Here's a phenomenal column that only Posnanski could write, drawing parallels between Pete Rose and Bruce Springsteen. In particular, Pos focuses on a recent show in Charlotte and how Bruce can just keep going at Born to Run for what must be the 10,000th time.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
March of the Omatards
They're everywhere. And I ran into two of them in a HORSE SNG last night. After taking an early chip lead by rivering broadway in the very first hand, I had a few chips to play with and decided to see a flop in O8 with AKKQ single suited from mid position. The player to my right raised it to 80. I called but if someone three-bets this, I'm perfectly happy getting out of the way if I miss the flop.
The flop is K67 so I've nailed top set. It's bet in front of me, raised by me, then reraised behind and ultimately capped by me. The turn brings a 9 and puts a second heart on the board. I called a two-bet here. The river put a third heart out - I forget the rank - and it checked all around.
Here's the holdings:
* The preflop raiser flips over AT85 (single suited, not in the Ace) for a turned straight with no flush. He raised from MP with this pre and post-flop. Post-flop I can kind of understand, with a double gutter, though I'd rather keep that pot small. He turned the straight.
* The SB called off 60 more chips preflop with AKT8 (also single suited, not in the Ace). He too turned the straight.
* There was another caller who had squat.
Those two monkeys chopped the pot with their T-high straights, and I'm down from 2500 chips to 1700 - still above average, but I was in a real nice spot before this.
And for whatever reason, I decided to type "wp omatards" into the chat box. This is a real bad habit that I've gotten into - calling out bad play. But this one got me on edge.
Now the fun begins as one of the omatards berates me for capping it on the turn when there were two possible straights on board. Certainly that's a berateable offense - had I actually capped it on the turn. But I didn't. There's NO WAY I'm folding there and NO WAY I'm raising either. Bottom line - I got away from this hand as cheaply as possible.
Well the dialogue continues and he defends his play in sticking around past the flop because he "had top pair and a gutshot." In Omaha H/L. wp, indeed, sir. He failed to mention his draw to an 876xA low as well. Ugh.
I folded just about everything through the stud games, then chased a hand to the turn w/ AJo in LHE and had to surrender. Now I'm down to ~1100 chips. From there I played very tight, held on through an interminable bubble, watched the aforementioned omatards go belly up, and made the money. I got it back up to ~2500 chips but couldn't hold on and went out 3rd.
It's frustrating because I WANT people playing O8 that badly at my table, but yet I don't want them to hit middling straights with their unplayable hands.
The flop is K67 so I've nailed top set. It's bet in front of me, raised by me, then reraised behind and ultimately capped by me. The turn brings a 9 and puts a second heart on the board. I called a two-bet here. The river put a third heart out - I forget the rank - and it checked all around.
Here's the holdings:
* The preflop raiser flips over AT85 (single suited, not in the Ace) for a turned straight with no flush. He raised from MP with this pre and post-flop. Post-flop I can kind of understand, with a double gutter, though I'd rather keep that pot small. He turned the straight.
* The SB called off 60 more chips preflop with AKT8 (also single suited, not in the Ace). He too turned the straight.
* There was another caller who had squat.
Those two monkeys chopped the pot with their T-high straights, and I'm down from 2500 chips to 1700 - still above average, but I was in a real nice spot before this.
And for whatever reason, I decided to type "wp omatards" into the chat box. This is a real bad habit that I've gotten into - calling out bad play. But this one got me on edge.
Now the fun begins as one of the omatards berates me for capping it on the turn when there were two possible straights on board. Certainly that's a berateable offense - had I actually capped it on the turn. But I didn't. There's NO WAY I'm folding there and NO WAY I'm raising either. Bottom line - I got away from this hand as cheaply as possible.
Well the dialogue continues and he defends his play in sticking around past the flop because he "had top pair and a gutshot." In Omaha H/L. wp, indeed, sir. He failed to mention his draw to an 876xA low as well. Ugh.
I folded just about everything through the stud games, then chased a hand to the turn w/ AJo in LHE and had to surrender. Now I'm down to ~1100 chips. From there I played very tight, held on through an interminable bubble, watched the aforementioned omatards go belly up, and made the money. I got it back up to ~2500 chips but couldn't hold on and went out 3rd.
It's frustrating because I WANT people playing O8 that badly at my table, but yet I don't want them to hit middling straights with their unplayable hands.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Home Game strikes again
Nine participants this time around, and the fireworks started right out of the gate. On the very first hand (25/50) I'm in the cutoff w/ Jh9h. I limp along with about 2/3 of the table, and we see a 6 4 3 rainbow flop. It checks all around. The turn is a 9 giving me TP. It's min-bet in front of me and I call. River is a J and I have top 2. BB leads out for 50, I make it 250, and he comes over the top for 500. Could he have JJ? J9 even? Nope, he had 25 for the flopped straight that he slow played. Yikes.
I win a couple of hands thereafter including one where I turned broadway on a board with a flush draw, and then the board paired on the river. Didn't bet out here though I probably should have, but honestly with as many people involved in the hand as there were, I was somewhat fortunate this held up. I also had KK in one of the blinds, made a healthy raise after the usual go-around of half the table limping in, then dodged a bullet when I fired out on an all-heart flop (I didn't have Kh) and got everyone to fold.
So as I plodded along here, trying to pick my spots, I picked up a couple of interesting hands. First, I get AKo late, raise it up and get a couple of callers. Flop is 9-high and it's checked to me. I believe I checked it or made a 1/2 pot bet, not sure, but I got called by a guy w/ T9 and it held up for him as we checked it to the river. I also folded to a massive check-raise from the same player when I flopped top pair on a 8x 9s Qs board. I figured him for a set. Turns out he had Ts Js and turned the 8s for the straight flush.
Once we got to six-handed, I raised EP with A9 and got a caller. The flop was AQJ and I fired about 2/3 pot to see where I was at. I'm reraised by a loose guy from my 800 bet to his 2200 bet. I correctly put him on QJ (as he told me Sunday AM) and folded. As we always do, we flip over the turn and river cards, and I'd have rivered the A to take this one. I also folded a flopped OESD to his big raise and would've turned that one. These two hands, plus the loss w/ AK above, have whittled my stack down as the blinds are hitting 300/600.
Now I'm dealt 99 but see a raise from LAG to my right. I go into the tank and fold, which turned out to be fortuitous because two to my left had AA and shoved on an all rag flop, getting the initial raiser with TT to fold.
Finally, when the blinds hit 500/1000 (i.e. the lottery portion of our game), I shoved with 33, got instacalled by TT and that was that.
Here's one interesting hand from the night where I was not involved. One guy got it all-in on the turn with an OESD and a flush draw (5-high as I recall). Still he had 15 outs going to the river against two pair. He rivered the straight and won a big pot. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE in the room said this was a good play. HUH?
I have two fundamental strategies to this game. One - play the opposite of the table. It's well known that it's a game of loose calling stations. I try to play tight aggressive. And it's not working. Two - I do not try to bluff said calling stations because we all know what happens there. So what's left for me? Hit hands. Hard. Or get my chips in behind and try to suckout. Immensely frustrating.
As was my return to the golf course yesterday. I've lost the feeling I had at the lesson and it's going to take some work to get it back, me thinks. I didn't find it at the range today.
I win a couple of hands thereafter including one where I turned broadway on a board with a flush draw, and then the board paired on the river. Didn't bet out here though I probably should have, but honestly with as many people involved in the hand as there were, I was somewhat fortunate this held up. I also had KK in one of the blinds, made a healthy raise after the usual go-around of half the table limping in, then dodged a bullet when I fired out on an all-heart flop (I didn't have Kh) and got everyone to fold.
So as I plodded along here, trying to pick my spots, I picked up a couple of interesting hands. First, I get AKo late, raise it up and get a couple of callers. Flop is 9-high and it's checked to me. I believe I checked it or made a 1/2 pot bet, not sure, but I got called by a guy w/ T9 and it held up for him as we checked it to the river. I also folded to a massive check-raise from the same player when I flopped top pair on a 8x 9s Qs board. I figured him for a set. Turns out he had Ts Js and turned the 8s for the straight flush.
