55 runners in the 1pm tourney. i sit down at a hyper-aggressive table with what seems to be a few regulars and some noobs. i was pretty card dead, and when i had some kind of hand (AJs etc) i ran into very coordinated boards and had to let them go. i think i won only a single hand all day, and that was a semi-bluff. i busted in level 5. all in all, i have to say that the play at AC is considerably better.
the highlight was really meeting my online mentor LuckyTown and eventually playing at the same table. neither of us cashed in the tourney. i played a six-max SnG and chop/won it.
i was up decent in a cash game but lost AA to K3s to one of those guys playing any suited cards looking for flush draws.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
January 2009 Borgata Recap
Borgata 12pm
191 runners, 10k starting stacks.
Break #1 18k. Doubled up on: 4 limpers at 50/100 i pop to 400 in sb. one caller - UTG sammy farha type, similar in age, personality, and ethnicity. nice fun-going guy. all others fold. sammy was late, missed perhaps 5 orbits. he actively splashed around after joining the table and has about 8k+. i had increased my stack to about 13k. Flop 899. I lead 800 (about 2/3 pot). sammy asks how much i have behind LOL. he calls. turn 5, i check, he bets 2200. i tank and feel confident in a read. i raise to 5000, he calls. river 6, he shoves, i insta-call and he should know that based on my bet sizing. i show TT he shows KTo for a busted bluff.
Break #2 short update from the loo. stack about 30k just trying to play smart. Some weak players at the table. Down to approx 95 players.
Break #3. Less than 10bb, down to 38. Too many interesting hands to recount here. Passed on a race and had a premium hand lose. i also bet table CL off a hand in which i should have extracted my full house for value, but i was playing for his whole stack and wanted to represent a flush draw, hoping he puts me all in, but he folded. Got lucky also JJ vs QQ we both flop sets but i river a flush.
Busto at 32. not a bad run but a few changes and i could have gone deeper. over all, i think i can now hang with the friday crowd.
i played 1/2NL with a bunch of young guys, including a talkative German guy (i like many things about Germany), and just had a blast. i played many more hands, particularly those that play well multi-way, and it paid off. i recovered about half my tournament entry fee.
191 runners, 10k starting stacks.
Break #1 18k. Doubled up on: 4 limpers at 50/100 i pop to 400 in sb. one caller - UTG sammy farha type, similar in age, personality, and ethnicity. nice fun-going guy. all others fold. sammy was late, missed perhaps 5 orbits. he actively splashed around after joining the table and has about 8k+. i had increased my stack to about 13k. Flop 899. I lead 800 (about 2/3 pot). sammy asks how much i have behind LOL. he calls. turn 5, i check, he bets 2200. i tank and feel confident in a read. i raise to 5000, he calls. river 6, he shoves, i insta-call and he should know that based on my bet sizing. i show TT he shows KTo for a busted bluff.
Break #2 short update from the loo. stack about 30k just trying to play smart. Some weak players at the table. Down to approx 95 players.
Break #3. Less than 10bb, down to 38. Too many interesting hands to recount here. Passed on a race and had a premium hand lose. i also bet table CL off a hand in which i should have extracted my full house for value, but i was playing for his whole stack and wanted to represent a flush draw, hoping he puts me all in, but he folded. Got lucky also JJ vs QQ we both flop sets but i river a flush.
Busto at 32. not a bad run but a few changes and i could have gone deeper. over all, i think i can now hang with the friday crowd.
i played 1/2NL with a bunch of young guys, including a talkative German guy (i like many things about Germany), and just had a blast. i played many more hands, particularly those that play well multi-way, and it paid off. i recovered about half my tournament entry fee.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
January 2009 Recap
1/31/09
2/45 ITM losts QTs v 66 flush draw on board. good HU foe.
1/112 ITM for a token. too bad it wasn't a true tourney, as i took actual first when it shut down.
1/30/09
i'm losing JJ < AKo 3 times in a row now. i'm losing most races and most all dominated hands. this just has to turn around.
1/29/09
as further proof that i am inherently unlucky, i took some winnings and played a higher buy-in: the 10pm big double. i didn't know what to expect as far as play, but very early on in each tourney (perhaps level 2) i get JJ, i raise it up, i get re-raised, and i shove all in and get called - by the SAME villain! in one tourney he tables AKo and hits, in the other he tables A4s and hits. i try my luck at a higher 45 and run two pair into a set. finally, i return to my bread-and-butter to finish 8/45 but lost a number of key races to keep me OTM. i'm not giving up on the higher level - i'm happy to race in those spots.
1/28/09
4/45 ITM
6/45 ITM
i final-tabled two 45s simultaneously. i played aggressive and smart, got into trouble once in each one by getting 3-bet when i raised light. in one, i ran AKs into QQ that improved to QQQQ. but i finish ITM when AQo beats K6s from CL who didn't mind calling my shove. i'm crippled when i shove KQo < 77. in the other game i get QQQQ myself but there are no knockouts to help me move up. down to 6 i shove JJ < QKo. this is the kind of night i have in mind when i sit down to play, although i could/should have finished higher IMO.
1/27/09
70/1602 ITM
at 1:42am, this is how i am rewarded for going so deep. it's so not worth playing MTTs unless you are under 25 years old. and mind you, this was the THIRD overpair that lost to an underpair long after the bubble burst.
