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.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Project for the month of March
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.
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.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Signing off
Monday, September 03, 2007
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)
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)
Sunday, September 02, 2007
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.
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.
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