The Gerk's Poker Blog

Lazy Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:28:00 +0000

I was feeling like playing a little poker Saturday afternoon, mostly because I'm ailing from a nasty case of Guitar-Hero-Wrist that makes it extremely painful to play on Expert.

I entered a $5.00+.50 45-person S&G, and here are some highlights:

Oh, wait. There are no fucking highlights. http://www.pokerhand.org/?2234170

The next hand I got my last 150 chips in with AsKs and got called by Qd4d. He turned a flush and I was toast.

Fuckin' A, that puts a sour taste in my mouth.

I'm gonna go play some Guitar Hero.

-The Gerk-

Woo-hoo!

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:07:00 +0000

We actually played a poker tournament Monday night at my apartment. I played ridiculously loose, leading to Ian busting me twice and Derek once. I dropped $15 and went to McDonald's.

Full Tilt offered me a $75 bonus that I could redeem over a span of ten days, so late in the evening I sat on the couch between Ian and Derek and played some .25/.50 NLHE. It is important for me to note that I NEVER play at stakes this high in an internet cash game. I have played higher stakes live, but on the internet I feel that competition in these games is above my level. I was wrong- at least tonight. I can't lie though, I caught cards CONSTANTLY, allowing me to make plays and build an image.

I made over $60 in less than an hour. This hand was the highlight of my night. Can you dream of anything working out more awesomely?

Feeling invincible, I moved on to .10/.25 PLO. I took over $30 in a very brief session, a lot of it coming from this wet dream of a hand.

I'm sitting at a .25/.50 Stud table right now. I'm up 4 big bets. Can I lose money tonight?

Who knows.

One thing is for sure; I'm having fun playing poker again.

-The Gerk-

A Sit-and-Go Just for the Purpose of an Update

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:51:00 +0000

I haven't updated this blog in a month.

Let me rank the reasons why:

1. Guitar Hero (I, II, and III)
2. Other work on the site Arabianmonkey.com
3. Work
4. Stuff around the apartment
5. School

Yet I digress- it's not like I just chose not to update. I have seriously played less that 12 hours of poker in 2008. Crazy, isn't it? I theorize that I will eventually get sick of Guitar Hero and my playing ability will plateau, leading me back to the poker table.

But since that hasn't happened yet, I purposely sat my ass down with my hand generator and this blog window specifically to write about a Sit-and-Go. So here it is, nothing fancy, just some simply hand analysis of a meat-and-potatoes $5+.50 NL Hold'em 9-player Sit-and-Go. I had to use the old hand generator because I forgot my password to the new-fangled one.

I folded through the first level. I took a flop with 66, whiffed and let it go. The table seemed pretty standard- nothing crazy happening. Then I picked up AsQs in my BB. UTG limped, so did the cutoff. SB makes it 200 to go, 5x the BB. UTG then shoves. What the fuck? Cutoff folds, SB thinks a while and calls. Easy fold for me, right? UTG must be looking for that classic limp and trap play with AA or KK. SB must have at least AK, right? It's been a while since I've played, so I guess I'm impatient. I call. SB has QQ, UTG has 88. Board bricks. I'm out. Did I say I was only going to play one tournamet? Hahahaha... LET'S TRY AGAIN!

ROUND 2

Things started out much the same, playing Texas Fold'em. I took a small pot in my SB with J9. Then in the second level a confrontation arose that nearly made this blog unworthy of posting. Check out the action...

I figured we might be racing. Shit, it was almost 2:30am- sleep isn't such a bad consolation prize.

Two hands later I woke up in the BB with AQ. The short-stacked button minraised, the SB called and I jammed it. It folded to the button, who promptly called, and I was racing again. Here's how it turned out.

With almost 4,500 chips under my belt, I was pretty set. We very quickly became 5-handed and things tightened up. I called a raise on the button with QsTs, hoping to hit a good flop against a pretty TAG player. It came down with the As and the Ks. I had a royal flush draw and a gut shot. He continuation bet, and I called, with the intention of jamming the turn no matter what fell and how he acted. The turn was an 8, giving me an extra 4 outs. He timidly checked, and I decided to push and take it down.

A little while later, this hand came up. I nearly folded the turn; I swear to God my poker senses kicked in and almost saved me some money. He made it so affordable that I had to pay him off though. The short stack played the hand perfectly.

I made it back later though. I wasn't too scared of AK here, so when I pushed I felt pretty safe. He seemed to pretend to think about a call before letting it go.

Ugh. This always seems to happen. I wish he had just folded.

You might say I had a pretty good read on the guy on my right. Check out the river action on this baby.

The blinds got higher and my opponents' stacks got smaller. Out of necessity I called the all in of the 4th place finsher, and the next hand I took out the 3rd place guy for the same reason- he was just too short stacked for me not to call.

After some back and forth heads-up action. I noticed my opponent was getting frustrated. I raised three straight hands and then picked up AA. He raised from the button, trying to steal his thunder back. I, of course, declared that this was my table and re-raised. He cold called and I checked him the flop to see if he would hang himself. Not yet. I even gave him a free river card when he opted out of suicide again. But I jammed the un-important river card and he called VERY quickly with King-high. What a bitch. Check out the hand- there's nothing better than ending a tourney with AA.

-The Gerk-

Through the Muck

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 18:10:00 +0000

I would like to post some hands, but it's not worth your time or my own.

I've won a couple of 5.50 9-players the last few days.

I finished 22nd in a 180 person when I couldn't get my KJ to hold up against JT all-in preflop for 7 BBs.

I played decent in a 90-person HORSE SNG but got coolered twice immediately after the first break, and I couldn't make my money back despite getting it all-in good in hold'em.

Last night I finished 2nd in a SNG where I thought I played about as close to perfect as ever, then got my money in facing three outs with two pulls against A4. Turn 4, river A. Heartbreak.

In the last week I'm up a small amount online, but I think I'm playing tremendously. When I'm in the zone, the decisions make themselves- abstract concepts become crystal clear and it feels like play slows down to the point that I become attached to no hand. I think a lot of this has been because of some extra aggression I've instituted in my play since my last bad run of cards. If you asked Paul the poker player a year ago whether he would bet out with two pair in the SB on a ragged flop, he would give a resounding "no." Today... ABSOLUTELY.

But despite what I consider solid play, I've been taking some rough beats lately. Not unexpected beats, but tough ones that cost me my tournament life in many cases. I can't race or win a 60/40 to save my life, and it seems like every time I get my money in facing three outs the dude turns or rivers his miracle. Since I started playing five years ago, I've never cared all that much if I was beaten as the result of being outplayed. In fact, that's the way I want to bust, knowing I can improve and fix something in my game. But over the last year it feels like most of my beats and bankroll drainers have not been the fault of getting outplayed, but rather getting outdrawn. Like I said, usually those outdraws fall under the category of "expected variance," but it still sucks when you're making a solid push with your bankroll and you hit a series of speed bumps when AK can't hold against AQ and JJ can't best AJ.

