Stuff..

Apr 12, 2005 14:43

hmm, its Tuesday. I liked Tuesdays. Poker day. The one-day a week that I KNOW imp playing. The other days just sorta come up. I’ve been playing poker ( 99% holdem 1% stud) for an average of about 20 hours a week, for little over a year now. I am thinking I’m getting pretty good. I read all day, about poker, scenarios, hands, the experience of pros, poker 'Stuff'. My weekly home game I have been cleaning house for about 2 months now. I play at the casino.. I usually do well, but not well enough to write about.. I figure I need to change my game there. Currently I play, 2-4 pot limit. Which is also dubbed Texas 'No fold em'.. For a good reason. anyone who has watched the WPT or any other TV poker thinks they know how to play and will rely on luck to get them through the game, and at 2-4 the limit is low enough that they don’t ever fold. Thus, Texas 'no foldem'
See, allot of people will say.. Poker is all luck. That is the biggest load of crap in the world. I know this, because I used to say that. about 6 months ago I began to study. I realized, that it really is a game of many things.. including luck.. but that is only a small factor. Patterns, Psychology, Acting, Discipline, all these things combined, make for one hell of a complicated and winning player. Sure a guy or gal, could sit at a table, and have a run of good luck or what have you.. but in the long run, they will lose all their money. I've taken bad beats.. allot of them, I have also caught a runner runner to catch the nut flush. Confused? any new player or non player might be. I don’t consider myself great, or even good.. but Im solid.. allot better than when I started and a HELL of a lot better than 6 months ago.
Anyways, Im writing this because since last Thursday night I have been kicking myself.. I had sworn to myself that was no longer gunna play the 2-4 game.. I was gunna sit at the 1-2 no limit.. and play a real game.. where people play starting hands and %'s and people don’t stay in to the river with crap hands, cuz they don’t wanna lose their money! They bluff and can be bluffed at the no limit tables, but anyways there I was sittin at the pot limit table. I was playing tight, only jumping in if I had a starting hand or was in the blinds. I was up a lil, down a lil then back up a lil.. I did this by playing a lil looser. I decided that I was sick of the see saw and I was gunna tighten up again..
I mucked the next few hands, and waited.. the action of not playing your hands for several minutes tells others at the table that you are playing tight... and that when you finally do play, you have a hand... it can also be used to bluff, if you don’t play 10 ands in a row then all of a sudden your playin.... the other players will more than likely believe you have a hand.. when you could be bluffing on a 7-2, this is more apt to work on the no limit games, compared to the low limit games, but it had been known to work, and had worked for me earlier in the game at the 2-4. So, I tightened my play, was waiting for a hand. I got it. AA in the hole. Best starting hand in poker. Pre flop you are in the lead. The bet comes to me, everyone save two players at the table, limped in. the other two mucked. I raised it up. 4 dollars the max I could bet at that time. A few more dropped off and a few called. Nothing wrong with that. Some action makes the pot better. The flop came down, 9s-Qd-4h. I feel confident that Im still in the lead, I don’t put anyone at the table on more than a pair of Q's there fore my AA is good. I raise. 4 bucks the max for this round. All but two players fold. the other two call.. hmm looks like someone has 2 Q's.. and what’s the other guy got.. hmm JJ or KK perhaps? My AA is still good. A 6c is the 4th street. I am not worried about a flush any longer, and the straights on the board are long shots. the bet of 4 bucks gets to me.. I raise it up to 8.. lets see who has what! One guy folds.. Im thinking yeah baby lay it down kid your beat. This kid calls the 8 bucks. I laugh inside.. You suckers Im taking this hand. The river comes, 4d. YAY! I know I gatta have this one. He bets out 4 bucks... What are you an idiot I think to myself. I raise it to 8. He calls. Dealer calls us to flip em over. I slam over my AA in frustration as he turns over 8s- 4c. WHAT THE FUCK! He stayed in when I been from the start with 8- 4 off suit and catches trips on the river to beat me.. Fuck you you piece of shit! I learned my lesson. I am not playing 2-4 again. no limit only or Ill wait and play 20-40 limit, at least there you don’t have idiots callin every hand with garbage hoping and praying. All in all, I still enjoyed my trip and I learn something every time I play. I continue to be a student of the game.
So this is where I stand, Some where between an amateur and a pro. A solid card player, working my way to great. I have started to look in to Stud. Started research and have played a few hands here or there.. I enjoy Hold em more.. because I understand the mechanics better. Im sure Ill come to like Stud as much. In any case its Tuesday, and I cant wait, with in 2 hours Ill be at the table in my home away from home, Smitties house, the music will be on, the chips stacked.. It honestly doesn’t get any better. I can safely say that poker is my number one hobby. If I had the choice between paintball Poker and SCA Fighting.. Poker will continue to win out. Happy Poker day everyone.
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