Struggling a Little

I have a lot more work to do on my game. I do think I'm a low 2-3bb/100 winner @ 3/6nl but there's so much more to improve upon and I don't have the best perspective on No Limit. My coach pointed out that I ask too many "what" questions and not enough why. I also realized, I don't really know what the correct question is...what I should be asking and why I should be questioning certain actions etc.

I end this month at a pretty miserable rate imo but it's also what I get for not putting in more than 35k hands when I definitely definitely had the ability and opportunity to put in 2-3x that. Resolution for March? Put in 100k hands :p 9tabling 4hours a day gets really close to that and that's like barely any work. I don't know how those monsters put in more than 100,000 hands but imo I really should be, especially with the wsop coming up.

Have you guys been watching America's Best Dance Crew? This show is sick! Kaba Modern and Jabbawockeez are amazing. I really like both of them. Kaba has a really great style that seems to really fit with each song they do and they excel at performing imo but Jabbawockeez seems to really be in their own world. I'd call them the more creative of the two but really I think they're both pretty close.





oh man, i love the way they start their dance. THe first 10-20 seconds is awesome.

Back to poker...let's see. yesterday wasn't fun either but I was happy to end down 2k rather than 5k. It was pretty interesting actually. I thought I played fairly well although I do know that I was trying to win too many pots, however when I saw I was down 5k, I wasn't really tilted. Moreso confused. It's starting to get hard to improve now. This is where the great players really start to separate from the good players imo and so far I'm stuck in sub-par category. I do know that a leak of mine is that I want to win every pot and in my second session today where I make 5 buy ins back, a lot of it came from better poker...going with the flow, not trying to win every pot, not forcing the action or trying to muscle my way through every hand. I should try to play more like that : )



this was my fav. hand

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2175071

we have a good amount of history and villain hates my guts, or at least it seems like it. He just never has an ace here. If he does, it's because he's outleveling me with the whole "I know that he knows" but honestly, I didn't give it much thought. Which is funny too cuz if I was 4tabling I'd be like, oh man, such a big raise, it's just not worth it which is true but while 12tabling, without looking at the betsize, it was an easier call lol.

It's just not a very good flop to raise unless your raise induces a shove from worse. Very rare/hard to happen.

I'm going to boston for a week. Irvine is getting so nice n warm too! Oh well, it's been awhile since I've seen snow and I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and cousin. Have a good leap year :D

-Mike

Rollercoaster!

Well this started out to be quite a depressing day. I tried out 12 tabling 2/4 and 3/6 and it really just pissed me off. I can do 9 tables fine and have done well doing 12 before but for some reason I was really really bothered today. So I blew 4,000. If I had won 3 pots where I had gotten it in good, I would've been pretty pleased but nopeeeeeee.

It's frustrating getting Jacks in good pf only to watch it get owned by AQ/AK : ( I've been really good about getting that in as a favorite. Dunno how but it's been going great so far :D I'm really not a fan of getting JJ all in pre-flop btw.

This hand super tilted me and I had to quit soon after:

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $2/$4
5 players

Stack sizes:
UTG: $133
CO: $616.45
Button: $242.75
SB: $636.10
Hero: $730.75

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is BB with kd qd
UTG folds, CO raises to $14, Button calls, SB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: qc 7s 6s ($44, 3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $30, Button folds, Hero raises to $92, CO raises to $300, Hero raises all-in $716.75, CO calls all-in $302.45.
Uncalled bets: $114.3 returned to Hero.

Turn: 8c ($1248.9, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $1248.9)


River: js ($1248.9, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: $1248.9)


Results:
Final pot: $1248.9
Hero showed Kd Qd
CO showed 4c 5c


So anyhow, I was in super angry mode after dropping 4,000 so I logged onto ftp and openshoved for 5 minutes at .01/.02 CAP lol. So if you happened to be playing micro-limits, there's a chance u made like 20 or 30 bucks off me.

Oh man, so open shoving was supposed to release some stress right? It just tilted me even more! 5s against 8s. KJ against KQ. Q9 into A9. I was still going ballistic haha. Eventually I had to settle for a nap. I woke up around 2:40 and went back to work.

5 hours later, I ended with a profit : )




Biggest Hand of the Day:

Heh, my roommate walked in right before this happened. Good luck charm?

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
5 players

Stack sizes:
CO: $1794.2
UTG: $728
CO: $1709.90
Hero: $1938.60
SB: $600
BB: $48.80

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is Button with 8h 8s
UTG folds, CO calls, Hero raises to $30, SB folds, BB calls, CO calls.

