Tilt Tales
Friday, February 17, 2006
Sng Progression
I am now just a win away from stepping up to the $10+1 in the SnG challenge so making progress on this one. It is nice to be able to write something positive about poker instead of my slides in 1/2 LHE. I should have been up on the levels last night. I was multi-tabling two SnG $5+.50 and on the bubble in both tables and sitting 3rd on both. First tables I get AA, 4th who had just slightly less about 2BB (75/150 blinds) then I raises, I re-raise and he goes all in. I call, he shows TT against my AA. Flop comes ATT. Ouch. I was out pretty soon after.
On the second table about two hands after the hand above I get AhKh, and flop my flush with T85, 2nd stack goes all in. I think for about 2 seconds, 3 of a kind two pair? He flips over AT, turn and river AT. Damn you Poker gods...I turned off the 'ol PC and made a Gin and Tonic, played some Civ 4 and beat the nasty Incans into a pulp. Then feeling a little jilted by Poker played another SnG for 3rd before going to bed. So that made the nights sleep a little easier.
In other news I am probably not going to be able to play the DADIII on the weekend. Some mates are heading out to Royal Randwick for some racing action and that for me takes precedence over Poker, I love my horses and taking money from bookies. Punting is my first love. I bet most weekends in the lead up to carnivals and during, breaking only over summer. The great news is that I can now legally punt on Betfair, the best place for odds as it is a betting exchange allowing you to also lay bets, not just back.
It is also leading into the Autumn carnival so important to see many lead-up races with all the big names resuming their campaigns....Giddy up
Friday, February 10, 2006
Saddle Up
I had about an hour to play last night and decided a quick $5.50 SnG was in order. I further decided that with a win the prize money was to pay for entry in the DADIII heads up tourney. Behold, I am now registered taking the SnG down in about 40 minutes.. You can read more about DADIII over at TripJax.
I have never played a heads up toourney before, so will be interesting. I very much expect to be eliminated in the first round especially with the likes of Doubleas playing. Or get a first round bye!
I am very glad that I have taken the step back to SnGs much success since giving the cash games away a few days ago, cash games were just bleeding me dry.
I am on the SnG Challenge (Modified) from TripJax, he does SnG 6-Max. So far results are 2, 6, 2, 6, 6, 4, 3, 2, 3, 2, 1. Top three pay, so in the money 63% of the time, previously I was at 57% when I played SnG's so pretty good. This just re-enforces where my efforts should go. I said in Janruary that I will focus on SnG with Tourneys 2-3 times a week, I very much wish I did not travel down the bonus chase road and stuck to my plan! Lets just put it in the 'learning' basket.
Cheers... ¶ Friday, February 10, 2006 1 comments
I have never played a heads up toourney before, so will be interesting. I very much expect to be eliminated in the first round especially with the likes of Doubleas playing. Or get a first round bye!
I am very glad that I have taken the step back to SnGs much success since giving the cash games away a few days ago, cash games were just bleeding me dry.
I am on the SnG Challenge (Modified) from TripJax, he does SnG 6-Max. So far results are 2, 6, 2, 6, 6, 4, 3, 2, 3, 2, 1. Top three pay, so in the money 63% of the time, previously I was at 57% when I played SnG's so pretty good. This just re-enforces where my efforts should go. I said in Janruary that I will focus on SnG with Tourneys 2-3 times a week, I very much wish I did not travel down the bonus chase road and stuck to my plan! Lets just put it in the 'learning' basket.
Cheers... ¶ Friday, February 10, 2006 1 comments
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Argh!
That is it, I give up on cash games of all sort! The experiment has failed, it is not alive. My short run of success at 6 max evaporated tonight and I am certain to pack up this bonus chase and stick to my first love, SnG and Tourney's. Hey at least I win money on these, so no shame in saying I sux at cash games.
I was reading TripJax 6 Max SnG Challenge and I think this will be my new project, just not the 6-max type, I'll stick with full SnG's single tables. I have recently gone back to SnG's over the last day or so with a a few 2nds which has been the only aspect of me keeping any faith what so ever in my poker skills.
