Thanks again to Al for securing my invite to this tonight, and thanks for a 7pm EST start time which means I'll definitely be playing as it's only midnight here rather than the 3am starts previously mentioned.
Hopefully I'll run and play better than I did at DTD yesterday in their £50 tourney.
Couldn't get a handle on some of the odd players at my table who were making some really strange plays with awful bet sizing. I opened AJo in MP and got min re-raised by the guy directly to my left with what turned out to be QJo. He seemed to have a fetish for that hand and showed it down several times, often as a bluff or second or third pair.
The guy in seat 1 was equally bad and eventually went bust shoving AQ on a AxxK board against a decent player who had showed strength all the way.
But best of all was the Asian lady who arrived late, seemed to be playing super tight and then re-raise shoved AQ on a board of 844 against the decent player from above. She had raised UTG, he called from the BB with 45 of spades and CR'd the flop. The speed with which she shoved I thought at least she had an overpair but no, AQ, no hand, no draw. Nice.
I was finding nothing and when I eventually get JJ and open UTG I get two callers before the BB instashoves. I was getting pretty short and arguably could/should have called, but this guy had basically shown two hands in 4 hours and both of them were AA. Eventually I folded, one of the callers stacked off with 99 and the BB made a set with his QQ.
Chipped up slighthly with two all-in shoves which didn't get called and then ran A2s into AK in a BvB situation.
Worst part of the night was dusting off £200 playing 2/2 PLO. Missed a big draw against the table retard but must admit I played several hands poorly, mainly by calling re-raises pre with weak hands just because there was value in the pot.
Eventually, semi-tilted I get it all-in pre for £90 with JJ109ds and lose to AK84 who makes two pair with his 84. LOL.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Time is against me....
...but I'll be trying to play in this.
10pm EST is obviously 3am over here so it's not going to be easy, but the potential prizes make it worth a few late nights/early mornings.
Thanks to Al for setting this up.
10pm EST is obviously 3am over here so it's not going to be easy, but the potential prizes make it worth a few late nights/early mornings.
Thanks to Al for setting this up.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
In need of some discipline....
...Not that kind, although a good spanking never hurt anyone.
I'm talking bankroll discipline, certainly one of my weaknesses over the years. There's no question I find it hard to grind it out at the lower levels when winning hands or even stacks just doesn't seem to add up to much.
However, I also can't continue experiencing the highs and lows from technically playing limits outside my bankroll, so I've decided to set myself a challenge.
For the next 3 months (after which we'll re-assess), I'm not allowed to play higher than 0.10c/25c in cash games or $10 STT's and MTT's, unless I win tokens on FT.
Hopefully this will have the effect of:
a) Building a roll by playing at a level I can beat (LOL)
b) Prevent me from tilting as I'll be playing for smaller amounts.
It will also no doubt see my rakeback take a hit but hopefully the benefits will outweight the negatives.
Wish me luck.
PS - Before the new regime kicks in, I'll be sneaking in a live tourney at Dusk till Dawn in Nottingham tomorrow, £50 buy-in with £10k guarantee IIRC. Structure is decent and hopefully I can pick up some hands when it counts, rather than running good early on in the smaller pots.
I'm talking bankroll discipline, certainly one of my weaknesses over the years. There's no question I find it hard to grind it out at the lower levels when winning hands or even stacks just doesn't seem to add up to much.
However, I also can't continue experiencing the highs and lows from technically playing limits outside my bankroll, so I've decided to set myself a challenge.
For the next 3 months (after which we'll re-assess), I'm not allowed to play higher than 0.10c/25c in cash games or $10 STT's and MTT's, unless I win tokens on FT.
Hopefully this will have the effect of:
a) Building a roll by playing at a level I can beat (LOL)
b) Prevent me from tilting as I'll be playing for smaller amounts.
It will also no doubt see my rakeback take a hit but hopefully the benefits will outweight the negatives.
Wish me luck.
PS - Before the new regime kicks in, I'll be sneaking in a live tourney at Dusk till Dawn in Nottingham tomorrow, £50 buy-in with £10k guarantee IIRC. Structure is decent and hopefully I can pick up some hands when it counts, rather than running good early on in the smaller pots.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Live and kicking
Played a fair bit of live poker recently with my usual mixed results. (SICK hand alert at the bottom)
Was up £300 at Dusk Till Dawn a few weeks ago until meeting up with LJ for dinner and then foolishly returning for a second session.
Sucked out on LJ with some donktastic chasing but then karma maybe bit me in the ass in a massive pot with AK on an AKJx board, when 108s chased his flush draw by check-raising me on the turn and calling my shove. He got there obv.
Lost rest of my stack v same player when he called my pre-flop raise with KJo and flopped two pair, I had A10s so flopped a gutty str8 flush draw on the KJ10 flop, but obv missed.
DTD has just started a PLO tourney on Wednesday's and a PLO/PLH one on Sunday night. Made the final table of the PLO for a small profit but overplayed top set in Sunday's round of each tourney and went out to a turned str8.
That tourney has a huge overlay in terms of the Omaha round though. At least two people on my table openly discussed how they had never played Omaha before, and I overheard someone on the adjacent table asking how many cards he had to use.
