Poker Junkie

The best player in the world

2006-01-13T13:36:00.000-06:00

I think there was a Cardplayer article about this, but I'm going to mention it, just to bring up a point.
Which is a better player? One who plays with the best players in the world and has a smaller edge, or one who plays against weaker opponents who has a higher edge and expected value?

The point I want to bring up is about game selection. When I was playing $10-$20 in Chicago, I was told that I should move up to the $20-$40 game because I was capable of beating it. While this may be true, I, for the most part, stuck to the $10-$20, and killed it, instead of making a small profit (big bet wise) in the $20-$40. When I was contemplating whether or not to play the $20 game, I looked at my records, and found that I was beating the $10 game for a little more than 2 bets an hour. And looking at $20 records, I was beating it for about 1 bet and hour. While money-wise, the profit is close to the same, I found that playing the $10 game was much easier on my mind-set (I was more comfortable with the limit), and required much less thinking, as the $20 players were more advanced (for the most part).

Last night, I was playing in a great $10-$20 game at the Mirage, and decided to quit because I wasn't as concentrated on the game because I was watching the Lebron/Kobe matchup on TV. So I went home to watch the rest of the game. I then went to the Wynn to finish up the night at the $8-$16 or $15-$30 game. When I got there the $8 game was so tight, 4 out of 5 hands were chopped. After dumping a hundred, I went to the $15 game, looking for looser action. It just wasn't there, I didn't even post to get in before I called the Mirage looking to get back into the $10 game. Sure enough, the game was still going good, so I went back and beat it for another few hundred. After thinking about it, I think that the $4-$8 game at the Wynn had an equal of or maybe an even better money expectation than the $8 game. My point is finding the best game to play in, regardless of limit, is probably the most important rule of thumb to go by when deciding what to play. Sure, the low limit games will almost always be a better game to play, but sometimes it's vice-versa like the $15-$30 at Bellagio when compared to the $8-$16 game there. So my suggestion is analyze a game and find where your best edge is, and go to that game. Whether the game is bigger or smaller.

On an ending note, I realize that going to a tougher game that you can slightly beat has its up-side, and you can learn a thing or two, but if you are looking to win the next session, find the edge, and do your thing. There is no need to prove yourself to anyone and show that you can beat a tougher game, especially if a bunch of donkeys are giving their money away at the next table over.

Four Words I Have to Never Say

2005-11-29T23:24:00.000-06:00

Fuck It, I Call.
That's never a good sign.

I got a call from a buddy of mine I haven't seen since moving out to Vegas, and he asks if I wanna play a low buy-in tournament. It was a $45 unlimited rebuy ($20) tournament at the Orleans. Tons of players, I think 150+. We start with $375 and get an extra $300 for rebuys, almost everyone gets it, including myself. Anyway, in these tourneys, I generally try to gather chips and gamble a little to build a stack.
First Level $10-$20 blinds
A tight player makes it $200 out of the big blind after several limpers and gets one call. The flop comes down with two clubs, the big blind goes all in and gets called. AK for the big blind, A7 club draw for the caller, turn comes 7, and he doubles up.
The very next hand, the A7 guy makes it $65 to go. I, thinking he's trying to bully, go all in with my AJ, call. Oops, he turns over AK. The flop comes down all spades, and yes he has the Ace. Turn Jack, ship it. Lucky lucky - The only time. That pot puts me over $1200, and I prolly won't rebuy now.

During the rebuy period, I busted a few players and they rebought, turning my stack into a monster of $3500 in chips at the end of the rebuy period. I don't add-on, some people would here regardless, but as by far the big stack at my table, I didn't think it would be necessary, and it wasn't.

A Jostle. Level Five $50-$100
We come back after the break, and I win a pot with King high after the pot checks around the whole way.
On the button, after two weak limpers, I make it $300 with Filipino Slick, 57 suited. The blinds fold, and both limpers call. The flop comes down 976 with two clubs. The first player immediatly goes all in for $725, the next guy calls the rest of his stack ($125), and it $725 to me. Thinking I have the best hand, I try to put them both on hands. I thought the initial bettor had a club draw or a nine with from anywhere to J9 to A9, but I thought that if he had a nine, he'd let me bet and checkraise or call all-in, he was a donkey like that. Even if the first bettor had a flush draw, he almost certainly had two overcards making me a slight dog at that point. I put the other player on something similar, and maybe an eight for open-ended straight draw. The pot was 1050 plus the all-in bets, making it almost $1900, with $725 to call. After thinking and thinking, I decide that I can't overcall and fold. I thought I may have had the best hand, but with both of them against me, I was either a slight dog, slight favorite, or big underdog. They both turn over Q8 suited, spades and clubs (The initial bettor had club draw with his straightdraw). They both miss and chop the pot. I should've thought about winning the side pot. Even if the caller had the best hand, if I beat the inital bettor, I gain my chips back from the pot. But as it turns out, I was a slight dog versus his straight and flush draw with an overcard (assuming his outs were all free, which they weren't). On the other hand, I had chips to burn, an could afford to gamble there. This play wasn't really bad or good in either way. The fact that neither of them had a nine and had each other's cards, and that I had one of their outs, it makes my fold seem bad (especailly because I would've won), but it really wasn't that bad of a fold because I could've been way behind with a gutshot, two pair, or trip draw. So eh, whatever right, nope. it made me upset a little because I made the wrong play, and winning that potwould put me near $6k, by far a chip leader and in good shape for the coming rounds of ridiculous blinds.
Hands pass.... My table breaks and I go to the next table.

Round Six $75-$150 blinds. New table
Its the 6,7, and 8 levels where I usually bust out in tourneys. Not this time. I had a pretty workable stack. After watching the first few hands, I decide the table was tight, and only a few deep stacks that could take me out. Two from the button, I make it $450 with 67 suited, steal play. The player behind me goes all in for $875. folds to me, and I foolishly put him on high cards, and take my 3.5 to 1 with my live cards. Nope. Pocket tens for the raiser, I flop a 7, turn open-ended, and miss. Okay, not too bad, I still got a $3k+ stack, still decent shape.

The very next hand I steal the blinds with a $450 raise with KK. Yay!
Hands Pass.
UTG calls $150. I, with KJ off, call and folds to the Big Blind who knocks. The flop comes down 885 rainbow. Checks to me, so with both players with under 400, I bet 800. Big blind folds, and I get called by UTG. Good hand I say, putting him on Ace high. He turns over 79 suited. He turns a flush draw, rivers a nine. Nice.

The very next hand I wake up with JJ, and make it $450 to go, behind me thinks for a sec, then goes all in for $1400, then another player goes over the top all in for almost exactly how many chips I have. Easy fold right? The pot was $4.5k+ with a $2k bet to me, but its all my chips. I look over for a tell on the lady, and she stares right at me. Strong means weak??? I KNOW the play is fold, but instead,

FUCK IT, I CALL.

Kings for the re-raiser, and Aces for the re-re-raiser, Duh. Flop drops ace-high, and I pick up hope on the turn, but the river misses my wheel-tie, and I'm out.

All from the 57 suited. That began my downfall. Making a close to 50-50 fold, I Donk off the rest of my chips. It had to be tilt, because I knew the right play, thought the right play, and did the opposite.
All I thought was getting close to triple up, and coasting through later rounds, so I don't bust out in my normal fashion of, play tight and get blinded off until I have to coin flip. The only flaw with that was I HAD chips to wait around for some time. Just because my Kings got no action and I got called with 9-high and lost, I panicked. I overthought my situation, thinking these players went over the top of me because I raised bullshit, and called away my chips. This is probably my biggest flaw. Live and learn I guess. But busting out of a tournament because you played stupid in one spot feels shitty, even if it was a small buy-in. That may be why I dislike tournaments, the depressed feeling you get after busting out. I had a great situation, and didn't execute. It was a long way from over.

By folding a "likely" 50-50 situation with the 57, I survived. By calling with an "at-best" 50-50 situation I ruined my tournament.

"Fuck it, I call."
Do Not add this to your vocabulary, they are the words of a Donkey.

Punished

2005-11-03T23:08:00.000-06:00

I usually don't like the blogs I come up with after losing sessions, but tilt is a mother...
(You can skip this paragraph)
I step into a $1-$2 NL game. Dump $150 in a pot, bluffing into I think Kings, when the board pairs Queens. River comes a King that makes a Three-Flush. So I bet, and he goes allin. I have to fold a $300+ pot for $30 cuz I got 5 high. Oops bad timing. Then Pick up AQ, flop drops AKK, and I call off my chips to K9. Shit. Okay, so I'll play 6-12. Short handed I pick up JAcks in the cutoff, limp, the sb raises, i re-raise, and he calls. Flop drops 8 high, he bets out I raise, bet call the rest of the hand. Aces. Yup. Re-buy, two pair dies to a straight, and I finally make a good play. Flop drops KQ6, checks around. Turn comes 7, making two flush, a player in MP bets, a loose callers calls behind, I raise with 9T off, folding the bettor, and the loose caller calls. I smoke bet my last 12 on the river 3. his 45 takes the pot. Raised out the best, and had the guy pretty much nutted - he's not calling with a pair of 4s or 5s, just got outdrawn. Oh well.

I guess the moral of the story is, I came into my session looking to make a big win. I wasnt properly prepared, so I overplayed my hands and picked bad spots. My head wasn't in the game, so whenever I got outdrawn, I just paid it off. I could just focus on my outdrawn hands, and fool myself into thinking I played well. I wasn't. I'm sure it's been said before, you must learn from your mistakes. Simply reflecting on your night can help find errors and fix leaks. Also, you can't get too down on yourself after a bad session. No one plays perfect everytime. Except maybe Phil Ivey.

Hope you got something out of this, I just had to vent.

