.25/.50 NLH LH 01/12/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $807.04
No. of Hands: 812
Profit/Loss: -$167.75
Closing Balance: $639.64

Running Totals: -$98.60/3817
-197ptbb/3817

Month: -$167.75/812

Session started brilliantly when I played 100 hands of 25NL without thinking. Made $0.35, so maybe I should've stayed there.

Rest of the time was ick. Missed most of my draws, did get fancy (too loose preflop by far, for example) but not much worse than I had been at 25NL (except preflop. Possibly my worst street). Had 25 PPs see the flop, hit one set. Did score some 3-outers and 4-outers (in small pots), but lost big pots the same way. Had a minor resurgance near the end, picking up a couple of buy-ins and just about letting me stay at this level. Only one hand I'll post now:

BB: $25.95
UTG: $94.80
UTG+1: $51.35
UTG+2: $21.55
MP1: $65.50
MP2: $11.05
CO: $51.45
BTN: $41.15
Hero (SB): $50

Pre-Flop: Ac Ks dealt to Hero (SB)
3 folds, MP1 raises to $2, 2 folds, BTN raises to $5, Hero raises to $14, 2 folds, BTN raises to $23, Hero raises to $50 and is All-In, BTN calls $18.15 and is All-In


BTN had Aces and must've figured his Christmas came early. Min 3-bet should've tipped me off maybe that this was AA/KK. I'd be 4:1 against that, so nothing like the right price. $14 of cooler, $27 of poor play. If he does that with 99+ I'm ok, or JJ+, AQo+, but that's a wide range.

Well, I'll hang in here for a little longer. Stop limit of $500 is ok for me.

.10/.25 PLO SH 1/12/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $803.44
No. of Hands: 200
Profit/Loss: +$3.60
Closing Balance: $807.04

Running Totals: +$171.75/968
+687ptbb/968

Month: +$3.60/200

Thought I'd start the month with some PLO. 4-tabling short handed was a little rough to start with. Didn't cause me too many problems with hands, although I stacked off stupidly once (overpairs are -EV). Generally ok.

.10/.25 NLH LH 30/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $660.29
No. of Hands: 1065
Profit/Loss: +$143.15
Closing Balance: $803.44

Running Totals: +$558.80/5207
+2235ptbb/5207 (+42.93ptbb/100)

Bumped tables up to 4. Taking some advice from Ishbu (to play the maximum number of tables you comfortably can to minimise FPS) is working well so far. I even had to fold A8o UTG because I was being beeped at on two other tables. Doubleplusungood IMO.

Played well, fairly solidly. Obviously LAGgy preflop and on the flop, maybe not c-betting enough but I think there's a point where cbetting doesn't work that well (when your opponents call too often to show an immediate profit but don't pay enough attention to allow you to build a proper image. Also with that is when you're not good enough to hand read accurately enough).

Moving back to 50NL tomorrow. Plan for December is to stay at 50NL (i.e. not moving down again), to put in 14K hands of FRNLH, and 3K hands each of 25SHNLH and 25SHPLO. That would need about 90 minutes a day of 4-tabling at 50NL, which is my clear priority, and about 30 table hours for the others. Seems manageable to me, although christmas will be a hindrance (I'll be at my parent's for a week and won't play probably at all). If I play well, I might be rolled for 100NL by January, and I hope to definitely be there by February. Still, no point having goals if you can't fail to meet them, is there?

.10/.25 NLH LH 28/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $679.49
No. of Hands: 646
Profit/Loss: -$19.20
Closing Balance: $660.29

Running Totals: +$438.55/4142
+1754ptbb/4142 (+42.35ptbb/100)

Slight difference between my PT stats and my actual stats. Stars died on me last night and cost me a few hands (only three, i think, but I had money invested). Using PT for the running totals to make it easier.

Don't think I played that badly last night. Missed a couple of huge combo draws (all in on the flop with an OESFD once and gutshot+FD the other time), missed a few expensive flush draws too. Made a SF at one point (and nobody said NH...bastards) and bluffed a little erratically. Had to leave one of the tables because I was playing poorly on it (some guy got lucky on me a few times and then I started playing badly against him, so I left. He was the most active player and there was nothing keeping me there).

Just for fun

MP2: $27.25
CO: $4.30
Hero (BTN): $26.10
SB: $19.70
BB: $35.15
UTG: $13
UTG+1: $28.85
UTG+2: $25
MP1: $24.65

Pre-Flop: 7d 5d dealt to Hero (BTN)
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, SB folds, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60) 4d 3d 4h (2 Players) FD+gutshot. I doubt he has a FH here, maybe A4
BB checks, Hero bets $1.25, BB raises to $2.50, Hero calls $1.25

Turn: ($6.60) 6d (2 Players) Even if he flopped a boat, I just 1-outered him
BB checks, Hero bets $3.25, BB calls $3.25

River: ($13.10) 7c (2 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $7.25,I can't check behind and I think this is the most I can bet and keep him interested. Bluff inducing on the river is rare BB calls $7.25

Results: $27.60 Pot ($1.35 Rake)
Hero showed 7d 5d (a straight flush, Three to Seven) and WON $26.25 (+$12.50 NET)
BB mucked 6s Kc and LOST (-$13.75 NET) K6? Probably why no NH.

This next hand got me berated by the villain (who quickly left) and had one guy on the other side of the table supporting me (although he might have been trying to keep the fish happy). Judging from his later play, he was no nit and seemed pretty decent. Who knows.

CO: $18.80
Hero (BTN): $56
SB: $10.55
BB: $25
UTG: $21.50
UTG+1: $4.25
MP1: $27.80
MP2: $49.35

Pre-Flop: 3d 7d dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, SB raises to $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75 Getting 2:1 now, with about 12:1 max implied. Not great, but ok. I don't know much about the villain but this doesn't look much like a steal and I have no reason to think it as he's shown more passivity than aggression preflop.

Flop: ($2.75) Qd 2s Ad (2 Players)
SB bets $0.25, Pathetic bet. Probably wants a call, but tiny bets are, in my experience, extremely polarised. Probably either AA or 34o type thing Hero raises to $2, Gets weak hands out, builds a big pot for if I hit SB calls $1.75

Turn: ($6.75) 4d (2 Players)
SB bets $7.55 and is All-In, Hero calls $7.55 I've hit what I wanted so I have to call. I don't put him on a big flush here.

River: ($21.85) Kc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $21.85 Pot ($1.05 Rake)
Hero showed 3d 7d (a flush, Ace high) and WON $20.80 (+$10.25 NET)
SB showed Ac As (three of a kind, Aces) and LOST (-$10.55 NET)

This hand was a disaster from flop to river.

MP1: $4.30
MP2: $25.40
Hero (CO): $35.15
BTN: $22.20
SB: $4.40
BB: $28.90
UTG: $8.85
UTG+1: $4.95

Pre-Flop: 8h 6s dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.75,I think I'm getting good implied odds here, with position 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.60) Qs 2d 7d (3 Players)
UTG+1 checks, MP2 bets $1.25, Hero raises to $3.25,Small reraise to represent value. Maybe too small. Without a read, I think bigger bluffs work better. There's a good chance he has a big hand preflop. A missed AK folds here most of the time, and overpairs don't fold to a reasonable bet UTG+1 folds, MP2 calls $2

Turn: ($9.10) Jd (2 Players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $5.25, Now I'm repping the flush. I suppose flush with Q makes sense, so for the hand as a whole I can only have KQ, QJ, maybe QT. AQ is unlikely for me here, but he might not know that. MP2 calls $5.25

River: ($19.60) 3d (2 Players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $11.50,Another fake value bet. Might be a good spot to abandon it here, as AdAx, KdKx just hit and won't fold like ever. MP2 calls $11.50

Results: $42.60 Pot ($2.05 Rake)
MP2 showed Ks Kd (a flush, King high) and WON $40.55 (+$19.80 NET) KdKx. Oh well.
Hero showed 8h 6s (high card Queen) and LOST (-$20.75 NET)


Here's someone else hitting a draw vs me.

MP: $4.65
Hero (CO): $40.05
BTN: $21.85
SB: $17
BB: $25
UTG: $25
UTG+1: $24

Pre-Flop: Kd 5d dealt to Hero (CO)
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, BTN calls $0.75, SB calls $0.65, BB raises to $1.25, Hero calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, SB calls $0.50

Flop: ($5) Kh 9h 5c (4 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $3.25, BTN folds, SB raises to $15.75 and is All-In, I have to call $12.50 with $24 in there, so I need to win a third of the time. Against sets and Axs, I'm 46%. Based on the eventual result, I plugged in every FD, sets and 2-pair, and I'm 59%, even though shit like 9d5s makes no sense. Without those, I come up to about 60%. Either way, I think I'm in decent enough shape. BB folds, Hero calls $12.50

Turn: ($36.50) 3c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($36.50) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $36.50 Pot ($1.80 Rake)
Hero mucked Kd 5d and LOST (-$17 NET)
SB showed 4h 6h (a straight, Deuce to Six) and WON $34.70 (+$17.70 NET)

Betting the turn in this next hand might be a mistake. Too aggressive? The villain hadn't played past the flop yet, but I only have about 2 orbits with him.

Hero (UTG): $25
UTG+1: $9.15
MP1: $35.95
MP2: $23.80
CO: $7.65
BTN: $15.80
SB: $12.90
BB: $19.05

Pre-Flop: As 9s dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $0.75, 4 folds, BTN raises to $2.50, SB folds, BB calls $2.25, Hero calls $1.75 3:1 now, not great implied odds. Probably a good spot to fold and avoid difficulties with A-high flops.

