Work is very demanding right now, not much time to play or post. Moved all the technology in my firm's Ann Arbor, MI office this weekend. I did have a chance to sit in one more SNG this weekend and won my $1.10 SNG. This brings my total to $7.40. It was tempting to sit down and play a $5 SNG, but I resisted. I was playing some 6 person $5/$10 on Party at the same time. That made the $1 SNG seem almost silly, but it was more for pride than anything else! On the subject of $5/$10 Limit on Party on Sunday.... it seemed easy. I doubled my buy in in the first hour and then bled some of it off but still had a profitable day. It seemed towards the end that I kept getting rivered. A7 vs 73 with two sevens flopped. Can't blame the guy for staying in (and even raising, we capped the betting the last two rounds) but the 3 on the river really hurt. Had I won that pot....
Anyway, the SNG challenge was a dissapointment. I have never done well on the UB SNG's even though I prefer their structure, the UB interface, and the different types of SNGs they offer. I am not sure if it is a mental monkey, or there is that wide of a gap in skill between the average PP and UB player. I think not, but I cannot explain my dismal performance.
Looking forward to the Heads Up Challenge. I have not had time to read the other blogs in the past two weeks, but I am sure things will return to normal and I will get caught up.
Last, but pretty importantly, who do I send my $25 too?!?!?
Thanks for the fun over the past month fellow challengers. Even though I did not sit at any tables with you, it was fun railbirding and watching. Great bunch of guys!
Monday, August 08, 2005
Monday, August 01, 2005
I'm Back
**No Poker content**
Getting back into the "swing of things" is not much fun. Someone told me today that no vacation goes unpunished. How true!! I am writing this during the tail end of my first day back in the office since the 21st of July. What a day.... but, I feel lucky that I have a job to complain about. Catching up on Jordan's blog makes me thankful that I seem to have some job security. Waiting for these two computers to finish doing what they need to do, and then I will go home and let the poor dog go to the bathroom. While they crunch merrily along, let me catch up on my blog world.
I started my vacation with a bang. My firm had their Ohio Office Golf Outing at Rose's Run, a pretty nice and challenging golf course. It was a 4 person scramble and my team TORE IT UP!! We really played team golf, and were rewarded with a -8 on the front nine. We parred two holes and birdied (one eagle) the rest. The back nince was much tougher with many dog legs, blind shots and good bunker placement. We went -4 on the back for an amazing 60! We won handily (next closest team was a -6 with most teams right around par. It was sweet, I was driving well and putting out of my ass. It was a great day with plenty of beer and good company.
Geeked from my unusual golf course dominance, I drove home to finish packing and start the tortorous drive that lay ahead. Having sat in OBX, NC beach traffic once, I am in no rush to do it again anytime soon. Solution? Leave Ohio at 10PM and drive through the night. Stupid? maybe.... but I can sleep on the beach when I get there. Dangerous? Probably, but D is my middle initial and maybe it does stand for Danger. Done? You bet. We pulled into the Food Lion parking lot in Corolla, NC at 0945 hours the next morning. I drove from 2200 to 0330 (dropping the dog off at the in-laws at midnight). The wife woke up and handled 0330 to 0630 and then I finished it off (after a stop at the last Waffle House on the route, thank you GPS and Garmin).
If you have never been to the beach at the Outer Banks, I highly recommend it. I love the beach (as mentioned in my 50 Things) and I really like a beach without all the restrictions. You can bring alcohol, pets, radios, volleyballs, even 4x4's at the North end of the barrier island! If you have never driven on the beach, it is fun as hell. There are even some houses up there that you can only rent and get to if you have 4 wheel drive. It does not even need to be a truck, my Honda Pilot handled it fine after locking it into 4W. I was bouncing and sliding all over the place riding up over the dunes into the part with houses (note: there was only a few places that you could cross the dunes, this was one of them.. I was "treading lightly")
Since we could check into our rental house until 4PM, my plan was to clock some Zzzz's on the beach. We stopped at the only grocery store at the North end (Food Lion) and got some essentials (beer and ice) and drove up and onto the beach. Right where the road ends and you enter the sand, there was a wild horse just chilling! My wife was so excited she made me stop and grabbed the camera. The horse was sitting on the beach facing the ocean catching some rays I guess. When we came back later in the day he had gone.
Sleeping on the beach is the best....until you discover later that the little umbrella you brought does not block the UV rays! I was sporting a serious farmer's tan when I arrived and put on a sleeveless t shirt while I napped in the shade created by the umbrella. Stupid me thought that I did not need to put on sunblock since I was in the shade. I also sleep on my back with my hands interlocked under my head. My wife says I look cocky when I sleep, maybe she is right, but my sleep cockiness caused some seriously pink armpits. Ouch.
to be continued....
Getting back into the "swing of things" is not much fun. Someone told me today that no vacation goes unpunished. How true!! I am writing this during the tail end of my first day back in the office since the 21st of July. What a day.... but, I feel lucky that I have a job to complain about. Catching up on Jordan's blog makes me thankful that I seem to have some job security. Waiting for these two computers to finish doing what they need to do, and then I will go home and let the poor dog go to the bathroom. While they crunch merrily along, let me catch up on my blog world.
I started my vacation with a bang. My firm had their Ohio Office Golf Outing at Rose's Run, a pretty nice and challenging golf course. It was a 4 person scramble and my team TORE IT UP!! We really played team golf, and were rewarded with a -8 on the front nine. We parred two holes and birdied (one eagle) the rest. The back nince was much tougher with many dog legs, blind shots and good bunker placement. We went -4 on the back for an amazing 60! We won handily (next closest team was a -6 with most teams right around par. It was sweet, I was driving well and putting out of my ass. It was a great day with plenty of beer and good company.
Geeked from my unusual golf course dominance, I drove home to finish packing and start the tortorous drive that lay ahead. Having sat in OBX, NC beach traffic once, I am in no rush to do it again anytime soon. Solution? Leave Ohio at 10PM and drive through the night. Stupid? maybe.... but I can sleep on the beach when I get there. Dangerous? Probably, but D is my middle initial and maybe it does stand for Danger. Done? You bet. We pulled into the Food Lion parking lot in Corolla, NC at 0945 hours the next morning. I drove from 2200 to 0330 (dropping the dog off at the in-laws at midnight). The wife woke up and handled 0330 to 0630 and then I finished it off (after a stop at the last Waffle House on the route, thank you GPS and Garmin).
If you have never been to the beach at the Outer Banks, I highly recommend it. I love the beach (as mentioned in my 50 Things) and I really like a beach without all the restrictions. You can bring alcohol, pets, radios, volleyballs, even 4x4's at the North end of the barrier island! If you have never driven on the beach, it is fun as hell. There are even some houses up there that you can only rent and get to if you have 4 wheel drive. It does not even need to be a truck, my Honda Pilot handled it fine after locking it into 4W. I was bouncing and sliding all over the place riding up over the dunes into the part with houses (note: there was only a few places that you could cross the dunes, this was one of them.. I was "treading lightly")
Since we could check into our rental house until 4PM, my plan was to clock some Zzzz's on the beach. We stopped at the only grocery store at the North end (Food Lion) and got some essentials (beer and ice) and drove up and onto the beach. Right where the road ends and you enter the sand, there was a wild horse just chilling! My wife was so excited she made me stop and grabbed the camera. The horse was sitting on the beach facing the ocean catching some rays I guess. When we came back later in the day he had gone.
Sleeping on the beach is the best....until you discover later that the little umbrella you brought does not block the UV rays! I was sporting a serious farmer's tan when I arrived and put on a sleeveless t shirt while I napped in the shade created by the umbrella. Stupid me thought that I did not need to put on sunblock since I was in the shade. I also sleep on my back with my hands interlocked under my head. My wife says I look cocky when I sleep, maybe she is right, but my sleep cockiness caused some seriously pink armpits. Ouch.
to be continued....
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
50 Things
1. I cringe when people introduce me as Josh from Ohio. I am not sure why, but I have a mental image of Ohioans in my head and I am not that. I am East Coast, not Midwest.
2. I spent 3 years in Southern California. It was fun, but I would not want to settle down there.
3. I spent a year in Texas. It was fun, I might be able to settle down there.
4. I went to an all boys Catholic High School, Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland.
5. Unlike DNasty, I love computers and enjoy my job.
6. I have two younger brothers that still live in Maryland and I wish I lived closer to them.
7. My wife is a huge Steelers (Stillers) fan also. That is not the only reason I married her.
8. I have a Beagle named Copper and a Himilayan Persian cat named Zebus. They get along great.
9. I bought a convertible in 2001 because I thought it might answer the longing I had to ride a motorcycle. Let me save you $28k, it did not work.
10. Sometimes, I miss my time and the camaraderie of the Army. I think that our military branches are great institutions and the soldiers get more than their fair share of criticism. The military structure is like a pyramid, the few at the top that make the decisions and policy deserve the criticism, not PFC Velasquez who is actually out there doing it.
