Yup, longtime MTT only player is sitting at the $3/$6 ring and $50 or $100 SnG tables as of late. Mostly due to time constraints. But I am also seeing some pretty darn bad play out there also. I did get stacked once when my overpair ran into a set, but other than that, its been going pretty well.
Thank goodness I dont bet on football. Gez, what a couple of weekends.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.
Registration code: XXXXXX 717130
Monday, January 10, 2011
Harsh Reminders
Sometimes I forget that there will be days where you sit down at a table to play cards and get dealt dreck for 4 hours. And worse, trying to represent non-dreck results in running into real hands. I made some great folds, escaping 99 when he had KK and things like this, but all-in-all, just never really won any pots Saturday.
As I play the hands back through my mind, MAYBE I dont fold 76 (BB) on a K73 flop when he c-bets, but I would be pot committed with even a call.
Middle pair was my best flop of the night. I did not even flop a single DRAW. So, it was home to watch football and SNL.
As I play the hands back through my mind, MAYBE I dont fold 76 (BB) on a K73 flop when he c-bets, but I would be pot committed with even a call.
Middle pair was my best flop of the night. I did not even flop a single DRAW. So, it was home to watch football and SNL.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Getting my feet wet
I sat down and fired up the virtual tables, encouraged through bonus clearing reinforcement. (It's just like MMORPG gold mining?). I played some $2/$4 and some 10 mix. Wild variance in the 10 mix left me even, and a moron at $2/$4 had my down $60 on a any-two-card-shove pre-flop until I took it all back from him and took a big hand off another eastern block player overplaying aggro poker. So I was up about $130.
Yesterday, I gave it all back in SnGs. A $24 SnG killed me when I was happy to have A6o call my KK pre-shove. Only to see it go down in flames. Meh. Starting with only $1500 in chips, I'll take that situation every time. In the larger $100 SnG I finihsed 4th, bubbling when I lost two significant hands on a dominated call. Not expecting that 4 handed.
But I did get some play in for a couple of days, and played relatively well, so there is that. I am looking forward to some live poker this Saturday!
Yesterday, I gave it all back in SnGs. A $24 SnG killed me when I was happy to have A6o call my KK pre-shove. Only to see it go down in flames. Meh. Starting with only $1500 in chips, I'll take that situation every time. In the larger $100 SnG I finihsed 4th, bubbling when I lost two significant hands on a dominated call. Not expecting that 4 handed.
But I did get some play in for a couple of days, and played relatively well, so there is that. I am looking forward to some live poker this Saturday!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Mentally Vexed
There's an expression for you. I made a half hearted attempt to login to an online site yesterday, only to forget my password and get distracted by something shiny. Part of it is the new job, part of it is the mental distraction of the holidays, and some of it is even the Reid bill saga. Am I supposed to flee with my funds the moment it passes or simply ignore it as "much ado about nothing"?
And even this medium. This blog type medium. Where is it going? or perhaps more correctly, where is it fading away to? Perhaps as a content provider who is ONLY chronicling a stupendous rise to mediocrity, this blog has run its course (sort of like leaving on a drive to LA and ending up in San Diego).
I could say "time will tell", but lately time=stress. Perhaps this is why young players dominate long tournaments. Time is a simple commodity of which they are overloaded. I seem to be treating idle time as paramount to say smoking, an event that shortens your life.
I watched the first couple of episodes of Mad Men last night to see what all the commotion was about. I dont think the show is for me, and I dont feel like watching it just because everyone else likes it. Talk about digressing...
I missed the WPBT last weekend, and that also took its mental toll as I cursed the poker gods. And yet, I have too much to be thankful for to really be anything more than "sorry I missed it. Next year for sure."
2 months ago, I was close to last in my league (as was its host). I bet someone that we would both make the top 11 out of 27) by the end of the league getting 6-1 odds I think. I came in second that month, and in December my accomplice won. Neither was particularly pretty, but we continue to climb the ladder. It has to go better than my "Lions will win 5 games this year" bets. (Note: I will make that same bet next year!)
And even this medium. This blog type medium. Where is it going? or perhaps more correctly, where is it fading away to? Perhaps as a content provider who is ONLY chronicling a stupendous rise to mediocrity, this blog has run its course (sort of like leaving on a drive to LA and ending up in San Diego).
I could say "time will tell", but lately time=stress. Perhaps this is why young players dominate long tournaments. Time is a simple commodity of which they are overloaded. I seem to be treating idle time as paramount to say smoking, an event that shortens your life.
