Tiltttttttttt

yup yup. I hit a downswing this week, was very annoyed. So on the 30th, I decided to load up a 1/2nl table, a heads up table. I was doing pretty well, but man, the game just kept going back n forth back n forth for a few hours, seriously. Long story short, I stacked him, so the score was $800 vs $200 and I blew it. He started tilting and pushed $180 preflop, so I called w/A9 < K7s.

later on, $350 push AcKc < 99. Eventually I tried to run a big bluff, and boom. $1k pot shipped to him.

Damn I'm good. Oh, prior to that I also lost about 800 on fcp. Just got raped in limit, over and over again. Oh well.

I just put in 3hr 40 min. session though where I made back $500 of it so I'm happy. I think my bankroll is around 3.4k with rakeback and such. Not too sure though, not really caring.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clicking. Instincts.

I mentioned that a few months ago, after a horrendous -300bb downswing, I 2 tabled 2/4 short handed limit and suddenly the game clicked to me. I was learning how to control the table, so that my aggression worked really well. Basically, you normally want to take initiative/be the captain at your table. If you are in control of the hand, then in the longrun you will win more. By being in control, you're making people make mistakes. They will fold or give you too much money.

So what does this have to do w/the 'clicking' concept? I began to feel the game. There are some days where I have to think, is this guy bluffing? semi-bluffing? Or does he have a real hand. But there are those days where you just know. You intuitively understand his emotions. You know he might play his AK aggressively so you cap bottom pair on a flop of 5 7 10 and value bet his ass to the river. Or maybe you just feel that he's weak, so you bet out or check-raise with Queen high and take the pot away with him. Rather than debating between check-raising and betting out, you immediately know that betting out/3betting is the best play. You know this within a second, and without any doubt.

Bluffing is a -ev play that don't work too often in limit, especially short handed limit. yet you feel it, so you go with it. There isn't any doubt, you just know. You can't explain it, even though it's online, you have a read on the guy that you just KNOW is correct.

That's what it means to have everything click together. You know when he's strong, so you pitch your hand, you know when he's weak so you bluff him off or value bet him.

If you're a poker player, or a competitor, you know that there is nothign more beautiful than executing a deceptive play with confidence. A daring, risky move that most would not make, yet for some reason you've decided to do it and you've now pulled it off. It's an empowering, comforting feeling and there really isn't anything quite like it.


Of course I'm only 20 years old so what do I know? I haven't experienced that much, have I?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope that little explanation helped. I can be pretty repetitive, and confusing as well.

Well everyone, it's been a quick year. Nothing much has happened in my life in 2006. I hope you all either improve your poker game or have fun playing it. Please don't tilt. It's such a waste. Look at me! If I didn't tilt, I'd prolly have my 10k bankroll. Oh well oh well.

Happy New Year! Let us have a good 2007.

Mikey Song

Bummed out

sure it's only 5 days into my break,
but I'm bummed out.

Sorry for a low post on Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone :)

But I cannot ignore how I feel right now. I came home expecting to be constantly surrounded by friends and having fun. So far, it's been almost like college, a lot of hanging out at home in front of the computer screen. I do demand a lot of attention though, so maybe I'm overexaggerating, but I don't think so. What's wrong with hanging out with friends? Nothing, so why don't people do it more? I DONT KNOW. Maybe I demand too much from my friends. I enjoy hanging out and getting to know people. Shrug.

So it looks like my plan for vacation backfired. Instead, I'll be focusing on this time to ready myself in cards. Back to 2 tabling 5/10 and improving my game.

I'm sorry I did not write about what I meant on 'clicking' when I played 2 tables. I'm just not in the best of moods. I could write you a crappy post on it now, or a better (hopefully) one later.

-Michael

An update

So I haven't posted in awhile. Well, I'm home! I barely made my flight, got to the airport 25 minutes beforehand :D

Did I ever tell you guys that I'm a really lucky person? For instance, no matter how late I am to the airport, I've always made my flight, except for the one time where I fell asleep at teh gate only to wake up to watch it pull out and fly away...but that doesn't have to do with luck, that was just idiocy. But I am a really lucky person, something always comes through, EXCEPT, when it comes to girls.

