Bodog 1/2
I have about $300 in front of me everyone else in the hand has around $150. 5 players limp in to me, I'm on the big blind with 10-6 off so I check. The flop comes out 7 8 9 with 2 diamonds. I am first to act so I lead out for the pot which is $12, 2 players behind me call. The turn comes a 9 of hearts. I check hoping to induce a bet from someone with the 9. The buy behind me bets $60 into the pot of $48, the other guy in the hand folds. It's back to me...do I push? Whats my move? Board is 9 9 8 7 with 2 diamonds.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A very very sick hand
Adrian's 2/5 game.
I shouldn't have played this hand the way I did but it had been a very slow day and I hadn't won a pot in hours. A relatively new player raised in 2nd position to $20, a weak player called as did one of the dealers from the game on the button. I looked down at 7 7 in the small blind and elected to call. The flop came Q 3 6 with two diamonds. I checked and the original raiser led out for $15 which stunk of a flush draw bet. The weak player called and he also stunk of a flush draw (he only called on his draws and bet/raised on his pairs and made hands. The dealer who was playing was in for $800 and had about $900 in front of him. He also just called so the action was back to me. My read on the situation was this: 1) I was playing tight all day and hadn't made very many moves. 2) The first 2 players were obviously drawing to either a flush or the open ended straight draw (4-5) and dealer (ironically he was on the button) wanted to see another card before commiting his money with top pair or maybe two pair. I decided to check raise another $55 on top. Both "flush draws" thought then called and then dealer called as well and I had to put him on a hand like 2 pair because with that much money in the pot and facing that strength from me he couldn't have called with just a Q and would have re-raised with a set to get his money in good. So 4 of us went to the turn, 2 flush draws and 2 pair. The turn came a K and I'm first to act I need to win this pot or get out but by the way the day was going I needed to win it somehow...what next? I'll finish posting what I did in this hand but I want to know how you guys would play it here...I had about $230 left and I had both flush draw players covered while dealer had us all covered.
I shouldn't have played this hand the way I did but it had been a very slow day and I hadn't won a pot in hours. A relatively new player raised in 2nd position to $20, a weak player called as did one of the dealers from the game on the button. I looked down at 7 7 in the small blind and elected to call. The flop came Q 3 6 with two diamonds. I checked and the original raiser led out for $15 which stunk of a flush draw bet. The weak player called and he also stunk of a flush draw (he only called on his draws and bet/raised on his pairs and made hands. The dealer who was playing was in for $800 and had about $900 in front of him. He also just called so the action was back to me. My read on the situation was this: 1) I was playing tight all day and hadn't made very many moves. 2) The first 2 players were obviously drawing to either a flush or the open ended straight draw (4-5) and dealer (ironically he was on the button) wanted to see another card before commiting his money with top pair or maybe two pair. I decided to check raise another $55 on top. Both "flush draws" thought then called and then dealer called as well and I had to put him on a hand like 2 pair because with that much money in the pot and facing that strength from me he couldn't have called with just a Q and would have re-raised with a set to get his money in good. So 4 of us went to the turn, 2 flush draws and 2 pair. The turn came a K and I'm first to act I need to win this pot or get out but by the way the day was going I needed to win it somehow...what next? I'll finish posting what I did in this hand but I want to know how you guys would play it here...I had about $230 left and I had both flush draw players covered while dealer had us all covered.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Rockets
The following hand happened at Park's game (1/2 NL).
I'm in 4th position and look down at two red aces. The average raise at the table has been anywhere from $12 to $25 pre flop but I haven't made a raise larger than $8 pre flop. I raise to $7 and get a caller from the button. All I can really say about the guy on the button is that he is a good player but we both can't seem to figure each other out. He makes solid plays and follows up on his reads if he senses weakness. The flop came 9 6 4 rainbow and I led out for $15 followed by a quick call. On the turn a 5 fell putting two clubs out there. I led again for $25, the villian thought about it for a second then raised to $75. I thought about putting in a 3rd raise but I figured against it because if I was beat I was throwing away my money and I just wanted to get to showdown. I threw in my call and said "call, check" implying I checked dark on the river. The river came another 5 making the board 9 6 4 5 5. Villian exclaimed all in for $170. What now?
I'm in 4th position and look down at two red aces. The average raise at the table has been anywhere from $12 to $25 pre flop but I haven't made a raise larger than $8 pre flop. I raise to $7 and get a caller from the button. All I can really say about the guy on the button is that he is a good player but we both can't seem to figure each other out. He makes solid plays and follows up on his reads if he senses weakness. The flop came 9 6 4 rainbow and I led out for $15 followed by a quick call. On the turn a 5 fell putting two clubs out there. I led again for $25, the villian thought about it for a second then raised to $75. I thought about putting in a 3rd raise but I figured against it because if I was beat I was throwing away my money and I just wanted to get to showdown. I threw in my call and said "call, check" implying I checked dark on the river. The river came another 5 making the board 9 6 4 5 5. Villian exclaimed all in for $170. What now?
