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.

Looking Back

2007

2007 started off with a fizzle. I made a deposit or two early on and blew through it. In February I made a deposit of about 50. Lost 30 of it really quickly, but then was hit with the deck and ran that final 20 to about 400. I funded a few people's account in exchange for cash. Then my luck ran out. And I play poker poorly. I ran out of cash about 1/2 through the year. I through in a few more deposits and always quickly went busto. It was a rude awakening to my poker game. But something I hope to learn from. Since than, I've been playing infrequently. Basically, only when I get $3.00 from Rakeback or Affiliates. Or my buddy feels generous and backs me in the Mookie. He has yet to make any money backing me. And my play with the little affilliate money is abysmal. I haven't had the patience to play micro limits with $0 bankroll.

As for live play. That's been only marginally better. The not-so-monthy home game was good to me in the beginning of the year. I usually took down at least one tournament at each one. The new home game, has not been so nice. I've only been to two of them. I haven't cashed in the tournaments, and the cash games I've pretty much broke even. Foxwoods has been a mixed bag as well. Posting both wins and losses. I'm probably about even for Foxwoods, maybe even a little ahead. But that just might be wishful thinking.

I read a few poker books in 2007: Super System 2 (NLHE section) and Navarro's Read 'em and Reap, and Harrington Vol 1. All are excellent books and I suggest picking them up. The problem for me is retention and I will definitely need to read them a few times.

Basically, I felt like my game was stagnant in 2007. I see a few leaks that I need to plug, and I hope I'm able to really improve my game in 2008.

-My name is Unimpressed, and I'm an donkaholic.

My Goal and Donations

I've added a button on my site to facilitate my trip. This is for donations. I don't really expect any, but I want to make sure I'm doing anything and everything I can to to get there. Any amount, no matter the size, is appreciated.
--Breakdown--
I'm still working on a goal amount. The plan is a 3-4 day weekend, around the a blogger event. I'd prefer the December event for two reasons:
1) more time to save
2) more time to focus on meeting and hanging out with bloggers (since a summer event usually is in the middle of the WSOP.

The goal amount, basically include airfare and hotel, food/drinks and gambling. I'm thinking, originally my thinking was $5000, but that's just a first number with no real research or input. Now I have yet to do any real research yet, but in talking with people, that's probably a bit high for 3-4 days.

$3000 might be a little closer to reality and probably even $2000. The biggest issue is that I don't want to get out there and have only a few bucks for gambling. So I want to be able to have at least $1000 strictly earmarked for gambling. Now I'm not a degenerate gambling and I don't really play table games, I mostly stick with poker, with such a large group of people, I'm sure I'll be "talked" into some PaiGow and Craps.

So that is my rough draft of a plan. I put it on the side, but again, if I'm falling way short of my goal by the time October rolls around, I will withdraw any donations and add that to my Foxwoods bankroll to try to get there in December. Again, it's the thoughts that count. Any amount is appreciated.

Las Vegas Nevada Moves Further Away

Ok, so may the continent didn't split and everything west fo the Mississississississippi River isn't drifting out to sea. More than likely, I'm talking about my goal of making it to Vegas this year. Mind you not a huge setback since I'm more or less at the beginning of this goal, there's no way to get further from the goal. But with the loss at Foxwoods yesterday, I'm slipping back a little. And, now I have a decision to make.

For playing poker, I more or less have $180. Now if I go broke, I can usually scape up 50 or 60 to play in the not-so-monthly home game in the future. But with that full 180, it's pretty much not worth it to drive to Foxwoods. It's an hour drive (that's about $40 in gas, back and forth), and variance, it's hard to justify another trip. Now, my other option is the online route. Now recently I haven't played well online. But I think most of that is from me trying to take the few bucks I get in affiliate money and turn that into some sort of playable bankroll. Which usually means me not playing patiently enough and blowing it on one hand. That is much less likely with an actual (granted small) bankroll of say $100.00. Plus if I'm playing at the .05/.10 or .10/.25 level and start to play poorly, I can step back and take a break. When I have my entire bankroll at the table you play poorly you sit out and wait for the next month. So, my 7 readers (I know I have 7 because I re-added my blog to my Bloglines, and it had 7 subscribers- I guess I might have 6 readers and the 7th was me, previously), do I throw $100 onto FTP and try to build a bankroll that way, or do I hold on to it (which is a risk, cash burns holes in my pockets), and try to save enough to hit Foxwoods again? I've added a Poll to the site.

