All Things Poker

Apparently making poker decisions is harder than recognizing that you need to make them. I started this session with a bang when my first hand, pocket 5s hit a set and got me a caller until the river and a $50 profit. After that small whirlwind hand I took the opportunity to look closer at stack sizes, and any familiar faces. I was in seat 5 with two large ($600+) stacks on seat 7 and 8. There was also a large stack on seat 3 and an aggressive and creative player directly to my left. I should have put in for a table change, but you know me, why make a good decision when you can make a bad one? I opted to stay where I was.

The Good Read: Seat 8 (former big stack) had taken a bad beat or two and was down to $400. He wasn’t a crazy player and didn’t step out of line often if at all. It is his small blind when I pick up kings and make it $10 to go. The button (seat 7), Seat 8, 9 and 10 call. The flop comes 6, 4, 3, and the small blind freezes. He takes so long to make a move that the big blind checks, and the under the gun position motions to the small blind. Seat 8 finally checks, as does everyone else so that the action is on me. Now here is the good read. I knew the small blind was strong. I suspected he had hit his straight, possible two-pair. So, I need to confirm it. I bet $45 into this $50 pot and only the small blind calls. Yep, he’s got the goods I suspect he does. The turn comes a jack. He checks.

The Bad Bet: Unable to act on my read, I push all in (that will get him to fold right?). He calls, and flips over pocket 6s. The river is a jack. I re-buy. Here is the beginning of the end for me mostly because I know I have made another myriad of bad decisions. I knew I should have put in for a table change, I knew he had the goods against my kings, I knew that I should not have pushed, I knew that if I was making all these bad decisions that I shouldn’t re-buy, but I reiterate: Why make a good decision when you can make a bad one?

The Ugly Hand: KQ. I hate that hand. I don’t say that because I lost with KQ in this session. I say that because I lose with it *every* session. I have long struggled with how to play that hand. It is so easily dominated. On coordinated boards it is so easily “two paired” (ie dominated). I can’t make money on that hand and it’s frustrating to always lose with them. Their presence mocks me. They know I hate them. They show up just to tease me, to tantalize me with their “top 10 status” only to pull the rug out from under me. They are the white whale to my poker game, only I am not out to get them, I have decided my goal is to run away from them. Big stack in seat 3 raises in middle position when I pick up “The Ugly Hand”. I call. The flop is K, J, 5. He bets, I consider raising to find out where I am, but I call. The turn is a 9. He bets, I consider that he either has AK or I have him beat. I call. The River is a king, he bets. Crap! Why did it have to be a king? I was willing to lay it down if he bet again. I briefly consider raising (because only a better hand will call right?) and a ray of sanity keeps me from that action. I call. He flips over KJ for the boat. Well of course he wins, I had The Ugly. At this point I concede that I am tilted beyond repair and leave the table immediately. Fricken KQ. My new promise to myself after that session was to fold KQ outright, every time I see it.

Stats:

P/L: ($316)
Hourly Rate: ($97.23)

Tags:   Lost MoneyNo Comments