So at lunch I blast the poker for 20 minutes end up $20 better off.
Played AA aggressively was called all the way to the river by a guy looking for a 9 to make his gutshot. I was pretty sure he was looking for a straight draw so on the turn I bet $7 which was double the pot and virtually all his chips, he calls the 9 falls he pushes in his 90c left I call with AA he types yeeeeeesssss into the chat box. Board was J10 2 8 9 he had 10 7 off which he'd called my raise of 50c with! Grrrrrrr. So I typed lucky boy please continue to call me. Now I don't get involved much in chat but I was well pissed off as that took away my profit so far for this session. But I know the secret of winning patience is your friend so I sat for the next 20 hands, he continued betting everyting chasing his straights and flushes. I had re-loaded back to $10 and had won a few hands and was sitting around $15 when I get JJ. I raised only he called 50c again, flop is all low junk, I bet a dollar he calls turn is Jack whoppee, I bet $7 as in the last hand we played and he calls except this time he's got cash left the river makes me a full house JJJ 44 so I push all-in he calls with 34 off having made trip 4's. Next 2 hands he went all-in and was called each time losing the rest of his cash - hero to zero in 3 hands.
Won well again with AJ against AQ 50c pre-flop, flop 7AJ, I bet out $1 and was called turn A I bet out $3 and was called river makes 3 diamonds out now so I'm thinking my oppo has a flush or KK so I'm all-in and they called, yes they had a diamond, the Q of D's with an Ace. I'm thinking with my aggressive play he must think I have AK, AJ or at least a flush all beating AQ - I think at best my opponent thought the pot split.
Bank Rool £230
Monday, 15 December 2008
Life or Poker
I like to play poker late at night without distaction from the family.
Over the weekend I've had very little time to play perhaps about 1 1/2 hours either way was winning to no complaints.
Between decorating and the good lady wanting some loving I was limited to 2 small sessions on Sunday afternoon and early evening.
Good article about Annie Duke's Boot Camp from Inside Poker basic stuff/tips but worth a read, especially the value of position which very few people take notice of on th 5/10 cents tables. Something I see value in as you can really bully a player who checks, I reckon 7/10 times the raise causes a fold and I win with pretty much anything.
I've identified 4 player who regularly turn up at my level, they are all good players and I often play on tables with them for experience and to watch what they do. They often double very quickly luring fish holding A6 in to pots when the our out-kicked. I'm getting to know their play, for example one will always raise 50c from the small blind if folded round to him, last night I took him on a few times (from the BB) re-raised him pre-flop and bet the flop each time he folded, but I'm guessing if I get re-raised or he goes after me on the flop I'd better fold.
All these guys seem to work much the same preying on weaker and short stacked players, I think a lot of people look at the board and put one opponent on the best hand that can be made especially heads up. These players exploits this and if you watch they always seem to have the ace, straight or flush and people believe them as they have amassed a stack of chips.
One thing they all do is make their plays and if someone comes back very strong they will get out the way, they conserve and save cash as well and they win cash - all round good play. Oh and they don't showdown very often, they want pot closed off well before the river, unless they have a monster.
Major peeve still if the table goes min raise all the way to me in the BB and I have a great hand and raise it 50c why do all the other players then call the bet. What was worth 10c to 5 players now worth an extra 50c and you know even ace may struggle against 5 opponents looking for flushes and straights. Arrh fold please, except one of you with 66, thanks.
Bank Roll $210
Over the weekend I've had very little time to play perhaps about 1 1/2 hours either way was winning to no complaints.
Between decorating and the good lady wanting some loving I was limited to 2 small sessions on Sunday afternoon and early evening.
Good article about Annie Duke's Boot Camp from Inside Poker basic stuff/tips but worth a read, especially the value of position which very few people take notice of on th 5/10 cents tables. Something I see value in as you can really bully a player who checks, I reckon 7/10 times the raise causes a fold and I win with pretty much anything.
I've identified 4 player who regularly turn up at my level, they are all good players and I often play on tables with them for experience and to watch what they do. They often double very quickly luring fish holding A6 in to pots when the our out-kicked. I'm getting to know their play, for example one will always raise 50c from the small blind if folded round to him, last night I took him on a few times (from the BB) re-raised him pre-flop and bet the flop each time he folded, but I'm guessing if I get re-raised or he goes after me on the flop I'd better fold.
All these guys seem to work much the same preying on weaker and short stacked players, I think a lot of people look at the board and put one opponent on the best hand that can be made especially heads up. These players exploits this and if you watch they always seem to have the ace, straight or flush and people believe them as they have amassed a stack of chips.
One thing they all do is make their plays and if someone comes back very strong they will get out the way, they conserve and save cash as well and they win cash - all round good play. Oh and they don't showdown very often, they want pot closed off well before the river, unless they have a monster.
Major peeve still if the table goes min raise all the way to me in the BB and I have a great hand and raise it 50c why do all the other players then call the bet. What was worth 10c to 5 players now worth an extra 50c and you know even ace may struggle against 5 opponents looking for flushes and straights. Arrh fold please, except one of you with 66, thanks.
Bank Roll $210
Friday, 12 December 2008
Aggression Aggression Aggression
While I meet lots of people on the 5/10cents tables who have read about aggressive play by the pro’s, they fail to spot the fact that stone cold bluffs can get you burned, sure pick your spot and flop to get creative with but the board showing 4 spades queen high and the other two players aren’t going away perhaps you shouldn’t be bluffing the Ace spades you don’t have cause I have it and the other guy has the King, perhaps an All-in first to act on the turn wasn’t a good move without a spade in your hand and two other opponents behind you betting a 3 spade flop. Thank you for the pay out.
Aggressiveness alone will not be enough to win as the first time you get called, you will probably get busted. I see this all the time and I’m happy the bet and fold several times as if I’m weak, just waiting for the right hand and when I re-raise you with the nuts you will re-re-raise or go all-in with nothing because you saw the move on late night poker, when I call your money’s gone in one hand.
I have accepted I’m not a great poker player and I often make really stupid decisions even predicting opponent’s hands, very often correctly, and still calling and getting beat, this is my biggest flaw. But what I am learning is how to react to players at the table, who will back down, who will call to the river, who will be tempted by my all-in even though they shouldn’t and who to avoid. If I can just lay down trips if I think I’m beaten then my game would be so much better.
Today’s play has seen me up the bank roll by $35 in a little under 30 minutes. I’m looking at opponents and if they have less than $2 and I think I’m ahead I try and get them committed to the pot and in reality they are looking for a quick double up and will take a gamble heads up. Once you hit $15 at a $10 table you get much respect from 50% of the players leaving you at least two to fuck with and giving you the opportunity to get creative on the button.
Good/bad hands today head to head with 1010 with a flop 10 7 2 all-in from opponent who had JJ I called turn 8 river 9 busted for $9 two hands in.
Limped with QJ suited flop 10 K 3 min opponent bets 50cents and I’m thinking AK or AQ so I call because I have an opened ended straight draw, no flush draw out and if he hits an Ace I rock. Turn was Ace and he goes all-in I called he had AQ river was nothing I win his entire stack. He said I was a luck shit, but I thought I played it perfect as I was away from the hand if an Ace or a 9 don’t come, but was fairly sure the appearance of a Ace would mean he would push some cash in the pot and barring a full house I win.
So after today I’m forgetting about the cards for a while and concentrating on the people, I’m seeing the same regular faces, who I make notes on and most new players act in very few different ways, mostly split in to the he bet the Ace he must have the ace I’m folding now and I’m seeing the flop regardless cause my 92 off might hit which extends to the I’m seeing the river regardless.
Bank Roll $192
Aggressiveness alone will not be enough to win as the first time you get called, you will probably get busted. I see this all the time and I’m happy the bet and fold several times as if I’m weak, just waiting for the right hand and when I re-raise you with the nuts you will re-re-raise or go all-in with nothing because you saw the move on late night poker, when I call your money’s gone in one hand.
I have accepted I’m not a great poker player and I often make really stupid decisions even predicting opponent’s hands, very often correctly, and still calling and getting beat, this is my biggest flaw. But what I am learning is how to react to players at the table, who will back down, who will call to the river, who will be tempted by my all-in even though they shouldn’t and who to avoid. If I can just lay down trips if I think I’m beaten then my game would be so much better.