Flop: ($7.60) 7d Ts 5s (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4.75, BTN calls $4.75, BB folds

Turn: ($17.10) 4h (2 Players)
Hero bets $8.55, After two orbits, I have no reason to think he's floating me. I probably wasn't aware of it at the time, but he's either bet or check/folded every other flop. BTN calls $8.55 and is All-In

River: ($34.20) Qc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $34.20 Pot ($1.65 Rake)
Hero showed As 9s (high card Ace) and LOST (-$15.80 NET)
BTN showed Td Th (three of a kind, Tens) and WON $32.55 (+$16.75 NET)

I also had a couple of experiences with river calls of tiny bets. One was good and the other was bad. Small sample, obviously, but I think this is one of the things I struggle with. Getting 6:1 on the end, you only need to be right a small fraction of the time, but calling and losing 6 times would make me gun-shy on the one that I would've won.


UTG: $27.25
UTG+1: $5
Hero (UTG+2): $37.85
MP1: $20.65
MP2: $25.90
CO: $12.65
BTN: $28.50
SB: $24.75
BB: $24.65

Pre-Flop: Ac 9h dealt to Hero (UTG+2)
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, MP1 calls $0.75, MP2 calls $0.75, 4 folds

Flop: ($2.60) 6d 3c 7c (3 Players)
Hero checks, Missed OOP, been aggressive recently so checking here. Chance to get a free card, maybe hit a backdoor club draw. MP1 checks, MP2 checks

Turn: ($2.60) 9c (3 Players) Pretty perfect card. TP+FD
Hero bets $1.50,If nobody else wants the pot. MP1 folds, MP2 calls $1.50 Oh, somebody else does want the pot

River: ($5.60) As (2 Players)
Hero bets $1.75, MP2 raises to $3.50,Possible he called the turn with AxKc or some other 2pair combo. 6:1 on the call should be enough. Hero calls $1.75

Results: $12.60 Pot ($0.60 Rake)
Hero mucked Ac 9h and LOST (-$5.75 NET)
MP2 showed Kc 2c (a flush, King high) and WON $12 (+$6.25 NET)

Lastly - hero call!

MP2: $34.55
CO: $6.85
BTN: $16.40
SB: $24.75
Hero (BB): $25
UTG: $26.15
UTG+1: $11
UTG+2: $28.35
MP1: $9.05

Pre-Flop: Kd Tc dealt to Hero (BB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, UTG+2 calls $0.50, 5 folds, Hero calls $0.25

Flop: ($1.60) 2h Ks Ts (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.25, UTG+2 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.25,I guess I'm betting too small against draws here. I plan to bet big if the turn is not a spade or A UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $1

Turn: ($4.35) Jd (2 Players)
Hero bets $3, UTG+2 raises to $26.60 and is All-In,This looks so much like a bluff or semi bluff. I can't put him on AQ or a set here Hero calls $20.25 and is All-In

River: ($50.85) 5c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $50.85 Pot ($2.50 Rake)
Hero showed Kd Tc (two pair, Kings and Tens) and WON $48.35 (+$23.35 NET)
UTG+2 mucked 6s As and LOST (-$25 NET) Semibluff. Well well.

I've picked up a couple of problems. First is that I struggle with the long term. I already know I fixate on short-term money movements, although I am getting better. But I also don't allow enough for the value of calls on the end over time. I play draws too fast and too hard. Since most people aren't that aggressive, I could afford to value bet them a little more (I wonder what the effect of betting draws on the turn to the value that you could call if the bet was reversed would be? A drop in fold equity but a rise in pot equity? I suppose the final effect on EV depends on who the villain is - will they fold at a good price or not?) I also take some very weak hands to showdown. I'm down $290 with no pair and one pair hands - a lot of dumb calls and missed bluffs/draws there, I think.

.10/.25 NLH LH 26/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $629.89
Closing Balance: $679.49

Running Totals: +$457/3496
+1828ptbb/3496 (+52ptbb/100)

Not all the changes from just the 25NL. Played a few tourneys in the last couple of days. Done well in Omaha, less well in hold'em but not horrifically. It's been good fun, a nice change of pace. Also played some 100NLHU (stupid, I know. It was after a tourney score and I wanted to play HU, 100 was the smallest action. Up about $100 on that, but also down $30 on some .25/.50FL. I've been displaying nearly no discipline the last few days.)

I don't know how I'm doing this to 25NL. I still call stupid river bets like these two

CO: $24.30
BTN: $24
SB: $27.95
BB: $13.60
UTG: $43.85
UTG+1: $19.60
UTG+2: $25
MP1: $33.45
Hero (MP2): $27.15

Pre-Flop: 4c 4d dealt to Hero (MP2)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.75, CO calls $0.75, BTN calls $0.75, SB folds, BB calls $0.50, UTG calls $0.50

Flop: ($4.60) 3h Ah 4h (6 Players)
BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $2, 3 folds, UTG calls $2, UTG+1 folds

Turn: ($8.60) Qc (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4.25, UTG raises to $10, Hero calls $5.75

River: ($28.60) Js (2 Players)
UTG bets $31.10 and is All-In, Hero calls $14.40 and is All-In

Results: $57.40 Pot ($2.80 Rake)
UTG showed Kh Jh (a flush, Ace high) and WON $54.60 (+$27.45 NET)
Hero mucked 4c 4d and LOST (-$27.15 NET)




SB: $4.80
BB: $50.15
UTG: $26.45
UTG+1: $16.25
MP1: $9.90
MP2: $25.20
CO: $37.50
Hero (BTN): $56.60

Pre-Flop: 4h 4s dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 3 folds, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.35) 6c 2d 4c (2 Players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $1.50, UTG+1 calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.35) Qc (2 Players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $3.25, UTG+1 calls $3.25

River: ($11.85) 9c (2 Players)
UTG+1 bets $5, Hero calls $5

Results: $21.85 Pot ($1.05 Rake)
UTG+1 showed Ac 7c (a flush, Ace high) and WON $20.80 (+$10.05 NET)
Hero mucked 4h 4s and LOST (-$10.75 NET)

And somehow I'm running at +50? I must be the biggest luckbox in the entire damn world. That said, the four big pairs are in my top six winners (although the Jacks are nowhere to be found in the average per hand). AA (16) and 76s (6) have never lost for me. Since moving down again, I've been trying to concentrate on not making ridonkulous hero calls and not playing crazily OOP. Well, whatever is going on, I'm happy with it.

I'm aiming to go 5K hands and at least $750 before I move up again.

.25/.50 NLH LH 22/11/07

Stars

Running Totals: +$69.15/3005
+138ptbb/3005 (+4.6ptbb/100)

I'm picking these hands more or less at random. They might or might not be interesting. They will mostly be big pots, though.

MP: $91.70
CO: $109.50
BTN: $60.05
SB: $29
Hero (BB): $55.05
UTG: $49.25
UTG+1: $10.75

Pre-Flop: 7s Ks dealt to Hero (BB)
4 folds, BTN raises to $1.50, SB folds, Hero calls $1 He's a habitual stealer. Planning to take it away on the flop

Flop: ($3.25) 2d 5d 2s (2 Players)
Hero bets $3, BTN calls $3 Unexpected

Turn: ($9.25) 7d (2 Players)
Hero checks,I caught a piece, probably the best piece. Pot control and to let him bluff if he was re-restealing BTN bets $8, Hero calls $8

River: ($25.25) 3s (2 Players)
Hero checks,Not a scary card. Should call behind in the interest of pot control. BTN bets $14.50, Hero raises to $42.55 and is All-In,Don't like this. Spewy. I have enough to catch him on a steal and there is a possible flush, straight or trips out there BTN calls $28.05

Results: $110.35 Pot ($3 Rake)
BTN showed Td 9d (a flush, Ten high) and WON $107.35 (+$52.30 NET)
Hero showed 7s Ks (two pair, Sevens and Deuces) and LOST (-$55.05 NET)

This villain and I had sparred a lot. That's where a big chunk of his stack came from. He folded to a couple of these before.

MP1: $69.20
MP2: $50
CO: $50.25
BTN: $29.35
Hero (SB): $53.95
BB: $216.45
UTG: $29.70
UTG+1: $17.05

Pre-Flop: Kh Th dealt to Hero (SB)
6 folds, Hero raises to $2, BB calls $1.50

Flop: ($4) 6s 6c 7s (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.50,Just a steal BB raises to $5, Hero calls $2.50 Two overcards at 4.5:1. Not really enough here, unless I think he checks behind on the turn

Turn: ($14) Jc (2 Players)
Hero checks, BB bets $4.50, Hero calls $4.50 Check-calling to try and take it on the turn

River: ($23) 2s (2 Players)
Hero bets $13, He nearly folded. I'm clumsily representing a draw (this is one of the ways I would play a flush draw, the other being to raise the turn, but if he knows that I don't know). I did not have a clear plan here, so I can't call this a proper bluff BB calls $13

Results: $49 Pot ($2.35 Rake)
Hero showed Kh Th (a pair of Sixes) and LOST (-$24.50 NET)
BB showed 9h 7d (two pair, Sevens and Sixes) and WON $46.65 (+$22.15 NET)

I don't know what this is. Fugly, obv. but other than that.

CO: $66.65
BTN: $36.05
SB: $20.20
BB: $25.10
Hero (UTG): $75.50
UTG+1: $56.80
MP: $32.55

Pre-Flop: 5d Jc dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $1.50 I do this from time to time. I think this table might have been weak, 3 folds, BTN raises to $3 BTN was a restealer, or I suspected him of it, 2 folds, Hero raises to $5.50 Building a big pot OOP with minraises is +EV., BTN calls $2.50

Flop: ($11.75) 5s 3s Qd (2 Players)
Hero bets $6, BTN raises to $17, Hero raises to $30.55 I'm trying to push him out, hoping he's either FOS or on AKo, BTN calls $13.55 and is All-In

Turn: ($72.85) Qs (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($72.85) Ad (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $72.85 Pot ($3 Rake)
BTN showed As Ks (a flush, Ace high) and WON $69.85 (+$33.80 NET)
Hero showed 5d Jc (two pair, Queens and Fives) and LOST (-$36.05 NET)

I'm not sure how bad this one is. I'm looking at the Ace on the turn of making it more likely he has QQ-88 than Ax.

