I find that as more time passes, that the goals and achievements I once thought necessary for a successful life are unlikely to happen. I do find that the one consistent accomplishment is helping people through rough times and lifting them up in their time of need. It makes the difficult times bearable knowing that at some time I will have a stranger or friend who needs to hear that someone else has been through what is happening to them now and came out the other side.

Peace and Love

When to walk away and when to stay

Tuesday even I bled money at the tables and was crushed in the tournaments and sit-n-gos. I was really frustrated and discouraged and was looking forward to a fresh start on Wednesday.
Wednesday started off the same way. I lost half my cash game buy in what seemed like two hands but was really a couple of rounds. So I signed up for a couple of sit-n-gos. In less than two minutes time, my flopped two pair was drawn out on to elimate me.
I turned off the computer and walked away. Briefly I understood the reason why people believe internet poker is rigged. Tuesday's bad beats made the feeling exponentially worse. I turned on the TV. I tried not to think about it. But, I couldn't.
I hate to lose. Bad results bother me. Then it dawned on me, bad play should bother me. Bad results shouldn't be a problem that lingers. I thought back to Tuesday's blood bath. Cash game. Cut off tried to steal my big blind. I flopped good and re-raised him. Flop missed him. I put him in. He called. I was right he had a bare ace and a gutshot. I was right, the river was wrong. Ace for the joker.
Bad result is not the same as bad play. Now tilting off another buy-in after that was wrong. Aggressive for aggressive's sake won't usually get the job done. I thought about the plays that busted me out of the sit-n-gos. Kings ran up against Aces.
Bad luck, not a bad play.
AK all-in vs A9. 9 hits the flop.
Bad luck. Bad result.
When the breaks go against you, it is hard to believe that the breaks will even out or that good play will eventually make up the difference. But I remembered some pretty good advice I read, don't quit playing because you have lost or are down, quit playing because your play is off. Looking at my play, the last half of the cash game was poorly done but the tournaments were played well. I was doing a good job of deciding where I was in the hands. Playing more wouldn't be an invitation to diaster, it is what I should be doing while playing well.
Good things happened. I final tabled a sniper tournament to end the night due to a mixture of good cards, good luck and good decision making.
I really think that this is kind of a milestone in my development by consciously shifting my focus to analyze my play from a decision making perspective rather than simply looking at the results.
I hope I remember and that maybe others will get it quicker than I did.

Good luck at the tables.

FTOPS

May will see me enter my first FTOPS event. I entered a seven card stud high low tournament earlier. I didn't realize it was a satellite event for the FTOPS. There weren't many entrants in the tournament but I was able to win one of two satellite entries. I am pretty happy to say the least.

Back to Back Final Tables at UB

Today's tourney only had 79 entrants, but I was able to beat 76 of them. The deck hit me in the mouth early at the final table but unfortunately I kept gettting outkicked once we were down to three and then found top pair up against an over pair on the hand that knocked me out.
It has been a pretty good run lately. In four out of the last six tournaments I played, I have cashed and have two final tables that were both top three finishes. I should have one the one I made it to heads-up play, but I am pleased with how things are going in the tournaments now. This was definitely a good way to start off the weekend.

Good luck at the tables everyone.

Peace and Love all around

Final Table at UB

I played in the UltimateBet $4 sniper tournament last night. I got enough good cards and got lucky enough to make it to the final table and then heads up. I started off heads up with a chip lead. Lost it. Then got it back. Then I was inpatient and tried to steal a blind w J5 when I had no business pushing, lost the hand and then lost the tournament.

It was so cool to get to the final table but I am really disappointed in not being able to finish off the tournament. I got some nice rail action from Pocketfives.com's Dr.GHouse, who was also nice enough to make a rail thread when I made the final table. I hope to seal the deal next time.

Good luck at the tables everyone.

click this

Final Table early Friday

I had a block of free time in my office this morning. Since I was just sitting around making phone calls and doing computer work, I decided to play a small tourney on AbsolutePoker. I played a limit Omaha HiLo MTT with 63 entrants. I was very happy to make the final table. I finished in 8th place after my final two hands each saw the flop hit the exact opposite of my cards. Hopefully there will be another final table this weekend.