Today’s play has seen me up the bank roll by $35 in a little under 30 minutes. I’m looking at opponents and if they have less than $2 and I think I’m ahead I try and get them committed to the pot and in reality they are looking for a quick double up and will take a gamble heads up. Once you hit $15 at a $10 table you get much respect from 50% of the players leaving you at least two to fuck with and giving you the opportunity to get creative on the button.
Good/bad hands today head to head with 1010 with a flop 10 7 2 all-in from opponent who had JJ I called turn 8 river 9 busted for $9 two hands in.
Limped with QJ suited flop 10 K 3 min opponent bets 50cents and I’m thinking AK or AQ so I call because I have an opened ended straight draw, no flush draw out and if he hits an Ace I rock. Turn was Ace and he goes all-in I called he had AQ river was nothing I win his entire stack. He said I was a luck shit, but I thought I played it perfect as I was away from the hand if an Ace or a 9 don’t come, but was fairly sure the appearance of a Ace would mean he would push some cash in the pot and barring a full house I win.
So after today I’m forgetting about the cards for a while and concentrating on the people, I’m seeing the same regular faces, who I make notes on and most new players act in very few different ways, mostly split in to the he bet the Ace he must have the ace I’m folding now and I’m seeing the flop regardless cause my 92 off might hit which extends to the I’m seeing the river regardless.
Bank Roll $192
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Focused Play
Was reading some of the articles on Gus Hansen’s website – very good stuff well worth a look through.
Read an article by Gavin Smith how he seeks out small pots raising pre-flop with a wide range of hands and betting the flop 50-75% of the total depending on how he hit, missed or felt about his opponent. I know this was a tournament strategy but I thought it workable. Tried this last night and it worked quite well with most people backing down to a pre-flop aggressor unless they hit strong and in that case I folded at the turn if I felt beaten. Picked up a few good pots with suited connectors hitting flushes, straights and two pairs against a number of players who can’t lay down a pair of aces.
Gus’s blog talks about super/hyper aggressive players going all-in on the flop with nothing or mid/bottom pair. He spoke how he thought this was a strategy but had come to a conclusion it was just gambling on your opponent missing/being weak. He came to the conclusion that a good player will wait and catch you for your stack.
So I got to a table (6 handed $10 buy-in) with 3 players doing this, I was playing super tight and the all-ins were going back and forth winning each others money and re-winning their own round and round it went with hands of 8-10 off calling all-in against 7-J off with a flop of QQK really was coin flips.
So I sat eventually played AK limped and flopped AK7 all-in for $10 from the player first to act I called everyone folded he shows 9-2 suited (wrong suit for the flop). Won another all in playing KQ clubs – flop was 8Q8, turn was Q player goes all-in – I’m thing he has a Q or an 8 so I called. Flips you guessed it 7-5 off and this is the hand he called a raise on the flop with as I tested the strength of my Queen out. He needed to go runner runner to even have a hope, thank you for the double I’m thinking.
Flopped a diamond flush ace high playing A10, min bet the flop next player all-in I called thinking he had trips, lower flush, chasing a draw but again nothing he should be calling with never mind pushing with.
Pretty soon I was $35 up with little effort other than to be patient. Regarding these players they may have thought an all-in would scare others off and to be honest if I had nothing then it would, but these pots were tiny often under a dollar, so why throw $10 at a pot with no cards and a dangerous looking flop. A wise man once said you only get called by a better hand.
Did win a nice 3 way all-in, pre-flop player 1 all in ($5ish) I raise it to more than the 3rd player had hoping to isolate player 1 as I was holding AA. Player 3 calls all-in for his remaining $8. I win player 1 had 88 player 3 had QQ, flop did come KK7 then junk but nice pot to win.
As I had built up significantly more money than every one at the 3 tables I was playing, I started to get aggressive with the smaller stacks, trying to push them all-in when I had really good hands, lot of them bit and I picked up $3/$4 pots some just invested half their $2 in the first two streets and then folded. Having a big pot of cash gives you respect even with some poor players they look and think well he didn’t get doubled or tripled playing junk.
Overall I was winning, but I was playing well, stealing because they were afraid, pushing because I was strong, bullying because I could afford it. Over and over again I bet strongly from the button (5xBB 50cents) got one caller who checked the flop I bet half the pot with anything and they folded. This happened over a dozen times and netted me over $6 for little effort, I was re-raised once and folded as I had missed but hey that’s a good averages.
It’s nice to win and feel you’re playing well, I didn’t always have a great hand just exploited my image at the table to the point where I couldn’t get any action if I raised more than 3xBB.
Bank roll at $155
Read an article by Gavin Smith how he seeks out small pots raising pre-flop with a wide range of hands and betting the flop 50-75% of the total depending on how he hit, missed or felt about his opponent. I know this was a tournament strategy but I thought it workable. Tried this last night and it worked quite well with most people backing down to a pre-flop aggressor unless they hit strong and in that case I folded at the turn if I felt beaten. Picked up a few good pots with suited connectors hitting flushes, straights and two pairs against a number of players who can’t lay down a pair of aces.
Gus’s blog talks about super/hyper aggressive players going all-in on the flop with nothing or mid/bottom pair. He spoke how he thought this was a strategy but had come to a conclusion it was just gambling on your opponent missing/being weak. He came to the conclusion that a good player will wait and catch you for your stack.
So I got to a table (6 handed $10 buy-in) with 3 players doing this, I was playing super tight and the all-ins were going back and forth winning each others money and re-winning their own round and round it went with hands of 8-10 off calling all-in against 7-J off with a flop of QQK really was coin flips.
So I sat eventually played AK limped and flopped AK7 all-in for $10 from the player first to act I called everyone folded he shows 9-2 suited (wrong suit for the flop). Won another all in playing KQ clubs – flop was 8Q8, turn was Q player goes all-in – I’m thing he has a Q or an 8 so I called. Flips you guessed it 7-5 off and this is the hand he called a raise on the flop with as I tested the strength of my Queen out. He needed to go runner runner to even have a hope, thank you for the double I’m thinking.
Flopped a diamond flush ace high playing A10, min bet the flop next player all-in I called thinking he had trips, lower flush, chasing a draw but again nothing he should be calling with never mind pushing with.
Pretty soon I was $35 up with little effort other than to be patient. Regarding these players they may have thought an all-in would scare others off and to be honest if I had nothing then it would, but these pots were tiny often under a dollar, so why throw $10 at a pot with no cards and a dangerous looking flop. A wise man once said you only get called by a better hand.
Did win a nice 3 way all-in, pre-flop player 1 all in ($5ish) I raise it to more than the 3rd player had hoping to isolate player 1 as I was holding AA. Player 3 calls all-in for his remaining $8. I win player 1 had 88 player 3 had QQ, flop did come KK7 then junk but nice pot to win.
As I had built up significantly more money than every one at the 3 tables I was playing, I started to get aggressive with the smaller stacks, trying to push them all-in when I had really good hands, lot of them bit and I picked up $3/$4 pots some just invested half their $2 in the first two streets and then folded. Having a big pot of cash gives you respect even with some poor players they look and think well he didn’t get doubled or tripled playing junk.
Overall I was winning, but I was playing well, stealing because they were afraid, pushing because I was strong, bullying because I could afford it. Over and over again I bet strongly from the button (5xBB 50cents) got one caller who checked the flop I bet half the pot with anything and they folded. This happened over a dozen times and netted me over $6 for little effort, I was re-raised once and folded as I had missed but hey that’s a good averages.
It’s nice to win and feel you’re playing well, I didn’t always have a great hand just exploited my image at the table to the point where I couldn’t get any action if I raised more than 3xBB.
Bank roll at $155
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Time for a Break
Well the losing continued, at one point the bank roll was decimated down to $70. I was playing badly as well getting involved in 3 way all-ins with marginal hands. Poker is a strange game at the level I play most people bet the cards they have or bluff on the river missing a draw, so when I’m focused I do well. Read the books and articles know how to play and win, but still get involved in hands I shouldn’t be chasing. Looking at the bank roll whittling away I decided to have a few days away from poker, read a few articles and watched a few poker programmes on television, gave some thought to whether I was playing for fun or to win. Decided if I want to play for fun then I should stick to $2 buy-in and if I blow off few bucks so be it.
