Very solid, if not up and down (mostly up) weekend of poker playing this weekend. Finished 45th out of 2200+ people in the Friday night Stars $1 rebuy tourney - 12th place headed into final hand, tangled with 3rd place chipper. Flop 2 pair on A-J-4 board (A-J), donk comes over the top of my check-raise with A-K...hits K on river, and I go from having a chance to make a really deep run to out - +$24 (minus costs and add-on - no rebuy required). Really, not a hard tourney to accumulate chips in the rebuy level - just sit back, wait for you big hands, push them hard, and there are plenty of idiots to pay you off.
Last night, this hand came up - I don't even think I cashed in this SnG, but the hand is just great to look at:
PokerStars Game #35682070277: Tournament #214847210, $3.00+$0.40 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2009/11/22 0:19:58 ET
Table '214847210 1' 10-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: RockDawgy (1440 in chips)
Seat 2: AAK27 (2100 in chips)
Seat 3: BKrywko1 (1440 in chips)
Seat 4: fgallo86 (1480 in chips)
Seat 5: feuerabend (1080 in chips)
Seat 6: Btterfly00 (1480 in chips)
Seat 7: AA-KK-Man (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: Gilbert85 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: CheCop24 (1500 in chips)
Seat 10: snoofy07 (1480 in chips)
fgallo86: posts small blind 10
feuerabend: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BKrywko1 [Jd Th]
Btterfly00: folds
AA-KK-Man: folds
Gilbert85: calls 20
CheCop24: folds
snoofy07: calls 20
RockDawgy: folds
AAK27: calls 20
BKrywko1: calls 20
fgallo86: folds
feuerabend: raises 20 to 40
Gilbert85: calls 20
snoofy07: calls 20
AAK27: calls 20
BKrywko1: calls 20
*** FLOP *** [7d Tc Ts]
feuerabend: bets 20
Gilbert85: folds
snoofy07: folds
AAK27: folds
BKrywko1: calls 20
*** TURN *** [7d Tc Ts] [7c]
feuerabend: checks
BKrywko1: checks
*** RIVER *** [7d Tc Ts 7c] [3c]
feuerabend: bets 20
BKrywko1: raises 60 to 80
feuerabend: calls 60
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BKrywko1: shows [Jd Th] (a full house, Tens full of Sevens)
feuerabend: mucks hand
BKrywko1 collected 410 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 410 | Rake 0
Board [7d Tc Ts 7c 3c]
Seat 1: RockDawgy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: AAK27 folded on the Flop
Seat 3: BKrywko1 (button) showed [Jd Th] and won (410) with a full house, Tens full of Sevens
Seat 4: fgallo86 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: feuerabend (big blind) mucked [Jc 6d]
Seat 6: Btterfly00 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: AA-KK-Man folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Gilbert85 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: CheCop24 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: snoofy07 folded on the Flop
Of course, one can't mention the title phrase without bringing up this classic from 2004 - Ellix Powers, everyone (go to the 4 minute mark, and enjoy!)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sick 2009 WSOP hand
All you need to watch is the first minute of this video to see how sick this hand is pre-flop - enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ay_52F_Zbg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ay_52F_Zbg&feature=related
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Live tourney report
Went and played on Saturday night over at a charity poker room again - this time a $25 freezeout (5,000 chips), and this game made the Dino's game look like a total nitfest.
There was only 30 players, so only 3 places are getting paid. Oh wait, 4th place got a Party Poker hat for their troubles...whoopie-doo! Table draw seems alright - 3 young punks at other end of table from me, but generally an older crowd. I am told ahead of time about this one punk, Idiot Boy, who some say is the best player in the game...after less than an orbit I figure out that this is the guy I want to play a monster pot with later on.
At the 75/150 level, I double up from 4,300 chips after my A-J holds over K-J after I check-raised the flop with middle pair...one of the young punks calls me with a flush-draw. No help for him, and a huge double-up for me.
First hand of the 100/200 level sees me take 2,500 from Idiot Boy with a measely 7-7 after value-betting the river on a Q-3-4-10-8 board - and he snap-calls with A-K :-\
Couple of hands later, I knock out one player when I make a straight on the river...except I had thought I lost the hand to the other player's 2 pair, which got some abuse from punk Idiot Boy, along the lines of the "donk doesn't even know what he has". I sheepishly laugh the whole thing off - what could I do?
A few hands later, Idiot Boy doubles up an older lady when she hits quad 3s on the turn on a 3-3-8-3-J board...after both me and his buddy mock him about, oh, .2 seconds after he made the river call, I was reminded of one of my favorite YouTube clips of all-time, involving Kenna James and Mike Matusow:
Table break to 2 tables, and play pretty solid poker to chip up to 25,000 when we get to the final table. Boring final table, as a few blinds were stolen, some small pots won, but eventually we got down to four, where we all agreed to take $10 off each payout so the "bubble" would get a small profit to go along with the snazzy Party Poker hat.
And thank god for the deal, because only 2 hands after we get here, I re-raise UTG's raise with K-K, only to run into A-A - no suckout for me, and I leave up $5 and a crappy hat. I ended up leaving the hat for one of the other 3 to take, and left for the evening.
No Dino's this week - been running horribly in the game, and yet last week may have been one of my better weeks of play in a while, go figure.
There was only 30 players, so only 3 places are getting paid. Oh wait, 4th place got a Party Poker hat for their troubles...whoopie-doo! Table draw seems alright - 3 young punks at other end of table from me, but generally an older crowd. I am told ahead of time about this one punk, Idiot Boy, who some say is the best player in the game...after less than an orbit I figure out that this is the guy I want to play a monster pot with later on.
At the 75/150 level, I double up from 4,300 chips after my A-J holds over K-J after I check-raised the flop with middle pair...one of the young punks calls me with a flush-draw. No help for him, and a huge double-up for me.
First hand of the 100/200 level sees me take 2,500 from Idiot Boy with a measely 7-7 after value-betting the river on a Q-3-4-10-8 board - and he snap-calls with A-K :-\
Couple of hands later, I knock out one player when I make a straight on the river...except I had thought I lost the hand to the other player's 2 pair, which got some abuse from punk Idiot Boy, along the lines of the "donk doesn't even know what he has". I sheepishly laugh the whole thing off - what could I do?
A few hands later, Idiot Boy doubles up an older lady when she hits quad 3s on the turn on a 3-3-8-3-J board...after both me and his buddy mock him about, oh, .2 seconds after he made the river call, I was reminded of one of my favorite YouTube clips of all-time, involving Kenna James and Mike Matusow:
Table break to 2 tables, and play pretty solid poker to chip up to 25,000 when we get to the final table. Boring final table, as a few blinds were stolen, some small pots won, but eventually we got down to four, where we all agreed to take $10 off each payout so the "bubble" would get a small profit to go along with the snazzy Party Poker hat.
And thank god for the deal, because only 2 hands after we get here, I re-raise UTG's raise with K-K, only to run into A-A - no suckout for me, and I leave up $5 and a crappy hat. I ended up leaving the hat for one of the other 3 to take, and left for the evening.
No Dino's this week - been running horribly in the game, and yet last week may have been one of my better weeks of play in a while, go figure.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Short tourney tonight
3 hands - that's how long my live game went for me today, but at least I wasn't first. Worst player in the game hit gutshots in consecutive hands (after calling bets she was not priced in to calling) to bust me - but as things turned out, I still ended up being the "season" pointleader this time around, so I'll take it.
Won $15 or so (off $10 buy-in) later on in the cash game - donked off $10 at the end, otherwise it would have been an even better day of cash action.
Won $15 or so (off $10 buy-in) later on in the cash game - donked off $10 at the end, otherwise it would have been an even better day of cash action.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Only since the President wants us patriotic Americans to search for fishy things, then turn them over to the White House, am I doing this...I guess.
Anyways, I found this site that has been out there spreading lies and distortions about healthcare reform, and I thought I should pass it on. Let's shut these jerks down!
The website is http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/ - they were also saying things that are untrue about the Recovery Act, like it was creating jobs and stimulating growth...HA!
Anyways, I found this site that has been out there spreading lies and distortions about healthcare reform, and I thought I should pass it on. Let's shut these jerks down!
The website is http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/ - they were also saying things that are untrue about the Recovery Act, like it was creating jobs and stimulating growth...HA!
Last night's Charity Poker action - more detailed
Won't get into the introductions here, since my last post pretty much took care of the setup for last night. Safe to say that the structure will still allow the donks to play like donks, while allowing those of us who are more TAG some time to actually play some poker.
Not much happened the first couple of levels, but mainly concentrated on getting my reads, obtaining information, and letting action come to me. Picked up a solid pot to boost my stack 50% with the ol' 8-2 BB special to crack an unraised Q-Q, and took down some blinds to boost my stack to over 8K.
A-K raise to 600 (100/200 level) with 4 callers, took down the pot post-flop with a 2K bet after A hits on the flop - young punk Hollywoods for a couple of minutes, then tries to act like he's making a great laydown of bottom pair...why do people insist on doing this? Frustrating to play players who are the last at the table to figure out that they're folding - just sayin'.
At 150/300, I get my first knockout of the night in a pretty big hand. Raise UTG with 6-6 to 1000, get 1 caller. Flop hits 8-7-3 - C-bet of 2K gets young punk talking...too much for his own good, actually. "I know that flop didn't help you at all - but I got outs" - and pushes his last 6K into the middle. I look at the punk for a couple of seconds, say "A-J? You really put your tournament at risk for 2 overs?" After watching him fidget in this chair for a couple of seconds, I confidently called...waited for him to flip his A-Q over, and elicited a coupled of "WOW!" comments after I flipped over the 6-6 (which also got a couple of "great call - no matter what happens" from the guys to my left and right of me). 5 on turn seems like no help, but it takes 2 outs away from opponent as I pick up a flush draw - but an 8 on the river seals the knockout.
At the end of this level is our break, and the very last hand of this level provides us with another monster hand. Limped in UTG with 3-3, which got 2 callers...til cutoff raised to 1200 - this player had only raised twice before, and with big hands, so the thought of folding this crossed the mind...but with my stack where it was at, and figuring out that my implied odds were good here, I called. Another dude checked, and before flop I checked in the dark. Nothing special - just something to change the play up a bit.
Hit the 3 on the flop for trips, cutoff put in his last 5K...took my time to count my chips out and make the call, in case the other player wanted to along here. When other player folded, I told the cutoff that I think I outflopped him...and when he showed his K-K to my set of 3's, I was proven correct. 3 on the turn gives me quads, and we're down to 6 going into the break.
Tourney host informs us that they are paying only 2 people - worked to 200 for first, 130 for second. I added at the break to give me 4K more chips - 29K total. Only because the player now on my right bought more did I feel compelled to do it, but 10 more BBs won't hurt me here - and I'll take an advantage over the other 4 players who didn't add-on, anytime.
