Tired of grinding

December 5k - Session 19

2008-12-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $334
Level: $2/4
Hands: 3680

I fought the LAG and the LAG won. Both times I had an overpair against him and got many bets in on the flop and turn, only to be sucked out on at the river.

December 5k - Session 18

2008-12-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $499
Level: $3/6 (Moving down to $2/4)
Hands: 3526

I'm going to move back down to $2/4 next session and build back up to $600. I did three things wrong this session.

1) I got frustrated by a couple suckouts
2) I didn't stop when I started to lose focus
3) I didn't play well

This adds up to taking a break and moving back down for a little while. I'm still aiming at 5000 hands, but it still looks too far away to reach in the next couple days.

December 5k - Session 17

2008-12-19T22:52:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $793.50
Level: $3/6
Hands: 3336

I have my doubts about making 5000 hands before Monday. However, thanks to a couple awesome suckouts I'm still going strong. They turned an average session into a great one.

December 5k - Session 16

2008-12-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $636.00
Level: $3/6
Hands: 3163

I played a slightly extended one-tabling session this morning. I seem to be doing okay and I'm now feeling pretty comfortable with the level, so I'll dive into two tables next time. I've only got $236 to lose at this level, which is just a little under what is needed to run two tables at 40 BB, but if I forget to buy in a touch short at one table, it's no big deal.

December 5k - Session 15

2008-12-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $617.50
Level: $3/6
Hands: 3049

I played a very unfocused session. I'm actually surprised that I'm down so little given how poorly I think I played. I'll probably stay at one table for the next session (which might be later tonight if I become less tired).

December 5k - Session 14

2008-12-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $652.50
Level: $2/4 (Moving up next session)
Hands: 2874

I ran so hot that I didn't even realize that I was anywhere close to having the bankroll to move up to $3/6. I think I'm going to start off with one table and then add the second table once I get comfortable. The last time I took a shot at $3/6, I ran ice-cold and dropped $300 in a few hundred hands. I'm on a shorter leash this time. If I lose $252.50, then I'm moving back down again.

December 5k - Session 13

2008-12-17T19:41:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $349.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 2401

I could have been up more if that one LAG had not kept hitting his hands. He 3-bet me with Q3o and J4s, but each hand he caught up by catching all sorts of stuff. But I still ended up with more than what I started with.

December 5k - Session 12

2008-12-17T17:35:00.001-08:00

Bankroll: $310.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 2177

I'm nearing the halfway point and I'm running out of days before I go home. The Vegas snow is going to keep me at home tonight, which means I'll have time later to run up some more hands.

December 5k - Session 11

2008-12-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $231
Level: $2/4
Hands: 2076

I played a short morning session and lost about $100. I got stubborn in a couple spots and got trapped in a couple others by erratic players.

December 5k - Session 10

2008-12-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $332.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 1965

I caught a massive upswing in tonight's session. Flopped set after flopped set and hitting draws makes the game super easy to play. But even after all of this, I'm still below the $400 mark. But that's okay. I'm quite happy to be close.

December 5k - Session 9

2008-12-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $277.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 1692

I played a short session this morning where I was actually up much higher than where things ended. I'll probably play more tonight after I take care of some work stuff.

December 5k - Session 8

2008-12-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $246.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 1565

It feels good to be catching an upswing after nearly going busto. I've noticed myself in a few spots getting stubborn with my hand and calling down when I shouldn't be, so I'm going to have to be more aware of those situations. The good thing is that I don't ever really feel uncomfortable with too many decisions, and I think I'm a long-term winner at this level. I just need to wait for that long term to come around.

December 5k - Session 7

2008-12-13T22:53:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $168.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 1391

I'm glad the variance is settling down a little bit and that the bankroll is a little more robust. I went back to two tables in the middle of this session. Hopefully, I will not need to drop back down to one table again. I think at this rate, I'll reach my 5000 hands goal after all.

December 5k - Session 6

2008-12-13T15:41:00.001-08:00

Bankroll: $110.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 1100

Today's session went better. I had worked it up as high as $150, but it slipped back down and I'm stuck playing 1-tabling sessions still. This constant 1-tabling is going to keep me from making my goal of 5000 hands.

December 5k - Session 5

2008-12-13T00:32:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $88
Level: $2/4
Hands: 934

I have been reduced to one table due to lack of funds in this project. So I'm racking up half as many hands as I want to. I ran pretty flat tonight even though the first table I was at was going completely bonkers. It's too bad I couldn't hit anything because I could easily have been way up. Instead, it's roughly even with 4000 hands to go.

December 5k - Session 4

2008-12-12T19:17:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $75
Level: $2/4
Hands: 797

Hmmmmm... I don't think I want to talk about this session.

December 5k - Session 3

2008-12-10T22:53:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $176
Level: $2/4
Hands: 545

Running worse than 10 BB/100 is bad news when you take a shot with 100 BB. I was at a table with a showdown-monkey LAG, and couldn't get the cards to keep up with him. The rest was standard variance stuff.

December 5k - Session 2

2008-12-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $286.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 277

I play a little bad and run really bad in a session that lasted less than 100 hands.

December 5k - Session 1

2008-12-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

Bankroll: $484.50
Level: $2/4
Hands: 183

I don't think I have anything exciting to say about tonight's session. It was a short session, and I may play more later tonight after I take care of some business. No hands really stood out to me.

December 5k

2008-12-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

With live limit hold'em going down, I've decided to invest some more time focusing on moving up in the online world. I may also pick up low stakes NL, but that's another story.

I'm taking 100 BB at 2/4 and I'm going to move up/down according to when I have 100 BB for the next level up or down, except I'm never going to play below 2/4. I've long believed that I'm at least 5/10 6-max caliber, but simply lacking in playing time. My goal is to play 5000 hands like this by the end of December (which comes sooner than expected because I'm flying home for Christmas).

ASB - Session 10

2008-10-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

This session: 133 hands, ASB 60 (15/25)
Total: 2471 hands, ASB 53 (257/484)

Light CO steals: 1
Light Bu steals: 2

I ended up at a table with a raving LAG. He cold-capped from BB with T7o and that sort of stuff. Unfortunately, I got hit by the unhappy end of the variance stick and lost a bunch of money. Oh well. I decided to quit after villain left with a lot of my money and before I got tilty.

I accidentally missed a steal from the cutoff. It was a small suited king.

ASB - Session 9

2008-09-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

This session: 159 hands, ASB 50 (16/32)
Total: 2338 hands, ASB 53 (242/459)

Light CO steals: 3
Light Bu steals: 1

I played a short session tonight. I was a bit tired, and I think it showed. There are at least a couple spots where I couldn't even remember what the action was preflop. I had also moved up to 3 tables, but I don't really think that made the difference.

ASB - Session 8

2008-09-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

This session: 266 hands, ASB 43 (30/63)
Total: 2179 hands, ASB 54 (317/745)

Light CO steals: 2
Light Bu steals: 2

I think I'm going to move back up to 3 tables again next time. I'm feeling pretty comfortable with how things are going, and I think can increase the number of hands by 50% without losing much. It's surprising to me how little overall change there is after increasing the ASB, even with it being 10 higher than the goal. This is probably because I failed to account for the effect of SB steals. I'm only up to 36 extra hands played over about 2200. In other words, I'm playing a mere 1.6% more hands than I otherwise would have. This is very close to a negligible change.

However, an internal trend that I'm facing is that I now have to start holding myself back from raising. The most noticeable place that this happens is two off of the button, where I'm still trying to play as closely to my original hand range as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if extra hands are starting to creep up there, causing me to play more hands overall than I intended. After all, I started with a VPIP of 25, and according to my calculations I've only added 1.6 to my VPIP, yet my VPIP is a little above 30. It could be nothing more than variance over a mere 2000 hands, but I suspect it's not. I won't know until I've reached about 5000 hands and can compare the position-by-position numbers.

ASB - Session 7

2008-08-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

This session: 173 hands, ASB 43 (12/28)
Total: 1913 hands, ASB 54 (196/364)

Light CO steals: 3
Light Bu steals: 1

I've only put in about 2000 hands, so it's a little early to check my light steal statistics, but I'm going to do it anyway.

I've got 10 total light button steals for a loss of $12.50 and 22 light cutoff steals for a profit of $5.50. So I'm currently losing money with these extra steals. But again, it's really too early to say a whole lot.

ASB - Session 6

2008-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

This session: 200 hands, ASB 72 (31/43)
Total: 1740 hands, ASB 55 (184/336)

Light CO steals: 2
Light Bu steals: 4

I was a stealing machine this session. My light steals from the button went well, winning 3 of 4, and the last one I lost to a short-stacked player who hit his flush when I hit my straight. The cutoff steals weren't interesting, though I did lose them both.

I finished ahead, but only by a small margin. I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been, which was part of the problem. I was also against slightly more aggressive players this time, as I was 3-bet more often than I usually am.

ASB - Session 5

2008-08-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

This session: 295 hands, ASB 48 (30/62)
Total: 1540 hands, ASB 52 (153/293)

Light CO steals: 3
Light Bu steals: 1

I accidentally misread the chart and raised 96s from the CO. I ended up getting 3-bet by QQ, flopping top pair 633 (which I raised), and rivering a boat to win.

Nothing else interesting happened with respect to raising light. I folded all three of the remaining hands on the flop. I was 3-bet twice and the third was I was donked into on a flop that completely missed me.

ASB - Session 4

2008-08-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

This session: 196 hands, ASB 44 (11/25)
Total: 1245 hands, ASB 53 (123/231)

Light CO steals: 3
Light Bu steals: 1

I suppose I was due for a losing session after being on such a hot run the first three times out. The cards were dead, and I was tired, and that's not a good combination ever.

Nothing much to say here except that I called in a couple spots that I knew I should have folded.

ASB - Session 3

2008-08-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

This session: 299 hands, ASB 43 (20/47)
Total: 1049 hands, ASB 54 (162/361)

Light CO steals: 4
Light Bu steals: 0

Nothing much to say today. These hands played themselves. Bet-fold a total whiff flop, get 3-bet, and fold 3-handed on a whiff flop, flop a pair and turn trips, and one more flop whiff bet-fold.

ASB - Session 2

2008-08-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

This session: 344 hands, ASB 61 (45/74)
Total: 406 hands, ASB 57 (92/159)

Light CO steals: 8
Light Bu steals: 3

With the light CO steals, I won two with no flop. Here is a hand which I think was interesting:

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 7s, Kc.
1 fold, Hero raises, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 6c, 8s, 9h (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button raises, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) Kd (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: (5.25 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button folds.

Final Pot: 5.25 BB

When he checked the turn, I figured him for 9x or 8x, and that he would call a river bet. But his fold there would be incredibly weak, as this was a good bluffing card (even though I really had it). My best guess is that he went for the free card with QJ or maybe JT and chose not to bet the turn (he would have been check-raised).

Here's one where I think paying off the river was a terrible mistake.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qs, 6s.
1 fold, Hero raises, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Jc, 5d, Ad (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) Th (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (3.25 BB) 6c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 5.25 BB

Flush draws generally check-raise the flop, so I should have stuck with my gut that I was behind on the turn and just walk away even though I paired up.

ASB - Session 1

2008-08-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

This session: 406 hands, ASB 55 (47/85)
Total: 406 hands, ASB 55 (47/85)

Light CO steals: 3
Light Bu steals: 1

I wish I had something useful to say about those four hands, but there's nothing to say. Most of my raising hands were ones I would have raised anyway.

ASB 45

2008-08-10T15:27:00.000-07:00

This is my latest poker project (well, besides grinding 10/20 live so that I can move up to 15/30 and 20/40).

In the meantime, one of the areas of my game that is lacking is a very high aggression game. I made a couple twoplustwo posts about it (Micros and Small Stakes Short-Handed) which will provide some background thoughts.

After spending some time reflecting on how I might extend my play to include a high-aggression game, I have decided to start the ASB-45 project. My current ASB is at 35, which is a little too low given that I'm only playing 1/2 6-max. I *should* have an edge on these players which would allow me to play more hands. My goal is to get it up to 45, which is an increase of 30%.

My current steal range looks a lot like that in Stox's book:

CO: 22+, A2s+, A5o+, K7s+, K9o+, Q9s+, QTo+, J8s+, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s = 28.5%
Button: 22+, A2s+, A3o+, K2s+, K9o+, Q5s+, Q9o+, J7s+, J9o+, T7s+, T8o+, 97s+, 98o, 86s+, 75s+, 65s = 40.0%

I must be looser than this as one expects to have more CO steal opportunities than Button stealing opportunities, implying that your ASB should be closer to the CO value than the Button value. Here's how the numbers break down (out of 34242 total hands):

CO steals: 1022/3435 = 29.8%
Button steals: 998/2287 = 43.6%
Overall: 2020/5722 = 35.3%

How can I push my ASB up to 45%? We will start with the assumption that the CO steal to Button steal ratio remains at 3:2. This will help me to balance the two types of steals. I would like my button steal range to be about 50%, which implies that my CO steal range needs to be about 41.7%.

Using the Stox ranges at a platform, I have decided to go with the following ranges:

CO: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K7o+, Q5s+, Q9o+, J7s+, J9o+, T7s+, T8o+, 97s+, 98o, 86s+, 76s = 37.6%
Button: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K5o+, Q5s+, Q7o+, J7s+, J8o+, T7s+, T8o+, 96s+, 97o+, 86s+, 87o, 75s+, 76o, 65s = 50.2%

I am not intentionally going to make any other changes to my game. I'm not going to change how I think about blind defense, overlimping, or iso-raising. Those things will come later.

World Series of Poker (after)

2008-06-07T09:26:00.001-07:00

I only lasted about 4 hours at the WSOP. I was at a tough table (one European online pro, three mid/high stakes players, and an aggressive amateur), so I needed things to break my way more than average to have a chance. There were a couple tough spots I was in, but it was otherwise a fairly standard evening in the poker sense.

At the finish line

2008-06-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

Live: 18.5 hours
Online: 1611 hands
Bankroll: $3,822.10

I formally reached the finish line this afternoon. I also bought my seat to the tournament.

Bankroll: $2,322.10

I'm (essentially) done!

2008-05-31T02:00:00.000-07:00

Live: 18.5 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $3,806.85

Well, I did it. At least the "hard" part of it. I can easily run off the remaining 250 hands online to complete that part of it. But the bankroll is there, so I'm in the WSOP.

Hot hot hot!

2008-05-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

Live: 15 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $3,301.85

I ran very very hot tonight, and in just 5 hours I picked up most of my losses from last week. I could be nearly $100 closer if I had played a couple hands a little differently, but just being back within reach is a major victory for me.

Break-even live session

2008-05-24T02:19:00.000-07:00

Live: 10 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $2,556.85

After a 7 hour session, I ended up down about 4 BBs, which is too bad because now the chances of me reaching my bankroll goal are almost completely gone. I've got the extended weekend, so I'm not completely out of it yet.

Quick morning session

2008-05-22T11:49:00.001-07:00

Live: 3 hours
Online: 1256 hands
Bankroll: $2,644.85

I played 30-40 minute session and ran pretty hot. Of course, I'd much rather run hot in a live game, but I'll take my wins when they come.

Squeezing in a few more hands

2008-05-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

Live: 3 hours
Online: 1033 hands
Bankroll: $2,619.25

I played another session this evening, as I had a bit of free time. As I was quitting, I found my way to this thread on twoplustwo which brought a semi-well known scandal back into the light. It's a long read, and it's both scary and infuriating. I don't play at either site (never have, never will), and while the threat of online cheating does exist (and does happen), my risk is relatively small as I play for small amounts.

A quick online session brings a rebound

2008-05-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Live: 3 hours
Online: 804 hands
Bankroll: $2,593.30

Running hot online is nice, but because of the difference in bet sizes between live and online (30 BB online = 1.5 BB live), having a monster run online will not help me to reach my goal.

It's getting worse

2008-05-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

Live: 3 hours
Online: 631 hands
Bankroll: $2,567.60

Tonight was a crushing blow to my chances of playing in the WSOP this year. Too many runner-runner draws came in to beat me, and I dropped ~35 BB in 3 hours. I've still got time, but I will need to be lucky to make up that much lost ground.

Too tired to play live

2008-05-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

Live: 0 hours
Online: 631 hands
Bankroll: $3258.60

I had intended to go out to the Mirage tonight, but I felt too tired to play so I just ran off a couple hundred hands online instead. I'll try to get out tomorrow afternoon.

Off to a bad start

2008-05-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Live: 0 hours
Online: 339 hands
Bankroll: $3258.40

I sat down to 4-table for the first time tonight, and things ran really poorly. It was a -65 BB swing over a period of less than an hour, mostly due to running into bad spots. I'm going to be lazy and not post hands during this run and just post the running totals.

Taking a shot at the WSOP

2008-05-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a bankroll infusion from the government (economic stimulus package), I think I am close to having enough funds to take a shot at the $1500 limit hold'em event in the World Series of Poker. The event will run from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8.

I plan to enter the tournament if the following conditions are met between now and June 4:

At least 15 hours of live play at 10/20 (Mirage)
At least 1500 hands of online poker
Bankroll > $3500

Right now, the bankroll stands at $3322.70, so variance will have a large role to play in this. If I'm running well, I will easily be over $3500. If I run poorly, the money won't be there and I'll sit out this year.

3103 Hands @ 11.04 BB/100

2008-03-25T23:19:00.000-07:00

I reached my 3100 hands goal, and even reached my pseudo-goal of running hotter than 10 BB/100.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, Ah.
UTG raises, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 4h, 2d, Qd (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls, MP calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) Qh (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls, MP calls.

River: (9.50 BB) Jh (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls, MP raises, Hero calls, UTG folds.

I took a long time before calling here. I'm beat very very often here, but the way that it played out, I didn't really think Qx was a likely hand to see, unless it was QJ. Backdoor flush draws are a little bit sparse as MP would probably have needed a combo draw like A3s or A5s. So after thinking for a while, I decided to go ahead and look him up. It turns out I got beat by JJ.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (3 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Kd.
Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) Ac, 6c, 7d (2 players)
SB checks, Button bets, SB calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 3c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.50 BB) Qh (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

I don't always cap AKo HU in position, though in a 3-handed game I probably should have. Villain's flop play confused me, and I was wondering if he flopped a set on me, which is why I only called on the turn and the river. In retrospect, since I underplayed my hand preflop, I have a little more latitude to put in an extra bet postflop simply because villain will not read my hand quite right.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jd, Ah.
UTG raises, MP calls, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (10.40 SB) 5d, 8h, Ad (3 players)
UTG checks, MP bets, Hero calls, UTG folds.

Turn: (6.20 BB) 8d (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.20 BB) 8s (2 players)
MP bets, Hero raises, MP 3-bets, Hero calls.

