Live 1/2 - The Journey Begins
01-28-2016
, 03:44 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myB0tC7KkJs
Never stop, 'til er pick up look on every block
Life:
That is the goal. I have seen a number of PGC threads that like to incorporate music into it to sort of fit the theme and I love the idea. I don't only listen to HipHop, I love almost all types of genres. I'm actually a fiend for music. I have a pretty cool sound system in my car that really makes the long drives to the casino a lot easier to handle. Enough about that though.
Fitness:
This I have not incorporated into my goals, but they are going to start now. Sound body, sound mind. I want to build not only a better poker player but a better person and human being. Improving my fitness will only help. I played hockey in college for 3 years and in my athletic peak I weighed in at 195 mostly muscle. I'm 6'2". I am currently pretty far off that at around 210 due to laziness, and I want to turn that around before it goes too far. While it doesn't sound that bad, the 15 pounds gained coupled with muscle lost is definitely no good. I am sure I will keep up with the gym goals
Fitness Goals:
Hit the Weights 3 times per week [2]
Run/Cardio once per week [0]
No excuses. Only accountability.
Poker:
Poker is going great. I'm having a great time, loving the game. It also helps to be on a bit of an upswing right now. I'll take it. Just going to keep working and playing my best.
Today: +65 in 7 hours.
Definitely had some fun hands to talk about.
HH1:
V: (320) MAWG. Semi thinking reg that has a fold button. Sometimes too much of a fold button.
Preflop:
2 limpers including V to Hero in CO with A
9
Hero raise to 12
only v calls
Flop: (26) 8
5
2
V checks
Hero cbet 15 (standard IMO)
v calls
Turn (54) J
completes the rainbow
V checks
Hero checks - in hindsight I think this would be a good double barrel card. I'd probably take it down there a good amount of the time.
River (20) 6
V bets 20
Now my range for him consists of 8's, some 5's, some draws that might have a 6 in them.
I decide to raise to 75
I think it puts a lot of pressure on some of hs one pair hands that call flop, and how often does he really have a strong hand with a tiny river bet like that. IMO not often. plus I KNOW he has a fold button.
V folds and shows me 86o for rivered two pair. I was obviously not trying to get him off hands that strong but I like my play in general vs a guy who clearly can fold.
HH2:
V: (200) I cover. OMC nit. This was maybe his first hand played since we sat down.
OMC limps UTG
Hero overlimps HJ with KQ V's limp had me confused so I decide to limp. Not a standard play by me
SB completes
BB check
Flop (7) QT9
checks to Hero who bets 7
only V calls
Turn (20) J OESFD!!
V check
Hero bets 15
v call
River (48) K
V checks
Hero
but decide to bet 40 because I think he folds all non A hands and he never had a flush. In hindsight if this is my plan I should probably bet more like 25.
V calls and showed AKss
HH3
1 orbit later with same v. OMC nit who's limping range includes AKs. Hoever now OMC covers. stacks 280 or so eff.
CO: (200) Younger white guy on the table with his friend. Not really a good player.
OMC raises MP to 12 (Immediately ranging him on TT+)
CO calls
Hero calls with AQ
Flop (36) A76
checks to hero who bets 20
OMC calls
CO folds
Turn (74) 2
OMC checks
Let's think about this card. I am not thrilled. OMC who is tight as hellraised pre and called flop. YES I turned 2nd nuts. but is it really that great of a card?
He only has 1 combo of AA in his range, a few QQ's and MAYBE JJ with J left.
I decide to check decide on river
River: (74) A
OMC leads 30 and I decide to call based on the fact that I have 2nd nuts.
He shows KK with K and he's good. Lost the absolute min IMO.
HH4:
Toughest hand of the day for sure against another OMC nit. Just to be clear I do not use the word nit a lot. I am a pretty tight player and I know some would call me nitty, but these guys were over the top nitty.
V: (250) I cover. As mentioned an OMC nit just nitting it up doing his thing. We've been playing almost 3 hours and he hasn't played much.
1 limp to Hero in CO with TT who raises to 12
V in SB calls
Flop: (25) 963
V checks
Hero bets 15
V raises to 40
Immediately the alarm bells go off, but I can't fold just yet. I have a super high cbet %. Due to how tight I play I tend to cbet very frequently. Maybe he knows maybe he doesn't.
I call
Turn (103) 6
V leads out 55
Hero calls
River (213) 3
V shoves for 110
Hero tanks a few mins, but I think I literally beat nothing here, and fold.
Back at it tomorrow and Fri! Putting in the graveyard session tomorrow, oh yeah.
glgl out there!
Never stop, 'til er pick up look on every block
Life:
That is the goal. I have seen a number of PGC threads that like to incorporate music into it to sort of fit the theme and I love the idea. I don't only listen to HipHop, I love almost all types of genres. I'm actually a fiend for music. I have a pretty cool sound system in my car that really makes the long drives to the casino a lot easier to handle. Enough about that though.
Fitness:
This I have not incorporated into my goals, but they are going to start now. Sound body, sound mind. I want to build not only a better poker player but a better person and human being. Improving my fitness will only help. I played hockey in college for 3 years and in my athletic peak I weighed in at 195 mostly muscle. I'm 6'2". I am currently pretty far off that at around 210 due to laziness, and I want to turn that around before it goes too far. While it doesn't sound that bad, the 15 pounds gained coupled with muscle lost is definitely no good. I am sure I will keep up with the gym goals
Fitness Goals:
Hit the Weights 3 times per week [2]
Run/Cardio once per week [0]
No excuses. Only accountability.
Poker:
Poker is going great. I'm having a great time, loving the game. It also helps to be on a bit of an upswing right now. I'll take it. Just going to keep working and playing my best.
Today: +65 in 7 hours.
Definitely had some fun hands to talk about.
HH1:
V: (320) MAWG. Semi thinking reg that has a fold button. Sometimes too much of a fold button.
Preflop:
2 limpers including V to Hero in CO with A
9Hero raise to 12
only v calls
Flop: (26) 8
52V checks
Hero cbet 15 (standard IMO)
v calls
Turn (54) J
completes the rainbowV checks
Hero checks - in hindsight I think this would be a good double barrel card. I'd probably take it down there a good amount of the time.
River (20) 6
V bets 20
Now my range for him consists of 8's, some 5's, some draws that might have a 6 in them.
I decide to raise to 75
I think it puts a lot of pressure on some of hs one pair hands that call flop, and how often does he really have a strong hand with a tiny river bet like that. IMO not often. plus I KNOW he has a fold button.
V folds and shows me 86o for rivered two pair. I was obviously not trying to get him off hands that strong but I like my play in general vs a guy who clearly can fold.
HH2:
V: (200) I cover. OMC nit. This was maybe his first hand played since we sat down.
OMC limps UTG
Hero overlimps HJ with K
Q V's limp had me confused so I decide to limp. Not a standard play by meSB completes
BB check
Flop (7) Q
T9checks to Hero who bets 7
only V calls
Turn (20) J
OESFD!!V check
Hero bets 15
v call
River (48) K
V checks
Hero
but decide to bet 40 because I think he folds all non A hands and he never had a flush. In hindsight if this is my plan I should probably bet more like 25. V calls and showed AKss
HH3
1 orbit later with same v. OMC nit who's limping range includes AKs. Hoever now OMC covers. stacks 280 or so eff.