We lose on the 2nd hand after the break, then lose another the hand afterwards. After stealing the blinds 2 hands in a row, I get K-K on the button, and raise my normal 3xBB. Sometimes I'll raise 2.5xBB, sometimes 4xBB - depends on what the table is like. SB re-raises me to 4K, which is about a third of his stack...I figure he's pot-committed, and where I want him. I raise enough to put him all-in, and while he says he's sure he's beat, that he can't fold this hand...and calls while flipping over 7-7(?). In general, no issue with the call...but with 20 BB left if you fold, and almost positive you're beat, let it go. I'm glad he didn't, and even happier when my K-K holds up (full house on river was just overkill), and I'm in great shape now.
The 3 of us left at the table agree to take 20 and 10 off the prize amounts, so that way 3rd place gets their original buy-in back + $5 - still not making money, but a little scratch ain't bad. 2 of us grind down one of the players for a few orbits, then my opponent takes him out with 4-4 versus K-10 - and we're off to heads-up.
A few hands of little note were played, and when both of us realized that we were both getting kind of tired (only 10 at night...but still), were going to be there for a while, with blinds at 700/1400, and stacks of 50K/40K, we agreed to chop the $300 total prize $155/$145, with me getting the higher amount. Based on the stack sizes that worked out to be a +EV move, since I should have gotten only $153 out of it - but fair chop, all-around. I'm not a big fan of chops, but if done fairly like this one was, and if the circumstances warrant it, I'm down with it.
Not much happened the first couple of levels, but mainly concentrated on getting my reads, obtaining information, and letting action come to me. Picked up a solid pot to boost my stack 50% with the ol' 8-2 BB special to crack an unraised Q-Q, and took down some blinds to boost my stack to over 8K.
A-K raise to 600 (100/200 level) with 4 callers, took down the pot post-flop with a 2K bet after A hits on the flop - young punk Hollywoods for a couple of minutes, then tries to act like he's making a great laydown of bottom pair...why do people insist on doing this? Frustrating to play players who are the last at the table to figure out that they're folding - just sayin'.
At 150/300, I get my first knockout of the night in a pretty big hand. Raise UTG with 6-6 to 1000, get 1 caller. Flop hits 8-7-3 - C-bet of 2K gets young punk talking...too much for his own good, actually. "I know that flop didn't help you at all - but I got outs" - and pushes his last 6K into the middle. I look at the punk for a couple of seconds, say "A-J? You really put your tournament at risk for 2 overs?" After watching him fidget in this chair for a couple of seconds, I confidently called...waited for him to flip his A-Q over, and elicited a coupled of "WOW!" comments after I flipped over the 6-6 (which also got a couple of "great call - no matter what happens" from the guys to my left and right of me). 5 on turn seems like no help, but it takes 2 outs away from opponent as I pick up a flush draw - but an 8 on the river seals the knockout.
At the end of this level is our break, and the very last hand of this level provides us with another monster hand. Limped in UTG with 3-3, which got 2 callers...til cutoff raised to 1200 - this player had only raised twice before, and with big hands, so the thought of folding this crossed the mind...but with my stack where it was at, and figuring out that my implied odds were good here, I called. Another dude checked, and before flop I checked in the dark. Nothing special - just something to change the play up a bit.
Hit the 3 on the flop for trips, cutoff put in his last 5K...took my time to count my chips out and make the call, in case the other player wanted to along here. When other player folded, I told the cutoff that I think I outflopped him...and when he showed his K-K to my set of 3's, I was proven correct. 3 on the turn gives me quads, and we're down to 6 going into the break.
Tourney host informs us that they are paying only 2 people - worked to 200 for first, 130 for second. I added at the break to give me 4K more chips - 29K total. Only because the player now on my right bought more did I feel compelled to do it, but 10 more BBs won't hurt me here - and I'll take an advantage over the other 4 players who didn't add-on, anytime.
We lose on the 2nd hand after the break, then lose another the hand afterwards. After stealing the blinds 2 hands in a row, I get K-K on the button, and raise my normal 3xBB. Sometimes I'll raise 2.5xBB, sometimes 4xBB - depends on what the table is like. SB re-raises me to 4K, which is about a third of his stack...I figure he's pot-committed, and where I want him. I raise enough to put him all-in, and while he says he's sure he's beat, that he can't fold this hand...and calls while flipping over 7-7(?). In general, no issue with the call...but with 20 BB left if you fold, and almost positive you're beat, let it go. I'm glad he didn't, and even happier when my K-K holds up (full house on river was just overkill), and I'm in great shape now.
The 3 of us left at the table agree to take 20 and 10 off the prize amounts, so that way 3rd place gets their original buy-in back + $5 - still not making money, but a little scratch ain't bad. 2 of us grind down one of the players for a few orbits, then my opponent takes him out with 4-4 versus K-10 - and we're off to heads-up.
A few hands of little note were played, and when both of us realized that we were both getting kind of tired (only 10 at night...but still), were going to be there for a while, with blinds at 700/1400, and stacks of 50K/40K, we agreed to chop the $300 total prize $155/$145, with me getting the higher amount. Based on the stack sizes that worked out to be a +EV move, since I should have gotten only $153 out of it - but fair chop, all-around. I'm not a big fan of chops, but if done fairly like this one was, and if the circumstances warrant it, I'm down with it.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
More charity poker fun...and another good cash.
Went to another charity poker tournament tonight in my area - $25 buy-in gets you 4,000 - another $10 gets you 2000 chips, with one rebuy ($25) or add-on after the break ($20) for 4,000 chips. With 25/50 blinds to start and 20 minute blind levels, I didn't see the need to add-on early, although I did take advantage of the extra 4,000 add-on at the break...even with 21,000 chips at the break. 11 players played, although one player jumped after the first player busted out, so in effect it was a rebuy SnG.
Chopped with another guy for first place - I took $155, other player took $145 - 50K to 40K chip lead at the chop, but both of us wanted to get out of there (first was $180, second was $120), so I took the chop as described above. Not the usual donfest you would expect, since the structure allowed for a lot of play - will hit this one again in the future.
Details to follow tomorrow
Chopped with another guy for first place - I took $155, other player took $145 - 50K to 40K chip lead at the chop, but both of us wanted to get out of there (first was $180, second was $120), so I took the chop as described above. Not the usual donfest you would expect, since the structure allowed for a lot of play - will hit this one again in the future.
Details to follow tomorrow
Tuesday night Snookers tourney action!
Without getting into a lot of personal details here, had a wife and kid-free evening Tuesday night, so I decided to try my hand again at one of the charity poker rooms in town over at Snookers in Utica (Van Dyke Highway and M-59 area). Totally enjoyable experience - this tournament had a solid structure which allowed you to actually play poker (as opposed to the all-in or fold style you see at the rebuy events) for a couple of hours (20 minute blinds), had staff who knew what they were doing, and the players were generally pretty friendly...I'll try to hit this again soon in the future.
On to the tourney - 49 of us paid $30 (80% to the prize pool), top 5 paid, and freezeout style. 3300 chips to start. First level of 25/50 saw mostly junk folds, but at the first hand of the 50/100 level I bluffed a loose-passive player out with 2nd-bottom pair to pick up a 1200 pot.
Traded chips back and forth for a bit, until we hit the end of the 200/400 level, get my first big hand of the night. Saw A-A UTG, and raised to 1000, player immediately to my left quickly jammed his 5500 or so into the middle, and I called my remaining 3800 as soon as action got to me...A-A beats Q-Q to get a monster pot.
Immediately lost about 15% of my stack set-mining til the turn 8-8 against a player's A-A...and player was nice enough to show me A-A after I folded my 8s face-up while saying "I can't beat A-A". Felt nice to hear the murmuring after that hand - certainly felt like I was "in the zone", so to speak.
We move on to 500/1000 (and last level before a break), and another big pot ensues. 3-way pot with A-7 of diamonds, and flop of 3 diamonds is pretty to me! Another player bets, and I slowplay the nuts here...but being wary of board pairing, as well. K-Q of diff suits come out, and initial better jams for 4500 all-in after the river, and it takes me about .12 seconds to say "call" and flip over the nuts - Set of 2s not enough for the player.
A-10 took down the blinds a couple of hands later, the next hand saw me as the SB raise with A-6 and take the pot down on a A-4-2 board, then my favorite hand of the night decided to happen on the last hand before the break.
After UTG called 1400 (700/1400 blinds), it was folded around to me to my little 3-4 of diamonds...figuring I had a big stack at the time, I called. SB folded, and BB put his last 1400 in the middle. UTG and I both call (I figured if small junk hits I have a great shot), and flop is 7-3-4. Checked around, when an 8 comes. UTG bets out 4K, and after hollywooding for a few seconds, I call. Probably should have raised here, but I'm trying to keep the pot small, since I know he has something here...and dry side pots are not bet into unless someone has something. 3 on river gives me the boat, and when UTG bets his last 5K, I insta-call and hear some choice words from the losers of the hand when I flip over the 3-4 to knock 2 players out!
Since it was break time, a couple of observers and players who saw the hand decided to ask me about that hand, and how I could play 3-4 in that spot - after explaining them the concepts of pot odds, implied odds, stack sizes, etc, I don't think either of them thought I made the right play, but at least they knew it wasn't total "idiot talk" either.
First hand of the break saw a knockout when I take 2-2 out with my 6-6, then shortly afterwards lose 7000 when my 7-7 couldn't beat J-8. My UTG+1 raise (Blinds at 1000/2000 now) of A-10 the very next hand, however, forces a shorty all-in, and me taking his 8-5 out means we're down to 10...final table!
All of us agree to take $30 off of each of the top 5 prizes, so that everyone who made the final ten at least got their money back (fair enough, i figure). Fold the first few hands, then on consecutive hands take down the 1000/2000 blinds when I raise to 7000 both time with J-J and Q-Q.
Misplayed badly one hand, and that cost me. Immediately after busting a shorty after calling in the dark (500 more into a pot of 4500 after shorty in SB jammed for last 2500) with A-3 to his K-Q and having it hold, I raise to 6K with A-6 in the SB - BB thinks for a minute, then calls. After flop of Q-8-8 is checked, I bet out 8K on the turn when a Q hits - BB immediately goes all-in (and has me covered), and I quickly fold. BB shows 8-8 for quads - nice!
Card-dead for a few orbits as we've whittled down to 5-handed here. With blinds at 2K-4K I jam from the button for last 10.5K with "I have no idea", because I never looked at my cards before I made the move. BB looks at me for a few seconds, shows an ace at me and asks "Does this scare you?", to which I reply "No", but knowing that the hand was dead...and then after BB folds and asks if it's a good one, I say, "I don't know, I haven't looked at my cards yet", and before the dealer can grab them I flip over J-4 Heh! Other players (and a few people watching) are laughing, and BB just looks at me a stunned look on his face before chuckling, as well.
Got in with A-Q versus 9-9, and while the door card showed an ace, there was also a 9 on that flop to give opponent a set. No help on turn, and I was gone in 4th for $100...not a bad night at all. A solid venue with some solid players - very enjoyable experience.
On to the tourney - 49 of us paid $30 (80% to the prize pool), top 5 paid, and freezeout style. 3300 chips to start. First level of 25/50 saw mostly junk folds, but at the first hand of the 50/100 level I bluffed a loose-passive player out with 2nd-bottom pair to pick up a 1200 pot.
Traded chips back and forth for a bit, until we hit the end of the 200/400 level, get my first big hand of the night. Saw A-A UTG, and raised to 1000, player immediately to my left quickly jammed his 5500 or so into the middle, and I called my remaining 3800 as soon as action got to me...A-A beats Q-Q to get a monster pot.
