March Recap, April Goals

March was a month full of trials. My goals coming into the month were multi-fold.

I wanted to continue to grind cash tables 1-2 hours per day, and try to get a better approximation of how much I can expect to win. Last month I was winning 13BBs/100hand over 14.5k hands... which is just stupid.

This month I played 34.5k hands, and lost about 3BBs/100hands. Overall this brings me a to 1.73BB/100hands on the year at NL100 over almost 50k hands. However I have been running under allin-expectation over that time.

In February my profit line was about $650 over my allin-ev line. In March my profit line was about $1150 under my allin-ev line. If you look at my allin-ev line for the year I would be at almost $1400 profit. Which would lead me to 2.85 BB/ 100 hands. I think this is a decent approximation of how I can expect to perform longrun at NL100. Maybe a bit higher if I can make some solid adjustments. Below I have my graph for the month of March, as well at my graph for the year (which is just half of Feb and March... when I get HEM). Each of them has the allin-ev line included (the lighter green line), so you can see where I was running good at first, then quickly things changed.


March:


Year-to-date:

As you can see I finished up -$1027 on NL100 games... no bueno, but if I ran at my allin-ev I would have rolled over a small profit, so I don't think there were any glaring problems other than just running really bad.

One problem I used to have was how to deal with downswings. Before I didn't have a good sense of bankroll management, but now that I keep a very healthy 40 buyins in my account, it was much easier to handle the 7 straight losing sessions I had where I dropped almost 14 buyins. I don't feel like I tilted very badly in any of my sessions... in a few I quickly got off all my tables when things got too ugly and I knew I could no longer play well. I also developed a few things I started to help avoid playing bad based on results...

I stopped checking on HEM throughout my session to see how much I was up/down. I found that when I was constantly checking this, I was too focussed on the results, and less focussed on just playing good poker. The second thing I just started in the last few days was to not watch a table after I got it allin preflop, or prior to the river. If I was in a race situation against a short stack, or got it in good on the turn/flop against another hand, I didn't really want to see if they sucked out. Most of the time I would figure it out by my stack size later on, but by not watching the final result it helps me to not let it tilt me when I am getting pwned by suckouts.

I think I can have a profitable month in NL100 in the month ahead as I continue to put in 1-2 hours a day (hopefully more on weekends) and turn over a good profit (somewhere in the 2-5 bb/100 range)

I also wanted to keep playing tournaments as my availability allowed, and keep trying to find ways to improve.

This goal I feel very good about. This month was a major disapointment in general when it comes to tournaments. Because I made several deep runs but no final tables as something always got in the way. However, in MTTs and 90man sngs I turned over a profit of $833 (mostly because of a few 90 man wins). However, I think the experience I gained from all the deep runs will help me immensely in the following months. I have picked up on some small and major mistakes I made late in tournaments. My last two deep runs I think I played near-perfect (at least for my skills and abilities) and it is only a matter of time before I roll off some big final table cashes.

The big thing Jimmy and I talked about Saturday morning kind of encompasses all of what I've learned. When I get deep I really need to take my time over each decision. Think about all the factors involved so I can make the best move. Taking my time will allow me to not make the little mistakes I have made in the past.

I want to continue to play in tournaments when I can, and I think I can except to score some big cashes in April. The experience I have gained this last month should go a long way. I also played in a couple of live tournaments. The Ocean's tournament was brutal, because I played so well and would have definitely made the money and beyond if my AA held up with about 35 people left. The two harrah's tournaments went poorly and I didn't feel like I played super well. Although suckouts were a big part of my lack of success in those too. I lost like $900 from those three buyins.

I played 3 sessions of live cash games. The results were +330, -500, and even. So I was -$170 from that. So in live play I was down a little over a grand on the month.

Online I was -$1027 on NL100, +$833 in Tournaments, and +$430 on rakeback (luckily rakeback will always be positive). So total for the month comes out to +$236. It's always good to stay out of the red, but needless to say I expect much better in April.

If I can beat NL100 over 35k hands at 3.5BB/100 that would lead to $1225 profit. But I think I can get in more hand volume than that, as well as beat the game for a higher BB/100. Throw in some likely tournament success and I think I can roll off a big month.

That's all for now, I plan on enjoying my two days off (even though I have plenty of school work) then hit the tables again starting on the first of the month.

-Boooom

I am Iron Man.

Just finished my 90 minute session. Acheived the top iron man level for the month. So now I can take the next two days off to clear my mind and get ready for a big month in April. My session was 1261 hand and I won $38. Would have been a nice session but I flopped a set of 5's one hand and the preflop raiser had AA... and of course the river was an Ace. When he shoved the river I had a really bad feeling he had gotten there, but most of the money was already in. Sometime in the next two days I will get on here and do a month recap and set some goals for April.

-Boooom

Day off...

I played in the Main Event freeroll today, but that was it. Had a good soccer game and watched some basketball. Really needed to just relax today after a tough previous 2 days. Had three deeps runs only to (1) run into a wall, (2) have AA snapped, and (3) get coolered with the 2nd nuts. It has been a tough month, but at the very least I feel like I have gained some valuable experience.

I have made some mistakes late in MTTs, and I think I have learned from them and made some good adjustments. I was really happy with my play in both deep runs yesterday. One of these times I will finally run good and take it down for a big cash. Including today there are three days left in the month. I need 2 more days with 200 ftps for my iron man status, I am going to play cash games from about 8-10 tonight. Then I am probably going to take the next 2 days off. Self-exlcusion will help me to make sure I don't play over the next two days, because I need the break.

I have a fair amount of school work to do in the next few days, so I am going to try to get as much done as possible. Then hit it again the second half of the week when my school workload gets lighter. Hopefully the couple day break will refresh me since I've been kind of down with these disapointing MTT finishes. I am looking forward to a big month in April, I have learned a ton.. which I will adress more in a few days when I do my March recap and set some goals for April.

That's all for now, I'll give an update after my cash session tonight. Shout out to Pollyanna for winning the Ladies event at Harrah's yesterday. Just goes to show you that the donkeys can't win every tournament... every once in a while a real player takes it down.

-Boooom

AHHHHH!!!!!

Played the fifty-fifty and the 28k tonight. 28k couldn't get anything going. Just went deep in the 50k, only to get f'ed. Here are a few big hands from the tournament....

Full Tilt Poker Game #11391006049: The Fifty-Fifty (84481180), Table 24 - 400/800 Ante 100 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:01:36 ET - 2009/03/29
Seat 1: 2shay2 (13,555)
Seat 2: KYHARDBALL (23,000)
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (37,623)
Seat 4: GiMMEDAMONEEY (24,209)
Seat 5: pokrclass101 (25,952)
Seat 6: maitre nuts (63,129)
Seat 7: Ten8isGood (22,095)
Seat 8: bford22 (15,823)
Seat 9: Cyndy Violette (17,540)
2shay2 antes 100
KYHARDBALL antes 100
BoooomBaby7 antes 100
GiMMEDAMONEEY antes 100
pokrclass101 antes 100
maitre nuts antes 100
Ten8isGood antes 100
bford22 antes 100
Cyndy Violette antes 100
KYHARDBALL posts the small blind of 400
BoooomBaby7 posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #1
THEnaturalACE (Observer): that was a +ev play
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [As Kd]
GiMMEDAMONEEY folds
pokrclass101 folds
maitre nuts raises to 2,400
THEnaturalACE (Observer): if u jammed it there she folds
Ten8isGood folds
bford22 folds
THEnaturalACE (Observer): all day baby
Cyndy Violette calls 2,400
2shay2 folds
KYHARDBALL folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to 9,350
maitre nuts calls 6,950
THEnaturalACE (Observer): there it is
Cyndy Violette folds
*** FLOP *** [8c 6s Qs]
BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act
BoooomBaby7 bets 12,800
THEnaturalACE (Observer): lets see some action
maitre nuts has 15 seconds left to act
maitre nuts folds
Uncalled bet of 12,800 returned to BoooomBaby7
BoooomBaby7 mucks
BoooomBaby7 wins the pot (22,400)
The blinds are now 500/1,000 with an ante of 125
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 22,400 Rake 0
Board: [8c 6s Qs]
Seat 1: 2shay2 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: KYHARDBALL (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (big blind) collected (22,400), mucked
Seat 4: GiMMEDAMONEEY folded before the Flop
Seat 5: pokrclass101 folded before the Flop
Seat 6: maitre nuts folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Ten8isGood folded before the Flop
Seat 8: bford22 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Cyndy Violette folded before the Flop



Full Tilt Poker Game #11391964950: The Fifty-Fifty (84481180), Table 56 - 2000/4000 Ante 500 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:22:31 ET - 2009/03/29
Seat 1: Dreadfern (234,467)
Seat 2: BoooomBaby7 (49,657)
Seat 3: kingmisobo (62,722)
Seat 4: ALLTALK22 (65,150)
Seat 5: doctoro (192,611)
Seat 8: noriverscdxx (112,164)
Seat 9: lamjones (126,374)
Dreadfern antes 500
BoooomBaby7 antes 500
kingmisobo antes 500
ALLTALK22 antes 500
doctoro antes 500
noriverscdxx antes 500
lamjones antes 500
Dreadfern posts the small blind of 2,000
BoooomBaby7 posts the big blind of 4,000
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ts 9d]
kingmisobo folds
ALLTALK22 folds
doctoro folds
noriverscdxx has 15 seconds left to act
noriverscdxx folds
lamjones raises to 10,000
Dreadfern has 15 seconds left to act
Dreadfern folds
BoooomBaby7 calls 6,000
*** FLOP *** [Jh 8c Qc]
BoooomBaby7 checks
lamjones checks
*** TURN *** [Jh 8c Qc] [6c]
chrizmoc sits down
chrizmoc adds 207,236
theatre8 sits down
theatre8 adds 150,291
BoooomBaby7 bets 39,157, and is all in
lamjones calls 39,157
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ts 9d]
lamjones shows [Qd Qs]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 8c Qc 6c] [2d]
BoooomBaby7 shows a straight, Queen high
lamjones shows three of a kind, Queens
BoooomBaby7 wins the pot (103,814) with a straight, Queen high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 103,814 Rake 0
Board: [Jh 8c Qc 6c 2d]
Seat 1: Dreadfern (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: BoooomBaby7 (big blind) showed [Ts 9d] and won (103,814) with a straight, Queen high
Seat 3: kingmisobo folded before the Flop
Seat 4: ALLTALK22 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: doctoro folded before the Flop
Seat 8: noriverscdxx folded before the Flop
Seat 9: lamjones (button) showed [Qd Qs] and lost with three of a kind, Queens



I was getting beat up for a while, then this hand brought me back to life. People and their stupid tiny raises... get pwned!


