Got 10 minutes and thought I'd talk about how shitty I play/run at our local home game.
As previously mentioned, I'm back in the peg for a bit (maybe a bit longer due to some tests I need done at the doctor making my departure to Vegas likely around the end of the month). So, to feed my gambling addiction in the meantime I'm forced to play our friendly 5/10 game, which plays like 10/20 holdem game. The game is tough as most everyone left are solely the winning players filtered down from a much larger player pool that started a couple years back. I don't know what it is with this game but I don't hit flops. It plays on my confidence and in the process I feel like it effects my play. I think yesterday I was a non-factor and I played like a predictable nit. I was probably run off at least 5 or 6 pots mostly from Zenni, but a couple from Travis as well where nobody hit the flop but I was pushed out because they knew I had nothing and I just let them have it. I would bet at the wrong time and lay down to any ensuing agression. I must say it is frustrating to never flop good enough to play back at these guys. It is equally as frustrating to never flop enough to call through when they choose to bluff through a hand. BLAH!
The game primarly comprised of Zenni, Travis, Myles, Stu, Rosie, and I. Rosie lost big again, which I feel bad about because he's a great guy and has been getting pounded lately. I think most everyone else won. For me a made a bowl of soup thanks to hitting a big pot against Rosie with the nut straight against his 2 pair, otherwise I didn't do anything special and mostly watched everyone else battle.
I had 1 interesting hand with Travis that I paid off, which was a difficult spot. I raised a straddle to $80 with 45 clubs in position, both Trav and Rosie called to see the flop. The flop came 862 two spades and Trav led out $175 I called and Rosie called, and I had intentions of probably raising the turn unless no 8 or spade. The turn brought the 8 of clubs so now I had doublegutter and flush draw. Trav bet $600. He could have the 8 but he could easily be continuing with a draw trying to shake both Rosie and I with what appeared to a couple rough peels (or maybe he could think I have an overpair). Too risky to raise and with so many cards to still hit against 3 8s I decide to call as we are both really deep. The river brought a 2 of clubs and he bet 2k. I pondered and decided to call. Too many times here he's gonna have a missed flush/str8 draw where he will barrel to shake an overpair. Plus he usually he check raises made hands instead of donk betting me on the flop so I decided to call with my flush. He had 89 and I lost.
Not sure If I'm gonna play the game again as 1 guy keeps getting punished and I don't like that. Also, I'm not really scoring big here and each of the other guys are solid so whats the point? I'll ponder that the next week or two. In the meantime got a stud game Monday and may play online Sunday for the FTOPS and stars 2.5M gauranteed. I'll keep ya posted...
Till next time.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
UNNATURAL PART 2
So, i'm fresh off a 15 hour sleep and ready to vent frustrations built up over the last two weeks. The hands described are not in chronological order, instead they are listed as I remember them. It should be noted that I am only going to describe the big pots. As a backdrop, know that I did not win a single pot over 3k during the losing streak, which started with hand #1, so each of these beats were never softened by a good situation/suckout/or good pot. This made it all the more frustrating.
Hand #1:
This hand and hand #2 stick out most in my mind. Both took place in a wild 10-20nl game in LA where I inevitably lost 8.5k for the day. At the time of this hand I was stuck about 4k for the day.
I raised to $70 from utg with 1010 and the big blind defended. The flop came 1086 rainbow. He checked I bet $110 and was check raised to $375 I called. My opponent was about 4k deep and was a standard player. I knew he would not check-raise a draw here so I felt I could not lose the hand and I did not want to lose him by reraising if he had simply a pair of 8s, JJ, or whatever. So turn came 8 and he bet $550. Now, I feel he has a decent hand here as he has checked after check-raising flops a couple times when called. I am hoping he has an 8 or better yet 86 or 108. Anyway, I decide just to flat as I'm fairly certain he will fire the river, plus if I raise here it looks suspicious that I have a monster, I want it to look like I'm calling along with an overpair or big 10. River brings a 7 so the board is 108876. I thought this card would either kill my action or make it because when I raise the river it will look like I have 99 or J9 and if he has a fullhouse I should get maximum action. Anyway, he bets out $950 and I goon raise allin. His eyes light up and he says 'did you say allin?' I said 'ya', he said 'i call' and quickly turns over 88 for quads. Very nice. Obv in set over set here someone should go broke with 4k stack, too bad I couldn't fade the 1 outer.
Hand #2:
Later in the same night I had managed to battle back. I was only down 2.5k for the session and had about 10k on the table. A young kid had sat down about an hour ago and was pretty agressive but paid off thin. He was about 6k deep. By this point the game had a straddle and usually several went to the flop. I felt like I was getting a rush going and that I had a good read on the table, and still being a little stuck, I had my gamble on.