I watched the first couple of episodes of Mad Men last night to see what all the commotion was about. I dont think the show is for me, and I dont feel like watching it just because everyone else likes it. Talk about digressing...
I missed the WPBT last weekend, and that also took its mental toll as I cursed the poker gods. And yet, I have too much to be thankful for to really be anything more than "sorry I missed it. Next year for sure."
2 months ago, I was close to last in my league (as was its host). I bet someone that we would both make the top 11 out of 27) by the end of the league getting 6-1 odds I think. I came in second that month, and in December my accomplice won. Neither was particularly pretty, but we continue to climb the ladder. It has to go better than my "Lions will win 5 games this year" bets. (Note: I will make that same bet next year!)
Monday, December 06, 2010
Another Tale of Two Kings
After early level success, I had a combination of bad table position and bad cards. With about 1/2 the field gone, my double-avg size stack was tiny. I have maybe $12k (avg is $35k) and I finally get a hand: KK.
An action player who had made many marginal plans and got rewarded this evening is on my left and he raised (I am in the blind) to like $1800. Now I can re-raise all-in, and expect him to fold and rake a pot of like $4k. OR, I can bet half my stack (say $5k) and expect him to CALL, and expect him to call the post-flop push, as probably a 3-1 favorite (as he probably has a weak Ace... yet again).
I dont know how you play, but I am NOT letter a weak ace get away pre-flop here. I bet 1/2 my stack, he calls with Ah3h. Flop is Th9h3c and when I shove, he now calls again as a dog, because he hit the flop. But in the end, he draws out and I go out.
But, that is the way I play.
An action player who had made many marginal plans and got rewarded this evening is on my left and he raised (I am in the blind) to like $1800. Now I can re-raise all-in, and expect him to fold and rake a pot of like $4k. OR, I can bet half my stack (say $5k) and expect him to CALL, and expect him to call the post-flop push, as probably a 3-1 favorite (as he probably has a weak Ace... yet again).
I dont know how you play, but I am NOT letter a weak ace get away pre-flop here. I bet 1/2 my stack, he calls with Ah3h. Flop is Th9h3c and when I shove, he now calls again as a dog, because he hit the flop. But in the end, he draws out and I go out.
But, that is the way I play.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Totally NOTHING to report
Really. In a strange way, I found myself AVOIDING opportunities to play poker this weekend and instead work on minor house remodeling/decorating projects. And hacking my Wii. And playing XBOX. and staring. Which brings me to the thought that I am rebelling against poker since I am to miss the WPBT extravaganza in Vegas for the first time in 5 years. So much booze. So many straddles.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Felted!
Why do I like tournament poker better than cash games? It's just really hard with 40-50 BB to get away from a set regardless of the board. And if you have top-set second nuts, you are not going to escape from the unlikely change that someone called a 4x raise with 2d4d.
Still, no one to blame but yourself. Move in with top-set and lose... It happens, move on. At least it wasn't Kings into Aces pre-flop!
Still, no one to blame but yourself. Move in with top-set and lose... It happens, move on. At least it wasn't Kings into Aces pre-flop!
Friday, November 05, 2010
Putting it all together
A short while back, I made the affirmation that I was going to play more hands. I did this because of what I know of game theory and war strategy. The more dangerous you are, the more confrontations you can avoid. Its a simple postulate, but a psychological truth.
But it dawns on me this morning that me implementation strategy is flawed. Playing more hands may increase opportunity (and volatility), but the real way to strike fear into your opponents is to be dangerous. This is OFTEN misquoted and misinterpreted by players and people to mean aggression. And there is a great deal of truth to that. But that is more of a tactical view. What you really want to do is constantly create uncomfortable situations for your opponents.
You see this often on TV poker and you can read a great book length article on it in doubleas book "pressure poker". You find situations where you can apply pressure to your opponent. But what was missing from this (and also missing from the book) is the psychology behind it. Which is tied very closely to timing and its success or failure. The WSOP main event illustrates this very well. "When your opponent seems to want to play a small pot, pressure hit with a big bet. When your opponent wants to play a big pot, frustrate him with a fold." Obviously we see the first part of that statement in aggression at the table, but not enough credit (on TV certainly) is given to the second half. Denying your opponent the opportunity to set the pot size is in my opinion the single biggest asset next to your cards themselves.
How does Annette play an entire SnG or MTT without looking at her cards? This is how. Creating uncomfortable situation and obviously not disclosing the fact that she is playing blind.