Live at the Bi... er Foxwoods.

Well I decided to make a short trip to Foxwoods with Slappy on Sunday (I don't know why I link to his blog when he hasn't posted since August 20th). It was fun, as live poker always is, despite not winning.

Here are some notes:
The First Table: Slappy and I are seated at the same 1/2 NL table. Tables been in session for a while as there are a few large stacks. Two big stacks get involved with VERY marginal hands. One guy gets lucky, rivering two pair to win a HUGE pot. The winner turns out to be extremely aggressive, often putting in large bets with absolutely nothing. Slappy wins a big hand early with just top pair (KQ) against him, aggressive guy mucks. I play a hand very poorly against he loser of that first hand. I have 66 and put in a small raise. I may have gotten a couple of callers. The flop is 883. I bet and only get one caller (the guy who lost that first pot earlier- who also seems to be playing ATC). Turn is a Jack. We both check. River is a 9. I check, he bets. I stupidly call and he shows J9. I lose about 25% of my stack.

My final hand was some what poorly played but I was losing patience and my stack was dwindling. On the car ride to Foxwoods, Slappy and I had a discussion about AQ and why it's such a poor hand. Of course, I'm dealt AQ. I raised and got a caller or two. Flop comes AJx. I bet and one guy min raises me. I almost immediately push. I could have folded, but I couldn't really call the min raise or re-raise without pushing all in. If I would have thought about it, I should have figured I was beat. The guy seems to be playing solid. I haven't seen him get out of line and despite his stacks of reds and whites (which probably a few hundred), he also has at least 3 $100 dollar chips. I should have figured him for not going crazy with anything. Would he really re-raise a preflop raiser with AT or anything I can beat? Unlikely. He shows AJ and I'm busto. I go for a walk. I come back a few minutes later and rail Slappy for a bit, but then I sign up for another table. One note: after I left Slappy informed me that the guy with J9 earlier went on a crazy rush for like 3 hours where he played EVERY hand (literally) and would constantly hit two pair and most of the time it was good.

The Second Table: I'm WAY off the list. More than 20 people ahead of me. So I figured I won't be sitting for a while. They suddenly start two fresh tables and I'm playing again. And since I'm not sitting with anyone I know, I pop my Ipod into one ear and let the Richard Cheese play. Everyone is relatively close. Some people buy in for max, others buy in for about a third of the max. I'm in the middle. The table starts off tight as things tend to do at a new table, while people try to figure things out. Old Cranky guy to my right shows a set early when everyone folds to his post flop bet. Fireworks suddenly errupt between two players in a set over set situation. I split a pot with the Cosenza when I a river jack gives me a straight. Another guy was had A10 too. But there had been a few other in the hand earlier, so it was slightly profitable. We had one guy who, if on the river, you even put your hands on your chips, if he didn't have anything, he'd fold immediately. I didn't get a chance to use this. But the Kid to my right used it frequently. Even showing a worse hand (which was stupid, but the guy didn't stop), when he put his hand on his chips, the Foldy Guy shows an ace for ace high and mucks. As soon as the cards hit the Kid shows J high. I took a hand early from the Kid, before he got overly aggressive. I had 6c9c and played it from the small blind. Lots of limpers. I check with the flop is JT5, two clubs. It limps and the Kid bets. I call, everyone else folds. Turn is a J. We both check. River is a T. I check. The Kid thinks and think, is tempted to bet, but finally he just checks. We both go to muck our cards, I realize he's about to muck his too (now I wasn't about to muck unless he showed his hand, but I was gretting ready to toss 'em. Him seeing me muck waits to see if I will. I show my 9 (actually the dealer makes me show both) for two pair with a 9. He shows 4d 2d for basically playing the board. And I take down a small pot. I got dealt pocket aces once. Raised and got a few callers. Flop is ragged, I bet, get one caller. Turn is a blank and I bet again and the last person folds. Another hand I'm dealt AK in the SB. There's a bunch of limpers so I make a larger raise. Surprisingly everyone folded. I flipped over the Ace. Most people assumed I had aces. I was showing a profit but played one hand poorly against the Kid. He showed a lot of aggression and would sometimes show his hand sometimes good, sometimes bad. I'm dealt Jd9d. I call a small raise in position from the Kid. The flop comes A9x. With two diamonds. It checks around, I bet, he calls. Turn is a 6, non diamond. The Kid checks again, and I check. the river is another card lower than a 9. I have 2nd pair. I puts in a $40 bet (a little more than pot). I thought about it for a few minutes and thought that with that bet size, 2nd pair could be good. I call and he shows A6. In the end, on this table I was down about 20. But with the exception of that one play, I played OK. I really need to amp up my aggression.

