Playing through Variance...

I have played a little online since my last post, but found it very difficult to really play in the penny games.  I busted my $7 or so in a cash on a bad beat...this is why it is very difficult to win longterm if your bankroll is shallow.

I did finally make a deposit of $100 and played some 25nl and have profited about $30.  I hope to buy a HUD and post some stats soon.

Traveled to play another WSOP Circuit event in Cherokee, NC.  It was about a 5 hour drive and a buddy of mine made the trip.  We had a comped room and several meals in comps too, so not much expense other than the gas for travel.

We arrived Sunday around 1:00pm and the Harrah's Casino was much bigger than I expected.  Rooms and service were good other than it was long walks to get from place to place.  Event #3 ($365 Buyin) started at 3:00pm so we had lunch and watched the first half of UK vs Providence.

I made it to my seat just as the first hand was being completed.  Table didn't appear to difficult with most being older than me except a lady likely to be in her late 20's.  I didn't play alot of pots...I did make a straight to increase my stack to over 12k from the 10k starting stack.

I finally get JJ in mid position and get 4 callers in the second level.  PF was 300 so a ~1200 pot.  Flop was low with 2 hearts.  Like 5h7h9x.  I bet 650 and get a call from SB.  Turn was 8x so he checks and I bet 1350, planning to fold to a stack committing raise... and he calls.  River was the 10h completing the flush but giving me straight.  He leads for 1850 and I debated and called...he shows me QJ offsuit for the nut straight.  He said he thought I was weak or bluffing...oh well so now I'm down to about $8000 playing 50/100.  Still ok...  I dabble in a few pots with small pairs and suited connectors and get down to about $4500.

Again I get JJ in level 3 - 100/200blinds.  Someone opens to 550 and I move all-in for 4500.  We race AQ vs JJ and I hold.  Now I'm back up over 9000 and from here play poorly.  Should have tightened up, but I dabble down to 5000 in level 4 and I raise 55 from UTG and all fold to BB who puts me all in.  His image is terrible as has run over the table for the last 45 minutes and I somehow call his shove.  He shows 10,10 and he holds.  Busted and played bad.

I got to the Cash Table and play 2-5nl for about 90 minutes before we eat dinner at Ruth's Chris...nice meal!  I head back and play 2-5nl for 4 hours and run $600 up to $1600.  Kind of running the table and I play a pot with a bad player heads up and JJ in the SB.  All fold, he limps and I raise to $25 and he calls.  FLop 5,7,10 rainbow and I bet $35 and he jams $205 or so ...I think I had to call $170 extra.  I do and he shows 8h5h. Turn was a Kh, putting 2 hearts on board and the river was an 8x.  Two pair for him and tilt for me.  He limps a bunch and I try to isolate him several times only to lose inflated pots to other players and lose another $300 or so.  I play another pot multi-way with a double gutter after the flop.  Bets on flop and several call...checked around on turn and I hit the low end of my double gut straight on river.  Flop bettor bet $40 and my nemesis raised to $140.  I called pretty quick and other guy folds.  He shows me nut straight and I lose again.  Now I have about $900 and I quit pretty soon, ahead $275.

I come back for more on Monday and play for about 6 hours of 2-5nl.  I played rather loose and quickly ran up my $500 to $1200...then the cooler door opened.  Played a bad hand calling down TPTK ona  single suit board.  He shows me King high flush.  Lose about $225.  I am about 5 hours in and ahead $350-400 when this hand occurs.  All limp and I call from SB with Qc10c.  Flop is A,10,10 and it checks around...5 players.  Turn was a 6.  I bet $30 and get one caller.  River is a 6 giving me a full house.  I check he bets $75 and put him all in for $250... he snaps and shows me A10...flopped full house bigger than mine.  Luckily he didn't have a lot of money.

Now I'm down under my $500 buyin and my last hand I pick up AA in late position.  A couple of limpers and I make it $25.  I get 5 callers...  Flop was 10,2,3 rainbow.  SB leads for $20 and the BB raises to $50.  I call and SB calls.  Turn is 5s putting 2 spades on board.  SB checks, BB bets $75 and I move all in for a little over $300.  SB  freaks out and calls pretty quick...BB folds.  Wasn't sure if I was ahead or behind but he turns over As10s.  So I gotta fade 8 spades and 2 10's....10 outs. (more than 75% to win)...Ks on river and I bust.  It was almost 4:00pm and we decide to drive home.

Played at Perryville on Thursday with much the same luck....  I had K7 on a K77 flop and just call river Put in another $200...$500 in game total and get short and limp raise all-in with JJ for $140 or so.   AQ calls...flop was K,10,X...turn J and blank river...I lose to a straight.

Variance of this game can be brutal, but I still need to evaluate my play.  I had lost all credibility when playing pots in Cherokee and I need to tighten up or change my PF betting amounts to play against a thinner field.  Hard to outrun 5-6 runner in a Full Ring game.