Session No. 24 Cache Creek (12/27)

4/8-Kill: TP = -$97 TSP = 5 Hrs

Ran pretty horrible (true statement)

I played pretty terrible in the first half of the session as well, try to push people around and was just looking like a maniac. It was bad. I think all and all, I learned a bunch for this session more than I have in a real long time, though:

1.I need to talk more at the table.

2.I just need to be a lot more friendly and cheerful by saying some goofy shit while
playing.

3.“Win with grace, lose with style.”

I won’t talk about most of the hands where guys just straight out-flopped me but I can say that I did get 2-outered and 1-outered tonight. Sick

So in my 3rd hand of the night, right when the Superstar and I arrived, I get 99 UTG. Here is the HH:

Hero raises, called by the button and SB, and BB.


Flop: Q96 (2 hearts) Good flop, I think.

SB checks, BB donk bets, Hero raises, button calls, SB folds, BB 3 bets, Hero Caps, and button calls 2 more and is all in.

Turn: 4

BB donk bets again, Hero raises, BB calls. I know that I am way good here and I think this guy flopped 2 pair.

River: Q

Fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BB bets out, Hero just calls.

BB Donk shows Q6os for the rivered 2 outer. Hero shows 99 :-( Sucks to be me.
And the worst part was he didn’t even know that he had won the pot. He tells me, “Ooo, nice hand,” and I sheepishly reply, “Yeah, you won though.” Ouch, so in 3 minutes, I was already in a 60 hole. Great way to start off the night.

I then progressed to not run like the Santi and kill the table. Oh well, its all good.

Happy New Year!

See you all in 2008.

Session No. 23 Capitol Casino (12/23)

4/8 Kill TP = +$212 TSP = 3 Hrs

This was the most aggresive (preflop) session to date. On the advice of the Superstar, and in an effort to be less exploitable, I adapted the mantra of "If it is folded to me, I would raise to play, regardless of the cards." Obviously they had to be playable.

I had a huge range today, and I was running really well. Here are the hands that I raised when folded to:

T9s in MP, JTs, KTos in LP, and on a straight steal attempt QTs UTG+1, and my personal favorite 66 UTG.

Here is the HH for that hand:

Hero is UTG w/ 66:

Hero raises, called in 2 spots and the blinds call. (5 players)

Flop: 5 6 7 rainbow (Boom???)

Checked to hero who leads, folds back to the SB who Check raises, then the BB 3 bets, Hero caps.

Turn: A (2 hearts).

SB checks, BB leads, Hero raises, SB folds, BB 3 bets, Hero calls. Pretty sure I need to pair the board now and the aggro tard BB has a a straight but I didn't give him any credit at all. He was the same guy from the session that The Superdonk, Santi, and I were on the same table and he donked away $600+ in a little more that 2 hours.

Anyways, River: 7 (Boom!!!!!)

BB leads, Hero Raises, BB 3 bets, Hero Caps, BB calls.

Hero shows Sixes Full of Sevens, and BB shows 34 of hearts for the flopped straight.
:-) I run goooooooooooot!!!!

That was a huge pot.

The table was really loose and I was able to limp behind in LP w/ the gap connectors, 57s-68s, and the T7s it I made some goofy two pairs, and flushes.

See you at the Creek on Thursday.

-Merry Christmas!!!!!

Session No. 22 Capitol Casino (12/22)

4/8 Kill TP = +$112 TSP = 4 Hrs

I ran decent, but also missed some huge combo draws and whiffed and aggro/blinded myself down from up $250 to up $110. Can't Complain.

I told myself that I was going to work on my agression today, and I didn't I can recall 3 spots where it was folded to my in MP and LP and I raised it up w/ QJos, 87s OTB, and 55 in the HJ. Gotta do it to be less exploitable.

Here is a huge hand:

Hero is somewhere in MP w/ KQ of spades.

Kill Pot 8/16 limped in 3 spots, Hero raises to $16. Folds to BB who calls, and limpers call.
Flop: A T 6 ( T and 6 of spades, I am praying someone has an ace and will Creck raise because this was a live table, but that didn't happen )

Checked to me, I fire called in 3 spots.

Turn: J of clubs, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

Checked to me, I fire out $16 again, folds back to some guy in MP who check raises. Can you say snap double-fist??? I 3-bet and he just calls.

Cue Tom Petty - And I'm free, free rollin'....

River: 2 of spades.

Checked to me, I fire $16 again, and other guy just calls, I show the 2nd flush, He flopped a set of tens. Man, that would have been interesting to see how much more we could have got in on the flop had he check-raised me.

That was a nice $200+ pot.

Not too much more to talk about, next week the Star, Donk, and the Nit will probably be back up at the creek.

-Good nite now.

Session No. 21 Cache Creek (12/20)

4/8 Kill TP = -$39 TSP = 7.5 Hrs

Ugggggg.............. (The night of playing AK from the SB 7 times)

Dam this was a atrociously slow night for me. The Superdonk and I rolled in to the Creek about 6:30 and sat down at 1 of the 2 4/8 Kill tables that they had running instead of eating :(

The night started off pretty dismally, and I was running cold, BRRRRRRRRRR. I think I won 2 small pots that sufficed to buy my blinds for about the first hour and a half. The SD was running alright and was taking down some pots, and got Aces Cracked to put him up a bit in the first 2 hours. After running cold for a while and waiting for the Superstar to bust in the CP-Forum Olympics PLO H/L tourney (gg 3rd btw), I took a table change and won a small pot against my ex-neighbor where I turned 2 pair, and was behind hugely Preflop and on the flop but no one let me know, (QJos behind to KQs until turn).

And then the next orbit I get AK of spades UTG and, I felt a little lost in this hand, there was a laggy guy in the big blind who I had seen play every hand but 2 in 2+ orbits so I thought that he was extremely loose. Can you say blind sided?

Here is the HH:

Hero has AK of spades UTG and raises.
Folded to button who calls, SB folds, BB 3-bets, Hero Caps, button folds.

Flop: T 8 7 rainbow.

BB leads out, Hero takes on off to re-evaluate on turn. Here is where my play went wrong:

Turn: K

BB leads out again, Hero flat calls, whoops mistake. After discussion with the Superstar, I should have raise/folded to a 3 bet on the turn. So I just called anyway.

River: 7

I really thought that he had Aces or queens here. So, he led out again, Hero calls w/ Kings up, and the BB shows 88 for the flopped set, and rivered boat. Wasn't expecting the 3-bet to be from 88. In retrospect, that is a pretty good play for pot control and lead aggression.

After a few other losing hands and whiffing some overs and draws, I was down close to $160 or so, and I rebought. Then the Santi showed up, and I moved back to the other table w/ the SD to my right and Nik over 2 seats to my left.

Nik was on fire with some great lines throughout the night, as is usual for him, the table talk master.

"I guess I'll cap it." With KK in the SB after the Superdonk 3 bets from LP, and of course he flops a set of Kings, gg.

"This is a Phan loves me call." And she does love him... More than the SD (jack pot smack, $1700 dollars for the SD to throw a chair at the Santi. Oh but wait that $1700 didn't happen.)

"Are you sure you want to do that? I have some back door draws." And in true Santi fashion, he goes runner-runner flush. Nice.

So I found myself able to pick up some decent sized pots have AK, AQ, AJ and other random assortments hold, save for my 2 sets. 1 that I flopped and some guy just calls w/ a gutty and rivers it, uggh. I turned another one against the Superdonk but is doesn't hold.

Hero has TT utg, and raises, called in 2 spots or whatever, SB calls as does the SD.

Flop: K 9 8 (2 spades)

Checked to me I fire it, called in 1 spot and then the SD check raises, I call as does the guy in the hand.

Turn: Offsuit T, (boom????)

SD leads out, Hero raises, other guy folds, SD calls. All right I know his hand now,I just have to dodge a spades on the river and I scoop.

River: 2 of spades, RIGGGGED!!!!!

He leads, thanks to Superdonk for that. I call, he shows KJ of spades. Nothing that I could do, nice hand to SD.

