I had a look back at Jan 2006 postings to see what progress I've made in the last year
My targets for 2006 were :
1. A profit of £200 per month £2400 for the year, enough to pay for a holiday
2. To win one of the evening guaranteed mtt's on Betfair
3. To progress my cash game, and to make an overall profit on cash games
4. To make the final table in a live game at the Casino at Teesside Park by the middle of the year and a top 3 finish by the end of the year
5. To play and qualify from sattelites for the £10k or £15k Gtd on Betfair and to make the final table on one of them
6. To win a big mtt on Partypoker, I like the $2 mtt at 2.45 pm but unfortunately, work does not allow me to play it too often, or maybe the $5 rebuy with a huge prize fund
My results against these are as follows :
1. Total online profit for 2006 £1600.09 total live profit for 2006 £298
Total profit for the year, just short of £1900, not quite on target but better than I expected mid-way through the year.
2. A win on the old $5k Gtd fits the bill here, achieved on 28th June
3. The lease said the better as far as cash games are concerned, still have'nt got to grips with ring games and lost $170 overall on the year
4. Teesside park is a bit to far away from Gib, but I have won a live tournament in Gib Casino for £750 so I guess I can tick this one off too.
5. I won entry into a few higher value tournaments, but no final table yet
6. I cant play on Partypoker from Gib so this one is a no no, but I have won mtt's on Betfair, Wm Hill, UKBetting and Paradise.
Overall 3/6 not a bad attempt but must try harder in 2007
Next posting : Targets for 2007
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Running Bad
Im in the middle of one of those runs which makes you wonder why you bother with poker at all.
Yesterday I played 8 STT's and didn't make the money in any of them, in fact I think that I only actually increaded my chip stack beyond the original 1000 in one game.
I cant win a pot, never mind a tournament.
I have had AK run into AA, JJ into AA had AA busted by 44, it would be funny if it wasn't costing me money.
I keep thinking that my luck will turn soon, but it hasn't happened yet.
I played the challenge team Betfair tournament last night, had AQ on a Q high flop, pushed all in, only to run into AA again.
As I am typing this I have had top two pair beaten by a fish on a flush draw hitting on the river and top pair beaten by middle pair making trips on the river.
I think its time to follow my own advise and take a few days off from poker.
Work has a staff invitational freeroll on boxing day so maybe I'll sit out until then, see if I can come back refreshed
Yesterday I played 8 STT's and didn't make the money in any of them, in fact I think that I only actually increaded my chip stack beyond the original 1000 in one game.
I cant win a pot, never mind a tournament.
I have had AK run into AA, JJ into AA had AA busted by 44, it would be funny if it wasn't costing me money.
I keep thinking that my luck will turn soon, but it hasn't happened yet.
I played the challenge team Betfair tournament last night, had AQ on a Q high flop, pushed all in, only to run into AA again.
As I am typing this I have had top two pair beaten by a fish on a flush draw hitting on the river and top pair beaten by middle pair making trips on the river.
I think its time to follow my own advise and take a few days off from poker.
Work has a staff invitational freeroll on boxing day so maybe I'll sit out until then, see if I can come back refreshed
Sunday, December 17, 2006
I know they pay you long term but........
How the hell can he call with A8
I know the raise with KJ is a bit dodgy but I was getting impatient
but what was he thinking ?
its calls like this that really get me down
I moved away from the £2 mtts to avoid this, and it happens in a £10 game
Game #2806691223: Hold'em NL (100/200) - 2006/12/17 - 11:50:26 (UK)
Table "1" Seat 1 is the button.
Seat 1: White029 (1960 in chips)
Seat 3: __data__ (8700 in chips)
Seat 4: Nick10001 (4505 in chips)
Seat 5: tiddles (6522.50 in chips)
Seat 6: redcar (2677.50 in chips)
Seat 7: Chas10 (2005 in chips)
Seat 8: Redan11 (2857.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Calcichew (7250 in chips)
__data__: posts small blind 100
Nick10001: posts big blind 200
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Jd Ks]
tiddles: folds
redcar: raises to 600
Chas10: folds
Redan11: folds
Calcichew: folds
White029: folds
__data__: folds
Nick10001: calls 400
----- FLOP ----- [8c Kc 5h]
Nick10001: checks
redcar: bets 600
Nick10001: calls 600
----- TURN ----- [8c Kc 5h][3d]
Nick10001: checks
redcar: bets 1477.50 and is all-in
Nick10001: calls 1477.50
----- RIVER ----- [8c Kc 5h 3d][8d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [Jd Ks] (Two Pairs, Kings and Eights, Jack high)
Nick10001: shows [Ad 8h] (Three of a kind, Eights, Ace high)
Nick10001 collected 5455 from Main pot
I know the raise with KJ is a bit dodgy but I was getting impatient
but what was he thinking ?
its calls like this that really get me down
I moved away from the £2 mtts to avoid this, and it happens in a £10 game
Game #2806691223: Hold'em NL (100/200) - 2006/12/17 - 11:50:26 (UK)
Table "1" Seat 1 is the button.
Seat 1: White029 (1960 in chips)
Seat 3: __data__ (8700 in chips)
Seat 4: Nick10001 (4505 in chips)
Seat 5: tiddles (6522.50 in chips)
Seat 6: redcar (2677.50 in chips)
Seat 7: Chas10 (2005 in chips)
Seat 8: Redan11 (2857.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Calcichew (7250 in chips)
__data__: posts small blind 100
Nick10001: posts big blind 200
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Jd Ks]
tiddles: folds
redcar: raises to 600
Chas10: folds
Redan11: folds
Calcichew: folds
White029: folds
__data__: folds
Nick10001: calls 400
----- FLOP ----- [8c Kc 5h]
Nick10001: checks
redcar: bets 600
Nick10001: calls 600
----- TURN ----- [8c Kc 5h][3d]
Nick10001: checks
redcar: bets 1477.50 and is all-in
Nick10001: calls 1477.50
----- RIVER ----- [8c Kc 5h 3d][8d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [Jd Ks] (Two Pairs, Kings and Eights, Jack high)
Nick10001: shows [Ad 8h] (Three of a kind, Eights, Ace high)
Nick10001 collected 5455 from Main pot
Thursday, December 14, 2006
So near yet so far
Thats the story of the week this week, I always seem to be able to get past the first break, but as we creep towards the bubble, I always seem to find the wrong spot to gamble.
Im either unlucky and get outdrawn by a muppet caling with rags or I run into a monster.
It cant all be down to bad luck though, I must be doing something wrong. Im still having problems with mid pocket pairs, after two orbits of folding I always want to raise with them in any position. The problem then comes, after raising to 600 I think Im good on any flop but AKQ.
Especially out of position, any meaningful bet seems to get me pot commited and even if I'm ahead I end up losing.
I guess I'll just have to fold em in early position, and risk the death of a thousand cuts that is blinding out, Im trying to be more aggressive though and this does go against the grain.
Maybe I need to be more aggressive earlier on in the tournament to build a big enough stack to ride out losing a few pots later on.
I guess the truth is, there are so many bad players, even in the later stages of mtt's that its very difficult to read anyone.
Just because he called with 5 limpers before him, doesn't mean he can't hold pocket Jacks, and that big raise under the gun doesn't necessarily mean he has a PP or a Big Ace, sometimes you just have to put you tournie life on the line, and take the rough with the smooth
Im either unlucky and get outdrawn by a muppet caling with rags or I run into a monster.
It cant all be down to bad luck though, I must be doing something wrong. Im still having problems with mid pocket pairs, after two orbits of folding I always want to raise with them in any position. The problem then comes, after raising to 600 I think Im good on any flop but AKQ.
Especially out of position, any meaningful bet seems to get me pot commited and even if I'm ahead I end up losing.
I guess I'll just have to fold em in early position, and risk the death of a thousand cuts that is blinding out, Im trying to be more aggressive though and this does go against the grain.
Maybe I need to be more aggressive earlier on in the tournament to build a big enough stack to ride out losing a few pots later on.
I guess the truth is, there are so many bad players, even in the later stages of mtt's that its very difficult to read anyone.
Just because he called with 5 limpers before him, doesn't mean he can't hold pocket Jacks, and that big raise under the gun doesn't necessarily mean he has a PP or a Big Ace, sometimes you just have to put you tournie life on the line, and take the rough with the smooth
Friday, December 08, 2006
Dont play turbo Sats !
I know I should avoid them like the plague, but I've fell into the trap of trying to qualify for decent tournaments via turbo structured sats. Its a recipe for disaster.
I have been playing the $2.5k Gtd and the $4k Gtd on Crypto recently at my new standard buy in of $25, I will also play the £4k Gtd if I can play earlier in the evening.
Im playing almost exclusively on MTT's at the moment, I've played 124 MTT's and only 4 STT's since October, and I have just about given up completely on cash games.
Crypto is my online poker room of choice since Betfair shot itself in the foot with the Pokerchamps "upgrade".
I still venture onto Betfair now and again, due to some misplaced sense of loyalty, but the delays between hands are a real pain in the ar$e and single tabling is therefore not an option.
My live game is on hold also, the only venue for live poker on the rock is the Casino, which is now booked up for Xmas parties for the rest of the year.
I seem to have developed a habit of finishing in third place in MTT's having finished there for my last three paid finishes.
I have gone out to some pretty unlucky hand though, trapping with the nut flush, only for the board to pair on the river to give opponent a full house in the most recent demise.
The previous beat was when limping from the BB with T6, the flop is JT6 and after I check, the button is all in with QJ, turn and river are both Kings to give him a bigger two pair.
All in all I'm pretty happy with the way Im playing, have to fight the urge to push too hard when I start to get bored and keep looking for value added tournaments with slow structures.
And above all, repeat after me......" I must not play Turbo sats for tournaments"
I have been playing the $2.5k Gtd and the $4k Gtd on Crypto recently at my new standard buy in of $25, I will also play the £4k Gtd if I can play earlier in the evening.
Im playing almost exclusively on MTT's at the moment, I've played 124 MTT's and only 4 STT's since October, and I have just about given up completely on cash games.
Crypto is my online poker room of choice since Betfair shot itself in the foot with the Pokerchamps "upgrade".
I still venture onto Betfair now and again, due to some misplaced sense of loyalty, but the delays between hands are a real pain in the ar$e and single tabling is therefore not an option.
My live game is on hold also, the only venue for live poker on the rock is the Casino, which is now booked up for Xmas parties for the rest of the year.
I seem to have developed a habit of finishing in third place in MTT's having finished there for my last three paid finishes.
I have gone out to some pretty unlucky hand though, trapping with the nut flush, only for the board to pair on the river to give opponent a full house in the most recent demise.
The previous beat was when limping from the BB with T6, the flop is JT6 and after I check, the button is all in with QJ, turn and river are both Kings to give him a bigger two pair.
All in all I'm pretty happy with the way Im playing, have to fight the urge to push too hard when I start to get bored and keep looking for value added tournaments with slow structures.
And above all, repeat after me......" I must not play Turbo sats for tournaments"
Monday, December 04, 2006
Another 3rd Place
I managed another final table, and third place again on the Crypto $2.5k Gtd last night for $290.
It was a funny tournament to play, I had no cards at all early on, but every time I took a gamble I got a call and managed to win 3 or 4 50/50's to stay in contention.
Then just as the bubble approached I had a great run of cards to take the chip lead, even all my mid pocket pairs made trips, or even full houses.
Got down to the final three with about 40k, chip leader had 70k and short stack about 20k.
Needless to say the short stack came back to win.
Its a bit dissapointing when you get so close and fail to win, apart from the cash, $580 for 2nd and $870 for 1st, its a while since I actually won one of these things, it would be nice to break my duck before Christmas.
The late night Gtd tournaments on Crypto don't seem to have too much value in them since Betfairs split, the $5k Gtd is now only $2.5k Gtd. They do run $4k £8k and £12k Gtd tournaments, but all the satellites are Thunder format with 6 minute levels, which makes qualifying a bit of a crap-shoot, but I guess also guarantees an above average proportion of fish in the main events than would normally be the case.
It was a funny tournament to play, I had no cards at all early on, but every time I took a gamble I got a call and managed to win 3 or 4 50/50's to stay in contention.
Then just as the bubble approached I had a great run of cards to take the chip lead, even all my mid pocket pairs made trips, or even full houses.
Got down to the final three with about 40k, chip leader had 70k and short stack about 20k.
Needless to say the short stack came back to win.
Its a bit dissapointing when you get so close and fail to win, apart from the cash, $580 for 2nd and $870 for 1st, its a while since I actually won one of these things, it would be nice to break my duck before Christmas.
The late night Gtd tournaments on Crypto don't seem to have too much value in them since Betfairs split, the $5k Gtd is now only $2.5k Gtd. They do run $4k £8k and £12k Gtd tournaments, but all the satellites are Thunder format with 6 minute levels, which makes qualifying a bit of a crap-shoot, but I guess also guarantees an above average proportion of fish in the main events than would normally be the case.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Another Payday
Made the money in both this weekends payday tournaments on Crypto, thats not as good an achievement as it sounds as they pay 50 and Saturdays £ 2k Gtd had only 64 entrants and Sundays £3k Gtd only 90.
I finished 3rd on Saturday for £160 and a valuble boost to the bankroll, Sunday I managed only 34th for £18 and a meagre £7 profit.
Wyld /John Terry won the £2k Gtd event on Saturday night for over £500 and his biggest win to date, playing some great poker to come back from being short-stacked early on to dominate at the end despite a couple of bad beats along the way.
These tournaments are becoming the new flashmob with ukgatsby, AJ Cairns, Dibble Snap, Keliwah, Chalfont fan etc all playing.
Mid pairs were again my nemesis in Sundays £3k Gtd, I seem to get a lot more than my fair share of 88 and 99, early doors Im happy to limp or raise and fold to any show of strength after the flop if I dont improve. When the blinds rise, I seem to always overplay them, either not being able to put them down if I miss the flop, or re-raising and convincing myself I will win despite all the evidence to the contrary.
If anyone reading has any good advice on playing mid size pocket pairs when the blinds are biting, I would be grateful for any pointers
I finished 3rd on Saturday for £160 and a valuble boost to the bankroll, Sunday I managed only 34th for £18 and a meagre £7 profit.
Wyld /John Terry won the £2k Gtd event on Saturday night for over £500 and his biggest win to date, playing some great poker to come back from being short-stacked early on to dominate at the end despite a couple of bad beats along the way.
These tournaments are becoming the new flashmob with ukgatsby, AJ Cairns, Dibble Snap, Keliwah, Chalfont fan etc all playing.
Mid pairs were again my nemesis in Sundays £3k Gtd, I seem to get a lot more than my fair share of 88 and 99, early doors Im happy to limp or raise and fold to any show of strength after the flop if I dont improve. When the blinds rise, I seem to always overplay them, either not being able to put them down if I miss the flop, or re-raising and convincing myself I will win despite all the evidence to the contrary.
If anyone reading has any good advice on playing mid size pocket pairs when the blinds are biting, I would be grateful for any pointers
Friday, November 24, 2006
Mid Pocket Pairs II
Why can't they all pan out like this
Game #4074891364: Hold'em NL (15/30) - 2006/11/24 - 18:54:08 (UK)
Table "£8K FRI Thunder Sat 3802312 - 1" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: Flopadop1 (1460 in chips)
Seat 3: Mic290133 (1290 in chips)
Seat 4: Kingyrm (1390 in chips)
Seat 5: Cubantony sits out
Seat 6: Matt20026 (1845 in chips)
Seat 7: Wookie99 (4870 in chips)
Seat 8: Luckynic (1925 in chips)
Seat 9: Spicyal (840 in chips)
Seat 10: redcar (1640 in chips)
Spicyal: posts small blind 15
redcar: posts big blind 30
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [7d 7h]
Flopadop1: folds
Mic290133: folds
Kingyrm: calls 30
Cubantony: folds
Matt20026: calls 30
Wookie99: folds
Luckynic: calls 30
Spicyal: calls 15
redcar: raises to 90
Kingyrm: calls 60
Matt20026: calls 60
Luckynic: calls 60
Spicyal: calls 60
----- FLOP ----- [8s 9s 7c]
Spicyal: checks
redcar: bets 300
Kingyrm: calls 300
Matt20026: folds
Luckynic: folds
Spicyal: folds
----- TURN ----- [8s 9s 7c][8d]
redcar: bets 300
Kingyrm: calls 300
----- RIVER ----- [8s 9s 7c 8d][Tc]
redcar: bets 950 and is all-in
Kingyrm: is all-in 700
Returned uncalled bets 250 to redcar
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [7d 7h] (A Full House, Sevens full of Eights)
Kingyrm: shows [Ks Js] (A Straight, Jack high)
redcar collects 3050 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 3050 Main pot 3050 Rake 0
Board [8s 9s 7c 8d Tc]
Seat 1: Flopadop1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Mic290133 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Kingyrm showed [Ks Js] and lost
Seat 5: Cubantony folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Matt20026 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Wookie99 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Luckynic (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: Spicyal (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 10: redcar (big blind) showed [7d 7h] and won (3050) with A Full House, Sevens full of Eights
Game #4074891364: Hold'em NL (15/30) - 2006/11/24 - 18:54:08 (UK)
Table "£8K FRI Thunder Sat 3802312 - 1" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: Flopadop1 (1460 in chips)
Seat 3: Mic290133 (1290 in chips)
Seat 4: Kingyrm (1390 in chips)
Seat 5: Cubantony sits out
Seat 6: Matt20026 (1845 in chips)
Seat 7: Wookie99 (4870 in chips)
Seat 8: Luckynic (1925 in chips)
Seat 9: Spicyal (840 in chips)
Seat 10: redcar (1640 in chips)
Spicyal: posts small blind 15
redcar: posts big blind 30
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [7d 7h]
Flopadop1: folds
Mic290133: folds
Kingyrm: calls 30
Cubantony: folds
Matt20026: calls 30
Wookie99: folds
Luckynic: calls 30
Spicyal: calls 15
redcar: raises to 90
Kingyrm: calls 60
Matt20026: calls 60
Luckynic: calls 60
Spicyal: calls 60
----- FLOP ----- [8s 9s 7c]
Spicyal: checks
redcar: bets 300
Kingyrm: calls 300
Matt20026: folds
Luckynic: folds
Spicyal: folds
----- TURN ----- [8s 9s 7c][8d]
redcar: bets 300
Kingyrm: calls 300
----- RIVER ----- [8s 9s 7c 8d][Tc]
redcar: bets 950 and is all-in
Kingyrm: is all-in 700
Returned uncalled bets 250 to redcar
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [7d 7h] (A Full House, Sevens full of Eights)
Kingyrm: shows [Ks Js] (A Straight, Jack high)
redcar collects 3050 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 3050 Main pot 3050 Rake 0
Board [8s 9s 7c 8d Tc]
Seat 1: Flopadop1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Mic290133 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Kingyrm showed [Ks Js] and lost
Seat 5: Cubantony folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Matt20026 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Wookie99 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Luckynic (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: Spicyal (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 10: redcar (big blind) showed [7d 7h] and won (3050) with A Full House, Sevens full of Eights
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Mid Pocket Pairs
I managed to get myself in a lot of trouble overplaying mid-ranking pocket pairs this week.
Crashed out of the Payday tournament on UKBetting on Sunday night with 88.
Raised Pre-flop and got one caller, flop was Qxx opponent checked it to me so I checked also, turn card was another rag, he checks again, so I make a play for it with a pot size bet and get reraised, I should just bow out here, but instead I managed to covince myself he was bluffing and push all in, he has QQ and I'm out.
Impatience seems to be a recurring theme, I used to think I was a decent mtt player at low stakes, but it seems like I've forgotton all about patience, in my attempts to be more aggressive, I have to go back to basics.
I did a similar move in the £4k Gtd earlier this week against Dibble, raised pre-flop with 88 only to be reraised by Dibble, now I like to think I give him credit for a big pair here , but he types in AA ? and for some reason I think hes also on a bluff, hes not and again has QQ, I rivered the straight to all but knock him out (Sorry mate).
I did the same again last night with 99 limp utg and get raised by the button, I decide instead of folding or calling to push all in, and he calls with AQ (not the best call in the world), anyway, he hits a Q on the flop and Im out again.
I have to get some patience back into my game. Aggression is all well and good, but I have to learn how to pick my spot a bit better than I am currently
Crashed out of the Payday tournament on UKBetting on Sunday night with 88.
Raised Pre-flop and got one caller, flop was Qxx opponent checked it to me so I checked also, turn card was another rag, he checks again, so I make a play for it with a pot size bet and get reraised, I should just bow out here, but instead I managed to covince myself he was bluffing and push all in, he has QQ and I'm out.
