Yesterday, I did not have much heart for No-Limit games, so I played very light and short-stacked. I also played some limit and cap-games and did well there...actually, crushed the limit folks, which made me feel good about my game.
In retrospect, it's good to step back from the game when you don't feel you have your A game on.
UPDATE [02:20:2009]: The limit games over at FullTilt are juicer than what I expected; I may stay there for a little while.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Book Reading
From my father's side I have a thirst for knowledge, from my mother's I am gifted with intuition. In combination, these two assets compliment one another and help excel my poker game.
***
Books have always fascinated me. At a younger age, I would stare almost in awe at the two towers of book shelves in my Uncle's house. Deep inside I knew the books contained a wealth of knowledge. But, being a late bloomer I ironically hated to read.
From my Uncle, I learned how to read the Forward and Introduction of a book; how to pick up a book and skim through it to see if the book appeals to me; how to interact with a book and jot down my own notes, and highlight important points. This all stems from casual conversations and indirect influence.
***
If you think about it reading and writing are the same action; they are two opposite ends of a common spectrum.
***
I've picked up 3 new books lately (non-poker), but I expect in the end they will help me with my game. Also, I've renewed my dedication to a few books that I've half read and have planned to read (some poker/some non).
***
Some notes on my phone, from some poker book:
"A good player will rarely fold on the river to a large call after the turn."
"At 15-20 BB you are looking to re-steal from loose players rather than open raise."
Buzz words:
"the four points rule"
"stacks size"
"pot equity"
"folding equity"
I am sure that these notes came out of either of the two cash game books I have.
***
Books have always fascinated me. At a younger age, I would stare almost in awe at the two towers of book shelves in my Uncle's house. Deep inside I knew the books contained a wealth of knowledge. But, being a late bloomer I ironically hated to read.
From my Uncle, I learned how to read the Forward and Introduction of a book; how to pick up a book and skim through it to see if the book appeals to me; how to interact with a book and jot down my own notes, and highlight important points. This all stems from casual conversations and indirect influence.
***
If you think about it reading and writing are the same action; they are two opposite ends of a common spectrum.
***
I've picked up 3 new books lately (non-poker), but I expect in the end they will help me with my game. Also, I've renewed my dedication to a few books that I've half read and have planned to read (some poker/some non).
***
Some notes on my phone, from some poker book:
"A good player will rarely fold on the river to a large call after the turn."
"At 15-20 BB you are looking to re-steal from loose players rather than open raise."
Buzz words:
"the four points rule"
"stacks size"
"pot equity"
"folding equity"
I am sure that these notes came out of either of the two cash game books I have.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Flopping A Royal Flush
The odds of this happening on the flop with two broadway cards are 19599:1, Against. So, I feel very lucky. This is my second royal flush, but my first on the flop. Plus my bonus kicking in tonight it turned out to be a very good night.
Bodog Hold'em No-Limit ($0.10/$0.25)
Hand Number: 1519774095
Seat #8 is the button
Seat 3: sURFrIDER75 ($44.08 in chips)
Seat 2: XBen7 ($25.60 in chips)
Seat 4: michi04 ($0.00 in chips)
Seat 5: jth413 ($21.20 in chips)
Seat 7: Affenkoenig_ ($48.12 in chips)
Seat 8: ikeepon ($32.26 in chips)
sURFrIDER75: posts small blind $0.05
XBen7: posts big blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Affenkoenig_: Call $ 0.25 [ 9c,Js ]
ikeepon: Raises $ 1.40 [ Ac, Qc ]
sURFrIDER75: Fold $ 0.10
XBen7: Fold $ 0.25
Affenkoenig_: Call $ 1.15
*** FLOP *** [ Tc Kc Jc ]Pot=$ 3.15
Affenkoenig_: Check
ikeepon: Check
*** TURN *** [ 8c ]Pot=$ 3.15
Affenkoenig_: Bet $ 2.30
ikeepon: Call $ 2.30
*** RIVER *** [As ] Pot=$ 7.75
Affenkoenig_: Check
ikeepon: Bets $1.25
Affenkoenig_: Call $1.25 Pot= $ 9.75
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Ikeepon: Showsdown [ Ac Qc ] (Royal Flush) Wins
Ac Kc Qc Jc 10 c
Affenkoenig: Showdown Mucks
ikeepon: Hand result $ 9.75
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Calling Bold Bluffs/Folding Painted Pairs
I've been raising this player off quite a few hands already tonight as he was trying to see cheap flops and raising with marginal hands. Here, I felt he took a stand to play against me here, and with check-calling I was trying to represent an AK, AQ to get him to continue to bet and try to push me out the pot.