Bank Roll $70
Bank Roll $70
Monday, 8 December 2008
Bang Bang Bang
Well I had a crap weekend, everyone I played seemed to hit their flush, straight even gutshot.
Don't really think I played poorly, at least I don't think but it's hard when you invest heavily in a pot you know you're ahead in and someone rivers their gutshot card.
Lost heavily with JJ flopping a J for trips being called all in by a guy who flips QQ only to hit his trip Q on the turn bang. Also lost an AK suited to a guy playing A9 off with an ace coming on the flop and him hitting the 9 on the river. I'd played this aggressively no flush or straight draws, he had been playing any aces and I'd raise 4x BB pre-flop at worst I'm thinking he has AK as well, we both had $2 left when the river came and he bet all-in I called it A9 for two pair joking to play so hard with a low kicker. I said well played knowing next time you're mine.
I got loose trying to win back some of my loses which was a bad idea, called it quits
Bank roll down to £180
Don't really think I played poorly, at least I don't think but it's hard when you invest heavily in a pot you know you're ahead in and someone rivers their gutshot card.
Lost heavily with JJ flopping a J for trips being called all in by a guy who flips QQ only to hit his trip Q on the turn bang. Also lost an AK suited to a guy playing A9 off with an ace coming on the flop and him hitting the 9 on the river. I'd played this aggressively no flush or straight draws, he had been playing any aces and I'd raise 4x BB pre-flop at worst I'm thinking he has AK as well, we both had $2 left when the river came and he bet all-in I called it A9 for two pair joking to play so hard with a low kicker. I said well played knowing next time you're mine.
I got loose trying to win back some of my loses which was a bad idea, called it quits
Bank roll down to £180
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Cash Out and Exchange Rates
When I started playing I was getting almost $2 to the £1 this was great for paying in.
I hit lucky when I cashed out only costing me $1.60 to the pound.
Theory being if I'd loaded up with £100 ($200) in June then cashed out now I'd have made £25 profit without playing a hand, 25% return - not bad
I hit lucky when I cashed out only costing me $1.60 to the pound.
Theory being if I'd loaded up with £100 ($200) in June then cashed out now I'd have made £25 profit without playing a hand, 25% return - not bad
Returning to the Table
Well I ventured on last night playing 3 tables at $10 buy-ins, my play was tight in fact super tight spent the first 30 minutes with little to show for my efforts. Then the cards started to hit.
Played AJ to a flop of 66J which was checked, turn was J and opponent bet 50cents which I flat called. River a 3 and opponent bets out $1, I think he could have a six and was slow playing the flop so I raise him to put him all-in. At this point I think I made a mistake and should have min re-raised his bet as I’m sure he only calls with a Jack or if I’m super unlucky 66 for his quads. Anyway he calls and mucks the losing hand had to be a 6 but then again I’ve been called with ace high on a 2 x 2 pairs board.
Any how maintained my tight play for the whole session, betting aggressively anything I hit well, nobody took notice of this and I won consistently for the next 1 ½ hours.
Bank Roll at $240
Played AJ to a flop of 66J which was checked, turn was J and opponent bet 50cents which I flat called. River a 3 and opponent bets out $1, I think he could have a six and was slow playing the flop so I raise him to put him all-in. At this point I think I made a mistake and should have min re-raised his bet as I’m sure he only calls with a Jack or if I’m super unlucky 66 for his quads. Anyway he calls and mucks the losing hand had to be a 6 but then again I’ve been called with ace high on a 2 x 2 pairs board.
Any how maintained my tight play for the whole session, betting aggressively anything I hit well, nobody took notice of this and I won consistently for the next 1 ½ hours.
Bank Roll at $240
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Poker a reality check
Well one of my closet friends caught me yesterday, he too plays poker online but at a monetary level way above mine. I can’t say how good a player he is as we have never played against each other, he seemed to think he was pretty good. He’s often talked about winning pots of over $500 and I’ve often joked about him never mentioning his loses. When I think back he never mentioned his loses.
Turns out he’s almost $60,000 in debt, not all but a large amount attributed to poker. He was telling me how it has fucked up his life, he can’t have a telephone line at home, or internet access in case he’s tempted to play. At it’s height he was online 18 hours a day, once he won $12,000 in a weekend and blew it on Monday morning. He’s getting help for his addiction, but it was so sad to see a once confident young man reduced to a quivering hollow left with having to pay almost a $1000 a month to his creditors for the next 6 years.
His story goes started playing for fun was winning, moved up and up to a level he wasn’t capable of playing at or really could afford to play at. Had some initial success and then things went badly wrong he was losing and he was addicted. His play was loser and riskier trying to win back enough to cover his debts. It’s a classic tale of gambling addition and one I’ve taken notice of.
Didn’t play last night, just didn’t feel right.
Turns out he’s almost $60,000 in debt, not all but a large amount attributed to poker. He was telling me how it has fucked up his life, he can’t have a telephone line at home, or internet access in case he’s tempted to play. At it’s height he was online 18 hours a day, once he won $12,000 in a weekend and blew it on Monday morning. He’s getting help for his addiction, but it was so sad to see a once confident young man reduced to a quivering hollow left with having to pay almost a $1000 a month to his creditors for the next 6 years.
His story goes started playing for fun was winning, moved up and up to a level he wasn’t capable of playing at or really could afford to play at. Had some initial success and then things went badly wrong he was losing and he was addicted. His play was loser and riskier trying to win back enough to cover his debts. It’s a classic tale of gambling addition and one I’ve taken notice of.
Didn’t play last night, just didn’t feel right.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Trips the good the bad and the lucky
As per usual my game starts off badly get draw into a fight on a super loose table and blowing my stack quickly, that’s why I play $10 buy-ins. These super loose tables can be profitable but when 3 or 4 players just won’t give up a hand you’re going to get outdraw at times.
I got stuck back in playing solidly winning a lovely pot playing Q5 suited from the big blind with the small blind and I min bet player I checked, flop was QQ5 small blind checks as do I and a bet of 10cents come in, small blind folds I flat call. 3 comes and I check again, bet of 20cents comes I call. River is a 2 I bet 20cents expecting no action and the guy goes all in. I had just under $10 he had around $21 and was playing pretty well overall. I can’t work out what he has to make such a huge bet to win a dollar or so, but hey I can’t be beat so I call. Bang he has pocket 2’s for a full house 222 QQ. Well played he typed into the chat box, unlucky I replied but in reality I was think foolish bet.
Won well flopping a set of 10’s on a flop 3 7 10 no suits, my opponent went all in for his $3.50 I called he had pocket 33’s river and turn come blank and I win again. Then I get done in reverse with trip 7s against trip J’s both flopping our hands but the guy only had $2 to push with.
Have to say I’ve probably lost more money to trips than any other hand, especially low trips. I always seem to have 2 pair and a good two pair aces and another and get bumped by trips. Saying that I’ve won big the other way on many occasions, it’s so hard to see you’re beaten with trips. Meet a lot of players who flop trips with 2 cards coming on the flop and think they are unbeatable even if its trip 5s with a 3 kicker and get the shock of their lives when they get beaten.
Bank roll down at $199
I got stuck back in playing solidly winning a lovely pot playing Q5 suited from the big blind with the small blind and I min bet player I checked, flop was QQ5 small blind checks as do I and a bet of 10cents come in, small blind folds I flat call. 3 comes and I check again, bet of 20cents comes I call. River is a 2 I bet 20cents expecting no action and the guy goes all in. I had just under $10 he had around $21 and was playing pretty well overall. I can’t work out what he has to make such a huge bet to win a dollar or so, but hey I can’t be beat so I call. Bang he has pocket 2’s for a full house 222 QQ. Well played he typed into the chat box, unlucky I replied but in reality I was think foolish bet.
Won well flopping a set of 10’s on a flop 3 7 10 no suits, my opponent went all in for his $3.50 I called he had pocket 33’s river and turn come blank and I win again. Then I get done in reverse with trip 7s against trip J’s both flopping our hands but the guy only had $2 to push with.
