I’ve been very reluctant to post an update because I have been running good and I’m afraid of jinxing myself but then I remembered what I always say about luck. “The only thing that can give you bad luck is believing in bad luck”. So walk under that ladder on purpose, smash those mirrors, go to the animal shelter and adopt a black cat to follow around… but I guess that would mean you have some belief in luck, good and/or bad, and therefore may be giving yourself bad luck just by acknowledging that those things would have any effect on anything, but then if you avoid those… oh FUCK IT!
The sample size is too small to post any real stats (~2500 hands) so I’m just going to make a note of the things I have changed that I think have helped turn things around. I will say that I’m at >20ptBB/100, which is probably not sustainable, but it sure feels good.
(In fact, the sample size is so small I may just be on the good side of variance, but I think these are all +EV anyway)
1. My “Don’t SPAZ” post-it note is still there and I make it a point to look at it regularly while playing. To be honest, I don’t really have a clear definition of what “Don’t SPAZ” means, but at the very least, for me, it means think really hard about that big bluff or that big call before you make it. I think the original meaning may have been, “Don’t bluff big… EVER”, but, I can’t say that I’ve really stuck to that even though a big part of me thinks I should still try to.
2. I stopped reading or listening to ANYTHING poker related. I was just overloading my brain with all things poker. 3Bet, 4Bet, 87Bet. These are the micros and ABC poker should get you out of the basement, IF you don’t continuously SPAZ.
3. Single Table. This can be painful, but if you are leaking chips you need to provide the least number of pipes to leak from while you find the leak(s). I’m still only playing two tables and I’m fine with it. In fact, I have no desire to play any more than 2 right now. It’s comfortable, and I’m winning.
4. Changed my screen name. I didn’t even realize that Cake had this feature but as soon as I found it I jumped on it. Did the micro-regs really have a read on me? I doubt it, but I guess it is possible. Apparently you can change your screen name as often as you like on Cake. I’m sure I will make more use of this in the future.
5. Run Like God! LOL, the first table I sat at after changing my screen name I got it all in PF with AA vs. KK three times and my rockets held up every time. It was like a weight off my shoulders and I started to play better. After that heater I was able to fold an over-pair without much thought when the villain shoved on the turn; I had no trouble folding a set on a 3flush board; while on tilt these things would be virtually impossible for me, no matter the opponent. So, I am still at a stage where running good “allows” me to play better and running bad “makes” me play worse. The best players must be somewhat immune to this or at least figured out how to handle it better. I, on the other hand, still need significant work in this area.
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