My game... exposed. (Sorry, it's a long one).

I got a message from, I think, my one loyal reader who’s been reading about my poker exploits since they first started two years ago on this blog. It said the following:

Hey, something seems off here...in 5 months you did not put in very many hands, I dont think...are you simply playing one table at all times...?

I dont know...granted, i'm not good enough at poker to really judge but it seems to me that at this point you've got no results to show for the effort. You must have WAY more leaks than you realize or care to think about, because frankly, with your discipline, the fact that you're playing so few hands for such small stakes after all this time just doesnt make sense.

I think you need to really reflect on your game, what you are somehow missing in terms of theory or practice that is holding you back so much.

I've been an avid follower of your blog and i've been reading it for at least a year, if not 2. I read a lot of two plus two and it seems that those who are decent enough at poker get out of the microstakes within a few months or a year...but you're still there, toiling away. Something is missing and you need to figure out what it is, methinks.

To respond to that. I’m not sure if I haven’t been playing less hands than usual (with the exception of October when I didn’t play at all due to generally being pissed off with the whole thing. Since my staking deal (which is still ongoing) I have played about 25,000 hands. That started in July so it’s clear from that that I’m a recreational player.

You are right, gniz. I’m very honest when I need to be and I definitely have many leaks in my game – like most players at my stakes. I’m not aggressive enough, I fold too much and so on and so on. I don’t take enough risks so I loss quite a number of mid-sized pots. But that’s nothing new, I’ve always been like that. So all I can say is with all the leaks I’ve always had how have I gone from being a winning player to a losing player over the past five months. Variance? It could be but I’m not about to use that as excuse. The simple answer is I don’t know. It’s possible that with moving up from 10NL to 20NL I’m being outplayed, but I find the theory of a vast difference in skill between the two levels highly unlikely.

As with everything in poker, to get to the bottom of this, it requires a whole load of discussion and analysis. So here’s the anatomy of a very typical session that I’ve had that reflect precisely how the last five months have been. I’m warning you, this is going to be a long one.

I’m posting all the significant hands that dictating the session and proved to be interesting/tough decision to make.

***** Hand History for Game 1303427946 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:10:19 ET 2008
Table Cobar (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: DivinIvan ( $5.06 USD )
Seat 5: Toni2112 ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 6: madgali ( $5.83 USD )
Seat 8: Tesla1979 ( $24.29 USD )
Seat 10: RTRFelix ( $20.00 USD )
Tesla1979 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Tc Kd ]
DivinIvan folds
Toni2112 calls [$0.20 USD]
madgali folds
Tesla1979 calls [$0.10 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
Toni2112 calls [$0.80 USD]
Tesla1979 folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qc, 8d, 4d ]
RTRFelix bets [$1.60 USD]
Toni2112 calls [$1.60 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7c ]
RTRFelix checks
Toni2112 bets [$2.70 USD]
RTRFelix folds
Toni2112 wins $7.83 USD from main pot

Nothing too untoward about this hand. I might have the best hand but there seems little point in gambling for a small pot. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303429604 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:11:00 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: thatDRUNKguy ( $3.70 USD )
Seat 3: brunodakite8 ( $7.45 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $2.78 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 8: LINGM ( $10.70 USD )
Seat 10: noldini555 ( $30.13 USD )
gtiandy posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 5d 8d ]
LINGM folds
noldini555 folds
thatDRUNKguy folds
brunodakite8 calls [$0.20 USD]
gtiandy calls [$0.10 USD]
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5s, 8h, 8s ]
gtiandy bets [$0.40 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.40 USD]
brunodakite8 raises [$7.25 USD]
gtiandy folds
RTRFelix calls [$6.85 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
** Dealing River ** [ 9d ]
RTRFelix wins $14.73 USD from main pot
brunodakite8 shows [Ad, Kc ]

