I had a long session today which started off great at a $50 NL table. My stack was greatly enhanced by several good hands. I think I deserve a prize for this one:
AntMaudie is in the small blind. Four people limp in for $1 and AntMaudie calls. Pot = $6
The flop comes 3d, 4c, Ah.
AntMaudie checks which is followed by 3 more checks, a $1 bet into the $6 pot, a fold and then back to AntMaudie, who calls. The 3 checkers also call. Pot = $11.
The turn comes 5h
AntMaudie bets $5 into the $11 pot. Three call, one folds. Pot = $31.
River comes Jd. AntMaudie bets another $5 into the $31 pot. Two fold and the bet is called by one. Pot = $41.
The cards are flipped over. The guy in the 8s shows 2 aces giving him a set. AntMaudie flips over 2d, 7h giving her the straight, and the pot.
I don't think you need me to lecture on the lesson you can glean from that one.
So I was sailing along nicely, and then that guy - you know the one - that guy sat down. The maniac. The arrogant, assholic, head-up-his-butt maniac. He taunted, cajoled, insulted his way to some big pots hitting his 2 and 3 outers, of course. And then I tangled with him. I was in good shape, having tripled up earlier. But then on this hand all my good discipline went flying out the window and I made a big mistake. I did something I almost never do. I'd raised pre-flop with an A-Q suited and this guy called. The flop missed me, but had a jack in it. That guy under bet the pot and then, instead of laying it down and against my better judgement, I raised it up thinking he was trying to steal it. He re-raised all in. I guess I was steaming and, as a result, I called - he had the jack with A-J in the hole. Of course. I go up against him the one time he has a legitimate hand. And so my gains of the previous hour and a half or so went ta-ta. I left the table a hair better than even.
I then went to the tourneys - I entered the $50 10k guaranteed tourney. Now I would swear to you I double-checked this one to be sure it was a NL tourney. But I guess these 53 year old eyes just aren't seeing as well as they used to. It was limit. At least I figured it out on the first hand this time. At any rate, I was short stacked fairly early on. I never gained an edge or any control this time around. Sigh.
I kibitzed a little back at the $50 NL - had an Italian guy hitting on me, in Italian. That was fun. Especially when I took all his money. And he still hit on me! Another fellah at the table was from right here in my home town - a college kid on hiatus from school for a semester. He wanted to get me involved in a cash game he holds twice a week. I'm not sure I'd enjoy sitting around a 'frat' house with a bunch of guys and 6-packs-o-beer and pretzels for snacks. But then again..... hmmm.
I then entered a $30+3 NL tourney (I triple checked this time). Fifty people entered and so I thought I'd have a decent shot. I was doing OK up until after the first break. I'd managed to get a better than average stack and fifth in chips overall with a set of fives that held up, a couple of top pairs and a few steals. But after the break it got a lot tougher. My stack dwindled to below average and I'd reached the push or fold stage. I kept my head above water with a couple of pushes and grabbed the blinds. And then I got JJ and a guy pushed before me. I did not like that at all. But I couldn't lay them down - I had to call which put me all in as well. I hoped he had over cards or a smaller pair. Twasn't to be - he had QQ and I was out 16th out of 50.
So my great gains of last week received a big dent today. And what did I learn? A bigger bankroll doth not meanest thou hast permission to toss thy discipline off the parapet.
Side note: Reality check. Last Labor Day weekend, I was pounding away at the 25¢/50¢ tables in a marathon session in an effort to get even. I think my total investment at that time was $142 of my own money and I started the weekend by depositing $100 more to get a bonus and ended the weekend in the black. I cheered myself for reaching the "free rolling" stage with a big $13.03 profit. I would like to say that I've been in the black ever since. But, alas, 'tis not so. It's only been in the last few months I've been in the black a few more times. More recently, this last week. I learned today that it's critical not to abandon the good discipline I've developed over the last year. Having a bigger bankroll makes playing looser very tempting, and I succumbed to that temptation this week to my detriment.
The good news is, I'm a much better player than I was a year ago. I'm getting a handle on tournament play - getting farther, if not placing in the money (and always with Felicia's words "get aggressive, girl!" carrying me along) - and I've moved up to the $50 NL tables and finally feel comfortable there. I'm playing the $2/$4 limit tables, as well, with a moderate amount of success. And, most importantly, I still love this game.
