Monday, May 18, 2009
I need a break from poker!
Every once in a while, I'll get burnt out mentally from the rigors of online poker. Miracle cards seem to hit a lot on me.. You know what they say, when it rains it pours. Well, I think things go well for me, and then I'll take a bad beat that just keeps snow-balling. The frustration builds and builds and builds. No matter what I do, my hand never wins. For example, yesterday I raise with KK utg and the BB calls with J-10. Guess what two cards hit on the flop?!! Yep, J-10 and my Cowboys are busted. I have Pocket 5s and hit a set on the flop... Guy calls me all the way down with K4 of spades and rivers his flush. This is the kind of crap that drives me absolutely crazy. If the best hand always held up, I'd be a millionaire. But, that's online poker and my heart and desire lessens as the snow ball continues to accumulate. Last night after taking another tough loss, a whole day without cashing, I decided I was going to take a couple of days break away from poker. My body, emotions, and everything else that has been tested the past couple of days need a rest from the game. Hopefully, I'll come back stronger than ever as I gear up for June 21st.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Second gets paid too!
My ego and my tournament life were all busted last night when I lost $9K on QQ and button had 8-9s that filled a straight. That's twice now where I've got busted because I didn't play QQ right. Is it just me or is that the hardest pocket pair to play pre- and post-flop?
Event #1
I played in a $5+.50 18-person and came in second. I was very tight playing and my biggest hand of the tournament put my chip count at $7K (chip leader at that point) when my 3-6s rivered a full boat. I overbet the pot with $1000 bet into a 600 pot. The guy to my left went all-in and showed that he flopped a straight. I got runner-runner 6's to give me the boat.
I played really really tight, being very cautious about my hands when it was five-handed on the bubble. After a couple shortstacks went out, 3rd place went all-in with 77 and was called by a strong Ace and the A hit to make it heads up. I had 7000 chips to 20K.
The first hand of heads up, I went all-in with A2 and was called by J-10o. Coast looked clear as nothing higher than a 7 was on the board after the turn. Of course, my optimistic thinking let me down when a 10 rivered me.
2nd place ain't too shabby.. won me $27 bones.
Event #1
I played in a $5+.50 18-person and came in second. I was very tight playing and my biggest hand of the tournament put my chip count at $7K (chip leader at that point) when my 3-6s rivered a full boat. I overbet the pot with $1000 bet into a 600 pot. The guy to my left went all-in and showed that he flopped a straight. I got runner-runner 6's to give me the boat.
I played really really tight, being very cautious about my hands when it was five-handed on the bubble. After a couple shortstacks went out, 3rd place went all-in with 77 and was called by a strong Ace and the A hit to make it heads up. I had 7000 chips to 20K.
The first hand of heads up, I went all-in with A2 and was called by J-10o. Coast looked clear as nothing higher than a 7 was on the board after the turn. Of course, my optimistic thinking let me down when a 10 rivered me.
2nd place ain't too shabby.. won me $27 bones.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Frustration is setting in...
It's definitely been a couple of weird nights on Full Tilt the last two nights.
Everytime I have a pocket pair, I am up against a smaller pocket pair that hits a set.
Last night, I had AA utg and raised 4x, YES! 4 TIMES the Big Blind only to be beat by someone who called my raise with 57s and the flop was 747. Lost all my chips.
Tonight, what do I have? 10-10 vs. 9-9, yep, he spiked a 9.
A8 in BB vs. 44. Yes, I hit top pair on the flop, but unfortunately the board looked like 8-2-4.
I have QKs on a board that looks like this after the turn: Q-2-4-Q. Yep, you guessed it! A set of 2's.
It's very frustrating to say the least. I better have better luck on June 21st or its going to be an early departure from the 150 SEAT.
At least SlingBox released their player for the iPhone. Something to brighten my day.
Everytime I have a pocket pair, I am up against a smaller pocket pair that hits a set.
Last night, I had AA utg and raised 4x, YES! 4 TIMES the Big Blind only to be beat by someone who called my raise with 57s and the flop was 747. Lost all my chips.