11. I loved working for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Despite the traffic and parking problems in DC, it was amazing to come around the bend on 295 each evening and see the Capitol unfold to your left. The Washington Monument, White House, Marine One choppering overhead. I really felt like I was where it was at.
12. My mother refused to let me play high school football. I am not sure if I ever forgave her.
13. My first car was a 1985 Plymouth Reliant that was given to me when my grandfather passed away. It had a vinyl bench front seat that made driving long distances in California fun. Can you say salt rings on your shorts and back of your T-shirt?
14. I met my wife in Ocean City, MD. We were both on vacation and she pinched my butt in a bar. "Seacrets"
15. I knew right away that there was something about this butt pincher and I broke things off with the "dancer" I was sort of seeing at the time. Best decision of my life.
16. It took me 10 years to finish my Bachelor's degree, but the Army paid for all of it. I graduated from the University of Akron. I am a Zip.
17. The best job I had growing up was landscaping. If there was enough money in it, I would do it today. You get to be outside, keeps you in shape, and Bobcats are fun as hell!
18. I was raised Catholic, but have deep issues with the institution of the Church as it exists today.
19. I ate lunch on top of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain of the Alps in Germany.
20. I don't feel like I am going to be 30 this year. I have no plans to get a tattoo like DNasty did.
21. If I did get a tattoo, it would be a Steelers emblem. I used to think it would be sweet to get the Dave Matthews Band Fire Dancer logo... I am not so sure now. See? That is why tattoos are risky.
22. My mother and father both rode motorcycles before they had me. Empirical evidence kids ruin perfectly good lives?
23. Despite #22, I love kids and am looking forward to 2 or 3 of my own.
24. I know that they are all going to be girls and will cause me to go prematurely gray. I have all brothers and the thought of daughters terrifies me. Feelings? Periods? Puppy Love? Oh man...
25. If I have daughters, they will understand football, cheer for the Steelers and make a man very happy some day.
26. My youngest brother already kicked the daughter thing off with my niece, Madison. I am looking forward to the week I will get to spend with her at the end of July. She is 14 months old.
27. The beach is my favorite place to vacation.
28. I promised DNasty that I would take a vacation and ride my motorcycle to Florida if he gets a bike when he moves down there.
29. I cannot verbalize the pleasure and excitement I get from riding my motorcycle.
30. You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
31. You meet nice people through poker blogs too.
32. DoubleAs was the first poker blog that I read. It was inspirational to improve my play and start blogging.
33. I enjoy poker for the different levels of stimuli it provides. I enjoy the strategy and competition. I enjoy the thrill of winning. I like winning money. I enjoy learning.
34. I currently do not enjoy Sit N Gos on Ultimate Bet. I have never had much success with them, but find the Party Poker SNGs very beatable, even though you start with almost half the chips you get on UB.
35. DNasty's wife blames me for him playing online poker and wanting a motorcycle. It is well placed blame. I blame DNasty for me playing SOCOM online on the PS2 and blogging.
36. My wife dreads fall when the new release of Madden Football comes out for PS2.
37. She looks forward to the football season because we tailgate for at least 4 Steelers home games each year, even if we do not have tickets. If we don't have tickets or get them from scalpers "dahntahn" we drive 15 minutes to her parents house and watch the game there.
38. I have seen the Steelers play at Ford Field, Heinz Field, Ravens Stadium, Browns Stadium, and will see them play at the Bengals stadium this year.
39. I only wear defensive players jersies. I love linebackers and that is the position that I would have wanted to play.
40. No football, but I was encouraged to play an instrument in grade and high school. I can play the saxophone and the flute.
41. I played the flute in grade school so I could sit next to Kate Nicodemus. In my 5th grade world, she was HOT!
42. Sitting next to her was as far as it went. I still have a flute. No band camp comments please.
43. I was moderately successful in soccer where I played defensive positions, fullback and eventually goalie.
44. I would not call myself athletic or fast, but I did run 2 miles in under 11 minutes for a PT test in the Army. 2 miles in 10:54 is my personal best.
45. Shooting the 120mm main gun of an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank is like nothing else in the world. The first time I sent a round down range, I popped wood. It is that intense.
46. If I am not playing poker online, SOCOM online, riding my motorcycle, or spending just enough time with my wife to keep her from leaving me, I love to read. Specifically Tom Clancy, crime thrillers, court room thrillers, Dale Brown, and international thrillers. I read pretty fast and can finish a good book in a day or two but I can never re-read one.
47. Growing up, I wanted to be a garbage man. They got to do all the stuff that my mom would not let me do: Ride hanging on the back of a truck, throw garbage around, etc. I would get up early on garbage days to watch them and my day was made if they pulled the lever that brought down the garbage compacter thing while in my view. Good times.
48. After I got over the garbageman fixation, I wanted to be a lawyer (my father passed the bar but is not in active practice) and then a firefighter. I wonder how many other people were inspired by the movie Backdraft?
49. If I get the chance to move back east, I would jump at it. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, DC, Philly all sound good to me.
50. I have been in the studio audience of the Price is Right twice, but have never made it to stage. Someday....
Hahaha - Even the spell checker agrees with me on #1. It suggested "heinous" for Ohioans.
2. I spent 3 years in Southern California. It was fun, but I would not want to settle down there.
3. I spent a year in Texas. It was fun, I might be able to settle down there.
4. I went to an all boys Catholic High School, Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Maryland.
5. Unlike DNasty, I love computers and enjoy my job.
6. I have two younger brothers that still live in Maryland and I wish I lived closer to them.
7. My wife is a huge Steelers (Stillers) fan also. That is not the only reason I married her.
8. I have a Beagle named Copper and a Himilayan Persian cat named Zebus. They get along great.
9. I bought a convertible in 2001 because I thought it might answer the longing I had to ride a motorcycle. Let me save you $28k, it did not work.
10. Sometimes, I miss my time and the camaraderie of the Army. I think that our military branches are great institutions and the soldiers get more than their fair share of criticism. The military structure is like a pyramid, the few at the top that make the decisions and policy deserve the criticism, not PFC Velasquez who is actually out there doing it.
11. I loved working for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Despite the traffic and parking problems in DC, it was amazing to come around the bend on 295 each evening and see the Capitol unfold to your left. The Washington Monument, White House, Marine One choppering overhead. I really felt like I was where it was at.
12. My mother refused to let me play high school football. I am not sure if I ever forgave her.
13. My first car was a 1985 Plymouth Reliant that was given to me when my grandfather passed away. It had a vinyl bench front seat that made driving long distances in California fun. Can you say salt rings on your shorts and back of your T-shirt?
14. I met my wife in Ocean City, MD. We were both on vacation and she pinched my butt in a bar. "Seacrets"
15. I knew right away that there was something about this butt pincher and I broke things off with the "dancer" I was sort of seeing at the time. Best decision of my life.
16. It took me 10 years to finish my Bachelor's degree, but the Army paid for all of it. I graduated from the University of Akron. I am a Zip.
17. The best job I had growing up was landscaping. If there was enough money in it, I would do it today. You get to be outside, keeps you in shape, and Bobcats are fun as hell!
18. I was raised Catholic, but have deep issues with the institution of the Church as it exists today.
19. I ate lunch on top of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain of the Alps in Germany.
20. I don't feel like I am going to be 30 this year. I have no plans to get a tattoo like DNasty did.
21. If I did get a tattoo, it would be a Steelers emblem. I used to think it would be sweet to get the Dave Matthews Band Fire Dancer logo... I am not so sure now. See? That is why tattoos are risky.
22. My mother and father both rode motorcycles before they had me. Empirical evidence kids ruin perfectly good lives?
23. Despite #22, I love kids and am looking forward to 2 or 3 of my own.
24. I know that they are all going to be girls and will cause me to go prematurely gray. I have all brothers and the thought of daughters terrifies me. Feelings? Periods? Puppy Love? Oh man...
25. If I have daughters, they will understand football, cheer for the Steelers and make a man very happy some day.
26. My youngest brother already kicked the daughter thing off with my niece, Madison. I am looking forward to the week I will get to spend with her at the end of July. She is 14 months old.
27. The beach is my favorite place to vacation.
28. I promised DNasty that I would take a vacation and ride my motorcycle to Florida if he gets a bike when he moves down there.
29. I cannot verbalize the pleasure and excitement I get from riding my motorcycle.
30. You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
31. You meet nice people through poker blogs too.
32. DoubleAs was the first poker blog that I read. It was inspirational to improve my play and start blogging.
33. I enjoy poker for the different levels of stimuli it provides. I enjoy the strategy and competition. I enjoy the thrill of winning. I like winning money. I enjoy learning.
34. I currently do not enjoy Sit N Gos on Ultimate Bet. I have never had much success with them, but find the Party Poker SNGs very beatable, even though you start with almost half the chips you get on UB.