A funny story, well a feel good story, well a story. A mate called me today but I was in a meeting so had to ingnore the call. Ignore being hang-up on him. He called me later tonight to explain. He was home sick, but well enough to play a $3.30 on Poker Stars and was into 60th, top 40 money or something. He called as he had to leave to go to the doctors and wanted me to sit in. As I was unreachable he called a friend at his work, who played for him!
When my friend got back home two hours later and called to see how he did, the guy was in 5th place at the final table. They then swapped out again and he went onto win!
Nice ¶ Tuesday, February 07, 2006 1 comments
I was reading TripJax 6 Max SnG Challenge and I think this will be my new project, just not the 6-max type, I'll stick with full SnG's single tables. I have recently gone back to SnG's over the last day or so with a a few 2nds which has been the only aspect of me keeping any faith what so ever in my poker skills.
A funny story, well a feel good story, well a story. A mate called me today but I was in a meeting so had to ingnore the call. Ignore being hang-up on him. He called me later tonight to explain. He was home sick, but well enough to play a $3.30 on Poker Stars and was into 60th, top 40 money or something. He called as he had to leave to go to the doctors and wanted me to sit in. As I was unreachable he called a friend at his work, who played for him!
When my friend got back home two hours later and called to see how he did, the guy was in 5th place at the final table. They then swapped out again and he went onto win!
Nice ¶ Tuesday, February 07, 2006 1 comments
A short hand virgin no more
Last night saw my debut in the short hand came playing 1/2 Short on CD Poker. While not a roaring success I managed to grind out a $5 proft, which is much better then the losses I have been experiencing over the last two weeks.
I also got back into my pet game the single table SnG finihsing 2nd twice and 6th twice for a total profit of $5. I am happy to have at least pulled a positive session for the first time in a while. Please rejoice with me.
A few observations on short-handed.
People will play any paint card with any kicker. I hold KJs with two pair on the flop and get called down by the chump with A3os. not complaining, money in my poket, but hey that A3 has nothing on the felt. If this is the type of play I'll be coming back for some more action.
Much faster, do not try and do two things at once playing this, I was mucking about with a side project while trying to play. Just play poker.
The pots are the same size or even larger then full ring, again any paint, low pay 22-88 people play these and will keep calling bets even if there are overcards.
I enjoyed short, suits my style more. I think this is due to my many SnG's as a lot of play is short in these I have managed to pickup some chops here for use in short LHE.
Time to search the various blogs for short-handed expertise.
¶ Tuesday, February 07, 2006 0 comments
I also got back into my pet game the single table SnG finihsing 2nd twice and 6th twice for a total profit of $5. I am happy to have at least pulled a positive session for the first time in a while. Please rejoice with me.
A few observations on short-handed.
People will play any paint card with any kicker. I hold KJs with two pair on the flop and get called down by the chump with A3os. not complaining, money in my poket, but hey that A3 has nothing on the felt. If this is the type of play I'll be coming back for some more action.
Much faster, do not try and do two things at once playing this, I was mucking about with a side project while trying to play. Just play poker.
The pots are the same size or even larger then full ring, again any paint, low pay 22-88 people play these and will keep calling bets even if there are overcards.
I enjoyed short, suits my style more. I think this is due to my many SnG's as a lot of play is short in these I have managed to pickup some chops here for use in short LHE.
Time to search the various blogs for short-handed expertise.
¶ Tuesday, February 07, 2006 0 comments
Monday, February 06, 2006
The more I know the worse I play
It seems that the more I learn about this game the worse I play to the point of doubling guessing myself on plays, pulling out and then seeing I would have won easily. I see the opposition with all sorts of monster hands holding KK with no over cards, oh but what if he holds AA, massive pot will see me well into the money - fold. Pocket 3's get my trip on the flop with an overcard large bet fold.
So February has started as another losing month, I think that I need to change things up a bit in my game. I have become very conservative of late, simply checking river holding two pair or Q high flush when the others have not given any indication they could beat me. OK I do win these hands but could be doing better by making people call my bet at least.