Full Tilt Poker Game #11392162710: The Fifty-Fifty (84481180), Table 56 - 2500/5000 Ante 600 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:41:57 ET - 2009/03/29
Seat 2: BoooomBaby7 (115,614)
Seat 3: kingmisobo (83,122)
Seat 5: doctoro (253,086)
Seat 6: chrizmoc (172,736)
Seat 7: theatre8 (268,166)
Seat 9: lamjones (180,034)
BoooomBaby7 antes 600
kingmisobo antes 600
doctoro antes 600
chrizmoc antes 600
theatre8 antes 600
lamjones antes 600
BoooomBaby7 posts the small blind of 2,500
kingmisobo posts the big blind of 5,000
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Kd Js]
doctoro folds
chrizmoc folds
theatre8 calls 5,000
lamjones folds
BoooomBaby7 calls 2,500
kingmisobo checks
*** FLOP *** [7h 8s 6s]
BoooomBaby7 checks
kingmisobo checks
theatre8 checks
*** TURN *** [7h 8s 6s] [Tc]
BoooomBaby7 bets 10,000
kingmisobo folds
theatre8 calls 10,000
*** RIVER *** [7h 8s 6s Tc] [9h]
BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act
BoooomBaby7 bets 38,600
theatre8 raises to 140,000
BoooomBaby7 calls 61,414, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 39,986 returned to theatre8
*** SHOW DOWN ***
theatre8 shows [Jd Qh] a straight, Queen high
BoooomBaby7 mucks
theatre8 wins the pot (238,628) with a straight, Queen high
BoooomBaby7 stands up
kingmisobo stands up
doctoro stands up
chrizmoc stands up
theatre8 stands up
lamjones stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 238,628 Rake 0
Board: [7h 8s 6s Tc 9h]
Seat 2: BoooomBaby7 (small blind) mucked [Kd Js] - a straight, Jack high
Seat 3: kingmisobo (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: doctoro folded before the Flop
Seat 6: chrizmoc folded before the Flop
Seat 7: theatre8 showed [Jd Qh] and won (238,628) with a straight, Queen high
Seat 9: lamjones folded before the Flop

That ended my night with a 19th place finish. I played really really really well. Only to get coolered. This guy had been limping a decent amount, enough to know he definitely wasn't slowplaying something preflop. I thought for a second about shoving preflop, which I definitely should have done because my chances of getting called are so small. I bet the turn just hoping to take it down, put out the big bet on the river, because often people will call with a str8 on the board just for the chop. But of course he has the QJ for the super cooler and ends another deep run for me. I'm really pissed about this right now, I was in the zone from the end of hour 2 until the end. It's just getting really old. I don't think I'll play any MTTs tomorrow, probably just some cash tables. I can't take this many heartbreaks in a row, especially with how bad the month has been.

-Boooom

I will have my day...

Played a few tournaments and few satelites this afternoon. Kind of player poor in a few, and took some bad beats. But put together a nice run in the 20k. Wasn't running great, but winning enough to keep building my stack, and was sitting nicely with 63 left when we went into the money. Took a few hits but was still sitting ok. I had made some good reads and 3bets when I thought people were weak, and was doing a good job of staying afloat. Then this hand happened...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11385943240: $20,000 Guarantee (84485636), Table 11 - 800/1600 Ante 200 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:37:51 ET - 2009/03/28
Seat 1: BoooomBaby7 (34,172)
Seat 2: bbjackpot (56,672)
Seat 4: farmboy119 (30,988)
Seat 5: KSC 21 (45,204)
Seat 6: MarcoCaine1 (53,181)
Seat 7: hunter2788 (15,487)
Seat 8: deadhorse1 (76,067)
Seat 9: macqueen56 (41,792)
BoooomBaby7 antes 200
bbjackpot antes 200
farmboy119 antes 200
KSC 21 antes 200
MarcoCaine1 antes 200
hunter2788 antes 200
deadhorse1 antes 200
macqueen56 antes 200
MarcoCaine1 posts the small blind of 800
hunter2788 posts the big blind of 1,600
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ad As]
deadhorse1 has 15 seconds left to act
deadhorse1 folds
macqueen56 folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to 4,825
bbjackpot folds
farmboy119 calls 4,825
KSC 21 folds
MarcoCaine1 folds
hunter2788 raises to 15,287, and is all in
BoooomBaby7 raises to 33,972, and is all in
farmboy119 folds
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ad As]
hunter2788 shows [7s 7c]
Uncalled bet of 18,685 returned to BoooomBaby7
*** FLOP *** [7h 3c 7d]
*** TURN *** [7h 3c 7d] [4s]
*** RIVER *** [7h 3c 7d 4s] [Qh]
BoooomBaby7 shows two pair, Aces and Sevens
hunter2788 shows four of a kind, Sevens
hunter2788 wins the pot (37,799) with four of a kind, Sevens
BoooomBaby7: obv
The blinds are now 1,000/2,000 with an ante of 250
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 37,799 Rake 0
Board: [7h 3c 7d 4s Qh]
Seat 1: BoooomBaby7 showed [Ad As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Sevens
Seat 2: bbjackpot folded before the Flop
Seat 4: farmboy119 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: KSC 21 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: MarcoCaine1 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: hunter2788 (big blind) showed [7s 7c] and won (37,799) with four of a kind, Sevens
Seat 8: deadhorse1 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: macqueen56 folded before the Flop

Screwed, this tournament had a completely different feel from the one last night. This tournament I felt very in control, and never had to suckout on anyone... unlike last night. I did come back from this but eventually got 26th. I've been learning from my mistakes, but this one I felt like I just played near perfect. Bummer when it's not good enough.

Played about 3 hours of 8-10 tables of cash this afternoon while playing tournaments. 2396 hands, profit of $76. Took some retarded beat against a short stack, and a limp reraised a guy with AA, and he flopped a set with 22 to stack me. But overall the tables were great and after dinner I am gonna grind some more.

Probably play a couple of tournaments tonight and see if I can make a deep run and finish the job. All these close calls are brutal, but when I get first place soon and ship me like 7k I will feel much better.

-Boooom

Bah...

Had a super rough cash session this afternoon. 2561 hands over 3 hours, and was down $255 dollars. Just running like absolute crap. My allin EV suggested that I should have been up $5 in that session. I am not the biggest believer in the allinEV line, because it doesn't tell the whole story as to how you are running/playing. However, it certainly doesn't lie.

Later while playing a few tournaments I played 6-8 tables, 602 hands and finally got hot. I picked up $352 in the short session, and actually ran $75 above my allinEV and salvaged the day. Then I got off my tables because I was going deep in the 35k.

I had the 35k, fifty-fifty, and 28k going at the same time. Made a very deep run in the 35k, ended up finishing 24th. I kept losing small pots and doubling up the short stacks when I couldn't get my hands to hold. Eventually shoved in over a raise with 99, and the guy behind me woke up with QQ and that was it for me. Very dissapointing after 5+ hours of work. Just wasn't running good enough at the end. I could have played the last hand differently and have not shoved allin, but too late now. Really was a rollercoaster night on the tournaments, my stack hardly ever felt consistent and just couldn't hold up enough to really build the big stack. It had been a while since I made a deep run, and I thought I was poised for a big cash. Gotta learn what I can and take it down next time. Went out close to the bubble in the fifty, and couldn't get anything going in the 28k.

Played my 4 hours of cash today, and might play some more later tonight since on weekends the games usually get really juicy after midnight. I plan on playing a few more tournaments tomorrow and getting in a bunch of hands on the cash tables. Trying to finish the month strong in the cash games and I know I am due for a heater. I am still way down for the month on cash, mostly from running like crap... here is my graph for the month with the allinEV line included... pretty sick difference.

-Boooom

Quickie

Played a quick 1hour session right now. 831 hands $127 profit. Pretty smooth session, made a fullhouse on the river with my set one hand for a nice pot. Also had an interesting hand where I didn't exactly know what to do on the river... here it is...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11353038288: Table Deerfoot - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:37:08 ET - 2009/03/26
Seat 1: Nevrast ($15.70)
Seat 2: demex ($39.05)
Seat 3: daemon335 ($50.25)
Seat 4: great_one1985 ($110.45)
Seat 5: Grubasek88 ($98.10)
Seat 6: dominator_TKA ($90.55)
Seat 7: BoooomBaby7 ($115.50)
Seat 8: pain in the but ($68.55)
Seat 9: gaoxing ($21.70)
demex posts the small blind of $0.50
daemon335 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Qh Qd]
great_one1985 folds
Grubasek88 raises to $3.50
dominator_TKA folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to $8
pain in the but folds
gaoxing folds
Nevrast folds
demex folds
daemon335 folds
Grubasek88 calls $4.50
*** FLOP *** [Td 2h 6h]
Grubasek88 checks
BoooomBaby7 checks
*** TURN *** [Td 2h 6h] [8h]
Grubasek88 checks
BoooomBaby7 bets $10
Grubasek88 calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Td 2h 6h 8h] [Qs]
Grubasek88 bets $15
BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act


Wierd hand, I'd appreciate comments on the best river move to make considering the awkward stack sizes.

I'll be back later with an update of my late night play.

-Boooom

Good session... SuperDonk in tourny

Got back to the apartment tonight just in time for the 6max KO. Slow start but I turned it around. Then I get to a new table and build up to 7500 which is just under the avg. The big stack raises I call with QT flop Thigh and this guy was donkey enough to double me up with KJo no pair no draw. Very next hand short stack raises and I really thought I had AK when I looked at my hand so I just overshove with like 15k. The BB wakes up with AQc (he has 13k) and calls me. Turns out I didnt have AK... I had KJ, and he ends up making the nut flush anyways. I feel like a total moron. I think I had AK on one of my cash tables and I somehow had a brain fart. Got knocked out just a a little bit later with about 250 people left. Really pissed about that, because with 15k I was setup nicely to make a decent run with the antes about to be introduced. I almost never make misreads like that so I'm pretty pissed.

Anyways, played a 1314 hand session while this tourny was going. Everything went pretty smoothly. Picked off some donks like here...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11336703346: Table Hauck - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:43:44 ET - 2009/03/25
Seat 1: Danuto ($100.40)
Seat 2: HowBigisurrHand ($78)
Seat 3: Chloe Puppy ($149.40)
Seat 4: BoooomBaby7 ($98)
Seat 5: DonkeyLord ($149.90)
Seat 6: Virge ($101)
Seat 7: lauguiner ($195.20)
Seat 8: creepfish ($20)
Seat 9: FlapRoaster ($101.50)
DonkeyLord posts the small blind of $0.50
Virge posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Kd Kh]
lauguiner folds
FlapRoaster folds
Danuto folds
HowBigisurrHand raises to $3.50
Chloe Puppy folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to $12
DonkeyLord folds
Virge folds
HowBigisurrHand raises to $78, and is all in
BoooomBaby7 calls $66
HowBigisurrHand shows [5d 6d]
BoooomBaby7 shows [Kd Kh]
*** FLOP *** [4d 7h 7d]
*** TURN *** [4d 7h 7d] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [4d 7h 7d 9d] [7s]
HowBigisurrHand shows a flush, Nine high
BoooomBaby7 shows a full house, Sevens full of Kings
BoooomBaby7 wins the pot ($154.50) with a full house, Sevens full of Kings
HowBigisurrHand is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $157.50 Rake $3
Board: [4d 7h 7d 9d 7s]
Seat 1: Danuto didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: HowBigisurrHand showed [5d 6d] and lost with a flush, Nine high
Seat 3: Chloe Puppy didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: BoooomBaby7 (button) showed [Kd Kh] and won ($154.50) with a full house, Sevens full of Kings
Seat 5: DonkeyLord (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Virge (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: lauguiner didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: creepfish is sitting out
Seat 9: FlapRoaster didn't bet (folded)


WTF is up with that flop and turn... luckily the river saved me...