Tonight, what do I have? 10-10 vs. 9-9, yep, he spiked a 9.
A8 in BB vs. 44. Yes, I hit top pair on the flop, but unfortunately the board looked like 8-2-4.
I have QKs on a board that looks like this after the turn: Q-2-4-Q. Yep, you guessed it! A set of 2's.
It's very frustrating to say the least. I better have better luck on June 21st or its going to be an early departure from the 150 SEAT.
At least SlingBox released their player for the iPhone. Something to brighten my day.
Monday, May 11, 2009
So-So Daily Dollar
After a bad Sunday, I decided I needed a nap after work and then I went over to my brother n law and sisters for dinner and my only event of the evening: The Daily Dollar (D$).
I found myself with a lot of starting hands that were mediocre, but playable. And can I tell you enough that I hate these type of starting hands. A-J, A-Q, K-Q, A-10, A-5s, A-2s, A-3s. Some hands that if you hit top pair, you could be in some big kicker problems. Also, suited cards that if you chase and don't hit, it could cost you a lot of chips. I hate those hands.
The best hand of the tournament was when I had AA
Flop:
A-K-6 rainbow
Turn:
2 for all four suits on the board
River: 6
I didn't get many chips out of it, maybe about 400 or so, but that was my best hand of the day.
My biggest hand of the day was when I raised UTG, short-stacked with AJo.
Flop
Jh-9d-Kc
I went all-in with three people in the pot post-flop and all of them came along for the ride.
One turned over AK, another turned over 10-8 for open ends. I got lucky and got a third jack on the turn, to which a guy that folded told me he also had AJ. I tripled up, but gave my chips away three hands later by not being aggressive.
A shortstack was all-in, not covering the blinds and a guy that had me covered in chip count raised to 1200. I was trying to see if a Ace hit on the flop before I put the remaining 3.6K in chips in the middle with Q-Q, so I elected to call.
The problem was the BB also called.
Flop: 4d-5d-6d on the flop and BB goes all-in immediately.
Seeing as I had an over pair and I also had the Qd in my hand, I put all my chips in the middle.
BB turns over 6-6 for a set and I didn't get that diamond. I busted out somewhere between 2000 and 2300 out of 7000 some players. Not a great showing, but not bad considering the cards I was getting. A little disappointed in my lack of aggression with QQ there. I think if I went over-the-top of the raise, all-in, that 6-6 would have likely folded. I really need to tie up some loose ends in my game, I am really disappointed in how I am playing right now.
I found myself with a lot of starting hands that were mediocre, but playable. And can I tell you enough that I hate these type of starting hands. A-J, A-Q, K-Q, A-10, A-5s, A-2s, A-3s. Some hands that if you hit top pair, you could be in some big kicker problems. Also, suited cards that if you chase and don't hit, it could cost you a lot of chips. I hate those hands.
The best hand of the tournament was when I had AA
Flop:
A-K-6 rainbow
Turn:
2 for all four suits on the board
River: 6
I didn't get many chips out of it, maybe about 400 or so, but that was my best hand of the day.
My biggest hand of the day was when I raised UTG, short-stacked with AJo.
Flop
Jh-9d-Kc
I went all-in with three people in the pot post-flop and all of them came along for the ride.
One turned over AK, another turned over 10-8 for open ends. I got lucky and got a third jack on the turn, to which a guy that folded told me he also had AJ. I tripled up, but gave my chips away three hands later by not being aggressive.
A shortstack was all-in, not covering the blinds and a guy that had me covered in chip count raised to 1200. I was trying to see if a Ace hit on the flop before I put the remaining 3.6K in chips in the middle with Q-Q, so I elected to call.
The problem was the BB also called.
Flop: 4d-5d-6d on the flop and BB goes all-in immediately.
Seeing as I had an over pair and I also had the Qd in my hand, I put all my chips in the middle.
