island*

getting cocked by the poker gods

2009-03-05T21:09:00.000-08:00

got doomswitched really hard in my regular game. played pretty perfectly...just got fucked when I'm way ahead.

raise 3.5x w/ KJo IP and get called. flop comes J hi with two low spades. He checks i check behind. long story short he raises me on the river and I call him down I win.
Raise KQ IP flop comes K hi and I call the OOP bettors 3 barrel. I take it down.

Raise 55 UTG and get 4 callers. Flop is a wonderful Kh 10h 5s. I lead, get check raised i shove he flips over K 10 and binks a 10 on the turn. Im like 78% to win when all the money goes in but get cocked. standard.

Raise QQ with one spade over a stradle to 33 and get two callers. I lead for 70 into 100 on a 7s 10s 4 board. PF caller goes all in for 50 more and button calls the 120. I cant raise so I flat. Turn is a Js I check button bets 200 i fold, he shows As2s for nutflush vs. a flopped set. Nice call preflop with A2.

Raise QQ UTG to 20 and get popped to 80. I flat and dealer misdeals the flop which would have been 8 hi. 3 bettor says it should be reflopped I disagree. he asks me if i want a chop. I know he has AK. Fuck you equity and my 10% advantage over him. Reflop comes K J 10 he bets half pot i call turn is a K i check fold, fuck you variance.

played an omaha hand where im 68% to win the high and im pot commited with top two, open ender,a low draw, a flush draw. get fucked on the river when he spikes the miracle overflush low. fuck you. he then promptly spews it off that money in the next hand with like the 16th nuts in a 2300 pot. im obviously not the recipient of this money. cocked again.

note* didnt win a hand for the last 2.5 hours. statistically improbable. but so standard for me ATM. anything that can go wrong is going wrong. fucking doomswithched.

fawk

2009-01-29T21:30:00.000-08:00

dropped one buyin at 1/3 to the worst players i have ever met in my life! what does that make me? anyways...to the hands:

Hand 1)

Call a straddle to $8 with 44 as do four others.
Flop 5d 4h 2d
UTG shoves all in for $57 and UTG+1 overcalls. I raise to $160. UTG+1 folds
UTG shows Ac5c and binks a nice 3 on the turn to make the wheel. River bricks and I'm down half a buyin.
Checked the odds of the hand I was 84% to win the hand on the flop. Standard.

Hand 2)

I call a button raise of $15 with Qd9d as do 3 others.
Flop Qc 7s 9c
I check as do two others and the button makes it $35. I shove over the top for $250 more and the others fold. Button deliberates and tosses his $110 in the pot and shows me AcKs! Turn 10c, River J making him Broadway. Fuck my life. When we got it all on the flop I was an 11:1 favorite to win the hand. Ghay.

Hand 3)

I call a raise from MP with Jd7d.
Flop Ah 10d 8d
UTG (same villain from previous two hands) ships it in for $150 and I call with the straight flush draw as I was stuck, obvi. My 48% chance of winning went down the drain as the turn brought a 10 and the river a harmless black 2. Whatever.

Not going to write much except I played really really well tonight....except for not winning when I was way ahead and one spot where I double barrelled only to run into top set. So it goes. Made a couple nice small bluffs on the river and got away from my big hands when I was obviously beat. Can't be dissapointed. If I run above expectation I probably have a 3-buyin night. Standard shit.

cash game

2009-01-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

played in my regular 1/3 full ring game at my buddy Ross' house. The regulars were all there, as was their money for the taking. I ran pretty hot, flopping trips twice in raised multi way pots and getting paid. Flopped a set once. Ended up a lil over $900 up for the night. Ross lost a 200BB coinflip. Haha Ross, you suck!

Played yesterday in another 1/3 game. Same culprits again. I ran pretty up and down. One interesting hand I raised on the button with J8o and got a call from the SB.
Flop: 10 9 9
I cb 2/3 pot to $20 w/ the open ender and got min raised to $40. Gotta love that min-raise! Of course I called and the magic 7 came on the turn giving me the straight. He overbets the pot and I shove over the top, he calls and shows a rag 9, blanks the turn and I drag the pot. nh ty sir for giving me perfect odds to call with my draw.
Unfortunately I lost it all back spewing off chips and in this hand:
Limped pot I call in LP w/ Q9o
Flop comes 10 9 8 r
Someone bets 1/2 pot I call
Turn is a 9 giving me trips. Now, super lagtard overbets 100ish and I shove for 105 more on top and he snaps me off w/ J7 and I brick the river. gg nh you win
So I rebuy and proceed to win a bunch of smaller pots and then I play this hand with my favorite lagtard villain.
Villain raises to $12 and gets cold called by the tighest nit ever (that's you, Ross). I look down at AQhh and pump it to $40. Villain comes along but Ross, given great odds to try to flop his set/GSC*, folds like a little girl. Thanks. Anyways the flop comes down Qs 7 5s. Villain leads into me for $60 and I deliberate and call as he is representing a Q or a spade draw. Immediately, I know that he doesn't have AA/KK as he would have 4bet pre. QQ is not out of his range but he would play that hand really slow and check it to me on the flop. He could have a spade draw, but I was content with him leading into me. I flat called as I believed he had AQ or would continue bluffing in this spot. The turn brings an offsuit 8 which doesn't bother me and villain again leads into me for 100ish. I think about it and decide to snap off any riverbet because he really wasn't repping anything, except for an extremely well played AA/KK, which is unlikely given villain's perceived range. Anyhow, the river brings a 9 or something completing a four-straight and villain bets 200 which I snap off. He shows AK and I rake the pot. gg nh I take the maney.

Overall, I ended up a little over $400. A good take and a fun game.

* Gay Suited Connector

bad week/month

2009-01-11T13:47:00.001-08:00

yeah i had fun over the christmas break. just in a little bit of a funk at the moment. seems like everything is going against me. im prolly just being a little bitch tho. yeah, thats it.

oh, to top it off, my dad just crushed me for 15 points in backgammon in like six games. 15 points in six games! and i won two of the six! that guy runs so high above expectation it is unbelievable. he is incredibly frustrating to play against as he will almost always hit me when i leave a man open and then i will miss four rolls in a row. it fucking tilts me. i do give the guy a lot of credit...he was the Gosling's Gold Cup Backgammon champ so wtf am i supposed to do?

oh well. nfl is on. lets hope i beat the spread!

2009-01-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

some hands i played...live cash 1/3 full ring.

repop UTG+1 from 20 to 60 with red AA get cold called in two spots. flop comes K 8 4 all clubs. I ship for 220 everyone folds.

i open MP with QQ to 25 and get 3b by a TAG to 80. He has 350 behind so I flat. flop comes 3 J 3. I lead for 100 he flat calls? his RR range is AK/AA/KK/QQ/JJ. so i beat absolutely nothing. but im a moron so i ship the turn and he snaps KK. nh sir. i misplayed this hand pretty badly and just should have c/c flop and given up on turn or something. folding pre is certainly spew. dunno.

raise UTG with JJ to 18, 3 callers and then the SB makes it 100 to go. seemed like BS to me and he is capable of making moves so I call as he has 400 behind. flop comes 9 hi and he checks I bet 100 he ships i fold face up. i should have checked flop. i play bad.

not as bad as some people i suppose.
i raise CO w/jk to 13 and get one caller. flop comes K 10 8 with two clubs. he checks i bet 3/4 pot he calls. turn is 10h putting a heart draw on the board. he checks i bet 3/4 pot he calls. river is a 9 and i block bet 1/4 pot. he calls and shows j7o for the gutter on the river. you sir are awful.

raise AK no spades ip to 20 and get called in 2 spots. flop comes K 10 7 with two spades and i lead for full pot. both call. turn is 6s and villain 1 checks and villain 2 shoves his last 50 into the pot. i just call as does villain one. river is an 8 and villain one bets 100. i fold face up and he shows j9 off for a rivered straight. nh sir. i guess i misplayed the hand by not raising the turn. i let villain one get there by not making it more to go. ho hum.

hu in a limped pot with 88. i check call 3streets and villain shows me A4 on a 7 6 3 5 j board. nh sir. one day you will miss.

so yeah, standard stuff i suppose. i played poorly tonight against terrible opponents and lost like 800. wtf was going on last night. doomswitched no doubt.

*sad news. A good friend of mine by the name of James Smith died last night in a motor cycle accident. My condolences to his family. Just a really fun guy with a great personality. Always smiling. Such a fucking shame. He will be missed. RIP James.

house robbed

2008-12-19T04:45:00.000-08:00

wow. so i came back from doing a lil' christmas shopping and discovered that my house has been robbed. looks like they broke in through an upstairs window as a pane of glass was cracked and the window lock was undone. what was taken included:
52 inch Sony Bravia.
27 inch Sony LCD
Playstation 3 w/ various accessories and games
Dell Ispiron Laptop
20G Ipod
Mont Blanc Pen
Dine Around Gift Certificates
$1200 in cash

Are you fucking kidding me? God I would have loved to catch them in the act. I just can't believe this shit. I hope someone has a nice Christmas.

5/10 shot

2008-12-11T08:38:00.000-08:00

haha i hate 88. Last hand I played in Vegas:

@ the Palms. Just sat down. 3rd hand or something. Bought in 100BB to the 1/3 game. Full ring.

I raise UTG to $12 with 88
6 callers
flop: 8 7 5 with two clubs
BB leads for $20. I make it $75. Button cold calls as does the BB.
Turn Ad.
BB checks.
I ship for $200ish. Button snap calls. BB calls as well!

They both show 64o, the board doesnt pair and I ship them the gold. gg nh I stand up and leave.

took a shot at a soft 5/10 6-max game on stars. and i got sucked out on. standard.

villain has been 3 betting light. he DU earlier when he 3bet the UTG raiser from the button with a 2.5x 3b size? Flop 6 7 10 r. button shoved over utg's c/r. villain showed 89s and held against utg's 10 10.

hero: $1095
villain: covers

i raise 88 to $40 from the CO
Button raises to $100. I flat.

Flop: 8d 7d 5h
I c/r villain's $100 to $350. He ships it in. I snap call and he shows AJdd and gets there on the turn. Board doesnt pair. Take the gold, sir.

