Wow, talk about lousy results last night. I was the king of second best hands. I was so disgusted that when I had $1200 left and knew I was beat, I pushed anyway on a distictively "hope-a-tron" move. The results were as expected.
Whenever I lose to the imaginary post-n-fold player, I know I must be either playing too many hands or had a bad beat. It was not a bad beat.
I was getting run over, but it wasnt because of poor play so much as I was beat each and everytime and I just could not take it anymore. I try to play the early levels by grinding up small pots. Well, the pots became large and my holdings shrunk each time.
Sometimes there is a need to play short stack earlier than you would like. When that happens, you cant ever just give up in disgust. And that is what I did. Shame on me. Ugh.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Lesson learned
I spent two days thinking about last weeks BBT2 results. What really bothered me was that in two of the BBT2 tournaments last week, I was at one point in the top 3 in chips, if not the chip leader. Yet, I had little to show for it other than a handful of magic corn and some BBT2 points.
I spend this weekend reading Harrington Vol 3(the workbook quizzes) and spotted this article at 2+2 which summed up my week very nicely.
For those of you who don't enjoy long hand for hand posts, here is the payoff paragraph:
If I could play this final table again, I would be much more aggressive, especially from the small blind. During the final table, I folded my SB without a raise in front of me 3 times, and raised when it was folded to me there only twice. I rarely defended my blinds, even 3 and four handed. I wish I had paid less attention to my cards and more attention to making moves from late position when it was folded to me. I should have tried to be more of a bully when I had the chip lead, and tried some different moves such as re-steals.
Indeed, that was a summary of my play last week. But what ALSO struck me from my own ruminations, was that because of the larger than normal fields, I was shifting TOO LATE to phase 3 play. Many of you already know the 3 phases: Donk, TAG and FINAL. In the donk stage we play anything worth seeing a flop with from position. In the MIDDLE stages, we play tight-aggressive using our post-flop skills to outplay our opponents. In the FINAL stage, we STEAL, RE-STEAL, PUSH and BULLY (if applicable). I usually do this at the final table with a field of 45. But with a field of 110, its more of a blinds based formula. I could no longer afford to wait until we reached the points, I needed to start my advanced play at about 3 tables.
If you read my posts from last week, I obviously did not attempt any re-steals with 24 players left.
Lesson learned.
"In order to live, you must be willing to die." - Amir Vahedi
I spend this weekend reading Harrington Vol 3(the workbook quizzes) and spotted this article at 2+2 which summed up my week very nicely.
For those of you who don't enjoy long hand for hand posts, here is the payoff paragraph:
If I could play this final table again, I would be much more aggressive, especially from the small blind. During the final table, I folded my SB without a raise in front of me 3 times, and raised when it was folded to me there only twice. I rarely defended my blinds, even 3 and four handed. I wish I had paid less attention to my cards and more attention to making moves from late position when it was folded to me. I should have tried to be more of a bully when I had the chip lead, and tried some different moves such as re-steals.
Indeed, that was a summary of my play last week. But what ALSO struck me from my own ruminations, was that because of the larger than normal fields, I was shifting TOO LATE to phase 3 play. Many of you already know the 3 phases: Donk, TAG and FINAL. In the donk stage we play anything worth seeing a flop with from position. In the MIDDLE stages, we play tight-aggressive using our post-flop skills to outplay our opponents. In the FINAL stage, we STEAL, RE-STEAL, PUSH and BULLY (if applicable). I usually do this at the final table with a field of 45. But with a field of 110, its more of a blinds based formula. I could no longer afford to wait until we reached the points, I needed to start my advanced play at about 3 tables.
If you read my posts from last week, I obviously did not attempt any re-steals with 24 players left.
Lesson learned.
"In order to live, you must be willing to die." - Amir Vahedi
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
kill me now
Full Tilt Poker Game #3968013984: Riverchasers Online Poker Tour (29542848), Table 3 - 120/240 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:43:43 ET - 2007/10/25
At this point, I am in the top ten and playing well enough to make Hoyazo proud of his prediction. At the first break, I am over 8k in chips!!
About 30 minutes later...
Seat 1: Kajagugu (2,455)
Seat 2: morrdt (10,891)
Seat 3: GScottW (4,765)
Seat 4: presidentdave (6,180)
Seat 5: columbo (9,965)
Seat 6: TheCloserX5 (3,460)
Seat 7: jjok (5,625)
Seat 8: chitwood (4,350)
Seat 9: peacecorn (9,555)
antes 25
columbo posts the small blind of 120
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [As Ad]
jjok folds
chitwood folds
peacecorn folds
Kajagugu folds
morrdt folds
GScottW folds
presidentdave raises to 1,200
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
columbo: why so much?
columbo has requested TIME
columbo raises to 4,065
OMG, I am a sly fox...
TheCloserX5 folds
presidentdave has 15 seconds left to act
presidentdave has requested TIME
presidentdave raises to 6,155, and is all in
columbo calls 2,090
presidentdave shows [Qh Ah]
columbo shows [As Ad]
*** FLOP *** [5h 2c Qd]
presidentdave: gg
*** TURN *** [5h 2c Qd] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [5h 2c Qd 6h] [Th]
presidentdave shows a flush, Ace high
columbo shows a pair of Aces
presidentdave wins the pot (12,775) with a flush, Ace high
chitwood: ugh
Kajagugu: lol
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,775
jjok: ughhhh
Kajagugu: that blows
Kajagugu: but nothing new
Kajagugu: and kudos on the speech
All that great play to that point, just to have enough chips to survive that.
I immediately tilt with 88 and get a push from the blind. I call to see TT but flop a set. I am gifted back to exactly average. But at 150/300/25, I had better pick up some hands.
bleed, bleed... 45 left now... still tilt-y, but trying to detach from it...
limp from LP, button all-in for 2900 ( I have 6500), I have 44. I go into the tank for a LONG time and fold. A4 and 22. Oh, and the Ace hit. But had I been able to SEE their cards, I would have called. Thus, I made a bad read. But lived...
slightly under avg now...
But the button raises to 2k and I have AQ in the SB. I push big time and get the folds. Back to average and 13th of 38th at break 2. M will be 8 in the next level.
Our ability to maneuver is running out of time.
drop my 3rd hammer to steal the blinds...
