daven - a year in the life

New Poker Blog time, i'll start out with some autobiography - a la Spoon with his 1000th post...

Cliff notes
1) loads of self-indulgent autobiography
2) I discovered poker, learnt to play, started to make some money
3) I'm working part-time hours the next 12 months
4) Planning to play some poker in addition to work
5) I'm gonna start playing standard grinding styles
5) Poker goal = make $25k over the next 12 months...

here and here detail converting $200 to $4000 from August 2007 to present

I'm a kiwi. From that little ol' country at the end of the world. Famed for rugby, nuclear-free, lord of the rings, adventure wonderland and a (dubious) clean green image. Currently I'm based in Wellington - the capital, all 300,000 people of hilly harbour city windiness of it. Imagine a microscopic version of San Fransisco

I arrived in Wellington aged 17 (1995!), cos that's what I did - abandoning smalltown rural NZ to go to University (college). I climbed and tramped (hiked) my way through and emerged in 2000 with a couple of degrees, a post-grad piece of paper and having finally attained my goal of dropout - when I finally became disillusioned with acadaemia...

And then... then followed a few years of travelling and working random jobs (fruit picking, guiding, street performance, etc) through Australian and NZ. Finding more of life and surf and climb and yoga and being outside.

Somehow I found myself juggling in Europe and sorta helping to coach circus in Spain. Then abandoned that for a fantasy - which saw me a month later contemplating a big rockwall standing between me and the path I'd chosen. 3 Weeks since I'd spoken to anyone. 2 Weeks since I'd been truly warm. And telling myself to suck it up - while wondering about the merits of choosing technically challenging variations to a late-Autumn coast-coast solo traverse of the Pyrenees. A week later I was on the Mediterranean, and soon after cruising through the Omani desert, chasing camels. Soon I ended up back in NZ for two months of nothing but climb.

Decided to return to urbanity, fell into a lucky contract and continued to make lucky judgement calls through the project. Met an amazing South American girl at the same time, finished the project and moved to join the Chilean mafia.. I got on well enough with the Dons, but the mafiosa and I didn't last so I took off to the mountains. Solo mission to some big hils saw a near miss at 4500m on some rock arete that may have been a first ascent if I'd finished it! and I broke my base-camp and took off to Uruguay. En route I met a Swiss banker who claimed to be paying for his travels by playing poker - he was playing party poker steps and $5nl so I doubt it was true, but the idea fascinated me. Uruguay = two months of yoga-asado-party-surf lifestyling and some poker.

In fact, the next 6 months of South America were punctuated by two hour internet poker sessions playing mostly $6 sng's on Party - lost a coupla hundred bucks over the first few months, but read some strat as well...

Cruised around the Patagonian Andes, hung out at Cerro Torre basecamp and decided it was for next time. More downtime in Santiago de Chile, then a Bolivian sojourn where lol$/gram started causing me problems after a month or so (think rave-party in a velodrome 4000m asl, 10:30 am and marching powder), so I left. And soon after I was back in New Zealand, kinda broke and winter was drifting to an end.

Signed on for a ridiculously "career" contract as a principal business analyst, some shit like that anyway. Pulled out my poker $$, somewhere on the road I'd switched to cash games with no idea about bankroll management and somehow managed to devour $25nl on Party. I'd also bought poker tracker after arriving back in NZ - so I have a record of my 40ptBB/100 run at $2/$4 limit!!!

Anyway, I decided to spend the poker money on living, and started from scratch with US$200 - read about that here and here if you care...

I debated ending work when my contract finished end-April 2008, but thought differently of it - I'm still not convinced that poker would be healthy like that.

But, I'd decided that working for the man has big downsides so convinced work that I could effectively oversee/manage a big programme of work in only 18hrs/week - so now I have 4 day weekends and no necessity to do anything more to support my increasingly dissolute lifestyle.

I guess I got better at poker somewhere along the way. But then I got bored and certain that a simple TAGG grinding, multi-tabling, 4ptBB/100 game wasn't optimal. So I experimented, a lot. That's how a bunch of March and all of April have been. 6-1 nit, I've played it, 13-12, yep, 18-9, sure, 25-20, si, 40-30 almost 10k hnads, 65-45 to learn about aggression - that was a little costly, but somehow I've still made money through these experiments and I've added a load of tools to my game.

I've also learnt that my natural game lies somewhere between 14-9 and 17-13, and it's also my most lucrative style.

So, now...
Bankroll has supported a surfboard, new laptop and monitor, etc. and is now sitting around $4k, not bad from $200 back in August as a part-time hobby.
Yeah, now.
I'm gonna grind. Plan is to play 10-15 hours/week over the next 12 months (variable, but working 18hrs/week gives me time)
I'll clear some bonuses, earn some $$ and soon move up to 100nl.
Goal time. Only play while I'm enjoying it. Play a standard (for me) style - allow space for incremental improvement and evolution rather than searching for hte lightning flash of soul-reading poker enlightenment

$50/hr is probably achievable. So, a $goal?
Dunno. I want to play consistently and well. I guess US$25k is attainable. That's it then. I'll update here occasionally, monthly, significant milestones, etc.

See you at the tables, I'll be 3-betting and floating to your left.

Davenout.

Hah! You're a gypsy! Awesome

Chilean mafia, eh? You've had an interesting life and/or are a great storyteller

$50/hr is totally achievable at 100NL man...I've been averaging more than that since moving up. Down a bit last night (despite a 4th place finish in a stars $12/180 turbo donkament), but I think we're pretty close to even now, hovering around the $4k mark.

The finish line seems so close, but it's deceiving with all the oscillating our good friend 'variance' brings

Kia Ora! Good luck mate! Pretty sure you can achieve your goals. Insert "Wellington Rugby" joke here but somehow they seem to be playing well this year. Kia kaha!

Awesome! World traveler. Teach me to be a bohemian world traveler dude.

also, good luck man! and I hope $50/hr (withdraw money) is achievable there too.

I'll put up a prop bet with you guys up soon.

The week has had no waves in town = I have a new board that I still haven't hit the water with. I only went climbing once. And only one night of live music. No yoga. Some running, not enough.

I played too much poker this week. And haven't even been profiting from it. Running bad? a little, but not really. Playing less than optimally? most definitely. Enjoying it? not as much as I have done. Thinking about what other things those hours could be doing? yep... a little concerned about the addictive qualities of poker? absolutely.

so my bankroll still lingers around the $4-<$5k mark. Impatient, and that is probably a factor in how poorly i am playing.

Life is about experiences. Those experiences result in stories. Sitting in front of a computer playing poker is a story that is interesting the first telling, but doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
edit. life is also about meeting jack's avatars!

Should I start playing MTTs? winning the Sunday million would make a good story, but I doubt that mtts are a good answer. SNGs - nope, i revisited $60 i had sitting on party and played the $3 & $6 sngs i first played poker in. It's so much about coinflips and suckouts. wow. Ended up down $10 or something, so I was beating the players but not the rake... Don't think they're something I particularly enjoy any more - and it's not just because of the micro-$$ involved.

hmm... watch this space...

I've hit a plateau as well. Still hovering around 4k after a now 3 week breakeven stretch?

I'm throwing a little 6-max / HU / MTT in the mix to keep things interesting for me. The FR cash grind can be tough when you're not running good...

I somehow missed this until today. Your bio is awesome dude and good luck on your 25k

May is over. I played badly and was lucky to break-even - thanks bonuses!

Discipline - I need to start folding again. Hero-calls result in one "sick call dude" for every four stacks lost. This is -EV. So I shall stop.