1/25/09
2/9 ITM
7/45 bubble boy
returned from vaca to multi-table two tourneys. the SnG i think i could have won but i was busy final-tabling a 45, which i ultimately bubbled. i was the CL down to 8 when i pick up 99 in LP and IronMan/pro with half my stack overshoves, which i take to be AK so i decide to race. he was suited and hit his flush on the river. shortly thereafter i sense weakness in a MP limp and shove my 6bb with A8s, only to be called by the donk who has me slightly outstacked. his JTs flops a J and i'm out. you just can't play JTs any worse than that. my game was on but it's not enough in poker. this is when i usually feel like quitting - i don't do the volume to just shake off beats. every time i play, i play to win it, and it's no fun staying up late just to bubble.
1/16/09
1/45 ITM
just played one tourney tonight, fighting a cold and falling asleep. after the prior night's horrible coolers and beats, i notch a victory against a tough, successful player.
1/8/09
6/27 bubble boy.
1/6/09
9/90 ITM
7/45 ITM
an ice storm knocked me out of two tournaments. usually i have an adequate backup via my HTC FUZE/3G cell phone which can act as a wireless wifi router, but i was foolish to not have the battery fully charged. no problem - i can tether my Samsung Blackjack1/3G to my laptop for a connection. aahhrrgg i left the sync cable at work. i decide to go to the car to charge the FUZE, so i made the trek across my ice-covered driveway in my robe and survived the ice pelting and scorn from my teenagers, but i had busted by the time i was back online. immediately following this escapade, the power came back. too bad - i was deep in each of these tournaments. why go through the effort of having a backup system if i don't keep the backup system ready to go?
i entered another two turbos and manged to get the last paying spot in each. were it not for some bad beats, i could have recovered nicely from the disconnects bust outs.
i'm likely to not play until friday borgata and try to catch up on sleep before then.
1/3/09
2/90 ITM
an absolute heart-breaker against someone from Norway who stayed up all night and played 45o and hit a straight against my paired AQ. i really wanted to notch this victory on PS as i hardly ever win there. i have noticed a big difference in play in some tournaments so maybe there's hope for me if i can profile the table a little better.
54/402 in the 9pm R+A. my streak of donking off my chips in this tournament continues. all i had to do was look at the payout and i could have finished ITM but i spaced out. this is why i remain just average. just a poor play by me.
1/2/09
4/45 ITM
18/180 ITM
96/242
dropped down in buy-in on PS and the play is horrible down there. got a bad beat in the PS 9pm R+A.
1/1/09
played really well multi-tabling but in the end exhaustion got the best of me and i made some donk calls. a shame too - i was 5th in the PS 9pm R+A with a great table image and poised to make a decent run, but ultimately i made a poor decision. lesson learned.
2/45 ITM losts QTs v 66 flush draw on board. good HU foe.
1/112 ITM for a token. too bad it wasn't a true tourney, as i took actual first when it shut down.
1/30/09
i'm losing JJ < AKo 3 times in a row now. i'm losing most races and most all dominated hands. this just has to turn around.
1/29/09
as further proof that i am inherently unlucky, i took some winnings and played a higher buy-in: the 10pm big double. i didn't know what to expect as far as play, but very early on in each tourney (perhaps level 2) i get JJ, i raise it up, i get re-raised, and i shove all in and get called - by the SAME villain! in one tourney he tables AKo and hits, in the other he tables A4s and hits. i try my luck at a higher 45 and run two pair into a set. finally, i return to my bread-and-butter to finish 8/45 but lost a number of key races to keep me OTM. i'm not giving up on the higher level - i'm happy to race in those spots.
1/28/09
4/45 ITM
6/45 ITM
i final-tabled two 45s simultaneously. i played aggressive and smart, got into trouble once in each one by getting 3-bet when i raised light. in one, i ran AKs into QQ that improved to QQQQ. but i finish ITM when AQo beats K6s from CL who didn't mind calling my shove. i'm crippled when i shove KQo < 77. in the other game i get QQQQ myself but there are no knockouts to help me move up. down to 6 i shove JJ < QKo. this is the kind of night i have in mind when i sit down to play, although i could/should have finished higher IMO.
1/27/09
70/1602 ITM
Thats why volume is important. If u can squeeze that bad streak of 300 tourneys into one week u wont be depressed for as long as someone who plays 2 tourneys a day and always complains about running bad. -Annette_15
at 1:42am, this is how i am rewarded for going so deep. it's so not worth playing MTTs unless you are under 25 years old. and mind you, this was the THIRD overpair that lost to an underpair long after the bubble burst.
1/25/09
2/9 ITM
7/45 bubble boy
returned from vaca to multi-table two tourneys. the SnG i think i could have won but i was busy final-tabling a 45, which i ultimately bubbled. i was the CL down to 8 when i pick up 99 in LP and IronMan/pro with half my stack overshoves, which i take to be AK so i decide to race. he was suited and hit his flush on the river. shortly thereafter i sense weakness in a MP limp and shove my 6bb with A8s, only to be called by the donk who has me slightly outstacked. his JTs flops a J and i'm out. you just can't play JTs any worse than that. my game was on but it's not enough in poker. this is when i usually feel like quitting - i don't do the volume to just shake off beats. every time i play, i play to win it, and it's no fun staying up late just to bubble.
1/16/09
1/45 ITM
just played one tourney tonight, fighting a cold and falling asleep. after the prior night's horrible coolers and beats, i notch a victory against a tough, successful player.
1/8/09
6/27 bubble boy.
1/6/09
9/90 ITM
7/45 ITM
an ice storm knocked me out of two tournaments. usually i have an adequate backup via my HTC FUZE/3G cell phone which can act as a wireless wifi router, but i was foolish to not have the battery fully charged. no problem - i can tether my Samsung Blackjack1/3G to my laptop for a connection. aahhrrgg i left the sync cable at work. i decide to go to the car to charge the FUZE, so i made the trek across my ice-covered driveway in my robe and survived the ice pelting and scorn from my teenagers, but i had busted by the time i was back online. immediately following this escapade, the power came back. too bad - i was deep in each of these tournaments. why go through the effort of having a backup system if i don't keep the backup system ready to go?
i entered another two turbos and manged to get the last paying spot in each. were it not for some bad beats, i could have recovered nicely from the disconnects bust outs.
i'm likely to not play until friday borgata and try to catch up on sleep before then.