Bad Beat Story -Story

2005-10-20T01:25:00.000-05:00

One night, playing $1-$2 NL, I sit across the table from Bill Gates. I didn't really notice him at first, but he was like the third chip leader, with $200 something bucks.
I'm in the 1-seat,
(2)some guy next to me just rebought for $100. He's been drinkin', but playing conservative.. "rebuy denial." On his left, was an
(3)average young player, decent, had $300+. On HIS left, was
(4)someone I apparently played $6-$12 with the night before. Didn't recognize him, but prolly a donkey. He was the big stack, with $400+.
And Bill Gates($200+) in the 5-seat. No one else really mattered in the story, no one else had any chips. I buy in with $150.

As hands resume, I find that Gates is pretty conservative for a friggin' billionaire. This is $1-$2. The guy I played with in the 6-12 the night before, was bullying the game. Making it $10 all the time. Got called, bet the flop, folds- ship it.
Under the Gun, Gates makes it $10. Folds to me on the button, I re-raise another $10, $20 to go. Folds back to Gates and he calls. $40 in the pot. I got Queens.

Flop comes: 4d 2h 8d.
Gates bets out $10. I raise to $30. He re-raises to $50. The pot is $120, $30 to call. Leaving me about $100 left. Fuck it, I'm all in.

Insta-Call. Shit.

Trip 8s, Turn blank, River Queen... OHHHHH Damn! SHIP IT!

"I'm sorry man, that was a pretty bad beat." He replies, "What can you do?" "Re-buy!" said the guy next to me. Hehe. But Gates didn't... What!? he had $50 left, and was pretty much done for.

Ad Kc, MP1: limp. Calls around to Gates in the small blind, fold.... Big blind checks. 5 players.

Flop: Kd 8d 4d.
Checks to the cutoff, the young guy (similar to the high schoolers I played with in a home game) who bet $10. It folds to me, I call. $30 in the pot.

Turn: Qh.
I check, young guy bets $50. The guy next to me (rebuy dude) blurts out, "Not exactly enough to call a draw."
So I raise, and make it $150 to go.
And he responds, "Unless you already have one."
Young guy thinks for a few seconds... and goes all in for $50 more.
The Pot is $400. I insta-call, lets see a diamond.
Young guy turns over 8s 4s for two pair.

River: 9d.
NICE!! SHIP IT!!!
Playing bad and getting paid. I did have outs, Queens, Kings, and Aces too-excuses, 16 of them.

It was a pretty unreal night. I had like $550 now, and was big stack at the table. The $6-$12 guy was a target. He was the only one that made it worth playing in the game. In the BB, after 3 limpers, pick up 3h 5h, the Frankie Nunez, and make it $15 more. Folds around. No show. "Nice bet." Hehe.

In MP-3, I make it $15 to go with |3h|4h|. The small blind, the $6-$12 Guy, re-raises me $25 more. "How much? -Okay, I call." Heads up on the button $80 in the pot.

Flop: 4c 5s 6s.
He fires out $80. I think for a few seconds, raise, $100 more ($180 to go). He thinks, thinks, call. Shit. I got outs. $440 in the pot.

Turn: 3s.
Checks to me.... All-in, $225. "Hmmmmm," as he thinks. Finally, he calls. and turns over pocket Queens, spade re-draw 17 outer..... Still a bad spot.

River: Blank. SHIP IT! Exact same situation with the AK, but I hit my flush. Its nice to run good.
He rebuys for $200, and now I have like $850 at the $1-$2 NL game in like an hour. Lucky fuck. I did have outs, Threes, Fours, Dueces, Sevens -excuses, 13 of them. Apparently I missed them call me for my $6-$12 seat.
I put my name back on, I pretty much busted the game by getting lucky. Maybe I'm a fish. Then again, it was only 3 hands in an hour or two. Excuses. No wonder I hate no limit. It should be Implied. :)

I dumped about $100 back before going over to the Six-Twelve and winning $200+ there. Sure I got trapped by Bill Gates, but hitting that two outer gave me momentum to attack the bigger stacks, dump a few bets here and there, but take them out in one hand. I slowed down my night with some $6-$12, practiced my patience.

And then I moved to Vegas. (Preflop)

2005-09-23T17:52:00.000-05:00

I moved to Las Vegas recently, started working, and am on my back to poker. Since I last posted, I was stuck, trying to rebuild a roll. In other words, a poker bustout. Even if I had no roll, I was going to move to Vegas.
After getting situated, I returned to the game. Oddly enough, I don't frequent the casinos very much, I've actually been playing a lot online. It's probably my ego, but I don't want to go to the Bellagio and play $4-$8. I'd rather play online, more hands, lower rake, no tips, short handed games, hardly a wait list, deposit bonuses and other promotions.
I came out here with a couple thousand and blew it all right away in a couple $15-$30 sessions. I couldn't handle the swings. So I got rolled for the first time, I didn't like it. I played $5-$10 online and getting rakeback. Broke even day by day, but the rakeback helped. But using poker tracker, I was looking back at my older hands, finding errors in my game. Things like: playing overcards too strong, betting hands that were only good if my opponent folded, missing value bets on the river with marginal hands (top pair, decent kicker), and taking middle pairs too far. These are things that I've done so well in the past that it seems basic. They are. Being able to review hands I've played, keeps my poker mind fresh. Playing on the computer made it easier to see results more objectively. It's true, online poker is good for practice and tuning your game.
It's been about a month, and I've built a solid foundation, payed my dues, and hoping to strengthen my foundation and work my way back up. The game I play is $5-$10 limit hold em, short-handed. I started the first time with full ring games, but I can't take it seriously sometimes. At least short handed, I can play more hands and not get outdrawn, since top pair usually holds up.
The key in these short-handed games is to play two big cards and avoid drawing hands. I usually am aggressive preflop, when I open. If someone limps ahead of me, unless they play 'everything,' I usually require a stronger hand, you're getting action post flop from someone who likes his hand. By playing aggressive preflop, you are defining your hand as a 'good hand' so unless they have one, they will likely give you credit for having and ace or a king, and you usually will.
I'll open with hands down to A9, KT, QJs. It's a tight strategy, especially short handed, but you are almost guaranteed that someone will see a flop with you.
If someone limps, I'll raise with only the bigger hands, like TT-AA, ATs, AJ, KJs, KQ. I limp along with hands down to 9Ts and TJ, and pairs up to 99 (Limping in is game dependant).
If someone raises, I make my standards higher. I'll cold-call with hands AK-AJ, 99, and KQ. Since the game is short handed, almost any hand I'll cold call with, I may also re-raise with it. I make my decision based on: position, the ability to control position, my hand, his raising standards, his post flop play, and his current mood. Also many of the times, since its short handed, you can cold call, not having to protect your hand preflop, still be heads up, and try to represent something on the flop is no ace or king falls. WHAT you can represent is a topic for flop play.

I guess I should say the the games I've been in have been somewhat loose, but slightly aggressive. You can find yourself in way ahead/way behind situations, and calling down often is the right play. An example would be a top pair with decent kicker, or middle pair. I'll be playing at this limit for sometime, until I get my game up to par. I'll try to keep up with this blog, as usual. Next: Flop Play.

From time to time...

2005-06-28T14:55:00.000-05:00

"From time to time everyone goes bust"

i haven't posted anything in a while, and that's never good. Since my shot at the $1500 WSOP event, I've been on a 5 session losing streak. I can't really say I've been playing badly, but I'm sure there's some errors. The truth of the matter is, I just don't have bankroll to withstand the limits I was playing. I took a bad string of cards, and a low roll put me out. Now I'm stuck figuring out if I'll be back on my way to Chicago or if I try to rebuild, which was supposed to be the reason of the trip. I could tell a bunch of bad beat stories from my last sesssion, believe me they were a lot, and they were bad beats, but no one would wanna hear that. The more important lesson is no to spread yourself thin, and not to push your luck with a low stack, cuz that luck could be bad. Anyway, as you would expect, I'm pretty bummed out, and may have to work. So this quite possibly could be my last blog entry. Check in every so often, I'll be back I'm sure.

Been fun for the past two years, and would still be if I made better bankroll decisions. good luck.

Third Thoughts

2005-06-23T13:53:00.000-05:00

Now I don't think I should've called those eights, The call was more like 3 to 1, not enough to call. I probably shouldve smooth called, and bet if an ace came, but how can I? How can I not put the guy on an ace, but I probably would lose the minimum by calling. I don't know, I wanted to win the pot right there, and when I didn't I got away.

Second Thoughts

2005-06-23T04:46:00.000-05:00

I woke up tonight, and thought a little more about the wsop tournament, and I actually did find errors. I realize now how important it is to accumulate chips early in the tournament. You need to have those chips to make it through the rough beats, like the QQ vs AA. The biggest error I think I made was folding the 88 vs the QQ. Even though I was way behind, I was getting about the right price. pair vs overpair is a 4 to 1 dog. I needed those chips. If I somehow win that pot, I'm in great shape to survive the larger levels. On top of it all, I can have a bigger stack to help steal those blinds in the larger levels. I couldn't go against bigger stacks risking my tournament life, but with a bigger stack, I could collect those small pots, and take out short stacks on coin flips. What I was thinking when I folded those eights was surviving versus getting a big stack. I knew by calling in that spot that really was the choice. I chose to survive because that's what I thought I needed to do. However the $1500 event isn't a big buy-in major tournament. You really can't sit around in these smaller events. Well damn, I learned something. Too bad it cost me $1500. Ok, that's it. Shit, I should've thought of that with those eights, even though I'd probably be on the rail a lot sooner than I was.