Once we got to six-handed, I raised EP with A9 and got a caller. The flop was AQJ and I fired about 2/3 pot to see where I was at. I'm reraised by a loose guy from my 800 bet to his 2200 bet. I correctly put him on QJ (as he told me Sunday AM) and folded. As we always do, we flip over the turn and river cards, and I'd have rivered the A to take this one. I also folded a flopped OESD to his big raise and would've turned that one. These two hands, plus the loss w/ AK above, have whittled my stack down as the blinds are hitting 300/600.
Now I'm dealt 99 but see a raise from LAG to my right. I go into the tank and fold, which turned out to be fortuitous because two to my left had AA and shoved on an all rag flop, getting the initial raiser with TT to fold.
Finally, when the blinds hit 500/1000 (i.e. the lottery portion of our game), I shoved with 33, got instacalled by TT and that was that.
Here's one interesting hand from the night where I was not involved. One guy got it all-in on the turn with an OESD and a flush draw (5-high as I recall). Still he had 15 outs going to the river against two pair. He rivered the straight and won a big pot. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE in the room said this was a good play. HUH?
I have two fundamental strategies to this game. One - play the opposite of the table. It's well known that it's a game of loose calling stations. I try to play tight aggressive. And it's not working. Two - I do not try to bluff said calling stations because we all know what happens there. So what's left for me? Hit hands. Hard. Or get my chips in behind and try to suckout. Immensely frustrating.
As was my return to the golf course yesterday. I've lost the feeling I had at the lesson and it's going to take some work to get it back, me thinks. I didn't find it at the range today.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
AIPS PLO
Well I toyed with backing out of this as I have the sick 3yo home alone with me today, but figured I'd be folding all sorts of stuff anyway and could afford to even miss a hand or two.
Twelve hands in, this happens.
Full Tilt Poker Game #6183973368: AIPS III Event #4 (44257276), Table 7 - 15/30 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 12:10:10 ET - 2008/04/26
Seat 2: ante_up_fan (1,665)
Seat 3: wagnes (1,410), is sitting out
Seat 4: djm182 (1,545)
Seat 5: isis jones (1,005)
Seat 6: sportsfntc (1,635)
Seat 7: imtoomuch4u (2,250)
Seat 8: HDawg99 (2,655)
Seat 9: koirapoika (1,335)
djm182 posts the small blind of 15
isis jones posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Jd Jc 4c 4d]
sportsfntc folds
imtoomuch4u calls 30
HDawg99 folds
koirapoika folds
ante_up_fan folds
wagnes folds
djm182 calls 15
isis jones checks
*** FLOP *** [6s Js Kh]
djm182 bets 90
isis jones folds
imtoomuch4u raises to 360
djm182 raises to 1,170
imtoomuch4u raises to 2,220, and is all in
djm182 calls 345, and is all in
imtoomuch4u shows [8h Kd Kc As]
djm182 shows [Jd Jc 4c 4d]
Uncalled bet of 705 returned to imtoomuch4u
*** TURN *** [6s Js Kh] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [6s Js Kh Tc] [Ah]
imtoomuch4u shows three of a kind, Kings
djm182 shows three of a kind, Jacks
imtoomuch4u wins the pot (3,120) with three of a kind, Kings
djm182 stands up
I flop middle set (the second nuts) but with a flush draw out there that I can't touch. As first to act, I pot it. It gets repotted by a player I've tagged as very aggressive. She could make this move with the flush draw, a set, or two pair. I re-pot it, committing myself to the hand and she comes over the top to put me all in. Yep, she has top set. Good night.
The good news is that I have plenty to do today and now I can do it. The bad news is...oh well it's PLO, I'm not gonna miss this at all. :)
Twelve hands in, this happens.
Full Tilt Poker Game #6183973368: AIPS III Event #4 (44257276), Table 7 - 15/30 - Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 12:10:10 ET - 2008/04/26
Seat 2: ante_up_fan (1,665)
Seat 3: wagnes (1,410), is sitting out
Seat 4: djm182 (1,545)
Seat 5: isis jones (1,005)
Seat 6: sportsfntc (1,635)
Seat 7: imtoomuch4u (2,250)
Seat 8: HDawg99 (2,655)
Seat 9: koirapoika (1,335)
djm182 posts the small blind of 15
isis jones posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Jd Jc 4c 4d]
sportsfntc folds
imtoomuch4u calls 30
HDawg99 folds
koirapoika folds
ante_up_fan folds
wagnes folds
djm182 calls 15
isis jones checks
*** FLOP *** [6s Js Kh]
djm182 bets 90
isis jones folds
imtoomuch4u raises to 360
djm182 raises to 1,170
imtoomuch4u raises to 2,220, and is all in
djm182 calls 345, and is all in
imtoomuch4u shows [8h Kd Kc As]
djm182 shows [Jd Jc 4c 4d]
Uncalled bet of 705 returned to imtoomuch4u
*** TURN *** [6s Js Kh] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [6s Js Kh Tc] [Ah]
imtoomuch4u shows three of a kind, Kings
djm182 shows three of a kind, Jacks
imtoomuch4u wins the pot (3,120) with three of a kind, Kings
djm182 stands up
I flop middle set (the second nuts) but with a flush draw out there that I can't touch. As first to act, I pot it. It gets repotted by a player I've tagged as very aggressive. She could make this move with the flush draw, a set, or two pair. I re-pot it, committing myself to the hand and she comes over the top to put me all in. Yep, she has top set. Good night.
The good news is that I have plenty to do today and now I can do it. The bad news is...oh well it's PLO, I'm not gonna miss this at all. :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
As I predicted
It was a downer last night.
* I played a $2 PLO SNG just to try and brace myself for the joke that will chew up my Saturday afternoon. The very first hand the guy to my left quadruples up when four folks move in on the flop. One guy had top set. One guy had an OESD. One guy had top pair (ha). Guy to my left flopped 2nd nut straight and that held up. I played cautiously, missed flops, and went out in completely unspectacular fashion.
* Next it was on to a HORSE SNG. Limit Hold'em is starting to move up amongst my favorite games. I love trying to hit straight/flush draws and here's the game for just that. Of course, you can sit back and watch the first go-around of these games, picking your spots. I chipped up with a big Stud hand, made it to the money, got blinded/anted down short and shoved into a monster.
* Finally I took a stab at a stupid Turbo NLHE SNG. I chipped up early, got short, and shoved A3s into AA, going out in 5th. This event played out very bi-polar. It was a shove and pray fest early on. Once it got to 5-handed, it became uber tight. I waited for something with a little gusto to move with and just waited too long and picked the wrong spot.
Down about $6 for the night. Blah. Saturday is the AIPS PLO event which I'm better than 50/50 to play in. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if that one is a quick one. Saturday night is the home game. And for some unknown reason I've agreed to tee it up w/ the neighbors on Sunday at 8AM.
* I played a $2 PLO SNG just to try and brace myself for the joke that will chew up my Saturday afternoon. The very first hand the guy to my left quadruples up when four folks move in on the flop. One guy had top set. One guy had an OESD. One guy had top pair (ha). Guy to my left flopped 2nd nut straight and that held up. I played cautiously, missed flops, and went out in completely unspectacular fashion.
* Next it was on to a HORSE SNG. Limit Hold'em is starting to move up amongst my favorite games. I love trying to hit straight/flush draws and here's the game for just that. Of course, you can sit back and watch the first go-around of these games, picking your spots. I chipped up with a big Stud hand, made it to the money, got blinded/anted down short and shoved into a monster.
* Finally I took a stab at a stupid Turbo NLHE SNG. I chipped up early, got short, and shoved A3s into AA, going out in 5th. This event played out very bi-polar. It was a shove and pray fest early on. Once it got to 5-handed, it became uber tight. I waited for something with a little gusto to move with and just waited too long and picked the wrong spot.
