Bad Break

I took a break from poker on Monday and came back on Tuesday ready to put in a long NL cash game session. With my batteries recharged, I woke up at the crack of dawn (10:00 AM that is) and opened up 8 tables of $0.50-$1.00 NL HE. The session didn't go as well as I would have liked, I think that I could have won a lot more, but I did have some interesting hands, I finished up $54.50 over 1350 hands, an almost inconsequential number, butI feel like I played well so I am gonna hit it again today and hope it goes better. Some of my favorite hands: PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) [url=http://poker-tools.flopturnriver.com/Hand-Converter.php]Hand History Converter Tool[/url] from [url=http://www.flopturnriver.com]FlopTurnRiver.com[/url] (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)[b]saw flop[/b][b][color=#C00000]saw showdown[/color][/b]Button ($137.70)[b]SB ($82.75)[/b][b][color=#C00000]BB ($107.70)[/color][/b]UTG ($100)UTG+1 ($44.10)MP1 ($23.50)MP2 ($94.55)MP3 ($24.60)[b][color=#C00000]Hero ($105)[/color][/b][b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is CO with [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/4d.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/5s.gif[/img]. [color=#666666][i]5 folds[/i][/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $4[/color], [color=#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], SB calls $3.50, BB calls $3.[b]Flop:[/b] ($12) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/js.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/5h.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/4h.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](3 players)[/color]SB checks, [color=#CC3333]BB bets $8[/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $22[/color], SB folds, BB calls $14.[b]Turn:[/b] ($56) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/4s.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](2 players)[/color]BB checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $35[/color], BB calls $35.[b]River:[/b] ($126) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/kd.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](2 players)[/color][color=#CC3333]BB bets $30[/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $44[/color], BB calls $14.[b]Final Pot:[/b] $214[color=#009B00]Main Pot: $214, between BB and Hero.[/color] > [color=#FFFFFF]Pot won by Hero ($214).[/color]Results in white below: [color=#FFFFFF]BB has Jd Ks (two pair, kings and jacks). Hero has 4d 5s (full house, fours full of fives). Outcome: Hero wins $214. [/color] This one is great, the best part is the river bet, he called large bets with top pair and thought he managed to river yahtzee.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $1.00 BB (9 handed) [url=http://poker-tools.flopturnriver.com/Hand-Converter.php]Hand History Converter Tool[/url] from [url=http://www.flopturnriver.com]FlopTurnRiver.com[/url] (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

[b]saw flop[/b]|[b][color=#C00000]saw showdown[/color][/b]

[b]BB ($53.65)[/b]
UTG ($31.85)
UTG+1 ($95.30)
MP1 ($134.50)
MP2 ($21.35)
[b]MP3 ($60.05)[/b]
CO ($18.50)
[b]Hero ($97.15)[/b]
[b]SB ($25.55)[/b]

[b]Preflop:[/b] Hero is Button with [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/5s.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/8s.gif[/img].
[color=#666666][i]2 folds[/i][/color], MP1 calls $1, [color=#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], MP3 calls $1, [color=#666666][i]1 fold[/i][/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $3.5[/color], SB calls $3, BB calls $2.50, MP1 folds, MP3 calls $2.50.

[b]Flop:[/b] ($15) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/qs.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/6c.gif[/img], [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/4s.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](4 players)[/color]
SB checks, BB checks, [color=#CC3333]MP3 bets $2[/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $7[/color], SB calls $7, BB folds, MP3 calls $5.

[b]Turn:[/b] ($36) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/5c.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](3 players)[/color]
SB checks, [color=#CC3333]MP3 bets $10[/color], [color=#CC3333]Hero raises to $30[/color], SB folds, MP3 calls $20.

[b]River:[/b] ($96) [img]http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/3h.gif[/img] [color=#0000FF](2 players)[/color]
MP3 checks, [color=#CC3333]Hero bets $30[/color], MP3 folds.

[b]Final Pot:[/b] $96
[color=#009B00]Main Pot: $96, returned to Hero.[/color]

Results in white below: [color=#FFFFFF]
Hero has 5s 8s (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Hero wins $96. [/color]

I put him on something like AK but I suppose I could have gotten him to fold an underpair such as 99, thats the other possibility that occured to me. I like the way this one worked out.