Either way, I'm happy with my play. In hold'em, anyway. I took too long of a break in Omaha and my game has suffered noticeably. It sounds funny, but I am really fond of my razz game. Stud... er, not as much.

I'm gonna end the blog here because I'm in a big Omaha pot that I should actually win!

-The Gerk-

P.S. I did win that pot, but didn't get the action I anticipated. I apparently don't have the reads I thought I did.

Whatever.

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:06:00 +0000

Played some Omaha .10/.25 PL the other day and made a couple buy-ins.

Bombed in a HORSE S&G yesterday because I was distracted and lost a huge pot in Stud when I thought we were still in Razz.

Played really well in a $10+1 NL Hold'em S&G today. This hand put us in the money:

http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/764

Then just when I had total control of the table...

http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/765

I definitely put this guy on a ragged 3 when he just called my flop bet. He had ten outs, but fuck that hurts when it's for my tournament life. Brutal shit.

-The Gerk-

Sit and Go

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:19:00 +0000

Before I get into the Sit and Go I played last night, let me remind you that I am a terrible and impatient limit hold'em player. I dropped a buy-in in the ring game I sat in yesterday. Now, onto some SNG hands!

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704404

This is every player's wet dream. It was also the first hand I played in the SNG, talk about building an image...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704425

This would be the second hand I played. Short handed, the only hand I'm afraid of playing back at me is the low-stacked player on the button. Sure as hell, he re-popped it all-in. Am I supposed to call here? I'm really not wanting to gamble in this spot, but I figure his range is pretty big against a cut-off raiser.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704439

An absolutely miserable call on the turn. I acted too quickly; how could he possibly pot without a hand that has me drawing near-dead? To compound my mistake, I missed a prime bluffing opportunity when he checked the river to me.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704452

I thought I had made a great play here against two big cards, but he has the one hand that is almost a must call. He took every last second of his TIME clock, and I swear to God the last second was the longest one second since the UM v. MSU game a while back.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704455

He just got unlucky that I found a hand. I was very pleased that it held up.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704461

I'm not going to lie to you, it is a wonderful feeling when your hands hold up. Had to sweat the river on this one though...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704473

I think my open push is the best play here. My hand is super vulnerable and indeed, I had to sweat two cards to burst the bubble.

We volleyed back and forth three-handed, and eventually I put the pedal to the metal and started jamming from my BB and button. Then CHAOS took a stand and jammed with AJ, to which the BB moved in with I mucked my QK, which would have been the winning hand. Either way, the shorter stacked player with A7 flopped his 3-outer and doubled through.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704491

I thought I played this hand sneakily, but I was for some reason truly scared of AA. I prolly could have eked out a river value bet too.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704499

I would have preferred this hand held; but it didn't, so we're back at square one.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704500

Right before this hand I found KK in the BB and made it 940 to go. CHAOS called on the button, and unfortunately an Ace fell on the flop. I wanted to donk off and call when he pushed, but I resisted. By the outcome of the last hand, I would have rather got it in with KK just for the hell of it.

-Fuckin' third place-

The Theodore Roosevelt Theorum

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:10:00 +0000

My new poker philosophy is summarized in seven beautiful words from our nation's 26th president: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

I am becoming convinced that in order to be a truly dominant player, one must separate himself entirely from the face values of his cards. After all, you aren't playing "cards," are you? The kind of people that fall in love with face cards, small pairs, and suited connectors are the same ones who become endeared to a game they don't understand. And that is the beauty of the beast, the fact that obvious amateurs will show no desire to learn or improve, yet will continue to open their wallets to play in a game they think they can compete in. It's as if a 5'9'' 160 lb. man with an ego issue decided to pay a couple grand to step onto the field in an NFL game. He has no idea what he's getting himself into. But what's truly beautiful is that the amateurs don't get their heads kicked in with such consistency that they want to quit playing poker- no, quite the opposite. The amateur will occasionally walk away from the tables with a few buy-ins, or maybe a tournament cash, and it will only fuel the fire in his mind that has always burned with the idea of success at the poker table. And he is hooked, just like the other millions and millions of players.

There is no room for egos at the table. You must be secure and confident in your decision making, but holding vendettas for other players and for past opportunities squandered will only felt you. Just like in everyday life, you must delicately tip-toe the line between confidence and arrogance, being exceptionally careful not to tread to far into either side of the spectrum.

One must not only exude the proper amount of self-assuredness, but also keep a proper game theory in the front of his mind. One must lay low, folding often and keeping quiet, waiting for his turn to strike. And then when that chance arises, CARPE DIEM! Swing the striking hammer of justice upon those who oppose you! But yet, know that most of the time you will still have to retreat, back to waiting for another chance at glory.

--------------------------------------------------

As a side note, I played in two 5.50 9-player SNG's today. It was miserable. I made a hero play with 55 early in the first one, and made a play at a raggedy board on the turn when my opponent had bet into me twice. She had QQ. In the next tournament, I laid low for a while and raised in LP with AT. The button called, and so did the BB. The flop was 7-A-3, but something didn't feel right, so when the BB checked, I checked behind. The button checked as well, and I fired half the pot when another 3 fell on the turn. The button minraised (???), and I called hoping he had a diamond draw. The river was a 4, and I checked to his inevitable push. I was flummoxed, and I couldn't put him on any better Ace. He had the one hand I feared all along, A7, and I was out.

Now I'm playing limit hold'em in a ring game, waiting for my laundry to finish drying. I'll let you know how I did.

-The Gerk-

The Gerk Wins Full Tilt $5.50 Deep Stack 90-Person SNG

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:08:00 +0000

So, here's a long awaited update...

We played three tournaments at my apartment Monday night. I took the first two, and in last one I dropped two buy-ins from erratic play induced by slight drunkenness. Oh well, it had been a while since I had tasted the sweet nectar that is Blue Moon. The highlight of the evening occurred in the first tournament when Max called my all-in with a four card straight, 6 to 9. This would normally be really embarrassing, but it was doubly so because moments before it happened he was talking about when he first played the game years ago, and how he used to call his brothers with four card straights and flushes. WOW. It was one of the most entertaining moments our game has ever had.

I haven't been playing much internet poker lately. I partook in a 1200 person Knock-Out tournament (where each player has a bounty on his head) a few days ago, when I busted in the 400's and only took out two players, both on the same hand.

This morning I woke up early to do some science labs, and entered a 90 person deep-stack tournament to bide the time. The damn thing lasted almost four hours, but it was well worth it. I won the tournament and it's $112.50 first prize.

