Some cash hands

It's weird being geared up to put in some time on cash tables now that I have a bankroll again. The last few months I've really just lost my motivation for them, primarily because I was always buying in half stacked. But I'm focused on reaching that 20K hand mark.

I haven't been keeping up on the tape recording, but I don't think it's something I'm going to use all the time. It's just going to be a matter of knowing I have time to set aside, that I'm alone in a quiet place and feeling focused. I started to record thought last Saturday at the station but then stopeed because I realized I won't be getting those HH's unless I specifically request them.

I lost I think about $15 overall last night for a 2 hour session with just over 250 hands played on 2 tables. Seemed like I was killing one table and sucking it up hard on the other.

Here's one of my favorite hands from last night where I get thin value on the river. This is something I've really remained mindful of lately and will continue to look for. It seems to me this is one of your biggest edges and money makers at these low limits because look at the hand this clown called with! *ellix powers voice* HE CALLED ME WITH JACK HIGH! LOL


Full Tilt Poker Game #7831828973: Table Energy (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:32:25 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: seancro05 ($6.80)
Seat 2: mary3724 ($18.35)
Seat 3: BustYou1111 ($6.10)
Seat 4: whoizthavuchild ($10)
Seat 5: Dray ($17.50)
Seat 6: Mangomango ($7.10)
Dray posts the small blind of $0.05
Mangomango posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [8c 8h]****
seancro05 folds
BustYou1111 stands up
mary3724 folds
BustYou1111 folds
whoizthavuchild calls $0.10
nonchal8 sits down
Dray raises to $0.40
Mangomango folds
nonchal8 adds $10
whoizthavuchild calls $0.30
*** FLOP *** [2h 4d 7h]
Dray bets $0.60
whoizthavuchild calls $0.60
*** TURN *** [2h 4d 7h] [3c]
Dray checks
whoizthavuchild checks
*** RIVER *** [2h 4d 7h 3c] [Ac]
Dray bets $1.10
whoizthavuchild calls $1.10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dray shows [8c 8h] a pair of Eights
whoizthavuchild mucks
Dray wins the pot ($3.90) with a pair of Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.30 | Rake $0.40
Board: [2h 4d 7h 3c Ac]
Seat 1: seancro05 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: mary3724 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: BustYou1111 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: whoizthavuchild (button) mucked [Qh Th] - Ace Queen high
Seat 5: Dray (small blind) showed [8c 8h] and won ($3.90) with a pair of Eights
Seat 6: Mangomango (big blind) folded before the Flop

A nice little river check to induce a bluff, I love this line! Although now to look at it on paper, I wonder if I a c/r would be spewy or sick value. Hmmm....

Full Tilt Poker Game #7831861998: Table Energy (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:36:01 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: seancro05 ($6.40)
Seat 2: mary3724 ($18.10)
Seat 3: nonchal8 ($10.45)
Seat 4: whoizthavuchild ($7.70)
Seat 5: Dray ($19.15)
Seat 6: Mangomango ($7.40)
whoizthavuchild posts the small blind of $0.05
Dray posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Kc 6h]****
Mangomango folds
seancro05 folds
mary3724 folds
nonchal8 calls $0.10
whoizthavuchild folds
Dray checks
*** FLOP *** [6c Qc Ks]
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray bets $0.25
nonchal8 calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [6c Qc Ks] [3h]
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray bets $0.75
nonchal8 calls $0.75
*** RIVER *** [6c Qc Ks 3h] [9s]
Dray checks
nonchal8 bets $0.70
Dray calls $0.70
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nonchal8 shows [Qd Ah] a pair of Queens
Dray shows [Kc 6h] two pair, Kings and Sixes
Dray wins the pot ($3.30) with two pair, Kings and Sixes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.65 | Rake $0.35
Board: [6c Qc Ks 3h 9s]
Seat 1: seancro05 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: mary3724 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: nonchal8 (button) showed [Qd Ah] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 4: whoizthavuchild (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Dray (big blind) showed [Kc 6h] and won ($3.30) with two pair, Kings and Sixes
Seat 6: Mangomango didn't bet (folded)


