Originally posted by 8979687
2 words...Barry Greenstein.
Watch that last hand of high stakes poker, watch his AA lose to KK, watch his huge stack go up in smoke.. then.. watch his reaction.
Totally... I saw that a while ago... not a flicker of emotion...
OK... I just played one of the most focused, in tune sessions ever... It wasn't very long, but it was beautiful... I simply cannot properly explain without giving tons of examples... but it was simply awesome... I want more of that!
Now I feel that this is something that will take time to completely adjust to... the disassociation of the money aspect, as it is an integral part of the game... What I am going to focus on doing is being honest with myself at all times. How am I playing? am I overwhelmed at any point due to table numbers? am I making mistakes? acting too quickly? am I experiencing negative emotions? etc... I want to focus on achieving my A+++game and finding where that truely lies, because I do feel it can be different from session to session and sometimes completely unachievable which is where it is best not to play. In order to achieve this I have applied filters to PT3 which means I cannot see anything... screens blank... but when I play I still get my HUD... I want to play without looking at the line, the numbers, the volume and all that stuff and work on looking at me instead and seeing how I am actually playing. On a Sunday evening when I have finished playing I will look at the the numbers and see what I find... for the foreseeable future I will do this once a week... And this is a big challenge, cos I love the numbers, stats, seeing them roll day-in-day out... but an honesty challenge none-the-less... If I want to play as well as I know I can, this is the challenge... like the karate kid when he trains blind-folded 
UPDATE SESSION 2:
session 2 did not go like session 1 did... I started off by overthinking a couple of situations and getting outdrawn with a couple big hands... then a series of bad beats and I felt my level of anxiety/frustration increase... so I decided not to register in anymore games and understand why... I think it's because I came to the tables not with a desire to win, but a desire and expectation to play the way I did in session 1... I tried too hard, wanted it too badly and made stupid mistakes as a result... A session should begin with a clear mind, no expectation and a desire to play well... the goal is to take pleasure in good play... towards then end I was feeling it a bit more, but still decided to keep it a short session...
OK... I have had an idea... in the interest of learning and developing the game I would like to send out an invitation to anyone who would like to participate.
I play a lot and I always enjoy discussion about the game, whether during a session or not. Also, I have never done a sweat session, or anything like that, but I am keen on getting involved in this. So for anyone who is interested let me know, add me to skype, I will get teamviewer for anyone who wants to watch me play, but also for anyone who wants to talk poker at any point...
It doesn't matter what level you play, you know where I am at... I think it would be fun and I am always keen to discuss interesting spots as they happen and get others points of view, I think there is much to be learnt.
So for anyone who is keen, add me on skype, my username is twfitw, let me know who you are as I ignore people I don't know and we'll take it from there...
Nick,
This sounds good to me. Not sure when I will be able to manage it, but I will get on to you as soon as I can.
I think my skype name is stevetaylor, or something similar. If you get something from Ihim, that's me.
I have seen you around on Ipoker, didn't know that was you though. We've played the same $5.50 tables there.
I checked your graph on sharkscope, dude, you are way in front, and this current 750 hands or so is sideways and a little down, so no problem.
I've been thinking about the way I play lately, and realised that when the outcome doesn't hurt me, ie, I am huge favourite and lose but see it for what it is, that is when I am ok. When I feel the pain, and I mean really feel it, that is the beginning of trouble for me.
Poker isn't fair, and there is no justice. When some dude limps from CO, then shoves over my BU raise when I'm holding JJ, and I call and he shows 26s, that is a win for me.
I hate it when they get some part of the flop, and I hate it worse when that turns into the nutz on the river, but that will happen nearly 20% of the time. I already won before that happens. And that is as fair as it gets.
Now if only I could convince the cashier to let me withdraw my sklansky bucks.
So the point is, when the pain (outcomes) becomes a problem, my playing on is a bigger problem, so I am learning to be a big boy and say, time to quit, finish these tables and let it go for a while.
Hey aciddrop...
Yeah definitely when you get online find me... the sessions are so awesome... just did a sweat session/review with Atoks and Flows and I have to say that I took so much out of it... So this is something I really want to open up, cos everyone benefits in this sort of stuff... plus it's nice to talk to other poker players 
normally I just yell at them, and they can't hear me
Originally posted by NickParkes
Hey aciddrop...Yeah definitely when you get online find me... the sessions are so awesome... just did a sweat session/review with Atoks and Flows and I have to say that I took so much out of it... So this is something I really want to open up, cos everyone benefits in this sort of stuff... plus it's nice to talk to other poker players
although I almost yelled at him sometimes! ♠_biggrin:
GL at the tables!
