There's only one quasi-word that can describe my poker play over the last three months...
nonexistent.
Well, almost. A couple of minutes before one of my editing classes I think I sat behind the computer and played play money poker, promptly doubling up my play money chips and then "cashing out".
But, that's been it. Three months, basically nothing. No online. No live (okay, a little NBA Live). I've been virtually poker free for three full months.
Why?
Obviously, I have the whole family obligation thing, that and the fact that my girlfriend isn't too crazy about poker. I've been working full-time and going to school for the first time in my life, and while the class (yes, class singular) that I took didn't have a large workload, I definitely wanted to start my comeback off on a good foot. Also, while I haven't been starving, money has been a little tighter than usual since our department started losing our nice cushy $500 monthly bonuses due to a floundering economy and not so great customer service skills (not me, our department as a whole). These are all legitimate reasons why I haven't played too much poker lately.
But, the funny thing is that stuff like that never stopped me before. There was a time in my life, hell even a few months ago, where I would scrounge up any money I had for a buy-in online or live. Some nights I would win, some nights I would lose, but for me it wasn't really about the money. The challenge of beating the game or beating my opponents was what really goosed me up.
And, I can't really explain why, but right now I just feel my heart isn't into poker right now.
I still love the game. I watched the final table and I thought it was one of the coolest things I've seen: a sold out capacity crowd filled a theatre to watch nine guys play poker. It shows just how far poker has come. I still have dreams of playing in that tournament. Even if I'm the first guy knocked out, just to say that I played in it is something I can always tell my children.
But, for right now, hundreds of dollars later, I'm taking a break, especially from online poker. People who say the online game is shady may be right in some respects, but the fact of the matter is for the average player the quantity of hands played far outweighs and affects the quality of hands played. Your mistakes in live poker become magnified in online poker, and that's pretty much what happened to me.
Even though I'm breaking, I definitely wouldn't mind an occasional live cash game or live tournament, or hell, eventually I might even venture back into online tournaments or sit n gos. I'm looking for better quality, not neccesarily quantity.
Fear not, my friends. Tripset30 will return eventually. Everybody needs a vacation.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Brilliant or Not so Brilliant?
Early in the $23,000 guarantee...
Full Tilt Poker Game #8064980773: $23,000 KO Guarantee (60595668), Table 35 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:37:42 ET - 2008/09/14
Seat 1: socrates555 (988)
Seat 2: Diahouse (3,475)
Seat 3: Revoke36 (2,150)
Seat 4: saleen707 (2,074)
Seat 5: boodeewee99 (6,760)
Seat 6: bigtonyk123 (1,611)
Seat 7: indabiz (3,290)
Seat 8: Tripset30 (3,940)
Seat 9: FR8DOGNV (5,712)
Diahouse posts the small blind of 30
Revoke36 posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Tripset30 [Ks Kc]
saleen707 calls 60
boodeewee99 raises to 270
bigtonyk123 folds
indabiz has 15 seconds left to act
indabiz folds
Tripset30 has 15 seconds left to act
Tripset30 raises to 645
FR8DOGNV folds
socrates555 folds
Diahouse folds
Revoke36 folds
saleen707 folds
boodeewee99 raises to 6,760, and is all in
Tripset30: wow
Tripset30 has 15 seconds left to act
Tripset30 has requested TIME
Tripset30: wow
Tripset30: I fold kings\
Tripset30 folds
Uncalled bet of 6,115 returned to boodeewee99
Revoke36: he's already had AA
boodeewee99 mucks
boodeewee99 wins the pot (1,440)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,440 Rake 0
Seat 1: socrates555 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Diahouse (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Revoke36 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: saleen707 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: boodeewee99 collected (1,440), mucked
Seat 6: bigtonyk123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: indabiz didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Tripset30 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: FR8DOGNV didn't bet (folded)
Against the chip leader, who plays pretty tight... for all my chips... early in the tournament... good or bad fold?
Full Tilt Poker Game #8064980773: $23,000 KO Guarantee (60595668), Table 35 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:37:42 ET - 2008/09/14
Seat 1: socrates555 (988)
Seat 2: Diahouse (3,475)
Seat 3: Revoke36 (2,150)
Seat 4: saleen707 (2,074)
Seat 5: boodeewee99 (6,760)
Seat 6: bigtonyk123 (1,611)
Seat 7: indabiz (3,290)
Seat 8: Tripset30 (3,940)
Seat 9: FR8DOGNV (5,712)
Diahouse posts the small blind of 30
Revoke36 posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Tripset30 [Ks Kc]
saleen707 calls 60
boodeewee99 raises to 270
bigtonyk123 folds
indabiz has 15 seconds left to act
indabiz folds
Tripset30 has 15 seconds left to act
Tripset30 raises to 645
FR8DOGNV folds
socrates555 folds
Diahouse folds
Revoke36 folds
saleen707 folds
boodeewee99 raises to 6,760, and is all in
Tripset30: wow
Tripset30 has 15 seconds left to act
Tripset30 has requested TIME
Tripset30: wow
Tripset30: I fold kings\
Tripset30 folds
Uncalled bet of 6,115 returned to boodeewee99
Revoke36: he's already had AA
boodeewee99 mucks
boodeewee99 wins the pot (1,440)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,440 Rake 0
Seat 1: socrates555 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Diahouse (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Revoke36 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: saleen707 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: boodeewee99 collected (1,440), mucked
Seat 6: bigtonyk123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: indabiz didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Tripset30 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: FR8DOGNV didn't bet (folded)
Against the chip leader, who plays pretty tight... for all my chips... early in the tournament... good or bad fold?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Getting Ready
I've never really tried blogging before a tourney but I guess I'll give it a shot. Whatever works, right?
