(Super) nova? check.

Well, I did it.

It's been a brutal few days, but I am now a super nova. so, that's something. The games have become pretty good again. but the suckouts have been exceptional, and I am dropping cash over the last three days at a clip that is not pleasing. That said, if the games continue to be this good, it's a near certainty that I'll make it all back and then some.

Dear pokerjl,

Congratulations! You have achieved the "Supernova".

We invite you to learn about your many new PokerStars VIP privileges by
visiting http://www.pokerstars.com/vip/supernova/

Sincerely,

PokerStars Team.

moving along...

Been sticking with the plan and playing 80 min of so of oinline poker a day... as of now, I am 7.3K vpp away from becoming a supernova...
so, I should be one of those by next week sometime. Yay...

I recently started to exercise a little game selection... I used to always just play in whatever game was available... but now I look at the stats of the games to see which is the best and am willing to wait a bit before I play. I think this has helped my bottom line as I am definitely up against worse players than I had been up against.

Also, I started playing on FTP a bit more because the games are juicier there...

went to the Borgata a week ago, dropped 750 over 3 days... the last hand I played I lost a 900 pot when the card that made my flush made another guy's full house. not complaining (he had me beat all the way), just aware how the turn of a card can, in the short term, be the difference between a winning and losing trip.

Onward!

So, things continue to go well in the quest for supernova status. I seem to win for three days, then give a lot back on the fourth day. but that said, I'm at my high point for the year right now, so that's something. I now have almost 71K vpps. I've done 40K vpp in 47 days... I only have to do 29k in the last 88 days to get there. Of course, my goals have been raised now. I want to do enough vpp that PS gives me a WSOP Main Event package for next summer. I've run some spreadsheets, and it's totally doable.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

This Online Poker Tournament is a No Limit Texas Holdem event exclusive to Bloggers.

Registration code: 6785010

stars update

Ok, so last time i posted, I said I was going for being a stars supernova by the end of the year. I had, at that point, 30.7K VPP and needed to reach 100K VPP by the end of the year to get there.

It's still early days, but things are going well... I am up to 51.3K VPP in 25 days of play. I am at the point where I just need to do 450 VPP a day to get there, and I can knock that out in 60-90 min.

The games are good, but my bankroll has been all over the place. I only had about 2k in PS just before I started all this, got it up to 4k, watched it fall to about 1800, and now it's back to 3600. I have earned $810 in fpp during my play too, so overall, it's been good. While it's been a rough year poker wise, this is my current high point. While I feel I've run a little poorly, overall, the online games are not like they used to be... they are tougher for sure.

back on the stars horse...

So, back at the beginning of the year I decided I was going to be a pokerstars supernova. Then I started running bad, got disgusted, and let it go completely.

lately I've been playing almost every day and taking poker seriously again. I've been playing PS this month and noticed I had become a goldstar (which is on their frequent player bonuses, it's a medium level designation.) I found myself interested to see if I could make platinumstar by the end of the month (you have to do it in a month or start over the next month.)

I'm well on my way to Platinum, and I've started to think about bigger and better things.

First thought: Boy, at this pace, if I had played more, I would have become a supernova easily.
2nd thought: I'll do it next year!
3rd thought: Shit. The supernovas are calculated over a calendar year, so I begin the year at zero (unless I already am a supernova)... so I won't reap the benefits of it until I achieve the whole enchilada, which will take at least 6 or seven months.
4th thought: Could I just achieve the status this year? If I did, then I would get all the good stuff starting January 1st! hmmmm.

So, I have a fair amount of work ahead of me to pull it off. but it's definitely doable. I'm less than a third of the way there, and have about a third of a year to get there. I've run the numbers and think I should be able to knock it out if I play 10 hours a week 4- tabling shorthanded games. That doesn't seem like a lot to me these days... I've definitely been playing a lot more than that, although mostly full tables, which move slower and are a bit more suited to my style... I might play full tables instead... we'll see.

either way, I'm back to going for it. It's fun to have a goal.

at least I won the $3 side pot.

Ran horrifcally two days ago... the river was not my friend. played in PS' 2 freerolls for frequent players today. even though I did nothing in them, I played a little 5/10 while I was waiting and won between 400-450. So, that wins back a chunk of yesterday's bloodbath.

here's a few fun hands I lost, for the kids:
(comments follow each hand)

Full Tilt Poker Game #3280889622: Table Del Rey - $5/$10 - Limit Hold'em - 15:28:48 ET - 2007/08/17

Seat 1: ocean13 ($439.50)

Seat 2: dragonbet420 ($378)

Seat 3: bardiche ($140)

Seat 4: redmanjew ($267.50)

Seat 5: elguevon ($69.50)

Seat 6: Jryan324 ($418.50)

Seat 7: highfinance70 ($1,440)