CO: (200) Younger white guy on the table with his friend. Not really a good player.
OMC raises MP to 12 (Immediately ranging him on TT+)
CO calls
Hero calls with A
QFlop (36) A
76checks to hero who bets 20
OMC calls
CO folds
Turn (74) 2
OMC checks
Let's think about this card. I am not thrilled. OMC who is tight as hellraised pre and called flop. YES I turned 2nd nuts. but is it really that great of a card?
He only has 1 combo of AA in his range, a few QQ's and MAYBE JJ with J
left.I decide to check decide on river
River: (74) A
OMC leads 30 and I decide to call based on the fact that I have 2nd nuts.
He shows KK with K
and he's good. Lost the absolute min IMO. HH4:
Toughest hand of the day for sure against another OMC nit. Just to be clear I do not use the word nit a lot. I am a pretty tight player and I know some would call me nitty, but these guys were over the top nitty.
V: (250) I cover. As mentioned an OMC nit just nitting it up doing his thing. We've been playing almost 3 hours and he hasn't played much.
1 limp to Hero in CO with T
T who raises to 12V in SB calls
Flop: (25) 9
63V checks
Hero bets 15
V raises to 40
Immediately the alarm bells go off, but I can't fold just yet. I have a super high cbet %. Due to how tight I play I tend to cbet very frequently. Maybe he knows maybe he doesn't.
I call
Turn (103) 6
V leads out 55
Hero calls
River (213) 3
V shoves for 110
Hero tanks a few mins, but I think I literally beat nothing here, and fold.
Back at it tomorrow and Fri! Putting in the graveyard session tomorrow, oh yeah.
glgl out there!
01-30-2016
, 02:18 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPwFgPkcmeg
That's what it is now
Had an half hour long response written and hit one wrong button and it got deleted. Made me a little sad. Here is try #2
-100 in 10 hours on Thurs night/Fri. I thought I played very reasonably apart from one hand against a fish where I could have folded pre. But that's what it is. Ran way below EV but ****s happen (AIPF KK v 66 certainly didn't help) I was happy that I was able to stay in there and continue playing well.
HH1:
V: OMC with a weird ego for the game. Writes down notes on a little notepad, I've seen him around a lot. Loves to talk strategy and what not. ~200 stacks eff I cover.
My recent image at the table is that of a maniac. I have raised 4 or 5 hands this orbit (good hands) and I know OMC has this written on his little chart. He also has seen me cbet and get raised off the flop by another player 2 hands ago
2 limpers to me in CO with AQ
V in SB calls
all fold
Flop (25) T75
V checks
I cbet 15
V raises to 40
Now I stop and think about this and I don't believe he would raise here with a set knowing that I can fold and have just folded to a c/r on flop. A T would either lead or call, and I don't think he's bad enough to have many 7's or 5's here, which also would not raise. I have his range weighted more towards bluffs and decide to call, with the intention of calling further streets
Turn (105) Q obv a great card
V leads 50
I call
River (205) K
V checks. So I know I have to be ahead, but now what to bet? I think I have to go small, but I think I went a little too small, as V can not have a very good hand. (K would bet here)
I bet 35 hoping to get called by a Q which is all that makes sense IMO
V calls and shows QJ and asks how I could ever call flop (I had ahead sir! Have to call!
)
HH2:
V: Younger WG who has just sat down and folded all hands but one which did not go to showdown. Stacks ~250 eff and I cover
2 limpers to me in HJ and I raise to 15 with KK
V calls
1 limper calls
Flop (45) Q63
1 check
I bet 45
V calls
1 fold
Turn (135) 7
I lead 105
V thinks a little and goes all in for ~190 total
I obv have to call, but he probably has it
RIver: blank and he turns over AA
oh well!
February Goals
Fitness
-Gym 3x week
-Run 1x week
Poker
-70 Hours
-30 Hours of study
glgl out there!
That's what it is now
Had an half hour long response written and hit one wrong button and it got deleted. Made me a little sad. Here is try #2
-100 in 10 hours on Thurs night/Fri. I thought I played very reasonably apart from one hand against a fish where I could have folded pre. But that's what it is. Ran way below EV but ****s happen (AIPF KK v 66 certainly didn't help) I was happy that I was able to stay in there and continue playing well.
HH1:
V: OMC with a weird ego for the game. Writes down notes on a little notepad, I've seen him around a lot. Loves to talk strategy and what not. ~200 stacks eff I cover.
My recent image at the table is that of a maniac. I have raised 4 or 5 hands this orbit (good hands) and I know OMC has this written on his little chart. He also has seen me cbet and get raised off the flop by another player 2 hands ago
2 limpers to me in CO with A
QV in SB calls
all fold
Flop (25) T
75V checks
I cbet 15
V raises to 40
Now I stop and think about this and I don't believe he would raise here with a set knowing that I can fold and have just folded to a c/r on flop. A T would either lead or call, and I don't think he's bad enough to have many 7's or 5's here, which also would not raise. I have his range weighted more towards bluffs and decide to call, with the intention of calling further streets
Turn (105) Q
obv a great cardV leads 50
I call
River (205) K
V checks. So I know I have to be ahead, but now what to bet? I think I have to go small, but I think I went a little too small, as V can not have a very good hand. (K would bet here)
I bet 35 hoping to get called by a Q which is all that makes sense IMO
V calls and shows QJ and asks how I could ever call flop (I had ahead sir! Have to call!
)HH2:
V: Younger WG who has just sat down and folded all hands but one which did not go to showdown. Stacks ~250 eff and I cover
2 limpers to me in HJ and I raise to 15 with K
KV calls
1 limper calls
Flop (45) Q
631 check
I bet 45
V calls
1 fold
Turn (135) 7
I lead 105
V thinks a little and goes all in for ~190 total
I obv have to call, but he probably has it
RIver: blank and he turns over AA
oh well!February Goals
Fitness
-Gym 3x week
-Run 1x week
Poker
-70 Hours
-30 Hours of study
glgl out there!
02-09-2016
, 02:15 AM
-245 in 8 hours today.
Was such an up and down session. Started off down 300 less than 30 minutes in, but bounced back and played decently well the rest of the session.
HH1:
V: MAWG reggy player. Covers me. Stacks ~250 eff. This is only about 20 minutes into the session.
Hero raises in MP to 12 with QQ
V calls OTB
BB calls
Flop: J62
BB checks
Hero bets 25
V raise to 75
BB folds
Hero ships for ~220 total
V shows j6o and holds
I'm definitely ahead of some hands that will raise here but yeah, not sure what you guys think.
HH2:
V: Younger WG who has been very tight this far. Maybe card dead maybe not. Hasn't said a word all day. I cover, stacks 220 eff
2 limps to Hero in HJ with 22
5 handed to flop (10)
2AQ
3 checks to hero
Hero bets 12
only v calls
Turn (30) J
Hero bets 25
V raise to 75
Hero all in for ~180
V calls and MHIG
HH3: Bad Triple Barrel?
