Good Goran, Bad Goran

1994 Wimbledon Final - Set 1
Goran Ivanisevic and Pete Sampras gingerly feel one another out. No one even comes close to breaking serve as both players are playing their “A” game, and it eventually goes to a tiebreak. Sampras prevails to take a one set lead.

2008 Loose Cannon cash game - Hour 1
I end up all in with an open ended straight and miss, having to reload for £100. No drama though, as I slowly build my stack back up with some well picked spots. I’m down, but only just.

1994 Wimbledon Final - Set 2
Ivanisevic is starting to come under pressure now, fighting off a number of break points before eventually holding his serves. No breaks again, but Sampras edges the tiebreak. Goran looking upset in the chair at the break - frustrated and talking to himself.

2008 Loose Cannon cash game - Hour 2
My hole cards are garbage - I am losing money raising with suited gappers and continuation betting. Out of frustration I get some back by shoving over the top of heavy action with pocket 10s (easily my best starting hand). Volcano gets upset by my overbet and leaves. Frustration is mounting for me - big time.

1994 Wimbledon Final - Set 3
Sampras breaks in the first game of the set, and Ivanisevic gives up after smashing a racket to smithereens. His almost unbreakable serve on grass is breached twice more and he loses the set 6-0. It is embarrassing for the Croat - he just doesn’t care. Game, set, match Sampras 7-6 7-6 6-0.

2008 Loose Cannon cash game - Hour 3
My frustration boils over completely and I implode. I burn off £270 to the Baron running a bare ace bluff. Of course, this tactic only really works effectively in Omaha, and Tom pretty quickly calls my big river bet with the King flush. Instead of leaving, I petulantly fling my remaining £80 into the pot blind over the next 15 minutes, either pre-flop or post-flop and eventually get picked off by Shazbo, to cap a £350 loss for the night.

I am now on a 3 week cash game sabbatical. My head is simply not in the right place at the moment, and I go on uber-tilt for the smallest of reasons. I’ve dumped £850 in the last 4 days on the cash table, so I need to work out why I am lurching from proficient player to ultra loose donkey seemingly in the blink of an eye. This leak in my game is so devastating - if I stripped out these blow-ups, I’d actually be significantly up for the year in live cash. As it stands I am now 1,605 USD down.

Pre-cash tantrum, I played in the pub league £5 event at the Loose Cannon. My virtual exit hand was a thing of beauty.

I am playing 11k, chip leader on my table. Guy 3 to my right has 10k and is second in chips at the table. Blinds are 300-600.

I raise it up to 1600 in mid position with K♦Q♦. I am flat called by the guy with 10k.

Flop Kc 4d 2d

I lead for 2500 with my top pair and 2nd nut draw.

I am re-raised to 5k and I shove before he can finish putting his chips in. He is pretty much committed now, and makes the crying call with Kh10c. He only has two outs because the 10d makes my flush.

River is ten of spades.

I’m off to smash some rackets.