Seat 8: iam23skidoo (20,769)
antes 75
columbo posts the small blind of 300
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [7s 7c]
jjok folds
iam23skidoo raises to 2,400
peacecorn folds
pokerpeaker folds
GScottW folds
presidentdave folds
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
I in REALLY thinking about folding here... So hard to play out of position and this is a difficult hand to push with...
columbo calls 2,100
TheCloserX5 folds
*** FLOP *** [Js 7d 9h]
columbo bets 1,600
ok, this is just brilliant. It looks like a wimpy-weak bet or a blocking bet. There is no way I wont get raised here.
iam23skidoo raises to 3,200
columbo raises to 7,905, and is all in
iam23skidoo has 15 seconds left to act
iam23skidoo folds
Back to my rightful place. I am 6th now.
I pass on my normal steal opportunities with 9Ts in MP. I am conserving my chips. But at 300/600/75, I will have to play a hand a rotation or bleed.
This time I call a short stack all in with 44 and he shows J9. He hits everything including a kitchen sink... Back to Average, 27 left. 400/800/100 now at a full table. But even so, I fold 33 from EP.
24 left, we just made the BBT2 points. Payouts start at 18... below avg due to folding and antes. Push is my policy when Q<1... especially FTA (first to act)
yet, no cards to play. Bleeding... lots of pressure from all sides... chipleader is directly on my right...
500/1000/125, here coms the push monkey level... and my BB...
63o, big stackk all-in again to me. I cant play back! the terrible run continues like a polluted stream, 63, 52, 5T, Q4, pick a hand! gonna hafta! I wish I had that 9Ts or 33 now!
A9s but UtG. Have to push... called by AKs (what else?). IGHN 22nd. no money.
This was emotionally draining. I put myself in a position to make a run TWICE and could not capitalize on it. The end-game of these larger fields is perplexing me...
Should I push with K4o UtG to avoid the 1k blind?
--------------------------------------------------------
Earlier in the tournament, during my run-up, this happened just before the break. It REALLY bothered me...
Seat 2: morrdt (6,055)
Seat 3: GScottW (3,010)
Seat 4: XxMagiciaNxX (2,543)
Seat 5: columbo (8,345)
Seat 6: garthmeister (2,445)
Seat 7: sellthekids (2,935)
Seat 8: chitwood (4,525)
Seat 9: peacecorn (5,340)
GScottW posts the small blind of 50
XxMagiciaNxX posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [2c 3c]
columbo folds
garthmeister folds
sellthekids folds
chitwood folds
peacecorn folds
morrdt raises to 350
GScottW folds
XxMagiciaNxX raises to 2,543, and is all in
morrdt calls 2,193
XxMagiciaNxX shows [Qc Th]
morrdt shows [Ts Kd]
*** FLOP *** [Ks Qs Kc]
*** TURN *** [Ks Qs Kc] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [Ks Qs Kc 6s] [8h]
XxMagiciaNxX shows two pair, Kings and Queens
morrdt shows three of a kind, Kings
morrdt wins the pot (5,136) with three of a kind, Kings
XxMagiciaNxX stands up
Why did this bother me? Looked like a "chip dump". Bothered me for 30 minutes and I wasnt even in the hand! Who RE-Raises with QT, all-in no less, when they still have a stack? And when you get put all-in and you have KT, do you call like this?
I know its all coincidence, but at the time it plagued me. I eventually let it go, but here is why I wrote about it: Can you see how ENGAGED I was? That is concentration and second senses operating. I am developing an instinct for things to look for. That is encouraging! I never would have caught this pattern even 6 months ago.
Did not help my finish though.
At this point, I am in the top ten and playing well enough to make Hoyazo proud of his prediction. At the first break, I am over 8k in chips!!
About 30 minutes later...
Seat 1: Kajagugu (2,455)
Seat 2: morrdt (10,891)
Seat 3: GScottW (4,765)
Seat 4: presidentdave (6,180)
Seat 5: columbo (9,965)
Seat 6: TheCloserX5 (3,460)
Seat 7: jjok (5,625)
Seat 8: chitwood (4,350)
Seat 9: peacecorn (9,555)
antes 25
columbo posts the small blind of 120
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 240
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [As Ad]
jjok folds
chitwood folds
peacecorn folds
Kajagugu folds
morrdt folds
GScottW folds
presidentdave raises to 1,200
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
columbo: why so much?
columbo has requested TIME
columbo raises to 4,065
OMG, I am a sly fox...
TheCloserX5 folds
presidentdave has 15 seconds left to act
presidentdave has requested TIME
presidentdave raises to 6,155, and is all in
columbo calls 2,090
presidentdave shows [Qh Ah]
columbo shows [As Ad]
*** FLOP *** [5h 2c Qd]
presidentdave: gg
*** TURN *** [5h 2c Qd] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [5h 2c Qd 6h] [Th]
presidentdave shows a flush, Ace high
columbo shows a pair of Aces
presidentdave wins the pot (12,775) with a flush, Ace high
chitwood: ugh
Kajagugu: lol
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,775
jjok: ughhhh
Kajagugu: that blows
Kajagugu: but nothing new
Kajagugu: and kudos on the speech
All that great play to that point, just to have enough chips to survive that.
I immediately tilt with 88 and get a push from the blind. I call to see TT but flop a set. I am gifted back to exactly average. But at 150/300/25, I had better pick up some hands.
bleed, bleed... 45 left now... still tilt-y, but trying to detach from it...
limp from LP, button all-in for 2900 ( I have 6500), I have 44. I go into the tank for a LONG time and fold. A4 and 22. Oh, and the Ace hit. But had I been able to SEE their cards, I would have called. Thus, I made a bad read. But lived...
slightly under avg now...
But the button raises to 2k and I have AQ in the SB. I push big time and get the folds. Back to average and 13th of 38th at break 2. M will be 8 in the next level.
Our ability to maneuver is running out of time.
drop my 3rd hammer to steal the blinds...
