[Have a threesome]

Didn't Alex have target of having a threesome during 2013? Sounnds like the plan is reaching fruition

Resolutions for 2013.

Real Life


See more of my school friends
Join a gym
Continue to play football once a week
Write lots of piano covers of popular songs
Be less of a shit driver - no speeding fines or accidents or bumps or anything in 2013!
Visit St. Petersburg
Have a threesome

Hope you aren't including me in this...

BUSTED!

Lol looks like I won't be there till at least 4. Can someone give me regular updates on my stack please?

Matey, you know as well as anyone does that this game is just one hell of a grind. Seriously, whoever thought that it would be a good idea to wager stupid amounts of money on bits of card with pretty pictures on is nearly as crazy as the people who keep doing it. Tournaments are full of endless streams of variance, but when you do get that one time, you'll look back at this and everything will be worth it. You're more than good enough to get there, and the more your confidence and patience with the game is tested, the more fantastic it will feel when it happens. Stick at it buddy, and if I can get to being half the player you are, I'll be able to hang around long enough for us to play a lot more together.

So, had my first attempt at commentating last night on the 1/2/4(8/16/32) streamed cash game at dtd, along with Nik, PJ and Adiman. Had a great time, learnt a few things, and got a bit more of an insight into how the big boys at the club play. Any feedback on my commentary would be  massively appreciated, it's something I enjoyed and would certainly like to do again in the future.
In other news, pulled off a hideous hit and run. Played for about an hour, and in that time doubled a short stack up, then got it in with top two pair, held, and literally just as I was being awarded the pot the stream started and I left to commentate. I had told the table that I would be leaving as soon as that game started, but I did feel kinda bad. As a result, finished the day up £200 or so. MUST start graphing.

The first conversation was with a much-loved poster on this forum. He gave a hugely complicated analysis of a hand, telling Dave in detail all about his opponent's perception of his perception of his opponent's perception etc.

#realjohnblackquotes perchance?

Had some very interesting discussions with a few people recently, it constantly amazes me how little I actually know about the game. Today, really, I just wanted to throw out a little something which came up today in a conversation about levelling. There is always a whole lot of bollocks about levelling wars, and I can very confidently say that almost every time I've got myself into a "levelling war" the other guy has been sitting there thinking "I have a good hand, I call" rather than all this stuff about he knows that I know that he knows that I never bluff here etc. It's normally when I try and stoop into these little things that I have big losing sessions, because really the only guy I'm levelling with is myself, and badly at that. It's those moments that frustrate me the most, when I needlessly spew off money and turn a break even session into a train wreck. It's having that ability to remain disciplined and focused regardless of how long I've been playing, how long it is since I've won a hand etc that I really need to develop. Often I can even see it happening, and for some reason seem to lose control of my actions and am reduced to a spectator in my own mind, throwing away money that will take hours, even days to get back. What's worse is that I can have hours, or days, where I feel like every decision is good, I make the necessary laydowns and calls with confidence and am unfazed by the results. And then, for reasons I have yet to figure out, I will play one hand disgustingly badly, spew off a bundle, then either go back to playing well again or literally throw chips at everyone for half hour or so.
This has actually been a very positive week for me. After I monster session on Friday, I find myself break even, but I really felt for a few days like I was the player that I eventually want to become. I dealt with some very tough losses, overall made good decisions, and my general demeanour at the table was, in a positive way, completely out of character. Saturday was particularly appalling, and I ended up having a pretty monstrous losing session, but I was able to take confidence from the fact that I didn't feel like a made a significant mistake for the better part of 20 hours of poker.  So, despite some rubbish hands etc, I come into May with a renewed belief that maybe I can make something of myself in this game.
My personal goal for the coming months is to win enough money to make a suit out of more money than the head of my course makes in a year, and walk into my last lecture wearing it. Glgl everybody!

I'm hoping I'm remembering this hand correctly, few minor details may be wrong. So, this hand comes up in a 1/1 game between myself and a solid, well known reg. Effective stacks are maybe 150-200bbs, and we are playing full ring.

Reg opens to 5 from early position, and gets two callers. I make the call from the cut off with KQos, and we see a flop four ways. The board reads J42 rainbow, and it checks to me. I check behind. Turn comes a K, giving us top pair, second kicker. It checks to us again, and we lead out 11 into a pot of 22, and get called by the reg. Everyone else folds. River card comes an os 6, reg checks, we fire 20 into a pot of 44, reg then makes it 40. Thoughts? Board at river reads J 4 2 K 6.

