Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Back to Back $100 Days

And all $100 came in the last 10 minutes of playing.

My target identified himself by an incredibly terrible play. A shorty shoved $9 into a $3 pot on a 4c7s5s flop. Based on read, I knew my JJ was good against the shorty. Fish then called behind me. I check the 2c turn. Fish INSTANTLY shoves remaining $17. I debate here as I don't have a read on Fish yet. I have major pot odds and decide that I'm committed and if I'm coolered, I'm coolered.

Fish shows T5. Of DIAMONDS. No FD, 2nd pair.

Unfortunately original raiser spiked an Ace on the river to win with his all powerful A4. I still finished ahead in the hand $5 because of Fish.

Fish reloads to $50. Woohoo!

Fish loses some of it.

Then this wonderful hand:

----------------------------------------------
$0.1/$0.25 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com


Stacks:
UTG BEDINGER1 ($38.04)
CO EVITO07 ($86.90)
BTN WULFE ($43.96)
SB BUSHISATIT ($29.95)
BB Hero ($32.56)

Pre-flop: ($0.35, 5 players) Hero is BB

BEDINGER1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, BUSHISATIT calls $0.15, Hero raises to $1, BEDINGER1 raises to $3.25, BUSHISATIT folds, Hero calls $2.25

Flop: ($6.75, 2 players)
Hero checks, BEDINGER1 bets $6.75, Hero goes all-in $29.31, BEDINGER1 calls $22.56

Turn: ($65.37, 2 players)

River: ($65.37, 2 players)

Final Pot: $65.37
Hero shows:
BEDINGER1 shows:

Hero wins $62.37 ( won +$29.81 )
BUSHISATIT lost -$0.25
BEDINGER1 lost -$32.56

----------------------------------------


He reloads to $50. Woohoo!

And then this happens to him:

-----------------------------------------

$0.1/$0.25 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG BUSHISATIT ($29.70)
UTG+1 Hero ($63.06)
CO BEDINGER1 ($50.00)
BTN AIKIBETJITSU ($55.92)
SB EVITO07 ($82.90)
BB WULFE ($42.96)

Pre-flop: ($0.35, 6 players) Hero is UTG+1

BUSHISATIT calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, BEDINGER1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, EVITO07 raises to $1.50, 1 fold, BUSHISATIT folds, Hero calls $1.25, BEDINGER1 calls $1.25

Flop: ($5, 3 players)
EVITO07 bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50, BEDINGER1 calls $2.50

Turn: ($12.50, 3 players)
EVITO07 checks, Hero checks, BEDINGER1 bets $12.50, EVITO07 folds, Hero calls $12.50

River: ($37.50, 2 players)
Hero checks, BEDINGER1 goes all-in $33.50, Hero calls $33.50

Final Pot: $104.50
Hero shows:
BEDINGER1 shows:

Hero wins $101.50 ( won +$51.50 )
EVITO07 lost -$4
BUSHISATIT lost -$0.25
BEDINGER1 lost -$50

------------------------------------------
BOOOM! Back-to-back $100 days. Nex target is only $300 away. Wow.

UPDATE: Just checked my buddy list, the fish moved up to 100NL....I'm too much of a pussy to chase him up there...for now.

Monday, December 29, 2008

PBP Update: Goal #1A Reached

My first $100 day.

Profit for today (excluding rakeback) is at $103.89.

Why such a massive heater? Combination of solid play, good reads, and awesome table selection and then avoiding the massive suckouts for once.

Once my rake hits my account, I'll be over the $600 mark. 4 tables of 25NL here I come. By the way, I will drop back to 3 tables of 25NL if I go under $575, back to 2 tables if I drop under $550, etc.

My readings so far:

10NL - 17219 hands, 15.63 bb/100
VPIP 18.9, PFR 13.0%, WTSD% 25.4, W$SD% 53.1

25NL - 329 hands, 67.73 bb/100, 21.9/17.6/4

More later on crushing 10NL.

PBP Update: Goal #1 Reached

Goal #1:

Reach $500 Bankroll by January 31st.


Crushed. Surpassed it in 9 days since writing my PBP (Poker Business Plan). Ran at a rate 0f 15.24 bb/100 over 16k hands. Big key was taking the advice of Ryverrat and leave a table once I double up. Lock-in my profits and I play better with 100BBs than 200BBs at this point in my game.