Seat 8: iam23skidoo (20,769)
antes 75
columbo posts the small blind of 300
TheCloserX5 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [7s 7c]
jjok folds
iam23skidoo raises to 2,400
peacecorn folds
pokerpeaker folds
GScottW folds
presidentdave folds
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
I in REALLY thinking about folding here... So hard to play out of position and this is a difficult hand to push with...
columbo calls 2,100
TheCloserX5 folds
*** FLOP *** [Js 7d 9h]
columbo bets 1,600
ok, this is just brilliant. It looks like a wimpy-weak bet or a blocking bet. There is no way I wont get raised here.
iam23skidoo raises to 3,200
columbo raises to 7,905, and is all in
iam23skidoo has 15 seconds left to act
iam23skidoo folds
Back to my rightful place. I am 6th now.
I pass on my normal steal opportunities with 9Ts in MP. I am conserving my chips. But at 300/600/75, I will have to play a hand a rotation or bleed.
This time I call a short stack all in with 44 and he shows J9. He hits everything including a kitchen sink... Back to Average, 27 left. 400/800/100 now at a full table. But even so, I fold 33 from EP.
24 left, we just made the BBT2 points. Payouts start at 18... below avg due to folding and antes. Push is my policy when Q<1... especially FTA (first to act)
yet, no cards to play. Bleeding... lots of pressure from all sides... chipleader is directly on my right...
500/1000/125, here coms the push monkey level... and my BB...
63o, big stackk all-in again to me. I cant play back! the terrible run continues like a polluted stream, 63, 52, 5T, Q4, pick a hand! gonna hafta! I wish I had that 9Ts or 33 now!
A9s but UtG. Have to push... called by AKs (what else?). IGHN 22nd. no money.
This was emotionally draining. I put myself in a position to make a run TWICE and could not capitalize on it. The end-game of these larger fields is perplexing me...
Should I push with K4o UtG to avoid the 1k blind?
--------------------------------------------------------
Earlier in the tournament, during my run-up, this happened just before the break. It REALLY bothered me...
Seat 2: morrdt (6,055)
Seat 3: GScottW (3,010)
Seat 4: XxMagiciaNxX (2,543)
Seat 5: columbo (8,345)
Seat 6: garthmeister (2,445)
Seat 7: sellthekids (2,935)
Seat 8: chitwood (4,525)
Seat 9: peacecorn (5,340)
GScottW posts the small blind of 50
XxMagiciaNxX posts the big blind of 100
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [2c 3c]
columbo folds
garthmeister folds
sellthekids folds
chitwood folds
peacecorn folds
morrdt raises to 350
GScottW folds
XxMagiciaNxX raises to 2,543, and is all in
morrdt calls 2,193
XxMagiciaNxX shows [Qc Th]
morrdt shows [Ts Kd]
*** FLOP *** [Ks Qs Kc]
*** TURN *** [Ks Qs Kc] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [Ks Qs Kc 6s] [8h]
XxMagiciaNxX shows two pair, Kings and Queens
morrdt shows three of a kind, Kings
morrdt wins the pot (5,136) with three of a kind, Kings
XxMagiciaNxX stands up
Why did this bother me? Looked like a "chip dump". Bothered me for 30 minutes and I wasnt even in the hand! Who RE-Raises with QT, all-in no less, when they still have a stack? And when you get put all-in and you have KT, do you call like this?
I know its all coincidence, but at the time it plagued me. I eventually let it go, but here is why I wrote about it: Can you see how ENGAGED I was? That is concentration and second senses operating. I am developing an instinct for things to look for. That is encouraging! I never would have caught this pattern even 6 months ago.
Did not help my finish though.
1 for 3, but tearing my hair out.
Mookie (event 3 of 27) and there are 117 players. More tables than I like in a tournament, but I leap in.
50 left, I am just about average.
Then, I catch AQ with an AK, I bluff Waffles off a hand with HAMMER, I catch KQ with my AQ and I played a pocket pair of queens vs. someone who just over played AJ and suddenly...
36 left, I am FIRST in chips, and have a 10k lead over 3rd place.
24 left, I am about 3rd or 2nd in chips.
Between 24 and 18 (payouts begin at 18), I went totally card dead. And when I did try to make a play, mdeium stacks who I expected to play tight would just push. It was a painful run of not even being able to defend blinds with 43, T2, etc vs. 4xBB pre-flops. I also got into trouble with a hammer hand.
I had about 8 hammers, played 7 of them, and won 4 of them (3 pre-flop).
We reach the money and I am now AVERAGE with like 22k. UGH. But it gets worse. The blinds are now 1k/2k with antes. So a majority of the players have an M of less than 10.
I lose (release) a hand and fold my blinds and now I have 16k.
Its folded around to me on the button and I have Ac3c. The blinds are now 1.5k/3k. So what is the point of raising to 9k (3xBB) and being pot committed anyways? So, I push (knowing that whenever I do this, the BB wakes up with AK). This time, the SB goes into the tank and finally calls with QQ. IGHN 15th.
I did cash though, gathered points, and even took third in the Dookie RAZZ without memorizing a single folded card (and really barely paying attention at all). Razz is fun, but you need to practice it. You can't just "play" razz.
so, I have points. Big deal. The TOC is the goal, and anything short of a victory in an given event is going to be dissapointing.
50 left, I am just about average.
Then, I catch AQ with an AK, I bluff Waffles off a hand with HAMMER, I catch KQ with my AQ and I played a pocket pair of queens vs. someone who just over played AJ and suddenly...
36 left, I am FIRST in chips, and have a 10k lead over 3rd place.
24 left, I am about 3rd or 2nd in chips.
Between 24 and 18 (payouts begin at 18), I went totally card dead. And when I did try to make a play, mdeium stacks who I expected to play tight would just push. It was a painful run of not even being able to defend blinds with 43, T2, etc vs. 4xBB pre-flops. I also got into trouble with a hammer hand.
I had about 8 hammers, played 7 of them, and won 4 of them (3 pre-flop).
We reach the money and I am now AVERAGE with like 22k. UGH. But it gets worse. The blinds are now 1k/2k with antes. So a majority of the players have an M of less than 10.
I lose (release) a hand and fold my blinds and now I have 16k.
Its folded around to me on the button and I have Ac3c. The blinds are now 1.5k/3k. So what is the point of raising to 9k (3xBB) and being pot committed anyways? So, I push (knowing that whenever I do this, the BB wakes up with AK). This time, the SB goes into the tank and finally calls with QQ. IGHN 15th.