Good luck on the felt everyone
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Finally bagged my white whale

The 4:00 EST $8.80 tournament on PokerStars has been my personal white whale tournament. No matter how close I came to cashing, it slipped away from me. I once was two away from the cashing and found myself with TT. Not wanting to limp into the money, I moved all-in only to have the big blind call with Ace Jack and, well, you know the rest.

But today the white whale was bagged. I finished 14th out of 1107 in the tournament. I can't tell you how happy I am about finally doing well in this event and what a relief it is. It was a pretty good afternoon as I finished in 17th in a tournament at Doyle's Room. I am impressed with the new software they are using and it seems that there are more players there now.

How could I get more value out of this hand?

On this hand, I think my river bet smelled like value bet or he thought i hit an open ended draw. I am pretty sure he either had a set or two pair on flop.

I thought that if i checked the river looking to check-raise, he would have checked behind. My bet must have convinced him that I had the goods or he was totally on a draw. I'd like thoughts on what sized bet you think he would have called on the river or any other way to get more value out of this hand.

PokerStars Game #18069826573: Tournament #91352474, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/06/11 - 15:33:14 (ET)
Table '91352474 20' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: No jinx here (1490 in chips)
Seat 3: Khales (1540 in chips)
Seat 4: Zeon26 (1470 in chips)
Seat 5: bombay black (3630 in chips)
Seat 6: ninnig1 (1680 in chips)
Seat 7: Isabella7 (1460 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 8: SluggerWV (4530 in chips)
Seat 9: BAYvw (3690 in chips)
Isabella7: posts small blind 10
SluggerWV: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Jh Th]
BAYvw: calls 20
No jinx here: folds
Khales: folds
Zeon26: calls 20
bombay black: calls 20
ninnig1: calls 20
Isabella7: folds
SluggerWV: checks
*** FLOP *** [8s Qh 9c]
SluggerWV: bets 100
BAYvw: calls 100
Zeon26: folds
bombay black: calls 100
ninnig1: calls 100
*** TURN *** [8s Qh 9c] [7d]
SluggerWV: bets 200
BAYvw: raises 200 to 400
bombay black: folds
ninnig1: folds
SluggerWV: raises 640 to 1040
klem mate is connected
BAYvw: calls 640
*** RIVER *** [8s Qh 9c 7d] [6c]
SluggerWV: bets 1040
BAYvw: folds
Uncalled bet (1040) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 2590 from pot

Final Table at FullTilt Poker

I haven't been able to play as many non-satellite tournaments for the past month or two. I have never had a lot of success at FullTilt even though I really love the structure of the tourneys there. Last night I found a $5 PL Omaha 8b tourney that fit into my schedule and was very happy to make the final table. I started the final table with a chip position of 8 of 9. I finished 7th and got a really good return on my buy-in.

Good luck to Devin "TranquilChaos" Porter and Jared "TheWacoKidd" Hamby as they are both deep in the money in the World Series of Poker 6 handed no limit hold em tournament. Both are great players and even better guys. Hopefully they will get heads up for the bracelet.

How would you have played this?

Only had been at the table for a few hands so I didnt really have a read on anyone.

What do you put him on and do you do anything differently here?

PokerStars Game #17705031521: Tournament #89644731, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/26 - 13:15:29 (ET)
Table '89644731 295' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: SluggerWV (3040 in chips)
Seat 2: Tiguan66 (2910 in chips)
Seat 3: dribblefish (2520 in chips)
Seat 4: Stefan031083 (6080 in chips)
Seat 5: dielichtung (2980 in chips)
Seat 6: Emmapeel9 (2510 in chips)
Seat 7: ERIC36 (6410 in chips)
Seat 8: fathead603 (8620 in chips)
Seat 9: Jackdaw (3060 in chips)
dribblefish: posts small blind 15
Stefan031083: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Qh Qd]
dielichtung: folds
Emmapeel9: folds
ERIC36: folds
fathead603: raises 60 to 90
Jackdaw: folds
SluggerWV: raises 150 to 240
Tiguan66: folds
dribblefish: folds
dribblefish is sitting out
Stefan031083: folds
fathead603: calls 150
*** FLOP *** [7s 6c 2h]
fathead603: checks
SluggerWV: bets 360
fathead603: calls 360
*** TURN *** [7s 6c 2h] [4h]
fathead603: checks
SluggerWV: bets 2440 and is all-in