From then on, the Santi started to free fall, as did the SD who was up about +$240 or so until, he got rapezorded in a kill pot w/ a set of threes vs. the nut straight, vs. the 2nd nut straight. PAIR THE BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was a $300+ pot.

After I flopped 2 pair twice, I found my self even at about 1 a.m. Then fell off a little bit and we all decided to make a run at the truck stop for some chicken fried steak and eggs, and a tuna melt. Yeah, I am life-nit I had the tuna melt. ("Dude don't be such a Vagine, I gotta get a red bull before class.")

Thanks to the SD, and the Superstar for chauffeuring to and from the Creek of Cache.

Hopefully next week some time we will return and hit up the Aces Cracked extravaganza for about 6 hours.

-Late

Session No. 20 Cache Creek (12/13)

4/8 Kill TP = +300 TSP = 5 Hrs

Made the 4/8 Superstar and I ventured up to the Creek and were seated at an almost broken 4/8 Kill Table. We played 5 handed for about and hour or so, and Nik and I played pretty aggro just like 6-max online.

The Persian man, Dominic, who was in seat 6 and was feeling like he was in the mood to donate, and got pissed when I didn't show at his request. I guess I shouldn't pissed off the fish and just showed him. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate the upcoming concepts from the "Don't tap the Glass: How to keep the fish at the table," by the Santi.

Anyways, I have to say that I ran pretty well and the opposite side of the table was donating all its chips to our side. Seats 1-4 were pretty solid the whole night with Chili (who made $2500 for rivering quad 3's), the 4/8 Superstar, myself, and Pat, a solid player who liked to gamble. All of us didn't clash to much through out the whole night. Chili got me once when he flopped a boat w/ JT and I just had TPTK. Oh well.

There was a guy that just kept paying off, and paying off, and paying off. Jason, who tried to bluff waaaaaay to much on pretty much every hand. It was great, I probably made about $60 solely off of him.

Big hands of the night:

QQ flopped set turned boat. Called down in 2 spots
AK in Kill Pot
K-rag OS - Rivered 2nd nut flush
Q-rag OS - ""
KK holds in big pot
Another had that I can't mention, that I will never play like that again. The Superstar know what hand this is.

I took down many many small pots w/ just a cbet and aggression.

The only hand that I will post a HH about is a TT hand solely from the reason that I felt a huge improvement in my game.

Hero in Hi-Jack w/ TT

Limped in 1 spot, folded to Hero who raises
Called by Button, blinds, and limper.

Flop: A 9 4 rainbow.
Checked to me, I fire called in 2 spots

Turn: A puts 2 flush out
Checked to me I fire again. Called only by button. At this point, I felt that I was good here and he didn't have the Ace, this is about one of the safest cards that I felt could come off at this point, or obviously another ten.

River: 2
So, I figured just to check call to, on the off chance that he had the Ace it would only be $8 instead of $16.

This is just a point that I would have gave up and fold to a bet on the turn. But times have changed.

Thanks to the Superstar for coming out. Most likely there will be another trip up to the Creek next week some time.

-Cheers

Session No. 19 Capitol Casino Tues (12/11)

Capitol Casino: 4/8 Kill TP = +170 TSP = 5 Hrs

Well this was a pretty fun night I think for everyone at the table, we had the 4/8 Superstar in seat 3, the 4/8 Superdonk in seat 4, and then yours truly, the 4/8 Supernit in seat 5. Oh and might I add, we had the 72 Prop Bet going the whole night, some fool did get it, I don't quite remember who it was. This night could have seen me up about $300, had I not ran a set into a flush, and AK w/ TPTK into QQ for a set, oh well that'll happen.

Thanks to the Superstar and the Superdonk who came out to Phó Bác for food.

My night started off pretty slow as I as placed in a straight 4/8 game with some capitol regulars, a man who resembled Hubie Brown, and of course some other guys who were your typical Capitol players. I think I ended up chopping only 1 hand with a straight in 3 orbits, and then I was moved to the Kill Table where all the fun started.

I found myself being able to change gears a little bit, I was getting super aggro (for me Santi), and I was open raising w/ A6s, raising limper w/ A5s, playing very loose from the SB and late position w/ your assortment of suited semi connected cards etc. Even pulled out a ten-high bluff on 2 people towards the end of the night to get my only kill of the session.

Man this was a fairly aggro-table, there were a couple people just willing to gamble and raise any two cards and then play them way to far. Gotta love that kinda stuff. My first hand of any was AQs over a weaker Ace and I took down the pot. Then after the Superstar, and the Superdonk were moved to my table, I had a fairly interesting hand:

Kill Pot 8/16
Hero has 66 OTB

Folded to Hero who open limps, meh. Probably a bad play in retrospect should have just popped it. Douche with the kill button in the big blind calls. Flop comes: 5 4 2 rainbow nice. He checks I bet, he calls. Turn 2, great card, he checks I make it 16, he calls. River J, uh good??? Then the douche leads out. Fuck there just went $48. I say this a terrible call, and of course call and ask him if he got there and he said no. Sweet, and I scoop the pot. NO HERO CALLS!!!!

An orbit or two after that, the older gambling man live 8's and then the cool Azn cat in seat 1 makes it 3 bets to go, and I look down at JJ, nice, so I do as taught, make it 4 to go, and I think that I am way ahead of anybody right now and pray for a jack to flop. So the flop comes K 8 5 rainbow, eek, checked to me and I fire and of course everyone calls, oh well. Turn 2 harmless, so I really didn't believe anyone to have the king at this point so I decided to double barrel it and i worked and they all folded, and I scoop the pot.

Ah, now this hand is just staight up 6-max online strategy. It was limped in 3 spots and the Superdonk limped on the button. I complete in the SB w/ K5 of spades. Flop comes 7 6 3 with two spades, and I lead out, apparently no one wanted any of that accept the Superdonk, he just called. This sent out that he has some sort of straight draw or TP. Had he raised, I would have thought for sure, flush draw. But I digress, Turn a red T, and I fire again, thinking that he will give up on his goofy draw or top pair now with the overcard. The Superdonk just calls again. Hmm, now I am lost, I really thought that he had K7 or something like that. River A of diamonds, now I now that I am good, I don't know why. I just went for my initial assumption of putting him on the straight draw that didn't get there. I fire again, and he folds. Of course, to rub it in, I show my busted flush and straight draws, he he he.

And for the last hand that I got sooooo, lucky on, we will just call it Rapezord!!!!

HH:

Hero has 43os in the BB.
Limped in 2 spots, then folded to Superdonk in the SB who completes and I check my option.

Flop: 6 5 2 rainbow. Ship it!!!!!

SD checks, I check, seat 8 bets out, 1 caller, SD calls, I call.

Turn: K of spades

SD leads out, I can't wait any more I raise it up, other limpers fold, and he calls

River: Q (no flush)

SD checks, I bet, he calls. He says, "Two pair." And just as fast as he said that, I said, "Straight." He goes what???? Big Blind Special, yup.

In reality I probably should have just smooth called the turn and raised the river two get the extra bets from the other limpers, but I thought that the king hitting on the turn and the SD leading out, they wouldn't call anyway.

Might come back a little later to talk about, how I somehow faded like a bajillion outs on the Santi when I had bottom two pair FTW!!!

-Late.

Session No. 17 & 18 Capitol Casino Tues/Sun (11/20-11/25)

4/8: TP = +$90 TSP = 4 Hr

Both of these were pretty slow sessions and I went down to Capitol during the day on Tuesday to see what it was like. Can you say passive, passive, passive? It was like if anyone raised, no one would call. Except me, they must have thought that I was a action player because I was bullshitting alot with all the dealers and the older guys who know me a little bit now.

No really notable hands except one hand from yesterday when I played it less that optimal. See HH:

Hero is somewhere in MP w/ 44

UTG and UTG+1 limp, I call, and everyone calls (9 players) ($36)

Flop: K 4 6 rainbow (Booooooom!!!)

