I've pretty much been playing SNGs exclusively. I've done a few MTT's but SNGs have been my prime focus. I was doing well, but then I took a big hit recently. I basically am back down to $100 in profit.
Why the loss? The first is bad beats, but I can go on forever about that. It happens. I have a good number of times that I was knocked out on the bubble and most of the time I was going in with the best hand. At the risk of sounding like Mike Matasow, I will state that you can do nothing about it. In the long run you'll win.
The second reason for the loss was gambling. I allowed myself to get into a position where I put it all in hoping to hit my 8 outer, instead of folding. I allowed myself to chase, while at the same time calling off chips.
The third is not playing aggressive. Attack at weakness and then back off if played against.
I dropped to a $50 profit for the year. I'm now back to $100 profit and hopefully I will see it rise. I've had a nice run of 7 out of 8 cashes this weekend. The key to those victories was money management and knowing when to play your short stack. I also have been better about watching my opponent and picking up on their playing style.
The 1 loss was interesting, because I was out in three hands. I start as the dealer.
Hand #1: AQ. I come in for a raise and get called. The flop is rags. I raise again and I'm reraised. My instincts told me that board didn't hit my opponent, so I call the reraise. The turn is a rag. My opponent bets and he's obviously trying to get me off my hand. I reraise and he folds.
Hand #2: AJ. I limp in with several callers. The flop comes A-Q-J. I have two pair and I bet it pretty strong, hoping to stop anyone from drawing. I'm called. The turn comes a 10. Any hand with a king bets me. My opponent bets, and I have pot odds to hit a full house. The river calls nothing and my opponent makes a min bet. I call and he had the king.
Hand #3: AQ suited. It comes to me, I raise. The big blind reraises and I shove all in. He has pocket 6's and I have two suited overs. I was hoping for a coin toss and I lost.
Thats poker.
Alan Ng
