Poker in the GTA, errrr...Calgary, (not much poker online)...Poker, Poker, Poker.

I Haz Blog?

2010-02-01T06:35:00.005-05:00

I was googling something poker-related online and my blog popped up. I completely forgot about this thing. I think the blog helps me work through poker-related issues so I'm going to fire it up again.

Well, hai der!

Wow, it's been 18 months in Calgary. Things started off great -- I made $12,000 in my first 3 months of live play..playing part-time, maybe 20-25 hours a week. Mostly 1 2 nl with a few 2 5 nl sessions sprinkled in for good measure. I ran quite bad at 2 5 and broke roughly even. Following this -- the worst downswing of my poker career. Between Dec-Feb (wow, that was a year ago now) I lost 6k playing mostly 1 2 nl. It was nauseating. The night I remember best involved losing $800 in 30 mins of 1 2 nl. All in with AA twice preflop and losing. All in vs Q4ss with QQ on a Q hi flop and losing to a flush. Shoving KK and running into AA. All within 30mins.

Then a break from poker.

Last Feb I was heading to Vegas for work-related CE and decided that I'd play strictly ABC poker to minimize variance. It was during the Venetian Deepstack even and there were, literally, 40 tables of 2/5nl running per day. First day I substantially raise 5 limpers from my BB with AA. Flop is rags and I get it all in vs 66 (under pair to board) and bink! 6 on the river. Sighhhh. Interesting/notable hands from way back when copied from my entries at pokerforum.ca:

I'm sitting with this guy to my right:

Welcome to Mark Hanna's Personal Website

Very nice guy, I've not heard of him but I assume he's a famous player when he gets asked to sign a hat. I ask him if I should know who he is and he says yes. I ask if his fame is from ouside or inside the poker world and he says in the poker world. I say ok and leave it at that. Nice guy, terrible nit cash game player.

2 5 NLH. Player 3 to my right who raises every 2nd pot to $20-$30 open limps, folded to my sb. I have 23o and the bb is pretty tight player so I go 25 to build a small pot to steal from the limper on the flop. BB stares me down for literally 20 seconds then calls. Um, ok we aren't in the WPT, but thanks for letting me know you have TT+, AQ+. Flop A45dd, pretty decent flop for the worst HU hand in poker. I bet 55, he raises, limper folds, I push and hold vs his set of aces.

Pro to my right slowly has his head explode trying to figure out who raised preflop and then being told how the action went.

Good times at the V.:

1. One of my better calls. Fairly new to the 2 5 table (30/45mins) I have JTo in the cutoff of a full table. Player 3 to my right who has been raising quite a bit but doesn't seem to know how to play poker very well makes it 20 and I call. Button makes it 60 and we both call. Pot 180. Flop J24 rainbow checked to the button who instashoves 400+ and i have him covered. Folded to me and I tank for 5+mins. I never take this long for a decision and usually I am of the mentality of not playing big pots in this spot in a fairly soft game, but I actually thought I should make this guy squirm a bit and see what I can pick up on him. I noticed a few things that led me to believe he had air and after calling clock on myself made the call with 20 seconds left and took it down vs AQ unimproved by the river. What a great feeling. Probably my favourite hand of the trip and one of my favourite hands ever.

2. One of my biggest pots. 2 5 PLO I have K997hhh on the button playing 5 or 6 handed in a straddled pot. Flop J86 rainbow 3 ways. EP bets 30-40 and I call because he is the worst player at the table and will call down huge bets with the second best hand. SB comes along as well. Turn is the gin card for me, the 5 of hearts. I have the stone cold nut straight with 3 heart blockers and a redraw to the second nut flush. EP bets I pot for $500ish (numbers not exact anymore) and to my shock the sb calls me and leaves only $100 back (always makes me lol) (older british player who seemed pretty solid up until I saw this play -- nice guy who plays alot in London, has played big tournies, etc I later learned from playing with him all week). And...of course the EP guy calls all in for $500 more. River bricks and I bet $100 into $1600+ pot and British guy open mucks JJ for his last $100. EP was overcalling with one out to win with 6647 -- sucker straight and bottom set. Later learned he was in for $5k + that night. One of the worst PLO players i have come aross.

3. Tilting Tourney Pros without them even being in a hand. (See earlier post here:How to tilt a tourney pro in a cash game at the Venetian).

4. Life tilting a tilting player at 5 10 NLH 4 and 5 handed. I sit down with $800 after a horrific 12-13h session of 2 5 PLO. I am in the mentality of playing Laggy 5 handed and they aren`t chopping blinds which is great. I switch my game up tonnes depending on what I see at the table, so I will adjust if needed. I pick up/make some pretty big hands for shorthanded play. Open raising with 76cc and turning 2 pair, hitting top pair with KT, bluffing a bunch of small pots. Player 2 to my right who I initially pegged as competent within 10 mins of play was now pegged as tilting having called-off a 4 bet all in vs KK and a 2bet all in vs a shortstacked AA. Dealers for this game were rotating here after the omaha down so would occasionally start dealing out a 3rd card and have a misdeal. In this hand we are 4 handed an tilty is utg, my sb. I have J9dd, sweet hand at anytime, but even moreso 4 handed. So dealer pitches me and bb a third card and i am ready to redeal, but UTG protests a bit too much as the cards were quickly replaced on the deck in order, so we play on. He obv has some kind of hand and he limps utg (hadn't seen him open limp yet). I call bb calls we see the flop of K9x with one diamond 3 ways. I bet out 30, BB folds and UTG goes 70 and I call. Turn K95xdd I check call 60-70 and river brings the pretty 8d. I donk out $300 and he calls and is now on life tilt. GG AK or better, lol.

Beats (I'll stick to holdem as in PLO I just had too many to decifer anymore and noone really cares about PLO on here anyhow):

1. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZOMG!!!. Had played about 3 orbits at this table and my mission on this trip was initially to play TAG poker. I was playing pretty tight. I had been running bad for 3 weeks prior to Vegas and in the short term wanted to crush the variance in my game down as much as possible. I have QQ in the sb. It comes 20 to me 2-3 ways and I go 80 and get one caller. I have 500 behind, pot is 180. I don't have a great read on this player but I know from a few things I've seen that he isn't great -- I am never folding an overpair to him, ever, ever, ever for $500. Flop is JT5ss. I bet 120, he raises to 250 and I think and talk a bit to try and induce a call then I push my stack and he calls. I had been running so badly prior to this trip and I put him on a set of 5s or a flush draw, I couldn't really tell from what he was doing which is strange for me to have zero read on the situation. Anyhow, turn is a spade and I figure I'm done for. I don't even see the river as I'm looking at him turn over 66 and I'm thinking HUHHHHH? Of course, I then look at the board and the river spiked a 6 for his set. He lost his 2k stack over the next couple of hours, but unfortunately none to me. 92% no good.

2. Same day more puking. Tight lady (heyooooo!) at a new table. I limp 99 utg and it's 5 ways after a small LP raise. Pot 75-100. Flop 962dd and I check through, guy on my left bets 20 (nice bet), lady calls and I call. Pot 135-160. Turn J962dd and it's time to get it in if I can. I am playing $600 effective stack behind with this lady. I bet 80, fold and she raises to 200 and I shove 600 and she instacalls. River diamond and I don't even have to see her hand, KJdd. Puke. 86% no good.

Variance:

1. Winning from behind!!! (sorry, only happened once). Playing against the worst player at the table in this hand. He will stack with top pair nut low kicker. He is bad. He will never get bluffed out of a pot, ever. He has a piece of the flop, so he is seeing the river at all costs to make sure you have a hand. I wants to play a huge pot with him. AA in my BB 3-4 players at $15 to me and this guy is UTG in seat 1. I have $500 or so recently rebuying and chipping down slowly after losing the 66 hand. Pretty easy stack size, actually perfect, to play AA vs this guy. I have not played a hand in an hour. This is painful for me. I can't play TAG forever, but this was the only profitable strategy at this table and it was my mission statement for the trip afterall. How the eff am I supposed to get action on AA when I haven't played past the flop in over an hour? Oh yeah, seat 1. I make it 120. He calls and it's hu to the J52 flop and I shove 380-400 into a $250 pot. Well, river pairs the turn and my AA sucks out on his J5. Sometimes I like the baby jesus, the poker version.

Poker has been insane for me lately. Probably the most volatile month I can recall in years of play. I think I'm even for the first time this month and I don't even know how that is possible. I'm really getting tired of throwing-up in my mouth.

Last night playing 2 5NL (500cap) at the MGM. LP tilting player makes it 40, creative player on the button calls and I like the situation so I call in the SB with A3o. Tilting player's stack 400, creative player's stack 300, mine 1100.

Pot 125.

Flop AK6ss (I have no spade). I check, tilty bets $40 and creative thinks and shoves 260 into the 165 pot. I`m talking to him and get something that makes me think he isn`t very strong. Tilty is 100% transparent at this point and is folding behind me. I think for a minute and call, tilty mucks and we are heads up. Flush hits the turn and river is a brick. As the caller I always make the bettor turn over his hand first as I can use the info later on. He won`t turn over and asks if I hit my flush and I say no then he asks if I have an ace and shows pocket deuces. I flip over A3 and take down the pot. He is a bit shocked that I can make that call and I am a bit happy to be stacking his chips.

Tied for favourite hand in Vegas with #1 in the previous thread. I love these spots where experience and reads pay off making calls that the nitty 2 5 Vegas pros want to make but can never make.

Gotta love live poker...viva Las Vegas.

All tolled I made $1500 or so during a week of poker in Vegas -- I ran bad, but came out ahead. Then I came back to Calgary and ran as badly as before.

I quit poker for the first time in 6 years.

I didn't play a live hand for over 6 months and I didn't play much online at all. When I did play I deposited a small amount ($200ish) and generally ran it up to $800-$1k then lost patience and took a shot at a bigger game eventually getting back down to my $200 deposit and withdrew the funds and stopped playing for a few weeks again.

After doing this a few times and realizing I wan't enjoying playing at all anymore I stopped playing online for 6 months, period.

Over the last few months I've been 3-6 tabling low limit PLO online. Making ok money for the limits I'm playing, but getting really bored of it all. Once again, I have realized that online poker seems like a desk job and I'm not really cut out for trying to play higher limits online. I don't have any sort of commitment to playing the hours needed to move-up significantly and only enjoy playing for a few days or weeks and lose all enjoyment at some point.

I played live for the first time in 6-9 months (I've lost track) a week ago and really enjoyed poker for the first time in a year or more. I guess I'm really just a live player, but I would much rather be a very successful online player for practical reasons. Online poker loses so many nuances contained in the live game that I can no longer even really compare the two. I wish I enjoyed online poker the way I do live poker, but for me it will never be the same...so I guess I will start playing more live poker again and see where things go.

Calgary Poker

2008-10-08T03:39:00.002-04:00

I've been out here a month and I finally got to play some poker over the past few weeks...have been running good and even hit a straight flush high hand jackpot and sat at a bad beat table, $1000 in jackpots in 3 weeks, not bad.

Perhaps the softest 1 2 nl games I've seen and it's nice having a $300 max to at least get a bit of money on the tables. I've been playing well and running good, averaging $70/h at the 1 2 games over a few weeks.

What I've seen/heard as far as weeknight games go (confirmed with phone calls over the past few nights):

Stampede -- 1/2 nl is about it for weeknights, really nice room but pretty dead -- did have a 10 25 PLO on Tues night. Only comp is a single free drink voucher. Weekends generally have 2/5 and 5/5 NLH/DC games as do most rooms from what I hear. They have a bad beat and quad, str flush, royal jackpots.

Grey Eagle -- has become my regular game when I just have time for a 3 hour session -- 1/2nl is incredibly soft, 4 8 limit -- I had heard they had 2 5 n on weeknights, but not the case when I went there. Bad beat jackpot (I hit a table share for $680...brag at watching a hand and getting paid for it). Ugly as hell casino and poker room , the only time I've played on felt that hurt my eyes (edit, they replaced all the felt, so not a problem anymore, is now a burgundy/red colour) -- some kind of bright orange/red. From the looks of the place I figured it was built/designed in the 70s, but it's less than a year old. More action on weekends but 2 5nl is as high as they go. Occasional free round of drinks, worst service on the planet (over 2 hours for food; edit -- depends on the waitress, if you have the asian server then beware of longgg wait times), free food at 3am, free sandwiches now and then.

Cash Casino -- 1/2nl, 1/2 DC sometimes 2 5 nl. Good action, not a nice casino or location. Free meal if you're there an hour.

Deerfoot -- 1/2nl, maybe 4 8 limit not sure. Not sure about comps.

Elbow River -- the main limit room 4 8 and 15 30 all nights and 30 60 at times (LHE). Maybe a 1 2nl on weeknights. Free rounds of drinks.

ABS (Casino Calgary) (drug money casino, caution at playing high limit there from what I've heard -- home invasions, etc) -- 1/2nl, 4 8 limit, 2 5 nl DC. Not sure about comps.

Weekends -- from what I've heard everywhere that regulary has 1 2 nl has good action 2 5 nl 5 5 nl on weekends. Confirmed that Grey Eagle has 2/5 nl 1 to 2 tables on weekends. Games vary, sometimes the 1 2 is a more profitable game depending on the number of regulars sitting at 2/5..table selection is key. Can't find nl much bigger anywhere in calgary as the action players tend to play PLO. 5 10 DC at ABS, 10 25 DC/PLO at Stampede, 30 60 LHE at Elbow.

Small tournaments daily at most casinos ($33-$55) with $150+ weekend tournies at most. Grey Eagle has a monthly $330 with 65-70 players on Wednesday at 2pm. Stampede is having sats into some big event -- not sure, I don't play tournies but it's on their website.

Websites:

Official Casino ABS Web Site
Welcome to Cash Casino
Deerfoot Inn & Casino
Elbow River Casino - Functions - Private and Corporate Events
Grey Eagle | 24-hour Poker Room
Stampede Casino - Stampede Poker Room

Well, fuck, these links didn't work...well you can google them all...ok, they work, whatever.

So many games so close to me...Mmmm life is good.

Freaky Fridays at The Office

2008-08-02T19:18:00.000-04:00

I finally got a chance to play the Friday night 2 2 NL game at The Office in Toronto -- $1000 max buy-in. I managed to end with almost $2300 in front of me -- marking the most I've ever had on the table in a 2 2 NL game, my biggest comeback in a 2 2 NL game and my lowest profit to stack-size ratio ever. After taking some awful beats early and being down $1000+ I came out +$235 on the night, almost exactly 10% of my $2300 stack. Crazy.

Stampede Poker Room, Calgary

2008-07-18T00:43:00.001-04:00

I just got back from a brief trip to Calgary and had the chance to play a couple of sessions at the new Stampede Casino Poker Room. Overall, it's a pretty decent room. On a Tuesday night starting at 10pm I payed a short 3-4 hour session. The only games going were 1 2 NL, 300max -- not bad for a casino 1 2 game. Not too tight at all and a few horrid players thrown in -- good times. Wednesday I played from 1pm-11pm and the day games were much tighter, but we managed to get a 2 5 NL going and had some good action at the table by 6pm or so. It's so sweet being able to play casino poker at any time only 10 minutes from my house in Calgary...and Calgary seems to be the PLO capital of North America -- 5 10 PLO going on weekday afternoons? Sweet. I can't wait to live there full-time and play live poker on a regular basis. The Stampede needs to get some sort of comps program for their poker players, but otherwise it was a pretty decent room with the exception of one horrid dealer who they seemed to be training during the game.

My Biggest 2 2 NL Cash Ever

2008-07-01T16:19:00.001-04:00

In less than 3 hours last night I made $1150 playing 2 2 NLH, $400max. If you add in the $50 or so in tips I likely made $1200+. I was hitting everything and against the right players. I made a few successful bluffs with position in medium pots and I got my money in good in the right spots, inducing calls at times.