That's one of the nice things about the no-so-monthly home game. The structure is fast, but the buy-ins are cheap, so we get 5 or 6 tournaments in. This will give me a chance to try out some new styles and plays.

Interesting Note: I don't go to Foxwoods often. And I've had women at my table before. But my first table was almost half women when we sat down. My second table had fewer, and there were a bunch around the casino. Nice to see more women playing.

One final note: Another think I love about Foxwoods (possibly most casinos, but I haven't been to another casino in a few years), Hot Asian Dealers. Yummy!

One Week And Counting

Well I have my "monthly" home game next weekend, and I'm stoked! Granted, this "monthly" home game hasn't occured in close to 9 months. But it should be a lot of fun. A lot of guys who know each other somewhat well and we're all comfortable with each other. Playing poker with an incredibly fast structure. It's not really about the money since in the end it's a crap shoot. And we play so many $10 tourneys that you really need to win 2 to break even. But it's about poker and good times.

Now, should I have a Foxwoods Warm up tomorrow? I want to the the wife is giving me some guilt about it. Granted it's the remainder of my Xmas money, but it's really only enough for one buy-in @ 1/2. Unless I want to buy in for 100 or yikes, 40. BUt thats' unlikely. The max is 300, but I only have 200. Decisions, decisions.

One of the things pulling me to do it, is my new goal. Blogger event in 08. More than likely I'll hit the December one. As I figure there will be too much going on in the Summer one since it's usually during the WSOP. Don't get me wrong, I want to attend a WSOP at some point in the future, but for a first blogger event, I figure it should be a more relaxed atmosphere. But this could be the beginning of my journey.

Poker Jones

I am jonesin' for some poker. I need to play. Play chips doesn't do it. I'll have to give a whirl to some freerolls. I haven't checked my Railbirds. account. I'll have to check out that account to get into their freerolls. More cash and less people. Slightly better EV. I've been reading Super System 2 and want to try some adjustments to my play. Early on in a freeroll you either have to be HYPER-aggressive or super tight. You'll have plenty of people pushing all in for a quick double up, so you can either join them or wait for a hand.

What I really want to do is dump $50 into the FTP and jump in with all of it, and try to get a decent bankroll built quickly, then I can drop down a level to the micro limits.

I've also been eager to try some Sports Betting. Though with the NFL season over, that's the only sport I even remotely follow. But that will require cash on Bodog.

If we don't spend all the holiday money this weekend, maybe I'll head to Foxwoods on Sunday.

Bad Beat?

Is this a bad beat?

I got a good sum of money from my in-laws for Christmas . Enough for a full buy-in at 1/2 no limit at Foxwoods. Plus enough left over for their lower buy-in SnG. The Mrs got the same amount. Right away the Mrs. earmarked pretty much all of it (hers and mine) for household items. BAH HUMBUG!