Impatience seems to be a recurring theme, I used to think I was a decent mtt player at low stakes, but it seems like I've forgotton all about patience, in my attempts to be more aggressive, I have to go back to basics.
I did a similar move in the £4k Gtd earlier this week against Dibble, raised pre-flop with 88 only to be reraised by Dibble, now I like to think I give him credit for a big pair here , but he types in AA ? and for some reason I think hes also on a bluff, hes not and again has QQ, I rivered the straight to all but knock him out (Sorry mate).
I did the same again last night with 99 limp utg and get raised by the button, I decide instead of folding or calling to push all in, and he calls with AQ (not the best call in the world), anyway, he hits a Q on the flop and Im out again.
I have to get some patience back into my game. Aggression is all well and good, but I have to learn how to pick my spot a bit better than I am currently
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Bubble Boy
I haven't played online much for the last week or so, travelling over to the UK for a family function at the weekend.
Returned to Gib in time for the £100 freeze-out at the casino on Wednesday night, my biggest ever live buy-in.
I enjoy the freeze-out tournaments rather than the usual rebuy frenzy, even if £100 is somewhat outside my normal stakes, with 5000 starting chips and a slower structure, it gives time to play some poker without the usual lunatic rebuys every other hand.
I never really had a good starting hand early on, managed to pinch a few blinds and nick some pots from the BB before doubling up just before the break when I raised into the chip leader with AdTd, only to get reraised. The re-raise told me I was behind, but I called to see the flop of 3 rags with 2 diamonds, I pushed on the nut flush draw, my opponent showed pocket Kings, but I was lucky enough to catch a diamond and win the pot.
After the break, I had a run of decent cards and built my stack up to around 30k and pretty near the chip lead for the tournament.
Then I moved tables and was completely card dead for about an hour and a half before the final table formed at about 1.00 am.
I was one of about 4 short stacks on the final table with 6 to get paid so I had to make a move before the blinds got me.
I thought my time had come with AKo utg and raised to 3 x BB, it was folded round to the table short stack on the BB who reraised all in. I quickly called, and he flipped over AA, Whoops !
My luck held however when 4 diamonds on the board gave me the nut flush and the pot.
We were soon down to seven remaining, and with six to get paid, the table tightened up. I decided to try and take advantage of this and raised from mid-position with Qc8c, only to get a call from the 2nd chip leader from the BB. The flop was 6c 7c 7s so when it was checked to me, I pushed my luck with a flush draw again by going all in, only to be called by trip sevens. For once my luck ran out and I busted out in 7th, qualifying for a free smoothie from Joost in Main Street as the bubble boy, at £100 its probably the most expensive "free" smoothie I'll ever have so I better enjoy it !
Returned to Gib in time for the £100 freeze-out at the casino on Wednesday night, my biggest ever live buy-in.
I enjoy the freeze-out tournaments rather than the usual rebuy frenzy, even if £100 is somewhat outside my normal stakes, with 5000 starting chips and a slower structure, it gives time to play some poker without the usual lunatic rebuys every other hand.
I never really had a good starting hand early on, managed to pinch a few blinds and nick some pots from the BB before doubling up just before the break when I raised into the chip leader with AdTd, only to get reraised. The re-raise told me I was behind, but I called to see the flop of 3 rags with 2 diamonds, I pushed on the nut flush draw, my opponent showed pocket Kings, but I was lucky enough to catch a diamond and win the pot.
After the break, I had a run of decent cards and built my stack up to around 30k and pretty near the chip lead for the tournament.
Then I moved tables and was completely card dead for about an hour and a half before the final table formed at about 1.00 am.
I was one of about 4 short stacks on the final table with 6 to get paid so I had to make a move before the blinds got me.
I thought my time had come with AKo utg and raised to 3 x BB, it was folded round to the table short stack on the BB who reraised all in. I quickly called, and he flipped over AA, Whoops !
My luck held however when 4 diamonds on the board gave me the nut flush and the pot.
We were soon down to seven remaining, and with six to get paid, the table tightened up. I decided to try and take advantage of this and raised from mid-position with Qc8c, only to get a call from the 2nd chip leader from the BB. The flop was 6c 7c 7s so when it was checked to me, I pushed my luck with a flush draw again by going all in, only to be called by trip sevens. For once my luck ran out and I busted out in 7th, qualifying for a free smoothie from Joost in Main Street as the bubble boy, at £100 its probably the most expensive "free" smoothie I'll ever have so I better enjoy it !
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
The King Ten Lunatic
Apologies again for posting another hand history, but I just finished playing a small stakes mtt with a complete lunatic who never folded, raised with junk and just kept hitting.
Game #3911816164: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/11/08 - 15:06:55 (UK)
Table "Tourney 3803589 - 3" Seat 10 is the button.
Seat 1: Eddcase (2130 in chips)
Seat 3: redcar (7145 in chips)
Seat 5: Bowwows (15090 in chips)
Seat 6: Mag3456 (2965 in chips)
Seat 7: Bugsy76 (10917.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Gbhmfc (2055 in chips)
Seat 9: Acealan29 (10480 in chips)
Eddcase: posts small blind 150
redcar: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [7c 7d]
Bowwows: folds
Mag3456: calls 300
Bugsy76: folds
Gbhmfc: folds
Acealan29: calls 300
Eddcase: folds
redcar: raises to 1200
Mag3456: calls 900
Acealan29: calls 900
----- FLOP ----- [5d Ah As]
redcar: checks
Mag3456: bets 1765 and is all-in
Acealan29: folds
redcar: calls 1765
----- TURN ----- [5d Ah As][Kh]
----- RIVER ----- [5d Ah As Kh][Kd]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Mag3456: shows [Td Ks] (A Full House, Kings full of Aces)
redcar: shows [7c 7d] (Two Pairs, Aces and Kings, Seven high)
Mag3456 collects 7280 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 7280 Main pot 7280 Rake 0
Board [5d Ah As Kh Kd]
Seat 1: Eddcase (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: redcar (big blind) showed [7c 7d] and lost
Seat 5: Bowwows folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mag3456 showed [Td Ks] and won (7280) with A Full House, Kings full of Aces
Seat 7: Bugsy76 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Gbhmfc folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Acealan29 folded on the Flop
after that hand I was waiting for another opportunity to get in a pot with him and when it finally came, guess what happened
Game #3912020364: Hold'em NL (200/400) - 2006/11/08 - 15:27:53 (UK)
Table "Tourney 3803589 - 2" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Dee3105 (6910 in chips)
Seat 2: Jacey (5850 in chips)
Seat 3: Mckenn006 (14762.50 in chips)
Seat 5: Gbhmfc (2710 in chips)
Seat 6: _foggi_ (6500 in chips)
Seat 7: Mag3456 (18830 in chips)
Seat 8: redcar (5730 in chips)
Seat 9: KAAK (11210 in chips)
Seat 10: Deltag (12052.50 in chips)
_foggi_: posts the ante 50
Mag3456: posts the ante 50
redcar: posts the ante 50
KAAK: posts the ante 50
Deltag: posts the ante 50
Dee3105: posts the ante 50
Jacey: posts the ante 50
Mckenn006: posts the ante 50
Gbhmfc: posts the ante 50
_foggi_: posts small blind 200
Mag3456: posts big blind 400
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Qs As]
redcar: raises to 1200
KAAK: folds
Deltag: folds
Dee3105: folds
Jacey: folds
Mckenn006: folds
Gbhmfc: raises to 2660 and is all-in
_foggi_: folds
Mag3456: calls 2260
redcar: calls 1460
----- FLOP ----- [9h Kh Ks]
Mag3456: checks
redcar: checks
----- TURN ----- [9h Kh Ks][7c]
Mag3456: bets 1200
redcar: raises to 3020 and is all-in
Mag3456: calls 1820
----- RIVER ----- [9h Kh Ks 7c][5d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [Qs As] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Gbhmfc: shows [Ah 8s] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Mag3456: shows [Td Kd] (Three of a kind, Kings, Ten high)
Mag3456 collects 6040 from Side pot #1
Mag3456 collects 8630 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 14670 Main pot 8630 Side pot #1 6040 | Rake 0
Board [9h Kh Ks 7c 5d]
Seat 1: Dee3105 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Jacey folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Mckenn006 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Gbhmfc (button) showed [Ah 8s] and lost
Seat 6: _foggi_ (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Mag3456 (big blind) showed [Td Kd] and won (14670) with Three of a kind, Kings, Ten high
Seat 8: redcar showed [Qs As] and lost
Seat 9: KAAK folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Deltag folded before Flop (didn't bet)
......and I know I should have seen it coming but he really was a complete lunatic, thats all I can say in my defence.
Game #3911816164: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/11/08 - 15:06:55 (UK)
Table "Tourney 3803589 - 3" Seat 10 is the button.
Seat 1: Eddcase (2130 in chips)
Seat 3: redcar (7145 in chips)
Seat 5: Bowwows (15090 in chips)
Seat 6: Mag3456 (2965 in chips)
Seat 7: Bugsy76 (10917.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Gbhmfc (2055 in chips)
Seat 9: Acealan29 (10480 in chips)
Eddcase: posts small blind 150
redcar: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [7c 7d]
Bowwows: folds
Mag3456: calls 300
Bugsy76: folds
Gbhmfc: folds
Acealan29: calls 300
Eddcase: folds
redcar: raises to 1200
Mag3456: calls 900
Acealan29: calls 900
----- FLOP ----- [5d Ah As]
redcar: checks
Mag3456: bets 1765 and is all-in
Acealan29: folds
redcar: calls 1765
----- TURN ----- [5d Ah As][Kh]
----- RIVER ----- [5d Ah As Kh][Kd]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Mag3456: shows [Td Ks] (A Full House, Kings full of Aces)
redcar: shows [7c 7d] (Two Pairs, Aces and Kings, Seven high)
Mag3456 collects 7280 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 7280 Main pot 7280 Rake 0
Board [5d Ah As Kh Kd]
Seat 1: Eddcase (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: redcar (big blind) showed [7c 7d] and lost
Seat 5: Bowwows folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mag3456 showed [Td Ks] and won (7280) with A Full House, Kings full of Aces
Seat 7: Bugsy76 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Gbhmfc folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Acealan29 folded on the Flop
after that hand I was waiting for another opportunity to get in a pot with him and when it finally came, guess what happened
Game #3912020364: Hold'em NL (200/400) - 2006/11/08 - 15:27:53 (UK)
Table "Tourney 3803589 - 2" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Dee3105 (6910 in chips)
Seat 2: Jacey (5850 in chips)
Seat 3: Mckenn006 (14762.50 in chips)
Seat 5: Gbhmfc (2710 in chips)
Seat 6: _foggi_ (6500 in chips)
Seat 7: Mag3456 (18830 in chips)
Seat 8: redcar (5730 in chips)
Seat 9: KAAK (11210 in chips)
Seat 10: Deltag (12052.50 in chips)
_foggi_: posts the ante 50
Mag3456: posts the ante 50
redcar: posts the ante 50
KAAK: posts the ante 50
Deltag: posts the ante 50
Dee3105: posts the ante 50
Jacey: posts the ante 50
Mckenn006: posts the ante 50
Gbhmfc: posts the ante 50
_foggi_: posts small blind 200
Mag3456: posts big blind 400
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Qs As]
redcar: raises to 1200
KAAK: folds
Deltag: folds
Dee3105: folds
Jacey: folds
Mckenn006: folds
Gbhmfc: raises to 2660 and is all-in
_foggi_: folds
Mag3456: calls 2260
redcar: calls 1460
----- FLOP ----- [9h Kh Ks]
Mag3456: checks
redcar: checks
----- TURN ----- [9h Kh Ks][7c]
Mag3456: bets 1200
redcar: raises to 3020 and is all-in
Mag3456: calls 1820
----- RIVER ----- [9h Kh Ks 7c][5d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
redcar: shows [Qs As] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Gbhmfc: shows [Ah 8s] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Mag3456: shows [Td Kd] (Three of a kind, Kings, Ten high)
Mag3456 collects 6040 from Side pot #1
Mag3456 collects 8630 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 14670 Main pot 8630 Side pot #1 6040 | Rake 0
Board [9h Kh Ks 7c 5d]
Seat 1: Dee3105 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Jacey folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Mckenn006 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Gbhmfc (button) showed [Ah 8s] and lost
Seat 6: _foggi_ (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Mag3456 (big blind) showed [Td Kd] and won (14670) with Three of a kind, Kings, Ten high
Seat 8: redcar showed [Qs As] and lost
Seat 9: KAAK folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Deltag folded before Flop (didn't bet)
......and I know I should have seen it coming but he really was a complete lunatic, thats all I can say in my defence.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Higher Stakes (Part 3)
I've been playing in a couple of higher stakes tournaments on Crypto this week, and while I haven't made the money yet, I haven't felt out of place in them either.
There are certainly less crazy calls and less fishing with draws, but there is also more respect for raises and people actually realise what you are representing when you make a move, instaed of the "call regardless with any pair" attitude which exists on the low stakes mtts.
Having said only yesterday that I would avoid the thunder format satellites for the AWF tournaments on Crypto, I did the opposite and qualified for the $100 + $9 $4k added on Monday night at the first attempt.
I was delayed on Tuesday night so played the satellite for the $50 + $5 $3k added instead and again qualified at the first attempt, so two decent value tournaments for a total stake of around 12 quid and a return to form in the satellites even in thunder format.
I had a decent run in the $4k added, spotted the fish at the table early on and watched as he inevitably built up a big stack by hitting everything in sight. He even won one pot when his overpair v two pair (all in on the flop) paired the board on the turn to give him another double up, and as the chips slid over towards him typed in chat "That was confusing" lol, I don't believe he even realised he had won the pot.
He raised me off two pots when I limped in with Ax suited as I tried to pick my spot while watching him donk off chips in all directions. I eventually found JJ on my BB and as he did his usual pre-flop raise, I pushed all in confidently expecting him to call with Ace Rag or a lower pair, and call he does..........and then he flips over Pocket Rockets.
That did for half of my chips and two outdraws later I was out in 71st of 231, but a good experience in my highest value mtt to date.
The $3k added on Tuesday was less enjoyable, never really got going, lost half my stack with AJ on a board of KKKxx v JJ and went out soon after defending my BB with KT v AJ, just before the first break. I did however have the honour of the famous Azimut on my table for half an hour, without ever getting in a pot against him
There are certainly less crazy calls and less fishing with draws, but there is also more respect for raises and people actually realise what you are representing when you make a move, instaed of the "call regardless with any pair" attitude which exists on the low stakes mtts.
Having said only yesterday that I would avoid the thunder format satellites for the AWF tournaments on Crypto, I did the opposite and qualified for the $100 + $9 $4k added on Monday night at the first attempt.
I was delayed on Tuesday night so played the satellite for the $50 + $5 $3k added instead and again qualified at the first attempt, so two decent value tournaments for a total stake of around 12 quid and a return to form in the satellites even in thunder format.
I had a decent run in the $4k added, spotted the fish at the table early on and watched as he inevitably built up a big stack by hitting everything in sight. He even won one pot when his overpair v two pair (all in on the flop) paired the board on the turn to give him another double up, and as the chips slid over towards him typed in chat "That was confusing" lol, I don't believe he even realised he had won the pot.
He raised me off two pots when I limped in with Ax suited as I tried to pick my spot while watching him donk off chips in all directions. I eventually found JJ on my BB and as he did his usual pre-flop raise, I pushed all in confidently expecting him to call with Ace Rag or a lower pair, and call he does..........and then he flips over Pocket Rockets.
That did for half of my chips and two outdraws later I was out in 71st of 231, but a good experience in my highest value mtt to date.
The $3k added on Tuesday was less enjoyable, never really got going, lost half my stack with AJ on a board of KKKxx v JJ and went out soon after defending my BB with KT v AJ, just before the first break. I did however have the honour of the famous Azimut on my table for half an hour, without ever getting in a pot against him
Monday, November 06, 2006
Another small profit on the week
As the title says, I managed to scrape another small profit on the week.
My strategy, playing mainly MTT's is to break even most weeks and wait for the big win to boost the bankroll. The variance in MTT's is such that its very difficult to keep making a weekly or even monthly profit, so any week that ends up in the black is welcome, even if its only by a couple of quid. As they say, "Profit is Profit"
I've been playing mainly on Crypto this week via UK betting, the Payday tournaments, as always, had plenty of value and the value added AWF tournaments have some overlay as well.
The problem with the AWF tournies, at least as far as I'm concerned is that all of them except the $2k added $33 entry are above my normal stakes, no problem if there are satellites, except for the fact that all the sats are thunder format, which means the qualifiers are decided more by good luck than good judgement.
I made a decision a couple of weeks ago to avoid the thunder format tournies as I never seem to do well in them, maybe I should play stt's to try to win the entry into the $50 and $100 tournaments.
I tried to use Betfair again this week, but have to say its very awkward to use, despite the value added tournaments, it's too temperamental to trust money to, even opening the lobby takes up 50% of my cpu usage, compared to about 6% for the UK Betting site, I'm no IT expert but I'm sure thats not good news, and probably the reason that my laptop crashes frequently if I even have the software open, never mind playing it.
There are some good value tournaments in their online BAPT promotion, but if the site is so unstable it caused my computer to crash, then I think I'll have to side step it.
I wont play much over this weekend as I'm heading back to the UK for a few days to attend an engagement party for my nephew, can't say I'm looking forward to it. Apart from meeting some people who I haven't seen in a while, its going to be cold, wet and expensive. Bah Humbug.
My strategy, playing mainly MTT's is to break even most weeks and wait for the big win to boost the bankroll. The variance in MTT's is such that its very difficult to keep making a weekly or even monthly profit, so any week that ends up in the black is welcome, even if its only by a couple of quid. As they say, "Profit is Profit"
I've been playing mainly on Crypto this week via UK betting, the Payday tournaments, as always, had plenty of value and the value added AWF tournaments have some overlay as well.
The problem with the AWF tournies, at least as far as I'm concerned is that all of them except the $2k added $33 entry are above my normal stakes, no problem if there are satellites, except for the fact that all the sats are thunder format, which means the qualifiers are decided more by good luck than good judgement.
I made a decision a couple of weeks ago to avoid the thunder format tournies as I never seem to do well in them, maybe I should play stt's to try to win the entry into the $50 and $100 tournaments.
I tried to use Betfair again this week, but have to say its very awkward to use, despite the value added tournaments, it's too temperamental to trust money to, even opening the lobby takes up 50% of my cpu usage, compared to about 6% for the UK Betting site, I'm no IT expert but I'm sure thats not good news, and probably the reason that my laptop crashes frequently if I even have the software open, never mind playing it.
There are some good value tournaments in their online BAPT promotion, but if the site is so unstable it caused my computer to crash, then I think I'll have to side step it.
I wont play much over this weekend as I'm heading back to the UK for a few days to attend an engagement party for my nephew, can't say I'm looking forward to it. Apart from meeting some people who I haven't seen in a while, its going to be cold, wet and expensive. Bah Humbug.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Evidently Chicken Town - A poem by John Cooper Clarke
EVIDENTLYCHICKEN TOWN
the fucking cops are fucking keen
to fucking keep it fucking clean
the fucking chief's a fucking swine
who fucking draws a fucking line
at fucking fun and fucking games
the fucking kids he fucking blames
are nowehere to be fucking found
anywhere in chicken town
the fucking scene is fucking sad
the fucking news is fucking bad
the fucking weed is fucking turf
the fucking speed is fucking surf
the fucking folks are fucking daft
don't make me fucking laugh
it fucking hurts to look around
everywhere in chicken town
the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town
the fucking view is fucking vile
for fucking miles and fucking miles
the fucking babies fucking cry
the fucking flowers fucking die
the fucking food is fucking muck
the fucking drains are fucking fucked
the colour scheme is fucking brown
everywhere in chicken town
the fucking pubs are fucking dull
the fucking clubs are fucking full
of fucking girls and fucking guys
with fucking murder in their eyes
a fucking bloke is fucking stabbed
waiting for a fucking cab
you fucking stay at fucking home
the fucking neighbors fucking moan
keep the fucking racket down
this is fucking chicken town
the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town
the fucking pies are fucking old
the fucking chips are fucking cold
the fucking beer is fucking flat
the fucking flats have fucking rats
the fucking clocks are fucking wrong
the fucking days are fucking long
it fucking gets you fucking down
evidently chicken town
LYRICS © JOHN COOPER CLARKE
the fucking cops are fucking keen
to fucking keep it fucking clean
the fucking chief's a fucking swine
who fucking draws a fucking line
at fucking fun and fucking games
the fucking kids he fucking blames
are nowehere to be fucking found
anywhere in chicken town
the fucking scene is fucking sad
the fucking news is fucking bad
the fucking weed is fucking turf
the fucking speed is fucking surf
the fucking folks are fucking daft
don't make me fucking laugh
it fucking hurts to look around
everywhere in chicken town
the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town
the fucking view is fucking vile
for fucking miles and fucking miles
the fucking babies fucking cry
the fucking flowers fucking die
the fucking food is fucking muck
the fucking drains are fucking fucked
the colour scheme is fucking brown
everywhere in chicken town
the fucking pubs are fucking dull
the fucking clubs are fucking full
of fucking girls and fucking guys
with fucking murder in their eyes
a fucking bloke is fucking stabbed
waiting for a fucking cab
you fucking stay at fucking home
the fucking neighbors fucking moan
keep the fucking racket down
this is fucking chicken town
the fucking train is fucking late
you fucking wait you fucking wait
you're fucking lost and fucking found
stuck in fucking chicken town
the fucking pies are fucking old
the fucking chips are fucking cold
the fucking beer is fucking flat
the fucking flats have fucking rats
the fucking clocks are fucking wrong
the fucking days are fucking long
it fucking gets you fucking down
evidently chicken town
LYRICS © JOHN COOPER CLARKE
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
The Betfair Disaster
Well, not a bad time recently on the poker front, no mtt win this week but a couple of final tables and but for a bad beat or two, well, who knows.
