There's a Thursday game that's pretty local. When I played (for the first time) last month it has 70 players and I got the to the final table, second in chips, only to get knocked out in 7th.
After that game I told my friends that the tournament was beatable. I figured that if I played once a month I'd make a profit.
I figured that 2/3 of the time I'd get a bad beat that sent me home, but 1/3 of the time I'd get to the final table.
Last week was my second crack at the game. I got bad cards all night. The one time I had a good hand the guy on my right had trip 10's. He checked the river since I was firing at the pot each time, but I picked up that he had me so I didn't re-raise, thereby stopping the action. He undoubtedly would have re-raised me and it would have been a tough fold.
One hand I limped in with A/10 (normally I don't play it early on, but there were few callers so I decided to limp in) and the flop was A/A/5. I raised and only the aggressive woman to my right (who was playing all sorts of crap) called.
The turn was a Queen and I went all-in.
She called, showing an A/J.
Doh! My A/10 was dominated.
Luckily the river was a King, counterfeiting her Jack high, so we split the pot.
The cards continued to be lousy. There were a lot of people in the pot so I folded a K/10 pre-flop that would have given me the nut full house on the turn. The pot ended up being a monster too... and totally loading up the guy directly on my left.
I folded my way down to 420 in chips (from a thousand). It was my turn to cut the cards, so I cut them shallow, as that seems lucky to me. I'm not big on lucky, but it really gets under one of my friend's skin when I cut shallow (maybe 12 cards), so it's something I'd occasionally do to annoy him.
Well, that cut gave me A/A!
The BB was 80, and there was about 200 in the pot, and people were too aggressive, so I went all-in before the flop knowing I'd get one or two calls. Only the small blind called and he had with K/J off suit. When we revealed cards the guy on my right told me that he had folded K/10. Sweet! I couldn't have asked for a better situation.
The flop was K/10/5. (I bet the guy to my right was grinding his teeth)
The turn was a Queen.
The river was an Ace, giving him the Ace high straight.
So at that I was knocked out of the tournament, early.
It happens. I'm at peace with that loss. I made the correct play.
Last month I made some stupid newbie errors, like folding when I was the BB and was only checked to, and mucking my live cards when I was dealer. I made no such errors this time. Also, there wasn't a single move that I would have redone had had a chance to ponder it an additional ten minutes. That is, given my read of the players, pot, cards, and position, I feel like I consistently made the best moves for that situation.
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For the past month I've been tutoring the friend that I go to that tournament with. He told me that the tournament was full of tight players, and I corrected him, saying that they were too loose. He was the one playing too loose.
I told him that playing only top ten hands in that game would get him most of the way to the final table. I gave him some advice on how/when to raise, the value of table image, when to go prospecting, and some tips on catching tells.
I explained to him big tell that I caught most of the players exhibiting. He really impressed me with some good questions, and what especially impressed me was that he printed out some of the emails I sent so he could re-read them.
When I was kicked out I went to his table and saw that he was the chip leader at the table. I was proud of him. It was a big difference from last month where he's limp in too much and get blinded off.
Well, the schmuck went on to win the entire 80 player tournament! Technically he was chip leader when they agreed to split the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place prize money three ways, but that still puts him in first place.
I'm so proud of the guy.
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I'm not sure when I'll hit that big tournament next. In a little bit my friend will host his own big annual tournament, and my budget is keeping me to one tournament per month. I think there were around 30 players last year. It was my first tournament after I started reading about poker. I ended up getting third place... quite a contrast to the 180 player tournament I was in before, when I went out on hand #5.
Here's the deal I've made with myself about tournaments. I'm pretty sure that in the long run I can come out ahead on that semi-local 70-80 player game. I set aside enough cash to play a game per month for the next year. If I earn more than what I have set aside, that's play money that I can use to go in more games. So if I set aside $300 for a dozen $25 tournaments, and win $450 for first place, that puts me $150 over breaking even for the year. So if I want to play an additional 5 games with that $150 I can. I don't think I'd play that many games though. Once per month seems good.
For now I'm looking forward to my friend's tournament. He'll be moving out of state in a couple months so it'll probably be the last of his annual tournaments. He's a good poker buddy, and I'll be sorry to see him go.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Home game
Played in a home game on Friday.
There were six of us. I played a lot wilder than I normally do. With a small group it was more about playing hands than playing to win.
We played three short Hold'em tournaments. I won the third one. I think I won it because I was itching to win by that point, so I tried a bit harder.
For the final game we decided to mix it up and play Omaha. I'm lousy at Omaha, and my friend does well, so I figured he'd win.
Well, it ends up he went out first when his trips were beat by a full house, or something like that.
At that point I figured I had a chance. My pocket King of hearts gave me a King high flush (when a third heart came on the turn). At that point I tried to extract as many chips as I could from my opponent. After all, out of the 44 cards I couldn't see, he only had 4 of them. So the odds were great that he didn't have the once card (the Ace of hearts) that could beat me.
He had it, and took all my chips. Doh!
I broke even for the night. Again, it wasn't about winning so I'm not kicking myself in the head for my performance. If I'd put my nose to the grind stone I'd have come out ahead.
There were six of us. I played a lot wilder than I normally do. With a small group it was more about playing hands than playing to win.
We played three short Hold'em tournaments. I won the third one. I think I won it because I was itching to win by that point, so I tried a bit harder.
For the final game we decided to mix it up and play Omaha. I'm lousy at Omaha, and my friend does well, so I figured he'd win.
Well, it ends up he went out first when his trips were beat by a full house, or something like that.
At that point I figured I had a chance. My pocket King of hearts gave me a King high flush (when a third heart came on the turn). At that point I tried to extract as many chips as I could from my opponent. After all, out of the 44 cards I couldn't see, he only had 4 of them. So the odds were great that he didn't have the once card (the Ace of hearts) that could beat me.
He had it, and took all my chips. Doh!
I broke even for the night. Again, it wasn't about winning so I'm not kicking myself in the head for my performance. If I'd put my nose to the grind stone I'd have come out ahead.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Home game
In my last post I mention that I'd posted about the home game before. Glancing though my posts, it looks like I failed to mention it.
A friend of mine hosted a home game. He lives about an hour's drive away. Three of us carpooled to his house.
There were 13 players, who ranged from very experienced, to one who didn't know she could mix her hole cards with the cards on the table until I pointed it out to her mid-way through the first game.
On hand #1 a ton of people limped in, including myself. On the flop everyone checked until it got to me, so I raised with *nothing.* I didn't even have paint. Several people folded, a couple called.
On the turn they checked so I raised again, this time several big blinds.
One guy folded, one called.
On the river he limped in again so I fired a larger bet at the pot. I still had nothing.
He folded, and I won. (Chip leader!)
Hand #2 was pretty similar. I had nothing but was able to bluff everyone off the pot.
On hand #3 someone fought back so I folded and started playing a bit more conservative.
I ended up getting knocked out of the first game about half way through. I wasn't playing my A game. I completely forgot to look for tells. I pretty much just played my cards, and played according to people's moves. It was early and I just didn't have my head in the game.
Half way through game #2 I started looking for tells, so I made a few good calls to keep me in the game. I was still gambled too much, but I wasn't as bad as in game #1.
The woman on my right won a *monster* pot. Several people got knocked out at once, giving her half the chips at the table. By the end of the game there were three of us left. I had about 2 big blinds, and the woman to my left had 1.5 big blinds. We only paid first and second place so it was pretty much a game of waiting, and Russian roulette between the other short-stack and I. It was a battle for second place.
I survived an all-in first.
She survived the second.
I folded a big and small blind.
Then, thankfully, she went all-in and lost. Whew!
I went all-in the next hand with King/rag. The chip leader called with 10/rag, and there was a 10 on the flop. The turn and river were uneventful, so she won... not that I had much of a chance anyway.
In game #3 I forced myself to pay attention to reading people. I was going to hunt for tells if it killed me. And you know what? I picked some up!
