Today I found a big leak in my SNG game and I'm hoping I will be able to adjust ASAP. It doesn't have to do with certain hands in particular, per se, but more about my attitude on the bubble . I've always heard that aggression on the bubble is the key to being a successful SNG player. I push a lot when the blinds are 50-100 and up, especially when there are multiple players left. I just feel that if I fold and wait around for premium hands, I will fall below to 10BBs and be shortstack and I just hate being SS. Well, I think in MTT play, 7-10BBs = shortstack. In SNGs, I think you can get away with 5-7BBs because of that pressure of the bubble. 5BB is still a very sizeable bet to push all in with. So, now that I've basically halfed my definition of "shortstack," I can push a whole lot less which basically means I can be more selective about the hands I raise/push with. If I am winning a SNG with 4 to go I can take a backseat approach and let the other players knock themselves out hopefully. Perhaps I can throw in a raise or two or a re-raise steal but besides that I should be getting ready for the Top 3.
I hope this works, I'm going to be trying it out all night.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
.1/.25 live
I hosted .1/.25 6-handed max tonight and walked away with $28. The night could have been catastrophic as I suffered a sick beat in one of the first few hands. I bought in for $25 and the average buy-in was probably around $20 or so.
The player in the CO raised and I reraised from the BB w AA. He reraised, I rereraised, and he pushed. I fell out of my chair and he showed QQ. I dealt myself a painful xxQQx and just like that I was $20 down. Tilt? No, not this time. I was able to control myself and bounce back. I played virtually flawless poker the entire evening.
I raised JKcc from the button and got a caller from a player who I'd never played with before but had already shown a few sick bluffs. We saw a flop of J9T and when he checked to me for some stupid reason I decided to check back to him. The horrible horrible 7 came on the turn and he led out. I tanked for about a minute before calling him. His bluffs on previous hands just wouldn't allow me to believe that he had the 8. The river came x and he led out again, immediately announcing that he was putting me all-in. Again, he had done this only a few hands earlier in the exact same manner. I tanked for 2 minutes and finally called with just a pair of Jacks. Surprisingly, they were good as he mucked 7X face up. That was probably the second biggest hand of the night, roughly $30 or so.
I finished the night up $28 which I am pleased with. Most important was being able to bounce back from that sick, sick beat I took.
Afterwards, I played UB's $1K Guarantee and busted in the 3rd hour w QQ v A3s. I was short after giving away all my chips in the second hour and a double up would have put me back in the mix of things but it just wasn't meant to be.
I also played two SNGs and finished 1-2 for a $29 profit. It feels really good to make the same amount of money online as you did live but in like a tenth of the time, lol.
There is hopefully a .25/.5 or .5/1 game being played Tuesday at a buddy's house that I will attend if it happens. I've had good success over there and although .5/1 would be new to me I think I'm capable of playing at this level. I've played with all of the guys before anyways and am fine. Plus I would feel like a straight pimp buying in for $100.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $434.15/$550
The player in the CO raised and I reraised from the BB w AA. He reraised, I rereraised, and he pushed. I fell out of my chair and he showed QQ. I dealt myself a painful xxQQx and just like that I was $20 down. Tilt? No, not this time. I was able to control myself and bounce back. I played virtually flawless poker the entire evening.
I raised JKcc from the button and got a caller from a player who I'd never played with before but had already shown a few sick bluffs. We saw a flop of J9T and when he checked to me for some stupid reason I decided to check back to him. The horrible horrible 7 came on the turn and he led out. I tanked for about a minute before calling him. His bluffs on previous hands just wouldn't allow me to believe that he had the 8. The river came x and he led out again, immediately announcing that he was putting me all-in. Again, he had done this only a few hands earlier in the exact same manner. I tanked for 2 minutes and finally called with just a pair of Jacks. Surprisingly, they were good as he mucked 7X face up. That was probably the second biggest hand of the night, roughly $30 or so.
I finished the night up $28 which I am pleased with. Most important was being able to bounce back from that sick, sick beat I took.
Afterwards, I played UB's $1K Guarantee and busted in the 3rd hour w QQ v A3s. I was short after giving away all my chips in the second hour and a double up would have put me back in the mix of things but it just wasn't meant to be.
I also played two SNGs and finished 1-2 for a $29 profit. It feels really good to make the same amount of money online as you did live but in like a tenth of the time, lol.
There is hopefully a .25/.5 or .5/1 game being played Tuesday at a buddy's house that I will attend if it happens. I've had good success over there and although .5/1 would be new to me I think I'm capable of playing at this level. I've played with all of the guys before anyways and am fine. Plus I would feel like a straight pimp buying in for $100.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $434.15/$550
Saturday, May 19, 2007
5th in the $1000 Guarantee for $65
I just remembered another hand that got me on tilt yesterday. AK v AQ aipf and the first card to peel of the deck is the glorious K but of course the flop completes JT giving him the nuts. Tilt. Can't do anything about either of the hands I played in. Oh well. I'm going to try my best next time I play live to rake the first pot I play in that way I will be good to go for the entire night.
Meh, I played great in another MTT today. I participated in the $1000 Guarantee w/ $1 rebuys and busted in 5th place for $65 after 5 hours and 40 minutes of play. The final hand found me shortstacked and when it folded to me I pushed JTo into the blinds. The BB called after a very long time and showed A7. I was a 45/55 dog and couldn't hit. Oh well. 5th/200+ entrants? I'll take it. It just sucks that after surviving 200 people I couldn't survive just 4 more players and 20 minutes longer and made $200 more. Oh well, I wouldn't play a single hand differently. I played very well.
For the hell of it, I am playing in the Full Tilt freeroll that starts at 10:40. I've always liked Full Tilt and making money on that site would be a dream come true. They also have PPA Freerolls with really big prize pools that run multiple times per day. Apparently you are given free entry into only one of those so hopefully I will find a quiet day next week and play in that.
Also, fuck the UB hat; they have plasma TV screens and iPods now
Goals:
SNG Goal: $376.12/$550
Determined
I'm through trying to qualify for the $200k, at least for now. I'm not playing well and my logic is that if I can't even qualify into the stupid thing, what makes me think I'm going to be able to do well in the actual event. Good logic. I'm done spending $5.5 per satellite for nothing.