What a week... Monster session on friday, almost entirely gone by now. Played about 20 hours of perfect poker until sunday evening, when my frustrations got the better of me. On Saturday, I ran a set into a flush draw and then ran 88 into A2 on A28. Yeah, don't ask :p

Followed that up with a session on Sunday that actually didn't start terribly, but very quickly degenerated and was the complete disaster package really, full of slowrolls and hero calls and people that you really don't want to fold, but you really don't want to hit either. Massive swing. Still actually feel reasonably good about my game, and am in profit for the week, albeit only a small one. Back into the negative for the month too. Baaaaad times.

but as always is the case for me in these downswings that last more than a week or so

sorry to tell you buddy but a week-long downswing is not a downswing, it's just a bad week.

+10000

I know, slightly sarcastic comment on my part, but if i fail to win for a session for a few weeks after playing every day, I tend to take time to look at potential reasons why, and try to change them. In all they tend to bring positive changes to my game

Why don't you tell us all what a disaster last night was.

It would be my pleasure, sir.
(prepare for some HH)

#1, I have    in the cut off, raise to 7 over one limper, BB flats, limper folds. Flop comes  . BB checks, I c bet to 11, he calls. Turn is  or something like that. He checks, i bet 22, he calls. I plan on totally shutting down, until the miracle  hits the river. He checks, and I'm pretty confident the guy has a decent K. Was toying with making it 50, but decided to go for the overbet instead, so made it 120. He calls, gives me a pretty pissy look, and mucks.

I then pick up AA utg, make it 4, I get three bet from middle position to 18(?), then btn makes it 55. I make it 150, MP folds, btn shoves, I call and hold for a 900 pot.

Last one is an interesting one, and requires some history. This guy had been sitting for a while and been quite active. He was well up for the game, sat on about 700, but had shown down some big bluffs and seemed to have a bit of an ego. From the hands he had tabled, whether through showdown or just showing, I thought I had picked up a few bet sizing/timing/amount of chips used to bet tells. The hand before this one he'd put in a big reraise on the turn with bottom pair vs me, and made me lay down a big hand, but importantly had shown the bluff. As always with the laggy guys, I had to adjust my calling range. So, I pick up  in the BB. There is a MP raise, this laggy guy three bets the button to like 9, SB calls, I make it 32. Btn calls, everyone else folds. Flop comes  . I check, he bets 45, I call. Turn is  . I check, he makes it 88, I make it 200. He tank shoves for 700 or so. I call. He tables  , I hold for the biggest pot of the year, probably second biggest of my life. EZ game sometimes, huh?

First, to John -
I've had temperament issues for some time in every aspect of my life, and it is something I'm trying to address. On the whole, I feel like I'm much better now than I was, but I do find it pretty damn hard not to react in some way. I didn't realize how much I wanted to win a seat to the monte until that hand, when the shot was basically gone. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be a slow process getting myself to a point where I'm calmer in those situations. Hopefully I won't do too much damage in the meantime.

Second, little catch up -
April is still a bit of a disaster poker wise, but as always is the case for me in these downswings that last more than a week or so, I felt the need to evaluate the reasons behind the losses. I'm not a big fan of putting everything down to "it's just a downswing", when I go for a few weeks without a winning session. So, what have we learnt? So far, my ego seems to have returned with a vengeance, although in a different way to expected. My game has changed to try and mimic some of the better players that I have been sat with on a regular basis. This "big bet poker" rubbish has never really been a style I'm comfortable with playing, and getting involved in these cock fights preflop will only lead to me losing money in the long run, because I can't compete with the experience or the bankroll of that styles biggest proponents. I've started levelling myself into making bad decisions, basically. Hopefully, after realizing this, I'll be able to make the mental changes necessary to get back to competing on my own terms.
Yesterday was a whirlwind of swings. Lost a lot in the space of one round, and probably about 5 hands. Did the sensible thing and got up, took some time, went at sat back down in a better mood, then lost what i had left in omaha. Took even more time, and then went and sat on a hold em table, and within an hour was back to even and some. Crazy game, huh? Whoever thought it up really must have been a dick.

Thought you were the best of the bunch, you just need a bit of Vicky Coren, but don't we all.

I agree, having tits always helps

Definitely keen

Sick 1/2 game today. Lost a bundle, sick downswing I'm suffering for right now, with a the odd bit of play bad mixed in. Losing a lot of money. Very disheartened. Wish I could learn the patented make it lots of money pre and literally always have the best hand by the end to win huge pots. Maybe one day.

It's a good trick to learn yes

I hope you step on a lego.

Sick 1/2 game today. Lost a bundle, sick downswing I'm suffering for right now, with a the odd bit of play bad mixed in. Losing a lot of money. Very disheartened. Wish I could learn the patented make it lots of money pre and literally always have the best hand by the end to win huge pots. Maybe one day.