Standard.

movies

2008-12-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

watched a bunch of movies over the past few weeks:
transporter 3: 1 > 3 > 2 . Couldn't tell if the main girl was hot or not. but statham's a beast
madagascar 2: i laughed my ass off at this one. specially the navy seal penguins.
australia: wtf i couldnt wait for this movie to end. longest. movie. ever. nicole kidman is shit.
4 christmases: my boy VV didnt dissapoint at all! he came thru as only he can. Mistletoe!
quantum of solace: i like daniel craig as bond and what they are doing with his character. in the latest flicks, bond doesnt have any of his traditional quips; he's not suave, just a smartass. i believe they are going to transition him into more of a gentleman as craig continues as bond. it must be said that craig is more like the character from the bond books.

i dont want to talk poker right now. too much of it. it will be nice to take a break. especially since the poker gods hit the fucking doom switch on me.

epic fail big time

2008-11-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

it has just been one of those days. or one of those weeks. you know when you can't even buy a pot. and you lose to the worst player at the table over and over again. yeah. its been one of those weeks. to cap it all off i just lost a 4k pot:

MP (retard0) raises to $20
I pop it to $80 on the button with two black kings

Flop: K 9 9 r

Bingo! I flop the nut full house. Now hopefully this bitch has something.

MP checks
I bet $80. MP calls. I bet half pot to induce the c/r or a float.

Turn: 3

MP checks
I bet $200
MP calls

River: Q
MP shoves for $1500 which is very strange. maybe he has QQ?
I snap call and he shows me 99 for flopped quads.

Fukkkkkkkkk. i hate poker.

2008-11-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

$55 entry 45 person sit n go

2008-11-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

just took 1st for $767.26
Standard.

popping bottles

2008-11-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

in other news i ve been to four clubs since ive been here. jet at the mirage, rok in new york new york, tao at the venetian and pure at caesars. i had a chance to go to nellys b-day party at a club in planet hollywood but took it easy instead. wow, these clubs are insane! no stories to be published online!

running bad with 88

2008-11-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

running disgustingly bad at the moment. cant win with anything which equals four losing days in a row. im not used to this at all and it sucks. when i lose with flopped sets, which usually bring in the most ca$h, you know im not going to have a good week.

some examples:

three limpers, CO raises to 30, i call with 44 in SB as do three others.
flop comes 4 5 K rainbow.
i cr initial raisers flop bet from 70 to 210. he calls.
i bet 430 on the 9 turn. he calls
river 8 i shove for 400 more. villain calls with a rivered set of 8s. like, wtf? how did you get there?

five people limp into a pot. i complete from SB with 22.
flop 2 4 5 rainbow. i cr flop from 20 to 80. one caller.
i bet 160 on the 10 turn and villain calls.
river 8 i shove 330 and villain calls with a rivered set of 8s. huh?

i call a standard raise to 20 with 88 as do three others.
flop comes A 7 8 r.
i lead for 90 and a shorty shoves for 120 total. everyone calls and im forced to as well.
turn brings a Q and i shove my stack in the middle for 390. i get one caller.
river is a 9.
initial shorty shover turns over 56 for a rivered straight and i get 300 from the side pot but lose 480 in equity.

i flat a raise with 22 as do two others. flop comes Q J 2. im all in with another guy on the flop for an $800 pot and he flips JJ for set under set. sucks.

i call a raise to 25 with 88 with two others and the flop comes A 8 2 with one spade. checked to initial raiser who bets 80. guy right behind him makes it 200 leaving himself 200 behind. i flat hoping to get initial raisers money too. unfortunately he folds. turn is a spade and guy shoves for 210 more. i snap call and he shows AJss? reraising on a dry flop with top pair no kicker? god some people play bad. of course he back doors the spade draw on the river and takes the 1000 pot. standard bullshit. how come i never suck out? just dont get the flop raise with someone to act behind thats all.

anyways lost with like five flopped sets in a row. luckily live players are sooooo bad so i know i will get the cash back.

all for now.

5k day

2008-10-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

just had my first $5000 day at 2/5. Played around 10 hours and just absolutely crushed. Got quads twice and got paid both times. basically just took the ops to my little shack on the edge of value town and left them there. lol biggest day ever at 2/5 so i'm real happy atm. playing in a freeroll with about 400 others today at caesar's. top 10 get a 10k seat in the main event of the caesar's classic main event. maybe ill get lucky!

vegas update

2008-10-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

Sensory overload. All the time. That's what Vegas does to you at first. Luckily, I'm pretty much totally immune to it now. I no longer become distracted by all the flashing lights and ding-ding-dinging of the slot machines. However, I do become annoyed. Mostly by the type of people I encounter. Fat, smoking, barrel-assed type people injecting their monies into machines that are going to take 1/4 of the money you spend guaranteed. 80 year old electric wheel chair bound white haired ladies smoking marlboro 100s and Burger King fattened 40 year olds knocking back shitty free American beer. These are the people that detest me. And they are all over the place. The strange thing about Vegas is that it's tough to find anyone that's actually genuine. Everyone always has some sort of act going. It's difficult to differentiate between those person's personalities that are based on fiction and those that are actually real. Some people enjoy Vegas for this reason: You can be whoever you want. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't embelished some information about myself...but nothing too extreme.

Despite all the people I dislike, Vegas does give you the opportunity to meet lot's of celebrities. Not fake-ass "I'm a celebrity because I was on a reality TV show celebrities" but actual famous people. For example, I was in Caesar's Palace Poker Room last week and who do I literally bump into by Michael Phelps. Arguably the best Olympian ever and I got to talk to him. Just a regular dude who likes to play poker. He actually did pretty well too as he final tabled a $1500 dollar event. Just a college student but he is one of the recognizable people on the planet. And a nice guy to boot. Who would have thunk it?

Also, playing 2/5 with Denis Philips. For you non poker players he is currently the chip leader in this year's main event at the WSOP. It's the biggest deal in the poker community. And he was just a regular dude as well. He dumped money to the table. I guess that's what you get when you know you are going to win at least 3 million dollars. Lucky bastard!

All for now.

Viva Las Vegas!

2008-10-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

Hey peoples! Have settled in to my lifestyle in las vegas and am having a very succesful and profitable time. So far my days have gone:
M: $1000
T: $633
W: $2090
R: $1600
F: $400
S: $2300
S: -
M: $1200
T: $800
W: $2600

So a very positive start to the trip. Will write more later about specific hands etc.

Till Later

ship the 12k!

2008-10-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Ended up chopping three ways in a $55 buy in tourney. 2157 players and I played extremely well / ran really hot. We chopped by stack sizes so one guy took 14k, the other 12.5k and myself around 12.2k. Took 8 hours to complete. Pretty tired but super pumped up for my biggest tourney win ever! I'm not really a tourney donk, so it was great to actually post a legitimate result and go deep. Only remember putting one bad beat on a guy where my 77 beat his AA AIP but i flopped a set. Besides that, I played extremely patient poker and I just kept hitting. I was in the top 50 chip counts the entire time so was consistent in my play and didn't get unlucky.
Ship the Monies!

you know you're running good when...

2008-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

PokerStars Game #20931704569: Tournament #110964400, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level XX (3500/7000) - 2008/10/04 20:14:58 ET
Table '110964400 103' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: kobepham (128393 in chips)
Seat 2: SKUNKWENCH (341021 in chips)
Seat 3: 8oggo8 (232454 in chips)
Seat 4: alani111 (929161 in chips)
Seat 5: foldorpayme (213556 in chips)
Seat 6: marconwinner (183128 in chips)
Seat 7: NetDrifter (59799 in chips)
Seat 9: surprise1964 (118424 in chips)
kobepham: posts the ante 700
SKUNKWENCH: posts the ante 700
8oggo8: posts the ante 700
alani111: posts the ante 700
foldorpayme: posts the ante 700
marconwinner: posts the ante 700
NetDrifter: posts the ante 700
surprise1964: posts the ante 700
alani111: posts small blind 3500
foldorpayme: posts big blind 7000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SKUNKWENCH [Kh Kd]
marconwinner: raises 14000 to 21000
NetDrifter: folds
surprise1964: folds
kobepham: folds
SKUNKWENCH: raises 49000 to 70000
8oggo8: folds
alani111: folds
foldorpayme: folds
marconwinner: calls 49000
*** FLOP *** [Kc Ks 8h]
marconwinner: checks
SKUNKWENCH: checks
*** TURN *** [Kc Ks 8h] [7c]
marconwinner: checks
SKUNKWENCH: checks
*** RIVER *** [Kc Ks 8h 7c] [3s]
marconwinner: bets 112428 and is all-in
SKUNKWENCH: calls 112428
*** SHOW DOWN ***
marconwinner: shows [8c 8s] (a full house, Eights full of Kings)
SKUNKWENCH: shows [Kh Kd] (four of a kind, Kings)
SKUNKWENCH collected 380956 from pot

2nd in chips with 28 left. gogogogogogogog

still in the $55

2008-10-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

2157 entrants. currently 83 left. i'm second in chips. first wins $17,000. run good one time.

$55 donkament

2008-10-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Playing in a tourney right now. running hot but also playing sick good. Made a nice call with king high on a very coordinated board to take a nice pot. Lost with my AK to AQ AIP and he hit a Q. If he bricks, I'm chip leader.

Also won this hand with 65 high!

PokerStars Game #20926410585: Tournament #110964400, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (125/250) - 2008/10/04 16:40:37 ETTable '110964400 39' 9-max Seat #4 is the button

Seat 1: saranghada (10402 in chips)

Seat 2: Missolson (5705 in chips)

Seat 3: DerBremer12 (4845 in chips)

Seat 4: KingDonation (4340 in chips)

Seat 5: SKUNKWENCH (23722 in chips)

Seat 6: Jutlandia (5405 in chips)

Seat 7: Nous44 (5969 in chips)

Seat 8: iMaKon (6380 in chips)

Seat 9: Joggi (16020 in chips):

HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to SKUNKWENCH [6s 5s]

Nous44: folds

iMaKon: folds

Joggi: folds

saranghada: folds

Missolson: folds

DerBremer12: folds

KingDonation: folds

SKUNKWENCH: raises 500 to 750

Jutlandia: calls 500

*** FLOP *** [2h 3d 9d]

SKUNKWENCH: checks

Jutlandia: bets 1250

SKUNKWENCH: raises 21697 to 22947 and is all-in

Jutlandia: calls 3380 and is all-in

Uncalled bet (18317) returned to SKUNKWENCH

*** TURN *** [2h 3d 9d] [Qc]

*** RIVER *** [2h 3d 9d Qc] [7d]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

SKUNKWENCH: shows [6s 5s] (high card Queen)

Jutlandia: shows [6c 4s] (high card Queen - lower kicker)

This hand was interesting and I got a lot of respect from my opponents in the subsequent hands. It really does show the importance of hand reading.