MP2: $9.50
CO: $20.70
BTN: $33.80
SB: $43.75
Hero (BB): $61.90
UTG: $50
UTG+1: $48.75
UTG+2: $92.65
MP1: $51.35

Pre-Flop: Kd Ks dealt to Hero (BB)
4 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, 2 folds, SB calls $0.25, Hero raises to $2.50, MP2 folds, SB calls $2

Flop: ($5.50) 2d 7h Ac (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4, SB calls $4

Turn: ($13.50) Ah (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $7.50, SB raises to $21 I don't think calling here is terrible if he's looking at the second Ace same way I am. Of course, I don't know if he is, Hero calls $13.50

River: ($55.50) Qs (2 Players)
SB bets $16.25 and is All-In, Hero calls $16.25 This is worse, but I'm getting a good price for this to be JJ-88

Results: $88 Pot ($3 Rake)
SB showed 7s 7c (a full house, Sevens full of Aces) and WON $85 (+$41.25 NET)
Hero mucked Kd Ks and LOST (-$43.75 NET)

I'll close out with this one, because I'm seeing a depressing pattern. Too much double-street floating and CR bluffing. Being OOP is also killing me (see J5 hand above).

Nothing very think-worthy here. Free look at a flop, get second-nut straight with two diamonds and get it all in. My heart sunk on the river, but turns out I was ok. I was confident it wasn't a straight (and you'd need a hell of a read to fold this anyway) especially when he pushed the CO out.

MP2: $57.50
CO: $9.90
BTN: $6.60
SB: $64
Hero (BB): $147.70
UTG: $57.75
UTG+1: $66.70
UTG+2: $47.50
MP1: $69.05

Pre-Flop: 7d 4s dealt to Hero (BB)
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 folds, CO calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.75) 6d 5s 8d (3 Players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $1.50, CO calls $1.50, Hero raises to $6.50, MP1 raises to $14.50, CO folds, Hero raises to $147.20 and is All-In, MP1 calls $54.05 and is All-In

Turn: ($140.35) Js (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($140.35) Qd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $140.35 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 7d 4s (a straight, Four to Eight) and WON $137.35 (+$68.30 NET)
MP1 mucked 6s 6c and LOST (-$69.05 NET)

Back to 25NL for me.

More Non-Specific Updating 22/11/07

Neteller. Stupid Neteller. Been trying to get my account set up to the type that will let me deposit a proper amount of money, but it's proving difficult so far. So up to now, no FT account or rakeback for me. Planning to phone customer support tomorrow morning.

Interpoker. Signed up, with rb, made a small deposit (£25, about $50) and played some .05p/.10p 6-max NLH. Up to £63.38 with a £15 bonus.

Stars. Less good. Starting with the bad, I lost $300 on ...Monday, I think. So far, back up about $230 of that and in profit for the level again. I'm sort of thinking I'm not quite good enough yet. The Ugly: withdrew $600 with the intention of depositing on FT, but with Neteller sucking I might just forget it and grind the money out. Stars account down to $629.89 now. Going to return to 25NL and get back up to $750, then I'll come back to 50NL.

Now that this is out of the way, time to post a real update. With bad beats and everything.

.25/.50 NLH LH 19/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 294.44
No. of Tables: 3
No. of Hands: 441
Closing Balance: $1 299.79

Running Totals: +$139.05/1896
+278ptbb/1896

Meh. Was set to do pretty well over the session until I turned into an idiot for the last half hour. Brutally coolered out of a big pot on the last hand (23 vs. 22 with 237 flop). Could've played better (one guy, who was either awesome or a maniac, wouldn't stop reraising me, but I kept betting my draws into him anyway). Overall, not that bad, but I'm annoyed anyway.

.10/.25 PLO SH 15/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 294.69
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 90
Closing Balance: $1 290.44 (-$4.25)

Running Totals: +$123.25/643
+493ptbb/643

Did not play well at the start. Table selection was poor, so I had to deal with a couple of aggressive players who were potting it light (sounds good, but I get too nervous in PLO to gamble that much). My best defence against them was reraising or checkraising with otherwise modest hands.

I played better in the second half of the session, earning back almost all of the two buy-ins I lost. This was when I started playing back at the maniacs but not at the TAGs when I had nothing.

UPDATE: Won $4 at 50PL 5CD. Balance now at: $1 294.44

Random Games 15/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 245.69
Closing Balance: $1 294.69 (+$49.00)

Played some random games last night to alleviate boredom. Lost two $5.50 HU SNGs, failed to cash in two small $5.50 PTipper tourneys and made some ok money playing 2-7TD and 5CD. I think I ran good (or my opponents ran bad) but I had a lot of fun. Just tried to use basic knowledge to beat the mostly rubbish players around me and it seemed to go ok.

2-7 is not a stress-free game. Twice I rivered a guy (once I stood pat on the last draw with something like 97532, he stood pat, I checked to him and he checked behind with K5432; the other time I drew one on the river and hit a K but he paired). A very volatile game.

PL5CD I enjoyed more. I wouldn't say I was particularly great at it, I just used what I know to try and do something (not drawing with bad odds, inducing a few bluffs from people drawing 1 with big two pair etc.) It was an enjoyable diversion (one I'm indulging in right now) but I don't know how profitable it would be long-term.

.25/.50 NLH LH 15/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 124.99
No. of Tables: 3 (2 simultaneously)
No. of Hands: 243
Closing Balance: $1 245.69 (+$120.70)

Running Totals: +$133.70/1455
+267ptbb/1455

Great success.

Tables were very accomodating. Lots of weak-tights to steal from, a few loose players to pay me off. But hands are more interesting than this. Let's go!

BTN: $120.25
Hero (SB): $87.65
BB: $9
UTG: $68.30
CO: $47.65

Pre-Flop: Ac 9s dealt to Hero (SB)
3 folds, Hero raises to $2, BB calls $1.50

Flop: ($4) 6s 3h Jd (2 Players)
Hero bets $2, BB raises to $7 and is All-In, OK, so we know he has something. I have six outs if it's not a Jack, so about 24% to win. Worse if it is a Jack, better if he's FOS or overplaying 45. Call is speculative and probably slightly -EV ($5 to win $13) Hero calls $5

Turn: ($18) 9h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($18) 4c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $18 Pot ($0.85 Rake)
Hero showed Ac 9s (a pair of Nines) and WON $17.15 (+$8.15 NET)
BB mucked Qc 6c and LOST (-$9 NET)

Villain in this next hand is a known aggro stealer. Not a pure stealer, but his steal percantage is 27% compared to 6%PFR and he has infinite flop aggression. Obviously my heart flutters when he thinks for an hour on the turn.

MP: $43.95
CO: $31.55
BTN: $120.30
Hero (SB): $80.25
BB: $9.05
UTG: $46.60
UTG+1: $48.40

Pre-Flop: As 7h dealt to Hero (SB)
3 folds, CO raises to $2, BTN folds, Hero raises to $5.50, I think position works with me here because I get first stab on the turn and I can feign weakness on the flop (if I am weak is irrelevant, I only want to encourage him to come out firing) BB folds, CO calls $3.50

Flop: ($11.50) 4c Qd 8c (2 Players)
Hero checks, CO bets $2.50,C-betting for cheap people. Ordinarily might look valuey but for the guy with infinite flop aggro it's a little less worrying Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($16.50) Th (2 Players)
Hero bets $9.75, A little small? CO folds That's right, boy.

Results: $16.50 Pot ($0.75 Rake)
Hero mucked As 7h and WON $15.75 (+$7.75 NET)

This next hand is, I think, the only one where I make a sizeable error. Most of the rest of my losses are failed steals and snapped-off c-bets. Calling the river here is especially dumb. Villain is loose passive pre andloose aggro post.

UTG: $10.50
UTG+1: $54.45
MP1: $117.55
Hero (MP2): $50.70
CO: $32.25
BTN: $69.55
SB: $59.60
BB: $70.45

Pre-Flop: Kd Ac dealt to Hero (MP2)
3 folds, Hero raises to $2.50, 2 folds, SB raises to $5,Big pair 99+, AK, AQs? BB folds, Hero calls $2.50 Giving good implied odds

Flop: ($10.50) 6c Qh 2c (2 Players)
SB bets $5, Hero calls $5 I'll get my coat. Or my backdoor nut flush.

Turn: ($20.50) 4c (2 Players)
SB bets $5, Hero calls $5 FD

River: ($30.50) Ts (2 Players)
SB bets $10, Hero calls $10 Value-bluff call obv.

Results: $50.50 Pot ($2.45 Rake)
Hero mucked Kd Ac and LOST (-$25 NET)
SB showed Tc Th (three of a kind, Tens) and WON $48.05 (+$23.05 NET)

After that hand I wanted to hit myself. Of course, I didn't, as that might have hurt

Here's how not to play a straight draw. Unless you're sitting opposite me, in which case WP GG NH.

UTG: $34.90
UTG+1: $86.05
UTG+2: $84.75
MP1: $50.50
MP2: $14.35
CO: $56.60
Hero (BTN): $49.25
SB: $66.30
BB: $66.15

Pre-Flop: Ks Ac dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG raises to $2, 5 folds, Hero raises to $7,I figure I can get a slightly larger than usual bet called here because of my position. I also based this bet size on SPR. It's pretty simple really: bet flop $10-12 regardless if checked to, and go all-in if A or K on flop or turn 2 folds, UTG calls $5

Flop: ($14.75) 6h 3s Kd (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $11, UTG calls $11

Turn: ($36.75) 8h (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $16.90, UTG calls $16.90 and is All-In

River: ($70.55) 3h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $70.55 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG showed 4s 5s (a pair of Threes) and LOST (-$34.90 NET)
Hero showed Ks Ac (two pair, Kings and Threes) and WON $67.55 (+$32.65 NET)

Chips go where?