It all started with the proper seat selection as the game started and after being down $100 or so playing LAGGY in the first round or two it just all fell into place. There's nothing better than being deep-stacked vs easily readable players. Fun.

21 Months Later...

2008-07-01T16:07:00.000-04:00

Since living in Toronto I have been a part-time recreational at best. I've taken 3-4 months breaks from playing at times due to the lack of close/decent games in Toronto. I've taken some brief shots online, but it bores the hell out of me, so I usually go from +1k or so in a week to even a few days later due to playing unfocused and taking unreasonable shots at bigger games, etc. Live I continue to be a winning player, but in the past year I've played so infrequently and such small games that it really doesn't amount to anything significant at all...it's become just a social/fun thing to do now and then.

In a month I am moving to Calgary. Little did I know that it is the poker capital of Canada. I'm excited about all of the action in the area within a short drive to my house. Having many rooms to choose from all within a 5-15min drive at 1pm on a day off is going to be great . I believe Calgary is 3rd to only Vegas and Atlantic City for legal games per capita in North America. Sweet. I played there once this year during a trip to Calgary -- I had forgotten how soft casino games can be and I can't wait to start taking a shot at playing more often.

I'll be writing again to update all of my poker friends in the GTA about how things are going poker-wise in Calgary and to track my progress in all things poker.

A New Found Focus

2006-10-05T06:28:00.000-04:00

Last month was my first losing month in a year. I won 1k in 2 days playing 6max sngs online and shot it all back in a few hours in a bad run at a 15 30 Omaha8 game online. I didn't play much live, but played terribly and lost about 1k in 2 awful sessions. I didn't play much poker last month and only ended down about 1k which is only a tiny portion of my bankroll. The good news is that I know why I played badly and I now have a new focus.

In the past 6 hours of online play I'm up $600 playing single table sngs. My ROI in 6max sngs over the last 100 games is an insane 50% and I just keep winning at them. I'm going to start putting in some 6-8 hour days playing exclusively 6max sngs on Stars and I'm going to start putting in the effort again to make it out for some 20 40 sessions at GBH. I'm also going to focus more on live NL play, playing some underground 5/5NL when I get a chance.

WPT Niagara is in town at the end of this month and I'm going to try and head down for some side games for a few days during the events.

Things I Love About 6max Sngs

2006-09-20T02:49:00.000-04:00

This weekly sharkscope graph...
...woot.

Return to Online Poker

2006-09-17T18:17:00.000-04:00

It had been around 2 months since I had played a minute of poker online. However, there is always this thought in the back of my head that I should be able to beat the online games as well as I do live games. I definitely know my strengths and weaknesses online in comparison to live play and, surprisingly, some of my greatest strengths of being a winning live player have never translated well for me to online play.

Live, I make most of my money playing limit cash games. Online, I cannot find the patience required to win at cash games. Maybe one day this will change, but for now I know this is a glaring weakness. Looking over my past results there has always been one huge success online, 6max sngs. In the past several days I have played 22 6max sngs and my ROI is an astounding 69% with a nice profit to match. I seem to have partially cracked to $100 SNGS on Stars, having 2 seconds and 1 first in 3 turbo 6maxs at that level and one second and one third for a break-even ROI in the non-turbos -- so, 5 $100 games and 4 ITM 1,2,2,2,3...not bad. I am debating depositing some money for an online bankroll sufficient for a run at the $100 games, but am still a bit hesitant given past runs of horridness. I think I'll build things a bit more at the $38s and go from there.

WCOOP is on, there is only one event of interest to me, the HORSE event...but, alas, I have to work on the date.

My recent 6max Sharkscope graph...I know I'm pretty impressed for now, although I need many more games to get a better feel, it seems the 6maxs are just perfect for my game.

Table Image and a CNE Casino Report

2006-08-12T02:14:00.000-04:00

Ok, so second things first -- the CNE poker room has the softest 10 20 games I have ever seen, ever. Well...ever. Incredible. I love some of the undergrounds, but I pray to the heavens that downtown Toronto opens a permanent legal casino today. The 10 20, especially late at night, is likely a more profitable game than your average 20 40 game at GBH or Brantford. All I can say is capped 11 ways preflop...um...excuse me a second....

...sorry, had to wipe the drool of of my chin...

Some players simply cannot adjust to a wild, loose game. They only know how to play ABC poker, wait for aces, cuz hey it's capped, right? And lose a shitload of money with their big overpairs due to terrible post flop play. In all honesty, in these games I am praying for various suited connectors every hand and am looking for reasons to dump big pairs post flop against the right players.

I have to stop looking at the title of this entry, the Pavlovian drooling keeps getting triggered. Also, change of plans, no casino 20 40 until the CNE closes, so that will be early Sept until I play 20 40 again, this is just toooooooo soft.

Onto table image. Check this out. I go to the CNE today at around 2pm, wait 20-30 mins and a new 10 20 table opens. I sit with $800, BY FAR the largest stack at the table. Ok, listen, if you are sitting at 10 20 with $200-$300 I'm going to run you the fuck over, so please, please, please tell me you are going to rebuy. Anyhow, I sit and play a round and notice that these players are TIGHT. In addition, most of these tight players are sitting with stacks of $400 or less. What does stack size have to do with play in a limit game you ask? Well, it's a huge tell. If you have only played one hand in the first round, folded it on the flop and are sitting with $300 infront of you, you are begging to get run over. So...here comes the ride.

All the tables are now full, and I figure these guys are now stuck with me for 6 hours. People can tell you, that's not always a fun time. Time to loosen up the table a bit. 11 handed, limped to me and I raise with T3 suited. 5 callers. Ok, I've resigned to likely not winning the hand, but I'm going to see what kind of heat these guys can take, and I'm showing this hand down with any piece, period. Flop J73 rainbow. Blinds check, I bet and 4 callers. Turn J873, checked to me and I bet, 3 callers. River J8733...hehehe, get ready to pay me off for the next 3 hours you bastards. Checked to me, I bet and get 2 callers. Watch them turn over and then table my trip 3s. I'm in seat 5, asian guys in seats 7-10 berate me for...and I'm not kidding, 2-3 hours. One of them actually leaves the table when I win a few more pots. I hear him at his new table saying, "raised ten three", ahhhhhhh hahahaha...um...fuck you. While I'm stacking the chips on the T3 hand, I literally have to stifle a burst of laughter. The table was playing so tight for a while that I was raising anything even remotely playable with one or no callers infront of me from any position. JTo UTG? Raise. 87s in MP? Raise. After an hour or so and getting up a few hundred dollars, I settled back and played a tight game, getting paid off to the river whenever I hit anything as mediocre as top pair average kicker. Had a nice, profitable 5 hour session. Maybe it's just me, but a close second to a nice winning session is pissing off a tight ABC player who cannot shift gears or adjust his game worth a shit.

Good times. I'm evil. Blob out.

Month In Summary and August Plans

2006-07-27T15:05:00.000-04:00

I didn't play much poker at all this past month. I played 20 40 once, played a few low-limit holdem sessions including the previous disaster and played the Wed night only once with a profit of zero. Overall, I made only a few hundred dollars. My focus will change in August. I will play 5 Wed night sessions of hi-lo and 6-8 20 40 sessions at GBH. In addition, I will check-out some 10 20 action and the CNE. No online play, no low limit holdem play. Hopefully, without a bad run I will be up $3k or more this time next month.

A Realization and Likely My Worst Session Ever

2006-07-21T20:53:00.000-04:00

I have built a nice bankroll playing some low limit underground games in the GTA over the last 2 years, but something has happened in the last few weeks that I knew was coming and it cumulated in my (relatively) worst cash-game session ever last night. It's the same-old problem that has been there in my online game forever, but I have never experienced it live before. The problem is playing for too low stakes to be meaningful to me. Having the bankroll for, and having successfully played, 10 20 and a bit of 20 40 has made playing in the 4 8 and 5 10 range seem insignificant monitarily. I'm not playing anywhere near my best game at those limits anymore. I've seen it coming in a few small wins and break-even sessions in the past few weeks, but it was abundantly clear last night in what was likely my only 50-60bb loss ever at a poker table. If I'm going to take moving-up seriously then I need to focus on the bigger games. Even the Wednesday night game that has been such a steady income for me has somewhat lost its appeal at the moment -- winning $200-$400 a session just isn't that appealing after winning a small pot of $200-$300 at 20 40.

The drive has been the thing impeding my climb up in limits, but I simply have to make the effort to get out to GBH 6-8 times a month. I was going to head out tonight, but after last night's debacle I'm taking the night off and relaxing away from the tables. Maybe tomorrow...maybe Sunday...have to see how I feel.

As for the my worst session ever, I broke almost every one of my rules for being a winning player. The session started off with a few bad beats, including a few horrible beats. There was no way it was going to be a winning session, but playing against the rules of a winning player turned what should have been a bad session results-wise into a disaster results-wise.

Played beyond the 30-40bb rule,
Played when I didn't care anymore,
Played tired in a game that held little interest to me,
Played too many hands trying to get even,

In summary, played undisciplined poker just like 90% of the players out there and deservedly lost more than I should have.

It was one of those nights that helps to push you forward forcefully, like a 28 year old receiving a firm boot to the ass out of his parents' basement.

Hopefully, good things will follow from the experience as I'm more determined to focus on middle-limit poker.

Time to recoup with some omega eggs, huh Cookie?

A Few Key 20 40 Session Hands

2006-07-08T11:16:00.000-04:00

Right now, a good part of playing at GBH is that noone there knows how I play. One of my strengths playing live is assessing and reading a player within one or two rounds, whereas most players probably do not get that good a read on me as quickly.

First pot won of the night. 11 handed and I have 98o in my BB UTG calls, LP calls, button raises and I call a bit worried that UTG might reraise -- this is always a fear when not ending the action, but the other 2 just come along. Flop A76 rainbow, couldn't ask for a much better flop, if I hit the turn I likely get paid by either UTG or the button. Sometimes I bet out here to bet more money in the pot if I hit, but I am playing a bit conservative at 20 40 for now, so I check to the raiser as does everyone else. He bets, I call and UTG calls. Turn is the magical offsuit ten giving me the stone-cold nuts. I check praying for the button to bet and he does, I call and UTG folds. River is a low blank and I bet out, which is generally screaming that I have a big hand. But, like I said noone knows me there and the button decides to value raise his ace-ten (top 2 pair), I reraise and he calls. Nice little pot, and most importantly I hit a draw...it's been a while, but I guess I'll save them all up for 20 40.

Another big blind pot of note (I can't recall the order of all these pots), a new female player from the other 20 40 moves to our table and it is folded to her and she raises my BB from the cutoff. I haven't seen her play much, I have noted that she is very comfortable with her chips and her motions mucking the cards. She also knows a few people at the table that I have established as regulars by their play against each other and their comments to each other. So, I have taken her out of the category of my default female weak-tight player and placed her into the category of a player who can steal my blinds. I look down at T9 hearts, a definite call. Miracle flop of QJx all hearts. I flop a flush with a redraw to an open-ended straight flush. I figure that I'll let her do all the work. I check, she bets and I call. Turn blank...I'm praying..no heart, no heart. I check raise her and she calls. River is the partly nice and partly ugly ace of hearts. I figure that she has now hit some of the AQJxx board, but am hoping that she doesn't have KK with the K of hearts. I have the second nuts, but with a one card flush out I'm not ecstatic. I can bet or check. I figure that the pot is large enough that she can fire again to a check, hoping to win it if I don't have a heart. I check-call and win a nice heads-up pot.

Another nice heads-up pot. I have one of the two donatorsin the game 2 seats to my right, and I'm waiting to isolate hime with any decent paint. I see him turning over K7o in EP, etc, etc. I'm in the cutoff and he open-limps and I raise with KQo. Unfortunately a decent, TAG player reraises on the button and the donator folds, I sheepishly call as my raises are getting respect at this point from the 4 players on my left, I'm thinking that I may be drawing fairly slim and remind myself of the troubles with KQo out of position before we see the flop of Qxx rainbow. I check call both the flop and the turn and check down the river to his second pair of TT.

My big cards did fairly well for me all night, winning some small to medium pots. I didn't hit a set in the few hours that I played. At a table like this that is a spot where you are going to win some decent pots.

A few small mistakes and questionable plays in the session, but no major mistakes. Here they are.

Questionable situation one. I'm in LP with black 44 and it is limped to me as a family, I call and we see the flop 11handed! Flop J65 with 2 spades, giving me 2 outs that don't bring a flush but bring a straight. SB bets and I think everyone calls to me, so there are roughly 9-10bb in the pot. I have proper odds to draw to the two remaining red fours and with only 2 players to act behind me and everyone coming along, the odds of a raise behind me is slim. I think for 10 seconds or so and muck telling myself that a larger set or 65 could already be out there and hitting my set could obviously make a made straight, killling some action to my redraw. At the least, with everyone coming along for the ride some of my ten redraw outs must be dead, so I fold a $400 pot for $20, of which I had only invested $20. The button ends-up raising, and I lost track of the rest of the flop action. The turn is a 9 and the river an 8. So, the board is J5698 rainbow. Player on my right had check-raised the turn after it was checked to the flp raiser who bet the turn with the sb coming along. I put him on 78, as did the other 2 I guess. He bets the river and the other 2 fold to a single bet into a $700+ pot. He flips A8 suited, missing his flush draw and hitting a pair of 8s on the river. Button says he folded KK. What a horrid, horrid fold for a single bet on the river. You do the math. I should have probably come along for one more bet on the flop.

Questionable situation two. Same scenario as the next hand in the series (sorry, I wrote these out of order), but I'm in my small blind with K7o. I usually call just about anything here, but I don't want to hit a king and not be able to play it for value against the donators, so I fold and see a K9x flop which is checked around. Final board of K9xJx rainbow. BB bets A9 on the turn and checks the river and wins a small pot against one of the donators.

Small mistake one. One donator is 5 to my left or 5 to my right, so I don't get to manipulate him all too often, the other two to my right. I'm on the button and both donators are the only ones in the pot. I see Q8 suited and decide that I have so much pot-flop equity against these calling-stations that I limp along as do the blinds. KTx rainbow and I check-fold. Now the purpose of having these donators in the game is to have them pay-off your top pair decent kicker, not to be drawing against them. Only cost me $20, but the fact that I was dying to play against these 2 let me make a bad call.

Small mistake two. UTG calls, I call with ATs diamonds in UTG+2 (table is playing fairly passive preflop), guy three to my left who loves raising his middle pairs preflop raises and I the donator on my right comes along. Beautiful flop of A74 with a 4 flush for me. I'm not crazy about my kicker, but I love my draw. Check to me and I bet the the flop to see if there's any strength out there. (I'm also not giving the guy (preflop raiser) who spiked an 8 on my queens on a previous turn a free card to his set). Preflop raiser just calls as does donator. UTG folds. Turn is a blank and I check and so do the other 2 -- against Mr. pocket-pair and the donator who would call any ace, I should have bet for value. I think the pocket-pair would have folded, but I lost $40 from the donator. River makes the board A74x4 and the BB (donator) bets out. I I literally think for 20 seconds -- call/raise? call/raise? call/raise? -- I decide to call to try and get an overcall from the pocket pair and I have a smidgen of fear that the BB has the 4. Pocket pair folds saying he had a pocket pair. I win against the donator's A6o. A raise on the river was the right move. I likely lost $80 easy profit in that hand.

Bad mistake one (and only). The far-off donator limps in EP and 2 to 3 more limp to my sb where I have KJs, I call. Flop KTx rainbow. I bet, donator calls, all else fold. I know he can call with a ten here. Turn ten, copleting nothing put a draw to a ten. I check and he bets...sirens screaming in my head -- the calling station just bet out for the first time almost ever, he has the ten, he has the ten, hello, hello TENTENTEN -- pot is small and I have only invested $30. I call? River blank, I check he bets -- arooooooohah, aroooooooohah, he has the ten! I call. He turns over QTo. Nice play Dave. At 20 40 that's $80 being stubborn. Almost a stack of red shifted to the donkey, nice move. I hate paying-off horrid players.