Played in the UKBetting Poker Payday tournaments this week and despite the huge overlay, managed just a small overall profit.
Had a good run in Mondays when my J9 on the BB was rewarded with a J99 flop, lots of cagey checking, calling and eventually re-re-raising on the river, was the order of the day as my opponent had T9 and despite flush and straight possibilities called my all in on the river with trip nines - happy days.
Unfortunately it didn't last, a few hands later I limped with QJ and saw a flop of 89Q.
When a ten came on the turn, I thought Christmas had come early and was all in v Opponents KQ unfortunately a J on the river gave him the higher straight and shortly after I was gone for a small profit when I thought a final table was in reach and maybe a big payday.
The biggest news of the week, however has to be Betfairs new poker platform.
The worst kept secret in poker for months has been Betfairs imminent move from Cryptologic and onto the PokerChamps software.
I thought, however that they had been upgrading and updating it for months prior to the changeover to provide a state of the art poker platform to compete with the best, what they have actually launched on, is Pokerchamps with blue tables.
I honestly couldn't believe how poor it is, you still have to decide before you sit down, how many tables you want to play, just like the old pokerchamps set-up.
The tables are way too small, or fill the complete page (Where is the PokerStars style re-sizing option ?)
On top of the awful graphics there have been all sorts of problems with stability and connectivity and the Betfair poker forum has been full of complaints from regular forumites and newcomers alike.
Some Betfair stalwarts are doing a stirling job of defending the indefensible, its not Betfairs fault, wait until the problems are sorted out, etc, but It looks very much like a lot of players will, like me, be looking for a new site to play on, at least until Betfair sorts out all the problems, and that may be quite some time.
Played in the UKBetting Poker Payday tournaments this week and despite the huge overlay, managed just a small overall profit.
Had a good run in Mondays when my J9 on the BB was rewarded with a J99 flop, lots of cagey checking, calling and eventually re-re-raising on the river, was the order of the day as my opponent had T9 and despite flush and straight possibilities called my all in on the river with trip nines - happy days.
Unfortunately it didn't last, a few hands later I limped with QJ and saw a flop of 89Q.
When a ten came on the turn, I thought Christmas had come early and was all in v Opponents KQ unfortunately a J on the river gave him the higher straight and shortly after I was gone for a small profit when I thought a final table was in reach and maybe a big payday.
The biggest news of the week, however has to be Betfairs new poker platform.
The worst kept secret in poker for months has been Betfairs imminent move from Cryptologic and onto the PokerChamps software.
I thought, however that they had been upgrading and updating it for months prior to the changeover to provide a state of the art poker platform to compete with the best, what they have actually launched on, is Pokerchamps with blue tables.
I honestly couldn't believe how poor it is, you still have to decide before you sit down, how many tables you want to play, just like the old pokerchamps set-up.
The tables are way too small, or fill the complete page (Where is the PokerStars style re-sizing option ?)
On top of the awful graphics there have been all sorts of problems with stability and connectivity and the Betfair poker forum has been full of complaints from regular forumites and newcomers alike.
Some Betfair stalwarts are doing a stirling job of defending the indefensible, its not Betfairs fault, wait until the problems are sorted out, etc, but It looks very much like a lot of players will, like me, be looking for a new site to play on, at least until Betfair sorts out all the problems, and that may be quite some time.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Another mtt win
Hot on the heels of my win in the 50 eoro added, I win another mtt, this time a $10 buy in on Paradise for $182
Missed the flop a couple of times after raising in the early stages to drop down to around 500 chips, but staged a recovery to get to average chip stack by the first break.
Played pretty well (though I do say so myself) for the next hour and arrived on the final table as chip leader.
Stayed as chip leader or fairly near for most of the final table and eventually there's three of us, all pretty level on about 35k each with the blinds at 600/1200
One guy was pretty aggressive so it was just a matter of waiting for the hands to re-raise with. He took chips from the other player, and I nicked them from him.
Eventually he took out the third place finisher and we were heads up with me on about 25k of 100k.
I played pretty well heads up folding crap and raising big whenever I had a hand, eventually I raised all in with KT, Q5, JJ then AK in succesion before he called with K8 to give me the chip lead.
10 minutes later I won, can't remember the hand very well but I raised all in with KT I think, he called with K7 and that was that.
A very satisfying win, my first on Paradise and my second in two days.
This PMA really has something going for it.
Gave a little back in the Betfair £4k Gtd and the 8pm £2.25 MTT but overall a pretty good weekend.
Missed the flop a couple of times after raising in the early stages to drop down to around 500 chips, but staged a recovery to get to average chip stack by the first break.
Played pretty well (though I do say so myself) for the next hour and arrived on the final table as chip leader.
Stayed as chip leader or fairly near for most of the final table and eventually there's three of us, all pretty level on about 35k each with the blinds at 600/1200
One guy was pretty aggressive so it was just a matter of waiting for the hands to re-raise with. He took chips from the other player, and I nicked them from him.
Eventually he took out the third place finisher and we were heads up with me on about 25k of 100k.
I played pretty well heads up folding crap and raising big whenever I had a hand, eventually I raised all in with KT, Q5, JJ then AK in succesion before he called with K8 to give me the chip lead.
10 minutes later I won, can't remember the hand very well but I raised all in with KT I think, he called with K7 and that was that.
A very satisfying win, my first on Paradise and my second in two days.
This PMA really has something going for it.
Gave a little back in the Betfair £4k Gtd and the 8pm £2.25 MTT but overall a pretty good weekend.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Starting to turn it around
Well after all the bad luck, bad beats and outdraws of the last week or more, things began to turn my way on Sunday.
Two bets on the football, Man Utd and Spurs, both won and I managed a long overdue MTT win in the 50 Euro added on Betfair Poker.
Helped by one outrageous stroke of luck when I re-raised what I thought was an attempted steal from the button with K9s, to find he actually had AK. Thje poker gods smiled on me however with a 9 on the turn and a new lease of life.
I felt I played pretty well from there on in and won 108 euro for my trouble.
Played the Flashmob game on Betfair later on Sunday evening with my usual (lack of) success, I ran AK into AA.
I dont think I've ever won a flashmob game since it became an organised mtt and not just a crashed sit and go, despite cashing 2 or 3 times.
I also played the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair and was running pretty well in about 10th position out of around 18 when I doubled up with TT v K8 all in pre-flop, until a few hands later I was all in pre-flop again, this time calling with KK only to find myself up against AA again and no help this time so Im out in 15th out of 492 with a tenner for nearly 3 hours play, but at least there were no hard luck stories, or frustrating outdraws.
Im playing from today with a positive mental attitude, avoiding the thunder format games, and determined to have a prifitable week.
Heres hoping.......
Two bets on the football, Man Utd and Spurs, both won and I managed a long overdue MTT win in the 50 Euro added on Betfair Poker.
Helped by one outrageous stroke of luck when I re-raised what I thought was an attempted steal from the button with K9s, to find he actually had AK. Thje poker gods smiled on me however with a 9 on the turn and a new lease of life.
I felt I played pretty well from there on in and won 108 euro for my trouble.
Played the Flashmob game on Betfair later on Sunday evening with my usual (lack of) success, I ran AK into AA.
I dont think I've ever won a flashmob game since it became an organised mtt and not just a crashed sit and go, despite cashing 2 or 3 times.
I also played the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair and was running pretty well in about 10th position out of around 18 when I doubled up with TT v K8 all in pre-flop, until a few hands later I was all in pre-flop again, this time calling with KK only to find myself up against AA again and no help this time so Im out in 15th out of 492 with a tenner for nearly 3 hours play, but at least there were no hard luck stories, or frustrating outdraws.
Im playing from today with a positive mental attitude, avoiding the thunder format games, and determined to have a prifitable week.
Heres hoping.......
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Frustration !!
Thats the only word for it at the moment, everything I do at the poker table backfires, I cant remember the last time I had any stroke of good luck at all.
I just finished playing a satellite to the $4k Gtd on Crypto tonight, I only played 2 hands in 45 minutes.
First hand I play blinds are 25/50, I raise to 3 x BB with AJo from SB with only one pre-flop limper, BB folds, limper calls. Flop is 555, I figure if he had a pair on the button with no-one in ahead of him he would raise, so I assume AJ is ahead and bet 5 x BB (250) he calls, which is half his stack. Turn is a 3 so I put him all in and he calls with.............89o, river is, of course, an 8.
The other hand I have K7 on the BB, One limper with around 1500 chips, SB folds so I check, flop is 37J with 2 hearts, opponent checks so I push all for 750 hoping to take the pot there and then and not give him a chance to outdraw me, he calls off half his stack with an T high flush draw, and of course makes his flush on the river.
So I try again in the sat for the $3k Gtd, going ok as my AhQh all in pre-flop outdraws oppo who calls with 77 and two hand later I find KK, two limpers in front of me so I raise to 450 (3 x BB) from the SB, BB folds and both limpers call.
Flop is 7 high with 2 spades so I push and get a call from a flush draw who called my raise with the mighty K8, needless to say he hits, they allways do
This is typical of how its running at the moment, I never hit a draw and my opponent never misses. If I play aggressively, I end up bluffing off my chips to some numpty who cant put down bottom pair. If I play conservatively, I sit and slowly blind myself out.
Its all just so bloody frustrating
I just finished playing a satellite to the $4k Gtd on Crypto tonight, I only played 2 hands in 45 minutes.
First hand I play blinds are 25/50, I raise to 3 x BB with AJo from SB with only one pre-flop limper, BB folds, limper calls. Flop is 555, I figure if he had a pair on the button with no-one in ahead of him he would raise, so I assume AJ is ahead and bet 5 x BB (250) he calls, which is half his stack. Turn is a 3 so I put him all in and he calls with.............89o, river is, of course, an 8.
The other hand I have K7 on the BB, One limper with around 1500 chips, SB folds so I check, flop is 37J with 2 hearts, opponent checks so I push all for 750 hoping to take the pot there and then and not give him a chance to outdraw me, he calls off half his stack with an T high flush draw, and of course makes his flush on the river.
So I try again in the sat for the $3k Gtd, going ok as my AhQh all in pre-flop outdraws oppo who calls with 77 and two hand later I find KK, two limpers in front of me so I raise to 450 (3 x BB) from the SB, BB folds and both limpers call.
Flop is 7 high with 2 spades so I push and get a call from a flush draw who called my raise with the mighty K8, needless to say he hits, they allways do
This is typical of how its running at the moment, I never hit a draw and my opponent never misses. If I play aggressively, I end up bluffing off my chips to some numpty who cant put down bottom pair. If I play conservatively, I sit and slowly blind myself out.
Its all just so bloody frustrating
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
UKBetting Poker
Ive been playing on a new Crypto skin poker site this week, UKBetting Poker.
Keliwah put me onto it a week or two ago when they were running $3k Gtd tournaments, $10 buy in and a minimum of 50 runners required to start.
They were back on the site last weekend with only 10 required to start.
I think the first one went off with 24 runners, the second with 35, and still with the top 50 paid. You could sign in, go to bed and see how much profit you had made in the morning, it really was "free money".
The word soon spread and by Monday when the last two tournaments ran the entrants were up to about 65, still excellent value with $3k Gtd, and value even if full as they were limited to 200 runners.
Betfair announced its new site today, moving off the Crypto network and onto the pokerchamps software on 30th October.
The screenshots shown on the betfair page are a little small to see much, but look better than the current Pokerchamps software, I kinda like Crypto though, like the interface, like the tournament structure.
I guess I'll give Betfair a try, but as I have said in the past they seem too geared towards the high stakes, cash players. Thats their perogative, but as a small stakes tournament player it doesn't really float my boat.
I notice that they are now going to award MPP's for tournaments as well as cash so maybe a gesture towards the tournament players, I wont hold my breath.
Haven't been able to play live for a while due to work commitments, and to be honest I haven't really had much playing online for a while, even backgammon has lost its appeal at the moment. Maybe I need a complete break from it all for a while.
Keliwah put me onto it a week or two ago when they were running $3k Gtd tournaments, $10 buy in and a minimum of 50 runners required to start.
They were back on the site last weekend with only 10 required to start.
I think the first one went off with 24 runners, the second with 35, and still with the top 50 paid. You could sign in, go to bed and see how much profit you had made in the morning, it really was "free money".
The word soon spread and by Monday when the last two tournaments ran the entrants were up to about 65, still excellent value with $3k Gtd, and value even if full as they were limited to 200 runners.
Betfair announced its new site today, moving off the Crypto network and onto the pokerchamps software on 30th October.
The screenshots shown on the betfair page are a little small to see much, but look better than the current Pokerchamps software, I kinda like Crypto though, like the interface, like the tournament structure.
I guess I'll give Betfair a try, but as I have said in the past they seem too geared towards the high stakes, cash players. Thats their perogative, but as a small stakes tournament player it doesn't really float my boat.
I notice that they are now going to award MPP's for tournaments as well as cash so maybe a gesture towards the tournament players, I wont hold my breath.
Haven't been able to play live for a while due to work commitments, and to be honest I haven't really had much playing online for a while, even backgammon has lost its appeal at the moment. Maybe I need a complete break from it all for a while.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Straight Flush
Forgive me posting another HH but its over a year since I last saw one of these
-----HAND 5------
Game #3577405384: Hold'em NL (10/20) - 2006/10/12 - 23:34:57 (GMT)
Table "Tourney 3642544 - 9" Seat 4 is the button.
Seat 1: "_8_" (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Domdabomb (1380 in chips)
Seat 3: Hattitude (1470 in chips)
Seat 4: steve28 (1850 in chips)
Seat 5: Jim B (1620 in chips)
Seat 6: GuessWhat (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: Mumzee (1140 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (1300 in chips)
Seat 9: Stelac001 (1480 in chips)
Seat 10: Dangerman (4600 in chips)
Jim B: posts small blind 10
GuessWhat: posts big blind 20
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [8h 9h]
Mumzee: calls 20
holker: calls 20
Stelac001: folds
Dangerman: calls 20
"_8_": folds
Domdabomb: folds
Hattitude: folds
steve28: folds
Jim B: calls 10
GuessWhat: checks
----- FLOP ----- [Th Jh 6h]
Jim B: checks
GuessWhat: checks
Mumzee: checks
holker: bets 100
Dangerman: calls 100
Jim B: folds
Jim B sits out
GuessWhat: folds
Mumzee: folds
----- TURN ----- [Th Jh 6h][5c]
Jim B sits back
holker: bets 200
Dangerman: raises to 400
holker: raises to 1180 and is all-in
Dangerman: calls 780
----- RIVER ----- [Th Jh 6h 5c][Qh]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [8h 9h] (Straight Flush, Queen high)
Dangerman: shows [3h Ah] (A Flush, Ace high)
holker collects 2660 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 2660 Main pot 2660 Rake 0
Board [Th Jh 6h 5c Qh]
Seat 1: "_8_" folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Domdabomb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Hattitude folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: steve28 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Jim B (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: GuessWhat (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Mumzee folded on the Flop
Seat 8: holker showed [8h 9h] and won (2660) with Straight Flush, Queen high
Seat 9: Stelac001 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Dangerman showed [3h Ah] and lost
-----HAND 5------
Game #3577405384: Hold'em NL (10/20) - 2006/10/12 - 23:34:57 (GMT)
Table "Tourney 3642544 - 9" Seat 4 is the button.
Seat 1: "_8_" (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Domdabomb (1380 in chips)
Seat 3: Hattitude (1470 in chips)
Seat 4: steve28 (1850 in chips)
Seat 5: Jim B (1620 in chips)
Seat 6: GuessWhat (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: Mumzee (1140 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (1300 in chips)
Seat 9: Stelac001 (1480 in chips)
Seat 10: Dangerman (4600 in chips)
Jim B: posts small blind 10
GuessWhat: posts big blind 20
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [8h 9h]
Mumzee: calls 20
holker: calls 20
Stelac001: folds
Dangerman: calls 20
"_8_": folds
Domdabomb: folds
Hattitude: folds
steve28: folds
Jim B: calls 10
GuessWhat: checks
----- FLOP ----- [Th Jh 6h]
Jim B: checks
GuessWhat: checks
Mumzee: checks
holker: bets 100
Dangerman: calls 100
Jim B: folds
Jim B sits out
GuessWhat: folds
Mumzee: folds
----- TURN ----- [Th Jh 6h][5c]
Jim B sits back
holker: bets 200
Dangerman: raises to 400
holker: raises to 1180 and is all-in
Dangerman: calls 780
----- RIVER ----- [Th Jh 6h 5c][Qh]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [8h 9h] (Straight Flush, Queen high)
Dangerman: shows [3h Ah] (A Flush, Ace high)
holker collects 2660 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 2660 Main pot 2660 Rake 0
Board [Th Jh 6h 5c Qh]
Seat 1: "_8_" folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Domdabomb folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Hattitude folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: steve28 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Jim B (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: GuessWhat (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Mumzee folded on the Flop
Seat 8: holker showed [8h 9h] and won (2660) with Straight Flush, Queen high
Seat 9: Stelac001 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Dangerman showed [3h Ah] and lost
Friday, October 06, 2006
Discipline.......Thats whats needed
Things are still not going too well, but I've at least decided to spare you any more bad beat hand histories.
Tried to stick to my plan for the week to play low stakes stuff until my luck improves, and did pretty well until tonight when I played the $5k Gtd by buying in after failing in the last gasp thunder satellite.
As it happened I made the money finishing in 19th out of 191 for a small profit, but had to survive a blow in level 2 when I called a pre-flop all in from a player who had lost half his stack the previous hand. He showed A6o vesus my KK and of course hit an ace on the flop.
I recovered and played pretty safe to try to limp into the last 20 and a pay day.
It didn't quite work out like that, however, On the bubble I was dealt AsQs utg+1.
I let the clock run down, hoping someone on another table was all in ahead of me before pushing my chips in, I got a caller with AhQh and when the flop showed 2 Hearts and a Spade, I feared the worst, turn was another spade, and as I chanted "spade spade spade" and my opponent yelled "heart heart heart", a club fell and we split the pot.
Next hand and first to act I had pocket 66, still in 19th place out of the remaining 21, and with the blinds approaching, I again let the clock run down before pushing all in. This time it was folded round to me and I was happy to take the blinds and antes. After tha hand, my AQ opponenet from the previous hand told me he had folded AcQc to my all in raise with the sixes.
After that the small stack on another table fell and I was in the money. Within a couple of hands I was calling a pre-flop all in and subsequent call with AK, running into KK and AJ, I didn't improve and that was that, no real complaints.
It seems that KK is unlucky for me at the moment, if Im not getting my Cowboys beat, Im getting beat by them.
On another note I would urge anyone needing a laugh to read the blog entry "Holding the Nuts" in The Wasters blog, link on right. It is the funniest thing I have seen on a blog in a long time.
As always, thanks for reading, I'll try to keep thing s a bit more upbeat in future and stay away from the bad beat hand histories for as long as possible.
Tried to stick to my plan for the week to play low stakes stuff until my luck improves, and did pretty well until tonight when I played the $5k Gtd by buying in after failing in the last gasp thunder satellite.
As it happened I made the money finishing in 19th out of 191 for a small profit, but had to survive a blow in level 2 when I called a pre-flop all in from a player who had lost half his stack the previous hand. He showed A6o vesus my KK and of course hit an ace on the flop.
I recovered and played pretty safe to try to limp into the last 20 and a pay day.
It didn't quite work out like that, however, On the bubble I was dealt AsQs utg+1.