The big hand I lost in the session was this one...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11336392263: Table Griffin - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:24:11 ET - 2009/03/25
Seat 1: pain in the but ($75)
Seat 2: creepfish ($24.65)
Seat 3: gbarassi ($141.45)
Seat 4: love-614-baby ($107.75)
Seat 5: BoooomBaby7 ($100.15)
Seat 6: CommndngOfficer ($106.20)
Seat 7: winkdaddy ($49)
Seat 8: Aton ($54.40)
Seat 9: dkp812 ($57.50)
CommndngOfficer posts the small blind of $0.50
winkdaddy posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ah As]
Aton folds
dkp812 folds
pain in the but folds
creepfish folds
gbarassi folds
love-614-baby folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to $3.50
CommndngOfficer raises to $11
winkdaddy folds
BoooomBaby7 calls $7.50
*** FLOP *** [8s 8d 7d]
CommndngOfficer has 15 seconds left to act
CommndngOfficer bets $11
BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act
BoooomBaby7 raises to $30
CommndngOfficer has 15 seconds left to act
CommndngOfficer raises to $95.20, and is all in
BoooomBaby7 calls $59.15, and is all in
CommndngOfficer shows [Kh Ks]
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ah As]
Uncalled bet of $6.05 returned to CommndngOfficer
*** TURN *** [8s 8d 7d] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [8s 8d 7d Td] [Kc]
CommndngOfficer shows a full house, Kings full of Eights
BoooomBaby7 shows two pair, Aces and Eights
CommndngOfficer wins the pot ($198.30) with a full house, Kings full of Eights
BoooomBaby7 adds $98
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $201.30 Rake $3
Board: [8s 8d 7d Td Kc]
Seat 1: pain in the but didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: creepfish didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: gbarassi didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: love-614-baby didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: BoooomBaby7 (button) showed [Ah As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Eights
Seat 6: CommndngOfficer (small blind) showed [Kh Ks] and won ($198.30) with a full house, Kings full of Eights
Seat 7: winkdaddy (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Aton didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: dkp812 didn't bet (folded)

I played it perfect, he couldn't really put me on AA so his play was "perfect" too. Lame river, really killed what would have been a great session. Ended up with a $91 profit so I guess I can't complain too much, a win is a win, especially with how tough this month has been. I am playing 2 90mans and the turbo fiddy so I'll probably come back and update how those go when I finish.

-Boooom

****UPDATE****

Got skunked. Played 3 90mans, and the turbo fiddy. Turbo fiddy went ok, battled through a tough start but ran into three second bests in a row.... AQ v JJ, AT v AK, 33 v AA, and I was out.

Here is the 2nd hand from my 3rd 90 man...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11338176072: $24 + $2 KO Sit & Go (85201574), Table 3 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:32:10 ET - 2009/03/26
Seat 1: chaha (2,970)
Seat 2: Zatvornick (3,090)
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (3,000)
Seat 4: Heavensstar (3,000)
Seat 5: cptnmorgan77 (3,000)
Seat 6: Alienha (3,000)
Seat 7: TCU05 (2,940)
Seat 8: DeanoDeano (3,000), is sitting out
Seat 9: Ez2Remember00 (3,000)
Zatvornick posts the small blind of 15
BoooomBaby7 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Kh Ks]
Heavensstar calls 30
cptnmorgan77 raises to 3,000, and is all in
Alienha folds
TCU05 has 15 seconds left to act
TCU05 folds
DeanoDeano folds
Ez2Remember00 folds
chaha calls 2,970, and is all in
Zatvornick folds
BoooomBaby7 calls 2,970, and is all in
Heavensstar has 15 seconds left to act
Heavensstar has requested TIME
Heavensstar calls 2,970, and is all in
cptnmorgan77 shows [Jh Qh]
chaha shows [Kc Ac]
BoooomBaby7 shows [Kh Ks]
Heavensstar shows [Jd Jc]
*** FLOP *** [Tc 2c 9d]
*** TURN *** [Tc 2c 9d] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [Tc 2c 9d 2h] [Qs]
cptnmorgan77 shows two pair, Queens and Twos
BoooomBaby7 shows two pair, Kings and Twos
Heavensstar shows two pair, Jacks and Twos
BoooomBaby7 wins the side pot (90) with two pair, Kings and Twos
chaha shows a pair of Twos
BoooomBaby7 wins the main pot (11,895) with two pair, Kings and Twos
chaha stands up
cptnmorgan77 stands up
Heavensstar stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,985 Main pot 11,895. Side pot 90. Rake 0
Board: [Tc 2c 9d 2h Qs]
Seat 1: chaha (button) showed [Kc Ac] and lost with a pair of Twos
Seat 2: Zatvornick (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (big blind) showed [Kh Ks] and won (11,985) with two pair, Kings and Twos
Seat 4: Heavensstar showed [Jd Jc] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Twos
Seat 5: cptnmorgan77 showed [Jh Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Twos
Seat 6: Alienha didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: TCU05 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: DeanoDeano didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Ez2Remember00 didn't bet (folded)Seat 6: CommndngOfficer (small blind) showed [Kh Ks] and won ($198.30) with a full house, Kings full of Eights
Seat 7: winkdaddy (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Aton didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: dkp812 didn't bet (folded)

Sick hold, but didn't turn into much. Got f'ed later. Had 20k then went down hill quickly on a very donkey table. Here is one of my last hands... I knew all 3 player involved were very donkey... the player I was worried most about was the UTG raiser. But the other two were awful and was the first time the short stack shover had a real hand... wtf with the 25...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11338678457: $24 + $2 KO Sit & Go (85201574), Table 9 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:21:12 ET - 2009/03/26
Seat 1: steelerjay (18,139)
Seat 2: sagamore7 (8,980)
Seat 3: 13Ivan13 (9,011)
Seat 5: HeyCambo (4,185)
Seat 6: BoooomBaby7 (12,170)
Seat 7: phatalb15 (11,640)
Seat 8: nikkina (3,162)
Seat 9: Paulharvey03 (8,660)
steelerjay antes 25
sagamore7 antes 25
13Ivan13 antes 25
HeyCambo antes 25
BoooomBaby7 antes 25
phatalb15 antes 25
nikkina antes 25
Paulharvey03 antes 25
HeyCambo posts the small blind of 150
BoooomBaby7 posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ad Qh]
BoooomBaby7: never seen A3 played so well
phatalb15 has 15 seconds left to act
phatalb15 raises to 1,185
nikkina raises to 3,137, and is all in
Paulharvey03 folds
steelerjay folds
sagamore7 calls 3,137
13Ivan13 folds
HeyCambo folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to 12,145, and is all in
phatalb15 has 15 seconds left to act
phatalb15 folds
sagamore7 calls 5,818, and is all in
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ad Qh]
nikkina shows [Qc Qs]
sagamore7 shows [5c 2c]
Uncalled bet of 3,190 returned to BoooomBaby7
bobcanuck sits down
bobcanuck adds 4,695
*** FLOP *** [7h 5h 9c]
*** TURN *** [7h 5h 9c] [4d]
*** RIVER *** [7h 5h 9c 4d] [Js]
BoooomBaby7 shows Ace Queen high
sagamore7 shows a pair of Fives
sagamore7 wins the side pot (11,636) with a pair of Fives
nikkina shows a pair of Queens
nikkina wins the main pot (10,946) with a pair of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 22,582 Main pot 10,946. Side pot 11,636. Rake 0
Board: [7h 5h 9c 4d Js]
Seat 1: steelerjay folded before the Flop
Seat 2: sagamore7 showed [5c 2c] and won (11,636) with a pair of Fives
Seat 3: 13Ivan13 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: HeyCambo (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: BoooomBaby7 (big blind) showed [Ad Qh] and lost with Ace Queen high
Seat 7: phatalb15 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: nikkina showed [Qc Qs] and won (10,946) with a pair of Queens
Seat 9: Paulharvey03 folded before the Flop

Had a total of 10KOs but my highest finish in the 3 90mans was 18th. Oh well, not my night, will try to do better tomorrow.

-Boooom

Weak Update

I haven't posted for a few days because there really hasn't been anything to post about.

Yesterday I played 1050 hand session and lost $51. Was stuck about $150 right away, but battled back because the tables were pretty donkey. I called $100 preflop with AK on an overshove by a guy who I knew was spewy, he had QQ and held up. Marginal call on my part, but that's the main reason it was a losing session.

Today played a short session just to get my FTPs because it was such a busy day. 593 hands and lost $6. Woulda been a nice profit but I lost JJ v TT and AA v 77 allin preflop for 70 and 40 dollar pots. It happens oh well.

Haven't played in any tournaments, just too busy but I am sure I will hit them hard the end of this week and the weekend when my schedule opens up a bit. Played golf this afternoon which was fun. Finally getting my swing back (this is my 2nd round, with no practice, after about an 8 month layoff) so I got rid of the shanks today and am getting my draw back. I hope I can at least practice on a regular basis.

I plan to have more substantial poker updates the rest of the week.

-Boooom

Ship another 90 man

This evening I played a bunch of stuff. I signed up for the 35k, the fifty-fifty, and the 28k. Then started signing up for a bunch of 90 man turbo KOs.

I thought about playing cash games while doing the MTTs, but ended up decided to play a bunch of 90mans and see where it got me. The players in them are very bad, and I feel like I have a big edge, even though the variance is quite high.

I'll start with the MTTs.
The 35k, made a big raise with QQ, 1 caller. Flop QJx, guy bets into me, I raise, he calls. Turn K, he checks, I bet strong he calls. River A, he bets into me tiny, I call he has the JTo for the str8... yipee. I busted shortly after.
The fifty-fifty, folded for a while. Down to about 2600 chips, utg raises 8x the BB to 400, and I decide to shove, he calls with KJd and I hold. What a donk. Little later I call a raise with 33, flop T32, other guy has TT and I get pwned. Still had like 2k left, and I called a raise and flopped a flush draw, I check shoved, the guy called with overpair and held up.
28k, folded for a bit, then finally picked up AA utg. I limped and the button put in a pot size raise. I had notes on this guy that said "has trouble folding preflop" so I knew I could put a big raise in and he would call. All the sudden the SB puts in a big 3bet, so I flat call cause I want the button in and he calls. Flop Kxx, and I already know KK probably sucked out on me, I'm just hoping the SB has AK. Turns out he had KK so I get knocked out. Nomatter how I play that I lose, I could have went with the soul read and folded the flop, but that's kinda ridiculous.

