Verneer's Poker Blog

Need a Dell Charger ...

2008-09-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

I'm at Atlantic Beach in North Carolina until Tuesday. My wife's best friend from childhood always comes up here with her family in September and this year we decided to come visit them. My internet access here is dialup so no poker for a couple of days. I don't mind - I will just do some writing when I have time.

One problem is that I forgot to bring my charger for my laptop. I'm currently writing on a friend's MacBook but really need my Dell. So ... do places like Radioshack sell chargers for laptops? What can I do about it? I could technically just use this MacBook, but I would rather use my computer if possible. Any advice would be really appreciated.

I've also been thinking about how much easier some decisions seem to be when you are coaching/sweating a person vs. actually playing. I think the main reason for this is that when sweating/coaching, the whole decision process is much more academic/objective rather than emotional. Thus, you're able to stay on your A-game pretty much 100% of the time. The sessions are shorter too, and you tend to be more focused. The same is true when you are making a video - you simply need to be on your A-game and thus tend to play close to optimal poker.

So - if you haven't do it yet, get in the habit of sweating your friends and having them sweat you. The experience is simply invaluable and bound to make both of you better. Talking about hands and keeping one another in check will expedite your learning process.

100NL FR results over 20K hands ...

2008-09-08T19:44:00.001-07:00

For the time being I'm going to blog here as the CR blogs still have a lot of formatting issues which I'm very picky about, so ... I will give this a spin again.

For starters, here are my current FR numbers on Stars:

And here is my graph:

Now - there is a lot of variance there as at first I was pretty lost in a lot of situations. I'm just now starting to find my way around them. Some of the issues I had when transitioning from 6-max:

1. What type of hands should I open from what position?

2. What types of boards do I need to c-bet vs. what type of players?

3. How many tables should I play and how should I pick them?

4. When should I get away from hands?

And ... what I feel is the most challenging thing:

5. How do I play more than 12 tables effectively?

As of now, I find that I'm able to put in some long sessions at FR in ways that I never could at 6-max. While 6-max can definitely be more profitable than FR, it also often leaves me pretty mentally spent as I have to do a lot more thinking and I'm just not able to play that many tables. Since I want to get SuperNova on Stars by the end of the year, I figured I needed to do something which would be sustainable and that I could grind every day.

All that said, I'm excited about my start so far. I still have miles to go but I feel like my overall learning of FR is heading in the right direction. I hope to offer more insight into it in the upcoming days/weeks/months.

Updates on other blog ...

2007-05-10T06:13:00.000-07:00

So most of my blogging is going to go on at my other blog created for my N = 10,000 challenge. Check it out for current updates.

http://10000hands.blogspot.com

Bad beat ...

2007-05-08T03:41:00.000-07:00

So I had this great idea.

I would have one of my friends from abroad sign up for a Party Poker account and that I would play on it. I PM-ed Mark (Heineken23) and he set the whole thing up for me. I even got a kick-ass SN.

Everything was ready to go ... until I logged on and was informed that I can't play with real money. Now ... I KNOW that Party is closed to Americans, but I didn't realize that I cannot play Party in America. I sent support and e-mail and that's what they told me. I guess they can read my IP address and mark it as American.

Anyhow ... Mark played some and here is how the conversation went:

Me: Sucks about Party.
Mark: yeah big time
Me: I was all excited abotu the name and prospect.
Mark: u dont wanna hear this but thought i would give it a try....
Me: Give what a try?
Me: As in ... you will play Party?
Mark: 400 hands + $280 at $50nl :-)

And here is an example of a hand that played out:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1073621

Pay it Forward

2007-05-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Brian "Hookem148" Rue and I are working with three guys as part of Brian's Pay-It-Forward project.

I love the format that Brian has selected. It's well organized and well thought out. I have posted the links to the three players on the right side of this blog.

I feel very fortunate to be involved in the project.

A few hands from an MTT ...

2007-04-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

How should I play these?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1050731

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1050734

I also placed ITM in both tourneys. Wheeeee! That was my goal for the Daily Double. I still have a lot to learn about tourneys, but one step at a time. The Daily Double is a good (inexpensive) way to learn MTT strategy.

$0.75 hands ...

2007-04-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun last night playing live poker at a friends house.

The stakes were very small - $0.10/$0.20 blinds with a max buy-in of $10. It was 4-handed and most of them are used to a really passive game with seeing a lot of flops. I decided to play like 80/50 or so - super aggro and super loose (TP = the nuts, all draws = the nuts, etc). I would play very aggressive OOP and control the pot in position. One of my friends who also plays on FTP was playing a style very similar to mine and the two of us were kind of running over the table.

So like an hour into it I have QhTh OTB and make it my standard $0.75 raise. A super loose/passive player calls from the SB and the flop comes Kh 5h 9c. He bets out $1.50 and I immediately put him all in (he didn't have much more - like $4.00 behind). He was visibly frustrated and called with A5o. 7h turns FTW.

I start laughing at him for leading out and calling my all in with A5 and he frustratingly responds:

"I just know you don't have $0.75 hands EVERY time!"

I found his statement very funny and it once again illustrated why LAG players get paid off nicely. LAG = fun :)

The tale of two AK hands.

2007-04-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

AK vs. SmartLag SB/BB at 400NL: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1038662

AK in 4-bet pot at 25NL: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1038831

I guess if I have to lose one of them it might as well be the 2nd one ...

Rakeback > 2K for April

2007-04-26T04:30:00.001-07:00

Ship it?

The N = 10,000 challenge

2007-04-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do a fun project:

http://10000hands.blogspot.com/

100NL Video on FTP

2007-04-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

I had a really good time making a video at 100NL and analyzing the play. I think it really helped my own game by watching it. Missed value out of a Q6 hand.

http://files.filefront.com/The...335760;/fileinfo.html

My PAHUD stats did not display, so when I talk about things (like my own stats), you can't see them. I appear to be a crazy person when I'm doing it, but I myself can actually see my stats. Weird. I made a post about that earlier.

Big Pots/Small Pots

2007-04-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

Losing a big pot makes such a difference in a session. A really good session involves winning a lot of the big pots that you are involved in and most of the small marginal ones. Losing little pots like this really add up:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1029891

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1029894

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1029896

Usually I have a very big hand in very big pots and that's what I remember for a session. I am a lot more careless about the small pots I'm involved in and tend to forget about them. They add up though. While the ones above are just your standard bad beats, there are plenty of pots that I think I misplayed and can really be getting more money or at least saving myself some cash. I don't think I should play more than 8 tables - I lose focus and my game deteriorates.

My Conversation with Paul Wolfe

2007-04-22T17:34:00.000-07:00

Paul Wolfe, FTP Pro, complained about this hand:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1025529

We had a conversation about it after it happened.

Dealer: Paul Wolfe shows [Jh Ts]
Dealer: TheXC shows [5s 5d]
Dealer: Paul Wolfe shows two pair, Jacks and Eights
Dealer: TheXC shows a full house, Fives full of Eights
Dealer: TheXC wins the pot ($1,909) with a full house, Fives full
of Eights
Dealer: Hand #2266449094

Paul Wolfe: amzing
Paul Wolfe: nobody ever has to bluff
TheXC: I bluff sometimes ...
Paul Wolfe: all ive seen all day are sets
TheXC: Bunch of set-mining nits?
Paul Wolfe: id love to see 1 bluff
Paul Wolfe: lol
Paul Wolfe: make me feel better
TheXC: Move up to 25/50 ...
Paul Wolfe: ur right
Paul Wolfe: ill keep trying

I give such good advice ...

I ended up with over 5K at one table.

While I played well at 5/10, I got destroyed at 3/6 which put me down around 1K for the day. I also had some bad plays, but just couldn't catch a break. Ugh. I also missed out on value. I still have so much to learn.