I let the clock run down, hoping someone on another table was all in ahead of me before pushing my chips in, I got a caller with AhQh and when the flop showed 2 Hearts and a Spade, I feared the worst, turn was another spade, and as I chanted "spade spade spade" and my opponent yelled "heart heart heart", a club fell and we split the pot.
Next hand and first to act I had pocket 66, still in 19th place out of the remaining 21, and with the blinds approaching, I again let the clock run down before pushing all in. This time it was folded round to me and I was happy to take the blinds and antes. After tha hand, my AQ opponenet from the previous hand told me he had folded AcQc to my all in raise with the sixes.
After that the small stack on another table fell and I was in the money. Within a couple of hands I was calling a pre-flop all in and subsequent call with AK, running into KK and AJ, I didn't improve and that was that, no real complaints.
It seems that KK is unlucky for me at the moment, if Im not getting my Cowboys beat, Im getting beat by them.
On another note I would urge anyone needing a laugh to read the blog entry "Holding the Nuts" in The Wasters blog, link on right. It is the funniest thing I have seen on a blog in a long time.
As always, thanks for reading, I'll try to keep thing s a bit more upbeat in future and stay away from the bad beat hand histories for as long as possible.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
It doesn't get any better
Game #2552887253: Hold'em NL (50/100) - 2006/10/04 - 23:22:52 (UK)
Table "$5K WED Thunder Sat 3543877 - 1" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: madjambo0 (2440 in chips)
Seat 2: Anna29111 (3025 in chips)
Seat 3: Leopard16 (3260 in chips)
Seat 5: Chr200 (1665 in chips)
Seat 6: Redcar (1650 in chips)
Seat 7: Tiancross (1745 in chips)
Seat 8: Gonnaneed (1320 in chips)
Seat 9: Bob7070 (1750 in chips)
Seat 10: Area51 (1270 in chips)
Leopard16: posts small blind 50
Chr200: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to Redcar [Td Kh]
Redcar: calls 100
Tiancross: calls 100
Gonnaneed: folds
Bob7070: calls 100
Area51: calls 100
madjambo0: folds
Anna29111: folds
Leopard16: calls 50
Chr200: checks
----- FLOP ----- [Ks 9h 2c]
Leopard16: checks
Chr200: checks
Redcar: bets 300
Tiancross: calls 300
Bob7070: folds
Area51: folds
Leopard16: folds
Chr200: calls 300
----- TURN ----- [Ks 9h 2c][8s]
Chr200: checks
Redcar: bets 1250 and is all-in
Tiancross: raises to 1345 and is all-in
Chr200: folds
Returned uncalled bets 95 to Tiancross
----- RIVER ----- [Ks 9h 2c 8s][3s]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Tiancross: shows [As 9s] (A Flush, Ace high)
Redcar: shows [Td Kh] (A Pair of Kings, Ten high)
Tiancross collects 4000 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4000 Main pot 4000 Rake 0
Board [Ks 9h 2c 8s 3s]
Seat 1: madjambo0 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Anna29111 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Leopard16 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Chr200 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Redcar showed [Td Kh] and lost
Seat 7: Tiancross showed [As 9s] and won (4000) with A Flush, Ace high
Seat 8: Gonnaneed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Bob7070 folded on the Flop
Seat 10: Area51 folded on the Flop
Table "$5K WED Thunder Sat 3543877 - 1" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: madjambo0 (2440 in chips)
Seat 2: Anna29111 (3025 in chips)
Seat 3: Leopard16 (3260 in chips)
Seat 5: Chr200 (1665 in chips)
Seat 6: Redcar (1650 in chips)
Seat 7: Tiancross (1745 in chips)
Seat 8: Gonnaneed (1320 in chips)
Seat 9: Bob7070 (1750 in chips)
Seat 10: Area51 (1270 in chips)
Leopard16: posts small blind 50
Chr200: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to Redcar [Td Kh]
Redcar: calls 100
Tiancross: calls 100
Gonnaneed: folds
Bob7070: calls 100
Area51: calls 100
madjambo0: folds
Anna29111: folds
Leopard16: calls 50
Chr200: checks
----- FLOP ----- [Ks 9h 2c]
Leopard16: checks
Chr200: checks
Redcar: bets 300
Tiancross: calls 300
Bob7070: folds
Area51: folds
Leopard16: folds
Chr200: calls 300
----- TURN ----- [Ks 9h 2c][8s]
Chr200: checks
Redcar: bets 1250 and is all-in
Tiancross: raises to 1345 and is all-in
Chr200: folds
Returned uncalled bets 95 to Tiancross
----- RIVER ----- [Ks 9h 2c 8s][3s]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Tiancross: shows [As 9s] (A Flush, Ace high)
Redcar: shows [Td Kh] (A Pair of Kings, Ten high)
Tiancross collects 4000 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4000 Main pot 4000 Rake 0
Board [Ks 9h 2c 8s 3s]
Seat 1: madjambo0 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Anna29111 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Leopard16 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Chr200 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Redcar showed [Td Kh] and lost
Seat 7: Tiancross showed [As 9s] and won (4000) with A Flush, Ace high
Seat 8: Gonnaneed folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Bob7070 folded on the Flop
Seat 10: Area51 folded on the Flop
FFS !
I've been playing poker in safe mode for the last few days because I just cant get a hand to stand up.
My luck has been just about non-existant unless you count bad luck.
Played low satkes stuff so as not to damage the bankroll won entry into the $5k Gtd on Betfair via a satellite and then this happens :
Game #2540451023: Hold'em NL (25/50) - 2006/10/04 - 01:33:26 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3537025 - 6" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Psb131 (775 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (850 in chips)
Seat 3: looty123 sits out
Seat 4: noudidnt (1525 in chips)
Seat 5: Ballyroan (3105 in chips)
Seat 6: Dannyjude (1955 in chips)
Seat 7: Foyger (3035 in chips)
Seat 8: NutsNathn (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Chriss005 sits out
Seat 10: DaVinch (1545 in chips)
Dannyjude: posts small blind 25
Foyger: posts big blind 50
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kc Kh]
NutsNathn: folds Chriss005: folds
DaVinch: folds Psb131: folds
holker: raises to 200
looty123: folds
noudidnt: folds
Ballyroan: folds
Dannyjude: raises to 1955 and is all-in
Foyger: folds
holker: is all-in 650
Returned uncalled bets 1,105 to Dannyjude
----- FLOP ----- [7d Ts 6c]
----- TURN ----- [7d Ts 6c][3c]
----- RIVER ----- [7d Ts 6c 3c][4s]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Dannyjude: shows [4d 4h] (Three of a kind, Fours, Ten high)
holker: shows [Kc Kh] (A Pair of Kings, Ten high)
Dannyjude collects 1750 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 1750 Main pot 1750 Rake 0 Board [7d Ts 6c 3c 4s]
Seat 1: Psb131 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: holker showed [Kc Kh] and lost
Seat 3: looty123 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: noudidnt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Ballyroan (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Dannyjude (small blind) showed [4d 4h] and won (1750) with Three of a kind, Fours, Ten high
Seat 7: Foyger (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 9: Chriss005 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: DaVinch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
My luck has been just about non-existant unless you count bad luck.
Played low satkes stuff so as not to damage the bankroll won entry into the $5k Gtd on Betfair via a satellite and then this happens :
Game #2540451023: Hold'em NL (25/50) - 2006/10/04 - 01:33:26 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3537025 - 6" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Psb131 (775 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (850 in chips)
Seat 3: looty123 sits out
Seat 4: noudidnt (1525 in chips)
Seat 5: Ballyroan (3105 in chips)
Seat 6: Dannyjude (1955 in chips)
Seat 7: Foyger (3035 in chips)
Seat 8: NutsNathn (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Chriss005 sits out
Seat 10: DaVinch (1545 in chips)
Dannyjude: posts small blind 25
Foyger: posts big blind 50
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kc Kh]
NutsNathn: folds Chriss005: folds
DaVinch: folds Psb131: folds
holker: raises to 200
looty123: folds
noudidnt: folds
Ballyroan: folds
Dannyjude: raises to 1955 and is all-in
Foyger: folds
holker: is all-in 650
Returned uncalled bets 1,105 to Dannyjude
----- FLOP ----- [7d Ts 6c]
----- TURN ----- [7d Ts 6c][3c]
----- RIVER ----- [7d Ts 6c 3c][4s]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Dannyjude: shows [4d 4h] (Three of a kind, Fours, Ten high)
holker: shows [Kc Kh] (A Pair of Kings, Ten high)
Dannyjude collects 1750 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 1750 Main pot 1750 Rake 0 Board [7d Ts 6c 3c 4s]
Seat 1: Psb131 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: holker showed [Kc Kh] and lost
Seat 3: looty123 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: noudidnt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Ballyroan (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Dannyjude (small blind) showed [4d 4h] and won (1750) with Three of a kind, Fours, Ten high
Seat 7: Foyger (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet) Seat 9: Chriss005 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: DaVinch folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Monday, October 02, 2006
Fuming !
I am fuming at the moment, nothing is going my way and i'm absolutely fed up with it.
Trying to remain calm and think positive but its so hard when youre on a run of luck like this
I just crashed out of a $10 mtt on Paradise with the first hand I played after nearly 15 minutes of folding. I raise with KK utg have a re-raise and two callers, so I push all in, two call with TT and A3o (Ace 3 offsuit ffs !)
Well as per normal a ten comes o the turn and Im out, not the worst beat in the world but Ive had a whole bloody weekend of them.
Sunday night was all in pre-flop twice, with TT and 99 against A5 and A8 and on both occaisions my opponent flopped not just one but 2 bloody aces.
I can't remember the last time my pocket pair made trips, honestly cant remember, at least 2 weeks ago I reckon.
my AK never improves and my pairs are allways outdrawn, my luck is simply unbelievable at the minute.
I wont bore you by posting hand histories, to be honest I'm only posting to calm down or I'll tilt away even more funds.
It really is hard to keep believing in the randomness of the cards when you're on a run like this, it makes you want to pack it all in.
I know things will turn, and I know people will say, take a break, dont play for a few days, and I know its good advice but I dont want to take a bloody break, I want to get some fair cards and maybe win a race now and again, is that too much to ask.
Trying to remain calm and think positive but its so hard when youre on a run of luck like this
I just crashed out of a $10 mtt on Paradise with the first hand I played after nearly 15 minutes of folding. I raise with KK utg have a re-raise and two callers, so I push all in, two call with TT and A3o (Ace 3 offsuit ffs !)
Well as per normal a ten comes o the turn and Im out, not the worst beat in the world but Ive had a whole bloody weekend of them.
Sunday night was all in pre-flop twice, with TT and 99 against A5 and A8 and on both occaisions my opponent flopped not just one but 2 bloody aces.
I can't remember the last time my pocket pair made trips, honestly cant remember, at least 2 weeks ago I reckon.
my AK never improves and my pairs are allways outdrawn, my luck is simply unbelievable at the minute.
I wont bore you by posting hand histories, to be honest I'm only posting to calm down or I'll tilt away even more funds.
It really is hard to keep believing in the randomness of the cards when you're on a run like this, it makes you want to pack it all in.
I know things will turn, and I know people will say, take a break, dont play for a few days, and I know its good advice but I dont want to take a bloody break, I want to get some fair cards and maybe win a race now and again, is that too much to ask.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Aces no good
I entered the wrong mtt last night, I wanted to play in the £4k Gtd on Betfair at 19:00 UK time, but clicked on the other £10 tournament starting at the same time, and found myself in a 40 runner mtt with a £400 prize pool instead of £4k.
It was an interesting game, with the blinds at 50/100 two players were all in pre-flop AA v QQ a Q on the flop meant curtains for the guy with pocket rockets and much ul gg in the chat box.
A couple of hands later I have QJ of clubs utg and limp in, 3 other limpers and the sb calls, bb checks.
Flop was 9T3 with 2 more clubs, giving me a flush and open ended straight draw, I check hoping for a cheap turn card and surprisingly, so does everyone else. Turn was a rag so I bet 300 thinking I may well take the pot down here, and if not, have loads of outs on the river. All fold except the sb, I figure he is probably on the flush draw too. River is Kd giving me the straight, so I bet out 600, sb raises to 1200, so I push all in and he calls.
What does he have ? Pocket Rockets !
I've rarely seen them played so poorly.
He limps in with 4 previous limpers and the bb still to play
Checks the flop and lets all of us have a free card
Then when I bet out, instead of raising and taking the pot, he flat calls and lets me make the straight.
But instead of laughing at this inept play, everyone thinks it is unlucky
The chat box is full of ul gg and "aces no good tonight"
I was tempted to try to explain to them how slowplaying them until your opponent makes a hand is not unlucky, its crap play, but I held my tongue and laughed under my breath.
The story even has a happy ending as I went on to finish 2nd for £96, after the winner knocked out just about all the final table one after another
It was an interesting game, with the blinds at 50/100 two players were all in pre-flop AA v QQ a Q on the flop meant curtains for the guy with pocket rockets and much ul gg in the chat box.
A couple of hands later I have QJ of clubs utg and limp in, 3 other limpers and the sb calls, bb checks.
Flop was 9T3 with 2 more clubs, giving me a flush and open ended straight draw, I check hoping for a cheap turn card and surprisingly, so does everyone else. Turn was a rag so I bet 300 thinking I may well take the pot down here, and if not, have loads of outs on the river. All fold except the sb, I figure he is probably on the flush draw too. River is Kd giving me the straight, so I bet out 600, sb raises to 1200, so I push all in and he calls.
What does he have ? Pocket Rockets !
I've rarely seen them played so poorly.
He limps in with 4 previous limpers and the bb still to play
Checks the flop and lets all of us have a free card
Then when I bet out, instead of raising and taking the pot, he flat calls and lets me make the straight.
But instead of laughing at this inept play, everyone thinks it is unlucky
The chat box is full of ul gg and "aces no good tonight"
I was tempted to try to explain to them how slowplaying them until your opponent makes a hand is not unlucky, its crap play, but I held my tongue and laughed under my breath.
The story even has a happy ending as I went on to finish 2nd for £96, after the winner knocked out just about all the final table one after another
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
One Tournament - Two Hands
Played for just under an hour in Betfairs $5k Gtd, and never had a hand at all, pinched a few small pots by betting or raising with position, but was limping into the break with less tha 2k in chips, when I had two hands in a row to put me top of the leaderboard
-----HAND 3------
Game #3536834854: Hold'em NL (75/150) - 2006/09/27 - 01:56:47 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3490005 - 3" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: SoSick (5111 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (1632.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Tnttnt (10615 in chips)
Seat 5: ukpaul (10065 in chips)
Seat 6: Niilex2 (6362.50 in chips)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe (2485 in chips)
Seat 8: Usettler sits out
Seat 9: Sannesk (1605 in chips)
Seat 10: selbs (1905 in chips)
Sannesk: posts small blind 75
selbs: posts big blind 150
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qc Qh]
SoSick: calls 150
holker: raises to 450
Tnttnt: calls 450
ukpaul: folds
Niilex2: folds
1foxyfoe: calls 450
Usettler: folds
Sannesk: calls 375
selbs: folds
SoSick: calls 300
----- FLOP ----- [As 5s 7h]
Sannesk: folds
SoSick: checks
holker: checks
Tnttnt: checks
1foxyfoe: checks
----- TURN ----- [As 5s 7h][2c]
SoSick: checks
holker: checks
Tnttnt: checks
1foxyfoe: checks
----- RIVER ----- [As 5s 7h 2c][9d]
SoSick: checks
holker: bets 1182.50 and is all-in
Tnttnt: folds
1foxyfoe: calls 1182.50
SoSick: folds
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Qc Qh] (A Pair of Queens, Ace high)
1foxyfoe: shows [Tc Th] (A Pair of Tens, Ace high)
holker collects 4765 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4765 Main pot 4765 Rake 0
Board [As 5s 7h 2c 9d]
Seat 1: SoSick folded on the River
Seat 2: holker showed [Qc Qh] and won (4765) with A Pair of Queens, Ace high
Seat 3: Tnttnt folded on the River
Seat 5: ukpaul folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Niilex2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe showed [Tc Th] and lost
Seat 8: Usettler (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sannesk (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 10: selbs (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
------HAND 4------
Game #3536835214: Hold'em NL (75/150) - 2006/09/27 - 01:58:14 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3490005 - 3" Seat 9 is the button.
Seat 1: SoSick (4661 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (4765 in chips)
Seat 3: Tnttnt (10165 in chips)
Seat 5: ukpaul (10065 in chips)
Seat 6: Niilex2 (6362.50 in chips)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe (852.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Usettler sits out
Seat 9: Sannesk (1155 in chips)
Seat 10: selbs (1755 in chips)
selbs: posts small blind 75
SoSick: posts big blind 150
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ac As]
holker: raises to 450
Tnttnt: folds
ukpaul: folds
Niilex2: folds
1foxyfoe: folds
Usettler: folds
Sannesk: folds
selbs: folds
SoSick: calls 300
----- FLOP ----- [Th 6c 9d]
SoSick: bets 4211 and is all-in
holker: calls 4211
----- TURN ----- [Th 6c 9d][Ah]
----- RIVER ----- [Th 6c 9d Ah][7d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
SoSick: shows [Td Jh] (A Pair of Tens, Ace high)
holker: shows [Ac As] (Three of a kind, Aces, Ten high)
holker collects 9397 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 9397 Main pot 9397 Rake 0
Board [Th 6c 9d Ah 7d]
Seat 1: SoSick (big blind) showed [Td Jh] and lost
Seat 2: holker showed [Ac As] and won (9397) with Three of a kind, Aces, Ten high
Seat 3: Tnttnt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ukpaul folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Niilex2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Usettler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sannesk (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: selbs (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I began to think I was going to win it again, I was even moved to post the hands on Betfairs Poker Forum, unfortunately, it was a case of "after the Lord Mayors Show" after the break.
It took me nearly another hour of death by blinding away before I raised with TT only to have it beaten by A7 (All in pe-flop)
And that was it, never had a sniff until getting desparate and short stacked I push with KJo and run into 99, I dont improve and thats it.
What a waste of time, all that patience.....
and all for nothing
Confidence is taking a bit of a battering recently, had a few losing weeks recently and at the higher stakes its giving my bankroll a bit of a bashing.
Its make your mind up time again I guess, do I stay on the $25 games or drop back down to the £2 mtts and £5 stts to build the confidence, and hopefully the bankroll
-----HAND 3------
Game #3536834854: Hold'em NL (75/150) - 2006/09/27 - 01:56:47 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3490005 - 3" Seat 8 is the button.
Seat 1: SoSick (5111 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (1632.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Tnttnt (10615 in chips)
Seat 5: ukpaul (10065 in chips)
Seat 6: Niilex2 (6362.50 in chips)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe (2485 in chips)
Seat 8: Usettler sits out
Seat 9: Sannesk (1605 in chips)
Seat 10: selbs (1905 in chips)
Sannesk: posts small blind 75
selbs: posts big blind 150
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qc Qh]
SoSick: calls 150
holker: raises to 450
Tnttnt: calls 450
ukpaul: folds
Niilex2: folds
1foxyfoe: calls 450
Usettler: folds
Sannesk: calls 375
selbs: folds
SoSick: calls 300
----- FLOP ----- [As 5s 7h]
Sannesk: folds
SoSick: checks
holker: checks
Tnttnt: checks
1foxyfoe: checks
----- TURN ----- [As 5s 7h][2c]
SoSick: checks
holker: checks
Tnttnt: checks
1foxyfoe: checks
----- RIVER ----- [As 5s 7h 2c][9d]
SoSick: checks
holker: bets 1182.50 and is all-in
Tnttnt: folds
1foxyfoe: calls 1182.50
SoSick: folds
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Qc Qh] (A Pair of Queens, Ace high)
1foxyfoe: shows [Tc Th] (A Pair of Tens, Ace high)
holker collects 4765 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4765 Main pot 4765 Rake 0
Board [As 5s 7h 2c 9d]
Seat 1: SoSick folded on the River
Seat 2: holker showed [Qc Qh] and won (4765) with A Pair of Queens, Ace high
Seat 3: Tnttnt folded on the River
Seat 5: ukpaul folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Niilex2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe showed [Tc Th] and lost
Seat 8: Usettler (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sannesk (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 10: selbs (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
------HAND 4------
Game #3536835214: Hold'em NL (75/150) - 2006/09/27 - 01:58:14 (GMT)
Table "$5K TUESDAY GTD 3490005 - 3" Seat 9 is the button.