V: MA Asian guy relatively tight playing decently. Stacks 250 eff
Hero raise UTG to 12 with 99
V calls in UTG +1
everyone folds
Flop (23) K27
Hero leads 15
V calls
Turn (50) K
Hero leads 25
V calls
River (100) 3
Hero leads 50
V calls with QQ
HH4:
V: Young WG appears to be calling very wide. Stacks 300 eff. Super high VPIP. Game is 7 handed at the time
Hero raises in EP to 10 with KT
BTN calls
V calls in BB
Flop (29) AJ6
V checks
Hero bets 25
btn folds
V calls
Flop (76) 8
V checks
My plan is to double barrel here and give up on the river, as he is certainly capable of calling with FD's and sometimes mid pair on flop and giving up.
Hero bets 50
V calls
River (176) Q
V leads 85- Now BD diamonds come in but IMO it's almost impossible to put him on that here, I river the straight and I sigh call. This may have been misplayed but I thought my reasoning was decent. Not sure.
He shows AJdd for flopped two pair and rivered flush, but I am still confident in my read he just showed up here top of his range.
glgl out there, back at it soon!
Feb Hours [18/70]
Was such an up and down session. Started off down 300 less than 30 minutes in, but bounced back and played decently well the rest of the session.
HH1:
V: MAWG reggy player. Covers me. Stacks ~250 eff. This is only about 20 minutes into the session.
Hero raises in MP to 12 with Q
QV calls OTB
BB calls
Flop: J
62BB checks
Hero bets 25
V raise to 75
BB folds
Hero ships for ~220 total
V shows j6o and holds
I'm definitely ahead of some hands that will raise here but yeah, not sure what you guys think.
HH2:
V: Younger WG who has been very tight this far. Maybe card dead maybe not. Hasn't said a word all day. I cover, stacks 220 eff
2 limps to Hero in HJ with 2
25 handed to flop (10)
2
AQ3 checks to hero
Hero bets 12
only v calls
Turn (30) J
Hero bets 25
V raise to 75
Hero all in for ~180
V calls and MHIG
HH3: Bad Triple Barrel?
V: MA Asian guy relatively tight playing decently. Stacks 250 eff
Hero raise UTG to 12 with 9
9V calls in UTG +1
everyone folds
Flop (23) K
27Hero leads 15
V calls
Turn (50) K
Hero leads 25
V calls
River (100) 3
Hero leads 50
V calls with QQ
HH4:
V: Young WG appears to be calling very wide. Stacks 300 eff. Super high VPIP. Game is 7 handed at the time
Hero raises in EP to 10 with K
TBTN calls
V calls in BB
Flop (29) A
J6 V checks
Hero bets 25
btn folds
V calls
Flop (76) 8
V checks
My plan is to double barrel here and give up on the river, as he is certainly capable of calling with FD's and sometimes mid pair on flop and giving up.
Hero bets 50
V calls
River (176) Q
V leads 85- Now BD diamonds come in but IMO it's almost impossible to put him on that here, I river the straight and I sigh call. This may have been misplayed but I thought my reasoning was decent. Not sure.
He shows AJdd for flopped two pair and rivered flush, but I am still confident in my read he just showed up here top of his range.
glgl out there, back at it soon!
Feb Hours [18/70]
02-11-2016
, 03:50 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvj4svKcjl0
Boom, like that
Sometimes that's just how poker goes, slow all day and then Boom like that you're in a big decision/situation/pot. You get what I mean haha. It was a big bounceback day for me that I needed, and I think I played really well overall. +605 in 6 hours.
http://tinypic.com/r/35c4pe1/9
Feb Hours [24/70]
Some hands:
HH1:
V1: OMC 70+ who is very active. Stacks about 250 eff. I cover. We have been sitting about an hour. Was showing signs of being a station, and I later found out he was a super station.
Hero has AA
4 limpers to Hero in BB who raises to 15
1 loose fish calls
V calls on BTN
Flop: (46) AKT
I lead 35
1 fold
V calls
Turn (116) 2
I lead 75
V calls
River (266) 7
I bet 77
V tanks awhile and calls. MHIG
HH2:
V: MAWG - maybe 40. WHALE. Super loose passive and has a VPIP of ~99. Massive leaks all over the place. Usual bets consist of 15-30 all streets. Stacks 280 eff, I cover
2 limps to Hero in CO with A5
Hero limps
V limps on BTN
BB checks
Flop (10) T24
One of the limpers bets 10
I call
V calls
Turn (38) 8 Boom, like that
check
I check
V bets 50 (his largest bet of the night)
other player folds
I call
River (138) Q
I shove for ~220
V tanks and calls
HH3:
V: loose passive MAWG ~35 years old. Has sat down about 20 mins ago. Stacks ~220 eff, I cover
V2: OMC from HH1
3 limpers to me on BTN with JJ
I raise to 12
V call
V 2 call
Flop (32) 952
check
check
I bet 30
V calls
OMC folds
Turn (90) 7
V checks
I bet 45
V shoves for ~110 more and I tank fold which makes me sad but I beat nothing
gl gl out there!
Boom, like that
Sometimes that's just how poker goes, slow all day and then Boom like that you're in a big decision/situation/pot. You get what I mean haha. It was a big bounceback day for me that I needed, and I think I played really well overall. +605 in 6 hours.
http://tinypic.com/r/35c4pe1/9
Feb Hours [24/70]
Some hands:
HH1:
V1: OMC 70+ who is very active. Stacks about 250 eff. I cover. We have been sitting about an hour. Was showing signs of being a station, and I later found out he was a super station.
Hero has A
A4 limpers to Hero in BB who raises to 15
1 loose fish calls
V calls on BTN
Flop: (46) A
KTI lead 35
1 fold
V calls
Turn (116) 2
I lead 75
V calls
River (266) 7
I bet 77
V tanks awhile and calls. MHIG
HH2:
V: MAWG - maybe 40. WHALE. Super loose passive and has a VPIP of ~99. Massive leaks all over the place. Usual bets consist of 15-30 all streets. Stacks 280 eff, I cover
2 limps to Hero in CO with A
5Hero limps
V limps on BTN
BB checks
Flop (10) T
24One of the limpers bets 10
I call
V calls
Turn (38) 8
Boom, like thatcheck
I check
V bets 50 (his largest bet of the night)
other player folds
I call
River (138) Q
I shove for ~220
V tanks and calls
HH3:
V: loose passive MAWG ~35 years old. Has sat down about 20 mins ago. Stacks ~220 eff, I cover
V2: OMC from HH1
3 limpers to me on BTN with J
JI raise to 12
V call
V 2 call
Flop (32) 9
52check
check
I bet 30
V calls
OMC folds
Turn (90) 7
V checks
I bet 45
V shoves for ~110 more and I tank fold which makes me sad but I beat nothing
gl gl out there!