But it dawns on me this morning that me implementation strategy is flawed. Playing more hands may increase opportunity (and volatility), but the real way to strike fear into your opponents is to be dangerous. This is OFTEN misquoted and misinterpreted by players and people to mean aggression. And there is a great deal of truth to that. But that is more of a tactical view. What you really want to do is constantly create uncomfortable situations for your opponents.
You see this often on TV poker and you can read a great book length article on it in doubleas book "pressure poker". You find situations where you can apply pressure to your opponent. But what was missing from this (and also missing from the book) is the psychology behind it. Which is tied very closely to timing and its success or failure. The WSOP main event illustrates this very well. "When your opponent seems to want to play a small pot, pressure hit with a big bet. When your opponent wants to play a big pot, frustrate him with a fold." Obviously we see the first part of that statement in aggression at the table, but not enough credit (on TV certainly) is given to the second half. Denying your opponent the opportunity to set the pot size is in my opinion the single biggest asset next to your cards themselves.
How does Annette play an entire SnG or MTT without looking at her cards? This is how. Creating uncomfortable situation and obviously not disclosing the fact that she is playing blind.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Finally, an update
Well, life is in chaos. But change brings growth and that is what learning is all about. Maybe its the change of scenery, or perhaps its my internal growth, but my way of viewing hands has changed.
I have a new job, and at the executive level times are tough, so I embrace it rather than grouse. I have a 40 min commute. Average to some, but the longest of my career. In addition, I walked into a 120m company with the tech infrastructure of the 1980s. Really, you think I am joking, but alas I am not. The CEO uses AOL email still. You cant make this stuff up.
As for reading, I picked up a book called The 33 Strategies of War, by the author of my favorite book of all time, the 48 Laws of Power. If you have ever read Sun Tzu, you immediately take away that most battles are won before they begin. The equivalent in poker is playing hands and knowing your stuff. But so many players are decent and well prepared now, it just is not enough of an edge. If you read the 33 Strategies of War, the biggest thing you take away is that the best generals could improvise against the grain. i.e. come up with strategies on the fly that were based on exploiting tenancies. If you are a big NFL fan (and I mean an X's and O's guy, not that fantasy crap) you know that tenancies and weaknesses are exploitable.
All this comes to a point. I am changing my style a bit moving forward. I am going to play a bit more aggressive and play about 5% more hands. And I am going to use those hands to attempt to exploit my opponents and keep them on the defense. This, is paramount to today's game. Watching the WSOP on ESPN (too many all-in preflop hands on TV) simply confirms this. You need to be able to "run more plays" to get ahead.
I played the ante-up 5 card single draw tournament Wednesday night and made the final table. I like this game, but there are no "simple bluffs". If you are going to bluff in single draw, you really have to set it up pre-draw. For Example, if you have a strong image, you can draw two after a raise from position and know you are probably going to take down the pot better when the player who drew 3 checks. Even though you have nada. On the other hand, if you have a lame image, they will assume you have held onto your Ace kicker (very lame). I saw at least TWO players doing that. Wow. In the end, its hard to fold a dealt 2 pair pre-flop when the blinds are high. I had to once, and was crippled and then not a few hands later could not (no chips) and again was shown trips (pre-flop).
This Saturday, I have a deep stack $200 live game with a field of about 100. Should be a good one. Last time I went out early when a guy boated on the river, and I didn't fold. Lame. But I'll play better this time.
I have a new job, and at the executive level times are tough, so I embrace it rather than grouse. I have a 40 min commute. Average to some, but the longest of my career. In addition, I walked into a 120m company with the tech infrastructure of the 1980s. Really, you think I am joking, but alas I am not. The CEO uses AOL email still. You cant make this stuff up.
As for reading, I picked up a book called The 33 Strategies of War, by the author of my favorite book of all time, the 48 Laws of Power. If you have ever read Sun Tzu, you immediately take away that most battles are won before they begin. The equivalent in poker is playing hands and knowing your stuff. But so many players are decent and well prepared now, it just is not enough of an edge. If you read the 33 Strategies of War, the biggest thing you take away is that the best generals could improvise against the grain. i.e. come up with strategies on the fly that were based on exploiting tenancies. If you are a big NFL fan (and I mean an X's and O's guy, not that fantasy crap) you know that tenancies and weaknesses are exploitable.
All this comes to a point. I am changing my style a bit moving forward. I am going to play a bit more aggressive and play about 5% more hands. And I am going to use those hands to attempt to exploit my opponents and keep them on the defense. This, is paramount to today's game. Watching the WSOP on ESPN (too many all-in preflop hands on TV) simply confirms this. You need to be able to "run more plays" to get ahead.
