Martin’s Blog: Has anyone seen my mojo?

The reports that my mojo was back were greatly exaggerated.  After having a great weekend from 9th-11th July it has all been downhill since then.  Six out of my last seven cash sessions have ended in losses and the few tournaments I entered have been fruitless.  I do mostly feel like I have been playing reasonably well though.  There are definitely some few hands that I could have played better but I don’t think I’ve made too many suicide moves or gone on super monkey tilt too much.

I was recovering from a cold so didn’t bother playing on Friday night this week.  I was feeling much better on Saturday and decided to play the Gala 6pm £20 freezeout for a bit of fun.  The game had a surprisingly great turnout (45) but unfortunately I was first out after successfully donking my chips off the The Weasel.  I hung around like a bad smell for a couple of hours and we eventually got a full £1/1 NLH cash game running.  I did ok in the game and ended up making a £140 profit but was up £150 more than this at my peak.  Once I got there I just couldn’t seem to keep the momentum going to make a really good score.  When I did get my big hands pre-flop they were getting outdrawn every time.  The game died down a bit and I decided to leave about 4am and try the G to see if the action there was a bit juicier.

That turned out to be an unprofitable decision as I successfully donated £400 in the G game.  The game was four-handed when Kenny and I arrived from Gala to make it six.  It was very deep so I sat down with £200.  After a few small skirmishes Mo busted out and Andy Wood cashed out and went home so we were playing four-handed.  One player with £500 opened for £6 UTG which is a relatively big open but I decided to take a flop from the button with my 5c3c.  Both blinds folded and we were heads up.  The flop was 2h4h7s so I was open-ended.  The pre-flop raiser led out for £12 into the £14 pot and I raised to £30.  He called quite quickly.  The pot was now £74 and the turn came 8d.  I was not putting him on the 56 at all and thought it was certainly possible that he could think I had it.  To my surprise he led on the turn for £25.  I read this as weak or a blocker and made it £85 to play.  He asked me what I had left (£78) and then put a raise in!  I think he meant to put me all-in but he ended up only raising £60 more.  I’ve now got myself in a horrible situation but spite-called the £60 more anyway to try and spike a miracle.  The river was the Jack of Hearts and he bet my remaining £18.  I decided to lay down my 5 high at this point.  He then showed KcJc.  I asked for his address so I could mail him my soul in the morning.

After this disaster I reloaded for another £200 and got back down to business.  I played an AJ slow by just calling pre-flop and on the flop when I hit an ace only to get back-doored by a Kh5h flush.  Things were just not going my way and then this really strange hand came up.  I found QQ UTG and almost fell off my chair I was so excited.  No one was folding pre-flop in the game so I thought I could get some real value from this monster.  I made it £3 to go.  The Button flats (he had just lost the previous hand, had re-bought for £60 and was in the game for a lot of money).  The SB (with £300) made it £10 and the BB folded.  Back to me and I made it £35 total.  To my surprise the Button now rams his £60 all-in (he had previously just flatted my £3 open remember).  I’m not really concerned about this because I’m sure I have him crushed and it’s not a lot of money anyway.  However, the SB then thinks for less than 10 seconds and makes it £100 to go!  He still had £200 behind and I have £165 left.  After having a brief chat with the SB I somehow find a fold thinking he is strong and wouldn’t be doing this without AK, KK or AA.  It turns out to be donk-fold of the year as the SB tables A10o and the Button shows A7o.  Obviously to rub salt into my gaping wounds the flop comes Q high and pairs 6s on the turn.  Mr A7o spikes a 7 and takes down my pot.

I should be about ready to shoot myself at this point but I manage to keep my composure and keep at it without going on mega-tilt.  In a straddled pot I have 53o (obviously my new favourite hand) on the button and limp in.  The blinds complete and the straddle checks.  The pot is £8 and the flop comes down Ad5c3d.  To my delight the SB (same SB from the QQ hand) leads out for £6 and the straddle calls.  I make it £26 to go and when it gets back to the SB he makes it £50 more.  He has a lot less on front of him now after spewing off plenty to the big stack in the game.  I decide not to fold my bottom two pair against this guy and raise all-in.  He calls and I table my hand.  After running blanks which I think look good for me he shows me the lovely A3 on the river.  I can at least take something out of this hand as he generously goes on to explain to me what a bad call I made.  This hand didn’t clean me out as I had won a few smaller pots to keep me going before it.

I am down to about £130 though when I pick up KK.  I am UTG again after a straddle and make it £7.  Only the straddle calls and we are heads up.  It’s the same guy from the KcJc vs 5c3c earlier.  The flop comes something like 1085 rainbow (one spade) and I bet out £10 after he checks to me.  He calls.  I don’t remember exactly but the turn is a spade and an undercard to the 10 on the board.  He bets into me £25 or there abouts and I shove all-in.  He insta-calls and I think maybe he has hit two-pair on me but I table my KK anyway.  The river is and off-suit Ace and now he has two-pair with As8s.  He picked up the nut-flush draw on the turn along with the flopped second pair.  It’s just not working for me so I retire from the game and head home shortly after.