June. I will play better. I've decided to postpone moving up to 100nl - although I'm buying in 200bb deep at 50nl whenever i get the chance, so I'm getting comfortable with a bigger game. When I move up it should already feel familiar.

June. I'm going hiking loads, gonna hang out in the snow.
June. I'll drink a little less.
June. Should be a good month for waves - I've got a new 6'4" fish and it's piles of fun.
June. I'm going to crush my project at work.
June - I'm excited.

cool. Davenout.

Good start to June.

I've got some money stagnating on Pacific cos I haven't quite cleared the first deposit bonus. I've decided to add a few short-handed 50nl tables to the mix when I've nothing better going, and nit it up so that I can put that money somewhere I want to use it!

My first session of the month was boosted by my first (?) >$200 pot that actually went my way, I've lost a couple before. Villain was a known fish-donor and button an 18-10 with crazy high attempt to steal and flop-bet/re-raise stats (figure he had 99 or something, don't think he's folding 55 here)...

The major highlight of that same session was folding AA on a 379Q rainbow board after being floated on the flop and heavily re-raised on the turn (200bb deep too!). Bring on a month of folding!

So June. About 1k hands for $150 profit.

Nice. I hope to keep it up.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($98.40)
UTG ($66.20)
UTG+1 ($214.55)
MP1 ($89.30)
MP2 ($25)
Hero ($99.25)
CO ($50)
Button ($52.90)
SB ($97.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 7, 7.
2 folds, MP1 raises to $1.5, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.50, 1 fold, Button calls $1.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($5.25) Q, 5, 7 (3 players)
MP1 bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.50, Button raises to $10, MP1 raises to $43, Hero raises to $100.25 (All-In), Button folds, MP1 calls $47.30 (All-In).

Turn: ($195.85) J (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($195.85) J (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $195.85

Results below:
MP1 has Ah Qs (two pair, queens and jacks).
Hero has 7d 7h (full house, sevens full of jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $205.80.

Originally Posted by daven

Discipline - I need to start folding again. Hero-calls result in one "sick call dude" for every four stacks lost. This is -EV. So I shall stop.

*smashes these words into brain*

I been donking tooooo much monies lately. Yer beating me to 5k fer sure

about five minutes into a session today and this hit me. Villain is tight enough pre-flop that I'm only sometimes 3-betting, and not this time...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($50)
Hero ($48.70)
CO ($22.30)
Button ($71.05)
SB ($54.25)
BB ($37.85)
UTG ($12.20)
UTG+1 ($50)
MP1 ($143.65)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Q, Q.
1 fold, MP1 raises to $2, 1 fold, Hero calls $2, CO calls $2, Button calls $2, 1 fold, BB calls $1.50.

Flop: ($10.25) 3, Q, J (6 players)
BB checks, MP1 bets $10, Hero raises to $20, CO folds, Button folds, BB folds, MP1 raises to $151.65 (All-In), Hero calls $26.70 (All-In).

Turn: ($103.65) 3 (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($103.65) A (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $103.65

Results below
MP1 has Ah Ac (full house, aces full of threes).
Hero has Qc Qs (full house, queens full of threes).
Outcome: MP1 wins $103.65.

Calmed down pretty quickly and settled into what I was planning as a big session. an hour later and PT3 started doing it's crashing stuff - I can't wait until there's a stable release. Loyalty has its place, but...

I've realised that software and/or connection problems are probably my biggest tilt risks, that or multiple badbeats in a row.

So I stopped. The session was about +$20. Why don't I know for sure? PT3. Dunno where half the hands have gone, and don't know if I can be bothered trying to find them

That's all.

I think you played that perfectly if he is a nit. You can probs 3bet some stuff like Axs to balance your premiums but I don't like to 3et QQ in this situation vs. a very tight player.

Originally Posted by badgers

I think you played that perfectly if he is a nit. You can probs 3bet some stuff like Axs to balance your premiums but I don't like to 3et QQ in this situation vs. a very tight player.

cheers for the vote of confidence!

swings and roundabouts, i hit my 10 outer getting allin on turn to take down a 500bb pot... http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...se-t71660.html

I'm playing tight and standard lines at the moment. Simultaneously playing 8 tables of 50nl FR on FullTilt and 3-6 tables 50nl 6-max elsewhere (party right this second). And it's back to the roots, no HUD, no PT.... I'm reading lines not stats, there's a lot of value to be had in returning to basics - everyone should switch off their HUDs right now!!! kinda like blow up your television, but not as cool...

poker is feeling good, up 4 buyins this session... results orientated? hell yeah...

Originally Posted by d0zer

I been donking tooooo much monies lately. Yer beating me to 5k fer sure

that was a week ago and dozer is now playing 200nl on a 6k bankroll... I lost our little race, but that's fine - i want us both to kick arse...

anyway, I'm within a buyin (i'm still playing 50nl) of a $5000 bankroll now... it's been slow coming, but it seems almost inevitable - but. Always a but? I'm about to take a week or two of next to zero poker, so it may take a while after all

poker at the moment is interesting. I installed PT3 and it seemed to be working ok, so i got rid of PT2. Ooops. Anyway, I've decided to wait until there's a stable PT3 build, and the last 10k (ish) hands I've been 12-tabling with no HUD, no stats, nothing. Just watching lines and truly ABC-ing. Seems to be working just fine. I'll approach HUD stats differently when i get them back, they're only a tool, not a substitute for playing poker.

Also been thinking about my a-game vs my tired (or whatever excuse) game. I'm building an ok tired-game - based on 13-10 pre-flop styles and not a lot of calling postflop. I think I need a decent b-game, cos I play tired sometimes...

anyway, looks like I'll be playing 100nl from July - especially as I'm expecting bankroll-boosting bonuses from Full Tilt then (confirmed, as long as I make ironman this month), mayber everest, and probably party.

poker is going just fine.

Was just going to suggest you look into softer sites. Seriously, 25NL on Everest plays like about 5NL on stars/ftp. Theres something to be said for the extra money of playing worse opposition on softer sites.

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by d0zer

I been donking tooooo much monies lately. Yer beating me to 5k fer sure

that was a week ago and dozer is now playing 200nl on a 6k bankroll... I lost our little race, but that's fine - i want us both to kick arse...
...

poker is going just fine.

Holy crap that was just a week ago. Sometimes it's hard to keep it all in context. I still remember the long breakeven stretch that was the first few weeks of may.

Glad to hear you're still making headway to 100NL...soooo close dude, you'll kill it

RE: playing without a HUD -- I think it's fine to default to ABC tagg poker. That's what I try to do when I'm tired/drunk/etc... I still maintain that a HUD is more +EV than no HUD because you can profitably make more slim-value plays with reads. Bluff NITs more, call/slowplay laggs with wider ranges, double-barrel taggs that seem to float light, blind defend positionally aware taggs etc..

But drew plays a billion 200NL tables with no HUD for a pretty damn good winrate, so maybe they're overrated... I feel naked without them. Like I'm going into a swordfight with a blindfold.

So you still on FT + a little party on the side? I just bailed on party & play ongame during the day, & FT at night when ongame dies.

so I got to $5k a while ago! making the move to 100nl on July 1st, equipped with 50+buyins. Strange to think of the dollars involved now - I'm thinking of pulling out some cash again, just to remind myself that the money is real.

anyway, haven't really played much (three hours?) the last couple of weeks.
mixed in some 6-max before that - last time I played 6-max i was way too loose, full ring play has helped...

