Ninja.
Just a couple of quick updates before we get back into it.
My last bank buy-in was for 100 and I quickly chopped it down to about 40. I played a 20+2 SNG9seat right away because I always wanted to try… lost… and then played a random mix of STT and MTT stuff generally doing… not well enough to be profitable. Then, I took a 3rd in a 180 and got up to 80-90ish and used it as the catalyst to get really focused. I ground my way up to about 160. It is worth noting I think that this was my SECOND 100 dollar buy-in since starting using PokerTracker and/but that I started using it while I was massively doomswitched and couldn’t hit ANYTHING EVER and whatever I did hit was counterfitted or cracked. So, 160 puts me nicely on my way to a recovery. I believe that I am “ready” to be a profitable player. It just hasn’t seemed to happen yet.
Then, another run of freaking hellish bad beats and disconnects. Not a massive six week bender like before- but three days. I chew that 160 down to about 98 or so. I am playing 5.5 SNG 9seats. I crack two second places in a row and decide that I need/want/cant resist playing another 20+2. Which I crush for first. Holy- 180 in the bank. I quickly cool my jets and move back to my 5.5 tables and wrap up a 5 game cash streak with two 3rds, two 2nds, and two 1sts. My bank is at 201.
The next day I go 3 for 5 cashes and am up to 218 or so. I think it was a 3rd and two 2nds. The 2nds happened at the same time and one was sort of interesting/fun/fucked up. We went heads up and I had him stacked by about 170 chips (15k in play) and we go all in first hand. I’ve got AJoff and he turns over QJoff. The board came KKTT9. uggg…
I run through another day with moderate results and am almost at 230.
Which brings us to tonight. I am in game 6 with no cashes yet. However, its not my goddamn fault. At a table with all starting stacks, and three missing bodies I’ve got two stacks of chips and table captain has three. We raise reraise preflop and the board comes blank blank A rainbow. I’ve got AKoff. He bets, I reraise all-in, he calls with AT… and the turn is a T. This assclown now has 7500 chips and four opponents with 1500. Then, next game, all-in preflop with AK (I reraised all-in) and I get called by FIVE FUCKING SEVEN. The board comes 5A7… I will let you figure out how it went. Oh and one was AK vs QQ. AK is not my hand tonight I guess.
Now, this may seem like a lot of hyper preflop action. Each time it was pretty early and each time I was in a position to shove. Also, each time I was a nice fat favorite except the QQ which was a coin flip. I’ve found that in the first couple of rounds of these 5.5 games a lot of fish are eager to get their chips in. They see bluffs on TV and think that is how it works or they think “lets gamble”. As you can see my equity on these moves was VERY STRONG and I believe that over time they are profitable. In terms of Sklansky Bucks I am coming out way ahead.
But man is it tough to get cracked so hard so many times in a row. Goddamn it.
And I am out again- poket pair lost to a big overpair- he had AA… oops. Honestly this was a bad call. I’d take a lot of chips of this guy earlier when he got involved with me with air and my pocket 22 and the set of 8s on the board crushed his 9 high. I called his shove to my raise because I had a good hand and figured him for “sick of my shit”.
I made a bad call at our home game the other night too. Top pair second kicker vs. the nut flush. The guy played loose and bluffy the other time he was here and went out first. I A) didn’t figure him for a massive hand and B) had bet strong enough that a flush drawing hand was a pretty shakey call. He did take a long time to make it… oh well. Just to finish the home game story- I bought our deadstack and then got caught AK against KK.
So, somewhere along the way I found the 2+2 forum and I generally believe it will be a powerful resource for transforming my game. If I were playing cash games I would swear it was the tool I needed. I am less impressed so far with the tournament sections/tutorials/faqs etc… There is a lot of “my guide to 180 seat MTT SNGs… flop a hidden straight early on to triple up, then use your large stack to bully the table through level 3. At this point you should be in the top 5 chip stacks- this is where it gets interesting….” And I am like… uh? Are you fucking dumb or insane or a fiction writer?
Anyway, there was a lot of talk about not drawing any conclusions- even soft ones- from PokerTracker until you had AT LEAST 10k hands of data. And really, you need 50k to know what is really going on with your game. Well, I should cross 10k tonight so I am pretty excited. It would, of course, be more exciting if I was doing well tonight. Sigh.
Oh man- I just went out AGAIN with AK vs a weaker hand- AJ this time. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON????
I am now two full and clean first place finishes down for the night and of those EIGHT loses- two were bad calls. Two. The rest are Sklansky Buck earners.
I just reread that sentence- what I meant was “even if I clear two firsts in a row- I will still be down”.
This game isn’t going well either. I had a decent stack with the big stack to my left. He was calling or reraising EVERYTHING I did and getting away with it. My SB came with one limper and I put raised it with AQ. He calls- of course. Flop came J high so I bet it- call, turn is a blank, I bet- call, river a blank, I bet- call… He flopped two pair with J8off. I am on the ropes. This was partially bad play on my part and partially unlucky. I think. Given my night and that that I am now looking for chances to shove and 99 in the BB earned my first walk I am going AND THEN I get quads and don’t get paid… I have to go with unlucky.
And bad play. But, you can’t let people walk all over you- I just picked a bad time to push.
God my money graph looks horrid. I’ve pealed off 20% of my bankroll in a steak with no cashes. At this point half of them there is SOMETHING I can feel bad about. But, seriously, the other HALF are all fucking redickulous bullshit loses? I still really have trouble with this stuff.
And out. Final shove with AJ gets called by AA and QQ.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Man, tonight sucks so bad. AQs in the BB- a raise and a call in front so I only call- flop TT9 two flush cards not my suit- and raiser goes all in. Of course I fold- but I can’t even remember what fucking win looks like right now.
The demon is dead. Into the money. Let the healing begin.
First place. And a glorious battle it was too. I came in desperately short stacked. I went on a stealing rampage that made me- still short- but at least dangerous. The big stack was to my left so that hurt and the guy to my right would raise EVERY hand and bet EVERY flop. This is the WORST kind of player for me. I admit it was luck that did this tourney in for me. I got my money in BAD against aggressive guy. I’d reraised him all in and got the fold maybe 6 times- almost always with an ace or pair. Then I ran into a call A8 vs AJ. I hit my 8. However, given how much air he HAD TO have used to take small pots off me I didn’t feel bad. Also he was French. So that kept me in the game. Then I took a couple small wins that actually put me in the lead slightly- this was because blinds had hit 150/300 which is huge with only 15k chips. I was in the SB with KK- one of three big pairs I saw all night- others did not get paid at all… Aggressive guy bets, I reraise double that, former big stack (only a smidge under me) goes all in. This is scary because he had played really tight- but I’ve got cowboys so insta-call. He turns over 66. I won with quads. I hit quads twice tonight actually but the first time I couldn’t get paid. Anyway, heads up with Mr. Aggressive. I raised him first hand with KQ (note: I’ve got him stacked 5 to 1) and he goes all in. I snap call and he has 77. I hit two pair on the flop.