After busting out of the tourney I played some cash games but the 2/2 PLO game didn't last long before breaking. Flopped one monster hand with nut str8 and nut flush redraw but the guy with a set who bet the flop and turn sadly found a fold when I raised the turn.
I was definitely contemplating just calling behind on the turn but slowplaying in Omaha almost never feels right and I actually figured we might both have a str8 and I was freerolling with the flush draw.
After that table broke I rejoined a 1/2 NL game and had a real rollercoaster session.
Lost to my customary 2-outer to the worst player in the club, who called my PFR with QJs (not too hideous in itself) and then shoved for £88 when I c-bet £55 on a Jxx flop. I obv call and equally obviously he hits a J on the turn.
Did win a nice big pot with AA though, new player raising to £13 in CO and I reraised to £30 from SB. He asked how much I had behind before re-raising to about £75, I shoved for £185 total and he called with QQ.
Sickest hand of the night came at the end.
This old guy had gone on major monkey tilt, dropping several buy-ins with mad river bluffs and raising/c-betting every hand. You could tell everyone at the table was itching to play a pot and bust him, so when he made it just £6 UTG, I called with A3s on the button.
Couple of others call and the flop is perfect, 245. Tilt monkey bets £20, I make it £50 knowing he will shove a huge range, but the BB spoils it all by raising to £150. Wtf? Tilt monkey already had a big pile of chips in his hand to raise my bet but now folds.
I obv hate folding here but I've played against this guy for a while and never seen him do anything silly and in the end I fold pretty quickly. He shows 3 6. Phew/puke.
Was up £300 at Dusk Till Dawn a few weeks ago until meeting up with LJ for dinner and then foolishly returning for a second session.
Sucked out on LJ with some donktastic chasing but then karma maybe bit me in the ass in a massive pot with AK on an AKJx board, when 108s chased his flush draw by check-raising me on the turn and calling my shove. He got there obv.
Lost rest of my stack v same player when he called my pre-flop raise with KJo and flopped two pair, I had A10s so flopped a gutty str8 flush draw on the KJ10 flop, but obv missed.
DTD has just started a PLO tourney on Wednesday's and a PLO/PLH one on Sunday night. Made the final table of the PLO for a small profit but overplayed top set in Sunday's round of each tourney and went out to a turned str8.
That tourney has a huge overlay in terms of the Omaha round though. At least two people on my table openly discussed how they had never played Omaha before, and I overheard someone on the adjacent table asking how many cards he had to use.
After busting out of the tourney I played some cash games but the 2/2 PLO game didn't last long before breaking. Flopped one monster hand with nut str8 and nut flush redraw but the guy with a set who bet the flop and turn sadly found a fold when I raised the turn.
I was definitely contemplating just calling behind on the turn but slowplaying in Omaha almost never feels right and I actually figured we might both have a str8 and I was freerolling with the flush draw.
After that table broke I rejoined a 1/2 NL game and had a real rollercoaster session.
Lost to my customary 2-outer to the worst player in the club, who called my PFR with QJs (not too hideous in itself) and then shoved for £88 when I c-bet £55 on a Jxx flop. I obv call and equally obviously he hits a J on the turn.
Did win a nice big pot with AA though, new player raising to £13 in CO and I reraised to £30 from SB. He asked how much I had behind before re-raising to about £75, I shoved for £185 total and he called with QQ.
Sickest hand of the night came at the end.
This old guy had gone on major monkey tilt, dropping several buy-ins with mad river bluffs and raising/c-betting every hand. You could tell everyone at the table was itching to play a pot and bust him, so when he made it just £6 UTG, I called with A3s on the button.
Couple of others call and the flop is perfect, 245. Tilt monkey bets £20, I make it £50 knowing he will shove a huge range, but the BB spoils it all by raising to £150. Wtf? Tilt monkey already had a big pile of chips in his hand to raise my bet but now folds.
I obv hate folding here but I've played against this guy for a while and never seen him do anything silly and in the end I fold pretty quickly. He shows 3 6. Phew/puke.
Friday, 18 September 2009
To all my new readers (yeah right)
Just to say if anyone has clicked here via LJ's blog and wants to read a trip report from me/her in Nottingham (EPO), leave a comment and I'll dig it up, including pics.
Otherwise I'm too lazy :)
Otherwise I'm too lazy :)
Friday, 26 June 2009
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Analyse
Good news at last for my loyal reader (Hi LJ!).
Finally going busto on all my online sites (barring a sliver of rakeback possibly) means a blessed end to bad beat posts (yeah right) and a commitment to effectively start from scratch when I redeposit next month.
I could redeposit right now of course, but with 16 days of Wimbledon looming, followed by a few days of athletics and The Open at Turnberry, there really isn't much point.
I've belatedly realised I've never really adhered to proper bankroll requirements, simply depositing randomly when required and refusing to grind it out at the appropriate levels.
So the plan is to finally do so when my work schedule allows, and then I'll be looking to fully pick the brains of the good players on +1 (better warn Kevin for me LJ :)) to improve my NL game in particular.
