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

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

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

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.

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.

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 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)