Thursday, June 14, 2007

My most amazing poker comeback story has a bittersweet ending.

I played both the million and the UB 200K Sunday. I busted in the million about 2/3 way through (player wise). I got shortstacked when I ran AK into AA. I actually played it conservatively – I only CC the PF raise, then just called all the way on a K high uncoordinated board. That left me with 5K – which I got back up to 14K, but that was still only half the average and I busted when I pushed K9s from the CO with an M of 5 and 10K chips and ran into QQ which held up.

In the UB 200K, I was at half the average after losing a bunch of chips w QQ when I had to fold and a PF raise and continuation bet on a KJ4-2-A board. I had about 3.6K in chips, then had to fold the bb. The average was 7.5K, and I picked up 77. Here is what transpired.


Ultimate Bet

No Limit Holdem Tournament

Blinds: t200./t400.

(Ante: t50)

9 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

UTG: t17210

UTG+1: t15700

MP1: t7210

MP2: t19510

MP3: t5135

CO: t5305

Button: t9145

ELMO: t3430

BB: t3285



Pre-flop: (9 players) ELMO is SB with 7♠ 7♣

UTG raises to t800, 6 folds, ELMO calls t600 (pot was t1850), BB raises all-in t3235, UTG calls t2435 (pot was t5285), ELMO raises all-in t3380, UTG calls t145 (pot was t10300).



Flop: T♥ 2♦ A♥ (t10445, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t10155, Sidepot 1: t290)





Turn: 3♣ (t10445, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t10155, Sidepot 1: t290)





River: A♣ (t10445, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t10155, Sidepot 1: t290)





Results:

Final pot: t10445

BB shows 3h As

UTG shows Ks Qd

ELMO shows 7s 7c



I had a good chance to triple up, but vs. 3 overs, not surprising I lost. I was left with a piddling 290 chips. The big blind was 400, with a 25 ante, so I was toast. There were a couple limpers, and I figure 63s might play OK in a multi-way pot. Further, the antes will eat away my stack quickly, so why not try to get lucky now.

Ultimate Bet

No Limit Holdem Tournament

Blinds: t200./t400.

(Ante: t50)

10 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

UTG: t15650

UTG+1: t7160

UTG+2: t19460

MP1: t5085

MP2: t5255

MP3: t9095

CO: t12315

ELMO: t290

SB: t10155

BB: t13780



Pre-flop: (10 players) ELMO is Button with 6♠ 3♠

UTG folds, UTG+1 calls t400 (pot was t1100), 3 folds, MP3 calls t400 (pot was t1500), CO folds, ELMO calls all-in t240, SB calls t200 (pot was t2140), BB checks.



Flop: 8♦ 4♥ Q♣ (t2340, 4 players + 1 all-in - Main pot: t1700, Sidepot 1: t640)

SB checks, BB bets t1000, UTG+1 raises to t2500, 3 folds.

Uncalled bets: t1500 returned to UTG+1.



Turn: 3♣ (t4340, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t1700, Sidepot 1: t2640)





River: 3♦ (t4340, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t1700, Sidepot 1: t2640)





Results:

Final pot: t4340

UTG+1 shows Ks Qs

ELMO shows 6s 3s


That is right – I had 6 high against a pair of queens, and hit runner-runner 3s!

I was still desperate, of course, but that pot more than quintupled me up.

Next hand – AK

Ultimate Bet

No Limit Holdem Tournament

Blinds: t200./t400.

(Ante: t50)

10 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

UTG: t8350

UTG+1: t19410

UTG+2: t5035

MP1: t5205

MP2: t8645

MP3: t12315

ELMO: t1650

Button: t9705

SB: t12330

BB: t15600



Pre-flop: (10 players) ELMO is CO with A♥ K♠

6 folds, ELMO raises all-in t1600, Button folds, SB calls t1400 (pot was t2700), BB folds.



Flop: J♥ 6♠ 3♣ (t4100, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4100)





Turn: K♣ (t4100, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4100)





River: 7♦ (t4100, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4100)





Results:

Final pot: t4100

SB shows 4s 4d

ELMO shows Ah Ks


And I am above where I started when I had the 77.

I stole the blinds once. Then I get the big blind with a guy who loves button raising. I figure I am going to do a stop-and-go. When the board comes, I figure I get all in either way if behind, but the only way to get all in if I am ahead is to trap. Here is what happened.

