Knowing when to overbet for value... and work tilt!

I'll leave the nonpoker work tilt content at the bottom so if you're only interested in poker stuff, I don't even know why you read my blog... errrr I mean then you can read the first part and leave. My initial Learn from My Mistakes series seemed very popular (meaning these two donkeys liked it) so I will keep those going. I don't know at what rate I'll post those but I'll definitely post a new series at least once a week. More if I'm spewing chips, I guess.

But today, I just wanted to give you a quick example of when to overbet for value. If you read Fuel's blog, you know that he always has a classic case of overbetting for value. And this is such a powerful tool in cash games. I think a lot of people tend to not bet enough by trying to squeeze an extra few dollars when they have a monster. But instead, I think it's better if you tend to err on the side of overbetting too often rather than the other way around. Basically, you're costing yourself few dollars for the opportunity to bring in a lot more. Like below.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3151569750: Table Rancho - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 14:59:30 ET - 2007/08/04
Seat 1: ArtieRufio31 ($456)
Seat 2: crapface82 ($400)
Seat 3: revjc ($256.80)
Seat 4: svnr2000 ($421.90)
Seat 5: ppk9876 ($165.30)
Seat 6: sl999333 ($400)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($633.40)
Seat 8: tarheel101 ($467)
Seat 9: Capt_Drinker ($414)
Capt_Drinker posts the small blind of $2
ArtieRufio31 posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [8d Jd]
crapface82 folds
revjc folds
svnr2000 folds
ppk9876 folds
sl999333 folds
RecessRampage raises to $14
tarheel101 folds
Capt_Drinker has 15 seconds left to act
Capt_Drinker folds
ArtieRufio31 calls $10

I know that recently, when I post hand histories, you see me raising with garbage. Just know that I do play hundreds of hands each night and so I don't always raise with garbage hands but it's just a way of mixing it up. If you're only going to play for 30 minutes, I don't recommend raising with garbage like J8s but if you've been at the table for a while, you just need to switch it up once in a while. I think this was an instance where I chipped up nicely with a few decent hands and since I was quiet for a few orbits, I wanted to make sure I seemed relatively active so that when I get another big hand, I will actually get paid off as opposed to everyone folding and me picking up the blinds.

*** FLOP *** [3d Qd 5d] <--- gin!
ArtieRufio31 checks
RecessRampage bets $22
ArtieRufio31 calls $22

In my opinion, a bet here is a must. A MUST. If he doesn't have anything, I stand to make no money anyways. I'd rather represent a hand like AK with a diamond in my hand instead of slow play a flopped flush. Plus what if another diamond comes? In other words, if he has anything, it's likely that he calls. Like if he had AQ but with a A of diamonds, you know he's almost committed from the beginning. So let's start building the pot! When he called my flop bet, I knew he had to hit a part of this board. I don't know how he hit it but he clearly did.

*** TURN *** [3d Qd 5d] [Tc]
ArtieRufio31 bets $60
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME

He check calls the flop and all of a sudden bets out on the turn. I'm now convinced that he hit this board pretty hard. My guess was AQ with A of diamonds, TT with a ten of diamonds (turning a set), 55, 33, or very unlikely but possibly QQ (very unlikely because I would expect a reraise preflop or a checkraise on the flop). If he's in there with a AK with an A of diamond, it's a very loose bet. Maybe a blocking bet. If he's got me beat, I'm gonna pay him off. If my jack high flopped flush is losing to a higher flopped flush, I'm willing to go broke with it. Different if it were 7 high flush or something. But only an Ax or Kx sooted beats me. So, now that I have a pretty good idea that he's got a fairly big hand, this is a prime example of when to overbet for value. If I shove, it's gonna look like I'm trying to get him off his hand with a flush draw.


RecessRampage raises to $597.40, and is all in
ArtieRufio31 has 15 seconds left to act
ArtieRufio31 calls $360, and is all in
RecessRampage shows [8d Jd]
ArtieRufio31 shows [5c 5s] <--- presto, save your magic for Fuel!
Uncalled bet of $177.40 returned to RecessRampage

*** RIVER *** [3d Qd 5d Tc] [7s] <--- thank you!
RecessRampage shows a flush, Queen high
ArtieRufio31 shows three of a kind, Fives
RecessRampage wins the pot ($911) with a flush, Queen high
ArtieRufio31 is sitting out

Fortunately for me, the board didn't pair and I made him put all his money in on a draw to the boat. This is really key here. Instead of raising a little to squeeze more money out of a mediocre hand, I like to start fast and furious to build the pot. And also, to push when the guy still has a chance and may call as opposed to the river when you have a checkmark by your name and maybe harder to extract as much money out of your opponent. Now of course, just like in anything in poker, there is no definite. You have to switch it up. Overbet for value when you sense your opponent has a big hand but do the smaller value bets when you think that he doesn't have a strong hand. And know what you did before to switch it up when a similar situation occurs. Those are all very key.

***Nonpoker content starts here***

So last week, I was on work tilt. Why just last week? I don't really know. Now, I just kinda got over it. I didn't want work to be affecting my personal life and my poker life.

You see, last year, in July, I left my 8 yr stint at a public accounting firm and went to work for a big corporation (our slogan is "What's In Your Wallet?"). Initially, the change was a good one. I was in charge of several big projects that involved transitioning the financial reporting process from the banks we acquired into our central office here in Richmond. (Only a dork CPA would call it "good" I guess... well, I am what I am, unfortunately). With very little financial institution background, this was an interesting learning experience. Having said that, fast forward one year, and now, I'm bored. With those projects complete, I am now in a full time reporting prep mode. And considering I was a manager with teams of staff that I was overseeing in my accounting firm, now I have no one reporting to me directly. Sure, I got staff but we all report to the same supervisor so basically, I'm not in charge of anyone. Which is fine... if the manager was capable. He's a good worker... but a shitty manager and even worse delegator. So, there are times where I am working here till 8pm and some other people leave at 5pm after browsing the internet all day. And not because I'm slow. Because we don't work like a team.

And that, I really miss. But you deal with the cards you're dealt so I was still ok with that. Bored, but ok. Until a small incident basically pushed me over the edge. I am a very sociable person. I like talking to people, mingling, and just generally having a good time. Very often, when I'm around, you'll hear me laughing or talking. That's just how I am.

So, when I greet you, I expect a normal human social contact. What do I mean? Like if I say hello, I expect an hello back. So, one morning, I get to work (and I honestly don't know why it stuck out to me last week or the week before) and I tell my group "good morning." And we have 5 people in our work space. Not one. Not one god damn fucker said "good morning" back. That rubbed me the wrong way. That REALLY pissed me off. Everyone just staring into the monitor working away.

It's gotten better though. Now I have one or two of them saying good morning back to me. I keep trying every morning though. Our manager is a nose to the grindstone type of guy and like his ex-gf (who is a coworker in a different dept) attests, he has ZERO social skills. I can imagine. If you can't say good morning back, you might as well be dead.

And seriously, as stupid as this sounds... that's when I knew that I can't be here. I can't work in an environment where no one responds to basic human interaction. And I think last week, I was on work tilt but now, I've checked out and that's why I'm not on work tilt. I'd love to transfer to another dept cuz I like the company itself. But right now, there aren't too many good positions open so most likely, I'll quit. Not sure what I'll get into next though. I would like to work with people though... instead of zombies. I'm enough of a loner playing virtual poker at night... I gotta get my social interaction somehow.

Not sure why I'm telling anyone this... but then again, it's my blog so I'll cry if I want to... errr, I'll blog if I want to.