As far as MTTs are concerned, I'll only be playing in the $1 Rebuy Guarantee's that take place twice per day, at 4PM and 1AM. That'll be $10/day which I can make easily in SNGs.
SNGs are being a bitch right now so I think I'm going to 2max until I start to feel comfortable in them again.
I'm also going to start playing cash games. I'm going to 4max .05/.1 6handed and see how I fare. I want to start taking advantage of UB's Points-to-Cash promotion that they always have every week.
My bank is at $320 right now. If I lose $70 in the next few days, I'm cashing out $100 and starting again at $50 with the $1.10 SNGS.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $319.25/$550
UB Hat: 104/4000
$200k: 1/7, 0/1
As far as MTTs are concerned, I'll only be playing in the $1 Rebuy Guarantee's that take place twice per day, at 4PM and 1AM. That'll be $10/day which I can make easily in SNGs.
SNGs are being a bitch right now so I think I'm going to 2max until I start to feel comfortable in them again.
I'm also going to start playing cash games. I'm going to 4max .05/.1 6handed and see how I fare. I want to start taking advantage of UB's Points-to-Cash promotion that they always have every week.
My bank is at $320 right now. If I lose $70 in the next few days, I'm cashing out $100 and starting again at $50 with the $1.10 SNGS.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $319.25/$550
UB Hat: 104/4000
$200k: 1/7, 0/1
Tilt, to say the least
I'm so upset at myself I'm sweating. No exaggeration, I am steaming right now.
I think I played well live today even though I lost $40. I lost a huge hand early when me and another opponent both flopped flushes except mine was one rank lower than his. Tilt. I guess I have to win a big hand early on like that if not I've noticed that I go on tilt for the entire night. That is pretty much what I did. I was also trying something new against certain opponents and unfortunately they just kept hitting sick cards. I'm able to outplay the majority of the people there but I can't do anything about it when they flop pair and turn aces up. Tilt. Another hand I had ATss in and open raised and was called by the blinds. The flop came A7x and the SB bet out for $1. The BB called the dollar and since she was short stack I decided to put her all in. They both called and the SB showed 77 for trips. Tilt. And I'd been correct in my read, I had the BB beat (had A2)
So, I get online looking to play a little more. Tilt. I don't even remember all the hands. Th\ worst has to be just the frequent coolers. Being shortstacked and pushing ai and the SB waking up with AA. The worst beat of the night came in the $1000 Guarantee. I limped with 7s in an unopened pot and about 6 of us saw a flop of J7x. I opened the pot with 1/3 of the pot and was called by one player. We took a turn of 3 and again I bet out. He pushed all in for about 10k total and instacalled. He showed J3 for a turned two pair. Of course the river came a J and I lost a sick 15k pot that would've put me in the Top 5. Tilt.
I've finally calmed down and are no longer all clammy and steaming and pissed, lol. Gah, I don't know when I'll play again but I'm definitely only 4-maxing tomorrow. A possible reason I did so poorly online today is because I was 6-8 tabling. Plus maybe I was tired.
Blah, I'm getting mad at myself again, lol. Ciao.
PS Why the fuck am I complaining about being up $380 for the summer.. Someone tell me.
Summer:
Online: ~$270
Live: $110
Total: ~$380
Goals:
SNG Goal: $342.86/$550
UB Hat: 72/4000
$200k: 1/4, 0/1
I think I played well live today even though I lost $40. I lost a huge hand early when me and another opponent both flopped flushes except mine was one rank lower than his. Tilt. I guess I have to win a big hand early on like that if not I've noticed that I go on tilt for the entire night. That is pretty much what I did. I was also trying something new against certain opponents and unfortunately they just kept hitting sick cards. I'm able to outplay the majority of the people there but I can't do anything about it when they flop pair and turn aces up. Tilt. Another hand I had ATss in and open raised and was called by the blinds. The flop came A7x and the SB bet out for $1. The BB called the dollar and since she was short stack I decided to put her all in. They both called and the SB showed 77 for trips. Tilt. And I'd been correct in my read, I had the BB beat (had A2)
So, I get online looking to play a little more. Tilt. I don't even remember all the hands. Th\ worst has to be just the frequent coolers. Being shortstacked and pushing ai and the SB waking up with AA. The worst beat of the night came in the $1000 Guarantee. I limped with 7s in an unopened pot and about 6 of us saw a flop of J7x. I opened the pot with 1/3 of the pot and was called by one player. We took a turn of 3 and again I bet out. He pushed all in for about 10k total and instacalled. He showed J3 for a turned two pair. Of course the river came a J and I lost a sick 15k pot that would've put me in the Top 5. Tilt.
I've finally calmed down and are no longer all clammy and steaming and pissed, lol. Gah, I don't know when I'll play again but I'm definitely only 4-maxing tomorrow. A possible reason I did so poorly online today is because I was 6-8 tabling. Plus maybe I was tired.
Blah, I'm getting mad at myself again, lol. Ciao.
PS Why the fuck am I complaining about being up $380 for the summer.. Someone tell me.
Summer:
Online: ~$270
Live: $110
Total: ~$380
Goals:
SNG Goal: $342.86/$550
UB Hat: 72/4000
$200k: 1/4, 0/1
Friday, May 18, 2007
Crushed .25/.50 live
Uh, where do I start? I tried to get a .05/.10 game together today and was bummed when that fell through. Salvation came in the form of a text message while I was at work. My friend Tony was hosting a .25/.50 cash game. I headed over there at around 10:30 with a friend of mine.
We played ~8 handed the majority of the night although the last half hour or so we were 5-6 handed.
The style of play was about 30% tight players who shouldn't have been there because it was obvious they were too scared to play for so much money. The other 70% of the players were lag (loose aggressive) and man oh man did I punish them.
The first hand of the night was a sick +$40 pot. This was the first of many.
I played pretty horrible the first hour. I was pretty much card dead. The majority of the action happened in the last hour and a half of play.