So, total stack hit tonight was: about 40 bucks. 8 full entries lost. Even with the first place finish I am down to 188 from almost 230.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Still not over 200
Ninja.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I hope its not one of those days. But if I had an eight ball it might tell me that “all signs point to yes”.
Roughly hand 7 or so… SB with A4 off.
Everyone folds, button limps, I make it 3x to go. BB folds. Button calls. Note- we are less than 10 hands in and this guy has 3x the starting stack.
Pot is 260
Flop AJ2
I bet 180. He calls.
Flop is a 3.
I bet 200- he calls.
River is a 7.
I make a small bet 125. He calls.
Turns over J2.
I recovered but the table has been tight so the blinds are huge even though my stack was “average”. Certainly in “push fold” area. It folds around to me on the button and I’ve got 99. SB has me stacked- BB is an ultra micro. I- for some reason I can’t put into words- “feel” that shoving is too heavy so I 3x it. SB calls.
Flop comes KJ6. A) I am scared he has it and B) the pot is already big and C) I “tell myself” that since somebody is all-in maybe he will check it down with me. I check, he checks, turn is a blank, but he bets 200. Maybe 1/5 of the pot. I call even though I know its wrong. River doesn’t help- he bets again and I fold. He shows down AK so I guess I am glad I didn’t shove but it crippled me pretty good.
And I go out when I flop the Q high flush but big stack had the A high. Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
I am frustrated and playing poorly. I am basically out- M = 1 after the second hand. Next round I play ultra tight. Jesus.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Hhmmm… folded through two blind levels- well, not true- couple of steals- but I did fold 77 in the BB with a 5x raise and a caller in front of me- I would have hit my set….
But, down to 2/3 the starting stack when I flopped middle pair and second nut flush draw… called some mathematically correct bets but didn’t complete and gave it up to pressure on the river.
I missed a chance to go all in with an M of 11… it was over 10 so I convinced myself not to open shove the pot with KQs. Gave it up post flop. Then I made a horrible reraise all in against the other short stack with A3s and he turned over 77 to crippled me. I had to pee and it ruined my focus.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Just a quick comment before I continue. That last table played VERY differently than my last 5 or 6 tables and I did not adjust well because I had “committed” to playing a tight game.
Anyway.
I just let myself get played. Shit.
BB with KJ off.
Button raises 3x.
I call.
Flop comes A high, two diamonds- I have a diamond but missed.
I bet out ¾- he calls.
Turn is another diamond. I now have a draw to 3rd diamond flush.
I check. Hoping he thinks I completed…
He bets the pot- I fold.
Then I notice he has played 80% of the pots and raised all of them preflop.
I reraise him all in with TT later and he folds.
I call him with T9s but somebody else shoves and I fold.
And I go out on the bubble.
I am in the 5 way with the least chips and I battle my way to a solid second and bust number 5. We are on the bubble and I am healthy as hell.
Big stack is UTG and limps.
I raise from the button with AKoff.
Flop comes K high.
He bets 400 into the 700ish pot.
I reraise all in- I don’t want to “play” with him.
He calls with KT and hits his T on the river.
MOTHERFUCKER!!!!
Lets be clear- I am 90% to win here.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Well a nice fat lead gets destroyed when I hit top pair second kicker and second nut flush draw and four to the broadway straight. It turns into a 3 way all in (note: I’ve got them both stacked and I started the raising- so my odds are awesome). One guy had the nut flush draw and the other guy had a set of tens. I did not improve although the flush would have made me lost to the other guy.
I am the smallest stack but still big enough that nobody but the chip leader should want to pay me off. I push all in with AQoff. Second smallest stack calls. Just for shits the big stack calls too.
We turn over AQoff, A7off, and KJoff.
Second smallest stack- with A7off… hits quads.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I take a nice pot early when I flop a pair and a straight draw, turn the straight and a flush draw, and river the flush.
I open 3x on the button with Q7off and get a min repop from the BB. I call, miss the flop, and fold to a min bet.
Another call/raise everything all the time guy and I wind up heads up. I just don’t know how to deal with this- I give up a huge lead and take second.
I fucking hate myself.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I take 3rd. I am not proud. I am still down for the night and down for the weekend.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I hope its not one of those days. But if I had an eight ball it might tell me that “all signs point to yes”.
Roughly hand 7 or so… SB with A4 off.
Everyone folds, button limps, I make it 3x to go. BB folds. Button calls. Note- we are less than 10 hands in and this guy has 3x the starting stack.
Pot is 260
Flop AJ2
I bet 180. He calls.
Flop is a 3.
I bet 200- he calls.
River is a 7.
I make a small bet 125. He calls.
Turns over J2.
I recovered but the table has been tight so the blinds are huge even though my stack was “average”. Certainly in “push fold” area. It folds around to me on the button and I’ve got 99. SB has me stacked- BB is an ultra micro. I- for some reason I can’t put into words- “feel” that shoving is too heavy so I 3x it. SB calls.
Flop comes KJ6. A) I am scared he has it and B) the pot is already big and C) I “tell myself” that since somebody is all-in maybe he will check it down with me. I check, he checks, turn is a blank, but he bets 200. Maybe 1/5 of the pot. I call even though I know its wrong. River doesn’t help- he bets again and I fold. He shows down AK so I guess I am glad I didn’t shove but it crippled me pretty good.
And I go out when I flop the Q high flush but big stack had the A high. Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
I am frustrated and playing poorly. I am basically out- M = 1 after the second hand. Next round I play ultra tight. Jesus.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Hhmmm… folded through two blind levels- well, not true- couple of steals- but I did fold 77 in the BB with a 5x raise and a caller in front of me- I would have hit my set….
But, down to 2/3 the starting stack when I flopped middle pair and second nut flush draw… called some mathematically correct bets but didn’t complete and gave it up to pressure on the river.
I missed a chance to go all in with an M of 11… it was over 10 so I convinced myself not to open shove the pot with KQs. Gave it up post flop. Then I made a horrible reraise all in against the other short stack with A3s and he turned over 77 to crippled me. I had to pee and it ruined my focus.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Just a quick comment before I continue. That last table played VERY differently than my last 5 or 6 tables and I did not adjust well because I had “committed” to playing a tight game.
Anyway.
I just let myself get played. Shit.
BB with KJ off.
Button raises 3x.
I call.
Flop comes A high, two diamonds- I have a diamond but missed.
I bet out ¾- he calls.
Turn is another diamond. I now have a draw to 3rd diamond flush.
I check. Hoping he thinks I completed…
He bets the pot- I fold.
Then I notice he has played 80% of the pots and raised all of them preflop.
I reraise him all in with TT later and he folds.