Any early gift in the session. Thanks. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303436047 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:13:45 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Seat 1: thatDRUNKguy ( $3.70 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $4.63 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $27.38 USD )
Seat 8: LINGM ( $10.40 USD )
Seat 10: noldini555 ( $27.65 USD )
gtiandy posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ac Ah ]
LINGM folds
noldini555 folds
thatDRUNKguy folds
gtiandy calls [$0.10 USD]
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 6d, Qs, 3h ]
gtiandy bets [$0.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.20 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2c ]
gtiandy bets [$0.60 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$1.80 USD]
gtiandy calls [$1.20 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Qh ]
gtiandy bets [$2.43 USD]
RTRFelix folds
gtiandy wins $6.61 USD from main pot

I couldn’t put him on anything other than a queen once he called my check raise. He was pretty loose but a fold seemed obvious to me. Irritating but I played in a funky way so I must expect funky situations. However with a 69 vpip I should have just raised preflop to get some money in. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303454416 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:21:34 ET 2008
Table Chandler (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: Zigauner ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 3: RTRFelix ( $20.62 USD )
Seat 5: rawezh ( $10.63 USD )
Seat 6: Fireknight31 ( $36.01 USD )
Seat 8: richmuka ( $5.13 USD )
Seat 10: k3itH ( $25.62 USD )
rawezh posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Fireknight31 posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Kd As ]
richmuka folds
k3itH calls [$0.20 USD]
Zigauner folds
RTRFelix raises [$1.00 USD]
rawezh calls [$0.90 USD]
Fireknight31 folds
k3itH calls [$0.80 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2h, 6d, 5d ]
rawezh checks
k3itH checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.40 USD]
rawezh folds
k3itH calls [$2.40 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4d ]
k3itH checks
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing River ** [ Js ]
k3itH checks
RTRFelix checks
k3itH wins $7.60 USD from main pot
k3itH shows [3d, 3h ]

Perhaps the biggest leak in my game is that I don’t not know when I can get people to fold hands. I probably could have got this guy to fold by the river but I just don’t know how to do that. Whenever I have tried it I it has worked so rarely that I just can’t work out when it’s right to do it. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303463917 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:25:37 ET 2008
Table Savannah (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: dunder82 ( $26.61 USD )
Seat 3: ROSIER01 ( $10.15 USD )
Seat 5: Folder1706 ( $18.10 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.10 USD )
Seat 8: tommyxx74xx ( $9.25 USD )
Seat 10: izzyfisher ( $42.60 USD )
Folder1706 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 6d 4h ]
tommyxx74xx folds
izzyfisher folds
dunder82 calls [$0.20 USD]
ROSIER01 calls [$0.20 USD]
Folder1706 folds
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qc, 5d, 7s ]
RTRFelix checks
dunder82 bets [$0.35 USD]
ROSIER01 calls [$0.35 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.35 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2h ]
RTRFelix checks
dunder82 bets [$0.80 USD]
ROSIER01 calls [$0.80 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.80 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 7h ]
RTRFelix checks
dunder82 checks
ROSIER01 bets [$8.80 USD]
RTRFelix folds
dunder82 folds
ROSIER01 wins $12.75 USD from main pot

This is another hand which is typical of recent months, never hitting my draw when the potential is there to make a load of cash. Raise on the flop? Well I could have done, looks like I would have had to fold to a big reraise though. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303478962 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:31:54 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: aaby ( $5.47 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $12.37 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $16.97 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $23.73 USD )
gtiandy posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 9d 9h ]
aaby folds
thebrownlow folds
gtiandy calls [$0.10 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$0.40 USD]
gtiandy calls [$0.40 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Td, 6s, 8s ]
gtiandy bets [$1.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$1.20 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Tc ]
gtiandy checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.60 USD]
gtiandy calls [$2.60 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 2d ]
gtiandy checks
RTRFelix checks
gtiandy wins $8.36 USD from main pot
gtiandy shows [7s, Th ]

