Perspective

I'm going to go off on a bit of a tangent here before talking poker but I think this is important.

As you may or may not be aware, I am a big Football Fan, and support Leicester City. There was an incident last night in a cup game between Leicester and Nottingham Forest (Martin AKA DodyKen's team) where one of our players - Clive Clarke collapsed at half time and his heart stopped twice. If it wasn't for the quick response of the medical teams then he would no longer be with us. Its looking like he's doing ok today which is good news. This is the third incident of its kind in the past week but tragically the other two players - a 16 year old from Walsall and a 22 year old Spanish International passed away.

The point I want to make about this is that it puts everything in perspective and bad beats or bad spells playing poker are largely irrelevant and should be treated on there merits instead of thinking the "World is About To End" because we've had a few losing days in a row.

Back To Poker

Thanks for the comments after my last post. the last couple of days have gone ok especially today. In response to one of those comments, I'll post my top ten losing hands over the past couple of months tomorrow. I'll jump on the bandwagon and set up separate blog for these hands and hopefully it will isolate a few things or even just one thing I may not even realise I'm doing.

Chris

This Weeks Results

I'm afraid this doesn't make good reading and to say I'm not very happy is a bit of an understatement.



This month has followed a similar trend to last month and has been happening pretty much all year in that I'll be doing ok nothing spectacular and then towards the end of the month I'll have a bad spell which I don't think I'll be able to recover from.

I'm not sure how to reverse this trend but what I do know is that I have to do something pretty major because if this trend carries on next month it might see the end of my Poker Playing days which will be a drastic step to take because I still really enjoy playing the game but this has been happening all year and I'm fed up with it. I know I'm a better player than I was 6 months ago but this isn't being seen in what I'm achieving.

I have a couple of bonuses to earn which run out this week and if I see no signs of any improvement then I'll probably take a break for a few days.

I promise my next post will be more positive as my last two posts definately haven't been.

Good luck

Chris

Depressing Few Days

I've been a bit slack updating this blog this week mainly because things have not been going very well.

For the past three days I'm down about 4 buy ins not particularly through bad play but I just don't seem to be getting a good run of cards whether I'm being Card Dead, The few Big Hands I've had aren't standing up or not being able to hit a flop its just been one of those weeks where nothing I try seems to work. I know we all go through these spells but what I would like to know is how we can turn these sessions into positives. I'm reasonably happy with the way I'm playing and not tilting but this happens on a regular basis for me and I don't know what to do because despite the improvements I know I have made in my game, I just don't seem to be seeing the results.

I know I'm being a bit too results orientated here but I would like to see an improvement in what I am achieving.

Here's a couple of hands that I may have been able to escape from but I'm not totally convinced that I could have done: -

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1408087

My opponent is playing at 52.25/35.3 and I mis read him here I put him on a draw which is why I reraised on the turn. Its a couple of days since I played this hand and in hindsight I may have been able to get away from the hand here. Mind you whether I can escape when in the middle of playing the hand I have my doubts. Also would you call the preflop reraise with a Suited Ace?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1408106

A hand against my "friend" the shortstack , he's at 42.04/7.31 which is the main reason why I made the call I was 50/50 to folding but in the end felt I had to make the call. Would any one have folded here. If I never see another shortstack it will be too soon.

That's today's moan over no doubt it will be continued soon!!!!

Back in Control

I played around 700 hands this evening and it was a better session which ended with a slight profit.

I didn't let myself get into too many dodgy situations. It sometimes helps being card dead and managed to escape from most awkward situations. I need to re read the UF2B C-Betting posts because I got a bit carried away with my C-Betting tonight.

Only a couple of hands of real interest: -

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1396226

This hand with TP and A Flush draw I think I escaped with the minimum here mainly due to the draw heavy board. I never put him on a set, and thought he was drawing. I've played him a fair bit lately and am having a few problems with him at the moment post flop as he is reraising alot so I have slowed down a bit against him. He is playing at 31.87/17.03.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1396255

No comments are necessary here this is a bit of indulgence, if only the game was always this easy!

Things Can Only Get Better

I'm afraid I'm going to have a moan here as things have not gone well this week so far as this graph shows:-

I didn't really play very much yesterday as wasn't in the mood but just had one of those days today where I couldn't hit anything. Didn't have a single set all day and wasn't helped by a couple of cooler's which I just couldn't get away from and there's no point posting them here. I might set up another blog for these hands like some of you have already done.

