Thursday has become my traditional day off. I do need a day off and I figured what better day than Thursday? It's the day before the weekend starts and the day all my spamalot friends have off which means I end up going out on wednesday nights.
Lately i've had a real interest in learning a new game. Not just learning a new game but becoming good. I feel very comfortable in holdem, omaha hi and 8/b games. It's time to add some new weapons to the arsonal. The weapon of choice? Razz. I don't play HORSE games because I feel i'm dead money at both stud games.
I chose Razz simply because there are alot bigger games to be had online. Plus, it's alot of fun. I've been sitting here for the last hour or so playing 3/6 razz on ftp and listening to the final table of the 50k horse event on worldseriesofpoker.com.
I really feel like i'm getting a solid grasp of the game. I have a very natural agression in poker but this game calms me down a bit being a limit game. Bluffing based on your up cards on 4th or 5th street is easy and instinctive and i'm quickly becoming very comortable in the game. Hopefully over the next couple weeks I can become a regular at some of the bigger games. I need to show a consistant profit at the smaller levels before I allow myself to put a bigger part of my bankroll at risk. It's just smart...
Wednesday was one of those days I couldn't bear to drag my lazy ass to the tables. I somehow managed to do it for a few hours and was able to make enough to let myself feel like I actually accomplished something for the day. I decided to stick with pot limit omaha most the day. If there are full 5/10 PLO games I prefer to play in them over holdem. I'll sit in a full 10/20 game and i've even sat in a full 25/50 game a time or two. There's alot more action and -alot- of bit pots in pot limit omaha. It's an action junkies dream come true.
On a bit of a side note... I've said in past blogs that my motivation at times has been slipping. I've been fixing that lately and it's been showing in my results. This is directed at you BRAD since you're my biggest critic as far as being lazy goes. Over the winter when I didn't feel like playing....I didn't play. I've now adapted at least some form of forcing myself to play even when I don't "feel like it". I'm setting some pretty agressive goals for myself to finish off the year.. I'll need to keep this kind of attitude if i'm going to succeed. I'll have more on that in a week or two once I work out the details. For now it's just the focus of keeping my distractions small and my pots big.
Catch you all tomorrow..
Wednesday session results +1900
Friday, June 29, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
A day of pot limit omaha
I had to cut my session short tonight since it's softball night. I don't mind since softball is one of the things I really look forward to doing every week.
I've been trying to work a few kinks out of my game.. mostly i've been trying to not pay off people like a donkey on the river. I hate to say it like that since I believe one of my strongest skills in poker is picking off bluffs with semi-weak hands. I credit that skill alone to why I can consistantly turn a profit. It's just that lately i've been making some donkish calls on the river that could be added to the profit for my day instead of creating more work for me.
Example... 3/6 PLO. I call a raise to $21 preflop with Kc Ks 9s Jd in the cutoff with 3 other players in the pot.
Flop 9c 9d 8h
It checks around to me and I bet half the pot. I get called by one player and everyone else folds.
Turn 6c
My opponent leads out and fires a close to pot sized bet of $170. I call but this was my first mistake of the hand. This is where I need to let my hand go. The odds very much that my opponent has a full house. With all the possibilites in omaha it's very uncommon for someone to lead out the pot with anything less. Even if he made a bad call with 7 10 and turned a straight he's in the lead here bigtime. Still, I make the stubborn call most likely drawing at 5 outs.
River Qd
My opponant fires out $300 and I make the call. If I couldn't get away from my hand on the turn I should have been able to -easily- get away here. He turns over 9h 6s Ac 10h and yes.... he did infact have me totally crushed the entire hand. I don't know what my problem was to be honest with you. I consider pot limit omaha to be a game i'm very strong in yet I played this hand like a complete amateur with no clue. Let this be a lesson to you all.
The good news is that hand cleared my head pretty good and I ended up leaving the table with about $2300.
monday session results +1700
I've been trying to work a few kinks out of my game.. mostly i've been trying to not pay off people like a donkey on the river. I hate to say it like that since I believe one of my strongest skills in poker is picking off bluffs with semi-weak hands. I credit that skill alone to why I can consistantly turn a profit. It's just that lately i've been making some donkish calls on the river that could be added to the profit for my day instead of creating more work for me.
Example... 3/6 PLO. I call a raise to $21 preflop with Kc Ks 9s Jd in the cutoff with 3 other players in the pot.
Flop 9c 9d 8h
It checks around to me and I bet half the pot. I get called by one player and everyone else folds.
Turn 6c
My opponent leads out and fires a close to pot sized bet of $170. I call but this was my first mistake of the hand. This is where I need to let my hand go. The odds very much that my opponent has a full house. With all the possibilites in omaha it's very uncommon for someone to lead out the pot with anything less. Even if he made a bad call with 7 10 and turned a straight he's in the lead here bigtime. Still, I make the stubborn call most likely drawing at 5 outs.
River Qd
My opponant fires out $300 and I make the call. If I couldn't get away from my hand on the turn I should have been able to -easily- get away here. He turns over 9h 6s Ac 10h and yes.... he did infact have me totally crushed the entire hand. I don't know what my problem was to be honest with you. I consider pot limit omaha to be a game i'm very strong in yet I played this hand like a complete amateur with no clue. Let this be a lesson to you all.
The good news is that hand cleared my head pretty good and I ended up leaving the table with about $2300.
monday session results +1700
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Solid month so far
I've been pleased with my results so far this month. I am still very dissapointed with myself as far as the WSOP goes but i'm playing solid poker and that's what matters most.
My biggest problem with running well is I start to think that I can be lazy and not play as much. I should be playing -more- since running well generally means i'm playing well and making good decisions.
Not alot to report for saturday and sunday's sessions. I put in about 4 hours each day and finished +400 saturday and -500 sunday. I put in a good run at the 100k guaranteed on bodog but fell just short of the money and I busted out of the 500k guaranteed on full tilt when my kings ran into aces. oops...
My biggest problem with running well is I start to think that I can be lazy and not play as much. I should be playing -more- since running well generally means i'm playing well and making good decisions.
Not alot to report for saturday and sunday's sessions. I put in about 4 hours each day and finished +400 saturday and -500 sunday. I put in a good run at the 100k guaranteed on bodog but fell just short of the money and I busted out of the 500k guaranteed on full tilt when my kings ran into aces. oops...
I've been using pokertracking.com to keep track of my results. The graph doesn't fit on the page so you can check it out here.
Until next time...
Grinding away...
I didn't come out of my room until 10:30 tonight.. I woke up and started working right away. I put in a pretty good session and I only played one big pot. Everything else was just grinding away, picking up small pots and overall just playing solid poker. The one big hand I did play? It makes me wonder what goes through peoples heads sometimes.
I've been playing pretty agressive and I pick up Ac As under the gun. I decide to just limp. Seat 6 (from here on known as Joe) who has played a big pot 2 of the last 4 hands raises it up to $45. It folds back to me who makes it $150 to go. Joe calls.
Flop Ah 10s 4d
I can't really check here since the pot is so big. I fire out $180 and Joe calls quickly.
Turn 8d
I'm not threatened by anything on this board and my best bet here is to induce a bet from Joe. I'm willing to risk giving the free card in this spot. I check and Joe instantly moves it in for his last $700. I quickly call and Joe shows Ks 10s. Nice.... Overall about a 6 hour session.
Friday session results +2500
I've been playing pretty agressive and I pick up Ac As under the gun. I decide to just limp. Seat 6 (from here on known as Joe) who has played a big pot 2 of the last 4 hands raises it up to $45. It folds back to me who makes it $150 to go. Joe calls.
