Hello Strangers
Sorry it's been a while. :)
First off, I'm very appreciative for all of the comments and e-mails that I received after my last post about my Dad passing away.
It was pretty devastating when I received the news from my mother. I was out in Vegas and had been up for two days at the time. We had gone out on the Friday night and carried on all the way through to the Saturday night; when we went to the Calzaghe Vs Hopkins bout. I finally got in around 5am on the Sunday morning which is when I received the phone call from my mum. I think the fact that I was so exhausted and drunk made the news even harder to deal with at the time. I have never cried so much.
Everything went very smoothly back in England. The funeral went very well, and our family, and extended family, has become even closer as a result.
When I returned to poker around the middle of May I decided to move my action over to Pokerstars. It's hard to believe just how poor the service was that I was receiving from Full Tilt Poker. I was bringing in well over $150,000 a year to them in rake yet they couldn't be bothered to reply to my e-mails. And if they did eventually respond then it was some generic response informing me how I could earn an extra $25 by introducing a friend to the site. I mean, what the fuck is that all about!?
I use my eldest daughters name (Narena) on Full Tilt. On Stars I use my yougest's, MeleaB.
I only had about $200 - $300 in my Pokerstars account. I didn't want to re-deposit, and I didn't want to play lower than 200NL (I never have done, other than a few hands of 100NL when there weren't enough tables running of 200NL at Full Tilt on the odd occasion during the early hours.) So I bought in short at 200NL on about half a dozen tables until I had enough to open up a few more tables. Then I opened up some 400NL until I soon had several hundred dollars, and enough to play some tables full stacked.
By the middle of June I had reached Supernova Status, and I began to wonder how viable it would be to attempt SNE status. I kept detailed daily notes of my poker P&L and VPP earnings so it wasn't hard to project what rate I was going to have to maintain through until the end of the year. I was used to playing 6-7 hours a day anyway, but I was going to have to increase that rate for nearly 6 months.
On Full Tilt, I ran at 2.75ptBB/100 (5.5BB/100) over a sample of about 2,000,000 hands playing the max number of tables (12, then 16 when they increased the cap.) Now, I have no problem playing 24 tables on Pokerstars but it does take it's toll when you have to average around 10 hours a day! There were two or three days early on where I had to question whether it was likely that I would reach SNE. After considering all the factors each time (e.g. time commitment Vs reward) I decided that it was worth the effort.
However, in order to be able to maintain the pace I needed I decided to switch from full-stacking to experiment with short-stacking. Despite a significantly lower win-rate while short-stacking it did enable me to complete the required number of VPPs each day. When I was fresh I would revert back to full-stacking, and I would never rathole, so often my long sessions started as short-stacking but finished as full-stacks on many of the tables.
I played 1,380,000+ hands (11,400/day) (620k VPPs) during the last 4 months. I only made around $9,000 in winnings but I still made $62,000 during that time with bonuses, plus the pro rata portion of SNE tournamnet value and increased 2009 earnings (due to the increased FPP multiple.)
www.tableratings.com shows me as break-even during this period, although they only have around 80% of my hands mined:
http://www.pokertableratings.com/overview/meleab
Here are my results for the six full months on Stars:
Jun-2008 $22,387
Jul-2008 $15,143
Aug-2008 $10,750
Sep-2008 $15,091
Oct-2008 $20,275
Nov-2008 $12,393
Dec-2008 $14,017
+ tournament entries (WCOOP + Monte Carlo Package) worth around $20k or so.
Having played many hands while short-stacking during these last few months, my conclusions on this "controversial" topic are:
*It really isn't possible to have a win-rate too much higher than break-even at 200NL (before bonuses) simply because of the rake. If a full-stacker wins a $400 pot, he pays $3 in rake; just 0.75%. Whereas if a short-stacker wins five pots of $80 then he pays $15 in rake; 3.75%. Obviously full-stacker win smaller pots too, but this increased rake fee (in terms of a percentage of the pot) is significantly more for short-stackers. Obviously as you increase in stakes (400NL and above) then this becomes less of a factor due to the cap of the $3 rake. If I was to have to repeat my SNE quest in such a short time span, then I would probably spend the time at the NL400 tables.
*Most short-stackers at 200Nl are not very good, and most lose a fair bit of money due in part to the high rake that is paid. Despite that, most of the regulars would still see a profit once bonuses are taken into account.
*It's probably the best option for full ring cash players desperately trying to reach SNE status (or some milestone) by the end of the year, rather than playing higher stake limit cash, unfamiliar (to cash players) SnGs, or 6-max cash games. Many good, profitable players took a big hit in the final month or two of the year in their attempt to reach SNE.
*I don't think short-stackers are really anything for people to make a fuss about for the most part. Obviously I'd rather have a fish sitting down with a full stack, and- admittedly- I do find myself mumbling "Fucking useless short stack" when I'm playing with a full stack, but a fish is still a fish. It's better to have him at the table with $40 than for him to be elsewhere. I don't like players that rathole though. It's like playing a game of football, the other team scores first and then they declare "OK. That's the end of the game!"
I decided that I would keep my screen name to myself for the first few weeks while playing on Stars. Later on I decided that I would wait until I made SNE and updated my blog in the new year before I gave out my screen name (not that it's a big deal anyway.) I also started posting as ROM Amnesty (which is an anagram of Smart Money) on the Two Plus Two poker forums.
Going forward I will be playing less hours per day so I intend to play full-stacked 200NL for now. I may step up in stakes at some point, but I've been saying that forever. It's just too easy and comfortable to mindlessly play 10,000+ hands a day where I am. I may also experiment with some short-stacking on NL400 just to see how profitable that can be. (The bonuses alone will be worth around $80 an hour as a SNE.) I also hope to play in Monte Carlo this year, and possibly the WSOP Main Event, but we shall see.
Anyway, all the best to everyone at the tables, and Happy New Year if it's not too late for that!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've not been playing much during the past few weeks.
My Dad passed away at the end of last month while I was in Vegas. I flew back to England the next day and spent two weeks there with my mum, brother, and sister.
He had been ill for a couple of years, first with a heart attack, and then once he recovered from that, he was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously it's a sad time, however we are in good spirits. We are happy that he had led a full life, and that he passed away peacefully.
I'm sad when I have to talk about it, but I'm happy that he doesn't have to continue living in pain, and that he passed away strong, brave, and with dignity.
For a number of reasons I have decided to no longer update this blog. Thanks to everyone that read it.
My Dad passed away at the end of last month while I was in Vegas. I flew back to England the next day and spent two weeks there with my mum, brother, and sister.
He had been ill for a couple of years, first with a heart attack, and then once he recovered from that, he was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously it's a sad time, however we are in good spirits. We are happy that he had led a full life, and that he passed away peacefully.
I'm sad when I have to talk about it, but I'm happy that he doesn't have to continue living in pain, and that he passed away strong, brave, and with dignity.
For a number of reasons I have decided to no longer update this blog. Thanks to everyone that read it.
Monday, April 07, 2008
"It's so Funny, How we don't Talk Anymore."
They may be the words of pop legend and tennis-playing Christian Cliff Richard, but they seem so perfect to sum up the situation between you and I. You don't write, you don't call....
Anyway, I forgive you. Let's kiss and catch up:
March Results
I didn't play too much in March due to being in England, modelling part-time, doing a lot of work for charity mate, and shagging loads of birds. I did run very well though.
April to Date
So far I am down $1 this month (including rake-back) and I have been playing very, very poorly. Last night's 10bi loss was my worst day ever:
Lake Tahoe
The weekend before last, I went snowboarding in Lake Tahoe for 3 days. I spent a total of zero hours on the slopes, instead choosing to spend my time playing poker all night ($2/3 NL), getting shit-faced, and sleeping during the day.
I was pretty much playing a 90/10 style (90%VPIP) and was limping blind in many hands. I was killing the tables but actually made a loss by the end of it! My main goal though was just to have fun and play some big pots. I got my wish, losing a $3,200 pot with AK v KK (don't ask how) and $1,800 with J7 v 88 on a 778J board!
Next time, I won't even bother taking my snowboard.
Vegas Again
I'm off to Vegas again on the 17th for 4 nights to see the Joe Calzaghe/ Bernhard Hopkins fight. I'm looking forward to the trip, and to playing more live poker but I have to be more disciplined over the lengths of my sessions. Every time I get there I play all night/morning and then I'm fucked for a full 24 hours. Hopefully I can concentrate a little more getting pissed and chatting up some girls this time.
Last of the Mohicans
I think I may be having a mid-life crisis (Is 37 mid-life?) as I decided to get a mohawk yesterday, and I'm contemplating getting a tattoo. (I can't decide on "SKINS," "I 'heart' Mum," "A.C.A.B.," or "Cut Here" with a pair of scissors and a dotted line around my throat.)
"You can do it!"
I'm continuing to concentrate on working out this month, in order to get in good shape for the Summer. I'm going to the gym four days a week, and boxing five days a week. We've got a pretty good boxing set-up at my house, but I'll be boxing mainly at the gym where I have a good coach working me on the mitts.
Seeing as how poker is such a sedentary "sport," it's very important to maintain an active lifestyle outside of muppets and bad beats. And not just for the physical side of it; it helps to keep you mentally sharp too.
They may be the words of pop legend and tennis-playing Christian Cliff Richard, but they seem so perfect to sum up the situation between you and I. You don't write, you don't call....
Anyway, I forgive you. Let's kiss and catch up:
March Results
I didn't play too much in March due to being in England, modelling part-time, doing a lot of work for charity mate, and shagging loads of birds. I did run very well though.
April to Date
So far I am down $1 this month (including rake-back) and I have been playing very, very poorly. Last night's 10bi loss was my worst day ever:
Lake Tahoe
The weekend before last, I went snowboarding in Lake Tahoe for 3 days. I spent a total of zero hours on the slopes, instead choosing to spend my time playing poker all night ($2/3 NL), getting shit-faced, and sleeping during the day.
I was pretty much playing a 90/10 style (90%VPIP) and was limping blind in many hands. I was killing the tables but actually made a loss by the end of it! My main goal though was just to have fun and play some big pots. I got my wish, losing a $3,200 pot with AK v KK (don't ask how) and $1,800 with J7 v 88 on a 778J board!
Next time, I won't even bother taking my snowboard.
Vegas Again
I'm off to Vegas again on the 17th for 4 nights to see the Joe Calzaghe/ Bernhard Hopkins fight. I'm looking forward to the trip, and to playing more live poker but I have to be more disciplined over the lengths of my sessions. Every time I get there I play all night/morning and then I'm fucked for a full 24 hours. Hopefully I can concentrate a little more getting pissed and chatting up some girls this time.
Last of the Mohicans
I think I may be having a mid-life crisis (Is 37 mid-life?) as I decided to get a mohawk yesterday, and I'm contemplating getting a tattoo. (I can't decide on "SKINS," "I 'heart' Mum," "A.C.A.B.," or "Cut Here" with a pair of scissors and a dotted line around my throat.)
"You can do it!"
I'm continuing to concentrate on working out this month, in order to get in good shape for the Summer. I'm going to the gym four days a week, and boxing five days a week. We've got a pretty good boxing set-up at my house, but I'll be boxing mainly at the gym where I have a good coach working me on the mitts.
Seeing as how poker is such a sedentary "sport," it's very important to maintain an active lifestyle outside of muppets and bad beats. And not just for the physical side of it; it helps to keep you mentally sharp too.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
North Caroline. Take Your Shirt Off!
This one's for North Carolina! C'mon and raise up
Take your shirt off, twist it 'round yo' hand
Spin it like a helicopter
North Carolina! C'mon and raise up
This one's for you, uh-huh, this one's for who?
Us, us, us
Having moved to the US from England in 2000, I now live in Greensboro, NC.
Anyone reading this blog since the beginning may remember that I bought a very nice (and expensive!) custom-made poker table last July. (Photos on July/August archive.) Anyway, it has had very little use so far other than teaching my 4-year old daughter, Narena, how to play!
So, I've spoken with Damn Ringer from the Cardrunners forum (VT Hokie Poker on Full Tilt) who lives in Charlotte, NC about arranging a live game and a regular meet-up for any poker players from around this area.
Ideally I'd like to get a few players together for a social time; playing poker and drinking, and hopefully it will also be an opportunity for us to improve our game through discussing poker, and to help us maintain an interest in playing.
If anyone reading this lives nearby and is interested, then please either e-mail me, leave a comment here, or PM me on 2+2 or Cardrunners.