Dealt to SKUNKWENCH [Ks 6s]

iMaKon: folds

Joggi: folds

saranghada: folds

Missolson: folds

DerBremer12: folds

KingDonation: folds

SKUNKWENCH: raises 500 to 750 - I attempt a button steal with K6o which is very standard figuring I have the best hand anyways.

kobepham: calls 625 - An ok player just calls from the BB and we play a hand.

Nous44: folds

*** FLOP *** [3s 3h 5d] - I missed and he knows I missed.

kobepham: checks

SKUNKWENCH: checks - No point in betting here as I have been opening very liberally. He def. check raises flop here if I bet

*** TURN *** [3s 3h 5d] [Ac]

kobepham: checks - He definitely does not have an ace, 3 or 5 as he would have lead out here

SKUNKWENCH: checks - cant bet here because I most likely would have bet flop with an A

*** RIVER *** [3s 3h 5d Ac] [Qd]

kobepham: bets 1250 - tries the post-oak bluff on me.

SKUNKWENCH: calls 1250 - K high is def good sucka! snap call.

*** SHOW DOWN ***

kobepham: shows [4d 6d] (a pair of Threes)

SKUNKWENCH: shows [Ks 6s] (a pair of Threes - Ace+King kicker)

SKUNKWENCH collected 4475 from pot

Not a big pot but it let the table know I could hand read.

thursday thursday

2008-10-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dumped $500 in my weekly thursday cash game. Overall, I played extremely poor poker and I deserved to lose. Here's one hand I butchered:

6 sissy limpers and I raise to $35 OTB w/ A9dd. Two callers and the flop comes down 8d 5c 3d so i flop a flush draw. Checked to me and I bet $65. One fold and crazy aggro maniac comes along for the ride. Turn brings the 4h. He checks and I bet $90 which he c/r to $210. At this point he could have a set, two pair, or total air. If I were to call I would only have $180 left. At this point it's either shovefold but i do the stupid thing and just call. The board bricks out and I fold to his river bet. He flips up QJ off for a total bluff. So nh sir and stupid me for misplaying my hand. Also pot odds says I should call there, but I guess I thought he would never be bluffing in that situation. Bad poker from me and that's that.

Another bad play:

I call a raise to $10 with 10c7c as do about 4 other people. Flop comes down 8c9c9s. Checked to me and I bet half pot and get c/r to $40 more. I look at his stack and put him in for what is $160 more. He snap calls with quad 9s. I don't hit my two outer and I ship him the $500 pot. Silly play by me because he has 9x almost everytime there. With the paired board I should just check call check call.

Till next time.

2008-09-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I played in a cash game at a friendly, nearby establishment. The regulars were all there as well as a couple other donators. I fully expected to get shipped some monies and by the end of the night, I was not disappointed.

The game we play is 1/3 dealers choice, which means we play a lot of wild card games. It’s +EV for myself and the better players to partake in these games, mainly because we take advantage of our opponents inability to read their hands correctly. And yes. They are that bad that they can’t read their cards correctly.

Bought in for $300, which is pretty standard for the game. I quickly got quartered when playing OHL w/ one-eyed jacks and suicide kings as wild cards. I had quad tens with the nut lo but the op, unfortunately, held quad aces with the nut lo. Nice hand sir, gg take my money. Orbit or two later I doubled up when I we were playing OHL w/ 7s wild and I had two 7s in my hand. Luckily a lo came and I milked my three opponents to the max. I took the hi and split the lo with 2 others. I quickly got quartered again when my straight flush/nut lo got destroyed by quad 5s/nut low. I misplayed my hand and lost the max when I shoved over his river bet and he had nut/nut. Oh well. Nh Jeff, thanks for stealing the hot seat!

I slowly chipped up back to even playing games like crazy pineapple with any turn being wild. Finally, I ended up in a big multiway pot with a wild card. I flopped top set and kept betting all the way. By the river I had made the nut flush and the resident pay off queen called my $150 river bet with the fourth nuts. FYI calling w/ the fourth nuts in any wild card game is not a profitable play!

Not much else happened. I did enjoy watching my friend Antonio lose again. I believe that makes 3 negative cash game sessions in a row for him. Variance is finally kicking him in the balls for playing all those shitty cards. There is some justice in this world!

Ended up one buyin so + $300 or a little under $100/ hour.

Edit: I find it really amazing that during wild card games, people will voluntarily put all their money in the pot without any wild cards. Seem strange to you?

Weekly Thursday

2008-09-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Played in my weekly Thursday cash game at my buddy's house. The usual suspects were there, prepared to donate to my cause. As luck would have it, they donated $600 exactly. A nice take.
A couple of hands come to mind, particularly a bluff I pulled on one of the tight regulars:

The regular opens UTG for a weakish $10 bet and four people call in front of me. I elect to call, with a speculative 95dd, spew I know, but whatever; If I hit a flush I'm stacking someone. Two more people call behind me and we have ourselves a nice pot. The flop comes 2s 3d 4d. Nice flop for me as I flop a combo draw. Everyone checks to me and I bet $45 into $70 or something. Everyone folds except the reg who calls. Turn comes the 9 of clubs and op checks it again. This time I fire out $100. The reg quickly calls. The river is the Q of hearts. The reg checks to me again. Since he's obviously holding one pair I fire off $230 and he quickly folds. I show him the bluff because I'm awesome and take down a nice pot. One of the players says, "Ben, you know I would have beaten you, I had two pairs!" No shit sherlock, I had nine high.

The only other hand of note came after I had been tangling with my mate Antonio. Antonio is a spewy regular who plays large pots out of position with speculative holdings. Thing is, he scares the shit out of me because he can have ATC. Anyway the action went like this:

Same reg as in the previous hand opens for $15. I look down at two red aces and pop it to $53. Antonio calls in the SB and the original raiser comes along. Flop comes Qc 9d 3s. Great flop. Checked to me and I bet $115. Anthony just calls which scares me. 10J is not out of his range but I'm scared he may have flopped a set. Preflop raiser folds and I'm happy to see another 9 fall on the turn. This time Antonio leads out for $200, which is a standard move for him. I promptly ship it in for $350 more, he ho hums for a few minutes and then folds 77 face up. WTF? He almost convinced himself to call. I'm just curious how he even got to the turn. Some things Ill never understand! Till next time.

$ Game + Books

2008-09-23T15:42:00.001-07:00

Played about 3.5 hours in a lil cash game with a few of the regulars and was up 1.1k. Boy did I hit a serious heater! Of course the op paid me off pretty much every hand because I'm always bluffing. Silly wild card games are fun! Watched San Diego crush Favre and the Jets in MNF too. All in all, a good night.

In non-poker related news, I have recently caught the reading bug. Strange for me because I rarely read for pleasure. (Edit: I never read for pleasure). In two weeks I have read Machiavelli's The Prince, Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, Larry Philips' Zen and the Art of Poker and just today I finished Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, you swine! I'm not much for writing book reports so don't expect any profound analysis...at all. At least for now. But I think in the near future I will delve into the classics such as 1984, Fountainhead etc.. Who knows. Till next time.

One Time!

2008-09-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well, the poker gods have screwed me again...
PokerStars Game #20582547691: Tournament #109216584, $200+$15 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (200/400) - 2008/09/21 14:04:12 ETTable '109216584 182' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: URMYLeNoR (13193 in chips)
Seat 2: Sumby (12426 in chips)
Seat 3: AGame18 (23576 in chips)
Seat 4: herbstl (12799 in chips)
Seat 5: SKUNKWENCH (14691 in chips)
Seat 6: vhjelvik (12000 in chips)
Seat 7: postbear (12303 in chips)
Seat 8: tomgus456 (10925 in chips)
Seat 9: havanabrowns (18000 in chips)
AGame18: posts small blind 200herbstl: posts big blind 400*
** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to SKUNKWENCH [Jd Js]
SKUNKWENCH: raises 800 to 1200
vhjelvik: folds postbear: folds tomgus456: folds havanabrowns: folds URMYLeNoR: folds Sumby: calls 1200
AGame18: folds
herbstl: raises 3600 to 4800
SKUNKWENCH: calls 3600
Sumby: folds *** FLOP *** [5d 8h 7c]
herbstl: bets 7999 and is all-in
SKUNKWENCH: calls 7999
*** TURN *** [5d 8h 7c] [Kd]
*** RIVER *** [5d 8h 7c Kd] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***herbstl: shows [Ad Ks] (a pair of Kings)SKUNKWENCH: shows [Jd Js] (a pair of Jacks)herbstl collected 26998 from pot

I make the right read, the right call at the right time and get rightly fucked on the turn. Standard.

$200+R Tourney & 1/2 action

2008-09-17T03:52:00.001-07:00

Played in a $200+Rebuys tourney last night. As expected, the play was horrendous. My superior skills were no match for the type of player who will call my 4x preflop raise and then check call a full pot bet on the flop and turn with an inside straight draw and then hit. I can't play against that type of player...they're just too good! We started with a stack of 5,000 chips and I never got above 8,700. Three times I was good until the river, but alas, this is NLHE, not four card poker, so my hopes and dreams were flushed down the drain on the river. I promptly busted when my KQ ran into a huge pair of pocket 9s preflop. The turn gave me an open ender and all I needed to see on the river was a 'lil paint, but no, it bricked out and I was out in the fifth level of blinds. Standard.

Knowing I was better than all those players, I decide to play some on the virtual felt and promptly stacked 3 players in less than 500 hands. Booked a nice $415 win after I ran into a cooler type situation in a 3-bet spot flopping top pair top kicker against an overpair (AK vs. AA). Op played the hand well, so gg nh sir.

Think I'm going to 8-table 50c/$1 tonight. Hopefully I can play around 2k hands. Till later.