Didn't play this hand fantastically either. Villain is very tight, but only over 20-30 hands. Second hand he's played in that time.

UTG+1: $38.10
MP1: $51.25
MP2: $50.25
CO: $53.65
BTN: $23
SB: $47.50
Hero (BB): $69.45
UTG: $51.05

Pre-Flop: Ah Jh dealt to Hero (BB)
3 folds, MP2 raises to $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.25) Qh 9s Qd (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.50, MP2 calls $2.50

Turn: ($9.25) Kh (2 Players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $6.50, Hero calls $6.50 Despite the board being paired, I think he has AA/AQ/AK more than 99, KK or QQ. I think my 12 outs are good.

River: ($22.25) Jc (2 Players)
Hero checks, Not one of them, don't want to bluff a ten as I think a Q still might call MP2 checks

Results: $22.25 Pot ($1.05 Rake)
MP2 showed Qs Ac (three of a kind, Queens) and WON $21.20 (+$10.20 NET)
Hero showed Ah Jh (two pair, Queens and Jacks) and LOST (-$11 NET)

My Bank Must Die

So, a few months ago, my bank introduced a new security measure on debit cards. Essentially, it made me register a password that I would need to use every time I buy something online with my card (well, most places. Amazon and PS don't need it, Domino's and Party do).

Like an idiot, I left caps lock on the first time I tried to use it and got locked out. So I phoned the number it gives you to use to unlock the code.

"... Hello."

"Yes, it's about my SecureCode on my debit card."

"Sorry, sir, what's this about?"

"The SecureCode on my debit card. The one I had to register for online to use my card to buy..."

"Oh, yes. So what is the problem, sir?"

"I locked it out by accident and would like to reset it. This is the right number, isn't it?" The woman on the other end seemed to have no clue what was going on.

"Yes sir." Oh good. "I'll need your name and address."

""

"Thank you. And now, the second and ninth letters of your secret password please..."

Um. Just so we're clear, I have no idea what that is. Did it prompt me for a password, in which case I do know what it is? Or was this one of those times when it made me answer ridiculous questions like "Favourite sandwich packaging style?"

"I don't know what that is."

"That's fine sir. Unfortunately, we can't proceed without that." Terrific.

"Can you tell me my secret question. That would help."

"No, sir, I can't." "Would you like to guess?"

This is really secure, isn't it? Would I like to guess? No I wouldn't like people guessing my fucking password.

"Is it Q and Z?" (I actually guessed something reasonable, in case you wondered. I'm more of a degenerate than a bastard)

"No, I'm sorry sir."

"That's fine. What do I do now?"

She tells me to go to the bank with some photo ID and they'll change it in person. The bank is about 5 feet from my flat, so that's no challenge. Well, it's a slight challenge, but it's near a Subway, so I'll be fine.

In the bank, talking to a middle aged, and not gracefully middle aged, faux-blonde woman with more foundation than the Pentagon (I can regonise women who wear too much foundation because I live with one):
"Hello. How can I help?"

"It's about my Secure Code?"

She looks at me like I'm a fat guy in a porn film who thinks life is full of girls who want to suck him off. "Your what?"

"The one I need to pay for stuff online. The Secure Code on my debit card."

"On your what?"

"My debit card?" I pull it out and nearly shove it up her coke-ravaged nose. I don't want this hassle, I just want to be bad at poker!

"Oh, I see. It's about the Secure Code online payment security system?" Now sh's smiling at me like I'm eight years old. And stupid.

"Yes."

"You need to call this number..."

"I called them. They said I need to talk to you because I don't know my secret password..." I'm reaching for my passport to prove I am me, and I'm not trying to steal the money.

She takes my card and types some numbers in. I haven't given her any ID yet.

"OK, sir." I'm reaching for my passport again. "You just need to type in your new password here."

So, I type in the new password and she tells me I'm good to go. I haven't shown any ID. I could have stolen this card and now all I need to do is go home and buy porn and stuff. Good to see that my local bank are, like all local companies, useless.

Happily, the woman in the bank has the last laugh. Because I haven't had my card released at all. Despite clearing my cookies and temp files and all of that, I still can't use my card.

You might wonder why I care about this now. Well, in addition to moving money to Tilt, Blue Square have a good bonus I wanted to take advantage of. But I can't. Damn you women of banking. Let me earn bonus dollars while they're still worth something!

.25/.50 NLH LH 14/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 093.09
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 181
Closing Balance: $1 124.99 (+$31.90)

Running Totals: +$13.00/1212
+26ptbb/1212

Ran fairly well but generally played tighter than usual. Flopped nut straight once and nut flush once. Pleased with my play overall. Never really found myself in any tough spots, maybe because I folded preflop in a lot of spots where before I might have called.

£10 Live SNG 13/11/07

Uni
Total Entries: 8
Money finishes: 3rd (3), 2nd (1), 1st (1)
Profit/Loss: +£45

Another third tonight, good for £20 rather than money back like usual. 11 to the game for the extra money. Played well, one lucky hand (AQ all-in with KQ5 on the flop, villain has K, turn is a Q) but I got quite unlucky most of the time (except with KK when villain with AQ 3-bet all-in for about 5K, I covered with average around 3.5K). Happy overall with my performance, just unlucky not to place higher (for example, blinds at 300/600, my stack at about 17K, villains at about 6.5K and 4K. I pushed preflop from the SB with Q5s, called by J5o in the big blind and he hit a Jack on the river).

Also played a short online session.

50NLH LH
Stars
Opening Balance: $1 080.69
Number of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 46
Closing Balance: $1 093.09 (+$12.40)

Running Totals: -$18.90/1031
-38ptbb/1031 (-3.67ptbb/100)

.25/.50 NLH LH 13/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 160.54 (lost $22 playing 4 $5.50 HU SNGs last night)
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 106
Closing Balance: $1 080.69 ($-79.85)

Running Totals: -$31.30/985
-63ptbb/100

Two hands I played poorly and one cooler messed up this session. Slightly redeemed by what I feel was mostly good play (from the viewpoint of adjusting to the tables and the players) and a nice stacking right at the end. But that's enough of that; back to what I did wrong.

Here's the least bad.

MP2: $55.70
CO: $38.15
BTN: $59.35
Hero (SB): $52.25
BB: $43.65
UTG: $78.35
UTG+1: $53.10
MP1: $32.70

Pre-Flop: As 7h dealt to Hero (SB)
5 folds, BTN raises to $2 Villain is well known to me. He's tight and sort of passive. He doesn't steal much, Hero raises to $5.50, I don't hate this. Although he doesn't steal with the sort of trash I do, he still might fold a small pair or weak ace. BB folds, BTN calls $3.50

Flop: ($11.50) Qs Qc Kd (2 Players)
Hero bets $7, Nor do I hate this. He still has missed hands like AJs or TT in his range. BTN calls $7 I give up. He's got me beat. I don't even want to play an ace on the turn in case he has AQ/AK and I'm drawing all but dead.

Turn: ($25.50) 5c (2 Players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $10,This bet size could be interpreted as weak, but I think this guy checks when weak and isn't making bad use of an opportunity to bluff. Hero folds

This hand I actually like. It annoyed me but I don't see where I went wrong. Raise flop maybe, fold to a push but do what on a small three-bet?

BTN: $31.35
Hero (SB): $53.40
BB: $36.20
UTG: $22
UTG+1: $81.20
MP1: $94.75
MP2: $47.40
CO: $12.75

Pre-Flop: 5s Kh dealt to Hero (SB)
6 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, BB calls $1

Flop: ($3) 3h Kc 9s (2 Players)
Hero checks,To induce a bluff. BB bets $3, Hero calls $3 Well, he did what I wanted. I'll lead any non-heart turn.

Turn: ($9) Qh (2 Players)
Hero bets $5.50, BB calls $5.50 Not sure where he is now. Probably not bluffing the flop. Maybe semi-bluffing TJ, or maybe he caught a queen.

River: ($20) 6d (2 Players)
Hero checks,I think I'm behind to a bigger K a lot and there probably isn't much value from a 9 or Q. BB checks

Results: $20 Pot ($0.95 Rake)
Hero showed 5s Kh (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$10 NET)
BB showed Ah Ks (a pair of Kings) and WON $19.05 (+$9.05 NET)

Well, that's poker. Dominated with TP in BvB is a bit of a cooler, and I think I lost about the minimum. Raising the flop probably costs me more when I lose and wins me less when I win (for example, against AQ he caught on the turn).

Warning: the following contains betting patterns some viewers may find disturbing.

CO is aggressive postflop and tough to get off a hand (probably calls a little too much post flop and has been accidentally playing correctly vs. me, but not necessarily). Hasn't yet been caught bluffing.

UTG+1: $29.95
Hero (UTG+2): $50.75
MP1: $32
MP2: $8.45
CO: $62.90
BTN: $48.50
SB: $50.40
BB: $33.25
UTG: $69.25

Pre-Flop: Js Qh dealt to Hero (UTG+2)
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, 2 folds, CO raises to $5.50,Range: 99+AT+A8s+KQs 3 folds, Hero calls $4 Almost certainly better to fold.

Flop: ($11.75) Kc 3c 5d (2 Players)
Hero checks,I know I'm planning to check-raise when he c-bets at it. But that's not such a great idea beacuse it'll need to be big and I'll have about half my stack in the pot CO bets $6.50, Hero raises to $21, CO raises to $35.50, Hero folds Can't call, have nothing. Picked the wrong villain this time

Here's me being a clown with pocket jacks. I hate you pocket jacks!