Seat 1: SoSick (4661 in chips)
Seat 2: holker (4765 in chips)
Seat 3: Tnttnt (10165 in chips)
Seat 5: ukpaul (10065 in chips)
Seat 6: Niilex2 (6362.50 in chips)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe (852.50 in chips)
Seat 8: Usettler sits out
Seat 9: Sannesk (1155 in chips)
Seat 10: selbs (1755 in chips)
selbs: posts small blind 75
SoSick: posts big blind 150
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ac As]
holker: raises to 450
Tnttnt: folds
ukpaul: folds
Niilex2: folds
1foxyfoe: folds
Usettler: folds
Sannesk: folds
selbs: folds
SoSick: calls 300
----- FLOP ----- [Th 6c 9d]
SoSick: bets 4211 and is all-in
holker: calls 4211
----- TURN ----- [Th 6c 9d][Ah]
----- RIVER ----- [Th 6c 9d Ah][7d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
SoSick: shows [Td Jh] (A Pair of Tens, Ace high)
holker: shows [Ac As] (Three of a kind, Aces, Ten high)
holker collects 9397 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 9397 Main pot 9397 Rake 0
Board [Th 6c 9d Ah 7d]
Seat 1: SoSick (big blind) showed [Td Jh] and lost
Seat 2: holker showed [Ac As] and won (9397) with Three of a kind, Aces, Ten high
Seat 3: Tnttnt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ukpaul folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Niilex2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: 1foxyfoe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Usettler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Sannesk (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: selbs (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I began to think I was going to win it again, I was even moved to post the hands on Betfairs Poker Forum, unfortunately, it was a case of "after the Lord Mayors Show" after the break.
It took me nearly another hour of death by blinding away before I raised with TT only to have it beaten by A7 (All in pe-flop)
And that was it, never had a sniff until getting desparate and short stacked I push with KJo and run into 99, I dont improve and thats it.
What a waste of time, all that patience.....
and all for nothing
Confidence is taking a bit of a battering recently, had a few losing weeks recently and at the higher stakes its giving my bankroll a bit of a bashing.
Its make your mind up time again I guess, do I stay on the $25 games or drop back down to the £2 mtts and £5 stts to build the confidence, and hopefully the bankroll
Saturday, September 23, 2006
I have seen the future !
I have seen the future of online gaming.............
..........and contrary to popular belief its not pokerchamps, nor is it PKR poker with its chip riffling tricks and playstation graphics.
Its BACKGAMMON
I played my first ever game on Tuesday after opening a play money account with Gammon Empire, by Friday I had played $100 up to $300 and earned a $20 real money bonus, so I have now had two whole days playing for real money, albeit only for a dollar a game, and I'm completely addicted.
I may even decide to be backgammon world champion instead of WSOP main event winner if this keeps up.
I think though it may be very difficult to beat the rake, the explanation of rake contribution on the site is confusing to say the least. It says the max rake is 5%, but every time I win a dollar I only get 86 cents, thats about 14% by my calculations.
I'm still showing a very small profit after around 40 games, but those dice are more frustrating than having your pocket aces rivered by a lunatic with 72 off suit
It does keep you coming back for more though, updating the blog is the longest time I've spent awake without playing backgammon all week.
If anyone reading this also plays for small stakes, perhaps you could advise which are the best sites, lowest rake etc.
Incedently, if anyone is reading this on Saturday afternoon, there is a great value poker tournament on Mansion at 20:30 GMT tonight with a $50 entry and extra bonuses tied in with the Ryder cup, $500 per point diference in the final scores and extra cash for knocking out the hosts. At the present time there are only 11 people entered and two of them are the hosts, so if you have a mansion account, fill your boots.
Good Luck
..........and contrary to popular belief its not pokerchamps, nor is it PKR poker with its chip riffling tricks and playstation graphics.
Its BACKGAMMON
I played my first ever game on Tuesday after opening a play money account with Gammon Empire, by Friday I had played $100 up to $300 and earned a $20 real money bonus, so I have now had two whole days playing for real money, albeit only for a dollar a game, and I'm completely addicted.
I may even decide to be backgammon world champion instead of WSOP main event winner if this keeps up.
I think though it may be very difficult to beat the rake, the explanation of rake contribution on the site is confusing to say the least. It says the max rake is 5%, but every time I win a dollar I only get 86 cents, thats about 14% by my calculations.
I'm still showing a very small profit after around 40 games, but those dice are more frustrating than having your pocket aces rivered by a lunatic with 72 off suit
It does keep you coming back for more though, updating the blog is the longest time I've spent awake without playing backgammon all week.
If anyone reading this also plays for small stakes, perhaps you could advise which are the best sites, lowest rake etc.
Incedently, if anyone is reading this on Saturday afternoon, there is a great value poker tournament on Mansion at 20:30 GMT tonight with a $50 entry and extra bonuses tied in with the Ryder cup, $500 per point diference in the final scores and extra cash for knocking out the hosts. At the present time there are only 11 people entered and two of them are the hosts, so if you have a mansion account, fill your boots.
Good Luck
Thursday, September 21, 2006
I have been to Paradise
I have been to Paradise......and its full of rocks
My search for a new "home" once Betfair does a moonlight flit to Pokerchamps, which incidently is the worst kept secret in the online poker world, took me to Pardise this week; or to be more precise Paradise Poker.
Now my idea of paradise is probably similar to yours, golden sands, swaying palm trees and scantily clad hand maidens with cool drinks on order.
Well I can tell you, that in fact, pardise is full of rocks.
Its rockier than the Marciano family photo album.
I thought the structure for the sit and go tournaments looked good, 1000 chips with blinds starting at 5/10, and so it would have been were it not for the fact that no-one plays a hand unless its pocket aces, for the first four levels.
Now this should be an invitation to steal blinds, raise pots and generally give it the whole "total poker" treatment, but it doesn't seem to work like that, I had a run of 8 consecutive games without getting in the top 6 never mind the money, finished up with 2 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from a total of 18 STT's for a small loss overall.
I would have still made a profit on the week if I hadn't ventured back on the cash tables again. I don't know why I bother to be honest, I expect to lose, and no matter how often I tell myself to have a positive attitude, deep down I know I'm a fish in the shark infested cash tables water.
So back on the tournament trail again this week, maybe even venture back to paradise.
My search for a new "home" once Betfair does a moonlight flit to Pokerchamps, which incidently is the worst kept secret in the online poker world, took me to Pardise this week; or to be more precise Paradise Poker.
Now my idea of paradise is probably similar to yours, golden sands, swaying palm trees and scantily clad hand maidens with cool drinks on order.
Well I can tell you, that in fact, pardise is full of rocks.
Its rockier than the Marciano family photo album.
I thought the structure for the sit and go tournaments looked good, 1000 chips with blinds starting at 5/10, and so it would have been were it not for the fact that no-one plays a hand unless its pocket aces, for the first four levels.
Now this should be an invitation to steal blinds, raise pots and generally give it the whole "total poker" treatment, but it doesn't seem to work like that, I had a run of 8 consecutive games without getting in the top 6 never mind the money, finished up with 2 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from a total of 18 STT's for a small loss overall.
I would have still made a profit on the week if I hadn't ventured back on the cash tables again. I don't know why I bother to be honest, I expect to lose, and no matter how often I tell myself to have a positive attitude, deep down I know I'm a fish in the shark infested cash tables water.
So back on the tournament trail again this week, maybe even venture back to paradise.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
How good do you have to be ?
I've been wondering recently, how good do you need to be to make a profit playing small stakes poker ?
There are some truely awful players out there, and while things may change in the medium to long term, it is possible to make it pay at the moment with very little skill.
Anybody who can read a decent poker strategy book, and who is patient enough to follow the basics can make a profit in my opinion.
It is also true that trying to use any advanced stratgies may well backfire on the small stakes tables as people simply dont realise what you are trying to represent, are not paying attention or merely dont care what you do.
You only have to read some of the poker blogs out there to see the number of good players who are driven to despair by being continually outdrawn by fish who dont have a clue.
Some players will call to the showdown with nothing, some are unable to lay down big pocket pairs when it is obvious they are beaten (I admit I occaisionaly fall into this category myself), and some appear to have no knowledge of how to play the game whatsoever.
I assume that this phenomenum is less apparent as the stakes increase, but I'm sure that to some degree it is present in most online poker games.
This does also lead to the question, If you are a profitable player, are you ny good, or are you simply grinding out a profit on the basis that most other players are even worse than you ?
and should you care ?
A profit is a profit after all, and if it comes because you are good, or because others are spectacularly bad, what does it matter ?
Well it matters if you want to move up in stakes, because as previously stated this phenomenum must reduce as the stakes increase.
Is it possible to make a consistent profit at £5/£10 NL playing basic strategy with no fancy moves, or in £200 sit & goes ?
Maybe any higher stakes players reading this could comment.
There are some truely awful players out there, and while things may change in the medium to long term, it is possible to make it pay at the moment with very little skill.
Anybody who can read a decent poker strategy book, and who is patient enough to follow the basics can make a profit in my opinion.
It is also true that trying to use any advanced stratgies may well backfire on the small stakes tables as people simply dont realise what you are trying to represent, are not paying attention or merely dont care what you do.
You only have to read some of the poker blogs out there to see the number of good players who are driven to despair by being continually outdrawn by fish who dont have a clue.
Some players will call to the showdown with nothing, some are unable to lay down big pocket pairs when it is obvious they are beaten (I admit I occaisionaly fall into this category myself), and some appear to have no knowledge of how to play the game whatsoever.
I assume that this phenomenum is less apparent as the stakes increase, but I'm sure that to some degree it is present in most online poker games.
This does also lead to the question, If you are a profitable player, are you ny good, or are you simply grinding out a profit on the basis that most other players are even worse than you ?
and should you care ?
A profit is a profit after all, and if it comes because you are good, or because others are spectacularly bad, what does it matter ?
Well it matters if you want to move up in stakes, because as previously stated this phenomenum must reduce as the stakes increase.
Is it possible to make a consistent profit at £5/£10 NL playing basic strategy with no fancy moves, or in £200 sit & goes ?
Maybe any higher stakes players reading this could comment.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Juiced Up
Saw some good cards tonight both in qualifying for the $5k Gtd and in the tournament itself.
I flopped a full house in the satellite, but unlike last time when my opponent hit a bigger Full house on the river, this one held up and paid me off.
Game #3327669214: Hold'em NL (50/100) - 2006/09/03 - 21:02:37 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339525 - 2" Seat 2 is the button.
Dimsy: posts small blind 50
Marenn001: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qs 9s]
holker: calls 100
JB_07: calls 100
Flipaflop: calls 100
Dimsy: calls 50
Marenn001: checks
----- FLOP ----- [9c Qh 9d]
Dimsy: checks
Marenn001: checks
holker: bets 100
Flipaflop: raises to 200
Dimsy: calls 200
holker: calls 100
----- TURN ----- [9c Qh 9d][Kh]
Dimsy: bets 400
holker: calls 400
----- RIVER ----- [9c Qh 9d Kh][5h]
Dimsy: bets 700
holker: raises to 1400
Dimsy: is all-in 675
Returned uncalled bets 25 to holker
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Qs 9s] (A Full House, Nines full of Queens)
Dimsy: shows [Ts Js] (A Straight, King high)
holker collects 4650 from Main pot
I started the $5k like a train as well, won a good pot early on with AK v AT v 55 all in Pre-Flop
Then I found some else who couldn't lay down KK (I'm not the only one)
In his defence, at least there was no ace on the board
but what did he think I had ?
Serves him right for not raising pre-flop imho
Game #3332360264: Hold'em NL (50/100) - 2006/09/04 - 01:40:58 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339520 - 3" Seat 9 is the button.
Brummy39: posts small blind 50
shazman: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [6d 6h]
BRODrYEAH sits back
BRODrYEAH: calls 100
holker: calls 100
rob2495: calls 100
Brummy39: calls 50
shazman: checks
----- FLOP ----- [5d 6s 8h]
Brummy39: checks
shazman: checks
BRODrYEAH: bets 200
holker: raises to 600
BRODrYEAH: calls 400
----- TURN ----- [5d 6s 8h][2c]
BRODrYEAH: bets 500
holker: calls 500
----- RIVER ----- [5d 6s 8h 2c][2s]
BRODrYEAH: bets 700
holker: raises to 2000
BRODrYEAH: calls 1300
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [6d 6h] (A Full House, Sixes full of Twos)
BRODrYEAH: mucks hand [Kc Kh]
holker collects 6700 from Main pot
I finally bowed out in 46th after being in the top 10 for most of the tournament, when my top pair was outdrawn to a guy going all in on the nut flush draw
and I was gone next hand
Game #3332682544: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/09/04 - 02:22:00 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339520 - 3" Seat 3 is the button.
janosikow: posts small blind 150
pyrites: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kh Qh]
Phidia001: folds
holker: calls 300
Mo - star: calls 300
Bifrost: calls 300
janosikow: calls 150
pyrites: checks
----- FLOP ----- [7h Kd 4d]
janosikow: checks
pyrites: checks
holker: bets 300
Bifrost: raises to 4030 and is all-in
holker: calls 3730
----- TURN ----- [7h Kd 4d][3d]
----- RIVER ----- [7h Kd 4d 3d][Qd]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Bifrost: shows [Ad Jd] (A Flush, Ace high)
holker: shows [Kh Qh] (Two Pairs, Kings and Queens, Seven high)
Bifrost collects 9560 from Main pot
I flopped a full house in the satellite, but unlike last time when my opponent hit a bigger Full house on the river, this one held up and paid me off.
Game #3327669214: Hold'em NL (50/100) - 2006/09/03 - 21:02:37 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339525 - 2" Seat 2 is the button.
Dimsy: posts small blind 50
Marenn001: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qs 9s]
holker: calls 100
JB_07: calls 100
Flipaflop: calls 100
Dimsy: calls 50
Marenn001: checks
----- FLOP ----- [9c Qh 9d]
Dimsy: checks
Marenn001: checks
holker: bets 100
Flipaflop: raises to 200
Dimsy: calls 200
holker: calls 100
----- TURN ----- [9c Qh 9d][Kh]
Dimsy: bets 400
holker: calls 400
----- RIVER ----- [9c Qh 9d Kh][5h]
Dimsy: bets 700
holker: raises to 1400
Dimsy: is all-in 675
Returned uncalled bets 25 to holker
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Qs 9s] (A Full House, Nines full of Queens)
Dimsy: shows [Ts Js] (A Straight, King high)
holker collects 4650 from Main pot
I started the $5k like a train as well, won a good pot early on with AK v AT v 55 all in Pre-Flop
Then I found some else who couldn't lay down KK (I'm not the only one)
In his defence, at least there was no ace on the board
but what did he think I had ?
Serves him right for not raising pre-flop imho
Game #3332360264: Hold'em NL (50/100) - 2006/09/04 - 01:40:58 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339520 - 3" Seat 9 is the button.
Brummy39: posts small blind 50
shazman: posts big blind 100
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [6d 6h]
BRODrYEAH sits back
BRODrYEAH: calls 100
holker: calls 100
rob2495: calls 100
Brummy39: calls 50
shazman: checks
----- FLOP ----- [5d 6s 8h]
Brummy39: checks
shazman: checks
BRODrYEAH: bets 200
holker: raises to 600
BRODrYEAH: calls 400
----- TURN ----- [5d 6s 8h][2c]
BRODrYEAH: bets 500
holker: calls 500
----- RIVER ----- [5d 6s 8h 2c][2s]
BRODrYEAH: bets 700
holker: raises to 2000
BRODrYEAH: calls 1300
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [6d 6h] (A Full House, Sixes full of Twos)
BRODrYEAH: mucks hand [Kc Kh]
holker collects 6700 from Main pot
I finally bowed out in 46th after being in the top 10 for most of the tournament, when my top pair was outdrawn to a guy going all in on the nut flush draw
and I was gone next hand
Game #3332682544: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/09/04 - 02:22:00 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3339520 - 3" Seat 3 is the button.
janosikow: posts small blind 150
pyrites: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kh Qh]
Phidia001: folds
holker: calls 300
Mo - star: calls 300
Bifrost: calls 300
janosikow: calls 150
pyrites: checks
----- FLOP ----- [7h Kd 4d]
janosikow: checks
pyrites: checks
holker: bets 300
Bifrost: raises to 4030 and is all-in
holker: calls 3730
----- TURN ----- [7h Kd 4d][3d]
----- RIVER ----- [7h Kd 4d 3d][Qd]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Bifrost: shows [Ad Jd] (A Flush, Ace high)
holker: shows [Kh Qh] (Two Pairs, Kings and Queens, Seven high)
Bifrost collects 9560 from Main pot
Sunday, September 03, 2006
I am a muppet.......FACT
Playing in the $5k Gtd on Betfair(again)after qualifying via a satellite (again), I'm going along nicely, early stages, 12 minute levels, no need to take too many chances, patience is the key, and then I go and do this......
-----HAND 5------
Game #3316260514: Hold'em NL (25/50) - 2006/09/03 - 01:35:43 (GMT)
Table "$5K SATURDAY GTD 3333453 - 6" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Ellz321 (1290 in chips)
Seat 2: Johnf1210 (3525 in chips)
Seat 3: wuck72 (1310 in chips)
Seat 4: jammyhoor (2905 in chips)
Seat 5: Matt84 (700 in chips)
Seat 6: Alanalan (4655 in chips)
Seat 7: Lionmanok (4430 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (2045 in chips)
Seat 9: HillyFish (4065 in chips)
Seat 10: Noseyboy (3100 in chips)
Alanalan: posts small blind 25
Lionmanok: posts big blind 50
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kh Kd]
holker: raises to 200
HillyFish: folds
Noseyboy: folds
Ellz321: folds
Johnf1210: folds
wuck72: folds
jammyhoor: calls 200
Matt84: folds
Alanalan: folds
Lionmanok: calls 150
----- FLOP ----- [5d Jh Tc]
Lionmanok: checks
holker: bets 325
jammyhoor: calls 325
Lionmanok: folds
----- TURN ----- [5d Jh Tc][Ad]
holker: checks
jammyhoor: bets 2380 and is all-in
holker: is all-in 1520
Returned uncalled bets 860 to jammyhoor
----- RIVER ----- [5d Jh Tc Ad][Ac]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
jammyhoor: shows [Qh Ah] (Three of a kind, Aces, Queen high)
holker: shows [Kh Kd] (Two Pairs, Aces and Kings, Jack high)
jammyhoor collects 4315 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4315 Main pot 4315 Rake 0
Board [5d Jh Tc Ad Ac]
Seat 1: Ellz321 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Johnf1210 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: wuck72 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: jammyhoor showed [Qh Ah] and won (4315) with Three of a kind, Aces, Queen high
Seat 5: Matt84 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Alanalan (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lionmanok (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: holker showed [Kh Kd] and lost
Seat 9: HillyFish folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Noseyboy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
WHY ?
FFS I have to stop doing this
(Rant Over)
-----HAND 5------
Game #3316260514: Hold'em NL (25/50) - 2006/09/03 - 01:35:43 (GMT)
Table "$5K SATURDAY GTD 3333453 - 6" Seat 5 is the button.
Seat 1: Ellz321 (1290 in chips)
Seat 2: Johnf1210 (3525 in chips)
Seat 3: wuck72 (1310 in chips)
Seat 4: jammyhoor (2905 in chips)
Seat 5: Matt84 (700 in chips)
Seat 6: Alanalan (4655 in chips)
Seat 7: Lionmanok (4430 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (2045 in chips)
Seat 9: HillyFish (4065 in chips)
Seat 10: Noseyboy (3100 in chips)
Alanalan: posts small blind 25
Lionmanok: posts big blind 50
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Kh Kd]
holker: raises to 200
HillyFish: folds
Noseyboy: folds
Ellz321: folds
Johnf1210: folds
wuck72: folds
jammyhoor: calls 200
Matt84: folds
Alanalan: folds
Lionmanok: calls 150
----- FLOP ----- [5d Jh Tc]
Lionmanok: checks
holker: bets 325
jammyhoor: calls 325
Lionmanok: folds
----- TURN ----- [5d Jh Tc][Ad]
holker: checks
jammyhoor: bets 2380 and is all-in
holker: is all-in 1520
Returned uncalled bets 860 to jammyhoor
----- RIVER ----- [5d Jh Tc Ad][Ac]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
jammyhoor: shows [Qh Ah] (Three of a kind, Aces, Queen high)
holker: shows [Kh Kd] (Two Pairs, Aces and Kings, Jack high)
jammyhoor collects 4315 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 4315 Main pot 4315 Rake 0
Board [5d Jh Tc Ad Ac]
Seat 1: Ellz321 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Johnf1210 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: wuck72 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: jammyhoor showed [Qh Ah] and won (4315) with Three of a kind, Aces, Queen high
Seat 5: Matt84 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Alanalan (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Lionmanok (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: holker showed [Kh Kd] and lost
Seat 9: HillyFish folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Noseyboy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
WHY ?
