Well things have continued to go well today. I have played a couple hours at 2-7 NL single draw and FL triple draw tables and have made a couple hundred dollars. As I expected there are a few really bad players at the tables, I even had one hand that I made $50 on against a guy I am pretty sure did not even know the rules of the game. It was triple draw and I had four cards to a 8 low in the BB and everyone folded until the SB raised and I called. I hit my 8 low on the first draw, he bet I raised he three bet and I called. We both stood pat and he bet out again. I figured I would just call since I though with him raising both times he might have a 7 low, Stand pat for both and him betting with me calling again after the third draw and he flipped over 2 3 4 5 6. In stud or Omaha where straights and flushes don't count for low that would be a really good hand but in 2-7 draw they do so his straight was a really bad hand. The only way I can explain his play continuing to bet wtih that hand when I am standing pat and clearly not folding is that he did not know that straights count and thought he had me beat.
I also played in two $75 satellites for FTSOP events and won two $216 seats. I will most likely enter event #1 tonight, and No Limit hold'em $800,000 guaranteed event and event #4 on Thursday, which is a $150,000 guaranteed Rush HORSE tournament.
including the value of my two tournament seats I now sit at $4060 getting back up toward my high once again.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
7 Game Final Table and New Draw Games at Full Tilt Poker
For the first time I made the final table of a 7 Game tourney. It was a $26 buy in with about 200 players and I finished 4th winning about $260. I have not played many 7 Game tournaments, mostly because there are not many of them happening.
7 Game consists of the same five fixed limit games as HORSE, Hold'em, Omaha hi/lo, Razz, 7 card Stud and 7 card Stud hi/lo, plus it adds, Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Hold'em to the mix.
I really like playing the multiple game tournaments because I feel that I am well rounded and can hold my own in all the games. Many players who enter this tournaments, especially with the low/medium buyins are weak in one of more of the games which gives me an advantage over them.
Full Tilt has also recently introduced a few new games to its line up, 5 card draw, 2-7 single draw and 2-7 triple draw, with the addition of Draw games to the Sud and flop games in its current lineup.
The 2-7 lowball draw games are games I have played before, although not a lot.
When a new game is introduced that the average player may not have played before and has little experience in the represents an opportunity to those who are either already familiar with the game and can learn quicker then other. I am going to try to take advantage of this over the coming weeks by playing these games as I feel I already adequate playing these games, and this will give me a chance to improve my own skills in games that I am not as familiar with in a setting that I think could still be profitable.
I have been doing well overall over the last couple days and have my stack back up to $3550.
7 Game consists of the same five fixed limit games as HORSE, Hold'em, Omaha hi/lo, Razz, 7 card Stud and 7 card Stud hi/lo, plus it adds, Pot Limit Omaha and No Limit Hold'em to the mix.
I really like playing the multiple game tournaments because I feel that I am well rounded and can hold my own in all the games. Many players who enter this tournaments, especially with the low/medium buyins are weak in one of more of the games which gives me an advantage over them.
Full Tilt has also recently introduced a few new games to its line up, 5 card draw, 2-7 single draw and 2-7 triple draw, with the addition of Draw games to the Sud and flop games in its current lineup.
The 2-7 lowball draw games are games I have played before, although not a lot.
When a new game is introduced that the average player may not have played before and has little experience in the represents an opportunity to those who are either already familiar with the game and can learn quicker then other. I am going to try to take advantage of this over the coming weeks by playing these games as I feel I already adequate playing these games, and this will give me a chance to improve my own skills in games that I am not as familiar with in a setting that I think could still be profitable.
I have been doing well overall over the last couple days and have my stack back up to $3550.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Free Falling
I am back all the way down to $2500 about half of my high mark.
The number of bad beats I have experienced in the last 48 hours has got to be a record of some sort.
My losses have come in both tournaments and cash games, almost all in hold'em and almost every dollar I lost was with a hand where I was a large favorite when the money went in the pot.
I have lost with AA several time as well as KK and QQ. I have been beat by under pair hitting sets or guys hitting straights and flushes against me. I would say the last 15 pots I lost I was at least a 60% favorite to win and a couple time better then 85%.
The two worst hand were when I had AA once and KK once and the flop came with under cards. In both cases my opponent bet first and I raised all in more then the pot and twice I got call with the guy having nothing but a gut shot straight draw, no pair, nothing, just four outs and about a 15% chance of hitting and both time then did. It is getting to the point where when the cards are flipped and the guy has more then 2 outs I know that I have lost. This has to end at some point, but I am not sure how much more of this I can take before I just give up. Hopefully things even out and I win a few hands when I am behind, and hopefully it happens in a tournament with a big payout at the end to get me back to where I was.
The number of bad beats I have experienced in the last 48 hours has got to be a record of some sort.
My losses have come in both tournaments and cash games, almost all in hold'em and almost every dollar I lost was with a hand where I was a large favorite when the money went in the pot.
I have lost with AA several time as well as KK and QQ. I have been beat by under pair hitting sets or guys hitting straights and flushes against me. I would say the last 15 pots I lost I was at least a 60% favorite to win and a couple time better then 85%.
The two worst hand were when I had AA once and KK once and the flop came with under cards. In both cases my opponent bet first and I raised all in more then the pot and twice I got call with the guy having nothing but a gut shot straight draw, no pair, nothing, just four outs and about a 15% chance of hitting and both time then did. It is getting to the point where when the cards are flipped and the guy has more then 2 outs I know that I have lost. This has to end at some point, but I am not sure how much more of this I can take before I just give up. Hopefully things even out and I win a few hands when I am behind, and hopefully it happens in a tournament with a big payout at the end to get me back to where I was.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Three Month Progress Report as of Oct 28
Three months in and I sit at $4100 down a bit from my high of $4900 reached a couple days ago, but well up from the $1600 I had one month ago. I ran into a bit of bad luck to end the month, losing twice with AA in cash hold'em games, and getting knocked out of two tournaments with QQ. The first the money went in pre flop and I ran into AA. The second I made a re raise and got called, often a sign of a good, but not great hand like AQ or AJ, and the flop came 5 7 J. I made a 3/4 pot size raise and was called. The turn was a 2. I put him on AJ and figured I could get all the chips in so I went all in. He called and I was right, he flipped over AJ. The turn was a J giving him a set and knocking me out.
I am very happy with my progress this month and hope to continue things.
November brings the next FTSOP, so I may try to win a seat to an event or two, I one I am really going to try to play would be Event 4 on Thursday Nov 11 at 21:00 which is a $216 Rush HORSE tourney with $150,000 Guaranteed.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sometimes it Seems so Easy, But...
I have added on close to another $1000 in the last two days and now sit at $4700.
I made a couple hundred playing in Rush Hold'em cash games and then made another $700 profit after making the final table of the $200 buy in $30,000 guaranteed Sunday Night HORSE tournament, which had 148 entries. I finished in 7th overall taking a $900 prize.
I have made it deep into several tournaments the last couple weeks and over the last month have jumped from a low of about $1000 to today's new high of $4700 an increase of $3700 in less then one month playing about 50 hours total. Those types of stretches make me feel like I could quit work and put in 40 hours a week playing poker and make more then enough to live on. Then I remind myself that from Aug 26 until Sept 26 I had lost about $1800, and I could not pay the bills during stretches like that.
I am almost three month into this and have turned $50 into $4700, but my journey so far has certainly reinforced how much variance there is in poker and managing that variance is the key to being profitable over the long run, because even the best players have losing streaks, especially when playing tournaments.
I made a couple hundred playing in Rush Hold'em cash games and then made another $700 profit after making the final table of the $200 buy in $30,000 guaranteed Sunday Night HORSE tournament, which had 148 entries. I finished in 7th overall taking a $900 prize.
I have made it deep into several tournaments the last couple weeks and over the last month have jumped from a low of about $1000 to today's new high of $4700 an increase of $3700 in less then one month playing about 50 hours total. Those types of stretches make me feel like I could quit work and put in 40 hours a week playing poker and make more then enough to live on. Then I remind myself that from Aug 26 until Sept 26 I had lost about $1800, and I could not pay the bills during stretches like that.
I am almost three month into this and have turned $50 into $4700, but my journey so far has certainly reinforced how much variance there is in poker and managing that variance is the key to being profitable over the long run, because even the best players have losing streaks, especially when playing tournaments.
Friday, October 22, 2010
New High
It has been a long time since I hit a high of $2800 and I have finally broke past that point to set a new high.
I was down to $1500 when I entered a $11 buy in Rush tournament with 1543 players.
I took 6.5 hours, and over 1300 hands but I made it to the final two. The top prize was about $3350 and 2nd about $2000. My opponent had about 3,500,000 chips to my 1,400,000 and we decided to make a deal with me getting $2443 and up a bit over $2900. It was a very long tournament considering it was a Rush and I played very patiently when I was short stacked towards the end of the tournament. I was in last place with 30 players left and was also in last with 6 players left and both time I just waited for premium hands and got a larger stack to pay me off. I was able to do this because of the slow blind structure as even when I was in 30th of 30 I had 25 BBs so thee was no need to get desperate.
With this payday I now sit at $3950 overall with about a week until the three month point.
I was down to $1500 when I entered a $11 buy in Rush tournament with 1543 players.
I took 6.5 hours, and over 1300 hands but I made it to the final two. The top prize was about $3350 and 2nd about $2000. My opponent had about 3,500,000 chips to my 1,400,000 and we decided to make a deal with me getting $2443 and up a bit over $2900. It was a very long tournament considering it was a Rush and I played very patiently when I was short stacked towards the end of the tournament. I was in last place with 30 players left and was also in last with 6 players left and both time I just waited for premium hands and got a larger stack to pay me off. I was able to do this because of the slow blind structure as even when I was in 30th of 30 I had 25 BBs so thee was no need to get desperate.
With this payday I now sit at $3950 overall with about a week until the three month point.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Another Final Table
I am at another Final Table on Pokerstars. This time is is a PLO H/L tournament. it was a $10 re buy with 215 entries and a prize pool of $6430 and a top prize of $1318 with 9th getting $112. I bought in for $20 and did the add on for another $10 so a $30 investment in total.
Before I discuss the final table I will update my play since my last post. I had $2200 and moved up to $2400 before things went south. I managed to drop back down to $1900 after that with a few bad beats and a couple bad decisions.
I am starting the final table with 137,144 chips of the 1,032,500 chips in play which puts me in 3rd place.
A first place finish would move me up to about $3200 crossing the $3000 mark for the first time and a second place finish would get me to about $2850 which would be a new high by $50.
On the 2nd hand at the fianl table a short stack goes all in and gets busted when his set of 10s loses to a straight who no low hand and we are down to 8.