So, overall I lost or didn't gain roughly $160 making a few mistakes. A good session none the less.

A Very Frustrating Wednesday and My Second Ever 20 40 Session

2006-07-08T04:45:00.000-04:00

Wednesday night came again and I played the world's most beatable game again. I had a terrible session. The table was softer than it has been in a month or so and if the chips weren't flowing to me they were going to the second best spots -- to the worst players on the table. Unfortunately all I could muster was a break-even night after 11 hours of play. I couldn't hit a hand to save my life.

The most frustrating part of the session is that I fell back into an old pattern of staying too long to try and post a win -- instead of leaving at 3-4am as I had planned, I stayed until 9am. I was exhausted, got caught in the AM rush-hour traffic and was too tired once home to walk my dog. I hate when I do things like that, I need to be more regimented in my session times. I did get to +$100 after hours of struggling down $100-$200, but ended just about exactly even.

The most rewarding part of this session is the realisation that an awful card-dead session can be a break-even session for me whereas it would be a -$500+ session for almost every other player in that game. This is what makes me a long-term winner. Anyone can win a huge pot with a huge hand, but most give it back fairly quickly.

Just home from my second 20 40 session at the GBH. I was planning on going at 7pm or so, but my sleep cycle is all fucked-up due to working nights and not adjusting back to days well due to idotic things like playing an 11 hour session Wednesday night. Last night I drank a bottle of wine in an attempt at getting to bed at 3am having just woken up at 5pm. Well, it worked, but I awoke at 730am no longer able to sleep and felt tired all day. When 7pm came I knew that I had that tired anxious feel that makes me lose at poker, so I had an hour and a half nap. Then at 1025pm I finally left my house for GBH feeling in the right mindset to play but not really up for a long session.

50 minutes to GBH and I see on the screen that there is an interest list for 20 40 Omaha8??!! Ok, I say sign me up for 10 20, 20 40 and 20 40 O8. Then I ask the floor guy if the Omaha ever goes and he says no, they don't have omaha dealers...uh, ok. Scrap that plan. I get a 10 20 seat right away. I'm hungry, so I decide to wait and post at my BB which is 6-7 hands away and try to get some food.. Fortunate for me as I am called to the 20 40 after 2 hands...still foodless.

Physically, I get a great seat (I hate the end seats with a passion) right in seat 6 and we are 11 handed. Position-wise the seat proves to be good as well...1 of the 2 main donators is 2 seats to my right. Good table, not a great table, 2-3 live ones max and the rest TAG to TWeak players. Certainly a workable table and I had reads on everyone after 1 or 2 passes of the button. At my peak I'm up $650. I only play 3.5 hours and leave at 3am up $600. I'm happy booking a win, only 15bb but $600 is still nice. I'm not at all nervous or apprehensive at the table and after showing down some big hands I'm getting respect all over the place. It's the kind of poker game you read about but never experience at most lower levels. 3-4 players per most flops, a few 7 handed flops, one 11 handed flops, UTG raises being folded to the blinds at times. The ability to make isolation plays, to make a few moves out of the blinds against the overly tight players, to raise for the button preflop from the cutoff, etc. A fun game for sure. I'm still getting used to winning a small pot and making $100-$200 and a decent pot making $400-$500. Pretty neat feeling though.

I'll post a few 20 40 hands tomorrow, now time for bed.

So far, 2 fairly short 20 40 sessions and +$1300-$1400, a good start.

Monthly Summary Including My First Ever 20 40 Session

2006-06-30T05:34:00.000-04:00

So, monthly summary.

I've quit online poker. It became too many hours for too little money. I've come to realize that I will never be comfortable playing online for the same stakes that I strive to play for regularly live, so I'm putting all my focus on live limit cash games.

To that end, I played my first ever 20 40 holdem session. I forced myself to make the hour drive to GBH casino. I was sitting at a weak/passive 10 20 game and then got called for 20 40. Three of the weak 10 20 players were heading over and I figured what the fuck, its time to make the jump.

I hovered around even for a quite a while until the following hand occurred:

9 handed. UTG calls (I've seen him play 54o in EP), folded to me in MP with KK, I raise. New player in SB calls, solid player in BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop KQ2, 2 hearts. SB bet, BB raise, UTG fold, I call, SB reraises, BB caps (I immediately put him on a set of queens), I stall a bit and call, sb calls (I put him on nut flush draw).

Turn KQ28, 2 hearts/2 spades. SB bet, BB raise, I reraise, SB calls, BB calls.

River, KQ285, 3 spades. Check/check...I bet and both call. SB AA, BB QQ, me KK set. Me happy...me finally win a hand.

So, lets see that's a 22bb pot, and at 20 40 that makes it a $880 pot...likely the largest pot of my life...I can get used to this.

Up to that point I was pretty happy sitting at about even, fairly card dead, and realizing that I could beat this 20 40 game. Sure, there were 4-5 decent players at the table, but there were also players routinely turning over Q7s, K6s, 83s UTG...wow was I happy.

I ended the session up $800 or so after 4-5 hours of play.

I was blessed with June having 5 Wed nights, I won 4/5 sessions. +$1200 or so in my wins and one -$100 loss.

Probably up a few $100 playing 4 8 holdem with a 1/2 kill at The Office. I don't really enjoy that game too much anymore, the stakes are too small for my liking. Whatever profit I made I shot back playing like an idiot at 1 2 holdem for a night -- I just can't take that game seriously, once again...the ultimate boredom...Dave, c'mon, do not play 1 2 NL!

For July...Wednesday nights hi/lo, 10 20 and 20 40 LHE.

Brief Update...

2006-06-15T20:59:00.000-04:00

Another hi/lo Wed night, another $300.

I couldn't get much of anything going and was down $200 after 4 hours or so. The table got short and we switched to straight omaha8. I opened the game up quite a bit with straddles, blind raises, etc. There were a few hands that were re-straddled all the way to the small blind 7 handed. Anyhow, by 9am I was up $300. I love the Wed night game.

Haven't played at all online since my terrible run to even, just not in the mood.

So, +$1135 live and even online for the month...have to work this coming Wed, but hoping to get in some holdem sessions.

Missed the monthly 10 20 at The Office, heard it was a great game.

Dealing with Losses...The Next Step in My Development

2006-06-12T15:53:00.000-04:00

I don't deal well with losing. I have great difficulty taking a losing session in stride and not being frustrated by it. Rather that type in more detail about this, I'll just paste a recent thread of mine from Canada's Poker Forum, www.pokerforum.ca

So, I took a shot at some $100 sngs with my online winnings for the month, suffered some horrible beats and lost it all back in a day. I think I monied once all day in the 6max sngs. I really felt like crap after the loss. Then I posted a $300 win playing live 4 8 1/2 kill holdem at The Office last night and felt much better. So, back to even online for the month, up $835 live. The monthly 10 20 game is tonight at The Office, but I'm not sure if I'll make it as I want to watch the hockey game and work-out tonight.

Me in orange, below.

So, I'm up $700 or so in a couple days of my usual limit sngs -- I decide to take a shot at some bigger games and suffer bad beat after bad beat.

Now, I'm back to even for my online play for the month.

I find this the toughest part of my game. When I win, I'm not especially happy as I excpect to be/know that I'm a long-term winning player. I had this same outlook when I was an athlete -- wins, even championships, weren't that high for me, but losses were always quite low. I know this is due to high expecatations, but I feel that it's tougher to deal with in poker due to that higher luck factor.

Any large losing session leaves me feeling like crap, even if it leaves me even for the short-term. The money only seems to mean much to me when I lose, not when I win.

Even live, I can have 6 winning sessions and be up 2-3k over that time, but one brutal session of losing $500-$600 upsets me for a day or so, and I usually skip a day or 2 af the clubs when this happens. It is rare that I have a losing month, but these sessions still aren't easy for me to let go.

This also impedes me at times from moving up limits.

Anyone else have this problem with their game?

For me, this is the toughest part of poker. The fact that there is know way that you can win every time no matter your skill. I know in my head that it's all part of the game, I know that luck is what keeps driving the bad players back to the game and keeps the games juicy, but it is something that I still struggle with emotionally.

I have a fairly balanced life outside of poker, which helps...but losing sessions do creep slightly into my attitude afterwards.

Does anyone else have this issue with their game. Or did you have this issue and overcome it? I would think that most winning players are pretty competitive players with high expectations from their games and that this is a large hurdle for some to overcome,

I'd appreciate any comments.

Thanks.

i think you're better off than you could be, seeing that after a losing session, you take a day or two off, as opposed to immediately jumping back in to break even..

Nothing anybody can tell you that you don't already know and have said, you just have to remember it at the moment. Think of it as the cost of investing, you know the return will come, you just have to put a little capital in.

I posted a similar thread a few months ago (you may remember it got Harthgosh banned). It seems that you suffered the same feelings that I did, you just hate to lose. It wasn't about the money but the actual loss. Whether or not you played bad or had a bad beat it just sucks to lose. Now what have I done to overcome that feeling?

I have just seperated the losing from the game that I enjoy. I look back on the actual time that I had. For the most part, even when I lose, I had a fun time playing.

If you continue to get depressed or dwell on losses you are going to begin to hate the game. And it will affect how you play during the game. You may become so fearful of feeling like shit that you'll make poor choices that will magnify the the feeling which you are trying to avoid.

Quote from: Flint Bones on June 11, 2006, 06:23:10 PM

Well, it's not as extreme as you make it sound. Certainly not to the extreme of any form of depression. I would liken it to losing a big game when I played junior hockey and thinking about it to some extent for the next 24h or so. It's just the frustration of losing at a game that I can beat. Rationally, I know that every session cannot be a winning one, but I still get affected to some degree emotionally by losing. I'm certainly working on getting this out of my game. My goal is to be playing semi-professionaly in the next couple of years, but I can see this as a serious hurdle to achieving that goal. One that, if I can't overcome will seriously hold me back from this goal.

I have a completely seperate poker bankroll from my real life money, but I am still not completely immune to the thought of losing actual money when a bad run hits. I have never come remotely close to decimating my poker bankroll and I see my bankroll steadily growing, but still focus more on the losses than any wins.

I think that there exists some dicotomy in easily accepting losses and variance and being a competitive, winning player. To me, this would seem to be one of the hardest parts of playing professionaly. Possibly, playing more frequently and thus being more accustom to the swings would be the answer to the problem...only time will tell I suppose.

The swings when going professionally will be far more drastic and longer. You're right, this is a huge hurdle that you must overcome. Clearly you're not ready to go semi-pro (as you have acknowledged), perhaps consulting an actual pro to understand their mentality would be the best course of action. I'm sure you wouldn't want this to affect you.

I am not sure if playing more frquently would be the answer. Playing more frequently may enhance the problem rather than allow you to deal with it better. I am not a physcologist but I would think being able to handle the smaller losses would be prudent before making the choice that would affect you financially. That is of course if your "semi-pro" idea is going to be a primary source of income. Losing and realising that making the next mortgage payment or what-have-you will be hard won't make it easier.

I think you hit the nail on the head by saying winning players are competitive. We hate to lose. Whether its $5 or $5000, its still a loss. And it sucks. Even if I finish 2nd in a tourney and take home a wad of cash, I still think of losing to that one other person.
My advice... just be happy you can still afford to play.

just wanted to add a comment to this thread. This is exactly how my addiction started! You would win so much some nights then lose it all back the next. You then have the idea in your head, "ah, was just a bad night, let me rebuild again" ..then after awhile you start sounding like the GM for the toronto maple leafs...."Rebuilding Phase" (I mean no offence when I say that about the leafs, I still bleed blue to this day" ...and sooner then later your in the red trying to catch up your inital losses.
Word of advice here is slow down, if your doing well at the smaller stakes....why fix something that isn't broke? ...Just remain at that level and sooner or later you will be a bigger winner, then a bigger loser. (like me)

-ALI

Quote from: djalikool on Today at 01:07:20 AM

just wanted to add a comment to this thread. This is exactly how my addiction started! You would win so much some nights then lose it all back the next. You then have the idea in your head, "ah, was just a bad night, let me rebuild again" ..then after awhile you start sounding like the GM for the toronto maple leafs...."Rebuilding Phase" (I mean no offence when I say that about the leafs, I still bleed blue to this day" ...and sooner then later your in the red trying to catch up your inital losses.

Word of advice here is slow down, if your doing well at the smaller stakes....why fix something that isn't broke? ...Just remain at that level and sooner or later you will be a bigger winner, then a bigger loser. (like me)

-ALI

Thanks for the guidance. However, my issue is not with being a losing player, just with handing the inevitable losses better within the big picture. I felt a bit crappy yesterday about a large-ish loss, had a winning session live tonight and all is forgotten. If I could just get rid of the 12-24h of bother after a losing session things would be perfect...guess I just have to learn to take losing in stride more readily.

Quote from: GTA Poker on Today at 08:55:58 AM

If I could just get rid of the 12-24h of bother after a losing session things would be perfect...guess I just have to learn to take losing in stride more readily.

No suggestion, but a quick question/comment. If you did eliminate the "12-24h of bother after a losing session" would you still be as good a player? Isn't the pressure of avoiding that feeling as well as the (sometimes painful) time reflecting on our losses and focusing on our mistakes something that makes better player's? When an athlete has a scoring drought, they don't shrug it off as a return from "excellent" to "above average", they get frustrated with themselves, study more video, and spend more time in practice till they get there game back.

Personally, I think it would be more "fun" if I didn't feel bad losing, but I think my overall game would suffer. Losing makes me a better player, and forces me to continually improve.

Quote from: beanie42 on Today at 09:54:06 AM

Quote from: GTA Poker on Today at 08:55:58 AM

If I could just get rid of the 12-24h of bother after a losing session things would be perfect...guess I just have to learn to take losing in stride more readily.

Great reply Trevor, couldn't have said it better myself (I was gonna try, but now that would just be embarrassing).

/g2

Quote from: GTA Poker on Today at 08:55:58 AM

If I could just get rid of the 12-24h of bother after a losing session things would be perfect...guess I just have to learn to take losing in stride more readily.

I'm not entirely sure you can, I think this attribute is ingrained in some people. I'm very much the same in all aspects of my life. I hate to lose, I accept that I will but I still hate it...and I'll 'hang on' to it for a while afterwards. Wether it's a hockey game, ball game, poker game, or whatever I also usually have a period of a day or two after a lose where I'm kinda grumpy about it. I also really don't see it as a problem. I handle it much the same as you...which I think is fine. I think it would be more of an issue if you played while still bummed about a recent lose as this could lead you to stray from your game. I personally would try not to worry about it, take your day or so to get over it then get back at it. I'm sure there are many pros that react to a lose in a similar matter and I think it's completely natural.

I'd be a liar if I said I didn't get affected by losing.

Poker gets by heart thumping, and that's one of the reasons I love it....but the adrenaline goes both ways...I get pumped by winning, and I get bummed by losing. And it's never about the money for me - I have a seperate bankroll, track all my wins/losses, and never play above my loss threshold....it's about the challenge, and being better than my opponent.

Some losses are easier to shake off than others...luckily I have a poker playing husband, and when I lose he gives me perspective (and I do the same for him). The thing I try to do is learn something from every loss....that way it's an investment in improving my game.

Quote

The money only seems to mean much to me when I lose, not when I win.

I sort of know what you mean. In general I find I play LESS when I'm winning. I find I probably play more often, but I tend to play more managed, shorter sessions. I don't know why. Maybe I have the compulsive urge of playing on when I'm running bad but at what I know is a good table. When I'm winning, I just tend to find the game gets boring and leave with my winnings (I think I'm "probably" better at recognizing when table conditions have detiorated when I'm running well too).

If you find a way of getting rid of the pain of losing, let me know. I'm mired in probably my biggest short-term downswing that I can remember. Probably somewhere around 200-250BB at various limits on various sites. It's been annoying to say the least. And while I'm not happy with my results of late, my overall attitude (shockingly) is that of mild indifference. I don't know if my blatant disregard of money is a good or bad thing. Now of course this is very short term (say last 2 weeks), so if I'm in the same boat 2-3 weeks from now, the grind of a longterm downswing may be enough to start weighing on me.