02-15-2016
, 12:55 AM
Played my first session of 2/5 last night and had a blast! It was a great shot take and the game was super good. Weekend games for the win. Definitely going to hop in some more 2/5 more often if games are good. +155 in 5 hours. Only really had one hand that I had a tough time with, rest was pretty straightforward and I thought I played reasonably.
Feb Hours [29/70]
V: Older Asian guy ~50 years old. In for ~1200 with a 500 stack now. Hero covers. We've been sitting for about 4 hours together. He's definitely on the loose passive side. High VPIP. No history. Hero is viewed as young TAG, only coming in for raises and have been tighter than usual.
Preflop: (7 handed)
Hero raise in MP to 20 with AJ
V calls in CO
all fold
Flop: (43) AQ4
I bet 30 - standard bet here for value
V calls
Turn (102) 7
I lead 70 - easy double barrel, no?
V calls
River (240) 8
I check
V bets 105
I fold
gl gl out there
Feb Hours [29/70]
V: Older Asian guy ~50 years old. In for ~1200 with a 500 stack now. Hero covers. We've been sitting for about 4 hours together. He's definitely on the loose passive side. High VPIP. No history. Hero is viewed as young TAG, only coming in for raises and have been tighter than usual.
Preflop: (7 handed)
Hero raise in MP to 20 with AJ
V calls in CO
all fold
Flop: (43) A
Q4I bet 30 - standard bet here for value
V calls
Turn (102) 7
I lead 70 - easy double barrel, no?
V calls
River (240) 8
I check
V bets 105
I fold
gl gl out there
02-18-2016
, 01:47 PM
Slowly building that BR.
-73 in 2 hours at 1/2
+350 in 5 hours of 2/5
Not really much to post in the way of hands, but I really feel like my game is improving and my work is paying off. Just trying to build that BR one session at a time. Oh and luckily 2/5 hasn't owned me yet. I'm sure it will try to soon.
Feb Hours [41/70]
Study Hours [8/20]
Have been meeting my gym goals too which is good. +Life EV.
Vegas trip is official March 21-29. So hyped. Will be a great time and gonna get some good hours in while enjoying myself and doing some cool ****.
gl gl out there friends
For any of your Foxwoods lurkers: You all know about noodles. **** yes.
-73 in 2 hours at 1/2
+350 in 5 hours of 2/5
Not really much to post in the way of hands, but I really feel like my game is improving and my work is paying off. Just trying to build that BR one session at a time. Oh and luckily 2/5 hasn't owned me yet. I'm sure it will try to soon.
Feb Hours [41/70]
Study Hours [8/20]
Have been meeting my gym goals too which is good. +Life EV.
Vegas trip is official March 21-29. So hyped. Will be a great time and gonna get some good hours in while enjoying myself and doing some cool ****.
gl gl out there friends
For any of your Foxwoods lurkers: You all know about noodles. **** yes.
02-18-2016
, 02:30 PM
I did forget one hand. Posted it in LLSNL as well for some insight.
V: (~180) Young Mid - Upper 20's white guy. Is at least a decent, thinking player not getting too out of line. Maybe 15 mins ago got caught bluffing on KT5K4 by JJ where he c/r turn and fired river.
V2: (~400) OMC who has no raise range apparently. Have seen him limp KK from EP and QQ from mid position. Then he wonders why he is in a tough spot on the river and is complaining. Thinks he is very good at the game (makes sure people know this) Just tilt posting this because it tilts me and he really wasn't highly involved in hand.
Hero: Young TAG, viewed as tight by table, not many players have been calling raises except for one fun player who has VPIP > 80.
8 handed.
Hero raise to 20 with KQ from EP
OMC in HJ calls
V in SB calls
Flop (55) QJT
V checks
Hero bets 30
OMC folds
V shoves for ~130 more
Hero?
I may be mistaken, but I range him as ; all two pairs, TT, KQ, AQ, MAYBE KJ? anything I'm missing? Maybe he has a bluff or two if he's still steaming from earlier? Would be 130 to win ~245
V: (~180) Young Mid - Upper 20's white guy. Is at least a decent, thinking player not getting too out of line. Maybe 15 mins ago got caught bluffing on KT5K4 by JJ where he c/r turn and fired river.
V2: (~400) OMC who has no raise range apparently. Have seen him limp KK from EP and QQ from mid position. Then he wonders why he is in a tough spot on the river and is complaining. Thinks he is very good at the game (makes sure people know this) Just tilt posting this because it tilts me and he really wasn't highly involved in hand.
Hero: Young TAG, viewed as tight by table, not many players have been calling raises except for one fun player who has VPIP > 80.
8 handed.
Hero raise to 20 with K
Q from EP OMC in HJ calls
V in SB calls
Flop (55) Q
JTV checks
Hero bets 30
OMC folds
V shoves for ~130 more
Hero?
I may be mistaken, but I range him as ; all two pairs, TT, KQ, AQ, MAYBE KJ? anything I'm missing? Maybe he has a bluff or two if he's still steaming from earlier? Would be 130 to win ~245
02-29-2016
, 04:19 PM
tl;dr: Poker is tough; but awesome
Turning Points:
As anyone would with a one-hour three times per week commute to school, I get a lot of time to think. It's one of the many things I appreciate and like about driving. While for some a monotonous, boring task needed to be done daily, I see it as an opportunity to think outside the box about life. But today it was to be about poker. Listening to Mark Knopfler and aided with an illegal substance stuffed inside a cigarillo, I thought about how much I hated losing. But it was the inevitable face of defeat that brought me to where I was today.
The Legend of "Redwine
Let me take you back to me, 5 days ago, at Harrah's in AC, playing "Super 1/2 NL" for the first time. Within 5 minutes I was hooked. Basically, Super NL is just 1/2 with a 500 max BI. Bingo! Having already made the jump to my local 2/5 NL 500 max buyin I thought of this game to be the perfect in the middle game. What was to ensue that night was nothing like what I was expecting.
I was at what I expected to be a normal table in AC. 3 young grinders, 2-3 nits, 1 LAG nutjob and one super recreational player. Cue Redwine. By 11:00 I was 6 hours into my session, and Redwine was 6 glasses of red wine deep. A younger hispanic male who was a dealer at borg had given the 70 year old man with a 98 VPIP the nickname and it had stuck. Every hand we needled Redwine and he was loving it. Everybody was having a good time.
I was up about 100 on the session, Redwine was stuck about ~1.5k when our hand occured. I prayed it was my turn.
I open QT to 15 in the CO ($600)
A 99 VPIP "grinder" super aggro young black male calls (~$350) OTB
Redwine (~$600) calls in the SB. BB folds.
Its on.
Flop: (41) J36
Redwine checks
I check hoping to induce maniac to bet
Maniac bets 25
Redwine flats
I call
Turn (110) 2
Redwine checks
I check convinced maniac has a hand and is going to bet
Maniac bets 50
Redwine flats
I call
River 4(260)
Redwine checks
I bet 80
Maniac folds
Redwine ships it for ~450
"You got the nuts Redwine?" I ask as he does his little old man smile and I know he cant be bluffing here. He is not that nuts. I fold my QT face up as he tells me he had the nuts. I was relieved, but sad of course to not pick up that pot.