I am out in 8th after re raiseing a K 7 7 flop with a AK in my hand. The other guy at in the hand was the chip leader and I thought he was bluffing after raiseing pre flop with a low hand. I was right the he had a low hand but it included a 7, so I was out.
I now sit at about $1950.
Before I discuss the final table I will update my play since my last post. I had $2200 and moved up to $2400 before things went south. I managed to drop back down to $1900 after that with a few bad beats and a couple bad decisions.
I am starting the final table with 137,144 chips of the 1,032,500 chips in play which puts me in 3rd place.
A first place finish would move me up to about $3200 crossing the $3000 mark for the first time and a second place finish would get me to about $2850 which would be a new high by $50.
On the 2nd hand at the fianl table a short stack goes all in and gets busted when his set of 10s loses to a straight who no low hand and we are down to 8.
I am out in 8th after re raiseing a K 7 7 flop with a AK in my hand. The other guy at in the hand was the chip leader and I thought he was bluffing after raiseing pre flop with a low hand. I was right the he had a low hand but it included a 7, so I was out.
I now sit at about $1950.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
When to call a all in pre flop raise from a small stack in the late stages of a tournement.
I moved some money over to Pokerstars for the first time. I entered a $55 buy in $70,000 guaranteed tournement and finished to 12th out of 1345 players for a nice $625 payday, but not as nice as it could have been. First place was over $12,000.
The key decision I made which prevented me from making the final table came with 20 players left.
I was in great shape with 350,000 chips and in 3rd place. There were just over 4,000,000 chips in play so I could have probably just folded my way to the final table if I wanted to get there as a small stack, which was not the plan. The blinds were 4000/8000 with a 400 ante and I had Ad 9d in the bb. Everybody folded until the button who only had 150,000 and would have been in about 16th place.. He went all in.
A 150,000 bet to try to pick up 16,000 is certainly an overbet. I knew he just wanted me to fold, but I figured he had a little something to take that risk when we were at 20 players and the prize jumped from about $375 to $450 when we hit 18. I also figured he did not have one of the big pairs or AK, AQ because he most likely would want to try to do more then pick up the blinds with a big hand, which was clearly the hope with his all in over bet.
If I just fold I keep my chip and stay in 3rd out of 20 players, if I call and win I move to 500,000 chips and would become the chip leader. If I call and lose then I would drop to 200,000 chips and would be in 10th place. So what should one do? First of all I had to put him on a range of hands. I already eliminated all the biggest hands, I thought he most likely either had a low to middle pair, or a weak Ace. A couple hands could have me dominated, like A 10, A J or 9 9, 10 10, anything better then that and I do not think he would have gone all in. he could have any pair from 2s [ 8s which would be a coin toss or he could have an Ace with a lower kicker then mine which would make me a 80% favorite, or he could just be buffing.
Overall I thought I would win about 60% of the time vs his range of hands. So the right move seems to be to call and play for 1st place instead of being more conservative and fold.
I called, he flipped over A 4 and I was a huge favorite until the flop came with two 4s. I did lose the hand but still had plenty of life, but the way I had to play with 200,000 was different then if I had 500,000.
A bit later I tried to steal a pot preflop with 55 when a player who had been raising a lot pre flop made yet another raise. He went over top of my 50,000 reraise and I felt I had to flop leaving me with about 150,000 chips. Then I went on a cold streak for a bit and folded about 25 hands in a row which brought me down to just over 100,000 with the blinds at 6000/12,000 and a 600 ante. This is where I would have down things much different with those extra 300,000 chips but we were down to 12 players I was in 12th place and the prize money did not increase again until the final table of 9. I had As 10s, a big stack raised to 36,000 and it folded to me in late position. with 400,000 chips I call and see a flop with 100,000 I either go all in or fold. My hand is pretty strong 6 handed and the raiser is a big stack who has been aggressive so I decided to go all in. Had we been at 13 players or 10 players, I think I would have folded. He flipped over 99 and it was a coin toss that I lost and was out. I was happy to have the $625 because I had been on a bit of a losing streak. The win brought me back up to $1600 overall, and since then I have increase that up to $2200 playing at the PLO tables.
The key decision I made which prevented me from making the final table came with 20 players left.
I was in great shape with 350,000 chips and in 3rd place. There were just over 4,000,000 chips in play so I could have probably just folded my way to the final table if I wanted to get there as a small stack, which was not the plan. The blinds were 4000/8000 with a 400 ante and I had Ad 9d in the bb. Everybody folded until the button who only had 150,000 and would have been in about 16th place.. He went all in.
A 150,000 bet to try to pick up 16,000 is certainly an overbet. I knew he just wanted me to fold, but I figured he had a little something to take that risk when we were at 20 players and the prize jumped from about $375 to $450 when we hit 18. I also figured he did not have one of the big pairs or AK, AQ because he most likely would want to try to do more then pick up the blinds with a big hand, which was clearly the hope with his all in over bet.
If I just fold I keep my chip and stay in 3rd out of 20 players, if I call and win I move to 500,000 chips and would become the chip leader. If I call and lose then I would drop to 200,000 chips and would be in 10th place. So what should one do? First of all I had to put him on a range of hands. I already eliminated all the biggest hands, I thought he most likely either had a low to middle pair, or a weak Ace. A couple hands could have me dominated, like A 10, A J or 9 9, 10 10, anything better then that and I do not think he would have gone all in. he could have any pair from 2s [ 8s which would be a coin toss or he could have an Ace with a lower kicker then mine which would make me a 80% favorite, or he could just be buffing.
Overall I thought I would win about 60% of the time vs his range of hands. So the right move seems to be to call and play for 1st place instead of being more conservative and fold.
I called, he flipped over A 4 and I was a huge favorite until the flop came with two 4s. I did lose the hand but still had plenty of life, but the way I had to play with 200,000 was different then if I had 500,000.
A bit later I tried to steal a pot preflop with 55 when a player who had been raising a lot pre flop made yet another raise. He went over top of my 50,000 reraise and I felt I had to flop leaving me with about 150,000 chips. Then I went on a cold streak for a bit and folded about 25 hands in a row which brought me down to just over 100,000 with the blinds at 6000/12,000 and a 600 ante. This is where I would have down things much different with those extra 300,000 chips but we were down to 12 players I was in 12th place and the prize money did not increase again until the final table of 9. I had As 10s, a big stack raised to 36,000 and it folded to me in late position. with 400,000 chips I call and see a flop with 100,000 I either go all in or fold. My hand is pretty strong 6 handed and the raiser is a big stack who has been aggressive so I decided to go all in. Had we been at 13 players or 10 players, I think I would have folded. He flipped over 99 and it was a coin toss that I lost and was out. I was happy to have the $625 because I had been on a bit of a losing streak. The win brought me back up to $1600 overall, and since then I have increase that up to $2200 playing at the PLO tables.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Two Months In.
Yesterday marked the two month mark of my journey and it was a pretty uneventful month.
The last two week have pretty much been a write off. First I had my parents in from out of town, and then I had the hard drive on my computer crash. Overall over the past month I have lost $400.
After a strong start and moving close to $3000 during the first month things have not gone as well. I ended month one at $2000, dropped as low as $1000 during this month and sit at just over $1600 right now.
My records for the past month have been lost when my hard drive went so I do not have the day by day changes, but it has been pretty much a straight line for the past two weeks.
I have my computer back now and will get back to the tables to try to get things rolling along again.
The last two week have pretty much been a write off. First I had my parents in from out of town, and then I had the hard drive on my computer crash. Overall over the past month I have lost $400.
After a strong start and moving close to $3000 during the first month things have not gone as well. I ended month one at $2000, dropped as low as $1000 during this month and sit at just over $1600 right now.
My records for the past month have been lost when my hard drive went so I do not have the day by day changes, but it has been pretty much a straight line for the past two weeks.
I have my computer back now and will get back to the tables to try to get things rolling along again.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Quite Week
With my parent in town for the week, I did not play much poker since my last pot.
I will be getting back to the tables tonight and have one week left until the two month mark in my journey.
I still sit at $1700 and hope to make some progress over the next week.
I will be getting back to the tables tonight and have one week left until the two month mark in my journey.
I still sit at $1700 and hope to make some progress over the next week.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Well I am 5 hours into the Mini FTSOP event #16, after winning an entry in a satalite. It is a $109 buy-in no limit hold'em tournament with 6000 chips to start and 4011 players making for a $101,100 prize pool.
The top 450 cached I am am already there sitting at 253 of 402 with 38,595 chips. The average stack is 60,165 so I have some work to do.
We just hit blind level 23, 1400/2800 with a 350 ante. My chip stack has not changed much over the past 30 minutes, 38,095 sitting in 233 of 287 with the average stack being 84,146. I have had two playable hands, A8 sutied in late position, and KK in early position. In both cases I opened raised and everyone else folded. I only have 13.5 times the BB so I am getting close to the position where all in is pretty much my only move, but I can pick up 7350 chips fromt he blinds and antes if I can steal which would is about 20% of my stack.
With 35,000 chips left I got dealt AA in early position. I bet about 2.5 times the BB, one person called and then the BB went all in, which I of course called and the other guy folded. He flipped over JJ and I had him dominated with a 85,000 chip pot. A J came on the flop and I was out in 220 place wining $260, a very disappointing end as that pot would have moved me into 125th place and given me 25 big blinds to work with.
Overall I am now up to $1700.
The top 450 cached I am am already there sitting at 253 of 402 with 38,595 chips. The average stack is 60,165 so I have some work to do.
We just hit blind level 23, 1400/2800 with a 350 ante. My chip stack has not changed much over the past 30 minutes, 38,095 sitting in 233 of 287 with the average stack being 84,146. I have had two playable hands, A8 sutied in late position, and KK in early position. In both cases I opened raised and everyone else folded. I only have 13.5 times the BB so I am getting close to the position where all in is pretty much my only move, but I can pick up 7350 chips fromt he blinds and antes if I can steal which would is about 20% of my stack.
With 35,000 chips left I got dealt AA in early position. I bet about 2.5 times the BB, one person called and then the BB went all in, which I of course called and the other guy folded. He flipped over JJ and I had him dominated with a 85,000 chip pot. A J came on the flop and I was out in 220 place wining $260, a very disappointing end as that pot would have moved me into 125th place and given me 25 big blinds to work with.
Overall I am now up to $1700.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
turning $4.20 into $663.00
I went into a $2 rush turbo rebuys Pot Limit Holdem Tournament on Friday Night.
I was supposed to pick up my parent from the airport at 11:15pm and I check the airport website and found out the flight was delayed until 2:00am so I had a few hours to kill.
I figured the tournament should be over in time and if not, it was only a couple bucks.