Update

2008-09-16T04:22:00.001-07:00

Hmmm. Played in my regular Thursday night live game and came up +1.5k, which was nice. A great reversal from the previous few outings. Nothing really of note, just stack-a-donk type hands against bad players. Oh yeah, I did make a nice bluff against one player...
I'm on the button with AJs and UTG makes a 4x raise, gets about four callers and I call on the button. Flop comes down 3 6 3, missing me completely. UTG raiser continues for less than 1/2 pot. He's ABC type player, capable of making moves, but I think to myself, "nah, this is my pot." So I call and the turn peels a blank 8 or something. He fires $35 into a $150 pot and since I'm not having any of that weak bullshit I raise it up to $135. He folds after some deliberation claiming he folded an overpair. Owned. Repping that 3 was too easy. Shout out to Ross who pulled the same move earlier in the evening.

idk

2008-09-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

Villain is good. Hasn't gotten out of line and he hasn't had to show down yet.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7973913297: Table Hurt (deep 6) - $3/$6 - No Limit Hold'em - 11:51:25 Seat 1: GayPenguin ($529.40)
Seat 2: chL41 ($1,419.90)
Seat 3: Regulator06 ($1,520.55)
Seat 4: clcktower ($740.25)
Seat 5: aes2sedai ($248.45)
Seat 6: AxisOfWeasel ($522)
GayPenguin posts the small blind of $3
chL41 posts the big blind of $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to GayPenguin [Ad As] - nice
Regulator06 folds,clcktower folds,aes2sedai folds,AxisOfWeasel folds
GayPenguin raises to $18 - I make a standard raise from the SB
chL41 calls $12
*** FLOP *** [Js 4h 6h] - J hi flop, flush and straight possibilities
GayPenguin bets $28 - Good flop.I bet 3/4 of the pot
chL41 raises to $100 - could have AJhh, 57hh, a set, pair and a flush draw type hand.
GayPenguin calls $72 - here i call and peel a turn card.
*** TURN *** [Js 4h 6h] [3c] - 57hh got there, set is still ahead
GayPenguin checks
chL41 bets $150
GayPenguin folds

I really don't know how to play this hand. His flop raise is pretty strong. I think in future i should c/r the flop instead of leading. When he raises me on the flop I think folding is the worst thing i can do. My stack size definitely comes into play though because I can only min raise his flop bet which would be really weak. I don't know how to play this hand. Should I just shove flop?

Are you kidding me?

2008-09-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

PokerStars Game #20303656426: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/09/10 17:28:27 ETTable 'Enif V' 6-max
Seat #5 is the buttonSeat 1: titko23 ($710.60 in chips)
Seat 2: saywhat_agan ($117 in chips)
Seat 3: thelumeister ($595.55 in chips)
Seat 4: Avaran ($208 in chips)
Seat 5: jacksintheho ($222.80 in chips)
Seat 6: SKUNKWENCH ($87.70 in chips)
SKUNKWENCH: posts small blind
$1titko23: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to SKUNKWENCH [Ac As]
SKUNKWENCH: calls
$1titko23: raises $6 to $8
SKUNKWENCH: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [9c 3h Js]
SKUNKWENCH: checks
titko23: bets $14
SKUNKWENCH: raises $30 to $44
titko23: raises $42 to $86
SKUNKWENCH: calls $35.70 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($6.30) returned to titko23
*** TURN *** [9c 3h Js] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [9c 3h Js 6h] [Ts]
*** SHOW DOWN ***SKUNKWENCH: shows [Ac As] (a pair of Aces)
titko23: shows [Jh Th] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
titko23 collected $172.40 from pot

Alright. I never make this play but I was mixing it up. I slow play my aces, as I have lost my last 7 all ins with them. Villain takes the bait and raises 4x. I smooth call. Flop comes down looking very harmless. I check, he bets, I raise, he shoves all in. I call. And then he gets there. This is absolutely ridiculous. I have now lost my last 8 hands with pocket aces. Im just going to fold preflop from now on.

Standard

2008-09-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

And it continues...

2008-09-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

Full Tilt Poker Game #7967383947: Table Radwick (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - Dealt to GayPenguin [Ah Ad]
GayPenguin raises to $3.50
riverhater12 calls $3.50
52RAVENS folds
crowstone raises to $18
bonucch13 folds
GayPenguin raises to $60
riverhater12 folds
crowstone raises to $144.50, and is all in
GayPenguin calls $41.45, and is all in
crowstone shows [Js Jd]
GayPenguin shows [Ah Ad]
Uncalled bet of $43.05 returned to crowstone
*** FLOP *** [Jc Ts 9s]
*** TURN *** [Jc Ts 9s] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [Jc Ts 9s Tc] [9d]
crowstone shows a full house, Jacks full of Tens
GayPenguin shows two pair, Aces and Tens
crowstone wins the pot ($204.40) with a full house, Jacks full of Tens

Use my lag image to get some muppet to go all in with jacks to my aces and he hits his set. Pretty standard for me right now.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7967495273: Table Anza (deep 6) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - Seat 1: Spearra ($48.70)
Seat 2: nationalkato ($72.35)
Seat 3: readyrnot7 ($320.85)
Seat 4: RunningALK ($100)
Seat 5: vr4rider ($175.90)
Seat 6: GayPenguin ($144.40)
Spearra posts the small blind of $0.50
nationalkato posts the big blind of $1
5 seconds left to act
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Ad Ac]
readyrnot7 raises to $3 - A good regular opens with a standard raise (PPs, A10+)
vr4rider folds
GayPenguin raises to $10.50 - I 3-bet preflop pretty standard with AA
Spearra folds
nationalkato folds
readyrnot7 calls $7.50
*** FLOP *** [9h Ts 9c] - Not a terrible flop for me
readyrnot7 checks
GayPenguin bets $16 - I continue with 2/3 pot size bet
readyrnot7 calls $16 - Polarized to 99+, A10+
*** TURN *** [9h Ts 9c] [7d] - A great turn card for me. He never holds the straight here.
readyrnot7 checks - I'm pretty sure he has JJ, QQ, KK here
GayPenguin has 15 seconds left to act
GayPenguin bets $44 - I continue to value bet
readyrnot7 calls $44 - He just calls. Really looks like JJ - KK
*** RIVER *** [9h Ts 9c 7d] [2c] - Perfect river card for me
readyrnot7 checks - He checks with a 3/4 pot bet left on the river. I'm 99% positive I have the best hand
GayPenguin bets $73.90, and is all in - I shove hoping to get called
readyrnot7 calls $73.90 - He obliges
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GayPenguin shows [Ad Ac] two pair, Aces and Nines
readyrnot7 shows [Tc Th] a full house, Tens full of Nines
readyrnot7 wins the pot ($287.30) with a full house, Tens full of Nines

Wow. So I got really pwned in this hand. Nh sir. Villain makes a standard preflop call and flops the second nuts. He check calls two streets and by the river he knows that I have KK/AA. My hand is pretty face up. He makes a really nice river check as well, inducing my shove. If he lead shoves I can possibly get away from my hand although there is a less than 10% chance I will ever fold in a position like that. As played, I'm always getting stacked. Maybe I should have checked the flop for pot control? idk

I haven't won an all in with aces in the last 5 hands I've played. That's pretty gross.

Interesting

2008-09-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Villain has 3-bet my last five hands that I've raised, all of which I've let him take down uncontested. So I fire a 4-bet at him in this hand and he comes over the top of me. Shit. I have to call and he shows me JJ to my K 10. Nice hand sir. I was outplayed. I flop trips (when does that happen?) but then another resuck and he hits running jacks to make quads. The best hand won.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7949952205: Table Choctaw (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:21:08 ET - 2008/09/05
Seat 1: GayPenguin ($173.15)
Seat 2: fffingers1 ($0), is sitting out
Seat 3: GiggysMaid ($319.35)
Seat 4: SadEyes8 ($354.25)
Seat 5: DaHammer911 ($77)
Seat 6: Anytime 2323 ($394.15)
GiggysMaid posts the small blind of $1
SadEyes8 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Tc Ks]
fffingers1 stands up
DaHammer911 calls $2
Anytime 2323 folds
GayPenguin raises to $9
GiggysMaid has 15 seconds left to act
GiggysMaid raises to $33
plsShipIt stands up
SadEyes8 folds
DaHammer911 folds
GayPenguin raises to $79
010101010101 stands up
GiggysMaid raises to $319.35, and is all in
T3ddyP1ck3r adds $200
GayPenguin calls $94.15, and is all in
GiggysMaid shows [Jc Jd]
GayPenguin shows [Tc Ks]
Uncalled bet of $146.20 returned to GiggysMaid
*** FLOP *** [Ts 4d Th]
*** TURN *** [Ts 4d Th] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [Ts 4d Th Js] [Jh]
GiggysMaid shows four of a kind, Jacks
GayPenguin shows a full house, Tens full of Jacks
GiggysMaid wins the pot ($347.30) with four of a kind, Jacks
GayPenguin is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $350.30 Rake $3
Board: [Ts 4d Th Js Jh]
Seat 1: GayPenguin showed [Tc Ks] and lost with a full house, Tens full of Jacks
Seat 2: fffingers1 (button) is sitting out
Seat 3: GiggysMaid (small blind) showed [Jc Jd] and won ($347.30) with four of a kind, Jacks
Seat 4: SadEyes8 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: DaHammer911 folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Anytime 2323 didn't bet (folded)

Cooler x2

2008-09-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

And it doesn't stop.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7948855245: Table Arbordale (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:53:42 ET - 2008/09/05
Seat 1: Zone Control ($105)
Seat 2: JustCantLose ($131.90)
Seat 3: whebber ($95.20)
Seat 4: Mourganra ($112.30)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($98)
Seat 6: tonyritabr ($38)
whebber posts the small blind of $0.50
Mourganra posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Ts Kc]
GayPenguin raises to $3.50
tonyritabr has 15 seconds left to act
tonyritabr folds
Zone Control folds
JustCantLose calls $3.50
whebber calls $3
Mourganra folds
*** FLOP *** [Ks 4h 8c]
whebber checks
GayPenguin bets $8
JustCantLose calls $8
whebber calls $8
*** TURN *** [Ks 4h 8c] [Tc]
whebber checks
GayPenguin bets $27
JustCantLose raises to $54
whebber adds $16.30
whebber folds
GayPenguin raises to $86.50, and is all in
JustCantLose calls $32.50
GayPenguin shows [Ts Kc]
JustCantLose shows [Kh Kd]
*** RIVER *** [Ks 4h 8c Tc] [Th]
GayPenguin shows a full house, Tens full of Kings
JustCantLose shows a full house, Kings full of Tens
JustCantLose wins the pot ($205.50) with a full house, Kings full of Tens
GayPenguin is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $208.50 Rake $3
Board: [Ks 4h 8c Tc Th]
Seat 1: Zone Control didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: JustCantLose (button) showed [Kh Kd] and won ($205.50) with a full house, Kings full of Tens
Seat 3: whebber (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: Mourganra (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: GayPenguin showed [Ts Kc] and lost with a full house, Tens full of Kings
Seat 6: tonyritabr didn't bet (folded)

I make a standard raise, get called in two spots and flop top pair. I continue, get called and hit top two only to get raised. I put him on worse two pair or maybe 88. Either way I shove and he flips KK for a slowplayed set. Nice hand sir. Just to rub it in I hit my full house.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7949379112: Table Hydra (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:35:38 ET - 2008/09/05
Seat 1: cool32 ($108.25), is sitting out
Seat 3: angcnfly2 ($157.50), is sitting out
Seat 4: GayPenguin ($94)
Seat 5: eastern motors ($100), is sitting out
Seat 6: st4r ($165.15)
st4r posts the small blind of $0.50
GayPenguin posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Kd Ks]
st4r raises to $3
GayPenguin raises to $9
Zooki adds $100
st4r raises to $24
eastern motors has returned
GayPenguin raises to $94, and is all in
cool32 stands up
st4r calls $70
GayPenguin shows [Kd Ks]
st4r shows [Ac Ah]
*** FLOP *** [3c Kh 5h]
eastern motors has been disconnected
*** TURN *** [3c Kh 5h] [5d]
eastern motors has reconnected
*** RIVER *** [3c Kh 5h 5d] [Ad]
GayPenguin shows a full house, Kings full of Fives
st4r shows a full house, Aces full of Fives
st4r wins the pot ($187.50) with a full house, Aces full of Fives
GayPenguin is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $188 Rake $0.50
Board: [3c Kh 5h 5d Ad]
Seat 1: cool32 is sitting out
Seat 3: angcnfly2 is sitting out
Seat 4: GayPenguin (big blind) showed [Kd Ks] and lost with a full house, Kings full of Fives
Seat 5: eastern motors is sitting out
Seat 6: st4r (small blind) showed [Ac Ah] and won ($187.50) with a full house, Aces full of Fives

Here I get it all in preflop with KK vs AA. I hit the miracle top set on the flop, think I'm good and then get resucked by the guy's rockets. Standard.