That day I played as well as I could, but that highlights my night as I just couldn't have a better hand than the guy who dropped $2k at a 1/2 game that night. That's rare money in these LLSNL games, so a player like me with aspirations of moving up need to capitalize on those types of days to boost our BR's. But now it's on to looking for the next game like that. Later that night before I cashed out a -$350 loser. I manager to get it in on 457r board with 86 against A6 for ~200BB. After thinking for sure I had a nice 400BB pot to my name, the river came an 8 dashing my hopes for a positive session. But what I gained from this session was of more significant value than the 350 dollars dropped. It was a sense of drive, and eagerness to get better that would make me more prepared for the next time.
Without defeated, losing sessions, I would not be where I was a a player today. No superstar, but a decent grinder with a decent win-rate. What will differentiate me from other would be grinders will be my willingness to work and get better. I have plenty of leaks, and I am nowhere close to perfect. But when the time arrives I want to be ready and I want to be prepared. It is my hate for losing that brought me from a kid with a tiny BR to a kid with a workable bankroll, and it will be the passion that those losses bring that elevate me to the next level.
gl gl out there friends
Turning Points:
As anyone would with a one-hour three times per week commute to school, I get a lot of time to think. It's one of the many things I appreciate and like about driving. While for some a monotonous, boring task needed to be done daily, I see it as an opportunity to think outside the box about life. But today it was to be about poker. Listening to Mark Knopfler and aided with an illegal substance stuffed inside a cigarillo, I thought about how much I hated losing. But it was the inevitable face of defeat that brought me to where I was today.
The Legend of "Redwine
Let me take you back to me, 5 days ago, at Harrah's in AC, playing "Super 1/2 NL" for the first time. Within 5 minutes I was hooked. Basically, Super NL is just 1/2 with a 500 max BI. Bingo! Having already made the jump to my local 2/5 NL 500 max buyin I thought of this game to be the perfect in the middle game. What was to ensue that night was nothing like what I was expecting.
I was at what I expected to be a normal table in AC. 3 young grinders, 2-3 nits, 1 LAG nutjob and one super recreational player. Cue Redwine. By 11:00 I was 6 hours into my session, and Redwine was 6 glasses of red wine deep. A younger hispanic male who was a dealer at borg had given the 70 year old man with a 98 VPIP the nickname and it had stuck. Every hand we needled Redwine and he was loving it. Everybody was having a good time.
I was up about 100 on the session, Redwine was stuck about ~1.5k when our hand occured. I prayed it was my turn.
I open Q
T to 15 in the CO ($600)A 99 VPIP "grinder" super aggro young black male calls (~$350) OTB
Redwine (~$600) calls in the SB. BB folds.
Its on.
Flop: (41) J
36Redwine checks
I check hoping to induce maniac to bet
Maniac bets 25
Redwine flats
I call
Turn (110) 2
Redwine checks
I check convinced maniac has a hand and is going to bet
Maniac bets 50
Redwine flats
I call
River 4
(260)Redwine checks
I bet 80
Maniac folds
Redwine ships it for ~450
"You got the nuts Redwine?" I ask as he does his little old man smile and I know he cant be bluffing here. He is not that nuts. I fold my QT face up as he tells me he had the nuts. I was relieved, but sad of course to not pick up that pot.
That day I played as well as I could, but that highlights my night as I just couldn't have a better hand than the guy who dropped $2k at a 1/2 game that night. That's rare money in these LLSNL games, so a player like me with aspirations of moving up need to capitalize on those types of days to boost our BR's. But now it's on to looking for the next game like that. Later that night before I cashed out a -$350 loser. I manager to get it in on 457r board with 86 against A6 for ~200BB. After thinking for sure I had a nice 400BB pot to my name, the river came an 8 dashing my hopes for a positive session. But what I gained from this session was of more significant value than the 350 dollars dropped. It was a sense of drive, and eagerness to get better that would make me more prepared for the next time.
Without defeated, losing sessions, I would not be where I was a a player today. No superstar, but a decent grinder with a decent win-rate. What will differentiate me from other would be grinders will be my willingness to work and get better. I have plenty of leaks, and I am nowhere close to perfect. But when the time arrives I want to be ready and I want to be prepared. It is my hate for losing that brought me from a kid with a tiny BR to a kid with a workable bankroll, and it will be the passion that those losses bring that elevate me to the next level.
gl gl out there friends
Last edited by tellypl; 02-29-2016 at 04:32 PM.
02-29-2016
, 06:56 PM
03-01-2016
, 06:19 PM
Quote:
tl;dr: Poker is tough; but awesome
Turning Points:
As anyone would with a one-hour three times per week commute to school, I get a lot of time to think. It's one of the many things I appreciate and like about driving. While for some a monotonous, boring task needed to be done daily, I see it as an opportunity to think outside the box about life. But today it was to be about poker. Listening to Mark Knopfler and aided with an illegal substance stuffed inside a cigarillo, I thought about how much I hated losing. But it was the inevitable face of defeat that brought me to where I was today.
The Legend of "Redwine
Let me take you back to me, 5 days ago, at Harrah's in AC, playing "Super 1/2 NL" for the first time. Within 5 minutes I was hooked. Basically, Super NL is just 1/2 with a 500 max BI. Bingo! Having already made the jump to my local 2/5 NL 500 max buyin I thought of this game to be the perfect in the middle game. What was to ensue that night was nothing like what I was expecting.
I was at what I expected to be a normal table in AC. 3 young grinders, 2-3 nits, 1 LAG nutjob and one super recreational player. Cue Redwine. By 11:00 I was 6 hours into my session, and Redwine was 6 glasses of red wine deep. A younger hispanic male who was a dealer at borg had given the 70 year old man with a 98 VPIP the nickname and it had stuck. Every hand we needled Redwine and he was loving it. Everybody was having a good time.
I was up about 100 on the session, Redwine was stuck about ~1.5k when our hand occured. I prayed it was my turn.
I open QT to 15 in the CO ($600)
A 99 VPIP "grinder" super aggro young black male calls (~$350) OTB
Redwine (~$600) calls in the SB. BB folds.
Its on.
Flop: (41) J36
Redwine checks
I check hoping to induce maniac to bet
Maniac bets 25
Redwine flats
I call
Turn (110) 2
Redwine checks
I check convinced maniac has a hand and is going to bet
Maniac bets 50
Redwine flats
I call
River 4(260)
Redwine checks
I bet 80
Maniac folds
Redwine ships it for ~450
"You got the nuts Redwine?" I ask as he does his little old man smile and I know he cant be bluffing here. He is not that nuts. I fold my QT face up as he tells me he had the nuts. I was relieved, but sad of course to not pick up that pot.
That day I played as well as I could, but that highlights my night as I just couldn't have a better hand than the guy who dropped $2k at a 1/2 game that night. That's rare money in these LLSNL games, so a player like me with aspirations of moving up need to capitalize on those types of days to boost our BR's. But now it's on to looking for the next game like that. Later that night before I cashed out a -$350 loser. I manager to get it in on 457r board with 86 against A6 for ~200BB. After thinking for sure I had a nice 400BB pot to my name, the river came an 8 dashing my hopes for a positive session. But what I gained from this session was of more significant value than the 350 dollars dropped. It was a sense of drive, and eagerness to get better that would make me more prepared for the next time.