I did cash though, gathered points, and even took third in the Dookie RAZZ without memorizing a single folded card (and really barely paying attention at all). Razz is fun, but you need to practice it. You can't just "play" razz.
so, I have points. Big deal. The TOC is the goal, and anything short of a victory in an given event is going to be dissapointing.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
starting 0 for 2
Now, there are 27 events in the BBT2, but I have started out 0 for 2. Why, I wonder?
If we are to believe the posts in the community for the last couple of days, its simple. I play too many hands. This might be true. It certainly has been my achillies heal when I reach the final 3 of a table. But as a matter of rote?
Hmmm, I spend some time thinking through my hands recently, and as I see where I lost the most chips, it was betting the flop or the turn with nothing, and having to fold to someone playing back at me, or betting on the river. Its not that I PLAY too many hands, but that I CONTINUE to play the hand.
At least that is my theory going into #3 tonight in the Mookie.
If we are to believe the posts in the community for the last couple of days, its simple. I play too many hands. This might be true. It certainly has been my achillies heal when I reach the final 3 of a table. But as a matter of rote?
Hmmm, I spend some time thinking through my hands recently, and as I see where I lost the most chips, it was betting the flop or the turn with nothing, and having to fold to someone playing back at me, or betting on the river. Its not that I PLAY too many hands, but that I CONTINUE to play the hand.
At least that is my theory going into #3 tonight in the Mookie.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Bubble, Bubble, O8 Trouble
It was Pot Limit O8B Friday night (yes, I know that is normally a limit game). In order to play correctly, you could only limp for the first 2-3 levels, but after that you would have to commit to a hand with a raise coming in. I make it to the final table by playing only 4 hand to the turn.
With 8 left, I come in with 4567 for a raise, trying to isolate an EP limper from early-mid position. I get 2 callers. The flop is 778. I bet pot. The MP player comes over the top for pot and the LP players gets all in. WTF? But after stopping to think, this was east to figure out. I have top set and I am against an A2 for low and the flush draw (two clubs on the board) for high. I am currently the best hand and I have 1/3 of my chips in there already. I figure I am stuck calling. In retrospect, I think I would incorrectly fold here many times... The turn and river came to high spade cards and I scooped the pot. I was finally an average stack size at about 40k,
With 6 left, I have 2355 and get in cheap from the BB. But when the flop comes down A38 I am thinking I might be able to just take this one. I raise it POT, or 9k and this is a 1/4 of my stack. The opponent in the middle position (the MP from the above hand), re-raises pot. I got big problems now. I have the SECOND nut low and a measly 55 for high. Its unlikely my high hand will improve. I spend a long minute thinking about this. I look over and my opponent's pulse is so high, I can see it in his neck. I RARELY make reads on phyisical reactions, but since I thought I needed to fold anyway, that clinched it.
After that, I got brutally cold decked. So much more painful in O8B than in hold-em. Everytime I would come in for a raise, I would get a couple of callers and the flop would hit them like it was everyone's birthday but mine. I lost 4 hands this way, and eventually went out as the bubble boy in 5th.
With 8 left, I come in with 4567 for a raise, trying to isolate an EP limper from early-mid position. I get 2 callers. The flop is 778. I bet pot. The MP player comes over the top for pot and the LP players gets all in. WTF? But after stopping to think, this was east to figure out. I have top set and I am against an A2 for low and the flush draw (two clubs on the board) for high. I am currently the best hand and I have 1/3 of my chips in there already. I figure I am stuck calling. In retrospect, I think I would incorrectly fold here many times... The turn and river came to high spade cards and I scooped the pot. I was finally an average stack size at about 40k,
With 6 left, I have 2355 and get in cheap from the BB. But when the flop comes down A38 I am thinking I might be able to just take this one. I raise it POT, or 9k and this is a 1/4 of my stack. The opponent in the middle position (the MP from the above hand), re-raises pot. I got big problems now. I have the SECOND nut low and a measly 55 for high. Its unlikely my high hand will improve. I spend a long minute thinking about this. I look over and my opponent's pulse is so high, I can see it in his neck. I RARELY make reads on phyisical reactions, but since I thought I needed to fold anyway, that clinched it.
After that, I got brutally cold decked. So much more painful in O8B than in hold-em. Everytime I would come in for a raise, I would get a couple of callers and the flop would hit them like it was everyone's birthday but mine. I lost 4 hands this way, and eventually went out as the bubble boy in 5th.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wanna see an easy fold with a big hand?
With QQ in the BB, the UtG with a big stack makes a raise. So why the EASY fold?
Because 16th is a good as first. See you in the Big Game Sunday!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
What is the opposite of a bad beat?
Last night in the Hoy, an amazing thing happened. Something I had never experienced before. And it resulted in a long overdue cash.
It started early, when my pocket Jacks flopped QUADS in level II. It was hard extracting chips from KOD on this one, but I manage to get about 1/3 of my stack in there by the river and got a call.
There I am at the end of level 2 with 3700 chips (you start with 3k). Usually, I have played 3 hammers by now...
Instead, I played QT in the SB vs. the BB. The flop is Q93. Since he only had 2200 or so, I decide he may actually have Q with a WEAKER kicker. When the money goes in, I am right... and wrong. He had Q3 and flopped two pair. I should have let it go, but now I am short-stacked at 870 chips.
Then I went on a heater. 3 or 4 pockets pairs, all played VERY aggressively got me up to just shy of 3k.
But here is where it got interesting. I flopped a set vs. a flush draw... and when the money went in, the flush draw did not get there. I have now doubled up!
I am sitting at around 5.5k and it happens again. Its easier to punish the flush draw this time since I have a bigger stack. The money all goes in and the flush DOES NOT HIT!
Wait a second. I dodged TWO flush draws?! TWO in a ROW?
Its at this point I make a really huge decision. EP make it 4xBB to go. AlCantHang, sensing what I read as a willingness to "race or win the EP money" pushes all in. It comes around to me with QQ. Now I would normally ALWAYS fold here. ALWAYS. But lately, I have identified this as a LEAK in my game. I would fold to two all-ins even when getting the right odds. So this time, I had to think. I click the "TIME" button and start to work it out. If I am right and Al has a dominated hand like JJ, I might be able to push EP out of the pot by pushing all-in and showing that much strength. He should fold any Ace-rag or medium pair. He probably calls with AK, but maybe not? My hand might look even bigger than QQ to him. I am getting a pure 2-1 here and if I am 40% to win... I remember a line I read from "Rizen" at PokerStars, "I will take a chance in some spots if I think winning the hand will put me in a position to win the tournament." I take the leap of faith and push.
