Time to make the donuts

*Last edited by allabout on Thu, 10 Jul 2008, 7:20am; edited 1 time in total*

I'm having a bad April so far and I realized that I need to refocus on what my true goals are and how I'm going to get there. So this is my first attempt at any kind of blog or operation or anything of the sort. I'm hoping that by having a specific place where I plan to post hands and thoughts that I will do it more often.

So here's my quick story... I used to play a lot pre-act and did ok in my mind (like most people did) and then basically quit when the act passed. Well in November I quit my job as a financial advisor to go work for another firm when woops...the offer fell through and I found myself unemployed for the first time in my life. Well after several other interviews and a bunch of resumes nothing has come through (not a great time to be starting as a financial advisor). Well during this time I had quite a bit of time on my hands and started playing poker again. Deposited $100 on Stars to get the $50 reload Bonus and for the first couple months played SnG's and 6-max and basically broke even. Then I think in January my friend said "didn't you used to play full ring, why don't you try that." So I did, and since then I've gone from $5 NL to $100 NL. And here I am. Still looking for a job, but now realizing that I can make decent money playing poker, with a chance at making really good money in the future. So for the time being, I'm playing poker to pay the bills (my wife has a good job and state benefits) and to see if I can make a real run at this. But before people say "don't just jump into thinking you can be a pro just because you've made some money", I say, I don't think that. But I do think of it as a job (I like to think of it as my business)...if only temporarily.

Ok, goals...
Short term
-Make enough to be able to pay da bills (and taxes) and grow my bankroll. Right now specifically I'd like to be able to withdraw about $2k/month. The next two months maybe less because of our tax return and rebate.
-Start moving up levels (mix in a couple tables) when I have 30 buy ins for that level.
-Move back down when I have 25 buy ins.
Long term (assuming I maintain my short term goals)
-By the end of June I'd like to be playing $200NL regularly. (edit: Fail) Did I say by the end of June? Lets go for end of September and reevaluate then.
-By next year I'd like be playing $400NL

Alright, well there's my first ever post in my first ever op/blog. More to come, I'll try to post some recent hands today to get started.

Where are the donuts? I came in here expecting donuts dammit.

GL! Congrats on getting up to $100NL a LOT faster than I'm going to be able to do.

Hand#1
V is 22/13.5 over just a couple hundred hands. This hand I think I played correctly, but would like to get some thoughts. I'm trying to rep a big hand here obviously figuring only thing calling is a set or AA or KK maybe QQ. Pretty sure this is pretty standard but curious. Also I probably could have folded pre but I'm trying to open up my game a little and play more aggressive and isolate some limpers etc...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($108.90)
BB ($49.55)
UTG ($112.30)
Hero ($110.40)
MP1 ($129.70)
MP2 ($142.85)
MP3 ($121.70)
CO ($122)
Button ($148.45)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A

, J

.
UTG calls $1, Hero raises to $5, MP1 calls $5, 5 folds, BB calls $4, UTG calls $4.

Flop: ($20.50) T

, 4

, 7

(4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $12, MP1 raises to $29, BB folds, UTG folds, Hero raises to $105.4...

Hand #2
V here is 35/8 over about 200 hands. Question here mainly is on the turn when the flush completes. Do we raise to rep the flush or slow down in case he turned a flush? In the end the flush didn't matter, but that's the main question.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (7 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

CO ($51.50)
Hero ($101)
SB ($108.70)
BB ($100)
UTG ($100.50)
MP1 ($162.40)
MP2 ($18.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with

,

.
1 fold, MP1 calls $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $5, 2 folds, MP1 calls $4.

Flop: ($11.50)

,

(2 players)
MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $9, MP1 calls $8.

Turn: ($29.50)

(2 players)
MP1 bets $10, Hero calls $10.

River: ($49.50)

(2 players)
MP1 bets $25, Hero raises to $77, MP1 calls $52.

Final Pot: $203.50

Hand #3
Thinking maybe I screwed up this hand and shoulda folded the river ai from V (14/4 over 800 hands). Especially w/the flush and boat possible...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

BB ($102.45)
UTG ($98.35)
UTG+1 ($102.25)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($100)
MP3 ($201)
CO ($98.50)
Hero ($102.50)
SB ($98.90)

Preflop: Hero is Button with

,

.
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $4, MP1 calls $4, 3 folds, Hero calls $4, 2 folds.

