Monday, June 30, 2008

Ups, Downs, and Comical Poker Names

Alright, let's go in chronological order here, starting with last night...

Last night I arranged a rare live cash game featuring myself, the lady friend, my sis and her husband, and three friends. We just played some standard nickel-dime no-limit, with a $15 max buy-in, or as my sister's husband would describe it, "enough to make it interesting, but not painful," which, as my friend pointed out, "could refer to a lot of fun things." But anyways, to sum the night up for me, it was freaking brutal. I took a beating like none other, with solid starting hands either completely missing flops or connecting well only to get drawn out on time and time again on wicked turns and rivers. Meanwhile the brother-in-law was playing crap like J4o and hitting crazy boards... he seriously hit quads at least three times during the night, and without a pair in the hole. To give you a feeling on how ridiculous the night got, I'll recount one of the wildest hands from the night, though I was not personally involved in this one...

(Names have been changed to protect the innocent/guilty)

Preflop:
"Sticky Chips" Malloy: raises it up from $0.10 to $0.60
"Sloppy Deuce" Stevenson: reraises to $1.20
"Big Flop" Johnson: calls $1.20
Sticky Chips: reraises to $3.70
Sloppy Deuce: reraises to $7.40
Big Flop: groans and calls $7.40
Sticky Chips: calls $7.40

Flop: (something like 7h-8h-xh, where x was a 2 or 3... also about $23 in the pot)
Sloppy Deuce: checks
Big Flop: checks
Sticky Chips: goes all-in for $21-change
Sloppy Deuce: calls $21, with chips remaining
Big Flop: calls $21, also with chips remaining

Turn: (random low heart) both Deuce and Flop check

River: (another low heart) both players check again

Outcome:
So there's a flush on the board, with the highest card being the 8h, about $85-90 in the pot. Hands are flipped over...

Sticky Chips: KcQc
Sloppy Deuce: KsKd
Big Flop: Jd7d

All 3 players play the board and split the biggest pot of the night. Deuce was about a 69% favorite before the flop, about 74% on the flop, and about 69% again on the river, with a 21% chance to tie. Big Flop was 17% preflop, 20% on the flop, and about 10% going to the river. Sticky Chips was 13% before the flop, and pretty much dead (0.33%, with 1% tie) when he pushed the rest of his chips in.

But yeah, this kind of stuff was going on all night, just in smaller amounts, and it kept eating away at my stack beat after beat. All-in-all it was a fun night, but sweet hey-zeus did I ever get hosed...

... which is why the online win I squeezed out earlier today was even more satisfying. Not only was it much needed in restoring my confidence as a poker player to its previous level of sub-amateur mediocrity, but it was also my 4th win in the first 5 $10 SNG's I've played... a streak I hope to continue but will realistically fail to do so. Still a fairly impressive beginning to this new stage of my bankroll building process. Here's a summary...

$10 SNG's:
1st place - 4
6th place - 1
Total: 5
Average Finish = 2.00

Invested: (10+1) x 5 = $55
Return: 45 x 4 = $180
Net Profit = 180-55 = $125
ROI = 227.27% (not too shabby)


... and a comparison to the $5 SNG data, for which I have a more decent sample size...

$5 SNG's:
Average Finish = 3.94
Total: 101

Invested: $555.50
Return: $720.00
Net Profit = $164.50
ROI = 29.61% (more realistic, and decent I suppose)

Funny enough my start at $5 SNG's was straight into the red, and I didn't even have a dollar of profit to show until after my 17th game. Up to +$32 at game 22, back down to +$8.50 at 32, and then things finally took off (learning curve?) at 34, with gradual upswings. Hopefully I can keep the sharp climb of this one going. For now I'm just gunning for 5 wins out of 6... my bankroll is loving this swing.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Playing the Big Stack (HA)

