Once again I have another disappointing poker moment to post in the first week of my blog. I arrived home at midnight once again with no homework to do and able to sleep until at least 9:30. I figured that gave me time for an hour or so of poker. The only problem was that I didn't go to bed last night and my tank was running on empty. I told myself months ago that I would never again play when I was too tired. But tonight I figured all would be fine and it was no big deal. My cards ran cold for the half hour I played but I made so many terrible decisions it sickened me. I am truly, utterly embarrassed to post these hand histories... Here is the first hand...

Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com

CO ($16.45)
Button ($31.70)
AHMWM ($9.75)
BB ($10)
UTG ($4.30)
MP ($9.25)

Preflop: AHMWM is SB with 9[], 9[].
1 fold, MP calls $0.10,1 fold, Button calls $0.10, AHMWM raises to $0.5, [color=Gray]1 fold[/color], MP folds, Button calls $0.40.

Flop: ($1.20) A[], 5[], 3[] [color=Blue](2 players)[/color]
[color=Red]AHMWM bets $0.8[/color], Button calls $0.80, [color=Red]AHMWM bets $2.2[/color], Button calls $1.40.

Turn: ($5.60) J[] [color=Blue](2 players)[/color]

River: ($5.60) 2[] [color=Blue](2 players)[/color]
[color=Red]AHMWM bets $2.5[/color], Button calls $2.50.

Final Pot: $10.60

Results in white below: [color=White]
AHMWM has 9c 9h (one pair, nines).
Button has Ad 9d (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Button wins $10.60. [/color]

I tried to three barrel for no apparent reason and my bet sizes were terrible. This hand is obviously a side effect from being tired and my mind not working correctly.......Here's the next hand

Full Tilt Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com

MP ($4.70)
CO ($14.80)
Button ($12.15)
SB ($57.30)
AHMWM ($8.40)
UTG ($0.90)

Preflop: AHMWM is BB with K[], K[].
[color=Gray]1 fold[/color], MP calls $0.10, [color=Gray]2 folds[/color], SB completes, [color=Red]AHMWM raises to $0.5[/color], MP calls $0.40, SB folds.

Flop: ($1.10) 4[], Q[], A[] [color=Blue](2 players)[/color]
[color=Red]AHMWM bets $0.8[/color], [color=Red]MP raises to $1.6[/color], [color=Red]AHMWM raises to $5.9[/color], MP calls $2.60 (All-In).

Turn: ($11.20) 9[] [color=Blue](2 players, 1 all-in)[/color]
.

River: ($11.20) Q[] [color=Blue](2 players, 1 all-in)[/color]

Final Pot: $11.20

Results in white below: [color=White]
AHMWM has Kd Kc (two pair, kings and queens).
MP has Jh As (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: MP wins $9.50. AHMWM wins $1.70. [/color]

How could I possibly think that he was bluffing me? I don't even know the answer and I was the one playing the hand...The table was extremely aggressive but why the hell did I put my chips in here? I can't answer it myself.. After this hand I came to my senses and left all 3 tables...

I have completely embarrassed my game by posting these hands and likely lost all respect from everyone reading my blog. I know the right plays but because of my inability to stick to my rules I lost 2 buy-ins tonight. It's amazing that I think I can be a mid-stakes winning player and still make plays like these. Hopefully I will truly learn something from this as all good players learn from terrible mistakes like these. I am truly disappointed in myself and I am now determined to turn this around....hopefully it's soon....

Tonight I arrived home at about 12:30. For the first time in several days my head felt clear and I was dyin to play some poker.

I bought into 4 tables of NL10 and quickly got felted when 1010 flopped a set against my KK. I was afraid that beat for one buy-in early would really hurt my confidence. I reset myself and said....one beat no big deal...and I turned the focus on. I did make one bad call down with KK later when I had just an overpair to the board. I felt he made a bluff and I had to trust my gut....I lost 3/4 of a buy in but I don't regret calling. I'm sorry I didnt post the hand history, I just feel too lazy tonight after writing a 4 page essay. I will start to post hand histories more often so you guys can make some judgments on my style and plays.

