Damn, I'm a blogging junkie!
Well the league ended with little fan fair for me. I needed to finish 3 spots ahead of points leader in the final tournament, but I didn't. I believe I went out in 5th. The points leader managed 3rd place (and took the season title). In the end it was heads up between the leagues worst, but most aggressive player and one of the leagues tightest players. And with the points, if the tighest player won the final tournament he'd have sole possession of 2nd place overall. If he finished in 2nd in the last tournament, him and I tie for 2nd place overall.
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Heads up didn't last long, and I don't remember the hand, but the aggressive player won and I split 2nd place money. Which is small. Over the entire league I definitely had a profit, but then again, so did the worst player. Typical, he's either out first or wins. He had 3 wins (including the last tournament which is double points and double money) but was still not in the running at all for season leader.
It was a fun time and it's always good to play live. With a baby on the way I couldn't join the next season. But maybe the season after that.
Another monthly home game. Once again I showed a profit. I showed up late so I missed the first two tournaments. The 2nd tournament had me finish 2nd, and then in the final tournamenet I took it down for a small profit. It's always nice to come out ahead. Especially since these tournaments are a lot about luck with the fast blind structure.
And I've mentioned in that past that I'm no good online. I don't have the patience. I think I have to changed that. I have a few bucks for poker, but I don't see me having an opportunity to hit Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. Which means other than the home games, I won't be able to play much poker. And right now I need to find away to suppliment my income. I don't expect to make a ton of money online, but I would like to make some. Enough to pull out a little bit here and there to help with the various household expenses. I don't have the time for a second job, so I want to try to take these few dollars and turn myself into a profitable player. But to do that I need to learn the discipline. So you may see me at the virtual felt again... if you do, remind me that I need to have discipline.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
2 posts in one month???
Wow... I don't post.
I've continued in my league. This week is the final week. My first four weeks were golden, 1st or 2nd each week. I took a beat another week against the worst player (JJ vs QJ, he flops and turns a Q).
I was in 2nd place going into last week. 6 points behind first place. I managed to pull out a win. Unfortunately, I went heads up with the 1st place player, thus only gained 1 point. Going into the final week (where points are doubled), I need to finish 3 spots ahead of 1st place player.
I'm crossing my fingers. I'm thinking tight against anyone but 1st place, and play loose aggressive against him. Not sure if I'll be able to pull the trigger, since 2nd place overall still gets money.
In that time since my last post, I played my first monthly home game in 9 months. I started off slow, but managed to win the last two tournaments and make a small profit in the cash game.
I made another deposit into FTP, but blew it. I'm DEFINITELY not good online. I have no patience and I tilt. If I made a bad play live (which I did in the league last week), I can just brush it off and focus. If I make a mistake online... Tiltville, Population: Me.
So, I'm going to avoid online play. Maybe borrow 6 bucks every once and awhile to play in the AIPS events, but other than that... no more online for me.
I'm hoping if I can take down this league play on Sunday (and even win the last tournament), I'm looking at $1000.00 and I can hit foxwoods or Mo Sun's new poker room.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The League: Week 3
I came into the game, ready to play. I was over the miscounting of chips issue, and made a few jokes about it. I was also a bit more comfortable with these folks, so I was able joke a bit with them. They are definitely a bunch of ex-frat boys. Many of them show up a bit drunk and continue to get drunker... works nicely for the few of us that are sober.
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The game started, and we had an elimination pretty quickly. I can't remember the hand, but it was maybe 10 minutes in. Blinds went up and the timer started. The next few people were out. I was beginning to get the feel of a table, even though i still don't know a few of their names (I need to work on that). I finally got hands early and was able to get some chips. I hit some big hands. I tried to a lot of slow playing, but people weren't falling for it. I think next week I'll play faster with my big hands, just to change things up.
There was an incident with the 2nd bust out (which was maybe 8 hands in), where the chip leader went all in, one player folded, and another called. The chip leader won the hand and knocked out another player. The guy you folded, got up to use the bathroom, and his chips got swept into the pot. We realized that before the next hand luckily and when he came back down we were able to figure out how much he had and fixed the stats. If it would have been later, we would have had a problem. Luckily we resolved it.
I was starting to get low in chips when I limped with JT, the guy who won last week (who REALLY doesn't know how to play, except for his aggressive nature) raised me all in. He had me covered, I thought about it and figuring there was a slight chance I was ahead (but also figured I needed to gamble at some point), I decided to call. He flipped over K7 or something similar. I caught a ten on the flop and took a big double up. Now a little more about him... he thinks soooooted is the nuts. At one point, he has a lot of chips, and raises from middle position. One of the blinds, pushes all in. He's short but it's still a significant raise. Sooootedboy thinks and think and think... and calls... Flips of J4 of clubs. His opponent had AK and doubled up. Soooootedboy would later cripple the same guy when he called another all-in. His opponent shows AJ but Sooootedboy shows QQ.
We get to three handed, with Me, Soooootedboy (just like last week) and a bald dude (bald dude jumped out to an early massive stack, busting the 1st 3 people). I have a slight lead. I went card dead and kept giving Sooooted boy my small blind. I just didn't want to play a hand with 75 or 97 or j5. So I willingly gave up my SB to his BB. I managed to steal some blinds, usually if I was on the button when I put in big raises, but I usually had a hand there. Finally, I'm given Ac2c in the small blind. I'm hoping the button folds, which he does, and I push. Now, any decent player would realize, I folded my SB to this guy about 6 or 7 times. Suddenly I'm pushing. I might have something. He does think about it for a while, finally he calls, figuring he has to "be in it to win it." He flips over Jc5c. He is horrified to see that I have his club flush blocked. Like that's his only problem. I know a J or a 5 is coming. that's just how he rolls. I figured my eyes were broken when for some strange reason they start seeing an Ace on the board. I manage to bust him and get to heads up with a massive chip lead.
The money is put on the table and they pull aside 2nd places $20.00. I comment about how 2nd place money is an insult. That it would be much better if it was even $40 to second place and $140 to first. $40 would give 2nd place a freeroll into the following week (more or less). But that's the way they do it, I was just making commentary. I joke about watching me lose this chip lead and only get that 2nd place money.
First hand of heads up, I'm the button... AA. Nice. I limp, hoping my opponent would push all in. He's got a really short stack. He just checks and I see a flop I'm not all that happy about. 78J rainbow. He things for a few seconds, then pushes, and I think about it for a second, but figure this is still a good shot to try to win this outright. A double up would still leave me with a pretty big chip lead. I call and flip up my Aces. He flips over a respectable T7. He's got 2 7's 3 Ts and 4 8s. None of those come on the turn or the river, and I take first place. I'm glad 2nd place only gets $20.
Week 3: 9 points, $160.00 Cash Total points: 17.
That total points puts me in 4th place. Soootedboy has 19 points for 2nd place. I'm going to try to hold on to the cash as it will serve me for another 8 buy-ins. 1 more win and I'll be "freerolling" the actual tournament buy-ins. I'll still have my end of the season prize pools though.
Total Tournament Buy-ins: $360 (Mine will be $340 since I missed week one). Total Prize Pool extra: $90.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
Horse Prop Bet
There are 67 runners left out of 148.
Bet 1 with Slappy:
SLAPPY
Greenstein - 2nd in chips
Bloch - 25th in chipsDeeb
ME
Ivey - 41st in chipsAntioniusSinger
It's not looking good for me.
Against Jordan of HighOnPoker:
HoP
Bloch - 25th in chips
Lindgren - 16th in chips
ME
Greenstein - 2nd in chips
Ivey - 41st in chips
I'm in better position this one. Let's just hope Ivey can pull this out. I think they'll get to final table tonight, so it may be settled tonight. I'll be a little happier if Andy Bloch would just bust out.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The League Weeks 1 & 2
Here's a recap of week 1.
I took a horrendous beat and I wasn't able to make it.
A 6 hour car trip from Virginia turned into a 12 hour trip, with a 2 1/2 hour stop on the GW Bridge.
Week 1: 0 points, $0 Cash
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Week 2.
I begin the week in last place overall with 0 points. I have some ground to make up.
My first game. I played super tight. Not getting much to work with. I don't know any of the players, and they don't know me. The guy on my left is pretty aggressive, but will lay down if he has nothing. There was a hand where the pot was about 50+ chips and a re-raised him all-in on the river, but it was only 9 more chips. He folded. Must have had like 34 or something that there was no chance of winning. After a while I got the hang of him. I'd limp with a decent hand, knowing he's going to raise, and then when it got back to him, I'd re-pop it. I did that a few times.