Friday, May 25, 2007
Pocket Kings
Full Tilt ($1/$2) blinds cash game:
1. I have pocket Kings in the BB. Folds to the cutoff, who is a very solid player (makes good calls/folds) who makes it $6 to go. Folds to me in the BB, and I make it $18 to go. He then makes it $50 total. I fold. First time I've ever laid down Kings preflop...
2. I have Kings again in the SB, UTG +1 limps and it folds to me. I make it $7 to go and only the original limper calls. Flop is Q-8-3 rainbow. I bet $14 and he thinks and calls. Turn comes an A. Whats the correct play here?
The first hand seemed like an easy fold for some reason. I give him credit there for either AA or KK, maybe QQ. I only have $18 invested so IMO why not fold and wait for a better, more sure spot, to get the money in. Thoughts?
1. I have pocket Kings in the BB. Folds to the cutoff, who is a very solid player (makes good calls/folds) who makes it $6 to go. Folds to me in the BB, and I make it $18 to go. He then makes it $50 total. I fold. First time I've ever laid down Kings preflop...
2. I have Kings again in the SB, UTG +1 limps and it folds to me. I make it $7 to go and only the original limper calls. Flop is Q-8-3 rainbow. I bet $14 and he thinks and calls. Turn comes an A. Whats the correct play here?
The first hand seemed like an easy fold for some reason. I give him credit there for either AA or KK, maybe QQ. I only have $18 invested so IMO why not fold and wait for a better, more sure spot, to get the money in. Thoughts?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Park's Game
Well guys sorry for the absence of my postings...i've been slacking lately and ill pick up the pace. Okay anyways me and Asa went to Park's game and everyone at the table bought in for 300 and two people bought in for 400. So right from the get go this was a table with the most aggressive players i've ever played with. Asa trippled up on literally the 3rd or 4th hand so his stack was at about 800 and immediatly afterward everyone reloaded up to his stack. I was about to do the same cause i wasn't going to be able to play my game with just 300 at this table but thankfully i trippled up right before i was about to reload. So my stack was at about 900$.
So when this hand started i had about 1200$ in front of me and i was the big stack at the table everyone else had between 750 - 1100$.
I was on the big blind and it folds all the way to the button guy who is aggressive but a solid player. I've played with him many times and he likes to raise big preflop but it folded all the way around to him and he only makes it 15$ to go when he normally does 40$. Something told me he wanted action. So i look at my hand and i have KK.
I raise 60$ on top and he thinks about it for a while kind of playing with his chips and making a few faces then he calls. I had been playing fairly aggressive at this table just to let you guys know, but then again everyone was. Anyways the flop Brings Q 2 4 and the 2 and Q are both spades ( I have the K of Spades).
I lead out for 150$ which is roughly the pot and he thinks about it for a little while then makes some wierd faces again then raises me 200$ more. After his raise he had about 350$ left behind him so to put him all in would cost me half my stack. Something just didn't feel right about that hand to me and some bitch called clock and the time ran out before i could make a decsion but i don't think its worth risking half my stack on those KK when i feel i can outplay the table and put myself in better situations than just an overpair.
Any thoughts on anything about this hand...
So when this hand started i had about 1200$ in front of me and i was the big stack at the table everyone else had between 750 - 1100$.
I was on the big blind and it folds all the way to the button guy who is aggressive but a solid player. I've played with him many times and he likes to raise big preflop but it folded all the way around to him and he only makes it 15$ to go when he normally does 40$. Something told me he wanted action. So i look at my hand and i have KK.
I raise 60$ on top and he thinks about it for a while kind of playing with his chips and making a few faces then he calls. I had been playing fairly aggressive at this table just to let you guys know, but then again everyone was. Anyways the flop Brings Q 2 4 and the 2 and Q are both spades ( I have the K of Spades).
I lead out for 150$ which is roughly the pot and he thinks about it for a little while then makes some wierd faces again then raises me 200$ more. After his raise he had about 350$ left behind him so to put him all in would cost me half my stack. Something just didn't feel right about that hand to me and some bitch called clock and the time ran out before i could make a decsion but i don't think its worth risking half my stack on those KK when i feel i can outplay the table and put myself in better situations than just an overpair.
Any thoughts on anything about this hand...