Have to say I’ve probably lost more money to trips than any other hand, especially low trips. I always seem to have 2 pair and a good two pair aces and another and get bumped by trips. Saying that I’ve won big the other way on many occasions, it’s so hard to see you’re beaten with trips. Meet a lot of players who flop trips with 2 cards coming on the flop and think they are unbeatable even if its trip 5s with a 3 kicker and get the shock of their lives when they get beaten.
Bank roll down at $199
Monday, 1 December 2008
Poker Pro
I was doing a few hypothetical calculations on poker earnings and you need to turn over surprisingly little to make a living. Here in the UK the average wage for the year is just under £24,000 (about $38,000). To make that amount of money over a working week of 38 hours would mean turning over about $19 per hour, something that multi-tabling 5/10c $10 buy-in table isn’t that hard to do. In fact as poker winnings are tax free you really only need to make $16 an hour to equate to the same level of income. Take out actual expenses involved in working, childcare, travel, insurance, petrol etc. and it looks an interesting prospect.
I guess what’s scary is not having anything to fall back on if things are going badly, would be great to build up 6 months wages and go for it, not that I’d ever have the bottle. One problem or may be a positive thing would be if I had to rely on poker for a living I’d be a rock for sure.
So if you don’t want to be greedy and you’re a decent player perhaps this is an option for you, beats working for a living.
I guess what’s scary is not having anything to fall back on if things are going badly, would be great to build up 6 months wages and go for it, not that I’d ever have the bottle. One problem or may be a positive thing would be if I had to rely on poker for a living I’d be a rock for sure.
So if you don’t want to be greedy and you’re a decent player perhaps this is an option for you, beats working for a living.
Position and I don't me Doggy Style
Right I understand the theory, I’ve read the articles, I’ve played hands and thought, hmm I wish I was betting last. Position is really important to the game, so why do people just ignore it. Sure at the level I play not many players are folding any kind of ace be it under the gun or on the button to these guys A6 is exciting. Don’t get me started with people playing any suited cards 103 for example. I sometimes get drawn in thinking my A9 could be good cause they raise with an ace anything. It pissed me off when I fold a rag ace only to find it was the best hand. But still I know I’m playing better and that when I go against them with my AK’s they will bet a flop even with A2 or A7 hands.
What position means to me is that if I’m not sure where I’m at in a hand being in position gives me the advantage of seeing how others feel about their cards first, I can fold and get away from a hand if betting is strong and I’m not confident, I can big up a weaker hand if everyone’s checking. It puts the pressure on others to make decisions, especially if they have caught part of a flop and are unsure how they stand. Even I can see a weak feeler bet asking is my second pair good and capitalise on the situation.
What position means to me is that if I’m not sure where I’m at in a hand being in position gives me the advantage of seeing how others feel about their cards first, I can fold and get away from a hand if betting is strong and I’m not confident, I can big up a weaker hand if everyone’s checking. It puts the pressure on others to make decisions, especially if they have caught part of a flop and are unsure how they stand. Even I can see a weak feeler bet asking is my second pair good and capitalise on the situation.
Weekend High and Lows
Didn’t get much time to play over the weekend with only about an hour on Saturday, the same Sunday afternoon and a couple hours late Sunday night.
The Saturday session I was rocking, to be honest I got great hand after great hand with people willing to call me, quad aces raise, then I get re-raised all-in they had Full house and I’m storming. Every straight I hit every flush I hit and soon the bank roll was at $220. I called it quits well smug.
Sunday afternoon I started the same chasing every straight and flush draw but this time never hit a bean. My play was getting looser and looser as I tried to re-coup my loses. Kids started coming in the office asking how I was doing, missed a straight draw 10 to A talking to my youngest as I bet hard on my two pair AQ’s and got busted for my stack. Bank roll took a big dip down to below $180 so I stood up and put the kettle on (well the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine as I’m a tart).
Sunday calmed and focused I got back on about 7.00pm played till just before 9.00pm, steady and tight, may be over cautious but I was winning. No real stand out hands just $1 and $2 wins with the one $5plus got bank roll back up over $200.
Lessons of the weekend:
Patience is a skill, I have played so many times losing $1 here and there sticking to mostly premium hands, folding the rest taking no gambles. This pretty much always pays off as at some point I’ll flop a monster with plenty of callers and bang one hand I double up.
Reload I always reload back to $10 if I dip below, I thinking if a monsters hand comes I want to have max amount of cash to throw at my opponents.
Kids don’t mix well with poker, send them out to play, to bed or to bother their mother.
Luck isn’t skill, skill isn’t luck – nuff said.
So Sunday night worked out ok, I need to control my game a bit more and not chase hands I’m unlikely to hit.
Me and my lady had some seriously good loving as well – hmmm – result.
Bank Roll $204
The Saturday session I was rocking, to be honest I got great hand after great hand with people willing to call me, quad aces raise, then I get re-raised all-in they had Full house and I’m storming. Every straight I hit every flush I hit and soon the bank roll was at $220. I called it quits well smug.
Sunday afternoon I started the same chasing every straight and flush draw but this time never hit a bean. My play was getting looser and looser as I tried to re-coup my loses. Kids started coming in the office asking how I was doing, missed a straight draw 10 to A talking to my youngest as I bet hard on my two pair AQ’s and got busted for my stack. Bank roll took a big dip down to below $180 so I stood up and put the kettle on (well the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine as I’m a tart).
Sunday calmed and focused I got back on about 7.00pm played till just before 9.00pm, steady and tight, may be over cautious but I was winning. No real stand out hands just $1 and $2 wins with the one $5plus got bank roll back up over $200.
Lessons of the weekend:
Patience is a skill, I have played so many times losing $1 here and there sticking to mostly premium hands, folding the rest taking no gambles. This pretty much always pays off as at some point I’ll flop a monster with plenty of callers and bang one hand I double up.
Reload I always reload back to $10 if I dip below, I thinking if a monsters hand comes I want to have max amount of cash to throw at my opponents.
Kids don’t mix well with poker, send them out to play, to bed or to bother their mother.
Luck isn’t skill, skill isn’t luck – nuff said.
So Sunday night worked out ok, I need to control my game a bit more and not chase hands I’m unlikely to hit.
Me and my lady had some seriously good loving as well – hmmm – result.
Bank Roll $204
Friday, 28 November 2008
Does fortune Favour the Bold
Dropped into a table at lunch time with some guys I’ve played with before. They are all super loose and I’ve noted them down on player notes as such. One bets strongly on any pair he hits on the flop be it top, middle or bottom pair. The other over raises pre-flop with crappy hands then tries to bluff it out on the next 2 streets.
10 hands in they are acting as previously noted, they play all-in pair of 7s with a 9 kicker called by a pair of 10s with a 3 kicker with over cards on the board. Patience with these guys always works, wait for a good hand pre-flop and bet hard they always bite. You don’t get to limp in much as they always raise pre-flop regardless of what they have.
So, I wake up with AQ diamonds, raise 50cents, re-raised to $1, another player calls, I call. Flop is 38Q I bet $1 next guy goes all-in followed by the other player. I know there is a very good chance they have nothing as this is how they play – coin flips. I thinking just fold but top pair top kicker with no flush draw or straight draw out – gut shots aside. I’m taking my whole 15 seconds here trip 3s or 8s or 2 pair? I can cover the bets without busting and the odds to call are great so I push. Cards flipped A3 and K10 both unsuited.
Turn and River go my way nice pot swells the bank roll.
Bank roll at $177
10 hands in they are acting as previously noted, they play all-in pair of 7s with a 9 kicker called by a pair of 10s with a 3 kicker with over cards on the board. Patience with these guys always works, wait for a good hand pre-flop and bet hard they always bite. You don’t get to limp in much as they always raise pre-flop regardless of what they have.
So, I wake up with AQ diamonds, raise 50cents, re-raised to $1, another player calls, I call. Flop is 38Q I bet $1 next guy goes all-in followed by the other player. I know there is a very good chance they have nothing as this is how they play – coin flips. I thinking just fold but top pair top kicker with no flush draw or straight draw out – gut shots aside. I’m taking my whole 15 seconds here trip 3s or 8s or 2 pair? I can cover the bets without busting and the odds to call are great so I push. Cards flipped A3 and K10 both unsuited.