Checked to Hero who bets out. 5 of the 8 remaining players call. 6 to the turn. I am thinking please put up and Ace or some sort of paint. ($60)

Turn: 2h completes rainbow. I remember thinking that 53 got there but oh well.

Checked to me again, I fire, called in 2 spots. ($84)

River: 10

I bet again and am called by one player, I show and take the pot. ($100)

Dam, I really wanted to play that differently but I felt that with 4 players left behind me containing 2 aggro-asians and a action SB who loves to go for the Check-Raise, I was thinking that there was a good chance that it would get raised behind me. But then when they just called I knew that I had to straight fire the turn and not go for the CR.

Any way that was a pretty nice pot.

In other news, I have moved up online and am now playing $0.50/$1.00 full ring, the action is pretty sick, and I feel that I can play my tight game and do all right.

Session No. 16 Capitol Casino Sunday 11/18

4/8 Kill: TP = +$40 TSP = 3 Hr

Ugg, this session was ugly. Was up $120 and then I proceeded to whiff/set mine away $80 having 6 low pocket pairs in one orbit, and another orbit where I seemed to have A9s 4 times and AJs once.

The AJs hand was typical Capitol. Limped in 1 spot, then folded to me in the Hi-Jack I get AJ of clubs and raise it up, the CO 3 bets, then SB calls 3 bets and the BB calls, then the first limper caps, so we all call.

Flop is 6 3 2 All check.

Turn 8 all check

River 10

All check to CO who bets sb, bb fold limper calls, I fold.

CO has AK, limper has 44 to take the pot. Nice to limp-cap w/ 44!!! Capitol!!!

Session No. 15 Capitol Thurs Night (10/25)

4/8 Kill: TP = +$100 TSP = 4.5 Hr

I ran pretty well and had most of my big hands hold, save for a set of Kings that got ran down by 73s rivering the flush, and a certain AK of spades hands that was pretty nasty :-). But hey, got to play with the Santi and my friend JP. Thanks to TFong for coming out for dinner.

There is a lot to talk about, will update this weekend. This will basically be focused on my suffering from a case of FPS (Fancy Play Syndrome), and a couple spots where I felt that I made bad plays.


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

Yeah well as I was saying after some neglect to my blog, I ran pretty well had all assortments of playable hands. I also made one huge mistake:

Hero is OTB w/ the red Jacks

Hassan in seat 5 Live 8'd then it was folded to seat 9 who raised it up and then it folded to me, I re-raised, the BB calls, Hassan calls, and then seat 9 caps and all call.

Flop: 99T rainbow

BB checks, Hassan leads out, Seat 9 calls, I raise it up, BB folds Hassan 3 bets, Seat 9 calls, and I call.

Turn: Q puts to hearts on the board.

Hassan leads out, Seat 9 calls and I for some reason thought that I was way behind, and It wasn't worth the $8 on my 10 outs.

River blanks out. Hassan leads and Seat 9 calls w/ AT, Hassan shows 95os.

I made a terrible mistake will not do that again.

Other than that, outside of the 72 of hearts hand that the Santi snapped my AK of spades by turning two pair and dodging 9 spades on the river, I'd say that I played pretty well.

Just played Capitol again this weekend for about 4 hours and came down $30, so no big deal.

I did how ever get to maximize a couple hands, something that I haven't been able to do up to know in my game.

I flopped a set of deuces on a drawless board with 5 people in the pot and I waited until the turn to raise. It was f-ing sweet.

Also, before this I missed a chance to go for an over call when I turned a boat and the flush had hit, fuk, I should have just called and then raised the river.

Oh well, thats life.

Session No. 14 Capitol Casino Sunday (10/21)

4/8: TP = +$73 TSP = 2 Hr

Just a quick blurb, before I get to watching the game. Dam, did I play absolutely fucking atrocious. I had my head so far up my ass that it was difficult to breathe. I made two stupid moves that I just want to beat my head in for.

I feel that I am about to get owned by the Santi:

1: I have J8os in the BB and flop comes Jack high w/ 6 players, and a 2 flush on the board. Everyone Check, the turn is a 2 that pairs the boards and the SB immediately leads out. I fold, and only 2 others call. I knew that I was good and needed to make the call. But the way that the SB (uber donkish) bet out screamed I just made trips. Some ROT, I win the hand w/ Jacks up but whatever, I think that I made too much of a nitty play.

2: Here it is get ready to be owned. I have AsQs the next hand after I just survived dueling flush and straight draws w/ red Queens to make two pair on the river when the flop was capped and the turn was raised once. I was never behind in that hand but one player bet out, another raised a 8 high flop, I 3 bet and then It got capped. Etc, but I digress. Huge pot worth about $120.

Back to the action, I have AsQs, and raised it up. I get called in 5 spots. Flop comes Jx Ts 8c all right now I have a double gutty and a backdoor nut flush draw, and two overs. Prepare for ownage: SB leads, BB raises (extremely nittly) UTG calls, I fold. God dam it, just made a huge mistake, and didn't even think when I did it. Here were the odds: 7.5 to 1 on my roughly 10 outs. God dam I am a nit. Mde a huge mistake, and of course I gut it out and would have end up making the straight.

But I did manage to make a couple good plays and got called down by some weaker hands, that made my some money. I also couldn't hit a flush draw to save my life. I had 3 K-high flush draws go down the tube w/ a 2 flush on the flop. Oh well.

Let me have it. Gotta go, first pitch in 10 min.

Probably playing at Cap or Cache at night during the week depending on how my truck is doing with the check engine light.

Show some love. Late.

Bringin' It Back: Major League with Major Leaguers

Boredom breeds creativity, sometimes:

If Major League was to be played by actual Major League ball players who would be on the roster?

Center Field:
Willie Mays Hayes – Kenny Lofton

Catching:
Jack Parkman – AJ Pierzenski
Rube Baker – Doug Mirabelli
Jake Taylor – Gary Carter

Third Base:
Roger Dorn – Chuck Knoblauch, or A-Rod

Left Field:
Hiroshi Kazahiro Tanaka – So Taguchi Obviously

Right Field:
Pedro Cerrano – Manny Ramirez (Because he had a slow start, and then brought it on later in the season)

Wild Thing Rick Vaughn:
Rick Ankiel (when he first came up with the lack of control), Trevor Hoffman (when he lost his velocity), and finally Rod Beck, RIP, (with the shooter mentality, and the crazy haircut).

Eddie Harris:
Jamie Moyer (the thumber, who can toss all kinds of crap up to the dish). Also considered, Gaylord Perry because of the KY-Balls, Vaseline curveballs, and sandpaper splittys.

Shooby (The Slow Lefty Guy):
Rick Ruschell. Big Daddy, fat, slow, and garbage.

Clue Haywood:
No question, John Kruk in the prime of his Phillies career, with the huge-ass dip and gut.

Post a comment if you have improvements to my shabbily put together list.

Session No. 13 Capitol Casino (10/13)

4/8 Kill: TP = -90 TSP = 3 Hrs

Blah. This was pretty lame. Ran pretty cold the whole day, only playing 3 hours. I wanted to play for about 6 hours but I was getting bored and wasn't getting any playable hands and decided to go home.

Made 2 mistakes:

1) Not calling down w/ TPGK AQ vs. AK on an Ace high flop. That was a mistake that was just too nitty.

2) Leading into the field w/ JTs w/ a couple back door draws and top pair probabaly was a stupid move.

The table was completely dead, and I was card dead.

Oh well. Not much more to say.

Session No. 11 & 12 Lucky Derby and Capitol Casino

4/8 1/2 Kill: TP = +40 TSP = 4 Hrs (Last Weekend 9/30)
4/8 Kill: TP = +$100 TSP = 3.5 Hrs (Friday Night 10/6)

Had a pretty swingy session both days. Will get more into the Capitol Session later, I felt that I played pretty solid and ran decently well, just got ran down in two big pots.