My first big hand came with QTo in the SB. With 4 limpers I completed and 5 of us saw a flop of Q24 with 2 spades. I got cute and checked and it checked to the player in LP who threw in $2. I repopped to $6 and it was folded to him. He thought for over a minute and hesitantly called. The turn brought another Q and I almost instantly threw in $10. I really just wanted the hand to be over, haha. He thought for about 2 more minutes and then put me all-in. I called and showed the trip Q's and he mucked. Ship the +$60 pot.
Moments later I found 89cc on the button and limped. 4 saw a flop of T7x rainbow. I re-raised a guy from $2 to $6 with my OESD and he hesitantly called. The turn brought a K. He checked to me and I checked behind. In retrospect I should have continued betting hard, but I was glad for the free card. Chances were that he wasn't going to check/raise me on the turn so I would have gotten to see the turn anyways. A bet on the turn would've possibly won me the pot there or set me up to win it on the river. I missed my straight draw on the river and he checked back to me. I threw out a $8 bet and he thought for a minute before calling with a pair of 7s. I felt sick that I had just won a huge hand then bluffed off $8 but whatever.
I did it again the next hand, lol. Except this time it worked and I basically made back what I had lost.
A pot gets open-raised by a really lag player and another lag player calls the $3 behind. I find AA in the SB and reraise to $12. Player 1 thinks a bit before calling (once he's invested money in the hand he rarely folds) and the other guy hesitantly calls. The pot is already over $36 and I'd be more than happy to take it down there. Since I was the SB, I announced that I was all-in blind. The flop came Q9A and Player 1 folded. Player 2 pretty much insta-called with... 94?! He was dead to running 9's and the turn brought a K lock me in for the scoop. I don't know exactly how much was won that hand but there was $36 in before the flop and I must've pushed for somewhere around $20. that makes a... lets say $80 pot.
The final big hand of the day came when we were 5 handed and on our last revolution of play. I found KK in the blinds and repopped in preflop and got a caller. The flop came 7T7 and I threw in 1/2 the pot. He pushed all in for abour $35 dollars more and I pretty much instantly called. I couldn't see him having a 7. He showed T5?! Thanks for playing.
Overall I finished the night as the big winner and $100 richer. The game is really easy because towards the end of the night the LAG players were basically willing to go broke if they connected with the board in any way whatsoever. Tony is to get a weekly Thursday game going at his place and I'm down if those crazy rich asians show up again. I was dying, just dying, to limp with KK or AA in EP and re-raise once someone raised and got 3 callers behind him. I know exactly who I want to sit next to next week. I plan on executing the squeeze play a lot, especially when a certain asian opens the pot. It'll work the majority of the time because the majority of the time he does not have a hand worth calling a reraised all in with. As long as I avoid the misfortune of him holding AA or KK or a big PP I'll be fine and should be able to easily make over $10/hand without even showing a card.
Anyways, I crushed this game and I'm really happy. I'm having an incredibly successful summer and I do hope I can continue on this sick, sick, tear.
Summer:
Online: ~$370
Live: $150
Total: ~$520
Goals:
SNG Goal: $409.86/$550
UB Hat: 1457/4000
$200k: 0/2, 0/0
We played ~8 handed the majority of the night although the last half hour or so we were 5-6 handed.
The style of play was about 30% tight players who shouldn't have been there because it was obvious they were too scared to play for so much money. The other 70% of the players were lag (loose aggressive) and man oh man did I punish them.
The first hand of the night was a sick +$40 pot. This was the first of many.
I played pretty horrible the first hour. I was pretty much card dead. The majority of the action happened in the last hour and a half of play.
My first big hand came with QTo in the SB. With 4 limpers I completed and 5 of us saw a flop of Q24 with 2 spades. I got cute and checked and it checked to the player in LP who threw in $2. I repopped to $6 and it was folded to him. He thought for over a minute and hesitantly called. The turn brought another Q and I almost instantly threw in $10. I really just wanted the hand to be over, haha. He thought for about 2 more minutes and then put me all-in. I called and showed the trip Q's and he mucked. Ship the +$60 pot.
Moments later I found 89cc on the button and limped. 4 saw a flop of T7x rainbow. I re-raised a guy from $2 to $6 with my OESD and he hesitantly called. The turn brought a K. He checked to me and I checked behind. In retrospect I should have continued betting hard, but I was glad for the free card. Chances were that he wasn't going to check/raise me on the turn so I would have gotten to see the turn anyways. A bet on the turn would've possibly won me the pot there or set me up to win it on the river. I missed my straight draw on the river and he checked back to me. I threw out a $8 bet and he thought for a minute before calling with a pair of 7s. I felt sick that I had just won a huge hand then bluffed off $8 but whatever.
I did it again the next hand, lol. Except this time it worked and I basically made back what I had lost.
A pot gets open-raised by a really lag player and another lag player calls the $3 behind. I find AA in the SB and reraise to $12. Player 1 thinks a bit before calling (once he's invested money in the hand he rarely folds) and the other guy hesitantly calls. The pot is already over $36 and I'd be more than happy to take it down there. Since I was the SB, I announced that I was all-in blind. The flop came Q9A and Player 1 folded. Player 2 pretty much insta-called with... 94?! He was dead to running 9's and the turn brought a K lock me in for the scoop. I don't know exactly how much was won that hand but there was $36 in before the flop and I must've pushed for somewhere around $20. that makes a... lets say $80 pot.
The final big hand of the day came when we were 5 handed and on our last revolution of play. I found KK in the blinds and repopped in preflop and got a caller. The flop came 7T7 and I threw in 1/2 the pot. He pushed all in for abour $35 dollars more and I pretty much instantly called. I couldn't see him having a 7. He showed T5?! Thanks for playing.
Overall I finished the night as the big winner and $100 richer. The game is really easy because towards the end of the night the LAG players were basically willing to go broke if they connected with the board in any way whatsoever. Tony is to get a weekly Thursday game going at his place and I'm down if those crazy rich asians show up again. I was dying, just dying, to limp with KK or AA in EP and re-raise once someone raised and got 3 callers behind him. I know exactly who I want to sit next to next week. I plan on executing the squeeze play a lot, especially when a certain asian opens the pot. It'll work the majority of the time because the majority of the time he does not have a hand worth calling a reraised all in with. As long as I avoid the misfortune of him holding AA or KK or a big PP I'll be fine and should be able to easily make over $10/hand without even showing a card.