Equity, Variance and Tilt

2008-09-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

In my last three cash games I have had the worst downswing that I can remember. I have dropped close to 10 buyins in >1000 hands at the $1/$3 level (playing with 100BB stacks), which constitutes almost 15% of my bankroll. This is absolutely absurd for my playing style within such a minute sample of hands; I have never experienced anything remotely close to this in my four years playing poker.

While most bad poker players or people who no little to nothing about poker would immediately say, “see, I told you poker is all about luck” and “there is little skill involved,” I know 100% this NOT to be the case. Poker is a game based on mathematics and it has only been in the past year and half when I have started to take an interest in the numbers aspect of the game. Using more math in my game has been the best decision I have ever made, pokerwise. For example, until recently I didn’t know that one’s river play is always a math based decision. Now, I have adjusted my play accordingly and have been rewarded. As a poker player, one should not be concerned with the outcome of any single hand as long as the correct decision was made when all the money went into the pot. If my decision is mathematically correct, I am making money in the long run, which is the ultimate goal. However, it becomes increasingly frustrating when I get my money in good, only to have the pot stripped away from me due to variance.

During my downswing I am running far below equity. What I mean by equity is that if I am playing a $1/$2 NL cash game and both myself and op have 100 BB (Big Blind) stacks ($200 each at the beginning of the hand), with me holding AA vs. his JJ, I should expect to win this pot 80% of the time. Here, if we are all in preflop for a $400 pot, my equity is 80%, so on average I should win $320 from the pot. Over my sample size I am running 1.5k below equity. I really hope it ends soon.

Let’s take a look at a few examples:

(All hands are full ring NL with $1/$3 blinds)

Hand 1:

7 limpers. I complete in SB with 2h5c. BB checks.
Flop: Ah 3h 4s
I check. MP bets $20. MP+1 calls $20. I raise to $65 total.
MP raises all in for $300 total. I call all-in for $235.

Here I call $2 dollars in the SB hoping to hit two pair or a straight and I flop the nut straight on a coordinated board. MP leads, I raise, and MP 3-bets me all in. Of course I am never folding my hand at this point as I have the best possible hand, but I must assign villain a range of hands. Likely holdings include A4, A3, 33, 44 as op is a weak player, never going to 3-bet without a made hand (i.e. he just calls with a flush draw. A better op might do this with a pair and f/draw). Against his perceived range I am around 66% to win this hand.

In reality, I call and op turns over 33 for bottom set and makes a FH by the river when the board pairs an Ace. With the total pot being (7*$3) + $20 + (2*$300) = $641. My equity for the hand is 66% therefore, I should expect on average to win $641*0.66 = $423 from the pot. However, he hits his outs and I am down one buy in.

Hand 2:

5 limpers. I raise on the button with AhAd to $25. I get three callers.
Flop: Kh Qc 2s
Everyone checks to me and I bet $70. MP calls $70. 2 folds.
Turn: 3h
Op checks. I bet $150. Op min-raises to $300 total. I go all in for $28 more.

Total pot = $4(blinds)+ $6(limpers) + (4*25) = $110 preflop
$110 + ($70*2) + (328*2) = $906 total pot

Here, op is semi-competent but the loosest player at the table, who constantly calls preflop raises with marginal starting hands out of position. At this point, a range must be assigned to villain. He limp-called $25 preflop so his range can include any two cards. On the flop, I bet 2/3rds of the pot and he calls. Here I can safely assume villain does not have KK or QQ. His most likely holdings are Kx, Qx and sometimes KQ, J 10, or 22. The turn is a blank, the 3h. Villain checks again. At this point we can eliminate KQ, and 22 from his range because op always leads the turn in the hands when he perceives himself to be ahead. In other words, op would bet the turn with these holdings for what he believes to be a “value bet” to chase me off any draws that I have. Since he checked to me, I can assume his most likely holdings are Kx and rarely Kxhh. I bet, $150, or a little less than 2/3rds of the pot in order to a) show I have committed myself to the pot and b) give op the opportunity to raise me. Op takes the bait, minimum raises me and I happily call all in with the rest of my stack. At this point I am 95% sure I am up against some sort of one pair hand. I am delighted when he turns over QdJs for middle pair, weak kicker with no flush draw. Unfortunately, the river brings a J making my opponent two pair. He drags the 300 BB pot. Although, I lost the pot, I am happy with my play because I am way ahead of his perceived range. In the long run, this is a profitable play.

Let’s take a look at my equity when we get it all in on the turn. When all the money goes in I am an 88% favorite to win the pot. However, using Poker Stove to adjust to his perceived hand range, with AA I have 84% equity, meaning on average, I should win $906*0.84 = $761 from the pot. However, this was not the case, and I lost a huge pot.

I attribute this downswing not to bad luck or bad beats, but Variance. Variance is a statistical measure of how ones results will be dispersed. It is not merely a bankroll swing. Any mathematician knows poker can be profitable; it is a skill game but with an element of chance due to how the cards are randomly distributed. Variance is the element of chance in the short run. And I can’t stand it. However, as I said earlier, as long as the decision you make is mathematically correct, you WILL make money in the long run.

Let me give you an example. Say I’m playing in a NL shorthanded (6 players) cash game. I’ve been playing LAG (loose aggressive) and my style has been frustrating my opponents. We start the hand with the same size stack (100BBs) and I raise UTG (under the gun) with AKhh and my opponent three bets me. I reraise all in and he calls me, showing AQo. This is good for me as I am going to win the pot 75% of the time. Simultaneously, it means he will win my stack one out of every four times we go all in with the same holdings. In other words, I should expect to lose my stack in a similar scenario. It is frustrating when it happens, but it should not upset me. Of course, I am human and it does sometimes affect my game.

Over the course of hundreds of thousands of hands the natural variance will equal out. As long as my bankroll can maintain these swings, I should show a profit, which I have.

Mike Caro, the Mad Genius of Poker wrote the following about Variance in one periodical:

1 Poker Hand – Chance predominates
100 Poker Hands – Skill begins to have an influence
1000 Poker Hands – Skill now the single biggest factor
10000 Poker Hands – The effect of chance now minimal
100,000 Poker Hands – The effect of chance now all but gone.

When I do lose a big pot when I am large favorite to win the hand, it will sometimes have a negative impact on my game. This is called Tilt. I become frustrated, open too many pots with marginal holdings, will two and three barrel bluff on the turn and river as well as play way too many bad holdings out of position, which is about the worst thing you can do in poker. Hopefully, after I finish reading Zen and the Art of Poker, tilt will not influence my decision making process. If I can cleanse myself of tilt, there is no way I am going to lose money.

Now that I have covered Equity, Variance and touched upon the subject of tilt (which I most likely will have to address later :) let’s talk about a few more hands I played last night and just about how my last three sessions have gone, in general. In my last three sessions, I have had pocket aces four times, and lost 3 out of 4. Usually, this hand is my biggest money maker, but over this hand sample it has probably cost me the most. Last night, when holding AA I lost to QJ and 78, although I lost the minimum to the latter. With suited connectors, I flopped 6 open ended straight draws and 5 four card flushes. I missed every draw, which is quite a feat in itself. I have hit three sets during this entire sample. Once I took an opponents stack, another time an opponent made a flush against me on the river and I check called his bet and then in another hand I flopped a set on a monotone board (all one suit) and had to check fold to pressure on the turn with four of the same suit on the board. Ultimately, I haven’t been hitting. Now, it’s one thing to outplay your opponent. I can do this. However, I cannot outplay four opponents. I cannot bluff four people out of a pot! I can do this against one other player, using my hand reading skills because it is + EV (expected value). I just haven’t made any big hands in multi way pots and had them hold up. Hands 1 and 2 show this trend as does the following hand:

Hand 3:

MP (middle position) raises to $20. MP+1 calls. I call from the cutoff with A2dd. ($64 in the pot)
Flop: Ac 2s 8s
MP bets $20. MP+1 folds. I raise to $60. MP calls.
Turn: Jd
MP checks. I bet $80. MP calls $80.
River: 10c
MP bets $100. I call $100.

MP is the same maniac from Hand 2. His range here is Ax or any pocket pair. He continues with a weak bet on the flop (probably thinking he is trappig me) and I raise him 3x with two pair. At this point I know I have the best hand. In retrospect I should have made the raise to $100 because my hand is easily beaten. However, op never folds top pair and I don’t want the pot to get too out of control. When the turn comes a J and op check/calls my bet I know I am ahead and put him on AK, AQ, A10 and sometime A9. My turn bet is far too small. I bet $80 into $180 which is just a terrible under bet. I seriously misplayed my hand here as I should really bet $150 and fold to a turn shove to get some value out of my hand. Op calls and the river is a 10. Op leads for $100 into a $340 pot and getting 4.4:1, I am forced to call as I only need to be good here one in four and a half times to be profitable in the long run. Op turns over A 10 for rivered two pair. Sick. Ultimately, my fault, for playing the hand so weak, but he was calling no matter the price because he is such a terrible loose player. Online, at $1/$2 or $2/$4 they would always fold on the turn in this situation. However, my opponent is terrible and doesn't know any better.