1/3/09
2/90 ITM
an absolute heart-breaker against someone from Norway who stayed up all night and played 45o and hit a straight against my paired AQ. i really wanted to notch this victory on PS as i hardly ever win there. i have noticed a big difference in play in some tournaments so maybe there's hope for me if i can profile the table a little better.
54/402 in the 9pm R+A. my streak of donking off my chips in this tournament continues. all i had to do was look at the payout and i could have finished ITM but i spaced out. this is why i remain just average. just a poor play by me.
1/2/09
4/45 ITM
18/180 ITM
96/242
dropped down in buy-in on PS and the play is horrible down there. got a bad beat in the PS 9pm R+A.
1/1/09
played really well multi-tabling but in the end exhaustion got the best of me and i made some donk calls. a shame too - i was 5th in the PS 9pm R+A with a great table image and poised to make a decent run, but ultimately i made a poor decision. lesson learned.
2009 Goals
last year i exceeded my goals, winning the FTP 45 numerous times, winning a 90KO, winning/cashing a casino MTT a few times, and working with a mentor.
my goals for 2009 are:
improve post-flop play
begin thinking about more variables and putting the pieces together
final table a PokerStars 180
final table a MTT > 400 (24th is my best)
qualify for the WSOP ME via satellite or steps
cash in a casino large MTT (31st is my best)
win one of the two scheduled Conshy Classics
my goals for 2009 are:
improve post-flop play
begin thinking about more variables and putting the pieces together
final table a PokerStars 180
final table a MTT > 400 (24th is my best)
qualify for the WSOP ME via satellite or steps
cash in a casino large MTT (31st is my best)
win one of the two scheduled Conshy Classics
Monday, December 29, 2008
December 2008 Recap
12/31/08
4/45 ITM
7/45 bubble
i played so well in each of the 4 tourneys yet only managed 4th and the bubble always hurts. ran A9s into 55 BvB gutsy call by him on the bubble. would like to have ended the year better.
12/28/08
2/45 ITM
5/27 ITM
2/18 ITM
i busted out of the 9pm R&A by running A3 into A9 board AAx9x gg him. i then proceeded to multi-table 3 tourneys and got deep in all three of them when my two year old woke up ill. i am in the dog house for a long long time since QueenPrussia had to tend to the little guy alone. i have walked away from tourneys a number of times due to home crises, but i have been running bad and really wanted to mount a comeback of sorts. if it's any consolation, i did bust out of the 27 once the bubble broke.
there were some interesting hands on the night and i was getting slammed big time in the chat window by "professors" getting picked off on bluffs. i will try to look some up and report them here. i was happy to see that the PS moderator now intervenes almost immediately to chastise the offender, so i didn't have to send a follow-up email. it seems that generation "P" (as i like to call them) are reading books which tout being aggressive as the great neutralizer. they are hoping for fold equity but if they would actually finish reading the books they would learn that there is an equilibrium point and that if they are going to shove wide, they should be expected (at some point) to be called wide. i'm starting to recognize the pattern more and more, and although i'm wrong sometimes, i'm also right often enough to make it profitable. someone once told Doyle Brunson "how could you call that" to which he replied "how could you bet that." classic!
12/27/08
AA back to back in the PS180. first time it holds nicely, second time it loses to 74 LOL. lost every single 70/30 domination and got rivered numerous times. horrible beats. not a good night at all.
12/26/08
3/18 ITM AA < KQo obv
was deep in 3 other tourneys but got bad beats in all 3. morale is low again. i'm back in the "it's all luck" camp.
12/25/08
13/45 called all in from BB when SB shoved and we were both at 10bb. i was trying to pick off a bluff with my K6o but shover had AQo. kind of dumb but i see a lot of players bluff shove in that spot.
458/1213
was very deep in the FTP 28k but KK < AKs flush obv
8/45 final table but not ITM. A8 ran into KK, i flop the A but river is K gg me.
in other action, i lost a number of races tonight in key hands, so nothing to show for my time.
12/23/08
Home Game results
Game #1: 1.DL 2.SH 3.RW
Game #2: 1.SH 2.BS 3.RW
Game #3: 1.RG 2.BL 3.BS
made a few mistakes by not shoving certain starting hands at certain M-levels where i was probably ahead. lost a tough runner-runner flush in game #2 that would have given me a huge CL. couldn't get anything going in game #3. thanks to DL,BL,RG for sitting in for missing regulars - it paid off nicely for them.
12/19/08
i continue to struggle on PokerStars and do not know why there is such a difference in play between FullTilt and PokerStars. My experience and observations don't point to anything conclusive. For example, just when I think I can conclude that on PS players call you much tighter, I run into a guy calling me with K3o, so when the board comes K45rb, i'm inclined to think my JJ is good and that his reraise is a bluff. Not so.
12/17/08
The blogament and the PxF subscriber tournaments were both frought with my toddler climbing all over me while trying to play, and as expected, the results were dismal. I'm hoping his sleep schedule adjusts and so i can get back on track. We may pull off a home game 12/22/08.
12/10/08
6/27 bubble boy. shoved AKo into CL 88 who limped UTG. PokerStars is obviously rigged. this was probably an ICM blunder of major proportions.
36/441 ITM in the 9pm PS RR+A, of course 88 < AQo i never win races when they matter. would have been in the top 10 with ~40 to go.