Anyways, I crushed this game and I'm really happy. I'm having an incredibly successful summer and I do hope I can continue on this sick, sick, tear.
Summer:
Online: ~$370
Live: $150
Total: ~$520
Goals:
SNG Goal: $409.86/$550
UB Hat: 1457/4000
$200k: 0/2, 0/0
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Advice: Don't play tired. Sleep then rape.
I actually reached my $400 bankroll goal for yesterday at around 6:30PM. As unbelievable as it sounds I see it extremely plausible to bring in $50/day.
Something that I am going to have a problem with is continuing to play after I make the $50/day. Granted, that is my goal.. but after I reach it, should I stop playing? Hell no. I seriously feel for every second I'm not playing poker I'm losing money. Even if I made money 51% of the time I'd be wanting to play as much as possible because in the long run I'm a winner. I know I'm good enough (more than 51%, lol) to sustain a profit over any time period. It is common sense that the more I play the more I make. And the less I play the less I'm making.
Anyways, I played some more late last night and ended down $35 after blanking in SNGs, the $1500 Bounty Guarantee, and a $200k Qualifier. Don't play tired.
I woke up today feeling completely refreshed and played 4 SNGs and crushed them, finishing first in 3/4 of them and losing 99 v AT 5-handed in the other. In just 4 SNGs, I made $53.
I'm planning until playing until around 4PM today and possibly later again tonight depending on whether or not I'm tired. I also might play live as things have been going fairly well there as well. I'm up $50 over the summer (3 days of play).
Goals:
SNG Goal: $418.86/$550
UB Hat: 1433/4000
$200k: 0/2, 0/0
Something that I am going to have a problem with is continuing to play after I make the $50/day. Granted, that is my goal.. but after I reach it, should I stop playing? Hell no. I seriously feel for every second I'm not playing poker I'm losing money. Even if I made money 51% of the time I'd be wanting to play as much as possible because in the long run I'm a winner. I know I'm good enough (more than 51%, lol) to sustain a profit over any time period. It is common sense that the more I play the more I make. And the less I play the less I'm making.
Anyways, I played some more late last night and ended down $35 after blanking in SNGs, the $1500 Bounty Guarantee, and a $200k Qualifier. Don't play tired.
I woke up today feeling completely refreshed and played 4 SNGs and crushed them, finishing first in 3/4 of them and losing 99 v AT 5-handed in the other. In just 4 SNGs, I made $53.
I'm planning until playing until around 4PM today and possibly later again tonight depending on whether or not I'm tired. I also might play live as things have been going fairly well there as well. I'm up $50 over the summer (3 days of play).
Goals:
SNG Goal: $418.86/$550
UB Hat: 1433/4000
$200k: 0/2, 0/0
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
5.5s are easy too; new goal?
The $5.50's are easy too, lol. The only tough part I guess is that more people seem to be familiar with the "play tight/solid early, play loose/aggressive late" strategy.
I took a little crash course in $5.50's last night and cashed in 4/6 of them with 3 1st places and 1 second place.
Today I've played only a few but haven't had much success.
I also played my first $1 Rebuy $200K Qualifier. With BB200 and 6 limpers, I shoved A7o from the BB to try to steal the 1200 pot. Of course, the player UTG reraises all in and shows KK. I made his horrible play into a profitable play because he was screwed as KK vs 7 random hands isn't very successful at all.
Oh, and new goal? I want to make $50 a day playing SNGs. With 1st place paying out $25, I could ideally do this by finishing 1-1-1 or 1-1-2 in 3 SNGs. Obviously, that is a little optimistic but I'm still down for trying. For the sake of simplicity I'm going to pretend I started today out at $350 and have pushed it to $363.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $363.66/$550
UB Hat: 1376/4000
$200k: 0/1, 0/0
I took a little crash course in $5.50's last night and cashed in 4/6 of them with 3 1st places and 1 second place.
Today I've played only a few but haven't had much success.
I also played my first $1 Rebuy $200K Qualifier. With BB200 and 6 limpers, I shoved A7o from the BB to try to steal the 1200 pot. Of course, the player UTG reraises all in and shows KK. I made his horrible play into a profitable play because he was screwed as KK vs 7 random hands isn't very successful at all.
Oh, and new goal? I want to make $50 a day playing SNGs. With 1st place paying out $25, I could ideally do this by finishing 1-1-1 or 1-1-2 in 3 SNGs. Obviously, that is a little optimistic but I'm still down for trying. For the sake of simplicity I'm going to pretend I started today out at $350 and have pushed it to $363.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $363.66/$550
UB Hat: 1376/4000
$200k: 0/1, 0/0
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Goals for the rest of May
Well, I've shattered my goal of making $110 this month. Time for new ones as we've still got 15 days left in May.
I'm moving up to $5.5's. I've got both the bankroll and the skill to play at the level, which as I've already seen isn't so much better by any means. There are lots of idiots who $5.5s and I'm sure I'll even find them at the $11's should I ever get there.
My new goal is to make $550 by the end May.
Another goal is to play in the Sunday $200k Guarantee. Right now it reads "0/0, 0/0" because I have to beat 2 MTTs to make it to the $200k. The first "0/0" are the amount of $1.1 that I've beaten/played. The 1.1's qualify you for the $21.50, which pays actual spots to the Sunday $200k.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $335.66/$550
UB Hat: 1350/4000
$200k: 0/0, 0/0
I'm moving up to $5.5's. I've got both the bankroll and the skill to play at the level, which as I've already seen isn't so much better by any means. There are lots of idiots who $5.5s and I'm sure I'll even find them at the $11's should I ever get there.
My new goal is to make $550 by the end May.
Another goal is to play in the Sunday $200k Guarantee. Right now it reads "0/0, 0/0" because I have to beat 2 MTTs to make it to the $200k. The first "0/0" are the amount of $1.1 that I've beaten/played. The 1.1's qualify you for the $21.50, which pays actual spots to the Sunday $200k.
Goals:
SNG Goal: $335.66/$550
UB Hat: 1350/4000
$200k: 0/0, 0/0
Won the $1000 Guarantee!
