Not much...

Poker continues to be good, although I don't really understand why I tend to play less when I'm winning. Perhaps because I feel like I'm on my game and don't want to ruin it? Or maybe a more realistic answer is that it means I'm treating poker more like a part-time job in which I earn money, and I don't want to sink too many hours into it.

Don't get me wrong; I still love poker. But losing is what motivates me to play and get back above even.

It reminds me of a part in the book, "The Professor, The Banker and The Suicide King." At one point, Ted Forrest loses big -- real big -- early on in a session, but he sits through for hours and hours to get even. Generally, I agree with the conventional wisdom that when you're running bad, you should stop playing for a while to gather yourself and find a better game. But sometimes, like Forrest says, it can be an excellent character- and confidence-building exercise to work yourself back into the black. That applies especially if you're in a good game and you feel like you're playing well.

Separately, I was impressed by this post: Cold Calling: The Silent Killer. Check it out.

I'll leave you with a Hand of the Day. It may have been my single biggest hand in a limit ring game. Thank you, river!

***** Hand History for Game 2753770897 *****
$10/$20 Texas Hold'em - Thursday, September 22, 00:00:25 EDT 2005
Table Table 41362 (9 max) (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: ScubaDiva57 ( $458.44 )
Seat 2: pokerinchile ( $489 )
Seat 3: allgold111 ( $307 )
Seat 5: capt_Yip ( $185 )
Seat 7: garfield33 ( $657.24 )
Seat 8: jjbear ( $437 )
Seat 9: KidSunshine ( $915.95 )
Seat 6: Jujubes ( $405 )
Seat 4: pokernoob420 ( $500 )
allgold111 posts small blind [$5].
pokernoob420 posts big blind [$10].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to pokerinchile [ Jd Ac ]
capt_Yip folds.
Jujubes folds.
garfield33 folds.
jjbear folds.
KidSunshine calls [$10].
ScubaDiva57 calls [$10].
pokerinchile raises [$20].
allgold111 folds.
pokernoob420 calls [$10].
>You have options at Devils den Table!.
KidSunshine calls [$10].
ScubaDiva57 calls [$10].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Td, Ah, 7h ]
pokernoob420 checks.
>You have options at Devils den Table!.
KidSunshine checks.
ScubaDiva57 checks.
pokerinchile bets [$10].
pokernoob420 calls [$10].
KidSunshine calls [$10].
ScubaDiva57 calls [$10].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Js ]
pokernoob420 checks.
KidSunshine checks.
ScubaDiva57 bets [$20].
pokerinchile raises [$40].
>You have options at Devils den Table!.
>You have options at Devils den Table!.
pokernoob420 calls [$40].
KidSunshine raises [$60].
>You have options at Devils den Table!.
ScubaDiva57 calls [$40].
pokerinchile calls [$20].
pokernoob420 calls [$20].
** Dealing River ** [ Ad ]
pokernoob420 checks.
KidSunshine bets [$20].
>You have options at Table 13058 Table!.
ScubaDiva57 folds.
pokerinchile raises [$40].
pokernoob420 folds.
KidSunshine calls [$20].
pokerinchile shows [ Jd, Ac ] a full house, Aces full of jacks.
KidSunshine doesn't show [ Qs, Kc ] a straight, ten to ace.
pokerinchile wins $442 from the main pot with a full house, Aces full of jacks.