Now, the EP player thinks for a few seconds and I figure I am gold. Then he calls with KK. He was wondering (correctly) if I had AA. I was disappointed that he had KK, but ironically elated that I read the hand correctly. I think he WOULD have folded any hand there except KK or AA. And Al flipped over an underpair like TT or JJ. It did not dawn on me at that moment, but the KK had to dodge double the normal outs, and Al and I each had a 20% chance to win the pot over the KK. And wouldn't you know that all those bad runs in the last month came back to me and the poker gods bestowed upon me the Mississippi Queen (Queen on the river). I win a Huge pot, put myself in a position to win it all, and had 25% of the chips in play with only 2 tables left.
My short stack play was good, my cards decent, and by the time I made the final I had managed to do something that is harder than winning a big stack, and that is keeping a big stack. I did not go loose-aggressive, but rather still picked what hands I wanted to tagle in. I observed MANY TIMES that the behavior that GETS you the big stack turns around and DONKS off the big stack. So, I nurtured it.
With 4 players left, I noticed (not at first, but as we played on), that the players tightened up for the cash. I used this time to be sneaky and steal smaller pots, using my big stack as an implied threat. Eventually, someone went out and it wasn't me. The final battle couldn't be better. It was Bayne, Gary GCOX and myself. and I had position on my nemesis Bayne. I was looking forward to the challenge now...
I lost a big hand to Bayne and kicked myself for not remembering the notes I had on him. I made a call when I knew he was strong. Stupid. But I clawed and stole my way back. But my karma ran out and Gary COLD DECKED US BOTH. I came SO close to knocking him out and taking a commanding lead, when he hit his 2 outer on the river. Then, he hit another longshot to knock out Bayne. Heads up, he would outkick me on every hand. We are HEADS-UP mind you, and its QT vs. Q9, A8 vs. AQ, etc. He just kept getting the dominating hand. Fuel mocked my aggression with A8 head up, but as a 3-1 chip dog, can you fold A8 as the money escalates pre-flop? Maybe. But in the moment, I could not...
And there is is. Before the Hoy started, I actually said to myself, "You are going to win the Hoy tonight". Not exactly accurate, but I'll take it.
On the personal front, I have been ill as of late. I have badly swollen glands and ear and sinus pressure. Its been with me for over a month now. Its like a ear infection, or a flu but without other tell-tale symptoms. No fever, and blood tests show nothing more than I eat too much meat. Doctors can't figure out what is wrong... Sort of has me on edge. I only bring it up as I wonder if that affects my play? It certainly affects my mental and physical states.
It started early, when my pocket Jacks flopped QUADS in level II. It was hard extracting chips from KOD on this one, but I manage to get about 1/3 of my stack in there by the river and got a call.
There I am at the end of level 2 with 3700 chips (you start with 3k). Usually, I have played 3 hammers by now...
Instead, I played QT in the SB vs. the BB. The flop is Q93. Since he only had 2200 or so, I decide he may actually have Q with a WEAKER kicker. When the money goes in, I am right... and wrong. He had Q3 and flopped two pair. I should have let it go, but now I am short-stacked at 870 chips.
Then I went on a heater. 3 or 4 pockets pairs, all played VERY aggressively got me up to just shy of 3k.
But here is where it got interesting. I flopped a set vs. a flush draw... and when the money went in, the flush draw did not get there. I have now doubled up!
I am sitting at around 5.5k and it happens again. Its easier to punish the flush draw this time since I have a bigger stack. The money all goes in and the flush DOES NOT HIT!
Wait a second. I dodged TWO flush draws?! TWO in a ROW?
Its at this point I make a really huge decision. EP make it 4xBB to go. AlCantHang, sensing what I read as a willingness to "race or win the EP money" pushes all in. It comes around to me with QQ. Now I would normally ALWAYS fold here. ALWAYS. But lately, I have identified this as a LEAK in my game. I would fold to two all-ins even when getting the right odds. So this time, I had to think. I click the "TIME" button and start to work it out. If I am right and Al has a dominated hand like JJ, I might be able to push EP out of the pot by pushing all-in and showing that much strength. He should fold any Ace-rag or medium pair. He probably calls with AK, but maybe not? My hand might look even bigger than QQ to him. I am getting a pure 2-1 here and if I am 40% to win... I remember a line I read from "Rizen" at PokerStars, "I will take a chance in some spots if I think winning the hand will put me in a position to win the tournament." I take the leap of faith and push.
Now, the EP player thinks for a few seconds and I figure I am gold. Then he calls with KK. He was wondering (correctly) if I had AA. I was disappointed that he had KK, but ironically elated that I read the hand correctly. I think he WOULD have folded any hand there except KK or AA. And Al flipped over an underpair like TT or JJ. It did not dawn on me at that moment, but the KK had to dodge double the normal outs, and Al and I each had a 20% chance to win the pot over the KK. And wouldn't you know that all those bad runs in the last month came back to me and the poker gods bestowed upon me the Mississippi Queen (Queen on the river). I win a Huge pot, put myself in a position to win it all, and had 25% of the chips in play with only 2 tables left.
My short stack play was good, my cards decent, and by the time I made the final I had managed to do something that is harder than winning a big stack, and that is keeping a big stack. I did not go loose-aggressive, but rather still picked what hands I wanted to tagle in. I observed MANY TIMES that the behavior that GETS you the big stack turns around and DONKS off the big stack. So, I nurtured it.
With 4 players left, I noticed (not at first, but as we played on), that the players tightened up for the cash. I used this time to be sneaky and steal smaller pots, using my big stack as an implied threat. Eventually, someone went out and it wasn't me. The final battle couldn't be better. It was Bayne, Gary GCOX and myself. and I had position on my nemesis Bayne. I was looking forward to the challenge now...