I'm about to put in a 1/2 NL session (4 or 6 tables) I'll post some hands afterwards.

Stay Lucky everyone!

Back to the Online Grind

Put in a session of 5/10 Limit HE 6-max at PokerStars today. Finished up $424 over 971 hands (4-tabling), overall I was pleased with my play. The only thing I did wrong was lose a lot of value by calling behind on the river with hands that had value in raising, I was right twice and wrong five times calling behind so thats a leak I probably should look at. I also went and practiced some bowling today, unfortunately my home center doesn't seem to believe in oiling the lanes so that was largely a bust. I'm planning on playing so more limity HE this week and probably heading up to foxwoods to play some 20/40, a fairly weak game there. Sorry for such a brief post today, I'll put some hands up tomorrow. Stay lucky everyone.

Home again... *sigh*

Flew back home today, the flight back from Vegas is one of the most depressing journey's I take. The flight was relatively painless, I slept most of the way back, but the further I got away the more I knew I hadn't worked out my poker itch.
The poker bug was still roaring inside me, so I stopped off at Foxwoods for a little NL action on my way home. I got my friend Mark to meet me up there and we immediately got seated at a 2/5 NL table together.
We bought in for the max ($500 at Foxwoods) and I played very few hands for the first half-hour while my friend went up and down like a roller coaster, up $300... down $200... even. The first hand I pick up is when I get AdJd UTG+1, UTG has the straddle on so I raise to $35. I get a call from the button, my friend in the BB and the original straddler. We take the flop 4-handed ($142-$2 = $140) which comes out AsAhKc. Mark checks, the straddle leads out for $40, with no flush draw and only a few straight draws I smooth call it and I get the button to fold behind while Mark gives me a wink before mucking, he knows I have it. The next card is a bit ugly from my perspective, but gives me a straight draw as the 10d hits. At this point AK has me drawing dead, A10 and QJ are way ahead of me. He bets out $120 and I get the feeling that he either has a weak ace or something like KQ, he only has $200 behind, I feel that there is some value in a shove here, no FE but he could call me light. I put him in all in for $320 and he instant calls and jumps out of his seat. My heart immediately sinks, I assume that I've misjudged him badly. He however looks dejected when he sees my AJ and sheepishly flips up an A5 claiming, "I thought you were trying to steal..." He fails to hit his 3-outer on the river or the 6-outs he has to tie and I rake in the $800+ pot.
We played for about another hour, with no real movement, pick up a few pots with continuation bets and cash out +$485. (My friend got busted up but he was a good sport about it.)
Stopped in at Fuddruckers on the way out, never dissapointed there. So, I'm probably relegated to no casino play for the next few days, but I'll keep you all informed.
Stay lucky.
- impulsivegrinder

"You sucked out on me!"

Nits amuse me, they may cut into my EV but the laughs are almost worth it.

A classic situation happened to me today.

I went down to the Bellagio to play in the 15 game, it was one of the most postively nit-astic games that I can recall. This is my punishment for playing at 4:30 in the afternoon I suppose, even on a Saturday. I could tell that I was in trouble when I sat down at the table, I was not only the only player under 25, if I am not greatly mistaken I was the only player not currently eligible for membership in the AARP. I bought in for two racks and quickly managed to drop down about 10 bets trying to test the waters and see how the game would respond the agression when this hand occured. I am in the CO with Qd10d and UTG limps and the hijack limps, I throw in a raise, SB folds, BB calls and the two limpers call. (9 SB) The flop comes out Jh2d8s, BB bets, UTG folds and the HJ calls. I call behind with an overcard, an inside straight draw, and a backdoor flush draw. The turn comes out (6 BB) with an Ad, the BB bets the SB raises, getting 4 1/2 to one on my money with 17 outs, I am getting more than enough to call, however as I feel like they will both call a raise and at least one bet on the river if I hit, I am getting the most equity in a three way pot I three bet it, the BB calls the SB calls and we go to the river (15 BB). The river comes out the Kc. The BB bets again, the CO raises, I three bet it, the BB calls, the CO (a grumpy old man who is stuck several racks and has verbally berating the dealer) glares at me and throws in a call, I show the nut hand and rake in a $720 pot, the BB chuckles and shows AK, the CO angrily slams his JJ into the dealers hands face up and proclaims "I've been getting sucked out on all day! How can you play after I raise the turn! You three bet almost drawing dead!" To begin, even if I know what he has I am getting more than enough implied odds to call on the turn, I put in a raise knowing I would get paid if I hit and not have to pay if I miss, but rather than explain that I shrug and say "I got lucky, what can I say?" He smartly retorted "You're darn tooting you got lucky. I don't understand where you internet kids get all this money from. You have to know I have it when I raise! I deserved to win that pot." He continued to growl at me every time I acted for the rest of the day. That was by far the biggest pot played in the game today, and he took it very personally that I beat him out of it. This guy simply refused to let it go, I can't understand how anybody could get so upset over a hand of cards, a game where getting the right odds to draw to something that will come or not come based on chance in the short term. It goes back to the feeling of contempt for some older nits for "internet players and their 'pot odds'" Some players I have noticed feel entitled to a pot because they started with the best hand. I'll keep getting lucky, thanks, I'd rather be lucky than good anyway.