This one's for North Carolina! C'mon and raise up
Take your shirt off, twist it 'round yo' hand
Spin it like a helicopter
North Carolina! C'mon and raise up
This one's for you, uh-huh, this one's for who?
Us, us, us
Having moved to the US from England in 2000, I now live in Greensboro, NC.
Anyone reading this blog since the beginning may remember that I bought a very nice (and expensive!) custom-made poker table last July. (Photos on July/August archive.) Anyway, it has had very little use so far other than teaching my 4-year old daughter, Narena, how to play!
So, I've spoken with Damn Ringer from the Cardrunners forum (VT Hokie Poker on Full Tilt) who lives in Charlotte, NC about arranging a live game and a regular meet-up for any poker players from around this area.
Ideally I'd like to get a few players together for a social time; playing poker and drinking, and hopefully it will also be an opportunity for us to improve our game through discussing poker, and to help us maintain an interest in playing.
If anyone reading this lives nearby and is interested, then please either e-mail me, leave a comment here, or PM me on 2+2 or Cardrunners.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Ip Dip Dog Shit, You Are Not It!
Low Stakes or High Stakes? That is the question.
Before I left for England where I had such good fortune during my maid voyage at $5/10, I had planned to play a little $2/4 and to hopefully build a small bank so that I could take a shot a $5/10. However, due to excess alcohol my $5/10 experience came a little earlier than expected.
I'm not naive enough to believe anything other than I ran extremely well that night. Even so I do think that I could probably play nothing but $5/10 right now and be a marginal winner. That almost certainly wouldn't be the best thing to do at this point in time though as I'd find it hard to make the jump to those much larger downswings, and I'd prefer to enter those games with a little more experience and to move up gradually.
Since that glorious wank-all-over-my-laptop session, I have been concentrating mainly on $2/4. It's been going pretty well, although it has taken me a few sessions to evolve my game from it's $1/2 guise. I think initially I was being overly aggressive and giving too much credit to my opponents making plays, and not enough credit to them having legitimate hands! There is a better pedigree of player at these tables of course, but there are still plenty of these too:
I did have my biggest ever downswing (in terms of dollars, not buy-ins) over a 24-hour period 3 days ago, but I then I went on a monster run, winning over $6k in the next 6 hours of play @ $2/4 (spread over 2 days.) Here is that profit/loss valley:
Here's the $2/4 part of the upswing. I ran hot. :)
Here's my progress so far this month. I've only played around 20% of the number of hands that I'd normally have played at this stage of the month. I may have to drop down from $1/2 though as I'm showing a loss there!
Muppet of the Day #17: radish_rop
Thanks radish_rop. You just cost me a sh1t-load!
Raise the f**king flop, so we can get it in there! Terrible flop call!
I knew MP2 had JT, but what the f**k could I do? lol
(OK, it may not be the worst play in the world but it pissed me off! :p )
Full Tilt Poker, $2/$4 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
MP1: $1,276.95
MP2: $400
CO: $74
BTN: $441
SB: $475.30
BB: $331.80
Hero (UTG): $418.70
radish_rop: $191.80
Pre-Flop: Ac Ad dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero calls $4, radish_rop calls $4, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $4, CO folds, BTN calls $4, SB folds, BB checks
Flop: ($22) 9c Ah 8d (5 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $18, radish_rop calls $18, MP2 calls $18, 2 folds
Turn: ($76) 7c (3 Players)
Hero bets $44, radish_rop raises to $100, MP2 raises to $156, Hero calls $112, UTG+1 raises to $169.80 and is All-In, MP2 calls $13.80, Hero calls $13.80
River: ($585.40) 5d (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Hero bets $226.90 and is All-In, MP2 calls $208.20 and is All-In
Results: $1,001.80 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP2 showed Js Tc (a straight, Jack high) and WON $998.80 (+$598.80 NET)
Hero showed Ac Ad (three of a kind, Aces) and LOST (-$400 NET)
radish_rop mucked 8s 8h (three of a kind, Eights) and LOST (-$191.80 NET)
radish_pop.....
Low Stakes or High Stakes? That is the question.
Before I left for England where I had such good fortune during my maid voyage at $5/10, I had planned to play a little $2/4 and to hopefully build a small bank so that I could take a shot a $5/10. However, due to excess alcohol my $5/10 experience came a little earlier than expected.
I'm not naive enough to believe anything other than I ran extremely well that night. Even so I do think that I could probably play nothing but $5/10 right now and be a marginal winner. That almost certainly wouldn't be the best thing to do at this point in time though as I'd find it hard to make the jump to those much larger downswings, and I'd prefer to enter those games with a little more experience and to move up gradually.
Since that glorious wank-all-over-my-laptop session, I have been concentrating mainly on $2/4. It's been going pretty well, although it has taken me a few sessions to evolve my game from it's $1/2 guise. I think initially I was being overly aggressive and giving too much credit to my opponents making plays, and not enough credit to them having legitimate hands! There is a better pedigree of player at these tables of course, but there are still plenty of these too:
I did have my biggest ever downswing (in terms of dollars, not buy-ins) over a 24-hour period 3 days ago, but I then I went on a monster run, winning over $6k in the next 6 hours of play @ $2/4 (spread over 2 days.) Here is that profit/loss valley:
Here's the $2/4 part of the upswing. I ran hot. :)
Here's my progress so far this month. I've only played around 20% of the number of hands that I'd normally have played at this stage of the month. I may have to drop down from $1/2 though as I'm showing a loss there!
Muppet of the Day #17: radish_rop
Thanks radish_rop. You just cost me a sh1t-load!
Raise the f**king flop, so we can get it in there! Terrible flop call!
I knew MP2 had JT, but what the f**k could I do? lol
(OK, it may not be the worst play in the world but it pissed me off! :p )
Full Tilt Poker, $2/$4 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
MP1: $1,276.95
MP2: $400
CO: $74
BTN: $441
SB: $475.30
BB: $331.80
Hero (UTG): $418.70
radish_rop: $191.80
Pre-Flop: Ac Ad dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero calls $4, radish_rop calls $4, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $4, CO folds, BTN calls $4, SB folds, BB checks
Flop: ($22) 9c Ah 8d (5 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $18, radish_rop calls $18, MP2 calls $18, 2 folds
Turn: ($76) 7c (3 Players)
Hero bets $44, radish_rop raises to $100, MP2 raises to $156, Hero calls $112, UTG+1 raises to $169.80 and is All-In, MP2 calls $13.80, Hero calls $13.80
River: ($585.40) 5d (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Hero bets $226.90 and is All-In, MP2 calls $208.20 and is All-In
Results: $1,001.80 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP2 showed Js Tc (a straight, Jack high) and WON $998.80 (+$598.80 NET)
Hero showed Ac Ad (three of a kind, Aces) and LOST (-$400 NET)
radish_rop mucked 8s 8h (three of a kind, Eights) and LOST (-$191.80 NET)
radish_pop.....
Monday, February 25, 2008
Show Me the Way to Go Home...
Saturday was a big night out. We had close to 30 people over at the house first for a couple of hours before all heading into town.
I got completely shit-faced and only remember a few minutes from the first bar we went into. I have no recollection of the time spent in the club.
My mate Jon called me today to let me know that even though I don't remember it, I did have a good time! He also told me that as we were leaving, some very pretty (and very drunk) girl was looking at me so he tried to get her lined up for me (fuck knows why because even at 3pm the next afternoon I was still so fucked up I couldn't even have a wank.)
He said he was doing a great job and it looked as if she was going to come back. All this time I had said nothing and was just leaning against Jon to stop myself from falling over. Anyway, eventually she said that she'd better not as she had a boyfriend. Apparently I just laughed and said "Well, fuck off then you slag!"
Jon had to go to the loo because he was laughing so much and started to piss himself! I'm sure I was just having a laugh because I'd never intentionally talk like that to a girl. Honest. Well, usually not.
Anyway, we got a cab back to mine and I opened up my 16 tables of $1/$2 about 3am. I also don't remember any of this but I carried on drinking and playing until 1:30pm (Over 10 hours!!) The funny thing is, by the time I'd finished I'd made over $3,000!!- taking my profits for the last 3 days to almost $7k including rake back.
Saturday was a big night out. We had close to 30 people over at the house first for a couple of hours before all heading into town.
I got completely shit-faced and only remember a few minutes from the first bar we went into. I have no recollection of the time spent in the club.
My mate Jon called me today to let me know that even though I don't remember it, I did have a good time! He also told me that as we were leaving, some very pretty (and very drunk) girl was looking at me so he tried to get her lined up for me (fuck knows why because even at 3pm the next afternoon I was still so fucked up I couldn't even have a wank.)
He said he was doing a great job and it looked as if she was going to come back. All this time I had said nothing and was just leaning against Jon to stop myself from falling over. Anyway, eventually she said that she'd better not as she had a boyfriend. Apparently I just laughed and said "Well, fuck off then you slag!"
Jon had to go to the loo because he was laughing so much and started to piss himself! I'm sure I was just having a laugh because I'd never intentionally talk like that to a girl. Honest. Well, usually not.
Anyway, we got a cab back to mine and I opened up my 16 tables of $1/$2 about 3am. I also don't remember any of this but I carried on drinking and playing until 1:30pm (Over 10 hours!!) The funny thing is, by the time I'd finished I'd made over $3,000!!- taking my profits for the last 3 days to almost $7k including rake back.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Vegan Baby
I've decided to give up meat and dairy produce.
Not really- that's just a typo.
After arriving in Vegas on the Thursday afternoon, I met up with JPJ, Fishpoo, and Ace3 from the Betfair forum, together with the rest of their posse. We joined the tables at the Mirage and I played through until noon the next day.
A quick calculation of (14 hours play * ~3 drinks/hour) + 7 drinks beforehand adds up to around 50 drinks of vodka redbull and beers.
I played a little $1/$2 before moving on to the $2/$5 table. The standard was poor, I played pretty loose, and the drunker I got, the move bluffs I made- and showed. I was having fun but ultimately lost about $700!
Fuck knows how, but it took me about 45 minutes to make it back to the Imperial Palace which is just across the road from the Mirage! I then slept for about 24 hours, before hitting the $1/$2 tables at Harrahs. It was pretty boring and uneventful though so I went to find a $2/$5 table at Caesars Palace.
The table was pretty soft and I built my $600 staring stack up to over $2,000. One of the main differences between online and live play is, of course, how much easier it is to get a read playing live. As a result I found myself 3-barrel bluffing far more than I would do when sat at home playing naked. (Although being drunk the whole time I was playing in Vegas probably contributed to the increased bluffing too.)
I had arranged to meet Nation, from the 2+2 forums, there at Caesars- and he joined the table together with Oldschool, also from the forum. They are both very good players. Nation’s style isn’t too dissimilar from my own- but it was good to see Oldschool playing his loose/aggressive game. It’s certainly tricker to play against- especially when both players are deep-stacked.
Unfortunately for Nation, Oldschool took about 4 buy-ins off of him. I was chatting too much with JPJ, who was sat watching, and drinking too much to really be paying enough attention to the game though. I 2-bet and 3-bet oldschool all-in a couple of times to see if he wanted to build a $4k+ pre-flop pot, but he declined! To be honest, I don’t have much experience playing 400BB deep-stacked poker so I was just making it easy for me! :p
One hand of note was when I raised to $20 from CO with KsJs. The button called, and both blinds folded. The flop came As Xs Yc, giving me the nut flush draw. I bet $35 and the button min-raised. He had a bunch of rolled up $100s on the table, together with his pile of chips, but he refused to answer me when I asked him how many he had there! When instructed that he had to tell me, he simply raised 4 fingers- obviously not wanting to give any tells away! I started playing around a little, joking about, and I told him if he bet the turn, then I’d raise him.
The turn was a beautiful spade, giving me the nuts. He made a string bet of $100 + $60 and was told only the $100 could stand. I continued joking about, trying to represent a mediocre hand, and kept him waiting for a decision. Eventually I said something like “Well, I told you I was going to raise you if you bet the turn” and then made a Hellmuth-style all-in, pushing all of my chips into the middle in a quick, messy fashion. He called instantly showing a lower flush, and he wasn’t happy with all the theatricals. Perhaps I was a little OTT, but I was drunk and there to have a good time!