Tip-off for the $69+$6 $23,000 guarantee is in less than ten minutes. My tourney resume has been fairly decent lately (two out of five cashes) and I'm looking to get another one tonight. So, what's the game plan?
Get my money in good, don't be over-aggressive, have patience, avoid bad luck and big stacks.
Sounds easy. I should be a pro by now.
Seriously though, the biggest thing is that I have to remain focused. I'm beginning to get scary good when I actually hone in and focus on the action around me. No music, no IMs, no Internet. Just poker, baby!
A cash in this tourney would sure be nice... I'll let you know how it turns out.
Tip-off for the $69+$6 $23,000 guarantee is in less than ten minutes. My tourney resume has been fairly decent lately (two out of five cashes) and I'm looking to get another one tonight. So, what's the game plan?
Get my money in good, don't be over-aggressive, have patience, avoid bad luck and big stacks.
Sounds easy. I should be a pro by now.
Seriously though, the biggest thing is that I have to remain focused. I'm beginning to get scary good when I actually hone in and focus on the action around me. No music, no IMs, no Internet. Just poker, baby!
A cash in this tourney would sure be nice... I'll let you know how it turns out.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Great Poker... But Cashing Out????
$700 in two sessions. Not too shabby.
Finished 16th out of 500 in the $77 Knock-out on Full Tilt last night, and followed that up with a win in a $109 sit n go tonight. Cool and all; I'm happy about the results, having put in two very solid sessions. No doubt that reading Gus Hansen's book cover to cover three times has definitely helped my game.
Now, I'm facing a serious dilemna: the cash-out process.
I honestly haven't cashed out since Epassporte left the market unexpectedly in June. And, from my understanding, Full Tilt's check process right now is an utter mess, according to blogger Pokerfarce from the Big Edge Poker Blog team. At first I was like, "Come on, it can't be that bad."
But, I Googled it. Everybody is having problems with their checks. Maybe this is it... maybe the government is officially cracking down on online poker.
That being said, the consensus is that Pokerstars has a pretty good system in place in terms of turning checks around. I'm also trying to semi-launder my money through UB (not actually; I plan on doubling before I cash out).
I don't know though. Even before the demise of Epassporte I had my doubts. Hopefully the government (vote Obama) will come to their senses and realize that poker is nothing like the lottery and that poker is nothing more than playing the stock market with chips and people.
But, hey, at least I'm playing out of my mind, right?
Finished 16th out of 500 in the $77 Knock-out on Full Tilt last night, and followed that up with a win in a $109 sit n go tonight. Cool and all; I'm happy about the results, having put in two very solid sessions. No doubt that reading Gus Hansen's book cover to cover three times has definitely helped my game.
Now, I'm facing a serious dilemna: the cash-out process.
I honestly haven't cashed out since Epassporte left the market unexpectedly in June. And, from my understanding, Full Tilt's check process right now is an utter mess, according to blogger Pokerfarce from the Big Edge Poker Blog team. At first I was like, "Come on, it can't be that bad."
But, I Googled it. Everybody is having problems with their checks. Maybe this is it... maybe the government is officially cracking down on online poker.
That being said, the consensus is that Pokerstars has a pretty good system in place in terms of turning checks around. I'm also trying to semi-launder my money through UB (not actually; I plan on doubling before I cash out).
I don't know though. Even before the demise of Epassporte I had my doubts. Hopefully the government (vote Obama) will come to their senses and realize that poker is nothing like the lottery and that poker is nothing more than playing the stock market with chips and people.
But, hey, at least I'm playing out of my mind, right?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wow...
Weird couple of poker days. Cashed in the Midnight Madness tourney in 69th place out of 1300 (sounds much better than it was as I only profited $18) and then proceeded to run into every conceivable way you can suck out on a person, some in my favor (A-3 vs. A-K, J-8 vs. J-J was my fav. though) and some against (Q-10 vs. A-A, 4-4 vs. 8-8, K-K vs. 9-8 pissed me off slightly). Whatever, that's the nature of poker. Only one cash tonight, but overall I think it was a down $20 night. I'll take it with all those ridiculous beats.
The reason I'm writing tonight is to actually post something pretty funny. Check out this interview with Daniel Negreanu.
Some people think it's staged, I say it's believeable but I wouldn't be surprised if it was staged... I dunno. But, if I ever got into the world of journalism, I would try to keep myself out of the story... although Daniel did jab him by saying, "Since you're not a player..."
Lemme know...
The reason I'm writing tonight is to actually post something pretty funny. Check out this interview with Daniel Negreanu.
Some people think it's staged, I say it's believeable but I wouldn't be surprised if it was staged... I dunno. But, if I ever got into the world of journalism, I would try to keep myself out of the story... although Daniel did jab him by saying, "Since you're not a player..."
Lemme know...
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Shoot Me in the Face
Just a bad poker night. Just horrific.
Heads-up $50+$5 I flop top pair, river two pair and lose to trips in a very well-played match otherwise.
Played awful in the $23,000 guarantee, finishing in the middle of the pack after some idiot calls my raise (makes it worse I was playing premium cards and up) with 9-5 off, spikes two more on the flop and my dumbass pays him off on the river because, well, I hit an ace and I guess I just couldn't put him on a five.
Then, I cash in a $100+$9 sit n'go, which is okay except my computer froze and I got blinded out with $3,000 in chips, one double-up away from being chip leader.
Then in this dumb fucking $50+$5 sit n' go I was the chip leader with six left, dude min. raises, two callers I say fuck it and call with 5-3 off in the BB. I flopped a two piece and led out, initial raiser calls. I check raise the queen all-in on the turn and he calls with J-10, so of course he catches his higher two piece on the river. Two hands later I get knocked out with 8s against A-6.