Without defeated, losing sessions, I would not be where I was a a player today. No superstar, but a decent grinder with a decent win-rate. What will differentiate me from other would be grinders will be my willingness to work and get better. I have plenty of leaks, and I am nowhere close to perfect. But when the time arrives I want to be ready and I want to be prepared. It is my hate for losing that brought me from a kid with a tiny BR to a kid with a workable bankroll, and it will be the passion that those losses bring that elevate me to the next level.
gl gl out there friends
Turning Points:
As anyone would with a one-hour three times per week commute to school, I get a lot of time to think. It's one of the many things I appreciate and like about driving. While for some a monotonous, boring task needed to be done daily, I see it as an opportunity to think outside the box about life. But today it was to be about poker. Listening to Mark Knopfler and aided with an illegal substance stuffed inside a cigarillo, I thought about how much I hated losing. But it was the inevitable face of defeat that brought me to where I was today.
The Legend of "Redwine
Let me take you back to me, 5 days ago, at Harrah's in AC, playing "Super 1/2 NL" for the first time. Within 5 minutes I was hooked. Basically, Super NL is just 1/2 with a 500 max BI. Bingo! Having already made the jump to my local 2/5 NL 500 max buyin I thought of this game to be the perfect in the middle game. What was to ensue that night was nothing like what I was expecting.
I was at what I expected to be a normal table in AC. 3 young grinders, 2-3 nits, 1 LAG nutjob and one super recreational player. Cue Redwine. By 11:00 I was 6 hours into my session, and Redwine was 6 glasses of red wine deep. A younger hispanic male who was a dealer at borg had given the 70 year old man with a 98 VPIP the nickname and it had stuck. Every hand we needled Redwine and he was loving it. Everybody was having a good time.
I was up about 100 on the session, Redwine was stuck about ~1.5k when our hand occured. I prayed it was my turn.
I open Q
T to 15 in the CO ($600)A 99 VPIP "grinder" super aggro young black male calls (~$350) OTB
Redwine (~$600) calls in the SB. BB folds.
Its on.
Flop: (41) J
36Redwine checks
I check hoping to induce maniac to bet
Maniac bets 25
Redwine flats
I call
Turn (110) 2
Redwine checks
I check convinced maniac has a hand and is going to bet
Maniac bets 50
Redwine flats
I call
River 4
(260)Redwine checks
I bet 80
Maniac folds
Redwine ships it for ~450
"You got the nuts Redwine?" I ask as he does his little old man smile and I know he cant be bluffing here. He is not that nuts. I fold my QT face up as he tells me he had the nuts. I was relieved, but sad of course to not pick up that pot.
That day I played as well as I could, but that highlights my night as I just couldn't have a better hand than the guy who dropped $2k at a 1/2 game that night. That's rare money in these LLSNL games, so a player like me with aspirations of moving up need to capitalize on those types of days to boost our BR's. But now it's on to looking for the next game like that. Later that night before I cashed out a -$350 loser. I manager to get it in on 457r board with 86 against A6 for ~200BB. After thinking for sure I had a nice 400BB pot to my name, the river came an 8 dashing my hopes for a positive session. But what I gained from this session was of more significant value than the 350 dollars dropped. It was a sense of drive, and eagerness to get better that would make me more prepared for the next time.
Without defeated, losing sessions, I would not be where I was a a player today. No superstar, but a decent grinder with a decent win-rate. What will differentiate me from other would be grinders will be my willingness to work and get better. I have plenty of leaks, and I am nowhere close to perfect. But when the time arrives I want to be ready and I want to be prepared. It is my hate for losing that brought me from a kid with a tiny BR to a kid with a workable bankroll, and it will be the passion that those losses bring that elevate me to the next level.
gl gl out there friends
Vegas Trip will be Mar 21-29 and will def to a TR. Staying at Rio for 5 nights Flamingo for 2.
Will update this weekend as I'll be playing a marathon session thurs/fri.
gl out there friends
03-09-2016
, 08:00 PM
Home Field Advantage
Without a doubt, in sports there is this highly used term of Home Field Advantage. It is when the home team is supposed to have as advantage over the visitors due to the help of fan support, and familiarity of of the playing surface which they are accustomed to playing on.
Now in Poker, we may have this advantage for other reasons. Obviously all of the table felts will be the same, and there are no fans, but the one way you can get home field advantage over others is by playing and having more history with the other players than others.
For those who aren't familiar with the CT casinos,* there is Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, which are roughly 15 minutes apart. But despite the short distance, these two casinos could not be more different. Mohegan Sun generally brings in most of the Connecticut population, with maybe a small addition of some NY players, while Foxwoods is flooded with players from RI and MA, with a small sprinkle of us CTers.
Since I started playing poker, I've always considered Mohegan Sun to be my "home" casino. It's a 15 minute shorter drive for me, but my statistics will show you that Mohegan Sun has been anything but home court friendly to me.
Early into the session I thought I could begin a new chapter. Starting off playing 1/2 I built up a starting stack to 370. A younger gentleman who has played an orbit opens for the first time to 10. A loose passive player calls on the BTN and I 3bet in the SB with QQ
The younger gentleman then proceeds to think about it and eventually raises to 115 as the BTN quickly folds. With stacks 300 eff and being in the small blind, calling was out the question as I did not want to play a huge pot OOP with QQ, and shoving didn't seem very good, as I end up mucking. I can count on my left hand how many times I've seen a 4bet be worse than QQ at this level. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
Next orbit, I overlimp 87 on the HJ. It goes 6 way to the flop as it comes 654 after 3 checks, I decide to check in hopes of someone firing. I get my wish as a middle ages Asian woman bets 20 into the middle. All I would have to do is dodge a diamond. An OMC right next to her on the BTN min raises to 40 and everyone who checked folds back around to me. My plan changed immediately as one of these two has to have a monster. With stacks 300 eff to begin the hand, I check-3bet to 120 in hopes of setting up stacks for a turn shove. To my display, both players toss their hand into the muck as my plan vanishes into smoke.
I pick up my 133 dollar win at 1/2 and get called for my 2/5 seat. After building a stack to 640 after a couple of hours of play, I get into a pot with a younger Asian player with a VPIP > 90 as well as a whole slew of others. I prayed as I saw the straddle go on and the BTN slide to me, that maybe, just maybe home field advantage would slip my way this time.
With the straddle on to 10, and 2 limpers, I decide to raise AA to 50. To my surprise, I get 4 callers, including my Asian nemesis.
(250) Flop: KT8
My heart sinks as V who was described leads out 125. I knew that depending on the action, I may have to abandon this amazing situation. As the other 3 fold, I have a decision to make. It is certainly possible that I am behind, but as I "All in", I knew what had to be done. I had shoved for 300 more, as I covered V. V contemplated and eventually calls, showing me the KQo. I was in the lead, but had to dodge some outs for my first 1k pot. The turn gives V outs with the 9, and the dealer quickly but slowly rolls over the K on the river to send me to the muck.
