After busting another tournament, I did what every responsible poker player does: sat down in a cash game to win it all back immediately.
Tournament poker and cash game poker are completely different games.
Tournament poker is where I convince myself I'm one double-up away from a bracelet.
Cash games are where I convince myself I'm one double-up away from recovering all the tournament buy-ins.
After busting another WSOP event, I wandered over to a $2/$5 cash game carrying three things:
Hope.
Regret.
A player's card with way too much recent activity.
I sat down and immediately noticed four aggressive players to my right.
Excellent.
Nothing boosts confidence quite like being surrounded by people who voluntarily put money into every pot.
For the first hour I was card dead.
My best hand was probably the dealer button.
Every orbit I folded hands that looked like license plate numbers.
Then it happened.
Pocket Kings.
The poker gods had finally logged into my account.
I raised.
Someone reraised.
Someone else called.
At this point I started mentally spending the money.
Maybe a nice dinner.
Maybe a tournament buy-in.
Maybe retirement.
Then the flop arrived.
Naturally, it contained exactly the card I didn't want to see.
The hand quickly turned into a doctoral thesis on why poker is difficult.
Several large bets later, I discovered my opponent had flopped a set.
Again.
It feels like every poker room has a secret promotion where opponents receive a free set whenever I have an overpair.
Hours later I looked down at my chip stack.
Somehow I was slightly ahead.
I have absolutely no idea how.
I lost with good hands.
I won with questionable hands.
I made hero calls.
I made hero folds.
I made at least one decision that should probably be reviewed by a committee.
In the end I cashed out with a small profit.
Which means, according to poker player mathematics:
Tournament losses: ignored.
Cash game win: celebrated.
Official ATMwithNoPIN™ Financial Report:
WSOP Tournament Results: Negative.
Cash Game Results: Positive.
Overall Confidence Level: Extremely Positive.
Actual Accounting: Under Review.
See you at the next tournament.
I'll either be chasing a bracelet or rebuilding the bankroll one questionable river call at a time.