12/6/08
1/45 ITM that's 4 firsts and 1 second in my last 11 tries. looks like PokerXfactor is worth it after all.
12/1/08
2/45 ITM
unreal. heads up i flop a set and the guy rivers a wheel. if i dodge 4 outs i notch another victory.
4/45 ITM
7/45 bubble
i played so well in each of the 4 tourneys yet only managed 4th and the bubble always hurts. ran A9s into 55 BvB gutsy call by him on the bubble. would like to have ended the year better.
12/28/08
2/45 ITM
5/27 ITM
2/18 ITM
i busted out of the 9pm R&A by running A3 into A9 board AAx9x gg him. i then proceeded to multi-table 3 tourneys and got deep in all three of them when my two year old woke up ill. i am in the dog house for a long long time since QueenPrussia had to tend to the little guy alone. i have walked away from tourneys a number of times due to home crises, but i have been running bad and really wanted to mount a comeback of sorts. if it's any consolation, i did bust out of the 27 once the bubble broke.
there were some interesting hands on the night and i was getting slammed big time in the chat window by "professors" getting picked off on bluffs. i will try to look some up and report them here. i was happy to see that the PS moderator now intervenes almost immediately to chastise the offender, so i didn't have to send a follow-up email. it seems that generation "P" (as i like to call them) are reading books which tout being aggressive as the great neutralizer. they are hoping for fold equity but if they would actually finish reading the books they would learn that there is an equilibrium point and that if they are going to shove wide, they should be expected (at some point) to be called wide. i'm starting to recognize the pattern more and more, and although i'm wrong sometimes, i'm also right often enough to make it profitable. someone once told Doyle Brunson "how could you call that" to which he replied "how could you bet that." classic!
12/27/08
AA back to back in the PS180. first time it holds nicely, second time it loses to 74 LOL. lost every single 70/30 domination and got rivered numerous times. horrible beats. not a good night at all.
12/26/08
3/18 ITM AA < KQo obv
was deep in 3 other tourneys but got bad beats in all 3. morale is low again. i'm back in the "it's all luck" camp.
12/25/08
13/45 called all in from BB when SB shoved and we were both at 10bb. i was trying to pick off a bluff with my K6o but shover had AQo. kind of dumb but i see a lot of players bluff shove in that spot.
458/1213
was very deep in the FTP 28k but KK < AKs flush obv
8/45 final table but not ITM. A8 ran into KK, i flop the A but river is K gg me.
in other action, i lost a number of races tonight in key hands, so nothing to show for my time.
12/23/08
Home Game results
Game #1: 1.DL 2.SH 3.RW
Game #2: 1.SH 2.BS 3.RW
Game #3: 1.RG 2.BL 3.BS
made a few mistakes by not shoving certain starting hands at certain M-levels where i was probably ahead. lost a tough runner-runner flush in game #2 that would have given me a huge CL. couldn't get anything going in game #3. thanks to DL,BL,RG for sitting in for missing regulars - it paid off nicely for them.
12/19/08
i continue to struggle on PokerStars and do not know why there is such a difference in play between FullTilt and PokerStars. My experience and observations don't point to anything conclusive. For example, just when I think I can conclude that on PS players call you much tighter, I run into a guy calling me with K3o, so when the board comes K45rb, i'm inclined to think my JJ is good and that his reraise is a bluff. Not so.
12/17/08
The blogament and the PxF subscriber tournaments were both frought with my toddler climbing all over me while trying to play, and as expected, the results were dismal. I'm hoping his sleep schedule adjusts and so i can get back on track. We may pull off a home game 12/22/08.
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This PokerStars tournament is a No Limit Texas Hold’em event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 829001
12/10/08
6/27 bubble boy. shoved AKo into CL 88 who limped UTG. PokerStars is obviously rigged. this was probably an ICM blunder of major proportions.
36/441 ITM in the 9pm PS RR+A, of course 88 < AQo i never win races when they matter. would have been in the top 10 with ~40 to go.
12/6/08
1/45 ITM that's 4 firsts and 1 second in my last 11 tries. looks like PokerXfactor is worth it after all.
12/1/08
2/45 ITM
unreal. heads up i flop a set and the guy rivers a wheel. if i dodge 4 outs i notch another victory.
Friday, December 12, 2008
December 2008 Atlantic City recap
12/12/08
Showboat 11am tournament. 61 runners started. i'm feeling good after having a few good showings online. i feel this size tournament is tailored to my style.
first level i lost a tough hand to a regular. i had only showed down KK prior and my table image was tight. i was blind stealing and the dude called from the BB. i c-bet and he stayed around. i forget the rest but he turned a flush and showed 9c4c. how he stays in with that is beyond me. we tangled again when i raised 3bb from MP with TT and he called. flop Jxx. we do not fear a J here so i c-bet about 3/4 pot. he deliberates and says "i'm ahead here, you know that" (not taunting, just talking). he shoves and i insta-call. he asks if i have AKo to which I show the TT and he shows 99. I doubled up to 20k and there are 40 left at first break.
Break #2 i have 5bb and button. 19 players left. i can't remember much about this level, but i've clearly dried up. but i get moved to a new table and steal blinds successfully three times. once, from utg, guy to my left folds 99 - jeesh. i have a working stack. by the time i move to another table. one key hand helped me a great deal. UTG limps, MP limps, and I complete from SB with Ad6d, while BB checks. flop comes xdAhxd. i bet, BB folds, UTG folds, MP calls. turn 9d - i hit my flush. i show dismay and check, MP checks. river blank, i go into tank, thinking of a good value bet. my stack is awkward - any real bet seems strange, so i put it in. MP calls with AK. after he busted he took an interest in how i was doing - he respected my game and called me the professor. that's quite a compliment. he was a nice kid.