Down about $6 for the night. Blah. Saturday is the AIPS PLO event which I'm better than 50/50 to play in. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if that one is a quick one. Saturday night is the home game. And for some unknown reason I've agreed to tee it up w/ the neighbors on Sunday at 8AM.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Stud 8 Goodness
In a sudden and dramatic turn of events, I had a very good session at the microlimit Stud 8 table last night. Before I get into the play, first some comments.
1) For whatever reason, I'm far more comfortable in limit cash games than in no limit. Maybe it's the microscopic nature of my bankroll, maybe it's that the fucktards who sit down with $2000 at a .25/.50 limit game are harmless, or maybe it's just that I prefer games where you can draw out to your straights/flushes without big plays at the pots by idiots who have A7 and see a A42 flop.
2) I couldn't get an immediate seat at a HORSE cash game, and after my Stud 8 session, I decided this was a very good thing. First, I'm quickly coming into the camp of several Ante Uppers that Omaha is the game of Omatards. And yes, while I should be able to beat that, it also comes with a higher-than-normal likelihood of inducing tilt.
3) Missing out on another 10, 20, or 30 hands of Razz isn't a bad thing.
Onto the Stud 8 play.
* The second hand in, I have [5d 8h] [6c]. I complete as it's only 5-handed and the only other low card out is 7c. He calls, the others fold. I make an 876 on 5th street, never complete the straight, and am perfectly happy to check it down to his sfobv 2-pair, but he insists on betting out on 7th street despite having no shot at the low. I love these people and I hate them too.
* I get dealt A46 the very next hand, complete it, but get repopped by 9s and see that called by 6s. I call, pair my 6 on 4th st, draw a Q on 5th and walk away from this. I figure "here we go again." I was wrong.
* A few hands later I'm dealt [Ad 2s] [8c]. It's completed in front by Ts and called by 8s. I come along for the ride, along with Qh. God I love Stud8 sometimes. I check-call 4th when I get 7h and nobody drops out. On 5th street I get 3c to make a low, albeit a weak one. TQT in front of me bets out and I repop it. The guy with 8s now has 3d and a brick and I want to see where he's at. Of course he's coming along for the ride. On 6th street I get 4c to make a 74 low. I bet out and the only viable low draw now folds. We check 7th street and chop it. I'm now up $0.50.
* Later I'm dealt [3c 8h] [2s] and get the bring-in. Two limpers behind. I pick up 4h. It's checked to me, I bet it and both call. On 5th street I land 6c for a made low. The guy to act before me has 7 4 3 showing, though. Again it checks to me. I bet and both guys call. 6th street lands me a beautiful ace for a made 64. Better yet, the 743 lands a 9. Even better, he calls me. 7th street blanks and he takes the high pot with a measely pair of 7s. Still I'm up a buck at this point.
* Now the first big one. I'm about 15 minutes in and I'm dealt [6h 5c] [7h] but there are a A, 3, 4 and 8 showing on other boards. The 4 completes, I call along with three others and we go five-way. I pick up 9h giving me a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot. 4s Js bets and everyone calls. Next I get 3d, but nobody else can realistically be chasing a low here so I call a $1 bet with my low draw and double gutshot. Two players get out of the way here. 6th street is to die for - 4d. I have a made straight and now a 76 low. This time it's checked in front of me and when I bet out, both remaining players call. 7th street pairs my 7. The guy holding [Ad Qc Qh] [Th] bets out, I repop him and he makes a crying call with what was two pair - Aces and Queens. It's a $9.05 pot and I now have $14.75 in front.
* About 10 minutes later, I play my next hand with [7s 6s] [8h]. I hate playing 87 or 86 draws in this game, and there's a 2, 4, and 5 out along with two other hearts, but I decide to come along. Long story short, some mook playing [Ah As 4d] checked on 4th and 5th street with nothing particularly scary out there on anyone's board, and I made three pair (ha) to scoop a high-only pot. $5.05 more and now I have $17.
* Now with [Ac 3s] [2d], I complete and get this aforementioned mook to come along with his 6h. Everyone else folded, meaning that an A, two other 2s, two 4s and a 7 are all dead, so lots of low cards are gone. Despite Jh vs. his Kc on 4th, I bet out. He check/called it. 5th street gave me 7s and gave him 9c. He checked and for whatever reason, I checked behind. I picked up 3h on 6th street, and he got 4s. This time, he check/folded. He must've had 64x (all low) to start.
* Finally I limp in with [Th 3h] [6h], only because no other hearts are out. Four others come to the flop and I get Ks. I'm folding to any bet here, but none come. Well 5th street brings Jh and now I'm locked in. Two other hearts came on 4th - both Qh and Kh, but no obvious flush draws remain so may be any old flush will do. Interestingly, the player showing [Ts Kc] [Kh] just checks. [8c 5s] [As]bets out, and I call along with the kings. 6th street...the lovely and talented Ah lands in my lap. The low draw and I four bet it, finally forcing the Kings to fold. We check 7th street and chop the pot.
* Now I have $19.20 in front, 35 minutes after I sat down with $8. Unfortunately I had other things to do and thought this would be a good time to get out. Fortunately, I stood up with a smile because this was hands down my best session ever on Full Tilt.
Yeah, I caught some very good cards in there, but it's reassuring to have a good session once in a while - regardless of how it happens.
This represents two very good nights in a row - a sure sign that tonight will suck ass.
1) For whatever reason, I'm far more comfortable in limit cash games than in no limit. Maybe it's the microscopic nature of my bankroll, maybe it's that the fucktards who sit down with $2000 at a .25/.50 limit game are harmless, or maybe it's just that I prefer games where you can draw out to your straights/flushes without big plays at the pots by idiots who have A7 and see a A42 flop.
2) I couldn't get an immediate seat at a HORSE cash game, and after my Stud 8 session, I decided this was a very good thing. First, I'm quickly coming into the camp of several Ante Uppers that Omaha is the game of Omatards. And yes, while I should be able to beat that, it also comes with a higher-than-normal likelihood of inducing tilt.
3) Missing out on another 10, 20, or 30 hands of Razz isn't a bad thing.
Onto the Stud 8 play.
* The second hand in, I have [5d 8h] [6c]. I complete as it's only 5-handed and the only other low card out is 7c. He calls, the others fold. I make an 876 on 5th street, never complete the straight, and am perfectly happy to check it down to his sfobv 2-pair, but he insists on betting out on 7th street despite having no shot at the low. I love these people and I hate them too.
* I get dealt A46 the very next hand, complete it, but get repopped by 9s and see that called by 6s. I call, pair my 6 on 4th st, draw a Q on 5th and walk away from this. I figure "here we go again." I was wrong.
* A few hands later I'm dealt [Ad 2s] [8c]. It's completed in front by Ts and called by 8s. I come along for the ride, along with Qh. God I love Stud8 sometimes. I check-call 4th when I get 7h and nobody drops out. On 5th street I get 3c to make a low, albeit a weak one. TQT in front of me bets out and I repop it. The guy with 8s now has 3d and a brick and I want to see where he's at. Of course he's coming along for the ride. On 6th street I get 4c to make a 74 low. I bet out and the only viable low draw now folds. We check 7th street and chop it. I'm now up $0.50.
* Later I'm dealt [3c 8h] [2s] and get the bring-in. Two limpers behind. I pick up 4h. It's checked to me, I bet it and both call. On 5th street I land 6c for a made low. The guy to act before me has 7 4 3 showing, though. Again it checks to me. I bet and both guys call. 6th street lands me a beautiful ace for a made 64. Better yet, the 743 lands a 9. Even better, he calls me. 7th street blanks and he takes the high pot with a measely pair of 7s. Still I'm up a buck at this point.