Turn and River go my way nice pot swells the bank roll.
Bank roll at $177
Losing Ways
Well I just couldn’t sleep last night eventual giving up a 4am this morning and getting up for a coffee. I logged on the pacific poker and got involved in 3 tables ($10 buy-ins). My play wasn’t terrible, not as tight as I’ve been playing over the first half of the week.
Got burned had 89 suited limped with one other guy flopped straight 567 no flush draw. I raised 50cent got re-raised $1.50, now I can’t see what’s beating me so I call thinking he’s got trips. Turn comes K rainbow board so no flush draw I bet again (£3.00) and the guy goes all-in. Again I can’t see how I’m beat so I call. River is a 7 and he wins full house 777 KK gutted, don’t think I played it badly just think he played poorly and got lucky with his K7, yes he had top pair with a good kicker on the flop but come on he was beat.
Lost again heavily had pocket 3s and make trips lost out to a guy with pocket Ks who made trips on the river. Lost another flopped (910JQK) straight to a guy that made a flush hearts ace high 2 hearts at the flop and then runner, runner hearts was playing A2 off calling me all the way. Got pissed off and started playing junk and lost a little more ended up with $125 or so.
Took a break and came back calmed! Decided I needed to get back on my game.
Had two straight flushes both clubs as I continue my love affair with clubs first was A to 5 but didn’t see much action second was 2-6. 3 players all limping me in the big blind flop comes with the 34 of clubs can’t remember the other card but nothing special. I check so do the other two turn nothing again, I check as do the other two, river 5 clubs, great to see but at this point I’m seeing not action for this hand. So I raise $1-00 expecting nothing for my straight flush get raised to $3-00, next player all-in back to me all-in and raiser goes all-in WOW. The other two had K and A high flushes respectively and I scoped a $27 pot, very nice.
Continued to play well and tight more importantly
Bank roll $157
Got burned had 89 suited limped with one other guy flopped straight 567 no flush draw. I raised 50cent got re-raised $1.50, now I can’t see what’s beating me so I call thinking he’s got trips. Turn comes K rainbow board so no flush draw I bet again (£3.00) and the guy goes all-in. Again I can’t see how I’m beat so I call. River is a 7 and he wins full house 777 KK gutted, don’t think I played it badly just think he played poorly and got lucky with his K7, yes he had top pair with a good kicker on the flop but come on he was beat.
Lost again heavily had pocket 3s and make trips lost out to a guy with pocket Ks who made trips on the river. Lost another flopped (910JQK) straight to a guy that made a flush hearts ace high 2 hearts at the flop and then runner, runner hearts was playing A2 off calling me all the way. Got pissed off and started playing junk and lost a little more ended up with $125 or so.
Took a break and came back calmed! Decided I needed to get back on my game.
Had two straight flushes both clubs as I continue my love affair with clubs first was A to 5 but didn’t see much action second was 2-6. 3 players all limping me in the big blind flop comes with the 34 of clubs can’t remember the other card but nothing special. I check so do the other two turn nothing again, I check as do the other two, river 5 clubs, great to see but at this point I’m seeing not action for this hand. So I raise $1-00 expecting nothing for my straight flush get raised to $3-00, next player all-in back to me all-in and raiser goes all-in WOW. The other two had K and A high flushes respectively and I scoped a $27 pot, very nice.
Continued to play well and tight more importantly
Bank roll $157
Thursday, 27 November 2008
69 Pays Off
Well I played a little at lunch time and won with 69 off suit granted I was in the big blind and the table all folded to me scooping a profit of 5cents, but hey it's profit.
Best win straight 45678 played 78suited from big blind flopped straight bet it and was called all the way to the showdown by a guy with pair Jacks and an 8 kicker. Even called my final re-raise to get
his remaining $2.50 in the pot.
Bank roll at $164
Best win straight 45678 played 78suited from big blind flopped straight bet it and was called all the way to the showdown by a guy with pair Jacks and an 8 kicker. Even called my final re-raise to get
his remaining $2.50 in the pot.
Bank roll at $164
Boys will be boys
Poker aside for a moment
My 12 year old soon to be 13 year old has discovered ladies!!! His Mother arrived home from work, yesterday popped upstairs to get changed and came down very quickly asking who J had in his room? I told her he was entertaining a young lady and she replied I can hear giggling. Not helping the situation I suggested they were telling each other jokes or reading funny stories on the internet. Now a Fathers bias aside the boys a good looking kid, blonde hair, blue eyes and all and this ladies in the room thing is only going to get worse.
Grandma is having kittens after she inquired whether he knew about the birds and the bees, to which he replied not really but I know loads about sex. This to an elderly woman who considers bloody and shit swearing of the highest order and only has one child claiming she only had sex the once and that was by accident.
Surpased by my own Mother who once when asked have you made a pot of tea, she replied yes but it's still masturbating.
My 12 year old soon to be 13 year old has discovered ladies!!! His Mother arrived home from work, yesterday popped upstairs to get changed and came down very quickly asking who J had in his room? I told her he was entertaining a young lady and she replied I can hear giggling. Not helping the situation I suggested they were telling each other jokes or reading funny stories on the internet. Now a Fathers bias aside the boys a good looking kid, blonde hair, blue eyes and all and this ladies in the room thing is only going to get worse.
Grandma is having kittens after she inquired whether he knew about the birds and the bees, to which he replied not really but I know loads about sex. This to an elderly woman who considers bloody and shit swearing of the highest order and only has one child claiming she only had sex the once and that was by accident.
Surpased by my own Mother who once when asked have you made a pot of tea, she replied yes but it's still masturbating.
Trying not to get to confident
I'm averaging $20 profit a session which I'm happy with as I only play for around 60 to 90 minutes in total. This usually consists of one good win $7-10 and picking up smaller pots playing strong hands agressively that usually dont make the river.
Best win called a 40cents bet with 56clubs against one opponent, hadn't been getting much action or cards so took a punt. Flop come 2d 3c 9c leaving me a low flush draw and gut shot draw. Opponents bets another 40cents and I call thinking if he's got AK AQ, trips or perhaps a middle/big pair? If I hit my straight I sure I'll win, if I hit the flush will see how he reacts incase he's holding high clubs.
Turn comes 4 spades and I'm smilling, he bets 80cents and I re-raise and he calls so I'm thinking either still chasing a flush trips or A5 or big pair.
River is Jh he bets $1.20 and I re-raise and he goes all-in for the remainder of his $10 stack
So I check out the board as I'm trying not to instantly call anything under my new regime.
Must be A5 or trips or AJ or big pocket pair either way I'm good and I call.
Flips over A10 of spades - nothing - full on expensive bluff.
Now I have no problem with bluffing and I am now rarely fully bluff unless my experience of my opponents tells me they will fold and I usually put the pressure on before the river cards out just incase they get lucky.
I may semi-bluff to big up my hand but I wont go All-in with ace high against a two time re-raiser agressively returning my bets, who only starts betting after 234 appears and could be well holding A5 if not AA or KK or trips and even if I just has AJ to AK he was beat. So many hands out there could beat A10. So bad play for him great win for me, play on M****9 hope to see you again.
Got on a table where everyone just went all-in when they hit a pair on the flop. Got stung onces for $3plus, returned to my tight play and made a few good wins with trips and top 2 pairs against these players. They never seem to bring more than $3 to the $10 tables and are willing to risk it all on a coin flip.
Lesson of the Day: Coin flip isn't good enough odds for me but I hope my current opponents never learn that lessson.
Bank roll now at $155
Best win called a 40cents bet with 56clubs against one opponent, hadn't been getting much action or cards so took a punt. Flop come 2d 3c 9c leaving me a low flush draw and gut shot draw. Opponents bets another 40cents and I call thinking if he's got AK AQ, trips or perhaps a middle/big pair? If I hit my straight I sure I'll win, if I hit the flush will see how he reacts incase he's holding high clubs.
Turn comes 4 spades and I'm smilling, he bets 80cents and I re-raise and he calls so I'm thinking either still chasing a flush trips or A5 or big pair.
