"Not having a goal is more to be feared than not reaching one." - fortune cookie

Sculpture at DBG



I just moved into a condo with a couple chill roommates. I have been getting that stuff squared away so the volume has been pretty low. The new place is pretty nice and a little closer to the Strip. I am planning on staying here at least 3 months.

I am going to knock out some long sessions the next few days.

I got to meet fellow PG&Cer JockBay, very down to earth chill dude.

Hand 1:

V1 (175)- 35 yo white male, new table havn't seen him play a meaningful hand
Hero's Image (380)- 25 yo white male, neutral

Preflop (3):
Hero is BB dealt AA
2 limps, V1 completes SB, Hero raises to 14, 1 EP call, V1 calls.

Flop (38):
Q97
Checked to Hero who bets 30, EP folds, V1 thinks for a bit and calls.

Turn (98):
7
V1 checks Hero bets 65, V1 calls.

River (228):
2
Checks through.

I bet OTT to get value from Qx and Kx, maybe too thin though. I think checking the river is best since there are a lot of flushes in his range.



Hand 2:

V1 (150)- 40 yo white male, loose passive
Hero's Image (300)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is LP dealt KQ
V1 raises to 8 in MP, Hero calls.

Flop (18):
JT6
V1 bets 15, Hero raises to 60, V1 folds.

I am ahead in terms of equity so I am fine playing for stacks here.

Hey thanks for the thoughts.

Thanks for riding along.

Thanks, I'll keep digging up as much wisdom in the form of quotes as possible.

It has been 3 years since I started this thread and it has been a very fun ride. I am thankful for all the cool people I met. I love the freedom poker has allowed me. I love exploring and I plan to keep checking out new locations whenever possible. I know I have still not even come close to reaching my full potential.

I really liked getting coaching and I learned a lot and plugged a lot of leaks. At this point in time I am fairly confident in my play so far this year. I think my main focus right now is to cut expenses as much as possible so I can have money to take shots at 2/5 until it sticks and crush the WSOP. After I grind up a comfortable roll I may consider investing more money in sharping my game.

Yeah I guess a bigger bet OTF could be better, we are commited either way.

Yes, this year my standard mini challenge period is 10 days long.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 22/60

May 2014

Total hours played- 82
Average hourly winrate- $13
Winnings- $1058

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 638
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $12315

Hi nice to meet you tonight at Ballys. Keep up the grind.

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." - Dale Carnegie

Cactus



I've gotten in a couple okay sessions, not quite as many hrs as I wanted to play though. Some nights I haven't been sleeping that well. It is really hard to have energy to play long sessions and make good decisions on low sleep.

Hand 1:

V1 (300)- 45 yo white male, hasn't been too active since sitting down a couple rounds afo
Hero's Image (540)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is MP dealt AA
Hero raises to 12, V1 calls from LP.

Flop (24):
T66
Hero bets 16, V1 calls.

Turn (54):
T
Checks through.

River (54):
K
Checks to who bets 30, Hero folds.

I block the most likely fds villain could have. I think is is more likely that villain is vbetting Tx than Kx.

Hand 2:

V1 (500)- 40 yo white male, tag, straight forward
Hero's Image (300)- 25 yo white male, nit, havn't played a hand in the 2 rounds since sitting down

Preflop LP posts missed blinds (8):
Hero is MP dealt K9
Hero raises to 15, 2 LP callers, V1 calls from SB.

Flop (60):
Q85
Checked to Hero who bets 35, V1 calls.

Turn (130):
T
Checked to Hero who bets 70, V1 snap calls.

River (270):
J
Checked to Hero who bets 180, V1 calls.

I decided to double barrel here with a ton of equity, I don't hate a check OTT though that might be fine. OTR stacks are perfect for a shove and villain very likely has 2p+.



Mini Challenge

Hrs 33.5/60

May 2014

Total hours played- 93.5
Average hourly winrate- $17
Winnings- $1568

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 649
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $12825

Nice to meet you, I'll cya around.

Dude... Hand 1?

You either gotta bet/fold or check/call? Not a fan of check/folding the river. He has bluffs in his range, he has K's in his range, he even has JJ, QQ in his range. Your average 1-2 player has a ton of flush draws here. I'd prefer a check/call over a bet/fold.

I agree with SunChips on hand 1. I think you have to call the 30 into 54. I feel there are enough times that he thinks you just cbet shut down when you check the turn so he his firing with a lot of hands you beat. You are getting almost 2-1 so need to be a good ~30% of the time which i think you definitely are.

Hand 2 I think is played perfectly. I'm definitely betting that turn when we add outs with the T.

in like every hand you post you check turn (unless holding super-nutted hand)...why is that? is it to avoid playing for stacks on river? or do you think you get more value on rivers than turns?

hand 1 especially you either have to bet turn yourself or call river.