Flop Ah 10s 4d
I can't really check here since the pot is so big. I fire out $180 and Joe calls quickly.
Turn 8d
I'm not threatened by anything on this board and my best bet here is to induce a bet from Joe. I'm willing to risk giving the free card in this spot. I check and Joe instantly moves it in for his last $700. I quickly call and Joe shows Ks 10s. Nice.... Overall about a 6 hour session.
Friday session results +2500
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
feeling pretty good and on track
I've been putting in some good sessions lately. After 15 hours yesterday I put in a solid 6 today. I was cut short because I had bowling tonight and then I picked up where I left off when I got back. Right now i'm sitting on the lovesac with the laptop watching Mike and Mike on ESPN2 and playing a 5/10 table on FTP.
Played in the full tilt 40k guaranteed with Brad and busted out around 100/350. I played 2 cash tables and finished around +900 in my early session. I did have one strange hand that had me wondering what goes through peoples heads sometimes.
I'm holding Kc Ks on the button. The 5 seat (we'll call him Bob) raises to $45 and it folds to me. I smooth call hoping that the blinds will fold and I can go heads up. The plan here is to get an extra bet from this guy on anything other than an A high flop. If it comes A high I can get away cheap without anyone knowing I had a monster. I don't make this play often but it's good to keep people on their toes.
Flop 5s 6c Jh
Bob fires out $50 and I make it $140 to go. Bob calls and we goto the turn.
Turn 3s
Bob checks and I still feel pretty good about my hand. AA and JJ are on my mind yes but my plan here was to trap this guy and if I ended up trapping myself I think it's one of those spots I have to pay it off. I think a minute and fire out $220. Bob quickly moves it in for his last $550 and I make the call.
Bob shows 2s 3d??? alrighty then... The river comes a harmless Ad and I take down the pot. Moral of this story? I don't know... but it's an interesting one.
Monday session results +1500
Played in the full tilt 40k guaranteed with Brad and busted out around 100/350. I played 2 cash tables and finished around +900 in my early session. I did have one strange hand that had me wondering what goes through peoples heads sometimes.
I'm holding Kc Ks on the button. The 5 seat (we'll call him Bob) raises to $45 and it folds to me. I smooth call hoping that the blinds will fold and I can go heads up. The plan here is to get an extra bet from this guy on anything other than an A high flop. If it comes A high I can get away cheap without anyone knowing I had a monster. I don't make this play often but it's good to keep people on their toes.
Flop 5s 6c Jh
Bob fires out $50 and I make it $140 to go. Bob calls and we goto the turn.
Turn 3s
Bob checks and I still feel pretty good about my hand. AA and JJ are on my mind yes but my plan here was to trap this guy and if I ended up trapping myself I think it's one of those spots I have to pay it off. I think a minute and fire out $220. Bob quickly moves it in for his last $550 and I make the call.
Bob shows 2s 3d??? alrighty then... The river comes a harmless Ad and I take down the pot. Moral of this story? I don't know... but it's an interesting one.
Monday session results +1500
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Main event here I come!
I apologize for the lack of updates recently. I've been putting in a few decent sessions but nothing to be too proud of. Today was a good turn of the tides as far as my tournament game and results go. I bought into the 500+35 on full tilt with 100 main event seats guaranteed. 3338 players with top 139 getting a seat and I managed to finish 130th.
It was a huge grind the entire tournament. I was only above average stack once in the early rounds and I spent the rest of my time under the average. I was able to secure my seat with a few well timed moves and alot of folding to hold on long enough. I'm pretty psyched about playing in my first main event. $10,000 tournament entry and $2000 cash for expenses for my finish.
Thanks to Brad for railing me from about 350 on. It was nice to have someone to talk to while I folded over, over and over again.
As far as the cash games go its been up and down with nothing too amazing to report. I did have one day of +4800 earlier in the week and then two days finishing around -1200. I'll do a better job tracking my progress this week. I've been playing on my laptop lately because my computer chair upstairs is broken. Yes, my $300 chair I bought 8 months ago is dead. I went to get a new one yesterday and they were out of all the good ones at office depot. I'll go searching again tomorrow. At this point i'll take anything until I find a good one just because of all the money i'm losing by playing only 2 or 3 tables on the laptop.
Until next time...
It was a huge grind the entire tournament. I was only above average stack once in the early rounds and I spent the rest of my time under the average. I was able to secure my seat with a few well timed moves and alot of folding to hold on long enough. I'm pretty psyched about playing in my first main event. $10,000 tournament entry and $2000 cash for expenses for my finish.
Thanks to Brad for railing me from about 350 on. It was nice to have someone to talk to while I folded over, over and over again.
As far as the cash games go its been up and down with nothing too amazing to report. I did have one day of +4800 earlier in the week and then two days finishing around -1200. I'll do a better job tracking my progress this week. I've been playing on my laptop lately because my computer chair upstairs is broken. Yes, my $300 chair I bought 8 months ago is dead. I went to get a new one yesterday and they were out of all the good ones at office depot. I'll go searching again tomorrow. At this point i'll take anything until I find a good one just because of all the money i'm losing by playing only 2 or 3 tables on the laptop.
Until next time...
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Update coming soon...
I've been a little slack on the blog updates recently and I apologize. I've been playing just havn't been posting on here. I will put up a new post while i'm playing the sunday tournaments.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The $1200 misclick
Put in a quality session today. What is quality? I consider anything over four hours a good session. sad i know... but that's just the life I live. I'm really working on it... ok?!
After about a 4 1/2 hour winning session (+1100) i decided enough was enough and met up with my buddy Bruce at a local bar close to the house for a couple drinks and a relaxing rest of my night. As it turned out I was quite up for drinking and we spent almost 7 hours at this place and it turned out to be a great night. If anyone puts a shot of jeager in front of me in the next week i swear i'm going to puke.
Anyways moving right along... After I got back to the house I decided to make a quick post to the blog and head to bed. Of couse, I couldn't sit and write in my blog without a table of 5/10 up and running. As I pulled up blogspot I went to click on fold for my Qc 4c I was looking at and my mouse accidently hit call. This is what followed.
War_Crimes Fold $ 0.00
TaintViolater Fold $ 0.00
BigBadDevil Fold $ 0.00
peter500 Call $ 10.00
liquidghost Call $ 10.00 oops....
foxridge1 Fold $ 0.00
Currahee Fold $ 5.00
powerdog17 Check
Flop Qd 4s 7s
peter500 Bet $ 45.00
liquidghost Call $ 45.00 I decide to play this one a bit different and see the turn card before throwing in a raise
powerdog17 Fold $ 0.00
Turn Qh
peter500 Check
liquidghost Bet $ 80.00 can't check
peter500 Raise $ 160.00
liquidghost Raise $ 280.00 very unlikely he has Q7. A call here is unthinkable. There are so many hands that I can beat that can call a raise. I make this raise almost without hesitating
peter500 Call $ 200.00
River 2c
peter500 Check
liquidghost All-in $ 841.00 The two of clubs is almost the most beautiful card in the deck. It almost guarantees me having the best hand and doesn't scare away any hands that can pay me off. My decision to go all-in here is simply because i'm happy with the pot size now and I know alot of hands such as KQ and AQ can't fold in this pot. The check worries me about being paid off but i'm happy with this pot if he doesn't call. This bet can also come across as very suspect and possibly get a call from much weaker hand. The river all-in overbet can be a very strong move in my opinion. It keeps opponents on their toes.
peter500 Call $ 841.00
Betting round completed
Last active pot = $0.00 Side pot 7 = $2,524.00
liquidghost shows Qc 4c: full house
peter500 shows Qs 10s: three of a kind
I think the only reason this hand amuses me so much is the fact I was in it completely by accident.
moving along...