For those of you that have read RobRacing's post about rules he has set himself, one of which is to fold 1 pair post flop in alot of situations. I was a bit sceptical about this idea at first but the more I think about it the more I think its a positive move.

One thing I have to stop doing is "Stop Calling/Reraising Bets on The River When I Know I Am Beaten!"

I'm back at work tomorrow unfortunately so won't be able to play so much which may be a good thing although I'd like to get in 500 or so hands a night if I can.

Here's to a better end to the month.

Good luck

Chris

Consistently Inconsistent

These are my results for the week which basically shows that the only thing consistent about my play is its inconsistency. At least it was a Profitable week just, and I'm opening up my range a bit more but on the whole I suppose there not too bad.

I got a fair amount of hands in this week as I've been off work but will be back in on Tuesday unfortunately so will probably be down to about 2/3K.

The only real comment I would make is am I playing too much from the Small Blind. At the minute I am raising with pretty much any hand that is folded round too me

Please feel free to make any comments or suggestions.

Thanks

Chris

Recovering After Early Losses

I seem to be having a good day followed by a bad day at the moment. Yesterday was a good day where after a bad start I managed to show an overall profit for the day. Helped by my Aces standing up against Kings which I'm not going to post. I played 1058 hands at 15.41/13.12.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1383277

This is a hand where I got into a bit of trouble from the BB. I said to myself on the River that I'll make 1 raise and fold if he reraises. So what happens, I call his all in reraise. With a paired and flush heavy board, I could and should have got away from this very easily. Whether I should have put a bet in in the flop or turn I don't know, I would have folded if he'd have bet on these streets thats for sure.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1383290

On this hand, with a raise and call, with my Mid Pair I called for the Implied Odds hoping to hit a set on the flop. Having been raised on the flop even though I had an over pair I think that this was an easy fold as he must either have a strong pair or hit his set and is probably a decision I make every time in this situation. He was at 21.92/9.59.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1383304

I'm getting into a few situations of late with hands like AQ where there is a pre flop raise before me and I'm in the blinds and out of position as in this example. I called the raise here in effect playing it like a small/mid pair and folded on the flop to the reraise having led out. Should I be reraising pre flop or even just folding straight off and waiting for a better spot. He's playing 24.12/14.5 over about 400 hands.

Playing Against Short Stacks Why You Don't Slow Play

This week is a bit up and down - one days good the following not so good.Yesterday was a good day but I've played about 200 hands this morning and pretty much wiped out what I made yesterday. More of that later.

One thing that's cropped up with my play over the last couple of days and Graham has also made a post about is playing against short stacks. I think I possibly need to adjust my attitude against them as I am basically giving them no respect for having hit there hands and that is wrong. Any way here's a couple of examples: -

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1376716

This guy was at 63.27/32.65 but only over 50 hands. With that board, top pair was probably never going to be enough. and I should have folded to the reraise, although with an Open Ended Straight Draw as well I'm not sure.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1376722

On this hand, I should have raised more pre flop, after that, Top Pair again isn't enough and possibly was a fold on the flop to the reraise against someone playing 39.48/10.22 again over a small sample of 50 hands.

My conclusion is that you need more than Top Pair to play against Short Stacks which is probably an adjustment I am going to make from now on.

Finally, this next hand is an example of why you should never slow play a hand. I broke one of my fundamental rules of poker by doing so. I don't want any comments about this hand I'm just posting for myself as a reminder.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1376732

Any way I'm off to hit the living daylights out of a golf ball for a few hours.

PAHUD Stats

I've had a few comments lately about the PAHud Stats that I use so I thought I'd list them here and see what comments, adjustments I should make if any: -

1st Column (Default Settings)

VPIP
PFR
Aggression Factor
Hands Played

2nd Column (Additions Made)

Call C-Bet
Fold C-Bet
Makes C-Bet
Went to Showdown
Won $ @ Showdown

I'd like to add the folded SB/BB to Steal attempts option but at the minute I don't have any room and I'm not sure I could keep track of any more.

I realise that alot of these stats are very much driven by personal preferences and I need to pay alot more attention to them particularly when involved in a big hand.