I guess I keep telling myself that variance will eventually turn the other way, and going through the fire of a tough losing streak can only make me stronger in the long-run (unless I go broke). Fortunately, playing massively overrolled makes a bad downturn like this bearable at least.

Thanks for the great responses. I guess that in some sense I was venting, but this thread has really helped me. It is very rare that I have more than 1-2 consecutive losing sessions as I'm primarily a cash-game player. As I stated previously, I do have the ambition of being able to play poker part-time-professionally at some point in my life -- whether that will ever come to fruition remains to be seen. I have no illusions about the downsides of being an any-level pro player. Obviously doing something part-time for a living in which you cannot always succeed can be frustrating at times. I feel that minimizing the sting of losses is one of the most important aspects of my game that I need to work on before ever even considering any transition to being a part-time pro at any level. I appreciate the feedback as it definitely helps to know that others that take the game seriously have similar feelings towards losing. I realize that this sort of response is part of what makes me a winning player. Perhaps there is no best of both worlds with respect to being a winner and not having losses sting more than wins elate. My hope is that with even more experience that a loss will just be a loss -- of course something to reflect upon and learn from, but something that can more easily be let go. Poker is such an interesting game and, to me, dealing with the psychology of losing seems to be my next challenge in my crawl toward the possibility of taking my game to another level.

Feeling Certain

2006-06-08T05:40:00.000-04:00

I've always had a lingering doubt in my mind as to whether or not I could be a consistent winning player. Over the last few days that doubt has gone away. I have found the games that work for me -- live cash games, online sngs, the occasional online MTT -- and focused on them for the past few months. My stats don't lie, I am a winning player. Now, it is just a matter of gradually moving up in limits. I haven't had a losing month this year and by focusing on the games that I like playing, by playing both live and online for variety and by playing only when I'm in the mood and cutting sessions short when I feel my wins going into lock-down mode, I have churned out a steady profit.

Just back from the Wed night hi/lo game -- up $335 in 4-5 hours.

So, for the month so far, 9-10 hours of live play +$535, a couple of days of online sngs +$750. Another good start to the month. Having played some $100 and $200 sngs last month, I realize that more profit is possible, but I need to slowly become more comfortable with risking more money online. For now, I feel a reasonable goal for the month is $2.5-$3k, we'll see how it goes.

Everything Seems to be in Place and Running Smoothly

2006-06-07T20:56:00.000-04:00

I didn't play all that much in May, won around $2.5k so it was a good month profit-wise. I seem to be beating every game that I play these days. I can pretty much guarantee booking a $2k-$3k win every month these days combining live and online play.

So far this month:

I'm up $750 or so online having played 18 sngs -- I was getting tired of the Party 6 max sngs, needed some variety so I tried out the Stars 9max Turbos...just started playing low limit $27 ones to see how they are and after 10 games my ROI is a whopping 116%, likely not sustainable but certainly a profitable game none the less. Played one $110 6 max turbo on there and placed first as well. Played a $6 turbo 99max on Party for a fun diversion and finished first. I'll move up to the $55 turbos on Stars after a larger sample size at $27. The beauty of these turbos is the ease of multitabling, the play is pretty straightforward in these -- so far I've just been 2-tabling as I've been playing exclusively on my laptop and can't play 3 tables well due to overlap.

I'm up $200 having played only one live session of the Wed night hi/lo, the most beatable game on earth -- there is no way that I can't beat (and I have been beating) this game for a conservative average of $200/session, so that would be $800 a month or so. I've had 2 losing sessions there in 3 months. I wish this were a higher limit game, but it's my favourtie live game, so I doubt I'll stop playing it anytime soon.

So, $2k-$3k a month seems a reasonable average playing at my current limits, depending on my playing time. This, of course, barring a losing session or two whilst taking a shot at higher limits.

My goal is to maintain this for a couple of months and to eventually get this figure up to $4k-$5k a month .

My Goal for the Week Attained...I'm Playing Great

2006-05-18T08:25:00.000-04:00

My goal of winning $1000 playing live this week was attained after a 4 hour session tonight at The Office, the weekly stud8/omaha8 game. As I've said before, this is the most consistantly beatable game that I've ever player and it just doesn't change. Hovered around even for a couple of hours then scooped a couple of pots, up around $350 at my peak and quit at +$300.

So, for the week 3 hours 2 5 NLH, 2 hours 10 20 LHE, 4 hours 4 8 1/2 kill hi/lo for a profit of just under $1000 in 3 sessions totalling 9 hours of play.

Will be taking tonight off, maybe playing a bit online...now it's bedtime.

On Pace For a Pretty Good Month

2006-05-17T19:15:00.000-04:00

I've played relatively little poker this month, but am on pace for $3k or so of profit which would be one of my best months to date. So far, I have played only 12 hours or so of live cash games and am up roughly $700, 10 hours of 6max sngs on Titan +$700, 2 hours of online ring on Party +$200, 7 hours or so of Party sngs +$200 and a few hours of live tourney play -$60. So, overall on pace for a $3k or so month with out much play at all.

Over the last few months a losing session of sngs online has been breaking even or just making a small profit, whereas a good session like this AM involved playing for 2 hours/4sngs and finishing 1st 3 times and 2nd once. Not bad at all. Playing just 4 $22 sngs on Party today I am up $200 on the day.

This profit doesn't seem like much work as I have mixed up my game pretty evenly. Live profits from O8/Stud8/LHE and NLH, online from 6max sngs and PLO8 HU matches and a Jackpot. Haven't played much on Titan lately, but will try at that Jackpot again soon.

I Have a Big Hole in My Tournament Game

2006-05-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

I decided to play the small $60 tournament at The Unit tonight. More to start working a bit on my live tournament game than anything else. 45 players or so, first $1.1K, second $700, third $400, fourth $200. Usually when I play these, it is just to blow off some steam from playing solid cash-game poker. My cash game has virtually no holes...however. my tournament game has one big one akin to the Matusow Blow-up.

I decide to play solid, positional poker, make no moves, play my cards and see how it goes. I literally pick-up JJ once and that's about it. I manage to get down to 6 handed where if I'm not the short stack, then I'm 5th. Only first would mean much in terms of the payout, second would be ok as well, not at all interested in 3rd-5th. So, blinds are 600 1200 and I have 8-9k infront of me. Folded to me on the button, very weak player in the SB about my stack size, chip leader in the BB. I decide to limp with KTo and try and take it on the flop. SB folds, BB makes it 3k ontop, I think and push. I have never played with the BB before as this was a new table. I think that getting all those chips earlier makes him very capable of making a move on a short limping stack. He turns over AQo, so I don't mind, but I lose to a full house on the turn.

Now, I played solidly all game but then I get down to 6 handed and decide that I need to double-up to try and make a run to first. Do I mind my push, I'm not sure. I guess that I do a bit given that I'm doing it against a player that I have zero read on and that I could have waited 4-5 more hands for a pushable hand. I was card-dead for most the game, so overall 6th is not very bad. However, this was not a great spot. I don't mind the limp if I know the BB can make a play, as KT is a better than average hand. However, odds are he's just another low-limit player playing only his cards, so I should have either raised or folded in that spot, and certainly should have folded rather than pushing all in. Perhaps if the tournament was for more money then I would have played it differently.

A Few B&M 10 20 Hands

2006-05-16T11:47:00.000-04:00

Most sessions seem to come down to a few big pots as to whether you have a winning or losing session. Especially when you only play for a couple of hours. So, it's 11:30pm and my sleep pattern is still all fucked-up (the rain really does not help with this), so I head to the monthly 10 20 game at The Office in Mississauga. It has been a couple of months since I have played live 10 20 LHE and after winning $250 the night before in a brief NL session I felt like I could win another $300 or so in this game. I'm not out for a big win, I just want to win $1000 or so in this week off of work.

So, I get there at midnight and sit with 6 or 7 other players, of which I am only familiar with 3 or so. I end up playing for only 2 hours. I'm up $450 at that point and I get "that feeling" of not wanting to lose back my profit and decide that that's enough for the night.

Three key hands to the session, in chronological order.

First hand:

We are 8 handed or so and this is how the hand plays out -- I like my play but am curious as to what others think.

UTG calls (Johnny T no less), I call with KQo, folded to the SB who completes and BB checks.

Players SB -- extremely loose, horrid limit player.
BB -- extremely tight, horrid limit player.
UTG -- Johnny T who I have not played with in a year and a half and he just sat, so no real read.
Me -- UTG + 1

Preflop pot 2bb

Flop K hi all hearts SB bets, BB folds Johnny T calls, I debate a raise knowing I am likely ahead of SB and thinking JohnnyT likely has a big heart -- I call and wait for the turn to pop it if no heart falls (I have no heart). Pot 3.5bb.

Turn offsuit Q giving me top 2 -- SB bets, JT calls, I raise with top 2, SB calls, JT reraises (pot now 10,5bb) -- so he most likely flopped the flush, but again I do not have a good read on JT and he could have top pair with a big heart, I call given that I have roughly 10.5:1 on my money to make a fh with 10.5bb in the pot and will be paid by a bet on the river, and SB folds. Pot 11.5bb.

River blank and I call (12.5bb pot) and am shown T9 suited of hearts -- I always call on the river HU in this spot as I feel it is a winning play in the long run, win 1 in 11 and I'm ahead.

As an aside, Johnny T played some solid poker in the couple hours I sat with him, much different than my previous experiences with him. For those of you who don't know JT, check out www.pokernightlive.ca

Second hand:

77 UTG. Table is 8 handed or so, I look down and think of mucking, then think of raising. I noticed last month that my positional play had been poor wrt preflop hand selection and after tightening-up slightly I have yet to have a losing session. So, I call. Why do I call? I think the table was playing fairly tight preflop at that point and I figured the flop would be cheap. Soooooo, it comes back to me 3-bet or capped (I don't recall) 3 ways as 2 loose-aggressive players decided to remember that they were loose aggressive. I call 2 or 3 more bets cold, feeling I can win 16bb on my 8:1 shot of flopping a set if I hit given who is in the hand.

The players:

ME -- UTG
UTG + 2 -- bad player who reraises and 2 paint preflop regardless of action to him.
MP -- DQ, laggy preflop player, decent postflop player
BB -- JT again

So, we see the flop with 6-8bb in the pot.

Flop -- doorcard is the 7, sweet. 762 with 2 hearts. Pot is big. I'm going to win a big pot or lose a big pot to a straight or a flush. Pot is big, no way am I slowplaying, I want to take this down ASAP. I bet, bad player raises, DQ reraises, JT folds, I cap and bad player thinks and folds, DQ calls right away -- likely flush draw/straight draw or overpair. Pot 11-13bb.

Turn -- completes the flush but not the straight, I can't recall the card. I bet out as I can't allow a free draw to a 4th heart. DQ raises, ok he has the flush. I call. Pot 15-17bb.

River pairs the 6, I bet and he makes a crying call and I rake in a nice-sized pot.

Third Hand:

Very soon after, I pick-up AA UTG. I raise, bad player reraises, DQ reraises, JT calls, I hesitate and make a what-the-fuck-the-game-is-loose cap. Everyone calls. 4 handed capped pot. Pot 8bb.

The players are the same as the last big hand.

The Flop -- T9x with 2 diamonds. I bet, bad player raises, DQ reraises, JT folds (I think), I cap, bad player folds, DQ calls. Pot 13bb.

The turn -- pairs the ten, never a great sign when you have an overpair. I bet, DQ just calls. Hmmm, still drawing? Pot 15bb.

The River -- ACE! Are you kidding me, I hit 2 sets in 10 mins? Nice. Bet, called. And he shows a ten and mucks. Pot 17bb, nice.

I play a few more rounds, the game is still very good although it has gotten short, which is my specialty. However, I have obtained my monitary goal for the night and don't feel like playing aggressive, short-handed poker with it's inherently increased variance after winning $450 at an almost-full table. I get up and I go home.

Conquering a Demon and the Importance of Game Selection

2006-05-15T05:07:00.000-04:00

There is one NL underground club in Toronto where I have almost never, if ever, had a winning session. I haven't played there much, but there it is staring me in the face. Probably the only poker room anywhere where I am in the red overall. I know the primary reason for this -- I hate full-table 1 2 NL and this is what I have always played there. Inevitably, I play almost every hand for $2, call with almost anything for $6 trying to crack someone for their stack, etc., etc. I play horrid poker. Also, I abhor full table NL ring...just exhaustingly boring to me. Well, it was 130am and I was wide awake AND I felt like playing live NL ring. So, over to The Unit I go to play 2 5 NL. Now, I have only played 2 5 NL live once before, and that time after a horrid hand of 2nd nut full-house over nut full-house costing me my initial $400, I managed to break even after 4-5 hours. Tonight (or this morning, depending on the life you live), I was determined to play a solid and fairly tight game of 2 5 NL. I told myself on the way there -- do not make moves in multiway pots, do not play suited connectors for a 5bb raise out of position -- basically, play solid, position poker. Just take home a small win, $200 or so, and get this demon off your back and prove that you can play 2 5 NL half way decently as there MUST be alot of money floating around in all the underground NL games in the GTA. NL is the game of choice these days, so why not try playing a limit that is interesting and see how I do.

The game is min/max $200/$500. Usually I like to buy for the max if any stacks at the table are at or over that amount as I can can with huge implied odds to crack big hands. however, I only know 1 player at the table so I decide to be cautious and buy in for $300. After no cards for some time and maybe winning 1 small pot I'm at $250. I have pigeonholed most of the table, so after I win a pot to get to around $330 or so I add on another $100. Basically only 1 big hand all night, but that's all it takes to win a few hundred at 2 5. 7 handed, a player with a fairly wide range of raising hands raises UTG to $20, I have black aces. I decide to conceal the strength of my hand and smooth call. I'm going to get away from this hand with heavy action on a scary board. The small blind, horrid player, comes along. 3 handed to a K74 flop suited in spades -- brilliant. UTG bets $20 into a $65 pot, I know the SB has $70 or $80 left and that I'm not moving off this hand, aces with the nut flush draw. I know SB calls with a king, so I make it $80 and SB folds. UTG calls fairly fast. I put him on AK or KQ. Turn appears to be a blank, making the board K748 with 3 spades. Now, I'm slightly afraid that he's slowplaying a flush or a set, but I'm almost convinced he has KQ with the Q spades. Pot roughly $$220, I bet $130 and have $200 behind. He thinks for 2-3 minutes and then calls -- ok he does not have a made hand and he muttered that he still has outs. KQ, he has to have KQ with Qspades. River offsuit Q for K748Q...um eeeeek! He thinks a minute then checks. I'm hoping if he has KQ I can represent the flush and win -- I bet $209 all in and he folds. He had QT with the Q spades -- drawing completely dead on the turn. That was the only large pot I had played since I sat, noone there really knew my play and he calls all the way with a naked single card 2nd nut flush draw.

Nice.

Only stayed an hour or so after. Roughly 3 hours total, +$250. Mission accomplished.

My First Hit at TITAN

2006-05-08T19:27:00.000-04:00

$23 6max sngs played =33
Top 2 finishes 19/33 = 58%
Just finished a streak of 1st, 1st, and 4 seconds = JACKPOT!

Total profit in 33 sngs = $360, jackpot profit = $300.

More importantly, it feels good hitting this small bonus as I knew I could do it. I'll try again at this level as this is a fun diversion, if I hit again I'll move up to the $57s (my normal Party level). I think the best shot at the large jackpot is at the $23 level as the players are terrible.

Best first string is 3 in a row.

Fun.

Titan Jackpot Update

2006-05-02T23:51:00.000-04:00

The best streak I've managed so far is 3 straight top 2 finishes and 2 straight firsts. Currently sitting at exactly that situation now for the third time. The good news is that I'm up a couple hundred dollars while playing these $23 sngs. I think I'll stick to these for online play while this promo is on.

