PokerStars Game #23397560985:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) – 2008/12/30 9:19:10 ET
Table ‘Russia’ 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Rob1n ($25.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Ciriatto ($25.40 in chips)
Seat 3: SaarZocker76 ($25 in chips)
Seat 4: fatboyma ($16.75 in chips)
Seat 5: the-engel ($20.80 in chips)
Seat 6: venomous1 ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 7: Vitja83 ($37.20 in chips)
Seat 8: ForMyTiaras ($12.10 in chips)
Seat 9: albertoFD ($25 in chips)
ForMyTiaras: posts small blind $0.10
albertoFD: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [Ac 4c]
Rob1n: folds
Ciriatto: folds
SaarZocker76: folds
fatboyma: folds
the-engel: raises $0.75 to $1
venomous1: folds
Vitja83: folds
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.90
albertoFD: folds
*** FLOP *** [5d 9d 3h]
ForMyTiaras: bets $1.75
the-engel: calls $1.75
*** TURN *** [5d 9d 3h] [6c]
ForMyTiaras: bets $4
the-engel: raises $5.75 to $9.75
ForMyTiaras: calls $5.35 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.40) returned to the-engel
*** RIVER *** [5d 9d 3h 6c] [Qs]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ForMyTiaras: shows [Ac 4c] (high card Ace)
the-engel: shows [Ah As] (a pair of Aces)
the-engel collected $23.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24.45 | Rake $1.20
Board [5d 9d 3h 6c Qs]
Seat 1: Rob1n folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: Ciriatto folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: SaarZocker76 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: fatboyma folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: the-engel showed [Ah As] and won ($23.25) with a pair of Aces
Seat 6: venomous1 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: Vitja83 (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: ForMyTiaras (small blind) showed [Ac 4c] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 9: albertoFD (big blind) folded before Flop

This guy has been raising way too much preflop, each time raising 4x/5x BB. So i had to make stand with A4s in the SB. Hoping to flop a monster. But then i just bet out of position to a raggetty board, trying to represent a set, but he didn’t cave in because he had Aces. I shall be able to laydown next time, and read people’s betting patterns better before making huge bluffs like this.

Another hand with my friend Will:

PokerStars Game #23399140036:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) – 2008/12/30 10:33:06 ET
Table ‘Bredichina’ 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Omion ($25 in chips)
Seat 2: WillPoker1 ($32.60 in chips)
Seat 3: Polivanov ($4.20 in chips)
Seat 4: progre69 ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: bonzenkind23 ($14.15 in chips)
Seat 6: M.v.H ($3.10 in chips)
Seat 7: ForMyTiaras ($15.75 in chips)
Seat 8: Revager ($4.30 in chips)
Seat 9: Comanderone ($14.75 in chips)
Comanderone: posts small blind $0.10
Omion: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [9d Jc]
WillPoker1: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Polivanov: folds
progre69: folds
bonzenkind23: folds
M.v.H: folds
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.50
Revager: folds
Comanderone: folds
Omion: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jh 5c 7s]
WillPoker1: checks
ForMyTiaras: bets $1
WillPoker1: calls $1
*** TURN *** [Jh 5c 7s] [4s]
WillPoker1: checks
ForMyTiaras: bets $2.25
WillPoker1: raises $2.25 to $4.50
ForMyTiaras: calls $2.25
*** RIVER *** [Jh 5c 7s 4s] [Qs]
WillPoker1: bets $5
ForMyTiaras: calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
WillPoker1: shows [Ac 6c] (high card Ace)
ForMyTiaras: shows [9d Jc] (a pair of Jacks)
ForMyTiaras collected $21.30 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $22.35 | Rake $1.05
Board [Jh 5c 7s 4s Qs]
Seat 1: Omion (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: WillPoker1 showed [Ac 6c] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 3: Polivanov folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: progre69 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: bonzenkind23 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: M.v.H folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: ForMyTiaras showed [9d Jc] and won ($21.30) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 8: Revager (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: Comanderone (small blind) folded before Flop