Looking back at the experiment, I'm quite amazed at how much money I made because villain put in far too many bets with a second place hand. I thought about raising the flop donk, but with AJ facing an coldcall of an UTGraiser, I figured myself to be in decent shape, but not good enough to face lots of heat. It turns out that villain flopped a flush draw with K4s and caught up on the turn. But the river was odd as anyone can plainly see the trip 8s on the board, so that any pair beats his flush. But he felt it necessary to put in the extra raise (I probably could have raised again expecting to chop often, but I didn't want to feed extra to the rake).

Fatigue is kicking in right now because once again I'm posting this at the end of a work day. So that's all.

2697 Hands @ 11.66 BB/100

2008-03-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm coming close to my 3100 hand goal, and because I'm going to be busy this weekend, I've got to finish this up during the week. I am hoping to squeeze in most of it in tomorrow night.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with As, Jd.

UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, 3 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (5.40 SB) 4h, 5s, Td (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.70 BB) Js (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (10.70 BB) 3s (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

These are spots where I call down even though I often expect to lose (I lost to J4s in this hand). The turn raise is completely standard as many players with Tx or even 5x/4x/medium pocket pairs will call down. Getting 3-bet is unfortunate, but unless the player is particularly passive (in which case it would call into question the turn raise), the pot is large enough that I don't mind going to showdown.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (3 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, 6h.
Button calls, Hero raises, BB calls, Button

Flop: (6 SB) Ah, 2c, Kc (3 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, Button calls.

Turn: (4 BB) Jc (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6 BB) 5d (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Against a player who sees too many flops, this out of position isolation raise is quite standard for me. BB called, which is unfortunate, but it still isn't terrible. Flopping top pair in a 3-handed pot means that I'm going to showdown, and if I get raised anywhere I simply go into calldown mode. In this hand, Button called down with T2o. Players who open-limp that hand on the button are prime candidates for isolation both in and out of position.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, 4h.
1 fold, MP calls, Button raises, 2 folds, MP calls.

Flop: (5.40 SB) 4c, Td, 3c (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets, MP calls.

Turn: (3.70 BB) 3s (2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (5.70 BB) As (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Villain's river donk here puts me to an interesting decision between raising and calling. Folding is clearly not an option. Given that villain has gotten this far the way that he has, it's not clear what his hand range is. Potentially, he has been chasing Ax, in which case he will call if I raise. Alternatively, he is donk-bluffing some overcard type hand. Other possibilities include a strangely played 3x and 25 for the flopped straight draw (though this is discounted because of hand selection).

I tend to play this spot a little more passively than some and simply call. The reason is that much of his hand range simply cannot call a raise (however, if he's known to be calling the river with all sorts of weak hands, then raising again becomes an option). Most pocket pairs will bet/fold this, as would 4x and sometimes even Tx hands. In this case, villain had Q8s for a flopped no pair and no draw, and I have very little sense of why he would call the flop and turn with that hand. But again, I'm not responsible for knowing why they do things the way they do.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kh, Ks.
Hero raises, 3 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.40 SB) Qc, 4d, Jd (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.20 BB) 2s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

River: (7.20 BB) 3h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

This is a spot where I play a weaker game than I should. In the more aggressive environment of 6-max games, an overpair is worth a 3-bet on the turn in a heads up pot. Once villain checked the river to me, it once again becomes an easy value bet.

Hand #5:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kd, Jc.

2 folds, CO calls, Hero raises, 1 fold, BB calls, CO folds.

Flop: (5.40 SB) Tc, Ks, Th (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.70 BB) Jd (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (5.70 BB) 8c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

This is another type of hand where passive play rules over aggressive play. The board is moderately scary, but not scary enough to fold. The connectedness of the board opens up semibluffing opportunities, which is why I need to keep calling, but my hand strength on this paired board is not enough to withstand a lot of action, so I need to make sure I limit the number of bets that go into the pot. I won this hand against A5o, which is a bit of a surprise because that's about the weakest type of hand I can imagine getting involved here.

Hand #6:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Qs, Qh.
UTG calls, 1 fold, CO raises, Button 3-bets, Hero caps, 1 fold, UTG calls, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (17 SB) 6h, Ts, Qd (4 players)

Hero bets, UTG calls, CO raises, Button 3-bets, Hero caps, UTG calls $0.75 (All-In), CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (15.50 BB) 3c (4 players, 1 all-in)
Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls.

River: (18.50 BB) 2d (4 players, 1 all-in)
Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls.

This hand was my first at the table, so I had no read on the aggression of the other players. However, capping preflop is completely standard in unknown situations, and flopping the nuts is clearly a bet/raise situation. I find this to be somewhat funny because UTG called all-in with 33 and turned a set. I don't know if I won more or less than I would have if he had a deep stack because he may not have called the flop if he had lots more money behind.

I'd post more, but I'm too tired.

2461 Hands @ 11.17 BB/100

2008-03-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to find myself at a table with a maniac at it, and even though I was on the opposite end of the table from him, I was able to capitalize on it and take a good number of bets off of him.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Td, Ts.
UTG calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 2s, Kd, 7s (3 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) Ad (3 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, Hero calls.

River: (9.50 BB) Ac (3 players)
SB bets, UTG folds, Hero calls.

One of the advantages to not being directly next to the maniac is that you have position on the rest of the table since the maniac will be leading the action most of the time. I am definitely playing for a cheap showdown with my marginal hand, and I probably do not overcall if UTG calls in front of me. The reason is that this flop offers very little for him to hit that doesn't beat me. The turn card made it worse for me against his hand range as now even a hand like A2 or A7 is better than mine. But as soon as he folds, this becomes an easy call. Maniac shows 93o and loses.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7h, 7d.

UTG raises, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, SB calls, 1 fold, UTG caps, Hero calls, SB calls.

Flop: (13 SB) 2h, 5d, 2s (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, SB folds, UTG 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (9.50 BB) Td (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (11.50 BB) Ks (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

The preflop 3-bet is a standard isolation 3-bet, and when SB comes along to the flop, I have to also raise the flop to knock him off of his overcards. Once that happens, I have no problem just calling down again. He had 83s this time and lost again.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with 7d, 7s.

1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, SB caps, 1 fold, Hero calls, Button calls.

Flop: (13 SB) 2d, Td, Ts (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, Button folds, SB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (9.50 BB) 9d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (11.50 BB) Ad (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Knowing the results, I missed a value bet here, but I'm not sure if a 7-high flush is enough to bet and call a raise. I am definitely showing down any reasonable hand here, so the question is whether I think it's worth two bets on the river or not. And even though I might be good, paying off a river check-raise probably loses more money than what I make from making value bets and having him call with random pairs. He had a good preflop hand this time with AKs, but he still lost.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qh, Ks.
Hero raises, 2 folds, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.40 SB) Ad, 5h, Jd (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.70 BB) 8d (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.70 BB) 2h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

This hand highlights something rather subtle about this maniac. He didn't bet the river with his weak made hand (53s), but he's 100% willing to bluff his nothing hands. In a certain sense, this hurts him because now he fails to collect on hands when he actually has something, but then he loses money when he has nothing. It's rather strange, but some players simply do not think through their actions enough (and that's perfectly fine with me).

2293 Hands @ 10.50 BB/100

2008-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

I just played a short session that got interrupted by an offer to play some backgammon. No hands will be posted.

2000 Hands @ 9.95 BB/100

2008-03-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

I may try to squeeze in a late session late tonight. I happened to stop precisely at the 100 hands/day rate, but given that my weekend will be occupied, I should probably get those hands in sooner rather than later. Sadly, I ran into a lot of sets in this 200 hand session, so I'm down from where I was before, but still overall running quite hot. I'm only going to post one hand.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kh, 2h. UTG posts a blind of $0.35.
UTG (poster) checks, MP calls, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5.80 SB) 2c, 3s, Kd (5 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls, MP folds, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG folds, Button calls.

Turn: (6.40 BB) 5d (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (8.40 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Given the action, button is sitting on a king most of the time. What this means is that on the river, I have been counterfeited and I lose. At the time, I decided to bet hoping to see a medium pocket pair or something, but in retrospect that was highly erroneous. I should definitely check, and while I would like to think I can check-fold, most likely I end up check-calling in hopes to catch a bluff from said medium pocket pair. But really, I would prefer to get to showdown for zero bets.

1777 Hands @ 11.68 BB/100

2008-03-20T16:48:00.001-07:00

I played a short 40 minute session this afternoon and ran super-hot. I'll probably play again this evening.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Js.
UTG calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 3d, Kh, Ah (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets, UTG folds, Hero calls, SB calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 9d (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero calls, SB calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 3s (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero calls, SB folds.

I was quite close to raising this guy on the flop. He was pretty aggressive and I was trying to figure him out. I decided to take the more cautious showdown route instead of the more aggressive raising and folding route. He had 63 of hearts and caught me on the river.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Jh, Js. MP posts a blind of $0.25.
1 fold, MP (poster) checks, 2 folds, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, MP calls, Hero caps, BB calls, MP calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 8h, 7h, Jc (3 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, MP 3-bets, Hero caps, BB calls, MP calls.

Turn: (12 BB) 8c (3 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, MP 3-bets, Hero caps, MP raises, Hero calls.

River: (20.50 BB) 4c (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls $0.30 (All-In).

This hand is being posted more for amusement value. The preflop 3-bettor had T6s and the unfortunate poster had J8s for the brutal cooler. One hand and busto is not a fun experience.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ts, Tc.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (7.40 SB) 2d, 2h, 7s (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets, MP calls, CO calls.

Turn: (5.20 BB) Kc (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets, MP folds, CO calls.

River: (7.20 BB) 6c (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets, CO calls.

This is a thin value betting spot that some players miss. It is possible that CO has Kx here because of a loose flop peel. However, he also often has Ax and will show it down, or has 7x or a pocket pair. I'm probably best about 2/3 of the time when he calls, which means about 1/3 of the time, I expect him to turn over Kx and win. But winning 2/3 of the time and losing 1/3 of time is still a profit.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (4 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6h, 7c.
UTG calls, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (3 SB) 8h, 5s, 6d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG raises, SB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.50 BB) 9c (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG calls.

River: (9.50 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

The flop bet is standard with an OESD and pair in a limped pot. When I hit my hand on the turn, I believe that leading is better than checking. Villain has lots of reasons to check behind. The turn is an overcard and there is a 4-straight on the board. His turn raise here is awful given that he has A6. But what is even worse is that he called down.

1563 Hands @ 10.64 BB/100

2008-03-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

I have once again stumbled into the realm of running insanely hot. The actual session stats were 163 hands @ 42.45 BB/100. Most of the profit was from unusually aggressive players who lacked restraint.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ad, As.
1 fold, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB caps, Hero calls, Button calls.

Flop: (12.40 SB) Qh, Qd, Th (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button folds, BB calls.

Turn: (7.20 BB) 8s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (7.20 BB) 8c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

I didn't have a lot to work with on BB this hand. Against all but the uber-tricky players, it's reasonably easy to conclude that AA is best here (but not strong enough to 3-bet because I may not get called and I can't fold to a cap). The flop check from BB is somewhat scary because slowplayed hands often start this way. It would take a very tricky player to do this with Qx or JJ because of the high probability that this is getting checked behind by all of my A-high hands. Therefore, betting is correct, as is calling the raise. In this hand, he held A2 of clubs for a really strange line with a weak hand.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kd, Ah.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Button calls, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MP calls, Button calls.

Flop: (10 SB) As, 8s, 3s (3 players)
Hero bets, MP raises, Button calls, Hero 3-bets, MP folds, Button calls.

Turn: (9 BB) 8d (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (11 BB) 9h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Some might argue that the river should be a value bet. However, I disagree that this is the best play except in the case where villain calls with a very very very wide range of hands. Most missed flush draws are going to fold. A hand like 8x might find a value raise because the flush didn't come in (and I would also call a raise because the flush didn't come in on the chance that villain is bluffing his missed flush draw -- but I wouldn't like it). A weaker ace may also try to value bet on the river once I check as well. There are many more things that go well when I check than when I bet. This makes checking and calling better than betting.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ks, Kd.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, SB 3-bets, Hero caps, MP calls, SB calls.

Flop: (12 SB) Ts, Jc, Kh (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, MP folds, SB calls.

Turn: (8 BB) Qd (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: (8 BB) 4s (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Villain in this hand was a known aggressive player. This made the turn check even easier than usual. But in general, I don't want to put in too many bets with my hand because it's quite likely that I'm beat. Ideally, I would like to put in exactly one bet, but I'll settle for two if it happens. A check here dramatically alters villain's hand range and skews it so that it includes many many more bluffs. I'll also get a lot of value bets from worse hands such as smaller sets and two pairs.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Jh, Jd.
UTG raises, 2 folds, Button calls, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 4d, 7d, 5c (4 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls, Button folds.

Turn: (7.50 BB) 3d (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

River: (10.50 BB) 7s (3 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, UTG folds, Hero calls.

I probably should not have bet this river, though calling the raise is right against this player. He has already shown down more than a few river bluffs, so I was intent on showing down my overpair. But the problem with betting is that this takes awaysome of his bluffing opportunities because sometimes he'll decide that he doesn't want to bluff and just fold. In this hand, he trapped me with KK.

Hand #5:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5h, 7d.
UTG calls, 3 folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (3 SB) 4d, Js, 5s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, SB calls.

Turn: (3 BB) 4s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, SB folds.

River: (5 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

This hand was against the same opponent as the previous one. I got this one right. In this hand, he bluffed with QTo on the end, and I have no idea why he called the turn bet. But I don't really need to understand why he decides to play the way he does, I need to know how to take advantage of those situations. Check-calling instead of betting is one of those ways.

1400 Hands @ 6.94 BB/100

2008-03-15T20:49:00.001-07:00

After taking a break in the afternoon and doing some other enjoyable activities, I sat down for another short session.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 2s, Td.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 8h, 6s, 6c (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, Button checks.

Turn: (2 BB) 6h (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, Button checks.

River: (2 BB) Ts (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG folds, Button raises, SB folds, Hero calls.

In this hand, villain slowplayed his quads all the way until the end and milked an extra 2 BB out of me for his efforts. It happens sometimes, and it's not a big deal when it does unless you put in a 3rd bet on the river. Then you're spewing.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9h, 9s.
1 fold, MP calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, BB calls, MP calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 2h, 3c, 3h (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, MP calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Qd (3 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, MP raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 4s (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

I noticed that villain was a bit on the loose-aggro side, so I was prepared to show this down as long as another overcard did not fall. Instead, he gave me the pleasure of seeing the showdown. He had Q2o, which is an example of how loose he was.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8s, 8h.
Hero raises, MP calls, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (11 SB) 2s, 7c, 9c (5 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, CO calls, Button folds, SB folds.

Turn: (7 BB) 5h (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, CO calls.

River: (10 BB) 9s (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, CO calls.

This is a standard value betting hand, especially when the river pairs the top card. I have to fold to a raise from anyone here because this table was quite loose-passive. At loose-passive tables, the value bet is the most important tool to have. I got called down by T7s and A2o here.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6s, 7s.
1 fold, MP calls, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 3c, 5s, 4h (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP folds, Button calls, SB folds.

Turn: (3 BB) Ks (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (5 BB) Ah (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

Here is a slowplay gone wrong for villain. He limped AA from the button after two players were already in the pot instead of raising. That let me in for free, and I flopped the nuts. Fortunately for him, his passive play also saved him bets on the flop and turn.

1240 Hands @ 7.98 BB/100

2008-03-15T13:11:00.001-07:00

I cut my session short this afternoon because my focus wasn't there. I made a couple really bad bets and a couple really stupid calls. I still picked up a few more BBs, but I could have done much better. Here's the hand that signaled the immediate end to my session:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Jc, Ac.
Hero raises, MP calls, 3 folds.

Flop: (5.40 SB) Qc, 9h, Kc (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Turn: (3.70 BB) 3d (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (5.70 BB) 6d (2 players)
Hero bets, MP raises, Hero calls.

1068 Hands @ 8.71 BB/100

2008-03-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight's session features one of my favorite types of opponents to play against when you have position: The maniac. This is the type of player who players 80% or more of his hands, and 50% or more of those are for raises. I have to admit I only did a mediocre job. I wasn't aggressive enough postflop.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ad, Td.
UTG raises, 3 folds, Hero 3-bets, UTG caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (8.40 SB) 3c, Kd, 7d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.20 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.20 BB) 4s (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.20 BB

Now in general, ATs is a 3-betting hand in my book. Against this player, I would go significantly lower. How low? A2s seems pretty good to me. And I'm willing to simply check-call to the end unimproved out of position. He bets 100% of the time when checked to, especially if he has the lead. I lost in this hand to KJo. Loss of 4.5 BB. That's how it goes.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kd, Qd.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, MP caps, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: (12.40 SB) 5d, Qs, As (3 players)
BB checks, MP bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

Turn: (7.70 BB) 4c (3 players)
BB checks, MP bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

River: (10.70 BB) 8h (3 players)
BB checks, MP bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

Final Pot: 13.70 BB

This was a more interesting hand because of the presence of the third player. Everybody is going to adjust to the maniac. Not everyone knows how to adjust. You raise more preflop to isolate when you can, and you call down more often with your mediocre hands, and you try to extract as much value as possible postflop with your made hands (top pair and above). This particular player seemed to be doing okay. I was more worried about being behind him than I was the maniac.

The seat to the left of the maniac is best because it gives you the first shot at his money, but what it also means is that you're going to have to make tougher decisions in multiway pots. In this case, my hand is strong enough to call and hope I beat the other player. The ace is very worrisome because lots of the hands that would call a 3-bet from the big blind contain aces. The rest of the range is something like pocket pairs and broadway (though I wouldn't generally recommend calling with the weaker offsuit broadway). We both lost in this hand to 54s. Another 4.5 BB gone.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Qh, Tc.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 3 folds, MP caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.40 SB) 5s, Ad, Ks (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.70 BB) 2s (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.70 BB) Td (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.70 BB

QTo looks like a weak hand, and it is. But against a player who is raising nearly 70% of his hands, it stands up quite well because I very often have two overcards to his hand, and even when I don't I have two overcards to his bottom card. Given position as well, this is worth playing. Postflop is a little more dicey in this case. I'm not quite as comfortable going to the end with Q-high as I am with A-high. On this board, given my draw, I would make a sort of "game-theoretic" calldown unimproved (because I do beat enough bluffs). I'll often lose to some random pair and sometimes I'll lose to a stronger hand, but that's how it goes. In this case, the river ten saved me from his 66. 4.5 BB coming my way.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9c, Qc.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 3 folds, MP calls.

