3 1/2 hours = $6 and one great read

So I had the itch to play some live poker on Saturday and with nothing to do I decided to go over to Bay 101 to play some 6-12 action. I waited an hour to play (nothing new on a weekend) and then sat down to play. 3rd hand in I am dealt AKs (diamonds) and raise UTG to $12. Guy next to me calls and the bb calls. Flop comes K73 all spades. I bet, 2nd position calls and the bb raises. Now I'm thinking great this guy has a flush and I lose again. I call and so does 2nd position. I check the turn which is a rag and so does the guy next to me. BB bets I call and so does 2nd. River is Ace of hearts. I now have top 2 but I check, so does 2nd and so does bb. I never see what the bb has but the guy in 2nd wins with 5-2 of spades. WTF??????? Arghh, tired of this donkey shit. To his credit though, the guy was a good player and left up about $700 for the night but I don't get the call here.

So I am down to about $50 left and after about 30 minutes and I'm thinking here we go again. I wait longer to play than I actually play for. Anyways, I win 2 pots in a row and am now up a little. I grind up and down for the next hour or so and then win 3 straight hands to be up about $100. From there on I ended up chopping 4 pots including this beauty:

I limp with 109o. Flop comes Jc8c3d. Checks to me in late position and I bet my open ender. Small blind (very tight player) raises, every one folds and I call. It is just him and me heads up. Turn is my gin card Qh. I bet he raises, I reraise, he reraises, I reraise and he reraises. Now I know he has 109 too and he has to know I have it also, so why does he keep raising???? Well my friends, that's because he has the straight flush draw. I figured he had 109c, the only reason to keep reraising. So after 5 reraises I just call. River is Kh, he bets and I just call knowing it is a chop. He flips over his 109c and we chop. Now this loudmouth who thought he could get a read off anyone was saying how come I just didn't keep reraising the turn if I had the nuts. I tried to explain to him that I knew what the guy had. So why keep reraising with the guy drawing to 9 outs to beat me. He said I should have kept reraising because I had the nuts up to that point. I disagreed since I was extremely certain of my read. Was I right or wrong? Please I want feedback? I think I was right!!

Well after playing for 3 1/2 hours, I finished up $6. I am actually happy with this result if you can believe it. If I hadn't chopped any of those pots, I would have been up probably at least $300-$400 if not more but hey I was down, grinded back up and eventually left slightly up. A lot of my reads were right on which really boosts my confidence that my live game action may be turning around (I had been on a horrible run in 2005). I want to go back tonight but will probably just relax at home after work today.

Oh yeah one more thing, I had AK 8 times in 3 1/2 hours. Never seen it so much in my life. I chopped 2 of the pots (they also had AK...what are the odds????), won 3 and lost 3. I guess about right.

Reno Trip Report

Hey Guys,
I was in Reno this past Saturday till Monday. After an arduous 10 hour drive due to snow conditions, we landed in at the Atlantis hotel around 8:00pm. I played some poker around 1:00am. They have a 5 table room spreading 3-6lh and 50nlh buy-in. I sat down to play some 3-6. I didn't play the first hand then played the next 3 hands and proceeded to make 2 full houses and 2 pair. I then folded next hand and then raised with AQs on the next and a flop of KJ10 rainbow was perfect. A fellow player had AK which made it really nice for me. Within 10 minutes I was up $160 playing 3-6 of all things. There were 2 major donkeys at my table playing every single hand and calling all raises and flop bets. Now I was loving this but one of the donkey's was replaced by another donkey who played every single hand, no matter what. This turned out to be my demise. Within about 2 hours, I was up $3. I had pocket kings, raised form the sb to 5 (they play 1-2 blinds there) and everybody limped in called. Flop came J93 rainbow. I bet everyone folds but donkey. Turn a 2. I bet 6 he raises I reraise he calls. I bet the river he calls and turns over 9-2 for 2 pair. That type of shit happened to me the rest of the night.

The next day I played in a $30+5 w/1 $30AO. I finished 28th out of 80. No memorable hands. Just grinded away having to go all in 4 times. I doubled and tripled up 2 of the times.

I then sat down for some 4-8 action after the tourney. Bought in for $100. First hand 2nd position, I raise with AKo. 5 callers including blinds. Flop comes out J high. sb bets, bb raises, I fold. Second hand, now UTG. I raise with AQs (clubs). The guy in 2nd position calls instantly and one other caller. Flop comes KJ8 all spades. I bet, 2nd position raises, I call. Turn is a 10. I have made my straight, can only lose to a flush. I bet 8 guys raises I call. I check bet call the river and he flips over Q5 of spades. What a donkey. Calls $8 with Q5. I proceed to win 2 small pots and lose everything about $45 later.