Flop: ($13.50)

,

(3 players)
UTG+1 bets $8, MP1 calls $8, Hero calls $8.

Turn: ($37.50)

(3 players)
UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $25, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls $25.

River: ($87.50)

(2 players)
MP1 bets $63 (All-In), Hero calls??

Hand #4
Same V as last hand...
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (7 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($5.45)
UTG ($96)
MP1 ($88.25)
MP2 ($19.50)
CO ($99.90)
Hero ($112.15)
SB ($99.95)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q

, Q

.
UTG calls $1, 3 folds, Hero raises to $5, 2 folds, UTG calls $4.

Flop: ($11.50) 4

, 6

, T

(2 players)
UTG bets $5, Hero raises to $16, UTG calls $11.

Turn: ($43.50) 3

(2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $32, UTG raises to $64, Hero??

Hand #5
V is 25.5/14 over 400 hands and seemed to be playing very aggressive post flop. When he c/raises the flop kinda weak I'm thinking he's got a medium pp like 99 or TT or maybe a weak J. Thoughts?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (7 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($60.70)
MP1 ($103.20)
Hero ($100.55)
CO ($42)
Button ($63.65)
SB ($61.20)
BB ($282.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with

,

.
2 folds, Hero raises to $4, 3 folds, BB calls $3.

Flop: ($8.50)

,

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $7, BB raises to $17, Hero calls $10.

Turn: ($42.50)

(2 players)
BB bets $21, Hero calls $21.

River: ($84.50)

(2 players)
BB bets $52, Hero?

Well since I'm already in here, I may as well give my opinions. Take it for what it's worth!

1. Looks Good. I play that similarly.
2. Raise Flop Harder, you really need to chase that draw out. Turn is fine, really don't like the river raise though, I just don't see the value there against this villain...
3. Against this villian, river is a SNAP FOLD. He is never pushing there with a hand worse than your 1-card straight.
4. Trickier. Flop is good, Turn Check-raise smells bad. With as relatively passive as this guy is, I probably give him the benefit of the doubt here and fold. It's really hard to imagine a passive player taking this line with a flush draw or a 1-pair hand...
5. Tough, villians range looks pretty wide here. I think Raising the turn is the only way in this hand, but no raise wouldn't commit you, so the turn looks to be push/fold. A set would likely be betting harder with the flush draw out there, so we can probably discount that. My guess is that villian has only a few hands here, Any other reasonable J (except for KJ, AJ) has you beat on the river. The only thing you are beating on the river is a bluff, so fold.

Didn't play at all this weekend. Monday was another poor day at $100NL. Running really really bad and also I'm sure that has me playing less than great poker. So Today I decided I would play mostly at $50NL, so that's what I did. It went pretty well, winning 7 buy ins. I forgot that there really is a difference between the play at the two levels, but not so much that I should win at one level and lose at the next. Played 2 tables at $100 and the other 7 at $50.
Here's a few hands from yesterday and today...

Hand #1
I have a lot of trouble against villains like this when I have a marginal hand. He was 48/13. This limp/call seems very weak to me being that he's raising 13% which is more than big A and pp's. What could he have? I don't put him on a strong A, don't think he would play a weak A so aggressive after the flop and don't even really think he's limp/calling pp's preflop.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($118.25)
Hero ($154.25)
SB ($38.75)
BB ($31.20)
UTG ($94)
UTG+1 ($218.90)
MP1 ($107.15)
MP2 ($98.85)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9

, 9

.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, 3 folds, Hero raises to $5, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $4.

Flop: ($11.50) 2

, A

, 8

(2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $7, UTG+1 raises to $14, Hero raises to $40, UTG+1 raises to $66, Hero?

Hand #2
V here is 12/6. Calling the river bet w/two Q's and a flush out there?
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Button ($109)
SB ($88.70)
BB ($101.50)
UTG ($110.65)
UTG+1 ($111.60)
MP1 ($107.75)
MP2 ($21.20)
Hero ($100)
CO ($76.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with

,

.
UTG calls $1, 3 folds, Hero raises to $5, 3 folds, BB calls $4, UTG raises to $16, Hero calls $11, BB calls $11.

