Embarrasingly enough, heres an example of two of my problems popping up in one go. What we just discussed, combined when playing when I'm too tired to think straight. This is the kind of play that takes me (as it did here) from a good night to a bad night. I played badly at first and got down $2, played well for a couple of hours and got up $2 (playing 2 tables) and right around when I'm thinking I really should go to bed I do this.



PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($2)
Hero ($3.76)
CO ($5.11)
Button ($4.86)
SB ($2.83)
BB ($7.52)
UTG ($2.65)
UTG+1 ($5.07)
MP1 ($1.86)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A, A. MP2 posts a blind of $0.02.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.02, MP2 (poster) checks, Hero raises to $0.1, 3 folds, BB calls $0.08, MP1 calls $0.08, MP2 folds.

Flop: ($0.33) 2, 7, 8 (3 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($0.33) 8 (3 players)
BB bets $0.3, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $0.6, BB calls $0.30.

River: ($1.53) 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.06 (All-In), BB calls $3.06.

Final Pot: $7.65

Results in white below:
BB has As 8s (three of a kind, eights).
Hero has Ah Ac (two pair, aces and eights).
Outcome: BB wins $7.65.

If I had pen and paper in my hotel room I'd follow Aok's advice. As it is I'll learn one lesson and go to bed now.


I also think I try to fill the pot too much on hands like that. The check is an effort to slowplay the hand, but the more I let people see free cards with what should be top hand at the time, the more I risk letting them catch something lucky.


Not getting discouraged, the reason behind allotting myself $50 p/m is that I'm prepared to lose for a while, as I'm learning. Hopefully I'll get to a point where I break even and my BR builds just from deposits, then eventually it starts building nicely from winning.

As mentioned I have The Theory of Poker. I have one more poker book which has probably arrived at home by now ( ). I didnt get the HoH books as they have advanced in the title. I'll grab them one month when my BR doesnt need refilling probably.