Lesson learned here with JJ in ep about the "best play" and maintaining control of the hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7832188448: Table Energy (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:13:44 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: Sebator1 ($6.60)
Seat 2: mary3724 ($27.55)
Seat 3: Mustavpussy ($3.60)
Seat 4: Peet313 ($9.75)
Seat 5: Dray ($22.55)
Seat 6: Mangomango ($2.70)
Mustavpussy posts the small blind of $0.05
Peet313 posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Js Jh]****
Dray raises to $0.40
Mangomango folds
Sebator1 folds
mary3724 folds
Mustavpussy folds
Peet313 has 15 seconds left to act
Peet313 raises to $1.25
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray raises to $3.50
Peet313 has 15 seconds left to act
Peet313 folds
Uncalled bet of $2.25 returned to Dray
Dray mucks
Dray wins the pot ($2.55)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.55 | Rake $0
Seat 1: Sebator1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: mary3724 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Mustavpussy (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Peet313 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Dray collected ($2.55), mucked
Seat 6: Mangomango didn't bet (folded)


Nice little slowplay, I credit watching Annette videos with this check behind on a draw in position play. Standard would be to bet/3bet with an over and flush draw if I was watching CR videos:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7832363104: Table Energy (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:36:20 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: LeftyWright1 ($2.55)
Seat 2: oddzoo ($10)
Seat 3: twinbabyrockets ($7.35)
Seat 4: riptide51 ($5)
Seat 5: Dray ($20.30)
Seat 6: Mangomango ($4.05)
LeftyWright1 posts the small blind of $0.05
oddzoo has 5 seconds left to act
oddzoo posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Kc 5c]****
twinbabyrockets folds
riptide51 calls $0.10
Dray calls $0.10
Mangomango folds
LeftyWright1 calls $0.05
oddzoo checks
*** FLOP *** [4c Jc 4s]
LeftyWright1 checks
oddzoo checks
riptide51 checks
Dray checks
*** TURN *** [4c Jc 4s] [Ac]
LeftyWright1 bets $0.10
oddzoo folds
riptide51 calls $0.10
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray calls $0.10
*** RIVER *** [4c Jc 4s Ac] [Kd]
LeftyWright1 bets $0.70
riptide51 folds
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray has requested TIME
Dray raises to $1.70
LeftyWright1 raises to $2.35, and is all in
Dray calls $0.65
*** SHOW DOWN ***
LeftyWright1 shows [Kh Js] two pair, Kings and Jacks
Dray shows [Kc 5c] a flush, Ace high
Dray wins the pot ($4.90) with a flush, Ace high
LeftyWright1 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.40 | Rake $0.50
Board: [4c Jc 4s Ac Kd]
Seat 1: LeftyWright1 (small blind) showed [Kh Js] and lost with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 2: oddzoo (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: twinbabyrockets didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: riptide51 folded on the River
Seat 5: Dray showed [Kc 5c] and won ($4.90) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 6: Mangomango (button) didn't bet (folded)

Now to be fair, hands I lost/got outplayed:


I seriously thought about shipping it on the flop this hand. Chickened out.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7832063252: Table Elite (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:58:42 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: jmbehar ($20.35)
Seat 2: Dray ($10.25)
Seat 3: AXLE 2 ($9.65)
Seat 4: kalacs1963 ($9.45)
Seat 5: BigRonald ($12.90)
Seat 6: jeynbro ($5), is sitting out
jmbehar posts the small blind of $0.05
Dray posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [As Qc]*****
AXLE 2 folds
kalacs1963 folds
BigRonald raises to $0.35
jmbehar folds
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray raises to $1.10
BigRonald calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [3d 5c 4s]
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray bets $1.40
BigRonald has 15 seconds left to act
BigRonald raises to $3.10
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray has requested TIME
Dray adds $2.25
Dray folds
Uncalled bet of $1.70 returned to BigRonald
BigRonald mucks
BigRonald wins the pot ($4.55)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.05 | Rake $0.50
Board: [3d 5c 4s]
Seat 1: jmbehar (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Dray (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: AXLE 2 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: kalacs1963 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: BigRonald (button) collected ($4.55), mucked
Seat 6: jeynbro is sitting out


This guy behar was rolling over me like I was the biggest most predictable fish on the planet. I really didn't love the river bluff but I almost felt obligated to at the time I made it. I think I should've double barreled the turn, this line looks really weak - bet, check behind, bet.