I call him with T9s but somebody else shoves and I fold.
And I go out on the bubble.
I am in the 5 way with the least chips and I battle my way to a solid second and bust number 5. We are on the bubble and I am healthy as hell.
Big stack is UTG and limps.
I raise from the button with AKoff.
Flop comes K high.
He bets 400 into the 700ish pot.
I reraise all in- I don’t want to “play” with him.
He calls with KT and hits his T on the river.
MOTHERFUCKER!!!!
Lets be clear- I am 90% to win here.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Well a nice fat lead gets destroyed when I hit top pair second kicker and second nut flush draw and four to the broadway straight. It turns into a 3 way all in (note: I’ve got them both stacked and I started the raising- so my odds are awesome). One guy had the nut flush draw and the other guy had a set of tens. I did not improve although the flush would have made me lost to the other guy.
I am the smallest stack but still big enough that nobody but the chip leader should want to pay me off. I push all in with AQoff. Second smallest stack calls. Just for shits the big stack calls too.
We turn over AQoff, A7off, and KJoff.
Second smallest stack- with A7off… hits quads.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I take a nice pot early when I flop a pair and a straight draw, turn the straight and a flush draw, and river the flush.
I open 3x on the button with Q7off and get a min repop from the BB. I call, miss the flop, and fold to a min bet.
Another call/raise everything all the time guy and I wind up heads up. I just don’t know how to deal with this- I give up a huge lead and take second.
I fucking hate myself.
5.5 SNG 9seat
I take 3rd. I am not proud. I am still down for the night and down for the weekend.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Not over 200
Ninja.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Down to 3 players and playing pretty dominant poker. Decent cards- hitting flops- betting aggressively… Then got KQoff all in against my QQ and he rivered his K. It went downhill from there finishing when 77 lost to A8.
5.5 SNG 9seat
HUGE first hand. Tried to limp along with a pack with K9s. BB raised, a couple callers, I was on the button so I went too. I hit top pair on a nicely mixed flop. Original raiser bet, he got a caller, and I just didn’t buy it. I shoved. Original raiser called, other guy folded, and my caller turned over A high.
I got sucked out for half my stack- puts me a bit over average.
I won a small pot with quad eights. Then lost a big hand to a straight flush.
Smallish stack limp called all in with A4off to chop with my AQs that flopped broadway straight.
Then, I flopped a set against this monkey and put him all in and he runner runnered a four flush.
Same motherfucker limps calls all in with KQ against my JJ and flops a king.
My last three hands- from above average to out- were all against the same guy- I had him beat every time.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Okay, legit loss. Sort of a tech failure though. BB with QToff. UTG makes a min raise INSTANTLY when the cards go out. There is NO WAY he is making a considered decision. A couple of callers. Flop comes Q high. I bet the pot and decide that if UTG guy goes over me I am calling regardless. He goes all in- I call- he has KK. Later I realized that he probably just loaded the cards faster. Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Crushed in an early hand when 77 struck gold in his set mine.
Eventually back to average after a nice double up that didn’t even involve showing down because so many people were involved and folded to my shove.
Out, and I deserved it. M of 10. 3x raise from the hijack. I shoved with KQ on the button. He called with AKs.
Fuck this is upsetting.
5.5 SNG 9seat
If I don’t crush this I am done. I called a smaller stack all in preflop with AQ- he had AK. I hit trip queens and he straighted. I am crippled in chips and ready to freak the fuck out.
Busted in the middle of the pack. I won a couple of races in a row and then lost one.
The blinds had gotten HUGE so… shrug.
I can’t stop now but am dropping a level.
2.25 SNG 9 seat
KK, reraised a reraise preflop. Guy called. Raised the flop. Guy called. Raised the turn. Guy called. River completed a flush- guy made a min bet- I called… he was drawing to the flush.
KK again against the same guy. Reraise preflop- call. Innocuous flop- with a 7. He bets, I reraise- he calls. Turn is a blank- he bets- I reraise all-in- he calls. Turns over Q7. And rivers his 7. No fucking shit.
Dropping down a level sucks my ass.
THIS IS SO FUCKED UP!
I went back to 5.5 and took a first. It puts me back to only a couple bucks down. Sigh. If not for the suckouts I’d have cleared two hundred today..
Out.
5.5 SNG 9seat
Down to 3 players and playing pretty dominant poker. Decent cards- hitting flops- betting aggressively… Then got KQoff all in against my QQ and he rivered his K. It went downhill from there finishing when 77 lost to A8.
5.5 SNG 9seat
HUGE first hand. Tried to limp along with a pack with K9s. BB raised, a couple callers, I was on the button so I went too. I hit top pair on a nicely mixed flop. Original raiser bet, he got a caller, and I just didn’t buy it. I shoved. Original raiser called, other guy folded, and my caller turned over A high.
I got sucked out for half my stack- puts me a bit over average.
I won a small pot with quad eights. Then lost a big hand to a straight flush.
Smallish stack limp called all in with A4off to chop with my AQs that flopped broadway straight.
Then, I flopped a set against this monkey and put him all in and he runner runnered a four flush.
Same motherfucker limps calls all in with KQ against my JJ and flops a king.
My last three hands- from above average to out- were all against the same guy- I had him beat every time.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Okay, legit loss. Sort of a tech failure though. BB with QToff. UTG makes a min raise INSTANTLY when the cards go out. There is NO WAY he is making a considered decision. A couple of callers. Flop comes Q high. I bet the pot and decide that if UTG guy goes over me I am calling regardless. He goes all in- I call- he has KK. Later I realized that he probably just loaded the cards faster. Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Crushed in an early hand when 77 struck gold in his set mine.
Eventually back to average after a nice double up that didn’t even involve showing down because so many people were involved and folded to my shove.
Out, and I deserved it. M of 10. 3x raise from the hijack. I shoved with KQ on the button. He called with AKs.
Fuck this is upsetting.
5.5 SNG 9seat
If I don’t crush this I am done. I called a smaller stack all in preflop with AQ- he had AK. I hit trip queens and he straighted. I am crippled in chips and ready to freak the fuck out.
Busted in the middle of the pack. I won a couple of races in a row and then lost one.
The blinds had gotten HUGE so… shrug.
I can’t stop now but am dropping a level.
2.25 SNG 9 seat
KK, reraised a reraise preflop. Guy called. Raised the flop. Guy called. Raised the turn. Guy called. River completed a flush- guy made a min bet- I called… he was drawing to the flush.
KK again against the same guy. Reraise preflop- call. Innocuous flop- with a 7. He bets, I reraise- he calls. Turn is a blank- he bets- I reraise all-in- he calls. Turns over Q7. And rivers his 7. No fucking shit.
Dropping down a level sucks my ass.
THIS IS SO FUCKED UP!
