I'm laying in bed but can't sleep.  I'm still pretty amped about this past weekend and my accomplishments that I had in poker.  I was suprised I fell asleep so fast yesterday but then again, its not hard when you only slept for 4 hours the night before. 

Here's some random thoughts about poker:
The more you're around poker, the more you hear people complaining or commenting about other players.  So and so is a terrible player, he plays so crazy or loose or whatever it is.  So and so raised with 10 5 and flopped two pair against me, he sucked out on me, he's a bad player, he doesn't really know how to play he's just lucky, blah blah blah.  You hear it all the time.  We've all heard it.  Hell, I hear it all the time at places when they are complaining about me whether it be at a casino or home game!  Unless you know the reasoning or the context behind the play, can you really make a judgement about the play or player?  Every situation is different and there's a reason and purpose behind every play.  The truly bad players don't have reasons, they do it just to do it.  They call, fold, raise, and reraise because thats what they're suppose to do or at least they think that's what they're suppose to do.  What's more impressive:  someone who wins with AA or someone who won with 46, 35, etc?  Everybody knows how to play AA or KK.  Whats impressive about that?  Sometimes, just take a step back and look beyond the obvious.  Play a hand blind without your opponent noticing.  Just observe the players and their betting patterns.  Think about what they can have and what they are trying to represent.  See the whole picture and make a decision based on that, not on your cards.

I'll admit, I've come to the point now where I can't let my cards dictate my play.  I can't just sit back and wait for AA or KK all the time.  If poker is a true game of randomness, then I'm no luckier than the next person.  I should get AA as much as the next guy.  If I played the exact same way as everybody else, then my expecations should be no different.  Where's the edge?  That's where the skill part of poker comes in.  The competitive advantage. 

I have to treat every person, every situation differently.  There has to be a purpose and a reasoning behind my move, my bet.  I have to create my own luck.  When I'm in that moment, in the zone as you will, I know the purpose of my action.  I know exactly what I'm trying to accomplish and I do that by trying to manipulate your mind.  Sometimes, you just get unlucky and theres nothing you can do about it.  Others times, you might be wrong.  The best you can do is learn from it and move on.  As long as you know why you did what you did.  You can't control someone else's action or thoughts.  I can't make you fold your hand, but I can manipulate the pot and give you the incorrect odds to drawout.  Sometimes I make calls knowing my opponent has a big hand.  But I also know you aren't capable of laying it down either. 

Keep an open mind and never stop learning.  Sometimes things aren't as obvious as you might think.  I'll see you at the felt.

TK