fathead603: calls 2440
*** RIVER *** [7s 6c 2h 4h] [4s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
fathead603: shows [5h 3d] (a straight, Three to Seven)
SluggerWV: shows [Qh Qd] (two pair, Queens and Fours)
fathead603 collected 6125 from pot
dielichtung said, "wow"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6125 | Rake 0
Board [7s 6c 2h 4h 4s]
Seat 1: SluggerWV showed [Qh Qd] and lost with two pair, Queens and Fours
Seat 2: Tiguan66 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: dribblefish (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Stefan031083 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: dielichtung folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Emmapeel9 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: ERIC36 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: fathead603 showed [5h 3d] and won (6125) with a straight, Three to Seven
Seat 9: Jackdaw folded before Flop (didn't bet)



Let me know what you think.

Play a Micro Sattelite Tournament with Me

In my never ending effort to get better, I decided not to multi-table tournaments for awhile so I can concentrate on the key hands in the tournaments I do play and try to set out why I played hands in a particular way and if in hindsight I was right or wrong.
Below are some of the key hands from a recent micro satellite I played on PokerStars.

PokerStars Game #17617488534: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/05/22 - 17:30:54 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1200 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 2: Benat974 (1280 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1490 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1660 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1460 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1660 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1710 in chips)
coolman656: posts small blind 10
SluggerWV: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8d 9h]
Dr Luknee: calls 20
bullyne: calls 20
coolman656: calls 10
SluggerWV: checks
*** FLOP *** [6h 7s Ks]
coolman656: checks
SluggerWV: bets 60
Dr Luknee: calls 60
bullyne: folds
coolman656: folds
*** TURN *** [6h 7s Ks] [Tc]
SluggerWV: bets 140
Dr Luknee: folds
Uncalled bet (140) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 200 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 200 |
Board [6h 7s Ks Tc]

I’ve been working on being more aggressive. Here with the flop giving me an open ended draw I decided to bet thinking that if anyone put me on a draw, it would be the flush draw. If a spade hit, then I could lay down to a bet depending on read. With the one caller in position, I got the card I wanted. I bet out to make the flush draw pay. I felt a check hoping for a check raise would give the draw a free card.

PokerStars Game #17617539427: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/05/22 - 17:33:10 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1200 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1270 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1490 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1640 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1460 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1720 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1610 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1610 in chips)
Dr Luknee: posts small blind 10
chrigu65natu: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8h 8d]

CRAISY: raises 60 to 80
bullyne: calls 80

SluggerWV: calls 80

*** FLOP *** [7c Qh 4h]
CRAISY: bets 270
bullyne: folds
SluggerWV: folds
Uncalled bet (270) returned to CRAISY
CRAISY collected 270 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 270 | Rake 0
Board [7c Qh 4h]

This tournament hasn’t had too many hands, so I can’t be real sure of my reads, but there hasn’t been a lot of re-raising. So even with an early 4xbb raise, I’m set mining after the first caller. I don’t hit my set and Im not going to put him on something like AK here and try to go over the top because it’ll pot commit me.

PokerStars Game #17617633595: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:37:24 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1335 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1690 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1615 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1530 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (1010 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1720 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1530 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
bullyne: posts small blind 15
genide: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Kd Ad]
coolman656: calls 30
SluggerWV: raises 90 to 120
jasas6369: calls 120

*** FLOP *** [4d 6s 2d]
SluggerWV: bets 210
jasas6369: folds
Uncalled bet (210) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 315 from pot
SluggerWV: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 315 | Rake 0
Board [4d 6s 2d]

I was surprised to get the caller after I raised the limper. I really loved the flop. In that position with the two overs and the nut flush draw, I am probably calling an all in or putting him in if he goes over the top.

