i need your advice. right or wrong, tell me how it is.

[Chiefer]

am i just unlucky? am i making the right decisions? am i a donk? i can't seem to get a hand to hold up. i'm gonna post a few complete hands. tell me what you think. i can take it.

pokerstars Game #19289450129: Tournament #99525923, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/02 - 01:10:43 (ET)
Table '99525923 1' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: NadoTornado (1055 in chips)
Seat 6: Iowa Jake 42 (4335 in chips)
Seat 7: Papirrin32 (4315 in chips)
Seat 8: Chiefer77 (1270 in chips)
Seat 9: DGARRETT20 (2525 in chips)
NadoTornado: posts small blind 50
Iowa Jake 42: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Chiefer77 [Ts Js]
Papirrin32: folds
Chiefer77: calls 100
DGARRETT20: folds
NadoTornado: calls 50
Iowa Jake 42: checks
*** FLOP *** [Jh 2c Th]
NadoTornado: bets 125
Iowa Jake 42: folds
Chiefer77: raises 475 to 600
NadoTornado: raises 355 to 955 and is all-in
Chiefer77: calls 355
*** TURN *** [Jh 2c Th] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 2c Th 6d] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NadoTornado: shows [5h 2h] (a flush, Jack high)
Chiefer77: shows [Ts Js] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
NadoTornado collected 2210 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2210 | Rake 0
Board [Jh 2c Th 6d 8h]
Seat 2: NadoTornado (small blind) showed [5h 2h] and won (2210) with a flush, Jack high
Seat 6: Iowa Jake 42 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Papirrin32 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Chiefer77 showed [Ts Js] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 9: DGARRETT20 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

i limped and that was wrong but i wanted to see a flop and i hit big. i feel i made the right raise, but was unlucky with the result of the hand.

PokerStars Game #19289483420: Tournament #99525923, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/02 - 01:12:46 (ET)
Table '99525923 1' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: NadoTornado (2210 in chips)
Seat 6: Iowa Jake 42 (4285 in chips)
Seat 7: Papirrin32 (4365 in chips)
Seat 8: Chiefer77 (215 in chips)
Seat 9: DGARRETT20 (2425 in chips)
Papirrin32: posts small blind 50
Chiefer77: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Chiefer77 [8d Jc]
Iowa Jake 42 said, "knew it"
DGARRETT20: folds
NadoTornado: folds
Iowa Jake 42: calls 100
Papirrin32 said, "lol"
Papirrin32: calls 50
Chiefer77: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 8c Jh]
Papirrin32: checks
Chiefer77: bets 115 and is all-in
Iowa Jake 42: calls 115
Papirrin32: calls 115
*** TURN *** [9c 8c Jh] [Td]
Papirrin32: checks
Iowa Jake 42: bets 300
Papirrin32: folds
Uncalled bet (300) returned to Iowa Jake 42
*** RIVER *** [9c 8c Jh Td] [7d]

this was the next hand, i was shortstacked and going in anyway, i feel this was just unlucky.

PokerStars Game #19263745610: Tournament #99312907, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/08/01 - 00:38:22 (ET)
Table '99312907 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: Chiefer77 (3250 in chips)
Seat 2: juliebugs (1225 in chips)
Seat 3: EuphoriA25 (5780 in chips)
Seat 4: quietasasinX (4705 in chips)
Seat 5: jc90266 (1665 in chips)
Seat 8: pphillipsjr (4380 in chips) is sitting out
juliebugs: posts small blind 75
EuphoriA25: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Chiefer77 [8s 8c]
quietasasinX: folds
jc90266: folds
pphillipsjr: folds
Chiefer77: raises 300 to 450
juliebugs: folds
EuphoriA25: calls 300
*** FLOP *** [5s 3c 6d]
EuphoriA25: checks
Chiefer77: bets 600
EuphoriA25: raises 4730 to 5330 and is all-in
Chiefer77: calls 2200 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (2530) returned to EuphoriA25
*** TURN *** [5s 3c 6d] [Jd]
*** RIVER *** [5s 3c 6d Jd] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
EuphoriA25: shows [As Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
Chiefer77: shows [8s 8c] (a pair of Eights)
EuphoriA25 collected 6575 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6575 | Rake 0
Board [5s 3c 6d Jd 4d]
Seat 1: Chiefer77 (button) showed [8s 8c] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 2: juliebugs (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: EuphoriA25 (big blind) showed [As Jh] and won (6575) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 4: quietasasinX folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: jc90266 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: pphillipsjr folded before Flop (didn't bet)

this is the hand i'm most concerned about. i've been thinking about this hand for a few days now. i had a good read on him. and knew he had nothing on the flop. he'd been raising garbage the whole game. i figured that he thought i was on a blind steal and then tried to buy the hand with his push. did i make the right call?