Let's pray there's a quarter of it left over for my personal use.

I did win $40.00 from a stocking-stuffer scratch off. Now I just need to go to another state to cash it. But that will probably go into Full Tilt or maybe get me a Wii or 360 game.

Super Tilt!

What the fuck happened??? I have no idea. I managed to scratch some cash together (very little) and decided to stick with SnGs. I managed to win a few $1 ones. Then I played in two 4 person headsup Shootouts. First one, with in a few hands, I had KQ, I raised. Player called. Flop came out 333. I bet, he reaised and I pushed. He called with K7. The turn was a 5 and the river, a 7. I don't know why but I tilted. I started another one. 2 hands in I'm dealt 10-7. I call a small raise. Flop comes JTx. I bet, he insta-pushes. I don't even think long. I mean there's about 150 in the pot and I have to call almost 1500. So obviously I call with 2nd pair. He shows J9 and I'm out.

Now, I thought that might have been a turning point for me. I realized that when it comes to online, I do not want to be bluffed. And I KNOW I'm going to be bluffed from time to time, apparently I can't allow that to happen.

Well tonight was the Mookie. My last $11. 69 players started. Top place was about $200. I was ready to take first place and rebuild my bankroll. Build enough cash to go to Vegas in 08.

I proceed to play the worst poker in my life and bust out in the Gigli- 69th. While not a bad number, it's not good when there are only 69 players. I don't know what happened, I played so craptasticly. Mindless bluffs, calling flush draws (which is a leak in my game anyway). It was just ugly.

I need to re-evaluate my game. I need a game. I suck. Fuck you!

WSOP and the Summer

Well, after my last post, it's pretty clear that I have no readers, but I'll keep plugging away. Maybe eventually there will be readers. And they'll want to have access to all my wit and knowledge.

My goal f0r 2007: Attend a blogger event in Las Vegas.

Problems: I'm broke. I don't just mean my poker bankroll, in life. I really can't afford it. For a nice long weekend at a blogger event, I'm planning on needing about $5,000. That will include airfare and hotel, food, drinks, spending money. That number could be high or low, I'm not sure. How to do this? I have no idea. As my current poker bankroll is $0.00. That's not true. I have $11. Slappy transferred me money for the Mookie, but I was too tired to play last night. Next week. If I do win, I owe him half.

What it comes down to is that I'm going to have to win some kind of tournament. I need to start to develop a bankroll and take down a 24k guarantee or something.

I am jonesin' for Vegas.

An Unimpressive Weight Loss Challenge.

I'm a big, but can wear baggie clothes to hide it. I'm 6'1" and in general, I have a big frame. But there's no way around it. Like most Americans, I'm overweight. I'm roughly around 245. Weight Watchers says someone my height should be 180. I disagree with this, and not because I'm 245. For someone with my build, 180 would look sickly. However, I do think something closer to 200 would be better.

Last year, as some of you (by you I mean the one reader I have, probably someone who just googled "poker playlists") know, I tried a diet last year. I started out at 248 and got down as low as 225. But then I hit the snag where dieting, alone wasn't working, and I hate the gym and to excersize, in general. I tried jogging a few months back, but HATED IT! And as you can see by my current weight, I've put most of it back on.

What I'm thinking about, is, as an added incentive, turning this into a prop bet (similar to this guy and this guy). Basically, starting, Jan 1st, I plan on trying to lose 40 pounds (get to 205). I was originally going to do a straight year, where on Jan 1st 2009 I have to weight 205 or less. But as I'm not rich or confident that I can do this, I can't bet a lot of money, so I don't think anyone would want to weight a year to win a few bucks.

Now what I want to know, is how many people would be interested? This is not binding yet. I want to see how much interest and, well, if I even have any readers. But I want to know, if you'd be interested in the prop bets and what kind. Say 205lbs in 9 months, or have to be 205 on January 1st (which is probably harder since we have to make it through the holidays.