So the same guy I confronted before I know now that he’s a wild man. But the board is pretty congested and I just know, just know he’s got something. All this does in reinforce the feeling that I’ve got good instincts to pick out a rat even when the guy is very loose. Probably lost the minimum but there again. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303481345 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:32:54 ET 2008
Table Cobar (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Seat 1: Teddybaer699 ( $17.15 USD )
Seat 3: IdomIn8uall ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 5: rawezh ( $6.42 USD )
Seat 6: Batakliev ( $18.35 USD )
Seat 10: RTRFelix ( $24.76 USD )
Teddybaer699 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
IdomIn8uall posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Qs Td ]
rawezh calls [$0.20 USD]
Batakliev folds
RTRFelix calls [$0.20 USD]
Teddybaer699 calls [$0.10 USD]
IdomIn8uall checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9c, 8d, Qd ]
Teddybaer699 checks
IdomIn8uall checks
rawezh checks
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ts ]
Teddybaer699 checks
IdomIn8uall checks
rawezh checks
RTRFelix bets [$0.80 USD]
Teddybaer699 folds
IdomIn8uall calls [$0.80 USD]
rawezh folds
** Dealing River ** [ 4h ]
IdomIn8uall checks
RTRFelix checks
IdomIn8uall wins $2.28 USD from main pot
IdomIn8uall shows [7s, Js ]

I guess I should attack, attack, attack, but even if I did raise preflop to get rid of the junk, how do I play that flop if I walk into any aggression. I played this hand, and play many hands like this to a small pot or a monster pot (when I flop straights and full houses) but avoid losing medium sizes pots which I could easily have done here. Again, I’m avoiding the trap. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303489646 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:36:22 ET 2008
Table Chandler (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: mamastar ( $7.97 USD )
Seat 3: RTRFelix ( $19.60 USD )
Seat 5: eskelito ( $15.03 USD )
Seat 6: Fireknight31 ( $41.46 USD )
Seat 8: Schmunzelhase ( $19.80 USD )
Seat 10: k3itH ( $24.99 USD )
Schmunzelhase posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
k3itH posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 8c 6c ]
mamastar calls [$0.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.20 USD]
eskelito calls [$0.20 USD]
Fireknight31 folds
Schmunzelhase calls [$0.10 USD]
k3itH checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8d, Qc, Jh ]
Schmunzelhase checks
k3itH folds
mamastar checks
RTRFelix checks
eskelito checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
Schmunzelhase checks
mamastar checks
RTRFelix bets [$0.60 USD]
eskelito calls [$0.60 USD]
Schmunzelhase folds
mamastar folds
** Dealing River ** [ 4h ]
RTRFelix bets [$1.40 USD]
eskelito calls [$1.40 USD]
RTRFelix wins $4.75 USD from main pot
eskelito shows [8s, Ts ]

Again, just looking to win a small pot and I did exactly that with the right betting amounts. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303491546 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:37:11 ET 2008
Table Savannah (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: dunder82 ( $32.89 USD )
Seat 3: ROSIER01 ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 5: Folder1706 ( $19.60 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.20 USD )
Seat 8: tommyxx74xx ( $13.86 USD )
Seat 10: izzyfisher ( $42.99 USD )
RTRFelix posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
tommyxx74xx posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
ROSIER01 posts big blind [$0.30 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 5h 4s ]
izzyfisher folds
dunder82 calls [$0.20 USD]
ROSIER01 checks
Folder1706 calls [$0.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.10 USD]
tommyxx74xx checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4h, 5s, 5d ]
RTRFelix checks
tommyxx74xx checks
dunder82 checks
ROSIER01 checks
Folder1706 checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 2d ]
RTRFelix bets [$0.60 USD]
tommyxx74xx folds
dunder82 folds
ROSIER01 calls [$0.60 USD]
Folder1706 folds
** Dealing River ** [ 4c ]
RTRFelix bets [$1.40 USD]
ROSIER01 calls [$1.40 USD]
RTRFelix wins $4.85 USD from main pot
ROSIER01 shows [Ad, 8s ]

