update

Well, I have been dealing with a downswing the last 10 days or so, which is frustrating. I have seen a lot of cold decks and for some unexplainable reasons cannot seem to win a coin flip, not even when I am ahead, which is 90% of the time. It has been very odd because I feel that I have played incredibly well and that just adds to the frustration. It is part of the game obviously so I try not to think about it too much and just keep plugging along.

I have been playing more MTTs lately and have been playing really well, going pretty deep in a number of them. I think my play has evolved into something that will be more successful long term. Although, I misplayed AKss yesterday very badly by over-thinking the situation. I intend to go over a couple HHs today and set up some guidelines that will be my poker philosophy. I am going to help myself by eliminating some of those tough decisions that we face. Obviously, each hand is a world of its own, but by using M calculations and number of BBs left I think I can simplify the game a little. I made a really bad laydown because my stack was at an awkward size and I gave my opponent too much credit, when I should have been happy, I was confused. It won't happen again, period, when it comes to that situation.


Aggression is the key and the more times you can be brutally aggressive the more times you will be successful. I had a perfect hand a couple days ago where I played 86ss and hit top pair and a flush draw. I was ck/raised on the flop a significant amount and just called, when I should have shoved this person. I played this hand and hit the almost perfect on the flop. I had two 8s, three 6s, and 9 hearts that could give me the winning hand. That is 14 outs on the flop. I should take charge right then and either double up, early, or go home, which is fine because I was playing many other tournaments. 14 outs on the flop using the rule of 4/2 we multiplay 4 by 14 and get 56% chance of hitting our hand. With that kind of percentage I should have shoved to the reraise and let the cards fall.

This is a situation that I misplayed badly and ended up crippling myself because of it. it won't happen again. When playing speculative hands you have to be willing to go for broke if you hit your draw hard. So many people out there will be betting flops with nothing, ESPECIALLY after raising preflop that you have to be willing to put the maximum pressure on them.

I have had great success picking up more pots lately by playing more hands and picking up pots that nobody wants. These are chips that in the past I would not have had in my stack and I would have been in trouble sooner because of this.

I still feel that 2007 is going to be huge for me and I am very confident that I will win something this year, which will be nice, but I am looking for a lot of final tables. If I could just find a way to have my hands hold, lol. Poker is fickle and there is nothing anyone can do about the donkeys that call raises with K2ss and hit the flop perfect when we have top pair and get it all in, oops.

Remember, don't get mad at the donkeys that make assinine calls when they should fold. If they hit, just remember that you played it well and move one. It is hard, but necessary.

A new year

Well, this year has gotten off to a great start with some spectacular football games. Boise State, I must apologize. After rooting for you and watching until that fateful interception I watched something on the DVR and gave up on you. Oh, it does happen from time to time that the miracle happens, and I have seen my share, which is why I usually will not turn away, but I was so disappointed in the effort late in the game and so I turned away. What an amazing finish. If you have not seen it, I hear you can download a 20min clip on Itunes of the game. Truly amazing.

I have been busy reading the many many poker books that my wife, bless her heart, got for me for Christmas. All top notch and interesting books, my wish list is empty at this point.

I think that this year is going to be a very very good one for me. I am going to strive to eliminate negativity of any kind around me so that my poker playing can be without distraction. It is my goal this year to money some big tourneys, and if it is God's will I hope to win a seat to play in the WSOP main event this year.

I hope you all have a great 2007.