Hand I felt that I played ok but could have got a lot more value out of:

Hero is UTG+1 w/ Black Aces
Uber Donk UTG w/ K4os
Solid Female LAGish (Tammy) to my left w/ AKos

Preflop:
UberDonk limps, Hero Raises, Tammy 3bets, Some other idiot in LP calls,Uberdonk calls, Hero caps, All Call

Flop: 2dAh5d BOOOOM!!!

Checked to me, I lead, Tammy Raises, LP folds, Uberdonk calls, I 3bet, Tammy caps.

Turn: 4h

Checked to me I fire, Tammy just calls, Uberdonk calls,

River: 4d BOOOOM!!!

Checked to me, I fire again, called in both spots.

I rake it in ($176 pot)

How would you guys have played it? I played it this way because it was very easy especially the uberdonk to have 2 diamonds here and I wanted to get in the most value if he didn't hit.

I guess that I could have just called Tammy's flop raise, and check raised the turn and hope that she 3 bets, but that might not have happened.

What do you think?

I will talk about some other nicely played hands later.

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

From that last Capitol Session I played another hand exceptionally well, but I did end up gettin lucky. Turned trips vs. top pair when I raised pf w/ AJs and flop came king high.

I snapped QQ from the BB w/ As8s.

Flop comes Ace high I and CR'd the crap out of this woman who just calls down w/ 2nd pair. Thanks :-)

I made 2 mistakes that I can remember.

1.) Check raising w/ TPGK against a pf three bet in late position.
-Hand AsTs UTG and I raised it, gets called in 3 spots, then the button 3 bets. All call. Flop comes AK6, all check to raiser who bets, I then CR'd, 2 call, button 3 bets, I call hoping to pick up some sort of draw, and then check fold the turn. He ended up showing AK to top two.

Does anyone else play this hand like that? It was the second hand that he played at the table and I didn't have his range down yet.

I did learn, however, that he was the type of player that only would bet/raise w/ TP or better. So I guess that he played somewhat optimally minus being aggressive w/ draws.

2. Versus that same button player, action gets folded to him and he open raises, I am dealt AQos in the BB. I knew that he could have any hand like A9+ so I should have 3bet for value to define my hand.

Comment, complaints, concerns?

Session No. 10 Cache Creek Friday Night (9/22)

4/8 Kill: TP = +$140 (5.83 BBs/Hr) TSP = 3 Hrs

Tonight was a pretty short night for me at the Creek, boo. I had originally planned on playing until 2am and meeting up with the 4/8 Superstar (Nik Santi), and the 4/8 Super Donk, to get a 5 hour session in, but I became very mad, not at the table, and I figured that it would be better for me to just get up and leave.

The table last night was your typical assortment of LAGs and mostly LPPs, and a couple of guys who thought that they could bluff, and of course yours truly.

After getting moved from the 3/6 table, where I basically chatted it up with my friend from school and Cache Creek Dealer, Jon Olson, I proceeded to get dealt AQ of clubs my second hand and fire all the way down and pair my Q on the river and then I get bluff raised, but I call and the guy mucks and I don't show.

I feel that I am getting a more aggressive at the table, and feeling like that I can play a little bit better after the flop.

I won a couple big pots, 2 other little ones with AQ, and then I won a 8 way capped pre-flop w/ JJ. ($128 pot preflop) and of course the flop is AKK, and I lead out, then 2 people end up going all in, one had the K and the other 2 players missed their flush draws and I take 80 of that pot.

Best hand that I played of the night:

Hero is in the Hi-Jack w/ TT

Pre-flop: Folded to UTG+1 who raises to 8, UTG+2 cold calls, folded to Hero, Hero 3-bets, all fold and both the UTG+1, and UTG+2 call.

Flop: Q 7 5, or two other rag-like cards

UTG+1 Donk bets out, UTG+2 calls, Hero Raises to see where I am at, both call.

At this point I figure that I am in a good spot to take down the pot w/ a turn bet but then:

Turn: A, shit, I wanted bet again had a safe looking card came off.

It gets checked around.

River: 2

Again it gets checked trough, and Hero shows TT, UTG+2 shows 99, and UTG+1 shows KJs. That was a nice pot and but I still really wanted to bet that turn.

I feel that I am a little more comfortable playing some suited Aces in MP and hoping to flop a big hand, or strong draw.

So who knows for today, maybe I will return back out to Lucky Derby for about 6 hours.

Comments, questions, concerns?

Limelight and Lucky Derbry: Two Short Sessions

Lucky Derby: 4/8 Half-Kill: TP = +$40 TSP = 2 Hrs
Limelight: 3/6 Half-Kill: TP = +$20 TSP = 1Hr 30 Mins

Well I haven't been playing live since my last trip to Cap a few weeks back, and I thought that this week I would check out some of the other Cardrooms in Sacramento.

Overall opinion of these places:

Limelight: The players were soooooo aggressive and terrible. I actually saw one just 3-bet pre-flop with K5os vs my TT, and of course he won. But you pretty have to go to showdown with the nuts, because I have never seen players just call w/ and Ace and try to hit, or just look for that wicked two pair draw. Didn't really like the structure, tooo small, it was pretty boring to me.

Lucky Derby: This was the opposite end of the spectrum. The players were sooo passive. Everyone limped around and just was passive as all hell. When I was first moved to the table from the normal 4/8 game, I was dealt AK and raised it up, everyone said wow woah woah??? What you doing that for??? As I got 5 callers and took down the pot with a C-bet. Not one pot was 3bet pre-flop, that pissed me off. The structure of the game is pretty odd, they have no Small Blind, wtf? But I might make another trip back there.

As for the issue of my play. I got a little to loose in MP w/ a suited Ace at LL and lots a couple bets in a pot that I shouldn't have been involved in. I ran TPTK into a set and had to call down against a prop player at the Derby. But all in all I feel that I played fairly decent and stayed disciplined. I played pretty straight forward and didn't go for the unsure CR.

At Lucky Derby I was up about 85 at one point but I blinded and whiffed my way down w/ overs and AK/AQ to +40 but that is way it goes. I had one huge combo nut flush straight draw that didn't come in which would have been a huge 100+ pot but oh well...

I give the Limelight a 5 out of 10, and Lucky Derby a 7.5 out of 10.

Session No.9 Saturday Capitol Casino 9/1

It was a losing day not too bad at Capitol Casino for me; not a pleasant welcome back to live poker. I hate live poker right now, I mean Capitol. Plus I am running mediocre at best. Running KK into AA, 2 pair into straights, I can't hit 1 draw to save my life; it is just soo frustrating to say the least.

This session was just atrocious on both other players part and my part as well. I made 3, really 2 mistakes.

For the first time at Capitol I saw a player that played Santi-like very TAG and was running just the Santi was running a few months back hitting 3 nut flush draws, and catching up when behind to top pair. He was a 20 something Filipino guy who who had good table talk. We didn't clash much save for 1 hand where he completed the SB w/ 85s and I limped behind a couple of people w/ AJos and flop cam J88, first limper leads, I raise, Filipino guy Check 3bet and I call/folded the turn.

Quick Recap:

QJ < 75s
98 > JT (Rivered Boat!)
KQ < 84s (Douche goes runner-runner flush of course)
KK < AA (All-In) I won the side pot w/ Kings up vs. another player who flopped 2 pair)
AA < TT (Capped 4 way preflop) That just sucked that I couldn't hold
AK > KT (Older Chicano man w/ Sombrero live 8'd and I obvisouly 3 balled it called in 4 places)

I lost a ton on missed draws today. I couldn't hit one!!! In other news, I haven't hit a set since the Clinton Administration and my premium hands can't get any action.

Mistakes.

1. Not betting the river w/ TPTK when the flush hits on the river with position (1 BB missed)

2. Not raising the AJos after a couple people limped into the pot vs the Filipino cat. (ROT possibly)

3. The KQ hand w/ TPGK and the guys went runner runner and I led out on the river and of course he raised, I called. Didn't really have him on a flush draw. Had him more on a weak King.

4. The KK vs. AA vs. Flopped 2 pair hand. This is the hand that really bothered me and I wanted to kick myself for it.

HH

Capped PF. I am in MP, AA in EP (all in PF), other AZN guy calls 3 bets cold w/ Q8os, nice.

