zook's blog

Played my first session in 5+ weeks today! Finished my contract work last week and am waiting to hear back from them about a full-time job so I get to grind again for awhile. My poker batteries have been recharged.

I started the session bad, playing too aggro and running into hands. I was down $2k pretty quickly, all at 2/4, which sucked. But I tightened up a little, hit a few hands and finished up $800 for the session. Yay swongs. I posted one interesting hand in SHNL but here's my biggest of the day vs. a tilting fish. Yay deepstacked fish!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($884.70)
UTG ($64)
MP ($523.20)
Hero (CO) ($1241.60)
Button ($673)
SB ($891)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, A
2 folds, Hero raises to $14, 1 fold, SB calls $12, BB raises to $56, Hero raises to $160, 1 fold, BB raises to $356, Hero raises to $1082, BB calls $528.70 (All-In)

Flop: ($1783.40) 7, J, 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($1783.40) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($1783.40) 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $1783.40 | Rake: $3

Results in below:
BB had K, A (high card, Ace).
Hero had A, A (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $1780.40

Another good session, but a short one. Tables were surprising bad for a Sunday so I called it quits after less than an hour. Might play again this afternoon. Here are a couple of overbet hands from today that worked but I'm not sure I played optimally.

1. Open raiser is fishy and stationy running 35/11/2.3, cold-caller is a laggro 27/23/4.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($58)
MP ($322.90)
CO ($402)
Button ($219.60)
SB ($400)
Hero (BB) ($433.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, A
1 fold, MP raises to $12, CO calls $12, 2 folds, Hero calls $8

I don't think this is a good squeeze spot given MP's stats.

Flop: ($38) 2, 9, J (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, CO bets $30, Hero calls $30, 1 fold

I probably should have lead here and folded to pressure from MP and gotten it in vs. CO. But I figured MP would be easy to read and CO would take a stab with any two if checked to. I also considered c/r'ing but I thought there was more value letting the laggro keep the betting lead. Meh on this street.

Turn: ($98) 6 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $77, Hero calls $77

I like this, let him keep bluffing, semibluffing or valuebetting worse.

River: ($252) A (2 players)
Hero bets $314.70 (All-In), CO calls $283 (All-In)

Easy overbet given how weakly I've played my hand and how many aces are in his range.

Total pot: $818 | Rake: $3

Results below:
Hero had J, A (two pair, Aces and Jacks).
CO had A, 3 (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: Hero won $815

2. UTG is a bad shorty, 17/9/3, CO is a solid regular running 20/16/2.7.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($67.50)
MP ($427)
CO ($504.70)
Button ($44)
Hero (SB) ($474.70)
BB ($564.40)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J, J
UTG calls $4, 1 fold, CO raises to $18, 1 fold, Hero calls $16, 2 folds

CO doesn't stack off lightly pre-flop and folds to 3bets 70% of the time so I wasn't thrilled about 3betting here. But I don't love JJ multi-way, so meh.

Flop: ($44) K, 2, J (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $36, Hero raises to $120, CO calls $84

Weird board to c/r because I'm repping such a narrow range... 22,KJ,QT, bluff (I 3bet ~10% so he probably doesn't think JJ is in my range here). I went for it b/c I c/r'ed him a couple of orbits earlier on a dry flop and gave up the turn so I thought I'd get less credit if I followed through this time. And I thought his range was full of hands that would at least call the flop (AK/KQ/KJ/QT).

Turn: ($284) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $336.70 (All-In), CO calls $336.70

This overbet worked but I'm not sure about it in retrospect. I'm really narrowing and polarizing my range to 22+JJ+KJ and QT+less likely semibluffs (T9, AhTh, Qh9h). But I think he weighted made hands less b/c I played it so fast on a pretty dry board. Plus recent history, my somewhat spewy image... and the overbet definitely looks bluffier than any other amount.

River: ($957.40) K (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $957.40 | Rake: $3

Results below:
Hero had J, J (full house, Jacks over Kings).
CO had A, K (three of a kind, Kings).
Outcome: Hero won $954.40

Thoughts welcome.

Played well this morning, ran $1200 below expectation in AI's but only lost $50. I'll call that a victory. I made 4 hero calls, 2 worked and 2 didn't. Guesses?

