LEX! THIS IS INSANE! We wrestled together on the national team a few years back in 2009. Went to Fargo. Tom Kuegler here from Bel Air. I've been watching your vlogs not even realizing that this might just be the Lex I wrestled with all those years ago. No need to respond brother. Love the vlogs, love how positive you are. Wish you nothing but the best.
Lex thanks for always being honest and showing the true ups and downs of being a poker player/gambler. I have had bad bouts of anxiety in the past and noticed when playing hands live my heart would start racing and it’s very uncomfortable. This would happen sometimes in small pots too which is annoying. Just shows that taking care of your body/mental health is so important. I think meditating should help in moments like that
Meditating is great for this, also just playing more and more hands and analyzing what happens when you get in those situations. A friend of mine who gets those types of near panic attacks says he overcame it by playing every hand at the exact same cadence. He always looks at his cards, waits a certain amount of time, counts it out in his head before he makes his move. This gives him the time to overcome them and also has the added benefit of keeping his opponents from reading his actions for tells.
your honesty is what really sells your feed to me...it's why I pull for you; you open up and let us see what it's really like to be in these intense spots, and it's a unique window into how a smart, focused, dedicated human being acts/reacts in the moment while living the poker life at high stakes. Thanks.
Have been watching you for a while now, as well as a lot of other vloggers, and this is the first time I’ve heard anymore expressing their pure feelings of anxiousness. I feel you man. Overall good plays from you.
Selling action in order to play bigger stakes, is the worst idea ever. I figured that out in 2005 or 2006. One night at Foxwoods, I was playing 20-40 LHE. At the table was one of the more losing regulars, one of several restaurant owners who were consistent blood donors to the tough pros and the modestly winning players like myself. Most of the pros agreed to go start a 40-80 game, so I said to the restaurant owner, hey, you can afford to follow them over there but it's too rich for my blood. He tanked for about 15 seconds, and said "You're better than me. How about YOU follow them over and I'll take half your action?" I thought for 15 seconds myself, then said "Why would I play THEM for half the action at 40-80, when I can just keep playing YOU at 20-40?" The entire table cracked up over that one! But it's true. In general, the higher the stakes, the more likely it is that you're the fish. I like playing in games where either I'm one of the better sharks mopping up all the chips, or for a challenge, one level higher where I'm about breakeven, as a learning experience. Going even just one level above that, they can slice and dice you so fast that you don't learn much before bleeding out too much money. That's what happened here. Lex was playing in a game he didn't belong in, gambling in a game he was -EV at. The cards didn't even matter. He was going to lose unless he got lucky and min cashed. I think even Rampage takes a free card there, knowing there's a good chance he only has 10 outs.
When the stakes are higher than you are used to dealing with and action comes out of nowhere like that your body can be your worst enemy. Happened to me when I bought into a 1500. It is still the highest single buy in I have done and I caught kings after getting to round three without playing a significant hand, top that off with a person shoving on my raise...I literally almost folded the second best starting hand in the game!! I tried breathing and not looking like a flustered newbie and called and was against AK off, and Kings held! Barely made the money but man o man was that tourny a adrenalin roller coaster! A friend of mine who gets those types of near panic attacks says he overcame it by playing every hand at the exact same cadence. He always looks at his cards, waits a certain amount of time, counts it out in his head before he makes his move. This gives him the time to overcome them and also has the added benefit of keeping his opponents from reading his actions for tells.
About your “heart rate” and fuzzy thinking. I’ve had this happen before and it can be scary. I sought medical attention when it happened to me out of nowhere and my heart rate jumped drastically. Feels like the weight of the world on your shoulders and like I just needed to go run 5 miles or something. Then it just faded away. It’s called Vasalvago Syncope. Commonly brought on by a trigger event, in this case your response to sudden action, your blood vessels open wide, blood pressure drops suddenly, then your body senses the problem, which is typically followed by fainting so your body will level out to ensure you brain receives enough oxygen. However, if you resist the lightheaded mess and do not faint, your body does the opposite, and increases its capacity to pump blood, aka adrenaline dump. Your heart rate increases, you feel super jittery, a ton of energy, and it slowly fades away. Scary as shit, but most people who experience this call it a panic attack because they don’t fully understand what is happening to them physically and become frightened. Ask me how I know. Lol. Anyways, I’m my case it was brought on by lots of exercise and lack of adequate hydration. It typically occurs in teenagers and young adults who are physically active (athletes) and are pushing their limits. It’s literally your body’s fight or flight response. Pass out or pump up. Hope this helps at least to get you on the right track to research it and help understand the possibility of this being the cause. But seek a doctors opinion, not a carpet cleaners. 😉😎
You have to play the long game in tournaments... The set over flush hand was not played well at all... The only hand that can beat you is the only hand you failed to respect... The turned Q, check by the HJ allowed you to have pot control on the river... A small bet or check back would have gotten you to a river cheaply... On the river you should have realized you were very likely up against a flush... Take a step back to consider your opponents possible holdings rather than seeing stacks of chips before you win them...