Flop: (7.40 SB) 7d, 9s, Tc (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.70 BB) 6d (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.70 BB) Ah (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.70 BB

Even though QTo is a hand I'm willing to play and Q9s is somewhat better than QTo, I don't think I would go much below Q8s. The reason is that the suitedness does not significantly help your hand. You will sometimes flop flush draws that you'll be forced to chase (and miss 65% of the time). So I'm really looking for hands that can help me get to showdown. This also means that hands like 98s also go down in value.

I lost to T5o. 4 BB going his way.

Hand #5:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9d, 9s.
Hero raises, 4 folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.40 SB) Th, 9h, 6c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.20 BB) 5h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.20 BB) Kd (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.20 BB

This hand is more interesting because I'm the first one to raise the pot. 99 would often be a value capping hand, but in this case, I simply call the 3-bet. The reason is that I'm already thinking about getting to showdown, and I would much rather have him take the lead and bet whatever garbage he has instead of trying to take his initiative away and be stuck with the question of whether to value bet. Also, if I cap and he still leads into me, this is more often a value bet than a pure bluff.

At this point, I had enough information to put in another raise on the turn and still call down. My failure to do so cost me at least 1 BB, but more likely 2 BB. One psychological aspect of playing a maniac is that you hate to put in extra bets with the worst hand and reward him for his screwy play. You don't mind calling down, but you hate when he gets in a value raise on you and you're still calling down. I would raise this turn almost all the time against a regular player, so why not do it with a very aggressive player? It's all in my head.

I won this one against KQo. I win 5 BB. Notice that I win more than I lose. This is one of the key elements of playing against a maniac. You will get more wins than losses because you're more selective. But when you win, you must make sure that you win at least as much (if not more) than you lose when you have a strong hand than when you have a weak hand.

Hand #6:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 5d, 5h.
Hero raises, 2 folds, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (6.40 SB) Qs, 7d, 2h (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button folds, BB calls.

Turn: (4.20 BB) 3c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (6.20 BB) 2c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.20 BB

This was somewhat earlier in the session. I already knew he was a maniac, but the rest of the table didn't know me. Their HUD stats were pretty tight, and I was taking advantage of that by raising this hand to try to get heads up with the maniac. It worked. This is a bad play in a setting where players are too willing to see flops with the maniac. You won't get the isolation and you won't be in good shape with your small pair.

This was one of the few hands where the maniac was on the passive side. I'm not sure why. There is no reason on the river donk to think he has trip 2s. However, what this means is that he is often bluffing and will not call if I raise. But he might 3-bet if I raise, and I don't want to put in 3 bets on the river with my tiny pair. So the call on the end is standard. Another line to take is to value check the turn and call a river bet blindly.

There were a few other hands, but they were all pretty straight-forward. I think these are the more interesting ones.

836 Hands @ 10.23 BB/100

2008-03-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

Another video attempt was aborted due to a horseament invitation. This one was going better than the previous one, but I still need to do a lot of practice with the simultaneous talking, playing, and observing. My brain processes words faster than I can say them, so I find I'm sometimes stumbling around with my words because I have so much going on at once. I think I need to take more time in general with my actions (even if I know precisely what I'm going to do) so that I can say what I want to say and not feel rushed.

798 Hands @ 9.71 BB/100

2008-03-08T12:11:00.001-08:00

I played a short one-tabling session as I was practicing making a video about developing reads. The video wasn't going that well and the session was interrupted with an invitation to play a horseament. So I abandoned the practice video and went to play and win the tournament.

I'm not going to post any hands from the session because none were all that interesting.

761 Hands @ 9.97 BB/100

2008-03-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

I'm keeping on the 100 hands/day pace, which is nice. Tonight's session featured a lot more donking and random aggression from my opponents than in my previous few sessions. It was also the first session for which I had my HUD running the way I wanted to, so that I could spend more mental energy paying attention to the action.

Hand #1

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with As, Kd.
UTG calls, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (10.40 SB) Ah, Jd, 7d (3 players)
UTG checks, MP bets, Hero calls, UTG folds.

Turn: (6.20 BB) 9s (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.20 BB) 3c (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Part of me thinks I played this hand right and part of me thinks I played it wrong. The reason I think I played this right is because from villain's flop donk onward, I think a raise lets him get away from his worse hands and that a call allows him to keep firing with whatever he has. In this case, he had TT and a raise at any point would probably have made him fold. But looking at the board texture, it's possible that there are enough worse hands that would get stuck calling at least the flop and turn raise, as KQ/KJ/AQ and whatever suited diamond hands he might raise preflop would be stuck. Also, a raise is a more effective way to shut out UTG from the pot in case he's chasing a 5-outer. Sometimes I think there is too much weight put on knocking out other hands in short-handed pots.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Qc.
UTG raises, MP calls, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, 2 folds, UTG caps, MP calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (13.40 SB) 3s, Ac, 9c (3 players)
UTG bets, MP folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (7.70 BB) Jc (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (9.70 BB) Ks (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

At the time this hand went down, I didn't have any relevant stats on villain. But this is a standard WA/WB line that I take very often when I'm against aggressive players (or players who might tip towards being aggressive) that I don't have a decent read on. Just as in the previous hand, raises may allow villain to get away from his hand if its worse. In this case, villain had QTs of the wrong suit and caught the runner-runner straight.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with As, Jc.
1 fold, MP calls, 2 folds, BB raises, MP calls.

Flop: (4.40 SB) 4d, 6c, 7s (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Turn: (3.20 BB) 3d (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (5.20 BB) Jh (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

To me, the turn bet here with ace-high is pretty standard. Even though the board is very connected, it's also very low and unlikely to have hit MP's hand range very well. The low flop is also a good opportunity for worse hands like Q9 to peel one off. This makes my bet a value bet against a lot of hands. Rivering top pair turns this into a value bet on the end. I would often just check-fold UI here, but in some spots a check-call is better if I think villain is the type to bluff K/Q-high. This hand, villain limped in with the mighty 84s and I was actually chasing all the way to the end.

Hand #4

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ac, Td.
2 folds, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, CO calls.

Flop: (9.40 SB) Th, 9c, 2s (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

Turn: (6.20 BB) 7c (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

River: (9.20 BB) Qs (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets, Hero calls, BB folds.

Some players are a little hesitant to 3-bet with ATo. I think ATo is a very close 3-bet, as A9o is not a 3-betting hand. I messed up on the flop in this hand. Unlike the other top pair hands that came before this one, I have a vulnerable top pair hand. I would really like to see a hand like KQ go away. A flop donk here is much less likely to represent an overpair due to the lack of a preflop cap. Sometiems QQ/JJ might play timidly like this, but that's probably the exception. I took this hand down against KTo.

Hand #5

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Th, Ad.
UTG calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (8 SB) Jh, 6d, 3c (4 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) Td (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, Hero calls, SB calls.

River: (8.50 BB) Js (3 players)
SB bets, UTG calls, Hero calls.

This hand was played at one of the more aggressive tables I was at. Aggressive tables are harder because you will often be stuck making lots of marginal decisions.

The flop peel getting 10:1 is a tiny bit on the loose side, but based on the table read at the time, SB's donk didn't necessarily mean a J, nor did UTG's call. Having position on everyone is a helpful part of this hand as I wouldn't be able to check-call this if I were somehow in SB's position postflop.

The turn check by SB made me think he was on some sort of medium pocket pair, but then UTG's lead had me thinking for a while. There simply aren't a lot of Tx hands that UTG is likely to hold here. Running the hand through my head, it was conceivable that UTG was playing against SB's weakness. I was running low on time and decided that if I could get to showdown for two bets, I would do so.

The lead by SB didn't bother me at all. And when UTG flat called instead of raising, I knew I likely had the best hand, but probably not enough of a hand to raise for value. The reason is that a value raise here doesn't always get called, especially if villains are holding pocket pairs or hands of similar strength.

The results are really wacky as it was 64s and 54o against my ATo at showdown. Those hands would be in the bottom 99% of hands I was anticipating here.

Hand #6:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (4 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ac, 7d.
Hero raises, 2 folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.40 SB) Jh, As, 6s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.20 BB) 9c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.20 BB) 6h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

This was early in the session, and I had a tentative read that BB was a bit of a random-LAG. He seemed to put in bets in odd spots and his lines often didn't seem to add up to anything rational. Even at the point of the preflop call, I was considering whether I should just call down. I decided that my read wasn't strong enough that blindly calling down would be appropriate, but I did decide that any pair was getting to showdown, including if the board were paired. BB showed a mighty 82o and my random-LAG read was confirmed.

Hand #7:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ks, Kh.
UTG calls, 1 fold, CO calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, UTG calls, CO calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 3h, 5d, Ah (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls, CO folds.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 9s (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 8d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

This was a bad calldown. In general, the flop call/turn raise line is scary and implies strong hands unless there is a read that would suggest otherwise. No such read existed, so I should have folded my not-top-pair hand to the turn raise. But instead, I called down and lost to a set of 5s.

Hand #8:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kc, Qd.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, MP calls.

Flop: (7.40 SB) Jh, Th, 3h (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.70 BB) 9s (2 players)
MP bets, Button raises, MP calls.

River: (8.70 BB) 7h (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

The river check is very standard here. MP's flop lead and turn bet-call is usually an indication of some sort of high heart. The ace of hearts is often found playing this way, though sometimes it's the K or Q of hearts. I would have value bet any non-heart. Villain surprised me this time around with QTo, which was the first loose raise I saw from him at this point in the session. I am inclined to believe that he would have called a river bet.

Hand #9:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qh, Kc.
Hero raises, 1 fold, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 4d, Ks, As (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, CO folds, Button raises, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (7 BB) Qc (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

River: (13 BB) 5h (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

I don't often donk the turn like this, but it is a good spot for a bet/3-bet as there are many Ax hands who will think their hand is still good and raise, then be unable to fold. The turn check-raise line is also acceptable, but if you think you can squeeze a bet/3-bet you should go for it.

Hand #10:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jh, Kd.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (7.40 SB) 6d, 9h, 9c (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets, MP folds, CO calls.

Turn: (4.70 BB) Qs (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (6.70 BB) Th (2 players)
CO checks, Hero bets, CO calls.

The more I think about this hand, the more I think that this should have been a turn check, but it's close. It is often the case that A-high hands and medium pairs that call the flop are looking to show down. Also, the 99x flop does hit a moderate amount of the limping ranges, so I think a check-raise happens here somewhat often. I was ahead of KTo the whole time in this hand, and that was probably the best case scenario for me.

Hand #11:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Qs, Jh.
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 2d, 7s, 3d (3 players)

SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: (3 BB) 4c (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (3 BB) 2h (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

I have to admit that I probably c-bet too often. But I found a good spot for a check behind because in order for me to win this, I would likely have to bet twice, and sometimes I would have to bet three times to fold out the wide range of A-high and K-high hands that would call to chase. So I decided to just check behind and give up UI. Strangely enough, I won against two Q6o hands here.

Hand #12:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9h, Jh.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 4c, Th, 2h (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG bets, Hero calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Turn: (3.50 BB) 4d (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks.

River: (3.50 BB) Qh (3 players)
SB bets, UTG folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero caps, SB calls.

Sometimes I raise this preflop when the blinds are tight, but in this case they were too loose for me to isolate against a player with lots of dead money in the pot. At higher level games, I probably don't cap the river, but at this level players very often overvalue their hands and put in too many bets with strong hands despite scary boards. He lost with K4o in this hand.

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 6h, 6c.
Hero raises, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, SB calls, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 5s, 3c, Th (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 6s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB calls.

River: (9.50 BB) Qd (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB folds.

If SB had not called the flop, I would have check-raised. I'm ahead of overcards most of the time here, but when the third player comes along I need to treat carefully. When the good turn card fell, I went for a bet/3-bet because a hand like AK is often going to check through and I lose too much value. Even if I just get called, it's better than not getting any bets at all. This hand is a pretty easy win, but I was surprised by what I beat. Button 3-bet me with A5s.

468 hands @ 2.46 BB/100

2008-03-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

I played a one hour session this evening. I spent a little more time trying to customize my HUD and I think I've finally gotten everything the way I want it... almost... I'm still have some issues getting PAHUD to do the preferred seating correctly, and I'm not sure what the deal is. I think I'll have to one-table for a while and mess around with the settings to see if I can get it right. I feel like it should be straight-forward, so maybe I'm just overlooking something obvious.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qc, Ac.

UTG calls, MP calls, 2 folds, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG calls, MP folds, SB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Jd, Qd, Th (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 7s (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG calls.

River: (9.50 BB) 7h (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG folds.

Final Pot: 11.50 BB

This is a pretty awful flop for me even though I have TPTK. The calldown is in the desperate hope to see KQ or 99 or maybe AJ/KJ. Since it went for 3 bets preflop, the pot is large enough that folding TPTK is essentially out of the question. I lost to JJ in this hand.

Hand #2:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Js, Ac.
2 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, CO calls.

Flop: (6.40 SB) Jc, 3h, Ts (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Turn: (4.20 BB) 5h (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (6.20 BB) 8d (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Final Pot: 8.20 BB

This is a pretty standard 3-bet preflop, and postflop play is obvious. What is more intersting in this hand is that I got called down by K9s. This isn't the first K-high calldown that I've seen at this level, which is an indication of just how soft the games are at these stakes. It also means that I need to be aware of who is calling down light, so that I don't try to bet them out of the pot and so that I make sure to value bet a little lighter.

Hand #3:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ts, Ah.
UTG calls, MP calls, CO raises, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (9 SB) Th, 2d, 5c (4 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets, SB calls, UTG calls, MP folds.

Turn: (6 BB) Jd (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, SB calls, UTG calls.

River: (9 BB) Kc (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 9 BB

This hand stands as an example of the types of loose flop peels I've been seeing a lot of at this level. The villain who won the pot had J6s. The other player flopped middle pair with A5o.

Hand #4:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Ts.
UTG calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 7c, Jh, 6h (4 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, Hero raises, SB calls, UTG folds.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 6d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB folds.

Final Pot: 6.50 BB

This hand was a misclick that went well for me (for a change). I thought the action was checked to me, and I was suprised and a bit annoyed to see that I had just raised a bet. When it was heads up on the turn, I decided to go ahead and treat this hand like a pure bluff, betting the turn and the river. But wait! Didn't I just say that I was getting called down somewhat lightly? Yes. But I also said that not every player was playing that way.

Hand #5:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7d, Ad.
2 folds, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.40 SB) Ks, 8d, 6d (2 players)

Hero checks, CO bets, Hero raises, CO 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.20 BB) Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

River: (5.20 BB) Ah (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Final Pot: 7.20 BB

Here is a bit of hand reading. When a player who generally aggressive player goes for 3 bets on the flop but then checks behind on the turn, he was either playing a draw or playing a medium-strength hand and wants to showdown for one bet. I believe it is more often the medium-strength hands because an aggressive player will hope to bluff you off your hand by betting the turn. So on the end, you shouldn't be bluffing very often, but you should be value betting anything from flopped middle pair with a strong kicker and up. In this hand, he had 98o.

Hand #6:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 6d, As.
UTG calls, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: (4.40 SB) Qs, Ah, 8c (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets, BB raises, UTG folds, MP folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.20 BB) 7h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.20 BB) 7c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.20 BB

This table was playing pretty loose preflop and pretty bad postflop, so I decided to go ahead and take a flop with a weak ace. Against one limper, I would decide between raising and folding.

In this hand, BB had Q8o for flopped two pair and played it pretty badly. You should be leading your strong hands out of position because check-raising minimizes the amount you can win from weaker hands when the bet comes from late position. And in a 4-person pot, there's no particular reason to believe that someone will even bet it for you.

And yes, I sucked out.

Hand #7:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 6s, 6d.
Hero raises, MP calls, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero calls, MP caps, Button calls, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (16.40 SB) 8s, 8h, 9d (4 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP bets, Button calls, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (9.70 BB) 3c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Button calls, Hero calls.

River: (12.70 BB) 9c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: 12.70 BB

Here's a big pot that I nearly won, but the board didn't cooperate with me. The preflop 3 bet was far more worrisome than the preflop cap. The cap comes from a player who plays a lot of hands, and could be capping for no reason other than he wants to cap. Usually, coldcall cap hands are not strong hands, but those medium-strength drawing hands and pocket pairs.

Looking at the flop size and texture, I felt there was a pretty reasonable chance I was ahead, plus I had a couple outs for which I was almost getting immediate odds to chase. On the turn, there was no reason to think that anyone's hands changed, so I called another bet, looking for the river to tell me what to do. I would check-fold to an A or K on the river and I would often check-fold if it were bet and called in front of me. I lost to ATo (3-bettor) and A3s (capper).

I would post a couple more, but it's getting late and I should go to bed.

Hands from March 1

2008-03-01T23:18:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to get back in the habit of posting hands that I find interesting giving some commentaries on them.

Hand #1:

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (4 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with As, 6s.
UTG calls, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 3c, Ac, Tc (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, Button folds, SB calls.

Turn: (3.50 BB) Kc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks...

When I see this flop 4 handed, I assume that someone is holding a club. If it were 2 handed, I think such an assumption would be irrational, and if it were 3-handed, I think it's dicey, but I don't think you should assume that you're automatically beat by a club. If you assume that there's a 25% chance of each of villain's hole card being a club (a false assumption because you already know 3 clubs out, plus 2 non-clubs), you'll find the following probabilities for there being a club against you:

1 villain: 44%
2 villains: 68%
3 villains: 82%

The assumptions here tend to overestimate the chances of being against a club, but I think for 2 and 3 villains, getting called on the flop generally skews the probabilities towards clubs (medium clubs, usually), so I think they're pretty safe numbers to be using.

Ironically, after I checked, this got checked through and the river was a 5th club. Nobody bet at it, and nobody had a club and it got chopped 3-ways.

Hand #2:
PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3c, As. MP posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG calls, MP (poster) checks, 2 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) Kd, Ah, 4c (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks.

Turn: (2 BB) 6c (4 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls, MP folds.

River: (4 BB) Ac (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

Final Pot: 6 BB

This is a classic spot to "check and see" when out of position with a medium-strength hand. I could be persuaded to bet here, but I think checking is correct. I might end up writing a short article for the 2+2 micros, so I don't want to spend a lot of time now typing out my thoughts. Here are the considerations when deciding between betting and checking:

* How many other players are in the pot?
* What are the chances of this being bet by worse hands?
* What are the chances of getting raised by worse hands?
* What draws are available?
* What are the chances that a free card would sink your hand?

As these variables change, you should become more or less inclined to lead out instead of checking.

Hand #3

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kd, Ks. MP posts a blind of $0.25.
Hero raises, MP (poster) calls, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Jd, 9s, 5d (5 players)
SB bets, BB folds, Hero raises, MP folds, Button calls, SB calls.