Back on the right track ...

2007-04-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

Just finished up a 1K+ session at $2/$4. I was really hoping I could do that today and it feels good to have done it. I am still getting my $$ in as a favorite:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1021774

The board refuses to pair for me recently.

Here are two big hands for me:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$2/$4 Blinds
6 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

richer12: $887.40
GL2U: $408
SweetOldBroad: $410.30
Charcot: $394
cardiffgiant1: $492.10
TheXC: $449

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Ah As (6 Players)
SweetOldBroad folds, Charcot folds, cardiffgiant1 folds, TheXC raises to $14, richer12 calls $12, GL2U folds

Flop: ($32) 3c 7s Jd (2 Players)
richer12 bets $45, TheXC calls $45

Here, the player overbets the flop. It's unlikely he does this with a set, and since there are no draws, I decide to call in position. I debate raising, but if he's bluffing, I want to let him bluff one more time on the turn. If he has KJ or AJ I want to see one more card.

Turn: ($122) 3h (2 Players)
richer12 bets all-in for $828.40, TheXC calls all-in for $390
Uncalled bet of $438.40 returned to richer12

He shoves, I call. I don't like the play with KK. I only call his flop bet with AA, or a set. Maybe call with AJ ONCE. By not re-raising pre-flop, he's allow me to play the hand perfectly. Granted, he was going to get stacked even if he re-raised, but still - if I have 77 or 33 there, he's making it really cheap for me to try to catch a set.

River: ($902) 6s (2 Players - 2 All-In)

Pot Size: $902 ($3 Rake)

richer12 had Ks Kh (two pair, Kings and Threes) and LOST (-$449)
TheXC had Ah As (two pair, Aces and Threes) and WON (+$450)

And the other was also AA:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$2/$4 Blinds
6 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

cardiffgiant1: $488.50
TheXC: $748.60
richer12: $349
GL2U: $574.50
SweetOldBroad: $522
SweetJLee: $489

Preflop: TheXC is dealt As Ac (6 Players)
richer12 folds, GL2U raises to $14, SweetOldBroad folds, SweetJLee folds, cardiffgiant1 folds, TheXC raises to $52, GL2U raises to $155, TheXC raises to $275, GL2U raises to $395, TheXC raises all-in to $748.60, GL2U calls all-in for $179.50
Uncalled bet of $174.10 returned to TheXC

I actually chose to contine putting money in the pot and not try to slow play. It worked out well. Can he fold KK here at any point?

Flop: ($1151) 2h Jh 9s (2 Players - 2 All-In)

Turn: ($1151) Ad (2 Players - 2 All-In)

River: ($1151) 7d (2 Players - 2 All-In)

Pot Size: $1151 ($3 Rake)

GL2U had Kd Kc (a pair of Kings) and LOST (-$574.50)
TheXC had As Ac (three of a kind, Aces) and WON (+$573.50)

Sick coolers down 3K

2007-04-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

I can't remember last time I ran so bad - couldn't hit or didn't get paid when I did. I thought I played well. Other than the KQ vs. 88 hand I can't imagine playing any of these differently.

I played some 5/10 today in addition to 3/6:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019662

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019663

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019667

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019668

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019669

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1019670

I run good ...

2007-04-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

I started out playing 200NL but my software was going really slow. I re-started and moved up to 400NL, mostly because there were fewer regulars there. Ran hot as hell and decided to move back down to 200NL to finish getting my FTP points for the day (for the Ironman Challenge).

Got stuck $250 after hitting NOTHING and losing AK vs. 99 on a K92 flop vs. shortstack. Then the comeback started ...

I'm such a station: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1016504

Here, he makes it so little more and I'm hoping that Elgordotn comes along. I could hit a big flop. I hit top pair and decide to call once. Once I get a flush draw I'm ready to gamble it up. I'm a fish.

Key hands from $2/$4:

AK vs. 55: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1016524
I think I played it correctly. I've been floated so much by players with one pair that I was really trying to rep KK+ here. Berate me if you want :)

A6 vs. Q6: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1016520

So my bankroll is now at $23,100. Here is April so far:

And rakeback:

For the Daily Double Donkament, I finished 49/880 in one of the tournaments. I busted out pretty early in the other one with AK vs. 99 vs. A8. The tournaments are a cheap way - $24/day - for me to get some experience. Today my 49th place finish was good for $25 so I made my money back. Obviously it's not about the money though - I won over $1,500 in less than two hours playing cash games.

Donkaments

2007-04-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

I decided to play some tournaments. I played in the Full Tilt Daily Double - 2 tournaments, $12 a pop. I busted out of one early on but made it semi-deep in the other one. They were a really nice change of pace from cash games. I finished 56/1129 (Ship the $27.10!) in the other. I have clearly a lot to learn (made some REALLY bad plays), but look forward to playing again.

100NL vs. 400NL

2007-04-18T16:30:00.000-07:00

I was talking with hookem yesterday why recently I've been playing poorly at 100NL but really well at 400NL and 600NL. He suggested that the smaller stakes don't mean as much - it hurts less to lose, whereas losing a 100BB pot at 600NL really stings (1K + ... ugh).

My goal yesterday was to make $100.00 before ending for the day. Twice I reached it and was about to unpost when these hands happened:

At 100NL (can't fold to donk, can I?) - http://www.pokerhand.org/?1012576

At 200NL (textbook cooler) - http://www.pokerhand.org/?1012581

Eventually I gambled it up and got my $100.00. I was happy. I also think that even at 200NL the money per hour is REALLY good - at least 3-4 times as much as I make at my daytime job. So I decided to play there today until I got to $21,500. It took 36 minutes to make ~$400. Yes, I came from behind to win a pot off someone, but I just played really well.

Key race: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1012599

Not sure whether I will play 200NL or 400NL next session ... I kind of want to stop for a little bit and enjoy how far I've come before I go back to the more stressful 400-600NL.

Gummi Bears = So Balla

2007-04-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TXpPrVX_mU

Dashing and daring ... couregous and caring! LOL ... reminiscaments ...

Why is this so funny?

2007-04-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Picture from Daut's blog ... I can't stop laughing at it ...

Up $1500 on the day at 2/4

2007-04-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

Ugh ... I didn't keep my promise. See post below about how it all got started.

Key hand: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1006014

... but down around $400 at 100NL. WTF?!?

I get berated so I had to move up ...

2007-04-16T17:46:00.001-07:00

So I'm playing 100NL like I planned when this hand occurs:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$0.50/$1 Blinds
6 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

Sidepot McDonk: $256.10
TheXC: $115.55
JUJILICIOUS: $136.20
mariscal74: $265.85
ray_lankford_16: $99.50
lotus49: $67.75

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Ks Jc (6 Players)
JUJILICIOUS folds, mariscal74 folds, ray_lankford_16 folds, lotus49 folds, Sidepot McDonk calls $0.50, TheXC raises to $4, TheXC calls $8
Uncalled bet of $11 returned to TheXC

Flop: ($2) 7d Th Qd (2 Players)
Sidepot McDonk bets $20, TheXC raises to $55, Sidepot McDonk raises all-in to $244.10, TheXC calls all-in for $48.55
Uncalled bet of $140.55 returned to Sidepot McDonk
Uncalled bet of $0 returned to TheXC

Turn: ($209.10) 5d (2 Players - 2 All-In)

River: ($209.10) As (2 Players - 2 All-In)

Pot Size: $209.10 ($3 Rake)

Sidepot McDonk had 9h Jh (Ace Queen high)
TheXC had Ks Jc (a straight, Ace high)

I read him correctly as trying to bluff me when I raised him. He liked limping and was getting tired of me. I thought my K high was actually good. He then proceeds to berate me:

mariscal74: talk about chasing
TheXC: I read you right.
Sidepot McDonk: wanna play higher stakes
if you are so good???
TheXC: sure.
TheXC: Go to table TheXC?
Sidepot McDonk: you didn't read sh!t, fish
Dealer: TheXC has 15 seconds left to act
TheXC: Go to table TheXC
Sidepot McDonk: what stakrs?
Sidepot McDonk: stakes
TheXC: 2/4
Dealer: TheXC wins the pot ($2.85)
Dealer: Hand #2226327354
TheXC: how high do you want to play?