I want and need to goto bed yet i'm having a sick run at my one table while i'm writing this. In the 30 minutes or so it's taken me to write all of this i've gone from my $1000 buyin to almost $5000.
enough is enough... I can hardly keep myself awake. until next time...
Saturday session results +4900
After about a 4 1/2 hour winning session (+1100) i decided enough was enough and met up with my buddy Bruce at a local bar close to the house for a couple drinks and a relaxing rest of my night. As it turned out I was quite up for drinking and we spent almost 7 hours at this place and it turned out to be a great night. If anyone puts a shot of jeager in front of me in the next week i swear i'm going to puke.
Anyways moving right along... After I got back to the house I decided to make a quick post to the blog and head to bed. Of couse, I couldn't sit and write in my blog without a table of 5/10 up and running. As I pulled up blogspot I went to click on fold for my Qc 4c I was looking at and my mouse accidently hit call. This is what followed.
War_Crimes Fold $ 0.00
TaintViolater Fold $ 0.00
BigBadDevil Fold $ 0.00
peter500 Call $ 10.00
liquidghost Call $ 10.00 oops....
foxridge1 Fold $ 0.00
Currahee Fold $ 5.00
powerdog17 Check
Flop Qd 4s 7s
peter500 Bet $ 45.00
liquidghost Call $ 45.00 I decide to play this one a bit different and see the turn card before throwing in a raise
powerdog17 Fold $ 0.00
Turn Qh
peter500 Check
liquidghost Bet $ 80.00 can't check
peter500 Raise $ 160.00
liquidghost Raise $ 280.00 very unlikely he has Q7. A call here is unthinkable. There are so many hands that I can beat that can call a raise. I make this raise almost without hesitating
peter500 Call $ 200.00
River 2c
peter500 Check
liquidghost All-in $ 841.00 The two of clubs is almost the most beautiful card in the deck. It almost guarantees me having the best hand and doesn't scare away any hands that can pay me off. My decision to go all-in here is simply because i'm happy with the pot size now and I know alot of hands such as KQ and AQ can't fold in this pot. The check worries me about being paid off but i'm happy with this pot if he doesn't call. This bet can also come across as very suspect and possibly get a call from much weaker hand. The river all-in overbet can be a very strong move in my opinion. It keeps opponents on their toes.
peter500 Call $ 841.00
Betting round completed
Last active pot = $0.00 Side pot 7 = $2,524.00
liquidghost shows Qc 4c: full house
peter500 shows Qs 10s: three of a kind
I think the only reason this hand amuses me so much is the fact I was in it completely by accident.
moving along...
I want and need to goto bed yet i'm having a sick run at my one table while i'm writing this. In the 30 minutes or so it's taken me to write all of this i've gone from my $1000 buyin to almost $5000.
enough is enough... I can hardly keep myself awake. until next time...
Saturday session results +4900
Saturday, June 09, 2007
the worst 45 minutes of my career
Wednesday was one of the worst sessions i've ever had.. I played for 45 minutes and finished at -5100. Just sick. I usually won't let it get to that point but I was actually playing very well. I got my money in best 2 of the 3 times (the one I didn't was a flopped ace high flush against a flopped straight flush) and was outdrawn the other two. The two beats were at 10/20 which is why I had such a bad day. I think i'll just avoid 10/20 for awhile.
I decided maybe poker needed a rest so I went out with some friends for awhile. Was feeling pretty good when I got back so I sat for awhile and cut the days losses to only about -4000. It's okay.... all I can do is just shake it off and move on to the next day.
Thursday was an off day. I went to the Las Vegas 51's (AAA team for the Dodgers) game with some friends. We tailgated ahead of time and $1 beer night is always a good time. Overall, it was a very good day off.. especially after how brutal wednesday was.
Friday was a good day and welcomed healing to my bankroll. A few hands confused me but I was playing about as good as I feel I can. This one hand still has me scratching my head...
I'm in the cutoff with 9c 9s. It folds to the 5 seat who raises to $40. I call everyone else folds.
Flop 2h 9h 2s
5 seat bets $50. I just call. Not alot of danger here. I have position and will check raise the turn if he bets again.
Turn 10s
5 seat doesn't dissapoint and bets $100. I raise to $300 and the 5 seat makes a quick call.
River 10d
5 seat checks. The only real questions now are did he call me with a 10? and if he didn't... how much will he call on the river? I decided that $300 was a good bet. He quickly called and mucked to my full house and I eagerly checked the hand history to see what he could of called me with. I was pretty set on the JJ-KK range. I didn't really see anything else that could of played the hand like he did. You can imagine my suprise to see he called me with As 8d?? really? Either I made the perfect bet or I left money on the table because he had about $250 in front of him still when the hand was over. I'm still a little perplexed about the whole thing. Oh well.... next hand please.
Friday session results +2900
I decided maybe poker needed a rest so I went out with some friends for awhile. Was feeling pretty good when I got back so I sat for awhile and cut the days losses to only about -4000. It's okay.... all I can do is just shake it off and move on to the next day.
Thursday was an off day. I went to the Las Vegas 51's (AAA team for the Dodgers) game with some friends. We tailgated ahead of time and $1 beer night is always a good time. Overall, it was a very good day off.. especially after how brutal wednesday was.
Friday was a good day and welcomed healing to my bankroll. A few hands confused me but I was playing about as good as I feel I can. This one hand still has me scratching my head...
I'm in the cutoff with 9c 9s. It folds to the 5 seat who raises to $40. I call everyone else folds.
Flop 2h 9h 2s
5 seat bets $50. I just call. Not alot of danger here. I have position and will check raise the turn if he bets again.
Turn 10s
5 seat doesn't dissapoint and bets $100. I raise to $300 and the 5 seat makes a quick call.
River 10d
5 seat checks. The only real questions now are did he call me with a 10? and if he didn't... how much will he call on the river? I decided that $300 was a good bet. He quickly called and mucked to my full house and I eagerly checked the hand history to see what he could of called me with. I was pretty set on the JJ-KK range. I didn't really see anything else that could of played the hand like he did. You can imagine my suprise to see he called me with As 8d?? really? Either I made the perfect bet or I left money on the table because he had about $250 in front of him still when the hand was over. I'm still a little perplexed about the whole thing. Oh well.... next hand please.
Friday session results +2900
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
A question of motivation
I ended the month of May on a bit of a sour note and had to ride out a rough stretch at the end. I took a very large number of bad beats 3 sessions in a row. One thing that i've always done is pull myself away from a bad session when I start to feel my play is sloppy. It could be i've been playing bad or it could be I just can't hold on when I get it in with the best of it. Either way, when a session goes south and I can't turn it around, i stop. It's just good money management. I had to cut myself off 3 sessions in a row last week, which tends to make for bad results.
My overall results for the month of may are about +14000 after being able to recover my bad run to -2500 before the month ended.
These are the times when I play the least poker.. not only because i'm running bad but because it's hard to find the motivation necessary to sit and play for the hours that are required. Last week I went out twice during the week and spent most of thursday out on lake mead with some friends. I will do anything necessary to make sure when I sit down at the tables I am making clear and correct decisions. Even if it involves losing a day.