River is Jh he bets $1.20 and I re-raise and he goes all-in for the remainder of his $10 stack
So I check out the board as I'm trying not to instantly call anything under my new regime.
Must be A5 or trips or AJ or big pocket pair either way I'm good and I call.
Flips over A10 of spades - nothing - full on expensive bluff.
Now I have no problem with bluffing and I am now rarely fully bluff unless my experience of my opponents tells me they will fold and I usually put the pressure on before the river cards out just incase they get lucky.
I may semi-bluff to big up my hand but I wont go All-in with ace high against a two time re-raiser agressively returning my bets, who only starts betting after 234 appears and could be well holding A5 if not AA or KK or trips and even if I just has AJ to AK he was beat. So many hands out there could beat A10. So bad play for him great win for me, play on M****9 hope to see you again.
Got on a table where everyone just went all-in when they hit a pair on the flop. Got stung onces for $3plus, returned to my tight play and made a few good wins with trips and top 2 pairs against these players. They never seem to bring more than $3 to the $10 tables and are willing to risk it all on a coin flip.
Lesson of the Day: Coin flip isn't good enough odds for me but I hope my current opponents never learn that lessson.
Bank roll now at $155
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Still Staying Tight
Well I’ve been a really good boy for the last few days and I’ve stuck pretty much to my plan of playing premium hands and the odd low pair and suited connectors. I’m forgiving myself the odd wobble and downright gamble as I’m 90% sticking to plan. Still playing 69 though just can’t help it.
Things have gone well, with me managing to double up on quite a few $10 tables. Never fails to amaze me that even if I fold 10 hands in a row and then raise 50cents I can still get 4 callers on a six seat table. I often think what have you got that was worth 10cents a few seconds ago and now 5 times that. Doesn’t matter what I have if an ace hits the flop and I bet out they fold 90% of the time.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned is to leave those rag aces alone. I lost count how many times I’ve won a good pot by beating Ax with a good kicker. I’ve learned the hard way how dominated you can be with an ace and a poor kicker.
My goal is to double up $10 to $20 in an hour – I think that’s a fair return for the time invested.
Best hand of the day
Sat down posted my 10cents blind cards dealt AA – super
Guy to my left raises 60cents next guy calls the bet.
I’m thinking no one is expecting this on my first hand so go All-in with my $9.90 expecting them to fold. Initial raiser calls next guy folds – cards flipped he has KJ hearts.
Hits a king on the flop but I scope the pot.
Did get beat AA against 69spades was only for a $1.50 all-in guy hit a 6 and a 9
Strange hands played 2 tables got K diamonds and 8 spades in each hand at the same time, folded both then flop on each table come 57J not the same suit but still spooky.
Did go QQ against a guy who flipped at the end with QQ - I hate a split pot.
Lesson of the day: Tight is Right
Bank Roll up to $135
Things have gone well, with me managing to double up on quite a few $10 tables. Never fails to amaze me that even if I fold 10 hands in a row and then raise 50cents I can still get 4 callers on a six seat table. I often think what have you got that was worth 10cents a few seconds ago and now 5 times that. Doesn’t matter what I have if an ace hits the flop and I bet out they fold 90% of the time.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned is to leave those rag aces alone. I lost count how many times I’ve won a good pot by beating Ax with a good kicker. I’ve learned the hard way how dominated you can be with an ace and a poor kicker.
My goal is to double up $10 to $20 in an hour – I think that’s a fair return for the time invested.
Best hand of the day
Sat down posted my 10cents blind cards dealt AA – super
Guy to my left raises 60cents next guy calls the bet.
I’m thinking no one is expecting this on my first hand so go All-in with my $9.90 expecting them to fold. Initial raiser calls next guy folds – cards flipped he has KJ hearts.
Hits a king on the flop but I scope the pot.
Did get beat AA against 69spades was only for a $1.50 all-in guy hit a 6 and a 9
Strange hands played 2 tables got K diamonds and 8 spades in each hand at the same time, folded both then flop on each table come 57J not the same suit but still spooky.
Did go QQ against a guy who flipped at the end with QQ - I hate a split pot.
Lesson of the day: Tight is Right
Bank Roll up to $135
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
A little success
After my previous poor showing I decided to listen to my own advice
I played 2 $10 buy-in tables blinds 5/10cents for an hour and did really well.
I decide only to play premium hands stretching to suited connectors / low pairs if the flop was cheap enough. Kept it very tight for 30 minutes and was up $8 between the two tables.
One Great Hand
Got into a hand that made me a good profit having limped with 44, with 2 other opponents, flop comes 234. After experience earlier I’m thinking A5 no pre-flop raise probably not as these boys were raising every Ace from A2 to AK, but 56 to the 2 to 6 straight perhaps. So betting is my questioning friend and I make a giant pot size bet of 35cents and get two callers, bugger. So I’m thinking at worst straight but may be 2 over cards, an over pair or a flush and or straight draw perhaps 2 pair either way I not in bad shape. Turn comes a 2 so I’m sitting with a Full House 444 22 and all of a sudden I’m not worried about a flush or a straight – I’m thinking one of them has quad 2’s. So I lose my bottle and check and a bet comes in of 80c which is called round to me. I re-access and think of how many times I’ve seen quads in 1000’s of hands and think re-raise to £1.60 and they fold or go all-in if one of them has quads. Flat called by both opponents.
Now when I’ve seen quads on a low stakes table, just like pocket aces, people get giddy and throw money at it, so now I’m thinking calm down chances are your ahead. River comes down Q clubs completing anyone’s clubs flush draw which I’m loving if true. The Q doesn’t bother me as anyone with QQ pre-flop is going to be raising to get rid of any rag Aces.
So I decide to get aggressive and bet $5 into the pot standing at towards $6, first opponent calls all in with his remaining $4.90ish, second opponent goes all-in with his $6.55 leaving me $1.50 or so to call which I have to do so now committed.
Cards turned 3 full houses and I WIN! Hurrah Board 2342Q
Opponent 1 23 FH 22233
Opponent 2 33 FH 33322
Me 44 FH 44422
I played 2 $10 buy-in tables blinds 5/10cents for an hour and did really well.
I decide only to play premium hands stretching to suited connectors / low pairs if the flop was cheap enough. Kept it very tight for 30 minutes and was up $8 between the two tables.
One Great Hand
Got into a hand that made me a good profit having limped with 44, with 2 other opponents, flop comes 234. After experience earlier I’m thinking A5 no pre-flop raise probably not as these boys were raising every Ace from A2 to AK, but 56 to the 2 to 6 straight perhaps. So betting is my questioning friend and I make a giant pot size bet of 35cents and get two callers, bugger. So I’m thinking at worst straight but may be 2 over cards, an over pair or a flush and or straight draw perhaps 2 pair either way I not in bad shape. Turn comes a 2 so I’m sitting with a Full House 444 22 and all of a sudden I’m not worried about a flush or a straight – I’m thinking one of them has quad 2’s. So I lose my bottle and check and a bet comes in of 80c which is called round to me. I re-access and think of how many times I’ve seen quads in 1000’s of hands and think re-raise to £1.60 and they fold or go all-in if one of them has quads. Flat called by both opponents.
Now when I’ve seen quads on a low stakes table, just like pocket aces, people get giddy and throw money at it, so now I’m thinking calm down chances are your ahead. River comes down Q clubs completing anyone’s clubs flush draw which I’m loving if true. The Q doesn’t bother me as anyone with QQ pre-flop is going to be raising to get rid of any rag Aces.
So I decide to get aggressive and bet $5 into the pot standing at towards $6, first opponent calls all in with his remaining $4.90ish, second opponent goes all-in with his $6.55 leaving me $1.50 or so to call which I have to do so now committed.
Cards turned 3 full houses and I WIN! Hurrah Board 2342Q
Opponent 1 23 FH 22233
Opponent 2 33 FH 33322
Me 44 FH 44422
I continued to play tight and called it quits after an hour
Bank roll up $33 to $99
Well I did it again!
$10 table few hands in I had a stack of $9.10. In the Big Blind everyone limps I have J9 suited cards come JAJ I check as does everyone else K on the turn bet comes of 10 cents everyone folds and I flat call it. River comes 5. My opponent bets 70cents I re-raise to $1.40 they go all-in and I call convinced they have Ax or Kx and are trying to bluff me off the hand, they have Q10 for the 10 to Ace straight and my moneys gone.