My blood got all fired up. Challenge yo! I decided to go to 2/4 because I'm so balla to have my own table there. Good luck yo!

He gets sacked pretty early (by short stack) when his A8 ran into AQ on a two Ace board. We then tangle for the first time:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$2/$4 Blinds
6 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

TheXC: $404.40
tamahawk69: $376.90
Sidepot McDonk: $425.80
JohnnyBet: $44
kurosh2: $80
z32fanatic: $394

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Ac Ks (6 Players)
Sidepot McDonk calls $4, JohnnyBet folds, kurosh2 folds, z32fanatic folds, TheXC raises to $20, tamahawk69 folds, Sidepot McDonk calls $16

Flop: ($44) Kc 4d 9c (2 Players)
TheXC bets $32, Sidepot McDonk calls $32

Turn: ($108) 4c (2 Players)
TheXC checks, Sidepot McDonk bets $100, TheXC raises all-in to $352.40, Sidepot McDonk folds
Uncalled bet of $252.40 returned to TheXC

... and finally, the coup de grace. As8s FTW:

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$2/$4 Blinds
5 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

kurosh2: $76
caressmedown: $897.40
TheXC: $400
tamahawk69: $332.40
Sidepot McDonk: $390.10

Preflop: TheXC is dealt As 8s (5 Players)
TheXC raises to $14, tamahawk69 folds, Sidepot McDonk calls $14, kurosh2 folds, caressmedown folds

Flop: ($34) 7s Ks Qd (2 Players)
TheXC bets $22, Sidepot McDonk calls $22

Turn: ($78) Qs (2 Players)
TheXC bets $50, Sidepot McDonk calls $50

River: ($178) 4h (2 Players)
TheXC bets $125, Sidepot McDonk raises all-in to $304.10, TheXC calls $179.10

Pot Size: $786.20 ($3 Rake)

Sidepot McDonk had Jc Kc (two pair, Kings and Queens)
TheXC had As 8s (a flush, Ace high)

So overall the guy dropped $679 on my table. For someone playing 100NL that's gotta hurt. I was talking to Hookem148 at the time this was happening on AIM and he stated the tip of the day:

Tip of the Day: Don't play anyone with a table named after them."

100NL

2007-04-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm down $333.00 at 100NL in April. I'm going to playing this limit until I'm in the green.

I hate losing ...

2007-04-16T12:19:00.000-07:00

Lost a combo draw (nut flush draw vs. gutter) vs. a set at 600NL. I also lost a set vs. a combo draw (gutter + flush). Poker is unjust ;)

Bankroll < 20K again. I also am way too passive on the turn and river - I'm letting people bluff me and not getting value. If you are playing me, just float me on the flop and bet the turn when I check - you will win my monies.

I think I need to drop for a bit to 200NL and work on some leaks. I must not let greed get the better of me in terms of always wanting to have big winning days at the high stakes.

My 4K day ... BR over 20K

2007-04-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Played some 3/6 and 2/4. Key hands:

$1,235 pot: http://www.pokerhand.org/?998571

$1,624.20 pot: http://www.pokerhand.org/?998575

$1,100.80 pot: http://www.pokerhand.org/?999545

$1,078 pot. http://www.pokerhand.org/?999550

Can't win them all:

Straight vs. rivered 4-outer: http://www.pokerhand.org/?998578

So ... I'm up > $4000 in april at $3/$6. I feel pretty comfortable at $3/$6 ... there are many bad players there so it's profitable. $2/$4 has been a lot more swingy. I'm still up $2000 for the day though.

I played an evening session of 2/4 and ran hot as hell. My bankroll is now 20K.

Bankroll > 17K

2007-04-14T07:47:00.000-07:00

So my 200NL is in the green now :) I am up $1,000 for the day at 200NL over 3 hours of play. I'm happy. One of the best feelings in poker is seeing your set go up against TPTK for stacks:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?997598

http://www.pokerhand.org/?997604

I'm playing 24/17 but pretty good post-flop. Only got stacked once (less than one buy-in) when my combo draw didn't hit in a re-raised pot.

Cleaning up my April PT numbers ...

2007-04-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

I noticed that I was in the red for April at 200NL (went on a HORRIBLE run at the beginning), so I decided to play 200NL until I was in the green.

It's amazing how many bad players are at this level. Right now, I'm playing 4 tables and more than 1/2 of the players are running at VPIP > 35 with PFR < 15. I got that taken care of, even though this hand alone would have taken care of it:

**********************************************************************************

Full Tilt Poker
No Limit Hold'em Cash Game
$1/$2 Blinds
4 Players
http://www.legopoker.com/hh/

mrblueshirt: $308.95
Big Iron 7: $107.65
tutorsack: $53.80
TheXC: $267.50

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Kd Ad (4 Players)
tutorsack folds, TheXC raises to $7, mrblueshirt calls $6, Big Iron 7 folds

Mrblueshirt's numbers are 51/10/1. He's calling everything.

Flop: ($16) Kh Ac 9c (2 Players)
mrblueshirt checks, TheXC bets $12, mrblueshirt raises to $24, TheXC raises to $54, mrblueshirt calls $30

Great flop for me. I have top two on a no-drawy flop. I'm 98% sure here my hand is best. He probably has a weak Ace or a flush draw. I want to build the pot and price him in.

Turn: ($124) 3s (2 Players)
mrblueshirt checks, TheXC bets $90, mrblueshirt calls $90

No club ... that's great. I want to leave myself just one bet by the river.

River: ($304) 6h (2 Players)
mrblueshirt checks, TheXC bets all-in for $116.50, mrblueshirt calls $116.50

Another safe card ... I'll all-in regardless.

Pot Size: $537 ($2 Rake)

mrblueshirt had Ah 3h (two pair, Aces and Threes)
TheXC had Kd Ad (two pair, Aces and Kings)

Bankroll > $16K

2007-04-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

I was down early but came back to finish up $1001.25. This puts my bankroll over $1K. I was up $549 on the $3/$6 tables and $450 at the $2/$4 tables in around 2.5 hours. Misplayed some hands and didn't get enough value out of others, but I'm happy.

Also, I run enfuego at my own table :)

Online Poker, Limits, Job, etc

2007-04-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

I work full time as a math teacher. My job is from 8:00 a.m. to around 4:00 p.m. I make around 30/hr. There are parts of it that are very rewarding, but there are also parts of it that are very frustrating.

While poker is very swingy, I make a lot more playing poker online as I do at school. This has made me wonder what playing professionally would be like. It blows my mind that one can get online and just start making money like this.

I've played some $600NL in the past few days and am up a couple of buy-ins. The reason I chose to play $3/$6 was because I think there are a lot of bad players even at this limit. Yes, there are a lot of good regulars there, but overall, some of the plays are just crazy. It's a very profitable level. As is $2/$4. As is $1/$2. I think that the experience of playing at $3/$6 will help make me a much better $2/$4 player and that will make me a much better $1/$2 player.

I guess the bottom line is that playing $3/$6 creates more potential for higher profit. I don't have to grind as much on the lower levels to show a profit.