2 relationships ended because of school, one was a little off the wall though so I'm glad that ended, the other just fell out of it. As in the attraction just faded away. Balls. I don't know why I'm rambling about this, oh well. (cuz it's a blog!)

Poker has been good. I took a break from multi-tabling and played 2 tables of 5/10 sh lhe, I made $1000 this week until I lost $600 yesterday! hahaha, but I made $240 today so I'm happy. In fact, I am pretty happy with my poker play. I was playing scared this whole week, trying to re-analyze/re-think my game and I'm happy with teh direction it's been going in. More aggressive and more confident.

The secret to my success @ short handed limit has been 2 tabling. In October, I almost went broke. I 2tabled 2/4 short handed limit for awhile, analyzed my opponents thinking things like "why does this donk always take down these small pots" etc. and then I experiment, and it just clicks. Boom, never had to look back. My bankroll is around 4k now, I want to put in more hours again but friends come first this break. I don't think I can bump it to 10k but 6-8k is def. reasonable before this month is over. Oh wait, I've got 7 days left, well i can try :)

No hands to post, nothing really interesting happened =/

BR Management

Well

I practiced great br management today. (SARCASM)

For some reason this morning I was just frustrated as hell. Towards the end ot he first hour of my session, I got super frustrated even tho i was only down a few big bets despite the beats I was taking. So then I played longer...even though I told myself 'you really shouldn't be playing right now, you can't think anything through' so of course I just keep playing...until I'm down to my last $700. Wtf? I had $2300 in my AP account, I just lost $1600?! GKLAJ:LFDSJFDSFK:LJ TILTTTTTTTTTTT

SO I put that $700 to good use...@ a 10/20 table. WORST IDEA EVER. Every time I have been down, I have never done well taking shots at a higher limit and today yeah..I lost my last $700 there.

Bustooooooooooo?

No, turns out I actually cashed out 1k from that poker acct the day before and it just arrived in my neteller.....God, double edged sword. Had I not done that, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have tilted and taken a shot at 10/20. So instead of blowing through $1300, I would've jsut gone through 600 and sulked for the day. Oh well...

I'm surprised I tilted. After going through that 200bb swing weeks ago, I thought I would've been in great control.

Here's where I believe I went wrong:
I had this big desire/belief that I was going to make a lot of money today since the past few days were meh, and when that didn't hit my expectation, I started to get really really angry. THe best train of thought is just putting in hours, not expecting a certain amount, rather just knowing that if i put enough hours, I'll always bank profit in the longrun since I am a winner at the game.

No more tilting please M. Song.

My pt stats have me beating the game for 1.4bb/100 out of 21k hands, so I'm not worried. Little annoyed but htat's cards and that's my own dumbass fault. Now I have to put in more hours to make up for that stupid mistake.

Oh, I hit my 2nd online royal tonight! mb 3rd, I forget. And lost a $100+ pot in a very frustrating way.



******* Hand 1 ********

Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $3/$6
6 players

Stack sizes:
MikeySong: $152.50
UTG+1: $89.25
CO: $109
Button: $57.70
SB: $79.06
BB: $31.50

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is UTG with as 7s
MikeySong raises, UTG+1 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 9c 7c ad (10SB, 5 players)
SB checks, BB bets, MikeySong raises, CO calls, Button calls, SB folds, BB 3-bets, MikeySong caps, CO calls, Button calls, BB calls.

Turn: 7d (13BB, 4 players)
BB bets, MikeySong calls, CO calls, Button calls.

River: 9s (17BB, 4 players)
BB bets, MikeySong calls, CO folds, Button raises, BB calls all-in $1.5, MikeySong calls.

