The last 6 months…

Balance : $3600

Well, if anyone has been reading this blog, they probably thought I went busto.  Instead I’ve actually focused heavily on my game.  It’s funny to read my 2007 posts and see how bad a poker player I was.

Stuff that has happened :

- got a poker coach

- grinding NL100 at Pokerstars a lot.  On target for Supernova status this month.  Played 250K hands so far at 0.44ptbb

- considering going pro

I’ve played a lot of poker.  And I’ve become a lot better.  Now I’m puking off 1BI per 10,000 hands roughly in -ev spots.

My initial goal is to make Supernova by the end of the year – 60,000 hands to go.  And make the $4K bonus, I’ve probably got about 120K hands to go before I clear that.

Some other news – cashed twice in MTTs.  A bizarre situation, had 3 free tokens left at Full Tilt.  1st token, out quickly.  2nd token, 2nd place $900.  3rd token following day, 2nd place $1300. 

Anyway, I’m trying to work hard on my game.  In the last 5 months – 1xlosing month, 2xwinning months, 1 x break even.  Last month I ran $26 per hour including bonus which was OK for starters.

WSOP Europe $500+25 satellite

Balance : $1212

I gave it a go….WSOP Europe satellite.  I figured it wasn’t that often this sat was coming up and I had deposited in a new site just to check it out…so I figured fate!  Still, I didn’t feel lucky.  But I have to try these things.
Early on I got KQ, pf raise.  I just called to see what would happen.  No idea how good/bad the raiser was but I had position.  Normally fold being tight but position got me in.  Hit the flush by 4th but decided to check down as I was cautious.  He bet a tiny amount on the turn so I just called, hoping he’d bluff the river.  He bets full pot on the river.  I call, aware of the nut flush and the board pairing on the river.  He shows a full house.

The same player ran super hot – hitting another FH and getting paid.  Then he crushes aces with QQ hitting trips.  Unreal.

Finally I was down to 3BB on the BB.  One raiser, he’s bad, he shoved with 75s earlier and got lucky against AK.  So I shove with 67s, not much choice.  He shows Q9 and I don’t hit. 

Finished 29/111 which I thought was a good result.

Cash game refined, very small leaks now.  But a few coolers.  I’m hanging in there.  Trying to whittle out these marginal JJ/QQ hands so they don’t show a loss.

 
Very cold cards, got it in with KK and won.  AJ sucked out on the river against AK to give me a straight.

Thereafter, I just got cold carded

My battle with the fish

Balance : $1388

I’ve been targetting some fish with Spadeye software.

I managed to target one today, and called his all in with the 10-high flush to crush his small flush.  I wouldn’t have done this to a tight player.

Sadly later I stacked off with 99 to AA fish.  This same fish called me off on a flushed, paired and overcarded board for a full size pot with 44.  There were many hands that beat him.  Unbelievable.  I got caught with air lol.

I knew I had to hang in.  Was dealt AJ, same fish raises it.  I call.  Flop J97 (two spades).  He bets, I reraise.  He shoves.  I instacall hoping he has QJ or KJ.   Instead he shows QQ.  Aaaargh!  But not to worry, I hit the straight by the river.  Amazing suck out.

So I wait further, he reloads to $200.  But someone else 3-bets PF to $40.  He calls, flop comes with an Ace and he stacks off immediately with AQ.  I would always throw away AQ to a 3-bet and to a PF raise from a tight player, the flop had a shortstacker all in too.  So the fish got eaten.  I bet he’s cursing online poker being rigged.

The session didn’t go all well – got it in with QQ after 4-betting it PF.  villain calls, I’m presuming AK.  Flop comes low cards, so I shove and he insta-calls with AA.  Oh well, cooler.

I also stacked a fish with a full pot bet on the river – he called me with 2nd pair, I had air.  Teach me not to bluff a fish.  I figured it was for his full stack so he’d think twice.  Wrong.