1. Villain is 28/12/1.9 over a 500+ hands. No relevant history.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($461.40)
SB ($400)
BB ($436.30)
UTG ($430.50)
MP ($563.60)
CO ($352.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, J
UTG calls $4, 2 folds, Hero raises to $18, 2 folds, UTG calls $14

Flop: ($42) 4, 10, J (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $34, UTG calls $34

Turn: ($110) K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($110) 2 (2 players)
UTG bets $110, Hero calls $110

Total pot: $330 | Rake: $3


2. Villain is 74/20/3 over 120 hands, seems spewy.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($220.05)
CO ($814.20)
Button ($439.80)
Hero (SB) ($402)
BB ($400)
UTG ($400)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, Q
1 fold, MP raises to $8, 1 fold, Button calls $8, Hero calls $6, BB calls $4

Flop: ($32) 7, A, 2 (4 players)
Hero bets $22, 1 fold, MP calls $22, 1 fold

Turn: ($76) A (2 players)
Hero bets $50, MP calls $50

River: ($176) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $140.05 (All-In), Hero calls $140.05

Total pot: $456.10 | Rake: $3


3. Same villain as hand 2.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($439.40)
SB ($708.20)
Hero (BB) ($401.35)
UTG ($406)
MP ($523)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5, 5
2 folds, Button raises to $14, 1 fold, Hero raises to $48, Button calls $34

Flop: ($98) J, 8, Q (2 players)
Hero bets $66, Button calls $66

Turn: ($230) 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks

River: ($230) 2 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $325.40 (All-In), Hero calls $287.35 (All-In)

Total pot: $804.70 | Rake: $3


4. Villain is 69/8/4.7 over 90 hands, 3bets 10% (tiny sample obv).

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($630.90)
Hero (UTG) ($785.80)
MP ($781.80)
CO ($1100.30)
Button ($810.40)
SB ($596.10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 10, Q
Hero raises to $14, 2 folds, Button calls $14, SB raises to $44, 1 fold, Hero calls $30, 1 fold

Flop: ($106) 10, 8, 6 (2 players)
SB bets $52, Hero calls $52

Turn: ($210) 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($210) 4 (2 players)
SB bets $248, Hero calls $248

Total pot: $706 | Rake: $3

Originally Posted by zook

Haven't played since Monday, probably won't play much for the next couple weeks. I have contract work I'm busy with.

Horray for you!

2 & 3 worked

I think 2 and 4 worked.

I don't really like 3 all that much. I wouldn't be surprised if he mistakenly value towned you by bluffing some better hand or something.

hand 1 is close, but I think bet sizing probably means you're beat there.

You both scored 50%, which is failing. 3 & 4 worked. Results:

1. As5s 2. A3o 3. AKo 4. KQo

Had a weird session this morning, ran hot pre-flop but still lost ~$100 for the session. Won two stacks and lost two stacks with AA, and lost two stacks with AK. I have a lot of trouble getting away from AA post-flop and here's a hand where I really, really should have... villain is 24/17/1.2 over 3k hands. Given the board, his AF and the fact I have the Ac, this is always a set

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($780)
CO ($800)
Button ($1402.80)
SB ($849.20)
BB ($975)
Hero (UTG) ($447)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, A
Hero raises to $14, 2 folds, Button calls $14, SB calls $12, BB calls $10

Flop: ($56) K, 6, 2 (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $44, Button calls $44, SB raises to $176, 1 fold, Hero raises to $433 (All-In), 1 fold, SB calls $257

Turn: ($966) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($966) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $966 | Rake: $3

Results:
SB had 2, 2 (three of a kind, twos).
Hero had A, A (one pair, Aces).
Outcome: SB won $963

Played solidly otherwise this morning... I've always thought that if never folding AA is my biggest leak I'm in damn good shape.

My initial guess was that hands 1 and 3 worked but I wanted to discuss hand 1 more. This is probably really really basic but I usually bet/fold this turn with two pair but recently I am starting to feel like it's unnecessary. I think I get too scared when draws hit. Is it more correct to assume that villain has a wider range than FDs and that checking the turn with still a lot of equity vs. his whole range is more +EV to get value on the river whether it be c/c or value betting when he checks IP? And say we had a lesser holding then bet/folding the turn is actually better?