Luck not be a lady

2005-06-22T23:59:00.000-05:00

Well my Wsop debut went to shit. I played pretty much my best I think, but I came up short. Long story short, $100-$200 blinds with $25 ante, I make it $700 preflop with QQ, get cold called by the player on my right. He has me a chipped by a couple hundred. He asks how much I have left, about $2000 more. The flop drops 8 high, and I push, he insta-calls, oops. Yup, Aces. But here a a few hands along the way...
My table isn't exactly the best. Some decent players by my standards, lots of heads up confrontations, although it kinda loosened up a little, meaning there were a few limped pots. Fortunately, a lot of them came when I was in the big blind. I had Dutch Boyd and Chau Jaing (I don't know the correct spelling), along with another asian pro I've seen on tv, cant remember his name. Anyway, the Asian pro limps two off the gun, and so does another player, $25-$50 blinds. I knock the table with A8o, I flop a monster, A86, and bet out $250. Asian pro goes all in for another $550, I call, he turns AT. Please dont conterfeit my shit. 76 turn-river, Yay, I busted a pro. The other important hand is I pick up 88. The player on my right has everyone chipped at the table. Pretty solid player, but can get loose-goose sometimes. I also was portrayed as a really tight player. Having only shown one hand, the A8 hand. The blinds are $25-$50, and the guy on my right makes it $350, I think, and go over the top for a total of $1250, leaving me with $1500 left. Instantly, he goes over the top putting me all in. The pot is about $2500, plus the $1500 he's putting me all in for. I go in my huddle and think... After about a minute, I decide to muck it, even though I'm getting almost 4 to 1. Tough, tough laydown. Later, he makes another raise to $600 in the $50-$100 level, and I push over the top of him with AKo. He mucks, so I offer him, "I'll tell you what I had this hand, if you tell me what you had the other hand," no hesitation, he said, "I had Queen-Queen." It didn't seem like he was lying, I was satisfied. In the $100-$200 level, no antes, I was just trying to survive til the antes came in, and stealing the blinds were huge, so I had to steal some now. In the process, I lose a coin flip with a guy, new to the table I had been transferred to recently. He goes all in for $725, I have pocket sixes. As I'm counting my chips to see how much I'd have left if I lost, I stumble my chips, and gave it a second thought. But reluctantly I call and he turns ATo over, spiking the ace on the river, shoulda went with the gut feeling. So I guess the last hand before I bust that was of any real interest. I have QJ suited in the big blind, and after the utg (the guy that ends up busting me with aces) and the button limp and the small blind folds, I go for the steal, and take the pot down after being stared down by both players for what seemed like an eternity.
I did make a nice steal raise with an 83o, but other than that I pretty much stayed solid. With over 2000 entrants, I didn't want to gamble too much. I guess I could've but it wouldnt be worth it as the stack I had was pretty much average, although short stacked compared to the blinds.
I think I played well overall, and wouldn't really change much of the way I played. I just ran into a better hand holding a good one myself. But damnit, spike that Queen ONE TIME!!!

Gotta go back to the cash games and redeem myself, and my buy-in.

WSOP Debut

2005-06-22T13:11:00.000-05:00

Today will be my WSOP debut, I'll have hands and comments for you all. Wish me luck in today's $1500 NL Hold 'Em. Maybe I'll be on TV! :)

Looking like a loser

2005-06-20T03:43:00.000-05:00

I was playing $15-$30 at the bellagio today, and lost my first rack pretty quickly. I had flopped two pair a couple times, only to get counterfeited and losing a big pot. I was getting a lot of action, I mean, I was losing every pot, why wouldn't you go against teh guy who can't win. A lot of the time, the other players didn't see my hands because I get shown a winner and fling them in the muck. But I was getting upset. I was feeling down, like the world was crashing down on me. So my respect was shot. Everyone wanted a piece of me, while usually I love it, it was getting me frustrated. Normally, I keep a confident image, and can intimidate my opponents. But since it wasn't the case, I couldn't pick up the few pots I normally steal. It would've been great to pick up a monster beacuse I'd get a ton of action, too bad that monsters don't come along very often. I needed to pick up a hand and play the game straight up which can get boring. I took big swings today and this played some part of it. I lost a rack and a half quickly, and won it back, then lost two racks. I wasn't getting the respect after losing something like 6 pots that I was in consecutively. Why would I? Yes a few were bad beats, and some were bad play, but regardless, I wasn't winning. So I left the game a loser, waiting for tomorrow. I probably should've left earlier, realizing that I didn't have the control over the table I usually like to have.
So I guess the moral of the story is that if you look like a loser, you will probably play the part because people won't play against you the same way they would if you looked like a winner. You wont be able to manipulate your opponents they way you need to in order to have them call you with losers and fold their winners. Okay, enough, good night... Play smart, get lucky.

Image

2005-06-20T03:24:00.000-05:00

Probably the topic I like talking about the most is table image. How you perceive others and how other perceive you is on the psychological side of the poker animal. There is one thing to remember, some players don't even pay attention enough to think about image. Some guys don't care that you've folded every hand since noon, and still cold call your under the gun raise with KT offsuit. If that's the case, then you need not make any changes in you gameplan against them. They will give you action regardless. For the people that DO pay attention, then you have to start changing up your play. Switching gears is vital to becoming a great player, even though I may not be one myself. :) I was playing the 15-30 game at bellagio tonight, and i was making a steal raise, and won the blinds. The very next hand I picked a pretty good hand again, and won another pot on the flop. The next hand after that I pick up a monster, two kings, and fire again. This time, instead of 2 or 3 way action I got 6 callers, all of which think I was just trying to run over the game. I love $15-$30, if they thought I was stealing, they should 3-bet me to isolate, but generally, they don't realize that concept. So my Kings dodged aces, two pair, and whatever else was out to get me, and held up, and I won a big pot, turning over my two kings.
Yes it was just a small rush, but because I had made position plays, and raised so often, I got action on my big hand and maxed out the pot.
Later in the night I picked up KQ suited in the big blind, there was 6-7 callers, and I pumped up the pot one time. the dealer reamarked, "Just in case, huh?" I smiled and nodded. I ended up hitting my flush on the river, winning a big pot. This is a play I normally wouldn't do, but I do it once in a while with a suited connector, obviously KQ is better than most, but hands like 67, 78, 89 suited are the ones I usually do it with. Its simply manipulating pot odds, and creating a bigger variance, but every so often, youll win a big pot, and get to advertise you hand, giving you action later. Smarter players will know what you are doing, so you have to realize who you are deceiving. It only takes a one or two plays that get shown to yeild a long term advertising value. Many players will remember that hand that you raised with 67 suited and flushed out a big pot.
I was going to make a better point that these, but its late and I'm tired, so that's it for now.

wergn

2005-06-18T05:53:00.000-05:00

too....druck.... to... blog.... but a winrr on the day....

Set Over Set

2005-06-16T03:41:00.000-05:00

Back at the $15-$30 in the Bellagio, I'm in the big blind with the almighty 22. There were two callers, a button raise, the small blind called, along with everyone else, 5 players took the flop. It came down, 942, two clubs. The small blind bet out, I smooth called, hoping the button would raise, but nada, 4 of us saw the turn. It came an offsuit 5, (942 5). The small blind fired again, I popped him this time, and he thought for a second, the re-raised. I wanted to four bet so bad, but I just had a feeling that he had a set. The notion of an overpair came to mind, but he probably would've re-raised preflop with QQ or better, maybe jacks or tens. So I just called, maybe a weak tight move, but we were heads up, and the chances of him having a hand that could easily outdraw me were slim (i.e. flush or straight draw). So I felt that I was way ahead or way behind, so I thought calling was the right play. The river made the flush with a ten [942 5 T]. He fired again, and thought about raising again, knowing that he really couldn't re-raise me if I was beat, but I wussed out. Now that I think about it, I maybe should've, because he would likely call me if he had a hand like A9, TT, or JJ. Anyway, he turned over pocket fours, and I was proud of myself. I saved a bet in reality, but I maybe should've raised the end for value. The only problem was that I put him on a set, so I can't really do it. I guess it was a nice read, too bad I wasn't so positive to muck it, but that probably would be a bad play in the long run. Anywho, that's what I got for today's blog, 'til tomorrow.

Worst play ever

2005-06-14T03:25:00.000-05:00

I usually post some of the good plays I do, but I was pretty upset with the play I made so I'm gonna post, to let you all know, yes, I do make mistakes.:) Anyway, I was playing the $2-$5 No Limit game at the Palms (the 5-10 wasn't going), when I picked up the 24 suited, and limped in middle position. The flop was 6 handed, and was T83, two clubs. We checked to the button who bet $15, three people called in front of me, and I raised it to $80. The semi-bluff almost worked, until the loose, big stack guy called, at least I had position. The turd was a blank, and he checked, I bet $120, and he called. The river was another blank, and he checked to me. I was arming up another $120 to fire, until I saw him shoot a glance at my stack, and pulled $200 from his stack (how much I had left). So I thought for a second, and gave up. He turned over J9 for Jack high to take down the $400 plus pot, disgusting.
Obviously it was a bad play. I had the nut low. I have shot three barrels so often in no limit, that I talked myself out of it. Even if he did have a hand, and looked as though he was going to call, I still should've made him make a decision. There's no way I can bluff the whole time and give up when it counts. A few hands later I busted with pocket jacks to pocket queens, and the guy who I gave my chips to was in the hand with pocket sixes. He was a pretty bad, loose player. Gotta love the Palms. But no worries, I ended up reloading, and booked a winning session. I blocked the bad play out, and played much better. Whew.

The Right Timing

2005-06-13T03:08:00.000-05:00

I was playing the 15-30 at the bellagio when this hand came up. The game was what was expected, loose action. A guy on my right pretty aggressive preflop, you know, likes to make a lot of position raises with weak hands. I've been three-betting him with hands I would raise myself, trying to isolate.
One hand, he had a Q8, not sure if he raised preflop with it, but that's not the point here. His opponent had flopped top two Nines and Tens on a T93 board. The player on my right turned a Queen, and after he raised, the T9 3-bet him. The river paired 3's [T93 Q 3] and it went check, check. T9 showed his hand, and Q8 mucked, not realizing that he hand counterfieted that shit until it was too late.
The very next hand, he raised preflop, I smell a steam raise, so I three-bet him with an A8 offsuit. I normally don't advocate playing an A8 in a raised pot, but this was a situational play. The guy on the button didn't see my 3-bet and called 2 cold, but when he found that I three-bet, he called anyway, oops. Anyway, the flop came down 3-flush, I bet, the button called, the guy on my right mucked immediately. I turned the nut flush vs. the button's king high flush (KT), so I was fortunate to win a good pot. But the play was intended to isolate the guy steaming, and to win take the pot away from him, which worked. The button wouldn't have called the three bet had he known, so it was a good play, since the player on my right wouldve given up on the flop. Timing and luck worked out for me there. Vegas is great.