The guy who had been beating me up all night (he took me out of the first game, took half my chips in the second came, and took half my chips in the third game when my pocked K/K didn't beat his river flush) had a big tell. I didn't see it until I slid over to across the table after the guy to my left was knocked out. But there it was, as plain as day.
We were in a hand together, I noticed that he gave a classic "I missed the flop" tell, and I re-raised him with my second pair. He re-raised me all-in and I called, much to his chagrin.
I doubled up that hand.
A few hands later the same thing happened. I won with second pair when I saw that he was bluffing.
A few hands later I saw he was weak, moved him all-in, and he called. I felted him!
By the time that game got heads up I had a 3/1 chip lead on my competition, my designated driver. It was 1:00am and the host had fallen asleep on the sofa. Everyone else had left, so I offered to split the payout 50/50, which he accepted.
I made a profit for the night, my friend (thanks to the split) broke even, and the other carpool buddy was down for the night. But combining our wins and losses, as a group the three of us broke even.
A friend of mine hosted a home game. He lives about an hour's drive away. Three of us carpooled to his house.
There were 13 players, who ranged from very experienced, to one who didn't know she could mix her hole cards with the cards on the table until I pointed it out to her mid-way through the first game.
On hand #1 a ton of people limped in, including myself. On the flop everyone checked until it got to me, so I raised with *nothing.* I didn't even have paint. Several people folded, a couple called.
On the turn they checked so I raised again, this time several big blinds.
One guy folded, one called.
On the river he limped in again so I fired a larger bet at the pot. I still had nothing.
He folded, and I won. (Chip leader!)
Hand #2 was pretty similar. I had nothing but was able to bluff everyone off the pot.
On hand #3 someone fought back so I folded and started playing a bit more conservative.
I ended up getting knocked out of the first game about half way through. I wasn't playing my A game. I completely forgot to look for tells. I pretty much just played my cards, and played according to people's moves. It was early and I just didn't have my head in the game.
Half way through game #2 I started looking for tells, so I made a few good calls to keep me in the game. I was still gambled too much, but I wasn't as bad as in game #1.
The woman on my right won a *monster* pot. Several people got knocked out at once, giving her half the chips at the table. By the end of the game there were three of us left. I had about 2 big blinds, and the woman to my left had 1.5 big blinds. We only paid first and second place so it was pretty much a game of waiting, and Russian roulette between the other short-stack and I. It was a battle for second place.
I survived an all-in first.
She survived the second.
I folded a big and small blind.
Then, thankfully, she went all-in and lost. Whew!
I went all-in the next hand with King/rag. The chip leader called with 10/rag, and there was a 10 on the flop. The turn and river were uneventful, so she won... not that I had much of a chance anyway.
In game #3 I forced myself to pay attention to reading people. I was going to hunt for tells if it killed me. And you know what? I picked some up!
The guy who had been beating me up all night (he took me out of the first game, took half my chips in the second came, and took half my chips in the third game when my pocked K/K didn't beat his river flush) had a big tell. I didn't see it until I slid over to across the table after the guy to my left was knocked out. But there it was, as plain as day.
We were in a hand together, I noticed that he gave a classic "I missed the flop" tell, and I re-raised him with my second pair. He re-raised me all-in and I called, much to his chagrin.
I doubled up that hand.
A few hands later the same thing happened. I won with second pair when I saw that he was bluffing.
A few hands later I saw he was weak, moved him all-in, and he called. I felted him!
By the time that game got heads up I had a 3/1 chip lead on my competition, my designated driver. It was 1:00am and the host had fallen asleep on the sofa. Everyone else had left, so I offered to split the payout 50/50, which he accepted.
I made a profit for the night, my friend (thanks to the split) broke even, and the other carpool buddy was down for the night. But combining our wins and losses, as a group the three of us broke even.
Full Tilt
I played Full Tilt a couple nights ago. I had just over 10k in chips, not enough to a full buy-in in the 100/200 games I like to play, I went to the low stakes tables.
I ended up burning through all my cash and having to rebuy for 1,000 at the cashier. At my peak that account had 130k. I can't believe how quickly I've burned through it.
The bad beats I've been getting were crazy. Going all-in with QQ pre-flop meant I had 4 callers, a queen on the flop, and someone hit a straight on the river. This stuff kept happening over and over again. I'd get full house and someone would get quads. It was brutal!
Easy come, easy go. It's only play money anyway.
* * * * * * *
I have a home game with friends this Friday. I think we're planning on two games. It should be fun. It's the same game I mentioned in an earlier post, but there won't be 13 people this time. I think we're hoping for around 8 guys.
I loaned the host my Phil Hellmuth poker book. He's an OK player. I hope the book will bring some stability to his game. He had a habit of limping in too many pots, thereby getting nibbled to death and playing pots with a lot of other limpers who happen upon weird monster hands.
I ended up burning through all my cash and having to rebuy for 1,000 at the cashier. At my peak that account had 130k. I can't believe how quickly I've burned through it.
The bad beats I've been getting were crazy. Going all-in with QQ pre-flop meant I had 4 callers, a queen on the flop, and someone hit a straight on the river. This stuff kept happening over and over again. I'd get full house and someone would get quads. It was brutal!
Easy come, easy go. It's only play money anyway.
* * * * * * *
I have a home game with friends this Friday. I think we're planning on two games. It should be fun. It's the same game I mentioned in an earlier post, but there won't be 13 people this time. I think we're hoping for around 8 guys.
I loaned the host my Phil Hellmuth poker book. He's an OK player. I hope the book will bring some stability to his game. He had a habit of limping in too many pots, thereby getting nibbled to death and playing pots with a lot of other limpers who happen upon weird monster hands.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Larg(er) 70 player tournament
I went to a poker game held by a local non-profit entity. They have the game every week, but it was my first time in the place.
The tournament had 70 people, and paid the top 5 players. I was told that it was a small crowd, and when they have 75 players they pay more positions (I think to 10).
I played solid, conservative poker. I picked up some tells and used them to my advantage. I figured out who the good players were and did some great semi-bluffs against them. (You can only bluff good players, because bad players don't know that all the signs say they should fold).
I did a bit of acting too, and it paid off. One of the players even cited my "accidental" tell when he folded. Ha ha!
When I played poker several weeks ago at a friend's house we played three games. In the first game I wasn't all that concerned with tells. Putting it simply, I just forgot to look for them. In the second game I realized that I should be looking for tells. I picked up a few, and ended up getting second place. Before going into game #3 I decided to force myself to pick up tells. I would watch my opponents like a hawk.
I won that game. Mainly because I picked up a tell on a guy who'd been hurting me all night long and I exploited it for all of his chips (I went against him three times to break him, winning all three hand when I had second pair and he was bluffing).
I had a long drive to the 70-player tournament. I was stuck behind a slow moving truck. rather than pass it I decided to stay behind the frustratingly slow truck as a warm up for poker. Seriously. I stayed the course, not letting the slow pace push me off kilter. When I passed a sign that gave the mileage to my destination I compared it to my speed and calculated that I would still make it there in plenty of time. Once the truck turned off the road I figured it was time to make my move, so I sped up.
I also had a terrible radio station on. I left it there to increase the frustration I was trying to work though.
I vowed to play to the best of my ability in that tournament. I declined a beer that was offered to me (Pale ale too! My favorite!) and vowed to do everything I could to pick up tells. I was warned that many of those people have been playing every week for years, so the competition would be rough and the tells would be slim. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I could pretty much read the table. I set a tight image and stole the blinds when I saw people were weak. With a lucky first hand (AJ suited that became two pair on the flop) I started off with the chip lead at my first table I don't think I ever lost it.
I played few hands, but despite my tight image people still played into me when I had great hands.
After about 3.5 hours I made the final table. I believe I was second in chips. Unfortunately the chip leader (who had more than twice my chips stack) was seated to my left (so she can challenge me by putting me all-in) and the good player (who wins a lot of chips off people) who I'd been able to steal tons of chips off all night was sitting to my right. Normally that's good, but I picked up a monster tell on him, and I couldn't see it from such a close position.