Final table, 8 left. Paying 6 spots. 3 of us have a similar short-stack, 2 other just a little more. I dried up last level. Made a number of mistakes - still not playing sharp. Too passive - missed some real opportunities.
We paid the bubble spot, and i really kick in my short stack play. i triple up, but I ultimately bubble when my A8s < A4o when CL flops a 4. So unreal. Why do we subject ourselves to such nonsense? the two other shorties just did not belong at the final table.
i'm starting to think that i'm probably better than the average recreational player (the demographic that i associate myself with). i've cashed in the showboat tournaments (including two chopped victories), and bubble-cashed a couple. i think i have an advantage at bet sizing, reading strength/weakness, and small stack play. however i still lack the testosterone to make crucial bets and take key stands in these live venues. for example in level 3, at 6BB, an UTG limper caused me to fold KQo from MP. not to be ROT but the flop came KxQ and i would have tripled up based on how the hand played out. i'll be working on this aspect of my game. i continue to do poorly at the borgata.
Borgata SnG
4/10
i played a SnG at the Borgata with 7 regulars, one of whom was drunk and arguing across the table with another regular. i thought the taj had spilled over some of its scum the way they were carrying on. the name calling was unbearable and the entire experience was awful. as far as the play was concerned, these regulars were acting faster than an online tournament. they were so battle-hardened that they needed no thought whatsoever. they were robotic in their blind stealing and raises. they played very similar to a cash game, wanting to see flops and alot of turn and river betting. i managed to knock out 3 players at once when my AK held to AJ,QK,KJ when i flop an Ace. we were quickly down to 4 when i took a stand all-in from my big blind with KQo against an aggro-raiser. she showed TT and i flopped a K but she turned a set to bump me.
Showboat 11am tournament. 61 runners started. i'm feeling good after having a few good showings online. i feel this size tournament is tailored to my style.
first level i lost a tough hand to a regular. i had only showed down KK prior and my table image was tight. i was blind stealing and the dude called from the BB. i c-bet and he stayed around. i forget the rest but he turned a flush and showed 9c4c. how he stays in with that is beyond me. we tangled again when i raised 3bb from MP with TT and he called. flop Jxx. we do not fear a J here so i c-bet about 3/4 pot. he deliberates and says "i'm ahead here, you know that" (not taunting, just talking). he shoves and i insta-call. he asks if i have AKo to which I show the TT and he shows 99. I doubled up to 20k and there are 40 left at first break.
Break #2 i have 5bb and button. 19 players left. i can't remember much about this level, but i've clearly dried up. but i get moved to a new table and steal blinds successfully three times. once, from utg, guy to my left folds 99 - jeesh. i have a working stack. by the time i move to another table. one key hand helped me a great deal. UTG limps, MP limps, and I complete from SB with Ad6d, while BB checks. flop comes xdAhxd. i bet, BB folds, UTG folds, MP calls. turn 9d - i hit my flush. i show dismay and check, MP checks. river blank, i go into tank, thinking of a good value bet. my stack is awkward - any real bet seems strange, so i put it in. MP calls with AK. after he busted he took an interest in how i was doing - he respected my game and called me the professor. that's quite a compliment. he was a nice kid.
Final table, 8 left. Paying 6 spots. 3 of us have a similar short-stack, 2 other just a little more. I dried up last level. Made a number of mistakes - still not playing sharp. Too passive - missed some real opportunities.
We paid the bubble spot, and i really kick in my short stack play. i triple up, but I ultimately bubble when my A8s < A4o when CL flops a 4. So unreal. Why do we subject ourselves to such nonsense? the two other shorties just did not belong at the final table.
i'm starting to think that i'm probably better than the average recreational player (the demographic that i associate myself with). i've cashed in the showboat tournaments (including two chopped victories), and bubble-cashed a couple. i think i have an advantage at bet sizing, reading strength/weakness, and small stack play. however i still lack the testosterone to make crucial bets and take key stands in these live venues. for example in level 3, at 6BB, an UTG limper caused me to fold KQo from MP. not to be ROT but the flop came KxQ and i would have tripled up based on how the hand played out. i'll be working on this aspect of my game. i continue to do poorly at the borgata.
Borgata SnG
4/10
i played a SnG at the Borgata with 7 regulars, one of whom was drunk and arguing across the table with another regular. i thought the taj had spilled over some of its scum the way they were carrying on. the name calling was unbearable and the entire experience was awful. as far as the play was concerned, these regulars were acting faster than an online tournament. they were so battle-hardened that they needed no thought whatsoever. they were robotic in their blind stealing and raises. they played very similar to a cash game, wanting to see flops and alot of turn and river betting. i managed to knock out 3 players at once when my AK held to AJ,QK,KJ when i flop an Ace. we were quickly down to 4 when i took a stand all-in from my big blind with KQo against an aggro-raiser. she showed TT and i flopped a K but she turned a set to bump me.
Monday, November 17, 2008
November 2008 Recap
11/29/08
i end the month on a downer. after commanding a chip lead due to set-over-set-over-set, a shove monkey over-pushes his AKs over my JJ and flops an A to cripple me.
11/21/08
BORGATA TRIP
busted somewhere around 100/291
11/19/08
2/18 ITM not much more i could do - villain got red hot down to 3 players.
11/18/08
1/45 ITM back-to-back victories in this tourney - sweet!
11/17/08
HOME GAME TONIGHT
got rivered in game 2 (3 outer) and game 3 (2 outer).
11/3/08
1/45 but don't remember the details
i end the month on a downer. after commanding a chip lead due to set-over-set-over-set, a shove monkey over-pushes his AKs over my JJ and flops an A to cripple me.