I moved on to the Venetian next, and found that $2/$5 table pretty soft too. I had hoped to meet up with Nation and Oldschool at a club later on, but I got carried away playing poker and drinking, and I didn’t stop until 9am. I felt I was playing pretty well, and making plenty of successful bluffs. I then lost a big pot to the calling station on my right, although to be honest it was probably a pretty bad bluff. However, I found a decent hand against the same player the very next hand:
I called his flop bet with QT on a QJT board, and then raised him big when the turn brought another T. (I was expecting a quick call because I had tried exactly the same move on the previous hand.) Following a blank river, I tried to look nervous as if I was going to try another bluff, and eventually threw $400 into the pot. He called instantly before mucking what he says was top pair. He also said he would have called an all-in which was surprising as I had an additional $400 behind me- presumably my image was that bad! In the end I left the Venetian about $700 or so up, which together with the $1,500 profit from Caesars made for a decent day at the $2/$5 tables.
After a brief sleep, I returned to the Mirage for our last night, and met up with JPJ and co again. The five of us sat together on a $1/$2 table and had a good laugh- even if we did piss off several others at the table. I made a small profit of less than $200, so I finished around $1,500 up for the trip.
I’m returning to Vegas mid-April for the Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernhard Hopkins fight, and I think I’ll probably go back again later in the year for the WSOP. My next poker (and snowboarding) trip is Lake Tahoe at the end of March although I’ll be back in England in a fortnight’s time where I’m hoping to play some more live poker.
Muppets. Can't Live with 'em, Can't Kill 'em.
As hard as I try, sometimes it's impossible to not get angry and frustrated with some of the fucking awful players out there. (Unfortunately, winning a pot equal in size from those same opponents, due to their poor play, doesn't seem to undo that unwelcome emotion!)
I've just finished a 3 hour session, and despite winning $1k, I am still a little frustrated- hence this post. :)
Muppet of the Day #17: dodger84
How the fuck does he cold-call a pre-flop re-raise OOP with Q5s?
Oh yeah- it's 'cos they fucking look pretty. :)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
MP2: $346.60
CO: $200
BTN: $330.75
dodger84: $394.90
BB: $109.80
UTG: $144.85
UTG+1: $36
Hero (MP1): $196
Pre-Flop: Kc Ks dealt to Hero (MP1)
UTG raises to $4, UTG+1 folds, Hero raises to $15, 3 folds, dodger84 calls $14, BB folds, UTG calls $11
Flop: ($47) Qs 8s 5s (3 Players)
dodger84 bets $10, UTG calls $10, Hero raises to $64, dodger84 calls $54, UTG calls $54
Turn: ($239) 9c (3 Players)
dodger84 checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $117 and is All-In, SB calls $117, UTG calls $65.85 and is All-In
River: ($538.85) 6h (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $538.85 Pot ($3 Rake)
dodger84 showed 5d Qd (two pair, Queens and Fives) and WON $535.85 (+$339.85 NET)
UTG showed As Kh (Ace King high) and LOST (-$144.85 NET)
Hero showed Kc Ks (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$196 NET)
Muppet of the Day #18: Milo76
I'm not going to bother posting any of Milo76's hand histories. Instead I'm just going to make him an honorary Muppet of the Day. Congratulations Milo76.
Speech Milo?
Of course, Muppet of the Day, is really just a bit of light-hearted banter- although admittedly it is kind of refreshing naming some of the shit players. You know we love you really though.
M.T.T. Yeah You Know Me
I played 3 MTTs this week-end for a change. Yesterday I came 7th out of 467 in the FT Ironman for $675 and I won a 37-man satellite into today's big 5,637-man $300 FTOPS MTT.
Unfortunately I came up against a muppet called "Carlonius11" just before the first break.
Muppet of the Day #19: Carlonius11
Full Tilt Poker, NL Hold'em Tournament, 30/60 Blinds, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
BB: 5,720
UTG: 8,140
UTG+1: 3,300
UTG+2: 4,225
Hero (MP1): 3,200
MP2: 5,768
CO: 1,470
BTN: 6,750
Carlonius11: 6,987
Pre-Flop: (90) Js Jd dealt to Hero (MP1)
3 folds, Hero raises to 210, 3 folds, Carlonius11 calls 180, BB calls 150
Flop: (630) 2s 9c 9s (3 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 390, Carlonius11 raises to 900, BB folds, Hero raises to 2,990 and is All-In, Carlonius11 calls 2,090 <---- Instant Call
Turn: (6,610) 3s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (6,610) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: 6,610 Pot
Hero showed Js Jd (two pair, Jacks and Nines) and LOST (-3,200 NET)
Carlonius11 showed 2c Ad (a full house, Twos full of Nines) and WON 6,610 (+3,410 NET
Probably no-one told him that this was a $300 freeze-out. Wanker.
I've decided to give up meat and dairy produce.
Not really- that's just a typo.
After arriving in Vegas on the Thursday afternoon, I met up with JPJ, Fishpoo, and Ace3 from the Betfair forum, together with the rest of their posse. We joined the tables at the Mirage and I played through until noon the next day.
A quick calculation of (14 hours play * ~3 drinks/hour) + 7 drinks beforehand adds up to around 50 drinks of vodka redbull and beers.
I played a little $1/$2 before moving on to the $2/$5 table. The standard was poor, I played pretty loose, and the drunker I got, the move bluffs I made- and showed. I was having fun but ultimately lost about $700!
Fuck knows how, but it took me about 45 minutes to make it back to the Imperial Palace which is just across the road from the Mirage! I then slept for about 24 hours, before hitting the $1/$2 tables at Harrahs. It was pretty boring and uneventful though so I went to find a $2/$5 table at Caesars Palace.
The table was pretty soft and I built my $600 staring stack up to over $2,000. One of the main differences between online and live play is, of course, how much easier it is to get a read playing live. As a result I found myself 3-barrel bluffing far more than I would do when sat at home playing naked. (Although being drunk the whole time I was playing in Vegas probably contributed to the increased bluffing too.)
I had arranged to meet Nation, from the 2+2 forums, there at Caesars- and he joined the table together with Oldschool, also from the forum. They are both very good players. Nation’s style isn’t too dissimilar from my own- but it was good to see Oldschool playing his loose/aggressive game. It’s certainly tricker to play against- especially when both players are deep-stacked.
Unfortunately for Nation, Oldschool took about 4 buy-ins off of him. I was chatting too much with JPJ, who was sat watching, and drinking too much to really be paying enough attention to the game though. I 2-bet and 3-bet oldschool all-in a couple of times to see if he wanted to build a $4k+ pre-flop pot, but he declined! To be honest, I don’t have much experience playing 400BB deep-stacked poker so I was just making it easy for me! :p
One hand of note was when I raised to $20 from CO with KsJs. The button called, and both blinds folded. The flop came As Xs Yc, giving me the nut flush draw. I bet $35 and the button min-raised. He had a bunch of rolled up $100s on the table, together with his pile of chips, but he refused to answer me when I asked him how many he had there! When instructed that he had to tell me, he simply raised 4 fingers- obviously not wanting to give any tells away! I started playing around a little, joking about, and I told him if he bet the turn, then I’d raise him.
The turn was a beautiful spade, giving me the nuts. He made a string bet of $100 + $60 and was told only the $100 could stand. I continued joking about, trying to represent a mediocre hand, and kept him waiting for a decision. Eventually I said something like “Well, I told you I was going to raise you if you bet the turn” and then made a Hellmuth-style all-in, pushing all of my chips into the middle in a quick, messy fashion. He called instantly showing a lower flush, and he wasn’t happy with all the theatricals. Perhaps I was a little OTT, but I was drunk and there to have a good time!
I moved on to the Venetian next, and found that $2/$5 table pretty soft too. I had hoped to meet up with Nation and Oldschool at a club later on, but I got carried away playing poker and drinking, and I didn’t stop until 9am. I felt I was playing pretty well, and making plenty of successful bluffs. I then lost a big pot to the calling station on my right, although to be honest it was probably a pretty bad bluff. However, I found a decent hand against the same player the very next hand:
I called his flop bet with QT on a QJT board, and then raised him big when the turn brought another T. (I was expecting a quick call because I had tried exactly the same move on the previous hand.) Following a blank river, I tried to look nervous as if I was going to try another bluff, and eventually threw $400 into the pot. He called instantly before mucking what he says was top pair. He also said he would have called an all-in which was surprising as I had an additional $400 behind me- presumably my image was that bad! In the end I left the Venetian about $700 or so up, which together with the $1,500 profit from Caesars made for a decent day at the $2/$5 tables.
After a brief sleep, I returned to the Mirage for our last night, and met up with JPJ and co again. The five of us sat together on a $1/$2 table and had a good laugh- even if we did piss off several others at the table. I made a small profit of less than $200, so I finished around $1,500 up for the trip.
I’m returning to Vegas mid-April for the Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernhard Hopkins fight, and I think I’ll probably go back again later in the year for the WSOP. My next poker (and snowboarding) trip is Lake Tahoe at the end of March although I’ll be back in England in a fortnight’s time where I’m hoping to play some more live poker.
Muppets. Can't Live with 'em, Can't Kill 'em.
As hard as I try, sometimes it's impossible to not get angry and frustrated with some of the fucking awful players out there. (Unfortunately, winning a pot equal in size from those same opponents, due to their poor play, doesn't seem to undo that unwelcome emotion!)
I've just finished a 3 hour session, and despite winning $1k, I am still a little frustrated- hence this post. :)
Muppet of the Day #17: dodger84
How the fuck does he cold-call a pre-flop re-raise OOP with Q5s?
Oh yeah- it's 'cos they fucking look pretty. :)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
MP2: $346.60
CO: $200
BTN: $330.75
dodger84: $394.90
BB: $109.80
UTG: $144.85
UTG+1: $36
Hero (MP1): $196
Pre-Flop: Kc Ks dealt to Hero (MP1)
UTG raises to $4, UTG+1 folds, Hero raises to $15, 3 folds, dodger84 calls $14, BB folds, UTG calls $11
Flop: ($47) Qs 8s 5s (3 Players)
dodger84 bets $10, UTG calls $10, Hero raises to $64, dodger84 calls $54, UTG calls $54
Turn: ($239) 9c (3 Players)
dodger84 checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $117 and is All-In, SB calls $117, UTG calls $65.85 and is All-In
River: ($538.85) 6h (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $538.85 Pot ($3 Rake)
dodger84 showed 5d Qd (two pair, Queens and Fives) and WON $535.85 (+$339.85 NET)
UTG showed As Kh (Ace King high) and LOST (-$144.85 NET)
Hero showed Kc Ks (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$196 NET)
Muppet of the Day #18: Milo76
I'm not going to bother posting any of Milo76's hand histories. Instead I'm just going to make him an honorary Muppet of the Day. Congratulations Milo76.
Speech Milo?
Of course, Muppet of the Day, is really just a bit of light-hearted banter- although admittedly it is kind of refreshing naming some of the shit players. You know we love you really though.
M.T.T. Yeah You Know Me
I played 3 MTTs this week-end for a change. Yesterday I came 7th out of 467 in the FT Ironman for $675 and I won a 37-man satellite into today's big 5,637-man $300 FTOPS MTT.
Unfortunately I came up against a muppet called "Carlonius11" just before the first break.
Muppet of the Day #19: Carlonius11
Full Tilt Poker, NL Hold'em Tournament, 30/60 Blinds, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter
BB: 5,720
UTG: 8,140
UTG+1: 3,300
UTG+2: 4,225
Hero (MP1): 3,200
MP2: 5,768
CO: 1,470
BTN: 6,750
Carlonius11: 6,987
Pre-Flop: (90) Js Jd dealt to Hero (MP1)
3 folds, Hero raises to 210, 3 folds, Carlonius11 calls 180, BB calls 150
Flop: (630) 2s 9c 9s (3 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets 390, Carlonius11 raises to 900, BB folds, Hero raises to 2,990 and is All-In, Carlonius11 calls 2,090 <---- Instant Call
Turn: (6,610) 3s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (6,610) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: 6,610 Pot
Hero showed Js Jd (two pair, Jacks and Nines) and LOST (-3,200 NET)
Carlonius11 showed 2c Ad (a full house, Twos full of Nines) and WON 6,610 (+3,410 NET
Probably no-one told him that this was a $300 freeze-out. Wanker.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hey, I'll have a Babycham!
One third of fatal car accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Therefore twice as many accidents are caused by drivers who are sober, so clearly it's safer to drive drunk.