Final table: I started out as the big blind. I had A/10 suited the first hand and a few people limped in. I decided to raise twice the big blind, putting 2 of the thee callers all-in. They folded, but the third one raise me all-in. I had the correct odds, so I called. She ended up having 10/10, and neither of us connected with the board, so she won half my chips.
The next hand I had A/8 suited. Again there were several limpers. I limped in as well.
The flop was K/8/2 and I could read the three people on my left... they all missed the flop. I *knew* they missed the flop (classic tells). I couldn't see the guy on my right though (the dealer at this point). It was checked around to me, and I raised. Fold... fold... fold... "All in." Crap. The guy on my right... the good guy who'd I'd been stealing from all night just went all in. If I called I'd have less than a big blind left, because he was directly on my right I couldn't see his tell so I didn't know the strength of his hand.
He pretty much moved to every table that I was moved to, so I played with him all night long. I'd stolen a lot of pots when I saw he was weak and forced him out. However, the last few times I did that I ended up having to show my hand because a third player would call. And each of those times he said he groaned when he saw that he'd have had me beat.
So while I'd normally fold an unknown all-in with only second pair, I figured that he saw my raise as another stealing opportunity and was pushing back with nothing.
I called.
He had K/rag, and we failed to improve with the turn or river so his top pair beat my second pair.
Two hands into the final table I went from #2 to #10 (dead last) in chips. Since I didn't even have a big blind left I folded and folded and folded until I picked up a King/rag just before I was big blind. I went all-in, and someone beat me with a pair of 6's. Game over.
By then two people had been knocked out, so I finished 7th.
I probably could have folded myself into the money (only the top 5 were in the money), but I was playing to win. I think I did the right moves given the cards and the psychology of the players involved.
I'll do better next time. I plan on hitting that game again in a month. I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure I can do better. My goal is to play every month. I'm pretty sure I can about break even over the course of a year.
I made a few dumb mistakes which cost me about $1,500 in chips total. Of course, those mistakes pegged me as a newbie, so they probably caused more people to play into my good hands, so the damage wasn't all that bad.
The tournament had 70 people, and paid the top 5 players. I was told that it was a small crowd, and when they have 75 players they pay more positions (I think to 10).
I played solid, conservative poker. I picked up some tells and used them to my advantage. I figured out who the good players were and did some great semi-bluffs against them. (You can only bluff good players, because bad players don't know that all the signs say they should fold).
I did a bit of acting too, and it paid off. One of the players even cited my "accidental" tell when he folded. Ha ha!
When I played poker several weeks ago at a friend's house we played three games. In the first game I wasn't all that concerned with tells. Putting it simply, I just forgot to look for them. In the second game I realized that I should be looking for tells. I picked up a few, and ended up getting second place. Before going into game #3 I decided to force myself to pick up tells. I would watch my opponents like a hawk.
I won that game. Mainly because I picked up a tell on a guy who'd been hurting me all night long and I exploited it for all of his chips (I went against him three times to break him, winning all three hand when I had second pair and he was bluffing).
I had a long drive to the 70-player tournament. I was stuck behind a slow moving truck. rather than pass it I decided to stay behind the frustratingly slow truck as a warm up for poker. Seriously. I stayed the course, not letting the slow pace push me off kilter. When I passed a sign that gave the mileage to my destination I compared it to my speed and calculated that I would still make it there in plenty of time. Once the truck turned off the road I figured it was time to make my move, so I sped up.
I also had a terrible radio station on. I left it there to increase the frustration I was trying to work though.
I vowed to play to the best of my ability in that tournament. I declined a beer that was offered to me (Pale ale too! My favorite!) and vowed to do everything I could to pick up tells. I was warned that many of those people have been playing every week for years, so the competition would be rough and the tells would be slim. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I could pretty much read the table. I set a tight image and stole the blinds when I saw people were weak. With a lucky first hand (AJ suited that became two pair on the flop) I started off with the chip lead at my first table I don't think I ever lost it.
I played few hands, but despite my tight image people still played into me when I had great hands.
After about 3.5 hours I made the final table. I believe I was second in chips. Unfortunately the chip leader (who had more than twice my chips stack) was seated to my left (so she can challenge me by putting me all-in) and the good player (who wins a lot of chips off people) who I'd been able to steal tons of chips off all night was sitting to my right. Normally that's good, but I picked up a monster tell on him, and I couldn't see it from such a close position.
Final table: I started out as the big blind. I had A/10 suited the first hand and a few people limped in. I decided to raise twice the big blind, putting 2 of the thee callers all-in. They folded, but the third one raise me all-in. I had the correct odds, so I called. She ended up having 10/10, and neither of us connected with the board, so she won half my chips.
The next hand I had A/8 suited. Again there were several limpers. I limped in as well.
The flop was K/8/2 and I could read the three people on my left... they all missed the flop. I *knew* they missed the flop (classic tells). I couldn't see the guy on my right though (the dealer at this point). It was checked around to me, and I raised. Fold... fold... fold... "All in." Crap. The guy on my right... the good guy who'd I'd been stealing from all night just went all in. If I called I'd have less than a big blind left, because he was directly on my right I couldn't see his tell so I didn't know the strength of his hand.
He pretty much moved to every table that I was moved to, so I played with him all night long. I'd stolen a lot of pots when I saw he was weak and forced him out. However, the last few times I did that I ended up having to show my hand because a third player would call. And each of those times he said he groaned when he saw that he'd have had me beat.
So while I'd normally fold an unknown all-in with only second pair, I figured that he saw my raise as another stealing opportunity and was pushing back with nothing.
I called.
He had K/rag, and we failed to improve with the turn or river so his top pair beat my second pair.
Two hands into the final table I went from #2 to #10 (dead last) in chips. Since I didn't even have a big blind left I folded and folded and folded until I picked up a King/rag just before I was big blind. I went all-in, and someone beat me with a pair of 6's. Game over.
By then two people had been knocked out, so I finished 7th.
I probably could have folded myself into the money (only the top 5 were in the money), but I was playing to win. I think I did the right moves given the cards and the psychology of the players involved.
I'll do better next time. I plan on hitting that game again in a month. I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure I can do better. My goal is to play every month. I'm pretty sure I can about break even over the course of a year.
I made a few dumb mistakes which cost me about $1,500 in chips total. Of course, those mistakes pegged me as a newbie, so they probably caused more people to play into my good hands, so the damage wasn't all that bad.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
March 5, 2007
I'm been spewing chips like crazy. I've lost 20k or so. I suck.
I did get an $18k prize in a tournament last night, but I'm still way down.
I have a hard time playing seriously, and I'm not getting called like I once was. I think it;s because I'm playing in later games, with better players.
I had A/A last night, went all-in pre-flop, and only had one called. He had K/K. Or I'll get A/Q quited, go all-in, and get no callers.
I think if I can hit a lunch game again I'll get back on track.
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The streak of spewage is over.
After work I played a 100/200 cash game. I lost a lot, but saw that there was money to be made. That game had the best payoff to risk ratio I've seen yet.
When I got home I played in two games, and used the maximum 20k buy-in. In the second game I couldn't buy the full $20k because I'd spewed so much the last several days.
Anyway I decided to play solid this evening, but I lost thousands the first fifteen minutes. I checked my account and had $32k total at one point. That's down from $70k or whatever I had in the account last week.
Then things went my way. Fifteen minutes later I had $87k. That's when I quit.
I'll probably login later tonight and spew another $37 of it back (I won't go below $50) in an attempt to get $100k, but it's still good to feel back on track when I make a solid effort.
I'd love to figure out a way to transfer the $100k from my old account to my SavagePenguin account. The best way I see to do that is to get my SavagePenguin account up to $100,000 then play a $100k heads up sit & go against myself. I'd need two PC's with the software though, and I'd have to do it quick before (heaven forbid) someone entered the game when one account signs up, but before the other did.
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It's night. I played and folded folded folded forever.
When I'd get down to 18,500 I'd rebuy back to 20k.
I ended up winning one huge hand to put me at 106k (total... not for the game).