11/21/08
BORGATA TRIP
busted somewhere around 100/291
11/19/08
2/18 ITM not much more i could do - villain got red hot down to 3 players.
11/18/08
1/45 ITM back-to-back victories in this tourney - sweet!
11/17/08
HOME GAME TONIGHT
got rivered in game 2 (3 outer) and game 3 (2 outer).
11/3/08
1/45 but don't remember the details
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
October 2008 Recap
10/8/08
3/27 ITM played well.
1/45 ITM played well and things went my way.
35/395 ITM for peanuts, but a straight flush helped me get there. ultimately QQ < AA to cripple me and JJ < 9Ts to finish me. multi-table tourneys don't really fit my life-style. i think they're for the younger guys who don't need sleep and don't have commitments. why should i play for 4 hours to earn a free trip to WaWa? just not worth it.
multi-tabling did me in on a rebuy though where i was deep but made a bad call all-in while concentrating on the above tourneys. it was a little-known site and i was suprised to see sheets & johnnybax playing.
10/7/08
2/111 ITM. small buy-in so not much of a brag. a long heads up battle ended with me getting it in with 44 up against A2o. flop 39J turn 4 (a set and i'm good!) but river 5 sends me to the rail.
basically september and so far october are cold-deck months. i'm losing nearly all my races, my AK < A7 time after time, and river beats are "beating" me down.
3/27 ITM played well.
1/45 ITM played well and things went my way.
35/395 ITM for peanuts, but a straight flush helped me get there. ultimately QQ < AA to cripple me and JJ < 9Ts to finish me. multi-table tourneys don't really fit my life-style. i think they're for the younger guys who don't need sleep and don't have commitments. why should i play for 4 hours to earn a free trip to WaWa? just not worth it.
multi-tabling did me in on a rebuy though where i was deep but made a bad call all-in while concentrating on the above tourneys. it was a little-known site and i was suprised to see sheets & johnnybax playing.
10/7/08
2/111 ITM. small buy-in so not much of a brag. a long heads up battle ended with me getting it in with 44 up against A2o. flop 39J turn 4 (a set and i'm good!) but river 5 sends me to the rail.
basically september and so far october are cold-deck months. i'm losing nearly all my races, my AK < A7 time after time, and river beats are "beating" me down.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
September 2008 Recap
9/22/08
Main Line Poker Club Home Game
We had a prominent player absent due to a pre-season hockey game, and another top player was ill, which means that everyone else wanted to benefit from the softer table and finish ITM. In the end, the deck was very kind to I.B. and me.
Game #1: 1) ITTPlaysYa 2) bdd67 3) KingPrussia
Game #2: 1) WillyPhilly 2) KingPrussia 3) ITTPlaysYa
Game #3: 1) Squasher/KingPrussia 3) ITTPlaysYa
I had a plethora of nice pocket pairs: AA 3 times (stacked off nicely vs KK, AKs), KK 2 times (once no action), TT 2 times, JJ 1 time, 99 1 time. Also AKs 2 times and AQ 2. My premium hands held up and I won every race except one: in game #3 I have squasher against the ropes after my TT holds up to his JQo and ITTPlaysYa as the short stack. I inflict more damage when he runs AKs into my AA. So luck seemed on my side, especially one orbit later when I look down at KK and he raises without shoving, showing strength. I reraise him all in, he calls with A6s, and flops the better pair. When we got heads up, I accepted his offer to chop, bringing the long night to a close.
WillyPhilly filled in for DoyleB and took first in game #2. In game #1, I foolishly called all-in with K2o against ITTPlaysYa, thinking he was messing with me. He tabled AA and I busted out. Should have been more patient and smarter than that.
My live play for this month has been profitable.
9/13/08
4/26 ITM in the Fall Conshy Classic. ran A8 into KK down to 4. played pretty straight-forward. made some mistakes. ultimately i think i played the short stack and final table bubble better than my foes. i didn't get one key draw against shorty down to 4 which would have gotten me 3 handed and from there i think i have a decent chance to get the bracelet.
our home game did well, having 5 at the final table. WillyPhilly took 3rd, daozi 7th, DoyleB 8th, ITTPlaysYa 9th if memory serves me.
9/12/08
8/82 ITM at Showboat 11am
Preparation went well. Had the obligatory hot tub soak, a good night sleep,relaxing drive watching Odd Couple reruns.
Break #1 20.5K. Played 2 hands from blinds too passively. Prolly should be up more.
Break #2, 66K nearly trippled up (QQ > AKs > A4s). 82 started, down to 24 i think.
Break #3 i have 1.5 bb down to 12. Card dead is an under-statement.
BUSTO: managed to survive until 8th (the last paid position).
9/10/08
1/18 ITM nice win here. quad tens to finish it off.
busted 3 other tourneys, 2 on horrible beats.
retiring from SBOP since i'm -EV there.
9/9/08
2/27 ITM
6/45 ITM AJs < QQ
another winning session on PokerStars
9/8/08
3/27 ITM another PokerStars finish. AQ < Q3 of course.
?/90
9/45 ran into a limped AA
9/7/09
1/18 ITM like i said, on PokerStars, a win is a win!
7/18 guy hit runner runner to hit a straight that left me crippled with maybe 155 very early on but i fought back. got it in good but it didn't hold.
9/6/08
0-fer-9 in tourneys tonight. got rivered a few times, ran into monsters a few. i'd like to forget this night.
9/4/08
2/27 ITM woohoo i actually won something on PokerStars
23/180 88 < AQo just missed ITM. i don't run good on PokerStars
9/2/08
2/45 ITM the curse still lives. played heads up for what seemed like forever, with swings back and forth. i eventually got it in with trip 8s but was called by A5s and villain hit his flush on the river. i played this tournament well, was VERY patient, and not afraid to get my chips in.
