Playing Cash Games Again (and playing well)

I finally started playing cash games again, approaching them with the same discipline and principles of my tournament play. The only exception being that I'm adapting my play to the cash format of course. I'm playing $1/$2 on PokerStars right now.

I've felt really good about my play, and not just because of results (although doubling my buy-in the last two sessions was nice too). Here's a quick list of what I'm doing right:

1. I'm playing third and fourth level poker, but only with players that are thinking 2nd and 3rd level. I feel like I'm one step ahead of their plays and their emotions based on the way I've been playing. BUT, I also feel I'm adapting to those who are only playing their cards at the same time.

2. I'm playing position well.

3. I'm controling the pot size and not overbetting hands.

4. I'm not afraid to bet, raise or call when it makes sense to do so against the right players at the right time.

5. I'm mixing up my play - both betting patterns and hand selection.

6. Well timed bluffs against the right players based on their past patterns. Example was a nice squeeze play into a habitual button raiser who was re-popped a few times by another player and had shown the tendency to fold. The SB was a habitual caller. Button raises $6, SB calls, I make it $30 with J9os...both fold. It worked better for me because it was the first time I made that play into him.

7. I'm not afraid to fold AA on a scary flop against a tight player, but at the same time, I'm not afraid to call with middle pair against a different player.

8. I'm not limping and hoping with connectors. I used to never do that, but then during a string of bad local cash game losses, I found that was a major leak. I was essentially chasing all night because everyone else was and I was trying to force a big pot. It's funny because that is the complete opposite of how I play. If I'm going to play connectors, you should never really now how I'm going to play them...fold, raise, random limp on button only to mix it up, raise into limpers, call a raise, fold again to a different person's raise, limp behind others....who knows (mostly fold though :-))

9. I'm observing and capitalizing on changing table conditions based on recent hands and emotions between other players. I can feel who's frustrated, playing with ego, getting passive, etc.

10. I'm aggressive

11. I'm patient


I'm really enjoying the cash game play. I feel like I'm able to exercise my ability to fully trust my reads without that worry of busting out. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE tournaments and tournament strategy. But the cash game play is allowing me to flex some different muscles that I normally would only get to do very deep stacked and I think the repetition of it will help me continue to both trust my reads, but also bet accordingly. Ultimately, it will help my tournament play and get me closer to my goal.

This Felt Good

This guy had been trying to outplay me the whole time and I recently bluffed him out of a pot. The turn bet had ego written all over it. I figured he had AK or AQ (eh, I guess I was close).

PokerStars Game #8876408923: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2007/03/12 - 23:35:33 (ET)
Table 'Chaldaea IV' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: ova dawg ($293.95 in chips)
Seat 2: pickpok ($131.10 in chips)
Seat 4: -Ori-Prior- ($59.05 in chips)
Seat 5: cursed6466 ($103.40 in chips)
Seat 7: TheYeti ($195.70 in chips)
Seat 8: jpg7n16 ($309.40 in chips)
Seat 9: DP388 ($157.90 in chips)
jpg7n16: posts small blind $1
DP388: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DP388 [8h 8c]
ova dawg: folds
pickpok: raises $6 to $8
-Ori-Prior-: folds
cursed6466: folds
TheYeti: folds
jpg7n16: folds
DP388: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [9s 3h 9d]
DP388: checks
pickpok: bets $12
DP388: calls $12
*** TURN *** [9s 3h 9d] [Jh]
DP388: checks
pickpok: bets $40
DP388: raises $97.90 to $137.90 and is all-in
pickpok: calls $71.10 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [9s 3h 9d Jh] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DP388: shows [8h 8c] (two pair, Nines and Eights)
pickpok: mucks hand
DP388 collected $260.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $263.20 Rake $3
Board [9s 3h 9d Jh 4h]
Seat 1: ova dawg folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: pickpok mucked [6d Ah]
Seat 4: -Ori-Prior- folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: cursed6466 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: TheYeti (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: jpg7n16 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: DP388 (big blind) showed [8h 8c] and won ($260.20) with two pair, Nines and Eights

Winning and Being Humble

I just posted about some recent wins and how I feel like I’m playing at a new level. Part of that new level is also learning from past mistakes.