Dunno how I get anymore money out of him than that. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303495850 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:38:58 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: aaby ( $9.99 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $14.16 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $19.40 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.20 USD )
Seat 8: Satomi84 ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 10: cavallaro01 ( $9.70 USD )
gtiandy posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Th Tc ]
Satomi84 folds
cavallaro01 folds
aaby calls [$0.20 USD]
thebrownlow folds
gtiandy calls [$0.10 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$0.40 USD]
aaby calls [$0.40 USD]
gtiandy calls [$0.40 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2c, 6c, 4d ]
gtiandy checks
RTRFelix bets [$1.20 USD]
aaby folds
gtiandy calls [$1.20 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ac ]
gtiandy bets [$4.20 USD]
RTRFelix folds
gtiandy wins $8.19 USD from main pot

That same weirdo again. Do I want to bother with such a small amount in the pot?

***** Hand History for Game 1303502885 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:42:01 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: aaby ( $9.39 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $14.16 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $20.59 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 8: Satomi84 ( $21.42 USD )
Seat 10: cavallaro01 ( $9.50 USD )
cavallaro01 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
aaby posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ac Qc ]
thebrownlow raises [$0.40 USD]
gtiandy folds
RTRFelix raises [$1.60 USD]
Satomi84 folds
cavallaro01 folds
aaby calls [$1.40 USD]
thebrownlow calls [$1.20 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5s, Ad, 5d ]
aaby checks
thebrownlow checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.60 USD]
aaby folds
thebrownlow raises [$5.80 USD]
RTRFelix folds
thebrownlow wins $12.80 USD from main pot

Now this is a razor thin decision but like other hands I just can’t work out what I beat here. Two people have come to the flop with me here on a three bet. It’s a pretty dry flop so I’m either way ahead or way behind and the arsehole min-checkraises which is always a bad sign. His fold to 3bet was 50% and his CR was 20% so it is quite high. I either shove or fold here and I decided to fold. Really don’t know to be honest. In hindsight possibly a bad fold. But your critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303516152 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:47:51 ET 2008
Table Savannah (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 1: dunder82 ( $38.21 USD )
Seat 3: dahomster ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 5: Folder1706 ( $24.60 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $21.55 USD )
Seat 8: tommyxx74xx ( $2.65 USD )
Seat 10: izzyfisher ( $42.26 USD )
Folder1706 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 9h 5s ]
tommyxx74xx calls [$0.20 USD]
izzyfisher calls [$0.20 USD]
dunder82 folds
dahomster folds
Folder1706 folds
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, 3d, 5d ]
RTRFelix bets [$0.60 USD]
tommyxx74xx calls [$0.60 USD]
izzyfisher raises [$2.00 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$1.40 USD]
tommyxx74xx folds
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qd ]
RTRFelix checks
izzyfisher bets [$3.40 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 2d ]
izzyfisher wins $8.44 USD from main pot
izzyfisher shows [Ad, Ah ]

Something went wrong here with a disconnect protect kicking in. I probably would have played it to the river and folded the four flush board. I was in the big blind so it’s hard to justify going nuts when I have no idea what he’s got. But you critique….

***** Hand History for Game 1303531447 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:54:38 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: aaby ( $10.46 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $28.88 USD )
Seat 5: gtiandy ( $19.86 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $18.70 USD )
Seat 8: Satomi84 ( $19.50 USD )
Seat 10: cavallaro01 ( $6.60 USD )
cavallaro01 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
aaby posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Jd 9d ]
thebrownlow folds
gtiandy calls [$0.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.20 USD]
Satomi84 folds
cavallaro01 calls [$0.10 USD]
aaby checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qc, Ts, 3s ]
cavallaro01 checks
aaby bets [$0.20 USD]
gtiandy raises [$0.40 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.40 USD]
cavallaro01 folds
aaby calls [$0.20 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Tc ]
aaby bets [$1.00 USD]
gtiandy calls [$1.00 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$1.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Kc ]
aaby checks
gtiandy checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.50 USD]
aaby folds
gtiandy calls [$2.50 USD]
RTRFelix wins $9.50 USD from main pot
gtiandy shows [Td, 6s ]