A Fun Play
I learned about this "play" while reading a card player article written by Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth talks about a hand he played against Johnny Chan where Phil raised and Chan called OOP. On the flop, Chan checked as did Phil. Chan checked the turn and Phil made a small bet. Chan then proceeds to check-raise Hellmuth and put him at a tough decision...
The play of double checking OOP, then raising when your opponent bets behind you on the turn, has worked wonders for me. Weak players are especially vulnerable to this play. This is what happens in their view: You check to them on the flop and they have missed, but still have a decent hand (maybe A-high or low-mid pocket pair), so they decide to check behind and take a free card since they have the option. They miss the turn as well, but when you check again, and they start to feel as though their hand may be good. They bet in hopes of just ending it right there. However, when you come over the top, they automatically assume that you have been slow-playing a massive hand and will give you credit for a monster. Sometimes they call this raise, but almost always they are drawing. As long as a card falls that doesn't look to help them, you may go ahead and aggressively bet the river.
Watch out for better players making this move on you. If you feel like they are check-raising you with air, then put in a good-sized third raise to let them know YOU weren't screwing around. Even if they have a big hand, they may lay it down assuming you must have the nuts by putting in a third raise....Thoughts?
The play of double checking OOP, then raising when your opponent bets behind you on the turn, has worked wonders for me. Weak players are especially vulnerable to this play. This is what happens in their view: You check to them on the flop and they have missed, but still have a decent hand (maybe A-high or low-mid pocket pair), so they decide to check behind and take a free card since they have the option. They miss the turn as well, but when you check again, and they start to feel as though their hand may be good. They bet in hopes of just ending it right there. However, when you come over the top, they automatically assume that you have been slow-playing a massive hand and will give you credit for a monster. Sometimes they call this raise, but almost always they are drawing. As long as a card falls that doesn't look to help them, you may go ahead and aggressively bet the river.
Watch out for better players making this move on you. If you feel like they are check-raising you with air, then put in a good-sized third raise to let them know YOU weren't screwing around. Even if they have a big hand, they may lay it down assuming you must have the nuts by putting in a third raise....Thoughts?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Results
Do you guys keep track of your results? What is the best way to keep track? What is an average win for you?
I have always just kept my poker money seperate from living/personal money and I kept track of it just by how much I had. I have read more and more about how keeping records and results can help you spot weaknesses in your game and also allow you to manage your money better.
I have always just kept my poker money seperate from living/personal money and I kept track of it just by how much I had. I have read more and more about how keeping records and results can help you spot weaknesses in your game and also allow you to manage your money better.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Tough opponent
Max I'm sure you know this already but the games around Austin are $1/2 with $5 kill in pots over $100. The game is basically $2/5 with average raises around $20 pre flop.
Anyway last night was my first night to play in a while. I sat down with $300 which had everyone at the table covered except for an ultra agressive player to my left who had $500. He either was betting into pots (most of the time) or checking them down to the river. From what I could see he would fire into pots whenever he sensed weakness but he never flat out bluffed (I could see his cards when he flipped them up, it wasn't even as if I was looking for it but it was just that obvious). Usually he would call a flop bet on a small board with a mid pair then bet if checked to on the turn. I couldn't catch a strong hand against him and was wondering what the best way to play against him would be. He had position on me which might not have been a bad thing if I was hitting semi decent hands. My thoughts were to just check to him all night and let him hang himself.
Here are the two hands that I was involved with him in. The first hand I had AKs in 2nd position. I raised to $10 (one of my first hands before I realized we weren't playing 1/2) and he called along with two other players. The flop came J 2 5 rainbow so I led out $25, Mark (agressive guy on my lef) called and the rest folded. The turn came a 7 at which point I decided to check. Without hesitation Mark threw $40 into the pot and I gave him some acting then folded. The next time I tangled with him I had 9-9 on the button. I had just won a kill pot which means I had to post $5 and was last to act pre flop. Mark from the small blind raised to $25 and 2 others called, so I called from the button. The flop came 8 5 3 with 2 diamonds. Mark quickly threw out $50 into the pot and the others folded around to me. Having just won a big pot, and realizing that I would have to play these 9s very strong to take this pot off of him I decided to fold. I put him on 10-10 to A-A with a possible A-K. I feel like I should have raised but it would have taken a decent raise to get him off his hand which could be a very expensive mistake.
What do you think? What is a good strategy against these ultra agressive players? I also noticed he started to get hit by the deck so maybe he is a little more tight agressive but was getting the cards to play every hand. He hit a few gutshots in raised pots and rivered a straight to someones rivered set. I ended up at about $500 and he was at $1400. I couldn't catch a hand so I decided to leave and come back to battle another time.
