Gettin' Bluffed / Too Pushy

Over the last two nights (Wednesday and Thursday):

1. I got bluffed out of a huge pot when I had the best hand by Ramel (spelling?) at Quan's cash game Wednesday.. when I was holding second highest pair (queens) and he had probably the second to lowest pair (6s)... He bet $3 or $4 on the river.. I came over the top and doubled his bet... He re-raised and put $15 on top.. I folded... There was a king out there that would've made him top pair and three to the flush on the board... I totally got outplayed... I've never been bluffed like that before and I'll remember that for the rest of my life. Seriously.

2. Got rivered when having two pair (A 7) and I placed this chick named Angela all-in yesterday at Chris Darmanin's tourney... She had AK of hearts (suited) and of course an 8 of hearts come on the river to make her flush. I was immediately crippled to short stack in the tourney (I was the chip leader at my table at the time and she had the second or third highest stack).. I would've been in GREAT shape if that river card wouldn't have been a heart.. but I battled back to to make it to the final 6 (of 18) and I was 3rd highest stack when I got busted out. I was impressed with how I didn't get rattled and battled back.. Now I just need to learn how to control my patience and control / time my semi-bluffs (especially the kind of the all-in variety - more on that in #3). I felt in control most of the night.. Feeling good about my game / progress.

3. I need to work on my tournament game... I need to work on my game period. I swear.. If I can just add one key skill to my game every so often.. I'll be happy and I feel that I can be a really good player - great even. So anyway.. We're down to the final 6 at Darm's tournament last night in Capitol Hill ($30 buy-in and $10 bounty)... As I mentioned in #2, I battled back fierce from being short stack after being rivered. I was mixing it up nicely - subtly changing gears.. value betting.. position betting.. slow-playing.. timely all-in bets / raises (eventhough most of them worked tonight - I need to have more control and not use this move too often.. pick my spots better) .. Fast forward to my "bust out" hand from last night:

I'm in the cut off position and the chip leader in middle position two-bets to make it $6000 to go (blinds were $1500.00 / $3000.00). I re-raised $6000.00 on top to make it $12,000.00. I'm holding Ac 10d ... The flop comes all clubs and I'm in position but neither my ace nor 10 were hit. He checks to me and I foolishly get in "hyper-bully" mode and push all-in. I didn't think he had two clubs but he calls and he had two clubs... He "slow-played" them... I don't plan on cursing much on here but WHY DIDN'T I TAKE THE FUCKIN' FREE CARD YA'LL?.. He flips over Qc Jc after he calls and I flip over my Ac 10d.. Two blanks came on the turn and river and my tourney was over.. I gave him my $10.00 bounty and that was that... $40.00 lost and $20 gained on bounties from me busting other folks out after 3+ hours of play.. -$20.00 for the night.. GREAT (sarcasm). Darm, thanks for the advice on taking the free card (oh and sorry for knocking you out when I had my pocket kings).. I shouldn't have tried to bully the big stack when I was on a draw myself.. I need to be more patient... MORE PATIENT... Take the damn free card Chris - I would've lost some money, but not my whole stack if I just would've checked behind him after the flop and let him bet out on the turn and I folded. Should've listened to Paul Darden in his Cardplayer Magazine interview about tangling with the big stack. Better me making this $40 (real dollars) mistake now and learning my lesson NOW than at a WSOP high dollar buy-in tourney right? RIGHT? Aaaaaaargh. I was a gentlemen though and left peacefully.. I got beat / outplayed fair and square and I saved my yelling / cursing for when I was in my truck alone driving back home to Alexandria.

Wanted to go to Atlantic City this Saturday with Frank.. but I'm going to wait and spend time with the wife this weekend and honestly work my bankroll up to $1000.00 before I go... I know $1000.00 isn't much to some of you ballers.. but I'ma beginner in this game and I need to first reach that 'G' threshold before I go AC grindin'. Let's see if I can get closer to that 'G' tonight in Arlington at another cash game (the same one where I pulled the squeeze play).

All is and WILL be well ya'll. I'm so motivated to crush any and all tables right now. I'm soooooo damn motivated right now folks. More than I've ever been.

Oh yeah.. Shout out to that Allen (or Alan or Allen) guy sitting to my right Wednesday at Quan's (Howard made me do that shoutout)... And Vince Young - Get your money homie... HOOK'EM HORNS - BCS CHAMPIONS!

Peace and Blessings,
Chris