I absolutely agree with you. Especially since they guy hadn’t played many hands. Seems like he was the OMC type of player. You know he didn’t call you light preflop, you don’t block hearts, and you’re in position and can control the size of the pot by checking turn. You can then reasses and play river. What I said stands in most situations but DEF against the type of player you mentioned
A bit over bet size on that set of Qs on the turn to commit yourself to his all in shove. That was a cash game play. In tournament, it's more about what strong hands you can fold on tight spots, especially in the early blind levels.
Absolutely. If I were to bet there, it would have been 8 or 9K, and it would be a bet/fold for both ICM reasons and image of the check-raiser. Because too many hands could semi-bluff me off my large equity by shoving with a single big heart, I probably would have checked behind and hoped for the board to pair. That last fraction of your stack is worth so much more than the first fraction of it, you need to do a lot of pot control and ICM folding to go deep in a tourney. Lex can call it a cooler all he wants, but an old rock check-raising you one street after he flops the nuts, and it's still the nuts, is not a cooler to me. He had a choice of doing pot control, or folding to a super show of strength when he's a 34:10 dog against the board pairing. As I said when Lex announced he'd be buying into a tourney for $5300, my question is still "WHY?" At least he sort of answered it, by saying he did so because RUclips money and people buying action, enabled him to. To me, those are terrible reasons, but to each their own.
There are so many people that would love to live the lifestyle that you are living keep up the good work take a moment and enjoy the things around you have fun
Best way to stop a panic attack is realise that’s what it is, plant your feet and focus on your breathing. Well done mate been there before, it’s certainly not fun
Hey Lex, that anxious/panic feeling happens to me online, but not live; kind of weird how we all react. We need to self reflect on what triggers this and be aware and practice how to control it.
Like the videos Lex…one thing I notice is sometimes when you have respect for a player you change up your game and play a lot more passively. You know the dynamics best of course you are the one at the table but watching that last hand I couldn’t help but think it was a mistake that you never put pressure on that guy with your set. Of course after the river you couldn’t but I think a check raise on the flop or turn was definitely viable
Just given what I know of tournaments and the player profile I like a turn check when you make top set. I don’t think betting Queens is incorrect but when he jams you have to call to try to boat up. In a cash game this is fine, but tournament being more about survival and extracting value from weaker players I think it’s ok occasionally to go the low variance route. On that board specifically when you bet turn you try to deny equity to Ax of hearts. On the flip side though you’re only literally getting called or raised by better given preflop and flop action. He’s only making a flush 20% of the time on the river if he has an Ace of hearts and you hope he catches up to a pair of some sort. If he leads out and it’s not an over bet jam you got a snap call. If he has a flush GG, but you don’t go broke. If he checks you have a clear value bet that you can get away from when raised against the player pool of a typical tournament and you might get called by some weird stuff after you check turn. Point being you’re never stacking this guy unless you boat up on the end and you’re only getting called/raised by better in a tournament. In my experience in tournaments it’s ok to take the conservative route.
Very honest Lex... I've suffered with panic attacks most of my life... I'm a CEO and manage to keep it hidden. Felt the table predicated your play a bit...sometimes not knowing who your oppo is can be a positive
Checking behind is just fine. You are looking for trouble by betting there. You have stop worrying about everyone else, they're just another poker player, you just have to play your best okay
on the AK vs Elias - I like checking behind on the river here bc betting small gives him a good price to shove. betting big makes it hard to bet/fold, your hand (and range) are face up so he gets to play the biggest bet street perfect against you, and you value own yourself when AK is no good. I do think that you can strongly consider going for a bet/call w a small bet (to induce him to attack your face up range), and it may be better specifically vs Elias. you may get a crying call out of some 55-TT combos. more importantly, Elias is the most likely player at the table to be properly structuring the river (and potentially even overbluffing exploitatively) which means that you can bet/call AK on the river against his polarized crai range. however you have to be 100% willing to payoff your tournament life w 0% equity to bet small which is why checking behind is fine. was nice to sit on your left at TCH even if it was only for a couple orbits. gl gl
On the AK hand, I would have bet about half pot with the intention to call any raise by him. He is a good player and would almost certainly bet to get value if he had a hand on the turn, and you did check back on the turn. Have you ever done much running? I used to run a lot, different distances 5 or 6 days a week, short run 5 miles long run 15-18 miles. Running those distances, you have to learn to control your breathing which helps control your pulse rate. My resting pulse rate is usually 58-59. When playing poker controlling my breathing and pulse rate helps keep that big vein in my neck from pulsing like mad when I get those big hands. Tournament players bust out more than they cash or win, just something you have to get used to if you are going to play tournaments.