Ultimate Bet

No Limit Holdem Tournament

Blinds: t200./t400.

(Ante: t50)

10 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

UTG: t9405

UTG+1: t13330

UTG+2: t14700

MP1: t7450

MP2: t16660

MP3: t5140

CO: t5355

Button: t13780

SB: t12665

ELMO: t4900



Pre-flop: (10 players) ELMO is BB with Q♠ J♠

7 folds, Button raises to t1200, SB folds, ELMO calls t800 (pot was t2300).



Flop: A♥ J♣ 9♠ (t3100, 2 players)

ELMO checks, Button bets t1900, ELMO raises all-in t3650, Button calls t1750 (pot was t8650).



Turn: J♥ (t10400, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t10400)





River: 5♦ (t10400, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t10400)





Results:

Final pot: t10400

Button shows Kc 9h

ELMO shows Qs Js



From here I got aces a couple times, then moved my stack to 25K. Near the bubble, I think I made a mistake making a continuation bet in position w 99 on a KQx board against 2 players, one of whom was belowabove who ch-raised all in, forcing me to fold. This pushed me down to 16K or so. I then got nothing for cards, and was whittled down a bit and my short stack push was called and I busted in the money – doubling the buy in. It always sucks to bust, but that comeback to get ITM is still impressive, IMO. The real money is always in the top 3, so I am a bit disgusted I could not make it farther.

I was impressed with how maniacal below above was near the bubble. I think I may need to study bubble play a bit more.


Crushing Cash Games.

I have been crushing cash games the past few days. I decided to drop down to $1 bb NL SH, and I actually don’t know if I am going to move back up. The players are so much worse that my earn rate might actually be higher at $1 bb/NL. When I first sit down, I try to play like a complete maniac for 15 hands or so – raising half the time. Then I remain aggressive PF, but settle into more of a normal game. The table, however, will not give me any respect. I have had some very loose calls, and I am up about 13 buyins since Sunday playing a limited schedule.

I am off to IA to visit friends for a few days, so I doubt I will play any online poker again until Monday.

Friday, June 08, 2007

NL – 6-max. Wow, the swings are freaking huge!

In the 48 hours since I posted last, I am up about 1 buy-in playing ½ NL 6-max. This does not quite tell the story, however.

Wednesday, I had a good day – winning over 4.5 buyins. A great day playing relatively little (at one points, I was up 50 PTBB/100). Yesterday, I gave most back. I was down 2.5 buyins when this hand came up (hand history crapped out for UB on this hand, so this is by memory).

Elmo has 99 – raised utg (6-max) to $7 $400 stack.
UTG+1 is a LP PF player, LAGGY post-flop player with $1000 chip stack (this is ½ NL, max buyin $200).
Everyone else folds.
Flop is K 3 3.

Elmo bets $12 as a continuation bet. UTG+1 calls. Elmo is thinking “I am done with this hand”. Then however …

Turn 9Wow – I made a boat. Since stacks are so deep, the best way to possibly stack him is to ch-raise here, so I check.

UTG+1 bets $40 (about the pot). I ch-raise to $145. This leaves $235 behind or so – a good amount for a river bet should he call. To my delight, he calls.

River – a K

UHGGGG! I check. He bets $100 into $300+ pot. I figure he must see there is no way I have a king, so there is a better than ¼ chance he is value betting with either a 3 or AA (or QQ), so I call, and he shows King-Ten. His turn call was incredibly weak, but worked out. I certainly sucked out on the turn, but if I don't, I lose far, far less on this hand.

Sooooo…. that K on the river meant instead of losing 1 buyin, I lost 4 buyins yesterday.

I decided just to stop for the day. I had plenty of other things going on – so no biggie. In general, I felt I was playing OK, but there is no point in proceeding when I could just start again fresh the next day. This morning I decided just to one-table to start to make sure I made proper decisions (after a big loss – this is not a bad strategy). I ended a half-buyin up making me up one buyin over 2 days. Not a bad result, really, but a pretty sick way to get there. If I won 3.5 buyins per weak playing part-time, I would be thrilled. Just a brutal, gut-wrenching way to get there.