Things got off to a good start and by 11:45 I was up to 14,000 chips doing very well, when the phone rang.
It was my parents and they were at the airport wondering where I was. Turns out I had the flight number wrong and they were on time, and I was late. I has A 2 3 K in front of me and someone had raised and had a couple callers so I went ahead and pot raised figuring I had nothing to lose. One guys called, three lows came on board and I went all in and he folded I I walked out of the tournament with about 20,000 chips and figured in the 40 minutes I would be away there was no way I would make it back before the blinds got me since they were going up every three minutes and it was a rush tournament.
When I got home I walked over the the computer and there I was blinds at 5000/10,000 and I was all in from the fig blind with about 7500 chips. one guys called and the sb folded and we split the pot giving me 10,000 chips. I looked around the table and everyone else had abut 200,000-300,000. I checked the standings and I was in 23rd of 23 and was already in the money for about $22. I am not sure what my next next couple hands were because this all went so fast, but I it folded to me and I went all in which was a couple chips more the the bb and only the bb called and I doubled up, then the next hand I think I had 1 3 4 6 so I went all in again, three people called and I ended up scooping the pot and was at 80,000. I was still only in19th of 21 with 8xs the bb but I hand some life. I ended up making the final table and finished in 2nd place overall for a prize of $663.00. Not bad for a $4.20 investment and missing a big chunk of the tournament.l Just shows you that sometimes luck does fall your way.
I am currently at about $1550.
I was supposed to pick up my parent from the airport at 11:15pm and I check the airport website and found out the flight was delayed until 2:00am so I had a few hours to kill.
I figured the tournament should be over in time and if not, it was only a couple bucks.
Things got off to a good start and by 11:45 I was up to 14,000 chips doing very well, when the phone rang.
It was my parents and they were at the airport wondering where I was. Turns out I had the flight number wrong and they were on time, and I was late. I has A 2 3 K in front of me and someone had raised and had a couple callers so I went ahead and pot raised figuring I had nothing to lose. One guys called, three lows came on board and I went all in and he folded I I walked out of the tournament with about 20,000 chips and figured in the 40 minutes I would be away there was no way I would make it back before the blinds got me since they were going up every three minutes and it was a rush tournament.
When I got home I walked over the the computer and there I was blinds at 5000/10,000 and I was all in from the fig blind with about 7500 chips. one guys called and the sb folded and we split the pot giving me 10,000 chips. I looked around the table and everyone else had abut 200,000-300,000. I checked the standings and I was in 23rd of 23 and was already in the money for about $22. I am not sure what my next next couple hands were because this all went so fast, but I it folded to me and I went all in which was a couple chips more the the bb and only the bb called and I doubled up, then the next hand I think I had 1 3 4 6 so I went all in again, three people called and I ended up scooping the pot and was at 80,000. I was still only in19th of 21 with 8xs the bb but I hand some life. I ended up making the final table and finished in 2nd place overall for a prize of $663.00. Not bad for a $4.20 investment and missing a big chunk of the tournament.l Just shows you that sometimes luck does fall your way.
I am currently at about $1550.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Mini FTSOP event 1
I played in this $22 buyin tournament with over 14,000 entrants last night.
With a 5000 starting stack and such a large field my plan was to play very tight and pick my spots carefully.
The first hand I play was one of the first ones dealt when I had JJ from the bb blind 10/20
The was a middle position raiser to 60 a late position caller and then I raised to 180. The first guys called the other folded and the flop had a Q and two low cards. I bet 320 into the 430 pot and was called. It was checked the rest of the way and he had KQ and I was down to 4500.
A few hands later I had 99 and once again raised to 180 after a middle position raise to 60 and was called the flop was two low cards and a J. Once again I lead out was called and then it was checked though. He flipped over J 5. Not sure why he called my reraise with such a crappy hand, but it worked out for him and I was down to about 4000.
The third hand I played was KK once again from the BB, blinds were up to 40/80 at this point and a late position raise was made to 240 the button called and sb folded. I raised to 750 and both guys called. The flop was A J 5. Once again one over card to my pair. I bet half the pot, the first raiser folded and the button went all in. I figured he had me and folded.
I was all the way down to 2000 chips when once again from bb I got a good hand. This time AK. The blinds were up to 60/120 there was a middle position raise to 360 and a call from late position. With almost 1000 chips in the pot already i wen tall in and was called by AQ and doubled up.
8 hands later once again from the bb I was dealt 10 7. Two people limped in and I got to see a free flop.
The flop came 10 10 10 and I hit quads. Now how do I wins some ships with this.
First to act I checked and so did they. The turn was a 2 and I check the next guys bet the pot the other folded and I called. The turn was a A. I thought the other guys limping from late position might have a weak A and a small pair both would be very hard to fold at this point especially since he had 25000 chips to my 3000 with the pot at about 1200. I decided to go all in to make it look like a overbet attempt to steal the pot thinking if he had any A or pair he would call me. He did call and I was up to a bit over 8000 which was just below average.
The next hand I played I the blinds were 150/300 and I had QQ on the button. An early position player made it 800 and late position player called and the pot was up to 2050 when it came to me. Two two player in I wanted to limit the field and would be happy with the 2050 which would put me over 10,000 and above average. Since any raise i made would pretty much pot commit me I just went all in, one call one fold and it was my QQ vs AK and I was a 55% favorite to get up to 17,000 and be in the top 20% of chip stacks.
The flop was three clubs including the K. With him having the Ac tht left me with just one out which I of course did not hit and I was out somewhere around 7800 place.
I think I played well. I got unlikely with my early pairs of JJ 99 and KK not holding up after the flop made the most of a couple good hands to get back in it and the lost a coin flip. Those situation are ones that you are going to have to win a few times to make it to the end of such a large tournament and I lost the first one I faced.
Overall I am now down to $1000.
With a 5000 starting stack and such a large field my plan was to play very tight and pick my spots carefully.
The first hand I play was one of the first ones dealt when I had JJ from the bb blind 10/20
The was a middle position raiser to 60 a late position caller and then I raised to 180. The first guys called the other folded and the flop had a Q and two low cards. I bet 320 into the 430 pot and was called. It was checked the rest of the way and he had KQ and I was down to 4500.
A few hands later I had 99 and once again raised to 180 after a middle position raise to 60 and was called the flop was two low cards and a J. Once again I lead out was called and then it was checked though. He flipped over J 5. Not sure why he called my reraise with such a crappy hand, but it worked out for him and I was down to about 4000.
The third hand I played was KK once again from the BB, blinds were up to 40/80 at this point and a late position raise was made to 240 the button called and sb folded. I raised to 750 and both guys called. The flop was A J 5. Once again one over card to my pair. I bet half the pot, the first raiser folded and the button went all in. I figured he had me and folded.
I was all the way down to 2000 chips when once again from bb I got a good hand. This time AK. The blinds were up to 60/120 there was a middle position raise to 360 and a call from late position. With almost 1000 chips in the pot already i wen tall in and was called by AQ and doubled up.
8 hands later once again from the bb I was dealt 10 7. Two people limped in and I got to see a free flop.
The flop came 10 10 10 and I hit quads. Now how do I wins some ships with this.
First to act I checked and so did they. The turn was a 2 and I check the next guys bet the pot the other folded and I called. The turn was a A. I thought the other guys limping from late position might have a weak A and a small pair both would be very hard to fold at this point especially since he had 25000 chips to my 3000 with the pot at about 1200. I decided to go all in to make it look like a overbet attempt to steal the pot thinking if he had any A or pair he would call me. He did call and I was up to a bit over 8000 which was just below average.
The next hand I played I the blinds were 150/300 and I had QQ on the button. An early position player made it 800 and late position player called and the pot was up to 2050 when it came to me. Two two player in I wanted to limit the field and would be happy with the 2050 which would put me over 10,000 and above average. Since any raise i made would pretty much pot commit me I just went all in, one call one fold and it was my QQ vs AK and I was a 55% favorite to get up to 17,000 and be in the top 20% of chip stacks.
The flop was three clubs including the K. With him having the Ac tht left me with just one out which I of course did not hit and I was out somewhere around 7800 place.
I think I played well. I got unlikely with my early pairs of JJ 99 and KK not holding up after the flop made the most of a couple good hands to get back in it and the lost a coin flip. Those situation are ones that you are going to have to win a few times to make it to the end of such a large tournament and I lost the first one I faced.
Overall I am now down to $1000.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Bankroll Management Revisited
I have not had much time to play the past few days, but when I have I have continued the decline in my bankroll. I now sit at $1200.
Looking at the fluctuations in my bankroll over the last few weeks I see ups and downs of 25-50% several times. This tells me that my bankroll management system currently in place is too aggressive. I do not want to see these time of swigns any more. They are great when they are on the way up, but the risk of going bust seem too high still.
I was allowing myself to bring up to a maximum of 10% of my bankroll to a cash game at one time and I often played at two tables at once so really 20% was at risk. I am going to cut that in half so no more then 5% will be brought to any one table.
the mini FTSOP is starting Sept 8 with a $22 buyin hold'em tournement which I am going to try to play. If I make it deep into the tournement I will start blogging about key hands. I may try a couple other events as well but this things tend to last a good 8 hours so it may be difficult to get more then one or two in.
Looking at the fluctuations in my bankroll over the last few weeks I see ups and downs of 25-50% several times. This tells me that my bankroll management system currently in place is too aggressive. I do not want to see these time of swigns any more. They are great when they are on the way up, but the risk of going bust seem too high still.
I was allowing myself to bring up to a maximum of 10% of my bankroll to a cash game at one time and I often played at two tables at once so really 20% was at risk. I am going to cut that in half so no more then 5% will be brought to any one table.
the mini FTSOP is starting Sept 8 with a $22 buyin hold'em tournement which I am going to try to play. If I make it deep into the tournement I will start blogging about key hands. I may try a couple other events as well but this things tend to last a good 8 hours so it may be difficult to get more then one or two in.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
One Month Down
Well Friday Aug 27 was one month since a started with my $50.
Overall I am please with where I am sitting at $2000 even though it was all made in the first week and I have been moving sideways ever since. Poker can be a streaky game, and you have to profit when the cards are going your way and keep the losses to a minimum when things are not going well, and I think I have done that. Below is a graph plotting my first month of play, and hopefully I will soon be able to mvoe forward to a new high.
Overall I am please with where I am sitting at $2000 even though it was all made in the first week and I have been moving sideways ever since. Poker can be a streaky game, and you have to profit when the cards are going your way and keep the losses to a minimum when things are not going well, and I think I have done that. Below is a graph plotting my first month of play, and hopefully I will soon be able to mvoe forward to a new high.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Moving Sideways
Aug 18-22
I have not posted in a couple days because I have not had much to write about. I have not had a chance to play much and have not seen much movement when I have. I have been moving between $2000 and $2300 back and forth. I had one chance to break though the $2300 mark when I played a AK in hold'em.