35. DNasty's wife blames me for him playing online poker and wanting a motorcycle. It is well placed blame. I blame DNasty for me playing SOCOM online on the PS2 and blogging.
36. My wife dreads fall when the new release of Madden Football comes out for PS2.
37. She looks forward to the football season because we tailgate for at least 4 Steelers home games each year, even if we do not have tickets. If we don't have tickets or get them from scalpers "dahntahn" we drive 15 minutes to her parents house and watch the game there.
38. I have seen the Steelers play at Ford Field, Heinz Field, Ravens Stadium, Browns Stadium, and will see them play at the Bengals stadium this year.
39. I only wear defensive players jersies. I love linebackers and that is the position that I would have wanted to play.
40. No football, but I was encouraged to play an instrument in grade and high school. I can play the saxophone and the flute.
41. I played the flute in grade school so I could sit next to Kate Nicodemus. In my 5th grade world, she was HOT!
42. Sitting next to her was as far as it went. I still have a flute. No band camp comments please.
43. I was moderately successful in soccer where I played defensive positions, fullback and eventually goalie.
44. I would not call myself athletic or fast, but I did run 2 miles in under 11 minutes for a PT test in the Army. 2 miles in 10:54 is my personal best.
45. Shooting the 120mm main gun of an M1A1 Abrams main battle tank is like nothing else in the world. The first time I sent a round down range, I popped wood. It is that intense.
46. If I am not playing poker online, SOCOM online, riding my motorcycle, or spending just enough time with my wife to keep her from leaving me, I love to read. Specifically Tom Clancy, crime thrillers, court room thrillers, Dale Brown, and international thrillers. I read pretty fast and can finish a good book in a day or two but I can never re-read one.
47. Growing up, I wanted to be a garbage man. They got to do all the stuff that my mom would not let me do: Ride hanging on the back of a truck, throw garbage around, etc. I would get up early on garbage days to watch them and my day was made if they pulled the lever that brought down the garbage compacter thing while in my view. Good times.
48. After I got over the garbageman fixation, I wanted to be a lawyer (my father passed the bar but is not in active practice) and then a firefighter. I wonder how many other people were inspired by the movie Backdraft?
49. If I get the chance to move back east, I would jump at it. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, DC, Philly all sound good to me.
50. I have been in the studio audience of the Price is Right twice, but have never made it to stage. Someday....
Hahaha - Even the spell checker agrees with me on #1. It suggested "heinous" for Ohioans.
Monday, July 18, 2005
"Don't be skurred yet"
Drunken on my sudden affluence and success at $1 SNGs, I made a bold move to get back in this challenge and was bitch slapped right back into my cellar.
My $5 SNG ended with no cash and I am back in the single digits. After reaching a high of $10.30 today, I shut down UB (to upgrade my PT database to SQL) with a smoking 3.70 burning a hole in my virtual pocket. After my last bust out, I sat down at a $25 buy in NL table and doubled my stack in a few hands (slow played the nut flush that I flopped) and it kind of made the grinding at the $1 SNG seem silly, but I enjoy a challenge.
So, as my Missy Elliot inspired post title suggests, don't be scared yet...get your hair and nails did.
STeelerJosh
My $5 SNG ended with no cash and I am back in the single digits. After reaching a high of $10.30 today, I shut down UB (to upgrade my PT database to SQL) with a smoking 3.70 burning a hole in my virtual pocket. After my last bust out, I sat down at a $25 buy in NL table and doubled my stack in a few hands (slow played the nut flush that I flopped) and it kind of made the grinding at the $1 SNG seem silly, but I enjoy a challenge.
So, as my Missy Elliot inspired post title suggests, don't be scared yet...get your hair and nails did.
STeelerJosh
I read BG's drunken ranting post....
BUT.... I had to share how my day was going today. I believe this is defined as a rush, I placed in 3/4 SnGs today. The last one I just won started with this on the first hand...
Hand #7166690-1 at TurboSnG-0004b (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 18/Jul/05 17:23:44
tru_juggalo is at seat 0 with 1500.
steelerjosh is at seat 1 with 1500.
kdt is at seat 2 with 1500.
pbart3 is at seat 3 with 1500.
scottieboy is at seat 4 with 1500.
strait jack is at seat 5 with 1500.
The button is at seat 5.
tru_juggalo posts the small blind of 10.
steelerjosh posts the big blind of 20.
tru_juggalo: -- --
steelerjosh: Jd 7c
kdt: -- --
pbart3: -- --
scottieboy: -- --
strait jack: -- --
Pre-flop:
It is checked to me in the BB
Flop (board: 9c Th 8c):
Cool, a flopped straight, but not the nut straight. Let's see what happens
tru_juggalo checks. steelerjosh bets 50. kdt folds.
scottieboy calls. strait jack raises to 100.
tru_juggalo calls. steelerjosh calls. scottieboy
calls.
Turn (board: 9c Th 8c 9s):
tru_juggalo checks. steelerjosh checks. scottieboy
checks. strait jack bets 95. tru_juggalo goes
all-in for 1380. steelerjosh goes all-in for 1380.
scottieboy folds. strait jack goes all-in for 1380.
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
tru_juggalo shows 9h Kc. Trip 9s, what I figured he had based on all in bet after turn
steelerjosh shows Jd 7c. hope it holds up..
strait jack shows 7s 6s. was really curious what he had... Yes!!
River (board: 9c Th 8c 9s 3h):
Showdown:
tru_juggalo has 9h Kc 9c Th 9s: three nines.
steelerjosh has Jd 7c 9c Th 8c: straight, jack high.
strait jack has 7s 6s 9c Th 8c: straight, ten high.
steelerjosh wins 4640 with straight, jack high.
I played aggressively and went on to win my second $1.10 SnG of the day.
Hand #7166690-1 at TurboSnG-0004b (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 18/Jul/05 17:23:44
tru_juggalo is at seat 0 with 1500.
steelerjosh is at seat 1 with 1500.
kdt is at seat 2 with 1500.
pbart3 is at seat 3 with 1500.
scottieboy is at seat 4 with 1500.
strait jack is at seat 5 with 1500.
The button is at seat 5.
tru_juggalo posts the small blind of 10.
steelerjosh posts the big blind of 20.
tru_juggalo: -- --
steelerjosh: Jd 7c
kdt: -- --
pbart3: -- --
scottieboy: -- --
strait jack: -- --
Pre-flop:
It is checked to me in the BB
Flop (board: 9c Th 8c):
Cool, a flopped straight, but not the nut straight. Let's see what happens
tru_juggalo checks. steelerjosh bets 50. kdt folds.
scottieboy calls. strait jack raises to 100.
tru_juggalo calls. steelerjosh calls. scottieboy
calls.
Turn (board: 9c Th 8c 9s):
tru_juggalo checks. steelerjosh checks. scottieboy
checks. strait jack bets 95. tru_juggalo goes
all-in for 1380. steelerjosh goes all-in for 1380.
scottieboy folds. strait jack goes all-in for 1380.
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
tru_juggalo shows 9h Kc. Trip 9s, what I figured he had based on all in bet after turn
steelerjosh shows Jd 7c. hope it holds up..
strait jack shows 7s 6s. was really curious what he had... Yes!!
River (board: 9c Th 8c 9s 3h):
Showdown:
tru_juggalo has 9h Kc 9c Th 9s: three nines.
steelerjosh has Jd 7c 9c Th 8c: straight, jack high.
strait jack has 7s 6s 9c Th 8c: straight, ten high.
steelerjosh wins 4640 with straight, jack high.
I played aggressively and went on to win my second $1.10 SnG of the day.
Friday, July 15, 2005
It's Over Johnny
As much as it irritates me to allow DNasty's prediction to come true, for all intents and purposes I am done. Get me out of this oven.
I have $4.50 left and I have been remanded to the 6th level of hell known as $1 SNGs. Because I am a fierce competitor, I am not going to quit and I am going to see if I can turn the $4.50 back into something playable, but the realist in me knows it is a long shot.
Let me acknowledge that this has not been fun. I am reading other posts and watching other players in the challenge hit flops, draws, and put on (and receive) a few bad beats. I have not had one of those go in my favor this week. I have been playing from a strategically inferior position (on button when chip leader is in the BB) for most of the SNGs and I did not have the chip lead once in any of them. I am at work right now, so I don't have the spreadsheet in front of me for the tally, but it was probably under 10. I played mostly $5 SNGs with 2-3 $10. I made the money once. One time. Uno. That is ridiculous.
Sneaky DNasty has been running poker tracker on me whenever he sees me on, and according to his comment the other day, my VP$IP is only 2% more than his and we are both under 20%. Playing too loose? Nope. My showdown % is bad because of the three times I went to showdown that he was tracking, two were All-Ins that put me out. One was a desperation all in, the other was a bad beat. I don't think that the issue is there either.
