Poker - An amateurs experience

Why and Goodbye

2010-05-17T00:47:00.000-07:00

Well I'm calling quits on this blog, no one reads it, it was always for my own reflection of play, but as I've built up some good online friendships with other players, I can talk through hands and plays.

I'm sticking with 3/6c its fun and never costs me money, I withdrew my cash and play with a $200 cushion.

On a final note called with KJ hearts v a $3 short stack flop 10QA hearts he moved all in with A8off my 1st ever flopped royal and paid. Nice

Goodbye bloggers, see you on the felt.

Bad Beats

2010-01-05T00:44:00.000-08:00

Played quite a bit over holidays doing well could be bothers to write about.

Bad beats make me wanna tell tales

Me AK spades him A10off

Flop A 6 3 with two spades GRAVY, he pot bets I decide I'm ahead and he's shorts so I move in yay massive favourite until he rivers his 10 for 2 pairs.

Trips 7 on a dry board a player with top pair 9 and a 3 kicker puts me all-in I snap call yay until he runner runners a straight.

AK vKQ I hit my king he rivers the Queens as well

ouch

Bank Roll $212.76

Xmas and New Year Out the Way

2010-01-05T00:43:00.000-08:00

Read Vicky Corens Poker Book, great read, buy it you'll enjoy it.

Reason to Hate Poker

2009-12-22T01:21:00.000-08:00

Player for 30 minutes this morning did well up $13.

Then AA in the cutoff raised to 40c and button re-raises to $1.35, I decide to move my $10 all-in the call with AKoff sweet, they made a 10-A straight 20-1 shot

Arrrr

Bigger Blinds Same Donk Play

2009-12-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

I made it up to $300 again so instead of cashing it out I move up to 10/20c $20 buy-in the standard is little different, player C-bet more, but don't know what to do if called, they also raise more often from the button.

Got 2/3 outed 3 times today costing me in the region of $50 ouch.

Me KK versus 99 ($13 in stack)
He raised to 80c I re-raise to $2 he called flop 3 3 10, I moved all-in he called turn 3 for my house, river 9 giving him 999 33 beating my KK 333 nasty.

Me AQ hearts v 67hearts flopped TPTK on a Q103 flop with 2 hearts, he bet I re-raised him, turn 6, he checks I bet pot he calls again river 6 I bet 3/4 pot he re-raises all-in I call as how can he have a six here, flush chasing 100% dead runner, runner to win.

Me QJ v KQ flop QQJ turn blank he bet out I move All-in he called river K

So roll at $260ish, good to know I can make money here, just bigger variance

Four!!! Four Four Four

2009-11-18T04:09:00.000-08:00

I guess this was a pot that carried some luck, history played it's part.

Player to my left always raises from the BB if limped too, C-bets OOP and Folds to re-raise or goes weak if called. He habitually raises light with unco-ordinated hands Q7off 93off etc or any two suited cards.

Player to right called my preflop raise with 7-3 suited flopped his 7 and although I was very aggressive with my JJ he called me down to river hitting his 3 for 2 pair. I have a not on hm saying he overvalues top pair any kicker.

So limp limp limp I make up blind expecting the raise which I'm calling and floating. It comes 36c as predicted, he tends to raise less with a hand hoping for action and 70c plus AA or KK. All fold to button who flats calls, now he would usually raise with a hand, but like all 3c/6c players defends his button, rightly or wrongly.

By the time it comes to me 90c in the pot 30c to call 3-1, I'm suited and gapped (wide) but unless dominated or versus a big pair probabley only a 60-40dog so I call.

Flop is dreamy, flush draw out but nice, as first to act I dont mess and make a pot size and BB folds, button thinks and goes all-in. Hmmmmm I rule out JJ as he would havbe raised pre, he would have come over top with AA, KK QQ pre as well but then I'm beating those, he could have a 4 which is unlikely more a flush draw either way the flop is too nice to fold. So I call and see I have his 46 dominated ish. I expected 2 high cards and a chop but thats poker.

No he picks a straight draw except the 7 gives me a house and the low card increases my win chance to 25%, I need any 7 or 3 with almost 70% to chop, but the river comes the 3 and he is well pissed, never expected I call him and pop up with a better four than him.

Yay

$202-78

Table Selection

2009-11-16T08:11:00.001-08:00

Table selection is becoming more important, I find versus most 3c/6c players I feel confident.

Problems comes when you raise and get 3/4 callers each hand on a 6 seater

Say I've got AK
1 will have QJ or KQ or Ax weak
1 will have 2 suited cards or a 67 89 910 etc off
1 will have a small pair

Just so hard to feel happy with a flop that doesnt come AAK and when does that happen?

So I have a plan my standard raise with anything is 24c, I boost that to 30 then by 1BB till they stop calling in numbers.

Failing that I just play super tight and go in very strong with premium hands.

or just move on to easier pastures

Cash Out!!

2009-11-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

I broke $300 last week, so outcomes $100 for me, £60 in real money.

To me 3 weeks to make $100 on 3c/6c tables which I'm ok with.

As usual then started losing, not playing bad as such more not concentrating or taking notice, bluffing calling stations that I know not too.

Some bad ones, JJ pressured a donk pre-flop he pushed he had $6 total so I called J10suited I had him dominated, he won rivering a straight, had the nerve to say JJ never wins and it was a bad call, hello give me JJ over J10 anyday. Fact he would have busted AA, KK, QQ he didnt seem to grasp, let him think JJ never wins.

So down then up

$189.00 is at the moment.

Good Times Even Loosing

2009-11-04T06:11:00.000-08:00

I have been super aggressive over the last 2 weeks and done very well bank roll up to $260ish which is cool at 3c/6c was nearer $280 but git beat in a few all-ins.

Was to the left of a habitual button raiser 27c everytime in 15 hands I picked up AA, AK and JJ

I squeezed him hard each time and he folded, picked up QQ he bet his 27c I re-raised to $2 as per usual and pissed he goes all-in AJoff cool, flops AJ had Q of diamonds 3 came but not a fourth, lucky fella.

Flopped a Ace high diamond flush checked got a pot better board J high, I re-raised and pot bet the turn, only for them to have J10off and hit runner runner 10s for the house.

Moved all-in on the flop v a super loose player with AKhearts had 2 overs to the board and nut flush draw and a gut shot, didnt make it, but hey at the time I thought hed fold and if not potentially 9 hearts, 3 aces, 3kings, and 4jacks made for too many outs to pass up a move, flop 7h 10c Qh, he had called my pre-flop raise he had QJoff.

I was described as a maniac today, if you play with $2 at my $10 table and you raise from the button and me in the SB or BB have AA, AK, QQ, KK JJ etc. I am re-raising you all-in.

Bank roll $258.90

Almost Air

2009-11-02T05:27:00.000-08:00

Limped round to me in the SB, I raised to 36c and BB folds, one caller, flop nothing I bet pot, called, bet 1/2 pot called, checked river when flush hits, in order to call bet if not huge, called J3 suited. I figured he's putting me on a steal or AK or AQ and his 3 is good no its not.

Bluffing with Air, please do

2009-11-02T04:39:00.000-08:00

Villain bet hard on quite a few hands versus small stacks who when betting their last few cents on the river he folded.

One pot he bet hard all the way when the short stake pushed in his last 30c on the river with the pot at almost $7 villain folded 30c to win $7 had to be a bluff and with nothing.

Hand villain raise to 18c I called from button with KJ as I had position and 18c was not huge for this table normally 24 to 30c with premium hands.

Flopped a J and villain bet out as I expected, I called turn 3rd heart, little worried but at least I have the King of hearts, he bet 3rd of the pot I felt this weak so raised, he called turn and 4th heart for the flush comes, he could have had the Ace but I felt not, he pushed I called he had nothing but ace high.

He bluffed so often I stuck with this one it just felt right.

Donk Doubles Me Up

2009-10-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Dozen orbits villian has won big pot calling a re-raise from AQ with K10 and hitting straight on river.

He moved in often on harmless looking flops and pre-flop with limpers raised to 20plus BBs if called bet any flop hard. Good aggressive play but perhaps just too often.

He's in the BB early bet 18c I have AK I flat called hoping our man squeezes to $1.20 as per usual and I' come over the top and scare him away.

Better he squeezes extra hard and goes all-in for $12.50ish, insta-call for me given his actions, and I'm over the moon to see him dominated with A8off.

Yay

Why oh Why, but dont stop

2009-10-23T03:48:00.000-07:00

This happened 3 time this week, player flops 2 pair on a board with potential flush or straight to be had, checks from early position, I hit a flush twice and straight once v 3 different players on the turn.

Once I made my hand I began betting and they started calling or re-raising in one instance, sure they could make a house on the river but 4 outs unlikely.

Each called to showdown 2 pair on the river having lost quite a bit getting there. I just can't understand slow playing on a dangerous flop, bet and I fold, check and I hit for free and then you bet once the board is even more dangerous. I know they are looking for a raise but there are more player looking for free cards. BET, it works win small not loose big.

Dumb.

Busy 2 weeks

2009-10-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Well I've up and down and up

Brooke $200 just, then it seemed every chasing fish in the world rivered their flush or straight versus me for a week.

Bank roll was down to $130ish at one point, banged away all this week back to $182 so good recovery

2009-10-15T05:24:00.000-07:00

Re-Donked Today

2009-10-07T02:58:00.000-07:00

Raised $1 to isolate the short stake get called

bet 2 x the pot on the flop

Allin on the turn called

Hit the miracle 9 on the river 20-1

Bank Roll $198-11

Another Class Donk AA-in Pre-flop 10Joff

2009-10-06T06:11:00.000-07:00

3c/6c $10 buy-in

Cut off raised to 36c the button calls for 36c I re-raise all-in with AA and the small blind calls with 10J off, golden all the way to the river when the miracle 2 outer hits and my aces are cracked, wow.

Please call again with 10J off versus a big raise, a call and an all-in.

Other than that doing well

$182.67

Zero to hero

2009-10-02T00:54:00.000-07:00

I played a bit early evening got involved with donks, raising and re-raising light, I was calling with pot odds catching a little and getting drawn in hands I shouldn't have been in.

I bluffed at a flush played it like I chased and hit (I was putting them on AQ to AA so on the flop low cards with straight and flush potential I decided to rep what hit), pot bet the end to their check, they thought a long long time and called with AA in the pocket, wasn't to bothered to loose that one as I felt they were wrong to call with top pair even AA and if it was anything less they would have folded, some people just cant take letting the bullets go.

