Started keeping a Poker journal

[klickitat]

I keep a tablet for my journal and only post on here highlights of my games in case anyone is following.

I am really learning not to care about the money as much as my play. If I played well but lost to someone who was just playing wild, I am ok with that as I know in the long run I will take everything they have.

The cool thing about the money though is that over the long haul money is the reality check. If I think I am playing great yet seem to keep loosing money then I am forced to reconsider what is good play. The journal is also a good way for me to find out where I stack up against other players. Each of the venues I play at has a different group of people with a different set of skills. I can judge my skills based on how often I make the final table at these venues and how I do against the final tables.

I actually gave up my easiest game already. I found out that the hyper format is not good for my style of play. Not only is it too fast and aggressive for me but it also encouraged me to play too aggressive and I was starting to carry that style of play into my Friday game. NO Beuno. Friday is where I make the most money and generally see the best players. I can not be bringing bad habits from the Tuesday game into it.

I think the best part of the journal is that it keeps you honest and gives you time to reflect on your game, hands, attitudes and really tear into yourself and examine your play. In the past I would make mistakes but tried to be positive and not focus on them. Big mistake, because I never learned from them. In a journal I am forced to examine them and because I write them down I tend to remember them and not make them near as often.

I really believe that the journal is helping me to improve. I am now points leader in our local WPT League and last Monday, the director made the comment that my play has really improved since I started. As for the money to confirm this, I am up just shy of $300 since January and that allowed me to buy a pig and the feed for my son to raise which will double or triple in value by the time fair rolls around.

 

[klickitat]

Skipped my money tournament tonight. This is my Friday night tourney that I have made the most money at by far, yet tonight I was just not feeling it, so I stayed home.

It's funny, while I was righting this in my journal, I went back over my notes and I seen 3 other times where I either felt that I was going to have a bad night or where I just really did not have the drive to play and I ended up playing bad. I think I need to keep this in the back of my mind.

If I am not feeling it and not into it, I think I need to just stay home and watch a little tv.

I do get a little burned out from the constant studying and practice play. Here lately I started taking breaks as this has almost become a job with 30 plus hours of poker related activities every week. I read, watch videos, practice on poker stars and I have a subscription to a poker trainer. I need a break now and then. At first when I started to take it serious there was so much to learn and the gains were huge at first, but now the small gains come with so much more work that it is hard to be excited.

Anyhow, I will take a few days off and get back to it on Monday. Also I am thinking of heading down to the PDX $30,000 guarantee game in June. This will be my biggest tourney ever. Might be the thing to push me to study harder for that next little percentage in my game.

 

[klickitat]

Had a great game tonight although I only took 5th place. Cards were a little slim but made the best with them that I could.

The reason I feel that tonight was such a good tourney for me is that I made 2 great folds for good reasons.

#1 I had an AQ diamonds and isolated the weakest player at our table who is well known as a chronic caller with a 3x bet. Flop comes K clubs,K spades, 10 clubs. I bet 2/3rds pot and he calls me. Turn comes A hearts. I make a 2x blind bet and I get insta called. River rolls up a 6 of clubs. Not wanting to show total weakness, I throw in 2.5x the blind as I figured he would be either fold or bet. He came in with 2x pot bet and I fold top 2 pair. I tell him nice flush and he shows me his j,4 of clubs.

I almost get sick with it as I just do not know how people can chase flushes like that. No matter, I quickly realize that he will donate it all back and he did by the mid point of the tournament.

The second good fold I made was at the final table with 8 players left. I was in the little blind and hijack goes all in with about 3/4's of my stack. I look down and I am hold AQ off. I look at the big blind and realize that he will have to call and I did not want to be in a 3 way with my hand. Also there were two other stacks shorter than mine. I mucked it and waited for a better place.

Well guess what I lost with? Yep AQ off. I was in the little blind again and it was folded around to me. I went all in with 4 bb and lost to the big blind who called my 4x bet with a 94 clubs and caught a 4 on the flop.

All in all I am pretty happy with my play. I might have been able to last out just a tad longer to see if I could gain a position, but chips started to shift around and am not sure I would made any difference, so I decided to make a stand with the AQ off.