Squeezed in another 2 SNG's tonight and have now won 3 out of the past 4 after that never-ending streak of 2nd's and 3rd's. In the 4th game I finished 6th when I came over the top of a button steal with JJ, raising his 280 up to my last 1k or so, and got called by A7o... you can guess the rest. The most recent win though was an intesting case in that I had more than tripled-up after the 3rd hand, so it was an experience in how to play the big stack, particularly how to play the big stack when you have an M of over 100 (over 160's Big Blinds), and you're still 7-handed with payouts going to the top 3. Here's how it all began...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 15/30 Blinds, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BTN: 1,470
SB: 1,590
Hero (BB): 1,500
UTG: 1,500
UTG+1: 1,500
UTG+2: 1,500
MP1: 1,470
MP2: 1,500
CO: 1,470

Pre-Flop: (45) Ad Ac dealt to Hero (BB)
6 folds, BTN raises to 90, SB calls 75, Hero raises to 210, BTN calls 120, SB calls 120
Flop: (630) Ts 9c 3h (3 Players)
SB bets 30, Hero raises to 450, BTN folds, SB raises to 1,380 and is All-In, Hero calls 840 and is All-In
Turn: (3,210) 2c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (3,210) 7c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,210 Pot
SB showed 7d 8s (a pair of Sevens) and LOST (-1,500 NET)
Hero showed Ad Ac (a pair of Aces) and WON 3,210 (+1,710 NET)


I had actually played against the SB donk in the earlier game and watched him call a preflop raise and 3 solid bets afterwards with bottom pair (A3o on a flop of 3QK). Moving along... the very next hand...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 15/30 Blinds, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

CO: 1,260
BTN: 90
Hero (SB): 3,210
BB: 1,500
UTG: 1,500
UTG+1: 1,500
UTG+2: 1,470
MP1: 1,500
MP2: 1,470

Pre-Flop: (45) Kd Ks dealt to Hero (SB)
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to 90, 2 folds, CO calls 90, BTN calls 90 and is All-In, Hero raises to 360, BB folds, UTG+2 raises to 1,470 and is All-In, CO folds, Hero calls 1,110
Flop: (3,150) 5d 7d 3h (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (3,150) 3s (3 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (3,150) 4d (3 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,150 Pot
BTN showed 8h Ad (a pair of Threes) and LOST (-90 NET)
Hero showed Kd Ks (two pair, Kings and Threes) and WON 3,150 (+1,680 NET)
UTG+2 showed Qs Qh (two pair, Queens and Threes) and LOST (-1,470 NET)


Wasn't involved in this one, but man it looked painful...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 25/50 Blinds, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): 5,330
MP: 990
CO: 1,595
BTN: 1,075
SB: 1,670
BB: 2,840

Pre-Flop: (75) 5s 2s dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero folds, MP raises to 150, CO folds, BTN raises to 450, 2 folds, MP raises to 990 and is All-In, BTN calls 540
Flop: (2,055) Td 3c Kd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (2,055) Ac (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (2,055) 9c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Results: 2,055 Pot
MP showed 9d 9h (three of a kind, Nines) and WON 2,055 (+1,065 NET)
BTN showed Ah Kh (two pair, Aces and Kings) and LOST (-990 NET)


The entire 5-handed bout lasted 47 hands, during which I added about 800 chips to my stack with little pots and blind steals. Four-handed play lasted 35 hands in all, during which, on the 2nd hand, I took a fairly big hit...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 80/160 Blinds, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): 6,250
UTG: 3,250
BTN: 2,300
SB: 1,700

Pre-Flop: (240) 8h 8c dealt to Hero (BB)
UTG folds, BTN raises to 400, SB folds, Hero calls 240
Flop: (880) 5c Qd 8s (2 Players)
Hero checks, BTN checks
Turn: (880) 9h (2 Players)
Hero checks, BTN bets 450, Hero calls 450
River: (1,780) 2s (2 Players)
Hero checks, BTN bets 1,450 and is All-In, Hero calls 1,450
Results: 4,680 Pot
Hero mucked 8h 8c (three of a kind, Eights) and LOST (-2,300 NET)
BTN showed Qh Qs (three of a kind, Queens) and WON 4,680 (+2,380 NET)


I felt safe slowplaying this, given that the villian had been playing solid and most likely wouldn't have raised with JT, QT, KT, 67s or anything that could've drawn out on me after the turn. Problem is I figured that QQ was his most likely holding, but in this situation there's no getting away from middle set on a board like that. So I was down to 3,950 in chips and sitting 2nd after this hand. Got down a little lower (3.3k or so), but managed to scrap back with hands like this one...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 100/200 Blinds, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): 3,370
UTG: 3,130
BTN: 4,680
SB: 2,320

