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View Full Version : It was the card that tilted me, I swear!


Mr. Curious
08-02-2005, 10:47 PM
I busted out of a tourney last night and for the next hour, I swore up and down that it was the river card that tilted me so bad. I was wrong of course /images/graemlins/wink.gif, but I'll start with the gory details...

We're down to the last 18 players of a 100 person tourney. I was in the middle of the stacks with 15K. Blinds are 750/1500 with a 75 ante. We are 8 handed, so there is T2850 (8x75 + 1500 + 750). Everyone is playing tight and I have played 2 hands in 30 minutes (one blind battle, and one fold on the flop). I've raised one other time to steal the blinds.

I am UTG+1 with 44.

I raise to T5000. It is folded to BB who looks at me and asks, "Do you want me to call?".
I say, "No, I want you to push."

So he pushes and I call.

He shows 88 and I am a huge dog

The Flop: T 7 4

The Turn: T

The River: T /images/graemlins/frown.gif

I go from big dog to big favorite to crippled.

I swear quite a bit and ask for a dealer change (this was the third river in a row that knocked out a huge post flop favorite) /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Insult to injury, the blinds go up the next hand...

I bust out two hands later on the big blind.

My friend who busted out shortly before me asks me how I am doing and I keep saying, "It was the third ten that killed me. If it had been an 8, or I hadn't flopped a 4, then it would have been no big deal... but to lose on the third ten was just insulting."

It took me about an hour to get over the tilt. When I did, I realized that what put me on tilt was not the cards, but rather how I played the hand. There were some fundamental flaws:

#1 I think it would have been better for me to either push or fold, rather than raise. The only thing a raise allows me to do is fold if someone else pushes, but then why should I put myself in that situation? Best to apply the pressure to the others at the table.

#2 I didn't even consider the stack sizes when I pushed, nor did I ask how long until the blinds went up. I just called without thinking. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

#3 I should not have said anything to the guy. I've been able to talk in no limit games and not give away information, but I think that is because I know that if I lose, I can just buy in again and reclaim my money later.

#4 When I flopped the 4, I expected to win. Ugh, that is the worst part of all. The cards that come are the cards that come. NEVER expect to win, it just sets you up for a harder fall.

Well, posting has really helped me put this to rest and I hope it helps others who may not realize why it was they went on tilt. I've started reading Dan Harrington's book and I think it will help me learn how to play in the middle to late stages of a tourney.

~Demitri /images/graemlins/smile.gif

SNOWBALL138
08-03-2005, 12:32 AM
Did they turn the cards really slow just like on tv?

What casino were you at?

Al Schoonmaker
08-03-2005, 06:18 AM
You are to be congratulated for your objectivity. It allowed you to learn from your mistakes. We all make lots of mistakes. Good players admit it and learn from them. Bad ones whine about luck.

Keep that self-critical attitude, and you will develop as a player and person.

Regards,

Al

Mr. Curious
08-03-2005, 02:17 PM
[ QUOTE ]
Did they turn the cards really slow just like on tv?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think he dealt the board fairly fast, but as soon as my emotions got involved on the flop, it slowed down to an eternity.

[ QUOTE ]
What casino were you at?

[/ QUOTE ]

This was at the Muckleshoot in Washington.


btw - Dan Harrington's book is like crack. Each page draws you in deeper and deeper and you just can't stop reading it. It all makes so much sense. /images/graemlins/smile.gif