GES Day 22: Back in the Saddle

I took the 23^rd and 24^th off from poker completely, and it helped: on the 25^th, I was back to the FTP virtual felt for two tournaments.  The first was a single table that served as a warm-up; I finished sixth.  The second was a 27 person in which I focused a bit more, and ended up fourth.  I could have been out in ninth, but double-ups on consecutive hands put me right back in the thick of things.

Playing: 1.5 online hours

10k update: 81.5 online hours, 215.75 total hours

I'm still planning on doing some more research on a training software, and the aforementioned trip to Turning Stone is coming up in a little over a week.  The next SFPT get-together is TBD but I think it will be the week after that.  Hopefully things go a bit smoother than last time; we're going to implement a couple changes that will hopefully help move the process along and make it more fun.

Home Game Update

Played for about five hours in the July SFPT tournament last Friday.  Finished third; once again no balls being aggressive when I needed to.  Notice a pattern?

This whole poker thing has me pretty frustrated right now.  I'm not really in the mood to play or anything else the last few days.  Every month I look forward to the SFPT tournament, and every time when it's over, something or things has happened to make me feel like not even doing them anymore.  I can tell it's not fun for people, and if people aren't having fun, what's the point?

I'm currently fishing for ideas/input on the SFPT Facebook page as to what can be done.  I don't really expect a lot of input but we'll see.  Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Playing: 5 hours, home tournament
Reading: None
Watching: none

10k update: 119.25 home game hours, 214.25 total hours

I don't know if this current rut is just that (a temporary rut), or if it is the beginning of the end of my idea to become a better poker player and take the game more seriously.  I suppose time will tell.  I have read a number of pros say that on days when you aren't feeling it, don't force it.  Today is going to be one of those days.

GES Day 15: Research Progress

I've decided beyond a shadow of a doubt that I need to get some real training/simulation software, with good AI - better than the Real Intelligence shown by a lot of people when I play online for play money.  I did some research on that yesterday, and while I didn't decide on a specific title, I ruled out a couple and also bookmarked some other sites for further reading.  Now, to devote the time to actually do some of it, uninterrupted.

Yesterday's results:

Playing: .75 hours online (seems to be the norm lately for a workday)
Reading: ~10 minutes on Caro's website
Watching: none

10k Update: 80 online hours, 209.25 total hours

10k is going to take a big jump this weekend, and another the first weekend of August (hopefully, though if Tina and I find something different to do together, that's obviously cool too).  I'm itching to put some of my ideas into play.  Just gotta have the guts.

GES Day 14: A Little Bit of Everything

I didn't plan it this way, but I got to do a little bit of everything yesterday - everything, that is, except contribute to my envelope.  Hopefully that will come on Friday evening.

Playing: .75 hours, online
Reading: 30 minutes, Mike Caro and Tom Sexton websites
Watching: 1 hour 2013 ME Final Table coverage

I took a few notes from Caro's website; more stuff to review before live play.  I think what I need to be careful of is trying to do too much at once.  Better, I think, to focus on one area, master it, and then move on.  Much like Major Winchester in M*A*S*H.

During the ME broadcast, Tina and I discussed a few of the hands, something we always do without even saying we're going to do it.  I love it, because I love seeing her passion and intelligence, and I always learn something.  I've said for a long time that if we could combine her skill with my patience and confidence/attitude, we'd have one hell of a poker player.  She made a comment last night along the lines of "that's not a good play.  These guys are all way better than me but I know better than that!"

I scoffed.  "You're right, you do know better.  But it's not because they are way better than you, because they're not.  Period."

Of course, she then scoffed, but I know I'm right.  I've seen it happen.  The only things she lacks are experience and confidence.  Someday when we have the time and I'm feeling up to it, I want to really pick her brain, do something like a coaching session where she can pass me some tips.  I have avoided that in the past because of the SFPT, but we're beyond that now, with me wanting to take my game to the next level. 

I also decided I need to invest in some true training software, because online play just isn't cutting it.  Some more research is needed into exact titles.  A quick search on eBay the other night was pretty much fruitless, but with a title in hand I should be able to do better.