While the above conclusion is obviously flawed, I'm wondering if it may actually apply to playing poker. In my last post I mentioned my +$2.5k session playing drunk last week-end. Well last night, I surpassed that- making over $3k in a 6 hour session that started at 4:30am when I was shit-faced.
That takes my profit for the last 7 days to over $9,000 in just over 30 hours. I'll take $300/hour @ $1/$2. :)
Coaching
I've had several people ask me if I offer poker coaching. Up until now I've always declined but I've now decided that I will start coaching. I shall be focusing on how to successfully multi-table at $1/$2 NL. I am an ex-teacher of mathematics with 8 years of experience teaching both in the UK and US.
Initially I shall be coaching "DonQeeHotay" from the 2+2 forums. We shall be experimenting with different formats/software, and hopefully we will both get something out of it.
Shortly after I get back from Vegas I shall post more information on the coaching. I will mention now though that it won't be cheap. I know others who charge around $100/hour for coaching at $1/$2, and I shall be charging a similar fee. My average hourly rate from playing $1/$2 is around $120/hour, so obviously I can't afford to charge too much less than this otherwise I may as well just play myself!
However, I do believe that the right people could benefit significantly from the coaching- and that it will be a small price to pay compared with their future long-term profits.
Muppet of the Day #16: haki76
I don't always play AA like this, but I felt like I could trap these two awful players.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
BB: $164
UTG: $76
UTG+1: $252.65
haki76 : $282.60
Hero (MP2): $200.35
CO: $60.30
BTN: $132.85
SB: $57.05
Pre-Flop: Ad As dealt to Hero (MP2)
2 folds, haki76 calls $2, Hero raises to $10, 4 folds, haki76 calls $8
Flop: ($23) Kc 6s 5s (2 Players)
haki76 bets $2, Hero raises to $18, haki76 raises to $34, Hero calls $16
Turn: ($91) 4d (2 Players)
haki76 bets $91, Hero raises to $156.35 and is All-In, haki76 calls $65.35
River: ($403.70) Th (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $403.70 Pot ($3 Rake)
haki76 showed Kd Ts (two pair, Kings and Tens) and WON $400.70 (+$200.35 NET)
Hero showed Ad As (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$200.35 NET)
haki76: this happens to me a lot
Muppet of the Day #17: KennyJay
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
BB: $169.80
Hero (UTG): $183
UTG+1: $71
UTG+2: $116.15
KennyJay: $513.90
MP2: $217.80
CO: $93
BTN: $119
SB: $38
Pre-Flop: Ac Ah dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $9, 2 folds, KennyJay calls $9, 5 folds
Flop: ($21) 5c 4d Jh (2 Players)
Hero bets $14, KennyJay raises to $28, Hero calls $14
Turn: ($77) 4h (2 Players)
Hero checks, KennyJay bets $77, Hero raises to $146 and is All-In, KennyJay calls $69
River: ($369) Jc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $369 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed Ac Ah (two pair, Aces and Jacks) and LOST (-$183 NET)
KennyJay showed Js Kd (a full house, Jacks full of Fours) and WON $366 (+$183 NET)
One third of fatal car accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Therefore twice as many accidents are caused by drivers who are sober, so clearly it's safer to drive drunk.
While the above conclusion is obviously flawed, I'm wondering if it may actually apply to playing poker. In my last post I mentioned my +$2.5k session playing drunk last week-end. Well last night, I surpassed that- making over $3k in a 6 hour session that started at 4:30am when I was shit-faced.
That takes my profit for the last 7 days to over $9,000 in just over 30 hours. I'll take $300/hour @ $1/$2. :)
Coaching
I've had several people ask me if I offer poker coaching. Up until now I've always declined but I've now decided that I will start coaching. I shall be focusing on how to successfully multi-table at $1/$2 NL. I am an ex-teacher of mathematics with 8 years of experience teaching both in the UK and US.
Initially I shall be coaching "DonQeeHotay" from the 2+2 forums. We shall be experimenting with different formats/software, and hopefully we will both get something out of it.
Shortly after I get back from Vegas I shall post more information on the coaching. I will mention now though that it won't be cheap. I know others who charge around $100/hour for coaching at $1/$2, and I shall be charging a similar fee. My average hourly rate from playing $1/$2 is around $120/hour, so obviously I can't afford to charge too much less than this otherwise I may as well just play myself!
However, I do believe that the right people could benefit significantly from the coaching- and that it will be a small price to pay compared with their future long-term profits.
Muppet of the Day #16: haki76
I don't always play AA like this, but I felt like I could trap these two awful players.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
BB: $164
UTG: $76
UTG+1: $252.65
haki76 : $282.60
Hero (MP2): $200.35
CO: $60.30
BTN: $132.85
SB: $57.05
Pre-Flop: Ad As dealt to Hero (MP2)
2 folds, haki76 calls $2, Hero raises to $10, 4 folds, haki76 calls $8
Flop: ($23) Kc 6s 5s (2 Players)
haki76 bets $2, Hero raises to $18, haki76 raises to $34, Hero calls $16
Turn: ($91) 4d (2 Players)
haki76 bets $91, Hero raises to $156.35 and is All-In, haki76 calls $65.35
River: ($403.70) Th (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $403.70 Pot ($3 Rake)
haki76 showed Kd Ts (two pair, Kings and Tens) and WON $400.70 (+$200.35 NET)
Hero showed Ad As (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$200.35 NET)
haki76: this happens to me a lot
Muppet of the Day #17: KennyJay
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
BB: $169.80
Hero (UTG): $183
UTG+1: $71
UTG+2: $116.15
KennyJay: $513.90
MP2: $217.80
CO: $93
BTN: $119
SB: $38
Pre-Flop: Ac Ah dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $9, 2 folds, KennyJay calls $9, 5 folds
Flop: ($21) 5c 4d Jh (2 Players)
Hero bets $14, KennyJay raises to $28, Hero calls $14
Turn: ($77) 4h (2 Players)
Hero checks, KennyJay bets $77, Hero raises to $146 and is All-In, KennyJay calls $69
River: ($369) Jc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $369 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed Ac Ah (two pair, Aces and Jacks) and LOST (-$183 NET)
KennyJay showed Js Kd (a full house, Jacks full of Fours) and WON $366 (+$183 NET)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Vegas Baby
I'm off to Vegas next week (Thu 31st - Mon 4th) with a couple of mates. I'll be meeting up with JPJ, Ace3, and Fishpoo from the Betfair forum, and also Nation from the 2+2 forum. If anyone else is going to be out there then let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to find the right balance between poker, beer, and women. Although I'm not sure what the right balance is.
Cigarettes and Alcohol
I had a pretty poor night on Friday. I was a grand down after an hour and spent the next 5 hours or so getting back to all square. I then lost $1k in the last 45 minutes.
As a result, I decided not to play on Saturday night and went out instead. I have little recollection of the night. I don't remember getting home but my room-mate said I tried getting into bed with his girlfriend! I've also got a large graze on my head so presumably I fell over at some point.
I passed out around 4am and when I woke at 8:30am I decided to play some poker. I don't actually remember sitting down at the tables so I guess I was still drunk. Anyway, I actually did pretty well and ended up playing for 7 hours straight for a nice profit of just over $2,500 which is my 3rd best day ever at $1/$2.
EDIT: Just had another good day; just shy of +$2,000.
Muppet of the Day #14: Xrundel
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $212.75
Hero (BB): $198
UTG: $109.05
UTG+1: $198
Xrundel: $248.95
MP1: $103
MP2: $231
CO: $54.25
BTN: $166.70
Pre-Flop: Ac Ah dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, Xrundel calls $2, MP1 raises to $9, 3 folds, SB raises to $35, Hero raises to $198 and is All-In, Xrundel calls $196, MP1 folds
Flop: ($440) 9h Js Kd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: ($440) 6h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($440) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $440 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed Ac Ah (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$198 NET)
Xrundel showed Jh Kh (two pair, Kings and Jacks) and WON $437 (+$239 NET)
Muppet of the Day #15: highlimit69
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
highlimit69: $93.20
CO: $367.35
BTN: $207.70
SB: $1,052.65
Gamboooool20 (BB): $361.10
UTG: $200
UTG+1: $197
Pre-Flop: 3c 8c dealt to Gamboooool20 (BB)
2 folds, highlimit69 raises to $4, 3 folds, Gamboooool20 calls $2
Flop: ($9) 4s 3d 6s (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 checks, highlimit69 bets $2, Gamboooool20 calls $2
Turn: ($13) 3h (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 checks, highlimit69 bets $6, Gamboooool20 raises to $42, highlimit69 calls $36
River: ($97) Th (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 bets $313.10 and is All-In, highlimit69 calls $45.20 and is All-In
Results: $187.40 Pot ($3 Rake)
highlimit69 mucked Kc Ks (two pair, Kings and Threes) and LOST (-$93.20 NET)
Gamboooool20 showed 3c 8c (three of a kind, Threes) and WON $184.40 (+$91.20 NET)
highlimit69: u got to be kiddin
highlimit69: dude u suck
highlimit69: 3 5
highlimit69: how do u call preflop
highlimit69: u will never make money at this game
highlimit69: playing like that
I'm off to Vegas next week (Thu 31st - Mon 4th) with a couple of mates. I'll be meeting up with JPJ, Ace3, and Fishpoo from the Betfair forum, and also Nation from the 2+2 forum. If anyone else is going to be out there then let me know. Hopefully I'll be able to find the right balance between poker, beer, and women. Although I'm not sure what the right balance is.
Cigarettes and Alcohol
I had a pretty poor night on Friday. I was a grand down after an hour and spent the next 5 hours or so getting back to all square. I then lost $1k in the last 45 minutes.
As a result, I decided not to play on Saturday night and went out instead. I have little recollection of the night. I don't remember getting home but my room-mate said I tried getting into bed with his girlfriend! I've also got a large graze on my head so presumably I fell over at some point.
I passed out around 4am and when I woke at 8:30am I decided to play some poker. I don't actually remember sitting down at the tables so I guess I was still drunk. Anyway, I actually did pretty well and ended up playing for 7 hours straight for a nice profit of just over $2,500 which is my 3rd best day ever at $1/$2.
EDIT: Just had another good day; just shy of +$2,000.
Muppet of the Day #14: Xrundel
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $212.75
Hero (BB): $198
UTG: $109.05
UTG+1: $198
Xrundel: $248.95
MP1: $103
MP2: $231
CO: $54.25
BTN: $166.70
Pre-Flop: Ac Ah dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, Xrundel calls $2, MP1 raises to $9, 3 folds, SB raises to $35, Hero raises to $198 and is All-In, Xrundel calls $196, MP1 folds
Flop: ($440) 9h Js Kd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: ($440) 6h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($440) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $440 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed Ac Ah (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$198 NET)
Xrundel showed Jh Kh (two pair, Kings and Jacks) and WON $437 (+$239 NET)
Muppet of the Day #15: highlimit69
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
highlimit69: $93.20
CO: $367.35
BTN: $207.70
SB: $1,052.65
Gamboooool20 (BB): $361.10
UTG: $200
UTG+1: $197
Pre-Flop: 3c 8c dealt to Gamboooool20 (BB)
2 folds, highlimit69 raises to $4, 3 folds, Gamboooool20 calls $2
Flop: ($9) 4s 3d 6s (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 checks, highlimit69 bets $2, Gamboooool20 calls $2
Turn: ($13) 3h (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 checks, highlimit69 bets $6, Gamboooool20 raises to $42, highlimit69 calls $36
River: ($97) Th (2 Players)
Gamboooool20 bets $313.10 and is All-In, highlimit69 calls $45.20 and is All-In
Results: $187.40 Pot ($3 Rake)
highlimit69 mucked Kc Ks (two pair, Kings and Threes) and LOST (-$93.20 NET)
Gamboooool20 showed 3c 8c (three of a kind, Threes) and WON $184.40 (+$91.20 NET)
highlimit69: u got to be kiddin
highlimit69: dude u suck
highlimit69: 3 5
highlimit69: how do u call preflop
highlimit69: u will never make money at this game
highlimit69: playing like that
Sunday, January 13, 2008
We Two Kings of Orient Are
I've mentioned it before, and it crops up all the time in forums- the topic of Folding KK pre in FR cash. Most don't share my view that KK is a hand that you should be prepared to throw away before seeing a flop.