Getting some of my money back from this guy which was inevitable I would say. Raising the flop seems pointless with two people in the pot with me – one who’s particularly active. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303531419 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 09:54:37 ET 2008
Table Cobar (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: Teddybaer699 ( $15.38 USD )
Seat 3: IdomIn8uall ( $19.79 USD )
Seat 5: antihcv ( $5.82 USD )
Seat 6: Jarod93 ( $20.73 USD )
Seat 8: Tesla1979 ( $19.20 USD )
Seat 10: RTRFelix ( $26.18 USD )
Jarod93 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Tesla1979 posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ac Jh ]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
Teddybaer699 folds
IdomIn8uall folds
antihcv raises [$1.80 USD]
Jarod93 folds
Tesla1979 folds
RTRFelix calls [$1.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7c, 7d, 3c ]
RTRFelix checks
antihcv bets [$4.02 USD]
RTRFelix folds
antihcv wins $7.73 USD from main pot

This guy 3bet 9.1% and 39 vpipi. I guess he has 99 or something similar. Should I be folding preflop or 4betting light? You critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303548410 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:02:20 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 10 is the button
Seat 1: aaby ( $6.96 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $31.92 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $22.90 USD )
Seat 10: cavallaro01 ( $12.68 USD )
aaby posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
thebrownlow posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 8c 8h ]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
cavallaro01 folds
aaby calls [$0.70 USD]
thebrownlow calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7h, Jc, 8s ]
aaby bets [$0.60 USD]
thebrownlow folds
RTRFelix calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qs ]
aaby bets [$3.60 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$21.50 USD]
aaby calls [$1.96 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 3s ]
RTRFelix wins $29.93 USD from main pot
aaby shows [Qd, Jh ]

Played fine I think. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303551340 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:03:36 ET 2008
Table Cobar (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: Teddybaer699 ( $14.51 USD )
Seat 3: IdomIn8uall ( $19.90 USD )
Seat 5: antihcv ( $9.61 USD )
Seat 6: Jarod93 ( $20.13 USD )
Seat 8: Tesla1979 ( $17.80 USD )
Seat 10: RTRFelix ( $25.21 USD )
Jarod93 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Tesla1979 posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Qh Qd ]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
Teddybaer699 folds
IdomIn8uall folds
antihcv folds
Jarod93 raises [$2.70 USD]
Tesla1979 folds
RTRFelix calls [$2.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jh, Kd, 8h ]
Jarod93 checks
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
Jarod93 bets [$5.80 USD]
RTRFelix folds
Jarod93 wins $11.31 USD from main pot

Another tough hand to try and work out. Villian has 25/17/6.7 with 4% 3bet so I’m inclined to think he had a monster and tried to trap me on the flop. But you critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303564421 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:09:23 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: madmessie101 ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 3: thebrownlow ( $31.57 USD )
Seat 5: chamber19 ( $20.70 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $29.53 USD )
Seat 8: dahomster ( $19.50 USD )
Seat 10: cavallaro01 ( $12.68 USD )
dahomster posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
cavallaro01 posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ah Th ]
madmessie101 folds
thebrownlow folds
chamber19 folds
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
dahomster folds
cavallaro01 calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4s, 3h, 6s ]
cavallaro01 checks
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]
cavallaro01 bets [$0.60 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 7h ]
cavallaro01 checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.20 USD]
cavallaro01 calls [$2.20 USD]
cavallaro01 wins $6.94 USD from main pot
cavallaro01 shows [Jc, 7c ]

I cocked this hand up. Should have c/bet, should have shut down on the river but this is one of those hands where I think, I’m supposed to be here because I can get him off a pair etc.

