Thursday, April 27, 2006

I am a Stud

What: WPBT-POY Seven-card Stud Event
When: Sunday April 30th at 9:30pm EST
Where: Poker Stars
Tourney Info: #21991049 (Look under Private tab)
How Much: $20 + 2
Password: wpbt72Attire: Pants optional

Lifted straight from Dr. Pauly's site is the reminder above. Since I sent Pauly to the rail on Monday, I figure I can help make a donation come Sunday in his effort to final tabling in the Stud event.

What do I know about Stud? Very little. About the same as Omaha and look what happened with that. So I will go with the tried and true formula. I will pick up Phil Hellmuth's book on Sunday and read all about Stud strategy. If possible, I will play a warm up SnG on Stars before the tournament. Do they even have Stud SnGs?

That would be something though. To win a Stud event after reading Hellmuth's book. Can lightening strike twice?

Monday, April 24, 2006

DADI

Played in my first DADI event. It was being held in conjunction with the weekly WWdN and WPBT POY. A battle royal of poker blogging events. 77 people came to take a chance to win a $1500 seat at the WSOP. Plus, there were some other prizes involved as well. Big thanks for TripJax and Jordan for getting this together.

A battle royal would best describe my first table. The venerable Dr. Pauly was on my right but he was busy working at the Bellagio. If you are not reading Pauly's reports, then you are wastig time on the net. Pauly has gotten even better after his brief hiatus. Poker as never reported before. But back to the table. WillWonka was to my left, followed by SlimeFace, yosoyveneno, LaParka, and RandomSam. I have played with each of them, except for LaParka before. I knew I was going to have to be good to survive. This is one tough table to start at.

Soon Garthmeister and Iggy would show as well. It wouldn't get any easier.

I basically kept folding a lot of hands. Tried to see some cheap flops (had deep stacks of 3000 instead of 1500) so I could play a tad loose but not

Scored my first knockout when I called a raise from the big blind with 3 3 and promptly flopped a set. Garthmeister had outs as he showed the K Q. The diamonds on the board gave me a chance for the flush. Luckily for me, he didn't his his outs and I moved up nicely, knocking him out.

I would get lucky again when A 9 flops two pair. But the 10 on the board had me worried about A 10. I bet the flop and was quickly raised. Confident he just had a high ace. Made most of my move on the turn betting just under the pot. Slimeface raised to 2000. I felt my two pair was good. I raised it back to 3000. All the money was in on the river. My read was right. His A K was no good.

I was at over 10k now and in first. But too many players are still in. Time for me to really mix my game up. I am able to drop the Hammer but that was really about it. The cards I was getting were ugly. Anything decent had me out of position. So instead of being loose, wild, and free, I sat back looking for spots to hit. I hit the first break just over the 10k mark and in second place.

After the break, those pocket 3s would visit again and win me a nice pot. With 1 raiser and 3 callers ( I called from the SB ), it somehow checked around on a K high flop. The 3 on the turn had me betting the pot, hoping to make it look like I was buying it. Instead, I was taking down 1200.

I knocked out Pauly by busting his Hilton Sisters. From the BB I was dealt A K. With Pauly busy blogging the WPT event, I figured he may have been just trying to make a move. I re-raised his bet from 600 to 2000. Thus I was a bit shocked when he re-raised me all in. Uh oh, he had a hand. I called the remaining amount and was glad to see an A hit right away. Lucky for me, no Q or running clubs and I had eliminated Dr. Pauly. Somehow I have a feeling I was getting booed in the Fontana room.

That also could be why I then tried to make a move on Bobby Bracelet next. With K Js, I raised from early position and then called his all in bet for just 1100 more. He had me dominated when he showed A J. Even more so when he flopped an A. I tried. I would tangle with Bob again in a losing manner. Maybe I will think twice next time.

I steal some blinds here and there and work on defending my own. I get lucky when I call a 3x bet with A 7. A flop of Q A 10 looks good. I doubt he raised with K J. I bet it out and get called. On the turn I decide to push. I feel he may have a better ace. He claimed to have K K so I didn't get paid.

I then waste K K when no one raises or limps with me in the SB. So I then steal with K J the next hand. A couple hands later I still can't get any action with A K. I then get complacent and try with A 4o but fold to a re-raise. Time to tighten up again. I feel like I have been card dead for the last 30 minutes. At the second break, I am in 5th with 11500. Very little improvement in the second session. Pitiful in fact.

