The Latest

Tuesday evening - Mrs. Easycure asked, "Do you want to play some poker?". I say, "Of course!". Her next phrase was a divine, "Go ahead then!"

Now, I don't have a situation where need to ask to jump on-line to play poker, but in the wake of a just passed Vegas trip and the fact that she's going out of town this coming weekend, I figured I would not play poker until she was gone for the weekend. So, her invitation to let me play was welcome.

I fired up PokerStars and jumped into a $5+$.50 single table SNG (I TOLD you I’m small potatos!) and proceeded to bust out early in eighth place. I was being aggressive, which I've been thinking I need to do more, but I was overdoing it. Just before I busted out, the Mrs. sat down and watched. She asked why I was playing like that (poorly and over-aggressivly). I thought I was being patient enough, but obviously I was not. I decided to play another one, immediately, and asked that she watch me play.

The second SNG started soon after that and I played as patient as I could allow myself. After a few orbits, I had seen three flops and three people had been eliminated.

Then something happened. It all started to come clear. I started seeing things that I hadn’t noticed before. Betting patterns by players, the length of time they were taking before betting, the cards they were playing, all at the same time. It was like a light was turned on. Ding!

Every raise I made after that was right. Every check and call was correct. Every fold was timed perfectly.

I worked my way to heads up with the chip leader with half of the chips he had. It didn’t matter. I was the lion and he was the zebra. Twice I got sucked out on the river, but never for my last chip.

It was like a heavyweight bout – we were trading blows left and right, but even when he had be stunned, I was not going down. At one time I did go in for all of my last T750, and obviously took that pot. And the next one. I may not have lost a hand after that.

The suckouts did hurt chip-wise, but mentally he never touched me. I finally got his last chips in when I had a double belly-buster gutshot straight draw and flush draw on the turn. I had more outs than a San Francisco parade. Of course, I riverered for a straight and that was it. His only comment was Sick!

Yep. It was, but not for the reason you think, dude. You weren't going to win, you had no chance. That was the sick part.

The Mrs., who watched (and helped keep me patient), and I went to bed soon after and slept very soundly.

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Fast forward to this morning; I had an hour to kill before work. Hey lets play some poker! I jump on a $2/4 limit 6max table that had two players with over $100 in front of them. I sat down with $50 and waited, ready to feast.

While waiting, I saw that one of the two big stacks raised after the flop every time. Since he played about 75% of the hands, I smelled something Fishy about it. I couldn’t have been more right. After that, I reraised his raise every time and he folded often. I think it put him on tilt.

When I first sat down the Fish had $160 and the Other Guy had about $100. Three-quarters of an hour later I had $150, the Fish was busted and the Other Guy left with about $80 or so. I couldn’t have played much better.

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Tonight: After dropping Mrs. Easycure at the airport, I’m meeting Skitch at a local casino to play some more. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Comments

[skitch]

You were a MONSTER! Just chewed 'em up and spit 'em out! How'd you end up for the night?

[April H.]

Those Stars SNG's are a wonderful thing for the patient player. I usually do quite well although I am on a downward slide right now. I guess I gotta find my way back into the zone. Have fun at the casino!

[Joanne]

Ahh you reached the zone. There is nothing better.

[Human Head]

"...more outs than a San Francisco parade"

Great phrase, I must remember that :)