BB turns over 6-6 for a set and I didn't get that diamond. I busted out somewhere between 2000 and 2300 out of 7000 some players. Not a great showing, but not bad considering the cards I was getting. A little disappointed in my lack of aggression with QQ there. I think if I went over-the-top of the raise, all-in, that 6-6 would have likely folded. I really need to tie up some loose ends in my game, I am really disappointed in how I am playing right now.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mothers Day!
First a disclaimer.. Happy Mother's Day to my wife (who is carrying our child until the first part of October) and also to my mom, who formed me into the Poker Player I am today... Or something like that.
Event #1: $69+6 (40K guaranteed)
Limp UTG with AA on 15-30 blinds.. I have 15 to call with 67o, of course I am calling that. The flop is 5-7-9, two clubs. I think I have the best hand, so I bet out pot which is 120. UTG raises me to 240. Sure, I'll stay for another card. The turn is a 7 and I checkraise him to 940 and he calls. On the river, a blank comes and I bet half his stack, he goes all-in. I double up!
Had two nice laydowns in a row... 55 to a preflop raise, would have been up against 77 or QQ. Next hand, I laid down AK nicely... 99 hit a set on the flop.
It was the hand I couldn't get away from though that busted my balls. I had KQo and raised, one limper to my right called. The flop was K-6-4 rainbow, I bet 450, he raises me to 1900 (he was the guy that showed J9s in an all-in earlier so naturally I didn't believe him.) I called and he goes all in. I think about it and call 2/3 of my remaining stack with KQo! Ugh! Come on, you're better than that! How did I just basically go broke on one of my least favorite hands! He turned over a set of 6s and I'm left with 750.
I went all with AJo, another small stack pushes over top for 150 more, and original raiser calls. Orig Raiser shows 10-10, I show AJo, and other short stack shows JQs. Of course the worst hand wins, he hit a queen on the river for a virtual triple-up.
Finished in 575 of 800+, not a good showing! Very disappointed in myself to let me go broke with a single pair and not even an ace kicker.
The good news is, I finished just before the late registration for the Daily Dollar was done.
Event #2: Daily Dollar (D$)
Scratch that, I just got busted out in another awful showing in the D$. The board was 772 and I bet out with my 66 and the guy raised me with A7 and of course I overplayed that hand. I'm taking the rest of the night off, really upset with myself for going broke in hands when I'm behind.
Event #1: $69+6 (40K guaranteed)
Limp UTG with AA on 15-30 blinds.. I have 15 to call with 67o, of course I am calling that. The flop is 5-7-9, two clubs. I think I have the best hand, so I bet out pot which is 120. UTG raises me to 240. Sure, I'll stay for another card. The turn is a 7 and I checkraise him to 940 and he calls. On the river, a blank comes and I bet half his stack, he goes all-in. I double up!
Had two nice laydowns in a row... 55 to a preflop raise, would have been up against 77 or QQ. Next hand, I laid down AK nicely... 99 hit a set on the flop.
It was the hand I couldn't get away from though that busted my balls. I had KQo and raised, one limper to my right called. The flop was K-6-4 rainbow, I bet 450, he raises me to 1900 (he was the guy that showed J9s in an all-in earlier so naturally I didn't believe him.) I called and he goes all in. I think about it and call 2/3 of my remaining stack with KQo! Ugh! Come on, you're better than that! How did I just basically go broke on one of my least favorite hands! He turned over a set of 6s and I'm left with 750.
I went all with AJo, another small stack pushes over top for 150 more, and original raiser calls. Orig Raiser shows 10-10, I show AJo, and other short stack shows JQs. Of course the worst hand wins, he hit a queen on the river for a virtual triple-up.
Finished in 575 of 800+, not a good showing! Very disappointed in myself to let me go broke with a single pair and not even an ace kicker.
The good news is, I finished just before the late registration for the Daily Dollar was done.