Originally Posted by zook

1. Villain is 28/12/1.9 over a 500+ hands. No relevant history.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($461.40)
SB ($400)
BB ($436.30)
UTG ($430.50)
MP ($563.60)
CO ($352.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, J
UTG calls $4, 2 folds, Hero raises to $18, 2 folds, UTG calls $14

Flop: ($42) 4, 10, J (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $34, UTG calls $34

Turn: ($110) K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($110) 2 (2 players)
UTG bets $110, Hero calls $110

Total pot: $330 | Rake: $3

I checked the turn back b/c I'm behind his range and there are very few worse hands that will call a bet. But I don't hate a turn bet b/c the hands that we're ahead of (QJ, AJ if he doesn't raise it pre, 98) have a lot of outs. The real problem here is the river... I was planning to fold to a lead if I didn't boat up, but when he potted it I got stupidly skeptical. He's not turning weak made hands like QJ into a bluff here, so it's flushes or 98 imo.

Originally Posted by zook

You both scored 50%, which is failing.

There were 4 hands, and 2 worked, so we got 50% and ran at expectation! Hardly failing

I don't mind the AA stack off. You're beat by only two hands on this board, 222 and 666. Combined with the possibility that he may sometimes flat and raise AK here and sometimes raise a FD, I think this is a must-stack.

Originally Posted by griffey24

I don't mind the AA stack off. You're beat by only two hands on this board, 222 and 666. Combined with the possibility that he may sometimes flat and raise AK here and sometimes raise a FD, I think this is a must-stack.

I didn't mention that he 3bets 7.5%, so he's gotta be squeezing AK here. And I think a guy with an AF of 1.2 is taking the good price with a fd here, esp a non-nut. I think this is a spot to fold AA.

Originally Posted by kmind

My initial guess was that hands 1 and 3 worked but I wanted to discuss hand 1 more. This is probably really really basic but I usually bet/fold this turn with two pair but recently I am starting to feel like it's unnecessary. I think I get too scared when draws hit. Is it more correct to assume that villain has a wider range than FDs and that checking the turn with still a lot of equity vs. his whole range is more +EV to get value on the river whether it be c/c or value betting when he checks IP? And say we had a lesser holding then bet/folding the turn is actually better?

Originally Posted by zook

1. Villain is 28/12/1.9 over a 500+ hands. No relevant history.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (Button) ($461.40)
SB ($400)
BB ($436.30)
UTG ($430.50)
MP ($563.60)
CO ($352.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, J
UTG calls $4, 2 folds, Hero raises to $18, 2 folds, UTG calls $14

Flop: ($42) 4, 10, J (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $34, UTG calls $34

Turn: ($110) K (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

River: ($110) 2 (2 players)
UTG bets $110, Hero calls $110

Total pot: $330 | Rake: $3

b/f vs checking turn is marginal either way and depends a lot on our opponent. My standard is probably to b/f especially vs passive stations just because it's so easy for us to play against them and their range is fairly wide (thus we arent necessarily behind their calling range if we can include some KQ, 89,AJ,QJ and other bullshit hands)

Originally Posted by zook

Originally Posted by griffey24

I don't mind the AA stack off. You're beat by only two hands on this board, 222 and 666. Combined with the possibility that he may sometimes flat and raise AK here and sometimes raise a FD, I think this is a must-stack.

I didn't mention that he 3bets 7.5%, so he's gotta be squeezing AK here. And I think a guy with an AF of 1.2 is taking the good price with a fd here, esp a non-nut. I think this is a spot to fold AA.

I'll have to agree with zook i think, we're behind an awful lot.

So should we stack off here if we don't have the Ac?

Man this is a spot I never fold AA. I can definitely fold AA, but rarely do it on this board.

Man I hope I get this fucking job because poker can be a such a bitch. I didn't play or run well today. Dropped ~$1.5k... ~$800 on stupid plays and ~$800 on suckouts. I posted a tough hand in SHNL but there weren't that many other interesting ones. I continue to find good spots to overbet for value, which is nice. Gonna buy $216 worth of lottery tickets tonight... errrrr, play FTOPS event #1. No more poker until then.

Sigh. Good luck man.

Originally Posted by zook

I continue to find good spots to overbet for value, which is nice.

HH's??

Originally Posted by griffey24

Originally Posted by zook

I continue to find good spots to overbet for value, which is nice.

HH's??

Just one from today. One a few posts up... more I don't feel like finding.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (SB) ($404)
BB ($80)
UTG ($548.45)
MP ($515.40)
CO ($74)
Button ($350)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, K
UTG raises to $14, 3 folds, Hero raises to $48, 1 fold, UTG calls $34

Flop: ($100) 7, 4, 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $60, UTG calls $60

Turn: ($220) 10 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks

River: ($220) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $296 (All-In), UTG calls $296

Total pot: $812 | Rake: $3

Results below:
Hero had K, K (two pair, Kings and fours).
UTG had Q, Q (two pair, Queens and fours).
Outcome: Hero won $809

Why not just go 60/100/shove?

