.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.

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HAND #1
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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



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HAND #2
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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

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HAND #3
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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)