I went back to 5.5 and took a first. It puts me back to only a couple bucks down. Sigh. If not for the suckouts I’d have cleared two hundred today..
Out.
Friday, November 6, 2009
They do- they abound
Ninja.
Finally got to log in and missed a 5.50 45seat by a second or so. It was at 44 when I opened the lobby… Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9seat
BB AQoff
UTG limps
Highjack limps
SB folds
I make it 4x.
UTG calls other guy folds
Flop comes 422.
I fire a pot sized continuation bet
He calls
Turn is a J
I check
He checks
River is a 3
I check
He makes a small bet
I call
He turns over 53off.
Jesus what a horrible game.
After that hit I proceed to fold for 20 minutes or so. The donkey who hurt me goes all in about every other hand until he is busted.
I get a free flop in the BB with T2off. Flop comes 89J.
SB checks, I push all in with my open ended
He snap calls with TQ.
Oops.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
It is going to be one of those days.
First hand of the next game I am in the BB (again?) with AJoff.
UTG makes it 3.5x
Button calls
SB calls
I call
Flop comes 344
It checks around
Turn is a K
It checks around
River is some other thing
SB checks, I check, original raiser checks, button bets
SB reraises
I fold
Original raiser folds
Button rereraises all in
SB calls and turns over 94off for a set of fours and a knock out.
He called a raised multi-way pot with 94off.
And I am out because I pushed with TT and AKs hit his ace.
It *IS* one of those days.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Lost chips first hand when I raised with KQ- was reraised the min- called- missed the flop- gave it up.
Raised with AJoff- scoop.
AQs in the BB- three limpers
Pot raise
Two callers
Flop came two of my suit
Pot raise- scoop
KJs in the SB
3x raise from late
I call
Flop has two of my suit and the ace
I check raise all in
He calls
I hit my flush to beat his pair
55 in mid
Small raise in front
I call along with several others
I flop the set
I check
Guy makes a small bet
I call
Turn is a blank
He checks
I min bet
He calls
River gives me quads
He checks
I bet
He folds
Still nice.
Anyway, quick break for some poker math. Lets recall my TT vs. AKs hand a minute ago.
I am trying to think more consciously about EV. Here is how you calculate it in the case of a CALLED shove. Before the call your EV will always be higher because your opponent could fold.
AMOUNT YOU WIN IF CALLED AND YOU WIN
Multiplied by
YOUR PERCENT TO WIN
Minus
HOW MUCH YOU LOSE IF CALLED AND YOU LOSE
So, in that case we had 120, 120, and 30 in dead money. He raised and I shoved for 1380. He calls 1380. Total pot is 3030.
In a match of TT vs AKs with no suit blockage- we have 53% for the TT.
So, (3030*.53)-1380=+226
So, if I make that move and get called over and over I will make 226 profit on average.
Meanwhile, I flopped a gut shot and an overpair and made a continuation bet that got called. I turned top pair and pushed the caller all in. He turned over the straight that my top pair gave him. Oops.
Then, I busted a guy who I put all in and who called me with A high. I had TPTK.
Pot raise from UTG+1 with AKs. Scoop.
JJ in UTG
Pot raise again
One caller
Two callers
Flop comes
A high. I continuation bet.
One fold, one shove.
The shove is for another 20% of the pot maybe so I have to call.
He has the A
Let’s run our EV calc on that call.
720 970 540 in the pot… 2230. 430 to call (not bad 20% estimate).
So I win- wait, does my call count as part of the winning? Shit. I need to redo the other one I think…
Oh! The other one isn’t a call.
Let’s assume my calling money does not count as a win.
Post flop I am 9% to win.
(2230*.09)-430= -230.
Knowing he had the A it was a bad call. I didn’t KNOW but even if we add in a fudge factor it was a bad call.
Fucking jacks.
Well shit- now I am wondering about the TT hand again. Even though I was the shover… does my shove count as winnings? I think it does because the call comes AFTER it goes into the pot. I am risking it PRECALL and then it isn’t mine.
Okay, I am still unclear so I am going to run it without my shove. Although there will be some fudge since I didn’t get the details.
And I am crippled in my game. It’s been a clusterfuck. Even those nice chip ups were gay.
I made a decent raise preflop from the SB with AJ. BB calls- dickhole who cracked my jacks.
Oh wait- sidebar- a few hands later he did the same thing I did with his jacks. Bet them, got called by a shitty ace. Ace high flop-continuation bet- ace goes all in- and he calls. Unlike me- he four flushed to win.
Anyway, guy calls my AJ bet. Flop is K high rag. I continuation bet- firmly. He calls.
Turn is a T. I check. He checks.
River is an 8.
I bet- he calls.
Turns over T9o.
He called the preflop raise and the continuation bet with nothing.
We are on the bubble and the stacks are:
5410- donkey suckhole
3600
3300
750- me
Anyway, back to our TT hand.
I believe the pot, before I shoved, was probably about 800 less.
So (2230*.53)-1380=is-198
That cannot be right. A) I am the favorite to win and B) the pot has dead money.
Okay, I got it. You can’t have it both ways- in a good way. I was subtracting my whole stack- not including what was out there preshove.
Should be (2230*.53)-880=+301
I double up stealing then double up when my ATo shove gets called by A6s and holds.
Then I bust somebody.
In the money and healthy.
Hell yeah.
I bet 99 and get called by DSH. Flop comes 8JK and I give it up.
Made it to heads up but lost. He had a pretty big stack relative to mine but honestly the problem was I didn’t know how to deal with him. He played like The Big Loud Dumb One. Let’s model a player and discuss.
Calls almost any bet preflop regardless of position.
Bets at any pot without position- calls any shy of all-in (almost)- without position.
I tried to talk to TBLDO about this, but every word out of his mouth was nonsense. He used sentences like, “well, if I am holding an 8, or if there is an 8 on the board… I will always bet.” I… I don’t even know where to go with that.
5.5 SNG 45seat
First hand I played went well. Somebody was busted down to 450. I still had my full 1500 and was dealt JJ. One caller. I shove. Caller calls my shove.
We turn over K2s, JJ, and 44. I took it down for a nice double-up+
I am going to explain fold equity as it applies to hand equity. Not because I think you need to know, but because I want to harness the math and assimilate it. As it stands I understand it academically and intuitively, but the math part isn’t built into my game. It’s a case where I need to think through it long hand which isn’t practical so I fake it. I don’t want to fake it.
Hand equity we used a minute ago talking about percent to win in various hands. Obviously you do a lot of guesswork here since you don’t know what your opponent is holding. Although, there are some RADICAL (and I mean awesome not avant gaurde) ways to think about this too…. Sorry, ahem… Uh- equity… Here we are just talking about chance to win the hand vs. hand showdown.
So, we will use AKs vs. JJ where the jack shares a suit since I just used this hand in an example to TBLDO.
AKs – 46%
JJ – 54%
Note: 2 of 32 after last hand.