Pre-Flop: (300) As Ks dealt to Hero (BB)
2 folds, SB calls 100, Hero raises to 600, SB calls 400
Flop: (1,200) Ah Ac Qc (2 Players)
SB bets 600, Hero raises to 2,770 and is All-In, SB folds
Results: 2,400 Pot
Hero mucked As Ks and WON 2,400 (+1,200 NET)


Obviously I was done messing around, but I was clearly hoping for a short-stack desperation call, possibly a weaker Ace. I was a little surprised by his fold here, and thought maybe I should've just flat called and sucked him in, though I'm not sure how much more action I would've generated by letting him have the lead. Plus I didn't want a club draw or some goofy inside straight draw getting there on a big pot like this. After a blind steal on the next hand I was back into the lead, though only by a small margin, and by the time the SB above went out I was back on top with 5.8k to 4.7 and 3.1. Blinds were at 100/200 and it was still anyone's game. I had solid reads on my opponents as very tight-passive players, but the only thing that remained to be seen was whether or not their style would change after making the money. For the most part they didn't change, and as you can see on this hand I really had to tread lightly to try to suck chips out of them...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 120/240 Blinds, 3 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): 6,570
BTN: 3,030
SB: 3,900

Pre-Flop: (360) Ah Ad dealt to Hero (BB)
BTN calls 240, SB folds, Hero raises to 650, BTN calls 410
Flop: (1,420) 7h 2s 5d (2 Players)
Hero bets 480, BTN folds

Results: 1,420 Pot
Hero mucked Ah Ad and WON 1,420 (+770 NET)


After the break, with blinds at 150/300 and my stack at a healthy 7.5k versus 3.4 and 2.6, I really started putting the pressure on, trying to take advantage of their passiveness and blind them away. I straight pushed Pocket 10's from the SB, took a small pot down with nothing on the flop two hands later, then pushed AKs from the button, then this hand came next...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 150/300 Blinds, 3 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): 8,360
BTN: 2,020
SB: 3,120

Pre-Flop: (450) Kc As dealt to Hero (BB)
BTN raises to 800, SB folds, Hero raises to 3,300, BTN calls 1,220 and is All-In
Flop: (4,190) 9s 3c 6h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (4,190) Th (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (4,190) 4s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 4,190 Pot
Hero showed Kc As (Ace King high) and WON 4,190 (+2,170 NET)
BTN showed Qc Kd (King Queen high) and LOST (-2,020 NET)


Then 3 hands later I set a nice little trap for an opponent that I could sense was getting a little antsy with my bullying antics...


Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 150/300 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

Hero (SB): 10,530
BB: 2,970

Pre-Flop: (450) Ad Kh dealt to Hero (SB)
Hero calls 150, BB raises to 2,970 and is All-In, Hero calls 2,670
Flop: (5,940) Js Qs 5c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (5,940) Td (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (5,940) 6d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 5,940 Pot
Hero showed Ad Kh (a straight, Ace high) and WON 5,940 (+2,970 NET)
BB showed As 9h (Ace Queen high) and LOST (-2,970 NET)


And so that was that. Third win in the past four games - I'm finally feeling back on track and hoping to keep this hot-streak alive. I may make this one into a hand-history lesson on the old ZipRake site, now that I have a little more free time to dust the cobwebs off of it and add some new material. The way things are going now though I kinda want to just keep playing poker.


Best of luck. - B

Friday, June 20, 2008

Back to Back

Just took another one down for back to back wins. This time the heads-up match took 139 hands to play out, from blinds at 60/120 all the way to 250/500. Feels damn good to be back in the saddle and actually winning though, especially since my odds are holding up and the bad-luck-beats seem to be dying down for the meantime. These tooth-and-nail heads-up matches are killing me though... time for a nap.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Finally... (HA)

Yes.

Yesssss...