While this was going on I managed to sign myself up for a total of eight 90mans. I busted in the first one, don't remember how. Went deep in the second one but made a donkey shove on the final table with QJh. I was on the button with like 30k, I shoved the BB called with AT and knocked me out 8th. I had way too many chips to make a move like this, and there were a bunch of short stacks... I donked out... go me. After that I started running like crap and busting out everywhere. I ended up with just my last two 90mans left. I had some nice suckouts and won some races. Things were looking up I just wanted to make use of the suckouts... cause there's nothing worse than finally winning some allins but still not make the money. The first one I final tabled but was card dead and ended up taking 7th when my button shove got called by 77 and I lost.

The very last one we were on the bubble and I won a nice pot with AA, then snagged some blinds. Right on the bubble the button min raised and I shoved with AJ. He thought forever then called with AT and I held even tho he flopped a flush draw. So going to the final table I had the chip lead. Wasn't very active, saw a few get knocked out, then we were 5 handed and I get QQ on the button. c/o raises, I shove, he calls AT and sucks out. Now I am the short stack. Survive a couple of rounds, then get 99 in the SB, utg shoves with 77 and I hold for the double up. Then I get AA and guy shoves, I hold against KJc even tho he flopped a straight flush draw. The last short stack goes out and I'm HU with the guy who sucked out with AT. I have him outchipped about 3:2. When I get to HU I like to slow things down and keep pots small because I figure I can outplay most people at this level. First hand I limp and he shoves, so I figure I'm gonna have to trap this maniac. On about the 6th hand I limp A3o, he puts in a 4x raise, I shove and he calls with KJd, and I hold. Ship it to me. With my 6 KOs I rolled off a $600 cash. Salvaged the day... I've been failing miserably in MTTs, but I figure it's only a matter of time because I feel like I am playing well.

Hindsight... don't sign up for seven 90mans at the same time. I busted in the first one quickly, but at one time I had 6 of them running at once. This was too much to take with everyone different stack size and blind level. Next time I will max at 4 running at one time. It might have affected how I played at the first final table with the stupid QJ shove. Worked out with how I did in the last two, but I won't make that mistake again.

90 mans have been great to me. In the last week I have played in 18 of them with 6 cashes. Two first place, one second place, one 6th place, one 7th place, one 8th place. My total profit is $1417 from these. I am sure I can't expect that kind of results long run in these, but it certainly has helped to salvage an otherwise terrible month. I do expect a nice cash upswing in the near future, and hopefully get a big MTT cash before the month is over.

-Boooom

Running "better"

Late last night I played a session and the 1am 55$ tourny. Had the worst player ever at my table, but he was on the sickest heater. I folded mostly while he raised EVERY hand, and knocked people out. He was on my left which was perfect. About 40 minutes in I finally get AK and limp, and he raises 4 people call and I shove for 2500. He calls, and so does a short stack who had 1500. Donkey has AQ, short stack has TT. Flop AQx, and donkey is up to like 20k in chips... must be nice. I did win $47 on my cash session of 903 hands. There were some true donkeys playing who donated, which was nice. Because everytime I had a good hand, and good players in the pot I was getting raised and stuff. I think I made some good laydowns, and kept myself out of too much trouble when they most likely had sets. So I think I saved money in those spots and turned over a little profit.

This morning I played 1245 hands in 1.5 hours. I seemed to be running well and the tables were very loose. Had some donations, which is always nice. I finished +$147 on the session. So three profitable sessions in a row is very nice as I am on the rebound. One really crappy hand happened that cut into my profits...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11275127919: Table Newmanmi - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 14:59:17 ET - 2009/03/22
Seat 1: kickpokeraces ($50.70), is sitting out
Seat 2: Avarosky ($103.55)
Seat 3: Auens ($14)
Seat 4: BoooomBaby7 ($98)
Seat 6: pelagius ($139.95), is sitting out
Seat 7: Domian27 ($104.45)
Seat 8: Jon Leech ($32.30)
Seat 9: regrind3 ($22.35)
BoooomBaby7 posts the small blind of $0.50
kickpokeraces has returned
Domian27 has 5 seconds left to act
Domian27 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [3h 3s]
Jon Leech folds
regrind3 folds
Avarosky folds
Auens folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to $3
Domian27 calls $2
*** FLOP *** [Kc 3d Td]
BoooomBaby7 checks
Domian27 bets $6
BoooomBaby7 raises to $12
Domian27 raises to $42
BoooomBaby7 raises to $95, and is all in
Domian27 calls $53
BoooomBaby7 shows [3h 3s]
Domian27 shows [As Ad]
*** TURN *** [Kc 3d Td] [Ah]
*** RIVER *** [Kc 3d Td Ah] [9h]
BoooomBaby7 shows three of a kind, Threes
Domian27 shows three of a kind, Aces
Domian27 wins the pot ($193) with three of a kind, Aces
BoooomBaby7 adds $98
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $196 Rake $3
Board: [Kc 3d Td Ah 9h]
Seat 1: kickpokeraces is sitting out
Seat 2: Avarosky didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Auens (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: BoooomBaby7 (small blind) showed [3h 3s] and lost with three of a kind, Threes
Seat 6: pelagius is sitting out
Seat 7: Domian27 (big blind) showed [As Ad] and won ($193) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 8: Jon Leech didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: regrind3 didn't bet (folded)

Guy slowplayed his hand, its a pretty big overplay with his 3bet on the flop. I am not sure what gives him action there except for a better hand. Maybe AK doesn't get away from that flop. Sick turn, if I hold up there it would have been a really nice session. But I'll take the win and see if I can put together a nice run before the end of the month.

-Boooom

Skunked

Played in a bunch of stuff tonight.

Four 90man turbo KO: No cashes, just 2 KOs for 8$.

Fifty Fifty: Went out right before the money. Won some races mid way through. Had a nice stack, but lost JJ v AK for 15k pot. Left me with about 14k still. But later shoved against a early position raiser and he had QQ. Woohoo for me.

Played the 28k and the 6max KO: Busted both, built a stack in the 6max but busted when I got it allin on a nice draw and whiffed.

Turbo fiddy: Doubled up on the 2nd hand when I snapped a set of aces with my str8 flush draw. Went card dead mid way through, then doubled up with QQ. 2 hands later I shove 44 and get called by AQd, he flops flush, game over.

Sick night, no love on the tables, but thats how tournaments are. Ended up down about $300 with all those buyins. I feel good right now and might play a cash game session before bed and slay some of the late night weekend donks.

-Boooom

Winning cash session!

824 hands... $16.55 profit never felt so good. Ends my streak of 8 losing sessions in a row where I dropped 13 buyins. This is my first winning session since last friday.

I am especially happy about this one because I was down two buyins early. But hit some hands and game back at the end. I checked the line and I was up 30$ so I started getting off because I NEEDED to have a winning session to get me going again. Ended up only showing $16 profit cause I limp reraised some stupid short stack who put in his 13$ preflop with Q4h, and sucked out against my TT. Oh well, a win is a win.

Probably playing the fifty-fifty, 28k and some 90 man sngs later tonight. Gonna grab dinner then get ready to play at 6:30.

-Boooom

Bubble play...

So last night in the 90man sng turbo KO. I got into a very nice position where I obliterated the money bubble. Final table makes the money so we were 5-7 handed on this bubble. I had just lost about 17k in an AK v QQ battle to the guy on my right. I was down to 27k and the blinds were at 600/1200 ante 150. I was just looking on HEM, seeing exactly how many of the pots I took down before the final table. Every hand I won, I just shoved allin preflop, no messing around. The only challenging stack was on my right, so once he was out of it, there was nothing stopping me.

600/1200/150:
After the AK loss, won 5/5 in the rest of that level. These 5 hands I actually had pretty good hands for 6-7 handed play. I only had 27k before this rush, so I wasn't in complete bully mode. I won an allin A3v TT against s short stack and now I was at 50k in chips.

800/1600/200:
At this point I was going nuts, shoving with 64o on the button, just because these guys had no spine. I take down 6/10 hands this level. I actually got QQ twice in a row. The first time the BB calls me with KJ, and turns a K. The next hand same guy calls me with JJ and I get it all back... sweet justice. At the end of this level I have 73k in chips.

1k/2k/250:
This level, same thing, keep shoving. I won 7/10 hands this level, playing 5 handed, and never had someone call my shove. Up to 94k.

1200/2400/300:
Won 8/12 hands this level. Shoved the button with 87o, the SB got some balls and called with KQo. Flopped an 8, and rivered a K. He says "thanks" to me, trying to be all smart. But I laugh at him because you know he jumped out of his seat all pissed off when the flop came. And he had been folding for so long this loss hardly hurt me. At the end of the level I have 111k... and the bubble bursts so we head to the final table.

Recap: I won 26/37 hands. My stack went from 27k to 111k. Only 4 times were my allins called. I won 2/4. Won A3 v TT and QQ v JJ. Lost QQ v KJ and 87v KQ. I was fortunate that people on the other table just weren't getting knocked out which made for a very long bubble. I am sure the people at the table were going nuts everytime someone at the other table survived an allin. This is a very extreme case of bubble abuse, where all the conditions were perfect. But it shows how important bubble play is and how many people don't know how to play it well. Owning this bubble allowed me to go on and win the tournament. Ship the nice 600$.

I am going to play some cash and tournaments later... let's have a good weekend and try to get back some of my big cash games losses from the month.

-Boooom

Live sucks, good night online

Played in two tournaments at Harrah's. Got owned. The noon tournament I went right before the first break. Got it in good, allin on the flop, guy hit 5 outer... yipee. 2nd tournament got owned as well. Don't really want to talk about any hands from that. Generally card dead, and missed some big draws.

Came home, got owned in the 6max KO, and my first 3 90 man sngs. Just cant win races. However it all came together in the 4th and last 90man sng. Got hot late, and ran over the longest bubble ever. Was up to like 45k in chips, then lost AK v QQ to go down to 27k. But from then on we were 12 handed, and I ran over the world. Once I got over 50k, I was pretty much allin every hand. They kept folding, and by the time we got to the final table I had 110k... domination. The bubble lasted forever, which was perfect for me. Final table... got a few knockouts, up to 160k or so. Then one hand I shove J8suited, and the one guy with 60k wakes up with KK and holds. But that was ok, we were 3 handed, we got out the short stack and I owned him HU for the win. A nice 600$ pickup with the knockout bounties. I'm up about 1k in tournaments this month, which helps make up for the about 1500 I'm down in cash games. All this without a 'big' MTT cash. It's a matter of time before I have a 1k+ cash in a big MTT. These 90 man sngs are juicy, I am definitely going to start playing them more often.

-Boooom

Better day...

Even thought I've been running like absolute crap in cash games this month. My tournament results (although very depressing with some ugly finishes) have been a good profit for me this month. I am not positive but I think I am up about 500$ this month in tournaments/sngs, and that is with out any great finishes.

Today I played a short cash session while playing a 45 man and 90 man sng (yesterday I won 2 26$ tokens with my ftps). I ALMOST had a winning session. It was only about 400 hands (just trying to get my ftps for the day), was up about 50$ but had a bad streak towards the end of my mini session and ended up down 30$. So I still haven't snapped my streak of 7 straight losing sessions.