Seat 8: Joeknick ($429.50), is sitting out

Seat 9: anna15 ($145.50)

elguevon has 5 seconds left to act

elguevon is sitting out

elguevon has timed out

Jryan324 posts the big blind of $5

elguevon has returned

The button is in seat #4

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to redmanjew [7s As]

highfinance70 calls $5

anna15 folds

ocean13 folds

dragonbet420 folds

bardiche folds

redmanjew raises to $10

Jryan324 folds

highfinance70 calls $5

*** FLOP *** [6s Kd Ac]

highfinance70 checks

redmanjew bets $5

highfinance70 calls $5

*** TURN *** [6s Kd Ac] [Jd]

highfinance70 checks

redmanjew bets $10

Joeknick has returned

highfinance70 calls $10

*** RIVER *** [6s Kd Ac Jd] [7d]

highfinance70 bets $10

redmanjew calls $10

*** SHOW DOWN ***

highfinance70 shows [4d 5d] a flush, King high

redmanjew mucks

highfinance70 wins the pot ($72) with a flush, King high

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $75 | Rake $3

Board: [6s Kd Ac Jd 7d]

Seat 1: ocean13 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 2: dragonbet420 didn't bet (folded)

Seat 3: bardiche didn't bet (folded)

Seat 4: redmanjew (button) mucked [7s As] - two pair, Aces and Sevens

Seat 5: elguevon (small blind) is sitting out

Seat 6: Jryan324 (big blind) folded before the Flop

Seat 7: highfinance70 showed [4d 5d] and won ($72) with a flush, King high

Seat 8: Joeknick is sitting out

Seat 9: anna15 didn't bet (folded)

that's a frickin' classic right there.

PokerStars Game #11539238576: Hold'em Limit ($5/$10) - 2007/08/17 - 15:44:32 (ET)

Table 'Gallia III' 10-max Seat #8 is the button

Seat 1: CrameKid ($112 in chips)

Seat 2: bbomirang ($229 in chips)

Seat 3: joepelt ($60 in chips)

Seat 4: marchinvest2 ($307 in chips)

Seat 5: jaliks ($59 in chips)

Seat 6: tone6688 ($253 in chips)

Seat 7: Hammiedog ($271 in chips)

Seat 8: AnthonyRPF ($294 in chips)

Seat 9: badactuary ($244 in chips)

Seat 10: pokerjl ($171 in chips)

badactuary: posts small blind $2

pokerjl: posts big blind $5

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to pokerjl [4c 3h]

CrameKid: calls $5

bbomirang: calls $5

joepelt: calls $5

marchinvest2: raises $5 to $10

jaliks: calls $10

tone6688: folds

Hammiedog: folds

AnthonyRPF: folds

badactuary: folds

pokerjl: calls $5

CrameKid: calls $5

bbomirang: calls $5

joepelt: calls $5

*** FLOP *** [Ts 5s 6h]

pokerjl: checks

CrameKid: checks

bbomirang: checks

joepelt: bets $5

marchinvest2: calls $5

jaliks: calls $5

pokerjl: calls $5

CrameKid: folds

bbomirang: raises $5 to $10

joepelt: calls $5

marchinvest2: calls $5

jaliks: calls $5

pokerjl: calls $5

*** TURN *** [Ts 5s 6h] [7h]

pokerjl: checks

bbomirang: bets $10

joepelt: raises $10 to $20

marchinvest2: folds

jaliks: calls $20

pokerjl: raises $10 to $30

bbomirang: calls $20

joepelt: raises $10 to $40 and is all-in

Betting is capped

jaliks: calls $19 and is all-in

pokerjl: calls $10

bbomirang: calls $10

*** RIVER *** [Ts 5s 6h 7h] [8h]

pokerjl: checks

bbomirang: checks

*** SHOW DOWN ***

pokerjl: shows [4c 3h] (a straight, Four to Eight)

bbomirang: mucks hand

joepelt: mucks hand

pokerjl collected $3 from side pot

jaliks: shows [Th 9s] (a straight, Six to Ten)

jaliks collected $265 from main pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $271 Main pot $265. Side pot $3. | Rake $3

Board [Ts 5s 6h 7h 8h]

Seat 1: CrameKid folded on the Flop

Seat 2: bbomirang mucked [Td Tc]

Seat 3: joepelt mucked [7c 7d]

Seat 4: marchinvest2 folded on the Turn

Seat 5: jaliks showed [Th 9s] and won ($265) with a straight, Six to Ten

Seat 6: tone6688 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 7: Hammiedog folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 8: AnthonyRPF (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 9: badactuary (small blind) folded before Flop

Seat 10: pokerjl (big blind) showed [4c 3h] and won ($3) with a straight, Four to Eight

at least I won the $3 side pot.

