Before I get started, a quick nonpoker blog pimpage for those of you who may have nothing else to do... or for those that may have more time now that yours truly lost his gchat capability to work. I will say... as much as I hate losing gchat at work, that's the best move they made... My productivity has increased dramatically as a result. Well, anyways... Here are two nonpoker blogs, both of which were started by my friends. This guy seems to have been posting for a while but I just found out.
Crumbs of knowledge - This is one of my buddies that I went to Montreal with. He has a better recap than I can ever put together.
Here's one that my friend just started yesterday.
Another waste of time - If stuff like 30 something year old woman picking her nose and eating what comes out of it makes you laugh, his humor should be right up your alley. I think he's gonna post about his fantasy football debacle (which he already did) and the sports teams he likes (Bears and Cubs) so go check it out and give him some love... after all, he thinks bloggin is a waste of time.
Alright... done with the pimping. Now on to regular programming:
First is a hand where I played it poorly but the cards and a decent read on the river saved me:
Full Tilt Poker Game #7721058389: Table Rose Canyon - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:10:47 ET - 2008/08/19
8 handed - effective stacks:
Villain in CO - ($418)
Hero on the button ($400)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Js Jc]
4 folds
Villain raises to $14
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero calls $14
both blinds fold
Here, I could go either way. More often than not, I would 3 bet with JJ but this just happens to be a hand where I didn't.
*** FLOP *** [3c 9c Td] (Pot $34)
Villain bets $18
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero raises to $56
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain raises to $112
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero calls $56
This hand got weird in a hurry. I see a ten high flop which I figured was good for my hand. Then this guy puts out a weird small bet for about half the pot. Since the board was pretty draw heavy, I figured I'd just put in a raise and get Ax type of hands to fold. The only thought that I had (which is why timer kicked in) was that I did wonder if I raise, if I'm opening myself up for another big raise where I would be forced to let my JJ go... and his range of doing that could be huge if he has clubs in his hands. Nonetheless, I put in a raise and as I worried, villain puts in another raise... except this one is a minraise. Now, I'm totally confused. I did wonder if I was up against a set. And this is where I think I make a bad play. I suspected a set... and yet I call.
*** TURN *** [3c 9c Td] [Ac] (Pot $258)
Villain checks
Hero checks
I didn't know what to make of that card. I felt like maybe I can bet here but I chickened out. Part of the reason I chickened out was because I actually had the Jc. Now that he checked, I wasn't sure if I were completely beat. Maybe he had a set and he hated the club. Or maybe he was checking to checkraise with his clubs. I just decided that it was worth seeing one more card since I have position here.
*** RIVER *** [3c 9c Td Ac] [4c] (Pot $258)
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain bets $136
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero has requested TIME
Hero calls $136
On the river, this was my thought process. The 4th club comes on the river. Then villain bets out $136. A good bet size for a call me bet. Big enough that it should get most hands out without the flush. Small enough that it looks like a sucker bet. The problem is, his sequence in the hand didn't make sense. On the flop, remember, I sensed that I was up against a set (yes, I know, that still doesn't explain the call on the flop). On the turn, he checks when the flush draw completes. Of course, he could have been waiting to check raise but it just didn't make sense. So, with my Jc, the two cards that would beat me here would be Kc and Qc. So, now, I had to think if the villain could have either one of these cards. And this is what went through my head. If he has a Qc, he would not bet here. He would be happy to show down and maybe call a bet from me but there's no way he's betting out here with the second nuts because then he gets all the worse hands to fold and only the Kc would call that bet. So, I ruled that out. Then now, there's only one card that beats me. Kc. Question is, does he have it? Of course, he could. But instead of putting him on one hand, I decided to give it a range of what would make him bet out. He either has Kc or he is now trying to buy this pot. Since I KNOW that he doesn't have Qc, I, for all intensive purposes, basically have the second nuts with Jc. On this board, with this pot size, he would be betting a fair range of hands where he feels that he could get hands like two pair and sets to fold. AK would be a possibility, KQ (with no Kc) might also be possible or KK or QQ with no club would also be possible. So, in the end, based on the flop and turn action, I actually narrowed it down to he either has KK with a Kc, or QQ with no club. His flop reraise was small so it could be a set too. But that was the range I eventually narrowed it down to. I thought he probably won't bet with trips since he does have showdown value but you never know with these guys so I couldn't totally exclude that possibility.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Villain shows [Qd Qh] a pair of Queens
Hero shows [Js Jc] a flush, Ace high
Hero wins the pot ($527) with a flush, Ace high
I think villain's main mistake was the small reraise on the flop. If he puts in a solid reraise there, I can't continue with JJ. It was still a bad call by me, given my instincts that it could be a set but on such a draw heavy board, there's no way I would want to entice anyone to stick around.
Here's an interesting hand where I wish I was good enough to fold the turn to the initial bet...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7721139300: Table Mountain Home - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:16:47 ET - 2008/08/19
Seat 1: Hero ($414.70)
Seat 2: ($400)
Seat 3: ($321.30)
Seat 4: Villain1 ($286.90)
Seat 5: Villain2 ($400)
Seat 6: ($411.50)
Seat 7: SB ($527)
Seat 8: BB ($855.90)
Seat 9: Villain3 ($177.30)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Ac Kc]
Villain3 calls $4
Hero raises to $18
2 folds
Villain1 calls $18
Villain2 calls $18
Button folds
SB folds
BB folds
Villain3 calls $14
*** FLOP *** [9d Qs 5c] (Pot $78)
Villain3 checks
Hero checks
Villain1 checks
Villain2 checks
Terrible flop. I'm really done with this hand. I'm just hoping someone bets so I can fold... instead it checks around.
*** TURN *** [9d Qs 5c] [Ks] (Pot $78)
Villain3 bets $28
Hero has 15 seconds left to act (I hate that turn card!)
Hero calls $28
Villain1 has 15 seconds left to act
Villain1 has requested TIME
Villain1 raises to $136 <--- thank you!
Villain2 folds
Villain3 raises to $159.30, and is all in
Hero folds
Villain1 calls $23.30
Really doesn't matter what Villain3 did here, I was gonna fold anyways to that raise since this board is terrible for AK. The only thing I hate about the turn card was that I caught a piece AND the guy bets out such a small amount in comparison to the pot that I couldn't find the fold button... That's probably a leak...
Villain3 shows [5d 5h]
Villain1 shows [Td Jc]
*** RIVER *** [9d Qs 5c Ks] [3h]
Villain3 shows three of a kind, Fives
Villain1 shows a straight, King high
Villain1 wins the pot ($421.60) with a straight, King high
That's all for today. Hopefully, I'll have more hands to post soon.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Game selection
Game selection was never too high on my priority list. I mean I've heard others preach it but I just wanted to sit at an open seat... as long as I didn't have like a known aggro or a known super solid player to my left, I was ok with that. So, I never really got into visiting sites like tableratings.com that would have information on which tables are the most lucrative, etc... plus those always seem to have a huge waiting list like 5 or 6 deep... in a 6 max game... I mean by the time I would get there, it would be filled with sharks who wanted to play in the "juicy" game.
However, recently, with my woes in 6 max, I did take a step back and gave the game some thought. And you know what? The games are actually pretty freakin tough, I think. I mean it's either the games have gotten tougher or I just regressed... or a combination of the two. But in all honesty, I do believe that the games have gotten tougher. Now don't get me wrong. There are still tons of donkeys out there. But in a normal 6 max game, I would have 4 tables open and 4 or 5 of them at each table are regulars... that's generally not a formula for a lucrative night.
When I first converted to 6 max, the thought was that 6 max would be more profitable since you would be forced to play more hands and so if you can make better decisions, it would lead to more profit. The thing is, with the 6 max tables (at least at 2-4NL and above), the games are so much more aggressive and a lot of players are willing to get it all in preflop that I'm not sure too many of us would have as significant an edge as we used to. The thought is this. If I thought 6 max could be more profitable, and hence I make the move there, so would a lot of others who were doing well in full ring matches right? I mean guys who make money want to go some place where they can make even more money. So, it brings over all these guys that already made money, who are willing to work on their game, who dedicate the time to study and next thing you know, you're just passing cash around from one player to another, just to be redistributed the next night.
As I mentioned before, I felt like I was running bad and playing bad. So, I decided to go back to my bread and butter which was the full ring game and I noticed one significant difference. The game is so much slower and more passive. Maybe during my foray in 6 max, I've gotten aggressive. That's probably some of it but the amount of limping in these games were unbelievable. And then I thought to myself, you know what? Since 6 max has gotten so aggressive, any new player who wants to just "try" NLHE is probably back playing 9 handed where it's rare that they would get 3 or 4 bet (as opposed to 6 max which is like pretty much the norm).
So, game selection may not be something I would seriously do yet but I do know now that I would be looking at 9 handed games first and then a few 6 max tables where there might not be as many regulars... no point in being in tougher games when there are plenty of sheep waiting to be skinned.
However, recently, with my woes in 6 max, I did take a step back and gave the game some thought. And you know what? The games are actually pretty freakin tough, I think. I mean it's either the games have gotten tougher or I just regressed... or a combination of the two. But in all honesty, I do believe that the games have gotten tougher. Now don't get me wrong. There are still tons of donkeys out there. But in a normal 6 max game, I would have 4 tables open and 4 or 5 of them at each table are regulars... that's generally not a formula for a lucrative night.
When I first converted to 6 max, the thought was that 6 max would be more profitable since you would be forced to play more hands and so if you can make better decisions, it would lead to more profit. The thing is, with the 6 max tables (at least at 2-4NL and above), the games are so much more aggressive and a lot of players are willing to get it all in preflop that I'm not sure too many of us would have as significant an edge as we used to. The thought is this. If I thought 6 max could be more profitable, and hence I make the move there, so would a lot of others who were doing well in full ring matches right? I mean guys who make money want to go some place where they can make even more money. So, it brings over all these guys that already made money, who are willing to work on their game, who dedicate the time to study and next thing you know, you're just passing cash around from one player to another, just to be redistributed the next night.
As I mentioned before, I felt like I was running bad and playing bad. So, I decided to go back to my bread and butter which was the full ring game and I noticed one significant difference. The game is so much slower and more passive. Maybe during my foray in 6 max, I've gotten aggressive. That's probably some of it but the amount of limping in these games were unbelievable. And then I thought to myself, you know what? Since 6 max has gotten so aggressive, any new player who wants to just "try" NLHE is probably back playing 9 handed where it's rare that they would get 3 or 4 bet (as opposed to 6 max which is like pretty much the norm).
So, game selection may not be something I would seriously do yet but I do know now that I would be looking at 9 handed games first and then a few 6 max tables where there might not be as many regulars... no point in being in tougher games when there are plenty of sheep waiting to be skinned.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Hitting the reset button
It's actually quite amazing how quickly time flies. I just noticed that my last post was... well, a week ago. Work hasn't been crazy but enough to keep me busy. I probably still work a good 10 hrs a day which is not bad since I already mentioned here that I can't remember the last time I only had to work 40 hrs in a week.
On a more personal note, I am going through a lot of things. Some I can share here, some I can't... at least not yet. But between divorce, hectic work, surprisingly busy social life, and a few other things that are going on in my life, my focus on poker has dwindled to say the least. I probably only set aside about an hour per day to play poker which is why I really haven't played in MTTs... and hell, these days, even when I do, I barely last an hour so maybe it makes no difference. My game is in a tailspin, I feel like, and I think that's mainly because my focus has been going.
One thing I really noticed about my game is how it goes wrong after a nasty beat. I'm not talking about tilting... even though I guess it is tilting. I'm not cussing or shouting or breaking anything but my game goes a little off course after a bad beat. It's like continuing to drive with poor alignment in your car. At first, you think the alignment might be slightly off. Then you hit a bump. And then you notice that the wheel seems to be pulling you to one side more than usual. But you keep going... and before you know it, your alignment is shot, your tires are worn down and boom, costly expense to fix it all up.
Chad, who recently made his come back into the blogging world, wrote a great post about entitlement. And that really hit home in the sense that that's how I feel after a bad beat. That's how my game goes off course. In other words, I only have about an hour to play. I play decent for a little while and let's say that over a few tables, I'm up a few hundred. And then I get bad beated... and then next thing I know, I'm playing a lot more hands (and a lot worse hands), thinking "now that I got bad beated, I'm entitled to dishing out a bad beat of my own." Wow... what a misguided thought process. But I'm just putting it out there. So, here's one example where I got bad beated...
*Warning - bad beat hand coming up*
PokerStars Game #19676346088: Hold'em No Limit ($2/$4) - 2008/08/17 - 00:56:24 (ET)
Table 'Gliese' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Bo$$playa425 ($467.45 in chips)
Seat 2: Dirty Vizzer ($366 in chips)
Seat 3: vavilon ($403.40 in chips)
Seat 4: sampy345 ($528.15 in chips)
Seat 5: Bidicha ($1406.80 in chips)
Seat 6: cariadon ($464.10 in chips)
cariadon: posts small blind $2
Bo$$playa425: posts big blind $4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Kd Kc]
Dirty Vizzer: raises $10 to $14
vavilon: folds
sampy345: folds
Bidicha: folds
cariadon: raises $28 to $42
Bo$$playa425: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises $80 to $122
cariadon: calls $80
*** FLOP *** [4c 2h 6d]
cariadon: bets $342.10 and is all-in
Dirty Vizzer: calls $244 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($98.10) returned to cariadon
*** TURN *** [4c 2h 6d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [4c 2h 6d 7h] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
cariadon: shows [Ah Kh] (a flush, Ace high)
Dirty Vizzer: mucks hand
cariadon collected $733 from pot
I mean this is an ideal situation. The idiot decides to overplay his AK and go ahead and jam. To use Bayne's phrase, I was compelled to call an all in with KK on this all low board. I lose this pot and then next thing I know, instead of continuing to play patient poker, I go into this weird mindset. Next thing I know, I'm slowly spewing money. That's the worst part. It's not even that I am getting involved in big pots with small hands and spewing... it's like I'm raising more hands with garbage, getting a lot of action and having to fold. It's just terrible, terrible poker.
So, I decided that I am going to get myself refocused. Like LJ mentioned to me, I was losing focus and my mind wasn't in poker anymore for a while. I'm gonna change that. It's like with Windows. When there's a problem, reboot and voila, everything is back to normal. If I'm committed to only playing for an hour, that's what I'm gonna do regardless of the result. I'm gonna be patient and not let the beats affect me. After all, I'm not entitled to the money on the table any more than anyone else. I just need to remind myself to continue to stay focused and control only the things I can control which is how I play - not the cards that are dealt to me or not the way the opponent plays.
On a more personal note, I am going through a lot of things. Some I can share here, some I can't... at least not yet. But between divorce, hectic work, surprisingly busy social life, and a few other things that are going on in my life, my focus on poker has dwindled to say the least. I probably only set aside about an hour per day to play poker which is why I really haven't played in MTTs... and hell, these days, even when I do, I barely last an hour so maybe it makes no difference. My game is in a tailspin, I feel like, and I think that's mainly because my focus has been going.
One thing I really noticed about my game is how it goes wrong after a nasty beat. I'm not talking about tilting... even though I guess it is tilting. I'm not cussing or shouting or breaking anything but my game goes a little off course after a bad beat. It's like continuing to drive with poor alignment in your car. At first, you think the alignment might be slightly off. Then you hit a bump. And then you notice that the wheel seems to be pulling you to one side more than usual. But you keep going... and before you know it, your alignment is shot, your tires are worn down and boom, costly expense to fix it all up.