Event #2: Daily Dollar (D$)
Scratch that, I just got busted out in another awful showing in the D$. The board was 772 and I bet out with my 66 and the guy raised me with A7 and of course I overplayed that hand. I'm taking the rest of the night off, really upset with myself for going broke in hands when I'm behind.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Satur-Day, in the Park! So far, so good!
EVENT #1: $8+.80
After not playing a single tournament on Friday (I know, the shock! Disclaimer: I was driving to Cleveland), I played in a 8+.80 18-person for another $26 token.
Early in the tournament, I had AA and the guy hit his K on the flop with KJo and I doubled up early.
Later on, playing tight, I made a big raise on the BB with As Ks and got a guy in the cutoff to go along for the ride. The flop showed 10c Js Qs, so I flopped a straight with the Royal draw! Trying to play it like 7-7 or 8-8, I checked the flop. The other guy virtually went all-in and I pushed him the final few yards and I had all his chips with a KJo call.
I limped UTG and the guy to my left raised me to 600, leaving me 440 to call and I smooth called with 10-10. The flop was 9-7-2 rainbow and I pushed all-in and the original raiser folded.
I got tight from here on out, only playing a few hands as I waited for other players to bust out since I was comfortably in the chip lead.
I ended up losing about 2k of my stack on 10-10 when the board was AA987 and second play had AQ. Owell, I was still comfortably in the money, imo.
About 20 minutes later, I was handed a $26 token. It's not bad when you hit a couple of hands in a non-turbo tournament. Then you can be picky about your starting hands, steal a few pots here and there.
EVENT #2: $24+2 Token
AQ doubled me up with AAJ on the board, two spades. After SB bets out 240, I double to 480. The turn is a blank and I raise all in after a 1/2 the pot bet from SB and I avoid a nut-flush draw on the river to double up.
99 on the button got me about 450 more when I went all-in with 10-8-4 showing.
AQ let me down when 8 people limped in the pot and BB goes all-in (the guy I doubled up through a few hands ago with AAJ showing on the flop.) I knew he had nothing, but he turned over 9-10 and got two pair. I had open ends after the turn, but didn't get anything.
I had AKo called 4x raise (JQ5 on the flop, he bets 500, i fold.)
I completed the BB bet with QJs to see a flop of Q-10-2 i check in SB, BB bets 180, cutoff calls, I raise to 900 they both fold.
Chip Leader raises my BB with 10-3o I reraise with AA and the flop is 2-4-5 and I went all in.. Naturally the donkey calls. I avoid the dramatic turn and river and double up to 5k. Thanks donk. Update: The donk went from chip leader to busted out in three hands!
The button moved all-in on my big blind and I quickly called to show my AA vs. his JJ. My chip count went to 7500 after I spiked an A on the flop.
Next hand, 3rd place in chips makes a raise to 360 and I go all-in with QQ and he folds after calling time.
Next hand I raise 2.5x BB on the button and BB called. The flop was 10-high and I laid down my KQ. Still at 7K with a 2500 chip lead on second place.
Just folded 10-10 with 2K going all-in on my BB on the bubble. No racing at this point!
Raised on the button with 99 3x the BB. The flop was 3-9-10 and SB bets half the pot and I go all-in. He calls and turns over a similar hand to what he had earlier (KJs) when he just had two overs. Luckily this time, I had more than a pair and he was pretty much drawing dead. He did get an Ace on the turn to give him 4 queens to draw to. My hand held up and my chip count went to over 10K.
Two hands later, I got my $75 token.
After not playing a single tournament on Friday (I know, the shock! Disclaimer: I was driving to Cleveland), I played in a 8+.80 18-person for another $26 token.
Early in the tournament, I had AA and the guy hit his K on the flop with KJo and I doubled up early.
Later on, playing tight, I made a big raise on the BB with As Ks and got a guy in the cutoff to go along for the ride. The flop showed 10c Js Qs, so I flopped a straight with the Royal draw! Trying to play it like 7-7 or 8-8, I checked the flop. The other guy virtually went all-in and I pushed him the final few yards and I had all his chips with a KJo call.
