5/22/2008 10:34 PM 489 $461.80
5/24/2008 12:25 AM 851 $528.25
5/24/2008 10:11 AM 1078 $433.15
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
A Concrete Attempt To Model
Let's put aside the theoretical worries about how hard it is to model from observables, and the problem of a moving model. Let's look at something really simple, and really concrete, but pretty fundamental to opponent modeling and see how our ideas thus far will carry us.
Let's try to model the Preflop-hand range of an opponents. What are the various things that would affect their hand range?
* Some concrete valuation system of what is playable and how hands should be ranked
* Amount of money already in pot (i.e. blinds, other callers, etc)
* Amount of money needed to be added to the pot (i.e. someone raised)
* Number of players involved
* Opponents view of players involved
* Position
So some of these things end up being tied or related, but let's not worry about that.
Which of these items are most relevant (empirically)? Which of these items should be most relevant (theoretically)? Which of these items are hardest to account for?
I think coming up with a model for the opponent's view of other players is really tough, and should be stricken from a first pass decision. So let's assume our opponents do not differentiate between agents at the table; they have a view of how other players are playing, and this is what ends up determining what the cutoff range for playable hands is -- but we are consciously approximating this by assertion of the cutoff range.
Though the amount of money already in the pot vs the amount of money needed to be added to the pot is probably what good players consider before action, this can be simplified into the questions:
* Is this an unraised pot?
* Is this a raised pot?
* Is this a reraised pot? (Perhaps this is a question we should ask in a more refined model)
* Am I in the small blind?
Given our simplified model, what are the observables that affect/determine this model?
Ooops, time for bed...
Let's try to model the Preflop-hand range of an opponents. What are the various things that would affect their hand range?
* Some concrete valuation system of what is playable and how hands should be ranked
* Amount of money already in pot (i.e. blinds, other callers, etc)
* Amount of money needed to be added to the pot (i.e. someone raised)
* Number of players involved
* Opponents view of players involved
* Position
So some of these things end up being tied or related, but let's not worry about that.
Which of these items are most relevant (empirically)? Which of these items should be most relevant (theoretically)? Which of these items are hardest to account for?
I think coming up with a model for the opponent's view of other players is really tough, and should be stricken from a first pass decision. So let's assume our opponents do not differentiate between agents at the table; they have a view of how other players are playing, and this is what ends up determining what the cutoff range for playable hands is -- but we are consciously approximating this by assertion of the cutoff range.
Though the amount of money already in the pot vs the amount of money needed to be added to the pot is probably what good players consider before action, this can be simplified into the questions:
* Is this an unraised pot?
* Is this a raised pot?
* Is this a reraised pot? (Perhaps this is a question we should ask in a more refined model)
* Am I in the small blind?
Given our simplified model, what are the observables that affect/determine this model?
Ooops, time for bed...
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Observables Indicating a Difficult Model
What's rather tricky about this whole problem is that every observable you are using is an output from a model. So even if you are privy to full information, know exactly which hands they have, these actions are but a single expression of how this model is behaving in a particular instance. This model's behavior may be very complex. It may include randomization. It's behavior undoubtedly depends on the opponents and context. This model can change. It may suddenly change as the person gets tired, angry or irrational. It can evolve, improve and learn from it's mistakes.
And as if that wasn't hard enough you don't even have the luxury of good, representative or holistic data at any given point in time.
This problem is starting to look really hard.
And yet I know this game isn't that hard, and that I do a pretty good job of figuring out how my opponents play. I can read my opponents; I can read their patterns and reverse engineer their psyche and have -- through thought and experience -- found those tell-tale signs that all players exhibit. The rhythms of failure, the sudden slips and tailspins into tilt or the gallops of great players finding their stride.
Is what I do hard? What is it my brain is finding when it sees these patterns? And how have I made money at poker in the past?
For one, though I paint a picture of a moving target, that target doesn't tend to be that hard or complex...
More thoughts later.
And as if that wasn't hard enough you don't even have the luxury of good, representative or holistic data at any given point in time.
This problem is starting to look really hard.
And yet I know this game isn't that hard, and that I do a pretty good job of figuring out how my opponents play. I can read my opponents; I can read their patterns and reverse engineer their psyche and have -- through thought and experience -- found those tell-tale signs that all players exhibit. The rhythms of failure, the sudden slips and tailspins into tilt or the gallops of great players finding their stride.
Is what I do hard? What is it my brain is finding when it sees these patterns? And how have I made money at poker in the past?
For one, though I paint a picture of a moving target, that target doesn't tend to be that hard or complex...
More thoughts later.
Modelling Player Behaviour
What should the model of your opponent begin with?
You can assume a model of the general type of player that you see at the stakes you are playing, but I don't think this is necessarily best. Proper play against any given type of 'average player' could expose serious flaws in your actions and cause you to pay a very high price if your model is wrong. If it takes you a long time to adjust, you've lost a lot of value already.
Instead, start with an assumed model such that your optimal play against that model is very difficult to exploit. Another way of thinking about this is to not really model your opponent, but just come up with a system of behavior that is hard to exploit given any opponent, though I think this is a bad way of thinking about things (even if it's the most natural, and how most people are taught how to play). I think coming up with a model of your opponents and phrasing your own behavior always with respect to that model is a better way of framing the problem. Note that I'm intentionally being ambiguous here -- I haven't said whether "a difficult to exploit" model is TAG/LAG/etc. I don't think I have an answer to that.
Another possibility is to come up with a model that elicits distinct behavior from your opponents; this facilitates information discovery. This is less about creating my action/decisions for you and more about inflicting this on your opponents (though the latter tends to breed the former).
What kind of information should influence your model?
Once you have a model, you begin shaping that model based on two very different types of information. Information aggregated over repeated actions that statistically suggest behavioral patterns and information that is simple and complete.
The first type of information can be watching a player raise every hand preflop for 10 hands in a row. This should statistically suggest this player is raising a wide range of hands, even if you have no showdowns to prove it. There is a high degree of uncertainty in this information.
The second type of information occurs when you do have a show down, and you are privy to all the information (well, sometimes just 'more').
In no limit hold'em the first scenario is far more common, and determining which model suggests the statistical pattern you are observing is very important. This is not an easy task though. What is preferable is to have access to the model, and generate the statistics based off a given model, but of course you can't do that. If you see a player with a VPIP of 23%, what does this mean? If they raise preflop 14% of the time, how do you come up with a good model of what their preflop raising hand range is? And though there is generally a tendency for players to raise/call via an ordered list of hands by strength, this does not have to be true. So clearly this type of information by itself is no good.
But discovering the underlying model is hard even when we build our models off these scenarios, since this information is so infrequent and biased (it will show more hands that make it to show down or end up all in, or where all players have completely missed, played passively and just checked it down -- usually out of the blinds). And how do we deal with intentional information, such as a player showing a hand when all other players have folded? Even without the bias, each way a hand is played has far more information than that particular hand -- it demonstrates behaviors that should be applicable to similar situations. Did the player raise a flush draw? Expect to see that again. Did a player check a huge hand on the river? Be careful of river check raises.
Sleep for now, but more thoughts coming...
You can assume a model of the general type of player that you see at the stakes you are playing, but I don't think this is necessarily best. Proper play against any given type of 'average player' could expose serious flaws in your actions and cause you to pay a very high price if your model is wrong. If it takes you a long time to adjust, you've lost a lot of value already.
Instead, start with an assumed model such that your optimal play against that model is very difficult to exploit. Another way of thinking about this is to not really model your opponent, but just come up with a system of behavior that is hard to exploit given any opponent, though I think this is a bad way of thinking about things (even if it's the most natural, and how most people are taught how to play). I think coming up with a model of your opponents and phrasing your own behavior always with respect to that model is a better way of framing the problem. Note that I'm intentionally being ambiguous here -- I haven't said whether "a difficult to exploit" model is TAG/LAG/etc. I don't think I have an answer to that.
Another possibility is to come up with a model that elicits distinct behavior from your opponents; this facilitates information discovery. This is less about creating my action/decisions for you and more about inflicting this on your opponents (though the latter tends to breed the former).
What kind of information should influence your model?
Once you have a model, you begin shaping that model based on two very different types of information. Information aggregated over repeated actions that statistically suggest behavioral patterns and information that is simple and complete.
The first type of information can be watching a player raise every hand preflop for 10 hands in a row. This should statistically suggest this player is raising a wide range of hands, even if you have no showdowns to prove it. There is a high degree of uncertainty in this information.
The second type of information occurs when you do have a show down, and you are privy to all the information (well, sometimes just 'more').
In no limit hold'em the first scenario is far more common, and determining which model suggests the statistical pattern you are observing is very important. This is not an easy task though. What is preferable is to have access to the model, and generate the statistics based off a given model, but of course you can't do that. If you see a player with a VPIP of 23%, what does this mean? If they raise preflop 14% of the time, how do you come up with a good model of what their preflop raising hand range is? And though there is generally a tendency for players to raise/call via an ordered list of hands by strength, this does not have to be true. So clearly this type of information by itself is no good.
But discovering the underlying model is hard even when we build our models off these scenarios, since this information is so infrequent and biased (it will show more hands that make it to show down or end up all in, or where all players have completely missed, played passively and just checked it down -- usually out of the blinds). And how do we deal with intentional information, such as a player showing a hand when all other players have folded? Even without the bias, each way a hand is played has far more information than that particular hand -- it demonstrates behaviors that should be applicable to similar situations. Did the player raise a flush draw? Expect to see that again. Did a player check a huge hand on the river? Be careful of river check raises.
Sleep for now, but more thoughts coming...
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Systematic Monkey Squashing
The reason I started this blog to begin with was to commit my thoughts to hard medium because that process helped me better understand, evaluate and improve my poker game. That's no long a useful thing for me to do.
For a variety of reasons, what's far more interesting to me now is systemizing the process of my developed strategy. After years of playing, talking, exercising and thinking about poker it's pretty easy to fall into a rhythm of using Poker-Speak to express a mixture of experience/feelings.
You see this if you read any poker forum -- even the good, helpful and serious ones. People use terms like LAG, min-raise, cold-call, over-call, squeeze play, second-hand-low, slow-play, block-bet, WA/WB. Each of these terms is part hard-definition and part connotation. I want to escape this. I want to unlearn these words, and come up with harder, numerical analysis of the experiences I'm drawing upon to make my decisions.
That's the new focus. It's time to be more systematic and analytical about our monkey squashing.
For a variety of reasons, what's far more interesting to me now is systemizing the process of my developed strategy. After years of playing, talking, exercising and thinking about poker it's pretty easy to fall into a rhythm of using Poker-Speak to express a mixture of experience/feelings.
You see this if you read any poker forum -- even the good, helpful and serious ones. People use terms like LAG, min-raise, cold-call, over-call, squeeze play, second-hand-low, slow-play, block-bet, WA/WB. Each of these terms is part hard-definition and part connotation. I want to escape this. I want to unlearn these words, and come up with harder, numerical analysis of the experiences I'm drawing upon to make my decisions.
That's the new focus. It's time to be more systematic and analytical about our monkey squashing.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Time to get good again
-30k bender culminating with me getting roasted on the 10/25 table at the Borgata. The downswing is not a variance issue; I'm playing poorly at the moment. Going back down stakes, and I mean all the way down, to re-establish my game.
Playing 2/4 and disciplining myself. I've made back around 3 or 4k today at NL400. Going to stay here till I make back the 30k I lost.
Playing 2/4 and disciplining myself. I've made back around 3 or 4k today at NL400. Going to stay here till I make back the 30k I lost.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Running Awesome
This is what happens when you have good table selection:
3 handed PL with an absolutely terrible BB. I limp with 55 on the button (4.6k behind), SB completes (700 behind) BB checks (2k behind). Flop is Jh Th 5s. SB minbets 20$, BB makes it 70$, I pot to 289$, SB folds, BB repots to 538$, I repot to 1614$, BB goes all in for the remaining 77$. He flips over 2h 6h. No hearts come.
At another table, BB has been giving lots of action, is very easy to read and puts too many chips into the centre with one-pair type hands. I limp Jh Th UTG. Button limps, SB folds, BB raises to 80$. All players cover me and I have 2k. I call, button calls. Flop Js Tc 2c. BB leads for 300$, I raise to 1000$. Button folds BB thinks for about 5 seconds then calls. His OOP preflop raise and flop bet mean he should have an overpair. I don't think he calls with AK; if he has JJ I'm toast. Turn is 8s. BB checks and I shove my remaining 952$ into the center BB calls with QQ and does not counterfeit me on the river.
On yet another table, BB has been totally run over by another player and is visibly upset. I raise Ac Tc UTG+1 and all fold to the BB who calls. I have 2.2k; he covers. Flop comes Qh 8c 2c and BB checks. I bet 90 he calls. Turn is the 4c and he quickly bets 250, I promptly make it 600. I don't actually think he has a hand, but am hoping to get reraised. I believe I am actually representing something like a pair with the Ac. He calls. River is the 8h and he moves all in. I call. 99 no good.
This is what happens when you are skilled at hitting two outters in pots you've managed to 3-bet out of position.
Folded to me in the SB and I raise with jacks to 70. I have 3k and BB covers -- he calls. Flop Ah 2h 9c. I lead 120$ and sb minraises. SB has been floating and moving on me a lot so I decide to test my theory and make it 500$. What I hate about this play is that when I'm wrong I'm drawing to two outs and I've made the pot disgustingly large while out of position. I really need BB to fold a lot here for this to be a good play. He doesn't. SB calls and I know the worst he can have here is Kh 9h, but more likely its A9, 99, 22 or AA. I think he calls with all those ranges of hands; A9 he probably pushes. Turn is Jd. I lead 1000 and BB instantly pushes; I likewise instantly call. JJ > 22.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Confidence is key.
I've been eight tabling NL600 up until recently. Danny started playing NL600 6-max, saying he was going to play 200k hands at this level before moving up. I decided to join him so we could learn from stuff together. The kid's good at poker and I think he has ideas that could help my game. I also think I have some things I could teach him (I've had a ton of experience at NL600 6-max). I feel like my game's gotten a little stagnant from not having someone to actively discuss ideas and review play.
This has been going pretty good, and I'd been playing on auto pilot for maybe 3000 or 4000 hands holding at about 5PTBB/100. I get in about 500 hands an hour eight tabling.
Anyways, after a brief lag required to get used to playing so many tables again, I'd developed an easy foolproof no-thinking way of playing. It's not very creative, but it's winning at NL600 and it's easy to do. But it's really really boring. I force my opponents to respond to me so I'm sacrificing some value in making my decisions easier. And intellectually, there's not a whole lot of substance.
So I moved up stakes and was eight tabling NL1000. This is a little scary -- I don't recall ever really doing this (I'd 4 tabled before, not 8). But after another cautious step I got into the groove. Played reasonable, had one or two bluffs that turned out badly. More on bad bluffs and feeling shitty about bad bluffs in a subsequent post.
Brag time!