Chad, who recently made his come back into the blogging world, wrote a great post about entitlement. And that really hit home in the sense that that's how I feel after a bad beat. That's how my game goes off course. In other words, I only have about an hour to play. I play decent for a little while and let's say that over a few tables, I'm up a few hundred. And then I get bad beated... and then next thing I know, I'm playing a lot more hands (and a lot worse hands), thinking "now that I got bad beated, I'm entitled to dishing out a bad beat of my own." Wow... what a misguided thought process. But I'm just putting it out there. So, here's one example where I got bad beated...
*Warning - bad beat hand coming up*
PokerStars Game #19676346088: Hold'em No Limit ($2/$4) - 2008/08/17 - 00:56:24 (ET)
Table 'Gliese' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Bo$$playa425 ($467.45 in chips)
Seat 2: Dirty Vizzer ($366 in chips)
Seat 3: vavilon ($403.40 in chips)
Seat 4: sampy345 ($528.15 in chips)
Seat 5: Bidicha ($1406.80 in chips)
Seat 6: cariadon ($464.10 in chips)
cariadon: posts small blind $2
Bo$$playa425: posts big blind $4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Kd Kc]
Dirty Vizzer: raises $10 to $14
vavilon: folds
sampy345: folds
Bidicha: folds
cariadon: raises $28 to $42
Bo$$playa425: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises $80 to $122
cariadon: calls $80
*** FLOP *** [4c 2h 6d]
cariadon: bets $342.10 and is all-in
Dirty Vizzer: calls $244 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($98.10) returned to cariadon
*** TURN *** [4c 2h 6d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [4c 2h 6d 7h] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
cariadon: shows [Ah Kh] (a flush, Ace high)
Dirty Vizzer: mucks hand
cariadon collected $733 from pot
I mean this is an ideal situation. The idiot decides to overplay his AK and go ahead and jam. To use Bayne's phrase, I was compelled to call an all in with KK on this all low board. I lose this pot and then next thing I know, instead of continuing to play patient poker, I go into this weird mindset. Next thing I know, I'm slowly spewing money. That's the worst part. It's not even that I am getting involved in big pots with small hands and spewing... it's like I'm raising more hands with garbage, getting a lot of action and having to fold. It's just terrible, terrible poker.
So, I decided that I am going to get myself refocused. Like LJ mentioned to me, I was losing focus and my mind wasn't in poker anymore for a while. I'm gonna change that. It's like with Windows. When there's a problem, reboot and voila, everything is back to normal. If I'm committed to only playing for an hour, that's what I'm gonna do regardless of the result. I'm gonna be patient and not let the beats affect me. After all, I'm not entitled to the money on the table any more than anyone else. I just need to remind myself to continue to stay focused and control only the things I can control which is how I play - not the cards that are dealt to me or not the way the opponent plays.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Wow, I'm a dork...
Finally, the uber busy period of work is over. To kinda get my mind off of work and also to kinda do something where I don't have to stay focused/use my brain, I decided that a new video game is in order. As I browsed around Circuit City, I finally caved in and decided to give Rockband a shot. I heard so many good things about it and I thought banging away on drums would be a good way to get rid of the stress.
I'm not gonna lie though... when I brought the huge box home and as I was unpacking and taking the stuff out, putting the guitar and drums together, I felt like such a dork... as a matter of fact, I haven't felt that dorkish in a long long time. I pretty much felt like a downright loser when I was putting the drum set together... to the point where I was just laughing by myself. Eventually, I was able to get it set up.
I'm not gonna lie. This game is downright addicting. Oh my god. Now, I can't stop playing... seriously, the only reason I stopped is to watch the Olympics for a little while. So, I figured I'd blog about it while I watch the Olympics. The only bad beat about this game is that I bought the Wii version... and apparently, the PS3 or Xbox version comes with the ability to download songs. I'm not 100% sure but it's based on the Rockband website... I saw you can download like System of the Down and stuff. Are you fuckin kidding me? And I can't seem to do that on the Wii... now THAT's a bad beat.
But either way, it doesn't matter. The game comes with like 63 songs and I also bought like the track pack that has an additional 20 songs so that should keep me busy for a while.
This game rocks. I'm banging away on my drums. I hope swimming ends soon so I can go back to banging away.
I'm not gonna lie though... when I brought the huge box home and as I was unpacking and taking the stuff out, putting the guitar and drums together, I felt like such a dork... as a matter of fact, I haven't felt that dorkish in a long long time. I pretty much felt like a downright loser when I was putting the drum set together... to the point where I was just laughing by myself. Eventually, I was able to get it set up.
I'm not gonna lie. This game is downright addicting. Oh my god. Now, I can't stop playing... seriously, the only reason I stopped is to watch the Olympics for a little while. So, I figured I'd blog about it while I watch the Olympics. The only bad beat about this game is that I bought the Wii version... and apparently, the PS3 or Xbox version comes with the ability to download songs. I'm not 100% sure but it's based on the Rockband website... I saw you can download like System of the Down and stuff. Are you fuckin kidding me? And I can't seem to do that on the Wii... now THAT's a bad beat.
But either way, it doesn't matter. The game comes with like 63 songs and I also bought like the track pack that has an additional 20 songs so that should keep me busy for a while.
This game rocks. I'm banging away on my drums. I hope swimming ends soon so I can go back to banging away.
You know you're lucky when...
I check my email and find this...
cashier@fulltiltpoker.com to me
show details 6:45 PM (6 hours ago) Reply
This is an automated message sent from Full Tilt Poker.
Full Tilt Poker Tournament #53538117 Iron Man $30,000 Freeroll NL Hold'em
Buy-In: $0.00
462 players
Total Prize Pool: $30000.00
Start Date: August 9 4:45 PM ET
Dear RecessRampage,
You finished the tournament in 164th place.
There has been $75.00 added to your account.
Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.
Funny thing is, we met with the realtor today at 6pm. This tournament started at 4:45. And I was working out so I didn't really log on until 5:10pm... just with the intent of doubling up or busting... but doing neither... I just won a biggish pot to enter into 1st break with approximately 3600 chips. I hopped in the shower, closed down my laptop and figured it's just a freeroll and I wouldn't last to the money. Nothing like playing in a tournament for maybe 15-20 minutes, sitting out the rest of the time and getting paid. Man, tournaments are easy. :)
cashier@fulltiltpoker.com to me
show details 6:45 PM (6 hours ago) Reply
This is an automated message sent from Full Tilt Poker.
Full Tilt Poker Tournament #53538117 Iron Man $30,000 Freeroll NL Hold'em
Buy-In: $0.00
462 players
Total Prize Pool: $30000.00
Start Date: August 9 4:45 PM ET
Dear RecessRampage,
You finished the tournament in 164th place.
There has been $75.00 added to your account.
Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.
Funny thing is, we met with the realtor today at 6pm. This tournament started at 4:45. And I was working out so I didn't really log on until 5:10pm... just with the intent of doubling up or busting... but doing neither... I just won a biggish pot to enter into 1st break with approximately 3600 chips. I hopped in the shower, closed down my laptop and figured it's just a freeroll and I wouldn't last to the money. Nothing like playing in a tournament for maybe 15-20 minutes, sitting out the rest of the time and getting paid. Man, tournaments are easy. :)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Olympics tilt
F*ckin shit...
Last night, despite the fact that the first preseason games of NFL started, I ended up watching Olympics soccer because... well, my team was playing against Team USA. It was basically the two of thes shittier teams in the division that are going at it but hey, I will never miss Japan v USA. Now for those of you who are casual soccer fans, don't get your panties up in a bunch and tell me how great US is in soccer also because this is an under 22 (with a few exceptions) league and the division also includes Nigeria and the Netherlands (apparent 2 year champs of the U-22 league).
Anyways, Japan generally sucks cuz we have all these guys who could do a lot of things with the ball and has good speed but no one that can score. Basically, no finisher and that has always been the thing about Japan's soccer teams, whether it's the actual Japan national team or the U-22 league. But it doesn't help when the official blows two fuckin calls. Two calls that were in the penalty box that would have resulted in a penalty kick which for all intensive purposes are considered a guarantee.
Here's an excerpt from an article:
After taking the lead, the U.S. was intent on defending it and did so capably, albeit with a bit of luck. Midfielder-turned-defender Maurice Edu was fortunate on at least two occasions not to be called for a penalty kick after committing fouls in the box, but Senegalese referee Badara Diatta turned a blind eye.
Said a relieved Edu: “It was pretty intense toward the end of the game as they were pushing a lot of bodies forward. There were a lot of scrambles in the box, but the referee made the right decisions to let certain plays go on.”
I mean seriously dude... TWO missed calls? At least call one. Do your f*ckin job!!!! This is the only game that Japan had the chance to win/tie. Jesus...
Now, Japan definitely had their chances so the fact that they didn't capitalize on any of several very good looks at the goal is where Japan sucks. But when they get unlucky with the calls, there's no way they could even sniff the victory...
What a way to start the olympics.
Last night, despite the fact that the first preseason games of NFL started, I ended up watching Olympics soccer because... well, my team was playing against Team USA. It was basically the two of thes shittier teams in the division that are going at it but hey, I will never miss Japan v USA. Now for those of you who are casual soccer fans, don't get your panties up in a bunch and tell me how great US is in soccer also because this is an under 22 (with a few exceptions) league and the division also includes Nigeria and the Netherlands (apparent 2 year champs of the U-22 league).
Anyways, Japan generally sucks cuz we have all these guys who could do a lot of things with the ball and has good speed but no one that can score. Basically, no finisher and that has always been the thing about Japan's soccer teams, whether it's the actual Japan national team or the U-22 league. But it doesn't help when the official blows two fuckin calls. Two calls that were in the penalty box that would have resulted in a penalty kick which for all intensive purposes are considered a guarantee.
Here's an excerpt from an article:
After taking the lead, the U.S. was intent on defending it and did so capably, albeit with a bit of luck. Midfielder-turned-defender Maurice Edu was fortunate on at least two occasions not to be called for a penalty kick after committing fouls in the box, but Senegalese referee Badara Diatta turned a blind eye.
Said a relieved Edu: “It was pretty intense toward the end of the game as they were pushing a lot of bodies forward. There were a lot of scrambles in the box, but the referee made the right decisions to let certain plays go on.”
I mean seriously dude... TWO missed calls? At least call one. Do your f*ckin job!!!! This is the only game that Japan had the chance to win/tie. Jesus...
Now, Japan definitely had their chances so the fact that they didn't capitalize on any of several very good looks at the goal is where Japan sucks. But when they get unlucky with the calls, there's no way they could even sniff the victory...
What a way to start the olympics.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Few concepts floating in my head
I'm not sure where this post is going to go. I just have had some thoughts that's been swimming in my head and I just want to "put it down on paper"... virtual paper, I guess.
1. Playing position
Naturally, we all know that position is important. Question is, how often do we practice what we preach? How different is your VP$IP or PFR% by position? In many places, you see articles talking about how your PFR should be fairly close to your VP$IP. In other words, almost every time you enter a hand, you come in raising. But is this really true? Does that mean that if there's an EP raiser and you want to play your 78s you should be reraising? Maybe sometimes but if that's how you always play, I'm not sure if that's truly profitable (contradiction to this statement to come shortly). Also, what kind of hands do you want to call a raise in the later position? Let's say there's an UTG raiser who is a solid player who generally understands position. Assuming you're gonna call on the button (the calling part is hypothetical so please don't argue this point... well, it won't matter, I won't acknowledge it), isn't better to call with a suited connector than two broadway cards? (this is the part where you can argue)
In other words, if you choose to call a EP raise with KQ, what happens when you flop the Q and you face a bet on the flop. Do you raise? or do you call? If you raise and he shoves, do you fold? If so, why even bother playing a hand where if you hit, you might not be ahead at all? If you call with a hand like 89s, unless you hit it big, you can smooth call the flop bet (assuming you caught piece) and peel another card to see what happens. You can still lose the pot when he fires another and you don't improve but again, easier to get away from with a lower suited connector than two broadway cards, no?
2. Reraising with moderately good hands
Here's where I contradict my above statement about not reraising with suited connectors. In 6 max, it seems almost standard to reraise with AQ+ and TT+. There are some looser players who will 3 bet more than just that range but if you are to expand the range, is it better to include hands like AJ, KQ, KJ or is it better to include hands like T9s, 89s, 67s? Of course, position is relevant so let's start with the instance where a CO or button raises, you are in the blinds and you 3 bet and you get called. I think a person's 3 bet calling range is tighter than a person's 3 bet range. Betting range > calling a bet range, right? So, you reraised and got called. Let's say you hold AJ and the flop comes A high. It's kind of a good and bad flop. Good in the sense that you hit. Bad in the sense that you probably won't get action unless you're beat. And the problem is this. You built up the pot preflop with the reraise and now you hit your top pair. How do you play it? Cbet? Check with the intention of raising? If you cbet and the opponent shoves, now what? Can you really fold considering the pot must be offering pretty decent odds at that point... And really, you fold after 3 betting AND hitting? Seems spewy. But if you were reraising with suited connectors, decision making would be easier, no? And if you hit it hard, it's very well disguised so there's a good chance you would be playing for stacks with a superior hand. Of course, I'm not advocating 3 betting with all suited connectors and garbage hands. But I do wonder if there's a point where if you want to expand your 3 bet range, it's better to incorporate suited connectors rather than just going down the chain of top x% of holdings.
3. Checkraising on the flop
I've come to hate check raises. No, not when the opponent does it to me but rather when I do it. Is there any other move that screams big hand than a checkraise? Checkraise seems to be a good way if you want to kill value out of your good hand. It also seems to be a good way to get stacked off with what you thought was a good enough hand but turns out it's not. In other words, if you only checkraise with monsters, checkraises are worthless right? You get one extra cbet out of the guy and that's it (unless your opponent is a moron or stubborn - but if he's stubborn, it doesn't have to be a checkraise to get his stack... if he's a moron, it probably doesn't have to be a checkraise to get his stack either). On the rare occasions where your checkraises are called or shoved on, more often than not, you're probably in bad shape. But by checkraising, you also build up the pot, you're already obviously out of position, and you kinda announced your hand.
Let's say that you are in a blind v blind situation... I'm not stealing this from cmitch but he did have an interesting post that really exemplifies what I've been thinking. Willwonka also had a similar one here. Basically, if you checkraise, you are pretty much turning your hand into a bluff, no? Worse hands will probably fold, better hands will not... of course, it is very situation dependent and I'm NOT suggesting pulling the plug on checkraises. But in a situation where your hand range is very limited, checkraises kill the value of a strong hand and builds the pot in situations where you are likely behind. Of course, if you're aggressive enough and you also checkraise with a wider range, I think that's ok but then you're going to start playing bigger pots with not as strong a holding so it has its pros and cons. Well, back to what I was saying. Let's say you're in a blind v blind situation and you have a good hand. Let's say AK for example. And you're in the SB obviously (otherwise, you can't checkraise in a blind v blind situation). You raise, BB calls, flop comes K-x-x. You check, he bets, you raise. Ok, I mean really? What does that accomplish? Only way he will call that is if he beats you. But against most players, you are announcing that you have a K or a hand that beats a K. So, unless he's got a set or two pair, you're not gonna get any action. If he has a K, it might encourage him to fold. Of course, if he has nothing, then congratulations, you got one extra bet out of him. Instead, wouldn't cbetting here make more sense? Same as if you flop a set. Wouldn't betting out make more sense than checkraising? You're still building the pot. Since you're the aggressor, if you want to build the pot bigger, maybe checkraise the turn. But checkraising the flop doesn't seem like such a good play to me.
Unfortunately, I still do that sometimes too and I kick myself when the opponent folds because more often than not, I am probably losing value.
Of course, there are exceptions to everything I mentioned above. Checkraising is fine as long as your range is balanced in that you will do it with a bluff as well as a monster. But I think more people tend to do it more so on the "only with monsters" side of the scale rather than a "bluffing" side of the scale.
