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February 15, 2005
Let's see...
...where to begin?
I have nothing really to report on the poker front. I have not played much recently, other than a brief stop in at UB Saturday night where I managed to lose $20. I shouldn't have been playing...it was late, I was tired, (I did manage to stop myself when I realized I called a raise with A 7) and the truth is, I'm just not feeling the love poker-wise. But I was jealous - Chris and Hank were going to Commerce and I had to hear about it all day...
I have been playing here at home the past two nights. I won't give you a full write-up of those games because quite frankly I find home game write-ups boring for the most part (because you don't know these people), and also because ours are usually one one-liner after another, making it absolutely impossible to keep track of the hands you're seeing, except to say that oh, for the most part, they're crap. The first night we played we ended up calling it a draw when it came down to two players, with me having the most chips (so yay me) and then last night...well, last night was fun. Just three players; myself, my husband Jason, and our friend Jonathan.
Jonathan took the first game easy, by catching beautiful cards and playing them just as nicely. I forget how he knocked Jason out, but he took me out when he got pocket Kings twice in a row, which of course will beat those damn Hilton Sisters, even without the King on the river. River beats were common last night. That game being over far too quickly, we (or rather, I) sat things up for another. First two hands dealt - Jason and Jonathan both had Q8, then 82, then I get A7 two hands in a row. My remark of "this site is rigged" was met with that cricket chirping sound you hear in the movies...but y'all get the joke, right? Right? Best one-liner of the night had to be the response from Jonathan (you know it's the best if you can remember it out of the sea of them the next day) to my comment regarding problems I was having with my chip stack. I had a large stack you see, and when my chest brushed up against them, I accidently knocked some of the chips over, and I remarked "My breasts knocked my chips over". Jonathan's reply? "I have the same problem with my testicles". See? Priceless.
All right, enough of that. So, why no real poker lately? And why no real writing lately? Well...long story short, in conversations with Hank, he tries to be helpful (at least, I think he does) but really what he's managed to do is make me completely doubt myself.
It's not his fault. He's 100% correct when he tells me that I need to fully understand such silly little poker concepts as odds, and apply them to my game along with my reads and "instincts". (It is, however, his fault that when I ask what are to me perfectly reasonable questions, his responses invariably start off with an "lol". Yea. So not helpful.) But I don't know those...kinda skipped that step in my poker learning journey. Never bothered with starting hand charts or anything like that either. No, I got Fred. And then later John. And then blogs. And I knew I wasn't a great player by any means, but I got by. Kinda sorta thought I might even know what I was doing a little... And now I get laughed at by The Great and Powerful Hank. Confidence shot all to hell. (And yes, I realize I'm being a "girl". However I'm told I have that going for me, so...)
I feel like I've not put in the full amount of time and required effort that one should when one calls oneself serious about this game, and as a result, I've been avoiding it, feeling like it's going to hurt me in some way. Which, truth be told, it has the great potential to do when not fully understood and focused on. At the same time, the idea of going back to what is normally the beginning for most players, and learning all those basics - a little...degrading almost.
The COO of a Fortune 500 company said to me once, "We're a lot alike, you and I. We both have big egos." At the time I laughed, but he was right. (However, he left out stubborn...) The point he was trying to make was that it wasn't a bad thing per se, but that our egos (or rather mine, being as how my title was somewhat lower than his) could often cause problems when it came to accepting challenges - whether from other people or, as in the case above, from perceptions that quite possibly exist in only our own minds.
So I need to get over it. I'm told I'm on the right path...so I suppose this is just a matter of needing to backtrack a little and learn what I missed. Still, it's hard to not feel a little like a fraud who's just been getting lucky every once in a while. Sort of like showing up for a test and everyone else in class is fully prepared, and you've only studied the bare minimum, but you manage to pull out a passing grade most of the time anyway? (OK, that analogy hits a little too close to home...) Problem is, my passing rate is going way down. If losses are nothing more than paying for learning, I think I've paid my fair share of table lessons. I get that part. Time to hit the books, so to speak.
Yes, as much as I hate to admit for the world to see, Hank is right. I needed someone to push me to see that I was lacking in a very important aspect of my poker knowledge, and that it can't continue. So I am thankful for that, even if it did knock me off my little pedestal a bit. (Which is not a bad thing)
Now I just need to find someone with infinte patience who can answer all my stupid questions, because as we know, math is not my strong suit...
Posted by April at February 15, 2005 01:24 PM
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Comments
I don't think anyone needs to necessarily need to learn odds, specific odds anyway.. at the stage where they are above beginner and below intermediate... whatever that is called.. I mean, for me, I quickly calculate whether or not I have a good chance, a so-so chance, or not a chance at all.... and that pretty much wins tourneys online for me.. as long as I am not drunk, tired, angry, depressed, sad, lonely, bewildered, stupified, or generally in a negative mood.. any of those emotions in effect, and my odds calculations usually end up being, oh fuck it to hell and back....