I was utg +1 and smoothed the straddle with 87 clubs. The young kid smoothed as did one other then a tight player on the button made it $160, not a big raise. The blinds and straddler fold but I feel $160 is cheap here and likely I will get a couple callers behind me so I call. Now the kid acting right after me makes it $460, I think to myself obv AA. Everyone else folds except original button raiser who calls, probably a big pair himself. Well, considering the guy calls thin and I have an aces crusher I gamble to see the flop. The flop comes down AQ10 with Q10 of clubs, i'm like great this one's gonna cost me. I check, the kid fires out for $650 (small bet into about $1500 pot). The tight guy looks confused and makes a reluctant call, I call. The turn is a 4 of clubs. I feel the kid has 3 aces and the other guy may even have a smaller set or minimum touch gutter so I refuse to give a free card and fire out for $2,000 with a flush, as advertised. The kid thinks a minute and calls, the other guy folds. The river brings an offsuit 2, a brick, at this point I'm like sweet, I finally win a big gambly type pot. I quickly tell him i'm allin, which is about 3k to him. He immediately calls and tables AK clubs. So sick. What kind of jackass smooths AK off the straddle then makes a small 4 bet out of position to a tight player on the button. Anyway, he thought he was a genius and I simply stared at his hand for a couple seconds in disbelief. This hand was one of the most suprising loses of my poker career, I quit the game after that hand.
Hand #3:
This was the hand that originally got me stuck that same day in LA. Early in the session I was up maybe 1k then this hand happened. I call on the button with QJs to utg raise of $70. The guy is maybe 2.5k. The flop is QJ3 rainbow. He bets $100 I raise to $290, he raises to $590. At this point I feel he has overpair and his small raise is for information, I figured I might lose him by pushing here as there is no flush draw and the cards are dangerously high so only made hands are going to give action. I elect to call in hopes of getting allin on turn as long as no AK or 3 come down. The turn is a 7, he bets $800, I shove, he deliberates and calls, the rivers a 3 and my two pair lose to AA.
Hand #4:
During my next session I played about 4 uneventful hours tredding water at about even. Then I pickup J10 diamonds and raise to $70 in the cutoff, the button called and the big blind shortstacker shoved for $220. I decided to call as did the button. The button was 4k deep and I had him covered. The button was an aggressive solid player who was about to move to the 20/40 game. He raised alot of flops so I could not assume he had a big hand whenever he gave action. Anyway, the flop came down 984 2 diamonds. I bet $450 into him and he raised to $1,100. No way was I folding this and I decided that his raising range was big and unless he had 98 or 44 he would probably laydown to my push. He immediately called when I pushed and the board went running black aces. My J high was no good and he won with 44 for a fullhouse.
Hand #5:
Probably my worst play of the trip. I had AK on the button and raised the blinds. A solid aggressive kid in the blind defended. The flop came down A75 all hearts. He checked and I checked. The turn brought an offsuit 3 and he checked so I bet $120. He check raised to $500. Honestly, I thought he was making a move with a somewhat overbet after double checking, and previous history between us proved that he is very capable of making a move in this spot. I thought for a minute and told him I was allin, which covered his stack of about 2k total. He snap called and showed a flush, I was drawing dead. In retrospect, I could have folded as I did not have much invested and I did not have a strong hand, but I went with my read and thats that.
Hand #6:
On Superbowl Saturday I was playing a 5/10 nl game at the Wynn that eventually played bigger than many 10/20 games. As a backdrop to the hand I am about to describe I must explain previous history I had with my opponent. He originally bought in for $600, but quickly built up with a flurry of lucky suckouts. First, he raised from utg and 3 of us saw a flop of QJ9 two diamonds, I had 108s, so flopped the straight. He led out for pot $150. I decided to smooth call because I knew I had him good and he would likely fire again on the turn, because thats what this guy does. The turn was not the best card the K of diamonds. He led out $300 into me heads up and he had about $700 behind. I could tell he was nervous and was sure I had the best so I shoved making all draws pay. He shrugged and said 'well I have too much invested, I call'. The river brings a diamond and he shows AK with A of diamond, what a goon flop and turn bet. About 30 minutes later another sick hand took place where he was up against Todd. He raised pre and 4 of us saw the flop 984 two clubs. The goon led out $200, Todd raised to $650 and the goon called. Turn came offsuit Q and buddy led out for $500. Todd paused then shoved for another $1500 and the goon called. The river came 10 and the goon tabled a straight with JJ. Todd lost flopping top set of 9s.
So, givin this history, i'm sure you will understand my aggressive play with 1 pair. The game developed a straddle and some guy made it $60 to go, I looked down at AA and raised to $180. The original raiser and the goon both called and the flop came down K72 rainbow. The goon bet $30o, original raiser folded, and understandably I raised it to $800. The goon called and the turn brought the 4 of hearts, bringing in a flush draw. The goon bet out $700. I decided I'm running bad here and the best hand he will show me is a K with a flush draw and givin that he has been running so well I actually don't want him to call so I decide to shove, which is about another 3k to him. He tanked for several minutes then finally decided his KQ was ahead and he called. The river brought a K, good times. Ah Superbowl weekend, it brings out the best.