I did learn how to play three card poker. Fun game. My buddy Danny won big, not me of course. Dropped $60 there but had fun playing. Odds definitely in the house favor big time but I knew that going in. That's why I always stayed away from that game.

A first did happen for me though. I played fortune pai gow and had a $1 on the bonus and hit a straight flush. Paid me $50x1. Besides that no big winnings.

I understand from No Black Aces that the link wasn't working for the mp3. You can right click on it and it should allow you to save it. It is a small file so fast download.

NoBlackAces

So I changed my name on PP. Yah, big help that was:


***** Hand History for Game 3392967083 *****
NL Texas Hold'em $30 Buy-in + $3 Entry Fee Trny:19319913 Level:3 Blinds(25/50) - Wednesday, January 18, 14:01:33 EDT 2006
Table Table 66858 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 7
Seat 1: NoBlackAces ( $1610 )
Seat 10: crazzychet ( $690 )
Seat 2: beachbookie ( $1900 )
Seat 5: rdunsdon ( $640 )
Seat 9: MeatnormousC ( $1430 )
Seat 7: akwalk ( $845 )
Seat 3: johnnyblue7 ( $885 )
Trny:19319913 Level:3
Blinds(25/50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NoBlackAces [ Ac As ]
rdunsdon folds.
akwalk folds.
MeatnormousC folds.
crazzychet folds.
NoBlackAces raises [125].
beachbookie calls [100].
johnnyblue7 calls [75].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qd, 4c, 2d ]
beachbookie bets [100].
johnnyblue7 folds.
NoBlackAces raises [600].
beachbookie calls [500].
** Dealing Turn ** [ Js ]
beachbookie checks.
NoBlackAces is all-In [885]
beachbookie: tilt
beachbookie calls [885].
** Dealing River ** [ 9d ]
beachbookie shows [ Jc, Jh ] three of a kind, jacks.
NoBlackAces shows [ Ac, As ] a pair of aces.
beachbookie wins 3345 chips from the main pot with three of a kind, jacks.
NoBlackAces finished in seventh place.
NoBlackAces has left the table.

His flop bet reeked of a naked ace or underpair. I mean, he knew I was gonna bet that flop no matter what and he thought that T100 bet would slow me down??? Nice that he called on the flop when I raised him 6 times his original bet with that under pair, huh?

I am cursed with this fucking hand. PokerTracker says I have lost with AcAs 6 of the last 7 times I have seen the flop. Red aces? Yah, I've won 6 out of the last 6 times I have seen the flop.

I love this game, just hate the players.

He was a Donk by Mike Matusow

I don't like this guy but I do find this humorous!! If the link doesn't work, you can right click and download it that way. It works fine for me but a few people told me it didn't work for them. Right-clicking and saving should work.


http://www.angelfire.com\ca5\stewman\he_was_a_donk.mp3/

One of the best poker blogs

I read this guy Chris Fargis all the time. He has one of the best blogs IMHO. This was from his latest posting. I tried to add his site as a link on the side but no luck yet. If anyone knows how to let me know.

"After the tournament I messed around and played various card games with ZeeJustin, ThorLaden, and Empire2000. These are fine fellows, all of them. After that I headed back to the room to go to sleep but Gavin Smith accosted me in the lobby and demanded that I let him play online on my account so we did that for about three or four hours. The highlight of the night had to have been when Gavin bet all but $1 that a guy had in front of him on the turn with no hand at all and the guy called. When the guy bet $1 into the $1500 pot on the river, Gavin mucked his ten high. I told Gavin I was pretty sure this was wrong. He told me he wasn't sure, but that I might be right."

http://www.twentyoneoutstwice.blogspot.com/

Happy Birthday To Me

So today's my 27th birthday...

I had a lot of fun tonight with Sinatra, Pappy and significant others. Dinner and cards is always a treat. Winning a 6 person tournament... priceless.

Well, maybe not priceless... but definately worth $40.

Anyways, after I got home I decided to hop on ole Party Poker hoping somebody else would be on to chat with. Nope. Oh well... used my Mini Step 3 free-roll and won the damn thing so I'm on to Mini Step 4. I thought I would share my stats from the first tournament on my birthday. Definately a lucky day to be playing cards.
Stewman we missed you tonight... well, the good thing about you not being here meant I actually stood a chance at winning a tourney, but none-the-less...

Still don't have a new name... gotta get one though.

I'm out -

Getting on with life...

I wanted to take this opportunity and thank you guys for being so supportive over the last few weeks. Shit had really hit the fan and I am extremely grateful that you guys lent me an ear.