Flop: Q 8 4 rainbow, the AZN and myself capped the flop.

Turn: 4 Not I am thinking, wtf? I checked, he bet, I called.

River: Blank of some sort, I checked, he bet, I called.

I knew that on that turn, I was good and should have CR'd, I just I had no Idea what that guy would call 3 bets cold w/ PF. I honestly thought that he had 88.

What do you guys think??

As a vow to myself, I am not going to play until I run my online roll to double what it is right now, and I feel that am more comfortable w/ playing certain hands from LP.

Quick question about Blind defense and hands to play from the small blind:

What hands do you defend with against a raise, and what hands can you complete with in the SB?

Also how do you feel about K9s-K2s in LP??? I just fold the crap out of them, Is this wrong? Maybe a little too tight?

Taking a Break/Vacation

Well, tomorrow I will be vacating the US for Ocotlan, Jalisco MEX for the first time... It will be awesome.

"No bosses droning on and on about mission statements, etc." And no I will not have a case of the "Luneses," sometimes the espanol no se tranducir. Pero en este momento, yo voy a, sorry I hit the SAP button there for a second. And we're back...

But anyway, I am gonna take a little break from online which I have just don't absolutely atrocious at. I have been running sooooo very cold and horrid I can't explain. It seems like I have been getting 2-outed on the river and people chasing me and hitting all the time. I have been getting my sets cracks, flushes cracked (the few that I actually hit), gutter balled like no other, it is really sik, and yes Santi I now hate the word sik. All this in the course of the last 2 weeks or so. PT says that I have only turned 6/30 winning sessions, I know I suck.

I have reviewed the sessions and I am not playing any differently, I am just getting sucked out on, a lot!!!

My favorite is I get AK in the BB flop TPTK on a board of A 7 8 no flush and 45 is calling me down to River star the straight.

And live I am just the iceman. But I think that a little R and D and R (Recreation, Drinking, and Rest), is what I need. And a change of scenery when I get back. Don't know if I will be hitting up the Derby or back to Cache. But all I know is that I just have been running so incredibly cold at Capitol the last few sessions that I just need a little difference.

I think that Labor Day weekend will be the next time that I play. Will be reading SS for the first time in MX maybe SS2 just for the limit section.

To the 4/8 Superdonk and Nik, the only 2 people who know that I have a blog, buenas suerte!!!!

Session No. 8 7/29 Capitol Casino

4/8 Kill: -$120 TSP = 4 Hrs 30 Min BB/Hr: -3.33 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K & 4/8 (since 5/8): +$476 TSP = 36 Hrs 0 Min BB/Hr: 1.65BB/Hr

-Blahhhhhhhhhhh

Played with some of the worst players that I have seen yet. Most notably, an older Asian woman who would play every, I mean every hand, no joke, and draw to 4 outers like nobody's business. I counted that she hit 6 gutterballs; of course one against yours truly.

A:d:Q:d: < K9os

I was on the button in a kill pot. Limped in 3 spots, Hero raises, BB and all call.

Flop; J 4 3 rainbow

All check to Hero who bets, 1 fold, others calls

Turn: Q (85 % to win)

All check to Hero who bets, 2 fold, old Asian bitch (AB), I mean woman, calls

River: T

AB leads, Hero calls w/ TPTK. AB shows K9 for runner runner straight.

LOL. I told her, "The was an outstandingly egregious play on your part, Nice Hand."
"Keep playing like that, please." I don't know why, but this woman just pissed me off to no end the whole night. But I really hope that she is at my table next session, playing every hand, paying off trying to run down 4 outers.

That was the only hi-light errr, low-light of the night; other than the fact that I couldn't hit a straight or flush draw to save my life. But hey, that's poker.

I can, however, see the silver lining in my game:

1. It is all just bets now, not money. Finally took me a while to get out of that mentality.

2. I have seen myself have the ability to use aggression to buy free cards and gain information against weak foes now.

3. Way more aggressive w/ flush and straight draws even when I am not hitting.

4. I am not changing the way that I play even when the session is going good or bad for that matter.

5. I have improved my hand reading skills. It was pretty sick today, I could tell probably %60-%70 of the time what players were holding.

6. I am just getting that sense in the way that people are betting (physically and concretely) of what they hold. I picked off a couple guys today when I held middle pair and they held AK and AQ. The flop would blank on them but they would C-bet anyway and I would pop them with a raise, they would call and then check fold the turn.

What I am trying to say is that the results will come, I am feeling my self improve other aspects of the game beyond Pre-flop holdings, and when to slow play etc. It is those gray areas that I need to improve upon.

Maximization

Well after tonight's session at Capitol I realized that I apparently suck at maximizing my good hands and betting for value on the river when a scare card comes. I can recall 2 similar situations where the river made a 3-flush and I had TPTK and just checked instead of betting.

That right there was 2 BB's missed and they do add. If that happens 2 a session for 3 sessions that a good amount of money lost.

I guess that I just need to fire it out there when the scare card comes and hope that the villain didn't make the flush or straight. That is part of my game where I need to improve.

The other I need to work on is playing aggressively with marginal made hands w/ isolation raises. I haven't really done this at all and will be looking into this when I practice online.

I will be re-reading the SSHE section on betting for value on scary boards and focusing on that aspect in practice online.

Santi: Anything else that I need to work (yes I know raise more) on off the top of your head?

Session No.7 7/18 Capitol Casino

4/8: +$20 TSP = 3 Hrs 30 Min BB/Hr: 0.71 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K & 4/8 (since 5/8): +$596 TSP = 31 Hrs 30 Min BB/Hr: 2.37BB/Hr

Uhhhggggg...

Recap:

AT > 88
77 > 55 Set over Set Capped Flopped got called down in 2 spots.
AK > K9
99 > ??
AA > ?? Flopped boat checked flop, no takers on the turn.
A5 > Some sort of Flush. Flopped 2 pair, villain turned flush, Hero luckboxes the boat.
KK < A6os

KQos < QTos Flopped TPGK, LAG villain CR'd, I got nitty and just called; mistake should have 3bet but didn't have a read on him b/c it was his first hand at the table, turned blanked, villain rivers 3 outer for top two pair. :(

Well tonight was pretty slow. Got to Capitol around 5:30pm and started playing 15 mins after. I recognized about 3 players from previous sessions and they weren't that talented very loose passive

Also, I saw one other semi-solid player. He looked like an Asian version of Mike Santi with a receding hair line. I was talking with him and found out that he is a NL player that plays at Lucky Derby and Limelight. So that automatically made me think that he was a LAG, and he was. He left up about $150+ or so. I saw him make so pretty smooth plays to not lose players when he had a monster. Like waiting till the river to raise w/ the flopped nut straight w/ 5 people in the pot. Sneaky play but he was catching a pretty good rush of cards.

As for my play, I flopped 3 sets, and a boat, and only got paid off on one of those hands. That was unfortunate, but hey that is gonna happen somedays. I attribute this to the fact that my table was in the Pai Gow room and no other hold 'em games were going on so it was a subdued atmosphere.

I didn't run too great preflop (not too many SCs or mid PP or suited Aces in LP), and had no flopped no major draws. I played somewhat tight most of the night but I had to.

Could possibly be playing this weekend in SLO in a 4/8 Half-Kill Game but who knows...

Found a major flaw in my game which I haven't repaired or worked on that much. See the next post.

Session No. 6 7/15 Capitol Casino

4/8 Kill : -$10 TSP = 3 Hours BB/Hr: -0.42 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K & 4/8 (since 5/8): +$576 TSP = 28 Hrs BB/Hr: 2.57 BB/Hr
Overall (since 5/8): +$576 TSP = 28 Hrs $/Hr: $20.57/Hr


Fairly short session, but I had to go.

Quick Recap:

55 < 62s < 83s Flopped bottom set capped flop, got ran down by flush on river.
AJ < JJ Some guy slowplayed his top set, CR'd turn I called down.
AA > ?? in Kill Pot
QQ > ?? in Kill Pot
AK > AT Filled the Boat on turn
Hit a couple BB specials

Was down $80 until my last hand UTG in a Kill Pot.

