This session was a harsh reality check. I started out exactly how I wanted—single-tabling, dialed in, and playing high-level poker. I was reading ranges accurately and making the disciplined folds that win money in the long run. I was up a buy-in, felt invincible, and decided to jump to three tables. That’s when the “ego” took over, and my bankroll took the hit. I ended the session in the red, and it was entirely due to a few massive, avoidable punts.

The “Fish” Moments

It’s frustrating because I know better, yet I still fell into these traps the moment the action sped up:

  • The JJ Punt: I got into a pre-flop battle with a reg and just jammed. It was lazy. Against a solid player, shoving there is just high-variance gambling. I should have flatted the 3-bet and used my post-flop edge, but I took the “easy” way out and paid for it.

  • Aces vs. The World: I had AA and just went into tunnel vision. I fired three streets, and even when the board got wet and the guy turned a straight, I couldn’t let go. When he check-raised me all-in on the river, it was a glaring signal of strength. I knew I was beat, but I called anyway. I fell in love with my starting hand and ignored the reality of the board.

The Hard Truth

Ending in the red hurts more when it’s self-inflicted. I’m playing well and grinding out small wins, only to gift entire buy-ins back in these big-pot catastrophes. It’s a massive leak. I’m essentially playing like a shark for 40 minutes and then acting like a fish the second I add volume.

My Fixes

I can’t keep “donating” my profits back to the pool. To stop the bleeding, I’m holding myself to these rules:

  • Respect the River Check-Raise: When a player check-calls two streets and then jams the river, I am folding one-pair hands—period. I have to stop paying off straights just because I have “Aces.”

  • JJ is a Poker Hand, Not a Lottery Ticket: No more “lazy jams” against regs. If I’m at multiple tables, I have to stay disciplined enough to play the hand correctly (flatting the 3-bet) rather than just shoving to simplify the decision.

  • The Volume Cap: My brain clearly isn’t ready for 3+ tables if it means my IQ drops 50 points. I’m sticking to a 2-table limit until I can go a week without a “what was I thinking” punt.

I’m hitting the lab to review these hands. I’m tired of being my own biggest obstacle.