I played the ante-up 5 card single draw tournament Wednesday night and made the final table. I like this game, but there are no "simple bluffs". If you are going to bluff in single draw, you really have to set it up pre-draw. For Example, if you have a strong image, you can draw two after a raise from position and know you are probably going to take down the pot better when the player who drew 3 checks. Even though you have nada. On the other hand, if you have a lame image, they will assume you have held onto your Ace kicker (very lame). I saw at least TWO players doing that. Wow. In the end, its hard to fold a dealt 2 pair pre-flop when the blinds are high. I had to once, and was crippled and then not a few hands later could not (no chips) and again was shown trips (pre-flop).
This Saturday, I have a deep stack $200 live game with a field of about 100. Should be a good one. Last time I went out early when a guy boated on the river, and I didn't fold. Lame. But I'll play better this time.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Terrible MTT session
3 tournaments, zero success. Why? I think its lack of concentration more than anything. If I am going to play, it has to be with the eye of the tiger, not the apathy of a koala.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Poker Anecdote
Last night I am playing at league night. I have bled off 20% of my stack missing flops. I hit zero of them. So, folds around to the button and "villain" makes a raise. I also noted he played his last 4 buttons or so (but I am not sure). I look down at Ac7c, so I call. I have already decided on a course of action for my hand if I hit an Ace.
Flop is 8cAdJh. I decide that I will check raise the c-bet. The c-bet comes for maybe 1500 and I come over the top for 7k all in. Now, that is a big bet, but he calls with TPTK. I figure that a bigger Ace here (but not AK) may fold. Tough call, but certainly reasonable. The turn is a 7 and I win the hand from behind. Not that I am proud of my play here, but now I feel like I have to defend it because this guy is pissed.
Even after a short discussion, he says something under his breath. With strangers I would let that go, but not in a league. I bring it back up. His logic is that he "never plays marginal hands, and thus cant have just a Jack there." He solicits confirming opinions from another player at the table. No way this guy would make a button raise with a hand like KJ or QJ. Fine. Ok.
As usual with this kind of story, fast forward maybe an hour at the most. Folded around to him on the button and he raises. I decide to CALL in the SB with KQo. I have this hand in the blinds because of the trouble it can cause. You could argue for a raise since the antes kicked in, but perhaps this guy has AK again. Ok, so the BB calls and we end up going to the river since no one can beat the pocket pair of 77 from the BB. He shows JsQs!! The EXACT hand he states he NEVER plays.
Moral of the story: Phil Hellmuth is a genius. Really. By going on a tirade, people give you credit for tighter play. Try it!
Flop is 8cAdJh. I decide that I will check raise the c-bet. The c-bet comes for maybe 1500 and I come over the top for 7k all in. Now, that is a big bet, but he calls with TPTK. I figure that a bigger Ace here (but not AK) may fold. Tough call, but certainly reasonable. The turn is a 7 and I win the hand from behind. Not that I am proud of my play here, but now I feel like I have to defend it because this guy is pissed.
Even after a short discussion, he says something under his breath. With strangers I would let that go, but not in a league. I bring it back up. His logic is that he "never plays marginal hands, and thus cant have just a Jack there." He solicits confirming opinions from another player at the table. No way this guy would make a button raise with a hand like KJ or QJ. Fine. Ok.
As usual with this kind of story, fast forward maybe an hour at the most. Folded around to him on the button and he raises. I decide to CALL in the SB with KQo. I have this hand in the blinds because of the trouble it can cause. You could argue for a raise since the antes kicked in, but perhaps this guy has AK again. Ok, so the BB calls and we end up going to the river since no one can beat the pocket pair of 77 from the BB. He shows JsQs!! The EXACT hand he states he NEVER plays.
Moral of the story: Phil Hellmuth is a genius. Really. By going on a tirade, people give you credit for tighter play. Try it!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
More Thoughts
Got my ass out of the office this week and rode my new bike to the grocery store. I had watched the WSOP coverage the night before, and as I recalled the information I was amazed at how few interesting hands there were. I mean, most played themselves. Very boring. Even the occasion bluff seemed well timed and a good spot for it. I even followed Jean-Robert Bellande's bluff logic as he bet 3 streets into trips I think. Happens.
I am disappointed that the Lions are already on their back-up QB. I guess the NFL is not like poker. No injury substitutions.
Playing the 6-max $22k today. I like the format. You see more "stab bluffs" that have to be countered, and players show more patterns in 6-max.
