Awesomeness



I love the quote on this poster: "When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead". I have had three bad sessions - one Friday afternoon at HU NL, one Monday morning/afternoon and one Tuesday morning/afternoon. I took a short break each time, came back and did great. While the quote here is kind of silly, the parellel to poker is obvious. Don't dwell on a downswing - just play your game well, and if you think you aren't playing well, take a break and come back. If you make correct decisions, the money will find its way into your bankroll.

There is plenty of negative things one could focus on in poker. Last night I made it to 29/1370 in a stars MTT - losing when a guy min-reraised me with J8o, and I pushed all in on the flop with 11 outs vs. him when he flopped top pair, but I missed. That sucked, as I was excited for a chance at a big payday and 29th paid a pittance. However, it is probably much more important that I think I am playing very well in MTTs going into Vegas. Further, I have been on a nice little run again this week as I have been playing quite a bit of 2/4 NL (both full ring and short-handed), making this the 6th straight week for me to book a nice weekly win. (I have been counting weeks Friday-Thursday, so I could still end up negative for the week, but as of today I am having the best week of this stretch).

Speaking of awesomeness, I leave for Vegas Saturday morning. This is probably the last update I give prior to Vegas, but I will try to call in with audio updates from the WSOP. I play events on Sunday and Monday, so be sure to check often if you want the scoop on how I am doing (the tourney starts at 3:00 PM eastern time, so the first update won't be until 5:15 or so Eastern time).

The past few days and week in review

I have had my fifth straight week of really good results (and, I think, pretty decent play). A quick summary ...

HU NL cash

I am doing well with it - although I just lost a couple buyins to one player in mostly variance, but one or two questionable plays. That being said, I am up for the week at 2/4 NLHU play, albeit not too much and not too many hours. Overall, I feel good about how things have gone.

Turbo tourneys

In the past couple days I have played 4 $60 45-man tourneys, cashing in one of them for 3rd, and 3 $12 180 man, winning one.

Tourneys

Nothing to report since the other night, I am feeling good about my game.


Limit Cash

On haitus until I figure it out a bit better - reading stoxpoker right now.

No-Limit Cash full ring

I am playing some and I think the 2/4 NLFR games on stars are quite beatable (at least by me). I look forward to playing those more in the near future.

Tourney game shaping up

Last night I played a couple 8:00 PM tourneys - one on stars and one on tilt. I cash in stars (finished about 60/1400) and, with 145 left (135 paid), I got all in PF w QQ vs. 98s for a 36K chip pot (26K was average) but was outdrawn. I was happy with my play in this full tilt tourney, however. Going into the WSOP - that is probably more important than the results.

On stars, I felt like I played very well also - but lost a critical hand where I lost a big pot with 88 vs. JJ (I have to give the opponent credit here - I saw him raise KK utg before, so when he limped, then raised from utg, I figured his range was most pairs up to 99 or so, along with AK and AQ. I was surprised that he had JJ - and just have to give him credit for mixing up his game well. I am not too unhappy with my play there, and in fact, I might have been ahead of his range. My chance to double back up to an almost-average stack failed when my QJ couldn't beat 88.

I am pretty happy about how well my tourney game is going now. I am very excited for Vegas (I leave in 9 days).


NL cash games

Since my post about my win against the one opponent, I have played a bit more NLHU cash games and am a bit more than a buyin ahead. I have been playing 2/4 and 3/6 NL full ring games along with 1/2 and 2/4 NL heads up games.

WSOP audio blogging - test


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A quick $2/$4 NLHU session this morning - some hands.

I sit down with a guy, and had never played him before. A quick check shows he is only single-tabling.

The first hand - I sit down and find 99 - I raise, and get reraised. I call the reraise. I give up on the turn. I don't know if I am ahead (I never know if someone is just trying to donate a stack on hand 1), but I figure if he is going to push with nothing - I will catch him. But, I don't have enough evidence to know this.


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HAND #1
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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 2 Players
Hand History Converter by Hero raises to $12, BB raises to $39, Hero calls $27

Flop: ($78) J 3 Q (2 players)
BB bets $47, Hero calls $47

Turn: ($172) 6 (2 players)
BB bets $95, Hero folds

Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $172 pot ($0.50 rake)
BB mucked and won $171.50 ($85.50 net)







A few hands go by, and this guy is a betting machine. He raises every button, reraises from the sb a lot, and fires constantly. I get a good reraising hand, and flop top pair. I perhaps should have bet the turn, but was hoping he would fire so I could check raise all in.