 

[MediaBLITZ]

so I decided to make a stand with the AQ off.

WITH 4 BBs!?!?! Well I would hope so!

Okay, it's been a month since starting your journal - how has it made you a better player?

 

[klickitat]

WITH 4 BBs!?!?! Well I would hope so!

Okay, it's been a month since starting your journal - how has it made you a better player?

I think it has and I am not sure. How is that for an answer.

On one hand I have more experience under my belt with an emphasis on trying to learn and become better. On the other hand the journal helps me really sit down and think things through. I also can go back and review every week which I feel helps reinforce what I am learning.

I also feel that because I am writing things down, reviewing and then remembering them as I play, I am starting to run a lot more questions through my head while playing and making more of my decisions based on sound reasons and not just on"because that is the play". Much like when I folded the AQ because there were two short stacks that I wanted to wait out.

 

[MediaBLITZ]

I am starting to run a lot more questions through my head while playing and making more of my decisions based on sound reasons and not just on"because that is the play". Much like when I folded the AQ because there were two short stacks that I wanted to wait out.

There's your answer - this is making you a better player. This is what happened to me pretty much immediately after starting to take notes on my play in hands. There was a slight difference with mine - I had to report my notes back to my coach. This made me think harder and longer about what I was doing. No way I wanted to take back something where I was going to look like a total idiot.

 

[rick1001]

this is league play with no cash value. I have actually been sick for the last little bit and not played in any money games.


I am hoping to play in one tonight if I am feeling up to it.

shit happens friend,but you will pick up

 

[klickitat]

Well I had to take a few days to write on here about last Friday.

I played the absolute worst poker that I have played in years. I am not talking about bad cards, bad beats or a bad run of luck. I am talking about unadulterated frolicing in the puddle guppy shit. I am not sure what even happened or why.

I played out of position, I played marginal cards. I called when I knew I was beat and I just pissed away my money. I played like a a 3rd grader with with a new set of crayons who could not wait for paper and could only see blank walls.

I literally can not explain what or why. I was in a great mood and just played like an ass.

Well I had all weekend to think about it and still do not know what the hell happened. I do know that it is not going to happen again and as of tonight it didn't. I played in a 42 person tourney and took 4th. I am at the top of the points board for our league and played a great game with only one mistake that cost me 2 bb.

I took advantage of two calling fish early on in the game and doubled my stack by first break. I also picked out a tell on a new guy that was tight and passive and exploited the living crap out of him.

I am back, but need to pay attention to the laps in play I had last Friday.

 

[rule72]

Skipped my money tournament tonight. This is my Friday night tourney that I have made the most money at by far, yet tonight I was just not feeling it, so I stayed home.

This is another example of you are becomng a better player.

One thing I didn't mention earlier is that in addition to a journal you should have a check list of criteria you need to meet before you can play. Most of mine are:
1. Am I tired or tlited. 2. No alcohol pregame. 3. No distractions (home projects, kids, wife, friends, etc. Able to focus on poker) 4. Meals right. 5. Glasses clean. 6. Eye drops. 7. Phone/Kindle charged (calculator) 8. Do I want to play (don't play out of habit.) 9. Get rid of GIDDY. (You mentioned in a recent post about being in a good mood and playing badly. From my journal I learned being in too good of a mood makes me way to loose and more likely to gamble.) 10. I write down my game plan for that tourney and evaluate with the tourney results.

I check this list before I pick up the car keys and I don't play if every thing in the list is not right. It's helped me play better.

 

[MediaBLITZ]

There have been times, while driving to the casino, I questioned what in the hell was I doing - I just wasn't feeling it. I knew I wasn't tired, I was just not into it. About half of those times I ended up dominating and being very glad I pushed through.

I think that's why they call it grinding.

 

[rule72]

There have been times, while driving to the casino, I questioned what in the hell was I doing - I just wasn't feeling it. I knew I wasn't tired, I was just not into it. About half of those times I ended up dominating and being very glad I pushed through.

I think that's why they call it grinding.