Edit: Just thought this hand was funny and summed up Stars perfectly. KK plays hit horribly, but love J2 getting there on turn, and then the gutshot on river as well :)
Poker Stars $0.25+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t50/t100 Blinds + t10 - 8 players - View hand 153223
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
UTG: t2735 M = 11.89
Hero (UTG+1): t1110 M = 4.83
MP1: t1940 M = 8.43
MP2: t1505 M = 6.54
CO: t6195 M = 26.93
BTN: t7838 M = 34.08
SB: t5525 M = 24.02
BB: t15780 M = 68.61
Pre Flop: (t230) Hero is UTG+1 with Q
5
2 folds, MP1 calls t100, MP2 calls t100, CO raises to t200, 2 folds, BB raises to t300, MP1 calls t200, MP2 calls t200, CO calls t100
Flop: (t1330) 9
J 5 (4 players)
BB bets t600, MP1 raises to t1630 all in, MP2 calls t1195 all in, CO folds, BB calls t1030
Turn: (t5785) 2
(3 players - 2 are all in)
River: (t5785) 6 (3 players - 2 are all in)
Final Pot: t5785
MP1 shows 2 J (two pair, Jacks and Deuces)
MP2 shows 8 7 (a straight, Five to Nine)
BB shows K K (a pair of Kings)
MP1 wins t870
MP2 wins t4915
Finally going busto on all my online sites (barring a sliver of rakeback possibly) means a blessed end to bad beat posts (yeah right) and a commitment to effectively start from scratch when I redeposit next month.
I could redeposit right now of course, but with 16 days of Wimbledon looming, followed by a few days of athletics and The Open at Turnberry, there really isn't much point.
I've belatedly realised I've never really adhered to proper bankroll requirements, simply depositing randomly when required and refusing to grind it out at the appropriate levels.
So the plan is to finally do so when my work schedule allows, and then I'll be looking to fully pick the brains of the good players on +1 (better warn Kevin for me LJ :)) to improve my NL game in particular.
Edit: Just thought this hand was funny and summed up Stars perfectly. KK plays hit horribly, but love J2 getting there on turn, and then the gutshot on river as well :)
Poker Stars $0.25+$0.00 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t50/t100 Blinds + t10 - 8 players - View hand 153223
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
UTG: t2735 M = 11.89
Hero (UTG+1): t1110 M = 4.83
MP1: t1940 M = 8.43
MP2: t1505 M = 6.54
CO: t6195 M = 26.93
BTN: t7838 M = 34.08
SB: t5525 M = 24.02
BB: t15780 M = 68.61
Pre Flop: (t230) Hero is UTG+1 with Q
52 folds, MP1 calls t100, MP2 calls t100, CO raises to t200, 2 folds, BB raises to t300, MP1 calls t200, MP2 calls t200, CO calls t100
Flop: (t1330) 9
J 5 (4 players)BB bets t600, MP1 raises to t1630 all in, MP2 calls t1195 all in, CO folds, BB calls t1030
Turn: (t5785) 2
(3 players - 2 are all in)River: (t5785) 6
(3 players - 2 are all in)Final Pot: t5785
MP1 shows 2
J (two pair, Jacks and Deuces)MP2 shows 8
7 (a straight, Five to Nine)BB shows K
K (a pair of Kings)MP1 wins t870
MP2 wins t4915
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Completely outplayed
Limp 57o UTG, call a raise, then call a shove with a gutshot. Easy game...
Full Tilt Poker $10 + $1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t30/t60 Blinds - 7 players - View hand 150363
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
CO: t2030 M = 22.56
BTN: t1280 M = 14.22
Hero (SB): t920 M = 10.22
BB: t4010 M = 44.56
UTG: t3890 M = 43.22
UTG+1: t2320 M = 25.78
MP: t1370 M = 15.22
Pre Flop: (t90) Hero is SB with 9 9
UTG calls t60, 4 folds, Hero raises to t240, 1 fold, UTG calls t180
Flop: (t540) 4 8 J (2 players)
Hero bets t680 all in, UTG calls t680
Turn: (t1900) 3 (2 players - 1 is all in)
River: (t1900) 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)
Final Pot: t1900
Hero shows 9 9 (a pair of Nines)
UTG shows 5 7 (a straight, Eight high)
UTG wins t1900
Full Tilt Poker $10 + $1 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t30/t60 Blinds - 7 players - View hand 150363
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
CO: t2030 M = 22.56
BTN: t1280 M = 14.22
Hero (SB): t920 M = 10.22
BB: t4010 M = 44.56
UTG: t3890 M = 43.22
UTG+1: t2320 M = 25.78
MP: t1370 M = 15.22
Pre Flop: (t90) Hero is SB with 9
9UTG calls t60, 4 folds, Hero raises to t240, 1 fold, UTG calls t180
Flop: (t540) 4
8 J (2 players)Hero bets t680 all in, UTG calls t680
Turn: (t1900) 3
(2 players - 1 is all in)River: (t1900) 6
(2 players - 1 is all in)Final Pot: t1900
Hero shows 9
9 (a pair of Nines)UTG shows 5
7 (a straight, Eight high)UTG wins t1900
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Easy fold when u play on Stars
Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 6 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/149158
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
MP: $9.99
CO: $10.18
BTN: $5.01
SB: $5.91
Hero (BB): $3.54
UTG: $2.85
Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with Kd Kc 2c 7d
1 fold, MP raises to $0.15, CO calls $0.15, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.10
Flop: ($0.47) 5h Kh 5s (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $0.15, CO calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.15
Turn: ($0.92) Ah (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $0.25, CO raises to $0.50, Hero folds, MP raises to $0.75, CO calls $0.25
River: ($2.42) Qd (2 players)
MP bets $2.32, CO calls $2.32
Final Pot: $7.06
MP shows 8d 9h Ad Ac (a full house, Aces full of Fives)
CO shows Qh 3h Qs 6h (a full house, Queens full of Fives)
MP wins $6.76
(Rake: $0.30)
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
MP: $9.99
CO: $10.18
BTN: $5.01
SB: $5.91
Hero (BB): $3.54
UTG: $2.85
Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with Kd Kc 2c 7d
1 fold, MP raises to $0.15, CO calls $0.15, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.10
Flop: ($0.47) 5h Kh 5s (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $0.15, CO calls $0.15, Hero calls $0.15
Turn: ($0.92) Ah (3 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $0.25, CO raises to $0.50, Hero folds, MP raises to $0.75, CO calls $0.25
River: ($2.42) Qd (2 players)
MP bets $2.32, CO calls $2.32
Final Pot: $7.06
MP shows 8d 9h Ad Ac (a full house, Aces full of Fives)
CO shows Qh 3h Qs 6h (a full house, Queens full of Fives)
MP wins $6.76
(Rake: $0.30)
Hmm, how can I lose this on the flop?