I did go head to head with a serial raiser, he squeezed about 6 times in 20 hands, he did it again I had KK and just pushed it in, insta call oh no, A3 off come one, needless to say he hit the Ace. But again calling with A3 off was just not good. He did say as he had an ace he figured I didn't have 2 which is fair enough but any pair above 3s and any good Ace and he's in trouble for his whole stack.

Either way lost about $25, came back for an hour later did great made that back and a bit more, got paid with quad 5s, flop 5 5 10, me 56suited, I bet the pot got called, turn 5 action over, I check they bet the pot, I called hmm, 10 10 or some big pair they limped in, river Q, I bet a weak $1 and get re-raised to $3, so I think go let them wonder and raise to $8 leaving them $1.80 back, they push I call with the nuts and they show 99, not beating a 5, 10 or Q and pockets pairs 10s up.

Won another really nice pot with set of 3s that turned into a fullhouse v 2 opponents both flush chasing and both hitting 3 way all-in I win (man if only they had more money, one jack high and the other K high the ace being on the board).

Bank Roll $157.28

Tracking Software

2009-10-01T03:22:00.001-07:00

Now I played against a german using tracking software, he mentioned my stats as showing me a fish, not stealing enough and my VPIP to high.

Fine but I had played around 35hands out of 120 under 30% anyway, so tight, I had won 29 of those so my win rate was massive and I had tripled my $10 buy-in to $29.17.

I like to limp raise, I find raise, people fold, limp re-raise and people call, with moderate hands, this german dude was stealing so I was limp, steal, re-raise call, fold to my flop bet. His tracker software was telling him I was weak but I felt I could beat him and stacked him with 44 on a dry board low cards he tried to push me off but I had his range on that hand as AJ to AK and if I was right he'd missed 5 streets so I called his final bet and won.

I was taking on another super tight player with suited connectors and low pp etc. as (and the german backed me up with stats) he raised very few times pre-flop, but what the stats were not showing was how weak he was if he missed, I beat him showing 56 suited making a straight on the river, so after that I represented straights or two pairs often v him and he backed down with his top pairs or misses. The german said he like to have a hand before taking him on.

Now I may have got this wrong but if his range is small, the german is taking him on with the same range ie he may end up with AK v AQ or AQ v AJ etc. huge underdog if you get the call wrong and stack looser if you both hit the Ace.

Now my 56 suited v his AKoff is better than 6-4 as opposed to holding a AQ 3-1 so what's the best hand to play, if I flop anything I'm good versus his narrow range, have flush and straight potentials, plus I bet so pressure is on if he's missed. This worked very well against him, if he flopped it was obvious and I was away, if I flopped he couldnt tell.

German wouldnt play him as stats said if he raised he had the goods. I played him because he was easy to put on a hand.

Micro Stakes

2009-10-01T03:12:00.000-07:00

I've not had the time for poker over the last few weeks, still odd session I'm winning so thats cool.

I'm being aggressive as I don't have time to hang around for hands.

As in today stacked a player of his $5

3 way all limped me A8 spades, an aggressive player pot bets 23c on a K high flop with 2 spades, I'm in the middle dont figure the player behind for having much so I re-raise 3x his bet as he will protect his Kx hand as per usual. Player behind calls my raise and player 1 folds, now I'm sure he has a draw to the flush he's chased the whole session with a sniff of a flush.

This puts me in a good position as is if it hits I have the nutz flush if it missed he's putting me on a king and will fold, plus I have the overcard as well.

River spade, super card for me nutz, I give it 15second and check he has $4.50 back and insta bets $2 he has a flush or nothing, I wait another 15 seconds and re-raise him all-in he calls with J9 spades for a losing flush.

Don't you love it when you just know

Bank Roll $146.75

Three Figures

2009-09-15T06:27:00.000-07:00

For the first time in an age I'm over $100

Been playing quite a lot of 3c/6c, these players aren't overly keen to get there chips in but will call all the way with Q4 if they have top pair, kickers are a second thought.

I raised from the button with KQ, got called by a habitual caller from the BB, he had K7, flop K24, he called me all the way to showdown with his crap kicker.

Same player eventually gave me all his chips me AJ hearts flop 34J two hearts nice for me top pair top kicker and nut flush draw, I pot bet, got called, turn a blank, I 3/4 pot bet got called, river a 7 of hearts, now I figured he was chasing either a lower flush or a straight.

So I bet around 1/3 of the pot as I'm 100% he's got me on a Jack and won't be worried about the flush, I was right he re-raise pretty much all his stack, I pushed and he was committed and called with 56off for a straight loosing to my flush.

I did pretty well versus a player who raised to 30c with any ace and bet it hard, took him down 3 times with AQ or AK versus his A3 A7 A9, watched him he folded to over strong bets but if you check called all the way he'd keep betting his Aces.

I can really see how much I've progressed from my original time at 3c/6c, mainly I raise when most dont, I bet went most dont, got heads up in a limp 3 way flop 98K I had JQ check check river was a 10 and I've won player bets pot on the end I re-raised him 2x and he called he has K10, man cheers for the cash if he bet any earlier I'm gone to the right bet. Same I had 23 hearts in the BB all limped and it checked to turn that came a 2 and the river a 3 for me two pair, I decided to bet it 3/4 pot got called by A9off high card only no pair why call that.

I feel I have a huge edge at 3c/6c, still have to be tight, even when I lay down A9 to a raise and a re-raise and they flip A3 and A5 at the end of the hand both missing the board totally.

I'm not calling with A9 I'm raising with AK v your A9 look out

Bank Roll $102.68

Forgot to mention

2009-09-10T00:54:00.001-07:00

WOW most 5c/10c players are poor, chasing gutshots nevermind flush or straight draws, on the right tables is so easy is scary. Flopped an Ahigh flush and got players pot betting and calling before me with top pair or straight draws. The any pair is probabley good theory and the hit an ace I've won play is very common even if my kicker is a 3.

5c/10c I like $30 profit in a hour

Times a Changing

2009-09-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

Is the bad beat over? Well I guess no as they never go away.

Felt happier when I got all-in with 88 flopping the Set (top set) as well, opponent pot bet the dry flop I re-raised they pushed I called, bad beat on you son, he had 44 also hitting his set.

I've noticed dropping down to 5c/10c wow, played against a very aggressive player, but no good aggressive, donked off aggressive, like calling with weak aces and blasting the pot when an Ace hits. He made me money. Also played the bluff all flops player, watched him a while, called all pre-flop raises and donk bet the flops. I raised from button with A10suited he called we are heads up flop A106 dry I checked he pot bet I re-raised him x3 and he pushed. With the hands I'd seen him play and those that went to showdown, I'm well sure he's bluffing for the most part or has hit small, he was all-in on the flop in 7 of the last 10 hands and everyone backed down but an AK who he beat with 67, hit 7 on turn.

I called J10off pretty much dead and all his chips in the middle.

Nice sessions $30 up

Bankroll once at $16 in the week now at $82, grinding back to $200

I really didn't need this

2009-09-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

Me in the BB picked up Aces raised it up 6 x BB still got 2 callers including the button who wanted to limp in.

Flop J76 I bet the pot get 2 callers, turn a 7, I'm not happy so bet 3/4 of the pot, get two callers, river an awfully 6.

I checked the CO checked button bets $2 into a pot of $18 I called, to be honest I felt beat but wanted to see how, CO called as well.

CO 1010 fare enough if he had me on AK or AQ, Button 68 offsuit for the fullhouse and winning hand and I'm down below $20 in bankroll.

I can kind of forgive the CO with his 10 10 he could have me beat, but the button called a pot bet with bottom pair on the flop, a large bet on the turn behind to a Jack, a seven or any pair above sixes and then hit one of two outs on the river to make a fullhouse, wow 5% chance of winning on the river with pot odd nearer 2-1.

This would have hurt if the bankroll was at $200 but at $20 it's crippling, I've decided not to re-load unless I bust out, going to play 5c/10c on one table till it goes up or is gone.

Dropping Down

2009-09-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

I've cashed out twice since the last post, $130 and $100, keeping my roll at $200 and cashing when over $300.

Since my last cash out the beat has been bad, AA beaten by JJ, KK beaten by 66 and so on, I've struck a low of $73 pushed it to $100, re-raised a button who re-raised I pushed my KK versus his 88's super, he flops the 3rd 8 and hard work gone.

The AA v JJ was particularly bad, I'd built my $20 to $50 over a few hours, picked up AA the button (sitting with $45) was raising big when everyone limped to I limped and hoped he raised to $1.20, I re-raised him to $3.60, he raised I pushed he called versus JJ, I'm pretty happy unitl he flops a Jack and my hard work is gone in a flash leaving me $15 down on the session as opposed to $75 up. I understand that there's not many pre-flop all-ins you'd prefers than AA versus any two but many it sucks big to loose it all.

I've been playing 10c/20c and people seemed more clued up and less likely to chase draws, last two weeks I've seen loads of new players chase and chase, many hit. I've been finding myself winning small pots with AK and AQ etc., but losing bigger pots to chasers. Just last night I got re-raised on the turn with trips, I pushed the called needing a 7 for a gutshot and hit busting me 4 outs on the river and they re-raise me with a gutshot.

It really gets you down when you stay tight and aggressive, but cant push a gutshot chaser off a pot with top pair top kicker or better, I do feel I'm getting opponents into positions they are behind, but I just aint hitting and they are. Even an all in move just seems to tempt them to call and win bigger, I know I'm playing well and they are playing poor, but it's nice to see the odds fall your way.

So down to 5c/10c for a while build back up, I may keep roll a $300 from now on.

Last Nights Session Round Up

2009-08-04T01:13:00.000-07:00

I played really well, I was up $75 at one point finished around $60 up in the end, can't think I played anything to wrong, big hands I lost I was well ahead, all sets being outdrawn, from at least a 3-1 advantage.

I was reading players well and going up against those who would bet 2nd or even 3rd pair and not let go to the river, they were loose, not often overly aggressive, I watched and noted.

Such as one player with two to act behind him including me, K came on the river making a 4 card flush, I had a king with a Q kicker but felt it loosing when he makes a pot bet, I fold, player behind me calls, with 2nd pair and the initial raiser has K6 for top pair, no worry of the flush draw, but everytime I hit and was against him I bet and he would call if he had a piece even small.

I really felt in control, I picked my hands, limped versus buttons who always raise to $1.20 versus limpers and then re-raised them again, I didn't slow play a thing as villains wanted to call.

One player I had off, min bet regardless of pot size if they had hit low pair, pot bet if the hit strong, over bet if they totally missed everytime, always raised the buttom heads up to $1.20, man it was so easy to push him off a hand or bust him with a good hand.