Implementation plan for 25NL:

4 tables max. 3 will be at 10NL. 1 table at 25NL. One 10NL table will be dropped for every additional $25 into the bankroll as follows:

Bankroll $550 - 2 tables of 25NL, 2 tables of 10NL
Bankroll $575 - 3 tables of 25NL, 1 table of 10NL
Bankroll $600 - 4 tables of 25NL, 1 10NL table
Bankroll $625 - All 25NL

Next goal is $1k bankroll and 50NL.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

PBP Check-In: Graph since I started PBP

My PBP (Poker Business Plan) is cruising right along:



Rate of 15.33 bb/100. Also turned in "Credits" on AP (AP verbage for FPPs) for $25 cash. Add in another $25 from rakeback being credited to the account and I'm about $30 from hitting my first breakpoint. Gotta keep my head on straight as there is such a thin line separating good solid poker and bankroll crushing spewtardiness.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

$100 to go....

Hit $400 on the AP account. Means $100 to go. I have over $30 sitting in rakeback, so technically only $70 to go.

Nice. Very nice. Gotta keep it going.

BTW - the wife reference below. Finally showed her this ol' blog. She understands my passion for wanting to become good at this and even has acknowledged that if I can put up consistent results of $3k months for 6 straight months, we may even look at me doing it full-time. now that would be exciting.

Have a LONG LONG ways to go though.

See ya at the felt,

DubsPoke
AP BR: $400
Winrate: 15.46 bb/100

Friday, December 26, 2008

A Good Day.

Up a little over 8 buy-ins total for the day, 7 on AP and 1 on Cake. Good stuff especially considering I had a mini-slump on Christmas Eve and started off the same today. I simply cut back on tables to 4 total and started crushing again.

11544 hands, 15.29 bb/100. $109 until first goal of $500.

I have 2 new goals added to my PBP of my first $100 day and my first $500 day.

And I love my wife!

Trying out Cake Poker...

RakeUpdate.com does offer 33% rakeback from CakePoker so I thought I'd check it out and bonus whore a little bit.

Software is nice. You can resize the table but the numbers stay nice and large. Great feature.

Downside: Doesn't work with any poker tracker software or huds. I'm still trying to formulate how I feel on this. More on this later.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Continuing to crush....

hands Played: 6844
Winrate: 18.66 bb/100
Winnings: $127.68
Left to $500 goal: $139.79

I've found that I play optimally on 6 tables for about 1.5 hours. Then my play starts to suffer a bit (at least mentally). Will use this knowledge and start taking some breaks around that time instead of playing the full 2 hours. I'm getting in between 400-450 hands per hour it seems while only 5 tabling (5 table when I watch/listen to CR videos).

Anyways, just thought I'd throw in a quick update. Here's an interesting hand by the way:

Stage #1167304957: Holdem No Limit $0.10 - 2008-12-23 17:33:02 (ET)
Table: ICELAND HWY (Real Money) Seat #5 is the dealer
Seat 5 - T0KAREV ($13.81 in chips)
Seat 1 - JOSEMADRE ($10.51 in chips)
Seat 2 - DUBSPOKE ($24.60 in chips)
Seat 3 - TEXICITYS ($20 in chips)
Seat 4 - VIKES999 ($4.26 in chips) <---somewhat of a thinking player but playing too many hands too far; I've got a good handle on this table and its dynamics
JOSEMADRE - Posts small blind $0.05
DUBSPOKE - Posts big blind $0.10
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to DUBSPOKE [Jh Kh]
TEXICITYS - Folds
VIKES999 - Calls $0.10
T0KAREV - Folds
JOSEMADRE - Calls $0.05
DUBSPOKE - Raises $0.30 to $0.40
VIKES999 - Calls $0.30
JOSEMADRE - Folds
*** FLOP *** [Qd Ks 10d]
DUBSPOKE - Bets $0.50
VIKES999 - Calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [Qd Ks 10d] [Qc] <---interesting turn
DUBSPOKE - Checks
VIKES999 - Bets $0.90 <-----timed down FOREVER before making bet
DUBSPOKE - Calls $0.90 <-----think he is trying to bluff a Queen quite frankly
*** RIVER *** [Qd Ks 10d Qc] [2h]
DUBSPOKE - Checks
VIKES999 - All-In $2.46 <-----I don't believe him. 100% confident in my read that he doesn't have a Q. Put him on a missed flush draw.
DUBSPOKE - Calls $2.46
*** SHOW DOWN ***
VIKES999 - Shows [9c 9s] (Two Pair, queens and nines) <----I'm wrong and right, didn't have a Q but wasn't a missed Flush Draw.
DUBSPOKE - Shows [Jh Kh] (Two Pair, kings and queens)
DUBSPOKE Collects $8.19 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($8.62) | Rake ($0.43)
Board [Qd Ks 10d Qc 2h]
Seat 1: JOSEMADRE (small blind) Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 2: DUBSPOKE (big blind) won Total ($8.19) HI:($8.19) with Two Pair, kings and queens [Jh Kh - B:Ks,P:Kh,B:Qd,B:Qc,P:Jh]
Seat 3: TEXICITYS Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 4: VIKES999 HI:lost with Two Pair, queens and nines [9c 9s - B:Qd,B:Qc,P:9s,P:9c,B:Ks]
Seat 5: T0KAREV (dealer) Folded on the POCKET CARDS