Wouldn't disagree. The item GIDDY on my check list is to just force me to recognize the situation and adjust my thought process accordingly. So in that one case it doesn't prevent me from playing, but to be sure I'm aware. Those that can push thru like you are probably recognizing the situation and playing accordingly.

 

[klickitat]

Rule72 and MediaBLITZ, Thanks great advice.

I am feeling like I am hitting a wall. On one hand I am playing great poker and am seeing really good results, but on the other hand I am playing like a donk and loosing self control. I feel like I need to reel things back in and maintain discipline. I am still looking at my play last and feel that I am getting to ****y with my success. I need to take a step back empty myself of all delusions.

On another note, I played in a casino tourney last night with several semi pros and was destroyed by a gambler who was going all in every other hand two seats to my left. I played solid to the end and never went on tilt in the game, but I am still fuming and now am on macro tilt. I am to the point that I do not want to play. I might sit out for a few weeks until I feel better.

I don't know, I need to spend some time in a quiet place and really contemplate my play, my moves and how to get over this funk.

 

[klickitat]

Ok, this is a continuation of the previous post and what I am going into my quiet place with to meditate on for a while. I am writing this down to reinforce it in my mind and to share where I feel I am at. Please add anything to this list for me to meditate on.

#1 Starting cards and odds of hitting on a flop (check)
#2 Position (check)
#3 Stack sizes (check)
#4 Personality types (check)
#5 Reading player (75%)
#6 Card reading (10%)
#7 Blockers (10%)
#8

 

[MediaBLITZ]

Focus on the hands you've played - review them and see if you can see where it went wrong and how you will do it differently going forward. If you cannot make that determination then post the hand for some input.

There are going to be swings. I've just lost a tenth of my bankroll last week with things going all sideways, but I know historically my chart will dip just before I go on a nice run.

 

[MediaBLITZ]

Ok, this is a continuation of the previous post and what I am going into my quiet place with to meditate on for a while. I am writing this down to reinforce it in my mind and to share where I feel I am at. Please add anything to this list for me to meditate on.

#1 Starting cards and odds of hitting on a flop (check)
#2 Position (check)
#3 Stack sizes (check)
#4 Personality types (check)
#5 Reading player (75%)
#6 Card reading (10%)
#7 Blockers (10%)
#8

Well not to be obvious or anything, but - FLOP - TURN - RIVER

 

[Reelmookey]

i agree whole heartedly with this i use my sticky tabs in my phone while at the casino's then input all the info into a binder i keep in my computer desk, mappin my hands i can rememebr how i played them and what kind of action i received while changing my range, betting patterns and oppenents i know personallly who i was gaining an advantage of by switch the style their used to seeing me play with

 

[rule72]

I am feeling like I am hitting a wall. On one hand I am playing great poker and am seeing really good results, but on the other hand I am playing like a donk and loosing self control...

...I played solid to the end and never went on tilt in the game, but I am still fuming and now am on macro tilt. I am to the point that I do not want to play. I might sit out for a few weeks until I feel better.

What I learned from my journal is that when I played horribly in a tourney, the next time I played I played very well and was very focused because I was irritated with myself. When I'm playing very well but getting bad beats and loosing races I get frustrated and my moral gets beaten down and I'm not enjoying playing as much.

So what I do is if I played horribly I play again the very next chance that I get. If I'm not enjoying as much I play less (see my check list).

I want to discourage you from taking a few weeks off it will not help you'll be out of practice. I've tried that and I didn't like it. Instead look at the various weekly tourneys you play and keep playing the one you have the best results and cut back on some of the others until you get your confidence back.

 

[klickitat]

Ok so I decided to play tonight because of the advice I got here and I took second place tonight. Thanks.

Now for a little bit of something that happened before I went to the game.

I started a 45 person play money tourney on Poker Stars where I do a lot of practice. Well right after I started the game I realized that I had an appointment and just sat out. When I came back, the game was over and found out that I finished 5th without ever playing a hand.

I then started a new game and almost immediately I fell asleep. Again I never even played a hand and finished 10th.

