Recent Online Poker Log Blog Entries
August 27, 2009, 2PM: Played 1 hour, Lost $22.00
$20 Buy-In No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament (5th out of 9 Players)
More dubious play. Not quite as bad as that discussed in my previous post, but still pretty dismal. Actually, the truth is I lost in a 45-55 coin flip where I went in with the slight advantage, but it probably wasn't worth risking my pot right then and there. I wasn't quite pot committed with 1000 left in chips (I had 1300 in the pot before calling all-in). I'm pretty good at scrambling back to a reasonable position when the blinds are getting to the nose bleed range, so I should have thought more about folding. But, the pot odds really did merit a call so I guess I shouldn't be too upset about this one; that's poker. On a completely different note, why did I have to eat that piece of cake. Friggin pig.
Last Update: August 27, 2009, 2:17PM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 27, 2009, 2PM: Played 1 hour, Lost $22.00
$20 Buy-In No-Limit Omaha Tournament (9th out of 9 Players)
I set a new standard for moronic play in this outing. Loose calls early on leading to quick folds. The coup de grace came when I called down three consecutive cards waiting for I don't know what. I had AJ with zilch paired on the board. It didn't occur to me that he or she would be holding pocket 10s. It would be one thing if I had opened the pot with a raise and everyone folded to the big blind who called based, as usual, on pot odds. But in this case I called a 3xBB raise and then proceeded to ATM my way right out of the tourney. Not my best showing. I attribute some of the loose playing to the fact that I was engaged in three other tables simultaneously, where I had taken significant leads in one-table Sit-N-Gos (you won both, ultimately). So, despite the fact that this game came in the context of a winning session overall, it was still weak play. On the other hand, if we had called down and I took a huge pot with AJ high I'd be patting myself on the back, but that would only encourage inappropriate play in the future. So, in some sense, I'm pleased this one didn't work out.
Last Update: August 27, 2009, 2:10PM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 25, 2009, 4PM: Played 7 hours, Made $360.00 at Sandia
$2 No-Limit Texas Hold'em
 Had a rough time for a winning session. Was down the whole session really. Every time I won one hand, it felt like I lost five others. Had two big suck outs and two nicely played hands. Had a misread that cost me a bit too.
Misread - I have Js8s in the big blind. UTG+2 raised to $8. He was raising to $12 every time he had a big hand. The button, James, who is a very loose calling station, called and I did as well. I played a lot of of 10-20 limit with him back in the day. He is a competent player capable of bluffing. The flop was Jd 6d 9s. I checked and the continuation bet was set at $10 into $23. The button and I called. The turn was a 3h. I bet $20 into $51 and the original raiser folded. The button called. The river was a 7h and I checked. He fired out $45 into $91 quickly and I right away felt like it was a bluff on a missed flush draw. The only hand I was worried about was 810 open-ender. I called and he showed AJ.
Suck Out #1 - Bea is an older regular at Sandia that plays fairly loose and aggressive. There were two limpers and she made it $7. I had AsJd and I re-raised to $21. She then raised it again to $42. That sent the alarm bells off but it was $21 into $64. She was playing $100 behind and I decided to see the flop. The flop was Qs 10h 9c. She bet $25 into $85 and it just felt like a weak bet. I pushed all-in with the semi-bluff for $75 more into $114 and she thought about it before making a good call with AA. Luckily the turn was Ks. No Jack on the river and I took down a nice pot.
Suck Out #2 - Two limpers to the Hijack who opened for $10. I have JJ on the button and raised to $25. The original raiser then re-raised to $50. He had $75 behind and again I was faced with neeeding to hit a had against a min-raiser. He is not going to get away from AA or KK. with only $75 and the pot already $103. I call. The call is still borderline. I am 4 to 1 with maximum implied odds of 6 to 1. Fortunately the flop was J22. I checked, he went all-in, and I called. Avoided and ace and looked lucky again.
Nice Hand #1 - Played against James again I limped under the gun with QhQd. This has been how I have been playing mid to large pairs lately. Hoping to get a squeeze out of it. It folded to James on the button who raised to $7. The blinds folded and I re-raised to $22. He called and the flop came 8c 3s 4h. I bet $30 into $43 and he called. The turn was a 3h. I again bet $30 into $103 and he called. The river was a 6c. I bet $40 into $163 and I was having trouble placing him on a hand. I didn't think he would continue the hand without a pair. I was concerned he was playing KK or AA in an unorthodox way or that he had a set. I almost expected him to shove on the river. He called and did not show. He said he had a mid pair.
Caught a monster and got paid off. Limped UTG with 55. A very poor player raised to $10. He rarely raised and I figured him for a big hand. Cutoff called, Button called, and I did. Flop was Qh 6c 5s. I led out for $15 into $39. He min-raised to $30 and I was feeling good. Thinking he might have AA or KK. Turn was a 5 and gave me quads. I checked and he bet $50. I called. River was a 3c. I checked again and he bet $80. I put him all-in for $50 more and he called. He said he had QJ which I am amazed he was okay with jamming it in with, but like I said he was a very poor player.
Last Update: August 27, 2009, 2:07PM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 26, 2009, 11PM: Played 1 hour, Lost $22.00
$20 Buy-In No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament (4th out of 10 Players)
Another one you should have cashed in. Although you were a small stack (a little over 2000 chips) you were still right in there. You made a stupid play that cost you half your stack and were forced to go all in. Although it was a bad beat it was a reasonable call to your all in shove because it was the big stack who could afford to take the risk even if the pot odds weren't there. He hit a pair on the river to take it though you went into the showdown (preflop) with the advantage (you had a pocket pair and everyone folded to the this guy who had 10/Ko).
