After pondering what to do with myself poker wise, as well as losing $10 from Ultimate Bet (AK vs AT - strong raising pre - all in on an ATx flop - cunt) and £20 from Will Hill, i have redeposited the minimum on PokerStars, $10. My mission now, shoud i choose to accept it (erm, already have) is to play 1 and 2 dollar games and roll it up until i can play other games. I consider this a good move for 2 reasons. Firstly, it is punishment for treating my new BR with no respect. Now i must grind something together from the lowest of the low. Secondly, i have to respect the game. I am playing like such a twat. I am playing too fast, not thinking things through and not giving people nearly enough credit. Are they clever enough to make big bluffs? Not that often. Are they in fact more likely to have made a big hand by playing rags out of position in a raised pot? Much more likely. Think about it!
So i just played my first. $1 - 45 man tourney. Came first for $14. The best start possible. It was great. I honestly feel like i've won something huge! it's fucking pathetic! But, my A10 beat 66 when i had a bigger stack, that was the only "all in" pre flop i got myself in before i had tonnes of chips. The rest was easy. I busted the huge chip leader in 2 hands and by the time we were 4 handed i think i had 40-50k to their 8k. Funny.
So we'll see what happens now.
I honestly thought that after the 3 wins last week and withdrawing $300, leaving $200 in i had turned a corner in my poker career. I am so gutted i can't believe it. Granted, its not of Blue Scouse proportions, but i was winning sng's, from single table turbo's to multi man long hauls, i did not need to spunk a load playing impatient and high variance cash games.
The upshot to this is that once again i am on the rebuild. I am playing better than i have before but now i just need to get some patience and consistent rational play in mind and i'll really be getting somewhere.
In other news i have just checked my share prices. I got a gift of £1000 in shares about 6 years ago. The price we paid was around 50p per share. Shortly after buying them they rocketed up to £6 odd. If we had sold then we would have made £12k, gutted! Since that point they dropped to an all time low in 2003 of about 25p. Selling then would have made a loss of £500, hilarious. Due to recent activities and contracts with apple and other mobile communications companies they are on a steady rise finishing the day on £1.56 - around £3k as for as i am concerned. All good and more to come apparently. Nice.
Oh yeah. A while ago i mentioned that i had some bizarre searches that had led to my blog. The latest is pretty sick but funny too. Someone has ended up here by searching "Just naked children". It's as if he (or she?) is tired of finding sites with just a few naked kids on, "Tut! too many naked adults". He has used an advanced search to get just exactly when s/he wants. You sick monkey! But hey, thanks for reading.
Goodnight
Showing posts with label Pokerstars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pokerstars. Show all posts
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
3pm and all's well
Hey gang
I thought this was going to be a bit of a sad post as after hitting $322 the other day i went on a moronic rampage yesterday. I played short handed, full tables, mtt's and sng's and cash. I literally played all day and won fuck all. I must have gone through about $80. I was playing bad, calling with weak hands pre flop and not letting go when i hit the flop in some way. On top of this i lost all the races and missed all my draws. I was annoyed with myself and clearly tilted but couldn't stop. At one point yesterday i logged off Pokerstars and immediately fired it up again to play 2-7 triple draw there were no tables available so i played a few HU games instead.
The reason this is not a sad post is because like any addict, when i woke up this morning i fired up the laptop just wanting to play "The Poke". I saw a 180 - $4.40 was almost full so i joined. I only went and won the fucker! Unbelievable. $216 ship it.
I went chip leader with about 90 left but not by along way. By the time we were getting to the bubble i was about 11th -15th and not planning on bubbling. A few all in's with everyone folding served me well. Down to 2 tables i lost a crucial pot for half my shortish stack. A player limped in first. He was short and rather than seeing a trap i saw weakness. When it came to me i had AK and moved all in. He paused for ages which is good news for me. He called with QT off suit. Ha! The flop was much less amusing than the call giving him trip tens and the turn a Q for the "salt in wounds" full house. Muppet.
I head into the final table last and seriously low. I had 6k to the chip leaders 39k. The next stack to me had 25k. I was just going to raise and try to double up using cards and/ or position. I picked up the blinds and then lost a huge pot which left me crippled.
There was a raise in first, a newly short stack moves all in. I am on the button with AK and move all in. First calls and shows nearly the worst hand he could have - AK. We are up against 33 which holds. I think its over but we split a small side pot to leave me with just over 2k. The bb is 1200 for fucks sake. I move all in whatever my next hand is. Its 98 and i'm all in. Two players call. The flop is a beautiful 89T with 2 hearts. There is a bet and a fold and i see i am up against A7. I hold and triple up. 10k
I hang around, slightly less desperate and push with A3. I make a heart flush which beats my caller foir a 20k pot.
I get some severely needed breathing room when i am in the bb with a pretty looking 63 diamonds. There are 4 limpers to me. Nice one. The flop is 477. If i could just catch a 5 i'll have a well disguised straight. Amazingly i get a free card. """"5"""" Amazing. I check and late position bets. I raise al in - he calls with A4 off suit (?). I take it
I now have 40k and seriously think there is a chance i can win.
I pick up good pots by reraising all in pre flop with AK and 99 forcing the aggressors to fold.