Hero UTG w/ A:s:A:h:

Hero raised to $16, called in 3 spots ($64)

Flop: was 967 rainbow

Hero leads called in 2 spots ($88)

Turn: 6 still rainbow

Hero leads called in 1 spot ($120)

River: 2

Hero leads, doesn't get called. ($80 profit)

Players were horrible again. Saw one guy who was a solid LAG, but for the most part the table was loose passive.

Might play later on this week before I take off for SLO.

Session No. 5 7/8 Capitol Casino

4/8 : +$154 TSP = 6 Hours BB/Hr: 3.21 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K & 4/8 (since 5/8): +$586 TSP = 25 Hrs BB/Hr: 2.93 BB/Hr
Overall (since 5/8): +$586 TSP = 25 Hrs $/Hr: $23.44/Hr

Well let me just start out by saying that today could have been a huge, huge, day for me... There was a random assortment of LPP's, at the table, not really anyone that was two terribly talented.

However, Captain Four/Two Outer made a whirl wind tour into Capitol Casino and ran me down in 3 big pots.

Didn't run Santi-like, but decent run none the less.

I got laid some pretty sick beats, Aces got cracked twice; once by Q8os, and once by 68os who called 3bets cold preflop.

Hands of note:

JJ > AA Flopped set
QQ > AJ Flop was Jack-high
62 > ?? Douche Bag called river and then mucked
KQ > AQ Made straight on Turn

Won numerous smaller pots by aggression and w/ TP in the beginning of the session but towards the end the C-Bets were getting called.

Now on to Captain 4/2-Outer. He took two forms today, 1st in seat 8, and then later to my direct left in seat 5.

First 2-Outer.

Hero is in BB w/ Black AA

Pre-flop: 2 folds, Captain-2-Outer Calls, 1 caller, folded to SB who raises, Hero 3-bets, Captain-2-Outer Calls, Limper callers, SB caps, All Call. (8 BBs)

Flop: Q:s: T:d: 6:h:
SB leads, Hero Raises, Captain-2-Outer Calls, limper folds, SB just calls. (11 BBs)

Turn: T:c:
SB Checks, Hero bets, Captain-2-Outer calls, SB calls.

River: Q:d:

SB Checks, Hero Bets, Captain-2-Outer just calls WTF???, SB calls (14 BBs)

SB shows KK :(
Hero Shows AA :(
Captain-2-Outer Shows Q8os.

2 orbits prior to this hand Seat 5 (Captain-4-Outer) rivered a gutterball vs. my top two pair and slow-rolled the table not showing until the dealer was shoving me the chips. What an ass goblin!!!

On to the action:

Hero is in the CO w/ A:s:3:s: I love suited Aces in LP for cheap

Preflop: 2 players limp, Hero calls, Captain-4-Outer calls on the button, SB completes, and BB checks option. (6 players WoW, hit me some spades!!!) (3 BBs)

Flop: 9:s: T:s: 5:s:

Prayer answered.

Check to player to my right who bets out, before acting I saw Captain-4-Outer reaching for chips to raise so I decided to flat-call then 3bet and trap the fuck out of the table.

Captain-4-Outer raises, only one limper calls and guy to my right calls, Hero 3-bets, Captain-4-Outer just calls as does the limper and guy to my right. (9 BBs)

Turn: 4:c:

Check to Hero who bets, both call. (12 BBs)

River: T:c: Ah, fuck.

Player to my right checks, Hero bets, Captain-4-Outer Raises, Guy to my right calls, and Hero just calls. (18 BBs)

When he raised, I said, "Dam, you just caught a 2 outer on me didn't you??? Great catch."

Of course

Hero shows A3 of spades for the nut flush :(
Guy to my right shows Q7 of spades for 2nd nut flush :(
Captain-2-Outer shows T9os for tens full

I guess that I can't blame him, he did have top-two pair on the flop. I guess that I just blame the deck.

I beg of you, please keep calling me when I have two-pair, and the nut flush trying to hit your two and four outers.

I was a 90% favorite to win that hand, oh well.

Maybe more later. Not too much to talk about.

Session No. 4 7/4 Capitol Casino

4/8 : +$200 TSP = 4 Hours BB/Hr: 6.25 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K & 4/8 (since 5/8): +$432 TSP = 19 Hrs BB/Hr: 2.84 BB/Hr
Overall (since 5/8): +$432 TSP = 19 Hrs $/Hr: $22.72/Hr

First trip to Capitol, scouted a bit last night and felt it could be profitable. So I sat down just after 1 pm and played a little past five.

The play was very-very loose passive at this table, and people were showing down all kinds of junk. I can't say how many time I saw someone play T4s UTG and rationalize it by saying it was suited. My kind of players. Wouldn't mind making another trip back down there.

The 4/8K game looked a little bit more wild that the one at Cache on average 6 to a flop. Don't quite think I am comfortable w/ that one at Capitol yet. Should be playing Cache Creek on Sunday during the day.

Quick Recap:

TT > 68 - Flopped top set, villain (LAG) flopped middle pair and called down
QQ > KK and Other random hand - Capped pre-flop, 3-bet flop faded out the flush draw.
AKs > AQos - Flopped TPTK, Made two pair on turn kept firing.
77 > ATos - Flopped middle set, villain flopped TPTK
KQ > ATos - Flopped OESD, Hit Nut straight on turn when villian made two pair

Other not so good hands:

AKs < 87os Flopped nut flushed draw on board which made villain trips, and turned quads.

Oh might I add, I raised on the button, BB 3-bet, douche-bag w/ 87os calls 2 cold and I cap that bitch. I knew exactly what she had when she donk bet into me and I still raised her any way.

QJ < AQ Flopped TPGK. Middle aged man didn't raise PF even and I wanted to fuckin' slap this guy when he showed down AQ on the river.

KQ < KT < ATs It was five handed, so I raised in MP got 2 callers. Flopped TPGK, KT douche goes runner-runner straight, and ATs goes runner runner flush. Of course I was praying for a deuce on the river.

KJ < A4os Both villains checked flop w/ and Ace I catch a king on the turn a

Made a 2 bet mistake when I called turn and river. Maybe a little to aggressive w/ 2nd pair.

Will post some HH's later. For the most part the hands I took down were standard.

_______

Some quotes and evidence of stupidity:

Seat 4 a douchey woman who was a regular at capitol, and donked off 1 buy-in in 1 hour.

“Well, I guess I would play J3, if it was suited.” Seat 2, “Of course I’d play that, its suited.”

Quick HH (5-handed) Got a little aggressive with this hand, but hey gotta do it when SH’d.

1 fold to Hero in MP w/ K:s:Q:d: who raises to $8, 1 fold, and both Hi-Jack and CO call. (3 BBs)

Flop K:h: 6:d: 7:s:

Hero bets $4, both Hi-Jack and CO call (4.5 BBs)

Turn 8:d: Blinds check, Hero bets $8, Hi-Jack and CO call (7.5 BBs)

River 9:d:

I was thinking “Shit, I just got runner-runnered, dam.”

Hero checks, Hi-Jack bets, CO calls, Hero Folds. (9.5 BBs)

CO shows KTos for runner-runner straight
Hi-Jack shows A:d:T:d: for runner-runner Flush

So after the hand, Seat 4, who had the straight, asked me what I had and I said, “I had both you guys until the river.” She says, “I had top-pair, and a straight draw on the flop.”
I respond, “Yeah, well I still had the lead going to the river.”

Please keep calling me down w/ TP medium kicker, and try to hit your runner-runner straight. Your chips will be in my stack more often than you will take mine.

And, I guess that moron w/ AT of diamonds was calling cause he had an overcard, but still that is just a horrible play.