In the 45 man sng I limp reraised with AKh, and got 2 callers. I shoved on a K9x board with 2 clubs. ATc calls and spikes it on the turn, go figure. However in the 90 man turbo KO, I got off to a nice start and cruised my way deep. I was a card rack and only had one big downturn late where I lost 11k when a guy outflopped my 77 with AQ. Other than that I abused everyone, and won races/ held with the best hand at the final table. HU the guy was tight preflop but way too spewy after the flop. I knew I could play small ball with him, and wear him down and eventually catch him after the flop.

I had about 120k and he had me covered by about 13k. Blinds 3k/6k, he raised to 18k, I call with K7o. Flop KQ2... perfect flop. I planned to lead out, and see if he would jump at the bait and shove allin (which he had done a few times to far, and I had folded everytime). I bet out 14700, and he thought for a second and shoved in for his 100k+, I called off all my chips and he shows Q4. Turn Q, and I take 2nd place. Gross suckout, cost me 225$ (the difference between 2nd and 1st place money).

I decided that the 90 man KO turbos are way better sngs than the normal 45 mans. Here is my reasoning, some people are afraid of the 90mans because they are turbos (I used to be). But here are the facts. The 90 man sngs have 5 minute blind levels, while the 45 man sngs have 6 minutes. Hardly any difference there. However the 90 mans are double stack so you start with twice as many chips which leaves a lot more play in the earlier levels, which I like very much. Also the 90 mans have antes in the later levels while the 45 mans do not. This is great for me, because I can run people over when they tighten up late in the tournament and helps me sustain/grow my stack.

I used to play alot of 45 man sngs, but no longer... I have concluded that it is way better for me to be playing the 90 man turbo KOs instead. These are great for working on my tournament skills and finish up in less than 2.5 hours. Ironically the 45 man "non-turbos" most likely have higher variance for me because of the small starting stack.

Tomorrow I am playing in the Noon circuit event at Harrah's. Hopefully I can run well and make up for how I got screwed in the Oceans tournament. In the Oceans tournament I had sub-par cards, but made almost all the right moves. If I can play almost as well at Harrah's and just run better it could be a great tournament for me.

-Boooom

Ugly Day

Played a bunch of 45 man sngs today, got skunked, not a single cash. I also played the 8pm 6max KO. Had a good start and a super donkey on my right who kept getting lucky to get all of his chips. He eventually shipped a bunch to me and I was sitting nicely.

Built up a nice stack and kept it slowly building when the antes came into play. Had 20k when the avg was about 14k, 2nd position raises to 1200, I make it 3k with KK, he thinks for a while then shoves for 7k, I call, he has QQ. Spikes a Q on the turn chopping one of my legs off. But I was able to come back, button shoved for 10k when I had 11k in the BB with AQ, and held up against AJ. Went back into semi bully mode, had about 30k when bubble time came around. Abused that a bit. Had an interesting hand where the button raised to 1500, I 3bet from the SB with K9o, he flat calls me. Flop 98x, he has about 6-7k left, and I just hope hes not slowplaying and go allin, he calls with QJc and I hold up. Weird play, especially considering we were very near the bubble. We get into the money and I continue to cruise, taking the blinds when I can.

Lost almost 10k on a hand where I flopped a huge draw, but folded to a turn raise when the guy min raised my 2/3 pot bet and the board had paired. But was still sitting on about 30k. I got moved to a new table and a few hands in I get QJ in the SB. The c/o raises to 3k, and my first thought was that I should reraise. However, this was a player who was at my table earlier and was really pretty horrible player who had a high propensity to bluff. Because of this I decided to flat call his raise, trying to spike a good hand where I could bust him. BB also calls and the flop comes JT8 2 diamonds. I would normally lead out here, but because of the read I had on the raising I wanted to trap him. I check, the BB puts in a pot size bets, then raiser thinks for a big then folds. This is not what I had planned, me and the bettor had about the same stack size and his bet was just under 10k. After a little bit of thought I made the retard move and shoved allin, he called and his AJ held up. He played his hand straight forwardly, the only thing I could hope he had was some draw, in which case he still would have called my shove, and I would have had to dodge a bunch of cards.

How bad was my shove? Pretty bad. I don't really get called by a worse hand unless its something like J9. I am ahead if he has a draw, but if its the nut flush draw he has at least 12 outs, and maybe even a straight draw to go with it. The other scenarios he has AJ or KJ and is way ahead.

I could have folded and had my 27k left and been sitting just fine with the blinds at 500/1k. I am really upset about this move, he played his hand transparently and I just couldn't make the right move. I need to cut out these mistakes deep in tournaments to get my next W.

The thing that made me most upset was that my first instinct was the 3bet the c/o raiser. Had I done this, then the BB most likely wouldn't cold call a 3bet with AJ and I win the hand. The preflop raiser had about 14k total, so if I make it 8k, and he shoves, there is no way I am folding and I am sure my J on the flop would have been enough to take down the pot. Make the 3bet there, and I am probably still playing in the tournament right now.

Next mistake, a good amount of the time I would lead out there against a preflop raiser with top pair. But I had already planned a trap against this specific player. If I lead out about 3500 and the BB raises me then I can get away from my hand for cheap. Instead I check he makes a large bet, and then im stuck in a fold or shove position. Lead out there, and keep the damage to a minimum.

Both of these didn't happen all because I changed my normal plan for the donkey who I thought I had a good read on.

-Boooom

Funny stuff...

So I sit down to play the turbo fiddy, and I think... hey I should play some 45 and 90 man sngs to work on my tournament game a bit.

So I sign up for a 90 man turbo KO, and a 45 man sng. 45 man pops up, first hand I have KK, 4x raise, button calls, SB reraises, I jam it and SB has AA, I lose. The next 45 man pops up, first hand I have AA, 4x raise, next guy 3bets, I jam it, and he calls with AKo and flushes out.

Had a really hot start in the turbo fiddy but just fizzled out, now I'm just gonna finish my 90 man turbo KO then call it a night.

-Boooom


**** Got 6th in the 90 man turbo KO. Got lucky a few times, but ran like crap at the final table even thought I came in 2nd in chips. Oh well, the biggest moron who was playing 50% of their hands had the chip lead... silly turbos. ****

Got back to the apartment in time to play the 28k. Also got into the 6max KO. Played some cash tables while these were going on. Cash games, not a ton happened, but managed to lose $165. Lost one big pot early in the session on a big draw that whiffed, then the rest was just small losses while not winning any big pots.

The 28k started great, and I had a big stack in the 2nd hour. Then came cooler city right after the blinds went to 25/150/300. I raised to 950 with QJ, the button called and the BB. I had about 13k, and ehe button had me covered, this was also his 2nd hand at the table so I had no idea how he played.

Flop Q23, 2 hearts. I bet just under half the pot and the button called. Turn J, and thought for a while and decided to play a trap, and try to induce a bet out of a flush draw or something. The reason I did this was because I had about 10k left, with the pot about 6k. I didn't want to just bet like 4k, have him flat call, then be in an awkward position on the river with 6k behind in a 14k pot, when the flush rolls off. So I tried to represent something like AK or TT that made a continuation bet on the flop and was now giving up. So I checked, he bet 3700, I shoved and he snap calls with 33, sad day.

I also busted sadly in the 6max, when I flat called a guys raise with AK. Flop A86, I check raised him for the 2nd time in a row, and he shoved and shows me A6 of course. Turn 6, and I spike the K on the river when it no longer matters. Oh well, crummy night maybe I'll win the turbo fiddy later. My mind is kinda blah, so I'll probably take the day off from cash tables tomorrow.

-Boooom

Downswing

Just finished a 2 hour session. about 2k hands... -$402. Started off very up and down, had some gifts from some donks, but they were countered by 2 set over sets, and 1 set that lost to a straight. Then the second half of my session had AA snapped twice by some draws, and the standard KK v AA cooler. Just kept losing pots, without winning an substantially large pots.

I am not sure what to think of this, that is 10 buyins in 2 days. One of those dreaded downswings that really suck. One thing that I am going to change, it go back to 12 tables. I have been going for 13-14 tables, which helps me get more hands per hour, but even though I don't feel like its too difficult, it can't hurt to cut back down to 12 tables. Also both of these sessions have been generally during the same time period, in the early afternoon. Maybe the tables are a little tougher at this time and I should aim for playing later in the evening. However I am not sure how much that is true, because generally I have felt like there has been good action at my tables.

Those are a few little things I'm going to try that will hopefully turn this around very quickly. Might play later tonight if I get a paper done early enough.

-Boooom

Consolation Prize

When I was in 5th grade, I played in a recreation basketball league. My dad coached my team that year, and we were unstoppable. We had a great point guard, a decent big guy, and I was probably the 3rd best on the team. We were undefeated during the regular season. In the playoffs we lost a heart breaker in the semi-finals by 3 points after some of the worst officiating I had seen in my young career. But we got to play in the consolation game for 3rd place. In that game we absolutely destroyed the other team. Final score was about 90-35 and us 3 best players didn't play the most of the 4th quarter. But winning that hardly felt like it mattered, we still felt cheated.

Tonight I played the turbo fiddy. Got lucky a few times, ended up placing 13th. A decent cash, but the final table has still been eluding me. After what I've been through with tournaments the last week it has left me feeling like I did when I was in 5th grade, winner of a consolation prize... that seemed like nothing.

In actuality it's not nothing, it's actually a nice rebound after a tough run in tournaments over the last week, and the horrendous cash session I had earlier. This is the first cash I've had in a 55$ tournament since I started playing in a few (I think 5 turbo fiddy's, and 2 regulars). The $190 doesn't hurt, as I am still due for a big cash, and will likely make the turbo fiddy a nightly game for me since it wraps up in about 2.5 hours.

That's all for tonight... tomorrow I'll report on how cash games turn out for me.

-Boooom

Double Screwed...

Played a short session earlier today. Not too eventful, just lost a few medium sized pots against short stacks sucking out. Which had me -$30 on that session.

Just finished a long session of about 2 hours and 40 minutes where I played 2384 hand. Started off pretty good in the first 300 hands I must have been up about a buyin. Then ran into a set over set situation, I limp called a big raise with 66, the SB also called the raise. Flop Q65. The guy put in a continuation bet, the SB flat called. I knew the SB was super super tight, and there was a decent chance he had a set, I made a big raise, the button folded then the SB shoved. At this point I knew he had a set, so it was about 50/50 as to whether it was QQ or 55. I called and he had QQ.

After this I ran top 2 pair into a set. But I still felt ok and continued on in my session. There was alot of action at my tables with alot of fish out. I won a set over set hand, but of course the guy I was against only had 25$.

Then towards the end of my session everything fell to pieces. The button made a raise with 44, I called with 22, flop 432, there goes a buyin. I have AQ on AQ6 flop, there goes another buyin. I flop royal flush draw with AcQc, on JcTc9x board. Get it in against 99 and he holds. Just everything went to pieces. I haven't been struggling with tilt too much over the last month, but this was too much, I was completely rattled. So I quickly started getting off of my tables, but probably spewed off another 50$ or so in my last hands with some pocket pairs and AK.

