Regrets, I've had a few

“The problem with slowplaying the nuts is that there might be somebody else slowplaying a hand they only think is the nuts” -Gary Carson

A quick rambling post to avoid hiatus status. I’ve had three decent winning sessions and one tiny loss in the last four, since I started focussing more. Most of the profit has been in Omaha high only; it was daft of me to devote so much time to hi-lo when I am a long term winner in ‘straight’ Omaha. I also took 3rd in a two-table NLHE and enjoyed it immensely. I was chip leader at one point with three left, but it was pretty much a crapshoot at that stage.

I’m getting nowhere near enough hours in at the moment, only 12.5 hours in the past FORTNIGHT. One of the many, many good points of my imminent move out of ‘home’ and into sharing with a friend and a couple of others is that I will undoubtedly get far more play in. The reasons:

1. When going out on weekday evenings I will be able to go home first, eat and still get a couple of hours in if I wish before going out. (This is because I will be living in town rather than in an outlying village)

2. I will have my very own phone line, nobody else to consider

3. I will be able to play in bed. Note to self: that didn’t work out terribly well up north, so be careful…

I can’t wait, although I still have a slight worry because I am trying to get the landlord to reduce the amount of rent plus deposit I need to pay next Friday, but haven’t got hold of him yet. I have a good-sounding reason, without boring you with details. It would help enormously if he agrees. If not, I may have to empty the bankroll - just when it is showing signs of getting back to the healthier levels of two to three months ago.

What else? I still get emotional at times about my ex. We had a long chat on Tuesday evening, which was nice. I did cry a little – over regrets, I suppose. Regret that I was not better to her. Regret that she lost interest in me sexually, and regret over the character traits that caused that. Regret over the surgery she had which didn’t help. Regret that for whatever reasons, I could not make a lasting relationship work with this most admirable, special person.

There were lots of other ingredients in my tears, too. Selfish pain that she is moving on so comprehensively with her new boyfriend. Self-doubt – how could this wonderful person ever have had such feelings for me? Sentimentality (a major flaw in my game) and mourning for all the lost things that we did together, the things I miss.

Christ I sound weak. What happened to all the ‘not getting emotionally attached’ schtick?

By the way, I really need to look into this whole concept of ‘rakeback’ schemes. At this moment I have absolutely no idea how they work, what you have to do, what sites offer them. But I don’t believe in ignoring free (or cheap) money.

Eight years ago today

I had a real good session on Thursday night, two-tabling with ‘Faranheit 9/11’ on TV in the background. I came out just over $50 winner in two hours (up in Omaha, down in O8), but most importantly played well. I concentrated more than usual – which yielded a number of note-worthy observations on opponents – and gave my decisions somewhat more thought than usual, which resulted in saving a few dollars here and gleaning a few extra dollars there.

As for ‘Faranheit 9/11’, I was pleasantly surprised. I suppose I have heard nothing but right-wing criticism of the movie for a long time, so I expected it to be far more contentious, manipulative and strident than it proved to be. In fact I found Moore’s commentary to be pleasantly understated most of the time.

I am sure that there are inaccuracies in the film. I am equally sure that there are inaccuracies (and especially omissions) in almost every piece of journalism or polemic about that war and that president. For me, the bottom line is that mainstream TV and newspaper reporting follows a very narrow brief, so people like Michael Moore are an absolutely vital part of the media.

I finally did a bit of numbers-work on Thursday also. Mr Industrious. It turns out that I am actually down in PLO8 after 56 hours. I am surprised, disappointed and alarmed. I can’t beat Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better?? Perversely, I don’t intend to quit it just yet - but things better take a turn for the better very soon or I most certainly will.

In other news, it looks like I could be moving out of ‘home’ in as little as two weeks’ time. This is great news, except that the need to pay a deposit suddenly smacked me in the face. I need to win at poker, negotiate, ask for favours and eat dried bread – and I only enjoy one of those four things.

NB: Eight years ago today I met (and slept with) the girl who would become my girlfriend for almost seven years.