A bad beat like last night's SnG (see the post below) actually was a valuable lesson. Here's what I learned from it:
1. The 6-4 said in chat that it was only T30 for him to call and if he hit the flop, great, and if not, he gets out on the cheap. I gave him a bargain for the call. So, given that situation again, I need to put more value on my cards - especially since I was in early position. I raised a 'standard' amount because I wanted more in the pot. I think this was bad reasoning. A substantial raise from me would have kept the BB out of the pot, if I interpret his comment correctly. It might have even kept the QQ out, as well, but if not, then I would've been seeing the next hand doubled up instead of the BB tripling up.
2. When the flop hit and he went all-in, it was mandatory at that point for me to stop and consider all the possibilities to put him on a hand (this is so obvious, I know, but "what's obvious now was once obscure"). I didn't do that. I saw only my KK and the fact the flop was low cards with a pair of 66 and I thought I had it made in the shade. This is a major hole in my tournament play. I need to be thinking at more levels than I do. Granted, my oponents in the low buy-in SnGs are most likely not going to be thinking any higher than what's in their hands either, but I must be better than that - I have to stay at least one step ahead.
3. If, on the first hand, I should find myself looking a couple of suited rags in the pocket and I'm given the chance to see the flop on the cheap - I'm taking it!
So my 6-4 friend wasn't making a fishy call pre-flop, he reasoned it out and determined that he could afford the price. The fact he won the tournament tells me he's probably far from fishy - an analysis in Poker Tracker will confirm that or not.
This is how we learn! If we are not willing to hold the mirror up and take responsibility - we will be doomed to watch our bankrolls dwindle away at the grind. If you truly have a love for this game, then you are a student of the game, too. I don't see how it can be otherwise.
Will I curse and whine at the next bad beat? Absolutely. Will I learn from it? That's an all-in bet if ever there was one!