Turn: (8 BB) Kc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button raises, SB calls, Hero 3-bets, Button calls, SB calls.

River: (17 BB) 7s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB folds.

Final Pot: 19 BB

This is more of a brag hand. Button ended up here with KT, and his turn raise is very very bad given the action. I'm not sure what SB had here, but my best guess is something like QJ.

Hand #4

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ks, Qs.
1 fold, MP raises, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.40 SB) Ac, 2s, 4h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.20 BB) Qd (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (5.20 BB) 2c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Calling down from the turn donk is standard. I lost to Ax, but I think folding the turn or river without a good read is a bit too weak, especially because if he were an aggressive villain, he may well be betting a worse Q there. A more interesting problem is how to respond to a check-raise on the turn if I bet the turn. I would like to say that I would fold, but I'm not sure that's entirely true.

Hand #5

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is MP with Jc, Ks.
1 fold, MP raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 8h, 2c, 2h (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, SB folds, BB calls.

Turn: (4 BB) Js (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (6 BB) 6h (2 players)
BB checks, MP bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10 BB

Results:
BB has 7h Kh (flush, king high).
Hero has Jc Ks (two pair, jacks and twos).
Outcome: BB wins 10 BB.

I have to admit that I'm not thrilled with paying off this river raise. It's a flush very often, followed by a very slowplayed trips, and then 66. Worse jacks would normally have raised on the turn. I think this is a spot where folding top pair second kicker is probably the correct play, despite the pot size. Villain would have to be incredibly bold to check-raise a worse hand on the end.

Hand #6

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kc, Qs.
UTG calls, 1 fold, CO calls, Button calls, Hero raises, BB calls, UTG calls, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Jc, 2s, 5c (5 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG folds, CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 4c (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Button calls, Hero calls.

River: (9.50 BB) Qd (3 players)
Hero bets, CO folds, Button calls.

The flop bet here is probably wrong. Too many players, not enough chance of getting them all to fold, and not enough chance of getting them to fold the turn the 85% of the time I do not improve to a pair.

The turn check-call should be standard. Betting again will not make hands with a single club fold, and I don't often have the best hand anyway.

The river donk is standard because an overcard to the board will tend to freeze up players from making value bets on the end, especially when a check will often get them to showdown for free.

Hand #7

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (5 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Js, Qs.
UTG calls, 2 folds, SB completes, Hero raises, UTG calls, SB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Kh, 4s, 2s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, SB calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Qc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, SB calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 9c (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks.

The preflop raise with QJs is something I didn't do for a while, but now I think it's standard. QJs flopping top pair in a shorthanded pot is usually best, and flopping flushes and straight draws are also very good.

The turn bet here seems standard to me because the flop calls don't mean much of anything at this level, but when they both call me, I have to reconsider the value of my hand on the river. The spade draw missed, meaning that I'm not likely to pick up any bets from them unless they have the 9 of spades. I could be against a weaker king, which is bad for me. But besides that, because the second and third cards on the flop were so small, I don't think I gain a lot from a bet. I probably do check-call this because of the chances of a missed draw trying to pick up the pot, plus potentially worse queens like QT or Q8 might think their hand is good. (There are more hands might bet than hands that might call, which is generally a recipe for check-calling.)

Hand #8

PokerStars 0.25/0.50 Hold'em (6 handed) Poker Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9c, Tc.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 6c, 9s, Qs (4 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, MP raises, Button folds, Hero calls, BB calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 7d (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP bets, Hero calls, BB calls.

River: (8 BB) 8c (3 players)
SB bets, BB folds, MP calls.

This is another standard river donk like in the above hand. The board has gotten scary, and the chances of the bettor wimping out on the end is quite large. To add to the problem (something I didn't mention above), a check-raise here almost certainly drives out BB, whereas he is more likely to call one bet if I lead.

Project for the month of March

2008-03-01T16:42:00.000-08:00

Totals: 198 hands, $4.95 profit

This blog is coming back again, but I'm starting something new. I've played very little online poker over the last few months, but I would like to get back into it. So I've set up a little project to encourage myself to play more online. I have four tasks I want to accomplish in March:

1) 3100 hands playing 1-3 6-max tables @ .25/.50
2) 30 minute one-tabling video on the first 30 minutes at a new table: Establishing initial reads quickly
3) 30 minute one-tabling video with general hand commentary
4) 45 minute two-tabling video with no audio

I started off this afternoon by just playing a short 3-tabling session to get PAHUD and PT working properly on my new computer. I played for about 40 minutes and got in 200 hands, which is more hands than I was anticipating. Today's session went at a rate of 300 hands/hour or 100 hands/table-hour, but I was only expecting about 75 hands/hour when I was figuring out how much time it would take. If I were more ambitious, I'd increase the number of hands to 5000. But I'm not.

A couple of general observations from today:

1) .25/.50 6-max tables look quite soft. There's a lot of open-limping going on, and a lot of players who do not properly value their hands postflop.
2) There is still a wide range of players. I saw some very aggressive and some very passive players. This should keep things interesting.
3) I feel like I've forgotten how to multi-table. A couple times I got lost in a hand and couldn't even remember the previous action. I blame part of this on messing around with the PAHUD/PT/Stars settings to get it the way I wanted it.
4) I've been playing too much HUHU because a couple times I opened with extremely marginal holdings from the button that I normally wouldn't have opened.

Signing off

2007-10-12T22:36:00.001-07:00

I haven't been able to play at all in the last month. I guess that means it's time to shut this blog down.

Day 94-28: -$68.00 (-34 BB at $1/2)

2007-09-03T21:53:00.000-07:00

Level: +$14.50 in 72.39 table hours (-7 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$258.15 in 211.35 table hours

Down again... I got at a good table with a psycho-LAG, but he kept outdrawing me and I didn't win it back.

Hand #1: Flushed and I missed my redraw.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kh, Ad
Hero raises, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6.00 SB) Kd, Qd, Ac (3 players)
SB bets, BB calls, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Turn: (6.00 BB) 2d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, BB folds, Hero calls.

River: (10.00 BB) 7s (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 12.00 BB

Results:
SB shows 9d, 8d (a flush, King high).
Hero mucks Kh, Ad.
Outcome: SB wins 11.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand #2: I would be willing to fold my hand if I had more of a read on this player. But as it stands, I call to see what he limped and what he bet.

Preflop: Hero is SB with As, Jh
UTG calls, MP folds, CO calls, Button folds, Hero calls, BB checks.

Flop: (4.00 SB) Ad, 4s, Qh (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG checks, CO bets, Hero raises, BB folds, UTG folds, CO calls.

Turn: (4.00 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (6.00 BB) Kh (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.00 BB

Results:
Hero mucks As, Jh.
CO shows Kd, Qd (two pair, Kings and Queens).
Outcome: CO wins 9.62 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand #3: I probably should have given more action here with the all-in player, but I got a little nervous against the capper and the double broadway board. Notice button's hand... he's the LAG who kept taking my money.

Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ad, As
UTG calls, MP folds, CO folds, Button raises, SB folds, Hero 3-bets, UTG cappies, Button calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) Jc, Js, Kc (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Button raises to $2.75 (all in), Hero calls, UTG cappies, Hero calls.

Turn: (10.62 BB) 2d (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (12.62 BB) Qd (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 14.62 BB

Results:
UTG shows Ah, Qc (two pair, Queens and Jacks).
Button shows 5d, Jd (three of a kind, Jacks).
Hero shows Ad, As (two pair, Aces and Jacks).
Outcome: Button wins 9.87 BB.
Hero wins 4.25 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand #4: The LAG had the best hand this time, and my flop call led to mistakes.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Qs, Kd
UTG folds, CO folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.00 SB) 5s, Ac, 4d (3 players)
SB bets, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) Js (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.50 BB) Qd (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.50 BB

Results:
Hero mucks Qs, Kd.
SB shows 5c, Ah (two pair, Aces and Fives).
Outcome: SB wins 9.12 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand #5: This was a slightly tilty call. I probably should have folded because that's a bad bad river card.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qd, 9s
UTG folds, MP calls, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (4.00 SB) 2s, 9c, 8s (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, Button calls, SB calls.

Turn: (4.00 BB) 3h (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, Button calls, SB folds.

River: (7.00 BB) Ks (3 players)
Hero bets, MP raises, Button folds, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 11.00 BB

Results:
MP shows 7s, 5s (a flush, King high).
Hero mucks Qd, 9s.
Outcome: MP wins 10.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand #6: More fun with LAGgy!

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is CO with Js, Jh
UTG raises, MP folds, Hero 3-bets, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls, UTG cappies, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) 4d, Qs, 5h (3 players)
BB checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, BB folds, UTG 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (9.25 BB) 6c (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (11.25 BB) Kh (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 13.25 BB

Results:
UTG shows Qd, 5d (two pair, Queens and Fives).
Hero mucks Js, Jh.
Outcome: UTG wins 12.75 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand #7: And one more for the road...

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Tc, Js
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.50 SB) 6h, 3c, 7s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (2.25 BB) Td (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.25 BB) Ah (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.25 BB

Results:
Button shows 8h, 9c (a straight, Six to Ten).
Hero mucks Tc, Js.
Outcome: Button wins 9.87 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Day 93-27: -$57.75 (-29 BB at $1/2)

2007-09-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Level: +$53.50 in 68.47 table hours (+27 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$326.15 in 207.43 table hours

Downward slide again. There were a couple bad beats and a couple poorly played hands, but nothing too absurd. A couple missed nut flush draws and a two pair that got outdrawn by a short stack. *Yawn*. I'm not posting hands tonight.

Day 92-26: +$119.25 (+60 BB at $1/2)

2007-08-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Level: +$111.25 in 66.54 table hours (+56 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$383.90 in 205.50 table hours

It has been a while, but I found some time and energy to play some poker and things went well. Once again, I have visions of moving up to $2/4 after these last 3 or 4 months at $1/2 simply because I've been running bad.

Hand 1: It's too bad I paired my ace. I would much rather have seen a Q-high board. Oh well.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 5 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ah, Ac
UTG folds, Hero raises, Button folds, SB calls, BB 3-bets, Hero cappies, SB folds, BB calls.

Flop: (10.00 SB) Ad, Jh, 5d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (6.00 BB) 2s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (8.00 BB) 3d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 10.00 BB

Results:
BB shows Kh, Kd (a pair of Kings).
Hero shows Ah, Ac (three of a kind, Aces).
Outcome: Hero wins 9.62 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 2: This guy was going nuts 3-handed. I guess he didn't notice that I folded the last 8 or 9 hands, because he should have realized that he needed to slow down when I came back at him. I was sort of ready to just call down A-high UI, but I paired up and ruined that plan.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 3 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qh, Ac
Button folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.00 SB) 7c, Qd, 8d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.00 BB) 6c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.00 BB) 6d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Final Pot: 9.00 BB

Results:
SB mucks 7s, 4h.
Hero shows Qh, Ac (two pair, Queens and Sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.62 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 3: Here's a different LAG player that gave me lots of money tonight.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 4 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

CO posts a blind of $1

Preflop: Hero is BB with As, Js
CO checks, Button calls, SB folds, Hero raises, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) Jd, 4c, Qh (3 players)
Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 6c (3 players)
Hero bets, CO folds, Button calls.

River: (6.75 BB) 8s (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10.75 BB

Results:
Button shows 7h, 4h (a pair of Fours).
Hero shows As, Js (a pair of Jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins 10.25 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 4: I thought about giving more action here, but when someone leads into you after you cap the turn, you've got to think carefully if you really want to keep betting. Too bad I didn't have a better read on him at the time.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is MP with 8h, Ac
UTG folds, Hero raises, CO folds, Button folds, SB 3-bets, BB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.00 SB) Kh, 8s, 5h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 8d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero cappies, SB calls.

River: (12.50 BB) Js (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 14.50 BB

Results:
SB shows Kc, 4c (two pair, Kings and Eights).
Hero shows 8h, Ac (three of a kind, Eights).
Outcome: Hero wins 14.00 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 5: Poor guy... he hit his gutshot.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 5 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Js, Ks
UTG folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB folds, Hero raises, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) Td, Ts, Qs (3 players)
Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 9d (3 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Button folds, Hero 3-bets, CO calls.

River: (10.75 BB) Ad (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Final Pot: 12.75 BB

Results:
CO mucks Jh, 8h.
Hero shows Js, Ks (a straight, Ten to Ace).
Outcome: Hero wins 12.25 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 6: Raise flop? I was hoping he'd bet the turn, but I think the flush card froze him up. But then on the river he check-raised. So I don't know what was going through his mind. Maybe it was nothing.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 4 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is CO with Kd, Jc
Hero raises, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Ks, 6h, 9h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) Jh (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (5.25 BB) Qd (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.25 BB

Results:
BB shows Qs, 6d (two pair, Queens and Sixes).
Hero shows Kd, Jc (two pair, Kings and Jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.87 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 7: He slowplayed his set and let me draw out cheaply.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 3 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8s, Td
Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.00 SB) 9d, Jc, 5d (3 players)
SB bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.00 BB) Qh (3 players)
SB bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB folds, BB calls.

River: (13.00 BB) 3d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 15.00 BB

Results:
BB mucks 5s, 5h.
Hero shows 8s, Td (a straight, Eight to Queen).
Outcome: Hero wins 14.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 8: I didn't have much of a read on the guy at the time, but the pot size was right for a calldown in a generally aggressive game.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9s, 8d
UTG calls, MP folds, CO calls, Hero calls, SB folds, BB raises, UTG calls, CO calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) 9h, Kd, 2c (4 players)
BB bets, UTG folds, CO calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) 3s (3 players)
BB bets, CO folds, Hero calls.

River: (7.75 BB) Tc (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.75 BB

Results:
Hero shows 9s, 8d (a pair of Nines).
BB shows 4s, 4c (a pair of Fours).
Outcome: Hero wins 9.37 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 9: Set over set... but this time I'm on the happy side of it.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is MP with 8c, 8h
UTG folds, Hero raises, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 4c, Ts, 8s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 5d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB calls.

River: (10.25 BB) 2s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 12.25 BB

Results:
BB mucks 4s, 4h.
Hero shows 8c, 8h (three of a kind, Eights).
Outcome: Hero wins 11.75 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Day 91-25: -$36.50 (-18 BB at $1/2)

2007-08-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

Level: +$8.00 in 64.47 table hours (-4 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$264.65 in 203.43 table hours

Back to down even. But I played somewhat poorly at times out of frustration, which is something I need to deal better with when playing online, especially against aggressive players. I think I might actually play better with distractions because it would mean I spend less time trying to outplay players is dumb way, and just beat them playing straight-forward solid poker.

Here are a few hands:

Hand 1: A set of aces cracked, but I lost very little.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 4 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

CO posts a blind of $1

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ac, As
CO checks, Hero raises, SB calls, BB folds, CO calls.

Flop: (7.00 SB) 5h, Th, Ah (3 players)
SB checks, CO checks, Hero bets, SB calls, CO folds.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 3h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: (4.50 BB) Jd (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 6.50 BB

Results:
SB shows 9h, Kh (a flush, Ace high).
Hero mucks Ac, As.
Outcome: SB wins 6.25 BB.
($0.50 Rake)

Hand 2: Trying to pick off a bluffer and failing.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ac, Kh
UTG folds, MP raises, CO folds, Hero 3-bets, SB calls, BB folds, MP calls.

Flop: (10.00 SB) 9h, 5s, 5h (3 players)
SB checks, MP checks, Hero bets, SB calls, MP folds.

Turn: (6.00 BB) Th (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: (6.00 BB) 7c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.00 BB

Results:
Hero mucks Ac, Kh.
SB shows Tc, Kd (two pair, Tens and Fives).
Outcome: SB wins 7.62 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 3: Tough beat here...

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 3 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is SB with As, 8d
Button folds, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.00 SB) 7h, 9d, Td (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.00 BB) Js (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero cappies, BB calls.

River: (12.00 BB) 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 14.00 BB

Results:
Hero mucks As, 8d.
BB shows Qh, 8h (a straight, Eight to Queen).
Outcome: BB wins 13.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 4: Bleeding the bluffer...

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ah, 5h
UTG folds, Hero raises, CO folds, Button 3-bets, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) 6h, Ac, Qh (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) Qd (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.75 BB) 9s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.75 BB

Results:
Hero shows Ah, 5h (two pair, Aces and Queens).
Button shows Ts, 8s (a pair of Queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 8.37 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Hand 5: Runner-runner flushed.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, 2d
UTG folds, MP raises, CO calls, Button folds, Hero calls, BB folds.

Flop: (7.00 SB) Ac, Td, 4s (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, CO calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.00 BB) 2s (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, CO calls, Hero raises, MP calls, CO calls.

River: (11.00 BB) 8s (3 players)
Hero bets, MP raises, CO calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 17.00 BB

Results:
Hero mucks Ad, 2d.
MP shows Js, Ts (a flush, Jack high).
CO mucks Ah, 6h.
Outcome: MP wins 16.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 7: Too bad he decided to slowplay the flop. This guy might even be 2+2...

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 3 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Js, Jc
Button folds, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB calls.

Flop: (6.00 SB) Jh, Ts, Tc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Turn: (4.00 BB) Ad (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB cappies, Hero calls.

River: (12.00 BB) 2c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Final Pot: 16.00 BB

Results:
Hero shows Js, Jc (a full house, Jacks full of Tens).
SB mucks Th, Qd.
Outcome: Hero wins 15.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 7: I didn't remember this hand... Q-high is no good here.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 4 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8h, 9h
CO folds, Button folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4.00 SB) 6h, 5c, 5s (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.00 BB) 9c (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (5.00 BB) 3s (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 7.00 BB

Results:
Hero shows 8h, 9h (two pair, Nines and Fives).
BB mucks Qh, 8c.
Outcome: Hero wins 6.75 BB.
($0.50 Rake)

Day 90-24: -$24.50 (-12 BB at $1/2)

2007-08-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Level: +$28.50 in 61.04 table hours (+14 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$301.15 in 200 table hours

Even though I've been roughly break-even for the last 24 sessiosn (which amounts to about 3 months), I'm quite surprised to see that my BB/100 is 2.29 at this level if I include all my other visits here. That means that I'm just regressing to the mean. I would guess that I'm probably a 2-3 BB/100 player at this level. The game is a lot tougher than it used to be, so I suspect that 3 BB/100 players are incredibly rare now.

I'm not going to post any hands. I just spent the last 4.5 hours playing in a 50 FPP tournament. I went out in 10th out of 729 players, so I feel pretty good and pretty lucky to have gone that deep.

Day 89-23: -$22.25 (-11 BB at $1/2)

2007-07-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

Level: +$53.00 in 57.67 table hours (+27 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$325.65 in 196.63 table hours

It's beginning to feel a lot like a purgatory of sorts. Downswings last longer when you play less, so this break-even streak is taking forever. Maybe this means I should play a little bit more often...

