Tuesday, May 22, 2007

May Poker Update

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
 
 

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