PokerStars Game #11539322925: Hold'em Limit ($5/$10) - 2007/08/17 - 15:49:56 (ET)

Table 'Gallia III' 10-max Seat #8 is the button

Seat 1: CrameKid ($72 in chips)

Seat 2: bbomirang ($169 in chips)

Seat 4: marchinvest2 ($280 in chips)

Seat 5: jaliks ($233 in chips)

Seat 6: tone6688 ($223 in chips)

Seat 7: Hammiedog ($317 in chips)

Seat 8: AnthonyRPF ($315 in chips)

Seat 9: badactuary ($172 in chips)

Seat 10: pokerjl ($206 in chips)

badactuary: posts small blind $2

pokerjl: posts big blind $5

joepelt: sits out

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to pokerjl [Qh Qs]

CrameKid: folds

bbomirang: folds

marchinvest2: folds

jaliks: folds

tone6688: folds

Hammiedog: folds

AnthonyRPF: raises $5 to $10

badactuary: folds

pokerjl: raises $5 to $15

AnthonyRPF: calls $5

*** FLOP *** [Js 9h 4h]

pokerjl: bets $5

AnthonyRPF: calls $5

*** TURN *** [Js 9h 4h] [5h]

pokerjl: bets $10

AnthonyRPF: calls $10

*** RIVER *** [Js 9h 4h 5h] [2c]

pokerjl: bets $10

AnthonyRPF: calls $10

*** SHOW DOWN ***

pokerjl: shows [Qh Qs] (a pair of Queens)

AnthonyRPF: mucks hand

pokerjl collected $79 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $82 | Rake $3

Board [Js 9h 4h 5h 2c]

Seat 1: CrameKid folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 2: bbomirang folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 4: marchinvest2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 5: jaliks folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 6: tone6688 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 7: Hammiedog folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 8: AnthonyRPF (button) mucked [Qd Tc]

Seat 9: badactuary (small blind) folded before Flop

Seat 10: pokerjl (big blind) showed [Qh Qs] and won ($79) with a pair of Queens

Wow. "He called with Jack high!"

these were the guys who destroyed me yesterday. God Bless.

Funny hand that I won

Ok, check this out...

PokerStars Game #11472696032: Hold'em Limit ($10/$20) - 2007/08/13 - 19:40:33 (ET)
Table 'Phaedra IV' 10-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: marchinvest2 ($121 in chips)
Seat 2: KarlSpakler ($314 in chips)
Seat 3: fatbones67 ($255 in chips)
Seat 4: Mr. Klean ($431.50 in chips)
Seat 5: groundrush ($347.50 in chips)
Seat 6: S00SMOOTH ($624 in chips)
Seat 7: THE THIN MAN ($386 in chips)
Seat 8: pokerjl ($488 in chips)
Seat 10: dsrtflopper ($185 in chips)
THE THIN MAN: posts small blind $5
pokerjl: posts big blind $10
groundrush: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [6d 2d]
dsrtflopper: folds
marchinvest2: folds
KarlSpakler: folds
fatbones67: folds
Mr. Klean: folds
groundrush: raises $10 to $20
S00SMOOTH: folds
THE THIN MAN: folds
pokerjl: calls $10

He's raising in late position,... he could have pretty much anything. I make a bit of a loose call here, but it's not horrific.

*** FLOP *** [3c 5c 4d]
pokerjl: checks
groundrush: bets $10
pokerjl: raises $10 to $20
groundrush: raises $10 to $30
pokerjl: raises $10 to $40
Betting is capped
groundrush: calls $10


Gin! I flop the straight, and it's pretty much impossible to put him on 67. He probably has an overpair or the clubs. I love that we are capping here.

*** TURN *** [3c 5c 4d] [As]
pokerjl: bets $20
groundrush: raises $20 to $40
pokerjl: raises $20 to $60
groundrush: calls $20

That card didn't hurt me. and he is still raising me! awesome. I guess he could have a set of aces? or maybe a deuce? I guess he could have a2 and flopped the worse stright, that's pretty much the only hand that explains the action...


*** RIVER *** [3c 5c 4d As] [2s]
pokerjl: bets $20
groundrush: calls $20

Cool river! I hope and pray he doesn't have a 6, but I don't see how he possibly could... I bet, hoping he'll raise, thinking we're chopping and trying to push me off the hand.

He just calls... now we get to see what he had... it's really got to be AA or A2, right? maybe a set of 5s?

*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [6d 2d] (a straight, Deuce to Six)
groundrush: mucks hand
pokerjl collected $282 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $285 | Rake $3
Board [3c 5c 4d As 2s]
Seat 1: marchinvest2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: KarlSpakler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: fatbones67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Mr. Klean folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: groundrush mucked [Ah Kh]
Seat 6: S00SMOOTH (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: THE THIN MAN (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: pokerjl (big blind) showed [6d 2d] and won ($282) with a straight, Deuce to Six
Seat 10: dsrtflopper folded before Flop (didn't bet)



Whoops! Just Ace king! Gotta love the guys who cap on the flop with ace high, drawing dead to a perfect-perfect chop.