Poker Stars $3.00+$0.40 Pot Limit Omaha Hi Tournament - t75/t150 Blinds - 3 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/149133
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
BB: t4190 M = 18.62
BTN: t8700 M = 38.67
Hero (SB): t610 M = 2.71
Pre Flop: (t225) Hero is SB with Qs 3d 6d Qd
1 fold, Hero raises to t450, BB calls t300
Flop: (t900) 5c 9h 5d (2 players)
Hero bets t160 all in, BB calls t160
Turn: (t1220) Td (2 players - 1 is all in)
River: (t1220) 8s (2 players - 1 is all in)
Final Pot: t1220
BB shows Qh Ks Jd 3h (a straight, Eight to Queen)
Hero shows Qs 3d 6d Qd (two pair, Queens and Fives)
BB wins t1220
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
BB: t4190 M = 18.62
BTN: t8700 M = 38.67
Hero (SB): t610 M = 2.71
Pre Flop: (t225) Hero is SB with Qs 3d 6d Qd
1 fold, Hero raises to t450, BB calls t300
Flop: (t900) 5c 9h 5d (2 players)
Hero bets t160 all in, BB calls t160
Turn: (t1220) Td (2 players - 1 is all in)
River: (t1220) 8s (2 players - 1 is all in)
Final Pot: t1220
BB shows Qh Ks Jd 3h (a straight, Eight to Queen)
Hero shows Qs 3d 6d Qd (two pair, Queens and Fives)
BB wins t1220
Thursday, 4 June 2009
No useful content....
Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t100/t200 Blinds + t25 - 8 players - View hand 143642
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
CO: t7340 M = 14.68
BTN: t10976 M = 21.95
Hero (SB): t8020 M = 16.04
BB: t4488 M = 8.98
UTG: t3495 M = 6.99
UTG+1: t2530 M = 5.06
MP1: t8830 M = 17.66
MP2: t6600 M = 13.20
Pre Flop: (t500) Hero is SB with 4 T
UTG calls t200, 5 folds, Hero calls t100, BB checks
Flop: (t800) 4 K 4 (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets t600, Hero calls t600, BB folds
Turn: (t2000) 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets t2000, Hero raises to t4000, UTG calls t670 all in
River: (t7340) 7 (2 players - 1 is all in)
Final Pot: t7340
Hero shows 4 T (a full house, Fours full of Sevens)
UTG shows 7 7 (four of a kind, Sevens)
UTG wins t7340
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
CO: t7340 M = 14.68
BTN: t10976 M = 21.95
Hero (SB): t8020 M = 16.04
BB: t4488 M = 8.98
UTG: t3495 M = 6.99
UTG+1: t2530 M = 5.06
MP1: t8830 M = 17.66
MP2: t6600 M = 13.20
Pre Flop: (t500) Hero is SB with 4
TUTG calls t200, 5 folds, Hero calls t100, BB checks
Flop: (t800) 4
K 4 (3 players)Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets t600, Hero calls t600, BB folds
Turn: (t2000) 7
(2 players)Hero checks, UTG bets t2000, Hero raises to t4000, UTG calls t670 all in
River: (t7340) 7
(2 players - 1 is all in)Final Pot: t7340
Hero shows 4
T (a full house, Fours full of Sevens)UTG shows 7
7 (four of a kind, Sevens)UTG wins t7340
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Typical me, typical me, typical me....
...I started something, and now I'm not too sure.
As soon as I blog about being up $300 on FT I have my worst losing session there since returning. Playing such low stakes I hadn't been losing or winning that much per session but a couple of days ago I dropped around $250 in one hit.
