Bring out yer RPGs

I feel good, I knew that I would, now/
So good, so good...
-James Brown

Seven sets in 350 hands was all it took to bring destruction among the toasters and close out a $1,200 week, possibly one of my best.

PokerStars carried the way most of the time -- Dec. 26, 28 and today, but Full Tilt brought a breakout day of its own Dec. 29.

I can't tell you how helpful the Cardrunners videos have been. The biggest thing is learning from them how to walk away from marginal hands. It's an art toasters don't know how to do -- it isn't in their programming. One of my last sets involved a toaster betting out an A on the board when I made my set of 7s. He bet, I raised, he reraised, leaving $2.86 left and then I put him all-in and he went into the tank.

Um, that's not the right time to go into the tank. I'd say you're more than committed at that point.

He called, showing A3o. Bringing a plink-gun into an RPG fight. The cats devoured him and moved on.

Countless times I saw toasters all-in on the flop with just a flush draw. This is probably one of the most neg-EV plays you can do in the long term. One toaster reraised me all-in with ace high when I already had the RPG trained on him. When other people are pushing back is not the time to be bluffing.

This year has been both a joy and an education for me. I'm glad I had my previous downturn. It forced me to really look into the way I was playing -- and find better ways to do it.

And so I can't wait for the new year, and beyond...