I'm making these type of plays more often with greater accuracy as to when to fold and when to call. Poker is a lot more fun when you are relaxed and confident.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Dropping Hr Target From PBP

PBP = Poker Business Plan

Anyways, dropping the hour requirement from my PBP. Reason = Hours logged don't matter. It's all about the number of hands and BB/100.

I've also increased the number of tables played at once during a serious session up to 6. I've found that I can handle that number of tables EASILY at 10NL without much, if any, effect on my winrate.

I'm still cruising by the way.

Hands logged = 5739
WinRate = 17.97 bb/100

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Plan Check-In: Day 3

Hours Played: 11.3 (TARGET 6hrs, +5.3)
Hands Played: 3296 or 291.7 per hour. (TARGET hands [6x400 = 2400], +896)
Total Winnings: $64.24 (TARGET 6hrs * $4 per hour = $24, +$40.24)
Win Rate: 19.49 bb/100 (TARGET 10bb/100 = +9.49 bb/100)
Bankroll: $283.60 (Target $200 + (3days * $8 per day) = $224, + $59.60)

The only stat out of whack is the hands per hour & total hours played. I had a 3 hour session of 1 tabling because I was doing some work while playing. That session was a whopping win of $2.59 (AQ < 82 was a 116bbs loss that I suffered in that session otherwise would have been very nice.)

So I'm cruising right along. FYI - Rakeback will be added to my bankroll in $25 increments and as earned. That will help speed up the process for me as well.

I have an Excel spreadsheet I'm using to track my progress as well.

Now for my biggest wins and losses:

A cooler turned massive suckout:



My bets may be too small, but I think Villian is calling me down no matter what because that is what fish do:

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My Poker Business Plan: A Crucial Exercise

Relevant to the previous post, I've decided to write a plan for how I am going to achieve my goals in poker. Today I am re-dedicating myself to mastering this game and moving up the limits so that some day I can start cashing out from my account instead of just constantly trying to build my account.

I have a series of goals now for 2009.

1) To have a $1k month
2) To have a $1k week.
3) To have a $1k day.
4) To have a $1k pot (win).


Now how am I going to get there. This is difficult part. Let's do some math.

I'm currently playing 10NL. I have a long-term winrate at this limit of approx 10bb/100. 10BB = $1 for every 100 hands.

I'm starting with a $200 base roll. (I have more but am allowing the excess for emergency funding in case of bad downswings as well as some fun money for tourney's, SNGs, HU, etc to mix it up when needed). In order to START 25NL I am going to require a minimum of 20 buy-ins.

$25 x 20 Buy-ins = $500 bankroll

So if I can maintain a pace of 10BB/100 at 10NL (which I feel is somewhat easily achievable) then how many hands do I need to put in?

Goal BR ($500) - Current BR ($200) = $300 profit.

100 hands = $1 so 100 x $300 = 30,000 hands

How long does it take to play 30k hands?

Avg table on AP is between 80-120+ hands per hour so on average lets use 100 hands per hour. I will be 4 tabling on average. 100 x 4 = 400 hands per hour.

30,000/400 = 75 hrs. I can play approx 2 hours per day (probably more but for this exercise we will say 2).

75/2 = 37.5 days.

That's a bit more than I expected to be honest. I believe I can play a bit more and will increase the number of tables as I fix some leaks/gain confidence. I believe I can do it in 30 days.
By January 31st, I want to have surpassed a $500 bankroll.


--------------------------

Now let's look at what it takes to hit 50NL. Going to adjust Buy-in requirement to 20 BIs to start taking shots.

My starting BR for 25NL is $500. Requirement for 50NL x 20 BI = $1000

BB/100 winrate of 6. 6 x .25 = $1.50 per 100 hands.