In a HU hand of PLO I paid off the nut flush with the second nut flush when we both flopped it - not sure how bad that was, although he did basically fire 3 barrels and I don't know how many low-limit donks would do that without the nuts??? - and on my other tables seemed to have one of those days when I missed absolutely everything; either whiffed the flop completely or flopped a huge draw then missed the turn and river.
Only pleasing thing was managing not to tilt for once ;) and I returned tonight to win a big chunk of it back.
After busting out of an MTT early in a 4-way all-in pot for the monster chip lead - my 66 v QQ v Ac4c and 8c9c on 9c6c4h flop (club on river obv) - I switched from PLO to PLO8 and caught a beauty.
I have Ax99 in a raised 3-way pot. Flop is 983. It goes check, bet and I think of raising here but call to rope along the dope in the SB with a low looking likely.
Turn is a beautiful 3 and it's again check, bet and this time I shove. SB calls with A234 and donk who has been pushing the action calls with some crap like A4xx, drawing dead.
I'm shouting at the computer for a Q but happily take a K instead and scoop a $240 pot. Let's hope there is more to come.
As soon as I blog about being up $300 on FT I have my worst losing session there since returning. Playing such low stakes I hadn't been losing or winning that much per session but a couple of days ago I dropped around $250 in one hit.
In a HU hand of PLO I paid off the nut flush with the second nut flush when we both flopped it - not sure how bad that was, although he did basically fire 3 barrels and I don't know how many low-limit donks would do that without the nuts??? - and on my other tables seemed to have one of those days when I missed absolutely everything; either whiffed the flop completely or flopped a huge draw then missed the turn and river.
Only pleasing thing was managing not to tilt for once ;) and I returned tonight to win a big chunk of it back.
After busting out of an MTT early in a 4-way all-in pot for the monster chip lead - my 66 v QQ v Ac4c and 8c9c on 9c6c4h flop (club on river obv) - I switched from PLO to PLO8 and caught a beauty.
I have Ax99 in a raised 3-way pot. Flop is 983. It goes check, bet and I think of raising here but call to rope along the dope in the SB with a low looking likely.
Turn is a beautiful 3 and it's again check, bet and this time I shove. SB calls with A234 and donk who has been pushing the action calls with some crap like A4xx, drawing dead.
I'm shouting at the computer for a Q but happily take a K instead and scoop a $240 pot. Let's hope there is more to come.
Sunday, 22 March 2009
Finally....
An update, FWIW.
Had a great time as ever in Vegas over New Year, but that was obviously so long ago it's not worth recounting now.
On the poker front I finally cleared enough points and maintained GOLD status for long enough on Stars to order my PS3, which to their credit was promptly shipped and arrived less than 2 weeks later IIRC. Then switched my remaining money (thanks to Lilkimmer77) to Full Tilt for rakeback purposes and so far up around $300 grinding it out playing the $40 CAP PLO games.
Should be up another $10 but wasted that on two buy-ins to the Brit Blogger Game on Sunday evenings ;)
1st week I built a good stack and then lost with KK v A10o all-in pre, tonight I never got anything going at all after arriving late and it was my turn to lose with A10 (Ace fucking 10!!!! Dave) when NYRambler shoved K8 from the SB into my BB - Can't blame him for doing so as I was short, 8 on the flop of course.
In other news, bought a new (used) car on Saturday, trading in my short-lived SAAB 9-3 for an Audi A3.
Might post some pics when I get some new alloys :)
Had a great time as ever in Vegas over New Year, but that was obviously so long ago it's not worth recounting now.
On the poker front I finally cleared enough points and maintained GOLD status for long enough on Stars to order my PS3, which to their credit was promptly shipped and arrived less than 2 weeks later IIRC. Then switched my remaining money (thanks to Lilkimmer77) to Full Tilt for rakeback purposes and so far up around $300 grinding it out playing the $40 CAP PLO games.
Should be up another $10 but wasted that on two buy-ins to the Brit Blogger Game on Sunday evenings ;)
1st week I built a good stack and then lost with KK v A10o all-in pre, tonight I never got anything going at all after arriving late and it was my turn to lose with A10 (Ace fucking 10!!!! Dave) when NYRambler shoved K8 from the SB into my BB - Can't blame him for doing so as I was short, 8 on the flop of course.
In other news, bought a new (used) car on Saturday, trading in my short-lived SAAB 9-3 for an Audi A3.
Might post some pics when I get some new alloys :)
Friday, 19 December 2008
Jigsaw Falling into Place*
Briefly some awesome news. I'm off to Vegas again for New Year for the princely sum of £320.
Stopped into Thomas Cook in the White Rose Centre after finishing Xmas shopping on the off chance they had a good deal (really wasn't expecting much).
Turns out they have a direct flight from Manchester on Dec 31, 7 night stay for £380.
Sounds great, so I get home, manage to get the extra time off work I need, and go on their website to book it. And even better news, it's only £320 on there!!!!!
Dwal has kindly offered me use of his room at IP for the few days he's there and I'll book something else when he's gone. I was beginning to doubt there would be such a good deal available, unless it was a risky really last-minute job, so this has been a great day.
Fired up Stars and won $250 too on some PLO and small tourney cash, although I did get unlucky/impatient in a PLO tourney and blew a decent stack, and also busted my last MTT on the bubble when AK lost to JJ when he flopped quads :)
Finally, it's the 8-game tourney tonight in the Blogger WCOP and that should be great fun.