Red Cards, Please?

So, I made a blog.
Everyone on the internet seems to have one these days, but if you're reading this right now you've chosen mine over all of the other options available to you.
Thanks!

If you were to choose not to read this, I wouldn't blame you. Frankly, I probably wouldn't read your blog so why should I presume to be so special?
Many people do though, it has been my experience in my short life thus far that most people assume that God, fate, or some other higher being is constantly observing and altering the course of their life; that everything that happens to them is some sort of evaluation marking the approval of this higher power.

I do not lend much credence to this particular world view. If God had to monitor the activities of all people all the time, He would likely become very bored; for that matter, what would be the interest to Him if He controlled all activities in the world, it would be like playing "The Sims" with no free will from any of the characters, and empty and quickly tiresome charade.

It's not God, but fate, luck, you might contend. How can luck possibly exist? Every action happens as a direct result of some other, some actions can be quantified and some cannot, but it is impossible to argue that things happen independently of some cause. To that end, I believe as so many before me have that luck favors the prepared, the vigilant, who do not expect luck nor scorn fate but accept life.

If you have read for this long, you deserve an introduction. I am an avid poker player (degenerate gambler by some counts), a competive bowler and 21 years of age, at least according to many of the card rooms across the country. I have been playing poker since I discovered the joys of Internet Texas Hold 'Em when I was 14 years old, and have had a modicum of success since then playing in Las Vegas, Foxwoods, Turning Stone and the card rooms of Los Angeles. I do other things as well, but I do not feel the need to talk about them yet, I am sure that you do other things than read blogs and you can hold onto that information for as long as you desire. I start this blog as I stare at my ceiling unable to sleep, flush with a win from a card tournament, in an attempt to convey some of the life lessons that this game of "chance" has taught me and some of the stories that I have heard along my way.

One of the major sicknesses that I have come across while playing is the "neverwin" degenerate player, who will not be satisified on a subconcious level until they have lost whatever money they have alloted to playing, certainly more than they can afford to lose. This player has tasted success at some point in their career, from positive variance ("luck", if you will), and has been backed up against the wall looking for that feeling again. This particular player, feels that God, fate or what have you, owes them victory, that they are due, entitled, that the next turn of the card will finally give them what they have been searching for. This sort of degenerating cycle will always lead to the crushing realization (too late or otherwise) , that fate will not magically make them a break-even player, that luck does not overcome reality, but in that moment the prospect that they might get lucky is enough to sustain them and keep them coming back.

I do not know what experiences life has dealt these people to need to win, to need luck, and to dane to expect it to come to them, but I have always found a more solid foundation in what I can see and control. I believe that God is benevolent, I do not believe that the outcome of a game being played by one person at one table in one casino is enough to cause divine intervention. Luck is everpresent in the mentality of most people however, optimists believe everything will work for the best, pessimists hold their belief in Murphy's Law, nihilists believe in nothing but that belief (perhaps a stronger belief than any?)

But I digress, for most luck is what keeps them sane, so just look to the dealer and ask, "Red Cards, Please?"