Originally Posted by d0zer

HUD is more +EV than no HUD because you can profitably make more slim-value plays with reads.

agreed. And it looks like there's a new PT3 version, so I'll be back to HUD play when I get around to playing again. It has been enlightening to multi-table without this tool for a while though

Originally Posted by dozer

So you still on FT + a little party on the side? I just bailed on party & play ongame during the day, & FT at night when ongame dies.

I normally play 6-8 tables of Full Tilt, and then 5-8 of whatever site seems best at the time (for whatever reason). Means I end up playing prima for 45% rakeback sometimes, or everest/party/whatever if a bonus pops up. I still haven't figured out a long-term site/plan. I'll clear the FT bonus I've got coming in July and then decide...

i ran bad then tilted at 50nl... first decent tilt in ages - AA<QQ all-in pre-flop a little deep, then KK<AA for 240bb, then AA < JJ 180bb deep on a 76J flop after 3-betting to 18bb pre
...
i've moved up to 100nl to lick my wounds - turned on the HUD and dropped to 8-tabling at the same time

bankroll somewhere between $4700 and $5000...

edit - 100nl doesn't seem too scary so far. Pot sizes are fine after a bunch of hands won and lost 200+bb deep at 50nl. Bet sizing I'm mostly managing to think of it in terms of blinds not coffees. I had a nasty hand where my rivered middle set caught a flush, and another where I couldn't fold my overpair. But I've got some buy-ins (45?) up my sleeve, so I plan to stay here a while. Maybe dropping to 50nl if I feel tired, tilty, or like a touch of heavier (i.e. >>>10) multitabling..

I used to look in awe at the hands posted at 100nl in the forums, and at those posting them. There is still a tinge of that, but hey - I've ground here from $200 and deserve to be here. Now I want to become established. You know, become one of those decent regs people talk about...

I'll likely be here a while - planning to move up to 200nl at bankroll = $10k...

poker is good.

Congrats on the moveup. I know whatcha mean by looking in awe at the 'high stakes' 100NL/200NL

You've paid your dues man -- you deserve to be there.

I however can't shake this cooler and am moving back down to 100NL with about your BR (little less now). See yah on the tables!

3 days ago

Originally Posted by daven

i've moved up to 100nl to lick my wounds - turned on the HUD and dropped to 8-tabling at the same time

I've done the grinding thing since. 15k hands at 100nl (10-12 tabling now) and some huge swings. It's been an interesting ride and variance is outa control! I'll post the craziest hands sometime - just a few for now...
Bankroll around $4.8k... Think I'll only drop if I go down to $4k.
How does it feel? feels like playing poker.

Hand 1 - I take advantage of monkey tendencies

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($184.35)
UTG ($212.15)
UTG+1 ($98.35)
Hero ($156.90)
MP2 ($132.20)
MP3 ($105.80)
CO ($249.60)
Button ($161.80)
SB ($110.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A, A.
UTG calls $1, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4.5, 2 folds, CO calls $4.50, Button raises to $14.8, 2 folds, UTG folds, Hero raises to $47.5, CO folds, Button calls $28.20.

Flop: ($97.50) 4, 5, 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $59, Hero raises to $113.9 (All-In), Button calls $54.90.

Turn: ($0) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($0) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $325.30

Results below:
Hero has As Ad (straight, five high).
Button has Kc Ks (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $325.30.

Hand 2 - I play bad
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 ($108.95)
MP1 ($211.30)
MP2 ($83.55)
MP3 ($55.10)
CO ($152.65)
Button ($81)
SB ($202.75)
BB ($56.30)
Hero ($120.25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 5, 5.
Hero raises to $3.5, 1 fold, MP1 calls $3.50, 5 folds, BB calls $2.50.

Flop: ($11) 3, 5, 8 (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $6, MP1 calls $6, BB folds.

Turn: ($23) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $12, MP1 calls $12.

River: ($47) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $35, MP1 raises to $152, Hero calls $63.75 (All-In).

Final Pot: $244.50

Results below:
Hero has 5h 5s (full house, fives full of threes).
MP1 has 8d 8s (full house, eights full of threes).
Outcome: MP1 wins $297.75.

Hand 3 - I sweat!!!
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($99.10)
BB ($113.15)
UTG ($102.50)
UTG+1 ($665.15)
MP1 ($101.90)
Hero ($159.25)
CO ($195.50)
Button ($265.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6, 6.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, MP1 calls $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($5) 6, J, J (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $664.15 (All-In), MP1 folds, Hero calls $158.25 (All-In), SB folds, BB folds.

Turn: ($321.50) K (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($321.50) 5 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $827.40

Results below:
UTG+1 has Ad Ah (two pair, aces and jacks).
Hero has 6c 6h (full house, sixes full of jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $321.50.

Hand 4 - I make a huge read vs fish... shame that...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (7 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($201.50)
UTG ($86.35)
MP1 ($190.20)
Hero ($82.70)
CO ($103.65)
Button ($45.40)
SB ($126.80)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with J, K.
2 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, 2 folds, SB calls $3, 1 fold.

Flop: ($8) J, K, Q (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5, SB calls $5.

Turn: ($18) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $18, SB raises to $40, Hero raises to $92.2 (All-In), SB calls $34.20.

River: ($166.40) T (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $184.40

Results below:
Hero has Js Kh (two pair, kings and jacks).
SB has As 7s (straight, ace high).
Outcome: SB wins $184.40.

ugh. That last one is so dirty

right now and it feels like my game is weak
bonuses and rakeback are the only thing keeping my bankroll intact.
cleared a full tilt loyalty bonus of $300 in the first five days of July, and probably racked up about $100 in rakeback at the same time. That leaves me net around -$30 for the month so far...
and leaves my bankroll at about $5000.
Yuck. Gotta learn to beat 100nl.
gotta stop being a degen, imagining micro-thin edges that probably don't exist...
gotta get better
gotta stop paying off fools
gotta stop being the fool
And time to start studying, if i'm breaking even then there isn't even a $cost imposition on time spent studying the game rather than playing

next post next week

right now we're setting up the PA and the decks in front of our fire in anticipation of a night that is likely to get somewhat out of control... house party while the cold dark cold dark rain comes down outside

You're focusing too much on big pots.
Big pots happen, relax. Don't force them.
Beating the games right now requires you to play small and medium pots well.

Originally Posted by Fnord

You're focusing too much on big pots.
Big pots happen, relax. Don't force them.
Beating the games right now requires you to play small and medium pots well.

more wise words - thanks.
You're right that I need to be making money between the big hands. That means getting better at playing poker - otherwise my bankroll is a slow decline between big jumps or drops. It needs to be a slow ascent, punctuated by big events. And I figure that big pots come in three flavours - play them right and the big jumps should net out positive:

1) Coolers (set over set/set under flush)
2) Races
3) Someone getting it in way ahead!

1) is probably close to breakeven long-term
2) is probably close to breakeven long-term
3) should be a big source of profit, and is easily a break-even proposition for most players. Folding is key.

and in other news, I played my first $400 pot today. 4-bet pre to take a flop heads-up and somehow AA<22!!! hate that...

Finally got a PT3 version that seems to be working ok... interesting playing with stats up again after so long without. Still sticking to 11-14 tables at the moment though.
Playing better. That is good. Results are kinda meh. Whatever.
Noticed that I was coming around 20th in the RTR rake race a day ago, that tells me i should play less and study more!

That's good that you feel like you're playing good. I think I'm playing fairly decently as well. I've dropped my lagg-bot style for a more dynamic tagg style, but...I know my game needs work still.

"Play less and study more" is a great idear. I'm thinking of following that & getting the CR membership with my FT points instead of getting books.