Seriously, thank you.

Stewman: I apoligize that you haven't been "in the know" but just consider yourself lucky that you don't work at that piece of shit company the rest of us do.

On to less important stuff...

Online poker is fun again! During all the drama and bullshit I really limited myself to playing online because I felt like I couldn't afford to lose. The result = I lost confidence in my game and when I did play, I played scared.

But for the most part, I'm winning again. I had a rough December (my first month in the red since May) but have been putting together a nice rebound month for January.

The schedule for the Feb WSOP Circuit at Harrah's Rincon is still not out, but I am planning to be there for at least 3 events and some cash games. I want to do the rounds in the main event and get some pics taken with the big boys (since you guys never seem to take any pics of me when we're in Vegas!!) and put them up on the blog.

I read a HILLARIOUS article on gutshot.com. It's called "Donking It Up In The Game Of Life". My favorite line is:

"A standard raise of thirty-seven and a half times the big blind should be sufficient to eliminate both players and take down a very small pot pre-flop with a dominating hand and favorable table position."

Too funny... I swear, after having my black aces cracked three times in 2 hours, I felt like this was my only play.

Still haven't changed the name although I want to. Hopefully I will get around to it this week.

How To Make A Great Call...

And get sucked out on:


***** Hand History for Game 3296817999 *****
NL Texas Hold'em Trny:18797044 Level:1 Blinds (10/15) - Sunday, January 01, 14:06:08 EDT 2006
Table Multi-Table(554985) Table #35 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: BigHeeb91 ( $1030 )
Seat 2: alani111 ( $950 )
Seat 3: lilalilalu ( $975 )
Seat 4: wirehanger ( $1125 )
Seat 5: talmor ( $1050 )
Seat 6: jdsilb ( $1180 )
Seat 7: lovekayloo ( $870 )
Seat 8: x4kinggenius ( $985 )
Seat 10: pnsnkr ( $1000 )
Seat 9: jerseyslamm ( $1000 )
Trny:18797044 Level:1
Blinds (10/15)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to BigHeeb91 [ Ks Kd ]
*** HAPPY NEW YEAR! ***
Party Poker wishes all its players a very happy and prosperous 2006!
Thank you for playing at Party Poker!
jerseyslamm folds.
pnsnkr raises [45].
BigHeeb91 raises [120].
alani111 calls [120].
lilalilalu folds.
wirehanger folds.
talmor raises [275].
jdsilb folds.
lovekayloo folds.
x4kinggenius folds.
pnsnkr folds.
BigHeeb91 calls [155].
alani111 calls [155].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Td, 8h, Jh ]
BigHeeb91 checks.
alani111 bets [350].
talmor is all-In [775]
BigHeeb91 is all-In [755]
alani111 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ah ]
** Dealing River ** [ 7d ]
BigHeeb91 shows [ Ks, Kd ] a pair of kings.
talmor shows [ Tc, Ac ] two pairs, aces and tens.
talmor wins 20 chips from side pot #1 with two pairs, aces and tens.
talmor wins 2755 chips from the main pot with two pairs, aces and tens.
Player BigHeeb91 finished in 536 place
BigHeeb91 has left the table.

Okay Okay... I suppose I could have re-re-raised preflop, but It was raised ahead of me, a caller behind me and then another re-raise after me. I had to put him on aces, but when the flop came out and he raised all-in, I knew he was weak. I actually put him on mid pair or a high ace. I was excited when he pushed because I knew I had him and was worried about the guy behind me that cold-called the flop twice.

Oh well.. that will be the last tournament I ever play as BigHeeb91.

Nice River

***** Hand History for Game 3286064401 *****2/4 Texas Hold'em Game Table (Limit) -
Fri Dec 30 13:47:03 EST 2005Table Bad Beat Jackpot 1105521 (Real Money) -- Seat 7 is the buttonTotal number of players :
10Seat 1: Thin0ne ( $74)
Seat 2: Vadd1 ( $94)
Seat 3: huge_rack ( $44)
Seat 4: jb_flopit ( $107.25)
Seat 5: Stewman20 ( $98.50)
Seat 6: iedington ( $84.20)
Seat 7: drander ( $55)
Seat 8: Bigad66 ( $75)
Seat 9: coelacanth33 ( $100)
Seat 10: Sir1810 ( $6)Bigad66 posts small blind (1)Sir1810 posts big blind (2)
** Dealing down cards **Dealt to Stewman20 [ 9h, Th ]
Thin0ne calls (2)Vadd1 folds.huge_rack folds.jb_flopit folds.
Stewman20 calls (2)iedington folds.drander calls (2)Bigad66 calls (1)Sir1810 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7h, Ac, Jh ]
Bigad66 checks.
Sir1810 bets (2)
Thin0ne raises (4) to 4
Stewman20 calls (4)
drander folds.
Bigad66 folds.
Sir1810 calls (2)
Sir1810 is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $20.50 with Sir1810
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ts ]
Thin0ne bets (4)
Stewman20 calls (4)
** Dealing River ** : [ 8h ]
Thin0ne checks.