Think you misplayed the pocket Queens hand , size your bet so you can get away if they shove . He’s got quite a few flushes in his range. It’s such a under bluffed spot, especially in tournaments where you can’t just top up your stack. Enjoy the vlog, haven’t seen the end yet . Hope you score BIG
Yeah he bet way too much on flop which imo didn't give him any thought to fold once he was reshoved on. His flop bet sizing was terrible. He acted like a small 3 heart board was a great flop when he didn't even have a heart in his hand. Overpairs are great, some of the time. A 3 flush board when you don't even have 1 of the flush cards in your hand is not 1 of them.
On a different topic, the panic attack topic it's weird for me. Sometimes in a big action hand in a tournament all of a sudden my back starts to really hurt and it freezes me. Like I can't move for a few seconds. When it comes on I try and hide it obv at the table but it's pretty unnerving. Been happening to me for years.
I think a medium bet vs Darren when u had AK and the river king comes makes sense. You know he had something to make it to the river. A big bet would prob cause him to fold. A small bet may induce him to raise and put you in a tough spot thinking he has trip jacks
If interested talk with your Healthcare provider, beta blockers are used commonly for stressful situations, they slow your heart and keep you calm that way. Public speakers use this... have a chat with whoever takes care of you
180 bpm isn't normal for someone who works out as much as you especially while sitting down not doing anything active. The panic attack might be your mind messing with you due to the cost of the buy in and your previous two month downswing. You need a vacation away from poker as soon as you're done playing in Dallas.
I sometimes have panic attacks while driving on the freeway, very scary, i found that having mints in my car at all times works to calm me down, sounds weird but it works.
Brutal way to go out. Hey my buddy who’s around 33 years old started having panic attacks and his doctor diagnosed that it was his pre-workout supplements. He already drinks way too many monsters/Red Bulls and that amount of caffeine is toxic and was ultimately jacking his heart rate up and in turn making him have panic attacks. He switched to cleaner protein and caffeine/stimulant free pre-workout shakes and hasn’t had one since.
Yeah I have pretty bad anxiety but like coffee as well, It definitely can make things worse. The problem is most energy drinks or cafes like Starbucks or whatever is the coffee is way too strong and gives me a ton of issues but if you make coffee at home its way less caffeinated and its way better for those with anxiety.
@@taylorbowerman2800 I had a vertigo attack out of nowhere while driving by myself in the desert headed to a surfing trip in the middle of nowhere Oman. It fucked me up pretty good. I’ve recovered from having a deeper understanding of my system as I grow older and through therapy. It only took a year. I stay away from caffeine at all cost. I just take a cold shower and Wim Hof breathing to start my day.
Way to keep calm and cool! Great self analysis about the reasons and causes of the anxiety, that’s the first step! I feel anxiety at the table too sometimes. I try riding the wave and just turning it into excitement :) Loved this video!!!
Also the hand where you turned a set in the tournament is just a bluff catcher on the river. He isn’t jamming the river with a pair lower than Qs and he def doesn’t have Ks or As. Even if he did he would check those on most rivers and not play it the way he did. Your set is just a bluff catcher. 3 Qs is same thing as a pair of Qs after the river
Love your vlog, but its not luck man, u completely misplaced that hand: in flush boards u cbet super small, then turn check back, river u call up to a potsized bet, or bet half when checked to and obv fold to a jam
@@lexopoker Never. OFC you have to bet. We could debate on sizing, but if/when he jams that turn we have to sigh call. He could have all the pair plus Ah hands. We have no idea if villian is a nit or a maniac. Such is tournaments...
My last session ended with that same three of a kind vs an old man with a flush scenario, but I had 3 kings and went all in. Funny coincidence it just happened to you too.
At 8:15 I would’ve bet 7500 to target any 77,88,99 Or any hands like A3,4 the purpose of a big bet is to make it look like a bluff. I don’t think he would’ve checked it to you on the last street with a jack
Good way to look at playing poker is if your heart rate is 180bpm at anytime you are way over your head. Take a step down maybe 2-4 fixed limit for a while.
