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.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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.
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