What I figure is that is any 6max sng if the field were completely even then, obviously, the change of obtaining top 2 would be 2/6 or 33%. Now, I have a large edge on the field in 6max sngs as they are a specialty of mine. I make top 2 in these over 60%, so far on Titan the percentage being 11/18, or roughly 61%. So, the odds placing top 2 for 6 games in a row would be 0.61 to the 6th power, or roughly a 5% chance. If I can place in top 2 in 70%, which I feel is very realistic on this site at the $23 level, then I have an almost 12% chance or top 2 for 6 games in a row.

Taking the 5% number which translates to 1 in 20, I would on average have to play a series of 6 straight sngs 20 times to win the $300 bonus for placing top 2 for 6 games in a row.

Taking the 12% number, or roughly 1 in 9, I would have to play the series of 6 9 times to win.

Apparently, this would be between 9 and 20 series of 6 sngs, or between 54 and 120 sngs per $300 bonus. In reality, it is likely less sngs as an entire series of 6 is not required for each assessment as one loss will result in a new string of 6 games.

Lets see how it goes. So far 19sngs and no jackpots.

Check This Out, I'm GIDDY...6max sng jackpots on Titan Poker

2006-05-02T00:54:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate to be advised about this jackpot.

Goes like this, play $23 6max sngs, place top 2 (3 pay on this site) 6 in a row and $300 bonus. Win 6 in a row and $25k bonus.

Play the $57s and ou get $750 or $100k respectively.

6max sngs are a specialty of mine, so I'm pretty psyched. Winning 6 in a row is not too likely, but placing 6 in a row, well, there's a decent chance.

Starting with the $23s and seeing how I do.

So far played 2, 2nd and 1st.

Obviously, without the jackpot I'm losing money compared to Party on my top 2 places as there is a 3rd place paid, but it'll be fun to try for a while.

Realization That I'm a Very Good Player

2006-05-01T03:01:00.000-04:00

So, I was talking to a dealer/friend at an underground club that I frequent 5-10 times a month and we were discussing how much certain players owe on their respective sheets. I for one always play with cash -- I cash in, I cash out. I can't imagine playing with money that I don't have. Anyhow, the amounts that certain players owed in relation to the limits played at this club was, in a word, shocking. I'm still shocked. One player is on the sheet for mid 5 figures over 2 years. Other players appraoching 5 figures for the same period. Shocking.

Anyhow, I also learned that only 4 or 5 players out of the regular pool of 40-50 players are actually winning players. This fits with the 1 in 10 figure normally tossed about, and I know that almost all the players I sit with their are losers, but to hear only a handful of names picked out of the pool really reinforces things. I know I'm a winning player. I know I'm the best player at that club. I only respect the play or 3 other players I have ever played with there. But hearing the cold facts really made me think deeper about the situation.

I had another good month last month, both online and live. For live play, I love the Wed night hi/lo games. I averaged $300 or so a session over the month, but mostly it's a fun game with good people. As for holdem, I had 9/10 winning sessions this past month. The only losing session being a small loss. Online, I've been absolutely crushing the 6max sngs on Party. Last night alone I made $400 in a few hours 2 tabling the $55s. I've come to the point with my live play that for holdem I need to move up limits. Anything under 10 20 is just boring at this point, unless the game is 5 or 6 handed. Hopefully, I will be moving up to 20 40 at Brantford by mid summer. My bankroll is a bit short for an aggressive 20 40 game, so I'll likely wait until I build a bit more before jumping in.

I now solidly believe that I'm one of the few consistant winners out there. I have the confidence to move to 20 40. My weakness continues to be taking losing sessions in stride. My play is never affected while at the table, but I can be upset about a losing session for a day. Obviously, this is not a healthy way to handle something that is inevitable as a poker player, and I'm working on it.

Why I'm A Winning Cash Game Player

2006-04-27T14:15:00.000-04:00

I've been playing alot of live cash games lately at underground clubs in the GTA. Playing with the same players night in and out really makes it easy to realize why I am a winning player and others are consistant losers. Lets see how we can categorize the losing players.

1. The Clueless Player. First you have the 50% of players that just don't understand the game -- the math, position, starting hand values, who is in the hand with them, etc. -- they just see K9o at a 10 handed limit holdem table and limp with it UTG, capped back to them and stay in with a non-nut gutshot to the river on a paired flush board.

2. The Tight Preflop Grouch. This player has rigid, inflexible, starting hand requirements. He cannot adjust to a loose table, cannot play 54s for 2 bets with 7 players in the pot, etc. Invariably he raises KK UTG and loses to a flush or a straight when 6 people see the flop on a 568 2 flush board and then bitches for a while about the game being bingo. He then actually tightens up his hand selection even more. He cannot understand why he is a losing player.

3. The Maniacal Gambler. This player always loves to create action, and may actually know how to play well, but cannot ever control himself for an entire session. He may play solid for a few hours here and there, but he always cracks and splashes chips onto everyone's stacks before the night is over.

4. The Player That Continues to Amaze Me (and thank god for him) -- The Tilter, The Steamer. This player actually understands how to play fairly well but cannot ever fathom how a bad player can win a pot against him. He plays AdKd in EP and gets 2 callers, one being a clueless player with 25o. Flop is KsQd5d with a final board of KQ5A5 rainbow and off he goes for a while, completely losing his focus and tilting off chips. I'll often try and nail another bad beat on this player to set him off further or casually mention to 25o how he called all the way within earshot of Mr. AK.

It amazes me. There are usually 2 players at the table who could be winning players if they took their emotions out of the game, but they can't. At some level they must understand that a losing player having a big session is a good thing. You don't win monster pots by rivering a 2 outer without giving it all back in the future. I am never upset seeing a crazy clueless player hitting a huge session, especially in an underground game where he will give it all back the very next session. Sure, it's frustrating at times being down 10-15bb in a given session and seeing a K8o UTG up 50bb, but you have to remember who gave you your bankroll in the first place and that noone wins every session. These players even see me winning a majority of my sessions, see me taking bad beats, see me not being affected by it whatsoever -- but they refuse to apply that same discipline to their game, just as K8o refuses to see the winning players around him and adjust his game at all.

Always thank the poker gods for the emotional tilter, without him you'd have much stiffer competition at the tables.

Finding an Online Niche

2006-03-23T21:39:00.000-05:00

Finding the right hole...

Since I've started multitabling it's hard to justify playing much live poker in these parts. I have to drive an hour to play 10 20 LHE or higher with a decent rake. Otherwise I'm playing at some 10 20 club game where they are raking $10+ a pot and I just won't support people fleecing players. Combine that with drive time, wait lists, tipping, etc, etc...you know all the arguments for playing online these days.

So, I've started playing more online. I've played a bit of 10 20 full ring Omaha8 on Party and Pacific and these games are very soft. Mostly I've been playing 6max sngs since the Party upgrade and I am now averaging $40/h playing the $22s through to $55s depending on my mood. The $22s have to be the softest games I've ever seen, with my ITM hovering over 70%. That means every 7 out of 10 games I play at that level I'm finishing first or second. Now, I'm a good player, but the opposition is terrible at that limit to have that great an edge.

The last week or so I've also been playing some HU PLO/PLO8/Stud8 on Absolute Poker. The structure is just perfect for HU play, allowing alot of play but not dragging things on ridiculously long like the same games on Stars or forcing the issue like Paradise. For a fairly small site they really get some frequent Omaha and Stud HU games going at the $20 and $50 levels on there. I have been destroying these games, winning 80% in the past week. There are simply some terrible players playing these variations of poker heads-up on Absolute.

So, with the Party upgrade I am fortunate to have a wide selection of 6 handed sngs to play. I haven't played a single hand of holdem ring online in over a month, it really bores me...although there is obviously money sitting out there to be had.

Online MTTs just aren't something I can focus on. I play one once in a while, but only as a third or fourth table. I understand that these aren't something to gain a steady profit from. Same with the Party Steps tournies...I've yet to money in one, but I haven't invested very much due to the easy recycling structure.

The importance of finding games that interest me and that are profitable has been important in maintaining a focused online game. For now I play whatever I'm in the mood for..HU or 6max sngs. Both have been very profitable so far. I still mix in some live poker, although I've missed a couple of weeks of the Wednesday night hi/lo at The Office -- one of the softest games around. I've been more in the mood for NL tournaments, but have just been playing low limit $50-$75 games lately, mostly just for fun here and there.

Every Wednesday, EVERY WEDNESDAY...yummy fishies

2006-02-16T05:07:00.000-05:00

Hi/lo night at the office. Somehow they just manage to keep drawing in worse and worse players. I've not played much live poker as of late, but every Wednesday is a must. I took a couple of months off from this game due to it getting tougher, ending earlier, etc. Then I stop by amonth ago and post a nice win, and the player pool keeps getting better. Amazing.

The game is 4 8 with a 6 12 kill.
The game is a rotation of Stud 8 with a spit and Omaha 8.
The game has forced betting in each round.
The game is the definition of fish in a barrel.
The game, I wish it were 15 30.

This doesn't mean that every session is a winning one, but most are.

Last 4 weeks ; +$475, -$370, +$300, +$300. All sessions roughly 6-7 hours except for a marathon trying-to-get-even--when-down-$400-3-handed-against-two-donks session that didn't get me anywhere but stuck the same amount. I would play this game 5 nights a week if it ran. I'd make a grand a week playing this game, it's so sweet. Although, the players would die out faster so I should be happy with it for what it is.

There's no question that stud8/O8 and limit holdem are my best games. There is reportedly a 15 30 stud8/O8 that runs every Tuesday at another club a few more winning sessions and I might take a shot.

As for online, just playing a bit here and there. My Party account is still on hold and that's my main plan for a cash game site, so things are on delay. I found some some 5 10 and 10 20 games on Pacific that I've been playing here and there. I played a few MTTs for fun on Stars a week or 2 ago and monied a few times, often just a beat away from a top 5 chance, but nothing big of which to speak.

A friend of mine has qualified for both the PPM and the European World Series on Party, pretty sweet.

So, my goal now is basically to keep it fun, play every Wednesday for some profit, play a few small <$100 buy-in tournies here and there for a decent overlay and find some decent 10 20 LHE games around my area (which isn't easy). Also, get my Party account up and running for some multitabling 5 10 and 10 20 cash games.

An interesting team event is coming up on Saturday, the Royal Cup. Basically, a small buy-in team points event over the course of an entire 12h day. Should be fun if not very profitable (if team Toronto wins I'll get something like $200 or so). I'll be playing a PLO tourny, a LHE tourny, a NLHE tourny and a HU elimination tourny all in a day...wow.

A New Day, Online Poker Revelations and A Simple Statement That Has Changed My Outlook

2006-02-05T15:29:00.000-05:00

I've had an epiphany.

I've found what I've been looking for online after several months of experimenting.

Multitabling has made things clear for my success in online play. I can now play games that individually were boring or not worth the time investment for the likely return. I can play $20 MTT tournaments without cracking from boredom and donking out 3 hours into the game. I can play full table ring games without lowering my starting hand requirements out of sheer boredom. How? Multitabling.

Multitabling -- playing one MTT and one or two full table ring games. Disasterous individually, but they taste great together.

MTTs are about volume. Being a very good player and investing in enough games that your edge breaks through the high variance. Multitabling allows for the investment of time.

I've been getting deep in many MTTs lately, mostly Omaha games and smaller field rebuy events on Stars. A few bad beats late in the game here and there have kept me out of the top 9 a few times. I'll be taking a shot at these on a regular basis now with a soft 5 10 or 10 20 O8 game on Pacific or Party going on the side.

Last night Stars Limit Holdem $11+R, 216 players. I finish 7th, not great but certainly not bad. I'm only a bad beat away from an average stack and shooting for the top 3. Out on QQ vs chip leader's 87o...meh.

At the same time I made $150-$200 in a few hours of a soft 5 10 O8 game.

I won't be posting results on here anymore, it's too tedious. I'll be investing a higher %age of my bankroll into MTTs while grinding away at 5 10 or 10 20 full ring games.
Stars will be strictly for MTTs (mostly rebuys and possibly deepstacks to start out) and the odd SNG. I am Ruberman, watch for me at some Final Tables.

Paradise strictly for small field Omaha events, especially the rebuys. I am Rubermann.

Party and Pacific will be almost exclusively for full ring games, no screenames provided :)

This Blog will be more strategies and observations from now on. Postings will be less frequent but more interesting and in depth.

All along I've been looking for the answer as to what is more profitable live or online poker. I was talking to one of my affiliates and asking him what he plays and what he likes and he simply stated,"I like both B&M and Online games".

A simple statement, but it made me realize that I should just play what I feel like playing on a given day/night.
I like both.

My Return To Brick and Mortar Play

2006-01-26T22:51:00.000-05:00

I wrote a long post that got deleted.

In summary, Wed night I played at the best table in my poker life. I need to make the effort to play live games and to waste less time playing anything but 1 table sngs and Party cash games online.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD +$465, YTD
B&M LHE Cash MTD , YTD

Online HU MTT (all games) MTD -$33, YTD
Online HU Matches (all games) MTD -$56, YTD

Online MTT MTD -$120, YTD
Online MTT SATs MTD -$39, YTD

Online Stud8 SNGs, MTD -$8, YTD
Online PLOmaha8 SNGs MTD +$78, YTD

Online 5&6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$26, YTD
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$223, YTD

Online shO8 MTD +$17, YTD
Online LHEsh MTD -$435, YTD

Rakeback $21US
Bonus $90US

Online MTD -$219US ~~~~ YTD
Live MTD +$465CDN ~~~~ YTD

The Weakest Part of My Online Game

2006-01-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

I'd have to say that the weakest part of my game involves playing when I don't really feel like it. This is especially true for MTTs. Sometimes I will register to play a game I really like, say PLO8 + Rebuys. I forget that these games take hours to play and by the time I'm an hour in I feel like I want to be doing something else.

I did the same thing last night multitabling $20 hu sngs. I won a PLO8 in 10mins, then pulled up another along with the original stud8 I was playing. Ended up losing the 2ng PLO8, which was fine, but then the Stud 8 was up to 1.5h and I had other things to do so I pushed and lost.

This doesn't tend to happen too often live. In general if you drive to a game you mostly feel like playing. Although there are exceptions, like the Westside TOC.

Next month I'll be making a playing schedule, mostly 3 6 or 5 10 multitabling on Party with a few sessions for sngs, etc. This will likely help with the above.

Anyhow, $11 PLO8+R on Stars this AM. I wemt in with the intention of gambling early to amass some chips. Well, that didn't work and before I know it I'm in for 4 rebuys and an add-on. Hand't played an Omaha rebuy for a while. The best strategy for these isn't actually to gamble early, but to pick-off the gamblers and play tight. Well, NOW I remember. So, I'm in for $61 with an average stack at the break. I'm playing tight and aggressive after the break, not getting much to play at all.

I make it to 23/113 and bust to a 2 outer for a scoop on the river...not going well in these lately, first was 1.2k, 18 places paid, but I wanted top 3 and was wayyyyyy down. Lose to a 20:1 shot to double through, great.

I was bored during this game because I didn't feel like playing 45mins in, so I opened up a $52 HU PLO8 that I also didn't have the patience for, -$52.

So, like I said, I really have to work on this situation for next month. I think it will be better playing a regular schedule of cash games and mixing in some live play.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD , YTD
B&M LHE Cash MTD , YTD

Online HU MTT (all games) MTD -$33, YTD
Online HU Matches (all games) MTD -$56, YTD

Online MTT MTD -$137, YTD
Online MTT SATs MTD -$39, YTD

Online Stud8 SNGs, MTD +$8, YTD
Online Omaha8 SNGs MTD +$102, YTD

Online 5&6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$49, YTD
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$215, YTD

Online shO8 MTD +$11, YTD
Online LHEsh MTD -$435, YTD

Rakeback $21US
Bonus $90US

Online MTD -$187US ~~~~ YTD

Multitabling HU, First Try

2006-01-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

Played some HU $50s on Stars last night. PLO8, win. NLH, lose (2200 to 800 I call all-in with AJ and lose to Q2 on QQ4 flop and it gets worse from there).