I don't know. As I reread this post in the preview pane, it's not exactly conveying my thoughts. But at least it's down in writing. I think I'm gonna think about it more and tweak some of these points. It's just my random rambling that's been swirling in my head and I just wanted to get it down.
Any thoughts are welcome as usual.
1. Playing position
Naturally, we all know that position is important. Question is, how often do we practice what we preach? How different is your VP$IP or PFR% by position? In many places, you see articles talking about how your PFR should be fairly close to your VP$IP. In other words, almost every time you enter a hand, you come in raising. But is this really true? Does that mean that if there's an EP raiser and you want to play your 78s you should be reraising? Maybe sometimes but if that's how you always play, I'm not sure if that's truly profitable (contradiction to this statement to come shortly). Also, what kind of hands do you want to call a raise in the later position? Let's say there's an UTG raiser who is a solid player who generally understands position. Assuming you're gonna call on the button (the calling part is hypothetical so please don't argue this point... well, it won't matter, I won't acknowledge it), isn't better to call with a suited connector than two broadway cards? (this is the part where you can argue)
In other words, if you choose to call a EP raise with KQ, what happens when you flop the Q and you face a bet on the flop. Do you raise? or do you call? If you raise and he shoves, do you fold? If so, why even bother playing a hand where if you hit, you might not be ahead at all? If you call with a hand like 89s, unless you hit it big, you can smooth call the flop bet (assuming you caught piece) and peel another card to see what happens. You can still lose the pot when he fires another and you don't improve but again, easier to get away from with a lower suited connector than two broadway cards, no?
2. Reraising with moderately good hands
Here's where I contradict my above statement about not reraising with suited connectors. In 6 max, it seems almost standard to reraise with AQ+ and TT+. There are some looser players who will 3 bet more than just that range but if you are to expand the range, is it better to include hands like AJ, KQ, KJ or is it better to include hands like T9s, 89s, 67s? Of course, position is relevant so let's start with the instance where a CO or button raises, you are in the blinds and you 3 bet and you get called. I think a person's 3 bet calling range is tighter than a person's 3 bet range. Betting range > calling a bet range, right? So, you reraised and got called. Let's say you hold AJ and the flop comes A high. It's kind of a good and bad flop. Good in the sense that you hit. Bad in the sense that you probably won't get action unless you're beat. And the problem is this. You built up the pot preflop with the reraise and now you hit your top pair. How do you play it? Cbet? Check with the intention of raising? If you cbet and the opponent shoves, now what? Can you really fold considering the pot must be offering pretty decent odds at that point... And really, you fold after 3 betting AND hitting? Seems spewy. But if you were reraising with suited connectors, decision making would be easier, no? And if you hit it hard, it's very well disguised so there's a good chance you would be playing for stacks with a superior hand. Of course, I'm not advocating 3 betting with all suited connectors and garbage hands. But I do wonder if there's a point where if you want to expand your 3 bet range, it's better to incorporate suited connectors rather than just going down the chain of top x% of holdings.
3. Checkraising on the flop
I've come to hate check raises. No, not when the opponent does it to me but rather when I do it. Is there any other move that screams big hand than a checkraise? Checkraise seems to be a good way if you want to kill value out of your good hand. It also seems to be a good way to get stacked off with what you thought was a good enough hand but turns out it's not. In other words, if you only checkraise with monsters, checkraises are worthless right? You get one extra cbet out of the guy and that's it (unless your opponent is a moron or stubborn - but if he's stubborn, it doesn't have to be a checkraise to get his stack... if he's a moron, it probably doesn't have to be a checkraise to get his stack either). On the rare occasions where your checkraises are called or shoved on, more often than not, you're probably in bad shape. But by checkraising, you also build up the pot, you're already obviously out of position, and you kinda announced your hand.
Let's say that you are in a blind v blind situation... I'm not stealing this from cmitch but he did have an interesting post that really exemplifies what I've been thinking. Willwonka also had a similar one here. Basically, if you checkraise, you are pretty much turning your hand into a bluff, no? Worse hands will probably fold, better hands will not... of course, it is very situation dependent and I'm NOT suggesting pulling the plug on checkraises. But in a situation where your hand range is very limited, checkraises kill the value of a strong hand and builds the pot in situations where you are likely behind. Of course, if you're aggressive enough and you also checkraise with a wider range, I think that's ok but then you're going to start playing bigger pots with not as strong a holding so it has its pros and cons. Well, back to what I was saying. Let's say you're in a blind v blind situation and you have a good hand. Let's say AK for example. And you're in the SB obviously (otherwise, you can't checkraise in a blind v blind situation). You raise, BB calls, flop comes K-x-x. You check, he bets, you raise. Ok, I mean really? What does that accomplish? Only way he will call that is if he beats you. But against most players, you are announcing that you have a K or a hand that beats a K. So, unless he's got a set or two pair, you're not gonna get any action. If he has a K, it might encourage him to fold. Of course, if he has nothing, then congratulations, you got one extra bet out of him. Instead, wouldn't cbetting here make more sense? Same as if you flop a set. Wouldn't betting out make more sense than checkraising? You're still building the pot. Since you're the aggressor, if you want to build the pot bigger, maybe checkraise the turn. But checkraising the flop doesn't seem like such a good play to me.
Unfortunately, I still do that sometimes too and I kick myself when the opponent folds because more often than not, I am probably losing value.
Of course, there are exceptions to everything I mentioned above. Checkraising is fine as long as your range is balanced in that you will do it with a bluff as well as a monster. But I think more people tend to do it more so on the "only with monsters" side of the scale rather than a "bluffing" side of the scale.
I don't know. As I reread this post in the preview pane, it's not exactly conveying my thoughts. But at least it's down in writing. I think I'm gonna think about it more and tweak some of these points. It's just my random rambling that's been swirling in my head and I just wanted to get it down.
Any thoughts are welcome as usual.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Leaving money on the table
Can you believe it? An actual poker post from yours truly. This hand came up last night and I wasn't sure if I left some money on the table by not betting the river.
Full Tilt Poker Game #: Table Ward (edu, 6 max) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em
Villain is in the BB with $384 to start
I'm on the button.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to hero [Jd Js]
3 folds
Hero raises to $14
SB folds
Villain calls $10
*** FLOP *** [Kc 6h 9h]
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain checks
Hero bets $22
Villain calls $22
Any thoughts on the bet here? Honestly, I considered checking behind. If this were a rainbow thought, I am totally comfortable checking behind here but with the heart draw and semi drawish board, I thought I would bet out. Am I turning JJ into a bluff here? I don't think so but any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
*** TURN *** [Kc 6h 9h] [6c]
Villain checks
Hero checks
I didn't like the villain calling and seeing the 6 come on the turn. If he has a K, it could be that he would raise me... or just call with a K weak kicker? Either way, I figured I would check behind here to keep the pot small. Betting here would definitely make my JJ a bluff here, right?
*** RIVER *** [Kc 6h 9h 6c] [5s]
Villain checks
Hero checks
This is where I hesitated but wussed out and checked. In hindsight, I am wondering if I am leaving money on the table here by not betting. In case your thought was that he would only call with a hand that beats you, I totally disagree. It's rare for someone to checkraise the river. Checkraising river seems like such a -EV move to me. You announce that you have a big hand, you can only do it if the opponent bets, and again, you're missing out on the value every time the opponent checks behind with a hand that would have called your bet. So, generally speaking, on the river, if someone checks, they have a weakish hand. That doesn't mean it's a weakish hand that will fold. So, of course, if he had a K, he would call. But I could see him calling with TT, a 9, 77, 88, or even a 5 (like Ah5h or something). All the other hands like a 6 or a boat, set, straight, woulda bet at some point and definitely would bet the river for fear of losing value. So, when he checks, should I bet here? And I'm not looking to get him to fold a better hand. I'm actually looking to get value with my second pair. Is that retarded based on the action? I'm not sure. My JJ is clearly under repped so maybe there's room for value bet? Thoughts please.
And for anyone who cares, here's the showdown (even though, IMO, for the purpose of discussion, showdown is irrelevant). And no, Bruechips, I don't have stats on this guy.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero shows [Jd Js] two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Villain mucks [As 9s] - two pair, Nines and Sixes
Hero wins the pot ($71) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Full Tilt Poker Game #: Table Ward (edu, 6 max) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em
Villain is in the BB with $384 to start
I'm on the button.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to hero [Jd Js]
3 folds
Hero raises to $14
SB folds
Villain calls $10
*** FLOP *** [Kc 6h 9h]
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain checks
Hero bets $22
Villain calls $22
Any thoughts on the bet here? Honestly, I considered checking behind. If this were a rainbow thought, I am totally comfortable checking behind here but with the heart draw and semi drawish board, I thought I would bet out. Am I turning JJ into a bluff here? I don't think so but any thoughts on that would be appreciated.
*** TURN *** [Kc 6h 9h] [6c]
Villain checks
Hero checks
I didn't like the villain calling and seeing the 6 come on the turn. If he has a K, it could be that he would raise me... or just call with a K weak kicker? Either way, I figured I would check behind here to keep the pot small. Betting here would definitely make my JJ a bluff here, right?
*** RIVER *** [Kc 6h 9h 6c] [5s]
Villain checks
Hero checks
This is where I hesitated but wussed out and checked. In hindsight, I am wondering if I am leaving money on the table here by not betting. In case your thought was that he would only call with a hand that beats you, I totally disagree. It's rare for someone to checkraise the river. Checkraising river seems like such a -EV move to me. You announce that you have a big hand, you can only do it if the opponent bets, and again, you're missing out on the value every time the opponent checks behind with a hand that would have called your bet. So, generally speaking, on the river, if someone checks, they have a weakish hand. That doesn't mean it's a weakish hand that will fold. So, of course, if he had a K, he would call. But I could see him calling with TT, a 9, 77, 88, or even a 5 (like Ah5h or something). All the other hands like a 6 or a boat, set, straight, woulda bet at some point and definitely would bet the river for fear of losing value. So, when he checks, should I bet here? And I'm not looking to get him to fold a better hand. I'm actually looking to get value with my second pair. Is that retarded based on the action? I'm not sure. My JJ is clearly under repped so maybe there's room for value bet? Thoughts please.
And for anyone who cares, here's the showdown (even though, IMO, for the purpose of discussion, showdown is irrelevant). And no, Bruechips, I don't have stats on this guy.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero shows [Jd Js] two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Villain mucks [As 9s] - two pair, Nines and Sixes
Hero wins the pot ($71) with two pair, Jacks and Sixes
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Work tilt
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That's generally how I feel. This is the third or 4th Sunday in a row that I've had to work. Since I don't play too many tourneys, it's not like it matters that I am not playing poker on Sundays but weekends are generally juicy even in cash games and the fact that I'm not playing poker right now hurts. Instead, I'm doing my best to put in more hours so I can keep reducing my $/hr (since I'm obviously not an hourly employee).
It's not even the work that bothers me. It's just that with all the hours I've been putting in, I feel like I'm constantly fatigued. Of course, I'm sure it's all about perspective so for some of you, you probably think "I work 60 hrs a week AND I have two kids to take care so quit your whining." Seriously... if you think that, more power to you but this is my blog so if I feel like bitching about work, I'm gonna do so.
The most aggravating part is that my team is just not performing at the level that I want them to perform. Now I'm not gonna lie. I've always been a very demanding guy. Whether it was sports or work, I expected everyone to give their 110% at all times. That's just how I was. I only had one gear and it was always pedal to the metal. Work hard, play hard. If you're gonna do it, give it your all. I know it sounds cliche but that's pretty much how I live my life. Don't get me wrong. Everyone works hard, puts in longer hours than probably most other departments in this company. We're one of the very few (if not the only) groups that never gets an internal transfer. Just to give you a background, our company is very popular for having internal postings and internal transfers. They encourage you to move to different parts of the company so you can see many different facets of the company as well as making you a very well rounded individual. So, it's fairly common that after about 2 years in a certain department, someone would move to another department. And yet, no one moves to our group. Ever. Our entire group is comprised of external hires or complete newbies who had no choice in the matter. That says something about our group. Now, some of you might think, could it be the nature of the work and not just the hours? Yes and no. Except our "sister department" which is the other half of external reporting still gets a few internal transfers. We have none. That's very telling.
I will say this. Considering the hours we work, we're probably the rowdiest group. I mean for those of you that know me, this is a team that's lead by me. For those of you that worked with me, you know how I am. I might be tough on you but I'm pretty certain that I am up there when it comes to a "fun guy to work with." So, one of my positive feedback that I received was that despite the hours that my team is putting in, the team morale is very high. But I have to admit... I am starting to fade. I'm just getting tired of being worked like this. The team works hard but their experience level is not where it needs to be for the level of work we do and that also comes back to me in the sense that I have to put in additional hours to either cover for them or show them what's missing. Admittedly, with some of them who has 5+ years of experience, I am fairly frustrated but I think I am doing a surprisingly good job of hiding that (I generally wear my heart on my sleeve so usually, you would know how I am feeling).
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I just wanted to rant. Hopefully I'll start writing about poker more. Between my busted pinky and the work hours, I haven't had time to play basketball or poker... two things I love. My pinky will keep me away from bball for at least a month. Things are just not going good.
Fuckin shit. Maybe I need to go take those vicodin pills...
That's generally how I feel. This is the third or 4th Sunday in a row that I've had to work. Since I don't play too many tourneys, it's not like it matters that I am not playing poker on Sundays but weekends are generally juicy even in cash games and the fact that I'm not playing poker right now hurts. Instead, I'm doing my best to put in more hours so I can keep reducing my $/hr (since I'm obviously not an hourly employee).
It's not even the work that bothers me. It's just that with all the hours I've been putting in, I feel like I'm constantly fatigued. Of course, I'm sure it's all about perspective so for some of you, you probably think "I work 60 hrs a week AND I have two kids to take care so quit your whining." Seriously... if you think that, more power to you but this is my blog so if I feel like bitching about work, I'm gonna do so.
The most aggravating part is that my team is just not performing at the level that I want them to perform. Now I'm not gonna lie. I've always been a very demanding guy. Whether it was sports or work, I expected everyone to give their 110% at all times. That's just how I was. I only had one gear and it was always pedal to the metal. Work hard, play hard. If you're gonna do it, give it your all. I know it sounds cliche but that's pretty much how I live my life. Don't get me wrong. Everyone works hard, puts in longer hours than probably most other departments in this company. We're one of the very few (if not the only) groups that never gets an internal transfer. Just to give you a background, our company is very popular for having internal postings and internal transfers. They encourage you to move to different parts of the company so you can see many different facets of the company as well as making you a very well rounded individual. So, it's fairly common that after about 2 years in a certain department, someone would move to another department. And yet, no one moves to our group. Ever. Our entire group is comprised of external hires or complete newbies who had no choice in the matter. That says something about our group. Now, some of you might think, could it be the nature of the work and not just the hours? Yes and no. Except our "sister department" which is the other half of external reporting still gets a few internal transfers. We have none. That's very telling.
I will say this. Considering the hours we work, we're probably the rowdiest group. I mean for those of you that know me, this is a team that's lead by me. For those of you that worked with me, you know how I am. I might be tough on you but I'm pretty certain that I am up there when it comes to a "fun guy to work with." So, one of my positive feedback that I received was that despite the hours that my team is putting in, the team morale is very high. But I have to admit... I am starting to fade. I'm just getting tired of being worked like this. The team works hard but their experience level is not where it needs to be for the level of work we do and that also comes back to me in the sense that I have to put in additional hours to either cover for them or show them what's missing. Admittedly, with some of them who has 5+ years of experience, I am fairly frustrated but I think I am doing a surprisingly good job of hiding that (I generally wear my heart on my sleeve so usually, you would know how I am feeling).
