weekend roller coaster

I'm kind of proud of what just happened. I lost a full buy in (I know I was only rolled to play like 22 bux), but I bought in for 15 lost it down to $4.15 bought another 10 and lost that. All coolers and beats and the such, I really felt like I could outplay the table handily. Sooooo, I bought in for the full $25. I took a couple more beats but nothing too nasty and built it up to $56.80. After a little while of bouncing up and down around $50, the game started to tighten up and the players seemed to become a little more skilled. I enjoy this type of game as it's more challenging and there are less beats, but I'm trying to get to 2/4 and I don't think I'll make it if I ignore game selection.

So I stood up with $51.35 and really felt like I was making a good decision. Started with $568.53 left with $569.88.

Two hands I want to show - both were losing plays, but I had a solid read on both of them and I didn't respond properly. This has been a BIG leak in my game - I just can't seem to trust my read and make the best play. It's like I know what they have and I call anyway when I should push or fold. Goofy.


PokerStars Game #8822289835: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/03/09 - 20:20:02 (ET)
Table 'Gaika II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Gamil-Zirak ($24.40 in chips)
Seat 2: LUCKYHANDZAA ($21.10 in chips)
Seat 3: norway man3 ($26.70 in chips)
Seat 4: cmalgee ($56.05 in chips)
Seat 5: rockabilly23 ($10.90 in chips)
Seat 6: Rudibomben ($25 in chips)
norway man3: posts small blind $0.10
cmalgee: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to cmalgee [As Kd]
rockabilly23: folds
Rudibomben: calls $0.25
Gamil-Zirak: folds
LUCKYHANDZAA: calls $0.25
norway man3: calls $0.15
cmalgee: checks
*** FLOP *** [4c Qc 7c]
norway man3: checks
cmalgee: checks
Rudibomben: checks
LUCKYHANDZAA: bets $0.50
norway man3: folds
cmalgee: calls $0.50
Rudibomben: folds
*** TURN *** [4c Qc 7c] [6s]
cmalgee: checks
LUCKYHANDZAA: bets $1.25
cmalgee: calls $1.25
*** RIVER *** [4c Qc 7c 6s] [2d]
cmalgee: checks
LUCKYHANDZAA: bets $5.25
cmalgee: calls $5.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
LUCKYHANDZAA: shows [Kc 7d] (a pair of Sevens)
cmalgee: mucks hand
LUCKYHANDZAA collected $14.30 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $15 | Rake $0.70
Board [4c Qc 7c 6s 2d]
Seat 1: Gamil-Zirak folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: LUCKYHANDZAA (button) showed [Kc 7d] and won ($14.30) with a pair of Sevens
Seat 3: norway man3 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: cmalgee (big blind) mucked [As Kd]
Seat 5: rockabilly23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Rudibomben folded on the Flop

This hand really looks like a standard stubborn AK and it probably started out that way, but I felt confident the guy was on the club draw and didn't feel threatened with the 6 or 2 -- I think if I check call then check raise the turn and bet the river heavy -- or if I just check raise him all in on the river (which I think would've been the best way to go) I take this pot down pretty easily. I called because I felt like he missed the draw, so I was right. I should've considered the 7 an option and made the move to take the pot when I felt he was weak and not just think a whiffed hand was enough. All in all I'm pissed at myself with the way I played this. If I want to improve my game I have to get away from these plays.




PokerStars Game #8822607151: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/03/09 - 20:39:44 (ET)
Table 'Gaika II' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Gamil-Zirak ($25.35 in chips)
Seat 2: caskam ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 3: kkgajes ($24.50 in chips)
Seat 4: cmalgee ($49.25 in chips)
Seat 5: rockabilly23 ($11.80 in chips)
Seat 6: Rudibomben ($22.20 in chips)
kkgajes: posts small blind $0.10
cmalgee: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to cmalgee [Jh 3d]
rockabilly23: calls $0.25
Rudibomben: calls $0.25
Gamil-Zirak: folds
caskam: folds
kkgajes: folds
cmalgee: checks
*** FLOP *** [Js 7d Ad]
cmalgee: checks
rockabilly23: checks
Rudibomben: bets $0.50
cmalgee: calls $0.50
rockabilly23: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [Js 7d Ad] [7h]
cmalgee: checks
rockabilly23: checks
Rudibomben: checks
*** RIVER *** [Js 7d Ad 7h] [5s]
cmalgee: checks
rockabilly23: bets $0.75
Rudibomben: calls $0.75
cmalgee: calls $0.75
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rockabilly23: shows [9s 8d] (a pair of Sevens)
Rudibomben: shows [6c Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
cmalgee: mucks hand
Rudibomben collected $4.40 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.60 | Rake $0.20
Board [Js 7d Ad 7h 5s]
Seat 1: Gamil-Zirak folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: caskam (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: kkgajes (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: cmalgee (big blind) mucked [Jh 3d]
Seat 5: rockabilly23 showed [9s 8d] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 6: Rudibomben showed [6c Ac] and won ($4.40) with two pair, Aces and Sevens

Ok - this is the one that really bothers me. I KNEW rockabilly missed his draw (although I at least gave the donk credit for the flush draw). I felt like Rudibomben had the Ace. So why can't I lay it down? Because I know I have a bigger hand than rockabilly? At least I'm reading hands well - I just need to be able to trust my read to make the optimum play. As soon as I can do that, I think I'll see a significant improvement in my profitability.

I'm complaining though. I was stuck $25 and ended up with a slight winning session. I'm very content with the results of this after the start and some of the hands that I paid off due to the way they were played - there were several hands that were played so bad on every street that I don't feel guilty about committing the two buy-ins to this game, and I'm proud that when the game picked up several better players, I got out while I was only $5 less than my high water mark.