PokerStars Game #17617713032: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:40:58 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1155 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1570 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1765 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1800 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (950 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1645 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (1695 in chips)
Seat 8: jasas6369 (1310 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 15
jasas6369: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [As Jc]
Dr Luknee: folds
chrigu65natu: calls 30
SluggerWV: calls 15
jasas6369: checks
*** FLOP *** [9c 9d Kh]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
*** TURN *** [9c 9d Kh] [Ad]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: bets 90
chrigu65natu: calls 90
SluggerWV: calls 90
*** RIVER *** [9c 9d Kh Ad] [9h]
SluggerWV: checks
jasas6369: bets 1190 and is all-in
chrigu65natu: folds
SluggerWV: calls 1190
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jasas6369: shows [5d 3c] (three of a kind, Nines)
SluggerWV: shows [As Jc] (a full house, Nines full of Aces)
SluggerWV collected 2740 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2740 | Rake 0
Board [9c 9d Kh Ad 9h]

Seat 7: SluggerWV (small blind) showed [As Jc] and won (2740) with a full house, Nines full of Aces
Seat 8: jasas6369 (big blind) showed [5d 3c] and lost with three of a kind, Nines

I couldn’t put him on a nine there. It’s probably the right move to make if he has one, either that or a small bet to get some action. Put I really expected to be splitting the pot with him.

PokerStars Game #17617731475: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2008/05/22 - 17:41:48 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1035 in chips)
Seat 2: Benat974 (1570 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1765 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (1800 in chips)
Seat 5: genide (950 in chips)
Seat 6: coolman656 (1645 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3125 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1570 in chips)
Dr Luknee: posts small blind 15
chrigu65natu: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [7h 7d]
Benat974: calls 30
CRAISY: folds
bullyne: folds
genide: raises 30 to 60

SluggerWV: calls 60
chrigu65natu: calls 30
Benat974: calls 30
*** FLOP *** [2s Kh 6c]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** TURN *** [2s Kh 6c] [9d]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** RIVER *** [2s Kh 6c 9d] [Ah]
chrigu65natu: checks
Benat974: checks
BuMbLeBear1 is connected
genide: checks
SluggerWV: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
chrigu65natu: shows [Tc 8h] (high card Ace)
Benat974: shows [Qd 9c] (a pair of Nines)
genide: mucks hand
SluggerWV: mucks hand
Benat974 collected 255 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 255 | Rake 0
Board [2s Kh 6c 9d Ah]

I entered the hand hoping to hit a set or get out. In retrospect, I should've bet the flop to try to pick up the pot or at least find out if the baby raise meant strength looking for action or a hand that the raiser wasn't confident in at that time. Because I play more conservatively I tend to put other players on good hands when they make moves of any type. I give them credit for being a step ahead. I really need to address this to improve.


PokerStars Game #17617842389: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:46:50 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1845 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1620 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5375 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3065 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1555 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 25
BuMbLeBear1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Kc Tc]
Dadissimo is connected
Dr Luknee: folds
chrigu65natu: calls 50

bullyne: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 25
BuMbLeBear1: checks
*** FLOP *** [9h 8h 6c]
SluggerWV: checks
BuMbLeBear1: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
bullyne: checks
*** TURN *** [9h 8h 6c] [7s]
SluggerWV: checks
BuMbLeBear1: checks
chrigu65natu: checks
bullyne: checks
*** RIVER *** [9h 8h 6c 7s] [Jd]
SluggerWV: bets 100
BuMbLeBear1: folds
chrigu65natu: folds
bullyne: calls 100
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SluggerWV: shows [Kc Tc] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
bullyne: mucks hand
SluggerWV collected 400 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 400 | Rake 0
Board [9h 8h 6c 7s Jd]
Seat 1: chrigu65natu folded on the River
Seat 4: bullyne (button) mucked [Jh Qs]
Seat 7: SluggerWV (small blind) showed [Kc Tc] and won (400) with a straight, Seven to Jack
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (big blind) folded on the River


Was going to mix it up and check-raise the turn after hitting the straight with the four flush on the board. No one bet so I had to lead at the river. Seems I have played aggressively enough that he wanted to look me up with top pair and a huge straight draw on board. Another benefit of aggressive play I've been missing is getting my hands paid off when I value bet the river. Players have too often known that I was betting the goods that I missed out on bets.

