There was a tournament today at school, and I got 3rd place. I guess there were around 50 people playing at the beginning, but I could be way off because I am horrible at estimating numbers of people (or distances). I didn’t play particularly well, so I’m surprised I got that far. I started at the final table as the short stack, so I guess it’s good, but I did have the chip lead at one point and I just bluffed it all away. I think I just didn’t pick good spots to bluff. I was probably showing too much weakness, and I didn’t particularly sniff weakness in my opponent. The hand where I went out, I think I just decided to go all in without really thinking. In retrospect, I didn’t even know what I thought my opponent had. That’s not a good sign. One other thing is that I’m not that good at estimating how much chips are worth to people. I don’t have a particularly good example off the top of my head from this tournament, but last time I played poker, I put the short stack all in, but I was bluffing. The short stack was pretty much pot-committed, so I think it was bone-headed to put him all in. When I’m real quiet, I think I’m harder to read, but sometimes I like to talk, and then I think I might be giving away too much information, especially perhaps from the way I sit in my chair. I need to more consciously think of my body language, etc, or find a way to make myself more consistent. I think a good thing would be to take a good time to think regardless of how good my hand is, unless I’m going to fold right a way. I should also look at my cards the same way every time. I’m considering just staring down my opponent every time I make an all-in bet. I also might need to mix up my play some more; I feel like I’m really predictable. One last thing: When there are two or three people left in a game, I tend to get careless. It’s good not to be so tense and to relax, but I shouldn’t let that translate into carelessness.

In any case, I got $25 worth of free Chipotle.