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I just wanted to rant. Hopefully I'll start writing about poker more. Between my busted pinky and the work hours, I haven't had time to play basketball or poker... two things I love. My pinky will keep me away from bball for at least a month. Things are just not going good.
Fuckin shit. Maybe I need to go take those vicodin pills...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Close!
I had $5 left to clear going into tonight. I underestimated the points needed to clear the last $5. But, being the points whore that I am, I did clear it in time. But I cut it so close... the message did not appear until 5 minutes past the deadline.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
It's 3am I must be lonely
Last quarter, I ended up pulling an all nighter the day before our huge regulatory report was due because I was making some process changes as well. I thought I would never have to do that again and yet, as I sit here in the office at 3am, it is becoming very close to another all nighter (most likely, I will go home shortly for a quick nap). However, I did play in the 2x tourney from Pokerstars that started at 8:30. Unfortunately for me (but fortunate for corporate America), I busted out after playing only two hands... back to back...
*warning - bad beat alert*
pokerStars Game #19207487498: Tournament #95693532, Freeroll Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/29 - 21:01:36 (ET)
Table '95693532 120' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: bkoto3 (1375 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: bmoney2685 (495 in chips)
Seat 3: vincentkeize (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (1305 in chips)
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (2373 in chips)
Seat 7: bjarni86 (1245 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: R0GEREL (3722 in chips)
Seat 9: Euronerd (2300 in chips)
StrongBad101: posts small blind 25
Dirty Vizzer: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Kd Ad]
bigdawg2250: folds
bjarni86: folds
R0GEREL: raises 150 to 200
Euronerd: folds
bkoto3: folds
bmoney2685: calls 200
vincentkeize: folds
StrongBad101: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises 1105 to 1305 and is all-in
R0GEREL: folds
bmoney2685: calls 295 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (810) returned to Dirty Vizzer
*** FLOP *** [Js 3d 5c]
*** TURN *** [Js 3d 5c] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [Js 3d 5c 4s] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dirty Vizzer: shows [Kd Ad] (high card Ace)
bmoney2685: shows [td Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
bmoney2685 collected 1215 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1215 | Rake 0
Board [Js 3d 5c 4s 6c]
Seat 1: bkoto3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bmoney2685 showed [td Jh] and won (1215) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 3: vincentkeize (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (big blind) showed [Kd Ad] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: bjarni86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: R0GEREL folded before Flop
Seat 9: Euronerd folded before Flop (didn't bet)
pokerStars Game #19207504912: Tournament #95693532, Freeroll Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/29 - 21:02:20 (ET)
Table '95693532 120' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: bkoto3 (1375 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: bmoney2685 (1215 in chips)
Seat 3: vincentkeize (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (1290 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (810 in chips)
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (2373 in chips)
Seat 7: bjarni86 (1245 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: R0GEREL (3522 in chips)
Seat 9: Euronerd (2300 in chips)
Dirty Vizzer: posts small blind 25
bigdawg2250: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Ts Tc]
bjarni86: folds
bkoto3 has returned
R0GEREL: folds
Euronerd: raises 100 to 150
bkoto3: folds
bmoney2685: calls 150
vincentkeize: folds
StrongBad101: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises 660 to 810 and is all-in
bigdawg2250: folds
Euronerd: calls 660
bmoney2685: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 5c 9h]
*** TURN *** [Jc 5c 9h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [Jc 5c 9h 3h] [9s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dirty Vizzer: shows [Ts Tc] (two pair, Tens and Nines)
Euronerd: shows [4s Js] (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
Euronerd collected 1820 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1820 | Rake 0
Board [Jc 5c 9h 3h 9s]
Seat 1: bkoto3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bmoney2685 folded before Flop
Seat 3: vincentkeize folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (small blind) showed [Ts Tc] and lost with two pair, Tens and Nines
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: bjarni86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: R0GEREL folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Euronerd showed [4s Js] and won (1820) with two pair, Jacks and Nines
It's not so much the hands themselves that are bad beats as it is the fact that I only played two hands and I was done. Back to back hands even.
Fortunately for me, my nemesis seems to have busted out a few spots off the prize... (couldn't say money, since you win the status, not money).
Now some may say that I shouldn't be whining about bad beats in a freeroll. But the very nature of the tournament where you have to earn enough points to be in a freeroll no longer makes it a freeroll IMO. I had to play enough to achieve Gold status on poker stars while maintaining ironman on fulltilt... or even more important, clearing the $600 bonus which required me to average 400points per day for 30 days (as opposed to the 200pts for 25 days required to qualify for ironman). I am less than $5 from clearing the bonus so that should not be a problem. So, I consider that to be work enough that this tournament was not "free." So, all you haters, SUCK IT!
*warning - bad beat alert*
pokerStars Game #19207487498: Tournament #95693532, Freeroll Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/29 - 21:01:36 (ET)
Table '95693532 120' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: bkoto3 (1375 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: bmoney2685 (495 in chips)
Seat 3: vincentkeize (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (1305 in chips)
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (2373 in chips)
Seat 7: bjarni86 (1245 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: R0GEREL (3722 in chips)
Seat 9: Euronerd (2300 in chips)
StrongBad101: posts small blind 25
Dirty Vizzer: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Kd Ad]
bigdawg2250: folds
bjarni86: folds
R0GEREL: raises 150 to 200
Euronerd: folds
bkoto3: folds
bmoney2685: calls 200
vincentkeize: folds
StrongBad101: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises 1105 to 1305 and is all-in
R0GEREL: folds
bmoney2685: calls 295 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (810) returned to Dirty Vizzer
*** FLOP *** [Js 3d 5c]
*** TURN *** [Js 3d 5c] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [Js 3d 5c 4s] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dirty Vizzer: shows [Kd Ad] (high card Ace)
bmoney2685: shows [td Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
bmoney2685 collected 1215 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1215 | Rake 0
Board [Js 3d 5c 4s 6c]
Seat 1: bkoto3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bmoney2685 showed [td Jh] and won (1215) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 3: vincentkeize (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (big blind) showed [Kd Ad] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: bjarni86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: R0GEREL folded before Flop
Seat 9: Euronerd folded before Flop (didn't bet)
pokerStars Game #19207504912: Tournament #95693532, Freeroll Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/07/29 - 21:02:20 (ET)
Table '95693532 120' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: bkoto3 (1375 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: bmoney2685 (1215 in chips)
Seat 3: vincentkeize (1315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (1290 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (810 in chips)
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (2373 in chips)
Seat 7: bjarni86 (1245 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: R0GEREL (3522 in chips)
Seat 9: Euronerd (2300 in chips)
Dirty Vizzer: posts small blind 25
bigdawg2250: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dirty Vizzer [Ts Tc]
bjarni86: folds
bkoto3 has returned
R0GEREL: folds
Euronerd: raises 100 to 150
bkoto3: folds
bmoney2685: calls 150
vincentkeize: folds
StrongBad101: folds
Dirty Vizzer: raises 660 to 810 and is all-in
bigdawg2250: folds
Euronerd: calls 660
bmoney2685: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 5c 9h]
*** TURN *** [Jc 5c 9h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [Jc 5c 9h 3h] [9s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dirty Vizzer: shows [Ts Tc] (two pair, Tens and Nines)
Euronerd: shows [4s Js] (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
Euronerd collected 1820 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1820 | Rake 0
Board [Jc 5c 9h 3h 9s]
Seat 1: bkoto3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bmoney2685 folded before Flop
Seat 3: vincentkeize folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: StrongBad101 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Dirty Vizzer (small blind) showed [Ts Tc] and lost with two pair, Tens and Nines
Seat 6: bigdawg2250 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: bjarni86 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: R0GEREL folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Euronerd showed [4s Js] and won (1820) with two pair, Jacks and Nines
It's not so much the hands themselves that are bad beats as it is the fact that I only played two hands and I was done. Back to back hands even.
Fortunately for me, my nemesis seems to have busted out a few spots off the prize... (couldn't say money, since you win the status, not money).
Now some may say that I shouldn't be whining about bad beats in a freeroll. But the very nature of the tournament where you have to earn enough points to be in a freeroll no longer makes it a freeroll IMO. I had to play enough to achieve Gold status on poker stars while maintaining ironman on fulltilt... or even more important, clearing the $600 bonus which required me to average 400points per day for 30 days (as opposed to the 200pts for 25 days required to qualify for ironman). I am less than $5 from clearing the bonus so that should not be a problem. So, I consider that to be work enough that this tournament was not "free." So, all you haters, SUCK IT!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Pinky update
I feel like I've been talking a lot about my pinky and not much about poker... Work is uber busy and I have not left work before 9pm... wait, have I already mentioned that? Not much time to play poker after 12-13 hr work days...
Well, so be it. On Friday, I went to the doctor so he could take out the stitches. That was the first time I saw my post op pinky.
Just as a warning, the pic is kinda nasty...
you have been warned...
The pinky is still swollen so it looks pretty crooked but the x ray shows that it's back in place. Now, my operation was a joint fusion, which means they join the two bones with the pins. However, the doctor told me that since I left it that way for such a long time, my bones were so fragile that they put in 3 pins as opposed to the normal 2 pins that they use. You can see the pins clearly in this xray...
Here's the view from the side of the pinky. Here's the picture from the side.
I will not be able to use my pinky to play ball for another month or so but besides that, my left hand is now back in commission so I won't have any difficulty with my normal daily tasks (ie cooking, doing dishes, mowing the lawn, etc etc). Not that it mattered last week since I ordered in at work every night. Poor me. :)
BONUS update: I am approximately $30 away from clearing my $600 bonus. I saw that my nemesis has already cleared his... good thing I didn't have a prop bet going this time. Though for a guy who keeps claiming that I'm too busy, I did achieve Gold Star in PS and ironman in FTP... maybe my idea of "not getting to play too much" is different from most people...
Well, so be it. On Friday, I went to the doctor so he could take out the stitches. That was the first time I saw my post op pinky.
Just as a warning, the pic is kinda nasty...
you have been warned...
The pinky is still swollen so it looks pretty crooked but the x ray shows that it's back in place. Now, my operation was a joint fusion, which means they join the two bones with the pins. However, the doctor told me that since I left it that way for such a long time, my bones were so fragile that they put in 3 pins as opposed to the normal 2 pins that they use. You can see the pins clearly in this xray...
Here's the view from the side of the pinky. Here's the picture from the side.
I will not be able to use my pinky to play ball for another month or so but besides that, my left hand is now back in commission so I won't have any difficulty with my normal daily tasks (ie cooking, doing dishes, mowing the lawn, etc etc). Not that it mattered last week since I ordered in at work every night. Poor me. :)
BONUS update: I am approximately $30 away from clearing my $600 bonus. I saw that my nemesis has already cleared his... good thing I didn't have a prop bet going this time. Though for a guy who keeps claiming that I'm too busy, I did achieve Gold Star in PS and ironman in FTP... maybe my idea of "not getting to play too much" is different from most people...
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Typing is difficult...
"Operation Pinky" was a success. I get easily knocked out with anesthesia so Friday is kind of a blur but mainly just slept tons. Saturday, I was on vicodin most of the day so I was out for most of the day as well. However, I'm not one to like to stay hopped up on drugs for too long so by Sunday, I stopped taking pain pills. I still feel some pain but nothing too crazy... except typing is a bitch... It doesn't help that it's all bandaged up...
I have an appointment with the doctor this friday to get this all off and I will slowly make my way to recovery... ie damaging my body further by playing basketball.
Work has been busy as well and you know it's bad when the west coasters are leaving work before I am... And I have a "8 to 5" job (I can't recall the last time I only worked 40 hrs). However, these days, I've been strangely motivated so I guess that's a good thing.
At least my left pinky is not needed to play poker. I'm right on course to clear my $600 bonus on fulltilt and I should hit gold level on stars before this weekend so I can play in the gold level tournament instead of the silver level tournament for the 2x status. I have some interesting hands and thoughts that I want to post but I'll wait till my hand is more functional...
wow... for a guy claiming to have a bitched up hand, this post has gotten longer than expected...
Have a good week all!
I have an appointment with the doctor this friday to get this all off and I will slowly make my way to recovery... ie damaging my body further by playing basketball.
Work has been busy as well and you know it's bad when the west coasters are leaving work before I am... And I have a "8 to 5" job (I can't recall the last time I only worked 40 hrs). However, these days, I've been strangely motivated so I guess that's a good thing.
At least my left pinky is not needed to play poker. I'm right on course to clear my $600 bonus on fulltilt and I should hit gold level on stars before this weekend so I can play in the gold level tournament instead of the silver level tournament for the 2x status. I have some interesting hands and thoughts that I want to post but I'll wait till my hand is more functional...
wow... for a guy claiming to have a bitched up hand, this post has gotten longer than expected...
Have a good week all!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Blogger cash game
Last night, we had the blogger 1-2NL deep stack cash game which was a blast. For some unknown reason, I thought it was a prerequisite to sign up for the Mookie so I ended up with 6 tables (I was 4 tabling 2-4nl and couldn't close them down because they were extremely juicy, then mookie popped up, then the blogger cash game...). And believe me... my 15" monitor can't handle 6 tables... I have 4 of them set so they fit perfectly next to each other... the other two were basically hidden and I was counting on the thing to start flashing, letting me know it was my turn. Here are some of the hands that I played from the blogger cash. I would delete the chat to make it easier to follow but some of the chats are priceless...
This was like the 3rd or 4th hand in... I get dealt a pretty good hand...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253067894: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:17:39 ET - 2008/07/16
Maniac57 (Observer): multi-account this @!%%!
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($412.80)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($409.85)
Seat 3: cmitch ($412.15)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($390.75)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($447)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($400)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($390)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($397)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($398)
cmitch: Don - no AA vs KK hands today
RecessRampage: and f*cked up pinky
kurokitty has 5 seconds left to act
kurokitty posts the small blind of $1
smizmiatch posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [As Kd]
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84: ugly pinky
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
MiamiDon: especially if it's weak
Mike_Maloney folds
Maniac57 (Observer): no girl will want you even more now
Subzero_666: who is Pinky?
RecessRampage raises to $7 <--- from CO
twoblackaces folds
cmitch: or CK
MiamiDon: and no set under sets for you mitch
kurokitty has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch: :)
kurokitty raises to $23 <--- how dare he... asian cuttin asian
RecessRampage: me of course
smizmiatch has 15 seconds left to act
smizmiatch raises to $55 <--- he knows that kuro knows that my range is wider from the CO/button
Subzero_666: oc!
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $165 <--- I mean... I got the nuts right???
Subzero_666: action!!!!!!
cmitch: rutrow
kurokitty has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney: buncha monkeys
PirateLawyer (Observer): whee
kurokitty folds <--- good girl!
smizmiatch adds $42.20
smizmiatch folds <--- good girl!
Uncalled bet of $110 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($133)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $133 | Rake $0
Seat 1: smizmiatch (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: MiamiDon didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: cmitch didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: RecessRampage collected ($133), mucked
Seat 8: twoblackaces (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: kurokitty (small blind) folded before the Flop
This table was a lot of fun because of all the chatter too.
Bone_Daddy84: nah, i'm weak tight
Bone_Daddy84: just like everyone here
RecessRampage: weak tight? he's sitting to my right
Who's to my right? Seat 6 obviously...
I mean, see below... need I say more?
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253547340: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:52:48 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($413.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($529.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($523.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($400)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($497)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($380.45)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage: weak
cmitch posts the small blind of $1
Bone_Daddy84 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [9c 7c]
Subzero_666 has 15 seconds left to act
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney raises to $7 <--- UTG+1
RecessRampage raises to $24 <--- easy reraise. They're freakin soooooooted!!
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Mike_Maloney has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney folds
Uncalled bet of $17 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($17)
Then I got into this fun pot with Don.