And about that $40 pot I won? forget about it, i lost 3 times $15 buy-ins, so now my bankroll is $35 from $80 two hours ago. Thanks to getting KK vs AA twice. yes twice in like 2 hours. What have i learned? tight players who re-raise and re-raise REALLY have AA. but how do you lay KK down?? There is really only one hand that can beat you and that is Aces?! it’s really hard. You must be sure he is a tight player before you can do that, even so, he might be holding Queens or AKsuited?!

shall focus more on improving my game instead of being happy when my bankroll is up, or sad when it is down. I’m down 50% in the last 2 hours but funnily i don’t feel anything. I just keep thinking about the things i can improve on. Tonight, i learned to lay down Kings against tight opponent who just won’t stop re-raising.

PokerStars Game #23397212918:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) – 2008/12/30 9:01:11 ET
Table ‘Russia’ 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Rob1n ($34.35 in chips)
Seat 2: Ciriatto ($26.05 in chips)
Seat 3: SaarZocker76 ($25 in chips)
Seat 4: fatboyma ($9.75 in chips)
Seat 5: the-engel ($11.95 in chips)
Seat 7: Vitja83 ($36.05 in chips)
Seat 8: ForMyTiaras ($15.10 in chips)
Seat 9: albertoFD ($25 in chips)
SaarZocker76: posts small blind $0.10
fatboyma: posts big blind $0.25
venomous1: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [8h 8c]
the-engel: folds
Vitja83: folds
ForMyTiaras: raises $0.75 to $1
albertoFD: folds
Rob1n: folds
Ciriatto: calls $1
SaarZocker76: folds
fatboyma: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c 4c 6h]
ForMyTiaras: bets $1.75
Ciriatto: calls $1.75
*** TURN *** [3c 4c 6h] [3s]
ForMyTiaras: bets $2
Ciriatto: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [3c 4c 6h 3s] [9d]
ForMyTiaras: checks
Ciriatto: bets $4
ForMyTiaras: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Ciriatto: shows [2h 2s] (two pair, Threes and Deuces)
ForMyTiaras: shows [8h 8c] (two pair, Eights and Threes)
ForMyTiaras collected $17 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $17.85 | Rake $0.85
Board [3c 4c 6h 3s 9d]
Seat 1: Rob1n folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: Ciriatto (button) showed [2h 2s] and lost with two pair, Threes and Deuces
Seat 3: SaarZocker76 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: fatboyma (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: the-engel folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: Vitja83 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: ForMyTiaras showed [8h 8c] and won ($17) with two pair, Eights and Threes
Seat 9: albertoFD folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

I rarely dare to call people who bets into me after i’ve checked. But being attentive, i’ve made a note that this player bets into the pot once he sees weakness. So i trusted my instincts and called.

PokerStars Game #23388394297:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) – 2008/12/29 23:27:06 ET
Table ‘Syrma’ 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: I_like_monky ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 2: erick987 ($21.75 in chips)
Seat 3: scottj299 ($7 in chips)
Seat 4: bennypeaches ($25.65 in chips)
Seat 5: BIGGERJIM111 ($5 in chips)
Seat 6: mjkirby ($22.15 in chips)
Seat 8: jb1372 ($15 in chips)
Seat 9: ForMyTiaras ($16.70 in chips)
ForMyTiaras: posts small blind $0.10
I_like_monky: posts big blind $0.25
Labbat 50: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [5c Jc]
erick987: calls $0.25
scottj299: calls $0.25
bennypeaches: folds
BIGGERJIM111: folds
mjkirby: folds
jb1372: calls $0.25
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.15
I_like_monky: checks
*** FLOP *** [3d Ac Kc]
ForMyTiaras: checks
I_like_monky: checks
erick987: bets $0.25
scottj299: calls $0.25
jb1372: raises $0.50 to $0.75
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.75
I_like_monky: folds
erick987: calls $0.50
scottj299: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [3d Ac Kc] [Qd]
ForMyTiaras: checks
erick987: bets $2
scottj299: calls $2
jb1372: calls $2
ForMyTiaras: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [3d Ac Kc Qd] [9c]
ForMyTiaras: checks
erick987: bets $4
scottj299: folds
jb1372: calls $4
ForMyTiaras: raises $9.70 to $13.70 and is all-in
erick987: folds
jb1372: calls $8 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($1.70) returned to ForMyTiaras
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ForMyTiaras: shows [5c Jc] (a flush, Ace high)
jb1372: mucks hand
ForMyTiaras collected $38.30 from pot
erick987 said, “nh”
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $40.25 | Rake $1.95
Board [3d Ac Kc Qd 9c]
Seat 1: I_like_monky (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: erick987 folded on the River
Seat 3: scottj299 folded on the River
Seat 4: bennypeaches folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: BIGGERJIM111 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: mjkirby folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: jb1372 (button) mucked [4d As]
Seat 9: ForMyTiaras (small blind) showed [5c Jc] and won ($38.30) with a flush, Ace high