Originally Posted by d0zer

"Play less and study more" is a great idear. I'm thinking of following that & getting the CR membership with my FT points instead of getting books.

yeah, that looks like a pretty good use of points - especially cos you can maintain the membership for only 5k (?) points a month. Downside is that all the FT regs will be doing it, so I won't be. Instead I am writing/thinking poker theory and trying to think ranges more. Pre-flop I'm learning to play the button as a hand rather than a position = more 3-betting. Not going to start button defence though, that's a lag tool. Also reading renton's fullring posts - the postflop guides. Another thing I am starting to do is completely study the play of a few regs - to learn from and then exploit their play. I'm also chasing fish around the tables.

Two fun hands from last night vs the same funny fish - I was faking uber-tilt after the first one, and the second one he played face-up. I almost felt sorry for him. But I don't, instead I am going to stalk him until he's busto...

re FT points and books - from what I have heard, it seems that FTR>>>Books
I'm debating a 24"monitor with points - but I already have a 22" attached to my laptop, and screen space is not the limiting factor with multi-tabling. Also thinking about waiting a month and getting the EOS Digital... such decisions poker forces upon us!


Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

DJ ChrisNew ($83.25)
Button ($112.30)
Hero ($100)
BB ($86.15)
UTG ($20)
UTG+1 ($96.85)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($91.10)
MP3 ($48.25)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7, 7. MP3 posts a blind of $1.5.
4 folds, MP3 (poster) checks, CO raises to $4, 1 fold, Hero calls $3.50, BB calls $3, MP3 folds.

Flop: ($13.50) A, 7, 9 (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, CO bets $6, Hero calls $6, BB calls $6.

Turn: ($31.50) 4 (3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $31.5, CO calls $31.50, Hero raises to $90 (All-In), BB calls $44.65 (All-In), CO calls $41.75 (All-In).

River: ($270.90) A (3 players, 3 all-in)

Final Pot: $257.05

Results in below:
Hero has 7h 7d (full house, sevens full of aces).
BB has Qc Ac (three of a kind, aces).
DJ ChrisNew has As 9h (full house, aces full of nines).


and this

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

DJ ChrisNew ($98.40)
SB ($119.80)
BB ($201.30)
UTG ($100)
UTG+1 ($300.55)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($159.50)
Hero ($151.70)
CO ($113.10)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 4, 6.
4 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, 1 fold, Button calls $3.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($8.50) 7, 5, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $4, Button raises to $8, Hero raises to $12, Button raises to $29, Hero raises to $148.2 (All-In), Button calls $65.90 (All-In).

Turn: ($251.60) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($251.60) T (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $198.30

Results in white below:
Hero has 4s 6s (straight, eight high).
DJ ChrisNew has 3c 3d (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $251.60.

Originally Posted by daven

Originally Posted by d0zer

"Play less and study more" is a great idear. I'm thinking of following that & getting the CR membership with my FT points instead of getting books.

yeah, that looks like a pretty good use of points - especially cos you can maintain the membership for only 5k (?) points a month. Downside is that all the FT regs will be doing it, so I won't be.

Phew...good thing I'm on stars then

It's all good (learning that is). I'm actually reading HoH for the first time. I wish I'd read it before sklansky...far easier read. Despite being tourney-centric there's a lot in there for general NLHE.

I'm taking your 'play less and study more' to heart. Today at work I read the first half of HoH, and tonight I'll read more instead of playing

I play funny?
seem to be getting it in good a lot more often recently...
up $550 on the tables so far in July, and probably another $600 in rakeback.
Studying was gold. So was remembering how to fold.
I owe Renton a vote of thanks for his FR Digest posts...

last 10k hands (basically since I started doing more poker study - maybe I'm just running good though)



hand 1) silly slowplaying villain...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP1 ($101.50)
MP2 ($69.80)
CO ($106.45)
Button ($22.60)
Hero ($108.35)
BB ($245.85)
UTG ($101.50)
UTG+1 ($36.70)

Preflop: Hero is SB with A, 2.
6 folds, Hero completes, BB raises to $3, Hero calls $2.

Flop: ($7) 8, 6, J (2 players)
Hero checks, BB checks.

Turn: ($7) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $3, BB calls $3.

River: ($13) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $8, BB raises to $16, Hero raises to $102.35 (All-In), BB calls $86.35.

Final Pot: $217.70

Results below:
BB doesn't show (88).
Hero has As 2s (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $217.70.

hand 2) don't play turns slow!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($87.40)
SB ($108.35)
BB ($100)
UTG ($229.15)
UTG+1 ($100)
MP1 ($204.65)
MP2 ($20)
MP3 ($100)
CO ($98.80)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, J. UTG+1 posts a blind of $1.
1 fold, UTG+1 (poster) raises to $3.5, 4 folds, Hero calls $3.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($9.50) J, 6, 7 (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $5, Hero calls $5.

Turn: ($19.50) 3 (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $9, Hero raises to $18, UTG+1 raises to $45, Hero calls $27.

River: ($109.50) 8 (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $46.5 (All-In), Hero calls $33.90 (All-In).

Final Pot: $177.30

Results i below:
UTG+1 has Ks Kc (one pair, kings).
Hero has Jc Js (three of a kind, jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $177.30.

hand 3) straight vs obvious set, I prefer to get loaded on the turn. Paired board = easy fold.
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($107.85)
Button ($67.45)
SB ($56.35)
BB ($95.45)
UTG ($100)
UTG+1 ($82.50)
MP1 ($18.50)
MP2 ($103.50)
MP3 ($101.15)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 6, 5.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $1, 2 folds, BB checks.

Flop: ($3.50) 8, 4, 7 (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets $2, Hero raises to $6, BB calls $6, UTG+1 calls $4.

Turn: ($21.50) T (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets $13, Hero raises to $60.5, BB folds, UTG+1 raises to $75.5 (All-In), Hero calls $15.

River: ($172.50) A (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $172.50

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has 8c 8h (three of a kind, eights).
Hero has 6s 5s (straight, eight high).
Outcome: Hero wins $172.50.

hand 4) ahh, river 4-outers, gotta love them!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (7 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($112.25)
SB ($100.50)
BB ($59.90)
UTG ($160.15)
MP1 ($80.45)
MP2 ($48.50)
CO ($100)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 4, 4.
4 folds, Hero calls $1, 1 fold, BB raises to $5, Hero calls $4.

Flop: ($11.50) 4, 7, 6 (2 players)
BB bets $10, Hero calls $10.

Turn: ($31.50) 6 (2 players)
BB bets $15, Hero raises to $30, BB raises to $44.9 (All-In), Hero calls $14.90.

River: ($121.30) 6 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $121.30

Results in white below:
BB has Kc Kd (full house, sixes full of kings).
Hero has 4s 4h (full house, sixes full of fours).
Outcome: BB wins $121.30.

1) Weaksauce turn bet. Make it $5 and give urself some FE.

2) Yup

3) Here's a spot where you can be isolating pre

4) WTF preflop? Did you just open limp a button? Never do that!

Originally Posted by badgers

1) Weaksauce turn bet. Make it $5 and give urself some FE.

2) Yup

3) Here's a spot where you can be isolating pre

4) WTF preflop? Did you just open limp a button? Never do that!

1) interesting - I don't really want a fold here, the bet size is so that him calling is in my favour. $5 and I need fold equity or implied odds - otherwise him calling is -EV

2) chur

3) Do you isolate low scs? I like playing them 4-way cos of implied odds etc - I assumed the sb would complete. I need to think about this - I think it's at least part of why my co and button stats are so different to everyone else

4) Agreed, um, open limping button is as bad as openlimping from sb. No excuse!