Anyway last night was my first night to play in a while. I sat down with $300 which had everyone at the table covered except for an ultra agressive player to my left who had $500. He either was betting into pots (most of the time) or checking them down to the river. From what I could see he would fire into pots whenever he sensed weakness but he never flat out bluffed (I could see his cards when he flipped them up, it wasn't even as if I was looking for it but it was just that obvious). Usually he would call a flop bet on a small board with a mid pair then bet if checked to on the turn. I couldn't catch a strong hand against him and was wondering what the best way to play against him would be. He had position on me which might not have been a bad thing if I was hitting semi decent hands. My thoughts were to just check to him all night and let him hang himself.
Here are the two hands that I was involved with him in. The first hand I had AKs in 2nd position. I raised to $10 (one of my first hands before I realized we weren't playing 1/2) and he called along with two other players. The flop came J 2 5 rainbow so I led out $25, Mark (agressive guy on my lef) called and the rest folded. The turn came a 7 at which point I decided to check. Without hesitation Mark threw $40 into the pot and I gave him some acting then folded. The next time I tangled with him I had 9-9 on the button. I had just won a kill pot which means I had to post $5 and was last to act pre flop. Mark from the small blind raised to $25 and 2 others called, so I called from the button. The flop came 8 5 3 with 2 diamonds. Mark quickly threw out $50 into the pot and the others folded around to me. Having just won a big pot, and realizing that I would have to play these 9s very strong to take this pot off of him I decided to fold. I put him on 10-10 to A-A with a possible A-K. I feel like I should have raised but it would have taken a decent raise to get him off his hand which could be a very expensive mistake.
What do you think? What is a good strategy against these ultra agressive players? I also noticed he started to get hit by the deck so maybe he is a little more tight agressive but was getting the cards to play every hand. He hit a few gutshots in raised pots and rivered a straight to someones rivered set. I ended up at about $500 and he was at $1400. I couldn't catch a hand so I decided to leave and come back to battle another time.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Online Bots
(I appologize if this writing is choppy, I had surgery this morning and still am on some painkillers/medication)
There has been a lot of buzz on the internet lately about a couple of automated poker programs on Full Tilt (bots) that people were running and had written a successful program that actually won money at $1/2 stakes. The bots had won about $22,000 collectively over a few months and after someone had discovered they were bots he wrote Full Tilt and alerted the forums where the topic blew up. Everyone was persecuting the group who was running these and telling them how they should be banned for life for cheating. All the programs did were follow simple a playbook with a basic strategy. The person who discovered they were bots was running stat tracking and started noticing that several players had identical stats and never played at the same tables, he also noticed other similarities that aren't really important to the post. After figuring this out he exploited the bots taking pots off of them left and right.
My question for you guys is this. This controversy has caused quite a stir up in the poker community and many people are furious. I thought about it for a while and I really do not have a problem with a player being a bot online. They cannot think freely and if you pay attention to players at your table you can figure them out. If you knew you were playing against a bot you could exploit it. Why not allow bots? They are computers and by far the easiest opponents to play against. The bot seemed tough because he was programmed to be agressive. What do you guys think? Should bots be allowed or do you think they violate the integrity of the game? Poker is a game of people and situations so a computer couldn't possibly keep up with decent players. The other side of this though is that poker is a game built on losers and if computers are taking out the losers then the competition will get better and better until the computers are the losing players (basically driving away the weaker players). I personally have no problem playing against a bot, but let me know what you guys think of this whole situation. Of course, you can always just play live...
There has been a lot of buzz on the internet lately about a couple of automated poker programs on Full Tilt (bots) that people were running and had written a successful program that actually won money at $1/2 stakes. The bots had won about $22,000 collectively over a few months and after someone had discovered they were bots he wrote Full Tilt and alerted the forums where the topic blew up. Everyone was persecuting the group who was running these and telling them how they should be banned for life for cheating. All the programs did were follow simple a playbook with a basic strategy. The person who discovered they were bots was running stat tracking and started noticing that several players had identical stats and never played at the same tables, he also noticed other similarities that aren't really important to the post. After figuring this out he exploited the bots taking pots off of them left and right.
My question for you guys is this. This controversy has caused quite a stir up in the poker community and many people are furious. I thought about it for a while and I really do not have a problem with a player being a bot online. They cannot think freely and if you pay attention to players at your table you can figure them out. If you knew you were playing against a bot you could exploit it. Why not allow bots? They are computers and by far the easiest opponents to play against. The bot seemed tough because he was programmed to be agressive. What do you guys think? Should bots be allowed or do you think they violate the integrity of the game? Poker is a game of people and situations so a computer couldn't possibly keep up with decent players. The other side of this though is that poker is a game built on losers and if computers are taking out the losers then the competition will get better and better until the computers are the losing players (basically driving away the weaker players). I personally have no problem playing against a bot, but let me know what you guys think of this whole situation. Of course, you can always just play live...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
New Post!