400 hands per hour (4 tables @ 100 hands per hour per table) * $1.50 = $6 per hour.

$500 profit needed. $500/6 = 83.3 hours / 2 hours per day = 42 days.

So I should be able to start taking shots around March 15th.


I think this is achievable.

------------------------------------

100NL means a bankroll of $2000. A winrate of 4bb/100 at 100NL is $4 per 100 hands.

4 tables at 100 hands per hour * $4 = $16 per hour. $1000 profit needed / 16 per hour = 62.5 hours of play / 2 hrs per day = 31.25 days. So technically should start taking shots around April 15th.

Also - goal #1 would be accomplished if I'm able to achieve this.


I will probably take some cash outs before then so I will say June 1st is my goal to be playing 100NL.

I do think that is achievable.

---------------------------

Doing that exercise really helped put things in perspective for me. From a mental standpoint, having a poker business plan will allow me to have more of a concrete way to judge how far along I am to reaching my goals. More on this in my next post....

I'd like to hear your comments on this plan. Realistic? Unrealistic? Pros/Cons? Tweaks to be made? Did I get the math right?

Good luck at the felt,

DubsPoke

(FYI - Coincidentally, I just had one of my better 4tabling 10NL sessions in a while, I will explain why next post as well.)

An Excellent Perspective

One blog I've been following for a while has been "Random Thoughts From A Seattle Poker Pro." An entertaining journey by an author that creates pictures with his words.

Anyways, this post I found especially interesting in regards to the discussion on donks, as well as some of the reasons we play poker.

I enjoy the game. I enjoy the challenge.

But really, I know that what really intrigues me about the game is the potential that it brings. I want to be like those that I read about. I want to be like sprstoner (without the hookers) where one tourney win is a year's salary (or in my mind mortgage payments and financial security). The guys that make their living answering only to themselves and their significant others. I want to be that guy.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

LOL - gotta love this.

End of 1st break.



No way this holds up.

Update #1 - 9:29pm: Dwindled Down and then this hand:

PokerStars Game #23019904945: Tournament #124189660, Freeroll Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit - Level IX (75/150) - 2008/12/17 23:27:38 ET
Table '124189660 5' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Mista_Bl@ck (1590 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: chirak1982 (8368 in chips)
Seat 3: NewinNov (4485 in chips)
Seat 4: Käberlinski (1620 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: mclarich (5962 in chips)
Seat 6: rottyowner65 (7680 in chips)
Seat 7: Pinkypollo (2704 in chips)
Seat 8: DubsPoke (11225 in chips)
Seat 9: asphnxma (4101 in chips)
Käberlinski: posts small blind 75
mclarich: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DubsPoke [5c 2s 7c 4s]
rottyowner65: folds
Pinkypollo: folds
DubsPoke: raises 300 to 450
asphnxma: folds
Mista_Bl@ck: folds
chirak1982: calls 450
NewinNov: folds
Käberlinski: folds
mclarich: folds
*** FLOP *** [8h Ac 7h]
DubsPoke: bets 450
chirak1982: calls 450
*** TURN *** [8h Ac 7h] [Kd]
DubsPoke: bets 1050
chirak1982: calls 1050
*** RIVER *** [8h Ac 7h Kd] [5d]
DubsPoke: bets 4125
chirak1982: calls 4125
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DubsPoke: shows [5c 2s 7c 4s] (HI: two pair, Sevens and Fives; LO: 7,5,4,2,A)
chirak1982: mucks hand
DubsPoke collected 6188 from pot
DubsPoke collected 6187 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12375 | Rake 0
Board [8h Ac 7h Kd 5d]
Seat 1: Mista_Bl@ck folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: chirak1982 mucked [Jc 3c 4d 8d]
Seat 3: NewinNov (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Käberlinski (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: mclarich (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: rottyowner65 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Pinkypollo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: DubsPoke showed [5c 2s 7c 4s] and won (12375) with HI: two pair, Sevens and Fives; LO: 7,5,4,2,A
Seat 9: asphnxma folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I'm such a lucksack.



I'm still in the opinion that this never holds and I will bubble at best.

Update 9:49pm:

Yep, headed to the bubble. Playing WAYYYYYYYYY too many hands at this point with not much clue on what I am doing. Mclarich cut me in half twice with AAxx hands and my draws missed badly.

Against a respected blogger in PLO8....

Figured I was right but don't know how to explain. Can you help?