"Yeah, it's just ten times the blind, I'll call with a bad ace."
I swear to God, aside from the guarantee, I played really well, got my chips in good for the most part, but there's some lucky motherfuckers out there.
I will not let this dumb session deter me, however. I just had to let all that out because if I don't I'm just gonna think about it all night and there's nothing productive about that.
One more time, though: like, seriously, why the fuck would someone risk all their chips with a mediocre ten? Who calls a raise for half their chips pre-flop with A-6 off? Whether a tight player raised or not, who the fuck would call with 9-5 off OUT OF POSITION???? Like... ugh, it's pointless. I'm not saying I've never sucked out before, but come on. Those are three brutal suck-outs!
Makes me want to punch someone in the fucking kidney!
BULLSHIT!!!!
Heads-up $50+$5 I flop top pair, river two pair and lose to trips in a very well-played match otherwise.
Played awful in the $23,000 guarantee, finishing in the middle of the pack after some idiot calls my raise (makes it worse I was playing premium cards and up) with 9-5 off, spikes two more on the flop and my dumbass pays him off on the river because, well, I hit an ace and I guess I just couldn't put him on a five.
Then, I cash in a $100+$9 sit n'go, which is okay except my computer froze and I got blinded out with $3,000 in chips, one double-up away from being chip leader.
Then in this dumb fucking $50+$5 sit n' go I was the chip leader with six left, dude min. raises, two callers I say fuck it and call with 5-3 off in the BB. I flopped a two piece and led out, initial raiser calls. I check raise the queen all-in on the turn and he calls with J-10, so of course he catches his higher two piece on the river. Two hands later I get knocked out with 8s against A-6.
"Yeah, it's just ten times the blind, I'll call with a bad ace."
I swear to God, aside from the guarantee, I played really well, got my chips in good for the most part, but there's some lucky motherfuckers out there.
I will not let this dumb session deter me, however. I just had to let all that out because if I don't I'm just gonna think about it all night and there's nothing productive about that.
One more time, though: like, seriously, why the fuck would someone risk all their chips with a mediocre ten? Who calls a raise for half their chips pre-flop with A-6 off? Whether a tight player raised or not, who the fuck would call with 9-5 off OUT OF POSITION???? Like... ugh, it's pointless. I'm not saying I've never sucked out before, but come on. Those are three brutal suck-outs!
Makes me want to punch someone in the fucking kidney!
BULLSHIT!!!!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Phil Laak
Phil Laak and I have the same problem.
We're both "pay-off wizards".
On a positive note, I have cashed or won four out of five sit n gos for a total profit of $350. Me likey.
In my latest 3rd place finish I ran into aces in two out of three hands against two different opponents (the first time I flopped a two piece only to get counterfeited), dropping me from chip leader to outtie. Me no likey but anytime I cash is good I guess.
I'm aiming at building enough roll to play in the FTOPS Event #1, which has a $200K guarantee. Will I? Maybe, either that or I'll over-extend myself to play in it. I'd say odds of me playing are at 2-1.
More later.
We're both "pay-off wizards".
On a positive note, I have cashed or won four out of five sit n gos for a total profit of $350. Me likey.
In my latest 3rd place finish I ran into aces in two out of three hands against two different opponents (the first time I flopped a two piece only to get counterfeited), dropping me from chip leader to outtie. Me no likey but anytime I cash is good I guess.
I'm aiming at building enough roll to play in the FTOPS Event #1, which has a $200K guarantee. Will I? Maybe, either that or I'll over-extend myself to play in it. I'd say odds of me playing are at 2-1.
More later.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Sick Calls: One the Good, One the Bad
During my foray back and forth between taking a break and not, I've been thinking a lot about my game and reasons why I've been as inconsistent as I've been. I'm sure there are a ton of reasons, but I think I've stumbled upon a major--and honestly, a should-be obvious--hole in my game.
During my blogging, I constantly mention how "well" I played a hand or how "sick" of a call I made. All well and good; as a matter of fact I have another "sick" one to tell you about in a minute.
But, look back and count how many times I write about "sick" laydowns. Go ahead, I'll wait...
Not very often, right?
When I'm in a marginal situation, for some reason I always take the more aggressive or creative course of action. Top pair with a potential flush or straight out there facing a big bet? More often than not I call. Trips on a paired board against a value bet? I probably call. In big situations more often than not I'm a calling station. When I'm right, I look like a genius. When I'm wrong, I'm an idiot.
Like this one (for some reason my Full Tilt isn't doing it's job and saving my hand histories so I must re-construct): I limp with Q-J off in a six-handed tourney in first position (I know, I know). Four see a flop, comes like Q-5-8, two spades. BB checks to me, I bet like 3/4 of the pot, fold, fold back to the BB. Well, Mr. BB min. raises me.
In hindsight, I definitely could have dipped right there. He could have had anything in the BB. If I had thought about what I was beating, I should have made the easy drop. But, no, I call, for some reason putting him on a draw. Well, a nine hits on the turn. He checks to me again, and I check back.
River is inconsequential. He bets 800 into a 1200 pot. I have about 1450. I had one more chance to get out of this hand with minimal damage, but again, I called. BB shows... pocket fives for a set. Felt like a dumbass.
Now, same tourney. Through some fortunate cards and some rock solid play (my avatar on Full Tilt is now a rock, to me remind me), I get heads-up. Blinds at 100-200 and I guess I have about 6500 to his 9,000. I see 4-6 of diamonds on the button and I limp. BB checks.
Flop comes 4-K-3, two spades. I lead out for 350. He calls. At this point a weak king, a draw or ace high come into my head.
Turn is a jack of spades. He checks to me. Well, if he was on a draw he might have made it. I didn't feel like getting check-raised and getting too much more money into the pot, so I check back.