Job? yeah, yeah, let me finish Mass Effect 2 first. ok, seriously, two jobs with 3rd interviews this week. People afraid of making a mistake I presume.
I still like MSFT for a buy and hold. The revenue stream from xbox live is so good, that PS3 and Wii were forced to add those services. That and they print money like IBM does as of late. Equities = gambol
I am disappointed that the Lions are already on their back-up QB. I guess the NFL is not like poker. No injury substitutions.
Playing the 6-max $22k today. I like the format. You see more "stab bluffs" that have to be countered, and players show more patterns in 6-max.
Job? yeah, yeah, let me finish Mass Effect 2 first. ok, seriously, two jobs with 3rd interviews this week. People afraid of making a mistake I presume.
I still like MSFT for a buy and hold. The revenue stream from xbox live is so good, that PS3 and Wii were forced to add those services. That and they print money like IBM does as of late. Equities = gambol
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thoughts and Notes
Job hunting has been "fun", but I am glad its coming to a close. I have 3 or so viable ones in the final stages, plus a couple of backups in the pipeline. Overall, I expect to be working and saying goodbye to the daily $42k sometime in the next 30 days.
I'll miss that daily practice, albeit at the $24 level. I decided that my future play will be at the next level or higher ($69+) from now on. This is a big change (moving up levels), but in forays into the higher levels, things have gone relatively well.
In other thoughts...
I wanted to play at an online casino so I looked up online casinos and found http://www.casino.org/us/ as a site that lists a few. Should be an interesting site to watch going forward.
Its interesting that Harrah's has not surfaced in DC as of yet, but I am expecting it soon after the election.
I expect some sort of online poker in the US, but you must be a US owned and operated Brick and Mortar casino to get a license. This will all but crush the offshore entities for about a year as they scramble to find a way to land a beachhead.
I'll miss that daily practice, albeit at the $24 level. I decided that my future play will be at the next level or higher ($69+) from now on. This is a big change (moving up levels), but in forays into the higher levels, things have gone relatively well.
In other thoughts...
I wanted to play at an online casino so I looked up online casinos and found http://www.casino.org/us/ as a site that lists a few. Should be an interesting site to watch going forward.
Its interesting that Harrah's has not surfaced in DC as of yet, but I am expecting it soon after the election.
I expect some sort of online poker in the US, but you must be a US owned and operated Brick and Mortar casino to get a license. This will all but crush the offshore entities for about a year as they scramble to find a way to land a beachhead.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Really? THRID (sic) best hand here???
Full Tilt Poker Game #23732823713: $8K Super Stack (Early Antes)
Seat 1: columbo (5,370)
Seat 2: digit67 (2,808)
Seat 3: kampi 08 (8,858)
Seat 4: chrispy2005 (2,466)
Seat 5: xiiviix (6,569)
Seat 6: COUNT TRON (3,988)
Seat 7: Reebak (9,213)
Seat 8: DomeMish (8,670)
Seat 9: EvalEvan66 (4,475)
everyone antes 10
columbo posts the small blind of 40
digit67 posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [7s 5s]
chrispy2005: wp?
kampi 08 folds
chrispy2005 raises to 200
xiiviix calls 200
COUNT TRON folds
Reebak folds
DomeMish calls 200
EvalEvan66 folds
columbo calls 160 (why not?)
digit67 calls 120
*** FLOP *** [3s 8s 4s]
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
columbo checks - decide to check-raise all-in here with the super draw...
digit67 bets 1,090
chrispy2005 folds
xiiviix raises to 6,359, and is all in
DomeMish folds
columbo calls 5,160, and is all in
digit67 calls 1,508, and is all in
xiiviix shows [Ks Qs]
columbo shows [7s 5s]
digit67 shows [As 8c]
Uncalled bet of 1,199 returned to xiiviix
*** TURN *** [3s 8s 4s] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [3s 8s 4s 9s] [Kd]
xiiviix shows a flush, King high
columbo shows a flush, Nine high
xiiviix wins the side pot (5,124) with a flush, King high
digit67 shows a flush, Ace high
digit67 wins the main pot (8,884) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Seat 1: columbo (small blind) showed [7s 5s] and lost with a flush, Nine high
Seat 2: digit67 (big blind) showed [As 8c] and won (8,884) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: xiiviix showed [Ks Qs] and won (5,124) with a flush, King high
Seat 1: columbo (5,370)
Seat 2: digit67 (2,808)
Seat 3: kampi 08 (8,858)
Seat 4: chrispy2005 (2,466)
Seat 5: xiiviix (6,569)
Seat 6: COUNT TRON (3,988)
Seat 7: Reebak (9,213)
Seat 8: DomeMish (8,670)
Seat 9: EvalEvan66 (4,475)
everyone antes 10
columbo posts the small blind of 40
digit67 posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to columbo [7s 5s]
chrispy2005: wp?