I played another round and lost $1k before retiring for the night. But I still have more in my SavagePenguin account than I do in my old account. From my low point to my high point today I made over $70k. Not bad. I knew that those games had a good payoff rate!
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I like the 100/200 chip cash games. I stumbled on them on a whim after work, before leaving for home. I figured I'd hit the higher stakes games to force myself to pay attention more. I also figured that if I was a loser, at least I'd spew it *all* away. I was at the point where losing it all would be about as satisfying as fiddling with a scab until it comes off.
I think playing the 100/200 games is good for two reasons:
#1 I'm an incredibly different player if there's no risk, and losing $20k of hard won chips is significant. Losing $2k in bits is nothing, but $20k in one game stings, so I put some effort into it.
#2 When I enter a 100/200 game and get the maximum $20k in chips, I'm often one of the chip leaders. People enter that game with odd amounts like $8k. I think a lot of them go there looking to double up. Having a chip lead is an advantage.
I'm a bit cautious though. Today I made an effort to play the games as early as possible. Later in the night, when tables are hard to get, people play much better. I don't think I'd do half as well at 10:00pm Eastern.
I did get an $18k prize in a tournament last night, but I'm still way down.
I have a hard time playing seriously, and I'm not getting called like I once was. I think it;s because I'm playing in later games, with better players.
I had A/A last night, went all-in pre-flop, and only had one called. He had K/K. Or I'll get A/Q quited, go all-in, and get no callers.
I think if I can hit a lunch game again I'll get back on track.
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The streak of spewage is over.
After work I played a 100/200 cash game. I lost a lot, but saw that there was money to be made. That game had the best payoff to risk ratio I've seen yet.
When I got home I played in two games, and used the maximum 20k buy-in. In the second game I couldn't buy the full $20k because I'd spewed so much the last several days.
Anyway I decided to play solid this evening, but I lost thousands the first fifteen minutes. I checked my account and had $32k total at one point. That's down from $70k or whatever I had in the account last week.
Then things went my way. Fifteen minutes later I had $87k. That's when I quit.
I'll probably login later tonight and spew another $37 of it back (I won't go below $50) in an attempt to get $100k, but it's still good to feel back on track when I make a solid effort.
I'd love to figure out a way to transfer the $100k from my old account to my SavagePenguin account. The best way I see to do that is to get my SavagePenguin account up to $100,000 then play a $100k heads up sit & go against myself. I'd need two PC's with the software though, and I'd have to do it quick before (heaven forbid) someone entered the game when one account signs up, but before the other did.
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It's night. I played and folded folded folded forever.
When I'd get down to 18,500 I'd rebuy back to 20k.
I ended up winning one huge hand to put me at 106k (total... not for the game).
I played another round and lost $1k before retiring for the night. But I still have more in my SavagePenguin account than I do in my old account. From my low point to my high point today I made over $70k. Not bad. I knew that those games had a good payoff rate!
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I like the 100/200 chip cash games. I stumbled on them on a whim after work, before leaving for home. I figured I'd hit the higher stakes games to force myself to pay attention more. I also figured that if I was a loser, at least I'd spew it *all* away. I was at the point where losing it all would be about as satisfying as fiddling with a scab until it comes off.
I think playing the 100/200 games is good for two reasons:
#1 I'm an incredibly different player if there's no risk, and losing $20k of hard won chips is significant. Losing $2k in bits is nothing, but $20k in one game stings, so I put some effort into it.
#2 When I enter a 100/200 game and get the maximum $20k in chips, I'm often one of the chip leaders. People enter that game with odd amounts like $8k. I think a lot of them go there looking to double up. Having a chip lead is an advantage.
I'm a bit cautious though. Today I made an effort to play the games as early as possible. Later in the night, when tables are hard to get, people play much better. I don't think I'd do half as well at 10:00pm Eastern.
Feb 26. I goeth on Tilt
Got up to 8k on a low limit cash game and spewed it all away.
I went all-in a few times and lost. I was on major tilt... but luck > tilt.
Then I went all-in pre-flop with 4/6 and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop 6/6 and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop with A/Q and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop with A/J and won!
1,000 to over 28,000 in four hands! People were *pissed* at me. I busted out the chip leader.
Then I left the game.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
I went all-in a few times and lost. I was on major tilt... but luck > tilt.
Then I went all-in pre-flop with 4/6 and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop 6/6 and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop with A/Q and won!
Then I went all-in pre-flop with A/J and won!
1,000 to over 28,000 in four hands! People were *pissed* at me. I busted out the chip leader.
Then I left the game.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Feb 25
Got up to 27k from $1k, then got creamed in a hand back down to 17k. Quitting for the night.
I'll attach a picture of the best hand I've seen on Full Tilt... a 6 card straight flush. Don't worry, I bailed early.
I'll attach a picture of the best hand I've seen on Full Tilt... a 6 card straight flush. Don't worry, I bailed early.
Feb 25
I was chip leader by 2k and someone got within a couple hundred of me.
I got QQ and was all-in, he called. Oddly enough, someone with 7/2 off called as well.
Anyway, I got crushed. Stupid high pairs!
I went all in to break myself and end my misery, then quit the game and got 1k from the bank.
I entered a new game where the pre-flop raises kept rising, so I went all-in with a low suited connector. I figured I could just hit he bank for another $1k if I lost... but luck was back on my side and I ended up with 4,500+ after that hand. Sweet.
Poker is a weird game.
I got QQ and was all-in, he called. Oddly enough, someone with 7/2 off called as well.
Anyway, I got crushed. Stupid high pairs!
I went all in to break myself and end my misery, then quit the game and got 1k from the bank.
I entered a new game where the pre-flop raises kept rising, so I went all-in with a low suited connector. I figured I could just hit he bank for another $1k if I lost... but luck was back on my side and I ended up with 4,500+ after that hand. Sweet.
Poker is a weird game.
Feb 24
I looked up some Omaha tips last week. They listed the best starting hands, which are basically two-pair or two suited connectors.
If you're dealt AAAA you throw the hand away. That just seems so unnatural.
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I'm playing my SavagePenguin account now and can't seem to keep my head above water. I started with 10k, and am down to just under 5k.
I can't seem to catch a break.
Look at this hand.
The guy to my right with $1k went all-in. I only called (I was #2 in chips), hoping for more calls since I had AA. Everyone folded but the chip leader, who raised another $1k to scare me off. Beautiful! So I went all in and he called. Sweeeeeet! Huge side pot!
The flop gives the small stack a straight, and the river gives the chip leader the straight, breaking me! ARGH!
Stuff like that keeps happening.
--------------
Down to 700 in the bank. Had to reload.
Sucko!
If you're dealt AAAA you throw the hand away. That just seems so unnatural.
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I'm playing my SavagePenguin account now and can't seem to keep my head above water. I started with 10k, and am down to just under 5k.
I can't seem to catch a break.
Look at this hand.
The guy to my right with $1k went all-in. I only called (I was #2 in chips), hoping for more calls since I had AA. Everyone folded but the chip leader, who raised another $1k to scare me off. Beautiful! So I went all in and he called. Sweeeeeet! Huge side pot!The flop gives the small stack a straight, and the river gives the chip leader the straight, breaking me! ARGH!
Stuff like that keeps happening.
--------------
Down to 700 in the bank. Had to reload.
Sucko!
Feb 22
Dear poker diary,
Ends up I was down to the low 80's when I quit last night.
I logged back in and got it to 93K.
I logged in this morning but lack of cards and a tight table cost me 3k.
I should pass 100k the next time I can sit down for awhile. I can't hit the super-loose lunch break play because I'll be doing the 'puters at St. C's all day long.
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Here's my current Full Tilt cash game strategy:
1) First I look at 5/10 games that have the biggest average pots.
2) Next I find one with the chip leader on my right (so I can avoid and exploit him).
3) I post a big blind to play ASAP, unless I'm the BB a hand later. ($10 is nothing.)