* Radiohead, In Rainbows
Stopped into Thomas Cook in the White Rose Centre after finishing Xmas shopping on the off chance they had a good deal (really wasn't expecting much).
Turns out they have a direct flight from Manchester on Dec 31, 7 night stay for £380.
Sounds great, so I get home, manage to get the extra time off work I need, and go on their website to book it. And even better news, it's only £320 on there!!!!!
Dwal has kindly offered me use of his room at IP for the few days he's there and I'll book something else when he's gone. I was beginning to doubt there would be such a good deal available, unless it was a risky really last-minute job, so this has been a great day.
Fired up Stars and won $250 too on some PLO and small tourney cash, although I did get unlucky/impatient in a PLO tourney and blew a decent stack, and also busted my last MTT on the bubble when AK lost to JJ when he flopped quads :)
Finally, it's the 8-game tourney tonight in the Blogger WCOP and that should be great fun.
* Radiohead, In Rainbows
Monday, 15 December 2008
Sit down, stand up*
Played the first blogger tourney tonight and busted out fairly early. It was PLO and I hit some nice hands early to get to about $5.4k and the standard of play was pretty horrible. Eg; Guy with AAxx minraises, everyone calls, button shoves, guy with AA just flat calls and lets a few of us call pretty cheap. Flop is all spades and AA guy bets 200 into a 3,000 pot. LOL.
However, I then missed on two big hands in quick succession, the first with the nut flush draw against nothing but bare KK and the second with top 2 and the NFD on a KQ6 flop with two spades. Villain had bottom set and I missed. I think I was also guilty of getting a bit cocky about the poor standard of play and was a bit too loose - you live and learn.
Anyway, made up for that with a very good cash session with 4 tables of 0.50/$1 PLO8 going. Missed the chance for a Drome-esque slowroll when I had nut-nut on the river and donk shoved into me, but also lost a big hand with A36x on a 66J flop. Ace on turn and all the money goes in, villain has JJ obv. :(
Managed not to tilt for once and still ended up around $330 so pretty pleased, especially as I also won a $215 tourney token on Saturday night. It was a qualifier for the Sunday Million but I was working yesterday so unregistered.
Anyone know if I can sell the tourney dollars????
Oh, and Mancini for Sunderland boss!!!!!!
* Track 2, Hail to the Thief
However, I then missed on two big hands in quick succession, the first with the nut flush draw against nothing but bare KK and the second with top 2 and the NFD on a KQ6 flop with two spades. Villain had bottom set and I missed. I think I was also guilty of getting a bit cocky about the poor standard of play and was a bit too loose - you live and learn.
Anyway, made up for that with a very good cash session with 4 tables of 0.50/$1 PLO8 going. Missed the chance for a Drome-esque slowroll when I had nut-nut on the river and donk shoved into me, but also lost a big hand with A36x on a 66J flop. Ace on turn and all the money goes in, villain has JJ obv. :(
Managed not to tilt for once and still ended up around $330 so pretty pleased, especially as I also won a $215 tourney token on Saturday night. It was a qualifier for the Sunday Million but I was working yesterday so unregistered.
Anyone know if I can sell the tourney dollars????
Oh, and Mancini for Sunderland boss!!!!!!
* Track 2, Hail to the Thief
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Free Poker!!!
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
This PokerStars tournament is a No Limit Texas Hold’em event exclusive to Bloggers.
Registration code: 713291
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
True Love Waits
...and so do my loyal fans ha ha ha!!
I realise it's been a while since I updated this excuse for a blog, and it's not as if I haven't been playing.
Earnt enough points to move up to Gold Star on PokerStars, which was worth a mighty $100 bonus - which I still have to earn more points to clear - and I now have enough points for some nice gear in their VIP store.
Thinking about a portable DVD player for those long plane journeys or a Wii for those long winter evenings in front of the box. Other option is swapping points for $285 in bonus, but knowing Stars they'll make sure it's rigged so you can't win while you try to clear the bonus !!!
At the tables I've been playing a few low buy-in STT's and small MTT's and doing reasonably well, mainly because the standard of play is generally appalling. In the space of a few hands in one tournament I had two people shove A-high into me when I happened to be holding strong hands.
If they were playing razz they might have stood a chance, but otherwise it was suicidal!!!
Not making huge money obviously from the $6 buy-ins but at least I'm playing more or less stress free and TRYING not to get annoyed at the usual RiverStars suckouts. Even managed one of my own the other day, shoving with AQ over what turned out to be a guy limping AA. Flop is 10 J K and for once I'm the idiot getting rewarded :)
Anyway, we'll see how long I can keep up the new attitude (over/under set at about 2 days) and keep grinding out the small wins.
Ha'way the Lads!!!
I realise it's been a while since I updated this excuse for a blog, and it's not as if I haven't been playing.
Earnt enough points to move up to Gold Star on PokerStars, which was worth a mighty $100 bonus - which I still have to earn more points to clear - and I now have enough points for some nice gear in their VIP store.
Thinking about a portable DVD player for those long plane journeys or a Wii for those long winter evenings in front of the box. Other option is swapping points for $285 in bonus, but knowing Stars they'll make sure it's rigged so you can't win while you try to clear the bonus !!!