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

Why not just go 60/100/shove?

I think that's fine too. But I think this looks bluffier and gives him a chance to stab if he's floating.

Irish: You think 60/100/shove is significantly better?

Had a good session tonight. Recovered the $1.5k I lost this morning thanks to these two hands:

1. Villain is a bad reg with serious FPS. Such a bad river c/r. My vbetting range is strong here and he's repping a really small range. I'm not vbetting QQ/JJ and if I get here with a K I can't imagine folding it.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($833)
CO ($629.85)
Hero (Button) ($621.40)
SB ($3010.80)
BB ($1291.70)
UTG ($833)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, 10
3 folds, Hero raises to $14, SB calls $12, 1 fold

Flop: ($32) K, 4, 4 (2 players)
SB bets $24, Hero calls $24

Turn: ($80) 8 (2 players)
SB bets $55, Hero calls $55

River: ($190) 10 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $150, SB raises to $2917.80 (All-In), Hero calls $378.40 (All-In)

Total pot: $1246.80 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 10, 10 (full house, tens over fours).
SB had A, J (one pair, fours).
Outcome: Hero won $1243.80

2. 250bb pot FTW!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Hero (BB) ($973)
UTG ($892.60)
MP ($1047)
CO ($1133.45)
Button ($576.40)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, J
MP raises to $14, CO raises to $48, 1 fold, Hero calls $46, 1 fold, MP calls $34

Flop: ($148) A, J, 2 (3 players)
Hero bets $100, MP calls $100, 1 fold

Turn: ($348) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $250, MP calls $250

River: ($848) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $575 (All-In), MP calls $575

Total pot: $1998 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had J, J (full house, Jacks over twos).
MP had Q, A (two pair, Aces and Queens).
Outcome: Hero won $1995

Lost AKo to AQo AI pre-flop to one of my least favorite regs (villain from 1) to put me down over $2k in AI EV on the day. So tilting. But it will all even out in the long run... right?

Originally Posted by zook

Irish: You think 60/100/shove is significantly better?

I don't think so with stack sizes... I go 60/100 like 90% of the time though if we're deeper.. . dont like it that much here


So tilting. But it will all even out in the long run... right?

thats what they say... but im beginning to doubt it!!!!!

Had a good session this morning +$1350. Played very disciplined, patient poker. Couldn't find any big mistakes in session review. I made one river fold that might have been too tight but that's it. I posted a couple of hands in SHNL but here's one more interesting one.

Villain is 18/16/5.4 over 500 hands, 35% steal from CO, calls 60% of 3bets. No relevant history, but he's German.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($382.15)
UTG ($287)
MP ($400)
CO ($412.80)
Button ($202.75)
Hero (SB) ($970.50)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 10, Q
2 folds, CO raises to $14, 1 fold, Hero raises to $48, 1 fold, CO calls $34

Flop: ($100) Q, 3, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $60, CO calls $60

I figure there are a lot of underpairs in his flatting range so I get one street of value for sure, maybe two if turn goes check-check.

Turn: ($220) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $120, Hero calls $120

I check/call this turn b/c he could be on a float or protecting an underpair, but I'm not sure I'm ahead of his range really since it includes AQ/99 and maybe KQ.

River: ($460) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $184.80 (All-In), Hero calls $184.80

Was planning on c/f'ing the river because it seems like his range should be so polarized here, but then the price and his infinite river aggression changed my mind. If he had AQ/99 I would be berating myself right now. fwiw, he instashoved after I checked.

Total pot: $829.60 | Rake: $3

Results below:
Hero had 10, Q (two pair, Queens and threes).
CO had 8, 8 (two pair, eights and threes).
Outcome: Hero won $826.60

Not convinced I played this hand well despite results. Double-barreling is another option of course. Thoughts?

wow he played it so bad

im not that fond of the 3bet pre at all, std fold?

Originally Posted by Alexos

im not that fond of the 3bet pre at all, std fold?

Yeah usually. I hadn't 3bet him before and I'm sure I just saw the 35% CO steal and said fuck it. What do you think of turn and river?

Originally Posted by zook

Was planning on c/f'ing the river because it seems like his range should be so polarized here,

Not with this bet size surely? He can't have much air because he can't expect you to fold much because his shove is so small. I would have expected his range to just be strong hands when he shoves the river. Not saying I'm folding though obviously because of the great odds.