Immediately lost about 15% of my stack set-mining til the turn 8-8 against a player's A-A...and player was nice enough to show me A-A after I folded my 8s face-up while saying "I can't beat A-A". Felt nice to hear the murmuring after that hand - certainly felt like I was "in the zone", so to speak.
We move on to 500/1000 (and last level before a break), and another big pot ensues. 3-way pot with A-7 of diamonds, and flop of 3 diamonds is pretty to me! Another player bets, and I slowplay the nuts here...but being wary of board pairing, as well. K-Q of diff suits come out, and initial better jams for 4500 all-in after the river, and it takes me about .12 seconds to say "call" and flip over the nuts - Set of 2s not enough for the player.
A-10 took down the blinds a couple of hands later, the next hand saw me as the SB raise with A-6 and take the pot down on a A-4-2 board, then my favorite hand of the night decided to happen on the last hand before the break.
After UTG called 1400 (700/1400 blinds), it was folded around to me to my little 3-4 of diamonds...figuring I had a big stack at the time, I called. SB folded, and BB put his last 1400 in the middle. UTG and I both call (I figured if small junk hits I have a great shot), and flop is 7-3-4. Checked around, when an 8 comes. UTG bets out 4K, and after hollywooding for a few seconds, I call. Probably should have raised here, but I'm trying to keep the pot small, since I know he has something here...and dry side pots are not bet into unless someone has something. 3 on river gives me the boat, and when UTG bets his last 5K, I insta-call and hear some choice words from the losers of the hand when I flip over the 3-4 to knock 2 players out!
Since it was break time, a couple of observers and players who saw the hand decided to ask me about that hand, and how I could play 3-4 in that spot - after explaining them the concepts of pot odds, implied odds, stack sizes, etc, I don't think either of them thought I made the right play, but at least they knew it wasn't total "idiot talk" either.
First hand of the break saw a knockout when I take 2-2 out with my 6-6, then shortly afterwards lose 7000 when my 7-7 couldn't beat J-8. My UTG+1 raise (Blinds at 1000/2000 now) of A-10 the very next hand, however, forces a shorty all-in, and me taking his 8-5 out means we're down to 10...final table!
All of us agree to take $30 off of each of the top 5 prizes, so that everyone who made the final ten at least got their money back (fair enough, i figure). Fold the first few hands, then on consecutive hands take down the 1000/2000 blinds when I raise to 7000 both time with J-J and Q-Q.
Misplayed badly one hand, and that cost me. Immediately after busting a shorty after calling in the dark (500 more into a pot of 4500 after shorty in SB jammed for last 2500) with A-3 to his K-Q and having it hold, I raise to 6K with A-6 in the SB - BB thinks for a minute, then calls. After flop of Q-8-8 is checked, I bet out 8K on the turn when a Q hits - BB immediately goes all-in (and has me covered), and I quickly fold. BB shows 8-8 for quads - nice!
Card-dead for a few orbits as we've whittled down to 5-handed here. With blinds at 2K-4K I jam from the button for last 10.5K with "I have no idea", because I never looked at my cards before I made the move. BB looks at me for a few seconds, shows an ace at me and asks "Does this scare you?", to which I reply "No", but knowing that the hand was dead...and then after BB folds and asks if it's a good one, I say, "I don't know, I haven't looked at my cards yet", and before the dealer can grab them I flip over J-4 Heh! Other players (and a few people watching) are laughing, and BB just looks at me a stunned look on his face before chuckling, as well.
Got in with A-Q versus 9-9, and while the door card showed an ace, there was also a 9 on that flop to give opponent a set. No help on turn, and I was gone in 4th for $100...not a bad night at all. A solid venue with some solid players - very enjoyable experience.
Dino's wrap - Monday 8/3
Keep it short this time - finished about 15th-16th or so, but wasn't motivated to play my best that night, since I know I'm already in the finals in a couple of weeks. May not even go next Monday, but we'll see if my attitude changes before then.
Playing A-2 to a 3xBB raise UTG at a 5-handed table to a BB who just calls the bet with A-Q when he is left then the amount of the big blind is just unlucky timing - one of the rare times I berated (albeit mildly) a player at the Dino's game. Went something like, "WDR, if you're gonna call when it leaves you less than a big blind, just put it all in the middle next time" - I seriously wonder how people play on a weekly basis and don't get basic shiiii...stuff like that.
Playing A-2 to a 3xBB raise UTG at a 5-handed table to a BB who just calls the bet with A-Q when he is left then the amount of the big blind is just unlucky timing - one of the rare times I berated (albeit mildly) a player at the Dino's game. Went something like, "WDR, if you're gonna call when it leaves you less than a big blind, just put it all in the middle next time" - I seriously wonder how people play on a weekly basis and don't get basic shiiii...stuff like that.
Checking a hand down when a player is all-in.
Typical donk comment you hear at the tables goes along these lines: "Why didn't you check it down? You betting me out of the pot let the shorty win, when I would have beaten him!" As an example of this, I was a shorty in a satellite this weekend, and jammed UTG with 4-4 - donk bigstack pushed out another caller after the flop with only a pair of 2s (other player folded 6-6 on a 9-5-2 board), and my hand held up - and I went on to win one of 15 seats in this satellite with more than a 3-1 chip lead over the player with the 2nd most chips.
Usually, this involves players betting into what is known as a "dry side pot" - i.e. only all-in chips and calls from the players are in "main pot", and side pot is empty. Many players are huge fans of the "don't bet into a dry side pot unless you have the nuts" philosophy...but the idea about betting into a "dry side pot" is one that is misapplied and misunderstood to a ridiculous degree.
With cards to come, you should be trying to increase your equity in most spots - even 'bluffing' into dry side pots. The occasions where 'cooperation' plays are correct are few and far between, and it's waaaaay overdone. I have seen people 'checking down' with 20-30 people still in a tourney.
For me to 'cooperate' (in general):
- We need to be at the final table or close to the money in a qualifier/flat payout.
- The pot has to be small.
- My hand has to have very little chance of being best.
- Sidepot needs to be empty.
- River is dealt.
The last one is important. If there are cards to come, bluffing the other player out will generally increase your equity substantially. The only way that isn't true is if the shorty already has a hand made that you cannot beat.
I'm all for 'cooperation plays' - but only when it benefits ME. I love it when it gets checked down to my garbage which ends up hitting and being best. But if I think I can improve my chances by pushing out my 'partner', well......
Remember, play to win!
Daniel Negreanu has 2 articles on this topic:
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/?a_id=13113&m_id=53
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/showarticle.php?a_id=13135&m_id=54
Usually, this involves players betting into what is known as a "dry side pot" - i.e. only all-in chips and calls from the players are in "main pot", and side pot is empty. Many players are huge fans of the "don't bet into a dry side pot unless you have the nuts" philosophy...but the idea about betting into a "dry side pot" is one that is misapplied and misunderstood to a ridiculous degree.
With cards to come, you should be trying to increase your equity in most spots - even 'bluffing' into dry side pots. The occasions where 'cooperation' plays are correct are few and far between, and it's waaaaay overdone. I have seen people 'checking down' with 20-30 people still in a tourney.
For me to 'cooperate' (in general):
- We need to be at the final table or close to the money in a qualifier/flat payout.
- The pot has to be small.
- My hand has to have very little chance of being best.
- Sidepot needs to be empty.
- River is dealt.
The last one is important. If there are cards to come, bluffing the other player out will generally increase your equity substantially. The only way that isn't true is if the shorty already has a hand made that you cannot beat.
I'm all for 'cooperation plays' - but only when it benefits ME. I love it when it gets checked down to my garbage which ends up hitting and being best. But if I think I can improve my chances by pushing out my 'partner', well......
Remember, play to win!
Daniel Negreanu has 2 articles on this topic:
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/?a_id=13113&m_id=53
http://www.cardplayer.com/poker_magazine/archives/showarticle.php?a_id=13135&m_id=54
Weekend recap
This weekend was a pretty solid weekend on the pixelated felt for me - Bought into a Step 4 on Absolute, and won both that and the following Step 5 to earn me a Step 6 ticket. Not sure what I am doing with it yet, but the march to something is still on, at least.
Even more satisfying was my play at Poker Stars - 4 victories out of 5 in $2.20 satellites to the $11 Sunday 200K were earned (one in a 68 player MTT), along with a couple of first places in $3+0.40 SnGs - need the bankroll to move up, but T$ will play nicely for a little while.
Patience, as always, is a great virtue to have for these donkaments.
Even more satisfying was my play at Poker Stars - 4 victories out of 5 in $2.20 satellites to the $11 Sunday 200K were earned (one in a 68 player MTT), along with a couple of first places in $3+0.40 SnGs - need the bankroll to move up, but T$ will play nicely for a little while.
Patience, as always, is a great virtue to have for these donkaments.
Friday, July 31, 2009
I think I may be active later this weekend...
...regarding the blogging - some online play the last few days, along with the Dino's game, bear posting about.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Short post today
Took 3rd place at Dino's tourney last night out of 34 or so. Play lasted very late - so late that it was 1:15 am when I busted out...usually it is about midnight when tourney ends. Was rather lucky to get there, although I have one hand that I want back - but that's only because the result didn't go my way. I hit my flush draw, I have a 3 or 4 to one chip lead to HU - but that's poker.
Nick probably deserved to win as the final table was progressing, but he suffered 2 horrible beats to drop chips, then both he and Harry last a 3-man race to me (they were holding A-J to my 2-2...2 on turn gave me boat and lock on the hand), and Nick was done for soon afterwards.
Sharon won, beating her husband (Harry) HU, although Harry was sitting in for former chipleader Dave E - who left to do really irresponsible things like "work for a living" late in the evening. All I know is that I pretty much cinched my spot in the final tourney come next month, which is not a bad thing.
Nick probably deserved to win as the final table was progressing, but he suffered 2 horrible beats to drop chips, then both he and Harry last a 3-man race to me (they were holding A-J to my 2-2...2 on turn gave me boat and lock on the hand), and Nick was done for soon afterwards.
Sharon won, beating her husband (Harry) HU, although Harry was sitting in for former chipleader Dave E - who left to do really irresponsible things like "work for a living" late in the evening. All I know is that I pretty much cinched my spot in the final tourney come next month, which is not a bad thing.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Just remember this when you are watching the WSOP on ESPN this summer -
From Pokernews.com:
According to one member of the ESPN camera crew, Phil Ivey's table (table #90 in the orange section) was supposed to be the feature table to start the day. Everyone at the table was not only going to get a chance to play at the feature table with one of the greatest players in the game, but they'd also be lined up to receive about $10,000 in sponsorship money from various companies. Ivey didn't want to be seated at the feature table and he got his wish. Everyone at the table was pretty irritated at this decision. This was all according to the camera crew and we'll have to wait and see if any of the players go after Ivey a little bit more throughout the day.
Never heard of this being done, but I'm guessing with all of the replays on ESPN, it makes business sense. If you're one of the players here, you can now consider the Main Event to be the greatest freeroll (with infinite +EV on your side) once you get your $10K in endorsement money!
