Reaching a Balance

As I get closer to becoming a professional poker player I am putting my ramblings to the test. I listened to myself on Friday, and when I got tired after 3 hrs I left the table. This may not seem like a long time but don't forget I did work all day so it was like the 11th hr of work.

The Peppermill has been able to get a 20/40 table going on Friday nights so I naturally got in the game. I won a big hand early on with a flopped set to be up 400 in 10 min. Then I went card dead. I played a few hands and even force one or two, slowly giving back the 400. When I had 20 of it left, I got up from the table. I knew I was tired and forced the last hand so it was time to go. I moved to a 1/2 NL game for an hour an won 30 more before calling it a night.

This is not a big monetary win but it is a big win. I finally listened to how I felt and acted accordingly. I could sleep in on Sat. and come back refreshed. Also starting at +50 is a lot better then starting at -500.

Sat. started out slow with 10/20 limit with a half kill and overs buttons. I was up 300, down 20 for 3 hrs. We raised the stakes to 15/30 with 30/60 overs just in time for my rush. I got paid off on a few check raises at 30/60 to be up 800. I busted him out on the last hand. Cooled off after that and quit when I still had 600. I wanted to play in a soft NL game in Carson City. I fooled around in this game until it broke 3hrs later. I only could win enough to fool around at the BJ table and they got what little profit I made.

Sunday I fired up the .25/.5 NL on-line. I was doing pretty well 6 tabling with my new monitor. If I continue the trend, I will have to buy another one. I only made one really bad play when I folded to a check raise on the river. I was gun shy from previous sessions and was primed to make the big lay down. It was only 1.35 more to call and I folded. He claims he was bluffing but I will never know. I still managed to win $75 so I will get over it.

Sunday, headed up to Tahoe at noon and sat in a new 3/5 NL game. I played very badly in this game last week so I wanted to redeem myself. I was card dead most of the time or got no action for the 4hrs I played. At my high I was up 400 then got rivered when I was trapping him and missed a few draws after that. I left with an extra 100, but when I found my friend at the BJ table it didn't last long.

So I ended the weekend with +600. Not bad for a part time job. I believe this is around 50 and hr. I am happy, not just because I won but because I finally did what I have known I have to do. I left when I was tired, played pretty well and got some personal things done as well. Still to early to tell buy I like the looks of this road.