Also I don't like the 3bet either but I like it a lot more if we're suited. idk if thats good or bad.

Also with regards to the 60/100/shove thing from the previous hand, I agree with you now, will start using this line a bit also. ty

Ok let's assume you had AQ here I'd do something like 60/85/shove a lot of the time. I just hate having QT here and it tilts me just to think about it, but I'd prolly use the same line as AQ

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

Originally Posted by zook

Was planning on c/f'ing the river because it seems like his range should be so polarized here,

Not with this bet size surely? He can't have much air because he can't expect you to fold much because his shove is so small. I would have expected his range to just be strong hands when he shoves the river. Not saying I'm folding though obviously because of the great odds.

Hmm... it's still a big bet and people hate to check behind the river with air. But I agree his range on the river should be strong. I definitely didn't expect to see TT/88/77 here. But I guess he put me on JJ/TT that went for one street of value. That's a pretty reasonable read actually. I didn't play this one well.

Originally Posted by Alexos

Ok let's assume you had AQ here I'd do something like 60/85/shove a lot of the time. I just hate having QT here and it tilts me just to think about it, but I'd prolly use the same line as AQ

haha, I gotta keep that 3bet% over 10 somehow!

(agree it's a poor choice, much better ip imo)

that is one of the strangest shoves i ve seen in a while by villain

I wonder - what is the bottom of your calling here? Would you have owned yourself w 66? AK? TT?

Originally Posted by Genitruc

that is one of the strangest shoves i ve seen in a while by villain

I wonder - what is the bottom of your calling here? Would you have owned yourself w 66? AK? TT?

Don't play 66 this way, probably 3 barrel it. TT would be very close. AK no wai.

I think I should c/f turn or river in this hand, probably river. Or barrel like Alexos said.

Had a nice +$1.9k session this morning, despite playing just ok. I brought my monthly winnings and AI EV lines a little closer together by sucking out with TT twice, once AI pre-flop vs. AA and once in a 3bet pot to a strangely played AQ on a Q982 board (should have found a fold there obv). Oh well. I posted a big bluff I made in SHNL, but here are a couple more interesting hands...

1. Villain is a 75/21/3 megafish. Standard I guess but still fun.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($443.90)
BB ($402)
UTG ($99)
MP ($459.70)
CO ($309.50)
Hero (Button) ($400)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8, 9
2 folds, CO calls $4, Hero raises to $18, 2 folds, CO calls $14

Flop: ($42) 8, K, 7 (2 players)
CO bets $21.50, Hero calls $21.50

Turn: ($85) K (2 players)
CO bets $40, Hero calls $40

River: ($165) 5 (2 players)
CO bets $230 (All-In), Hero calls $230

Total pot: $625 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 8, 9 (two pair, Kings and eights).
CO had 7, Q (two pair, Kings and sevens).
Outcome: Hero won $622

2. Not my standard to flat this vs. a CO raise but both blinds are squeezers and CO is a reg that seems much spewier post than pre. A little surprised he got in in here, but he had good equity.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($414)
Hero (Button) ($504)
SB ($416.50)
BB ($520.40)
UTG ($103.05)
MP ($529.30)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Q, Q
2 folds, CO raises to $14, Hero calls $14, 2 folds

Flop: ($34) 5, 3, 2 (2 players)
CO bets $24, Hero raises to $90, CO raises to $170, Hero raises to $490 (All-In), CO calls $230 (All-In)

Turn: ($834) Q (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($834) 3 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $834 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had Q, Q (full house, Queens over threes).
CO had A, 5 (two pair, fives and threes).
Outcome: Hero won $831

I had another good session today despite not playing very well. I was up a bunch quickly thanks to tons of fishy tables. Anyone who doesn't put in as many hours as possible on the weekends must hate money. But then I got overconfident and gave it all away with some spewy plays. Thankfully I won a couple of flips and finished with almost $1k in profit. These last couple of days haven't been my best, I need to discipline my game tomorrow.

I'll post my worst two hands so maybe I'll learn from them...

1. Villain was running 32/23/3 over ~500 hands. I'd been quiet at this table and we had no history.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG ($242.05)
MP ($1034.70)
CO ($533.50)
Button ($711.30)
SB ($421)
Hero (BB) ($430.50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 10, 10
3 folds, Button raises to $14, 1 fold, Hero raises to $48, Button calls $34

Flop: ($98) 6, K, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $60, Button calls $60

Put him on a K or underpair.