Main Line Poker Club Home Game
We had a prominent player absent due to a pre-season hockey game, and another top player was ill, which means that everyone else wanted to benefit from the softer table and finish ITM. In the end, the deck was very kind to I.B. and me.
Game #1: 1) ITTPlaysYa 2) bdd67 3) KingPrussia
Game #2: 1) WillyPhilly 2) KingPrussia 3) ITTPlaysYa
Game #3: 1) Squasher/KingPrussia 3) ITTPlaysYa
I had a plethora of nice pocket pairs: AA 3 times (stacked off nicely vs KK, AKs), KK 2 times (once no action), TT 2 times, JJ 1 time, 99 1 time. Also AKs 2 times and AQ 2. My premium hands held up and I won every race except one: in game #3 I have squasher against the ropes after my TT holds up to his JQo and ITTPlaysYa as the short stack. I inflict more damage when he runs AKs into my AA. So luck seemed on my side, especially one orbit later when I look down at KK and he raises without shoving, showing strength. I reraise him all in, he calls with A6s, and flops the better pair. When we got heads up, I accepted his offer to chop, bringing the long night to a close.
WillyPhilly filled in for DoyleB and took first in game #2. In game #1, I foolishly called all-in with K2o against ITTPlaysYa, thinking he was messing with me. He tabled AA and I busted out. Should have been more patient and smarter than that.
My live play for this month has been profitable.
9/13/08
4/26 ITM in the Fall Conshy Classic. ran A8 into KK down to 4. played pretty straight-forward. made some mistakes. ultimately i think i played the short stack and final table bubble better than my foes. i didn't get one key draw against shorty down to 4 which would have gotten me 3 handed and from there i think i have a decent chance to get the bracelet.
our home game did well, having 5 at the final table. WillyPhilly took 3rd, daozi 7th, DoyleB 8th, ITTPlaysYa 9th if memory serves me.
9/12/08
8/82 ITM at Showboat 11am
Preparation went well. Had the obligatory hot tub soak, a good night sleep,relaxing drive watching Odd Couple reruns.
Break #1 20.5K. Played 2 hands from blinds too passively. Prolly should be up more.
Break #2, 66K nearly trippled up (QQ > AKs > A4s). 82 started, down to 24 i think.
Break #3 i have 1.5 bb down to 12. Card dead is an under-statement.
BUSTO: managed to survive until 8th (the last paid position).
9/10/08
1/18 ITM nice win here. quad tens to finish it off.
busted 3 other tourneys, 2 on horrible beats.
retiring from SBOP since i'm -EV there.
9/9/08
2/27 ITM
6/45 ITM AJs < QQ
another winning session on PokerStars
9/8/08
3/27 ITM another PokerStars finish. AQ < Q3 of course.
?/90
9/45 ran into a limped AA
9/7/09
1/18 ITM like i said, on PokerStars, a win is a win!
7/18 guy hit runner runner to hit a straight that left me crippled with maybe 155 very early on but i fought back. got it in good but it didn't hold.
9/6/08
0-fer-9 in tourneys tonight. got rivered a few times, ran into monsters a few. i'd like to forget this night.
9/4/08
2/27 ITM woohoo i actually won something on PokerStars
23/180 88 < AQo just missed ITM. i don't run good on PokerStars
9/2/08
2/45 ITM the curse still lives. played heads up for what seemed like forever, with swings back and forth. i eventually got it in with trip 8s but was called by A5s and villain hit his flush on the river. i played this tournament well, was VERY patient, and not afraid to get my chips in.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
August 2008 Recap
8/31/08
3/9 ITM shove A9 into AQ
3/9 ITM
7/9 but pokerstars doesn't count
ok so i finish the month with a winning session.
8/30/08
lost every race, lost every dominating showdown, lost every tournament. not how i wanted to end the month.
8/29/08
3/18 ITM august ending ok. i have just one other session planned.
?/45
8/28/08
2/45 ITM called all in too wide heads up K4s < ATo
20?/90 shoved too wide at 10bb, prolly should have been more patient.
8/27/08
HOME GAME
it's the morning after and i've already forgotten almonst everything that happened, so i can't offer much detail. i did win game #1, and i got lucky to stay alive on the bubble in game #2 and ended up winning that one too. game #3 i flopped a wheel but lost to a better straight to deny me the hat trick. a good, fun night for me to help counter the goose eggs i've been accumulating online. we were short handed the whole night, playing 6-handed twice, and notables bdd67 and I.B. were absent.
i think one interesting hand from the night involved VCDuke vs daozi. the lack of stack sizes are gonna kill the analysis here, but at the time i was thinking that this hand should have been played quite differently. VCDuke flatted pre and daozi raised to 750, VCDuke called. flop comes 9sTs5c. VCDuke shoves (more than a pot-size push), daozi goes into the tank and calls. Does VCDuke want a call? If he wants daozi's chips, does he shove? Is there a draw in play here? If so, who and what?
I have some thoughts on this hand, but can't show my playbook with the upcoming Conshy Classic local tournament. What say my readers?
8/19/08
haven't been blogging much and haven't been recapping my playing.
3/45 ITM busto as the favorite but not a bad run
12/45 really played well but an accomplished player got the best of me by making a play on my BvB steal then stacking off on me next hand with a real hand JJ > AQ. i normally don't stack off with AQ but he seemed to be accumulating to make his run. he eventually took second.
8/17/08
2/18 ITM should have won this one
44/45 AA < QJo of course
8/16/08
1/9 ITM small stakes just killing time
8/7/08
2/9 ITM hey a cash is a win on pokerstars. played a solid heads up player with a 11% ROI. lost a key hand and never recovered.
