Updates Online (2/10/2010)

So I'm down about $300 since the weekend from short-stacking 200NL (about 30 hours).  I mean absolutely nothing has been working out.  Last night I somehow ran so bad I was down -$250 in 3.5 hours.  I took an hour break came back and finished up +$150 in 3 hours.  But the last hand of the session I made the worst mistake I have probably made in a month, which pissed away $60.  Knowing it was my last time around I tried to make something happen min-raising to $4 with QKs (hearts).  There were 3 players behind me that called (including a noted donk to my immediate left).  Flop comes 5s 3d Qd.  This is obviously favorable.  I lead out $10 after the first to check.  The idiot on my left instant raises to $47 (at this point I only have $43 left behind me).

Based on his range and how terrible of a player he was I thought it was likely he had a flush draw or worse.  This guy was extremely aggressive.  However, my read was completely incorrect.  I guess I need the discipline to lay this down here.  I usually wouldn't get caught with shit like QKs having to commit my entire stack on a top pair queen, king kicker.  Instead of folding I throw all my chips in ($43 more total).  He instant calls the last $6.  The mother fucker somehow is holding Ad Qs.  2 diamonds ran out and he had the flush to win.  Ok I get the idea he won.  I was so pissed off at myself for losing that fucking pot in the last round.  It would have completely changed my session and confidence level.  I just can't get involved with a holding this weak with my current bankroll.  Whatever typical bullshit.  Still based on his range it wasn't a terrible play.  But overall it was a bad play.  When I'm running this badly I can't afford to make mistakes; it's as simple as that.

Some other online thoughts:

Regulars are the luckiest son of a bitches alive.

I know they have the stats and they are very solid players.  I am still amazed at the luck I see them have.  I will be watching a player for about 2 hours who is a complete donk and be completely CARD DEAD.  Not one hand to go to war against them.  So of course a regular comes in, sits down 20 fucking minutes, instantly gets dealt AQ+, nails a perfect flop, and stacks the mother-fucker.  This story is getting old really fast.  It's like certain players get luckier in this format, it's quite ridiculous.

It seems most regulars are easier to steal from, and more likely to lay down when faced with continuation bets.

I've noticed regulars will often lay down their blinds when I min-raise them pre-flop.  I think this is because they assume I will be all in with a short-stack if they play, so they don't want to get involved with an average holding.  Also, they often respect my continuation bets more than weaker players.  I guess when you're playing 20 tables at once you don't need to really play unless you hit a hand.  I also think part of the reason this is occurring is because they all data-mine their opponents.  Therefore, they have me marked as a tighter player, so they respect my steals and continuation bets more.  This is fine with me.  I'd rather steal the piss out of their blinds, and take pots with a continuation bets vs the regulars.  The full stack should be used against noted donks I have been watching. 

I'm being too aggressive post flop at times?

With a short-stack there's a fine line with regards to when it's necessary to push all in with a slight advantage.  However, vs a really weak player I think I am being overall too aggressive post flop.  Yesterday, I lost a pot bluffing $55 on the turn vs a donk with missed AK.  I read him weak and I attacked him.  He thought a while and called with bottom pair pocket 33.  I was obviously disgusted and furious.  Terrible fucking call, but turned out great in that situation for him.  However, against a week player this type of aggression is often unjustified.  Ace high all in is not an EV play (most of the time in this situation).  They are calling with anything.  Even with an ace-rag he could have hit and called.  It's best to save the chips for when I actually do get a piece of the flop vs this type.  Mixing in a C-bet doesn't hurt, but in the previous example mentioned pushing $55 all in on a perceived slight edge is not necessary.

Bankroll.

Down to $1800 and things really aren't going well.  This leaves me 45 buy-ins at $40 each.  I'm genuinely sick of worrying about my bankroll and tearing myself up over individual sessions and outcomes.  I know I can't think like this.  I'm not going to sweat it if I need to drop in $600 more online soon.  I have a bankroll, its called uh my bank account.  Sometimes it takes money to make money.  There is no way in hell I am dropping limits and donking around short-stack on 100NL.  It's sort of do or die time for me.  I feel I'm good enough to grind out profits on these limits, it's just a matter of time.  And I wan't my time to be used in the most efficient way possible.  I can afford this, I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  And I need to start beating online.  I'm willing to invest additional money at some point.  If I'm a little short on what I have saved and I want to move to Vegas I will push to draw out 2k or so from my savings account. 

Ending this post.

Time to regroup and keep putting in the volume.  I'm ready to play 8 more hours today.  The biggest blizzard I have ever seen is raging on outside wreaking havoc on everything in it's path.  I look outside and see an occasionally bird flying around in terror.  They have no where to go.  I totally wan't to let some into my house.  But I'm pretty sure my mom would kill me; or I'd at least be living out in the snow with the rest of the terrified creatures for a while.  Even my evil corporation had to close it's doors for the day (they would be the last entity to close).  Everything is shut down.  We were hammered this past weekend with over 2 feet of snow, which ended later Saturday.  Another storm came through Tuesday and it has already dumped well over a foot on the ground.  Combined there is 3 foot + outside and it is still coming down.  This storm is of historic proportions.  This may be the biggest combined storm that will occur in Maryland in my life time.  So as the rest of the world deals with global warming Maryland continues to submerge into an ice-age.  Well hopefully work will be called off tomorrow as well.  If it's not I probably won't come in anyways.  I'm not going to risk wrecking my car over a piece of shit worthless job.  It makes no sense sorry.

Best,

-bag

Comments

[Lucypher]

Bags, don't be too proud to drop down if you need to. It is way better than going broke or risking too much of you roll. The games are tougher these days due to fewer fish. Try not to tilt but if you do, stop playing immediately. Poker will always be there and you can return to it when the tilt has passed. Good luck.

[baglife]

Lucy,

Thanks for the comment, good points. Hope all is well. I feel comfortable right now in my ability to win at these stakes (even with this low bankroll and not running amazing). I won't be broke if I have to deposit $600 or even $1200 more to feel comfortable. There are some advantages to living at home again! It would suck losing it sure. If I drop to 30 buy-ins ($1200) I will unfortunately have to deposit. If I can even play break even poker long enough the FPPs will give me profit.

-bag