River is a queen of hearts I believe, and he fires out 900. Wow.
What am I facing? Three overs, a spade draw and maybe a backdoor straight draw. So, to deducing the hand:
During my blogging, I constantly mention how "well" I played a hand or how "sick" of a call I made. All well and good; as a matter of fact I have another "sick" one to tell you about in a minute.
But, look back and count how many times I write about "sick" laydowns. Go ahead, I'll wait...
Not very often, right?
When I'm in a marginal situation, for some reason I always take the more aggressive or creative course of action. Top pair with a potential flush or straight out there facing a big bet? More often than not I call. Trips on a paired board against a value bet? I probably call. In big situations more often than not I'm a calling station. When I'm right, I look like a genius. When I'm wrong, I'm an idiot.
Like this one (for some reason my Full Tilt isn't doing it's job and saving my hand histories so I must re-construct): I limp with Q-J off in a six-handed tourney in first position (I know, I know). Four see a flop, comes like Q-5-8, two spades. BB checks to me, I bet like 3/4 of the pot, fold, fold back to the BB. Well, Mr. BB min. raises me.
In hindsight, I definitely could have dipped right there. He could have had anything in the BB. If I had thought about what I was beating, I should have made the easy drop. But, no, I call, for some reason putting him on a draw. Well, a nine hits on the turn. He checks to me again, and I check back.
River is inconsequential. He bets 800 into a 1200 pot. I have about 1450. I had one more chance to get out of this hand with minimal damage, but again, I called. BB shows... pocket fives for a set. Felt like a dumbass.
Now, same tourney. Through some fortunate cards and some rock solid play (my avatar on Full Tilt is now a rock, to me remind me), I get heads-up. Blinds at 100-200 and I guess I have about 6500 to his 9,000. I see 4-6 of diamonds on the button and I limp. BB checks.
Flop comes 4-K-3, two spades. I lead out for 350. He calls. At this point a weak king, a draw or ace high come into my head.
Turn is a jack of spades. He checks to me. Well, if he was on a draw he might have made it. I didn't feel like getting check-raised and getting too much more money into the pot, so I check back.
River is a queen of hearts I believe, and he fires out 900. Wow.
What am I facing? Three overs, a spade draw and maybe a backdoor straight draw. So, to deducing the hand:
- He called the flop. Something about that flop kept him interested.
- Checking the turn is standard, nothing really jumps out about that. Whether or not he hit the turn I expected a check.
- The river bet, however, is weird. If he does have the best hand, I'd figure he'd want value out of it. Granted, my check on the turn indicated weakness, but why put so much money out there?
The reason I made the call is because I kind of generalized him. Tons of online players have a habit of betting hard at a missed draw. That, plus the fact that I just wasn't convinced he caught a queen or a jack on the end, factored into my decision.
He showed 5-7 of hearts.
And, naturally at that point he was crippled. The match ended the next hand when my AK held up against A4.
Man, I gotta learn to make some laydowns...
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Somewhat Oldie But Goodie
This clip of Phil Hellmuth and Tom "Durrr" Dwan isn't exactly new, but man... I cannot lie: I love watching Hellmuth blow up.
Phil is right to a certain extent. Dwan shouldn't have put that much money into the pot that early on in the match. Folding pre-flop would have been hard to do but not neccesarily impossible. A smooth call would have been my preferred play there, and then let Hellmuth dictate the play post-flop. Who knows, he might lead out with a post oak bluff, making it cheap enough to see a turn. Or, maybe he even checks the flop feigning weakness, in which case you'd gladly take a free card. I don't know, it's all hearsay, really. I'm not even going to pretend to be the king of "the right play" (which is why I'm probably as up and down as I am).
Dwan trading verbal spars with Hellmuth is funny, too. "That's why you lose money online." Maaaaan... how do you have the balls to say that to a poker legend? I love it!
I wonder if they ever played those heads-up matches...
Phil is right to a certain extent. Dwan shouldn't have put that much money into the pot that early on in the match. Folding pre-flop would have been hard to do but not neccesarily impossible. A smooth call would have been my preferred play there, and then let Hellmuth dictate the play post-flop. Who knows, he might lead out with a post oak bluff, making it cheap enough to see a turn. Or, maybe he even checks the flop feigning weakness, in which case you'd gladly take a free card. I don't know, it's all hearsay, really. I'm not even going to pretend to be the king of "the right play" (which is why I'm probably as up and down as I am).
Dwan trading verbal spars with Hellmuth is funny, too. "That's why you lose money online." Maaaaan... how do you have the balls to say that to a poker legend? I love it!
I wonder if they ever played those heads-up matches...
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tourney Monster
So, encouraged by my success in Atlantic City, I took the plunge and quit my job at Lowe's and am now a full-fledged sit-n-go/tournament poker player.
Glad that got your attention. Welcome back.
My statement is only half true. As optimistic as I am, I'm also not an idiot and don't plan on making poker a full-time endeavor anytime soon. However, I am off the cash game circuit... for now.
I feel like I'm a much better tournament/sit-n-go player than I am a cash game player. Granted, I do play tournaments--especially in the middle and end portions---with a cash game mentality, but I like tourneys a lot more. I feel like it caters to my style of play a little more.
Since I made the switch, I've had pretty good results, cashing at a rate of around 45%. The tournaments I do get bounced from I'd say more often than not I fell victim to the Pokerstars "Let's advance the tourney by bad-beating the short stacks" policy.