kampi 08 folds
chrispy2005 raises to 200
xiiviix calls 200
COUNT TRON folds
Reebak folds
DomeMish calls 200
EvalEvan66 folds
columbo calls 160 (why not?)
digit67 calls 120
*** FLOP *** [3s 8s 4s]
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
columbo checks - decide to check-raise all-in here with the super draw...
digit67 bets 1,090
chrispy2005 folds
xiiviix raises to 6,359, and is all in
DomeMish folds
columbo calls 5,160, and is all in
digit67 calls 1,508, and is all in
xiiviix shows [Ks Qs]
columbo shows [7s 5s]
digit67 shows [As 8c]
Uncalled bet of 1,199 returned to xiiviix
*** TURN *** [3s 8s 4s] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [3s 8s 4s 9s] [Kd]
xiiviix shows a flush, King high
columbo shows a flush, Nine high
xiiviix wins the side pot (5,124) with a flush, King high
digit67 shows a flush, Ace high
digit67 wins the main pot (8,884) with a flush, Ace high
*** SUMMARY ***
Seat 1: columbo (small blind) showed [7s 5s] and lost with a flush, Nine high
Seat 2: digit67 (big blind) showed [As 8c] and won (8,884) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: xiiviix showed [Ks Qs] and won (5,124) with a flush, King high
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How I LOATHE the Button Straddle
Why? Let me spell it out. It takes any game and forces it to play 1 level higher, without the stacks. For example, in a 1-2 game the button straddle is $5. So, you are playing a $2-$5 game, but the buy-in is only $200 max. So, you are forced to play a bigger game against stacks that have accumulated at the table with only 40 BB.
Yes, that REALLY bothers me. It changes the game in that the table play is looser, but most of the time the loose play is unjustified. Worse, if you are not getting cards, you bleed chips relatively quickly.
Here is a scenario. You see some flop (at $5-$10 each) and miss EVERYONE and have to refill even though you have NOT LOST A HAND. The stack to your left is $800 and ALWAYS button straddles and often raises it. So, a new girl on his left limps. I look down at 88 and its a perfect place to see a 4-5 handed flop. I limp too. The button makes it $20 to go and then the UTG girl, who is being tricky with QQ, re-pops to $45.
She only has $120 behind and this button guy is probably going to call pre-flop, but who can be sure. Do I want to play for $45 with 88 in a $1-$2 game??? No, of course not. I am WAY behind and I would need to win a pot of $400 to have justified the call. She only has $120. And if I miss the flop, which I will 7 out of 8 times, I just called off 9 BB in a losing effort.
The flop was A8X. Figures.
But my point is that the people building big stacks (and another guy was stuck $400 before he won a pot and started to build a stack) are doing it getting their money in with total disregard for EV.
Conclusion: Its a donk-fest only you dont have the usual edge you would at said fest. Your best bet is to build a stack fast, but if you keep getting "see a flop hands", you had better hit a few of them.
Yes, that REALLY bothers me. It changes the game in that the table play is looser, but most of the time the loose play is unjustified. Worse, if you are not getting cards, you bleed chips relatively quickly.
Here is a scenario. You see some flop (at $5-$10 each) and miss EVERYONE and have to refill even though you have NOT LOST A HAND. The stack to your left is $800 and ALWAYS button straddles and often raises it. So, a new girl on his left limps. I look down at 88 and its a perfect place to see a 4-5 handed flop. I limp too. The button makes it $20 to go and then the UTG girl, who is being tricky with QQ, re-pops to $45.
She only has $120 behind and this button guy is probably going to call pre-flop, but who can be sure. Do I want to play for $45 with 88 in a $1-$2 game??? No, of course not. I am WAY behind and I would need to win a pot of $400 to have justified the call. She only has $120. And if I miss the flop, which I will 7 out of 8 times, I just called off 9 BB in a losing effort.
The flop was A8X. Figures.
But my point is that the people building big stacks (and another guy was stuck $400 before he won a pot and started to build a stack) are doing it getting their money in with total disregard for EV.
Conclusion: Its a donk-fest only you dont have the usual edge you would at said fest. Your best bet is to build a stack fast, but if you keep getting "see a flop hands", you had better hit a few of them.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Poker and Football (NFL that is)
Why do I love football so much? Because I am constantly amazed at the Xs and Os of it. The coaches and their game plans and the scheming are riveting to me.