Bottom line... -$628 on the session

I think this is the worst session I've had. I think I had one session at NL50 that was 6 buyins, so that comes close. Probably just going to take the rest of the night off, then come back tomorrow. Sick day, this puts me way down on the month, hopefully I can make a comeback.

-Boooom

Screwed...

Today I think I played the best poker of my life. Just about every move I made worked. The tournament had 176 people with 17 were to make the money. I doubled up early with Aces. Then didn't have a made hand for about 2-3 hours but managed to build my stack up from 15k to 30k. Then won a 20k race JJ v AK to boost me to 50k.

Long story short there were about 30 people left, I was up to 75k, got it allin 3 ways against 2 people that each had about 25k. I had AA, the two hands were 55 and JJ. The first card I saw was an Ace, and the board ran out A7364, shop that 75k pot to the pocket 5's! That would have made me a big chip leader, instead I was sitting back on 50k. I ended up down to 30k, then rode the roller coaster up and down for a while before I finally took 19th place. It truly sucks to play so good, and get F'ed in the dream situation with AA allin preflop, flopping top set... then eventually bubbling. 300$ buyin, first place was like 14k, and I was by far the best player at those final 3 tables. But once again I get close then get screwed big time. Hopefully sometime soon I'll break through and get a big cash.

I got the Harrah's tournament this weekend, maybe that'll be good to me.

-Boooom

Ready to go...

I ended up not playing any cash games tonight. Instead hung out with the fam, then ended up hanging out with the girlfriend for a bit too. I feel like my mind is clear and ready to play the $330 live tourny tomorrow. The structure if decent, I wish the blind levels were a little longer, but I guess 30 minutes will do. 7500 starting chips is nice.

Once new thought I had on the tournament last night. When we got down to 2 tables, I had already been pretty aggressive (in Gus mode). Then on top of it I was getting dealt a surplus of good (not great) cards. Alot of weak Aces, big Kings and big Queens. So I was raising to steal blinds even more than I normally would. This was working for a while, but I soon found myself getting played back at more than I would like. I was reminded of things from Gus' book. At times he would fold a pretty good hand in position and not try to steal the blinds, only because he had recently been stealing alot. He said that he did not want people to realize he was completely running them over, because then they would start playing back at him. I think I let myself raise too much just because I was getting good cards, and lost sight of my image at the table. People playing back at me didn't hurt me too bad because I ended up getting it in really good against a 3bet later (AK v A3... even tho I lost), but I think there is an art to running people over, without them realizing it. Last night everyone realized I was running them over, because I had been raising so much. In the future I am going to try to keep better track of my image at the table which should lead to smoother sailing.

Even though I've had some big disapointments in the last few days, I hope I can continue to learn from my experiences and make big improvements in my tournament game. I'll have a report tomorrow on how the live tourny goes, hopefully I don't take a cooler in the first hour.

-Boooom

Head Spinning

Played a few tournaments this morning/afternoon. Bought into a 3500 ftp satelite to the Sunday Brawl. Then the 21k 26$ KO. Then the 20k 55$ tournament. Then had the 30k Freeroll lined up for later.

Things turned to crap quickly in the 20k, I was down to 110 chips, then battle back to 1100 chips. Only to lose a race, oh well. In the 21k I was super card dead, finally got KK, I raise, the BB ships it with AT, flops an Ace, game over. Made a nice run in the satelite. Got deep, stole enough blinds a little before the bubble, then just folded to victory. A very nice $256 seat for just 3500 ftps. I quickly withdrew since I don't want to play a tournament that big, and will use the tournament dollars for smaller tournaments. I'm gonna be busy with the live tournament tomorrow anyways. Even though the session today was depressing because I was card dead, and got nothing going, winning that seat made it a profitable session. My brain is kind of fried from all the tournaments lately, so I'm gonna take it easy.

I'm going to wash my car, take a shower, do some HW. I might grind some cash games later to get my FTPs for the day. But no tournaments the rest of the day, unless its the Turbo Fiddy, because I don't have the brain power to play a 6 hour marathon and need to save my energy for the live tournament at Oceans tomorrow. I need to not let these tournaments from today stifle my confidence going into tomorrow, because I think my game is primed for a good run if the cards fall decently. I'll give an update later on how the evening cash games go.

-Boooom

Nightmares...

Haha, so maybe not nightmares. But I had trouble sleeping last night. Maybe it was because I didn't go to sleep until 4am. But I remember waking up at about 8am, previously having a dream where I was in a tournament, playing 5 handed, and we were on the final table bubble. The bubble wouldn't end, every short stack that was all in found some way to survive, as I saw my chip stack slowly shrink. This went on for a while, and when I woke up the bubble still hadn't burst.

I guess this is the kind of nightmare you have when you get 10th and then 12th place in the same tournament within the couple days.

I have thought about it alot (as much as possible in 7 hours), and I think I should have folded the AK in that situation. My chip stack was fine, 290k, and I shouldn't have put my tournament to chance after all that time. Especially when I knew I had a big skill edge over the field. The problem was this move was so out of ordinary for the player I felt it had to be AK-AJ. I guess I made a good read, but who knows, maybe he does the same with 99. That deep I should avoid putting my tournament at risk when I have so many chips. Next time I like to beleive I fold.

Nonetheless, I mademy move, got it in good, and he sucked out, so it still really hurts. I am due for a win, so I hope I can roll one off soon because these 26$ buyin tournies are so donkey. I am also starting to play the fifty-fifty and turbo fiddy when I have the chance. I am pretty much bankrolled for them, and they are both good value. I think if I play the turbo fiddy on a regular basis, it will payoff big for me even though it is very high variance.

Today I have the big 30k iron man freeroll. This should be an interesting tournament because everyone should be a fairly solid player. But with only 360 people, I like my chances with the way I've been playing lately.

-Boooom

Woe is Me

Played the 6max KO today, had a crazy heater, and alot of suckouts, busted 25 minutes in. Played the turbo fiddy, had a decent run but my luck ran out. Played the 17k, took a hid mid way through but battled back. Had a big stack deep in the tourny. Down to 18 people left I had the chip lead, then lost a A6 v QT race. Then AK v A3 race. Which cut me down to a more normal stack. I had a ridiculously loose image because I kept getting solid hands 7 handed, which led to people playing back at me alot. Here is the gross one for the big chip lead with 12 people left...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11131189248: $17,000 Guarantee (83588996), Table 37 - 5000/10000 Ante 1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 6:14:42 ET - 2009/03/14
Seat 2: Jaijje (107,474)
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (290,840)
Seat 4: DJ WheatGrass (363,533)
Seat 6: smiller99 (290,496)
Seat 7: HULK65 (257,866)
Seat 8: kane333 (61,316)
Jaijje antes 1,000
BoooomBaby7 antes 1,000
DJ WheatGrass antes 1,000
smiller99 antes 1,000
HULK65 antes 1,000
kane333 antes 1,000
BoooomBaby7 posts the small blind of 5,000
DJ WheatGrass posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ah Kc]
smiller99 folds
HULK65 raises to 256,866, and is all in
kane333 folds
Jaijje folds
BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act
BoooomBaby7 raises to 289,840, and is all in
DJ WheatGrass folds
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ah Kc]
HULK65 shows [As Qd]
Uncalled bet of 32,974 returned to BoooomBaby7
*** FLOP *** [3d Tc 5c]
*** TURN *** [3d Tc 5c] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [3d Tc 5c Qc] [6d]
BoooomBaby7 shows Ace King high
HULK65 shows a pair of Queens
HULK65 wins the pot (529,732) with a pair of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 529,732 Rake 0
Board: [3d Tc 5c Qc 6d]
Seat 2: Jaijje (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (small blind) showed [Ah Kc] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 4: DJ WheatGrass (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: smiller99 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: HULK65 showed [As Qd] and won (529,732) with a pair of Queens
Seat 8: kane333 folded before the Flop

Guy made the moron over shove because he didn't know how to play his strong but not monster hand. I almost folded but really thought this looked like an AQ, AJ type move. Sick beat for me considering how well I played. There is definitely a strong argument for me folding here. Just because I am putting my tournament life to chance, when I could just fold and continue to play with a big edge over the field. Major disapointment, I thought I was gonna have another lucky Friday the 13th. I almost came back, doubled up next hand with JT. Then this hand happened...

Full Tilt Poker Game #11131197750: $17,000 Guarantee (83588996), Table 37 - 5000/10000 Ante 1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 6:16:01 ET - 2009/03/14
Seat 2: Jaijje (104,474)
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 (73,948)
Seat 4: DJ WheatGrass (345,533)
Seat 6: smiller99 (250,522)
Seat 7: HULK65 (517,732)
Seat 8: kane333 (79,316)
Jaijje antes 1,000
BoooomBaby7 antes 1,000
DJ WheatGrass antes 1,000
smiller99 antes 1,000
HULK65 antes 1,000
kane333 antes 1,000
HULK65 posts the small blind of 5,000
kane333 posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #6
BoooomBaby7: ya, stupid shove on your part...it not ur fault ur a moron
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [Ah 2c]
Jaijje folds
BoooomBaby7 raises to 72,948, and is all in
DJ WheatGrass folds
smiller99 folds
HULK65 calls 67,948
kane333 folds
BoooomBaby7 shows [Ah 2c]
HULK65 shows [Ac Ts]
*** FLOP *** [Jd Qs 7d]
*** TURN *** [Jd Qs 7d] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [Jd Qs 7d 2d] [Kc]
BoooomBaby7 shows a pair of Twos
HULK65 shows a straight, Ace high
HULK65 wins the pot (161,896) with a straight, Ace high
BoooomBaby7 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 161,896 Rake 0
Board: [Jd Qs 7d 2d Kc]
Seat 2: Jaijje folded before the Flop
Seat 3: BoooomBaby7 showed [Ah 2c] and lost with a pair of Twos
Seat 4: DJ WheatGrass folded before the Flop
Seat 6: smiller99 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: HULK65 (small blind) showed [Ac Ts] and won (161,896) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 8: kane333 (big blind) folded before the Flop

Almost got revenge, and woulda been sitting good enough to be patient. But FTP was just toying with me. My next tournament win will have to wait.

BTW I'm deep in the $1 rebuy that I played with my friend, maybe I'll take that down for like 200$.

-Boooom

90 minutes -$90

Just finished a -$90 session. played 1413 hands in about an hour and a half. Overall I was surprised by how loose the tables were, but I couldn't make any good progress in my session. Only really won 1 big hand, but other than that didn't hit any big hands, and took a few bad beats. Just generally felt like a dull session. I played one hand poorly where I should have folded on the river. This guy flat called my c/o raise from the SB with KK. I had JJ, on a low board and he led out in every betting round and I just called him down. I needed to define the hand sooner with a raise on the flop, or just lay it down on the river because it's unlikely he is still betting strong without big strength. I partly called because I knew he wasn't a strong player, so his odd play confused me and got him paid off. After 90 minutes my connection started sucking, not sure what's causing it, but I am happy that I have been able to get a couple of decent sessions the last few days. I have been kinda disapointed because my goal to play 4 hours a day on NL100 was quickly squashed by my crappy internet. I feel like I could have made alot over my Spring break, instead of just being break even.

