Gauss Blog, Never Surrender. Never.

The bad news is Im losing, the good news is I am better than the people I am losing to. The problem is Im losing more than my fair share of “flips”. I put “flips” in quotes because I usually have significantly the best of it. Two recent examples are floped top set of aces, all in on flop lose to flush draw, and set of jacks on J K 8 board loses to JK when another King falls on river. Anyways, I did river a miracle 4 for quads this month so its not like I always lose with the best of it.

The thing is though when you have fifteen to twenty buy ins that sort of thing hurts alot. Buy in gone as opposed to a double up. If I had to estimate I’d say $700 this month can be accounted for by poor “flipping results” This does not mean if I won every “flip” I would have $700 more, it means that if I won my fair share I would have $700 more. Whatever it is I know running bad in these spots is the diffence between a winning month and a losing one for me.

I did have one mini blow up this month, It was a Saturday and I was just tired, too tired. But played a ton of hands anyway and spewed off some money. I still have to learn to just go to sleep, go workout or hit the movies in these spots, poker will be there the next day. Aside from that I think I played my A game most of the time.

I have tightened up a bit. I still look for opportunities to make moves but if you look at the supernovas etc at .5/1 they are like 15/14, stuff like that so thats what Im going for right now. Steady grinding to build a roll, I’m not even particularly interested in learning from many of these villans I face. They’re generally not good. Just a fact. So whats to learn? I am improving at getting value for my hands and staying agressive. Its hard when your losing to have the courage to say Im better than these guys but I do know it. I know it in my soul. I am constantly getting my money in as a favorite, long term that should will work out.

I also have developed decent skillz for playing different kinds of bad villans, tagfish and aggro bad. Long story short I know what Im doing at this level .5/1, so its just a matter of time. Mad skillz yo. Weaknesses still include not getting value in certain spots and not three betting enough, but I know what to do there.

One of my issues with poker is I am fairly busy at work and it can get in the way by causing me to be tired when Im free for poker. Long term I have a solution to that. Im going to reduce my overhead by moving the office into my home. I will still have the office meeting room and secretary at the regular office. Simultaneously with that I am going to start cherry picking my cases. There are good clients and bad clients time v money wise and its time to apply some discretion so I can be more rested for poker. That plan is not all about poker, Id be taking that step even if I wasnt into poker, its the right thing to do for my sanity and finances.

So, the losing continues, but Im getting the best of it and it should turn around. Still at .5/1 and exercising good game selection discipline. Still have not played live in some time. I sort of put too much online and dont have extra money to play live and I kind of miss it.

Looking forward to the holidays and maybe its time for another trip to Vegas before too long.

October goals:

1. At least 25k hands of .5/1 full ring, played well not too tired, game selected, etc. Im not going to set a goal or a win rate. Maybe: have a win rate. Hope variance cooperates.

2. Eat well and get plenty of rest and exercise. Reconnect with the “real world” (no not those spoiled azz clowns on MTV) a bit, spend some time with friends.

3. Have fun. Theres no point doing all this If its not fun. Im going to take the time to enjoy HSP and other vids and clown around with the mooks on the online sites.

4. Take some shots at real money, play a few big buy in tourneys and or some 2,4. But find a few spots to swing for the fence and go for it. .5/1 is where I’m at, but theres no need to make a job out of it.

Good Luck, Keep your cheeks tight, Gauss.