My bankroll of ~$15,000 means the following:

- 75 buy-ins for 200NL
- 37.5 buy-ins for 400NL
- 25 buy-ins for 600NL

I think that if I ever drop below $10,000, I should no longer play 400NL or 600NL. I made that mistake back in February basically dropped all the way down to $2000. I am a much better player right now and much more aware of my bankroll. I feel very confident about my 200NL game and I feel that it's a good place for me to drop back to if my confidence/bankroll ever take a big shot.

I really feel fortunate to have followed Brian "hookem148" or "hyperaggrdonk" Rue's blog. I used to datamine his games whenever he played and analyze his play. I learned so much from him. I've also had many conversations with him about poker in general and the knowledge I've gotten out of it has been invaluable. He is the man and I think that if he didn't have the patience to help me with my game I would have very little direction. I owe him a lot.

Bankroll over $15K

2007-04-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

So I got over 15K and this was LITERALLY the last hand I was going to play. I get AK UTG and decide to limp it. Rhoyourboat raises from the button and I expert value-shove.

Here is the hand:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?990604

Bad beat of the day:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?990643

My own table ... does this make me a degenerate?

2007-04-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

I run good on my own table:

I was down quite a bit early and lost a $1,100 pot at 3/6 when my set of 9's got outdrawn by a flush draw + gutter.

My numbers for 3/6 were 1792 hands for $1527.15. I was down at the normal 2/4 tables and up $1,329 for the night.

Getting my own table at FTP

2007-04-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

I've exchanged my Iron-Man medals for my own table:

********************************************************************
Hello,

You have purchased your own personal ring game table. In order for us to
process your order we will need the following details:

Table Name: "TheXC"
Game: All ring game types are available
Type: NL PL Limit CAP (Regular, Deep or Speed)
Stakes: All stakes available
Table Size: 9-8 6 or 2 handed

Once you have replied you will receive an email within 24 hours confirming
the creation of your table.

Thank you
Jose
Team Full Tilt
********************************************************************

I know that I want to play Regular 6-handed NL Hold'em, but I'm unsure about the stakes. My options are 100NL - 400NL. 200NL is a very profitable level that I've done really well in. In fact, that's where I've built the majority of my roll. 100NL would be fun to just go and play really loose and aggressive at. 400NL is just a level where one can knock out $1,000 per day pretty consistently.

I guess I'll decide in the next few days ...

Played minimum ...

2007-04-09T16:42:00.000-07:00

I played almost the minimum today and at 200NL. Was up, then had my combo draw cracked by top two and misplayed QQ. Ended up $124 overall (stacked two people).

Bankroll is at $14,455. I think I'll play a mixture of 400NL and 200NL the next few days.

BR over $14,000

2007-04-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hustlaaa4life hits top set on me and is 95% to win on the flop. I check raise him small on the flop and the continue again on the turn. I guess he re-raises me with an overpair, but I wanted to continue the bluff. River is expert shove :)

http://www.pokerhand.org/?978164

Other than that, everything else was pretty standard. I'm up ~9 buy-ins at $2/4 in April so far.

Biggest pot to date: $1712 at 2/4

2007-04-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is QQQ almost always. Player was crazy though:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?975530

His hand will surprise you ...

This along with some stackings puts my bankroll really close to $14,000 giving me 35 buy-ins for $2/4. I feel a LOT more comfortable playing at this level right now. I am also a much better player than I was after my February disaster.

Thinking about a hand ...

2007-04-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

I raise ThTs on the button. Hustlaaa4life, a very solid lag (24/20), 3-bets me from the BB. We're about 100BB's deep and from mining, I've noticed that's he's the biggest winner from the last few days. He's playing as high as 5/10 so he's definitely not a fish.

Preflop: Th Ts

My thinking pre-flop: We're not that deep. If I think he's stealing, I could 4-bet him, but if he shoves, I have not fold. There is no need to waste my positional advantage, so just calling here is correct.

Flop: 2c 5d Td

I flop the nuts and as expected, he leads into me for $76. Now ... I could either call or raise. If he's got air, I could entice him to bluff again, but since he's solid and perceives me as solid, he probably won't shove AK with no draw there. Any overpair will probably shove if I raise small, so that's what I elect to do - I make it $170. He shoves with Kd Kh and I avoid a King and running diamonds to take it.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?975468

400NL

2007-04-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

I was down $1,800 at some point with some horrible plays. I would say all of my losses were due to overplaying my hands. I settled in and ended up going on a $2,200 run to end the day up $400.

I should just fold or call in marginal situations. Ugh. So many leaks. I think I just need to play ABC poker and really not overplay overpairs, etc - there are enough bad players to pay me off when I hit.

OESFD

2007-04-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

... in a multi-way pot. It actually turns out to be just a straight draw:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?965851

Ship it?

Bankroll over $12K

2007-04-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

Man ... what a swingy few days it has been. I decided to play some 2/4 today for the first time since getting my ars handed to me in February. I feel like I'm a much better player now.

So ... I played 577 hands and ended up $1244. There was around $200 worth of spew, but overall I played really well.

A few hands:

1. 66 > J4

http://www.pokerhand.org/?963863

I raise and mega-fish calls. I hit my set and decide to bet weakly. He calls. On the turn, I fill up and he donk-leads $25 into $66. I'm pretty sure he's got either a draw or a jack. It makes sense to raise in either case. I decide to raise kind of weakish and he calls. He shoves the river with a missed double gutter. In retrospect I should have made it $70 on the turn to get him more pot-committed.

2. QJ > 77

http://www.pokerhand.org/?963890

This guy is so bad ... raising and calling everything. Pre-flop I thought about re-raising but elected just to call. I check raise the flop. "Be willing to check-raise light OOP" was advice I was given. He calls the flop CR and the turn bet. I c/c the river and he's got 77.

3. JTs < KK

http://www.pokerhand.org/?963898

I don't bluff enough ... even when I should. Here, I call light in position and then call the flop. On the river, I should bet like $150 into $240. He would have a hard time calling with KK. I don't know ...

4. T8s = T8s

http://www.pokerhand.org/?963912

Ugh ... I just KNEW I was getting his stack here. How bad of a player is he?

Not very motivated to play ...

2007-03-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

I haven't been that fired up about playing. I've actually played at 100NL and 50NL for the past two days so that my lack of motivation does not translate to donking off too much $. I think I should just take a break.

I've misplayed hands - called when I shouldn't have and missed out on value when I could have.

I'm still up more than $700 since Monday, so that's good.

Bankroll at around 11K

2007-03-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

I'm actually $70 short. I played some 100NL and 200NL today and ended up around $500. Both were short session and I was never really in trouble post flop. One big hand:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?938026

BR up to $9,000

2007-03-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

Got stacked early in the session and then went on a heater. Here is the hand that got me over $9,000:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?927069

I think I should have raise more pre-flop ... made it like $50 or something.

Ran at 14/11 ... NIT!!! 2.25 hours, 5.31 MT Ratio

BR over 8K

2007-03-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

It took a while today but I finally got my BR to over $8k. It's sitting on $8,111.11. I will continue playing 1/2 on FTP until I get to $12,000. I also plan to take it easy the next few days - I feel like getting to $8k was challenging enough.

BR at $7,000 + $500 FTP bonus ...

2007-03-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Wow ... after getting owned at $400NL in February, I've grinded out $200NL and am back up to over $7,000. I swear not to move up to 2/4 until I have a BR of $10,000.

I also decided to cut back on my play at UB for the March $1K challenge. The software is really fast and I don't enjoy it. I found that I enjoy FTP a lot more and tend to do a lot better there. I guess I will leave the UB money there in case I want to use it again for whatever reason. Good to have $$ on different sites I guess.