Flop: kh 2s 8c ($93, 3 players)
BB checks, CO checks, Hero bets $66, BB folds, CO raises to $150, Hero calls.

Turn: 3d ($393, 2 players)
CO bets $60, Hero raises to $408, CO calls.

River: kc ($1209, 2 players)
CO checks, Hero is all-in $1350.6, CO calls all-in $1121.9.
Uncalled bets: $228.7 returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: $3452.8
CO mucks Ks Jd


I liked this hand a lot. I was pretty sure he was going to fold. he's a really good reg. and I knew he'd put me on set or flush. So knowing that he has an ace, shovel timeeeeeee!

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
6 players

Stack sizes:
UTG: $2004.45
UTG+1: $66.15
CO: $1794.20
Button: $1008.20
SB: $294
Hero: $616.45

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with 4c 8c
2 folds, CO raises to $21, Button calls, SB folds, Hero calls.

Flop: 2s 6c ac ($66, 3 players)
Hero bets $42, CO folds, Button calls.

Turn: ah ($150, 2 players)
Hero bets $102, Button calls.

River: jd ($354, 2 players)
Hero is all-in $451.45, Button folds.
Uncalled bets: $451.45 returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: $354


I had just value raised this guy w/a boat on the river and given the way he plaeyd his hand, I was pretty sure he knew that I knew he had a pp. So the fact that I was betting turn anyways, I felt it was likely he'd fold as it was obv he didn't have QQ+

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
6 players

Stack sizes:
UTG: $757.50
UTG+1: $873.05
Hero: $1793.50
Button: $345
SB: $594
BB: $120

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is CO with ks ah
UTG raises to $21, UTG+1 folds, Hero raises to $66, 3 folds, UTG calls.

Flop: 7d 9s 2s ($141, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $84, UTG calls.

Turn: 5h ($309, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $200, UTG folds.
Uncalled bets: $200 returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: $309


imo one of the cooler hands. I just couldn't put him on a hand that beat me. I dunno why, I Just had a really strange vibe that folding would not be right.

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
4 players

Stack sizes:
UTG: $757.5
UTG+1: $873.05
UTG: $542.75
Button: $1963.20
SB: $697
Hero: $627

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is BB with ks ah
UTG calls, Button raises to $27, SB folds, Hero raises to $90, UTG folds, Button calls.

Flop: 3c 7s 4d ($189, 2 players)
Hero bets $120, Button raises to $1476, Hero calls all-in $417.
Uncalled bets: $939 returned to Button.

Turn: 5s ($1263, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $1263)


River: 4h ($1263, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $1263)


Results:
Final pot: $1263
Hero showed Ks Ah
Villain showed Ac Jc


As for the hand from last post. I don't know if whoever posted was joking or not but are u serious about the $4 difference? I actually think 84 looks fishier than 80 to be honest.

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
5 players

Stack sizes:
Hero: $640
CO: $600
Button: $1190
SB: $2504.05
BB: $306

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is UTG with 5h 6h
Hero raises to $21, CO folds, Button raises to $72, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: 4c 2h 4h ($153, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: 7h ($153, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: kh ($153, 2 players)
Hero bets $84

I was going to check-raise the flop but that didn't happen. Turned nuts! whoop! Well if he has AhXx I woudl think he'd fire here so I went for a cr as I don't think he's callin ga turn bet lol.

River hits and given teh way he played his hand, it's either a bluff or AK. I really put him on AK so I fired a value bet as I don't think he's ever firing tptk on a 4flush board.

he showed kd6d :D

AWESOME hand

Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
6 players

Stack sizes:
UTG: $608.25
UTG+1: $933
CO: $582
Button: $612.15
Hero: $642
BB: $453.50

Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is SB with ad kh
UTG calls, UTG+1 raises to $24, 2 folds, Hero raises to $84, 2 folds, UTG+1 raises to $222, Hero raises all-in $642, UTG+1 calls.

Flop: 9c 8h 8s ($1296, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $1296)


Turn: 8c ($1296, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $1296)


River: 8d ($1296, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: $1296)


Results:
Final pot: $1296
Hero showed Ad Kh
UTG+1 mucks Qs Qc


gnight!