This Sunday – I am playing the Sunday million on stars and the UB $200K. Hopefully I can make a nice run in one or both. I would not mind winning one hundred thousand dollars this weekend.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

The 1/2 NL SH Roller Coaster

The past few days have been a bit crazy: A brief look at my results over the past week:

Thursday: Up $500
Friday: Up $1000
Saturday: Down $700
Sunday: Down $150
Monday: Up $150
Tuesday: Up $450

And in a short morning session I am up again. Overall, it has been a profitable week – but the swings are pretty crazy. I am mostly playing 2 or 3 tables with a full buyin. I just am playing a good tight-aggressive game. I am making the occasional move, but mainly to slow down the guys who raise PF 20% of the time or so.

I have not played many tourneys recently – but I will be playing the Sunday million and UB $200K this Sunday (ended up not playing this past Sunday).

SOME HANDS

I need to learn to fold aces better – at least against the multi-tabling robots

Poker Stars

No Limit Holdem Ring game

Blinds: $1/$2

6 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

ELMO: $232.60

UTG+1: $132.55

CO: $113.30

Button: $199

SB: $53.85

BB: $97.60



Pre-flop: (6 players) ELMO is UTG with A♠ A♦

ELMO raises to $6, 2 folds, Button calls, SB folds, BB calls.



Flop: 9♠ T♣ 2♣ ($19, 3 players)

BB checks, ELMO bets $12, Button raises to $40, BB folds, ELMO calls.



Turn: 3♦ ($99, 2 players)

ELMO checks, Button bets $66, ELMO raises to $182, Button calls all-in $87.

Uncalled bets: $29 returned to ELMO.



River: 5♦ ($405, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $405)





Results:

Final pot: $405

ELMO showed As Ad

Button showed 2s 2d

Sometimes - they call with their gutshot draws (and we like it!)


Poker Stars

No Limit Holdem Ring game

Blinds: $1/$2

6 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

UTG: $258.80

UTG+1: $105.45

CO: $197

Button: $219

ELMO: $371.40

BB: $216



Pre-flop: (6 players) ELMO is SB with T♣ 9♣

4 folds, ELMO raises to $6, BB calls.



Flop: 4♣ A♠ J♣ ($12, 2 players)

ELMO bets $8, BB calls.



Turn: K♣ ($28, 2 players)

ELMO bets $22, BB raises to $66, ELMO raises to $238, BB calls all-in $136.

Uncalled bets: $36 returned to ELMO.



River: 4♠ ($432, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $432)





Results:

Final pot: $432

ELMO showed Tc 9c
BB mucks Ts Qs





A good river fold? He was calling quick on flop and turn – made me think he was on a flush draw the whole way

Poker Stars

No Limit Holdem Ring game

Blinds: $1/$2

5 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

BB: $216

UTG: $533.05

ELMO: $226

Button: $200

SB: $182.20

BB: $226.40



Pre-flop: (5 players) ELMO is CO with 9♣ A♣

UTG calls, ELMO raises to $8, 3 folds, UTG calls.



Flop: A♦ 9♥ 2♦ ($19, 2 players)

UTG checks, ELMO bets $14, UTG calls.



Turn: Q♥ ($47, 2 players)

UTG checks, ELMO bets $42, UTG calls.



River: 4♦ ($131, 2 players)

UTG is all-in $469.05, ELMO folds.

Uncalled bets: $469.05 returned to UTG.



Results:

Final pot: $131



Sometimes you raise the flop to try to see if they have nothing. You were wrong, but it turns out right!

Ultimate Bet

No Limit Holdem Ring game

Blinds: $1./$2.

4 players

Converter



Stack sizes:

ELMO: $250.80

Button: $201.90

SB: $278.05

BB: $173.05



Pre-flop: (4 players) ELMO is UTG with J♥ J♣

ELMO raises to $7, Button folds, SB raises to $23, BB folds, ELMO calls.



Flop: 2♣ K♣ 4♠ ($48, 2 players)

SB bets $25, ELMO raises to $70, SB calls.



Turn: J♦ ($188, 2 players)

SB checks, ELMO bets $80, SB calls.



River: 2♦ ($348, 2 players)

SB checks, ELMO is all-in $77.8, SB calls.



Results:

Final pot: $503.6

ELMO shows Jh Jc

SB showed AK