I also got a $500 bonus from FTP which I have to work off by the end of March. I worked off $60 of it today after ~3 hours of play. I ran pretty well and played pretty nitty.

Rocky Road to $6,000

2007-03-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

I was determined to get to $6K this morning on my FTP account ... 1/2 was super rocky - I got owned in a bunch of places.

I lost a huge $500 pot when a guy caught a 2 outer on the river on me 444 < JJJ. Lost another big pot with top two vs. a set. I knew the guy had a set too ... he played it just like a donk plays a set. Calls flop, min-raises turn.

Lost A7 vs. A9 all-in on the turn on a J76A board.

Won a huge suckout, although he sucked out initially: http://www.pokerhand.org/?907396

Moved down to 100NL to get the last $200 or so and ran well. Key hand:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?907391

FTP Medals

2007-03-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

So FTP is running this Iron Man Challenge with medals. If you earn 200 points per day you can achieve different levels and get different medals. You can trade your medals in for Bonuses, your own table, etc. For me, getting the daily 200 points works out at around 400 hands. Since I'm playing on UB as well, I just log onto FTP and get through the 400 hands at 200NL and call it a day.

This means I run supper nitty. Here are the last two days:

It's been kind of fun. Basically I haven't really gotten myself in marginal situations and have made the most out of my good hands. It's been fold, fold fold, but it's not stressful and I've gotten paid off.

***********************************************************************
Here is one gift: http://www.pokerhand.org/?895483

I kept on looking to see if I have the best hand over and over. I figured he might have a set or something. Maybe two pair. Instead, it's top pair, medium kicker. Thank you.
***********************************************************************
This was a strange hand. I have no idea why p3r didn't raise this flop:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?895487
***********************************************************************
Here my aces hold very huge 80/6 fish:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?892879

The crazy thing is that I'm only 53/47 to win it on the flop.
***********************************************************************
I'm also sick, but if I'm going to be sick, now is the time. We are on spring break.

My UB bankroll is over 3K but I've been on a downswing there. I started playing some 200NL with 15 buy-ins and felt pretty comfortable.

My first 10K hands

2007-03-07T05:07:00.000-08:00

My first 10k hands of the challenge.

Day 6: BR at $2614

2007-03-06T14:58:00.000-08:00

Overall, I'm still running really hot. Of course this helps:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?882171

It ends up being a cooler for the guy, but if the K doesn't come on the river it's a cooler for me. I was going to shove any non-Ace flop and hope to get called by TT-QQ.

Day 5 ... running pretty even ...

2007-03-05T19:37:00.000-08:00

Had some really bad spots and never really got paid off ...

And my PT stats:

Day 4 - over 2K

2007-03-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

I'm over 2K baby!!! I'm going to try to get to 1K UB points today.

Some memorable hands:

I have quads, he's got top boat: http://www.pokerhand.org/?876027

Player is over-aggro on the button. I go for stack-a-donk on the turn: http://www.pokerhand.org/?876133

What a cooler for the other guy. I have the nut flush. He's got J-high flush: http://www.pokerhand.org/?876138

Here the player is overly-aggro and I just don't think he plays an Ace like this on the river:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?876141

I was actually ahead, he berated me afterwards: http://www.pokerhand.org/?876150

... and my one cooler: I lose with a set vs. a combo-draw that hits:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?876156

Day 3 - 50NL and 100NL

2007-03-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

I played some 50NL and played pretty badly (too loose) and just took some bad beats. So ... I decided to TAG it up at 100NL (where they respect my raises). Bottom line was that I ran hot as hell.

Had set after set which got paid off, etc. I played really well too - folding KJo in MP, and just dumping hands like 97s in the cutoff. Here is me with 4 buy-ins at one of the tables:

After two days, I've earned 646.91 UB points, so I'm on track to get 2000 for the week (which is my goal to get more bonus). I also reduced the number of tables on which I played to 3. I think that really helped focus my attention.

And here are my updated PT stats:

Day 2 ...

2007-03-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

I'm up $445 so far. I lost a flush to a bigger flush and a straight to a bigger straight. The 2nd one was spew ... meh. I could have gotten away for cheaper for both of them - there was around $40 of unnecessary loss there. Got sucked out on a few times for $60 or so. LOL Poker?

Overall I'm playing pretty well though.

On the other hand, I flopped a flush vs. a smaller flush HU for a massive pot:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?86883

And here my KK held up:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?868967

All in pre-flop shove like that = AK 90% of the time.

Day 1 in the books ...

2007-03-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

I got stacked pretty early:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?867661

My AJs combo draw ran into a set. I could have just called his min-raise from the flop and seen a turn. I guess I got too excited about my hand.

I played a 1K session and then play for 45 minutes longer. Overall, I'm up ~4 buy-ins for the day:

My initial impressions of UB are that the software is REALLY fast. It's like FTP on crack. Or as a friend said ... FTP is UB on weed. The difference is startling - I had a hard time 4-tabling there. I was pretty much just playing my cards but ended up timing out a few times. Oh yeah ... and having to re-open my hand histories after a certain number of rounds is really annoying.

Anyway ... 50NL at UB seems pretty easy to beat - I just need to tightten up a little pre-flop - I started getting a little carried away and people just called me down with 2nd pair and such.

There were a number of times when I should have raised the turn but wanted to slow play in position and play a safe river. Both times the river bit me in the ass and I had to fold to a big bet. Ugh.

Also, my first straight flush of the challenge:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?867918

I'm a luckbox: http://www.pokerhand.org/?868299

March 1K Challenge

2007-02-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

CR is running the 1K challenge:

Challenge Link

I'm going to play on UB and plan to play around 1,000 hands per day on weekdays and 1,500 or so hands on the weekends. I will hopefully post graphs and screenshots a few times a week. GL me!

Graph of 2006 100NL and 200 NL

2007-02-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

The last 42K hands. After I come back to playing, this is the level I'm going to stick to. The graph of 400NL is just nasty ...

New Screen via FTP

2007-02-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

Here is my new setup thanks to 68,000 FTP points and a video card at Best Buy:

I'm taking a break from playing for a while though. I will definitely not play 400NL for a long time after my two experiences.

400 NL: Wow ...

2007-02-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Outdrawn:

I'm 70% to win: http://www.pokerhand.org/?813710

My flush runs into the nut flush: http://www.pokerhand.org/?813752

Gutter and a flush draw vs. my top set: http://www.pokerhand.org/?813770

AK vs. AQ All-In pre-flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?813984

So it's back to 200NL for a while ...

Saturday: 200NL

2007-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

600 hands, + $301. Stayed out of trouble again.

Here is the biggest pot I lost. I play it the same next time vs. a short stack.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?810895

He was getting frustrated:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?810903

Nuts vs. 2nd nuts. I guess I should just shove: http://www.pokerhand.org/?810916

Call or shove on the flop? http://www.pokerhand.org/?810917

Thursday: 200NL

2007-02-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

Played till I was up a buy-in - 453 hands, +$203.40. Played 19/15, but my heart really wasn't in it.

Lost this hand when my TPGK ran into a set vs. a short-stack. I make this call every time in this situation.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?806079

Easy call vs. shortstack. King hits on the turn. He berrated me afterwards ... haha.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?806085

I have a "set". http://www.pokerhand.org/?806091. I'm guessing he laid down an overpair there - QQ or JJ.

I also ordered a new Samsung 20 inch monitor:

http://www.fulltiltstore.com/images/products/OI-ES20e.jpg

6-8 weeks for delivery? It was 62,000 points.