Here's the last hand: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1698047

I don't have any other hands to post, but there were other highlights. I doubled up to over 6000 very early, and played Texas Fold 'em while keeping a tight image through the first hour and a half. I was playing patiently, and it worked out. I got sucked out on in a big pot only once, in a 7k pot where we got it all in on a Q-9-7 flop. I had QJ and he had JT. The turn was an 8 and I was hammered down to about 3k. I rebuilt my stack, and got it up to around 12k before I two-outered a short stack. I raised from the cutoff with QK, he minraised on the button with KK. I just called, and the flop was Q-high. He only had about 1000 left, so we got it in and the turn fell a queen.

We played ten handed for almost an hour, and at one point I was down to only 3200 with the blinds at 200/400. I pushed with AJ, was called by K-x, and it held. The very next hand I pushed my 7.5k with 44, and it held against AT. I was back in business.

At the final table I played pretty well, but I made one crucial mistake that ended up working out in my favor. With around 45k, I raised to 3200 UTG with 88 (we were 7-handed). Everyone folded to the BB, who called. The flop was 6-4-4. He bet out 9000, and I just called instead of pushing, despite thinking he was kind of LAGgy, and had a wide range. The turn was a Q, and he bet the pot. I moved in over the top, and he called... with AQ. I had given him a turn he didn't need to see. It was a huge mistake that would have left me with only hundreds of chips, but the fates aligned and the turn fell an 8. I was catapulted into the chiplead with 93,000 chips.

I laid low for a while, and eventually ended up busting 5 of 7 players to get myself heads-up. I had a 2:1 lead, but he played a stellar LAG style two-handed. He had me on the ropes, but I made the nut straight with 79 and took half of his stack. We exchanged blows until the final hand, which I posted earlier.

112.50 is cool with me, I'm pumped about another tournament win. I should seriously stop playing ring games, I am a much better MTT player.

-Peace out, and good luck at the tables!-

The Gerk Final Tables

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 03:49:00 +0000

I finished 7th in a Full Tilt 260+ person NL Hold'em tournament Monday. I would post some hands, but frankly I'm still a little sick over not winning the damn thing. I'm especially upset with the way I busted. I played my best TAG game the whole tourney, then the following hand came up. With blinds at 800-1600, it folded around to the SB, with myself in the BB. The SB had raised the last 3 pots and taken them without contest, but I knew very little about him, and had not played a hand against him all tourney. He opened for 4800, and I called with 7-3o. I did this for several reasons. One, I thought I could outplay him postflop. Two, he couldn't possibly have as many hands he'd been representing. And three, I hadn't defended a blind yet at the final table, so I thought it would be a good time to set a play up. At the time I had 50,000, with the average stack around 32,000. The flop came 7-2-9, and he fired 16,000, an enormous bet. It looked like a steal, and I like to go with my gut, so I pushed over the top. He tanked and called with A-9, the turn fell an ace, and he faded the two outer to bust me. I took home 48.50 for my trouble.

I felt like I played really well the whole tourney, much better than I have been lately in the cash games. When we played poker Monday night, I was ready to translate that online success into my live game. I won the first tournament and finished second in the other, despite having a 2:1 chiplead when we got it headsup. Max decided to just jam me with the blinds at 5.00/10.00, and pushed in 8 of the first 9 pots. Expectantly, I went completely card dead simultaneously. In the tenth hand, I found Q-8 in the SB and pushed back. He called instantly with A-4. The door card came an A, and that was that. I was surprised at how Max played heads-up... I'd never seen him do that before, and frankly, I don't know how I'm supposed to avoid a 60/40 clash for my tournament when a guy plays like that heads-up. If you have any ideas to counter a super-aggro heads-up style, I'd like to read about it in the comments section. Otherwise...

Good luck at the tables!

-The Gerk

An update?!?!?

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:29:00 +0000

I haven't updated in a while simply because I haven't been playing much poker.

I have taken a hiatus in large part due to my work and school schedule, saving little "me" time or time for my family. Plus my little brother Kevin has started his little league football season, so there go my Saturday mornings.

I feel like when I'm stressed or pressed for time, I rush my play, get a little spewy, and generally play too lose. Therefore, after dropping a few buy-ins, I just stopped playing.

Yesterday I did play an hour .10/.25 NLHE session on FullTilt. It was up and down, and I ran pretty shitty but still doubled my buy-in. That might be the first online win for me in two weeks or more.

My live play has been good, Hold'em wise anyway. I think my PLO game has regressed a bit. I won one tournament Monday night, and mounted a comeback in the second, only to finish 2nd when I got it all in with 66 v. Roy's A4 (He rivered an ace).

I'll keep you posted if anything crazy happens and I get to play this weekend, but it looks doubtful. I've got a pick-up football game at noon tomorrow, then the Homecoming parade and game from 4:30-9:30. Saturday Kevin has his game at noon, then I work 4:00PM-1:00AM (TV News sucks).

Good luck at the tables!

-The Gerk-

A Full Tilt Tournament

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:41:00 +0000

I played in a 90 person Sit-and-Go today on Full Tilt. I started by doubling up with 99 in the third level. Then I lost a huge pot when I got it all-in with 7h9h on a board of Th-Jh-Ts-6h. He had Ace-Ten and checked the flop. Of course he rivered an ace.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491653
I moved to a new table, this was the second hand. The first hand I jammed the 7-J-7 flop with 44 and took it down.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491662
Three hands after the KKKK hand, this happens. I was ready to give it up on the turn, which I was surprised he checked. I guess I can fold the river to a minraise, but it is possible he would be betting that flop with the lower straight draw. Idk, I'm not folding here.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491694
I was sure I had the MP caller, but I was just praying the blind didn't have it.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491724
Eeeeewwwwwww... I feel bad for him, but I'm not folding Blind v. Blind for 2BBs. Sorry.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491759
The good ol' limp-re-raise. One of the best moves in my poker game. My style makes this look like a steal... but in reality, I'm stealing your chips.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491778
He's not supposed to be button limping with JJ on such a short stack lol. But either way, better to be lucky than good.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491802
Haha luck's way of letting me know I can't always win. Ride that 5% baby! I guess I was lucky it was a short stack.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491921
This was the hand that burst the bubble. He ridiculed me for calling his tiny stack in my BB with A8. Moron.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1491948
My last hand. I should've raised preflop, but seeing how he played the hand postflop, he would've just called me and I would've busted anyway. At such high blinds, it's almost impossible to know that he's getting sneaky with AQ.

15th place is okay, but I wanted to win it. Damn.

-The Gerk-

Sigh...

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:25:00 +0000

I took a huge hit on UB yesterday.