4) An all-in $1k pre-flop bet will usually be called by three or four people. Two of those people will call with crap like 6/7. But post-flop only one or two will call an all-in because their crap failed to improve. So I when I have Ace/8+ I'm likely to go all in with my initial $1k.
5) As soon as go all-in I re-order chips, so my stack at the table is instantly refilled to $1k should I lose. That way I don't miss out on the next hand.
6) I lose those all-in's about 2/3 of the time. When I win, I'll usually have about $4k. With $4k I'm looking to go all-in pre-flop one more time, which will usually make me double-up to ~$8k. I'm a little pickier about my hand, but not too picky. I don't usually go broke when I have 4k, but it's not uncommon to split a pot and only get back $2k of my $4k investment. Oddly enough, winning an all-in pre-flop with $2k usually nets close to $8k anyway, so it's not a big deal.
7) When I have about 8k (winning two all-ins) my position to the chip leader(s) becomes really important. I want to avoid getting in situations where they can bust me out. Also, my stacks a bit more dangerous so they're less likely to call my all-in. That goodness for position! If they've already call a pot that has a few thousand chips in it (which they often call with not-so-good cards) and then I go all-in, they much more likely to give me action, thereby at least doubling me up, or at least allowing me to win the side pot against them.
8) When you have chips you're in a different game. You're playing for side pots. Lets say that three noobs go all-in for $1k, one all-in for 2k, one goes all-in for 8k, and you go all-in to call the 8k. If you have the second worst hand, only beating the guy with 8k, you make a $6k profit.
Or, if three go all-in for $1k, one bets $4k, and you call with OK cards (because a pre-flop raise will get called more often than not, so only raise with really good cards), then after the flop you go all-in, unless he hit the flop he'll likely fold and you'll get an easy $3k regardless of whether or not you beat the other 3 players for their $3k pot.
9) What feeds the food chain is that people can get $1k every 5 minutes so many people call a $1k all-in, it's like the first round of the tournaments. $1k all-inners are like a school of beached sardines. People (seagulls) with an ounce of restraint swoop in and take their money. Sure they get lose a lot of small investments, but winning 4 times your investment ever 3 hands does make money. At this point in the game I'm not after sardines, I'm after the fat seagulls. I wait for a good hand, then get the seagulls. Once they're invested seagulls find out that they're not as smart as they think they are, and make some dumb calls.
Here's the golden rule to sum it up:
The difference in play pre and post flop is INCREDIBLE. Pre-flop people are calling machines. Post flop they've had some reality beaten into them and they're likely to fold, unless of course they have a hand that's dangerous to you.
So big bets with good cards before the flop are profitable in the long run. Big bets after the flop tend to scare people away, hopefully chasing them off the side pot.
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I'm up to $103k!!!!
I'm done playing for awhile. :)
Or... at least until I get bored.
I wish I had those chips in my new account instead of this one.
Ends up I was down to the low 80's when I quit last night.
I logged back in and got it to 93K.
I logged in this morning but lack of cards and a tight table cost me 3k.
I should pass 100k the next time I can sit down for awhile. I can't hit the super-loose lunch break play because I'll be doing the 'puters at St. C's all day long.
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Here's my current Full Tilt cash game strategy:
1) First I look at 5/10 games that have the biggest average pots.
2) Next I find one with the chip leader on my right (so I can avoid and exploit him).
3) I post a big blind to play ASAP, unless I'm the BB a hand later. ($10 is nothing.)
4) An all-in $1k pre-flop bet will usually be called by three or four people. Two of those people will call with crap like 6/7. But post-flop only one or two will call an all-in because their crap failed to improve. So I when I have Ace/8+ I'm likely to go all in with my initial $1k.
5) As soon as go all-in I re-order chips, so my stack at the table is instantly refilled to $1k should I lose. That way I don't miss out on the next hand.
6) I lose those all-in's about 2/3 of the time. When I win, I'll usually have about $4k. With $4k I'm looking to go all-in pre-flop one more time, which will usually make me double-up to ~$8k. I'm a little pickier about my hand, but not too picky. I don't usually go broke when I have 4k, but it's not uncommon to split a pot and only get back $2k of my $4k investment. Oddly enough, winning an all-in pre-flop with $2k usually nets close to $8k anyway, so it's not a big deal.
7) When I have about 8k (winning two all-ins) my position to the chip leader(s) becomes really important. I want to avoid getting in situations where they can bust me out. Also, my stacks a bit more dangerous so they're less likely to call my all-in. That goodness for position! If they've already call a pot that has a few thousand chips in it (which they often call with not-so-good cards) and then I go all-in, they much more likely to give me action, thereby at least doubling me up, or at least allowing me to win the side pot against them.
8) When you have chips you're in a different game. You're playing for side pots. Lets say that three noobs go all-in for $1k, one all-in for 2k, one goes all-in for 8k, and you go all-in to call the 8k. If you have the second worst hand, only beating the guy with 8k, you make a $6k profit.
Or, if three go all-in for $1k, one bets $4k, and you call with OK cards (because a pre-flop raise will get called more often than not, so only raise with really good cards), then after the flop you go all-in, unless he hit the flop he'll likely fold and you'll get an easy $3k regardless of whether or not you beat the other 3 players for their $3k pot.
9) What feeds the food chain is that people can get $1k every 5 minutes so many people call a $1k all-in, it's like the first round of the tournaments. $1k all-inners are like a school of beached sardines. People (seagulls) with an ounce of restraint swoop in and take their money. Sure they get lose a lot of small investments, but winning 4 times your investment ever 3 hands does make money. At this point in the game I'm not after sardines, I'm after the fat seagulls. I wait for a good hand, then get the seagulls. Once they're invested seagulls find out that they're not as smart as they think they are, and make some dumb calls.
Here's the golden rule to sum it up:
The difference in play pre and post flop is INCREDIBLE. Pre-flop people are calling machines. Post flop they've had some reality beaten into them and they're likely to fold, unless of course they have a hand that's dangerous to you.
So big bets with good cards before the flop are profitable in the long run. Big bets after the flop tend to scare people away, hopefully chasing them off the side pot.
************************
I'm up to $103k!!!!
I'm done playing for awhile. :)
Or... at least until I get bored.
I wish I had those chips in my new account instead of this one.
Feb 21, Victory and Defeat
I did it! I had 103k.
Then I got tangled with this hand.
The guy on my right and I each had about 25k. He had a little more than me.
I got just about all his money in by the turn, so an all-in on the river was pretty much guaranteed.
WHAM!
Sucks to be me. I haven't even looked at my account, but it has to be less than 80k. Depressing.
Then I got tangled with this hand.
The guy on my right and I each had about 25k. He had a little more than me.
I got just about all his money in by the turn, so an all-in on the river was pretty much guaranteed.
WHAM!
Sucks to be me. I haven't even looked at my account, but it has to be less than 80k. Depressing.
Feb 21
I watched some of the 10k/20k cash games. It looks like the buy-in is $2 million. That's a bit pricey. The play was conservative. Very few hands made it to the river. I saw some holes in the games of a few players (like lack of a continuation bet on a good flop), so I think I might do okay even at that level.
I need to check out the cheaper games to see about moving up once I reach 100k.
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I popped in during lunch again.
I finished 3k+ up. I'd have had significantly more except for the attached hand.
The hand:
We all limped in pre-flop. I hit trips on the rainbow flop which I check-raised all-in. At that point I was in great position, but the turn hurt me. That ten not only gave the guy on my left (with fewest chips in the pot) the winning hand, but it negated the Ace kicker advantage I had over the rich schmuck across from me. So instead of nearly doubling up I had to split the side pot with him.
Splitting a large side pot is like having to kiss your sister.
I need to check out the cheaper games to see about moving up once I reach 100k.
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I popped in during lunch again.
I finished 3k+ up. I'd have had significantly more except for the attached hand.
The hand:
We all limped in pre-flop. I hit trips on the rainbow flop which I check-raised all-in. At that point I was in great position, but the turn hurt me. That ten not only gave the guy on my left (with fewest chips in the pot) the winning hand, but it negated the Ace kicker advantage I had over the rich schmuck across from me. So instead of nearly doubling up I had to split the side pot with him.