According to one member of the ESPN camera crew, Phil Ivey's table (table #90 in the orange section) was supposed to be the feature table to start the day. Everyone at the table was not only going to get a chance to play at the feature table with one of the greatest players in the game, but they'd also be lined up to receive about $10,000 in sponsorship money from various companies. Ivey didn't want to be seated at the feature table and he got his wish. Everyone at the table was pretty irritated at this decision. This was all according to the camera crew and we'll have to wait and see if any of the players go after Ivey a little bit more throughout the day.
Never heard of this being done, but I'm guessing with all of the replays on ESPN, it makes business sense. If you're one of the players here, you can now consider the Main Event to be the greatest freeroll (with infinite +EV on your side) once you get your $10K in endorsement money!
Best laid plans gone awry
Remember my using Greg Raymer's quote about "being the luckiest player" when talking about last week's game? This time I was on the other end of it, so instead of being a contender, I enjoyed a relatively early night with the Mrs.
Kinda tired even at this time of posting to dwell on too many hands, but I'll just focus on the hand that crippled me here. At my table was Richard (tight player), Scott (solid player - doesn't play as maniacal as people think), Joshua (loose player), and GalPal of Fred (loose player). Blinds at 100/200, and I'm sitting with 3400 chips...Richard and Scott fold, Joshua (dealer) calls, Patricia calls.
I look at A-K, and this is an easy raise - to 700. Joshua then surprises me with a reraise all-in, except I know I have the best hand here, because Joshua has been calling all-ins without getting proper odds with hands like J-5, 8-7, etc. Pretty much an insta-call here for me, given the facts above. When I flip over A-K, Joshua has a look of disgust on his face, and flips over A-Q - YES!!! Something I'd been hoping to set up since he doubled me up couple of orbits prior to this had been set up!
8-4 and a F'N QUEEN on the flop puts me behind, ten on turn gives me more outs, but a 6 on river, and I'm down to 100 chips. Next hand I'm the SB, quadruple up to 400 chips when Patricia bluffs Joshua out of side pot, and my paired 7 holds up...but can't survive a 3-way pot with J-7 soooooted out of the BB - 13th or 14th for me again, yippee! Too late to get into the cash, so I enjoyed a little time with the Mrs., instead.
Tied for 4th in standings to date for this season, which we'll take. As long as I keep going every week, I should be in the finals - 1 more deep run will cinch it, whenever the hell the final is.
Kinda tired even at this time of posting to dwell on too many hands, but I'll just focus on the hand that crippled me here. At my table was Richard (tight player), Scott (solid player - doesn't play as maniacal as people think), Joshua (loose player), and GalPal of Fred (loose player). Blinds at 100/200, and I'm sitting with 3400 chips...Richard and Scott fold, Joshua (dealer) calls, Patricia calls.
I look at A-K, and this is an easy raise - to 700. Joshua then surprises me with a reraise all-in, except I know I have the best hand here, because Joshua has been calling all-ins without getting proper odds with hands like J-5, 8-7, etc. Pretty much an insta-call here for me, given the facts above. When I flip over A-K, Joshua has a look of disgust on his face, and flips over A-Q - YES!!! Something I'd been hoping to set up since he doubled me up couple of orbits prior to this had been set up!
8-4 and a F'N QUEEN on the flop puts me behind, ten on turn gives me more outs, but a 6 on river, and I'm down to 100 chips. Next hand I'm the SB, quadruple up to 400 chips when Patricia bluffs Joshua out of side pot, and my paired 7 holds up...but can't survive a 3-way pot with J-7 soooooted out of the BB - 13th or 14th for me again, yippee! Too late to get into the cash, so I enjoyed a little time with the Mrs., instead.
Tied for 4th in standings to date for this season, which we'll take. As long as I keep going every week, I should be in the finals - 1 more deep run will cinch it, whenever the hell the final is.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6/29 Dino's Victory recap
After being forced to take last week off, I go to Dino's ready for another week of tournament action. While the last 2 weeks after my last win were mediocre finishes (12th and 14th), I felt like I was playing well, so I was pretty confident going into last night's action.
Changed my normal non-drinking routine, and did a "just because" celebratory shot of Dikkel with Bernie - damn him for turning me on to that, but it's damn smooth stuff. Sat at my first table with (my left to right) Some New Guy, Gal Pal of Fred, Scott, and Ronnie. Lost 25% of my stack on the first couple of hands, then on last hand of first blind level (25/50) got J-J - raised to 5x BB out of the BB when everyone tried to limp in, won a nice $1000 after flopping a set...might have tried to get more out of it, but not slow-playing hands with flush and straight draws out there.
At start of 75/150 level, moved to another table, and was officially card-dead for a couple of orbits...at 100/200, jammed 1650 into the pot with A-10, and was called by Pat and Some Other Gal - they were holding 9-9 and 7-7. 10 on flop gave me the lead, and it held up, and we're in business, knocking out SOG and crippling Pat. Took the last hand of the table before we got down to final table of 10 on a total bluff, and off to the final table with 5500 I went.
Nothing playable for the first 7-8 hands of action (nothing even worth stealing at 200/400 level), then picked up K-K while UTG - raise to 2000 chased out all but Big Bald Brad, who promptly insta-folded when a 7-6-2 flop hit and I pushed all-in after he checked.
Down to 7, and a couple of orbits later I knocked out Big Bald Brad after my 8-8 hit a set to pwn his Q-J...down to 6. Doubled up Don (not Baker) when my A-J couldn't beat his A-Q, and back to being card-dead for a little while.
After Don and another guy were eliminated by Texas Tim, Tim continued to run over the table for a few hands, then my hand of the tournament came up. Tim open raised to 3200 (400/800 blinds now) UTG, I look and see 2-2, and decided to make my stand here. Tim insta-calls with 10-10, and I'm in bad shape...until a deuce hits on the flop, and my set holds up. At this point I am thinking that if I play it smart, Tim and I should be able to get to HU - hyper aggressive player vs. TAG, could be interesting.
Tim doubles up Glen a couple of hands later on a real goofy hand where Glen played calling station and just happened to have the better kicker...and which I think put Tim on tilt. I get the chance to knock Tim out the next hand when I come over the top of him with 7-7 - no help to his A-Q, and I've got a huge chip lead at this moment.
My A-K knocks out another opponent soon after, and it's Glen and me HU for the title this week. I have a more than 2-1 chip lead here, and I'm thinking that I'm either going to grind him down, or get it over quickly. Next few hands I take more chips from him than he gets from me, when the final hand hits us.
I look at A-A (500/1000 blinds) min-raise to 2000...hoping to induce action. Glen re-raises 3K, and after Hollywooding for a few seconds, push to put him all-in - he calls with K-10 off. No help on flop, and if I can avoid runner-runner, it's over...black 8 on turn misses him, and river doesn't matter - Win #9 at Dino's for me this week!!!
Frankly, not my best-played tournament, but one where patience was rewarded...and luck was on my side. Lookin' REAL good to clinch my spot for the final tournament in a few weeks - next few weeks may be good time to experiment with some more LAG play and see where this goes.
Changed my normal non-drinking routine, and did a "just because" celebratory shot of Dikkel with Bernie - damn him for turning me on to that, but it's damn smooth stuff. Sat at my first table with (my left to right) Some New Guy, Gal Pal of Fred, Scott, and Ronnie. Lost 25% of my stack on the first couple of hands, then on last hand of first blind level (25/50) got J-J - raised to 5x BB out of the BB when everyone tried to limp in, won a nice $1000 after flopping a set...might have tried to get more out of it, but not slow-playing hands with flush and straight draws out there.
At start of 75/150 level, moved to another table, and was officially card-dead for a couple of orbits...at 100/200, jammed 1650 into the pot with A-10, and was called by Pat and Some Other Gal - they were holding 9-9 and 7-7. 10 on flop gave me the lead, and it held up, and we're in business, knocking out SOG and crippling Pat. Took the last hand of the table before we got down to final table of 10 on a total bluff, and off to the final table with 5500 I went.
Nothing playable for the first 7-8 hands of action (nothing even worth stealing at 200/400 level), then picked up K-K while UTG - raise to 2000 chased out all but Big Bald Brad, who promptly insta-folded when a 7-6-2 flop hit and I pushed all-in after he checked.
Down to 7, and a couple of orbits later I knocked out Big Bald Brad after my 8-8 hit a set to pwn his Q-J...down to 6. Doubled up Don (not Baker) when my A-J couldn't beat his A-Q, and back to being card-dead for a little while.
After Don and another guy were eliminated by Texas Tim, Tim continued to run over the table for a few hands, then my hand of the tournament came up. Tim open raised to 3200 (400/800 blinds now) UTG, I look and see 2-2, and decided to make my stand here. Tim insta-calls with 10-10, and I'm in bad shape...until a deuce hits on the flop, and my set holds up. At this point I am thinking that if I play it smart, Tim and I should be able to get to HU - hyper aggressive player vs. TAG, could be interesting.
Tim doubles up Glen a couple of hands later on a real goofy hand where Glen played calling station and just happened to have the better kicker...and which I think put Tim on tilt. I get the chance to knock Tim out the next hand when I come over the top of him with 7-7 - no help to his A-Q, and I've got a huge chip lead at this moment.
My A-K knocks out another opponent soon after, and it's Glen and me HU for the title this week. I have a more than 2-1 chip lead here, and I'm thinking that I'm either going to grind him down, or get it over quickly. Next few hands I take more chips from him than he gets from me, when the final hand hits us.
I look at A-A (500/1000 blinds) min-raise to 2000...hoping to induce action. Glen re-raises 3K, and after Hollywooding for a few seconds, push to put him all-in - he calls with K-10 off. No help on flop, and if I can avoid runner-runner, it's over...black 8 on turn misses him, and river doesn't matter - Win #9 at Dino's for me this week!!!
Frankly, not my best-played tournament, but one where patience was rewarded...and luck was on my side. Lookin' REAL good to clinch my spot for the final tournament in a few weeks - next few weeks may be good time to experiment with some more LAG play and see where this goes.
Quickie post about yesterday
Greg Raymer, I think, said it best after he won the 2004 WSOP Main Event. Paraphrasing here, he said that he wasn't the best player that tournament, merely the luckiest...and that you need to win almost all of your coin flips if you want to win a tournament. That was certainly the case last night - 2nd win at Dino's this month, hoorah! Details to follow.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dino's again tonight...
...looks like, mainly because I missed so many weeks early on, that I am at the "kiddie table" tourney. Could have gotten in, but a couple of mediocre 12-14th place finishes were no help.
No big reports warranted from the last couple of weeks, although my reads and decision-making process have been spot on in this game, but just having some bad luck when I least need it...hopefully tonight I can put a beatdown (metaphorically) on some people.
No big reports warranted from the last couple of weeks, although my reads and decision-making process have been spot on in this game, but just having some bad luck when I least need it...hopefully tonight I can put a beatdown (metaphorically) on some people.
