Overdue Update

What can we say about the game of poker? I can say that this is the most confusing game I've ever played. One minute you know what's going on and the next, some one's raking in a huge pile of chips because you played the hand perfectly. What the hell is that all about? Oh, I forgot to mention that there is enough luck in the game to make oneself want to give the whole thing up! Sounds a little to the futile side, doesn't it?

Over the last month or so I decided to go back to the basics. I was tired of being a break even tournament player and have decided to take up playing the cash games. Life has caused me to cash out a lot of the bankroll I have been using, so it's right back to the micros for me. I normally wouldn't see that as any form of problem until you bring that fucking luck factor into everything!! The cash game is definitely a different animal than the tourneys. It really is about pot odds and being able to read what your opponents hands might be. The simple things, right? Ya, right. You can control pot sizes all you want. You can call out what your opponent has in his hand. You can't determine what will fall on the river!!

If I have been a little too vague as to what has been happening in the micro cash games for me, let me put it into numbers. I started on the adventure of playing cash only about a week ago. Here is how things have stacked up so far:

2,203 hands played
$won/100 hands: -$1.10
bb/100 hands: -5.51

Basically put, I haven't been able to hold during a big hand. I've had sets beat by sets, full boats beaten by full boats, and have watched more monkeys catch rivered flushes than I can shake a stick at. I've spent some money the last couple weeks on coaching which also has taken a serious toll on the roll. I always seem to be getting the same answer about the situation- "Wow, that was unlucky!". That just makes you want to get all sparkly inside, doesn't it?!?

This is really sounding like a "bitch" post. You know what, it is a "bitch" post and it's long overdue. Everyone wants to believe that if you put in the time and energy learning how to play the game, eventually you'll "beat the odds". BULLSHIT!! Every training site says they'll make you a better player. Every book says they'll make you a better player. Play this way, do things that way, don't you get it? NO, I DON"T GET IT!!! You can say what you want. Poker/NoLimit Texas Holdem has taken up more of my time in the last two years than any other thing. That is a sick statement to have to say. I didn't practice this hard when I learned to play the violin. I guess what I'm saying is that this whole thing can get frustrating.

There really isn't much more to say at the present. I'll try to post more frequently again and maybe I'll start posting some HHs for those of you that would be interested. I hope all of you are doing well on the felt and sorry for the rant. Take care!!