I lost a big hand to Bayne and kicked myself for not remembering the notes I had on him. I made a call when I knew he was strong. Stupid. But I clawed and stole my way back. But my karma ran out and Gary COLD DECKED US BOTH. I came SO close to knocking him out and taking a commanding lead, when he hit his 2 outer on the river. Then, he hit another longshot to knock out Bayne. Heads up, he would outkick me on every hand. We are HEADS-UP mind you, and its QT vs. Q9, A8 vs. AQ, etc. He just kept getting the dominating hand. Fuel mocked my aggression with A8 head up, but as a 3-1 chip dog, can you fold A8 as the money escalates pre-flop? Maybe. But in the moment, I could not...
And there is is. Before the Hoy started, I actually said to myself, "You are going to win the Hoy tonight". Not exactly accurate, but I'll take it.
On the personal front, I have been ill as of late. I have badly swollen glands and ear and sinus pressure. Its been with me for over a month now. Its like a ear infection, or a flu but without other tell-tale symptoms. No fever, and blood tests show nothing more than I eat too much meat. Doctors can't figure out what is wrong... Sort of has me on edge. I only bring it up as I wonder if that affects my play? It certainly affects my mental and physical states.
Monday, October 15, 2007
IT RETURNS TO FEED!
FEED! FEED on the chips of the DEAD MONEY. Its the Battle of the Bloggers II, Attack of the zombie stacks!!! Coming soon!!!!
Tournaments participating :
Tournament: Mondays at the Hoy
When: Every Monday. 10pm ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $24+2
Password: hammer
Tournament: The Mookie
When: Every Wednesday. 10pm ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: vegas1
Tournament: Riverchasers Online Poker Tour
When: Every Thursday. 21:00 ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: Riverchasers
Tournament: The Big Game (monthly)
10/21/2007 @ 9:30pm
$69 + $6
pw: donkey
I will make sure the GOOGLE calendar (link on upper right) is up to date!
Tournaments participating :
Tournament: Mondays at the Hoy
When: Every Monday. 10pm ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $24+2
Password: hammer
Tournament: The Mookie
When: Every Wednesday. 10pm ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: vegas1
Tournament: Riverchasers Online Poker Tour
When: Every Thursday. 21:00 ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Buyin: $10+1
Password: Riverchasers
Tournament: The Big Game (monthly)
10/21/2007 @ 9:30pm
$69 + $6
pw: donkey
I will make sure the GOOGLE calendar (link on upper right) is up to date!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
PS Blogger freeroll
What an incredibly boring tournament write up this will be, despite finishing 142nd out of over 1300. No big amazing hands. I did turn quads once early and played it for value, but really lots of stealing, getting the most out of middle pairs and finally with the blinds killing us, had to play for it all with 99. Got called by AK and lost the race... badly.
No real big decisions, no amazing plays. I did make a continuation bet with AK once and got popped. I thought about the re-steal, but since pre-flop stealing was going so well, I let it go.
When ever I hit a flop hard, I got usually just the minimal value out of it. Set on a flush board, set with no callers, etc. My opponents just never had anything. I made one big move, when with the Ac, I represented a flush on a 3 club flop by using a check-raise. Not really the stuff you show on tv, eh?
Best hand all night, JJ (twice) and TT(3 times). Only a couple of AK hands in there somewhere. But I had a good run of usable hands, AJ, KJ, 55, etc.
In these big freerolls, I like to hang around average, trying to get one of those amazing hands where someone pushes you their stack with the second best hand. Never happened. And without that, you just cant win these big field events. When I went out, for example, the chip leader had $250k and the average was $80k. (I had around 80k, lost two hands in a row taking me to 50k and going out on the 99 race).
No real big decisions, no amazing plays. I did make a continuation bet with AK once and got popped. I thought about the re-steal, but since pre-flop stealing was going so well, I let it go.
When ever I hit a flop hard, I got usually just the minimal value out of it. Set on a flush board, set with no callers, etc. My opponents just never had anything. I made one big move, when with the Ac, I represented a flush on a 3 club flop by using a check-raise. Not really the stuff you show on tv, eh?
Best hand all night, JJ (twice) and TT(3 times). Only a couple of AK hands in there somewhere. But I had a good run of usable hands, AJ, KJ, 55, etc.
In these big freerolls, I like to hang around average, trying to get one of those amazing hands where someone pushes you their stack with the second best hand. Never happened. And without that, you just cant win these big field events. When I went out, for example, the chip leader had $250k and the average was $80k. (I had around 80k, lost two hands in a row taking me to 50k and going out on the 99 race).
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thoughts and TT
As I reflect on my results lately, I have noticed that I am going out more and more with a lesser pair. Somewhere along the line, whilst increasing my aggression, I forgot the old adage, "A pair is just a pair".
But upon reflection, I wish to illustrate examples using my favorite hand to hate, TT. (yes, I know most people say JJ. If it helps, use that hand).
There are 3 phases to a tournament. The deep stack, shallow blinds stage is stage 1. (NOTE: Not all tournaments have this stage!) In this stage, you are taking flops from late position and the blinds, or with a pair, in the hopes of hitting a flop hard. Others play these hands to win small pots at tight tables by getting hands that missed flopping big to just fold. To me, its easy to play TT here. You play it like a baby pair. If you raise and win the blinds, who cares really? If you isolate, would you risk big chips on most flops? doubtful. Just see a flop like you would with 55.
Stage 2 is the middle stages, or accumulation stages. You are looking to get money in with the best hand. TT is a terrible hand to play now. Hate it. But in these middle stages, aggression accumulates chips. You need to be willing to find that leverage point where someone cant call you with their holding unless you are BADLY beat. Its the art of the dance. Jab, Jab, dodge, Jab, repeat. And when someone gets their money in, they are behing you. You can not go out on TT vs. JJ here. You just cant. If you do, its probably your fault. But at the same time, your goal is to get JJ to fold. So reading the flop and your opponent are paramount.
Stage 3 is the final tables stages, where players tighten up their game and TT can be played aggressively. If you run TT from LP into JJ, that sucks and its going to cost you a mint, expecially on a 9 high flop. So hard to escape here.
Now, I want to digrgess into a little Jamie Gold. When Moneymaker won the WSOP, he changed it forever. It brought the concept of "the bigger the field, the more aggressive you must be to win" to light, and it has proven out. Many of the bad players run into each other and every time one of them doubles up. By the end, one of the bad players has a mountain of chips. And that's the aggressive players. The aggressive players are trying to get at those chips, while avoiding the very good players. Often times their egos, based on their past won hands, prevent them from avoiding each other.