A good day today. I put in a few hours and felt great. I'm planning on putting in a longer day tomorrow. I have two checks coming and when they do I will go down to the Rio and see what I can do in satellites for the series. I'm still upset with myself for the situation I ended up in regarding the WSOP this year but I still have no doubt it's for the best. Until next time..
Tuesday session results +2400
My overall results for the month of may are about +14000 after being able to recover my bad run to -2500 before the month ended.
These are the times when I play the least poker.. not only because i'm running bad but because it's hard to find the motivation necessary to sit and play for the hours that are required. Last week I went out twice during the week and spent most of thursday out on lake mead with some friends. I will do anything necessary to make sure when I sit down at the tables I am making clear and correct decisions. Even if it involves losing a day.
A good day today. I put in a few hours and felt great. I'm planning on putting in a longer day tomorrow. I have two checks coming and when they do I will go down to the Rio and see what I can do in satellites for the series. I'm still upset with myself for the situation I ended up in regarding the WSOP this year but I still have no doubt it's for the best. Until next time..
Tuesday session results +2400
Sunday, May 27, 2007
What goes around....comes back to bite you in the ass
I had to make a tough decision today yet i'm very confident it's the right one. I came into this year with the goal of making $200,000. This fits into my overall plan of shooting for one million in a yer by the time i've been here five years (year 1> $100,000 2> $200,000 3> $400,000 4> $750,000 5> $1,000,000).
I decided to put myself in a bad spot this year by hardly playing at all in march and april. I feel I have good excuses yet the fact remains I havn't delivered this year. There's good news and bad news here. The bad news is my WSOP this year is going to be severely limited. Not because I can't afford to play but because I didn't plan properly and the impact on my bankroll could put me in a bad spot.
The good news? I am more focused and dedicated now than I have ever been. As bad of a situation as this may be for me in the overall picture it may be good. I won't let this happen again; ever. If I stay on my current course and plan correctly for next year I can easily see myself with a 15+ event WSOP.
I've by no means given up on this years tournament. I will probably take 2-3000 to the Rio on satellite day and play $500 sit n go's and should hopefully be able to parlay that into a few events. It's going to be all business all the time around here. I'm very dissapointed in myself yet I can only see good things coming out of this. Only time will tell....
Saturday and Sunday session results +2300
I decided to put myself in a bad spot this year by hardly playing at all in march and april. I feel I have good excuses yet the fact remains I havn't delivered this year. There's good news and bad news here. The bad news is my WSOP this year is going to be severely limited. Not because I can't afford to play but because I didn't plan properly and the impact on my bankroll could put me in a bad spot.
The good news? I am more focused and dedicated now than I have ever been. As bad of a situation as this may be for me in the overall picture it may be good. I won't let this happen again; ever. If I stay on my current course and plan correctly for next year I can easily see myself with a 15+ event WSOP.
I've by no means given up on this years tournament. I will probably take 2-3000 to the Rio on satellite day and play $500 sit n go's and should hopefully be able to parlay that into a few events. It's going to be all business all the time around here. I'm very dissapointed in myself yet I can only see good things coming out of this. Only time will tell....
Saturday and Sunday session results +2300
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The new ride
Wednesday was completely lost to Subaru of Las Vegas and my new Subaru WRX STI that I ended up getting. It was a sad moment when I let go of my old WRX but I was completely over it by the time I got the new one home.
Thursday was golf at Angel Park with 3 guys Jen works with. I ended up shooting one of my worst rounds of the year. A 58 on the front and 53 on the back for a 111. A far cry from my season best 89 earlier in the year. This makes two bad outings in a row for me. I think that lessons are a necessity soon. I'll be going to the range later today so we'll see how that goes.
Put a short session in on Friday. I finished +750 and decided to take a quick nap and put in a longer session at night. I woke up at 5:00am... oops
It's hard to find good games at this time of the day.. I've been playing 3/6 on bodog since nobody is playing higher yet. It's been awhile since i've put a long session in during the day so i'm looking forward to it.
Here's a pic of the STI. There are a few more on myspace
Thursday was golf at Angel Park with 3 guys Jen works with. I ended up shooting one of my worst rounds of the year. A 58 on the front and 53 on the back for a 111. A far cry from my season best 89 earlier in the year. This makes two bad outings in a row for me. I think that lessons are a necessity soon. I'll be going to the range later today so we'll see how that goes.
Put a short session in on Friday. I finished +750 and decided to take a quick nap and put in a longer session at night. I woke up at 5:00am... oops
It's hard to find good games at this time of the day.. I've been playing 3/6 on bodog since nobody is playing higher yet. It's been awhile since i've put a long session in during the day so i'm looking forward to it.
Here's a pic of the STI. There are a few more on myspace
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
boooring
I had a medium length session today in what can be described only as frusterating. How many times can I be check raised in one session? I should of kept a count...
I had a good run at 10/20 and was sitting about +1500 when I lost a big pot to a 3 outer after we got it all in on the turn. aaaagh! Busting at 10/20 stings and afterwards I started to feel my play was deteriorating so I went and watched some tv for awhile. I came back and ended my day +250. Feels like a waste but anytime I can turn a loss into a small win i'm happy.
I'm going car shopping in the early afternoon (time to trade the REX for an STI) and then hopefully putting in a full session before the lost seasion finale tonight! They're really hyping this one up.... and when Lost hypes something up they can usually deliver. Until tomorrow...
I had a good run at 10/20 and was sitting about +1500 when I lost a big pot to a 3 outer after we got it all in on the turn. aaaagh! Busting at 10/20 stings and afterwards I started to feel my play was deteriorating so I went and watched some tv for awhile. I came back and ended my day +250. Feels like a waste but anytime I can turn a loss into a small win i'm happy.
I'm going car shopping in the early afternoon (time to trade the REX for an STI) and then hopefully putting in a full session before the lost seasion finale tonight! They're really hyping this one up.... and when Lost hypes something up they can usually deliver. Until tomorrow...
Monday, May 21, 2007
Omaha
Two short session today. I miss pot limit omaha so that's what my first session primarily consisted of. Omaha is such a beautiful game. It's a game of endless possibilities. I was distracted with chat windows so I played one 2/4 PLO and one 1/2 PLO hi-lo. Split pot games aren't my specialty by any means but I do feel I still have an advantage in the lower limit games because of my PLO experience.
One reason I love PLO so much? Re-draws. A situation where you and another player flop the nuts but someone is also drawing at a better hand for the whole pot. A perfect example came up today. The pot wasn't huge but it demonstrates the concept perfectly.
I was holding 9h 6h 2d 7c in an unraised pot. Two other players saw the flop with me.
Flop 4h 5h 3c
The first player to act bets out the pot which was $24. The next to act folds and I have a very juicy situation. I have the nuts and I assume my opponent does too. The correct play here is to raise. If my opponent also has 6 7 he will want to get his chips all in the pot and I will very likely be freerolling for my flush and the whole pot.
I raised to $96 total and my opponent moved it in for his last $140. I called and he showed 6s 7d Qs 10d for the flopped straight. The best he could do was tie me here.
Turn Jd
River 10h for the whole pot.
I ended that session +300 and when I came back from bowling last night I played a quick 30 minute session of 10/20NL and finished +500.
Sunday session results +800
One reason I love PLO so much? Re-draws. A situation where you and another player flop the nuts but someone is also drawing at a better hand for the whole pot. A perfect example came up today. The pot wasn't huge but it demonstrates the concept perfectly.