* Now the first big one. I'm about 15 minutes in and I'm dealt [6h 5c] [7h] but there are a A, 3, 4 and 8 showing on other boards. The 4 completes, I call along with three others and we go five-way. I pick up 9h giving me a backdoor flush draw and a gutshot. 4s Js bets and everyone calls. Next I get 3d, but nobody else can realistically be chasing a low here so I call a $1 bet with my low draw and double gutshot. Two players get out of the way here. 6th street is to die for - 4d. I have a made straight and now a 76 low. This time it's checked in front of me and when I bet out, both remaining players call. 7th street pairs my 7. The guy holding [Ad Qc Qh] [Th] bets out, I repop him and he makes a crying call with what was two pair - Aces and Queens. It's a $9.05 pot and I now have $14.75 in front.
* About 10 minutes later, I play my next hand with [7s 6s] [8h]. I hate playing 87 or 86 draws in this game, and there's a 2, 4, and 5 out along with two other hearts, but I decide to come along. Long story short, some mook playing [Ah As 4d] checked on 4th and 5th street with nothing particularly scary out there on anyone's board, and I made three pair (ha) to scoop a high-only pot. $5.05 more and now I have $17.
* Now with [Ac 3s] [2d], I complete and get this aforementioned mook to come along with his 6h. Everyone else folded, meaning that an A, two other 2s, two 4s and a 7 are all dead, so lots of low cards are gone. Despite Jh vs. his Kc on 4th, I bet out. He check/called it. 5th street gave me 7s and gave him 9c. He checked and for whatever reason, I checked behind. I picked up 3h on 6th street, and he got 4s. This time, he check/folded. He must've had 64x (all low) to start.
* Finally I limp in with [Th 3h] [6h], only because no other hearts are out. Four others come to the flop and I get Ks. I'm folding to any bet here, but none come. Well 5th street brings Jh and now I'm locked in. Two other hearts came on 4th - both Qh and Kh, but no obvious flush draws remain so may be any old flush will do. Interestingly, the player showing [Ts Kc] [Kh] just checks. [8c 5s] [As]bets out, and I call along with the kings. 6th street...the lovely and talented Ah lands in my lap. The low draw and I four bet it, finally forcing the Kings to fold. We check 7th street and chop the pot.
* Now I have $19.20 in front, 35 minutes after I sat down with $8. Unfortunately I had other things to do and thought this would be a good time to get out. Fortunately, I stood up with a smile because this was hands down my best session ever on Full Tilt.
Yeah, I caught some very good cards in there, but it's reassuring to have a good session once in a while - regardless of how it happens.
This represents two very good nights in a row - a sure sign that tonight will suck ass.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
CHIMPS NLHE DS
There's really not much to say. I played tight and feel that I played really well, given the level of competition and quality of cards I looked down at. I was mostly dealt complete shit - I mean the kind of stuff you can't even think about trying to steal with. I made a couple of good laydowns to check-raises from Gambit and Snuffy. And despite all my suckass hands, I made the money.
My night is summed up in two hands, both of which I lost to the same guy:
QQ < A5 AIPF (flopped trip 5s)
QQ < JJ AIPF (flopped the set)
The last one crippled me. I got it all-in on the very next hand w/ T6 v. T7 and I was done, finished, goodnight Irene in 3rd.
Not once did I get all my chips in bad. Not once. I'll sleep with that cozy little thought in my head.
My night is summed up in two hands, both of which I lost to the same guy:
QQ < A5 AIPF (flopped trip 5s)
QQ < JJ AIPF (flopped the set)
The last one crippled me. I got it all-in on the very next hand w/ T6 v. T7 and I was done, finished, goodnight Irene in 3rd.
Not once did I get all my chips in bad. Not once. I'll sleep with that cozy little thought in my head.
A Night of FTP Bloodletting
Last night was just a brutal session on FTP.
In a PLO8 Turbo, I chip up nicely, and then late into the event (on the bubble) get dealt AAxx - one of the Xs was low. The flop came AQx with one spade. I bet out and get called by the bigger stack to my left with AQ25. The 2 and 5 are spades. The fact that I lost to a 5-high flush is irrelevant, I thought I played the hand well, and I surely got the chips in ahead.
So it's on to a NLHE Turbo. Again, I chip up, and as we're approaching the bubble, I make a 3x raise from EP with 88. I'd driven a lot of people out of pots with action from EP and hoped to do it again, rather than limp and hope to dodge a raise. Well a LAG moron who was down to <1000 chips but recovered by constantly shoving and either inducing folds or sucking out comes over the top. His range is broad, and I'm probably in a coin flip. Folding leaves me short and so I call. He has AQ and I'm put out of my misery quickly by an Ace. I spewed at this fool in the chat box. Not quite sure he understood the source of my anger - it wasn't over the AQ vs 88 hand, it was over his complete recklessness and lucksackery to finally land a hand of value in this spot. Of course I got the usual "It's only $6" in return. What he doesn't understand is that I'm every bit as pissed if it's $1 or $100 - it's the caliber of play that I'm interested in, not the size of the prize pool. This burns my toast at the home game as well.
And lastly, instead of calling it a night like I should have, I try one more NLHE Turbo. It's still pretty early when it folds to me in the SB with Ad3d. I should've raised here, make no mistake, but with a pretty loose guy in the BB, I decided to just limp and try to flop something. Well I did. The flop was 234 rainbow. I bet out just less than the pot and he calls. The turn is a 5 and I bet now about 5/7ths of the pot and he comes over the top all-in. Did he call me with a gutshot? I have to find out. Sure enough - he had 62 for bottom pair, and a gutshot. WP, asshat.
Tonight is the CHIMPS finale. NLHE Deep Stack. Yummy. My strategy - go deep or go home early.
In a PLO8 Turbo, I chip up nicely, and then late into the event (on the bubble) get dealt AAxx - one of the Xs was low. The flop came AQx with one spade. I bet out and get called by the bigger stack to my left with AQ25. The 2 and 5 are spades. The fact that I lost to a 5-high flush is irrelevant, I thought I played the hand well, and I surely got the chips in ahead.
So it's on to a NLHE Turbo. Again, I chip up, and as we're approaching the bubble, I make a 3x raise from EP with 88. I'd driven a lot of people out of pots with action from EP and hoped to do it again, rather than limp and hope to dodge a raise. Well a LAG moron who was down to <1000 chips but recovered by constantly shoving and either inducing folds or sucking out comes over the top. His range is broad, and I'm probably in a coin flip. Folding leaves me short and so I call. He has AQ and I'm put out of my misery quickly by an Ace. I spewed at this fool in the chat box. Not quite sure he understood the source of my anger - it wasn't over the AQ vs 88 hand, it was over his complete recklessness and lucksackery to finally land a hand of value in this spot. Of course I got the usual "It's only $6" in return. What he doesn't understand is that I'm every bit as pissed if it's $1 or $100 - it's the caliber of play that I'm interested in, not the size of the prize pool. This burns my toast at the home game as well.
And lastly, instead of calling it a night like I should have, I try one more NLHE Turbo. It's still pretty early when it folds to me in the SB with Ad3d. I should've raised here, make no mistake, but with a pretty loose guy in the BB, I decided to just limp and try to flop something. Well I did. The flop was 234 rainbow. I bet out just less than the pot and he calls. The turn is a 5 and I bet now about 5/7ths of the pot and he comes over the top all-in. Did he call me with a gutshot? I have to find out. Sure enough - he had 62 for bottom pair, and a gutshot. WP, asshat.
Tonight is the CHIMPS finale. NLHE Deep Stack. Yummy. My strategy - go deep or go home early.
Clinton's Iran Comment
One thing I hate about newsfeeds is the continual feeding of stuff that I don't want to read. No filter in the world can stop it all, but most of my issues don't lie on the receive side - they lie on the send side.
In fact, the last TWENTY-FIVE feeds sent my way from my MSNBC.com News feed ALL link to this ONE article
Mistake? Nah, I don't think so. After all the comments were made on MSNBC's air. But does it piss me off and make me less likely to click through on any of them or visit MSNBC's website for any other reason? Sure does.