Splitting a large side pot is like having to kiss your sister.
Feb 20, 2007
Popped in for a little bit at lunch today.
I *had* about 46k in the bank when I started.
15 minutes of play changed that. 75k in the bank, baby!
I was at a point where I was hoping to make $1k more to hit 60k before quitting. The game I was in was so loose that I don't think it was possible for me to win just that much (meaning I'd have to risk a significant amount of chips) so I was debating on whether or not to quit and re-enter the game with just $1k.
I decided to play low suited connectors (3/4) for $20 and the flop was 3/4/T. A guy bet $1k at that point so I went all-in. We were about even in chips, but he called with TQ.
No queen hit so I doubled up, putting me at a nice even $75k. That number is so even I might not even play awhile (Wednesday's Lost, and Thursday's Survivor, so if I find something on TV tonight I might not login).
I'm curious about the more expensive cash games, but I don't see how they can be more profitable? I was down to $1k when I stated playing cash games... what... three days ago? I might watch a higher stakes game, but I don't think I'll invest money unless I see it can be beaten as easily as the 5/10 limit play.
I should note that the games I was playing in last night are nowhere as lose as the games at lunchtime. Plus today I was sitting to the left of the biggest chipstack. That position saved me from several pots that I planned on putting money into, but bailed when he went all-in with his 30k+.
He'd go all-in with crap like QJ so if I had something good I'd play it and double up through him.
I *had* about 46k in the bank when I started.
15 minutes of play changed that. 75k in the bank, baby!
I was at a point where I was hoping to make $1k more to hit 60k before quitting. The game I was in was so loose that I don't think it was possible for me to win just that much (meaning I'd have to risk a significant amount of chips) so I was debating on whether or not to quit and re-enter the game with just $1k.
I decided to play low suited connectors (3/4) for $20 and the flop was 3/4/T. A guy bet $1k at that point so I went all-in. We were about even in chips, but he called with TQ.
No queen hit so I doubled up, putting me at a nice even $75k. That number is so even I might not even play awhile (Wednesday's Lost, and Thursday's Survivor, so if I find something on TV tonight I might not login).
I'm curious about the more expensive cash games, but I don't see how they can be more profitable? I was down to $1k when I stated playing cash games... what... three days ago? I might watch a higher stakes game, but I don't think I'll invest money unless I see it can be beaten as easily as the 5/10 limit play.
I should note that the games I was playing in last night are nowhere as lose as the games at lunchtime. Plus today I was sitting to the left of the biggest chipstack. That position saved me from several pots that I planned on putting money into, but bailed when he went all-in with his 30k+.
He'd go all-in with crap like QJ so if I had something good I'd play it and double up through him.
Feb 19
I ended up quitting last night when I had 11K+ at the cash table. I have just under $30k in the old account now. That's sort of a bummer, since my new account has the name I prefer. With that much in the old account I can't abandon it.
Cash games seem like much easier money. You start with 1,000 in chips and *anybody* can get that much every 5 minutes. So when you enter a cash game and go all-in with you AK or QQ or whatever you'll get called by things like 10-8 because people think your desperate... or they're stupid... or whatever. An all-in $1k bet is usually called by three or more people.
The blinds never going up means you can sit back and *play* without having to resort to riskier play.
Once you get around 6k you're usually close to being chip leader. A little more than that and you don't have to worry about getting busted out.
Once you have chips to burn, when you have a very good drawing hand, throw in $100 to $250 because anybody who calls $10 will call $100, and about half that many will call $250. When you hit your hand (every 5th or 8th time) you'll take in several thousand chips.
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The obsessive compulsive part of me was irked when I saw that I quit last night before I hit 30k, so I logged in at lunch for a few hands.
The first hand I had A4 and the flop was 4-8-9. The turn was an Ace. I went all-in at that point, and ended up with at 4k+ chip stack when the dust settled.
I played three more hands (winning two, folding out of one) and quit before I had to post another big blind. My chip stack was over 9,600 when I went out, so an 8.6K profit.
Thank goodness I'm not too close to 40k. :)
If people played that way with real money not only would I be a professional, I'd be retired by Christmas.
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Got home and entered two cash games.
Got brutalized in one, and no playable hands in the other.
And I mean brutalized. I had have the best hand all-in about 5 times and lost to suckouts. Brutal.
I was down to barely over 30k total.
I got some justice a bit later when a good hand stood up and got me about 3.5k. Then I got QQ so I went all-in pre-flop and was called by way too many people.... but I won the 13k+ pot.
So I'm over 40k total now. My goal is 100k by the end of the week.
In this next hand I was all-in after the flop, and called by two players who had no business calling. I was chip leader, so I won a side pot, but the person on my right took the lion's share of the chips:
Cash games seem like much easier money. You start with 1,000 in chips and *anybody* can get that much every 5 minutes. So when you enter a cash game and go all-in with you AK or QQ or whatever you'll get called by things like 10-8 because people think your desperate... or they're stupid... or whatever. An all-in $1k bet is usually called by three or more people.
The blinds never going up means you can sit back and *play* without having to resort to riskier play.
Once you get around 6k you're usually close to being chip leader. A little more than that and you don't have to worry about getting busted out.
Once you have chips to burn, when you have a very good drawing hand, throw in $100 to $250 because anybody who calls $10 will call $100, and about half that many will call $250. When you hit your hand (every 5th or 8th time) you'll take in several thousand chips.
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The obsessive compulsive part of me was irked when I saw that I quit last night before I hit 30k, so I logged in at lunch for a few hands.
The first hand I had A4 and the flop was 4-8-9. The turn was an Ace. I went all-in at that point, and ended up with at 4k+ chip stack when the dust settled.
I played three more hands (winning two, folding out of one) and quit before I had to post another big blind. My chip stack was over 9,600 when I went out, so an 8.6K profit.
Thank goodness I'm not too close to 40k. :)
If people played that way with real money not only would I be a professional, I'd be retired by Christmas.
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Got home and entered two cash games.
Got brutalized in one, and no playable hands in the other.
And I mean brutalized. I had have the best hand all-in about 5 times and lost to suckouts. Brutal.
I was down to barely over 30k total.
I got some justice a bit later when a good hand stood up and got me about 3.5k. Then I got QQ so I went all-in pre-flop and was called by way too many people.... but I won the 13k+ pot.
So I'm over 40k total now. My goal is 100k by the end of the week.
In this next hand I was all-in after the flop, and called by two players who had no business calling. I was chip leader, so I won a side pot, but the person on my right took the lion's share of the chips:
Feb 18
Playing 2k games this morning.
Lost the first out of the money when my all-in QQ failed to beat a caller's 88... pre-flop.
Got 2nd place in the second game. Last had was my KQ all-in pre-flop vs his A2. He hit the ace. (He's been all-inning every hand since we were heads up)
Went out early last game when my JJ failed against another guy's 88, pre-flop again. Ugh.
At least I'm not losing with totally crappy decisions.
Just started another 2k game. The play is a lot better. I like the 9 player games, because I can concentrate (and don't have to play super-conservative as long). This one's 18 players. I'm doing it because of the bigger payout.
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Got 2nd place in that last 2k game. Disappointingly, I didn't win a single hand until I took out the guy in 4th place!
I'm starting to think that 2k play is only marginally better than 250 play.
Poker After Dark this week had the announcers from various shows play (thank goodness the annoying Poker After Dark announcer wasn't in). I thought it was interesting some of the rules they had to go by. Like, on Poker Superstars if Lederer says, "he got his money in good" they have to re-record that part because he can't say "money." He has to say "chips." Some of the other guys can't say "gamble."
I've been told it's hard to make any money in them, but today I started playing in cash games. The buy-in is $1,000 max, and the play is just as wild than the tournaments. I like how that once you have a nice stack of chips, few (if any) can put you all-in. Of course, when you enter the game you only have 1,000 and others have 5x that. So there is an advantage to sticking in the game awhile.