PokerStars Game #19212360075: Tournament #98882840, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/07/30 - 00:45:20 (ET)
Table '98882840 1' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: LokitheGod (9005 in chips)
Seat 4: mss249 (2210 in chips)
Seat 5: Chiefer77 (985 in chips)
Seat 7: henrylando (1300 in chips)
mss249: posts small blind 75
Chiefer77: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Chiefer77 [8d Qh]
henrylando: folds
LokitheGod: calls 150
mss249: calls 75
Chiefer77: checks
*** FLOP *** [9s 2h 9h]
mss249: checks
Chiefer77: checks
LokitheGod: checks
*** TURN *** [9s 2h 9h] [Tc]
mss249: checks
Chiefer77: checks
LokitheGod: checks
*** RIVER *** [9s 2h 9h Tc] [Js]
mss249: bets 300
Chiefer77: raises 535 to 835 and is all-in
LokitheGod: folds
mss249: calls 535
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Chiefer77: shows [8d Qh] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
mss249: shows [Kh Qc] (a straight, Nine to King)
mss249 collected 2120 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2120 | Rake 0
Board [9s 2h 9h Tc Js]
Seat 1: LokitheGod (button) folded on the River
Seat 4: mss249 (small blind) showed [Kh Qc] and won (2120) with a straight, Nine to King
Seat 5: Chiefer77 (big blind) showed [8d Qh] and lost with a straight, Eight to Queen
Seat 7: henrylando folded before Flop (didn't bet)

this hand just pissed me off, and poker doesn't piss me off very often.

 

[jice]

i dont htink you couldve done anything for both those hands....you made the right decision for both hands and just got unlucky and coolered...the more you play, the more you see those beats, but if you keep making those good decsions...youl end up making more money than you lose...when playing those limits, theres alot more beatss like that because people tend be looser and wilder..all you can do is make the best decisions like you did over and over again and play alot to even out the bad luck thats bound to happen...

 

[The Shrog]

OK, the J10 and the J8 are just unlucky. Only question..what kind of game is this, how many to itm? This information is needed to justify your J10s limp. The 88 you played fine--not sure what the AJ was doing in the hand. I think the last hand..with your chip stack..was also played fine.

 

[Chiefer]

i dont htink you couldve done anything for both those hands....you made the right decision for both hands and just got unlucky and coolered...the more you play, the more you see those beats, but if you keep making those good decsions...youl end up making more money than you lose...when playing those limits, theres alot more beatss like that because people tend be looser and wilder..all you can do is make the best decisions like you did over and over again and play alot to even out the bad luck thats bound to happen...

thanks for the reply, i've been playing for quite some time now and have experienced the things in that you have mentioned. i'm thinking that i'm on the start of a downswing, and i don't like it.

i understand the whole, micro stakes = bad players thing. i'm not looking ot get rich off the game at all. actually i could care less about the money. what matters most to me is that i'm making the right decisions.

 

[Chiefer]

OK, the J10 and the J8 are just unlucky. Only question..what kind of game is this, how many to itm? This information is needed to justify your J10s limp. The 88 you played fine--not sure what the AJ was doing in the hand. I think the last hand..with your chip stack..was also played fine.

the J10 was a 9 player sng. 3 itm. the J8 was 27 player sng. 5 itm. the 88 was another 27 sng.

 

[Chiefer]

i'm not so much concerned about the J10 or the J8 as i am the 88 hand.

 

[Chiefer]

here is a hand that is starting to piss me off too. i've gotten into a habit of not raising good starting hands while in the blinds and i can't see to get out of it. i know in my heart that i should raise this but my head keeps telling me not to.