Oh, here's the best part (well, second best to me winning a nice sized pot against a hand that shouldn't have given me anything like this much money), after the hand, the player wrote (in the chat box): "unreal"

I know a lot of times playing AK that strongly will work... but man, when it doesn't, you can lose a fair amount quickly.

At least he didn't cap on the turn or raise the river. that would have truly been 'unreal.'

giveth and taketh.

Yesterday I won about 1100 in 3 hours... today I lost about that much in about the same amount of time...

I played some 5/10 and 15/30 cause there was no 10/20 game on PS... the entire day went like this:

PokerStars Game #11453875743: Hold'em Limit ($5/$10) - 2007/08/12 - 18:42:22 (ET)
Table 'Euporie' 10-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: rpc106 ($124 in chips)
Seat 2: Penguin44 ($73 in chips)
Seat 3: Daibaan ($194 in chips)
Seat 4: prfssrchaos ($350 in chips)
Seat 5: DVQT ($208.50 in chips)
Seat 6: bwillraise ($727 in chips)
Seat 7: DruhLib ($268 in chips)
Seat 8: DOCTOR TAKE ($647 in chips)
Seat 9: outlaw247 ($172.50 in chips)
Seat 10: pokerjl ($161 in chips)
DVQT: posts small blind $2
bwillraise: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Ks Kc]
DruhLib: folds
DOCTOR TAKE: folds
outlaw247: raises $5 to $10
pokerjl: raises $5 to $15
rpc106: folds
Penguin44: folds
Daibaan: folds
prfssrchaos: folds
DVQT: calls $13
bwillraise: folds
outlaw247: raises $5 to $20
Betting is capped
pokerjl: calls $5
DVQT: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Kh 9h 6c]
DVQT: checks
outlaw247: bets $5
pokerjl: raises $5 to $10
DVQT: folds
outlaw247: calls $5
*** TURN *** [Kh 9h 6c] [7h]
outlaw247: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
outlaw247: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Kh 9h 6c 7h] [8h]
outlaw247: bets $10
pokerjl: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
outlaw247: shows [Qd Qh] (a flush, King high)
pokerjl: mucks hand
outlaw247 collected $122 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $125 | Rake $3
Board [Kh 9h 6c 7h 8h]
Seat 1: rpc106 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Penguin44 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Daibaan folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: prfssrchaos (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: DVQT (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: bwillraise (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: DruhLib folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: DOCTOR TAKE folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: outlaw247 showed [Qd Qh] and won ($122) with a flush, King high
Seat 10: pokerjl mucked [Ks Kc]


15/30 was a nightmare. I played well, but got destroyed. These things happen, but still, it sucked.

Walking through a hand

Let’s walk through a poker hand which did not go the way I was expecting it too… pretty much at any point. As I (or pretty much anyone) plays, you put someone on a hand, based on their actions and history. I knew pretty much nothing about these two players, but let’s look at what I thought was going on, and then what was really going on:

we're playing 5/10 limit hold em here.

Dealt to pokerjl [Kd Jh]

cemre1: folds

WizardOfPozz: folds

JC-TheGuide: folds

pokerjl: raises $5 to $10

Oldmistyman: folds

hot daddy: folds

MrTictac: folds

badactuary: folds

therubeguy: calls $8

dacro42: calls $5

so far, nothing particularly unusual. These guys may have suited connectors, KQ, a pair, or a pretty good suited ace.

*** FLOP *** [6d 2d 4d]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: checks

pokerjl: bets $5

therubeguy: calls $5

dacro42: calls $5

OK, no one went away. We can parse the possible hands down a bit. It’s possible someone has the ace of diamonds. Someone could have a flush and be slowplaying it. Other diamond broadway cards could be out. Gutshots are also possible. An over pair between 77-99. maybe a 6, maybe a pair and a gut shot. I like my hand, with the K of diamonds and the two overcards. If someone raised, I would at least call.

*** TURN *** [6d 2d 4d] [3c]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: bets $10

pokerjl: calls $10

therubeguy: calls $10

Uh Oh. Seems like somebody hit his gutshot. I don’t know why the rubeguy is calling unless he has a big diamond or also made a straight. Doesn’t seem like anyone has a flush, unless dacro slowplayed it in a strange way. I'm still looking for my diamond, and would call on the river if a K or J hit also.

*** RIVER *** [6d 2d 4d 3c] [5c]

therubeguy: checks

dacro42: bets $10

pokerjl: calls $10

therubeguy: calls $10

Now I’m pretty sure dacro has a flush, or a better straight than is on the board. He’s betting into two guys, not sure why he’d do that if he couldn’t beat the board… one of us could certainly have a 7, especially the rubeguy. I can't fold on that board though... I'm also hoping rubeguy doesn't suddenly raise. Then I'm certainly beat.

