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.
ReBuilding
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.