Full Tilt Poker Game #7832189486: Table Elite (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:13:51 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: jmbehar ($20.75)
Seat 2: Dray ($10.95)
Seat 3: AXLE 2 ($10.10)
Seat 4: kalacs1963 ($9.85)
Seat 6: jeynbro ($4.85)
AXLE 2 posts the small blind of $0.05
kalacs1963 posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [5h 6h]*****
jeynbro folds
jmbehar raises to $0.30
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray raises to $1.05
AXLE 2 folds
kalacs1963 folds
jmbehar calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [2c 9d 8h]
jmbehar checks
caddymix024 sits down
caddymix024 adds $10
Dray bets $1.50
jmbehar calls $1.50
*** TURN *** [2c 9d 8h] [8d]
jmbehar checks
Dray checks
*** RIVER *** [2c 9d 8h 8d] [5s]
jmbehar checks
Dray bets $2.50
jmbehar calls $2.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dray shows [5h 6h] two pair, Eights and Fives
jmbehar shows [Js Jh] two pair, Jacks and Eights
jmbehar wins the pot ($9.25) with two pair, Jacks and Eights
Dray adds $4.10
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.25 | Rake $1
Board: [2c 9d 8h 8d 5s]
Seat 1: jmbehar showed [Js Jh] and won ($9.25) with two pair, Jacks and Eights
Seat 2: Dray (button) showed [5h 6h] and lost with two pair, Eights and Fives
Seat 3: AXLE 2 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: kalacs1963 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: jeynbro didn't bet (folded)


Here he is taking me to school again:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7832246697: Table Elite (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:20:58 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: jmbehar ($27.95)
Seat 2: Dray ($10)
Seat 3: AXLE 2 ($9.70)
Seat 4: kalacs1963 ($9.90), is sitting out
Seat 5: caddymix024 ($10.60)
Seat 6: jeynbro ($4.65)
jeynbro posts the small blind of $0.05
jmbehar posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Jh As]*****
Dray raises to $0.40
AXLE 2 has 15 seconds left to act
kalacs1963 has returned
AXLE 2 folds
caddymix024 folds
jeynbro folds
jmbehar calls $0.30
*** FLOP *** [5s 8h 2c]
jmbehar checks
Dray bets $0.50
jmbehar calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [5s 8h 2c] [Ks]
jmbehar checks
Dray bets $1
jmbehar calls $1
*** RIVER *** [5s 8h 2c Ks] [3h]
jmbehar has 15 seconds left to act
jmbehar bets $3
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray adds $1.90
Dray folds
Uncalled bet of $3 returned to jmbehar
jmbehar mucks
jmbehar wins the pot ($3.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.85 | Rake $0.35
Board: [5s 8h 2c Ks 3h]
Seat 1: jmbehar (big blind) collected ($3.50), mucked
Seat 2: Dray folded on the River
Seat 3: AXLE 2 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: kalacs1963 is sitting out
Seat 5: caddymix024 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: jeynbro (small blind) folded before the Flop



Full Tilt Poker Game #7832535605: Table Elite (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:01:07 ET - 2008/08/28
Seat 1: jjlovepoker ($3.45)
Seat 2: Dray ($11.05)
Seat 3: GambersAnon ($12.20)
Seat 4: nerdking ($10.05)
Seat 5: KyleAtherton ($10.40)
Seat 6: playanytwocards ($10.15)
KyleAtherton posts the small blind of $0.05
playanytwocards posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Qs Js]*****
jjlovepoker folds
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray raises to $0.40
GambersAnon calls $0.40
nerdking folds
KyleAtherton folds
playanytwocards calls $0.30
*** FLOP *** [2h Kc 9h]
playanytwocards checks
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray bets $0.90
GambersAnon folds
playanytwocards raises to $2.70
Dray has 15 seconds left to act
Dray adds $0.25
Dray folds
Uncalled bet of $1.80 returned to playanytwocards
playanytwocards mucks
playanytwocards wins the pot ($2.75)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.05 | Rake $0.30
Board: [2h Kc 9h]
Seat 1: jjlovepoker didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Dray folded on the Flop
Seat 3: GambersAnon folded on the Flop
Seat 4: nerdking (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: KyleAtherton (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: playanytwocards (big blind) collected ($2.75), mucked
----

Going to go play the "free"roll at this cardroom a few of my buddies have been going to. The same one I played two weeks ago. Man it would be nice to cash in that and then run up the payout in the cash games. Mmmmmm.....I can taste it now. :)

What's the best play?