Enjoyed last night, I really felt I had an edge, the others were gambling, I was playing Poker!

Flopped Quads and actually got paid

2009-08-04T00:58:00.000-07:00

I'd raised to 80c from the button, callled by the BB and SB, dream flop but I can't see it giving much action, but the SB bets the pot wow, then the BB calls, I just wasn't sure what they could have but, I have the current nuts, when the king comes the SB moves all-in and the BB follows, oh for more money on the tab, I have the BB covered but not the SB. Two draws hitting straights, not sure I would have moved all-in on that board even with the top straight, you could already be dead and was, and I wouldn't not have called with J9 and another player to act. Better spots for me.

Totally Donked

2009-08-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

Same sessions as previous post, raise from the button with A10 off to 80c, no problem, I re-raise to $3, they re-raise so I push they call, come on AA v A10 he's dead, oh no he hits on the river a 4 card straight, bummer, luck luck boy, runner runner.

All-in on the Flop

2009-08-04T00:42:00.001-07:00

10c/20c $20 playing against some very loose players, who are happy to bet into very dangerous looking flops with top pairs, or chasing strong draws, I was very tight but played virtual all pocket pairs as trips were doing well versus these guys as on the flop they felt very happy with their hands usually top pair with not always a good kicker, and they were happy to play for stacks at that point, so an 80c call to win $20 is fine by me.

Above flopped a house in position super, button was in on the flop, villain c-bet I riased, button folded, villain pushed for the nut flush draw, but was already pretty much dead.

40c call to see a flop everyone in, Villain moved all-in on the flop and I called, again he is pretty much dead.

Got busted with sets on the flop 3 times, twice was outdrawn to a 4 card straights, and once called a push with top set, guy was chaing flush draw with Q9 clubs he hit it as well, man not even the nut flush draw.

Flush on the River

2009-08-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight everyone wanted to bluff, so I played pretty tight most of the time, they also were calling 3/4 cards to straights and flushes with 2 pair and trips.

Button raised to 80c I called, he'd raised every time from the button, the flop wasnt good but with a nut flush draw I bet out 3/4 of the pot and got called, I checked the ace, he bet 1/2 of the pot and I just knew he had at best an ace, when the diamond comes I put him all-in, why because I'd seen him call loads with 2 pairs etc. I was sure he would feel his AA 99 Jack kicker good, I was right he called and lost.

Same player over values again

2009-08-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

10c/20c $20 I'm in the CO everyone limps BB min raises to 40c, every calls but for the button and SB, flop gives me a set but is draw heavy

BB bets the pot as does the next two to act, I sure I'm ahead but everyone could have a pirece of this, I'm ruling out pp 10s and Jacks and I dont think they would limp pre. Our BB could have top pair or two pair, I decide to get buy and raise to the size of the pot, BB pushes all-in, two mid positions fold I call and wind up 90% plus favourite and win. One of the mid position said he was on the flush draw but a low one and versus my raise and then the all-in felt he had to let it go.

Calling with real junk

2009-08-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

10c/20c $20 Opponent was calling alot preflop and over valuing top pairs, me on the button with JJ folds round, I bet 4 x BB SB folds and the BB calls, flopped a set with is nice, two spades out.

Villain pot bets and considering bis history I put him on a lone king so I put him all-in with a $10 raise, he flips the K4 off and looses.

Now a K4 flop versus a button raise looks nectar, but can be so dangerous when the button movies you all-in perhaps your ok, perhaps not, but either way calling with K4 out of position isnt going to pay too often.

Quads that paid well for a change

2009-08-02T01:59:00.001-07:00

I'm in the BB with 33 everyone limps which is fine for me as I can hit cheap, when the flop comes 377 for my fullhouse I'm happy, especially with 2 diamonds as the flush completing for some one is paying me big.

SB and me check next 20c min bet fold fold from the button, call, I call, same on the turn, when the 3 hits the river I'm praying for a 7, but not 2 of them, the SB bets $1, bluff or he has a 7, I raise all-in, he thinks long and hard he's losing to two hands 74 and 33, chances are I just have a 7 and nothing more he calls.

Perfect for me and nice win

Always loosing Hands

2009-07-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

I'm on the button everyone limps and the BB min raises to 12c and everyone calls.

Flop 6 4 5 rainbow BB bets 1/4 of the pot, which I feel is weak, I decided to call with a gutshot and and 2 overs to the flop, the SB also calls, rest of the table folds. When the 7 comes for my straight and making the board super dangerous I'm sure the action is over, the BB bets 1/2 the pot with the flush draw out I decided to take it down and re-raise to $2 which is just over the current pot size as I'm happy I'm in front, SB folds, BB thinks and calls, at this point I'm thinking he has 2 hearts.

When the nine comes unless he has 810 and I don't think he does, nothing changes for me, this is when he goes all-in and for me it's an insta-call and he shows the pockets 9s for his beaten set.

One of the many examples where people get aggressive too late with a good hand but on the river with a 4 card straight out nowhere near the nuts. His final river bet was around $7 do that on the flop and most players are away and you win a small pot instead of getting stacked.

I called the flop, re-raised him on the turn, the last thing he needed to do was all-in on the river, just in case I had the straight, sure he was beating a pair or two pair even but come on how confident can you be it that situation out of position.

This is a classic example of a hand you could be loosing all the way regardless, these are the hands I try and keep the pot small in, if my set is good then super, if its not then I minimise the losses.

My Royal Flush

2009-07-31T02:30:00.000-07:00

Flopped a straight 10 to A then forth spade comes but I'm still drawing to nut flush and the nuts!! 10 of spade hits to give me the Royal Flush and a slight profit.

Why chasing is dangerous is you get it wrong

2009-07-30T04:38:00.000-07:00

5c/10c $10 I'm familiar with the villain, play him a lot he is loose and aggressive, but will chase draws without odds.

I limp as the button will fold/or limp as usual they fold, villain raises to 20c from the SB (he will do this with marginal hands such as 10J Q10 KQ etc. and the BB checks I'm getting 5-1 so call.

Flopped bottom pair with nut flush draw, SB min bets, I put him on a flush draw or a Jack which I can beat if the flush hits or push off if not, so I flat call, BB folded. The 3 makes a straight draw and the SB checked so I decide to bet the pot and represent the straight, bang they flat call me.

Now I was worried but if that had happened to me and I had the straight I would have pushed back while I was ahead. River a nasty two but they check so I check behind expecting to be beat and they flip Q10. I win 4's.

Right they had flush and gutshot straight draws both of which beat what I was trying to represent, potentially 12 outs (9 hearts and 3 kings), I made a pot bet so odds were even and they were around 3-1 to hit and out of position, If a heart had come and they had bet I would have re-raised all-in and they would have called. If they thought my bet was anything other than a bluff why call with ony a draw. Only making a flush or a straight would have given them any reason to bet out of position on the river.

Oh for a heart on the river as his money was then mine, all of it.

Nice Win

2009-07-30T04:19:00.000-07:00

3c/6c $10

Raised to 21c from, I decide to re-raise to 60c, with my JJ as I have position and there are 4 players behind me to act everyone folds to villain who calls, at this point I pretty confident I'm not against AA or KK as with a re-raise on 3c/6c they get excited and push pre-flop. The flop is golden my opponent bets the pot, so they are confident as C-betting doesnt happen much a super micro stakes. So I think AJ or QQ taking a peak at the flop and liking it at best he could have KK either way I just decide to push as even top pair top kicker will often call here as they cant work out whats betting them. QQ it is for 2 outs and I'm happy to not get donked.

Luckiest Call in the World

2009-07-29T02:15:00.001-07:00

All-in on the flop from the 66 called by the AQ

66 makes a fullhouse leaving the AQ with 4 outs on the river and bang A appears for Quads

Ouch!

I did the odd calculation and the 66 was 98% winner on the flop and 85% on the turn good odds and to still get beat doudle ouch.

AA v AA

2009-07-23T04:21:00.000-07:00

Played like a donk, blew off $12 over a few hands, calmed and picked up AA, raised and got re-raised to £1.20, super AK or KK or QQ so I pushed, called CHOPPED, hit 3 spades would have loved to have busted my fellow player bullets with a 4 card flush.

Houses a plenty Part 2

2009-07-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Few hands later, I raised from MP with 99 to 40c, CO and Button call, Button player I've seen alot and he will virtually always plays his button to a raise. flop 664, not great but no overcards, I took initiative and bet another 40c, CO called and button folds, thoughts 6, 4, flush, straight draws possible flopped house.

The Ace on the turn hurts, flush complete and overcard to my pair, I checked and CO bet just under 1/2 the pot, I take that to mean 4 things

I have a flush and dont want to loose my customer

I have a 6 but am scared of the flush

I have an Ace but am scared of the flush

I have nothing but opponent has checked

I decide to call as if a 9 comes and they have hit a flush I will get paid at that point my call versus possible payout is something over 25-1 so I call and for once I hit the miracle 2 outer.

I decide to make it look like a bluff at the flush draw as I'm now sure they have the flush so I go all-in and barring AA or 66 I'm ahead, they call with the 2nd nut flush.

Nice Pot.

Now I know I've been the victim or the 2 outer miracle card, difference is my money is usually in before not after, if this guy had bet hard on the flush making Ace I'd have been forced to fold, I just wouldn't have called a pot size or greater bet here as I was loosing to any 6, A, pocket pair above 9s and flush, but his bet without the nuts on the turn was weak and the implied odd were great so I called and hit and got paid.

Houses a plenty

2009-07-22T07:03:00.001-07:00

Raised in the CO with 1010 to 40c went round to MP who called, as you can see flop of 10 Q Q was very nice unless I'm up against Q10, check, check, turn 2 check I bet 40c and get called, at this point with 2 checks and a call I pretty sure he doesnt even have a Queen I'm thinking draw to either flush or straight, the river Ace heats things up as I'm loosing to a few more hands AQ, AA, Q2, Q10, as I'm sure from his play he's on a draw and rule out him having a Queen that leaves AA, he checks, I think he's missed his flush a fire out a 1/2 pot bet for value expecting a fold, he goes all-in.

Man I dont have the nuts but I'm beat by so few hands, so I start to think about what he puts me on and I come up with at best he thinks I have a Queen or a 10 (trips or two pair), I decide he aint bluffing and put him on the KJ for nuts straight and I call. Good call by me.

Felt sorry for the guy he'd blown $70 and was down to his last $4 on another table, few hands before he got cracked KK v AJ all-in pre-flop, and then again he called an all-in with an A high flush draw v AA and didnt make it and he'd just re-loaded when I got him.