ESPN.com's feed are similarly screwed up. Now and then I'll have 35 Neyer articles or 42 Stark articles just show up, clogging up my beloved Google Reader with schlock that's way out of date or with stuff that I've already read.
This can't be that hard, right?
In fact, the last TWENTY-FIVE feeds sent my way from my MSNBC.com News feed ALL link to this ONE article
Mistake? Nah, I don't think so. After all the comments were made on MSNBC's air. But does it piss me off and make me less likely to click through on any of them or visit MSNBC's website for any other reason? Sure does.
ESPN.com's feed are similarly screwed up. Now and then I'll have 35 Neyer articles or 42 Stark articles just show up, clogging up my beloved Google Reader with schlock that's way out of date or with stuff that I've already read.
This can't be that hard, right?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Token
Well lookie here. Someone finally became the suckouter instead of being the suckoutee. And this one got me (and four of my closest friends) $26 tokens.
Everyone got it in on the flop.
It's too bad I stopped tracking the suck-o-meter a while back. The odometer on that thing would've rolled over this month. It's nice to come out ahead.
Full Tilt Poker Game #6076950080: Tier One $8+$0.80 (46253971), Table 1 - 200/400 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:00:50 ET - 2008/04/17
Seat 1: NoMonkey (3,200)
Seat 2: djm182 (3,760)
Seat 3: Faralone (2,450)
Seat 4: Snowypuck (3,420)
Seat 5: gmgmoney (4,700)
Seat 7: Ricky Skull (6,110)
Seat 8: thebigm0529 (3,360)
NoMonkey posts the small blind of 200
djm182 posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [4d 3d]
Faralone folds
Snowypuck folds
gmgmoney folds
Ricky Skull folds
thebigm0529 calls 400
NoMonkey calls 200
djm182 checks
*** FLOP *** [2c 4s 3h]
NoMonkey checks
djm182 bets 3,360, and is all in
thebigm0529 calls 2,960, and is all in
NoMonkey calls 2,800, and is all in (this scared me the instant I saw it).
djm182 shows [4d 3d]
thebigm0529 shows [7d 7c]
NoMonkey shows [5s Ad]
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to djm182
*** TURN *** [2c 4s 3h] [3c] (aahhhh yes, the four-outer).
*** RIVER *** [2c 4s 3h 3c] [Qc]
djm182 shows a full house, Threes full of Fours
thebigm0529 shows two pair, Sevens and Threes
djm182 wins the side pot (320) with a full house, Threes full of Fours
NoMonkey shows a straight, Five high
djm182 wins the main pot (9,600) with a full house, Threes full of Fours
Everyone got it in on the flop.
It's too bad I stopped tracking the suck-o-meter a while back. The odometer on that thing would've rolled over this month. It's nice to come out ahead.
Full Tilt Poker Game #6076950080: Tier One $8+$0.80 (46253971), Table 1 - 200/400 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:00:50 ET - 2008/04/17
Seat 1: NoMonkey (3,200)
Seat 2: djm182 (3,760)
Seat 3: Faralone (2,450)
Seat 4: Snowypuck (3,420)
Seat 5: gmgmoney (4,700)
Seat 7: Ricky Skull (6,110)
Seat 8: thebigm0529 (3,360)
NoMonkey posts the small blind of 200
djm182 posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [4d 3d]
Faralone folds
Snowypuck folds
gmgmoney folds
Ricky Skull folds
thebigm0529 calls 400
NoMonkey calls 200
djm182 checks
*** FLOP *** [2c 4s 3h]
NoMonkey checks
djm182 bets 3,360, and is all in
thebigm0529 calls 2,960, and is all in
NoMonkey calls 2,800, and is all in (this scared me the instant I saw it).
djm182 shows [4d 3d]
thebigm0529 shows [7d 7c]
NoMonkey shows [5s Ad]
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to djm182
*** TURN *** [2c 4s 3h] [3c] (aahhhh yes, the four-outer).
*** RIVER *** [2c 4s 3h 3c] [Qc]
djm182 shows a full house, Threes full of Fours
thebigm0529 shows two pair, Sevens and Threes
djm182 wins the side pot (320) with a full house, Threes full of Fours
NoMonkey shows a straight, Five high
djm182 wins the main pot (9,600) with a full house, Threes full of Fours
An interesting Wednesday
One month ago, I hacked it up (again) in Georgia on the annual golf trip. The last three years have been the same...chop in the spring, bandaid up a solution by mid-summer, play well in late summer and fall, and put the clubs on the rack for five months. But consistent throughout the last three years, probably the last 25 years to be honest, is weak/thin striking of the ball. This year I set out to change it.
And after a one hour lesson yesterday, I'm as encouraged as I've been in a long time. My teacher, who I worked with for the very first time yesterday, made no changes to my setup and made no changes to any of my action away from the ball - in fact, he said it was very good. The problem was that I was breaking down at impact, hitting quick little scoop hooks and the like. The *only* thing we worked on was extension through the ball. It was a very easy change to understand and implement. Within minutes, I was making crisp contact with penetrating ball flight - with a 7-iron at first, then with wedges and ultimately with the driver. My 7-iron target was a 200 yard marker. We were probably some 30-40 yards up on the tees from where the measurements were made, but I was consistently flying the ball to that marker - probably finding the 10 yards I've been missing, if not even a bit more. Better yet, the pull hook was completely eliminated from my swing. The only thing that held me back were a few swings where I never got fully behind the ball on the way back. Overall:Wow. I can't wait for Sunday, weather be damned, to try this out on the home course.
Last night was a hastily scheduled mini-home game. Three other folks attended, and I talked them into NLHE Double Flop! There was a lot of limping going on early, and I joined right in despite rarely holding anything better than trash. The blinds went up quickly as nobody wanted to stay late. But the values of my hands stayed right in the dumpster. The biggest ace I had all night was A6o. The biggest pocket pair I had - in fact the only one - was 66. More on these hands later. I never had two paint cards, and had suited connectors twice: 78 and 89. Neither flopped anything at all. What's more amazing is that rarely did my trash hands connect with either flop - whether I was in the hand or out of it.
The 66 hand hurt me. I'd been very quiet and tight from the 3rd level on. With 66 and the blinds at 300/600, I made it 1200 to go. Despite all the oooohhs and aaaahs from the assembled masses, there were three callers. One board flopped 789 while the other board had two overs and offered me nothing. I check/called from EP. Both turn cards were garbage and I check/folded to a pretty big bet. The river brought the 10 on the straight draw, no jacks were out there and I'd have chopped it if I stuck around. Alternatively, if I didn't catch, I'd have essentially been broke. Thought I'd save it for another hand.
I went all-in blind with 47d, and a paired 7 held up for 1/2 the pot. Soon thereafter I had A6o - my biggest A of the night. Woo Hoo!! I shoved. Everyone called because I only had 25 chips more than the BB at this point. Ha! One board came out K7xK7. The other board had a 6 on it but a bunch of overs. Well it checked around on every street, and I'm thinking maybe I'll get half of this or possibly even scoop with that 6. Two guys flip over their cards and show...nothing! Finally the third guy turns over a card for an overpair on the '6' board, plus a 7 for a boat on the other board. Goodnight, Irene. Absolutely dismal.
Then I dealt and proceeded to give this guy two fabulous runner runner suckouts to keep him alive and give him the lead which he eventually took home.