Jamie once again changed how a player can look at a big field. He is not aggressive in the sense he tries to push players off of hands on the flop or turn. No, he is more like a turret, always swinging around looking for a better position to aim from. He will often call a flop bet and even a turn bet as a known dog, just to see if he can line a player in the crosshairs on the river. You saw him hit a lot of hands in the WSOP, which made him look lucky. But on High Stakes Poker, you have seen him run some of the most amazing bluffs using this "turret" style.
Instead of trying to "bet to get information", he is using your control of the pot size to determine his informaation. He doesnt need to "buy information" as much. And his calls give away no further information in this style. When an aggressive players just calls, he gives away much more.
How would Jamie probably play TT in the middle stages? I suspect in most cases, he is calling any flop bet and any turn bet. Then either making a large pressure bet on the river, or simply making a 3rd call. He might even make the river call KNOWING he is beat, just so everyone understands, he is going to call you down.
Now when you are in a pot with him and you are thinking about bluffing... you have to think twice. and MANY aggressivce players bluff ALOT. So he has an advantage in the big field.
And that advantage, like all other advantages, is enjoyed as long as its in the minority. If everyone started trying it, it would fail.
Now, to tie it all back to ME. I am getting too wreckless in stage 2. I am busting out of trournaments getting AT in Vs. AK and TT vs. JJ. There is just not excuse for it. I have to control my behavior every hand. Every hand. I must be in full thought mode every hand. Not "hoping" I am ahead and made a brilliant read. If you dont fold a winning hand at all during stage 2, you are probably being wreckless. I cant even recall the last time I folded a winning hand in stage 2.
But upon reflection, I wish to illustrate examples using my favorite hand to hate, TT. (yes, I know most people say JJ. If it helps, use that hand).
There are 3 phases to a tournament. The deep stack, shallow blinds stage is stage 1. (NOTE: Not all tournaments have this stage!) In this stage, you are taking flops from late position and the blinds, or with a pair, in the hopes of hitting a flop hard. Others play these hands to win small pots at tight tables by getting hands that missed flopping big to just fold. To me, its easy to play TT here. You play it like a baby pair. If you raise and win the blinds, who cares really? If you isolate, would you risk big chips on most flops? doubtful. Just see a flop like you would with 55.
Stage 2 is the middle stages, or accumulation stages. You are looking to get money in with the best hand. TT is a terrible hand to play now. Hate it. But in these middle stages, aggression accumulates chips. You need to be willing to find that leverage point where someone cant call you with their holding unless you are BADLY beat. Its the art of the dance. Jab, Jab, dodge, Jab, repeat. And when someone gets their money in, they are behing you. You can not go out on TT vs. JJ here. You just cant. If you do, its probably your fault. But at the same time, your goal is to get JJ to fold. So reading the flop and your opponent are paramount.
Stage 3 is the final tables stages, where players tighten up their game and TT can be played aggressively. If you run TT from LP into JJ, that sucks and its going to cost you a mint, expecially on a 9 high flop. So hard to escape here.
Now, I want to digrgess into a little Jamie Gold. When Moneymaker won the WSOP, he changed it forever. It brought the concept of "the bigger the field, the more aggressive you must be to win" to light, and it has proven out. Many of the bad players run into each other and every time one of them doubles up. By the end, one of the bad players has a mountain of chips. And that's the aggressive players. The aggressive players are trying to get at those chips, while avoiding the very good players. Often times their egos, based on their past won hands, prevent them from avoiding each other.
Jamie once again changed how a player can look at a big field. He is not aggressive in the sense he tries to push players off of hands on the flop or turn. No, he is more like a turret, always swinging around looking for a better position to aim from. He will often call a flop bet and even a turn bet as a known dog, just to see if he can line a player in the crosshairs on the river. You saw him hit a lot of hands in the WSOP, which made him look lucky. But on High Stakes Poker, you have seen him run some of the most amazing bluffs using this "turret" style.
Instead of trying to "bet to get information", he is using your control of the pot size to determine his informaation. He doesnt need to "buy information" as much. And his calls give away no further information in this style. When an aggressive players just calls, he gives away much more.
How would Jamie probably play TT in the middle stages? I suspect in most cases, he is calling any flop bet and any turn bet. Then either making a large pressure bet on the river, or simply making a 3rd call. He might even make the river call KNOWING he is beat, just so everyone understands, he is going to call you down.
Now when you are in a pot with him and you are thinking about bluffing... you have to think twice. and MANY aggressivce players bluff ALOT. So he has an advantage in the big field.
And that advantage, like all other advantages, is enjoyed as long as its in the minority. If everyone started trying it, it would fail.
Now, to tie it all back to ME. I am getting too wreckless in stage 2. I am busting out of trournaments getting AT in Vs. AK and TT vs. JJ. There is just not excuse for it. I have to control my behavior every hand. Every hand. I must be in full thought mode every hand. Not "hoping" I am ahead and made a brilliant read. If you dont fold a winning hand at all during stage 2, you are probably being wreckless. I cant even recall the last time I folded a winning hand in stage 2.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Ride on the Rollercoaster
The biggest swings I have EVER experienced were last night.
Pocket Aces in level 1, flopped QUAD ACES. And I got the other guy to bet all 3 streets. I never showed after I popped him on the river.
I am playing very well and have moved my 5k to about 12k. Then, with AA, the flop if J99 and catch a guy overplaying TPTK. He moves all in and I call and double... OOOOFFF. Two outer. I am CRIPPLED.
I spend the next HOUR grinding out little steals and small pots. I manage to get up to about 8.5k and it folds around to the Button, who makes it 2500 to go. The SB folds and I look at AQ. I have not been defending my blinds enough tonight, and the button can do this with many hands behind AQ. I move all in. After a short delay, the button says "I have to call" and turns over KK. An ace on the flop and the button goes balistic about being sucked out on and what I bad play I made and that I "know he only plays premium cards". But I dont see how I am supposed to be scared of a button raise with AQ in the BB. So now I am back right?