I would soon take my first bad beat of the tournament. With K K, I raised it to 800 (100/200 25) and have one caller. On a 10 high flop, I bet the pot. My opponent calls. The turn is an A, the one card I don't want to see. So I try to act like I have A K and push. He calls with A J. WTF? You call a pot sized bet with just overcards? Of course, no K and I am hurt. And totally pissed off. I just about tilt my remaining chips to Iggy on the next hand but suck out a straight on the river. But he didn't pay me.

Even an orbit after the hand, I am still steaming. Just wrong. I need another Maker's and ginger and then maybe I will relax. Work may suck tomorrow at this pace. Should I have pushed with the kinds to protect my hand?

I then watch another call of a pot sized bet where someone just have overcards. I just don't see that as being smart. In this case he did have a huge stack but not the best play I would think. Yeah, still on tilt. I do get some blinds with A 10 and A Q so that helps a bit. Then I get to keep my BB and the antes. Weeeeeee!

I then start to steal more. Any suited ace looks good. Hopefully I can change my image from tight to loose and then hit the jackpot. Heck, I even raise with the hand I hate most- Q 10. I also learn that you cannot type in kung fu on PokerStars. The fu is no good and will be blocked out. Very interesting.

I steal the blinds with A K and then defend with A 10. One limper in EP so I pushed not wanting to see a flop. Just trying to get my chips back. I then go on further tilt when I see my chips go across the board when the guy who busted my kings calls an all in bet with 3 3. WTF??? Made little sense to me, but what do I know.

I then had my first table change. There was Gracie, Drizz and Katitude. Apologies to those that I do not know of your blogs. I make a quick steal here. I like that move. Stealing blinds on the first hand you get dealt at a new table.

At the third break, I am handing by a thread. In last place with just under 5K. What a freefall. But I have hope. I just need to double up 5 times. That is all.

But that doesn't happen. From the button, I push with K J. Drizz calls with A 9 suited. No help for either of us and his ace high is more than good. Done in 12th. Not quite what I was hoping for. Oh well, always the next one.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Cards weren't smokin

The smoker was all that I expected it to be. Bad players, bad plays, and unfortunately bad cards. Not quite sure how I lasted 2 hours without dragging a single pot. I think it was the break for dinner that made it feel like I was there longer than I needed to be.

I know that I saw 3 flops. I opened with a bet just once (with A Jo ) and had to fold to a re-raise that would have committed me (he had K K). Other than that I saw a flop from the big blind and I limped with J 10 on the button once. Didn't win a single pot. Didn't see a pocket pair all night. Didn't do much beside take up space.

It was frustrating to say the least. In the first orbit, A A showed up 3 times. In each instance, I thought they were poorly misplayed. On the first hand, 2 limpers so the guy limped as well- no raise. He ended up losing to a rivered straight. He bet the flop, checked the turn, and called a river bet. I was laughing inside at how he played that hand. Laughing and licking my chops.

The second time, same thing happened. A loose passive guy had them. He was luckier than CJ last night. He did the same thing. No preflop raise- just called- and made only one bet after the flop. His aces held up though. Then the guy who got them on the first hand got aces again on the 5th hand and limped. He dragged a little pot.

I was shocked to not only see aces that many times right away but at how bad they played the hands. In fact, it wasn't until the second orbit that someone raised preflop. This table was very passive. I was very pissed that I couldn't take advantage of it.

I got blinded down with very little play. When all was said and done I went in with A 2 and just twice the BB. Loose guy calls with Q J. Has two pair on the flop and then a full house on the turn. IGHN.

I did make some money playing in a SnG afterwards so the evening was profitable. My friend Brian cashed in 8th so that was good too.

But if only I could have had some decent hands to play. This is such an easy field. I know I will be back.

Friday, April 21, 2006

Smokin again

Off to another smoker tonight. I earned a freeroll into this one so what I cash will be nice. Hopefully the guys will remember they promised me the free entry. I have it confirmed by email but I wasn't able to get it printed. I don't anticipate it being a problem.

I am looking forward to playing aggressively tonight. The crowd that plays is below average in skill. The majority of the guys show up again and again and have little understanding of basic strategy. Play tight early and push your big hands hard.

If I make the final table, I hope to be super aggressive. The last two times I have been card dead so I am begging for a change. I know I can run over a final table with just good hands, not even great.

If I do bust out, hopefully there will be some hockey on. I wonder if the SpaceMan would like to put a little wager on who last longer, my team or his.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Ever get one of those sessions...

where you get total crap for cards? I mean, absolute crap!