Off to Vegas...

2005-06-06T15:28:00.000-05:00

Well its that time of the year again, and I'm going off to Vegas for the WSOP. I will try to keep this up to date as much as possible. Recently I've been running bad, but I still am confident in the Vegas trip. I've playing a lot of no limit lately, and I always knew I am a better limit player, in Vegas, Ill get all the action I need. So good luck to all, and to myself. I'll let you all in on my play in the next few days.

Other Games?

2005-04-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

I've been busy with schoolwork, business ventures, and flat out laziness to keep this blog up to date. But I plan on trying to keep up with this when I have a chance. So without further a do...

I've recently have been finding new interest in 2-7 lowball triple draw. This is partly because I am getting sick of Hold 'Em. I needed a change in games, and duece to seven intrigues me. For those that don't know, its a 5-card draw game, and you are trying to make the worst hand (23457 off-suit). Flushes and straights count against you, and the ace is a high card.

Anyway, at the no limit game I frequent, there was a small turnout for the bigger game. A few of us wanted to try something different, so we talked everyone into playing mixed games, standard rotation (The game changes every round, to avoid edge in positional games). We played just about every form of Omaha - pot limit high, limit hi/lo, pot limit hi/lo (I think because they secretly they wanted to play hold 'em, and omaha is the closest thing), 7-stud, Razz, Duece to Seven lowball triple draw, Ace to Five lowball (single draw), No Limit and Limit Hold 'Em. Some games we would play one round and the person would play a different game when it got back to them, we allowed it because, we just wanted a change of pace. I had a great time playing different games and variations, just because it was the same 'ol same 'ol.

I thought about this later and realized the importance of learning new games. First, it makes you think about poker THEORY, not just how to play. When I first picked up hold 'em I learned tons of things I never realized before. It has been my experience that made me a better player. Instead of knowing how to check-raise, I realized the purposes behind it, and when or not to apply it. Too many new players learn a move and use it all the time, reducing it effectiveness, and even making it unprofitable. I see this the most with new hold 'em players that ALWAYS raise for a free card on the flop. When learning a new game, you can apply concepts from other games and apply them as well. It is the application of these concepts, and when to use them that makes a good player.

Although I have found a new love in Duece to Seven, I realized that my Omaha game needs to get a lot better. In the biggest of games, they don't strictly play hold 'em. The top professionals all know how to play mixed games and play some games better than others. This is another reason to mix it up. You may find that while you struggle to play hold 'em, you destroy a 7-stud game (Common to those who have grown up playing stud, the transition to hold 'em is sometimes difficult due to the community-card game).

So while I continue my education in Hold 'Em, I'm looking in other areas where I can improve my poker knowledge, not just my Hold 'Em knowledge. There is more money to be made, and in other games is where you may have to go. For example, there is the extra round of betting in 7-stud, where you are more likely to getpaid off because the pot has gotten swollen by the time you get to 7th street. The play of pot limit differs from the play of no limit, and requires a somewhat different strategy. In duece to seven, you have to realize when you are "good" and when must draw, even though drawing can make your hand worse (My favorite part in duece to seven).

It is these type of concepts that make a better OVERALL poker player. The best Hold 'Em player doesn't necessarily mean that he/she is the best poker player. There is a difference, and honestly, I think Texas Hold 'Em is probably the easiest game to learn to play well, which is why it is so big, that's what I think, but what do I know? :)

Keep flopping the Nuts.

Calling - a powerful play

2005-03-22T13:07:00.000-06:00

I'm gonna put this one on here, half because it was a play I pulled, and fortunately, it worked out, and half because I need a little confidence boost after writing my last blog (The one under this). The game is $2-$5 No Limit. It's folded to the button who calls, the small blind calls, and Myself in the big blind with AQ suited. I raise it $15 more, the button calls, the small re-raises now, making it $20 more. (I like to steal out of the big blind after I sense the other players are weak, so I can just take the pot there), so I call, putting the small blind on a pocket pair under my AQ, and the button on just about anything (he's pretty loose). The flop comes down, 9 high rainbow. The small blind checks now.. I'm confused, I check, and the button checks, the turn comes down another rag, but making a two flush. Now the small blind bets out, I think, and call trying to make a pair or pull a move on the river if a scare card comes (straight/flush). So I had about 20 cards to fall that I thought would be good enough for me to take the pot. I also want to see what the button does before I commit more chips, the button called. He worried me some, but I thought I could take him off the pot regardless, he probably had the turn card, which was under a 9. He could have a draw, but I wasn't feeling it. (Too bad all the feelings I had in this hand were all wrong) So on the river, it makes a three flush (runner, runner). The small blind now checks to me, giving me the green light, I bet $100, a little less than the pot, even though the button could easily have had a flush draw (this is the only way I can win the pot, and its pretty decent sized). The button folds, and the small blind thinks for a while before folding kings face up. I felt bad because he was my friend, but I honestly didn't think he was that strong. I thought he was on low pockets or AK, AQ, making a play for the pot on the turn, after everyone checked the flop. Oops, I was wrong, and got lucky a scare card came to give me the pot. Nice bluff, I outplayed him here, but in a later pot he got me for more, with me holding kings, and I didn't let go, so I don't feel bad anymore. Hehe.

Playing against the toughest guy at the table - yourself

2005-03-22T12:32:00.000-06:00

It would be dumb not to put this in the blog, even though it was me who made a bad play. At the regular home game I frequent, we had upped the game to a bigger game than usual. We were playing $2-$5 no limit with a $300-$500 min/max buy-in.
Throughout the game I was down for the most part after overplaying a pocket pair. At the time this hand had come up, I had recouped my losses, and was up a few hundred. Anyway, here's how it went down.
6-handed, I'm under the gun with KK, and make it $15, as it was my usual raise, I didn't want to give away the strength of my hand. I get called by the player behind me, who has increased his game in the past weeks, and the the big blind. Three players, $47 in the pot. The flop comes down, 922, two diamonds. The big blind checks, I check (I've been checking many flops after raising, so I decide to slowplay here), and the cold callers bets out $15, the big blind raises and makes it $45 all day. I ponder a re-raise, but simply cold call, waiting to see the turn to raise charging a flush draw more with only one card to come. The cold caller calls. At this point, I put the player behind me on a diamond draw, and the raiser with a nine or pocket pair.
$152 in the pot, and the turn is an off-suit 3 [922 3]. NICE!
The big blind bets out $60, I make it $120, and the player behind me ponders for a long time before folding. The big blind goes over the top all-in for another $590, putting me to the test. Here is when I make my mistake and call after lots of thought. My first thought was how can I call now? I'm almost positive that he has a two, but I think myself into calling. Here's what went through my mind...
He is a friend of mine, and we go at it on the table at times.
1) I have been playing tight, not catching many cards and pulling moves here and there.
2)I talk with him about strategy, and have told him one of my moves where I call a flush draw on the flop, and go for a semi-bluff on the turn (Making my hand look stronger. Because rasing on the flop as a semi-bluff is a play used too often by players). So since he knew this, I thought that he was either pulling a "re-move" or had a middle pocket pair (88, TT, JJ, QQ, 77), and was trying to protect versus a flush draw with two overcards.
3) I had recently, a few hands ago, pulled a move on him and he folded pocket kings face up to my Ace high. Maybe he was steaming, trying to get me back.
4) The pot at this point was about $400, with his all in, about $1000. I had over $1000 in front of me, and I was getting a little less than 2-1 odds on my call. The only problem was I was either way ahead or way behind. If he had a pocket pair or a 9, I had him nearly drawing dead.
5) AA and 99 ran through my head, but I didn't think he would make a large bet on the flop with top boat. And I'm confident that he would've re-raised me with aces because he knows I'm capable of raising under the gun with suited connectors.
6) If he does have a 2, it can be only one of two hands, 72 or T2. Doyle and 72 are popular, and it wasn't very much more to call preflop. He likes playing those hands. However, if he had one of those hands, would he raise on such a garbage flop? would he go all-in on the turn? I would think that he would juice me. The all-in made me suspicious. His all-in indicated to me that he wanted me to fold.
7) He could have an AQ, AJ, AT of diamonds (I had the King), and trying to semi-bluff me with a play I told him about.
8) He was walking around and didn't want me to see his face to get a read. This actually probably should've tipped me off that I was killed, but it was so different and odd for him to do, it also made me suspicious.
9) I was up, and calling here would make me either a HUGE winner in the game, or it would put me in a losing session, after I had already been down a lot.
Lots of thoughts running through my mind, and it killed me. I was playing against myself in this hand. I should've followed my instincts and folded, but I ended up talking myself into calling. Either he got a 2 or he doesn't.
He showed a 72 suited, leaving me way behind. I don't even remember the river, but it wasn't a king.
In no limit, the losses you take are magnified and are tougher to take. After the hand, I was definitely shook up, and mad at myself for making the wrong play, so after a few hands I just quit the game, cutting my losses before I dump the rest. A lack of discipline in this spot killed me, but lately, that's what my problem has been, and is a leak I need to plug before I sit down at any table. I usually have my discipline in check, but my over-thinking destroyed me. So good hand man, I can't blame you for calling preflop, at least it was suited. :)

