more on mindset

As per my last post I was hoping to play alot of MTT's and go on a huge grind. I booked a vegas trip for New Years 2010, so time to fund it.

I made a $500 deposit and got off to a pretty bad start, dropping a $100ish or so and got pretty dispirited, even though I've lost a lot more in the past, I'm not earning at the moment so the money hurts a bit more. I turned to the cash tables and had a few sessions where I played far too long (4 tabling for 5-6 hours isn't great for the eyes) and played very badly and too high, a bad combination. Needless to say it hasn't been my finest poker week.

I'm not really in the right frame of mind to be playing my best - I'm on a long break from my degree and not working, so without income. The added pressure doesn't seem to be working... Playing for 5 hours and then getting two outted for the CL on the bubble doesn't do much for your mood either and I'm not sure I can take it!

Away from poker, I've been been getting in to some long distance training recently, I'm semi-addicted to it. One aim is to complete this ironman next year. There's a big chance I won't get accepted because it's pretty compeititve to get a place and although I'd love to do it, it's a massive committment. I reckon it's a great time for me to do it though, I'll have a fair amount of time to train and some mates to do it with.

Back to what I'm going to do with poker. I'm going to take a break from it, take down the odd tourney, and just enjoy the summer and hopefully also get some work experience. It's not like poker is going to go anywhere.

playing better and the sunday million

After another dissapointing week on the tables, I took a small break and started playing smaller more focused sessions. I only had a few W$ left in my account so attempted some more step ones, this time running a lot better getting all the way up to step 4 on my first attempt. With the step 4, you can either continue to try and turn into a WSOP seat or play the sunday million. I chose the million.

Seeing as it's 11pm and it started at 9.30pm, I can't say it went as planned but I think I played well so i'm fine with it. Haven't really discussed many hands in my blog so I'll go through the one's I played. Early on, blinds 25-50, i'm on the button with AJ and raise to 150, sb folds & the BB re-raises small to 350. I call and the flop is A Q 10. He bets 500. I try a small raise to see where I am, and he pushes so it's an easy fold. Down to about 8k....

Still at 25-50, I open with Jc10c in MP and get 3 callers. It turns into quite an interesting hand. What's my move on the flop?

PokerStars Game #29105894708: Tournament #167588029, $200+$15 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (25/50) - 2009/06/07 16:39:17 ET
Table '167588029 525' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: gray31 (9725 in chips)
Seat 3: AUSTRIA-1000 (9900 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: Playing A (8500 in chips)
Seat 5: effendi11 (11125 in chips)
Seat 7: Krisrom06 (11025 in chips)
Seat 8: melikman (9800 in chips)
Seat 9: Hatts83 (9925 in chips)
melikman: posts small blind 25
Hatts83: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Playing A [Jc Tc]
gray31: folds
AUSTRIA-1000: folds
Playing A: raises 100 to 150
effendi11: calls 150
Krisrom06: calls 150
melikman: calls 125
Hatts83: folds
*** FLOP *** [6d Th Ts]
melikman: checks
Playing A: bets 250
effendi11: raises 550 to 800
Krisrom06: calls 800
melikman: calls 800

My move...?

Moving on, at 50-100 I open with KQ in MP and the SB calls. The flop is 7-2-2, he checks, I c-bet 500 and he makes it 1200. I really just didn't believe him here, and grew some balls and shoved it in. He folds quickly....phewww...Back up to starting stack.

I then get a bit of a card rush and get my stack up to 13k at the first break. At 150-300 I get AA in MP and make my standard small raise of 750. I get called on the button and in the BB. The flop is pretty ideal J 7 3- two diamonds. I bet 1200 and the button then makes it 5200, with 5k behind. I push and he calls and shows KK. Ideal. But the sick two outer comes on the river. Would of been sweet to have a big stack on the table at a low level but that's poker. I'd been running pretty hot in other game uptil then it just so happens that variance catches up on the big game.

On a more positive note I'm feeling alot more confident when I'm playing and really feel like I can take down a tournie when I'm in it. Just need to build the roll now and keep pushing for the big result I know will come.