I played a $1000 Guarantee $1 Rebuy MTT last night and received the first place prize of $260
I'll have a write-upish later today because I'm still exhausted from the 5 and a half hours of playing.
[EDIT: Tournament Summary]
I never know how deep I'm going to run in a tournament, so I never write down all the significant hands because more times than not I'm going to have a lot of significant hands and end up not finishing in the money and therefore not writing a tournament summary. Yesterday was no different but I actually won the tournament and now I only have my memory to rely on. Its okay though because as many of you know my knack for remembering poker hands is absolutely sickening.
I have a love/hate relationship with the first hour of rebuys. This is because honestly no one gives a shit about their two cards and push all in and call all ins with all sorts of crap. My table was absolutely wild thanks to all these players. People were shoving with Q9 and calling with KT and oh my it was just wonderful.
So, as is the norm, I immediately double rebuy to build my starting stack to 4500 and I tighten up the first hour of play and try to take advantage of this wild and crazy play. The first hand I played was AJo and a player who had already rebought numerous times reraised me all in. He had shown junk like Q9 and AX and PP and so it was a pretty easy call for me. He showed KT and (thanks poker Gods) I won the race and propelled to 9th place with 7500. I would never leave the Top 12 again.
I played fantastically. I had a pretty sick stack in the mid game and used it to my advantage. One of my favorite big stack plays is being either the button, sb, or bb, and pushing all in when there are like 3-5 limpers. When the blinds are something like 1500-3000-300, you can easily make over 10k in chips regardless of your hand.
I stayed in the top 10 in the middle stages and top 3 in the later stages of the tournament. My table image was great and people were definitely not wanting to get involved with me in pots. I took advantage of this timid bubble play and when the bubble broke I had over 150k chips more than second place.
I remember a situation where I limped with KK and along with the blinds saw a AKT rainbow flop. They check checked to me and I threw out a bet. The SB called and the BB folded. The turn brought a painful Q on the board and he checked back to me and I also checked. I put him on a K or a T on the flop but the Q could've easily given him the straight. His check on the turn kinda solidified that for me. The river brought another T, giving me Kings full of Tens, and he threw out about a fifth of his stack. I was going to only minraise him, but then thought that he probably had a straight and probably thought he had the best hand or at least would split with me. There is no way he see's me having a boat. I pushed all in and he instantly called with KQ for the straight. Money in the bank. That propelled me to 1st place with about 15 to go and nearly 200k in chips more than 2nd place.
There was a player who was short stacked and seriously limped into the money. He also limped into the final 2 tables. People were ridiculous and wouldn't call his all-ins when they weren't even x2 above the big blind!! Seriously, it is an autocall when someone pushes all in for like, 1.9 the BB, especially if you're a blind.
Anyways, I'm actually glad it turned out this way because I ended up playing this guy HU. There was a $105 difference between 1st and 2nd place and I was not about to miss out on that. It was around 6AM and I had already been playing for over 5 hours and was exhausted. My parents were already getting ready to go to work, lol.
I entered HU with about a 5:2 chip lead over the guy. In one of the first hands, we both got all-in preflop with AQo and wouldn't you know it, the flop gave him the nut flush draw and he hit it on the turn. Sick.
Luckily though, it didn't really matter. He was a horribly passive HU player and I was furiously aggressive. I would limp/x2/x3 alternately on the button with any 2 cards and he would usually fold to the raises and be outplayed postflop.
There was a hand I had raised with AQ out of position and the flop came 43939 and I completely bluffed him off the hand on the river after he had invested a pretty sizeable amount into the hand.
The final hand came when he was down pretty shortstack and had already pushed a few times. It was apparent that my aggressive style of play and periodic, seemingly random all-ins had gotten under his skin. I found QQ in the SB and completed. He shoved with A7o and he bricked.
It was a great tournament win today and definitely made me feel better about dumping $15 in live poker earlier in the day.
I will write up something later as far as goals go now that I have more than tripled my $110 goal for May.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $332.66/$110
UB Hat: 1338/4000
I'll have a write-upish later today because I'm still exhausted from the 5 and a half hours of playing.
[EDIT: Tournament Summary]
I never know how deep I'm going to run in a tournament, so I never write down all the significant hands because more times than not I'm going to have a lot of significant hands and end up not finishing in the money and therefore not writing a tournament summary. Yesterday was no different but I actually won the tournament and now I only have my memory to rely on. Its okay though because as many of you know my knack for remembering poker hands is absolutely sickening.
I have a love/hate relationship with the first hour of rebuys. This is because honestly no one gives a shit about their two cards and push all in and call all ins with all sorts of crap. My table was absolutely wild thanks to all these players. People were shoving with Q9 and calling with KT and oh my it was just wonderful.
So, as is the norm, I immediately double rebuy to build my starting stack to 4500 and I tighten up the first hour of play and try to take advantage of this wild and crazy play. The first hand I played was AJo and a player who had already rebought numerous times reraised me all in. He had shown junk like Q9 and AX and PP and so it was a pretty easy call for me. He showed KT and (thanks poker Gods) I won the race and propelled to 9th place with 7500. I would never leave the Top 12 again.
I played fantastically. I had a pretty sick stack in the mid game and used it to my advantage. One of my favorite big stack plays is being either the button, sb, or bb, and pushing all in when there are like 3-5 limpers. When the blinds are something like 1500-3000-300, you can easily make over 10k in chips regardless of your hand.
I stayed in the top 10 in the middle stages and top 3 in the later stages of the tournament. My table image was great and people were definitely not wanting to get involved with me in pots. I took advantage of this timid bubble play and when the bubble broke I had over 150k chips more than second place.
I remember a situation where I limped with KK and along with the blinds saw a AKT rainbow flop. They check checked to me and I threw out a bet. The SB called and the BB folded. The turn brought a painful Q on the board and he checked back to me and I also checked. I put him on a K or a T on the flop but the Q could've easily given him the straight. His check on the turn kinda solidified that for me. The river brought another T, giving me Kings full of Tens, and he threw out about a fifth of his stack. I was going to only minraise him, but then thought that he probably had a straight and probably thought he had the best hand or at least would split with me. There is no way he see's me having a boat. I pushed all in and he instantly called with KQ for the straight. Money in the bank. That propelled me to 1st place with about 15 to go and nearly 200k in chips more than 2nd place.