Gamble Gamble

2005-03-08T13:13:00.000-06:00

I was in this home game a few nights ago. It was a $300 buy-in no limit home game. I've plyed with most guys before, but I really wasn't in the mood to play, but the game is usually a real good one. A couple of the regular atms weren't there, but the game was still good.
I started off early, trying to establish a strong image at the table (although my image is already strong, I felt like reinforcing it). i was making plays I usually don't make and was trying to win some small pots. I was doing so successfully. Then came this hand, where I got in over my head. I had 67 spades in middle position after a decent player had raised to $12. I had over $400 at chips at this point and he had a decent amount himself. I smooth called the raise, and so did a few others, sweet. That is until the big blind made is $40 on top. He was a very predictable player when it comes to his preflop raises. I knew he had an overpair. he had a big stack, a little more than I had. If I hit my hand, I was going to get paid off. I called the $40, so did the button. MISS! the board was T94, one spade. he bet out $50 to me. I knew FOR SURE now that he had an overpair, and all I had were 4 outs. The pot was somewhere near $140, nowhere near the odds I needed to call, but I was looking at his stack for implied odds, if i hit, I was getting paid, so I peeled one, and the button folded. The turn was an improvement, but not good enough, 5 [T945], giving me open-ended. he checked to me! After thinking about going for a steal, I thought my best play was to take the free one hoping to hit. The river was another 5, and he checked again! With 7 high, I felt that I needed to take a stab at it, so I bet out $60 and he called turning over jacks. I knew he had an overpair, but I bluffed anyway, stupid, stupid play.
So I was about even after that hand. Then this hand came up. I was in a good mood, and a few times the preflop bet was $6 to go (in this game that's such a bullshit bet). I say, "I can't wait til its $6 to go, Ill make it $60. I tried to get a buddy of mine to do it blind, so i could do it blind, but he refused, knowing that he was going to get called in a couple spots. So another friend makes it $6 to go, after looking at his cards. The button made it $16, and I told myself if I had any decent hand I was going to make it $60, just for the hell of it to see what would happen. So out of the big blind I picked up AQ and made it $60 all day. The original raiser went all in for over $300, the button thought, then folded. I knew he didn't have a big hand like QQ-AA because I was just talking and he wouldnt risk getting outflopped if I didn't re-raise. I was in the mood to gamble, obviously, and flipped a chip in the air saying if it landed on the $1 side, I was calling. it did, and I did. He turned pocket tens over to my overcards. I flopped a queen and made him upset, because he knows that I know better than to do that.
the moral of the story?
Not all players are in there to win everytime. A lot of them are there to have a good time, like most of the players in that game. I really didn't feel like playing that night, and after the 67 hand, I kinda just wanted to go home anyway. When analyzing a situation, you need not only to recognize what the other players have, but how they feel at the time. Sometimes you can catch someone on tilt and make a fortune or catch a gambler messing around. However, you will want to have more of an edge against these players because they can cause big fluctuations. I know my play was bad, but I just didn't care at the time. i could make a case against him for NOT folding for $60 (with only $6 invested, plus another raiser behind him), but I'm not going to because he did have the best hand, I got lucky, but not THAT lucky. I play for a living, its hard not to gamble gamble every once in a while.

Bankroll

2005-03-08T13:02:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been having an issue with bankroll. After coming back from California where I played a lot of 40-80, I've been much more confident in playing higher stakes. my regular 10-20 game just doesn't attract me anymore, and I've been playing higher at the casinos and online. For reasons i'd rather not talk about, not losing (no, really) my bankroll has been diminished. Therefore I should be playing lower than I have been, simply to take care of swings that are going to occur. Even though my play in the higher limits has been good, I need to sit lower simply because I can't afford a big loss. Just because I'm capable to book wins in the higher games, doesnt mean I should play. Threat of losing bankroll is too much, and going bust is never a good feeling. A friend of mine was playing online for a while, doing a good job killing the 5-10 game. He was up somewhere near $1000 from practically nothing ($50) and decided to jump up in limits. A day or two past and his online roll was no more. he is a good player, but his mindset changed from grinding it out, to going for gold. That image can blind you, and if you're not ready for higher stakes, it can affect your play. Tilt can become a bigger factor if you're not used to the bigger swings.

Position

2005-03-08T12:34:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted, I was in California for the LA Poker classic. Anywho, this post has nothing to do with that. I just wanted to make a point about position. There are two types of position, 1) position based upon the the location of the button and 2) position relative to the raiser.
Position relative to the button is something that any decent poker player knows about. This has been covered time and time again in books. obviously you'd like to be closer to the button and last to act to see what everyone is going to do in the hand. blah blah blah... There is one thing I would like to mention though.
It is Re-raising a late position player on the button.
Many players like to steal the blinds if everyone has passed, realizing who these players are will earn you extra bets. Say you are on the button with AT suited and the cutoff raises, this is almost a definite re-raise here because you want the blinds out and you probably have the best hand. A tight image will help you a lot here as you will likely win the pot on the flop or the turn regardless of what falls (Assuming your opponent didnt hit the board hard, like a top pair). Re-raising protects your hand which is likely to be good versus a known theif. However...
What I really want to talk about is position relative to the raiser. This is a topic that many people don't fully understand. Say you are on the button with a hand like pocket tens, several players have limped in and the play in front of you has raised. The question is whether or not to re-raise in this spot. In most games (limit) I like to smooth call because many early position players will have overcards (which you want out) but will rarely fold when it comes back to them. It's a mistake, but most people call the 3-bets like its nothing, as if they're commited to the pot. I like to smooth call with a hand like this because of three reasons. 1) the raiser has raised several players usually indicating a strong hand (more advanced players will have a strong drawing hand, and are manipulating the odds). 2) You can isolate on the flop after you have more edge and have flopped an overpair (the preflop raiser will usually bet). 3) You can get away from your hand cheaply after you have seen that dreaded ace (Or any type of scary board).
Now say you have a hand like A9 suited in late after a few players have limped. You may be dominated by the limpers but you're looking for flush anyway. Now someone behind you raises, and everyone calls. Your position here is more favorable in my mind. Many players will check to the raiser on the flop, who is expected to bet. In this case, you may flop top pair with your nine and can bet into the pre-flop raiser to protect your hand. Also, you can check to him and see what the rest of the field will do. Say you flop a flush draw and its checked to you, many people will bet into the raiser, but it all depends on the board. If you think the raiser will check behind you or fold to your bet, then a bet here is definitly a good play. However if the board has a high card in it (Q-A) you may want to go for a check-raise (the raiser is MORE likely to bet a flop like this, than a board of JT3)if other players call, you can manipulate the size of the pot (beware of a re-raise though). I would rather be in front of the preflop raiser to see the actions of the other players. If you have the same A9 and flop an ace and check to the raiser who bets, but gets check-raised by an early player, this is an easy fold for you without having lost an extra bet. If you were behind the raiser, you maybe trapped between two dominating hands and it can cost you a lot of bets later in the hand.
In limit its important to see how the hand will develop because many pots go to a showdown, and the best hand wins. Most players understand how to play preflop, but postflop is where all the money, and bluffs are made.

Mason Malmuth Hand

2005-01-12T13:51:00.000-06:00

I was reading a post by Mason Malmuth on twoplustwo.com.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1508672&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31

Obviously that's the link, but basically, it's a $80-$160 game, he opens for a raise with AK, gets a call from a middle player and the big blind. The flop is AJ4, Mason bets, the middle player folds, and the big blind calls. The turn is an ace, the Big blind bets out, mason calls. The river is a 2, [AJ4A2]. The big blind bets, and mason calls.
There was much arguement in that post, and I feel that Mason should raise, but maybe that's why I'm not playing $80. Anyway, most people felt that a raise was necessary on the end. It feels like if he raised the river he'd be trapped, but top trips with the best kicker? The guy can't have AQ or AT? I didn't read all the posts, but the hand ended and mason took down the pot beating an AT with his AK. The arguement was that if the big blind had an ace, wouldn't he have check-raised or led out on the flop? Most of the posts come from smaller stakes players, we all can't play $80-$160, and Mason's response was that in the smaller games, a player will check-call with a weak ace, but typical players in his game won't, would you? I probably wouldn't. He also points out that there are better players in that game, but really, what can he have? Its a weird betting pattern to decipher, but it does look like the big blind is trying to get Mason to raise. A low full house could be possible, and on the turn he's looking to either check-raise, but since the ace fell, he might be able to get a three-bet in, and a suspicous pair of Kings could call down. He could've flopped top two, planning a check-raise on the turn, the fourth ace made it look like Mason didn't have one, but if he did, again, going for three bet. I guess I didn't analyze the hand fully until after reading Mason's posts.

Overpair

2005-01-12T13:39:00.000-06:00

This hand came up last night, and my buddy asked if he made a good play. There three callers preflop and our hero has KK. He makes it $18 after a limper mentions that there is $8 in the pot. The button calls, and the talking limper calls. The flop comes and its 692. Checked to the hero who bets $75, and the caller goes all in behind him, for about $150 more. After long debate, my friend lays down kings face up only to be shown a bluff with A9. Oops.
He told me that he put the caller on a set of nines as there wasn't anything on the board really. I was there and saw the hand go down. I also found it hard to put the caller/all-in player on anything but a set. The board only had one draw, 78. The caller was a tight somewhat predictable player, and he had recently laid down AK preflop, so his preflop hands would seem as though he had a pretty good hand preflop.
I think I woulda clenched my teeth and called the all-in personally. There were really only two hands that he could have that I would be worried about, 99 and 66 (66 might have been folded preflop, not too sure). I would think that the caller would re-raise AA, because he would isolate as several people were coming in for a raise, and also because he is predictable, and re-raising aces preflop is the standard play. One thing my friend seemed to overlook was his image at the time. He was a huge stack in comparison to any other player at the table, and had control of the game. He had recently shown a few bluffs, and not only that, he had made a good pot-odds play with a straight and flush draw to knock off aces not too many hands beforehand. A raise preflop from our hero seemed like a regularity, and few people had much respect for his raises, or called inferior hands anyway. Regardless if he was raising on solid hands preflop, he was getting action, and the table thought he was just bullying. Another thing is that if he flopped a set of 99 or 66, he probably would've slowplayed the flop, considering that there really was nothing on it. If he had flopped the top set, the only fear he could have is a straight draw. If the caller put our hero on high cards (which is probably what he did, as do most players, especially one who has been raising with such frequency), why would he raise and not give our hero a chance to catch a second best hand? Most beginning players tend to slowplay their big hands, generally.
The $75 bet on the flop was a standard bet, a little more than the pot. By the time the other player went all in, he was getting about 1.5 to 1 on his call with only two reasonable hands beating him. I think it's a call, most of the time you're winning, you just can't have the nuts everytime.
I know that he put the player on 99, but he can have QQ, JJ, or TT, A9, and maybe 78 - probably not. Of the possible hands the guy can have are 99, 66, and honestly I don't think he could have aces ( I dont think he would slowplay preflop). But of those 8 hands, 3 beat him, making it 5 to 3 that he's losing, a little more than 50% that he's winning, getting 1.5 to 1 odds. However, if he IS winning, with the exception of 78 and A9, he is WAY ahead, something like 90% to win, or 11 to 1. If he is behind, he is way behind, but I still think the two kings justify a call; two Kings in this spot is too good a hand to throw away at this point in the hand.
One more thing, my friend showed his laydown to the table, and felt foolish after being shown an inferior hand by his opponent. He may have gone a little on tilt, and he probably won't admit it, but I know it had to alter his mindstate somewhat. I noticed, and he was lucky I didn't catch a hand on him, or I probably would've doubled up :) Yea, I said it, what!?