And when I say "huge hit," I mean there isn't much left. I had been losing recently, since Sunday, sporting a nasty combination of bad play and a bad run of cards. I played two satellites to Sunday's 200+20 5pm tournament, and got close but never really did much in either. The first one I busted when I pushed in MP with A8 on a short stack. The guy to my left found AK, poof, end of story. The second one I pushed with a moderate stack in LP with JT, and got called in the SB with 77. I flopped an open-ender, but I some how dodged all 14 of my outs twice.

I lost 5 buy-ins playing a really lucrative full table .10/.25 PLO game. The table was soooo soft and soooo bad, but the problem was I couldn't win a pot, whether I was ahead or behind. At one point, I had made two buy-ins back, but then I bluff-potted the river in an already $10 pot after my two opponents checked to me. I had missed my wrap draw, and I thought I could push my opposition off two pair. The first one folded and the second thought forever and then cold called... with 64, the dead nuts on a K-5-8-3-2 board. WTF. I seriously think he didn't notice he had a straight. Then later, a hand summed up my night. I had J-J-x-x and saw a SEVEN way flop of J-4-4. We checked around. Then when a 6 fell on the turn, the SB bet, the BB called, and I doubled the bet. SB called, and BB pushed. I insta-called and so did the SB. SB had 66, and BB flopped quads with 44. Fucking sick. Absolute stone cold cooler.

I lost a full buy-in playing .25/.50 NLHE too. I found a good full table game, played for about an hour, but couldn't get shit going. I missed tons of flops, and every time I hit I had to fold as everyone around me went crazy.

I busted out of two 5.50 tournaments too, once when I got all my money in with AdKd on a 6-3-K rainbow board against 88. Turn fell 8 of spades. The other one I got it in with top two and was counterfeited.

It goes to show how a relatively small roll can't survive a run of bad luck or bad play. I had both the last two days, and as a result, you won't be seeing me on UB much anytime soon. I'll update again when things turn around (they always do).

-The Gerk-

PLO Hands... WWJD?

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:13:00 +0000

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1462200

Am I a donk, or a genius for re-potting the flop? I won a coinflip, and that's all that matters to me! (btw, the answer is "a donk")

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1462216

Ummm... did I flop it? I had to look at my cards for like 30 seconds to determine whether or not I had the best hand.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1462235

Good fold, or bad one? If the river comes a spade, does my hand have any showdown value? Do I check? Do I bet?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1462271

How the hell did I miss?!?!? I can't even count all the outs I have.

After a while, I kind of hit a wall and started missing flops. I stole a couple small pots and walked away with a +20.00 session.

-The Gerk-

Monster Hand

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:05:00 +0000

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1462176

If I want you to look at one hand that I ever post in this blog, this one might be it. Please diagnose the hand in the comments, I'm interested to see how you would play it. Include how many outs you would think I had, how many outs I ACTUALLY had, and what you could put my opponent on.

-The Gerk-

PLO Is Sick

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:42:00 +0000

I like going from site to site and game to game. It is soooooo much better than just playing NLHE on Pokerstars. I can pick a game that suits my mood, and changing where you play is just as refreshing.

After my limit session yesterday, I scurried over to FullTilt for some PLO, a game a hadn't played in a few days. Oh boy, did I have a sick session. I more than doubled my stack, then lost a couple huge pots, one with J-8-A-A. The flop was J-8-5 with two spades, and I potted. He called, and the turn was a non-spade 7. He checked, I bet 4.00, and he called. The river was the 6h, and he checked. I just checked behind with four connecting cards on the board, and he showed a busted Q-high flush draw with 3-4. Sick way to lose a pot, I'll tell ya.

Anyway, I busted, rebought, and then our table completely lost it. We had one guy that had already gone through 75.00 at .10/.25 in like 20 minutes, and he was potting EVERY hand preflop, or re-potting if it was raised to him. It was insane. I limped with Tc-6c-Qh-Qs, and he potted (of course) on the button. I was the only caller, and we took a flop of T-6-K. I checked, he potted for 4.00. Now, I don't think I'm beat here, he isn't going to pot with three Kings. I put him on a hand like JJ or maybe even AA, but I think the biggest part of his range consists of K-x (AK, AQ etc.). I call his bet. The turn is an under-blank, a very safe card for my hand. I decide to put the screws to him and bet the pot of over 12.00. He calls INSTANTLY. Not raises, CALLS. That tells me something about his hand- he is fairly sure it isn't good, but he might have outs to beat me, maybe holding a hand similar to Q-J-K-x. The turn is like a 5, another under non-scare card. I only have like 6 bucks back, so it's getting in the pot. He calls right away, and I hold my breath as he mucks and I rake an enormous pot. It had to be AA or Q-J-K-x. Either way, after a couple more maniacs at our table busted, we got to heads-up and then a few short stacks joined the table. I left up 24.00.

I'm playing another session as we speak; I'll let you know how it goes.

-The Gerk-

Limit Hold'em, Other Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 16:50:00 +0000

Busted out a 150-hand session this morning. Yesterday I only won 1.10, essentially two big bets lol. But I was just scoping out the tables, and I knew today would be different. I scooped 7.90, or 16 big bets in a session just short of an hour and a half. That win-rate equals something around 10 big bets an hour. That is about the standard for a good session, but I would like it to be closer to the 15-20 range. I'll work on it.

Some things I've noticed about LHE, including weaknesses in my own game:

-The games are just as soft as I expected. My table last night was very loose-aggressive, but this morning they were passive and tight. I can easily adapt my game to beat both ends of this spectrum.

-Many players continuation bet with ATC (any two cards) on the flop, whether they connected or not. I'm calling with any gut shot or backdoor draw, and probably raising if I flopped a pair. I may also raise with nothing. This poor donk at my table this morning went through 25 big ones at .25/.50, and most of it came from him raising or even 3-betting preflop, leading out for .25, and then folding when I made it .50 to go with nothing.

-It is almost always correct to defend your blind in LHE. However, there were a few times I laid down a hand, simply because I knew how tight some of the players at my table were playing. Whenever you see a guy go through two rotations of .25/.50 Limit without playing a hand, you can tell he is not going to profit from this game.

-I played 54% of my hands today. Against tight opponents that was a winning strategy, but against a looser table that number should be closer to 30-35% (It's only that high because we were 5 or 6 handed most of the time).

-Most players that raise preflop, continuation bet, then 3-bet when raised, ALMOST ALWAYS have the goods.

-It is profitable to play most hands straight forward out of position, betting when you've got it, checking when you whiff. However, in position you can call with odd draws and overs, as well as raise with nothing, simply because there is so much money in the pot in relation to the size of your bet. Even if you don't have the best hand, getting the second best (or sometimes first best) hand to fold is optimal.