Well I was first out of Craig's $20 deep stack freezout tonight. Got a little chips early with TT against Kyle and this other guy Ryan on my left. I played it agressive 3 betting preflop and raising Kyle's flop probe bet when it was like 9 7 2 with two hearts.

Lost most of them to Kyle in a hand where I picked up KK. He raised to 300 with blinds at 50/100. I raised to 1100 and he thinks then 4 bets it to 3K. I have position on him and he's left himself with 6K and some change behind.

I don't know Kyle's game all that well but I at least know he's not crazy loose. Probably fairly straightforward but with a little gamble in him from time to time. I think about whether I want to shove or call. I decide to call because I think it's the best play. I'm either way behind or way ahead here and since he's 4 bet I can expect him to bet just about any low flop.

Flop is A Q x. He leads for 3K, about half of his stack.

I didn't think about this long but that flop really narrows the fuck out of his range. AK has me beat now in addition to Queens. I really don't see him betting this flop with JJ or a pair lower. I can't say he 4 bet me with KQ.

But I just mentally got married with my hand and put him in and he flipped over AK. :/

Luckily the tourney was deepstacked so I had about 1700 left and was able to double up with KJo against TT. Flop was T x x with 3 spades and I had the Ks. Spade hits turn and river bricks.

Then I pick up JJ and raise one loose limper up to 600. Girl in the sb calls and so does the limper. Flop is 2 3 5. Girl leads for 200, Ben calls. I shove for $3,050 more. She reluctantly calls after some thought and tables A6o. Turn is 2. River A. And that was that!

Just lost a buyin and a half playing cash online since I've been back. It's ok though I'm really focused on racking up those hands for my pokertracker sample. Got 300 in about an hour and half. :) Good night!

Quick update

I think it goes without saying if I'd had a big cash on Sunday in the FTOPS that I wouldn't wait until Wednesday to blog about it. So yeah, no dice. I really didn't do much the entire first hour except check raise the latest red pro, Russian Nikolay Evdakov who had 10 cashes at the WSOP this year, when I had top pair QJ.

I also had an FTOPS winner at my table, Captain Biskit, who won 4x 6 max shootout event earlier this month and eventually took me out with pocket AA. The basic action went I small raised his bb with 67o and he smooth called. The flop came 6 5 3. He checks, I bet 600 into the 960 pot and he reraises me. We were both playing about the same stat wise, really tight. Only he had more chips than I did. The board was also flushing in addition to the straight possibilties so I thought I could 3bet him here and maybe get him off a mid pair or something.

All in all I didn't really think about the action and that a tight solid player is check/raising me here. But you know internet players check/raising drawy boards is so standard these days I don't think you can always give people big pairs in this situation. And percentage wise assuming all my 10 outs are in the deck still I could be in much worse shape getting the $ in with two cards to come.

I think I more or less played impatiently and that's ultimately what cost me the tourney. But you know, I also don't want to play super scared in these things either because I really want to win and go deep and get chips early from bad players too. It's just a shame there were only a couple of them at my table and they got knocked out VERY fast by the two big pros. :/

I did have an extremely good cash session later that night, followed up by another on Monday night so I really can't complain overall. Right now I just want to make sure I don't move up again too fast and more than that I want to focus on building good sized samples over the next 2-3 months so I can really assess my game. So there will be more multitabling 5/10 cent 6 max than I've had a chance to all year.

Poker's exciting again! Woot!

O-M-G

You would think it would be hard to top last weekend but I just did today and the weekend ain't over yet. :)

Last night went to this cardroom my buddies have been going to to play a $500 freeroll with $240 for first place against only 20x runners. Actually ran into Pat and Bruce and got taken out with QQ vs Bruce's KK in the first level. It's ok though because Kristina got off early so I was able to bum rush back home. Went to bed early and tried to discuss the game as little as possible becuase Kristina was annoyed that I had gone in the first place.

So anyways I wake up early this morning and it doesn't start well. I play 3 games: an 8.70 turbo token two table, a 4.40 token sng, and a 4.40 turbo satellite sing; none of which I did anything in.

Then I enter a $12 single table token sng where the winner gets a $75 token. I win that one. Then soon after I'm looking at my options to use it and impulsively enter a turbo 6 max sng that satellited into a 90K guarantee tourney with a $322 buyin. I run like God and take that down and immediately cash the tourney dollars.