Wednesday's 200NL

2007-02-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

Got in a hole early when a guy hit a 3 outer with AQ vs. AK AI-PF:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?803578

I suck out on someone myself, although I figured I had all kinds of outs against his range.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?803628

The way he bet the pot here so quickly I didn't put him on a jack or a full house, so CR-AI on the turn:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?803690

Nice play by this guy. Not really: http://www.pokerhand.org/?803706

I was ABOUT to quit when I accidently didn't unclick the "Auto Post Blinds" button. So I decided to play another orbit at this table. This really aggressive player who's been re-raising me all day check raised me on a A59 flop when I had AQ. I put him on a bluff or a set and took him to the river. I didn't bet the river because I was crushing a bluff or burned by a set.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?803768

So ... all in all, my suckouts were about equal to other people sucking out on me. So there goes your variance. In the end, I was up $482 over 1163 hands. I ran 18/13. Overall, I thought I played well.

Tuesday at 200NL

2007-02-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

Played 805 hands of very disciplined poker. There were a few situations where I overplayed some hands.

JJ - raise, fold to a push: http://www.pokerhand.org/?800548

A8 - re-raise a pretty aggro raiser - unless he is habitally doing this, this should be a fold: http://www.pokerhand.org/?800557

I feel like people are floating me in position: http://www.pokerhand.org/?800549

Now ... the hands where I stacks people:

KK on a 3-bet 8Q3 flop. I call the mini-raise and then CR-AI on a pretty safe turn: http://www.pokerhand.org/?800152

JJ - turn a boat while putting the guy on something like 89: http://www.pokerhand.org/?800081

Donk posts OOP and I decide that I'm going to go all the way with the hand pre-flop. I probably could have put out a little $30 bet on the river, but I figured he would shove.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?800569

I'm glad he didn't have A5 or something.

How badly was this misplayed on the villain's part? http://www.pokerhand.org/?800570 I was convinced that he had 44.

So overall I played 15/11 (nit!) and netted $779.70. I will stick around 1/2 to fix my leaks until I get back up to $10,000.

1/2 Update

2007-02-06T04:15:00.000-08:00

So ... after taking some massive hits at 2/4 I've decided to come back down to 1/2 and rebuild my bankroll. One of the things I noticed is that I play some of my draws way too aggressively. People end up calling with just top pair, no kicker, and I get burned. I also overplayed AK quite a bit. Those are two leaks I've gotta address at 1/2 before going back to 2/4. I also have to figure out how to get the max out of my good hands - something I'm not fully doing.

Here is an example where I used a blocking bet to cause the guy to shove his stack. I insta-called and just hoped he didn't have a 9: http://www.pokerhand.org/?798476

I think 4-betting him on the flop was correct. I also think checking the turn was correct.

Finally, I have to start bluffing a little more in opportune situations.

Here are two spots where I feel I made the correct laydown:

Aces, 4-bet pre-flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?798486

Queens, 3-bet pre-flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?798488

Destroyed at 2/4

2007-02-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got my ars handed to me at 2/4. A lot of it was me making bad reads, but a lot of it was me losing some $900+ coinflips. So ... I decided to go down to $1/$2 and rebuild there until I have enough to move back up. The games are so much less aggressive at 1/2 ... it's crazy.

Here is a hand I played today at 1/2 vs. a super aggro player:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?788522

I 3-bet him pre-flop because of his really loose range. I flop a full house and decide to check repping QQ or KK. He flat calls. I then weak bet the turn and call his min raise. I lead out really weak into the river as a fake blocking bet allowing him to shove (which he does). I call and he's got trash.

This is just pretty - the gift in the BB. I actually took some $$ with it as well.

Here I flop the dummy end of the straight with a flush draw. The guy has two pair - top and bottom - and gets it all-in for over a buy-in.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?788604

Me with ~5 buy-ins at a 1/2 table:

Brian recommended that I do the following things:

Have a stop-loss limit of 3 buy-ins. After that, I'm done for the day.
Decrease my bets on the turn and river and for the most part give up out of position.
Take free cards when given the chance to do so.
Don't CB into two ore more people without some kind of hand.

I own KK ... sick run of cards.

2007-01-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

Sick day - up $2K+ Never really got in trouble and ran enfuego. Stats:

I flat call with jacks, flop middle set, turn quads, and stack a guy. My plan was just to get him all-in by the river, hence the small turn bet.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?780911

Here I flop a set of 2's and stack the guy. My first $1K pot:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?780921

I'm not sure how to play this hand: http://www.pokerhand.org/?780928

Value bet enough? http://www.pokerhand.org/?781023

Runner, runner straight flush: http://www.pokerhand.org/?781105

Semi-bluff turns nuts: http://www.pokerhand.org/?781074

Bluffing! I thought I played this well enough: http://www.pokerhand.org/?781181

Bankroll now at $10,311.50. Here is a shot to celebrate the milestone so I can remember it when I'm busto:

Short session of 200NL

2007-01-29T16:16:00.000-08:00

Up $157 over a 500 hand session. Two key hands:

I flop the nuts and it goes pot, pot, pot: http://www.pokerhand.org/?778415

Massive re-raise pre-flop with KK and an Ace hits. I check-fold: http://www.pokerhand.org/?778405

Here I don't think he's got a flush: http://www.pokerhand.org/?778549

Bankroll at $8182.95

The $8,000 hand

2007-01-28T20:26:00.000-08:00

So I finished watching Brian play 3/6 and decided to get up to $8,000 before going to sleep. I raised 99 and get 3-bet. I flat called and missed the flop completely so I had to check-fold. So the very next hand I pick up AKs UTG and raise again. I get 3-bet and end up 4-betting the guy. He folds.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?776134

Now ... this is probably going to dip under $8,000 soon, but this hand got me over $8,000 for the first time. Now I have 20 buy-ins for 2/4 and 40 buy-ins for 1/2. I think I will stick with 2/4 for a while though - I feel pretty comfortable there.

Playing some 2/4

2007-01-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

Playing a set fast vs. aggro players:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?774063

I'm pretty sure I have to call the turn, but what about the river?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?774141

Combo draw hits: http://www.pokerhand.org/?774223

Misplayed? Which street? http://www.pokerhand.org/?774233

Correct to shove? http://www.pokerhand.org/?774282

Flat call and C/R flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?774298

Overpair - small bet on turn makes him pot commited on the river. He bluffs:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?775665

Up $1178.90 for the day - ran super hot at the end for 14.01 BB/100. 18/14

Bankroll at $8015.20 after a brutal -$800 day at 1/2 a few days ago

Getting another monitor ...

2007-01-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

I have a total of 47,313 FTP on Full Tilt. I can get a Samsung 20 in monitor for 62,000 or a viewsonic 17 in for 48,000.

Thursday: 200NL

2007-01-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Checking the river in order to induce a bluff. I insta called an over-active player. Betting serves no purpose there, but letting him bluff off his chips is nice.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?767873

Here I three-bet a guy the hand before and now I did it again with AK. I guess he just got frustrated and 4-bets. He calls my shove with AQ and I avoid a Q.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?768527

I get the straight in a blind-on-blind situation although there is a flush out there. I put out a blocker bet which he instantly pots. I call pretty quickly.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?768555

Bankroll now at $7907.90 - ran pretty hot today - up around $550 in less than 200 hands. I made the most out of them.

I'm also 32% done with "my special bonus"

Wednesday's 200NL

2007-01-24T18:11:00.000-08:00

JJ with me re-raising a limped pot. I actually put him on two pair and I'm glad it was bottom two:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?765643

Here is the bad beat of the day: I flop the flush and he draws to a higher one: http://www.pokerhand.org/?765672

A situation where I'm not even going to CB: http://www.pokerhand.org/?765679

I should lead the flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?765685 River call is bad?

