Pending Reports + Cash Game Journal

Pending:

1. CHI 2012 Trip Report from live 7 game MTT
2. Review of Poker Maximus MTTs - 2 NLHE, 3 PLO8, 1 HORSE, 1 PLO
3. Planning for WSOP 2012

===========

Mid March: Balance

The "run good" seems to be used a bunch in MTTs rather than online cash.

I haven't really played too much big bet O8 (specifically NLO8) since late February. I played a bunch to prep for the PLO8 MTTs. The challenge has been playing against a smart, aggro maniac (40/27) who seems fairly competent.
Villain does seem to cbet ~60% of time, so I've been trying to figure out/review strategy.
There are so few competent players in the big bet O8 MTT, especially aggressive ones.

Sadly, I started spewing ~700-1000bbs taking some -EV jams in some spots.
I think the key is semi-bluffing with decent hands/ranges, especially 2 way hands and waiting until turn/river to jam and pick off more bluff money.

The spewing spilled over to 3-4 buyins in PLO high, which I'm not happy about it.

I feel that i'm still inconsistent. It is the big thing i'm concerned about.
Overall, I'm not sure if/when I'll be "moving up", but I also need to continue to add more time to refine my game via watching videos, reviewing literature, and surfing analyzing hands via forums and session reviews.

==============
Late March - Early April Update
1 good session against the aggro maniac.
Villain does barrel flop a ton (60% flop aggression %!). As a guess, villain probably barrels a good chunk of air + decent strength draws in (and especially out) of position.
I just need to start floating IP.

Unfortunately, I'm so rusty (and too focused on aggression) that i'm raising non-nut flushes (and 4th nut low) on river against TAGgy 25plo8 player who obviously has nf/nl and hero should just flat with those hands.
I definitely need to remember to tailor my game to the player(s) before barrelling!

===============
4/11/2012

Rust = Spew

I think I'm barrelling too often against calling stations. It could be attributed to the following:
1. Barrelling too often when draws complete (generally, PLO8 is a drawing game. Against an unknown, slowing down when any draw hits against an opponent is usually the right play. PLO is somewhat similar too. Both comments might be at the micro/small stakes though.)
2. Lack of reevaluating ranges against check raises.

Am I making too thin value bets? Possibly...

There's much rework to do to be prepped for anything WSOP related.

===============
4/14/2012
NLO8
one player just started literal "flips" w/ any 4
25nlo8
2 regs gobbled up ~800bb

===============
4/20/2012

I think it's about trying not to get caught in "auto-pilot". Trying to really focus on looking at the opposing player(s) and acting accordingly versus their ranges and probable actions is and should be the number one priority.

It was really awesome to float a player on a couple streets in PLO Hi and ship river when my likely top+4th pair was no good.

PLO8 players generally seem to be weak-tight or calling stations. Identifying players and holding off the tendency to barrel at will is one of those stupid leaks that sometimes resurfaces.