Faith restored

2009-07-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

At last a smile from the poker gods it's been a while, but thank you all the same
I raise to limp as the button had folded a lot of cards or limped as well, the BB followed

Flopped top pair but kicker is horrible, BB checked, I decide to have a stab and bet 3/4 of the pot and was called by Button and BB, river is a 7 giving me 2 pair but completing a gut shot straight.

I happier but not 100% so I bet 3/4 of the pot again and get called, river brings the K completing the flush draw and giving me a house, at this point BB checks, I'm only beaten by a K10 and the way my luck is it could be out there.

I think someone has to have a flush or a very least hit the straight, I can't see what got them to come along other than a draw, so I decide to check, pot is ok as is, not greedy.

GRAVVVVY, button raises to $1, BB (short) re-raises all-in and I go over the top all-in and button commits to the hand two flushes J and 10 high so not even the nutz.

$168.45 a small step to recovery

More Swings

2009-07-22T04:33:00.001-07:00

Well I considered closing the account this week, bombed down to $145 or so, and I felt I was playing well, after my previous bad beat I had decided on super tight for a while AA, KK, QQ JJ, suited AK to AJ AK to AK, pocket pairs depending on position and cost.

Worked well for a awhile I was up $20 or so tight and aggressive, then they come oyt and get you the night brings 'em, the top pair all-in monkeys.

All 5c/10c 6 handed $10

Me AK hearts on the button, nice I hear you say, raise to 50c called by new player flop K69 with 2 hearts, cool TPTK and nut flush draw, they check I bet out 1/2 pot, they go all-in, I thought for a while could be 2 pair or trips, but could be KQ as well they had put $6.50 in I decided to call as I had outs to win. They flip K7off how cool is that dominated 3 outs come on, turn 10 river 8 he makes a straight. Arrrrrrrrrh.

I lost again flopped two pair bet aggressive called to the river ace comes, I call their bet they had runner runnered two pair on the end and had called with with Ace high on the flop and then 4th pair ace kicker on the river. Arrrrrh

I've had trips on the flop so many times versus an over a pair who has called my aggressive raises and I mean re-raises and hit the 2 outer on the turn or river, I felt like it was a joke.

I got money in with AK v AQ or worse many times for them to out draw me to the weaker kicker.

AK v AQ flop AK9 I was aggressive they kept come turn 10 river Jack arrrrrrr, I'm the pre flop aggressor, I re-raised you flop bet and you called my re-raise again for a 4 outer on the river.

I was close to just giving up, I dont want to play any higher than 10c/20c and even there they play is marginally better, as in they will raise/re-raise from their button a lot more amd muck a few more longshot hands but either way I was sick of losing 10-1 and 20-1 hands for stacks on the turn/river all too often.

Bank Roll $145.67

Swings

2009-07-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

The swings at the moment are huge I'm up and down $50 all the time, I'm happy with 90% of my play and often just get outdraw by a dog to loose, I don't mind getting the money in when I'm ahead but getting called by a pair of K's versus my trip 9's on the turn with Ace showing should make me happy the fact my oppenent calls an all-in bet with 2nd pair is a mistake as I already re-raised him on the flop and I should be happy he has 2 outs on the river 20-1 dog and all. When he hits I'm sad, worse still the AA v K9 who hits trips then quads wow, how poor is that.

I just hope these guys think poker is that easy and keep calling me down with junk or from well behind.

I guess you just accept that you get rivered and 20-1 means you loose once in a while

Onwards.

..... the perfect hand(s)

2009-07-13T05:16:00.000-07:00

Me 44 called a 40c (4xBB) v 2 opponents flop 4410 2 diamonds, me last to act get a raise to 40c and a call so I just called turn a 10, ohh my please have a 10, 1st checks player 2 bets the pot, yep he has the 10, I call again, river completes the diamond flush as well, villain bets the pot again and I go all-in, he's only losing to 44 and really has to call incase I also just have the 10 or a donkey 4 or a flush, he thought for full time and called, bang $40 pot for me.

Also on the table was a super loose German, I know german and loose odd combo.

I raise from button, with KQ hearts, flop 7 10 J 2 hearts, he bets and I flat call, turn a nice A for my straight he checks, I decided to check hoping he'd bluff the river, river is a blank and he bets the pot and I re-raise him x3 he goes all in, I call he has 10 7.

2 hands and bank roll saved

Bank Roll $222.18

Bad Beat Continues

2009-07-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

Lost AK v AQ flop A3K bet hard got called, turn Q opponent all in called river Q

AA v 10J he hit straight to K all pre-flop

next hand raised big with QQ got squeezed all-in was confident I was ahead so called he had 3-5 off and flops 2 pair to stack me again.

Bankroll well under $200 now ouch at a poor $188.00

Bad Beats Part whatever

2009-07-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

Busted again

99 v KK limped in flop 2 7 9 opponent bet pot I re-raise x 3 turn A they bet pot I pushed, they call for 2 outs and hit K on river

AA v K9off flops trips KK then a A comes on the turn and I'm happy both all-in river K

AA v JJ all-in pre he flops a Jack

KK v 910off all-in QK3 I bet hard they follow hit a J on the river for gut shot

QQ v QJsuited all-in pre lost to a straight

Same player 3 hands called my raise with weak Aces and made 2 pair each time

AK v A5off river 5

AQ v A7off hit turn 7

AQ v A3off flop 2 pair

Bankroll $218.00

Bad Aggressive Players and Bad Players

2009-07-10T01:53:00.000-07:00

Diablo turned up last night and he's got a bit better he once beat me in an all-in on the flop, he re-raised me all-in with A9 flop 2 5 9 me with 99 I called and he runner runnered AA to beat me hitting two of his 3 outs the only two cards that could have beat me, unreal at the time.

He would never give up a pot either lost big or won big, more lost, he still calls a lot of longshots and 3 outs is enough for him. He rarely folds pre-flop so it is a nightmare to put him on a hand if junk hits and you have AK, AQ and miss, so you have to be careful with just top pair some are not and these he beats for big pots with his 74 off hitting two pairs versus a big Ace.

A guy turned up last session I hadn't seen before, super aggressive banging in pot and over pot bets, he did quite well for a little while, I just tightened up and waited, some of his play was great versus people who had at best top pair and they backed down a lot to his re-raising. He'd re-raise pre 10 x BB and follow it up with a pot+ bet on the flop regardless, no one punted at him for 15-20 hands, I re-raised him in position with 10J suited on the button, flop came AK4 he made his pot bet, I thought no way he's hit and I re-raised him 3x his bet he folded. I think he realised I was pretty tight and didn't bluff me to much.

Anyway his aggressive betting was winning pots, but 2 or 3 times he kept firing versus players who had the goods and at showdown each time he had nothing or bottom pair, after that people started calling him down. He stacked twice on one table and came to another I was on and did the same, going from $10 to $20 quickly and then bust.

I got him in the end after he'd blew $15 on a bluff over 3 streets, he re-raised all-in next hand I called with 77 he flipped K3 off and he was gone.

See these player often, the aggressive side virtual maniac play is great, if they selected the pot better to do it in, why bluff on the river a guy who's betting hard and the board is JJ337.

Bank Roll $278.91

Good Session(s)

2009-07-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

Well I stopped getting out donked sorry drawn and won a few over the past few sessions.

Stacked 3 players, first me with A5 hearts on the button, flop 252, get a min bet from villain I called everyone else folds, turn a 5, pot bet from our villain I called, river 3, all-in from our villain I figured split pot 5s over 2s but no he had a 2.

Button again versus villain who bet hard top pair regarless of kicker me AJclubs on button villain limps I re-raised 5 x BB they call flop J 2 5 with 2 clubs nice villain make pot bet, as every hand they had top pair and tried to protect I re-raise x 3 they called, turn 9, they checked and I checked as with just TPTK, bit of pot control not a bad idea, river J and they moved all-in, I gave it some thought, and figured they thought I'd missed my flush draw and had a weak Jack, so I called they had J7off

3 players limped me in cut off with KQ spades flop A93 spades cool check, I check, button bets 3/4 of the pot fold, I call turn blank, I check in order to raise button goes all-in, unlucky he has 107 spades and gets out flushed by me.

So two session raked in pretty much $70 not bad for 3c/6c

Bank Roll $261.29

Bad Session

2009-07-07T01:27:00.000-07:00

Bank Roll down to mid $190's had a bad session last night, one of those I was happy with my play but either got out draw or someone got really lucky.

Example flopped 2 pair KQ in a limp pot bet it hard one player stayed with me and hit runner runner A5 to beat me, seeing a lot of players who if they have one/two overcards to the board wont fold, even if they hit they might not be ahead, love theses guys most of the time, but not when they runner, runner me for a tidy pot.

Caution and Bad Luck

2009-07-03T03:23:00.001-07:00

Flopped the nut flush with K9 flop AQ10 so had the straight flush draw as well, opponent bet into me I re-raised they called, turn nothing we battle on, river 10 and yes the had Q10 for the house, busted.

Next hand same player I have AA I raised to 24c they re-raised to 50c I re-raised to $3 and they called, at this point I think AA KK QQ AK, flop a safe looking 2 10 5, I check they bet $1 I pushed all-in and they called with pocket 10s bang, he got me twice.

Bank Roll hit but bounced back

Bank Roll $216.93

Learning

2009-07-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

So I'm matching pots and bets to hand strengths, no more getting carried away with top pair top kicker and huge pots.

Small pot small hand, big pots big hands. Limiting loses and maximising winning, my value betting is also better.

Also been selecting opponents I know will call or push with ok hands or bottoms ends of straights and trips when straights and flushes are out.

Its working back up over $200 now

Example v a player who is aggressive but in the wrong spots, 6 handed 3 limpers me on button with 97off, I raised 1 caller, flop 969 nice for me but spade draw out, this guy calls a lot so I bet the pot turn hits a six so I guess if he has the six he'll call me so I pot again he calls and the river is blank.

I push and he thinks a long time and calls with 88 $16 pot in 1 minute at the tabe first hand of the day cool

Bank Roll $224.58

Loosing

2009-06-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

Bank Roll down to $155

Got my money in with AK v AQ and they hit the Q

Was called by JJ on a AK3 board me with AK he hits the Jack on the turn

Had top two pair 10J5 was called by A5 all-in who hit the A

Got out tripped on the flop my 55 v 77 flop 5K7

ALl-in with KK called by JQ who hit quad Queens

Even got my money all-in on the flop JJ v AQ flop JA10 turn K river Q split

Good point didnt tilt carried on playing my game, things will change

Fools rush in

2009-06-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

I gave up early last night couldn't find a table I felt comfortable with, as in one where if I raise 5 x BB with AK I didn't get 5 callers. There was a lot of all-in with top pair on the flop regardless, which at times is great but when I wasn't hitting the hands made drawing impossible.

