My head is melted... (High Poker Content!)

I dont get this pokertracker or HoldemManager malarky.. Its just way too much information at once.. Everytime I attempt to use it, my brain melts..

Myself being so dumb, I didnt test it using the trial version as I should have.. Cos I stupidly deleted my entire PPP hand history as it went back as far as the days I was using play money so the stats wouldnt be a true reflection of myself (i wanted to see my own stats as well).. So when I downloaded the trial version of HM (which is free up to 1k hands), I had no hand history to import. So i went out and bought a bundle of hand history for $6. But it was 50k worth of hands so when I imported it into the HM it wouldnt work unless I bought the full version, which I then forked out the $55 for.. So i imported the hands and was overwhelmed with stats, I dont even know what I m doing or looking for now... I yearn for the simplicity of the free PPP odds calculator which kept stats on your opponents, as I felt that particular function helped my online game a lot. But I'm gona have to force myself to learn how to use HM as its supposedly superior by a long mile!! I m not gonna play online poker without some sort of program that keeps stats cos based on the experience of using PPP odds calculator, stats are really useful and helps you make decisions better..

As for the live poker, I haven't played that much lately. I've only played two tournaments in the last two weeks. Both were down in the local. Played a €60 DC freezeout, got €200 for coming 2nd. Bit of a shit return but at least it went towards the beer money for following weekend with the lads in Carlow. Then again tonight it was a €30 buy in with a limit of 2 rebuys or 1 rebuy & 1 top-up for €20 apiece. It got about 2o runners. Standard wasnt the best. In thinking that, it makes me realise how much I've gained in confidence. When I first started out playing these games, I was so bad and at the time feared some particular players who I thought were really good. These day-as cringeworthy egosistical this may sound- I feel I certainly can hold my own comfortably at that standard... Anyway to get to the gist of the story, I was massive chip leader at the FT, probally had about 50% chips in play. One particular hand when we were on the bubble with the top 3 getting paid- I got 55 in UTG, blinds were 800/1.5k, so I raised to 5k. Folded around to the BB who pushed his 15k in the middle. I called he showed KJ but my 55 held up. And as I was scoping up the pot he remarked that "I was brave" to call his push with 55... I took that to mean "How can you call with 55, ya bloody fish?!" LOL!! There was logic to my decision to call but no point in waffling about it here!! But anyway, I went on to go heads up with Michael, the guy that runs the tournament. (Really sound bloke btw) The heads up only lasted 3 hands. The final hand when I had 99. He raised into me, I pushed (i had him covered) he called with KJ and duly spiked the J on the river. He doubled up and was around 15k ahead but then we chopped the prizepool which saw bring home 345e home.

I like to think pre-flop analysis is one of my strengths, but once again the need to improve my post-flop analysis was apparent. I know it myself.., but when people slowplay premium hands preflop, I tend to get trapped on the flop if I've caught a peice of it. I got caught out once tonight but got away with murder when I sucked out on KK with Q9 which gave me two pair. It's a leak I need to plug otherwise I'm gonna be the value at levels better than pub poker.

Even though I now have a few bob in my pocket, I'm careful not to make a big deal of it (or at least I try not to!), just as with every tournament I do well in. Having an ego is a massive flaw in anybody's game, so as hard as it is at times, I try to play that kind of stuff down and retain an realistic and harsh outlook on my game. I have no misconceptions about myself, I certainly dont think I'm great or whatsoever. I certainly think theres a whole lot I need to improve on, but playing in pubs is not really good for my game anymore. Its good for the craic and convenience of walking down the road for a game. But I have weaknesses that can only be improved by playing at levels I am not so comfortable with. I strive to improve as much as my potential (if I can call it that) allows me to, because I do not want to become the pub poker player who is percieved as a shark but in the harsh truth of the day is actually sub-standard.

Anyway enuff blogging for tonite.. I always keep meaning to do it on a more regular basis, as so to make it shorter, fresher and easier to unload my thoughts. I keep thinking of stuff and saying "oh i ll write about that on my blog when i get home or whatever" but i never get around to doing it.. I'm so lazy!! Next time I'll not type about poker! However much I love playing the game, I do have a life!!!

I bet tmw when I wake up, half this stuff wont make any sense!!

Till then, adios!!!