I was holding 9h 6h 2d 7c in an unraised pot. Two other players saw the flop with me.
Flop 4h 5h 3c
The first player to act bets out the pot which was $24. The next to act folds and I have a very juicy situation. I have the nuts and I assume my opponent does too. The correct play here is to raise. If my opponent also has 6 7 he will want to get his chips all in the pot and I will very likely be freerolling for my flush and the whole pot.
I raised to $96 total and my opponent moved it in for his last $140. I called and he showed 6s 7d Qs 10d for the flopped straight. The best he could do was tie me here.
Turn Jd
River 10h for the whole pot.
I ended that session +300 and when I came back from bowling last night I played a quick 30 minute session of 10/20NL and finished +500.
Sunday session results +800
Saturday, May 19, 2007
where.. oh where.. are my tournament results?
I suck at tournaments right now. I don't know any other way to put it. My results havn't been there. I havn't played many this year so I could be quick to judge myself... but this FTOPS i've yet to cash. Plus a couple others i've played and have yet to cash one. Good thing my cash game has been A+ since I came back from my hiatus at the beginning of the month.
Played in the PLH 200+16 FTOPS event.. busted in the first hour. In my own defense I do have to say I only busted once getting my money in as the worst. For the rest I was a favorite and outdrawn... so I guess i'll quit whining.
Put in a good session today. Close to 7 hours. It was a rollercoaster all day and I lost a few key pots early as a big favorite. The tables were loose and that will create some of those bad beats. I'll take a loose table with lots of gambling over a tight table any day.
I kept 4 tables up most the day. I flirted with 5 now and then but 4 is my comfort zone when i'm mixing in the 10/20 games. There's alot of money flying around there so I like to keep my mind at ease by not having too much going on at once.
I spent most of my session in the +4-600 range. I was content leaving with that since I was down a quick 1500 to start the day off. I made an interesting call at the end of day that ended up being the majority of my profit for the day.
Sitting at 10/20NL. I'm on the button and have 4c 6c. 5 seat raises to $70, 6 seat calls, I call and the big blind calls.
Flop 4d 6d 7c
BB checks, 5 seat fires 200 and 6 seat folds. I raise it up to $550 and the BB folds. 5 seat calls.
Turn Kh
5 seat quickly moves it for his last $780 and now I have a decision to make. My instinct is to make the quick call but I need to put him on a hand. What can he make this play with? It's possible he has me crushed here with a hand like 67 but its hard to put him there because of his middle position raise. 77? maybe... I have him more in the range two big diamonds with the Kd in his hand possibly. maybe AK or AQ of diamonds. Not alot of hands I put him on have me beat. If he had KK the best play is to check. I'm almost guaranteed to fire the turn after my raise on the flop.
The final result is i'm still beating too many hands to lay down here. Im at least a 65% favorite against alot of hands. 80% against any overpair to the flop except for kings. I make the call. He turns over 5d 5c for the straight draw and the 4s on the river seals the deal for a nice pot. Alot of the cards I was scared of aren't a factor here (k, 7 or diamond) and I was over a 3/1 favorite with 1 to come.
I registered for the 150k guaranteed on absolute and the 250k guaranteed NLH FTOPS event. Both early afternoon today. Hopefully this tourney drought will end. Until then....
Friday session results +2700
Played in the PLH 200+16 FTOPS event.. busted in the first hour. In my own defense I do have to say I only busted once getting my money in as the worst. For the rest I was a favorite and outdrawn... so I guess i'll quit whining.
Put in a good session today. Close to 7 hours. It was a rollercoaster all day and I lost a few key pots early as a big favorite. The tables were loose and that will create some of those bad beats. I'll take a loose table with lots of gambling over a tight table any day.
I kept 4 tables up most the day. I flirted with 5 now and then but 4 is my comfort zone when i'm mixing in the 10/20 games. There's alot of money flying around there so I like to keep my mind at ease by not having too much going on at once.
I spent most of my session in the +4-600 range. I was content leaving with that since I was down a quick 1500 to start the day off. I made an interesting call at the end of day that ended up being the majority of my profit for the day.
Sitting at 10/20NL. I'm on the button and have 4c 6c. 5 seat raises to $70, 6 seat calls, I call and the big blind calls.
Flop 4d 6d 7c
BB checks, 5 seat fires 200 and 6 seat folds. I raise it up to $550 and the BB folds. 5 seat calls.
Turn Kh
5 seat quickly moves it for his last $780 and now I have a decision to make. My instinct is to make the quick call but I need to put him on a hand. What can he make this play with? It's possible he has me crushed here with a hand like 67 but its hard to put him there because of his middle position raise. 77? maybe... I have him more in the range two big diamonds with the Kd in his hand possibly. maybe AK or AQ of diamonds. Not alot of hands I put him on have me beat. If he had KK the best play is to check. I'm almost guaranteed to fire the turn after my raise on the flop.
The final result is i'm still beating too many hands to lay down here. Im at least a 65% favorite against alot of hands. 80% against any overpair to the flop except for kings. I make the call. He turns over 5d 5c for the straight draw and the 4s on the river seals the deal for a nice pot. Alot of the cards I was scared of aren't a factor here (k, 7 or diamond) and I was over a 3/1 favorite with 1 to come.
I registered for the 150k guaranteed on absolute and the 250k guaranteed NLH FTOPS event. Both early afternoon today. Hopefully this tourney drought will end. Until then....
Friday session results +2700
Friday, May 18, 2007
"dude.. you suck"
I've never been insulted at a live poker table before until yesterday. I was out with some friends and we ended up at Red Rock. After about an hour of losing at pai gow (the first and last time i play that game) everyone heading their seperate ways and I headed over to the poker room to play some 2/5 NL for a bit.
It was about 5am, I was a little tired and a little drunk and in hindsight I probably should of been nowhere near the office... but i wanted to play!
I'll just clarify quickly that this is not meant to be a bad beat blog. I'm using this to keep track of key hands where I feel I either messed up or made a good play. It's also here to help track my session results and let my readers know how i'm doing. I promise to lay off the bad beat stories.... having said that... here's a bad beat.
I was about an hour into my session and still relatively close to my buyin of 400 when I was beaten by a horrible player AND insulted in the same hand. I limp on the button with 8h 10h and take a flop with 4 other players.
Flop 9h 7h 2c
The small blind fires out 20 into the pot and there is a fold and a call to me on my button. I raise it up to 90, the SB calls and the other caller folds. Heads up to the turn.
Turn 10c
Check to me and I fire all-in for about $280. A small over bet of the pot but almost any bet here will commit myself to this pot. I have top pair and somewhere between 15-20 wins with 1 to come if i'm behind. If he's on the flush draw with me I have him crushed right now.
He goes into the tank for about 20 seconds and then calls with the nuts. Yes, the Jd 8d. alright I guess... I go "you had to think about that?" and he shoots back a snippy "yeah dude.. you suck. all in with a flush draw? k'mon" I just smiled, gave a half hearted "nice hand" and the Kc on the river sent me home.
I lost track of where I was going with all this so I guess the moral of the story is go home and goto bed and don't play cards if you've been drinking.
Not alot to report the last 2 days. I played a half hearted session on Wednesday and just spun my wheels for a total of -400 after my time at red rock. Today I took the day off and went to Lake Mead with a buddy of mine. I ended up playing for 15 minutes when I got home and was +400. Friday is always a big work day so it should be a good night tonight.
Wednesday and Thursday results +-0
It was about 5am, I was a little tired and a little drunk and in hindsight I probably should of been nowhere near the office... but i wanted to play!
