TheBong's Quest - The Fresh Start!

[TheBong]

Sorry for the lack of posts the past few days in the quest thread for those of you who actually read the drivel I write. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

It was a thoroughly disappointing couple of days, and a little bit humbling. After going on another great run to start off the quest, I hit the inevitable downswing and have come back to earth! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] While I'm still ahead cash for the quest, I had a few minutes during the swing where I punched my ceramic Eric Cartman bong base. (It's really neat, it's a ceramic statue of the little fatso that if you stick the right piece of glass or tubing in it is just great for huge bong hits, and yes it's a designed one you can buy in stores.)

Anyways, the festively plump mo-fo is supposed to be a luck charm. Scratch that, he is supposed to promote good luck for me. I'm very much starting to believe the poker players mantra that if you play correctly the only luck that often will affect you will be bad.

Anyways, enough about my lucky bong and how I almost broke it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I wound up swinging down as much as 10 buyins for the 3 days, losing in spurts. I'd make a nice play, win a nice pot, then a few hands later I'd lose it on something dumb. It would really start testing my patience, and I would quit and go watch a movie or something.

Then last night I was talking to my staker/mentor and he told me just to relax. He reminded me that swings come in any poker game, and it is the way that you handle these swings that will show the true color of the player you are. Then, I went and got laid and sat down for some action, feeling both mentally and physically refreshed at this point.

Anyways, I got the swing back in check - though not at as high a level as I was on the first big session of the quest, it felt good to get back on the winning track, and I hope it will carry into my session tonight.

I'd post some hands, but I don't really feel there's anything to gain from them at this point. Most of my losses during the downswing were suckouts, so there's nothing really to be fixed there. The only thing I'm curious to know from the other NL 25 and other small NL players is how you go about locking out flush draws against you when you have a made hand. I'm finding that even if I get to the turn against the players without them making the flush, they will still call huge bets and allins on the turn, even with reduced probability and pot odds. I know there are lots of these players who just will not fold the flush draw no matter what the bet, but I'm wondering if any of you others have strategies you'd like to share as to how YOU'RE protecting your large hands.

Hopefully, most of the flamers who were reading my post and leaving such deragatory comments have been weeded out, and this will again be a pleasure to write daily, and also to come back and see replies!

Until then, may all your flushes be straight ones!