Why it's important to not TILT....

Tilt is still holding me back from being anything more than a marginal winner at my stakes.  The following 3 hands shows why it is critically important not to tilt.  I've been working on pounding shorties.  With my 3b squeeze shove, I thought for sure that the SB would fold, a 36/9 poor player over a very small sample size.  I was shocked to see what he called off 37bbs with:

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Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 989412
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BTN: $23.85
SB: $63.00
BB: $20.00
UTG: $16.40
Hero (CO): $116.10

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is CO with K A
UTG raises to $2, Hero raises to $6, 3 folds, UTG calls $4

Flop: ($13.50) 4 3 K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $11, UTG calls $10.40 all in

Turn: ($34.30) 8 (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($34.30) 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $34.30
UTG shows 7 K (a pair of Kings)
Hero shows K A (a pair of Kings - Ace kicker)
Hero wins $32.65
(Rake: $1.65)

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After this, I simply took the following note:

100NL6M:  

-sat w 40bb stack at 50bb table 

-cld 35bb in SB vs BB 3b sqze

So I know this player is going to call down lightly at this point.  Time to look for top pair or better.  I'd get my opportunity very soon after:

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Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 989413
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

SB: $24.35
BB: $43.05
UTG: $63.00
MP: $20.00
CO: $75.20
Hero (BTN): $58.80

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is BTN with 8 7
2 folds, CO calls $1, Hero raises to $4, 2 folds, CO calls $3

Flop: ($9.50) 6 5 3 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $6, CO calls $6

Turn: ($21.50) 9 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $19, CO raises to $65.20 all in, Hero calls $29.80 all in

River: ($119.10) 4 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $119.10
CO shows 5 5 (three of a kind, Fives)
Hero shows 8 7 (a straight, Five to Nine)
Hero wins $116.10
(Rake: $3.00)


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Time to finish him off:

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Poker Stars $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 989412
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BTN: $23.85
SB: $63.00
BB: $20.00
UTG: $16.40
Hero (CO): $116.10

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is CO with K A
UTG raises to $2, Hero raises to $6, 3 folds, UTG calls $4

Flop: ($13.50) 4 3 K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $11, UTG calls $10.40 all in

Turn: ($34.30) 8 (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($34.30) 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $34.30
UTG shows 7 K (a pair of Kings)
Hero shows K A (a pair of Kings - Ace kicker)
Hero wins $32.65
(Rake: $1.65)

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By keeping in control, I was able to maximize my returns (albeit it was a bit of a cooler for him).  Now I just have to remember this mantra ALL the time, instead of 60% of the time!