PokerStars Game #19081972226: Tournament #97820522, $3.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/07/25 - 00:27:21 (ET)
Table '97820522 1' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Chiefer77 (2090 in chips)
Seat 2: COsnowfox (1427 in chips)
Seat 3: franky bee42 (750 in chips)
Seat 4: Wogggg (3270 in chips)
Seat 5: tessaruo (2135 in chips)
Seat 8: weezybaby32 (2328 in chips)
Seat 9: gymrat56 (1500 in chips)
gymrat56: posts small blind 50
Chiefer77: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Chiefer77 [Qc Ac]
COsnowfox: calls 100
franky bee42: folds
Wogggg: folds
tessaruo: folds
weezybaby32: folds
gymrat56: calls 50
Chiefer77: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qd 6c 6h]
gymrat56: checks
Chiefer77: bets 300
COsnowfox: calls 300
gymrat56: folds
*** TURN *** [Qd 6c 6h] [3c]
Chiefer77: bets 400
COsnowfox: raises 400 to 800
Chiefer77: calls 400
*** RIVER *** [Qd 6c 6h 3c] [8d]
Chiefer77: bets 300
COsnowfox: calls 227 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (73) returned to Chiefer77
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Chiefer77: shows [Qc Ac] (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
COsnowfox: shows [Qs 6d] (a full house, Sixes full of Queens)
COsnowfox collected 2954 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2954 | Rake 0
Board [Qd 6c 6h 3c 8d]
Seat 1: Chiefer77 (big blind) showed [Qc Ac] and lost with two pair, Queens and Sixes
Seat 2: COsnowfox showed [Qs 6d] and won (2954) with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
Seat 3: franky bee42 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Wogggg folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: tessaruo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: weezybaby32 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: gymrat56 (small blind) folded on the Flop

 

[Egon Towst]

I don`t see any real problem with any of these, Chief. I might well have played them the same way myself.

Sh*t happens, it`s all in a day`s work/poker. The key thing is to keep your head straight when you are running bad.

Yesterday, for example, I entered an MTT and was out within the first half-hour when some muppet chased a draw and hit his card on the river, even though he had no business being still in the hand. Entered another tourney, and bugger me if the same thing didn`t happen again.

I turned off the computer and picked up a book instead. Very tough to do when you were looking forward to an evening of poker, but there is no point in playing when you are not cool, calm and collected. You will only throw good money after bad.

You played these hands alright, imo. Keep cool, don`t worry, keep playing the same way. If you feel like the cards are against you, take a break.

 

[Egon Towst]

Correction, I didn`t see your latest post. That last hand is badly played.

Put in a decent raise pre-flop, Q6 folds and you don`t get into this mess.

Don`t weaken your game because you are worried about bad variance. You will just dig a deeper hole.

 

[ceejae77]

Played well, except the AQ vs Q6 I agree with Egon on. The J10 I think you should have raised with when you entered the pot also(considering that you did get in it to being with).

 

[Chiefer]

the AQ hand is so poorly played and i know it. it's a habbit that i've gotten into and just can't seem to snap out of it.

 

[HeroCall]

I really don't see much wrong with the way these hands have been played. Probably gotta raise the J10 even if you just wanna see a flop... I raise most playable hands in position to keep trash like 2 5 suited out!

 

[HeroCall]

ok just seen the AQ hand and it was horrendus (sp?) I think you gotta pump that up to like 400 to go then you aren't worried about a 6 being in the hand.

 

[Chiefer]

see, the thing is, i know i should raise but i just can't get my hand over there to click on it. it's only in this situation. so what i think i'm gonna do is, write myself a little note and tape it to my monitor to remind me not to be such a dumbass.

 

[chadherczeg]

it happens to the best of us

I myself am on a bad run like that. you have the best hand and it gets cracked by someone calling on a draw and sometimes even a really crappy draw. You just have to remember that everyone goes through it and don't let it discourage you. Luck fluctuates but the statistics stay the same. As long as you always get it in good you will be a winning player in the long run. Don't let the swings kill your attitude or the way you are playing because it looks like you are making good decisions. Gl and see you on the felt

 

[Chiefer]

I myself am on a bad run like that. you have the best hand and it gets cracked by someone calling on a draw and sometimes even a really crappy draw. You just have to remember that everyone goes through it and don't let it discourage you. Luck fluctuates but the statistics stay the same. As long as you always get it in good you will be a winning player in the long run. Don't let the swings kill your attitude or the way you are playing because it looks like you are making good decisions. Gl and see you on the felt

i think that i might leave pokerstars alone for awhile and move over to tilt for a bit just to see how i run there. it can't be any worse. i could post about 5 more hands just like the ones above but i think you guys get the picture. like i said before, it's not the beats that are bothering me so much, i just want to make sure that i am making the correct decisions. i know that in the long run, making the right decisions will make me a winning player.

 

[HeroCall]

Do you not raise out of fear? I don't understand
Agressiveness is the key to winning.

 

[ugotkicked]

I think your wrong...2 reasons
1. Board was paired and your raising all in,with just a str8
not even to K high str8.
2. You playin online..should have known you were being screwed.
Learn to sniff out "Danger"

 

[Chiefer]

Do you not raise out of fear? I don't understand
Agressiveness is the key to winning.

honestly, i don't know why. it's just something that i've gotten into the habit of doing.

i've been very conscience of this today and was faced with the same situation. i am glad to say i raised and took down the pot uncontested. i feel a bit better now.