Another hand of note was when a nit (which is a really tight player) raised to $20 UTG. UTG+1, a similar type nit calls and I raise to $70 with QsQd. Both call my reraise. Here, UTGs range is AK, JJ, 1010, with UTG+1 more polarized to AK and 1010.
Flop: Ac 10c 6c.
Worst. Flop. Ever. That hit both their ranges very hard and I don’t even have a club! UTG goes all in for $200ish and UTG+1 calls quickly. Instantly, I know they both have AK. I muck in disgust and they both show AK (I can’t believe the ace came down) with UTG freerolling with the K of clubs. The club draw misses and they chop the pot and my $70. Standard for how I’ve been running. But, I lost the minimum and was way ahead until the flop.

Omaha HL has been an absolute joke for me. The way we play is basically bingo. There is little skill involved minus value betting. It’s mindless poker and I can’t stand it. You just have to make a hand. And I haven’t made more than 2 nut hands and gotten paid. Every time I have A2 it’s high cards. When I have four high cards it’s all low cards. Then the same player keeps winning the monies and I consider him to be terrible, mainly because he just spews chips everywhere. But he has been on fire as of late and no one seems to be able to take a pot off of him. I laugh though, knowing his luck will run out and that he has already gifted me thousands of dollars over the past two years.

I know it will all turn around. I play too well in No Limit not to make money. I really do need to improve my Hi/Lo game, but what am I supposed to do in that bingo game? I am confident that Variance will become my bitch once again. Till next time.

5th in $100+R Tourney

2008-09-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Meh. 55 runners. I grinded my way to the final table playing straight forward poker. With six left I was looking good, second in chips and hoping to take down the 4k first prize. Unfortunately, the only bad thing about this tournament is the ridiculous blind structure (foreshadowing). It's push/fold poker at the final table, which means my advantage is reduced because there is hardly any postflop skill involved. It's Bingo poker; you just have to get lucky. Anyways, 6 handed everyone folds to the button who ships it in for about 65k, the SB folds and I look down at AKo in the BB and happily snap call as his range can be any pair, any ace or any king. He shows me the bad news as he flips up KK. Shit. The board bricks out an I'm left with 65k. Stupid tournament poker. Two hands later the same player busts some muppet holding Q9dd in a raised pot with pocket aces, dodging the flush draw. Man it must be nice to get that lucky. I ship it in a few hands later with K9hh and the same villain beats me with his 10c6s. Meh. Really thought I was going to come at least 3rd. Oh well. Took home $700 profit. Till next time.

September Goals - 20k Challenge

2008-08-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Play 20,000 hands at $.50/$1 before October 1st. I want to make a concerted effort to play 20k hands. I'm doing this mainly because I get lazy and I don't grind it out enough; I get bored and then jump into games at higher limits with better players. Not smart.

I always end up playing outside my bankroll by taking shots at higher limits. This is stupid for several reasons:

1) 3/6 and 5/10 6-max players are better than me. They really are. Their 3-betting frequencies are difficult for me to counteract. This is a problem in my game I need to address. I seem to fall into a pattern of raising, but when I get 3-bet I just tend to call when out of position, unless I have KK/AA/AK. This is -EV.
2) Realistically, I should never be risking more than 10% of my bankroll at any one time but I do. Playing higher takes me out of my comfort zone and as a result, I don't play my A game, which is supremely necessary when taking shots.

I am going to focus all my energy on grinding it out. At the same time, I want to play every street correctly. At this point, I don't really care if I lose a pot, I just want to play by making the best possible decision on every street. I know the results will follow.

Hopefully, writing this blog will help me to reach my goal of 20,000 hands!

$300 +1 Rebuy Live Tournament

2008-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

Just finished playing in a $300 buy in tourney. Wow. Just wow. That's all I can say about the quality of play. Some of these players are so bad I just can't explain. Everyone starts with a 10k stack and is only permitted one rebuy within the first hour for an additional $300. In these live events, the field is so soft so there is really no point in rebuying straight away as one is likely to double up with a top pair top kicker type of hand. 33 players entered with $5.5k going to first.

Didn't get a lot of hands. Didn't play a lot of hands. With blinds still at 50/100 (30 minute levels) UTG raises to 400 and gets called in 3 spots. In the SB I look down at QsQd and raise it to 2500 total. Of course I get two callers and a flop of Jh 1oh 5c. I lead for 3200 into 8k or so, leaving myself committed with only 4k behind. Unfortunately, they both fold and I'm up to 15k.

In the second level I raise MP 3x with QJdd and get called by the hijack. Flop comes down Js 8s 7c and I lead 1600 into 2000. The hijack raises 4k more, I turbo muck and he shows a flopped set of Jacks with the case Jack on the flop. Sick. Good fold me.

Same level and I'm on the button. Pretty much everyone limps in and I call with 45dd. Flop comes down 10d 10c 3d. Everyone checks to me and I lead for half pot. SB and BB both call. At this point someone is bad enough to slowplay their flopped set of trips so unless a diamond comes I'm folding. The turn comes Kd making my flush. The SB leads for about 1/8 of the pot, BB folds. I fold face up. He shows me Kc 10h for the boat. Good fold me.

For the next two levels I play less than 5 hands and then I get moved to another table. I still have my initial starting stack of 10k but the average is around 15k. In late position I shove 15BB with AJdd and the blinds fold. SB told me he had JJ. Terrible fold by him. Two hands later I shove AKo into a preflop raiser, he folds and shows 99.

Few hands later I'm UTG with Ah 1os and I make a standard 3x raise with the blinds at 300/600. I've got around 17BB. In retrospect I should have just folded pre and waited for a better position. I get called by UTG+1 (same guy who folded JJ pre) and another spew monkey. Flop comes down Ac 8c As. I lead for 1/2 pot and get smooth called. Spew monkey folds. Turn is the 5s. At this point I think op might have Ax as well as 99-QQ as he is bad enough to play big pairs like that. But I have less than the pot size to bet so I shove my stack in the middle. 20 seconds of "thinking" and UTG+1 finally calls. Initially, I was happy he took so long hoping he had 99/1010/JJ but he slowrolled me and shows 88 for the flopped FH. Obviously I don't get there. epicfail on that hand.

Stupid tournaments. Give me a couple hands/flops and I would crush that field. There are literally less than 5 competent players in those tourneys. Anytime I play against them it's +EV for me. I need to get some of those players in a cash game! Oh well. Overall, I'm happy with my play except the last hand. Till next time.

+ $181.25

2008-08-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Played a bit over an hour today and won almost two buyins four tabling $.50/$1 and one tabling $1/$2. Besides misplaying AK, again, I was happy with my performance. $166.25 + $15 bonus = not a bad one hour session.

+$1252.45 today!

2008-08-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

A fantastic day for me today. Up over 1k profit in less than 1000 hands. Most of it came from PLO. Too much variance for me in that game. I should drop down to $.50/$1 for PLO and remain multitabling $.50/$1 NLHE to pad my bankroll. I wont move up to $1/$2 until I have a $5k roll on Full Tilt. Hopefully my heater continues!
Bankroll on FT : $1552.45.

Pot Limit Omaha Hi Heater

2008-08-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Just finished dinner and decided to change it up, play some PLO. They say PLO is going to be the game of the future. As of right now it is still an unsolved game. I'm a beginner at best but I hit a serious heater and was up $600 within my first 13 hands at a $1/$2 deep table (max $400 buyin)! Check out how I got there:

First hand!

Full Tilt Poker Game #7773399701: Table Grubb (deep 6) - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 21:47:16 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: gnaah ($353)
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT ($102.55)
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT ($437.35)
Seat 4: fatih27 ($434.40)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($200)
gnaah posts the small blind of $1
LEFTBUCKNUT posts the big blind of $2
GayPenguin posts $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Ah 3c Jd As]
ICANFIXIT raises to $9
fatih27 calls $9
GayPenguin raises to $39
gnaah folds
The_Black_KAT sits down
LEFTBUCKNUT folds
The_Black_KAT stands up
ICANFIXIT calls $30
fatih27 has 15 seconds left to act
fatih27 calls $30
*** FLOP *** [9h 2h 2d]
ICANFIXIT checks
fatih27 checks
GayPenguin bets $60
ICANFIXIT folds
fatih27 calls $60
*** TURN *** [9h 2h 2d] [8c]
fatih27 checks
GayPenguin bets $101, and is all in
fatih27 calls $101
GayPenguin shows [Ah 3c Jd As]
fatih27 shows [Ac 7s Kh Ks]
*** RIVER *** [9h 2h 2d 8c] [4s]
GayPenguin shows two pair, Aces and Twos
fatih27 shows two pair, Kings and Twos
GayPenguin wins the pot ($439) with two pair, Aces and Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $442 Rake $3
Board: [9h 2h 2d 8c 4s]
Seat 1: gnaah (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT folded on the Flop
Seat 4: fatih27 showed [Ac 7s Kh Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Twos
Seat 5: GayPenguin showed [Ah 3c Jd As] and won ($439) with two pair, Aces and Twos

Great flop for me. Thought he had a rag deuce after he instacalled .

Full Tilt Poker Game #7773427173: Table Grubb (deep 6) - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 21:49:35 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: gnaah ($345)
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT ($93.55)
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT ($391.35)
Seat 4: fatih27 ($254)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($439)
ICANFIXIT posts the small blind of $1
fatih27 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [7d 2s 7h 2h]
GayPenguin calls $2
gnaah folds
LEFTBUCKNUT folds
ICANFIXIT calls $1
fatih27 checks
*** FLOP *** [4s 7s 3h]
ICANFIXIT checks
fatih27 checks
GayPenguin bets $3
ICANFIXIT folds
fatih27 raises to $15
GayPenguin calls $12
*** TURN *** [4s 7s 3h] [Jh]
fatih27 bets $36
GayPenguin calls $36
*** RIVER *** [4s 7s 3h Jh] [9h]
fatih27 bets $108
GayPenguin calls $108
*** SHOW DOWN ***
fatih27 shows [6c 9c 5d Kh] a straight, Seven high
GayPenguin shows [7d 2s 7h 2h] a flush, Jack high
GayPenguin wins the pot ($321) with a flush, Jack high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $324 Rake $3
Board: [4s 7s 3h Jh 9h]
Seat 1: gnaah didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: fatih27 (big blind) showed [6c 9c 5d Kh] and lost with a straight, Seven high
Seat 5: GayPenguin showed [7d 2s 7h 2h] and won ($321) with a flush, Jack high

Here i call UTG with 7722 which is pretty bad. I flop top set and check call villain's bets until I make a terrible flush on the river, cringing as I hit the call button. Good thing op is terrible and he was on tilt from the hand before!