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253348905: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:38:10 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($400)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($390.85)
Seat 3: cmitch ($532.20)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($417.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($374.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($514)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($478.60)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($394)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($810.90)
Bone_Daddy84 posts the small blind of $1
Subzero_666 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ac Jd]
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7
cmitch: :)
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon calls $7
cmitch folds
RecessRampage: one of my tables is about to break
Bone_Daddy84: i read this guys blog saying check raise oop was a good move <--- interesting...
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
*** FLOP *** [Td 8c Kd]
RecessRampage: mixed feelings...
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage bets $14 <--- standard cbet with gutterball
MiamiDon calls $14
*** TURN *** [Td 8c Kd] [2d]
RecessRampage checks
MiamiDon bets $26.95
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $96 <--- what was that about CR OOP???
Bone_Daddy84: waffles i'm done at 11
MiamiDon has 15 seconds left to act
Maniac57 (Observer): k
MiamiDon folds
Uncalled bet of $69.05 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($95.90)
I wish I could say something cool like I had a read on Don and made a play blah blah blah but in reality, I was feeling frisky, my thought was that it would be rare for Don to peel one more card with just a flush draw... figured it might be more like middle pair or a weaker king... like KJ, JT, T9... I figured I could rep a flush and if he calls, I obv give up on the river.
But I couldn't bully the whole table since these guys know that I like to get frisky (read: spewy)...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253479535: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:47:49 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($405.45)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($339.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($536.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($484.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($374.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($506.45)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($366)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage posts the small blind of $1
twoblackaces posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Td Qd]
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 raises to $7
Subzero_666 calls $7
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $30 <--- standard squeeze
twoblackaces folds
Bone_Daddy84 raises to $95 <--- he knows it's a standard squeeze
Subzero_666 folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
I honestly considered shoving here... I mean I know that BD knows that I would have a wide range to be squeezing there... but then my skirt got in the way...
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $65 returned to Bone_Daddy84
Bone_Daddy84 shows [4h 4c] a pair of Fours
Bone_Daddy84 wins the pot ($69)
But then again, talk about frisky...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253535242: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:51:55 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($420.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($337.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($536.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($523.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($326.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($476.45)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($387.45)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
MiamiDon posts the small blind of $1
cmitch posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ks Js]
cmitch: sorry mike
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7
twoblackaces calls $7
Mike_Maloney: As soon as that 7 hit, I knew it was all over
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch calls $7
cmitch: lol
MiamiDon folds
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch calls $5
Cmitch, TBA, and Gnome? Bunch of ballahs = bunch of rag cards probably
*** FLOP *** [Qs Qd Ac]
cmitch checks
RecessRampage bets $22
twoblackaces folds
smizmiatch folds
cmitch folds
Uncalled bet of $22 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($27.55)
EASY MONEY!!!
I did get pwned here by Gnome though...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253587332: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:55:43 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($413.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($528.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($519.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($388)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($513.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($389.55)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage posts the small blind of $1
twoblackaces posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ts Td]
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch raises to $7
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage calls $6
twoblackaces folds
*** FLOP *** [2s Ad 2d]
RecessRampage checks
smizmiatch checks
*** TURN *** [2s Ad 2d] [5d]
RecessRampage checks
smizmiatch bets $12
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $12 returned to smizmiatch
smizmiatch shows [4c 6c] a pair of Twos
smizmiatch wins the pot ($15.20)
I played this about as weak as possible... not sure what I had in mind... Hey, I never said I was perfect.
I got some back the very next hand though against TBA.
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253598922: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:56:34 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($421.90)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($528.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($519.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($388)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($506.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($387.55)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
twoblackaces posts the small blind of $1
kurokitty posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Qh Kh]
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
RecessRampage: I see
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7 <--- button
twoblackaces calls $6
kurokitty folds
*** FLOP *** [6s Qd Jd]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage bets $13
twoblackaces calls $13
*** TURN *** [6s Qd Jd] [9c]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage checks
I didn't care for the call on the flop. I thought about betting here in case he was on a flush draw but if he has a Q, there aren't too many hands I can beat. Plus, if I bet here and I get checkraised, it would make for an awkward spot so I decided to check behind. Since I had position, I figured controlling pot size was better even if that meant I gave up a free card... now that I write this out, it seems like a very flawed thought process... but I'm just telling you what I had in mind at the time... I should get points for honesty.
*** RIVER *** [6s Qd Jd 9c] [5s]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage bets $30
twoblackaces calls $30
Once it's checked to me, I'm fairly comfortable I have the best hand. In case he had a piece of the board, I felt compelled to throw out a value bet. He might think I am betting a missed flush draw, esp after the turn check on a draw heavy board.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RecessRampage shows [Qh Kh] a pair of Queens
twoblackaces mucks [Th Js] - a pair of Jacks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($99) with a pair of Queens
And then I think this was the last interesting hand that occurred. Props to Cmitch for folding the river...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253677391: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:02:25 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($401.90)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($348.50), is sitting out
Seat 3: cmitch ($524.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($557.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($400)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($555.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($400)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($794.90)
Subzero_666 posts the small blind of $1
Mike_Maloney posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [4s 4d]
RecessRampage raises to $7
Bone_Daddy84: brue you there?
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
cmitch raises to $24 <--- how dare he??? DYKWTFIA????
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 adds $1
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage calls $17
*** FLOP *** [Jc 4h 6s] <--- woot!
RecessRampage checks
Bone_Daddy84: someone ping brue, gotta run at end of orbit
cmitch checks <--- dirty
*** TURN *** [Jc 4h 6s] [Qd]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage bets $35
cmitch raises to $94
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
RecessRampage calls $59
This was a very close one. On one hand, I thought about reraising. Problem was, if I did, I felt like I would be majorly announcing that I have a monster. Since cmitch and I discuss a lot of hands, thought processes, etc, I just felt like if I'm coming over the top with a raise, he knows I have to have something real solid that would clearly beat one pair.
*** RIVER *** [Jc 4h 6s Qd] [Jd]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
RecessRampage bets $160
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch has requested TIME
cmitch: show?
cmitch folds
Uncalled bet of $160 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage shows [4s 4d] a full house, Fours full of Jacks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($236)
Incredible fold by cmitch, IMO. Normally, I wouldn't say that. But here, based on the betting sequence, there's no way he puts me on a boat. When I bet out on the river like that, I'm repping the J really hard. But I wanted to because I felt that cmitch would sniff that out and know that I am looking like I'm repping a J. It's quite possible that I have a hand like KT even though I wouldn't call a preflop reraise with KT. So, there were a lot of things in the hand that didn't make sense based on the sequence that cmitch probably felt it was either I had air or monster. Again, by me betting out trying to rep the J, I thought that would get cmitch to call thinking it's weird that I would rep a J like that. Damn, I thought I was gonna get paid...
So all in all, it was a lot of fun... of course, I also thought chislodc (BRACKCHIPS) who used to torment me at 2-4NL FR games would come and join... but then his blog partner (BRUECHIPS) told us where he was...
RecessRampage: where's chislodc
Fuel55 (Observer): chis is underground
mdemontecristo: he's sitting here at my place
RecessRampage: is this too low stakes for him?
Fuel55 (Observer): giving u a hand job?
mdemontecristo: lol
RecessRampage: lol
RecessRampage: fuel loves him some ghey jokes
mdemontecristo: no he is licking my balls
Yep, we're a classy bunch! It was a lot of fun and mucho thanks to Gnome for setting it up.
This was like the 3rd or 4th hand in... I get dealt a pretty good hand...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253067894: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:17:39 ET - 2008/07/16
Maniac57 (Observer): multi-account this @!%%!
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($412.80)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($409.85)
Seat 3: cmitch ($412.15)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($390.75)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($447)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($400)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($390)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($397)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($398)
cmitch: Don - no AA vs KK hands today
RecessRampage: and f*cked up pinky
kurokitty has 5 seconds left to act
kurokitty posts the small blind of $1
smizmiatch posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [As Kd]
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84: ugly pinky
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
MiamiDon: especially if it's weak
Mike_Maloney folds
Maniac57 (Observer): no girl will want you even more now
Subzero_666: who is Pinky?
RecessRampage raises to $7 <--- from CO
twoblackaces folds
cmitch: or CK
MiamiDon: and no set under sets for you mitch
kurokitty has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch: :)
kurokitty raises to $23 <--- how dare he... asian cuttin asian
RecessRampage: me of course
smizmiatch has 15 seconds left to act
smizmiatch raises to $55 <--- he knows that kuro knows that my range is wider from the CO/button
Subzero_666: oc!
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $165 <--- I mean... I got the nuts right???
Subzero_666: action!!!!!!
cmitch: rutrow
kurokitty has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney: buncha monkeys
PirateLawyer (Observer): whee
kurokitty folds <--- good girl!
smizmiatch adds $42.20
smizmiatch folds <--- good girl!
Uncalled bet of $110 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($133)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $133 | Rake $0
Seat 1: smizmiatch (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: MiamiDon didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: cmitch didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: RecessRampage collected ($133), mucked
Seat 8: twoblackaces (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: kurokitty (small blind) folded before the Flop
This table was a lot of fun because of all the chatter too.
Bone_Daddy84: nah, i'm weak tight
Bone_Daddy84: just like everyone here
RecessRampage: weak tight? he's sitting to my right
Who's to my right? Seat 6 obviously...
I mean, see below... need I say more?
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253547340: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:52:48 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($413.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($529.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($523.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($400)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($497)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($380.45)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage: weak
cmitch posts the small blind of $1
Bone_Daddy84 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [9c 7c]
Subzero_666 has 15 seconds left to act
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney raises to $7 <--- UTG+1
RecessRampage raises to $24 <--- easy reraise. They're freakin soooooooted!!
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Mike_Maloney has 15 seconds left to act
Mike_Maloney folds
Uncalled bet of $17 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($17)
Then I got into this fun pot with Don.
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253348905: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:38:10 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($400)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($390.85)
Seat 3: cmitch ($532.20)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($417.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($374.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($514)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($478.60)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($394)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($810.90)
Bone_Daddy84 posts the small blind of $1
Subzero_666 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ac Jd]
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7
cmitch: :)
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon calls $7
cmitch folds
RecessRampage: one of my tables is about to break
Bone_Daddy84: i read this guys blog saying check raise oop was a good move <--- interesting...
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
*** FLOP *** [Td 8c Kd]
RecessRampage: mixed feelings...
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage bets $14 <--- standard cbet with gutterball
MiamiDon calls $14
*** TURN *** [Td 8c Kd] [2d]
RecessRampage checks
MiamiDon bets $26.95
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $96 <--- what was that about CR OOP???
Bone_Daddy84: waffles i'm done at 11
MiamiDon has 15 seconds left to act
Maniac57 (Observer): k
MiamiDon folds
Uncalled bet of $69.05 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($95.90)
I wish I could say something cool like I had a read on Don and made a play blah blah blah but in reality, I was feeling frisky, my thought was that it would be rare for Don to peel one more card with just a flush draw... figured it might be more like middle pair or a weaker king... like KJ, JT, T9... I figured I could rep a flush and if he calls, I obv give up on the river.
But I couldn't bully the whole table since these guys know that I like to get frisky (read: spewy)...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253479535: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:47:49 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($405.45)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($339.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($536.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($484.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($374.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($506.45)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($366)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage posts the small blind of $1
twoblackaces posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Td Qd]
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 raises to $7
Subzero_666 calls $7
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $30 <--- standard squeeze
twoblackaces folds
Bone_Daddy84 raises to $95 <--- he knows it's a standard squeeze
Subzero_666 folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
I honestly considered shoving here... I mean I know that BD knows that I would have a wide range to be squeezing there... but then my skirt got in the way...
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $65 returned to Bone_Daddy84
Bone_Daddy84 shows [4h 4c] a pair of Fours
Bone_Daddy84 wins the pot ($69)
But then again, talk about frisky...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253535242: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:51:55 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($420.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($337.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($536.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($523.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($326.85)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($506)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($476.45)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($387.45)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
MiamiDon posts the small blind of $1
cmitch posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ks Js]
cmitch: sorry mike
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7
twoblackaces calls $7
Mike_Maloney: As soon as that 7 hit, I knew it was all over
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch calls $7
cmitch: lol
MiamiDon folds
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch calls $5
Cmitch, TBA, and Gnome? Bunch of ballahs = bunch of rag cards probably
*** FLOP *** [Qs Qd Ac]
cmitch checks
RecessRampage bets $22
twoblackaces folds
smizmiatch folds
cmitch folds
Uncalled bet of $22 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage mucks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($27.55)
EASY MONEY!!!
I did get pwned here by Gnome though...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253587332: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:55:43 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($413.70)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($528.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($519.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($388)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($513.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($389.55)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
RecessRampage posts the small blind of $1
twoblackaces posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ts Td]
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch raises to $7
MiamiDon folds
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage calls $6
twoblackaces folds
*** FLOP *** [2s Ad 2d]
RecessRampage checks
smizmiatch checks
*** TURN *** [2s Ad 2d] [5d]
RecessRampage checks
smizmiatch bets $12
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $12 returned to smizmiatch
smizmiatch shows [4c 6c] a pair of Twos
smizmiatch wins the pot ($15.20)
I played this about as weak as possible... not sure what I had in mind... Hey, I never said I was perfect.
I got some back the very next hand though against TBA.
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253598922: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:56:34 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($421.90)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($336.90)
Seat 3: cmitch ($528.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($519.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($388)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($506.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($387.55)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($797.90)
twoblackaces posts the small blind of $1
kurokitty posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Qh Kh]
smizmiatch folds
MiamiDon folds
RecessRampage: I see
cmitch folds
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage raises to $7 <--- button
twoblackaces calls $6
kurokitty folds
*** FLOP *** [6s Qd Jd]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage bets $13
twoblackaces calls $13
*** TURN *** [6s Qd Jd] [9c]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage checks
I didn't care for the call on the flop. I thought about betting here in case he was on a flush draw but if he has a Q, there aren't too many hands I can beat. Plus, if I bet here and I get checkraised, it would make for an awkward spot so I decided to check behind. Since I had position, I figured controlling pot size was better even if that meant I gave up a free card... now that I write this out, it seems like a very flawed thought process... but I'm just telling you what I had in mind at the time... I should get points for honesty.
*** RIVER *** [6s Qd Jd 9c] [5s]
twoblackaces checks
RecessRampage bets $30
twoblackaces calls $30
Once it's checked to me, I'm fairly comfortable I have the best hand. In case he had a piece of the board, I felt compelled to throw out a value bet. He might think I am betting a missed flush draw, esp after the turn check on a draw heavy board.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RecessRampage shows [Qh Kh] a pair of Queens
twoblackaces mucks [Th Js] - a pair of Jacks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($99) with a pair of Queens
And then I think this was the last interesting hand that occurred. Props to Cmitch for folding the river...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7253677391: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:02:25 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: smizmiatch ($401.90)
Seat 2: MiamiDon ($348.50), is sitting out
Seat 3: cmitch ($524.55)
Seat 4: Bone_Daddy84 ($557.95)
Seat 5: Subzero_666 ($400)
Seat 6: Mike_Maloney ($496)
Seat 7: RecessRampage ($555.20)
Seat 8: twoblackaces ($400)
Seat 9: kurokitty ($794.90)
Subzero_666 posts the small blind of $1
Mike_Maloney posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [4s 4d]
RecessRampage raises to $7
Bone_Daddy84: brue you there?
twoblackaces folds
kurokitty folds
smizmiatch folds
cmitch raises to $24 <--- how dare he??? DYKWTFIA????