This morning decided to drop to the $20s and try 3 tabling. Played 2 stud8 and a PLO8. WOn the PLO8 in 20-30mins, won the first stud 8 in 50mins, won the 3rd in 1h20mins (opponent left when I was ahead). I don't think there is any way I can play more than 3 tables HU, 3 was nerve wracking. Since the action is always on you, you are constantly being prompted and have to click the buttons multiple times for it to register. 2 isn't bad at all. Having a PL game in there makes it a bit more complicated. Going 3 for 3 isn't a bad feeling though. +$57.

Right now, just trying new things until I get my Party account. I also find that mixing up my games makes me play better than grinding at one game. Haven't put in too many hours this month, but am happy with my new findings, mostly multitabling. Trying all these new things I'm even for the month, which isn't bad for experimenting.

Played a limit O8 MTT on Stars. I really don't like limit much, the rebuys are OK because you get 5k in chips with the rebuy and addon, but really these are kinda card-catching contests with only 1500 chips to move around.

Had maybe 4 playable hands all game, finished 34/216...no money.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD , YTD
B&M LHE Cash MTD , YTD

Online HU MTT (all games) MTD -$33, YTD
Online HU Matches (all games) MTD -$4, YTD

Online MTTs MTD -$49, YTD
Online MTT SATs MTD -$39, YTD

Online Stud8 SNGs, MTD +$8, YTD
Online Omaha8 SNGs MTD +$98, YTD

Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$10, YTD
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$215, YTD

Online shO8 MTD +$11, YTD
Online LHEsh MTD -$435, YTD

Rakeback $21US
Bonus $90US

Online MTD -$90US ~~~~ YTD
Live MTD ~~~~ YTD

HiLo Games Online

2006-01-21T12:15:00.000-05:00

Since I can't open another Party account until Feb, I've just been playing hi/lo games here and there. Last night got 10th/234 in the $5.50+R Omaha8 on Stars. Suffered a horrible beat that decimated me, otherwise could have gotten top 3, first was $850, I won $37...yay. Frustrating playing 4 hours and losing HU with an ace in your hand all-in on AAJ flop and JT beats you.

I enjoy playing hi/lo MTTs online much more than playing NLHE MTTs.

Played a Stud8 sng, 2 tabled O8PL sngs and got 1st and 3rd. I think O8 is the easiest game to multitable because in general it's just a game of cards and math, not much reading involved at least in the early stages of games.

The weekends seem great for the $35 PLO8 sngs on Stars, other times it would be tough to find enough games to 2 table them.

Tonight I may play the $39 qualifier to the Stud 8 $215 late tonight. Well, didn't catch one hand and was out pretty early.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD , YTD
B&M LHE Cash MTD , YTD

Online HU MTT (all games) MTD -$33, YTD
Online HU Matches (all games) MTD -$17, YTD

Online MTTs MTD -$27, YTD
Online MTT SATs MTD -$39, YTD

Online Stud8 SNGs, MTD +$8, YTD
Online Omaha8 SNGs MTD +$98, YTD

Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$10, YTD
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$215, YTD

Online shO8 MTD +$11, YTD
Online LHEsh MTD -$435, YTD

Rakeback $21US
Bonus $90US

Online MTD -$81US ~~~~ YTD
Live MTD ~~~~ YTD

Will Be Taking A Break Until Feb....Getting Things All Set

2006-01-17T20:09:00.000-05:00

It turns out that multitabling elsewhere just isn't the same as multitabling at Party...game selection, poor players, you can't ask for more in a cash game. I had to shut down my Party account to get things set up for a new affiliate deal. So, I have to wait until Feb to play again on Party. Just going to play some low limit HU MTTs and maybe some LHE/O8 here and there until things start up again in Feb.

Multitabling on Party will be very profitable starting in Feb, can't wait. My goal will be 3-tabling 3 6 to 5 10 6max tables 20-30h/month.

Not a great day, lost a $33 O8 MTT with middle set and nut flush draw vs top set. Got 2 thirds in $38 6handed sngs when all in with the best hands.

Getting tired of killing time, losing $20 here, $30 there...just waiting to try out multitabling at Party. So, I decided to just play with my FPPs on Stars. Played a 9-handed satellite to the Sunday $215 and won...maybe I'll try another.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD , YTD
B&M LHE Cash MTD , YTD

Online HU MTT MTD -$33, YTD
Online HU Matches (all games), MTD -$12, YTD

Online MTTs MTD +$17, YTD

Online Stud8 SNGs, MTD +$8, YTD

Online shO8 MTD -$19, YTD
Online LHEsh MTD -$435, YTD
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$215, YTD
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD -$42US, YTD
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD +$52US, YTD

Rakeback $21US
Bonus $90US

Online MTD -$137US ~~~~ YTD
Live MTD ~~~~ YTD

My First Attempt At Ring Multitabling -- 3 6 6max Party

2006-01-11T05:45:00.000-05:00

I dropped down to 3 6 6 max on Party for a couple of hours tonight to try multitabling cash games. This is actually quite easy in comparison to 2tabling 6max sngs. I don't feel like I lose much of anything at this level playing 3 tables at once, although I can't identify a tough table quite as readily. So, a rule of thumb will be if I am down more than 10bb at a given table after an hour then I move to another one -- unless the table is especially soft. I think that playing a few tables actually decreases any slight tilt I may experience at times and allows me to dump more marginal hands preflop.

Overall, I was up 17bb after 2 hours, or roughly 3bb/table/hour. I am going to try this out for 100 hours or so and go from there, the goal being to multi at 5 10 then sometime in the future up at 10 20.

Another 1.5h, 3 table session, +12bb or + 2.5bb/table/h, not bad.

I've already produced almost $700 in rake in 40h of play, that's $140-$210 I would get back with a rakeback, maybe I'll try out Eurobet on the pokerroom network. If I play ring online fulltime I'll be missing out on $700-$1k a month without rakeback.

Obviously my online game is in some flux right now, I know I can beat up to 5 10 on a regular basis, but I think multitabling may be the answer to finding a higher win rate and decreasing variance at shorthanded tables. Have to see how it goes.

Ideally, I'd be playing 10 20 or 15 30 live 30 hours a week, but right now geography is quite an impedment. So, I'm spending some time spinning my wheels online to find my niche.

I did play about 2 rounds of a full 5 10 as one of my 3 tables. God, you'd have to shoot me and prop me up in the chair for me to withstand the boredom of online 10 handed play.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online shO8 MTD = -$5
Online LHEsh MTD =-$435, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$44US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$52US, YTD =

Rakeback = $21US
Bonus = $80US

Online MTD = -$331US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

3 6 / 5 10/ 10 20 6max

2006-01-10T01:05:00.000-05:00

Not much of a day, basically didn't hit a hand in 2 hours playing 3 6 and lost $140 or so. Same thing at Party 5 10. Then I decided to check out the 10 20 6max, just curious if the players are any better as you move up on Party. The table was extremely passive and there was one player who was the worst literally the worst player I've ever seen anywhere, at any limit, anytime. He played EVERY hand, never raised preflop and called to the river with any piece or any piece of a draw, or ten high:). Unfortunately I only caught one hand against him, but he went through $1000 in an hour on autocall. The table quickly broke after he left. I hit 2 hands early and was up $200 in 10 mins. Then a series of unsuited hands not exceeding 6hi and the blinds ground me down to +$40, won a pot against the worst player on earth, got up $150 in an hour and then it broke. As far as I can tell from that table, the play isn't any better than at 5 10. Been running cold for 2 days, down $100 or so today, but happy with trying the 10 20 game. I am considering some full table 10 20 or 15 30 at Party. If they are populated with these same players the decreased variance could make them more of a consistant profit.

An experiment in maniacal play. I wanted to see how players would adjust to me raising every hand at 5 10, well it turns out that they just play the same as always, noone has the guts to reraise, etc...but they just call down with anything. I lost 50bb trying this out, but it was something I needed to do to tweak my sh game. Up to 10 20 from now on and see how it goes.

Played an hour on 10 20 sh on sunpoker, won my biggest pot online ever $467 -- maniac to my R raises, I reraise JJ, tight SB player caps -- ok he has AK AA or KK, BB calls the cap cold. Flop J45 with 2 clubs, fireworks ensue and my hand holds. Button had AA, BB had 99 and called bets and raises all the way on a J45T7 board. OK, so there are fish at every limit online, sweet.

+$222 for the hour, I think I'm ready for this now. Can have some huge swings in these games, but have to see how it goes. So far this month I'm up $375 playing 10 20 and now back to even overall. If it turns out that I can't beat the 10 20 game I'm going to switch back to live poker. If I'm not beating 10 20 online then I need to find something else because lower limits have become too much of a grind. My goal is to be making $40-50/h or so playing online by the summer, so have to see how it goes. I think these 1020s are beatable for 2-4bb/h if I play focused. I'm going to stick to SunPoker for now and see if I can play with the same players on a smaller site to gain a further edge. Rakeback is nice as well.

Surprisingly I find that sitting back and waiting for a hand against the ever present maniac in shorthanded mid-limit games works quite well. There's a fine line between good aggressive play and raising 95o UTG and betting through regardless of the players in the hand. Some players, it seems, just can't shut off the run-over-the-table attitude on any given hand. Sometimes it's best to counter aggression with tight play.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =-$468, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$32US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$52US, YTD =

Rakeback = $13US
Bonus = $80US

Online MTD = -$291US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

Table Selection Online

2006-01-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

Often overlooked online, but you have so many tables of a given limit to play online that you should do your best to find a table that fits your game. Short-handed I generally prefer a passive table with maybe 1 aggressive maniac to bet my made hands for me. I think it's best not just to look at the numbers for a table before sitting, but to sit out the first 2 rounds and see what you think of the dynamics of the table. Of course, I didn't do any of this today and sat down at a surprisingly tough 5 10 6max table at Party where preflop there was alot of raising and 3 betting. This type of table can be very tough with unknown players when you first sit. I quickly lost $44 and sat elsewhere. I actually didn't feel much like playing 5 10 so I went over to SunPoker for some 3 6 and there were no games, so I sat at a great 2 4 table (I don't think there are any bad 2 4 tables anywhere, ever) and was quickly down $50 again -- after 1.5h I was up $74, then took some awful beats with AA and KK and quit even for the morning. Was really just killing some time before the gym.

Hmmm, I seem to have more terrible sessions at 2 4 than anywhere else, -$70, Also lost $35 after an hour and a half on Party tonight, they can't all be winning sessions. No tilt, no poor play, just didn't hit anything and it adds up.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =+$187, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$32US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$52US, YTD =

Rakeback = $13US
Bonus = $80US

Online MTD = +$364US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

5 10 6max at Party and SunPoker

2006-01-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

Another session, played around 3 hours, +$192. I was at a great table, not too aggressive with 2 huge calling stations and a tight player, can't ask for much more than that.

Downloaded Poker Tracker today. I'm not one to pour over stats and minor EV advantages, etc. I just get a feel for a table and the players and play them. However, I can see where this can be a useful tool when just sitting at a new table and having no reads. I generally play tight for a couple rounds, but this may let me jump in with more confidence. Cost is only $55 after the 1000 hand trial, so even if I just win a few bets with it it'll pay for itself.

Just played an hour of 3 6 6max at Sunpoker, I was up $160 after 30mins, took a few bad beats and played one AK hand poorly vs KK held by a tight player and ended up ahead $104 after an hour. Also cleared the monthly $40 bonus for my troubles.

I still need a Party rakeback, otherwise everything is going well.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =+$292, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$32US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$52US, YTD =

Rakeback = $13US
Bonus = $80US

Online MTD = +$469US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

2Tabling -- Played Pretty Well But Lost...and Wow! Welcome Back To Party Ring

2006-01-06T19:19:00.000-05:00

I guess it was gonna happen, my first lose-lose 2tabling. I didn't catch any hands early and didn't feel very focused in the start of either game. Second game 6 handed still pretty late on for 6 remaining, I have 54o in sb and complete to 100. 300 in pot and I have 900 left. Button and blinds in the hand. Flop 542 with 2 diamonds, I have top 2 and am hoping to check raise all in for whatever I can get, hopefully against a small overpair or a draw. BB min bets 100, button calls, pot is 500 and I need to win this one. I push and BB flips 44, can't really get away from that one, um...6th wow, can't recall a 6th, but it'll happen, I don't think I could've played that another way. In the first one we are 3 handed and the blinds are big, its all in or fold time, I pick-up 99 on the button and push, the world's tightest nplayer calls, I know I'm beat...flips KK and I'm all but out. ONe thing I hate is when a TTTTTTTTTTTTTtttight player hits me like that, but that's poker. So, 1h -$76. I really feel more like playing cash games right now.

Just started playing some Party 5 10sh, down about $300 in 20 mins, lost QQ vs KK, lost to runner runner flush, lost a few bets here and there trying to bluff. Currently back up to -$175. These are some of the worst poker players I've ever seen. Limping UTG with 97s, 24s, 35o 6 handed, calling raises with 74s, just amazing.

The key to beating this game is getting back into low limit, limit holdem mode which is quite a distance from 6 handed NL sng mode. Basically have to remind myself generally not to bluff and to always bet my hand as players will call all the way with bottom pair.

Hopefully, I'll make some more back tonight and get even tomorrow.

After a few adjustments, I made it all back in 2 hours, even won a nice $239 pot while playing 3 handed. Ended -$23 for the 2h session. WOW these are the WORST poker players in the UNIVERSE. You think it's just the table you're sitting at, then the table breaks and you reseat and it's the same awful players with different names. Looking forward to more of this. The variance can be brutal though.

I still need a Party rakeback.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =-$4, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$32US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$52US, YTD =

Rakeback = $13US
Bonus = $40US

Online MTD = +$133US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

Prone to Tilt In Online Cash, More 2Tabling

2006-01-04T15:26:00.000-05:00

I hardly ever tilt in live cash games, for some reason online gets to me more. I was just playing 2 4 sh so it's no big deal, but I lost $80 in an hour. This is partly due to 4 things: 1. playing too low a limit to really interest me, 2. short-handed variance, 3. tilting, 4. playing on a site I dislike just to clear a bonus, kill time, and get a huge rakeback.

SO, not again I hope, I'll stick to reasonable limits that interest me, 5 10 and higher. Just getting reminded of the variance in sh games will be good for when I move up.

2Tabling the 6 handed sngs again. First and second. The on I got first in I was short 3 handed and got lucky winning a flip when I pushed KQs on the button vs JJ of the BB. After that it was fairly easy as the big stack was too weak to play heads up. In the second place one I wasn't all in once and was even in chips HU with a pretty good player. Blinds at 200 400 and he miniraises, I look at 34 of hearts and have some feeling that this is the hand. I call. Flop 567 with 2 of my suit. I bet the min, 400, and he raises the min to 800. I smooth call. Turn brings the K that closes my flush. I bet small hoping he'll raise and he does, I push for the remaining 2000 putting him all in and he calls with K5 for 2 pair. Well, he hits his 4 outer and takes it down. I played it perfectly and lost. That hurts a bit. Anyhow, both games took 1h20mins, they were long ones as I played patiently HU in both wanting 2 firsts. +$134 in 1.5h, not bad.

2tabling to date summary:
1st
1st
2nd
2nd
2nd
2nd
3rd
4th

6/8 ITM, pretty good. Calling it 5h total play, that's $52/h at this juncture.

That's on par with my 1 tabling results so far, I'm excited about the prospect here. Have to see what the future holds for this endeavour. I found that staggering the tables by 10 mins gives me a chance to read players at one table before focusing on 2.