So overall finished -$100 overall for today.  I’m still a bit loose because I’m targeting fish.  I need to cool down a bit and stop calling with such trash just to get in with the fish.  Typically though there are 1 fish only at 9-table.  So it’s not great, but it increases your chances of getting it all in with a good hand.

In anycase I need to study some more videos and play ‘nitty/light’ a bit more.  Still grinding NL200 outside my bankroll as it just seems to produce more fish than the other limits.  My philosphy – less tables, higher stake = same return.

I make a huge big stupid mistake.

Balance : $1355

I installed Spade-eye so I could find fish at the tables.  Turns out in my greed I ended up running 7 tables at NL200 with my whole bankroll in play.

Everything was OK but I mistakenly thought I had a straight but in fact I had 8 high.  He shoves, I call.  In fact he had a bigger straight + flush draw and I choked on -$200 for my stupidity.

My balance flew up to $1800 at one point but down to $1080 at the end of the session.

Sick and pissed off with my play, I got back in the saddle and made another $270 this morning…still playing as I write this.

Missed the homegame…no idea for results, Shugster won last week.

Bobbing between NL200 and NL100.  NL50 is too slow and less fish.  I find more fish at the NL200 who know they’ll get paid off with $40 or $80 really easy for a quick double up.  That doesn’t happen so much at NL50.

My game is definitely more refined.  I’m checking down in situations and controlling my losses more.  When I get out of line, I get busted when my draws miss.  I’m also showing less aggression on the flop and turn.  It seems to keep me from losing too much.

 

Monday night homegame + more

Balance : $1391

The Monday nite homegame kicked off with 10 players and a prize fund of $560.

I got trash for the first rebuy session.  Utter trash.  I’d made a few calls for value (as 3-4 others hands had called) and that dented my chip stack to about 800 (from 1500).  Everyone limped and I was on the BB.  I shoved all in.  Good time to go.  Problem was Shugster had limped with QQ and I had 52.

I rebuy later, I had been dealt 72s again.  This time I called the blind 40 and a 210 raise PF, 4-way.  It’s loose I know, but I had to do it.

Flop 896.

D pushes all in on the flop.  I figure him for an overpair.  But I can outdraw him.  In fact he shows AJo and I hit a 7 on the turn to take the hand.

Nothing else much happened – I constantly got trash like A7, AJ (utg, limped, missed flop folded) and no pocket pairs…until I had 44.  Ross limps in the CO, Bob limps, I have to shove. 

Ross : KQs (38%)
Bob : A5 (30%)
Me : 44 (30%)

Of course the flop comes Q75.  Both players outdraw me.  River brings a 5 and Bob takes a big pot.  He earlier laid down 33 to a PF raise and he would have hit quads.  So he’s not the smartest of players, I would have folded my A5.

Not had much luck online.  Did a few thousand hands and ended up -$200+.  So I’ve shifted down to NL50 where it’s a bit softer and I now have 28 buyins.

Got $50 free at Bodog, spun it up to $150 then donked it.  The players are bad at Bodog, but I just don’t trust the software.  I think it’s well known that Bodog has a ‘mafia’ influence behind it and I’ve found it to be pretty unfair in the past.

Did the 50+5 / 17.5K gted online.  Grinded and had to go all in in the CO with JJ.  Was faced by A9 and 10/10.  10/10 made a straight by the river.  Ugh.

I must say I’m running kinda bad right now. 

Shugster makes it to the WSOP Main Event for $3

Balance : $1734

That lucky dog shugster played a $3 satellite, won a $500 tik…forgot it was on, started playing 45 minutes late then won the $17,500 package to WSOP main event 2008. 

It would have been a great time to go, but obviously the poker gods threw me a work contract that lands in the middle of WSOP $10K event 2008.  No doubt I’m fairly sick, I’ve been dreaming of myself and Shugster going to the WSOP main event.  He’s definitely my lucky mascott and I seem to win big when he rails me.  I guess the poker gods will have the contract cancelled if it’s in my stars.  And already I have a job booked for beginning of July 2009….is the WSOP ever going to be a reality?