It's now 6 handed and the game dries up. Raises are rarely called and it is a very serious game of poker. I know something has to give- (it's usually me) - there is a lot of blind stealing going on. I call a raise from the shortest stack with A10 spades in the bb. I check the Q high flop to him. He bets small. I know he hasn't got it so i raise him all in. He "lol"'s and folds. I told him i had AQ and he said "nice check" i thanked him. Nice.
I am now chip leader with 77k but it's tight at the top.
Down to 3 and the lead is switching between us.
Then a monster developed in the blinds. The button strangely folds and i raise the bb with 86 diamonds. He calls. The flop is Jx8. I be and he calls. The turn is an amazing 6. I move all in and he calls with J10. Bootiful.
I am now on 155k with double 2nd place.
I hands later i raise the button with 22. I am reraise by the sb, the guy i just beat with the 68. I think and move all in. He calls with AJ and i flop a set.
HU with 200k to 60k
We exchange blinds for 3 hands. Then i raise with 67. He calls. The flop is 6J7. I bet, he raises all in and i call. I avoid jax and tens and seal another one.
So the thing i MUST learn. Is don't fucking play when you know you are playing like a retard. You'll play too many games. Play then badly and undo all the hard work in a flash.
It's tough to win money. It's too easy to lose it. Listen to your heads people.
BR = $441
Sharkscope profit = $904
ROI = 14%
I thought this was going to be a bit of a sad post as after hitting $322 the other day i went on a moronic rampage yesterday. I played short handed, full tables, mtt's and sng's and cash. I literally played all day and won fuck all. I must have gone through about $80. I was playing bad, calling with weak hands pre flop and not letting go when i hit the flop in some way. On top of this i lost all the races and missed all my draws. I was annoyed with myself and clearly tilted but couldn't stop. At one point yesterday i logged off Pokerstars and immediately fired it up again to play 2-7 triple draw there were no tables available so i played a few HU games instead.
The reason this is not a sad post is because like any addict, when i woke up this morning i fired up the laptop just wanting to play "The Poke". I saw a 180 - $4.40 was almost full so i joined. I only went and won the fucker! Unbelievable. $216 ship it.
I went chip leader with about 90 left but not by along way. By the time we were getting to the bubble i was about 11th -15th and not planning on bubbling. A few all in's with everyone folding served me well. Down to 2 tables i lost a crucial pot for half my shortish stack. A player limped in first. He was short and rather than seeing a trap i saw weakness. When it came to me i had AK and moved all in. He paused for ages which is good news for me. He called with QT off suit. Ha! The flop was much less amusing than the call giving him trip tens and the turn a Q for the "salt in wounds" full house. Muppet.
I head into the final table last and seriously low. I had 6k to the chip leaders 39k. The next stack to me had 25k. I was just going to raise and try to double up using cards and/ or position. I picked up the blinds and then lost a huge pot which left me crippled.
There was a raise in first, a newly short stack moves all in. I am on the button with AK and move all in. First calls and shows nearly the worst hand he could have - AK. We are up against 33 which holds. I think its over but we split a small side pot to leave me with just over 2k. The bb is 1200 for fucks sake. I move all in whatever my next hand is. Its 98 and i'm all in. Two players call. The flop is a beautiful 89T with 2 hearts. There is a bet and a fold and i see i am up against A7. I hold and triple up. 10k
I hang around, slightly less desperate and push with A3. I make a heart flush which beats my caller foir a 20k pot.
I get some severely needed breathing room when i am in the bb with a pretty looking 63 diamonds. There are 4 limpers to me. Nice one. The flop is 477. If i could just catch a 5 i'll have a well disguised straight. Amazingly i get a free card. """"5"""" Amazing. I check and late position bets. I raise al in - he calls with A4 off suit (?). I take it
I now have 40k and seriously think there is a chance i can win.
I pick up good pots by reraising all in pre flop with AK and 99 forcing the aggressors to fold.
It's now 6 handed and the game dries up. Raises are rarely called and it is a very serious game of poker. I know something has to give- (it's usually me) - there is a lot of blind stealing going on. I call a raise from the shortest stack with A10 spades in the bb. I check the Q high flop to him. He bets small. I know he hasn't got it so i raise him all in. He "lol"'s and folds. I told him i had AQ and he said "nice check" i thanked him. Nice.
I am now chip leader with 77k but it's tight at the top.
Down to 3 and the lead is switching between us.
Then a monster developed in the blinds. The button strangely folds and i raise the bb with 86 diamonds. He calls. The flop is Jx8. I be and he calls. The turn is an amazing 6. I move all in and he calls with J10. Bootiful.
I am now on 155k with double 2nd place.
I hands later i raise the button with 22. I am reraise by the sb, the guy i just beat with the 68. I think and move all in. He calls with AJ and i flop a set.
HU with 200k to 60k
We exchange blinds for 3 hands. Then i raise with 67. He calls. The flop is 6J7. I bet, he raises all in and i call. I avoid jax and tens and seal another one.
So the thing i MUST learn. Is don't fucking play when you know you are playing like a retard. You'll play too many games. Play then badly and undo all the hard work in a flash.
It's tough to win money. It's too easy to lose it. Listen to your heads people.
BR = $441
Sharkscope profit = $904
ROI = 14%
Sunday, July 01, 2007
At 3am last night, I'm gutted. Again
Well hello there folks.
