Warm down Journal for Sunday 31/08:
Just a quick post to get the frustration out of my system today...
These hands are in no particular order, so let me get the most annoying one out the way!
Very late into my session, in fact I was playing my last orbit before I called it a day, I get dealt JJ, it folds around to me in late position, I open to £4. Young Chinese fish (who I lost a £400 pot to earlier -a hand which I will come on to), jams his short stack of £24 blind, old tight passive lady to his immediate left calls £24 with about £30 behind (lol yeah she was horrific), the button to her immediate left very quickly isolates making it £100, although I did not know too much about this guy, he seemed to be somewhat competent but an absolute obnoxious moron, the type of guy who would criticize and "school" other players and just act like a complete cunt.
Even though my usual open is to £4, most players open slightly bigger with a value range, so this guy may have incorrectly ranged me, but even so with the action as it stood I didn't feel good about stacking off with JJ in this spot, so I folded.
The board ran out xJxQx, the guy who isolated had AQ and won against the old lady, who put the rest of her stack in pre with AK, we didn't get to see what the Chinese fish had.
This hand is so frustrating in so many ways, but I will let it go now. Done. All I can take from it is, even at the rear end of a super frustrating session, stuck a couple of buy ins, after taking a pretty brutal beat for a £400 pot earlier, I can still find a fold in spots like this!
Hand vs Chinese Fish:
Chinese fish limps in early position, cut off limps, I iso to £6 on the button with KJ off, small blind calls, both the limpers call, we go to the flop 4 way.
Flop, 109Q (2 diamonds), action checks to me, I bet £18, small blind calls, Chinese fish calls, cut off folds. 3 way to the turn, which was a K.
Action checks to me I bet £40, small blind jams for £100ish, Chinese fish re jams for £150, I have both covered and call. River is a diamond.
I lose to Kd4d. Sigh.
Other hands of interest:
*I open 77 UTG to £4, get two callers in position to me. Flop A7x (2 hearts), I bet £8, get one call and one fold. Turn 8 of hearts, I bet £17, and get a tank call (looked a little moody). River was a black K, I check, villain checks behind. I win. I may of missed some value vs an ace, I got to stop fearing getting raised, it rarely happens and when it does I will usually be beat and can fold.
*Limper and poster gets isolated to £3 by button, small blind calls, I squeeze to £15 with 35 suited, limper calls, poster folds, button calls, small blind folds. Flop is Q67, action checks around.
Turn 4 (I make a straight), I bet £30 both villains folds.
I was card dead for most of the night, I am again happy with my composure and ability to watch complete tools make nutted hands and build stacks.
100 sessions (2 down), lets see the bottom line then.
Monday, 31 August 2015
Sunday, 30 August 2015
C9 Results and 1st Session back grinding...
C9 Detox Results:
Session Warm Down Notes:
Got to The Vic to start my session around 11pm.
There was no space in the car park so had to park a short walk away.
I scanned my card and put my name on the list for a £1-£1 game, there were already 5 £1-£1 games running and so I did not have to wait long for a seat.
The cardroom had the usual weekend buzz, and was probably busier than usual due to the Big 5-0 tournament which was running.
The management and staff (Tom, Joe and John) at the desk greeted me warmly and even commented on my weight loss (even though it was the usual back handed compliment laced with a rub down I'll take it!)
Once allocated my seat, I sat straight down, without getting any chips from the cask desk. I wanted to avoid the walk through the sea of tables with the usual faces who may or may not of wanted to engage me in the usual "where have you been?" conversations, I just wanted to get down to playing and remain focused.
The floor staff were very prompt in coming over and getting me chips, I bought in for £200, slight deviation from my plan to buy in for £120, but the table was playing deep with the exception of 1 or 2 spots, and the seat I had was to the immediate right of 2 drunken Norwegians playing £200+ stacks.
I felt relaxed, composed and ready to play, my goals for the session were to remain fully engaged and focused. I wanted to avoid tough spots, play solid aggressive poker and not force the action.
I know I have a very significant skill edge vs pretty much any table, any opponent in these games so playing my A game and putting in the volume will simply print me money, I just need to make sure I stay on top of my mental game and not let any frustration or anxiety creep in.
I put in a 5 hour session, the line up pretty much stayed the same, and I was incredibly encouraged at how good the action was and how bad the standard of play was.
I booked in a loss of £99, but felt I didn't do much wrong, and overall I am happy with my first session back.
Couple hands of interest:
Hand 1:
Action folds around to one of the Norwegian guys (drunk and aggressive but not a complete idiot), he opens to £6. I flat with JJ, one other caller from the blinds.
Flop 996, checks to Norwegian, he bets £15, I call. Blind folds. Heads up to a turn of 5.
Board 9965, he bets £15. I call. River 2. He bets £55. I fold.
Hand 2:
Norwegian limps (as he has been frequently), I iso to £5 with 1010. Fold around to button, who was a new player at the table, at the time he seemed solid, later transpired he was horrific, but I didn't realize at the time of this hand, he 3 bets to £10, Norwegian from blinds cold calls, the first Norwegian who limped, folds.