H1: Agree with others that if we're checking the turn (which I'm fine with) then we should either be betting the river for value (or check/calling if we think a bluffcatcher is better against this guy).

H2: I don't like preflop if this is the result we expect (multiway, OOP, in a bloated pot with a pretty meh hand); I'd just muck preflop. I wouldn't even hate attempting to take a free card on the flop, or I might bet less (say $25) if I am betting and just hope that gets the job done for as cheap as possible. I typically take a free card on this turn cuz the turn card ain't scary, we'll often be forced to 3barrel when we whiff (which we will the majority of the time), and life sucks if we're raised. River shove is standard, imo.

GitchingtogetbackonthefeltG

C/f flop in Hand 1

If we assign him a reasonable range of 66, TT, and A6, we're crushed

also KK is getting there on the river too...so ya c/f flop is best

tbh tho the river check is OK to induce bluffs from missed clubs/gutters. betting 3 streets is better tho. checking with the plan of folding is pretty horrible.

fyp

also agree, check-call.

Ooops....yep I screwed that up. 30 into 84 so getting almost 3-1 so really only need ~25% to call which makes it even more of a call. (3-1 being u need 25% to make the call and 2-1 being that u need ~33% to make the call....I can't believe I'm asking this but this is correct math rex right?)

"You are your greatest asset. Put your time, effort and money into training, grooming and encouraging your greatest asset." - Tom Hopkins

Another Shot of the Grand Canyon



My roommate had a poolside bbq for his birthday. My other roommate is a pro chef and handled the grilling and everything tasted awesome. Also ran into a guy who rakes a ton on ultimate poker playing PLO and HUSnG.

I am considering opening an account on wsop.com and ultimate, I assume the traffic will be better over the summer. I might need a new laptop first though.

I only knocked out 38.5/60 hrs of my last mini challenge which is obviously dissappointing. For my next mini challenge I will play 90 hrs (which includes the hrs I am making up from the last one). Some other guys from LLSNL chat thread are going to try it too. The first WSOP tourney will go off in a week and the poker players will begin to trickle in from around the country and around the world.

I also ran into Anlivedonkey and Kentucky, of this interesting PG&C thread: http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh....php?t=1435296

Hand 1:

V1 (250)- 25 yo white male, tag, stations sometimes
Hero's Image (300)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is BB dealt T5
V1 limps from MP, 4 other limpers, Hero

Flop (17):
KQ9
Checks through.

Turn (17):
J
Hero bets 15, V1 calls.

River (44):
7
Hero bets 15, V1 raises to 40, Hero folds.

I am chopping at best so I don't think I have the odds to call here.

Hand 2:

V1 (500)- 30 yo white male, lag, been aggressive but I haven't seen him s/d weak hands.
Hero's Image (350)- 25 yo white male, nit

Preflop (4):
Hero is SB dealt KQ
V1 raises to 15 from MP, 1 caller, Hero 3b to 75, only V1 calls.

Flop (164):
AQ4
Hero bets 60, V1 calls.

Turn (284):
7
Hero checks, V1 bets 110, Hero folds.

I am not sure what V1's c3b range is here but probably pretty tight. I'm not sure if I like my cbet. I think it is apparent I should abandon ship OTT.

I think it is never that bad to bet flops. I think the turn is a good time to constrain the pot size if we don't want to play a huge pot. If you can point out any specific hands where you think a check OTT was suboptimal that would be helpful.

It might be worth mentioning it was like 6 handed and K9s is close to the bottom of my opening range and I think it okay especially with 8 in dead money.

I think a cbet here is pretty standard with 2nfd and an over. C/r might be okay too.

There is merit to checking OTT, but if we bet OTT and get called I would just give up on brick rivers, we have sdv vs worse draws.

I also need to mix in some folds pf for balance.

My first instinct was to c/c. I could b/f but I think I get called or raised by better hands more often than I get called by worse (probably only Kx)

Thanks for all the comments on H1 everyone, I know it looks really nitty and this is a borderline spot so a call is probably fine.
My thought process is basically that villain is tight passive and hasn't bluffed at all. My read is he hit a piece of the flop Tx, 6x or a fd. I stoved it and I have 20% vs TT, 66, JT-ATs, KQ, KJ, QJ

I think it is way more plausible villain is slow playing a value hand than pulling off a delayed float.

Anyhow I think it is close between c/c and c/f if I didn't block nfds I would probably pay off here.

Yeah that's right we need to be good 1 out of 4 times to call OTR.


