Variance

How much luck is there in this game? I once read an article on Full Tilt that says poker is 100% skill. I'd have to agree. Poker isn't just about playing the cards, getting constantly better, having great reads, playing position, etc. That's only 1/3 of the battle. It's about discipline. Bankroll management and patience are required by any great player or you're just poorer version of Mike Matasow. There are so many different ways to get money out of your opponents than just putting it all in with a 80 20. It's getting to make him do what you want when you want. (Johny Chan once said this)

Last couple of days I was getting bad beated all over the place and getting into bad postions. I lost like 3-4k over 3 days. (The reason why poker isn't luck and that it's 100% skill is because of how bad of people there are out there and you can always go down limits in order win back your money.) At first I wondered if I was playing bad as I usually am when I lose. This time it was just a bad run of cards and the amount of variance at 600nl. I played today with the confidence that I was playing good and did really well.

I opened up 3 heads up tables and 2 hours later I was up to 3.2k, 2.2k, and 1.2k on 3 different tables.

Seat 1: fuzzy76 ($160.90)
Seat 2: SDeeSU ($3,079.40)
SDeeSU posts the small blind of $2
fuzzy76 posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SDeeSU [4c Qc]
SDeeSU raises to $12
fuzzy76 calls $8
*** FLOP *** [3c 4d 9h]
fuzzy76 bets $24
SDeeSU calls $24
*** TURN *** [3c 4d 9h] [5d]
fuzzy76 bets $4
SDeeSU calls $4
*** RIVER *** [3c 4d 9h 5d] [4h]
fuzzy76 bets $4
SDeeSU raises to $3,039.40, and is all in
fuzzy76 calls $116.90, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $2,918.50 returned to SDeeSU
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SDeeSU shows [4c Qc] three of a kind, Fours
fuzzy76 mucks
SDeeSU wins the pot ($321.30) with three of a kind, Fours
fuzzy76 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $321.80 Rake $0.50
Board: [3c 4d 9h 5d 4h]
Seat 1: fuzzy76 (big blind) mucked [9d Qh] - two pair, Nines and Fours
Seat 2: SDeeSU (small blind) showed [4c Qc] and won ($321.30) with three of a kind, Fours


Seat 1: pleasedontpopme ($372.50)
Seat 2: SDeeSU ($1,980.80)
pleasedontpopme posts the small blind of $2
SDeeSU posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SDeeSU [Td Th]
pleasedontpopme raises to $12
SDeeSU raises to $36
pleasedontpopme calls $24
*** FLOP *** [8c 9d 4s]
SDeeSU bets $33
pleasedontpopme calls $33
*** TURN *** [8c 9d 4s] [2s]
SDeeSU bets $99
pleasedontpopme calls $99
*** RIVER *** [8c 9d 4s 2s] [9h]
SDeeSU checks
pleasedontpopme checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SDeeSU shows [Td Th] two pair, Tens and Nines
pleasedontpopme mucks
SDeeSU wins the pot ($335.50) with two pair, Tens and Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $336 Rake $0.50
Board: [8c 9d 4s 2s 9h]
Seat 1: pleasedontpopme (small blind) mucked [2d 6d] - two pair, Nines and Twos
Seat 2: SDeeSU (big blind) showed [Td Th] and won ($335.50) with two pair, Tens and Nines

Seat 1: XleprechaunX ($539)
Seat 2: SDeeSU ($962.30)
SDeeSU posts the small blind of $2
XleprechaunX posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SDeeSU [Qd Qc]
SDeeSU has 15 seconds left to act
SDeeSU raises to $12
XleprechaunX raises to $44
SDeeSU has 15 seconds left to act
SDeeSU raises to $120
XleprechaunX calls $76
*** FLOP *** [5d 8c 9c]
XleprechaunX bets $419, and is all in
SDeeSU has 15 seconds left to act
SDeeSU calls $419
XleprechaunX shows [Jh Js]
SDeeSU shows [Qd Qc]
*** TURN *** [5d 8c 9c] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [5d 8c 9c 6d] [4c]
XleprechaunX shows a pair of Jacks
SDeeSU shows a pair of Queens
SDeeSU wins the pot ($1,077.50) with a pair of Queens
XleprechaunX is sitting out
nitsud05 (Observer): nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1,078 Rake $0.50
Board: [5d 8c 9c 6d 4c]
Seat 1: XleprechaunX (big blind) showed [Jh Js] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: SDeeSU (small blind) showed [Qd Qc] and won ($1,077.50) with a pair of Queens

As this hand may not look special... to me.. it is :).

Last couple of days: -4k
Today: +5k