HH:

This was my second orbit at the table and I am in the CO and have A:s:K:c:

1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $8, gets two callers, Hero 3-bets, both blinds call, and original raiser and all callers throw in the extra bet. Holy hell, 6 to the flop (6 BBs)

Flop K:s: T:c: 6:c:
All check to UTG+1 who donk bets, 1 fold, 1 call, Hero raises to $8 just BB, UTG+1 , and MP calls. (10 BBs)

Turn 6:s:

All check to Hero who bets $8, BB folds, UTG+1 and MP calls (13 BBs)

River 4:d: Ha, just faded the flush draws!!!

All check to Hero who bets $8, only UTG+1 calls

UTG+1 shows KJos for TPGK
Hero shows A:s:K:c: for TPTK and wins (15 BBs)

Last HH:

Hero in OTB w/ QQ

2 limpers, folded to Hero who Raises to $8, SB 3-bets, all call to Hero caps, all call. (8 BBs)

Flop A Q 6 rainbow

SB bets, 1 fold, 2nd limper raises, Hero 3-bets, both call (12.5 BBs)

Turn 4 (rag) all check to Hero who bets $8 both call (15.5 BBs)

River A blank low card, all check to Hero who bets $8, only SB calls (17.5 BBs)

Biggest pot of the day.

Hero shows QQ for a set of Queens
SB shows KK for second Pair.

Session No. 3 Sunday (6/10/07)

4/8 Kill: +$4 TSP = 6 Hours BB/Hr: 0.083 BB/Hr
Overall 4/8K (since 5/8): +$232 TSP = 15 Hrs BB/Hr: 1.93BB/Hr
Overall (since 5/8): +$232 TSP = 15 Hrs $/Hr: $15.46/Hr

As for my play lately I feel that I am playing at maybe 2.5 BB/hr not so much as the actual 1.7 BB/hr, hopefully I can improve this and get to an even 2 BB/hr.

Well, this was a pretty slow session, played for the longest time in a while. There were a lot of ups and down, but being that I didn’t run as spectactular as I did last session, (got ran down a couple of times at the end of the session that brought me down to +$4, was up about $50).

As far as mistakes go, yeah I still got a little bit nitty with 99 and the table was 5-handed. Nick was kinda steaming cause he wasn’t hitting with a couple big hands and I limped in UTG+1 w/ 99 Santi raised w/ AJ os and 4 callers. Flop was a bunch of blanks gets checked to the river and I should have raised PF and took the lead. I am still learning to translate the online to live. I have learned something new the last three sessions and I am feel that I am slowly but surely turning up the aggression.

Evidence of turned up aggression. I was giving no respect everyone’s (except Nick) raises PF.

Hero in Hijack w/ K:h:J:c:

PF:

1 limp, Hero limps, folded to SB who completes, BB raises, all call. (4 BBs)

Flop: 8 J 4 rainbow

SB checks, BB bets, 1 fold, Hero Raises, SB folds, BB calls. (6 BBs)

Turn: T (puts 2 flush on board)

BB checks, limper checks, Hero bets, BB calls, limper folds.(8 BBs)

River: 6 blank

BB checks, BB bets, BB calls (10 BBs)

Results:

BB shows A:s:8:s: for Pair of 8’s
Hero show K:h:J:c: for Pair of Jacks, and wins
Guys raised PF but he was a total donk and I wasn’t about to respect his range, he was the kind that over values the Ace-Rag.

Hand 2: More Aggression

Kill Pot Stakes are 8/16 now

Kill Blind is UTG, hero is UTG+1 w/ J:s:J:c:

Pre-Flop:

Hero first to act and raises to $16, Santi folds saying woah, 2 folds, Jordanian thin man calls, folded to BB who calls, and Kill Blind Calls. (4 BBs $64)

Flop: 8:c: K:d: 8:s:

Checked to hero, who bets $8, all fold.

Hero wins pots of (4.5 BBs) $72.

Played this hand sort of aggressive and it payed off. Obviously not the type of flop that favor JJ but I figure 1 of 2 things would happen: 1) I C-Bet and Get Raised, then Call hoping to snap a Jack on the turn, if not, check fold. Or 2? 2) I C-Bet and all fold, I rake it in. Luckily the latter happened.

I played another hand I guess sorta questionable, maybe a little too loose, but I figured it was early enough in the session that if I had to show down I would get a looser image and the table, namely Renato, the drunk guy in seat 3, point this hand out to the table.

Hero is in Hijack w/ A:h:5:h:

Pre-Flop:
2 flops, 2 limps, Hero limps, Santi Folds, SB folds, BB checks option. (4 SBs)

Flop: Q:h: 3:h: 5:c:

BB bets, limpers call, Hero raises, all call. (6 BBs)

Turn: 4:s: Now I have 3 outs to two pair, 2 out to trip 5s, 3 outs to the wheel, 9 outs to the nut flush. I figure roughly 15 clean outs, maybe the ace would give some one a higher two pair.

Check to hero who bets $8, BB calls, 1 fold, other limper calls.(9 BBs)

River: Blank don’t remember think it was a 9 or something like that.

All check, Hero shows A5 for a pair of fives, BB showed Ace high, limper mucked.

Was this too loose Pre-Flop?

Other Hands of Notes:

A:d:K:h < K8os runner runner straight.
A:c:Q:c: > 67os hit gutter on turn
A:s:K:s: < ?? Whiffed flop, folded turn in kill pot.
A:c:K:c: < T:s:8:s:
K:c:T:c: > Flop A:s: Q:c: J:c: turned flush w/ opened straight flush draw to royal. Jordanian man turned two pair.

But yeah, I guess pre-flop I ran fairly well, just couldn’t get any significant hands to hold. That AKos hand would have put my up 85 for the night instead came down to 4 bucks up.

Still gotta practice a bit more with the aggression and the questionable raising hands.

Next time, if I get a questionable hand like the 99 in MP raise, raise, raise.

Might play next week sometime don’t know when though. Possibly a trip to Silver Fox with my nine, or might make my first trip to Capitol which I have heard the swings are ridiculous.

$300 at Silver Fox for Aces Cracked. Enough Said. Probably not but we’ll see.

Apologies to Santi for biting his format, its just looks so clean.

Forgot profit from 5/8 session. (Quad 8s)

5/30 4/8 Kill Session: Running Better

So, as I had stated before I just wanted to run a little bit better, catch a few better starting hands. That ended up happening today.

As for my general thoughts on the session and my overall play: I like playing during the daytime, my session lasted 4 hours (2pm - 6pm) and I just felt awake and more in the game than when I play at night. I found that I shouldn't listen to music that much when I am playing because I distracts me too much, even when I am not in a hand. I originally thought that I was going to use the iPod today, however I decided to do more important things like constantly get inside the other player's heads to play along with them and adjust their starting hand range.

The players during the daytime, at least today, were very very passive and extremely loose. I don't know how many times that I saw someone limp with AKos, TT, AQs, AA, KK, and countless other premium preflop holdings. Although it was a little frustrating at first, I then became accustomed to this style of play.

My session was characterized by my big hands holding in a three kill pots, and my other hands hitting, and sometimes just picking up a pot with a C-Bet. All in all, I felt my play improving. Played my hands pretty fast, against these passive players, I felt like if I gave them the chance of checking they would take it, so the check raise was a little dulled by this.

A quick recap:

AA>KJ in Kill Pot Flop came Jack high, kept firing, never got raised

QQ>QJ in Kill Pot board was Jack high, kept firing, got paid off by river top pair

AA>KK in Monstrous Kill Pot Flopped Set of Aces, Turned a boat, Raised turn, got paid on river

J5os>KJ in Kill Pot, At this point I ran the table over for about 20 minutes, kept the kill going for 4 hands in a row and 6 hands total during this span.

33>JT Flopped Set villain rivered 2 pair

KQs>KQ Turned Flush, Flopped top pair w/ 2 flush, turned the flush, didn't get called

This was not without error however, I made a couple of mistakes which I semi-reget.

Mistake 1:

Hero is in CO w/ Ah8h two players limped in so I limped, button folds SB completes, BB checks option.