Honestly, I can't take all the credit. I think one of the biggest reasons for my jump in quality play (aside from having good cards to play with, lol) is Gus Hansen's new book Every Hand Revealed. People say he makes some absolutely ridiculous plays at the table, but, um, last I checked his resume is quite impressive. Regardless, he finally opens up on the logic behind his mind-games. Even if you're rock solid and have no use for wanting to be like Gus (Supaluva187 I'm talking to you) it's still keen insight on how to defend a maniacal behavior as well.
Gotta go. Blogging has contributed to me losing about a third of my stack EARLY in a deep stack tourney. Peace.
As for that tourney... funny I mentioned the Pokerstars policy, because my aces got cracked by pocket eights... no money.
Glad that got your attention. Welcome back.
My statement is only half true. As optimistic as I am, I'm also not an idiot and don't plan on making poker a full-time endeavor anytime soon. However, I am off the cash game circuit... for now.
I feel like I'm a much better tournament/sit-n-go player than I am a cash game player. Granted, I do play tournaments--especially in the middle and end portions---with a cash game mentality, but I like tourneys a lot more. I feel like it caters to my style of play a little more.
Since I made the switch, I've had pretty good results, cashing at a rate of around 45%. The tournaments I do get bounced from I'd say more often than not I fell victim to the Pokerstars "Let's advance the tourney by bad-beating the short stacks" policy.
Honestly, I can't take all the credit. I think one of the biggest reasons for my jump in quality play (aside from having good cards to play with, lol) is Gus Hansen's new book Every Hand Revealed. People say he makes some absolutely ridiculous plays at the table, but, um, last I checked his resume is quite impressive. Regardless, he finally opens up on the logic behind his mind-games. Even if you're rock solid and have no use for wanting to be like Gus (Supaluva187 I'm talking to you) it's still keen insight on how to defend a maniacal behavior as well.
Gotta go. Blogging has contributed to me losing about a third of my stack EARLY in a deep stack tourney. Peace.
As for that tourney... funny I mentioned the Pokerstars policy, because my aces got cracked by pocket eights... no money.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Win in AC
Yesterday and Wednesday were the first time I had back-to-back day offs in almost three weeks, so I decided (with the permission of my girlfriend, of course) that I wanted to go to AC to play in a WSOP satellite. The plan was foolproof... except for the fact that I couldn't find one to play in.
Still, upon reading Bluff magazine I saw the tournament circuit schedule for Atlantic City. I decided I didn't want to do an early one (couldn't get up in time), and I didn't want to do a late one (work tomorrow/today). The 3 pm Caesar's $100-$20 fit my plans perfectly, so I figured I'd go play in that one.
My road-dog Kory and I got on the road at about 11:35, arrived at 2:30, giving me just enough to sign-up for one of those Total Rewards cards, register for the tourney and drain the lizard. At 2:58 I sat down at the table... only to be informed that the field was only going to be 20 players deep. Bummer. I came all the way down to AC for this shit?
Then I thought to myself, "You know what? You're here. This is the first time you've played live poker in almost two and a half months, just use this as a tool to work on your game."
I got off to a real sluggish start, barely amassing any chips by level four when the blinds were 400-800. Then all of the sudden things started to click.
Around that 400-800 level, three people limped into the pot. I looked down at J-10 off in the small blind and complete the blind, and the big blind checks. Flop comes something like Q-8-7. I check. Big blind checks. Seat three, who eventually made it to heads-up, bets like $1200. One call. Two call. THREE calls. I'm getting okay odds to call, $1200 to win $6800, and although I definitely put first position on a decent queen and everyone else on some kind of draw/middle-pairish hand, I figured I'm really trying to as many as nine outs: obviously the nine for the straight, but more importantly the jack or the ten as a scare card to bet the queen out.
Sure enough, the jack pops up. I make a "oh shit, I have it so I'm going to bet a really small amount as to not make it obvious" type of bet that most novices make when they hit a huge hand. Big blind folds. First position, I lie to you not, says, "I can't believe you hit that", and folds. Two more folds and I think I'm on my way to taking this pot, except this one dude calls. Great, now I have to shut it down.
Except from observing him I'd received some quality information. Throughout the tourney, he had been calling and chasing and calling and chasing, once calling big bets against another opponent all the way down to the river with ace-high. He loved to see a river.
The river was a blank, and I just knew my jack was good. I wanted to get value out of it, so I bet $3500. He calls, mucking an eight.
That got me moving. I didn't really get any huge hands but I started small-balling to death, getting opponents to fold to any sort of continuation betting.
However, I did almost make a costly mistake. Sitting with about $65,000 in chips at the $1000-$2000 level, an old man in first position went all-in. He had like $17,500. I looked down at pocket fours, and I really thought he was trying to buy it. Horrible call in retrospect. Even if he is trying to buy-it, I'm almost certainly looking at a coin flip situation, and having worked so hard to get that stack, to risk a third of it on a coin flip is Fisher Price: My First Hold 'Em Tournament material. So, of course I lose when he turns over jacks and the poker gods don't want any part of helping such a donkey.
I was halfway out the door with less than $20,000 when I looked down at J-8 of diamonds in the big blind. Long story short, I flopped middle pair with a diamond draw, dude who I barely had covered pushed, I called, showing an open-ended straight draw, no straight for him and I win.
Then I small-balled my way from $40,000 to almost $80,000, sat for awhile I watched myself make the money (three get paid), got to heads-up when my A-Q out-kicked this Asian dude's A-4, and got down to heads-up.
The guy I played heads-up against was probably the player I was closest to at the table. We started out sitting next to each other, and I watched him do his best Jamie Gold impression, dominating the table from the start. I exploited him for that throughout the final table, letting him be the aggressor and just straight up out-playing him post-flop, calling with positive results on marginal hands, trapping him with the big ones. The last hand was no different, as I had about a 3-1 chip advantage. I had the button and looked down at A-Q off, and I just limped. With the blinds at 2000-4000, he raises, like I knew he would. I immediately re-pop him all-in, and, probably tired from the five-hour long journey, he calls with K-5. Ace-high wins, and, yay, I'm just shy of a grand richer.