Needless to say I’m sooo happy. If not for pot odds i won’t even be in there. I know with 3 people calling before me, I’m getting good odds to chase my 13 outs (9 flush outs + 4 Tens), although i was pretty sure one other guy must have the 10 and was waiting for the J. But really, i was just praying for the club to come, and it did came, and it was just a perfect board for me 3 A K Q 9. It is good for high cards, good for two pairs, good for straight, and i had the flush. That’s when you rake it the money, when people have huge cards they can’t lay down. Shall not be complacent and over excited, i always get bitten whenever i get overly self-satisfied. Just stick to my game, and continue building my bankroll steadily, and be attentive on the table.

Sorry about yesterday post, i wasn’t feeling very well about being dealt a blow like that, i think maybe i should learn more restraint. Indeed before success comes an adversity. Yesterday, you can’t imagine how pissed off i was losing the sixth time in a row. I feel like i deserve much better for the way i am playing.

Today, out of instinct or out of recklessness, i decided to play another $3.40 SNG, with only $15 in my bankroll. I thought it was unwise, but i just had to give it a try. A set in early game, and a two pair in mid game set me up as one of the two chip leaders. I have a comfortable position to go into Top 3. I finally went into heads-up with this player, whom i already think he plays well, tight and only playing and raising with premium hands.

When two tight players go into Heads-up, you can expect a very long match. And indeed it was ASS long!! I don’t know, we played so many hands it seems like half an hour. Many thought running through my mind during the Heads-up, but mostly i was trying to focus on how he bets, and it really wasn’t too hard – he is tight and only bets when he has something.

I made one big mistake, which could have cost me the game. The blinds just went up to 300/600. And i was at 5000 he was at 8500 something like that. I flopped low pair, he lead out and bet 600. I kept calling all the way to the river. And he revealed mid pair. I called 1800 down just like that, should have just folded knowing he is that tight that he has to at least have mid pair to bet. Also, the blinds were just up to 600, and calling down 3 times = 1800. Compared to when the blinds were at 400 x 3= 1200. It is becoming more painful to call.

I was set down to 3000+ against his 10000 chips now. And i though i was doomed. Just 5x Big Blind. It is either All-in / Fold now. I ran bad the next 2 rounds and was down to 1700, just 3x BB. Then i caught some cards and went back to 3000. Then down again to 1800. Then he started putting me all-in. And i got to admit i was lucky here. He all-ined with Q3 and i had K4, not that bad. The table came nothing for both, and i won it. Then he went all-in again for 2700. I had Q7. I got a bad feeling that this was going to be a bad call. I just felt the strength of his hand this time, he could put me all-in 1700 with nothing, but not at 2700. I called anyway, he showed 66. I had Q7. The 7 was a relief, it is still an overcard to the 6, so i have a coin flip here. The flop came a 7, and i held up. I doubled up to 5000+ which was really encouraging. And then the final hand came, he waited a long while and then went all-in for 5400, and was I praying for that actually because i held KK!! I wasn’t too pleased to see his Ace though to be honest. Flop came three jacks and blanks and i took the win!