Damn, just got 3rd single table sng. I went big against the chip leader which I don't usually do, lost KJ vsAJ on J hi flop. Guy was raising alot preflop and I thought I caught him.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =+$19, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$32US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =+$128US, YTD =

Rakeback =
Bonus = $40US

Online MTD = +$219US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

My Second 2-Tabling SNG Session and Some LHE Cash Games

2006-01-03T19:23:00.000-05:00

Tried this again, 3rd and 2nd, -$3 overall...I really had no hands in either game, but once HU I made another big mistake after chipping back up to even. I am playing too impatiently HU right now, have to remember to keep the pots small against weaker players.

An hour of 3 6sh on SunPoker, was up $100 and ended up $50. I'm going to play a bit more 3 6 before moving to 5 10. Another hour-long session, +$51. THen a losing 45mins session, -$53. Just getting comfotable with 6max cash again.

Another 2 table sng session -- out early in the first one, 30mins in or so when I have 950 left in the BB and the chip leader with 4k, a total fish getting lucky from behind constantly, raises into me, I reraise all in and he turns up AQ vs myAK and hits again. In the other one I get second when a total fish keeps calling all ins for all his chips on the turn with flush draws and keeps hitting...jesus, not my day for these.
About 45mins into the tournament I had 6k, he had 2.5k, short had 800 or so. I'm in BB. Fish limps, sb raises to 150, I push all in and he calls with 77, sb had QTs, by the river I'm in 3rd, flush takes it and fish flopped a set.
The second place finish was the longest 6handed sng I've ever played, taking almost 1.5h. The guy was just such a weak HU player, I kept min betting every flop and he would fold fold fold, I was easily chipping away at him until I have KJ on a KQT 2 spade flop, I bet pot he calls with A7 hearts, turn makes it KKQT with 2 spades and 2 hearts, I push for all his chips he has 2k left in a 1.6k pot and he calls! And he hits again! Christ. 1.5h, -$3.

So that's 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 2nd 2nd so far 2-tabling, a bit behind my usual 1 table results, but I had some bad beats that kept me from first and out of the money a couple times. ITM 4/6 times, ok but not great.

Played 5.5h today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =+$99, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$70US, YTD =
2Tabling 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =-$6US, YTD =

Rakeback =
Bonus =

Online MTD = +$163US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =

The New Year

2006-01-02T23:37:00.000-05:00

Long weekend at work, just played one sng as I'm pretty tired, 2nd +$35.

Ok, I played one more...made one mistake heads-up and got second, +$35.

I'm going to be strict this month and play only the following:

1. $38 6 handed sngs, 2 at a time (unless I'm tired),
2. Some short-handed LHE cash games online,
3. Live cash games,
4. Maybe some 9 handed sngs online $55+ if I'm ahead to try some higher limit non turbos.

That's it, no tournaments, nothing else.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = , YTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD =, YTD =

Online LHEsh MTD =, YTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =, YTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$70US, YTD =
2-Tabling Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =-$3US, YTD =

Rakeback =
Bonus =

Online MTD = +$67US ~~~~ YTD =
Live MTD = ~~~~ YTD =
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December Summary, First Try At 2 Table Multitabling

2005-12-31T02:04:00.000-05:00

My game is on track, I'm beating the 6 handed sngs consistantly on Stars and I will soon be back into 5 10 cash games online.

Tried playing only 2 tables of $38 6 handed sngs on Stars today for the first time. First and Second,+$134 in just over an hour. Obviously this is a good result and I will have to see how this goes with more games. In my last 13 6 handed sngs I have placed in the money 10 times and have had previous results similar to this.

Played on Crazy Vegas poker today, 2 4 6max lhe cash game...man that software is brutal, I really dislike the Prima sites, but I'm getting 53% rakeback right now...I'll have to decide on that. Lost $20 or so, was really just trying it out.

So, for January the plan is as folllows:

1. 2 tabling $38 6 handed sngs on Stars,

2. 3 6 to 5 10 6max cash games on Sunpoker and Partypoker once I find a rakeback,

3. Live full ring games 10 20 to 15 30 and some lower limit hi/lo for fun the occasional Wed night.

4. No PLO or Stud8 sngs, No Omaha cash online, Minimal MTTs, No Live Tournies, No online Steps, NO TURBO ANYTHING.

Time to focus on making money and seeing how I do.

Contrary to my original plan, I will start by focusing on my online play. I would really like to continue beating games consistantly online and gradually move up. I mean live play is great, but right now online is much more convenient. My game is much stronger than 2 years ago when I used to play 5 10 6max on Party, so I should have decent results.

Once again, not a bad month considering my varied play. 6max sngs were my main income this month, without the night of 3 x $119 turbo losses I'd be up nearly $800 in these sngs.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$78CDN
Online O8shMTD = +$7US
Online LHEshMTD = +$169US
Online MTT MTD = -$31
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$89US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$105US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$442US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$210US

Online December = +$674US ~~~~ Live December = -$260CDN

The New Year Is Coming, Back To Cash Games, Back To Serious Poker

2005-12-30T03:17:00.000-05:00

I've spent a longggggggg time away from cash games for some reason. I used to do pretty well on the Party 5 10 6 max tables, but some atrocious beats scared me off. Taking it slowly, today I signed-up with a site that is new to me, sunpoker.com (interops skin) as I get a 30% rakeback there, also signed-up with crazy vegas, I'll get a 53% rakeback there. January will focus entirely on cash games, starting with 5 10 6 max and moving-up with success to 10 20.

So today I started with 2 4 6max and called too much at first for a new table and was down 15bb or so. Should always play tight until you have a feel for a short table. Made it back and ended up. 2h, +15bb.

3 6 played an hour or two, not really sure. +17bb.

Cleared an interops bonus for $90 as well.

Will move to Party once I find a decent rakeback, now that Eurobet jumped ship I am searching for something.

So, after 3 or 4 months of what was mostly a break from serious poker...just screwing around with various games online...it will be back to live cash games and online short-handed cash games for January. Some 6 handed sngs here and there for variety. Not a bad month considering the variety of games I played at primarily low limits.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD = +$9US
Online LHEshMTD = +$184US
Online MTT MTD = -$31
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$105US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$308US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$210US

Online MTD = +$584US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Well, Hallehluuuuuuuujah

2005-12-29T05:43:00.000-05:00

Won a session of O8 sh, only at 1 2 but it felt good, +30bb in an hour.

I also found $25 in my Absolute account and played some 1 2 shHE, got up around 15bb in 10 mins.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD = +$39US
Online LHEshMTD = +$33US
Online MTT MTD = -$31
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$105US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$308US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$373US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Seven

2005-12-28T14:19:00.000-05:00

First, second, second, second, second, second, second, third, third...over.

In the last 4 or so I couldn't buy a hand to save my life, just one or 2 well timed plays and a little luck kept me alive for second.

My 3rd $55 9 handed sng, second. So I've played 3 = 4th, 2nd, 2nd..not great not
bad.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD = -$18US
Online LHEshMTD = +$33US
Online MTT MTD = -$31
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$105US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$308US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$316US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

The Omaha Gods Are Still Smiting Me...oh, and is that a streak???

2005-12-28T00:43:00.000-05:00

Not much in the mood for NL tonight. Mostly just watching TV and felt like some Omaha8, it's been about 2 months since I've had a winning cash session of Omaha8 online so I just sat at a 1 2 Limit 6 handed table on Stars. Not Good. Played a bit over an hour and won something like 7 pots out of 80 or so hands. Having an awful cold streak at this game. Lost the minimum possible with the cards I was dealt, which is a victory at times. -4bb, 1.25h.

Currently 6 straight 6handed sngs in the money.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD = -$9US
Online LHEshMTD = +$7US
Online MTT MTD = +$2
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$25US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$349US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$294US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

More 6handed sngs

2005-12-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

First, 4th, Second, first, second, second, second, second.

These $38 sngs have been easy money the past 2 months. Without the $119 night of 3 losses (won't play those again), I'd be up $700 or so online this month. I'll still keep investing my winnings in new higher limit games, but have definitely ruled out any format of TURBO ever again.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD = +$7US
Online MTT MTD = +$2
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$25US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$349US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$303US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

$50 Sng When I'm Not Tired

2005-12-22T17:54:00.000-05:00

Wow, these things are tighttttt. From the 30min mark on I think we saw 2 flops in 20 mins. Got heads up after an hour against an uber-aggressive player who had me 9k to 3k or something. Guy is raising everything. I double through him early and get up 8k 5k or so. He raises on the button (he raises with what looks like any single paint and also calls with them) and I have AJ, I push and he calls with K7o and flops 2 pair, meh. Next hand he raises and I have A5, now usually I just call here, but against a player who will call an all in with QJ, I have to push...he flips AJ and I'm out. These games seem longgggggggggg. But overall only took 1h 4mins, and damn I should have had first for $170, but instead finished 2nd for $80. I really have to pull back on my aggressive 6 handed play in these things.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD = +$7US
Online MTT MTD = +$57
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$16US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$7US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$25US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$75US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$84US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Shorthanded Sngs, Multi Tabling

2005-12-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is not for me. My strength at short games is reading players and playing without cards when needed. Having 2NL and one Omaha game going doesn't allow me to focus on players in NL. I think I can swing 1 NL short and 1 PLO8 as the PLO8 is more of an ABC play your cards game.

Hour 1:
PLO8, 3rd.
6 hand NL, 4th.
6 hand NL, 2nd.

Hour 2:
PLO8, 4th.
6 hand NL, 4th (KK me vs AJ all in preflop)
$13 double shootout to $530 Sunday, round 1 = 1st, round 2 = 3rd, no seat, +$22.

Small sample, but I can't play my game with 3 tables, will try 2 for a while and see how it goes.

Stud 8 MTT, out 4th on a bad beat. QQK all in vs A93x, guy catches an ace on the river to out 2 pair me. 4th/56.

Tried a $55 9handed on Stars, very soft table but the game takes a longggggggggggggggggg time. An hour and 15mins in we are still 4 handed, I am tired (its now 615am) and get impatient and finish 4th. Very beatable however. Just looking for higher-limit non turbo options. Full table sure is boring though.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD = +$7US
Online MTT MTD = +$57
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$29US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$42US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$55US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$101US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = -$47US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Trying Some $119s Again, OK Turbos Suck...Never Again

2005-12-21T02:33:00.000-05:00

$119 6 handed sng on stars, third. Lost a coinflip for third. These are turbos, I'm taking a shot at a few, but don't love the format. If I lose 2 in a row I'm off to UB for some $100 6 handeds there.

3rd again, lost a coinflip again. Played one hand poorly -- raised UTG with KJo 3 handed, mini reraise from SB and I call, this guy is tight. J hi flop he bets 2/3 pot I call, small bet on turn and checked river, he shows AA....BAD PLAY.

One more try....lost another coinflip...4th.

Oh well, took a shot at these, I don't like them they just become card catching contests as the blinds go up too fast...won't try these again. I'm pretty much dont with sngs on Stars, I know I can with 1k or so a month playing them, but to progress higher I have to play turbos which are too much of a crapshoot...time to play elsewhere.

Playing online, I'm not trying to make money right now, just building up a bit every month and looking for somewhere to move up. So, losing my winnings for the month is a pretty high risk right now. I'm not happy making $1k a month online, I need to find games at higher limits that I am comfortable playing with the goal of winning $2k-$3k a month. I'm heading back to short handed holdem cash games for now, see how things go there. I'll start at 5 10 and move to 10 20 if things are going well. January I'm back to live 10 20 and 15 30 cash games, but I would really like to find some bigger games that I like to play online. There's no doubt that I can regularly beat the $38 6 handed sngs on stars, but it just becomes a waste of time after a while...maybe multitabling sngs is the answer, I'm not sure. Still working things out for now. I don't feel like I can beat the turbo 6 handed sngs consistantly, the players are a bit better (some are actually worse), but mostly there is too much gamble in the turbo structure.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD = +$7US
Online MTT MTD = -$33
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$7US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$54US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = -$7US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$60US

Rakeback = +$31US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = -$51US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Meh

2005-12-19T19:42:00.000-05:00

Lost my first 6 handed sng in a while, all in JJ vs AJs, A on flop and I'm out in third with the best hand.

Holy shit, stud hu MTT on Stars, 3rd round 16 players left,I lose to the WORST player I have ever seen. Calls all the way with ten hi and hits runrunrun flush, hits runrunrun trips, etc, etc. Frustrating!

Lets start the new streak? PLO8, second.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD = -$33
Online HU MTT MTD = -$22
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$7US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$84US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$54US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$30US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online HU Stud SNGs MTD = -$21
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$297US

Rakeback = +$25US
Bonus = +$120US

Online MTD = +$304US~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Make It 8

2005-12-15T12:11:00.000-05:00

$38 6 handed NL sng, first. This one only took 27 mins, usually they take an hour or more.

Streak is over, PLO8 sng, fourth...no cars at all then all in with the best hand and lost AK38 vs AQ38, river flush for him. For some reason I am much more successful at the $35 PLO8 sngs than these $16 ones.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$7US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$72US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = -$13US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = +$2US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$335US

Rakeback = +$19US
Bonus =

Online MTD = +$269US~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Make It 7

2005-12-14T12:13:00.000-05:00

Stud8 sng, 3rd. Only 8 bucks, but its the principle:)

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$7US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$94US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$3US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = +$2US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$236US

Rakeback = +$19US
Bonus =

Online MTD = +$161US~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Just Screwing Around Online

2005-12-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

Ok, so the steps tournies are mostly a waste of time and a slight money loser, but they are addictive and kind of fun. SO far the closest I've come is level 4 in the mini-steps of a possible 5 levels. First in level 5 is $2k, I'll get there eventually. I've changed my strategy alot in the last 2 days, at first I played tight to freeroll; however, now I'm noticing alot of tight play early and am just stealing, stealing, stealing.

Played 4 6 handed sngs on stars -- 2nd, chop for 1st (was tired), 1st, 2nd. Only one real mistake and that was the last one where I finished 2nd. I'm short, but not too short, something like 2500 to 6500 with blinds 100 200. AKs in BB. Opponent is WEAK. He got hit by the deck early, but hasn't outplayed anyone, makes no moves, and I'm chipping away at him. FOr some reason I push all in, he calls with 66 and I'm out. I hate that play against aweak player, bad move. Basically cost myself a first in all likelihood. I guess I was hoping he'd call with a weaker ace or K hi, but really I could chop this guy away without much risk.

Played 1 stud8 sng, first. Played 1 PLO8 sng, second.

6sngs in a row in the money, not bad.

For some reason I'm not too motivated to drive to live games lately, I think I'll delay my return to 10 20, 15 30 live play until the new year except for the occasional game.

I'm not really trying to make much money right now, just fooling around online playing small games and the steps tournies.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$2US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$24US
Online Cash Steps = -$72US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$3US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$6US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$236US

Rakeback = +$19US

Online MTD = +$170US~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

West Side Poker Tournament of Champions -- here comes the blue chip

2005-12-11T21:36:00.000-05:00

Oooooooooooh the blue chip, that special chip saved for when I just play like a complete ass.

This had to be some of the worst poker I had ever played. I showed up hoping for a field of at least 70-80 players and only 50 showed. My head was kind of sore at the start of the day, and I really didn't feel like playing for some reason. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the venue, I guess I'm getting used to undergrounds having real tables, dealers, etc... Just to get my initial feelings about the setup out of the way -- the venue wasn't heated which was crappy, the tables were just kitchen tables, no felt and no rail at all. A few times cards slid onto the floor. Overall my waking up not feeling like playing wasn't combated by the lack of poker tables, etc. Top spot was only $2300 for a $160 buy-in, I was expecting more like $5k+, this didn't help either. Even with the short 50 player field I would think top spot would be $3-$3.5k.

Enough whining for now.