Since the big blind is remains at 10 chips you're never pressured to play, but if you make a 100 raise pretty much anyone who would have called 10 is going to call.
Oh... I just (now) changed the the multi-colored suites. I hate to say it, but I like it.
* * * *
hours go by...
* * * *
I got up to 18k in the cash game before quitting. That's a 17k profit.
I'm in a new cash game now... Was a folding machine, very dull, until I got AJ and ended up with triple A's.
The next hand I had AJ again, and made quad-Jacks, so I'm doing well in this game as well.
Lost the first out of the money when my all-in QQ failed to beat a caller's 88... pre-flop.
Got 2nd place in the second game. Last had was my KQ all-in pre-flop vs his A2. He hit the ace. (He's been all-inning every hand since we were heads up)
Went out early last game when my JJ failed against another guy's 88, pre-flop again. Ugh.
At least I'm not losing with totally crappy decisions.
Just started another 2k game. The play is a lot better. I like the 9 player games, because I can concentrate (and don't have to play super-conservative as long). This one's 18 players. I'm doing it because of the bigger payout.
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Got 2nd place in that last 2k game. Disappointingly, I didn't win a single hand until I took out the guy in 4th place!
I'm starting to think that 2k play is only marginally better than 250 play.
Poker After Dark this week had the announcers from various shows play (thank goodness the annoying Poker After Dark announcer wasn't in). I thought it was interesting some of the rules they had to go by. Like, on Poker Superstars if Lederer says, "he got his money in good" they have to re-record that part because he can't say "money." He has to say "chips." Some of the other guys can't say "gamble."
I've been told it's hard to make any money in them, but today I started playing in cash games. The buy-in is $1,000 max, and the play is just as wild than the tournaments. I like how that once you have a nice stack of chips, few (if any) can put you all-in. Of course, when you enter the game you only have 1,000 and others have 5x that. So there is an advantage to sticking in the game awhile.
Since the big blind is remains at 10 chips you're never pressured to play, but if you make a 100 raise pretty much anyone who would have called 10 is going to call.
Oh... I just (now) changed the the multi-colored suites. I hate to say it, but I like it.
* * * *
hours go by...
* * * *
I got up to 18k in the cash game before quitting. That's a 17k profit.
I'm in a new cash game now... Was a folding machine, very dull, until I got AJ and ended up with triple A's.
The next hand I had AJ again, and made quad-Jacks, so I'm doing well in this game as well.
Feb. 16
The $250, 9 player game was a joke. I dominated. It wasn't even close. The payoff was lame though (1,125).
The 10k games were really good though.
Like a schmuck I entered a 90 player $250 game, knocking me just below $2,000. Ugh! I wanted to hit 2k game.
When I'm done with this game I'm gonna quit.
----------------------------
I didn't quit.
I won just enough to play a $2,000 game (9 players) before bed.
I got first place ($9,000).
I enjoyed that game. I was the best one at the table, but the people weren't idiots, so I have to concentrate some. Plus since there's only 9 people I can concentrate a bit more (it's like playing the final table... except you're all even).
I think I'll do a few more of those games. I hate losing $10k, so $2k seems like an acceptable risk.
The 10k games were really good though.
Like a schmuck I entered a 90 player $250 game, knocking me just below $2,000. Ugh! I wanted to hit 2k game.
When I'm done with this game I'm gonna quit.
----------------------------
I didn't quit.
I won just enough to play a $2,000 game (9 players) before bed.
I got first place ($9,000).
I enjoyed that game. I was the best one at the table, but the people weren't idiots, so I have to concentrate some. Plus since there's only 9 people I can concentrate a bit more (it's like playing the final table... except you're all even).
I think I'll do a few more of those games. I hate losing $10k, so $2k seems like an acceptable risk.
Feb 14
Re: to a friend who mentioned bluffing
Bluffing is almost worthless until you get down to 15 or so people in a 90 person tournament. Even then, you can only bluff people who are playing well. I sort of pick them out. I've even started putting notes on good players. You can tell when people have noticed that you only play good hands.
If you play the 9 or 18 player games, the play is quite a bit more solid. I've only played one $2,000 game (90 players), but it had solid(er) play as well.
Both my account have enough for a $10k game, so I'll try one of those when I feel I can sit down and concentrate.
My online strategy:
I usually go all-in the first hand. I used to feel guilty when people just called the first hand and I spoil their play by going all-in, but they should know the way things work on hand #1.
Let's say I win 1/4-1/5 of those (my luck has been much better than that lately). That pretty much guarantees me that I can fold my way to even money. Plus I'll occasionally get pocket K's and such that I can use to double my chip stack along the way, pretty much guaranteeing a profit if I fold every hand.
So I'll start one game, and once I have a nice chip stack I'll start another game and do the same thing. Then I just monitor the two games for good hands.
If I had DSL and a larger screen I'd probably go to 4 games.
------------------------
I'm steaming. The schmuck to my left likes to challenge people. He went all-in a few times with hands like KT and sucked out a victory.
I was waiting for my chance to double up though him.
I had AJ suited so I made a big raise, he re-raised, I re-raised, so he went all-in and I called.
He had KJ off and the flop had 5Q3. Crap. Excellent for me.
The turn was an Ace.
The river was a 10, giving him the straight. UGH!
There was over 55k in that pot, and he took me out. It sucked.
I only got 6th place, which about covers the other games I lost tonight.
Bluffing is almost worthless until you get down to 15 or so people in a 90 person tournament. Even then, you can only bluff people who are playing well. I sort of pick them out. I've even started putting notes on good players. You can tell when people have noticed that you only play good hands.
If you play the 9 or 18 player games, the play is quite a bit more solid. I've only played one $2,000 game (90 players), but it had solid(er) play as well.
Both my account have enough for a $10k game, so I'll try one of those when I feel I can sit down and concentrate.
My online strategy:
I usually go all-in the first hand. I used to feel guilty when people just called the first hand and I spoil their play by going all-in, but they should know the way things work on hand #1.
Let's say I win 1/4-1/5 of those (my luck has been much better than that lately). That pretty much guarantees me that I can fold my way to even money. Plus I'll occasionally get pocket K's and such that I can use to double my chip stack along the way, pretty much guaranteeing a profit if I fold every hand.
So I'll start one game, and once I have a nice chip stack I'll start another game and do the same thing. Then I just monitor the two games for good hands.
If I had DSL and a larger screen I'd probably go to 4 games.
------------------------
I'm steaming. The schmuck to my left likes to challenge people. He went all-in a few times with hands like KT and sucked out a victory.
I was waiting for my chance to double up though him.
I had AJ suited so I made a big raise, he re-raised, I re-raised, so he went all-in and I called.
He had KJ off and the flop had 5Q3. Crap. Excellent for me.
The turn was an Ace.
The river was a 10, giving him the straight. UGH!
There was over 55k in that pot, and he took me out. It sucked.
I only got 6th place, which about covers the other games I lost tonight.
I am an unstoppable force of awesomeness
After work I started 5 games. Three made it past the first hand. Of those three, I got two 5th places and one 3rd place.
I have 13k in one account and I think 11k in the other.
How often do you improve a hand after flopping a full house?
I'd like to built my stack in each account so I can play a high stakes game with each.
I have 13k in one account and I think 11k in the other.
How often do you improve a hand after flopping a full house?
I'd like to built my stack in each account so I can play a high stakes game with each.
Feb 9.
Still playing the 90 player, 250 games.
Started a game before work, went all in, and lost.
Started another game, went all-in, and won (beating 2 I think).
Put it on auto pilot and when I got back to the PC I saw that I got 3rd place.
Started a game at lunch, won a bunch of $$$ early on, and stuck it into auto pilot.
At the final table I went back and forth between auto pilot and actually playing. I was #2 in chips until I slow played K/K with a AK9 flop. The chip leader put me all in with two pair, and I really really hurt him. I think he did work his way back to third place.
Since it seemed that whenever I'd return to my desk to check my hand I had something good.
Anyway, I got 1st place.