When I had my first big cash for $2,500 over a year ago, I wanted that feeling again immediately. This need for achievement caused me to play impatiently, especially near the bubble, and the result was not cashing in 14 straight sit-n-go’s for a net loss of $1,400. I was trying to force the win and control every situation, which is counter-intuitive to successful poker play. I also had a feeling of invincibility, like I could never lose again. I started getting Fancy Play Syndrome trying to craft complex plays against opponents who were just playing their cards. The poker gods quickly put me in my place.

So I’ve had recent success and I’m feeling good about my skills. But now I’m humble. I’ve learned from past situations and I’m going to continue to approach future games emotionally neutral. I will have increased confidence in my abilities, which will allow me to follow my instincts more and more. But I will not come into games thinking my skill advantage is so great that I can control the outcomes. I will also not be anxious and impatient trying to capture the next win. I may continue this fortunate run for a few days, weeks or even months. I also know that the fortune might end today and I’ll face a drought of negative variance. All I can do is continue to make smart +EV decisions and I know the results will follow.

Playing at the Next Level

So I’ve been on a nice run lately. Out of the last 8 tournaments (including 2 online) I’ve won 3, placed 2nd once and bubbled once. My total investment was $550 and I won a total of $1830. I also won a couple of head’s up sit-n-go’s online as well.

Am I catching cards? Not really actually. I mean I’ve had a few situations where I’ve made a drawing hand or hit a set, but nothing out of the ordinary really. I don’t even think I’ve had AA or KK that many times either. What I am doing really well though is playing the player and the situation. MY cards are part of that situation, but they are just a small piece of the pie. I really feel like I’m playing at a new level. Where in the past I may have had glimpses of this, I’m much more consistent about it now. The great thing is that this hasn’t been isolated over the course of a couple of days. I’ve been playing at this level the last couple of months.
What are some examples of playing at this level?

• I’m sensing weakness better than before. This helps me decide how to play certain cards. For example, after an early and a mid-position limper, I might also limp with a hand like KQ or AJ because “the book” says to. However, depending on stack sizes, the blind level and the tendencies of those who players who have limped, I now will mix things up and put in a sizeable pre-flop raise simply to win the pot then and there. If I get a caller, it’s okay because I’ll also have position and can make a situational decision based on the flop. BUT, I won’t do this all the time. Mixing up your game is important.
• I’m varying my play a lot better.
• I’m reading physical tells better. Navarro’s book is pretty damn accurate.
• I’m staying patient during the end game.
• I’m playing my draws strong a higher percentage of the time (either leading or check-raising). Obviously my choice of plays is dependent on the players and situation, but I’m now looking at draws as opportunities to win a hand multiple ways and not just if I hit.
• I’m picking up the pots no one else wants.
• I’m maximizing my winnings. Instead of value betting, I’m shoving all-in more when I think there is a chance I’ll get a call. This is HUGE in tournaments when having a big stack creates an advantage later. The other thing this is doing is making my all-in plays later in the tournament seem more believable. For example, if I re-steal pre-flop by putting someone to the test (and I use the same exact timing and mannerisms as when I had the nuts), I am way more believable.
• I’m not playing as passively and I’m not afraid to go with my gut. A great example of this is when I was 3-handed the other night when the tournament paid top 2. I had a good chip lead and a solid, but somewhat passive player who was third in chips (about 12 bb at 14K) was in the small blind. He limped and I checked in the BB with 82os. Flop is J83 with two hearts. Pot is 2400 and he bets 2000. I have a lot of options here and raising is certainly something I could do in this situation, but he knows that. As a standard raise could put me in an awkward situation if he pushes, an all-in is also a slight over-bet and he might read me as a bully. Folding is also an option, but I decide to call to see how he plays the turn. With his chip stack, he is going to be basically telling me his strength based on how he plays. The turn is an Ace of spades and he bets 2000 again. I almost resorted back to the line of thinking that says “He bet therefore I must be beat here”, but then I stopped and asked myself, “Why 2000? What does that say about the strength of his hand?”

1. With the Ace being a spade, it now put two flush draws on the board. If he had a strong Jack (or better), wouldn’t he bet more? Maybe, maybe he has a big hand (set, two pair, etc.), but I still think that he bets more or pushes here to protect his hand.
2. If he does have a Jack he seems awful afraid of that Ace.
3. If he has an 8 with a better kicker, he could be betting here to define his hand cheaply.
4. He could also have a heart draw and is trying to control the betting.
   

