I drop down limits because I wanted to play but could not focus my entire attention. Wow, what a difference that can make. It was effortless accumulating money/chips playing ABC poker and occasionally exploiting my opponents tenancies.
Running bad? drop back and gain some free confidence!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Lions must-win game?
Why? Because if the Lions want someone to share the stick of 0-16 with them, there chance this year is the Rams (and Bucs). With the Rams looking at Sunday's match-up as there best chance to go 1-15, expect both teams to clash with epic strength and partial competence. THE BASEMENT BRAWL. ITS ON!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Rambling
Here is a update that offers some glimpse into my state of mind... Am I making good choices??!! You can read much into that, and I think its justified. I am trying to figure out where /what I want to be in a year, and assuming I did nothing, obviously nothing would change. I am not sure that is such a good thing, so thus my state of mind... more to come I am sure.
Monday, October 26, 2009
WSOP thoughts
As we get closer to the November 9, and I read about and watch every hand I can, I have noticed that there seems to be 2 types of pro finishers. One type has an instinct for when the press the action, and the other have a knack for knowing when you have overplayed your hand (or are just bluffing) based on the betting story. Of course, you want to do both and excel at both. Seems obvious right? But like many things in this lifetime, its easier said than done.
I have been playing more aggressive as of late and as a result I find myself more willing to strongly play a weaker hand or even push with TPTK if I have an M of 20 or less. I am not sure its a good thing, but at least I am conscious of it. I am waiting to see what I learn from all this.
I have been playing more aggressive as of late and as a result I find myself more willing to strongly play a weaker hand or even push with TPTK if I have an M of 20 or less. I am not sure its a good thing, but at least I am conscious of it. I am waiting to see what I learn from all this.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Vanquished
Played in a great deep stack tournament on Saturday, and it was the lamest roller coaster ever for me. No hills.
In the first FIVE levels, I was dealt 2 "premium" hands in AJ and JJ. The JJ saw a flop of AKQ and was done. At the first break I somehow had 18k of my starting 20k intact.
To start level 6, I won a hand with AJ, hitting my FIRST BOARD of the day. That's right run bad complainers (See Fuel), I did not hit a flop until LEVEL 6.
It is now 200/400/50 and its folded around to me on the Button with AQ. I raise and the SB calls. I miss the flop but c-bet and the SB calls. We both check the turn and the river and he calls "King high". I show the AQ and take the pot. "I dont know why I called your flop bet", the kid says.
THE VERY NEXT HAND, a limper and then it folds to me in the SB and AGAIN I have AQ. I raise it up and the BB (same kid) calls. The flop is Q75 rainbow... The pot is 3200.
I make a c-bet of 2k and he calls. The turn is a Jack, and I decide this has been my only real chance in 7 levels to accumulate chips. I decide to check raise. I check and he bets 2500. (Its 2500 to call a pot of 9700). I have 17.5k behind.
Now I started the hand with 21k and have an M of about 21, so we are still in a healthy state here. But a raise here to 7500 puts me in an awkward position.
I decide to raise all-in and he goes into the tank. He puts me on a set, and I feer I just ran into a hand like KK in the SB. After about a minute, he calls with bottom set (presto) and I am out.
Did I over-play this hand?
In the first FIVE levels, I was dealt 2 "premium" hands in AJ and JJ. The JJ saw a flop of AKQ and was done. At the first break I somehow had 18k of my starting 20k intact.
To start level 6, I won a hand with AJ, hitting my FIRST BOARD of the day. That's right run bad complainers (See Fuel), I did not hit a flop until LEVEL 6.
It is now 200/400/50 and its folded around to me on the Button with AQ. I raise and the SB calls. I miss the flop but c-bet and the SB calls. We both check the turn and the river and he calls "King high". I show the AQ and take the pot. "I dont know why I called your flop bet", the kid says.
THE VERY NEXT HAND, a limper and then it folds to me in the SB and AGAIN I have AQ. I raise it up and the BB (same kid) calls. The flop is Q75 rainbow... The pot is 3200.
I make a c-bet of 2k and he calls. The turn is a Jack, and I decide this has been my only real chance in 7 levels to accumulate chips. I decide to check raise. I check and he bets 2500. (Its 2500 to call a pot of 9700). I have 17.5k behind.
Now I started the hand with 21k and have an M of about 21, so we are still in a healthy state here. But a raise here to 7500 puts me in an awkward position.
I decide to raise all-in and he goes into the tank. He puts me on a set, and I feer I just ran into a hand like KK in the SB. After about a minute, he calls with bottom set (presto) and I am out.
Did I over-play this hand?
Friday, October 16, 2009
Betting Lines
Ok, fill in the gaps exercise. What is missing? (note: these are generalizations, not rules, that exclude off kilter bluffs)
Betting Lines
Pre-flop
• Limp in EP = pair
• Limp in MP = pair or connector
• Limp in late = any playable holding
• Raise in EP = big pair or AQ+
• Re-raise = attempt to thin field with hands that want fewer opponents like big pairs and AK.
• 3rd raise = AA, KK or maybe AK,QQ
Post flop lines:
• check- call = draw or middle pair
• C-bet size 1/2 is standard, Smaller is typically a probe bet. Larger is pricing out draws.