I feel strongly that I have been on the negative side of variance this week, and it has not been pleasant. I am not hitting flops and have to work very hard to progress into the money on these SNGs. Getting close to the bubble is not too hard, my tight play usually ensures me a shot and that I will outlast the 2-3 maniacs that are invariably at the table. I have not reviewed my poker tracker stats yet to see if I can find some holes to plug (will do that soon) so this is gut feeling.
The one thing I think that I need to consider is my willingness to abandon a hand. This was highlighted last night in the middle round of my last SNG. I had 66 on the button and raised around 3XBB (it was folded around to me, 6 person SNG) The BB calls and the flop comes KKx. BB checks, I make a pot sized bet (around 500) and he goes over the top of me all in. I think for a second, If I had a K, would I play it that way? Maybe. Can I rule a K out of his hand? No. Can my hand improve enough to beat what he may have? Maybe, but not worth all my chips, I still have enough to stay competitive. I fold, doubting a 6 would have come on turn or river and he shows A8. "Nice bet" I type as I mucked the had that was ahead. Should I have played this differently? The obvious answer now is yes, (although I am not too enthused about getting all my chips in the middle) but I don't know if I would play it differently when the same or similar position occurs again.
Could the answer be don't play 66? I suppose. Perhaps the only way to play that is hard, all in pre flop when you are on the button or not at all. I thought in the situation I was in, I made the right choice. Play it like a premium hand and most often, the BB is defending or has a halfway decent hand (he did not re raise, just completed) and will fold to the obvious strength I was showing. Perhaps this guy was a real gambler, or sensed a move being made. From my perspective, I was not making a move, perhaps a semi move, but that is a ballsy bet with A8o given the board and my previous bets. I doubt he had a read on me yet, it was perhaps 20 hands into a 6 person turbo SNG. I had not been involved in that many pots.
The other "weakness"? I potentially see in my game right now is almost a complete lack of pure bluffing. I think that this is stemming from the previous two months of limit hold 'em where you will almost always see a showdown. Perhaps I did not make the gear switch that was necessary for NL.
This is all a learning experience, I am going to keep slogging forward, but I am pretty frustrated right now. After I complete the run I am going to attempt with my $4.50, or perhaps during, but with separate accounting, I am going to play the larger buy in SNGs like I would have been were I still in the challenge. My hypothesis is that I will improve, the streak of no monies and bubble outs will end and I would have been competitive. I need to prove this to myself.
So, I will still see all of you and play with you in the next month, but I am probably not a threat to any of you other than playing spoiler when I knock you out of the SNGs that I will still be playing!
GL all, sorry I have not been more competitive.
I have $4.50 left and I have been remanded to the 6th level of hell known as $1 SNGs. Because I am a fierce competitor, I am not going to quit and I am going to see if I can turn the $4.50 back into something playable, but the realist in me knows it is a long shot.
Let me acknowledge that this has not been fun. I am reading other posts and watching other players in the challenge hit flops, draws, and put on (and receive) a few bad beats. I have not had one of those go in my favor this week. I have been playing from a strategically inferior position (on button when chip leader is in the BB) for most of the SNGs and I did not have the chip lead once in any of them. I am at work right now, so I don't have the spreadsheet in front of me for the tally, but it was probably under 10. I played mostly $5 SNGs with 2-3 $10. I made the money once. One time. Uno. That is ridiculous.
Sneaky DNasty has been running poker tracker on me whenever he sees me on, and according to his comment the other day, my VP$IP is only 2% more than his and we are both under 20%. Playing too loose? Nope. My showdown % is bad because of the three times I went to showdown that he was tracking, two were All-Ins that put me out. One was a desperation all in, the other was a bad beat. I don't think that the issue is there either.
I feel strongly that I have been on the negative side of variance this week, and it has not been pleasant. I am not hitting flops and have to work very hard to progress into the money on these SNGs. Getting close to the bubble is not too hard, my tight play usually ensures me a shot and that I will outlast the 2-3 maniacs that are invariably at the table. I have not reviewed my poker tracker stats yet to see if I can find some holes to plug (will do that soon) so this is gut feeling.
The one thing I think that I need to consider is my willingness to abandon a hand. This was highlighted last night in the middle round of my last SNG. I had 66 on the button and raised around 3XBB (it was folded around to me, 6 person SNG) The BB calls and the flop comes KKx. BB checks, I make a pot sized bet (around 500) and he goes over the top of me all in. I think for a second, If I had a K, would I play it that way? Maybe. Can I rule a K out of his hand? No. Can my hand improve enough to beat what he may have? Maybe, but not worth all my chips, I still have enough to stay competitive. I fold, doubting a 6 would have come on turn or river and he shows A8. "Nice bet" I type as I mucked the had that was ahead. Should I have played this differently? The obvious answer now is yes, (although I am not too enthused about getting all my chips in the middle) but I don't know if I would play it differently when the same or similar position occurs again.
Could the answer be don't play 66? I suppose. Perhaps the only way to play that is hard, all in pre flop when you are on the button or not at all. I thought in the situation I was in, I made the right choice. Play it like a premium hand and most often, the BB is defending or has a halfway decent hand (he did not re raise, just completed) and will fold to the obvious strength I was showing. Perhaps this guy was a real gambler, or sensed a move being made. From my perspective, I was not making a move, perhaps a semi move, but that is a ballsy bet with A8o given the board and my previous bets. I doubt he had a read on me yet, it was perhaps 20 hands into a 6 person turbo SNG. I had not been involved in that many pots.
The other "weakness"? I potentially see in my game right now is almost a complete lack of pure bluffing. I think that this is stemming from the previous two months of limit hold 'em where you will almost always see a showdown. Perhaps I did not make the gear switch that was necessary for NL.
This is all a learning experience, I am going to keep slogging forward, but I am pretty frustrated right now. After I complete the run I am going to attempt with my $4.50, or perhaps during, but with separate accounting, I am going to play the larger buy in SNGs like I would have been were I still in the challenge. My hypothesis is that I will improve, the streak of no monies and bubble outs will end and I would have been competitive. I need to prove this to myself.
So, I will still see all of you and play with you in the next month, but I am probably not a threat to any of you other than playing spoiler when I knock you out of the SNGs that I will still be playing!
GL all, sorry I have not been more competitive.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Challenge Day 2
At least I am getting my money's worth in entertainment....
Quotes of the night -
HighonPoker - "Its easy with Aces",
HighonPoker - "But in my defense, you suck" - after catching a 4th Jack to beat a Full House.
TripJax - "Smells like hammer in here"
TripJax - "Oh Hammer, you forsake me" - After bubbling out with the hammer (I presume, I only saw that the winner won with pair of Aces)
I played like poo, lost a $5 SNG and bubbled out on a $10 SNG that I could not get my cards to match any flops. Played good, just not good enough.
Playing one more, if I do not money, in danger and will have to resort to low limits, or go out with a bang! I do not know if I could face the hell that I imagine $1 SNGs to be.
Finito - results day 2 are pretty ugly.
0/3. Bankroll is 26.50. Need to assess strategy. GL all.
Quotes of the night -
HighonPoker - "Its easy with Aces",
HighonPoker - "But in my defense, you suck" - after catching a 4th Jack to beat a Full House.
TripJax - "Smells like hammer in here"
TripJax - "Oh Hammer, you forsake me" - After bubbling out with the hammer (I presume, I only saw that the winner won with pair of Aces)
I played like poo, lost a $5 SNG and bubbled out on a $10 SNG that I could not get my cards to match any flops. Played good, just not good enough.
Playing one more, if I do not money, in danger and will have to resort to low limits, or go out with a bang! I do not know if I could face the hell that I imagine $1 SNGs to be.
Finito - results day 2 are pretty ugly.
0/3. Bankroll is 26.50. Need to assess strategy. GL all.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Challenge Day 1
Watched DNasty win a 6 person and I got railbirded by Gary, Jordan, Kipper and DNasty. Thanks for stopping by.
Played on 5+.50 6 person SNG, SNG-0007o
Busted out 4th in 80 + hands with the hammer. I knew I was a goner, but it was worth it to go down in style.
Going to try to play one more, my head was not really in this one as I was working on a partner's home computer from my Columbus office. His HD was wacked out and had over 2,000 infected files on it. I am about to see if it will boot now.
Update - played one more SNG tonight:
SnG-0010s (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 11/Jul/05 22:57:19
5 + .50 10 person SNG -
Watched GCOX and HighOnPoker play a SNG together and noticed that there was a familiar name at their table, they had ended up at a table with one the fish I have tagged on the UB buddylist. He was catching some cards, but I watched Jordan take a nice one from him with a better kicker. He was chip leader for awhile, but eventually went out 4th.
Rght after TripJax stoppedby, this happened. Booooo. I knew I had this punk.