It was astounding how many flops were missed in this game - not just by me but by everyone. There were very few "big hands" - mostly chopped pots along the lines of someone having two pair on one board and air on another vs. top pair on that second board...stuff like that. And it still amazes me how poor I run in this game. In a game chock full o' calling stations like this one, all you need is one or two big hands to make some hay. I just can't seem to find it. Maybe in the full edition of the home game next week. (Fingers crossed)
And after a one hour lesson yesterday, I'm as encouraged as I've been in a long time. My teacher, who I worked with for the very first time yesterday, made no changes to my setup and made no changes to any of my action away from the ball - in fact, he said it was very good. The problem was that I was breaking down at impact, hitting quick little scoop hooks and the like. The *only* thing we worked on was extension through the ball. It was a very easy change to understand and implement. Within minutes, I was making crisp contact with penetrating ball flight - with a 7-iron at first, then with wedges and ultimately with the driver. My 7-iron target was a 200 yard marker. We were probably some 30-40 yards up on the tees from where the measurements were made, but I was consistently flying the ball to that marker - probably finding the 10 yards I've been missing, if not even a bit more. Better yet, the pull hook was completely eliminated from my swing. The only thing that held me back were a few swings where I never got fully behind the ball on the way back. Overall:Wow. I can't wait for Sunday, weather be damned, to try this out on the home course.
Last night was a hastily scheduled mini-home game. Three other folks attended, and I talked them into NLHE Double Flop! There was a lot of limping going on early, and I joined right in despite rarely holding anything better than trash. The blinds went up quickly as nobody wanted to stay late. But the values of my hands stayed right in the dumpster. The biggest ace I had all night was A6o. The biggest pocket pair I had - in fact the only one - was 66. More on these hands later. I never had two paint cards, and had suited connectors twice: 78 and 89. Neither flopped anything at all. What's more amazing is that rarely did my trash hands connect with either flop - whether I was in the hand or out of it.
The 66 hand hurt me. I'd been very quiet and tight from the 3rd level on. With 66 and the blinds at 300/600, I made it 1200 to go. Despite all the oooohhs and aaaahs from the assembled masses, there were three callers. One board flopped 789 while the other board had two overs and offered me nothing. I check/called from EP. Both turn cards were garbage and I check/folded to a pretty big bet. The river brought the 10 on the straight draw, no jacks were out there and I'd have chopped it if I stuck around. Alternatively, if I didn't catch, I'd have essentially been broke. Thought I'd save it for another hand.
I went all-in blind with 47d, and a paired 7 held up for 1/2 the pot. Soon thereafter I had A6o - my biggest A of the night. Woo Hoo!! I shoved. Everyone called because I only had 25 chips more than the BB at this point. Ha! One board came out K7xK7. The other board had a 6 on it but a bunch of overs. Well it checked around on every street, and I'm thinking maybe I'll get half of this or possibly even scoop with that 6. Two guys flip over their cards and show...nothing! Finally the third guy turns over a card for an overpair on the '6' board, plus a 7 for a boat on the other board. Goodnight, Irene. Absolutely dismal.
Then I dealt and proceeded to give this guy two fabulous runner runner suckouts to keep him alive and give him the lead which he eventually took home.
It was astounding how many flops were missed in this game - not just by me but by everyone. There were very few "big hands" - mostly chopped pots along the lines of someone having two pair on one board and air on another vs. top pair on that second board...stuff like that. And it still amazes me how poor I run in this game. In a game chock full o' calling stations like this one, all you need is one or two big hands to make some hay. I just can't seem to find it. Maybe in the full edition of the home game next week. (Fingers crossed)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
CHIMPS HORSE
I need to go through the hand history on this one because I was shell-shocked on how rapidly I went from 3rd/23 runners to the rail in 16th place. I had a few good drawing hands early on in the stud games and hit at least my fair share. This got me up high. I kind of leveled off from 2000 - 2800 chips through most of the second orbit, but took a few hits as we got back around to the Stud games.
Finally LHE came back around and I hate short-stacked limit hold'em, particularly with a big stack to my right. He raised all the time and I kept laying down these suck ass hands. He would *always* raise in the cutoff or OTB if it folded around to him and as bad as I wanted to set a trap, I never could.
This knocked me down to about 1200 chips as we moved into Razz. Around this time the tables consolidated, so we're playing full 8-handed. On one of my first razz hands, I'm dealt 563. I "lucked" into a second 3 on 4th st, but my sole remaining opponent got a high card (as I recall - I need to go back through this) so I stuck around. Yeah, probably a mistake, but I'm so short now I can't sit and wait for three parts to a wheel to start. 5th street brings an 8...and so does 6th street and I have to fold to his fairly unimpressive board. The very next hand I get 526. Well I'm down to around 500 chips so this is definitely go time. I'm all in before 4th street, and my board comes out 5266Q53. Bleech.
Despite every intention of playing lockbox tight in this event, it sure seemed like I was in a lot of pots. I think I got a little sloppy in LHE the final time around. This is a good session for me to sit and thoroughly review.
I capped off the night with one of these damned Turbo NLHE shovefests. I hate turbos - and play them only when the clock dictates that I need to. I chip up early when I limp in from EP with 99, call a pre-flop min raise, and see a wonderful 9AK flop. Every A and every K is sticking around for this one, me thinks. Sure enough, I outlasted A-rag and K-rag and doubled up in a hurry. From there I put the brakes on and coasted to the final 5. By this point the blinds are insanely high (<10BBs for me) and I picked a few good enough spots to steal and keep my stack stable.
The guy to my left at this point starts getting frisky. With about 4k of the 13.5k chips in play, he goes into full blown pushmonkey mode. He shoved and got called THREE times - each time turning over the worst hand and each time sucking out. It was usually his two unpaired cards vs. an overcard and a middle card to his holdings. Now I'm ITM with him and some other mook. Give me something...anything. Well the second guy tries to call pushmonkey's bluff but his efforts were futile. Finally it's me and the pushmonkey, and my 5:1 chip disadvantage. I forget the cards, but I had something like K8s and shoved. All of a sudden his clock starts ticking down. Finally he makes the call and flips over AQs. If he truly was slow-rolling me, eff him. But damn the luck - I'd just about guarantee that of all the times he pushed, including those where he didn't get called, this was one of if not the best holdings to fall in his lap.
And it's another ~$0.00 night for me.
Finally LHE came back around and I hate short-stacked limit hold'em, particularly with a big stack to my right. He raised all the time and I kept laying down these suck ass hands. He would *always* raise in the cutoff or OTB if it folded around to him and as bad as I wanted to set a trap, I never could.
This knocked me down to about 1200 chips as we moved into Razz. Around this time the tables consolidated, so we're playing full 8-handed. On one of my first razz hands, I'm dealt 563. I "lucked" into a second 3 on 4th st, but my sole remaining opponent got a high card (as I recall - I need to go back through this) so I stuck around. Yeah, probably a mistake, but I'm so short now I can't sit and wait for three parts to a wheel to start. 5th street brings an 8...and so does 6th street and I have to fold to his fairly unimpressive board. The very next hand I get 526. Well I'm down to around 500 chips so this is definitely go time. I'm all in before 4th street, and my board comes out 5266Q53. Bleech.
Despite every intention of playing lockbox tight in this event, it sure seemed like I was in a lot of pots. I think I got a little sloppy in LHE the final time around. This is a good session for me to sit and thoroughly review.
I capped off the night with one of these damned Turbo NLHE shovefests. I hate turbos - and play them only when the clock dictates that I need to. I chip up early when I limp in from EP with 99, call a pre-flop min raise, and see a wonderful 9AK flop. Every A and every K is sticking around for this one, me thinks. Sure enough, I outlasted A-rag and K-rag and doubled up in a hurry. From there I put the brakes on and coasted to the final 5. By this point the blinds are insanely high (<10BBs for me) and I picked a few good enough spots to steal and keep my stack stable.
The guy to my left at this point starts getting frisky. With about 4k of the 13.5k chips in play, he goes into full blown pushmonkey mode. He shoved and got called THREE times - each time turning over the worst hand and each time sucking out. It was usually his two unpaired cards vs. an overcard and a middle card to his holdings. Now I'm ITM with him and some other mook. Give me something...anything. Well the second guy tries to call pushmonkey's bluff but his efforts were futile. Finally it's me and the pushmonkey, and my 5:1 chip disadvantage. I forget the cards, but I had something like K8s and shoved. All of a sudden his clock starts ticking down. Finally he makes the call and flips over AQs. If he truly was slow-rolling me, eff him. But damn the luck - I'd just about guarantee that of all the times he pushed, including those where he didn't get called, this was one of if not the best holdings to fall in his lap.