Hand 1: It has been a while since I've run into straight-over-straight. Unfortunate for me.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (4 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7s, 8s.
UTGA raises, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Td, Jh, 5h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 9s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls.

River: (11.25 BB) 2c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 13.25 BB

Results:
BB has Qs Kd (straight, king high).
Hero has 7s 8s (straight, jack high).
Outcome: BB wins 13.25 BB.

Hand 2: I'm not sure what to do on the turn because I don't want to check and risk him checking behind with overcards with a heart, but I don't like to get raised, either.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6s, 5d.
2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 2h, 6h, 3s (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, CO folds, Button raises, SB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (4 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) 4c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 10 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 6s 5d (straight, six high).
Button has 3c 3d (full house, threes full of fours).
Outcome: Button wins 10 BB.

I really want to post more hands, but Blogger is still running slowly for me. My next project (probably in a couple months, after I start getting paychecks from work) is to buy a new hard drive and start over again. I think there's just too much junk on this computer. I might buy more RAM, too. So sorry for the increasingly short posts (if anyone is actually reading this).

Day 88-22: -$41.50 (-21 BB at $1/2)

2007-07-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Level: +$75.25 in 55.24 table hours (+38 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$347.90 in 194.20 table hours

I was kind of tired when I played today, which was probably a mistake. I quit pretty quickly, playing only about 40 minutes. I didn't really find myself in any difficult situations except once, and everything else seemed fairly standard. I don't know why $1/2 6-max is frustrating me, but 15/30 live is so easy... or maybe I do.

Hand 1: I think my mistake was either raising the flop or not folding the river. Or maybe I just call down all the time with TPTK against the LRR.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qs, Ac
UTG calls, MP folds, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Button calls, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12.00 SB) 7h, Qc, Tc (4 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Button folds, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (10.50 BB) 5s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

River: (13.50 BB) 4d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 16.50 BB

Results:
Hero mucks Qs, Ac.
UTG shows Ah, As (a pair of Aces).
SB mucks Qd, 8h.
Outcome: UTG wins 16.00 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 2: Unfortunate river card...

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5h, Kh
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.00 SB) 6h, 5d, 4h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Turn: (2.00 BB) 6d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (4.00 BB) 8c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 4.00 BB

Results:
Hero mucks 5h, Kh.
SB shows 8s, Jd (two pair, Eights and Sixes).
Outcome: SB wins 3.87 BB.
($0.25 Rake)

Hand 3: Unfortunate river card (again). This villain was a known over-stealer. The last time, I peeled the flop, he check-folded the turn.

PokerStars $1/$2 Limit Hold'em - 6 players
Hand Converter Tool from www.DeucesCracked.com

Preflop: Hero is BB with Jc, Qh
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.00 SB) Qc, 5s, 6h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.00 BB) 8c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (5.00 BB) 5d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 9.00 BB

Results:
SB shows 4c, 5c (three of a kind, Fives).
Hero mucks Jc, Qh.
Outcome: SB wins 8.62 BB.
($0.75 Rake)

Day 87-21: +$98.00 (+49 BB at $1/2)

2007-07-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

Level: +$116.75 in 53.95 table hours (+58 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$389.40 in 192.92 table hours

I've been busy these last couple weeks with packing and getting ready to move to Henderson, but I decided to squeeze in some playing time this evening.

I still haven't figured out what happened to make Blogger type so slowly, but I found a simple fix: type in notepad and then copy it over.

Anyway, tonight I hit cards all over the place, which made the upswing a bit larger than it otherwise would have been. Hitting quads twice in a night is amusing. But it was an otherwise pretty dull and straight-forward day.

Hand 1: BOAT!

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4d, 7d
UTG calls, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (4.00 SB) 4s, 8c, 7c (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, Button calls, SB raises, Hero raises, UTG folds, Button folds, SB calls.

Turn: (6.00 BB) 4h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (10.00 BB) Jc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Final Pot: 12.00 BB

Results:
SB mucks 8d, Kc.
Hero shows 4d, 7d (a full house, Fours full of Sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins 11.50 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 2: BOAT!

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7s, 8c
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, Hero raises, SB folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 5d, 8s, 7c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 8h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (5.25 BB) 4h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Final Pot: 7.25 BB

Results:
BB mucks 4s, Tc.
Hero shows 7s, 8c (a full house, Eights full of Sevens).
Outcome: Hero wins 7.00 BB.
($0.50 Rake)

Hand 3: QUADS! (My preflop 3-bet was a re-steal against a player who raised quite often.)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ts, 9s
UTG raises, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, Hero raises, BB folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (7.00 SB) Th, Js, 6c (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Tc (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

River: (6.50 BB) Td (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Final Pot: 12.50 BB

Results:
Hero shows Ts, 9s (four of a kind, Tens).
UTG mucks Kh, Jh.
Outcome: Hero wins 12.00 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 4: QUADS! (The turn check behind is solid. Think about it: I'm now chopping or losing, or I'm way ahead of some hand that has 2 outs. I risk getting check-raised if I bet the turn, but there's no way I'll be able to fold.)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Jh, 8d
CO folds, Button raises, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.00 SB) 8c, 9s, 8s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, SB raises, Hero raises, Button folds, SB calls.

Turn: (6.50 BB) 9c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: (6.50 BB) 8h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Final Pot: 10.50 BB

Results:
SB mucks Td, 9d.
Hero shows Jh, 8d (four of a kind, Eights).
Outcome: Hero wins 10.00 BB.
($1.00 Rake)

Hand 5: Here's an interesting turn check-raise against a player who I have labeled as a bluffer and a relative unknown. I suppose I could have bet the flop, too, but I was running all over the table and my folding equity was dramatically smaller than it might otherwise be.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ts, 9c
UTG folds, MP calls, CO folds, Button folds, SB raises, Hero calls, MP calls.

Flop: (6.00 SB) 6s, 7s, 2h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Tc (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP bets, SB calls, Hero raises, MP folds, SB folds.

Final Pot: 7.50 BB

Results:
Hero mucks Ts, 9c.
Outcome: Hero wins 7.25 BB.
($0.50 Rake)

Day 86-20: +$31.50 (+16 BB at $1/2)

2007-06-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Level: +$18.75 in 50.82 table hours (+9 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$291.40 in 189.78 table hours

I'll post some more stuff later, I hope. Right now, my computer is running really slowly when I type into the blogger so I'm going to poke around my system and see if I can figure out what's going on.

Day 85-19: -$87.75 (-44 BB at $1/2)

2007-06-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

Level: -$12.75 in 48.19 table hours (-6 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$259.90 in 187.15 table hours

Ugh. Downswings like this suck. I was actually up somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 early, but then I got really unlucky. Most of the money that I lost feels like it was on preflop raises that missed flops (~1-3 BB losses). I don't mind that.

In other news, I like the new DeucesCracked converter, and I'll be using that one from now on. It doesn't have HTML code to make some things bold or colored, but I don't mind. I prefer not having to change my position to "Hero" everywhere.

Hand 1: The turn 3-bet was perhaps a little too much since I didn't have the flush redraw.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ad, Qh
Hero raises, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) Jc, Qc, 5c (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button folds, BB calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) As (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero raises, BB raises, Hero calls.

River: (12.25 BB) 4c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB shows Kd, Th (a straight, Ten to Ace).
Hero mucks Ad, Qh.
Outcome: BB wins 13.75 BB.

Hand 2: Worst card in the deck for me...

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jh, Ad
UTG calls, MP calls, CO folds, Hero raises, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) Qc, Tc, 5c (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls, MP calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) 5h (3 players)
UTG checks, MP checks, Hero checks.

River: (5.75 BB) Kc (3 players)
UTG bets, MP folds, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG shows Kd, 7c (a flush, King high).
Hero mucks Jh, Ad.
Outcome: UTG wins 7.38 BB.

Hand 3: Flush over flush... it has been a while since I've run into this, so perhaps I was due.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qd, Kd
UTG folds, Hero raises, CO folds, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Flop: (7.00 SB) 4d, 5s, 3d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB calls.

Turn: (5.00 BB) 6d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button raises, SB calls, Hero raises, Button raises, SB calls, Hero calls.

River: (17.00 BB) 6c (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Results:
SB shows 2s, Ks (a straight, Deuce to Six).
Hero mucks Qd, Kd.
Button shows 7d, Ad (a flush, Ace high).
Outcome: Button wins 19.50 BB.

Hand 4: I can perhaps not raise the flop as my pair isn't too vulnerable and the pot is small. I was surprised that he showed down the deuce since lots of players slowplay flopped trips.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6d, Qs
UTG folds, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.00 SB) Qh, 2h, 2d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.00 BB) 3c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.00 BB) 2c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB shows 4s, 2s (four of a kind, Deuces).
Hero mucks 6d, Qs.
Outcome: SB wins 7.63 BB.

Hand 5: More 5-outers.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Jh, Jc
UTG calls, MP folds, Hero raises, Button folds, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 3h, 8c, Ts (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 8h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.25 BB) 6d (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG shows 8d, As (three of a kind, Eights).
Hero mucks Jh, Jc.
Outcome: UTG wins 9.88 BB.

Hand 6: Ooops...

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9c, Jd
UTG raises, MP folds, CO folds, Button folds, SB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 9s, 5h, 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 3h (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.25 BB) Ts (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero mucks 9c, Jd.
UTG shows Ah, As (a pair of Aces).
Outcome: UTG wins 9.88 BB.

Hand 7: As soon as he raised the river, I knew he caught up and even guessed his KT. But I have a tough time folding two pair.

CO posts a blind of $1.0

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4c, Th
UTG folds, CO checks, Button calls, SB calls, Hero checks.

Flop: (4.00 SB) Td, 4s, 5s (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, CO calls, Button raises, SB folds, Hero raises, CO folds, Button calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 9c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (7.50 BB) Kc (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Button shows Tc, Kh (two pair, Kings and Tens).
Hero mucks 4c, Th.
Outcome: Button wins 11.00 BB.

Day 84-18: +$25.25 (+13 BB at $1/2)

2007-06-06T17:02:00.000-07:00

Level: +$75.00 in 46.17 table hours (+38 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$347.65 in 185.13 table hours

I played a somewhat tight game today because the cards were not coming favorably to me. I was a bit tired, which is the reason I stopped (though I got in a solid 72 minutes). Looking at the stats, I've been running dry for a while now. Winning 38 BB in 46 table hours translates to less than 1 BB/100.

Hand 1: I almost folded this hand preflop because villain seemed like a decently tight player in the couple orbits I've seen him, but I decided to go for the 3-bet. It turns out I was in trouble preflop, and on the river. Maybe I can check-fold the river, but I feel like he might bet anything when I check to him.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, Jh.
1 fold, MP raises, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MP calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 8c, 7s, Jc (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 9c (2 players)

Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (6.50 BB) Tc (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ad Jh (straight, jack high).
MP has Ac Kh (flush, ace high).

Hand 2: Quad aces!

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ad, 6d.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button calls, SB raises, Hero calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

Flop: (8 SB) Qs, Ac, 5c (4 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, UTG folds, Button folds, SB calls.

Turn: (6 BB) As (2 players)
SB checks, BB bets, SB calls.

River: (8 BB) Ah (2 players)
SB checks, BB bets, SB calls.

Results:
Hero has Ad 6d (four of a kind, aces).
SB has Kd 2h (three of a kind, aces).

Hand 3: Woo hoo! I was drawing very live on the turn with a full 10 outs.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ks, Qd.
3 folds, Button raises, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Jd, 9h, 7c (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: (3 BB) 6c (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, Button calls.

River: (6 BB) Th (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, Button calls, SB calls.

Results:
SB has 8c Ac (straight, jack high).
Hero has Ks Qd (straight, king high).
Button has 8d Ad (straight, jack high).

Hand 4: Calling down the LAG.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Js, 7d.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Button raises, SB calls, Hero calls, MP calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 6c, Qh, Jh (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP checks, Button bets, SB folds, Hero calls, MP calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 3c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button bets, Hero calls, MP folds.

River: (7.50 BB) Ac (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Js 7d (one pair, jacks).
Button has 7c 8h (high card, ace).

Hand 5: Same LAG. Turns out he hit his rags, but I hit mine even harder. The flop check-raise here was because my hand has so little showdown value that bluffing J-high off his hand is a good thing.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 9s, 6h.
3 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 8c, 5s, As (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) 7c (2 players)

Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero caps, Button calls.

River: (13.25 BB) 2c (2 players)
BB bets, Button calls.

Results:
Hero has 9s 6h (straight, nine high).
Button has 8d 5d (two pair, eights and fives).

Hand 6: Villain's slowplay with KK preflop nearly cost him a huge huge pot. But the river saved him, and I lost it instead.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5s, 4c.
UTG calls, 4 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: (2.50 SB) 2h, 4s, 5d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Hero caps, UTG calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) 7h (2 players)
BB bets, UTG calls.

River: (7.25 BB) 2c (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

Results:
Hero has 5s 4c (two pair, fives and fours).
UTG has Kh Kd (two pair, kings and twos).

Day 83-17: +$19.50 (+10 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Level: +$49.75 in 43.79 table hours (+25 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$322.40 in 182.75 table hours

I don't know how much I have to say about tonight's session. I really want to get back up to 2/4 and 3/6 again, but that will happen in its due time.

Hand 1: Dang.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ah, Ac. UTG posts a blind of $1.
UTG (poster) raises, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 9d, 8c, Td (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, MP folds, Hero 3-bets, UTG calls.

Turn: (8 BB) 3c (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (12 BB) 7s (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ah Ac (one pair, aces).
UTG has 9s 9c (three of a kind, nines).

Hand 2: Here's a hand with an aggro-bad villain. Potentially, I could have raised the flop and potentially gotten him to 3-bet me, but he had a tendency to fold when an ace falls. My best guess is that he overplayed a flush draw here. Why? See Hand 3.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kc, Ah.
Hero raises, 4 folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) As, 9c, 5c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 3s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (10.25 BB) 8d (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB folds.

Hand 3: Same aggro-bad villain as Hand 2.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ks, Kd.
Hero raises, MP calls, 1 fold, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Kh, 5c, 6h (5 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, MP folds, Button calls, SB folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls, Button calls.

Turn: (9.50 BB) 2h (3 players)
BB bets, Hero calls, Button folds.

River: (11.50 BB) 4s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 9h 4h (flush, king high).
Hero has Ks Kd (three of a kind, kings).

Hand 4: More aggro-bad villain. A raise probably makes him fold all worse hands, but he'll call with anything that beats me. However, he will bet-bet-bet with worse hands. The river was bad for me, but I had already committed myself to calling down blind.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Jd, As.
3 folds, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, Button caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (9 SB) Ks, 7h, 4d (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 3d (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.50 BB) Qc (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Jd As (high card, ace).
Button has Tc Ad (high card, ace).

Hand 5: I'm surprised I'm the only one with an ace in this hand. I don't think I can win much more out of villains because a coldcall gives me away as well. The flop check-call was to try to determine whether I should worry about my kicker. I would be content to get to showdown cheaply if I didn't boat up on the turn.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ah, 5h.
UTG calls, MP calls, 1 fold, Button raises, Hero calls, 1 fold, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (9 SB) Ad, 4s, Ac (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Button bets, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP folds.

Turn: (6 BB) 4d (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG folds, Button folds.

Day 82-16: -$69.25 (-35 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

Level: +$30.25 in 41.62 table hours (+15 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$302.90 in 180.58 table hours

A little tilt goes a long way. Well, probably about 10-15 BB of this was tilt and the rest was just frustrating bad luck.

Hand 1: Ugh. I suppose I could have bet-folded, but I felt that villain might try to take a stab with a missed straight draw or value bet with 9x or 8x.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ad, Ac.
3 folds, Button calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, Button calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 9h, 8c, Kd (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (5.25 BB) Kh (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ad Ac (two pair, aces and kings).
Button has Jd Ks (three of a kind, kings).

Hand 2: Ugh. 3-outer.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, Qs.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Hero raises, 2 folds, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) Td, 4d, 6c (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets, MP calls, CO calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) Qd (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Hero bets, MP folds, CO raises, Hero calls.

River: (9.25 BB) Kh (2 players)
CO bets, Hero calls.

Results:
CO has Kd 8s (one pair, kings).
Hero has Ad Qs (one pair, queens).

Hand 3: Ugh. 4-outer.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ac, Jd.
UTG raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold, UTG calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 5s, Ah, Kd (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, Hero calls, SB folds.

Turn: (6 BB) Th (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) 7d (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG has Jh Qd (straight, ace high).
Hero has Ac Jd (one pair, aces).

Hand 4: Ugh. 2-outer plus I should have been able to get away from my hand on the screwplay.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Td, Ah.
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) As, Qh, 5h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 9c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 7d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has 9h 9s (three of a kind, nines).
Hero has Td Ah (one pair, aces).

Hand 5: I feel good about this one because I was smart enough to get away. Villain showed KJ of diamonds for the turned nut flush (plus gutshot draw to the royal).

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9c, Ah.
1 fold, MP calls, 2 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (3 SB) 3d, Ad, 7c (3 players)
SB bets, BB calls, MP calls.

Turn: (3 BB) Td (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, MP folds.

River: (5 BB) 2h (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero folds.

Hand 6: Ugh. Flopped trips. At least I didn't give too much action like I was tempted to do.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Kc, Kh.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 4s, 7h, 7d (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, MP folds, CO caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (7.75 BB) 2h (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

River: (9.75 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Kc Kh (two pair, kings and sevens).
CO has 7s As (three of a kind, sevens).

Hand 7: Ugh. 5-outer and he coldcalled two cold on the flop with bottom pair. At least he didn't raise so I could see his hand.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Jh, Td.
UTG calls, MP calls, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 2s, 4d, Jc (4 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, UTG folds, MP calls, SB calls.

Turn: (5 BB) Ks (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, SB folds.

River: (7 BB) Qh (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Results:
Hero has Jh Td (one pair, jacks).
MP has 2d Qc (two pair, queens and twos).

Hand 8: Here's how you lose money on tilt:

Preflop: Hero is BB with 3h, 5h.
3 folds, SB raises, Hero calls.

Flop: (4 SB) 7d, 3c, Ac (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) 7h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls.

River: (7 BB) Ts (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has As Jc (two pair, aces and sevens).
Hero has 3h 5h (two pair, sevens and threes).

Hand 9: Any idiot can see my hand is no good here.

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9s, As.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, BB calls, MP calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 4s, 4h, 5h (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets, BB calls, MP calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) Ah (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets, BB raises, MP 3-bets, Hero folds, BB caps, MP calls.