Hand #7031524-90 at SnG-0010s (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 11/Jul/05 23:48:09
grind69 is at seat 1 with 4250.
steelerjosh is at seat 2 with 4525.
buggey is at seat 5 with 6225.
The button is at seat 1.
steelerjosh posts the small blind of 75.
buggey posts the big blind of 150.
steelerjosh: Qd Qc
Pre-flop:
grind69 raises to 300. steelerjosh re-raises to 1050.
buggey folds. grind69 calls.
Flop (board: 2h 6h 4s):
steelerjosh bets 2250. grind69 goes all-in for 3200.
steelerjosh calls.
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
grind69 shows As 4d. stupid ass, nice call of pre flop big raise and then a all in bluff attempt?
steelerjosh shows Qd Qc.
Turn (board: 2h 6h 4s Ad): DOH!! Lucky stupid ass. Need a Q here...
River (board: 2h 6h 4s Ad 3s):
Showdown:
grind69 has As 4d 6h 4s Ad: two pair, aces and fours.
steelerjosh has Qd Qc 6h 4s Ad: a pair of queens.
Hand #7031524-90 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
grind69 wins 8650 with two pair, aces and fours.
Piece of Monkey Piss!!! A4o?? Calls a Pot sized raise, and then goes all in on pair of fours? I guess I should be happy that guys like this are playing me in the money, but not much fun when they draw out on you. Consolation is I would play this hand the same the next time... and probably win.
Getting to bed, Jordan and Gary are both in the money on their table. This challenge should be fun!!
Net result after night one:
-1.00
Bankroll
54.00
Played on 5+.50 6 person SNG, SNG-0007o
Busted out 4th in 80 + hands with the hammer. I knew I was a goner, but it was worth it to go down in style.
Going to try to play one more, my head was not really in this one as I was working on a partner's home computer from my Columbus office. His HD was wacked out and had over 2,000 infected files on it. I am about to see if it will boot now.
Update - played one more SNG tonight:
SnG-0010s (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 11/Jul/05 22:57:19
5 + .50 10 person SNG -
Watched GCOX and HighOnPoker play a SNG together and noticed that there was a familiar name at their table, they had ended up at a table with one the fish I have tagged on the UB buddylist. He was catching some cards, but I watched Jordan take a nice one from him with a better kicker. He was chip leader for awhile, but eventually went out 4th.
Rght after TripJax stoppedby, this happened. Booooo. I knew I had this punk.
Hand #7031524-90 at SnG-0010s (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 11/Jul/05 23:48:09
grind69 is at seat 1 with 4250.
steelerjosh is at seat 2 with 4525.
buggey is at seat 5 with 6225.
The button is at seat 1.
steelerjosh posts the small blind of 75.
buggey posts the big blind of 150.
steelerjosh: Qd Qc
Pre-flop:
grind69 raises to 300. steelerjosh re-raises to 1050.
buggey folds. grind69 calls.
Flop (board: 2h 6h 4s):
steelerjosh bets 2250. grind69 goes all-in for 3200.
steelerjosh calls.
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
grind69 shows As 4d. stupid ass, nice call of pre flop big raise and then a all in bluff attempt?
steelerjosh shows Qd Qc.
Turn (board: 2h 6h 4s Ad): DOH!! Lucky stupid ass. Need a Q here...
River (board: 2h 6h 4s Ad 3s):
Showdown:
grind69 has As 4d 6h 4s Ad: two pair, aces and fours.
steelerjosh has Qd Qc 6h 4s Ad: a pair of queens.
Hand #7031524-90 Summary:
No rake is taken for this hand.
grind69 wins 8650 with two pair, aces and fours.
Piece of Monkey Piss!!! A4o?? Calls a Pot sized raise, and then goes all in on pair of fours? I guess I should be happy that guys like this are playing me in the money, but not much fun when they draw out on you. Consolation is I would play this hand the same the next time... and probably win.
Getting to bed, Jordan and Gary are both in the money on their table. This challenge should be fun!!
Net result after night one:
-1.00
Bankroll
54.00
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Bubble Boy
I hope this is not a leading indicator of my performance in the SNG Challenge.
I played two SNGs tonight to test the waters on UB. I have had great success on PP with SNGs, but success on UB has remained elusive.
It continues. I bubbled out of a $50+5 6 person Turbo with two bad beats in a series of 5 hands... the final nail in the coffin was my AK all in losing to J9 soooted. He made a flush and a straight on the river, costing me a shot at $210, or a for sure $90. Damn.
Rocky like, I picked myself of off the canvas with a standing 8 count and entered a 10+1 MTT SNG. I steadily chipped up, hovering in the top 2 or three the whole tourney. Final table, I am playing tight, not getting too many cards. My seat was the button when the chip leader was in the BB. I did not like that, it tempered my attempts to steal, he had at least a 2-1 chip advantage and I did not want to go out on a silly steal attempt. I folded a big hand with 4 left (3 pay) against what I am pretty sure was pocket AA or KK. The BB reraised my pre-flop 1.5X BB raise with a min raise. I had KJ hearts and called. The flop came xxJ with one heart and I bet pot. He came over the top all in and I folded. This left me with ~2600 chips with the leader stacking over 12000. Tough row to hoe.... He took me out on a semi-steal attempt with K8s. I pushed all in preflop and he called with KQo and caught a K and a Q on the flop. I was basically drawing dead with the rainbow flop. Yup, IGHN. Once again on the outside looking in.
What can I take from this? Investment $66.00. Loss $66.00. Bubble boy on both SNGs. Besides an opportunity to whine, I suppose I can be proud that I was only All-in the two hands that I lost (one tenet of doing well in things seems to be avoiding the coin flips) and I was in striking distance of making good money in both tournies. Can I chalk this up to bad luck? Tourney 1 yes. Tourney 2, not really. I knew that K8s is not a good hand to push with, I was really hoping it would be folded to me. In retrospect, a short stack all in bet into the chip leader in the BB is probably going to be called. It was bad luck to be betting into his massive pile the whole final table, but I should be good enough to handle that.
Overall, I feel like I played solid, but, losing poker tonight. Perhaps this means that if I keep it up, good things will happen in this challenge. Probably not, but here is to hope!
On a blog excuse tip, I have been out of town for work and vacation for the past two weeks and blogging has not been a priority nor has poker. I am headed out for another week's vacation at the end of this month to the Outer Banks, NC..... but I think the house upgraded to high speed wireless since we were there last year. The wife is going to be pissed!!!!!!
GL all in the challenge, I hope I can make it competitive.
STeelerJosh
I played two SNGs tonight to test the waters on UB. I have had great success on PP with SNGs, but success on UB has remained elusive.
It continues. I bubbled out of a $50+5 6 person Turbo with two bad beats in a series of 5 hands... the final nail in the coffin was my AK all in losing to J9 soooted. He made a flush and a straight on the river, costing me a shot at $210, or a for sure $90. Damn.
Rocky like, I picked myself of off the canvas with a standing 8 count and entered a 10+1 MTT SNG. I steadily chipped up, hovering in the top 2 or three the whole tourney. Final table, I am playing tight, not getting too many cards. My seat was the button when the chip leader was in the BB. I did not like that, it tempered my attempts to steal, he had at least a 2-1 chip advantage and I did not want to go out on a silly steal attempt. I folded a big hand with 4 left (3 pay) against what I am pretty sure was pocket AA or KK. The BB reraised my pre-flop 1.5X BB raise with a min raise. I had KJ hearts and called. The flop came xxJ with one heart and I bet pot. He came over the top all in and I folded. This left me with ~2600 chips with the leader stacking over 12000. Tough row to hoe.... He took me out on a semi-steal attempt with K8s. I pushed all in preflop and he called with KQo and caught a K and a Q on the flop. I was basically drawing dead with the rainbow flop. Yup, IGHN. Once again on the outside looking in.
What can I take from this? Investment $66.00. Loss $66.00. Bubble boy on both SNGs. Besides an opportunity to whine, I suppose I can be proud that I was only All-in the two hands that I lost (one tenet of doing well in things seems to be avoiding the coin flips) and I was in striking distance of making good money in both tournies. Can I chalk this up to bad luck? Tourney 1 yes. Tourney 2, not really. I knew that K8s is not a good hand to push with, I was really hoping it would be folded to me. In retrospect, a short stack all in bet into the chip leader in the BB is probably going to be called. It was bad luck to be betting into his massive pile the whole final table, but I should be good enough to handle that.
Overall, I feel like I played solid, but, losing poker tonight. Perhaps this means that if I keep it up, good things will happen in this challenge. Probably not, but here is to hope!
On a blog excuse tip, I have been out of town for work and vacation for the past two weeks and blogging has not been a priority nor has poker. I am headed out for another week's vacation at the end of this month to the Outer Banks, NC..... but I think the house upgraded to high speed wireless since we were there last year. The wife is going to be pissed!!!!!!