PokerStars Game #17617971683: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:52:47 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1545 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (1725 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1620 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5100 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (980 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3265 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1385 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1455 in chips)
SluggerWV: posts small blind 25
BuMbLeBear1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Jc Ac]
Dr Luknee: calls 50

Dadissimo: raises 50 to 100
CRAISY: calls 100

SluggerWV: calls 75

Dr Luknee: calls 50
*** FLOP *** [2s As 7s]
SluggerWV: checks
Dr Luknee: checks
Dadissimo: bets 100
CRAISY: folds
SluggerWV: folds
Dr Luknee: folds
Uncalled bet (100) returned to Dadissimo
BuMbLeBear1 is sitting out
Dadissimo collected 450 from pot
Dadissimo: doesn't show hand
axlatthevine is connected
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 450 | Rake 0
Board [2s As 7s]


Huge mistake not re-raising here in hindsight. I try not to play hands like that because too often at my levels people will call you down with any card that completes a flush, no matter how weak. But here I should have found out if the bet was made because I was read as weak.

PokerStars Game #17617989568: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2008/05/22 - 17:53:37 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: chrigu65natu (1545 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (2075 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1520 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (5100 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (980 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (6440 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3165 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (1335 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1355 in chips)
BuMbLeBear1: posts small blind 25
Dr Luknee: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [8h 8c]
chrigu65natu: calls 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
BuMbLeBear1 is sitting out
Dr Luknee: checks
*** FLOP *** [7s 3d Jd]
Dr Luknee: checks
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
Dr Luknee: calls 50
*** TURN *** [7s 3d Jd] [Td]
Dr Luknee: checks
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: calls 50
Dr Luknee: folds
*** RIVER *** [7s 3d Jd Td] [5h]
chrigu65natu: bets 50
Penster: calls 50
SluggerWV: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
chrigu65natu: shows [Js Kd] (a pair of Jacks)
Penster: shows [5s 7h] (two pair, Sevens and Fives)
Penster collected 675 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 675 | Rake 0
Board [7s 3d Jd Td 5h]
Seat 1: chrigu65natu showed [Js Kd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: Penster showed [5s 7h] and won (675) with two pair, Sevens and Fives
Seat 7: SluggerWV (button) folded on the River


Should have raised here pre-flop. After limping pre-flop, should have folded to bet on flop. Too many people in pot not to be drawing slim. Set still might not have won.

PokerStars Game #17618138562: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/05/22 - 18:00:35 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: Dadissimo (1775 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1770 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (4900 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (2910 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (4985 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3015 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (2460 in chips)
Seat 9: Dr Luknee (1700 in chips)
axlatthevine: posts small blind 50
SluggerWV: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [5h 4d]

Penster: calls 100
axlatthevine: folds
SluggerWV: checks
*** FLOP *** [3c Kd 7c]
SluggerWV: checks
Penster: checks
*** TURN *** [3c Kd 7c] [6c]
SluggerWV: bets 200
Penster: calls 200
*** RIVER *** [3c Kd 7c 6c] [Ah]
SluggerWV: bets 500
Penster: calls 500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
SluggerWV: shows [5h 4d] (a straight, Three to Seven)
Penster: mucks hand
SluggerWV collected 1650 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1650 | Rake 0
Board [3c Kd 7c 6c Ah]

Seat 5: Penster (button) mucked [7s 7h]
Seat 7: SluggerWV (big blind) showed [5h 4d] and won (1650) with a straight, Three to Seven

His adherence to the “never bet a set” theory walks him into trouble. I would like to think that my being more active has gotten me paid off a couple of times here where otherwise it might not have (those times when my image is that of a much tighter player.)

PokerStars Game #17618362519: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/05/22 - 18:10:58 (ET)
Table '88687849 11' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: bandher (2591 in chips)
Seat 2: Dadissimo (3239 in chips)
Seat 3: CRAISY (1532 in chips)
Seat 4: bullyne (7875 in chips)
Seat 5: Penster (1173 in chips)
Seat 6: axlatthevine (4685 in chips)
Seat 7: SluggerWV (3590 in chips)
Seat 8: BuMbLeBear1 (2935 in chips)
Seat 9: jonah514 (2550 in chips)
bandher: posts small blind 75
Dadissimo: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Jc Ah]

SluggerWV: raises 300 to 450

Uncalled bet (300) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 375 from pot
SluggerWV: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 375 | Rake 0


I hadn’t played a hand in a while and got respect w my late position raise. Good sign. If I do it again at this table and get resistance, I can expect someone to have a hand.