I may have lost the biggest pot of my life, but I gained with that a great appreciation of a lot of things. That 1k would have been a huge boost to the bankroll and would have had me feeling really good, but it is hardly the worst beat ever, and there will be worse to come. It was not my time. I may have to wait in order to realize my climb in the poker world, but I am willing to wait, and when the moment comes I know I will be ready regardless or home field or not.
May update once or twice more before Vegas. If not, be ready for some sick Vegas stories.
glgl out there
Without a doubt, in sports there is this highly used term of Home Field Advantage. It is when the home team is supposed to have as advantage over the visitors due to the help of fan support, and familiarity of of the playing surface which they are accustomed to playing on.
Now in Poker, we may have this advantage for other reasons. Obviously all of the table felts will be the same, and there are no fans, but the one way you can get home field advantage over others is by playing and having more history with the other players than others.
For those who aren't familiar with the CT casinos,* there is Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, which are roughly 15 minutes apart. But despite the short distance, these two casinos could not be more different. Mohegan Sun generally brings in most of the Connecticut population, with maybe a small addition of some NY players, while Foxwoods is flooded with players from RI and MA, with a small sprinkle of us CTers.
Since I started playing poker, I've always considered Mohegan Sun to be my "home" casino. It's a 15 minute shorter drive for me, but my statistics will show you that Mohegan Sun has been anything but home court friendly to me.
Early into the session I thought I could begin a new chapter. Starting off playing 1/2 I built up a starting stack to 370. A younger gentleman who has played an orbit opens for the first time to 10. A loose passive player calls on the BTN and I 3bet in the SB with Q
QThe younger gentleman then proceeds to think about it and eventually raises to 115 as the BTN quickly folds. With stacks 300 eff and being in the small blind, calling was out the question as I did not want to play a huge pot OOP with QQ, and shoving didn't seem very good, as I end up mucking. I can count on my left hand how many times I've seen a 4bet be worse than QQ at this level. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
Next orbit, I overlimp 8
7 on the HJ. It goes 6 way to the flop as it comes 654 after 3 checks, I decide to check in hopes of someone firing. I get my wish as a middle ages Asian woman bets 20 into the middle. All I would have to do is dodge a diamond. An OMC right next to her on the BTN min raises to 40 and everyone who checked folds back around to me. My plan changed immediately as one of these two has to have a monster. With stacks 300 eff to begin the hand, I check-3bet to 120 in hopes of setting up stacks for a turn shove. To my display, both players toss their hand into the muck as my plan vanishes into smoke. I pick up my 133 dollar win at 1/2 and get called for my 2/5 seat. After building a stack to 640 after a couple of hours of play, I get into a pot with a younger Asian player with a VPIP > 90 as well as a whole slew of others. I prayed as I saw the straddle go on and the BTN slide to me, that maybe, just maybe home field advantage would slip my way this time.
With the straddle on to 10, and 2 limpers, I decide to raise A
A to 50. To my surprise, I get 4 callers, including my Asian nemesis. (250) Flop: K
T8My heart sinks as V who was described leads out 125. I knew that depending on the action, I may have to abandon this amazing situation. As the other 3 fold, I have a decision to make. It is certainly possible that I am behind, but as I "All in", I knew what had to be done. I had shoved for 300 more, as I covered V. V contemplated and eventually calls, showing me the KQo. I was in the lead, but had to dodge some outs for my first 1k pot. The turn gives V outs with the 9, and the dealer quickly but slowly rolls over the K on the river to send me to the muck.
I may have lost the biggest pot of my life, but I gained with that a great appreciation of a lot of things. That 1k would have been a huge boost to the bankroll and would have had me feeling really good, but it is hardly the worst beat ever, and there will be worse to come. It was not my time. I may have to wait in order to realize my climb in the poker world, but I am willing to wait, and when the moment comes I know I will be ready regardless or home field or not.
May update once or twice more before Vegas. If not, be ready for some sick Vegas stories.
glgl out there
03-11-2016
, 07:25 PM
Tilt, Folding Full Houses and "Downswings"
We all like to think we don't tilt. I pride myself on always trying to be in a good frame of mind to play and minimizing this so called tilt factor while at the felt. I even get so carried away sometimes that I convince myself into believing that I never tilt. And that is a lie.
It seems that in poker, we are all tricked into believing that we are the best players. We never tilt, and we never play bad, it's always run bad. This is a lie. It's this false sense that is a blessing in disguise for winning players. Only the true winners know that keeping an ego-free and open mind is something that needs to be done in order to actually improve.
After Wednesday's session, it was no secret that it would take much less than usual in order to get me off my A-game on Thursday and Friday. And the deck would attempt to throw every rock it possibly could in my direction to get me off my way.
Setting the scene, at 3 A.M. on Thursday night(Now Friday Morning), about 3 hours into my graveyard session I pick up QQ in MP and raise to 12. A TAG young African-American regular with serious post-flop leaks 3bets to 35 and everyone folds back to me. I decide to flat OOP and hope to outplay my opponent post-flop.
The Flop comes 457 and I decide to check/call most bets. He quickly drops 45 into the pot and I proceed with my plan and call.
The Turn brings a blank, the 2 and I will now check/decide. Villain thinks a bit longer this time before dropping in 86, about half pot. I think for a bit of what to do, and decide that I can call one more time profitably.
The River brings the 3 and just about everything that I could beat besides JJ now got there and I just have to hope he checks behind after I check. He ends up shoving for ~300 eff and I quickly fold, as he shows me KK, blatantly showing me his massive river error with that bet, meanwhile making me feel a bit better about the hand.
As the games began to break and I started to get tired, I decided to get a rest and give it another go in the morning. I caught a pretty sick 1 outer when I learned that my room was booked and I was upgraded to the suite, but I would have much rather had that run good on the felt.
Beginning the day early with 2/5, it was tough to get anything going. Brick after brick after brick was highlighted by a hand where I flop TPTK only to be beaten out by a turned straight and top two. The only hand I won in my short two hour tilt filled session was an amazing (suicidal) bluff.
I over-limp 5 way in the SB with two red 4's and the BB, a MAWG regular raises to 25, everyone calls. The Flop comes QT6 This was probably my best flop in two hours as I flop 4th pair, no club. It checks around and the turn bring a 9 I check again and the BB bets out 35. It folds around to me and I decide to rep absolutely nothing and raise to 115. The BB tanks and folds. I could practically feel the tilt oozing out of me as I got up and took a break. After eating and taking a short break, I start to feel better and get seated at 1/2.
About an hour into the new table with the straddle on, I tilt over-limp 97 hoping to pair mine. The flop goes 6 way and comes out 877 Wow. Not only am I the worst, I am going to get rewarded for it. One recreational player leads out 20 getting 3 folders and I raise to 55, getting only the leader to call.
The turn comes a 6 and MAWG recreational player checks. I decide to bet 75 to set up for a ~125 river shove on a good card and to my delight I get called.
