Sometimes doing things wrong can go so right

So I was having a pretty rough day overall on the poker front. I had played a bunch of tournaments and everything ended poorly. No deep runs, no big cashes, no seats from satts, it was ugly. I lost a big chunk of my winnings from last night, which was very frustrating. I signed in late (around midnight) to sign up for a few tourneys just to kill some time. I didnt really find tournies that stood out, but I signed up for a 45 man and a 24+2 stud8 tourney. I played VERY badly in both to get low in chips, then proceeded to get sucked out on to get knocked out. Somehow, I can convince myself that I got unlucky to be out of the tourney, when in actuality I should have gotten my money in better early and then wouldnt have needed to get all in when I did. Tournies like those (play bad + run bad) tilt me to know end.

Both tournies ended around the same time and I looked in the tourney lobby for something I could play, preferably a higher buy in (cause nothing goes better with tilt than hundreds of dollars). I spotted my prey, a 69+6 satt into sunday brawl. There were only 2 other people signed up when the tourney started, so there was a small overlay (overlays = +EV). The second hand in I pick up JJ on the button. I raise, and get called by the BB. The flop comes 974 two diamonds. The BB leads into me, I raise, he shoves I call and he tables A2dd. Obv diamond on the turn and i go home 2 hands in.

Now I am tilting. Tilting for me is weird, unlike many people who are out of control and sometimes arent even aware of the consequences of what they do, I often tell myself I am tilting and that I shouldnt be playing but just ignore it. I look for some tables that will spew the most chips the quickest. I sit down at a 50NL HU table and a 100NL HU table ("But Toots, didnt you just lose 1000 dollars playing 100NL HU like 2 weeks ago?" "Yes, yes I did. But this time, I'm in the zone obv"). On the 100NL table, my opponent and I end up basically being even after the session, even after I stacked him with my quads vs. his boat. On my 50NL table I had an epic battle going after a shortstackers 20 bucks, but eventually grinded him down and took his money minus rake (so probs like 10 bucks). After stacking the 50NL player, I did what any logical person does: I opened ANOTHER table of 100NL HU (did I mention that I also had 2 6max tables running as well, ended down approx 20).

Not only was I playing at a table I shouldnt have, but before even sitting down, I knew who my opponent was. He was a poster on CardPlayer forums, one that I frequent, and is a writer of a blog I follow in which he details his forays into the world of HU poker. Not only that, but he is a strong winning player at 100NL HU.

A game I know is too big for my bankroll? CHECK
Playing against a player who I know wins and is thinking and competent? CHECK
Tilting off my ass and not in a great mindset? CHECK

That's three for three folks. Some call it the "perfect storm". I'm sure all of you can guess what happens next: I proceed to stack the guy for 4 buys ins in 81 hands. Wait......what?! Yeah, I didnt see it coming either. Heres the story:

Five hands in

Snapping a triple barrel bluff

Suck-Resuck

Passivity FTW

Value Bet-aments

I knew my opponent to be very aggro and I think I was very good at using this to my advantage. I defintely ran REALLY well and picking up a bunch of good cards and hitting flops, but I think I maximized value well. I think he was on tilt even before playing me, and I felt bad since I kinda knew who he was. I almost wanted to tell him to sit me out after he lost the first 2 buy ins, but I was not about to turn down free money.

I hope I've learned my lesson, and if any of my readers see me at 100NL HU please tell me to get off. I am not to play 100NL HU until I announce on this blog that I feel I am ready (bankroll wise and skill wise).

Good Luck everyone!

PS I gotta find a new sign off phrase, mine is lame. Any good suggestions are welcome in the comments