-Slowplaying is hardly right, except when flopping sets. Most players don't mind calling 3 bets with middle pair, ignoring the fact you could have flopped a set. Ex: 4 players to a flop, I have 4-6 in the SB. Flop is 4-4-T. I am going to CHECK-CALL, not raise. It gives away the strength of my hand WAY too soon, and only to earn .25. Why wouldn't I check raise the turn, and get an extra big bet or two out of it, as opposed to only the small flop bet?

-I'm going to have to two, three, or four table LHE to make any serious money. But, I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that I can grind this game to a profit at least 75% of the time. That is a huge win rate. The problem lies in the fact that I don't four table very well. I don't focus and I don't read my opponents enough, I spend too much time focusing on my own cards. I think I'm going to solo table another session or two, then work my way up to two tables. And if I still think I can do it, add another table. I'd like to have the capability to four table by the end of the year.

I dropped 5.50 this morning trying to go back-to-back in tournament play on UB. I limped with KJ in the second level in MP (first mistake). 4 players saw a flop of K-9-4. The blinds checked, I bet the pot (120) and a guy behind me called. The turn was a Q, I bet 260 and he minraised. This should be an instant fold for me, seeing as his range of hands includes K9, KQ, 99, 44, JT, and all sorts of problematic draw hands. I called anyway, hoping to check-check the river. It was a harmless card, and he bet 600 behind me. Easy fold? I didn't think he could see the turn this early in the tourney with JT. I think he would've bumped it preflop with KQ in LP, but I really didn't know, I had no real reads yet. I called and he tabled 99, good enough. I had 600 chips left, waited a few rotations, and pushed with A7 against only the blinds on a flop of 3-T-A. That's usually an insta-win, but the BB hadn't raised with AdJd and I was about out. I spiked a seven on the turn, putting me way ahead, but I was counterfeited and eliminated when another ten hit the river. Oh well.

-The Gerk-

A Third Game

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 03:44:00 +0000

I'm going to try to learn Limit Hold'em next. That is to say, re-learn it properly. Of course I already know how to play the game, and I've done it several times in the casino. What's funny is that my biggest singular win in one session ($450) and my biggest one-session loss ($250) both have come in some variation of limit hold'em.

I scouted out some of the lower stakes games on UltimateBet this evening, namely at .25/.50 with .10/.25 blinds. I won just over a dollar. I was donking around quite a bit, and I think limit could be a great steam game at those stakes. The players seemed very soft and content with betting down every street with nothing. I think with some playing time and practice I could destroy that game. I absolutely love how math oriented limit hold'em is. J5 in your BB? DEFEND! A-high on the turn? Re-raise! Missed your K-high flush draw? Welp, too bad, you've gotta call the bet on the end because you're getting 12:1, so fuck you.

-The Gerk-

The Gerk Wins UB Friday 7AM NL Hold'em $5.00+.50

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:47:00 +0000

Congratulations! You finished in 1st place. You won $78. You received 3 Ultimate Points for buying into this tournament. You also converted .10 Bonus $ into cash. Thank you for playing.

Damn that feels good.

I woke up with Carrie this morning around 6:00AM and got on UltimateBet, looking to recoup yesterday's losses in PLO. I haven't updated in a while, so here's what you've missed. Like I mentioned previously, I have more than doubled my deposit on FullTilt, playing .10/.25PLO and .10/.25 NL Hold'em. I like the site and I think the games are softer than probably both Pokerstars and UltimateBet. But since my $70 win a couple days ago, I haven't logged on to the site. I've been playing PLO on UltimateBet. I dropped two buy-ins yesterday in like 10 minutes, and then quit because I was totally steaming. This morning it was much of the same, not winning 60/40s and the like. But I was still up for the day, then in a course of 4 hands lost it all to the same guy. I admit I was on absolute tilt, but he was hitting everything and I couldn't muscle him out of a pot to save my life. It started when I potted preflop with KsJhQsQh, and he called on the button. The flop was Kh-8d-Ts, and I potted. He repotted, and I called it all off knowing I wasn't trailing even top set by very much. The turn was the 7h and the river the 6d. He showed T-6-9-5, for middle pair and the donk gut-shot that he hit on the turn. Yikes. Then it was all down hill- I potted with naked Queens and he called, flop came T-T-x. I checked, he checked. Turn was an under, I potted, he called. I pot the river, he calls with a ten. Whatever. Then the very next hand he got it in with the nut flush draw to my top two and third-nut flush draw, BAM Th on the turn and I'm fucked. The very last hand I had like 3.50 and potted with Aces, he called and flopped top pair of queens and a gut shot, then two-paired on the turn once all the money was in. I was pretty pissed. I bought into the 6:30AM tournament with a 1.00 bounty on every player's head, and I don't think I even lasted through the first level lol.

It looked like my day was done on UB, but I got some coffee and checked to see if there was one more tourney I could play. It was 7:05 and they were accepting alternates for the 7:00 NL Hold'em tournament, so I said "fuck it." I didn't even get in until like the third level, but when I did I decided I wasn't going to donk around AT ALL. I muted Sportscenter, loaded a playlist of soothing music on Ares p2p, and zoned in. Before long, I lost a big pot that I three barreled and was down to 600. I pushed the very next hand when I picked up QQ, making it look like a steam raise. I got two callers, with AJ and like 77 and I held to triple up. There was no looking back. I caught QQ once more, KK twice, and AA once on my way to the final table, playing poker like I was going to be executed if I didn't FT. It helped that the cards were running with me, I flopped three sets in an hour and a half, pretty fucking stellar. When we reached the final table, I felt like I had just played the best hour and a half of my life. I showed down like 3 hands, two of which I was all-in with KK and QQ. I was button raising, continuation betting, bluff re-raising, calling flops bets with rags and raising a bet on the turn... everything that makes me a good player. And all the pieces fell into place, and I was on a murderous tear. No one was going to stop me. I had over 13k when we made it to the final table, and I relinquished that lead only once, after doubling through a medium stack with K7 on a K-2-3 flop where he woke up with K9. I bulldozed the final table. I was aggressive. I was tight. I was loose. I was smart, I was crazy. I did it all and manipulated everyone at that table. When we got it three handed I had only 25k, versus two opponents with dangerous 15k stacks. I ran my stack up to 30, then 35, then fourty thousand. I busted the second biggest stack in a mammoth pot where I WON A RACE!!! I was a 53% favorite and held, and now had 53k against 7k of my opponent, GhostsofWar. I knew he was pushing the first hand, and I got it in with K3. He woke up with an Ace, and flopped top pair to double up. The every next hand he button raised to 2600 and I pushed with 88. Now, if I lose this pot, he is suddenly the chipleader. He thinks for a split second and calls with AdJd. I dodged the flop and the turn, but the river... was also a blank. I win!