Again - river call is bad. Turn call is ok: http://www.pokerhand.org/?765690

Here is the most interesting hand of the day:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?765741

I called because I was in position and this is a hand that hits a lot of flops. Now - the interesting thing was the he chose to check-raise me. I have top pair with no kicker, but the check really through me off. I bet because I put him on a missed AK, AQ, etc. He then raises. I'm thinking ... if he's got an overpair or a set he's going to bet the flop (with numbers like 22/17). So I think my hand is good and shove. He folds. Weird hand.

I watched Brian play a little bit and then played a super short 149 hand session and ended up winning $329.00. I lost one big cooler hand but ran really hot overall.

Bankroll: $7329.60

Super short nitty evening session

2007-01-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Bankroll up to $6702 - played very ABC poker. Key hand was pocket jacks facing a raise with two and then three aces on the board:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?763283

I think I played it fine.

200NL

2007-01-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

Played some 200NL and feel pretty comfortable there right now. I made a lot of mistakes and definitely spewed some money in one or two places. Overall, I played way too long and played way too many hands.

Bankroll is at $6622.70. I'll stay at 200NL until I get to $14,000.

Short, Swingy Session

2007-01-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

I started out about $70 in the hole - people were calling and raising and I was card dead. I managed to work my way back up to $0 and then it was down $50 again. Lost a lot of money on bluffs and semi-bluffs against calling stations. I wanted to get to $5,400 and finally did.

Overall: 433 hands, 20/15, + $113.20 for 13 BB/100

Key hands:

Aces vs. 2nd pair: http://www.pokerhand.org/?756558

I turn a full house vs. flopped flush: http://www.pokerhand.org/?756537

Other than that, I fired some 2nd barrells when I shouldn't have and floated poorly.

Bankroll: $5434.25

I added a super short evening session: 44 hands, but $86. I played a $5.00 SNG and lost.

Key hand in evening session (suckout!): http://www.pokerhand.org/?757860

So ... updated bankroll is $5513.55. I also have ~$400 in rakeback waiting for me at the end of this month.

Really short Sat. morning session.

2007-01-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

I ran really hot.

303 hands, 24/18 at 34.97BB/100 for $211.90. Never really got into trouble.

I flop the nuts but so does he. I have a higher backdoor flush draw though ... and it hits:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?753969

I'm three bet with AQs. I flop a flush draw + two overs. I'm only a slight underdog on the flop. He's got Kings but Ace on turn puts me and keeps me ahead. Stacked.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?753979

His pot-sized bet on the river screams bluff:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?753984

Bankroll at $5321.05

The $5,100 hand

2007-01-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

AJ ... should have bet more on turn and river check is good.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?750628

Towards the end I played tired = not good. I'm still way too passive. Played 20/15 and won $232. Kind of a crazy session. I am still paying people off where I shouldn't and not getting value where I should.

Big pots (net) $172 with a set of Kings, $109 with AA (4 bet pre-flop), $87 with 44 (boat vs. trips), $100 with ATo (flush), $102 with a set of 7's.

I still think I'm folding too much or not bluffing enough.

Playing some HU ... not playing well

2007-01-13T21:55:00.000-08:00

But I did win this hand where I was 99.5% to lose on the flop:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?737559

I need to continue playing HU ... there is a mountain of money to be made there.

T8s in the BB

2007-01-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Nice flop:

I min-raise the turn and shove river. $122 pot.

Ben is also messing around on another account and is playing well.

Sessions on FTP and PS

2007-01-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

Almost identical numbers: 20/15/3 with 11 BB/100

I need to second barrell more in some spots. Overall, I'm not very happy with my play. I tend the check the river too much.

I'm up $124 + $156 = $280 for the day. It should be a lot more.

Short nitty session ...

2007-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

I played a really short session - 181 hands. Up $124.75 though. Didn't put myself in tough spots.

181 hands, 21/15 - just wanted to play nitty and low variance. Ran at 34.46 BB/100.

Big pot - I flop top 2 and get it in on the flop - he is only a 2% chance to win on the flop. No five!!!

http://www.pokerhand.org/?715337

AQ again - maybe I should have fired for value - not sure: http://www.pokerhand.org/?715409

AQ again - against a solid TAG regular (ELPhoenix). Chose to fold pre-flop. http://www.pokerhand.org/?715414

I turn two pair with 56s. I think I got max value given the Ace: http://www.pokerhand.org/?715416

I flop the flush. Maybe I should have checked the river?
http://www.pokerhand.org/?715419

100 NL - tightened up.

2007-01-03T15:27:00.000-08:00

After a horrendous day 4 ($-658) , I decided to tighten up OOP and c-bet less into sketchy flops.

Granted some of the beats I took were ridiculous (1-5 with Kings - the only pot I took I sucked out on by going KK vs. AA and flopping a King). 55 < AK when board goes 3AA5 ... River King. For a full buy-in.

Day 5 was much better:

+266.70
528 hands. 22/16/2 for 24.44 BB/100 at 100NL
Bankroll: $3107.40

Key Hand - call with Ah4h in position and flop a straight flush draw in a big pot. I call a pot size bet and turn the nuts. All the $$ goes in as the other player is drawing dead (he also had a flush):

http://www.pokerhand.org/?712057

I was favored on the flop.

Otherwise, I played well - didn't lost more than $10 in a hand.

Day 3 - horrible post flop play by me at 50NL

2007-01-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

50NL:

(+46.05)
959 hands, 27/20, AF of 2.6, 4.8 BB/100

Horrendous postflop play by me led to getting stacked twice when I should not have. I need to play tigher out of position.

I then decided to make the adjustement and played a 471 session of 100 NL:

(+107.55)
471 hands, 23/16, AF of 2.2, 11.42 BB/100

I played much better.

Biggest loser: AK - trip Aces vs. set in blind on blind: http://www.pokerhand.org/?707327

Bankroll: $3509.05

Day 2 - late run makes it even

2006-12-31T14:29:00.000-08:00

Wow ...

(+78.20)
2,414 hands, 29.41/22, AF of 3, 3.24 BB/100
Bankroll: $3,361
Till $100 NL: $639

What a brutal day. Down 4 buy-ins early. Fought back and got some brutal beats. I also didn't make the most out of my really good hands. Ugh. So many leaks. A late run at the end got me up.

50 NL

2006-12-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

Today:

(+251.50)
1031 hands, 29/24, AF of 4, 24.39 BB/100
Bankroll: $3282
Till $100 NL: $718

I decided to play 50NL and get my bankroll up to $4000 before moving up again to 100NL. There are still too many leaks in my game and it's frustrating. I decided to play really LAG - to get my VPIP into the 30's and my PFR into the 20's. First day:

People were playing very passively. I probably got 3-bet a total of 10 times in over 1000 hands. It was crazy. I got stacked really early on - I three-bet AA out of the blinds big time and a guy flopped a set of 10's. Oh well - I'm going broke there.

I got really luck on on hand - I was 4% to win and did:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?703787

His small bet on the flop made me want to see a turn. We were both pretty deep. I ended up catching my one outer. Other than that hand, I played really solid.

A brutal day ...

2006-12-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

Wow ... talk about a rough day.

Set over set for a buy-in: http://www.pokerhand.org/?67713 6

SB/BB - AA vs. 77: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677142

He's got 9% chance to win when the $$ goes in: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677146

The draw hits: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677156

Basically I got torn up.

100 NL

2006-12-17T06:57:00.000-08:00

After playing 200 NL for a while I realized that I have too many leaks to play at that level right now. The two biggest leaks right now are:

Not firing a second barrel into a pot because the board is scary. This leads people who float me to catch up on the river and then I end up paying them off. Brian (HyperAggrDonk) noticed this and mentioned that when I am raised on the turn, I am probably beat at this point. Otherwise, I should just fire. Horrendous play and a massive leak.