Today's tables were insanely aggressive. Helps in these scenarios to have Good Hands:
***** Hand History for Game 3875619205 *****
$1000 NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, April 02, 21:37:43 ET 2006
Table Constantia (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: ex_Noose ( $1802.52 )
Seat 2: RiverBt ( $2811.52 )
Seat 3: BooostedJ ( $1305.50 )
Seat 4: wolfdog2121 ( $1783.55 )
Seat 6: parangsae ( $266 )
Seat 5: me ( $1072 )
ex_Noose posts small blind [$5].
RiverBt posts big blind [$10].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ Qh Qc ]
BooostedJ raises [$35].
wolfdog2121 folds.
me raises [$125].
parangsae folds.
ex_Noose folds.
RiverBt calls [$115].
BooostedJ calls [$90].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Js, Jh, Qs ]
RiverBt bets [$150].
BooostedJ calls [$150].
me calls [$150].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
RiverBt bets [$500].
BooostedJ is all-In [$1030.50]
me is all-In [$797]
RiverBt folds.
** Dealing River ** [ 4c ]
BooostedJ shows [ Ac, Jc ] three of a kind, jacks.
me shows [ Qh, Qc ] a full house, Queens full of jacks.
BooostedJ wins $233.50 from side pot #1 with three of a kind, jacks.
me wins $2921 from the main pot with a full house, Queens full of jacks.
It took every nerve in my body not to raise that flop. I was terrified of an Ace or King or Ten of spades coming down and already scared of quad jacks. But the river made me feel good, and I chuckled when I saw AJc.
I couldn't play more than 500 hands this session. The aggressiveness of the tables makes thinking hard. Lots of tough decisions. Getting reraised and having to bluff and stuff. Stressful :(
But hey, +$4.4k day and I even got to go to the Russian/Turkish Bathhouse in New York AND eat Chipotles. Chipotles!. It was sunny, I had BBQ Ribs for lunch. Damn it was a good day. Too bad freaking Daylight savings robbed me of an hour of this awesome day.
This has been going pretty good, and I'd been playing on auto pilot for maybe 3000 or 4000 hands holding at about 5PTBB/100. I get in about 500 hands an hour eight tabling.
Anyways, after a brief lag required to get used to playing so many tables again, I'd developed an easy foolproof no-thinking way of playing. It's not very creative, but it's winning at NL600 and it's easy to do. But it's really really boring. I force my opponents to respond to me so I'm sacrificing some value in making my decisions easier. And intellectually, there's not a whole lot of substance.
So I moved up stakes and was eight tabling NL1000. This is a little scary -- I don't recall ever really doing this (I'd 4 tabled before, not 8). But after another cautious step I got into the groove. Played reasonable, had one or two bluffs that turned out badly. More on bad bluffs and feeling shitty about bad bluffs in a subsequent post.
Brag time!
Today's tables were insanely aggressive. Helps in these scenarios to have Good Hands:
***** Hand History for Game 3875619205 *****
$1000 NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, April 02, 21:37:43 ET 2006
Table Constantia (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: ex_Noose ( $1802.52 )
Seat 2: RiverBt ( $2811.52 )
Seat 3: BooostedJ ( $1305.50 )
Seat 4: wolfdog2121 ( $1783.55 )
Seat 6: parangsae ( $266 )
Seat 5: me ( $1072 )
ex_Noose posts small blind [$5].
RiverBt posts big blind [$10].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ Qh Qc ]
BooostedJ raises [$35].
wolfdog2121 folds.
me raises [$125].
parangsae folds.
ex_Noose folds.
RiverBt calls [$115].
BooostedJ calls [$90].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Js, Jh, Qs ]
RiverBt bets [$150].
BooostedJ calls [$150].
me calls [$150].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
RiverBt bets [$500].
BooostedJ is all-In [$1030.50]
me is all-In [$797]
RiverBt folds.
** Dealing River ** [ 4c ]
BooostedJ shows [ Ac, Jc ] three of a kind, jacks.
me shows [ Qh, Qc ] a full house, Queens full of jacks.
BooostedJ wins $233.50 from side pot #1 with three of a kind, jacks.
me wins $2921 from the main pot with a full house, Queens full of jacks.
It took every nerve in my body not to raise that flop. I was terrified of an Ace or King or Ten of spades coming down and already scared of quad jacks. But the river made me feel good, and I chuckled when I saw AJc.
I couldn't play more than 500 hands this session. The aggressiveness of the tables makes thinking hard. Lots of tough decisions. Getting reraised and having to bluff and stuff. Stressful :(
But hey, +$4.4k day and I even got to go to the Russian/Turkish Bathhouse in New York AND eat Chipotles. Chipotles!. It was sunny, I had BBQ Ribs for lunch. Damn it was a good day. Too bad freaking Daylight savings robbed me of an hour of this awesome day.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Two hands
The first hand is hilarious:
***** Hand History for Game 3866682907 *****
$600 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, April 01, 14:57:58 ET 2006
Table Table 95415 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 2: tundra88 ( $136.14 )
Seat 4: skunkmasterc ( $1200.90 )
Seat 6: Tommys_Angel ( $925.80 )
Seat 5: me ( $521.85 )
Seat 3: Brucelee49 ( $133.06 )
tundra88 posts small blind [$3].
Brucelee49 posts big blind [$6].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ Kd Qh ]
skunkmasterc calls [$6].
me raises [$25].
Tommys_Angel folds.
tundra88 calls [$22].
Brucelee49 calls [$19].
skunkmasterc folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4h, Ac, Jh ]
tundra88 checks.
Brucelee49 checks.
me checks.
** Dealing Turn ** [ Tc ]
tundra88 checks.
Brucelee49 checks.
me bets [$25].
tundra88 is all-In [$111.14]
Brucelee49 is all-In [$108.06]
me calls [$86.14].
** Dealing River ** [ 2s ]
me shows [ Kd, Qh ] a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 shows [ Kh, Qc ] a straight, ten to ace.
Brucelee49 shows [ Qd, Ks ] a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 wins $3.08 from side pot #1 with a straight, ten to ace.
me wins $3.08 from side pot #1 with a straight, ten to ace.
Brucelee49 wins $134.39 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 wins $134.40 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
me wins $134.39 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
me: LOL
me: HOLY LOLMOBILE
The following is only noteworthy because ...
***** Hand History for Game 3866818546 *****
$600 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, April 01, 15:23:17 ET 2006
Table Reel Quiet (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: jamalt111 ( $624.50 )
Seat 5: Iwindk ( $609 )
Seat 6: liboypoker ( $1377.56 )
Seat 2: me ( $576 )
Seat 3: larf22 ( $517.55 )
larf22 posts small blind [$3].
Iwindk posts big blind [$6].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ 3h 3s ]
liboypoker calls [$6].
jamalt111 raises [$27].
me calls [$27].
larf22 folds.
Iwindk folds.
liboypoker calls [$21].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5c, 3d, 9d ]
liboypoker checks.
jamalt111 bets [$88].
me raises [$200].
liboypoker folds.
jamalt111 calls [$112].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 5s ]
jamalt111 is all-In [$397.50]
me is all-In [$349]
** Dealing River ** [ 7s ]
jamalt111 shows [ 7h, 7d ] a full house, Sevens full of fives.
me doesn't show [ 3h, 3s ] a full house, Threes full of fives.
jamalt111 wins $48.50 from side pot #1 with a full house, Sevens full of fives.
jamalt111 wins $1186 from the main pot with a full house, Sevens full of fives.
>You have options at Wild Thing (No DP) Table!.
liboypoker has left the table.
.. the immediate hand after I rebought and cold pushed AK preflop and got called by AA. I then had to stop playing.
***** Hand History for Game 3866682907 *****
$600 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, April 01, 14:57:58 ET 2006
Table Table 95415 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 2: tundra88 ( $136.14 )
Seat 4: skunkmasterc ( $1200.90 )
Seat 6: Tommys_Angel ( $925.80 )
Seat 5: me ( $521.85 )
Seat 3: Brucelee49 ( $133.06 )
tundra88 posts small blind [$3].
Brucelee49 posts big blind [$6].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ Kd Qh ]
skunkmasterc calls [$6].
me raises [$25].
Tommys_Angel folds.
tundra88 calls [$22].
Brucelee49 calls [$19].
skunkmasterc folds.
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4h, Ac, Jh ]
tundra88 checks.
Brucelee49 checks.
me checks.
** Dealing Turn ** [ Tc ]
tundra88 checks.
Brucelee49 checks.
me bets [$25].
tundra88 is all-In [$111.14]
Brucelee49 is all-In [$108.06]
me calls [$86.14].
** Dealing River ** [ 2s ]
me shows [ Kd, Qh ] a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 shows [ Kh, Qc ] a straight, ten to ace.
Brucelee49 shows [ Qd, Ks ] a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 wins $3.08 from side pot #1 with a straight, ten to ace.
me wins $3.08 from side pot #1 with a straight, ten to ace.
Brucelee49 wins $134.39 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
tundra88 wins $134.40 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
me wins $134.39 from the main pot with a straight, ten to ace.
me: LOL
me: HOLY LOLMOBILE
The following is only noteworthy because ...
***** Hand History for Game 3866818546 *****
$600 NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, April 01, 15:23:17 ET 2006
Table Reel Quiet (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: jamalt111 ( $624.50 )
Seat 5: Iwindk ( $609 )
Seat 6: liboypoker ( $1377.56 )
Seat 2: me ( $576 )
Seat 3: larf22 ( $517.55 )
larf22 posts small blind [$3].
Iwindk posts big blind [$6].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to me [ 3h 3s ]
liboypoker calls [$6].
jamalt111 raises [$27].
me calls [$27].
larf22 folds.
Iwindk folds.
liboypoker calls [$21].
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5c, 3d, 9d ]
liboypoker checks.
jamalt111 bets [$88].
me raises [$200].
liboypoker folds.
jamalt111 calls [$112].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 5s ]
jamalt111 is all-In [$397.50]
me is all-In [$349]
** Dealing River ** [ 7s ]
jamalt111 shows [ 7h, 7d ] a full house, Sevens full of fives.
me doesn't show [ 3h, 3s ] a full house, Threes full of fives.
jamalt111 wins $48.50 from side pot #1 with a full house, Sevens full of fives.
jamalt111 wins $1186 from the main pot with a full house, Sevens full of fives.
>You have options at Wild Thing (No DP) Table!.
liboypoker has left the table.
.. the immediate hand after I rebought and cold pushed AK preflop and got called by AA. I then had to stop playing.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
New Ideas
Poker's interesting again. I've been playing a fair bit. Got back into it because I was working with Ian and Seth to win a Party Poker Million V package by playing a ton of Sit and Goes (10 tables of 215 for 8 hour shifts). When we won the package -- this was the three days after Christmas -- I stopped almost immediately, and didn't play for a few months.
Then I started playing no limit a few weeks before the actual cruise, and got into 5/10 NL and 10/20 NL short. Did well, did well on the cruise, now I'm working my fingers back into Heads up tournaments on stars.
I started playing again -- not in preparation for the cruise -- but because I'd come across a few new interesting ideas. I'd been continuing to peruse 2+2 and most of the things on there had been crap for months. Then I read a really good post -- it was so simple and brilliant it jolted me back into playing, and playing well. It was so good I'm almost afraid to post it.
Anyways, I feel like I'm needing to post again -- not because I want to write about hands -- but because I need a place to vent the meta meta aspects of the game. I need cathartic release.
Then I started playing no limit a few weeks before the actual cruise, and got into 5/10 NL and 10/20 NL short. Did well, did well on the cruise, now I'm working my fingers back into Heads up tournaments on stars.
I started playing again -- not in preparation for the cruise -- but because I'd come across a few new interesting ideas. I'd been continuing to peruse 2+2 and most of the things on there had been crap for months. Then I read a really good post -- it was so simple and brilliant it jolted me back into playing, and playing well. It was so good I'm almost afraid to post it.
Anyways, I feel like I'm needing to post again -- not because I want to write about hands -- but because I need a place to vent the meta meta aspects of the game. I need cathartic release.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
A whole new world...
BR: $XX,XXX.XX
I stopped posting for a while, because I realized I didn't have any real insights after a while. Have to work at my job now too, so poker has taken a backseat for some time.
After a two month hiatus, I'm playing 109 SNGs and NL400. I'm not sure its healthy to think in terms of a bankroll anymore, so that's not going up.
I stopped posting for a while, because I realized I didn't have any real insights after a while. Have to work at my job now too, so poker has taken a backseat for some time.
After a two month hiatus, I'm playing 109 SNGs and NL400. I'm not sure its healthy to think in terms of a bankroll anymore, so that's not going up.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Prime fishing season begins!
BR: $50,081
It is absolutely unbelievable the drop in calibre of play beginning 5pm EST on Friday afternoons. I think you can make as much money between Friday afternoon and Sunday night at poker, as the rest of the days of the week combined.
On I side note, I danced for about 3 minutes when I broke 50k. Then I ate some pizza, and watched girls dance atop the Coyote Ugly bar. Fun!
It is absolutely unbelievable the drop in calibre of play beginning 5pm EST on Friday afternoons. I think you can make as much money between Friday afternoon and Sunday night at poker, as the rest of the days of the week combined.
On I side note, I danced for about 3 minutes when I broke 50k. Then I ate some pizza, and watched girls dance atop the Coyote Ugly bar. Fun!
Friday, August 05, 2005
Don't hate on runner-runner
BR: $48,691
I was all-in simultaneously at four different NL $1k tables, and lost all of them. Some bad beats, some bad bluffs, some tough situations. But dropping 3.3k in 5 seconds is gut wrenching. So I decided to cheer myself up!
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (5 handed) converter
SB ($4525)
BB ($1896)
Hero ($2218)
MP ($851)
Button ($2253)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qd, Ac. SB posts a blind of $10.
Hero raises to $70, 1 fold, Button calls $70, 1 fold, BB raises to $195, Hero calls $145, Button calls $145.
Flop: ($655) Td, 9d, Jc (3 players)
BB bets $375, Hero raises to $2003 (All-in), Button folds, BB calls $1306 (All-in).
Turn: ($4337) 4d (2 players)
River: ($4337) Jd (2 players)
Final Pot: $4337
BB has Qh Ah (one pair, jacks).
Hero has Qd Ac (flush, queen high).
Outcome: Hero wins $4337.
Yayyyy!! That was the fun!! Again! Again!
I was all-in simultaneously at four different NL $1k tables, and lost all of them. Some bad beats, some bad bluffs, some tough situations. But dropping 3.3k in 5 seconds is gut wrenching. So I decided to cheer myself up!
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (5 handed) converter
SB ($4525)
BB ($1896)
Hero ($2218)
MP ($851)
Button ($2253)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qd, Ac. SB posts a blind of $10.
Hero raises to $70, 1 fold, Button calls $70, 1 fold, BB raises to $195, Hero calls $145, Button calls $145.
Flop: ($655) Td, 9d, Jc (3 players)
BB bets $375, Hero raises to $2003 (All-in), Button folds, BB calls $1306 (All-in).