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HAND #2
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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold' >Hand'>http://www.stoxpoker.com/hand_history_converter/">Hand History Converter by BTN raises to $12, Hero raises to $40, BTN calls $28

Flop: ($80) 8 Q 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $72, BTN calls $72

Turn: ($224) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($224) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets $128, BTN calls $128

Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $480 pot ($0.50 rake)
Hero showed As Qh (two pairs, Queens and Fours) and won $479.50 ($239.50 net)
BTN mucked and lost (-$240 net)






In hand 3 - I made a move with 65, and got pushed off my marginal hand.


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HAND #3
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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold' >Hand'>http://www.stoxpoker.com/hand_history_converter/">Hand History Converter by BTN raises to $12, Hero calls $8

Flop: ($24) 4 6 A (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $16, Hero raises to $42, BTN calls $26

Turn: ($108) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $64, BTN raises to $145, Hero folds

Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $236 pot ($0.50 rake)
BTN mucked and won $235.50 ($117.50 net)






Hand 4 - In position, I just was not going to necessarily give him credit for an ace. Big pot for Elmo.



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HAND #4
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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold' >Hand'>http://www.stoxpoker.com/hand_history_converter/">Hand History Converter by Hero raises to $12, BB calls $8

Flop: ($24) A 6 4 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $16, BB raises to $48, Hero calls $32

Turn: ($120) 8 (2 players)
BB bets $65, Hero calls $65

River: ($250) 2 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $250 pot ($0.50 rake)
BB showed Kh 7h (high card Ace) and lost (-$125 net)
Hero showed 7c 6c (a pair of Sixes) and won $249.50 ($124.50 net)







This was questionnable - but given how aggressive he was, and how often he reraised me on the flop, I was going to 3-bet. At that point, I was committed and thankfully ahead (and won).


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HAND #5
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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold' >Hand'>http://www.stoxpoker.com/hand_history_converter/">Hand History Converter by Hero raises to $12, BB calls $8

Flop: ($24) 5 2 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $18, BB raises to $56, Hero raises to $192, BB raises to $503 and is all-in, Hero calls $311

Turn: ($1,030) 9 (2 players, 1 is all-in)
River: ($1,030) 8 (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $1,030 pot ($0.50 rake)
BB showed 5c 4c (a pair of Fives) and lost (-$515 net)
Hero showed 7d 7s (a pair of Sevens) and won $1,029.50 ($514.50 net)






He started calling me names after this, and I remember telling myself that perhaps he will make a mistake or two. About 5 hands went by, and we let him hang himself.


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HAND #6

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Full Tilt, $2/$4 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 2 Players

Hand History Converter by Stoxpoker



Hero (BTN): $1,044 (261 bb)

BB: $406 (101.5 bb)



Pre-Flop: Hero is BTN with 2 2

Hero raises to $12, BB raises to $39, Hero calls $27



Flop: ($78) 4 2 9 (2 players)

BB bets $47, Hero calls $47



Turn: ($172) 4 (2 players)

BB bets $90, Hero calls $90



River: ($352) 6 (2 players)

BB bets $230 and is all-in, Hero calls $230



Results (listed below in white, highlight to see): $812 pot ($0.50 rake)

BB showed 8s 3s (a pair of Fours) and lost (-$406 net)

Hero showed 2h 2d (a full house, Twos full of Fours) and won $811.50 ($405.50 net)






He left after this hand. I am happy with how I played. The big problem - I think I was too excited/happy about this win. Winning 2.5 buyins from a player can happen easily, and that 77 vs. 54 hand could have easily gone the other way. Over time, I hope that the wins and loses become a bit more "routine" for me at $2/$4 NL. But today, I am really happy about the $1,000 pick up. That concerns me.

WSOP plans


As you know, I am playing in event 2 of the WSOP. I pre-registered, and received the confirmation via email that I received the day I wanted - day 1B (Sunday, June 1st). Because of my chop in the People's championship, I am also going to play event #3, the PL holdem $1500 event. In this event, ITHers will have approx 30% of my action. I like this for a couple reasons. First, I think there are some strategic mistakes made at PL holdem that are not made in NL holdem. Second, there is a 5K WSOP event that will draw in a lot of the top pros. So, while the field will certainly be tough - most of the top pros will probably play the $5K.

If I make it out of day 1 of event 2, I will not be able to play event 3 and will give the stake to another ITHer to play for the backers.


Life Decision

I realize that I have not updated you on what we decided. I mentioned a while ago how we were deciding whether to take a job somewhere else. We decided to stay - we are happy here and I like my job and my co-workers here.


Movin' On Up

I have been so happy with my Heads Up NL Cash game that I am moving up in stakes. Yesterday was my first day playing 2/4 NL HU cash games. I made a couple mistakes that were costly and had two huge outdraws that cost me big pots (T6 vs. QT all in on T62 flop - he hits running jacks, and 33 on T43 board - all in vs. shorter stack with T9 and board hits a running T and 4), but overall I netted a slight win yesterday. The winning or losing isn't as important as making good decisions, however. If I do that - I will win in the long run.

