Recap November 2007

As I mentioned in a prior post, I'm training for the upcoming local bracelet event dubbed the Conshohocken Classic. We expect between 32-40 top players from this area. I've been training hard for this event. I'm at a big disadvantage to my younger foes online, as I can only hit the felt when my family's needs are met and in bed, so it means some late-ish nites for me. This week I managed to get some early starts at some MTTs sized about the same as the expected turnout for the Conshohocken Classic, and with good results: 7/8 final tables with 5 ITM finishes (still no wins).
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11/24/07
Finished 2/27 ITM
Tonight, underdog hands did some real damage. One outcome was in my favor, the other two cost me first place. This beat really hurt because I really wanted to nail down an MTT first place.

A one-outer in my favor: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1736125
I reraise here because the table was playing back at all my standard raises with what seemed like ATC. I knew I was behind after his reraise, so I was clearly lucky here. I overplayed this PP but I was way ahead of the table's range. The flush draw on top made it a one-outer. OP was furious and went on a tirade afterwards. Soon afterwards, I got the best of him with these nice hands
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1736126 (note his chat)
and
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1736128

but down to heads up, this cost me first place: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1736220

and it's over with this: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1736235

I'm not enjoying playing at PokerStars. Rather than gripe about it here, I'll write up a more complete comparison with FullTilt in another post. But in short, I just don't see why so many players like it. That's NOT to say I won't accept an endorsement from them when I'm at the TV table of a WPT event!
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11/27/07
I feel like I'm playing well - I get my chips in way good, only to lose to significant underdogs. At this point I can only keep plugging away and trying to incorporate my newly refined strategy.
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11/28/07
Finished 3/45 ITM,
Played reasonably well. Early and middle games were pretty strong, end game was acceptable (which is a big improvement for me). Had two blind steals blow up on me (was played back at very strongly), and passed on two good opportunities to steal, otherwise I may have done better.
11/28/07
Finished 21/162 ITM 5-card draw (limit). I was in 4th pretty deep, but in 9th place, my son got ill in his sleep and I had to attend to him. I sat out until I was down to a couple big blinds. I was surprised I floated ITM. I haven't played this game in 25 years! It's the game I played most as a teen, and I admit I've forgotten how to think strategically. Correct that - I didn't think strategically back then either, so I'm learning now. But after such a long haitus, I'm really enjoying it. Chalk one up for PokerStars! My only issue is that the PL tournament is too early in the evening for me (there is no NL offered), and I don't enjoy limit, but I'm making an exception since I really like 5-card draw.
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11/29/07
Final tabled 2 45-MTTs but did not place ITM. Very disappointed in this outcome. I played short-stack well (fought back to average) only to bust as the favorite in both tourneys. I lost an unhealthy amount of chips to resteals and OPs playing back at me, which seems to happen more and more as the average player is exposed more and more to teaching that advocates aggression. Players are simply willing to bust out with ATC, as long as they are being aggressive.
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11/30/07
Finished 6/45 ITM when my AT lost to KJ. If I win that showdown, I'm back in it at a strong 3rd. The significance of this tourney was that I fought back from down to 790 very early. I played the short stack great, and my end game was pretty good. I definitely see some improvement taking place.


this week demonstrates that playing reasonably well still does result in profitability.

11/11 played the Sunday night CP forum private tourney. i was very happy with the quality of play, and i think i played well. one hand i think i should have called all in but i folded. i posted the hand for review by the forum gurus. we'll see what they say. i eventually bubbled at 4th when my AA was cracked by KK. i called the BB UTG knowing LP would raise. i bet out the flop and shoved the turn but was already beat by the flopped K. anyway i don't see a need to continue playing these CP tourneys, as the turnout is really low. i'd rather grind away at the 45s in preparation for the upcoming Conshohocken Classic.

11/8 returned from a Diwali feast in time to play my first CP forum private tournament. i've benefited from reading hand posts from those forums and have even started to follow some of their blogs, so i thought i would join them. it was a 6-max rebuy MTT but turnout seemed very low - i'll have to give it another try. i suppose my expectations were different. stakes were so low that it incentivized everyone to shove with wide ranges the first hour. the structure didn't incentivize anyone to play in the methodical & thoughtful way reflected in their forum posts. i knocked out one of my favorite posters - how ironic. i made it down to heads up and then gave my chips away to a well concealed KK played nicely by villain. i should have rethought that decision a little more, but i was tired and didn't want to agonize over it.