Turn: ($218) 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $100, Button calls $100

Trying to fold his JJ/QQ, oops, he probably has a K.

River: ($418) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $222.50 (All-In), Button calls $222.50

Would have 4bet AK so he must have KQ/KJs/KTs... we have no history, his WTSD is 20%, I can fold those K's! He timed way down and called ofc.

Total pot: $863 | Rake: $3

Results:
Button had Q, K (two pair, Kings and sixes).
Hero had 10, 10 (two pair, tens and sixes).
Outcome: Button won $860

2. Villain was running 21/17/5 over 600 hands but again, no history.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (4 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
BB ($336.10)
UTG ($400)
Hero (Button) ($435)
SB ($82)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 10, 10
UTG raises to $14, Hero calls $14, 1 fold, BB calls $10

Flop: ($44) 8, 3, 2 (3 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $32, Hero calls $32, 1 fold

Terrible flop for him to cbet, but he cbets 80% so I called.

Turn: ($108) A (2 players)
UTG bets $62, Hero calls $62

Great second barrel card, he's aggro, gotta call.

River: ($232) 7 (4 players)
UTG bets $292 (All-In), Hero calls $292

Great third barrel card, he's aggro... fuck it, I call.

Total pot: $816 | Rake: $2

Results:
Hero had 10, 10 (one pair, tens).
UTG had A, A (three of a kind, Aces).
Outcome: UTG won $814

3. Here's one I played better. Another value overbet for griffey. UTG is 43/22/3.5 and spewy, CO is 22/18/2.5 and stationy.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
BB ($236.60)
UTG ($1256.45)
MP ($400)
CO ($393)
Hero (Button) ($406)
SB ($426.80)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, 10
UTG raises to $14, 1 fold, CO calls $14, Hero calls $14, 2 folds

Flop: ($48) 8, 3, 9 (3 players)
UTG checks, CO bets $31, Hero calls $31, 1 fold

Flat this to give UTG chance to spew.

Turn: ($110) Q (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $72, CO calls $72

River: ($254) 4 (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets $289 (All-In), CO calls $276 (All-In)

I missed my flush draw, overbet bluff!

Total pot: $806 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had K, 10 (flush, King high).
CO had A, 9 (one pair, nines).
Outcome: Hero won $803

[ ] overbet

damn alex u r cold

I had a minor stoned epiphany lying in bed last night when I realized that I've lost my poker ambition. Not my poker motivation, I still love to play and read and study, but my ambition... a goal to strive for. It used to be to play levels where I could make a significant side income, then pay for some world traveling, then it was play for a living, but now that I've done all that I need to rededicate myself. I've maintained a solid winrate in my poker career, but thinking back on all the stupid bluffs and hero calls I've made it could easily be 1.5-2 times higher. I want my winrate to be more than solid, I want it to be ridiculous. I think I have the poker knowledge and skills to do it, I just lack mindfulness. Every session from now on I'm going to focus on being mindful. I don't really have any specific strategies for doing it at this point, I'm just going to try to detach a small piece of my mind and keep it focused on my goal. I played an awesomely mindful session today in which I didn't spew once, I read hands well and saved myself a lot of money with mediocre holdings. The mantra I kept repeating in my head was, "Nothing stupid. Take a step back and think. Nothing stupid." I'll see if I can keep it up through another session this afternoon and beyond.

Originally Posted by Genitruc

damn alex u r cold

loll, nah man im all love!


Zook- I def share alot of your thoughts, good luck with the new goal!

Good luck with this man! Hope it works for you, sounds like the kind of thing I should do too. Though its hard to not do "stupid things" cause how stupid something is.. is all relative!

Though avoiding hero calls is definitely nice! It's just so rewarding making a correct hero call dammit

Overall I played well again this afternoon and am on target for a ridiculous winrate month. I did have a couple of lapses in mindfulness though and made bad calls as a result. In both situations I was oop facing a laggy opponent with a medium-strength hand without initiative. This is a shitty situation and I need to do a better job avoiding it. I also should be less suspicious of laggs in general, without specific reads. I'll post an interesting hand in SHNL and that's it for today.

just ship me 10% of every hero call that you make

Originally Posted by zook

I've maintained a solid winrate in my poker career, but thinking back on all the stupid bluffs and hero calls I've made it could easily be 1.5-2 times higher.

Fuck this line of thought. It's total fucking garbage.