GL all in the challenge, I hope I can make it competitive.
STeelerJosh
Friday, July 01, 2005
'Nuff Said
Some nights this game makes me want to puke
**** Hand History for Game 2294067103 *****
$50 NL Hold'em - Friday, July 01, 19:10:59 EDT 2005
Table Table 55524 (6 max) (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Backscatter ( $24.55 )
Seat 2: spdad ( $47.5 )
Seat 4: Cap_Betting ( $34.8 )
Seat 5: CoronaGold ( $95.4 )
Seat 6: JoggaJo ( $34.65 )
Seat 3: STeelerJosh ( $34.25 )
CoronaGold posts small blind [$0.25].
JoggaJo posts big blind [$0.5].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to STeelerJosh [ 8s Ks ]
Backscatter folds.
spdad folds.
STeelerJosh raises [$2].
CoronaGold folds.
JoggaJo calls [$1.5].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ac, Js, 9s ]
JoggaJo checks.
STeelerJosh bets [$2].
JoggaJo calls [$2].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]
JoggaJo checks.
STeelerJosh bets [$4].
JoggaJo raises [$10].
STeelerJosh raises [$16].
JoggaJo is all-In [$20.65]
STeelerJosh is all-In [$10.25]
** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
STeelerJosh shows [ 8s, Ks ] a flush, king high.
JoggaJo shows [ 9d, 9c ] a full house, Nines full of jacks.
JoggaJo wins $0.4 from side pot #1 with a full house, Nines full of jacks.
JoggaJo wins $66.75 from the main pot with a full house, Nines full of jacks.
STeelerJosh - "F-ing River"
**** Hand History for Game 2294067103 *****
$50 NL Hold'em - Friday, July 01, 19:10:59 EDT 2005
Table Table 55524 (6 max) (No DP) (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Backscatter ( $24.55 )
Seat 2: spdad ( $47.5 )
Seat 4: Cap_Betting ( $34.8 )
Seat 5: CoronaGold ( $95.4 )
Seat 6: JoggaJo ( $34.65 )
Seat 3: STeelerJosh ( $34.25 )
CoronaGold posts small blind [$0.25].
JoggaJo posts big blind [$0.5].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to STeelerJosh [ 8s Ks ]
Backscatter folds.
spdad folds.
STeelerJosh raises [$2].
CoronaGold folds.
JoggaJo calls [$1.5].
** Dealing Flop ** [ Ac, Js, 9s ]
JoggaJo checks.
STeelerJosh bets [$2].
JoggaJo calls [$2].
** Dealing Turn ** [ 7s ]
JoggaJo checks.
STeelerJosh bets [$4].
JoggaJo raises [$10].
STeelerJosh raises [$16].
JoggaJo is all-In [$20.65]
STeelerJosh is all-In [$10.25]
** Dealing River ** [ Jd ]
STeelerJosh shows [ 8s, Ks ] a flush, king high.
JoggaJo shows [ 9d, 9c ] a full house, Nines full of jacks.
JoggaJo wins $0.4 from side pot #1 with a full house, Nines full of jacks.
JoggaJo wins $66.75 from the main pot with a full house, Nines full of jacks.
STeelerJosh - "F-ing River"
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Royal Vegas Poker
Have not had a chance to play much online poker this week. I did get some 1/2 NL at Greektown Casino in Detroit. It was going well until I ran into slowplayed AA. The table had been very tight, so I guess I should not have been so surprised... but I would have loved to have sucked out on him for slowplaying. My KJo hit a J on the flop and his raise of $30 after a call preflop from EP did not worry me when I had TP and a good kicker. I thought the bet was odd, maybe he had a J so I pushed all in. I had him covered, but it ate my profits and dipped into the bankroll when he showed AA and I did not improve. Fun time nonetheles.
Lastly, I am proud of my bankroll on Royal Vegas Poker. In comparison to DNasty's gain, it pales, but I turned a free $10 into over $200 so far and it seems that my losing sessions there are far and in between. I have found that I really enjoy the 5 person SNG they offer. The time investment is minimal and the payout structure favors the tighter player. 3 places pay, third pays the buy-in minus the fee. (i.e. a $50+5 pays $50 for 3rd) I have only busted out of one tourney (4th) and have placed second in a bunch winning 1 or 2. It keeps the bankroll headed up, a good thing as far as I am concerned. It is also a change of pace from the Limit Grind Challenge. I have been slacking in that because I have been winning on Royal Vegas. A few bad trips there and I am sure I will be back on UB at work. As DNasty and HighOnPoker draw near the end if their challenge, my money is on Jordan. He seems to be playing more than D and I can see the same feelings in his posts that where in mine before I hit the 1/2 brick wall. I hope his experience is different, but if it is similar, D might have a chance still. Good luck to both of you.
Lastly, I am proud of my bankroll on Royal Vegas Poker. In comparison to DNasty's gain, it pales, but I turned a free $10 into over $200 so far and it seems that my losing sessions there are far and in between. I have found that I really enjoy the 5 person SNG they offer. The time investment is minimal and the payout structure favors the tighter player. 3 places pay, third pays the buy-in minus the fee. (i.e. a $50+5 pays $50 for 3rd) I have only busted out of one tourney (4th) and have placed second in a bunch winning 1 or 2. It keeps the bankroll headed up, a good thing as far as I am concerned. It is also a change of pace from the Limit Grind Challenge. I have been slacking in that because I have been winning on Royal Vegas. A few bad trips there and I am sure I will be back on UB at work. As DNasty and HighOnPoker draw near the end if their challenge, my money is on Jordan. He seems to be playing more than D and I can see the same feelings in his posts that where in mine before I hit the 1/2 brick wall. I hope his experience is different, but if it is similar, D might have a chance still. Good luck to both of you.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Royal Vegas Poker Tournament
25+2.50 Entry for a 4,000 guaranteed
176 players
Before I get into the tourney, this hand happened early and it was painful to watch.
Look at this horrendous bad beat. A one outer!
> Game # 392,138,709 starting.
> Dealing Hole Cards
> rick047422 called for 30
> pjnow99 called for 30
> sanderfr called for 30
> rickytrickyt called for 30
> Jonkeboy called for 15
> STelerJosh checked
> Dealing the Flop(A23)
> rick047422 bet for 30
> pjnow99 folded
> sanderfr raised for 150
> rickytrickyt folded
> Jonkeboy raised for 270
> STelerJosh folded
> rick047422 went all-in for 1,060
> sanderfr folded
> Jonkeboy went all-in for 790
> Extra chips returned to rick047422, 30
Both Players flip. Jonkeboy has a dominating 33 for a set and rick has 22 for the under set.
> Dealing the turn(9)
> Dealing the river(2)
> rick047422 wins 2,450 with Four of a Kind, Deuces
> Jonkeboy has left the tournament in 144th place
Trip 3's over trip 2's and a 2 falls on the river. Wow.
[Observer]Jonkeboy> is it for real?
STelerJosh> ouch
Here is my tournament log, last time I tried this, it went awry mid way through. It helps keep me focused, so I tried it again.
Level 1 10/20 Blinds: Played one hand AQo, folded to my raise. Won the blinds
Level 2 15/30 Blinds: No hands played. 1,470 chips
Level 3 25/50 Blinds: KK one seat before button, raise 200 (Pot), one short stack reraise all in 200. I Call. KK vs A5o. A on flop, I am down to 945 chips 98 of 109 remaining. Need some card help here.. Damn it. A7o in SB and complete for three handed. Fold to big river bet. Next Hand, AA on Button, AA vs QQ. They hold up. Whew. 1,915 chips. Two hands later, 99. Raise to 150. No callers. 1,945 chips. 57 out of 93.
Level 4 50/100 Blinds: AJo in BB. 2,695 chips. Still running middle to bottom of pack. Avg. Stack is 3,277. 45 out of 80 players. AJs, raise to 400, no callers. Win blinds. 2,795. Large stack is 17,755. Q7 in BB, flop is A77. Check, and raise 1170. I hope someone has that A. I call the all in bet (made by an A I hope). Dolla Dolla, yup, I am ahead. Turn is another 7 for overkill. The Quads get me to 5,890. 11th out of 72. Try to steal short stack blind and he reraises all in. Lose 200. 5,690.
Level 5 75/150 Blinds: Start level 10 out of 71. Fold QJs two hands in a row. Glad I did, both times someone else went all in. Wouldn't mind seeing a cheap flop with that, but.... AJs raise 600. Short stack pushes all in. Complete for 290. AJs vs 88. Turn a J and 6,805 chips now. Still in 10th with 67 remaining. Chip Leader just sat down at my table with 17k in chips, Q4 in BB, check and flop Q4x. Bet 450, take it down. 7,105. 12 out of 64. The top 20 pays. Work to do. Stay tight and aggressive. Avoid tangling with chip leader unless I have the nuts. Play J9 from BB when checked to me and F Up with a OESD on the flop. Don't improve, pair of 10 beats my pair of 9. 5,605 chips at break, 17 out of 55. Damn. I am nervous. Grab a glass of water and crank up the Dave Matthews. Wish myself luck cuz the dog and cat cannot and, this is for you DNasty...."The wife is out of town". Have to admit, I am thinking of DNasty and his first tournament win on here. I would be pleased with a final table seat, cannot imagine winning. I don't know how D does it. Impressive that he has cashed over 2k in two tourney final tables. Go D Go.
