Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Joe Pos on the Boss

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. 

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. 

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.

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. :)

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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?

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