I’ve played a little here and there, warming up for 1000 hands per day diet.  Actually I’m going to try to 2000 hands per day, as there will be some days I will be off or unable to play poker.  Some fairly large swings  -3BIs this morning, then levelled it.  It takes a lot of patience.  Missed my draws in the early session and had a few coolers – top pair crushed by runner runner flush.  JJJ crushed by QQQ on the flop.

Still, that’s poker.  It can be sick.  I’m always likely to be out-drawn as I don’t always get my money in on a draw (except nut flush draw on the flop). 

Hoping to get my main workload done within the next few weeks, and that will mean I’ll divide work/poker 50/50.

Monday nite homegame

Balance : $1838

Not played much poker online, maybe 500 hands.  So did show some profit.  Am aiming for $0.10 per hand really, 8-tabling.

Decided last minute to go to the home game.

We did random seating for the first time…I strangely ended up in my long-time usual seat.

Cards were rubbish 1st half and I bled off some chips.  If I raised, I had to shove. 

A few re-buys later I called James all in with 55, he showed A8 and my 5s stood up.

Called Shugsters PF raise with KJ suited in position.  Normally a fold for me but I realised the blinds took 30 minutes to come round so I had to open my range.  He shoved on a J-6-8 flop and I insta-called.  He flipped AQ and was pretty pissed off, but sucked out with a Q on the river.

Wilson called my all in on the flop with bottom pair, I thought that was seriously fishy but a good call I guess.  90% of the time I had a hand, so you could argue that was just donkness.

Donked the last hand all in with 2nd pair.  Ended up with 3000 chips going into the freezeout.

Things changed, I had some good cards and played them strong, raising and shoving.  88, QQ twice, AK. 

KQo in the bb.  Everyone limped.  I raised, then James shoved.  I thought about it and figured he had limped with a huge hand, so I folded and he showed AA.  Good fold from me.

Got into a pot with Ross…I had to call with his small pf raise…then I missed.  He checked to me and I bet, he called.  I then checked it down.  I knew he had a piece of the flop and indeed he had 2nd pair.  I minimised the damage but it ate 1/2 my stack.

Ross again raised PF, min.  I had AQ in position.  I had to shove with only 5 blinds left.

Ross showed 44 and it held up.  Finished 5th and -$120.  Fun but I felt it was grindey at the end.

Watching more videos, then some new books on cash games. After that I’ll hit the tables properly, but for now just the odd 500 hands here and there. 

This week in poker…

Balance : $1804

 Monday nite was the home game.  I hadn’t been in 6 weeks.  I knew it was time to get back with the boys and chew the fat.

I changed my seating position to after Alan (the tightest player at the table) and Shugster (probably the most well seasoned player at the table).  This let me know when I could raise, if either of these two raised, it was a monster  (Alan) or a tough player (Shugster). 

I raised 50% of hands PF mostly for the first hour when I had something of worth.  People started to question wether I was bluffing or not when I showed 2pair against shugsters 1 pair.  This kept them off balance for the rest of the game so my bluffs had some weight yet my real hand bets had some chance of being paid off.

I called a lot of hands out loud – I put Arthur on Ace of spades..he had it.  I put james on KQ or KJ and he showed KJ.  I’m definitely getting that deep poker thing going on.

I grinded further and finished 4th.  Wilson was running too hot, he won every showdown and I got it in with KQ..Wilson had A5 and hit his Ace.  Wilson eventually won the pot of $340, James 2nd.

Online I grinded a bit more, watched some more instructional video and was re-assured I was doing some stuff right.  As a result, and with some good fortune, I made $250 at NL100 but haven’t been playing much as I’m focusing on work and studying poker.  I now allocate a time slot for poker, 8-table it then finish wether I’m up or down.  I feel the pressure of some important work I have to do should take over – the work in itself is a gamble as if it doesn’t pay off, it’ll be a waste of time/money. 