Bone_Daddy84 folds
Subzero_666 adds $1
Subzero_666 folds
Mike_Maloney folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage calls $17
*** FLOP *** [Jc 4h 6s] <--- woot!
RecessRampage checks
Bone_Daddy84: someone ping brue, gotta run at end of orbit
cmitch checks <--- dirty
*** TURN *** [Jc 4h 6s] [Qd]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage bets $35
cmitch raises to $94
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
RecessRampage calls $59
This was a very close one. On one hand, I thought about reraising. Problem was, if I did, I felt like I would be majorly announcing that I have a monster. Since cmitch and I discuss a lot of hands, thought processes, etc, I just felt like if I'm coming over the top with a raise, he knows I have to have something real solid that would clearly beat one pair.
*** RIVER *** [Jc 4h 6s Qd] [Jd]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
RecessRampage bets $160
cmitch has 15 seconds left to act
cmitch has requested TIME
cmitch: show?
cmitch folds
Uncalled bet of $160 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage shows [4s 4d] a full house, Fours full of Jacks
RecessRampage wins the pot ($236)
Incredible fold by cmitch, IMO. Normally, I wouldn't say that. But here, based on the betting sequence, there's no way he puts me on a boat. When I bet out on the river like that, I'm repping the J really hard. But I wanted to because I felt that cmitch would sniff that out and know that I am looking like I'm repping a J. It's quite possible that I have a hand like KT even though I wouldn't call a preflop reraise with KT. So, there were a lot of things in the hand that didn't make sense based on the sequence that cmitch probably felt it was either I had air or monster. Again, by me betting out trying to rep the J, I thought that would get cmitch to call thinking it's weird that I would rep a J like that. Damn, I thought I was gonna get paid...
So all in all, it was a lot of fun... of course, I also thought chislodc (BRACKCHIPS) who used to torment me at 2-4NL FR games would come and join... but then his blog partner (BRUECHIPS) told us where he was...
RecessRampage: where's chislodc
Fuel55 (Observer): chis is underground
mdemontecristo: he's sitting here at my place
RecessRampage: is this too low stakes for him?
Fuel55 (Observer): giving u a hand job?
mdemontecristo: lol
RecessRampage: lol
RecessRampage: fuel loves him some ghey jokes
mdemontecristo: no he is licking my balls
Yep, we're a classy bunch! It was a lot of fun and mucho thanks to Gnome for setting it up.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Midyear Bonus
I'm stealing this idea from Bayne. I echo his sentiment of being glad that we don't have another points challenge like we did in January. I just don't have the time to devote to poker now between work and my increased social life. Having said that, I have no intention of missing out on my bonus so I have been playing some...
Looking at the calendar, only thing that sucked was that July 3rd, I only had 407pts... Having 400+ points and not hitting 500 for the 2 bonus medals sucks... if you're some sort of a points/medals degenerate.
At least half way through the month (well, sort of... July has 31 days), I am almost half way through my bonus... right on pace.
Unfortunately, I noticed that my lack of concentration on poker is clearly showing at the tables... as of right now, in July, I am up a whopping total of $158... pretty terrible...
Looking at the calendar, only thing that sucked was that July 3rd, I only had 407pts... Having 400+ points and not hitting 500 for the 2 bonus medals sucks... if you're some sort of a points/medals degenerate.
At least half way through the month (well, sort of... July has 31 days), I am almost half way through my bonus... right on pace.
Unfortunately, I noticed that my lack of concentration on poker is clearly showing at the tables... as of right now, in July, I am up a whopping total of $158... pretty terrible...
Monday, July 14, 2008
Busy busy!
With quarter end reporting in full effect, I really don't have too much time to blog. I'm fairly behind on reading blogs and the content of my blog will be fairly limited unless something significant happens. Last night, I played in a few tourneys... the 50k on Stars (which actually was a 100k due to the 2x promotion they got going) and the 50k on Fulltilt, DDA and DDB. I was doing well in the two Daily Doubles until I got bad beated out of B... I will spare you with the details. In the end, I only cashed in the 50k on Fulltilt and DDA for a combined total of $116. For a combined loss $18... for close to 4 hrs of work... so sad...
I feel obligated to post a hand so here's a fun one... that almost put me on tilt...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7208986901: Table Trails End (6 max) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:22:34 ET - 2008/07/13
Seat 1: tke815 ($257.40)
Seat 2: NDRudy46 ($1,224.50)
Seat 3: OOOOBlubbOOOO ($446.80)
Seat 4: glamma ($200)
Seat 5: RecessRampage ($487.50)
Seat 6: BigBadDevil ($431.60)
NDRudy46 posts the small blind of $2
OOOOBlubbOOOO posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [As Ac]
RecessRampage raises to $14
BigBadDevil has 15 seconds left to act
BigBadDevil folds
tke815 folds
NDRudy46 raises to $46
OOOOBlubbOOOO folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $142
NDRudy46 has 15 seconds left to act
NDRudy46 raises to $1,224.50, and is all in
RecessRampage calls $345.50, and is all in
NDRudy46 shows [Js Jd] <--- Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
RecessRampage shows [As Ac]
Uncalled bet of $737 returned to NDRudy46
*** FLOP *** [6c 9c Kh]
*** TURN *** [6c 9c Kh] [Jc] <--- motherf*cker!!!!!!
*** RIVER *** [6c 9c Kh Jc] [Ad]
NDRudy46 shows three of a kind, Jacks
RecessRampage shows three of a kind, Aces
RecessRampage wins the pot ($976) with three of a kind, Aces
I feel obligated to post a hand so here's a fun one... that almost put me on tilt...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7208986901: Table Trails End (6 max) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:22:34 ET - 2008/07/13
Seat 1: tke815 ($257.40)
Seat 2: NDRudy46 ($1,224.50)
Seat 3: OOOOBlubbOOOO ($446.80)
Seat 4: glamma ($200)
Seat 5: RecessRampage ($487.50)
Seat 6: BigBadDevil ($431.60)
NDRudy46 posts the small blind of $2
OOOOBlubbOOOO posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [As Ac]
RecessRampage raises to $14
BigBadDevil has 15 seconds left to act
BigBadDevil folds
tke815 folds
NDRudy46 raises to $46
OOOOBlubbOOOO folds
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $142
NDRudy46 has 15 seconds left to act
NDRudy46 raises to $1,224.50, and is all in
RecessRampage calls $345.50, and is all in
NDRudy46 shows [Js Jd] <--- Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
RecessRampage shows [As Ac]
Uncalled bet of $737 returned to NDRudy46
*** FLOP *** [6c 9c Kh]
*** TURN *** [6c 9c Kh] [Jc] <--- motherf*cker!!!!!!
*** RIVER *** [6c 9c Kh Jc] [Ad]
NDRudy46 shows three of a kind, Jacks
RecessRampage shows three of a kind, Aces
RecessRampage wins the pot ($976) with three of a kind, Aces
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Back to regular programming (ie poker content) and quick clarification
Quick clarification in regards to my previous post about the mortgage rant. I am in no way defending the idiot mortgage companies that did what they did in dishing out loans that every reasonable person could have seen as a bad idea. Nor does that mean that I am calling any of the mortgage brokers or people who work for the mortgage companies idiots either (so Jamyhawk, if you are reading this, please relax). Everyone to an extent were blinded by the crazy growth at the time. The loan officers were generally pushing loans because, well, that's how they make money. The loan companies probably offered incentives where if you sold/closed x amount of loans, you get paid x amount extra. So, they're just doing their jobs. I have no pity for the executives of the companies though that made those decisions who are now going under because like some of you pointed out, you HAD TO KNOW that that was coming. But it didn't matter. It was close now and worry about it later mentality and they're paying the price for it. The rant earlier was based on the article I read and it was not trying to point the blame on any one party because pretty much everyone is in this. But like Willwonka said, where's the reward for people who are being prudent and careful and saving (ie, losing tons of money in the stock market)? I mean... I don't even like to look at my portfolio right now cuz it's so depressing... and I'm well diversified too. Still doesn't help when everything is going down (one or two sectors going up like energy and emerging markets are not offsetting the losses I'm experiencing in other industries).
Ok, now on to poker.
Last night, I played the Mookie for the first time since the BBT3. Tuning into BDR where everyone there were slooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly getting drunk (drinking soco at a snail's pace... I mean come on) made me really wish I was down in Okie Vegas. :) (I jest, of course. After listening to Buddy rap on the karaoke machine, I had to reluctantly go to bed - and thanks for the call IT!) Unfortunately, it was not to be but it sounded like they were having a blast. I'm expecting some dial-a-shots tonight. I'll come through this time.
As for the Mookie itself, I didn't do too well. This was my pretty much bust out hand that I am still kicking myself for not folding because it was such an obvious hand...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7158775480: The Mookie (53696736), Table 1 - 300/600 Ante 75 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:29:03 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: Obie315 (43,903)
Seat 2: HighOnPoker (16,420)
Seat 3: muhctim (9,635)
Seat 4: DrewFours (15,743)
Seat 5: Numbette (6,750)
Seat 6: bdidde (32,780)
Seat 7: PinkyStinky (18,374)
Seat 8: RecessRampage (18,395)
Obie315 antes 75
HighOnPoker antes 75
muhctim antes 75
DrewFours antes 75
Numbette antes 75
bdidde antes 75
PinkyStinky antes 75
RecessRampage antes 75
muhctim posts the small blind of 300
DrewFours posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ac As]
Numbette folds
bdidde folds
PinkyStinky folds
RecessRampage raises to 1,800
Obie315 folds
HighOnPoker calls 1,800
muhctim folds
DrewFours calls 1,200
*** FLOP *** [7d 5c 6s]
DrewFours checks
RecessRampage bets 4,500
HighOnPoker calls 4,500
DrewFours folds
This board sucks for AA. When Jordan called, I knew he had a pretty big hand or a big draw. And I'm not trying to sound cocky about it. Not many hands would smooth call here in this situation so his hands were fairly limited. My initial thought was he either has a set, possibly a straight/two pair, or 88 for an overpair and an OESD. But I have to think with 88, he would raise here. The smooth call scared the shit out of me... nonetheless, Jordan gets paid off... he's lucky I'm such a donk.
*** TURN *** [7d 5c 6s] [2s]
RecessRampage checks
HighOnPoker has 15 seconds left to act
HighOnPoker bets 6,600
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
HighOnPoker: you got a lotta time in that time bank
RecessRampage: I'm not good enough to fold this <--- but my mouse was hovering over "fold"
HighOnPoker: then dont
PirateLawyer (Observer): shoooooove?
RecessRampage: ah hell
RecessRampage raises to 12,020, and is all in
HighOnPoker calls 3,445, and is all in
RecessRampage shows [Ac As]
HighOnPoker shows [5h 5d]
Uncalled bet of 1,975 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage: nh
This is gonna sound lame but PL making the comment there actually made me think, ah hell. I hate placing the blame there but I kinda wish I had the observer chat off because I am fairly certain I was so close to folding and then when he said shove, I was like, yeah, what the hell, it's only the mookie. Still, it pisses me off that I know I'm good enough to make the laydown and I didn't (and this part is DEFINITELY NOT ON PL). Well, which means I'm NOT good enough to make the laydown. I fuckin suck. Obviously.
*** RIVER *** [7d 5c 6s 2s] [8h]
RecessRampage shows a pair of Aces
HighOnPoker shows three of a kind, Fives
HighOnPoker wins the pot (35,390) with three of a kind, Fives
RecessRampage: so obv <--- well said
I know a lot of MTTers might say that's just a cooler but I disagree. I sniffed it out but I wasn't good enough to listen to my instincts. I mean I am nit after all. See below:
Full Tilt Poker Game : Table Rosy (deep 6) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:42:41 ET - 2008/07/09
Seat 1: Rocker855 ($237.30), is sitting out
Seat 2: sicklol ($1,507)
Seat 3: SaxManMike ($400)
Seat 4: OhYesTGPFA ($1,253)
Seat 5: RecessRampage ($975.10) <--- SB
Seat 6: passtheganja ($1,098.90) <--- BB
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Jh As]
sicklol folds
SaxManMike folds
OhYesTGPFA folds
RecessRampage raises to $12
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja raises to $36.60
RecessRampage calls $24.60
In a deep stack game, I really don't like to 4 bet with a marginal hand like AJ even in a blind v blind battle. Maybe I should. I don't know. Thoughts?
*** FLOP *** [Js 9s 4d]
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja bets $38.90
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $155
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja calls $116.10
I was quite surprised with this call. I thought for sure the hand would end right here.
*** TURN *** [Js 9s 4d] [8s]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja bets $127.50
RecessRampage calls $127.50
I didn't know what to make of this bet but I started getting a bad feeling about it. I have top pair and a nut flush draw but being so deep, I am not sure this is an area that I want to really ship it in. And if you thought, you could check raise again, it's the same as shoving since I'll essentially be committing myself.
*** RIVER *** [Js 9s 4d 8s] [Jc] <--- talk about a set up card
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja bets $779.80, and is all in
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $779.80 returned to passtheganja
passtheganja mucks
passtheganja wins the pot ($635.20)
I am fairly certain this is a good fold. There's not a single hand where I can think of where this guy ships it in on the river that I have beat. I think a lot of people will call here and the guy will show a boat and they'll call it a set up or something but I disagree. In a deep stack game, I think pot control is important. If the villain is doing that with a lesser J, that's extremely spewy in my opinion and he just didn't seem like the type. This was an air or monster situation and the overbet made me feel like it was a OBFV instead of a bluff. Anyone see this differently (I'm sure there are plenty)?
Thoughts?
Ok, now on to poker.
Last night, I played the Mookie for the first time since the BBT3. Tuning into BDR where everyone there were slooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly getting drunk (drinking soco at a snail's pace... I mean come on) made me really wish I was down in Okie Vegas. :) (I jest, of course. After listening to Buddy rap on the karaoke machine, I had to reluctantly go to bed - and thanks for the call IT!) Unfortunately, it was not to be but it sounded like they were having a blast. I'm expecting some dial-a-shots tonight. I'll come through this time.
As for the Mookie itself, I didn't do too well. This was my pretty much bust out hand that I am still kicking myself for not folding because it was such an obvious hand...
Full Tilt Poker Game #7158775480: The Mookie (53696736), Table 1 - 300/600 Ante 75 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:29:03 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: Obie315 (43,903)
Seat 2: HighOnPoker (16,420)
Seat 3: muhctim (9,635)
Seat 4: DrewFours (15,743)
Seat 5: Numbette (6,750)
Seat 6: bdidde (32,780)
Seat 7: PinkyStinky (18,374)
Seat 8: RecessRampage (18,395)
Obie315 antes 75
HighOnPoker antes 75
muhctim antes 75
DrewFours antes 75
Numbette antes 75
bdidde antes 75
PinkyStinky antes 75
RecessRampage antes 75
muhctim posts the small blind of 300
DrewFours posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Ac As]
Numbette folds
bdidde folds
PinkyStinky folds
RecessRampage raises to 1,800
Obie315 folds
HighOnPoker calls 1,800
muhctim folds
DrewFours calls 1,200
*** FLOP *** [7d 5c 6s]
DrewFours checks
RecessRampage bets 4,500
HighOnPoker calls 4,500
DrewFours folds
This board sucks for AA. When Jordan called, I knew he had a pretty big hand or a big draw. And I'm not trying to sound cocky about it. Not many hands would smooth call here in this situation so his hands were fairly limited. My initial thought was he either has a set, possibly a straight/two pair, or 88 for an overpair and an OESD. But I have to think with 88, he would raise here. The smooth call scared the shit out of me... nonetheless, Jordan gets paid off... he's lucky I'm such a donk.