A nice little Blackjack hand from the other night
Blackjack on Absolute Poker has been just getting beat up by me this week - another $250 weekend betting $1 & $2 as base amounts...here's a great hand from Thursday night when I had a huge run going on one spot (hence, the reason why one spot has $2 and one has $10 on it):
Here is monster hand I last night...one of those great "make or break" hands when you get it when your multipliers are up. My simple betting progression goes like this: Keep at one unit until I win 3 hands in a row (split where both hands win or double down win is counted as 2 hands in my count), then go to 2 units until I lose, then back down to one unit. Win 3 hands in a row at 2 units, go to 3 units. For every 2 hands in a row that I win, increase another unit. With hand one, I'm at 5 units already...this one was pretty nice!
Stage # B611691426 - Blackjack 2009-06-18 23:55:29 (ET)
BKRYWKO1 ( $80.00 in chips )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-1: Bet $10.00 + Side Bet $0.00
Hand 2-1: Bet $2.00 + Side Bet $0.00
Hand 3-1: Bet $0.00 + Side Bet $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ 8h 8c ]
Dealt to Hand 2-1: [ Ks 4s ]
Dealt to Dealer: [ 2d H ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-3: Bet $10.00 ( SPLIT )
Hand 1-3: Bet $10.00 ( SPLIT )
Hand 1-2: Bet $10.00 ( DOUBLE DOWN )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-1: SPLIT
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ 8d ]
Hand 1-1: SPLIT
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ Qs ]
Hand 1-1: STAND (at 18)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-2: [ 2s ]
Hand 1-2: DOUBLE
Dealt to Hand 1-2: [ Jc ] (at 20)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-3: [ 5s ]
Hand 1-3: STAND (at 13)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 2-1: STAND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 2h ]
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 9s ]
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 9c ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*** RESULT ***
Dealer [ 2d 2h 9s 9c ] (22)
Total Bet( $42.00 ), Win/Loss( $42.00 )
Hand 1-1 [ 8h Qs ] (18) - Collects $10.00
Hand 1-2 [ 8d 2s Jc ] (20) - Collects $20.00
Hand 1-3 [ 8c 5s ] (13) - Collects $10.00
Hand 2-1 [ Ks 4s ] (14) - Collects $2.00
Here is monster hand I last night...one of those great "make or break" hands when you get it when your multipliers are up. My simple betting progression goes like this: Keep at one unit until I win 3 hands in a row (split where both hands win or double down win is counted as 2 hands in my count), then go to 2 units until I lose, then back down to one unit. Win 3 hands in a row at 2 units, go to 3 units. For every 2 hands in a row that I win, increase another unit. With hand one, I'm at 5 units already...this one was pretty nice!
Stage # B611691426 - Blackjack 2009-06-18 23:55:29 (ET)
BKRYWKO1 ( $80.00 in chips )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-1: Bet $10.00 + Side Bet $0.00
Hand 2-1: Bet $2.00 + Side Bet $0.00
Hand 3-1: Bet $0.00 + Side Bet $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ 8h 8c ]
Dealt to Hand 2-1: [ Ks 4s ]
Dealt to Dealer: [ 2d H ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-3: Bet $10.00 ( SPLIT )
Hand 1-3: Bet $10.00 ( SPLIT )
Hand 1-2: Bet $10.00 ( DOUBLE DOWN )
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 1-1: SPLIT
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ 8d ]
Hand 1-1: SPLIT
Dealt to Hand 1-1: [ Qs ]
Hand 1-1: STAND (at 18)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-2: [ 2s ]
Hand 1-2: DOUBLE
Dealt to Hand 1-2: [ Jc ] (at 20)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealt to Hand 1-3: [ 5s ]
Hand 1-3: STAND (at 13)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hand 2-1: STAND
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 2h ]
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 9s ]
Dealer: Hit
Dealt to Dealer: [ 9c ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
*** RESULT ***
Dealer [ 2d 2h 9s 9c ] (22)
Total Bet( $42.00 ), Win/Loss( $42.00 )
Hand 1-1 [ 8h Qs ] (18) - Collects $10.00
Hand 1-2 [ 8d 2s Jc ] (20) - Collects $20.00
Hand 1-3 [ 8c 5s ] (13) - Collects $10.00
Hand 2-1 [ Ks 4s ] (14) - Collects $2.00
I love when I crack a big hand!
I love cracking pocket aces, especially when they're played as badly as this clown plays them - early position with AA limps in, and gets burnt, yet again. If he was trying to do a limp-reraise move, then I might argue that he was just unlucky that I hit a set against him - and unfortunately for him a 3xBB preflop raise wasn't getting me out of the pot, but it would have kept a couple of the other idiots from coming into the pot. Raise them rockets up!!!
Stage #1730627790 Tourney ID 4113635 Holdem Single Tournament No Limit 60 - 2009-06-21 22:57:50 (ET)
Table: 29707992 (Real Money) Seat #9 is the dealer
Seat 1 - MXXIESTORC (1,865 in chips)
Seat 2 - BKRYWKO1 (2,725 in chips)
Seat 3 - NOWGOVIA (1,005 in chips)
Seat 4 - BWAGG66 (1,335 in chips)
Seat 6 - SNIPEE8 (865 in chips)
Seat 7 - DMK113 (2,050 in chips)
Seat 8 - ELVIS12309 (2,710 in chips)
Seat 9 - 74MONSTER (945 in chips)
MXXIESTORC - Posts small blind 30
BKRYWKO1 - Posts big blind 60
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BKRYWKO1 [6d 6s]
NOWGOVIA - Calls 60
BWAGG66 - Calls 60 - Limps in here
SNIPEE8 - Folds
DMK113 - Folds
ELVIS12309 - Folds
74MONSTER - Calls 60
MXXIESTORC - Calls 30
BKRYWKO1 - Checks - Argue with me all you want that I should raise here, because you're not wrong to do so. I was at a hyperaggressive table (save for 2 TAGs, one of which is me), so that dictates I tighten the game up and wait for my hands to come to me. Here, if I decide to go setmining and am successful, my hand is disguised well. No reason at this stage of the tournament to give away chips if I raise and 3 overs hit - have to get to final 3 in SnGs first before you can win the darn thing.
*** FLOP *** [6h 9c 10d]
MXXIESTORC - Checks
BKRYWKO1 - Bets 150
NOWGOVIA - Raises 300 to 300 -
BWAGG66 - All-In(Raise) 1,275 to 1,275
74MONSTER - All-In 885
MXXIESTORC - Folds
BKRYWKO1 - Calls 1,125
NOWGOVIA - Folds
*** TURN *** [6h 9c 10d] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [6h 9c 10d 4s] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BKRYWKO1 - Shows [6d 6s] (Three of a kind, sixes)
BWAGG66 - Shows [Ah As] (One pair, aces)
74MONSTER - Shows [8c 10h] (Two Pair, tens and eights)
BKRYWKO1 Collects 780 from side pot-1
BKRYWKO1 Collects 3,255 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot(4,035:3,255,780)
Board [6h 9c 10d 4s 8h]
Seat 1: MXXIESTORC (small blind) Folded on the FLOP
Seat 2: BKRYWKO1 (big blind) won Total (4,035) HI:(4,035) with Three of a kind, sixes [6d 6s - P:6s,B:6h,P:6d,B:10d,B:9c]
Seat 3: NOWGOVIA Folded on the FLOP
Seat 4: BWAGG66 HI:lost with One pair, aces [Ah As - P:As,P:Ah,B:10d,B:9c,B:8h]
Seat 6: SNIPEE8 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 7: DMK113 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 8: ELVIS12309 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 9: 74MONSTER (dealer) HI:lost with Two Pair, tens and eights [8c 10h - P:10h,B:10d,B:8h,P:8c,B:9c]
Stage #1730627790 Tourney ID 4113635 Holdem Single Tournament No Limit 60 - 2009-06-21 22:57:50 (ET)
Table: 29707992 (Real Money) Seat #9 is the dealer
Seat 1 - MXXIESTORC (1,865 in chips)
Seat 2 - BKRYWKO1 (2,725 in chips)
Seat 3 - NOWGOVIA (1,005 in chips)
Seat 4 - BWAGG66 (1,335 in chips)
Seat 6 - SNIPEE8 (865 in chips)
Seat 7 - DMK113 (2,050 in chips)
Seat 8 - ELVIS12309 (2,710 in chips)
Seat 9 - 74MONSTER (945 in chips)
MXXIESTORC - Posts small blind 30
BKRYWKO1 - Posts big blind 60
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BKRYWKO1 [6d 6s]
NOWGOVIA - Calls 60
BWAGG66 - Calls 60 - Limps in here
SNIPEE8 - Folds
DMK113 - Folds
ELVIS12309 - Folds
74MONSTER - Calls 60
MXXIESTORC - Calls 30
BKRYWKO1 - Checks - Argue with me all you want that I should raise here, because you're not wrong to do so. I was at a hyperaggressive table (save for 2 TAGs, one of which is me), so that dictates I tighten the game up and wait for my hands to come to me. Here, if I decide to go setmining and am successful, my hand is disguised well. No reason at this stage of the tournament to give away chips if I raise and 3 overs hit - have to get to final 3 in SnGs first before you can win the darn thing.
*** FLOP *** [6h 9c 10d]
MXXIESTORC - Checks
BKRYWKO1 - Bets 150
NOWGOVIA - Raises 300 to 300 -
BWAGG66 - All-In(Raise) 1,275 to 1,275
74MONSTER - All-In 885
MXXIESTORC - Folds
BKRYWKO1 - Calls 1,125
NOWGOVIA - Folds
*** TURN *** [6h 9c 10d] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [6h 9c 10d 4s] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BKRYWKO1 - Shows [6d 6s] (Three of a kind, sixes)
BWAGG66 - Shows [Ah As] (One pair, aces)
74MONSTER - Shows [8c 10h] (Two Pair, tens and eights)
BKRYWKO1 Collects 780 from side pot-1
BKRYWKO1 Collects 3,255 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot(4,035:3,255,780)
Board [6h 9c 10d 4s 8h]
Seat 1: MXXIESTORC (small blind) Folded on the FLOP
Seat 2: BKRYWKO1 (big blind) won Total (4,035) HI:(4,035) with Three of a kind, sixes [6d 6s - P:6s,B:6h,P:6d,B:10d,B:9c]
Seat 3: NOWGOVIA Folded on the FLOP
Seat 4: BWAGG66 HI:lost with One pair, aces [Ah As - P:As,P:Ah,B:10d,B:9c,B:8h]
Seat 6: SNIPEE8 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 7: DMK113 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 8: ELVIS12309 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 9: 74MONSTER (dealer) HI:lost with Two Pair, tens and eights [8c 10h - P:10h,B:10d,B:8h,P:8c,B:9c]
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
...but then the poker gods gave me some love back!
Laughing while I was driving to Dino's thinking about that Hazel Park tourney I just busted out it, I figured at the very worst that the cash game would be juicy enough for me make some coin back in. I order my fresh, steaming order of fries, pay the bartender, whine like a little bitch to my brother and Harry about the HP tourney, then sit down and decide that I won't be too talkative to start out - time to concentrate on my game today.
Table draw for me isn't bad at all - me, Jen, Glen, some new guy, and Richard were at my table...not a lot of raising pre-flop will be done, and it will be easy to figure out what most of them have on any given hand.
