Peep the links.

I have put up a list of links to several of my other blogs, two of which I have updated. Also, there are a few links to some poker friends of mine.

WOW!!!!!

I had an amazing August and was feeling like I could beat the world heading into September and then it all came crashing down. In no way do I feel my game has changed and I know I have the skills and emotional control to crush the game. The only problem is when cooler after cooler keeps happening it makes you question yourself. The 1st week of the month was my worst ever and I was making some bad choices at the table. I did some serious reevaluation and started back strong the next week. I recouped a large chunk of my losses whihc had occured when I took a shot at the next level and this week I was nearing even for the month. In reality it isnt the money. I could give two shits. It is the helplessness I feel when I get it in good only to lose to a 2 outer. Wah fucking wah I know, but man it hurts.

Rather then bitch and moan and tilt off my roll I have decided the poker gods are simply telling me to slow down. I have decided I will not be taking anymore shots till my roll reaches 10K unless I decide to move sites. I am seriously considering after the whole AP scandal that is going on. Change is good! Also I am searching for leaks in my game and working on plugging them as well as opening up my game a little. Another thing I have decided is essential is to reread some of the poker bibles and really get that shit hammered into my mind.

I have to go as I feel sick at the moment and I dont know what to do. Here are the two latest coolers if you enjoy seeing them.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1499558 Villain is a complete fish. I got it in here knowing I had him crushed.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1493188 Villain again is a mega donk and I am looking to take him to value town on a blank river. I imagine I dont get much from him on the river because I out him square on a FD. Yeah, I cant call that river. GG sir.

Thoughts on thinking and feeling.

I know there have been several books on the subject and it is becoming more and more emphasized yet I still feel the mental edge is neglected still. If you are not capable of processing the information presented to you with a clean crisp mind how will you be capable of putting it to proper use? Simply put you wont. You can read every book and study hours on end while playing 3 thousand plus hands a day but if you aren't thinking clearly you are going to get nowhere.

Don't get me wrong you might see positive results but they will be sub par to the results you could get with a clean mind. When I say clean mind what do I mean? I am speaking of a mind that is not tired, not upset over a bad beat, not fearful of losing, not unfocused, and not functioning without processing. In order to play at your optimal performance level you must be thinking clearly. The 1st thing I ask myself prior to every session is if I am well rested and capable of performing at my best. If the answer isn't yes I don't play. How will I be able to play poker at the level I want with the success I want if I am not on my A game. Simply, I wont and neither will you. Know yourself and know when you aren't capable. Always start your new sessions with a positive frame of mind.

The mental edge comes from being capable to play bot like poker with no emotion involved in processing the situations we become involved in. We are human so this is much easier said then done but with practice you will go numb. Avoid singling out an opponent. I am not saying not to target the donkey at the table but don't go out of your way to play big pots with hands you shouldn't be playing big pots with just because this guy is a donk. This is not bot play. Bots process the information, retain it for future battles and play the game. Let the game flow, force nothing. Stay calm mentally and emotionally and if you feel yourself slipping, quit.

The other key besides knowing when to play is knowing when to stop. Much easier said then done. We might think are AA vs KK suck out loss has no effect on us but it does. Some more then others. Until you can become consciously aware of this effect you will be helpless. Learn to identify when your play has changed and acknowledge it. Once you begin to acknowledge it you will be able to quit at such times. Quiting a session when your mind state has changed is so fucking +EV it is not even funny. Think of those long sessions where you lost 5+ BI. How much of that could have been avoided if you had just turned off your fucking computer? I know I am guilty of tilting. But now I quit. I walk away and think about why my mind state changed and how I can control it. Get your mind right and your game will be tight.

August stats.

Pretty solid month as you can see. Didnt play as much as I would have liked but the results are still there. I am not satisfied though and will be looking to double my hands played and my results this month. With no school and finally getting settled in at my new place, where I have a home office, I am set for my biggest month yet. Also this month I am looking to start mixing in some 200NL probably the same way I made the transition from 50NL to the 100s, playing two tables of each.