River: (13.75 BB) Jd (2 players)
BB bets $1 (All-In), MP calls.

Results:
BB has 2d 3d (straight, five high).
MP has 5c 4c (full house, fours full of fives).

Day 81-15: +$92.50 (+46 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Level: +$99.50 in 39.24 table hours (+50 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$372.15 in 178.20 table hours

After a bit of a dry spell, I hit a good run of cards. I also ran into one of the players on whom I have a very very solid read and took quite a bit of his money with a combination of good bluffs and some lucky cards.

Hand 1: The flop raise was a bluff attempt as villain has 3-bet lots of pair hands and will often fold to a raise. It was important to see it get heads up before trying the bluff raise. It's also important to know that if he 3-bets the flop that he has KQ at the worst and that he will lead on all streets. I would have folded the turn if I had not improved to a flush draw, and the river was just dumb luck taking my side for a change.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Th.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, MP calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Kd, Jh, 4s (3 players)
SB bets, MP folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (8 BB) 2h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (10 BB) 7h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Results:
SB has Kc Ks (three of a kind, kings).
Hero has Ah Th (flush, ace high).

Hand 2: Here is a check-raise for value against the same villain. He probably c-bets the turn 95% of the time heads up. I expect him to fold most of the time, which is fine. He might fold a hand like 66 here and will incorrectly fold KQ with his 6 outs. Also, if he calls, I know that he has an overpair, and I can check-fold the river UI without losing any sleep.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, 3d.
3 folds, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 3c, 2s, 7h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero raises, BB folds.

Hand 3: This was an interesting hand. The flop is pretty terrible for me because a lot of his 3-betting range contains broadway cards. The turn is even worse because a lot of his hands contain aces. But at the same time, I've never seen him call down with second or third pair after getting check-raised on the turn. The pot is fairly large because he 3-bet preflop, o I decided to take a stab at it and see what would happen.

Preflop: Hero is Button with 6d, 6h.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) Qh, 3h, Td (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Ad (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds.

Hand 4: Here's a hand that I slowplayed against the villain because I didn't want him to fold a worse hand. I'd rather let him c-bet the turn and get that extra bet than shut him down. It turns out that I probably would have won more by fast-playing it this time, but given how effective bluffing is, I think it's still better to slowplay this one.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6d, 6h.
Hero raises, 4 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 7d, Qc, 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 8c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

River: (7.25 BB) 2s (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls.

Results:
Hero has 6d 6h (three of a kind, sixes).
UTG has Ac Qs (one pair, queens).

Hand 5: Here's another hand where I just let him take the lead on all the streets. Fortunately, I'm in position, which gives me the river value betting option (BTW - if he bets the river, I'm very likely beat, but I'm still not able to fold.) Something that I find fascinating about this guy is that he calls on the end with A-high a lot, which means he's extremely suspicious of river bluffs... yet he folds so often to turn raises...

Preflop: Hero is Button with Td, Kh.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) Ks, 6d, 4c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 8h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.50 BB) 7h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Results:
SB has As Ts (high card, ace).
Hero has Td Kh (one pair, kings).

Hand 6: Here's a hand where I goofed. I should have bet out and hoped to get in a 3-bet. But in my multi-tabling, my brain went into insta-check-raise mode instead. Oh well.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kh, Jd.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Button raises, Hero calls, BB calls, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Kc, 4d, Jc (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP checks, CO checks, Button checks.

Turn: (5 BB) 7h (5 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, MP calls, CO calls, Button folds.

River: (8 BB) 5h (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, CO folds.

Results:
Hero has Kh Jd (two pair, kings and jacks).
MP has 7d Ac (one pair, sevens).

Hand 7: Is this a value bet against two passive villains? I felt like it was, and it turned out to be this time, but I am not sure.

Preflop: Hero is CO with 2c, 2h.
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB calls, BB 3-bets, Hero calls, SB calls.

Flop: (9 SB) Jh, 3d, Ts (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 4s (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, SB calls, BB calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 5s (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has As 9c (high card, ace).
BB has Kc Ac (high card, ace).
Hero has 2c 2h (one pair, twos).

Hand 8: Villain in this hand bluffed every single river that was checked to him. I didn't like this board, especially given his coldcall, but there's no value bet here, and the pot was big enough, especially given his lack of a flop and turn raise (which means an ace and queen are highly unlikely).

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7s, 7h.
Hero raises, MP calls, 3 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) Ac, Qh, Ks (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, BB folds.

Turn: (4.25 BB) Kh (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (6.25 BB) 2d (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has 7s 7h (two pair, kings and sevens).
MP has Jc 9d (one pair, kings).

Hand 9: I goofed here, too. I should have called the flop and raised the turn.

Preflop: Hero is MP with 9c, 9d.
1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (5 SB) Jd, Tc, 9h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 7h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 8d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has Ah Jh (straight, jack high).
Hero has 9c 9d (straight, jack high).

Hand 10: Another hand against the hyper-bluffer. I almost walked away from this one, but the double flush draw gave me enough of a pause to rethink it. I would have folded if he had bet the river.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Th, 9d.
UTG raises, 3 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 4s, 9s, 5c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) Ac (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (8.25 BB) Kh (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks.

Results:
Hero has Th 9d (one pair, nines).
UTG has 7h 7d (one pair, sevens).

Hand 11: Here's a missed bet-fold opportunity.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Jh, Js.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, UTG calls, Button caps, Hero calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (13 SB) 8h, 8d, Kd (3 players)

Hero checks, UTG checks, Button bets, Hero raises, UTG folds, Button calls.

Turn: (8.50 BB) 6c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (10.50 BB) Kh (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Results:
Button has Tc Td (two pair, kings and tens).
Hero has Jh Js (two pair, kings and jacks).

Hand 12: Oddly enough, it's another JJ hand where I failed to bet-fold the river.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Jh, Jd.
Hero raises, 3 folds, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (5 SB) 3c, 7s, Jc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

Turn: (3.50 BB) 9c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls.

River: (5.50 BB) Kc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has Qs Qd (one pair, queens).
Hero has Jh Jd (three of a kind, jacks).

Day 80-14: -$17.00 (-9 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Level: +$7.00 in 36.65 table hours (+4 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$279.65 in 175.62 table hours

I played an extended session tonight, playing for a couple hours (about twice as long as usual). The tables I was at were quite LAGgy, but I felt far more comfortable playing them than I had felt in the past. In other words, my confidence continues to move upward even if my bankroll doesn't.

Hand 1: He had a big draw and it came in. What more could I do?

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Qh.
UTG raises, 3 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 3h, Ah, Qs (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Hero caps, UTG calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 9h (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

River: (10.25 BB) Ts (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ac Qh (two pair, aces and queens).
UTG has Kh Jh (flush, ace high).

Hand 2: Rivered...

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ah, 5h.
UTG calls, Hero calls, 2 folds, SB completes, BB raises, UTG calls, Hero calls, SB calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 5s, 4h, 7c (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 9c (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 4c (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG has 4d Jh (three of a kind, fours).
Hero has Ah 5h (two pair, fives and fours).

Hand 3: 4-outer on the turn...

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ah, Ks.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) Js, Ac, 3s (4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, Button folds, BB folds, UTG calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) Qd (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.25 BB) 6d (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG has Td Kc (straight, ace high).
Hero has Ah Ks (one pair, aces).

Hand 4: Unfortunate hand.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qs, As.
Hero raises, 1 fold, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (9 SB) Ad, 8c, 2h (4 players)

SB checks, Hero bets, CO calls, Button raises, SB folds, Hero 3-bets, CO folds, Button calls.

Turn: (8 BB) 6s (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (10 BB) 9s (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Results:
Hero has Qs As (one pair, aces).
Button has Ah Kd (one pair, aces).

Hand 5: I'm really surprised he didn't raise anywhere.

Preflop: Hero is MP with 6h, Ah.
1 fold, Heroraises, CO calls, 3 folds.

Flop: (5.50 SB) 5h, 6d, 2s (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Turn: (3.75 BB) 9c (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

River: (5.75 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Results:
Hero has 6h Ah (one pair, sixes).
CO has Jd Jh (one pair, jacks).

Hand 6: I really should have gotten away from this on the turn.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Th, 8h.
1 fold, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 3h, 4c, Td (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 6s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) 3s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has Ts Jh (two pair, tens and threes).
Hero has Th 8h (two pair, tens and threes).

Hand 7: Here's a turn semibluff raise against a villain who seemd like he might be 3-betting a little light defending his blinds. I figured to make a lot of Ax hands fold as well as a number of medium pocket pairs that don't hold a club.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Jc, Th.
1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 4c, 6c, 3s (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Kc (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds.

Day 79-13: +$30.50 (+15 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Level: +$24.00 in 32.85 table hours (+12 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$296.65 in 171.82 table hours

I don't know why, but I seem to have increased tremendously in my confidence without having done a whole lot. I'm still in the same slump that I've been in, but things just "feel" better.

Hand 1: Nobody had a heart but me?

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jh, Ah.
1 fold, MP raises, CO calls, Hero calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 7d, 5h, Th (5 players)
SB bets, BB calls, MP calls, CO folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB folds, MP calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (10 BB) 3h (3 players)
SB bets, MP calls, Button raises, SB folds, MP folds.

Hand 2: I was surprised at what he showed down. When he called the turn raise, I was really expecting to see him show a dumbly played AK or maybe KJ. Instead, it was A2... not terrible given that it's blind defense.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Qc.
3 folds, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, SB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 5s, Qh, 3d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (5 BB) Ts (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (9 BB) Kd (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has Ah 2d (high card, ace).
Hero has Ac Qc (one pair, queens).

Hand 3: Villain here is tight-passive. When he called the flop bet, I knew I was behind -- I was hoping he'd just check-fold a hand like KQ or maybe AJs. I felt that he wouldn't fold AK on the turn. However, I felt that it was likely that he would not bluff the river and would not call the river with AK UI. My bluff probably bought this pot from him.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with As, Th.
Hero raises, 2 folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 9h, 8c, 3d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 6h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (4.25 BB) 4s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB folds.

Hand 4: Here's a fun calldown against a player who I've seen get randomly aggressive. Once it was heads up on the turn, I was going to get to showdown for two bets or less.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9h, Ac.
UTG calls, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) Qh, Qc, 2h (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets, Button folds, Hero calls, BB folds.

Turn: (3 BB) Jd (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (5 BB) Td (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks.

Results:
Hero has 9h Ac (one pair, queens).
UTG has 4d 6c (one pair, queens).

Hand 5: Dumb play here. I should have check-raised the turn. If he has a pocket pair, he'll call twice with a boat.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ad, 6d.
UTG raises, 2 folds, Button calls, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 4h, 4s, 4d (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Button calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) As (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Button folds, Hero calls.

River: (6.75 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ad 6d (full house, fours full of aces).
UTG has Ah Qd (full house, fours full of aces).

Hand 6: I don't know whether I should have given more action. His flop check indicates a draw, and I guess if he had a gutshot plus flush draw, he would be betting. So that means that most likely he doesn't have a better flush than mine, and I can milk more money from him.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7c, 9c.
Hero raises, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) Ad, Tc, 6c (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: (4.75 BB) Jc (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button raises, BB calls, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, BB calls, Hero calls.

River: (16.75 BB) 9h (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 7d Jd (one pair, jacks).
Hero has 7c 9c (flush, jack high).
Button has Kd Qd (straight, ace high).

Hand 7: I was close between betting, check-calling, and check-folding. The big draw that I feared came in, but I felt that I might be able to get a bluff out of 98/97/87 and Ax often enough to give them a chance to bluff. Instead, I got a misplaced value bet.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7c, 7h.
UTG calls, 2 folds, Hero raises, BB calls, UTG calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Ts, 6d, Td (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 2h (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 5d (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets, Hero calls, BB folds.

Results:
Hero has 7c 7h (two pair, tens and sevens).
UTG has Jh 6c (two pair, tens and sixes).

Day 78-12: -$38.00 (-19 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Level: -$6.50 in 31.07 table hours (-3 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$266.15 in 170.03 table hours

Up and down... up and down... That's the way it goes.

Hand 1: Stupid river misclick...

Preflop: Hero is Button with Qc, Ah.
2 folds, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, CO caps, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) Ac, Ts, 3s (3 players)
BB checks, CO bets, Hero calls, BB folds.

Turn: (7.25 BB) As (2 players)
CO bets, Hero raises, CO calls.

River: (11.25 BB) Qs (2 players)
CO bets, Hero calls.

Results:
CO has 8h 9s (flush, ace high).
Hero has Qc Ah (full house, aces full of queens).

Hand 2: I should have folded on the river because I knew I was beat. But I didn't...

Preflop: Hero is BB with Jc, Ac.
UTG raises, 3 folds, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Ah, 4s, 8d (3 players)

SB checks, Hero checks, UTG bets, SB calls, Hero raises, UTG calls, SB folds.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 4d (2 players)

Hero bets, UTG calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 9d (2 players)

Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Jc Ac (two pair, aces and fours).
UTG has 9h 9c (full house, nines full of fours).

Hand 3: Rivered again... I think I could have gotten away from this one as well because the flush draw also came in.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qc, Ks.
1 fold, MP raises, CO calls, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) 3c, Qs, 9c (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, CO raises, Button folds, BB folds, Hero 3-bets, CO calls.

Turn: (7.25 BB) 6h (2 players)
MP bets, CO calls.

River: (9.25 BB) Tc (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Qc Ks (one pair, queens).
CO has Qh Th (two pair, queens and tens).

Hand 4: Beat on the turn, got slowplayed until the river. Again, I think this is a hand where my holding is marginal enough to just fold, but again I pay it off.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ts, Tc.
1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Button calls, Hero raises, 1 fold, MP calls, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 6s, 2d, Qh (4 players)
Hero bets, MP folds, CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 6c (3 players)
Hero bets, CO folds, Button calls.

River: (8 BB) 4c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ts Tc (two pair, tens and sixes).
Button has 6h Ac (three of a kind, sixes).

Day 77-11: +$56.75 (+28 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Level: +$31.50 in 29.40 table hours (+16 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$304.15 in 168.37 table hours

I hit a lot of cards, but I also got to exploit a number of bad players. As I continue to play, I'm finding that certain players that used to make me uncomfortable are not players I'm happy to see at my table. The reason is that they have a very fold-oriented strategy. When I see AF that get to 3 or higher, I start to watch where they fold. It seems like a lot of these players bet-fold too often on the turn, especially after raising preflop and betting the flop. What this means is that they are raising pretty light preflop and auto-betting the flop and turn quite often. It also means that they are likely folding A-high and medium pocket pairs. This means they are bluffable. And bluffing is a lot of fun.

In all these hands, it's important to know that your opponent will fold (or is likely to fold) before trying to pull these. It's also entirely possible that I'm very lucky and they aren't nearly as exploitable as they seemed.

Hand 1: Semibluffing a player who folds too often -- I might actually have had the best hand here, too...

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ac, Ts.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MP caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (9 SB) 5d, 2c, 3c (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) Jc (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Hero raises, MP folds.

Hand 2: Here is another exploitable play against a multi-tabler that folds too often. Note that (once again) I might actually have the best hand if he's raising with A7-/KJ/KT and that he might fold 77 here.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, 8c.
UTG raises, 1 fold, CO calls, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) Qc, 6d, Qh (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, CO folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) 5d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG folds.

Hand 3: Same villain as in Hand #1. This time it's for value if he has a flush draw or straight draw. Notice that he folds here, too. If you find your value raises aren't getting called often enough, you should really think about bluffing more often.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kd, Jd.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, MP caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) Tc, 3s, 2c (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) Jc (2 players)
MP bets, Hero raises, MP folds.

Hand 4: I got the impression that this "TAG" was raising too many flops for them all to be value raises, plus I felt that he folded relatively often. Notice how hard it is for him to call with a pocket pair here since a bunch of hands I could have raised preflop just caught up, plus there are a lot of hands that he was already chasing on the flop. If I snagged a K or J, I would just check-call this and check-call the river. Otherwise, I lose too much to Ax.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Kd, Jh.
1 fold, MP raises, 3 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Ac, 4s, 3s (2 players)

BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) Qh (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB folds.

Hand 5: For whatever reason, this villain did a lot of bet-folding when an ace flopped and was raising with all sorts of "NL hands" (like T8s). So I took a shot at it and won. It's a big pot, and so I've got to be willing to fight a bit to win it.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Qc, Tc
Hero raises, 1 fold, Button calls, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls, Button calls.

Flop: (10 SB) 6h, As, Kd (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, Button folds, SB folds.

Hand 6: This was an odd play. I don't know what I was thinking because the flop check is often an indication of a very strong hand. But I remember thinking that this player would have bet an ace already because he was a value betting type of player. So I check-raised as a semibluff to see what would happen. It took him a long time, but he figured it out and called. Good for him. This probably would have been more effecting if the flop were A99 or something where it's more plausible for me to hold trips.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qd, Th.
UTG raises, 4 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 2s, Ad, 2d (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG checks.

Turn: (2.25 BB) 9d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, BB raises, UTG calls.

River: (6.25 BB) 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks.

Results:
Hero has Qd Th (one pair, twos).
UTG has Qs Qc (two pair, queens and twos).

Hand 7: Another paired board situation where I'm raising as a bluff to knock out Ax and Kx hands. When he called, I knew he had a pair that's probably not an overpair and that he wasn't folding. I would have value bet if I paired up (which probably would have tilted him).

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9h, Jc.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 7d, 3s, 7c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 2h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 5c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has 3c Ac (two pair, sevens and threes).
Hero has 9h Jc (one pair, sevens).

Day 77-10: -$3.50 (-2 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Level: -$25.25 in 26.72 table hours (-13 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$247.40 in 165.68 table hours

I'm surprised I broke even today. I made some really bad plays, but wound up playing against a couple terrible LAGs who donated enough to bring me back. I should trust my instincts more. I should call preflop more often and fold postflop more often. I'm just getting too much into a general showdown mentality instead of being selective.

Hand 1: Flop donker has been donking a lot, but hasn't been to showdown. I decided to call the flop and raise any turn card to see if I could snap off his bluff (since I don't really want to do a full call-down with K-high). As soon as he called the turn, his hand range consisted of a lot of aces and pocket pairs. Therefore, checking behind on the river is easy. I'm still not sure if the plan is good because I don't have an accurate perception of his flop/turn betting range.

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8d, Ks.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (5 SB) 2d, 3d, 2c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.50 BB) Ac (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (7.50 BB) Jd (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Results:
SB has 5s Ah (two pair, aces and twos).
Hero has 8d Ks (one pair, twos).

Hand 2: Here's a dumb spot. I should really have check-folded the turn.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qc, Qh. CO posts a blind of $1.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Button calls, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, MP calls, Button calls.