Poker is Good for Me

Today was pretty good :D Only ran slightly above expectation. I love days like these because yes the money is nice but also I felt like I wasn't playing amazing or on a heater. I just sat there playign my game and doing my best to make smart decisions. However, my concentration started slipping towards the end but for the most part I felt I played a pretty good game : )

I really haven't been playing much and it's because my sleeping schedule is just absolutely horrible right now. I keep sleeping in til like 11am or 12pm and pretty much miss all the good games in the morning.

Last night I crashed at 11pm, surprisngly woke up at 5am, made breakfast, and then...took a nap because I was too early...and woke up at 11:30. lol....sleeping in is so -EV

do u guys save negative or minus ev? I always say minus.

So I came back from lunch to put in more hands, although I'll be honest and say that after winning 3k+, i don't like to put in more hands. If I ended up with 1k less, I'd be pretty depressed. Anyhow, ALL THE 3/6 TABLES ON STARS HAVE A 3 MAN WAITING LIST. WHAT IS THIS. I hate waiting for tables. I was considering playing some limit but instead, I'm gonna be productive! Going to go get a table and a lamp for my room as I do need a little light stand for reading as well as some other stuff that needs to get done.

really funny movie trailer that roommate just showed me:


don't really have any hands to share except for this one. I really liked it.

If any of you who read care to take a shot at the hand/debate about the line I took, feel free to comment : )


Poker Stars
No Limit Holdem Ring game
Blinds: $3/$6
5 players

Stack sizes:
Hero: $640
CO: $600
Button: $1190
SB: $2504.05
BB: $306

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is UTG with 5h 6h
Hero raises to $21, CO folds, Button raises to $72, 2 folds, Hero calls.

Flop: 4c 2h 4h ($153, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: 7h ($153, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: kh ($153, 2 players)
Hero bets $84

I won the Bodog 100k Tournament!

:D

title says it all. My friend cobaltblue was playing for 1.5 hours and then he called me to take over him since he had to go to a superbowl party. To be honest, I didn't pay attention for like the first 4 hours. I was 4tabling AP, watching a cardrunners' vid, and then when I realized I was deep, I started to focus :D

Fun times. I used to grind out sngs a long while back but I really hate online tourneys, I feel like a kid in detention because i'm forced to sit there the whole damn time! grrrr. I played a pretty TAG game imo. Stealing the button when I could, 3betting only premiums, pretty textbook stuff.

I sucked out twice, a5 > AT and 8s > 9s, I flopped a set :D

The last hand of the tourney I had KK, blinds 15/30k, he has 600k and I cover. He makes it 78k, I call w/the intention to cr any drawy flop.

Flop:

k 2 2 - LOL. I check/call

Turn:

7 - check/call

river:

Ace - Gin! Check/raise all in! He calls w/A7. Ship the 25k first place prize :D

Because I played for about 75% of the total tourney time, I pretty much got that much. 19,250 is my cut : )

cobalt: you realize that for the last 3 years this is the tourney I've been trying to win?

This was my first bodog tourney ever :D Winning it was so funny. I had cobalt on the phone and we just started laughing hysterically when I won. It wasn't til hours later I was like "holy shit, I really just won Bodog's 100k tourney...and i'm 20k richer! what the hell?!" To celebrate, I had pizza, watched lost in translation...and that's it :p

The last 2 days have been pretty great. I played only 1,000 hands today...just look at this! Look how sexy these stats/graphs are! And according to EV, i ran slightly bad :D





later

I hate money

I blew 8,000 in one session.

mmmf. I eventually won 2k back so now i'm at a 6k loss for the day! I'm actually pretty happy about this. I was definitely miserable this morning when I played >:| It was very weird. i sat down, played, got too bluffy trying to win every pot, made 2 bad all in moves, and before I knew it, I was down 8 grand. I'm not too bothered by it though. It's annoying that I"ll have to put in more hands and make it back but honestly I think this'll help motivate me to work harder for the month. Come on 60,000 hands minimum!

My goal is to break 30k. I've never had one of those months and I really want to. With hard work, I can do it! I also think I'm improving at a nice steady pace and would like to see a > 3bb/100 winrate...although maybe I'll ignore Feb 1st's session when calculating that :p

As for coaching and making videos, I won't be able to do that anymore. The video software isn't working right and it's a big hassle to get that stuff uploaded. At least for me it is, Vista and Camtasia won't get along.

Will I play 5/10NL this month? I doubt it. The money is pretty good at 3/6nl so I'm just going to focus on it for this month. MAYBE if I end up doing well I'll take a shot at 5/10 on Prima.

bye : )