Silly game this anyways.......

Well there it is. Poker. What a bitch. It is nearly 3 weeks since I updated this blog and I have been on a bit of a streak, and not a good one really. The only positive result was in the saturday round of each tourney 2 weeks ago when I got third, and even then I lost most of that in a cash game.

The issue is not just bad beats, or bad play or bad cards, but a frustrating combination of all 3.

Here are 2 examples that I played properly (open to comment) but that both worked out wrong, and both from the scalps tournie, but different weeks.

First example is JJ in the cutoff. Blinds are just gone up to 800-1500 and I have approx 15k. UTG, not too long at the table, only seen one or two strong all in hands not called, goes all in for approx 8k. This I was calling. Before it gets to me a player very newly arrived to the table who I was not familiar with say call instantly, and puts all his chips in (15k) but he declared call so only 8k stays in. What to do? The recent blind increase had just cut my stack to 10BB, but with a full round of the table that wasn't on it's own enough. I thought about it and figured that I was at best against overcards, at worst a big dog. I laid it down with a bit of disgust as I had flopped quad Jacks about 10 mins earlier so I was fond of them at that point. First all in had AJ, second had AQ, double paired, low board meant a split that I would have taken. Just to clarify my decision was all in or fold, never contemplating call with my stack and a flat caller of the raise. It was the instant decision of the guy who turned out to have AQo that really was the clincher here. There were about 18 players on 2 tables left at this point. I know it was the right decision really given the action but it still rankles that I made the right decision when no reads were available and I would have nearly trebled up taking the blinds into account. Ah well. I didn't last much longer.

The next weeks tournament and this is the situation. TT in 3rd position. Blinds are 50/100, near the end of the second level. I had just rebought when my overcards and flush draw missed so I had exactly 3k. Action folded to me and I make it 400 to go. Guy to my left, first time in the Fitz, but had played before it seemed (hadn't made many moves) went all in for 1575. BB think and calls and it is decision time for me. Here is my thinking at this point.

1. I could fold and be left with 2600 and the blinds coming up soon, but they are still low so no matter.
2. I could flat call and evaluate leaving about half my stack to play with.
3. I could push and get a sidepot going with BB flat caller who I felt had over cards.

I went with option 3 and got called after a short think. Imagine my surprise when I turned over my TT to find 99 to my left and 77 in the BB. Happy days!!!! Jason in seat 1 had thrown a 7 in too so 3 cards to avoid, only one of which will knock me out, the other will put lose me 100 in this pot. Flop is AK6, turn is another 6 and river is the case 7. Gutted. The outcome is not as important here for thought purposes as the decision. I felt I was behind one player but ahead of the other, albeit him with over cards. I think my decision to go all in here was the right one to get a sidepot or else get a 2-1 shot (if BB folded) at either overcards or overpair (not sure whether my read percentages make this worthwhile or not). I may actually post this one boards to get opinions........

Cash games are not going well for me either so I am scaling down my poker for a while. I will play the end of month game in the fitz on Wednesday and maybe the Sunday game too as I have 325 credit to use, but I will not be comitting much of my own lolly to it. And no cash games I repeat.

I cannot make up my mind one one important issue in Omaha. Is it better to call a bet with no improvers when you have the nuts on the flop/turn to see what the next card brings (which could minimise profits and also losses) or raise this spot (which could maximise both profits and also losses). Usually I go with the second approach but lately I have been getting raped with this approach. People calling either with draws that hit or calling/reraising with the same hand and improvers and hitting. I know the short answer to this question is 'it depends' and the long answer is probably just a longer version of 'it depends' but it frustrates the hell out of me.

I cannot remember the last time in either tournament or cash when the deck hit me in the face. I can't believe it is only a couple of months since I had 9 winning cash sessions in a row. It seems like years. At least I get to whinge about it anyways.