Results:
Final pot: 22.25BB

BB: A6o
I muck A7
Button: 10,9o WTF MAN


******* Hand 2 ********

Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $3/$6
5 players

Stack sizes:
MikeySong: $263
SB: $79.06
CO: $457
Button: $61
SB: $3
BB: $83.50

Pre-flop: (5 players) MikeySong is UTG with :10h jh
MikeySong raises, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls all-in $1, BB folds.

Flop: 3h kh qh (6SB, 2 players + 1 all-in - Main pot: 4SB, Sidepot 1: 2SB)
MikeySong bets, Button folds.
Uncalled bets: 1SB returned to MikeySong.

Turn: 9s (3BB, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: 2BB, Sidepot 1: 1BB)


River: ah (3BB, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: 2BB, Sidepot 1: 1BB)


Results:
Final pot: 3BB

Short Little Update

ugh.

I have finals. I just want to play video games and poker, not study!!! I've been doing a piss-poor job of it tho. I missed my math test this morning, slept right through it. I have to bust a 90% on monday to pass the class w/a 71....haha. I so don't fit the asian stereotype.

I had to pay out a few bills so my bankroll is at 3.5kish again. I don't mind it too much, but man I gotta fix those money leaks! I like keeping 1000bbs but oh well, looks like I'll be playing some more 3/6 for awhile. Once I hit 5 or 6k, I'm going to play some 5/10 and go from there.

Movies to see this break:
what the bleep do we know...I forget the rest of hte name
The Fountain
ERAGON - RAWRRRR, go john malkovich
Good Shepherd
Apocalypto
Happy Feet
Borat
Rocky 1, 3, and 4
the new Rocky movie
Blood Diamond
Casino
and I'd love to watch Godfather 1 and 2, and Scarface again. Such beautiful beautiful movies.

-Mike

Oh, starting Jan. 1st I have a 5k bet w/a friend. First one to reach 100k by August 30th. I think I can do it no prob. I'm betting I'll hit it by May or June. Any takers? :p

Merry Xmas Michael Song!

I saw such a good deal! I couldn't help it! I bought myself two of these babies:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-4335

$800 each right? But Dell has a 15% off deal and I bought an ebay coupon for 10% off which stacks, so I saved myself like 3-400 bucks :D Total price: $1280. SUWEEET. I'm excited. Apparently u can plug a ps3 into it and play? OOooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My goal in jan. will be to 8table but for now, I'm happy 6tabling. I want to put in 10-20,000 more hands before I kick it up another notch.

Oh man, I feel a little sick blowing $1300 away. That officially makes it the most expensive purchase I have made from poker expenses. Until then, the most expensive thing I had bought was an ipod nano. Ohhhh well, just means I gotta put in more hours.

My bankroll, until just now, was around $6,400 if you include next month's rakeback, which I kind of don't like to do.
23 hours of 6tabling and I've generated over $3,000 in rake.

I'm actually a little burned out right now, which is dumb as hell. I've spent all this time and effort to get to where I am (a winning low limit player, lollll) and now I don't feel like playing? Guh. It's ok tho, I have finals next week so it's probably a good thing.

I want to put in ONE more good day of at least 4hrs of play and then I should seriously try to focus on passing school.

Alright, time for some hands:

******* Hand 1 ******** I have Jd,Qh
Limit Holdem Ring gameLimit: $3/$6 6 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is UTG+1 with jd qh UTG folds, MikeySong raises, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 4s js 6s (8SB, 4 players)SB checks, BB checks, MikeySong bets, Button folds, SB calls, BB folds.

Turn: 8s (5BB, 2 players)SB checks, MikeySong checks.

River: 4c (5BB, 2 players)SB checks, MikeySong bets, SB raises, MikeySong calls. This is why you don't want to bet/fold every hand on the river.

I was looking over and I didn't realize there were 4 spades. Ok ok, yes, there are 4 spades and he could've just made trips. Is a 3bet better then? I think not because he could go for a desperate cap, so it's better to call. So why did I call?
ALright so I checked the turn because of the scary card, I didn't want to get check-raised, so he now CHECKS the river. Any tard with a spade or boat would've bet the river hoping I would call - and I probably would've folded too - yet he went for a check-raise. That to me looked more like a steal than a real hand.