3 way to the flop. J85. Blind checks, I check, button bets £20, Norwegian calls. I fold.
Turn 2, check check. River K, check check, Button shows AQ suited and loses to 89 off.
I felt I probably should have peeled flop, but gave button too much credit, and if I called the flop, I would be involved in a bloated pot, out of position. Not quite sure.
Hand 3:
Norwegian limps, I iso to £5 with K10, button who was decent compared to the rest of the table, but on the loose side calls. Norwegians calls.
3 way to the flop. 1098 rainbow. Norwegian checks. I check. Button bets £10, Norwegian calls. I call. Turn 6. Board now 10986, action checks around. River 8.
Board 109868, checks around to buttons who bets £25, Norwegian folds, I call. Lose to J8.
Again not quite sure, I had seen this guy bluff and show a couple of rivers in pots which seemed uncontested, and felt he would have bet a straight on the turn. I have also under represented my hand checking on the flop inducing this action, my range looks more like broadway cards and ace high non pair hands than it does strong pairs or top pair, but I may be overthinking.
Hand 4:
Again involving the same Norwegian guy, he was on the button and I was in the small blind, multi way limped pot, I check my option with K3 off. Flop KKQ. I check, big blind bets £2, folds around to the Norwegian who raises to £6. I call, big blind folds. Heads up to a turn of A.
Board KKQA, he bets £15, I call. River 9. He bets £25, I call and lose to J10. Basically calling to chop, should fold to river bet (if not even on the turn).
Hand 5: (The one I am most disappointed about):
Norwegian limps, I iso to £5 in late position with 4d3d, 2 callers behind and the Norwegian also calls. 4 way to the flop. 10Q2, with 2 diamonds. Checks around to the Norwegian who bets £10, I call, everyone else fold. Heads up to a turn of Kd, completing my flush. Norwegian checks, I bet £25, he calls after looking like he might raise. River pairs the 10, board 10Q2K10 (3 diamonds), Norwegian leads for £15, I tank for a short while, considering whether to raise or not, eventually opt to just call. He shows J10, I win, but definitely lost some value.
I begun to get really tired by 3:00am ish, and called it a session at 4am. I remained pretty focused throughout, and didn't feel too frustrated, though I was a little disappointed to be so card dead during such a good game, I did also notice my range get slightly wider later on the session, which I need to watch out for!
I also felt I played somewhat passive, especially post flop in several spots, I will keep an eye on this in future sessions.
Overall satisfied and happy with my first session back.
Session Warm Down Notes:
Got to The Vic to start my session around 11pm.
There was no space in the car park so had to park a short walk away.
I scanned my card and put my name on the list for a £1-£1 game, there were already 5 £1-£1 games running and so I did not have to wait long for a seat.
The cardroom had the usual weekend buzz, and was probably busier than usual due to the Big 5-0 tournament which was running.
The management and staff (Tom, Joe and John) at the desk greeted me warmly and even commented on my weight loss (even though it was the usual back handed compliment laced with a rub down I'll take it!)
Once allocated my seat, I sat straight down, without getting any chips from the cask desk. I wanted to avoid the walk through the sea of tables with the usual faces who may or may not of wanted to engage me in the usual "where have you been?" conversations, I just wanted to get down to playing and remain focused.
The floor staff were very prompt in coming over and getting me chips, I bought in for £200, slight deviation from my plan to buy in for £120, but the table was playing deep with the exception of 1 or 2 spots, and the seat I had was to the immediate right of 2 drunken Norwegians playing £200+ stacks.
I felt relaxed, composed and ready to play, my goals for the session were to remain fully engaged and focused. I wanted to avoid tough spots, play solid aggressive poker and not force the action.
I know I have a very significant skill edge vs pretty much any table, any opponent in these games so playing my A game and putting in the volume will simply print me money, I just need to make sure I stay on top of my mental game and not let any frustration or anxiety creep in.
I put in a 5 hour session, the line up pretty much stayed the same, and I was incredibly encouraged at how good the action was and how bad the standard of play was.
I booked in a loss of £99, but felt I didn't do much wrong, and overall I am happy with my first session back.
Couple hands of interest:
Hand 1:
Action folds around to one of the Norwegian guys (drunk and aggressive but not a complete idiot), he opens to £6. I flat with JJ, one other caller from the blinds.
Flop 996, checks to Norwegian, he bets £15, I call. Blind folds. Heads up to a turn of 5.
Board 9965, he bets £15. I call. River 2. He bets £55. I fold.
Hand 2:
Norwegian limps (as he has been frequently), I iso to £5 with 1010. Fold around to button, who was a new player at the table, at the time he seemed solid, later transpired he was horrific, but I didn't realize at the time of this hand, he 3 bets to £10, Norwegian from blinds cold calls, the first Norwegian who limped, folds.
3 way to the flop. J85. Blind checks, I check, button bets £20, Norwegian calls. I fold.
Turn 2, check check. River K, check check, Button shows AQ suited and loses to 89 off.