At the tables I've been playing a few low buy-in STT's and small MTT's and doing reasonably well, mainly because the standard of play is generally appalling. In the space of a few hands in one tournament I had two people shove A-high into me when I happened to be holding strong hands.
If they were playing razz they might have stood a chance, but otherwise it was suicidal!!!
Not making huge money obviously from the $6 buy-ins but at least I'm playing more or less stress free and TRYING not to get annoyed at the usual RiverStars suckouts. Even managed one of my own the other day, shoving with AQ over what turned out to be a guy limping AA. Flop is 10 J K and for once I'm the idiot getting rewarded :)
Anyway, we'll see how long I can keep up the new attitude (over/under set at about 2 days) and keep grinding out the small wins.
Ha'way the Lads!!!
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Title change
My loyal fans may have noticed I've decided to change the title of the blog, mainly because the Going ~ Pro experiment thing never really took off thanks to my general laziness etc;
I do have two weeks' off coming up very shortly (from Tue in fact) so I hope to log plenty of hours and grind my way to a healthier bankroll.
It has dawned on me several times the best way for me to make money - namely grinding it out at small stakes where I have an advantage over the donkeys - but I always get bored, move up stakes slightly and after running good for a while perhaps, end up losing a couple of big pots and I'm back where I started it.
I have a bonus to clear at Stars and rakeback on FT so that's where I should be grinding it out mainly, especially as I haven't got used to Party's new software/layout yet.
I do have two weeks' off coming up very shortly (from Tue in fact) so I hope to log plenty of hours and grind my way to a healthier bankroll.
It has dawned on me several times the best way for me to make money - namely grinding it out at small stakes where I have an advantage over the donkeys - but I always get bored, move up stakes slightly and after running good for a while perhaps, end up losing a couple of big pots and I'm back where I started it.
I have a bonus to clear at Stars and rakeback on FT so that's where I should be grinding it out mainly, especially as I haven't got used to Party's new software/layout yet.
Friday, 26 September 2008
So near and yet so far...
So I'm back from the Ryder Cup where Europe were sadly out-putted by the Americans to lose for the first time since 1999 - the only good news being that my debit card wouldn't work on Friday morning when I wanted to back Europe. One bullet dodged there!
Played twice at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana while staying in Kentucky - gambling is illegal in Kentucky so you have to drive just over the border to an old-fashioned river boat - LOL gotta love America.
First night I blew almost $300, mainly running QQ into a set of Js on a J64 rainbow flop, although I escaped with some of my stack by checking behind on turn and just calling his $60 value bet when board paired on river. Had a nasty feeling he had me beat by the way he check called my c-bet on the flop and then said "AK has shrunk up eh?" when I checked behind on the turn.
Second visit went much better and I turned my $300 buy-in into $1000 in next to no time - all without having better than one pair. It was largely just a case of opponents not catching a draw or sucking out. Eg; I raised AJ, horrible woman calling station calls with A5, flop is A-high, we get it in and I hold. I reraised to $25 pre-flop with QQ, guy behind calls. Flop is 10 5 5, I bet, he shoves for very little more and I call. He has 77.
Won biggest pot without a showdown. I had J10 of hearts in LP and call a raise to $10. Semi-drunk clueless guy in BB I think raises to $45 and loads of people call so I do to. Flop is K J x with two hearts, checked to me and I bet $100 and everyone folds.
Anyway, finally to last night and the "so near and yet so far" bit. Played three tourneys and busted frustratingly in all of them. First was a double shootout to the Sunday Million on Stars - won first table easily as guy I got HU with was clueless, but finished 6th overall with top two getting seats. Won buy-in back!!! Woot.
Then played a PLO8 tourney on Stars and was approaching the cash when I busted with AA5x despite flopping an Ace. Villain called my RR pre-flop with 2356, flopped the low and hit a gutshot straight on turn. Also busted just short of money in HORSE tourney on FT when clown called pre-flop raise in O8 with 2577 and made a seven-high flush to my broadway and went out next hand when a flopped two pair got counterfeited on river by guy who loved his AAxx on a Q 10 2 flop.
But hey, at least I didn't lose this hand below!!!!
Full Tilt $500/$1000 - NL
Seat 4: Ziigmund ($342,506.50)
Seat 6: Ansky451 ($130,499)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of $500
Ziigmund posts the big blind of $1,000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Ansky451 raises to $3,000
Ziigmund raises to $9,000
Ansky451 calls $6,000
*** FLOP *** [2h 9h 2c]
Ziigmund checks
Ansky451 bets $5,000
Ziigmund raises to $27,000
Ansky451 calls $22,000
*** TURN *** [2h 9h 2c] [6h]
Ziigmund checks
Ansky451 bets $21,000
Ziigmund raises to $306,506.50, and is all in
Ansky451 calls $73,499, and is all in
Ziigmund shows [9c 9d]
Ansky451 shows [Kh 5h]
Uncalled bet of $212,007.50 returned to Ziigmund
*** RIVER *** [2h 9h 2c 6h] [8h]
Ziigmund shows a full house, Nines full of Twos
Ansky451 shows a flush, King high
Ziigmund wins the pot ($260,997.50) with a full house, Nines full of Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $260,998 | Rake $0.50
Played twice at the Horseshoe Casino in Indiana while staying in Kentucky - gambling is illegal in Kentucky so you have to drive just over the border to an old-fashioned river boat - LOL gotta love America.