***** Hand History for Game 1303573355 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:13:19 ET 2008
Table Chandler (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: SC008IE ( $12.21 USD )
Seat 3: RTRFelix ( $20.64 USD )
Seat 6: HushHushHushHush ( $19.40 USD )
Seat 8: FransdeBatz ( $11.48 USD )
Seat 10: Den1skaSnetk0ff ( $19.80 USD )
Den1skaSnetk0ff posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
SC008IE posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Tc Ac ]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
HushHushHushHush folds
FransdeBatz calls [$0.80 USD]
Den1skaSnetk0ff folds
SC008IE calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, 2s, 3d ]
SC008IE checks
RTRFelix bets [$2.00 USD]
FransdeBatz folds
SC008IE raises [$8.50 USD]
RTRFelix folds
SC008IE wins $12.68 USD from main pot

74/18/2.2 for villain. Erm? You critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303582611 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:17:20 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: madmessie101 ( $20.52 USD )
Seat 3: MrMcDee ( $20.20 USD )
Seat 5: chamber19 ( $19.90 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $26.74 USD )
Seat 8: dahomster ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 10: alerik123 ( $19.70 USD )
RTRFelix posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
dahomster posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Th Ah ]
alerik123 folds
madmessie101 folds
MrMcDee folds
chamber19 raises [$0.80 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$2.70 USD]
dahomster folds
chamber19 raises [$5.90 USD]
RTRFelix folds
chamber19 wins $9.70 USD from main pot

I guess it’s better than calling. This is one of those hands where I want to experiment. Try and find out when people three-bet preflop with a mediocre hand. Take down the pot there and then against a tag and so on. But the move didn’t work and I doubt I’ll try it again. Was it the right move? No idea Usually I would just fold this hand out of site. The experiment failed. You critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303587044 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:19:20 ET 2008
Table Chandler (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: SC008IE ( $13.29 USD )
Seat 3: RTRFelix ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 5: terjisogomo ( $21.07 USD )
Seat 6: HushHushHushHush ( $20.71 USD )
Seat 10: Den1skaSnetk0ff ( $19.70 USD )
HushHushHushHush posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Den1skaSnetk0ff posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 9c Ac ]
SC008IE calls [$0.20 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
terjisogomo folds
HushHushHushHush folds
Den1skaSnetk0ff folds
SC008IE calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8h, Qs, 6c ]
SC008IE checks
RTRFelix checks
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7c ]
SC008IE bets [$0.95 USD]
RTRFelix raises [$1.90 USD]
SC008IE calls [$0.95 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 5h ]
SC008IE checks
RTRFelix bets [$17.30 USD]
SC008IE folds
RTRFelix wins $22.72 USD from main pot

Whacky guy from before. One of those “he might call with anything because he can’t fold pairs” situation. Sadly it didn’t work out like that. You critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303588685 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:20:03 ET 2008
Table Cobar (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: elblackspy ( $1.90 USD )
Seat 3: IdomIn8uall ( $19.10 USD )
Seat 5: GrindingKnight ( $4.00 USD )
Seat 6: Jarod93 ( $28.28 USD )
Seat 8: Tesla1979 ( $19.06 USD )
Seat 10: RTRFelix ( $28.01 USD )
Tesla1979 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
RTRFelix posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ 7d 7c ]
elblackspy folds
IdomIn8uall folds
GrindingKnight folds
Jarod93 raises [$0.80 USD]
Tesla1979 folds
RTRFelix calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ah, 4s, 2d ]
RTRFelix bets [$1.40 USD]
Jarod93 calls [$1.40 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qh ]
RTRFelix checks
Jarod93 bets [$3.00 USD]
RTRFelix folds
Jarod93 wins $7.28 USD from main pot

This time I wasn’t probably getting fed up of people seemingly always having the better hand. You may have noticed that I’m not losing any big pots. It’s just a slow bleed all the time.