True Story. Had only ONE "panic attack" in my teens. Around 6pm ate an entire bag of weed. Probably around 7 grams. Few hours passed nothing happened, got angry because felt cheated and went to bed around 11pm, work at 7am. Alarm goes off at 6am, I wake up higher than the universe. Freaked out, gasping for air because "THEY'RE going to KNOW I'm fucked up!" Plus Dad recently died, bills can't pay, ex-girlfriend is with another guy, ect... ect.. What I learned from the experience. Yes you can go to bed sober and wake up higher than Hunter Biden's hooker bill
Why not prepare the best you can for the tournament? Especially when its the biggest one youve played? 1-2 hours sleep, no food, any tournament studies prior to playing? Improving these areas would most likely increase your EV more than anything technical. Seems like this was a very expensive lottery ticket.
Youve gotta be betting that river after hitting the K. Your gonna have so many bluffs in that spot with all your hands worse than A high, and if he raises you what exactly is he representing? Trips or a set that he checked three times? You just let a player off the hook because you played scared money. This being said, in the moment I would have maybe done the same thing. Way easier to look back on a video and decide after seeing all the cards lol.
Definitely bad luck on the QQ hand Lex but I think you bet way too much on the flop. I would have bet a lot smaller. Either way, once he called flop and shoved turn after your turn bet alarm bells should have been ringing in your head. I know you had top set but you didn't even think about the shove at all, you just instacalled. The way you described the player you pretty much labeled him as an older tight solid nit. I'm not saying folding the top set is the right play, I'm not sure. But that guy unless he is a loose player is not shoving all in over your turn bet unless he has a flush. And if you had thought a bit, if you put him on a flush you are a 4 to 1 dog to hit your full house with 1 card to come. The structure in that tournament was great, hour levels and lots of play. A fold wouldn't be the worst decision for you buddy. Just surprised you didn't even think about it at all.
Hey lex. Sorry about the downswing you our in but ty for showing us. Not like the other channels who only show the highlights. Sorry about the variance I know it will turn around for you. Keep making cool videos no matter what happens show the real life of poker.
Lex, my dude…there is no way to justify checking back AK on that board. It’s a bet literally 100% of the time. Small bet big bet medium bet …anything but check
Tune in Tonight on TCH Live channel while I play $5/10/25!!
I'll be the ultimate chat pro stanning you, Coach. Kill it
You have def stepped up your thumbnail game!
oh no not another texas live stream, I'll pray for some run good.
It’s usually 6pm Central Time
I take my dog into tampa hard rock when i play poker. Not sure of the rules down there but give it a shot
LEX! THIS IS INSANE! We wrestled together on the national team a few years back in 2009. Went to Fargo. Tom Kuegler here from Bel Air. I've been watching your vlogs not even realizing that this might just be the Lex I wrestled with all those years ago. No need to respond brother. Love the vlogs, love how positive you are. Wish you nothing but the best.
Lex thanks for always being honest and showing the true ups and downs of being a poker player/gambler. I have had bad bouts of anxiety in the past and noticed when playing hands live my heart would start racing and it’s very uncomfortable. This would happen sometimes in small pots too which is annoying. Just shows that taking care of your body/mental health is so important. I think meditating should help in moments like that
Meditating is great for this, also just playing more and more hands and analyzing what happens when you get in those situations. A friend of mine who gets those types of near panic attacks says he overcame it by playing every hand at the exact same cadence. He always looks at his cards, waits a certain amount of time, counts it out in his head before he makes his move. This gives him the time to overcome them and also has the added benefit of keeping his opponents from reading his actions for tells.
your honesty is what really sells your feed to me...it's why I pull for you; you open up and let us see what it's really like to be in these intense spots, and it's a unique window into how a smart, focused, dedicated human being acts/reacts in the moment while living the poker life at high stakes. Thanks.
Another great video filled with authenticity and real-time situations!!
Have been watching you for a while now, as well as a lot of other vloggers, and this is the first time I’ve heard anymore expressing their pure feelings of anxiousness. I feel you man. Overall good plays from you.
Dude I respect you so much for being so genuine
Thanks Lex for everything you do for us. You are by far my favourite Poker RUclipsr.
“Almost on the verge of having a panic attack “ lol me every time it’s my turn
Selling action in order to play bigger stakes, is the worst idea ever. I figured that out in 2005 or 2006. One night at Foxwoods, I was playing 20-40 LHE. At the table was one of the more losing regulars, one of several restaurant owners who were consistent blood donors to the tough pros and the modestly winning players like myself. Most of the pros agreed to go start a 40-80 game, so I said to the restaurant owner, hey, you can afford to follow them over there but it's too rich for my blood. He tanked for about 15 seconds, and said "You're better than me. How about YOU follow them over and I'll take half your action?" I thought for 15 seconds myself, then said "Why would I play THEM for half the action at 40-80, when I can just keep playing YOU at 20-40?" The entire table cracked up over that one!
