Hot and Heavy at the Commerce

While most of the pros are either in Korea or London, I don't mind telling you I'm happy just to be back home in L.A.

I'm off the road for a while I hope, and it's great to spend time with my mother and family. She can't travel anymore, and every day I spend with her is special. Cherish the time with your parents, believe me.

When I say I'm back home, that also means I'm back at my stomping grounds, the Commerce. I'm thankful to get back to the grind of cash games, although I'm not in the same shape as I was a couple years ago.

I remember the 30- and 40-hour marathon games I lived for, but now I can't really last past seven or eight hours. I definitely notice that I'm sharper for a shorter period of time, and three positive sessions are enough to keep the games shorter for me.

No-Limit games are still hot and heavy at the Commerce, but bigger limit games are finally being spread. The games start at $200/$400, then gradually move up to $400/$800 or even $500/$1,000.

Lieu: Back to the cash-game grind.

I used to get really excited for the bigger games, but now it takes me forever to make my way to the Commerce.

Part of the reason is that all of the games have just gotten tougher, I believe. Online games aren't soft anymore, and neither are the live games. The tough hands aren't any easier to swallow either.

My third session, I was up $20k in less than two hours when I picked up pocket sixes against Lee, a very solid player in this game. I made it two bets and she raised pre-flop. I called and we both checked the flop of Q-Q-7.

A six came on the turn and I check-raised her. She reraised me, I reraised again, then she called my last raise. The river came an eight with three diamonds on the board; I bet out, she raised, I three-bet, she reraised, and I just couldn't figure out what she could possibly have.

In Limit, getting these bets in when you're ahead is the difference between being a break-even player and a big winner. I just called and she flipped over pocket eights for the rivered boat.

A few hands later, I got involved in a pot with Max, another local player who has gotten so much better over the last year. He raised in the cut-off and I called from one of the blinds with A-9. The flop came 9-J-Q and we both checked.

Another nine came on the turn and I check-raised him. He used to call quickly or muck, and he thought for a minute or so before calling. A blank six came on the river, I bet out, he raised and I called, only to see his K-T for the flopped straight.

I ended up booking a win after another hour or so, but it stung to lose $15k over those few hands.

I never really tilt anymore at the table, so how do you deal with being down or losing a few tough hands?

Lieu: Shooting range a great stress reliever.

Some people have their own vices to escape from the memories of bad beats. Others play and replay hands to figure out how they could have made different decisions. My new trick? Heading to a shooting range.

I don't grab a bazooka or anything, but I'm finding that it's a great way for me to release the stress. I hold the gun, close my eyes, think of a bad beat, open my eyes and start pulling the trigger!

I can't get mad at the table, but I don't mind taking it out on the target at the end of the range. Of course, it's easy to escape my wrath - no bad beats!

Cheers!

-- Liz Lieu - Poker Diva

www.LizLieu.net
www.iPokerCal.com

More Blogs from Liz Lieu:

• Back From Macau and Itching to Play
• Sleepless in Macau
• On to Poker in Macau
• Good-Bye, Dad