If I could get a player heads up with a weak ace great, but a I folded to an all-in with a caller, I had top pair and figured it beat players flip Q6 for top pair shit kicker and a gutshot draw, who then hit on the turn!!!

It's great when these players make such mistake, but sickening when they hit, and last night they kept hitting.

Bank Roll $191.92

Turn Around

2009-06-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

Well I was away over the weekend at a Music Festival so no poker until the 16th June 4 days off the green and on green grass in a field.

Looks like my bad beat is over, it started/ended with a great hand.

6 handed 5c/10c $10, people were calling most raises with poor hands, me I couldn't pick up higher than a 10 until I hit AA and made a silly pre-flop bet of 90c and got 2 callers, hmmm.

Flop A 5 9 two diamonds first to act bets the pot, second to act goes all-in (short stake) I call, first then re-raises all-in and I follow. So with this table I'm think AK or AQ and a flush draw?

Flips 55 and AQ hearts and I win a £35 pot woooo whooo, last week a 5 would have come.

Played hard against any one wanting to call my AK or AQs with rags

Stacked one loose player who if he hit the flop would not give up especially top pair any kicker, I loved the way it played out as I was right on the money putting him on a hand and predicting how he would play it out.

We ended heads up me AQ hearts flop was Q47 with 2 spades, I checked it and he pot bet, I thought straight away he has a Q as he had protected from flush draws often, so I flat called, turn blank, I check again, he 1/2 pot bets so I flat called, trying to look as if I'm chasing the flush draw, river is nothing.

Here I was tempted to bet, but I'm thinking if he does feel I've missed the flush and he has a Q he will bet, so I check he bets about 10th of the pot, at this point I have around $6 left I take my time and come up with this, busted flush draws will often go all-in versus weak bet or check hoping to scare you off, I very sure he has a Q and nothing else, so I push, he virtaully insta-calls me with QJ off and I scope a nice pot.

Bank Roll $198-77

Change of Fortunes?

2009-06-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Busted down to $113

Picked up KK got it in pre-flop ended up v AA bum not again

Flopped a K and quads on the turn wow

Bank Roll $135

Bad Beats

2009-06-10T01:16:00.000-07:00

Well I just cant win Bank Roll at $145 or so this seems to happen every so often - variance I guess, my play has for the most part been good, I'd say when my money has gone in I've been ahead 80% of time.

I got busted yesterday AA v 1010 me with the tens.

Everyone limps then a min raise, me next to act, I always fear the min raise as it's often people trying to get a raise out of you with AA. I have pocket 10 10 and call because it's cheap and I may hit a 10.

Flop 3 4 10 rainbow super, our min raiser bets the pot and I'm sure now it AA and will call so I push he calls and flips AA, 9-1 favourite at that point to win, turn blank river A ouch so harsh.

Played A5 hit 2 pair on the flop played it hard was called all the way by a loose player with A6 who rivers a 6.

I seem to be getting beat by player won just won either give up an ace overcard or hit the river to beat me.

Flopped two pair with KJ flop going KJ2 player calls me down with A2 hits the Ace on the river bang. Poor play probabley putting me on just a K or J and playing his overcard with 0 odds to call.

I'm playing all pocket pairs against these guys as if I hit trips they will bust every time, except I cant hit trips.

I've been playing my AK and AQ aggressivley pre-flop to chase away the rags but everyone wants to call me with A7 and A8 hitting the rag.

Bet 8 x BB with KK to a raiser who then pushed I called hoping not to see aces, J7 spades, he flops a flush, wow.

Only bit of good action in the last few days was took down a 3 way pot with quad 3's, called with 33 hit trips, bet hard, turn 3 clubs makes 3 clubs out 2 before me to act raise, I called, river another club super bet, all-in I push, fold A7 spades flipped - quads win.

I was getting really down about loosing, I'm playing well and getting beat all the time by junk or people making really crap calls and getting luck, the number of times my 2 pair have been counterfeited just isnt funny.

I was in the middle of a 3 way with AQ ace hits the flop A72 I was happy 1st to act makes a 2 x pot bet on the flop, I'd raised preflop and the pot was around $1.45 (was getting called all the time), I put him on 2 pair or trips protecting his hand, I folded and the next guy pushed, 1st calls they flip A3 and A9, wow. Top pair shit kickers, oh for trips in this spot. It's so hard early at a table to distinguish poor play from good play, blufffs from strength.

Up beat come my way please soon

Amazing Hand

2009-06-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Flop comes 3 diamonds I have KJ of diamonds on the button

Checks to me I bet, called twice, turn comes blank

player 1 all-in, player 2 all-in, I think and fold

player 1 74 diamonds player 2 A3 Diamonds

Wow 3 players and 3 flopped flushes, good fold by me, was sure someone had the nut flush

Bank Roll $218-34

Grinding Away

2009-06-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

Been playing tight and aggressive and grinding away.

I've been using a light known and often forgotten tactic at 3c/6c and 5c/10c it's called the raise.

Not seen often at lower stakes, raising someone's standard button raise, I watch if the raise often, on he button and I have a premium hand or good drawing hand, no flat calling, re-raise, they always feel obliged to call and if the flop comes an A or K I bet out they fold. This nets me a lot of nice $2 / $3 pots with little effort.

Now I don't feel I'm a good heads up player, but re-raising to isolate one player and hitting them hard is different, at my stakes people want to see flops cheap versus lots of players min betting each street to see who win on the river.

Bank Roll $208.65

Down Down Down

2009-06-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

Bad weekend, still feel I was playing fine, I just couldn't hit or got outdrawn alot.

Played KK met AA, played JJ met QQ then played QQ met KK

I'll play strong aces hard re-raised one opponent who calls with K10 off v my AK of hearts he hit the the 10. I kept raising my good hands AK, AQ etc and kept getting out draw by the people playing suited cards and hitting rags. I just couldn't connect with anything on the board, it was like if I had an ace somebody stole the other 3.

Lost $20 Double or Nothing got in all-in with KK was outdrawn to an ace by a caller with AQ suited harsh, so called it quits.

Bank Roll $168.90

Broke $300

2009-05-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

Following my self imposed Cash-out rule I broke $300 so cashed out $100 back to $200

Still playing well, 1/3 towards my next cash out - hopefull, had a down swing to around $210 but fought back.

Bank Roll $232.76

My Guide to: Sit'n'Go Double or Nothing

2009-05-27T01:12:00.000-07:00

I play $20 buy-in 8 seat, $10 are available 10 seats but the skill level is the same and for the time it takes to play $20 is much more profitable.

Do nothing and win: This is entirely possible especially in turbo's as people seem intent on knocking each other out, you only need 4 Ax v Ax all-in match ups and you've cashed. I have cashed in DoN playing 2 hands, one of which doubled me up early with AA v 77 after that my goal is to cash and nothing more.

Play premium hands only: AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQ, smaller pairs if cheap and be aggressive when you enter the pot.

Use Position: Why limp early only to have to fold to a big raise, if you play premium hands you aint folding and you should be raising and if you want to speculate do it from a postion that costs as little as possible.

Don't get involved with top pair and don't chase without odds: You don't have to gamble unless you're sure, trips or better put up a fight other than that if you get strong resistance, give up and wait for better spots.

Being the big stack/Hero: I have been told I'm a rubbish big stack, as often the big stack will bully other players, then all too often I've seen them double up low stacks calling all-ins with marginal or poor hands when just a few orbits later the rising blind would have seen them away anyhow. You start with $1200 and I've seen players with $3000 plus blow it trying to eliminate other players, taking on players with $2000 chips when there is no needed. Alternatively I will ride the coat tails of an aggressive big stack and let them take the risk, I just play to survive.

4th pays the same as 1st: If you don't need to play don't, very quickly in these DoN you will lose 2 players after that if you can maintain average stack you will be OK. There is not need to win, I see people making risky moves versus similiar sized stacks when there is no need, why try and squeeze with junk when you are comfortable in 2nd place, they get called they get beat and all of a sudden their $2500 in chips is $250.

Tight is right: It will win you money in a DoN.

I still have an 85% win rate at DoN from $10 - $50s, I find then really boring as to win you don't really play much, they are great for rebuilding bank roll after a bad beat. I used this method to build back up from under $40 once, and just over a week ago I dipped to $138 now it's more than double.

Sit'n'Go Double or Nothing

2009-05-27T01:02:00.000-07:00

Boring played 3 last night cashed in 2, the one I lost in was my own fault I limped with QQ as I was first to act flop came 3810 short stack pushed with $600 I had around $1100 and called as people had been moving in with top pair all the time so I was expecting A10 a best - he had 810 off and I never recovered from there.

Not as bad as the first DoN I had 57diamonds in the BB, limped round flop 55J, checks round to the big stack who goes all-in I called, he had AA and wasn't happy with my trips, called me an arse, a joke, I kept quiet, he limped I was already in the hand for free.

He was left with about $525 and next hand I picked up AA (irony folks) he pushed I called he has 10 J off I win he is last person out and we all cash, he wasnt happy again.

Bank Roll $296.08

Sweerrrwing

2009-05-26T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hit one of those weeks I just couldnt win, this happens every so often this happens and if I'm playing well I dont let it bother me. It used to throw me off my game now I realise it's part of the game, 20-1 do hot 1 time in 20.

Example I called a raise all-in with KK they called with 10 10 and hit the river for trips to bust me

Got my money in with 77 flopped trips opponet has 88 flops trips as well, just plain unlucky

Got beat playing strong aces versus weak aces

Got outdrawn buy dominated players to 4 cards flushes quite a few times

Bank roll was down to $138 or so

At that point I hit the Sit and Go Double or Nothings $20 buy-in, needless to say I find them super boring but profitable, only didnt cash once all weekend and that was trips over trips, so unlucky

Bank Roll $253.60

Cash outs this year

2009-05-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

1 5/19/2009 US$100.00
2 5/18/2009 US$175.00
3 5/5/2009 US$250.00
4 2/4/2009 US$350.00

Cash Out Time Again Whooop!

2009-05-19T07:29:00.001-07:00

I am playing very well, of late I've been sitting at tables and after a few orbits I know I can win there without much effort. I love tables where everyone wants to limp, so many folds to my re-raises or pre-flop aggression.