What I’m thinking after and correct me if you think I’m wrong:
Limping with J9suited – well I was the big blind so no problem
Checking the flop – should have bet at least to see if anyone had a Jack or an Ace especially as J9 could have been out kicked and someone could have limped in AA or AJ?
Checking gave my opponent a free card and he hit his gut shot for no cost.
Flat calling a min bet on the turn – wrong again – should asking questions.
Re-raising the River – I was pretty sure the 5 was a dead card and I’m happy with the re-raise holding trip Jacks I needed to ask the question – I could have just called I guess with the straight draw out perhaps would have been a better choice. Calling the all-in bet was just silly. I’d asked the question with the re-raise and the answer was I’m confident with my hand or I’m bluffing.
So in this hand it went from 2 questions at the flop I didn’t ask
To four questions at the turn I didn’t ask.
To one question on the river – which I asked and didn’t listen to the answer.
Whether I take notice or not – this should teach me about this hand and general play:
First off 6 players limping makes it really hard to know where you’re at in the hand
Taking down a small pot early is better than losing big pot later in the hand - J9 with a flop of JAJ is not the nuts it’s quite possibly ahead so bet it and see what response you get from the other players. The more cards are drawn (depending on what turns over) the more opportunities my opponents have to outdraw me.
Fold or Raise as at the turn a little re-raise here would have told me my opponent was still interested in the hand and I should be cautious.
Calling and all-in bet with the number of hands that beat me (AA, KK, JA to J10, Q10, J5, 55) was foolish and my re-raise was like a flag saying I’ll call again cause I have a Jack.
Turning over your cards and going ha ha surprised you all is not the point of poker winning is, be it even only 60cents.
With betting unless you flop the nuts asking questions with a bet is cheaper sooner in the hand than latter in the hand.
There’s no shame in flat calling or checking the river if you’re not sure you’re ahead.
The final lesson and note to self in bold lettering: Betting is your friend it asks questions of your opponents and that information gives you a clearer picture of where you are in a hand and what to do next. Limiting loses is as good as maximising winnings and betting will support this theory either way.
What I’m thinking after and correct me if you think I’m wrong:
Limping with J9suited – well I was the big blind so no problem
Checking the flop – should have bet at least to see if anyone had a Jack or an Ace especially as J9 could have been out kicked and someone could have limped in AA or AJ?
Checking gave my opponent a free card and he hit his gut shot for no cost.
Flat calling a min bet on the turn – wrong again – should asking questions.
Re-raising the River – I was pretty sure the 5 was a dead card and I’m happy with the re-raise holding trip Jacks I needed to ask the question – I could have just called I guess with the straight draw out perhaps would have been a better choice. Calling the all-in bet was just silly. I’d asked the question with the re-raise and the answer was I’m confident with my hand or I’m bluffing.
So in this hand it went from 2 questions at the flop I didn’t ask
To four questions at the turn I didn’t ask.
To one question on the river – which I asked and didn’t listen to the answer.
Whether I take notice or not – this should teach me about this hand and general play:
First off 6 players limping makes it really hard to know where you’re at in the hand
Taking down a small pot early is better than losing big pot later in the hand - J9 with a flop of JAJ is not the nuts it’s quite possibly ahead so bet it and see what response you get from the other players. The more cards are drawn (depending on what turns over) the more opportunities my opponents have to outdraw me.
Fold or Raise as at the turn a little re-raise here would have told me my opponent was still interested in the hand and I should be cautious.
Calling and all-in bet with the number of hands that beat me (AA, KK, JA to J10, Q10, J5, 55) was foolish and my re-raise was like a flag saying I’ll call again cause I have a Jack.
Turning over your cards and going ha ha surprised you all is not the point of poker winning is, be it even only 60cents.
With betting unless you flop the nuts asking questions with a bet is cheaper sooner in the hand than latter in the hand.
There’s no shame in flat calling or checking the river if you’re not sure you’re ahead.
The final lesson and note to self in bold lettering: Betting is your friend it asks questions of your opponents and that information gives you a clearer picture of where you are in a hand and what to do next. Limiting loses is as good as maximising winnings and betting will support this theory either way.
Spelling and Grammar
I can't do either well and looking back over the first few posts that would be obvious to most.
I may correct them, but in the future will try and type up blogs in Word and let it do the clever stuff. I do maths well and can draw, I have a good sense of balance so if my spelling is poor I can live with it.
My son recently brought home a recipe for Pasta Bake needing ingredients for school the next week.
The list included:-
Mice Meat
Pastor twists
Oven prof dish
Tomata puree
cheeze
It matters more when there's money on it
Is this just me?
With my new found Poker obsession some of my family and friends want to play me. My girlfriend bought me some chips and a deck as part of a birthday present.
I've tried to explain that without the possibility of winning or loosing something for real what's the point, this they don't get. The way I see it is everyone's a gambler when theres nothing to lose, everyone would play to the river in case they win. Miracle cards that cost nothing are worth waiting for.
I got the message through to my girlfriend who moaned about me not using the birthday chips. Right I said we'll play with the chips and whoever wins the loser has to be their sex slave for a week.
Lets just say the chips remain unopened which is a same because it would have been a great win.
Either way.
With my new found Poker obsession some of my family and friends want to play me. My girlfriend bought me some chips and a deck as part of a birthday present.
I've tried to explain that without the possibility of winning or loosing something for real what's the point, this they don't get. The way I see it is everyone's a gambler when theres nothing to lose, everyone would play to the river in case they win. Miracle cards that cost nothing are worth waiting for.
I got the message through to my girlfriend who moaned about me not using the birthday chips. Right I said we'll play with the chips and whoever wins the loser has to be their sex slave for a week.
Lets just say the chips remain unopened which is a same because it would have been a great win.
Either way.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Loosing
The bank roll is down to $75 after some seriously bad play.
Got caught twice slow playing flopped 2 pairs only to have the board pair each time giving my opponent a bigger two pair. On both occasions I couldn’t/wouldn’t fold the hand and lost heavily, again even though I really knew I was beat. Note to self learn how to fold when you know you’re beat, listen to yourself for once. Second note to self if the flop is A 9 8 and you have flopped two pair 98’s try and take down the pot quickly.
Also got beat with top pair top kicker (AJ flopped Js) to a guy slow playing Aces. Problem with this is I’ve won loads of hands against players betting on a pair of aces with a horribly low kicker. As I’ve said before on the $10 buy-in tables there are loads of players who when holding an Ace will hunt down another one or when hitting a pair of Aces will not give them up regardless of the board. Need to re-assess who I’m playing and not assume that I’m just out kicking their J10. Guy in this hand limped in and flat called me all the way as I made increasing bets, I did think he was chasing a flush draw and had missed. Was either great play or poor play I couldn’t tell and as I lost we’ll call it great play rather than me playing bad – agreed?
I lost 2 all-in pots on flush draws, 3 way hands and at the time I felt with two cards to come and potential of Ace high flushes it was worth the gamble. I was last to act in each hand and was getting around 3-1 for my call. Good odds I find only really count if you hit your cards. I guess I’m not to bothered about these two plays as I was pretty confident if I hit I win and the pay off would have been sweet.
I was playing one table during the session and I’m finding that if I play multiple tables my game is much better. I’m not inclined to play hunches or off-suit connectors out of boredom and tend to stick to premium starting hands and the odd suited connectors / small pairs if I’m not getting much in the way of hands.
Got caught twice slow playing flopped 2 pairs only to have the board pair each time giving my opponent a bigger two pair. On both occasions I couldn’t/wouldn’t fold the hand and lost heavily, again even though I really knew I was beat. Note to self learn how to fold when you know you’re beat, listen to yourself for once. Second note to self if the flop is A 9 8 and you have flopped two pair 98’s try and take down the pot quickly.
