It had to happen. I couldn't just go on winning forever, so I expected this was coming. Last night my poker
career came back to earth. I played two tournaments and came in 7th in both of them. Seventh! I was
really surprised by these results when up til now I had been, I suppose, successful. Maybe I was running
into players who knew less than I did or maybe I played well. As I have reviewed my previous successes, I
still believe that I did indeed play well, most of the time. As I disected the successful games and tournaments
I found that it really comes down to playing solid poker on each given hand. The reason for previous success,
I believe, was that I stayed true to my "starting requirements", really did not try to bluff anyone, and as a
result played very few hands. The hands I did choose to play, I played aggressively when the flop supported it.
So what happened last night? Let's take a look.
I chose to play in two tournaments last night, first a $5 NL single table tournament, and next a $10 version of
the same thing. After losing the first, I wondered whether the players at the $5 version were different than
the $10 version and was curious if I would fair better at a higher level. Short answer - "no". What I have done
after each tournament or ring game is to review my game play and determine what I did correctly and what mistakes
I made. I found dumb mistakes even in some of the past winning sessions. So let's begin with the first $5 game
and see what hands I chose to play and see if I could have played better.
The following is a list of the hands I chose to get involved with and what happened at each street.
Hand
Hole Cards
Chip Cnt
Action
Flop
Result
Analysis
of Play
Corrective
Action
1
2h 3s
800
FOLD
NONE
2
2s 5h
785
called 5 in SB
Jd, Ts, Jh
Check, Check, Fold
Correct
Called in SB - ok - no corrective action
3
2d 8c
FOLD
NONE
4
5s Th
FOLD
NONE
5
Kh 6h
FOLD
NONE
6
2s 9h
FOLD
NONE
7
Ks Kh
770
Raised 5x BB preflop
NONE
All Folded
Too Aggressive? Can't
scare everyone. Just make standard
raise and hope for no aces.
Adjust raises to 2-3x BB.
I am looking to get some participation. Use standard raise.
8
9h Qc
FOLD
NONE
9
2h Qd
FOLD
NONE
10
Ts Kh
Called 5 in SB, Bet out 15 Post Flop
5h, Kd, Js
WON 195
Just OK. OK to play
since discounted. Top pair warrants a
bet to win this pot
NONE - correct to go after this pot. But we wary of heavy resistance - go to check call mode if
necessary.
11
3d 9s
FOLD
NONE
12
9s Qc
FOLD
NONE
13
9c 9s
885
Raised 60, called Reraise
6d, 7h, 2d
LOST by Folding to Reraise post flop
Had TOP PAIR, should have pushed? But early in tournament.
Should have gone over the top on his bet post flop
Tough Hand to play: but in this case I should not play so weak -
espcially if I have position.
14
Kh 5d
FOLD
NONE
15
9s Js
FOLD
NONE
16
8h Tc
FOLD
NONE
17
Jh 5c
FOLD
NONE
18
Qc 5d
FOLD
NONE
19
7c 3h
FOLD
NONE
20
Ad 9c
FOLD
Pay cheap to See the flop???
But could get into trouble
21
2c Ts
FOLD
NONE
22
Ac 2c
FOLD
Only good if flop the WHEEL
23
Qs Kc
FOLD
NONE
24
5h 6h
FOLD
NONE
25
Qh 9s
690
Raised to 100, folded after opponent bet
out on flop
9c, Jc, Kd
LOST by folding Bottom Pair against ONE player
All folded except ONE GUY,
I raised pre-flop and called. He BET OUT post flop.
Two OVER CARDS on flop made me think I could be easily beat if he pressed me. I could have gone OTT and laid down if I
got resistance.
Low pair and gut-shot straight draw - Lonnie would play this I
think. One opponent but with 2 over
cards I think this was a correct move.
Draws are DEATH in tournament poker.
26
Jh 8h
FOLD
NONE
27
5h 5d
FOLD
NONE
28
Jh Tc
FOLD
NONE
29
Kc Ad
Raised to 100
NONE
WON 175
OK
Normal Acceptable Play (in position - especially if many folders in front)
30
9c 7s
FOLD
NONE
31
4s 6d
FOLD
NONE
32
6c 7s
590
Bet Out
100 Post Flop
6h, Kh, 3s
WON 400
OK, but a bit desperate.
Really should not have played this hand, but table looked WEAK with
many folding and ONE opponent left.
OK. Took a stab at this with MIDDLE PAIR and me in BB.
Opponent CHECKED to me -
so I took it.
(mild aggression)
33
5h Qc
FOLD
NONE
34
5s 2d
FOLD
NONE
35
3d 7c
FOLD
NONE
36
Tc 8h
FOLD
NONE
37
Qs 3h
FOLD
NONE
38
7c Qd
FOLD
NONE
39
Kh 4h
FOLD
NONE
40
3h 8d
FOLD
NONE
41
8h 8s
590
ALL-IN 590
Qd, Ah, Ks
GONE
ALL-IN preflop and was a GOOD FAVORITE. Not a BAD PLAY. Opponent only had A7 but took the risk and it PAID OFF for
him. Maybe I should not have gone
ALL-IN, but I did not to be contested.
I think this was a GOOD PLAY.
Blinds at 100/200 with me at 590. One opponent in and 2 left to call - Decent chance to take the
blinds. Race situation this late
considering blinds and my stack - acceptable play. Early this would be INCORRECT I think.
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