Last night I played in the $10+1 - $15k guaranteed on Stars. There were over 2200 runners and a first place prize of over $4500. In this event in the past i have braved that field to finish 80th and 12th in (successive days) for a $180 profit. Last night i went back to my old stomping ground. I did not cash restored a bit of faith in myself. (A bit low after no cash recently, no jobs, no auditions and reading UKGatsby's blog who only had to pay the buy in to an MTT and he makes it to the money. ;-) Just jealous, very impressive, and a good read.) Finishing just outside the money at 250th. It paid to 225. I could have hung on but i would have been blinded off and i was not
interested in just scraping into the money. Shit or bust, as we say.
(incidentally, they have increased the starting stacks from 1500 to 3000 with the same 15 minute levels. I think despite the size of the field, for 5 quid, how can you not have a pop at winning 5k?)
The edited highlights (and lowlights) go a bit like this.
Level 1 - KK - I reraised pre flop and reraised a bet on a low flop. He folds.
Level 2 - AK diamonds - Maniac is making regular over bets and all in plays pre flop. I have AK diamonds in the sb. He raises 800 - (the bb is 30). I believe i have a better hand and move all in he calls and shows JJ. Much better than expected but the K high flop gives me an early double up.
I managed to steal a few pots here and there through others being weak and having position. Nice when it works isn't it. People were playing generally quite tight. Raises with A4, A8, 58 all claimed the blinds. Unfortunately so did JJ, AK etc.
Interesting hand. I call a small raise in the sb with K10 diamonds and lead out on a J10x flop (with the J of diamonds) I bet, he min raises and i call. The turn is the ace of diamonds giving me the royal flush draw with any Q, J, 10, or diamond to win i check raise him all in and he folds.
Lose an annoying pot which i should never have hung around in. It was between me in the BB and villain the SB. The pot was unraised and by the river we had both made a FH, his was better than mine. The pot was too big and i shouldn't have even hung on.
We go into the first break having lost nearly 1000 players.
There are 1305 remaining
Average chips 5206
My chips 6110
After the break
Pocket Jax on the button with 2 limpers. I raise larger than normal to compensate. 2 limpers bot call. Flop is a scary QQ9- with 2 diamonds. (Hey, its Pokerstars. You know one has 99 and the other Q9..!) But no, they check to me and the bet takes it down#
again 1010 takes it down uncontested
Pocket 8's in the bb - there is a raise in first and a call in second. I go to raise and it probably would have been the best play considering his holding. I give credit to his position and call. The flop is a nice one 1075. I think anyone would like that with pocket 8's. I check to him and he bets, 2nd position folds, i just call. I am giving him 2 overs here so perhaps i should have raised right there. The 4 on the turn gives me the pair and the gutshot straight draw. I again check call. The river unfortunately isnt the 6...its the 8. Amazing. I bet about half his remaining chips and he calls. He actually had A10 off suit. I am surprised and was very nearly fucked. However i'm not and i now have a good amount of chipolatas.
That hand put me on 13k with the average still at 6k. Put me in 66th place.
Took a few more blinds with K10, AQ, A4,
I lost a chunk when i called a raise in position with 55 and was then squeezed by an all in from the blinds and folded. The hands were AK against QQ.I would have lost. Obvious fold but nice to see their cards were better.
I reraise the button with 44 as a shortish stack has raised in mid position. The bb goes all in he has a lot less chips than me. We all get it in my 44 takes the side pot from the mid raisers AQ and the blinds JJ takes the main pot.
I now have 11k with the average at 9 - they're closing...
Now level 8 and although my stack is above average, with the blinds as they are a raise of three times the bb is over 10% of my stack. I want to make some moves...
BAD HAND ALERT!!
Big stack raises in early. I am calling him. Before that though a smaller stack goes all in. I call and the big man calls. The flop is JJ7. I check to him. He bets small - i call. We check it down and the hands are; me - AQ - Big - 33 Small - AA. Whoops. My instinct given my recent desire to make a move was to move all in pre flop. So although i lost a chunk here, it could have been much worse.
Lots off limpers. I collect when i move all in with A4.
I raise and get called (yikes) in 2 spots. I have A6. The flop is a scary KJx. It checked to me and i take it.
Back to 12k and above average.
2nd break
525 remaining
Average 12942
Me 12020
Now the binds and antes are 1500 so couple of steals for a nice 3k
Someone raises just double the bb. I call from the bb with Q6. (Is this an automatic call in this spot with any 2 cards?) The flop is Q high all spades. I check raise the flop with the Q and the 6 of spades. He folds.
One limper in early. I raise AK. All fold.
Now 18k average 14
Call 3x bb raise in the bb with A9 hearts. The flop is nasty. 63K (one heart). I check to him and i am shocked and suspicious to see it checked as well. The turn is the 6 of hearts. Now if he has flopped a set things have got a lot better for him. If he hasn't, its a great card for me. I bet and he smooth calls. Arrrgh(?) The river is the 10 of hearts. Gives me the nut flush but 44 levels from the nuts. I pause. I love the flush card but not the board. I bet and he has selected auto fold Phew. Much easier than expected.
Up to 24k average 16 and i've doubled up since the break (less than 1/2 an hour)
The next hand i raise with K9 suited in late position. The button pauses and raises all in. I'm getting over 3 to 1 and I call. Pretty shitty to look at the rockets. Ho hum! The flop could be worse giving me the 9. The turn seals it with another 9! Cant fucking believe it. This does not happen to me!