For all these instances, I felt like I either had the best hand OR I could push him off a better hand a high enough of a % of time to make pushing all-in a +EV play. He also saw me push all-in with big hands previously, so that previous action made this a strong play. So I pushed, and he folded. THIS line of thinking is one reason why I feel I’m at a new level, BUT, the action I decided to take is the real reason. I had the guts to go with my instincts even though my first reaction was to fold.

Head's Up Tournament Win Re-cap

Last night I played in a $30 buy-in Head's Up tournament and took it down for $210. Well, technically I chopped the final match because Doug had to go "dancing" and we would have had a re-match. We're still not quite sure what he meant be that, but I hope he had fun.

It was a $30 buy-in with 16 people. The format was really fun, where 4 people were seperated into 4 pools and you played everyone in your pool first. The top 2 from each pool advanced into a single elimination 8 man bracket.

What were the keys to my success? I think it stemmed from three things:

1. Strategy - I took a little time a couple days before to understand the blind structure and figure out an optimal strategy for changing gears in relation to the blinds. This was pretty big, as I think most people didn't recognize the need for a strategic shift and played too tight when the blinds started rising.

2. Confidence - I came in focused and poised, knowing that I was probably the best head's up player there. I kept that focus with each match and the concept of losing never entered my mind.

3. Praying on Weakness - While I allowed the other person to take down a few pots (when I either felt like they had a strong hand or just wanted to keep my image relatively solid), I picked up all the pots they didn't want. I think I only checked it down a couple times. I also picked really good spots for long-ball bluffs in the first two blinds levels when I had the stack to do it. This may have been check-raising on a draw or representing a hand all the way through.

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Blinds at 100/200. SB raises to 400 and I call in the BB with T9. Flop is 683, I check/call a small bet. Was I chasing a gut shot? Kinda...but it was just one of my outs. My plan was to see how he played the turn and react accordingly. I felt like he would fold to a bet on the turn if he was just continuation betting, depending on the card. The turn was a 6, so this was a great card for me to represent trips. I bet and he called. Okay, now I know he has something. Probably an overpair. River is an 8. A timid player, who is only playing his cards would most likely check here and give up. I decided that if I was going to represent either the 6 or the 8, then I needed to keep going. If anything, I would get called and be pegged as a bluffer and I could use that in later hands.

So I bet. But one thing I've improved on recently is betting enough to make them fold, while still representing my hand. I can't remember how much I bet, but I got him to lay down KK face up.

2. In my semi-finals match, a good player (but one that I know can make a laydown and knows that I play solid), raised pre-flop and I called with 89. The flop was 6Q7 and I checked, with the intention of check-raising if something about his bet seemed weak. He bet about 2/3 of the pot, which was a little more than his normal continuation bets, but I felt that with my image, a check-raise would represent a very strong hand. I could either get a laydown here or earn a free card on the turn. Again, I can't remember the size of the pot at the time, but I raised him about 3.5 - 4x his original bet. He took a while before folding and it was more than acting, so again I got someone to lay down the best hand.

Of course, I didn't bluff the entire time. I felt like I extracted the most of out my good hands as well and played on the emotions of the other players in order to induce the action that I wanted.

Tunica Trip Report & Lessons Learned

Overall this was a great trip. I had a lot of fun and made a little money. More importantly, my confidence once again grew and I learned some good lessons. Overall I was up $216 for the trip and made most of my money in satellites. Out of 6 satellites:

3 first (1 was a chop and one paid 2 places even)
1 protection (got 4th, but Doug and I had a protection deal so I got my buy-in back)
2 busts (one where my nut straight was rivered)

Gee...think tournaments are my thing?

Anyway, I flew into Memphis at 11:30am. Sit down at my first single table satellite around 12:45. First hand is AA (mmmmm...this is going to be a good trip).

So I chopped this table for $500. Ended up playing more cash games than I expected, but I felt like I needed to exorcise some demons. I played a lot of 1/2 NL and ended up down on cash games overall at - $189. Good play, good decisions, just lost a couple of big pots that hurt me. I definitely feel much more comfortable in cash games now. I just need to stay disciplined when playing out of position against those damn straddles. For some reason my ego kicks in when people play straddles.

