I am back!

It's been a while, but I am back at the tables. I played my first hands of poker in over 3 weeks tonight, more about that below.

Several people have asked me what it was like to take such a long break from poker. I guess most of them and myself included assumed it would be similar to quitting smoking, hard drugs or other addictions. Actually, it was nothing like that. Or rather, like what I assume that is like, since I haven't tried quitting any of those.

I did have the benefit of being extremely busy with my thesis, so playing was never really an option, but surprisingly I hardly missed playing at all. I play/work in an office full of guys playing poker, and listening to their frustrations on an hourly basis, really made me appreciate just how stressful our hobby/job is. I read somewhere that we human beings derive less pleasure from a dollar earned than we experience frustration from a dollar lost. This means that people who are involved with frequent highs and lows, such as stock traders or poker players, experience more frustration than happiness, even though they may be making a profit long term. Taking a break now and then is probably not a bad idea.

All that aside, I must admit I was looking forward to going back to the tables. I was a bit anxious to see if I still felt sharp after the time off, and if nothing else, I like winning and I like money. I felt I played fine, so no problems there. I did make a few mistakes that I don't think I would normally make, but I am not too worried about that.

However, in a cruel twist of fate I ran into probably the worst run I can remember over a thousand hands. No less than $2900 lost in 1300 hands at 400NL! Welcome back, Baldy! I have lost more in a session at 600NL, but in terms of BB/100 I don't think I've ever seen worse. A nice way to jump start the month.

I will just leave you with this hand, which in my opinion is about as sick as it comes. Villain later claimed he had misread his hand, he thought he had a set.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $4 BB (5 handed) Hand History converter Courtesy of PokerZion.com

MP ($400)
Button ($326.20)
SB ($1228.50)
Hero ($709.40)
UTG ($511.51)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qh, Qd.
UTG raises to $15, MP calls $15, 2 folds, Hero raises to $68, UTG calls $53, MP calls $53.

Flop: ($206) 7c, 3d, 8c (3 players)
Hero bets $150, UTG calls $443.51 (All-In), MP folds, Hero calls $293.51.

Turn: ($1093.02) Tc (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($1093.02) 9c (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $1093.02

Hero has Qh Qd (one pair, queens).
UTG has 2c 2h (flush, ten high).
Outcome: UTG wins $1093.02.