the 40 ...just in case lol. He shows KQ off suit. I struggled to see the value of calling the 105 additional preflop, but I still cannot. This made a big dent in my stack which would see its demise on the next hand. I look at AQ suited and make it 25 preflop, called by 2. Flop came A 7 A. Great! I can get back on track! ... not so fast.... I bet out 50, and my opponent tanks. He puts a stick out there, the other guy folds. I push over the top all in for about another 60 and he cannot put his chips in fast enough. He flips pocket sevens and I head for the door disgusted not even thinking about rebuying. 700 poof in 2 hands.

-600 - This latest cry for help to the poker gods I already partially told you about in the whining intro ^ up there. I was in control of my table for a long time and when it combined with the other I took one bad beat and unraveled. I bought back in and got some of the $ back when he left, still leaving a hole in my pocket.

When all the math is done I'm scared to even look at the number that I will calculate.

-825+550 = -275

-275 - 1360 = -1635

*gulp*

<-$1635>

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug

<-$1225>

Whoa it's not daylight out yet, why am I leaving the poker house? Oh I got busted; go figure. Back to back ugly beats gave me the nudge to call it an early night. Last night was a good one in contrast. 

Last night I felt like I slowly took control of the table. It was full of people I knew and I could talk to and talk shit to. I laid low until I hit a flush on the turn and busted top two pair to push me over the double up threshold. Then I just started playing the people and when I got good cards I would raise and get called. Things went well and I was pleased. My peak was when I was sitting on a grand but I donated it back where I got it from within the last hour. In for 2, out with 760 after two hands of Mexican sweat at the end. 

Tonight I had AK several times. The game was 1/2/5 and I quickly noticed that one pot could make you or break you. I gained a large chip stack quickly and I thought I was easing into my talkative mood again where I would be able to take control of the table. It happened for a short time but I kept running into one opponent who seemed to have my number. Once on a big raise preflop with queens he flopped a king and I donated a little more on the c-bet only because he did not have much behind.

I was able to win three hands in a row to put me at my peak of nearly 700 when I had KJ, KK, and QQ hold up back to back to back. I had been in an awakened slumber 'till then. All awake and ready to play, about 10 hands later I look down at AA in my big blind. It was called around to me and I made it 25 to go. It was minraised to 50 and I proceeded to make it 125. The flop came King high and I thought for a moment my opponent might have flopped a set of kings because he rapidly called my 100 bet. The turn came another king which veered me off the pocket kings and I made the mistake of going all in. I had him covered by about 150. I was instantly called by KQ off. I couldn't have put him on that calling my re-raise preflop. It stung.

I still had my buyin in front of me of 160ish. The very next hand I looked down at AQoff. In the small blind this time I make it 20 on top of the minraise someone made to 10. Two callers and the flop comes A 7 A.

I bet out 25 and after alot of acting the first opponent makes it 50. After the other person folds I go all in and get snap called by (what else could it be) pocket 7's. Bam Bam my seven towers fell in two hands. 

I believe if I had not made the mistake of shipping most of my stack to the QK with my untimely all in on the turn, I would have given whatever would have been still standing in front of me to the flopped sevens full.

Two nights, 400 profit. It has been worse ;)

<-$825>

Sit down in that chair right there...

<-$1510>

...let me show you how it's done. Let me show you how to blow your whole stack ;)

I don't believe it myself but I came out of this day/night ahead. "only" almost three hundred but I'm devastated.

I'll try to make it quick because I need some sleep. The day began at noon on Saturday and ended at 5am on Sunday.

Pre-tourney cash game - yield +$85 due to final hand semi-bluff with top pair. +$85

$6k freeroll - 10 way final table chop for $600 each (equivalent of 4th place). +$685 (+600)

Post-tourney cash game. I made 3 sick calls, one with Qhigh & won a $300 pot, one with Ahigh and won a smaller pot and the 3rd busted me. I put a guy on a flush draw, so I raise his 20$ bet to all in for $102 with bottom pair. I have A4, 4 on the turn. He calls with ace high and rivers his gut shot straight. +$485 (-200)

I drive elsewhere while cooling off the steam and at this location I start with rivering a boat and I didnt look back for a long time. I owned the table with table talk and everything I did worked my way. I built my stack to $1100 from 2. Then we hit the bad beat!! The loser got $1200, winner got $950, and $120 per person for table share. Up to $1200. Then this nice hand occurs: 

I dont remember preflop details, maybe $20 pre, but the flop was checked around (mistake #1) Flop was Q 10 7. The turn came a 2 of spades. Checked around again to the button who bets $200, call, call, then me. I have top top with the nut flush draw - wow. I have to call. The river hits nothing. Once again checked to the button who bet 200 and we all mucked. Button had a set of ducks.

Two hands later I look down at aces. Raised to 12 before me, I make it 50 to go. One caller. I flop A 9 9 for a boat. I check & 80 is bet into me. I call. The turn makes a flush, I check. Its checked back. The river is blank. I'm first to act and I bet out 145 which is rapidly called. I got my $200 back and then some.