I have been re-raising a lot if I have AK or AQ I will challenge most opponents

Also have been trying to ge my money all-in if I'm pretty sure I'm ahead, been called by players chasing flush draws and straights blowing off their stacks more than mine, often I'm 3-1 favourite to win.

Hit a sweet pot me QQQ99 v two opponets one hit trip 9s the other trip 3s money flying in everywhere on the river and me with the nuts.

Cashed out $175 back down to $200 within a day I cashed out another $100.

Going to keep playing nothing above a $20 5/10c buy-in so I have 20 buy-ins bank rolled

So cash-outs over the last 2 week totalling $525

Bank Roll $208.45

Still Doing Well

2009-05-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Been doing great, not much time to play but overall been exploiting poorer players

Won a good hand against a serial bluffer he'd been caught a few times, but had done well boosting his initial $7 to around $14 I was at $19 on a 3c/6c table.

He'd had people call him down light when he'd had the goods, I was waiting for better than top pair to have a go at him, he raised 8-10 times the big blind each hand, then bet out strong each time.

I was playing most of my pocket pairs against him hoping to hit trips as I was sure he'd fall hard, I got super lucky against him me 99 I called and it flopped 7K9 rainbow he had K Q he checked which considering his previous loose play I thought he mind have a hand, I bet out small and he re-raised me I called turn 9 for quads and mama I'm home, he checked I checked, for the first time obviously a little bit concerned, river a Q for his two pair, at this point I thought he'd fold or bluff, but the two pair was just too much temptation, I bet about 1/3 of the pot and he when all-in, called and the rest of the table congratulated me on playing the hand well and bumping our friend.

Most hands I've been exploiting odd v's opponents who will over value an ace, I'll play any ace at times, but if I get a sniff you've called my AK / AQ with a weak ace and often this is obvious then I'm after you and if you make 2 pair so be it as more often than not you're beat.

People have been calling me down pretty light as well, don't no why but please continue, example me A5 v A3 flop A57 I bet 3/4 of the pot as the 2 diamonds out and the short stack with $3 went all-in, as there was only about 40c in the pot I think he has at best an Ace or a flush draw as he'd want to win more and not scare me away if he had trips or something and I think my bet said I have an Ace, I called he had A3 so he wasnt beating much than A2 or a 7 or a 5 from any caller and considering I raised, bad push.

Bank Roll $291.07

Perfect Hands

2009-05-11T04:37:00.000-07:00

Lost 3 all-ins - one I consider the perfect hand against me

Me: KJ v KK flop K3J turn J now pre-flop there wasnt much action so I did put the guy on KK perhaps a K at best flush completed and he went all-in I had to call with fullhouse

Kings got me again on the river

Me: 55 v KK flop J 3 5 super we battle to the river king hits and both committed and money gone

Again luck call Me 33 v 75clubs flop A39 2 clubs small stack pushed I called they hit club to win with flush, unlucky for me, but donk play with 7 high flush, 2 clubs come turn and river if I had on club over 7 he was beat.

Was down to $218 but battled back

Bank Roll $235.17

Donked Out

2009-05-08T06:48:00.000-07:00

Bank Roll down around $10 which to be honest I happy with that as it was much worse and I built it back up well.

All 3c/6c Tables

Me AA raised to 40c got re-raised to 90c I push he thinks and calls with AK off yummy yummy, except he hits a 4 card flush to his Ace to beat me.

Me AK suited flop comes AK7 rainbow opponents pushed I called they have JJ rivered the J

Me AA again get called by 67 diamonds all-in hits flush

Me 45 suited hit flop 457 then 5 on turn for full house I play aggressive river 7 opponent 74 out housed

Flopped a straight pot bet all the way as 2 diamonds out get called at river opponent just has $1 left throws it in so I call anyway 85 diamond to a J high flush me AQ straight 10 J Q K A, I raised they called pre if I'd had AQ diamond they were already dead yet they still chased and called pot zise bets on 2 streets wow, profitable player on another day.

Bank Roll $241.79

Still Banging Away

2009-05-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Played just 2 hours over the last few days up $50, still 3c/6c $10.

Notes are proving so useful, marking those that will play with any hit on the flop, those that think they will hit runner, runner often, and flush chasers.

Made good profit playing AK and AQ v opponents who get giddy when the have an ace short handed and will call you down with Ax.

Did get stacked KK v 10 10 he called me and hit trips on the flop which was unlucky, did get called by JJ v my AA he hit the J on the flop I rivered the A to out trip him he wasn't happy but when I came over the top of his re-raise with an all-in perhaps a fold was the best call considering he'd watched me winning pots with AK KK AQ AA etc. for the whole session.

I did get pushed off a large pot v 2 players me AQ suited flop was A77, everyone checked turn 3 blank player 1all-in player 2 all-in I folded thinking donk with 67 or something getting lucky, or AK or AA A7 suited turns over A2 and A6 gutted was worth $30, but I wasn't happy putting the money in at that point, I think I would have called one of them not both.

Bank Roll $251-56

Cash Out Time

2009-05-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

Well I made it to $450 and as I'm not planning on moving up above the $10 buy-ins I decided to cash out back down to $200

So $250 towards my holiday's, good lady is mucho happy-o

Got a busy week ahead so will only be able to play odds and sods

Bank Roll $198.47

Upwards

2009-05-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Still playing mostly 3c/6c aggressive, with good hands, isolating those who will call and bet.

Found betting my pairs working well as if I hit trips, I get paid well.

Making notes on everyone I meet, especial those who will bet any pair to the river and call with so so hands and feel good if the hit something.

One player I've found will call most raise with anything and if he hits and thinks you havent bang bang all the way, problem he did this to me calling AK and AQ with connectors he hit I didnt and he took a few dollars aways, so I limped against him so he wasnt sure, next time I picked up KK he did the same called my big raise with 810 off hit the 10 as top pair he hammered me and I called all the way putting him all-in on the river, he never saw the KK coming.

Bank Roll $438.75

Yes that up over $135 in the last 5 days

A New Level

2009-04-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

Well I broke $300 for the first time since I cashed out, playing some 3c/6c but only with very good hands, as these guys will call you down chasing a lot of hands.

If I flop the nut flush I can still get action as they never believe you have it, they bet 2nd and 3rd pairs, ignore your raises, I really think they see Poker as a games of bluffing 90% of the time.

Raising to isolate works well as they are confident with their top pair and having a good drawing hand that hits works well as they don't like to give up their top pairs without a fight.

Bank Roll $302.28

Easy Money

2009-04-29T02:33:00.000-07:00

I had just under an hour to play last night, got on two table 5c/10c $10

Did well, most player were happy to bet their second pair as good, and a few would see you to showdown, with top pair and a good kicker.

If I got a sniff someone was holding top pair with a good kicker and I had better or potential to get better, I played aggressively and this worked out fine.

One player in particular was calling all pre-flop bets up to about 8 x BB, so at any point me versus him and I was good, 80c it was to go, his problem was insta fold if he missed the river, if he did come back you knew he had hit something juciy.

Against weak players I represented flushes and straight with much success, no real big pots the best being about $4.50, but constant wins of 80c to $2.

Good Night, I felt confident I could out play 10 of out of 11 opponents, the other guy was very tight, and when his money went in it wasnt without less than AJ.

Bank Roll $262.96

Idiots one day Lucky idiots the next

2009-04-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

Lost 2 hands all-in in today bumped my bank roll down a touch

Main one pissed me off as they went runner runner to win

Me AA v J9 diamonds they had raised OOP I had re-raised and they called

Flop 3 8 J rainbow they bet the pot I re-raised they pushed - at this point I worried about trips but reckoned on nowt or AJ. They had J9 hmmm way ahead turn 10 river Q straight bitch, busted me, apologies for the luck call and even luckier turn and river.

Now if they had top pair and a drawing to a flush or straight fair do, but what do they think they are beating with a pair of Jacks and a 9 kicker, after a re-raise pre-flop and a 3x pot size re-raise on the flop, hmm bluff AK, AQ. Man come back soon

Lucky idiot one day, just idiot the next, call on trooper, call on, your J9 aint always lucky

Bank Roll $337.89

Two great pots

2009-04-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm still up and down, most of the time I've lost when I've been ahead when the money went in so I can't complain, well may be a little.

Won to great hands playing 3c/6c $10 buy-in - usually stay away from these as they are super loose and you can get burned by flush chasing junkies, but very profitable if you hit a monster as they all bet regardless of the flop. I've flopped an A high flush here before and been called all the way to show down by a player with top pair.

Me QJ hearts every limps flop Q 3 J with 2 clubs checks round to the short stack who bets the pot and has $2 left so thinking he has a queen to protect and might just call with his remaining cash as they often do I re-raise enough to put him all in, expecting to isolate him.

Player behind me calls as does one of the checkers and my original target, bum, is there trips out there or just some flush chasing junkies. Turn is the perfect card J giving me a full house, I push, one player folds the other goes all-in and we all show down on the river a 7 of clubs.

Wow no body has the flush draw, I was facing Q4 off from the big stack and Q10 off from the small stack, even without the two pair I was ahead on the flop.

Next hand I fold after a re-raise on the flop, one of the players has a dig about my moment of glory passing and I just type better spots to be had.

Next hand I have 88 it everyone limps and I just call and hit trips on a flop of A Q 8, I just check, one player raises it up the pot and the large stack I beat who just re-loaded re-raises, I'm sure he has an A at best, so re-raise him his stack and he calls with A10 so he's wasn't beating a whole lot to commit his stack to he spikes 2 pair on the turn but my trips hold up. He aint happy, and calls me a bitch in the chat box, I type better spots like that one.

Bank Roll: $256.94

Perfect Flops v Perfect Opponents

2009-04-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

Everyone limps I have 87 spades, flop comes J 10 9 of spades - wow I've flopped a straight flush, not the nuts but unlikely to be beat.

How am I going to get paid I wonder, now thats a scary flop 60c in the pot and one player bets 90c called by another player yummy, I flat called turn K, Player 1 bets the pot player 2 folds I flat call thinking he has Ace high flush, river nothing he bets pot again I go all in he calls, with da da daaaaa

Q8 off he had a straight, man I couldn't be that confident versus that kind of draw with a caller to the river and then all-in with just a straight beaten by any single spade.

Bank Roll 237-90

www.holdemindicator.com

2009-04-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

www.holdemindicator.com

Try it I did and it's cool, the people also sent me a free upgrade when I changed computer, they didn't have too, but they did and thats service.