I limped UTG and the guy to my left raised me to 600, leaving me 440 to call and I smooth called with 10-10. The flop was 9-7-2 rainbow and I pushed all-in and the original raiser folded.
I got tight from here on out, only playing a few hands as I waited for other players to bust out since I was comfortably in the chip lead.
I ended up losing about 2k of my stack on 10-10 when the board was AA987 and second play had AQ. Owell, I was still comfortably in the money, imo.
About 20 minutes later, I was handed a $26 token. It's not bad when you hit a couple of hands in a non-turbo tournament. Then you can be picky about your starting hands, steal a few pots here and there.
EVENT #2: $24+2 Token
AQ doubled me up with AAJ on the board, two spades. After SB bets out 240, I double to 480. The turn is a blank and I raise all in after a 1/2 the pot bet from SB and I avoid a nut-flush draw on the river to double up.
99 on the button got me about 450 more when I went all-in with 10-8-4 showing.
AQ let me down when 8 people limped in the pot and BB goes all-in (the guy I doubled up through a few hands ago with AAJ showing on the flop.) I knew he had nothing, but he turned over 9-10 and got two pair. I had open ends after the turn, but didn't get anything.
I had AKo called 4x raise (JQ5 on the flop, he bets 500, i fold.)
I completed the BB bet with QJs to see a flop of Q-10-2 i check in SB, BB bets 180, cutoff calls, I raise to 900 they both fold.
Chip Leader raises my BB with 10-3o I reraise with AA and the flop is 2-4-5 and I went all in.. Naturally the donkey calls. I avoid the dramatic turn and river and double up to 5k. Thanks donk. Update: The donk went from chip leader to busted out in three hands!
The button moved all-in on my big blind and I quickly called to show my AA vs. his JJ. My chip count went to 7500 after I spiked an A on the flop.
Next hand, 3rd place in chips makes a raise to 360 and I go all-in with QQ and he folds after calling time.
Next hand I raise 2.5x BB on the button and BB called. The flop was 10-high and I laid down my KQ. Still at 7K with a 2500 chip lead on second place.
Just folded 10-10 with 2K going all-in on my BB on the bubble. No racing at this point!
Raised on the button with 99 3x the BB. The flop was 3-9-10 and SB bets half the pot and I go all-in. He calls and turns over a similar hand to what he had earlier (KJs) when he just had two overs. Luckily this time, I had more than a pair and he was pretty much drawing dead. He did get an Ace on the turn to give him 4 queens to draw to. My hand held up and my chip count went to over 10K.
Two hands later, I got my $75 token.
Friday, May 8, 2009
More Bad Beats.. Same Book, Different Page
May 7, 2009
(Columbus, OH)-- Why does Full Tilt have such a flare for the dramatic? I've taken more bad beats in the last 3 days on FTP than my entire live career. Had a guy go all in on my aces yesterday with 6-8o and hit a 7 on the river to fill his straight :(
I played in 4 tournaments yesterday, cashing just once-- a $26 token. The Daily Dollar I went out at 1470 with JJ only to be called by KQ and AK.. Of course an A and a Q both hit.
The first 8+.80 I played in, I hit K with KQs and of course they gave the BB AKo.
I tried the stimulus tournament, but that Turbo is just not for me.
I'm hoping to play in the 40k on Sunday with my token.. More updates to come.
(Columbus, OH)-- Why does Full Tilt have such a flare for the dramatic? I've taken more bad beats in the last 3 days on FTP than my entire live career. Had a guy go all in on my aces yesterday with 6-8o and hit a 7 on the river to fill his straight :(
I played in 4 tournaments yesterday, cashing just once-- a $26 token. The Daily Dollar I went out at 1470 with JJ only to be called by KQ and AK.. Of course an A and a Q both hit.
The first 8+.80 I played in, I hit K with KQs and of course they gave the BB AKo.
I tried the stimulus tournament, but that Turbo is just not for me.
I'm hoping to play in the 40k on Sunday with my token.. More updates to come.
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