FFS I have to stop doing this
(Rant Over)
Monday, August 28, 2006
Statistics
Having just read AJCairns blog "3 times the big blind" (see link opposite) I looked up my stats on poker tracker to see how I compare.
These are taken from a smaller sample than AJ's and are a little out of date, but here goes :
Total Tournament Hands 13,920
Most Dealt Hand : 83o - No surpise there
Least dealt hand : KTs - could have sworn it was AA
Best win percentage : AA 87.69%
Worst win percentage : 15 Hands I have never won with, every one suited, why is that ?
Most money won : 44
Most money lost : QJo
Most raised pre-flop : QQ
Lease raised pre-flop : There are lots of hands (I am a rock ;) )
Best Hands
Straight Flush : 1
4 of a kind : 34
Most played players :
Jackhigh 11
Capefear 10
Xaarcasm 8
Goodurge 8
Spig 7
AJCairns 6
Sucrose 6
Panama04 6
MmmmmPaul 6
Baby_mari 6
Shalima 5
USARacing 5
These are taken from a smaller sample than AJ's and are a little out of date, but here goes :
Total Tournament Hands 13,920
Most Dealt Hand : 83o - No surpise there
Least dealt hand : KTs - could have sworn it was AA
Best win percentage : AA 87.69%
Worst win percentage : 15 Hands I have never won with, every one suited, why is that ?
Most money won : 44
Most money lost : QJo
Most raised pre-flop : QQ
Lease raised pre-flop : There are lots of hands (I am a rock ;) )
Best Hands
Straight Flush : 1
4 of a kind : 34
Most played players :
Jackhigh 11
Capefear 10
Xaarcasm 8
Goodurge 8
Spig 7
AJCairns 6
Sucrose 6
Panama04 6
MmmmmPaul 6
Baby_mari 6
Shalima 5
USARacing 5
Satellites
I'm a big fan of satellite tournaments as a general rule, they provide a good way for decent players with limited funds to enter some worthwhile tournaments and pitch their skills against the big boys.
I know some players disagree on this point, Highstack has said he would rather play STT's to win the money to buy in direct, I know Gatsby is a fan of the sats so I guess its each to his own.
Recently I've been playing sats for the $5k Gtd, £10k Gtd and £15k Gtd on Betfair with differing amounts of success.
The $5k remains my favourite with a win and a couple of final tables recently, I've also played the £10k without much success, but the £15k Gtd remains tantalisingly out of my reach, I can never seem to qualify for it, all my bad beat stories seem to revolve around satellites for this particular tournament.
As I'm still fuming from my latest demise, I'm afraid I'm going to inflict a hand history on you, I was going well in this sat, held the chip lead for a while before running two pair into a flush and halving my stack, I was on a recovery mission and was delighted to see KK when this happened
------HAND 4------
Game #3237562484: Hold'em NL (300/600) - 2006/08/28 - 17:39:46 (GMT)
Table "£15K_MONDAY 3300933 - 1" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 2: Xxzuluxx (14080 in chips)
Seat 3: postus (7555 in chips)
Seat 4: lynchem (10440 in chips)
Seat 5: holker (5312.50 in chips)
Seat 7: ViceCity (7210 in chips)
Seat 8: 000si01 (2809 in chips)
Seat 9: ruffo (12117 in chips)
Seat 10: Kenpat001 (4845 in chips)
000si01: posts the ante 75
ruffo: posts the ante 75
Kenpat001: posts the ante 75
Xxzuluxx: posts the ante 75
postus: posts the ante 75
lynchem: posts the ante 75
holker: posts the ante 75
ViceCity: posts the ante 75
000si01: posts small blind 300
ruffo: posts big blind 600
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ks Kc]
Kenpat001: raises to 4770 and is all-in
Xxzuluxx: folds
postus: folds
lynchem: folds
holker: raises to 5237.50 and is all-in
ViceCity: folds
000si01: folds
ruffo: folds
Returned uncalled bets 467.50 to holker
----- FLOP ----- [Ad Td 4h]
----- TURN ----- [Ad Td 4h][5c]
----- RIVER ----- [Ad Td 4h 5c][9h]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Ks Kc] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Kenpat001: shows [7h Ah] (A Pair of Aces, Ten high)
Kenpat001 collects 11040 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 11040 Main pot 11040 Rake 0
Board [Ad Td 4h 5c 9h]
Seat 2: Xxzuluxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: postus folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: lynchem folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: holker showed [Ks Kc] and lost
Seat 7: ViceCity (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 000si01 (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ruffo (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Kenpat001 showed [7h Ah] and won (11040) with A Pair of Aces, Ten high
One of these days I will qualify, and when I do, watch out, because I'm going to win the bloody thing
(Rant Over)
I know some players disagree on this point, Highstack has said he would rather play STT's to win the money to buy in direct, I know Gatsby is a fan of the sats so I guess its each to his own.
Recently I've been playing sats for the $5k Gtd, £10k Gtd and £15k Gtd on Betfair with differing amounts of success.
The $5k remains my favourite with a win and a couple of final tables recently, I've also played the £10k without much success, but the £15k Gtd remains tantalisingly out of my reach, I can never seem to qualify for it, all my bad beat stories seem to revolve around satellites for this particular tournament.
As I'm still fuming from my latest demise, I'm afraid I'm going to inflict a hand history on you, I was going well in this sat, held the chip lead for a while before running two pair into a flush and halving my stack, I was on a recovery mission and was delighted to see KK when this happened
------HAND 4------
Game #3237562484: Hold'em NL (300/600) - 2006/08/28 - 17:39:46 (GMT)
Table "£15K_MONDAY 3300933 - 1" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 2: Xxzuluxx (14080 in chips)
Seat 3: postus (7555 in chips)
Seat 4: lynchem (10440 in chips)
Seat 5: holker (5312.50 in chips)
Seat 7: ViceCity (7210 in chips)
Seat 8: 000si01 (2809 in chips)
Seat 9: ruffo (12117 in chips)
Seat 10: Kenpat001 (4845 in chips)
000si01: posts the ante 75
ruffo: posts the ante 75
Kenpat001: posts the ante 75
Xxzuluxx: posts the ante 75
postus: posts the ante 75
lynchem: posts the ante 75
holker: posts the ante 75
ViceCity: posts the ante 75
000si01: posts small blind 300
ruffo: posts big blind 600
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ks Kc]
Kenpat001: raises to 4770 and is all-in
Xxzuluxx: folds
postus: folds
lynchem: folds
holker: raises to 5237.50 and is all-in
ViceCity: folds
000si01: folds
ruffo: folds
Returned uncalled bets 467.50 to holker
----- FLOP ----- [Ad Td 4h]
----- TURN ----- [Ad Td 4h][5c]
----- RIVER ----- [Ad Td 4h 5c][9h]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
holker: shows [Ks Kc] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Kenpat001: shows [7h Ah] (A Pair of Aces, Ten high)
Kenpat001 collects 11040 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 11040 Main pot 11040 Rake 0
Board [Ad Td 4h 5c 9h]
Seat 2: Xxzuluxx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: postus folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: lynchem folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: holker showed [Ks Kc] and lost
Seat 7: ViceCity (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 000si01 (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ruffo (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: Kenpat001 showed [7h Ah] and won (11040) with A Pair of Aces, Ten high
One of these days I will qualify, and when I do, watch out, because I'm going to win the bloody thing
(Rant Over)
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Another Final Table
I made another final table tonight, in my favourite late night tournament, the $5k Gtd on Betfair.
Fairly steady away in the early stages, but manged to stay in touch by virtue of hitting the flop from my BB on a couple of occaisions to win a couple of decent pots I wouldn't have contested from any other position, and made it to the break in mid position with about average chips.
Nothing much after the break except QQ on my BB which I duly raised, only to see the whole table (5 limpers) fold it back to me.
Had the pleasure of fellow Flashmobber, Brabzinho on my table for a while, and briefly DaJazzMan also before he moved tables again.
Limped past the bubble in 19th with 20 to pay, had a couple of hands hold up to get into a decent position, then after a good call with ATs against an attempted steal by the button with A8o was outdrawn with an 8 on the river was back in the cellar.
Just about scraped onto the final table but then won a couple of pots to get back to about 5th, where I sat for 20 minutes letting the blinds slowly kill me.
Raised in early position with Ac8c but had to fold to a re-raise and an all in Re-Reraise, then had to watch as 3 clubs hit the board.
Eventually went out in 7th position for $200, after, short-stacked, I defended my BB with Th7h against what I though was an attempted steal, but was infact KK.
But still, two final tables out of three attempts in this tournie in the last few days give cause for optimism for a second win to boost the bankroll, and after all $200 is not to be sneezed at.
Fairly steady away in the early stages, but manged to stay in touch by virtue of hitting the flop from my BB on a couple of occaisions to win a couple of decent pots I wouldn't have contested from any other position, and made it to the break in mid position with about average chips.
Nothing much after the break except QQ on my BB which I duly raised, only to see the whole table (5 limpers) fold it back to me.
Had the pleasure of fellow Flashmobber, Brabzinho on my table for a while, and briefly DaJazzMan also before he moved tables again.
Limped past the bubble in 19th with 20 to pay, had a couple of hands hold up to get into a decent position, then after a good call with ATs against an attempted steal by the button with A8o was outdrawn with an 8 on the river was back in the cellar.
Just about scraped onto the final table but then won a couple of pots to get back to about 5th, where I sat for 20 minutes letting the blinds slowly kill me.
Raised in early position with Ac8c but had to fold to a re-raise and an all in Re-Reraise, then had to watch as 3 clubs hit the board.
Eventually went out in 7th position for $200, after, short-stacked, I defended my BB with Th7h against what I though was an attempted steal, but was infact KK.
But still, two final tables out of three attempts in this tournie in the last few days give cause for optimism for a second win to boost the bankroll, and after all $200 is not to be sneezed at.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Back in the swing
After a couple of weeks off and a couple of half-hearted attempts this afternoon, I was back on the mtt trail tonight with an entry into what is becoming my favourite tournament, the 1:00am $5k Gtd on Betfair.
My attempt to qualify via the satellite route failed miserably when my full house lost to a bigger full house on level 4...........such is life.
So after forking out the full $25 + $2 to enter I was determined to give it a decent shot.
A couple of hands early on and I mange to treble up into a position where I can afford to be patient, and patience is the name of the game as I'm card dead for over an hour.
Then I cant win a hand until I outdraw KK with JJ and I limp into the money in 20th place of 20 to get paid, I need to make a stand somewhere, and a couple of all ins with 55 which stands up against AK and then the following hand immediatley after has me thinking lady luck is smiling on me.
------HAND 5------
Game #2317359493: Hold'em NL (400/800) - 2006/08/24 - 03:13:26 (GMT)
Table "$5K WEDNESDAY GTD 3268772 - 2" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 1: Billzer (25475 in chips)
Seat 2: g.culo (19677.50 in chips)
Seat 3: topbuzz (19210 in chips)
Seat 4: Grant2000 (10415 in chips)
Seat 5: timesplit (14270 in chips)
Seat 6: Undrseige (24730 in chips)
Seat 7: Simonli (4020 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (3030 in chips)
Seat 9: Topboss (2895 in chips)
Seat 10: Simpleton (10557.50 in chips)
Grant2000: posts the ante 100
timesplit: posts the ante 100
Undrseige: posts the ante 100
Simonli: posts the ante 100
holker: posts the ante 100
Topboss: posts the ante 100
Simpleton: posts the ante 100
Billzer: posts the ante 100
g.culo: posts the ante 100
topbuzz: posts the ante 100
Grant2000: posts small blind 400
timesplit: posts big blind 800
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qh Js]
Undrseige: folds
Simonli: folds
holker: raises to 2930 and is all-in
Topboss: is all-in 2795
Simpleton: folds
Billzer: folds
g.culo: folds
topbuzz: folds
Grant2000: raises to 10315 and is all-in
timesplit: folds
Returned uncalled bets 7,385 to Grant2000
----- FLOP ----- [4s 6d Qs]
----- TURN ----- [4s 6d Qs][Jc]
----- RIVER ----- [4s 6d Qs Jc][9d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Grant2000: shows [Kc Ks] (A Pair of Kings, Queen high)
holker: shows [Qh Js] (Two Pairs, Queens and Jacks, Nine high)
Topboss: shows [Ad Ah] (A Pair of Aces, Queen high)
holker collects 270 from Side pot #1
holker collects 10185 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 10455 Main pot 10185 Side pot #1 270 Rake 0
Board [4s 6d Qs Jc 9d]
Seat 4: Grant2000 showed [Kc Ks] and lost
Seat 8: holker showed [Qh Js] and won (10455) with Two Pairs, Queens and Jacks, Nine high
Seat 9: Topboss showed [Ad Ah] and lost
AA a couple of hands later and Im in third position, but no fairy-tale ending as I have two pair outdrawn to a flush on the river to go out in 10th for $100, not the big win I was hoping for, but hey, a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars. It will do for starters
My attempt to qualify via the satellite route failed miserably when my full house lost to a bigger full house on level 4...........such is life.
So after forking out the full $25 + $2 to enter I was determined to give it a decent shot.
A couple of hands early on and I mange to treble up into a position where I can afford to be patient, and patience is the name of the game as I'm card dead for over an hour.
Then I cant win a hand until I outdraw KK with JJ and I limp into the money in 20th place of 20 to get paid, I need to make a stand somewhere, and a couple of all ins with 55 which stands up against AK and then the following hand immediatley after has me thinking lady luck is smiling on me.
------HAND 5------
Game #2317359493: Hold'em NL (400/800) - 2006/08/24 - 03:13:26 (GMT)
Table "$5K WEDNESDAY GTD 3268772 - 2" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 1: Billzer (25475 in chips)
Seat 2: g.culo (19677.50 in chips)
Seat 3: topbuzz (19210 in chips)
Seat 4: Grant2000 (10415 in chips)
Seat 5: timesplit (14270 in chips)
Seat 6: Undrseige (24730 in chips)
Seat 7: Simonli (4020 in chips)
Seat 8: holker (3030 in chips)
Seat 9: Topboss (2895 in chips)
Seat 10: Simpleton (10557.50 in chips)
Grant2000: posts the ante 100
timesplit: posts the ante 100
Undrseige: posts the ante 100
Simonli: posts the ante 100
holker: posts the ante 100
Topboss: posts the ante 100
Simpleton: posts the ante 100
Billzer: posts the ante 100
g.culo: posts the ante 100
topbuzz: posts the ante 100
Grant2000: posts small blind 400
timesplit: posts big blind 800
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qh Js]
Undrseige: folds
Simonli: folds
holker: raises to 2930 and is all-in
Topboss: is all-in 2795
Simpleton: folds
Billzer: folds
g.culo: folds
topbuzz: folds
Grant2000: raises to 10315 and is all-in
timesplit: folds
Returned uncalled bets 7,385 to Grant2000
----- FLOP ----- [4s 6d Qs]
----- TURN ----- [4s 6d Qs][Jc]
----- RIVER ----- [4s 6d Qs Jc][9d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Grant2000: shows [Kc Ks] (A Pair of Kings, Queen high)
holker: shows [Qh Js] (Two Pairs, Queens and Jacks, Nine high)
Topboss: shows [Ad Ah] (A Pair of Aces, Queen high)
holker collects 270 from Side pot #1
holker collects 10185 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 10455 Main pot 10185 Side pot #1 270 Rake 0
Board [4s 6d Qs Jc 9d]
Seat 4: Grant2000 showed [Kc Ks] and lost
Seat 8: holker showed [Qh Js] and won (10455) with Two Pairs, Queens and Jacks, Nine high
Seat 9: Topboss showed [Ad Ah] and lost
AA a couple of hands later and Im in third position, but no fairy-tale ending as I have two pair outdrawn to a flush on the river to go out in 10th for $100, not the big win I was hoping for, but hey, a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars. It will do for starters
Monday, August 21, 2006
No Poker
Well it seems I'm a bit overdue for an update, but I haven't actually played any poker for a couple of weeks now.
I've been on holiday from work, and to be honest I've been too busy to play. I've had a few days out in Spain and a trip across to Tangiers in Morocco.
Tangiers was a bit of an eye opener, I went with my wife and youngest daughter on an organised tour, which I cant say I would recommend to anyone. I think we would have been better off on our own, which is what I would do next time we visit. I would also like to see a bit more of Morocco, maybe Casablanca and Marrakesh, I think forming an opinion of Moroco on a trip to Tangiers is like formimg an opinion on England on the basis of a day in Portsmouth.
We had a day out in Spain to a little town called Ronda, this is one of the pueblos blancos, or white towns of Andalucia. The town is split by a huge gorge, El Tajo, and we had lunch in a small restaurant over looking the gorge with its 130 metre drop and spectacular scenery.
What has surprised me most since moving to Gibraltar, is the beauty of some of the surrounding countryside over the border in Spain. Not the fish n chips and british beer of the Costa del Sol, but the Costa de la Luz, Tarifa and Cadiz, and also the mountains inland and the National Park, Los Alcornocales.
Well, the holiday is over soon, and ts back to work on Wednesday, and the hire car also goes back so I will be playing some more poker to get the blog back on topic, so until the next update, good luck on the tables.
I've been on holiday from work, and to be honest I've been too busy to play. I've had a few days out in Spain and a trip across to Tangiers in Morocco.
Tangiers was a bit of an eye opener, I went with my wife and youngest daughter on an organised tour, which I cant say I would recommend to anyone. I think we would have been better off on our own, which is what I would do next time we visit. I would also like to see a bit more of Morocco, maybe Casablanca and Marrakesh, I think forming an opinion of Moroco on a trip to Tangiers is like formimg an opinion on England on the basis of a day in Portsmouth.
We had a day out in Spain to a little town called Ronda, this is one of the pueblos blancos, or white towns of Andalucia. The town is split by a huge gorge, El Tajo, and we had lunch in a small restaurant over looking the gorge with its 130 metre drop and spectacular scenery.
What has surprised me most since moving to Gibraltar, is the beauty of some of the surrounding countryside over the border in Spain. Not the fish n chips and british beer of the Costa del Sol, but the Costa de la Luz, Tarifa and Cadiz, and also the mountains inland and the National Park, Los Alcornocales.
Well, the holiday is over soon, and ts back to work on Wednesday, and the hire car also goes back so I will be playing some more poker to get the blog back on topic, so until the next update, good luck on the tables.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
The nearly man
My recent strategy of playing more live games, less online and at higher stakes than previously, seems at first glance to be pretty unsuccessful, however I feel positive about my game at the moment and Im sure a decent payday is just around the corner.
Played in the Betfair $5k Gtd tournament three times last week, qualifying via sattelite on two occaisions, made the money just once for $50, but overall felt I played well and was a little unlucky not to have done better.
Also played live on Thursday in a £20 rebuy, where I never saw a flop for the whole of the first hour until the rebuy period ended, hit a couple of hands after the rebuy, and despite my rock like image managed to get some action and built my stack up to around average by the time we went to two tables. Thats when my recent bad luck continued, not really a bad beat but a little unfortunate I thought. Dealt 57o on the big blind and with no pre-flop raise, I limped in to see the flop, which was a very welcome 57J rainbow, SB checked, I raise to 3 x BB (3000 chips) The original limper calls, SB is all in for 3500, and obviously we both call. Flop is Kh leaving two hearts on the board so I push all in for about another 4k, Opponent calls with Kh9h Top pair and a flush draw, and hits his 9 on the river for two bigger pair to send me home.
Have had a couple of days off poker since, as I've not been feeling too great, have a couple of weeks off work coming up also so I may not get to update as often as I would like, as Im sure I'll be busy exploring southern spain.
You may also notice a new addition to the blog in the form of a site meter logging the number of hits on the site, I was pleased and quite surpised to see hits from USA, Canada, Singapore and the Czech Republic as well as UK, Gibraltar and Spain.
Played in the Betfair $5k Gtd tournament three times last week, qualifying via sattelite on two occaisions, made the money just once for $50, but overall felt I played well and was a little unlucky not to have done better.
Also played live on Thursday in a £20 rebuy, where I never saw a flop for the whole of the first hour until the rebuy period ended, hit a couple of hands after the rebuy, and despite my rock like image managed to get some action and built my stack up to around average by the time we went to two tables. Thats when my recent bad luck continued, not really a bad beat but a little unfortunate I thought. Dealt 57o on the big blind and with no pre-flop raise, I limped in to see the flop, which was a very welcome 57J rainbow, SB checked, I raise to 3 x BB (3000 chips) The original limper calls, SB is all in for 3500, and obviously we both call. Flop is Kh leaving two hearts on the board so I push all in for about another 4k, Opponent calls with Kh9h Top pair and a flush draw, and hits his 9 on the river for two bigger pair to send me home.