I survived 38 other players (not a huge field) to take my first major tourney on UltimateBet. Back in my freeroll days, I had final tabled in three 1500+ player tournaments (one was as high as 2400 I think) on my way to finishing in 7th, 4th, and 3rd.

I think UB owed me this one. It is so refreshing and wonderful to see that when I don't take many crushing beats, my playing style is good enough to win a tournament. Not since I won that 4.40 180 person S&G on Pokerstars in the spring have I felt this confident. It's not to say that I didn't take any bad beats, because I took several. I got a shortstack all-in with 77 against my 99, and he flopped a set in a 3.5k pot. When we were down to three players at the final table, I had both of them one card from elimination before they sucked out to stay alive. I turned the nut straight against mvourin's top pair and gut shot, and he rivered a Q (one of my hole cards of KQ) to split it with me. Then very soon after, GhostsofWar buttoned raised like he did a million times, and I looked him up in my BB with K9. The flop was 6-3-3 and we both checked it. The turn came a nine, I bet the 3k pot, and he moved in. After some thought I called, and he showed J9, dead to 3 outs for a win and 4 for a split. The river was the Ace of diamonds and we chopped. Those hands tilted me a bit, but I kept my head on straight and took it down.

Sidenote: I called Ian at like 8:45 when we were 5 handed and I had over half the chips in play. Usually Ian is a loyal railbird for me every time I go deep, but it was definitely a little too early for him. I told him to look me up and watch me, or go back to bed. And after a pause, he said... "I think I'm going back to bed dude." HAHAHAHA From now on maybe I won't tell you to come rail me, now that I've finally won a fucking tournament, ironically the only one you weren't watching.

Good luck at the tables!

-The Gerk-

The Mastery of Two Games

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:40:00 +0000

Many poker players who are successful can play more than one game variation very proficiently. Until I began reading CTS's blog (from Card Runners) a month or two ago, I could only consider myself a one-trick pony. At this point, however, I can say that I can play two games profitably. I have been a quick learner in PL Omaha, and my recent success shows that.

Yesterday I banked like 30.00 playing PLO on UltimateBet. Today I switched over to FullTilt, and played a quick 6-handed NL Hold'em session before class. I bought in for 13.75, and ballooned it up to 26.00. I was down to around 20.00 when this hand came up. I raised UTG+1 to 1.00 with TT. The cutoff called, the button called, and the SB re-popped to 3.50. I called- this is a pretty loose aggressive game, he may very well have 99 or AK here, and I know the other two callers are just as loose, so I'm getting like 5:1. The other two donks called too, and there was over 17.00, or over 75BBs in the pot preflop. The flop was a wet dream. T-J-T. I flop quads. I want to string my opponents along, but I lose that option when the SB pushes. I call, and the other two fold. He had KK. I left the table up 35.00.

Later I got back on FullTilt to play PLO. I got coolered once and dropped 10.00, but the came back and ran my stack up to 45.00 before I got one-outered again. I got it all-in against two players with A-A-6-5 on a T-6-3-6 board. One of my opponents held K-K-Q-5, and the other 7-7-K-2. Therefore, I was sweating exactly one out on the river, the case King. BINGO, there it is. I was left with like 28.00, losing a monster pot that would've looked very nice in my bankroll. Just sick. I ran it back up to like 35.00, then coasted back and forth around 30.00. Then I got revenge on the one-outing culprit. I potted preflop with Qd-Qs-7c-5c, and got two callers. The flop came T-8-2, EP checked, I potted, One-outer guy calls, and so does EP. When the turn fell a 7, I was pretty much done with the hand, but it went check-check-check. WTF? The river was a Q giving me top set, but not the nut hand. One of my opponents could very easily have J9 or 69. EP checked, and so did I. Then the one-out guy in LP pushed for 20.00! EP folded, and I was left with a sick decision. I ruled out 69 fairly easily, but wouldn't he bet that turn with J9? I made the call for almost my entire stack, and he showed something like A-4-4-2. A pair of fucking fours. I was very happy with my call. Then I donked off 6.00 the next hand, missing one pull at a 15 outer on the flop and a second 18 out pull on the turn. Whatever. I left the table up 32.00. Had I not been skull-fucked by the one outer, you could add another 25.00ish to that.

I am very happy with a 67.00 profit, or 6.7 of my usual buy-ins. All I'm saying is that you'd better watch out for me at those PLO tables. :)

-The Gerk-

Send It

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:10:00 +0000

I played in a couple 5.50 NL Hold'em tournaments on UB this morning- nothing to report, besides that fact that I'm still running bad in Hold'em. In the first tourney ( a six handed beauty) I worked my stack to over 2100, then called 140 in the 20/40 level with 55 on the button. The flop came ten high, the UTG+1 raiser bet the pot, and I re-raised it all in. He thought for a moment and called off his last 300 with 44. The turn came a 4, and gave him his two outer. Now, with my remaining 1k, I got it all in with 7d5d on a 7s-2d-3d flop. He has 2h3h, and I have a million outs. The turn is a 6, and the river a non-diamond queen, and so his bottom two fade 19 outs to bust me. In the second tourney I got it all-in with K7 on a K-7-T flop... he of course had 77. I had about 350 left, got it in with A6, and ran into AQ. It looked like the poker gods were going to send me some reprieve when the board ran out A-2-7-6, but the river came another 7 and counterfeited me out of another tournament. Oh well, things will turn around eventually.

I hit Warren .10/.25PLO to make back my tournament buy-ins, and soon found myself stuck 4 buy-ins, or 40.00. I didn't feel like quitting though, and I was running really bad. I seriously ran the second nuts into the case cooler like three times, and I couldn't win a damn coinflip to save my life. With 10.00 at the table, I mounted a comeback and assaulted all the assholes who had just sucked out and stacked me. I rallied like crazy and doubled up time and time again. I think my stack was at like 78.00 at some point. Then the beats started up again, when I caught my open-ender to the nuts and ran into a twice-checked Q's full. Oh, and lest not forget my flopped flush on a As-7s-5s board. I had an open-ended straight flush redraw too. I potted the flop, villian called, and the turn came another A. Doh. We go check-check and he pots the river. It's a really bad call, one I usually don't make, but since the river was another 5 I figured maybe he thought his set of Aces or 5s were good. Of course, he had 77 (WTF 7's have it out for me today.) I left the table with 70 gold dubloons. I'm pleased.

The sick thing is I played almost two hours, and played over 79% of my hands. I saw 99 out of 124 flops lol. But the even sicker thing is that I won 28% of those pots. That's a damn good winning percentage for playing that many hands. I think that LAG play in PLO is the right way to go. I keep it fairly simple- taking lots of flops, betting only my monster hands, and taking as many free cards as my opponents will give me otherwise. When you play 80% of your hands, you have to make sick laydowns a lot though, and I think I do that fairly well. Remember, when in doubt, ask yourself this simple question "If I were him, what could I POSSIBLY have that I can beat right now?" If you can't come up with a believable holding or two, muck your middle set. Throw away your low ended straight. Toss that mediocre flush. Sometimes you'll be wrong, but most of the time you will dodge an enormous train wreck.