Flop: (10.50 SB) 3d, Kc, Ah (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, Button folds.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 2c (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

River: (8.25 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Results:
Hero has Qc Qh (one pair, queens).
MP has Ad 7c (one pair, aces).

Hand 3: This is one of those instinctive calldowns that felt right.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Th, 8d.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 6c, Ts, Kc (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero calls, SB folds.

Turn: (4 BB) 4d (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6 BB) 2s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has Ac 6d (one pair, sixes).
Hero has Th 8d (one pair, tens).

Hand 4: Here's one of the calls where my instincts told me to fold, but I called anyway.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Jd.
2 folds, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, CO calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 8d, 2s, 9d (3 players)
BB checks, CO checks, Button bets, BB calls, CO calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 2c (3 players)
BB checks, CO checks, Hero checks.

River: (6.25 BB) 2h (3 players)
BB bets, CO folds, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 7s 7c (full house, twos full of sevens).
Hero has Ah Jd (three of a kind, twos).

Day 76-9: -$48.00 (-24 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

Level: -$21.75 in 24.77 table hours (-11 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$250.90 in 163.73 table hours

Another demoralizing day. Hanging on through a downswing requires a certain amount of patience and perseverance, which I'm pretty sure that I have. In the middle of it, though, it's important to reflect on your play and to make appropriate adjustments. I know that I have fallen into a little bit of call-down tilt, and I need to continue to be aware of these things as I proceed.

Hand 1: I know I should have 3-bet the turn. Villain is a known aggressive player and can be raising AQ or even hands like TT in that spot. Little mistakes like this can add up.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ah, As.
2 folds, CO calls, Button raises, SB calls, Hero 3-bets, CO calls, Button calls, SB calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 3h, 4s, 4h (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, CO folds, Button raises, SB folds, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

Turn: (9 BB) Qs (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

River: (13 BB) 6d (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ah As (two pair, aces and fours).
Button has Qh 9h (two pair, queens and fours).

Hand 2: Villain is a known bluffer, so I felt that AQ high would probably be good against a large part of his hand range. Of course, A4 is part of that hand range where my hand is NOT good.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Qc, As.
2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB raises, 1 fold, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 4c, 8d, 8s (3 players)
SB bets, CO calls, Button calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 8c (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, Button bets, Hero calls, CO folds.

River: (7 BB) Th (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Qc As (three of a kind, eights).
Button has Ac 4h (full house, eights full of fours).

Hand 3: This is a spot where I'm not sure if I should want to check-call or check-fold. A check here could induce a bluff from a missed club draw, but will also attract value bets.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, Jc.
4 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4 SB) Kc, 4c, Tc (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3 BB) Ts (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (5 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ad Jc (two pair, tens and fours).
BB has 8h Kh (two pair, kings and tens).

Hand 4: These hands get annoying after a while.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Th, Ac.
1 fold, Hero raises, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Jc, Ad, 5s (2 players)
BB checks, MP bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 7d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero

River: (7.25 BB) 8c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 5c As (two pair, aces and fives).
Hero has Th Ac (one pair, aces).

Hand 5: Bad luck to run into AK given that I hold a K? Maybe.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qs, Kc.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, SB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Ks, 5s, 9s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Hero bets, SB calls, BB raises, MP calls, SB calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 9h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, MP calls, SB folds.

River: (8 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Results:
Hero has Qs Kc (two pair, kings and nines).
MP has Ac Kh (two pair, kings and nines).

Hand 6: I missed another flush draw against an aggro blind defender.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kc, 7c.
1 fold, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 5c, 9c, Jd (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) Kh (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.50 BB) 8d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has Qc Th (straight, king high).
Hero has Kc 7c (one pair, kings).

Hand 7: Here's an interesting flop decision. I'm either behind a Q or ahead of a flush draw. In either case, I'm looking at a 60-40 situation. A flat calldown I think is the perfect play.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Jh, Jc.
2 folds, Hero raises, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold.

Flop: (5 SB) 8c, Qc, 3c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.50 BB) 5h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (5.50 BB) 2c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has Ac Th (flush, ace high).
Hero has Jh Jc (flush, queen high).

Hand 8: 3-outed.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Js, 9s.
4 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4 SB) 4c, Jh, Jc (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 5h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) Ks (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Js 9s (three of a kind, jacks).
BB has Jd 5d (full house, jacks full of fives).

Day 75-8: -$55.50(-28 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Level: +$26.25 in 23.59 table hours (+13 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$298.90 in 162.55 table hours

I'm posting this well after the fact. I was busy after I played that session and didn't have time to input the data. Sorry, no hand posts.

Day 74-7: +$10.00 (+5 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Level: +$81.75 in 19.07 table hours (+41 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$354.40 in 158.03 table hours

I don't really feel like I have much to say about today. There were a couple interesting hands, but otherwise I'm sort of in the grind (which I was hoping to avoid) while I work my way back up to $3/6 so I can take another shot.

Hand 1: Villain is a known hyper-LAG. It's too bad I didn't piece the puzzle together quickly enough to value bet the turn instead of trying to check-raise him. There's no way he's checking behind on the flop with a weak made hand. He's not likely to check behind with garbage, either. There's also no way he's checking behind with a heart draw. Therefore, he must have a made hand that he doesn't want to fold and doesn't have a heart.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qs, Ah.
1 fold, MP raises, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 2h, Jh, 6h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

Turn: (2.25 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

River: (2.25 BB) 7d (2 players)
Hero bets, MP calls.

Results:
Hero has Qs Ah (flush, ace high).
MP has Ad As (one pair, aces).

Hand 2: Here's a very interesting hand with lots of fun decisions. I've posted this at the micros forum, so I'll let all of my commentary stand over there. Please, no cheating!

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ks, Kc.
UTG calls, MP calls, 1 fold, Button raises, SB calls, BB 3-bets, UTG calls, MP calls, Button caps, SB calls, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP calls.

Flop: (20 SB) 5d, 9d, Td (5 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP folds, Button calls.

Turn: (12 BB) Ts (4 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

River: (16 BB) Tc (4 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG raises, Button folds, SB calls, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has Qh Ad (three of a kind, tens).
Hero has Ks Kc (full house, tens full of kings).
UTG has 8c 9s (full house, tens full of nines).

Hand 3: Villain has been playing like an idiot and I had the pleasure of collecting from it. I'm surprised he didn't raise all-in for another $0.25 on the end.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qc, Qd.
UTG calls, Hero raises, CO 3-bets, 2 folds, BB calls, UTG folds, Hero caps, CO calls, BB calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) 5s, 6h, 6c (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, CO raises, BB folds, Hero 3-bets, CO caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (10.75 BB) 6d (2 players)
Hero bets, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, CO caps, Hero calls.

River: (18.75 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets, CO calls.

Final Pot: 20.75 BB

Results:
Hero has Qc Qd (full house, sixes full of queens).
CO has 4s Ks (three of a kind, sixes).

Hand 4: I'm pretty sure I'm supposed ot raise this flop, especially with the flush draw out there.

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9s, Qs.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, Button calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) 4d, 9h, 2h (5 players)
SB bets, BB folds, UTG calls, Hero calls, Button calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Jd (4 players)
SB checks, UTG bets, Hero calls, Button folds, SB folds.

River: (6.50 BB) Jh (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG calls.

Results:
UTG has Qd 2d (two pair, jacks and twos).
Hero has 9s Qs (two pair, jacks and nines).

Hand 5: Good thing I caught something on the river. I wasn't really wanting to go to showdown with J-high even though I knew he was a bluffer.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Tc, Jc.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 6c, 8h, 8c (4 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG raises, Button calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 7s (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Button calls, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) Jd (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Button folds, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Tc Jc (two pair, jacks and eights).
UTG has 5c 2s (one pair, eights).

Day 73-6: +$48.50 (+24 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

Level: +$71.75 in 17.25 table hours (+36 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$344.40 in 156.22 table hours

I squeezed in a 1-hour session this afternoon and caught a really nice run of cards. It's fun to play 32/26 poker! Even though those stats are pretty high, I played a pretty unimaginative game. Value bet, value bet, value bet...

Hand 1: I felt like I should have bet the river or something. However, if he's semibluffing with Ks all the way, then there's little value in throwing in the river bet because he's never calling. So I guess maybe I can check-raise the turn. On the other hand, I should be glad to get to showdown.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ad, Qh.
2 folds, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (8 SB) As, 7s, 8s (3 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 8h (3 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero

River: (7 BB) 9d (3 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Results:
Hero has Ad Qh (two pair, aces and eights).
Button has Jh Jc (two pair, jacks and eights).

Hand 2: I know that villain in this hand can be a little aggro out of the blinds, but isn't completely out of control. The turn raise forces a naked spade to pay an extra bet, plus I get two bets out of worse aces, of which there are plenty in his range.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ac, Qh.
2 folds, Button raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Js, As, 5s (3 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4 BB) 7d (3 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

River: (8 BB) 3c (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Results:
BB has Ad 9d (one pair, aces).
Hero has Ac Qh (one pair, aces).

Hand 3: Here's an interesting value betting hand. Villain's preflop raise and flop check sometimes means AK/KK, but can also be a scared QQ/JJ or even AQ that is smart enough not to c-bet. The queen isn't such a good river value betting card because it hits a wide range of gutshot type hands that could be hanging around for 3 bets preflop. It turns out I could have won a little more, but I'm not too disappointed.

Preflop: Hero is MP with 9h, Ac.
UTG calls, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB calls, UTG calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 9s, Kc, 6c (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls.

Turn: (7.50 BB) 3c (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls.

River: (10.50 BB) Qh (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero checks.

Results:
BB has 8h 9d (one pair, nines).
UTG has 7c 7d (one pair, sevens).
Hero has 9h Ac (one pair, nines).

Hand 4: I have no idea why this villain suddenly woke up with hyper-aggression. I didn't mind, of course. I was really expecting to see AK.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7d, Ac.
3 folds, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 4d, Ah, Jd (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls.

River: (12 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has 7d Ac (full house, sevens full of aces).
BB has 9h As (two pair, aces and sevens).

Hand 5: Bad turn card. I wish I knew what villain had after call-capping the flop and what button saw the river with.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Jc, Js.
2 folds, CO calls, Button raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, CO calls, Button calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 6h, Th, 4h (3 players)
Hero bets, CO calls, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, CO caps, Button calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (10.75 BB) Kh (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Button calls, Hero folds.

River: (12.75 BB) 5c (2 players)
CO bets, Button folds.

Hand 6: After a loose flop call, the turn and river are easy value bets.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Tc, 8c.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 6s, 4d, 5c (4 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, UTG calls, Button folds.

Turn: (3.50 BB) 8d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG calls, SB calls.

River: (6.50 BB) 3h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, UTG folds, SB calls.

Results:
SB has 6h Ah (one pair, sixes).
Hero has Tc 8c (one pair, eights).

Hand 7: Another overplayed weakish hand by a different player. These guys add substantial amounts to my profit.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 7c, 7s.
Hero raises, 3 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 4h, 2d, 6c (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 7h (3 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

River: (10.25 BB) 6h (3 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero caps, BB calls.

Results:
BB has 6s Qh (three of a kind, sixes).
Hero has 7c 7s (full house, sevens full of sixes).

Day 72-5: -$26.50 (-13 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Level: +$23.25 in 15.47 table hours (+12 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$295.90 in 154.43 table hours

Another down session, but not bad. It could have been better. I missed some big draws and they hit their few-outers. Overall, it feels more like a test of patience than anything.

Hand 1: Here's a spot where I think I should check the turn with two callers. Heads up, I think it's a fairly good bet, but with two other players, the chances of getting them both to fold is pretty small.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ah, Qh.
UTG calls, MP raises, CO calls, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, UTG calls, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) 8d, 8h, Jh (4 players)
Hero bets, UTG folds, MP calls, CO calls.

Turn: (7.75 BB) 2c (3 players)
Hero bets, MP calls, CO folds.

River: (9.75 BB) 3c (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks.

Final Pot: 9.75 BB

Results:
Hero has Ah Qh (one pair, eights).
MP has 9c 9h (two pair, nines and eights).

Hand 2: Villain has been very aggressive, bluffing/semi-bluffing too often and value betting some weakish hands. He drew to his hand this time. I suppose one can argue for just calling because the 7 just made a bunch of hands of his catch up to mine, or folding the river if he has anything resembling sanity.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ah, Qs.
1 fold, Hero raises, 1 fold, Button calls, 2 folds.

Flop: (5.50 SB) Ac, Td, 7c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 6h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.75 BB) 7s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ah Qs (two pair, aces and sevens).
Button has 9d 8d (straight, ten high).

Hand 3: Bad calldown? Villain was pretty aggressive and I felt there was a reasonable chance he would check-raise semi-bluff the flush draw. But he had a slightly better hand.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ad, 4s.
3 folds, Button raises, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) Kh, 4h, 7d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3.25 BB) 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

River: (7.25 BB) Td (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has Qh 7h (one pair, sevens).
Hero has Ad 4s (one pair, fours).

Hand 4: I think I should have just coldcalled the flop to see what would happen.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qd, Ks.
1 fold, Hero raises, CO 3-bets, 1 fold, SB calls, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (10 SB) Qs, 9d, 8h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets, SB raises, Hero 3-bets, CO folds, SB caps, Hero calls.

Turn: (8.50 BB) 4h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (10.50 BB) 3c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has 9c 9h (three of a kind, nines).
Hero has Qd Ks (one pair, queens).

Hand 5: Here's a missed value bet. I don't know what I was thinking.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qc, Tc.
UTG bets 4 folds, Hero calls.
Flop: (4.50 SB) 9c, 3s, Th (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, BB raises, UTG calls.

Turn: (2.75 BB) Ad (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG calls

River: (3.75 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks.

Results:
Hero has Qc Tc (one pair, tens).
UTG has 7d 7s (one pair, sevens).
UTG doesn't show.

Hand 6: Getting too fancy against an aggressive villain 3-handed? I don't know. My logic was that he would bet any decent hand. That means any pair or even an ace, and would pay off a check-raise. Any hand that he wouldn't bet, he wouldn't call, either. At least, that was the logic.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Td, Qs.
Button raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, Button calls.

Flop: (7 SB) 8d, 6d, Tc (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 8c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (6.50 BB) 8s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Results:
Hero has Td Qs (full house, eights full of tens).
Button has 9c Qd (three of a kind, eights).

Hand 7: Two-outer. Ugh. Maybe I'm supposed to fold top pair weak kicker to the turn raise, anyway.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6s, Qd.
2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) Qc, 4s, 2h (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets, CO folds, Button calls, SB folds.

Turn: (3 BB) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero calls.

River: (7 BB) Jc (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has 6s Qd (one pair, queens).
Button has 5h 5d (three of a kind, fives).

Hand 8: Here was a fun spot. Villain bought in for 10 BB and seemed to be playing a very wild game for the first 4 hands at the table. It changed a tough river bet-call into an easy river bet-call.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Jd, Jh.
2 folds, Button raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 4s, 7d, Js (3 players)
SB bets, BB folds, Hero raises, SB calls.

Turn: (5 BB) 2s (2 players)
SB checks, Button bets, SB calls.

River: (7 BB) Qs (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has 4h 8h (one pair, fours).
Hero has Jd Jh (three of a kind, jacks).

Hand 8: Another missed value bet.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Tc, Ts.
Hero raises, 2 folds, Button calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 2h, Kc, 3c (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Turn: (5.50 BB) 9c (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, SB calls.

River: (8.50 BB) Kh (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, Button checks.

Results:
SB has 5d 5c (two pair, kings and fives).
Hero has Tc Ts (two pair, kings and tens).
Button has 6s 6c (two pair, kings and sixes).

Hand 9: I do need to make myself aware when I suck out, too... Even if it is a re-suckout.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8s, 8h.
2 folds, CO calls, 1 fold, SB raises, Hero calls, CO calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 2s, 4d, 7d (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, CO calls, SB calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 2d (3 players)
SB bets, Hero calls, CO folds.

River: (8 BB) 8c (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

Results:
SB has 2c Ac (three of a kind, twos).
Hero has 8s 8h (full house, eights full of twos).

Day 71-4: -$34.25 (-17 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Level: +$49.00 in 12.42 table hours (+25 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$322.40 in 151.38 table hours

I feel like I played poorly again, but as I'm reviewing hands, I think I just kept missing flops and I actually got away from another of bad spots. On the other side of things, I had another fight with variance, and lost a couple big pots. But there isn't much I can do about that.

Hand 1: Against this player, I should have been able to fold this river. He was a loose passive, and I knew the raise meant I was very likely beat. But I call a lot on the end with an overpair. I must admit, though, I was pretty surprised by what he showed down. I was expecting at least a straight.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ac, Ah.
4 folds, Hero raises, BB calls.

Flop: (4 SB) 8c, 4c, Ks (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

Turn: (3 BB) 5h (2 players)
Hero bets, BB calls.

River: (5 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Ac Ah (one pair, aces).
BB has 8s 5c (two pair, eights and fives).

Hand 2: This call against this player is better. The pot is also bigger. I still lost.

Preflop: Hero is SB with As, Kd.
UTG calls, 1 fold, Button calls, Hero raises, BB calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 7d, Qc, Kc (4 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, UTG calls, Button calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 5h (4 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG calls, Button calls.

River: (9 BB) 7h (3 players)
Hero bets, UTG folds, Button raises, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has As Kd (two pair, kings and sevens).
Button has 7c 9c (three of a kind, sevens).

Hand 3: I like this turn call. It's a good card because I can easily run from a check-raise. It turns out he was semibluffing the whole time.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Qd.
UTG calls, MP calls, CO raises, 2 folds, Hero 3-bets, UTG calls, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (12.50 SB) Kd, 7d, Qs (4 players)

Hero bets, UTG calls, MP calls, CO raises, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP calls.

Turn: (10.25 BB) Kc (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, CO bets, Hero calls, UTG calls, MP calls.

River: (14.25 BB) 5h (4 players)
Hero checks, UTG checks, MP checks, CO checks.

Results:
Hero has Ac Qd (two pair, kings and queens).
UTG has Qc Tc (two pair, kings and queens).
MP has Jd Th (one pair, kings).
CO has 9d Ad (one pair, kings).

Hand 4: There was something very suspicious about this villain, but this board connected with so many hands that I didn't want to play the guessing game. Thankfully, he showed it. It's really only an interesting hand because he flashed K7s and left the table after this hand, but I met up with him again (see the next one).

Preflop: Hero is BB with Td, Ts.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, MP caps, Button calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12 SB) Qh, Jc, 5c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets, Button folds, Hero folds.