What I learned is that I have way more time to be patient than a person realizes. I went into tonight's game and sucked it up tight with openers and then played good cards extremely aggressive.

I think where I might have been getting in trouble is opening my range up too early because I kept going into the final tables with middle or less stacks. I found success with it early on but soon found that I was not having the consistent success that I was once having.

Monday I finished 4 out of 42 players and tonight I finished 2nd out of 18. The only bad game I had this week was the game with the maniac and I could not catch cards to even call him and did not have a chance to make a play as he was all in all the time.

Anyhow the 5th place finish in a 45 person tourney without ever playing a hand, I think really opened my eyes.

 

[rule72]

When I came back, the game was over and found out that I finished 5th without ever playing a hand.

Congrat's! Most of my live tourneys start with 10k chips and 20 min blinds. Occasionally someone buys in early but never shows up, their chips get blinded out and that usually takes about 3 hours.

 

[MediaBLITZ]

Hey Klickitat,
You've heard it before but it sounds like now you're believing it - tight is right.

 

[klickitat]

I believe in tight, but was trying to open up a little as the game progressed, but now backing off of that idea.

I got on a IA program that was teaching me to be more aggressive. I am thinking that I am not cut out for this style of play or at least not yet

 

[MediaBLITZ]

I believe in tight, but was trying to open up a little as the game progressed, but now backing off of that idea.

I got on a IA program that was teaching me to be more aggressive. I am thinking that I am not cut out for this style of play or at least not yet

I hear ya! You can still do it - just be selective to start.

#1 - Identify the regulars (you probably know a bunch already)
#2 - Experiment - for example who will fold to preflop 3-bets.

It's kind of like a long term side game you keep going as long as you are in a position to invest chips on this. I have a couple regs at my place I beat up on a regular basis - no regard to the cards I hold. I know they will fold unless they have AA, KK, QQ. And of course on the other hand I have identified several players who will defend. That comes in handy when I pick up AA, KK, QQ - I know they will call.

 

[rule72]

I got on a IA program that was teaching me to be more aggressive. I am thinking that I am not cut out for this style of play or at least not yet

Different ways/places to be tight/aggressive. When I was still in bars I had a game plan for the first three levels. UTG & UTG+1 only play AA, KK, QQ & AK with a standard raise no other hands. Button & cutoff if no more than one mid position or later limper I make a standard raise with any two cards. The other positions I just did what I ever did. You get comfortable being aggressive. This is not a good long term plan, but a way to get more comfortable playing aggressively.

Do you ever limp into an unopen pot...don't. I probably do this less than five times a year and I hate myself every time. Nothing like having small pr/suited connectors and the A or K or both flop, you c-bet and they fold because they think you have big cards. Effectively puts another card or two in your hand. C-betting does hinge on your position, the players and how many in the hand.

Once the regs start to complain/moan about you being on their left you know you're getting the aggression right.

 

[klickitat]

Ok. lat Friday was first to go out in the tourney. First Hand.

I was UTG with pocket Tens. I made a standard 5 bet (standard for this place to push anyone off) I get one caller, the bb.

Flop comes up J spades, 4 clubs, 10 hearts. I shove hoping big blind has an over pair or an A,J. I get called and the BB rolls over A hearts, 4 hearts. Runner, runner hearts and I am out till the cash game.

I giggled and was dumbfounded at the BB's play. He is a fish all the way but does have lucky nights in that venue. He plays very loose and can be aggressive at times, but nothing consistent. I never got upset and know it is just how cards roll sometimes. I will see him Friday.

Cash game comes around and I end up $10 positive for the night.

 

[klickitat]

out in 8th place tonight in a 32 person tourney.

Played a great game if I do say so myself. I bullied the passive players, I stayed away from the top players, I played the best cards in position, I bet for value, I made moves when I seen weakness and I folded when I seen a guy take a double take at his chips while holding KK.

I finally went out when my 80K raise (blinds 10/20k) was raised all in to 100k. I had AK off and the call/raise had A8 off and caught an 8 on the turn. Just a bad run at that point. I would have liked to have gone a bit further but hey that is how it goes.