Here are two fun hands from my PLO session:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1440138

Like I said, I was playing a lot of modest hands lol. I'm a favorite preflop though, and I'm 47% to win against two opponents after the flop. That is really unbelievable, especially because one of my opponents has the nut straight. The turn is a killer though, and suddenly the nut straight guy surges to a 50% favorite, while I drop to 25%... and the guy with the set falls to 19%? Omaha is crazy man. Then of course my gin card comes on the river, and I bust both of them. Send it bitch.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1440141

In this one I'm a 55%/45% dog preflop, but I've got position and a loose image. The flop is good for me, but I have to worry about KK here. Hence, I just call. The turn makes me worry about a possible over-fullhouse too, but now I'm almost certain he has AA. Potting that flop and again on the turn doesn't make sense with KK, or JJ, or another 4... so it's either QQ or AA. I call it, and sure enough, he's got AA.

-The Gerk-

Can You Ever KNOW Someone Has Aces?

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 21:55:00 +0000

I'm going back to my grassroots, playing NL Hold'em on UltimateBet and FullTilt. I dropped 25.00 on Fulltilt two days ago, in a frustrating session where I ran my QsQd into 8s9s on an all spade flop. Sometimes, a raise preflop doesn't matter, and a LAG player is always going to call with that hand in LP. And it's the kind of flop you've got to be aggressive with, as to not give a free card to As-rag. I didn't suck out. Then later on I finished 12th in a NL Hold'em tourney where top five paid. I got it all in with Q9 when I pushed on the button. 33 called in the BB, and I was racing with a chance at an average stack. The board ran out 7-Q-K-Q...3. Brutal.

Yesterday I put in a good session where I doubled my stack, many of the chips coming from a hand where I raised in MP to 1.25 with KK, and the guy immediately to my left pushed. I called and his AJ's 3 outs didn't come.

Today I hit up Fulltilt, and played a solid two hour session. I felt just dead on today, most of my reads were stone cold correct. As far as results go, I more than quintupled my buy-in, and I'm damn happy about that. However, half of that came from a hand where I got it all-in with KK v. AA and sucked out. I think God owed me that one.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1434584

It's a small pot, but I made a sick call.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1434588

Best call I've made in quite some time- I thought FOREVER before making this one. It's one thing to donk call the LP's bet with 99 here, but it's a different monster entirely to do it after EP flat calls.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1434591

This may be the first time in my life where I came across a situation where I perhaps could have KNOWN that my opponent had aces. I couldn't fold preflop despite reading strength at every possible opportunity. I played KK very weird- I limped, and then made a smallish raise after the SB made it 1.50 to play (which is a raise not only out of position, but also of very suspiciously small size). I showed immense strength by limp-re-raising, and he showed even more strength by pushing to that re-raise. I maybe could've folded... I was pretty sure he had AA. But, alas, I called and rivered a K. I'm not too unhappy about it. What would you have done here? Respond in the comments.

-The Gerk-

Hahahaha 40 More Dollars For Me

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:20:00 +0000

I played an hour or so at Warren, a .10/.25 PLO table on UltimateBet. I got stuck two buy-ins, and then went on a tear, surging back to above even, before doubling up to over 70.00 at the table, and subsequently donking off 8 bucks with a flush draw and a gut shot that never got there. At that point I figured it was a good time to get the hell out of there, so I left, up around 40 for the session. Here's a look at some funny shit, make sure you check out the last hand...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420521

I just called on the flop with a pair and a flush draw. Made two pair on the turn, but it was a bad card that completed his gutshot. No outdraw for me. Maybe should've raised light on the flop?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420504

If my friend Drokk was playing my hand here, and I asked him what he had when he bet the pot on the river, he would say "BALLS BABY!"

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420493

I think this was my best played hand of the day. I made a ridiculous call on the end, and he had just about what I hoped he had. Pass the chips please.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420480

I have a playable double suited hand here, but I'm up against AA and KK. I catch a dream flop though and get it all in three ways, with each of them holding 2 outs. Thats a tender 87% advantage in a three handed all-in.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420473

I want to get my money in preflop here. The flop, turn, and river are awful for me. My hand should never, ever be good here.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420454

I potted preflop on the button with absolute garbage. I caught a piece and decided to fire out a continuation bet, and he called. Even though I make top two on the turn, I have no redraw and that card completes the straight and the flush draws. I'd given this pot up, but he checked, so I checked behind. Then he timed out into a check on the river. I checked as well and took the pot. Wow.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1420405

This is the big one, the money maker, the earthquake that always defines the outcome of my PLO sessions. I potted preflop with a modest hand (yet very playable shorthanded). The table was playing very loose and very fast, and now that I was up a couple of bucks on the day, I felt like I could put some pressure on these guys. I get two callers, and the flop looks pretty good to me. I have top pair, two backdoor flush draws, and an open ender. I pot for 4.50, which I'm going to do about 99% of the time with this hand. -rebourne- called, but he was on his 6th or 7th buy-in, and was tilting very, very hard. Then rolledacesup, a LAG player repotted to 22.50. Now, let's think about what he could have for a second. Top two is possible, as is a set of fours or a set of tens. But it's unlikely he has QQ, seeing as I also have a Queen... well, I was wrong. I repotted and got it all in, donkey ass -rebourne- called, and so did rolledacesup. The turn came the As, giving me the dead nuts, and I just held my breath and hoped the board didn't pair. It didn't. I rake a 73.00+ dollar pot. In case you care, I was obviously an underdog preflop but according to Cardplayer, I'm only a 53/47 with this hand! It's a fucking coinflip! I get it in pretty bad, but I'm the one who bet and reraised, so at least I'm not calling off my stack with top pair and a bunch of draws. I CANNOT put him on QQ here, but either way, after the flop, he's only a 2:1 favorite with top set. Then after the turn I catapult to a 3.5:1 favorite. He acted like he was a 5:1 favorite at some point- this guy obviously doesn't understand the game. OF COURSE he's gonna get it all in with what was the nut hand on the flop, but he can't be upset when the best possible drawing hand against his set catches up.

Here is what rolledacesup had to say about it:

rolledacesup: you ***** stupid dumb *** piece of ****

rolledacesup: Gigantic overbet with a ******* draw

rolledacesup: You ******loser

rolledacesup: FU.CK you

rolledacesup: God damn this ******* site

rolledacesup: Everytime *** oesd (???????)

rolledacesup: Every ******* time

rolledacesup: **** you

-The Gerk-

That Hand From A Couple Days Ago

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:00:00 +0000

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1419134

There it is, in all its glory.

