December 5k - Session 19

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

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 15

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 11

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 4

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

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

December 5k - Session 3

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

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.

ASB - Session 10

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

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 4

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.

Break-even live session

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.

It's getting worse

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.

Off to a bad start

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.

2293 Hands @ 10.50 BB/100

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

1400 Hands @ 6.94 BB/100

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.

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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).