It was $0.5-$1 no limit and I had raised to $3 preflop with about $100 at the table and go one caller from the BB. The flop was K 9 K and I had a set with a A kicker. I went ahead a bet $4 and was raised to $12.
The only hand that could beat me was 9 9 or K 9. I figure one of two things was happening, either he was thinking I was making a continuation bet and trying to bluff me off the pot or he could have a hand like KQ or KJ and thinks he has the best hand. I thought maybe he could have a pair, including the 99 that would have me beat, but I thought he most likely would have raised with pocket pair pre flop so thought the other two options were more likely. I decided to call, then check the turn which was a 8 to try to get him to make another bet.
The pot had about $30 in it and he bet $20. If I called I would have $60 left. I decided to re-raise all in thinking if he had a K I was getting called, if the 8 gave him a straight draw then I would most likely fold and if he happened to have 9 9 then I had 7 outs to hit a better full house. He called and flipped over the 99 taking then $200 pot. Winning would have put me up to $2350 but instead I was down to $2150 yet again.
As of right now I sit at $2050 and have made no progress in Since breaking though the $2000 mark on Aug 2. So I made $2000 in the first week and have broke even the last 3 weeks. I played pretty much only Omaha during that first week so maybe that is the cash game I should be playing. Might as well go back to what worked that first week and play $1-$2 pot limit Omaha at Doyle's Room and see what happens.
I have not posted in a couple days because I have not had much to write about. I have not had a chance to play much and have not seen much movement when I have. I have been moving between $2000 and $2300 back and forth. I had one chance to break though the $2300 mark when I played a AK in hold'em.
It was $0.5-$1 no limit and I had raised to $3 preflop with about $100 at the table and go one caller from the BB. The flop was K 9 K and I had a set with a A kicker. I went ahead a bet $4 and was raised to $12.
The only hand that could beat me was 9 9 or K 9. I figure one of two things was happening, either he was thinking I was making a continuation bet and trying to bluff me off the pot or he could have a hand like KQ or KJ and thinks he has the best hand. I thought maybe he could have a pair, including the 99 that would have me beat, but I thought he most likely would have raised with pocket pair pre flop so thought the other two options were more likely. I decided to call, then check the turn which was a 8 to try to get him to make another bet.
The pot had about $30 in it and he bet $20. If I called I would have $60 left. I decided to re-raise all in thinking if he had a K I was getting called, if the 8 gave him a straight draw then I would most likely fold and if he happened to have 9 9 then I had 7 outs to hit a better full house. He called and flipped over the 99 taking then $200 pot. Winning would have put me up to $2350 but instead I was down to $2150 yet again.
As of right now I sit at $2050 and have made no progress in Since breaking though the $2000 mark on Aug 2. So I made $2000 in the first week and have broke even the last 3 weeks. I played pretty much only Omaha during that first week so maybe that is the cash game I should be playing. Might as well go back to what worked that first week and play $1-$2 pot limit Omaha at Doyle's Room and see what happens.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Royal Flush
Aug 17
Hitting a Royal Flush in Texas Hold’em is a very rare thing. Flopping the Royal Flush is even harder. On average hitting a royal flush on your first five cards will happen 1 in 649,740 hands, but assuming you are starting off with two of the cards needed then the odds are 1 in 19,600 of hitting the royal flush on the flop, something I saw for the first time yesterday after playing online poker for about 6 years. As luck would have it, I was on the wrong end of the hand. I started with AK and after a player raised to $6, I re-raised to $15 and got called. The flop was A K 10 all diamonds. I had hit top two pair and my opponent bet $15. My thought was that if he hit a flush he most likely would have checked not wanting me to fold, but his bet was not so big that I thought he was trying to get me to fold, so I figured he thought he had the best hand. Since he only called my re-raise pre-flop I figured he could have the straight with no diamond but AQ or AJ seemed the most likely possibility perhaps with the Q or J being a diamonds. If the was the case then he would have 9 outs for a flush and 3 more for a straight for a total of 12 outs giving him about a 45% chance of winning, so I went all in and he called flipping over the Q J diamonds for the Royal Flush.
Things did not get much better after that. A few hand later I had AA. From early position a guy raised to $4, I then re-raised to $10, the BB called and the original raiser called. The Flop came 10 J 2. The BB checked the original raiser but $10 into a $30 pot and I raised to $30, BB folded and the other guy called. I was fairly certain I had him beat at this point and thought he either had KQ hoping to hit and overcard or a straight, or he had A J. The turn was a 7 he checked and I put my last $60 in and he called flipping over 8 9 for a straight on the other end. I never really thought of this as a possible hand for him because of the early position raise and then calling a re-raise pre flop.
The next time I had AA I raised to $6 and had one caller. The flop had three unconnected low cards with two diamonds. I bet $10 and he went all in and I called. He flipped over AQ diamonds and hit the flush to beat me.
Then I had two similar hands once with 4 4 and once with 6 6, both times I flopped a set ended up all in after the flop and ended up against someone who flopped a bigger set.
The last hand of the day I had JJ. The first guy to act raised to $4 I re-raised to $10 two guys called the $10 then the original raiser went all in for over $100. I figured he was trying to take the pot right there with out seeing the flop so most likely had a middle pair or maybe AK, either way the right move was to call unless I thought one of the two other guys had me beat which I did not, so I called the other two folded and he flipped over 8 8 making me a huge favorite to win, but it was not to be, he hit a 8 on the flop and I lost yet another big pot.
At the end of the day I was back down to $2125 and I can not believe the number of times I have lost starting with AA over the last week. The last 20 times I have been dealt AA I think I have won the blinds about five times won small pots about five time and lost about 10 times.
I should be winning about 80% of the time I see the flop but instead I have been losing about 60% and usually the losses are bigger pots then the wins.
I think I will take a day off and then move back to Doyle’s Room for a couple days because my luck at the Rush tables has not been good and I do not want to keeping playing there feeling frustrated because it could have a negative impact on my play and I do not want to compound the losses with bad play.
Hitting a Royal Flush in Texas Hold’em is a very rare thing. Flopping the Royal Flush is even harder. On average hitting a royal flush on your first five cards will happen 1 in 649,740 hands, but assuming you are starting off with two of the cards needed then the odds are 1 in 19,600 of hitting the royal flush on the flop, something I saw for the first time yesterday after playing online poker for about 6 years. As luck would have it, I was on the wrong end of the hand. I started with AK and after a player raised to $6, I re-raised to $15 and got called. The flop was A K 10 all diamonds. I had hit top two pair and my opponent bet $15. My thought was that if he hit a flush he most likely would have checked not wanting me to fold, but his bet was not so big that I thought he was trying to get me to fold, so I figured he thought he had the best hand. Since he only called my re-raise pre-flop I figured he could have the straight with no diamond but AQ or AJ seemed the most likely possibility perhaps with the Q or J being a diamonds. If the was the case then he would have 9 outs for a flush and 3 more for a straight for a total of 12 outs giving him about a 45% chance of winning, so I went all in and he called flipping over the Q J diamonds for the Royal Flush.
Things did not get much better after that. A few hand later I had AA. From early position a guy raised to $4, I then re-raised to $10, the BB called and the original raiser called. The Flop came 10 J 2. The BB checked the original raiser but $10 into a $30 pot and I raised to $30, BB folded and the other guy called. I was fairly certain I had him beat at this point and thought he either had KQ hoping to hit and overcard or a straight, or he had A J. The turn was a 7 he checked and I put my last $60 in and he called flipping over 8 9 for a straight on the other end. I never really thought of this as a possible hand for him because of the early position raise and then calling a re-raise pre flop.
The next time I had AA I raised to $6 and had one caller. The flop had three unconnected low cards with two diamonds. I bet $10 and he went all in and I called. He flipped over AQ diamonds and hit the flush to beat me.
Then I had two similar hands once with 4 4 and once with 6 6, both times I flopped a set ended up all in after the flop and ended up against someone who flopped a bigger set.
The last hand of the day I had JJ. The first guy to act raised to $4 I re-raised to $10 two guys called the $10 then the original raiser went all in for over $100. I figured he was trying to take the pot right there with out seeing the flop so most likely had a middle pair or maybe AK, either way the right move was to call unless I thought one of the two other guys had me beat which I did not, so I called the other two folded and he flipped over 8 8 making me a huge favorite to win, but it was not to be, he hit a 8 on the flop and I lost yet another big pot.
At the end of the day I was back down to $2125 and I can not believe the number of times I have lost starting with AA over the last week. The last 20 times I have been dealt AA I think I have won the blinds about five times won small pots about five time and lost about 10 times.
I should be winning about 80% of the time I see the flop but instead I have been losing about 60% and usually the losses are bigger pots then the wins.
I think I will take a day off and then move back to Doyle’s Room for a couple days because my luck at the Rush tables has not been good and I do not want to keeping playing there feeling frustrated because it could have a negative impact on my play and I do not want to compound the losses with bad play.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Back on Track
Aug 16
Only played for about an hour all at $1-$2 no limit hold'em Rush Poker.
Although I once again lost with AA vs 88, I also got a few cards fall my way including hitting a set of Js vs KK on the turn after calling a bet on the flop. I was suspicious pre-flop that he had a big hand which is why I only called after three under cards came on the flop and I probably would have folded to another bet if I did not hit the set, but hitting that J allowed me to reraise all in after his bet and take down a $250 pot. At the end of the hour I was ahead $350 and sitting at about $2725 overall, just shy of high high point of $2800. I have survived my run of terrible luck and am right back on track, and hopefully later today I will be able to get to a new high and maybe cross the $3000 mark for the first time.
I should have time to play in another tournament of two this weekend, so I may try to play in a couple of satellites to see if I can win a seat to a bigger tournament on Saturday or Sunday.
Only played for about an hour all at $1-$2 no limit hold'em Rush Poker.
Although I once again lost with AA vs 88, I also got a few cards fall my way including hitting a set of Js vs KK on the turn after calling a bet on the flop. I was suspicious pre-flop that he had a big hand which is why I only called after three under cards came on the flop and I probably would have folded to another bet if I did not hit the set, but hitting that J allowed me to reraise all in after his bet and take down a $250 pot. At the end of the hour I was ahead $350 and sitting at about $2725 overall, just shy of high high point of $2800. I have survived my run of terrible luck and am right back on track, and hopefully later today I will be able to get to a new high and maybe cross the $3000 mark for the first time.