Thanks

Chris

Bad Start to The Week

What a difference a day makes, played just over 1,000 hands ending up down by a couple of buy ins. May be I played a bit too loose for me I don't know as my VPIP for the day was at 18.95. I didn't believe it either. These three hands were the one's that did the real damage, the first one I played badly and the other two I think that I got myself into a couple of awkward situations where may be I could have got away from them but I think its probably unlikely.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1368562

I think I made a mistake here on the flop in Reraising All In with my overpair. He was playing at 42.77/5.66 and made a comment in the chat box after the hand about people getting heavily involved with only 1 pair which I think is pretty good advice and something I need to take on board.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1368528

On this hand I should have bet more on the flop but with the Over Card on there I wanted to find out where I was without risking to much and exercising a bit of Pot Control. If he'd have reraised then I would have folded. The turn was just a horrible card for me and at this point not sure I could have got away from the hand. He was at 28.07/19.3.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1368543

Having hit the set on the Flop but with the possible flush draw, maybe I should have set him all in at this point although I don't think he was going anywhere. Could I have checked at this point but even if I had done I would have reraised him all in.

Another situation occurred on another table in that I had someone to my right luckily so I didn't really get involved with him who was playing at 62.96/53.70 and was constantly Raising and Reraising on all streets. I wanted to play back at him but never had a good enough hand to do so. How do you play against players like this. I probably should have left earlier than I did. I would have done if he was on my left.

Uploading Position Stats From Poker Tracker

Sorry about this, stupid question time from someone who doesn't know alot about computer's. I'd like to upload my Position Stats later today from Poker Tracker but have no idea how to do so, can someone let me know as to how I can do this please.

Thanks for the assistance

Chris

August Results To Date

Having now worked out how to upload images thanks to DodgyKen and Pkr_brat, I thought it was time I updated my progress to date.

My August Results to date are shown on this image. I'm generally a bit happier with my game than I was a month ago but there is still plenty of room for improvement and hopefully the trend will continue for the rest of the month.

This is more important to me than the first graph in that it shows my stats by position for the month so far. I'm currently playing at a VPIP of 14.48 which for me is pretty good and a big improvement from the 11 VPIP I have been playing. My initial thoughts are that my Cut Off Stats may be a little low but at the same time, am I playing too much from the Small Blind. Also, if any one's got any additional comments/suggestions then please post them.

Thanks and Good Luck

Chris

Recovery After A Bad Start

I played just over 700 hands yesterday at a VPIP of 15.08, its getting there slowly. I had a bad start but after that played ok and recovered my initial losses by the time I finished playing.

This 1st hand is the main culprit in my bad start, I basically don't think there is much that I could have done to get away from this but I am open to any comments where I may have been able to prevent this. I'd forgotten to reload to the max which turned out to be a good thing.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1357726

I guess this next hand is what you call a Big Blind Special. However from my opponents point of view if you don't raise at any point in the hand you deserve everything you get. He was playing at 39.6/5.7. I fold to any pre flop raise. Looking back, I put a Value Bet in on the River, should I have pushed or is that an easy conclusion to draw knowing what he had. I put him on a suited Ace in view of his passivity.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1357736

This final hand, I think I got the maximum I could out of it. I checked on the river because with Potential Flush and Straight Draws on Board I thought that he would only call with a worse hand and I knew he was drawing to something as he had been showing a number of Drawing Hands prior to this. He was playing at 36.61/11.18 over 450 hands.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1357747

I've got the next week off so will hopefully have more time to play and would like to get about 1,000 hands a day in and see where that takes me. Mind you with the start of the Football Season today, that may reduce my playing time a bit. If my team Leicester City have as bad a season as they have in the past few , tilting may be an option because I'm not a good loser.

08th August 2007

After having a couple of days break, played for a couple of hours this evening. Ended up with $7 profit over 350 hands playing 13.07/12.5.