Have had a couple of days off poker since, as I've not been feeling too great, have a couple of weeks off work coming up also so I may not get to update as often as I would like, as Im sure I'll be busy exploring southern spain.
You may also notice a new addition to the blog in the form of a site meter logging the number of hits on the site, I was pleased and quite surpised to see hits from USA, Canada, Singapore and the Czech Republic as well as UK, Gibraltar and Spain.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Still no luck
Well, I played live again on Wednesday night (26th July), lots of runners this time so a re-buy rather than a freeze out, and just as well as far as I am concerned.
First hand I get dealt QQ in late position, rasied from 50 to 600 and get called by the dealer.
Flop is ten high and I push all in, and the dealer shows pocket aces, not the best of starts.
After a re-buy I was pretty much card dead and struggled to pinch a blind or two, won a couple of hand just before the re-buy period ended and after the top up I was on about average stack of around 6k. Pushed with KQ on a Q high flop in an unraised pot, and walked into AQ and that was that, ah well, there's always next week.
Luck has pretty much deserted me online too, won entry into the $5k Gtd on Betfair via a satellite and was going well in the last 50 or so when this happened
------HAND 5------
Game #2070995593: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/07/31 - 02:20:46 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3116800 - 5" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: Poker_vic (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Weih30101 (6490 in chips)
Seat 3: spwing (8550 in chips)
Seat 4: Box_fresh (1340 in chips)
Seat 5: QuantumXG (1890 in chips)
Seat 6: danick (13240 in chips)
Seat 7: Fatmole (3320 in chips)
Seat 9: holker (4955 in chips)
Seat 10: Lewis147 (6215 in chips)
spwing: posts small blind 150
Box_fresh: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qc Ah]
QuantumXG: folds
danick: calls 300
Fatmole: folds
holker: raises to 900
Lewis147: folds
Poker_vic: folds
Weih30101: calls 900
spwing: folds
Box_fresh: folds
danick: folds
----- FLOP ----- [2d Qs 8s]
holker: bets 900
Weih30101: raises to 5590 and is all-in
holker: is all-in 3155
Returned uncalled bets 1,535 to Weih30101
----- TURN ----- [2d Qs 8s][9d]
----- RIVER ----- [2d Qs 8s 9d][As]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Weih30101: shows [9s 9h] (Three of a kind, Nines, Ace high)
holker: shows [Qc Ah] (Two Pairs, Aces and Queens, Nine high)
Weih30101 collects 10660 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 10660 Main pot 10660 Rake 0
Board [2d Qs 8s 9d As]
Seat 1: Poker_vic folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Weih30101 (button) showed [9s 9h] and won (10660) with Three of a kind, Nines, Ace high
Seat 3: spwing (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Box_fresh (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: QuantumXG folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: danick folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Fatmole folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: holker showed [Qc Ah] and lost
It doesn't stop there either, trying to qualify for the $5k Gtd on Betfair again I had pocket nines undone by a King on the river after someone called my pre-flop all in with KQo and then my nut flush against two pair, made his full house on the river.
Ah well, bad luck doesn't last forever, and when it changes I must be due a decent run of good fortune :)
First hand I get dealt QQ in late position, rasied from 50 to 600 and get called by the dealer.
Flop is ten high and I push all in, and the dealer shows pocket aces, not the best of starts.
After a re-buy I was pretty much card dead and struggled to pinch a blind or two, won a couple of hand just before the re-buy period ended and after the top up I was on about average stack of around 6k. Pushed with KQ on a Q high flop in an unraised pot, and walked into AQ and that was that, ah well, there's always next week.
Luck has pretty much deserted me online too, won entry into the $5k Gtd on Betfair via a satellite and was going well in the last 50 or so when this happened
------HAND 5------
Game #2070995593: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/07/31 - 02:20:46 (GMT)
Table "$5K SUNDAY GTD 3116800 - 5" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: Poker_vic (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: Weih30101 (6490 in chips)
Seat 3: spwing (8550 in chips)
Seat 4: Box_fresh (1340 in chips)
Seat 5: QuantumXG (1890 in chips)
Seat 6: danick (13240 in chips)
Seat 7: Fatmole (3320 in chips)
Seat 9: holker (4955 in chips)
Seat 10: Lewis147 (6215 in chips)
spwing: posts small blind 150
Box_fresh: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Qc Ah]
QuantumXG: folds
danick: calls 300
Fatmole: folds
holker: raises to 900
Lewis147: folds
Poker_vic: folds
Weih30101: calls 900
spwing: folds
Box_fresh: folds
danick: folds
----- FLOP ----- [2d Qs 8s]
holker: bets 900
Weih30101: raises to 5590 and is all-in
holker: is all-in 3155
Returned uncalled bets 1,535 to Weih30101
----- TURN ----- [2d Qs 8s][9d]
----- RIVER ----- [2d Qs 8s 9d][As]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Weih30101: shows [9s 9h] (Three of a kind, Nines, Ace high)
holker: shows [Qc Ah] (Two Pairs, Aces and Queens, Nine high)
Weih30101 collects 10660 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot 10660 Main pot 10660 Rake 0
Board [2d Qs 8s 9d As]
Seat 1: Poker_vic folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Weih30101 (button) showed [9s 9h] and won (10660) with Three of a kind, Nines, Ace high
Seat 3: spwing (small blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Box_fresh (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: QuantumXG folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: danick folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Fatmole folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: holker showed [Qc Ah] and lost
It doesn't stop there either, trying to qualify for the $5k Gtd on Betfair again I had pocket nines undone by a King on the river after someone called my pre-flop all in with KQo and then my nut flush against two pair, made his full house on the river.
Ah well, bad luck doesn't last forever, and when it changes I must be due a decent run of good fortune :)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Not much luck
well, seeing as I got lambasted for the lack of updates, I decided I better update again.
Not too much to report really, played a bit more online, this week with no notable success.
I have been playing a little on Virgin recently, I find the standard of play on there pretty poor at the $5 $10 $20 level, so its just a matter of ABC poker and wait for a monster as there is always someone to pay you off.
Still pursuing another win in Betfairs 01:00 am $5k Gtd, have gone out just shy of a payday a few times this week, but overall I think my play is prety good, confidence is high and a good win is, Im sure, just around the corner.
I will probably play live again tomorrow night at the casino here in Gib, will be my last chance for a while as work commitments will prevent me from playing for a couple of weeks after this.
Hopefully numbers will be low and we will play a £50 freeze out like last week, as opposed to the usual £20 re-buy. The format for the freeze out is miles better imo, I've almost a mind not to play if its a re-buy, but once you get there its hard to walk out without playing.
Well if you'll excuse the short posting, thats all for now.
See you next time
Not too much to report really, played a bit more online, this week with no notable success.
I have been playing a little on Virgin recently, I find the standard of play on there pretty poor at the $5 $10 $20 level, so its just a matter of ABC poker and wait for a monster as there is always someone to pay you off.
Still pursuing another win in Betfairs 01:00 am $5k Gtd, have gone out just shy of a payday a few times this week, but overall I think my play is prety good, confidence is high and a good win is, Im sure, just around the corner.
I will probably play live again tomorrow night at the casino here in Gib, will be my last chance for a while as work commitments will prevent me from playing for a couple of weeks after this.
Hopefully numbers will be low and we will play a £50 freeze out like last week, as opposed to the usual £20 re-buy. The format for the freeze out is miles better imo, I've almost a mind not to play if its a re-buy, but once you get there its hard to walk out without playing.
Well if you'll excuse the short posting, thats all for now.
See you next time
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Playing Live
Apologies for the lack of updates, I never realised I had so many readers !
Thanks for taking the time to look and I'll try to keep up to date in future.
Haven't played too much online since the win in the $5k, but did manage another money finish at Gib casino on wednesday 19/7/06, finishing second of 19 in a £50 freeze out tournament for £216.
The usual format for the weekly games at the casino is £20 rebuy with 1500 chips, this time, because of lack of players we had a £50 freezeout with 5000 starting chips, a much better format imo.
In fact I was unfortunate not to win, All in pre-flop with AJo v A6o Jack of Diamonds on the flop looked good until 3 more diamonds in quick succession gave my opponent a flush.
Details are at http://www.lalineapoker.com/19_07_2006.html if anyone is interested, including video footage of the last hand as it played out (all very high-tech from a mobile phone)
Thanks for taking the time to look and I'll try to keep up to date in future.
Haven't played too much online since the win in the $5k, but did manage another money finish at Gib casino on wednesday 19/7/06, finishing second of 19 in a £50 freeze out tournament for £216.
The usual format for the weekly games at the casino is £20 rebuy with 1500 chips, this time, because of lack of players we had a £50 freezeout with 5000 starting chips, a much better format imo.
In fact I was unfortunate not to win, All in pre-flop with AJo v A6o Jack of Diamonds on the flop looked good until 3 more diamonds in quick succession gave my opponent a flush.
Details are at http://www.lalineapoker.com/19_07_2006.html if anyone is interested, including video footage of the last hand as it played out (all very high-tech from a mobile phone)
Thursday, June 29, 2006
A Big Win !
I have to blog my biggest win to date, $1500 for winning the in the $5k starting at 01:00 on Betfair this morning.
Thats one of my targets for 2006 knocked off, and gives my total profit to date this year a very healthy boost.
Just to make the win a little sweeter (as if it needed sweetening), I won entry for only $3.50 via a sattelite at the second attempt after bubbling for a small cash prize at the first attempt.
I had Poker Queen for company for most of the later stages, which was very entertaining to say the least. The banter was good throughout, and I was handily placed from a long way out.
Pocket Aces held up for me as chip-leader against the second placed player to leave me with over half the chips in play with 6 left in.
I had about a ten to one chip lead heads-up and finally won with pocket 33 making a full house against the unlucky Jampe2906 with another 3 and a pair of jacks on the board.
I haven't been playing much poker recently (the weather here has been to good to waste indoors), but this has really rekindled the flame so expect to see me on a final table near you soon
All the best
Thats one of my targets for 2006 knocked off, and gives my total profit to date this year a very healthy boost.
Just to make the win a little sweeter (as if it needed sweetening), I won entry for only $3.50 via a sattelite at the second attempt after bubbling for a small cash prize at the first attempt.
I had Poker Queen for company for most of the later stages, which was very entertaining to say the least. The banter was good throughout, and I was handily placed from a long way out.
Pocket Aces held up for me as chip-leader against the second placed player to leave me with over half the chips in play with 6 left in.
I had about a ten to one chip lead heads-up and finally won with pocket 33 making a full house against the unlucky Jampe2906 with another 3 and a pair of jacks on the board.
I haven't been playing much poker recently (the weather here has been to good to waste indoors), but this has really rekindled the flame so expect to see me on a final table near you soon
All the best
Friday, June 23, 2006
A couple of hand histories
I dont like to post too many hand histories on my blog, as I know they are boring and I always skim past them when reading other blogs (apologies to all concerned), but these two hands came up in quick sucession and just show the highs and lows of online poker.
The first hand came just as France had a shot saved on the line in their World Cup match with Togo, I jumped up to see the replay and timed out just as I sat back down to play, and of course I hit everything on the board
Game #2783976704: Hold'em NL (10/20) - 2006/06/23 - 20:39:24 (GMT)
Table "$5K FRIDAY GTD 2852225 - 2" Seat 9 is the button.
Seat 1: Foxy15 (1220 in chips)
Seat 2: Luscos (1490 in chips)
Seat 3: Amos2003 (970 in chips)
Seat 4: holker (1470 in chips)
Seat 6: OldPunkie (1470 in chips)
Seat 7: Reddog23 (4750 in chips)
Seat 8: Tokimano (1370 in chips)
Seat 9: jontickle (1710 in chips)
Seat 10: Breda1 (2050 in chips)
Breda1: posts small blind 10
Foxy15: posts big blind 20
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Jh Kh]
Luscos: raises to 80
Amos2003: folds
holker: folds
holker sits out - because he was watching the football
holker sits back
OldPunkie: folds
Reddog23: folds
Tokimano: folds
jontickle: folds
Breda1: calls 70
Foxy15: calls 60
----- FLOP ----- [Js Ks 8d] giving me two pair
Breda1: bets 40
Foxy15: folds
Luscos: raises to 120
Breda1: calls 80
----- TURN ----- [Js Ks 8d][Kd] making my Full House
Breda1: bets 60
Luscos: raises to 120
Breda1: calls 60
----- RIVER ----- [Js Ks 8d Kd][3d]
Breda1: bets 200
Luscos: calls 200
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Breda1: shows [As Td] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Luscos: shows [Qc Qs] (Two Pairs, Kings and Queens, Jack high)
Luscos collects 1120 from Main pot
The next hand was full of ups and downs, I was dealt pocket aces, which is always nice, and the raiser in front of me has been playing like a maniac, so I reraise and we both end up all in pre-flop. He shows K8o and I couldn't be happier.............
Game #2784023534: Hold'em NL (15/30) - 2006/06/23 - 20:42:33 (GMT)
Table "$5K FRIDAY GTD 2852225 - 2" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: Foxy15 (1125 in chips)
Seat 2: Luscos (2045 in chips)
Seat 4: holker (1470 in chips)
Seat 6: OldPunkie (1470 in chips)
Seat 7: Reddog23 (5780 in chips)
Seat 8: Tokimano (1370 in chips)
Seat 9: jontickle (1710 in chips)
Seat 10: Breda1 (1530 in chips)
holker: posts big blind 30
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ad Ah] very nice !
OldPunkie: folds
Peaceman sits back
Qwertyl sits back
Reddog23: raises to 180 - which is just what I wanted to see
Tokimano: folds
jontickle: folds
Breda1: folds
Foxy15: folds
Luscos: folds
holker: raises to 450 against the "raise every hand maniac" who is Reddog23
Reddog23: raises to 5780 and is all-in - which again, is just what I wanted
holker: is all-in 1020
Reddog23: shows [8s Kh] lovely I think
holker: shows [Ad Ah]
----- FLOP ----- [8c 2c Kd] Oh No ! hes only gone and flopped two pair - jammy git
----- TURN ----- [8c 2c Kd][2h] by now I'm not looking at the cards - too busy swearing
----- RIVER ----- [8c 2c Kd 2h][Qd] oh wait, the board has paired
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Reddog23: shows [8s Kh] (Two Pairs, Kings and Eights, Queen high)
holker: shows [Ad Ah] (Two Pairs, Aces and Twos, King high)
holker collects 2940 from Main pot lovely jubbly
The first hand came just as France had a shot saved on the line in their World Cup match with Togo, I jumped up to see the replay and timed out just as I sat back down to play, and of course I hit everything on the board
Game #2783976704: Hold'em NL (10/20) - 2006/06/23 - 20:39:24 (GMT)
Table "$5K FRIDAY GTD 2852225 - 2" Seat 9 is the button.
Seat 1: Foxy15 (1220 in chips)
Seat 2: Luscos (1490 in chips)
Seat 3: Amos2003 (970 in chips)
Seat 4: holker (1470 in chips)
Seat 6: OldPunkie (1470 in chips)
Seat 7: Reddog23 (4750 in chips)
Seat 8: Tokimano (1370 in chips)
Seat 9: jontickle (1710 in chips)
Seat 10: Breda1 (2050 in chips)
Breda1: posts small blind 10
Foxy15: posts big blind 20
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Jh Kh]
Luscos: raises to 80
Amos2003: folds
holker: folds
holker sits out - because he was watching the football
holker sits back
OldPunkie: folds
Reddog23: folds
Tokimano: folds
jontickle: folds
Breda1: calls 70
Foxy15: calls 60
----- FLOP ----- [Js Ks 8d] giving me two pair
Breda1: bets 40
Foxy15: folds
Luscos: raises to 120
Breda1: calls 80
----- TURN ----- [Js Ks 8d][Kd] making my Full House
Breda1: bets 60
Luscos: raises to 120
Breda1: calls 60
----- RIVER ----- [Js Ks 8d Kd][3d]
Breda1: bets 200
Luscos: calls 200
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Breda1: shows [As Td] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Luscos: shows [Qc Qs] (Two Pairs, Kings and Queens, Jack high)
Luscos collects 1120 from Main pot
The next hand was full of ups and downs, I was dealt pocket aces, which is always nice, and the raiser in front of me has been playing like a maniac, so I reraise and we both end up all in pre-flop. He shows K8o and I couldn't be happier.............
Game #2784023534: Hold'em NL (15/30) - 2006/06/23 - 20:42:33 (GMT)
Table "$5K FRIDAY GTD 2852225 - 2" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: Foxy15 (1125 in chips)
Seat 2: Luscos (2045 in chips)
Seat 4: holker (1470 in chips)
Seat 6: OldPunkie (1470 in chips)
Seat 7: Reddog23 (5780 in chips)
Seat 8: Tokimano (1370 in chips)
Seat 9: jontickle (1710 in chips)
Seat 10: Breda1 (1530 in chips)
holker: posts big blind 30
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to holker [Ad Ah] very nice !
OldPunkie: folds
Peaceman sits back
Qwertyl sits back
Reddog23: raises to 180 - which is just what I wanted to see
Tokimano: folds
jontickle: folds
Breda1: folds
Foxy15: folds
Luscos: folds
holker: raises to 450 against the "raise every hand maniac" who is Reddog23
Reddog23: raises to 5780 and is all-in - which again, is just what I wanted
holker: is all-in 1020
Reddog23: shows [8s Kh] lovely I think
holker: shows [Ad Ah]
----- FLOP ----- [8c 2c Kd] Oh No ! hes only gone and flopped two pair - jammy git
----- TURN ----- [8c 2c Kd][2h] by now I'm not looking at the cards - too busy swearing
----- RIVER ----- [8c 2c Kd 2h][Qd] oh wait, the board has paired
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Reddog23: shows [8s Kh] (Two Pairs, Kings and Eights, Queen high)
holker: shows [Ad Ah] (Two Pairs, Aces and Twos, King high)
holker collects 2940 from Main pot lovely jubbly
Monday, June 12, 2006
The World Cup
Well, the world cup has finally started, and my plan to watch every match live has been assisted by work installing a large plasma tv in the office.
Work commitments and the world cup have curtailed my poker for the last week or so, which is just as well as I have been losing steadily on the low stakes cash tables.
I wish I was able to take advantage of some of the offers on Mansion, with free world cup tickets, $40 for being dealt pocket 66 and this http://www.mansionpoker.com/suprestars/ the chance to play Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Negreanu et al for a million dollars with tuition and advice from the pros.
This blog is turning into a bit of an advert for Mansion recently, but I cant emphasise enough the value available on the Mansion site at the minute, while player numbers are low, and bonuses and added value are everywhere.
My family fly out to Gibraltar to join me a three weeks time, so things will get back to more like normal then, and we can all settle down to enjoy the summer sunshine.
Work commitments and the world cup have curtailed my poker for the last week or so, which is just as well as I have been losing steadily on the low stakes cash tables.
I wish I was able to take advantage of some of the offers on Mansion, with free world cup tickets, $40 for being dealt pocket 66 and this http://www.mansionpoker.com/suprestars/ the chance to play Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Daniel Negreanu et al for a million dollars with tuition and advice from the pros.
This blog is turning into a bit of an advert for Mansion recently, but I cant emphasise enough the value available on the Mansion site at the minute, while player numbers are low, and bonuses and added value are everywhere.
My family fly out to Gibraltar to join me a three weeks time, so things will get back to more like normal then, and we can all settle down to enjoy the summer sunshine.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Pokerstars online poker blogger tournament
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: 7575606
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Getting back to normal
Things are getting a bit nearer to normal now, I have broadband (or what passes for broadband in Gib) in the flat and I have been playing a bit more online.
I had my first losing week for a while last week, mainly due to playing on Betfairs low stakes cash tables. I cant seem to win on the cash tables no matter what I try, I either get outdrawn or Im up against a monster, I guess a lot is just down to bad luck, but its hard to go into a cash game with any confidence when things are running so bad.
Not much luck playing live either, I played in the weekly £20 rebuy tournament in Gib Casino on Thursday, lasting only 2 hands past the rebuy period before my pocket Queens ran into pocket rockets.
Still its a good night out, plenty of craic and some good company, even if it is over a little sooner than I would have liked.
I had the unexpected priviledge of playing against JPJ, Dubai Millenium and Fishpoo in a $10 STT on Betfair this morning, unfortunately my luck ran true to form and I busted out with top pair versus slow played pocket aces before I could claim a famous scalp to brag about in the flashmob game, maybe we can persuade the illustrious trio to join us in the fllashmob one week soon.
Flying back to England tomorrow for what will be the last time for a while, my wife and youngest daughter will be coming out to Giraltar on 2nd July, and then things will really get back to normal, except with a bit more sunshine.
Thanks to anyone taking the trouble to read this, and good luck.