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Finally... after what seemed like an endless series of close-but-no-cigar SNG finishes, with countless bad beats and river suckouts... the curse is over... I did it... I freaking won a single-table tournament. It's a miracle. Given the dry spell I've been in it was a super sweet victory, but even sweeter given that it was my first time making the move up to $10 games. Here are some highlights...

Things were fairly slow-going, just small ups and downs, until this hand. Finally I get a little river revenge! (Also, note the SB's giant stack... believe it or not he somehow managed to go out in 3rd)

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 60/120 Blinds, 5 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 7,560
BB: 1,360
UTG: 1,930
CO: 940
Hero (BTN): 1,710

Pre-Flop: (180) Jh Jc dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, CO raises to 940 and is All-In, Hero raises to 1,710 and is All-In, 2 folds
Flop: (2,060) Ad 9c 5d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (2,060) Ts (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (2,060) Js (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,060 Pot
CO showed 9s As (two pair, Aces and Nines) and LOST (-940 NET)
Hero showed Jh Jc (three of a kind, Jacks) and WON 2,060 (+1,120 NET)


Alright, so sure enough my luck turns a few hands after that. I thought this was the beginning of the end for me, and that a 4th place finish was imminent. Lesson learned from this... never select the "auto-call" option... it's apparently bad luck.

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 80/160 Blinds, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

UTG: 7,500
BTN: 1,000
SB: 2,170
Hero (BB): 2,830

Pre-Flop: (240) As Ah dealt to Hero (BB)
UTG folds, BTN raises to 1,000 and is All-In, SB folds, Hero calls 840
Flop: (2,080) 9c Kh Td (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (2,080) Js (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (2,080) Jd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,080 Pot
BTN showed Kc Qd (a straight, King high) and WON 2,080 (+1,080 NET)
Hero showed As Ah (two pair, Aces and Jacks) and LOST (-1,000 NET)


The villian in this next hand is the aforementioned SB chipleader who just took a wicked beating with JJ going down to a slowplayed AA. He's apparently tilting a little bit, and on the turn I'm fairly certain I got him. His shoddy call gets me back into it.

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 80/160 Blinds, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BB: 3,330
UTG: 2,320
BTN: 6,020
Hero (SB): 1,830

Pre-Flop: (240) Ts Jd dealt to Hero (SB)
2 folds, Hero calls 80, BB raises to 320, Hero calls 160
Flop: (640) Js Qc 4s (2 Players)
Hero bets 480, BB calls 480
Turn: (1,600) Th (2 Players)
Hero bets 1,030 and is All-In, BB calls 1,030
River: (3,660) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 3,660 Pot
BB showed Jh 6h (a pair of Jacks) and LOST (-1,830 NET)
Hero showed Ts Jd (two pair, Jacks and Tens) and WON 3,660 (+1,830 NET)


Few hands later I feel like gambling a little. Villian here had doubled up way early and had been very passive in the middle stages, only lately getting really aggressive. I had a feeling I was ahead of his range... and finally I had another rare occurence... actually dodging some bullets and winning a coinflip on a big hand...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 80/160 Blinds, 4 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BTN: 1,420
SB: 2,400
BB: 6,020
Hero (UTG): 3,660

Pre-Flop: (240) Jh Js dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to 480, BTN folds, SB raises to 2,400 and is All-In, BB folds, Hero calls 1,920
Flop: (4,960) 3c Tc 7h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (4,960) 3s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: (4,960) 9s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 4,960 Pot
SB showed Kc Ac (a pair of Threes) and LOST (-2,400 NET)
Hero showed Jh Js (two pair, Jacks and Threes) and WON 4,960 (+2,560 NET)


And here's me taking out the previously massive chipleader...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 100/200 Blinds, 3 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BB: 1,300
BTN: 6,460
Hero (SB): 5,740

Pre-Flop: (300) Jd 9h dealt to Hero (SB)
BTN folds, Hero calls 100, BB checks
Flop: (400) Jc Td 8d (2 Players)
Hero bets 200, BB raises to 400, Hero raises to 1,600, BB calls 700 and is All-In
Turn: (2,600) 4h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (2,600) Qs (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,600 Pot
BB showed Qh 6s (a pair of Queens) and LOST (-1,300 NET)
Hero showed Jd 9h (a straight, Queen high) and WON 2,600 (+1,300 NET)


I go into heads-up play with a very small lead, against a player that's been very passive and wanting to play small-ball for the most part. Our bout lasted 62 hands in all, with a number of lead changes, with my stack dwindling down under 3000 at one point in time, against his 10k or so. This happened after the break, when the villian seemed to take the same strategy I was about to take on - getting super aggressive rather than playing little pots. Of course it was working better for him, since he must have had decent cards.