PokerStars Game #23018713335: Tournament #124189660, Freeroll Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit - Level IV (25/50) - 2008/12/17 22:35:11 ET
Table '124189660 5' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Carrieto (2160 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: parmupill (2310 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 3: NewinNov (4145 in chips) <-----I recognize the name from Mookies and whatnot
Seat 4: Käberlinski (2315 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 5: ManuelLima (5410 in chips)
Seat 6: rottyowner65 (3130 in chips)
Seat 7: Pinkypollo (3015 in chips)
Seat 8: DubsPoke (3195 in chips)
Seat 9: asphnxma (1790 in chips)
Käberlinski: posts small blind 25
ManuelLima: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DubsPoke [3h Ts Ah Qc]
rottyowner65: folds
Pinkypollo: folds
DubsPoke: raises 100 to 150
asphnxma: folds
Carrieto: folds
parmupill: folds
NewinNov: calls 150
Käberlinski: folds
ManuelLima: folds
*** FLOP *** [3d 5s 5h]
DubsPoke: checks
NewinNov: bets 150
DubsPoke: calls 150
*** TURN *** [3d 5s 5h] [Qs]
DubsPoke: checks
Carrieto has returned
Carrieto is sitting out
NewinNov: bets 300
DubsPoke: calls 300
*** RIVER *** [3d 5s 5h Qs] [9d]
DubsPoke: checks
NewinNov: bets 650
DubsPoke: calls 650
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NewinNov: shows [Ad Td 2s Kh] (HI: a pair of Fives)
DubsPoke: shows [3h Ts Ah Qc] (HI: two pair, Queens and Fives)
DubsPoke collected 2575 from pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2575 | Rake 0
Board [3d 5s 5h Qs 9d]
Seat 1: Carrieto folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: parmupill folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: NewinNov (button) showed [Ad Td 2s Kh] and lost with HI: a pair of Fives
Seat 4: Käberlinski (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: ManuelLima (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: rottyowner65 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Pinkypollo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: DubsPoke showed [3h Ts Ah Qc] and won (2575) with HI: two pair, Queens and Fives
Seat 9: asphnxma folded before Flop (didn't bet)

I put NewinNov on the nut low draw. If he has the nut-low draw, then NewinNov most likely wouldn't have a 5 right? Which means there is a chance my pair of Qs is actually good. I really slowed down and then made the call.

Probably just got really lucky. But thought it was an interesting hand, especially since I don't have much of a clue when it comes to PLO8.

Monday, December 15, 2008

AP/UB Has Micro-Limit HU

Background on this guy. I doubled through him when my OPES+FD hit on river and he called my shove with a pair of Aces. He then sat out and told me to get off his table. I didn't. After a bit, he sat back in. And shoved. For 10 straight hands. Then started playing normal again with a shortstack. Beat him on a small pot and he started shoving again. Picked up a hand thought would be a coinflip at worst. 99 vs KJo. I fill a straight on the river. Hilarity ensues (FYI, I'm trying to goad him back into playing. Tried being nice first. Then played up against his obvious pride. Unfortunately didn't work:

SHARK0011: lol
DUBSPOKE wins ($7.17) with (Straight, ten to ace).
SHARK0011: kj
SHARK0011: haha
DUBSPOKE: lol
SHARK0011: u play for the site
DUBSPOKE: you ever play HU before?
SHARK0011: its hilarious
DUBSPOKE: pretty standard there
SHARK0011: kj
DUBSPOKE: especially based on your huge push range you've displayed ov
SHARK0011: ur a favorite over no hand?
DUBSPOKE: over the last 30 hands or so
SHARK0011: ur not a favorite over anything
SHARK0011: ur trying to draw out
SHARK0011: thats all
SHARK0011: i dont rely on lukc
SHARK0011: luck
SHARK0011: donk ass
DUBSPOKE: you chicken?
DUBSPOKE: or just broke?
SHARK0011: neither
SHARK0011: i dont play against donkeys that dont rely on any skill
DUBSPOKE: uhm....so that's why you won't play me?
DUBSPOKE: becuase you think i'm a luckbox with no skill?
SHARK0011: nope
SHARK0011: everytime u suckedout
DUBSPOKE: you do realize how reta.rded that sounds right?
DUBSPOKE: i suck
DUBSPOKE: so you won't play me
SHARK0011: i know
DUBSPOKE: so you only play good players?
DUBSPOKE: of which you have no edge against?
DUBSPOKE: LOL
DUBSPOKE: now that sounds like a winning plan
SHARK0011: that dont make retarded moves
SHARK0011: or calls
SHARK0011: correct
SHARK0011: they have a clue and dont rely on luck
DUBSPOKE: uhm...you haven't played much HU have you?
DUBSPOKE: chicken$hit loser
SHARK0011: check my stats
SHARK0011: i make 1k a week at this game
DUBSPOKE: playing 10NL?
SHARK0011: from players like you
DUBSPOKE: at 10NL?
SHARK0011: yea
SHARK0011: very easily

Sunday, December 14, 2008

33 $2 HU SNGs Completed

Won 70% of them for a $23.40 profit.