Hand #7:
Later on in the evening in the same game as above I pick up 64 clubs on the button. Someone straddled and several called so I called. The goon, in typical fashion, jacked it from the blinds to $140, with what I'm sure was a 'pretty hand' I thought to myself. I had a couple callers so I called. The flop came down 875 two spades. The goon led out $300 and a young aggressive kid jacked it to $900. The kid was about 4k deep and givin the texture of the board and our previous history I decided this was a good spot to jam to make it look like a combo draw and I may get called light. So after I raised to 4k the goon thought for about 2 minutes with what I later found out was JJ. He finally folded, great fold LOL. Then the kid tanked for 5 minutes. He eventually called as he may have thought I was on tilt (which I don't really do anymore, at least live) because I lost $700 to him on the previous hand missing a royal flush draw against his top set of aces. He never saw my hand but I'm sure he thought I was just spewing chips. Anyway, he makes a stand with 98 hearts, which I thought was very thin, because even if I had a hand like A6/J10 spades, he is quite the dog. Anyway, its ok because I run so sick, the river brought a 6 and he won with a 9 high straight.
I quite that game after that hand and booked a 6.5k loss in what may have been the juiciest game of the trip.
Hand #8:
Playing at the Venitian in a 10/20nl game. The game wasn't that good, but was the only 10/20 game going on in Vegas that night. A hand came up with this guy Marvin, who is one of the better higher limit players around. There was a raise from utg he called and I called to see the flop with AJ. The flop came J75 all spades. I decided I was going to check the hand to induce action as I obv flop strong here, if the preflop raiser bets I will be checkraising, he's only 3k deep anyway. Instead the preflop raiser checks and Marvin picks up the bet. Both Marvin and I are 10k + deep and I know he likes to gamble big pots so I decide I'm gonna just call here as I haven't been running good and maybe I can get him to bluff off with a worse hand. The turn brings in an offsuit A. So now I have top two, with nut flush draw. I check and Marvin overbets to about $550 into a $400 pot. This seemed a little fishy. Normally I would raise here but something held me back and I flat. The river bricked a 2 and I checked, Marvin fired again this time for just under 1k. Blah, now I really don't like it, and I don't really have a read on him, and with his capability to bluff in this spot I donate as he shows KQ spades. The pot wasn't that big but really there is an arguement that it could have been build up either on the flop or the turn. Thank goodness I played it soft like a girl.
Hand #9:
Thursday night I played in a wild game at the Bellagio. It got short handed pretty fast as the game consisted of many of the old crusty rocks who felt uncomfortable with the high level aggression. The game was drivin by a guy named Oscar from Norwary. He was drunk and into the game for 3ok. When it got short-handed I raised the button to $70 with 108 sooted, my favorite hand. He called and the flop came 976, gin. He checked I bet $120 he check raised to $420. In many situations I would raise back here as many turn cards could negate action from a big hand, but considering Oscar was raising with air many times I wanted 1 more bet from him before I would apply pressure, as I knew he would fire almost any turn whether he had something or not. The turn was a 3, he fired and I moved allin he called and the river came 10. We chopped the 10k pot as he flopped the smaller straight with 85. I hope you are beginning to understand why I have labelled my luck as unnatural.
Hand #10:
On my last night I played at the Bellagio. Kathy and I only had about 5 hours to play before we had to depart for the airport. I had scrapped together a small 2k win the day before and I was hoping to make another small score before leaving so I wouldn't have to go home and hang myself (just kidding). Finally something went my way.
I was utg+1 and smooth called the straddle. The guy immediately after me made it $180 and everyone else folded. The guy was tight, agressive and about 4k deep so I decided to disguise my hand by flatting as his range would be a big ace or big pair in this spot and by three betting (1-2nl style) I would not get another penny. So the flop came 762 two diamonds. I felt this looked like a drawing board that I may hit so I decided to donk bet $240 looking for a raise. He immediately raised to $650. I thought for minute and decided I was happy to get it in on the flop if he wanted to so I raised another $900. Instead of shoving he flatted. I figured he had a big pair and would stand with it as long as a flush card did not come down. The turn brought an offsuit Q and with the pot at over 3k and he having less than 2.5k left I shoved hoping obviously that he didn't just hit a set of queens. He thought for a minute and eventually called with what I don't know, prolly 1010/JJ/KK, putting me on a draw (in the past couple hours I had raised him out of a few small pots so I'm sure that was factored into his decision, he did seem like a fairly good player). The river came another Q and I took it down. Yeah! My first big pot since the 1010 nonsense.
There were alot of other smaller pots that went bad including 2 or 3 that I played soft with a big draw that if hit would have resulted in big scores because my opponents had huge hands. Even when I started off the trip with some solid wins, I won with lock hands and not by gambling (granted I hit quite a few hands). In fact, in the 17k upswing I only won 1 gambling pot for about 4.5k where I had QQ on a J42 against an ace high flush draw that held. Included in that win was 1 suckout on a 2k pot with J9 against AJ allin on a flop of J77. I thought the short stacker's overbet c-bet on the flop was bs so I shipped and he called and I sucked out.