Last Update: August 27, 2009, 10:35AM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 26, 2009, 11PM: Played 1 hour, Lost $22.00
$20 Buy-In No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament (9th out of 10 Players)
You were put out early here. Although you had the best hand (top pair, top kicker) and the guy who went all in made a ridiculous call, again the question arises weather it really makes sense to put all your chips at risk so early on. The benefit of doing so, obviously, is that you will likely double up much of the time. But, you will frequently be wiped clean too. I'm beginning to lean toward folding unless I really believe I have the nuts (although I did here). Normally I'm concerned about hidden pocket pairs that have hit for trips - that's normally what puts me out early when I'm betting all in on top pair top kicker - but crazy calls that hit for straights and flushes are a problem too. Again, I think sticking to the idea of small hand = small pot is probably the equation that I ought to follow.
Last Update: August 27, 2009, 10:32AM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 22, 2009, 3PM: Played 1 hour, 15 minutes, Lost $365.00 at Sandia
$2 No-Limit Texas Hold'em
Hijack position with two limpers. Have QcQd and raise to $12. Cutoff, button, big blind, and both limpers call. Flop is 8c 6c 6d. Checked to me and I fire $40 into $69. Big Blind calls and the last limper calls. Turn is the 8h. Checked to me. At this point I know the small blind is a fairly conservative and decent player. Probably has a middle over pair. I figure that the limper was last to act on the flop and did not raise the flop, so I am confident he has a flush draw with an over or two. I go all-in for $145 into $189. The big blind folds and the limper calls with Kd6d. River is the 3h. Ouch.
Hijack with AdJs. Raise to $10. Both blinds call. Flop is 10c 2s 3h. Checked to me. I fire $20 into $26. Big blind calls. Turn is Qs. Checked again. I think he has pocket pair or a 10. I bet $20 into $66. He calls. I now need to hit. I don't think another bet drops him on the river. The last card is 8c. He again checks and I check behind. He shows Kd10d.
Cutoff with 7h8h. One limper and Hijack raises to $12. I call and the limper calls. Flop is 10d 6d 4c. Hijack bets $20 into $35. I call and the limper calls. At this point I think the raiser has a pair of eights or better and the limper has a ten or, worse for me, diamonds. Turn is 2h. Limper checks. Raiser bets $20 into $95. This is a weak bet, but I think now he has an over pair. We both call and the river is Ah. Checked to me now and I think this is a great card to fire at. I bet $60 into $155. Limper thinks for a while and folds. Must have had ten or middle pair. Raiser thinks and calls. Shows 99.
Last Update: August 24, 2009, 2:09PM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 21, 2009, 12PM: Lost $1,034.00 at Full Tilt Poker
$0.5/1 Texas Hold'em
 Ran pretty bad this week!!! One of those weeks where you cant not win. Allot of mental came into play im sure. But This was one of the sickest weeks where i run bad constantly and continue to avoid tilt and still lose allot of money. Usually a negative week like this happens when i run bad and tilt bad. I am glad that i am controlling my tilt finally, I will take off 2-3 days just to get my head st8, want to play, come with a positive attitude and CONFIDENCE to win is very important for your game,
Last Update: August 21, 2009, 12:54PM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 20, 2009, 10AM: Played 15 hours, Made $750.00 at Las Vegas
$1/2 Texas Hold'em
Another great trip to Vegas. Televised poker has brought so many new players into the game that its much easier to win than in old-Vegas, where the competition was predominantly "locals" and "regulars" who rode herd over the tourists. 1/2 No Limit was the game of choice at Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian and Excalibur, where I semi-rocked my way to five out of six winning sessions. Best moment occured at Bellagio, where a player straddled, then raised to $12 with A-K. I flat called with K-K and two more players limped-in behind. The flop was 3-7-K, rainbow, and the straddler bet another $12. I made it $36 and the two limpers tossed their hands. The straddler put me all-in for $226 and I beat him into the pot. The turn & river were inconsequential and I took down my best pot of the week. I probably wouldn't have slow-played the K's if the guy hadn't straddled, but I smelled the possibility of exactly what transpired. In this case, the straddle tipped his intentions.
Last Update: August 20, 2009, 10:49AM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 18, 2009, 9PM: Played 3 hours at Jared's House
Free-Roll No-Limit Texas Hold'em Tournament (1st out of 10 Players)
BPC Season One - Tournament of Champions
Freeroll (had to qualify)
1st ME
2nd Paul
3rd Jared
I played very well...did get some good hands, and played them well. Knocked everyone out but Bob. Once Paul and i got heads-up, he had around 2/3 of the chips, but i raise with semi-good hands, and he just started folding. I didn't take any huge risks with Paul---i just assumed that in the long run i would take him down because i am better than him.
I did learn that when Jared has a very good hand he looks disinterested and even lets out a upset sigh or something goofy like that. Beware if he does that!
The first BPC Season is done, and i finished well, winning the last two tourneys (and most important tourneys). Can't wait for next season!
Last Update: August 19, 2009, 6:42AM | Permalink (0 Comments)
August 15, 2009, 11AM
slump
looking at my log lately and trying to figure out where i'm going wrong. i think i've loosened my starting hand requirements a little too much having been luckily rewarded by some questionable plays. i know I've also had a handful of instances where i was eager to get my money in with the best hand too early in the hand only to be drawn out on. i need to start being more mathematical and only betting enough to have them make a mistake by calling and if i get drawn out on then i at least have the opportunity to fold. i guess long term i'd come ahead with the strategy of getting it in while i'm ahead, but i don't think my bankroll can take it. my strategy for the next few sessions is to tighten back up. i don't think i have the live hand history and experience to be playing as loose as i have been.
Last Update: August 15, 2009, 11:53AM | Permalink (0 Comments)
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