Finally, a Good Day

After a solid week (closer to two) of losing session after session, I finally "put together" (or lucked upon) a big win yesterday. Played about 90 minutes, and won about $20.

Played four $2 double-up SNGs and two $5 double-up SNGs, all at the same time. Won all but one (losing one of the $2 SNGs). Also played a whopping 49 hands of $.02-$.04 6-max NLHE. Won almost $7 in very few hands.......almost all of it on my first hand at one table. Being that it was my very first hand (and thus having no table image) and thinking/hoping that I thought I might get away with my opponents thinking I was a maniac donk, I shoved pre with QQ. Obviously, it worked out. Good play? Bad play?

How to Respond to Three Betters Pre???

Had my first winning day of the week yesterday. Played eight $2 double-up SNGs, winning six of eight. One of the two that I lost lasted less than an orbit. Oh well. Also played 100 hands of $.02-$.04 6-max NLHE, and picked up a whopping $1.15. So, the 'roll sits at $150 and change. In considering adjustments I could make -- at least in the short run -- to get out of the tailspin, I decided to tighten up and stop playing A-rag in 6-max, except maybe to steal from the button. I've been raising from most positions (not re-raising) with A-rag, and I've been getting into trouble this week with it. I was finding myself refusing to lay down the hand to a 3-bet pre, and then finding it (a) hard to believe I was ahead of much, and (b) very hard to lay down on later streets if I hit the A or even the kicker. No particular logical explanation for that, apart from being off my rocker. So, I'm giving that up for now.

As I mentioned to Marsh, one scenario I need to develop more intelligence on is what to do when the SB or BB re-raise my CO or Btn raise when I hold a less than premium hand. If I'm holding a monster (AA, KK, QQ, AK), no problemo. But what to do when I open raise from the CO with ATo, AJo, KQo or 88 and the BB (who may (a) just be sick of me stealing, or (b) be actually holding a real hand) re-pots? Calling seems like the worst choice. So, what to do? While I know the answer is "it depends on the opponent and the opponent's stack," any general guidance on how to respond to blind 3-betters when we hold a sub-monster? (I saw a lot of 3-betting from the blinds during my brief foray into $.05-$.10, and that prompted me to realize that I lack even a general plan for those situations.)

Slumping

Frustration abounds in Eeyore land these days. Because of a sick daughter, I've had the (apparently unfortunate) opportunity to jump online quite a few times in the past few days. The results have been consistent. Consistently bad. From my (intraday) Cake Challenge II high of $201, I've now dropped over $58, and now sit at $142.51.

As I noted in my last post, I stepped up the stakes a bit, but I don't perceive that that was the main culprit for my woes.

** Overall, in $.05-$.10 6-max NLHE, I dropped a whopping $3.47, according to HEM (yes, I'm a proud new owner -- thanks Chuck and Marsh for your enduring technical support). The $3.47 loss is arguably deceiving, because on the day that I reached $201, I busted out at two different $.05-$.10 tables where I was approaching $20 (had bought in for $8 and more than doubled up), but then went haywire and lost it all.

** I played a bunch of double up SNGs, and I believe I dropped the most dough there.

** I have had good success with the $2 10-person double ups (11 of 16: profit $8.80 for investment of $35.20 -- 25%).

** But, I've been miserable at $3 6-max (3 of 8: loss of $8.40 on investment of $26.40 -- 32%) and $5 10-person double ups (0 for 4: loss of $21.40 on investment of $21.40 -- 100%). So, that's where $30 of the $58 went.

My overall evaluation is that I've played far less disciplined this week. I suffered a few painful suck outs a long the way, epecially last night. Ugh. [If I could get the Cake hand coverter tool thingy to work, I'd show you a few, but you've all seen suck outs before.] But, beyond that, I've been stabbing/pushing too much and hero calling way too much. Because of kid health issues and general exhaustion, I would've been smart to simply walk away from the CC II this week, but I've needed something fun to do, and so that's the price I pay, I suppose.

Going to firmly stick with the lower stakes for now and try to muster a reversion to discipline. Hopefully, will get back to the $200 range soon'ish rather than later'ish.

Stepping Up in Stakes a Bit

Starting today's mini session, the Eeyore 'roll sat at $174 or so. Based on something Marsh told me (although possibly misapplying the suggestion), I decided to start transitioning to the higher stakes game. So, I played a mix of games. One $.02-$.04 6-max, one $.05-$.10 6-max, one $2 double-up SNG (10 player) and one $3 double-SNG (6 player). Overall, in under 200 hands, I earned $12 or so, so yay.

Can't say I played particularly well, though. I busted out on the bubble on the $3 double up SNG by vastly overplaying 2nd pair. I had T5s in the SB and (when the field folded to me) I decided to complete the bet. Why??? Flop was ATx, and I bet out. BB calls. Turn a blank and I shove. Why??? Don't recall exact amounts, but my shove was barely more than a pot sized bet and the BB had me well covered. He insta-calls with AJ and that was that.

I played a 2nd $3 double up SNG, and lost 1200 of 1500 chips in the first orbit, when my KK was sucked out on by 88. Dude made a runner-runner straight. I buckled down, found some good spots to shove, and ended up "winning" the SNG (by finishing in top 3). Even had the most chips when it ended.