Ok. It's time to bring this blog out of the muck. I know I haven't been posting much recently, but last night I finished finals and without any hesitation, I headed right over to the casino. This post will contain some old school hand postings and then I will talk about some strategy at the end that IMO makes me a better player. So without further ado:
The table that I am playing at is a semi-tough table. There is no hand that sees a flop without having been raised, and generally there are 3-5 people seeing each flop. (loose-aggressive game I believe is what you call it)
1. I have Ace-King suited UTG. Whats the right play here? My favorite play, especially when playing against players who somewhat know what they are doing, is limp-raising with A-K from early position. It puts opponents who raise in a very tough spot once reraised, and it allows you to make the same play with Aces or Kings later on in the future. Where this play fails is when you get called and flop air. In this case, you have to give your opponent credit for some pocket pair or maybe even AK himself, so making a continuation bet on the flop can get costly. Nevertheless, I limped and about 3 other people limped behind me and the SB (who has $240 behind him) makes it $35 to go, without any hesitation. The way he made his bet told me a) he has a "strong" hand b) that doesn't want callers. Therefore, I give him a range of hands from 88-QQ, AK, or AQs. Now from what I know about this guy, is that he has a tough time folding preflop to any raise, but at worst, I am coin flipping, so even if he calls my reraise, I'm not in too terrible of a position. In the sloppiest fashion possible, I make it $125 on top or $160 to go. Folds around to him and he thinks for a while. He starts toying with me, asking if I can beat jacks or not. I tell him I can't yet and with that he calls. He checks dark and the flop falls 8-8-7 with two diamonds (I have no diamonds). He has around $85 left and he looks like hes ready to go in, so I push him in. Do I really have a choice here? What do you two think about the play of this hand?
2. I have Q-8 of hearts and have just been rushing, winning a few small and one large pot, so I open it up for $20 from mid-position. A new player calls on the button, SB and BB both call, and so does UTG +2. Five of us see a flop of J-7-6 with the 7-6 of hearts. It checks to me and I check to the button. Button fires off $45. SB folds and the BB, who is a very solid player, calls and the UTG +2 folds and I call with my flush draw. Any thoughts here? Maybe could I have raised? I don't think raising makes a whole lotta sense since I don't see a hand that I would check-raise with on that board. Anyways, the turn comes a black 7. BB checks, I check and button checks. River is a Q. BB fires out $50 into a pot that contains around $230. Immediately when he bet it, I felt like I wasn't good. I'm getting such good odds to call, but if you know you're beat, odds don't matter. What is the correct play here?
3. I have Q-10 in the BB. Four other people limp including the SB. We all see a flop of 4-3-10 rainbow. SB checks, I check, and the table checks. Turn brings another 10, giving me trips with two diamonds on the board. The SB bets $25 into $25 pot. What do I do here? Should I raise to knock out flush draws? I called, and the fella behind me called as well (this player is extremely weak and IMO either has a back door flush draw or a 3/4 with no kicker; most likely a flush draw). The river brings an off suit 9 and the SB leads out for $25 again. What's the correct play here?
One thing that I have noticed, is that every time I have a losing session, I've sat down at the table and saw that I was up against a bunch of donks. I then try to play loose and aggressive, running over the table as best as I can, when ultimately I end up getting kicked in the balls. Yesterday, when I sat down, the table was making plays that in my view, looked like expert/above average plays. I saw myself sitting at a table where everyone was going to be tough to beat. In turn, I focused my attention on a higher level in order to figure out how I was going to beat them. I ended up folding a lot and only getting my money in when I either had to, or had the best of it and it worked out nicely. So I've begun to theorize that the more credit I give my opponents for their play, the better player I become myself, in order to match their level. Looking back on the session, no one there was actually that good, with the exception of one, but it was the mere belief that they were all better than me which caused me to gear down and really develop a strategy to beat them. From now on, I'm always going to assume that these players are smart and cunning, and constantly be thinking of ways to get their money, regardless of the moves/plays they make.