PokerStars Game #17618953185: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2008/05/22 - 18:38:57 (ET)
Table '88687849 18' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: william61 (5722 in chips)
Seat 2: thedevilfan (12922 in chips)
Seat 3: AgentDaniel (4519 in chips)
Seat 5: elexxii (7180 in chips)
Seat 6: SluggerWV (3115 in chips)
Seat 7: Frosty480 (8657 in chips)
Seat 8: bigredone676 (2271 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 9: enchantica19 (6112 in chips)

SluggerWV: posts the ante 25

elexxii: posts small blind 100
SluggerWV: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [7s Kh]
Uncalled bet (100) returned to SluggerWV
SluggerWV collected 400 from pot

I just love getting moved to a new table after having a good image and then having one of the superstacks immediately to my left. It's right up there with being moved after being small blind and being put under the gun at my new table. At least here he folded from under the gun and I got a walkover.

PokerStars Game #17619229490: Tournament #88687849, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2008/05/22 - 18:52:33 (ET)
Table '88687849 18' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: william61 (5997 in chips)
Seat 2: Lokk (4433 in chips)
Seat 3: AgentDaniel (3219 in chips)
Seat 4: sined13 (8425 in chips)
Seat 5: elexxii (6009 in chips)
Seat 6: SluggerWV (2315 in chips)
Seat 7: Frosty480 (15795 in chips)
Seat 8: Dadissimo (12742 in chips)
Seat 9: enchantica19 (2112 in chips)

SluggerWV: posts the ante 50

Dadissimo: posts small blind 300
enchantica19: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SluggerWV [Qh Qd]
william61: folds
Lokk: folds
AgentDaniel: folds
sined13: folds
elexxii: folds
SluggerWV: raises 1665 to 2265 and is all-in
Frosty480: folds
Dadissimo: folds
enchantica19: calls 1462 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (203) returned to SluggerWV
*** FLOP *** [As Jh Qc]
*** TURN *** [As Jh Qc] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [As Jh Qc 3c] [Kd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
enchantica19: shows [6c Kc] (a pair of Kings)
SluggerWV: shows [Qh Qd] (three of a kind, Queens)
SluggerWV collected 4874 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4874 | Rake 0
Board [As Jh Qc 3c Kd]


Seat 6: SluggerWV showed [Qh Qd] and won (4874) with three of a kind, Queens

Seat 9: enchantica19 (big blind) showed [6c Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings

When the river hit I was so worried about the straight draw that I thought I had lost. Funny how the mind plays tricks on us.

I missed a couple hands from late in the tourney. The thing I really like about these satellites is the that the structure allows me to avoid playing too much with the maniacs. Of course, I tend to play too conservatively late and put a lot of pressure on myself when the shortstacks are able to avoid elimination the first couple of times they are all-in.

In this tourney, with only one person to be eliminated to win the entry, I made a mistake in calculation of when the two small stacks would go through the big blind and allowed myself to be in the big blind with less than a small stack behind. Fortunately, the table folded around to me and I was safe. In the next hand from the small blind I was dealt AK and believe I would have been ok either way because an ace hit the flop. But I still am bothered too much by busting out without making the money. That's one of the two things I am focusing on now. I would love to hear your thoughts about these hands or tournaments in general. Good luck at the tables.

AA is supposed to be a good hand, right?

Was frustrated last night to get knocked out of the $7 bodog mtt 7 away from the money when I got my AA in pre-flop vs AKs. Of course, the flop gave my opponent a flush and I was gone out of the money instead of having a decent stack to make a run at the final table.