Played awesome in a $500 event with 750 people and ended up in a big pot where I decided to lay down a flush draw after committing 1/3 of my stack (misplayed hand - http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8782544&an=0&page=1#Post8782544). I wasn't super short after that, but then went card/situation dead and busted around 170 (top 72 paid).

Got a little bummed, burned some steam playing black jack and came up with a vigor into a satellite. Took it down for $1,100. Went over to Doug's table and played his stack while he helped me sell my satellite chips and won a $350 pot with a set of Jacks. He was nice enough to flip me $100.

I can't wait to go again! Maybe New Orleans??? Probably unlikely. Leaving Jenni for 5 days with 3 kids isn't easy on her. She is AWESOME for supporting my goals, but I know how much energy the kids can zap from you. I might just need to wait for the main event. Hopefully I can figure out a good schedule for going and maybe make it a family trip.

Lessons Learned

1. Don't be afraid to get your money into a +EV gambling situation when the odds are right and the situation warrants it. More specifically, don't be afraid to put your "tournament life on the line" in live tournaments if it is the right thing to do.

2. Don't try to outplay someone (i.e. long ball moves) until you've been at the table long enough to have strong reads.

3. Navaro's tells book really works (please don't tell anyone though)

4. Friendly table talk helps you keep control over the pace of the table

5. Sometimes you do have to go with a "feeling" if you are running well. It doesn't mean a donkey play, but if it is a close decision, sometimes you just gotta go with it.

6. Smiling and wit at the table tends to help me stay confident and mentally sharp

7. Not expending a lot of effort to observe others actually helps me take in more information. Overconcentrating can erode your ability to focus over a long session.

8. The table is a gold mine of information if you know how to extract it. People are much more likely to give up information if they like you. I gained a ton of valueable experience on this trip in asking the right questions in the right way and by simple observation.

9. Overt and dynamic friendliness is contageous. You can get even the tightest of rocks to open up.

10. I got better at adjusting to the blind structure better on this trip. Sometimes you have to be more agressive early to accumulate chips with fast structures. This also means open up raising and stealing requirements when your M is starting to dip, even if the blinds are relatively low (i.e. you have 1K at 25/50 level).

11. ALWAYS be aware of the blind structure for a tournament. Don't get caught not realizing that the blinds are doubling next.

12. Be aware of your M and play accordingly in live tournaments. Even if you are one of the table chip leaders, one mistake or marginal situation can have a significant long-term affect if you don't have room to recover.

My Plans for Tunica

I'll be in Tunica, MS from Jan 10 - 14 for the WSOP Circuit Event and the WPT World Poker Open.

While I'm getting excited about going, I'm treating it as just another set of poker sessions. It really is no different than any other session except I'll have more playing time in a condensed period.

An adjustment I will be making this time is that I won't let myself sink into just playing my cards if I go through a cold period. I'll be focusing on playing the players and the situations, just like any other session. My game is at a new level now and I'm confident in my abilities to adjust to different table dynamics better in a robust live setting.

The only difference between this and other sessions is that I'll need to manage my energy and sleep differently. While I plan on having longer than normal sessions, I will also make sure I'm getting enough sleep and eating well.

The other difference in this trip is that I will have the opportunity to meet one of my goals for this year, which is to cash in a WSOP Circuit or WPT Event in 2007 (2007 goal post coming soon). How I expect having this goal to change my play is simply that I will bring my A game to each session. I'm not going to focus on the outcomes and allow that to affect my play. I don't even need to cash in a main event this year. It can be a $200 event or whatever. But this will help me break the seal and just be a nice stepping stone. I've been to a couple of these events and have only played in about 5-6 tournaments so far; I bubbled a $200 second chance tournament last time. I'm confident that I can make a final table, if not win one of these events, but it's not like I have the opportunity to let variance play itself out, so I'm just starting with a goal of cashing for now.

As far as what I'm going to play in, I'm just going to treat the trip like a long poker session and try to maximize profitability, while at the same time, trying to satellite my way into the $500 and $1K events. Unlike last time, I'm not going to play in a $1K event unless I satellite in. Once I make enough in satellites, I'm going to go ahead and buy-into an event and treat the satellites as sit-n-go's. I probably won't play cash games much, but if I do, it will be the 1/2 game at the Gold Strike.

I'll try to keep up with trip reports while I'm there. Wish me luck.