And it's another ~$0.00 night for me.
A tribute to Ric Flair...
...in the House of Representatives???
I hate my government some times.
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I hate my government some times.
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Sox Jersey
This is infurating for so many reasons. First, why couldn't these guys keep their mouths shut until it became impossible to dig up the jersey? Just wait a few more months, then bring this to the NY Post or the Boston Herald. It would've been classic. But these idiots couldn't keep the lid on it.
But the Yankees' reaction to it all is just so completely over-the-top ludicrous. Reminds me of the neighbor kid who kept faking debilitating injuries in front-yard wiffleball yesterday. Every time he fell down it was as if he'd never get back up. And yet I digress...
But the Yankees' reaction to it all is just so completely over-the-top ludicrous. Reminds me of the neighbor kid who kept faking debilitating injuries in front-yard wiffleball yesterday. Every time he fell down it was as if he'd never get back up. And yet I digress...
Nobody in New York should claim that tossing a jersey into a building's footing is a "really bad thing." Lots of really bad things have actually happened in New York City through the years. This was a really funny/really clever thing.Yankees president Randy Levine said team officials at first considered leaving the shirt where it was.
"The first thought was, you know, it's never a good thing to be buried in cement when you're in New York," Levine said. "But then we decided, why reward somebody who had really bad motives and was trying to do a really bad thing?"
Trost said the Yankees had discussed possible criminal charges against Castignoli with the district attorney's office.
"We will take appropriate action since fortunately we do know the name of the individual," he said.
A spokesman for Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson said Sunday he did not know whether any criminal charges might apply.
Criminal charges...for what? Improper discarding of a jersey? There was no code violated, nobody's safety put at risk. Nothing. It was a clever joke - and I'd have said the same thing if it was a Yankees jersey buried in the footings of a new Boston stadium, not that your average Yankee fan could do something that clever. They'd just piss in the footing and tell all their buddies about it as if they'd found gold or cured cancer.
The Red Sox should have Castignoli throw out a first pitch.
The Red Sox should have Castignoli throw out a first pitch.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Same as it ever was
In short:
Flopped 2 pair < Rivered flush
A9 < A8
AK < AQs
My account at Sklansky National Bank is overflowing. My bankroll on FTP is taking on water fast.
UPDATE. For some indefensible reason, I followed up the first two suckouts (which KOed me) with a third event - a 6 max turbo NLHE. The AK < AQ happened in there, but it didn't kill me.
After this we were three-handed and essentially even-stacked. It got to heads up with "kwiguana" and me. I played pretty tight heads up and tried to figure him out. I finally did - he played the cards. Like so many others.
But that advantage didn't help me:
and it didn't help me later on:
So how did I end up taking this one down? By getting money in good, getting drawn out on, then hitting the four-outer on the river!!
And I end the night...up a couple of bucks. :-/
Flopped 2 pair < Rivered flush
A9 < A8
AK < AQs
My account at Sklansky National Bank is overflowing. My bankroll on FTP is taking on water fast.
UPDATE. For some indefensible reason, I followed up the first two suckouts (which KOed me) with a third event - a 6 max turbo NLHE. The AK < AQ happened in there, but it didn't kill me.
Full Tilt Poker Game #6026729963: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo)
(45879447), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:35:38 ET - 2008/04/13
Seat 2: djm182 (4,410)
Seat 4: jaja368 (2,930)
Seat 6: kwiguana (1,660)
jaja368 posts the small blind of 80
kwiguana posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Kc Ah]
djm182 raises to 400
jaja368 folds
kwiguana raises to 1,660, and is all in
djm182 calls 1,260
kwiguana shows [Qd Ad]
djm182 shows [Kc Ah]
*** FLOP *** [2h 4d Jd]
*** TURN *** [2h 4d Jd] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [2h 4d Jd 9d] [3h]
kwiguana shows a flush, Ace high
djm182 shows Ace King high
kwiguana wins the pot (3,400) with a flush, Ace high
After this we were three-handed and essentially even-stacked. It got to heads up with "kwiguana" and me. I played pretty tight heads up and tried to figure him out. I finally did - he played the cards. Like so many others.
But that advantage didn't help me:
Full Tilt Poker Game #6026958436: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo)
(45879447), Table 1 - 400/800 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:55:12 ET - 2008/04/13
Seat 2: djm182 (7,990)
Seat 6: kwiguana (1,010)
djm182 posts the small blind of 400
kwiguana posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Ac 9c]
djm182 raises to 1,600
kwiguana calls 210, and is all in
kwiguana: gg
djm182 shows [Ac 9c]
kwiguana shows [Jh 2h]
Uncalled bet of 590 returned to djm182
*** FLOP *** [Qh Ts 6h]
*** TURN *** [Qh Ts 6h] [9h]
*** RIVER *** [Qh Ts 6h 9h] [8s]
djm182 shows a pair of Nines
kwiguana shows a flush, Queen high
kwiguana wins the pot (2,020) with a flush, Queen high
djm182: not yet :)
and it didn't help me later on:
Full Tilt Poker Game #6027001302: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo)
(45879447), Table 1 - 500/1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:58:57 ET - 2008/04/13
Seat 2: djm182 (7,320)
Seat 6: kwiguana (1,680)
djm182 posts the small blind of 500
kwiguana posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Jc Qs]
djm182 raises to 2,000
kwiguana calls 680, and is all in
djm182 shows [Jc Qs]
kwiguana shows [9s 4s]
Uncalled bet of 320 returned to djm182
*** FLOP *** [7s 9h 7h]
*** TURN *** [7s 9h 7h] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [7s 9h 7h 9c] [6s]
djm182 shows two pair, Nines and Sevens
kwiguana shows a full house, Nines full of Sevens
kwiguana wins the pot (3,360) with a full house, Nines full of Sevens
So how did I end up taking this one down? By getting money in good, getting drawn out on, then hitting the four-outer on the river!!
Full Tilt Poker Game #6027025190: $6 + $0.50 Sit & Go (Turbo)
(45879447), Table 1 - 600/1200 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:01:03 ET - 2008/04/14
Seat 2: djm182 (6,960)
Seat 6: kwiguana (2,040)
djm182 posts the small blind of 600
kwiguana posts the big blind of 1,200
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Qc 4h]
djm182 calls 600
kwiguana raises to 2,040, and is all in
djm182 calls 840
kwiguana shows [9h 5s]
djm182 shows [Qc 4h]
*** FLOP *** [Jc Tc 5d]
*** TURN *** [Jc Tc 5d] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [Jc Tc 5d 9s] [Kc]
kwiguana shows two pair, Nines and Fives
djm182 shows a straight, King high
djm182 wins the pot (4,080) with a straight, King high
kwiguana stands up
djm182 stands up
And I end the night...up a couple of bucks. :-/
Friday, April 11, 2008
Rick Rolled @ Shea
The Mets Rick Rolled themselves at Tuesday's home opener. Ah, but they knew it all along.
Sure they did.
Sure they did.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
You called with WHAT?
CHIMPS NLHE 6-max tonight. I chip up early when my KJ flops trip Jacks against Snarf's pocket KK. Having decided early on that I was going to play aggressively, I stole a lot of smallish pots and stayed toward the top of the board for a while.