Tilt

2005-01-12T13:17:00.000-06:00

Since ESPN will be airing their new poker show "Tilt," I thought i'd make a small post on tilting. Tilt is caused by many things, bad beat, impatience, verbal nonsense on the table, being bluffed, etc. It isn't so prevelant in all players, but usually it is. If you watch the game, and someone takes a beat, usually they either sit quiet (probably thinking if they could've played it better and avoided the beat, but they probably couldn't - you want the call) or they go on a tantrum, and don't stop complaining on how they can't win a hand. This is probably the best time to take advantage of the player. He will be trying to make his money back and will probably loosen up (not right away, but he's after the chips he just lost). You probably won't be able to bluff this player, especially if he had just laid down a hand to bluff (on the flipside, he may call you with a long-shot trying to give someone a bad beat, its his turn to hit a miracle), but you can probably value bet him with confidence. You'll be lucky to catch him dominated, and you probably can take all his chips if he has a decent kicker. There's a player at our home game that talks a lot of trash to select players that tilt off what he says. He does well, and sometimes he makes the night more entertaining, but he too is very vulnerable to tilt. When he gets on tilt, its over, rebuy, rebuy, rebuy. None of us aren't vulnerable to tilt, its how we manage it that will save us from going in the red.

Back to Action

2005-01-11T14:37:00.000-06:00

Once a month there is a game by me, and it's a little higher stakes than I'm used to, at least for a no limit game. It's probably one of the best games I play in. The blinds are $1-$3 and the buy-in $300. That doesn't seem very high stakes (really, it isn't) but the game is action packed. Pots are opened for $18-$23 usually, but if you can get in cheap, its well worth the implied odds. Usually 3-4 see a turn card with hopeless draws, and inferior hands. I took a week off for a break, excluding my internet play, and was well rested after losing or not winning much in my previous sessions. I was feeling good, I think taking a break did wonders for my play as well as my confidence. Anyway, I was playing my tight game here (not too many moves are necessary) when this hand came up.
I raise the pot from middle position with one limper in front of me (loose player), and make it $18 to go with the AJ of hearts. I get a call, and a re-raise from a loose aggressive player, that says, "He's getting courage, gotta put a stop to that." and he makes it $36. the limper, me, and the other caller all call.
The flop comes 8Tx, two hearts. It gets checked to the re-raiser, who bets $25. He can have a variety of hands including just two high cards. the limper in front of me calls, I make it $100 to go (aiming to steal the pot, and to show I wasn't going to get bullied the rest of the night), the caller behind me calls cold, as does the re-raiser, the limper folds. There's $420+ in the pot.
I'm concerned with my hand at the time, I was hoping to win it right there, but my flush-draw with overcards is still fifty-fifty assuming my jack and Ace are good (which they may not be) and I'm getting 2 to 1 on my bet anyway. I the turn comes the Queen of hearts, [TJxQ], giving me what I like to say, "The nuts with a re-draw," making my play easy, I go all in, the caller behind me calls (he has about $50 left), and the re-raiser folds. I show my hand, the caller mucks, who I put on a straight (and I'm probably right, :). The re-raiser says he had two pair with a QJ. That's not a typo, but if he had two pair it was QT. He was complaining how I outdrew him, but with a QT, I was favored on the flop, especially with the other caller there, and if he had QJ, I had him the whole way. I think I played the hand right, simply because the re-raiser was thrying to bully me, obviously if he holds a QT or QJ, but what would I do if I miss the turn, my only option was to go all in regardless, simnply because I was committed to a big pot. The pot was $420, I had a little over $100 left, and even if I missed the turn, I was getting correct odds to either steal the pot or hit my flush (5 to 1 if I got a caller).

Limit Vs. No Limit

2005-01-04T13:55:00.000-06:00

In these posts, I've been speaking of a small no limit cash game that I frequent. The game consists of somewhat experienced players and a bunch of "new school" players that aren't even old enough to play legally. I've been pushing for a low limit, limit game with these guys and no one wants to play. I've assumed its because they see the no limit on t.v., and they like the big betting. Recently, we started a short handed $5-$10 game at the no limit game (different table) and of course no one wanted to play. The pots in the $5-$10 game were bigger, on average, than the no limit game, and we were trying to goad the players into playing with us. It didn't work. I generally prefer limit, and some people don't get why, so I'll explain here.
First of all, the swings in limit aren't as big as no limit. Like Mike McD said, "some pros won't play no limit, they can't handle the swings." Limit I think, is a more challenging game, whereas people can't get pushed off hands as easily, and you have to make an astute laydown to avoid paying off too often. The main thing I like in limit is, in poker in general, you make most of your money off people's mistakes, and more people tend to make mistakes in a limit game than in a no limit game because they may fear a big bet. Examples are playing weak aces up front, NOT raising when they are ahead to charge a draw, and missing value bets with marginal hands. These people don't like multiway pots becuase they fear getting outdrawn, when they make it correct for the player on the button to draw for a gutshot because they failed to raise him out; again, mistakes. When most hands go to a showdown, there are decisions to be made more often. In no limit the consequences of your decisions can be detrimental therefore an opponent may think longer than in a limit game = more mistakes. In a limit game, you can put someone on a hand much easier by their betting patterns as you have to raise more often in limit, and you can get away from a big hand (if you raise too often in no limit, you run into the nuts too often). The pace of limit is much quicker, and people aren't taking forever to call a hand only to fold it for $2 preflop, like a certain player in the $1-$2 game, bitch. Many people complain about outdraws in limit, and that they can't beat the game. These people have no understanding of how to play the game, and are so narrowminded that they think that their aces hold up everytime and can't lay them down. They don't understand the money odds they get on a hand when they are called by 3-4 people, and they don't realize that sometimes when they are actually winning at one point in the hand, that versus several opponents, they're actually NOT the favorite to win by the river. They think that you can't bluff in limit, but the truth is, that a bluff is more complex in limit, where you generally have to set up a bluff in order for it to work, you can't just bet, bet, bet everytime.
Don't get me wrong, no limit is okay, but the field of limit players will outlast the field of no limit players because the worse players will go broke sooner than the limit players. To end with another "Rounders" quote, "You can sheer a sheep many times, but skin it only once." Some people don't get why I like limit, which is exactly why I want those guys in my game. See you on the other side of the felt.

Re-raise with AJ

2004-12-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know where I was going with this, but I was just thinking about a hand I played last night. I sat down in my regular $10-$20 game, and saw one of my friends' friends at the table with me. I've seen him play before, but I didn't recall much about him. I folded maybe 5-6 hands before this one. This guy was raising way too often. Of the first couple of hands, he made it a kill pot. On the kill, if it was folded to him, I thought he would raise, and raise he did. I picked up AJ offsuit, and generally a hand I don't like playing for two bets, I wanted to isolate because I felt he was raising light. The flop came down scary, KQ4 two clubs, he checked, I bet, he called. Oops! I thought. THe turn came beautiful, Ten of clubs, completing my straight, but putting a flush on board, but after he checked he did the "Mike Caro double-check" to see if he had a club, so I bet, he thought, and he called. At this point I put him on a pair plus a club draw. the river paired the ten, and he bet into me. I was thinking of just calling, but what could he have? KT or QT to beat me, but I didnt think he held either the way he reacted to cards, he was scared. He could have a flush, but probably would've check-raised the turn. He could've flopped a set, but the doubtful. So I put him on an AQ or AT, and raised. He folded, flashing pocket 6's. WHATT! Anyway, if you play with me and I re-raise you with AJ, that basically means I think your raising standards are not up to par. Ship It.

1st is the Worst, 2nd is the Best - Er.. Reverse That.

2004-12-24T14:50:00.000-06:00

I was playing in the weekly $1-$2 NL home game that I usually talk about in these posts, and I was stuck. For a ridiculous amount for the size of the game. I was in about $500 in the game, and was always getting the 2nd best hand. Top two vs. a wheel, overpair vs. flush, and all that good stuff. Some hands I could've gotten away from, but this one hand I don't think I could've, even though I almost did.