There are a few people who know very little about poker (including one who had to be reminded that a flush beats a straight). There are a few people who know how to play and then the rest somewhere in between. That's my first impression.
This night pots got big pretty quick, and the one person I kind of know, the one who invited me (our kids are in daycare together), said it was rare that they get that big so early. Also, the tournament last about 3 1/2 hours, and he said that was a little on the long side.
At one point I'm getting short and I'm dealt AK. It comes around to me, I raise to 3x. The BB (flush vs straight guy) re-pops me, and I push. It's decent size raise and he thinks for a moment then calls. Now I haven't played many hands. Again, I'm playing very tight. BB flips over KT and I double up. The aggressive guy on my left (I'm going to have to come up with names for these folks) starts to give the BB crap, "What did you put him on? I mean really. What?" He asked him that a few times. The BB knows little about poker and I'm sure he didn't put that much thought into it. A few of us convinced the aggressive guy to cut it out.
Shortly after that hand, I realize I have the tight image so I make sure I get caught in a bluff. I had a decent enough stack that losing the pot didn't hurt. I saw a free flop with 7d3d. Missed me completely with T high. we both checked the flop. I bet the flop he called. we both checked when a Q came on the turn. A blank river and I bet out small. The guy thought a while about calling me with top pair (tens) and a medium kicker. But the chatter involved paying me off to get info. So when he called, I told him he got me and showed my 73.
The game continues. I bust the aggressive guy when there's a limper, I limp with TT, knowing he'll raise, which he does, it folds around to me, and I re-pop him. He thinks and then calls with AQ. I flop a T and bust him. 3 handed lasted a while. Me, the one guy I know and the Flush vs Straight guy. It was a very tight 3 handed group. When i was in the BB, the SB was the guy I know and the button was Flush vs Straight. We pretty much stayed about teh same in chips, each of us getting our share of the blinds. At one point, when I was in the BB, the button folded and the SB pushed, he had been shortstacked for most of three handed, but when ever he pushed I had very little call with and I doubled him up at one point, but now he was back down. He pushed and I look down at K7. A crappy hand, but I figured, he may just push with any Q or J at this point (since he only had one hand before he had to play the BB and would be committed with anything). I called. I was hoping even for a very weak Ace. But no, of course he has to have KQ. Grrr.
Flop comes 5-6-x, a 9 on the turn gives me 7 outs, and a beautiful 8 hit on the river. Giving me the straight and busting him. I make it to heads up. I'm on the Button and have junk so I fold. The next hand I get A2. the BB pushes, and I call. He has 84 suited and turns an 8. We look about even, so we count our chips. He tells me he has 143 chips. I'm counting mine out and see that he has me covered (yes the guy who can't remember that a flush beats a straight won). I push in my chips, tell him good game, exchange pleasantries with the people that stuck around and headed home.
Week 2: 8 points, $20.00 Cash
As I'm driving I start thinking about my chip stack. I had them in stacks of twenty and I was thinking about the # of stacks I had. I think I may have miscounted. I then start to do the math:
9 players @ 40 chips = 360 chips.
360 minus 143= 217
217-143= 74.
Yikes, I had 74 chips (blinds were 10/20). Heck, I would have been the button and only had to put in 10 chips. I could have folded any really crappy hand. I could have come back. I'M HERPES!!!! YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME!!!
Now I'm on tilt all week thinking about my lost chance. One counting error and I go from possiblying winning 160 to only getting 20. BLAH!!!! TILT!!!!
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic (and math is hard!).
Major League
I've joined a live poker league. It's a bit long, but surprisingly, a sunday night weekly event works out nicely for my schedule. It's 16 weeks of poker (a few more for scheduling changes) with a point system. Each week, a portion of the buy-in (20+5 and 40+10) goes into a large pool. At the end of the season, the person with the most points gets 75% of the pool. 2nd place gets 25%.
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You get points for how you finish. Get knocked out first, you get one point. Win and you get 9 (there are 9 people in the league). Week 8 and week 16 are double weeks (buy ins double, stacks double, I think points double). If you miss a week, you get 0 points (but you can't miss weeks 8 or 16, the schedule will be adjusted to accommodate everyone).
Normally, each player gets 40 chips (week 8 & 16 you get 40 chips) and the blinds are 1/2, until the first person busts, then it doubles every 30 minutes (expect it goes from 4/8 to 5/10). I'm usually not a fan of constant doubling of the blinds, but the 30 minute levels makes it feel like there is some play.
The pay out for each individual tournament is a bit unruly. 2nd place gets their buy-in back (not including the money that goes into the pool) and first gets the rest.
They have a things I think are weird. I think, I'm not sure, I have to double check, if 2 people get busted, they both get the same amount of points, doesn't matter who had the bigger stack (this happened in week 2, I'll have to check the points next week). Also, they kind of ignore where the button after bustouts. Meaning, you won't have to pay the big blind twice, but you might get lucky and miss a round of blinds. I think that's kind of crazy, but apparently they've been doing this for a few years. As I'm new and don't really know anyone, I'm not gonna rock the boat.
So I think that's about it. I'm kind of excited, since this will be the most live poker I've played, consistently. After the 16 weeks, I'll probably have played more poker there, than at all my casino trips in the past combined.
Unfortunately, it means I'll probably be skipping any up coming "monthly" home games. I think going twice in one weekend to play poker might lead my wife to leave me. I may be able to hit an August home game @ Slappy's since it will be his first in his new house.
Anyway, that's it for the info. We finished up week 2 this past sunday, and I'll have an update soon.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
2008 WSOP Prop Bet
Well the WSOP is here and I've been following it... somewhat closely. Mostly that involves checking Dr. Pauly's Blog and reviewing winners on Wikipedia's 2008 WSOP Results site.
With that, I totally forgot the 50K H.O.R.S.E. Event was starting today. I've quickly put together a couple of prop bets.
First, one with Slappy. Last Longer. Three pros each. We flipped a coin and he won. Here are the results
1) Barry Greenstein (Slappy)- this was going to be my first pick.
2) Phil Ivey (Unimpressed)- almost a no brainer
3) Patrik Antonius (Unimpressed
4) Andy Bloch (Slappy)- He was also on my shortlist.
5) Freddy Deeb (Slappy)- Last year's champion, I just don't think he'll repeat.
6) David Singer (Unimpressed)- Final tabled this event every time it's been held (twice), and won his first bracelet this year. I think he might potentially win it all.
Second bet is the same basic format. But there are alternates, in case any of our picks don't make it (unlikely since our main picks are almost definitely playing in it). This one is with Jordan from HighOnPoker. Jordan and I had two WSOP prop bet last year. Pick'em Horserace (bracelet and final tables), which I won. Thank you Phil Helmuth. And the # of entrants into the Main Event, which he won (I picked way too high). I netted a big $1.00 total, which, since we don't live near each other, and FTP has a $5.00 minimum transfer, wasn't worth taking the time to transfer and called it a wash. Here's the picks so far:
1) Patrik Antonius (HoP)
2) Greenstein (Unimpressed)
3) Ivey (Unimpressed)
4) Bloch (HoP)
5) Lindgren (HoP)
6) David Benyamine (Unimpressed)
7) David Singer (Unimpressed- alternate).
*edit*
8) Gus Hansen (HoP- alternate)
9) Allen Cunningham (HoP- alternate)
10) Doyle Brunson (Unimpressed- alternate).
Obviously I hope Ivey wins the entire thing. Or Benyamine. I probably should have put more thought into my picks to even them out. Can't really root for Greenstein because then Slappy wins won. OR Antonius, then Jordan wins won. Oh well. We'll see how this goes.
If I had to choose either Greenstein or Antonius winning, I'm not sure who I'd pick. The bet with Jordan is a little more than the bet with Slappy, but Slappy money is the best kind of money!
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The Hunger
Well I'm back.
I got about $50.00 from rakeback. Thank you Slappy. So I decided to play again. I mostly stick around the .25/.50 game, buying in for $25. I also play in SnGs, $6.00+.50 (turbo's, heads up, 6 handed and 9 handed), with the occasional $11+1(turbo) if I'm winning. I started off not being able to cash in any SnGs, but then went on a mini rushed and cashed in a bunch in a row including a win or two.