As if it came right out of a horror story, the ugly 8 is dropped by the dealer completing my full house. Before I could even get to tilt sigh, My V is all in and I am in the tank. "I don't think I'm good enough to fold this" I say to him as he sits there motionless. I apologize to the table for taking a minute and eventually fold. My V quickly throws over the 8 and the guy next to me who must have saw my hand goes "how do you fold that?"
This month as well as the end of February has been rough for me, but I am hoping I can get out of the "downswing" before Vegas. Without downswings, we wouldn't be able to value the good, and if the winners always won, the recreational players would stop playing. It's a blessing in disguise, and I will continue to embrace the bad that comes with the good, for without the bad, there is no good.
gl out there
We all like to think we don't tilt. I pride myself on always trying to be in a good frame of mind to play and minimizing this so called tilt factor while at the felt. I even get so carried away sometimes that I convince myself into believing that I never tilt. And that is a lie.
It seems that in poker, we are all tricked into believing that we are the best players. We never tilt, and we never play bad, it's always run bad. This is a lie. It's this false sense that is a blessing in disguise for winning players. Only the true winners know that keeping an ego-free and open mind is something that needs to be done in order to actually improve.
After Wednesday's session, it was no secret that it would take much less than usual in order to get me off my A-game on Thursday and Friday. And the deck would attempt to throw every rock it possibly could in my direction to get me off my way.
Setting the scene, at 3 A.M. on Thursday night(Now Friday Morning), about 3 hours into my graveyard session I pick up Q
Q in MP and raise to 12. A TAG young African-American regular with serious post-flop leaks 3bets to 35 and everyone folds back to me. I decide to flat OOP and hope to outplay my opponent post-flop. The Flop comes 4
57 and I decide to check/call most bets. He quickly drops 45 into the pot and I proceed with my plan and call. The Turn brings a blank, the 2
and I will now check/decide. Villain thinks a bit longer this time before dropping in 86, about half pot. I think for a bit of what to do, and decide that I can call one more time profitably. The River brings the 3
and just about everything that I could beat besides JJ now got there and I just have to hope he checks behind after I check. He ends up shoving for ~300 eff and I quickly fold, as he shows me KK, blatantly showing me his massive river error with that bet, meanwhile making me feel a bit better about the hand. As the games began to break and I started to get tired, I decided to get a rest and give it another go in the morning. I caught a pretty sick 1 outer when I learned that my room was booked and I was upgraded to the suite, but I would have much rather had that run good on the felt.
Beginning the day early with 2/5, it was tough to get anything going. Brick after brick after brick was highlighted by a hand where I flop TPTK only to be beaten out by a turned straight and top two. The only hand I won in my short two hour tilt filled session was an amazing (suicidal) bluff.
I over-limp 5 way in the SB with two red 4's and the BB, a MAWG regular raises to 25, everyone calls. The Flop comes Q
T6 This was probably my best flop in two hours as I flop 4th pair, no club. It checks around and the turn bring a 9 I check again and the BB bets out 35. It folds around to me and I decide to rep absolutely nothing and raise to 115. The BB tanks and folds. I could practically feel the tilt oozing out of me as I got up and took a break. After eating and taking a short break, I start to feel better and get seated at 1/2. About an hour into the new table with the straddle on, I tilt over-limp 9
7 hoping to pair mine. The flop goes 6 way and comes out 877 Wow. Not only am I the worst, I am going to get rewarded for it. One recreational player leads out 20 getting 3 folders and I raise to 55, getting only the leader to call. The turn comes a 6
and MAWG recreational player checks. I decide to bet 75 to set up for a ~125 river shove on a good card and to my delight I get called. As if it came right out of a horror story, the ugly 8
is dropped by the dealer completing my full house. Before I could even get to tilt sigh, My V is all in and I am in the tank. "I don't think I'm good enough to fold this" I say to him as he sits there motionless. I apologize to the table for taking a minute and eventually fold. My V quickly throws over the 8 and the guy next to me who must have saw my hand goes "how do you fold that?" This month as well as the end of February has been rough for me, but I am hoping I can get out of the "downswing" before Vegas. Without downswings, we wouldn't be able to value the good, and if the winners always won, the recreational players would stop playing. It's a blessing in disguise, and I will continue to embrace the bad that comes with the good, for without the bad, there is no good.
gl out there
03-30-2016
, 08:40 PM
Las Vegas: Day One
After landing at McCarran airport at 6:30 local time I had only one thing on my mind: Poker. After unloading my bags at the Rio I was quickly on the way to the strip to go to a place I've waited to go for a long time; The Bellagio. For a poker player, it's almost a must to play in this place, and I was ready to go. It would be my first of many sessions at the Bellagio, but my only time playing the 1/3. Everything about it was amazing, the feel, the atmosphere, the thrill of being in Vegas. The room was still pretty packed for what I'd imagine a normal Monday would be due to March Madness week.
The game I played in turned out to be much softer than expected, and I was able to grind out a +116 session without many interesting hands. And of course Fiji water. After some sight seeing and dinner I headed back to Rio after catching the last shuttle before 1. I played another 3 hours until 4:30AM (really 7:30 for me at the time) due to the sheer excitement, and not wanting to go to sleep.
The only game running was once again 1/3 NL and I was sat at a table of 2 regs and a bunch of recreationals. Got into a fun hand with a reggy player who was only ~50 BB deep.
2 limpers including villain in SB to me in the BB with T 4
Flop (8)
T48
v checks
I bet 5
mp folds
v calls
Turn (17) 6
v checks
I bet 15
v calls
River (45) 4
Hero checks
I all in (135 eff)
V calls and mucks.
It was a great way to start the Vegas trip. With 7 more to go and plenty of fun to be had, I was feeling ready to go and excited for what the trip had in store.
After landing at McCarran airport at 6:30 local time I had only one thing on my mind: Poker. After unloading my bags at the Rio I was quickly on the way to the strip to go to a place I've waited to go for a long time; The Bellagio. For a poker player, it's almost a must to play in this place, and I was ready to go. It would be my first of many sessions at the Bellagio, but my only time playing the 1/3. Everything about it was amazing, the feel, the atmosphere, the thrill of being in Vegas. The room was still pretty packed for what I'd imagine a normal Monday would be due to March Madness week.
The game I played in turned out to be much softer than expected, and I was able to grind out a +116 session without many interesting hands. And of course Fiji water. After some sight seeing and dinner I headed back to Rio after catching the last shuttle before 1. I played another 3 hours until 4:30AM (really 7:30 for me at the time) due to the sheer excitement, and not wanting to go to sleep.
The only game running was once again 1/3 NL and I was sat at a table of 2 regs and a bunch of recreationals. Got into a fun hand with a reggy player who was only ~50 BB deep.
2 limpers including villain in SB to me in the BB with T
4 Flop (8)
T
48 v checks
I bet 5
mp folds
v calls
Turn (17) 6
v checks
I bet 15
v calls
River (45) 4
Hero checks
I all in (135 eff)
V calls and mucks.
It was a great way to start the Vegas trip. With 7 more to go and plenty of fun to be had, I was feeling ready to go and excited for what the trip had in store.