I really feel intune with my game but want to grind it further.  My balance is only down because a 1/3 staked Shugster in the FTOPS, $179 some I am level for the last week.

Next up was yesterday, our local wild west poker club again but with a $6K gted tournament, 1 rebuy or top up, 80 runners.  Stake was a reasonable $80.  Anyway, I wasn’t feeling lucky and actually a bit lucklustred about playing. 

By the 7th hand, I had AJs.  1 UTG raiser, 3 callers including myself.  I had a difficult decision to call or raise or just fold but because I had position I decided (a) to call (b) not to raise and risk anymore chips as I knew these were gamblers. 

The flop comes J-5-3 (2 spades)

UTG moves all in for 6000.  There’s only 2500 in the pot.  It’s a massive overbet.  But I’ve hit top pair with Ace kicker.

So here’s the logic

 - the bet is huge.  Is this an all out bluff?  Well, I didn’t think so.  He had some sort of hand to raise 1st position then shove on the flop.  OK, so what’s the next best explanation.  He has AK suited?  Well, he should at least check/call with this sort of hand if he’s on the nut flush draw.  He can hope somebody has a smaller flush.  So I’m basically putting him on Aces, Kings, Queens or a set of 5s.  The bet is so big, I can only think he wants to protect his hand and has a hand made.

Anyway I decide to fold and show my cards.  Everyone at the table is shocked I made such a laydown, but I wanted to send a clear message that I was capable of folding massive hands…the astute players at the table would hopefully respect my tough/tight image and lay it down to me if I bet.  I also wanted to see the other players reaction – if he was bluffing, he might show it to try and tilt me or just show off he’s the best at poker.  But he didn’t show or look relieved/happy so I presume he had an overpair or set.

Stayed level for most of the session,  get a lot of trash, then A7 clubs on the button.  I limper, the Sammy Farha lookalike.  He’s loose but knows position and poker.  Sammy limps, I raise it the standard 4xBB, he calls. 

I have position.

Flop : Kc, 5c 7h

I got the nut flush draw…Sammy bets, have to shove. 

Sammy shows Kh9h.  What a donk call.  It’s a raise hand for me in the cutoff where Sammy was or a fold PF.  No way would I limp/call raise without position.

Turn : Ah

Great!  Top pair and the nut flush draw!

River : 10h

 AAAARGH!!!!  He hits the heart flush.  I’m gone.

Straight to the cash tables.  Sit in with $340.  Soon I’m up to $500.  I cracked Aces with suited connectors, I had position and 4 of us in the pot gave me value to call.  Also took down a few pots with smart play.

4 limpers, decided to limp with 84o

Flop : 8 4 2

I check of course, everyone else checks.

Turn : 2

UTG bets, I raise $80

Then he shoves, I miscalculated his chips.  I then realise I’m pot committed and have to stick in another $70.  If he has a 2, I still have outs.

He shows Q2.  I felt like such a donk.  My correct play would have been to bet the flop or check/call to the river.

River a blank and I’ve lost $200.  Puke!

 Another hand later, I have 56s.  Everyone limps, I’m in position so I call.

Flop comes 567 rainbow.

Old guy bets.  I’ve seen this guy play before and he’s not that good.

I decide to call and see what happens.

Turn : 2

He fires again, but the same $22 bet.  Hmmm…I call.  If I catch a 5 or 6 I’ve got him crushed.  And if he’s bluffing, he’s probably not going to fire a 3rd rocket.  So I call. 

River : K

He fires again, 1/2 the pot.  Now I’m thinking he’s got 34.  He would want to fire to protect has hand against a bigger straight.  If he had the top straight, he’d probably check 1 street.  So I’m sure he’s got 34 or a set even.  In any case I fold – 1/2 the pot is payoff size with the nuts.  He huffs a bit as I lay it down.