Example 1: http://www.pokerhand.org/?675814

Example 2: http://www.pokerhand.org/?675818

Getting away from overpairs. There were some spots in 200 NL where I got away from overpairs because I thought I was beat. Basically, I was playing scared and not gambling enough. Play like that will get me eaten alive on the higher level. I need to felt KK and AA much more often.
Navigating through medium pots with medium hands. Like TPGK, etc.

So I dropped down to 100NL last night and will stay there until I get up to $6000 and have more leeway to gamble.

Despite some mistakes, I ran really well over the short 100NL session (mostly due to holding huge hands in huge pots).

Time: 2.8 hours
Hands: 785
Amount Won: $316
Bankroll: $4031.65

VPIP: 17; PFR: 13; AF: 6.5; BB/100: 20.14; MT Ratio: 3.13

Graph of 200 NL

2006-12-04T04:14:00.000-08:00

Up around 10 buy-ins. A lot less variance on day 2. No tilt, running even or going up:

Leaks ...

2006-12-04T03:20:00.000-08:00

My plays which I consider leaky ...

PSB on the river - I should just call: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648437

This hand ... I just don't know: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648439

I should either check-call the river, or check-raise the flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648441

Check the turn, evaluate: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648443

Bet the flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648446

Fold on the turn: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648451

Pre-flop call is fine, fold after the flop: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648455

Fold on the river: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648456

Put out a feeler bet, fold to re-raise: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648458

Lead flop, fold to re-raise: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648464

My first 1K day!

2006-12-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not finding 1/2 to be that hard. There are still too many leaks in my game, but my instinct is better and better. Ugh ... if I can only stop some leaks, I would be making a lot more.

Key hand:

AA in SB/BB confrontation: http://www.pokerhand.org/?647990

No way am I folding ... 70/30 held up.

Me with over $1100 at 200 NL table

2006-12-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

5.5 times the buyin baby!

I still have too many leaks - one of them being way to aggressive against short stacks. It costs me.

Biggest pot to date? $565 HU

2006-12-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

I flop a set, he flops two pair:

He played it so fast too ... I just knew I would see Aces or Queens, but it was going to be a cooler - I wasn't going to get away from it:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?646797

Other than that, I'm running pretty even ... I guess I'm leaking too much OOP. I'm still leaking too much, but I'm capitalizing on my sets:

Here, I thought the guy might have AA: http://www.pokerhand.org/?648468

The $5,000 hand ...

2006-12-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

I settled in a little from this morning and decided to play a more thoughtful session. It was pretty short - 1 hour. I ended up being up around $350+

Key hand and key read:

AK in MP: http://www.pokerhand.org/?645993

The villain (rogier1700) leads out for a pot sized bet. He was a very loose player (52 VPIP), and the only thing I was worried about was KT from him. I thought I might see KQ or KJ there as well. He pushed all in with a straight draw and it's off to the races.

I got my money in as a 71-28 favorite and it held up. I also took out $531 so my BR is now at $4,500.

Playing very well ...

2006-12-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

Biggest pot to date - $500 +

TT hits set vs. maniac and WTF?: http://www.pokerhand.org/?644823

KJ to a re-raise in position - hit two pair on turn, push all-in.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644848

He is up 80% - 20% on the flop and those numbers flip on the turn. I really worried he had a set of Kings or Jacks even, but AA seemed most logical.

Built a pot in position, gin card on the turn: http://www.pokerhand.org/?644926

Ups and downs ... I'm definitely leaking $$ here and there. Not thinking enough about what I'm doing. Here I got the nuts:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?645015

WTF is he thinking?

Up $800 in short session ...

2006-12-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

I played a for about an hour and a half after everyone left playing live poker. Ended up a a little more than $800 up. Didn't really get in tricky situations. On one table I was getting sick cards and just pushing people around. This led to the following scenario:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644353

I probably could hav gotten more out of him, but I'm happy with the $100 pot. I probably could have made it $240 or something, but like I said - I'm happy to get paid.

These numbers are really TAGish. 19/14/2.7 ... with a BB/100 of 29 :)

And here is the graph. Guess where the suckout happened?

1-2 Session

2006-12-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

Even with some cooler hands, I still KILLED 200 NL for ~20 BB/100 hands tonight.

$461 pot ...

Well played - got it in as 82/16 and lost to a 3 outer:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?643911

Another really bad beat - all-in pre-flop with AA vs. Q9. $80+ or so ...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644323

KK - standard:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?643932

$406 pot ... I had AA with an overpair + nut flush draw.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644330

$253 pot ... maybe should have mini-raised on the river.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644336

This ended up being a coin-flip - 77 vs. two overcards + flush draw.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?644340

Up $220 + after a short session ...

2006-12-01T03:23:00.000-08:00

21/17/3.7

87 in the BB: http://www.pokerhand.org/?642771

I probably should have bet out.

KK, standard: http://www.pokerhand.org/?642773

AA, no suckout: http://www.pokerhand.org/?642774

85s, good value bet: http://www.pokerhand.org/?642775

AA, check turn? http://www.pokerhand.org/?642777

AA, HU, bad call on river: http://www.pokerhand.org/?642778

Bankrolls ...

2006-11-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

UB: $635.99 with a pending bonus of $590. I really need to play there more right now to clear the bonus.

FTP: $3,548 with no pending bonus.

So I won $135.99 at home on UB this weekend and $48 on FTP. Played solid and conservative. I'm getting better at HU, although I'm still playing fairly weak when I don't have the cards. The play there is so loose ... people call and call down with anything.

Sit-n-Goes at FTP

2006-11-25T06:10:00.000-08:00

I played in a few tournaments while at home. I won two $5.00 SNG's, finished 2nd in another, and won two HU SNG's. Overall, I'm up $50 there. I did have a good run of cards, but my shorthanded game really needs some work (hence the HU SNGs). I feel like I'm getting pushed around too much and am playing too tight when it gets down to 2-4 people.

Short UB session of 50NL

2006-11-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

Up $88.93 - people played really soft. My aces held up every time, and often went up against a top pair that someone had. I didn't really play that poorly or well - just solid poker.

Everyone was folding to c-bets ... really weak-tight play. When people went all-in, it was on draws. The good news was that none of their draws hit in the session :)

Very short 156 hand 50 NL session ...

2006-11-23T04:56:00.000-08:00

... but up $120.55. Bankroll at $3611.95. I'm taking out $111.95 to leave me with $3,500.

Great numbers! VPIP of 21, PFR of 14, and a AF of 4.15. BB/100 of 77.28 (this is a joke though ...)

All the wins pretty much came down to one coinflip:

56s on the button: http://www.pokerhand.org/?627594

I don't want to fold it, so I might as well raise it. If I flat call, it will kill all the action. Once he went all-in, I think I had the odds to call. Questionable, but worked.

Hands where I could have gotten more money on:

KK in the BB: http://www.pokerhand.org/?627600

Limped around to me, I overbet the pot, hit a set, and then get a caller. Maybe bet closer to $10 on the turn?

Funny how a winning session was a big winner due to one coinflip.

Short session of 50 NL

2006-11-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

Played 423 hands, won $68.50. Made a few mistakes, but nothing major - very ABC poker. Here is hand that cost me $40 though:

JJ in the SB. I'm 87% to win on the flop. Guy catches runner-runner for a flush:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?626568

In this hand, I had AA and should have just flat called in position:

AA UTG: http://www.pokerhand.org/?626571

I probably should have just let him peel one off and hang himself.

Ugh. I played a 16/11/2.5 type game. I was super aggressive post flop: 4.5 on the flop 4.5 on the turn, and 5.0 on the river. Raise and re-raise baby!

Bankroll at $3491.40.