Also got beat with top pair top kicker (AJ flopped Js) to a guy slow playing Aces. Problem with this is I’ve won loads of hands against players betting on a pair of aces with a horribly low kicker. As I’ve said before on the $10 buy-in tables there are loads of players who when holding an Ace will hunt down another one or when hitting a pair of Aces will not give them up regardless of the board. Need to re-assess who I’m playing and not assume that I’m just out kicking their J10. Guy in this hand limped in and flat called me all the way as I made increasing bets, I did think he was chasing a flush draw and had missed. Was either great play or poor play I couldn’t tell and as I lost we’ll call it great play rather than me playing bad – agreed?
I lost 2 all-in pots on flush draws, 3 way hands and at the time I felt with two cards to come and potential of Ace high flushes it was worth the gamble. I was last to act in each hand and was getting around 3-1 for my call. Good odds I find only really count if you hit your cards. I guess I’m not to bothered about these two plays as I was pretty confident if I hit I win and the pay off would have been sweet.
I was playing one table during the session and I’m finding that if I play multiple tables my game is much better. I’m not inclined to play hunches or off-suit connectors out of boredom and tend to stick to premium starting hands and the odd suited connectors / small pairs if I’m not getting much in the way of hands.
How much should I worry about bluffing?
One of the worst aspects of my game is calling a large bet on the river. I have come to the conclusion that I really hate to think I've been bluffed off a winning hand.
Now I think I'm pretty good at spotting the busted flush draw all-in move which loads of players on the $10 buy-in tables do.
Example I was sitting with 2 pair AQ's betting strongly on the river my opponents drops a potsized bet on me, I'm thinking he's has to have K10 for the 10 to A straight I'm convinced, but what if he's buffing and I call and bang all the winning for the last hour are gone.
Penny saved is a penny earned? Is it better to fold and never know than get popped.
You tell me?
Worst pot of the day so far 3 way me KK, opponents 33 and QQ - 33 hits his 3 ouch
Now I think I'm pretty good at spotting the busted flush draw all-in move which loads of players on the $10 buy-in tables do.
Example I was sitting with 2 pair AQ's betting strongly on the river my opponents drops a potsized bet on me, I'm thinking he's has to have K10 for the 10 to A straight I'm convinced, but what if he's buffing and I call and bang all the winning for the last hour are gone.
Penny saved is a penny earned? Is it better to fold and never know than get popped.
You tell me?
Worst pot of the day so far 3 way me KK, opponents 33 and QQ - 33 hits his 3 ouch
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Never Fold an Ace
First off the bankroll is nearly at $150 after a profitable sunday night.
Played against a guy who was getting grief from the table for his fishy play.
He got lucky on several occasions, against me refushing to fold an ace and hitting it on the river, playing 55 to the river and again hitting a 5 with four over cards out and strong betting from a player with 2 pair A8's which he'd flopped.
Now the rest of the table are telling this guy how crap he is and I'm thinking why? Why because as soon as you realise he can't let go of hands a bit of patience will see you take his money, this kind of opponent I want, he always calls/bets even if you have a flush, straight or better.
Fair enough you can't bluff him off his hand but if you find yourself against a player that just can't fold don't complain eventual they go bust and hopefully to you. Even with my poor poker skills I feel I have the edge against this numpty and yes he may get luck from time to time but thats worth the eentual profit.
I got half his cash when he played 99 to the river despite 2 over cards one being my wining J.
I noted his profile as loose, calls everything, will hunt down Aces even with low kickers, PLAY.
My best pot of the night ended up all in for around $28 I had KK opponent flips AA - bugger - rivered a K was called a lucky boy, I replied unlucky for KK to meet AA and agreed I was a lucky boy.
Played against a guy who was getting grief from the table for his fishy play.
He got lucky on several occasions, against me refushing to fold an ace and hitting it on the river, playing 55 to the river and again hitting a 5 with four over cards out and strong betting from a player with 2 pair A8's which he'd flopped.
Now the rest of the table are telling this guy how crap he is and I'm thinking why? Why because as soon as you realise he can't let go of hands a bit of patience will see you take his money, this kind of opponent I want, he always calls/bets even if you have a flush, straight or better.
Fair enough you can't bluff him off his hand but if you find yourself against a player that just can't fold don't complain eventual they go bust and hopefully to you. Even with my poor poker skills I feel I have the edge against this numpty and yes he may get luck from time to time but thats worth the eentual profit.
I got half his cash when he played 99 to the river despite 2 over cards one being my wining J.
I noted his profile as loose, calls everything, will hunt down Aces even with low kickers, PLAY.
My best pot of the night ended up all in for around $28 I had KK opponent flips AA - bugger - rivered a K was called a lucky boy, I replied unlucky for KK to meet AA and agreed I was a lucky boy.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Blogs Away
So I've been playing poker online now for around 6 months. The whole thing came about after my brother got me to sign up to pacific poker and we each got a $30 bonus plus I got 10% deposit bonus. $50 in and busted soon after, but hey I can just reload with another $50 it's so easy perhaps too easy.
To date I’ve cashed out around $450 and as of today have $26 in my account having lost almost $180 since my last cash out. Over the last 6 months I’m in profit but not by much, but then I do play for fun. Only problem is playing poker well is mind numbingly boring and playing for fun costs money, lets face it I’ve only hit a full house once playing 69 off suit and I just can resist playing 69.
I play cash 95% of the time, tournaments are ok and I’ve won a few smaller ones, but I enjoy cash play more and I can come and go as I please. At the moment I’m playing 5/10 cents as its all I can afford with my bankroll but then beggars can’t be choosers and I’d rather build it back up than re-load.
The biggest pot I’ve ever won was around $120, 3 way hand 88, QQ, KK and I had the KK and flop came K83, the turn a Q and the river a 6 and I scooped a great pot. The best hand I’ve ever had was a straight flush 9 to K Clubs, had 3 straight flushes all clubs, never had a royal. Biggest lose around $50 in two consecutive hands against the same player who rivered me each time. Hitting an ace to give a full house beating my ace high flush which I’d flopped and bet aggressively. Then next hand rivering a gut shot straight against my trips after I’d made a pot sized bet on the turn and he’d called, check-check on the river.
Poker Good Points:
Statistical awareness and good mathematical ability
I understand cash play and tournament play are very different
I know when I’m the fish at the table
I know when I’m not the fish at the table
Taken the time to read about poker tips and tricks
Poker is not all about luck – it plays a part but only a part.
Poker Bad Points:
Impatience
Letting my play slip due to boredom
Thinking I’m better than I am when I’m winning going all loose and busting out
Trying to play above my level of ability and or bankroll
Playing too many hands in case I get lucky
Thinking poor players will go for my flush bluff
Poker dilemma:
Torn between playing well and just playing.
To date I’ve cashed out around $450 and as of today have $26 in my account having lost almost $180 since my last cash out. Over the last 6 months I’m in profit but not by much, but then I do play for fun. Only problem is playing poker well is mind numbingly boring and playing for fun costs money, lets face it I’ve only hit a full house once playing 69 off suit and I just can resist playing 69.
I play cash 95% of the time, tournaments are ok and I’ve won a few smaller ones, but I enjoy cash play more and I can come and go as I please. At the moment I’m playing 5/10 cents as its all I can afford with my bankroll but then beggars can’t be choosers and I’d rather build it back up than re-load.
The biggest pot I’ve ever won was around $120, 3 way hand 88, QQ, KK and I had the KK and flop came K83, the turn a Q and the river a 6 and I scooped a great pot. The best hand I’ve ever had was a straight flush 9 to K Clubs, had 3 straight flushes all clubs, never had a royal. Biggest lose around $50 in two consecutive hands against the same player who rivered me each time. Hitting an ace to give a full house beating my ace high flush which I’d flopped and bet aggressively. Then next hand rivering a gut shot straight against my trips after I’d made a pot sized bet on the turn and he’d called, check-check on the river.
Poker Good Points:
Statistical awareness and good mathematical ability
I understand cash play and tournament play are very different
I know when I’m the fish at the table
I know when I’m not the fish at the table
Taken the time to read about poker tips and tricks
Poker is not all about luck – it plays a part but only a part.
Poker Bad Points:
Impatience
Letting my play slip due to boredom
Thinking I’m better than I am when I’m winning going all loose and busting out
Trying to play above my level of ability and or bankroll
Playing too many hands in case I get lucky
Thinking poor players will go for my flush bluff
Poker dilemma:
Torn between playing well and just playing.
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