There was a player who was short stacked and seriously limped into the money. He also limped into the final 2 tables. People were ridiculous and wouldn't call his all-ins when they weren't even x2 above the big blind!! Seriously, it is an autocall when someone pushes all in for like, 1.9 the BB, especially if you're a blind.
Anyways, I'm actually glad it turned out this way because I ended up playing this guy HU. There was a $105 difference between 1st and 2nd place and I was not about to miss out on that. It was around 6AM and I had already been playing for over 5 hours and was exhausted. My parents were already getting ready to go to work, lol.
I entered HU with about a 5:2 chip lead over the guy. In one of the first hands, we both got all-in preflop with AQo and wouldn't you know it, the flop gave him the nut flush draw and he hit it on the turn. Sick.
Luckily though, it didn't really matter. He was a horribly passive HU player and I was furiously aggressive. I would limp/x2/x3 alternately on the button with any 2 cards and he would usually fold to the raises and be outplayed postflop.
There was a hand I had raised with AQ out of position and the flop came 43939 and I completely bluffed him off the hand on the river after he had invested a pretty sizeable amount into the hand.
The final hand came when he was down pretty shortstack and had already pushed a few times. It was apparent that my aggressive style of play and periodic, seemingly random all-ins had gotten under his skin. I found QQ in the SB and completed. He shoved with A7o and he bricked.
It was a great tournament win today and definitely made me feel better about dumping $15 in live poker earlier in the day.
I will write up something later as far as goals go now that I have more than tripled my $110 goal for May.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $332.66/$110
UB Hat: 1338/4000
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
lol, did i seriously just see this?
Getting Hand History Information...
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hand #42284011-37 at Wed2amA-015 (No Limit tournament Hold'em)
Started at 09/May/07 02:47:24
lboog23 is at seat 0 with 3025.
THEJDM is at seat 1 with 4310.
bigbaby25 is at seat 2 with 5920.
jtravels24 is at seat 3 with 7945.
Moodminder is at seat 4 with 1865.
bahrnone is at seat 5 with 4610.
Birds n Bees is at seat 6 with 5905.
sammy787 is at seat 7 with 1090.
toe_knee is at seat 8 with 3230.
chibosfla is at seat 9 with 2600.
The button is at seat 7.
toe_knee posts the small blind of 20.
chibosfla posts the big blind of 40.
lboog23: -- --
THEJDM: -- --
bigbaby25: -- --
jtravels24: -- --
Moodminder: -- --
bahrnone: -- --
Birds n Bees: Th 7h
sammy787: -- --
toe_knee: -- --
chibosfla: -- --
Pre-flop:
lboog23 calls. THEJDM folds. bigbaby25 calls.
jtravels24 folds. Moodminder folds. bahrnone folds.
Birds n Bees folds. sammy787 calls. toe_knee
calls. chibosfla raises to 240. lboog23 folds.
bigbaby25 re-raises to 2940. sammy787 folds.
toe_knee folds. chibosfla goes all-in for 2600.
bigbaby25 is returned 340 (uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
bigbaby25 shows Kc Kh.
chibosfla shows Js Jd.
Flop (board: Jh Qs Jc):
(no action in this round)
Turn (board: Jh Qs Jc Kd):
(no action in this round)
River (board: Jh Qs Jc Kd Ks):
(no action in this round)
Showdown:
bigbaby25 has Kc Kh Qs Kd Ks: four kings.
chibosfla has Js Jd Jh Jc Kd: four jacks.
Hand #42284011-37 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
bigbaby25 wins 5320 with four kings.
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hand #42284011-37 at Wed2amA-015 (No Limit tournament Hold'em)
Started at 09/May/07 02:47:24
lboog23 is at seat 0 with 3025.
THEJDM is at seat 1 with 4310.
bigbaby25 is at seat 2 with 5920.
jtravels24 is at seat 3 with 7945.
Moodminder is at seat 4 with 1865.
bahrnone is at seat 5 with 4610.
Birds n Bees is at seat 6 with 5905.
sammy787 is at seat 7 with 1090.
toe_knee is at seat 8 with 3230.
chibosfla is at seat 9 with 2600.
The button is at seat 7.
toe_knee posts the small blind of 20.
chibosfla posts the big blind of 40.
lboog23: -- --
THEJDM: -- --
bigbaby25: -- --
jtravels24: -- --
Moodminder: -- --
bahrnone: -- --
Birds n Bees: Th 7h
sammy787: -- --
toe_knee: -- --
chibosfla: -- --
Pre-flop:
lboog23 calls. THEJDM folds. bigbaby25 calls.
jtravels24 folds. Moodminder folds. bahrnone folds.
Birds n Bees folds. sammy787 calls. toe_knee
calls. chibosfla raises to 240. lboog23 folds.
bigbaby25 re-raises to 2940. sammy787 folds.
toe_knee folds. chibosfla goes all-in for 2600.
bigbaby25 is returned 340 (uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
bigbaby25 shows Kc Kh.
chibosfla shows Js Jd.
Flop (board: Jh Qs Jc):
(no action in this round)
Turn (board: Jh Qs Jc Kd):
(no action in this round)
River (board: Jh Qs Jc Kd Ks):
(no action in this round)
Showdown:
bigbaby25 has Kc Kh Qs Kd Ks: four kings.
chibosfla has Js Jd Jh Jc Kd: four jacks.
Hand #42284011-37 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
bigbaby25 wins 5320 with four kings.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tuesday SNGs
I had a breakout day today and made +$10-- the second most I've made in an SNG-only day. I also 2-tabled .05/.10 earlier today and finished -$4. No bueno. Oh well. I consider myself a better SNG player right now anyways and am not too terribly concerned with my ring game until the live summer games pick up.