11/5 won 2 out of 3 heads-up matches. wasn't sure how long i would have to play this night so i chose heads up. might stick with this to see if i can make a run. i don't usually play heads up -not even in MTTs !

11/4 busted all five tourneys i entered. not even worth blogging about.

11/2 ITM 5/45

11/2 it looks like the Conshohocken Classic will be Jan 12 2008. More on this to come...

On Turning Pro

I applaud Shannon Shorr's candidness in his recent blog entry in which he talks about being a pro. Many pros admit to burnout and the need to enrich their lives with something other than playing cards.

Here is a snippet from Shannon's blog - please refer to the above link for it's proper context.

I thought I had what it takes to play poker professionally, but I'm starting to doubt myself. One thing is for sure. This game isn't for the weak. All of you kids who are thinking about dropping out of school and doing this...think again. Most of you will be done before you ever even get started. I'm not enjoying playing full-time one bit.

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Here are some excellent thoughts to consider before turning professional: http://plan3tgongpoker.blogspot.com/2007/11/thoughts-on-becoming-poker-pro.html

and some very good thoughts about leaving poker as a profession:
http://www.thepokerchronicles.com/archives/000947.html
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Here I share my own personal thoughts on turning pro.

Pride goeth before destruction

I was out of town this weekend and drove past a firehouse that advertised a texas holdem tournament the third Saturday of every month. I checked my cell phone calendar as I drove by - sweet! I inquired within of the details - a five table tourney with a single add-on upon registration. A whopping 28% rake for the firehouse - high, but for a good cause, I reasoned! I had some free time, so I decided to enter.

I saw the usual hodge-podge of young hot-shots, donning the typical baggy pants, baseball caps, bling-bling, with girlfriend in tow. I was amazed at the turnout - young and elderly alike. I started to profile each one. "No way he's read Harrington" I mused. "For sure she's never even heard of Annette Obrestad," I jested. I smirked as I imagine myself as Fast Eddie Felson on a hustling road trip. "These people won't know what hit them."

I was delighted to see Tournament Director software in use, but I couldn't keep well-enough alone. I immediately started to give some advice to the organizer on how to run a better tournament. "You know, if you had two decks at a table, the other deck could be ready without taking time to shuffle between hands," I advised. "Oh it moves fast enough - 95% of the people here tonight play here every month," he replies.

I'm assigned a seat at table 1 in the cutoff and arrange my 5K stack. The very first hand I pick up AQo. MP limps, girl to my right limps, I raise 4bb, both call. Flop comes xxQ. Check, check, I c-bet, MP folds, girl calls. Turn blanks, girl bets 400. Hmmm. I slow down and call. River blank, girl bets 400, I call. She turns over KK. She slow-played KK on the very first hand. WHAT!!!!!! I'm down 1200 already.

I fold hands 2 & 3. Hand #3 is won by a guy across from me with AK who did not add-on. He added to his 2.5K nicely against EP A7o. Ah the weak Ace - exactly how I figured the tournament would be. I just know tight-aggressive will work here. I'm gonna win!!!!

Hand 4 I pick up KK UTG. Sweet - my 1200 is coming back home. I raise 2xBB. Guy across makes it 300 to go and it folds to me. I make it 1000. He goes all in. I think of Phil Gordon - "the 4th raise is Aces". Yeah but not in this rinky-dink firehouse. Not here. Not now. I remember my oath to always go broke with KK. I unashamedly call. His AA holds up and I'm out. I don't survive even a single orbit. I never post a blind. I never get to shuffle the cards. The great King of Prussia is really just the Joker of North East Maryland. It's a good thing they weren't using two decks - I would have busted out in half the time!

What a wretched, arrogant fool. The next time I'm taking the opposite approach - I'm curious to see where it gets me. Maybe there's something to be said for humility after all.