Turn: ($4337) 4d (2 players)
River: ($4337) Jd (2 players)
Final Pot: $4337
BB has Qh Ah (one pair, jacks).
Hero has Qd Ac (flush, queen high).
Outcome: Hero wins $4337.
Yayyyy!! That was the fun!! Again! Again!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Ignoring the blocking bet
BR: $49,421
I'm still prepondering this following hand.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
SB ($887.25)
BB ($449.25)
UTG ($1004.90)
MP ($612)
Hero ($739)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Ks. SB posts a blind of $3.
2 folds, Hero raises to $21, 1 fold, BB calls $15.
Flop: ($45) 4h, Ac, 4d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $43, BB calls $43.
Turn: ($131) 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $129, BB calls $129.
River: ($389) 7c (2 players)
BB bets $100, Hero calls $100.
Final Pot: $589
BB has Th Ah (two pair, aces and fours).
Hero has Ad Ks (two pair, aces and fours).
Outcome: Hero wins $589.
Did I misplay this river? Was I supposed to push? Let's do some simple math given my analysis of my opponent, who I saw as fairly weak. I think I'm against a dominated ace 75% of the time -- and 50% of the time (not of this 75%, but total) they will be calling this push. There's a 5% chance this is a bluff that won't call a push. And 20% of the time I'm behind to a set, two pair, flush. He has $156.3 behind.
EV of a call: +489.0*0.8 -100*0.2 = +$371.2
EV of a push: +645.3*0.5 +489.0*0.30 -256.3*0.20 = +$418.1
Hmmm. Interesting. On a side note I was goofing off at NL $400, and managed to make two basic blunders; SNAFUs I haven't made since I was playing NL $100. Yuck! Maybe it's time to take a day's break.
I'm still prepondering this following hand.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
SB ($887.25)
BB ($449.25)
UTG ($1004.90)
MP ($612)
Hero ($739)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Ks. SB posts a blind of $3.
2 folds, Hero raises to $21, 1 fold, BB calls $15.
Flop: ($45) 4h, Ac, 4d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $43, BB calls $43.
Turn: ($131) 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $129, BB calls $129.
River: ($389) 7c (2 players)
BB bets $100, Hero calls $100.
Final Pot: $589
BB has Th Ah (two pair, aces and fours).
Hero has Ad Ks (two pair, aces and fours).
Outcome: Hero wins $589.
Did I misplay this river? Was I supposed to push? Let's do some simple math given my analysis of my opponent, who I saw as fairly weak. I think I'm against a dominated ace 75% of the time -- and 50% of the time (not of this 75%, but total) they will be calling this push. There's a 5% chance this is a bluff that won't call a push. And 20% of the time I'm behind to a set, two pair, flush. He has $156.3 behind.
EV of a call: +489.0*0.8 -100*0.2 = +$371.2
EV of a push: +645.3*0.5 +489.0*0.30 -256.3*0.20 = +$418.1
Hmmm. Interesting. On a side note I was goofing off at NL $400, and managed to make two basic blunders; SNAFUs I haven't made since I was playing NL $100. Yuck! Maybe it's time to take a day's break.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Still on the road
BR: $49,425
It's been difficult to play poker -- for about a week since leaving LA I was on the road and without any games, and even in Austin now the wireless is flaky. Had a pretty good sessions today. Entertaining too :) Now, for a little bit of silliness. The events that follow are real; the names of the involved have been replaced with pseudonyms to protect their identities. These hands happened almost completely in succession.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($769)
Innocent Bystander ($307)
IGotHammered ($1211.02)
ILikeToWhine ($586.30)
Innocent Bystander ($488.20)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 7c, 7h. Hero posts a blind of $3.
IGotHammered calls $6, 2 folds, Hero (poster) completes, Innocent Bystander checks.
Flop: ($18) Td, 3c, 4s (3 players)
Hero checks, Innocent Bystander checks, IGotHammered checks.
Turn: ($18) 7d (3 players)
Hero bets $766 (All-in), Innocent Bystander folds, IGotHammered folds.
Final Pot: $784
No showdown. Hero wins $784.
hero: lol didn't meant to bet that
railbird: you must be a pro
hero: i thought this was pot limit
hero: who the ef r u
railbird: you're lucky this table is full
hero: look i made a mouse slip
hero: what is ur freaking problem
hero: I'D TAKE U TO SCHOOL PUNK
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($768.10)
Innocent Bystander ($393.80)
IGotHammered ($1180.77)
Innocent Bystander($659.30)
ILikeToWhine ($660.37)
Innocent Bystander ($362.20)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with 4d, 6d. ILikeToWhine posts a blind of $3.
Hero raises to $15, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $15, 1 fold, ILikeToWhine (poster) calls $12, Innocent Bystander calls $9.
Flop: ($60) 3d, 9d, 6s (4 players)
ILikeToWhine checks, Innocent Bystander checks, Hero bets $50, IGotHammered calls $50, ILikeToWhine folds, Innocent Bystander folds.
Turn: ($160) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, IGotHammered bets $50, Hero calls $50.
River: ($260) 7d (2 players)
Hero bets $225, IGotHammered calls $225.
Final Pot: $710
Hero has 4d 6d (flush, nine high).
IGotHammered has 5s 7s (straight, nine high).
Outcome: Hero wins $710.
hero: i dun dropped the hamma
ILikeToWhine: u did not drop anything you got lucky with crap,,,,hardly dropping the hammer
hero: whachutalking bout IGotHammered
hero: my hand was awesome
IGotHammered: i wasn't even talking
IGotHammered: you can't play, and you can't read j/k
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($1130.10)
BB ($451.80)
IGotHammered ($834.77)
ILikeToWhine ($653.30)
Innocent Bystander ($645.37)
Innocent Bystander ($307.20)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qh, Qd. Hero posts a blind of $3.
IGotHammered calls $6, ILikeToWhine calls $6, 1 fold, Innocent Bystander calls $6, Hero (poster) raises to $39, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $36, ILikeToWhine folds, Innocent Bystander folds.
Flop: ($102) 5c, 3s, 7s (2 players)
Hero bets $125, IGotHammered calls $125.
Turn: ($352) Qc (2 players)
The play is interrupted by bursts of comments from the players
ILikeToWhine: no 4!
I decide its hamma time
Hero bets $766 (All-in),
The play is interrupted by more outbursts
Innocent Bystander: man..o man
IGotHammered folds.
Final Pot: $1118
No showdown. Hero wins $1118.
hero: THA HAMMA
hero: sorry its hard to see
hero: who is talking
hero: when i am multitabling
hero: too busy dropping hammas
hero: my apologies IGotHammered
hero: imma haf to bust ILikeToWhine
hero: to make up for my errs
IGotHammered: keep talking
IGotHammered: hopefully that hamma of your's won't back fire
ILikeToWhine: Your so cool. Bittchh
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($1313.10)
Innocent Bystander ($439.80)
IGotHammered ($667.77)
ILikeToWhine ($641.30)
Innocent Bystander ($312.30)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with As, Td. ILikeToWhine posts a blind of $3.
Hero raises to $12, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $12, 1 fold, Innocent Bystander calls $6.
Flop: ($39) Ks, 2s, 8s (3 players)
Innocent Bystander checks, Hero bets $15, IGotHammered calls $15, Innocent Bystander calls $15.
Turn: ($84) 9c (3 players)
Innocent Bystander checks, Hero checks, IGotHammered bets $640.77 (All-in), Innocent Bystander folds, Hero folds.
Final Pot: $724.77
No showdown. IGotHammered wins $724.77.
hero: omg tha hamma!!!
Innocent Bystander: what is up with u and the hamma
hero: its when u drop hammers
Innocent Bystander: no shi t
IGotHammered: prob got it off some wrestler
hero: sorry the ghetto talk means its hamma
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($1286.10)
Innocent Bystander (????) ($439.80)
IGotHammered ($722.77)
ILikeToWhine ($638.30)
InnocentBystander ($645.37)
InnocentBystander ($285.30)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 6d, 4h. InnocentBystander posts a blind of $3.
Innocent Bystander (????) calls $6, IGotHammered calls $6, 1 fold, InnocentBystander (poster) raises to $27, 2 folds, Innocent Bystander (????) raises $433.80 (All-in), InnocentBystander folds.
Final Pot: $481.8
No showdown. Innocent Bystander (????) wins $481.8.
fouryearold: OMG HAMMA
fouryearold: lawl this is awesome
It's been difficult to play poker -- for about a week since leaving LA I was on the road and without any games, and even in Austin now the wireless is flaky. Had a pretty good sessions today. Entertaining too :) Now, for a little bit of silliness. The events that follow are real; the names of the involved have been replaced with pseudonyms to protect their identities. These hands happened almost completely in succession.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($769)
Innocent Bystander ($307)
IGotHammered ($1211.02)
ILikeToWhine ($586.30)
Innocent Bystander ($488.20)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 7c, 7h. Hero posts a blind of $3.
IGotHammered calls $6, 2 folds, Hero (poster) completes, Innocent Bystander checks.
Flop: ($18) Td, 3c, 4s (3 players)
Hero checks, Innocent Bystander checks, IGotHammered checks.
Turn: ($18) 7d (3 players)
Hero bets $766 (All-in), Innocent Bystander folds, IGotHammered folds.
Final Pot: $784
No showdown. Hero wins $784.
hero: lol didn't meant to bet that
railbird: you must be a pro
hero: i thought this was pot limit
hero: who the ef r u
railbird: you're lucky this table is full
hero: look i made a mouse slip
hero: what is ur freaking problem
hero: I'D TAKE U TO SCHOOL PUNK
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($768.10)
Innocent Bystander ($393.80)
IGotHammered ($1180.77)
Innocent Bystander($659.30)
ILikeToWhine ($660.37)
Innocent Bystander ($362.20)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with 4d, 6d. ILikeToWhine posts a blind of $3.
Hero raises to $15, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $15, 1 fold, ILikeToWhine (poster) calls $12, Innocent Bystander calls $9.
Flop: ($60) 3d, 9d, 6s (4 players)
ILikeToWhine checks, Innocent Bystander checks, Hero bets $50, IGotHammered calls $50, ILikeToWhine folds, Innocent Bystander folds.
Turn: ($160) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, IGotHammered bets $50, Hero calls $50.
River: ($260) 7d (2 players)
Hero bets $225, IGotHammered calls $225.
Final Pot: $710
Hero has 4d 6d (flush, nine high).
IGotHammered has 5s 7s (straight, nine high).
Outcome: Hero wins $710.
hero: i dun dropped the hamma
ILikeToWhine: u did not drop anything you got lucky with crap,,,,hardly dropping the hammer
hero: whachutalking bout IGotHammered
hero: my hand was awesome
IGotHammered: i wasn't even talking
IGotHammered: you can't play, and you can't read j/k
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($1130.10)
BB ($451.80)
IGotHammered ($834.77)
ILikeToWhine ($653.30)
Innocent Bystander ($645.37)
Innocent Bystander ($307.20)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qh, Qd. Hero posts a blind of $3.
IGotHammered calls $6, ILikeToWhine calls $6, 1 fold, Innocent Bystander calls $6, Hero (poster) raises to $39, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $36, ILikeToWhine folds, Innocent Bystander folds.
Flop: ($102) 5c, 3s, 7s (2 players)
Hero bets $125, IGotHammered calls $125.
Turn: ($352) Qc (2 players)
The play is interrupted by bursts of comments from the players
ILikeToWhine: no 4!
I decide its hamma time
Hero bets $766 (All-in),
The play is interrupted by more outbursts
Innocent Bystander: man..o man
IGotHammered folds.
Final Pot: $1118
No showdown. Hero wins $1118.
hero: THA HAMMA
hero: sorry its hard to see
hero: who is talking
hero: when i am multitabling
hero: too busy dropping hammas
hero: my apologies IGotHammered
hero: imma haf to bust ILikeToWhine
hero: to make up for my errs
IGotHammered: keep talking
IGotHammered: hopefully that hamma of your's won't back fire
ILikeToWhine: Your so cool. Bittchh
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($1313.10)
Innocent Bystander ($439.80)
IGotHammered ($667.77)
ILikeToWhine ($641.30)
Innocent Bystander ($312.30)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with As, Td. ILikeToWhine posts a blind of $3.
Hero raises to $12, 1 fold, IGotHammered calls $12, 1 fold, Innocent Bystander calls $6.
Flop: ($39) Ks, 2s, 8s (3 players)
Innocent Bystander checks, Hero bets $15, IGotHammered calls $15, Innocent Bystander calls $15.
Turn: ($84) 9c (3 players)
Innocent Bystander checks, Hero checks, IGotHammered bets $640.77 (All-in), Innocent Bystander folds, Hero folds.
Final Pot: $724.77
No showdown. IGotHammered wins $724.77.
hero: omg tha hamma!!!
Innocent Bystander: what is up with u and the hamma
hero: its when u drop hammers
Innocent Bystander: no shi t
IGotHammered: prob got it off some wrestler
hero: sorry the ghetto talk means its hamma
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Hero ($1286.10)
Innocent Bystander (????) ($439.80)
IGotHammered ($722.77)
ILikeToWhine ($638.30)
InnocentBystander ($645.37)
InnocentBystander ($285.30)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 6d, 4h. InnocentBystander posts a blind of $3.
Innocent Bystander (????) calls $6, IGotHammered calls $6, 1 fold, InnocentBystander (poster) raises to $27, 2 folds, Innocent Bystander (????) raises $433.80 (All-in), InnocentBystander folds.
Final Pot: $481.8
No showdown. Innocent Bystander (????) wins $481.8.
fouryearold: OMG HAMMA
fouryearold: lawl this is awesome
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Playing Low
BR: $45,453
Despite the apparent continued financial success since my last post, things have been very bumpy over the last few days. I dropped a few stacks to fall way down to 41k.
I spent all day travelling Thursday to get down to LA, but on Friday I managed to pick it all back up and more, to reach almost 44k. Later that night I took a spill, dropped a grand ... and then another stack at the 600's to fall to the mid 42's.
Began Saturday by tanking another stack, and becoming a little frustrated, I decided to play a slew of Tournaments for a change of pace. Did not do very well, but entered a Step 4 500$ and placed to qualify for a Step 5 1000$. After getting back from dinner, almost ready to pass out, I decide to play the Step 5.
I end up folding for several levels. The one hand I decide to play I manage to get disconnected from. Uncool. I fall to a 650 chip count at 6 handed with 50/100 blinds. With QQ in the small blind, I call a short stack's push from under the gun -- surprisingly BB smooth calls. But with a 1200 chip pot and only 300 behind, I shove the rest in on the J83 flop, and BB calls quickly with 99. The turn and river turn out to be favorable, and I almost triple up. With a few steals (both times with AT) I survive into the money. I then proceed to bad beat QQ with A-something to make it 3 handed holding 5000 chips, leaving both my opponents with 2500 chips each.