But it's true. In general, the higher the stakes, the more likely it is that you're the fish. I like playing in games where either I'm one of the better sharks mopping up all the chips, or for a challenge, one level higher where I'm about breakeven, as a learning experience. Going even just one level above that, they can slice and dice you so fast that you don't learn much before bleeding out too much money.
That's what happened here. Lex was playing in a game he didn't belong in, gambling in a game he was -EV at. The cards didn't even matter. He was going to lose unless he got lucky and min cashed. I think even Rampage takes a free card there, knowing there's a good chance he only has 10 outs.
When the stakes are higher than you are used to dealing with and action comes out of nowhere like that your body can be your worst enemy. Happened to me when I bought into a 1500. It is still the highest single buy in I have done and I caught kings after getting to round three without playing a significant hand, top that off with a person shoving on my raise...I literally almost folded the second best starting hand in the game!! I tried breathing and not looking like a flustered newbie and called and was against AK off, and Kings held! Barely made the money but man o man was that tourny a adrenalin roller coaster! A friend of mine who gets those types of near panic attacks says he overcame it by playing every hand at the exact same cadence. He always looks at his cards, waits a certain amount of time, counts it out in his head before he makes his move. This gives him the time to overcome them and also has the added benefit of keeping his opponents from reading his actions for tells.
I’m so excited to see you in the tournament grind Lex. Can’t wait to watch this video
About your “heart rate” and fuzzy thinking. I’ve had this happen before and it can be scary. I sought medical attention when it happened to me out of nowhere and my heart rate jumped drastically. Feels like the weight of the world on your shoulders and like I just needed to go run 5 miles or something. Then it just faded away. It’s called Vasalvago Syncope. Commonly brought on by a trigger event, in this case your response to sudden action, your blood vessels open wide, blood pressure drops suddenly, then your body senses the problem, which is typically followed by fainting so your body will level out to ensure you brain receives enough oxygen. However, if you resist the lightheaded mess and do not faint, your body does the opposite, and increases its capacity to pump blood, aka adrenaline dump. Your heart rate increases, you feel super jittery, a ton of energy, and it slowly fades away. Scary as shit, but most people who experience this call it a panic attack because they don’t fully understand what is happening to them physically and become frightened. Ask me how I know. Lol. Anyways, I’m my case it was brought on by lots of exercise and lack of adequate hydration. It typically occurs in teenagers and young adults who are physically active (athletes) and are pushing their limits. It’s literally your body’s fight or flight response. Pass out or pump up. Hope this helps at least to get you on the right track to research it and help understand the possibility of this being the cause. But seek a doctors opinion, not a carpet cleaners. 😉😎
I had a picnic attack once too, craved sausage rolls and crisps lisk you wouldn't believe...
Rogue looked camera shy…HAHA!
I feel you on the anxiety how I feel 24/7 makes it hard for me to sit at a table to play
You have to play the long game in tournaments... The set over flush hand was not played well at all... The only hand that can beat you is the only hand you failed to respect... The turned Q, check by the HJ allowed you to have pot control on the river... A small bet or check back would have gotten you to a river cheaply... On the river you should have realized you were very likely up against a flush... Take a step back to consider your opponents possible holdings rather than seeing stacks of chips before you win them...
I absolutely agree with you. Especially since they guy hadn’t played many hands. Seems like he was the OMC type of player. You know he didn’t call you light preflop, you don’t block hearts, and you’re in position and can control the size of the pot by checking turn. You can then reasses and play river. What I said stands in most situations but DEF against the type of player you mentioned
A bit over bet size on that set of Qs on the turn to commit yourself to his all in shove. That was a cash game play. In tournament, it's more about what strong hands you can fold on tight spots, especially in the early blind levels.
Absolutely. If I were to bet there, it would have been 8 or 9K, and it would be a bet/fold for both ICM reasons and image of the check-raiser. Because too many hands could semi-bluff me off my large equity by shoving with a single big heart, I probably would have checked behind and hoped for the board to pair.
That last fraction of your stack is worth so much more than the first fraction of it, you need to do a lot of pot control and ICM folding to go deep in a tourney.
Lex can call it a cooler all he wants, but an old rock check-raising you one street after he flops the nuts, and it's still the nuts, is not a cooler to me. He had a choice of doing pot control, or folding to a super show of strength when he's a 34:10 dog against the board pairing.