Now that I have completed my venting session I would like to say that I still view poker as a game of variance and sometimes nothing goes right. If I keep playing well it has to turn around. I'm trying not to look at this trip from a results perspective as it would clearly be a bust, but I do feel I'm in very good control of my table and my game and I get alot of respect from the other tough regulars. The game has grown tougher over the last few years, but after conversing with several regulars that I feel are on the same level as me, each are still making over 500k / year minimum. So opportunity still does exist. I will likely go back down in a few weeks with Trav and hopefully my luck will reverse (or at least I will not get nailed by a 3 outer on every 10k pot). The way I see it is I should gain average to good luck simply by bunking in the same room as Seabiscuit, so the trip should turn profitable very quickly.
Take care and will report in when I go back down south.....and next time around I will try to update more regularily, just so happens when your losing you don't feel like talking about it.
Joe
Hand #1:
This hand and hand #2 stick out most in my mind. Both took place in a wild 10-20nl game in LA where I inevitably lost 8.5k for the day. At the time of this hand I was stuck about 4k for the day.
I raised to $70 from utg with 1010 and the big blind defended. The flop came 1086 rainbow. He checked I bet $110 and was check raised to $375 I called. My opponent was about 4k deep and was a standard player. I knew he would not check-raise a draw here so I felt I could not lose the hand and I did not want to lose him by reraising if he had simply a pair of 8s, JJ, or whatever. So turn came 8 and he bet $550. Now, I feel he has a decent hand here as he has checked after check-raising flops a couple times when called. I am hoping he has an 8 or better yet 86 or 108. Anyway, I decide just to flat as I'm fairly certain he will fire the river, plus if I raise here it looks suspicious that I have a monster, I want it to look like I'm calling along with an overpair or big 10. River brings a 7 so the board is 108876. I thought this card would either kill my action or make it because when I raise the river it will look like I have 99 or J9 and if he has a fullhouse I should get maximum action. Anyway, he bets out $950 and I goon raise allin. His eyes light up and he says 'did you say allin?' I said 'ya', he said 'i call' and quickly turns over 88 for quads. Very nice. Obv in set over set here someone should go broke with 4k stack, too bad I couldn't fade the 1 outer.
Hand #2:
Later in the same night I had managed to battle back. I was only down 2.5k for the session and had about 10k on the table. A young kid had sat down about an hour ago and was pretty agressive but paid off thin. He was about 6k deep. By this point the game had a straddle and usually several went to the flop. I felt like I was getting a rush going and that I had a good read on the table, and still being a little stuck, I had my gamble on.
I was utg +1 and smoothed the straddle with 87 clubs. The young kid smoothed as did one other then a tight player on the button made it $160, not a big raise. The blinds and straddler fold but I feel $160 is cheap here and likely I will get a couple callers behind me so I call. Now the kid acting right after me makes it $460, I think to myself obv AA. Everyone else folds except original button raiser who calls, probably a big pair himself. Well, considering the guy calls thin and I have an aces crusher I gamble to see the flop. The flop comes down AQ10 with Q10 of clubs, i'm like great this one's gonna cost me. I check, the kid fires out for $650 (small bet into about $1500 pot). The tight guy looks confused and makes a reluctant call, I call. The turn is a 4 of clubs. I feel the kid has 3 aces and the other guy may even have a smaller set or minimum touch gutter so I refuse to give a free card and fire out for $2,000 with a flush, as advertised. The kid thinks a minute and calls, the other guy folds. The river brings an offsuit 2, a brick, at this point I'm like sweet, I finally win a big gambly type pot. I quickly tell him i'm allin, which is about 3k to him. He immediately calls and tables AK clubs. So sick. What kind of jackass smooths AK off the straddle then makes a small 4 bet out of position to a tight player on the button. Anyway, he thought he was a genius and I simply stared at his hand for a couple seconds in disbelief. This hand was one of the most suprising loses of my poker career, I quit the game after that hand.
Hand #3:
This was the hand that originally got me stuck that same day in LA. Early in the session I was up maybe 1k then this hand happened. I call on the button with QJs to utg raise of $70. The guy is maybe 2.5k. The flop is QJ3 rainbow. He bets $100 I raise to $290, he raises to $590. At this point I feel he has overpair and his small raise is for information, I figured I might lose him by pushing here as there is no flush draw and the cards are dangerously high so only made hands are going to give action. I elect to call in hopes of getting allin on turn as long as no AK or 3 come down. The turn is a 7, he bets $800, I shove, he deliberates and calls, the rivers a 3 and my two pair lose to AA.
Hand #4:
During my next session I played about 4 uneventful hours tredding water at about even. Then I pickup J10 diamonds and raise to $70 in the cutoff, the button called and the big blind shortstacker shoved for $220. I decided to call as did the button. The button was 4k deep and I had him covered. The button was an aggressive solid player who was about to move to the 20/40 game. He raised alot of flops so I could not assume he had a big hand whenever he gave action. Anyway, the flop came down 984 2 diamonds. I bet $450 into him and he raised to $1,100. No way was I folding this and I decided that his raising range was big and unless he had 98 or 44 he would probably laydown to my push. He immediately called when I pushed and the board went running black aces. My J high was no good and he won with 44 for a fullhouse.
