I’ve had much better results lately in the middle stages of tournaments where historically I’m either massively chipping up or busting (which is pretty standard but still), considering that I’ve tried to consciously avoid distractions such as surfing the net or playing 6 tables at a time. I’ve been getting deeper more smoothly and playing sharper when I get there. I’ve been studying lots of different flop situations and mentally reviewing the betting patterns of my opponents and it is helping out tremendously. Patience for great situations based on detailed observations, as compared to waiting for good cards, has received greater emphasis. I’ll keep you posted on my new LAG-ish style.

In two straight tournaments last night, as a side note, I had the fortune to make three straight flushes! The first time I was at a table that literally had six or seven people limping into every flop, regardless of raises, position etc. I picked up 9d-8d which made for an easy blend-limp, and improved slightly on a 6d-7d-Td flop. There was some light betting which I just called to see a turn of the Jd giving me an even higher straight flush. Unfortunately, and somewhat bizarrely, it seems that no one held either the Kd or Ad to pay me off. Big hand, small profit. Next tourney, KhQh with the turn giving me a straight flush on a Jh-Th-8c-9h board. This time I was pushed all-in by another KQ (offsuit) and my str8 flush took it down. As I was posting, I was also involved in a hand with QJo checked in the big blind for a flop of 8-Q-J rainbow versus two opponents. One puts in a reasonable bet, the next calls and I call also. The turn comes a Q which gives me a full house! The first player again makes a half-pot bet and the second player insta-pushes all-in which I call, hoping for a chasing-call…but he wisely folded. They flip up T9o for a flopped straight which loses to my boat, but wait…another Queen on the river for Quads!

Internet card shuffles are totally random :)