The table that I am playing at is a semi-tough table. There is no hand that sees a flop without having been raised, and generally there are 3-5 people seeing each flop. (loose-aggressive game I believe is what you call it)
1. I have Ace-King suited UTG. Whats the right play here? My favorite play, especially when playing against players who somewhat know what they are doing, is limp-raising with A-K from early position. It puts opponents who raise in a very tough spot once reraised, and it allows you to make the same play with Aces or Kings later on in the future. Where this play fails is when you get called and flop air. In this case, you have to give your opponent credit for some pocket pair or maybe even AK himself, so making a continuation bet on the flop can get costly. Nevertheless, I limped and about 3 other people limped behind me and the SB (who has $240 behind him) makes it $35 to go, without any hesitation. The way he made his bet told me a) he has a "strong" hand b) that doesn't want callers. Therefore, I give him a range of hands from 88-QQ, AK, or AQs. Now from what I know about this guy, is that he has a tough time folding preflop to any raise, but at worst, I am coin flipping, so even if he calls my reraise, I'm not in too terrible of a position. In the sloppiest fashion possible, I make it $125 on top or $160 to go. Folds around to him and he thinks for a while. He starts toying with me, asking if I can beat jacks or not. I tell him I can't yet and with that he calls. He checks dark and the flop falls 8-8-7 with two diamonds (I have no diamonds). He has around $85 left and he looks like hes ready to go in, so I push him in. Do I really have a choice here? What do you two think about the play of this hand?
2. I have Q-8 of hearts and have just been rushing, winning a few small and one large pot, so I open it up for $20 from mid-position. A new player calls on the button, SB and BB both call, and so does UTG +2. Five of us see a flop of J-7-6 with the 7-6 of hearts. It checks to me and I check to the button. Button fires off $45. SB folds and the BB, who is a very solid player, calls and the UTG +2 folds and I call with my flush draw. Any thoughts here? Maybe could I have raised? I don't think raising makes a whole lotta sense since I don't see a hand that I would check-raise with on that board. Anyways, the turn comes a black 7. BB checks, I check and button checks. River is a Q. BB fires out $50 into a pot that contains around $230. Immediately when he bet it, I felt like I wasn't good. I'm getting such good odds to call, but if you know you're beat, odds don't matter. What is the correct play here?
3. I have Q-10 in the BB. Four other people limp including the SB. We all see a flop of 4-3-10 rainbow. SB checks, I check, and the table checks. Turn brings another 10, giving me trips with two diamonds on the board. The SB bets $25 into $25 pot. What do I do here? Should I raise to knock out flush draws? I called, and the fella behind me called as well (this player is extremely weak and IMO either has a back door flush draw or a 3/4 with no kicker; most likely a flush draw). The river brings an off suit 9 and the SB leads out for $25 again. What's the correct play here?
One thing that I have noticed, is that every time I have a losing session, I've sat down at the table and saw that I was up against a bunch of donks. I then try to play loose and aggressive, running over the table as best as I can, when ultimately I end up getting kicked in the balls. Yesterday, when I sat down, the table was making plays that in my view, looked like expert/above average plays. I saw myself sitting at a table where everyone was going to be tough to beat. In turn, I focused my attention on a higher level in order to figure out how I was going to beat them. I ended up folding a lot and only getting my money in when I either had to, or had the best of it and it worked out nicely. So I've begun to theorize that the more credit I give my opponents for their play, the better player I become myself, in order to match their level. Looking back on the session, no one there was actually that good, with the exception of one, but it was the mere belief that they were all better than me which caused me to gear down and really develop a strategy to beat them. From now on, I'm always going to assume that these players are smart and cunning, and constantly be thinking of ways to get their money, regardless of the moves/plays they make.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Bad play or a good one?
I had just sat down at a 1/2 table on Bodog late at night. The stacks were all at about $200 which is a perfect table to sit down at, establish a chip lead and then crush it. Anyway my second hand I was dealt K 9 of spaids on the button. A guy in first position raised to $10 dollars and it folded around to me. Having played with him before I knew he had a big hand like JJ-KK. I felt like if any ace hit or a scary board I could take down the pot as well as catching a piece of it and outplaying him by making him commit his chips. I of course called and we went to the flop heads up. The flop came down 6 3 2 with two spaids making it a beautiful flop for me. I could now represent a wide range of hands and have the buffer of a flush draw incase I made a play that didn't work I could still win the hand (I was 100% sure my flush would be the nuts). Villian checked to me and I needed to decide what to bet. With the pot at $23 I bet the pot. I did this for a few reasons. 