First night I blew almost $300, mainly running QQ into a set of Js on a J64 rainbow flop, although I escaped with some of my stack by checking behind on turn and just calling his $60 value bet when board paired on river. Had a nasty feeling he had me beat by the way he check called my c-bet on the flop and then said "AK has shrunk up eh?" when I checked behind on the turn.
Second visit went much better and I turned my $300 buy-in into $1000 in next to no time - all without having better than one pair. It was largely just a case of opponents not catching a draw or sucking out. Eg; I raised AJ, horrible woman calling station calls with A5, flop is A-high, we get it in and I hold. I reraised to $25 pre-flop with QQ, guy behind calls. Flop is 10 5 5, I bet, he shoves for very little more and I call. He has 77.
Won biggest pot without a showdown. I had J10 of hearts in LP and call a raise to $10. Semi-drunk clueless guy in BB I think raises to $45 and loads of people call so I do to. Flop is K J x with two hearts, checked to me and I bet $100 and everyone folds.
Anyway, finally to last night and the "so near and yet so far" bit. Played three tourneys and busted frustratingly in all of them. First was a double shootout to the Sunday Million on Stars - won first table easily as guy I got HU with was clueless, but finished 6th overall with top two getting seats. Won buy-in back!!! Woot.
Then played a PLO8 tourney on Stars and was approaching the cash when I busted with AA5x despite flopping an Ace. Villain called my RR pre-flop with 2356, flopped the low and hit a gutshot straight on turn. Also busted just short of money in HORSE tourney on FT when clown called pre-flop raise in O8 with 2577 and made a seven-high flush to my broadway and went out next hand when a flopped two pair got counterfeited on river by guy who loved his AAxx on a Q 10 2 flop.
But hey, at least I didn't lose this hand below!!!!
Full Tilt $500/$1000 - NL
Seat 4: Ziigmund ($342,506.50)
Seat 6: Ansky451 ($130,499)
Ansky451 posts the small blind of $500
Ziigmund posts the big blind of $1,000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Ansky451 raises to $3,000
Ziigmund raises to $9,000
Ansky451 calls $6,000
*** FLOP *** [2h 9h 2c]
Ziigmund checks
Ansky451 bets $5,000
Ziigmund raises to $27,000
Ansky451 calls $22,000
*** TURN *** [2h 9h 2c] [6h]
Ziigmund checks
Ansky451 bets $21,000
Ziigmund raises to $306,506.50, and is all in
Ansky451 calls $73,499, and is all in
Ziigmund shows [9c 9d]
Ansky451 shows [Kh 5h]
Uncalled bet of $212,007.50 returned to Ziigmund
*** RIVER *** [2h 9h 2c 6h] [8h]
Ziigmund shows a full house, Nines full of Twos
Ansky451 shows a flush, King high
Ziigmund wins the pot ($260,997.50) with a full house, Nines full of Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $260,998 | Rake $0.50
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Quick update (brag)
Just a quick note to say I'm off to Vegas again in a few hours!!!
Got home from the Olympics and only had 3 days off before going back to work on Saturday, where I discovered they'd put me down for a week off next week. Not something I had planned and not 100% ideal given the fact I was not consulted as such, but welcome in some regards after a long 3 weeks in Beijing.
Anyway, I immediately joked "Ooh, chance of a quick trip to Vegas" and was soon looking up last-minute deals to see if I could get a bargain. Wasn't certain to go as I had planned on going in October, but got flights and six nights at The Orleans for just over £500 so eventually talked myself into it.
Booked it about 8pm on Sunday night, flight is 0745 Monday from Heathrow so I've got some packing to do, no sleep, long drive south but at least on empty roads and then hopefully sleep most of the way there.
Going to be first time in Vegas when it's red hot so plan on a bit of sunbathing during the day and poker all night. Orleans has good 4/8 limit 08 game and good cheap tourneys, 5/10 limit 08 at the Mirage, 10/20 at Wynn and hopefully some PLO too.
Wish me luck.
Got home from the Olympics and only had 3 days off before going back to work on Saturday, where I discovered they'd put me down for a week off next week. Not something I had planned and not 100% ideal given the fact I was not consulted as such, but welcome in some regards after a long 3 weeks in Beijing.
Anyway, I immediately joked "Ooh, chance of a quick trip to Vegas" and was soon looking up last-minute deals to see if I could get a bargain. Wasn't certain to go as I had planned on going in October, but got flights and six nights at The Orleans for just over £500 so eventually talked myself into it.
Booked it about 8pm on Sunday night, flight is 0745 Monday from Heathrow so I've got some packing to do, no sleep, long drive south but at least on empty roads and then hopefully sleep most of the way there.
Going to be first time in Vegas when it's red hot so plan on a bit of sunbathing during the day and poker all night. Orleans has good 4/8 limit 08 game and good cheap tourneys, 5/10 limit 08 at the Mirage, 10/20 at Wynn and hopefully some PLO too.
Wish me luck.
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