I tried one big jump... I took the profit from a successful cash game session and bought into a 4 person HU shootout for 20+1.50. I was WAY out matched. I used to be a decent heads up player. Not so much.
First match I'm playing weak tight. Folding a ton, no continuation bets. My opponent suddenly got really aggressive. I get tired of his raises and called one with 62 off. The flop comes Q65. He bets, and I decide to take a stand. I push (he has small chip lead). He happily calls and shows AQ. I river a 2 and cripple him. Next hand I have AA and I'm on to my 2nd match. I have a while to wait, as these two play for a while. Finally it ends. Apparently there was some jawing back and forth. The less angry person won. Isn't that usually they way?
My opponent once again, outplayed me. I just didn't have the aggression. Even though this was all profit for me, I was still playing scared. In the end, I can't fault my play too bad. Maybe I can. I have T8 on a board of 9TJ. I bet, she raises, and I push. I figured middle pair and an OESD is pretty good. Again, I was pushing back because of her previous aggression. She has, other than QK, she has pretty much the worst hand I could face. J8. I'm basically hoping for 10 cards. And 8 of them give me a chop. Nothing comes, and I'm out.
I'm once again enjoying poker and want to see if this can last. I currently have my account at around 100. It's been up to 125 and down to around 50 recently, but I manage to pull it back up when I suffer losses.
I'm also showing more aggression and getting an idea of when some folks are weak and when they're not. I've noticed myself making a few more re-pops when I think people are weak and being right.
I will probably have more posts soon (not that I think I have any readers anymore). I've playing more online and I've just joined a 16 week poker league. More on that later.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The Taste...
I think I lost the taste for poker.
This isn't a bad beat story. I decided to hit Foxwoods Saturday night. I don't go often, the drive is an hour and I normally don't have the money to play, but I had been wanting to play for a while. The entire drive, I was thinking, "I'm not looking forward to the drive back." I get there @ 8:30 and the place was packed (in the middle of the preliminaries of the Foxwoods Poker Classic- WPT event. I did see Men the Master sitting at a table (must have busted early from the Reno event). I put my name on a bunch of lists (I love that you can now put yourself on lists); 1/2nl, 2/4 lhe, 4/8 lhe, even 2/5nl. About an hour or so in, I get called for 2/4 and take my seat. I like the tables, a couple of cute girls to flirt and smile with, it's the same as microlimit online so the play wasn't great. I stayed about even, went up a bit with a split pot on a straight. Made a small profit when I played Ah3h with a raise from one of the blinds (I was folding hands like that all night, and decided to try to build a pot in case I hit)- flopped the draw and bet out. Hit the flush on the turn and bet out. Bet the river and won. Unfortunately, unlike most hands, only one person stuck around after the flop.
Around midnight, I get KK in the SB. One limper, I raise, BB and limper calls. Flop is T high. I bet, both call. Turn is a 2- I bet, BB calls, limper raises, I call (but I know I'm in trouble), BB calls. River is a T. dang it. I check, BB bets, limper raises, I fold. BB calls. BB has T6, limper has T2 for the boat. At that point, I though, dang it, I wish this was NL. I can't blame either of them for their calls in limit. Well maybe the limper, but his T2 WAS sooooooted. Anyway, wishing it was NL, but not wanting to put my name back on this very long list, I sighed. Suddenly, God (or the floor person) calls my initials for the 1/2 NL. Wow, 3 1/2 hours on the list. I take it.
Normally, I love the feel and the sounds of the casino. I'm not a "gambler" by nature, but I can feel the excitement. This time I didn't feel it. It felt... depressing. It reminded me of the time I went the Horsehoe in Bossier City, LA. I feeling of desperation in the air.
I stayed until 3am, but then headed home. I booked a loss for the night, mostly on one really bad play. A "zero" play. Put all my chips in (a HUGE overbet), when, in reality, I wasn't going to be called by anyone with a hand less than mine. They don't call it the idiot end of the straight for nothing.
There was a play before that. I had 3d5d in one of hte blinds. The flop comes JJ5. This one lady bet out $10 and I called. No other callers. The turn was a 2. Check-check, and the River was a 5. I bet out $10, she re-raises me to $40. I think and muck with my 5 up.
She later asked if I knew what I threw away. I said, Yes, I put you on the J. She told me she had a 5, as well. At the time, I felt I played it well, even though I was wrong. I trusted my read and went with it. I figured I'd be willing to pay $10 to find out if my read was right and her raise told me it was. The guy next to me (who I ended up stacking off to later) said he put her on the Jack as well.
But if I would have put some actual thought into it, was it likely she had the J? She bet out on the flop, which is fine, nothing says she had to slow play, but if she's willing to bet the flop with a J and I called, why would she just check the turn, instead of betting again? Her bet then check says she had either a different pair (over/under) or a 5 and was worried I was slow playing a jack. Then the 5 hits and what is she betting there? AND if I was willing to call the bet on the flop, what was I waiting for when the 5 came on the river? What other card could I have possibly wanted to hit? What was the reason for calling a flop bet if I folded on the river when the perfect card hit for me? The only hand I didn't beat had one of the 2 final jacks in it. I beat over pairs and under pairs and an Ace which were all possibilities.
So, for the future, I don't plan on playing poker for anything other than fun (ie- home games). And until I'm willing to take the time and think through hands properly, there's no point in playing at a casino. This is live play, no clock to worry about, I should have taken the time to think the hands through.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
I'm Done With Online Poker
...again. I'm not raging against suckouts and what not, I just don't have the mentality for it. Not yet anyway. I let myself tilt. I don't tilt in lives games, but on the internet I tilt.
The other week I deposited $62 . I wanted to sit down at a .25/.50 no limit table, which I did, and play in a 11+1 turbo SnG. Which I did.
The SnG failed miserably, the cash game was a success. Until I took a hit and ended up only about 22 bucks, but once you subtract out the SnG it was a mere $10 profit. Sad, when I was up 40 at one point. The next night, I jumped into another .25/.50 table and a couple of SnGs, again, my profits were less because I didn't manage to cash in any of the SnGs.
Finally the third night. I had been playing a video game that night and came across a glitch which cost me about 2 hours worth of progress. I turned it off and hopped online. I, again, sat in a .25/.50 table. I was building a decent stack, when I let a guy set me up.
A5off in the BB. Middle position min raises. I call. I hit my 5, but I'm done with this hand. No point in losing too much. It goes Check, check. Turn is an Ace. Ha. Now I'm hope he has a good ace. I bet, he raises, I push. He calls. He has a good ace. He has two of them. My $60 is down to about $25.
A little while later, I have QJ and raise it up. I get one caller. The flop comes all low. I bet, my opponent raises, and I, for whatever stupid reason, I push my stack. It's a huge overbet and my opponent calls with 77. He actually had a OESD as well. I didn't improve.
Now, I got some rakeback last night. About $25. I put it all in a .10/.25 short handed game. I built it up, but took a hit when I called a small raise with J9 suited. Flop comes J9T. I bet, raiser calls. The turn is a low card. But it puts two flush draws out there. I bet my two pair (I think about half the pot, the OR raises about 4 times my bet, and I push. He thinks and thiks, then calls off his stack with AQ. OESD. He hits a K on the river and I lose all but 4 bucks. I steam and push a few hands, but no one calls. Then I cool off and start playing smart again. I did make two slightly tilty moves. I trusted my instincts on two hands and bluffed two people off hands when I had nothing. Not smart when you have a short stacked. Especially if you're pushing on a big stack. One of the people I bluffed could easily have called and been only a slight dent. But they didn't want to give me the courtesy double up.
Then I raised 3 hands in a row and put out continuation bets when I was called, and took down 3 hands in a row. I was starting to make a comeback. I was dealt AA in the small blind. I'm hoping the BB notices I keep raising and will my raise. Suddenly, someone in late position makes it a .85. I raise to 2 something, and the BB, shoves (something like $35). I'm kinda hoping the LP calls, but he folds. I easily call and I'm up against KK. The flop more or less ends it with an A. I play a few more hands, but end up cashing out with only a 1.50 loss.
However, with FTP's new tournament $$$, I've been playing in the 90FTP 27 handed satellite into the midnight madness (11+1). I've won two of those satellites, then I unregister from the Midnight Madness tourny and I have 11 in tournament cash. I used the first one for a SnG, but didn't get much very far. I still have the second T11.