That last hand was a testament to my style of play. While pretty much everyone else fizzled down the stretch, I just grinded it out, fought my way out of trouble and came out victorious.
That being said, man, I can't believe I drove all the way up there for that shit.
Pictures on myspace coming soon.
Still, upon reading Bluff magazine I saw the tournament circuit schedule for Atlantic City. I decided I didn't want to do an early one (couldn't get up in time), and I didn't want to do a late one (work tomorrow/today). The 3 pm Caesar's $100-$20 fit my plans perfectly, so I figured I'd go play in that one.
My road-dog Kory and I got on the road at about 11:35, arrived at 2:30, giving me just enough to sign-up for one of those Total Rewards cards, register for the tourney and drain the lizard. At 2:58 I sat down at the table... only to be informed that the field was only going to be 20 players deep. Bummer. I came all the way down to AC for this shit?
Then I thought to myself, "You know what? You're here. This is the first time you've played live poker in almost two and a half months, just use this as a tool to work on your game."
I got off to a real sluggish start, barely amassing any chips by level four when the blinds were 400-800. Then all of the sudden things started to click.
Around that 400-800 level, three people limped into the pot. I looked down at J-10 off in the small blind and complete the blind, and the big blind checks. Flop comes something like Q-8-7. I check. Big blind checks. Seat three, who eventually made it to heads-up, bets like $1200. One call. Two call. THREE calls. I'm getting okay odds to call, $1200 to win $6800, and although I definitely put first position on a decent queen and everyone else on some kind of draw/middle-pairish hand, I figured I'm really trying to as many as nine outs: obviously the nine for the straight, but more importantly the jack or the ten as a scare card to bet the queen out.
Sure enough, the jack pops up. I make a "oh shit, I have it so I'm going to bet a really small amount as to not make it obvious" type of bet that most novices make when they hit a huge hand. Big blind folds. First position, I lie to you not, says, "I can't believe you hit that", and folds. Two more folds and I think I'm on my way to taking this pot, except this one dude calls. Great, now I have to shut it down.
Except from observing him I'd received some quality information. Throughout the tourney, he had been calling and chasing and calling and chasing, once calling big bets against another opponent all the way down to the river with ace-high. He loved to see a river.
The river was a blank, and I just knew my jack was good. I wanted to get value out of it, so I bet $3500. He calls, mucking an eight.
That got me moving. I didn't really get any huge hands but I started small-balling to death, getting opponents to fold to any sort of continuation betting.
However, I did almost make a costly mistake. Sitting with about $65,000 in chips at the $1000-$2000 level, an old man in first position went all-in. He had like $17,500. I looked down at pocket fours, and I really thought he was trying to buy it. Horrible call in retrospect. Even if he is trying to buy-it, I'm almost certainly looking at a coin flip situation, and having worked so hard to get that stack, to risk a third of it on a coin flip is Fisher Price: My First Hold 'Em Tournament material. So, of course I lose when he turns over jacks and the poker gods don't want any part of helping such a donkey.
I was halfway out the door with less than $20,000 when I looked down at J-8 of diamonds in the big blind. Long story short, I flopped middle pair with a diamond draw, dude who I barely had covered pushed, I called, showing an open-ended straight draw, no straight for him and I win.
Then I small-balled my way from $40,000 to almost $80,000, sat for awhile I watched myself make the money (three get paid), got to heads-up when my A-Q out-kicked this Asian dude's A-4, and got down to heads-up.
The guy I played heads-up against was probably the player I was closest to at the table. We started out sitting next to each other, and I watched him do his best Jamie Gold impression, dominating the table from the start. I exploited him for that throughout the final table, letting him be the aggressor and just straight up out-playing him post-flop, calling with positive results on marginal hands, trapping him with the big ones. The last hand was no different, as I had about a 3-1 chip advantage. I had the button and looked down at A-Q off, and I just limped. With the blinds at 2000-4000, he raises, like I knew he would. I immediately re-pop him all-in, and, probably tired from the five-hour long journey, he calls with K-5. Ace-high wins, and, yay, I'm just shy of a grand richer.
That last hand was a testament to my style of play. While pretty much everyone else fizzled down the stretch, I just grinded it out, fought my way out of trouble and came out victorious.
That being said, man, I can't believe I drove all the way up there for that shit.
Pictures on myspace coming soon.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
It's Me, Snitches!!!
All of my loyal readers have probably been wondering where the hell I've been. After all, I haven't posted since like January, probably thought I fell off the face of the earth... at least the poker earth.
Truth is, my mind (and bank account) needed a serious break from poker for awhile. I kept saying that I needed a break, so I took one. I'm not gonna lie and say I haven't played at all in five months, but it's been very minimal, maybe a total of like five sessions.
But, I'm back. Since my triumphant return to the felt, I feel a ton more confident in my game. Good results contribute to that warm, fuzzy feeling of course, but even in the sessions I'm losing I feel pretty good. Happy to say that, despite limited sessions, I'm probably having my best poker year. All in all I'd say I'm up somewhere around the $1,000 mark for the year, a good chunk of which has come in the last few days.
I'm seeing things better now, not getting as tunnel-visioned as I had previously. Sure, there are a few instances--like a couple hours ago when I thought I had the nut straight but was felted by, you guessed it, a higher straight--where I lose my head, but for the most part things have been well. I'll probably head up to AC in a couple weeks once I scratch together more of a bankroll (funny, I'm up a G but only have about $500 in my left pocket) to play in some cash games, maybe hit a tourney or two.