We push chips around the final table, but the blinds are high and we dont see alot of flops. But this hand, the cut off min-raises, the button calls and I call from the BB with J9s. The flop is J92 and I am finally going to return to the chip leader position. The cut off moves all in! The button CALLS. So, I stop the action and ask for the chips to be pulled in and the side pot made, because I want the Button to call when I move in. I want her to know she is committed. So, I move all in and she calls. The cut-off had a top pair (KJ), the button had J2 two pair, and I had top two with Jacks and 9s. The King comes on the river (again, the 3 outer) and again I lose a big hand. But I am not broke, because of the side pot.
Next I get my AQ in against AK and win?! So, I have chips again, but the blinds are high. There are 8 left and I need to be aggressive to win. I am playing to win, not to cash. I still need chips, despite being just above avg.
Now, I make a FATAL mistake. I telegraph my hand. The Utg raises to 3x and I look down at TT in the BB. I call time and its obvious I am making a decision to call or raise. I call, the flop comes 9 high and I move all in. Because he puts me on a middle pair, he calls with JJ. That tell cost me alot of money and hopefully taught me a lesson.
I then raised in EP with 33 (dangerour) and only the button calls. The flop was 662. I move all in and he calls with QQ. Ugh, decked in the face. I am out 8th. When there were 9 left, I had an above average stack size for a brief time. That was tough to take.
What a roller-coaster ride.
Pocket Aces in level 1, flopped QUAD ACES. And I got the other guy to bet all 3 streets. I never showed after I popped him on the river.
I am playing very well and have moved my 5k to about 12k. Then, with AA, the flop if J99 and catch a guy overplaying TPTK. He moves all in and I call and double... OOOOFFF. Two outer. I am CRIPPLED.
I spend the next HOUR grinding out little steals and small pots. I manage to get up to about 8.5k and it folds around to the Button, who makes it 2500 to go. The SB folds and I look at AQ. I have not been defending my blinds enough tonight, and the button can do this with many hands behind AQ. I move all in. After a short delay, the button says "I have to call" and turns over KK. An ace on the flop and the button goes balistic about being sucked out on and what I bad play I made and that I "know he only plays premium cards". But I dont see how I am supposed to be scared of a button raise with AQ in the BB. So now I am back right?
We push chips around the final table, but the blinds are high and we dont see alot of flops. But this hand, the cut off min-raises, the button calls and I call from the BB with J9s. The flop is J92 and I am finally going to return to the chip leader position. The cut off moves all in! The button CALLS. So, I stop the action and ask for the chips to be pulled in and the side pot made, because I want the Button to call when I move in. I want her to know she is committed. So, I move all in and she calls. The cut-off had a top pair (KJ), the button had J2 two pair, and I had top two with Jacks and 9s. The King comes on the river (again, the 3 outer) and again I lose a big hand. But I am not broke, because of the side pot.
Next I get my AQ in against AK and win?! So, I have chips again, but the blinds are high. There are 8 left and I need to be aggressive to win. I am playing to win, not to cash. I still need chips, despite being just above avg.
Now, I make a FATAL mistake. I telegraph my hand. The Utg raises to 3x and I look down at TT in the BB. I call time and its obvious I am making a decision to call or raise. I call, the flop comes 9 high and I move all in. Because he puts me on a middle pair, he calls with JJ. That tell cost me alot of money and hopefully taught me a lesson.
I then raised in EP with 33 (dangerour) and only the button calls. The flop was 662. I move all in and he calls with QQ. Ugh, decked in the face. I am out 8th. When there were 9 left, I had an above average stack size for a brief time. That was tough to take.
What a roller-coaster ride.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Forsaken!
I am being punished by the poker deities...
First, I am playing excellent poker in the Hoy, when a 5 outer knocks me out instead of putting me in second.
Then, I play a $50 4 table MTT in Eugene OR (Oregon has VERY interesting poker laws) and these players were not great. They played way too many hands and called far too loosely. A beginner at the table, would get paid off every time she hit a flop. Every time. Me? In 2.5 hours, I had ATo and 33. That was it. finally with 12 left I saw 99 and shoved. got 2 callers with A9 and then AT called the A9. Gez. It held up and I made the final table, but quickly went out when my best ATs hand ran into both AQ and AK 8 handed. OMG.
"Make some plays" you say? Other than hitting middle pair in level 1, I did not hit a single flop all night. I know many people SAY that and are exaggerating. I am not. I missed 8 levels of flops. Not so much as a draw or bottom pair. I had never seen anything like it.
So, time to burn a effigy of a wicker man or something, or I will just have to start hitting myself in the head.
So apparently, in Oregon, you can form a poker-club. So a couple of hole in the strip-mall clubs opened around the OU campus. They charge a monthly (or daily) membership fee, and are allowed to run tournaments and 1-2 NL. $4/day membership, $4/hr for the seat at the table. Or in my case, $5 tournament fee with daily fee included, $45 into the prize pool. 34 players, first was $700. I was 8th I think for zed. But when I travel to Oregon, I can play cards, so its not all bad.
First, I am playing excellent poker in the Hoy, when a 5 outer knocks me out instead of putting me in second.
Then, I play a $50 4 table MTT in Eugene OR (Oregon has VERY interesting poker laws) and these players were not great. They played way too many hands and called far too loosely. A beginner at the table, would get paid off every time she hit a flop. Every time. Me? In 2.5 hours, I had ATo and 33. That was it. finally with 12 left I saw 99 and shoved. got 2 callers with A9 and then AT called the A9. Gez. It held up and I made the final table, but quickly went out when my best ATs hand ran into both AQ and AK 8 handed. OMG.
"Make some plays" you say? Other than hitting middle pair in level 1, I did not hit a single flop all night. I know many people SAY that and are exaggerating. I am not. I missed 8 levels of flops. Not so much as a draw or bottom pair. I had never seen anything like it.
So, time to burn a effigy of a wicker man or something, or I will just have to start hitting myself in the head.
So apparently, in Oregon, you can form a poker-club. So a couple of hole in the strip-mall clubs opened around the OU campus. They charge a monthly (or daily) membership fee, and are allowed to run tournaments and 1-2 NL. $4/day membership, $4/hr for the seat at the table. Or in my case, $5 tournament fee with daily fee included, $45 into the prize pool. 34 players, first was $700. I was 8th I think for zed. But when I travel to Oregon, I can play cards, so its not all bad.
Freeroll!
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 5684019
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