First couple of levels are uneventful - Glen picks off one of my numerous bluff plays to get me down to 1500 chips at 100/200 level, but a couple of hands later I got back up to over 3000 with a mini-heater. Tables started to break, and when we were down to 14, I was sitting at 6000 chips or so. Important to note at this time that at no time were all my chips at risk, nor did I get these by knocking out a player.
Scott, Tony, and Bernie joined our table, and I knew some chips would fly around at this point. Scott and I trade blows with each other, with Scott getting the better end of the exchange after semi-bluffing my A-J out with an A-10 on 3-heart board with an ace. As with all my 50-50 calls, I seem to call the side of the coin that is facing down on the ground...oh well, shake it off.
Get down to 10, and after I win the deal, our table order is Me, Harry, Bernie, Scott, Tony, Nick, Glen, Mike, Texas Tim, and Dr. O. First hand in, Mike pushes everything into the middle, and is called by Dr. O, Nick, and Glen. Flop of K-5-4 hits the board, and Nick bets out 1000, called by Glen, then Dr. O comes over the top with a raise of 2K more - based on his body language and that of Nick and Glen, I will guess that O is way ahead...and I'm right when both players call. Nick with K-8 (i believe that was the kicker), Glen with 8-7 drawing to a 4-outer (dude should play at Hazel Park), Mike with I have no clue, and O with 5-5 for a set. K on turn gives O a boat, but more outs for Nick...but no help on the river, and O takes out 3 players!!! Players mock-rejoice, since we all get bonus points for getting in top 7 this week.
Texas Tim goes out next hand when A-10 is dominated by A-J, and we're down to 6. I'm sitting at 3800 chips, with blinds at 200/400 - some time to maneuver, however...playing very well and patiently at this point, with only one bad decision made all night so far. Go small-ball for a couple of pots and get up 5400, but another orbit later I go back down to 3900.
Bernie busts out to finish in 6th, and shortly afterwards I get my big double-up when my 2-2 holds against Tony's Q-8 - blinds at 300/600, I think. Tony is playing almost maniacal pre-flop...raising 10 times the BB in an effort to either bust us out or bust himself out. O likes to raise 5xBB a lot, as well - any more than that, and we're looking at a A-10, A-9 type hand...maybe I'll get to exploit this later.
Tony doubles up versus Scott when 8-8 hits a set against A-A - Harry doubles up twice when his A-K beats Tony'a A-J with a king on river (Tony hit J on flop), and then when another dominated hand sucksout against Scott. Harry hasn't won a ton of races in the time I've played with him at Dino's, so it looks like the poker gods were repaying him back some tonight.
O takes out Tony, then a few hands later I double up against O when my A-J pwns his 5-5 - now my stack is getting close to 18K. A few hands later, O open raises for 5K, and I look down and see A-Q...4-handed, this is a big hand, but remember what I said about O's raises here...I'm almost convinced instantly that it's the best hand going in, but I think about my next play for a minute, while counting his chips and mine to see where I stood, then reraise enough to put him all-in...and pretty much ignoring the fact that Harry and Scott as the blinds were still in the hand. Harry folds something that appears to be K-J or something, Scott folds, and O calls. I say, but not too loudly, "Ace-jack", and O flips over...Ace-jack. Good call, B! No help for O, Queen hits on river, and the big stack when the final table started is eliminated.
Big stack gets whittled down from 34K to 18K as Harry and Scott abuse my blinds. Pretty simple, really - I'd complete my SB with marginal hand like...5-7 sooooooted, Harry would jam all-in for 16K or so, and I'd fold. We do the little song and dance routine for a few orbits, then I get KK in the SB, min-raise to 4K (1000/2000 blinds at this point), Harry looks down, jams the chips in the middle, and the trap play is complete! A-2 versus K-K - King on flop pretty much seals it, turn card is no help, and I've got 38K now.
Big hand here between Scott and me - Scott calls an 8K raise (meant to be a move to put Harry all-in) I make with K-J off...K-Q-8 flop. Scott check, and I bet out 10K right away...Scott takes a couple of minutes, then eventually shows me a queen. I wait til later to tell him it was K-J I played. I've bluffed him out of a couple of pots since we got to 5 and 6-handed...so he had to decide if I was playing him again or not, and guessed correctly. Thinking player, and one reason why I like playing with him on the tables.
Mr. Big Stack decides to push his chips around, and traps himself with Q-J against Harry's K-J - Q on river gives me the suckout win...I call it "dirty" when it happens, but good show by Harry this week...wine will taste good, me thinks.
3 or 4 hands into HU, Scott open jams his last 6500 or so...I say I'll give him the "courtesy double-up", but my J-6 pwns his 9-6. No help for Scott, and I take it down - Victory #8 in the last 2 years since I've been going, but first one is 11 months (really, it's been that long!).
Well played final table, must say.
Table draw for me isn't bad at all - me, Jen, Glen, some new guy, and Richard were at my table...not a lot of raising pre-flop will be done, and it will be easy to figure out what most of them have on any given hand.
First couple of levels are uneventful - Glen picks off one of my numerous bluff plays to get me down to 1500 chips at 100/200 level, but a couple of hands later I got back up to over 3000 with a mini-heater. Tables started to break, and when we were down to 14, I was sitting at 6000 chips or so. Important to note at this time that at no time were all my chips at risk, nor did I get these by knocking out a player.
Scott, Tony, and Bernie joined our table, and I knew some chips would fly around at this point. Scott and I trade blows with each other, with Scott getting the better end of the exchange after semi-bluffing my A-J out with an A-10 on 3-heart board with an ace. As with all my 50-50 calls, I seem to call the side of the coin that is facing down on the ground...oh well, shake it off.
Get down to 10, and after I win the deal, our table order is Me, Harry, Bernie, Scott, Tony, Nick, Glen, Mike, Texas Tim, and Dr. O. First hand in, Mike pushes everything into the middle, and is called by Dr. O, Nick, and Glen. Flop of K-5-4 hits the board, and Nick bets out 1000, called by Glen, then Dr. O comes over the top with a raise of 2K more - based on his body language and that of Nick and Glen, I will guess that O is way ahead...and I'm right when both players call. Nick with K-8 (i believe that was the kicker), Glen with 8-7 drawing to a 4-outer (dude should play at Hazel Park), Mike with I have no clue, and O with 5-5 for a set. K on turn gives O a boat, but more outs for Nick...but no help on the river, and O takes out 3 players!!! Players mock-rejoice, since we all get bonus points for getting in top 7 this week.
Texas Tim goes out next hand when A-10 is dominated by A-J, and we're down to 6. I'm sitting at 3800 chips, with blinds at 200/400 - some time to maneuver, however...playing very well and patiently at this point, with only one bad decision made all night so far. Go small-ball for a couple of pots and get up 5400, but another orbit later I go back down to 3900.
Bernie busts out to finish in 6th, and shortly afterwards I get my big double-up when my 2-2 holds against Tony's Q-8 - blinds at 300/600, I think. Tony is playing almost maniacal pre-flop...raising 10 times the BB in an effort to either bust us out or bust himself out. O likes to raise 5xBB a lot, as well - any more than that, and we're looking at a A-10, A-9 type hand...maybe I'll get to exploit this later.
Tony doubles up versus Scott when 8-8 hits a set against A-A - Harry doubles up twice when his A-K beats Tony'a A-J with a king on river (Tony hit J on flop), and then when another dominated hand sucksout against Scott. Harry hasn't won a ton of races in the time I've played with him at Dino's, so it looks like the poker gods were repaying him back some tonight.
O takes out Tony, then a few hands later I double up against O when my A-J pwns his 5-5 - now my stack is getting close to 18K. A few hands later, O open raises for 5K, and I look down and see A-Q...4-handed, this is a big hand, but remember what I said about O's raises here...I'm almost convinced instantly that it's the best hand going in, but I think about my next play for a minute, while counting his chips and mine to see where I stood, then reraise enough to put him all-in...and pretty much ignoring the fact that Harry and Scott as the blinds were still in the hand. Harry folds something that appears to be K-J or something, Scott folds, and O calls. I say, but not too loudly, "Ace-jack", and O flips over...Ace-jack. Good call, B! No help for O, Queen hits on river, and the big stack when the final table started is eliminated.
Big stack gets whittled down from 34K to 18K as Harry and Scott abuse my blinds. Pretty simple, really - I'd complete my SB with marginal hand like...5-7 sooooooted, Harry would jam all-in for 16K or so, and I'd fold. We do the little song and dance routine for a few orbits, then I get KK in the SB, min-raise to 4K (1000/2000 blinds at this point), Harry looks down, jams the chips in the middle, and the trap play is complete! A-2 versus K-K - King on flop pretty much seals it, turn card is no help, and I've got 38K now.
Big hand here between Scott and me - Scott calls an 8K raise (meant to be a move to put Harry all-in) I make with K-J off...K-Q-8 flop. Scott check, and I bet out 10K right away...Scott takes a couple of minutes, then eventually shows me a queen. I wait til later to tell him it was K-J I played. I've bluffed him out of a couple of pots since we got to 5 and 6-handed...so he had to decide if I was playing him again or not, and guessed correctly. Thinking player, and one reason why I like playing with him on the tables.
Mr. Big Stack decides to push his chips around, and traps himself with Q-J against Harry's K-J - Q on river gives me the suckout win...I call it "dirty" when it happens, but good show by Harry this week...wine will taste good, me thinks.
3 or 4 hands into HU, Scott open jams his last 6500 or so...I say I'll give him the "courtesy double-up", but my J-6 pwns his 9-6. No help for Scott, and I take it down - Victory #8 in the last 2 years since I've been going, but first one is 11 months (really, it's been that long!).
Well played final table, must say.
The poker gods kicked my ass this week....
So I headed up to Hazel Park Raceway for their Monday freeroll w/rebuys & Add-ons, and was hoping for a deep run this week. Sat down at my first table, and chuckled at the sight of half the players wearing sunglasses. Errrrr, okay...this is friggin' freeroll, people!
Nothing happening first few hands, but then I gain 1200 chips by flopping a straight, then letting a horse bettor jam all-in with top pair/weak kicker. Unfortunately, this will be my high water mark for the night, as nuttiness sets in soon afterwards.
2 hands later (blinds still at 25/50) we see 3 limpers, but with 10-10 in my hand, I have to raise. Goofball on my left calls, and older gentleman who won't rebuy calls off all his chips. 3-way flop of 10-6-2 rainbow looks like gold, and after I check goofball on left bets out 400 - I smooth-call. Turn of a jack of nothing doesn't help him, but since he looks pot-committed, I put him all-in, which gets an insta-call with.....5-3 off? Seeing what the title of this post was, this will come as no surprise that to anyone that a 4 hits on the river to give goofball a straight. Oy - the landmines to dodge here.
Next hand I get A-10 clubs in the BB - 3 way flop sees me flop the nut flush, SB open-jams for all his chips 800, and it's a pretty easy call to make here. Oops, pair of kings...maybe not such a good idea. K on turn gives him trips, and J on the river gives him the boat...yeehaw! Down to 300 chips :-\ Dude celebrates afterwards like he just won the WSOP or something...lol.