Shortly in, button pushes, SB calls and I sit with ATo in the BB contemplating. Personally I think it's close and want to call, but taking the advice of someone who is both an old friend and great teacher, I fold. 99 survives a race with KQ and we go heads up. A few all in battles later, I survive to clinch a 4.5k purse.
So why the lengthy detail? I'm trying to engrain into my own mind this tumultuous time so that I remember the truth of the matter -- poker is bumpy. Variance baby. When you are on a run, it's easy to believe that that's the way it goes forever. But no matter how great you are or how bad your opponents play, variations are a necessary part of the game. When I sit down and clean up for a 2k take on the day, sometimes I believe I can do that whenever I want through sheer force of will. Now thinking with that confidence is psychosomatic and makes you a better player, but to be realistic one needs to understand that that simply isn't true. I humbly accept that winning that tournament required some measure of "luck".
It's not as if I haven't known this much for a while. But this is a lesson that is learnt further and further in gradations, to deeper levels, and impressed upon me during shakey rides like the one I've taken over the last 3 days. As I look over my posts there are moments when I seem to hover at certain levels, and I racked it up to bad play. And I tried to learn from those mistakes. That's certainly a good perspective, since its a way of forcing oneself to learn. However, I don't feel that my play over the last 3 days has ever really been at fault. It was just the nature of the cards. I didn't play perfectly, and there were lessons to be learnt, but sometimes that's just how the cards came.
So, kids, today's lesson is: sometimes that's just how the cards come.
Despite the apparent continued financial success since my last post, things have been very bumpy over the last few days. I dropped a few stacks to fall way down to 41k.
I spent all day travelling Thursday to get down to LA, but on Friday I managed to pick it all back up and more, to reach almost 44k. Later that night I took a spill, dropped a grand ... and then another stack at the 600's to fall to the mid 42's.
Began Saturday by tanking another stack, and becoming a little frustrated, I decided to play a slew of Tournaments for a change of pace. Did not do very well, but entered a Step 4 500$ and placed to qualify for a Step 5 1000$. After getting back from dinner, almost ready to pass out, I decide to play the Step 5.
I end up folding for several levels. The one hand I decide to play I manage to get disconnected from. Uncool. I fall to a 650 chip count at 6 handed with 50/100 blinds. With QQ in the small blind, I call a short stack's push from under the gun -- surprisingly BB smooth calls. But with a 1200 chip pot and only 300 behind, I shove the rest in on the J83 flop, and BB calls quickly with 99. The turn and river turn out to be favorable, and I almost triple up. With a few steals (both times with AT) I survive into the money. I then proceed to bad beat QQ with A-something to make it 3 handed holding 5000 chips, leaving both my opponents with 2500 chips each.
Shortly in, button pushes, SB calls and I sit with ATo in the BB contemplating. Personally I think it's close and want to call, but taking the advice of someone who is both an old friend and great teacher, I fold. 99 survives a race with KQ and we go heads up. A few all in battles later, I survive to clinch a 4.5k purse.
So why the lengthy detail? I'm trying to engrain into my own mind this tumultuous time so that I remember the truth of the matter -- poker is bumpy. Variance baby. When you are on a run, it's easy to believe that that's the way it goes forever. But no matter how great you are or how bad your opponents play, variations are a necessary part of the game. When I sit down and clean up for a 2k take on the day, sometimes I believe I can do that whenever I want through sheer force of will. Now thinking with that confidence is psychosomatic and makes you a better player, but to be realistic one needs to understand that that simply isn't true. I humbly accept that winning that tournament required some measure of "luck".
It's not as if I haven't known this much for a while. But this is a lesson that is learnt further and further in gradations, to deeper levels, and impressed upon me during shakey rides like the one I've taken over the last 3 days. As I look over my posts there are moments when I seem to hover at certain levels, and I racked it up to bad play. And I tried to learn from those mistakes. That's certainly a good perspective, since its a way of forcing oneself to learn. However, I don't feel that my play over the last 3 days has ever really been at fault. It was just the nature of the cards. I didn't play perfectly, and there were lessons to be learnt, but sometimes that's just how the cards came.
So, kids, today's lesson is: sometimes that's just how the cards come.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Moving up to 5/10 NL
BR: $43,334
This is probably the first time I played at 5/10 NL "comfortably" -- feeling like it wasn't anything special that I was playing at these limits.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($3597.71)
Hero ($1036)
Button ($960)
SB ($1003.50)
BB ($2689)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Jd, Js. SB posts a blind of $5.
1 fold, Hero raises to $35, 1 fold, SB (poster) calls $30, BB calls $25.
Flop: ($105) Kd, 9d, Qd (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($105) 7d (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $150, Hero calls $150, SB folds.
River: ($405) 2c (2 players)
BB bets $300, Hero calls $300.
Final Pot: $1005
BB has 8d Ad (flush, ace high).
Hero has Jd Js (flush, king high).
I called each street pretty quickly, and that was probably a mistake. My opponent was solid, and for some reason I kept thinking he was playing some two-pair/set/straight combination, but that's just asinine. No player of strength is going to fire twice out of position with that kind of hand on a 4-flush board. The second nuts just isn't good enough in a raised pot to call both streets. I should have released on the river without a real read.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
BB ($3417.71)
Hero ($1148)
MP ($945)
Button ($943.50)
SB ($3273.75)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ts, As. SB posts a blind of $5.
Hero raises to $35, 3 folds, BB calls $25.
Flop: ($75) 8s, 6s, 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $70, BB calls $70.
Turn: ($215) Td (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $150, BB calls $150.
River: ($515) 3s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $200, BB calls $200.
Final Pot: $915
BB has 5c 5d (one pair, fives).
Hero has Ts As (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $915.
I thought the river bet was small enough that a single 8 would feel obliged to call, or a flush would make a minraise out of. Turns out my opponent was a LAG, and I may have gotten away with more. But I feel like this was the right play on all streets.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($2958.71)
Hero ($1571)
SB ($1133)
BB ($951.50)
UTG ($3101.75)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 7h, 7s. SB posts a blind of $5.
1 fold, MP raises to $20, Hero calls $20, SB (poster) calls $15, 1 fold.
Flop: ($70) 3s, Ts, 7c (3 players)
SB checks, MP checks, Hero bets $50, SB calls $50, MP folds.
Turn: ($170) 4c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $125, SB calls $125.
River: ($420) 3d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $400, SB folds.
Final Pot: $820
Hero has 7h 7s (full house, sevens full of threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $820.
This is almost certainly a mistake. Any reason for thinking SB had a strong hand was just me praying for an accidental A3, when in reality it seems much more likely he has JT, 89 or two spades with the first being most likely. A bet of $200 was in order.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($246.75)
Button ($3149.71)
Hero ($2030)
BB ($903)
UTG ($1568.98)
MP ($2633.75)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Js, Jd. Hero posts a blind of $5.
UTG calls $10, 3 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $35, BB calls $30, UTG folds.
Flop: ($90) 5s, 3h, 3c (2 players)
Hero bets $80, BB calls $80.
Turn: ($250) 3s (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $150, Hero raises to $400, BB calls $250.
River: ($1050) 7d (2 players)
Hero bets $400, BB calls $383 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1833
Hero has Js Jd (full house, threes full of jacks).
BB has Ad Kh (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $1833.
I checked the turn hoping to represent an AK misfire and give BB a chance to bluff at the pot. Once I decided to check raise, any amount I raise is stack commiting -- and for some reason I felt like he'd be more inclined to call $400 with a weak pocket pair than a minraies of $300. I was pretty surprised by the heroic AK.
This is probably the first time I played at 5/10 NL "comfortably" -- feeling like it wasn't anything special that I was playing at these limits.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($3597.71)
Hero ($1036)
Button ($960)
SB ($1003.50)
BB ($2689)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Jd, Js. SB posts a blind of $5.
1 fold, Hero raises to $35, 1 fold, SB (poster) calls $30, BB calls $25.
Flop: ($105) Kd, 9d, Qd (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($105) 7d (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $150, Hero calls $150, SB folds.
River: ($405) 2c (2 players)
BB bets $300, Hero calls $300.
Final Pot: $1005
BB has 8d Ad (flush, ace high).
Hero has Jd Js (flush, king high).
I called each street pretty quickly, and that was probably a mistake. My opponent was solid, and for some reason I kept thinking he was playing some two-pair/set/straight combination, but that's just asinine. No player of strength is going to fire twice out of position with that kind of hand on a 4-flush board. The second nuts just isn't good enough in a raised pot to call both streets. I should have released on the river without a real read.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
BB ($3417.71)
Hero ($1148)
MP ($945)
Button ($943.50)
SB ($3273.75)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ts, As. SB posts a blind of $5.
Hero raises to $35, 3 folds, BB calls $25.
Flop: ($75) 8s, 6s, 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $70, BB calls $70.
Turn: ($215) Td (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $150, BB calls $150.
River: ($515) 3s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $200, BB calls $200.
Final Pot: $915
BB has 5c 5d (one pair, fives).
Hero has Ts As (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $915.
I thought the river bet was small enough that a single 8 would feel obliged to call, or a flush would make a minraise out of. Turns out my opponent was a LAG, and I may have gotten away with more. But I feel like this was the right play on all streets.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($2958.71)
Hero ($1571)
SB ($1133)
BB ($951.50)
UTG ($3101.75)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 7h, 7s. SB posts a blind of $5.
1 fold, MP raises to $20, Hero calls $20, SB (poster) calls $15, 1 fold.
Flop: ($70) 3s, Ts, 7c (3 players)
SB checks, MP checks, Hero bets $50, SB calls $50, MP folds.
Turn: ($170) 4c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $125, SB calls $125.
River: ($420) 3d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $400, SB folds.
Final Pot: $820
Hero has 7h 7s (full house, sevens full of threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $820.
This is almost certainly a mistake. Any reason for thinking SB had a strong hand was just me praying for an accidental A3, when in reality it seems much more likely he has JT, 89 or two spades with the first being most likely. A bet of $200 was in order.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($246.75)
Button ($3149.71)
Hero ($2030)
BB ($903)
UTG ($1568.98)
MP ($2633.75)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Js, Jd. Hero posts a blind of $5.
UTG calls $10, 3 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $35, BB calls $30, UTG folds.
Flop: ($90) 5s, 3h, 3c (2 players)
Hero bets $80, BB calls $80.
Turn: ($250) 3s (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $150, Hero raises to $400, BB calls $250.
River: ($1050) 7d (2 players)
Hero bets $400, BB calls $383 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1833
Hero has Js Jd (full house, threes full of jacks).
BB has Ad Kh (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $1833.
I checked the turn hoping to represent an AK misfire and give BB a chance to bluff at the pot. Once I decided to check raise, any amount I raise is stack commiting -- and for some reason I felt like he'd be more inclined to call $400 with a weak pocket pair than a minraies of $300. I was pretty surprised by the heroic AK.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Another Hiatus, and more to come...
BR: $41,865
Just returned from a month long vacation in Asia -- and heading off on a series of road trips in three days. I've been playing a solid amount of poker, mainly NL600, over the last two days to make almost 5 large. My play has not needed to be creative or especially good. Playing solid, simple poker seems best in the face of a surge of players that make bad bluffs, are too aggressive and are poor at pot control. Must have something to do with WSOP frenzy. Bisonbison hand convertor is making a mess of any hand I feed it, but I don't have particularly interesting hands anyways.
Just returned from a month long vacation in Asia -- and heading off on a series of road trips in three days. I've been playing a solid amount of poker, mainly NL600, over the last two days to make almost 5 large. My play has not needed to be creative or especially good. Playing solid, simple poker seems best in the face of a surge of players that make bad bluffs, are too aggressive and are poor at pot control. Must have something to do with WSOP frenzy. Bisonbison hand convertor is making a mess of any hand I feed it, but I don't have particularly interesting hands anyways.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
By the books
BR: $35,651
So the funny thing is that only just a few days ago I was thinking about how much there is to be said for simple straight-forward play. And now, over the last few days I've been practicing a hyper-aggressive play style. And I really believe this is a stronger style of play.
And on another note, I really should just force myself to never play in the morning. Four days ago I lost $2,000 in 10 minutes after having woke up; Yesterday another $1,000 after 5 minutes; This morning I'm down $1,000 after 10 hands. There's just something wrong with me in the mornings. Bad reads and what not.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $10 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Button ($1317)
Hero ($665)
BB ($2010.32)
UTG ($934)
MP ($451)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 2d, 2c.
3 folds, Hero completes, BB raises to $40, Hero calls $30.
Flop: ($80) Ah, 6c, 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $75, Hero raises to $150, BB calls $75.
Turn: ($380) 4s (2 players)
Hero bets $175, BB calls $175.
River: ($730) Jh (2 players)
Hero bets $300 (All-In), BB calls $300.
Final Pot: $1330
Hero has 2d 2c (one pair, twos).
BB has 8s 5h (one pair, eights).
Outcome: BB wins $1330.
So the funny thing is that only just a few days ago I was thinking about how much there is to be said for simple straight-forward play. And now, over the last few days I've been practicing a hyper-aggressive play style. And I really believe this is a stronger style of play.
And on another note, I really should just force myself to never play in the morning. Four days ago I lost $2,000 in 10 minutes after having woke up; Yesterday another $1,000 after 5 minutes; This morning I'm down $1,000 after 10 hands. There's just something wrong with me in the mornings. Bad reads and what not.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $10 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Button ($1317)
Hero ($665)
BB ($2010.32)
UTG ($934)
MP ($451)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 2d, 2c.
3 folds, Hero completes, BB raises to $40, Hero calls $30.
Flop: ($80) Ah, 6c, 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $75, Hero raises to $150, BB calls $75.
Turn: ($380) 4s (2 players)
Hero bets $175, BB calls $175.
River: ($730) Jh (2 players)
Hero bets $300 (All-In), BB calls $300.
Final Pot: $1330
Hero has 2d 2c (one pair, twos).
BB has 8s 5h (one pair, eights).
Outcome: BB wins $1330.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Hiatus
BR: $30,726
A few days after my last post in April I took a nose dive in poker, dropping several significant thousands of dollars in less than two days of play, and in probably less than 2 hours of play. It started with an attempt to play at the 5$/10$ NL tables, and after tanking between two and three stacks, playing hyper LAG at the $3/$6 NL to tank to nothingness. I allowed variance to compound by letting bad beats engender bad play. It was pretty clearly bad when I decided to place $500 with my friends $800 to make a sum $1,300 bet on Red on the roulette tables. No I did not win.
So I took a break and played WarCraft for an entire month; then I partied with my class mates and finally graduation happened. So I've been occupied. But I think when you reflect on the inadequecies of your play, rest and reflection for the (relatively) inexperienced like myself is probably the only sane way to continue to play poker. I'd been doing so well before the tank that I was starting to feel super human. A return to earth has regrounded some fundamentals.
I've played a little over the last couple of days, sneaking in a couple dozen hands while I do other things, and managed to recover a significant proportion of the losses.