I'll just clarify quickly that this is not meant to be a bad beat blog. I'm using this to keep track of key hands where I feel I either messed up or made a good play. It's also here to help track my session results and let my readers know how i'm doing. I promise to lay off the bad beat stories.... having said that... here's a bad beat.
I was about an hour into my session and still relatively close to my buyin of 400 when I was beaten by a horrible player AND insulted in the same hand. I limp on the button with 8h 10h and take a flop with 4 other players.
Flop 9h 7h 2c
The small blind fires out 20 into the pot and there is a fold and a call to me on my button. I raise it up to 90, the SB calls and the other caller folds. Heads up to the turn.
Turn 10c
Check to me and I fire all-in for about $280. A small over bet of the pot but almost any bet here will commit myself to this pot. I have top pair and somewhere between 15-20 wins with 1 to come if i'm behind. If he's on the flush draw with me I have him crushed right now.
He goes into the tank for about 20 seconds and then calls with the nuts. Yes, the Jd 8d. alright I guess... I go "you had to think about that?" and he shoots back a snippy "yeah dude.. you suck. all in with a flush draw? k'mon" I just smiled, gave a half hearted "nice hand" and the Kc on the river sent me home.
I lost track of where I was going with all this so I guess the moral of the story is go home and goto bed and don't play cards if you've been drinking.
Not alot to report the last 2 days. I played a half hearted session on Wednesday and just spun my wheels for a total of -400 after my time at red rock. Today I took the day off and went to Lake Mead with a buddy of mine. I ended up playing for 15 minutes when I got home and was +400. Friday is always a big work day so it should be a good night tonight.
Wednesday and Thursday results +-0
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
What would you do for $15 an hour?
Personally I have to say there isn't much I would be willing to do for a $15 an hour job... I've grown to expect alot more from poker than that.. but that's exactly what I made today.. $15 an hour for a total of +100 on Tuesday's session. Trust me when I tell you it could of been ALOT worse.
Started off the session 6 tabling five 5/10NL and one 10/20NL table. After about an hour of that it proved to be too much as I was running a little bit slower mentally today than normal. I was tired and I couldn't keep up. Moved down to four 5/10 tables and it was much better. Then all hell broke loose on me and I was down a quick 2600 before I knew what happened. This is the hand that was the overall worse.
I'd only been at the table about 15 minutes at this time.
Full Tilt Poker Game #2434357603: Table Desert Oak - $5/$10 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:06:10 ET - 2007/05/15
Seat 1: csimmsux ($2,528.50)
Seat 2: zekulya ($948.50)
Seat 3: RAC00N ($2,136.70)
Seat 4: Beomer ($227.80)
Seat 5: DRUNKENSTYLE ($1,346.50)
Seat 6: bk shark ($352.50)
Seat 7: drchaos ($1,005)
Seat 8: MstAA mAArtini ($373)
Seat 9: Judo Bob ($316.75)
csimmsux posts the small blind of $5
zekulya posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to drchaos [Ah As]
RAC00N folds
Beomer folds
DRUNKENSTYLE folds
bk shark folds
drchaos raises to $35
MstAA mAArtini folds
Judo Bob calls $35
csimmsux raises to $150
zekulya folds
drchaos calls $115 **The first hand i've seen this guy play. The smooth call is a trap for an odvious KK or QQ. He will fire huge on the flop and the only way I can see myself getting away from this hand is a KQx flop**
Judo Bob folds
*** FLOP *** [4h Th 2h] **A great flop for my AA the way this hand was played. I have this guy on JJ-QQ at worst and most likely KK with a heart if i'm lucky. One thing is for sure, I can beat about 95% of the hands that can repop me preflop**
csimmsux bets $220
drchaos raises to $500
csimmsux raises to $1,845
drchaos calls $355, and is all in
csimmsux shows [2d 2c] **umm.... excuse me?**
drchaos shows [Ah As]
Uncalled bet of $990 returned to csimmsux
*** TURN *** [4h Th 2h] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [4h Th 2h Qc] [4s]
csimmsux shows a full house, Twos full of Fours
drchaos shows two pair, Aces and Fours
csimmsux wins the pot ($2,052) with a full house, Twos full of Fours
drchaos is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2,055 Rake $3
Board: [4h Th 2h Qc 4s]
Seat 1: csimmsux (small blind) showed [2d 2c] and won ($2,052) with a full house, Twos full of Fours
Seat 2: zekulya (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: RAC00N didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Beomer didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: DRUNKENSTYLE didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: bk shark didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: drchaos showed [Ah As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 8: MstAA mAArtini didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Judo Bob (button) folded before the Flop
Long story short... I don't see any way to get away from this hand. I absolutely have to pay off a set or a flopped flush here. I win this situation alot more than I lose it. As it turned out this guy was a nutcase with any pair preflop. He was sitting with well over 3k and playing like a douche. Three hands after he busted me he reraised a guy AI preflop for 450 more with 3c 3s and promptly lost to Js Jd. I didn't stay around for too many more of his antics after that. I needed a lunch break.
Tomorrow I plan on playing the $200+16 FTOPS shorthanded NLH tournament and then a $50+5 PLO hi/lo tournament for Brad that he won a seat into but can't play in. I'm actually excited for the hi/lo tournament. I love pot limit omaha... especially hi/lo. A little over a year ago I had about a 2 month stretch where all I play was PLO hi/lo and I did pretty well. Alot of people had no clue how to play the game and it worked out pretty well for me. I just havn't been playing it lately since most the H/L games don't get higher than 2/4 online anymore.
To finish off there's some good news.. I made my hourly rate a little more respectable while I was writing this. Tuesday session results +500
Started off the session 6 tabling five 5/10NL and one 10/20NL table. After about an hour of that it proved to be too much as I was running a little bit slower mentally today than normal. I was tired and I couldn't keep up. Moved down to four 5/10 tables and it was much better. Then all hell broke loose on me and I was down a quick 2600 before I knew what happened. This is the hand that was the overall worse.
I'd only been at the table about 15 minutes at this time.
Full Tilt Poker Game #2434357603: Table Desert Oak - $5/$10 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:06:10 ET - 2007/05/15
Seat 1: csimmsux ($2,528.50)
Seat 2: zekulya ($948.50)
Seat 3: RAC00N ($2,136.70)
Seat 4: Beomer ($227.80)
Seat 5: DRUNKENSTYLE ($1,346.50)
Seat 6: bk shark ($352.50)
Seat 7: drchaos ($1,005)
Seat 8: MstAA mAArtini ($373)
Seat 9: Judo Bob ($316.75)
csimmsux posts the small blind of $5
zekulya posts the big blind of $10
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to drchaos [Ah As]
RAC00N folds
Beomer folds
DRUNKENSTYLE folds
bk shark folds
drchaos raises to $35
MstAA mAArtini folds
Judo Bob calls $35
csimmsux raises to $150
zekulya folds
drchaos calls $115 **The first hand i've seen this guy play. The smooth call is a trap for an odvious KK or QQ. He will fire huge on the flop and the only way I can see myself getting away from this hand is a KQx flop**
Judo Bob folds
*** FLOP *** [4h Th 2h] **A great flop for my AA the way this hand was played. I have this guy on JJ-QQ at worst and most likely KK with a heart if i'm lucky. One thing is for sure, I can beat about 95% of the hands that can repop me preflop**
csimmsux bets $220
drchaos raises to $500
csimmsux raises to $1,845
drchaos calls $355, and is all in
csimmsux shows [2d 2c] **umm.... excuse me?**
drchaos shows [Ah As]
Uncalled bet of $990 returned to csimmsux
*** TURN *** [4h Th 2h] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [4h Th 2h Qc] [4s]
csimmsux shows a full house, Twos full of Fours
drchaos shows two pair, Aces and Fours
csimmsux wins the pot ($2,052) with a full house, Twos full of Fours
drchaos is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2,055 Rake $3
Board: [4h Th 2h Qc 4s]
Seat 1: csimmsux (small blind) showed [2d 2c] and won ($2,052) with a full house, Twos full of Fours
Seat 2: zekulya (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: RAC00N didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Beomer didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: DRUNKENSTYLE didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: bk shark didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: drchaos showed [Ah As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 8: MstAA mAArtini didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Judo Bob (button) folded before the Flop
Long story short... I don't see any way to get away from this hand. I absolutely have to pay off a set or a flopped flush here. I win this situation alot more than I lose it. As it turned out this guy was a nutcase with any pair preflop. He was sitting with well over 3k and playing like a douche. Three hands after he busted me he reraised a guy AI preflop for 450 more with 3c 3s and promptly lost to Js Jd. I didn't stay around for too many more of his antics after that. I needed a lunch break.