AKs is debating a shove, but figures the JJ for a strong pair so he knows his actual hand (roughly).
Now, if he shoves JJ should put him on a big hand. Overpair, big suited connector… something. So, he will figure himself for a coin flip at best. Nobody likes to gamble their tournament on a coin flip so AKs assigns JJ a probability of folding at 50%
The way we modify our hand equity is by multiplying the fold percent by HIS win percent.
So, .50*.54= .26
This means that by shoving AKs will take this pot 74% of the time.
Now those numbers are really easy to deal with so let’s spice it up and try it again.
AJoff vs. KQs with the ace sharing a suit. AFTER a flop with undercards and 2 flush cards.
Side note: For all of my bitching about Gus’ book and his playstyle… I’ve definitely adopted the “shove for max pressure” when I think I’ve got the cards- but want to shut the pot down and have the stack.
AJoff – 52%
KQs – 48%
Wow, that is close.
KQ puts out a bet that “tells” AJ that he is on the flush draw.
Side note: There may be no greater feeling in poker than busted the guy who limped with AA. Saw a free flop with K5off. Flopped a set. Put me in 2 of 22.
Side note: Shipped those chips to somebody else when his pocket pair beat my second pair.
So, knowing this guy is on the draw- but knowing he isn’t on the nut draw- we figure he is eager for a chance to nail the flush and take a big pot- but at least a little nervous about a better flush. We know he isn’t too nervous- but still.
Conservatively we assign a 20% fold value.
WAIT!!!!
Sorry, The Cute Helpful One dropped off dinner for me and I was busted while she was here. With a decent stack (everyone is shortstacked but like the top two guys) in mid field I call a shove with 99. The guy has me stacked by like 100 chips. He turns over 8Ts and rivered his flush to bust me.
I left this up thinking I would come back to it, but alas I never made it. Truth made me play video games and then I made him watch WSOP 23 and 24. Or 24 and 25? While watching something embarrassing happened. I am totally mortified. When Darvin called Kopp’s all-in I let on a full fledged guy-watching-sports cheer. OMG, I am one of Them.
Anyway, so I tried to go to bed “early” at about 1:45… I typically read for a while, but I still figure I was asleep 2 or 4 hours before normal. It wasn’t light out. But then I woke up at 8 and couldn’t turn my brain off. We will see how today goes.
MEANWHILE, I hit up a 5.5 SNG 9 and am at almost quadruple the starting stack with only two people out! I busted a guy with AA early on- he was a knucklehead calling raises and then pushing all in with 22. Then, I busted the other bigstack with QQ when he pushed all-in with… two over cards. So, yay me!
Okay, so, fold value… I am going to wrap this up weakly because my brain isn’t “in it” anymore.
Actually, my brain might not have been in it last night since I was trying to create a situation where my “seed” was the other guy’s cards not the player’s cards. I think I am going to leave you hanging for now. I will revisit this for sure though because it is heavily on my mind as my next “big step” in my development.
JJ got cracked by AA. I am second in chips now.
Somebody goes out and we are on the bubble with one super short stack.
Small stack doubled, stole the blinds, then reraised my steal (I raised 3x on the button with A8 and he shoved for half my stack) and is now healthy.
I all a 3x with KQ and hit top pair and take a decent pot from the chip leader- I am in first again. He gets a couple good steals in and takes it back.
And I become the short stack. My QQ gets a walk, I raise the small stack with AKoff, he shoves, I call, he as QQ and they hold.
Bubble burst and on the first hand post bubble I double up thought the big stack with KK to level the field.
Blinds are huge though so it will be very volatile.
My A6s sucks out on A7off and we are two and I have the chips.
I get busted BY ANOTHER SUCKOUT FUCK and take second. All in preflop A9s vs. QTs and he rivers- on the river- the straight to beat my flopped top pair.
Finally got to log in and missed a 5.50 45seat by a second or so. It was at 44 when I opened the lobby… Oh well.
5.5 SNG 9seat
BB AQoff
UTG limps
Highjack limps
SB folds
I make it 4x.
UTG calls other guy folds
Flop comes 422.
I fire a pot sized continuation bet
He calls
Turn is a J
I check
He checks
River is a 3
I check
He makes a small bet
I call
He turns over 53off.
Jesus what a horrible game.
After that hit I proceed to fold for 20 minutes or so. The donkey who hurt me goes all in about every other hand until he is busted.
I get a free flop in the BB with T2off. Flop comes 89J.
SB checks, I push all in with my open ended
He snap calls with TQ.
Oops.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
It is going to be one of those days.
First hand of the next game I am in the BB (again?) with AJoff.
UTG makes it 3.5x
Button calls
SB calls
I call
Flop comes 344
It checks around
Turn is a K
It checks around
River is some other thing
SB checks, I check, original raiser checks, button bets
SB reraises
I fold
Original raiser folds
Button rereraises all in
SB calls and turns over 94off for a set of fours and a knock out.
He called a raised multi-way pot with 94off.
And I am out because I pushed with TT and AKs hit his ace.
It *IS* one of those days.
5.5 SNG 9 seat
Lost chips first hand when I raised with KQ- was reraised the min- called- missed the flop- gave it up.
Raised with AJoff- scoop.
AQs in the BB- three limpers
Pot raise
Two callers
Flop came two of my suit
Pot raise- scoop
KJs in the SB
3x raise from late
I call
Flop has two of my suit and the ace
I check raise all in
He calls
I hit my flush to beat his pair
55 in mid
Small raise in front
I call along with several others
I flop the set
I check
Guy makes a small bet
I call
Turn is a blank
He checks
I min bet
He calls
River gives me quads
He checks
I bet
He folds
Still nice.
Anyway, quick break for some poker math. Lets recall my TT vs. AKs hand a minute ago.
I am trying to think more consciously about EV. Here is how you calculate it in the case of a CALLED shove. Before the call your EV will always be higher because your opponent could fold.
AMOUNT YOU WIN IF CALLED AND YOU WIN
Multiplied by
YOUR PERCENT TO WIN
Minus
HOW MUCH YOU LOSE IF CALLED AND YOU LOSE
So, in that case we had 120, 120, and 30 in dead money. He raised and I shoved for 1380. He calls 1380. Total pot is 3030.
In a match of TT vs AKs with no suit blockage- we have 53% for the TT.
So, (3030*.53)-1380=+226
So, if I make that move and get called over and over I will make 226 profit on average.
Meanwhile, I flopped a gut shot and an overpair and made a continuation bet that got called. I turned top pair and pushed the caller all in. He turned over the straight that my top pair gave him. Oops.
Then, I busted a guy who I put all in and who called me with A high. I had TPTK.
Pot raise from UTG+1 with AKs. Scoop.
JJ in UTG
Pot raise again
One caller
Two callers
Flop comes
A high. I continuation bet.