Can easily play 3-4 at a time. Never really felt outplayed either. I think I'll play 50 at the $2 level and then move up to $5 if everything goes well.

HU SNGs....

This article makes a lot of sense.

Why in the world don't I play more of these? It's much easier to double your money in these than it is in cash games.

I'm now 6 for 6 in $2 HU SNG's on PS.

12:26pm EDIT: 7 for 7
12:28pm EDIT: 8 for 8
12:59pm EDIT: 8 for 9
1:04pm EDIT: 9/10
1:36pm EDIT: 9/11
1:50pm EDIT: 10/12
2:04PM EDIT: 11/13
2:18pm EDIT: 11/14

Total Win: $44
Total Cost: $30.80
Total Profit: $13.20

So in a 2 hour session of 3 tabling 10NL, I made $2.31. I made $13.20 at $2 HU SNGs at the same time.

I wonder how feasible it is to multi-table these HU SNGs effectively. Will have to explore this a bit more.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Love it when a plan comes together...

In the post below I mention how I am postponing my quest at 50NL to rebuild a bit of Barnkroll...

However, I failed to mention that I will chase the fish that I know up there. This hand illustrates exactly why:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?3576993

My notes state that he will raise with the goods and check-call and then shove river bluff.

Boom. I exited the table when blinds came back to me.

Cardrunners Video: Interview with Balbomb

For the CR members out there, make sure to check out the video "Zaitsev - Behind the
Grind: The Balbomb Story, Part 1 of 2."

It's essentially an interview with a successful 200NL player named Balbomb combined with powerpoint slides. What I found inspirational about it is the unique thought process he utilizes and how he seeks to take advantage of the current "standard" plays and exploit them. Very interesting stuff that I encourage all to review.

He also mentions that his "secret" to moving up so quickly occurred when he realized that players at 50NL and below (and in some part 100NL), typically have what they are representing. So if that guy with an AF of 1.2 is check-raise shoving over your cbet on a 856 flop that you raised PRE with KK, your KK is probably not good unless you have a read that says so otherwise. He'll show up with 79, two pair, set, etc more often than he'll show up with A8o.

Now if I could just get beyond my "entitlement" (after all, KK is supposed to win all the time, right?) and fold my KK, I might actually move up sometime this year (ehhh...or next year!).

Anyways, I've taken some rough beats on my 50NL quest on AP, got knocked to 4 buy-ins or so. Dropped back to 10NL to build up again for a bit. It was a good experience giving 50NL a whirl. I now know that I can play that level with ease, now it's just a matter of getting a sufficient bankroll to play it consistently.

Later all,

DubsPoke

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Marginal Spot with 66

This hand happened right after my railer, Ryvverat, signed off for the night so I need some input.

I was going to fold until LarryMontana called. Deemed that he had enough behind that I was getting proper odds. I deemed that without actually doing any math. Was I right?

Stage #1146832934: Holdem No Limit $0.50 - 2008-12-09 18:36:28 (ET)
Table: FREEMAN AVE (Real Money) Seat #2 is the dealer
Seat 2 - WHYWORK08 ($84.70 in chips)
Seat 3 - IAM_MC ($8.25 in chips) <---24/10/7 > 75 hands
Seat 4 - LARRYMONTANA ($64.41 in chips) <----59/11/3 > 35 hands

Seat 5 - 1CHUTER ($55.89 in chips)
Seat 6 - DUBSPOKE ($50 in chips)
Seat 1 - ULTRAH ($57.33 in chips)
IAM_MC - Posts small blind $0.25
LARRYMONTANA - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to DUBSPOKE [6h 6s]
1CHUTER - Calls $0.50
DUBSPOKE - Calls $0.50 <----multi-way pots are good for set mining right?
ULTRAH - Calls $0.50
WHYWORK08 - Calls $0.50
IAM_MC - Calls $0.25
LARRYMONTANA - Raises $1.50 to $2 <----any ace
1CHUTER - Folds
DUBSPOKE - Calls $1.50 <-----he's deep, probably gonna see some others come along too
ULTRAH - Calls $1.50 <----42/18, yep, figured he'd come along for the ride.