I said “what a long game gg” he replied “very gg”. Indeed.. I think we exchanged the lead so many times. I was leading, then he won a little, then i came back a small lead, then he totally owned me with set and i was down to shortstack. Build it up again to 5000, and then the above happened, then shortstacked again, just struggling with 3x BB, then doubled up twice, and then calling the all-in with Kings. Phew! I couldn’t be more happy with this result. So i lost 6 games in a row, then the last one i caught 1st position! and i believe i earned this one.. i played to my strengths i think which is Patience, Folding and Trapping. Patience is very important, to not go on tilt even when shortstacked, to not be reckless with big stack. Folding is basically folding the cards you think are not the best even though it seems marginal, fold it because calling when the blinds are big costs you a lot! Trapping is basically if you have a Big Hand in the small blind like AK or KK, just call instead of raising to induce your opponent to raise or bet all-in. This can also be done with sets and two pairs on the flop, but with caution of course. It is a very good strategy to use against semi-loose players who tend to raise pre-flop a lot. But it is not very useful against tight players as they would just normally check the big blind and fold to any bet on the flop.

Won $13.50!! Not bad.. Now I’m back to $25, certainly more encouraging than being in the Tens. Will think about the game more, and hopefully be more focused when reading my Sitngo book. Really feel like buying Theory of Poker by Sklansky, but i already have it in pdf form. I think a book whether it’s real or in the computer it doesn’t make much of a difference, if you have the will to read, you will read it even if it is only on pdf. I mean i use to think i can’t read a pdf on the computer because it’s too troublesome bla bla bla, but now that I finally bought a real book, i find that I don’t even feel like reading it! So if you want to read you will read it no matter what. Discipline>Feeling.

I can 2 table $1 SNGs and win both. However, I can’t beat even one $3 SNG. What the HELL is happening?!?!

I admit it was due to some mistake i made that i crashed out the first couple of times i played, but it’s still no explaining why i’ve lost 6 $3.40 SNG in a row now, all finishing in either 5th or 6th place.

What made me mad was this last one i just played. I played by the book, totally self-controlled, folding AQo and A10s to raises. Yet it didn’t pay off. The blinds were just up to 100/200. I was 1100, just 5x BB. Everyone folded to me in the small blind. I went all-in, and the big blind thought for a while, and called.

I revealed 10 10. He showed Ad Kd. WTF!!!

ok it’s still a coin flip. But seriously man, with the best hand i’ve been dealt all day, i don’t deserve to be called by AK suited in the big blind.

The flop came 2 diamonds and a queen. I was like fcuk this. now he has extra 9 outs. Next card was a King, and there was no straight to save me, so i’m out just like that. This is bullshit.

I know I’m such a cry baby right now, but i just gotta let this out. I’m just really pissed off with LUCK right now. It’s playing a sick joke on me.

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [Ac Ah]
ShortStackak: raises $0.20 to $0.30
ForMyTiaras: raises $0.30 to $0.60
Dr.Zoid579: calls $0.60
Lucky Lures: folds
lovegun3: folds
FireballKid1: folds
mshapiro4: folds
jimb118: folds
hailsaliaise: calls $0.50
ShortStackak: calls $0.30
*** FLOP *** [Qs Kh 9c]
jimb118 leaves the table
bmlm joins the table at seat #6
hailsaliaise: checks
ShortStackak: bets $3
ForMyTiaras: calls $3
Dr.Zoid579: calls $2.30 and is all-in
hailsaliaise: folds
*** TURN *** [Qs Kh 9c] [3s]
ShortStackak: bets $4.50
ForMyTiaras: calls $4.45 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.05) returned to ShortStackak
*** RIVER *** [Qs Kh 9c 3s] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ShortStackak: shows [Td Jd] (a straight, Nine to King)
ForMyTiaras: mucks hand
ShortStackak collected $9.80 from side pot
Dr.Zoid579: mucks hand
ShortStackak collected $8.90 from main pot
ShortStackak said, “ty”

I really need to lay down against strong bets. And i didn’t even think of J10.. i was thinking Q9 K9 or KQ. Shud’ve raise more preflop, don’t slow play the aces! $8 gone just like that.