Flop: ($48.50)

,

(3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $25, BB calls $25, UTG folds.

Turn: ($98.50)

(2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($98.50)

(2 players)
BB bets $35, Hero?

Hand #3
V here is 14.5/12 over more than 1k hands... Looks like a set to me, but when things aren't going well I think everyone has a set.
Poker Stars, $0.50/$1 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: $109.15
BB: $112.80
UTG: $67.50
UTG+1: $130.80
MP1: $111.40
Hero (MP2): $202.30
CO: $186.15
BTN: $48.50

Pre-Flop: K Diamond

A

dealt to Hero (MP2)
BB folds, UTG calls $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $4, 2 folds, SB calls $3, UTG calls $3

Flop: ($12) T Diamond

5

K

(3 Players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $9, SB raises to $18, UTG folds, Hero calls $9

Turn: ($48) 8 Spade

(2 Players)
SB bets $28, Hero calls $28

River: ($104) 4 Spade

(2 Players)
SB bets $59.15 and is All-In, Hero?

Alright, well the converter isn't working right now so that's enough for today. Look forward to the comments!

I hope my comments are being helpful? Until I hear something to the contrary...

1.) I like the aggression, but you gotta fold to the flop 4-bet, even though they are min-raises. On a flop like this, I like a closer to pot-size C-Bet to really represent a strong Ace that is trying to push out the flush draw. When He plays back at you like this, it's quite unlikely that he has the flush draw. Get out of the way, He has AX(stupid), a set or 2pr here much more often than the flush draw...

2.) Oh why, OH WHY no 4-bet PF? The guy Limp-re-raised you, that SCREAMS strength and I want action!! He's not likely folding to another raise! Get the money in while you have the nuts, don't slow play! As played your flop bet is WAY too weak. If you are that scared, then you might as well of checked behind there. BB's line is kinda odd to be sure. He might have a Q (doubtful as played), might have the flush. Might've even had JJ that got there on the river. The way this played out, folding wouldn't be terrible on this river. Villians bet looks like so much value that it's really hard to believe that he has something that we could beat. KK? no way. TT? Not a chance. AK (no flush?) very unlikely. I hate it, but folding the river is probably the best move as played...

3.) Flop is not dangerous at all, so the check raise is very suspicious. I would re-pop him on the flop to about $35, and then fold to more aggression. Villian sized his turn bet very well setting up the river Push. Fold. TPTK cannot stand up to this much heat from a 14.5/12

Was this "Catch bluffs with One-pair Hands" day? If so, I hope it only lasts a day, othewise prepare to ride the variance rollercoaster!

Kinda slowed down in my playing lately. Don't know if I'll make it to 50k hands as was my goal for the month, but I'm really trying to focus on playing better and hopefully I can get close to breaking even for the month. We'll see if that can happen.

I am going to Harrah's in Atlantic City for the next few days so wont be playing online. I haven't really played live much (a couple times at Foxwoods) so should be interesting. If I can manage to break even I'd be pretty happy although of course I'd like to come out on top.

Couple hands from the past few days.

Hand #1
This hand...idk. I think I f'ed it up with my bet sizes, but I'm thinking his range is AK, AQ, AJ, Axs, JJ, QQ, KK after the flop. That obviously makes the river pretty tough.
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($10.50)
SB ($49.50)
BB ($50)
UTG ($38)
UTG+1 ($50.75)
MP1 ($54.15)
MP2 ($81.25)
Hero ($51.25)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9

, 9

.
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $2, 2 folds, Hero calls $2, 3 folds.

Flop: ($4.75) J

, 9

, A

(2 players)
UTG+1 bets $3, Hero raises to $6, UTG+1 calls $3.

Turn: ($16.75) A

(2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $11, UTG+1 raises to $22, Hero calls $11.

River: ($60.75) K

(2 players)
UTG+1 bets $20.75 (All-In), Hero?

Hand #2
The A on the turn makes it unlikely that he has an A, but is there any point in raising? How bout the river bet...flat? He was 75/0 but only over like 25 hands so no real read but obviously seeing a trend...
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (7 handed) Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

Button ($21.35)
Hero ($49.50)
BB ($62.85)
UTG ($106.35)
MP1 ($39.40)
MP2 ($48.75)
CO ($29.25)

Preflop: Hero is SB with

,

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Time to make the donuts