Flop: Ac 6h 4d

SB leads out, called by one limper, Hero calls

Turn: 7s

SB leads, limper calls, Hero calls,

River: 7d

SB leads, limper folds (had no clue what this guy was playing), Hero calls.

Results: SB shows Ad7h for full house.

I guess that I should limp A8s in with position, I should have raised the flop.

Was this standard? Do I have to call this down. I put him on any Ace, and with the river pairing, I thought that Aces up was good.

Mistake 2: Was this a mistake or am I just married to the hand.

Villain 1: is younger Asian girl who has a pretty good stack and has been pretty lucky all session hitting two pair, and rivering straights and flushes like they were going out of style.

Hero in BB with 9h8d

1 limper, Villain 1 limps, folded to CO who calls and Button who calls, SB completes, Hero checks option.

Flop: 9d 8h 5s

SB checks, Hero bets $4, first limper folds, Villain 1 calls, CO calls, button and SB fold.

Turn: Tc

Hero (now worried) bets $8, Villain 1 raises to $16 CO folds, Hero calls,

River: 3c

Hero checks, Villain 1 bets $8, Hero calls.

Results:
Villain 1 shows QsJs for straight
Hero shows 98 for two pair

Came to realize that she didn't raise as a semi-bluff, or when she was drawing, which was great. That meant that I could throw a away a hand against her I if felt that I was beat. I did end up doing so later on in the session.

Here are some HH's:

Kill Pot (8/16)

Hero is in BB w/ AsAc

Preflop:

Villain 1 is older Asian man kinda passive, plays solid starting hands though.
2 limpers, Villain 1 in CO calls, SB completes to $8, Hero raises to $16, all call. (5BBs)

Flop: Ah Kh 9s

SB checks, Hero bets $8, 1 limper calls, Villain 1 calls, SB calls. (7BBs)

Turn: 9c

SB checks, Hero bets $16, limper folds, Villain 1 raises to $32 (thought he might have 99 but Aces Cracked was still running), SB folds, Hero re-raises, Villain 1 calls. (13BBs)

River: 4s

Hero bet $16, Villain 1 calls after debating for a while. (15BBs)

Results:

Villain 1 shows KK for Kings full of nines
Hero shows AA for Aces full of nines ($240 pot)

Actually got a cool picture of my stack as well, which was a first for me.

Ended the session up $400 @ 12.5 BB/hr. Just gotta keep running gooooood!!!

Feeling I am Ready to Run Better

Well, the last few session have be marred by cold cards and bad plays, hopefully tomorrow I will venture up to the Creek and play a bit. I have always wondered what would happen if I started to run better/well. I am hoping to hit an upswing.

I have been playing fairly well online, making money at the micros, and the same types of players are at the 4/8 table. I just want to be able to translate what I do online into live play.

Hopefully I can start an upswing tomorrow and have my good hands hold and my draws come in.

Basically what I am saying is that I feel that I am capable of playing way better, just hope I can get the cards to do it.

Welcome to Antarctica: Not Running So Good (5/18)

So last nite was a bit of a waste. 4/8 Kill was no good to me. All I can say is that I have never, ever ran so f-ing frigid.

I am not exaggerating when I say that in 5 hours I did not win one pot. That's right I went "O-fer". Against all those horrible players at my table, I am not happy to say the least.

I played a total of 5 friggin hands outside of my blinds in 5 hours and all of them got cracked. Yeah not even 1 Big Blind special, what the hell? At this table full of super donks, one extremely tight player, I am talking extremely tight, and I sort of TAG-ish guy, all I need to do was hit one hand I would be paid off. It seem that everyone was calling down w/ their missed draws and bottom pair on their 2 pair draw.

Am I just a slave to variance? I have never seen cards with icicles attached to them, or coming out of the dealers hand with a Hungry Man Mega Meal Frozen dinner stuck to them.

I am friggin heated. TFong, now, in retrospect, I am pissed. I am still in shock. My bankroll took a hit. But look at it this way, I didn't make stupid plays OOP, cold call any raises, or get frustrated and start playing cards that I shouldn't. What I am trying to say is that I kept my discipline and tried to wait it out, it just didn't happen last night.

JJ < QJos for a straight, TT<62os for flopped trips (on button), AKs < QTos for a straight, AKos whiffs flop < 75os for bottom pair. KQs < J5os for bottom pair.

Yeah so that was my night. I didn't run ridiculously well like Mr. Santi, nice work.

But I will use this as learning experience and capitalized on my failures.

Things that I learned from my session.

2 Watered Down Cokes - $2
Wasted time waiting for cards w/ Uber-donks - 5 hours
Little Hit to Bankroll
Learning the phrase "Table Change" - Priceless

I don't want to become one of those superstitious players, it is just something that you have to do sometimes. Just change it up a little bit. Maybe open my range of starting hands just a little bit. Hell, I might even try a new venue.

As for playing live, I am done for now, partly because I am sooooo pissed at myself, and at the cards. I will be working on my game online for the next month or so, trying to get another 5000 hands under my belt.

Yeah, so now I have a new rule to added to my game: "If I haven't won a pot in 1 hr, I want a table change."

Seems fair don't you think.

So, this is the Iceman signing off.

And for you clones out there...

"GOOD NIGHT NOW!!!!"

Adjusting to Live Play 6 Months Removed

Well, so it has been 6 months since I had last played live in a cardroom and dam I sucked it up pretty bad. Although I had a winning session, I made three horrible plays. Basically this post will be me bashing myself in the head for some all the stupid plays that I made and the money that I could of won.

For the last 5 months or so I have been strictly an online player due to school constraints and time restrictions in the like. I have taken the time to learn/get a grasp on the micro-limits on PokerStars. I have only 5000 hands under my belt and I have improved my play drastically so I thought I would try to translate this to live action.

However, last Tuesday (5/8), I made my first trip up to the new poker room at Cache Creek which was my first live session since last Thanksgiving a Chumash Indian Casino in Solvang, CA. Nice room, terrible players. I vegetated for 2 hours, dragged 1 pot with TPGK and then left down 1BB. Anyways, I digress. Upon arriving, I sat 3/6 for 1 orbit before I was called for 4/8 Kill.

I sat down and made the mistake of not telling the dealer that I was going to wait for the button so I posted the into the BB. Dumb move, save $6 next time.

Drastic Error No.1: Being a NIT. Quad 8's
It was my third or so orbit at the table and it was pretty loose with Nick (TAG) in seat 6, TFong (TAG) in seat 1 and Brian the Echopheen guitarist in seat 7 (LAG-MANIAC)
I am not going to run down hand I will direct you to Nik's Blog:

http://niksanti11.blogspot.com/2007/05/session-no-6-tuesday-night-58-part-iii.html

I played like the girl on the cover of the Swiss Miss box. Flopped bottom set vs. top two pair vs. 2 flush draws as well as a straight draw and failed to raised the turn when a blank hit. "Take that shit to Valuetown." I could have easily taken 4-6 more BB's on that hand and then when I made quads on the river another 3BB's at least. Yeah so I suck.

Drastic Error No.2: Not Value Betting w/ Top Two pair and a Flush Board

AQos in the CO and I raise preflop get 2 callers. Flop is A73 rainbow (1 diamond) check to me and I bet 2 calls. Turn is the Qd checked to me and I bet 2 callers. River is another diamond checked to me who checks to showdown top two lame. Another value bet missed.

Drastic Error No.3: Making a Hero Laydown

Had no clue what these were until Tuesday, thanks to Santi. In the CO again w/ KJos and it is folded to me so I open and get 3 callers. flop is Jack high w/ 2 spades big blind bets out gets folded to me I pop it, big blind (Feliz) just called turn is another spade Feliz checks I bet he calls. River is another spade he bets out and I fold it like an idiot. He used my own style of play against me know that I wouldn't call if another spade hit on the river. I should have called and showed it down. If he had the spade then oh well I lose 1BB, but by folding I lose all the bets in the pot. Stupid move.

For next time I will play more like a play online, more aggressive be a little more liberal with my calls from the Big Blind w/ suited cards especially gap suited connectors.