One fold, one shove.
The shove is for another 20% of the pot maybe so I have to call.
He has the A
Let’s run our EV calc on that call.
720 970 540 in the pot… 2230. 430 to call (not bad 20% estimate).
So I win- wait, does my call count as part of the winning? Shit. I need to redo the other one I think…
Oh! The other one isn’t a call.
Let’s assume my calling money does not count as a win.
Post flop I am 9% to win.
(2230*.09)-430= -230.
Knowing he had the A it was a bad call. I didn’t KNOW but even if we add in a fudge factor it was a bad call.
Fucking jacks.
Well shit- now I am wondering about the TT hand again. Even though I was the shover… does my shove count as winnings? I think it does because the call comes AFTER it goes into the pot. I am risking it PRECALL and then it isn’t mine.
Okay, I am still unclear so I am going to run it without my shove. Although there will be some fudge since I didn’t get the details.
And I am crippled in my game. It’s been a clusterfuck. Even those nice chip ups were gay.
I made a decent raise preflop from the SB with AJ. BB calls- dickhole who cracked my jacks.
Oh wait- sidebar- a few hands later he did the same thing I did with his jacks. Bet them, got called by a shitty ace. Ace high flop-continuation bet- ace goes all in- and he calls. Unlike me- he four flushed to win.
Anyway, guy calls my AJ bet. Flop is K high rag. I continuation bet- firmly. He calls.
Turn is a T. I check. He checks.
River is an 8.
I bet- he calls.
Turns over T9o.
He called the preflop raise and the continuation bet with nothing.
We are on the bubble and the stacks are:
5410- donkey suckhole
3600
3300
750- me
Anyway, back to our TT hand.
I believe the pot, before I shoved, was probably about 800 less.
So (2230*.53)-1380=is-198
That cannot be right. A) I am the favorite to win and B) the pot has dead money.
Okay, I got it. You can’t have it both ways- in a good way. I was subtracting my whole stack- not including what was out there preshove.
Should be (2230*.53)-880=+301
I double up stealing then double up when my ATo shove gets called by A6s and holds.
Then I bust somebody.
In the money and healthy.
Hell yeah.
I bet 99 and get called by DSH. Flop comes 8JK and I give it up.
Made it to heads up but lost. He had a pretty big stack relative to mine but honestly the problem was I didn’t know how to deal with him. He played like The Big Loud Dumb One. Let’s model a player and discuss.
Calls almost any bet preflop regardless of position.
Bets at any pot without position- calls any shy of all-in (almost)- without position.
I tried to talk to TBLDO about this, but every word out of his mouth was nonsense. He used sentences like, “well, if I am holding an 8, or if there is an 8 on the board… I will always bet.” I… I don’t even know where to go with that.
5.5 SNG 45seat
First hand I played went well. Somebody was busted down to 450. I still had my full 1500 and was dealt JJ. One caller. I shove. Caller calls my shove.
We turn over K2s, JJ, and 44. I took it down for a nice double-up+
I am going to explain fold equity as it applies to hand equity. Not because I think you need to know, but because I want to harness the math and assimilate it. As it stands I understand it academically and intuitively, but the math part isn’t built into my game. It’s a case where I need to think through it long hand which isn’t practical so I fake it. I don’t want to fake it.
Hand equity we used a minute ago talking about percent to win in various hands. Obviously you do a lot of guesswork here since you don’t know what your opponent is holding. Although, there are some RADICAL (and I mean awesome not avant gaurde) ways to think about this too…. Sorry, ahem… Uh- equity… Here we are just talking about chance to win the hand vs. hand showdown.
So, we will use AKs vs. JJ where the jack shares a suit since I just used this hand in an example to TBLDO.
AKs – 46%
JJ – 54%
Note: 2 of 32 after last hand.
AKs is debating a shove, but figures the JJ for a strong pair so he knows his actual hand (roughly).
Now, if he shoves JJ should put him on a big hand. Overpair, big suited connector… something. So, he will figure himself for a coin flip at best. Nobody likes to gamble their tournament on a coin flip so AKs assigns JJ a probability of folding at 50%
The way we modify our hand equity is by multiplying the fold percent by HIS win percent.
So, .50*.54= .26
This means that by shoving AKs will take this pot 74% of the time.
Now those numbers are really easy to deal with so let’s spice it up and try it again.
AJoff vs. KQs with the ace sharing a suit. AFTER a flop with undercards and 2 flush cards.
Side note: For all of my bitching about Gus’ book and his playstyle… I’ve definitely adopted the “shove for max pressure” when I think I’ve got the cards- but want to shut the pot down and have the stack.
AJoff – 52%
KQs – 48%
Wow, that is close.
KQ puts out a bet that “tells” AJ that he is on the flush draw.
Side note: There may be no greater feeling in poker than busted the guy who limped with AA. Saw a free flop with K5off. Flopped a set. Put me in 2 of 22.
Side note: Shipped those chips to somebody else when his pocket pair beat my second pair.
So, knowing this guy is on the draw- but knowing he isn’t on the nut draw- we figure he is eager for a chance to nail the flush and take a big pot- but at least a little nervous about a better flush. We know he isn’t too nervous- but still.
Conservatively we assign a 20% fold value.
WAIT!!!!
Sorry, The Cute Helpful One dropped off dinner for me and I was busted while she was here. With a decent stack (everyone is shortstacked but like the top two guys) in mid field I call a shove with 99. The guy has me stacked by like 100 chips. He turns over 8Ts and rivered his flush to bust me.
I left this up thinking I would come back to it, but alas I never made it. Truth made me play video games and then I made him watch WSOP 23 and 24. Or 24 and 25? While watching something embarrassing happened. I am totally mortified. When Darvin called Kopp’s all-in I let on a full fledged guy-watching-sports cheer. OMG, I am one of Them.
Anyway, so I tried to go to bed “early” at about 1:45… I typically read for a while, but I still figure I was asleep 2 or 4 hours before normal. It wasn’t light out. But then I woke up at 8 and couldn’t turn my brain off. We will see how today goes.
MEANWHILE, I hit up a 5.5 SNG 9 and am at almost quadruple the starting stack with only two people out! I busted a guy with AA early on- he was a knucklehead calling raises and then pushing all in with 22. Then, I busted the other bigstack with QQ when he pushed all-in with… two over cards. So, yay me!
Okay, so, fold value… I am going to wrap this up weakly because my brain isn’t “in it” anymore.
Actually, my brain might not have been in it last night since I was trying to create a situation where my “seed” was the other guy’s cards not the player’s cards. I think I am going to leave you hanging for now. I will revisit this for sure though because it is heavily on my mind as my next “big step” in my development.
JJ got cracked by AA. I am second in chips now.
Somebody goes out and we are on the bubble with one super short stack.