First, a loose call or raise every now and then is good poker. It makes us difficult for observant opponents to play against us. You're probably using selective memory for the ones that worked and the ones that didn't.

Second, you're going to make mistakes. Just accept that. When people ever talk about playing perfect poker for a period of time I immediatly know that they're terrible and will probably fall apart once the deck stops hitting them over the head.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Originally Posted by zook

I've maintained a solid winrate in my poker career, but thinking back on all the stupid bluffs and hero calls I've made it could easily be 1.5-2 times higher.

Fuck this line of thought. It's total fucking garbage.

First, a loose call or raise every now and then is good poker. It makes us difficult for observant opponents to play against us. You're probably using selective memory for the ones that worked and the ones that didn't.

Second, you're going to make mistakes. Just accept that. When people ever talk about playing perfect poker for a period of time I immediatly know that they're terrible and will probably fall apart once the deck stops hitting them over the head.

I agree completely, but you should always be trying to get better. If you're complacent, your winrate will get lower and lower until you're not beating the games anymore.

Good points Fnord. But I'm not trying to eliminate hero calls or loose raises, I'm just trying to play more mindful poker. Take my time, really think things through. A lot of times when I'm playing I think "damn, cooler" or "that was a really tough decision" and then when I review my session the correct play is obvious. I need to be doing more real-time analysis and relying less on my gut.

ya so many times I find that the hero calls and loose bluffs have more to do with my own state of mind/tilt than with a specifically +ev read

Dropped $3.2k this morning Mindfulness doesn't do shit about set over set, AI preflop coolers and only winning 17% of hands at showdown. I can't say I played my best, I made a couple of bad hero calls, but I took my time with both and just didn't give the villains credit for value betting as thinly as they did. I also valueowned myself three times, it seems that slowplaying flush draws and turned flushes is the new fastplay Oh well, going for a run then I'll try to win some back this afternoon.

If you're in the US, please check out this thread, make a call and submit a comment online: http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ea-t78342.html

I believe that today was my first -10 buyin day ever. I butchered 3 hands for stacks along with the usual assortment of coolers and suckouts. The irony of this happening the day after my mindfulness post is not lost on me. Poker is a funny game.

I don't look forward to the day I stop running like god.

Take a day off, pick a hand, dissect it and come back fresh and regrouped.

I have been improving leaps and bounds in tilt control and taking time off never worked for me. I'd come back 2 days later, lose a coinflip and SNAPTILT FCK ME!

You seriously just need to find your own way to control tilt. I approach it as a failure of my mind for rational thought and my ego + smart brain do not appreciate being turned off! So I go through a minishutdown then audibilize my decisions for a few a minutes while breathing with my belly instead of chest. I dunno what I'd do in live play though!

you're still cool in my book

:insert zook-drunk-face-picture I cannot find here:

here's you with the raddest dude ALIVE

You guys are awesome. tytytytytyty. Rilla, I think belly breathing is a good idea, I'm going to try that. Spenda, awesome photo of me and the halvfish. I think I spilled some liquor on my shirt.

I just finished one of my longest and best sessions of the year. I made zero mistakes for stacks and my biggest mistake was a c/r bluff for 50bb that was worth a shot, everything else was small potatoes. Still, 2 hours into the session I was down almost 2 buyins thanks to TWO FUCKING SET OVER SETS and a couple other honest-to-god coolers. But I honestly felt great about my play and state of mind. I was composing my blog entry in my mind about what an great session I played and how good I felt about it despite losing. And lo and behold, the cards came around at the end and I finished up almost 3 buyins. Wooooooooooooo.

I feel great about poker. Yesterday is a distant memory. Can't wait for my second session this afternoon.

hahahahaha pic is awesome

good times!!

jealous of the pic

Congrats man on your play, very jealous of that mindset and I hope you continue with it for a long time.

Originally Posted by kmind

very jealous of that mindset

Your bankroll is not real money. Once you convince yourself of this it's much easier to shake off losses.

Originally Posted by zook

Originally Posted by kmind

very jealous of that mindset

Your bankroll is not real money. Once you convince yourself of this it's much easier to shake off losses.

Haha yessss once I made this realization... and not caring about it monetarily, I just started shoving and bombing and bluffing everywhere. Its been greeeeeat

haha no but seriously, its definitely good to just try treating your poker roll as a poker roll and not in terms of the true monetary value, or what that money can buy you.

I'd never make a hero call ever again if everytime I was facing a river shoved, and I was like "zomg.. this is an apple iphone"... or something.