Here's comeback #1... a dominating hand actually holding up... how bout that...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 150/300 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 9,580
Hero (BB): 3,920

Pre-Flop: (450) As Ks dealt to Hero (BB)
SB raises to 900, Hero raises to 3,920 and is All-In, SB calls 3,020
Flop: (7,840) 9d Ah 9h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (7,840) 7h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (7,840) Tc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 7,840 Pot
SB showed Kc 7c (two pair, Nines and Sevens) and LOST (-3,920 NET)
Hero showed As Ks (two pair, Aces and Nines) and WON 7,840 (+3,920 NET)


Needless to say the tide turned a little after that... and I managed to stay alive with a little luck of my own for once. Comeback #2:

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 10,810
Hero (BB): 2,690

Pre-Flop: (600) Ad Ts dealt to Hero (BB)
SB raises to 1,200, Hero raises to 2,690 and is All-In, SB calls 1,490
Flop: (5,380) 9c 9s 2c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (5,380) Td (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (5,380) 5h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 5,380 Pot
SB showed Jh As (a pair of Nines) and LOST (-2,690 NET)
Hero showed Ad Ts (two pair, Tens and Nines) and WON 5,380 (+2,690 NET)


After this I'd had enough of his antics. Time to get aggressive myself and play to win... (warning: probably not the best hands below...)

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 9,120
Hero (BB): 4,380

Pre-Flop: (600) As 4h dealt to Hero (BB)
SB raises to 800, Hero raises to 4,380 and is All-In, SB folds
Results: 1,600 Pot
Hero mucked As 4h and WON 1,600 (+800 NET)


Next hand, let's keep pouring it on...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BB: 8,320
Hero (SB): 5,180

Pre-Flop: (600) Ah 2s dealt to Hero (SB)
Hero calls 200, BB checks
Flop: (800) 8s As Kh (2 Players)
BB bets 800, Hero raises to 4,780 and is All-In, BB folds

Results: 2,400 Pot
Hero mucked Ah 2s and WON 2,400 (+1,200 NET)


Next hand... not done yet...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 7,120
Hero (BB): 6,380

Pre-Flop: (600) Ks Qs dealt to Hero (BB)
SB raises to 1,200, Hero raises to 6,380 and is All-In, SB folds
Results: 2,400 Pot
Hero mucked Ks Qs and WON 2,400 (+1,200 NET)


And two hands later... for the win...

Full Tilt Poker, $10 + $1 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

SB: 6,320
Hero (BB): 7,180

Pre-Flop: (600) Ac Kd dealt to Hero (BB)
SB raises to 1,200, Hero raises to 7,180 and is All-In, SB calls 5,120 and is All-In
Flop: (12,640) 3h Ad As (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (12,640) Qc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (12,640) Jh (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 12,640 Pot
SB showed Qd 3d (two pair, Aces and Queens) and LOST (-6,320 NET)
Hero showed Ac Kd (three of a kind, Aces) and WON 12,640 (+6,320 NET)


And that's all she wrote boys and girls. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to retire from poker forever and live happily for the rest of my days.


Peace.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

And the Streak Continues... (BB)

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Villian here was once down to 80 chips with blinds at 150/300, then tripled up to 240, then to 720, then got up around 1500 before I put him in with 77, he called with 96s and hit a 9. Next hand he sucked out on the 3rd player out - A3 over AT. Gets down to heads up where he's being super-shovey... and of course FTP still just won't let me win one...