Stewman20 bets (4)Thin0ne folds.
** Summary **Main Pot: $20.50 Side Pot 1: $11.50 Rake: $1.50 Jackpot Contribution: $0.50Board: [ 7h Ac Jh Ts 8h ]
Stewman20 balance $116.50, bet $14, collected $32, net +$18 [ 9h Th ] [ a straight flush, jack high -- Jh,Th,9h,8h,7h ]
iedington balance $84.20, didn't bet (folded)drander balance $53, lost $2 (folded) Bigad66 balance $73, lost $2 (folded) coelacanth33 balance $100, sits outSir1810 balance $0, lost $6 [ 7c 4c ] [ a pair of sevens -- Ac,Jh,Ts,7c,7h ]

It's been a while

Hello all, I haven't posted since my 2nd a few weeks back. Things were going great for a while now, they have reverted back to crap. I look back on my play in the tourney where I finished 2nd and realized that I played well (not great) and got very lucky and some premium hands at the right time. A few examples.

blinds 25/50 1st position raises 5x's to 250. I'm in the cutoff with AKs. I smooth call. Flop comes KKK. I flop da NUTS!!! He checks, I check. Turn is a rag, he bets, I call. River he bets, I raise him and he moves all in (I have him barely covered) and his QQ lose to my QUADS. 2 levels later, I'm chip leader and open up in 1st position with KK. Guy right next moves all in and shorter stack moves all in from SB. I call and my kings hold up to beat QQ's and Ten's. About 5 hands later I win another all in with my AA's beating KK's. I just played uber tight till the final table where I entered I believe 2 or 3 in chips. When we were 4 handed, I was chip leader but soon that changed. I don't remember the hand but it dropped me to 3rd in chips. Final 3 I was shortstacked for most of it but let the 2 big stacks battle it out. Finally the 2nd chip guy busted out and I was heads up with a 4-1 chip disadvantage. First hand of heads up play was all it took. We were basically allin with my AJo vs. 83s. He flopped a 3, turned an 8 and I hit a jack on the river. Overall I was very happy taking home over a $1000 for a $10 investment.

Prior to that and after that I was primarily playing 10+1 SNG's and was playing really well. I had a return on investment of over 40% and was up over $200 playing them. Then the 24th and 25th rolled around and a combination of playing poorly, getting sucked out on, and not knowing when to quit while up in 2/4 (why I started and then kept playing ring games is a mystery to me) saw me lose all the money in my account. I then bought in for another $100 and started playing the speed torunaments. Boy do I love those. I played the $5 and $10 ones and they have huge fields but go super fast. I didn't cash in any of those though. I then played a 20+2 and cashed in that one. 27th place (out of I believe 451 people), good for $43. Anyways, lost that $100 too and last night bought in for another $100 and this is it for a while. No more buying in if I lose this quickly like the last $100. Must stop playing. So I played 3 SNGS, finshed 2, 4, and 10, good for a $3 dollar loss.
Then I played a $5 speed tournament last night. Over 1100 people with first place being about $1200. I was second in chips at my table with a little over 200 people left. They pay top 140. Now I want to get all of your opinions on this because I don't know if I did the right move. I believe I did and just took a bad beat but tell me please so I don't make it again.

I have about 10,500 in chips and the chip leader has about 11,000. The chip leader is in first position and moves all in. Blinds at 500-1000 (blinds raising every 3 minutes). I know he probably has a medium strengthed hand, just trying to steal blinds because he has been doing this and sucking out on people all tourney long. A guy in 3rd position after using all of his timebank moves all in for $3200. I know I have him beat because he is desperate. I have AKo on the button. Approximately 14-15,000 in the pot. Not the best pot-odds but I know I have the best hand. If I call and win, I will be tourney chip leader and cripple a larger stack. If I don't, I'm still top 10 in chips. I call and 1st position shows A10 and the shortstack shows AJ. I have them both dominated. Great position for me, so I thought. The flop comes King high which is great for me except for the next 2 cards. QJ. 1st position flops da nuts and I'm down to runner runner. I lose of course and finish 205 and out of the money. I keep thinking about it and my read was right but just got unlucky...but should I have called in the first place, that is the question?? Comments appreciated.