1) This guy wouldn't fold his kings on the flop unless facing the maximum amount of pressure so in my head I had planned on moving in on him if he check rasied me. He thought a second then doubled my bet making it $20 more. I had to move here to win the pot. There was no way he was going to let me chase a flush down after the turn and I couldn't bluff him off of his hand on the turn if a blank hit because so much was invested in the pot. Moving in on him ensured I would see both the turn and river, and he might wise up and fold here because of such a draw heavy and scary board. I moved all in for my full $200. He thought about it before ultimately calling. I got "lucky" on the turn and hit my flush with him drawing dead. He bitched about losing before leaving (which happens all the time) but what caught me off guard was that other people were sarcastically joking about how it was such a bad play and that I was going to lose all my money. I don't know why I'm even posting about it because I went on a card rush getting aces and kings the next round and cleaned out the table by acting like a donkey and getting paid off. My only question would be about the play. I know there are two ways to look at playing the game and that is through long run expected value of hands (if you play the hand the same way in the same situation and put your money in when you are getting the right value then over time you will win money) but there is also that personal aspect where each hand is an individual and unique hand which can be played many different ways and based on the situation, read on people, etc you can maniuplate the rules and sometimes you get lucky. Basically I went all in on a flush draw vs kings and got called, then hit it.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Ace on the River
If you two are looking to get a more worldly view of poker and the gambling society, I recommend that you get Barry Greenstein's book Ace on the River. It was by far one of my favorites (and I've read lots of them, believe me) because it goes beyond talking about starting hands and the concepts of pot odds, etc. It takes more of a holistic approach to becoming a good poker player. For example, the book starts off talking about Barry's rise in his poker career, the bad beats he took not only on the table but in life, and then transitions into topics such as The Poker Society, Attitude of a Poker Player, Traits of Winning Poker Players, the Psychology of Gambling, Brain Chemistry, Making & Holding onto Money, Game & Chaos Theory, Play Lessons, etc. The book ends with some hands which he breaks down from the point of view of a professional, but overall it focuses on why and what makes certain people good at poker. Only about 20% of the material focuses on strategy alone. Every page is filled with cool and interesting pictures too; its not a long read, but a concise, educational one.
His "Parting Thoughts" at the end of his book are also something to consider:
"When all is said and done, if I spent most of my time sitting at a poker table, I would feel that I was a loser in the game of life."
"Your goal in life should not be to make money, but making money may help you achieve your goals."
"Where you spend your time is not nearly as important as what you do when you are there."
His "Parting Thoughts" at the end of his book are also something to consider:
"When all is said and done, if I spent most of my time sitting at a poker table, I would feel that I was a loser in the game of life."
"Your goal in life should not be to make money, but making money may help you achieve your goals."
"Where you spend your time is not nearly as important as what you do when you are there."
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Unavoidable situation?
Full tilt 1/2 cash game: 9 handed.
I'm in BB with red AA. Middle position raises to $8, I reraise to $30, he calls to the flop.
Flop comes out K J 2 with two spaids. Now I followed through and bet the pot on the flop. Villian immediately moved all in, I was already pot committed so I called (it was about twice my bet). Villian shows AKs for a top with a flush draw. Anyway, flush hit and I lose. Did I misplay this? or is it one of those unavoidable situations?
I'm in BB with red AA. Middle position raises to $8, I reraise to $30, he calls to the flop.
Flop comes out K J 2 with two spaids. Now I followed through and bet the pot on the flop. Villian immediately moved all in, I was already pot committed so I called (it was about twice my bet). Villian shows AKs for a top with a flush draw. Anyway, flush hit and I lose. Did I misplay this? or is it one of those unavoidable situations?
Off to the Races!
I just wanted to hear you guys opinions on races. How do you decide whether or not you want to race with someone if you are pretty sure that is the case. i mean aside from being pot committed, what are other factors that determine your decision? Just a feeling...Instinct...willingness to gamble that sort of stuff.
Also would you rather have 1010 or AK when racing..
I just wanted to get this idea flowing because races are huge in tournaments...and i would like to have some more opinions before we go to Winstar...
Fucking Jacks......That's all im gonna say
Also would you rather have 1010 or AK when racing..
I just wanted to get this idea flowing because races are huge in tournaments...and i would like to have some more opinions before we go to Winstar...
Fucking Jacks......That's all im gonna say
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Mixing up your game(s)
They say the first brand of beer you drink will be your favorite for the rest of your life. Well, I think poker psychology has a lot to do with this as well. I was introduced to NL hold 'em by all our friends when the poker boom came around a few years ago. We all played...everyone we knew did. Out of that group a few people tasted short term success, sometimes through luck and other times because they figured out a new play or caught some hot cards. The success coupled with the action and the fact that it was a fun game drew in almost everyone. The more consistent winners were even more hooked. I can almost name the group off the top of my head: us 3, Zak, Connor, Scott, Ice, Paulsen, Dave, Tim, Dustin, Cameron, Sam, etc... well all of them weren't consistent winners but they definately had the taste of a few big wins in their mouth. Anyway from that group a few more rose to the top because like any other game, poker is a game of winners and losers. We moved to higher stakes and ran into new players we had never played with before with similar backgrounds as our own. This is where our games clashed. Most the people I play with or have played with outside of the home games only play NL hold 'em. With that being said, bear with me while I try to pull three concepts together to make my point.