Hand #5:
Probably my worst play of the trip. I had AK on the button and raised the blinds. A solid aggressive kid in the blind defended. The flop came down A75 all hearts. He checked and I checked. The turn brought an offsuit 3 and he checked so I bet $120. He check raised to $500. Honestly, I thought he was making a move with a somewhat overbet after double checking, and previous history between us proved that he is very capable of making a move in this spot. I thought for a minute and told him I was allin, which covered his stack of about 2k total. He snap called and showed a flush, I was drawing dead. In retrospect, I could have folded as I did not have much invested and I did not have a strong hand, but I went with my read and thats that.
Hand #6:
On Superbowl Saturday I was playing a 5/10 nl game at the Wynn that eventually played bigger than many 10/20 games. As a backdrop to the hand I am about to describe I must explain previous history I had with my opponent. He originally bought in for $600, but quickly built up with a flurry of lucky suckouts. First, he raised from utg and 3 of us saw a flop of QJ9 two diamonds, I had 108s, so flopped the straight. He led out for pot $150. I decided to smooth call because I knew I had him good and he would likely fire again on the turn, because thats what this guy does. The turn was not the best card the K of diamonds. He led out $300 into me heads up and he had about $700 behind. I could tell he was nervous and was sure I had the best so I shoved making all draws pay. He shrugged and said 'well I have too much invested, I call'. The river brings a diamond and he shows AK with A of diamond, what a goon flop and turn bet. About 30 minutes later another sick hand took place where he was up against Todd. He raised pre and 4 of us saw the flop 984 two clubs. The goon led out $200, Todd raised to $650 and the goon called. Turn came offsuit Q and buddy led out for $500. Todd paused then shoved for another $1500 and the goon called. The river came 10 and the goon tabled a straight with JJ. Todd lost flopping top set of 9s.
So, givin this history, i'm sure you will understand my aggressive play with 1 pair. The game developed a straddle and some guy made it $60 to go, I looked down at AA and raised to $180. The original raiser and the goon both called and the flop came down K72 rainbow. The goon bet $30o, original raiser folded, and understandably I raised it to $800. The goon called and the turn brought the 4 of hearts, bringing in a flush draw. The goon bet out $700. I decided I'm running bad here and the best hand he will show me is a K with a flush draw and givin that he has been running so well I actually don't want him to call so I decide to shove, which is about another 3k to him. He tanked for several minutes then finally decided his KQ was ahead and he called. The river brought a K, good times. Ah Superbowl weekend, it brings out the best.
Hand #7:
Later on in the evening in the same game as above I pick up 64 clubs on the button. Someone straddled and several called so I called. The goon, in typical fashion, jacked it from the blinds to $140, with what I'm sure was a 'pretty hand' I thought to myself. I had a couple callers so I called. The flop came down 875 two spades. The goon led out $300 and a young aggressive kid jacked it to $900. The kid was about 4k deep and givin the texture of the board and our previous history I decided this was a good spot to jam to make it look like a combo draw and I may get called light. So after I raised to 4k the goon thought for about 2 minutes with what I later found out was JJ. He finally folded, great fold LOL. Then the kid tanked for 5 minutes. He eventually called as he may have thought I was on tilt (which I don't really do anymore, at least live) because I lost $700 to him on the previous hand missing a royal flush draw against his top set of aces. He never saw my hand but I'm sure he thought I was just spewing chips. Anyway, he makes a stand with 98 hearts, which I thought was very thin, because even if I had a hand like A6/J10 spades, he is quite the dog. Anyway, its ok because I run so sick, the river brought a 6 and he won with a 9 high straight.
I quite that game after that hand and booked a 6.5k loss in what may have been the juiciest game of the trip.
Hand #8:
Playing at the Venitian in a 10/20nl game. The game wasn't that good, but was the only 10/20 game going on in Vegas that night. A hand came up with this guy Marvin, who is one of the better higher limit players around. There was a raise from utg he called and I called to see the flop with AJ. The flop came J75 all spades. I decided I was going to check the hand to induce action as I obv flop strong here, if the preflop raiser bets I will be checkraising, he's only 3k deep anyway. Instead the preflop raiser checks and Marvin picks up the bet. Both Marvin and I are 10k + deep and I know he likes to gamble big pots so I decide I'm gonna just call here as I haven't been running good and maybe I can get him to bluff off with a worse hand. The turn brings in an offsuit A. So now I have top two, with nut flush draw. I check and Marvin overbets to about $550 into a $400 pot. This seemed a little fishy. Normally I would raise here but something held me back and I flat. The river bricked a 2 and I checked, Marvin fired again this time for just under 1k. Blah, now I really don't like it, and I don't really have a read on him, and with his capability to bluff in this spot I donate as he shows KQ spades. The pot wasn't that big but really there is an arguement that it could have been build up either on the flop or the turn. Thank goodness I played it soft like a girl.