Aaaaaand for the main event: 

I raise $20 pre, 4 callers. The flop comes 6clubs 7? 9clubs. One guy goes all in for 190, fold, fold, all in for 700. Here I am, sitting on 1250. I apologize to the table and take my sweet time. In my monologue to the table I was able to pin point exactly my opponents' hands. 8 5 off (190ai) & 10 8 clubs (700ai). I wish I could have put them both on flush draws and noticed how few outs I really had. I was probably blinded by the amount of $ and maybe a little greed. It still doesn't take away from the fact that I had 7 outs with two cards to go, to win 900 + preflop pot. I had A J clubs and I called. I'm sure this post would have been titled differently if a club had come. 

I unraveled from that point on and sad to say I blew it all. Never again, never again. When is the right time to leave? How do you know when you have enough in front of you to leave? If you're a double up and go kind of person, you never see the possible highs. I have had plenty of highs, but also plenty of highs that came crashing down because I stayed. I went in on a draw, knowing I was behind. It is easier to let go of a hand when you know what you might have won when you didnt lose any in the process. 

I took a chance, shoot me now. 

No, really.

<-$1225>

(at my peak I had 1275, that could be a +50... lol ok ok now shoot me.)

Ya, no title. Just roll with it.

<-$830>

Sigh... so my updates have been more and more sporadic. I'm sorry.

In my defense: 1) I have been playing less 2) I was sick and am having a relapse during my days off effective today 3) I have been very busy with work and coming home late/early has made me crash instantly to be rested for work. All excuses aside, I only have 3 sessions to report on.

The first session was positive. I had tripled my stack and went on a losing streak so for once I chose to cash out 2x. +200

The second session was ridiculous. I admit fault but not at the poker table, my fault was in location and time of the game I chose. The game was short handed to begin with, with a few house players, I ran into a straddle that caught KK in the hole and was snapped off. He soon cashed out and there was little to no money left on the table to get my losses back. -300

Tonight was a night of "can you hear that noise? Yeah its the you sucking, sucking out on me". 

I bought in for 200 and got healthy slowly with good plays. I lost a few hands and was back to my original stack when I got snapped. I had AK and flopped an ace with a possible straight out there. I believe A 4 5. I bet semi-big knowing my opponent has 'calling you down' tendencies. $40 - call. The turn was blank, no redraws; 10?. I bet 60, call. River 2. I go all in for about $85, insta-call; "I have a straight" - "Of course you fucking do." With 3 4 nontheless. Nice gutshot hit.

Rebuy, 200. Once again I struggle but finally go on a run where I take control of the table, start talking more and get in a fun groove. I get back to even and then some. Here I go running head first into a wall aka aces. I looked down at AQ with the A of spades. It was $20 pre with 4 people. The flop was Q 5 5; two spades. I bet 20, it got raised to 50. Fold then I call. The turn was a blank spade. I bet 40, he makes it 75 total. I call. The river was blank again, no spade. He shoves and I call the $139 not knowing he had that much behind. You already know what he had. This hand dragged me back to my second buyin.

I didnt believe it but I once again clawed my way back to even and I looked down at one king. I looked down at another king after that. Before it gets to me there is a raise to 17 which I make 50 straight and my opponent (heads up now) goes all in for $150. I obviously call, he has aces. I lose. 

I was now down to 150ish and looked down at an undisclosed high pocket pair. I raised preflop to 15. Flop comes 10 J 7 rainbow. I bet 21, one call. turn is blank low. I bet 40, same call. The river is a K. I probably dumbly go all in for the remaining less than a stick. Called and I stared at AK as it was flipped. Really? Flipped thats what I was, just like the cards. Why would you fucking call me down? no idea. I was steaming and people were egging me on to rebuy...blah blah blah.

Oh why not? Steam 300 more away why dontcha'. Fourth hand maybe, I got kings again. It was a straddled pot. I raise to $25 as the first raiser, two calls including the button. The flop came 8 5 8. I bet 40 as utFg. (under the fucking gun, bout to get shot) called the 40 by one. The turn was a 10. I tell him I didnt like the way he smoothly called after hollywooding for a while. He's only got about 120 more so I go all in and he calls at a snail-like pace. That got under my skin. Obviously he flips over an 8, I was at least expecting 810 suited or something... no... nope... K8 off. umm ???????? 'nuff said.

Down to 70ish I'm way over my head in tilt. I see 4 5 diamonds and raise to 20 preflop, 3 calls. Flop was 5 4 10 with a diamond. I go all in and the guy who had K8 called. I river a 5, although apparently I didn't need it as he claimed he called with ace high. Sittin on 200, I do my tilty thing a few more times, raise to 20 and see that I am unable to hit anything on the flops that follow. I linger down to 100 and the game breaks, yay, at least I couldnt spew any more money with no game. Good job me. -600

Okay, let's tally that up. +200 + -300 + -580 = -680; sigh. Up next: big freeroll - hopefully with at least a cash. The sun is up, I have to go back into my cocoon, hasta.