Results:
Final pot: 9BB
SB Shows 5h 5c
MikeySong Shows Jd Qh

******* Hand 2 ******** I am holding 3s,8s - MISCLICKED - The power of the Cbet
Limit Holdem Ring game Limit: $3/$6 6 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is CO with 3s 8s UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, MikeySong raises, 3 folds, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: kd 7h as (5.67SB, 2 players)UTG+1 checks, MikeySong bets, UTG+1 calls.

Turn: 8h (3.83BB, 2 players)UTG+1 checks, MikeySong bets, UTG+1 folds.Uncalled bets: 1BB returned to MikeySong.



******* Hand 3 ******** Best Hand Of the Night.
Limit Holdem Ring game Limit: $3/$6 6 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is SB with 9h :10c 4 folds, MikeySong raises, BB calls.

Flop: 6h 8c qc (4SB, 2 players)MikeySong bets, BB calls. Come On Straight Draw

Turn: qh (3BB, 2 players)MikeySong bets, BB calls. COME ON GUTSHOT

River: qd (5BB, 2 players)MikeySong bets, BB calls. ZOMG FOLD YOUR ACE HIGH

Results:
Final pot: 7BB
MikeySong Shows 9h 10c - TEN HIGH
BB mucks 7s,4c - 7 High, ahahahhahahahh a;lksdjfk;lasjdfk;ladsjk;lf

******* Hand 4 ********
Limit Holdem Ring game Limit: $3/$6 6 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is BB with ah 7c 2 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, MikeySong calls.

Flop: 7s 7d 4h (4.67SB, 2 players)MikeySong checks, CO bets, MikeySong raises, CO 3-bets, MikeySong caps, CO calls.

Turn: 3c (6.33BB, 2 players)MikeySong bets, CO calls.

River: :10h (8.33BB, 2 players)MikeySong checks, CO folds. Ugh, this guy was tilting, I for sure thought he would bet out of frustration for a special Check-Raise*** D:

Final pot: 8.33BB

Have a good week guys,
Mikey Song

Woot!

OK!

So my confidence is coming back. Losing 200bbs was BRUTAL but yesterday in like a 4-6 hour span I made back 100 of it, and I looked at my rakeback and found that I'm even again!

My bankroll:
5,000

You know what? This is a GREAT reason why bankroll management is important. Please, I hope you all practice good bankroll management. You hear about these guys who take shots at bigger games, games way out of their bankroll, run hot and bank big. That's great but most of the time this isn't going to happen. You're taking shots at HIGHER games against BETTER people, so you expect a bigger return? Please, you'll go broke more than not, or at least lose a big chunk of it. There's no reason to do it. Obv. we all get greedy once in awhile and wanna try but I really don't recommend it. I don't know if I'd follow a fish to a 25/50 game u know? It's poker, yes I'm supposed to win more in the longrun but a short run of -2000 would make me go flipping crazy. I'm beating the games for a great amt, why quit now?

I still place myself at a 1.5bb/100 winner if not 2bb. But yes, this week, the beats have been crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrazzzzy!

Look at my graphs! Each bigbet = $6

November:


December:



YUCK, but at least I'm close to even. Something is wrong with the graph tho, I'm not down $180, I'm down $600 more! lol. Oh well.

I'm clicking back into my groove. Part of that vicious swing happened because I kicked up my game another notch and decided to be even more aggressive. I'm still experimenting with the style and the conclusion I have for now is that, it's not necessary for 3/6 sh lhe. I went back to playing the way I normally did and I raped. so there's no need to change it up right now.