Mini Challenge

Hrs 7.5/60

May 2014

Total hours played- 104.5
Average hourly winrate- $18
Winnings- $1870

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 660.5
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $13127

"I think there are a lot of flushes in his range". What makes you think this? He has ck called big bets on 2 streets... What about that play would indicate him having a flush? River needs to be a bet I think...

"It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin

An Oversized Bug in Downtown Phoenix



I put in a long session, going to keep up the volume. I want to be relentless until the end of the WSOP.

I briefly met 11t, seems like a chill guy.

Hand 1:

V1 (300)- 25 yo white male, lag
V2 (114) 25 yo white male, loose passive
V3 (210) 30 yo white male, tight passive
Hero's Image (300)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is BTN dealt QT
V1 raises to 9 from MP, V2 calls from LP, Hero 3b to 45, V3 calls from BB but thought my green chip was a blue chip, V1 folds, V2 shoves for 69 more, Hero shoves, V3 folds.

I figure V2 has like a mid pair, I don't really want V3 to call and I don't think he has much either.



Hand 2:

V1 (300)- 35 yo white male, just sat down havn't seen him play a hand
Hero's Image (400)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is BB dealt JT
1 LP limps, V1 limps BTN, Hero checks.

Flop (11):
T99
Hero bets 8, V1 calls.

Turn (35):
9
Hero checks, V1 bets 12, Hero calls.

River (58):
J
Hero bets 20, V1 raises to 40, Hero calls.

I should have b/f this river, it is pretty obvious he has it.



I did consider vbetting river, as there is only 1/3 psb left but I think the only worse hand that calls is Qx, there are more combos of 7x and flushs that he could be trapping with which turned out to be the case. So a think a vbet is too thin without a more specific read. Thanks for your thoughts.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 17/90

May 2014

Total hours played- 114
Average hourly winrate- $17
Winnings- $1892

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 670
Average hourly winrate- $20
Winnings- $13149

Hand 1: seems like a lot of money to be getting in 45 with PF knowing the guy has another 69 left...are these +EV spots for us in games like this or just better to fold it PF on the button or even flat and play post flop?

Hand 2: i guess his turn line kind of says it all in that he has to build the pot a little right there so b/f sounds right man

"We have to understand the world can only be grasped by action, not contemplation. The hand is more important than the eye... The hand is the cutting edge of the mind." - Jacob Bronowski

Random Glass Spikes in the Desert



I got in another long session. I think I am getting comfortable with longer sessions, it just leaves very little time to socialize and get other things accomplished. I will have to manage my off hrs as efficiently as possible the next couple of months.

Hand 1:

V1 (300)- 25 yo white male, lag, likes to semi bluff
Hero's Image (375)- 25 yo white male, nit

Preflop (4):
Hero is MP dealt JJ
Hero raises to 12, V1 calls from BB.

Flop (23):
975
Checks to Hero who bets 16, V1 calls.

Turn (53):
5
V1 bets 50, Hero calls.

River (153):
A
V1 peeks at his cards the bets 100 Hero folds.

I think I might have been able to get away with a small value raise OTT. I figure V1 had the nfd or had me beat already.



Hand 2:

V1 (1000)- 25 yo asian male, just table changed over havn't seen him play a hand
V2 (400)- 30 yo white female, nit
Hero's Image (600)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is SB dealt QQ
V1 limps UTG, V2 raises to 15 Hero calls, V1 calls.

Flop (44):
642
Checks through.

Turn (44):
T
Hero bets 30, V1 raises to 90, V2 folds, Hero tank calls.

River (224):
4
Hero checks, V1 bets 200, Hero thinks for a bit and calls.

My hand is under-repped, after V2 checks the flop she must have AK. V1 does have sets in his range but draws are possible too. I check to induce OTR and it works outs.



Obviously I was squeezing here not 3bing for value. 144 already in the pot when V2 4b spazzes I only need 25% equity to call but I was to shut V3 out so I 5b to iso. Over calling and folding instead of 3b are also valid options pf.

Squeezing is fun and insanely profitable, one of the best things I learned from Kydd and integrated into my game. It was uncomfortable at first but now I recognize good spots all the time. Even if we get caught it increases the value we can get from premiums in the future.

I messed up the pot size when posting hand 2 but whatever. I think c/c might be better OTR not sure.

Thanks for the thoughts!

Mini Challenge

Hrs 27/90

May 2014

Total hours played- 124
Average hourly winrate- $12
Winnings- $1525

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 680
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $12782

Here's a hint....

Wouldn't say always, but most of the time they are. Asians are either laggy spewtards or a complete nit.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice a gift." - Steve Prefontaine

Diamondbacks Game



I put in another decent session. I am just trying to settle into a groove and keep the momentum going.