Anyway, I battled back for an hour to be up almost one buy-in. I made some great call downs and had a few hands held up and I felt for the first time in at least a week I was playing very close to my full potential. My hands died off and I lost some blinds and a few small pots and decided the games were not as profitable any more and it was time to call it a night.

Hopefully, the homework and personal stress will stay at a minimum for a while... If it does I know that I will be back to my 9+ PTBB/100 hands win rate in no time...I am determined now more than ever to prove that I can become a feared Mid-Stakes player within the next year or two. I'd like to be rolled to 4-table NL25 by the end of the year.....guess I'll just take it one step at a time....

Time to watch Poker After Dark....This week's table is absolutely the best poker show I have watched in terms of "fun, friendly poker." Hellmuth, Laak, Sheikhan, Negreanu, Esfandiari, Matusow........Gotta Love It

I arrived at home just after midnight again and decided to multi-table NL10. I hit a few big hands which won me a decent amount but I couldn't stop spewing chips left and right. I wasn't paying attention and making terrible plays all the time. Recently I have learn a vast amount of knowledge of how to use positional aggression at 6-max ring games. My play has been fairly swingy since I have change my style for fairly weak-tight to a much more tight-aggressive style of play. I have now learned a new lesson.

Weak-tight play can earn you a positive win-rate at low levels. Truly tight-aggressive play will earn you much better win rates if played correctly. But to play the tight-aggressive style you must have a focus level much more intense vs. playing weak-tight. When other things are on your mind or when you aren't motivated to play your best poker........DON'T PLAY. I have to remember this from now on. By playing without my FULL focus I am asking myself to blow my bankroll. I am determined to move up through the levels of NLHE and I must keep full focus at the tables at all times. Although I may have lost a buy-in tonight I feel like I learned a lesson far more valuable. Focus=Better Play.....period

With that out of the way, I have no morning classes tomorrow and no work. I do have night class but hopefully I can get some hands in during the day if my mind is in the right place. This isn't how I wanted to start the first week of my blog, but if I keep my head up and turn my A game back on I know I will be heading back in the right direction again soon.....

After getting home late once again I managed to register for FTP's "The Ferguson" with a few minutes to spare. For you who don't know what The Ferguson is, it's a $1 buy-in tourney on FTP nightly. Normally it is NLHE but not always. I try to play in the NLHE versions as just a fun donkey play tourney. Tonight I planned to play while I did some homework. After playing for the first 45 minutes I realized the homework I was doing was actually due Wednesday and not Monday. After the feeling of great relief I turned my focus to The Ferguson. After making some crucial double ups my stack dwindled as the bubble burst and I made the money. I was short stacked and decided I must move in pre-flop with pocket 5's. I received two calls and was ready to close out the screen. The flop came 838 and gave me a ray of hope. Both stacks went all in and showed KK and 77. Time to go home....the turn was a meaningless 4 but the river brought the miracle 5. I tripled up and moved tables. I the made the grind through twenty more positions when I was dealt pocket 8's. I once again received two calls. Both players showed A3 (what a donkament). The flop came K Q 5, the turn a J, and the river an A. Ouch... One good outdraw deserves another I guess. Oh well....I did cash however I might not be able to buy a McDonald's Double Cheeseburger with my winnings....LOL sucks being a broke student....well rakeback will be coming in a few weeks and it will feel like Christmas..can't wait...till then....back to the grind......

It's just after 3 a.m. and I finally got a chance to sit in front of the computer. I had a break even afternoon session of NL10 before work. Nothing too exciting.....the session wasn't very long. After work I once again had other things come up which kept me from getting any poker in tonight. Probably for the best though....when you have personal issues and other things on your mind it really makes it tough to play your A game at the tables. I hope to play a decent amount tomorrow during the day as long as I don't sleep the whole day away. I have homework and other things to get done as well and I'm afraid I won't have the time to do it all. Well it's off to bed...sorry for the off topic posts...hopefully I can get down to some real poker action in the next few days...