So what am I going to do about it? My best success came playing SnG's so time to get back to those on Poker Stars to regain some confidence. So this will be a mixture of $5.50, $11 and $5.50 multi (45) SnG's. I am also going to attempt 1/2 short LHE to mix things up. ¶ Monday, February 06, 2006 0 comments
So February has started as another losing month, I think that I need to change things up a bit in my game. I have become very conservative of late, simply checking river holding two pair or Q high flush when the others have not given any indication they could beat me. OK I do win these hands but could be doing better by making people call my bet at least.
So what am I going to do about it? My best success came playing SnG's so time to get back to those on Poker Stars to regain some confidence. So this will be a mixture of $5.50, $11 and $5.50 multi (45) SnG's. I am also going to attempt 1/2 short LHE to mix things up. ¶ Monday, February 06, 2006 0 comments
Thursday, February 02, 2006
And the mind boggles
I was up very early this morning as the site that I am currently playing on CD Poker has very limited traffic. I mean in my prime playing time 7pm+ there are only ever about 900-1100 players online and play is pretty tight during this time, example last night 17% seeing the flop! So after grinding out a profit of $1.28 in two hours I went to bed with the aim of getting up early in the morning when the site has more players.
5:30am, WTF, a quick wash of the face and boot up the 'ol PC. 2200+ players online. Now the only reason I am grinding away here is that they offered $50 just for playing, plus a 50% sign-up up to $200, so currently chasing down $250 in bonuses. I sit down at a virtual table, a nice loose 52% seeing the flop.
Now these hands are not the ones that I am intending to post for specific feedback, these hands are just amazing to me. Third hand in I see JTd in late position, we are playing 1/2 LHE here, and I call, two callers in front and BB calls. Flop comes 9J3. UTG+1 bets (This player, call him Monkey will be the subject of much of this post), fold, fold I call, BB calls. 6, Monkey bets I think and decide to fold despite top pair thinking my T kicker is not going to get there and no other possibilities. BB calls, blank on the river. Monkey bets and BB calls. Monkey wins pot with 5J. Huh...
Monkey plays all hands cold calls everything, wants to see every flop. So QQ comes along to me and I am UTG and duely raise, Monkey is middle position and calls, SB calls and BB folds. Flop of T77, a little scary, SB checks, I need to see where I am at and bet. Monkey calls, SB calls. Turn is K, bugger. SB checks, and I am still none the wiser so bet Monkey calls and SB folds. River = 4. No flush or draws. Right, so it would just be my luck the monkey will hold a K7 and take this pot, so I check. They bet out straight away. Big loud voice I my head, he will bet and call to the river, just call it don't worry that there is an overcard and possibly trips this guy just throws money into anything. Call...what do they hold...22. OMG, they are betting and calling with 5 over cards on the table! Now none of this play was particularly pretty by my part, but I guess table observation and reading players is a good thing.
Monkey leaves the table when losing their $25 buy in and returns about 5 minutes later with $50, can only assume to get some bucks. Sits down to my left. AsJc in middle poistion, with I caller to my right, I call, Monkey raises. SB calls BB fold. Player to my right calls and I call. KT9 clubs as the flop, pretty good for me with straights and straight flushes possible. SB checks Player to my right checks, I check Monkey bets, we all call. Turn A hearts. all check to monkey who bets SB folds, we call. River Th. So a pair of As is what I am holding, no idea about the player to my right but there was no raising so I assume not much, maybe pair K nothing else as their would be some raising. Monkey could be holding anything based on what he has been showing. There are trips and flush possbilities, I should be way behind on this hand. But ruling out the player to my right not hold better then K or A low kicker I decide I'll call down to showdown. We both check, Monkey bets and we call. Player to my right had KQ, I think I was most happy about this read then anything in this hand. As for Monkey JJ, again betting down with overcards. Thanks for the pot. Again not pretty poker.
The final hand before logging off and heading to work. A8h middle position with Monkey still on my left with $5.87 in chips. Folded to me and I call, monkey raises, SB, BB fold and I call. Flop of T28 with 1 heart. Pair of 8's with overcard. I check, Monkey bets. Screw this, you'll bet on anything, raise. Lets see how far you'll take this crap. He raises so I cap, nice $0.87 cents! Turn is J hearts, lovely. I check and he is all in. I call. River is 4 hearts, showdown. Kc3d figures. Monkey raising with nothing pre-flop, betting with nothing flop, re-raising flop with nothing, not a thing and I win with my A high flush. I really wanted to stick around to see if he would come back with some more money but I had to head off to work. Hopefully I can catch him again tomorrow morning!