I made this statement on a 2+2 thread:
If you sampled every pre-flop all-in at $1/$2 (whether you were involved in the hand or not) that involved KK and ~100BB effective stacks then collectively the KK hands would show a loss- and I don't think it would even be close.
For a bit of fun (woo-hoo) I'm going to make a conscious attempt to record all pre-flop all-ins that meet that above criteria (minimum 95BB) and will update here.
As long as I know you, and therefore trust you!, (e.g. from posting comments on here previously) then please feel free to post any suitable hand histories (that you witness going forward) here to add to the sample. (NB. Only from FR $1/$2 tables.)
Impostor!!
There's a new player on Stars called $martmoney. This guy is clearly an obsessed stalker. :)
I've mentioned it before, and it crops up all the time in forums- the topic of Folding KK pre in FR cash. Most don't share my view that KK is a hand that you should be prepared to throw away before seeing a flop.
I made this statement on a 2+2 thread:
If you sampled every pre-flop all-in at $1/$2 (whether you were involved in the hand or not) that involved KK and ~100BB effective stacks then collectively the KK hands would show a loss- and I don't think it would even be close.
For a bit of fun (woo-hoo) I'm going to make a conscious attempt to record all pre-flop all-ins that meet that above criteria (minimum 95BB) and will update here.
As long as I know you, and therefore trust you!, (e.g. from posting comments on here previously) then please feel free to post any suitable hand histories (that you witness going forward) here to add to the sample. (NB. Only from FR $1/$2 tables.)
Impostor!!
There's a new player on Stars called $martmoney. This guy is clearly an obsessed stalker. :)
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Back-up
I purchased a new PC today as a back-up in case my other one crashes.
8k ROM, Z80A CPU, 1k RAM.
Muppet of the Day #13: DanOBrien
How can someone who plays 8 tables, as this guy does, call here? What does he think he's beating? What was his thought process?
"I have an overpair. I hope he's on a flush draw!"
What possible hand can I have, after having limp/called a 7.5BB raise, that he would hope to see here? It may be a justifiable call if he held the Qh- but as it is, it's absolutely fucking awful play.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $200
Hero (UTG+1): $197
UTG+2: $202
DanOBrien : $362
MP2: $79
CO: $130
BTN: $60
SB: $260.95
BB: $80
MP2 posts $2
Pre-Flop: 2c 2s dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG folds, Hero calls $2, UTG+2 calls $2, DanOBrien raises to $15, 5 folds, Hero calls $13, UTG+2 folds
Flop: ($37) 9h Jh 2h (2 Players)
Hero checks, DanOBrien bets $30, Hero raises to $182 and is All-In, DanOBrien calls $152
Turn: ($401) Td (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($401) Qh (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $401 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 2c 2s (three of a kind, Twos) and LOST (-$197 NET)
DanOBrien showed Qd Qs (three of a kind, Queens) and WON $398 (+$201 NET)
I purchased a new PC today as a back-up in case my other one crashes.
8k ROM, Z80A CPU, 1k RAM.
Muppet of the Day #13: DanOBrien
How can someone who plays 8 tables, as this guy does, call here? What does he think he's beating? What was his thought process?
"I have an overpair. I hope he's on a flush draw!"
What possible hand can I have, after having limp/called a 7.5BB raise, that he would hope to see here? It may be a justifiable call if he held the Qh- but as it is, it's absolutely fucking awful play.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $200
Hero (UTG+1): $197
UTG+2: $202
DanOBrien : $362
MP2: $79
CO: $130
BTN: $60
SB: $260.95
BB: $80
MP2 posts $2
Pre-Flop: 2c 2s dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG folds, Hero calls $2, UTG+2 calls $2, DanOBrien raises to $15, 5 folds, Hero calls $13, UTG+2 folds
Flop: ($37) 9h Jh 2h (2 Players)
Hero checks, DanOBrien bets $30, Hero raises to $182 and is All-In, DanOBrien calls $152
Turn: ($401) Td (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($401) Qh (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $401 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 2c 2s (three of a kind, Twos) and LOST (-$197 NET)
DanOBrien showed Qd Qs (three of a kind, Queens) and WON $398 (+$201 NET)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Muppet of the Day #12: bjc722
Following on with the theme of the last Muppet Award; calling-with-the-nuts-when-last-to-act-on-the-river, we have a new winner.
At least my fuck up (previous post's Muppet Award) was a genuine mis-read of my hand where I failed to see I had the flush- there is absolutely NO excuse here! Or has he missed seeing the straight and does he think he's calling with King-high!!?
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $627.35
BB: $200
bjc722: $115
UTG+1: $204.35
MP: $184.45
CO: $115.70
Hero (BTN): $207.75
Pre-Flop: Ts Ks dealt to Hero (BTN)
bjc722 calls $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $2, SB folds, BB checks
Flop: ($7) Qs Ac 7h (3 Players)
BB checks, bjc722 checks, Hero bets $6, BB folds, bjc722 calls $6
Turn: ($19) Jh (2 Players)
bjc722 checks, Hero bets $13, bjc722 calls $13
River: ($45) 2c (2 Players)
bjc722 checks, Hero bets $29, bjc722 calls $29 <----- ??????????
Results: $103 Pot ($3 Rake)
bjc722 showed Kd Tc (a straight, Ace high) and WON $50 (+$0 NET)
Hero showed Ts Ks (a straight, Ace high) and WON $50 (+$0 NET)
Following on with the theme of the last Muppet Award; calling-with-the-nuts-when-last-to-act-on-the-river, we have a new winner.
At least my fuck up (previous post's Muppet Award) was a genuine mis-read of my hand where I failed to see I had the flush- there is absolutely NO excuse here! Or has he missed seeing the straight and does he think he's calling with King-high!!?
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $627.35
BB: $200
bjc722: $115
UTG+1: $204.35
MP: $184.45
CO: $115.70
Hero (BTN): $207.75
Pre-Flop: Ts Ks dealt to Hero (BTN)
bjc722 calls $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $2, SB folds, BB checks
Flop: ($7) Qs Ac 7h (3 Players)
BB checks, bjc722 checks, Hero bets $6, BB folds, bjc722 calls $6
Turn: ($19) Jh (2 Players)
bjc722 checks, Hero bets $13, bjc722 calls $13
River: ($45) 2c (2 Players)
bjc722 checks, Hero bets $29, bjc722 calls $29 <----- ??????????
Results: $103 Pot ($3 Rake)
bjc722 showed Kd Tc (a straight, Ace high) and WON $50 (+$0 NET)
Hero showed Ts Ks (a straight, Ace high) and WON $50 (+$0 NET)
Friday, December 28, 2007
Set-Up
Several people have asked me recently for a photo of my set-up, but I've been a bit lazy at getting around to it.
I have recently upgraded to:
3 x 30" Dells
Quad processors (2.40 Ghz)
2.00 GB of RAM
150 GB HD
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT Graphics Card
NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO Graphics Card
The Quad processors seem to reduce the lag that you often see when using Full Tilt with PAHUD.
I set PAHUD to use CPU 2 and 3, and Full Tilt to use CPU 0 and 1. (Task Manager --> Right Click Image Name --> Set Affinity...)
The 3 x 30" may seem like overkill (as you could easily use just 2 x 30" and play 9 tables on each quite comfortably) but I like the larger table sizes as there is plenty of room for the PAHUD stats.
There is definitely an advantage to using a tiled display rather than an over-lapping cascading set-up, as it allows you to keep an eye on everyone else actions, and therefore pick-up on vital reads/tells.
At a guess, the whole set-up would probably cost around $6k if purchased from scratch- probably closer to ₤6k(?) if purchased in the UK.
Muppet of the Year 2007: Narena
I can only remember mis-reading the board once before on the river while multi-tabling. In that previous hand I held the 2nd nuts (JJ on a Jh 3h X 3 Yh board) and just called the villain's rivered flush bet because I had missed the board pairing on the turn!
Last night's hand was just as bad- I just didn't see that I had 2 clubs and thought my call was with TPTK! I ended up leaving $100 on the table- what a fucking muppet!
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $119.25
UTG+1: $154.20
UTG+2: $364.90
Narena: $240.60
MP2: $20.70
CO: $199.70
BTN: $88.80
SB: $242.25
BB: $200
Pre-Flop: Qc Ac dealt to Narena (MP1)
UTG raises to $4, UTG+1 calls $4, UTG+2 calls $4, Narena raises to $18, 5 folds, UTG calls $14, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $14
Flop: ($61) Qh 8c 7c (3 Players)
UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, Narena bets $32, UTG folds, UTG+2 calls $32
Turn: ($125) 6d (2 Players)
UTG+2 checks, Narena checks
River: ($125) 2c (2 Players)
UTG+2 bets $88, Narena calls $88 <--- Great call with the nuts!!
Results: $301 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG+2 showed 9c Tc (a flush, Ten high) and LOST (-$138 NET)
Narena showed Qc Ac (a flush, Ace high) and WON $298 (+$160 NET)
Several people have asked me recently for a photo of my set-up, but I've been a bit lazy at getting around to it.
I have recently upgraded to:
3 x 30" Dells
Quad processors (2.40 Ghz)
2.00 GB of RAM
150 GB HD
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT Graphics Card
NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT/GTO Graphics Card
The Quad processors seem to reduce the lag that you often see when using Full Tilt with PAHUD.
I set PAHUD to use CPU 2 and 3, and Full Tilt to use CPU 0 and 1. (Task Manager --> Right Click Image Name --> Set Affinity...)
The 3 x 30" may seem like overkill (as you could easily use just 2 x 30" and play 9 tables on each quite comfortably) but I like the larger table sizes as there is plenty of room for the PAHUD stats.
There is definitely an advantage to using a tiled display rather than an over-lapping cascading set-up, as it allows you to keep an eye on everyone else actions, and therefore pick-up on vital reads/tells.
At a guess, the whole set-up would probably cost around $6k if purchased from scratch- probably closer to ₤6k(?) if purchased in the UK.
Muppet of the Year 2007: Narena
I can only remember mis-reading the board once before on the river while multi-tabling. In that previous hand I held the 2nd nuts (JJ on a Jh 3h X 3 Yh board) and just called the villain's rivered flush bet because I had missed the board pairing on the turn!
Last night's hand was just as bad- I just didn't see that I had 2 clubs and thought my call was with TPTK! I ended up leaving $100 on the table- what a fucking muppet!
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $119.25
UTG+1: $154.20
UTG+2: $364.90
Narena: $240.60
MP2: $20.70
CO: $199.70
BTN: $88.80
SB: $242.25
BB: $200
Pre-Flop: Qc Ac dealt to Narena (MP1)
UTG raises to $4, UTG+1 calls $4, UTG+2 calls $4, Narena raises to $18, 5 folds, UTG calls $14, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $14
Flop: ($61) Qh 8c 7c (3 Players)
UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, Narena bets $32, UTG folds, UTG+2 calls $32
Turn: ($125) 6d (2 Players)
UTG+2 checks, Narena checks
River: ($125) 2c (2 Players)
UTG+2 bets $88, Narena calls $88 <--- Great call with the nuts!!
Results: $301 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG+2 showed 9c Tc (a flush, Ten high) and LOST (-$138 NET)
Narena showed Qc Ac (a flush, Ace high) and WON $298 (+$160 NET)
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
December Update
Due to having been ill at the beginning of December I have only been back at the cash tables for 12 days now. Excluding last Friday when I don't remember losing a grand as I was drunk, I have made $10,660 in just 47 hours (~+230/hr) which is just over 10BB/100 (5ptBB/100) across 16 tables.
I think the break did me good as, for the most part, my reads have been better than ever. I've been managing to squeeze out some great value bets with marginal hands on fairly dangerous boards, and I've also made some decent lay-downs IMO; although not everyone agrees! (See below)
Four-of-a-Very-Kind
I had a pretty good night yesterday- making $2,300 profit, after having been down $700 at one stage. I played 5,773 hands and hit quads an amazing 10 times! (8 of which went to showdown.)
Three-King Hell
A couple of days ago I made an unusual play with a set of Kings. I played the hand extremely passively and then laid it down on the river to what I know was a set of Aces.
I posted the hand history up on the 2+2 forum and, as expected, I received a lot of flak for it.
Main thread here.
Another thread here.
The posters that thought it was played very, very poorly can be categorized as follows:
1. Decent experienced players who understood my explanation but just didn't agree (at least with part of it)- which is fair enough. I respect most of their opinions and so I'm interested in what they have to say.