Bled off the rest of my profit…one flop I had the straight flush draw so had to call to the end.  Had a split pot A5 vs A5 and by and large was not getting value.  So I left -$10. 

Although I did lose a chunk with my 2p, I still got away and laid down another 2p.  I just need to work harder on my game and stay focused.

Two live MTTs and a lot of online playing

Balance : $1996

Live MTT.  $200 buyin, $6000 prize pool.  30 runners. 

Our local poker club was fairly tight in play on the Saturday it ran the $200 buy in.

I got shortstacked.  On the BB.  SB limps, everyone else folds.

I have K8o.  I decide to check and then shove on a good or dry flop.

Flop : 4/4/5

SB trys to bet 500.  The dealer corrects him and says it’s 800. 

I shove for 8000 chips.  He counts up and eventually calls with KK.

I am thinking he made some amazing  call or just couldn’t get away from his hand.

I went out 14/30.  Straight to the cash tables with the crazy fish.  Flopped 2p and flopped str. first few hands, got my entry back of $200 instantly.  Grinded it a bit but didn’t get any more luck and left at 1.30 AM, broke even for the night which was good. 

I was really comfortable at the cash table, it was a good feeling and ate the fish up fairly quickly.

Next MTT the following weekend.  $100 + $50 rebuy or top up at the crazy wild west poker club.  First hand I have J8. 

Flop : Q/10/9. 

I check…only the button to act.

She bets.  I call.

Turn : A

Not a good card, I’ve got the bottom end of the straight, so I check.  She bets, I call.

River : 10.

She bets.  I figure her for pair of Qs.  Hopefully AQ.  I shove.

She shows Q10 for a full boat.  I over-slowplayed.  But saying that if I shoved on 4th she would have called anyway.

Shortly afterwards hit trips.  But finally became shortstacked.

One caller, I shove with A3 (the Jerry Yang lol).  He has 88.  I hit trip 3s on the river…whew!

Next..one shortstacker shoves, I call with 88.  He has KJ, hits straight on river.

I have A4 and 4000 chips, blinds 2000.  Only 1 caller, instashove.  She has K10 and hits a 10 on the river.

Went straight to the cash tables and won back $100.  But I just couldn’t bluff the donks – even when they had 2p and their was a flush on the board.  They were mostly $60 reloaders and some really awful poker.  They called a ‘gutshot’ a ’straight draw’.  If they had a gutshot at 11 to 1, they were calling all the way.  Then when they get a big hand, as the super-donk did, they slowplay.  He called with KK and let 3 other people in the pot.  It was straight versus flush.  Call-fest.

Online I’ve been playing nitty and only losing marginal hands but still down for this week (up $450 last week)…but overall down $700 since playing NL100.

I still feel I’m playing the best poker possible.  The live cash games showed that.  I’m seriously more skilled than the fish.  My MTT needs more work though.

 The routine is now 1 hour per day, 8 tabling if possible.  That means it doesn’t interfere with my life or work.  As I start winning I will increase it up to 4 hours max. per day but right now I’m doing about 5-7 hours of online play per week, happy with 3000-3500 hands.

Move down to NL100

Balance : $2788

Well, I was still sick after making two mistakes yesterday worth around $300.

This AM, played some 6-handed and 9-handed and quickly lost $400.  It was sick.   My 99 ran into QQ when there was a flush draw on the board.  I just put him on a draw or Ace-blah.  My c-bets met resistance.  I guess I took some inspiration from the video….wrong!  I should really throw away anything less than QQ when re-raised PF.  I retrospect, I saw the video guy have his Aces cracked in video….doesn’t make me feel better though.

I now have to move to NL100.  I remember someone saying shift down to NL50 or NL100 and play 50,000 hands, I think he was right!  I feel fairly bad after my good performance on the live cash table on Saturday night, albeit where I got lucky but also didn’t get involved in anything too crazy.