I approach poker tournaments like an NFL coach. I have a game plan based on the structure and then call plays based on the situation. This is probably why I am a tournament player vs. a cash player. I put the situations first and try "reads" on a player second. (I do the reverse if playing cash).
So, I was sort of bemused last night when a comment was made about my play style. We have 12 players, so it becomes an extended SnG. Short-handed, then full table, then returning to short handed. I for one love short-handed play in this situation. But apparently someone had been stat-hunting and made a comment that I am not aggro enough to be good short-handed. I found that intriguing. (I still think being aggressive at 6-max is over-rated.)
In a 6-max tournament, you really have to open up your starting hands and fight a bit harder for pots. But I am not a believer that you simple change out your game-plan styles for 6-max. That's debatable I know. But in a 12 person home-game, there is no comparison to a full field 6-max tournament.
My game plan for this more SnG situation is simple. (Nods to Jen Harman here). No Limit is a game of trapping. With big stacks and big fields, you are trapping post-flop. In a smaller field with smaller stacks, I am more likely to utilize the Phil Hellmuth method of trapping. Pre-flop raises, laydowns to re-raises, until you cultivate situation where you think you have gotten an edge pre-flop.
Sure, at one point with 5 or 6 left (this hand will be OMM e107) I had to lay down what turned out to be the best hand (although I still outlasted that player to get to the chop at the end). But more often, I was trying to play big pots with my big hands pre-flop.
To me, in a big field AK is a drawing hand. In a shorter stack or smaller field short-handed, AK is a TRAPPING hand (and sometimes AQ for that matter).
Sure, even in 6-max I treat UTG as UTG (nods to Lee Childs), but usually I am playing hands I might discard at a full table (AJ, the Cosenza, etc.). And I will "float" more, but I am still not going to be stupid and bluff off large amounts of chips under the guise of aggression.
I approach poker tournaments like an NFL coach. I have a game plan based on the structure and then call plays based on the situation. This is probably why I am a tournament player vs. a cash player. I put the situations first and try "reads" on a player second. (I do the reverse if playing cash).
So, I was sort of bemused last night when a comment was made about my play style. We have 12 players, so it becomes an extended SnG. Short-handed, then full table, then returning to short handed. I for one love short-handed play in this situation. But apparently someone had been stat-hunting and made a comment that I am not aggro enough to be good short-handed. I found that intriguing. (I still think being aggressive at 6-max is over-rated.)
In a 6-max tournament, you really have to open up your starting hands and fight a bit harder for pots. But I am not a believer that you simple change out your game-plan styles for 6-max. That's debatable I know. But in a 12 person home-game, there is no comparison to a full field 6-max tournament.
My game plan for this more SnG situation is simple. (Nods to Jen Harman here). No Limit is a game of trapping. With big stacks and big fields, you are trapping post-flop. In a smaller field with smaller stacks, I am more likely to utilize the Phil Hellmuth method of trapping. Pre-flop raises, laydowns to re-raises, until you cultivate situation where you think you have gotten an edge pre-flop.
Sure, at one point with 5 or 6 left (this hand will be OMM e107) I had to lay down what turned out to be the best hand (although I still outlasted that player to get to the chop at the end). But more often, I was trying to play big pots with my big hands pre-flop.
To me, in a big field AK is a drawing hand. In a shorter stack or smaller field short-handed, AK is a TRAPPING hand (and sometimes AQ for that matter).
Sure, even in 6-max I treat UTG as UTG (nods to Lee Childs), but usually I am playing hands I might discard at a full table (AJ, the Cosenza, etc.). And I will "float" more, but I am still not going to be stupid and bluff off large amounts of chips under the guise of aggression.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Lions News: status of the 3 year plan
Why did the Lions trade for a DE last night?Take a look at this diagram. The Lions are on a 3 years plan, and a competent one. I was critical at first, because I always felt you built from the defense up. But in the pass-happy NFL, you have to build from the QB first. So year 1 they assess their offense and grab their QB. The use "talent fill-ins" on defense, determining their targets.
Year 2: they finalize their offensive based on year 1 weaknesses (Calvin being triple teamed was a big indicator) and fix the TRENCHES. That is right, the priority was the TRENCHES. Solidified LG. Two BIG MASSIVE impact DT. And SITUATIONAL DEs. Speed rushers AND edge containment guys.