2. Presumably-winning players (many at higher stakes) who are very narrow minded and lack either the ability to understand the reasoning, or lack the ability to want to understand it.
3. Inexperienced/average-at-best players (the majority of those that posted) who, again, are narrow-minded and often just fucking clueless.
(Very few believed that I played the hand well, although a few agreed with the river fold.)
The thing is, the experience obtained from playing so many hands enables you to make accurate reads, at least for the most part. Apart from the pre-flop cold-call, I think the hand was played as well as possible against that particular player with the read that I had.
Anyway, feel free to join the queue and berate my play if you so wish! :)
Muppet of the Day #9: Tonycoca
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.Tonycocam Hand History Tonycocanverter
SB: $232.35
BB: $109.95
UTG: $323
Hero (UTG+1): $200
MP: $322.55
Tonycoca: $60
BTN: $144.70
Tonycoca posts $2
Pre-Flop: As Jd dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG calls $2, Hero raises to $12, MP folds, Tonycoca calls $10, 2 folds, BB calls $10, UTG folds
Flop: ($39) 6h Ah 8h (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $24, Tonycoca raises to $48 and is All-In, BB folds, Hero calls $24
Turn: ($135) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($135) 5d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $135 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed As Jd (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$60 NET)
Tonycoca showed 7s 6s (a straight, Nine high) and WON $132 (+$72 NET) <---- Bottom pair/ shit kicker, no heart, and no Fold Equity. Well played. :)
Muppet of the Day #10: Karina Jett
Full Tilt pros aren't exempt from winning a Muppet of the Day Award either, even if they are pretty. :)
Here is Karina's web-site.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $242.65
BB: $218.60
UTG: $267
UTG+1: $78
Karina Jett: $149.55
Hero (MP2): $249.80
CO: $768.45
BTN: $340.95
Pre-Flop: Kc Ah dealt to Hero (MP2)
2 folds, Karina Jett calls $2, Hero raises to $10, CO folds, BTN calls $10, 2 folds, Karina Jett calls $8
Flop: ($33) 7c As 4s (3 Players)
Karina Jett checks, Hero bets $20, BTN folds, Karina Jett calls $20
Turn: ($73) 3d (2 Players)
Karina Jett bets $56, Hero raises to $142, Karina Jett calls $63.55 and is All-In <---- I was pretty sure that she had hit her kicker here (and was sure that she didn't have a set) but I couldn't find a fold.
River: ($312.10) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $312.10 Pot ($3 Rake)
Karina Jett showed 3c Ac (two pair, Aces and Threes) and WON $309.10 (+$159.55 NET)
Hero showed Kc Ah (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$149.55 NET)
Due to having been ill at the beginning of December I have only been back at the cash tables for 12 days now. Excluding last Friday when I don't remember losing a grand as I was drunk, I have made $10,660 in just 47 hours (~+230/hr) which is just over 10BB/100 (5ptBB/100) across 16 tables.
I think the break did me good as, for the most part, my reads have been better than ever. I've been managing to squeeze out some great value bets with marginal hands on fairly dangerous boards, and I've also made some decent lay-downs IMO; although not everyone agrees! (See below)
Four-of-a-Very-Kind
I had a pretty good night yesterday- making $2,300 profit, after having been down $700 at one stage. I played 5,773 hands and hit quads an amazing 10 times! (8 of which went to showdown.)
Three-King Hell
A couple of days ago I made an unusual play with a set of Kings. I played the hand extremely passively and then laid it down on the river to what I know was a set of Aces.
I posted the hand history up on the 2+2 forum and, as expected, I received a lot of flak for it.
Main thread here.
Another thread here.
The posters that thought it was played very, very poorly can be categorized as follows:
1. Decent experienced players who understood my explanation but just didn't agree (at least with part of it)- which is fair enough. I respect most of their opinions and so I'm interested in what they have to say.
2. Presumably-winning players (many at higher stakes) who are very narrow minded and lack either the ability to understand the reasoning, or lack the ability to want to understand it.
3. Inexperienced/average-at-best players (the majority of those that posted) who, again, are narrow-minded and often just fucking clueless.
(Very few believed that I played the hand well, although a few agreed with the river fold.)
The thing is, the experience obtained from playing so many hands enables you to make accurate reads, at least for the most part. Apart from the pre-flop cold-call, I think the hand was played as well as possible against that particular player with the read that I had.
Anyway, feel free to join the queue and berate my play if you so wish! :)
Muppet of the Day #9: Tonycoca
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 7 Players
LeggoPoker.Tonycocam Hand History Tonycocanverter
SB: $232.35
BB: $109.95
UTG: $323
Hero (UTG+1): $200
MP: $322.55
Tonycoca: $60
BTN: $144.70
Tonycoca posts $2
Pre-Flop: As Jd dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG calls $2, Hero raises to $12, MP folds, Tonycoca calls $10, 2 folds, BB calls $10, UTG folds
Flop: ($39) 6h Ah 8h (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $24, Tonycoca raises to $48 and is All-In, BB folds, Hero calls $24
Turn: ($135) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($135) 5d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $135 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed As Jd (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$60 NET)
Tonycoca showed 7s 6s (a straight, Nine high) and WON $132 (+$72 NET) <---- Bottom pair/ shit kicker, no heart, and no Fold Equity. Well played. :)
Muppet of the Day #10: Karina Jett
Full Tilt pros aren't exempt from winning a Muppet of the Day Award either, even if they are pretty. :)
Here is Karina's web-site.
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $242.65
BB: $218.60
UTG: $267
UTG+1: $78
Karina Jett: $149.55
Hero (MP2): $249.80
CO: $768.45
BTN: $340.95
Pre-Flop: Kc Ah dealt to Hero (MP2)
2 folds, Karina Jett calls $2, Hero raises to $10, CO folds, BTN calls $10, 2 folds, Karina Jett calls $8
Flop: ($33) 7c As 4s (3 Players)
Karina Jett checks, Hero bets $20, BTN folds, Karina Jett calls $20
Turn: ($73) 3d (2 Players)
Karina Jett bets $56, Hero raises to $142, Karina Jett calls $63.55 and is All-In <---- I was pretty sure that she had hit her kicker here (and was sure that she didn't have a set) but I couldn't find a fold.
River: ($312.10) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $312.10 Pot ($3 Rake)
Karina Jett showed 3c Ac (two pair, Aces and Threes) and WON $309.10 (+$159.55 NET)
Hero showed Kc Ah (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$149.55 NET)
Monday, December 10, 2007
Please Move Along. Nothing to See Here.
Well, I've achieved my poker goals for December so far. This is partly because I missed three days due to my PC being upgraded. (Reinstalling all of the poker applications, restoring the PT database, and creating the PAHUD cache takes fucking ages.) Mainly though I've been ill since the start of the month so I've played very little poker.
Well, I've achieved my poker goals for December so far. This is partly because I missed three days due to my PC being upgraded. (Reinstalling all of the poker applications, restoring the PT database, and creating the PAHUD cache takes fucking ages.) Mainly though I've been ill since the start of the month so I've played very little poker.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
December Goals
Here's what I wrote at the start of November:
I don't intend to play as much poker this month. I'm going to focus more on working out, boxing and playing football. I also want to ensure that I'm fresh and full of energy each day so that I can play more with my daughters. So poker will have to fit around everything else.
I plan to start earlier each day meaning I can finish earlier so that it's not lunchtime before I go to bed! I may also play during the afternoon a little when the tables are a little tougher so I expect my BB/100 will be lower this month.
I didn't really meet these goals, so I'm going to make an extra effort this month.
I have hired a personal trainer friend of mine for the month to ensure I get to the gym each day. I also have a boxing training so I will try and box at least three times a week.
I am determined that poker will take a backseat this month. It's so easy to let it engulf your life which, even if you're winning, isn't such a good thing.
I devoted even more time than usual during October to poker, really just to see how much I could make in one month. I made over $25k in total and I think I could repeat that (or close to it) for any month if I chose to. However, at what cost? Working nights is not something your body ever adapts to, and the resulting long-term health issues are not clear. Being tired during the day means that it's hard to get anything constructive done including working out and eating well. I also hate being tired when my daughters are round as I feel that I sometimes "short-change" them.
Amazingly my monthly expenses are over $8,000! (How the fuck can it be that high!!?) So as long as I make $10k then I won't have to sell the house and work the streets, so that is my poker goal for this month. Therefore, without putting pressure on myself to make as much money as possible, I should be able to concentrate on my non-poker goals.
Here's what I wrote at the start of November:
I don't intend to play as much poker this month. I'm going to focus more on working out, boxing and playing football. I also want to ensure that I'm fresh and full of energy each day so that I can play more with my daughters. So poker will have to fit around everything else.
I plan to start earlier each day meaning I can finish earlier so that it's not lunchtime before I go to bed! I may also play during the afternoon a little when the tables are a little tougher so I expect my BB/100 will be lower this month.
I didn't really meet these goals, so I'm going to make an extra effort this month.
I have hired a personal trainer friend of mine for the month to ensure I get to the gym each day. I also have a boxing training so I will try and box at least three times a week.
I am determined that poker will take a backseat this month. It's so easy to let it engulf your life which, even if you're winning, isn't such a good thing.
I devoted even more time than usual during October to poker, really just to see how much I could make in one month. I made over $25k in total and I think I could repeat that (or close to it) for any month if I chose to. However, at what cost? Working nights is not something your body ever adapts to, and the resulting long-term health issues are not clear. Being tired during the day means that it's hard to get anything constructive done including working out and eating well. I also hate being tired when my daughters are round as I feel that I sometimes "short-change" them.
Amazingly my monthly expenses are over $8,000! (How the fuck can it be that high!!?) So as long as I make $10k then I won't have to sell the house and work the streets, so that is my poker goal for this month. Therefore, without putting pressure on myself to make as much money as possible, I should be able to concentrate on my non-poker goals.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
November Report
November was my worst full month since I went full time nine months ago. I certainly didn't have the run of cards in general this month (tonight alone I was due an extra $1,000 from All In luck!!) but no complaints- I'm sure I had my fair share of luck during my $25k+ month in October. It all evens out long term.
My play was OK in general but I certainly had some spells of poor play too. I also moved up from 12 tables to 16 tables this month and that took a little adjusting to and it definitely hurt my BB/100 initially.
Total: $13,816
Hours: 173
Average Rate1: $80/hr
Average Rate2: $461/day
Rake Earned: $3,751 (included in above total)
Losing Days: 8
$1k+ Days: 11
Best Day: +$2,187
Worst Day: -$1,221
Total Hands: 138,832
$1/$2 BB/100: 2.91 (Last month was 7.91)
On the plus side, I had that $2k win in the Ironman freeroll. I also made $10.6k from a couple of sports bets; so it was a $24k profit month in total- just not all from poker! :)
Muppet of the Day #7: Curler98
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [Ad Ah]
(Dealt to Curler98 [Kh Ac])
juicyjc folds
D97187 folds
Curler98 calls $2
juarino folds
Bigkawik folds
hogg420_661 raises to $16
SDDana folds
Narena raises to $30 <---- Original raiser was pretty short hence the min raise :)
eunlee728 folds
Curler98 calls $28
hogg420_661 calls $14
*** FLOP *** [3d 5c Js]
Narena checks
Curler98 checks
hogg420_661 bets $26
Narena calls $26
Curler98 calls $26 <---- Nice call
*** TURN *** [3d 5c Js] [Qc]
Narena bets $108
Curler98 calls $51.75, and is all in <---- Great vision. WP.
hogg420_661 folds
Narena shows [Ad Ah]
Curler98 shows [Kh Ac]
Uncalled bet of $56.25 returned to Narena
*** RIVER *** [3d 5c Js Qc] [Ts]
Narena shows a pair of Aces
Curler98 shows a straight, Ace high
Curler98 wins the pot ($270.50) with a straight, Ace high
Muppet of the Day #8: SONNIEGIRL
SONNIEGIRL became the proud winner of this prestigious award today- not for his/her/its play so much (although the small flop bet was terrible, but rather for his/her/its comment afterwards)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [Jc Tc]
fishouttawatta folds
Jman Returns folds
BareAce11 folds
giveusakiss folds
The Guok folds
27Fish checks
Narena calls $2
SONNIEGIRL raises to $10
CrazyMarry2 folds
27Fish folds
Narena calls $8
*** FLOP *** [Kd Qc 6s]
SONNIEGIRL has 15 seconds left to act
SONNIEGIRL bets $10 <---- Nice and cheap
Narena calls $10
*** TURN *** [Kd Qc 6s] [Ad]
SONNIEGIRL has 15 seconds left to act
SONNIEGIRL bets $36
Narena raises to $134
SONNIEGIRL calls $63.10, and is all in
Narena shows [Jc Tc]
SONNIEGIRL shows [Qd Qs]
Uncalled bet of $34.90 returned to Narena
*** RIVER *** [Kd Qc 6s Ad] [4c]
Narena shows a straight, Ace high
SONNIEGIRL shows three of a kind, Queens
Narena wins the pot ($239.20) with a straight, Ace high
SONNIEGIRL is sitting out
SONNIEGIRL: nice call on the flop <---- fucking muppet
November was my worst full month since I went full time nine months ago. I certainly didn't have the run of cards in general this month (tonight alone I was due an extra $1,000 from All In luck!!) but no complaints- I'm sure I had my fair share of luck during my $25k+ month in October. It all evens out long term.
