1/2

Well, earlier this week I nearly had a mental breakdown over a research paper that was due on Wednesday. I've never freaked out like that in my life. Add to that the fact that I got beat for $150 playing 2/4 O8, which I thought was my best game. So, I decided to cash out my winnings at Full Tilt, which amounted to a tripling of my initial deposit of $250.

And then I finished my research paper and got bored. Real bored. So, in my infinite wisdom, I deposited $600 into PartyPoker to play 1/2 hold'em and O8. It's been an absolute roller coaster. I've been way down and even for most of the time. Today, I finally had my break-through. Here goes:

2/4 Limit O8:
I played for 30 minutes and won 20.5 BBs. I really misplayed a hand in which I could have gotten more money. Crazy villian is on my left.

5-handed 2/4 O8

Hero is in BB with 3c Ah 5c 4s
Villian raises, MP cold-calls, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, Villian caps, MP cold-calls, Hero calls.
- I usually don't 3-bet this hand, but I was feeling frisky and wanted to get as many bets into the hand as I could against Villian.

Flop: 5s Ac 3s
Hero bets, Villian raises, MP folds, Hero calls.
- Well, at least the flop hit me. I've got 3-pair, but no low. Villian is crazy, but he could have 2-4 or AA; either way, I'm screwed.

Turn: 5h
Hero checks, Villian bets, Hero calls.
- Should have raised right here.

River: 4d
Hero checks, Villian checks. Villian shows: 3h Th As Js (two pair, Aces and five; no low). Hero wins 10 BB pot.

Now that I look at the hand, I'm not happy with it at all. Silly me.

1/2 Hold'em:
I played 2 tables for roughly 3 hours today and took down 90 BBs, or $180. In 333 hands, I was dealt AA 4-times. One of the those times, I flopped top set, turned the boat, and got re-raised throughout the hand. In other words, I didn't have to work very much.

I've been real frustrated with my 1/2 game lately. I just couldn't win, for some odd reason. The play is not at all different from the .50/1 game I've played so much of. I didn't know what I was doing wrong. I've looked over some different stats and just decided I was playing way too loosely. After tightening up today, I was able to score huge (with the aid of good cards). Although I'm approaching 300 BBs for 2/4, I don't think I'll move up. I need to prove to myself that I can consistently win at 1/2 before I do. I only have 2k hands logged in at 1/2, so I have to play for many, many more hours.

I also played a $22 shoot-out and was the bubble -boy in the first round, when my 8-8 when down to A-10. I never win big coinflips, I've decided. Overall, a great day though.