PokerStars Game #23232185813:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) – 2008/12/25 2:04:35 ET
Table ‘Barto II’ 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: sibiheight ($5 in chips)
Seat 2: Slaughtered4 ($11.15 in chips)
Seat 3: kinki wizard ($12.25 in chips)
Seat 4: ibaCker ($10 in chips)
Seat 5: metagamed ($11.15 in chips)
Seat 6: ForMyTiaras ($5.85 in chips)
sibiheight: posts small blind $0.05
Slaughtered4: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [Kc Jd]
kinki wizard: folds
ibaCker: folds
metagamed: folds
ForMyTiaras: raises $0.20 to $0.30
sibiheight: calls $0.25
Slaughtered4: folds
*** FLOP *** [9d Qc Ks]
sibiheight: checks
ForMyTiaras: bets $0.30
sibiheight: calls $0.30
*** TURN *** [9d Qc Ks] [8h]
sibiheight: bets $0.40
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.40
*** RIVER *** [9d Qc Ks 8h] [Kh]
sibiheight: bets $4 and is all-in
ForMyTiaras: folds
Uncalled bet ($4) returned to sibiheight
sibiheight collected $2 from pot
sibiheight: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.10 | Rake $0.10
Board [9d Qc Ks 8h Kh]
Seat 1: sibiheight (small blind) collected ($2)
Seat 2: Slaughtered4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: kinki wizard folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: ibaCker folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: metagamed folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: ForMyTiaras (button) folded on the River

I almost called that $4, but luckily i had the discipline and restraint!! I thought of J 10, but it seems unlikely, but when i think it might be a slow played 99 or QQ considering how he insta called pre-flop, i decided there are many hands that would have me beat. Looking back i think it is a 99. But it might also be a QK. What do you think??

I lost $10 early today playing 2 cash game table $0.05/$0.10, then won $20 back, now i just lost $10. I play 37% of my hands which is way too much. This following hand ended my session… it’s just… sad.

PokerStars Game #23233242399:  Hold’em No Limit ($0.05/$0.10) – 2008/12/25 3:39:03 ET
Table ‘Barto II’ 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: sibiheight ($14.40 in chips)
Seat 2: Slaughtered4 ($23.15 in chips)
Seat 3: DragonzPlay ($10.35 in chips)
Seat 4: homesy_mick ($14 in chips)
Seat 6: ForMyTiaras ($1.60 in chips)
sibiheight: posts small blind $0.05
Slaughtered4: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ForMyTiaras [Kd Kc]
DragonzPlay: folds
cjcab leaves the table
homesy_mick: calls $0.10
ForMyTiaras: raises $0.20 to $0.30
sibiheight: folds
Slaughtered4: folds
homesy_mick: calls $0.20
*** FLOP *** [4c Js 5h]
homesy_mick: checks
ForMyTiaras: bets $0.30
homesy_mick: calls $0.30
*** TURN *** [4c Js 5h] [Qd]
homesy_mick: checks
ForMyTiaras: bets $0.40
homesy_mick: calls $0.40
*** RIVER *** [4c Js 5h Qd] [Ks]
homesy_mick: bets $0.60
ForMyTiaras: calls $0.60 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
homesy_mick: shows [9h Td] (a straight, Nine to King)
ForMyTiaras: mucks hand
homesy_mick collected $3.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.35 | Rake $0.15
Board [4c Js 5h Qd Ks]
Seat 1: sibiheight (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Slaughtered4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: DragonzPlay folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: homesy_mick showed [9h Td] and won ($3.20) with a straight, Nine to King
Seat 6: ForMyTiaras (button) mucked [Kd Kc]

Just played 2 sit’n'gos together and got 1st for both :) I’m so happy for myself right now. I don’t want to recount any of the hands anymore because i don’t really remember, but there is one that stands out.

J 6 3 7

i hold [6 7]

i bet like half the pot, he re-raises 3x, just short of me going all in so i went all-in. Mentally praying for another 6 or 7 to come, and a 6 really came on the river. Completing my full house.

He showed [4 5]

Then i realised i didn’t deserve the win. I didn’t even notice there was a possible straight on the board, that’s what happens when a card improves your hand you get blinded by the possibility that it might also be giving your opponent a hand. I was putting my opponent at like J pair or something because we both checked the flop and looked weak with no hands.

