THE HOME TOURNEY

John was gracious enough to invite Sean and I to the home tourney he's been playing. Both John and Sean finished in the money and I solved the problem I've been having with poker lately.

The tourney began with 11 players and we combined the table when it was down to 8. I held T6 in the big blind and flopped 789. I checked and I got bet on the end that I called. I had decided to make a big play on the turn. The turn came 6. Instead of considering how that hurt my hand I went all-in and got two callers. Another guy had a ten, but the original bettor had TJ. Now, I would have lost a ton either way, but once the 6 came the all-in bet was horrible. Why did I make it? I'm not focused lately.

I'd had so much success playing poker that I have been playing too much and getting sloppy. It's been causing me to deny my better judgement and make gambles when I know I'm beat. It's almost like I was subconsciouly want to be somewhere else and want to double up and quit or lose and quit. The other night I held JJ next to the button and made a small raise. The big blind raised back big and I called. Did he have AK. The flop produced nothing higher than an 8, so I look good. The big blind bets the limit $40 or more. I just know he has AA. If he had AK he would have tried $15. But I just can't get off my JJ. I just have to see his cards. I did get a chance to see them. But it busted me out. He had the AA and in my good days I would have laid it down. You don't always lay it down in those situations. It depends on the rythym of the player. There are times that you know you're beat and when you're playing your best, you lie those hands down. I'm taking a week of and see if I can re-focus.

Meanwhile, I'd love to hear Sean and John's take on the home tourney.