Originally Posted by griffey24

I'd never make a hero call ever again if everytime I was facing a river shoved, and I was like "zomg.. this is an apple iphone"... or something.

Yeah, I'm like "dang, that's 2 double cheesburgers" so I fold.

Yesterday (11-10):



Today (11-11):



75% comeback is 11

I'm not convinced that people can't fold anything to overbets. I will be very careful before using one as a bluff.

1. Villain is solid regular. I'm curious whether people think there's value in cbetting here...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($378.60)
MP ($400)
CO ($389.10)
Button ($157)
Hero (SB) ($408.30)
BB ($388.70)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, Q
1 fold, MP raises to $14, 2 folds, Hero raises to $48, 1 fold, MP calls $34

Flop: ($100) 10, 7, J (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $62, Hero calls $62

Turn: ($224) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $298.30 (All-In), MP calls $290 (All-In)

River: ($804) 2 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $804 | Rake: $3

Results below:
Hero had Q, Q (three of a kind, Queens).
MP had A, J (one pair, Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won $801

2. Fnord's right that I think I'm playing well when my hero calls are working and poorly when they aren't. Here's one of a few that worked today:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (5 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

SB ($687.05)
Hero (BB) ($847.70)
UTG ($400)
MP ($853.65)
Button ($676)

Preflop: Hero is BB with J, J
2 folds, Button raises to $14, 1 fold, Hero raises to $48, Button calls $34

Flop: ($98) 9, 7, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $70, Button calls $70

Turn: ($238) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $116, Hero calls $116

River: ($470) 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $442 (All-In), Hero calls $442

Total pot: $1354 | Rake: $3

Results:
Button had 10, A (one pair, sevens).
Hero had J, J (two pair, Jacks and sevens).
Outcome: Hero won $1351

I honestly don't even think its THAT hero'ish, cause I think lots of players will even raise their FD's on that flop. So its the perfect turn card to polarize his range nice and good and make this calldown.

I think the better question is, what was your plan for a club river? now THAT would be a harder hero call.... or maybe not?

People really love to bet...

lol you seem to have mastered the anti P4 theorem..hmm actually thats not it but close

also u run good vs me ... also FTP sucks

Originally Posted by zook

Yesterday (11-10):



Today (11-11):



75% comeback is 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7l250E5uM4

Also at :11

lol

Originally Posted by bigspenda73

Originally Posted by zook

Yesterday (11-10):



Today (11-11):



75% comeback is 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7l250E5uM4

Also at :11

haha awesome... this song is so oldschool good.. I might make it my new poker song

radiohead reckoner gets bumped for LL

Ok, officially all the way back from the -10 buyin day Monday. lolswongs. Ran hot this morning and finished up over 4 buyins in a short session. Back on track for a ridiculous winrate month I'm still loving the value overbets, this one is particularly hilarious:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $4.00 BB (6 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($809.20)
CO ($646.75)
Button ($858.30)
Hero (SB) ($448.30)
BB ($1320.80)
UTG ($875.50)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, A
2 folds, CO raises to $8, 1 fold, Hero raises to $32, 1 fold, CO raises to $56, Hero calls $24

Flop: ($116) 8, 4, A (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $68, Hero calls $68

Turn: ($252) 8 (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks

River: ($252) 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $324.30 (All-In), CO calls $324.30

Total pot: $900.60 | Rake: $3

Results:
Hero had 8, A (four of a kind, eights).
CO had J, J (full house, eights over Jacks).
Outcome: Hero won $897.60

I actually didn't think he had many aces in his range but thought he might convince himself the overbet was a bluff. Bingo-bango.

After putting in a ton of hands (by my standards) at the beginning of the week, my motivation is waning a bit. I played 300 hands and lost 4 buyins this morning before deciding I was too tilted to continue. Nothing tilts me more than getting bad beat by fish. I quit before I spewed, which I'm happy about. Not sure if I'll feel like a session later today, might take the rest of this beautiful California day off... it's 80 degrees and sunny in mid-November!

good quit!

Shipped my first 10+ buyin day today:



Played well and ran $2k over AI equity, ty poker gods.

gogogo zook!

sick

$$$$$

11

Originally Posted by zook

fuck you poker gods.

FMP. Down 11 buyins the past two days, -8 buyins in AI equity. What. The. Fuck. This one was my favorite from today. So this post isn't just bitching (only mainly bitching) here are a couple of AA hands for your perusal.