Why I hate Poker

2009-04-22T01:18:00.000-07:00

Well I was on my game back to winning and bang Poker Gods laugh in my face and spit on my Bankroll

Down almost $50 over half a dozen hands in a hour session, playing 2 tables 5c/10c

Busted: me AA raise big get called, flop A93 dry I check opponent checks, turn J, I bet the pot opponent goes all-in and turns JJ for trip Jacks versus my trip Aces - river Jack for quads, money gone, he apologised as he thought he was a goner, he was, runner runner with 1 out to beat me on the river.

Happened again me KK v 77 flop K73 opponent pushed I called, turn 7 for quads

Busted: me 22 flop a set of twos (KQ2) chased again by a player who has 2 pair to the river when the hit a fullhouse to beat me.

Busted: Flopped straight 8910JQ bet it hard was chased by guy who hit 78 runner runner to a fullhouse 8s over 7s

Lost a few more hand when I was miles ahead (QQ v 75 etc.), so at $50 down I called it quits and prayed to the Poker gods end my bad beat there, please!

Every hand I lost big on I was ahead sometimes by a mile, come on to be beat twice by quads just aint cricket is it. When I had AAA and my opponent pushed on the turn I knew at best they had trips and not as goods as mine 20-1 ahead at that point .

So not happy to loose but happy I was ahead when my money went in.

Bank Roll $223.65

Patience

2009-04-21T02:44:00.000-07:00

I played for 30minutes last night ended $20 up for the session after going $8 down, one table 5c/10c played few ordbits identified 3 players who happily called 4 x BB raises with A rag off and called to showdown if the hit the ace. They bet even with strong draws out, 3 suited cards facing aggression, tried to bluff each other.

Got hit twice being called by A3 off v my AK suited he hit 2 pair on the turn card (3), was chased by a guy flush hunting to the river he went all-in on the end I had trip Jacks, I felt he had it as his play from the outset suggested he was drawing to the flush, so I let it go. Few times I lost smaller pots to hands like 37off that connected on the board after players called 4 x BB raises with them.

I played tight, aggressive and patiently, the hands I watched saw people calling down possible flush draws with top pairs etc. and I knew if I hit a monster they would call.

3 way hand I called a 40c raise with AJ diamonds flop comes 3 diamonds Q98, the guy who had raised had called virtually every bet made at him if he connected in anyway and stuck with the hand to showdown even with 2nd or 3rd pair, or drawing hands.

Because these guys seemed to think every bet was a bluff I gambled and entered the pot first with a pot size bet, get called by player 1 and re-raised by player 2, I called, player 1 calls. turn is nothing, I checked now as I'm sure they will see this as weakness and further enhance the belief I'm bluffing, player 1 checks, player 2 bets the pot, I push, player 1 calls, player 2 calls. River is nothing, player K diamonds and a 9 spades, player 2 Q9 clubs, wow $30 pot.

Player 1 could only beat pair 8s or a bluff from 2 opponents and was chasing 4 card flush to K
Player 2 two pair but come on he had to think one of us had a flush and only had 4 outs on the river to win, cheers guys, you are noted for the future.

Bank Roll $270.60

Measuring Up

2009-04-20T03:49:00.001-07:00

Well, I think focused I play pretty well against anyone on Pacific at 5c/10c.

I don't win a fortune, but then I cashed out a lot more than I ever put in.

When I have been right down I played really well and build back up.

I could stick to the Sit n Go double ups, where my win rate is still over 80% at $10 and $20, but this is too boring.

A month ago I had $40 left, since then I've put on over $200 that's $50 a week and for my level of playing (5c/10c) and the time I actually play per week I reckon I get a return of around $8 per hour which I'm more than happy with.

Best thing is I haven't had to re-deposit in forever.

If I took the level I play when I'm low and did it all the time I think I would do much better, it's just that at times I just feel like calling without the odds or playing a crappy starting hand just to see what happens. It's more fun at times.

Tight Aggressive Play

2009-04-20T03:19:00.000-07:00

Have been playing quite aggressive and so far it's working out. I decided winning is winning and I take less risks calling down people I think are bluffing. Even if slow at 5c/10c stakes I'm happy with $30 profit for a few hours over the weekend.

If face a raise of 40c (4 x BB) and I have good starting hand I re-raised to $1.20 and bet out on the flop.

I've been trying to get my opponents to call with weak ace, small pairs or KQ etc. giving me a good advantage over them, if I stick to AK, AA, KK, QQ etc. against good player and extend my range against poor and loose players.

Surprised how many people just fold to the raise, especially those that always raise from the button, once I bet out on the flop most times this has induced a fold as well.

Means I'm not winning huge pots most of the time but steadily winning, plus after I've showdown a few hands, the better players fold to my raises, so I exploit that for a while raising with suited connectors and mid pairs from positon, until they catch on and then I move tables.

Best hand stacked a player me AK suited they called my re-raise with 89 suited, flop KQ10, they checked and I bet out, thinking back it look like I was betting to protect a pair of kings from a straight draw, when the J hit the turn to give me top straight I was thinking chop pot and when they go all-in I expect as much - but no all-in with bottom 2 cards to a straight - poor play by my opponent and nice win for me.

Bank Roll $249.13

Up and Down

2009-04-15T02:13:00.000-07:00

Didn't get much time over Easter to play, had a few days away.

Played last night was up and down, think my play was ok, just got caught by people staying with their drawing hands and hitting on the river a few times, but I'm fine with that, can't just give up in case you get beat on later streets.

Bank Roll $216.68

My favourite spot

2009-04-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Chasing a flush draw with top pair out of position

Say you limp with AJ clubs and the flop is 3 5 J with 2 clubs and your opponent hits the J and wants to protect his hand. In this situtation hitting the flush draw is nice but If I make the flush my opponent isnt putting in anymore money in if I bet.

I love it if they protect they hands with me check calling all the way down to the river, depending on my opponent I may check call/raise, or bluff raise big like I've missed my flush and let them call me.

They always have something like J10, JQ or JK and felt confident because of the lack of pre-flop action and I am so obviously chasing the flush .

10-8 Suited Why me?

2009-04-08T05:54:00.000-07:00

As happens I didn't get away from two really donkey hands played against me, both funnily enough involving 8s.

5c/10c $10 6 handed

I raise 40c with AJ clubs flop is AJ3 I have two callers and I have postion, betting goes 40c, call and I raised it to $1.20, call call. turn 8 check, check I bet $2 fold, call, river is another 8 but at this point I cant see why my one remaining opponent has an 8 in his hand except 88 but even then I raised pre-flop, re-raised the flop and bet strongly three times, so I bet the river 1/2 the pot and opponent pushes and I really have to call as for the amount I have left in my stack I feel committed do they have the 88 or AA or JJ or 33 for a fullhouse, slow playing trips all along, NO THEY HAVE 10-8 of SPADES!!!

Why call pre-flop raise with two opponents, why call a 3x re-raise on the flop with nothing, not even a draw, why call a bet on the turn with 3rd pair after previous action arrrh just why! I was mad but console myself with the thought that this player will be profitable even he always plays that way as he'll miss so more often than he hits.

It was the 8s of hate again I had AA betting went something like raise 40c re-raise to 70c I re-raise it $2 fold call, so I think big pair or AK suited.

Flop 8Q3 I check opponent bets about $3 and I go over the top all in and get called by 89 off super turn 8 and I'm busted.

Got done again I re-raised the limped to £2 with KK guy with about $4 left re-raises all-in and I'm thinking possible AA hoping for a raise but with KK for $4 I give it a punt he has 66 needles to say he hits the flop for trips and wins, man I never feel that good about 66 versus a 20xBB raise. At best I might have called a seen a flop if I hit sure bet out but you can't be too confident ever with a 66 versus a huge pre-flop raise, especially when you only have $4 to call with.

Did get some pay back versus an opponent who always wanted to go to the river and had almost double up hitting 2 pairs by keeping in hands he was being lucky but as often happen people call down the loose player and he was winning some nice pots. By the time my turn came he was on the way down (win big loose big as happens to these guys) and had $6.50 left everyone limps I'm in the BB 45 suited flop rainbow but a very nice A32. I checked as does everyone except our villain who bet 10c which he had been doing if he hit a part of the flop, I called as did everyone else, Turn was a K putting 2 diamonds on the board I checked our vilain bets 10c, I bet 50c and everyone folded and he called, river a 8 - blank cards, I bet 50c and he goes all-in I call he has 2 pair A8's.

I knew it was a matter of time, as he'd ignored flush and straight draws in previous hands, but luck don't hold out in poker for ever, just wish I'd caught him when he had $17.

Bank Roll $214.34

Weekend Wins

2009-04-06T02:03:00.000-07:00

Although the SNG Doubles are profitable, I find them boring. Good for building the bankroll up when I was low, but other than that not challenging enough.

Weekends are usually good for me and I put $50 in the bank over the weekend with just a few hours play over saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Had one guy bet off his entire stack of $8 to me with K3 suited, I raised with AQ hit the queen and this guy kept betting to the river on which I just called thinking he had to have something and turns out just an over card, wow, that was bad. Mind you I do find lot of new players will stick with an overcard or two even when the odds are against them and of course any ace is worth chasing.

I won a good hand versus a player I'd marked as good, I think he saw me as loose aggressive, I limped with AK off round to him on the button he raise to 40c and I called head ups. Flop K37 dry I checked he bet out 40c I flat called, turn A I checked again he bet 3/4 of the pot and I check raised him and he pushed river was a blank - he had AJ and I won a nice pot. I think he thought I'd called him pre-flop with perhaps a rag Ace or low pair and saw my limp as weakness.

Some good solid play got caught out once by a fullhouse to my straight when the player hit a 4 on the river to make his pocket 4's into a fullhouse.

Bank Roll $242.23

Reading an opponent

2009-03-30T04:33:00.000-07:00

I won a hand, virtual stacking an opponent, mostly through having a good and more importantly predicting how my opponent would react.

First off they were rasing and re-raising everything, making above potsize bets into dry boards and had gathered a stack of $35+ on a $10 buyin. The only time they slowed down was when they had big hands and they liked to limp big starting hands.

I limp with 10Q clubs (everyone limps) flop goes 9 10 5 - one club (9) our friend is on the button and everyone checks to him and he makes a potsize bet, as I thought he might, I called with top pair and a good kicker, turn is a K (clubs) I check, he bet 50c and I call as I'm getting 5-1 or so and I have flush, straight and straight flush draws, river is a J completing my straight and I pretty sure he don't have AQ to beat me and I'm not sure if I check he'll bet so I make a potsized bet hoping he thinks I've missed my flush and he calls with KKK and lost. Man was he not happy - I'm the biggest fish out there for betting on a gutshot, I got lucky as he was trapping me, I let him rant, for me top pair on the flop, loads of outs on the turn and cheap and good odds to call, luck river card yes, but if I missed and he made a big bet I was gone.