As for my play, the tournament had a great structure, start with 10,000 chips, blinds at 25 50 and 1 hour blind levels. I was impatient, cold, my head hurt...but basically I just played like shit. My table was 7-8 handed until I busted and was mixed with a couple calling stations, a couple of players wayyyy too tight to be playing successful tournament poker and a couple decent players. Lets just put it this way, first hand we are 7 handed and I look at AQs UTG. I make it 150 (3bb) to go, button calls (turns out to be a calling station) and blinds fold. Pot just under 400. Flop is 7hi rainbow and I bet 300 or so. Button calls. Turn is a lovely Q, I bet 800 or so into a 1000 pot, button calls. River K, it's early in the tournament and I have no clue about this player yet, I make a weak play and check and he bets 500, I call and he flips KQo for runner runner 2 pair. And that was one of the better hands for me in the tourney. I had NO, I mean NO cards in the 3-4 hours before I busted out. I should have sat back and waited and waited, the blinds were only 100 200 when I finally busted out, but I played frustrated and I didn't really feel like playing at all.

Obviously optimal strategy would have been to wait for hands against the calling stations, for some reason I just couldn't sit back and play a patient game, I really just beat myself.

Hey, here's an idea -- how about playing 10 20 to 20 40 like I'm supposed to be this month?

Man, these step tournies on Party are addictive and kinda fun, basically top 4-5 always get reseated at a given level and top 2 move through, so you play tight until 5 players left then you can play like a complete idiot with no real risk...fun! Well, kinda fun...I just droppped from level 4/5 in the ministeps down to level 2 when AA got beaten by QQ all in preflop.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$160CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online MTT Shootouts MTD = +$2US
Online Satellites =
Online Satellite Steps = -$12US
Online Cash Steps = -$72US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = -$48US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$50US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$102US

Online MTD = -$66US~~~~ Live MTD = -$260CDN

Terrible Night of NL Cash

2005-12-10T00:44:00.000-05:00

Drove up to Kitchener for the West Side Poker Club Tournament of Champions tomorrow, so I played a 1 2 NL game for 4-5 hours. No cards, no flops, no nothing. Made a few moves to buy some pots, but couldn't keep stealing without getting any cards. Nevermind the results, NL cash games really bore me and this just reminded me of that. -$300.

I won't play NL cash again for a longggggggg time, don't like it at all (I knew that, but guess I needed a reminder).

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD =
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = -$300CDN
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online Satellites = -$12US (PPM steps)
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = -$64US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$50US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$35
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =

Online MTD = -$77US~~~~ Live MTD = -$100CDN

Felt Like Some Hi Lo -- Live Poker

2005-12-08T02:23:00.000-05:00

Played some 4 8 1/2 kill at The Office in Mississauga, I was tired and the game only lasted 3.5 hours, which was alright. Mostly 6-7 handed throughout, won 10bb in 3.5h, not bad. Not the big pots usually present in that Wed night game as the table was short and the big fish were absent.

3.5h, +10bb, +3bb/h.

Friend of mine at The Office won a seat in the PPM through a steps tournament on Party Poker, tried this out, these are a fun way to kill time, you can't lose much money due to the structure of the steps and if you get lucky you could win big.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = +$100CDN
B&M Tournies MTD =
B&M NLHE Cash MTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online Satellites = -$12US (PPM steps)
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = -$64US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$50US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$35
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =

Online MTD = -$77US~~~~ Live MTD = +$200CDN

Live Poker

2005-12-02T12:43:00.000-05:00

Wanted to play 10 20, but couldn't find a game for certain, so combined with the weather I went to the best 4 8 1/2 kill game that I know of...The Office.

Arrived at 1230am, had to wait 2 hours to play. Played for 3h and won $100, 3.5bb/h.

Sat down to find 33 in my BB, flop QJ3, 2 hearts...getting reraised by tight utg player, thinking JJ or QJ, ends up having KQ, big pot. 2nd band my sb I find red JJ. Calling station, who will also bet any pair (strange combination, I know), but will never bet a draw or reraise, etc...is betting a ATX flop og all diamonds, I know my diamond will be good if it comes, it doesn't but the pot is large enough at the river that I have to pay off with 2nd pair. This guy can bet a ten through, so it's a percentage call. Take down another big pot early with KQ on a KQx flop, then it's pretty quiet the rest of the night(well, only played 3 hours), and my early +$150 gets whittled down to +$100. I told myself that if I get to +$200 when I do play this game here and there I will generally lock it up, but never got there.

I'm playing disciplined, positional poker which can be hard to do in these low limit loose games. I layed down 2 winners, not always a bad sign. One on the flop and one preflop.

First laydown I have 88 UTD and limp in. Surprisingly, folded all the way to the sb who raises, BB calls (BB will call with anything here, he i s tilting, but can play well after the flop...usually will not raise with me in the hand without a HUGE hand...I also find out later that he got rivered hard by the sb a few times earlier that night and he takes things personally). Sooooooo, flop is 743 rainbow. SB bets, BB raises...now usually this would be telling me he flopped the straight, 2 pair or a set, and I'm also worried about sb having a bigger pair. BB takes it down with J7 off, oh well. I don't mind that laydown in this situation with these given players.

Second laydown I'm not too sure how I feel about. UTG has not played a hand for 4 orbits or so and raises UTG...6-7 callers and I have KQo in the SB and muck. I would call with 56s in this position, but KQo has too many ways of being dominated here. Of course flop is KQQ. Would have been an ok pot. I call right away with KQs, but not sure about the fold there. Obviously worried about AA, KK, QQ, AK from UTG. Turns out it was checked around on the flop, then checked on the turn by the raised and taken down my a single turn bet when someone paired the turn card. Very strange hand.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD =
B&M Tournies MTD =
B&M NLHE Cash MTD =
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$100CDN
Online O8shMTD =
Online LHEshMTD =
Online MTT MTD =
Online Satellites =
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = -$64US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$50US
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$14US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD =
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = +$35
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD =

Online MTD = -$65US~~~~ Live MTD = +$100CDN

November Summary, Not Much Of A Month

2005-12-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

Kind of just floated around playing a bunch of different games, not very focused on results. This month will be different:

Focus will be live cash games and 1 or 2 live tournaments.

Focus will not be on cash-losers that I played alot of the end of this past month, including:

1. Online MTT, especially with fields > 150 or so,
2. Online cash games,
3. Any online NL turbo sngs.

That's about it...month summary puts me a bit behind...

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$110
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$134US
Online Satellites = $-49, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$226US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$96US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = +$8US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$2US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

NOVEMBER TOTALS:

Online = -$128US ~~~~ Live = -$70CDN

Back To My Game

2005-11-29T06:41:00.000-05:00

For a cash game player, I sure took a long break from live cash games. The Office in Mississauga held what is now a monthly 10 20 limit holdem game tonight, I wanted to get there from the start as this is a great game. Unfortunately, I didn't get there until 1230am and had to wait until about 2am to play. 11 handed to start and then eventually down to 4 handed. Made some great reads and only really misplayed 1 hand bluffing into a calling station. Overall, only played 3 hours or so, +$110.

Now the main effort is to get out and find live 10 20 or 15 30 games in the area.

Goal is now to play 10 20 2-3x/week on a regular basis, keeping online to low limit ($30-$40) sngs. The last 2 weeks I've played games online which are not high percentage, MTTs, turbo sngs, etc. So, now that this is out of my system, I'm back to my main games -- live cash games and the occasional online sng.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$110
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$134US
Online Satellites = $-49, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$239US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$96US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = +$8US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$2US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

Online MTD = -$112US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$70CDN

Killing Time, Not Playing Well, Not Playing High Percentage Games

2005-11-26T18:53:00.000-05:00

My sleep is all crewed up from work, so staying in to get it back to normal tonight, playing some MTTs.

Stud h/l satellite for the $200 on stars. Never got much going, busted midway without ever getting above my initial 1500. -$39, no seat.

HU MTT limit HE, Stars. Really just outcarded in the second round. -$33.

Completely done online for now, not even trying to play well anymore. Live only for the next month.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$101US
Online Satellites = $-49, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$57US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = +$8US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$2US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

Online MTD = -$134US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

How Online Has Been Going

2005-11-25T22:18:00.000-05:00

Just playing a MTT here and there, withdrew most my online money. So, PLO8 hu MTT on stars, second round i hit top set of KKK on K85 rainbow board get my opponent all in calling with AAQJ, hits runner runner straight. Clueless players keep hitting me. Down to 300 battle back to even and he gets hit by the deck with high blinds. 2nd round, -$22.

UB 6 handed MTT, -$33. Early on my sb i limp with K5s, BB makes min raise. Flop K59 rainbow, I check he bets pot i raise 2/3 of his stack he calls with 200 left. Turn is T giving me flush draw as well, and he hit his gutshot. Jesus, what a joke. Outplayed his on every street and lose 1/2 my stack early. -$33.

Jesus (#*@&$(#*&, even when I win I lose. Stud h/l $33 MTT on Stars, 3rd/56. 3 handed 24k or so, big stack with 45k, other with 22k. I bring in with JJ rolled up 7 door card. Big folds, other player raises showing a 7, I put him on a pp hopefully under JJ. Capped, I pair my 7 JJ77, hes all in and turns up 997Q, next card??????????? QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ. FUCK. I'm out third for +$202, first was $500. Ah crap. 3rd/56, +$202. Was a good tournament, like the small field games.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$32US
Online Satellites = $-10, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$57US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = -$11US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$18US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

Online MTD = -$29US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

Lost My Patience For Online Play

2005-11-24T06:20:00.000-05:00

This has happened before. I'm playing too fast for too long in some sngs. I'm losing patience with online poker right now. Time to switch to live play. Live is actually by far my preference, I've just been lazy about driving to games this year. Going to start playing 10 20 twice a week and some small tournaments here and there. May give some 5 5 NL games a shot, although the variance can be devastating at times. Withdrawing the bulk of my online monies and hitting the live games starting this weekend.

Haven't had to bring out the $5 chip for a while, but that's what I get for playing when I'm not really feeling like it online.

Not a great month. I know I can consistantly beat the $38s on stars, but I've lost patience for those games right now, likely played them too much and then start wanting to move up when my game is not at its best. Next time I come back to online sngs I'll start at the 100s and go from there.

I've located 2-3 live 10 20 games within 30 minutes of my home, will try them out next week. Might go play live at Fallsview or Seneca on Saturday. Going to start playing more tournaments, so this may be negative on my bankroll until I manage to cash in one. Starting with smaller $100-$150 tournaments and moving up if I get some cashes.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$179US
Online Satellites = $-10, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$52US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = -$11US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$18US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

Online MTD = -$180US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

2005-11-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

What a weak table. UB $55 6 handed NLH sng. I easily cruise through to heads up, no fancy plays. These players were simply clueless about hand values, etc. So I just played tight, a few button steals, thats it. I basically lose it for my self HU. Up by 2000 or so, I raise with A8s, call. Flop 68T, I bet 1/2 pot or so, flat call...I'm thinking uhoh 97, but then again this guy calls with alot of hands including overcards here, turn A for 2 pair...I push, he calls with 97...stupid. I could easily chop this guy away. Final hand I have T7s and call a min raise. Flop JJx rainbow, he bets and I go all in for another 1500, he calls with Q9s and I don't improve. Took the wrong path against this guy, should have had no big pots and chopped him down. UB payouts are a bit different, 70/30 vs. 65/35 on stars. Still love the structure (this was a turbo). Second, +$35.

OOOps...wow placed 6th/6 in a $55 6 handed on UB. I plsyed tight to start as the table was aggressive, tried to make a few moves, the last one being AJs on the button, end up all in vs the BB with 600 left and he flips AA. All I kept seeing were KK, QQ, AK flipped over, couldn't get anything going. Sixth, -$55.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$179US
Online Satellites = $-10, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$17US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = -$11US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$18US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$159US

Online MTD = -$69US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

Mostly Omaha8...Switching to Ultimatebet

2005-11-23T04:55:00.000-05:00

UB 6handed $22 MTT, -$22. Very beatable game. First hand A8 in my sb vs bb with JJ. Flop AJx and I'm down to 900 right away. Get back to 1800. Down to 1400, smallest stack at the table. Final hand I have A9 and make a min raise in EP (table is very weak) flop 994 rainbow, decide to slowplay against a clueless player who will pay off. 499TK, he turns over QJ and I'm out. Had to take a chance there to get some chips, he would have called with and ten or K as well. 55/75 or so, -$22. Hadn't played UB in ages, I like this tourney, only 75 players and first is $650 or so, very beatable.

PLO8 $35 sng. Second, +$51. Fourth, -$35. Third, +$23. Fifth, -$35.

Sort session of 5 10 O8sh for a change, shouldn't even bother lately, -$59.

O8 limit hu MTT out in first round, lets just say I went out to K333...not really doing well this week. -$33.

OK, decided to play some bigger games. Played 2 $119 6 handed turbo sngs on Stars, 4th and 3rd. I didn't like the games at all...the structure is too fast for my liking and the Stars server was screwed up tonight making every hand take a minute, effectively making each 5 min round 5-8 hands. Brutal. 4th/3rd, -$119x2.

So, this sent me looking for a new 6 handed game with a larger buyin than the $38. Over to UB, played a $55 6 handed turbo sng, their turbos are a dream structure compared to Stars turbos. Was a pretty tight match, lost 3 times with the best hand all-in, finally heads-up against a very tight player, I constantly stole his blinds and bet every flop. First, +$155. Will be playing these $50 sngs for a while, if winning up to the 100s on UB.

Also withdrew all monies from Absolute to stop myself from playing these microsessions at O8, that's just not a good plan. Will keep $400 or so in Stars and play the $38s here and there until I clear the bonus.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$179US
Online Satellites = $-10, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$17US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = -$11US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$18US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$139US

Bleh can't be bothered with these streaks.

Online MTD = -$49US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

Maybe Not My Night

2005-11-21T19:09:00.000-05:00

$38 6 handed -- still 4 handed at 40 minutes, weak table but I'm playing too passive. I have 1600 in BB as do th 2 players to my left, chup leader on my right with 5k or so. Everyone's limping all the time. I'm kind of tired and blinds are 50 100. My BB and SB is weeeeeak. I start playing impatient and get dealt 85s in my BB. limped to me so I push all in, sb calls with KTs and I'm out, not really my game to push so hard for a $200 pot. Should have raised to 300 and bet 500 at the flop or so if checked to me. Played impatient, bad play. Fourth, -$38.

May play some HU MTTs tonight, not in the mood for sngs at the moment.

$22 64 played Stud HU MTT -- never played much stud heads up, fun game, made the second round and then the guy I was playing caught every card in the deck, very frustrating. 2nd round, -$22.

$20 HU O8 limit on Absolute, opponent hit 1 outer quads twice against my nut full house, lost -$10.

$38 6 handed, playing too loose early against several calling stations, so I'm short at 950, still lots of play. Calling station 2 to my right raises minimum to 60 and I have QQ in my BB. Gonna slow play and hopefully double up...flop KQJ, check check. Turn 5 hearts for a 4 flush, I overbet the pot and he calls, We end up all in on the river and he turns over AT for flopped nuts. Can't ever get away from that hand vs that player. 5th, $-38.

HU NLHE $21 Absolute. Opponent hit by the deck. I would have T9 he would have QT on a board of AAT23, etc, etc......bleh. Lost, $-21.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$65US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$124US
Online Satellites = $-10, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$219US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$17US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = -$1US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$18US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$56US

All time 6 handed NLH In-The-Money Streak = 3
All time 6 handed NLH No-Cash Streak = 2 (active)
All time HU NLH Winning Streak = 2

Online MTD = +$154US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$180CDN

Not Much Of A Month

2005-11-20T11:47:00.000-05:00

Played alot of games which are not real cash gains for me in general.
Note not to play the following:
1. Turbo sngs
2. Too Many MTTs if not ahead on the day
3. MTTs with huge fields
4. Online Cash Games

Next Month -- live cash games are the focus.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = $-180CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
B&M LHE Cash MTD = +$110
Online O8shMTD = -$124US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$134US
Online Satellites = $-49, no seats
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$223US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$96US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = +$8US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$2US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$235US

Online MTD = -$128US ~~~~ Live MTD = -$70CDN