Hand 5: Villain is the one calling down with black 22 on a 4-flushed paired board. I also like my turn suckout.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kc, Th.
Hero raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Td, 7d, Tc (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Turn: (6 BB) Kd (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, BB calls, Hero 3-bets, SB caps, BB calls, Hero calls.

River: (18 BB) 4d (3 players)
SB bets, BB calls, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Results:
SB has 7s Ts (full house, tens full of sevens).
BB has 2c 2s (two pair, tens and twos).
Hero has Kc Th (full house, tens full of kings).

Hand 6: What was I doing on the river here?

Preflop: Hero is CO with Th, Kd.
2 folds, CO raises, Button 3-bets, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) Ks, Ah, 8s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 5s (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.75 BB) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero folds.

Day 70-3: +$106.25 (+53 BB at $1/2)

2007-05-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

Level: +$84 in 9.40 table hours (+42 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$356.65 in 148.37 table hours

Play like crap and end up a big winner. Variance is so much fun! I really don't feel like I played well at all. I mean, I played decently well, probably a solid enough to beat the games, but I was making a number of really terrible calldowns and other bad decisions. I don't know why that happens.

Hand 1: Here's a perfectly good example of a bad river call.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Kd, As.
2 folds, CO raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, BB caps, CO calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12 SB) 8c, 4d, 8d (3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, CO folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (7 BB) 5d (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (9 BB) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Kd As (three of a kind, eights).
BB has Td Th (full house, eights full of tens).

Hand 2: Duh.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Qh, As.
1 fold, Hero raises, CO calls, 2 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 2h, Kc, Tc (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, CO raises, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) 7s (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.25 BB) 4d (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Qh As (high card, ace).
CO has Kd 8d (one pair, kings).

Hand 3: This is just bad luck.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Qd, Qh.
1 fold, MP calls, CO raises, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, MP calls, CO calls.

Flop: (10.50 SB) Td, 7h, 4h (3 players)
MP checks, CO checks, Button bets, MP folds, CO calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) 5d (2 players)
CO checks, Button bets, CO calls.

River: (8.25 BB) Ks (2 players)
CO bets, Hero calls.

Results:
CO has Kh 5c (two pair, kings and fives).
Hero has Qd Qh (one pair, queens).

Hand 4: MUBS? Villain was known to be somewhat loose-passive, but I'm holding two of the flop cards, making sets very unlikely.

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9d, 8d.
2 folds, Hero raises, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (6.50 SB) 4c, 8s, 9h (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, Button calls, BB calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 3c (3 players)

BB checks, Hero bets, Button raises, BB folds, Hero calls.

River: (8.75 BB) 7h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has 9d 8d (two pair, nines and eights).
Button has Th Tc (one pair, tens).

Hand 5: Here's another terrible hand. The coldcall was part of my trying to get involved with LAG MP, but I only beat a bluff after the turn completes the flush AND brings the big overcard. Plus, he actually had a hand this time.

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8d, 7d.
UTG calls, MP raises, Hero calls, 3 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) 4h, 8s, Ah (3 players)
UTG checks, MP bets, Hero raises, UTG folds, MP 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.75 BB) Kh (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (8.75 BB) 5d (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Results:
MP has Ks Ac (two pair, aces and kings).
Hero has 8d 7d (one pair, eights).

Hand 6: Iso-raise against the LAG, but I freeze up postflop and lose the pot.

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8d, Ac.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, MP calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) 4s, Qc, 7d (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

Turn: (3.75 BB) 9d (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

River: (3.75 BB) 6h (2 players)
MP checks, Hero checks.

Results:
MP has Ad 6c (one pair, sixes).
Hero has 8d Ac (high card, ace).

Hand 7: Preflop FPS against an aggro player turns into KK winning very little money.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kd, Ks.
Hero raises, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (7.50 SB) Tc, 4s, 7h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) Ad (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: (4.75 BB) Qh (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Results:
Hero has Kd Ks (one pair, kings).
Button has 5c 5h (one pair, fives).

Hand 8: How do I win money? I just run into really stupid villains.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 3s, Qs.
1 fold, MP calls, 1 fold, Button calls, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) 3d, 2s, 6c (4 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, MP folds, Button folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (3 BB) 6s (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

River: (7 BB) 5s (2 players)
Hero bets, BB raises, Hero 3-bets, BB calls.

Results:
Hero has 3s Qs (flush, queen high).
BB has 7s 2c (two pair, sixes and twos).

Hand 9: Ummm... that was supposed to be a bluff against an aggressive opponent who I thought could fold. My read is no good here, but the pot is still mine.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Js, Jh.
UTG calls, MP raises, 4 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) Qd, 4c, 2h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.75 BB) 6d (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.75 BB) Kh (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Results:
UTG has Ac 3d (high card, ace).
Hero has Js Jh (one pair, jacks).

Day 69-2: -$19.50 (-10 BB at $1/2)

2007-04-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Level: -$22.25 in 5.69 table hours (-11 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$250.40 in 144.65 table hours

The downswing continues. I feel like I'm playing very well, but I just can't win any big hands. Instead, I win lots of little hands and then get unlucky on a big hand. I'm a little hungry, so I'm not going to post many hands.

Hand 1: This one is interesting only because of a read I developed a few orbits after this hand happened. At the time, villain was brand new, so I knew nothing and played accordingly. It turns out that villain is a very aggressive player, capable of overplaying draws and made hands. If I had known, I would definitely have paid him off.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Td, Ad.
UTGA raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) Qd, Ts, 7d (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB folds, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 3h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (8 BB) 7h (2 players)
BB bets, Hero folds.

Hand 2: Ugh.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Qs, Kc.
1 fold, MP calls, Hero raises, 1 fold, BB 3-bets, MP calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) Ac, Td, 8d (3 players)
BB bets, MP calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) Jd (3 players)
BB bets, MP calls, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, MP calls, Hero calls.

River: (15.25 BB) 8c (3 players)
BB bets, MP calls, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 18.25 BB

Results:
BB has 8s 8h (four of a kind, eights).
MP has Kh 2c (one pair, eights).
Hero has Qs Kc (straight, ace high).

Hand 3: Ugh, again.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9s, 9c.
Hero raises, 2 folds, SB calls, BB 3-bets, Hero calls, SB calls.

Flop: (9 SB) Qh, 9h, 5h (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB calls, BB 3-bets, Hero caps, SB calls, BB calls.

Turn: (10.50 BB) Kc (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, BB caps, Hero calls, SB calls.

River: (22.50 BB) 8c (3 players)
SB bets, BB raises, Hero calls, SB calls.

Results:
BB has Qc Qd (three of a kind, queens).
Hero has 9s 9c (three of a kind, nines).
SB has Kh Ts (one pair, kings).

Day 68-1: -$2.75 (-1 BB at $1/2)

2007-04-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

Level: -$2.75 in 3.87 table hours (-1 BB at $1/2)
Overall: +$269.90 in 142.83 table hours

Swingy day. I'm glad to end up basically even, but I could very easily have been up big thanks to one crazy LAG (55/40). But he kept hitting his outs, and I couldn't pick up enough strong hands to play him.

In other news, I defended my dissertation yesterday, which means I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands, and I intend to play poker somewhat more regularly now. We'll see if I actually get around to it.

Hand 1: I was happy until the turn card fell. I would have raised the turn if any other card had fallen.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ad, Ah.
Hero raises, 3 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 5c, 8s, Jd (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.25 BB) Js (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.25 BB) 3c (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 4h Jh (three of a kind, jacks).
Hero has Ad Ah (two pair, aces and jacks).

Hand 2: He flopped a good hand against mine, then I missed my 11-outer on the end.

Preflop: Hero is BB with Kd, Ah.
2 folds, SB raises, BB 3-bets, SB caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (8 SB) Ad, 9s, Td (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (7 BB) 6d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (9 BB) 8h (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has Kd Ah (one pair, aces).
SB has Ts Ac (two pair, aces and tens).

Hand 3: Bad luck.

PokerStars 1/2 Hold'em (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: HTML)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Th, As.

1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 3 folds, MP caps, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) Ac, 8d, Jh (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (5.75 BB) Jc (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

River: (7.75 BB) 9s (2 players)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Results:
MP has Ah Qd (two pair, aces and jacks).
Hero has Th As (two pair, aces and jacks).

Hand 4: I wish they would all flop this well against him. Notice the turn bet-call AND calldown with the underpair.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Kd, Kh.
1 fold, MP raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, SB caps (all-in), 1 fold, MP calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (12.25 SB) Kc, 2d, 4d (3 players)
MP checks, Hero bets, MP calls.

Turn: (7.12 BB) Ah (3 players)
MP bets, Hero raises, MP calls.

River: (11.12 BB) Qs (3 players)
MP checks, Hero bets, MP folds.

Results:
SB has 9s 9h (one pair, nines).
Hero has Kd Kh (three of a kind, kings).

Hand 5: I got greedy, and he saw through it. I should have capped the flop and led the turn.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Th, Kc.
1 fold, Button raises, Hero calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 9c, Kh, Ks (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, Button bets, Hero raises, BB folds, Button 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (6 BB) 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: (6 BB) 6h (2 players)
SB bets, Button calls.

Results:
Button has 3s 9s (two pair, kings and nines).
Hero has Th Kc (three of a kind, kings).

Hand 6: Lousy river...

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7d, Kc. MP posts a blind of $1.
1 fold, MP (poster) checks, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (3 SB) 5c, 7h, 3c (3 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, MP folds, SB 3-bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) Ts (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB calls.

River: (8.50 BB) 6d (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has 7d Kc (one pair, sevens).
SB has 4s 7s (straight, seven high).

Hand 7: I'm glad both of the other players folded on the turn. The king was a scary card with the coldcaller hanging around.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Th, Td.
Hero raises, 1 fold, CO calls, 1 fold, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (8 SB) 3d, 5s, 8h (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero raises, CO calls, SB calls, BB 3-bets, Hero calls, CO calls, SB calls.

Turn: (10 BB) Kc (4 players)
SB checks, BB bets, Hero calls, CO folds, SB folds.

River: (12 BB) Ks (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 4h 2d (one pair, kings).
Hero has Th Td (two pair, kings and tens).

Stats: $2/4 (04/27/2007)

2007-04-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

This is just a place-holder. I may never get around to posting these stats because they are uninteresting.

Day 67-2: -$113.50 (-28 BB at $2/4)

2007-04-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Level: -$99.00 in 5.10 table hours (-25 BB at $2/4)
Overall: +$272.65 in 138.97 table hours

Double busto... Technically, I guess I have $1 left at this level, but that's not enough to do anything, so I'm dropping down again. Not much to do but to keep playing and ride out the downswing.

Day 66-1: +$14.50 (+4 BB at $2/4)

2007-04-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

Level: +$14.50 in 2.75 table hours (+4 BB at $2/4)
Overall: +$386.15 in 136.62 table hours

I bought in for the $100 remaining in the $2/4 bankroll. I was worried about going busto twice in a row when I was down to $31. Fortunately, I pulled out of it and came back to being ahead $14.50. Not many hands to post this time.

Hand 1: Villain is known to be aggressive, but I didn't know how aggressive he was. The flop donk/call followed by the re-donk/3-bet had me really worried about some strangely played flopped big hand and he just didn't know how to handle it. It turned out he was just bad. You can argue about throwing in a river raise because I now beat Q6/Q7, but given the turn action, I wasn't entirely convinced that this card helped me (he could play a turned flush draw this way, I guess, but wouldn't pay it off unless he had a pair.)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kh, Ac.
Hero raises, 4 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) 6d, Ah, 7s (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) Qh (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (10.25 BB) As (2 players)
BB bets, Hero calls.

Results:
BB has 7h 3c (two pair, aces and sevens).
Hero has Kh Ac (three of a kind, aces).

Hand 2: I took a flop peel here because I could be ahead of a flush draw and potentially have as many as 6 outs against a pair smaller than queens. In aggressive games (well... more generally against aggressive players), folding the flop too often is a huge leak. The turn brought me a good draw, but I didn't think a turn raise had enough credibility to make any better hands fold, so I just called and try to pick up something on the river. It didn't happen. With this many broadway on the board, it's hard to have A-high hold up, so it's an easy fold.

Preflop: Hero is MP with Ad, Jc.
UTG calls, Hero raises, 4 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (5.50 SB) 8h, Qh, 2c (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (3.75 BB) Td (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls.

River: (5.75 BB) 6d (2 players)
UTG bets, Hero folds.

Hand 3: Value bet the turn even though an ace fell. If the someone calls it, then you can be worried. But you might still win anyway.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kd, Js.
1 fold, MP raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, MP calls.

Flop: (9.50 SB) 9c, Kh, 6s (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Button bets, BB calls, MP calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) As (3 players)

BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets, BB folds, MP calls.

River: (8.25 BB) 5d (2 players)

MP checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 8.25 BB

Results:
MP has Jc Ts (high card, ace).
Hero has Kd Js (one pair, kings).

Stats: $3/6 (4/20/2007)

2007-04-20T23:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I'm actually going to bother... 343 hands, -$300.

Day 65-2: -$99.00 (-37 BB at $3/6)

2007-04-19T22:52:00.000-07:00

Level: -$300.00 in 3.53 table hours (-50 BB at $3/6)
Overall: +$371.65 in 135.30 table hours

Wow... I have little to say except that variance makes me unhappy.

Hand 1: Maybe I get away from this when it's two back to me. The problem with the T-high board is that it allows KK-JJ to go nuts with worse hands.

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ah, Ad.
1 fold, MP raises, Button calls, Hero 3-bets, BB calls, MP calls, Button calls.

Flop: (12 SB) Ts, 2s, 8c (4 players)

Hero bets, BB calls, MP raises, Button 3-bets, Hero caps, BB folds, MP calls, Button calls.

Turn: (12.50 BB) 3d (3 players)
Hero bets, MP raises, Button 3-bets, Hero calls, MP calls.

River: (19.50 BB) 6c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP checks, Button bets, Hero calls, MP calls.

Results:
Hero has Ah Ad (one pair, aces).
MP has Kh Kc (one pair, kings).
Button has Tc Td (three of a kind, tens).

Hand 2: I didn't want to cap the turn because then I would be in a position of bet-calling the river against a tight villain. Stupid 3-outer...

Preflop: Hero is UTG with As, 8h.
Hero raises, 1 fold, Button 3-bets, 1 fold, BB calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (9.33 SB) 4c, 8d, Jc (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, BB calls, Hero calls.

Turn: (6.16 BB) Ad (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, Button bets, BB folds, Hero raises, Button 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (12.16 BB) Kc (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero calls.

Results:
Hero has As 8h (two pair, aces and eights).
Button has Ah Kh (two pair, aces and kings).

Hand 3: I don't bet this river because he's never folding A-high I might have been better off checking the turn and folding the river UI.

Preflop: Hero is Button with Kh, Qh.
UTG raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, 2 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: (7.33 SB) 6d, 3c, 9c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.66 BB) 5h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets, UTG calls.

River: (6.66 BB) 9d (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Results:
UTG has As Kc (one pair, nines).
Hero has Kh Qh (one pair, nines).

Hand 4: 15 outs to win, 3 outs to chop, and nothing came in...

Preflop: Hero is BB with Kh, Jh.
UTG raises, 4 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) 6h, 2h, 4c (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG calls.

Turn: (4.16 BB) 5s (2 players)
BB bets, UTG calls.

River: (6.16 BB) 5c (2 players)
BB bets, UTG calls.

Results:
Hero has Kh Jh (one pair, fives).
UTG has Td Ad (one pair, fives).

Hand 5: This is just another bad spot.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Js, Jh.
Hero raises, 1 fold, CO 3-bets, 1 fold, SB calls, BB calls, Hero caps, CO calls, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (16 SB) 8s, 7h, 2s (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets, CO raises, SB calls, BB folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (11 BB) 6d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

River: (14 BB) 3s (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, CO bets, SB calls, Hero calls.

Results:
SB has 7d Td (one pair, sevens).
Hero has Js Jh (one pair, jacks).
CO has Qh Qd (one pair, queens).

Day 64-1: -$201.00 (-34 BB at $3/6)

2007-04-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Level: -$201.00 in 2.18 table hours (-34 BB at $3/6)
Overall: +$470.65 in 133.95 table hours

What a rough start to $3/6... On one table, it seemed like I couldn't catch any breaks. I also ran into my old problem of being unable to handle very aggressive players. I may have to drop down again really quickly. I can only buy in for $99 at one table next time.

Hand 1: When it rains...

Preflop: Hero is CO with As, Ad.
2 folds, Hero raises, 3 folds.

Hand 2: It pours...

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Kh, Ac.
Hero raises, 4 folds.

Hand 3: Oh, come on!

Preflop: Hero is Button with Js, Qc.
2 folds, Hero raises, SB calls, BB calls.

Flop: (6 SB) 8c, 5s, 3d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Button bets, SB calls, BB calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 9h (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

River: (4.50 BB) Jh (3 players)
SB bets, BB folds, Hero raises, SB calls.

Results:
SB has Kd Jd (one pair, jacks).
Hero has Js Qc (one pair, jacks).

Hand 4: Maybe this was a bad river raise, but I thought it was pretty solid at the time against a relatively aggressive player.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7c, 7h.
3 folds, Button calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, Button calls.

Flop: (4.33 SB) 3s, 8h, Qc (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

Turn: (3.16 BB) 7s (2 players)
Hero bets, Button calls.

River: (5.16 BB) Js (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

Results:
Hero has 7c 7h (three of a kind, sevens).
Button has Td 9h (straight, queen high).

Hand 5: I flop the nuts with a redraw to a better hand, and it gets chopped 3-ways.

Preflop: Hero is Button with 8d, 6d.
UTG calls, MP calls, 1 fold, Hero calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (5 SB) 5d, 7c, 9d (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, MP checks, Hero bets, SB folds, BB calls, UTG calls, MP calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) 8s (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP bets, Hero raises, BB folds, UTG calls $11 (All-In), MP 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (12.33 BB) Qh (3 players, 1 all-in)
MP bets, Hero calls.

Results:
UTG has 6h Kh (straight, nine high).
MP has 6s 5s (straight, nine high).
Hero has 8d 6d (straight, nine high).

Stats: $2/4 (4/18/2007)

2007-04-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

I was taking a closer look at my stats today and I realized that I have made a $100 mistake. I actually crossed the desired threshold for $3/6 a while ago. When glancing at my stats, I forgot that I started with an initial bankroll of $100. This means that in order to be rolled for $3/6, I need to have made $500 profit. Instead, I was watching my stats for the $600 profit mark. Oh well.

I don't have much to say now, so I'll just post pictures.

General Stats:

Graphs:

Details Page:

Position Tab: