Tuesday Night

I played in two tournaments at the same time Tuesday night…it really didn’t work out too good. I played a live game of NLH, and at the same time sat there with my laptop and played a O8 tourney on Full Tilt. It was a pretty big mistake on both parts. I really don’t think I will do it again. I just couldn’t give the needed attention to each game.

My live table was an ok table. It was a bunch of the original guys from before we even started our league. It was cool to play against them all at the same time again. Actually, I was pretty excited to play against most of them, but the focus just wasn’t there. I was fumbling with my lap-top, trying to keep up with my hold ‘em hand, trying to pick up reads on the live table, watching for betting patterns on my on-line table, and trying to make sure I didn’t time out on-line (I timed out 3 of my first 5 hands). I just don’t think it was a good idea.

On to the live tourney- I really wasn’t catching many cards. I was able to make a couple of moves, but nothing big. My stack never really grew in the first few rounds, and with the structure the way it is…if you don’t build some chips early you are pretty much dead (unless you get some lucky hands). Soon I found myself with about 10 times the BB. Then the blinds went up and I was down to 5 times the BB. As soon as that happened I knew I was dead. Sure enough…I am out with in a few hands. I wasn’t bitter at all about busting out early. I was bitter for another reason.

Why is it that I let the play of a donkey bother me? I was sitting there (before I busted) watching a couple guys on the table come into hands with crap and end up taking the pot down. It was really bothering me. But Why? I shouldn’t care if they come in with crap. If they keep it up they aren’t going to have any long term success. They might get lucky for a tourney or two, but look at their results for a year- they are going to suck. So why is it bothering me? Why do I care that some guy wants to risk 80% of his stack on a pair with no kicker? I should be loving it- because I know I am going to get paid when I hit, but it just bothers me.

I know we aren't playing for millions of dollars, but I still try to play my best. I try to improve my game each time I sit down. I study the table, I look for reads, I watch how many hands people play, I try and remember any card I see a person flip over, I try to put my opponent on a hand, I try to represent hands to my opponent. I might be sitting there being still, but my brain is moving 90 miles an hour. So if I'm doing all that why does it tick me off when some fool gets lucky on me cause they played a garbage hand?

I wish I could give a clear cut answer, but I'm not sure what those magic words would be. I don't want to appear like a Phil Hellmuth poker brat, but sometimes that is what I feel like. I guess I just hate people who think they are better than they are. Who knows...maybe I am one of those players.