Up to 33k
Few hands later i pick up AA in early. There is a limper and i am pretty sure i am due some "Poker God Retribution". I raise 4x the bb.They all fold.
40k average 19k I'm up 28k in 33 minutes.
One limper in late and i raise the button - he calls. I have 66. The flop is QKx. He checks i bet he calls. The turn is and x. It goes check check. The river is an ace he checks, i bet - what else can i do? - again he calls - shows pocket 10's. Ok, he won the hand but i hate the way he played it. He is behind to so many hands and at no point does he show any strength or desire to win the pot. Cost me a lump of chips the fucker. Reminds me of one of my pet hates in the game; the players who limp for whatever reason (but not to trap like AA in first, limping with a mind to reraise, that's a different play) and then call your all in. With hands like AQ to A8, 99 down to 66. You know what i mean. They didn't want to bet to eliminate the limpers or get information because common opinion says to get in cheap and see a flop. They're like "ok ok, cheap flop, call. Oh he's gone all in. I've got a pair. Call" Dumb asses.
The next hands see huge action where i would have flopped a flush and the next hand where, had i stayed, my 63 would have cracked QQ and AJ. Obviously correct plays by me in the long term but in the day 30k i could have had which would have put me top 10.
Nasty pot. I raised 88 and called a shorter stacks all in with over 2 to 1 odds. He has KQ and hits both of them. I was thinking today "should i have passed?" as that hand did represent the start of my undoing. But i think; (1) I was actually ahead when the money went in. And(2) i was getting the odds. So, although i lost a big chunk i cant help but think it was correct. The only thing i will say is that i knew it was a gamble hand so could have saved 7k or whatever it was to call. I lost 15k that hand.
Then i moved tables and am looking at everyones chips and see that as per usual they have put me right nest to a huge stack with over 3x my chips. He is currently 5th.
It folds to me and i raise his bb with my ace small. He moves all in. I have to fold.
I have 20k - grrrr
There is a raise and a call in front of me. I call with A7 suited (it is 3k to go) the flop is A10x - 2 clubs. The first player checks. Second bets. I am stuck. I feel I am behind but have top pair and it just goes through my head that why did i play this had if not to hit the ace. I can't just expect to flop the flush draw and be done with it. So i pause and move all in. This nearly works as the bettor has a long think before making the correct call with AQ.
I am out in 250th, just outside the money. Balls.
I will say this though. I was donking off cash at the low limits all day yesterday and I actually prepared for this tournament. I sat up properly, got a drink, hadn't played for a few hours up until that point, and took it seriously. I took longer to act and gave more respect to the players and the cards i was prepared to play. I guess what i am saying is, the money was significant. The low limits are a fucking grind and people, including me often play like shit because they can affors to lose. I think i'd rather play a bit higher and give myself a better shot at winning a significant amount of money where i will actually learn something and become a better player.
Sorry for the long post - i doubt you are even reading any more are you??
HELLOOO??
nothing...
Just me then....
Duck for dinner, mmmm!
Good luck everyone.
Last night I played in the $10+1 - $15k guaranteed on Stars. There were over 2200 runners and a first place prize of over $4500. In this event in the past i have braved that field to finish 80th and 12th in (successive days) for a $180 profit. Last night i went back to my old stomping ground. I did not cash restored a bit of faith in myself. (A bit low after no cash recently, no jobs, no auditions and reading UKGatsby's blog who only had to pay the buy in to an MTT and he makes it to the money. ;-) Just jealous, very impressive, and a good read.) Finishing just outside the money at 250th. It paid to 225. I could have hung on but i would have been blinded off and i was not
interested in just scraping into the money. Shit or bust, as we say.
(incidentally, they have increased the starting stacks from 1500 to 3000 with the same 15 minute levels. I think despite the size of the field, for 5 quid, how can you not have a pop at winning 5k?)
The edited highlights (and lowlights) go a bit like this.
Level 1 - KK - I reraised pre flop and reraised a bet on a low flop. He folds.
Level 2 - AK diamonds - Maniac is making regular over bets and all in plays pre flop. I have AK diamonds in the sb. He raises 800 - (the bb is 30). I believe i have a better hand and move all in he calls and shows JJ. Much better than expected but the K high flop gives me an early double up.
I managed to steal a few pots here and there through others being weak and having position. Nice when it works isn't it. People were playing generally quite tight. Raises with A4, A8, 58 all claimed the blinds. Unfortunately so did JJ, AK etc.
Interesting hand. I call a small raise in the sb with K10 diamonds and lead out on a J10x flop (with the J of diamonds) I bet, he min raises and i call. The turn is the ace of diamonds giving me the royal flush draw with any Q, J, 10, or diamond to win i check raise him all in and he folds.
Lose an annoying pot which i should never have hung around in. It was between me in the BB and villain the SB. The pot was unraised and by the river we had both made a FH, his was better than mine. The pot was too big and i shouldn't have even hung on.
We go into the first break having lost nearly 1000 players.