Last night when I won my second one, I played in about 5 of these satellites. At one time I had 3 tables going and managed the final table in all 3. With healthy stacks. One of them, the chip leader had a huge suckout on me to knock me out in 4th. So I'll probably play those to try to get some more cash.
Basically, I'm done with online poker DEPOSITS.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
I know ZERO about Nascar
But I decided to create a "fantasy auto racing team" and I created this group. Feel free to join.
Group Name: I know ZERO about Nascar
Group ID: 38034
Group Pass: nascar
FYI, when joining it asks for group ID not group name.
I Almost Feel Bad...
... Almost. This poor guy (imthothor). He's been playing relatively tight. VP$P about 25% at a full table. Max buy-in is $25, he has $47. I have a $21 after buying in for $10. I've been playing pretty straight forward Tight aggressive. I jumped back up to the .10/.25 recently, after spending some time at the .05/.10. One difference between the two is "players/flop." At the lowest limit, you can easily find 45% at a full table. People just messing around. Jump up one level and that drops down to about 25%-30%. I jumped into this table because it had the high side of 33%. It had a lower # of hands which meant it wasn't a short handed table that just filled up.
So I've been at the table for about an hour. Doubled my buy-in plus some (had about 25). I decide to call it a night, but then decide to play one more round. What do I do? I loosen up a bit. And I blow through some cash. I play a hand in late position and flop a set of 2s in the SB, no action. Very next hand, AA. No action. Tilting a bit since I'm down about 4 bucks. I decide to play one more round again. A mistake since I know I'm tilting a little.
I'm dealt A9 in the BB and just check with 2 other players in the pot. Flop is K96. I Bet it and take it. Get 22 in SB again, but it gets checked down. A Bet on the river and I fold. THen in late position, this hand comes up.
Full Tilt Poker Game #5246646390: Table Pacific Palisades - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:56:51 ET - 2008/02/13
Seat 1: Unimpressed ($21.30)
Seat 2: MAGTF ($14.40)
Seat 3: Muckaroo ($23.50)
Seat 4: Andy I ($7.95)
Seat 5: imthothor ($47.10)
Seat 6: MiStErZYX ($10.95)
Seat 7: Nick Acree ($7.75)
Seat 8: JDEBUCH23 ($14.40)
Seat 9: romadolce ($25)
Andy I posts the small blind of $0.10
imthothor posts the big blind of $0.25
5 seconds left to act
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [7d 9d]
MiStErZYX folds
Nick Acree folds
JDEBUCH23 folds
Unimpressed raises to $0.85 -Might as well try. I was kicking myself when I made this raise. Not horrible, since it folded to me, but why get out of line?
MAGTF folds
Muckaroo folds
Andy I has 15 seconds left to act
Andy I folds
imthothor raises to $1.45 -Min raise- tight player, I should let this go. He probably has something, he hasn't gotten out of line. I'm thinking to myself, FOLD FOLD.
Unimpressed calls $0.60 -Why? Not sure. I wish I could think of a reason, but I can't.
*** FLOP *** [9c 9h Ts] -GIN!!!
imthothor bets $1 -continuation bet.
Unimpressed raises to $6 -At least I get something
imthothor raises to $45.65, and is all in -WOW! For a split second, I'm thinking he's going to show A9 (though I know he wouldn't re-raise me with that). But I know I can't fold.
Unimpressed calls $13.85, and is all in -I know it FTP is going to show A9 or TT to teach me a lesson- don't call raises with crap hands!
imthothor shows [Kd Ks] - WOOT!!!
Unimpressed shows [7d 9d]
Uncalled bet of $25.80 returned to imthothor
*** TURN *** [9c 9h Ts] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [9c 9h Ts 2h] [Ac]
imthothor shows two pair, Kings and Nines
Unimpressed shows three of a kind, Nines
Unimpressed wins the pot ($40.60) with three of a kind, Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $42.70 Rake $2.10
Board: [9c 9h Ts 2h Ac]
Seat 1: Unimpressed showed [7d 9d] and won ($40.60) with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 2: MAGTF didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Muckaroo (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Andy I (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: imthothor (big blind) showed [Kd Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Nines
Seat 6: MiStErZYX didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Nick Acree didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: JDEBUCH23 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: romadolce is sitting out
Full Tilt once again rewards the donkeys!
I feel bad for imthothor. He lost about half his stack he had been building up playing solid poker. Eight hands later, he loses AQ to AK on an AKx board. He went from $45 to $.60. Ouch.
He managed to build it back up to 8. Then lost a big pot again, when he called a raise from the guy on his right with 33. Flop was Q7Q. Raisor bet out the minimum and imthothor re-raised to almost 3 bucks basically putting the guy all in. He calls (all but $.20). River is an 8. All the money goes in, the guy had A8. Loses 1/2 his stack. He's finally sent home, tilty. Limps with 22, that gets raised to 1 then re-raised to 3. imthothor called all-in, and is up against JJ.
Sometimes it's not your night. It may have seemed like mine, but after failing to cash in 2 11+1 turbo SnGs, I profit about $5.00 for the night.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
Nice Improvement.
We got it all in on the flop. I took the lead on the turn and took the super lead on the river.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The Next Rounders?
This actually looks like a good (funny) poker movie.
The Grand.
via: Wicked Chops Poker
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
I May Suck At Poker...
...But I can fold Jacks like a pro.
Twice I've let them go this week preflop.
The first time was with two people raising and re-raising ahead of me. KK vs QQ.
The second time, a loose player raises 3x UTG, a tight player Re-raises to 3x that, UTG+2. I have JJ and am next to act. I think, then fold. Folds around to UTG who calls.
Flop is 7A7. Both check. I smell it there.
Turn is a J. Even at this point, I'm confident it was a good fold. UTG+1 bets out 1/2 the pot. UTG calls.
River is a 4. UTG+1 bets half the pot, the UTG folds and sure enough, UTG+1 shows AA.
Did I mention I'm ecstatic that the PATRIOTS LOST!!!!! SUCK IT!!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
That's Right!!!!
There is only ONE Perfect Season!
Tonight was the only highlight this season for a Dolphins Fan.
ReBuilding
Just call me Tilty McTilterson.
I blew up last night. Completely. I had about $135 in my account last night. I was playing in a .10/.25 NL short handed game. I may have had 2 at once. No biggie. I lose a buy in (I usually buy in for $10 instead of the $25 max- because of my bankroll). I'm building another buy-in up. I'm about back to even. I get into a hand and lose it to this guy: H0ll4nD C4s1n0. Next thing I know he's gone. This annoyed me and set me on tilt.... why? I don't know.
So I search for him. I find him. In Spades. He is multi-tabling about 10-12 tables. All .10/.25 NLSH. I sit down to him, and lose a buy-in. I see he's playing standard for a multi-tabler. If he comes in, it's for a raise EVERY TIME and there's almost always a continuation bet. Now if he's raising he can have anything from A9 up including double face cards. And I keep losing to him. I'm finally at a table where's he's immediately on my left. I pick up QQ in the SB. I know that if I limp he'll raise. I limp. He raises. I re-raise, he pushes, I call. KK.
I'm now sitting in a $6.50 SnG and playing one final table. I'm playing well. H0ll4nD C4s1n0 is across the table from me. I'm not avoiding him, but I'm not getting involved with him unless I have a hand. I even won one off of him. This hand arises:
Full Tilt Poker Game #5047150861: Table Richard (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:05:08 ET - 2008/01/29
Seat 1: NittnyLion25 ($8.25)
Seat 2: deegs85 ($25)
Seat 3: Unimpressed ($37.45)
Seat 4: Thorzgirl ($6.75)
Seat 5: kiloali ($38.50)
Seat 6: H0ll4nD C4s1n0 ($44.10)
Thorzgirl posts the small blind of $0.10
kiloali posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [Ts Ks]
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 has 15 seconds left to act
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 raises to $1
NittnyLion25 folds
Unimpressed calls $1 - I'm in position- I'll take a flop.
Thorzgirl folds
kiloali folds
*** FLOP *** [3s 4c 7s]
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 bets $1.70
Unimpressed calls $1.70 - Let me hit something, please.