Then this happened:
Full Tilt Poker Game #5959203557: CHIMPS II - Event #13 (42844498), Table 3 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:33:36 ET - 2008/04/08
Seat 1: zsg (1,340)
Seat 2: djm182 (2,155)
Seat 3: enuf-fo-bofus (2,870)
Seat 4: rascony (1,445)
Seat 6: Aces88ss (3,355)
Aces88ss posts the small blind of 30
zsg posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Jh Kd]
djm182 calls 60 (I'm UTG, but with two paint cards in 6-max, why not?)
enuf-fo-bofus folds
rascony folds
Aces88ss folds
zsg checks
*** FLOP *** [6h Qs Js]
zsg checks
djm182 bets 120 (This may take it down. Just under pot-sized)
zsg calls 120
*** TURN *** [6h Qs Js] [3d]
zsg checks (OK, another check. The 3d helped nobody.)
djm182 bets 240 (Try again to take it down)
zsg raises to 480 (What would he check-raise with? I read this as it happened as a steal attempt to counteract my aggression)
djm182 calls 240
*** RIVER *** [6h Qs Js 3d] [8s]
zsg has 15 seconds left to act
zsg checks (and right here I think I'm right)
djm182 bets 450
zsg has 15 seconds left to act
zsg calls 450 (OK, he's got a decent Q)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
djm182 shows [Jh Kd] a pair of Jacks
zsg shows [Qc 4s] a pair of Queens (WHAT???)
zsg wins the pot (2,250) with a pair of Queens
Obv., this crippled me. But how on God's green earth do you make that call?
Then this happened:
Full Tilt Poker Game #5959203557: CHIMPS II - Event #13 (42844498), Table 3 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:33:36 ET - 2008/04/08
Seat 1: zsg (1,340)
Seat 2: djm182 (2,155)
Seat 3: enuf-fo-bofus (2,870)
Seat 4: rascony (1,445)
Seat 6: Aces88ss (3,355)
Aces88ss posts the small blind of 30
zsg posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djm182 [Jh Kd]
djm182 calls 60 (I'm UTG, but with two paint cards in 6-max, why not?)
enuf-fo-bofus folds
rascony folds
Aces88ss folds
zsg checks
*** FLOP *** [6h Qs Js]
zsg checks
djm182 bets 120 (This may take it down. Just under pot-sized)
zsg calls 120
*** TURN *** [6h Qs Js] [3d]
zsg checks (OK, another check. The 3d helped nobody.)
djm182 bets 240 (Try again to take it down)
zsg raises to 480 (What would he check-raise with? I read this as it happened as a steal attempt to counteract my aggression)
djm182 calls 240
*** RIVER *** [6h Qs Js 3d] [8s]
zsg has 15 seconds left to act
zsg checks (and right here I think I'm right)
djm182 bets 450
zsg has 15 seconds left to act
zsg calls 450 (OK, he's got a decent Q)
*** SHOW DOWN ***
djm182 shows [Jh Kd] a pair of Jacks
zsg shows [Qc 4s] a pair of Queens (WHAT???)
zsg wins the pot (2,250) with a pair of Queens
Obv., this crippled me. But how on God's green earth do you make that call?
Monday, April 07, 2008
SNG Hell
Card dead...up against push monkeys and calling stations...AND the wireless router is on the fritz the ONE time I try to use the laptop and catch some hoops. Of course, once when I get AK, the router craps out and I disconnect/fold (not to be confused with the old limp/fold or check/fold maneuvers).
I finally get it all in w/ about 5BBs w/ ATs from EP. It folds around and the BB calls with 89s. He flops two pair after that horrendous call, my straight draw never gets there and I crash and burn in 5th.
Absolutely the most infuriated I've EVER been in a SNG - and it's because of the damned router.
I'd pay money to flop a set or start with a big pair. Just running so dry right now.
UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...after posting this, I won two SNGs in a row: both $6.50 turbos. Now that's more like it. Whaddaya know...I played solidly, caught some cards but not a tidal wave of lucktardness, and exploited the pushmonkeys.
And with 2:29 left in OT, Kansas is up six. I'm probably jinxing it, but I'll say this...all year they talked about Memphis' ability from the stripe. It's amazing how at the most critical moments of the year how that Achilles heel pops back up.
I finally get it all in w/ about 5BBs w/ ATs from EP. It folds around and the BB calls with 89s. He flops two pair after that horrendous call, my straight draw never gets there and I crash and burn in 5th.
Absolutely the most infuriated I've EVER been in a SNG - and it's because of the damned router.
I'd pay money to flop a set or start with a big pair. Just running so dry right now.
UPDATE...UPDATE...UPDATE...after posting this, I won two SNGs in a row: both $6.50 turbos. Now that's more like it. Whaddaya know...I played solidly, caught some cards but not a tidal wave of lucktardness, and exploited the pushmonkeys.
And with 2:29 left in OT, Kansas is up six. I'm probably jinxing it, but I'll say this...all year they talked about Memphis' ability from the stripe. It's amazing how at the most critical moments of the year how that Achilles heel pops back up.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
CHIMPS Stud
Haven't played much this week, with a couple of days down at the psuedo Home Office in a training course.
CHIMPS was Tuesday night, as usual. What was different was that I got out of "work" at 4:45, headed back to the hotel, ran over to the Outback, and proceeded to have one steak salad and about 5-6 glasses of Shiraz between 6:30 and 8:30. So I wasn't in the prime mental state for CHIMPS. Plus the hotel internet connection sucked.
I chipped up a bit early as I noticed that one player was constantly completing/raising whenever he had the highest exposed card. On a couple of occasions, I would call and then raise subsequent streets and managed to chase him away by 5th street, with barely a pair in my hand.
One hand killed me. I was dealt 4c 5c 6c and landed the 7c on 4th street. Ended up head-to-head w/ Gambit who started w/ a K door card and paired ducks exposed by 5th or 6th street. Well the flush never got there, but I did land a straight on 7th, and I called all the way down to see that he made a boat on 7th. I was short from there.
Now, per usual, I cannot catch an effing hand while short, so I slowly bleed myself dry. Finally wake up with split Qs and someone who started w a 7 door card hits a 4 on 4th street...for trip 4s tyvm. I go out...wait for it...ON THE BUBBLE (the points bubble, that is).
-----
I've come to the realization on the home game that I just need to accept it for what it is - a card catching contest. I'm not going to change my style, in fact I think it's perfect for this event. I'm just going to change my expectations. When you sit and wait for good starting hands from position, and people are entirely aware of this, and they STILL call you down and suck out far too often, what else can you do but roll with it? The only strategic change I need to be sure to make - both live and online - is avoiding going all-in when I don't need to. This took me out of the home game last month and has buried me online too. Why shove when a 3-4x raise may be enough to at least find out where I am as well as potentially induce a fold?
CHIMPS was Tuesday night, as usual. What was different was that I got out of "work" at 4:45, headed back to the hotel, ran over to the Outback, and proceeded to have one steak salad and about 5-6 glasses of Shiraz between 6:30 and 8:30. So I wasn't in the prime mental state for CHIMPS. Plus the hotel internet connection sucked.
I chipped up a bit early as I noticed that one player was constantly completing/raising whenever he had the highest exposed card. On a couple of occasions, I would call and then raise subsequent streets and managed to chase him away by 5th street, with barely a pair in my hand.
One hand killed me. I was dealt 4c 5c 6c and landed the 7c on 4th street. Ended up head-to-head w/ Gambit who started w/ a K door card and paired ducks exposed by 5th or 6th street. Well the flush never got there, but I did land a straight on 7th, and I called all the way down to see that he made a boat on 7th. I was short from there.
Now, per usual, I cannot catch an effing hand while short, so I slowly bleed myself dry. Finally wake up with split Qs and someone who started w a 7 door card hits a 4 on 4th street...for trip 4s tyvm. I go out...wait for it...ON THE BUBBLE (the points bubble, that is).
-----
I've come to the realization on the home game that I just need to accept it for what it is - a card catching contest. I'm not going to change my style, in fact I think it's perfect for this event. I'm just going to change my expectations. When you sit and wait for good starting hands from position, and people are entirely aware of this, and they STILL call you down and suck out far too often, what else can you do but roll with it? The only strategic change I need to be sure to make - both live and online - is avoiding going all-in when I don't need to. This took me out of the home game last month and has buried me online too. Why shove when a 3-4x raise may be enough to at least find out where I am as well as potentially induce a fold?
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