Looking back at last Tuesday's post, I've made $50 in the past week, playing solely $1.10 SNGs. Guys, that is amazing, especially because I don't play very much at all imo. It's also amazing that I'm doing this at the $1.10's, lol. I'm excited about hitting a $110 bankroll and diving into some $5.50's. I'm expecting that to happen in less than a week. If things go as well in the $5.50's as they've been going in the $1.1o's, I'll be pulling in $250/week, minimum. Ah, the thought excites me and I'm going to try my very hardest to beat this game. It took awhile to become comfortable at the $1.10's and I'm sure there will be a slight increase in opponents skill when I make the jump to $5.50. I think, however, that I am a lot more patient than before and with the rules I've set for myself, my bankroll will be forever safe. Hopefully everything goes very well for me. I'm optimistic and feel like I'm playing pretty fantastic, for the most part.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $72.23/$110
UB Hat: 1464/4000
Looking back at last Tuesday's post, I've made $50 in the past week, playing solely $1.10 SNGs. Guys, that is amazing, especially because I don't play very much at all imo. It's also amazing that I'm doing this at the $1.10's, lol. I'm excited about hitting a $110 bankroll and diving into some $5.50's. I'm expecting that to happen in less than a week. If things go as well in the $5.50's as they've been going in the $1.1o's, I'll be pulling in $250/week, minimum. Ah, the thought excites me and I'm going to try my very hardest to beat this game. It took awhile to become comfortable at the $1.10's and I'm sure there will be a slight increase in opponents skill when I make the jump to $5.50. I think, however, that I am a lot more patient than before and with the rules I've set for myself, my bankroll will be forever safe. Hopefully everything goes very well for me. I'm optimistic and feel like I'm playing pretty fantastic, for the most part.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $72.23/$110
UB Hat: 1464/4000
Monday SNGs, +8
I played 4, 1hr+ sessions today and made ~$8. I can't count how many times I lost AT v KT and other dominating situations. Like, I honestly cannot count. You have no idea. I'm happy with how I played all day and finished the day with 4 consecutive cashes.
My hard final is tomorrow (accounting) and then basically I'm done with school. I'm not too terribly concerned with Geology and will probably only review briefly on Wednesday. I take my final on Thursday, chill and pack, and then leave for New Orleans on Friday and Houston on Saturday.
Poker crew: we just about start playing upon my rival. In other words, asap.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $62.12/$110
UB Hat: 1447/4000
My hard final is tomorrow (accounting) and then basically I'm done with school. I'm not too terribly concerned with Geology and will probably only review briefly on Wednesday. I take my final on Thursday, chill and pack, and then leave for New Orleans on Friday and Houston on Saturday.
Poker crew: we just about start playing upon my rival. In other words, asap.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $62.12/$110
UB Hat: 1447/4000
Monday, May 7, 2007
Goodness
Hand #42241547-11 at TurboSnG-7305s (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Started at 07/May/07 21:51:22
phragalicous is at seat 0 with 1410.
whitetiger717 is at seat 1 with 4835.
birds n bees is at seat 2 with 1090.
six sigma 08 is at seat 4 with 4335.
mnmfe4e2 is at seat 5 with 1450.
itsonlyus6 is at seat 7 with 1880.
The button is at seat 2.
six sigma 08 posts the big blind of 40.
phragalicous: -- --
whitetiger717: -- --
birds n bees: Jc Js
six sigma 08: -- --
mnmfe4e2: -- --
itsonlyus6: -- --
Pre-flop:
mnmfe4e2 folds. itsonlyus6 folds. phragalicous
calls. whitetiger717 calls. birds n bees raises to
200. six sigma 08 folds. phragalicous folds.
whitetiger717 goes all-in for 4835. birds n bees goes
all-in for 1090. whitetiger717 is returned 3745
(uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
whitetiger717 shows Qh Kh.
birds n bees shows Jc Js.
Flop (board: Kc 7d 9c):
(no action in this round)
Turn (board: Kc 7d 9c Tc):
(no action in this round)
River (board: Kc 7d 9c Tc Qc):
(no action in this round)
Showdown:
whitetiger717 has Qh Kh Kc Tc Qc: two pair, kings and queens.
birds n bees has Jc Kc 9c Tc Qc: straight flush, king high.
Hand #42241547-11 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
birds n bees wins 2260 with straight flush, king high.
Started at 07/May/07 21:51:22
phragalicous is at seat 0 with 1410.
whitetiger717 is at seat 1 with 4835.
birds n bees is at seat 2 with 1090.
six sigma 08 is at seat 4 with 4335.
mnmfe4e2 is at seat 5 with 1450.
itsonlyus6 is at seat 7 with 1880.
The button is at seat 2.
six sigma 08 posts the big blind of 40.
phragalicous: -- --
whitetiger717: -- --
birds n bees: Jc Js
six sigma 08: -- --
mnmfe4e2: -- --
itsonlyus6: -- --
Pre-flop:
mnmfe4e2 folds. itsonlyus6 folds. phragalicous
calls. whitetiger717 calls. birds n bees raises to
200. six sigma 08 folds. phragalicous folds.
whitetiger717 goes all-in for 4835. birds n bees goes
all-in for 1090. whitetiger717 is returned 3745
(uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
whitetiger717 shows Qh Kh.
birds n bees shows Jc Js.
Flop (board: Kc 7d 9c):
(no action in this round)
Turn (board: Kc 7d 9c Tc):
(no action in this round)
River (board: Kc 7d 9c Tc Qc):
(no action in this round)
Showdown:
whitetiger717 has Qh Kh Kc Tc Qc: two pair, kings and queens.
birds n bees has Jc Kc 9c Tc Qc: straight flush, king high.
Hand #42241547-11 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
birds n bees wins 2260 with straight flush, king high.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Halfway to Goal
I finally am back above $50. It is a slow grind but as I said earlier, easily feasible. I am 100% positive I will break $110 this month and will be playing the $5.50's in a few weeks. I can't wait. I played for about 40 minutes and made ~$5, lol. Not a whole lot but at this stage, I'll take it. Thats like a 10% increase on my entire bankroll!
The Rockets broke my heart yesterday and I learned today that Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy won't be returning next year. What a disappointing season. There is still much work to do before we are a championship caliber team. One of the West's second round matchups is Utah/Golden State, which is almost laughable. I'm rooting for Golden State for the remainder of the playoffs.