*** TURN *** [3s 4c 7s] [6d]
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 bets $3.70
Unimpressed calls $3.70 - should have folded, but I thought, if I hit, I might be able to get his stack.
*** RIVER *** [3s 4c 7s 6d] [5c] - nuts! Straight on the board, I missed
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 bets $37.70, and is all in
Unimpressed calls $31.05, and is all in - NOT GOING TO PUSH ME OFF A HAND!
Uncalled bet of $6.65 returned to H0ll4nD C4s1n0
*** SHOW DOWN ***
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 shows [8c 8h] a straight, Eight high - I'm an idiot.
Unimpressed mucks
H0ll4nD C4s1n0 wins the pot ($72.25) with a straight, Eight high
Unimpressed is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $75.25 Rake $3
Board: [3s 4c 7s 6d 5c]
Seat 1: NittnyLion25 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: deegs85 is sitting out
Seat 3: Unimpressed (button) mucked [Ts Ks] - a straight, Seven high
Seat 4: Thorzgirl (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: kiloali (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: H0ll4nD C4s1n0 showed [8c 8h] and won ($72.25) with a straight, Eight high
There was no reason to lose all that. If you look at all of my hand histories last night, each table I was at, it ended with H0ll4nD C4s1n0 busting me.
The only saving grace, was that I won my SnG at the end of the night to recover some.
Tonight I rebuilt a little. I played one table, and won a buy-in and a half. But in 3 SnGs, I finished 3-7-7 for a small loss. Still my win was bigger than my loss. I'm done for the night. No Mookie for me.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
A Roller Coaster
Played in a lot of tournaments tonight.
Katitude's Donkament
$75 Token Frenzy
$28,000 Guaranteed
$26 Token Frenzy
I'm down for the night if you count them all, but I did use a token to enter the 28k.
The $75 Token tournament, I made a poor move when, I had plenty of chips to wait for a hand, but in the big blind I had a 3 in my hand. flop came A3A. There wasn't much action. Turn was a J and the river was a 2. In the end i tried to make a big hero call (had done it earlier in the 28k), but he had an ace. I lost a good amount of chips and couldn't regain any footing.
The $26 Token tourney, I don't even remember what happened there. I think with both Token tournaments, I stopped playing them like a super sattelite and chose not to wait for big hands, even when I could.
The 28k, well, that was fun. I managed to go deep. 1403 and I finished 416. I got super lucky early on with this hand.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4911647690: $28,000 Guarantee (36637157), Table 6 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:10:59 ET - 2008/01/18
Seat 1: angiesman10 (8,433)
Seat 2: Archable (1,519)
Seat 3: kalterrell (4,410)
Seat 4: Unimpressed (4,581)
Seat 5: oceansbluetwou (4,170)
Seat 6: Anniebets (4,235)
Seat 7: Bennat75 (8,181), is sitting out
Seat 8: GR sucks (2,956)
Seat 9: jwerk (6,695)
kalterrell posts the small blind of 60
Unimpressed posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [5s 5d]
oceansbluetwou folds
Anniebets folds
Bennat75 folds
GR sucks folds
jwerk raises to 360
angiesman10 folds
Archable folds
kalterrell folds
Unimpressed calls 240
*** FLOP *** [Jc Js 4h]
Unimpressed checks
jwerk bets 400
Unimpressed raises to 1,560n - I put him on a steal attempt for some reason.
jwerk has 15 seconds left to act
jwerk has requested TIME
jwerk calls 1,160
*** TURN *** [Jc Js 4h] [3s]
Unimpressed bets 2,661, and is all in - decided to go with my read.
jwerk calls 2,661
Unimpressed shows [5s 5d]
jwerk shows [Jd Kh] - Started to think I my read was wrong (this is a reoccurring theme tonight)
*** RIVER *** [Jc Js 4h 3s] [5c] - Given a reprieve.
Unimpressed shows a full house, Fives full of Jacks
jwerk shows three of a kind, Jacks
Unimpressed wins the pot (9,222) with a full house, Fives full of Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9,222 Rake 0
Board: [Jc Js 4h 3s 5c]
Seat 1: angiesman10 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Archable (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: kalterrell (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Unimpressed (big blind) showed [5s 5d] and won (9,222) with a full house, Fives full of Jacks
Seat 5: oceansbluetwou didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Anniebets didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Bennat75 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: GR sucks didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: jwerk showed [Jd Kh] and lost with three of a kind, Jacks
I then started to change my play there. I had enough chips to not go nuts. I stay around the 9k mark, until my final hand.
I had Q8 in a blind. The flop comes, I believe 8Tx, no betting the flop, a Q comes on the turn giving me two pair. We get it all in and my opponent shows T8, but rivers a T for a boat. Too bad, I was feeling good too.
Must of my focus was on Katitudes Donakament. I won this a few months back and wanted to do well. I started off OK, but then had to re-buy. In the end, I rebought 5 times (for a total investment of $7.00). The rebuy period ended and I was 2nd or 3rd in chips. I chose not to add on.
I made it to the final table with a decent stack (in re-buys there is a lot of play towards the end). However, I lose some pots and I'm down to about 10k with 6 people left.
I find KQ UTG and put in a raise to $3,400.
It folds to Fishiswa who pushes all in for 27k.
I think for a few moments, but then decide, if he's pushing when an UTG raises, I'm dead.
He said he pushed because he figured I was pot-committed, and he had AA. Good laydown Unimpressed.
Still 6 handed, a few minutes later. Prior to this there is a LOT of button/cutoff raising to steal blinds. My big blind is constantly being stolen.
Seat 1: MiamiDon (14,783)
Seat 2: Fishiswa (29,723)
Seat 3: BuddyDank (23,883)
Seat 4: Unimpressed (15,930)
Seat 5: surflexus (26,096)
Seat 9: Joshuacarlsen (63,085)
MiamiDon antes 100
Fishiswa antes 100
BuddyDank antes 100
Unimpressed antes 100
surflexus antes 100
Joshuacarlsen antes 100
BuddyDank posts the small blind of 400
Unimpressed posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [Ad 3d]
surflexus folds
Joshuacarlsen folds
MiamiDon raises to 2,200 - I'm tried of my blinds being stolen and figured he's on a steal. He needs chips.
Fishiswa folds
BuddyDank folds
Unimpressed calls 1,400 - No need to go nuts, let's try to hit a flop.
*** FLOP *** [Qd Ah 3s] - DING, DING, DING!
Unimpressed checks
MiamiDon bets 3,200
Unimpressed raises to 6,400 - Let's see if he's just continuation betting. I've got to be good
MiamiDon: damn
MiamiDon: ggl
MiamiDon has 15 seconds left to act
MiamiDon raises to 12,483, and is all in - Excellent, please don't have AQ, please don't have AQ.
Unimpressed calls 6,083
MiamiDon shows [As 7s] - Guess he wasn't on a steal. Another wrong read.
Unimpressed shows [Ad 3d]
*** TURN *** [Qd Ah 3s] [5s] - RUH ROH!
*** RIVER *** [Qd Ah 3s 5s] [3c] - Whew!
MiamiDon shows two pair, Aces and Threes
Unimpressed shows a full house, Threes full of Aces
Unimpressed wins the pot (30,366) with a full house, Threes full of Aces
MiamiDon stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 30,366 Rake 0
Board: [Qd Ah 3s 5s 3c]
Seat 1: MiamiDon showed [As 7s] and lost with two pair, Aces and Threes
Seat 2: Fishiswa (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: BuddyDank (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Unimpressed (big blind) showed [Ad 3d] and won (30,366) with a full house, Threes full of Aces
Seat 5: surflexus folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Joshuacarlsen folded before the Flop
This was a weird hand, badly play by me.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4912022430: Friday Nite Blogger Donkament (36631720), Table 3 - 500/1000 Ante 125 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:45:18 ET - 2008/01/18
Seat 2: Fishiswa (45,298)
Seat 3: BuddyDank (36,916)
Seat 4: Unimpressed (32,088)
Seat 5: surflexus (17,221)
Seat 9: Joshuacarlsen (41,977)
Fishiswa antes 125
BuddyDank antes 125
Unimpressed antes 125
surflexus antes 125
Joshuacarlsen antes 125
Unimpressed posts the small blind of 500
surflexus posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [Js Td]
Joshuacarlsen folds
Fishiswa folds
BuddyDank folds
Unimpressed calls 500
surflexus checks
*** FLOP *** [8s 9h Jd]
Unimpressed checks
surflexus checks
*** TURN *** [8s 9h Jd] [Kd]
Unimpressed checks
surflexus checks
*** RIVER *** [8s 9h Jd Kd] [7d] - I believe at this point, I took my beat that knocked me out of the 28k, so I was annoyed. I didn't even see the straight.