As I said when Lex announced he'd be buying into a tourney for $5300, my question is still "WHY?" At least he sort of answered it, by saying he did so because RUclips money and people buying action, enabled him to. To me, those are terrible reasons, but to each their own.
Chin up bro!!. I will be your fan all day!!. You show us the reality of poker!!. Stay strong and healthy!!
"Let's stick it to this tournament pro!" hahaha, I love it.
There are so many people that would love to live the lifestyle that you are living keep up the good work take a moment and enjoy the things around you have fun
Best way to stop a panic attack is realise that’s what it is, plant your feet and focus on your breathing. Well done mate been there before, it’s certainly not fun
Hey Lex, that anxious/panic feeling happens to me online, but not live; kind of weird how we all react. We need to self reflect on what triggers this and be aware and practice how to control it.
Nitty check back, bet small so u can call a raise if u need to . Players like Darren are going to have lots of bluffs
Lex, we need Merch buddy!
Chin up Lex!!!! You are doing great!!!
Like the videos Lex…one thing I notice is sometimes when you have respect for a player you change up your game and play a lot more passively. You know the dynamics best of course you are the one at the table but watching that last hand I couldn’t help but think it was a mistake that you never put pressure on that guy with your set. Of course after the river you couldn’t but I think a check raise on the flop or turn was definitely viable
Just given what I know of tournaments and the player profile I like a turn check when you make top set.
I don’t think betting Queens is incorrect but when he jams you have to call to try to boat up. In a cash game this is fine, but tournament being more about survival and extracting value from weaker players I think it’s ok occasionally to go the low variance route.
On that board specifically when you bet turn you try to deny equity to Ax of hearts. On the flip side though you’re only literally getting called or raised by better given preflop and flop action. He’s only making a flush 20% of the time on the river if he has an Ace of hearts and you hope he catches up to a pair of some sort. If he leads out and it’s not an over bet jam you got a snap call. If he has a flush GG, but you don’t go broke. If he checks you have a clear value bet that you can get away from when raised against the player pool of a typical tournament and you might get called by some weird stuff after you check turn.
Point being you’re never stacking this guy unless you boat up on the end and you’re only getting called/raised by better in a tournament. In my experience in tournaments it’s ok to take the conservative route.
Very honest Lex... I've suffered with panic attacks most of my life... I'm a CEO and manage to keep it hidden. Felt the table predicated your play a bit...sometimes not knowing who your oppo is can be a positive
Fellow vlogger here, reaching out!
Hi Lex, you had a terrible day. But tonight you will be an internet STAR***** Good luck!
Love your content. It’s real. You are open to your poker finances. Like that.
Checking behind is just fine. You are looking for trouble by betting there. You have stop worrying about everyone else, they're just another poker player, you just have to play your best okay
on the AK vs Elias - I like checking behind on the river here bc betting small gives him a good price to shove. betting big makes it hard to bet/fold, your hand (and range) are face up so he gets to play the biggest bet street perfect against you, and you value own yourself when AK is no good.
I do think that you can strongly consider going for a bet/call w a small bet (to induce him to attack your face up range), and it may be better specifically vs Elias. you may get a crying call out of some 55-TT combos. more importantly, Elias is the most likely player at the table to be properly structuring the river (and potentially even overbluffing exploitatively) which means that you can bet/call AK on the river against his polarized crai range. however you have to be 100% willing to payoff your tournament life w 0% equity to bet small which is why checking behind is fine.
was nice to sit on your left at TCH even if it was only for a couple orbits. gl gl
If you never have a run-bad period you are not trying hard enough. Keep up the good work.
5 grand is alot to buy in a tournament. Think I will take my chance in a cash game.
I like checking back any pot with a pro like that. Who wants to be put in a spot for all our chips. He def has a ton of check raises in that spot
Wow- heavy situation. Big recovery
On the AK hand, I would have bet about half pot with the intention to call any raise by him. He is a good player and would almost certainly bet to get value if he had a hand on the turn, and you did check back on the turn. Have you ever done much running? I used to run a lot, different distances 5 or 6 days a week, short run 5 miles long run 15-18 miles. Running those distances, you have to learn to control your breathing which helps control your pulse rate. My resting pulse rate is usually 58-59. When playing poker controlling my breathing and pulse rate helps keep that big vein in my neck from pulsing like mad when I get those big hands. Tournament players bust out more than they cash or win, just something you have to get used to if you are going to play tournaments.
The set of queens vs Ak hearts was so sick 🤢 love the vlog brother
I Like your tournament vlogs. They are more exciting than cash games. Good Job!
