Categories
poker

Still cruising in ITH events

I made another final table last night, extending my streak to 7 in a row. For the week, I earned over 1,100 points. Had I won every single event, I could have won a max of 1,296 so that is as close to perfect as I’m ever likely to get.

I didn’t have nearly as good of a performance last night, though. The structure at NoblePoker was brutal, with the blinds rising very fast and only starting with 1,000 chips. I felt forced to make very aggressive plays in situations where I would rather take a more careful line. I got someone all-in with TT on an all rag flop. Unfortunately, he had KK. I got extremely lucky and hit a ten to knock him out of the event. I know I also won a critical hand when I was dominated by a better Ace, but hit my kicker. I still haven’t secured a seat at the WSOP freeroll, but I’m on the leaderboard for almost all the events this month, so hopefully I will have a shot to win one as the monthly point leader, if nothing else.

I also found a brilliant post by Felicia Lee on Fish Psychology that is excellent on multiple levels.  I’ve pimped Felicia on ITH before, I really like her a lot.  She reminds me of our own Tanya in many ways — they are both skilled, outspoken women and they are solid poker players.  I’ve played stud for a long, long time in home game settings, but Felicia has taught me a bunch of stuff.  I’m anxiously awaiting Part 3 of her Stud series.  Read Part One and Part Two if you haven’t already.  She also posted some strong opinions on what makes a good poker blog, at least 80% of which I break on a regular basis.  While I’m doing a best of Felicia post, I should also point out that she introduced me to some good O8 links too.

Anyhow, the main point of Felicia’s new post is not to tap the glass, but she does it in a fresh new way that might turn the light bulb on for some of you.  I share her attribute of being pretty much untiltable at the poker table (although I’m also pretty calm off the felt, which doesn’t seem to be the case with her).  Her point that you have a much smaller edge than you think (she says 5%, maybe I’d go a bit higher), so you shouldn’t be upset when you get bad beat.  It is, in fact, the beauty of the game.  If the fish didn’t win a lot of hands, they’d stop playing in a week.

You have to learn to think like the casino.  When a mark hits the progressive slot jackpot (the equivilent of runner-runner straight flush to beat your quads), the casino doesn’t cry and moan.  They revel in the winner’s good fortune and chat it up with him and everyone within shouting distance.  They know that he will come back and grind his money away drip by drip, just like the rest of the fish.  You should learn from their example.  Congratulate the fish — don’t berate him.  Make this the story he lives off for the next month, while steadily draining everything he won and then some to you and the other sharks like you.

Don’t taint their infrequent suckouts by taunting them.  Let them make it the happiest memory of the night!  They can forget 50 lost pots for 1 BB a shot and focus on the 25BB pot that they won.  We’re happy with their money and they are happy with their big moment.  Even if this is the night that your cards never come in and you drop 50BBs to them, don’t be an idiot.  The long run is months away and you’ll have the best of it.

Anyhow, Felicia said it better.  Go check her out.

By Nsidestrate

I'm a hard-core limit ring game poker player who is becoming a degenerate sports bettor. I'm sure it will all make more sense if you read on.