Finding Your Cave Animal

I won't lie to you, I have no achievements to boast of over the last 10 days. My average has halved, I've dropped nearly 2k, and the worst part is I've been trying to play well! Am desperately hoping that I've just been getting unlucky, but I surely can't blame mere luck for having 4 losing sessions in a row! Is it lucky to be dealt AA or KK nearly every 2 orbits? Definitely! Then why complain? No reason really, except for every monster overpair I've been dealt, it seems I've been getting crippled by a flopped set or a river that pairs the top flop card. Honestly.
OK, so I'm not making money from my alleged 'monsters', so what about all the other good hands that take down decent pots? I raise with them, miss the flop, and then have my continuation bet hurled in my face again and again. Or I hit the flop, bet it strong, get called, and then an over/scare -card lands and suddenly I'm either facing an allin or a pot-committing check raise. The worst luck I had was flopping a set of 9s, getting my opponent with AA allin on the turn when a K fell, and then kissing that massive pot goodbye for a 2-outer on the river. Was seriously feeling like the poker gods AND the players were all out to get me. Even when I made a great read, I would have it thrown in my face (see HH below).
A few points for me to remember:
Playing less than $2-$4? Don't bluff anything other than the flop. Wait for second pair before taking them allin!
Don't go re-raise or push allin with a K high flush. The one time you get stacked isn't worth it.
Maintain aggression, even when people play back. If you bet then check out of position you're wide open to bluff bets which you will be forced to fold to. Smaller continuation bets on the turn can win the pot or simply stop your opponent from bluffing, which more than makes up for the financial outlay.
Keep reading. I'm not sure there is any correlation to me getting engrossed in a riveting work of fiction for more than 2 weeks, but my game suddenly slipped during that period. Why take the chance?
1 more week til Vegas and I'm nervous but raring to go. I'm going on holiday, and I'm going to play a lot of poker too. I don't think there's any way I can possibly not have an absolutely amazing time. And if there is, I'll take that gamble......


Table NameHand IDGameStakes
Dumb and Dumber10474841-68724Holdem No Limit $2/$4
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Hand Start.
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 1 : Bluffenuf1 has $440.64
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 2 : Denrod has $141
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 3 : dawsey has $194
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 4 : Los Flo has $79.75
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 5 : Sub_Zero has $296
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Seat 6 : TheFizz has $300
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Los Flo is the dealer.
[Sep 23 16:58:55] : Sub_Zero posted small blind.
[Sep 23 16:58:56] : TheFizz posted big blind.
[Sep 23 16:58:56] : Game [68724] started with 6 players.
[Sep 23 16:58:56] : Dealing Hole Cards.
[Sep 23 16:58:56] : Seat 5 : Sub_Zero has 3h 3c
[Sep 23 16:58:58] : Bluffenuf1 folded.
[Sep 23 16:59:01] : Denrod folded.
[Sep 23 16:59:01] : dawsey folded.
[Sep 23 16:59:07] : Los Flo called $4 and raised $4
[Sep 23 16:59:08] : Sub_Zero called $6
[Sep 23 16:59:10] : TheFizz folded.
[Sep 23 16:59:11] : Dealing flop.
[Sep 23 16:59:11] : Board cards [2c 5s 4c]
[Sep 23 16:59:14] : Sub_Zero checked.
[Sep 23 16:59:19] : Los Flo bet $10
[Sep 23 16:59:21] : Sub_Zero called $10 and raised $15
[Sep 23 16:59:25] : Los Flo called $15
[Sep 23 16:59:25] : Dealing turn.
[Sep 23 16:59:25] : Board cards [2c 5s 4c 8d]
[Sep 23 16:59:29] : Sub_Zero bet $30
[Sep 23 16:59:33] : Los Flo called $30 and raised $16.75 and is All-in
[Sep 23 16:59:33] : Under-Raise rules are now in effect.
[Sep 23 16:59:34] : Sub_Zero called $16.75
[Sep 23 16:59:34] : Showdown!
[Sep 23 16:59:34] : Seat 5 : Sub_Zero has 3h 3c
[Sep 23 16:59:36] : Seat 4 : Los Flo has Ac Jd
[Sep 23 16:59:36] : Seat 5 : Sub_Zero has 3h 3c
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Board cards [2c 5s 4c 8d Jc]
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Seat 4 : Los Flo has Ac Jd
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Los Flo has Pair: Jacks
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Seat 5 : Sub_Zero has 3h 3c
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Sub_Zero has Pair: 3s
[Sep 23 16:59:41] : Los Flo wins $160.50 with Pair: Jacks
[Sep 23 16:59:52] : Hand is over.