Love and respect from London UK
Think you misplayed the pocket Queens hand , size your bet so you can get away if they shove . He’s got quite a few flushes in his range. It’s such a under bluffed spot, especially in tournaments where you can’t just top up your stack. Enjoy the vlog, haven’t seen the end yet . Hope you score BIG
Yeah he bet way too much on flop which imo didn't give him any thought to fold once he was reshoved on. His flop bet sizing was terrible. He acted like a small 3 heart board was a great flop when he didn't even have a heart in his hand. Overpairs are great, some of the time. A 3 flush board when you don't even have 1 of the flush cards in your hand is not 1 of them.
Skip the turn bet and hope that the river pairs. If it pairs, jam, otherwise check to get to the end.
On a different topic, the panic attack topic it's weird for me. Sometimes in a big action hand in a tournament all of a sudden my back starts to really hurt and it freezes me. Like I can't move for a few seconds. When it comes on I try and hide it obv at the table but it's pretty unnerving. Been happening to me for years.
Thanks for sharing, always interesting to watch. Keep up the good work.
Rogue says to value bet 1/3 pot on the river on the J34JK board…
I think a medium bet vs Darren when u had AK and the river king comes makes sense. You know he had something to make it to the river. A big bet would prob cause him to fold. A small bet may induce him to raise and put you in a tough spot thinking he has trip jacks
If interested talk with your Healthcare provider, beta blockers are used commonly for stressful situations, they slow your heart and keep you calm that way. Public speakers use this... have a chat with whoever takes care of you
180 bpm isn't normal for someone who works out as much as you especially while sitting down not doing anything active. The panic attack might be your mind messing with you due to the cost of the buy in and your previous two month downswing. You need a vacation away from poker as soon as you're done playing in Dallas.
Just means your human bro,keep making these 🔥 videos man!!You have come so far it’s awesome to see
I sometimes have panic attacks while driving on the freeway, very scary, i found that having mints in my car at all times works to calm me down, sounds weird but it works.
I feel you on the anxiety. I know what you mean when it feels like an "out of body experience."
My like came from Rouge shots… 👍
Brutal way to go out. Hey my buddy who’s around 33 years old started having panic attacks and his doctor diagnosed that it was his pre-workout supplements. He already drinks way too many monsters/Red Bulls and that amount of caffeine is toxic and was ultimately jacking his heart rate up and in turn making him have panic attacks. He switched to cleaner protein and caffeine/stimulant free pre-workout shakes and hasn’t had one since.
Yeah I have pretty bad anxiety but like coffee as well, It definitely can make things worse. The problem is most energy drinks or cafes like Starbucks or whatever is the coffee is way too strong and gives me a ton of issues but if you make coffee at home its way less caffeinated and its way better for those with anxiety.
Red bull and monster are soooooo bad for you. Why anyone would EVER consume these is beyond me.
@@michaelsweaney3890 to drink more vodka and lose while playing poker
@@taylorbowerman2800 I had a vertigo attack out of nowhere while driving by myself in the desert headed to a surfing trip in the middle of nowhere Oman. It fucked me up pretty good. I’ve recovered from having a deeper understanding of my system as I grow older and through therapy. It only took a year. I stay away from caffeine at all cost. I just take a cold shower and Wim Hof breathing to start my day.
xanax extended release has helped me tremendously is live poker. haven't had to up my dose in 10 years
Rogue is a good boy 🐕
I think Rouge, with that look, was thinking, “what, you didn’t go for value”?…Great doggie!
Lol rogue is such a G!!!!
Way to keep calm and cool! Great self analysis about the reasons and causes of the anxiety, that’s the first step! I feel anxiety at the table too sometimes. I try riding the wave and just turning it into excitement :) Loved this video!!!
More Rogue, nice!
Play the player. Good check back against Elias
Rogue in vid=👍
Are you going to be at Brad Owen and Andrew nemees meet up game at the Hard Rock in Tampa?
Get ‘em next time bud!
Yo rouge is the best ! Supreme hand analysis 👌🏼 that’s was hilarious Your vlogs are my favorite I’ll see you one day my friend
Also the hand where you turned a set in the tournament is just a bluff catcher on the river. He isn’t jamming the river with a pair lower than Qs and he def doesn’t have Ks or As. Even if he did he would check those on most rivers and not play it the way he did. Your set is just a bluff catcher. 3 Qs is same thing as a pair of Qs after the river
Love your vlog, but its not luck man, u completely misplaced that hand: in flush boards u cbet super small, then turn check back, river u call up to a potsized bet, or bet half when checked to and obv fold to a jam
Check back top set on turn?