Tomorrow I plan on playing the $200+16 FTOPS shorthanded NLH tournament and then a $50+5 PLO hi/lo tournament for Brad that he won a seat into but can't play in. I'm actually excited for the hi/lo tournament. I love pot limit omaha... especially hi/lo. A little over a year ago I had about a 2 month stretch where all I play was PLO hi/lo and I did pretty well. Alot of people had no clue how to play the game and it worked out pretty well for me. I just havn't been playing it lately since most the H/L games don't get higher than 2/4 online anymore.
To finish off there's some good news.. I made my hourly rate a little more respectable while I was writing this. Tuesday session results +500
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Golf, more craps and a little poker
Sunday was a very unproductive day for me but I don't really feel bad about that. I ended up ditching the sunday tournaments to go golfing with Anthony and two of his buddies over at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City. I shot a 112.. one of the worst performances i've had in a long time. I blame it on the fact we shot from the gold tees and it was windy as hell. seriously now... what good thing could possibly come from us shooting from the professional tees? Adding an extra 1000 yards to the course on a windy day only made a bad thing that much worse.. so.. the next time I shoot from pro tees is when I shoot par.
Later sunday night I ended up going over to Red Rock Station with Jen, a friend of hers Geoff and one of his friends. I was talking about my experience at the craps table the night before and ended up showing them how to play. I made $600 in about 45 minutes and decided to call it quits. I really love playing craps. I think stopping while i'm ahead is probably a really good idea tho.
Poker today was limited.. I just wasn't in the mindset all day. I ended up playing the 1000+60 FTOPS event and busted out in the first hour when I raised out of the SB with 10c 10d when it was only down to the blinds. The BB defended and we saw the 3d 5c 8s flop. I fired out a pot sized bet and was called. Turn 9d. I fired out a pot sized bet again and was raised all in. I thought for a second and decided I was getting too good of value to not call for my tournament life. BB turned over Ad 6d and the As on the river sent me packing.
I was doing alright in my cash games while I played in the FTOPS tourney but I really havn't had the desire to put in any serious hours today. I lost a big pot on Absolute with my Qc Qs against Ad As on a very unscary board (is unscary even a word?). He check called me on the flop, turn and then check raised me on the river... thanks. A little too tired to appreciate that move. I'll sleep all this off and come back strong tomorrow. Maybe i'll go play live now that my checks are finally starting to get here.
Monday session results -1100
Later sunday night I ended up going over to Red Rock Station with Jen, a friend of hers Geoff and one of his friends. I was talking about my experience at the craps table the night before and ended up showing them how to play. I made $600 in about 45 minutes and decided to call it quits. I really love playing craps. I think stopping while i'm ahead is probably a really good idea tho.
Poker today was limited.. I just wasn't in the mindset all day. I ended up playing the 1000+60 FTOPS event and busted out in the first hour when I raised out of the SB with 10c 10d when it was only down to the blinds. The BB defended and we saw the 3d 5c 8s flop. I fired out a pot sized bet and was called. Turn 9d. I fired out a pot sized bet again and was raised all in. I thought for a second and decided I was getting too good of value to not call for my tournament life. BB turned over Ad 6d and the As on the river sent me packing.
I was doing alright in my cash games while I played in the FTOPS tourney but I really havn't had the desire to put in any serious hours today. I lost a big pot on Absolute with my Qc Qs against Ad As on a very unscary board (is unscary even a word?). He check called me on the flop, turn and then check raised me on the river... thanks. A little too tired to appreciate that move. I'll sleep all this off and come back strong tomorrow. Maybe i'll go play live now that my checks are finally starting to get here.
Monday session results -1100
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Crap!
Today was one of the more frusterating sessions since I got back into the swing of things. No matter what I did at the tables it seemed I couldn't get anything rolling. Overall i'm not effected by it because I feel I did a good job minimizing my losses.
I played in the 150k guaranteed on AP and the PLO rebuy FTOPS event. Missed the money in both. Altho, on a positive note I did limit myself to 1 rebuy in the PLO event and didn't even have to use it. I played pretty well compared to when I played the tourney last fall.
Cash games were mostly a bust too. I played only one big pot and came up on the wrong end. Second to act minumum raises to $20 and I call in the 4 spot with 2s 2h. The button makes it $65 to go and early position folds. The button is about $750 behind and I decide to take a flop. Flop 10h 6c 2c. I begin to lay my trap and check flop. Button quickly fires out $120 and I make it an easy $300 to go. After a short deliberation the button moves it in and my trap is complete. In this spot a huge majority of my opponents will have overpairs to the board or if they're lucky Ac Kc. My opponent actually turned over Jc Jd and we went to the turn which was the 8c. The river quickly brings the Ac and i'm wondering what just hit me.
I was actually rather impressed with myself over how I handled the whole situation. Nothing was thrown and no higher powers were cursed. The funny thing about being an 87% favorite when all the money goes in? 13% of the time you're going to lose.
Saturday session results -1000. It could of been alot worse...
After about 8 hours of straight poker I needed a break. My friends were all either working or more than 30 minutes away so I headed over to the Rampart Casino close by the house for a beer and possibly to play a little video poker or blackjack and relax. I walked by the craps table and figured why not. I tore out $100 and explained to the guys I was standing next to that I had no clue what was going on. One of the guys working the table told me not to worry and just do what he told me to do. I ended up playing craps for 5 hours and walked out with $800 more in my pocket than I walked in with.. and I had a blast. Craps is amazing and a ton of fun if you have someone on a roll. I consisder myself a semi-expert at craps now. I'm by no means quitting my day job... but not much can make you feel better about losing $800 than having eight new $100 bills to wipe away the tears with.
OK.. it's really time to sleep. Bodog 100k guaranteed at 1:00 and the FTOPS 750k guaranteed at 3:00. Might sleep through the bodog tourney so i'm fresh for the tilt tourney... I'll make that decision at 12:59.
One last update. While I write my blog i'm always playing 1 table.. My saturday sessions results are now only -400 for the day. Had a guy bluff his entire stack off with As 7d after I flopped a set of jacks on the Ah Js 4d board. Until tomorrow.....
I played in the 150k guaranteed on AP and the PLO rebuy FTOPS event. Missed the money in both. Altho, on a positive note I did limit myself to 1 rebuy in the PLO event and didn't even have to use it. I played pretty well compared to when I played the tourney last fall.