Of course tonight finds me w AA and two callers to my raise pre-flop. Here, see for yourself:

Getting Hand History Information...
----------------------------------------------------------------

Hand #52393429-110 at 9:30PM-004 (No Limit tournament Hold'em)
Started at 08/Apr/08 23:24:54

sildog is at seat 0 with 8405.
vinnieaces is at seat 1 with 10200.
tamrus is at seat 2 with 4500.
BigWheel32 is at seat 3 with 10245.
rinaldij is at seat 4 with 7680.
HoosierK is at seat 5 with 9930.
PEANUT ROCKS is at seat 6 with 12840.
pdpoker is at seat 7 with 4620.
SluggerWV is at seat 8 with 3620.
bmw528 is at seat 9 with 3750.
The button is at seat 3.

rinaldij posts the small blind of 150.
HoosierK posts the big blind of 300.

SluggerWV: Ac Ad

Pre-flop:

PEANUT ROCKS folds. pdpoker folds. SluggerWV raises
to 850. bmw528 folds. sildog folds. vinnieaces
folds. tamrus folds. BigWheel32 calls. rinaldij
calls. HoosierK folds.

Flop (board: Qs 4d Jc):

rinaldij checks. SluggerWV goes all-in for 2770.
BigWheel32 calls. rinaldij folds.

Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:

BigWheel32 shows Qc Ks.
SluggerWV shows Ac Ad.

Turn (board: Qs 4d Jc Qh):

(no action in this round)

River (board: Qs 4d Jc Qh Js):

(no action in this round)

Showdown:

BigWheel32 has Qc Qs Jc Qh Js: full house, queens full of jacks.
SluggerWV has Ac Ad Qs Jc Qh: two pair, aces and queens.


Hand #52393429-110 Summary:

BigWheel32 wins 8390 with full house, queens full of jacks.
------------------------------------------------

I do hate the bad beats. Oh, well.

Congrats to Mathclub for making a couple of final tables yesterday, including a 2nd of 334 in the $3rebuy at UB, and as Jakehekejnr on PokerStars, another 2nd our of 498entrants winning him $1394.41.

Congrats to iLLNuGWichee for finishing 3rd of 156 in the UltimateBet $19K Guaranteed Rebuy for $2185.00.




Good luck at the tables everyone.

Stud MTT Final Table at UltimateBet

It was a great weekend at the tables. Even though it was a small field, I was happy to make the final table in the $5.50 Stud MTT at UltimateBet. After making a final table yesterday, I was really excited to make another run deep into a tourney today. It's been a really long time since that has happened for me.



I made it to the final three tables in a no limit hold em bounty tourney at UB tonight too. I didn't cash for much and only got one and a half bounty, the half bounty resulting from a hand where my AA and another guys AA knocked out a guy with KK who then proceeded to whine about losing the hand, but it was nice to have another solid tourney today to go with the final table.

John Smoltz pitched five scoreless innings today against the Mets and picked up the win for the Braves. Great to see and I hope he is able to stay healthy this year. He's a great pitcher.


Good luck at the tables.

Final Table at PokerStars

I haven't been able to play much the past week and the two tourneys that I did get to play saw my KK chased down by two outers on UB. I had a few hours to play Saturday and decided to try out PokerStars since I could play longer if I went deep. Well an A6 suited thought it wise to call me twice with nothing and hit an ace on the turn to crack my aces in the hold em tourney I entered so I wasn't feeling terribly optimistic. But I joined a PL Omaha tourney after busting out of the hold em tourney. I like playing PL Omaha Hi Lo but haven't played many PL Omaha Hi tourneys and have had little success. But I got off to a good start in this tourney and, after what seemed like a day and a half when we got down to ten players, I was able to make the final table. It was my first final table at PokerStars in a long time. I was able to finish 5th after starting the final table in 6th place.

One hand helped me when the big blind decided to defend and only served to double me up when the big blind's draw missed after the flop. I personally try to avoid recklessly doubling up the short stacks late in a tourney. The chips I might win never seem to be worth the risk of throwing away chips to the ss.

I was too aggressive with my last hand and pot committed myself with a pair of jacks and a suited ace. Of course someone behind me had aces so I was done. It was great to get to the final table but I wish that pocketfives.com hadn't been down. I was only able to talk to a couple of friends via AIM while the tourney was going on. I really like talking to people while playing. I guess I shouldn't but it seems like ti actually helps me play better. It's also nice to let people know that I play a little too.