I should have time to play in another tournament of two this weekend, so I may try to play in a couple of satellites to see if I can win a seat to a bigger tournament on Saturday or Sunday.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Final Table Action
Well the two tournaments I entered could not have gone more differently. In the HORSE tourney I was out after about 1.5 hours of play. It is much my quickest exit from a fixed limit tournament that I can recall. The hand the really killed came in Stud Hi/Lo. I had a great drawing hand during a five player pot that I could not get away from and did not hit. I started with 2 5 6 with two clubs and I called a two bet with three of my opponents having a low door card and one guy showing a 10. 4th street gave me a Qc, which was not a great card, but I still had three to a low and now three to a flush as well so I ended up call a bet. 5th street was a great card for me, the 4c. I now had four to a 6 low a gut shot straight draw and a Q high flush draw. This is where the raises started. Two guys had three low cards up one was showing a pair of 10s and I figured he either had a big pair down or a third 10 and the other guy had three spades J high. 6th was a blank and I called four bets and 7th was antoher blank which forced me to fold. The one guy had three 10s the other hit his flush on 7th and a seven low took the low side. That hand cost me over half my chips and I never recovered.
On the other hand in the 292 player Pot Limit Omaha tournament I have just made the final table.
9th place will get $147.17 and 1st $1822.08
I have been playing for about five hours so far, and I sit in 3rd place with 156,974 chips.
One guy eliminated on the first hand, down to 8 and the chip leader has 233, 274 chips.
Have not played a hand yet, but we are down to 7 players. I am in 4th 70,000 behind the leader.
I have not had many playable hands and have missed the flop the two time I have seen it. I am down to 5 of 7 with 114,474 chips. With 9 10 J A, I call the blinds and see a flop of 2 3 10, it checks a 2nd 2 hits and it checks around again. with a J on the river I think I have the best hand and call a min bet and win the 39,000 pot. and puts me back in 4 of 7.
Samll stack goes all in with AAxx hand and loses to a flush down to 6.
With the blinds 3000/6000 I have 8 9 J J in the BB and call a 18,000 bet. Flop A 8 A check check, turn is another 8 check check and river a 6 he bets 21,000 I call and take the 96,000 pot.
20,000 small stack goes all in and I call with K Q 8 8, he has Q Q J 5. I hit a K and win bring my stack to about 230,000 and I sit in 2 of 4.
I tried to make a deal to get $1200 but the big stack was not willing to deal.
Down to 3 but my stack is getting low after calling a river bet with QQ in my hand and 555 on board and lost to a KK I sit at 130,000 with 1st at 500,000 and 2nd 250,000 about.
I am out in 3rd after hitting a full house and getting beat by a better full house.
I win $876 which brings me back up to a total of $2376 and feeling a little better.
On the other hand in the 292 player Pot Limit Omaha tournament I have just made the final table.
9th place will get $147.17 and 1st $1822.08
I have been playing for about five hours so far, and I sit in 3rd place with 156,974 chips.
One guy eliminated on the first hand, down to 8 and the chip leader has 233, 274 chips.
Have not played a hand yet, but we are down to 7 players. I am in 4th 70,000 behind the leader.
I have not had many playable hands and have missed the flop the two time I have seen it. I am down to 5 of 7 with 114,474 chips. With 9 10 J A, I call the blinds and see a flop of 2 3 10, it checks a 2nd 2 hits and it checks around again. with a J on the river I think I have the best hand and call a min bet and win the 39,000 pot. and puts me back in 4 of 7.
Samll stack goes all in with AAxx hand and loses to a flush down to 6.
With the blinds 3000/6000 I have 8 9 J J in the BB and call a 18,000 bet. Flop A 8 A check check, turn is another 8 check check and river a 6 he bets 21,000 I call and take the 96,000 pot.
20,000 small stack goes all in and I call with K Q 8 8, he has Q Q J 5. I hit a K and win bring my stack to about 230,000 and I sit in 2 of 4.
I tried to make a deal to get $1200 but the big stack was not willing to deal.
Down to 3 but my stack is getting low after calling a river bet with QQ in my hand and 555 on board and lost to a KK I sit at 130,000 with 1st at 500,000 and 2nd 250,000 about.
I am out in 3rd after hitting a full house and getting beat by a better full house.
I win $876 which brings me back up to a total of $2376 and feeling a little better.
Variance = Frusteration
Aug 14-15
Variance is a word you will hear from pro poker player often. It refers to the fluctuations that your bankroll will go though and it does not matter how well you may be playing there will still be times when you take a large swing downwards. This pretty much explains my last couple days. My bankroll sits at about $1750 over $1000 down from my high of $2800. I have lost so many hands where I was ahead when the money went all in that I fell like I am going to lose as soon and the cards are flipped and he has more then one out.
If they have a flush draw or a straight draw they hit every time. I lost AA vs 88 all in pre flop by them catching a straight. I had top set vs middle pair after the flop and hand him catch runner runner diamonds to hit a flush and many more that are just blurring together into one big frustrating mess. I have to admit that after several hands it started to affect my play and I had a couple ill timed bluffs which compounded the loses.
Since I was not able to play in the razz tournament on Friday night due I have tournament dollars to use and I have decided to play in the $30,000 Guaranteed Sunday Night HORSE tournament with a $216 buy in, where I have managed to make the final table twice in the past including a 2nd place finish worth $6000, and a PLO tourney with a $26 buy in. If I come up short in those two tournaments I will be down to $1500 and I am going to stay away from full tilt for a few days and go back to Doyles Room and cut my stakes back down until I can get my bankroll back over $2000.
Variance is a word you will hear from pro poker player often. It refers to the fluctuations that your bankroll will go though and it does not matter how well you may be playing there will still be times when you take a large swing downwards. This pretty much explains my last couple days. My bankroll sits at about $1750 over $1000 down from my high of $2800. I have lost so many hands where I was ahead when the money went all in that I fell like I am going to lose as soon and the cards are flipped and he has more then one out.
If they have a flush draw or a straight draw they hit every time. I lost AA vs 88 all in pre flop by them catching a straight. I had top set vs middle pair after the flop and hand him catch runner runner diamonds to hit a flush and many more that are just blurring together into one big frustrating mess. I have to admit that after several hands it started to affect my play and I had a couple ill timed bluffs which compounded the loses.
Since I was not able to play in the razz tournament on Friday night due I have tournament dollars to use and I have decided to play in the $30,000 Guaranteed Sunday Night HORSE tournament with a $216 buy in, where I have managed to make the final table twice in the past including a 2nd place finish worth $6000, and a PLO tourney with a $26 buy in. If I come up short in those two tournaments I will be down to $1500 and I am going to stay away from full tilt for a few days and go back to Doyles Room and cut my stakes back down until I can get my bankroll back over $2000.
Friday, August 13, 2010
FTSOP Part 2 may be cancelled
Something has come up and I may not be able to pay in Event 28 after all tonight, I am still going to try, but it does not look good, I will blog about it if I can play.
I did manage to sneak a couple hundred hands in this morning by playing at two $1-$2 NL Hold'em tables at once. overall I made a couple hundred dollars and actually got lucky once winning a hand I should have lost.
Had QQ on the button and it folded to me and I raised to $6. SB folded and BB raised to $18. I figured that he thought I was trying to steal the blinds and was defending, hoping to get me to fold with a weak A or smaller pair. I decided to push all in for $130 and was quickly called by AA. Four clubs ended up coming on board and I had one and he did not giving me the $260 pot.
Overall I am back up to $2650.
I did manage to sneak a couple hundred hands in this morning by playing at two $1-$2 NL Hold'em tables at once. overall I made a couple hundred dollars and actually got lucky once winning a hand I should have lost.
Had QQ on the button and it folded to me and I raised to $6. SB folded and BB raised to $18. I figured that he thought I was trying to steal the blinds and was defending, hoping to get me to fold with a weak A or smaller pair. I decided to push all in for $130 and was quickly called by AA. Four clubs ended up coming on board and I had one and he did not giving me the $260 pot.
Overall I am back up to $2650.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
FTSOP Part One (I hope)
The FTSOP XVII runs from Aug 4-15 is near an end. I have played in several past events but have not taken part in any this time around so far. These tournament can last 8+ hours so I have not had a chance to play, although with my bankroll management strategy that I am sticking to I do not have enough funds for the large buy-ins either. I do think I will have a chance this weekend time wise but that still leaves the large buy-in issue. Taking a look at the events left, the $300 +$22 Limit Razz tourney would be the most interesting to me Friday at 9:00pm EST and there is a satellite to that tourney going on right now with a $50 buy-in and 66 people registered which is in my price range, that gives the top ten an entry. I am going to play and will post during the tourney with key hands and my thoughts. Hopefully I am able to win a seat and will do the same tomorrow in Part 2.
If I can not win a seat then I will have to find a smaller tourney to play in.
$55 buy-in Limit Razz Satellite to FTSOP $322 buy-in Limit Razz Event 28 on Friday Aug 13
Hour One
Start with 2000 chips
After 17 hands dealt I have been dealt three cards under 6 to start three times and have raised with it. So far no luck connecting on anything and I have ended up having to fold each on 5th or 6th street.
I am down to 1558.
Got dealt A 4 5 and very good starting hand in was raised before me, and I decided just to call. I would often raise there but the was a 2, 3 and 6 on board, all cards I want and no A, 4 or 5 out other then mine so I am a little less likely to hit my outs with my opponents being a little more likely to hit thiers.
Four players see 4th and I hit a K with the other three hitting a low card so I fold.
Down to 1461.
I am dealt 2 4 7, a guy with 6 showing raises there are three players to act behind me two have 4s and the other an 8. I call and one of the 4s re-raises it folds back to the original raiser who three bets it. The 4 only has enough chips to call so I decide to call. On 4th the small stack gets a K I get a 6 and the other guy a 5, so I check call. On 5th the small stack paired his 4 and with a board of 4K4 is pretty much out of the running. I hit a 3 which completes a 7 low and the other guy hits a 9 I bet he calls after I hit a 9 and he hits a 10 on 6th I am feeling pretty good and bet again with him calling and 7th gave me a 5 giving me 2 3 4 5 6 so I bet again and get call and win the pot against a 2 3 5 6 9 which bring me up to 2510.
Stakes are going up every 10 minutes so me are now at 100/200 and 15 ante and we have 52 of 66 players left.
I was first to act with 2 5 A. There were three low cards showing after me, two 5s and a 6. Only one card I want showing makes my hand even stronger so I raise to 100 and get one caller with a 6 on board.
We both hit 7s on 4th, I bet he calls. 5th give me a 3 completing a 7 low and he hits a 8, an excellent card for him to hit, gives him a low card which mean he will probably call, but I know the 8 does him now good since I have a 7 low already. we both hit blanks on 6th, and it is me bet him call again. On 7th I pair my A and bet out again and he raised and I called to win the pot and bring my stack to 3375.