Unimpressed checks
surflexus bets 2,000
Unimpressed calls 2,000 - I suddenly see the straight and quickly, without thinking much, I call. I probably should have put in a raise, but there was the chance that he hit his flush since there was no action after the flop and turn. I don't think I would have folded, and I probably could have gotten more chips.
*** SHOW DOWN ***
surflexus shows [7s 9s] two pair, Nines and Sevens
Unimpressed shows [Js Td] a straight, Jack high
Unimpressed wins the pot (6,625) with a straight, Jack high
I busted Joshuacarlsen when I pushed (and it was a big push despite being 2nd short stack) from the button with A4. Joshuacarlsen, in the BB quickly calls and shows A7. I flop a 4 and bust him.
In the final hand, I have one more instance of BAD read.
Blinds are 800/1600/200.
In the BB I have 9sTc
Fishiswa, the big stack and very aggressive raises to 4800 from the button.
To defend my blind I call.
Flop comes Qc-8c-3d. I flop a gutshot.
Fishiswa bets out 9,600. - I'm figuring he's missed and is trying to be a big stack bully, so I push back at him.
Once again, I'm wrong and he flips over QJ for top pair. I don't hit my gutshot and I go home in third.
Fishiswa has a huge stack and eventually finishes off BuddyDank.
I make a small amount on the tournamnet. From a cash bankroll point of view I made a *small* profit, but I lose a token which brings the overall to a loss.
Kat's Donkament is a lot of fun, especially early in the re-buy period. Overall, I had fun playing poker.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
OK, OK, I still play bad.
I want to win a blogger event, so I played in last night's Riverchasers event. And by "played" I mean sucked! I played a LAP style. Loose and Passive. I limped in with such crap and was constantly folding. I threw in a continuation bet, but it never got respect. To the point where everyone knew that if I bet, on the flop, to re-raise me and I'd fold. It was bad, bad play. I busted 50th out of 59.
During thte tournament, I decided to play a few 11+1 Turbo SnGs. I don't mind my play in them, but that's only because I had no playable hands. In one I went out in 9th, when I pushed my QQ into AA. I don't mind it, but it bothers me that I felt like he had AA. One guy bet out, I raised, the guy with AA re-reraised, and the original bettor folded. I had a feeling this guy had AA. So I just called. Honestly, I was hoping for an A or a K to hit the board to release this. But in a turbo format, you have to play your big hands. The flop was J high and I was first to act. I pushed hoping he had Ax, but knowing it was unlikely and he called.
The other SnGs I never got playable hands and had to push with marginal hands. That's how it goes.
After busting out of Riverchasers, I opened up a .10/.25 Short-handed table. I was playing tight. I bought in for $10, and folded to about $6.50. When I got AA UTG. I raised to $.85, the player to my right re-raised to $2.25, it folded back to me- I min raised $4.50, he pushed, I called. He had QQ. I doubled up. The very next hand in the BB I'm dealt AA again, unfortunately it folds to me and I get a walk. The next hand, in the SB, I get 9Ts. There's a limper, I called and BB checks (he was the guy with QQ). Flop comes 996. I bet, he re-pops me, limper folds, and I push. He calls showing the 96. I'm busto.
In the end, I go from $187 to about $130. It looks like I'm back down a SnG level to the 6.50 SnGs and lower. I'll probably stick with the .10/.25 game, only because I REALLY hate the .05/.10.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
2 Nights In A Row
I had two winning nights in a row.
Monday night: I made about a buyin and a half ($15) in cash games, and I won an 11+1 Turbo SnG for almost $50. That cash helped since I blew $25 in rebuys @ a $5.50+rebuy sattelite for FTOPS VII Event 10. It only had 30 players. With rebuys and add ons there was cash as well as a seat. Top 5 paid. After the add on I had to come in 4th to show a $2 profit. I made it to the final table and managed to get a big stack, but made a questionable call on a re-raise with pocket 6s. My opponent had QQ. And I became short stacked. I salvaged my chips but ended up going out in 7th.
Tonight: Another successful profitable night. I made just under 1 buy-in at the cash game and placed second in a 11+1 turbo SnG.
I was just slightly under my buy-in at the cash game, when, in the SnG, I took a slightly bad beat. I raised to 1.10 from the button with AQoff. The cutoff (who had just sat down a couple of hands ago) raises to 3. At that precise moment, in the SnG I take a slight beat. I switch back to the cash game and since I don't know how the SB plays, I call. the flop is all hearts and I have two overs and the Qh. The SB pushes and I out of tiltiness call. I turn a heart and almost double my buy-in. I then simple tread water for a few rounds, before sitting out without losing much more.
I sit out because I'm doing well in the SnG now. The blinds are astronomical and I took a couple of bad beats (domination situations) and am crippled. I managed to battle back and take a chip lead. We get to heads up, I lose the chip lead to a beat, then push with my next hand and am dominated, but take 2nd.
I'm up to about 180 from my 100 deposit. Plus I still have the $26 token. I decided not to play in the Hoy last night. Maybe next week.
I'm thinking about diversifying and throwing $50 on Pokerstars. Maybe I should leave the money on FTP for a cushion.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
Weekend Wrapup
I had a good day on the virtual felt this weekend. Saturday my daughter was sick so she just sat on the couch and watched TV. I sat on the chaise and fired up the laptop and hopped into a couple of SnGs. I played a 90player 3.30 Knockout Tourney. My first one. At the same time I played a 54-person 5.50 SnG.
I got very lucky in both of them late. I got severely short stacked in both, at about the same time. In the Knockout, I had a little more than the BB and didn't get any good hands until I was in the BB and tripled up. Then I got hit with the deck and with in 15 minutes took the chip lead going into the final table.
In the 54 person tourney, I wasn't as low, but at the same time, started getting hit with the deck and made it to the final table with the 2nd largest stack. I then played a hand poorly and busted out in 5th or 4th for about $15.
I managed to take down the 90 person SnG and for $72.00. The final hand:
Blinds 3000/6000 w/ 750 ante.
I have 15,4670 to my opponents 115,330.
I have Ad4s, and hit my four on a flop of 4h-2c-Jh. We got it all in on the flop and he had flush draw with Kh9h. He didn't improve and I took down the hand.
At the same time, I'm learning to play at limits I'm comfortable with. I'm OK throwing $10 into a .10/.25 (even 20 if I lose a buy-in) NL ring or short handed game. And if I play smart I can win. But I'll try to jump up to a .25/.50 NL short-handed game, and am too worried about losing that buy-in in relation to my bankroll. Yesterday I made almost $40 at my .10/.25 table after losing $20 the day before at .25/.50. Right now I think .10/.25 is my comfort zone. Maybe I'll jump up if I make it to about $200 bankroll.
Currently I'm about about $130 but I also won a $26 token, which I may use for the Hoy tonight (to try to take care of my Blogger tournament win goal).
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
Tonight's Mookie
I played in the Mookie tonight.
I'm no closer to any of my goals.
I sat out the first few hands and somehow won a pot. Then I sat down and I bled about 1000 chips. I don't feel horribly for doing so. I felt I lost the minimum on a couple of hands. Top pair, good kicker, I ended up checking the river in position, my opponent had Aces. Another hand I flopped top pair with 3 clubs. I turned an two pair, and checked the river to allow my opponent to put in a small bed. I called and he had KQ of clubs.
Basically I was a lot less willing to put my chips in with marginal hands. In the end I go out in a coin flip.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4802454066: The Mookie (35911825), Table 7 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:44:22 ET - 2008/01/09
Seat 1: PirateLawyer (7,300)
Seat 2: Donkey Shortz (5,145)
Seat 4: corron10 (2,715)
Seat 5: GCox25 (2,625)
Seat 6: cubanlinks (2,415)
Seat 7: JoeSpeaker (4,980)
Seat 8: Unimpressed (1,730)
Seat 9: Maudie (2,890)
Unimpressed posts the small blind of 40
Maudie posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [Qs Qh]
PirateLawyer folds
Maudie: thankyou
Donkey Shortz raises to 280
PirateLawyer: np
corron10 folds
GCox25 folds
PirateLawyer: least I could do
cubanlinks folds
PirateLawyer: i hate AQ
JoeSpeaker calls 280
Unimpressed raises to 1,730, and is all in
PirateLawyer: TT?