I have over 10k with my original account now. I plan on saving it and playing in a 10k tournament when I have time. I hope the increased stakes increases the competition.
Started a game before work, went all in, and lost.
Started another game, went all-in, and won (beating 2 I think).
Put it on auto pilot and when I got back to the PC I saw that I got 3rd place.
Started a game at lunch, won a bunch of $$$ early on, and stuck it into auto pilot.
At the final table I went back and forth between auto pilot and actually playing. I was #2 in chips until I slow played K/K with a AK9 flop. The chip leader put me all in with two pair, and I really really hurt him. I think he did work his way back to third place.
Since it seemed that whenever I'd return to my desk to check my hand I had something good.
Anyway, I got 1st place.
I have over 10k with my original account now. I plan on saving it and playing in a 10k tournament when I have time. I hope the increased stakes increases the competition.
Feb. 9, 2007
I've been playing wilder on Full Tilt... because I can. People go in with top pair and weak kicker. I guess that's profitable in the short term, but it's too big a risk. Someone like me who plays a bit more conservative is going to eliminate them when the have a larger pocket pair, or hit two pair, or trips, or whatever.
Then there's this:
And the moral of this story is... don't check to the river to trap with an overpair to the board, or trips, because I am the suck out king this week.
Then there's this:
And the moral of this story is... don't check to the river to trap with an overpair to the board, or trips, because I am the suck out king this week.
Full Tile Feb. 7, 2007
These are from an emails I'd been making, documenting my Full Tilt experience:
I need to pay more attention. I got 4th last night, losing to three AFK players. It's not as bad as it sounds though.
Two were using the away function so they folded every hand, and the third had some sort of "always raise $600" script going. Either that or he was an idiot who just raised $600 every time to matter what.
I had two pair, which turned into a flush on the turn. I went all-in, and the $600 scripter called. He hit a diamond on the river to get him a bigger flush. I was what, 85% to win? Ugh! So even if I knew he was a scipt I'd have died there anyway.
I thought it was stupid that he always raised me $600 when I bet into him several thousand, but I never put him down as being AFK.
Anyway, right after that it was really obvious that the three remaining players were not at the keys. The raised tromped the other two.
I need to pay more attention.
Anyway, if people are running scripts that would explain how they can accumulate $1,000,000 in chips.
------------------------
Just played another one. It started out as the wildest 90 person $250 tournament ever.
On the first hand I had 9/9 and some people went all-in so I called, and so did others. I won.
I was moved to a new table for the next hand, and given A/A, and I was first to act. I made a big raise and someone else called, then someone went all-in, I called, the raiser called and I won.
So in two hands, I had over 13k in chips. That's crazy.
I need to pay more attention. I got 4th last night, losing to three AFK players. It's not as bad as it sounds though.
Two were using the away function so they folded every hand, and the third had some sort of "always raise $600" script going. Either that or he was an idiot who just raised $600 every time to matter what.
I had two pair, which turned into a flush on the turn. I went all-in, and the $600 scripter called. He hit a diamond on the river to get him a bigger flush. I was what, 85% to win? Ugh! So even if I knew he was a scipt I'd have died there anyway.
I thought it was stupid that he always raised me $600 when I bet into him several thousand, but I never put him down as being AFK.
Anyway, right after that it was really obvious that the three remaining players were not at the keys. The raised tromped the other two.
I need to pay more attention.
Anyway, if people are running scripts that would explain how they can accumulate $1,000,000 in chips.
------------------------
Just played another one. It started out as the wildest 90 person $250 tournament ever.
On the first hand I had 9/9 and some people went all-in so I called, and so did others. I won.
I was moved to a new table for the next hand, and given A/A, and I was first to act. I made a big raise and someone else called, then someone went all-in, I called, the raiser called and I won.
So in two hands, I had over 13k in chips. That's crazy.
Full Tilt Feb 4, 2007 continued
Crappity crap crap.
I was doing well, with a lot of chips early in the tournament.
I auto played, then came in a second too late to play my pocket 8/8.
Guess what the flop was.
Then I flop the idiot end of a straight and go all-in.
I'm elated when I get several callers... until I see their hands:
Game over.
I was doing well, with a lot of chips early in the tournament.
I auto played, then came in a second too late to play my pocket 8/8.
Guess what the flop was.
Then I flop the idiot end of a straight and go all-in.
I'm elated when I get several callers... until I see their hands:
Game over.
Feb. 4 2007 continued
I quit working for the day just in time to see that I was small-blinded all-in.
I won (getting my share of the pot anyway) with two pair.
A few hands later I had top pair (tens) and only 60 credits left after I posted a big blind. A guy put me all-in, so I jumped into the game to call. I'd have been blinded out with the small blind the next hand anyway.
I lost to a straight. Doh!
Anyway, I did well, finishing in 6th place.
Is it hard not to win on Full Tilt?
I won (getting my share of the pot anyway) with two pair.
A few hands later I had top pair (tens) and only 60 credits left after I posted a big blind. A guy put me all-in, so I jumped into the game to call. I'd have been blinded out with the small blind the next hand anyway.
I lost to a straight. Doh!
Anyway, I did well, finishing in 6th place.
Is it hard not to win on Full Tilt?
Full Tilt Feb 4, 2007
New strategy...
I went all in on the first hand and won, putting me in 3rd place. (I had K/K and people go all-in with just about anything the first hand... so it was a good move)
I'm going to try to sit out every hand now, and see what happens.
(We're repairing walls next door.... if I get back over here and peak and have a good hand, I'll have to play it.)
I went all in on the first hand and won, putting me in 3rd place. (I had K/K and people go all-in with just about anything the first hand... so it was a good move)
I'm going to try to sit out every hand now, and see what happens.
(We're repairing walls next door.... if I get back over here and peak and have a good hand, I'll have to play it.)
Full Tilt Feb 4
(Posting from an email log I kept)
I decided to "not play" an entire 90 player, 250 entry tournament.
I started the game, clicked "sit out next hand" and left until it was over.
10th place for sitting every single hand out. Is that crazy or what?
I decided to "not play" an entire 90 player, 250 entry tournament.
I started the game, clicked "sit out next hand" and left until it was over.
10th place for sitting every single hand out. Is that crazy or what?
Full Tilt Feb 3
(I'm posting these from an email archive)
On the cusp of being paid over $4,000 for 9th place, I'm favorite in an all-in pre-flop. He hits a pair on the flop, I hit a bigger pair on the turn, and he hits two pair on the river. :)
I laughed out loud!
The 2,000 buy-in game had much better play than the 250 buy-in. One guy went all in the first hand. Well... I did too, but that's because I had a good hand (AQc), I figured he was an idiot, and most of the table had folded to him so I figured we'd be head's up. We had the same cards, but mine were suited, not that it mattered.
But after that play was pretty good.
I think my new MO is going to be playing the 250 games until I can afford the 2,000 games. Then going to them. Once I'm a little more familiar with the nuances of online play I think I can do better.
On the cusp of being paid over $4,000 for 9th place, I'm favorite in an all-in pre-flop. He hits a pair on the flop, I hit a bigger pair on the turn, and he hits two pair on the river. :)
I laughed out loud!
The 2,000 buy-in game had much better play than the 250 buy-in. One guy went all in the first hand. Well... I did too, but that's because I had a good hand (AQc), I figured he was an idiot, and most of the table had folded to him so I figured we'd be head's up. We had the same cards, but mine were suited, not that it mattered.
But after that play was pretty good.
I think my new MO is going to be playing the 250 games until I can afford the 2,000 games. Then going to them. Once I'm a little more familiar with the nuances of online play I think I can do better.
Full Tilt blatherings #1
In the second 250, 90-player tournament I entered I got to the 5 minute break. There were 12 people left, and I was in 7th place with 6 thousand or so.
We had to leave for Lexington so I just set it to the "away" option, allowing my account to be blinded out.
I was hoping to get 7th or 8th place.
Being conservative pays.
We had to leave for Lexington so I just set it to the "away" option, allowing my account to be blinded out.
I was hoping to get 7th or 8th place.
Being conservative pays.
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