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.
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