Raise or Fold:  Learning (From) Poker

Writing and playing poker as if they were activities worth doing well.

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Pain

I busted out of my WSOP subscription series tonight with QQ running into AA. I've replayed the hand in my head over and over, and I don't honestly see what I could have done differently.

The fact that I got slowrolled (no way the AA was laying down to my shove, we were heads up, and yet he hemmed and hawed and finally said, "I have to call you" with apparent great reluctance) by someone who has slowrolled me before (that time his QQ flopped a set to beat my AA) didn't help. His penchant for drama at other people's expense is truly obnoxious. Just call in a timely fashion and show me the bad news, dude.

When you cry tears of frustration on the ride home, that's probably a clue that you ought to give it a rest for awhile. I will not be playing poker live for several days, probably until Tuesday.

I'm here to testify, however, that knowing you did your best is just not enough to make the pain go away when you are getting smacked over and over. I cannot imagine EVER running good enough to counterbalance this crap.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Crash said...

Dear Cardgrrrl,
I am a donk. But you are in trouble. In your own head. Your last post included: I was slowrolled, villain was acting, bad beat, drama, tears, pain.

FORGET THE VILLAINS' DRAMA.
FORGET BAD BEATS.

None of the above matters. Poker is a microcosm of life:

1. Luck.
2. Chutzpah.
3. Skill-with numbers and with people.

Get mad if you want, but I say this because I like your electrons.

4/25/09, 1:00 AM  
Blogger Cardgrrl said...

Why would I be mad?

You've only said exactly what I've said. I challenge any sentient human to go through my recent experiences and not be frustrated as hell.

But I recover quickly. Onward.

4/25/09, 2:22 AM  
Blogger Crash said...

For example, I just got my butt kicked on pstars. Nobody cared. Period.

4/25/09, 3:43 AM  
Anonymous joxum said...

Cardgrrl,

You need a break. Now!

I assume that before you started out on this quest, you factored in the possiblity that you might run bad for an extended period of time.

Breaking news: You are running bad.

Hopefully you still have the cushion you set aside for this event. If you do, relax - it's just like a goose in the winter time, living off the body fat it accumulated during fall. You'll be fine when the weather changes.

If your cushion is gone, you really need to stop and take a hard think. Is poker really that important to you?

Like I said, get away from poker for a bit. Go see someone you have neglected to see because of poker, learn sanskrit, take up knitting, but stay away from poker for a while, at least until you've forgot the beats that are currently screwing with your head.

Oh, and I wrote a post a while ago now, which was actually a response to something you wrote on running bad. For what it's worth, here's a linkWhatever you decide, take care,

/j.

4/25/09, 3:14 PM  
Blogger Cardgrrl said...

@ Joxum: Thanks for the supportive suggestions. I am, in fact, taking a few days off. I went out and had a bunch of drinks and a nice meal with a friend. Then we went BOWLING. I had a lovely time and didn't spend a second thinking about poker. Very refreshing. A few more days of socializing and everyday life, and I should be in a much better place, psychologically speaking.

BTW, I read your blog post back when you wrote it...

4/26/09, 3:38 AM  
Blogger Forrest Gump said...

"When you cry tears of frustration on the ride home, that's probably a clue that you ought to give it a rest for awhile. "

I don't think I agree with this CG - this is the symptom. IMO the cause is that you don't appear to have the right mindset for this game, esp. donkaments.

Ask yourself is your happiness when both playing and afterward directly related to the results?



FG

4/26/09, 6:18 AM  

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