Tough sessions, good reads, and holding it together when nothing goes your way
Hey friends—it’s Lexy Gavin-Mather back with another poker vlog, and this one is all about the grind. You know those days where you play your A-game but the cards just won’t cooperate? That was this session.
I bought into a $3/$5 No Limit Hold’em cash game, started strong, but ran into all the classic coolers—pocket queens into limp-reraises, kings into aces, and even a flush-over-flush situation. Yeah. Strap in. This one’s about the mental side of poker just as much as the strategy.
The Good Reads (That Still Hurt)
Let’s start with a fold I’m proud of: I picked up Q♣ Q♥, raised to $40, and got limp-re-raised to $100 from under the gun (huge red flag). Flop came 9♣ 7♥ 5♠, he led for $125, and when the turn came a low card and he shoved, I tank-folded.
He showed Aces. Brutal but correct. That kind of fold makes me feel like I’m doing something right.
Cash game tip: Limp-reraises almost always = strength in live low-stakes games. Proceed with caution.
Kings Into Aces… Again
You know the deal. I raise, get 3-bet, jam with K♠K♣, and run right into A♠A♦. Classic. Coolers are part of the game, but man—it still stings.
Later, I got Kings again, and the pot chopped. Better, but still frustrating when you’re trying to climb back.
Let’s Talk Strategy: Facing a Check-Raise with Pocket Nines
In one hand, I raised to $30 with 9h9d after multiple limpers. Only the guy on my right called. Flop: 8♦5♣4♦. He check-raised me to $140 after my $40 c-bet.
I had a diamond blocker, but I still folded—figured I was likely up against a set or two pair. What would you do there?
Let me know in the comments—and by the way, if you like how I break down hands like this, you’ll love The Poker Accelerator. It’s built for cash game and tournament players who want to make better decisions and build a consistent win rate.
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Staying Mentally Strong: Tilt Control 101
Even though nothing was falling my way, I didn’t feel tilted. And that’s huge. If you’re someone who struggles with emotional control at the table, here’s a quick tip:
Set a stop loss. For me, that’s usually 3-5 buy-ins. If you’re down that much and feel your focus slipping, walk away. But if you’re still making solid decisions? It’s okay to keep grinding.
I rebought because I still felt sharp. No regrets.
One Last Battle: The Final All-In
My final buy-in didn’t end well either. I flopped a strong flush vs. a weaker flush, shoved, and didn’t get called. Even when I was ahead, I couldn’t get paid. And that’s just how poker goes sometimes.
We ended the night with a $1,576 loss—but honestly, that’s just 2-3 buy-ins. I’ve had way worse.
Poker Isn’t Always Glamorous—But It’s Always a Teacher
It’s easy to post deep runs and big wins. But I think it’s just as important to show the real sessions. The ones where you fold correctly, get coolered twice, and still manage to keep your head on straight.
This session wasn’t a highlight reel—but it was proof that I’m evolving as a player. And that counts for something.
Watch the full video recap here
Thanks for being here, for sweating along with me, and for supporting the journey. Don’t forget to subscribe—it really means a lot.