This guy was pretty new at the table, so after I potted pre-flop I didn't think he was making a move or anything. I was close to 100% sure he had aces. After running the percentages through Cardplayer.com's odds calculator, I am slightly better than a 2:1 dog pre-flop, and I was getting the right price on a call, with position on my opponent. After the flop, the hand is a dead coinflip, but I still got it all-in pretty light, something I shouldn't be doing. On the turn I am somehow behind 55/45, despite needing any 9, T, J, K, A, or spade to take the pot.

If you were that guy, and I re-raised all-in on the flop, would you call your stack off with aces?

No, me neither. As Ian said, I would probably put you (me) on a set of queens. Either way, that pot put me at even on UltimateBet.

I started playing on FullTilt yesterday, and so far so good, the PLO games are juicy there too. I'm up 15.00.

-The Gerk-

Tilt Talk, A Huge Hand

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:13:00 +0000

My PLO excursion over the last week has been filled with ups and downs. Some days I felt like I was playing pretty well, given my relative skill level, and I would squeeze out a buy-in or two profit. Other days, I would be tilting pretty hard, without ever taking a beat to encourage such bad play, and I would drop 2, 3, maybe 4 buy-ins before I finally signed off in shame.

Let's talk about tilt for a minute. "Tilt" is a word generally used to describe the frustration of a player due to any number of causes, and the resulting effect on the way he plays. Most times, a particularly bad beat will send a player into tilt mode, causing him to try to recoup his losses as quickly as possible, by playing more hands and pushing all-in with very modest holdings. Sometimes, when a player is tilting badly, he just wants to bust and get away from the table. It is important for a successful player to understand who at his table is steaming so that he can adjust his play against that player. When a bad beat doesn't tilt a player, any number of things might alter the way he plays- fatigue, boredom, hunger, frustration, table talk, or the need to be somewhere else are just some of the factors that can cause tilt.

Back to my talk about PLO. In Hold'em, I find that I only tilt when I'm frustrated or take a big bad beat that would've greatly changed my chances of winning a tournament/ making money in a cash game. However, in Pot Limit Omaha, I sometimes find myself tilting IMMEDIATELY upon sitting down at a table. I'm playing too loose, making too many crying/hero calls, and just all around not playing the game the way I need to play it in order to win. I'm unsure what causes this- maybe it is the huge emphasis on draws as opposed to legit hands like in Hold'em. When I sit down, I feel like the best way to make money is to get my stack in with the nut flush draw and suck out- but clearly that is not the best way to profit in Omaha. It feels like I'm tilting in one way or another 75% of the time at a PLO table. But that other 25%, I don't think I'm a bad player, just inexperienced.

I had worked my roll on UltimateBet up to 105.00, from the 75.00 I started with. I have played almost exclusively .10/.25PLO, but I have also sat down at a .25/.50 NL Hold'em table and a .01/.02PLO table (While I was waiting for a .10/.25 to open up). I lost a couple buy-ins Wednesday, a couple buy-ins Thursday, a couple buy-ins Friday, made a little on Saturday, and lost 2.5 buy-ins Sunday before making a push. I was down to like 20.00 in my account besides the 10.00 I took to the PLO table. I had about an hour to screw around, and before long I had doubled up. Then, just like that, I turned a set and completed my full-house to bust a guy and was up to 35.00 at my table. Common sense told to me to just leave the table- I had to be at my parents at 7:00 for my dad's birthday and I hadn't even gotten him a card yet. It was 6:15 and I needed to shower, but I felt like I was running well so I didn't leave the table. Then a monster hand came up, an incredible only-in-Omaha hand... that I will break down in it's entirety during my next blog posting. :)

(A CLIFFHANGER ENDING?!?!? WTF?!?!?)

-The Gerk-

PLO

noreply@blogger.com (The Gerk) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:48:00 +0000

I've played a fair amount of Pot Limit Omaha over the last few days. Overall, it has been an up and down affair- sometimes I play well, sometimes I play poorly, but either way I'm still running pretty badly (although some of that is definitely my fault). I played in a 100-person NL Hold'em tourney on UltimateBet this morning and finished 25th, five places out of the money. I nearly doubled my stack in the first two levels, but then lost a coinflip with AQ when I raised in MP and he pushed from the cutoff with 55. The board came 9-high. I got it all-in later with AQ again, on a flop of A-7-3. I had raised pre-flop in EP and attracted two callers, one from the button and one from the small blind. The small blind bet out weakly at the flop, kind of like a "Is my A5 good?" bet, I moved all-in, and he called. He showed A3 and I needed help. The turn came a K, giving me 8 outs on the river, and I spiked a Q to double up. My stack went up and down, and soon we were nearing the money, and with as low as 1700, I started playing push-or-fold poker. I pushed several times over the next few rotations and built my stack back to 3200. Then I ran into a very odd situation that cost me from cashing. With the blinds at 200/400, a loose player limped in MP, the SB completed, and I checked with A4 in the BB. If I had less chips, I might have pushed there, but I still had a manageable stack, and A-rag isn't going to produce the kind of all-in advantage I'm looking for. Anyway, the flop came A-K-T and we all checked it. The turn was a blank, and the SB bet the pot, 1200. This looks like a steal to me, and I call. Surprisingly, so does the guy in MP. The river is a 9, and after some thought, the SB bets 2000. I don't know where I'm at anymore, but the pot is so large I almost have to call. I did, and MP folded. The SB turned over...A9. That hand was not even close to what I expected him to have. T9 seemed likely, as did QJ-sort-of-hands, and I probably wouldn't have batted an eye at K9 either. Either way, my A was no good and I was left with like 600 chips. I folded my SB and found 88 two hands later. I pushed and it folded around to the BB, who was forced to call with 8c9c. He spiked his three-outer on the flop, and I didn't catch the case eight, end of story.

Here are some fun Omaha hands for ya:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412577
I almost came in my pants when this flop fell. In Omaha (especially against LAGish players), it is hardly ever correct to slow play a big hand. This, however, would be one of those times.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412551
Even if he has aces, the hand he is representing here, I am still only in a 60/40 situation, despite holding an ace. Isn't Omaha funny?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412546
Here comes the bad run, I can feel it. I fucking KNEW he had JT, and I still couldn't fold my full house.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412543
Yep, should've moved in on the turn here. Cost me the rest of my stack.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412536
Two outers are awesome...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1412531
I'll take those chips if you don't mind.

The same guy who two outered me with his TT did the same with 99 against my Ac-Qc-As-Td five hands later. What a horrible way to end what was going to be a good session. I would show you the hand, but I clicked out of the table so fast that the program that saves my hand history didn't get a chance to save it.