I'm going to Birmingham to help a friend with her Battle of the Bands. I might play when I get back at midnight, we'll see. No rush.
- Saeid
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $54.45/$110
UB Hat: 1408/4000
The Rockets broke my heart yesterday and I learned today that Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy won't be returning next year. What a disappointing season. There is still much work to do before we are a championship caliber team. One of the West's second round matchups is Utah/Golden State, which is almost laughable. I'm rooting for Golden State for the remainder of the playoffs.
I'm going to Birmingham to help a friend with her Battle of the Bands. I might play when I get back at midnight, we'll see. No rush.
- Saeid
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $54.45/$110
UB Hat: 1408/4000
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Saturday SNGs
Funny how SNGs work. I feel like I have to have a "warm up" session before I playing. The only way to do this is by playing though, lol. I lose the first 4-6 SNGs though but then warm up and go on pretty sick heaters.
I think I made $7 in 15 or so SNGs today. This took about an hour and a half. I wish I had more time to play. I just want to grind for hours and hours until I get up to $110. Unfortunately I've got finals and junk to study for. And friends to see and stuff.
The Rockets play Game 7 of the first round at the Toyota Center tonight at 9:30. Completely needless to say, I'm nervous. Until tip off, I'll be doing a mix of poker, seeing friends, and eating.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $49.34/$110
UB Hat: 1401/4000
I think I made $7 in 15 or so SNGs today. This took about an hour and a half. I wish I had more time to play. I just want to grind for hours and hours until I get up to $110. Unfortunately I've got finals and junk to study for. And friends to see and stuff.
The Rockets play Game 7 of the first round at the Toyota Center tonight at 9:30. Completely needless to say, I'm nervous. Until tip off, I'll be doing a mix of poker, seeing friends, and eating.
May Goals:
SNG Goal: $49.34/$110
UB Hat: 1401/4000
Friday, May 4, 2007
April Review, May Goals
Bankroll in April: $210
Bankroll in May: $42
Ouch!
So, I lost a lot of money this month. I practiced horrible bankroll management that I hope to never duplicate to any degree whatsoever. I tried to play too many MTTs and burned money away.
I know May has already started, but here are my goals for May starting now (the 4th):
SNG Goal: $42.33/$110
SNGs Played: 0
UB Hat: 1384/4000
Bankroll in May: $42
Ouch!
So, I lost a lot of money this month. I practiced horrible bankroll management that I hope to never duplicate to any degree whatsoever. I tried to play too many MTTs and burned money away.
I know May has already started, but here are my goals for May starting now (the 4th):
- Bankroll Management- I'm following Chris "Jesus" Ferguson's advice here. I'm going to play games that I can afford. Right now, that only includes $1.10 SNGs and .05/.1 cash games. I'm going to play anywhere from 2-6 SNGs at a time and 2-4 cash games at a time. The max buy-in for the cash games at this point is 25 big blinds, or $2.50. If at any point I have over 10% of my entire bankroll at any one table, I leave the game when the big blind gets back to me.
- SNGs- I'm sticking to $1.10 SNGs (10 and 6-handed turbos) until I build my bankroll up to $110. This is easy but tedious-- it'll take a lot of time and a lot of SNGs to get there. However, hopefully I can do it this month. If I do achieve $110 by the month, that means I'll have the bankroll for exactly 20 $5.50 SNGs, which I think is safe enough. If I fail to cash in any of the first 5 $5.50's I play, I'll jump back down to $1.10 until I build back up to $110. Then repeat.
- Ring Games- I'm a little scared of cash games at the moment, but I'll like to see myself practice good bankroll management and know when to leave tables.
SNG Goal: $42.33/$110
SNGs Played: 0
UB Hat: 1384/4000
Friday Evening SNG
I extended my SNG game to include 6-handed turbo's, which actually went really well for me today. I wish I kept stats, but I'm too lazy to do so right now. Maybe one day I'll buy one of those SNG programs off the internet, but I doubt that. The only stat I've got is the one I care about more. I'm creeping back up to my original investment of $50.
Available Real Money: $42.33
Uiltimate points for Team UB Hat: 1,384/4,000
Available Real Money: $42.33
Uiltimate points for Team UB Hat: 1,384/4,000
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
SNGs, thanks.
I played until about 2 hours and profited $11.36. I could probably do a lot better too, as I had a lot of 4th place finishes. I try to steal from big stacks with hands like K9 and a call by even something as weak as A2 has me needing to hit 6 outs or hit a sick straight or something. Anyways, I need to just pick on the shortstacks, and maybe it's okay to shove only AX/PP against the bigs.
Anyways, I'm going to play some more. Wish me luck.
Available Real Money: $33.60
Anyways, I'm going to play some more. Wish me luck.
Available Real Money: $33.60
SNGs are EASY.
Read: http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/tip-email-100-nondeposit.php?utm_id=90
SNGs are really, really easy. You play tight, solid poker the first few blind levels, and then apply a ton of pressure to the short stacks on the bubble. Its sick to shove with basically any hand and put the short stacks all in. They don't want to go bust in 4th place and finish OTM. If they don't have an Ace or PP, they are pretty much guaranteed to fold. Blinds for me.
Anyways, it is 2:30 and I plan on 4-tabling until 5.
I'm also taking Ferguson's bankroll management advice: never buy-in for over 5% of my entire bankroll. So, I'm sticking to $1.10 SNGS until I hit about $100.
Available Real Money: $22.24*
* Low because I played an MTT I shouldn't have, lol. No worries.
SNGs are really, really easy. You play tight, solid poker the first few blind levels, and then apply a ton of pressure to the short stacks on the bubble. Its sick to shove with basically any hand and put the short stacks all in. They don't want to go bust in 4th place and finish OTM. If they don't have an Ace or PP, they are pretty much guaranteed to fold. Blinds for me.
Anyways, it is 2:30 and I plan on 4-tabling until 5.
I'm also taking Ferguson's bankroll management advice: never buy-in for over 5% of my entire bankroll. So, I'm sticking to $1.10 SNGS until I hit about $100.
Available Real Money: $22.24*
* Low because I played an MTT I shouldn't have, lol. No worries.
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