Level 6 100/200 Blinds: Fold K10s reluctantly. I don't know why that hand looked good to me and required a second thought. Glad I folded, two players all in AK vs AJ. AK wins and takes second in chips. I have some big stacks at my table. Wow, 2 hands later, K10s again. (Hearts both times.) Fold easier this time. 15 out of 44, stack is below 6k average - 5,330. AKo, raise to 800. xK9 flop. I raise to 1,200, reraised to 2,400. call. Turn is an A, I push all in. Caller has K9. I double and have 11,160. 8 out of 39. Fold pocket 66 when out of position.
Level 7 150/300 Blinds: Chip leader is now 25,615....I have 10,860. 8/36. Drop to 11/32, no hands this level yet. 4 mins remaining. 9/30 as level 7 expires without playing a hand.
Level 8 200/400 Blinds: 55 on the button, raised in front of me. I fold avoiding a run in with KK. Whew! Fold K10o without even thinking about it. I still have enough chips to wait for the right time. 13/26 with 9,810 chips. String of crap cards. Try to steal with 33, big stack bullies me all in. Fold. 7,610 chips. This guy is really pushing hard. 14/24, hope I get some cards soon. 16/23. Come on cards. I think I will be called no matter how much I push in. Will have to get lucky or just get by. So close, almost two tables. Patience Josh, Patience. You will get you AA beat by 72 anyway! Relax!
Level 9 300/600 Blinds. AQo first hand, my favorite hand. Beat an all in by KK with A on flop. We were all in pre flop. Whew again. 15,520 chips. 6/23 Starting Hand for Hand Play. 6/22, top 20 pay. Fold KJs... wanted to call. Getting better at this discipline thing. Would have won, but table bully is making it next to impossible to see a cheap flop. Can't blame him, but it can get frustrating. K9s in BB. It is folded to me, amazing. I get my blind back. 15,220 after the blinds pass. 8/22. Come on bubble, pop!!! I also just noticed that I have not moved tables the whole game. I like that. 9/22 Come on short stacks, catch some nice hole cards. Short stack is 585. High is 27k. KQo on button. Fold to 2k bet. Damn bully is in the BB and I cannot be sure he will not push all in. Would have liked to call. 9/22 with 14,320 as we get into level 10.
Level 10 400/800 Blinds, Short stacks still hanging tough. I am not playing a hand unless I am in the money now. They have to go soon, right? Right? 9/21. One more. 9 out of 20, in the money....honey! Next goal is to make it to the top 5. The money starts getting nice there. Sweet! The bully just busted out. He was a Swedish A-Hole with the screenname "VildBill" Then he spammed the chat. I had trouble seeing what he busted out with. His 66 vs 9x. Board of 933 when he pushed all in on the turn. Bye Bye!! 3 mins left in level 10 and I am 10/17. Was just tempted by QJ suited....Resisted. A4o in the BB. Fold to 2,400 raise from MP. 13,120 in chips, 10/17 as we get into the second break. 12AM here, starting to feel the day I had. Rode ST down to a GoldWing event in Ashland, OH with buddy that rides a wing. Mowed the lawn before it rained. Going to go get some more water.
Level 11 500/1000 Blinds ...Ouch!, No need to rush though, I can do several orbits before I get desperate, and I may even get to keep my blinds now and then. Tempted to steal, but do not want to bust out on a stupid steal. Uh Oh, AKs in the SB. Stack o chips to my left... should I push? I do and then have to call an all in by smaller stack. AK vs AJ. I hold up. 19,760 in chips. 7/15 No stupid shit Josh. Just watched K10 bust AA, not as bad as first bad beat. K on the flop, 10 on the river. Ouch. 8/14. Steal the blinds with AJo. 19,760. 2:30 left in level 11. 8/14 with 18,260 in chips. Fold AJo to 4xBB raise. Had position, gonna wait a little longer as I have just moved below average stack of 19k. Last hand of the level is the Hammer in the BB!! Folded to me and I show. That seems to be a good omen.
Level 12 600/1200 Blinds: I start the level 8/13 with 18k in chips. Folding good hands is killing me, but I know that I will have to pick one to stand on eventually. Just folded A10s to a raise from EP and the button went all in with AK. Fortuitous raise and fold. Want to try steal, but the BB has a grudge against me and more chips. I doubled up with my AK vs his K9 earlier. May have to wait to see if we are moved before I make any SB moves. 8/12 and falling farther below average. Chip leader is 46k. I have 16k and no cards in position. These blinds are starting to really pinch. 8/11. Need a hand here. 9/11, 12K chips. Steal blind from grudge buddy. 14.5k in chips. 1 min in level left, 8/11. 99 in the BB. Win without showing last hand of level.
Level 13 800/1,600 Blinds: Start with 22.9k 5/11. Still below average in chip count. A10 all in vs Q 10 with 10 on board. Sweet! Board gets trips and we split. Booo. 6/10 after I make a few bucks with AKs. 26k in chips. 9 players left. Excitement is building. Still have the feeling like it will go horribly wrong... 5/9. Goal is reachable. If I make 5, will shoot for 1. Come on Dave Matthews, get me through this.... 1 min left in this level. Holy crap, how much higher can the blinds get?
Level 14 1,000/2,000 Blinds: Start the level 5/9 with 24k in chips. AKo in the BB. Making a move. Dumbass player pushes me out of pot, we both called a short stack. The short stack ended up with quads so it was a moot point, but why not check it to the river? That is an unwritten rule in poker known by any tourney player worth a clay chip. Don't bet into a dry side pot. Idiot and when I asked him why and told him it was dumb move, the rail birds started chirping. Oh well. I am crippled now and will have to make a move with decent cards. Here they are, all in with 10 10. They same idiot that did not have the nuts and we tripled up the short stack makes another Donkey play. He finished me off after betting out another player by betting into dry side pot and gets lucky on the river. Almost had it:
> STelerJosh went all-in for 6,791.25
> millers132 folded
> amexos folded
> RonnyD folded
[Observer]reverend85> all in josh....make me and * proud!!!!!!!!!
> WolvesFI raised for 8,791.25
[Observer]skillsnils> aj..
> Harriis called for 4,791.25
> Dealing the Flop(8?6?6?)
> WolvesFI bet for 10,000
> Harriis folded
> Extra chips returned to WolvesFI, 10,000
> Dealing the turn(8?)
> Dealing the river(Q?)
> WolvesFI wins 29,373.75 with Two Pair, Queens over Eights
> STelerJosh has left the tournament in 8th place, winning $110.62
Dumb ass did it again. He got very lucky, I would have loved it if he had not gotten lucky and Harriis would have been able to beat me. I am amazed that I see that kind of donkey play at a final table. He then busted out two positions later. I can't believe he made it that far. He was only alive still because of a very lucky 4 on a river giving each of us a full house earlier at the final table. WolvesFI you stink.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my play and the amazing part is it is all profit. The $10 I started with on the site was free for installing the software. And I now have some seed money to try other tournaments. Overall, the play seems pretty weak on this site, a lot of European players, not sure if that is why. Will keep playing until the well is dry. Doing better on PoyalVegasPoker.com when compared to UB.
176 players
Before I get into the tourney, this hand happened early and it was painful to watch.
Look at this horrendous bad beat. A one outer!
> Game # 392,138,709 starting.
> Dealing Hole Cards
> rick047422 called for 30
> pjnow99 called for 30
> sanderfr called for 30
> rickytrickyt called for 30
> Jonkeboy called for 15
> STelerJosh checked
> Dealing the Flop(A23)
> rick047422 bet for 30
> pjnow99 folded
> sanderfr raised for 150
> rickytrickyt folded
> Jonkeboy raised for 270
> STelerJosh folded
> rick047422 went all-in for 1,060
> sanderfr folded
> Jonkeboy went all-in for 790
> Extra chips returned to rick047422, 30
Both Players flip. Jonkeboy has a dominating 33 for a set and rick has 22 for the under set.
> Dealing the turn(9)
> Dealing the river(2)
> rick047422 wins 2,450 with Four of a Kind, Deuces
> Jonkeboy has left the tournament in 144th place
Trip 3's over trip 2's and a 2 falls on the river. Wow.
[Observer]Jonkeboy> is it for real?
STelerJosh> ouch
Here is my tournament log, last time I tried this, it went awry mid way through. It helps keep me focused, so I tried it again.