*** SHOW DOWN ***

dacro42: shows [4c 4h] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

pokerjl: shows [Kd Jh] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

therubeguy: shows [Ad Ac] (a straight, Deuce to Six)

And… it’s a chop. How about that… I was drawing dead on the flop except to runner runner straight with no diamond. No one played this in a way that made sense, I believe. Why did the set slowplay on the flop? Why did the aces slowplay before the flop and on the flop? We could have capped on the flop… instead we got one bet in. The aces could have raised the turn even… but no go. Very oddly played.

But considering, these were the only cards I could catch once the flop hit to get my money back, I’m happy it went the way it did.

By the way, if I ever play aces like this, please hit me lightly over the head with something metallic.

Here's another one

wow. how about the river call. it's like party poker never left town.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3113049604: Table Alexandra (6 max) - $5/$10 - Limit Hold'em - 14:57:20 ET - 2007/07/31
Seat 1: albelee ($185.50)
Seat 2: pebs44 ($62.50), is sitting out
Seat 3: GMUFKIA ($770.50)
Seat 4: itsiggy ($187.50)
Seat 5: redmanjew ($256.50)
Seat 6: 1peytonplace ($436.50)
itsiggy posts the small blind of $2.50
redmanjew posts the big blind of $5
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to redmanjew [Ad Ks]
1peytonplace calls $5
albelee folds
GMUFKIA folds
itsiggy raises to $10
redmanjew raises to $15
1peytonplace calls $10
itsiggy calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Kd Jd Js]
itsiggy checks
redmanjew bets $5
1peytonplace calls $5
itsiggy folds
*** TURN *** [Kd Jd Js] [Jc]
redmanjew bets $10
1peytonplace calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Kd Jd Js Jc] [Ts]
redmanjew bets $10
1peytonplace calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
redmanjew shows [Ad Ks] a full house, Jacks full of Kings
1peytonplace mucks
redmanjew wins the pot ($92) with a full house, Jacks full of Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $95 | Rake $3
Board: [Kd Jd Js Jc Ts]
Seat 1: albelee didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: pebs44 is sitting out
Seat 3: GMUFKIA (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: itsiggy (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: redmanjew (big blind) showed [Ad Ks] and won ($92) with a full house, Jacks full of Kings
Seat 6: 1peytonplace mucked [5d 4d] - three of a kind, Jacks

holy magoly

had to post immediately. one of the more inexplicable hands I've seen.

PokerStars Game #11212783861: Hold'em Limit ($5/$10) - 2007/07/30 - 03:37:32 (ET)
Table 'Lumen IV' 10-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: GoWitTheFlow ($178.50 in chips)
Seat 2: MochaMocha ($250 in chips)
Seat 3: Saraboo ($76 in chips)
Seat 6: jasonw882 ($202 in chips)
Seat 7: navynuk ($385.50 in chips)
Seat 8: pokerjl ($98 in chips)
Seat 9: Hooligan104 ($277.50 in chips)
Seat 10: badactuary ($239 in chips)
pokerjl: posts small blind $2
Hooligan104: posts big blind $5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [8c 9d]
badactuary: folds
GoWitTheFlow: folds
MochaMocha: folds
Saraboo: folds
jasonw882: folds
biguncle61 has returned
navynuk: calls $5
pokerjl: calls $3
Hooligan104: checks
*** FLOP *** [6c 5c 9c]
pokerjl: bets $5
GoWitTheFlow leaves the table
Hooligan104: calls $5
navynuk: calls $5
*** TURN *** [6c 5c 9c] [9s]
pokerjl: bets $10
hanpristeur5 joins the table at seat #1
Hooligan104: folds
navynuk: raises $10 to $20
pokerjl: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [6c 5c 9c 9s] [9h]
pokerjl: bets $10
navynuk: raises $10 to $20
pokerjl: raises $10 to $30
navynuk: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [8c 9d] (four of a kind, Nines)
navynuk: mucks hand
pokerjl collected $127 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $130 | Rake $3
Board [6c 5c 9c 9s 9h]
Seat 1: GoWitTheFlow folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: MochaMocha folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Saraboo folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: jasonw882 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: navynuk (button) mucked [Js Tc]
Seat 8: pokerjl (small blind) showed [8c 9d] and won ($127) with four of a kind, Nines
Seat 9: Hooligan104 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 10: badactuary folded before Flop (didn't bet)


c

an interesting day

I started today by 4 tabling FT playing short handed 5-10 and getting crushed. Everything lost, and lost, and lost. just one of those things. I made a full house with 76o on a 76436 board, and lost to 77. Yeah, that was ugly. I was down 700 in a flash. also, my internet kept dying on me, so that didn't help either.

but then I fired up PS and elected to play some full ring 10/20... just one table... three interesting and great hands here:

PokerStars Game #11130547280: Hold'em Limit ($10/$20) - 2007/07/25 - 16:10:02 (ET)
Table 'Geometria IV' 10-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 2: King Mush ($130 in chips)
Seat 3: tlittlestone ($235 in chips)
Seat 4: sully7 ($222 in chips)
Seat 5: EmmitSmith ($982.50 in chips)
Seat 6: PROMOTERS ($870 in chips)
Seat 7: eating_Y ($1294 in chips)
Seat 8: 42DD ($177 in chips)
Seat 9: pokerjl ($547 in chips)
Seat 10: borntowin19 ($2936 in chips)
borntowin19: posts small blind $5
King Mush: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [As Qs]
tlittlestone: folds
sully7: folds
EmmitSmith: calls $10
PROMOTERS: raises $10 to $20
eating_Y: folds
42DD: folds
pokerjl: raises $10 to $30
borntowin19: folds
King Mush: calls $20
EmmitSmith: raises $10 to $40
Betting is capped
PROMOTERS: calls $20
pokerjl: calls $10
King Mush: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [Qh 9c 4c]
King Mush: checks
EmmitSmith: checks
PROMOTERS: bets $10
pokerjl: raises $10 to $20
King Mush: calls $20
EmmitSmith: raises $10 to $30
PROMOTERS: folds
pokerjl: calls $10
King Mush: calls $10
*** TURN *** [Qh 9c 4c] [Qc]
King Mush: checks
EmmitSmith: bets $20
pokerjl: calls $20
King Mush: raises $20 to $40
EmmitSmith: raises $20 to $60
pokerjl: calls $40
King Mush: calls $20 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Qh 9c 4c Qc] [4h]
EmmitSmith: bets $20
pokerjl: raises $20 to $40
EmmitSmith: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [As Qs] (a full house, Queens full of Fours)
pokerjl collected $40 from side pot
King Mush: mucks hand
pokerjl collected $442 from main pot
King Mush said, "wow"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $485 Main pot $442. Side pot $40. | Rake $3
Board [Qh 9c 4c Qc 4h]
Seat 2: King Mush (big blind) mucked [7c 6c]
Seat 3: tlittlestone folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: sully7 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: EmmitSmith folded on the River
Seat 6: PROMOTERS folded on the Flop
Seat 7: eating_Y folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 42DD folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pokerjl (button) showed [As Qs] and won ($482) with a full house, Queens full of Fours
Seat 10: borntowin19 (small blind) folded before Flop


OK, so while I put the 4 bettor on a hand that had me beat, I still had to go with it on the flop. Then I can't fold the turn even though I am sure at least one of these guys has a flush. I have to call the river either way, but I'm really looking for one of my ten outs to the top full house (or quads).

what could the other guy (who bet/ folds the river) have? flush? aces? He can't fold anything there. maybe he had an underpair that got counterfeited? That's the only hand I can think of that should be played that way.


PokerStars Game #11130857799: Hold'em Limit ($10/$20) - 2007/07/25 - 16:29:20 (ET)
Table 'Geometria IV' 10-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: iamhammer ($353 in chips)
Seat 2: King Mush ($169 in chips)
Seat 3: GFL605 ($278 in chips)
Seat 4: sully7 ($285.50 in chips)
Seat 5: EmmitSmith ($1188.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Archangelele ($252.50 in chips)
Seat 7: eating_Y ($1247 in chips)
Seat 8: 42DD ($117 in chips)
Seat 9: pokerjl ($999 in chips)
sully7: posts small blind $5
EmmitSmith: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Kh Kd]
Archangelele: calls $10
eating_Y: folds
42DD: folds
pokerjl: raises $10 to $20
iamhammer: folds
King Mush: folds
GFL605: folds
sully7: folds
EmmitSmith: calls $10
Archangelele: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [9c Qs 9d]
EmmitSmith: checks
Archangelele: checks
pokerjl: bets $10
EmmitSmith: raises $10 to $20
Archangelele: calls $20
pokerjl: raises $10 to $30
EmmitSmith: calls $10
Archangelele: calls $10
*** TURN *** [9c Qs 9d] [Jd]
EmmitSmith: bets $20
Archangelele: calls $20
pokerjl: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [9c Qs 9d Jd] [Tc]
EmmitSmith: checks
Archangelele: checks
pokerjl: bets $20
EmmitSmith: calls $20
Archangelele: calls $20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [Kh Kd] (a straight, Nine to King)
EmmitSmith: mucks hand
Archangelele: mucks hand
pokerjl collected $272 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $275 | Rake $3
Board [9c Qs 9d Jd Tc]
Seat 1: iamhammer folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: King Mush folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: GFL605 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: sully7 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: EmmitSmith (big blind) mucked [Qc Ad]
Seat 6: Archangelele mucked [Jh Td]
Seat 7: eating_Y folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: 42DD folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pokerjl showed [Kh Kd] and won ($272) with a straight, Nine to King

I was pretty damn sure I was ahead the whole way here, but that bet out on the turn confused me. I though the guy had QJ, and I was still winning, but with the other guy calling, the possible st8, and the board paired, I just called. Luckily, I got 2 calls on the river.