GES, Day 13: Not Much Progress

As the title states, not much progress to be had recently.  I did play a couple single-table SNGs yesterday, winning the first and finishing 7th in the second.  Oddly, I found the second to be much more educational, as I realized a mistake as I was making it:

I had raised preflop, and didn't catch anything on the flop.  I made a c-bet and got one of the other two people to fold.  The turn was no help either, and instead of checking, I made a pot-sized bet.  My opponent snap-called, which was bad news (in hindsight).  I made the same mistake when the river bricked, and shoved all-in to try to force a fold.  It didn't work; again he snap called, and had me easily beat.

The lesson: you don't always have to defend your preflop raise.

Playing: .75 hours online
Reading: none
Watching: 15 minutes HPT coverage

I will probably play a bit more over the next couple days, but the next "test" is going to be Friday with the July SFPT tournament.  I really need to focus on playing the math and not being afraid to lose.  Also, I need to concentrate on knowing how much is in the pot and making my bets accordingly.

GES, Day 8: #bracelethunting Breaks the Seal

Unexpected money is always a good thing, even if it's only $8.32 from some long-forgotten class action suit I'm sure I was involved in with  about 2 million other people.  Anyway, free money is great money to put to work for you, to take a chance with - and thus, $5 of that $8.32 is the first deposit in my Bracelet Hunting Envelope.

Only played one tournament yesterday, but for good reason: that 90 person, 2,000 buy-in SNG took 2 hours, and resulted in me cashing in 9th place for a profit of 2,500.  I played well the whole time, even when I got distracted doing other things (I'm not too worried about focus in live games, so this doesn't bother me).  The whole time, I was thinking about what I was doing online and how to translate it to live, and when I was done, I made another quick-reference index card with specific items to review before and during live play.

Playing: 2 hours, online
Reading: none
Watching: none

10k Update: 2 hours online, 207 total

#bracelethunting Update: $5 deposit, $5 total, $995 to go

A Pensive Weekend and Lessons from Texas Dolly

I didn't do a whole lot poker related this weekend except think and talk - and both of those turned out to be important.  The biggest news - Tina and I are now shooting for 2015 for our next trip to Vegas - and for me to play in the World Series.  Wow.  Lots of saving to do, lots of planning to do, and most importantly, lots of PRACTICE to do.  I need to get into some more tournaments and gain that experience, as well as refine a strategy and my ability to focus.

***

I did some reading last night as I was trying in vain to be tired enough to go to sleep.  Not reading in the educational sense, just catching up on some WSOP and other related poker news.  On the PokerStars blog, I found this gem:


I can't say enough good things about this article, or the ideas behind it.  First, it's Doyle Brunson.  A legend in every sense of the word, and someone for whom I have a great amount of respect.  As a poker player, it's obvious.  As a person, it was cemented when he put on Twitter one holiday season something to the effect of "To all my Christian friends, Merry Christmas!  To all my atheist friends, good luck!"  I've read a lot about the guy (including a lot written by him), and while he may not preach, and you may not know it looking at him because of that, he is a Christian for certain.

Second, I love how the author took the angle of himself getting older, and his worries about that, and weaved it into the fact that pretty much everything we know about Doyle Brunson, Poker Legend happened after he turned 40.  The authors worries echo my own - witness this particular passage talking about age as a number:

"It's as real as it is arbitrary, and I'd be lying if tried to pretend I don't spend an inordinate amount of time quietly lamenting the state of my personal and crumbling union. I look at what I've done and know it's not enough. I look at what I'm doing and know it's not enough. Most waking moments are spent in half-conscious self-loathing. It's really quite pathetic, no matter how you look at it."

I wrote an entry some time ago about why I love poker.  In there, one of the reasons I gave was that it's something I should be able to do my entire life.  Doyle Brunson is living proof that you can do exactly that.

I also love Mr. Brunson's attitude toward life - as evidenced by the last two paragraphs of this article, as well as his reaction to the hand he had when he fell over - "would have been a great story if I kicked the bucket".  No fretting, no trying to escape the inevitible.  He knows he's closer to the end than the beginning, and he accepts that with class and grace.

I've said before that one of the most amazing aspects of poker is that it allows amatuers and pros to mix and play on a level field.  Not only pros, but absolute legends.  Drawing a table assignment with Doyle Brunson would be like having your name written in the lineup with Babe Ruth.  How awesome would that be? 

More than anything, I want to play poker at a high level for situations just like that, to sit down at a table and see Babe Ruth sitting a few feet away.  Same game, same starting chip stack, and at that moment, the same chance to win the whole thing.

Shuffle up and deal.