I had my first losing week for a while last week, mainly due to playing on Betfairs low stakes cash tables. I cant seem to win on the cash tables no matter what I try, I either get outdrawn or Im up against a monster, I guess a lot is just down to bad luck, but its hard to go into a cash game with any confidence when things are running so bad.
Not much luck playing live either, I played in the weekly £20 rebuy tournament in Gib Casino on Thursday, lasting only 2 hands past the rebuy period before my pocket Queens ran into pocket rockets.
Still its a good night out, plenty of craic and some good company, even if it is over a little sooner than I would have liked.
I had the unexpected priviledge of playing against JPJ, Dubai Millenium and Fishpoo in a $10 STT on Betfair this morning, unfortunately my luck ran true to form and I busted out with top pair versus slow played pocket aces before I could claim a famous scalp to brag about in the flashmob game, maybe we can persuade the illustrious trio to join us in the fllashmob one week soon.
Flying back to England tomorrow for what will be the last time for a while, my wife and youngest daughter will be coming out to Giraltar on 2nd July, and then things will really get back to normal, except with a bit more sunshine.
Thanks to anyone taking the trouble to read this, and good luck.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
More from Gib
Apologies again for the infrequent updates but I should be able to get on top of the blog again now as we now have broadband acces in the flat
Still haven't played much poker, either online or live recently, no internet access put paid to the online side, and work commitments ko'd the live tournaments as well.
Things are still going well for me out here, work is good, now the site is live www.mansion.com we are getting busier and I am learning more about the business.
Mansion also have some great offers at the moment, all this weekend the tournamenys are all added value, and with as few as 2 entrants per tournament they are excellent value. So if you are reading this and dont yet have Mansion Poker, Download it now.
Yhere are also some great offers coming up in the next few weeks, big prize pool freerolls, poker dome qualifiers and wsop seats up for grabs so keep an eye on the site.
Thanks to all the guys who have msn'd and e-mailed me there support over the last few weeks and good luck to the flashmobbers and others playing on the Mansion site next week. I will try to play the flashmob game this week to contribute some 'dead money' to the prize pool
Still haven't played much poker, either online or live recently, no internet access put paid to the online side, and work commitments ko'd the live tournaments as well.
Things are still going well for me out here, work is good, now the site is live www.mansion.com we are getting busier and I am learning more about the business.
Mansion also have some great offers at the moment, all this weekend the tournamenys are all added value, and with as few as 2 entrants per tournament they are excellent value. So if you are reading this and dont yet have Mansion Poker, Download it now.
Yhere are also some great offers coming up in the next few weeks, big prize pool freerolls, poker dome qualifiers and wsop seats up for grabs so keep an eye on the site.
Thanks to all the guys who have msn'd and e-mailed me there support over the last few weeks and good luck to the flashmobbers and others playing on the Mansion site next week. I will try to play the flashmob game this week to contribute some 'dead money' to the prize pool
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Gibraltar
Apologies for the lack of updates recently
I finally moved to Gibraltar on 24th March, and as a consequence I have had no internet access (apart from at work) for the last month.
This has meant two things, firstly I have played very little on-line poker in this time so not much to write about, secondly it has been difficult to access the blog to update it.
I have, however found time to play a couple of live tournaments at the casino here in Gib. I even managed to win one, on a technicality, after agreeing a deal with the most chips whilst heads up on the final table
http://www.lalineapoker.com/12-04-2006.html
Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed or MSN'd me with good wishes for the move, Im pleased to report that everything is going well so far, work is good, weather even better, and I move into a new flat on Friday.
Hopefully I will soon have internet access at home so will play more on-line and hopefully keep the blog updated a little better
I finally moved to Gibraltar on 24th March, and as a consequence I have had no internet access (apart from at work) for the last month.
This has meant two things, firstly I have played very little on-line poker in this time so not much to write about, secondly it has been difficult to access the blog to update it.
I have, however found time to play a couple of live tournaments at the casino here in Gib. I even managed to win one, on a technicality, after agreeing a deal with the most chips whilst heads up on the final table
http://www.lalineapoker.com/12-04-2006.html
Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed or MSN'd me with good wishes for the move, Im pleased to report that everything is going well so far, work is good, weather even better, and I move into a new flat on Friday.
Hopefully I will soon have internet access at home so will play more on-line and hopefully keep the blog updated a little better
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Winners at Cheltenham
Had another tough week since my last update, played a few £2 thunder mtt's on Betfair during the last week, 6th place for £47 is the best I managed.
Got some consistency back into my game, cashing in 3 from 5 small stakes mtt's at the start of the week, but cant find any momentum at all in the Crypto £4k Gtd, which is having an effect on my bankroll.
Had a profitable Cheltenham (for a change) Spudy gave me a great tip on the first day, Dun Diore, that won at 9/1, and I backed War of Attrition at 10/1 (as well as Beef or Salmon) in the Gold Cup.
Also had a good tip from Spud on Saturday in the midlands Grand National which finished 2nd at 12/1, so a nice profit on the Gee Gee's this week, which is just as well as the poker is not going well.
I can't win an stt to save my life at the moment, did qualify through a sat for Saturdays £10k Gtd on Betfair, but could only manage 69th out of 348 with 40 getting paid.
Felt that I was at least building my confidence at the higher stakes mtt's so I decided to enter the 1000 euro bonus game on Betfair on Sunday afternoon with a 20 euro buy in.
Was going quite well too until this hand.
------HAND 5------
Game #1933393923: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/03/19 - 16:48:14 (BST)
Table "1000BONUS 2121099 - 1" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 2: schardel (11507.50 in chips)
Seat 3: senny168 (7480 in chips)
Seat 4: CrackA2 (2840 in chips)
Seat 5: jaytee (2715 in chips)
Seat 6: delta (4627.50 in chips)
Seat 7: redcar (6385 in chips)
Seat 8: Eyes101 (7100 in chips)
Seat 9: .family. (15330 in chips)
Seat 10: evadney6 (2677.50 in chips)
CrackA2: posts small blind 150
jaytee: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Kh Kc]
delta: folds
redcar: calls 300
Eyes101: raises to 7100 and is all-in
.family.: folds
evadney6: folds
schardel: folds
senny168: folds
CrackA2: folds
jaytee: folds
redcar: is all-in 6085
Returned uncalled bets 715 to Eyes101
----- FLOP ----- [As 5s 4s]
----- TURN ----- [As 5s 4s][9s]
----- RIVER ----- [As 5s 4s 9s][7d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Eyes101: shows [Qs Qd] (A Flush, Ace high)
redcar: shows [Kh Kc] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Eyes101 collects 13220 from Main pot
Apologies for posting a bad beat hand history, but I felt the need to get it of my chest. Had I won that hand I would have been second in chips with 17 left and 10 to pay, as it was I crashed out in 18th place
Apologies also if this ios the last update for a while, Im off to Gibraltar a week today, and dont know what (if any) internet access I will have when I get there
Ended the week on a slightly more upbeat note despite falling short in the £4k Gtd again, by winning a £5 stt and finishing second in the flashmob tournament to reduce the weeks losses to a mere £30
Got some consistency back into my game, cashing in 3 from 5 small stakes mtt's at the start of the week, but cant find any momentum at all in the Crypto £4k Gtd, which is having an effect on my bankroll.
Had a profitable Cheltenham (for a change) Spudy gave me a great tip on the first day, Dun Diore, that won at 9/1, and I backed War of Attrition at 10/1 (as well as Beef or Salmon) in the Gold Cup.
Also had a good tip from Spud on Saturday in the midlands Grand National which finished 2nd at 12/1, so a nice profit on the Gee Gee's this week, which is just as well as the poker is not going well.
I can't win an stt to save my life at the moment, did qualify through a sat for Saturdays £10k Gtd on Betfair, but could only manage 69th out of 348 with 40 getting paid.
Felt that I was at least building my confidence at the higher stakes mtt's so I decided to enter the 1000 euro bonus game on Betfair on Sunday afternoon with a 20 euro buy in.
Was going quite well too until this hand.
------HAND 5------
Game #1933393923: Hold'em NL (150/300) - 2006/03/19 - 16:48:14 (BST)
Table "1000BONUS 2121099 - 1" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 2: schardel (11507.50 in chips)
Seat 3: senny168 (7480 in chips)
Seat 4: CrackA2 (2840 in chips)
Seat 5: jaytee (2715 in chips)
Seat 6: delta (4627.50 in chips)
Seat 7: redcar (6385 in chips)
Seat 8: Eyes101 (7100 in chips)
Seat 9: .family. (15330 in chips)
Seat 10: evadney6 (2677.50 in chips)
CrackA2: posts small blind 150
jaytee: posts big blind 300
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to redcar [Kh Kc]
delta: folds
redcar: calls 300
Eyes101: raises to 7100 and is all-in
.family.: folds
evadney6: folds
schardel: folds
senny168: folds
CrackA2: folds
jaytee: folds
redcar: is all-in 6085
Returned uncalled bets 715 to Eyes101
----- FLOP ----- [As 5s 4s]
----- TURN ----- [As 5s 4s][9s]
----- RIVER ----- [As 5s 4s 9s][7d]
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Eyes101: shows [Qs Qd] (A Flush, Ace high)
redcar: shows [Kh Kc] (A Pair of Kings, Ace high)
Eyes101 collects 13220 from Main pot
Apologies for posting a bad beat hand history, but I felt the need to get it of my chest. Had I won that hand I would have been second in chips with 17 left and 10 to pay, as it was I crashed out in 18th place
Apologies also if this ios the last update for a while, Im off to Gibraltar a week today, and dont know what (if any) internet access I will have when I get there
Ended the week on a slightly more upbeat note despite falling short in the £4k Gtd again, by winning a £5 stt and finishing second in the flashmob tournament to reduce the weeks losses to a mere £30
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Lady Luck is deserting me
What a terrible run of luck I've had today, between 11am and 4pm I played 8 tournaments and one hand on a cash table as follows :
£2 mtt finished 142/280
£10 stt finished 7/10 lost 3 hands to the river card
£5 mtt finished 40/55
£2.70 mtt sat to £10k finished 88/88 KK v AA first hand
£10 stt finished 10/10 AK v JJ first hand (maybe tilting a bit by now)
£10 stt finished 8/10 99 v 88 outdrawn
£5 stt finished 6/10
switched to a cash game $15c/$30c NL
dealt 77 first hand, flopped trips and lost my buy in to a flush on the turn
£2.70 sat to £10k AA v Q9s all in pre-flop, flop QQ7
think I should give up :( :(
This how it allways seems to go when I try to play at slightly higher stakes, however I have set a limit to play these stakes until the bankroll dropped to £800 I'm still just over £900 which is a big drop from £1100 2 weeks ago.
I'm tempted to go back to the small stakes again to try to rebuild my confidence, but if I keep dropping back down again so soon, Ill never build up my bankroll to the levels I was hoping to achieve.
The problem is that the bad beats, the outdraws and the bad play just hurt more when the amount of cash unvolved is more significant, and I'm just not enjoying my poker as much as I was.
£2 mtt finished 142/280
£10 stt finished 7/10 lost 3 hands to the river card
£5 mtt finished 40/55
£2.70 mtt sat to £10k finished 88/88 KK v AA first hand
£10 stt finished 10/10 AK v JJ first hand (maybe tilting a bit by now)
£10 stt finished 8/10 99 v 88 outdrawn
£5 stt finished 6/10
switched to a cash game $15c/$30c NL
dealt 77 first hand, flopped trips and lost my buy in to a flush on the turn
£2.70 sat to £10k AA v Q9s all in pre-flop, flop QQ7
think I should give up :( :(
This how it allways seems to go when I try to play at slightly higher stakes, however I have set a limit to play these stakes until the bankroll dropped to £800 I'm still just over £900 which is a big drop from £1100 2 weeks ago.
I'm tempted to go back to the small stakes again to try to rebuild my confidence, but if I keep dropping back down again so soon, Ill never build up my bankroll to the levels I was hoping to achieve.
The problem is that the bad beats, the outdraws and the bad play just hurt more when the amount of cash unvolved is more significant, and I'm just not enjoying my poker as much as I was.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Higher Stakes .....(again)
Well, with over a grand of profit in the kitty, I decided, with a little help from the Betfair forumites, to step up in stakes again. Previous attempts at this have not been a resounding success, and this attempt started off in the usual fashion with 3 £10 stt's and the £4k Gtd mtt all out of the money before I scraped a flukey second in another £10 stt on Betfair for £30.
Cash has also been a loser for me recently, I've been playing micro stakes on Bet 365, managing to drop $40 over the weekend, to further dent my bankroll.
Previous forays into the higher level tournaments and into cash games have resulted in a losing run, a loss of confidence and a swift return back to the familiar £2 mtt's, this time, however, I'm determined to make a go of it, after all, I can't piss about at the minimum stakes forever.
A similar losing run at the lower stakes wouldn't bother me as I know I can win it back again so I just have to do the same on the slightly higher stakes. A couple of st wins and my confidence will be back and I'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
Tried to play live at the casino on Friday night, however when I turned up at 7:05 (registration starts at 7:00) there was a big queue to register, and murmers that there would not be enough tables to allow everyone to play. This proved to be correct as with only 8 tables, the tournament was limited to 88 entrants, and as number 89 in the queue, I was bubbled before it even began.
Cash has also been a loser for me recently, I've been playing micro stakes on Bet 365, managing to drop $40 over the weekend, to further dent my bankroll.
Previous forays into the higher level tournaments and into cash games have resulted in a losing run, a loss of confidence and a swift return back to the familiar £2 mtt's, this time, however, I'm determined to make a go of it, after all, I can't piss about at the minimum stakes forever.
A similar losing run at the lower stakes wouldn't bother me as I know I can win it back again so I just have to do the same on the slightly higher stakes. A couple of st wins and my confidence will be back and I'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
Tried to play live at the casino on Friday night, however when I turned up at 7:05 (registration starts at 7:00) there was a big queue to register, and murmers that there would not be enough tables to allow everyone to play. This proved to be correct as with only 8 tables, the tournament was limited to 88 entrants, and as number 89 in the queue, I was bubbled before it even began.
Friday, February 24, 2006
An MTT Win
Nice win on Thursday nights 8pm £2 mtt on Betfair, beat a field of 525 for first place and over £250 in prize money to take poker profit into 4 figures for the first time.
Pretty uneventful win really, got lucky early on when an opponent slow played Pocket Rockets for long enough for my KQo to develop into Trip Kings and still called the big river bet.
Caught an all in bluffer with an inspired (or totally fishy) call with middle pair, and never really got into any trouble after that. Final table was pretty loose and cut each others throats, I played tight and aggresive (just like the books say) and got paid off to reach the last three with pretty even stacks. Allways felt in control and won when my 77 stood up against KJo heads up.
Thanks to Wyld/JohnTerry26 for all his support during the tourney which kept me on an even keel throughout.
Have played the Daily Dollar LOQ most nights, with a 5th place on Wedneday being the closest I've come to qualifying for the weekly final. Seems to me to be plenty of value in this tournament, with the chance to play in the wsop for less than a quid.
Feeling pretty confident about my mtt play in these low stakes tournaments now, I've proved over time that I can consistently make a profit and the confidence is now evident in my play.
Long may it continue
Pretty uneventful win really, got lucky early on when an opponent slow played Pocket Rockets for long enough for my KQo to develop into Trip Kings and still called the big river bet.
Caught an all in bluffer with an inspired (or totally fishy) call with middle pair, and never really got into any trouble after that. Final table was pretty loose and cut each others throats, I played tight and aggresive (just like the books say) and got paid off to reach the last three with pretty even stacks. Allways felt in control and won when my 77 stood up against KJo heads up.
Thanks to Wyld/JohnTerry26 for all his support during the tourney which kept me on an even keel throughout.
Have played the Daily Dollar LOQ most nights, with a 5th place on Wedneday being the closest I've come to qualifying for the weekly final. Seems to me to be plenty of value in this tournament, with the chance to play in the wsop for less than a quid.
Feeling pretty confident about my mtt play in these low stakes tournaments now, I've proved over time that I can consistently make a profit and the confidence is now evident in my play.
Long may it continue
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Off to Gibraltar
Finally found out I got the job in Gibraltar, working for Mansion on the poker site
Off to the sunny mediteranean in late March
On the poker front, a couple of final tables on Betfairs £2 mtt's meant 2 winning weeks on the trot, and a total of 6 winning weeks from the last 7
I seem to be finding some consistency on the small stakes mtt's without quite getting a win to boost the funds in to 4 figures.
Haven't played live for a while, been a bit busy on the job front etc, but hopefully there will be a few home games worth playing in Gibraltar with all the online gaming companies based there.
Ive also been playing Befairs daily dollar LOQ qualifier, with a chance to win a major live game package for 70p
Made my usual contribution to charity by entering the Betfair Flashmob tourny on sunday night and flopping out in last place as my QQ was beat by AQ and a river Ace
Off to the sunny mediteranean in late March
On the poker front, a couple of final tables on Betfairs £2 mtt's meant 2 winning weeks on the trot, and a total of 6 winning weeks from the last 7
I seem to be finding some consistency on the small stakes mtt's without quite getting a win to boost the funds in to 4 figures.
Haven't played live for a while, been a bit busy on the job front etc, but hopefully there will be a few home games worth playing in Gibraltar with all the online gaming companies based there.
Ive also been playing Befairs daily dollar LOQ qualifier, with a chance to win a major live game package for 70p
Made my usual contribution to charity by entering the Betfair Flashmob tourny on sunday night and flopping out in last place as my QQ was beat by AQ and a river Ace
Saturday, February 04, 2006
An eventful couple of weeks
I haven't had time to update the blog for a couple of weeks as I've been pretty busy with other stuff, haven't played too much poker either.
I had a trip to China lined up with work, and was looking forward to that but it now looks as if we wont be going.
Also made some progress towards getting another job. Ive been looking for some time to get a job with an online gaming company, preferably in Gibraltar.
I lived in Gib for a couple of years in the 1980's and fancy going back, so does the wife.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Im off to Gib for a szecond interview next week so its fingers crossed time.
Back to the poker, and I had a final table finish in the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair on Monday 23rd Jan, finishing 9th of 567 for a return of £22.68, never came near the money for the rest of the week until the replayed Party Poker £50k freeroll on Sunday, where I managed 92nd out of 2711 for £30, was a bit disapointed really as I had been in the top ten for most of the later stages before I had KK beaten twice when all in pre-flop versus 55 then 88, this left me very short stacked and I had to take a gamble with a small pocket pair against the chip leader and that was that, finished the week with a small profit of £30.
I've only managed 4 games this week, Mon Tues and Wed in the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair and the Saturday freeroll on William Hills. I made the money in all four which was pleasing, but made a total profit of only £6.92 which is not so good. Still I'm showing some consistency, which is not easy in the small stakes games. I feel like Im playing pretty well, if only ABC poker.
After a good consistent performance through the week, I played 5 mtt on sunday including the £4k Gtd on Betfair and the Flashmob game, without cashing, made up for it however with a final table on my first ever sixpak mtt finishing 5th of 450 for a £45 payout which was a little disappointing given that I was chip leader on the final table until my pocket Tens ran into Pocket Jacks. Ah well, thats Poker, I will definately be playing some more sixpaks though.
I had a trip to China lined up with work, and was looking forward to that but it now looks as if we wont be going.
Also made some progress towards getting another job. Ive been looking for some time to get a job with an online gaming company, preferably in Gibraltar.
I lived in Gib for a couple of years in the 1980's and fancy going back, so does the wife.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Im off to Gib for a szecond interview next week so its fingers crossed time.
Back to the poker, and I had a final table finish in the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair on Monday 23rd Jan, finishing 9th of 567 for a return of £22.68, never came near the money for the rest of the week until the replayed Party Poker £50k freeroll on Sunday, where I managed 92nd out of 2711 for £30, was a bit disapointed really as I had been in the top ten for most of the later stages before I had KK beaten twice when all in pre-flop versus 55 then 88, this left me very short stacked and I had to take a gamble with a small pocket pair against the chip leader and that was that, finished the week with a small profit of £30.
I've only managed 4 games this week, Mon Tues and Wed in the 8pm £2.25 mtt on Betfair and the Saturday freeroll on William Hills. I made the money in all four which was pleasing, but made a total profit of only £6.92 which is not so good. Still I'm showing some consistency, which is not easy in the small stakes games. I feel like Im playing pretty well, if only ABC poker.
After a good consistent performance through the week, I played 5 mtt on sunday including the £4k Gtd on Betfair and the Flashmob game, without cashing, made up for it however with a final table on my first ever sixpak mtt finishing 5th of 450 for a £45 payout which was a little disappointing given that I was chip leader on the final table until my pocket Tens ran into Pocket Jacks. Ah well, thats Poker, I will definately be playing some more sixpaks though.
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