Day 23: Bad Approach to Poker

Not very happy with myself about my Friday night session at Hustler. First of all, I really didn't have time to get a good session in. I went to Hustler with the mindset of winning a few big hands and leaving. This caused me to try and chase big pots and play too many hands, hoping to get lucky on a flop (which creates more draws).

Basically I got off work at 6 pm and had to be at a dinner at 8 pm in Orange County. Hustler is about 45 minutes away from work and 30 minutes from OC. So I was planning to go and play for an hour max, as Hustler is on the way. I ended up staying at Hustler from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm and losing $600 (two buy-ins at the $100-$300 table).

I lost a big hand when I had K-9 in the big blind. The button raised a four-way limped pot to $25. I called (didn't belive him) and then another tight player with a huge stack called. The flop came 7-8-9 with two diamonds and I came out betting $35 to see if I would get raised by an overpair. The tight big stack called quickly and so did the button. The turn was another 9 (no diamond). This is where I really misplayed the hand. I was worried about the tight big stack. I hadn't seen him play many hands and he called me really quickly on the flop. I should have went all-in but I only bet $100. He called me quickly again and the button folded. The river was a diamond. I checked and he put me all-in for another hundred. This is where I should have folded. There were so many hands that could beat me: any flush, any full house, any straight. I called and he showed Jd6d for the rivered flush.

I bought back in and was crippled down to $100 when I got KK under the gun. I called the blind hoping for a re-raise and only two people called the blind so the pot was at about $20. The flop came K-9-5 rainbow. I checked, other player checked, button bet $25. Other player called, I called. Turn was a four and I checked again. Both of the other players checked. The river was an ace, which I loved to see. The first player bet out $30 and I went all-in for like $70. The button called and then the other player called the $70 also. The first player showed 4-5 for two pair and the button showed A-9 for two pair. In retrospect I played this hand pretty well and was lucky to triple up when one player caught two pair on the turn and the other player caught two pair on the river. They were both actually drawing dead after the turn.

After the KK I started catching a lot of strong hands. I had AQ and raised to 15. The cutoff on my left called with KJ (I saw his cards, lol) and the button called. Then the small blind, who sucked and just came from a $50 table for the first time ever playing a bigger game went all-in for $90. Then the big blind (the "drunk") called the $90 with only $100 left. I went all-in for $400 and the two players on my left folded. Then the drunk thought for a while and went all-in for his remaining $100. The floop came 5-5-K, turn 5 river x. The drunk shows K-2 for the winner and I lose. The button also said he folded K-Q so the drunk caught a one-outer, but I think the all-in small blind must've had at least an ace for a chop with me and probably a pair.

From there the drunk started getting so lucky and busted me on my final hand. Drunk raises to $10 pre-flop, two callers and I'm in the blind with K-10. Flop comes Q-J-J. Drunk bets $15 (weak) button raises to $45. I thought the button had a Q at best and felt weakness from the drunk. I called and so did the drunk. Now the button is worried. Turn is an 8 and everyone checks. The river is a blank and I checked, then the drunk bets another weak $25. The button is worried and calls the $25. I then push for $200, knowing no one has the jack. Unfortunately the drunk calls me with KQ and takes the pot.

It was a night where people hit their draws on me and I couldn't hit a draw, but I honestly don't even feel those anymore. I used to feel bad beats like "daaaamn that lucky SOB" but now I just feel like he paid for it, he got it, I'll get it back. The only time I feel bad at the table is when I miss my draw and feel stupid for chasing it.

I'm really disappointed in myself for (1) showing up to Hustler with such a limited time frame and (2) losing $600 when I actually had some strong hands to win some money. It's just hard to player poker for an hour or two because you feel forced to not only create action but chase action as well. Then when I missed, I made a bad play at the pot with a bluff. My final hand wasn't necessarily a bad play (it could have been a good play) but considering the player I was bluffing, it was suicide. I know more than anyone that drunks call down with anything, so it was ridiculous of me to think I could bluff him off the pot. The other thing that sucks is that my table was pretty sorry and predictable and I had to leave.

Now I'm tight with money again and even though I'm up a little this month, it feels like I'm down.

On another note, I was able to go to a studio this weekend and knocked out five tracks, which felt really good. I'm pretty rusty in the studio and I surprised myself and my producer with the efficiency that we were able to finish the songs. I'm looking forward to getting in the studio a lot more and making some quality music.

Summary: 1.5 hours (6:45p - 8:15p), -600 (one table)

Friday Night:
200NL: -600
Overall: -600
Hourly: -400/Hr.

To date:
4/8 Limit: +201
6/12 Limit: +170
40 NL: -119
100 NL: -114
200 NL: +7503
December: +270
Overall: +7641