But I still want to get into the FTOPS main event tomorrow. My first cash in it was last August for over a grand and I'm running really hot now so the timing is ripe. I took a break to cook the pot roast and put in the slowcooker for Kristina, showered and then hopped back online. Entered a $5.50 turbo rebuy sng that satellites into the main event for whoever wins it, 2-7 get some cash. I rebought immediately which nobody else at my table did and then added on after the rebuy period and that was it.

AND I TOOK THAT SUCKA DOWN!!!!!!!

I thought I ran hot in the 6 max for the $322 but oh no. Check this hugggeee hand down the stretch before the money:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7672433247: Satellite to FTOPS Main Event (58351384), Table 1 - 400/800 Ante 100 - No Limit Hold'em - 14:22:12 ET - 2008/08/16
Seat 1: Dray (18,908)
Seat 3: riverraker (1,720)
Seat 4: DaveLB420 (16,765)
Seat 7: SENDEROS315 (3,940)
Seat 8: GJY29 (3,294)
Seat 9: toplayr (39,656)
Dray antes 100
riverraker antes 100
DaveLB420 antes 100
SENDEROS315 antes 100
GJY29 antes 100
toplayr antes 100
toplayr posts the small blind of 400
Dray posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Dray [Ts Ks]
riverraker folds
DaveLB420 raises to 1,600
SENDEROS315 folds
GJY29 folds
toplayr folds
Dray calls 800
*** FLOP *** [Kh 9c 8s]
Dray checks
SENDEROS315 has been disconnected
SENDEROS315 has reconnected
DaveLB420 bets 1,600
Dray calls 1,600
*** TURN *** [Kh 9c 8s] [6c]
Dray checks
DaveLB420 bets 4,000
Dray raises to 15,608, and is all in
DaveLB420 calls 9,465, and is all in
Dray shows [Ts Ks]
DaveLB420 shows [Ac As]
Uncalled bet of 2,143 returned to Dray
*** RIVER *** [Kh 9c 8s 6c] [7h]
Dray shows a straight, Ten high
DaveLB420 shows a pair of Aces
Dray wins the pot (34,330) with a straight, Ten high
DaveLB420 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 34,330 | Rake 0
Board: [Kh 9c 8s 6c 7h]
Seat 1: Dray (big blind) showed [Ts Ks] and won (34,330) with a straight, Ten high
Seat 3: riverraker folded before the Flop
Seat 4: DaveLB420 showed [Ac As] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: SENDEROS315 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: GJY29 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: toplayr (small blind) folded before the Flop

Here's hoping this kind of luck will carry over tomorrow. I do have one request though that if I'm going to suck out and run like God tomorrow, please let it be later rather than sooner. Thanks!

Lets get it on August!

So this weekend was the best weekend of the entire fucking year! Got a $26 token on Saturday before work. Went to work and made 5th out of 90 in a KO tourney. That was good for a $144 payday plus $16 for the 4 people I knocked out. Big luckbox moment of this tourney was shoving T5o against the bb from sb after it was folded around late. I get snap called by A8o and I hit my 5 and hold. :) I have to say there was slight disappointment in not getting a little further and richer, but not that much.

Yesterday I'm at my inlaws and hop online. I'm looking at what FTOPS tourneys are left and there's the $322 1.5mil guarantee hosted by Eric Seidel. But there's only about an hour and a half before it starts so satellite selection wasn't much. But I saw a $12 6 max turbo double shootout. Winner got the seat and 2-4 got cash.

It was a LUCKFEST and I was the benefactor. :) I hit at least 3 or 4 big suckout cards to stay alive. QJ>QQ for a 4 card straight to split. I know once I was down maybe 2 blinds, put in with K8 and got called in two spots. Hit my 8 on the flop, then one guy bets the turn to push the other out and he's got top pair Ace and I spike the 8 on the river. There was a big hand the 2nd game when we were 3 handed I came over the top of a button raiser with AJ and he had AQ. We flopped the A plus a board pair. Then I turned the J. Woot!

So yeah another $322 to the $144 from earlier. I was very tempted to play the tourney, and if I was at my house I probably would have. But since I was at my inlaws and the money represented a 100% bankroll boost I took the tourney dollars. I really want to play the FTOPS main event on Sunday so I'm going to be using those tourney bucks to try and satellite in.

Lets get it going August!