GW on making money at last Daven. You playing on Stars?

Originally Posted by daven

1) interesting - I don't really want a fold here, the bet size is so that him calling is in my favour. $5 and I need fold equity or implied odds - otherwise him calling is -EV

So you want him calling with 22 or a better Ace high? There are loads of better hands that you can fold out and another positive is that you build a bigger pot against a narrower range when you do hit, ie. implied odds are greater when you bet bigger.

Oh yeah and I just noticed this was a sb limp/call as well...

Originally Posted by daven

3) Do you isolate low scs? I like playing them 4-way cos of implied odds etc - I assumed the sb would complete. I need to think about this - I think it's at least part of why my co and button stats are so different to everyone else

It depends how badly villain sucks preflop or how much of his limping range he folds. If either of these are true I'm going to be isolating a hell of a lot. I will also iso very wide against regs that limp small PPs as I know I can make them fold a lot postflop. I'd probs limp behind here if there were two limpers but against one I think we get to see a HU pot in position with initiative here to make raising better.

+1 to isolating with SCs.

You're in position, you get to rep whatever high card comes, and you get supersecret nut hand possibility. Plus isolating is more fun than limping along. Multipots almost always play themselves.

glad t'see you're makin' some monies solid rate over 10k...

Originally Posted by Keilah

GW on making money at last Daven. You playing on Stars?

Plus isolating is more fun than limping along. Multipots almost always play themselves.

fulltilt. And fun hands vs multipots = true, although I'm not sure which I prefer!!!

Originally Posted by Badgers

So you want him calling with 22 or a better Ace high? There are loads of better hands that you can fold out and another positive is that you build a bigger pot against a narrower range when you do hit, ie. implied odds are greater when you bet bigger.

Oh yeah and I just noticed this was a sb limp/call as well...
.

good point on increased implied odds and fold equity being better than keeping better hands in.

re limp/call lines - well spotted leak. Thanks - I think it's something to do with ticking the call/complete box as I spin through the tables = a bad habit that I'll try to get rid of!

2) Here you lost $12 for not re-buying in full. I know you say that this is to build a bad image, but I'm not sure it has a better EV then re-buying full.

Originally Posted by jimmy44

2) Here you lost $12 for not re-buying in full. I know you say that this is to build a bad image, but I'm not sure it has a better EV then re-buying full.

I think that the image thing only worked for the first few days I played at 100nl. By now, the regs and people who notice will have stats/reads and the stack size tell won't work. The others, it makes no difference.
Time to keep my stack size up!

still doing ok... bankroll through the $6k mark and climbing. Involved in my first $500 pot today - deep and AA vs AA preflop so we both lost a dollar to rake

debating whether to grind enough hands to get a few more buyins through the RTR rake race. Sitting at 31st right now - enough for $200 if I maintain it. I'll decide a week from now...

climbing loads more at the moment - cos my car got stolen and I haven't got around to replacing it yet = less surfing. Downside of subaru imprezas is that they're great for joyriding and easy to steal.

poker study is going well too - I'm going to respond properly to full ring hand histories for a while, cos it helps with my thinking and exposes gaps.
Planning to read a couple of the poohbah posts every week too.
and eventually get onto renton's abcd theorem - beyond the first glance...

more hands to come

had a rough start to today's session:
1) flopped flush in big blind<small blinds flopped nut flush (1xbuyin),
2) QQ<JJ all-in pre vs 60bb
3) KK<JJ all in pre vs 30bb fish
4) 66<78 on 569 flop all-in no assist...

but started to claw it back and was up a couple of buy-ins by the time the following chat exchange happened:

of course I have the nut flush dude - how stupid do you think I am? Stupid enough that I'm never betting my flush draw into your flush draw on flop and turn I guess Thank you river queen, and thank you chat box...

Cash_Money_Dan has 15 seconds left to act
Cash_Money_Dan has requested TIME
davenigma: zzzzzzzzzzz
Cash_Money_Dan: u really got AKh?
davenigma: i got you owned
Cash_Money_Dan calls $117.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
davenigma shows [Ah Kh] a flush, Ace high
Cash_Money_Dan mucks [4h 5h]
davenigma wins the pot ($273.50) with a flush, Ace high

lolol wp.

did you just open shove that river? where's the rest of the hand?

Originally Posted by badgers

lolol wp.

did you just open shove that river? where's the rest of the hand?

something like I opened AhKh from ep and had two callers.
Flop 29J style of blank, but gave me the flush draw so i bet close to pot.
Turn a non-heart 8 and I bet disgustingly weak, like 1/2 pot, figuring opp was the type of player to flat or cib to give me pot odds.
River was Qh for the nuts - I figured that villain could have been drawing with some crazy flush draw rather than the flush, and could imagine the passive type checking a ten behind. I thought about bet sizes and then decided to rep a bluff/pissed off set with the push. If I'd KNOWN he had the flush not the straight it woulda been a simple c-r all-in...

Originally Posted by daven

still doing ok... bankroll through the $6k mark and climbing.
debating whether to grind enough hands to get a few more buyins through the RTR rake race. Sitting at 31st right now - enough for $200 if I maintain it. I'll decide a week from now...

bankroll kept climbing.
Then I ran bad and tilted worse - 3 coolers deep (set under set, set<TJ straight, flopped flush<flopped straight flush) and some bad play (hero calls anyone?) to lost a quick $1000...

Took a day off and went snorkelling scallops for a few hours - today I played a micro-session nit-tagging, and hit some hands vs fish + 1x AA>KK.. not a particularly notable session - but nice to end (?) a downswing.

stats for the session
945 hands
13-10-3
+$240

bankroll only a little north of $6k (mostly cos RTR are now paying out weekly)
Rake race still sitting mid-30s for $200 if I maintain it.

Things are fine.

flopped flush<flopped straight flush

God, thats a cooler!

Snorkelling sounds like an amazing way to take a relaxing break between sessions. I found it really hard when I lost $1k for the first time, it's such a big sum of money to me and I think it really affected my play for a while. Good to hear that you've turned it around (hopefully) though

Originally Posted by badgers

Snorkelling sounds like an amazing way to take a relaxing break between sessions. I found it really hard when I lost $1k for the first time, it's such a big sum of money to me and I think it really affected my play for a while. Good to hear that you've turned it around (hopefully) though

turned around. bankroll is back to where it was before that $1k slump

I have just finished a session that was sooo close to being magic, two hands for $550 of pots which would have turned a +$300 session into my best profit session ever

holding a set vs oesd deep, then set vs 2x oesd - all in on flop both times... sorta qualifies as bad beat territory I guess...

bankroll just under $7k

here's a graph of the last ten days - including my horrific downswing:


and here are a couple of funny hands:
1) inducing the bluff from a silly shortstack...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($98.50)
BB ($29)
UTG ($42.30)
Hero ($93.50)
MP1 ($18)
MP2 ($50)
MP3 ($206.40)
CO ($40)
Button ($100)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, K. CO posts a blind of $1.
1 fold, Hero raises to $4.5, 6 folds, BB calls $3.50.

Flop: ($10.50) 5, K, K (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1, BB calls $1.

Turn: ($12.50) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1, BB raises to $5, Hero calls $4.

River: ($22.50) T (2 players)
BB bets $18.5 (All-In), Hero calls $18.50.

Final Pot: $59.50

Results in white below:
BB has Td 3c (two pair, kings and tens).
Hero has Kh Kc (four of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $59.50.