The process of recovery was expedited by a Memorial Day drunk, who accounted for about a grand of my recent earnings. He began accruing some several thousands of dollars by dishing out rather disgusting beats. After romp stomping, his suicidal tendencies began to do as they should; the following was the culmination of his Hari-Kari.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
SB ($1564.4)
BB ($1852.21)
UTG ($170.78)
Hero ($2048.3)
Button ($319.2)
Preflop: Hero is MP with 7c, Kh.
2 folds, Button calls $6, SB raises to $15, BB raises to $24, Button calls $18, SB raises to $1564.4 (All-In), BB calls $1540.40, Button folds.
Flop: ($3152.80) 4c, 9s, Tc (2 players, 1 all-in)
Turn: ($3152.80) 6h (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($3152.80) 5d (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $3152.80
SB has Kd Ks (one pair, kings).
BB has 5s 8s (one pair, fives).
Outcome: SB wins $3152.80.
Note that the player in question called the 1.5k cold. I intend on getting some game time in before I head on my tour of Asia on (hopefully) June 15th -- but first I must accompany my parents for a few days of travel. Oddly, I have a life outside of poker.
A few days after my last post in April I took a nose dive in poker, dropping several significant thousands of dollars in less than two days of play, and in probably less than 2 hours of play. It started with an attempt to play at the 5$/10$ NL tables, and after tanking between two and three stacks, playing hyper LAG at the $3/$6 NL to tank to nothingness. I allowed variance to compound by letting bad beats engender bad play. It was pretty clearly bad when I decided to place $500 with my friends $800 to make a sum $1,300 bet on Red on the roulette tables. No I did not win.
So I took a break and played WarCraft for an entire month; then I partied with my class mates and finally graduation happened. So I've been occupied. But I think when you reflect on the inadequecies of your play, rest and reflection for the (relatively) inexperienced like myself is probably the only sane way to continue to play poker. I'd been doing so well before the tank that I was starting to feel super human. A return to earth has regrounded some fundamentals.
I've played a little over the last couple of days, sneaking in a couple dozen hands while I do other things, and managed to recover a significant proportion of the losses.
The process of recovery was expedited by a Memorial Day drunk, who accounted for about a grand of my recent earnings. He began accruing some several thousands of dollars by dishing out rather disgusting beats. After romp stomping, his suicidal tendencies began to do as they should; the following was the culmination of his Hari-Kari.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
SB ($1564.4)
BB ($1852.21)
UTG ($170.78)
Hero ($2048.3)
Button ($319.2)
Preflop: Hero is MP with 7c, Kh.
2 folds, Button calls $6, SB raises to $15, BB raises to $24, Button calls $18, SB raises to $1564.4 (All-In), BB calls $1540.40, Button folds.
Flop: ($3152.80) 4c, 9s, Tc (2 players, 1 all-in)
Turn: ($3152.80) 6h (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($3152.80) 5d (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $3152.80
SB has Kd Ks (one pair, kings).
BB has 5s 8s (one pair, fives).
Outcome: SB wins $3152.80.
Note that the player in question called the 1.5k cold. I intend on getting some game time in before I head on my tour of Asia on (hopefully) June 15th -- but first I must accompany my parents for a few days of travel. Oddly, I have a life outside of poker.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Chug-a-chug-a-chug-a-chug-a ...
BR: $32,866
Tank a stack; win it all back in tournaments; tank another stack; win it all back in tournaments; just tanked another two stacks to fall from 33,500.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (6 handed) converter
CO (t525)
Button (t1140)
SB (t745)
Hero (t1200)
UTG (t1105)
MP (t5285)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Kd, Ks.
2 folds, CO raises to t525 (All-In), Button calls t525, SB raises to t745 (All-In), Hero raises to t1200 (All-In), Button calls t615 (All-In).
Flop: (t3610) Kh, 5h, Jc (4 players, 4 all-in)
Turn: (t3610) 6s (4 players, 4 all-in)
River: (t3610) 4s (4 players, 4 all-in)
Final Pot: t3610
SB has Qd Qc (one pair, queens).
Hero has Kd Ks (three of a kind, kings).
CO has Kc Ad (one pair, kings).
Button has Ac As (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins t3610.
Tank a stack; win it all back in tournaments; tank another stack; win it all back in tournaments; just tanked another two stacks to fall from 33,500.
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t100 (6 handed) converter
CO (t525)
Button (t1140)
SB (t745)
Hero (t1200)
UTG (t1105)
MP (t5285)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Kd, Ks.
2 folds, CO raises to t525 (All-In), Button calls t525, SB raises to t745 (All-In), Hero raises to t1200 (All-In), Button calls t615 (All-In).
Flop: (t3610) Kh, 5h, Jc (4 players, 4 all-in)
Turn: (t3610) 6s (4 players, 4 all-in)
River: (t3610) 4s (4 players, 4 all-in)
Final Pot: t3610
SB has Qd Qc (one pair, queens).
Hero has Kd Ks (three of a kind, kings).
CO has Kc Ad (one pair, kings).
Button has Ac As (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins t3610.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Tournaments Suck
BR: $32,624
I won $600 at tournaments and it was the worst feeling ever. I remember again why I hated tournaments; they leave foul tastes in your mouth every time you play. Unless you are innuring yourself by playing dozens at a time, its really quite an awful feeling. Getting all in pre-flop with 77 against 92o and losing is disgusting, even if you know the percentages aren't all enormously in your favor.
So I went back to my trusted PL $600. And just so you guys know that I'm not a genius who always wallops people into oblivion, yes I do make bonehead plays; yes I do bluff for hundreds of dollars with ace high and lose to fullhouses; and yes I do hand out my share of rivered queens on bone-head moves.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($642.7)
CO ($860.1)
Hero ($605.1)
SB ($601.55)
BB ($303.21)
UTG ($165.17)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Qh.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO raises to $12, Hero raises to $50, 2 folds, MP folds, CO calls $38.
Flop: ($115) 8d, 9h, Ac (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $100, CO raises to $300, Hero raises to $555.1 (All-In), CO calls $255.10.
Turn: ($1225.20) 9d (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($1225.20) Qs (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1225.20
CO has Kd Ad (two pair, aces and nines).
Hero has Ah Qh (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $1225.20.
Hey man, they were suited. And I had a queen -- the luckiest card in the deck. Why shouldn't I win?
I won $600 at tournaments and it was the worst feeling ever. I remember again why I hated tournaments; they leave foul tastes in your mouth every time you play. Unless you are innuring yourself by playing dozens at a time, its really quite an awful feeling. Getting all in pre-flop with 77 against 92o and losing is disgusting, even if you know the percentages aren't all enormously in your favor.
So I went back to my trusted PL $600. And just so you guys know that I'm not a genius who always wallops people into oblivion, yes I do make bonehead plays; yes I do bluff for hundreds of dollars with ace high and lose to fullhouses; and yes I do hand out my share of rivered queens on bone-head moves.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($642.7)
CO ($860.1)
Hero ($605.1)
SB ($601.55)
BB ($303.21)
UTG ($165.17)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Qh.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO raises to $12, Hero raises to $50, 2 folds, MP folds, CO calls $38.
Flop: ($115) 8d, 9h, Ac (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $100, CO raises to $300, Hero raises to $555.1 (All-In), CO calls $255.10.
Turn: ($1225.20) 9d (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($1225.20) Qs (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1225.20
CO has Kd Ad (two pair, aces and nines).
Hero has Ah Qh (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $1225.20.
Hey man, they were suited. And I had a queen -- the luckiest card in the deck. Why shouldn't I win?
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Keeping it Fresh
BR: $30,514
I'm taking a break from PL$600 and I've been learning to play PL Omaha Hi, starting at the $100 tables. Needed a change of pace.
I'm taking a break from PL$600 and I've been learning to play PL Omaha Hi, starting at the $100 tables. Needed a change of pace.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Breaking the Lull
BR: $29,441
I can't play when I'm losing. This is probably one of the reasons I'll never be able to play professionally. I see this deficiet in a lot of other people who play poker (I refrain from the term "poker players" because I think real poker players don't have this kind of problem). And some of these people are really great poker minds, that could make a lot of money if they played more.
Now if the cards start coming badly, sometimes I get upset, sometimes I'm okay with it, but if it keeps happening I almost always have to stop playing. I'm pretty sensitive to how well I'm playing, and can judge if I'm playing well or poorly. So I know it pretty much boils down to this -- when I'm not winning, I start to play worse and worse. Regardless of how I've been playing up to that point, if I don't see results after a few hours of play, I grow weary and stop.
And this isn't just that "I took a bad beat; step up from the table and walk away for a little bit" since it's not walking away to cool off and then coming back totally fresh. It's a disillusionment that compounds over sessions; after a few mildly poor days, I've backed off and haven't played much -- and I do this all the time. It has nothing to do with bankroll management. Bankroll management is lowering the stakes you play, not a total withdrawal from the game. It has to do with my weak mental ability to assess my own ability. Even now, after having played so much poker, I have serious doubts about my abilities. It's a confidence issue. No matter how much I tell myself it's about winning in the long run, losing over a thousand hands makes me question whether I'm a winning poker player -- of course this is stupid (a thousand hands in poker is a statistical blip), but it always gets to me. Maybe over the years this will fade; but I doubt it. More likely is that the number of hands it takes before this bleak outlook sets in will continue to grow -- hopefully to a point when its enough hands to actually be reflective of a realisitic questioning of myself.
You know, I'd say a lot people have the capacity to understand the intellectual components of poker. Learning how to bet, when to fold, reading boards, calling bluffs; most of that stuff is stuff that you can learn. A lot of it is hard, but it's achievable. But the psychological and mental health component of poker is a lot harder to grasp for most players; for one, since the game is constructed around gambling, you tend to find minds of weaker psychological constitution. And secondly, since it's not something most people tend to focus upon as being critical to the game.
But I think probably one of the things most important to financial success in poker is the psychological mentality you approach it with. Granted, this isn't the way a lot of people want to treat the game. They want it to be grandiose and significant; they can admire the man who puts their entire bankroll on the line to play That One Great Game; they can revel in bad beats and they can't stop patting themselves on the back about that hand they played so well. I'm still one of those. And hey, maybe it isn't such a bad thing. It means, on some sense, that I still love the game and I'm not thinking of it like a job.
If you were looking for a Single Enlightening Point to this post; sorry. It's more of a mindless excursion into my thoughts.
I can't play when I'm losing. This is probably one of the reasons I'll never be able to play professionally. I see this deficiet in a lot of other people who play poker (I refrain from the term "poker players" because I think real poker players don't have this kind of problem). And some of these people are really great poker minds, that could make a lot of money if they played more.
Now if the cards start coming badly, sometimes I get upset, sometimes I'm okay with it, but if it keeps happening I almost always have to stop playing. I'm pretty sensitive to how well I'm playing, and can judge if I'm playing well or poorly. So I know it pretty much boils down to this -- when I'm not winning, I start to play worse and worse. Regardless of how I've been playing up to that point, if I don't see results after a few hours of play, I grow weary and stop.
And this isn't just that "I took a bad beat; step up from the table and walk away for a little bit" since it's not walking away to cool off and then coming back totally fresh. It's a disillusionment that compounds over sessions; after a few mildly poor days, I've backed off and haven't played much -- and I do this all the time. It has nothing to do with bankroll management. Bankroll management is lowering the stakes you play, not a total withdrawal from the game. It has to do with my weak mental ability to assess my own ability. Even now, after having played so much poker, I have serious doubts about my abilities. It's a confidence issue. No matter how much I tell myself it's about winning in the long run, losing over a thousand hands makes me question whether I'm a winning poker player -- of course this is stupid (a thousand hands in poker is a statistical blip), but it always gets to me. Maybe over the years this will fade; but I doubt it. More likely is that the number of hands it takes before this bleak outlook sets in will continue to grow -- hopefully to a point when its enough hands to actually be reflective of a realisitic questioning of myself.
You know, I'd say a lot people have the capacity to understand the intellectual components of poker. Learning how to bet, when to fold, reading boards, calling bluffs; most of that stuff is stuff that you can learn. A lot of it is hard, but it's achievable. But the psychological and mental health component of poker is a lot harder to grasp for most players; for one, since the game is constructed around gambling, you tend to find minds of weaker psychological constitution. And secondly, since it's not something most people tend to focus upon as being critical to the game.
But I think probably one of the things most important to financial success in poker is the psychological mentality you approach it with. Granted, this isn't the way a lot of people want to treat the game. They want it to be grandiose and significant; they can admire the man who puts their entire bankroll on the line to play That One Great Game; they can revel in bad beats and they can't stop patting themselves on the back about that hand they played so well. I'm still one of those. And hey, maybe it isn't such a bad thing. It means, on some sense, that I still love the game and I'm not thinking of it like a job.
If you were looking for a Single Enlightening Point to this post; sorry. It's more of a mindless excursion into my thoughts.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Depressing Session
BR: $29,136
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
UTG ($193.6)
MP ($466.55)
Button ($1071.35)
SB ($1192.05)
Hero ($655.95)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Td, Qh.
2 folds, Button calls $6, SB completes, Hero checks.
Flop: ($18) 9s, 8h, Jc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button checks.
Turn: ($18) 7h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $15, Button raises to $30, SB folds, Hero raises to $100, Button calls $70.
River: ($218) 9h (2 players)
Hero bets $216, Button raises to $864, Hero calls $333.95 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1631.95
Hero has Td Qh (straight, queen high).
Button has 5h 6h (straight flush, nine high).
Outcome: Button wins $1631.95.
That was a horrible horrible river. On the turn I put my opponent on a weaker straight, but I put him exactly on a lone ten. I have no idea why I pushed that river -- I guess I was worried that he would check behind. I mean I thought it was possible he was on a redraw, and there's the sick possibility he misplayed a set and filled up, but I was getting tired of a bad session and just bet out.
God I suck.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
UTG ($193.6)
MP ($466.55)
Button ($1071.35)
SB ($1192.05)
Hero ($655.95)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Td, Qh.
2 folds, Button calls $6, SB completes, Hero checks.
Flop: ($18) 9s, 8h, Jc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button checks.
Turn: ($18) 7h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $15, Button raises to $30, SB folds, Hero raises to $100, Button calls $70.
River: ($218) 9h (2 players)
Hero bets $216, Button raises to $864, Hero calls $333.95 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1631.95
Hero has Td Qh (straight, queen high).
Button has 5h 6h (straight flush, nine high).
Outcome: Button wins $1631.95.
That was a horrible horrible river. On the turn I put my opponent on a weaker straight, but I put him exactly on a lone ten. I have no idea why I pushed that river -- I guess I was worried that he would check behind. I mean I thought it was possible he was on a redraw, and there's the sick possibility he misplayed a set and filled up, but I was getting tired of a bad session and just bet out.
God I suck.