The People's Championship



I imagine most who read my blog also read nside's blog, but for the one or two who don't, here is a link to how the the People's Championship went down:


http://www.nsidestrate.com/blog/2008/05/16/i-am-the-ith-peoples-co-champion/

Chopped the ITH People's Championship

Seven of us played in the ITH People's Championship last night. While small, the field was very tough - including nside and yankees31. I ended up getting HU with nside with a huge chip deficit. However, a flopped set for me and QT for him on a T high board helped me double up.

When I had a slight chip lead (just under 55% of chips, I think), nside and I decided to chop. Normally I would ask for a bit more out of the chop, but since nside is a friend, the extra equity I could fight over would only total about $100, my chip lead was pretty small, and nside is also a good player, I decided to chop. We discussed that he owes me a drink in Vegas for it, however.

So - the original plan for the People's Championship was that you paid $250, with $125 going to the "players pool" for 1/2 your action in the WSOP event, and the other $125 going to the backers pool, for 5% of the action of the winner. I am not certain how it will exactly work with the chop, but I assume that instead of the "backers" getting 50% of 1 player, they will get 25% of two players. So I will get $1250 to buy into a WSOP event - with $375 of my action going to the people's champion backers. I will also get 2 1/2 percent of nside's action.


I suck at limit

Well, maybe not, but I had an awful hour at it yesterday, losing 60 big bets. That is a loss of $10/minute at 5/10 limit - not a good hour. I am taking a break from it until I read stoxpoker a bit more. Also, I think I am clearly a winner in the games at CakePoker, but I am probably only a slight winner or breakeven player at stars or full tilt.

I rule at NL HU

OK, I think I am good, but perhaps I don't rule. However, as bad as I did at limit yesterday, I did better at 1/2 HUNL. I won 5 buyins yesterday and this morning, which means I am actually up in cash games over the last 2 days, despite my awful, awful performance at limit. I really feel in the zone in NL cash games right now. I am thinking of moving up to 2/4 NLHU - I am ready.

Getting excited for WSOP

Two weeks from Saturday I head to Vegas, and I am excited. I sent in my registration for event 2. I will play day B of event #2 - on Sunday, June 1st. I certainly plan to do well and be playing on Monday, but if I am out Sunday, there are lots of tourneys I could play. Nside posted a schedule of tourneys on ITH, which include some $500 buyin events. I will likely either play $500 events on Monday and Tuesday of my stay. However, I might instead opt to buy into the $1500 PL holdem event which starts on Monday, June 2nd.


Getting tourney game into shape

Although the results aren't there yet to prove it, I think my tourney game is getting into shape. I have made a couple small adjustments that I think are paying off.


Doing well still with cash games and SNGs

After a breakeven stretch for a few days, I have been on a tear again yesterday and today. The main game I am doing well in is Heads up NL holdem cash games. I have been playing the 1/2 NL games at both cake poker and full tilt poker and have done well. I broke my rules and decided to play some multi-tablers, largely because I didn't want to wait, but I also felt good about my game and wanted a challenge. It is fun to see 3- and 4-tablers of HUNL play me for 30 minutes and then leave to find softer spots.


What is Elmo Reading?

I have received a big shipment of books recently. Now that I am back into limit holdem a bit, I have stoxpoker's book. Wow, that is not light. I think I am going to break from limit holdem a bit until I study this book a bit more. When I go back, I first thing I am going to study/memorize that starting hand chart. It is quite different from anything else I have seen. That won't take long, of course, but I think starting with that would be nice. The other concepts in there don't seem so foreign - but I am getting quite a bit out of it, even though I am still in the early stages.

I also received Harrington on Cash I and II, and Gus Hanson's book (Every Hand Revealed). I look forward to reading those a bit in the next couple weeks and on the plane.

Still running-hot

I have been running pretty well still in SNGs, limit holdem, and NL holdem. I have played a fair amount of each, playing the most limit and the least NL. It is nice to run hot now, as I will bring a nice roll so I can comfortably play 5/10 NL tables or 20/40 or higher limit while in Vegas with no fear of bankroll implications.

Tourneys

I have been watching more PXF videos - and feel good about what I am learning. I played a few tourneys tonight but have bombed out so far, except I am still in the fill tilt $32K guaranteed. I did win a $320 sat on FT, however, so at least that has paid for tonight's entries.

I am shaking off the rust of my game, and feel pretty good about my game, but am still making more mistakes than I would like. But, I am starting to get back into my groove, and hopefully my game will be in top form by the WSOP.