Small stack doubled, stole the blinds, then reraised my steal (I raised 3x on the button with A8 and he shoved for half my stack) and is now healthy.
I all a 3x with KQ and hit top pair and take a decent pot from the chip leader- I am in first again. He gets a couple good steals in and takes it back.
And I become the short stack. My QQ gets a walk, I raise the small stack with AKoff, he shoves, I call, he as QQ and they hold.
Bubble burst and on the first hand post bubble I double up thought the big stack with KK to level the field.
Blinds are huge though so it will be very volatile.
My A6s sucks out on A7off and we are two and I have the chips.
I get busted BY ANOTHER SUCKOUT FUCK and take second. All in preflop A9s vs. QTs and he rivers- on the river- the straight to beat my flopped top pair.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
suckouts abound
Ninja.
I played a SNG 9 seat this evenin. It felt nice. While I was playing our buddy Utah called to make sure I was home so he could swing by and get something. The Big Loud Dumb One was also home. Utah lives out of state so its always exciting when he comes around.
Utah oohed and aahed appropriately over our new poker table and made some comments about how we should play a 3 handed game. I was already in my SNG so I stalled- I was prepared to do both at once if I had to! While we were all visiting Truth came home. Suddenly it was game on.
Meanwhile I was heads up so I said I was in.
They counted out chips and I wrapped up a first place in the SNG. Nice!
We sat down and things immediately went to shit for me. Very passive loose table and I had mediocre cards that seemed to always hit softly while somebody else hit hard. So if I raised I got called and missed. If I limped they let me limp and I’d catch a small piece and pay off somebody with a bigger piece. Now, I’d like to be clear- I was playing poorly- I could have escaped all these hands or just not played them. But it still gets old to raise with ATs and get called by K4off and lose when he hits his 4…
Finally a pair of 9s in a hand vs. Truth. Mostly I was looking for a chance to get my chips in and I figured he smelled blood in the water and would take any shot to put me out. He raised with TT, I reraised, he put me all in, I snap called- he turned over TT. Fuck me. I rivered a straight and doubled up to 60% of the starting stack. A couple hands later Truth “trapped” The Big Loud Dumb One with TP, but TBLDO had an overpair. Truth was crippled and didn’t make it back and he went out a bit later.
I hung on the ropes for a while and then TBLDO knocked out Utah with a MASSIVE chip disadvantage. I raised with a suited Ace and he called with Q8off. Flop came K24 I was basically pot committed (I did not think he would call preflop- I should have just shoved) and so when he bet I went all in- and lost.
Anyway, at another SNG 9seat now and was in a decent lead with a couple people out. I raised from early with JJ and got a caller. Then a smallish stack- about 2/7 of mine pushed all in. I shoved for protection- caller folded. Small stack turned over KK and put me into average stack mode.
That brings us current.
I made a move in late with 54s and got called and, god damn my eyes, caught a shitty piece of the flop. I couldn’t bring myself to fold to his small continuation bet. Turn brought another scare card and I had to give it up to a half pot bet. Now I am not quite the small stack.
Somebody busted and I am now the small stack. QToff on the button- shove and scoop. QQ in mid- shove- scoop.
Another bust and we are on the bubble. I am the small stack with about an M of about 8.
Lets be very clear about something though- I *own* this phase.
Flush vs. top pair- doubled up- not the short stack anymore.
And I am out on the bubble. Let’s review the hand.
KK in the SB-
Chip leader in the BB
3x raise- he calls
Flop is 34Q rainbow
I raise, he reraises, I go all in- he calls
He turns over 54off.
And turns another 4.
Owning a phase of the game doesn’t prevent donkey fuck suckouts.
I played a SNG 9 seat this evenin. It felt nice. While I was playing our buddy Utah called to make sure I was home so he could swing by and get something. The Big Loud Dumb One was also home. Utah lives out of state so its always exciting when he comes around.
Utah oohed and aahed appropriately over our new poker table and made some comments about how we should play a 3 handed game. I was already in my SNG so I stalled- I was prepared to do both at once if I had to! While we were all visiting Truth came home. Suddenly it was game on.
Meanwhile I was heads up so I said I was in.
They counted out chips and I wrapped up a first place in the SNG. Nice!
We sat down and things immediately went to shit for me. Very passive loose table and I had mediocre cards that seemed to always hit softly while somebody else hit hard. So if I raised I got called and missed. If I limped they let me limp and I’d catch a small piece and pay off somebody with a bigger piece. Now, I’d like to be clear- I was playing poorly- I could have escaped all these hands or just not played them. But it still gets old to raise with ATs and get called by K4off and lose when he hits his 4…
Finally a pair of 9s in a hand vs. Truth. Mostly I was looking for a chance to get my chips in and I figured he smelled blood in the water and would take any shot to put me out. He raised with TT, I reraised, he put me all in, I snap called- he turned over TT. Fuck me. I rivered a straight and doubled up to 60% of the starting stack. A couple hands later Truth “trapped” The Big Loud Dumb One with TP, but TBLDO had an overpair. Truth was crippled and didn’t make it back and he went out a bit later.
I hung on the ropes for a while and then TBLDO knocked out Utah with a MASSIVE chip disadvantage. I raised with a suited Ace and he called with Q8off. Flop came K24 I was basically pot committed (I did not think he would call preflop- I should have just shoved) and so when he bet I went all in- and lost.
Anyway, at another SNG 9seat now and was in a decent lead with a couple people out. I raised from early with JJ and got a caller. Then a smallish stack- about 2/7 of mine pushed all in. I shoved for protection- caller folded. Small stack turned over KK and put me into average stack mode.
That brings us current.
I made a move in late with 54s and got called and, god damn my eyes, caught a shitty piece of the flop. I couldn’t bring myself to fold to his small continuation bet. Turn brought another scare card and I had to give it up to a half pot bet. Now I am not quite the small stack.
Somebody busted and I am now the small stack. QToff on the button- shove and scoop. QQ in mid- shove- scoop.
Another bust and we are on the bubble. I am the small stack with about an M of about 8.
Lets be very clear about something though- I *own* this phase.
Flush vs. top pair- doubled up- not the short stack anymore.
And I am out on the bubble. Let’s review the hand.
KK in the SB-
Chip leader in the BB
3x raise- he calls
Flop is 34Q rainbow
I raise, he reraises, I go all in- he calls
He turns over 54off.
And turns another 4.
Owning a phase of the game doesn’t prevent donkey fuck suckouts.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Double your bankroll- or not.
Ninja.
Been a little quiet. Actually, a lot has happened. Not entirely sure even where to start honestly.