I just had one. Played 54 minutes. In that time span, I raised exactly 0 times. Limped in 4 times with suited connectors or a suited ace and won one pot from the BB when I flopped two pair with Q 7o.

What a waste of time. Amazing how bad these cards were. Maybe I was being way too tight, but I don't think so.

Hopefully this means I get hit silly by the deck the next time.

Monday, April 17, 2006

A good run

Made a good run in EasyCure's tournament to Hammer Out Cancer last night. Finished 7th and barely made back some money. Beside winning it (of course!), I was hoping to make enough money where I would donate some money to the cause after getting my entry back. Instead, I barely got my entry back for 7th. The classy Dr. Pauly did donate half of what he won for coming in 2nd. The good doctor. One very charitable dude.

Must also give props to Frankl for winning. Nice job! Beside congratulating him for his victory, check out the half nekkid women. You know you will be adding it to your favorites now.

Finally, thank Biggestron for all the WPBT POY work he does. I have clawed back to the top of the leaderboard. Lucky for me the year ends after the DADI event on the 24th. The trophy is all locked up in my greedy little paws!

Wait, you mean it goes for all of 2006? Uh..yeah, I knew that.

I was quite happy with my play last night. I took my time with playing some hands instead of rushing in to satisfy my action jones. I chipped up a bit just to give it all back with some loose calls. I had my aces cracked the first two times they arrived. I feel lucky that I was up against small stacks only at the time. Aces continue to be just what they are. A 33% favorite. It wasn't until the 3rd time they arrived that they help up. That got me into the game and help propel me to the final table. A fourth time didn't hurt either.

If only my A Ko would have held up on BG's A 10. I would have been in position to win. With about 9300 left and blinds 500/1000, I just raised pot from the button. My thought was that if I pushed, it would look like a strong hand (my thinking at least). I decided to just raise pot to make it look like a steal, hoping I would be called by a weak ace. It appeared to work as BG pushed. I liked seeing A 10, but not liking went away with the flopped 10. Oh well.

I found myself replaying the hand in my head. If I push, will I get called. Yes, I am pretty sure he would have called. I would have called from the BB too in that position. Thus it wouldn't have really mattered. I do think that pushing was the right way to go now. A Ko is strong but it needs help to win.

As always, it was a good time playing. This tournies are more competitive that most I see. The skill set is always on the rise. If you don't bring your A game, you won't be around for long.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Not happy

I am going to focus on playing some more tournaments instead of ring games. Just part of my indecisive nature right now. Doesn't help that I am getting knocked around a bit in the ring games.
I made the money in the Full Tilt 5k yesterday. But I wasn't happy. 14 was ok, but I played rather crappily. Two hands in particular pissed me off. One where I raised with K J off (yeah, I know) UTG and was re-raised. I knew I was so beat and was going to fold. But then I thought "let's see a flop" and made the call. It totally misses me and I fold. But I put 4000 in for what?

In another hand I set my bluff up and didn't execute. From the big blind, I called a min-raise. Flop came with 2 diamonds. I checked and called the min bet. Another diamond on the turn. I bet out, bluffing the flush. I bet 3/4 of the pot. He thinks and calls. River is a blank. Instead of firing away, I checked. He checked behind and showed two pair. I don't think he would have called a bet there. I was so pissed at myself. I set up the bluff and didn't execute.

Today I played better but got sucked out on. What is with all the limp-call the big raise with a small pair shit going on? Makes no sense. Some schmuck cracked my Hiltons with his pair of 3s when he flopped a set. I had kept an eye on the guy for over an hour and knew how to play him. He was in practically every hand and folded to raises. But how do you call with a pair of 3s?

I think this has convinced me that there is no such thing as table image online. I have watched people play maybe 1 hand every half hour. Each time they have monsters. But people are calling their bets and sucking out. Amazing how bad it can be. It is brutal to watch.

Quite strange. To play bad and make some money. To play much better and get knocked out by a clown. Man, do I hate this game!

Come play EasyCure's Hammer out Cancer tourney tomorrow at Full Tilt. It is for a great cause!

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Bad donkey, bad

I don't know why I tried the WWdN tonight. I wasn't in the right frame of mind. I tried to hit the PokerSavvy freeroll but those bastards never sent me the password and I didn't realize it until 10 minutes before it started.

I basically donked my chips away trying to be too aggressive. Not good.

I haven't played much poker lately. Just busy with other things and taking it easy. I know the bug will bite soon enough and I will dive back in. I just need to get in the right frame of mind.

