Poker can as you all know be very frustrating at times. Some sessions are so bad that I pull my own hair, but fortunately I didn’t have to today. Some hands held up and in some pots I even managed to suck out. How about that? :D Hopefully better times are here…
Those of you who have played poker for a while know that the most costly mistake in poker is not to pay of that value bet one time to often or to overplay your big pairs. The most costly mistake that most players make in poker is that they tilt. For those of you who are unfamiliar with tilt, it’s when you let your emotions get the best of you and get involved in way too many pots, bluff when you know you will get called and call even though you know you are beat. So how can you avoid going on tilt? There are a number of things that you can do that will save you a lot of money in the long run. For example you should never play when you are emotional for whatever reason. If you just had a big fight with your partner, avoid playing until you’ve made up. Also if you play too long sessions or forget to eat, this will of course affect your concentration and put you on tilt more often after that nasty suck out. Another thing that can easily put you on tilt is if you play at night. The later it gets the more tired you are and the easier it is for you to loose focus. Playing during the day when you can be 100% focused is recommended if you have tilt problems. Of course it is your job to keep track of what pushes your buttons so that you can avoid making the most costly mistake in poker.
Day two in Sundsvall
Day two did not exactly turn out the way I wanted it to. I started the day as number 11 of 36 and 7 would end up going home with more than they came with. I had a little above average with 40k in my stack, average beeing 34.5k.
I start out laying low and trying to figure out who got game and who is still tired or just happy to still be around. I feel that I have a pretty good read at the table and I’m really feeling ready to make some money.
My first big pot I re-raise a local player pre flop with QQ from 3500 to 8700. He re-pops it again. Folding is not an option since this player has been fairly active. I can either move in or take a flop and hope no big cards hit the flop. I decide to just call and an ace comes right in the door and my opponent moves all in. Looking back at this pot I should probably have moved in to avoid tough decisions, but I’m fairly certain he had an ace and I probably ended up staying in the tournament a little longer…
A little later I lose a small, but for me very significant pot in blind battle with the same player. We both flop top pair but he had me outkicked and I lose 40% of my stack.
I can’t remember the last time I was lucky in a significant pot in a tournament, but this time I at least sucked out once. Unfortunately it was not in a huge pot, but it kept me in the tournament. I went all in preflop with AQ and was called by AK. The flop came 3 hearts and a 4th heart on the turn gave me a four-flush with my Q.
I get moved to a new table and have 9800 when a player in middle position raise 3900 after in my eyes have considered folding. Looking down at AK in small blind and the blinds beeing 500/1000 I have to move in and get called fairly quickly. My opponent has QT and the flop looks safe with 642. Unfortnately a T on the turn gives my opponent the lead in the pot and I don’t manage to re-suck out on the river and bust in 24th.
Even tho the tournament was not a huge success for me I have nothing bad to say about the organization of the event. Casino Cosmopol in Sweden organizes the best tournaments and has the cleanest casinos that I’ve ever played in. Many international players probably don’t know that they are very welcome to come and play in Sweden and I can highly recommend that they do.
You can find the schedule here.
Only in Sweden will you find raindeer in the casino lobby =)
Once again I wanna thank PokerTime for backing me in this event!
Now it’s time to take the night train home.
The first day of the main event here in Sundsvall Nordic Light is over. I made it to day two with a stack of about 40k, average is about 34k and there are 36 players still in the tournament.
I thought I’d tell you about my two most interesting pots of the day:
1. Everybody fold to the player in the SB who makes it 1200 with blinds 200/400. I make the call from the BB with 42s in spades. The flop is K62 with 2 hearts and 1 spade. He ofc makes a continuationbet and I call the 1600. The turn is J of spades and I again call his bet, this time 2800. The river is a blank 5 and my opponent bets 4200. Now I gotta think. Obviously the first thing that comes to mind is fold and get on with the next hand, but looking at my opponent I get a strange feeling he got air. I think it over and look at him and the longer I look the more convinced I get that he got air. Only problem is that my read might be right, but could still be beat if he has a hand like 33, A2 or such. I decide to follow my instincts and make the call. He flips A3o and I take down the pot with my pair of 2 and a 4 kicker 
2. A little later at the table I’m at a new table. Peter Eichhardt, a well known Swedish player makes it 1500 with blinds 300/600 from the cutoff. I make the call from the BB with T9. The flop is JT6 with a flushdraw in clubs (I got the Tc). I check and call his bet of 2500. The turn is Q of clubs and I check. This time he fires 6500. A bit strongish and I decide to call again. The river is 4 of clubs and I consider betting (which I would consider a bluff in this case) but decide to check and see what Peter does. Peter thinks and bets 8k. I got about 12k behind and got a tought decision to make with the third nuts. I haven’t called all the way thinking I’m behind so obviously I have to make the last call as well. He flips A2 for air and I take down a very nice pott.
The lesson of the day: never bluff a calling station
A picture of Casino Cosmopol, Sundsvall
