Plugging The Leak

Well the cash game was a big success last night. I got rid of a ton of bad habits, including my big leak, and ended up £350 up after tips and rake so probably significantly more in pure poker terms. I played probably the best I have all year in a cash game, so hopefully I can carry this on for the rest of the year and even get my live cash P&L into profit!

To be fair, I hit 3 sets which always helps (one was a set over set coup against The Baron which inevitably stacked him) but the pleasing aspect was there wasn’t any single huge pot, just a string of solid £50-£75 wins. The Baron hand amusingly morphed into quads over quads once the money had gone in - a shame we weren’t in Vegas as their would have been a bad beat jackpot.

In contrast, the tournament was a total shambles. The tournament went so badly for me it is barely worth recounting the action, but I’ll summarise the key hands:

Starting stack 4k, 20 minute levels, 20ish runners

Hand1
I limp UTG with AK, but it doesn’t go according to plan as I get 5 players in the pot, miss and have to give it up.

Hand2
I raise an early limper in mid position with AK to 400 and get 3 callers. I miss (sigh) and resist the urge to continuation bet into 4 players and get bet off it on the turn.

Hand3
I raise UTG to 500 with AQ suited. 3 callers. I miss the flop completely and this time continuation bet for 500 (a bit weak but I would be approaching pot committed if I had bet more). I get min-raised and someone calls the min-raise. Sigh. Fold.

Hand4
Blinds now 150-300 and I shove for 2500 with KQ and get it round

Hand5
I shove for 2400 with J8 an orbit or so later and Hugh calls all-in. I know I am stuffed, but at least I have live cards, as Hugh tables AQ. Hugh hits a house and I am down to 200.

Hand6
I am forced to play from the BB as I cannot even post the blind. I flop a straight and triple up to 600.

Hand7

I shove/min-raise a limper with Ace rag. Jason calls the 300 extra in the big blind. I hit my Ace, but Jason’s K10 gets there for 2 pair and I am done.

A disappointing tournament comeback after a two week break, but I guess the cash game more than made up for it.