I was looking online for the new Gus Hansen commercial, but unfortunately I can't find it so I'll explain the premise. Poker, in it's rawest form, is very much like storytelling, and the object of poker is basically selling your story with as high a succession rate as possible. I think this hand illustrates my point well:
PokerStars Game #17581390396: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/05/21 - 01:36:43 (ET)Table 'Hermentaria II' 9-max Seat #3 is the buttonSeat 1: my_gem ($702.80 in chips) Seat 2: jigrig08 ($37.15 in chips) Seat 3: khinster ($59.05 in chips) Seat 4: Doikito ($23.75 in chips) Seat 5: mindcirkus ($202.15 in chips) Seat 6: mike8557 ($197 in chips) Seat 7: rouel111 ($164.60 in chips) Seat 8: Tripset30 ($220.75 in chips) Seat 9: ba dum dum ($424.75 in chips) Doikito: posts small blind $1mindcirkus: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [7s 7c]
mike8557: folds rouel111: folds Tripset30: raises $4 to $6ba dum dum: folds my_gem: calls $6 jigrig08: folds khinster: folds Doikito: folds mindcirkus: folds
*** FLOP *** [As Qs Ac]Tripset30: checks my_gem: bets $8Tripset30: calls $8
*** TURN *** [As Qs Ac] [3d]Tripset30: checks my_gem: checks
*** RIVER *** [As Qs Ac 3d] [9s]Tripset30: bets $15my_gem: folds Uncalled bet ($15) returned to Tripset30Tripset30 collected $29.50 from potTripset30: doesn't show hand *** SUMMARY ***Total pot $31 Rake $1.50 Board [As Qs Ac 3d 9s]Seat 1: my_gem folded on the RiverSeat 2: jigrig08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: khinster (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: Doikito (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 5: mindcirkus (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 6: mike8557 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: rouel111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: Tripset30 collected ($29.50)Seat 9: ba dum dum folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Little background: I came to the table with $120, and throughout the session my_gem, a loose aggressive player, had pretty much assumed that I was a pretty straightforward player and had given me entirely too much credit. Of the $240 I profited during this session, $200 of it probably came from him. But, back to the hand.
Obviously he doesn't have an ace or he'd at least call on the river, but this hand makes my point perfectly. I sold him on the fact that I had a hand like A-K or A-J, possibly even A-Q (though I doubt it). Had I continuation bet on the flop, he probably would have read me as weak, because weak players usually don't bet a set on the flop. So, I satisfied him and I check-called the flop, checked the turn because I wanted to continue my "slow play", and then, the kicker, value bet the river. Didn't think for a second he had an ace, so I figured I could get away with such a seemingly by-the-book play.
Did I make him throw away the best of it? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that by selling my story I didn't have to find out.
Good to be back.
Truth is, my mind (and bank account) needed a serious break from poker for awhile. I kept saying that I needed a break, so I took one. I'm not gonna lie and say I haven't played at all in five months, but it's been very minimal, maybe a total of like five sessions.
But, I'm back. Since my triumphant return to the felt, I feel a ton more confident in my game. Good results contribute to that warm, fuzzy feeling of course, but even in the sessions I'm losing I feel pretty good. Happy to say that, despite limited sessions, I'm probably having my best poker year. All in all I'd say I'm up somewhere around the $1,000 mark for the year, a good chunk of which has come in the last few days.
I'm seeing things better now, not getting as tunnel-visioned as I had previously. Sure, there are a few instances--like a couple hours ago when I thought I had the nut straight but was felted by, you guessed it, a higher straight--where I lose my head, but for the most part things have been well. I'll probably head up to AC in a couple weeks once I scratch together more of a bankroll (funny, I'm up a G but only have about $500 in my left pocket) to play in some cash games, maybe hit a tourney or two.
I was looking online for the new Gus Hansen commercial, but unfortunately I can't find it so I'll explain the premise. Poker, in it's rawest form, is very much like storytelling, and the object of poker is basically selling your story with as high a succession rate as possible. I think this hand illustrates my point well:
PokerStars Game #17581390396: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/05/21 - 01:36:43 (ET)Table 'Hermentaria II' 9-max Seat #3 is the buttonSeat 1: my_gem ($702.80 in chips) Seat 2: jigrig08 ($37.15 in chips) Seat 3: khinster ($59.05 in chips) Seat 4: Doikito ($23.75 in chips) Seat 5: mindcirkus ($202.15 in chips) Seat 6: mike8557 ($197 in chips) Seat 7: rouel111 ($164.60 in chips) Seat 8: Tripset30 ($220.75 in chips) Seat 9: ba dum dum ($424.75 in chips) Doikito: posts small blind $1mindcirkus: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [7s 7c]
mike8557: folds rouel111: folds Tripset30: raises $4 to $6ba dum dum: folds my_gem: calls $6 jigrig08: folds khinster: folds Doikito: folds mindcirkus: folds
*** FLOP *** [As Qs Ac]Tripset30: checks my_gem: bets $8Tripset30: calls $8
*** TURN *** [As Qs Ac] [3d]Tripset30: checks my_gem: checks
*** RIVER *** [As Qs Ac 3d] [9s]Tripset30: bets $15my_gem: folds Uncalled bet ($15) returned to Tripset30Tripset30 collected $29.50 from potTripset30: doesn't show hand *** SUMMARY ***Total pot $31 Rake $1.50 Board [As Qs Ac 3d 9s]Seat 1: my_gem folded on the RiverSeat 2: jigrig08 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 3: khinster (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 4: Doikito (small blind) folded before FlopSeat 5: mindcirkus (big blind) folded before FlopSeat 6: mike8557 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: rouel111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 8: Tripset30 collected ($29.50)Seat 9: ba dum dum folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Little background: I came to the table with $120, and throughout the session my_gem, a loose aggressive player, had pretty much assumed that I was a pretty straightforward player and had given me entirely too much credit. Of the $240 I profited during this session, $200 of it probably came from him. But, back to the hand.