Originally posted by Flows
Originally posted by NickParkes
Hey aciddrop...Yeah definitely when you get online find me... the sessions are so awesome... just did a sweat session/review with Atoks and Flows and I have to say that I took so much out of it... So this is something I really want to open up, cos everyone benefits in this sort of stuff... plus it's nice to talk to other poker players
although I almost yelled at him sometimes! ♠_biggrin:
GL at the tables!
Yes! I'm a donk
I think to implement this stuff and practice I am gonna stick with the $5.50s so the suckouts don't piss me off too much if I doubt my shove in spots... man this is fun
Hi NickParkes,
Just wanted to congratulate you on your awsome post of 24.08.2009 04:57.
You have nailed the psychological state necessary to play winning poker. And that's all we can do: "play winning poker". It's an inevitable truth that playing "winning poker" doesn't guarantee that we win anything at all. But there is nothing else to strive for.
So keep it up, my man, keep it up.
Tim
Hey tim64... thanks, I feel as strong psychologically as I ever have, and now it's time to get my game on the same level
JVV - yeah playing SNGs and currently seem to be doing regular sweat sessions so if you are interested find me on skype: twfitw and join in! It's one of those situations that the more opinions you... seriously I think these are some of the most valuable learning sessions I have ever had!
Right now I am concentrating on less volume and more analysis in strengthening all aspects of my game... I feel it's more +EV this way... anyway, tonight it's mtt time, uber-micros so relaxation and fun more than anything.... maybe some FL later too....
whew! just finished a long haul... over 6 hours, to finish 15/6500+.... had Atoks railing me which was awesome, thanks dude, and hopefully I did not screw my computer up too badly... minor accident during tourney........ but nice session, learnt a lot, and more sngs tomorrow... nothing inspirational to add as the brain is fried...
Originally posted by NickParkes
and hopefully I did not screw my computer up too badly... minor accident during tourney........
the suckout effect:
Originally posted by NickParkes
whew! just finished a long haul... over 6 hours, to finish 15/6500+.... had Atoks railing me which was awesome, thanks dude, and hopefully I did not screw my computer up too badly... minor accident during tourney........ but nice session, learnt a lot, and more sngs tomorrow... nothing inspirational to add as the brain is fried...Yeah how is the computer doing mate? Great showing in the MTT, I have to say u did most of the work urself
Hope u get more deep runs like that! And hope I get a lot of em as well ♦ Cya round!
It seems to be OK.... screen has a couple iffy spots, but I think she'll hold anyway, what actually happened was moments before one of the breaks I took a big swig of tea, then coughed and sprayed a solid layer of tea all over the laptop 
spent a good while cleaning it while still playing...
Oh ya, and when I woke up this morning I remembered this hand
No Limit Holdem Tournament
$2.00+$0.20
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
UTG (4815)
UTG+1 (4515)
MP1 (11025)
MP2 (4980)
MP3 (2400)
CO (795)
BTN (5840)
Hero (SB) (4565)
BB (6880)
Blinds: 60/120 Ante 15
Pre-flop: (315, 9 players) Hero is SB J♣ A♠
2 folds, MP1 calls 120, 4 folds, Hero raises to 390, BB calls 270, MP1 folds
Flop: K♣ 8♥ T♣ (1,035, 2 players)
Hero bets 559, BB calls 559
Turn: Q♣ (2,153, 2 players)
Hero bets 1,000, BB calls 1,000
River: A♣ (4,153, 2 players)
Hero goes all-in 2,601, BB calls 2,601
Final Pot: 9,355
BB shows: K♥ 9♣
Hero shows: J♣ A♠
Hero wins 9,355 ( won +4,805 )
BB lost -4,550
MP1 lost -120
U should also try and post the AJo hand with the awesome flop and payoff 
And maybe the royal flush one as well But hey, it's no secret that u have to run really good in MTTs to make something out of em
Yeah... this was a sweet hand...