@@lexopoker of course bro
@@lexopoker Stack sizes problem...if deep 100bbs likr in cash, its diff story
@@lexopoker Never. OFC you have to bet. We could debate on sizing, but if/when he jams that turn we have to sigh call. He could have all the pair plus Ah hands. We have no idea if villian is a nit or a maniac. Such is tournaments...
I watch the vlog too see Rogue haha. Good luck on the livestream
I enjoy watching your poker videos. Good content.
I would have checked on that double jack board there’s no need to put yourself in trouble that early
Thumbs up for rogue
That’s sick that you used to wrestle. Have you ever tried Brazilian jiu jitsu?
Don't feel sorry for your sold action. You are a good asset, it's matter of time until you hit a big one.
Don’t bet big on mono flops. Still a cooler but smaller bets are better
My last session ended with that same three of a kind vs an old man with a flush scenario, but I had 3 kings and went all in. Funny coincidence it just happened to you too.
Hard loss with a turned set of Q’s but a flush was always a possibility. Especially against an OMC.
OK, I see the problem here Lex. You need to practice up on turning your sets into boats; just ask the Poker Gods to pair the board on the river.
At 8:15 I would’ve bet 7500 to target any 77,88,99 Or any hands like A3,4 the purpose of a big bet is to make it look like a bluff. I don’t think he would’ve checked it to you on the last street with a jack
I know the feeling. Great vlog keep it up.
Nice videos.
QQ hand is a cooler, sizings were a little weird but it didn’t matter. Good experience for down the road. GL sir
I'm sorry no luck today. BTW you played an excellent tournament and cash lost with some great hands
Good way to look at playing poker is if your heart rate is 180bpm at anytime you are way over your head. Take a step down maybe 2-4 fixed limit for a while.
Well.played
Keep up the good work lexo must be doing something right so many thumbs up and in first 2 hours great job
I would have checked like u, for the same reason, bc he’s a good player who know to bluff in this case.
Going all in with k4 suited is not being on the wrong side of a cooler. Lmao
True Story. Had only ONE "panic attack" in my teens. Around 6pm ate an entire bag of weed. Probably around 7 grams. Few hours passed nothing happened, got angry because felt cheated and went to bed around 11pm, work at 7am. Alarm goes off at 6am, I wake up higher than the universe. Freaked out, gasping for air because "THEY'RE going to KNOW I'm fucked up!" Plus Dad recently died, bills can't pay, ex-girlfriend is with another guy, ect... ect..
What I learned from the experience. Yes you can go to bed sober and wake up higher than Hunter Biden's hooker bill
After watching this, I don’t feel bad about not shoving when I got pocket jacks against A6J diamonds
Why not prepare the best you can for the tournament? Especially when its the biggest one youve played? 1-2 hours sleep, no food, any tournament studies prior to playing? Improving these areas would most likely increase your EV more than anything technical. Seems like this was a very expensive lottery ticket.
Youve gotta be betting that river after hitting the K. Your gonna have so many bluffs in that spot with all your hands worse than A high, and if he raises you what exactly is he representing? Trips or a set that he checked three times? You just let a player off the hook because you played scared money. This being said, in the moment I would have maybe done the same thing. Way easier to look back on a video and decide after seeing all the cards lol.
Definitely bad luck on the QQ hand Lex but I think you bet way too much on the flop. I would have bet a lot smaller. Either way, once he called flop and shoved turn after your turn bet alarm bells should have been ringing in your head. I know you had top set but you didn't even think about the shove at all, you just instacalled. The way you described the player you pretty much labeled him as an older tight solid nit. I'm not saying folding the top set is the right play, I'm not sure. But that guy unless he is a loose player is not shoving all in over your turn bet unless he has a flush. And if you had thought a bit, if you put him on a flush you are a 4 to 1 dog to hit your full house with 1 card to come. The structure in that tournament was great, hour levels and lots of play. A fold wouldn't be the worst decision for you buddy.
Just surprised you didn't even think about it at all.
You can 2 x vlogs more for us we are allready waiting next one ...we have nothing to do hour before sleep time
Little kids game down the street!!
You win that high school wrestling state final?
Hey lex.
Sorry about the downswing you our in but ty for showing us. Not like the other channels who only show the highlights. Sorry about the variance I know it will turn around for you. Keep making cool videos no matter what happens show the real life of poker.
Lex, my dude…there is no way to justify checking back AK on that board. It’s a bet literally 100% of the time. Small bet big bet medium bet …anything but check
I had a panic attack playing poker once too
Appreciate you and your vlog. How would I be able to purchase action for your tournament runs?
Follow my Instagram for updates @lexopoker
Goodluck bro take it down! Keep the vlogs coming 🤟🏽