There are 1305 remaining
Average chips 5206
My chips 6110
After the break
Pocket Jax on the button with 2 limpers. I raise larger than normal to compensate. 2 limpers bot call. Flop is a scary QQ9- with 2 diamonds. (Hey, its Pokerstars. You know one has 99 and the other Q9..!) But no, they check to me and the bet takes it down#
again 1010 takes it down uncontested
Pocket 8's in the bb - there is a raise in first and a call in second. I go to raise and it probably would have been the best play considering his holding. I give credit to his position and call. The flop is a nice one 1075. I think anyone would like that with pocket 8's. I check to him and he bets, 2nd position folds, i just call. I am giving him 2 overs here so perhaps i should have raised right there. The 4 on the turn gives me the pair and the gutshot straight draw. I again check call. The river unfortunately isnt the 6...its the 8. Amazing. I bet about half his remaining chips and he calls. He actually had A10 off suit. I am surprised and was very nearly fucked. However i'm not and i now have a good amount of chipolatas.
That hand put me on 13k with the average still at 6k. Put me in 66th place.
Took a few more blinds with K10, AQ, A4,
I lost a chunk when i called a raise in position with 55 and was then squeezed by an all in from the blinds and folded. The hands were AK against QQ.I would have lost. Obvious fold but nice to see their cards were better.
I reraise the button with 44 as a shortish stack has raised in mid position. The bb goes all in he has a lot less chips than me. We all get it in my 44 takes the side pot from the mid raisers AQ and the blinds JJ takes the main pot.
I now have 11k with the average at 9 - they're closing...
Now level 8 and although my stack is above average, with the blinds as they are a raise of three times the bb is over 10% of my stack. I want to make some moves...
BAD HAND ALERT!!
Big stack raises in early. I am calling him. Before that though a smaller stack goes all in. I call and the big man calls. The flop is JJ7. I check to him. He bets small - i call. We check it down and the hands are; me - AQ - Big - 33 Small - AA. Whoops. My instinct given my recent desire to make a move was to move all in pre flop. So although i lost a chunk here, it could have been much worse.
Lots off limpers. I collect when i move all in with A4.
I raise and get called (yikes) in 2 spots. I have A6. The flop is a scary KJx. It checked to me and i take it.
Back to 12k and above average.
2nd break
525 remaining
Average 12942
Me 12020
Now the binds and antes are 1500 so couple of steals for a nice 3k
Someone raises just double the bb. I call from the bb with Q6. (Is this an automatic call in this spot with any 2 cards?) The flop is Q high all spades. I check raise the flop with the Q and the 6 of spades. He folds.
One limper in early. I raise AK. All fold.
Now 18k average 14
Call 3x bb raise in the bb with A9 hearts. The flop is nasty. 63K (one heart). I check to him and i am shocked and suspicious to see it checked as well. The turn is the 6 of hearts. Now if he has flopped a set things have got a lot better for him. If he hasn't, its a great card for me. I bet and he smooth calls. Arrrgh(?) The river is the 10 of hearts. Gives me the nut flush but 44 levels from the nuts. I pause. I love the flush card but not the board. I bet and he has selected auto fold Phew. Much easier than expected.
Up to 24k average 16 and i've doubled up since the break (less than 1/2 an hour)
The next hand i raise with K9 suited in late position. The button pauses and raises all in. I'm getting over 3 to 1 and I call. Pretty shitty to look at the rockets. Ho hum! The flop could be worse giving me the 9. The turn seals it with another 9! Cant fucking believe it. This does not happen to me!
Up to 33k
Few hands later i pick up AA in early. There is a limper and i am pretty sure i am due some "Poker God Retribution". I raise 4x the bb.They all fold.
40k average 19k I'm up 28k in 33 minutes.
One limper in late and i raise the button - he calls. I have 66. The flop is QKx. He checks i bet he calls. The turn is and x. It goes check check. The river is an ace he checks, i bet - what else can i do? - again he calls - shows pocket 10's. Ok, he won the hand but i hate the way he played it. He is behind to so many hands and at no point does he show any strength or desire to win the pot. Cost me a lump of chips the fucker. Reminds me of one of my pet hates in the game; the players who limp for whatever reason (but not to trap like AA in first, limping with a mind to reraise, that's a different play) and then call your all in. With hands like AQ to A8, 99 down to 66. You know what i mean. They didn't want to bet to eliminate the limpers or get information because common opinion says to get in cheap and see a flop. They're like "ok ok, cheap flop, call. Oh he's gone all in. I've got a pair. Call" Dumb asses.
The next hands see huge action where i would have flopped a flush and the next hand where, had i stayed, my 63 would have cracked QQ and AJ. Obviously correct plays by me in the long term but in the day 30k i could have had which would have put me top 10.
Nasty pot. I raised 88 and called a shorter stacks all in with over 2 to 1 odds. He has KQ and hits both of them. I was thinking today "should i have passed?" as that hand did represent the start of my undoing. But i think; (1) I was actually ahead when the money went in. And(2) i was getting the odds. So, although i lost a big chunk i cant help but think it was correct. The only thing i will say is that i knew it was a gamble hand so could have saved 7k or whatever it was to call. I lost 15k that hand.
Then i moved tables and am looking at everyones chips and see that as per usual they have put me right nest to a huge stack with over 3x my chips. He is currently 5th.
It folds to me and i raise his bb with my ace small. He moves all in. I have to fold.
I have 20k - grrrr
There is a raise and a call in front of me. I call with A7 suited (it is 3k to go) the flop is A10x - 2 clubs. The first player checks. Second bets. I am stuck. I feel I am behind but have top pair and it just goes through my head that why did i play this had if not to hit the ace. I can't just expect to flop the flush draw and be done with it. So i pause and move all in. This nearly works as the bettor has a long think before making the correct call with AQ.