2) vs a decent lag
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($100)
Button ($106.60)
SB ($21.40)
Hero ($98.50)
UTG ($103.10)
UTG+1 ($20)
MP1 ($100.20)
MP2 ($123.35)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, K.
UTG raises to $3.5, 1 fold, MP1 calls $3.50, 4 folds, Hero raises to $14.5, UTG calls $11, MP1 calls $11.

Flop: ($44) 8, K, 7 (3 players)
Hero bets $10, UTG raises to $66, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $84 (All-In), UTG calls $18.

Turn: ($212) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($212) J (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $212

Results in white below:
Hero has Kh Kc (three of a kind, kings).
UTG has 9h Th (straight, jack high).
Outcome: UTG wins $212.

3) and the mandatory royal flush
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($50.55)
Button ($100)
SB ($19)
BB ($100)
UTG ($118.20)
UTG+1 ($168.35)
MP1 ($100)
Hero ($100)
MP3 ($94.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, Q.
UTG calls $1, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4.5, 2 folds, Button calls $4.50, 2 folds, UTG calls $3.50.

Flop: ($15) T, K, 5 (4 players)
UTG bets $13, Hero calls $13, Button raises to $95.5 (All-In), UTG folds, Hero calls $82.50 (All-In).

Turn: ($219) J (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($219) A (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $219

Results in white below:
MP1 has (two pair, kings and tens).
Hero has Ac Qc (straight flush, ace high).
Button has Td Kd (two pair, kings and tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $219.

July. Interesting month - and my most profitable to date
After I finally got around to moving up in reaction to a series of badbeats at 50nl, July was my first full month playing at 100nl...
I played a lot, and messed around with my game a bunch. First serious downswings happened - during the month I ran into flopped quads with overpair or set over 15times, ace high flush and royal re-draw vs flopped straight flush even once is too often, etc. I also hit a one-outer deep once.

I cleared a bonus. I got some rakeback. I placed somewhere in a rake-race for 2 or 3 buy-ins (find out tomorrow).

What else did I do during July, am i still doing?
I started playing the player harder - below are a couple of fun hands vs a decent lag today, we got some nice meta- going on.
I'm learning to 3-bet.
I'm starting to understand position.
I'm slowly getting a feel for bet sizing and pot control.
Ranges are eluding me less.
I'm running near +2/100 over the last 30k hands and think that +4 is achievable and sustainable
I'm ok playing without an HUD, but have decided that using it is +EV and after a bunch of experimentation I think I'm close to arriving at the optimal 7 stats to display (i don't like more for screen space, plus i want to look at the numbers, compute and make a play in less than a second)
My goal of playing more tables is standard now - I can play heaps and have decided that 12-14 is optimal

August goals:
play less hands! 50k running 2-3ptbb/100 is the goal.
that's about it really, maybe play a couple of mtts and try to cash up.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($106.10)
MP3 ($146.25)
CO ($157.60)
Shaun Busted ($98.50)
SB ($30.40)
Hero ($105.90)
UTG ($99.60)
UTG+1 ($87.90)
MP1 ($100.40)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, K.
6 folds, Button raises to $3, 1 fold, Hero raises to $9.5, Button raises to $29, Hero raises to $105.9 (All-In), Button calls $69.50 (All-In).

Flop: ($204.90) 4, 2, 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($204.90) 4 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($204.90) T (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $197.50

Results below:
Hero has As Kh (one pair, fours).
Shaun Busted has 3c 3s (two pair, fours and threes).
Outcome: Button wins $197.50.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($107.60)
Button ($144.75)
SB ($156.60)
Shaun Busted ($194.50)
UTG ($29.90)
Hero ($100)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($95.10)
MP3 ($100)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, A.
1 fold, Hero raises to $3.5, 1 fold, MP2 calls $3.50, 4 folds, BB calls $2.50.

Flop: ($11) 2, 7, K (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $6, MP2 folds, BB calls $6.

Turn: ($23) 2 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $18, BB raises to $40, Hero calls $22.

River: ($103) J (2 players)
BB bets $60, Hero calls $50.50 (All-In).

Final Pot: $204

Results in white below:
Shaun Busted has 3c 2c (three of a kind, twos).
Hero has Ks Ad (two pair, kings and twos).
Outcome: BB wins $213.50.

and then another sesssion, another table a few hours later and i'm 3-betting him without mercy:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($122.25)
Button ($214.35)
SB ($68.25)
BB ($95.25)
Shaun Busted ($122.80)
Hero ($108.45)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($117.10)
MP3 ($30)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, K.
UTG raises to $3, Hero raises to $10.5, 7 folds, UTG raises to $33, Hero raises to $108.45 (All-In), UTG calls $75.45.

Flop: ($218.40) K, 9, 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($218.40) T (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($218.40) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $218.40

Results below:
Shaun Busted has Qs Ts (two pair, tens and nines).
Hero has Kd Kh (full house, kings full of nines).
Outcome: Hero wins $218.40.

Man, hope he's on your friends list .

Congrats on a good month!

Bankroll yo-yo, sitting at $8k right now.
Game study is working out. I'm playing substantially better than I was a month ago - still a lot to learn though! Recent adjustments have been more 3-betting, smarter isolation plays, more steals,
but...
underlying it all, the biggest thing I've been assessing (yet again, after another $1k downswing!) is the need for discipline.

This evening and what a crazy session - 2000 hands for +$300, not too bad considering:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($212.65)
BB ($237.40)
UTG ($100)
Hero ($208.70)
MP1 ($359.50)
MP2 ($115.80)
MP3 ($237.30)
CO ($152.55)
Button ($203.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with K, K.
1 fold, Hero raises to $3.5, 3 folds, CO calls $3.50, Button calls $3.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($12) Q, A, K (3 players)
Hero bets $10, CO raises to $20, Button calls $20, Hero raises to $205.2 (All-In), CO calls $129.05 (All-In), Button calls $180.25 (All-In).

Turn: ($566.50) Q (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: ($566.50) 9 (3 players, 3 all-in)

Final Pot: $561.55

Results in white below:
Hero has Ks Kd (full house, kings full of queens).
CO has Qc Qh (four of a kind, queens).
Button has Jh Th (flush, ace high).

and

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($142.20)
BB ($93.70)
UTG ($59.60)
UTG+1 ($102.50)
MP1 ($99)
Hero ($106.50)
CO ($100)
Button ($94)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with K, A. CO posts a blind of $1.
3 folds, Hero raises to $4.5, CO (poster) raises to $15, 3 folds, Hero raises to $25.5, CO calls $10.50.

Flop: ($52.50) 3, K, 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $32, CO raises to $74.5 (All-In), Hero calls $42.50.

Turn: ($201.50) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($201.50) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $201.50

Results in white below:
Hero has Ks As (two pair, kings and nines).
CO has Qc Ah (flush, ace high).
Outcome: CO wins $201.50.

Wow, Hand 1 is CRAZY with all of you being deep. That is a MONSTER pot. What a horrible turn, even though you needed to pair the board.

Hand 2 sucks donkey balls. Ugh.

I don't know which one I like less... Post some winners instead would ya?

Originally Posted by ChrisBCritter

Post some winners instead would ya?

ok, I'm in the middle of a heater session right now - up 7 buy-ins or something. Dropped down to 2 tables, one I'm in position on a 50-20 whale 500deep, I'm playing super thin cos it's worth it to cover - up to 300 deep right now. Unfortunately there's a 13-10 solid nit-tagg in the mix as well, and one of the two or three half decent lags at this level... magnet table!. The other is just a standard mix of regs and wannabes mostly a little bit deep...
bankroll nearing $9k

some hands to satisfy your craving for winners - all from this session:

edit - it turned into my first $1k+ day, stats for the day's play, and add about $100 from rakeback and it's all good!


fuck - i've got no idea why this doesn't work...


