A.S.S.

ASS stands for A Sucky September..

After a very profitable August, September is starting out pretty badly. I know that this is old news and all poker players have been complaining about the same stuff over and over. But I cannot count the times that I've gotten my money way ahead this month and ended up getting sucked out. Get it - sucked out - sucky september. Mwehehe - corny ba.

Seriously, its just overwhelming sometimes. I am experienced enough to know that it is just variance. But getting your set beat by a runner runner straight will really make you explode in anger. I was squeezing the mouse so hard and was really tempted to smash it against the monitor. But I suddenly remembered that the widescreen LCD monitor is brand spanking new. Nyeheheh... courtesy of the very profitable august.

Oh well, its just the beginning of the month. I'm hoping all the bad mojo has been used up and it picks up soon. I'm not really down that much but I think I got spoiled by last month's results. My ITM percentage in the August online tourneys was if I'm not mistaken close t0 40% and I made final table 5 times.

Logically, one should recognize that this is an aberration and cannot be sustained. But being human, hope springs eternal and you always think that the lucky streak will not end. Why do you think so many people go to the casinos or bet the Lotto. Or even say 'No Deal" to Kris Aquino when it's obvious that you should take the money and run.

Its in our nature. We are optimistic to a fault and sometimes that leads to disaster. I was in the gym the other day and was watching this overly excited guy getting offered 300K+ in Deal or No Deal with the 2M still in play and he was looking at his wife for some sign. But you can see in his eyes that he was already counting what he was going to do with the 2 Million. In the end, he pushed his luck too far and I believe he ended up with 5 pesos or something.

It was painful watching him deflate right in front of millions of people when his box was opened and he saw the miniscule amount. Obviously, people in the gym were muttering "Sayang, he should have taken the 300K offer". But if they were there all caught up in the moment, I believe they would have gleefully said no deal also.

And its the same with poker. Sometimes we go on a rush and get monster after monster or hit top pair 3 hands in a row. And we get this adrenaline rush so we continue raising with Ace high hands even though its obvious that the rush has passed. And we end up busting out on an overplayed hand.

Knowing when to fold and knowing when to say 'DEAL". It's all the same. It requires great discipline and wisdom amidst a sea of temptation. Here's hoping that when the time comes, and its our turn in the hot seat, we have learned enough to know that we're beat and willingly lay down those KKs when there is an Ace on the board.