Hand #9:
Thursday night I played in a wild game at the Bellagio. It got short handed pretty fast as the game consisted of many of the old crusty rocks who felt uncomfortable with the high level aggression. The game was drivin by a guy named Oscar from Norwary. He was drunk and into the game for 3ok. When it got short-handed I raised the button to $70 with 108 sooted, my favorite hand. He called and the flop came 976, gin. He checked I bet $120 he check raised to $420. In many situations I would raise back here as many turn cards could negate action from a big hand, but considering Oscar was raising with air many times I wanted 1 more bet from him before I would apply pressure, as I knew he would fire almost any turn whether he had something or not. The turn was a 3, he fired and I moved allin he called and the river came 10. We chopped the 10k pot as he flopped the smaller straight with 85. I hope you are beginning to understand why I have labelled my luck as unnatural.
Hand #10:
On my last night I played at the Bellagio. Kathy and I only had about 5 hours to play before we had to depart for the airport. I had scrapped together a small 2k win the day before and I was hoping to make another small score before leaving so I wouldn't have to go home and hang myself (just kidding). Finally something went my way.
I was utg+1 and smooth called the straddle. The guy immediately after me made it $180 and everyone else folded. The guy was tight, agressive and about 4k deep so I decided to disguise my hand by flatting as his range would be a big ace or big pair in this spot and by three betting (1-2nl style) I would not get another penny. So the flop came 762 two diamonds. I felt this looked like a drawing board that I may hit so I decided to donk bet $240 looking for a raise. He immediately raised to $650. I thought for minute and decided I was happy to get it in on the flop if he wanted to so I raised another $900. Instead of shoving he flatted. I figured he had a big pair and would stand with it as long as a flush card did not come down. The turn brought an offsuit Q and with the pot at over 3k and he having less than 2.5k left I shoved hoping obviously that he didn't just hit a set of queens. He thought for a minute and eventually called with what I don't know, prolly 1010/JJ/KK, putting me on a draw (in the past couple hours I had raised him out of a few small pots so I'm sure that was factored into his decision, he did seem like a fairly good player). The river came another Q and I took it down. Yeah! My first big pot since the 1010 nonsense.
There were alot of other smaller pots that went bad including 2 or 3 that I played soft with a big draw that if hit would have resulted in big scores because my opponents had huge hands. Even when I started off the trip with some solid wins, I won with lock hands and not by gambling (granted I hit quite a few hands). In fact, in the 17k upswing I only won 1 gambling pot for about 4.5k where I had QQ on a J42 against an ace high flush draw that held. Included in that win was 1 suckout on a 2k pot with J9 against AJ allin on a flop of J77. I thought the short stacker's overbet c-bet on the flop was bs so I shipped and he called and I sucked out.
Now that I have completed my venting session I would like to say that I still view poker as a game of variance and sometimes nothing goes right. If I keep playing well it has to turn around. I'm trying not to look at this trip from a results perspective as it would clearly be a bust, but I do feel I'm in very good control of my table and my game and I get alot of respect from the other tough regulars. The game has grown tougher over the last few years, but after conversing with several regulars that I feel are on the same level as me, each are still making over 500k / year minimum. So opportunity still does exist. I will likely go back down in a few weeks with Trav and hopefully my luck will reverse (or at least I will not get nailed by a 3 outer on every 10k pot). The way I see it is I should gain average to good luck simply by bunking in the same room as Seabiscuit, so the trip should turn profitable very quickly.
Take care and will report in when I go back down south.....and next time around I will try to update more regularily, just so happens when your losing you don't feel like talking about it.
Joe
Saturday, February 7, 2009
UNNATURAL
The title of this blog entry seemed to be the word Todd and I used to describe our bad luck since my last post 5 days into the trip. I'm sure you're thinking to yourself at this moment 'oh ya, here goes Joe with his skewed perspective on poker, offering up another host of reasons why he isn't killin it down south'. Well, all I can do is provide a detailed description of the critical hands and how they went down and I'll leave it to you to decide.
The trip started out well as indicated in my previous post. At my peak I was up close to 17k in cash games after about 1 week of play. The games were pretty good and I was running pretty good, not great, but good. Included in that glorious week of good times I kicked Todd's ass on the golf course for a few benjies and 2009 pre-season bragging rights. The course we played called Industy Hills (the Ike course) was the hardest course I ever played. I shot a 93 and felt good about it. The course was over 7200 yards from the tips (which we played), it was tight, and had tough greens. In fact, the PGA is having a tour event qualifier there in a couple weeks. In summary, it was a treat to be paid to go play (thank you Todd!).
The day after the golf game its like somebody turned on the doomsday switch. Personally, I booked 4 consecutive losses in LA (as did Todd I think). From there, we booked it to Vegas for a change of venue and to change the luck. Unfortunately, not much changed there. Todd left for home 3 days after reaching Vegas frustrated that he could not win a single pot of significance. Kathy came down the night Todd left and we stayed in Vegas for 4 more days before flying home late last night.