UTG: $32.35
Hero (UTG+1): $74.45
MP1: $36.20
MP2: $22.50
CO: $82.80
BTN: $48.50
SB: $47.65
BB: $14

Pre-Flop: Jd Js dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $2, 3 folds, BTN raises to $4.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $2.50 Calling $2.50 with $40~ behind. Fine. Set value against overpairs, PP for AK/AQ. That's about his entire range at 9.6/7.5

Flop: ($9.75) 3s 9c Ts (2 Players)
Hero bets $6.50,It's an undercard flop, so I'm ahead of what I was ahead of and still behind where I wasn't. Unless he got creative with tens. Or he has two big spades. BTN raises to $14, Hero calls $7.50 Yuck. I don't know where I am, so even if this is an ok call vs. AsKs (where I'm about 49%) I can't do much on the turn except shove and pray.

Turn: ($37.75) Kd (2 Players)
Hero bets $30,Hideous. Now the only thing I beat is AQs. He thought for a while before calling with KK, which either proves he's weak-tight or that he's a multitabler. No, I didn't river a queen. Thanks for asking. BTN calls $30 and is All-In

Same villain as before is MP2. UTG is sort of tight-passive.

SB: $26.35
Hero (BB): $51.85
UTG: $52.40
UTG+1: $12
MP1: $88
MP2: $94.70
CO: $46.65
BTN: $11

Pre-Flop: 6c Ac dealt to Hero (BB)
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.50,Questionable call OOP with a weak and frequently dominated hand vs a tight player, who almost always has me dominated or drawing to bust a big pair UTG calls $1.50 Limp call: small pair

Flop: ($6.25) 2s Ah 3c (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG checks Missed his set, MP2 bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50, It's a small enough bet for me to carry on. Could be nervous kings or something UTG folds

Turn: ($11.25) 6s (2 Players)
Hero bets $4.50,Top two, and his hand is 66/33/22/45 here like never MP2 raises to $10,That sucker still likes his hand. OK. I'm commited and I think he'll bet the river. He must have a big ace. Hero calls $5.50

River: ($31.25) Tc (2 Players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $19.50,He doesn't disappoint Hero raises to $37.35 and is All-In,I'm commited. Time to make up for those jacks! MP2 calls $17.85

Results: $105.95 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed 6c Ac (two pair, Aces and Sixes) and LOST (-$51.85 NET)
MP2 showed Ad As (three of a kind, Aces) and WON $102.95 (+$51.10 NET)

That's a pure cooler IMO. There's no getting away after the turn, although I could just fold preflop or on the flop. Once that six hits I'm dead.

.25/.50 NLH LH 12/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 110.64
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 191
Closing Balance: $1 182.54 (+$71.90)

Running Totals: +$48.55/879
+97ptbb/879

Profit! Big hands came my way and otherwise I sat quite tight. None of my bluffs/steals really worked except for preflop. Generally I'm quite happy. I made some medium laydowns that I probably wouldn't have done not so long ago. I'm not trying to claim I got away from quads over quads, it's not impressive in a vacuum, but for me it gives me a nice feeling.

.25/.50 NLH LH 11/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $1 000.09
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 188
Closing Balance: $1 110.64 (+$110.59)

Running Totals: -$23.35/688
-47ptbb/688

Ran hot but I don't think I played badly most of the time (played horribly for about two orbits in the middle). Lost to a couple of three outers (A with a good kicker loses to A with worse kicker->two pair on turn/river) but only for small pots. Focussed on the bad players around me again.

Hands

UTG+1: $67.10
UTG+2: $96.90
MP1: $32.65
MP2: $42.70
CO: $9.25
BTN: $80
SB: $13.15
BB: $50.25
Hero (UTG): $138.10

Pre-Flop: Jc Td dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $1.50 Specualtive raise. Table is a little frightened of me and I'm mixing it up (a lot) 5 folds, BTN calls $1.50 BTN is relatively loose and easy to read. TP+ he bets, anything else he doesn't. I recently stacked him with trips against his pocket overpair. Preflop range is quite loose but not manic. Connectors, gappers, small pairs, two big cards, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.75) Qd Tc 4h (2 Players)
Hero bets $2, BTN calls $2 Sticking to my read, I'm putting him on a ten, straight draw or 4. Maybe a set or two pair, but I doubt it. I expect he'll raise a set, two pair or top pair on the turn

Turn: ($7.75) 4c (2 Players)
Hero bets $4.50, BTN calls $4.50 Now think I'm way ahead of his range. Right now, I think I'm only behind to KT and AT. He's relatively straightforward although he might have just caught his own trips on me

River: ($16.75) 5h (2 Players)
Hero checks, Draws missed. Time to bluff induce. BTN bets $15, Hero calls $15 Read-based. Too big for a value bet from this guy.

BTN showed 7c 8c nothing! (a pair of Fours) and LOST (-$23 NET) I think he might have been steaming
Hero showed Jc Td (two pair, Tens and Fours) and WON $44.50 (+$21.50 NET)

Results: $46.75 Pot ($2.25 Rake)


UTG+2: $64.85
MP1: $97.65
MP2: $30
CO: $47.95
BTN: $5.20
SB: $81
BB: $29.40
UTG: $51.50
Hero (UTG+1): $113.25

Pre-Flop: 9h 9c dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG folds, Hero raises to $2, 2 folds, MP2 calls $2, CO folds, BTN raises to $5.20 and is All-In, 2 folds, Hero raises to $30, Puts MP2 all in. Isolation play. Obviously I'm screwed if he calls, but I don't think he can without KK, AA or maybe AK MP2 folds

So what is the button's range? He's loose but not that aggressive as far as I know (71/14 over 7 hands). He doesn't seem that good. My image is loose but not good at being played back at (honestly, I can't remember what he's seen of me and what he hasn't). I'll give him a range like any pair, A8o+, A2s+, K8s+, KT0+, QTs+, QJo. Pokerstove gives my equity as 57% here. I'm uncertain about the validity of this range.

On the one hand, he could be thinking "Oh, fuck it. All in." He's lost most of a buy in in six hands. I doubt he's picked up a big hand but he may have. This could be any hand he wants to play (and he's shown down hands as low as 87o, so my range might be tight). I think the play is ok against someone who has recently become shortstacked, rather than a dedicated shortstacker.

Results: $13.15 Pot ($0.65 Rake)
BTN showed As 8d (a pair of Eights) and LOST (-$5.20 NET)
Hero showed 9h 9c (three of a kind, Nines) and WON $12.50 (+$7.30 NET)

Here's a hand I played very badly.

UTG: $65.95
UTG+1: $100.65
UTG+2: $3.50
MP1: $30.70
MP2: $29.85
CO: $34.70
BTN: $13.50
SB: $52.50
Hero (BB): $52.05

Pre-Flop: 9h Kd dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to $1.50, 3 folds, BTN calls $1.50, SB folds, Hero raises to $3.50, Puts UTG+2 all in. In retrospect, the first of many mistakes as UTG+2 is tight and his range crushes me, UTG+2 calls $2 and is All-In, BTN calls $2 Damn BTN

Flop: ($10.75) Ac 7h Js (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Hero bets $10, Stupid. I missed the flop, so I should check/fold here. I'm still behind UTG+2 so I can't hope to pick up a pot here. This is a hole in my game I throw money through frequently BTN calls $10 and is All-In

Turn: ($30.75) 4h (3 Players - 2 are All-In)

River: ($30.75) Qc (3 Players - 2 are All-In)

Results: $30.75 Pot ($1.50 Rake)
UTG+2 showed As Ah (three of a kind, Aces) and WON $10.25 (+$6.75 NET)
BTN showed Ad 7d (two pair, Aces and Sevens) and WON $19 (+$5.50 NET)
Hero showed 9h Kd (high card Ace) and LOST (-$13.50 NET) I hate everything I did in this hand.

This session also showed my biggest weakness is preflop. I call way too much. I'm getting a lot of $10-12 pots where I raised pre and c-bet the flop only to give up on the turn or get raised off my hand. These are ok, I feel, and analysis of individual hands won't really help. But preflop I'm habitually doing things like this.

BB: $55.50
UTG+1: $18.65
UTG+2: $16.85
MP1: $119.85
CO: $50
Hero (BTN): $65.10
SB: $24.60

Pre-Flop: Qc Ks dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $1, UTG+2 calls $1, MP1 calls $1, MP2 folds, CO calls $1, Hero calls $1, SB raises to $8, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $7, UTG+2 calls $7, 2 folds, Hero calls $7

First call is speculative and OOP, so maybe a fold. I'm looking for KKx, QQx, KQx, JTx, so probably a fold is best. The second call is stupid. This is easily the worst example. I think I should open raise more in the last three seats and call less in them.

Poker RoundUp 11/11/07

Played a bit without blogging, so...

Balance: $1000.09

50NLH: -$133.90/500
100NLH: +$232.70/479
25PLO: +$127.50/553

And some micro 7-stud I'm not tracking.

100NLH: Short-stacked it for a few sessions, mostly out of boredom with normal play. It went a lot better than I had anticipated. I don't plan on doing it in the future, though.

50NLH: Today's session was much better (and not just because I won). I felt like I was playing well and, although I didn't see many big hands, I didn't play stupidly. I also feel like I'm learning from my mistakes more. And today, I was able to successfully target and exploit the table fish. He was a pretty big fish, but still.

25PLO: I wish I knew how I was doing this. Oh well, at least I'm doing something right. Or it's short term variance. PTO found some HHs I hadn't recorded that boosted the displayed profit.

Other news: Downloaded camstudio, microphone on its way. Planning to make a video of 50 or 25 NL soon. Planning a move to Full Tilt middle of next week to get the deposit bonus and 27% rakeback. It'll only come to about $1.50/100, or about $150/month, but that's better than nothing. I'll decide once the bonus is cleared if I'd rather have FT's rakeback or PS's FPPs. I'll probably divide my roll (which will hopefully be about $2000 by then).