2 hands later, get 8-8 - shove and get called by 2-2, 7-7, and 5-3. Flop of 5-5-5 is just wrong on so many levels, but then to throw an 8 out there on the river just adds insult to injury. I think about throwing another 10 into the kitty and rebuying, and just determine that tonight wasn't my night there.
In the meantime, it's just after 7:30 - plenty of time to hop down 9 Mile and make it to Dino's. It's got to be a little better over at Dino's, right?
Nothing happening first few hands, but then I gain 1200 chips by flopping a straight, then letting a horse bettor jam all-in with top pair/weak kicker. Unfortunately, this will be my high water mark for the night, as nuttiness sets in soon afterwards.
2 hands later (blinds still at 25/50) we see 3 limpers, but with 10-10 in my hand, I have to raise. Goofball on my left calls, and older gentleman who won't rebuy calls off all his chips. 3-way flop of 10-6-2 rainbow looks like gold, and after I check goofball on left bets out 400 - I smooth-call. Turn of a jack of nothing doesn't help him, but since he looks pot-committed, I put him all-in, which gets an insta-call with.....5-3 off? Seeing what the title of this post was, this will come as no surprise that to anyone that a 4 hits on the river to give goofball a straight. Oy - the landmines to dodge here.
Next hand I get A-10 clubs in the BB - 3 way flop sees me flop the nut flush, SB open-jams for all his chips 800, and it's a pretty easy call to make here. Oops, pair of kings...maybe not such a good idea. K on turn gives him trips, and J on the river gives him the boat...yeehaw! Down to 300 chips :-\ Dude celebrates afterwards like he just won the WSOP or something...lol.
2 hands later, get 8-8 - shove and get called by 2-2, 7-7, and 5-3. Flop of 5-5-5 is just wrong on so many levels, but then to throw an 8 out there on the river just adds insult to injury. I think about throwing another 10 into the kitty and rebuying, and just determine that tonight wasn't my night there.
In the meantime, it's just after 7:30 - plenty of time to hop down 9 Mile and make it to Dino's. It's got to be a little better over at Dino's, right?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
An oldie, but a goodie - from the archives!
So an old friend from another forum asked me about some Stud H/L last night, and since this is my definitive post on the subject, I'm reposting it. Something a little different from NLHE. From 2007, enjoy:
A Stud H/L primer
Played 3 tables of .50/$1.00 HORSE over at Stars last night for about 90 minutes, which is a pretty good session for me lately. I cleared about 110 FPPs in that span, and made $55 last night...great run! When you sit down with $20 per table and come close to doubling up at each table in a limit game of this sort, either you're catching cards or playing very well...and a little luck sure never hurt anyone.
Where's the biggest money to be made in these games? The Stud games - one round is Stud (best high hand wins) and the other is Stud H/L (High and Low hands split the pot). If you don't have these games down, don't bother playing HORSE, since you'll get killed.
Basic Stud H/L strategy that I picked up from another forum from a very successful player - stick to this strategy, and you'll be a Stud H/L winner:
Starters: The basic starters are:
QQ or better
3 to a low
3 to a high flush
3 to any flush if only 1 out is counterfitted.
When you get that down, add these starters:
Any pairs with an A kicker if 4 of the outs are open
Any pairs if all 5 outs are open.
Both of the above you need an instant hit, if not get off the hand to any bet.
These above hands are on the aggressive side, BUT with a solid table image and the understanding you need to improve or get off you can get away with these hands. Remember straights are still UNPLAYABLE, it is much easier to fold AKQ or 789 than 223.
Playing 4th st and the Paint Rule (If you hit paint on 4th straight, fold!): We all know the Paint Rule by now, if you dont improve on 4th st when 3 to a low, GET OFF THE HAND TO ANY BET. There are a few exceptions:
When 3 to a low AND 3 to a flush, I will see one more card to hopefully improve both sides, if not one. EX- [2♣][4♣][6♦][K♣]....The [K♣] doesnt help our low, but it does give us a high draw as well. I will check this hand if UTG, but I will also call a single bet to see the next card. A low club would be ideal, but any club or any 4th to a low would keep me in the hand. If I dont improve at least one aspect of this hand, I am folding to a bet (one side note, if your flush suit is all over the board and you have only a few outs, get off the hand to a bet on 3rd st).
Betting your hands: Once you are 4 to a low, 4 to a flush or have a high pair you need to bet your hands. This game is about weeding out the competition, we dont want to be ahead and give free cards to our opponets. If you miss 5th st, and you are the last to act, I would bet as well. Betting on a missed 5th is key, I dont like to give a free card here.
If you missed on 6th st as well, you have a choice, look at the boards and play accordingly. If you missed with a 3rd low on board, but you paired a hole card (ex, [2][3][7][4][K][3]) you have to bet this hand. by checking you are letting every solid player know you paired that card. ANYTIME I see 3 to a low on board and the hand is checked to me, I BET IT, it means that your opponet has paired a baby. You might get a solid player off the hand with your board alone.
Feeding the rake: When lo: A big mistake players make is feeding the rake when low. If you are only low and your HU opponet has a good board([K][K][7][J], do not bet the river, you will only lose money on the rake. If your opponet has a crappy board ([8][J][Q][2]), bet away. There is a catch here...if you have a good draw board and a locked low, I will bet/raise a solid player with a so-so board. If you have a solid image as well, you are saying, I have a scoop...you may STEAL the high as well. On the chance you get called, you will surely get a few extra bets from this player later in the game because he thinks you will always try to pull this. Do not attempt this against a weak player....he will ALWAYS call you and you will just chop, but at the same time you alerted the solids on the table you will try to steal a high here and there. They will now be more apt to call you on a river steal attempt.
When hi: Always bet a weak opponets shaky board if you are strong, a board of [3][J][9][7] is screaming of a fish...bet here every time. You wont often go wrong betting your high hand on the river, the only time I wont do it is when a solid player as a strong low board...95% of the time we will chop and those bets are raked.
One other thing....if a player has a heavy draw board, DO NOT BET THE RIVER WITH ONLY A HIGH, its a sure fire way of losing 2 big bets...if he missed he is folding, if he hit, he is raising, just check/call there.
When you have a scoop possibility: ANYTIME I have a scoop hand....a locked low AND [A][A] or better I will bet/raise every time.
Good luck!
A Stud H/L primer
Played 3 tables of .50/$1.00 HORSE over at Stars last night for about 90 minutes, which is a pretty good session for me lately. I cleared about 110 FPPs in that span, and made $55 last night...great run! When you sit down with $20 per table and come close to doubling up at each table in a limit game of this sort, either you're catching cards or playing very well...and a little luck sure never hurt anyone.
Where's the biggest money to be made in these games? The Stud games - one round is Stud (best high hand wins) and the other is Stud H/L (High and Low hands split the pot). If you don't have these games down, don't bother playing HORSE, since you'll get killed.
Basic Stud H/L strategy that I picked up from another forum from a very successful player - stick to this strategy, and you'll be a Stud H/L winner:
Starters: The basic starters are:
QQ or better
3 to a low
3 to a high flush
3 to any flush if only 1 out is counterfitted.
When you get that down, add these starters:
Any pairs with an A kicker if 4 of the outs are open
Any pairs if all 5 outs are open.
Both of the above you need an instant hit, if not get off the hand to any bet.
These above hands are on the aggressive side, BUT with a solid table image and the understanding you need to improve or get off you can get away with these hands. Remember straights are still UNPLAYABLE, it is much easier to fold AKQ or 789 than 223.
Playing 4th st and the Paint Rule (If you hit paint on 4th straight, fold!): We all know the Paint Rule by now, if you dont improve on 4th st when 3 to a low, GET OFF THE HAND TO ANY BET. There are a few exceptions:
When 3 to a low AND 3 to a flush, I will see one more card to hopefully improve both sides, if not one. EX- [2♣][4♣][6♦][K♣]....The [K♣] doesnt help our low, but it does give us a high draw as well. I will check this hand if UTG, but I will also call a single bet to see the next card. A low club would be ideal, but any club or any 4th to a low would keep me in the hand. If I dont improve at least one aspect of this hand, I am folding to a bet (one side note, if your flush suit is all over the board and you have only a few outs, get off the hand to a bet on 3rd st).
Betting your hands: Once you are 4 to a low, 4 to a flush or have a high pair you need to bet your hands. This game is about weeding out the competition, we dont want to be ahead and give free cards to our opponets. If you miss 5th st, and you are the last to act, I would bet as well. Betting on a missed 5th is key, I dont like to give a free card here.
If you missed on 6th st as well, you have a choice, look at the boards and play accordingly. If you missed with a 3rd low on board, but you paired a hole card (ex, [2][3][7][4][K][3]) you have to bet this hand. by checking you are letting every solid player know you paired that card. ANYTIME I see 3 to a low on board and the hand is checked to me, I BET IT, it means that your opponet has paired a baby. You might get a solid player off the hand with your board alone.
Feeding the rake: When lo: A big mistake players make is feeding the rake when low. If you are only low and your HU opponet has a good board([K][K][7][J], do not bet the river, you will only lose money on the rake. If your opponet has a crappy board ([8][J][Q][2]), bet away. There is a catch here...if you have a good draw board and a locked low, I will bet/raise a solid player with a so-so board. If you have a solid image as well, you are saying, I have a scoop...you may STEAL the high as well. On the chance you get called, you will surely get a few extra bets from this player later in the game because he thinks you will always try to pull this. Do not attempt this against a weak player....he will ALWAYS call you and you will just chop, but at the same time you alerted the solids on the table you will try to steal a high here and there. They will now be more apt to call you on a river steal attempt.
When hi: Always bet a weak opponets shaky board if you are strong, a board of [3][J][9][7] is screaming of a fish...bet here every time. You wont often go wrong betting your high hand on the river, the only time I wont do it is when a solid player as a strong low board...95% of the time we will chop and those bets are raked.
One other thing....if a player has a heavy draw board, DO NOT BET THE RIVER WITH ONLY A HIGH, its a sure fire way of losing 2 big bets...if he missed he is folding, if he hit, he is raising, just check/call there.
When you have a scoop possibility: ANYTIME I have a scoop hand....a locked low AND [A][A] or better I will bet/raise every time.
Good luck!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday Night fun at a new venue
Since Dino's decided not to have its Monday tournament this week, I headed over to Hazel Park Raceway to play in their Monday freeroll w/rebuys tournament. Stevo was working as a dealer there, and it was good to talk to him for a bit before the action got underway.
First table had a couple of signups who never showed, and an interesting cast of characters. I took down a few small pots by simply betting after the flop with snow, and I had a good read on the table early. Got to lob my first insult at some young kid sometime during the second level when I raised in the small blind to 300 (50-100 blinds)...kid does a "what the hell" call, and then nearly jumps out of his seats when two aces come out on the flop.
I looked at the kid, shook my head and laughed, said "check", and then he bets out 800...all the time his hands shaking, chips fumbling around...no tell there, eh? I told him that he liked that flop too much for my liking, flipped over my pocket kings face-up, and then called him an idiot for overbetting the pot so much with a monster hand (Ace-jack, in his). Kid tried to argue that he should have only bet 200 or so, and string me along, but I told him that I wasn't sticking around for only 2 outs no matter what the price - he didn't play it bad by betting, but there are reasons why we look at reactions to flop for help here.