Hand 1: villain is a 24-8 heavy loser who should 4-bet aces...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($197.85)
Hero ($112.65)
Button ($143.90)
SB ($64.50)
BB ($201.50)
UTG ($57.45)
UTG+1 ($122.05)
MP1 ($324)

Preflop: Hero is CO with J, J.
UTG raises to $4, 3 folds, Hero raises to $13.5, Button calls $13.50, 2 folds, UTG calls $9.50.

Flop: ($42) J, K, 9 (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4, Button raises to $42, UTG folds, Hero raises to $99.15 (All-In), Button calls $57.15.

Turn: ($240.30) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($240.30) 2 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $240.30

Results in white below:
Hero has Js Jd (three of a kind, jacks).
Button has Ah Ad (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $240.30.


hand 2: villain is a 50-4 uber-donk and i have notes that he likes to bluff-steal pots:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($106.10)
UTG+1 ($117.80)
MP1 ($215.05)
MP2 ($147.90)
Hero ($100)
CO ($341.75)
Button ($280.90)
SB ($209.10)
BB ($199)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A, T.
3 folds, MP2 calls $1, Hero raises to $4.5, 1 fold, Button calls $4.50, SB calls $4, 1 fold, MP2 calls $3.50.

Flop: ($19) K, A, 2 (4 players)
SB checks, MP2 checks, Hero bets $11, Button folds, SB calls $11, MP2 folds.

Turn: ($41) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $16, SB calls $16.

River: ($73) 2 (2 players)
SB bets $73, Hero calls $68.50 (All-In).

Final Pot: $210

Results in white below:
SB has 9c 9d (two pair, nines and twos).
Hero has Ah Th (two pair, aces and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $210.

hand 3: standard styles - interesting, one down hand this session i flopped a mid-flush with the open ended straight flush re-draw. Didn't hit though, and someone had flopped the ace high. This i thought momentarily about the straight flush after I snapped...
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($103.70)
MP1 ($98.15)
MP2 ($490.15)
MP3 ($100.90)
CO ($43.20)
Button ($302.20)
SB ($99)
BB ($50)
UTG ($100)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A, K.
Hero raises to $3.5, 4 folds, Button calls $3.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($8.50) 7, Q, 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $5, Button calls $5.

Turn: ($18.50) 8 (3 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $15, Hero raises to $30, Button raises to $293.7 (All-In), Hero calls $65.20 (All-In).

River: ($407.40) 7 (3 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $208.90

Results in white below:
UTG has (flush, jack high).
Hero has Ah Kh (flush, ace high).
Button has 9h Jh (flush, jack high).
Outcome: Hero wins $208.90.

Hand 4: this on the table where I desperately wanted to get deep - note, donk just hit a 3-bet K74 flop with KK vs opps AA and is now 640 deep, I've somehow got up to 350... could be fireworks to come!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP3 ($391.55)
CO ($100)
Button ($514.15)
Hero ($212.85)
BB ($143.70)
UTG ($93)
UTG+1 ($123.85)
MP1 ($149)
MP2 ($75.80)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, 9.
UTG calls $1, 1 fold, MP1 calls $1, MP2 calls $1, 1 fold, CO calls $1, 1 fold, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($6) A, 5, 7 (6 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $3, UTG folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $3, CO folds, Hero calls $3.

Turn: ($15) 6 (3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $12, MP2 calls $12, Hero raises to $43, BB folds, MP2 calls $31.

River: ($113) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $27.75, MP2 raises to $28.8 (All-In), Hero calls $1.05.

Final Pot: $170.60

Results in white below:
Hero has 8d 9s (straight, nine high).
MP2 has Ac 6h (two pair, aces and sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins $170.60.

fuck - i've got no idea why this doesn't work...

You've got to point to the picture, not the page. I.E.:

Code:

NHs! I hate hands like Hand 3 where you even think to hesitate because of a straight-flush possiblilty. I mean really, that just the "playing scared" devil trying to put fear into your game.

Originally Posted by ChrisBCritter

NHs! I hate hands like Hand 3 where you even think to hesitate because of a straight-flush possiblilty. I mean really, that just the "playing scared" devil trying to put fear into your game.

NIT! The thought barely even crosses my mind...I'm too busy pumping my fists and humping the air.

Originally Posted by ChrisBCritter

]You've got to point to the picture, not the page. I.E.:

Code:

NHs! I hate hands like Hand 3 where you even think to hesitate because of a straight-flush possiblilty. I mean really, that just the "playing scared" devil trying to put fear into your game.

thanks for the assist! and yeah, i'm never folding to the two to a straight flush scare 100bb deep - he did have the re-draw when the money went in though!

Originally Posted by d0zer

Originally Posted by ChrisBCritter

NHs! I hate hands like Hand 3 where you even think to hesitate because of a straight-flush possiblilty. I mean really, that just the "playing scared" devil trying to put fear into your game.

NIT! The thought barely even crosses my mind...I'm too busy pumping my fists and humping the air.

LOL. Maybe I worded that strangely for you. I'm also Fist-pumping, Arsenio Hall style all day every day in that spot. I was referring to daven's comment:

Originally Posted by daven

This i thought momentarily about the straight flush after I snapped...

v nice 1k in a day is an awesome feeling!

pin this to my wall: stop a session if playing badly - whatever the cause.
lucky to only end up two buyins down - redzill4 was at some of my tables, he can probably vouch for my spewtastic play.
don't think i've played that badly in months!!!

change of plan. I'm playing too much poker - the days are getting longer and it's time to surf and climb more... I won't play any more hands during August - except the rtr freeroll. A good test of the addiction too. I will study a bunch of poker in these couple of weeks though - especially profiling some regs and thinking through some theory.

I left town for a week yesterday, last night was all about good live music - i've maybe got a new favourite live act.

I'm also re-thinking what I want from poker. And how best to achieve that. First step is withdrawing $5k from my bankroll now that the US$ is strong vs the NZ$. That money is going to be life money - sitting in a savings account until i decide to hit the road again, my poker bankroll is halved - but so what?! I'm still comfortably rolled for the stakes i want to play. Actually, I'm going to move back to 50nl and grind $500 out for old times sake - just to prove a point to myself. Then go whore some bonuses grinding 100nl - cake, ultimate bet, absolute, here I come!!!

When my roll gets back to $10k I'll probably pull another $3k out... turning poker $ into life $ is kinda cool! Next I will learn some other poker - I want to learn to play 6-max well before moving to 200nl and beyond. Omaha and stud are going to be fun to learn. And I think it's time I started some MTTs, just a few. Taking poker back to the hobby play for a time...
things are good

Congrats dude, you've officially kicked my ass!


Sounds like you've found a good groove. Keep on keepin' on

This morning I had my one and only poker session during this three week poker playing break that I'm now 2/3 through. Played the FT RTR freeroll, busted near the bubble with m down to 6 after a messy tournament - my re-raise push with QJs from the button mis-read how likely the mid-stack 2.5bb raiser was to call and KT snapped to put me out.

I played 9 tables of 50nl at the same time - first time running HEM instead of PT3. Goal is to grind out 10 buy-ins at 50nl when I start playing again on 1st September, then move back up to 100nl. A few reasons:
1) I pulled out most of my roll and want to re-commence 100nl rolled deep again
2) I've done a lot of study, theorising, poker thinking - call it what you will! - and my game is a bunch different now. I want to test it at 50nl for a few thousand hands, in case I'm even leakier than before
3) I want to re-examine how 50nl plays, and how it compares to 100nl

anyway, the cash session went well and I felt like I was playing better than before - results orientated!!! it's always fun to go up 4 buyins in 1500 hands... Excited about properly testing my new game once September rolls around! I feel like my game is getting stronger - and I can still see loads of obvious areas with huge room for improvement. It would be nice to get good at this poker game - maybe in a year or two.