Sweet run Wednesday

Last night I had me a nice little run. Good timing considering my account was at one of it's lowest points ever. :) I won't get into too much details but I played the turbo $5.50 heads up shootout and won 4 matches. I was lucky to get a first round bye (didn't have to play it) which was nice, but 4 wins is still my plateau. I was close to winning the 5th when I made a Jack high straight on the turn, which subsequently gave my opponent two pair. And then he filled up on the river and I paide the price. :/

I've been feeling the Omaha itch since Pat's been playing online again, and I had some success this weekend in our cash game. So I threw $5 onto a table and without remembering any specific hands I quickly ran it up to $21. I want to try and get some more PLO practice in this month and maybe even some stud.

After PLO I put $12.50 on the $25 no limit table and doubled up, lost it with top pair AQ later, and then right after that doubled again with AA. :) I think I might have made $6 more on that table before quitting.

I want to get a little closer to $200 and then ship $50 to Pat and have him run it up for me. :) FTOPS just started and I need satellite money. *evil grin*

August is when I made my first FTOPS cash, can it be two years running? We'll see...

What's the best play? + the worst "play" i've ever made

Sunday we had a cash game with the regulars. Plantz played for the first time in a while. I had a GREAT seat with both him and Craig directly on my right.

I'd say I played very average for the day. Some hands I played well and others I just totally screwed up. It seems lately I've opted for less aggression for a more passive preflop stance. And this session I think it really cost me money.

Biggest example was Plantz raising two limpers from the CO with QJo and I flat the button with AKd to encourage more callers and build the pot. Maybe it's being results oriented, but if I had asked myself the title question the answer would have certainly been to 3 bet Plantz and get heads up with him. The flop came A Q J with two clubs. Plantz cbets, I call, and Jason check/calls from the blinds Turn's a blank and plantz fires again. I don't think there's anything wrong with my flop call. Obviously it was very likely someone made two pair on that flop with so many players seeing it for cheap. But folding tptk with a gutshot would be way way too weak. So the turn's a blank and he fires again and I was pretty sure I was beat but I wasn't sure it was Plantz who had me because Jason was still in. So I call and Jason folds. We both check the blank river and he turns over the two pair. Arg.

So that put me down $10 pretty early. I added on right away to get back to $20 and it didn't take me long to get it back.

One more "What's the best play?" hand. This is something I really need to start asking myself a lot more at the table before deciding. So we're playing props and I suggested the 72o bluff prop that we've done in the past. No one objects. I'm fairly certain it's later in the game and I've taken a bad beat with top set of queens where Nick called to the river chasing and hit his straight. So I'm down to roughly $18-20.

I pick up QQ in ep and raise to 80 cents. Pat on my left reraises me small. God I hate how I played this even as I write it. Everyone folds back to me and I can hear myself saying that if I just call here I lose control of the hand and being out of position I'm leaving myself open to getting the pot stolen from me on the flop. Well sure enough I call and the flop comes A x x with two clubs. Now, another though I had as to call preflop and donk lead the flop. Also a viable play and better than what I actually did which was check. Pat bets $5 and I've got about $10 behind that so it's really a decision for all my chips and I've gained no information on his hand because I've fucked up both decisions so far. Like I said I'm pretty certain this is shove/fold here. I certainly can't call and check/fold a turn. However, one last play I thought of was call the flop and then shove a club turn (no club in my hand). But I didn't do that either and folded, face down thank god, and Pat rolled over the 72. Well played my friend.

Pat also got the best of me in the worst hand I've probably ever played. EVER. I pick up KQ and I want to raise to 70 cents. Except I accidentally throw out $2.50 and say "shit" as soon as I do it. Everyone knows me too and even if I didn't say this, they'd know something wasn't right about this raise. So Pat comes in for a raise to $6 pretty quickly and everyone folds. I just think in my head this could just be a pure play based on my live "misclick". But instead of folding and sucking up a $2.50 loss on a mistake, something snaps in my head to where I think "What if I could act like it was an accident and feign like I have a much stronger hand but I mean to raise that much?" So I decided to call preflop and donk the flop for $5. Oops Pat instaraises me $15 more and I fold the KQo face up and talk about how stupid I am. Pat shows me KK and happily takes my donation.

So I'm reminding myself to continue to ask myself questions at the table: What's the best play? How's the table playing generally? Maybe if I can remember to do this in future cash sessions I can improve my results because they really stink so far this year.

Jason is some kind of late run monster that's netting him nice profits because people are playing looser at the end of the night when they have bigger stacks or are stuck. He got the last of my chips with KK overpair to my JT on a J99 flop. GG.