*** TURN *** [7d 5c 6s] [2s]
RecessRampage checks
HighOnPoker has 15 seconds left to act
HighOnPoker bets 6,600
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage has requested TIME
HighOnPoker: you got a lotta time in that time bank
RecessRampage: I'm not good enough to fold this <--- but my mouse was hovering over "fold"
HighOnPoker: then dont
PirateLawyer (Observer): shoooooove?
RecessRampage: ah hell
RecessRampage raises to 12,020, and is all in
HighOnPoker calls 3,445, and is all in
RecessRampage shows [Ac As]
HighOnPoker shows [5h 5d]
Uncalled bet of 1,975 returned to RecessRampage
RecessRampage: nh
This is gonna sound lame but PL making the comment there actually made me think, ah hell. I hate placing the blame there but I kinda wish I had the observer chat off because I am fairly certain I was so close to folding and then when he said shove, I was like, yeah, what the hell, it's only the mookie. Still, it pisses me off that I know I'm good enough to make the laydown and I didn't (and this part is DEFINITELY NOT ON PL). Well, which means I'm NOT good enough to make the laydown. I fuckin suck. Obviously.
*** RIVER *** [7d 5c 6s 2s] [8h]
RecessRampage shows a pair of Aces
HighOnPoker shows three of a kind, Fives
HighOnPoker wins the pot (35,390) with three of a kind, Fives
RecessRampage: so obv <--- well said
I know a lot of MTTers might say that's just a cooler but I disagree. I sniffed it out but I wasn't good enough to listen to my instincts. I mean I am nit after all. See below:
Full Tilt Poker Game : Table Rosy (deep 6) - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:42:41 ET - 2008/07/09
Seat 1: Rocker855 ($237.30), is sitting out
Seat 2: sicklol ($1,507)
Seat 3: SaxManMike ($400)
Seat 4: OhYesTGPFA ($1,253)
Seat 5: RecessRampage ($975.10) <--- SB
Seat 6: passtheganja ($1,098.90) <--- BB
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RecessRampage [Jh As]
sicklol folds
SaxManMike folds
OhYesTGPFA folds
RecessRampage raises to $12
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja raises to $36.60
RecessRampage calls $24.60
In a deep stack game, I really don't like to 4 bet with a marginal hand like AJ even in a blind v blind battle. Maybe I should. I don't know. Thoughts?
*** FLOP *** [Js 9s 4d]
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja bets $38.90
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage raises to $155
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja calls $116.10
I was quite surprised with this call. I thought for sure the hand would end right here.
*** TURN *** [Js 9s 4d] [8s]
RecessRampage has 15 seconds left to act
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja bets $127.50
RecessRampage calls $127.50
I didn't know what to make of this bet but I started getting a bad feeling about it. I have top pair and a nut flush draw but being so deep, I am not sure this is an area that I want to really ship it in. And if you thought, you could check raise again, it's the same as shoving since I'll essentially be committing myself.
*** RIVER *** [Js 9s 4d 8s] [Jc] <--- talk about a set up card
RecessRampage checks
passtheganja has 15 seconds left to act
passtheganja has requested TIME
passtheganja bets $779.80, and is all in
RecessRampage folds
Uncalled bet of $779.80 returned to passtheganja
passtheganja mucks
passtheganja wins the pot ($635.20)
I am fairly certain this is a good fold. There's not a single hand where I can think of where this guy ships it in on the river that I have beat. I think a lot of people will call here and the guy will show a boat and they'll call it a set up or something but I disagree. In a deep stack game, I think pot control is important. If the villain is doing that with a lesser J, that's extremely spewy in my opinion and he just didn't seem like the type. This was an air or monster situation and the overbet made me feel like it was a OBFV instead of a bluff. Anyone see this differently (I'm sure there are plenty)?
Thoughts?
Housing/Mortgage Rant
*Warning* The following is an extremely opinionated post coming against people who borrowed too much money for a house they couldn't afford. If you are one of them, you might not want to read since it might piss you off.
You have been warned.
I am gonna pull an Astin and probably have multiple postings today. But as I was reading some articles online, I saw shit like this that really pisses me off. Go read about this woman who loses her home. This article makes it seem like it was the big bad mortgage company qualifying her for a loan she never shoulda gotten, ultimately leading to her demise.
The basic idea behind this article was that she saved up to eventually purchase a house in New York and was able to put together a $4,100 monthly mortgage. When it bumped up to $4,400 based on the terms of the loan that SHE SIGNED (a whopping three hundred fuckin dollars), she could no longer afford it so her and her whole family walked out. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww poor old lady. (I'm sorry, are you sensing my sarcasm here?)
And the government is talking about bailing out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae because they have all these mortgage portfolios where the collateral is no longer worth the loan and people like the above article can't afford payments? I mean jesus fuckin christ. Here, take more of my tax money. Go help the irresponsible, stupid, nonthinking idiots who decided to buy something they couldn't afford and now the responsible, hard working individuals have to help pay to bail them out? Such a load of bullshit.
The article makes it seem like we're supposed to feel sorry for this clown who now can't live with her whole family. Well, maybe she never shoulda bought a house like that in NY. I mean... it is New York... one of the most expensive cities in the country. The article goes on to talk about how the people who "loses" their home usually have no place to go. Well, maybe they shoulda thought of that when they bought the house.
Now don't get me wrong. It's one thing if certain extenuating circumstances causes you to not be able to meet the income requirements that you took for granted. Injury, death of the bread winner, job layoff, etc etc. There are things that, though one can argue you should be prepared for, I think are extraordinary enough that being bailed out is not a bad thing. But when you still have your job intact but your payment increases because, I mean, that is the term of the loan that you signed, well, you have no pity from me. I work hard for my money, I save and am careful with my finances (though my "careful" these days means losing money in the stock market) and so I have zero pity for those that are careless, got in way over their heads, and now are walking away from their debts.
And then I see an article about how retail stores are benefiting from the new "tax rebate" check that the GREAT AWESOME PRESIDENT (who thank god will be gone in a few more months) sent to everyone... maybe THAT's the problem. You get a $600 check (or whatever it is... I don't know cuz I didn't get it) and all of a sudden, you run to walmart or target and spend it? Jesus. Some people never learn.
You have been warned.
I am gonna pull an Astin and probably have multiple postings today. But as I was reading some articles online, I saw shit like this that really pisses me off. Go read about this woman who loses her home. This article makes it seem like it was the big bad mortgage company qualifying her for a loan she never shoulda gotten, ultimately leading to her demise.
The basic idea behind this article was that she saved up to eventually purchase a house in New York and was able to put together a $4,100 monthly mortgage. When it bumped up to $4,400 based on the terms of the loan that SHE SIGNED (a whopping three hundred fuckin dollars), she could no longer afford it so her and her whole family walked out. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww poor old lady. (I'm sorry, are you sensing my sarcasm here?)
And the government is talking about bailing out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae because they have all these mortgage portfolios where the collateral is no longer worth the loan and people like the above article can't afford payments? I mean jesus fuckin christ. Here, take more of my tax money. Go help the irresponsible, stupid, nonthinking idiots who decided to buy something they couldn't afford and now the responsible, hard working individuals have to help pay to bail them out? Such a load of bullshit.
The article makes it seem like we're supposed to feel sorry for this clown who now can't live with her whole family. Well, maybe she never shoulda bought a house like that in NY. I mean... it is New York... one of the most expensive cities in the country. The article goes on to talk about how the people who "loses" their home usually have no place to go. Well, maybe they shoulda thought of that when they bought the house.
Now don't get me wrong. It's one thing if certain extenuating circumstances causes you to not be able to meet the income requirements that you took for granted. Injury, death of the bread winner, job layoff, etc etc. There are things that, though one can argue you should be prepared for, I think are extraordinary enough that being bailed out is not a bad thing. But when you still have your job intact but your payment increases because, I mean, that is the term of the loan that you signed, well, you have no pity from me. I work hard for my money, I save and am careful with my finances (though my "careful" these days means losing money in the stock market) and so I have zero pity for those that are careless, got in way over their heads, and now are walking away from their debts.
And then I see an article about how retail stores are benefiting from the new "tax rebate" check that the GREAT AWESOME PRESIDENT (who thank god will be gone in a few more months) sent to everyone... maybe THAT's the problem. You get a $600 check (or whatever it is... I don't know cuz I didn't get it) and all of a sudden, you run to walmart or target and spend it? Jesus. Some people never learn.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dead Pinky (nonpoker)
So many nonpoker posts these days (or so I feel like). For those looking for strategy content, sorry.
So for a lot of my friends who know me, it's no surprise that I have this really fucked up finger. My pinky (on both hands actually) are pretty deformed... And it's mainly from playing basketball. I don't even remember the first time I dislocated my pinky, only for me to pull it and pop it right back in. It hurts but not like unbelievably so or anything (certainly not like the pain I experienced when I tore my ACL... that was the worst). Well, over the course of the years, I would jam my finger or dislocate it and it would stay swollen but I never learn my lesson. I would go back out there and start playing hoops again with my fucked up finger and all. Well, sometime last year, I jammed my pinky on my left hand side again pretty bad and it remained swollen. Once the swelling went away, it was totally unstable. It would lock up on me sometimes when I'm typing and stuff so it was obvious that there was something wrong. Nonetheless, I did nothing about it... until I finally went to the doctor last week to get it checked out. The reason? I had a hard time bending it now... and by hard time, I mean I couldn't bend it at will without "helping" it. In other words, if I straighten my left pinky, it would stay locked that way until I would bend it with my other hand. I figured, maybe now, I should get it checked out so I went to the doctor who immediately referred me to a "hand specialist" (he just referred me to an orthopaedic).
Yesterday was my appointment and when they took the xray of my left hand, sure enough, the bone from the second joint was completely dislocated from the joint. I couldn't save the xray photo so instead, I decided to take a picture of my left hand and show you what it looks like when I try to straighten all my fingers.
That's what it looks like when I straighten all my fingers. Compare it to yours and you can see how out of whack it is.
So, anyways, the doctor explained to me that I had two choices. I could either have a joint replacement surgery or I could get a bone fusion. After a conversation about how I jammed/dislocated my finger and how I continued to not only do nothing about it but keep playing ball, he explained to me that he would recommend bone fusion.
"You're young and you're active, right?"
"Well, I did just play basketball this morning also with this messed up finger."
"Right, because you're young and you're active. I recommend the bone fusion. If we do the joint replacement, after excessive use, there's a good chance that the ball and socket would wear out and lead to another surgery. Considering how active you are, it's very likely that you will need to have another surgery. With the bone fusion, we will basically get rid of the joint and fuse the bones together at a slight angle so your other two joints on your pinky would work fine but the middle joint will be at a slight bend forever. For athletes, that's what I always recommend."
"Sounds good to me. So how soon can I play ball after this surgery?"
That was literally the conversation that we had. The doctor's words may not be word for word but it's pretty damn close. He told me that I will be out of commission for about a week to 10 days but after that, I can go back to shooting around. For competitive basketball, he recommended that I stay away for about a month. Considering I don't play for an NBA team nor for any league at this point, I figured a month hiatus won't be such a bad thing. I can still lift and run so it might even be a good time for some "offseason workouts."
The surgery is an outpatient surgery and is tentatively scheduled for next Friday but I am debating if I should push it back because of work... and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament at the end of this month... possibly my addiction for basketball is greater than poker... possibly...
Oh, and when he asked me why I didn't come to get it checked out sooner?
"I didn't want to be THAT GUY that goes to the doctor for every little jammed finger or a scratch or some minor aches and pains. I mean I figured it's a jammed pinky, no big deal." (so what if it hadn't healed in years)
"You're just a typical young, active guy."
"If by young, you mean stupid, then yes, I am THAT GUY."
So for a lot of my friends who know me, it's no surprise that I have this really fucked up finger. My pinky (on both hands actually) are pretty deformed... And it's mainly from playing basketball. I don't even remember the first time I dislocated my pinky, only for me to pull it and pop it right back in. It hurts but not like unbelievably so or anything (certainly not like the pain I experienced when I tore my ACL... that was the worst). Well, over the course of the years, I would jam my finger or dislocate it and it would stay swollen but I never learn my lesson. I would go back out there and start playing hoops again with my fucked up finger and all. Well, sometime last year, I jammed my pinky on my left hand side again pretty bad and it remained swollen. Once the swelling went away, it was totally unstable. It would lock up on me sometimes when I'm typing and stuff so it was obvious that there was something wrong. Nonetheless, I did nothing about it... until I finally went to the doctor last week to get it checked out. The reason? I had a hard time bending it now... and by hard time, I mean I couldn't bend it at will without "helping" it. In other words, if I straighten my left pinky, it would stay locked that way until I would bend it with my other hand. I figured, maybe now, I should get it checked out so I went to the doctor who immediately referred me to a "hand specialist" (he just referred me to an orthopaedic).
Yesterday was my appointment and when they took the xray of my left hand, sure enough, the bone from the second joint was completely dislocated from the joint. I couldn't save the xray photo so instead, I decided to take a picture of my left hand and show you what it looks like when I try to straighten all my fingers.
That's what it looks like when I straighten all my fingers. Compare it to yours and you can see how out of whack it is.
So, anyways, the doctor explained to me that I had two choices. I could either have a joint replacement surgery or I could get a bone fusion. After a conversation about how I jammed/dislocated my finger and how I continued to not only do nothing about it but keep playing ball, he explained to me that he would recommend bone fusion.
"You're young and you're active, right?"
"Well, I did just play basketball this morning also with this messed up finger."
"Right, because you're young and you're active. I recommend the bone fusion. If we do the joint replacement, after excessive use, there's a good chance that the ball and socket would wear out and lead to another surgery. Considering how active you are, it's very likely that you will need to have another surgery. With the bone fusion, we will basically get rid of the joint and fuse the bones together at a slight angle so your other two joints on your pinky would work fine but the middle joint will be at a slight bend forever. For athletes, that's what I always recommend."
"Sounds good to me. So how soon can I play ball after this surgery?"
That was literally the conversation that we had. The doctor's words may not be word for word but it's pretty damn close. He told me that I will be out of commission for about a week to 10 days but after that, I can go back to shooting around. For competitive basketball, he recommended that I stay away for about a month. Considering I don't play for an NBA team nor for any league at this point, I figured a month hiatus won't be such a bad thing. I can still lift and run so it might even be a good time for some "offseason workouts."
The surgery is an outpatient surgery and is tentatively scheduled for next Friday but I am debating if I should push it back because of work... and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament at the end of this month... possibly my addiction for basketball is greater than poker... possibly...
Oh, and when he asked me why I didn't come to get it checked out sooner?
"I didn't want to be THAT GUY that goes to the doctor for every little jammed finger or a scratch or some minor aches and pains. I mean I figured it's a jammed pinky, no big deal." (so what if it hadn't healed in years)
"You're just a typical young, active guy."
"If by young, you mean stupid, then yes, I am THAT GUY."
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Flipping a coin... and poker wins!
I was torn between going nonpoker content route vs discussion of hand histories... ultimately, since this is a poker blog, the hand history discussion won out. So, for all you degenerates out there, enjoy. For all you nondegenerates, have a nice 4th (or for some of you, I'll see you tomorrow)!
Without further ado, here we go:
1) "No point in betting the river since a worse hand will fold and only a better hand will call you."
That's such a cliche isn't it? So many people tend to lose value on the river because they are afraid to fire out that last bet without a monster. But sometimes, you have to try to read your opponent even if he's not the one putting you to the decision so you can maximize your value there.