When I called my though was another 200 chips if I win the pot will not mean as much and the 200 chips I would save if I happen to be behind. As soon as I called I realized that I can not be behind and should have raised again. I had a 5 7 low and he had 6 7 8 6 on board so even if he had A 2 3 (which is what he actually had) I still have him beat. I small error and hopefully the 200 chips does not come back to haunt me at the end.
The first break has arrived and after some antes and a bring-in I sit at 3040 chips which puts me in 18 of 46 remaining.
Hour Two.
With the stakes now at 150/300 ante 25 the betting is high relative to chip stacks and you can not afford to lose many hands. First I am paying almost 1% towards the ante each hand but also just calling bets on one hand to the end would be 40% of my stack. It is rare for me to try to bluff or steal antes at this point, but if the opportunity arises then I will still try, after all stealing the antes increase my chip stack by almost 10%.
After taking a couple uncontested pots by betting out with good hands I am up to 3700.
Win a small pot on 4th when I hit a low card and my opponent hits a hit card. I am at 4105. in 20th of 30.
Stakes are about to go up to 300/600 ante 50. The ante is now over 1% of my stack and calling one hand to the end would cost me 60% of my stack. Basically losing one hand could end your tournament. It is important to get out of hands early unless you are confident you are either ahead or can get others to fold.
I called a raise from a relatively small stack. He had a 6 showing and I had 4 3 6. When he hit a K and I hit a J on 4th I bet thinking he may fold right there because calling would pretty much commit him to the pot with what he knows is the worst hand, but he did call. 5th gave me a 7 and him a 10 giving him reason to fold when I bet, but he felt he had no choice but to raise which put him all in. On 6th he hit a 2 and I paired my 4 which made me sweat a little, but I hung on by hitting a 8 on the last card while he paired up meaning my 3 4 6 7 8 beat his 2 3 6 7 10 and I had 6433 chips. I now sit in 10 of 24 with top ten getting an entry I just need to maintain my position.
With antes of 100 my stack is being eaten away while I sit and wait for a playable hand I am down 1200 to 5233 without even seeing 4th street.
After playing one hand and folding on 4th I am down to 4458 in 16 of 22.
2nd Break
I sit at 4358 in 16 of 21
There is 850 in the pot after antes and the bring in, and many players on going to start playing tight trying to just hang on till the end I am going to have to start looking for chances to steal pots with a good door card in late position.
The stakes will be at 600/1200 shortly after the break which means I do not even have enough chips to complete one hand worth of bets so I can not sit and wait very long but one losing hand and I am gone.
Took out a small stack after reraising him all in prior to 4th street and moved up to 4978 and 14 of 17 left.
Down to 3478 with out playing a hand and in 15 of 17. I need a double up if I am going to make it.
Have 5 2 A and call a raise with a A showing, hit a couple good cards and he folds on 6th giving me the pot and a total of 6828 good for 12 of 14. Still need at least one more good hand, but I am getting close.
down to 5428, I have stole the antes once, but I am getting the bring in every 2nd hand which is hurting me and I sit in 11 of 13. Both smaller stakes then me are at the other table.
up to 7178 after I raised with 7 9 4 when it folded to me with only two 10s a 9 and a K on board behind me. The 9 ended up calling but folded when he hit a K on 4th.
Dealt a A 7 2 and bet out and everyone folded bring me up to 7928 and 10 of 13.
We are now down to 12 which puts us hand for hand until the end now. 11th place does get $80 then 1-10 the $322 entry.
Down to 11 people and I sit in 10th place with 4978, all I need is for one guy with 3161 chips to get knocked out.
I fold a 3 4 5 to a raise hoping I do not have to play a hand.
I have have 3 bring ins in a row dropping me down to 2578 ahead of last place by less then 100 chips.
With 2 3 6 I raise and everyone folds bring me back up to 3378 and a little breathing room.
Last place is down to 1161 with 200 antes it should not last long.
small stake is all in on a bring in with a Q up and he is out and I am in winning my entry to tomorrows FTSOP event 28.$150,000 guaranteed Razz.
Including the value of my tournament entry I sit at $2222 overall.
If I can not win a seat then I will have to find a smaller tourney to play in.
$55 buy-in Limit Razz Satellite to FTSOP $322 buy-in Limit Razz Event 28 on Friday Aug 13
Hour One
Start with 2000 chips
After 17 hands dealt I have been dealt three cards under 6 to start three times and have raised with it. So far no luck connecting on anything and I have ended up having to fold each on 5th or 6th street.
I am down to 1558.
Got dealt A 4 5 and very good starting hand in was raised before me, and I decided just to call. I would often raise there but the was a 2, 3 and 6 on board, all cards I want and no A, 4 or 5 out other then mine so I am a little less likely to hit my outs with my opponents being a little more likely to hit thiers.
Four players see 4th and I hit a K with the other three hitting a low card so I fold.
Down to 1461.
I am dealt 2 4 7, a guy with 6 showing raises there are three players to act behind me two have 4s and the other an 8. I call and one of the 4s re-raises it folds back to the original raiser who three bets it. The 4 only has enough chips to call so I decide to call. On 4th the small stack gets a K I get a 6 and the other guy a 5, so I check call. On 5th the small stack paired his 4 and with a board of 4K4 is pretty much out of the running. I hit a 3 which completes a 7 low and the other guy hits a 9 I bet he calls after I hit a 9 and he hits a 10 on 6th I am feeling pretty good and bet again with him calling and 7th gave me a 5 giving me 2 3 4 5 6 so I bet again and get call and win the pot against a 2 3 5 6 9 which bring me up to 2510.
Stakes are going up every 10 minutes so me are now at 100/200 and 15 ante and we have 52 of 66 players left.
I was first to act with 2 5 A. There were three low cards showing after me, two 5s and a 6. Only one card I want showing makes my hand even stronger so I raise to 100 and get one caller with a 6 on board.
We both hit 7s on 4th, I bet he calls. 5th give me a 3 completing a 7 low and he hits a 8, an excellent card for him to hit, gives him a low card which mean he will probably call, but I know the 8 does him now good since I have a 7 low already. we both hit blanks on 6th, and it is me bet him call again. On 7th I pair my A and bet out again and he raised and I called to win the pot and bring my stack to 3375.
When I called my though was another 200 chips if I win the pot will not mean as much and the 200 chips I would save if I happen to be behind. As soon as I called I realized that I can not be behind and should have raised again. I had a 5 7 low and he had 6 7 8 6 on board so even if he had A 2 3 (which is what he actually had) I still have him beat. I small error and hopefully the 200 chips does not come back to haunt me at the end.
The first break has arrived and after some antes and a bring-in I sit at 3040 chips which puts me in 18 of 46 remaining.
Hour Two.
With the stakes now at 150/300 ante 25 the betting is high relative to chip stacks and you can not afford to lose many hands. First I am paying almost 1% towards the ante each hand but also just calling bets on one hand to the end would be 40% of my stack. It is rare for me to try to bluff or steal antes at this point, but if the opportunity arises then I will still try, after all stealing the antes increase my chip stack by almost 10%.
After taking a couple uncontested pots by betting out with good hands I am up to 3700.
Win a small pot on 4th when I hit a low card and my opponent hits a hit card. I am at 4105. in 20th of 30.
Stakes are about to go up to 300/600 ante 50. The ante is now over 1% of my stack and calling one hand to the end would cost me 60% of my stack. Basically losing one hand could end your tournament. It is important to get out of hands early unless you are confident you are either ahead or can get others to fold.
I called a raise from a relatively small stack. He had a 6 showing and I had 4 3 6. When he hit a K and I hit a J on 4th I bet thinking he may fold right there because calling would pretty much commit him to the pot with what he knows is the worst hand, but he did call. 5th gave me a 7 and him a 10 giving him reason to fold when I bet, but he felt he had no choice but to raise which put him all in. On 6th he hit a 2 and I paired my 4 which made me sweat a little, but I hung on by hitting a 8 on the last card while he paired up meaning my 3 4 6 7 8 beat his 2 3 6 7 10 and I had 6433 chips. I now sit in 10 of 24 with top ten getting an entry I just need to maintain my position.
With antes of 100 my stack is being eaten away while I sit and wait for a playable hand I am down 1200 to 5233 without even seeing 4th street.
After playing one hand and folding on 4th I am down to 4458 in 16 of 22.
2nd Break
I sit at 4358 in 16 of 21
There is 850 in the pot after antes and the bring in, and many players on going to start playing tight trying to just hang on till the end I am going to have to start looking for chances to steal pots with a good door card in late position.
The stakes will be at 600/1200 shortly after the break which means I do not even have enough chips to complete one hand worth of bets so I can not sit and wait very long but one losing hand and I am gone.
Took out a small stack after reraising him all in prior to 4th street and moved up to 4978 and 14 of 17 left.
Down to 3478 with out playing a hand and in 15 of 17. I need a double up if I am going to make it.
Have 5 2 A and call a raise with a A showing, hit a couple good cards and he folds on 6th giving me the pot and a total of 6828 good for 12 of 14. Still need at least one more good hand, but I am getting close.
down to 5428, I have stole the antes once, but I am getting the bring in every 2nd hand which is hurting me and I sit in 11 of 13. Both smaller stakes then me are at the other table.
up to 7178 after I raised with 7 9 4 when it folded to me with only two 10s a 9 and a K on board behind me. The 9 ended up calling but folded when he hit a K on 4th.
Dealt a A 7 2 and bet out and everyone folded bring me up to 7928 and 10 of 13.
We are now down to 12 which puts us hand for hand until the end now. 11th place does get $80 then 1-10 the $322 entry.
Down to 11 people and I sit in 10th place with 4978, all I need is for one guy with 3161 chips to get knocked out.
I fold a 3 4 5 to a raise hoping I do not have to play a hand.
I have have 3 bring ins in a row dropping me down to 2578 ahead of last place by less then 100 chips.
With 2 3 6 I raise and everyone folds bring me back up to 3378 and a little breathing room.
Last place is down to 1161 with 200 antes it should not last long.
small stake is all in on a bring in with a Q up and he is out and I am in winning my entry to tomorrows FTSOP event 28.$150,000 guaranteed Razz.
Including the value of my tournament entry I sit at $2222 overall.
How to Play AA in no limit hold'em and lose
Aug 11-12
I have apparently become an expert at losing with AA over the past two days.
I sat down at a $1-$2 rush lo limit hold'em table on full tilt poker with $100.