Good Luck at the tables everyone. I'll see ya soon.

Final Table at UltimateBet!

I haven't been able to play as much as usual the past couple of weeks so it was nice to get to the Final Table in the $6.50 Bounty Tournament at UB. I really enjoy the bounty tournaments because it seems easier to get action with your good hands from the stacks who can double you up. The highlight of the evening was having two people call my all in pre-flop when I was dealt KK and then flopping quads! I took down a couple of bounties and entered the final table 5th in chips. I was able to increase my stack when Ak hit a King on the flop vs JJ. Unfortunately, the hand that crippled me was an all in w AKs pre-flop versus QQ. No help and I was soon out in 4th. A very nice payday and a great capper to a wonderful weekend.

Good Luck at the tables everyone.

A pretty good March 14

I really enjoy playing in the bounty tournaments on UltimateBet. Those tourneys always seem to draw a lot of players and remind me of the glory days of UB where each NLHE tourney at my buy in level attracted 400-500 players.

I had a good tournament right from the start when I was dealt JJ on the first hand. One of the limpers called the raise and a Jack hit on the flop and the turn was a full house. My opponent called with a pair of fours and a straight draw all the way through the river.

I was happy, not only because I played more aggressively and well, but because I finished 17th and won 3 bounties. The tournament only has a $3 +.30 + $1 bounty buy in but also has a $3k guarantee. So my total take of $22.50 plus the 3 bounties netted me almost 6 times my outlay.

Thanks to Sicktight311 for railing me and congrats to him for final tabling the $4.40PL Omaha [turbo] on PokerStars held 03-14-2008. He finished 7th out of 463 and took home $70.38 for great work. Well done sir.
Sick is playing great poker and shares his thoughts and ideas on his blog. Be sure to check out his blog here: www.sicktight311.blogspot.com

Also check out his band here: www.myspace.com/flbmusic It is definetly worth it.

Have a great day everyone.

A very good night!

I first joined Doyle's Room in 2005 because I am a big fan of Doyle Brunson. I have played several of the Bounty tourneys at the site since then, hoping to get a chance to play at Doyle's table. When Doyle's Room left the US market last year I thought my chance to play with Doyle was gone, but Doyle's Room re-entered the US market and last night I finally was seated at Doyle's table in the Celebrity Bounty tourney. I thought I might get a bounty when I was dealt AA in the bb and Doyle was in the cutoff and I had him covered. I was really hoping he would try to steal because I was playing tight, but it was folded around to me. It was great to get to play at Doyle's table for a long period of time and to cash in the tourney. I hope to get to do it again. I also hope that Doyle's Room is able to get back to the level it was at before they left the US market. Best of Luck to Doyle



I also was able to cash in the $6.50 Bounty Tourney at UltimateBet last night. Thats a cash in two tourneys in a row at UB and three tourneys overall. Certainly a nice chance of pace from the horrible beats.

Good luck at the tables everyone. Hope to see you here again soon


Slugger

Couple of deep runs at UB

The last two nights, Wednesday and Thursday, I ve had very deep runs in the 8:30 $5 mtt at UltimateBet. The first night was a huge tourney due to UB giving away a ton of free entries. There were more than 1800 players in a tourney that usually has between 300-400 players due to the $1500 guarantee. I was chipleader with less than three tables left but was unable to make the final table, mostly due to a mistake w AQ v AK, and busted out in 14th.

Last night I busted out in 12th and once again it was AK v AQ but this time I had the AK but a queen on the flop ended my night.


Looking forward to tomorrow's WVU-East Carolina game. Hoping the Mountaineer defense continues its improvment and the offense hits on all cylinders.

September turn around on Stars

After a frustrating end to August, September has seen me have some good results on Stars. I was able to have a finish of 13th and an 11th in a couple of $1 tourneys and bubbled the final table in a $5 tourney when my JJ was beaten by an Ace Duece off suit.

The Cowboys and the Mountaineers have been winners so far. WVU's defense looked good against Maryland and may be better than it has been in a long time.

GL everyone