I am out in 250th, just outside the money. Balls.
I will say this though. I was donking off cash at the low limits all day yesterday and I actually prepared for this tournament. I sat up properly, got a drink, hadn't played for a few hours up until that point, and took it seriously. I took longer to act and gave more respect to the players and the cards i was prepared to play. I guess what i am saying is, the money was significant. The low limits are a fucking grind and people, including me often play like shit because they can affors to lose. I think i'd rather play a bit higher and give myself a better shot at winning a significant amount of money where i will actually learn something and become a better player.
Sorry for the long post - i doubt you are even reading any more are you??
HELLOOO??
nothing...
Just me then....
Duck for dinner, mmmm!
Good luck everyone.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Better?
I have just busted out of a 5 dollar mtt on stars. 1600+ entered - first place was offering a tidy $1500,yes please, I was on about 8k in chips and the average was 5k. I just slipped into this zone. I was doing other things on the net but after playing some omaha today i was very flop conscious as oppose to being fixed on my hole cards. On top of this, around this point in the game (400 remaining) i was hitting flops and getting dealt good cards and chatting to the monkeys at the table, and they were monkeys. Bunch of fucking Muppet's. I was calm though and was doing well. What i did do was start calling peoples cards and being very vocal riling people up and mocking anyone in my way. This worked to great effect when my final hand came up. I was dealt Q9 hearts in late position and raised. The small blind had over twice as many chips as me after just tripling up with KK against 44 and AQ. He called. The flop came Q9A. Now he checks to me and i instantly move all in. This is not normal for me but fits to my recent play. He calls and i love the fact that i have annoyed him enough to call with the "stealth monster" that is A6. Fucking hilarious. To a raise pre flop and a bet all in. Fucking Muppet. The turn is a 6 so the joke is on me when his 2 pr holds. That, incidentally was for a 20k pot that would have put me in the top 10 as we approached the bubble.
Does anyone know where these people live. I've just sharpened the end of my baseball bat with my Swiss army knife, splintered it with razor blades and bought 700 copies of Harrington on hold em - highlighting a section on "obvious folding situations". I will leave their corpses rotting in a puddle of their own blood with only page upon page of poker strategy to soak it up.
Long term??
+EV
Fat lot of good that does me now
Does anyone know where these people live. I've just sharpened the end of my baseball bat with my Swiss army knife, splintered it with razor blades and bought 700 copies of Harrington on hold em - highlighting a section on "obvious folding situations". I will leave their corpses rotting in a puddle of their own blood with only page upon page of poker strategy to soak it up.
Long term??
+EV
Fat lot of good that does me now
Monday, June 18, 2007
Not a bad run
I played a 4.40, 180 man tourney on stars last night and managed to finish 7th. This was a much needed cash ( a whopping 10 quid - 25$) as i have been very negative of late. If I'm honest I picked up a lot of cards early doors which gave me a very comfortable chip position very early on. I could then bully a bit, hit some cards and get lucky to stay well above average. After a point there was really no question about making the final table. I got there and there was nutter raising and reraising. I let him get on with it, well, i had no choice i had no cards. Then i picked up JJ under the gun. There were a few short stacks and i thought i might get action this way. We were already down to 8 and this was a guts and glory moment. A short stack went all in and i loved to see Mr Aggressive reraise to isolate. I reraised all in and he called all in - me JJ - short AK suited and him 1010. Flop Qx10 and its all over really. The Q on the turn gives him a boat and reduces my outs to 2 - miss both somehow and I'm out in 7th. Consolation - i played really well, pretty tight and not overly aggressive and got my money in with the best hand.
I fired up another one earlier today - we got through the first 80 players and then this happened. I raised 4x bb in early/mid with 1010 - late position player reraises. I often give reraises in low limits a lot of credit as its usually all about calling. A short stack player reraised all in in the blinds. I sat and thought and came to the conclusion that the most likely holding for the first reraise was Ace something Big K/Q - i then decided that if the sb would make that move with an ace - i may have to dodge some cards but they might cancel each other somewhat and reduce their chanced of winning. I move all in, which is quite a substantial reraise i might add, reraise man instantly calls the sb shows A9 off suit and the reraiser A8 suited. I lol'd heartily at this. That is until he flops the nut flush draw and they both hit an ace in the turn. I knew it was over after the flop. What do i have to do. Consolation - i got my money in with the best hand.
More like this please.
I just sat down at a cash game - first one in ages. I'm shit!
Good luck you hairy mothers
I fired up another one earlier today - we got through the first 80 players and then this happened. I raised 4x bb in early/mid with 1010 - late position player reraises. I often give reraises in low limits a lot of credit as its usually all about calling. A short stack player reraised all in in the blinds. I sat and thought and came to the conclusion that the most likely holding for the first reraise was Ace something Big K/Q - i then decided that if the sb would make that move with an ace - i may have to dodge some cards but they might cancel each other somewhat and reduce their chanced of winning. I move all in, which is quite a substantial reraise i might add, reraise man instantly calls the sb shows A9 off suit and the reraiser A8 suited. I lol'd heartily at this. That is until he flops the nut flush draw and they both hit an ace in the turn. I knew it was over after the flop. What do i have to do. Consolation - i got my money in with the best hand.
More like this please.