Maudie has 15 seconds left to act
Maudie folds
Donkey Shortz folds
JoeSpeaker calls 1,450
Unimpressed shows [Qs Qh]
JoeSpeaker shows [Ah Kc]
*** FLOP *** [Tc 7d Th]
*** TURN *** [Tc 7d Th] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [Tc 7d Th Ks] [7s]
Unimpressed shows two pair, Queens and Tens
JoeSpeaker shows two pair, Kings and Tens
JoeSpeaker wins the pot (3,820) with two pair, Kings and Tens
Unimpressed stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,820 Rake 0
Board: [Tc 7d Th Ks 7s]
Seat 1: PirateLawyer didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Donkey Shortz folded before the Flop
Seat 4: corron10 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: GCox25 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: cubanlinks didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: JoeSpeaker (button) showed [Ah Kc] and won (3,820) with two pair, Kings and Tens
Seat 8: Unimpressed (small blind) showed [Qs Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Tens
Seat 9: Maudie (big blind) folded before the Flop
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
ESPN Poker Edge
I listen to ESPN's Poker Edge, more out of nostalgia, than anything else. When I first starting following poker, I really liked Phil Gordon. I still do, don't get me wrong, I find him entertaining, but that's about it. Usually his podcast is short so, I can find sometime to listen to it. Right now he's going through the H.O.R.S.E games and having other pros on to talk about the games.
The week of 1/3 (mp3) he had Barry Greenstein on to talk about Stud 8 or Better. While it was short (Barry mentioned Dawn Summers by "name" at the 5:40 mark), I felt it somewhat useful. But more interestingly, he had a long discussion about Chip Reese and his multi-accounting on Full Tilt. He wasn't doing it to enter tournaments, but because he'd play so well that people would be afraid to play him and he'd have to create a new account (often giving his old account to a family member).
It was an interesting podcast, and adds more fuel to the fire about what's against the rules and what's not in the online poker world. You should take a moment to listen to it.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
A Look Foward
Just like everyone else, I'm going to put down my thoughts on what I want to do/change in 2008.
First off, something non poker/blogging related. I mentioned it in an earlier post:
**Lose Weight. I need to drop about 50 pounds, and I want to do that in the new year. I have a "bet" going with my father-in-law, whoever loses the most (we're the same weight and he's about a foot and a half short than I), treats the other to a night in Foxwoods. Basically it's a bet I can't lose since I can't afford to pay for a night at Foxwoods.
Now I'll switch gears and move over to the poker/blogger items.
**Get More From Poker Books. I've only a few:
- Winning Low Limit Poker by Lee Jones
- Real Deal by Phil Gordon (also known as the "Little Black Book")
- Harrington on Hold'em: Volume 1 by Dan Harrington
- Read 'Em and Reap by Joe Navarro
- Super System 2 by Doyle Brunson (basically just the NLHE section)
Now to get more out of those, I definitely need to read some of those again, but I'll just focus on Navarro's, Harrington's and Super System (maybe even Lee Jones' book if I start playing limit online). I also intend on purchasing and reading two more:
- Harrington on Hold'em: Volume 2 (and 3)
- The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition
One of the problems I have with reading is that I prefer fiction, so many times, I lose interest in some of the poker books.
Now onto the poker side of thing. First, for something NEW.
**Sit at a Live Cash Game, that's NOT only Texas Hold 'em- If I get to Vegas this will probably be easier. Most mixed games at Foxwoods are beyond my limits. The most likely opportunity is a 1-3 or 1-5 Stud game.
**Play at a Casino/Card room that's NOT Foxwoods- I put this on there, because like every year, I'll be in Florida and there are plenty of card rooms there. The family will also be returning to St. Louis for vacation and I might be able to hit one of those casinos.
This is the key, the main purpose of 2008.
**Improve My Play. Like most people, I want to improve my play, partially by reading (see above), but also by playing, both live and online. I really doubt I'll get too much more live playing in. It's just unlikely.
- Pay more Attention: I really don't do that much at all. Online, I tend to play video games or watch TV or visit blogs. Live, my mind wanders and I fantasize about big pots.
- Try to avoid tilt. Be willing to step away if I need to. I do OK in this regard, but could definitely use improvement.
- Stop making Awfukit calls/pushes. My bottom pair is probably no good there!
As a result of improving my play, these are goals I hope to reach in 2008:
**Build a legitimate Bankroll- I've made my $100 "deposit" on FTP, I want to try to avoid having to reload. Building a bankroll will lead to two other items:
**Cash Out / Make a Profit- I want to maintain a bankroll AND still have some to cash out in order to spend it.
**Move up in limits- Get out of micro limits. I don't have to be playing 2/4 by the end of the year, but I'd like to see me sit comfortably, with a max buy in at either .25/.50 or .50/1.00.
**Subscribe to Poker Xfactor or Cardrunners- I've heard a lot about these sites, but the fees and cost area bit high.
**Get To Vegas- I stated this in a previous post. I want to get to Vegas. I want to make it to a live blogger event. I love Vegas and I need to go.
**Win a Blogger Event- I should probably put in a caveat, the Donkament doesn't count. I took that down this year. I want one of the big 4 (Hoy, Mookie, Riverchasers, The Big Game) or the new Skillz Game.
**Learn Omaha- I know the basic rules, but strategy goes right out the window. May fit nicely with my goal of playing a non Texas Hold 'em live game.
These goals are going to lead to a difficult road ahead, and may even be unattainable in one year for me. Basically we're talking about winning thousands of dollars playing poker when I have YET to be a winning player. But I want to try. Poker is a mental game. I consider myself an intelligent person and if I focus and apply myself, I feel these are goals I can attain.
But there are obstacles to this. The biggest is just Life (no not the board game). I will almost NEVER play poker if I'm home with my family (unless they're napping). If we home together, we're focusing on being together. Whether it be cleaning and/or working around the house, or playing together. My online play is usually early in the morning if I wake up before my daughter, or late at night after my daughter and my wife go to bed. This is why I rarely compete in any AIPS Events, I'm automatically missing 1/2 of the events since I don't play Saturday afternoons.
So while I believe I can approve and am giving myself lofty goals, the biggest obstacle is me and my lack of prioritizing poker. It's a catch-22 to say the least.
Good luck to all of you in 2008... unless you're across the felt from me... then I hope you go card dead.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic. But I'm trying to get better.
Stack Your Chips!
Had my Not-So-Monthly Homegame. Which looks like it's going to start up monthly again, and While not upset with my play in general, and did make one big mistake that I'll discuss later.
As I've mentioned before, we start at about 3pm and go until around midnight. It's the same 6 or 7 people with a few extras occasionally thrown in. This week we had 10 (the later tournaments have less as some people head out). The tournaments are quick, blinds DOUBLE every 15 minutes. You start with $20.00 in chips (but it only costs $10- don't ask) and blinds start at .25/.50. Each tournament lasts about an hour and a half. You're not going to win a fortune, it's mostly about hanging out and having fun.
I arrived early to watch some folks play Rock Star. I'm "recruited" to be the singer. I'm sick so my voice doesn't work. Not that that's an excuse. I can't sing to save my life. I can't sing to save my daughter's life. Hell on Easy, the video game kicks me off I suck so bad. Slappy takes over and I'm left playing guitar. More people arrive and we start poker.
I don't do much the first two tournaments. There's not much to talk about or that I remember from those. Our resident crazy maniac guy takes down both tournaments. It's easy to do when you hit. In the 2nd one, one guy pushes and runs into RCM's QQ. The next hand I push with the Consenza (AT). RCM of course has Aces, and I'm out. Oh and the first tournament I went out, I had two diamonds. I'm in the BB, the blinds are pretty high. There are a bunch of limpers and I check. I wish I can remember the action (Slappy, refresh my memory... if you remember) Basically there's 2 diamonds and an Ace on the board. RCM has a huge stack and is betting. I know I'm beat and getting ready to fold. Suddenly, bam, there's a couple of callers. I want to fold, but the blinds are high and I'm definitely getting the price to call to hit my flush, even if it means all my chips. So I do. I'm vindicated on the river with the 3rd diamond. My vindication is short lived when RCM did in fact hit his Ace. He had Ad9d. Oh well, I'll go watch this guy play Assassin's Creed.