My play was OK in general but I certainly had some spells of poor play too. I also moved up from 12 tables to 16 tables this month and that took a little adjusting to and it definitely hurt my BB/100 initially.
Total: $13,816
Hours: 173
Average Rate1: $80/hr
Average Rate2: $461/day
Rake Earned: $3,751 (included in above total)
Losing Days: 8
$1k+ Days: 11
Best Day: +$2,187
Worst Day: -$1,221
Total Hands: 138,832
$1/$2 BB/100: 2.91 (Last month was 7.91)
On the plus side, I had that $2k win in the Ironman freeroll. I also made $10.6k from a couple of sports bets; so it was a $24k profit month in total- just not all from poker! :)
Muppet of the Day #7: Curler98
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [Ad Ah]
(Dealt to Curler98 [Kh Ac])
juicyjc folds
D97187 folds
Curler98 calls $2
juarino folds
Bigkawik folds
hogg420_661 raises to $16
SDDana folds
Narena raises to $30 <---- Original raiser was pretty short hence the min raise :)
eunlee728 folds
Curler98 calls $28
hogg420_661 calls $14
*** FLOP *** [3d 5c Js]
Narena checks
Curler98 checks
hogg420_661 bets $26
Narena calls $26
Curler98 calls $26 <---- Nice call
*** TURN *** [3d 5c Js] [Qc]
Narena bets $108
Curler98 calls $51.75, and is all in <---- Great vision. WP.
hogg420_661 folds
Narena shows [Ad Ah]
Curler98 shows [Kh Ac]
Uncalled bet of $56.25 returned to Narena
*** RIVER *** [3d 5c Js Qc] [Ts]
Narena shows a pair of Aces
Curler98 shows a straight, Ace high
Curler98 wins the pot ($270.50) with a straight, Ace high
Muppet of the Day #8: SONNIEGIRL
SONNIEGIRL became the proud winner of this prestigious award today- not for his/her/its play so much (although the small flop bet was terrible, but rather for his/her/its comment afterwards)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [Jc Tc]
fishouttawatta folds
Jman Returns folds
BareAce11 folds
giveusakiss folds
The Guok folds
27Fish checks
Narena calls $2
SONNIEGIRL raises to $10
CrazyMarry2 folds
27Fish folds
Narena calls $8
*** FLOP *** [Kd Qc 6s]
SONNIEGIRL has 15 seconds left to act
SONNIEGIRL bets $10 <---- Nice and cheap
Narena calls $10
*** TURN *** [Kd Qc 6s] [Ad]
SONNIEGIRL has 15 seconds left to act
SONNIEGIRL bets $36
Narena raises to $134
SONNIEGIRL calls $63.10, and is all in
Narena shows [Jc Tc]
SONNIEGIRL shows [Qd Qs]
Uncalled bet of $34.90 returned to Narena
*** RIVER *** [Kd Qc 6s Ad] [4c]
Narena shows a straight, Ace high
SONNIEGIRL shows three of a kind, Queens
Narena wins the pot ($239.20) with a straight, Ace high
SONNIEGIRL is sitting out
SONNIEGIRL: nice call on the flop <---- fucking muppet
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Cold as Ice
What a bad night. After making ~+$1k in the first 2 hours I then went on a $1.8k downswing of coolers.
Here are some of my favourites. (I'm not interested in anyone's comments on how the hands were played by the way. Decisions were often opponent-specific.)
There's also nothing particularly exciting about any of them other than they all occurred with a 90 minute period with just these pots alone totaling $2.5k. (It's my blog and I just feel like venting.)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $294.50
BB: $80
UTG: $190.65
UTG+1: $192
MP1: $188.40
Hero (MP2): $306.20
CO: $205.80
BTN: $197.80
Pre-Flop: 7c 7d dealt to Hero (MP2)
3 folds, Hero raises to $8, CO folds, BTN raises to $24, SB calls $23, BB folds, Hero calls $16
Flop: ($74) 2s 7h Tc (3 Players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $36, SB calls $36, Hero calls $36
Turn: ($182) 8d (3 Players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $137.80 and is All-In, SB calls $137.80, Hero raises to $246.20 and is All-In, SB calls $96.70 and is All-In
River: ($788.80) Td (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $788.80 Pot ($3 Rake)
SB showed Th Ts (four of a kind, Tens) and WON $785.80 (+$491.30 NET)
Hero showed 7c 7d (a full house, Sevens full of Tens) and LOST (-$294.50 NET)
BTN showed Kh Kd (two pair, Kings and Tens) and LOST (-$197.80 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $70.85
UTG+1: $230.10
MP1: $209.15
MP2: $295
CO: $267.15
Hero (BTN): $192
SB: $165.55
BB: $231.40
Pre-Flop: 8h 8c dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG calls $2, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises to $9, 2 folds, Hero calls $9, 2 folds, UTG calls $7
Flop: ($30) 8s Td Kc (3 Players)
UTG checks, MP1 bets $22, Hero calls $22, UTG folds
Turn: ($74) Js (2 Players)
MP1 bets $45, Hero calls $45
River: ($164) 7c (2 Players)
MP1 bets $133.15 and is All-In, Hero calls $116 and is All-In
Results: $396 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP1 showed Qd Ad (a straight, Ace high) and WON $393 (+$201 NET)
Hero mucked 8h 8c 8h 8c (three of a kind, Eights) and LOST (-$192 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $88
UTG+1: $75.85
UTG+2: $217
MP1: $241.70
MP2: $274.95
CO: $202
BTN: $175.90
Hero (SB): $455.95
BB: $334.05
Pre-Flop: 9c 9h dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $5, 4 folds, BTN calls $5, Hero calls $4, BB folds
Flop: ($17) 7s 8s 9s (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $14, BTN calls $14, Hero raises to $172, UTG+1 calls $56.85 and is All-In, BTN calls $156.90 and is All-In
Turn: ($429.65) Jd (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($429.65) 2d (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $429.65 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG+1 showed As 8d (a pair of Eights) and LOST (-$75.85 NET)
BTN showed Qs Ks (a flush, King high) and WON $426.65 (+$250.75 NET)
Hero showed 9c 9h (three of a kind, Nines) and LOST (-$175.90 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG+1: $213.40
UTG+2: $398.10
MP1: $318.35
MP2: $31.45
CO: $201
Hero (BTN): $233.60
SB: $255.95
BB: $137.20
UTG: $157.90
Pre-Flop: Th Qh dealt to Hero (BTN)
3 folds, MP1 calls $2, 2 folds, Hero calls $2, SB calls $1, BB checks
Flop: ($8) 3h Ah Tc (4 Players)
SB bets $7, 2 folds, Hero calls $7
Turn: ($22) 6h (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $18, SB raises to $60, Hero calls $42
River: ($142) 4d (2 Players)
SB bets $100, Hero calls $100
Results: $342 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero mucked Th Qh (a flush, Ace high) and LOST (-$169 NET)
SB showed Kh Jh (a flush, Ace high) and WON $339 (+$170 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
Hero (BTN): $199.50
SB: $169.25
BB: $208
UTG: $158
UTG+1: $165.65
UTG+2: $131.40
MP1: $198
MP2: $203.15
CO: $194
Pre-Flop: 6s 6d dealt to Hero (BTN)
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to $6, 3 folds, Hero calls $6, SB calls $5, BB raises to $24, UTG+2 calls $18, Hero calls $18, SB calls $18
Flop: ($96) 6h Kc 9h (4 Players)
SB bets $10, BB calls $10, UTG+2 raises to $107.40 and is All-In, Hero calls $107.40, SB calls $97.40, BB folds
Turn: ($428.20) Js (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
SB checks, Hero bets $42, SB calls $37.85 and is All-In
River: ($503.90) Td (3 Players - 2 are All-In)
Results: $503.90 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 6s 6d (three of a kind, Sixes) and LOST (-$169.25 NET)
SB showed 9s 9d (three of a kind, Nines) and WON $500.90 (+$331.65 NET)
UTG+2 showed As Kd (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$131.40 NET)
What a bad night. After making ~+$1k in the first 2 hours I then went on a $1.8k downswing of coolers.
Here are some of my favourites. (I'm not interested in anyone's comments on how the hands were played by the way. Decisions were often opponent-specific.)
There's also nothing particularly exciting about any of them other than they all occurred with a 90 minute period with just these pots alone totaling $2.5k. (It's my blog and I just feel like venting.)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
SB: $294.50
BB: $80
UTG: $190.65
UTG+1: $192
MP1: $188.40
Hero (MP2): $306.20
CO: $205.80
BTN: $197.80
Pre-Flop: 7c 7d dealt to Hero (MP2)
3 folds, Hero raises to $8, CO folds, BTN raises to $24, SB calls $23, BB folds, Hero calls $16
Flop: ($74) 2s 7h Tc (3 Players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $36, SB calls $36, Hero calls $36
Turn: ($182) 8d (3 Players)
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets $137.80 and is All-In, SB calls $137.80, Hero raises to $246.20 and is All-In, SB calls $96.70 and is All-In
River: ($788.80) Td (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $788.80 Pot ($3 Rake)
SB showed Th Ts (four of a kind, Tens) and WON $785.80 (+$491.30 NET)
Hero showed 7c 7d (a full house, Sevens full of Tens) and LOST (-$294.50 NET)
BTN showed Kh Kd (two pair, Kings and Tens) and LOST (-$197.80 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $70.85
UTG+1: $230.10
MP1: $209.15
MP2: $295
CO: $267.15
Hero (BTN): $192
SB: $165.55
BB: $231.40
Pre-Flop: 8h 8c dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG calls $2, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises to $9, 2 folds, Hero calls $9, 2 folds, UTG calls $7
Flop: ($30) 8s Td Kc (3 Players)
UTG checks, MP1 bets $22, Hero calls $22, UTG folds
Turn: ($74) Js (2 Players)
MP1 bets $45, Hero calls $45
River: ($164) 7c (2 Players)
MP1 bets $133.15 and is All-In, Hero calls $116 and is All-In
Results: $396 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP1 showed Qd Ad (a straight, Ace high) and WON $393 (+$201 NET)
Hero mucked 8h 8c 8h 8c (three of a kind, Eights) and LOST (-$192 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $88
UTG+1: $75.85
UTG+2: $217
MP1: $241.70
MP2: $274.95
CO: $202
BTN: $175.90
Hero (SB): $455.95
BB: $334.05
Pre-Flop: 9c 9h dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $5, 4 folds, BTN calls $5, Hero calls $4, BB folds
Flop: ($17) 7s 8s 9s (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $14, BTN calls $14, Hero raises to $172, UTG+1 calls $56.85 and is All-In, BTN calls $156.90 and is All-In
Turn: ($429.65) Jd (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: ($429.65) 2d (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: $429.65 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG+1 showed As 8d (a pair of Eights) and LOST (-$75.85 NET)
BTN showed Qs Ks (a flush, King high) and WON $426.65 (+$250.75 NET)
Hero showed 9c 9h (three of a kind, Nines) and LOST (-$175.90 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
UTG+1: $213.40
UTG+2: $398.10
MP1: $318.35
MP2: $31.45
CO: $201
Hero (BTN): $233.60
SB: $255.95
BB: $137.20
UTG: $157.90
Pre-Flop: Th Qh dealt to Hero (BTN)
3 folds, MP1 calls $2, 2 folds, Hero calls $2, SB calls $1, BB checks
Flop: ($8) 3h Ah Tc (4 Players)
SB bets $7, 2 folds, Hero calls $7
Turn: ($22) 6h (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $18, SB raises to $60, Hero calls $42
River: ($142) 4d (2 Players)
SB bets $100, Hero calls $100
Results: $342 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero mucked Th Qh (a flush, Ace high) and LOST (-$169 NET)
SB showed Kh Jh (a flush, Ace high) and WON $339 (+$170 NET)
Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter
Hero (BTN): $199.50
SB: $169.25
BB: $208
UTG: $158
UTG+1: $165.65
UTG+2: $131.40
MP1: $198
MP2: $203.15
CO: $194
Pre-Flop: 6s 6d dealt to Hero (BTN)
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to $6, 3 folds, Hero calls $6, SB calls $5, BB raises to $24, UTG+2 calls $18, Hero calls $18, SB calls $18
Flop: ($96) 6h Kc 9h (4 Players)
SB bets $10, BB calls $10, UTG+2 raises to $107.40 and is All-In, Hero calls $107.40, SB calls $97.40, BB folds
Turn: ($428.20) Js (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
SB checks, Hero bets $42, SB calls $37.85 and is All-In
River: ($503.90) Td (3 Players - 2 are All-In)
Results: $503.90 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 6s 6d (three of a kind, Sixes) and LOST (-$169.25 NET)
SB showed 9s 9d (three of a kind, Nines) and WON $500.90 (+$331.65 NET)
UTG+2 showed As Kd (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$131.40 NET)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Muppet of the Day #5: FittSmurf
FittSmurf is a fairly decent regular (~4 Big Blinds/100 from >30k hands) across 8 tables.