5/45 ITM really wanted more than this as i am making a nice run on fulltilt. ran 55 into TT to bust
?/180 busto KK cracked of course
8/6/08
12/27 still 0-7 in the SBOP private tournament on PokerStars. had AA,AA,AK,QQ and got absolutely no action. yet if i start to open wide, then i get called! i evenually shoved 88 into 99 to bust.
2/9 ITM played a very successful, very skilled player heads up. obtained a slight lead but then lost a hand to a better kicker and from there it was over.
8/4/08
2/9 ITM
1/45 ITM the long awaited win. i published this as a goal back in December 2007 and have a number of second and third place finishes. it's not THAT big of a deal but it's always nice to hit a goal. it's a little anti-climactic though since i did get a 1/90 win a few weeks prior. i still want to take 1/180 on PokerStars though.
8/1/08
THE DATE FOR THE FALL CONSHOHOCKEN CLASSIC HAS BEEN SET TO SEPTEMBER 13 2008.
I am VERY upset I will have to miss the EPT Barcelona Open due to this tournament. Spain is very near the top of the list of places I'd like to visit next. This is a very tough decision for me, but I believe the Conshy Classic wins out for the following reasons:
1. Buy-in for: Barcelona Open: 8,000 EURO, Conshohocken Classic: $75 including food and drinks.
2. Distance to: Barcleona Open: 3900 miles, Conshohocken Classic: 3.9 miles
3. Odds of winning: Barcelona Open: 0, Conshohocken Classic: 8:1
4. Players I want revenge on: Barcelona Open: 0, Conshohocken : 39
I also will miss the Borgata Poker Open but that I can play anytime.
BTW 8/27/08 home game hand, daozi: AdKh, VCDuke: 5s5d
3/9 ITM shove A9 into AQ
3/9 ITM
7/9 but pokerstars doesn't count
ok so i finish the month with a winning session.
8/30/08
lost every race, lost every dominating showdown, lost every tournament. not how i wanted to end the month.
8/29/08
3/18 ITM august ending ok. i have just one other session planned.
?/45
8/28/08
2/45 ITM called all in too wide heads up K4s < ATo
20?/90 shoved too wide at 10bb, prolly should have been more patient.
8/27/08
HOME GAME
it's the morning after and i've already forgotten almonst everything that happened, so i can't offer much detail. i did win game #1, and i got lucky to stay alive on the bubble in game #2 and ended up winning that one too. game #3 i flopped a wheel but lost to a better straight to deny me the hat trick. a good, fun night for me to help counter the goose eggs i've been accumulating online. we were short handed the whole night, playing 6-handed twice, and notables bdd67 and I.B. were absent.
i think one interesting hand from the night involved VCDuke vs daozi. the lack of stack sizes are gonna kill the analysis here, but at the time i was thinking that this hand should have been played quite differently. VCDuke flatted pre and daozi raised to 750, VCDuke called. flop comes 9sTs5c. VCDuke shoves (more than a pot-size push), daozi goes into the tank and calls. Does VCDuke want a call? If he wants daozi's chips, does he shove? Is there a draw in play here? If so, who and what?
I have some thoughts on this hand, but can't show my playbook with the upcoming Conshy Classic local tournament. What say my readers?
8/19/08
haven't been blogging much and haven't been recapping my playing.
3/45 ITM busto as the favorite but not a bad run
12/45 really played well but an accomplished player got the best of me by making a play on my BvB steal then stacking off on me next hand with a real hand JJ > AQ. i normally don't stack off with AQ but he seemed to be accumulating to make his run. he eventually took second.
8/17/08
2/18 ITM should have won this one
44/45 AA < QJo of course
8/16/08
1/9 ITM small stakes just killing time
8/7/08
2/9 ITM hey a cash is a win on pokerstars. played a solid heads up player with a 11% ROI. lost a key hand and never recovered.
5/45 ITM really wanted more than this as i am making a nice run on fulltilt. ran 55 into TT to bust
?/180 busto KK cracked of course
8/6/08
12/27 still 0-7 in the SBOP private tournament on PokerStars. had AA,AA,AK,QQ and got absolutely no action. yet if i start to open wide, then i get called! i evenually shoved 88 into 99 to bust.
2/9 ITM played a very successful, very skilled player heads up. obtained a slight lead but then lost a hand to a better kicker and from there it was over.
8/4/08
2/9 ITM
1/45 ITM the long awaited win. i published this as a goal back in December 2007 and have a number of second and third place finishes. it's not THAT big of a deal but it's always nice to hit a goal. it's a little anti-climactic though since i did get a 1/90 win a few weeks prior. i still want to take 1/180 on PokerStars though.
8/1/08
THE DATE FOR THE FALL CONSHOHOCKEN CLASSIC HAS BEEN SET TO SEPTEMBER 13 2008.
I am VERY upset I will have to miss the EPT Barcelona Open due to this tournament. Spain is very near the top of the list of places I'd like to visit next. This is a very tough decision for me, but I believe the Conshy Classic wins out for the following reasons:
1. Buy-in for: Barcelona Open: 8,000 EURO, Conshohocken Classic: $75 including food and drinks.
2. Distance to: Barcleona Open: 3900 miles, Conshohocken Classic: 3.9 miles
3. Odds of winning: Barcelona Open: 0, Conshohocken Classic: 8:1
4. Players I want revenge on: Barcelona Open: 0, Conshohocken : 39
I also will miss the Borgata Poker Open but that I can play anytime.
BTW 8/27/08 home game hand, daozi: AdKh, VCDuke: 5s5d
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