PokerStars Game #11130914080: Hold'em Limit ($10/$20) - 2007/07/25 - 16:32:52 (ET)
Table 'Geometria IV' 10-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: iamhammer ($345 in chips)
Seat 2: King Mush ($169 in chips)
Seat 3: GFL605 ($168 in chips)
Seat 5: EmmitSmith ($1245.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Archangelele ($67.50 in chips)
Seat 7: eating_Y ($1222 in chips)
Seat 9: pokerjl ($1283 in chips)
Seat 10: borntowin19 ($2809 in chips)
Yesbo will be allowed to play after the button
pokerjl: posts small blind $5
borntowin19: posts big blind $10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pokerjl [Ks Kc]
iamhammer: raises $10 to $20
King Mush: calls $20
GFL605: folds
EmmitSmith: folds
Archangelele: folds
eating_Y: folds
pokerjl: raises $10 to $30
borntowin19: folds
iamhammer: calls $10
King Mush: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [5c Ad 2c]
pokerjl: bets $10
sully7 has returned
iamhammer: calls $10
King Mush: folds
*** TURN *** [5c Ad 2c] [4s]
pokerjl: checks
iamhammer: bets $20
pokerjl: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [5c Ad 2c 4s] [4h]
pokerjl: checks
iamhammer: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
pokerjl: shows [Ks Kc] (two pair, Kings and Fours)
iamhammer: shows [Tc Th] (two pair, Tens and Fours)
pokerjl collected $157 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $160 | Rake $3
Board [5c Ad 2c 4s 4h]
Seat 1: iamhammer showed [Tc Th] and lost with two pair, Tens and Fours
Seat 2: King Mush folded on the Flop
Seat 3: GFL605 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: EmmitSmith folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Archangelele folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: eating_Y (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pokerjl (small blind) showed [Ks Kc] and won ($157) with two pair, Kings and Fours
Seat 10: borntowin19 (big blind) folded before Flop

This was probably the easiest hand, though I thought I was probably losing until he checked the river. We were heads up... I had Kings... that was that.

Anyway. with the run I made at PS, I ended up making about 200 bucks in the session, so that was nice, especially since I was down 700 early. Yay kings!

and we're back...

well, the first day back and playing online poker again, i dropped 1k. It was just ugly. I hit 2 sets on the day, and one of them lost to quads while the other lost to a str8.

I also made no str8s, no flushes... just plain brutal.

Luckily, the past few days i've won that back... the games are still good online and I think I'm a better player than I was before I left for the Vegas trip. I make more and better value bets, I don't make a bet that has a very little chance of having a positive expectation, I call a little more on the flop, etc.

I'm psyched to play a bunchy more.

a bone, thrown.

have been doing actual work lately. interesting to do something where you are certain to get paid instead of what I've been doing over the past five weeks.

all I've had time to do is play some heads up matches over the past few nights on FTP. I'm up about 350 doing that, though they have been relatively low limit matches (20-30 bucks).

i'm thinking tomorrow is when i'm getting back on the poker horse...

Back in Brooklyn

I arrived home yesterday... the day before, I lost a big Pot playing 30-60 at Bellagio when my turned set of nines lost to a rivered set of aces... what sucked about it was not losing the pot, but that the way it came down, it was one of the ways I was likely to lose the most possible money... maybe if I flopped the set. perhaps I would have lost more, but I don't think so, not against that particular player... anyway, it was a 900 pot that went the wrong way, and meant I had a losing session instead of a winning one that night.

The day of my flight, i played at the Rio, and they only had a 4-8 game going, but with a kill. I figured, what the hell, I'm leaving in 40 minutes anyway... I only won three pots, but I won both kill pots (which means we were playing 8-16 instead)... on the first (non-kill) pot I won, I had posted and the under the gun player raised. I called in late position with j2suicted. The bb also called. the flop was J33. i check raised any everybody called. I bet the turn and they both called... The river came an ace... the bb checked, the raiser bet and clearly looked confident... I called anyway, and the bb folded. The utg guy showed 78 of clubs and I won the pot. the BB said he folded pocket kings... I was sort of amazed at how I needed things to go to win that pot... an ace had to come, the original raiser had to bet, and I had to call even though iw as pretty sure I was beat, even with the guy behind me still to act. He said he folded because I called. it's rare to have the worst hand bet, the 2nd best hand call and the best hand fold... but it happened! if he had taken control of the pot pre-flop or even on the flop, he certainly would have won... but we were playing 4-8, so I guess that's not really fair of me to say. i won 155 in about 40 min, and had to jump on my plane.... and now I am back form five weeks fo poker mayhem.


Not sure what's next poker wise... thinking about playing some home games in the city...

last day...

So, I played today, for what was likely my last time in Vegas. yesterday, i was in a great 30-60 game at Bellagio, but was never up or down more than 300 bucks. i had a guy raise me on the turn with a gutshot and get there (when I had QQ). It was a spectacular game, and now i can say, for the first time, i am totally comfortable in a 30-60 game.

