Short Update

Well, I'm back from Acapulco, and it was great. I will have a long-ass trip report up in the next couple days. In the mean time, I am getting back into poker, as I didn't play at all during Spring Break (probably my longest time without playing for over a year).

Some differences that I have noticed at NL2000 are thin value bets = $$$$, and sometimes you just have to close your eyes and do what you think is right :).

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $10/$20
5 players

Stack sizes:
Greg: $2104
CO: $2007
Button: $2794
SB: $3129
BB: $387

Pre-flop: (5 players) Greg is UTG with 8d ad
Greg raises to $70, CO folds, Button raises to $220, 2 folds, Greg raises to $660, Button calls.

Flop: 3h 8c 9c ($1350, 2 players)
Greg checks, Button bets $1210, Greg raises all-in $1514, Button calls.

Turn: 6d ($4378, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $4378)


River: 5h ($4378, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $4378)


Results:
Final pot: $4378
Greg showed 8d Ad
Button showed Qc Kh

Look for that trip report in a couple days.

*Sigh* Pour it out...

Wow. Raise your hand if you want to hear some stories about an emotional roller coaster.

Although I don't want to get into finances too much, I guess I have to mention some of them. I finished up Feb at a little more than +55k from poker (and whatever more from rakeback/bonuses, prob about 3k). So, for March, I decided to finally step up to the plate and play 10/20 (and 10/25 on UB).

I immediately started running hot, and playing extremely well. In fact, I have noticed something about my game. When I am running hot I am unstoppable and make awesome plays, and dirty calldowns. However, sometimes when I am not running good, I start playing poorly. In fact, today I donated two buyins because I wasn't running good and tried to make something happen. In the future I absolutely need to turn the computer off if I even begin to get frustrated.

I started the month blazingly quickly, working up to about +80k in maybe 7 days. Since then, I have obviously cooled off, but also not played well. Currently, I am at +55 on the month (coincidentally enough), and I will not really be playing much in the next week, as it is Spring Break and I will be going to Acapulco with the gf and some friends. Actually we leave Saturday (today I guess) at 5. I can't wait.

So, I think something that high stakes has taught me is that total playing ability doesn't matter nearly as much as how you are playing at that time. When I am playing my A game, I am better than pretty much everyone I encounter. However, I make stupid plays, and play my C game, and I am destined to fail. Thusly, I think that I am going to do in the future is stop playing after 1 big mistake, or 2 small mistakes. This can be as small as a bad call preflop, or raising with air when I can't really rep a hand that is going to fold out my opponent's, and obviously as big as getting stacked due to a boneheaded play.

Actually, I just had an epiphany. When I am not playing my best, but still playing in a capable manner, I will just play NL1000 or NL600. When I am playing my A game, I will continue to play NL2000/2500. As much negativity is in this post, I will give myself credit for only sitting in games where I think I have a decent edge, which means leaving some NL2000 games where my edge is small, and variance large. Chances are, there is an NL1000 game where it is more +EV to sit.

I'm very excited for Mexico, and I think it is important for me to stick with NL2000. However, I have a feeling the amount of hours I will be playing NL2000 for will be significantly reduced. I'll update this blog most likely after Acapulco, where I should have some crazy ass stories. I'm considering just going crazy and spending a lot of money.

Greg