There were a couple of interesting situations that cropped up and these are shown in the Hand Histories below: -

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1348275

The other player in this hand was at 74.25/4.04. I probably should have bet out on the flop but but with no flush and an unlikely Straight Draw I thought I was way ahead and wanted to lure hin in. I considered the possible Straight on the River and thought it was an unlikely holding so I made the call. Was this a correct play or should I have folded on the river.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1348297

Having hit top pair, top kicker on the flop and betting out and being reraised , I decided to fold to the Reraise putting him on a 9. Can any one advise whether or not this was the correct play

Play this Weekend

Plqyed just over 1,000 this weekend at 14.61/13.42 showing a very small profit of $6.74. I thought I played ok and didn't really get the results from how I played although hopefully that will come if I carry on playing like this . A few interesting situations cropped up which I have shown below:-

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1337558

I only have 10 hands with my opponent in this hand so had no read. What he was doing in the hand in the 1st place I don't know. I think I should have raised more preflop. My question is this, should I have got away from this hand on the turn or was I just destined to lose a buy in here?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1337581

On this hand, I definately should have bet more than half the pot on the flop. There is a bet half pot button where I played this hand which is too convenient and I have to get away from using it. He was at 31.25/10.80 over 176 hands but I felt he was playing looser than that. Again the same question as the previous hand, should I have folded to the check raise on the turn with a draw heavy board

These were the two hands that were my main losing hands, here's 1 more hand

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1337617

This final hand was against the same player as in hand two and also shows me hitting the half pot button again. The question I have with this hand is should I have put a value bet in on the River.

I made a decision after the session I played where the first hand occurred that at the moment, I just can't make Stars work for me especially in Cash Games and I am losing so much money because of hands like the 1st one on there. I know alot of people are winning there but its just not happening for me. I have therefore moved what money I had left before I lost it all to Gutshot Poker which is on the Prima/Microgaming network. I have moved it there because I can get 30% Rakeback and also they have regular Deposit/reload bonuses neither of which is available at Stars. I also had a deposit bonus from a few weeks ago that I need to clear by the end of August.

I am also going to move the money I have at Inter Poker to Sun Poker another Cryptologic Account so that I can again get Rake back which I don't have at Inter.

I don't think I'm going to be able to play much over the next couple of days for one reason and another but will check out some of the blogs if I can.

Good luck

Early Results For August

I've played 875 hands so far this month at 15.09/13.26 which is closer to where I want to be from a VPIP point of view. I lost over a buy in on Wednesday night mainly due to one hand where I had an over pair to the board and got sucked in. Apart from that there's not been too much of interest going on. This is the hand where I lost the money. I should have considered the action pre flop and folded on the flop. I didn't believe him as he had been constantly re raising me whenever I'd raised and I thought he was trying it on.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1330269

Any way I'm off work the week after next and there should be nothing to stop me getting a few more hands in this month apart from the start of the Football Season next week and the English Summer - if we ever get one!!!!

Chris

August Goals

Its a bit late but here are my goals for the month: -

Play a minimum of 15,000 hands in the month
Have a VPIP for the Month of 15 at the very least
Take my time before making key decisions
Stop calling bets on the River when I know I'm behind
Watch at least 3 Card Runners Video's A Week
Read and Understand at least 2 Poker Books - The Theory of Poker and 1 other
Increase my level of Thinking which should come with the previous 2 Goals
Post 2/3 hands after every session and be more active in the other blogs

I could go on but I think that's enough for know.

Results For July

As promised, these are my July results. I was reasonably happy up until this weekend but things have gone slightly wrong since then as I have documented elsewhere: -

Hands Played 12,717
VPIP 11.92
PFR 10.69
Loss Fo Month $148.01
BB/100 Hands (2.88)
Total Aggression 2.27


VPIP By Position

Button 18.63
Cut Off 12.97
Mid Pos 11.28
UTG 8.80
BB 5.51
SB 12.77

Still way too low, should the small blind be as high as the Cut Off?

Return Per Level Played

NL50 $190.32 Loss 2,889 Hands
NL25 $128.99 Profit 5,876 Hands
NL10 86.88 Loss 3,952 Hands

I'll be sticking to NL 25 for a while - probably for most of August most definately.

I hope other people have better results than I've had.

Chris

Play From 31st July

Played 375 hands last night not alot happenned had one of those sessions where I was pretty much card dead and couldn't seem to hit a flop. These seem to be the sessions where I lose a fair amount of money. How can you make these sessions work without losing too much. I ended up being down $37.50.

Most of the losses were due to having to fold after C-Bet's were reraised having raised pre flop. I must pick my spots better.

There was only one hand of note which I have posted below. Not sure if there was much I could have done to avoid this. I only have 21 hands with this player and he was 42.86/28.57 and he left immediately after this hand. I thought he may be drawing to the straight which he probably was: -

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1321481