The first hand I got dealt was AA in the BB. A guy in early position made a large then average raise of $10 with a guy in middle position calling, then the SB who was short stacked went all in for $38. I figured with $60 already in the pot I was happy to just play heads up for the pot so I went all in. The original raiser folded but the guy in middle position called, he had 8 8 and the SB flipped over KK. I am an 65% favorite to win the $250 pot and a 80% favorite to at least beat the 88 and walk away with the $124 side pot.
The flop had an 8, the turn another 8 and I lose $100 on the first hand of the day.
Over the course of the rest of the day and play this morning I have lost 4 more hands with AA. Two times all in preflop once having a smaller pair hit a set and the other time hitting a flush. The other two the money went all in during post flop play once with a guy calling me with a flush draw and hitting and the most recent hand the flop came 3 6 7 with two diamonds, I bet he called, then a 10d hit and I wanted to end it right there so I went all in and was called by a set of 3s to lose again. I lost about $500 on those four hands. But that was not enough losing for me. I figured I should be on the losing end a couple times with the other guy having AA with me a big pair. All in all I lost $800 and sit at an even $2000.
If you told me two weeks ago this is where I would be sitting I would have been very happy, but hard to be happy after a stretch like that.
I have apparently become an expert at losing with AA over the past two days.
I sat down at a $1-$2 rush lo limit hold'em table on full tilt poker with $100.
The first hand I got dealt was AA in the BB. A guy in early position made a large then average raise of $10 with a guy in middle position calling, then the SB who was short stacked went all in for $38. I figured with $60 already in the pot I was happy to just play heads up for the pot so I went all in. The original raiser folded but the guy in middle position called, he had 8 8 and the SB flipped over KK. I am an 65% favorite to win the $250 pot and a 80% favorite to at least beat the 88 and walk away with the $124 side pot.
The flop had an 8, the turn another 8 and I lose $100 on the first hand of the day.
Over the course of the rest of the day and play this morning I have lost 4 more hands with AA. Two times all in preflop once having a smaller pair hit a set and the other time hitting a flush. The other two the money went all in during post flop play once with a guy calling me with a flush draw and hitting and the most recent hand the flop came 3 6 7 with two diamonds, I bet he called, then a 10d hit and I wanted to end it right there so I went all in and was called by a set of 3s to lose again. I lost about $500 on those four hands. But that was not enough losing for me. I figured I should be on the losing end a couple times with the other guy having AA with me a big pair. All in all I lost $800 and sit at an even $2000.
If you told me two weeks ago this is where I would be sitting I would have been very happy, but hard to be happy after a stretch like that.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Rush Poker
Aug 9-10
For the first time I moved some money to my account with Full Tilt Poker. The main reason I did this at this time was to play Rush Poker. This is a fairly new innovative way to play poker online. Instead of sitting at a table with nine other players you join a pool of players that could have several hundred players in it. You get place at a table and are dealt a hand. As soon as you decide to fold your hand you are automatically moved to a new table with a new hand being dealt. You do not even have to wait for your turn, if you know you want to fold then you have a quick fold button. The other players at the table will not know you hit it, and when action reaches you at that table then your hand will be folded for you, but in the mean time you are playing another hand at another table. Playing Rush Poker allows you to play far more hands then a conventional ring game. 200-300 hands per hour is the range I normally would play. If you are a profitable player then the more hands you play the better over the long run. I have avoided the Rush Poker table up until now because I wanted to make sure I built up my bankroll first. Since you are going though so many hands so quickly the ups and downs of poker and even more pronounced. You play about 4 times more hands per hours so the swings can happen very quickly.
My time at the Rush tables over the past two days has turned out to be very profitable. I have only managed to play about 5 hours over two days, but by playing at two rush tables at the same time I saw about 2000 hands in that short period of time, mostly $1-$2 no limit hold'em, and turned in a profit of about $800.
with 2000 hands I had several hands like AA, KK, QQ and AK to play and ended up getting good action from other when I got them so most of my profits came from situations like that.
One hand I played with 10 10 stands out because of the terrible play from my opponent.
I was on the button one guy raised to $6 from middle position, another called and everyone else folded. With a hand like 10 10 I did not want to see the flop three handed so I re-raised to $18. I could be happy taking the $14 the was already in the pot if they both folded, but the original raiser called me with the other player folding. The flop was 2 5 7 rainbow, an great flop for my 10's. He checked and I bet $20 which he called. The turn was another 7 which also put two clubs on board. The pot had $80 and my opponent only had another $65 and checked to me again. I figured if he had an overpair higher than mine then he most likely would have re-raised me preflop and again after the flop, I could not see him calling my preflop raise with any hand containing a 7 so that left a hand like AK, AQ or maybe 88 or 99. I did not want to risk him hitting a lucky river if he had AK or AQ and thought I would get called by 88 or 99 given the chips he had left so I pushed all in. He though for about 2 seconds and called, flipping over A 2 off suite and with a blank on the river I won a $210 pot.
With A2 I am not sure why he would raise from early position in the first place, but how he would ever call a good size re-raise, especially when he had another player call his first bet who was still to act behind him.
After the flop he did have bottom pair so I suppose there is some justification for him calling my $20 bet which was only about 1/2 the pot because if I had a big hand and he hit a A or 2 then he would probably win a big pot, but not a move I would make. How he put another $65 in at the end on with that hand in beyond me. I am not complaining mind you. Play like that will help me reach my goal that much quicker.
As of the end of day Aug 10 I sit at $2800 a profit of $2750 in 13 days playing about 2 hours per day means I am getting about $100 per hour playing most at $1-$2 tables.
For the first time I moved some money to my account with Full Tilt Poker. The main reason I did this at this time was to play Rush Poker. This is a fairly new innovative way to play poker online. Instead of sitting at a table with nine other players you join a pool of players that could have several hundred players in it. You get place at a table and are dealt a hand. As soon as you decide to fold your hand you are automatically moved to a new table with a new hand being dealt. You do not even have to wait for your turn, if you know you want to fold then you have a quick fold button. The other players at the table will not know you hit it, and when action reaches you at that table then your hand will be folded for you, but in the mean time you are playing another hand at another table. Playing Rush Poker allows you to play far more hands then a conventional ring game. 200-300 hands per hour is the range I normally would play. If you are a profitable player then the more hands you play the better over the long run. I have avoided the Rush Poker table up until now because I wanted to make sure I built up my bankroll first. Since you are going though so many hands so quickly the ups and downs of poker and even more pronounced. You play about 4 times more hands per hours so the swings can happen very quickly.
My time at the Rush tables over the past two days has turned out to be very profitable. I have only managed to play about 5 hours over two days, but by playing at two rush tables at the same time I saw about 2000 hands in that short period of time, mostly $1-$2 no limit hold'em, and turned in a profit of about $800.
with 2000 hands I had several hands like AA, KK, QQ and AK to play and ended up getting good action from other when I got them so most of my profits came from situations like that.
One hand I played with 10 10 stands out because of the terrible play from my opponent.
I was on the button one guy raised to $6 from middle position, another called and everyone else folded. With a hand like 10 10 I did not want to see the flop three handed so I re-raised to $18. I could be happy taking the $14 the was already in the pot if they both folded, but the original raiser called me with the other player folding. The flop was 2 5 7 rainbow, an great flop for my 10's. He checked and I bet $20 which he called. The turn was another 7 which also put two clubs on board. The pot had $80 and my opponent only had another $65 and checked to me again. I figured if he had an overpair higher than mine then he most likely would have re-raised me preflop and again after the flop, I could not see him calling my preflop raise with any hand containing a 7 so that left a hand like AK, AQ or maybe 88 or 99. I did not want to risk him hitting a lucky river if he had AK or AQ and thought I would get called by 88 or 99 given the chips he had left so I pushed all in. He though for about 2 seconds and called, flipping over A 2 off suite and with a blank on the river I won a $210 pot.
With A2 I am not sure why he would raise from early position in the first place, but how he would ever call a good size re-raise, especially when he had another player call his first bet who was still to act behind him.
After the flop he did have bottom pair so I suppose there is some justification for him calling my $20 bet which was only about 1/2 the pot because if I had a big hand and he hit a A or 2 then he would probably win a big pot, but not a move I would make. How he put another $65 in at the end on with that hand in beyond me. I am not complaining mind you. Play like that will help me reach my goal that much quicker.
As of the end of day Aug 10 I sit at $2800 a profit of $2750 in 13 days playing about 2 hours per day means I am getting about $100 per hour playing most at $1-$2 tables.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Bad Beats
Aug 7 and 8
Well the weekend did not go very well, I lost a total of $460 almost entirely on bad beats.
These just reinforces the need for proper bankroll management. In the past I very well may have lost everything I had in the account bring more to the table after a few bad beats to try to win back the losses quickly. Instead I followed my 10% max buy-in rule and still have $500 in the poker account to keep playing with.
I was playing mostly $1-$2 pot limit Omaha.
On three occasions I flopped the nut straight with a rainbow board so did not have to worry about a flush.
On three occasions I lost. The first time I was against a two pair who hit the full house. The second time I was against a set who hit the full house and the third time I was against a draw to a higher straight who also hit the card he needed.
Then twice I flopped top pair with a nut flush draw and ended up all in to a guy bluffing with middle pair and three random cards. Both times they hit two pair and I missed everything.
The last big hand lost was a gamble on my part but one I feel was worth it.
I had about $100 starting the hand and had 8 9 10 J. I called a $6 bet and then the BB raised to $20 which both me and the original raiser called so we had a $60 pot seeing the flop. The flop was 2 7 10, so I had top pair and 13 out for the nut straight two more outs for a set of 10s. There was a two clubs on board and I had only one in my hand. The first guy to act bet $30. I figured I was behind but the 13 out for a straight was good pot odds especially in a three way pot. The guys behind me likely had AA in his hand and I was guessing the other guy had a flush draw or maybe a set. I decided to push all in and got called by both, and I was right. The raiser and the nut flush draw as well as top pair with over cards and the other had AA 56.
I ended up hitting the straight on the turn only to have the flush hit on the river. But I think I made the right move and would most likely do the same thing again as I had about a 40% chance of winning that hand and was betting $70 to win $300 getting better tehn 4:1 on my money.
Those six hands cost me on average $75 each or about $450 in total.
Bad beats are a part of poker and they are going to happen. It can get frusterating when a few of them happen over a shot period of time. You have to maintain your disapline and either keep playing the same way or if it is affecting your play you need to walk away from the table for a while. Better to walk away down money then to keep playing and lose more.
I have decided to stop giving a break down of the funds I have withdrawn and which funds are in the poker account and just provide the end result. I figure the break down is just going to get more complicated as I move money to other poker sites. Right now I have made $1500 in Withdrawal and have $500 left in my account so I sit at $2000 and will use the end result number going forward.
Well the weekend did not go very well, I lost a total of $460 almost entirely on bad beats.