Basically broke even in $.05-$.10 (won $.55 in 17 whole hands), but I made almost $10 in $.02-$.04. But, I must admit that most of it was made on a hand I played way too recklessly. I failed to grab the URL, but here's how it went. Let me know if you think this was reckless as I do.

I have 87c on the button. Cutoff ($14.04) limps, as do I ($6.64). SB completes, and BB ($1.42) raised to $.24. Cutoff and I call. SB folds. $.78 in pot. [I generally don't limp in 6-max and I generally wouldn't call another $.20 with that hand with only 3 players...especially when one villain has so few chips behind. Can't explain why I called the raise there, other than inattentiveness. 4 tables may be too many for me, as I tend to freak out when I'm called to act on 2 or 3 tables at once. Lame, but true.]

Flop brings Tc-4c-7h (2nd pair and icky flush draw for me). BB checks, Cutoff (very very aggressive player) makes it $.80 to go. I raise to $2.20 [I think my raise is solid enough. Pair, flush draw and backdoor straight draw against a guy who may well have nada], BB insta-calls his remaining $1.18, Cutoff shoves (has me covered by $6+) and....this is where I definitely go off the rails, imo) -- I call. Suddenly, I'm in a $13.80 pot and all-in with 78c. BB turns over a set of 4s and the Cutoff shows 98o. [So, my read on Cutoff -- as maniac deluxe) was right. He committed a huge chunk of chips, on a flushy board with two other players showing strength, one of whom is all in and can't pay him off any more...with a straight draw.]

Turn is 9c and the river is the Qc. Eeyore gets miracle flush for the win.

Too reckless? Feels that way to me, but it becomes easier to justify the play the more I think about it after the fact. My biggest error was probably the $.20 call of the BB's raise pre-flop. Thoughts?

Anywho, by recklessness or unwitting fine play (unlikely), the Eeyore 'roll sits at a little over $186.

Quck Hit and Run

With sundown approaching, I had but an hour or so in between homemaking chores to play some Challenge. I played a combo of games. Two 6-max $.02-$.04 NLHE ring games, one $2 double-up SNG and one (gasp) $2 heads-up SNG.

Very successful all around. In live action, I cleared almost $10 over just 111 hands. The play was pretty standard, except the guy on my right at one table decided he was sick of pre-flop raises and c-betting and seemed to transform into a "I'm calling you down no matter what" tiltasaurus. Two blessings followed. One, he had a very large stack ($12 or so) and I caught cards/flops on four consecutive flops. On the final one, I caught top pair and a flush draw, which turned into a flush on the river. Check-call, check-call, check-call went tiltasaurus. Turned out he had one pair. By the time those 4 hands were over, I had $17.64 in my stack and he was near busto. Having no compunction about hitting and running, I took off.....mostly to protect my way-bigger-than-10% stack.

The double-up tournament was uneventful, and I played about 10% of pots. On the final hand, I picked up TT on the button, flopped a T and knocked #s 6 and 7 out of the tournament. The end.

The heads-up tournament lasted all of 6 hands. Sixth hand went this way. I pick up 69o in the BB. Villian calls from the SB/button and I check. Flop 6J7 (2 clubs). I bet pot (40), villain calls. Turn is an offsuit 9. I bet pot again (120) and villain immediately shoves (1210). At this moment, Molly started screaming and, having to go attend her crisis of the moment, I acted (by calling) a little quicker than I probably should've. He shows [redacted--just rememberd that I'm not supposed to post villain's hand; sorry if you saw it earlier prior to this edit] and the river, a blank, ends the tournament. On a board (6J79) with that many possible straights, should I have mucked? 2 pair in heads up play seems pretty powerful, and the only straights that got there were 5-8 or a gutshot. If he really made a straight, why bet 5-6 times the pot? If the room were less hectic, I probably would've mucked and waited for another spot. Thoughts?

Anyways, in fewer than 150 hands this afternoon, I jumped from under $130 to $143. If I can keep that $/minute pace in tact, watch out.

Woeful Wednesday Somewhat Redeemed

Not only (I said I said NOT ONLY) did I have to miss WNP tonight, but I got absolutely slaughtered at the $.02-$.04 NLHE tables. Easily my worst session during the Challenge, as I plummeted $20.12 over 453 hands of play. My evening was somewhat redeemed by finishing 2nd in a 210 entrant MTT. Very happy with that, although it took SOOOO LONG.

[As an aside, the payout is a mystery to me. It was a $.10 R&A MTT. The tournament page on Cake indicated that 2nd payed a whopping $2.60 (my investment, with R&A, being $.65). But, when I checked the cahier, it looks like I was credited over $12. Confused.]

Never wishing to dwell on the positive, however, Eeyore must bemoan his evening of coolers, coolers, lost flips and painful folds. (In this last hand, I held KK, btw -- WORST RIVER EVER). No way to call, imo. Anyone disagree?

Anywho, too tired to continue blathering. I suppose the good news is that I never really lost my head during the massacre. I got a little tilty, but seemed to pull out of it quickly. I felt like I made mostly appropriate decisions, and tried to adjust to the fact that my image was not so good. In the end, it didn't help, but hopefully will in future sessions. Now to bed....