Treading Water

It's tough not to feel view this month as a waste. I'm down a few dollars ($15), and I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Part of me wants to re-load and jump back into my usual game, but I don't know if that's frustration or my general lack of sanity. Within the next month I'll have a huge load lifted, and I fully expect my game to return to normal. I hate to admit it, but I think strain in other areas is poisoning my game. If this ends up being true, it will be a tough pill to swallow. Until things turn around, I'll continue "grinding". I'm stubborn like that.

Oddly enough, my tournament game has been showing some improvement. I've figured that since I'm not making a satisfactory wage playing, this is a good time to play some micro tourneys ($5 mostly). I had 3 cashes last week, all microscopic, but it's nice to make the money. In the ones I didn't cash in, I averaged a finish easily in the top third of the field. Nothing impressive, but an improvement over my normally shoddy tournament game.

I finished 33rd out of 950 or so in a tourney on Sunday. I coasted until the bubble playing very few hands. I stole more when we hit the bubble, then tightened back up when we hit the money (120 or so?). Once the push-fest died down, I was able to play a few hands, and I got to play a QTs and completed a nice draw I flopped (turned a straight and rivered a flush). When we reached 40 or people, the play went south on me. I like to play post-flop as I feel I have an advantage. The problem was that I wasn't getting cards, and there was typically a large raise or push pre-flop. I misplayed 77 and gave away over half my stack (doubling up a shorty who pushed my standard raise w/ JJ). I ended getting blinded down and pushed w/ TT. I was called by AK & K9 and the flop had a K. GG me...

I've been playing in a series of live tourneys. $40 buyin with $20 as the entry and $20 going to a "season ending" tourney. We're through 6 of 10 (I think) and I've cashed in all but 2 with one win. There is a point system based on finish that gives extra starting chips for the final tourney. I'm second in points and I'm really hoping to take down that final. In this weeks, there were two interesting hands. I drew a nice passive table and was able to steal several pots in the first 2 (15 minute) levels. Then came a hand where I was in the BB with JsTs. There were 2 callers, the BB completed and I checked (pot t800). The flop was Jd 9s 8s. Small blind bet 700 and I pushed w/ my top pair & OESFD. I don't know if this is the ideal play, but my logic was as follows: I knew the MP player would fold w/ anything but a set or 2 pair, the button was my GF who is weak tight, the small blind is a solid player who likes to make the money and he had 800 behind. Even if they all called I still had 1600 chips. I was hoping to take it right there, but didn't mind racing. Middle position folded, GF on the button folded AsJx, and SB showed me Qs2s.

The second interesting hand I had A7 and went busto on a KJ7 flop. I played the hand horribly, and was informed that I woke the GF up in the middle of the night when I said "Stupid fucking hand" rather loudly in my sleep. oops. I should have finished 1st or 2nd, but I'll take the cash & points.

Happy Holidays.