WHYWORK08 - Folds
IAM_MC - All-In(Raise) $7.75 to $8.25 <-----curveball, limp 3bet shove almost always means big hand. EXCEPT he is a shorty...gonna be tough decision.
LARRYMONTANA - Calls $6.25 <------now I got odds right...lemme do the math...awww screw it, only $6.25 more.
DUBSPOKE - Calls $6.25 <------if a 6 don't hit, I'm out.
ULTRAH - Folds
*** FLOP *** [Kd 6c 9c] <----BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM
LARRYMONTANA - Bets $13.87 <----------bet size puts pot at $41.62
DUBSPOKE - All-In(Raise) $41.75 to $41.75 <-----perfect size for me to shove, if he has bigger set than so be it.
LARRYMONTANA - Calls $27.88

*** TURN *** [Kd 6c 9c] [8d]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 6c 9c 8d] [Jc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
IAM_MC - Shows [As Jd] (One pair, jacks)
LARRYMONTANA - Shows [Kh Ad] (One pair, kings)
DUBSPOKE - Shows [6h 6s] (Three of a kind, sixes)
DUBSPOKE Collects $81.25 from side pot-1
DUBSPOKE Collects $26.50 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($111.25:$27.75,$83.50) | Rake ($3:$0.75,$2.25) | Jackpot Rake ($0.50:$0.50,$0)
Board [Kd 6c 9c 8d Jc]
Seat 1: ULTRAH Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 2: WHYWORK08 (dealer) Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 3: IAM_MC (small blind) HI:lost with One pair, jacks [As Jd - P:Jd,B:Jc,P:As,B:Kd,B:9c]
Seat 4: LARRYMONTANA (big blind) HI:lost with One pair, kings [Kh Ad - P:Kh,B:Kd,P:Ad,B:Jc,B:9c]
Seat 5: 1CHUTER Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 6: DUBSPOKE won Total ($107.75) All-In HI:($107.75) with Three of a kind, sixes [6h 6s - P:6s,P:6h,B:6c,B:Kd,B:Jc]

Playing marginal hands.....

I'm definately struggling in this area. I have two options:

1- Don't play marginal hands preflop. Marginal hands are 77 and under, non-suited broadways, suited connectors.

2- Learn to play them correctly preflop and postflop.

I'm currently playing quite terrible and running poorly as well. A bad combination.

I played a 900 hand session. Never dealt AA. Loser with AK, loser with KK (dealt 4 times, won blinds 3x and lost vs AK AIPF), and loser with AQ (dealt 6 times). Dealt QQ 3 times and actually won all 3 including a $20 pot. Apparently the bietches be good.

So my premies aren't holding up for the most part either. It's funny seeing soooo many leaks come out though. Now I just gotta figure out how to stop them.

Anyways, back to marginal hands. I've been raising from MP - LP with them. Make a standard cbet, get called and then either A) make a bad bluff/2nd barrel or B) get CRd and either call if I have a draw (bad) or fold (now a medium sized pot instead of a small one).

My game is a mess so I might return to Pokerstars 5NL for a while just to practice playing a ton of hands in position/out of position, in marginal spots.

Two BIG Leaks

1) Calling down shorties with marginal hands when I'm the preflop raiser. Losses are not full stacks but they certainly add up to that.

2) Missed draws are killing me as well. In this example, Villain is 56/5/5. In my opinion, the only street I played correctly was my PFR. There is no way I should have lost 31.5BBs on this hand. How would you have played? Example:


Stage #1146353590: Holdem No Limit $0.50 - 2008-12-09 10:55:23 (ET)
Table: CAPE CORAL (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 6 - DUBSPOKE ($48.44 in chips)
Seat 1 - OKLABANDI111 ($29.15 in chips)
Seat 2 - DUCKNDODGE ($27.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - OZMANZ69 ($99.60 in chips)
Seat 4 - GAMBLINGTOM ($38.95 in chips)
Seat 5 - WOLFY500 ($22.81 in chips)
OKLABANDI111 - Posts small blind $0.25
DUCKNDODGE - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to DUBSPOKE [9s Js]
OZMANZ69 - Folds
GAMBLINGTOM - Folds
WOLFY500 - Folds
DUBSPOKE - Raises $1.75 to $1.75
OKLABANDI111 - Calls $1.50
DUCKNDODGE - Folds
*** FLOP *** [10s Ah 8c]
OKLABANDI111 - Checks
DUBSPOKE - Bets $3
OKLABANDI111 - Raises $6 to $6
DUBSPOKE - Calls $3
*** TURN *** [10s Ah 8c] [6d]
OKLABANDI111 - Bets $8
DUBSPOKE - Calls $8
*** RIVER *** [10s Ah 8c 6d] [Kd]
OKLABANDI111 - All-In $13.40
DUBSPOKE - Folds
OKLABANDI111 - returned ($13.40) : not called
*** SHOW DOWN ***
OKLABANDI111 - Does not show
OKLABANDI111 Collects $29.90 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($32) | Rake ($1.60) | Jackpot Rake ($0.50)
Board [10s Ah 8c 6d Kd]
Seat 1: OKLABANDI111 (small blind) collected Total ($29.90) All-In HI:($29.90) [Does not show]
Seat 2: DUCKNDODGE (big blind) Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 3: OZMANZ69 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 4: GAMBLINGTOM Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 5: WOLFY500 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 6: DUBSPOKE (dealer) Folded on the RIVER

Essentially my sessions the past few days have been slightly losing. I'll play well for a while, then lose a big hand in a marginal way or suffer a beat (KK loses to random BB hand like a BB shorty's 86o, see leak 1 (66J flop, he CRs me. I should fold, yet I don't. I repop, he shoves and I lose half a 25+ BBs).

Here's another hand that I played incredibly passively after making the correct move PRE. Agree/Disagree and how do you play? Was it correct to give up or should I have jammed river when draws missed?


Stage #1146363238: Holdem No Limit $0.50 - 2008-12-09 11:08:20 (ET)
Table: CAPE CORAL (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 4 - JOEBASIC ($101.70 in chips)
Seat 5 - JED39670 ($99.50 in chips)
Seat 6 - DUBSPOKE ($38.69 in chips)
Seat 1 - BTTHYWRSUITED ($17 in chips)
Seat 2 - ROYALBLUFFZ ($62.95 in chips)
Seat 3 - OZMANZ69 ($91.55 in chips)
JED39670 - Posts small blind $0.25
DUBSPOKE - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to DUBSPOKE [Jd Ah]
BTTHYWRSUITED - Folds
ROYALBLUFFZ - Folds
OZMANZ69 - Folds
JOEBASIC - Raises $1.75 to $1.75
JED39670 - Folds
DUBSPOKE - Raises $5 to $5.50
JOEBASIC - Calls $3.75
*** FLOP *** [9c 5h Qc]
DUBSPOKE - Checks
JOEBASIC - Checks
*** TURN *** [9c 5h Qc] [3d]
DUBSPOKE - Bets $6.75
JOEBASIC - Calls $6.75
*** RIVER *** [9c 5h Qc 3d] [7s]
DUBSPOKE - Checks
JOEBASIC - Checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DUBSPOKE - Shows [Jd Ah] (ace high)
JOEBASIC - Shows [4c 4s] (One pair, fours)
JOEBASIC Collects $23.05 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($24.75) | Rake ($1.20) | Jackpot Rake ($0.50)
Board [9c 5h Qc 3d 7s]
Seat 1: BTTHYWRSUITED Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 2: ROYALBLUFFZ Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 3: OZMANZ69 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 4: JOEBASIC (dealer) won Total ($23.05) HI:($23.05) with One pair, fours [4c 4s - P:4s,P:4c,B:Qc,B:9c,B:7s]
Seat 5: JED39670 (small blind) Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 6: DUBSPOKE (big blind) HI:lost with ace high [Jd Ah - P:Ah,B:Qc,P:Jd,B:9c,B:7s]

Saturday, December 6, 2008

PS Blogger Freeroll

Online Poker

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

The WBCOOP is an online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers.

Registration code: 886370

Badbeat Jackpot

So AP has a badbeat jackpot. It hit on a 50NL table while I was two-tabling today.

Not my table, that would have been nice.

But since it was at a 50NL table, that's a free $266 into my BR. nice.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Changed my mind....

Decided to take my meager bankroll at AP and play 50NL until I either go busto or roll it up large.

We'll see what happens. I've had a couple swingy sessions but am sitting around break-even with another buy-in sitting in my rakeback account already. Good stuff.