I felt I probably should have peeled flop, but gave button too much credit, and if I called the flop, I would be involved in a bloated pot, out of position. Not quite sure.
Hand 3:
Norwegian limps, I iso to £5 with K10, button who was decent compared to the rest of the table, but on the loose side calls. Norwegians calls.
3 way to the flop. 1098 rainbow. Norwegian checks. I check. Button bets £10, Norwegian calls. I call. Turn 6. Board now 10986, action checks around. River 8.
Board 109868, checks around to buttons who bets £25, Norwegian folds, I call. Lose to J8.
Again not quite sure, I had seen this guy bluff and show a couple of rivers in pots which seemed uncontested, and felt he would have bet a straight on the turn. I have also under represented my hand checking on the flop inducing this action, my range looks more like broadway cards and ace high non pair hands than it does strong pairs or top pair, but I may be overthinking.
Hand 4:
Again involving the same Norwegian guy, he was on the button and I was in the small blind, multi way limped pot, I check my option with K3 off. Flop KKQ. I check, big blind bets £2, folds around to the Norwegian who raises to £6. I call, big blind folds. Heads up to a turn of A.
Board KKQA, he bets £15, I call. River 9. He bets £25, I call and lose to J10. Basically calling to chop, should fold to river bet (if not even on the turn).
Hand 5: (The one I am most disappointed about):
Norwegian limps, I iso to £5 in late position with 4d3d, 2 callers behind and the Norwegian also calls. 4 way to the flop. 10Q2, with 2 diamonds. Checks around to the Norwegian who bets £10, I call, everyone else fold. Heads up to a turn of Kd, completing my flush. Norwegian checks, I bet £25, he calls after looking like he might raise. River pairs the 10, board 10Q2K10 (3 diamonds), Norwegian leads for £15, I tank for a short while, considering whether to raise or not, eventually opt to just call. He shows J10, I win, but definitely lost some value.
I begun to get really tired by 3:00am ish, and called it a session at 4am. I remained pretty focused throughout, and didn't feel too frustrated, though I was a little disappointed to be so card dead during such a good game, I did also notice my range get slightly wider later on the session, which I need to watch out for!
I also felt I played somewhat passive, especially post flop in several spots, I will keep an eye on this in future sessions.
Overall satisfied and happy with my first session back.
Saturday, 8 August 2015
My three C9 goals...
1. At the moment I feel clogged up, sluggish and heavy. I have aches and pains, I feel tired most days.
My number one goal, and what I most want to achieve from doing the 9 day detox is to get a kick start which will not only energize me but will prepare me both physically and mentally to begin performing in my "flow" state on a more regular basis.
2. My long term goal is to lose at least 2 (possibly 3) stones, and get into a healthy, strong, fit shape, I am hoping the C9 detox will put me firmly on that path, the immediate good results which I am aiming to achieve over the next 9 days will be incredibly motivating and will push me to follow through on my longer term plans.
3. Improve my confidence and self esteem. I am hoping that, not only will I feel great because I will look and feel much healthier, but also the successful completion of an incredibly tough, and challenging plan like the C9 detox will be an accomplishment I can be proud of -which in turn will give me the confidence and belief to achieve future goals and overcome any challenges in the way of my success.
My number one goal, and what I most want to achieve from doing the 9 day detox is to get a kick start which will not only energize me but will prepare me both physically and mentally to begin performing in my "flow" state on a more regular basis.
2. My long term goal is to lose at least 2 (possibly 3) stones, and get into a healthy, strong, fit shape, I am hoping the C9 detox will put me firmly on that path, the immediate good results which I am aiming to achieve over the next 9 days will be incredibly motivating and will push me to follow through on my longer term plans.
3. Improve my confidence and self esteem. I am hoping that, not only will I feel great because I will look and feel much healthier, but also the successful completion of an incredibly tough, and challenging plan like the C9 detox will be an accomplishment I can be proud of -which in turn will give me the confidence and belief to achieve future goals and overcome any challenges in the way of my success.
Machine Mode....ON
Sigh. Another "I am going to do this,,,", "I am going to do that,,," post.
Meh, Well one thing you got to give me is I don't give up, I fail, I fail repeatedly, but I always re group and try again,
Whether that's with my quest to success in poker, or my thus far diabolical attempts to lose weight and get into shape.
I have failed in every attempt in both areas so far, I have tasted relative success and have had breakthroughs but nothing which has been sustainable, or consistent.
Not a lifestyle shift.
That is what I am going to attempt to do, starting Monday with a 9 day detox.
The detox will prepare me both physically and mentally to find my flow state,
Meh, Well one thing you got to give me is I don't give up, I fail, I fail repeatedly, but I always re group and try again,
Whether that's with my quest to success in poker, or my thus far diabolical attempts to lose weight and get into shape.
I have failed in every attempt in both areas so far, I have tasted relative success and have had breakthroughs but nothing which has been sustainable, or consistent.
Not a lifestyle shift.
That is what I am going to attempt to do, starting Monday with a 9 day detox.
The detox will prepare me both physically and mentally to find my flow state,
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