Card Dead

Is there anything worse than sitting at an action table with chips flying everywhere and being completely card dead?

That's what my last two sessions have been like and I'm a little surprised. One of the reasons I play short-handed PL Omaha is that days like that are few and far between. Missing almost every flop, then having to lay down big hand after big hand because you know it's beat. Years ago, sessions like that would frustrate me and I would start pushing anytime I felt I had even the slightest edge. This usually ended up costing me a few buy-in's and occasionally, a frightened cat and broken keyboard.

Eventually, I learned that there are times when the cards will just not allow you to play your normal game, and I believe that learning to play (or not play) when card dead has been instrumental to the growth of my bankroll.

What do you do when you are in a card dead situation? Open up and play more hands? Tighten up and play less?

Personally, I tighten up and then come in for a full pot sized raise when I do enter. I want to be the initiator of the action when I'm dead. This at least gives me a chance to win with a continuation bet after the flop, when I miss yet again.

Occasionally I'll switch to small ball and start limping more, but what you don't want to do is start calling more raises, chasing, etc. This is nothing but a giant leak. Be a patient aggressor, not a chasing caller!

Still not working? Stay as long as you can without getting frustrated, and not one hand more. There's always a game tomorrow and you'll do your bankroll a huge favor!


Good luck and don't suck,

-QAsRevenge

You Sank My Battleship!

Welcome to QAsRevenge Trophy Room!


I've been pretty serious with my blog so far, so I'm gonna lighten up a bit today and introduce:

QAsRevenge Trophy Room!

My own personal tribute to the fallen warriors at my tables! That's right, whenever I scoop all of your chips, I am going to hang your head in my new Trophy Room! I can't wait to see who gets to be first!

Obviously, no one in battle remains unscathed, and I do occasionally misfire. But for me, it's only one shell, so I just reload and fire again. Gotta love bankroll management.

Check back to watch the victims pile up! It should be fun!

Good luck and don't suck,

-QAsRevenge


PS-You didn't think I'd be trying to help you all the time did you?

Hypnosis And Poker

"Today I will play perfect poker. I will play patiently and with discipline. I will play with aggression when I detect weakness, and with caution when I suspect strength. I will punish players on draws or that hold weaker hands. I will have the discipline to fold when I am beat. I will create big pots with big hands and small pots with small hands. I will stay calm and relaxed at all times."

This is an example of how I use hypnosis to create a positive mindset for myself before each session of poker. Notice that each sentence is phrased as a positive suggestion. This is because your subconscious mind is designed to accept suggestions only in that manner. Remember that you think in your language! When you frame a suggestion, it should always be written, or spoken, using a positive intonation. Suggestions that are framed as a negative are not accepted by the subconscious in the way that you wish them to be. Actually, they are accepted by the subconscious in the exact opposite!

An example; Do not think of the front door of your house!

What happened? You just thought of the front door of your house. Though strangely enough, I have had clients that told me that they thought of the front door of someone else's house.

Another example; Do not think of a large pink elephant walking down the street!

You just thought of a pink elephant.

So what happens when you tell yourself something like, "I am not going to get mad and go on tilt today!"

Actually, your subconscious hears that as "I am going to get mad and tilt today!" The exact opposite what you wanted.

Even the best players are going to lose their share of hands each day. The ability to not let those beats affect your play is crucial to your long term success. Rare is the day when the poker gods smile upon you and everything just falls into place. That is why it is so important to prepare yourself. Nobody plays well when they are upset or angry.

It also goes without saying that you should be playing well within your bankroll. I personally always stick to Chris Ferguson's five percent rule. You simply cannot play your best when the loss of few buy-in's eats up a quarter, a third, or half of your bankroll!

So, use the example at the top and begin writing and formulating your own pre-session suggestions. Repetition is the key to using suggestion, so make sure to get a note pad and write them down each day before you start to play. Then, take a moment at the end of your session to make a few notes. Including your mental state.

I will soon include an audio link of an actual Self-Hypnosis CD called Improving Poker that I have created for myself. I think you'll really like it.

Good luck and and don't suck,

-QAsRevenge