On a positive note, today is Friday the 13th. The last Friday the 13th, I won $3500 in the 6max KO tournament. So maybe I will run well tonight and roll off a big win. I don't know what time I will be home tonight, but I'm hoping to play in a few.

-Boooom

Today felt like a good day...

FTP now has KO super turbo MTTs where the blind go up every 5 minutes, and everyone starts with 300 chips. I played in 2 earlier today, a $6.50 and a $15. The small one didn't go well. But in the $15 one I ran pretty hot and had 9 KOs, and got about 50th out of 750 players. They go very quick, which is nice, but is mostly a luck fest. However, I am guessing most people in them don't have enough patience which makes them dead money.

I was able to get a good cash session in earlier. My internet connection actually worked great with no problems for almost 2 hours. I played 1526 hands and won $92. Cards weren't great, pretty much won everything on one hand where this guy played his set like a moron... and I got lucky on the turn.

Full Tilt Poker Game #11109085569: Table Cabana - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:14:27 ET - 2009/03/12
Seat 1: yungmath ($138)
Seat 2: bedsore ($122.35)
Seat 3: galasater ($29.60)
Seat 4: Furon ($33.45)
Seat 5: LuckyMaverick1 ($22.50)
Seat 6: austinm0307 ($33.15)
Seat 7: dela moneymaker ($100)
Seat 8: BoooomBaby7 ($131.20)
Seat 9: metopia ($20), is sitting out
galasater posts the small blind of $0.50
Furon posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [5h 5c]
LuckyMaverick1 folds
austinm0307 raises to $4
dela moneymaker folds
BoooomBaby7 calls $4
yungmath calls $4
bedsore folds
galasater folds
Furon folds
*** FLOP *** [2h 3d 4c]
austinm0307 bets $12
BoooomBaby7 calls $12
yungmath has 15 seconds left to act
yungmath raises to $30
austinm0307 calls $17.15, and is all in
BoooomBaby7 calls $18
*** TURN *** [2h 3d 4c] [As]
BoooomBaby7 bets $97.20, and is all in
yungmath calls $97.20
BoooomBaby7 shows [5h 5c]
yungmath shows [3h 3s]
austinm0307 shows [9s 9c]
*** RIVER *** [2h 3d 4c As] [Jc]
BoooomBaby7 shows a straight, Five high
yungmath shows three of a kind, Threes
BoooomBaby7 wins the side pot ($196.10) with a straight, Five high
austinm0307 shows a pair of Nines
BoooomBaby7 wins the main pot ($97.95) with a straight, Five high
austinm0307 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $297.05 Main pot $100.95. Side pot $196.10. Rake $3
Board: [2h 3d 4c As Jc]
Seat 1: yungmath showed [3h 3s] and lost with three of a kind, Threes
Seat 2: bedsore (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: galasater (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Furon (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: LuckyMaverick1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: austinm0307 showed [9s 9c] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 7: dela moneymaker didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: BoooomBaby7 showed [5h 5c] and won ($294.05) with a straight, Five high
Seat 9: metopia is sitting out

As I was playing these cash games I played the fifty-fifty, the 28k, and the 6max KO. I didn't cash in any of them, but almost cashed in the fifty and the 28k. I feel like I am playing really well, just a matter of time before I final table a big tournament. I had one bluff in the 28k that I wish I didn't try, but my game feels ready for the $330 live tourny I'm gonna play on Sunday. And then the circuit events I'm gonna try to play at Harrah's the following week. Obviously there is a lot of variance in tournament poker, but in these live tournies I think I have a huge skill edge over the field. Jimmy said he just re-read Gus Hansen's book, which I think is a good idea and I plan to do the same next week.

Overall I only came out even on the day, with my tournament entries, but it still felt like a good day where I played really well. I think good things are in the near future.

-Boooom

17k Bubble Boy

Just got knocked out 10th in the 17k. Kinda disapointing to get so close to final table. However, I played really well, and don't regret any of my moves. Had a big stack until about 36 players left, then things stopped going my way. I did really poorly in races in this tourny. I think I only won 1 out of 5 allin races. So it is pretty amazing that I made it that far. I stayed alive well as a short stack, but you have to win those races. Picked up $176.40 for my efforts. Not the $4200 I had in mind, but maybe sometime soon. Now I need sleep.

-Boooom

Stupid Oceans

Went to Oceans again today. Sat down at a 4/8 limit table, won 60$. Moved the to 8/16 limit game, ended up down $300, then came storming back to be up $300. Limit is a sick game. The moved to the 2/3 NL game and freerolled with my $300. Was down to $200 in a very crazy action game. Ended up getting it allin on the flop with top top, and the other guy on a draw. He had 12 outs, so it was a big race, and he hit his straight on the turn. So I left even for the day. Wasn't able to make of for the -$500 from the previous day, but oh well.

Had a nice little cash session a bit ago. Played 6-8 tables while playing the Turbo Fiddy and the 18k. 536 hands, +$169. Not too many crazy hands, my hands were pretty easy to play, which is always nice.

Turbo Fiddy lost a race halfway through when a guy made a BS call with AT when I shoved with 88. Oh well, that's a turbo for you. I'm about to make the money in the 17k. About 80 people left, and I'm top 5 in chips. Had one big suckout earlier 99 v QQ, and been cruising since. Hopefully I can ride this big stack for a while. I am going to practice as much patience as possible while still taking advantage of people's passiveness. Hopefully my next post brings good news!

-Boooom

Live Game at Oceans, Pwned,

Last night at about 10:30 I decided to go to Oceans to play the 2/3 game. My first table was interesting, but overall pretty tight. I was very card dead so couldn't get anything going there. Then the game broke and got to a new table where there was much more action. Last night the first card I looked at was an ace far too often. Then the second card was always a rag, kind of frustrating. I was down a little over a hundred and hadn't really gotten into any big pots.

One guy had recently sat down at the table, and I could tell he was a pretty good player, but was a little too loose and aggressive. And the way he had to talk about everything really annoyed me. I knew I was going to make a play at him at some point when I thought he was getting a little too frisky. So I limp UTG+1 with QJo. The guy loved to play his position and raise when there were limpers out, I had seem him show down hands as weak as 64s where he raised in position. He raised to 15, and I called and we were heads up to the flop. K73, 2 hearts. I check, he bet 18, I thought and raised to 50. He thought forever and then called. Turn 5, I though for a bit and shoved in my final 110, he thought forever again and called with A5o. I guess he put me on the flush draw. I have no idea what he was doing on the flop, my read was perfect. I don't know if he actually thought his Ahigh was good. Now I was just hoping to hit some hands eventually the capitalize on his looseness.

One thing I started to do was make many small raises with my suited connectors and stuff, to control the size of the pot. I knew if I limped, there was a pretty good chance he would raise to 15. I rebought for 200, and started to win some small pots with my small raises and built up to about 260.

This one awful calling station to my right limped on a straddle hand, and I raised to 21 on the button with TT. Flop 234, and of course he's sitting on A5o. When I bet the flop he actually picked up his hand and acted like he was going to muck it, then decided to call. The turn I put him allin and he thought for a bit and called. I don't really know what to think of this player. From watching him throughout the night I didn't really think he knew what he was doing, and so didn't really think he would be putting on an act with the fake muck. So I doubled up his $100. A little later I get aces and raise to $15 with 1 limper out. The SB who was a very tight preflop player called me, and the limper mucked. Flop comes KK5. He checks, I check. Many people would want a bet on this flop, but I don't like it, mainly because of how I had seen this guy play before. In situation where he didn't have a huge hand, but was convinced that he had the best hand, he would value bet. So I wanted to limit losses if he had a K, but allow him to think he had the best hand if he had a pocket pair or hit something on the turn. Turn come J, and he leads out $14. I call, river 2, he bets out $30. Now I am a little worried, but I call because I think he bets there with AJ, but of course he turns over AK. Yipee, I run good.

Little later I pick up AK UTG+1. I have $110 in front of me, and plan to limp to hope my loose friend behind me decides to raise (which he will with anything that looks decent). He makes it $15, and the C/O, button, and SB all call. At this point there is only one play... shove, it's the perfect squeeze spot against the loose raiser, and people who are calling him because they know he's loose. Not to mention I have a big hand. I shove, he thinks for a while, then calls, everyone else mucks. He turns over AA... and that's the end of my night. The guy played well, I will give him that, but I knew I could capitalize on the way he played, but that night he just ran red hot. I think he had about $800 when I left.

Crappy -$500 live session where it seemed that nothing wen't my way. It was really weird, because I played super tight early on, because I was getting zero cards. Then at my first table, the first two times I raised, I got reraised. At my second table, the first time I raised I got reraised also. Just a weird night, hopefully I can turn it around. Poker-wise this Spring break has sucked, I'm down a few hundred online because my internet sucking has stopped me from playing very much. I hope it turns around, I might give Oceans another shot sometime. On the good side, my Spring break has been good in all other aspects. I have gotten to spend time with alot of friends and family, which is very nice.

-Boooom

Creativity... not rewarded

Just played for about an hour at home. The connection wasn't too bad. I decided to start off slow and only have 8 tables up which seemed to help. Then after a bit I moved up to 10 tables. With less tables I was able to take better notes and also thought I might try to get a little more creative with some of my plays. This turned out to be disaster. I guess my plays were a little too clever for stakes this low where most people just play their cards. I wound up -$251 for the session. Maybe it was just terrible timing, cause I thought I had good notes/reads on a few players, but when I made a move on them all the sudden they had a big hand. Needless to say, I won't be trying that again anytime soon. Back to just normal grinding.

-Boooom

Frustration!

I tried to play yesterday, but the wifi connection at my house sucks too much! It constantly goes in and out as I am playing poker. It's not too bad if I'm only on one table, but when I am 12 tabling, 15 seconds of my connection freezing up screws me over with hands backing up. And everytime it happens I have to go check all my tables to make sure I am not sitting out, and it is really frustrating when it is happening every 5-10 minutes. Because of this I hardly played any hands yesterday, finishing up down about $10 after only 300 hands of play. I need to resolve this problem at my home, or find some coffee shop with good wifi to play at. I wanted to hit the tables for 4 hours per day this week, but that's impossible with this problem. I might resort to going to the card room and playing 2/3 NL this week if I can't fix the problem soon.

-Boooom

Bankroll Management: Past Struggles, Lessons Learned

I have a few things I wanted to talk about in this post. The first has to do with what I've learned about bankroll management, and my failures with it in the past. When I first learned to play, and had some success, I found myself quickly moving to higher stakes because of my early success I thought I would easily keep it going. I had no concept of bankroll management and the swings that can be expected in poker, especially online poker. I just figured if I played good, then I would keep winning. It never occured to me that playing in a game where I only had 5 buyins might be a problem.