These just reinforces the need for proper bankroll management. In the past I very well may have lost everything I had in the account bring more to the table after a few bad beats to try to win back the losses quickly. Instead I followed my 10% max buy-in rule and still have $500 in the poker account to keep playing with.
I was playing mostly $1-$2 pot limit Omaha.
On three occasions I flopped the nut straight with a rainbow board so did not have to worry about a flush.
On three occasions I lost. The first time I was against a two pair who hit the full house. The second time I was against a set who hit the full house and the third time I was against a draw to a higher straight who also hit the card he needed.
Then twice I flopped top pair with a nut flush draw and ended up all in to a guy bluffing with middle pair and three random cards. Both times they hit two pair and I missed everything.
The last big hand lost was a gamble on my part but one I feel was worth it.
I had about $100 starting the hand and had 8 9 10 J. I called a $6 bet and then the BB raised to $20 which both me and the original raiser called so we had a $60 pot seeing the flop. The flop was 2 7 10, so I had top pair and 13 out for the nut straight two more outs for a set of 10s. There was a two clubs on board and I had only one in my hand. The first guy to act bet $30. I figured I was behind but the 13 out for a straight was good pot odds especially in a three way pot. The guys behind me likely had AA in his hand and I was guessing the other guy had a flush draw or maybe a set. I decided to push all in and got called by both, and I was right. The raiser and the nut flush draw as well as top pair with over cards and the other had AA 56.
I ended up hitting the straight on the turn only to have the flush hit on the river. But I think I made the right move and would most likely do the same thing again as I had about a 40% chance of winning that hand and was betting $70 to win $300 getting better tehn 4:1 on my money.
Those six hands cost me on average $75 each or about $450 in total.
Bad beats are a part of poker and they are going to happen. It can get frusterating when a few of them happen over a shot period of time. You have to maintain your disapline and either keep playing the same way or if it is affecting your play you need to walk away from the table for a while. Better to walk away down money then to keep playing and lose more.
I have decided to stop giving a break down of the funds I have withdrawn and which funds are in the poker account and just provide the end result. I figure the break down is just going to get more complicated as I move money to other poker sites. Right now I have made $1500 in Withdrawal and have $500 left in my account so I sit at $2000 and will use the end result number going forward.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Bankroll Management Stratagy
Day 9 Aug 6
Back on the winning side of things today with more winnings playing $1-$2 Pot Limit Omaha.
I also played in a 6 handed holdem sit n go and with a $16 buy in and finished in 1st.
I ended the day with up $325 for a account balance of $960 so including withdrawal made I am up to $2440.
Instead of discussing my table play today, I am going to talk about my bankroll management strategy that I am going to be sticking to going forward. I may tighten up the rules as my bankroll goes but for now this is it.
First of all any withdrawals made if not deposited into a poker account at another site will not be included in my bankroll balance as the money taken out is money I do not wish to put back in so as of now they are based on $960.
For ring games I am going to bring a maximum of 10% of my bankroll to any table and will leave the table if at any point my table stack represents 25% of my bankroll. For the most part I will probably stick with bring $75 to a table at a time like I have been doing, but my bring the whole 10% when sitting at a fixed limit table.
For tournament I will follow the following guidelines.
2-10 players max 7.5%
11-49 players max 5%
50-100 players max 4%
100-300 players max 3%
300+ players max 2%
You can play good poker and fail to cash in several tournaments in a row, especially the bigger ones. Overspending my bankroll on tournament buyins has been one of my biggest mistakes in the past.
I would win $1000 and then I would enter a couple $200 buy in tournaments and watch my bankroll drop a large amount very quickly. Then after watching my bankroll drop I would try to get it back up quickly playing stacks higher then I should have been.
Back on the winning side of things today with more winnings playing $1-$2 Pot Limit Omaha.
I also played in a 6 handed holdem sit n go and with a $16 buy in and finished in 1st.
I ended the day with up $325 for a account balance of $960 so including withdrawal made I am up to $2440.
Instead of discussing my table play today, I am going to talk about my bankroll management strategy that I am going to be sticking to going forward. I may tighten up the rules as my bankroll goes but for now this is it.
First of all any withdrawals made if not deposited into a poker account at another site will not be included in my bankroll balance as the money taken out is money I do not wish to put back in so as of now they are based on $960.
For ring games I am going to bring a maximum of 10% of my bankroll to any table and will leave the table if at any point my table stack represents 25% of my bankroll. For the most part I will probably stick with bring $75 to a table at a time like I have been doing, but my bring the whole 10% when sitting at a fixed limit table.
For tournament I will follow the following guidelines.
2-10 players max 7.5%
11-49 players max 5%
50-100 players max 4%
100-300 players max 3%
300+ players max 2%
You can play good poker and fail to cash in several tournaments in a row, especially the bigger ones. Overspending my bankroll on tournament buyins has been one of my biggest mistakes in the past.
I would win $1000 and then I would enter a couple $200 buy in tournaments and watch my bankroll drop a large amount very quickly. Then after watching my bankroll drop I would try to get it back up quickly playing stacks higher then I should have been.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
First losing Day Aug 5
I only played Pot Limit Omaha today and have lost about $200. I am not going to go over specific hands because all the hands I lost money on were pretty much the same situation. Playing AAxx hands preflop.
I think that people in general open raise far to often with any hand that has AA in it and I do not normally do this. The big problem is you are not very likely to improve your hand on the flop and it is very difficult to tell where you stand. two pair is fairly common especially if you had more then one person call.
What I normally do, is limp in, and if someone else raises then I have the option to re raise. The AAxx hand is most often about a 60% favorite to win against most other good hands. For example As Ad 8s 4h is just under a 58-42 favorite to win against 9h 10d Jc Qc. Those are good odds if you can get the funds in preflop. If I can get 70% of my or my opponents money in the pot preflop by re raising then I will most often do just that and put the rest in regardless of how the flop comes up. Usually this means someone has to pot raise with one other caller, if my re raise gets both to fold then I win a nice pot right there, most often I end up either taking the pot right there or getting only one caller for a bet that size. I had this situation three times and lost all three about $75 twice and $60 once. I was the favorite in each case and believe it was the right move, but I do have to loss about 40% of the time and I have had good success winning these until today so I am not going to complain and most likely will keep doing the same thing when to opportunity presents itself.
after 8 days I have $630 in my poker account and have made withdrawals of $1480.
I think that people in general open raise far to often with any hand that has AA in it and I do not normally do this. The big problem is you are not very likely to improve your hand on the flop and it is very difficult to tell where you stand. two pair is fairly common especially if you had more then one person call.
What I normally do, is limp in, and if someone else raises then I have the option to re raise. The AAxx hand is most often about a 60% favorite to win against most other good hands. For example As Ad 8s 4h is just under a 58-42 favorite to win against 9h 10d Jc Qc. Those are good odds if you can get the funds in preflop. If I can get 70% of my or my opponents money in the pot preflop by re raising then I will most often do just that and put the rest in regardless of how the flop comes up. Usually this means someone has to pot raise with one other caller, if my re raise gets both to fold then I win a nice pot right there, most often I end up either taking the pot right there or getting only one caller for a bet that size. I had this situation three times and lost all three about $75 twice and $60 once. I was the favorite in each case and believe it was the right move, but I do have to loss about 40% of the time and I have had good success winning these until today so I am not going to complain and most likely will keep doing the same thing when to opportunity presents itself.
after 8 days I have $630 in my poker account and have made withdrawals of $1480.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Day 7 Aug 4
I played for about one hour this morning and sat at two $1-$2 no limit holdem tables with $75.
It was a very eventful hour and things did not start off well.
My first big hand I was down to $65 to start and was dealt a AJ suited and raised to $6 from early position. The BB, a player who had been raiseing pre flop often, reraised to $20 and I felt he was bluffing so pushed all in only to get called by a KQ and having a Q hit on the turn to beat me.
I bought back in for $75 and lost it when I tried to bulff with nothing and got called. So I bought in again for $75 and thing started going a bit better.
I was dealt KK and raised to $6 with two callers. The folp was all low cards and I was first to act so I checked, the next guy bet $15 and the other guy called him so I decided to try to take the pot there and went all in only to have both players call with lowers pairs and I took the pot for $211.
After stealing some blinds I was up to $215 on the button with Q9 suited and in folded around to me. I though that was good for a standard raise to $6. SB folded and BB made it $20. I thought he must have a decent hand but not a powerhouse since my button raise would not reprecent much streacgth. I decided to call and the flop was a beauty, A Q Q, I hit a set. I checked and he bet $16 which I called, the turn was a 5 so I checked again and he bet $32 and I made the raise to $64 which he called. At this point I figured he had to have an A in his hand and he is not going to fold it. The river was a 8 and I moved all in and got called and took a nice $430 pot.
Same table a few hands later I was dealt AQ and raised to $6. The same guy who had reraised me with KQ earlier reraised again to $20. this time I just called. The flop was Q 8 6. He bet $24 which only left him with anohter $75 so I pushed and he called and flipped over his KK so I lost my third big pot but thanks to the two big pots I had won I ended up with a $84 profit for the only session of the day.
It was a very eventful hour and things did not start off well.
My first big hand I was down to $65 to start and was dealt a AJ suited and raised to $6 from early position. The BB, a player who had been raiseing pre flop often, reraised to $20 and I felt he was bluffing so pushed all in only to get called by a KQ and having a Q hit on the turn to beat me.
I bought back in for $75 and lost it when I tried to bulff with nothing and got called. So I bought in again for $75 and thing started going a bit better.
I was dealt KK and raised to $6 with two callers. The folp was all low cards and I was first to act so I checked, the next guy bet $15 and the other guy called him so I decided to try to take the pot there and went all in only to have both players call with lowers pairs and I took the pot for $211.
After stealing some blinds I was up to $215 on the button with Q9 suited and in folded around to me. I though that was good for a standard raise to $6. SB folded and BB made it $20. I thought he must have a decent hand but not a powerhouse since my button raise would not reprecent much streacgth. I decided to call and the flop was a beauty, A Q Q, I hit a set. I checked and he bet $16 which I called, the turn was a 5 so I checked again and he bet $32 and I made the raise to $64 which he called. At this point I figured he had to have an A in his hand and he is not going to fold it. The river was a 8 and I moved all in and got called and took a nice $430 pot.
Same table a few hands later I was dealt AQ and raised to $6. The same guy who had reraised me with KQ earlier reraised again to $20. this time I just called. The flop was Q 8 6. He bet $24 which only left him with anohter $75 so I pushed and he called and flipped over his KK so I lost my third big pot but thanks to the two big pots I had won I ended up with a $84 profit for the only session of the day.
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