So he's angry and started making bigger bets into the pots, scaring away his opponents, I sat tight, but when I raised he re-raised me, fine.

So 12 hands later I have 10 10 in the BB to his SB I raised to 40c after he made up the blind, he re-raises to 80c as before cause he's pissed at me, I called cause he raises so often he might have nothing anyway, flop 3 10 Q rainbow. I checked knowing he'd bet and he makes a potsize bet, which I re-raised x 3 more than normal because I know he aint backing down from me cause I'm a fish, he calls and the turn is a A, I still think I'm ahead so a make a really weak bet at the pot and he goes all-in I call, he has the dream hand of AQ off, river is another 10 to give me quads and he's virtual busted.

Might be wrong but versus these aggressive loose players I like to play pairs as if I do hit trips I find they will throw money at any top pair they hit and all-in on a two pair for sure, they will even fire a few bluffs if they miss, so any played pair that makes trips is usually profitable for me.

He didnt complain about loosing and just left.

He can bully all he wants but a patient player will catch him out.

I was happy with the hand because I was very sure how he would react, I needed the 10 to be confident, him having the Q and then the A was a bonus, to be honest the Q was probably enough for him to bust, as he'd happily bet over the top of an A on the board in previous hands

Nice.

Double or Nothing Record

2009-03-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

Well I won a $20 double or nothing (8 handed) playing 2 hands all game.

More than doubled up early on with my AK v A3 v KJ and sat back and watched them donk each other off. Eventual had pockets AA, short stack pushed I called game over 4 winners. $20 profit in 26 minutes.

Been doing well in the cash games over the weekend, lots of players willing to call big bets chasing flushes and not hitting.

Bank Roll: £191.04

Lost 2 in a Row

2009-03-25T03:56:00.000-07:00

Lost the 2 double or nothings I played yesterday

Game 1 went out 5th one off getting paid, was doing well enough I called a short stack with AK they had gone all-in with J7 off and they made a pair of 7s, then busted with KK v A3 who hit the ace, played well enough bit unlucky.

Game 2 First out limped with 99 hit 9 on flop go into a re-raising match with one player who turned out to have AA and then rivers another Ace to leave me with virtually nothing. Again not to worried I was sure I was ahead and was when my money went in and too be honest if I double up in the 1st few hands and then play super tight I'll cash so was worth the push.

Bank Roll $135.45

Doubling Away

2009-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Played a 8 seat $20 Double or Nothing over luch and won again

Took 40 minutes

Played 13 hands out of 80, thats super tight, of that 13 won 11, split pot 1 and lost one at the showdown blind on blind checked down to the river.

Split was when I called the short stakes all-in, he had A9 me AJ, flop 10JK which made me happy the turn 5 which was ok the river Q - damn - that would have bumped player 5 out ending it there.

I wouldn't have normally called his raise all-in but he has 480 chips to my 3900 and his range was going to be huge.

I had doubled up and re-double to big stack and wasn't planning on playing another hand, as I didnt have to to finish in the top four, I had more than double any other player.

My sit-n-go double or nothing win rate is 80% having played 10 cashed in 8 lost in 2.

Once loss down to trying to being more aggressive and getting caught - another playing KK calling and all-in from a small stack with 63 suited who bit a straight.

In money terms including paying the rake lost $21 (inc rake) won $112.50 (less rake) = $91.50 profit.

Bank Roll $162.46

Double or Nothing

2009-03-23T03:13:00.000-07:00

Well I only failed to not cash once all weekend, played a mix of $10 and $20 double or nothings.

Simple rules:
Dont get involved with marginals hands out of position, or chase hands on the flop
Play from positions especially with premium hands - cbet - players are cautious
If you don't need to play the hand then don't let others bump each other off
Maintain an above average chip stack
Tight is right - people notice this as they play cautious - so when you put money in they listen, this gives you the opportunity to steal and protect your blinds.
Remember 5th pays same as 1st so no need to be the big stack
If you double up early on you will finish in the top half to sit back

Bank Roll: $140-21

A new tactic/game

2009-03-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I dont think anybody ever looks at this blog it's more a reflective practice for me, not that it's working.

Bank Roll almost dead, I went in for a $10 double or nothing (DON) tournament 8 handed and doubled, so into a $20 DON and doubled, into another $20 DON and doubled, man it was easy. One game I played 11 hands out of 60 in 45 minutes and won $20 easier than on a 5c/10c table.

I just played from position and premium starting hands, AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQ, AJ and watched the donks battle it out busting each other, while I did enough to keep in the game. I saw one player double up early on, we started with 1500 chips he had well over 3000 and could have just sat there and won $20 but he kept betting and taking on the short stacks eventually going bust after doubling a few people up.

2nd game I had pocket AAs in the BB everyone min raised to me I raised to 1000 one player called, I pushed the flop and they called A3 suited and I double through after that I never played a hand didnt have to.

I really think some people don't get the concept of double or nothing, 5th pays same as 1st so why with double the amount of chips of anyone else, needing only 2 people to go out to win would you be gambling with shit hands? Actively trying to bump short stacks with 500 chips when the blinds are 150/300 and increasing every 10 minutes. We got down to six players and one guy encouraged us all to call the short stacks all-in raise as he knew that 5 v 1 we'd more than likely be ahead or out draw him, nice move.

Bank Roll $94.21

King Donk

2009-03-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Well board of the micro stakes I blew it all (almost) on two tables playing 50c/$1 $100 buyin.

AA I raised 5 x BB ($5) called by one player flop A82 brilliant, they checked, I raised, they pushed, I called and I'm against A8 suited that went on to runner runner spades for the flush.

AK v 47 suited again called down after big pre-flop raise from me flop A49 we battle to the river when they hit a 7 I'm committed and $200 lost in two hands.

Bank Roll around $40 - oh well lesson learn - bank roll management is Vital!

Good Afternoon

2009-03-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Played a little got into a hand with another big stack, both cheap to the flop, me QJ clubs

Flop 910 clubs and a 2 so nice draw for me pot standing a $2 I bet $1.50 and get called turn K clubs for straight flush, I check opponent goes all-in with A5 clubs and he's dead.

He didnt even say nice hand - just left the table broke.

A hand to dream about straight flush v Ace high flush

Bank Roll $295.33

Loose Win Win

2009-03-18T03:23:00.000-07:00

Got bumped back to $210

One hand versus a guy that was raising 5/6 x BB with anything.

I had KK min called knowing he was behind me on the button he raised to $1.50 folded round to me I raised to $4.50 he pushed, I called, he has A8 suited flops an ace and beats me, bitch.

Few hands in different donk I raise to 5 x BB with AK suited called by one player flop 3 J K, villain pushed but he only had $4 so I called QJ off hurray I think, turn hits Q, bang bang! Now ten comes for me and I loose.

I curse these players but I love them really as I reload to $20, hit AK spades raise 5 x BB one caller flop 10 3 7 spades, nut flush for me I check, villain goes all-in for $22 I call expecting to see AA or lower flush Q6 hearts wow whuy risk $20 to win $3.50 a pot size bet see most players floding heads up there unless, like me they have the goods.

Its like they call with a face card + any other suited card and hit the face card and bet confidently despite opposition.

Any how couldn't find a free table so stuck my nose in a 25c/50c game $50 buy - I shouldn't have because it's too big for my bank roll, but 20 minutes later I left $30 up. They were no better than me, raised on the button, c-bet every flop. First few hands in I called with out of position with AK and then AQ, villain c-bet I re-raised they folded.

They seemed to re-repect the re-raise and folded to it except once I hit Q with AQ villain c-bet I re-raised they called turn A they checked I bet they folded after that without being greedy I re-raised or bet confidently any draws top/mid pairs. They all seemed over cautious shame I didn't have any more time to play

Bank Roll $267.12

Winning Ways

2009-03-17T04:56:00.000-07:00

Well I've been doing a lot better, mainly because I've been staying away from the donkey 6 way $3 pots even with premium hands 5 caller 6 handed aint good.

What I have been doing is increasing the amount I bet pre-flop with premium starting hands, this seems to cut down the number of callers I get and when I do show down an AK v Ax and win it gives me a good table image and people soon learn to respect my raises and I can steal away from good position.

Patience is working playing from good position against opponents who bet any part of the flop they hit works well, especially if I flop trips.

Not had much time to play but put on $90 since Sunday

Bank Roll $251.23

Losing More

2009-03-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

I seem to be winning lots of small pots and losing then I'm losing abig one

Lost QQ v AK I flopped set he flopped flush draw and pushed I called and he hit his flush

I hit 2 pair AQ on flop opponent pushed I called they had KJ off and hit a 10 on river to beat me $30 buck busted in tow hands

Bank roll $167.89

Variance

2009-03-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

I'm up and down at the moment, more down really, I seem to be getting caught by poor players hitting.

Example: Villian raised to 50c, me with AA re-raised to $3 he calls flop K J 2 rainbow he bet $1 I re-raised $3 he calls turn 3 he bets $1 I push he calls with 10 10 and rivers a 10 - lol he types into the chat box - I say nothing, can he really think that he was ahead at anytime?

AA again raised on the button to $1.50 was called by 1 player flop 235 he was playing A4off needles to say I got a little burned.

Bank Roll $203.01

Loosing Again

2009-03-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

Just twigged with Pacific re-jigging the blinds there's no 1c/2c tables so all the beginners and fish are playing at the lowest stakes now of 5c/10c, that explains why I raise big pre-flop and get 4 callers on a 6 handed table and why some of the play is so unpredictable, all-in on a flush draw or second pair etc. I was loosing to often to straights and flushes, it's hard to win anything with 4 people chasing hands, one of them is likely to out draw you aces.

Any how either got to choose tables carefully and keep away from the 4 caller super loose tables or move up to 10c/20c.

Back to the grind again super tight v super loose

Bank Roll $230.37

Loose Tables

2009-03-05T01:02:00.000-08:00

Blew off $25 yesterday, got involved in a loose table and instead of staying disciplined I got embroiled in stupid plays and got burned.

Saying that I raised 8x BB with AA on the button and got 4 callers on an 6 handed table, that should have been my key to get out, needless to say I lost that hand to a flush draw on the river, man those guy just would'nt give up.

It's so hard to win when you raise with AK 4 x BB and get called by 4-5 players, even if you hit the A or the K it's difficult to work out where you're at, especially when people are playing any 2 suited cards, so that flop of A44 probabley mean some donk play J4 suited has got you beat.

Bank Roll £241.22