.25/.50 NLH LH 9/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $875.65
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 210
Closing Balance: $744.80 (-$130.85)

Running Totals: -$130.85/210
-261.5ptbb/210

What an inauspicious start to 50NL. Stacked off a little light, I think, in a couple of spots (stacked twice and the rest was missed bluffs, outdraws, c-bets etc.). Didn't play horribly but didn't play great. I did take a lot more notes and paid more attention than usual, which is something I need to work on as I move up.

My biggest leak probably wasn't the two hands I stacked off on (set of Aces on A235 board and Qs with 4 spades out) but bad bluffs and floats. I'm not entirely sure at this point (I'll go through the session properly later). FPS, in other words, coupled with better players (and the winner in the trip Aces hand, who likes to overbet shove the nuts)

$4.40 180-man SNGs 8/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $875.81
No. of Entries: 2
Finishes: 44th, 16th
Profit/loss: -$0.16
Closing Balance: $875.65

Played relatively well in both. The first (where I cashed) I went a bit card dead late on and probably missed some spots to steal. Lost a monster hand with good equity (KTs vs. 88 vs. 77) but missed. Busted out not long after. The other, I tripled up early with a set, bounced a little and worked my way up to about 5K. Then saw a cheap flop with Qd6d. Flop was KdQx9d and it all went in. I missed my flush and lost to a flopped straight. Got back from 2K to about 2700 and then pushed over a raise to 800 with AK. Raiser called with Aces, which seems standard to me.

At least I finally cashed.

.10/.25 NLH LH 8/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $861.76 (up from some micros and a ptipper tourney last night)
No. of Tables: 3
No. of Hands: 221
Closing Balance:$875.81 (+$14.05)

Running Totals: +$309.25/2040
+1237ptbb/2040 (+60.64ptbb/100)

Played a lot better today. Couple of hands I spewed off on but not many. Didn't catch a lot of cards (makes up for the ptipper tourney last night where I caught everything) but did well with the ones I had. Feeling better overall about my game

SB: $14.35
BB: $28.65
UTG: $26.15
UTG+1: $21.50
MP1: $27.40
MP2: $2.85
Hero (CO): $31.15
BTN: $72.05

Pre-Flop: Ad 8h dealt to Hero (CO)
4 folds, Hero raises to $1, BTN folds, SB calls $0.90, BB folds

Flop: ($2.25) Jd 6d Ah (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, SB calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.25) Qs (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.75, SB calls $3.75

River: ($12.75) 3c (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8.10, SB calls $8.10 and is All-In

Pretty sure I should check behind on the river. Villain was relatively unkown and didn't seem like a station. My image was tighter than usual so I think that this is AT+ more than it's A7-. I couldn't see him calling me down with worse than top pair (which does make the river bet a bad decision)

And here's me making a hero call. Villain is straightforward, doesn't get tricky that I've seen so far. He's also aggressive most of the time.

BB: $25.50
UTG: $15.95
UTG+1: $21.15
UTG+2: $44.60
MP1: $26.80
MP2: $24.65
Hero (CO): $31.10
BTN: $21.10
SB: $11.85

Pre-Flop: 5d 4c dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, BTN folds, SB calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.25) Kh 5h 3d (5 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $0.75, I'm preparing to double barrel on a non-ace, non-heart turn, 3 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.75

Turn: ($2.75) 8c (2 Players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $2.25, UTG+2 calls $2.25 Remembering that this guy is straightforward, I'm not giving him a king here very often. 6h4h seems more likely; some sort of draw

River: ($7.25) Jd (2 Players)
UTG+2 bets $3, That card completes no draws. If he has a king and has trapped me, GG. I also think he's the type of player who likes value bet bluffs because they're cheap, even though I'm a station and so they never work Hero calls $3

Results: $13.25 Pot ($0.60 Rake)
UTG+2 showed 6d 7d (high card King) and LOST (-$6.25 NET)
Hero showed 5d 4c (a pair of Fives) and WON $12.65 (+$6.40 NET)

.10/.25 PLO SH 7/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $809.68
No. of Hands: 45
Closing Balance: $849.48 (+$39.80)

Running Totals: +$77.90/419
+311ptbb/419

Two important hands in this short session. The HH for the first one is a little screwed up (damn you FTR) so it might not make sense. I'm really only looking at the position on the flop anyway.

Button ($34.15)
Hero ($37.25)
BB ($24.20)
UTG ($21.25)
MP ($14.20)
CO ($16.50)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Th, Ks, 4h, 8c.
2 folds, CO calls $0.25, BTN calls $0.50, Hero completes, BB raises to $0.75, CO calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50. Questionable, but at 5:1 I can have a little look

Flop: ($2.50) 6c, 7h, 5h (4 players) Flopped a straight 8-high and presently the second nuts. My hearts don't really count as a redraw so this is it. A ten-high flush is pretty weak, although it gives me a good shot against a bigger straight with no hearts. I'm relying on nobody hitting anything.
Hero bets $1.25, I don't expect this to take it down although it might. I plan to pot any non heart, non pair turn. BB folds, CO calls $1.25, BTN raises to $7.85, Hero raises to $27.65, CO folds, BTN calls $9.55 (All-In).

To give the villain some sample hands and get a percentage: (the % is my chance to win)
Set + 8 + FD (6d 6s 8h Ah): 33%
Set + FD + 2 overs (6d 6s Kh Ah): 42%
8 + 9 + 2 over (9s 8d Ah Kd): 42%
Two Pair + 8 + FD (6d 7s 8h Ah): 45% (10% tie)
Set + 8 + 1 over (6d 6s Ac 8s): 54% (8% tie)

Two Pair + FD + 2 overs (6d 6s Kh Ah): 55%

Set + 2 overs (6d 6s Ac Kh): 63%
Two Pair + 8 + 1 over (6d 7s Ac 8s): 70% (10% tie)
Two Pair + 2 overs (6d 7d Ac Kh): 80%

Now the more difficult question is what can I put in his range? I've seen him play 2-pair like this and I think he plays a little slower with the made straight (esp with made straight and A/K flush draw) so I'm putting him on one of the middle hands like Two Pair + 8 + 1 over or naked Two Pair.

Turn: ($40.95) 6s (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($40.95) 8d (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $40.95

He turned over 3467 no flush draw for a full house on the turn.

Hand 2:

CO ($34.15)
Hero ($37.25)
SB ($24.20)
BB ($21.25)
UTG ($14.20)
MP ($16.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 6c, 4d, 4c, Jh.
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Passive blinds, take a flop with the pair and 64 SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) 4h, 8d, Ad (6 players) Bottom set, no straights, diamond flushd raw available
SB bets $1, BB calls $1, UTG calls $1, MP calls $1, CO raises to $2.25, Hero raises to $12.2, Too much value for flush draws. Bottom set is nothing like strong enough to not raise. Trying to win it now SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, MP folds, CO calls $9.95.

Turn: ($29.90) 2s (2 players) Really helps nothing. If he has A835 or something, GG.
CO checks, Hero bets $24.8 (All-In), CO calls $21.70 (All-In).

River: ($73.30) Kh (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $73.31

He flipped 77K3 with a NFD. Thank you for the money!

£10 Live SNG 7/11/07

Uni
Total Entries: 7
Money finishes: 3rd (2), 2nd (1), 1st (1)
Profit/Loss: +£35

Won this tonight. Start of the points league was also tonight, so extra reason to be pleased. Got lucky in the right places and didn't do anything too stupid (worst was calling a 2.5BB riase on the button with 8Ts, then calling a SB reraise behind the original raiser. There didn't seem like a good spot to let go preflop). I'd post about some hands but I can't really remember stack sizes, position or anything useful like that. So I won't.

.10/.25 NLH LH 6/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $758.83
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 66
Closing Balance: $809.68(+$50.85)

Running Totals: +$289.00/1812
+1156ptbb/1812

Very, very lucky session. Good cards everywhere. Only one table as I wanted to see if my reads would be much better (they weren't, although it was a short session and I didn't have much call to use them). That and I wasn't looking to play much. Went well and now I'm over $800. I'll not be taking a shot at 50NL yet, though, as I don't think I'm at my best, and if I'm going to spew I want to do it at half price.

.10/.25 PLO SH 5/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $746.28 (-$4.40 from a 180 SNG. Placed 60th)
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 65
Closing Balance: $758.83 (+$12.55)

Running Totals: +$38.10/374
+152ptbb/374

Fairly nitty play again. Caught a lucky full house to win a big pot but other than that I played tight and solid, using my image and applying pressure to the weak players (including the guy with the 4 BI stack). I noticed when I opened the table that three of the players had over $50 and one was close to $100, which either means sharks massacring fish or crazy action.

Trips lower kicker rivering a FH:

BB ($23.30)
UTG ($14.75)
Hero ($25.70)
CO ($18.40)
Button ($4.80)
SB ($94.10)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Td, Ks, Kc, Jd.
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.75, 2 folds, SB calls $0.65, BB calls $0.50.

Flop: ($2.25) Th, Ts, 3d (3 players) Trip tens, KJ kicker
SB bets $1, BB raises to $5.15, Hero calls $5.15, SB folds.

Turn: ($13.55) 5d (2 players)
BB bets $12.9 I think he does this often with AA or TJ/T9, Hero calls $12.90.

River: ($39.35) Jc (2 players) Woo! Only losing to JJxx now
BB bets $4.5 (All-In), Hero calls $4.50.

Final Pot: $48.35

BB had 7s As Tc Kd, so I caught a four-outer on him (three jacks and one king). My read was way off here. I just didn't believe he had the case ten.

Here's me abusing a weak-tight who loves to c-bet

BB ($25.20)
UTG ($10.30)
Hero ($37.35)
Button ($40.05)
SB ($100.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ad, 6s, 6h, 5d.
UTG calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, SB raises to $1.5, 1 fold, UTG folds, Hero calls $1.25, Button folds.

Flop: ($3.75) Td, 2s, Ac (2 players)
SB bets $3.6, Hero calls $3.60.