No Limit Holdem Tournament
$1.00+$0.10
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
UTG (5794)
Hero (UTG+1) (49795)
MP1 (22676)
MP2 (43026)
MP3 (14490)
CO (21251)
BTN (9609)
SB (78407)
BB (24155)
Blinds: 750/1500 Ante 175
Pre-flop: (3,825, 9 players) Hero is UTG+1 J♣ A♦
1 fold, Hero raises to 3,999, 1 fold, MP2 calls 3,999, 3 folds, SB calls 3,249, BB calls 2,499
Flop: A♣ A♥ J♥ (17,571, 4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks
Turn: 3♣ (17,571, 4 players)
SB bets 6,000, 1 fold, Hero calls 6,000, MP2 goes all-in 38,852, SB folds, Hero calls 32,852
River: 9♦ (101,275, 2 players)
Final Pot: 101,275
Hero shows: J♣ A♦
MP2 shows: A♠ T♣
Hero wins 101,275 ( won +58,424 )
MP2 lost -42,851
SB lost -9,999
BB lost -3,999
OK... well, done playing for the day, still running horribly at SNGs, BUT I really feel my game is improving thanks to the sessions with Atoks and Flows... so as a result my volume is waaaay down, but in an effort to improve quality it is a sacrifice I am happy to make... psychologically I feel great... I am able to play my best despite the cards...
Played some MTTs this evening and moneyed a couple, but played well and enjoyed it... had some nice hands and well, didn't play too many... but I have to say that I am enjoying the 90 and 180 man SNGs... although I do understand that they probably need fairly large sample sizes, they're good tho...
Then played some FL... that was fun, infuriating, but fun... I do like switching between variants, it keeps things fresh and well... I feel it helps the overall mindset...
Anyway, tomorrow is a poker free day as I am off to the lake to get some fishing done, enjoy the sun and enjoy nice weather we're finally getting...
Yesterday was a nice break... caught some fish for a change being on a boat always seems to motivate me for some reason......
Anyway had a varied day today... had a short sweat session with JVV this morning... was pretty cool, spotted a couple spots where I was too passive and a couple where I could use some work. Later I played a decent longish session where I just went on the grind and worked on picking good spots to shove, as well as the obvious ones ofc and then this evening I played some MTTs, where I was running hobbibly so I stopped registering for them and played my last tourney with 2 tables of FL running... ran quite nicely in my last MTT finishing 276th outta like 3000+, got busted out when my JJ ran into KK and I lost despite still making a set... was an interesting tourney... wasn`t actually running so well with hands that went to showdown, but built a very nice stack picking good spots to shove and bet and steal... I felt I played it well, which is always good....
So I got a bit of everything today and it was fun... now I have to go... HRH is not happy with me... I forgot to buy milk only remembered after I had registered for a whole bunch of mtts....... oops...
Well, I am feeling so super-confident in my game... the work that I have been putting in really seems to be clicking, and today, even though I only played 35 SNGs I still was unstoppable and had one of the nicest runs I have ever had... I even made it back to breakeven!! But what feels better is the knowledge and the confidence that I am able to make the most out of my good runs... today with figures of 35 played, 12 wins, 5x 2nds and 3x 3rds is definitely something not to be shunned and I quit early cos I really wasn't feeling it anymore... got to watch a session grind of 45 man SNGs that Atooks was playing... and I must say that I am very interested in MTT SNGs and I think in my off time I am going to rebuild my stars roll with these... I've kinda already started, but I think I wanna look at really grinding it up when I get the chance... 12- 16 tabling these seems very doable... it'll be a while before I get into those properly, but the hunger is there...
I was gonna post my graph today, but I'll wait until tomorrow, only gonna get a few more tourneys in cos got lotsa housework to get done... overall I'm feeling good about things, evenn if the rolls don't look as good as they once did... but that will come with time... if the poker gods allow
OK, it's time.... yet another interesting month comes to an end... and I think I can now say that I am feeling like I have the psychological game under control... thanks to the sessions with Atoks and Flows my game seems to be the strongest it has even been... and I think the last 2 days has been the biggest eye-opener... I have been running nicely, which helps, but I have created a lot of the victories with pure agression and well timed pushes... anyway this is how the graph looks...
And regardless of what happens next, I am focused more on playing the best that I can and keep my mind in the best place it can be... the cards fall at random... I believe this... There's not too much more for me to say, except let's move forward in Sept...