From reading your blog and watching you play some, I think you know what you need to do to be consistant... just apply what you know.... and I say this tentatively, as I am by far the last person to offer advice or suggestions, and perhaps am talking to myself more than to you.. heh...
Maintain an even dispostion, don't over value your hole cards after the flop, patience, discipline.... get all that down.... instinct and guts fall in to place naturally...
( yeah, I've decided Im advising myself.... )
Oh, and position... I've recently started placing more value on hole cards depending on how many folks bought in to see the flop.. sumtin I was not doing previously but has been effective... example, I may not play 10 8 off from BB+1, well, I won't, but I might if I have the button and only 1 person called between the BB and me....
( I know most of what I typed is common knowledge, but like I said, I'm pretty much just reminding myself of stuff I should know... I suppose I should cut and paste this to my own blog... )
Lastly.. come play at baby a's tonight.. 290 and 35, sign up start at 5pm... :)
Posted by: Slayre at February 16, 2005 07:14 AM
If you're lacking in confidence, try a $1 or points SNG. A little rush from winning one of those should help.
As for tools, I highly recommend trying handodds.com software. You get a 7 day free trial. Calculates outs, pot odds, hand strength, etc. Nothing like playing a hand, when your 'puter says you've got the nuts 100% - bring it on fish!
I know what it's like to lose the mojo, it will come back. Good luck!
Posted by: Buffalo66 at February 16, 2005 10:14 AM
Sorry Slayre, can't tonight - have a test tomorrow at 9:30, and...see analogy above. :)
Posted by: April at February 16, 2005 11:02 AM
As you get into tougher games, the edge you have over your opponents grow smaller. Everybody knows the fundamentals. Poker is gambling, and if you can't determine the odds your getting on your bet, you're making a terrible gamble. Might as well memorize the ones that come up all the time.
Did I read this right?
Yes, as much as I hate to admit for the world to see, Hank is right.
Odds are easier than people think. It's mostly just memorization.
Posted by: hdouble at February 16, 2005 01:34 PM
I'd first figure out what your poker goal is. Then determine how much time and effort is needed to achieve the goal.
Posted by: Drizztdj at February 16, 2005 01:40 PM
Did I read this right?
Yea...I was hoping you wouldn't see that.
Don't get used to it by any means. ;)
Posted by: April at February 16, 2005 03:48 PM
I swear we are twins who were separated at birth (and a couple of years, I think). I also suck at math. But I am also not at the point in my game where I am ready for that aspect. I am still learning to be patient and disciplined in selecting which hands to play and which position to play them from. The math isn't going anywhere and if/when I am ready to take my game up a notch I will figure out a way to deal with it.
It sounds like you know what you need to do. Now go out and find the motivation you need to follow through. If you have questions feel free to e-mail me, I may not have the answers but I'll sure as hell try to help you find them. 8)
Posted by: April H. at February 16, 2005 07:01 PM
I don't know about you... but the more I realize that I'm not all that great at this game, the more I am in awe of the levels of discipline, analysis, calculation, and everything else that can go into it.
And like you, I know that I lack some basics that I *should* know.
But it can only be a good thing that you're thinking about these things... and looking to work on them. Having people willing to teach and just talk poker with you is a position which I'm very envious of. That, and your great blog ;)
Posted by: Chris at February 17, 2005 12:33 AM
Hank's a jerk. Don't listen to that guy.
Posted by: StudioGlyphic at February 17, 2005 03:24 AM
Just kidding. Definitely listen to what Hank says.
As for calculating odds, if you use one of those modded tables with the odds chart on the felt and refer to them often, you'll just start to memorize them automatically, like the number of the cheap, fast Chinese place that delivers late.
By the way, if you're playing low limit California No Fold 'Em you usually have odds (actual + implied) to call bets even with backdoor draws and overcards. There are plenty of players out there that will call your bets and raises even when the board shows a 4-flush or 4-straight, so it almost doesn't matter what's in the pot on the flop if you have any chance of drawing to the best hand. Erm, do I use this in practice? Usually not. But when it works out, it's awesome.
Posted by: StudioGlyphic at February 17, 2005 03:37 AM
At the same time, the idea of going back to what is normally the beginning for most players, and learning all those basics - a little...degrading almost.
I felt this way, too. Trudging back to the Learning Center after dropping my first deposit into Party Poker.
But, every time I go back and read a book, whether it's new or one I've already read, something clicks. The experience of playing, even if it's losing, somehow makes the concepts more easily graspable. And other plays and ideas pop up that I missed previously. Yes, even the math.
Posted by: Joe at February 17, 2005 03:20 PM
Hey Phil?
Best. Comment. Ever.
Hank's a jerk. Don't listen to that guy.
:D
Posted by: April at February 17, 2005 03:48 PM