He wins today's Muppet of the Day award not because of poor play, but rather, for showing extremely poor etiquette by slow-rolling. Some may say "for being a complete cunt" but personally I wouldn't use that type of language.
In the hand in question, he requests time and lets his clock run right down before calling my all-in on the turn while holding the nuts. (It wasn't a case of being distracted elsewhere either- if you're only playing 8 tables then a $500 pot doesn't get ignored.)
Very disappointing behaviour from another regular. I have already taken him off of my Christmas Card list.
.
.
.
FittSmurf has 15 seconds left to act
FittSmurf has requested TIME
FittSmurf calls $191.55
Narena shows [Jd Qh]
FittSmurf shows [Js Qs]
*** RIVER *** [3d Td Ks Ah] [5c]
Narena shows a straight, Ace high
FittSmurf shows a straight, Ace high
Narena ties for the pot ($249.55) with a straight, Ace high
FittSmurf ties for the pot ($249.55) with a straight, Ace high
Muppet of the Day #6: Narena
For my tired play at the end of an 8 hour session with this $700-pot hand.
My flop and turn play is fine I think, as I was planning to c/r the turn.
My river call is fucking awful. I even said out loud "You hit the fucking ten you cunt"- and then still called! I knew he had hit the 3-outer (obviously he has 4 other outs to beat me- but he has no chance of getting a call if an Ace or Two falls) and, when fresh, I could usually find a very easy fold.
Oh well.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4247882418: Table Rio Poco - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 8:34:45 ET - 2007/11/21
Seat 1: Pokeonthewater ($347)
Seat 2: iamthebrit ($70)
Seat 3: bashman ($52.05)
Seat 4: Narena ($413.30)
Seat 5: TwistedDonkey ($246.35)
Seat 6: nightmareju ($198)
Seat 7: bil ivy ($218.10)
Seat 8: bndorcia ($36)
Seat 9: anondor ($198)
bashman posts the small blind of $1
Narena posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [7d 7h]
TwistedDonkey folds
nightmareju folds
bil ivy folds
bndorcia folds
anondor folds
Pokeonthewater raises to $6
iamthebrit folds
bashman folds
Narena calls $4
*** FLOP *** [7c 2h Ad]
Narena checks
Pokeonthewater bets $10
Narena raises to $28
Pokeonthewater raises to $46
Narena calls $18
*** TURN *** [7c 2h Ad] [Ah]
Narena checks
Pokeonthewater checks
*** RIVER *** [7c 2h Ad Ah] [Th]
Narena bets $50
Pokeonthewater has 15 seconds left to act <----- Such a dead giveaway that he has the FH
Pokeonthewater raises to $295, and is all in <----- ...especially when combined with the turn check and river overbet
Narena calls $245 <------- What a fucking muppet
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Pokeonthewater shows [As Tc] a full house, Aces full of Tens
Narena mucks
Pokeonthewater wins the pot ($692) with a full house, Aces full of Tens
It's a Bittersweet Symphony, this Life.
England's home defeat against Croatia was bitter sweet for me this afternoon. Needing at least a draw to qualify for Euro 2008, we committed hari-kari and lost 3-2. The consolation for me was that I had backed Croatia for £500 to win @11.0 and with some in-running trading I made a total profit of over £5,000 ($10,500.)
I would have preferred to have lost the bet though as it meant us qualifying instead.
Girl-on-Girl Action
Acevader (Kenny) has made some good posts recently on the topic of "Regular-on-Regular Action" [on the 2+2 forum.]
There are two extremes to this I think, with most of the regs falling towards the latter stages of this continuum.
You can constantly go to war with other regulars "playing poker" and make a profit across less than maximum tables.
Alternatively you can minimise your confrontations with the other regulars and concentrate more on the fish. This requires a lot less effort allowing you to play more tables (and probably for longer periods.)
Now obviously if you're able to exploit certain tendencies that other regs may have then it's foolish to not do so. However, I believe the biggest winners are those that don't go out of their way to attack the other regs- and instead focus more on the easy money that is out there.
My goal isn't to be the "best" player at these stakes per se. Rather it is to be the biggest winner.
I'm starting to analyse the game of other regulars more closely now. (As part of my recent analysis of other regulars' I've been prepared to sacrifice some short term profits by making some otherwise pretty poor light calls- and even making some poor unorthadox plays- just to get a showdown to see what they've been playing and to see how they react to those plays.)
I'm analysing their game not because I intend to initiate more fights with them at the tables, but because I don't want my game exploited. As someone who usually plays 15/16 tables now, you open yourself up a little because that many tables limits your focus on individual players- whereas an aggressive regular who only plays half as many tables naturally gives themselves an edge in those one-on-one battles. Albeit at the greater expense of them often failing to fully exploit the poorer players that are out there.
FittSmurf is a fairly decent regular (~4 Big Blinds/100 from >30k hands) across 8 tables.
He wins today's Muppet of the Day award not because of poor play, but rather, for showing extremely poor etiquette by slow-rolling. Some may say "for being a complete cunt" but personally I wouldn't use that type of language.
In the hand in question, he requests time and lets his clock run right down before calling my all-in on the turn while holding the nuts. (It wasn't a case of being distracted elsewhere either- if you're only playing 8 tables then a $500 pot doesn't get ignored.)
Very disappointing behaviour from another regular. I have already taken him off of my Christmas Card list.
.
.
.
FittSmurf has 15 seconds left to act
FittSmurf has requested TIME
FittSmurf calls $191.55
Narena shows [Jd Qh]
FittSmurf shows [Js Qs]
*** RIVER *** [3d Td Ks Ah] [5c]
Narena shows a straight, Ace high
FittSmurf shows a straight, Ace high
Narena ties for the pot ($249.55) with a straight, Ace high
FittSmurf ties for the pot ($249.55) with a straight, Ace high
Muppet of the Day #6: Narena
For my tired play at the end of an 8 hour session with this $700-pot hand.
My flop and turn play is fine I think, as I was planning to c/r the turn.
My river call is fucking awful. I even said out loud "You hit the fucking ten you cunt"- and then still called! I knew he had hit the 3-outer (obviously he has 4 other outs to beat me- but he has no chance of getting a call if an Ace or Two falls) and, when fresh, I could usually find a very easy fold.
Oh well.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4247882418: Table Rio Poco - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 8:34:45 ET - 2007/11/21
Seat 1: Pokeonthewater ($347)
Seat 2: iamthebrit ($70)
Seat 3: bashman ($52.05)
Seat 4: Narena ($413.30)
Seat 5: TwistedDonkey ($246.35)
Seat 6: nightmareju ($198)
Seat 7: bil ivy ($218.10)
Seat 8: bndorcia ($36)
Seat 9: anondor ($198)
bashman posts the small blind of $1
Narena posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Narena [7d 7h]
TwistedDonkey folds
nightmareju folds
bil ivy folds
bndorcia folds
anondor folds
Pokeonthewater raises to $6
iamthebrit folds
bashman folds
Narena calls $4
*** FLOP *** [7c 2h Ad]
Narena checks
Pokeonthewater bets $10
Narena raises to $28
Pokeonthewater raises to $46
Narena calls $18
*** TURN *** [7c 2h Ad] [Ah]
Narena checks
Pokeonthewater checks
*** RIVER *** [7c 2h Ad Ah] [Th]
Narena bets $50
Pokeonthewater has 15 seconds left to act <----- Such a dead giveaway that he has the FH
Pokeonthewater raises to $295, and is all in <----- ...especially when combined with the turn check and river overbet
Narena calls $245 <------- What a fucking muppet
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Pokeonthewater shows [As Tc] a full house, Aces full of Tens
Narena mucks
Pokeonthewater wins the pot ($692) with a full house, Aces full of Tens
It's a Bittersweet Symphony, this Life.
England's home defeat against Croatia was bitter sweet for me this afternoon. Needing at least a draw to qualify for Euro 2008, we committed hari-kari and lost 3-2. The consolation for me was that I had backed Croatia for £500 to win @11.0 and with some in-running trading I made a total profit of over £5,000 ($10,500.)
I would have preferred to have lost the bet though as it meant us qualifying instead.
Girl-on-Girl Action
Acevader (Kenny) has made some good posts recently on the topic of "Regular-on-Regular Action" [on the 2+2 forum.]
There are two extremes to this I think, with most of the regs falling towards the latter stages of this continuum.
You can constantly go to war with other regulars "playing poker" and make a profit across less than maximum tables.
Alternatively you can minimise your confrontations with the other regulars and concentrate more on the fish. This requires a lot less effort allowing you to play more tables (and probably for longer periods.)
Now obviously if you're able to exploit certain tendencies that other regs may have then it's foolish to not do so. However, I believe the biggest winners are those that don't go out of their way to attack the other regs- and instead focus more on the easy money that is out there.
My goal isn't to be the "best" player at these stakes per se. Rather it is to be the biggest winner.
I'm starting to analyse the game of other regulars more closely now. (As part of my recent analysis of other regulars' I've been prepared to sacrifice some short term profits by making some otherwise pretty poor light calls- and even making some poor unorthadox plays- just to get a showdown to see what they've been playing and to see how they react to those plays.)
I'm analysing their game not because I intend to initiate more fights with them at the tables, but because I don't want my game exploited. As someone who usually plays 15/16 tables now, you open yourself up a little because that many tables limits your focus on individual players- whereas an aggressive regular who only plays half as many tables naturally gives themselves an edge in those one-on-one battles. Albeit at the greater expense of them often failing to fully exploit the poorer players that are out there.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Revenge of the Nerds
Variance is probably every poker player's worst enemy.
Currently I'm on an awful run full of bad beats and coolers- but mainly bad beats. This in turn has led me to play less than well.
There are so many fucking terrible players at the tables. In fact, there are very few decent players. Of course, long-term this is what helps to pay my mortgage each month. However, during any bad run it's hard to think like that and to not get fucked off!
Thank you for listening! :)
David Brent Wannabe
I found this short 15-second clip on You Tube. It's a guy called Paul Smith from Safe Speed. Here is what wikipedia.org says of him:
Smith has also gained notoriety through a viral video on YouTube, in which he bears an uncanny soundalike resemblance to David Brent of The Office.
David Brent Wannabe
Variance is probably every poker player's worst enemy.
Currently I'm on an awful run full of bad beats and coolers- but mainly bad beats. This in turn has led me to play less than well.
There are so many fucking terrible players at the tables. In fact, there are very few decent players. Of course, long-term this is what helps to pay my mortgage each month. However, during any bad run it's hard to think like that and to not get fucked off!
Thank you for listening! :)
David Brent Wannabe
I found this short 15-second clip on You Tube. It's a guy called Paul Smith from Safe Speed. Here is what wikipedia.org says of him:
Smith has also gained notoriety through a viral video on YouTube, in which he bears an uncanny soundalike resemblance to David Brent of The Office.
David Brent Wannabe
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