But look, here's my look on SH LHE
Loose-Aggressive Style
The LAG style to short handed limit is the best one. Your range of hands is particularly wide so your opponents have a trouble of pinning you on a hand. Raising with QJo, I may get credit for also having a King or an Ace if they flop, enabling to take down more pots. I am constantly putting pressure on my opponents, and the problem they have with calling me down with Ace high is that they are constantly in the dark. If I catch on to the A high calldown, then I'm going to bet the flop and turn, and check the river UI but I will always be value betting the river otherwise. Why do I still bet the flop and turn? For fold equity.

I'm in a lot of hands as a LAG, therefore I am giving a lot of action. In poker, I full on believe that to take action, you must give action. If someone raises 1% of the time, it's obv. he has Aces. If someone like me raises 22% of the time, u're not going to know when I have Aces, thus I'll be getting paid off a lot (or in this case, sucked out on :p) I believe I get full value out of my hands this way.

An additional strongpoint of the LAG style. It really really pisses off people, especially if you can value bet those marginal hands VERY well. But this is a double edged sword. Sometimes people will avoid you and only playback with strong hands - this is a HIGH benefit. It makes it so much easier to bet/fold those weak hands.

But

Some people end up playing back with A high etc. and that's where it gets crazy. If u're not hitting ur card rush, then u want to revert back to a truthful style and punish them with your good cards. Adapt adapt adapt.

And that's what's been happening to me this week as I upped my aggression. People started making a lot of crazy plays at me and I haven't been handling it right. There's just so many 100bb swings I mentally cannot take it right now. But eventually I'll figure it out.

Oh,
I'm 6 tabling! So $150 an hour here I come baby! I wanna have a great christmas break :) Good luck to everyone who has finals. I'm pretty screwed schoolwise @_@

-Michael Song

Oh! Some last minute things:
In response to anon's comment:
I partially agree with what you've said. When I'm really stressed, I'll go to the casino and play the 3/6 full ring game because it's the easiest thing in the world to me. Those players are so transparent. I can usually fold Kings easily if an A hits on the flop and one of them shows aggression.
BUT
the rake @ live games is a killer man! $4 a pot! Some take even $5! and playing 1 table live vs 2-6 tables online just doesn't compare you know? I'm making $150 an hour w/6 tables, bonuses, and rakeback! That's more than a live 30/60 player and most likely not as difficult either! Online has too many benefits and I believe it's very important to work on the online game. The hardest part is folding (because there are maniacs) and tilt control :p

NOW, I GET TO POST MY BAD BEATS. ITS MY BLOG!

Hand 1 I have 88 for a set!
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $3/$66 players
Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is UTG with 8h 8s MikeySong raises, 2 folds, Button 3-bets, SB caps, BB calls, MikeySong calls, Button calls.

Flop: 8c 3s qs (16SB, 4 players)SB bets, BB folds, MikeySong raises, Button folds, SB 3-bets, MikeySong caps, SB calls.

Turn: 6h (12BB, 2 players)SB bets, MikeySong raises, SB calls all-in $0.25.Uncalled bets: 0.96BB returned to MikeySong.

River: kc (14.08BB, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: 14.08BB)
Results:Final pot: 14.08BB $84
MikeySong Shows 8h 8s
SB Shows Kd Ks

Hand 2: I have 7,7 for a set!
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $3/$65 players
Pre-flop: (5 players) MikeySong is UTG with 7h 7d MikeySong raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: 2d kh ac (6SB, 3 players)SB checks, BB checks, MikeySong bets, SB folds, BB calls.

Turn: 7s (4BB, 2 players)BB checks, MikeySong bets, BB calls.

River: 8d (6BB, 2 players)BB checks, MikeySong bets, BB raises, MikeySong 3-bets, BB caps, MikeySong calls.

Results:Final pot: 14BB
BB Shows 8c 8h
MikeySong shows 7h 7d

Hand 3: I have 3,5 for two pair!
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $3/$66 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is CO with 3d 5d UTG calls, UTG+1 calls, MikeySong calls, Button folds, SB calls, BB checks.

Flop: 3c 5s ah (5SB, 5 players)SB checks, BB bets, UTG folds, UTG+1 calls, MikeySong raises, SB folds, BB calls, UTG+1 calls.