After this bad beat i thought, i must play right so i don’t waste these chips that are handed to me (by luck).

One heads-up i was 5000 vs 8000 and manage to win an all-in through my AJvs KJ, and then later my 88 vs K9. He played so tight and never contested any bets i made on the flop. And when he made something on the flop i just folded. Raised quite a lot preflop and it worked.

The other heads-up was more standard, like 10000 vs 2000 and i can’t remember the last hand even.

Just thrilled, hope it’s the improvement in my game that has brought me this result rather than any freakish luck. I have managed to Top3 in half of my sitngos, a good percentage of the cashes of which are 1st. So i am confident in massing these $1 sitngos. $7 profit tastes good ? slightly..

I am very inspired after watching Tom “durrrr” Dwan play live on Full Tilt. I can’t believe i’m watching him play, he’s like my idol at the moment. He’s one year younger than i am, and already leading a great life, and he’s just a monster on online cash games. I think his personality is pretty good too, infact i think most of the internet phenoms seems like nice people – Brian “sbrugby” Townsend, David Benefield, and Tom Dwan.

Now i have an added motivation to mass games on Pokerstars, much like how i massed games on Warcraft Bnet when i was aiming for ranking. I think it’s a good way to occupy my mind, and get me engaged. I like the feeling of my mind being engrossed on something, my attention grabbed my an acitivty for an amount of time.

Will mass more $1 sitngos, and hope to progress to $3 sitngos. Bought a book “Sit’n Go Strategy” by Collin Moshman, i loved this book the first time i read it in the bookstore finally got to buy it. It hasn’t dissapoint so far, the fact that he himself has been so successful at sitngos makes me comfortable reading the book, this is someone who has been there and “crushed $215 buy-in SNGs”.. so if he is at that level, even the smallest information will help me gain an edge on the <$10 sitngos right? I just need to cash in constantly in these $5/$10 SNGs to earn a decent amount of money everyday.

Hope to learn more about poker, in-depth, and spar more live. Somehow online doesn’t seem too real sometimes, still real live poker brings an added motivation because of the ‘real’ social interactions. And also good friends are made in real life.

I have been not wanting to post on this blog, partly because i’ve been out more these days, which is a good thing. I found poker buddies who i play live poker with, and it’s been fun, very fun! It can be fun if i manage to cash out more but it’s been good so far.

Last 5 sitngos we play i manage to finish 2nd twice and 3rd thrice! It’s the 3rd places that really hurt my bankroll.. Since 2nd gets $35-60 while 3rd leaves with nothing. I have been playing right, except for this once i called with a big chunk of my chips without realizing, other than that i can say i have made the right decisions as i know of.

It might be wierd to say this, but i think that i am too self-satisfied, that is why luck is bestowed upon the one i’m up against. Each crucial hand i play that would decide between cashing or crashing out 3rd, i have mostly lost them. His two hearts meets 3 hearts on the table, then AQ vs QJ and got rivered a J. I like to think i made the right decisions, and that is all i can do. But now i’m thinking, maybe i should be less cocky and respect the flop, because these times my opponents usually have the “i surrender” tone to them, and they river good cards. You must think i’m crazy to think that any way we think/act can affect the flop in anyway, but repeated events have got me thinking that it might be true.

For example, With AQ vs AJ lets say, i would try to think this “Ace Ace Ace Ace Ace Queen Queen Queen Queen Queen” instead of “NO JACK PLEASEEE”. Because i use to do the latter and what you fear and focus on comes to you – kinda like the law of attraction thing. Well if it doesn’t hurt to mentally pray for good cards, maybe we should. Even Matusow said cards come to people who are positive and are attracting them.

For now i can only do mental praying, but the best sort of prayer is always surrendering. Luck seems to side with the vulnerable and against the cocky… but what can i do to change these tendencies?! I don’t know, i only hope that our mind and attitude doesn’t affect reality that much, and that i’m thinking too much! Shall be positive and work work work towards what i love.