$1-$2 NL (5 handed)

Two limps, the small blind calls, and in the Big Blind with Q8 I check.
The flop is a monster, 9TJ; two spades. Small blind bets out, I raise, one limper goes all in for a little more. The Small blind has an option to re-raise, thinks, then just calls, I raise, and he goes over the top all in. Its like $200 more on the $70-$80 pot. I go into my "think mode" and someone asks what I have. (It's a friendly game where this happens a lot). I tell them I have Q8, and everyone gets quiet. I make a crying call, and the small blind show KQ for the nuts, the player all in has the nut flush draw.
The truth is, I was so close to folding the hand, only because I did exactly what the small blind wanted. I thought that would be the only reason why he would call instead of re-raising. If he had a hand less than the nuts, he would want me out, scard that I might outdraw him. I don't know though, he could've done it with a smaller straight or a set, but I think he would re-raise me out if he had either of those hands. No Limit is hard.
I ended being into the game for $800 before I made my short handed comeback, to be up $95. Not worth the time or energy spent on the session, but its better than losing.

Confidence

2004-12-14T13:34:00.000-06:00

Sorry, I hvae no story or hands today. Instead I'll talk about the psychological part of poker. I've been on a bad streak lately, losing a lot or winning a little. Some days are good, but they just make up for previous losses. Overall for the past few weeks, i've been breaking even and my confidence is shook. I'm trying all I can to bring my game back up to par. The things I've been doing are re-reading books, trying to find the flaws in my game, even though I tend to find them after I make mistakes (prolly not the best time). Maybe I just need a good break from it all, but poker is what I do. I mean, besides schoolwork, I don't do much other than poker. Maybe I'm just a degenerate, but I love it. I talk to friends about my poker drama, and I know they dont want to hear it, I know I don't when others are running bad. However, relieving some steem is always better though talking or even typing (this) than at the table. Hopefully next time I'll have something better to post, but for now, I just hope the tides turn and I'm back to my usual play.

Post-Loss Thoughts

2004-12-11T10:51:00.000-06:00

It sucks to lose, and it sucks more when it was bad play vs. bad luck. I'm up early doing my prop thing online, and waiting on a monthly game that is usually really good. But last night I played in there weekly no limit game, and lost. I was in for a few hundred as usual, but even, when this hand came up.
Nothing special, but a pretty novice mistake. I had QJ in late position, and had limped. I flopped top two pair on a QJ9 board. I check raise two players, and one calls me. The turn is a 8, and it checks to me and I go all in. Oops. My opponent was the only player at the table who had me covered, and he was playing tight. He called immediatly and turned pockets tens for a straight. I fell in love with the hand, and made a VERY costly mistake when I was obviuosly outdrawn.
After that, I bought in two more times to only to lose. One mistake can cost you in no limit, and it did last night. All I can do is learn from my mistakes, because its a new day, and I gotta be ready to play all over again.

The hours spent playing

2004-12-07T14:26:00.000-06:00

I spend a ridiculous amount of time playing poker. I probably should be playing less hours, and would probably be doing better if I just limited my play. I know that everyone says that you should play for as long as the game is good. I agree to some extent. The problem for me is that after a certain amount of time, your play decreases. I'll admit that sometimes it doesn't, but sometimes it does. I'm not advocating a win limit or a loss limit, but more of a re-evaluation of your play every hour or so. Simply ask yourself, "Are you playing your best?" and "Is the game still good?" You HAVE to be honest. One more thing to tell yourself is, "The game will always be there later." You can't expect anything in poker, and that hourly rate that everyone talks about is NOT clock-work, its the average. I just wrote this to tell myself this stuff, because writing something keeps it fresh in your mind, at least for me it does.

Pro? Hardly.

2004-12-07T14:10:00.000-06:00

With poker getting so big, there are a bunch of players trying to make it pro. I am one of them. However, to my credit, I've been perfecting my game before the big poker boom. Anyway, I heard at a home game that someone was trying to make it pro by playing the low limit no limit game I speak of in these posts. His roll was miniscule, and he isn;t all that good. I honestly don't even know if he had a winning session yet, or if he is close to busting. Anyway, I'm not gonna talk about him, but more about my quest.
I quit my job almost exactly a year ago, give or take a few weeks. I haven't made much progress. My goal was to increase my bankroll by $30k at year's end (the real goal was $50k, but I was trying to be realistic). I am nowhere near it, and on a losing streak. At the midway point, I was on perfect pace, up $15k by june. I hit a bad run all summer, but maybe it was bad play? I'm pretty sure it was, and I stopped my record keeping which was probably the worst thing I could do. By the time school started up again, I was back to where I started from at the start of the year. I re-read books, and did all I could to get back to my normal game. Slowly I started making my way back, caught a good run, and was up $6k in 2-3 months. However, I fell back into the slump I'm in now, making me just about even for the year, up a couple thousand. With the end of the year coming, I doubt that I can actually pull of being a pro; but that's not really stopping me. I realize that there are swings, and they can be brutal, but there is no way that I was playing my best game ALL THE TIME. I know I'm a better player than my records show, but I have to stay consistant; and that's probably the hardest thing.
There were times when I didn't even feel like playing, but had to, just to make some pay. its true what they say, playing cards for a living is the hardest way to an easy life. Next year hopefully will be better. I've made mistakes and am trying to fix them, not so much in the play, but more in the discipline. I've fallen into the overconfidence trap two or three times this year, and it cost me any profit. I didn't factor in the "living money" that I pull from my bankroll, but if I had the expenses of living on my own, I'd probably be close to bust. Anyway, if you're thinking about becoming pro, the life of a pro gambler is harder than most think.

All in with 6 high

2004-12-07T13:52:00.000-06:00

i was playing in a low stakes no limit game when this hand came up. The game is generally loose, with usually 3-4 players seeing a flop.

$1-$2 blinds no limit.
There are 2 limpers to me on the button with 56 spades. I call, the small calls, and the big blinds checks. At this point, the Under the Gun player has about $20-$30 left, the player next to him has me covered with over $300. The flop comes Q47 (47 spades, giving me a straight flush draw). Its checked to the under the gun player who goes all in, the next player calls, and I think about my hand, but not for long. The caller has a bigger stack than I do, and I decide to go all in.

The under the gun player probably has a queen or some other type of made hand. The caller can have anything from top pair to a draw. My all in forces him to decide wether or not to call. he has me covered by a little bit, but if he calls and loses, he won't have much left. The way I see it is that if he calls, he almost will HAVE to have a made hand, and I have 15 outs to beat him. If he has only a draw, and is willing to gamble, then my outs are reduced assuming he has a higher flush draw. the real hand Im afraid of is Qx of spades, which makes things terrible for me because he has a made hand and a good draw; and turning my hand into a 6 outer.
I end up hitting a straight to win.

However, my hand even if the KJ calls, isn't as bad as it seems. I still have a ton of outs to outdraw him. I have any 5 or 6 (assuming he doesn't hit a pair), any 4 or 8, including the 4 and 8 of spades (for the NUTS). so 3 5s, 3 6s, 4 4s, and 4 8s= 14 outs. While the KJ has 3 Ks, 3 Js, and 5 spades for 13 outs to beat me. However, to beat the all in, who had a queen, I had 8 outs, and he had 8, so we're even money for the main pot.
The point is that I needed to get rid of the caller to open my outs, and give me a better chance to win the pot because I'm going to the river regardless. Calling was not an option, because I can only lose more than I win. If I call and hit my straight, the KJ won't call, if I hit my flush, I lose to the bigger flush. by going all in, I have a chance to go heads up with the all in, and force the caller to decide if he wants to draw for such a large bet. I think going all in is the only play here. The hand has tons of outs heads up, but another player reduces my chance to win.

No Limit Baby

2004-12-01T13:47:00.000-06:00

I'm definitely a limit player as I type this. However, the poker boom has made me open up and step into no limit. There's no doubt that the money's there, but adjusting to it is kind of hard, but I'm working on it. Here are some hands that I think I played bad. Just gotta talk about it, you know how I feel, relieve some steem.

1-2 NL live.
I pick up 69 of spades in early position. I limp, two callers behind me, the small blind limps, and the big blinds knocks. 5 players to the flop $10 in the pot. The flop is somewhat favorable, QT rag, two spades. The big blind bets (A tight player) out $6, I call, and a limper (a loose player) behind me calls. The turn completes my flush. The Big blind bets out again $12, and i start to worry. This guy seems to be playing scared money, and its hard for me to put him on a flush because he bet the flop, and I didn't know too much about him other than he plays tight, so I put him on top pair, maybe two pair, but I wasn't sure if he would bet the three flush without a flush. I smooth call the $12. the limper folds. going to the river, a blank, there's $52 in the pot. The big blinds bets again, $16. I contemplate a raise, and I do, making it $40 all day. He re-raises to $100 all day. I call, and he shows the nut flush. Taking the $252 pot. nice hand.
I think I should've mucked the re-raise or smooth called the river. I know the preflop call is loose, but I feel as though I can outplay post-flop, and I think this was just one of the times that I get nailed for playing a bad hand. however on the river, If I can only call the re-raise, I should've smooth called, or mucked to the re-raise. Calling on the end from a tight, scared money player means I MUST be beat. bad call.

A bunch of hands later I pick up 36 of diamonds in early; tons of limpers, 8 or 9. I catch a pretty good flop. Its 478, two diamonds. There's a flop bet of $6 maybe. ( don't remember too well, it was a long night) And everyone calls! The turn is an overcard, and someone in late bets $10, and four callers to me. I contemplate a big raise, but call instead. There's like $60-$70 in the pot. The river is a 5; no diamond. The same player from the previous hand bets out $50. I contemplate the call again, and make a reluctant call. the player behind me calls also. The bettor turns over 69 for the nuts. Again, another bad call? not too sure, I was playing for a chop getting a little more than 2 to 1. But again, I reluctantly call because this guy is a tight player with scared money (although his stack is getting bigger). The other caller and I called and expected exactly what we saw, the nuts destroying our chop.