Stacks:
BTN with $26.35
SB with $12.95
BB with $19.85
Blinds:
Site: Pokerstars
Dealt to BB:A♠ T♥
Sklansky group 6
Preflop: BTN calls [$0.25]
SB calls [$0.15] Hero raises $0.75 to $1 BTN calls [$0.75]
1 players folded.
Total folds this street: 1
Potsize: $2.25
Flop: 3♠ 10♦ 6♣ Hero bets [$0.75]
1 players fold.
BTN raises $0.75 to $1.50 Hero raises $0.75 to $2.25 BTN raises $0.75 to $3 Hero calls [$0.75]
Potsize: $8.25
Turn: K♦ Hero: checks BTN bets [$3.25] Hero calls [$3.25]
Potsize: $14.75
River: 8♦ Hero: checks BTN bets [$19.10] [ all-in ] Hero calls [$12.60] [ all-in ] Uncalled bet ($6.50) returned to BTN
Results:
BTN shows high card King: Q♣ 4♣
Hero shows a pair of Tens: A♠ 10♥ Hero collected $38.95 from pot
Poker Hand Converter By Cardschat.com Poker Forum
I knew these pocket J's were no good w/ a raise, call and re-raise w/ two more players to act if I call or raise here, so I mucked.
Stacks:
BTN with $7.20
SB with $30.25
BB with $16.25
UTG with $7.70
Blinds:
Site: Pokerstars
Dealt to BB:J♣ J♥
Sklansky group 1
Preflop:
UTG raises $0.75 to $1 BTN calls [$1]
SB raises $2.75 to $3.75
1 players fold.
UTG raises $3.95 to $7.70 [ all-in ] BTN calls [$6.20] [ all-in ]
SB calls [$3.95]
Total folds this street: 1
Potsize: $22.85
Flop: 4♠ A♠ 3♥
Potsize: $22.85
Turn: 10♣
Potsize: $22.85
River: 5♠
Results:
SB shows a pair of Jacks: J♠ J♦
UTG shows a pair of Kings: K♥ K♦
UTG collected $0.95 from side pot
BTN shows a pair of Aces: 6♦ A♦ BTN collected $20.80 from main pot
Poker Hand Converter By Cardschat.com Poker Forum
There was another pair I had on another table - QQ - and I raised to $1.40 at .10/.25 w/ 9 people UTG. Third to act raised to $8, I thought about it and folded as I had about $23 and he had around the same. It looked like a small pair, but a disguised AA or KK was very possible here. Calling was a possibility, but I wasn't comfortable re-raising as I would of been pot committed, for I didn't want to get it all-in here. (Ed Miller has an article entitled "On Getting Stacked" where he talks about getting it all-in w/ AA, KK, QQ or whatever, and you shouldn't feel bad about it as this most of the time is the correct play. Although the player in his example had 44 BB, in this situation I had 92 BB and felt it was more of a gamble.)
Stacks:
BTN with $26.35
SB with $12.95
BB with $19.85
Blinds:
Site: Pokerstars
Dealt to BB:A♠ T♥
Sklansky group 6
Preflop: BTN calls [$0.25]
SB calls [$0.15] Hero raises $0.75 to $1 BTN calls [$0.75]
1 players folded.
Total folds this street: 1
Potsize: $2.25
Flop: 3♠ 10♦ 6♣ Hero bets [$0.75]
1 players fold.
BTN raises $0.75 to $1.50 Hero raises $0.75 to $2.25 BTN raises $0.75 to $3 Hero calls [$0.75]
Potsize: $8.25
Turn: K♦ Hero: checks BTN bets [$3.25] Hero calls [$3.25]
Potsize: $14.75
River: 8♦ Hero: checks BTN bets [$19.10] [ all-in ] Hero calls [$12.60] [ all-in ] Uncalled bet ($6.50) returned to BTN
Results:
BTN shows high card King: Q♣ 4♣
Hero shows a pair of Tens: A♠ 10♥ Hero collected $38.95 from pot
Poker Hand Converter By Cardschat.com Poker Forum
I knew these pocket J's were no good w/ a raise, call and re-raise w/ two more players to act if I call or raise here, so I mucked.