***** Hand History for Game 1303592598 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:21:48 ET 2008
Table Athena (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 1: madmessie101 ( $20.52 USD )
Seat 3: MrMcDee ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 5: chamber19 ( $22.60 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $24.34 USD )
Seat 8: dahomster ( $20.00 USD )
Seat 10: alerik123 ( $20.00 USD )
RTRFelix posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
dahomster posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Jd Js ]
alerik123 folds
madmessie101 folds
MrMcDee folds
chamber19 raises [$0.80 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.70 USD]
dahomster folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 2c, 8h, 7h ]
RTRFelix checks
chamber19 bets [$1.15 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$1.15 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]
RTRFelix checks
chamber19 checks
** Dealing River ** [ Qs ]
RTRFelix checks
chamber19 bets [$2.75 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$2.75 USD]
RTRFelix wins $9.12 USD from main pot
chamber19 shows [5s, 6s ]

Played well I thought. Never put him on a hand better than me and was sure he might try and bluff the river. Pretty difficult to be aggressive on the flop as if he reraises me I would put him on 77 or 88 since he called a preflop raise. You critique…

***** Hand History for Game 1303600626 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:25:24 ET 2008
Table Savannah (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Seat 3: rocco0 ( $21.00 USD )
Seat 5: kastaloss ( $20.27 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $19.04 USD )
Seat 8: joeykenish ( $19.70 USD )
Seat 10: izzyfisher ( $53.68 USD )
RTRFelix posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
joeykenish posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ks Ts ]
izzyfisher folds
rocco0 folds
kastaloss raises [$0.40 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.30 USD]
joeykenish folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7h, As, Td ]
RTRFelix checks
kastaloss bets [$0.80 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.80 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Kc ]
RTRFelix checks
kastaloss bets [$1.80 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$1.80 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ Ah ]
RTRFelix checks
kastaloss bets [$17.27 USD]
RTRFelix folds
kastaloss wins $23.16 USD from main pot

Fair enough. Another thing that seems to happen a lot is the killer card coming on the next street which either hits the common outs or kills my hand.

***** Hand History for Game 1303604790 *****
$20.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, December 03, 10:27:17 ET 2008
Table Savannah (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 3: rocco0 ( $21.00 USD )
Seat 5: kastaloss ( $23.16 USD )
Seat 6: RTRFelix ( $16.04 USD )
Seat 8: joeykenish ( $19.50 USD )
Seat 10: izzyfisher ( $53.68 USD )
joeykenish posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
izzyfisher posts big blind [$0.20 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to RTRFelix [ Ac 7h ]
rocco0 folds
kastaloss folds
RTRFelix raises [$0.80 USD]
joeykenish folds
izzyfisher calls [$0.60 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Kd, Ad, 3d ]
izzyfisher bets [$0.80 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$0.80 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6s ]
izzyfisher bets [$2.20 USD]
RTRFelix calls [$2.20 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 9c ]
izzyfisher bets [$7.00 USD]
RTRFelix folds
izzyfisher wins $14.32 USD from main pot

I think I must be getting frustrated by this point and calling two streets with top pair weaker kicker is something I exploit (or used to). He can be betting with KoQd. Anything really. When he bets on the river I’m pretty certain he’s not betting a flush draw (unless he flopped it.

And that’s it. Lots of little hands that I seem to be getting the majority of wrong. I feel as if I’ve literally forgotten how to play poker it’s been so long since I’ve felt good about my game and the game itself. Every session is similar to this. Sure, I might occasionally stack someone or they stack me but the general running theme is a slow bleed from pots all like the above.

People have suggested reading books and watching videos and I’ve done both of those and more besides. The trouble started WHEN I started doing that in the first place. It’s almost as if the tactics and the strategies delivered and suggested in these videos does not apply to the stakes I play at. Now I’m not entirely convinced by my own statement there because it could be that by game and confidence has been rocked by variance, or I could just not be playing well. All these different factors constantly colliding with myself has created metagame within my own poker mindset. Does that make any sense.

Should I have moved out of microstakes yet? Well for the volume of hands I’ve played in cash rooms (about 150,000) possibly not. I’m taking my time, especially considering the form/run I’m in/on.

I got another post from the same person very soon after which said:

BTW, i'm not by any means trying to downplay your accomplishment, which is that you're in the relatively small group of long-term winners in poker...but that aside, i really think something is holding you back, and maybe you need to speak to a really decent player who can help you iron shit out.

You’re absolutely right and I wish I knew decent players who could help me out.

Sorry, for the longest post ever.