Childish
BR: $30,131
I'm still stupid and childish. A four year old. The fact that I played poker while drunk and otherwise substance filled is an token to that; and today I got it into my head that I was going to bust this ABC whining monkey at my PL table. I got up and left all my other tables so I could sit at all the tables he was sitting at. He wasn't terrible, in fact he was a decent player. Uncreative, tight, aggressive -- an O.K. combination. But he was just whining about every hand he lost and I was getting on his case about it. And my play at all tables deteriorated horribly because of it. I ended up up a little, with the aide of bad opponents and some lucky breaks. But this is awful. You need to play your opponents; I frequently target players with my bets, but never with an actual "I must bust this person mentality". It was reminiscent of when I was playing the 1/2$ NL in Atlantic City and decided to get all in with J9o against a TAG who could only have had AA or KK. Getting gun-ho against TAGs is stupid. Letting personal motivations get involved in poker will only destroy your game.
Moments like these remind me of how poor a poker player I still am.
I'm still stupid and childish. A four year old. The fact that I played poker while drunk and otherwise substance filled is an token to that; and today I got it into my head that I was going to bust this ABC whining monkey at my PL table. I got up and left all my other tables so I could sit at all the tables he was sitting at. He wasn't terrible, in fact he was a decent player. Uncreative, tight, aggressive -- an O.K. combination. But he was just whining about every hand he lost and I was getting on his case about it. And my play at all tables deteriorated horribly because of it. I ended up up a little, with the aide of bad opponents and some lucky breaks. But this is awful. You need to play your opponents; I frequently target players with my bets, but never with an actual "I must bust this person mentality". It was reminiscent of when I was playing the 1/2$ NL in Atlantic City and decided to get all in with J9o against a TAG who could only have had AA or KK. Getting gun-ho against TAGs is stupid. Letting personal motivations get involved in poker will only destroy your game.
Moments like these remind me of how poor a poker player I still am.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Wait, is it them or is it me?
Looking over my last +5k it seems like all my huge rake ins are just against total fish. Oh god I hope my game isn't built on just fish-farming. That would mean the inevitable decline of the WSOP + WPT + Tilt fan base will entail my poker doom. Please don't leave me my beautiful cash-crop fish.
Sometimes fish jump into your boat
BR: $29,865
Sometimes, you aren't playing good; it's just that everyone else is just playing bad.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
SB ($663.9)
BB ($648.2)
UTG ($1826.83)
MP ($702)
CO ($285)
Hero ($819)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Qc, Jc.
3 folds, Hero calls $6, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($18) 3c, 5c, 7d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $10, SB folds, BB raises to $20, Hero calls $10.
Turn: ($58) 4c (2 players)
BB bets $56, Hero raises to $224, BB calls $168.
River: ($506) 8s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $504, BB calls $398.20 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1408.20
BB has 7s 2c (one pair, sevens).
Hero has Qc Jc (flush, queen high).
Outcome: Hero wins $1408.20.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($973.8)
CO ($1506.15)
Button ($957.3)
Hero ($863)
BB ($1686.93)
UTG ($1837.1)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qd, Qh.
UTG calls $6, 2 folds, Button calls $6, Hero raises to $30, BB calls $24, UTG calls $24, Button folds.
Flop: ($96) Qc, Kc, 7c (3 players)
Hero bets $94, BB calls $94, UTG folds.
Turn: ($284) 2d (2 players)
Hero bets $282, BB calls $282.
River: ($848) 3s (2 players)
Hero bets $457 (All-In), BB calls $457.
Final Pot: $1762
Hero has Qd Qh (three of a kind, queens).
BB has Jh Ks (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $1762.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($1341.6)
MP ($1682.15)
CO ($540.5)
Hero ($1768.5)
SB ($645.93)
BB ($1890.1)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ks, Jc.
UTG calls $6, 1 fold, CO calls $6, Hero calls $6, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($30) Kd, 3h, 4c (5 players)
SB bets $28.5, BB folds, UTG calls $28.50, CO folds, Hero calls $28.50.
Turn: ($115.50) Jh (3 players)
SB bets $113.5, UTG folds, Hero raises to $454, SB calls $340.50.
River: ($1023.50) Th (2 players)
SB bets $157.43 (All-In), Hero calls $157.43.
Final Pot: $1338.36
SB has Kh 6s (one pair, kings).
Hero has Ks Jc (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $1338.36.
I made one play. It's revealed a lot of insight into the aforementioned player who I have trouble playing:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($973.8)
Button ($1777.15)
SB ($960.3)
Hero ($585)
UTG ($1686.93)
MP ($1843.1)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 9d, 9c.
1 fold, MP calls $6, 1 fold, Button raises to $27, 1 fold, Hero calls $21, MP folds.
Flop: ($63) Jc, 6h, 8c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $61, Hero calls $61.
Turn: ($185) 3h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $183, Hero calls $183.
River: ($551) 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.
Final Pot: $551
Hero has 9d 9c (two pair, nines and sixes).
Button has 4h 7h (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins $551.
He's of the same ilk of many players I've done very well against with passive-check-call lines; only problem is he exclusively bets the pot, which makes reading from bet-sizing impossible. I've noticed he's started to play a little more passively towards me since I've started calling down his bets.
Feeling a little better about myself now. I no longer feel like he owns my soul, and don't feel nervous when I sit at tables with him. None-the-less, notice that he probably only bet the turn because he picked up a massive number of outs. It's going to be really hard combatting this guy. High variance for sure. I mean, if you check-raise his inevitable flop bet, he's only coming along with relatively strong hands. And sometimes you get flustered and come over the top without a strong hand holding and find yourself trapped. That's probably what he relies upon, and the amount of medium size pots he takes down.
I'm sure he's a winning player; probably not as much as I thought before, since I've now noticed his aggressive style causes him to rebuy quite a lot to begin with. It's an insanely aggressive style but make no mistake it works very well. I've noticed an influx of these types of players at the PL$600s when before there were just a handful of them. It's +EV to play against them in general, but it sure takes a few stacks to figure out how to handle each type of shark.
Watching these players makes me wonder if I shouldn't try this style of repeated aggression myself. Not as a staple form of play, since it's clearly asinine against some types of opposition -- calling fish like that in my QJc hand -- but as another part of my repertoire. It would make me grow as a poker player. But what about my bankroll?
I keep having these bankroll/skill-building conflicts. On one hand, I'm crushing the PL$600s and there's a money-loving bankroll-building side of me that keeps whispering, "Keep beating this game, just keep beating this game... Make it to 20K ... 30K". And I'm still being challenged, being forced to figure things out, but if you put me in NL$600 or NL$1000 I would probably come to learn more a lot faster. I probably would also lose money to begin with, and that might be depressing -- affect my play. But I'd become a stronger player, be able to play NL 25/50$ and higher sooner. And in the long run, that's actually the greater +EV play. Isn't it? There's a certain fear of burn-out where if I overstrech my bankroll I could be crushed. But I have almost 30 buy-ins for NL$1000, so that shouldn't be an issue.
On the other hand, the truly reason-guided voice in my head knows I should stay at these limits. I didn't start playing this high until just a month or so ago, and I've had a great run, but haven't played enough cards to digest and assess whether I'm playing "good" enough or just running hot.
Sometimes, you aren't playing good; it's just that everyone else is just playing bad.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
SB ($663.9)
BB ($648.2)
UTG ($1826.83)
MP ($702)
CO ($285)
Hero ($819)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Qc, Jc.
3 folds, Hero calls $6, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($18) 3c, 5c, 7d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $10, SB folds, BB raises to $20, Hero calls $10.
Turn: ($58) 4c (2 players)
BB bets $56, Hero raises to $224, BB calls $168.
River: ($506) 8s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $504, BB calls $398.20 (All-In).
Final Pot: $1408.20
BB has 7s 2c (one pair, sevens).
Hero has Qc Jc (flush, queen high).
Outcome: Hero wins $1408.20.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
MP ($973.8)
CO ($1506.15)
Button ($957.3)
Hero ($863)
BB ($1686.93)
UTG ($1837.1)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qd, Qh.
UTG calls $6, 2 folds, Button calls $6, Hero raises to $30, BB calls $24, UTG calls $24, Button folds.
Flop: ($96) Qc, Kc, 7c (3 players)
Hero bets $94, BB calls $94, UTG folds.
Turn: ($284) 2d (2 players)
Hero bets $282, BB calls $282.
River: ($848) 3s (2 players)
Hero bets $457 (All-In), BB calls $457.
Final Pot: $1762
Hero has Qd Qh (three of a kind, queens).
BB has Jh Ks (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $1762.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($1341.6)
MP ($1682.15)
CO ($540.5)
Hero ($1768.5)
SB ($645.93)
BB ($1890.1)
Preflop: Hero is Button with Ks, Jc.
UTG calls $6, 1 fold, CO calls $6, Hero calls $6, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($30) Kd, 3h, 4c (5 players)
SB bets $28.5, BB folds, UTG calls $28.50, CO folds, Hero calls $28.50.
Turn: ($115.50) Jh (3 players)
SB bets $113.5, UTG folds, Hero raises to $454, SB calls $340.50.
River: ($1023.50) Th (2 players)
SB bets $157.43 (All-In), Hero calls $157.43.
Final Pot: $1338.36
SB has Kh 6s (one pair, kings).
Hero has Ks Jc (two pair, kings and jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $1338.36.
I made one play. It's revealed a lot of insight into the aforementioned player who I have trouble playing:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($973.8)
Button ($1777.15)
SB ($960.3)
Hero ($585)
UTG ($1686.93)
MP ($1843.1)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 9d, 9c.
1 fold, MP calls $6, 1 fold, Button raises to $27, 1 fold, Hero calls $21, MP folds.
Flop: ($63) Jc, 6h, 8c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $61, Hero calls $61.
Turn: ($185) 3h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $183, Hero calls $183.
River: ($551) 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.
Final Pot: $551
Hero has 9d 9c (two pair, nines and sixes).
Button has 4h 7h (one pair, sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins $551.
He's of the same ilk of many players I've done very well against with passive-check-call lines; only problem is he exclusively bets the pot, which makes reading from bet-sizing impossible. I've noticed he's started to play a little more passively towards me since I've started calling down his bets.
Feeling a little better about myself now. I no longer feel like he owns my soul, and don't feel nervous when I sit at tables with him. None-the-less, notice that he probably only bet the turn because he picked up a massive number of outs. It's going to be really hard combatting this guy. High variance for sure. I mean, if you check-raise his inevitable flop bet, he's only coming along with relatively strong hands. And sometimes you get flustered and come over the top without a strong hand holding and find yourself trapped. That's probably what he relies upon, and the amount of medium size pots he takes down.
I'm sure he's a winning player; probably not as much as I thought before, since I've now noticed his aggressive style causes him to rebuy quite a lot to begin with. It's an insanely aggressive style but make no mistake it works very well. I've noticed an influx of these types of players at the PL$600s when before there were just a handful of them. It's +EV to play against them in general, but it sure takes a few stacks to figure out how to handle each type of shark.
Watching these players makes me wonder if I shouldn't try this style of repeated aggression myself. Not as a staple form of play, since it's clearly asinine against some types of opposition -- calling fish like that in my QJc hand -- but as another part of my repertoire. It would make me grow as a poker player. But what about my bankroll?
I keep having these bankroll/skill-building conflicts. On one hand, I'm crushing the PL$600s and there's a money-loving bankroll-building side of me that keeps whispering, "Keep beating this game, just keep beating this game... Make it to 20K ... 30K". And I'm still being challenged, being forced to figure things out, but if you put me in NL$600 or NL$1000 I would probably come to learn more a lot faster. I probably would also lose money to begin with, and that might be depressing -- affect my play. But I'd become a stronger player, be able to play NL 25/50$ and higher sooner. And in the long run, that's actually the greater +EV play. Isn't it? There's a certain fear of burn-out where if I overstrech my bankroll I could be crushed. But I have almost 30 buy-ins for NL$1000, so that shouldn't be an issue.
On the other hand, the truly reason-guided voice in my head knows I should stay at these limits. I didn't start playing this high until just a month or so ago, and I've had a great run, but haven't played enough cards to digest and assess whether I'm playing "good" enough or just running hot.
Playing your best
BR: $27,706
After yesterday's relatively good run, I decided to play 3-tables of PL-Omaha $400 -- a game I have no idea how to play. Late at night. At short tables. While under the influence of mind-altering substances.
That was a pretty bad idea.
I dropped about $400 in 30 minutes. Then, staying up late into the morning, after clearing up a bit, I decided to quad PL $600 as I am apt to do. I was tired. I was upset about losing. I also happened to walk into an old adversary who I've had trouble playing on all encounters. The same fellow whose Aces I bad beat recently.
That was a horrible idea.
I think I was net -$1,200.
I played a little again today. I made all of it back in short order; but then became card dead and was forced to pay off hands to drop a requisite $400 or so. Things like holding AK on an AQ2 board, and calling down suspicious medium sized bets to have my opponents flip over AQ. Then after having made an excellent read on my opponent, I refused to accept that my read was right, and bet the river and the check-raise -- which I saw coming -- came. And I lost $300.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($524.3)
SB ($165)
BB ($200)
UTG ($455.2)
MP ($918.72)
Hero ($633.2)
Preflop: Hero is CO with Kd, Qd.
UTG calls $6, 1 fold, Hero calls $6, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($24) 5d, Jd, 6s (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $20, SB calls $20, BB folds, UTG calls $20.
Turn: ($84) Ts (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $60, Hero calls $60, SB folds.
River: ($204) Td (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $100, UTG raises to $300, Hero calls $200.
Final Pot: $804
UTG has Js Tc (full house, tens full of jacks).
Hero has Kd Qd (flush, king high).
Outcome: UTG wins $804.
I mean, it's painfully obvious that this river bet is just horrible. I had my hand over the check button, but at 3 seconds remaining I decided "How stupid, I call a bet and now I hit an out and I'm not betting?". The voice of value extraction drowned out the obvious voice of reason. Yuck, I seriously cannot believe I bet there.
After nearly vomitting at how badly I played that hand I focused up a little more; didn't have any tough decisions, but played strong. Then, on my final hand:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($722)
MP ($860.65)
Button ($708.55)
SB ($355.65)
BB ($1558.1)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9d, 9s.
Hero raises to $12, MP calls $12, Button calls $12, SB calls $9, 1 fold.
Flop: ($54) 7s, 2c, 4c (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $50, MP folds, Button folds, SB calls $50.
Turn: ($154) 7h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.
River: ($154) Th (2 players)
SB bets $152, Hero calls $152.
Final Pot: $458
SB has 5c 3c (one pair, sevens).
Hero has 9d 9s (two pair, nines and sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $458.
Villain was a known player to me, who is a readably-tricky-bad regular. I announced on the turn to a friend who was watching, "I'm calling any river bet". And when the river bet came I cringed. I wasn't worried so much about a 7 as I was something like AT or JTc. But this river call is absolutely necessary.
So this post is kind of about playing well, but it's really hard to play poker well. I'm passionate about the game, and I wrote a piece to our school newspaper The Daily Princetonian in response to a flurry of recent discussion over poker on campus.