Stacks:
BTN with $7.20
SB with $30.25
BB with $16.25
UTG with $7.70
Blinds:
Site: Pokerstars
Dealt to BB:J♣ J♥
Sklansky group 1
Preflop:
UTG raises $0.75 to $1 BTN calls [$1]
SB raises $2.75 to $3.75
1 players fold.
UTG raises $3.95 to $7.70 [ all-in ] BTN calls [$6.20] [ all-in ]
SB calls [$3.95]
Total folds this street: 1
Potsize: $22.85
Flop: 4♠ A♠ 3♥
Potsize: $22.85
Turn: 10♣
Potsize: $22.85
River: 5♠
Results:
SB shows a pair of Jacks: J♠ J♦
UTG shows a pair of Kings: K♥ K♦
UTG collected $0.95 from side pot
BTN shows a pair of Aces: 6♦ A♦ BTN collected $20.80 from main pot
Poker Hand Converter By Cardschat.com Poker Forum
There was another pair I had on another table - QQ - and I raised to $1.40 at .10/.25 w/ 9 people UTG. Third to act raised to $8, I thought about it and folded as I had about $23 and he had around the same. It looked like a small pair, but a disguised AA or KK was very possible here. Calling was a possibility, but I wasn't comfortable re-raising as I would of been pot committed, for I didn't want to get it all-in here. (Ed Miller has an article entitled "On Getting Stacked" where he talks about getting it all-in w/ AA, KK, QQ or whatever, and you shouldn't feel bad about it as this most of the time is the correct play. Although the player in his example had 44 BB, in this situation I had 92 BB and felt it was more of a gamble.)
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Players, On Playing Me" Or, "My Table Image"
(This entry may get re-edited.)
I take this as a compliment: one specific player leaves the table and repositions himself against me when I sit down/same player not only does that, but he now usually, re-loads for the full buy-in; another player does the same, adding chips whenever I sit down at the table.
Fear this!
These actions give some me definitive feedback on my table image. They show an overwhelming example that they feel every edge is needed against me. I hate to put myself on a pedestal, but there is no other conclusion. I have to say as well that 4 out of 5 times I am a winner against these two players, and/or they usually see me as a winner at the tables I sit.
Knowing this, it has become easier to play against these players as their bets or no-bets, give me a huge amount of information. Now, if I can only get every player to do this for me.
I take this as a compliment: one specific player leaves the table and repositions himself against me when I sit down/same player not only does that, but he now usually, re-loads for the full buy-in; another player does the same, adding chips whenever I sit down at the table.
Fear this!
These actions give some me definitive feedback on my table image. They show an overwhelming example that they feel every edge is needed against me. I hate to put myself on a pedestal, but there is no other conclusion. I have to say as well that 4 out of 5 times I am a winner against these two players, and/or they usually see me as a winner at the tables I sit.
Knowing this, it has become easier to play against these players as their bets or no-bets, give me a huge amount of information. Now, if I can only get every player to do this for me.
Monday, February 2, 2009
My Adventures At $1/2
Here are some hands from my session at $1/2. The first is pretty much standard - there was a lot of money in the pot and I had outs, the opponent made a mistake by not raising to protect his hand. The second hand was pure luck and I was pushing, the third again was standard and I felt after reviewing the hand that I could of made some more, but I wasn't looking to face a re-raise decision at the time.
(Hands are in no particular order.)
(Hands are in no particular order.)
Running Bad
Aka., variance. Unfortunately, I know how this fellow feels:
Off of Two+Two, someone makes this comment in reply to the above:
...my feeling is right now that I am the unluckiest poker player in the world over the last 10+ months. I mean I truly have no fucking idea how I can run so bad all the time.Fortunately, I am at peace now w/ losing - it's part of the game. My all-in KK, earlier today ran into AA...oh well, it happens.
Off of Two+Two, someone makes this comment in reply to the above:
Those lucky few who HAVE gone through this (>6 months of constant butt****ing) know exactly how he feels.We all go through it - some worse than others, but I say that w/ a grain of salt as over time most things balance out. The only thing to do is to start grind it out, shut the fuck up and play your best game.
For those who HAVEN'T gone through it, his post probably sounds incredibly whiny. But you can't possibly understand until you go through it. Seriously. Most of you never will. Be very, very happy.
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