Full Tilt Poker Game #7773511308: Table Grubb (deep 6) - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 21:56:43 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: apkit ($204.40)
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT ($80.55)
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT ($520.15)
Seat 4: fatih27 ($101.25), is sitting out
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($581)
Seat 6: tha playr1 ($179)
tha playr1 posts the small blind of $1
apkit posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Kd Tc 3c Jc]
LEFTBUCKNUT has 15 seconds left to act
LEFTBUCKNUT calls $2
ICANFIXIT calls $2
GayPenguin calls $2
tha playr1 calls $1
apkit checks
*** FLOP *** [Kc 6c Js]
tha playr1 checks
apkit checks
LEFTBUCKNUT has 15 seconds left to act
LEFTBUCKNUT checks
ICANFIXIT checks
GayPenguin bets $10
tha playr1 folds
apkit calls $10
LEFTBUCKNUT has 15 seconds left to act
LEFTBUCKNUT is sitting out
LEFTBUCKNUT has timed out
LEFTBUCKNUT folds
ICANFIXIT folds
*** TURN *** [Kc 6c Js] [Kh]
apkit has 15 seconds left to act
apkit checks
GayPenguin bets $15
apkit raises to $30
GayPenguin calls $15
*** RIVER *** [Kc 6c Js Kh] [2d]
apkit bets $90
GayPenguin raises to $360
apkit calls $72.40, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $197.60 returned to GayPenguin
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GayPenguin shows [Kd Tc 3c Jc] a full house, Kings full of Jacks
apkit mucks
GayPenguin wins the pot ($411.80) with a full house, Kings full of Jacks
apkit is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $414.80 Rake $3
Board: [Kc 6c Js Kh 2d]
Seat 1: apkit (big blind) mucked [6d 4h Ks Td] - a full house, Kings full of Sixes
Seat 2: LEFTBUCKNUT folded on the Flop
Seat 3: ICANFIXIT folded on the Flop
Seat 4: fatih27 is sitting out
Seat 5: GayPenguin (button) showed [Kd Tc 3c Jc] and won ($411.80) with a full house, Kings full of Jacks
Seat 6: tha playr1 (small blind) folded on the Flop

Here I flop top two with a flush redraw, turn the nut full house and get it all in on the river. He had the second nut FH so I guess you could say I coolered him!

GayPenguin is on a heater!

+4 buyins

2008-08-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

Just finished playing a two hour session. I 3-tabled $.50/$1 for 580 hands and won a little over 4 buyins. Overall I was happy with my play. Solid B game performance. Spewed a little too much two barreling but besides that, a very positive session.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771123591: Table Plato (edu, 6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:34:58 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: IRaiseMyself ($103), is sitting out
Seat 2: ZZZany ($10.30)
Seat 3: Weeknder ($102.40)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($133.20)
Seat 6: SushiWarrior ($96.15)
SushiWarrior posts the small blind of $0.50
ZZZany posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Ah Qc]
Weeknder raises to $2
GayPenguin calls $2
SushiWarrior adds $3.85
SushiWarrior folds
RazyDaisy sits down
ZZZany calls $1
SushiWarrior adds $0.50
*** FLOP *** [8c Qs As]
ZZZany checks
Weeknder checks
RazyDaisy adds $100
GayPenguin bets $4
ZZZany adds $10
ZZZany folds
Weeknder raises to $8
GayPenguin has 15 seconds left to act
GayPenguin raises to $24
Weeknder has 15 seconds left to act
Weeknder calls $16
*** TURN *** [8c Qs As] [Jh]
Weeknder checks
GayPenguin bets $44
Weeknder has 15 seconds left to act
Weeknder calls $44
*** RIVER *** [8c Qs As Jh] [Td]
Weeknder checks
GayPenguin bets $32
Weeknder folds
Uncalled bet of $32 returned to GayPenguin
GayPenguin mucks
GayPenguin wins the pot ($140.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $142.50 Rake $2
Board: [8c Qs As Jh Td]
Seat 1: IRaiseMyself is sitting out
Seat 2: ZZZany (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Weeknder folded on the River
Seat 5: GayPenguin (button) collected ($140.50), mucked
Seat 6: SushiWarrior (small blind) folded before the Flop

Here villain raises pre and I flat in position to conceal the strength of my hand. He goes for the c/r on the flop but I've hit a monster flop and I three bet him. He calls, most likely with the spade flush draw. I bet 3/4 of the flop on the turn and villain check calls me. The river brings four to the straight but villain c/f's the river after he missed his draw.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771293173: Table Palamos (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:49:06 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: MayorW3st ($129.60)
Seat 2: KKush ($100)
Seat 3: ripitbill ($53.35)
Seat 4: Philmoreno ($49.85)
Seat 5: pakkari ($80.20)
Seat 6: GayPenguin ($112.50)
ripitbill posts the small blind of $0.50
Philmoreno posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [8d 8h]
pakkari raises to $3
GayPenguin calls $3
MayorW3st folds
KKush folds
ripitbill folds
Philmoreno folds
*** FLOP *** [8c Qs 4d]
pakkari has 15 seconds left to act
pakkari checks
GayPenguin checks
*** TURN *** [8c Qs 4d] [Ac]
pakkari checks
GayPenguin bets $3
pakkari raises to $14
GayPenguin calls $11
*** RIVER *** [8c Qs 4d Ac] [3d]
pakkari bets $20
GayPenguin raises to $95.50, and is all in
pakkari has 15 seconds left to act
pakkari folds
Uncalled bet of $75.50 returned to GayPenguin
GayPenguin mucks
GayPenguin wins the pot ($72.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $75.50 Rake $3
Board: [8c Qs 4d Ac 3d]
Seat 1: MayorW3st didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: KKush (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: ripitbill (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Philmoreno (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: pakkari folded on the River
Seat 6: GayPenguin collected ($72.50), mucked

In this hand, a terrible LAG raises and I flat in position with pocket 8s. I flop a set and I check behind a very dry board. He then proceeds to bluff at the ace on the turn with a check raise and I flat his bet. A good card to bluff at for the villain, but obviously I'm going nowhere. Here his perceived range can be so wide but I know I'm way ahead. He donks the river with a bet and I ship it in but he folds getting some ridiculous odds. Really felt like I was up against KK or a total bluff with the latter obviously more likely.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771463541: Table Moore (edu, 6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:03:22 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: FrankyFings0 ($108.05)
Seat 2: gui311 ($85.30)
Seat 3: spbsharom ($121.15)
Seat 4: GayPenguin ($132.40)
Seat 5: Boodabor ($106.65)
Seat 6: Toast1185 ($120.95)
Toast1185 posts the small blind of $0.50
FrankyFings0 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [7c Ac]
gui311 raises to $3
spbsharom folds
GayPenguin has 15 seconds left to act
GayPenguin calls $3
Boodabor folds
Toast1185 calls $2.50
FrankyFings0 has 15 seconds left to act
FrankyFings0 calls $2
*** FLOP *** [7s 6h 3c]
Toast1185 checks
FrankyFings0 checks
gui311 bets $6
GayPenguin calls $6
Toast1185 calls $6
FrankyFings0 folds
*** TURN *** [7s 6h 3c] [Ah]
Toast1185 checks
gui311 checks
GayPenguin bets $23
Toast1185 folds
gui311 raises to $76.30, and is all in
GayPenguin calls $53.30
gui311 shows [Ad Tc]
GayPenguin shows [7c Ac]
*** RIVER *** [7s 6h 3c Ah] [3h]
gui311 shows two pair, Aces and Threes
GayPenguin shows two pair, Aces and Sevens
GayPenguin wins the pot ($179.60) with two pair, Aces and Sevens
gui311 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $182.60 Rake $3
Board: [7s 6h 3c Ah 3h]
Seat 1: FrankyFings0 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: gui311 showed [Ad Tc] and lost with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 3: spbsharom didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: GayPenguin showed [7c Ac] and won ($179.60) with two pair, Aces and Sevens
Seat 5: Boodabor (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Toast1185 (small blind) folded on the Turn

Pretty standard hand. Pre is pretty spewish but villain pays me off with his one pair. Hand plays itself.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771618078: Table Moore (edu, 6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:16:19 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: blondwinn ($38)
Seat 2: etsuchiyama ($119)
Seat 3: spbsharom ($124.55)
Seat 4: GayPenguin ($217.70)
Seat 5: Boodabor ($152.90)
Seat 6: Toast1185 ($129.75)
GayPenguin posts the small blind of $0.50
Boodabor posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [9c Qd]
Toast1185 folds
blondwinn calls $1
etsuchiyama folds
spbsharom has 15 seconds left to act
spbsharom folds
GayPenguin calls $0.50
Boodabor checks
*** FLOP *** [Jh Jc Tc]
GayPenguin bets $2
Boodabor calls $2
blondwinn folds
*** TURN *** [Jh Jc Tc] [Kh]
GayPenguin bets $5
Boodabor calls $5
*** RIVER *** [Jh Jc Tc Kh] [8d]
GayPenguin bets $14
Boodabor has 15 seconds left to act
Boodabor calls $14
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GayPenguin shows [9c Qd] a straight, King high
Boodabor mucks
GayPenguin wins the pot ($42.75) with a straight, King high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $45 Rake $2.25
Board: [Jh Jc Tc Kh 8d]
Seat 1: blondwinn folded on the Flop
Seat 2: etsuchiyama didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: spbsharom (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: GayPenguin (small blind) showed [9c Qd] and won ($42.75) with a straight, King high
Seat 5: Boodabor (big blind) mucked [Kd Td] - two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 6: Toast1185 didn't bet (folded)

