A nod to yesterday's stellar performance.
I'm currently sitting in today's $1k event. Coming up on level two still on starting stack on a nice chatty table. I'll post more in a bit.
With reference to yesterday, as I've said in the past I can be more critical of myself in poker than anyone else possibly ever could. Those who know me are aware that I really don't like picking hands to pieces with people and listening to monologues on the "correct" way to have played a hand. I simply don't agree there is a correct way always, and I tend to feel things are far more situational, meaning sometimes folding a boat feels right, and sometimes shoving with air feels right.
Anyway.
I was going to say that of the few people I do mention stuff to in person, yesterday whilst they understood I wasn't happy with my play on the exit hand, they largely just said given the situation and the table dynamic it was just "one of those things" and that I shouldn't beat myself up about it. I'm not really giving myself a super hard time about it, I just felt that it was a mistake, and I'm honest enough to admit to myself and others that I think I played it wrong at that time. Not beating it to death, just saying is all.
The play on this table is pretty unorthodox. One guy never calls, just raises. Another one just calls EVERY time. Two people have bet the absolute life out of pretty dogshit hands, and I think two players may actually be asleep. It's a minefield.
This table's been both fun and really unusual. One guy busted literally first hand, in pretty ugly fashion and went off muttering to himself. I've dropped about 500 chips seeing flops with worthy hands that have not improved. We're on level 2 now with a full compliment of players at the table.
Play on this table gets weirder by the minute. People seem to literally be playing any pair any draw like their life depends on it. Coming up to first break and I'm on 1800. Gone into my shell a bit whilst the insanity happens all around me.
Back from the break and into the 50/100 level. The play as said in here has been pretty loose but also very weird. I think rightly or wrongly that just digging in for a while is the answer. Obviously with 18 bigs I can't really slip off for a light lunch and leave my stack unattended.
So far that seems to be the right idea. Just played QJs cute in a pot where the board ran out 8QJ3......9, and I got action from an over zealous AJ. I'm back to 3200 now.
And then...
Perfect. Everyone fold to the blinds, the sb raises and I find AK in the bb. He has aces and the flop is king high. Somehow I manage to lose 1100 and not my whole stack.
For those who like the numbers, currently we have about 2300 players for todays $1k. Still grinding along.
Starting level 4 at 75/150 and I'm back up to 3k again after opening up a little and flopping good. The Indian guy who came to the table and immediately(before even playing a hand) started squaring up the table seating plan is now gone. He probably played about 75% of hands so he certainly got his money's worth.
Two new players have arrived. One in good spirits with a short stack, the other with Dre headphones, a hoodie, lots of small chips and double the starting stack, and apparently no vocal chords that are immediately apparent . We've seen this movie before...
Up to 3800 now after playing some position and knowing the spots. Still a cautious plod but feeling ok.
Just moved tables and got bent over the baize and soundly rogered...
Me 66
Him AA
Small raise and a flop of 269 two spades.
He shoves around 2200. Obviously I call.
Turn spade, river spade and he wins a 5k pot leaving me on 1150. I think I may still be the most cheerful person on this table even after that, largely because getting upset about it would be pretty pointless.
Shoved my short stack once and stole the blinds. At 75/150 with this stack I can't really rest on my laurels.
Count on my new table:
Electronic devices: 9
Hoodies: 5
Headphones: 4
Smiles: me and possibly only two others.
Made the second break. Obviously the picture shows where I am, and really where I don't want to be. An older English guy just moved to my table with probably 50k, and immediately found KK and ironed out two more victims. It's a tough life.
I can try to stay on life support, but given the mood and play on this table that isn't going to work. I think I'll need to jam, or even call with a marginal hand hoping for a double or treble up, even if it means just getting lucky together a few chips. Just stealing the blinds won't do it since we're only going to be 100/200. Wish me luck. Everyone else seems to be having some.
And that was that.
Back from break and jam the first hand with an ace and get it through for the blinds. Second hand one limper and again I jam with AQ off. Mr 50k calls me with his 66 and it holds. Disappointed, but I felt I played pretty well today and just didn't get the rub of the green at all. If my set holds I'm probably up to about 8-9k by now and cruising. Instead I'm looking at my next event.