The 3rd tournament I do a bit better. But I fuck up pretty bad and I'm kickin' myself the rest of the night. I go into heads up pretty short stacked. We don't chip up so there are a lot of chips on the table, especially of the smaller denominations (whites and reds). I just one a big hand off my opponent. But he still has a mountain of chips. The next hand, I'm in the BB, he limps. I quickly glance at his chips. I have Qd4d. The blinds are HUGE. I push. He calls with an Ace. For a moment I am jubilant when a Queen flops. But I don't remember if he gets an Ace or goes runner, runner for a flush. I'm standing up since I figure it's over. Suddenly someone says "Make sure he has you covered." "Of course he has me covered." "What about all those green and black chips?" I look down and sure enough, mixed in my pile of unstacked chips is almost all the black ($5) chips and a bunch of greens ($1). In the end, I had HIM covered, but barely. I win the next hand, but it's a moot point and I'm out shortly with 52 vs 62 I think. Someone asked if I'd play that differently if I knew I had him outchipped. I definitely would. It MAY have ended up the same way. If I knew I had hte chip lead. I'd have just checked after his limp. I hit my queen, with the blinds so high, I don't get tricky, I push on the flop hoping he has 2nd or 3rd pair. More than likely he folds. With my reputation there, he MIGHT call with Ace high, but unlikely. I win that pot and who knows from there.
Remember kids, stack your chips.
I make it to heads up in the 2nd tournament, it ends pretty quickly when I get it all in with AQ but my opponent has AK. Not much to be done there. Now I'm even for the night.
The fifth tournament I go out in the middle of the pack in another situation, where, there's not much I can do. Slappy limps, I limp with 33 (I'm working on not overvalue low pairs). THe flop comes 996. It checks around. The turn brings a 3. Now I'm hoping someone has 9. Turns out slappy had a 9. And a 6. Ouch. But I'm not good enough to fold a full house, unless the board is something like 55KKx and I have a 5. Even then that's not an easy fold, because a lot of people will push with an ace, expecting to chop.
The 6th tourney, I don't remember what happened, I was sick, had little voice, and was mostly going through the motions of playing. I busted out and watched, as the Jaguars squeaked out a win, even after the refs totally fucked them in the ass by calling that pass interference call on the 1 yard line. The receiver absolutely had the defender by the face mask. Payback was a bitch. I was rooting for the Jags because Garrard and Taylor pretty much won me my fantasy league.
All in all the night was a success. Good times, good times. The Mrs is planning movie night with some co-workers, and I might be able to use that to my advantage to make JLBSox's home game at the end of the month.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
The Key to My Game
I have yet to put up a goals/resolutions post, but I intend to. Eventually. Probably by December. At least I'll know if I was successful at keeping them.
One of them will be to re-learn patience. Something my game is terribly lacking. [creepy voice in your head] IF YOU HAVE PATIENCE, THEY WILL COME [/creepy voice in your head]
As I type, I'm busting out of SnG's left right and center. But another table I'm sitting in a .10/.25 short handed NL table. I started off mixing it up a bit, but started to get low. I had about $5 left and I get dealt 6d3d in the SB. A limper or two and I just call. BB checks.
The flop is 3Q6. Woot. One guy bets out, I push he calls. He shows QJ. I'm praying *and I'm an athiest- hey it worked for Jerry Yang* that board doesn't pair. The board pairs on the Turn. But it pairs the 6 and I'm back in it.
OK, that didn't show patience but it got me some chips. A few hands later I'm dealt KK. I double up again. I then get pretty tight and just wait for some hands. And they come... slowly, but they do come. In the end I broke even for the morning, using my cash game to make up for my lost SnGs (i'll discuss patience in one of those in a second.)
Patience helps, but so does having idiots at your table.
I made a horrible play here, I think.
Full Tilt Poker Game #4744815429: Table Gatewood (6 max) - $0.10/$0.25 - No Limit Hold'em - 6:38:44 ET - 2008/01/05
Seat 1: Unimpressed ($20.30)
Seat 2: BerkshireBlaze ($24.95)
Seat 3: JunioriL ($27.90)
Seat 4: mervha ($25.10)
Seat 5: Mr_Colt72 ($15)
Seat 6: lumpi_lumpi ($24.75)
mervha posts the small blind of $0.10
Mr_Colt72 posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Unimpressed [As Qc]
lumpi_lumpi folds
Unimpressed raises to $1
BerkshireBlaze folds
JunioriL calls $1
mervha raises to $1.75
Mr_Colt72 folds
Unimpressed calls $0.75
JunioriL calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [3h 2s 3d]
mervha bets $0.25 -yes that's .25 into a $5.50 pot-
Unimpressed calls $0.25 -duh call here, that's odds to hitting anything.
JunioriL calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [3h 2s 3d] [Qd] -Good I hit.
mervha bets $0.25
Unimpressed calls $0.25
JunioriL raises to $0.50 -screams weak since he's on the button.
mervha raises to $8.25 -to me, especially after that fact, this seems dangerous. Not quads, but possibly a set of 2s or set of Qs (though unlikely since I have one), but possibly, with the preflop raise this could be Aces or even Ks. Raised with them, then slowplayed them when the flop is likely to miss everyone. Then the flush draw appears and pushes stronger. Ultimitely I decide that, for whatever reason, he didn't like the Button min-raising and figured him for nothing or he had a flush draw.
Unimpressed raises to $18.30, and is all in -if I'm right I'll take it down, if I"m wrong, uh-oh.
JunioriL folds -thought so.
mervha calls $10.05 -RUH ROH! "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"
Unimpressed shows [As Qc]
mervha shows [Ks 5s] -Um... huh???
*** RIVER *** [3h 2s 3d Qd] [8d] -Glad he didn't have the flush draw.
Unimpressed shows two pair, Queens and Threes
mervha shows a pair of Threes
Unimpressed wins the pot ($41.20) with two pair, Queens and Threes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $43.35 Rake $2.15
Board: [3h 2s 3d Qd 8d]
Seat 1: Unimpressed showed [As Qc] and won ($41.20) with two pair, Queens and Threes
Seat 2: BerkshireBlaze didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: JunioriL (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: mervha (small blind) showed [Ks 5s] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 5: Mr_Colt72 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: lumpi_lumpi didn't bet (folded)
So it helps to have an idiot at your table, especially if you are a donkey.
In the last SnG I played it was a 6 handed turbo. I got extremely short stacked (AK vs A8 and guy hit his 8) and then started on a comeback (A5 vs A9, I hit my 5). Then I hit a set of 6s against top pair. I was proud of my patience. I then proceed to, two hands later, donk it all of when I called a raise with AJ, missed the flop, pushed and ran into Kings.
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
I Play GOOT!
If Goot means piss poor. I'll have to look that up.
Playing this morning, a bit high, but I wanted to try to build a bit quicker. So $40 at a .50/1.00 NLHE short handed table. I fold the first few hands, then get dealt A7 off on the button. On limper, I raise to $3. Big Blind calls (he's multi-tabling 4 tables) as does the limper (he's seen every flop so far, but I haven't been playing long enough to determine if he's tight or getting OK starting hands). Flop comes Ace high, two diamonds. It checks to me. I bet $7 into $9.50. The BB calls but the limper folds. The turn is a 10d. Suddenly the BB bets about 2/3 the pot. I push (STUPID) and he calls (my raise was not enough to make him fold). Seriously, what would he call on the flop and bet out on the turn? A steal? Not as likely when he's multitabling and a big stack. That's usually an indication that's he's playing rather solid, if not ABC poker. I'm not surprised when he shows AT for 2 pair. I make such a stupid play that I figure I'm drawing dead. When a diamond comes on the river, I can clearly see 4 diamonds, a quick check shows he has none, but my 7 is a diamond, giving me a flush. I more than double up.
With that poor play I decide to finish my orbit (which included being dealt QQ and winning the blinds + a limp). I cash out, and get ready for work having increased my bankroll by 50%.
I'm hoping that was a one time thing and my poor play at that level means I need to ease back into it. I'll probably stick with the .10/.25, MAYBE .25/.50 for the time being. Patience is the key!
-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.