FTP 6max 4 handed
Seat 1: Villain ($648.50)
Seat 2: ($432.40), is sitting out
Seat 3: SB ($400)
Seat 4: ($1,018.90), is sitting out
Seat 5: BB ($96)
Seat 6: Hero ($439.80)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Qd As]
Hero raises to $14
Villain calls $14
Both blinds fold
*** FLOP *** [Kh Ac 2h]
Hero bets $23
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain calls $23
The flop is obviously a very good one considering AQ is a very good hand 4 handed and I just hit my top pair. Villain could be calling here with a wide range, including any A, any K, possibly middle pocket pair, or a flush draw. Since it's 4 handed, he would give me less credit for a hand here because I would obviously be raising and cbetting with a wide range.
*** TURN *** [Kh Ac 2h] [6d]
Hero bets $65
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain calls $65
I bet $65 into a pot that has about $75. This call usually means that he doesn't have a flush draw since the villain did not seem like the type to chase with poor odds. As such, I figured that at this point, he either has a A or a K.
*** RIVER *** [Kh Ac 2h 6d] [9s]
Hero bets $145
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain has requested TIME
Villain calls $145
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero shows [Qd As] a pair of Aces
Villain mucks [Ah Td] - a pair of Aces
Hero wins the pot ($498) with a pair of Aces
Villain really took his time to call the river bet. He had to know/feel like he was beat but 4 handed, it was really tough for him to fold his A. This was an instance where I wanted to make sure I got value out of my hand. I could have easily checked the river, thinking only a better hand would call me but in this case, I knew that that wouldn't be true. I thought through the sequence, was convinced he had an ace (so be it if he had A9) and so I fired out another bet. Now some of you might say, what would you do if he shoves here? I would probably fold, based on the read I had on this player. The chances of him having air here would be very slim if he shoves over my bet on the river. Of course, if he does, some of you might say that I shoulda just checked but you really need to look at the sequence of the hand and really think through before defaulting to checking on the river. You could be missing a lot of value there. I did consider an OBFV on the turn but I wasn't exactly sure what he had at that point so I didn't want to overbet and kill the hand. It is possible that I would have gotten called but I'd like to think that the villain is not THAT stupid to stack off with top pair ten kicker, even 4 handed, in a cash game.
2) Seemingly thin calls on the river
Here's another hand that illustrates some thought on the river:
FTP 6 max 2-4NL
Seat 1: Villain ($398.40)
Seat 2: SB ($90)
Seat 3: BB ($775.90)
Seat 4: ($392.10)
Seat 5: ($522.90)
Seat 6: Hero ($577)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Td 8d]
2 folds
Hero raises to $14
Villain calls $14
Both blinds fold
*** FLOP *** [5s 6d 8c]
Hero bets $23
Villain calls $23
This is a pretty good flop for me, obv since I hit top pair. I obv hate that he called...
*** TURN *** [5s 6d 8c] [Ks]
Hero bets $55
Villain calls $55
I thought about checking here but because the flop is so draw heavy, it's quite possible that he was just drawing so I wanted to fire out another bullet to see what he does. Strangely, the villain calls again so I'm starting to wonder if he also has an 8 (like A8 or something). I figured this pot will be going to him at this point.
*** RIVER *** [5s 6d 8c Ks] [Kc]
Hero checks
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain bets $120
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero has requested TIME
This is where it gets interesting. The river is another king and I never thought he had a king to begin with. He smooth calls two streets and I felt that if he had a set, he would have raised on the turn after I fire out my second bullet, hence indicating a pretty strong holding. It just didn't make sense to me that he fires out a bet here. I was worried about A8 but if he had that, wouldn't he just check and be happy with a showdown? I mean value betting A8 here seems like a very very thin line. Also, the no raise on the flop seemed kinda weird. Of course, he could have had an overpair like 99 or TT (surely JJ+ woulda reraised me preflop) but even those hands may not value bet river. All in all, it seemed very fishy and the bet seems more like a bluff with a busted draw than a value bet. So, having said all that...
Hero calls $120
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Villain shows [Qh 7h] a pair of Kings
Hero shows [Td 8d] two pair, Kings and Eights
Hero wins the pot ($427) with two pair, Kings and Eights
Q7... I mean... if you're gonna play shit like that, be aggressive with it... That was just a poor play by the villain. (granted... he was ahead preflop)
Have a nice 4th everyone!
Without further ado, here we go:
1) "No point in betting the river since a worse hand will fold and only a better hand will call you."
That's such a cliche isn't it? So many people tend to lose value on the river because they are afraid to fire out that last bet without a monster. But sometimes, you have to try to read your opponent even if he's not the one putting you to the decision so you can maximize your value there.
FTP 6max 4 handed
Seat 1: Villain ($648.50)
Seat 2: ($432.40), is sitting out
Seat 3: SB ($400)
Seat 4: ($1,018.90), is sitting out
Seat 5: BB ($96)
Seat 6: Hero ($439.80)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Qd As]
Hero raises to $14
Villain calls $14
Both blinds fold
*** FLOP *** [Kh Ac 2h]
Hero bets $23
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain calls $23
The flop is obviously a very good one considering AQ is a very good hand 4 handed and I just hit my top pair. Villain could be calling here with a wide range, including any A, any K, possibly middle pocket pair, or a flush draw. Since it's 4 handed, he would give me less credit for a hand here because I would obviously be raising and cbetting with a wide range.
*** TURN *** [Kh Ac 2h] [6d]
Hero bets $65
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain calls $65
I bet $65 into a pot that has about $75. This call usually means that he doesn't have a flush draw since the villain did not seem like the type to chase with poor odds. As such, I figured that at this point, he either has a A or a K.
*** RIVER *** [Kh Ac 2h 6d] [9s]
Hero bets $145
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain has requested TIME
Villain calls $145
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hero shows [Qd As] a pair of Aces
Villain mucks [Ah Td] - a pair of Aces
Hero wins the pot ($498) with a pair of Aces
Villain really took his time to call the river bet. He had to know/feel like he was beat but 4 handed, it was really tough for him to fold his A. This was an instance where I wanted to make sure I got value out of my hand. I could have easily checked the river, thinking only a better hand would call me but in this case, I knew that that wouldn't be true. I thought through the sequence, was convinced he had an ace (so be it if he had A9) and so I fired out another bet. Now some of you might say, what would you do if he shoves here? I would probably fold, based on the read I had on this player. The chances of him having air here would be very slim if he shoves over my bet on the river. Of course, if he does, some of you might say that I shoulda just checked but you really need to look at the sequence of the hand and really think through before defaulting to checking on the river. You could be missing a lot of value there. I did consider an OBFV on the turn but I wasn't exactly sure what he had at that point so I didn't want to overbet and kill the hand. It is possible that I would have gotten called but I'd like to think that the villain is not THAT stupid to stack off with top pair ten kicker, even 4 handed, in a cash game.
2) Seemingly thin calls on the river
Here's another hand that illustrates some thought on the river:
FTP 6 max 2-4NL
Seat 1: Villain ($398.40)
Seat 2: SB ($90)
Seat 3: BB ($775.90)
Seat 4: ($392.10)
Seat 5: ($522.90)
Seat 6: Hero ($577)
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Td 8d]
2 folds
Hero raises to $14
Villain calls $14
Both blinds fold
*** FLOP *** [5s 6d 8c]
Hero bets $23
Villain calls $23
This is a pretty good flop for me, obv since I hit top pair. I obv hate that he called...
*** TURN *** [5s 6d 8c] [Ks]
Hero bets $55
Villain calls $55
I thought about checking here but because the flop is so draw heavy, it's quite possible that he was just drawing so I wanted to fire out another bullet to see what he does. Strangely, the villain calls again so I'm starting to wonder if he also has an 8 (like A8 or something). I figured this pot will be going to him at this point.
*** RIVER *** [5s 6d 8c Ks] [Kc]
Hero checks
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain bets $120
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero has requested TIME
This is where it gets interesting. The river is another king and I never thought he had a king to begin with. He smooth calls two streets and I felt that if he had a set, he would have raised on the turn after I fire out my second bullet, hence indicating a pretty strong holding. It just didn't make sense to me that he fires out a bet here. I was worried about A8 but if he had that, wouldn't he just check and be happy with a showdown? I mean value betting A8 here seems like a very very thin line. Also, the no raise on the flop seemed kinda weird. Of course, he could have had an overpair like 99 or TT (surely JJ+ woulda reraised me preflop) but even those hands may not value bet river. All in all, it seemed very fishy and the bet seems more like a bluff with a busted draw than a value bet. So, having said all that...
Hero calls $120
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Villain shows [Qh 7h] a pair of Kings
Hero shows [Td 8d] two pair, Kings and Eights
Hero wins the pot ($427) with two pair, Kings and Eights
Q7... I mean... if you're gonna play shit like that, be aggressive with it... That was just a poor play by the villain. (granted... he was ahead preflop)
Have a nice 4th everyone!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The return of the Points Degenerate
First off, thanks for all the comments on Montreal. I'm not sure I can blame everything on Montreal since it may have just been more like a bad beat vacation weekend. Upon arriving to Richmond, I learned that my luggage didn't make it and that it was stuck in DC (where my layover was). I just laughed and said "of course it is." The United agent looked offended so I quickly added "that's just the type of weekend we've had."
Well, I am back to the grind of things and July will be an extremely busy work month for my group. However, more importantly, July is a very busy month for points degenerate. On Fulltilt, I have to earn 12,000 points this month in order to clear my $600 ironman bonus. Even though I haven't played as much, my "not playing as much" = 200 fulltilt points per day. However, this month, I would have to double my playing time. 30 days of 400 points will clear my $600 bonus. Should not be a problem for me. However, Pokerstars, not to be outdone threw a little wrinkle. During the 1st week of July, they will be awarding 2x VPP. Their VIP program is definitely better than Fulltilt's and so this would be a chance to easily earn gold status. So, I will definitely be trying to get some playing time over at Stars as well. Last night, I believe I was 4 tabling FTP for a while, then 3 tabled FTP and 1 tabled PS. Busy busy.
I have a few hands to discuss but I'll probably break it up over the course of the next few days. It's been a while since I posted hand histories so we'll see how it goes.
This was an interesting hand that came up and even though I won, I'm not sure if I made the right decision or not. I don't even know if I like how I played it. Thoughts are much appreciated.
2-4NL 6 max as usual
Seat 1: ($240) <--- BB
Seat 2: ($406)
Seat 3: Hero ($400)
Seat 4: ($707)
Seat 5: ($458.40)
Seat 6: Villain ($866.45) <--- SB
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Qd Qc]
UTG Fold
Hero raises to $14
2 folds
Villain calls $12
BB folds
*** FLOP *** [5c 6c 9h]
Villain checks
Hero bets $22
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain raises to $68
Hero calls $46
This is my first question here. I raise from UTG+1, I am called by the SB who I have no info on and he makes a raise that's interesting... Interesting because it's not a full pot raise. It's barely 3x my raise so it's almost like he doesn't want me to fold but rather, wants to build the pot. I was a little confused here and since I had no information on the guy, I was wondering what he could possibly have. But at this point, the range is probably pretty wide given the possibility of the flush draw so obviously I called. I also thought 55, 66 or 99 was possible for a set.
*** TURN *** [5c 6c 9h] [6d]
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain checks
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero bets $120
The 6 was a great card for me. At least that means that if he has a set, it's more likely that he has 55 or 99 only. It also didn't complete any club draw so I figured I'm either already beat (in which case I woulda been beat on the flop which means it doesn't change anything) or it's likely that he was making a play with a hand like A9, TT, JJ (though JJ might have reraised me pre), 77, or 88. Again, if he had 78 or 55 or 99, it really doesn't matter because I was already behind. I thought about checking here but I didn't want him to draw out on me if he's still on a draw so I decided to go ahead and bet.
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain has requested TIME
Villain raises to $784.45, and is all in
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero has requested TIME
Hero calls $198, and is all in
Villain shows [Tc Td]
Hero shows [Qd Qc]
Uncalled bet of $466.45 returned to Villain
*** RIVER *** [5c 6c 9h 6d] [9d]
Villain shows two pair, Tens and Nines
RecessRampage shows two pair, Queens and Nines
RecessRampage wins the pot ($801) with two pair, Queens and Nines
With so much money in the pot, I couldn't fold considering I already decided that I would go with the fact that he's on a draw. It turns out he was massively overplaying the smallest overpair to the board.
The question is, not knowing anything about the villain, is this a profitable play longterm or did I get lucky that this villain overplayed his TT? It easily could have been a set here, right? Or am I fearing the nuts too much? Again, thoughts are appreciated.
Well, I am back to the grind of things and July will be an extremely busy work month for my group. However, more importantly, July is a very busy month for points degenerate. On Fulltilt, I have to earn 12,000 points this month in order to clear my $600 ironman bonus. Even though I haven't played as much, my "not playing as much" = 200 fulltilt points per day. However, this month, I would have to double my playing time. 30 days of 400 points will clear my $600 bonus. Should not be a problem for me. However, Pokerstars, not to be outdone threw a little wrinkle. During the 1st week of July, they will be awarding 2x VPP. Their VIP program is definitely better than Fulltilt's and so this would be a chance to easily earn gold status. So, I will definitely be trying to get some playing time over at Stars as well. Last night, I believe I was 4 tabling FTP for a while, then 3 tabled FTP and 1 tabled PS. Busy busy.
I have a few hands to discuss but I'll probably break it up over the course of the next few days. It's been a while since I posted hand histories so we'll see how it goes.
This was an interesting hand that came up and even though I won, I'm not sure if I made the right decision or not. I don't even know if I like how I played it. Thoughts are much appreciated.
2-4NL 6 max as usual
Seat 1: ($240) <--- BB
Seat 2: ($406)
Seat 3: Hero ($400)
Seat 4: ($707)
Seat 5: ($458.40)
Seat 6: Villain ($866.45) <--- SB
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Hero [Qd Qc]
UTG Fold
Hero raises to $14
2 folds
Villain calls $12
BB folds
*** FLOP *** [5c 6c 9h]
Villain checks
Hero bets $22
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain raises to $68
Hero calls $46
This is my first question here. I raise from UTG+1, I am called by the SB who I have no info on and he makes a raise that's interesting... Interesting because it's not a full pot raise. It's barely 3x my raise so it's almost like he doesn't want me to fold but rather, wants to build the pot. I was a little confused here and since I had no information on the guy, I was wondering what he could possibly have. But at this point, the range is probably pretty wide given the possibility of the flush draw so obviously I called. I also thought 55, 66 or 99 was possible for a set.
*** TURN *** [5c 6c 9h] [6d]
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain checks
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero bets $120
The 6 was a great card for me. At least that means that if he has a set, it's more likely that he has 55 or 99 only. It also didn't complete any club draw so I figured I'm either already beat (in which case I woulda been beat on the flop which means it doesn't change anything) or it's likely that he was making a play with a hand like A9, TT, JJ (though JJ might have reraised me pre), 77, or 88. Again, if he had 78 or 55 or 99, it really doesn't matter because I was already behind. I thought about checking here but I didn't want him to draw out on me if he's still on a draw so I decided to go ahead and bet.
Villain has 15 seconds left to act
Villain has requested TIME
Villain raises to $784.45, and is all in
Hero has 15 seconds left to act
Hero has requested TIME
Hero calls $198, and is all in
Villain shows [Tc Td]
Hero shows [Qd Qc]
Uncalled bet of $466.45 returned to Villain
*** RIVER *** [5c 6c 9h 6d] [9d]
Villain shows two pair, Tens and Nines
RecessRampage shows two pair, Queens and Nines
RecessRampage wins the pot ($801) with two pair, Queens and Nines
With so much money in the pot, I couldn't fold considering I already decided that I would go with the fact that he's on a draw. It turns out he was massively overplaying the smallest overpair to the board.
The question is, not knowing anything about the villain, is this a profitable play longterm or did I get lucky that this villain overplayed his TT? It easily could have been a set here, right? Or am I fearing the nuts too much? Again, thoughts are appreciated.
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