I'm going to change gears a little here (no pun intended) and talk about facing these new players. When we face these new players who presumably are around the same level as we are, we are forced to evaluate and re-evaluate our game. You have to mix up your game or else if you play with someone enough they can learn how you play to a T. Once you have passed that level and are able to change gears and evaluate hands and situations you are now on top of your game. You can't possibly learn anymore right? You have mastered the concepts of poker that make you a winning player... but poker is a game of situations, people, and luck. Luck of course is something that cannot be controlled, but situations and people can be put into one category: experience. The more you know the more you can apply.
In my quest to become a better player, I started playing all different types of games. Omaha Hi, Hi/Lo, Pot limit Hold 'em, Stud, tournaments, cash games, and just about everything out there. Aside from the structural differences in these games, they all come down to luck, people and situations. It is amazing how much each game can teach you about other games you play. Mixing up your game can not only rapidly improve your experience but it also makes you a better player at all the other games. Protecting you hand and betting your draws is a huge part of Omaha Hi, which can greatly improve your NL hold em tournament skills. I think the most important skill in poker is hand reading. Not putting someone on an exact hand but more importantly being able to read strength or weakness. I feel in other games where there is a betting limit you develop a skill for reading that and it really carries over to NL hold 'em where most people waste their time putting someone on an exact hand rather than figuring out how strong or weak a bet is or what range of hands someone is representing.
Ok let me try to tie this all togehter (hopefully you're still reading this long long post). First off, we are here and playing poker because of the success we all tasted from when we started playing. We now face many players similar to ourselves and we must adapt and have the upper edge. Poker has winning players and losing players at every level so you have to keep making sure you aren't the losing player at the table. Once you reach that certain point of poker where only experience seperates you from someone else, then you must gather as much experience as you can. Mixing up your game and playing different games is critical to success in poker. Also, you might enjoy a little winning (you don't necessarily have to lose at all other games). This post has been all over the place but the main point I want to get across is that you are here because you are better than most at this game and once you see the finish line you don't stop (max you know this). The last lap is the hardest but the pay off is worth it. Start mixing up your game selection. Start playing stud, take the time to learn PLO (it is a very profitable game if played correctly) and start playing in tournaments. Every game requires a differnet skill set but once developed, all the skills blend together. Take your game to the next level. Fight through the beats. You might even improve your hold em game along the way. Peace.
I'm going to change gears a little here (no pun intended) and talk about facing these new players. When we face these new players who presumably are around the same level as we are, we are forced to evaluate and re-evaluate our game. You have to mix up your game or else if you play with someone enough they can learn how you play to a T. Once you have passed that level and are able to change gears and evaluate hands and situations you are now on top of your game. You can't possibly learn anymore right? You have mastered the concepts of poker that make you a winning player... but poker is a game of situations, people, and luck. Luck of course is something that cannot be controlled, but situations and people can be put into one category: experience. The more you know the more you can apply.
In my quest to become a better player, I started playing all different types of games. Omaha Hi, Hi/Lo, Pot limit Hold 'em, Stud, tournaments, cash games, and just about everything out there. Aside from the structural differences in these games, they all come down to luck, people and situations. It is amazing how much each game can teach you about other games you play. Mixing up your game can not only rapidly improve your experience but it also makes you a better player at all the other games. Protecting you hand and betting your draws is a huge part of Omaha Hi, which can greatly improve your NL hold em tournament skills. I think the most important skill in poker is hand reading. Not putting someone on an exact hand but more importantly being able to read strength or weakness. I feel in other games where there is a betting limit you develop a skill for reading that and it really carries over to NL hold 'em where most people waste their time putting someone on an exact hand rather than figuring out how strong or weak a bet is or what range of hands someone is representing.
Ok let me try to tie this all togehter (hopefully you're still reading this long long post). First off, we are here and playing poker because of the success we all tasted from when we started playing. We now face many players similar to ourselves and we must adapt and have the upper edge. Poker has winning players and losing players at every level so you have to keep making sure you aren't the losing player at the table. Once you reach that certain point of poker where only experience seperates you from someone else, then you must gather as much experience as you can. Mixing up your game and playing different games is critical to success in poker. Also, you might enjoy a little winning (you don't necessarily have to lose at all other games). This post has been all over the place but the main point I want to get across is that you are here because you are better than most at this game and once you see the finish line you don't stop (max you know this). The last lap is the hardest but the pay off is worth it. Start mixing up your game selection. Start playing stud, take the time to learn PLO (it is a very profitable game if played correctly) and start playing in tournaments. Every game requires a differnet skill set but once developed, all the skills blend together. Take your game to the next level. Fight through the beats. You might even improve your hold em game along the way. Peace.
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