I bought a copy of the new Richard Marcus book, Dirty Poker. If it is anything like American Roulette, I will be happy. It does have an interesting start. It basically infers that Jennifer Tilly's win at the WSOP was fixed. That she paid off the table so she could win to boost her career.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Slapped back down

I tried to move up to the 5/10 game. After a couple of sessions with results that were not favorable, I backed down. I took some big beats, made some overly aggressive plays and flat out didn't do well. I found myself losing a big pot early and having to work to make up the losses. I was playing from behind too many times.

I will go back once I get my game in order. I need to move some money to take on the game properly. I am confident I can do well. I just need to be in the right frame of mind.

I have also dabbled a little into NL ring as well. This is definately my weakest area, yet the area that is so profitable right now. I have read many a trip report that tells of the soft tables in Vegas. A little online play can only help to make that transition to live come July. The way I see it, I can afford to lose a buy in or two, but I rather be ready for the game.

Some WPBT POY coming up soon. Check out Easy Cure's Hammer out Cancer Tournament on Full Tilt. That is on April 16. Come play for a great cause. If I make the final table, I will donate half of whatever I win. So feel free to dump some chips to me. :)

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

They all lie!

I am Batman!

Wait, did I get this wrong?

Collection

I muddled through the field yesterday. As I muddled, I wasn't happy with my play. For the first 2 hours, I played rather crappily. The only reason I was still alive was because of the 5000 starting stack.

Iggy set up it. A deep stack starting at 8pm with 30 minute levels. If you have a good game, you will do well if you can sidestep the bad beats. Patience could be paid off. Plus, the little guy is probably figuring it is the best way to train his players for the WSOP.

Yes, I said his players. With the enthusiam and zeal he had on this project, I see this as Iggy's Army. He probably would get as much satisfaction of seeing one of us bloggers win an event this year as the person winning.

So I was dancing through the tables, dodging minefield like my internet connection (went down twice) and the players around me. It started with CJ on my left. Not what you would like to see. Huntsvegas, an eventual winner, was just to his left. Then Bobby Bracelet shows up on my right. Not what I wanted to see.

Later I would have Maigrey on my right and Wonka two spots over. Every time I put a blind out there I knew I may have to fight to keep the thieves away. Thankfully I got a couple good hands to send a message but that would only last for the time being.

As I had said before, I wasn't too happy with my play early on. I was too loose. Making some flop calls with just bottom pair, hoping I would get lucky. It was just shit poker I was playing. CJ did put a great move disguising his A A on one hand. It was that hand that would send me into a funk and give chips away like Halloween candy.

So I had to tighten up. I set an immediate goal to get back over the starting stack. I felt one hand could do it. That hand came in the form of K K. I looked at it and drooled a bit. This was my hand. With an aggressive short stack on my right, I was already counting his chips as being mine. What I didn't expect was the UTG limper, Shep, to come along for the ride as well. My kings held up and I was in much better shape. Like I was reborn.

I continued to chip up until I was in 11th place. I felt good now feeling I could make a serious run at it again. After the 3rd break, I made a steal attempt that backfired. With J 10 I made my move from the button. But the BB raised it. I called hoping to catch a piece of the flop. J 10 x. Nice. My oppoent bet out. I raised wanting to just take it down. But he reraised. Hmm...what does he have. I was confident he didn't have a set. With that flop and the re-raise preflop, I put him on A J. I pushed. He called with A 10. Not quite what I expected to pop it in with second pair. But of course an A spiked the turn and I was crippled.

I folded a couple more hands when the Hilton Sisters came to visit. I thought this would be nice. I figured I could get the short stack to my left's chips at the very least. I raised it 3.5xs the blind and was immediatley re-raised all in by the short stack. But the next player took a timeout to think about what he would do. He then re-raised. ??? It folded back around to me. I wasn't necessarily committed here but felt a need to get back into it. I pushed my remaining chips and was called by ... 10 10? This baffled me. Why would you re-raise with just 10s? He was putting out a third of his chips for what may be a small advantage at best over just A high? Not a good play in my mind. But of course he would spike a 10 on the turn to win the pot and send me out.

Each time I got my chips in with the best hand but was drawn out on. Nothing you can do when the poker gods are not on your side. Oh well.

Congrat to Huntsvegas and Lucko for winning their seats.

I also had another thought. Since Iggy kicked in some cash to get another seat last night, the least we can do is take a collection to pay his buy-ins in the rest of the tournies. A nice gesture to pay back his efforts and work to make these happen. Let me know your thoughts. It would cost you just a buck or two.