I will post up another vlog soon.

Hand 1:

V1 (600)- 25 yo white male, tight, straightforward
Hero's Image (700)- 25 yo white male, nit

Preflop (4):
Hero is LP dealt 76
1 MP limp, V1 limps in LP, Hero limps.

Flop (14):
843
Checks to V1 who bets 5, Hero raises to 20, only V1 calls.

Turn (51):
A
V1 checks, Hero bets 30, V1 folds

I think with the checks and a weak bet this pot is up for grabs, I have a gutter and bdfd so I decide to go for it.

Hand 2:

V1 (170)- 25 yo asian male, station
V2 (400)- 40 yo middle eastern male, tight
Hero's Image (600)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is SB dealt KQ
V1 limps UTG, V2 limps in MP, 1 LP limp, Hero raises to 24, only V1-V2 call.

Flop (74):
J96
Hero bets 25, only V1 calls.

Turn (124):
A
Hero checks, V1 bets 100, Hero folds.

I can probably barrel almost any other card OTT but not this one. V1 has shown good hands when he bets so this is an easy c/f.



Racist ban :P Honestly I've met plenty of Asians across the whole spectrum of skill. But gambling is a big part of their culture which I think is great. It's a shame the most popular game in China is baccarat, hopefully poker gains some steam over there in the next decade.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 36/90

May 2014

Total hours played- 133
Average hourly winrate- $16
Winnings- $2081

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 689
Average hourly winrate- $19
Winnings- $13338

why don't you move up? isn't 13k total in 2014 depressing?

Not trying to troll, asking as a serious question

To add a little comedy, I have a story to share about this stereotype :

2/5, older white man up front, youngish Chinese kid in 5th, I'm in 7th (I'm Asian lol). Old white guy raises substantially up front ($30). Folds until the Chinese kid, who reluctantly calls. Fold in front of me, I have A4 off, I call pretty sure the guys behind will fold. They fold.

Flop A 4 2. Old white guy makes a bet of $75. Chinese kid raises to 150, I shove. Old white guys freaks out and starts talking about "You Asians just call anything Jesus Christ what is wrong with you people?" and folds. Chinese kid calls, he flips A2 and I show him A4.

After I collect, I laugh and told the old white guy he's right. He left the table.

I love Chase Field. Hope you enjoyed the game.


Why such a tiny c-bet in Hand 2?

true gold...

"We all have dreams, in order to make dreams come into reality it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." - Jesse Owens

Humphreys Peak



I am on pace to knock out my mini challenge which is great. I made a couple of mistakes during the session but I think I played pretty good over all.

Hand 1:

V1 (350)- 50 yo white male, nit
Hero's Image (400)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is MP dealt KK
Hero raises to 12, V1 calls in LP.

Flop (26):
J77
Hero bets 11, V1 snap calls.

Turn (46):
T
Hero bets 25, V1 raises to 100, Hero folds.

I misclicked OTF, meant to bet 16. When villain makes a big raise OTT the worst hand I can put him on is JT, slight chance of AJ. I lose to JJ, TT, 7x, 98s.

Hand 2:

V1 (400)- 30 yo asian male, tight passive
V2 (350)- 30 yo black male, lag
Hero's Image (300)- 25 yo white male, tag

Preflop (4):
Hero is UTG dealt QQ
Hero raises to 15 V1 calls in MP, 3 LP callers, V2 calls from SB.

Flop (91):
755
Checked to Hero who bets 60, V1 calls, V2 ships it, Hero folds, V1 folds.

There is a small chance V2 could have a fd but I think 5x is way more likely, we only have about 10% equity against 5x

I have logged over 1k hrs in the past at 2/5, I would like to take shots again when my bankroll allows it. My plan is to take a 1k shot when I have 6k which I think is fairly aggressive. I have 4150 bankroll/liferoll right now.

I've increased my volume 20% since last year, it is my best year so far profit wise. I come from humble beginnings, the only jobs I've had were close to minimum wage. In the military I got a few extra benifits such as a room in the barracks and health/dental and meals at the dfac. It's not like I left any promising career to play poker. I don't need much money to be happy.

I choose to keep a positive mindset because I have no use for negativity. I work towards being a better player everyday, if I stick to it I know I will go far.

Haha, good anecdote.


Yeah I haven't been to a baseball game in a couple years. I used to go to A's games and Giants games every once in awhile.

I felt like a small bet would accomplish what I wanted and not build a huge pot without much of a hand.

Mini Challenge

Hrs 45/90

May 2014

Total hours played- 142
Average hourly winrate- $9
Winnings- $1336

2014 YTD

Total hours played- 698
Average hourly winrate- $18
Winnings- $12593