<-$1510>

Dude! Where's my update?!?!

<-$990>

Whoa! Have I been neglecting posting my sessions or what...?

You guys didn't really think I took a break from playing, right? I can't go a couple of days without hanging out at a poker table, let alone what the span between my posts has been.

The update will be positive. I think. I have to retrace my steps since the last post. I have had four sessions, therefore three posts missed. 

First session: -$300 

= -$1290

Second session:  +$25

= -$1265

Third session: +$600 

= -$665

Fourth session: -$165

= -$830
_The first session loss was comprised of two main hands. I was on tilt and decided to re-raise someone's little $12 bump to 40, call and reraise to me, where I shipped it since I had little more than the re-raise and a call behind me. JJ (me) vs KK vs another person's JJ. Needless to say I lost that. I bought back in for 100 and lost it on pocket 9's with the board all lower than the 9. I bet on the flop somewhere about 20 or 25 and got called by a gutshot who caught on the turn. I bet again all-in and lost.

__The second session is a blur. I just remember that it was a slight positive after playing for a long long time.

___The third session was just the other night. I was in for 400 and I kept getting sucked out on. I walked my first buy-in loss and bought back in just in time to see jacks. I took one person out with them and gained 70 on the  first hand. Soon after I looked at 77. Flop showed me a set and I checked. Heads up, 20 was bet into me and I called. The turn did not threaten my hand & I checked again. My opponent bet 20, I raised it to 60 fairly quickly, he said all-in to which I insta-called. Doubled it up to 500 and started finally feeling good about my progress. I would soon get sucked out on again with Kings and then Jacks, where I put all my money (or put my opponent all in) in good on the flop and they caught runner runner. I got my revenge a few dealers later when I looked down at ladies and flopped top set with a diamond draw out there. I was in middle position and raised it to $145 after the first person bet 60. As I looked for the next person to act, I get surprised by a person in between who I did not know was in the hand. He calls, fold, fold. The turn is an ace, not affecting the flush draw. I go all in and get instantly called. I just hope he does not have pocket aces. This turned into a huge pot since we were about evenly matched with 600 in front of us. It turns out he just had a flush draw and did not catch. Phew. I flirted with the $1200 mark all night and finally started playing very loosely in the end when we became short handed. I cashed out an even 1000.

____Tonight's session was long, quite resembling the third session. We ended the game when the sun was up in the sky at 8am. It was a fun session though. I cannot recall many if any hands. For the first several hours, while I dug myself a hole, we played the usual hold'em. In the closing 6 hours, we played omaha hi/lo mostly, however, it was dealer's choice. I was down 300 with about 100 still sitting in front of me when we made the switch. I hadn't played omaha in a long time and it took me loosing the last 100 and taking the third buy down to 80$ to finally get my wits back. I brought the $80 all the way back to $450. It was worth the up and down to regain my omaha knowledge which was stored in the back of my brain.
<-$830>

Can't touch this, na na na na, na na, can't touch this

<-$690>

Three wins in a row, booya; at mexican sweat that is. At least I can console myself that it is a kind of poker.

As for hold'em, I was kind enough to give back my winnings from last session. Mexican sweat did allow me to be about $50 in profit over the course of the two days.

The night seemed to get off on the right track when I rapidly hit a king high flush on the turn after creating a nice sized pot for myself just for such a case. I made a big bet on the river and my opponent almost folded the nut flush thinking I had a full house; but he didn't. His call halved my original buy in which dwindled down to 60. I stayed in that range for a prolonged period of time, winning and losing pots back and forth. I finally was able to double up on a flopped set, but the recently procured chips headed to another player soon when I rivered two pair vs his flopped set. I soon get tired of being the short stack and push all my chips in on a raised pot to 12. The one person I did not take under account shoves over the top with a higher pair than me and drags the pot when it is all said and done. This game was now down to 4 players and they chose to break.

I decided to try my luck at another game and once again bought in for the standard 200. After a while of fluctuation I ended up losing my buyin on a full out bluff and got another 200. In for quite a bit, I slowed down and tried to only play premium hands. About an hour later I played 7 9 of hearts. I flopped a flush draw and turned an open ended straight. I led out on every street and was delighted to see the jack on the river which gave me a straight and the second nuts; only KQ would beat me with broadway. I was able to double up on this hand since my opponent also flopped a flush draw and rivered two pair. It would have been the end of me if my flush had shown up. I stayed around the same stack size for the rest of the night until near the end when I went on a slight bad run. I was flopping hands but my opponents would have me outkicked or just a slightly better hand. Unfortunately I dove back down to my original second buy in plus some loose change. A few people had gotten busted by now and we were down to three handed so we decided to end it. Of course after a couple of hands of mexican sweat with the loose change at risk. I took down both hands giving me back a little over 100 of my first buy in. It was an odd night but I am glad one of my friends that had been in a slump made a very hefty profit, at my expense in some instances.

<-$990>