Need help letting go

[Demana]

I misplayed a hand the other day and it is just killing me. I can't let it go and it is affecting all of my poker decisions because I keep railing on myself for being so weak.

The situation was this:

I was at a NL ring game.
$2/5 blinds

The table was loose and at least half the people raised preflop with garbage.

I was UTG with A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]K[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
I limped, looking to re-raise and isolate.

UTG+1 (who was new to the table, hence no read) makes it 30, CO calls (he called raises with just about anything), and I, in a total moment of weakness, just call.

I then misplay the flop by not folding, set up the turn for a steal on the river, and then wuss out on the river, costing myself 2/3 of my stack.

AND I CAN'T LET GO OF BEING SUCH A WUSS.

In hindsight, I should have raised to 3 or 4 xBB myself, rather than limp reraising, but that has done nothing for helping me get over this.

This is the first time that I haven't been able to let go of a hand for this long. At the heart of the matter, I am berating myself for being weak when I set up the play how I wanted and then not following through.

HELP! [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[LokiV]

You didn't give us a listing of the cards or the amounts bet and by whom after the flop.

So, uh, what do you want us to say? If the money was too muhc of an issue and so you couldn't do what you knew was right then you have to move down or you are not playing optimally and will lose, as here.

[Demana]

Ok, so maybe laying the whole hand out will help.

Stack size:
Me ~$320
UTG+1 ~$270
CO ~$300

Flop is 57J all [img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]s
Pot is $97

I check, UTG+1 bets $30, CO calls, I call

Turn is 3[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]
Pot: $187

I check, UTG+1 bets $50, CO calls, I call time, think for a while and mumble to myself (I ussually do this the whole time), stare at the board, and then reluctantly call.

My reads were that niether had flush draws and so I wanted them to think that I was figuring out if I had the pot odds to make the call.

River is 4[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
Pot: $337

I think for a second, and then bet $45.
UTG+1 looks at me, then goes all in.
CO folds.

With UTG+1's push, the pot is $542 ($382+$160).

And I just fold

That is what is burning me.
I didn't even think about what he had at that point, didn't consider that he might have had AK in another suit, nothing. I just knew that my bluff was called and ran screaming.

And if I had pushed all in first, without hesitation, I know they would have folded.

[Demana]

So when you feel like you totally tanked a hand due to weakness, what do you do to get over it?

[Men the Master]

[ QUOTE ]
So when you feel like you totally tanked a hand due to weakness, what do you do to get over it?

[/ QUOTE ]

My Uncle Thuong, who is Buddhist, says that you can picture a big but very thin mirror standing right in front of you. Then you can watch that entire tanking event happen in that mirror. See how stupid, idiotic, and moronic you looked back then. Then quickly step into and through that mirror leaving it behind you. As you do so, yell "Aaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! !!!!!!!!!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Demana]

I watched an episode of Penn & Teller's BullSh!t on Showtime where a counselor had each person hold a chair, pretend it was an issue that they couldn't let go of, and then say:

"Am I ready to let this issue go?"
"Yes, I am ready to let this issue go."
"Can I let this issue go?"
"Yes, I can let this issue go."

And then they throw the chair/issue.

There are other techniques that people can use too.

The reason I posted was that I just couldn't let the damn issue go. Writing it all down, especially the part about feeling weak and a wuss really helped me get the issue out.

Now I can let it go.

Just need to find a chair to throw... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

AIYAH!

[BreakEvenPlayer]

I think your biggest problem is your desire to limp re-raise. It's just a crap, crap, crap, crap, crap move.

[timmer]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So when you feel like you totally tanked a hand due to weakness, what do you do to get over it?

[/ QUOTE ]

My Uncle Thuong, who is Buddhist, says that you can picture a big but very thin mirror standing right in front of you. Then you can watch that entire tanking event happen in that mirror. See how stupid, idiotic, and moronic you looked back then. Then quickly step into and through that mirror leaving it behind you. As you do so, yell "Aaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh! !!!!!!!!!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Also you can stand in front of this imaginary mirror . breath out forcefully and say "Ohsaw" as you break the mirror by casting it aside or imagining your centered resolve simply obliterating it.

then sweep up the imaginary pieces and be done with them.

sounds silly but it works try it using as many of your five senses possible. You can add smell by picturing the mirror sitting on a table next to a ignited rose candle, flowers etc.

next time you try this meditation light a rose candle and feel your frustrations slip away.

I learned this thing from a Zen Roshi who is also a Catholic.

Its sounds amazing but it really works.

timmer

[Demana]

[ QUOTE ]

I think your biggest problem is your desire to limp re-raise. It's just a crap, crap, crap, crap, crap move.


[/ QUOTE ]

Halleluiah!

I searched for +AK +UTG and read the threads that talked about raising, rather than limping with the hand. I realize that I've been overvaluing it pre-flop and have since altered my ways.

[Demana]

[ QUOTE ]

as you break the mirror by casting it aside or imagining your centered resolve simply obliterating it.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not that gamblers are superstitious or anything, but isn't breaking a mirror seven years of bad luck? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Anyone know where that myth came from?