Turn: ($10.95) 8h (2 players)
SB checks He's FOS, Hero bets $6.5, Value-bet bluffs FTW SB folds.

Final Pot: $10.95

Obviously much more awesome when I have 369Qr.

Lastly, just to prove I'm still the same.


PokerStars Pot-Limit Omaha High, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

BB ($28.80)
UTG ($15.70)
Hero ($48.55)
CO ($9.60)
Button ($8.40)
SB ($104.95)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Jc, Kh, Kc, Ac.
UTG raises to $0.5, Hero calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, SB calls $0.40, BB raises to $3.5, UTG calls $3, Hero calls $3, CO calls $3, Button folds, SB calls $3.

Flop: ($18) 5h, 6s, 4d (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, CO raises to $6.1, SB folds, BB folds, UTG folds, Hero calls $5.35. 5:1 with no redraw except 2 Kings.

Turn: ($30.95) Qs (2 players)

River: ($30.95) 6d (2 players)

Final Pot: $30.95.

Villain had 6s in the hole. If you're going to lose, that's the way to go. IMO.

.10/.25 NLH SH 5/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $743.43
No. of Tables: 5 (2 simultaneously)
No. of Hands: 151
Closing Balance: $750.68 (+$7.25)

Running Totals: +$76.55/227
+306ptbb/227

Blech. Three and six outered a stupid number of times. Ridiculously LAG play (including bluffing off an entire buy-in with a J-high flush draw against a rivered full house - this was a little bit tilty. Villain had been abusing everyone and I was enjoying giving him some back. He'd been calling sort of light, too, so I thought I could knock him off). AT 62/44/3.26 it's a wonder I didn't go broke. But I didn't, and i made a small profit to boot. Yay me!

.10/.25 NLH LH 5/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $743.18
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 234
Closing Balance: $743.43 (+$0.25)

Running Totals: +$238.15/1746
+956.5ptbb/1746

Meh. Pretty standard for me (bluff some off, value bet it back. Bluff horribly, get called by villain with overcards and lose, get aces and no action). Didn't play my best but didn't really do anything terrible. Still feeling good about 25NL and hoping to make the jump to 50NL by the end of the month.

And a word to the not-so-wise: if you're going to berate other players in the chat box for bad calls: I'm going to tell you not to (especially if you're being an insulting jerk and the call was ok). And then you don't get to tell me not to do that.

And if the button from this hand happens to read my blog: I feel your pain.

Hero (BB): $27.80
UTG: $25.40
UTG+1: $102.15
UTG+2: $22.55
MP1: $19.20
MP2: $10.90
CO: $9.95
BTN: $20.85
SB: $25.60

Pre-Flop: As Qc dealt to Hero (BB)
6 folds, BTN raises to $1, SB folds, Hero raises to $2.50, BTN calls $1.50

Flop: ($5.10) Qh 2h Qs (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.25, BTN raises to $18.35 and is All-In, Hero calls $16.10

Turn: ($41.80) Kd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($41.80) Kh (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $41.80 Pot ($2.05 Rake)
Hero showed As Qc (a full house, Queens full of Kings) and WON $39.75 (+$18.90 NET)
BTN mucked 4s 3c and LOST (-$20.85 NET)

Micro 7-Stud and $4.40 180-man SNGs 4/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $749.84
No. of SNGs: 2
No. of Cashes: 2
No. of 7-stud tables: 2
No. of Hands: 90
Closing Balance: $743.18 (+$2.14)

Did badly in the 180s. Never broke the top 100. Outdrawn once getting in with the best hand and in with the worst hand in the other. Oh well.

7-stud was a bit of a grind. 2-tabling made it harder to remember what the dead cards were but I probably still had a better idea than the rest of the table. Caught a few monsters and milked them. Fairly nothing session really.

.10/.25 PLO SH 4/11/07 (2)

Stars
Opening Balance: $732.44
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 50
Closing Balance: $749.84 (+$17.40)

Running Totals: +$25.55/309
+102ptbb/309

Played some more PLO for fun. Table was very short, HU against two different villains (one of whom was a very profitable weak-tight postflop player, the other a calling station, although I didn't find any hands against him that I was happy to bet strongly).

.10/.25 NLH LH 4/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $691.69
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 282
Closing Balance: $732.44 (+$40.75)

Running Totals: +$237.90/1512
+951.5ptbb/1512

Session was shaping up to be a big loser. I spewed horrifically, betting and bluffing in all the wrong places. Shot up by about $35 in the first ten minutes, was about sixty down at the worst point. Towards the middle I was playing a little weak tight but I think I was back on top of things by the end. Couple of hands where I think I got shafted (one where we got all in and both had the nut straight with Q9, one where I flopped straight with QJ, turn Q gave villain two pair, all-in, river J).

Very happy with these two hands, my biggest winners.


MP1: $20.20
MP2: $24.75
CO: $23.10
BTN: $24.50
SB: $15.90
BB: $7.45
UTG: $13.15
Hero (UTG+1): $29.20
UTG+2: $36.35

Pre-Flop: Qs Qd dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, UTG+2 raises to $3.50, 6 folds, UTG calls $3.25, Hero raises to $29.20 and is All-In, UTG+2 folds, UTG calls $9.65 and is All-In
UTG+2 is pretty tight and basically has JJ+, AQ+ and is a little weak. I have a tight image at this table so I think I can get him off AQ, JJ, maybe AK or QQ. UTG will help me get UTG+2 out and I know UTG+2 will call with hands I crush or maybe fold 89s or something.

Flop: ($30.15) Qh 5s 2c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Turn: ($30.15) 6d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($30.15) 2h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $30.15 Pot ($1.50 Rake)
UTG showed Th Tc (two pair, Tens and Deuces) and LOST (-$13.15 NET)
Hero showed Qs Qd (a full house, Queens full of Deuces) and WON $28.65 (+$15.50 NET)

In the chat, UTG+2 claimed to have folded AK. I'm a believer.

Same table, about 2 orbits later.
BB: $25
UTG: $25.15
UTG+1: $24.10
UTG+2: $25.85
MP1: $16.70
MP2: $13.25
CO: $31.45
Hero (BTN): $43.45
SB: $24.45

Pre-Flop: 6c 7s dealt to Hero (BTN)
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, SB raises to $1.25 Same villain as UTG+2 above. Now looks a little call hapy post flop but still tight (has been stacked twice with KK and AA, although both by shorties). I read the minraise as AQ+, JJ-QQ, BB folds, Hero calls $0.50 Button, plus villain will probably pay off if I hit straight/2 pair

Flop: ($2.75) 9c 8h 7d (2 Players)
SB bets $4.50, Hero raises to $23.20 OESD+1 pair is much better than AK/AT w/BDFD and isn't far behind AA-QQ, SB calls $18.70 and is All-In

Turn: ($49.15) 7c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($49.15) 6h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $49.15 Pot ($2.45 Rake)
Hero showed 6c 7s (a full house, Sevens full of Sixes) and WON $46.70 (+$22.25 NET)
SB showed Qh Ah (a pair of Sevens) and LOST (-$24.45 NET)

I'd blog about some of the hands where I played horribly and threw money away, but I mostly know what I did wrong. Except this one. I love these "Oh fuck" raises on the river

Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $24.75
MP2: $25.75
Hero (CO): $46.30
BTN: $25
SB: $18.70
BB: $8.10
UTG: $36.05
UTG+1: $6.15

Pre-Flop: 2h 5h dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG raises to $0.50, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.50,Error 1 BTN folds, SB calls $0.40, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($2) 7d Qh Kh (4 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $1.25, Not terrible, flush over flush is rare. However, by this point, I have no image left 2 folds, UTG calls $1.25

Turn: ($4.50) As (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero checks Free card. Standard

River: ($4.50) 2c (2 Players)
UTG bets $1, Hero raises to $3.25 Missed my draw, but hoped he was on the same draw without the Ace+value bet, UTG calls $2.25

Results: $11 Pot ($0.50 Rake)
Hero showed 2h 5h (a pair of Deuces) and LOST (-$5 NET)
UTG showed Ah Th (a pair of Aces) and WON $10.50 (+$5.50 NET)

Yeah, I think preflop is bad and the river is spewy. Only thing he folds if he was on the draw is the 7. And what 7s is he raising from there? I should think more when I play, especially putting the whole thing together. That might be my biggest leak/problem right now.

.10/.25 PLO SH 4/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $683.69
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 78
Closing Balance: $691.69 (+$8)

Running Totals: +$8.15/259
+32.5ptbb/259

Good session. Played tight, only got a few hands (two full houses and one nut straight) so I had to use my image to my advantage. A few steals in position against the right opponents (and one hero call on the river - well, a $0.25 bet into a $3 pot with with fourth pair) and I come out as a winner.

$3.25 45-Man Turbo SNG 4/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $686.94
No. of Entrants: 45
Placed: 17th
Payout: $0
Closing Balance: $683.69

Went ok until the last two tables. My plan was to play tight and pick off a few pots early. Shove all in from late position with strong hands once the blinds got big. Worked well most of the time (I was fifth with 20 left) until I made a stupid call with 85o and lost. Then a few hands later, folded to me with KJo in the cutoff (I think) and I shoved with an M of about 2.5. Called by 7s and lost the race. Annoyed about the stupid call as I could've done well otherwise, although this is a monster crapshoot most of the way.

.10/.25 NLH LH 3/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $635.14
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 411
Closing Balance: $686.94(+$51.80)

Running Totals: +$197.15/1230
+788.6ptbb/1230
(+64.11ptbb/100)

Actually two sessions, today and yesterday. Didn't have time to update yesterday so I'll lump it all together.

Great first thousand hands to begin 25NL. I'm already thinking about moving up again (although I'll need at least $800 to take a shot and I have been on something of a heater). I think an aggressive bankroll strategy is the way to go.