The reasons I came home for a break are threefold. First, I am running bad and a break can't hurt. For me, when I run bad it is very difficult to play my A game. I become a little more tentative meaning I scale back my aggression level and willingness to play big pots without lock hands. This is definately negative EV. I prefer when I play tough and I am the guy the table is most scared of. I find if you show your willingness to push light, and if you are always playing back at your opponents (granted you have to flop reasonable to do so), I find they stop playing back at you unless they have the hand, which then makes for easier decisions. The second reason is I am not feeling very well. I have caught a cold. As well, I need to see a doctor because I have bee experiencing frequent numbing of the hand/arms/legs. It freaks me out as it is one of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes. I have been on a nutritional plan for a month now and have dropped 15 pounds. Its time to change my lifestyle regardless of what test results may show, but with a little luck I am overreacting and it turns out to be nothing. The third reason I've come back is to spend time with family and friends. Kathy's little guy misses me lots, which is cool, so I'll hang with the both of them a fair amount until I go back down (which I suspect will be somewhere around the time Trav goes down).
There were some highlights to the trip I'd like to share before going over key hand history.
1. I almost got into my first fight since I was in grade 2. There was this young, arrogant, pear shaped kid named Chris who was at my table during a stud tournament. I have played with him at the same table or same poker room many times in the past and on each occasion he manages to be the loudest, most obnoxious player in the room. This time was no different. There was a nice old man at the table who clearly did not understand the rules of the game and bet out of turn several times. The first time he did against Chris, Chris lectured him for about a minutes. I said nothing. Then it happened again about a half hour later. This time Chris is going off for at least 2 minutes. Finally, I pipe up and say 'it was an honest mistake, the guy meant no offense by his actions, can we just move on and play some cards'. Chris the pear immediately turned to me and said 'why don't you shut up and mind your own business'. I says 'pardon me?'. He says 'why don't you shut the fuck up and mind your own business'. I couldn't believe this guy. I know he's big but come on, if you act like this eventually you're going to piss the wrong guy off and be beaten to a pulp. Usually, I just blow this kind of stuff off but something about this guy and the way he talked to me, I turned red and was raging inside. I turned to him and said 'you ignorant puke, don't tell me to shut the fuck up, instead why don't you do everyone a favor and you shut the fuck up'. He immediately replies 'fuck you'. I then slam my chips against the table and say 'ok tough guy, why don't we go outside so I can ram your fucking head against the concrete'. He then quickly tries to shift focus away from fighting by challenging me to a 30k heads up freeze out. I replied by saying 'i'll play you as long as we go outside first so I can smash your fucking head in'. Then at about this point security came over and threatened both of us to stop or we'd get kicked out of the casino. Needless to say, I burned my chips off in the tourney because I didn't want to be there anymore. Unfortunately, he's a good player and I would have limited if any edge in a heads up confrontation. Anway, my record stretch of almost 30 years without a fight is still intact and as for the pear, he will get whats coming soon enough I'm sure.
2. The trip had my longest and largest losing streak ever in live poker. I lost 4 straight losing sessions in LA then 3 out of 4 in Vegas where I went from 17k up to about 9k down (plus expeneses and tournament costs). The only positives I can take from the streak is I maintained my composure and confidence throughout knowing it would turn around and I in fact I finished with 2k and 6k wins respectively in my last two sessions before flying home. So overall, I basically breakeven for the trip (before expenses) after running as bad as one can run. There is no doubt in mind that there is huge money to be made both in LA and in Vegas (maybe I have to be a better person so I can get average luck??? I'm looking for answers).
3. Kathy came down for 4 days and did well. She played 2 Venitian deepstack extraveganza tournies bubbling both in setup type situations, but overall played very well. Then on the side she carved up the 2/5 nl game at the bellagio winning several thousand over a two day period. I guess my teachings payoff, perhaps I should charge 25%?
4. I have always talked poorly about the bellagio feeling that the room is too busy and the people are too rude, which leads to an uncomfortable setting. In the past I have avoided the Bellagio like the plague, but this week decided to try it out a few times for a change of pace and to change my luck. There is no question, it has the best games for higher limits. I think from now on I will play the majority of my poker there instead of the Wynn. When Kathy came down we found rooms at the Trump Towers for $109/night. This is cheaper than the Wynn poker rate and is equally as nice. So, if these deals continue to surface I will stay there allowing me flexibility to play wherever I want without having to log 6 hours of play/day at the Wynn.
It seems i've grown a little tired while writing this post. I will save the hand descriptions for my next post, probably tomorrow when i get some time.
Peace out
The trip started out well as indicated in my previous post. At my peak I was up close to 17k in cash games after about 1 week of play. The games were pretty good and I was running pretty good, not great, but good. Included in that glorious week of good times I kicked Todd's ass on the golf course for a few benjies and 2009 pre-season bragging rights. The course we played called Industy Hills (the Ike course) was the hardest course I ever played. I shot a 93 and felt good about it. The course was over 7200 yards from the tips (which we played), it was tight, and had tough greens. In fact, the PGA is having a tour event qualifier there in a couple weeks. In summary, it was a treat to be paid to go play (thank you Todd!).