Here I complete in the SB and lead with an open ended straight draw. I hit the straight on the turn and take him to value town on the turn and river.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771836143: Table Winwood (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:34:55 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl ($100)
Seat 2: ubernutz ($123.60)
Seat 3: 69JAKP0T69 ($112.65)
Seat 4: Marick1909 ($126.70)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($162.50)
Seat 6: deeeznawts ($21.75)
Marick1909 posts the small blind of $0.50
GayPenguin posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Ks Kh]
deeeznawts has 15 seconds left to act
deeeznawts folds
joshuaashtondzl raises to $3.50
ubernutz folds
69JAKP0T69 folds
Marick1909 has 15 seconds left to act
Marick1909 calls $3
GayPenguin raises to $14
joshuaashtondzl adds $3.50
joshuaashtondzl folds
Marick1909 calls $10.50
*** FLOP *** [Ad Kc 4h]
Marick1909 has 15 seconds left to act
Marick1909 bets $31.50
GayPenguin calls $31.50
*** TURN *** [Ad Kc 4h] [7c]
Marick1909 has 15 seconds left to act
Marick1909 checks
GayPenguin bets $33
Marick1909 calls $33
*** RIVER *** [Ad Kc 4h 7c] [2d]
Marick1909 bets $48.20, and is all in
GayPenguin calls $48.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Marick1909 shows [7d Js] a pair of Sevens
GayPenguin shows [Ks Kh] three of a kind, Kings
GayPenguin wins the pot ($253.90) with three of a kind, Kings
Marick1909 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $256.90 Rake $3
Board: [Ad Kc 4h 7c 2d]
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl folded before the Flop
Seat 2: ubernutz didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: 69JAKP0T69 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Marick1909 (small blind) showed [7d Js] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 5: GayPenguin (big blind) showed [Ks Kh] and won ($253.90) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 6: deeeznawts didn't bet (folded)

Probably the most interesting hand I played this session. Mainly, because I couldn't really put the villain on a hand. UTG+1 raises 3.5x and gets a cold caller. I 3-bet the pot with two Kings, UTG+1 folds but then the cold caller flats my raise. At this point his range can be anything from 22-1010, Ax but obviously he doesn't have a premium hand because he didn't raise the initial bettor. I flop middle set, which is a monster hand, and villain leads into me with an overbet. His range becomes polarized to Ax or maybe 44. I don't raise his bet because I'm likely to scare him off with a raise. Villain then check calls me on a blank turn after I donk bet into him 1/3 rd pot, hoping to induce a bluff. River brings a deuce, he shoves, I snapcall with the 2nd nuts and drag a nice pot from op trying to pull off a ridiculous bluff. Easy game.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771894648: Table Winwood (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:39:56 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl ($197)
Seat 2: ubernutz ($100)
Seat 3: 69JAKP0T69 ($112.65)
Seat 4: Marick1909 ($59.70)
Seat 5: GayPenguin ($290.50)
Seat 6: deeeznawts ($40)
ubernutz posts the small blind of $0.50
69JAKP0T69 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [As Ad]
Marick1909 calls $1
GayPenguin raises to $4.50
deeeznawts folds
joshuaashtondzl folds
ubernutz has 15 seconds left to act
ubernutz adds $0.50
ubernutz folds
69JAKP0T69 folds
Marick1909 calls $3.50
*** FLOP *** [2c Kd 7h]
Marick1909 bets $55.20, and is all in
GayPenguin calls $55.20
Marick1909 shows [Ah 2s]
GayPenguin shows [As Ad]
*** TURN *** [2c Kd 7h] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [2c Kd 7h 9c] [Ac]
Marick1909 shows two pair, Aces and Twos
GayPenguin shows three of a kind, Aces
GayPenguin wins the pot ($117.90) with three of a kind, Aces
Marick1909 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $120.90 Rake $3
Board: [2c Kd 7h 9c Ac]
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: ubernutz (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: 69JAKP0T69 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Marick1909 showed [Ah 2s] and lost with two pair, Aces and Twos
Seat 5: GayPenguin showed [As Ad] and won ($117.90) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 6: deeeznawts didn't bet (folded)

This hand illustrates how bad some of the players at $.5o/$1 are at poker. Same villain a couple hands later. He limps, I raise full pot with AA and he flats my bet. The flop comes K high and villain shoves his $50 stack into the middle. I snapcall and he shows A2 for bottom pair. I take a nice pot after villain tilted pretty badly.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7771935323: Table Palamos (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:43:22 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl ($110.15)
Seat 2: KKush ($125.10)
Seat 3: sdemps ($129.95)
Seat 4: Philmoreno ($123.90)
Seat 5: Bank Em ($99)
Seat 6: GayPenguin ($98)
Philmoreno posts the small blind of $0.50
Bank Em posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Qc Qs]
GayPenguin raises to $4
joshuaashtondzl raises to $13.50
KKush folds
sdemps folds
Philmoreno folds
Bank Em folds
GayPenguin calls $9.50
*** FLOP *** [Qd 9s 3h]
GayPenguin checks
joshuaashtondzl checks
*** TURN *** [Qd 9s 3h] [5s]
GayPenguin checks
joshuaashtondzl checks
*** RIVER *** [Qd 9s 3h 5s] [6c]
GayPenguin bets $28.50
joshuaashtondzl has 15 seconds left to act
joshuaashtondzl calls $28.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GayPenguin shows [Qc Qs] three of a kind, Queens
joshuaashtondzl mucks
GayPenguin wins the pot ($82.50) with three of a kind, Queens
joshuaashtondzl adds $31.85
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $85.50 Rake $3
Board: [Qd 9s 3h 5s 6c]
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl mucked [Jd Js] - a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: KKush didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: sdemps (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Philmoreno (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Bank Em (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: GayPenguin showed [Qc Qs] and won ($82.50) with three of a kind, Queens

Here I get 3-bet preflop and call out of position. Here villain's perceived range is anything from 1010-AA, AQ, AK. Flop comes down queen high making me top set and I check with the intention of raising his bet. He checks behind which means he usually always has 1010, JJ, or AK. Turn comes a blank and I check again hoping he will fire. Unfortunately he checks behind again. I overbet the pot on the river and villain makes a reasonable call showing down a couple jacks. He should have just led the flop and folded to my c/r. I really feel my line is terrible and ugly but I make the most $ this way. Ultimately, never slowplay two streets like this against a competent, good op. Go for the c/r and you will stack your opponenet when he has AA and KK.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7772039556: Table Palamos (6 max) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:52:16 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl ($100)
Seat 2: KKush ($148.50)
Seat 3: sdemps ($113.85)
Seat 4: TEH MOO SQUAD ($112.05)
Seat 5: Bank Em ($78.90)
Seat 6: GayPenguin ($150)
Bank Em posts the small blind of $0.50
GayPenguin posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [Kh As]
joshuaashtondzl folds
KKush folds
sdemps folds
TEH MOO SQUAD raises to $3.50
Bank Em folds
GayPenguin raises to $11
TEH MOO SQUAD has 15 seconds left to act
TEH MOO SQUAD raises to $33
GayPenguin calls $22
*** FLOP *** [8h 5h Jc]
GayPenguin checks
TEH MOO SQUAD has 15 seconds left to act
TEH MOO SQUAD bets $66.50
GayPenguin folds
Uncalled bet of $66.50 returned to TEH MOO SQUAD
TEH MOO SQUAD mucks
TEH MOO SQUAD wins the pot ($63.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $66.50 Rake $3
Board: [8h 5h Jc]
Seat 1: joshuaashtondzl didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: KKush didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: sdemps didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: TEH MOO SQUAD (button) collected ($63.50), mucked
Seat 5: Bank Em (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: GayPenguin (big blind) folded on the Flop

Here I play my hand terribly against a crappy 30/20. I three bet villain in position with big slick and I get 4-bet. I just call and then check fold to a flop shove. This is terrible line and very -EV. I really should just shove over his 4-bet and pray he shows JJ or QQ. Villain had never 4 bet me so he almost always has QQ, KK or AA here, sometimes AK all ahead of my hand which is pretty face up at this point. Next time in this position raise > fold > call but it's pretty close between folding and raising.

Overall, some interesting hands showing how to get value out of sets and how not to play AK. Minus a couple hands I was happy with my results.

GayPenguin Strikes!

2008-08-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Just played my first hand ever on my new FT account and I doubled up! I deposited $150 online through Neteller, which was suprisingly easy, and played a shortstack on a $1/2 table. As soon as I hit the deal me in button i play this hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7766441909: Table Jesse (deep 6) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 11:46:56 ET - 2008/08/23
Seat 1: E-Cart7 ($400)
Seat 2: doublewinger ($401)
Seat 3: Eagle_1927 ($148.05)
Seat 4: MNMZ ($172.45)
Seat 5: supertanklee ($384.70)
Seat 6: GayPenguin ($150)
doublewinger posts the small blind of $1
Eagle_1927 posts the big blind of $2
GayPenguin posts $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GayPenguin [5d 9d]
MNMZ folds
supertanklee calls $2
GayPenguin checks
E-Cart7 folds
doublewinger calls $1
Eagle_1927 raises to $4
supertanklee calls $2
GayPenguin calls $2
doublewinger calls $2
*** FLOP *** [6c 8d Qd]
doublewinger checks
Eagle_1927 has 15 seconds left to act
Eagle_1927 bets $12
supertanklee calls $12
GayPenguin calls $12
doublewinger adds $3
doublewinger folds
*** TURN *** [6c 8d Qd] [7c]
Eagle_1927 has 15 seconds left to act
Eagle_1927 bets $30
supertanklee has been disconnected
supertanklee has 15 seconds left to act
supertanklee has 50 seconds to reconnect
supertanklee is sitting out
supertanklee has timed out
supertanklee folds
GayPenguin raises to $75
Eagle_1927 raises to $132.05, and is all in
GayPenguin calls $57.05
Eagle_1927 shows [As Ah]
GayPenguin shows [5d 9d]
*** RIVER *** [6c 8d Qd 7c] [Kc]
Eagle_1927 shows a pair of Aces
GayPenguin shows a straight, Nine high
GayPenguin wins the pot ($313.10) with a straight, Nine high
Eagle_1927 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $316.10 Rake $3
Board: [6c 8d Qd 7c Kc]
Seat 1: E-Cart7 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: doublewinger (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Eagle_1927 (big blind) showed [As Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 4: MNMZ didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: supertanklee folded on the Turn
Seat 6: GayPenguin showed [5d 9d] and won ($313.10) with a straight, Nine high

Yeah the call preflop was spew but i was getting 6:1 to call the min raise. The flop gave me a flush and straight draw so I called the 3/4 size pot bet hoping to hit a diamond or the magic 7. Luckily, the 7 came down and I raised the villain 2.5x on his turn bet. He shipped it in, I called and he was already drawing dead. Not a bad first hand!

GayPenguin is Born

2008-08-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

Full Tilt Poker recently came out with a bunch of new avatars and I just had to have one! I used to play on Full Tilt under the tag "BermudaBen" but in the past year or so I have been playing over on Pokerstars. However, when I saw the penguin avatar on FT I knew it was a match made in heaven. Hence, the creation of my new account, GayPenguin. I couldn't think of a great screen name since "epicfail" was already taken so I went with the obvious. And who could disagree? How gay does this penguin look?

Welcome!

2008-08-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

EpicFail is now up and running!