Nothing special about any of my play, just the better monkey on the day. Although I wouldn't even play 22 unless I am in an unraised pot in the BB.
Cheers
¶ Thursday, February 02, 2006 0 comments
5:30am, WTF, a quick wash of the face and boot up the 'ol PC. 2200+ players online. Now the only reason I am grinding away here is that they offered $50 just for playing, plus a 50% sign-up up to $200, so currently chasing down $250 in bonuses. I sit down at a virtual table, a nice loose 52% seeing the flop.
Now these hands are not the ones that I am intending to post for specific feedback, these hands are just amazing to me. Third hand in I see JTd in late position, we are playing 1/2 LHE here, and I call, two callers in front and BB calls. Flop comes 9J3. UTG+1 bets (This player, call him Monkey will be the subject of much of this post), fold, fold I call, BB calls. 6, Monkey bets I think and decide to fold despite top pair thinking my T kicker is not going to get there and no other possibilities. BB calls, blank on the river. Monkey bets and BB calls. Monkey wins pot with 5J. Huh...
Monkey plays all hands cold calls everything, wants to see every flop. So QQ comes along to me and I am UTG and duely raise, Monkey is middle position and calls, SB calls and BB folds. Flop of T77, a little scary, SB checks, I need to see where I am at and bet. Monkey calls, SB calls. Turn is K, bugger. SB checks, and I am still none the wiser so bet Monkey calls and SB folds. River = 4. No flush or draws. Right, so it would just be my luck the monkey will hold a K7 and take this pot, so I check. They bet out straight away. Big loud voice I my head, he will bet and call to the river, just call it don't worry that there is an overcard and possibly trips this guy just throws money into anything. Call...what do they hold...22. OMG, they are betting and calling with 5 over cards on the table! Now none of this play was particularly pretty by my part, but I guess table observation and reading players is a good thing.
Monkey leaves the table when losing their $25 buy in and returns about 5 minutes later with $50, can only assume to get some bucks. Sits down to my left. AsJc in middle poistion, with I caller to my right, I call, Monkey raises. SB calls BB fold. Player to my right calls and I call. KT9 clubs as the flop, pretty good for me with straights and straight flushes possible. SB checks Player to my right checks, I check Monkey bets, we all call. Turn A hearts. all check to monkey who bets SB folds, we call. River Th. So a pair of As is what I am holding, no idea about the player to my right but there was no raising so I assume not much, maybe pair K nothing else as their would be some raising. Monkey could be holding anything based on what he has been showing. There are trips and flush possbilities, I should be way behind on this hand. But ruling out the player to my right not hold better then K or A low kicker I decide I'll call down to showdown. We both check, Monkey bets and we call. Player to my right had KQ, I think I was most happy about this read then anything in this hand. As for Monkey JJ, again betting down with overcards. Thanks for the pot. Again not pretty poker.
The final hand before logging off and heading to work. A8h middle position with Monkey still on my left with $5.87 in chips. Folded to me and I call, monkey raises, SB, BB fold and I call. Flop of T28 with 1 heart. Pair of 8's with overcard. I check, Monkey bets. Screw this, you'll bet on anything, raise. Lets see how far you'll take this crap. He raises so I cap, nice $0.87 cents! Turn is J hearts, lovely. I check and he is all in. I call. River is 4 hearts, showdown. Kc3d figures. Monkey raising with nothing pre-flop, betting with nothing flop, re-raising flop with nothing, not a thing and I win with my A high flush. I really wanted to stick around to see if he would come back with some more money but I had to head off to work. Hopefully I can catch him again tomorrow morning!
Nothing special about any of my play, just the better monkey on the day. Although I wouldn't even play 22 unless I am in an unraised pot in the BB.
Cheers
¶ Thursday, February 02, 2006 0 comments