Next goal is to get my roll back to 10k, then pull out another 5k to savings and drop to 50nl to learn 6-max.
After that, I'll re-assess the 6-max vs Full-ring question and start the grind...

back into it!
Glad to see that I can take a break when I want to.
Looking forward to see if all that study has made my game any stronger.

first session was yuck - timely reminder to not play when I'm tired. There was some sort of edge missing, i was clicking buttons rather than reading hands and boards. Bet-sizing was meh, etc. Dropped a couple of buy-ins.

will be playing a big session tomorrow if I'm feeling good. Psyched!

Originally Posted by daven

back into it!
Glad to see that I can take a break when I want to.
Looking forward to see if all that study has made my game any stronger.

first session was yuck - timely reminder to not play when I'm tired. There was some sort of edge missing, i was clicking buttons rather than reading hands and boards. Bet-sizing was meh, etc. Dropped a couple of buy-ins.

will be playing a big session tomorrow if I'm feeling good. Psyched!

That bullshit always happens to me. I don't concentrate and just click around randomly. I don't think about what other people have, etc..

September is for testing my new poker style. More consideration to position, more stealing, smarter 3-betting, less limping, etc...
I can see already that I'll have to be super-disciplined in my lines and pre-flop play for this new approach to work.
also, i'm down to playing 12-13 tables for the moment.

here's the first session, guess I ran good - even if it didn't feel like it?!

[/img]

Good enough .


Good luck Daven, run good, crush, bounce back up to $10k!

i've been thinking about a bunch of stuff recently.
Some poker related - hell, I even considered switching to limit. But then I was reminded of the play at 50nl...

LIMIT WTF


get your head straight dude


grinding your ass off for 0.5 a big bet/100 aint fun, you know?

Originally Posted by Jack Sawyer

LIMIT WTF


get your head straight dude


grinding your ass off for 0.5 a big bet/100 aint fun, you know?

depends how big the big bets are.... but I realised that I'd be lucky to beat even 2/4, so that can wait. This month is going fairly smoothly so far, and my "new game" seems to be ok - position and 3-betting pretty much describe the changes that i've made.
I played a few hands of 200nl as well, just for the hell of it. Stopped up about quarter of a buy-in after a few orbits. Didn't seem too terrifying, although the betsizing felt big. I'll probably move up next time my roll hits 10k - unless I decide to convert poker $$ to life $$ again...

used some ironman medal rewards to buy a $300 bonus as well, should clear that fairly quickly - it affects rakeback, but not too much.



A couple of funny hands:
Not sure if I'm ever getting away from this:
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($110.80)
UTG+1 ($50.85)
MP1 ($67.85)
MP2 ($50)
MP3 ($80.25)
CO ($21.80)
Button ($50)
SB ($8)
Hero (BB) ($73.90)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K A
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.75, 4 folds, Button calls $1.75, 1 fold, Hero raises to $5.50, UTG+1 calls $3.75, Button calls $3.75

Flop: ($16.75) K A 3 (4 players)
Hero bets $10.50, UTG+1 calls $10.50, 1 fold

Turn: ($37.75) 5 (3 players)
Hero bets $37.75, UTG+1 calls $34.85 (All-In)

River: ($107.45) 6 (3 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $107.45 | Rake: $3


I suspected a 4-bet range that includes JJ/QQ/AK cos it's a blind battle - i was wrong and he had aces Blind battles don't exist in full ring, it's just some crazy marketing jingle that fish like me swallow time and time again...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($57.45)
BB ($8.50)
UTG ($51.90)
UTG+1 ($13.70)
MP1 ($40.85)
MP2 ($47)
CO ($59.25)
Button ($25.70)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K K
4 folds, CO raises to $1.75, Button calls $1.75, Hero raises to $7.50, 1 fold, CO raises to $16.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $9

Flop: ($35.25) K Q 9 (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $28, Hero raises to $40.95 (All-In), CO calls $12.95

Turn: ($117.15) 8 (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($117.15) 9 (3 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $117.15 | Rake: $3

what a fish, who limps Axs in these games. WTF!
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($21.80)
UTG ($62.65)
UTG+1 ($56.80)
MP1 ($67.60)
MP2 ($99.40)
Hero (MP3) ($86.10)
CO ($50)
Button ($112.15)
SB ($27.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 5 A
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 3 folds, BB checks

Flop: ($2.25) J 8 K (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $3.50, 2 folds, MP1 calls $2.50

Turn: ($9.25) 3 (2 players)
MP1 bets $2.50, Hero raises to $11.50, MP1 calls $9

River: ($32.25) A (2 players)
MP1 bets $52.10 (All-In), Hero calls $52.10

Total pot: $136.45 | Rake: $3

Results in white below:
MP1 had J 10 (flush, King high).
Hero had 5 A (flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Hero won $133.45

May 9th 2008

Originally Posted by daven

5) Poker goal = make $25k over the next 12 months...
.

I've been going 4 months. I'm a little behind schedule - profit should be $8k between then and now, it's only $6k.
The next 3 months are key.
Debating moving to stars and grinding to supernova between now and December. Will decide shortly.

6K still makes me drool. I say come to stars you'll probs wanna go supernova later anyway why not get it over with?

Originally Posted by daven

I suspected a 4-bet range that includes JJ/QQ/AK cos it's a blind battle - i was wrong and he had aces Blind battles don't exist in full ring, it's just some crazy marketing jingle that fish like me swallow time and time again...

LOL I still have to think that 4bets are KK/AA and MAYBE AK against a Lag....

I wonder how light the HUDbots are fighting against "stealers", and where is that threshold? 20% ATS? 30%?

I am getting played back at quite a bit from the button and I am a bit perplexed by it, my ATS isn't crazy out of line......

Originally Posted by cardsman1992

I am getting played back at quite a bit from the button and I am a bit perplexed by it, my ATS isn't crazy out of line......

Why not try a light 4bet? Good for profit (if indeed they're 3betting light) and for meta game.

Thought about it, knowing my luck the time I try it I run into AA LOL.....

cardsman you're probs just running bad in that nits keep getting good cards against you. If they really are adjusting then like jimmy said you can 4bet bluff or do fun stuff like calling the 3bet with a lot of hands seeing as you have position anyway.

daven stay at tilt! I don't want to see you at my tables

Sometimes it seems like people are playing back at you a lot, but in reality its different people on different tables a lot of the time.

Originally Posted by cardsman1992

I wonder how light the HUDbots are fighting against "stealers", and where is that threshold? 20% ATS? 30%?

I am getting played back at quite a bit from the button and I am a bit perplexed by it, my ATS isn't crazy out of line......

i have a reaction to steal pop-up on my HUD. It's given me a lot more respect for defence from the small blind - except for a very few players and I have notes on them anyway AND I don't give them position very often. What it shows is that most players defend by calling, I'm giving someone the benefit unless they have defended by 3-betting at least a couple of times alreaday.

4-betting light is interesting, I only really try it against heavy 3-betters - one player I have a note saying "3-bet fold x 7, 3-bet-shove x 1 (aces)"

Originally Posted by badgers

daven stay at tilt! I don't want to see you at my tables

I'm flattered - don't worry, you won't know it's me for a while