Today, I was at the Rio and they had 0 limit games going. i was here to rail Matt and Action bob
(they both busted out)... I actually sat in a 4-8 game for 8 hands (won both hands I played...to the tune of 38 bucks! schweet!)

Then they opened up a 10-20 game and it was a blast. we played 3 handed for a while, and I did well. the guy on my left kept straddling and raising, but i had a good sense of how he was playing, so it didn't bother me... I ended the day up 874, which is pretty good. for the trip, playing limit hold em, I am up about 3k (even after the first day where i was down 1.5 k), but because of nl cash and the sats, i am down a bit for the trip. nothing terrible, i am happy to say.
it makes it even clearer to me I should be playing limit hold em or tournaments with quality structures only. everything else my edge is weaker...

No more NL cash!

Played at the rio last night. I had to wait a LONG time for a table, they were only spreading 2 limit games… eventually, I sat at a NL table to kill time. What I learned is that it’s been a long, long time since I played NL cash games, and that my bet sizing is way off. I was raising too much or not enough, and dropped 1.1k pretty quickly. I also got unlucky when a guy hit his five outer on the river to beat me (we would have chopped otherwise, we were all in on the turn on that one).

I got moved to a 10-20 table, dropped a little more cash there, then to a 20-40 table where everything suddenly started going right:

I flop top pair and an open ender, pick up a flush draws on the turn, get raised on the turn, make the flush on the river.

Three bet on the button a late position (hijack) raiser and caller (cut-off)with kj of diamonds, get four bet by the cut-off (!), and flop a jack. He’s all in on the turn… I hit another J on the river… he turns over 2 queens and curses his luck. I didn’t say anything to him about how if he played it correctly I never would have been in the hand.

Raise with AK, flop an ace, get called all the way and win!

Raise with AQ, flop a gutshot wheel draw, turn and ace, river a Q and get called the whole way.

In about 70 min, I won 900… which made the session, while still a loser, not nearly as bad.

No more NL cash!

well, I ended up getting crushed in online play (three hands in a row where I was way ahead and lost... 600 bucks right there... poof.) but then the girl and I went to bellagio at 3:30 am and played for a few hours, and I got some cards... I left up 760 even though I lost a 750 pot with AA to KK.

Today I played in a main event sat. , but could pick up no real hands... everyone around me seemed to be turning over wired kings, while I had to do my winning with A4 offsuit. Still, about three hours in, i had 3x my starting chips and was an above average stack. Then the blinds got high, everyone kept raising and I never had anything... till I looked down at AJ, moved in and the big blind woke up with AK.

I think I played well... and if anything, i was very aware of how well i played post flop... and think I should be trying to play more tourneys where there is significant post flop play.

So, while tghe trip ins't over yet, i am up in cash games but down about 3k in sats... having lost my last 6 in a row after winning the first one. Boooo. Down for the trip as of now... I still have some time to try to rally.

the 4th of July has passed.

happy 4th and all that.

I'm trying to decide how long to stay in Vegas. I'm not playing the main event this year, and the cash games should be pretty jammed up over the next few days, with the main event beginning.

the last few days have been slow... three days ago i lost about 900 where a guy just had my number. Everytime I folded I had the ebst hand, every time I called he did. It was just bizarre.

Then, the next day, i won a few big pots early, went up 700, and never saw anopther hand a agiain. ended up 60 for the session. I did meet a girl at the table and that's been fun.

Yesterday, the 4th, I didn't play. today, I've been playing online for a bit, am doing well.

I'm trying to figure out how much longer I'm going to stay in vegas... I figure I'm leaving sometime between sunday and thursday... we'll see.

yay.

Another good day today, playing 20-40 at the Rio. I played for less than 4 hours, and left up 1k. I only had three pocket pairs in the entire session (QQ, JJ, and 44) but won with all three of them. i even flopped a set of fours! (first set in at least 3 days.)

Besides that, things just went pretty fine. When the flush card came, and i had a good hand with no flush, and I called the bettor, they didn't have the flush either time. I did make one fold that i regretted, where i flopped a gutshot and called a bet (the pot was big enough), then turned a flush draw, but it paired the board. a woman who had not raised once raised when a guy bet and I was concerned that I was drawing dead. it was clear she thought she was strong, but i wasn't sure if strong to her was trips or a boat. in the end, i folded, thinking the odds were against her only having trips. river did make my flush, and she showed trips with a deuce kicker. I was not happy about it. I gave her too much credit. Lesson learned.

Besides that, things went well. I check raised a pre flop raiser with a gut shot, he 3 bet me and I called. The turn brought my str8, and I check raised him again. Sadly, he folded... but at least I didn't have to show what I was check raising with.

I'm getting closer to getting even than I've been since the 'day of blood', when i dropped 3 k on sats. The last four days have been great, with me up almost 2.8k. Limit hold em! yay...