So the huge irony in all of this is that a lot of my straight-forward comments are mildly sarcastic. I'm a fun loving gambler. I won't gamble huge amounts, but I've played 80$ games of beirut, taken 50$ coin-flips and will play blackjack. It's fun. It's why I play Omaha. I'm not a degenerate, but I think these sorts of things can be fun and cathartic. But poker, when you are playing it as poker, can't be about that. When you are passionate about poker, you want to play well and play a lot. But playing long stretches of poker can wear down your ability to play well and reveal the gambling risk-taking core beneath. I keep telling myself after any session where I play poorly that I will play better next time -- and I usually do. But hopefully, the goal is to eliminate that bad play entirely. Feasible? Probably not. But constantly striving for that goal by definition makes you a better player.
Gambling off your poker roll is a big no-no.
After yesterday's relatively good run, I decided to play 3-tables of PL-Omaha $400 -- a game I have no idea how to play. Late at night. At short tables. While under the influence of mind-altering substances.
That was a pretty bad idea.
I dropped about $400 in 30 minutes. Then, staying up late into the morning, after clearing up a bit, I decided to quad PL $600 as I am apt to do. I was tired. I was upset about losing. I also happened to walk into an old adversary who I've had trouble playing on all encounters. The same fellow whose Aces I bad beat recently.
That was a horrible idea.
I think I was net -$1,200.
I played a little again today. I made all of it back in short order; but then became card dead and was forced to pay off hands to drop a requisite $400 or so. Things like holding AK on an AQ2 board, and calling down suspicious medium sized bets to have my opponents flip over AQ. Then after having made an excellent read on my opponent, I refused to accept that my read was right, and bet the river and the check-raise -- which I saw coming -- came. And I lost $300.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($524.3)
SB ($165)
BB ($200)
UTG ($455.2)
MP ($918.72)
Hero ($633.2)
Preflop: Hero is CO with Kd, Qd.
UTG calls $6, 1 fold, Hero calls $6, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.
Flop: ($24) 5d, Jd, 6s (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $20, SB calls $20, BB folds, UTG calls $20.
Turn: ($84) Ts (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $60, Hero calls $60, SB folds.
River: ($204) Td (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $100, UTG raises to $300, Hero calls $200.
Final Pot: $804
UTG has Js Tc (full house, tens full of jacks).
Hero has Kd Qd (flush, king high).
Outcome: UTG wins $804.
I mean, it's painfully obvious that this river bet is just horrible. I had my hand over the check button, but at 3 seconds remaining I decided "How stupid, I call a bet and now I hit an out and I'm not betting?". The voice of value extraction drowned out the obvious voice of reason. Yuck, I seriously cannot believe I bet there.
After nearly vomitting at how badly I played that hand I focused up a little more; didn't have any tough decisions, but played strong. Then, on my final hand:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($722)
MP ($860.65)
Button ($708.55)
SB ($355.65)
BB ($1558.1)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9d, 9s.
Hero raises to $12, MP calls $12, Button calls $12, SB calls $9, 1 fold.
Flop: ($54) 7s, 2c, 4c (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $50, MP folds, Button folds, SB calls $50.
Turn: ($154) 7h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.
River: ($154) Th (2 players)
SB bets $152, Hero calls $152.
Final Pot: $458
SB has 5c 3c (one pair, sevens).
Hero has 9d 9s (two pair, nines and sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $458.
Villain was a known player to me, who is a readably-tricky-bad regular. I announced on the turn to a friend who was watching, "I'm calling any river bet". And when the river bet came I cringed. I wasn't worried so much about a 7 as I was something like AT or JTc. But this river call is absolutely necessary.
So this post is kind of about playing well, but it's really hard to play poker well. I'm passionate about the game, and I wrote a piece to our school newspaper The Daily Princetonian in response to a flurry of recent discussion over poker on campus.
I think it's interesting to note that if I was a diligent student, spending all of my hours studying and sacrificing social activities in the pursuit of academic glory, that most would consider this an honorable (though perhaps not desirable) endeavor. In fact, I think the university hands out awards for such academic excellence accomplished through such sacrifice. And this reverence we hold for others isn't limited to academic pursuits. A similar respect is extended to those who seek to better themselves at music, athletics, art, chess, bridge or scrabble. What we value in these people is their passion, and, to varying degrees, their fighting competetive spirit.
Why don't people extend this same degree of respect for something like Poker?
I think it's because there are those who treat poker like it's gambling, and it's pretty clear that we can't respect these degenerate gamblers.
The fallacy of a lot of people's view is that they take this as their sole view of the poker player, and group poker with other forms of definitionally minus expected value games like blackjack and roulette where it's called gambling because you have no way of winning.
But poker is a game of skill; if you are a stronger poker player than your advesaries, you will make money. It has elements of chance, but the game plays a lot more like chess with dice than blackjack. Of course the risk of financial ruin
leads to a slew of socially undesirable states of affairs; and on the other hand, the allure of making excessive amounts of cash draws the clueless as well. There are dangers from all streets. But with a well-informed view of what the game is
about, and how true players of the game approach it, it's just another form of competition, and to some, another form of art.
What if you knew Mike Sandberg was a winning player, treats poker like the rest of society treats their job, and on top of it, is passionate about the competetive aspects of the game? Really, how far afield is this from the dedicated student who works to ensure a good job in the future? Or the musician who spends all their time practicing for recitals?
Phillip Wei '05
So the huge irony in all of this is that a lot of my straight-forward comments are mildly sarcastic. I'm a fun loving gambler. I won't gamble huge amounts, but I've played 80$ games of beirut, taken 50$ coin-flips and will play blackjack. It's fun. It's why I play Omaha. I'm not a degenerate, but I think these sorts of things can be fun and cathartic. But poker, when you are playing it as poker, can't be about that. When you are passionate about poker, you want to play well and play a lot. But playing long stretches of poker can wear down your ability to play well and reveal the gambling risk-taking core beneath. I keep telling myself after any session where I play poorly that I will play better next time -- and I usually do. But hopefully, the goal is to eliminate that bad play entirely. Feasible? Probably not. But constantly striving for that goal by definition makes you a better player.
Gambling off your poker roll is a big no-no.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Bad Beats ...
BR: $28,390
don't exist. In the end it all evens out. This is how my day started ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($239.42)
SB ($631.4)
BB ($403)
Hero ($602.25)
MP ($520)
CO ($384.88)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ac, Kc.
Hero raises to $12, 2 folds, Button calls $12, 1 fold, BB calls $6.
Flop: ($39) 2c, Kh, Ah (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $30, Button calls $30, BB folds.
Turn: ($99) Th (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $97, Hero calls $97.
River: ($293) Jc (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $100.42 (All-In), Hero calls $100.42.
Final Pot: $493.84
I knew my opponent was without hearts and that he would continue to bet at the pot with a lone ace if checked too. I had a feeling that he might have two-paired at some point, but that's the risk of taking these call lines.
Hero has Ac Kc (two pair, aces and kings).
Button has Qd As (straight, ace high).
Outcome: Button wins $493.84.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($269.2)
SB ($365.8)
Hero ($623.45)
UTG ($630.7)
MP ($858)
CO ($152.65)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Ad.
2 folds, CO calls $6, Button calls $6, SB completes, Hero raises to $30, CO calls $24, Button folds, SB folds.
Flop: ($72) 9h, Th, Jh (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $70, Hero raises to $280, CO calls $52.65 (All-In).
Turn: ($474.65) Qs (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($474.65) 8s (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $474.65
This really isn't a bad beat; 9h Th Jh isn't exactly the nicest flop, but opponent was way too short stacked for any other option.
Hero has Ac Ad (straight, queen high).
CO has Kc Js (straight, king high).
Outcome: CO wins $317.30. Hero wins $157.35.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($512.05)
MP ($552.15)
CO ($233.35)
Button ($2233.3)
SB ($770.45)
Hero ($1783.05)
Preflop: Hero is BB with As, Ks.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO calls $6, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero raises to $25, MP calls $19, CO calls $19, SB folds.
Flop: ($81) Jc, 9d, Ac (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $79, CO folds, Hero raises to $300, MP calls $221.
Turn: ($681) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $300, MP calls $227.15 (All-In).
River: ($1208.15) Qd (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1208.15
I checked raised this flop since I put my opponent on exactly AQ. There was some probablity he held AJ, but I was OK with that. A friend was watching and I turned to him and said, "He has AQ". And when the river came a queen, I sighed.
Hero has As Ks (one pair, aces).
MP has Ad Qc (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: MP wins $1135.30. Hero wins $72.85.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
UTG ($371.65)
Hero ($603)
Button ($581.95)
SB ($188)
BB ($600)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Kh.
UTG calls $6, Hero raises to $27, 3 folds, UTG calls $21.
Flop: ($63) Jd, 8c, 3d (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $61, UTG calls $61.
Turn: ($185) 5c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $90, UTG calls $90.
River: ($365) 4h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $100, UTG raises to $193.65 (All-In), Hero calls $93.65.
Final Pot: $752.30
UTG has Jh 4c (two pair, jacks and fours).
Hero has Kd Kh (one pair, kings).
Outcome: UTG wins $752.30.
And this is how my day ended ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($168.4)
Hero ($1192.65)
CO ($1898.4)
Button ($377)
SB ($458.35)
BB ($1138.27)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Kh.
1 fold, Hero raises to $12, 1 fold, Button calls $12, SB calls $9, BB raises to $60, Hero raises to $200, Button folds, SB folds, BB raises to $624, Hero raises to $1192.65 (All-In), BB calls $514.27 (All-In).
Flop: ($2354.92) 3c, Kc, 2d (2 players, 2 all-in)
Turn: ($2354.92) 6d (2 players, 2 all-in)
River: ($2354.92) 2c (2 players, 2 all-in)
Final Pot: $2354.92
BB has As Ad (two pair, aces and twos).
Hero has Kd Kh (full house, kings full of twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $2354.92.
So, there really is no such thing as a bad beat.
don't exist. In the end it all evens out. This is how my day started ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($239.42)
SB ($631.4)
BB ($403)
Hero ($602.25)
MP ($520)
CO ($384.88)
Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ac, Kc.
Hero raises to $12, 2 folds, Button calls $12, 1 fold, BB calls $6.
Flop: ($39) 2c, Kh, Ah (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $30, Button calls $30, BB folds.
Turn: ($99) Th (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $97, Hero calls $97.
River: ($293) Jc (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $100.42 (All-In), Hero calls $100.42.
Final Pot: $493.84
I knew my opponent was without hearts and that he would continue to bet at the pot with a lone ace if checked too. I had a feeling that he might have two-paired at some point, but that's the risk of taking these call lines.
Hero has Ac Kc (two pair, aces and kings).
Button has Qd As (straight, ace high).
Outcome: Button wins $493.84.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
Button ($269.2)
SB ($365.8)
Hero ($623.45)
UTG ($630.7)
MP ($858)
CO ($152.65)
Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Ad.
2 folds, CO calls $6, Button calls $6, SB completes, Hero raises to $30, CO calls $24, Button folds, SB folds.
Flop: ($72) 9h, Th, Jh (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $70, Hero raises to $280, CO calls $52.65 (All-In).
Turn: ($474.65) Qs (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: ($474.65) 8s (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $474.65
This really isn't a bad beat; 9h Th Jh isn't exactly the nicest flop, but opponent was way too short stacked for any other option.
Hero has Ac Ad (straight, queen high).
CO has Kc Js (straight, king high).
Outcome: CO wins $317.30. Hero wins $157.35.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($512.05)
MP ($552.15)
CO ($233.35)
Button ($2233.3)
SB ($770.45)
Hero ($1783.05)
Preflop: Hero is BB with As, Ks.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO calls $6, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero raises to $25, MP calls $19, CO calls $19, SB folds.
Flop: ($81) Jc, 9d, Ac (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $79, CO folds, Hero raises to $300, MP calls $221.
Turn: ($681) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $300, MP calls $227.15 (All-In).
River: ($1208.15) Qd (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1208.15
I checked raised this flop since I put my opponent on exactly AQ. There was some probablity he held AJ, but I was OK with that. A friend was watching and I turned to him and said, "He has AQ". And when the river came a queen, I sighed.
Hero has As Ks (one pair, aces).
MP has Ad Qc (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: MP wins $1135.30. Hero wins $72.85.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
UTG ($371.65)
Hero ($603)
Button ($581.95)
SB ($188)
BB ($600)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Kh.
UTG calls $6, Hero raises to $27, 3 folds, UTG calls $21.
Flop: ($63) Jd, 8c, 3d (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $61, UTG calls $61.
Turn: ($185) 5c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $90, UTG calls $90.
River: ($365) 4h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $100, UTG raises to $193.65 (All-In), Hero calls $93.65.
Final Pot: $752.30
UTG has Jh 4c (two pair, jacks and fours).
Hero has Kd Kh (one pair, kings).
Outcome: UTG wins $752.30.
And this is how my day ended ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($168.4)
Hero ($1192.65)
CO ($1898.4)
Button ($377)
SB ($458.35)
BB ($1138.27)
Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Kh.
1 fold, Hero raises to $12, 1 fold, Button calls $12, SB calls $9, BB raises to $60, Hero raises to $200, Button folds, SB folds, BB raises to $624, Hero raises to $1192.65 (All-In), BB calls $514.27 (All-In).
Flop: ($2354.92) 3c, Kc, 2d (2 players, 2 all-in)
Turn: ($2354.92) 6d (2 players, 2 all-in)
River: ($2354.92) 2c (2 players, 2 all-in)
Final Pot: $2354.92
BB has As Ad (two pair, aces and twos).
Hero has Kd Kh (full house, kings full of twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $2354.92.
So, there really is no such thing as a bad beat.
Financing Parties
BR: $26,861
So I wanted to finance a "party", and it seemed like I needed about 200$ to make it happen. I was also in the middle of a problem set, and desperately wanted to get to bed so I could continue working on the thing early in the morning. So I announced rather arrogantly that I was going to make a grand in the next half hour, then go to bed.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 4 handed) converter
Button ($967)
Hero ($804)
BB ($408.25)
UTG ($760)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qc, Qh.
UTG raises to $21, 1 fold, Hero raises to $69, 1 fold, UTG calls $48.
Flop: ($144) Jc, 7d, 3c (2 players)
Hero bets $142, UTG calls $142.
Turn: ($428) 8h (2 players)
Hero bets $426, UTG raises to $549 (All-In), Hero calls $123.
River: ($1526) 6s (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1526
Hero has Qc Qh (one pair, queens).
UTG has 7c Tc (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $1526.
The game was absurdly wild, and ended up filling with three more fellows from Las Vegas (UTG was from Vegas). I didn't really want to be involved in this kind of variance anymore (see, free money), and besides, I had made my target amount.
I finished ahead of schedule. Took twenty minutes. And prior to starting the problem set I played a 20 minute session waiting for someone to arrive, and did similarly well.
It's good to run good.