Obviously he doesn't have an ace or he'd at least call on the river, but this hand makes my point perfectly. I sold him on the fact that I had a hand like A-K or A-J, possibly even A-Q (though I doubt it). Had I continuation bet on the flop, he probably would have read me as weak, because weak players usually don't bet a set on the flop. So, I satisfied him and I check-called the flop, checked the turn because I wanted to continue my "slow play", and then, the kicker, value bet the river. Didn't think for a second he had an ace, so I figured I could get away with such a seemingly by-the-book play.
Did I make him throw away the best of it? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that by selling my story I didn't have to find out.
Good to be back.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Writing in an Effort to Move On...
This hand has been in my head all day, and in order to clear my mind for the upcoming Midnight Madness tourney on Full Tilt, I have to get it off my chest.
$17,000 Guarantee last night. 16 away from the money in an 800 or so person tourney. Blinds 250-500. Did I make the right choice?
Full Tilt Poker Game #4938880384: $17,000 Guarantee (36847476), Table 73 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:29:31 ET - 2008/01/21Seat 1: cp10990 (11,254)Seat 2: TommyC_107 (9,422)Seat 3: BSOX04 (8,116)Seat 4: PSCPRODIGY (15,179)Seat 5: Tripset30 (6,512)Seat 6: IgotdanutsAA (2,274)Seat 7: mauzinho2 (8,432)Seat 8: Veghead9 (7,669)Seat 9: Merrito (11,058)cp10990 antes 50TommyC_107 antes 50BSOX04 antes 50PSCPRODIGY antes 50Tripset30 antes 50IgotdanutsAA antes 50mauzinho2 antes 50Veghead9 antes 50Merrito antes 50Tripset30 posts the small blind of 250IgotdanutsAA posts the big blind of 500The button is in seat #4*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh As]
mauzinho2 folds
Veghead9 folds
Merrito calls 500
cp10990 folds
TommyC_107 folds
BSOX04 has 15 seconds left to actBSOX04 folds
IgotdanutsAA: jesus christ
IgotdanutsAA: my luck
IgotdanutsAA: nice catch
PSCPRODIGY raises to 2,008
Tripset30 raises to 6,462, and is all in
IgotdanutsAA folds
Merrito calls 5,962
PSCPRODIGY has 15 seconds left to act
PSCPRODIGY has requested TIME
PSCPRODIGY raises to 15,129, and is all in
Merrito calls 4,546, and is all in
PSCPRODIGY shows [Qd Qh]
Tripset30 shows [Kh As]
Merrito shows [Ad Ac]
A little background (as the tournament window is open in the background): PSC, the button, had raised pretty much every button, so I felt like I could take a shot there. What I didn't count on was that Merrito would limp with aces. All honesty, I just didn't think he had the creativity to pull such a stunt, especially from middle position.
The only thing I kind of wonder about is what if I had just called PSC there? Does Merrito still re-pop? If he just smooth calls, I get away from that hand on the flop (which came J-10-blank).
Dan Harrington says to fold pretty much anything outside of Ks or As that close to the bubble. I don't know.
All I know is that I got to play for now.
$17,000 Guarantee last night. 16 away from the money in an 800 or so person tourney. Blinds 250-500. Did I make the right choice?
Full Tilt Poker Game #4938880384: $17,000 Guarantee (36847476), Table 73 - 250/500 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:29:31 ET - 2008/01/21Seat 1: cp10990 (11,254)Seat 2: TommyC_107 (9,422)Seat 3: BSOX04 (8,116)Seat 4: PSCPRODIGY (15,179)Seat 5: Tripset30 (6,512)Seat 6: IgotdanutsAA (2,274)Seat 7: mauzinho2 (8,432)Seat 8: Veghead9 (7,669)Seat 9: Merrito (11,058)cp10990 antes 50TommyC_107 antes 50BSOX04 antes 50PSCPRODIGY antes 50Tripset30 antes 50IgotdanutsAA antes 50mauzinho2 antes 50Veghead9 antes 50Merrito antes 50Tripset30 posts the small blind of 250IgotdanutsAA posts the big blind of 500The button is in seat #4*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to Tripset30 [Kh As]
mauzinho2 folds
Veghead9 folds
Merrito calls 500
cp10990 folds
TommyC_107 folds
BSOX04 has 15 seconds left to actBSOX04 folds
IgotdanutsAA: jesus christ
IgotdanutsAA: my luck
IgotdanutsAA: nice catch
PSCPRODIGY raises to 2,008
Tripset30 raises to 6,462, and is all in
IgotdanutsAA folds
Merrito calls 5,962
PSCPRODIGY has 15 seconds left to act
PSCPRODIGY has requested TIME
PSCPRODIGY raises to 15,129, and is all in
Merrito calls 4,546, and is all in
PSCPRODIGY shows [Qd Qh]
Tripset30 shows [Kh As]
Merrito shows [Ad Ac]
A little background (as the tournament window is open in the background): PSC, the button, had raised pretty much every button, so I felt like I could take a shot there. What I didn't count on was that Merrito would limp with aces. All honesty, I just didn't think he had the creativity to pull such a stunt, especially from middle position.
The only thing I kind of wonder about is what if I had just called PSC there? Does Merrito still re-pop? If he just smooth calls, I get away from that hand on the flop (which came J-10-blank).
Dan Harrington says to fold pretty much anything outside of Ks or As that close to the bubble. I don't know.
All I know is that I got to play for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)