Cash games were mostly a bust too. I played only one big pot and came up on the wrong end. Second to act minumum raises to $20 and I call in the 4 spot with 2s 2h. The button makes it $65 to go and early position folds. The button is about $750 behind and I decide to take a flop. Flop 10h 6c 2c. I begin to lay my trap and check flop. Button quickly fires out $120 and I make it an easy $300 to go. After a short deliberation the button moves it in and my trap is complete. In this spot a huge majority of my opponents will have overpairs to the board or if they're lucky Ac Kc. My opponent actually turned over Jc Jd and we went to the turn which was the 8c. The river quickly brings the Ac and i'm wondering what just hit me.
I was actually rather impressed with myself over how I handled the whole situation. Nothing was thrown and no higher powers were cursed. The funny thing about being an 87% favorite when all the money goes in? 13% of the time you're going to lose.
Saturday session results -1000. It could of been alot worse...
After about 8 hours of straight poker I needed a break. My friends were all either working or more than 30 minutes away so I headed over to the Rampart Casino close by the house for a beer and possibly to play a little video poker or blackjack and relax. I walked by the craps table and figured why not. I tore out $100 and explained to the guys I was standing next to that I had no clue what was going on. One of the guys working the table told me not to worry and just do what he told me to do. I ended up playing craps for 5 hours and walked out with $800 more in my pocket than I walked in with.. and I had a blast. Craps is amazing and a ton of fun if you have someone on a roll. I consisder myself a semi-expert at craps now. I'm by no means quitting my day job... but not much can make you feel better about losing $800 than having eight new $100 bills to wipe away the tears with.
OK.. it's really time to sleep. Bodog 100k guaranteed at 1:00 and the FTOPS 750k guaranteed at 3:00. Might sleep through the bodog tourney so i'm fresh for the tilt tourney... I'll make that decision at 12:59.
One last update. While I write my blog i'm always playing 1 table.. My saturday sessions results are now only -400 for the day. Had a guy bluff his entire stack off with As 7d after I flopped a set of jacks on the Ah Js 4d board. Until tomorrow.....
Friday, May 11, 2007
The super duper turbo sit & go
This last week has been really good for me. I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things and putting in longer session. I feel like the love for the game that I lost is back now and i'm playing better than ever.
When I got up today I had a msg on MSN from Brad saying he was going to try and win a seat into the first FTOPS event in a 50+4 satellite he had won a seat into. When I went to see how he was doing there were 210/850 players left Brad's entire table folding around every hand so that they would all make it into the last 100 players which would pay a seat into event #1. I found it hilarious. What makes the story even better is his entire table made the money and won a seat.
Brad and I chatted on MSN for awhile and he told me about the super turbo sit n go's that FT was running for the event. I decided I was bored and registered for one. The concept was simple; 24+2, 100 chips per player, turbo blind levels and 15/30 starting blinds. The very first hand I picked up QQ and moved it in. I was called by two players with Ace rag and took a quick and commanding chip lead. I ended up winning the damn thing and saved myself a $200 buyin for the first event. Thanks Brad!
I swapped 25% stakes with Brad in the tourney and we both ended up falling short of the money. We were both eliminated in the low 1000's out of 2400 entrants. The next FTOPS event is the 100+9 PLO Rebuy tomorrow at 1:30. I want to play it... we'll see if I can get up by then. I'm getting pretty used to sleeping until 3:00ish again. Plus, last time I played in the PLO rebuy I rebought 9 times and needed to make top 20 to break even. Maybe i'll have more discipline this time around.....maybe
I didn't money the tournament but I did have some pretty good action going in the cash table on the side. One big hand was a a pretty bad case of a cold deck for the guy I busted.
I raised it up to $40 in 2nd position with Ac Ad. Player in seat 5 calls and everyone else folds. Flop Ah Jc 9h. I fire out $60 into the $90 pot and am instacalled by my opponent. I love this flop and I play it like I would if I had any other hand. I fire 2/3 of the pot. Turn As. Four aces makes me feel a whole lot better about my hand so I check to this guy and hope he bluffs at the pot. My hopes are realized as my opponent fires $135 into the pot. Now I have a real dilema on my hands... Do I raise him here because i'm out of position and risk him folding? Or do I smooth call and fire on the river? I elected to smooth call. River Qd. I check. Now, normally I wouldn't... I believe strongly that the best poker players are the aggressive players. Right here I genuinely believe he has a drawing hand that missed and the only way I can get maximum value from the hand is to let him bluff again. After all, if i'm right he's already bluffed at it once.. He will likely fire again. A long 10 seconds passed as my opponent thought about his next move. He fires $450 into the pot and I instantly move it in for his last $120. He calls, turns over his 9c 9s for the under full and I rake in the pot. As it turns out I could of played this hand almost any way after the flop and gotten my chips all in. It was still a fun hand nonetheless.
Friday session results +2500
When I got up today I had a msg on MSN from Brad saying he was going to try and win a seat into the first FTOPS event in a 50+4 satellite he had won a seat into. When I went to see how he was doing there were 210/850 players left Brad's entire table folding around every hand so that they would all make it into the last 100 players which would pay a seat into event #1. I found it hilarious. What makes the story even better is his entire table made the money and won a seat.
Brad and I chatted on MSN for awhile and he told me about the super turbo sit n go's that FT was running for the event. I decided I was bored and registered for one. The concept was simple; 24+2, 100 chips per player, turbo blind levels and 15/30 starting blinds. The very first hand I picked up QQ and moved it in. I was called by two players with Ace rag and took a quick and commanding chip lead. I ended up winning the damn thing and saved myself a $200 buyin for the first event. Thanks Brad!
I swapped 25% stakes with Brad in the tourney and we both ended up falling short of the money. We were both eliminated in the low 1000's out of 2400 entrants. The next FTOPS event is the 100+9 PLO Rebuy tomorrow at 1:30. I want to play it... we'll see if I can get up by then. I'm getting pretty used to sleeping until 3:00ish again. Plus, last time I played in the PLO rebuy I rebought 9 times and needed to make top 20 to break even. Maybe i'll have more discipline this time around.....maybe
I didn't money the tournament but I did have some pretty good action going in the cash table on the side. One big hand was a a pretty bad case of a cold deck for the guy I busted.
I raised it up to $40 in 2nd position with Ac Ad. Player in seat 5 calls and everyone else folds. Flop Ah Jc 9h. I fire out $60 into the $90 pot and am instacalled by my opponent. I love this flop and I play it like I would if I had any other hand. I fire 2/3 of the pot. Turn As. Four aces makes me feel a whole lot better about my hand so I check to this guy and hope he bluffs at the pot. My hopes are realized as my opponent fires $135 into the pot. Now I have a real dilema on my hands... Do I raise him here because i'm out of position and risk him folding? Or do I smooth call and fire on the river? I elected to smooth call. River Qd. I check. Now, normally I wouldn't... I believe strongly that the best poker players are the aggressive players. Right here I genuinely believe he has a drawing hand that missed and the only way I can get maximum value from the hand is to let him bluff again. After all, if i'm right he's already bluffed at it once.. He will likely fire again. A long 10 seconds passed as my opponent thought about his next move. He fires $450 into the pot and I instantly move it in for his last $120. He calls, turns over his 9c 9s for the under full and I rake in the pot. As it turns out I could of played this hand almost any way after the flop and gotten my chips all in. It was still a fun hand nonetheless.
Friday session results +2500
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