2011: The "back 7" will be finalized. Everyone there this year, with the exception of Delmas, is competing for a 2011 job. This includes the CB trades, Peterson, and the new crop of discarded safeties from other teams.
It seems worth stating that the Lions aspire to 8-8 this year. 7-9 will be disappointing, based on their plan. 9-7 would be something to be ecstatic about as it confirms that the moves to date have had a huge impact. But rest assured, the Lions will be interesting instead of the doormat of the NFC North.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Poker's Prisoners Dilemma
You have 8500 in chips and are dealt KK in the BB. The level is 100/200 (antes start next level). With 3 limpers at 200 each, deciding what size raise took me a second thought. In the end, I voted for 1000 (not 1200). First limper folds, second (BUTTON) calls, third folds.
Ok, so the pot is $2500 and you have $7500 behind. Assuming that an Ace does not flop, you are going to lead out a good percentage of the time. The lead would be anywhere from $1000 to $2500 depending on the flop. Standard would be about $1500-$1800.
The flop comes 78Q with 2 spades (My kings are red). My opponent can have a wide range, but based on the limp call on the button, I am going to have trouble putting him on a hand. After thinking that only a Q will call, I decide to bet only $1000. This is light, but in a home game, c-bets and turn bets often fall into bad habits of "same size as last bet" traps, and I figured it would look like that.
After betting the $1k, my opponent raises to $3k. Here now is the dilemma:
You have a strong holding vs. a wide range at an early level. BUT, you have $2k in
Here is my criteria for a fold:
1. Did my opponent take control of a hand? If so, why
2. Did my opponent reach the tipping point first?
In this case, he took control of the hand and yet I cant see him trying to "take it away" on this flop. Especially for that much of his stack. He also reached the tipping point first. Based on criteria, I should have seriously considered a fold. Yet because of stack size, I did not.
I really am thinking about this hard...
Ok, so the pot is $2500 and you have $7500 behind. Assuming that an Ace does not flop, you are going to lead out a good percentage of the time. The lead would be anywhere from $1000 to $2500 depending on the flop. Standard would be about $1500-$1800.
The flop comes 78Q with 2 spades (My kings are red). My opponent can have a wide range, but based on the limp call on the button, I am going to have trouble putting him on a hand. After thinking that only a Q will call, I decide to bet only $1000. This is light, but in a home game, c-bets and turn bets often fall into bad habits of "same size as last bet" traps, and I figured it would look like that.
After betting the $1k, my opponent raises to $3k. Here now is the dilemma:
You have a strong holding vs. a wide range at an early level. BUT, you have $2k in
Here is my criteria for a fold:
1. Did my opponent take control of a hand? If so, why
2. Did my opponent reach the tipping point first?
In this case, he took control of the hand and yet I cant see him trying to "take it away" on this flop. Especially for that much of his stack. He also reached the tipping point first. Based on criteria, I should have seriously considered a fold. Yet because of stack size, I did not.
I really am thinking about this hard...
Thursday, August 05, 2010
It's time to post again
I took a surprise break from the grind for a week or two as my day job evaporated. Sure, I hired on knowing the goal was to sell the company, so I should chalk it up as another victory. But financials were disappointing in this market, and thus this IT executive is looking again. Hopefully, another growth company that needs scalability, technology, operation expertise, and above all needs a guy like me.
Job hunting can be mentally taxing (certainly isn't physically) and so I am very cognizant of my brain and moods at a given moment.
When I finally did sit down yesterday and play the $42k, I notice things again that I take for granted. Specifically, the period of a tournament where 50% of the field is gone until the 15% mark. This is where the M starts to grind away and the deep stacks portion of the tournament is coming to a close. You may have more than average when this begins, but if you play passive, you will be a short stack or flame-out at the 15% - 10% mark. It's the tipping point of an MTT and is only relevant in large fields, but online its a must have skill.
I am trying to work on skills that really work in this range. You cant force too much action, but you cant just "wait for hands" either.
Job hunting can be mentally taxing (certainly isn't physically) and so I am very cognizant of my brain and moods at a given moment.
When I finally did sit down yesterday and play the $42k, I notice things again that I take for granted. Specifically, the period of a tournament where 50% of the field is gone until the 15% mark. This is where the M starts to grind away and the deep stacks portion of the tournament is coming to a close. You may have more than average when this begins, but if you play passive, you will be a short stack or flame-out at the 15% - 10% mark. It's the tipping point of an MTT and is only relevant in large fields, but online its a must have skill.
I am trying to work on skills that really work in this range. You cant force too much action, but you cant just "wait for hands" either.
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