• check raise often equal semi-bluff
• Call can sometimes be Setting up for a take-away play on the turn
• Betting when someone fails to c-bet or checked to = Trying to end hand not trap, but hand might have value.
• Just Call can still be weak or strong... Tendency towards weak.
Turn:
• OOP player Takes control = looking to end hand or "Chan" play.
• C-better now checks = slowing down with marginal or no hand.
• Continue to bet 1/2 + of pot = driving out draws with something-something
• Check-raise = set (or 2 pair)
• Call is typically weak now, trying to get to showdown.
• Lead bet of 1/3 the pot is now a block bet for pot control
• Checking behind = pot control
River:
• Value bet = thinks he is ahead
• Peppered beef (1/2 to 2/3 pot on river) = thinks you will pay off
• Check = looking to get to showdown
• Raise = big mystery with all but the nuts.
When someone RAISES on turn or river AFTER checking the PREVIOUS street (flop or turn), be suspicious of a bluff or the nuts.
Betting Lines
Pre-flop
• Limp in EP = pair
• Limp in MP = pair or connector
• Limp in late = any playable holding
• Raise in EP = big pair or AQ+
• Re-raise = attempt to thin field with hands that want fewer opponents like big pairs and AK.
• 3rd raise = AA, KK or maybe AK,QQ
Post flop lines:
• check- call = draw or middle pair
• C-bet size 1/2 is standard, Smaller is typically a probe bet. Larger is pricing out draws.
• check raise often equal semi-bluff
• Call can sometimes be Setting up for a take-away play on the turn
• Betting when someone fails to c-bet or checked to = Trying to end hand not trap, but hand might have value.
• Just Call can still be weak or strong... Tendency towards weak.
Turn:
• OOP player Takes control = looking to end hand or "Chan" play.
• C-better now checks = slowing down with marginal or no hand.
• Continue to bet 1/2 + of pot = driving out draws with something-something
• Check-raise = set (or 2 pair)
• Call is typically weak now, trying to get to showdown.
• Lead bet of 1/3 the pot is now a block bet for pot control
• Checking behind = pot control
River:
• Value bet = thinks he is ahead
• Peppered beef (1/2 to 2/3 pot on river) = thinks you will pay off
• Check = looking to get to showdown
• Raise = big mystery with all but the nuts.
When someone RAISES on turn or river AFTER checking the PREVIOUS street (flop or turn), be suspicious of a bluff or the nuts.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Good news and bad news, Houdini
I've got good new and bad news. The good news is that you are in perfect health. The bad news is that you locked yourself in a tank of water.
Same here. I KNOW why I have been playing poorly in MTTs this week. Its because I dont want to escape. So I wrote myself a note for today that said "fold to every single re-raise". I headed that advise for exactly 3 minutes (2 hands into the 32k) and went out on TPTK. IS DONK=TRUE.
Enough already. I am playing in a big live MTT Saturday, and the spirit of Houdini WILL be there.
Same here. I KNOW why I have been playing poorly in MTTs this week. Its because I dont want to escape. So I wrote myself a note for today that said "fold to every single re-raise". I headed that advise for exactly 3 minutes (2 hands into the 32k) and went out on TPTK. IS DONK=TRUE.
Enough already. I am playing in a big live MTT Saturday, and the spirit of Houdini WILL be there.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Embarassing day
Yesterday, I took a walk on the donk side. I ran AKs into KK and a set into a flush. Sad really. I could have escaped from both if it was a tournament. But it was cash, and I felt the need to "hope" I was good.
In other news, I have spent all my money. I have been updating long outdated things around the house. My treadmill was 14 years old, my TV was square shaped, trees were covering what was once a sidewalk and had to be euthanized, trips were planned to get me out of the house this winter, and even bought my daughter some new pokemon cards. Don't laugh, they are expensive.
Needless to say (I like that expression), I seem a bit listless and internally trying to work my way out of it.
In other news, I have spent all my money. I have been updating long outdated things around the house. My treadmill was 14 years old, my TV was square shaped, trees were covering what was once a sidewalk and had to be euthanized, trips were planned to get me out of the house this winter, and even bought my daughter some new pokemon cards. Don't laugh, they are expensive.
Needless to say (I like that expression), I seem a bit listless and internally trying to work my way out of it.
Monday, October 05, 2009
grinding
I took stock of all the money I ever put on sites, and alarmingly I have a LOSS at Stars. I decided to I would grind it back up on principle. But as I started, I remembered why I have a loss on Stars. It's the run-bad center of my universe. Nevertheless, taking some guidance from Ferguson's ability to turn $1 into $10k, I am going to turn $100 into $1000. So far, I am up to $200 despite some brutal... well you know.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Cedar Point trip rained out
Looks like we'll try again during the bye week. That means poker league Saturday. I had better do well after expecting to miss the event.
As for poker in general, I have had less time to play this week, which disappointments me, but after watching the ESPN coverage, I wonder if one can get better just watching Ivey play? I know everyone is anointing him the patron saint of poker plays, but even watching him tell you that he simply makes very few mistakes. Perhaps none.
As for poker in general, I have had less time to play this week, which disappointments me, but after watching the ESPN coverage, I wonder if one can get better just watching Ivey play? I know everyone is anointing him the patron saint of poker plays, but even watching him tell you that he simply makes very few mistakes. Perhaps none.
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