Full Tilt Poker, $5 + $0.50 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BB: 4,400
Hero (SB): 9,100

Pre-Flop: (600) Qc Qd dealt to Hero (SB)
Hero calls 200, BB raises to 4,400 and is All-In, Hero calls 4,000

Flop: (8,800) Jc 9c Js (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (8,800) 4h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (8,800) 7h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 8,800 Pot
BB showed Jd Ac (three of a kind, Jacks) and WON 8,800 (+4,400 NET)
Hero showed Qc Qd (two pair, Queens and Jacks) and LOST (-4,400 NET)



Full Tilt Poker, $5 + $0.50 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 200/400 Blinds, 2 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

BB: 9,200
Hero (SB): 4,300

Pre-Flop: (600) Kd Ad dealt to Hero (SB)
Hero raises to 4,300 and is All-In, BB calls 3,900

Flop: (8,600) Jh 5s Jd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (8,600) 8s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (8,600) 9d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 8,600 Pot
BB showed Ac 9h (two pair, Jacks and Nines) and WON 8,600 (+4,300 NET)
Hero showed Kd Ad (a pair of Jacks) and LOST (-4,300 NET)


Overall results for the past 24 SNG's:

Cashes - 15 total
1st's - ZERO!
2nd's - 10
3rd's - 5

Non-Cashes - 9 total
5th's - 5
6th's - 3
8th's - 1


Poker gods... what have I done to displease you?

Saturday, June 14, 2008

How Two Idiots Play a Classic Coinflip (HA)

So I've still been running fairly bad in the past week or two. And by bad I mean pretty much just breaking even with mini-cashes in about every 2 out of 3 SNG's while basically losing 100% of key coinflips. It's been frustrating, but this hand from last night made me smile...


Full Tilt Poker, $5 + $0.50 NL Hold'em Sit n' Go, 15/30 Blinds, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com - Hand History Converter

UTG+1: 1,560
MP1: 1,410
Hero (MP2): 2,115
CO: 1,665
BTN: 1,470
SB: 1,380
BB: 1,410
UTG: 2,490

Pre-Flop: (45) 4h Tc dealt to Hero (MP2)
5 folds, BTN calls 30, SB folds, BB raises to 60, BTN raises to 90, BB raises to 1,410 and is All-In, BTN calls 1,320

Flop: (2,835) 9h Jc 6s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
Turn: (2,835) 2s (2 Players - 1 is All-In)
River: (2,835) 8h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: 2,835 Pot
BTN showed Qs Qd (a pair of Queens) and WON 2,835 (+1,425 NET)
BB showed Kh Ah (Ace King high) and LOST (-1,410 NET)


I think it speaks for itself. There's really nothing I can add to capture the absolute glory in how this hand was played. It's almost as if the Big Blind realized upon being re-raised that he was playing no-limit and not limit, in which case the only logical think to do at this point in a tournament with a hand like AKs is to push all of your chips into the pot, even if it means calling 30 and putting in an extra 1,320. And the button player... open limping with pocket Queens... almost as if he thought he was setting some sort of sneaky trap for when the BB min-raises... all so that he can come over the top with a 3-bet!!! HAHA! Pure poker genius!

Alright that's it for now... time to get back to sucking...

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Winning the Ones that Matter

Been in a bit of a funk lately... not a losing streak per say, but a frustrating run nonetheless... I suppose you could call it a winless steak. In the past 15 SNG's I've played, I've cashed in 11 of them (73.3%), but have failed to win even 1. I've had 7 2nd place finishes, and 4 3rd's. I don't even want to think about all the times I've been down to heads-up action and have failed to seal the deal, even when going into it with a 2-1 lead. Granted there were a few poor plays in there, but I can't tell you how many suckouts late in the game did me in... river cards in particular have been very unpleasant.

Obviously this isn't the worst streak in the world to be on, as I have maintained a nice profit over the course of it, but in playing tournament poker you have to realize that the difference between 1st and 2nd place finishes is HUGE! Especially in larger tournaments, but even in one-table SNG's. It's what makes or breaks your return on investment. Win one STT out of 4 and you're a profitable player, finish 3rd in twice as many and you're going broke.

On a semi-related note - being a track and field nut as well I have to bring up the parallel of what happened yesterday between Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay (new 100m world record by Bolt over reigning world-champ Gay) - now THAT just goes to show the difference between 1st and 2nd.