A few weeks of home games… There are four scenarios that we’ve seen play out. Either I catch no breaks, I catch no cards, I get sucked out on, or I play poorly- or some combination. And really the time I felt really bad about playing poorly I pushed all in preflop with TT with 60% of my starting stack for a 20x or so reraise and was called by AK or AQ- don’t remember which. Basically the home games have been terrible for a few weeks. I don’t remember if I wrote about the night paint made a shitty call preflop to a fucking reraise, a shitty call on the flop with nothing, a shitty call on the turn with a gutshot, and then crippled me when his J4 off runner runner straighted to 2-6 flush and beat my set of aces…
I mention that because today he said he did a 5 way chop at Bay 101 Saturday in a tourney where the buy-in was 500. Even writing that sentence almost has me in tears. He is not a loose aggressive player. He is a reckless luckbox and I fucking HATE to know that I am putting in as much time and effort into building this skill- and guys like that are getting paid regularly. I fucking hate it. I also hate that 7k would represent a massive life changing windfall for me- and once that was a only slightly more than a weekly paycheck.
How did this happen to my life?
Somewhere in there I cashed at Garden City one night- that was cool. Then I went out on the final table bubble and Truth went out just before the money bubble. Haven’t been back… Truth bought a PS3 and it has been “the new thing”. Although, the poker table was delivered tonight- that is pretty cool.
I took 3rd in a 180 a short while back. This mostly repaired the damage I’d done to my bankroll and then I’ve been pushing the 5.50 9 seats. I am up a solid 30% for this buy in. When I logged in just now and started this game I was grumbling that I wasn’t going to move until I’d doubled my roll. I am sure I won’t try to stick to that. Its 4am and I am tired and COMPLETELY AWARE of how horrible a framework that is.
Tonight I played okay- not great- not bad. I made a great call when Sheriff tried to bluff me on a big pot. I made a shaky laydown that everyone was impressed with when Tables bluffed at a pot (I had the better hand but he pushed all in and I had 19 outs with two streets and exactly 2-1 odds. And… that was about it. I made a few small call-folds and limp folds. And then called all-in with 9Ts with an M of about 4. Other guy had A8off.
The thing is- if I hadn’t played those limp hands I would have had three playable hands all night. I had AK, AJ, and KK. Other than that I had 66 once and then either BLO hands or very small suited connector or middle connectors. I swear I folded 6 rounds without a hand better than 96off.
I get so excited about poker and I look forward to the home game so much that if I don’t get cards or if I play poorly it feels like a sneeze that doesn’t happen. Or sex that is interrupted before climax. I feel unfulfilled, hollow, and itchy all at once. I almost always bounce online right away to keep playing. I then won two or three hands and then folded until LEVEL FUCKING NINE in a 9 seat.
Heh- first place. Bank is up almost 50%. Maybe I will double it?
I just did a little Poker Tracker browsing… It was interesting. The only two table positions I am negative for are the BB and the SB. The others are in a goofy order- but it’s interesting. Also, I am profitable for two pair and up now- although that happened a while ago.
And then a third. Two for two!
Uh… and a second. Three for three.
I got CRUSHED with 8 players left when my overpair (TT) lost to trip sevens. I was down to 20 chips and managed to cling and linger and get up to 700 chips and back to 40 and up to 500… The blinds were 100/200 when I went out ON THE BUBBLE. I actually almost made it in. Big stack reraised somebody all-in on a bluff with 57off. Smaller stack called with AK. Flop had a 7 but the river was a K. Dang it all!
Anyway, okay, I will stop here.
Been a little quiet. Actually, a lot has happened. Not entirely sure even where to start honestly.
A few weeks of home games… There are four scenarios that we’ve seen play out. Either I catch no breaks, I catch no cards, I get sucked out on, or I play poorly- or some combination. And really the time I felt really bad about playing poorly I pushed all in preflop with TT with 60% of my starting stack for a 20x or so reraise and was called by AK or AQ- don’t remember which. Basically the home games have been terrible for a few weeks. I don’t remember if I wrote about the night paint made a shitty call preflop to a fucking reraise, a shitty call on the flop with nothing, a shitty call on the turn with a gutshot, and then crippled me when his J4 off runner runner straighted to 2-6 flush and beat my set of aces…
I mention that because today he said he did a 5 way chop at Bay 101 Saturday in a tourney where the buy-in was 500. Even writing that sentence almost has me in tears. He is not a loose aggressive player. He is a reckless luckbox and I fucking HATE to know that I am putting in as much time and effort into building this skill- and guys like that are getting paid regularly. I fucking hate it. I also hate that 7k would represent a massive life changing windfall for me- and once that was a only slightly more than a weekly paycheck.
How did this happen to my life?
Somewhere in there I cashed at Garden City one night- that was cool. Then I went out on the final table bubble and Truth went out just before the money bubble. Haven’t been back… Truth bought a PS3 and it has been “the new thing”. Although, the poker table was delivered tonight- that is pretty cool.
I took 3rd in a 180 a short while back. This mostly repaired the damage I’d done to my bankroll and then I’ve been pushing the 5.50 9 seats. I am up a solid 30% for this buy in. When I logged in just now and started this game I was grumbling that I wasn’t going to move until I’d doubled my roll. I am sure I won’t try to stick to that. Its 4am and I am tired and COMPLETELY AWARE of how horrible a framework that is.
Tonight I played okay- not great- not bad. I made a great call when Sheriff tried to bluff me on a big pot. I made a shaky laydown that everyone was impressed with when Tables bluffed at a pot (I had the better hand but he pushed all in and I had 19 outs with two streets and exactly 2-1 odds. And… that was about it. I made a few small call-folds and limp folds. And then called all-in with 9Ts with an M of about 4. Other guy had A8off.
The thing is- if I hadn’t played those limp hands I would have had three playable hands all night. I had AK, AJ, and KK. Other than that I had 66 once and then either BLO hands or very small suited connector or middle connectors. I swear I folded 6 rounds without a hand better than 96off.
I get so excited about poker and I look forward to the home game so much that if I don’t get cards or if I play poorly it feels like a sneeze that doesn’t happen. Or sex that is interrupted before climax. I feel unfulfilled, hollow, and itchy all at once. I almost always bounce online right away to keep playing. I then won two or three hands and then folded until LEVEL FUCKING NINE in a 9 seat.
Heh- first place. Bank is up almost 50%. Maybe I will double it?
I just did a little Poker Tracker browsing… It was interesting. The only two table positions I am negative for are the BB and the SB. The others are in a goofy order- but it’s interesting. Also, I am profitable for two pair and up now- although that happened a while ago.
And then a third. Two for two!
Uh… and a second. Three for three.
I got CRUSHED with 8 players left when my overpair (TT) lost to trip sevens. I was down to 20 chips and managed to cling and linger and get up to 700 chips and back to 40 and up to 500… The blinds were 100/200 when I went out ON THE BUBBLE. I actually almost made it in. Big stack reraised somebody all-in on a bluff with 57off. Smaller stack called with AK. Flop had a 7 but the river was a K. Dang it all!
Anyway, okay, I will stop here.
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