I just sat down at a cash game - first one in ages. I'm shit!
Good luck you hairy mothers
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Ok you little monkies.
My bankroll steadily rising we are now looking at a total of $73.88.
This is great news and very encouraging. I am winning the 6 handed tables (or at least cashing) more often than not. I spent about $15 the other night whilst tired playing multi table turbos. These for me represent way less value than the 6 seaters. In a 6 seater turbo i can sit and wait through the first few levels if i don't catch any cards. This allows the possibility of other players busting each other or enables me to catch people making mistakes. With the multi tables it just seems that my good hands have less chance of holding up in a full ring situation and other people seem to acquire much larger stacks faster, allowing them the "bully" moves.
I won that money back and a bit more coming 7th in a $4.40, 180 man tourney on Stars. I was very low at one point and tripled up when my shove from late position in an unopened pot was called and raised in the blinds. I was saying my goodbyes when i saw this action. I had Q7 of clubs, the sb had pocket 10's and the bb had AK spades. The flop came ace high with 2 clubs and i caught the third on the river. The very next hand i picked up aces and doubled up again to put me near the head of the field. Through good cards and funky moves i stayed there. I tangled with the chip leader who seemed to want to play every pot with me but i decimated his stack putting me in the lead. At the final table my 88 lost to 44 after he open shoved all in with a huge stack on the button. I knew it was a weak play and called - he flopped a 4. He made the same play again later and i called again with AQ spades and he showed pocket 9's. I was down to 10k. My final hand was against the most aggressive player at the table who had raised or was in almost every hand. Anyway i reraised all in with 99 and was called by his Kings which held.
Hey ho. I know that in normal circumstances i would have finished higher and was all in all very happy with my play.
Oh yeah. I was just thinking how i got short in the first place. I called a raise in the bb after the cutoff had raised and the button called w KJ diamonds. Flop all diamonds - 7 high. The original raiser moves all in the button calls - i move all in - he calls the tiny remainder. Turn 8 river 7. the original raiser mucks and the button shows 78 clubs for runner runner full house. Great play. I love the way these people can over value their flopped low pairs. He could be up against over prs, sets, straights and flushes but no! He thinks his 7, no kicker has got to be good.
Another thing i noticed was play by other big stacks. Say they raise a pot for 3 times the bb say to 1800 and a short stack moves all in for 8k, that is not, i don't think an auto call with any pair. 55 for example. I watched a guy in successive hands - raise call all in with 55 and lose to AK - raise and call an all in with AQ and lose to AK - raise - get reraised - then HE reraises - puts the other guy all in who eventually calls with 1010 - our guy loses with 66. stack?? decimated. I think someone said he lost 43k in those 3 hands. This is obviously an extreme example but some of the play was just hilarious.
I must admit it feels good to sit and laugh at this play aware of mistakes being made. I am basically sick of feeling knowledgeable about the game and not winning. I have taken measures to improve it and things are looking, and feeling pretty goooood
This is great news and very encouraging. I am winning the 6 handed tables (or at least cashing) more often than not. I spent about $15 the other night whilst tired playing multi table turbos. These for me represent way less value than the 6 seaters. In a 6 seater turbo i can sit and wait through the first few levels if i don't catch any cards. This allows the possibility of other players busting each other or enables me to catch people making mistakes. With the multi tables it just seems that my good hands have less chance of holding up in a full ring situation and other people seem to acquire much larger stacks faster, allowing them the "bully" moves.
I won that money back and a bit more coming 7th in a $4.40, 180 man tourney on Stars. I was very low at one point and tripled up when my shove from late position in an unopened pot was called and raised in the blinds. I was saying my goodbyes when i saw this action. I had Q7 of clubs, the sb had pocket 10's and the bb had AK spades. The flop came ace high with 2 clubs and i caught the third on the river. The very next hand i picked up aces and doubled up again to put me near the head of the field. Through good cards and funky moves i stayed there. I tangled with the chip leader who seemed to want to play every pot with me but i decimated his stack putting me in the lead. At the final table my 88 lost to 44 after he open shoved all in with a huge stack on the button. I knew it was a weak play and called - he flopped a 4. He made the same play again later and i called again with AQ spades and he showed pocket 9's. I was down to 10k. My final hand was against the most aggressive player at the table who had raised or was in almost every hand. Anyway i reraised all in with 99 and was called by his Kings which held.
Hey ho. I know that in normal circumstances i would have finished higher and was all in all very happy with my play.
Oh yeah. I was just thinking how i got short in the first place. I called a raise in the bb after the cutoff had raised and the button called w KJ diamonds. Flop all diamonds - 7 high. The original raiser moves all in the button calls - i move all in - he calls the tiny remainder. Turn 8 river 7. the original raiser mucks and the button shows 78 clubs for runner runner full house. Great play. I love the way these people can over value their flopped low pairs. He could be up against over prs, sets, straights and flushes but no! He thinks his 7, no kicker has got to be good.
Another thing i noticed was play by other big stacks. Say they raise a pot for 3 times the bb say to 1800 and a short stack moves all in for 8k, that is not, i don't think an auto call with any pair. 55 for example. I watched a guy in successive hands - raise call all in with 55 and lose to AK - raise and call an all in with AQ and lose to AK - raise - get reraised - then HE reraises - puts the other guy all in who eventually calls with 1010 - our guy loses with 66. stack?? decimated. I think someone said he lost 43k in those 3 hands. This is obviously an extreme example but some of the play was just hilarious.