So I wanted to finance a "party", and it seemed like I needed about 200$ to make it happen. I was also in the middle of a problem set, and desperately wanted to get to bed so I could continue working on the thing early in the morning. So I announced rather arrogantly that I was going to make a grand in the next half hour, then go to bed.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $6 BB (6 max, 4 handed) converter
Button ($967)
Hero ($804)
BB ($408.25)
UTG ($760)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Qc, Qh.
UTG raises to $21, 1 fold, Hero raises to $69, 1 fold, UTG calls $48.
Flop: ($144) Jc, 7d, 3c (2 players)
Hero bets $142, UTG calls $142.
Turn: ($428) 8h (2 players)
Hero bets $426, UTG raises to $549 (All-In), Hero calls $123.
River: ($1526) 6s (2 players, 1 all-in)
Final Pot: $1526
Hero has Qc Qh (one pair, queens).
UTG has 7c Tc (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins $1526.
The game was absurdly wild, and ended up filling with three more fellows from Las Vegas (UTG was from Vegas). I didn't really want to be involved in this kind of variance anymore (see, free money), and besides, I had made my target amount.
I finished ahead of schedule. Took twenty minutes. And prior to starting the problem set I played a 20 minute session waiting for someone to arrive, and did similarly well.
It's good to run good.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Table Image
BR: $24,971
Playerd 75 hands before going to program today. My table image started off very aggressive. First, I raised out of the SB, then potted to a field of two on a AK9 flop. Then another raise and uncontested flop. I decided that these factors + BB's simplistic play style meant that in this hand I had to be ahead. I'm getting reraised preflop if he had an overpair; he doesn't have two pair. If he has a set, so be it, but that just isn't consistent with this mini-raise. Well that's not true, but I don't mind paying sets off.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
MP ($433.3)
Button ($469)
Hero ($537)
BB ($354.94)
UTG ($426.54)
Preflop: Hero is SB with As, Th. Hero posts a blind of $3.
3 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $15, BB calls $12.
Flop: ($36) Ts, 4s, 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $30, BB raises to $70, Hero raises to $244.2, BB is all-in, Hero calls $92.74.
Turn: ($442.94) 8s (2 players)
River: ($442.94) 7s (2 players)
Final Pot: $442.94
I start toying with super-passive-tight to my right:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($316.3)
Button ($979.04)
SB ($511.8)
Hero ($970.59)
UTG ($138.5)
MP ($0)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 8s, 4c. SB posts a blind of $3.
2 folds, SB (poster) raises to $9, Hero calls $6.
Flop: ($24) Ts, Jc, 9d (4 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6.
Turn: ($36) 8c (4 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6.
River: ($48) Qd (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $46, SB folds.
Final Pot: $94
Villain: thats as stupid as u are
Hero: ty
Super-passive-tight is tight, and his raises signal real hand strength. But usually its not really worth it to call, even in position, because you aren’t getting paid off. This conversation, however, seems to indicate that things have changed a little ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($270.3)
MP ($987.29)
CO ($527.5)
Hero ($1174.59)
SB ($252.6)
BB ($310)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 9h, Th. SB posts a blind of $3.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO raises to $16, Hero calls $16, 2 folds, MP calls $10.
Flop: ($57) 9d, 9s, 3c (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($57) 4c (3 players)
MP checks, CO bets $22, Hero raises to $100, MP folds, CO calls $78.
River: ($257) 7s (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $255, CO calls $255.
Final Pot: $767
Hero has 9h Th (three of a kind, nines).
CO has Qh Qs (two pair, queens and nines).
Outcome: Hero wins $767.
I did not know such passive creatures existed. And I was wrong. I expected to take his entire stack on such exact hands. I probably even missed value since he can't get away from a flop bet and turn bet and river bet; can he?
So much for my theory of table image.
The rest of my earnings came from observing a certain players loving tendency to always bet pot when he took the lead in the hand, on some of the scariest boards possible. So I checked to him on the river with a made flush and raised pot after his expected bet. Plz to pay my frush Mr.rivered-two-pairs!
Playerd 75 hands before going to program today. My table image started off very aggressive. First, I raised out of the SB, then potted to a field of two on a AK9 flop. Then another raise and uncontested flop. I decided that these factors + BB's simplistic play style meant that in this hand I had to be ahead. I'm getting reraised preflop if he had an overpair; he doesn't have two pair. If he has a set, so be it, but that just isn't consistent with this mini-raise. Well that's not true, but I don't mind paying sets off.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
MP ($433.3)
Button ($469)
Hero ($537)
BB ($354.94)
UTG ($426.54)
Preflop: Hero is SB with As, Th. Hero posts a blind of $3.
3 folds, Hero (poster) raises to $15, BB calls $12.
Flop: ($36) Ts, 4s, 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $30, BB raises to $70, Hero raises to $244.2, BB is all-in, Hero calls $92.74.
Turn: ($442.94) 8s (2 players)
River: ($442.94) 7s (2 players)
Final Pot: $442.94
I start toying with super-passive-tight to my right:
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
CO ($316.3)
Button ($979.04)
SB ($511.8)
Hero ($970.59)
UTG ($138.5)
MP ($0)
Preflop: Hero is BB with 8s, 4c. SB posts a blind of $3.
2 folds, SB (poster) raises to $9, Hero calls $6.
Flop: ($24) Ts, Jc, 9d (4 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6.
Turn: ($36) 8c (4 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6.
River: ($48) Qd (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $46, SB folds.
Final Pot: $94
Villain: thats as stupid as u are
Hero: ty
Super-passive-tight is tight, and his raises signal real hand strength. But usually its not really worth it to call, even in position, because you aren’t getting paid off. This conversation, however, seems to indicate that things have changed a little ...
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 6 handed) converter
UTG ($270.3)
MP ($987.29)
CO ($527.5)
Hero ($1174.59)
SB ($252.6)
BB ($310)
Preflop: Hero is Button with 9h, Th. SB posts a blind of $3.
1 fold, MP calls $6, CO raises to $16, Hero calls $16, 2 folds, MP calls $10.
Flop: ($57) 9d, 9s, 3c (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero checks.
Turn: ($57) 4c (3 players)
MP checks, CO bets $22, Hero raises to $100, MP folds, CO calls $78.
River: ($257) 7s (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $255, CO calls $255.
Final Pot: $767
Hero has 9h Th (three of a kind, nines).
CO has Qh Qs (two pair, queens and nines).
Outcome: Hero wins $767.
I did not know such passive creatures existed. And I was wrong. I expected to take his entire stack on such exact hands. I probably even missed value since he can't get away from a flop bet and turn bet and river bet; can he?
So much for my theory of table image.
The rest of my earnings came from observing a certain players loving tendency to always bet pot when he took the lead in the hand, on some of the scariest boards possible. So I checked to him on the river with a made flush and raised pot after his expected bet. Plz to pay my frush Mr.rivered-two-pairs!
Monday, March 28, 2005
Position matters
BR: $24,061
Evenish day. This hand cost me. My ability to read bluffs at this limit seems only outmatched by the total transparency of my own bluffs. I've had 0% success setting up bluffs. A river check-raise is probably the only convincing line given the decision to bet pot on the flop and check the turn. When I played this hand I was sure villain had a really weak hand ... but now I'm seeing the big problem.
I really dislike how I played this hand. Basically villain was getting very aggressive, and I wanted to punish his persistent raising. I thought he would fold to a flop pot-bet, especially on that board. But given the way this hand panned out, villain can have any hand range from the nuts to 6-high and so I can't call. Yuck.
Position matters.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($539)
BB ($78.4)
UTG ($138.9)
MP ($1612.55)
Button ($441)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Kc, Ad. Hero posts a blind of $3.
1 fold, MP raises to $12, 1 fold, Hero (poster) raises to $37, 1 fold, MP calls $28.
Flop: ($86) 3h, 4s, Td (2 players)
Hero bets $84, MP calls $84.
Turn: ($254) Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.
River: ($254) Th (2 players)
Hero bets $252, MP raises to $1008, Hero folds.
Final Pot: $1514
Evenish day. This hand cost me. My ability to read bluffs at this limit seems only outmatched by the total transparency of my own bluffs. I've had 0% success setting up bluffs. A river check-raise is probably the only convincing line given the decision to bet pot on the flop and check the turn. When I played this hand I was sure villain had a really weak hand ... but now I'm seeing the big problem.
I really dislike how I played this hand. Basically villain was getting very aggressive, and I wanted to punish his persistent raising. I thought he would fold to a flop pot-bet, especially on that board. But given the way this hand panned out, villain can have any hand range from the nuts to 6-high and so I can't call. Yuck.
Position matters.
Party Poker Pot-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 5 handed) converter
Hero ($539)
BB ($78.4)
UTG ($138.9)
MP ($1612.55)
Button ($441)
Preflop: Hero is SB with Kc, Ad. Hero posts a blind of $3.
1 fold, MP raises to $12, 1 fold, Hero (poster) raises to $37, 1 fold, MP calls $28.
Flop: ($86) 3h, 4s, Td (2 players)
Hero bets $84, MP calls $84.
Turn: ($254) Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.
River: ($254) Th (2 players)
Hero bets $252, MP raises to $1008, Hero folds.
Final Pot: $1514
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Testing
1, 2, 3...
I began playing poker at the beginning of my Junior year (2003) when all my buddies in the Chess club, along with the rest of the Moneymaker-pipe-dream-obsessed world, started to pick up the game. The instructional lessons of chess they used to give me on weekends slowly shifted to hold 'em, and mid-way through Fall semester I cashed in my first 100$ into Party Poker and played NL25$. I busted by the ended of the semester.
Spring semester I took a shot again, and hung tight around 200~300$. When summer break started, I broke 1000$ while playing NL50$ tables at Gary's place. It was quite possibly the single most exciting win I've had in my poker career.
I struggled a bit over the summer, and ended up giving up with the conclusion that my previous run had been just luck. But two weeks before the start of school I found another rush/revelation -- I'm still not sure which -- and made about 5000$ playing the NL100$ 6-max tables. I was on an insane run where I was all-in every 30-ish hands, and usually as a 75%+ favorite.
I continued to do well at the NL100$ tables, but with class and other things I ended up slowing down the pace. I took some nasty spills in December, and changing gears to play Limit with 2/4$, 5/10$, 10/20$ and 30/3$ Sit n' Go tournaments all ended in disaster. I blew another grand or so in Vegas on poker.
January 2005 started off as a bad new year, taking even more hits as I suffered another massively negative run. At one point I had maybe 300$ in the account while playing in 4 tournaments. 3 of thouse tournaments were 100/9$ SNGs and I did OK; the last one was a 500/35$ multi-table step tournament. I placed in that one to qualify for the 1000/65$. And I came second in the 1000/65$ for a 4500$ win, which erased my last two negative months entirely. But talk about rolling the dice. If I failed to win that one, I was down to where I had started at the beginning of the school year.
I continued to play tournaments through January and Feburary -- mostly 100/9$s and 200/15$s. I was on a regular pace, and then I took another ugly spill, dropping something like 3000$ in a single sitting at the 200/15s. I think I ran into 3 sets with top-two to start the session off.
I took yet another break away from the game, and started looking at other sites to branch out. I started playing the NL200 games at Prima; thought about redepositing at Stars and cashing into UB. But as I was investigating other options, Party opened their NL 1000$ tables and changed their blind structure. I played NL 1000$ quite literally the morning these changes took effect. I think I did okay, but calling with AK to a river all in on a 1.8k pot had my heart beating so fast I couldn't even look a the screen when I called. That was way too high for me to be sailing, and I quickly decided that I needed to play lower.
I settled into the 400$ and 600$ tables; and happened to start playing PL since the average pot sizes seemed to be larger. As I continued to play the game I realized the limitations on betting sizes really suited my game. It game more room to read players, and less opportunities to make large overbets both as payoff and bluff strategies.
My first session at the 600$s brought me +2k; I stopped after losing a 1.8k pot that should have put me at +4k -- but my opponent rivered quads against my made boat after getting all in on the turn. Upsetting, but that week I continued to do well. And PL600$ has become my staple bread and butter. I've been having a really good month, but the last few days have petered off.
I began playing poker at the beginning of my Junior year (2003) when all my buddies in the Chess club, along with the rest of the Moneymaker-pipe-dream-obsessed world, started to pick up the game. The instructional lessons of chess they used to give me on weekends slowly shifted to hold 'em, and mid-way through Fall semester I cashed in my first 100$ into Party Poker and played NL25$. I busted by the ended of the semester.
Spring semester I took a shot again, and hung tight around 200~300$. When summer break started, I broke 1000$ while playing NL50$ tables at Gary's place. It was quite possibly the single most exciting win I've had in my poker career.
I struggled a bit over the summer, and ended up giving up with the conclusion that my previous run had been just luck. But two weeks before the start of school I found another rush/revelation -- I'm still not sure which -- and made about 5000$ playing the NL100$ 6-max tables. I was on an insane run where I was all-in every 30-ish hands, and usually as a 75%+ favorite.
I continued to do well at the NL100$ tables, but with class and other things I ended up slowing down the pace. I took some nasty spills in December, and changing gears to play Limit with 2/4$, 5/10$, 10/20$ and 30/3$ Sit n' Go tournaments all ended in disaster. I blew another grand or so in Vegas on poker.
January 2005 started off as a bad new year, taking even more hits as I suffered another massively negative run. At one point I had maybe 300$ in the account while playing in 4 tournaments. 3 of thouse tournaments were 100/9$ SNGs and I did OK; the last one was a 500/35$ multi-table step tournament. I placed in that one to qualify for the 1000/65$. And I came second in the 1000/65$ for a 4500$ win, which erased my last two negative months entirely. But talk about rolling the dice. If I failed to win that one, I was down to where I had started at the beginning of the school year.
I continued to play tournaments through January and Feburary -- mostly 100/9$s and 200/15$s. I was on a regular pace, and then I took another ugly spill, dropping something like 3000$ in a single sitting at the 200/15s. I think I ran into 3 sets with top-two to start the session off.
I took yet another break away from the game, and started looking at other sites to branch out. I started playing the NL200 games at Prima; thought about redepositing at Stars and cashing into UB. But as I was investigating other options, Party opened their NL 1000$ tables and changed their blind structure. I played NL 1000$ quite literally the morning these changes took effect. I think I did okay, but calling with AK to a river all in on a 1.8k pot had my heart beating so fast I couldn't even look a the screen when I called. That was way too high for me to be sailing, and I quickly decided that I needed to play lower.
I settled into the 400$ and 600$ tables; and happened to start playing PL since the average pot sizes seemed to be larger. As I continued to play the game I realized the limitations on betting sizes really suited my game. It game more room to read players, and less opportunities to make large overbets both as payoff and bluff strategies.
My first session at the 600$s brought me +2k; I stopped after losing a 1.8k pot that should have put me at +4k -- but my opponent rivered quads against my made boat after getting all in on the turn. Upsetting, but that week I continued to do well. And PL600$ has become my staple bread and butter. I've been having a really good month, but the last few days have petered off.
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