Now, in a tournament, I may be able to fold this, but I seriously contemplated it.
I pick up Pocket Kings on the button, the SAME PLAYER raises $10 behind a limper (known to limp re-raise with big pairs Tens and up). I smooth call, planning a raise later in the hand. the limper re-raises all in for $40+, and the original raiser makes it $100 to go. Now I think he either has QQ, KK, or AA. And I'm leaning towards AA simply because I have KK, and I put the limp re-raiser on Queens or Jacks. I know I have the limp re-raiser beat, but the question is to call $100 cold in a situation where I could be way behind with little invested. The raiser and I have just about even stacks $500, I may have him by a few dollars. I cold called, the flop came rags, and he bet $100 on the flop, and I finally push in with my stack, he called...
Kings vs Kings. And the limp re-raiser had jacks. I still wonder if It was the right play, from what I seen he wont make a large bet without a great hand. I kept telling myself, "What are you waiting for?" But I think it was a tough decision, although no one else at the table thought it was. But really, what can he have? I dont know if he would lay down QQ or JJ when the board is 9 high, so the all in has its upside, but if you know that the other player has one of those hands, there's one hand you beat, another you are way behind and the other one is hard to imagine he has. Its a situation where you're way ahead or way behind. Anyway, we chopped the pot after I missed my runner-runner draw. (So I did get my money with the best hand; freerolling).

One more, on a good bluff. I pick up pocket jacks in the big blind, the SAME GUY raises on the button $8, only to get re-raised by the small blind $24. I smooth call, thinking that the small blind is just trying to set up a flop steal and pushing me out of the pot. The button folds, and the small blind calls. The flop is rags. He bets out $20, I raise to $40, and he makes it $80. Now I'm worried about an overpair better than mine. I know I way behind, but I know he has a big pair, and if I hit a jack or an ace, I'll have the nuts or put myself in a good spot to steal. I call the extra $40. Around $130 in the pot. The turn is the scare card I needed, an Ace. He checks to me. Perfect, I bet $150, he thinks and folds Kings. I show him my Jacks and he says he knew it. If he had just bet the ace before me, I couldnt call, his check gave me the pot! Sorry to brag bud, but I had to mention that.

Man, I hate No Limit :)

Thinking about Poker

2004-11-24T13:38:00.000-06:00

I may just be sick, but I spend tons of time thinking about poker. How I played hands, How to play hands, what types of situations can arise, always on my mind. I've read a bunch of articles and books whatnot. Maybe this is the key to becoming a winning player. People do ask me how I play so well (I'm not THAT great). I tell them it really is thinking about the game. Doing so keeps my mind sharp and ready for whatever happens on the table. This may ruin my social life somewhat, I do find myself talking about poker a lot, but its what I love to do, so can you argue that? Anyway, I just thought about saying something about that. Enough non-sense. just had to babble for a bit.

Check your ego at the door.

2004-11-24T12:46:00.000-06:00

I was playing in a small no limit game last night. I was really there to have some fun, making money wasn't really on my mind, but obviously, Im not there to dump chips to anyone. I was down early, limping in on just about anything, loosening up an already loose game, it was great. After losing somewhat, I was making my plan on how I was going to break even, and I did eventually, and then this hand came up. I limped in early with 57 offsuit behind a caller. A couple limpers followed, and a loose aggressive player in the cutoff made it $12 to go ($1-$2 blinds); this was his standard raise. he liked to steal the pot after a couple people limped, but his post-flop play, i thought, was poor. I had a good read on him the whole night, and was looking to bust him with a two pair or bet him out. the player in front of me called as did I.

the flop came AKx, with 2 hearts. I was playing goofy, and bet out $2 (the minimum bet; Ive done this before, just to gauge players; looking to raise me). the preflop raiser called, as did the caller. This meant nothing, $2 in a big pot just let me know that the raiser and caller didn't have an Ace. the turn came another heart, giving me a 4-flush with my 7. It checked around. The river was a J of hearts, giving me a 7 high flush. it got checked to the preflop raiser who went all in for $190.

The pot was realitively small, about $40. The caller folded and it was up to me. I pondered... The raiser was the type to strangely overbet a pot for a steal, so calling was definitly in my mind, along with the fact that the guy had been trying to bully the table all night, with me being the only one defending against him. I had won several pots vs him with very marginal hands, and busting him on one of his bluffs would be great. I had a pretty good read on him, and felt he was strong this time but the fact that I could bust him on a bluff was very appealing; along with making a great call. I called and gave him my chips as he showed QJ (Queen of hearts for the nuts). I had a read on him and didn't take proper action. He was too relaxed, didnt stare me down, and I even saw a vain in his neck bulge. But I let me ego get in the way. the hand tilted me as I got busted on a flush draw vs the same guy, who flopped trip 4 with the 42. Even on that hand I knew he had trips, but I just wanted to outdraw him. Ego is a mutherfucker.

The Poker World

2004-11-16T15:53:00.000-06:00

Hey I'm bored between classes, so i'm posting a bunch on here. So still talking about Vegas. It's a wierd world poker players live in, I'm soon realizing. This was my fourth trip to Vegas this year, and to my surprise, some of the dealers and floor people recognize me. I wouldn't think so, considering millions of people go through Vegas yearly. While I was out there, I ran into two players that frequent the $10-$20 game I usually play at. I recognized about 10-20 pros that I've played with in past trips, and met a bunch of new players. I met some real nice people that I befriended at the table, and hope to see them later on in my poker career.
Money isn't a big deal when it comes to players. Most of us tend to pay for meals or to go out, knowing that the other will probably get us back some other time. Some guys when they play against friends, check it down to each other. With me, I try to my best to take a buddy's stack. Its not about taking another guy's money, its the competition amongst friends.
I forgot where I was going with this, so I'm going to stop now. :)

Aces cracked again.

2004-11-16T15:43:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to post this, just because. I was in Vegas for the weekend, did well the first day, lost big the second, won it back on the third, and made profit on the 4th. Anyway, it seemed like a weekend full of bad beats, but there were some bad plays I made. After breaking even for the most part in my $15-$30 session, I had to leave for my flight back in a few minutes, so I took on the last orbit. I had just won a big pot with 66 making a set; and of course on the last orbit, I played very tight. On the last hand, I'm under the gun with AA, just what I was looking to play for my last hand. I raise and get called by the button, and the Big blind, who calls only becuase the button did; so he says. The flop comes 6Q5, two diamonds, pretty good flop 3 handed, I bet and get called by both players. The turn is a 4, again, I bet, and only the Big blind calls. Damnit; drawing. The river is a 7 and the big blind bets out [6Q547]. i make the crying call and he shows 58 off. I ended up for the session, and for the trip, so can't complain too much (even though I was no where near my goal), but I would've liked to come back home winning with Aces! Oh well, that's poker.

Bluffing the field.

2004-11-16T15:32:00.000-06:00

I was recently in Las Vegas for the weekend. I just have a hand that I'm pretty proud of; simply becuase it was an isolation/semi-bluff play.
There was a higher limit maniacal player (MHLP) in the somewhat loose Bellagio $15-$30 game directly to my right. He said that this was his last hand, and that he was going to play it blind until the turn; so of course he pops it pre-flop; he really didn't look, I was watching. I'm next, having been playing very tight, and everyone knew it. I cold call with the T9 of hearts. Three players cold call behind me, along with the Big Blind. The flop comes, JA4, one heart. The big blind checks, the MHLP bets, and everyone calls. The turn is the K of hearts, MHLP bets again, I raise with my gut-shot straight flush draw. Everyone folds to the MHLP who calls, saying he has one out. The river is a J of clubs, he checks and I bet [JA4KJ]. he says he can't call and folds, asking to see my hand. I turn over the bluff, and overhear that someone folded a Jack, and another a weak ace.
I was simply trying to win the big pot by opening some outs for myself. Along with queen, and any heart, by raising out the other players, I opened up my 9 and 10 for a pair that might beat a random hand. Even though I still ended up having to follow up my bluff with another, I earned that particular pot.
So I guess the moral of the story is that sometimes you have to use that tight image you create to increase your chances to win a pot, and a big one at that! :)

On Isolation

2004-10-26T15:11:00.000-05:00

I was sitting in my regular $10-$20 game and was playing my solid poker for sometime now. I created the image of a Tight-Aggressive table, and many of my opponents seemed to fear and avoid me in the pots I played. I noticed that I was taking several pots down without a showdown, which generally is the position I like to be in. There were one or two loose players at the table. (e.g. entering pots with any face card, suited or not).

As I looked around the table I would notice that many of the conservative, more solid, players would give away that they had no interest in their hands - preflop. This included things like holding thier cards ready to muck, mucking out of turn. This worked to a huge advantage on my part, especially in middle postion. I had position on one of the loosy goosies, and expected him in on generally every pot. I looked behind me to see if any tougher players would enter, and when I saw them ready to muck, I'd take a look at my hand. If it was generally anything playable, I would toss in a raise to isolate the weak player, who could basically have anything.

Generally most loose weak players will enter many pots, but raise preflop with very good hands (Its easy to know if you have a good preflop hand). So the thing to look for in this type of situation is to see the loose player's post flop play: how far he would go in the hand before giving up (e.g. "peeling one off" to see the turn), what he would take to a showdown (e.g. 2nd pair, Ace high), how often he gives up on the flop without a fight, the types of draws he would go for (e.g. gutshots), what he bets on the flop is important, but not as important as what he check-raises you with (draw, top pair, middle pair). I would not try to isolate if there were people between (that kills the whole point of isolation).

After doing this for a while, the better players noticed that I was raising with inadequate values, so they would call or re-raise me preflop. This however made it easy to put them on a hand. I could get away from my hand and have them face the loosy. I didn't take this too far however, simply because at a certain point because most people will catch on. However, when I thought they didn't I simply reverted back to my standand play, and started getting good action on the times I had a great hand vs a better player's good hand.

The thing I guess to remember is that poker is a relative game. If you can get a player with a junk hand to play against your decent hand, you have the edge. This is only applicable however in heads up situations, the presence of another player may cripple your hand (you may be dominated), and you have to be able to make the right judgement plays post flop.

In closing, poker is a game of people, and realizing what people do gives you the mark of a winning player. I hope all this makes sense and to those who read it get something out of it. I like getting feedback, so please let me know what you think.

QL