I must admit it feels good to sit and laugh at this play aware of mistakes being made. I am basically sick of feeling knowledgeable about the game and not winning. I have taken measures to improve it and things are looking, and feeling pretty goooood
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Descent into poker blogging
I have just watched the film The Descent http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/ . Holy Moly! Shocker! As i mentioned before, i don't really get scared by films. I think to a certain extent i have seen it all. However, what this film did do particularly well was utilise shock tactics to its best advantage. I was in by myself and was tensing up and jumping about like an epileptic at a disco. Along with the "boo factor" (which is what i think this should actually be called - "i give this a boo factor 9" etc) they showed some shocking stuff - not like a man stabbing a baby or anything like that, but rather surprise, shock elements that made you jump and feel disgusted at the same time. I don't know about you but there are certain things that can be shown on film that really get to me. One example - not from this film, ( no spoilers here!) is dentistry. Not general dentistry "ahhh yes Mr Smith , very good teeth - do keep them clean!". NO! I mean pulling teeth with rusty implements, stabbing the mouth, the end of American History X ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120586/ ), drilling, wrenching etc etc. Ohhherrr makes me cringe thinking about it. Point is, it makes me feel wrong inside and there were moments in this film which did that to me. The only reason i put it on the list and watched the film is cos Empire Magazine ( http://www.empireonline.com/put ) put it in their list of 201 greatest movies of all time at number 200. I transferred all films i hadn't seen to my list and will see them all in due course. For those of you who don't know, "the list" is the never ending list of films to rent from my online supplier Blockbuster http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/ . Cannot recommend them enough actually.
As for poker. My god this game is sick. I still get vexed and annoyed getting busted by the morons. I don't care if they will make me money in the long run. I may run out of money before my time comes! I'm not kidding. Twice i got my money in with flopped sets (Jacks both times) only to be runner runnered and beaten by a straight and a flush. These were not on as a straight draw when the money went in you understand. If i move all in with a set and someone calls with an overcards and a straight draw then fair play and good luck but this is madness. I made a play i never make today which worked out really well. Check it out...
I'm in the bb dealt AJ off. The guy (dumb looking photo on Pokerstars as his avatar - begs the question why do people who aren't good looking advertise the fact- anyway) he is one off the button - he raises. I figure positional raise and reraise just over 3 times his bet. This incidentally is the play i never make with a hand this weak. He ponders and calls. Flop J33 - "great flop" thinks i. A move i do like to make in this spot is the double bluff continuation bet. I want it to look like a standard continuation bet so they get involved, usually on a flop like this by raising - and lo and behold - he repops me from about 280 - to 700 -now i know he hasn't got an over pair or a 3 - if he has a J its not AJ - so i reraise all in - he calls with AK off - Interesting the board hits runner runner spades to put 4 spades out and give him what is more commonly known as the nut flush.
Bollocks.
Anyway - Poker faults of the day - 1) Emotional - get angry and want to beat certain individuals - 2) Impulsive - sometimes good but i often act and wish I'd just pondered the board/situation a little closer/longer- 3) Impatient - sometimes i sit like a rock playing 3 hands in 49 minutes and others i want to call any raise with any hand - I KNOW WHEN THEY HIT THEY HIT MASSIVE AND CANT BE SPOTTED BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY DON'T SO JUST PUT IT ASIDE AND FOLD.
Enjoy your evening and remember its the way to bring a lemon do climax is to tickle the citerus
Night
As for poker. My god this game is sick. I still get vexed and annoyed getting busted by the morons. I don't care if they will make me money in the long run. I may run out of money before my time comes! I'm not kidding. Twice i got my money in with flopped sets (Jacks both times) only to be runner runnered and beaten by a straight and a flush. These were not on as a straight draw when the money went in you understand. If i move all in with a set and someone calls with an overcards and a straight draw then fair play and good luck but this is madness. I made a play i never make today which worked out really well. Check it out...
I'm in the bb dealt AJ off. The guy (dumb looking photo on Pokerstars as his avatar - begs the question why do people who aren't good looking advertise the fact- anyway) he is one off the button - he raises. I figure positional raise and reraise just over 3 times his bet. This incidentally is the play i never make with a hand this weak. He ponders and calls. Flop J33 - "great flop" thinks i. A move i do like to make in this spot is the double bluff continuation bet. I want it to look like a standard continuation bet so they get involved, usually on a flop like this by raising - and lo and behold - he repops me from about 280 - to 700 -now i know he hasn't got an over pair or a 3 - if he has a J its not AJ - so i reraise all in - he calls with AK off - Interesting the board hits runner runner spades to put 4 spades out and give him what is more commonly known as the nut flush.
Bollocks.
Anyway - Poker faults of the day - 1) Emotional - get angry and want to beat certain individuals - 2) Impulsive - sometimes good but i often act and wish I'd just pondered the board/situation a little closer/longer- 3) Impatient - sometimes i sit like a rock playing 3 hands in 49 minutes and others i want to call any raise with any hand - I KNOW WHEN THEY HIT THEY HIT MASSIVE AND CANT BE SPOTTED BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEY DON'T SO JUST PUT IT ASIDE AND FOLD.
Enjoy your evening and remember its the way to bring a lemon do climax is to tickle the citerus
Night
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