Turn: 8s (5.5BB, 3 players)BB bets, UTG+1 calls, MikeySong raises, BB calls, UTG+1 3-bets, MikeySong calls, BB calls all-in $5.

River: 9s (14.33BB, 2 players + 1 all-in - Main pot: 14BB, Sidepot 1: 0.33BB)UTG+1 bets, MikeySong calls.

Results:
Final pot: 16.33 $100
UTG+1 Shows As Ks
BB Shows Ad 2s
Mikey Song shows 3d 5d

This is jsut a small sample of what's been going on this week. Oh and I still posted a 23bb profit! SO F OFF VARIANCE

....

I'm down $1100. almost 200bbs. My confidence is pretty low and I feel like the worst player in the world.

KSLDJFK:LSDJFK:LDSJK:LFJFFK:LDSJFK:LDSJK:LDSJK:LFDSJ:LFDSJFSDSLJFDSFDSFDSLJFK:LDSJFDSDSDSDSJFK:LDSJFK:LDSJF

It's hard to feel anything but worthless right now. I'd love to blame all the bad beats I've taken but some of it has to be my fault as well. I've had two 100bb swings which have been really fun! Down 100, made it back, down 100 again, made it back, then down 100 again. So I guess that's 3.

I don't feel well.

Screw table Selection

Maybe I'm screwing myself?
But this is only 3/6 SH LHE I'm playing. If I can't beat these games I'm doomed for higher stakes anyways. I looked at my November stats and I ran for 3.23bb/100 in 7500 hands. Probably just a heater but that's a great boost of confidence! I'm going to say screw table selection. There were some players that I'm semi-afraid of because of their aggression, but I'm going to run them all over. That's the best way to get me to play even more. I don't care if I sacrifice 1bb/100, I'll hurt their winrate just as well until they decide to AVOID ME rather than the odather way around.

This is a hand I posted on FCP. I'm pretty bitter because no one gave me any constructive criticism over there. All I get is 'fold preflop and u're set'

Ok, but sometimes we make mistakes so give postflop advice. Let me explain here.

Limit Holdem Ring gameLimit: $3/$66 players

Pre-flop: (6 players) MikeySong is BB with 6d ah
UTG raises, UTG+1 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB folds, MikeySong calls.
Bad Call - You have to assume your A6o is dominated here. A6s is a call obv. but offsuit doesn't play well multiway.

Flop: 5d :10d 6h (8.67SB, 4 players)MikeySong checks, UTG checks, CO checks, Button bets, MikeySong raises, UTG calls, CO folds, Button calls.

I check-raise here to isolate the CO. Why? Think about what their hand ranges here: AK, AQ, AJ, A10* - scary, QJ, QK, and high PP. J10,Q10,K10 are possibilities but I don't want to give up this flop when I think they all have overcards.

Turn: 3h (7.33BB, 3 players)MikeySong bets, UTG calls, Button calls.

No one is raising or 3betting me. My Hand is Most Likely Good. A scared person could have j10,q10,k10 but def. no overpair here.

River: 8s (10.33BB, 3 players)MikeySong checks, UTG checks, Button bets, MikeySong calls, UTG calls.
If someone called w/78, he just got there but the pot is giving me like 10:1 so I'll make a crying call.

Is this a good or bad call?









Results:Final pot: 13.33BB
Button Shows 2c Ac
MikeySong Shows 6d Ah
UTG mucks Qh Kh

Gnight.

ZZZZZZZZ

You Know What SUCKS ABOUT NOT SLEEPING WELL?

It becomes too dumb and risky to play poker. :LKJDS:LFKJ:LFDJSJ.
I assume on fri and saturday nights, games would be a lot looser/fishier but...I'm tired, and when I'm tired I miss or make a lot of mistakes and that can be balls, and a lotttttttttt of money can disappear fast. I can give examples later.

I'm tired :(

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You know what rocks about playing poker?

There's always a game going ;)

Gnight. Don't force yourself to play stupid.