So, the hands. I got pretty lucky this morning, picking up back to back flushes for a rapid double up (one nut flush vs. a T-high, one non-nut vs. two pair). I'd marked the guy out as a fish and it was very pleasant to bust him. My VPIP overall was lower than it normally is (as was my PFR; I think I need to bring that up. I'm running 33/23 so far. I think I'm calling too much behind limpers with marginal or even trashy button hands). I'm also still not paying enough attention to the tables. Case in point: I flopped a set of 7s and because I knew the villain would bet more hands than he'd call, I checked to him on the flop and turn before making a small bet on the end (I didn't want to let him check behind if he was being aggressive with a draw. I cost myself as he had kings and flat called, but that's how it goes).

The one hand I felt was giving me real trouble was AKo. I lost three big pots with it. Let's examine the hands.

------------------
HAND #1
------------------

UTG+1: $27.55
MP1: $15
MP2: $25.95
CO: $6
Hero (BTN): $55.55
SB: $27.65
BB: $24.40
UTG: $31.10

MP1 posts $0.25
CO posts $0.25
Pre-Flop: As Kd dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 folds, MP1 checks, MP2 folds, CO checks, Hero raises to $1.50 Trying to pick up the OOP blinds really, SB folds, BB raises to $5, 3 folds, Hero calls $3.50 Two factors: I have a good hand and I have this guy down as a probable restealer

Flop: ($10.85) 3h 5s 5c (2 Players)
BB bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50 A small bet, might be for value, might be a weak attempt to push me out. I'm hoping he'll give up and I can shove the turn

Turn: ($17.85) Jd (2 Players)
BB bets $15.90 and is All-In, Hero folds Not sure about this. It would be kind of a hero call/soul read and I don't want to do that against a relative postflop unknown. I don't see how that J helped much (AJ and JJ obviously). Looks to me like I'm agonising over an obvious fold



------------------
HAND #2
------------------

SB: $13.30
BB: $28.55
UTG: $24.80
UTG+1: $22.35
MP: $20.60
CO: $4.15
Hero (BTN): $24.65

Pre-Flop: Ks Ad dealt to Hero (BTN)
3 folds, CO calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, CO calls $0.75 CO limp/calls. Classic drawing hand/mid pair

Flop: ($2.35) 4h Js 5h (2 Players)
CO bets $3.15 and is All-In, Hero calls $3.15 Spew? Overbetting the pot looks like a bluff, but what can he do with a PSB? If I have anything, he's going in anyway. Now when I played this hand, I was determined not to get blasted off AK again. I forgot about everything else, especially the range of mid/small pair or connectors I put him on. I don't think I'm ahead enough here, given that I'm far behind any pair, nearly dead to 4s and 5s and not far ahead of something like 23o. Bad play, I think

------------------
HAND #3
------------------

MP1: $26.85
MP2: $16.20
CO: $14.10
BTN: $21.35
Hero (SB): $58.65 OOP this time
BB: $26.70
UTG: $26.95
UTG+1: $13.50
UTG+2: $10.80

Pre-Flop: Ad Kc dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $2.50 Again I'm trying to take it down now. My steals have generally gone well, I haven't shown down trash. UTG+1 has little positional sense., BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2, MP1 calls $2, MP2 calls $2

Flop: ($10.25) Qc Jc 3d (4 Players)
Hero checks I missed, no c-betting 4-way, UTG+1 bets $3, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $3, Hero calls $3 OK, so $3 into $16. 5:1. I think I'm looking at 7 outs (Ts obviously and Ks. AQ/AJ are too likely for me to count the Aces). Not really the right price since it's unlikely I'll get to see a free river. I think a T gets me lots of money, though.

Turn: ($19.25) 8h (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $5.25, 2 folds Not sure about that fold. Looks like villain has about $3 left, so implied odds really do nothing and I have no equity from pushing back. 5:1 isn't quite enough to draw to 7 outs, especially when it's unlikely my Ks are still good. Probably muck this on the flop, or call the flop rather than build a big pot OOP (although that would've been better without so many villains)

I think I butchered that last one quite badly. The others aren't that bad, but AKo is currently my third biggest loser at this level (early days...insignificant sample size...etc.). Anyone has any thoughts, let me know (does anyone even read this? I know people load the page from time to time, but that's all I know)

.10/.25 PLO SH 1/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $609.99 (-$5.50 from a HORSE SNG)
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 84
Closing Balance: $635.14(+$25.15)

Running Totals: +$0.15/181
+0.5ptbb/181

If I'm going to play more PLO I should start keeping records same as for NLH. No buying PTO at this point, but maybe after Christmas. Nut peddled more than I usually do, except for against one extremely bluffable opponent. Profitable session.

Unlike the HORSE SNG. Played well in the early Hold'em and O8 levels, climbing from T$1500 to ~T$2500. Then it went to hell. Threw away a few hundred in the first Razz hand (rolled up trips for the lose!) when I forgot it was Razz. One big hand of Stud8 saw me call with a 76low and two pair for high with both villains showing modest boards, only to have them turn over perfect hole cards (three spades for a flush and A23 for a 6532A low). One missed OESD in the next hold'em level and I was reduced to putting it all in with K5s.

.10/.25 NLH LH 1/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $609.19
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 183
Closing Balance: $615.49 (+$6.30)

Running Totals: +$145.35/819
+581ptbb/819

Good session. Lost a buy-in early in a huge pot drawing to the nut flush (not entirely sure now that I had the right price, will check later). Cards were good to me, although I only got one pay-off (set of tens vs. pocket aces) with my big hands. I tightened up and zoned out at the end which might have cost me. Still, feeling good. Will do hand analysis later.

.10/.25 PLO SH 30/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $634.19
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 97
Closing Balance: $609.19 (-$25)

Not so good at Omaha. Got flush over flush once, and all in on the turn with a straight, villain rivers the flush. Me go busto.

.10/.25 NLH LH 30/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $616.99
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 215
Closing Balance: $634.19 (+$17.20)

Running Totals: +$139.05/636
+556ptbb/636

Didn't really feel in control as much as I used to at 10NL. Still played pretty well (only one big bluff that went very well and, given the villain, might not even have been a bluff) but at times it could have been better. No big hands clashing or anything like that, so mostly just a slow accumulation and the occassional small pot lost (for example, only six pots worth more than $5 with a 35% VPIP). I'm pretty happy overall, although I did get into a chatfight I really should've just ignored (I think I tilted the villain a little, he went from being LAGgy preflop to LP, but I never had anything to play with him (KT c/f flop was the best I managed).

$2.20 HU SNGs 30/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $619.59
No. of SNGs: 3
Finishes: 1st (one), 2nd (two) (-$2.60)
Closing Balance: $616.99

Not great results but I was pretty happy with how this went. I picked up on a couple of weaknesses on my opponents and did my best to exploit them. one of the losses was bad luck with an all in (I had AQ vs KT with AQx flop) while slightly down, the other was a big battle that swung all over the place.

.10/.25 NLH SH 29/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $550.29
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 76
Closing Balance: $619.59 (+$69.30)

Running Totals: + $69.30/76
+277.2ptbb/76

I think I picked the most weak-tight tables on all of Pokerstars. Either that or, while I was hitting everything in sight, everybody else was hitting nothing. Whatever happened, I bulldozed both tables and, as you can see, picked up a decent chunk of change for my trouble.

I did notice myself missing some value bets, though, seeing monsters everywhere when people finally played a hand with me beyond the flop. I felt a little like scared money, which hopefully won't continue (or at least won't pass over into my longhand game, which will still be my main game).

.10/.25 NLH LH 29/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $521.04
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 155
Closing Balance: $550.29 (+$29.25)

Running Totals: +$121.85/421
+487.4ptbb/100


Played pretty well, I think. Early on I got a bit carried away and bluffed off quite a bit, but generally I played ok. Tightened up a little later on. Happy with the session overall.

Micro 7Stud + 180 Man $4.40 29/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $529.02
Closing Balance: $521.04

Didn't do very much in either of the two 180s I played. I just never really got going and made a couple of weak/loose calls. Did not play well in either really, and barely broke the top half.

7-stud went better- rolled up trips on the first hand. Felt like I was playing well, although I didn't play for long.

Micro 7Stud + 180 Man $4.40 28/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $533.00
Closing Balance: $529.02

Won $0.42 in the 7-stud. Fairly uneven session overall.

Finished the $4.40 in about 50th. Lost an all-in with a set vs. a flush draw on the turn that would've put me in the chip lead with ~6K more than third. Left me crippled and I donked off the last thousand. Meh. I'll bust one of these soon, I'm sure.

.10/.25 NLH LH 27/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $440.40 (slightly up on before from some PLH I've decided to ignore)
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 266
Closing Balance: $533.00(+$92.60)

Running Totals: +$92.60/266
+370ptbb/266

Bored of 10NL, I decided to try a 2BI shot at 25NL. I've heard the play isn't that different and I figured 2BI wouldn't really hurt that much. Plus I'd stopped caring so much about losing at 10NL and so I went for it.

The first one vanished when I got felted on the very first hand (turned a straight, villain rivered a FH and I got stacked thinking {correctly, as it happens} that he put me on a missed flush). Managed to turn that session around by the end, finishing my first 100 or so hands up about half a buy in.

Sat down for a second try this morning and hit a massive rush, flopping big aces and overpairs all over the place. I screamed my way to ~$75 on one table and about $40 on the second (I've decided to 2-table 25NL to start with, although unless I start feeling really uncomfortable I'll bring the third table back after a couple of thousand hands). From there I sat fairly tight and eventually came away a big winner.

So far, this looks to be a success. Should it all go wrong from here I'll move back down if my roll falls under $400 (and not back up until it hits $500). I've not noticed a huge amount of difference in the playing ability (although I've only played a couple of hours). I'm feeling great about my play right now and really looking ahead.