The day after the golf game its like somebody turned on the doomsday switch. Personally, I booked 4 consecutive losses in LA (as did Todd I think). From there, we booked it to Vegas for a change of venue and to change the luck. Unfortunately, not much changed there. Todd left for home 3 days after reaching Vegas frustrated that he could not win a single pot of significance. Kathy came down the night Todd left and we stayed in Vegas for 4 more days before flying home late last night.
The reasons I came home for a break are threefold. First, I am running bad and a break can't hurt. For me, when I run bad it is very difficult to play my A game. I become a little more tentative meaning I scale back my aggression level and willingness to play big pots without lock hands. This is definately negative EV. I prefer when I play tough and I am the guy the table is most scared of. I find if you show your willingness to push light, and if you are always playing back at your opponents (granted you have to flop reasonable to do so), I find they stop playing back at you unless they have the hand, which then makes for easier decisions. The second reason is I am not feeling very well. I have caught a cold. As well, I need to see a doctor because I have bee experiencing frequent numbing of the hand/arms/legs. It freaks me out as it is one of the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes. I have been on a nutritional plan for a month now and have dropped 15 pounds. Its time to change my lifestyle regardless of what test results may show, but with a little luck I am overreacting and it turns out to be nothing. The third reason I've come back is to spend time with family and friends. Kathy's little guy misses me lots, which is cool, so I'll hang with the both of them a fair amount until I go back down (which I suspect will be somewhere around the time Trav goes down).
There were some highlights to the trip I'd like to share before going over key hand history.
1. I almost got into my first fight since I was in grade 2. There was this young, arrogant, pear shaped kid named Chris who was at my table during a stud tournament. I have played with him at the same table or same poker room many times in the past and on each occasion he manages to be the loudest, most obnoxious player in the room. This time was no different. There was a nice old man at the table who clearly did not understand the rules of the game and bet out of turn several times. The first time he did against Chris, Chris lectured him for about a minutes. I said nothing. Then it happened again about a half hour later. This time Chris is going off for at least 2 minutes. Finally, I pipe up and say 'it was an honest mistake, the guy meant no offense by his actions, can we just move on and play some cards'. Chris the pear immediately turned to me and said 'why don't you shut up and mind your own business'. I says 'pardon me?'. He says 'why don't you shut the fuck up and mind your own business'. I couldn't believe this guy. I know he's big but come on, if you act like this eventually you're going to piss the wrong guy off and be beaten to a pulp. Usually, I just blow this kind of stuff off but something about this guy and the way he talked to me, I turned red and was raging inside. I turned to him and said 'you ignorant puke, don't tell me to shut the fuck up, instead why don't you do everyone a favor and you shut the fuck up'. He immediately replies 'fuck you'. I then slam my chips against the table and say 'ok tough guy, why don't we go outside so I can ram your fucking head against the concrete'. He then quickly tries to shift focus away from fighting by challenging me to a 30k heads up freeze out. I replied by saying 'i'll play you as long as we go outside first so I can smash your fucking head in'. Then at about this point security came over and threatened both of us to stop or we'd get kicked out of the casino. Needless to say, I burned my chips off in the tourney because I didn't want to be there anymore. Unfortunately, he's a good player and I would have limited if any edge in a heads up confrontation. Anway, my record stretch of almost 30 years without a fight is still intact and as for the pear, he will get whats coming soon enough I'm sure.
2. The trip had my longest and largest losing streak ever in live poker. I lost 4 straight losing sessions in LA then 3 out of 4 in Vegas where I went from 17k up to about 9k down (plus expeneses and tournament costs). The only positives I can take from the streak is I maintained my composure and confidence throughout knowing it would turn around and I in fact I finished with 2k and 6k wins respectively in my last two sessions before flying home. So overall, I basically breakeven for the trip (before expenses) after running as bad as one can run. There is no doubt in mind that there is huge money to be made both in LA and in Vegas (maybe I have to be a better person so I can get average luck??? I'm looking for answers).
3. Kathy came down for 4 days and did well. She played 2 Venitian deepstack extraveganza tournies bubbling both in setup type situations, but overall played very well. Then on the side she carved up the 2/5 nl game at the bellagio winning several thousand over a two day period. I guess my teachings payoff, perhaps I should charge 25%?
4. I have always talked poorly about the bellagio feeling that the room is too busy and the people are too rude, which leads to an uncomfortable setting. In the past I have avoided the Bellagio like the plague, but this week decided to try it out a few times for a change of pace and to change my luck. There is no question, it has the best games for higher limits. I think from now on I will play the majority of my poker there instead of the Wynn. When Kathy came down we found rooms at the Trump Towers for $109/night. This is cheaper than the Wynn poker rate and is equally as nice. So, if these deals continue to surface I will stay there allowing me flexibility to play wherever I want without having to log 6 hours of play/day at the Wynn.
It seems i've grown a little tired while writing this post. I will save the hand descriptions for my next post, probably tomorrow when i get some time.
Peace out
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