2 brutal hands killed - 1 right before rebuy period, and one shortly after. Hand 1 - 10-9 in small blind, 2 limpers, no raisers...easy call getting 8-1 on my money. Flop comes 10-10-8, 2 clubs. UTG goes all-in immediately, Tom (Dino's veteran) calls, I call (going all-in), and these are the hands:
UTG: 4-4
Tom: J-7 clubs
Me: 10-9 - trips
Club hits on turn, 4 on river wins it for UTG, and I rebuy. Get my 3000 chips add-on a hand or 2 later, then run into another brutal hand at end of 200-400 level:
Old guy to right of me raises to 1200 (1/3 of his chips), I look down and see 10-10, reraise all-in for 3400. Old guy says that he doesn't like the hand he has, but is "pot-committed" (really? Most people have no clue what "pot-committed" or "pot odds" actually means), I say, "It's good to know that I'm way ahead of you, at least", and he actually says, "Hey, it's suited...I have to call", and turns over A-10 hearts, yes! 2 hearts on flop, 3rd on turn gives him the flush, and I'm out. Oh well, much fun was had - will play again very soon.
First table had a couple of signups who never showed, and an interesting cast of characters. I took down a few small pots by simply betting after the flop with snow, and I had a good read on the table early. Got to lob my first insult at some young kid sometime during the second level when I raised in the small blind to 300 (50-100 blinds)...kid does a "what the hell" call, and then nearly jumps out of his seats when two aces come out on the flop.
I looked at the kid, shook my head and laughed, said "check", and then he bets out 800...all the time his hands shaking, chips fumbling around...no tell there, eh? I told him that he liked that flop too much for my liking, flipped over my pocket kings face-up, and then called him an idiot for overbetting the pot so much with a monster hand (Ace-jack, in his). Kid tried to argue that he should have only bet 200 or so, and string me along, but I told him that I wasn't sticking around for only 2 outs no matter what the price - he didn't play it bad by betting, but there are reasons why we look at reactions to flop for help here.
2 brutal hands killed - 1 right before rebuy period, and one shortly after. Hand 1 - 10-9 in small blind, 2 limpers, no raisers...easy call getting 8-1 on my money. Flop comes 10-10-8, 2 clubs. UTG goes all-in immediately, Tom (Dino's veteran) calls, I call (going all-in), and these are the hands:
UTG: 4-4
Tom: J-7 clubs
Me: 10-9 - trips
Club hits on turn, 4 on river wins it for UTG, and I rebuy. Get my 3000 chips add-on a hand or 2 later, then run into another brutal hand at end of 200-400 level:
Old guy to right of me raises to 1200 (1/3 of his chips), I look down and see 10-10, reraise all-in for 3400. Old guy says that he doesn't like the hand he has, but is "pot-committed" (really? Most people have no clue what "pot-committed" or "pot odds" actually means), I say, "It's good to know that I'm way ahead of you, at least", and he actually says, "Hey, it's suited...I have to call", and turns over A-10 hearts, yes! 2 hearts on flop, 3rd on turn gives him the flush, and I'm out. Oh well, much fun was had - will play again very soon.
Friday, May 22, 2009
WSOP update...better move on it this weekend!
So I played in 2 Step 8s last night over at AP - Finished 4th and 5th in my tourneys, which dropped me back down to Steps 7 and 6, respectively. Hopefully, gonna play some this weekend, but how much is another story.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Absolute Poker WSOP quest, continued
Good progress made on the WSOP quest this weekend - Saturday afternoon I played in 2 step 3 SnGs, and advanced to Step 4 in both tourneys. Yesterday afternoon, I took 2 of my Step 4 tourneys, and was able to advance to Step 5 in both of them. Now, I have 2 Step 5s and 2 Step 4 tickets to play with...only 6 levels to go!
On an even brighter note, I took first place in a private $5 + 0.50 tourney last night. $58 was rather sweet to add to the account - really played some good poker over the weekend, obviously.
Guess this means I will be busting out in the 2nd level tonight at Dino's....meh!
On an even brighter note, I took first place in a private $5 + 0.50 tourney last night. $58 was rather sweet to add to the account - really played some good poker over the weekend, obviously.
Guess this means I will be busting out in the 2nd level tonight at Dino's....meh!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Just a little poker experiment I'm playing with...
So I decided last weekend that I would try to see how far I could get in trying to qualify for the WSOP on Absolute Poker for as cheap as possible...so far, so good.
I have started 3 Step 1's (I want to be able to have multiple tickets in play for this) at the Ultra-Turbo level - So far I have made it up to 2 Step 4 tickets, while losing another one at the Step 3 level. Since Step 3 is only $1 to play, I'll restart any new quests at this level.
Yup, the uber-aggressive donks are out here, so even in this format it's alright to bide your time and be patient...although the Ultra-Turbo format won't allow you to be too patient, either. So far, the strategy has been pretty simple: Splash around in lots of pots early on with marginal hands, but don't go crazy bluffing your chips away, either. Ramp up the aggression as you get to final 5 (3rd and 4th get ticket to same Step currently playing, 1st and 2nd go onto to next Step), and push, push, push, when down to final 3.
7 more to go to get to Vegas - oy!
I have started 3 Step 1's (I want to be able to have multiple tickets in play for this) at the Ultra-Turbo level - So far I have made it up to 2 Step 4 tickets, while losing another one at the Step 3 level. Since Step 3 is only $1 to play, I'll restart any new quests at this level.
Yup, the uber-aggressive donks are out here, so even in this format it's alright to bide your time and be patient...although the Ultra-Turbo format won't allow you to be too patient, either. So far, the strategy has been pretty simple: Splash around in lots of pots early on with marginal hands, but don't go crazy bluffing your chips away, either. Ramp up the aggression as you get to final 5 (3rd and 4th get ticket to same Step currently playing, 1st and 2nd go onto to next Step), and push, push, push, when down to final 3.
7 more to go to get to Vegas - oy!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I almost forgot how easy satellites can be...
Played in a 2-table, 20-man satellite to the Sunday $200K (210 FPP - 6 advance). Except for the blinds, played maybe 4 hands the entire time, and got my seat, which I promptly cashed out for 11 T$. Might play in some $1.10 and $2.20 satellites for the heck of it, and see if I can run my balance up some.
In this particular satellite, I really only need to worry about doubling up once, and avoid being the shortstack, in order to move on. Got the double-up I needed at the 75/150 level when EP open-jammed 2600 with A-K into my 1600 chipstack while I'm holding K-K. Case King on the flop cinched it, and shortly thereafter (once we got to 100/200 25 ante stage) a couple of morons busted out....one of them was 3rd in chips at the time, and decided with 8 to go that running 7-7 into A-A was a good idea.
Oh well, felt good to play for 30 minutes or so last night, and even better to win.
In this particular satellite, I really only need to worry about doubling up once, and avoid being the shortstack, in order to move on. Got the double-up I needed at the 75/150 level when EP open-jammed 2600 with A-K into my 1600 chipstack while I'm holding K-K. Case King on the flop cinched it, and shortly thereafter (once we got to 100/200 25 ante stage) a couple of morons busted out....one of them was 3rd in chips at the time, and decided with 8 to go that running 7-7 into A-A was a good idea.
Oh well, felt good to play for 30 minutes or so last night, and even better to win.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Good run, but a case of "what could have been"
Played very well last night in the Dino's tourney - this time there were 36 players (most I've seen at this bar) playing last night. Got up 2400 chips after some patience and executing a couple of well-played bluffs, then lost about 1/3 of my stack to a shortie who pushed (at 100/200) with 4-10 - my A-Q outflopped him when my queen hit to go ahead of his 10, but then a 4 on the turn gave him the lead and ultimately the hand. Pushed for last 1250 or so against Jay with A-Q (again), this time my A-Q won a race against his 10s.
Pushed a couple more times to take down blinds, then won a hand against Jay out of BB when 5-2 paired. Took down the blinds (300/600 or 400/800 at this point) a couple more times, then we merged to final table.
Final table saw blinds go to 500/1000. Big Bald Brad busted out first, then Tim went out - Andy was out a couple of hands later, but this was the hand I lost 2/3 of my chips when A-10 doubles up Pontytailed Mike's A-J after ace hits the board. 2 hands later, I push UTG with A-9 for last 2250 - 3 callers, plus blinds folded...9 hit the flop...somehow my hand held up, and I went up to about 8,000 in chips.
After losing a couple of pots, tripled up (and knocked Jovan out, in the process) when Q-Q survived K-8 and A-7. Sitting now at about 18000 chips, I start using my chip stack to take down blinds. Works for a couple of hands, then my 8-8 runs into Ponytailed Mike's 9-9 - runner-runner hearts give me a flush, and a sick knockout.
2 non-regulars go out 5th and 4th, and we're down to Mike (tight player), Bernie, and myself. Get involved in a couple of big pots with Bernie where we just trade chips to each other, then this hand happens:
UTG: Raise to 4K with A-7 soooooooted - Bernie in BB calls. (8500 in pot)
Flop: 7-5-3 rainbow. Bernie bets 4K, I think about it for a few secs, come over the top of him for last 14K or so, Bernie insta-calls with 5-6. 4 on turn gives him straight, no 6 on river for chop, and good game me. Trying to figure out if that was a good call or not (I don't think so - but I'll let the math experts figure this out), but I'm thinking "no". Damn that Dickle, anyways!
Bernie won a few hands later after rivering a Jack to win (J-2 - power hand wins!), congrats!
Pushed a couple more times to take down blinds, then won a hand against Jay out of BB when 5-2 paired. Took down the blinds (300/600 or 400/800 at this point) a couple more times, then we merged to final table.
Final table saw blinds go to 500/1000. Big Bald Brad busted out first, then Tim went out - Andy was out a couple of hands later, but this was the hand I lost 2/3 of my chips when A-10 doubles up Pontytailed Mike's A-J after ace hits the board. 2 hands later, I push UTG with A-9 for last 2250 - 3 callers, plus blinds folded...9 hit the flop...somehow my hand held up, and I went up to about 8,000 in chips.
After losing a couple of pots, tripled up (and knocked Jovan out, in the process) when Q-Q survived K-8 and A-7. Sitting now at about 18000 chips, I start using my chip stack to take down blinds. Works for a couple of hands, then my 8-8 runs into Ponytailed Mike's 9-9 - runner-runner hearts give me a flush, and a sick knockout.
2 non-regulars go out 5th and 4th, and we're down to Mike (tight player), Bernie, and myself. Get involved in a couple of big pots with Bernie where we just trade chips to each other, then this hand happens:
UTG: Raise to 4K with A-7 soooooooted - Bernie in BB calls. (8500 in pot)
Flop: 7-5-3 rainbow. Bernie bets 4K, I think about it for a few secs, come over the top of him for last 14K or so, Bernie insta-calls with 5-6. 4 on turn gives him straight, no 6 on river for chop, and good game me. Trying to figure out if that was a good call or not (I don't think so - but I'll let the math experts figure this out), but I'm thinking "no". Damn that Dickle, anyways!
Bernie won a few hands later after rivering a Jack to win (J-2 - power hand wins!), congrats!
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