Another big problem is how to deal with losing streaks. When I would play, I was so focussed on how much I was up or down on the day, and didn't have much of a bigger picture look. If I started the day with $500 in my account and I was just on a bad streak and was down to $350, then I felt like I had to at least get back to even by the end of the day. The fastest way to do this was obviously to move up stakes. I would do this, and sometimes be successful, but often enough I would go bust. Losing the whole $350, while trying to get back to $150 I had lost.

After a while I picked up on this problem. When I would run a small amount of money up into a nice bankroll, but then would see myself going on one of these downward spirals, often I would just withdrawal a large chunk of it, and try to go back to the re-building mode. This helped me to not blow it all, but because of this I was never able to maintain a solid bankroll over a long period of time.

Through this I found a big problem that online players have to deal with way more than live players. Online, your whole bankroll is right there and easily available to put into play. For a live player who plays 1/3 NL and buys for $300 each session, might bring 2-3 buyins to the casino with them. If they lose this they are probably done for the day, and aren't going to go to the bank and withdrawal half their bankroll to go play in the big 10/20 game. However online there is always a bigger game, and it is way too easy to take shots. Too often I have had a bad session losing a few buyins, then jump up a level or two trying to get back my losses and end up losing 2x-5x that much.

Now that I have a good bankroll with 40buyins for my NL game online, it is easier for me to manage the swings. Because a 2-3 buyin losing session, doesn't look at bad when I still have 37 buyins left. However if I only had 5buyins for the game, it's like WHOA, I just lost half my bankroll, things are falling apart. Also in the past I never thought I should have crazy big losing swings. Now I understand that it is normal for someone to have a 10buyin downswing over a period of time. As a matter of fact, it is expected at some point.

This means that if someone is having early success online and keeps moving up in stakes too soon, eventually THEY WILL GO BUST. Say someone has $500 in their account and 5-tables NL100. They have 5 buyins but go on a sick hot streak. When they get to 1k they move up to NL200. This hot streak continues for a few weeks and they run it up to 2.5k then play NL400. Before they know it they are at NL1000 with 6-7k in their bankroll. All the sudden they hit their downswing, and that 6-7k evaporates in no time, because 10 buyin downswings DO happen.

Interesting psychological things happen during a crazy hot streak like that, and you begin to beleive that you are winning only because you are playing so good. It doesn't occur that you haven't been on the bad side of a set over set, or AA v KK battle. Eventually that will happen and that's when you lose it all. This is where the good bankroll management comes in. If you are playing out of your bankroll you must be willing to move down when things start to go poorly. For good bankroll management in NL cash games it is recommended you keep anywhere betwen 20-40 buyins. So let's say you are trying to be good and play with 25 buyins for your game, but you go on a terrible 10buyin downswing. Now you have only 15 buyins for your game, it is very neccesary to move down in limits, and work your way back up. I was always too stubborn to do this and I wanted to win my money back as fast as possible. Moving down in limits definitely wasn't going to help me to win it back faster, so that was out of the option. Either I would keep playing at my stakes, or move up to win it back faster which I talked about earlier. A huge thing is how you manage swings, and being able to swallow your pride and avoid going busto.

Taking shots is another thing. Let's say I have my 40 buyins for my, and I work it up to where I have 50buyins, which gives my 25buyins for the next high stakes. It would be reasonable to take a shot at the bigger game. However, if it doesn't go so well, I must know my limits and when I plan to move back down. I might decide that if I fall down to 20 buyins for that game, I will return to my previous stakes and play there with my 40 buyins. If things go well and I have a nice run I might be able to work those 25 buyins up to 30-35buyins and then be able to play the higher stakes comfortably for the long term.

I have really struggled with all these things in the past. I am not in a position where I am comfortably playing my game with 40 buyins and a good understanding of how to manage my bankroll. If I have a -10buyin streak, I know I will be okay in the long term, and am not going to go on crazy tilt and try to play a game 4x as big. This was not the case for me in the past, and I know it is a huge problem for the online poker community. It is probably the biggest difference between online and live games. When you go to the casino you have your normal game you play, and probably don't change it very often. Every once in a while you might move up and take a shot, but it is usually something you think through (maybe think about playing it a few times, then one day you get guts to do it, and bring more money that day when you come to the casino). It is something that is planned for ahead of time, and isn't the result of some crazy tilt. Often it is because you have been consistently been beating your normal game, and think you can take the bigger one... which is when you should move up anyways. Online it often seems the reason for moving up is tilt, and not something that was well thought through with good bankroll management.

These are just some big things I have learned, almost all of them the hard way, multiple times. No school this week, and really no plans. I have a bunch of people I want to spend time with while I'm in my hometown. Also going to try and play about 4 hours a day grinding online, and might make it to a live game once.

-Boooom

Live game, snowboarding, week ahead...

Friday night I went and played a live game at Barona. 1/3 NL, 100-300 buyin. I bought in for 300 and cashed 632 so it was a nice session for only a few hours. Had a couple of sick hands, luckily one donkey hooked me up with the majority of my profits on one hand. I found myself kind of bored at a live game, I guess it's been a while and im used to 800 hands an hour now.

Friday night I also bubbled in 2 tournaments. Wasn't my night, and I think I was tired from a long week and my patience wasn't at its best.

Today I went snowboarding with a high school friend and his bro. It was alot of fun, the snow wasn't great but it was still a good time. I am very sore and tired from the long day, but it was good to get out there.

Just finished a session where I played just under 1k hands, and lost about 30$. I have a lot of small things I want to do this next week on my Spring break. As far as poker goes I think I am going to stick to online, as opposed to going to the casino to play live. It is just more convenient. My goal is to play about 3k hands a day this week, probably in two, 2hour sessions each day. Hopefully I can roll over a nice profit because there are some live tournaments I'd like to play in a few weeks, and I'll feel better about putting up the buyins if I'm on an upswing.

I will probably put in a longer post tomorrow with some thoughts I've had recently, but am too tired to do it tonight.

-Boooom

14 tables, profitable session...

Just finished a 100 minute session 14 tabling. At no point in the session did I feel rushed, and I got 1479 hands in. Lately, I have been keeping a close eye on Holdem Manager and how much I am up/down in the middle of a session. This stresses me out and causes me to play different so today I decided to go the whole session without ever looking at my profit line. The session was going normal. No horrendous beats, and no huge hands. Then toward the end of the session it was big hands everywhere. A guy in ep min raised and 3 callers out, I decided to call from the BB with A8s. Flop AT8, long story short button has AT and stacks me even tho I turned nut flush draw.

Then this hand happened...

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [2d 2h]
M A G N S O E raises to $3
BoooomBaby7 calls $3
MeaLOwNz calls $3
k030101 folds
Thebusdriver141 folds
abassatsa folds
cleesun folds
HelloMoney calls $2
*** FLOP *** [2c Qh 8d]
HelloMoney checks
M A G N S O E checks
BoooomBaby7 checks
MeaLOwNz checks


I really should be betting this flop, but it was so dry I wasn't really worried about letting another card roll off.

*** TURN *** [2c Qh 8d] [3h]
HelloMoney has 15 seconds left to act
HelloMoney bets $7
M A G N S O E has 15 seconds left to act
M A G N S O E raises to $21

Here is where I go "OH CRAP!" UTG raises, then checks flop, then puts in big raise on turn... must be QQ unless he's being tricky with AQ AA KK, so I elect to flat call hoping to re-evaluate on the river

BoooomBaby7 has 15 seconds left to act
BoooomBaby7 calls $21
MeaLOwNz folds
HelloMoney has 15 seconds left to act
HelloMoney calls $14
*** RIVER *** [2c Qh 8d 3h] [2s]

YAHTZEE! I put him on QQ, and I hit the yahoo 1 outer, almost certain I am getting paid

HelloMoney checks
M A G N S O E bets $25
BoooomBaby7 raises to $95.60, and is all in
HelloMoney folds
M A G N S O E calls $51, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $19.60 returned to BoooomBaby7
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BoooomBaby7 shows [2d 2h] four of a kind, Twos
M A G N S O E mucks
BoooomBaby7 wins the pot ($224.50) with four of a kind, Twos
M A G N S O E adds $100
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $227.50 Rake $3
Board: [2c Qh 8d 3h 2s]
Seat 1: k030101 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Thebusdriver141 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: vlfflqqkr is sitting out
Seat 4: abassatsa (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: cleesun (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: HelloMoney (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 7: M A G N S O E mucked [Qs Qc] - a full house, Queens full of Twos
Seat 8: BoooomBaby7 showed [2d 2h] and won ($224.50) with four of a kind, Twos
Seat 9: MeaLOwNz folded on the Turn


That hand was disgusting, but the good news is he value bet the river, so I only would have lost another 25$ had I not made quads.

Then as I was getting off tables I hit another big hand, and got a nice donation. The guy had just had AA cracked by 99 that straightened out, and I knew he was a loose cannon that was certainly tilting.

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BoooomBaby7 [5h 5s]
BoooomBaby7 calls $1
Run You Over 22 folds
kiwitintin has 15 seconds left to act
kiwitintin folds
Zetoran folds
Gerrard37 folds
rockrollins folds
handorchris calls $0.50
Scuba1127 checks
*** FLOP *** [7s 5c 2h]
handorchris bets $2
Scuba1127 calls $2
BoooomBaby7 raises to $8
handorchris calls $6
Scuba1127 calls $6
*** TURN *** [7s 5c 2h] [9d]
handorchris checks
Scuba1127 checks
BoooomBaby7 bets $18
handorchris has 15 seconds left to act
handorchris has requested TIME
handorchris raises to $45
Scuba1127 folds
BoooomBaby7 calls $27
*** RIVER *** [7s 5c 2h 9d] [Qc]
handorchris has 15 seconds left to act
handorchris bets $62
BoooomBaby7 calls $57.85, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $4.15 returned to handorchris
*** SHOW DOWN ***
handorchris shows [Kh 7c] a pair of Sevens
BoooomBaby7 shows [5h 5s] three of a kind, Fives
BoooomBaby7 wins the pot ($229.70) with three of a kind, Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $232.70 Rake $3
Board: [7s 5c 2h 9d Qc]
Seat 1: Zetoran didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Gerrard37 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: rockrollins (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: handorchris (small blind) showed [Kh 7c] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 5: Scuba1127 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: betyarb is sitting out
Seat 7: BoooomBaby7 showed [5h 5s] and won ($229.70) with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 8: Run You Over 22 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: kiwitintin didn't bet (folded)


This was my last hand at the table, and I really should have stuck around to win the rest of that guy's money. At one point he had $350 on the table, playing about 40% of his hands. I knew it would all be gone if he didn't leave soon.

I finished the session +$284, which was a nice bounce back from the bad sessions yesterday. I might start doing 14 tables over the next week and see how it goes. This session went smoothly, but I never got into multiple huge situations at the same time. I have some thoughts on random stuff I've been reading on poker blogs and what not, that I will try to stick into a post tomorrow. I may try to go play some live poker tomorrow, so I might have a report from that. Looking to have a big week coming up.

-Boooom