Level 1 10/20 Blinds: Played one hand AQo, folded to my raise. Won the blinds
Level 2 15/30 Blinds: No hands played. 1,470 chips
Level 3 25/50 Blinds: KK one seat before button, raise 200 (Pot), one short stack reraise all in 200. I Call. KK vs A5o. A on flop, I am down to 945 chips 98 of 109 remaining. Need some card help here.. Damn it. A7o in SB and complete for three handed. Fold to big river bet. Next Hand, AA on Button, AA vs QQ. They hold up. Whew. 1,915 chips. Two hands later, 99. Raise to 150. No callers. 1,945 chips. 57 out of 93.
Level 4 50/100 Blinds: AJo in BB. 2,695 chips. Still running middle to bottom of pack. Avg. Stack is 3,277. 45 out of 80 players. AJs, raise to 400, no callers. Win blinds. 2,795. Large stack is 17,755. Q7 in BB, flop is A77. Check, and raise 1170. I hope someone has that A. I call the all in bet (made by an A I hope). Dolla Dolla, yup, I am ahead. Turn is another 7 for overkill. The Quads get me to 5,890. 11th out of 72. Try to steal short stack blind and he reraises all in. Lose 200. 5,690.
Level 5 75/150 Blinds: Start level 10 out of 71. Fold QJs two hands in a row. Glad I did, both times someone else went all in. Wouldn't mind seeing a cheap flop with that, but.... AJs raise 600. Short stack pushes all in. Complete for 290. AJs vs 88. Turn a J and 6,805 chips now. Still in 10th with 67 remaining. Chip Leader just sat down at my table with 17k in chips, Q4 in BB, check and flop Q4x. Bet 450, take it down. 7,105. 12 out of 64. The top 20 pays. Work to do. Stay tight and aggressive. Avoid tangling with chip leader unless I have the nuts. Play J9 from BB when checked to me and F Up with a OESD on the flop. Don't improve, pair of 10 beats my pair of 9. 5,605 chips at break, 17 out of 55. Damn. I am nervous. Grab a glass of water and crank up the Dave Matthews. Wish myself luck cuz the dog and cat cannot and, this is for you DNasty...."The wife is out of town". Have to admit, I am thinking of DNasty and his first tournament win on here. I would be pleased with a final table seat, cannot imagine winning. I don't know how D does it. Impressive that he has cashed over 2k in two tourney final tables. Go D Go.
Level 6 100/200 Blinds: Fold K10s reluctantly. I don't know why that hand looked good to me and required a second thought. Glad I folded, two players all in AK vs AJ. AK wins and takes second in chips. I have some big stacks at my table. Wow, 2 hands later, K10s again. (Hearts both times.) Fold easier this time. 15 out of 44, stack is below 6k average - 5,330. AKo, raise to 800. xK9 flop. I raise to 1,200, reraised to 2,400. call. Turn is an A, I push all in. Caller has K9. I double and have 11,160. 8 out of 39. Fold pocket 66 when out of position.
Level 7 150/300 Blinds: Chip leader is now 25,615....I have 10,860. 8/36. Drop to 11/32, no hands this level yet. 4 mins remaining. 9/30 as level 7 expires without playing a hand.
Level 8 200/400 Blinds: 55 on the button, raised in front of me. I fold avoiding a run in with KK. Whew! Fold K10o without even thinking about it. I still have enough chips to wait for the right time. 13/26 with 9,810 chips. String of crap cards. Try to steal with 33, big stack bullies me all in. Fold. 7,610 chips. This guy is really pushing hard. 14/24, hope I get some cards soon. 16/23. Come on cards. I think I will be called no matter how much I push in. Will have to get lucky or just get by. So close, almost two tables. Patience Josh, Patience. You will get you AA beat by 72 anyway! Relax!
Level 9 300/600 Blinds. AQo first hand, my favorite hand. Beat an all in by KK with A on flop. We were all in pre flop. Whew again. 15,520 chips. 6/23 Starting Hand for Hand Play. 6/22, top 20 pay. Fold KJs... wanted to call. Getting better at this discipline thing. Would have won, but table bully is making it next to impossible to see a cheap flop. Can't blame him, but it can get frustrating. K9s in BB. It is folded to me, amazing. I get my blind back. 15,220 after the blinds pass. 8/22. Come on bubble, pop!!! I also just noticed that I have not moved tables the whole game. I like that. 9/22 Come on short stacks, catch some nice hole cards. Short stack is 585. High is 27k. KQo on button. Fold to 2k bet. Damn bully is in the BB and I cannot be sure he will not push all in. Would have liked to call. 9/22 with 14,320 as we get into level 10.
Level 10 400/800 Blinds, Short stacks still hanging tough. I am not playing a hand unless I am in the money now. They have to go soon, right? Right? 9/21. One more. 9 out of 20, in the money....honey! Next goal is to make it to the top 5. The money starts getting nice there. Sweet! The bully just busted out. He was a Swedish A-Hole with the screenname "VildBill" Then he spammed the chat. I had trouble seeing what he busted out with. His 66 vs 9x. Board of 933 when he pushed all in on the turn. Bye Bye!! 3 mins left in level 10 and I am 10/17. Was just tempted by QJ suited....Resisted. A4o in the BB. Fold to 2,400 raise from MP. 13,120 in chips, 10/17 as we get into the second break. 12AM here, starting to feel the day I had. Rode ST down to a GoldWing event in Ashland, OH with buddy that rides a wing. Mowed the lawn before it rained. Going to go get some more water.
Level 11 500/1000 Blinds ...Ouch!, No need to rush though, I can do several orbits before I get desperate, and I may even get to keep my blinds now and then. Tempted to steal, but do not want to bust out on a stupid steal. Uh Oh, AKs in the SB. Stack o chips to my left... should I push? I do and then have to call an all in by smaller stack. AK vs AJ. I hold up. 19,760 in chips. 7/15 No stupid shit Josh. Just watched K10 bust AA, not as bad as first bad beat. K on the flop, 10 on the river. Ouch. 8/14. Steal the blinds with AJo. 19,760. 2:30 left in level 11. 8/14 with 18,260 in chips. Fold AJo to 4xBB raise. Had position, gonna wait a little longer as I have just moved below average stack of 19k. Last hand of the level is the Hammer in the BB!! Folded to me and I show. That seems to be a good omen.
Level 12 600/1200 Blinds: I start the level 8/13 with 18k in chips. Folding good hands is killing me, but I know that I will have to pick one to stand on eventually. Just folded A10s to a raise from EP and the button went all in with AK. Fortuitous raise and fold. Want to try steal, but the BB has a grudge against me and more chips. I doubled up with my AK vs his K9 earlier. May have to wait to see if we are moved before I make any SB moves. 8/12 and falling farther below average. Chip leader is 46k. I have 16k and no cards in position. These blinds are starting to really pinch. 8/11. Need a hand here. 9/11, 12K chips. Steal blind from grudge buddy. 14.5k in chips. 1 min in level left, 8/11. 99 in the BB. Win without showing last hand of level.
Level 13 800/1,600 Blinds: Start with 22.9k 5/11. Still below average in chip count. A10 all in vs Q 10 with 10 on board. Sweet! Board gets trips and we split. Booo. 6/10 after I make a few bucks with AKs. 26k in chips. 9 players left. Excitement is building. Still have the feeling like it will go horribly wrong... 5/9. Goal is reachable. If I make 5, will shoot for 1. Come on Dave Matthews, get me through this.... 1 min left in this level. Holy crap, how much higher can the blinds get?
Level 14 1,000/2,000 Blinds: Start the level 5/9 with 24k in chips. AKo in the BB. Making a move. Dumbass player pushes me out of pot, we both called a short stack. The short stack ended up with quads so it was a moot point, but why not check it to the river? That is an unwritten rule in poker known by any tourney player worth a clay chip. Don't bet into a dry side pot. Idiot and when I asked him why and told him it was dumb move, the rail birds started chirping. Oh well. I am crippled now and will have to make a move with decent cards. Here they are, all in with 10 10. They same idiot that did not have the nuts and we tripled up the short stack makes another Donkey play. He finished me off after betting out another player by betting into dry side pot and gets lucky on the river. Almost had it:
> STelerJosh went all-in for 6,791.25
> millers132 folded
> amexos folded
> RonnyD folded
[Observer]reverend85> all in josh....make me and * proud!!!!!!!!!
> WolvesFI raised for 8,791.25
[Observer]skillsnils> aj..
> Harriis called for 4,791.25
> Dealing the Flop(8?6?6?)
> WolvesFI bet for 10,000
> Harriis folded
> Extra chips returned to WolvesFI, 10,000
> Dealing the turn(8?)
> Dealing the river(Q?)
> WolvesFI wins 29,373.75 with Two Pair, Queens over Eights
> STelerJosh has left the tournament in 8th place, winning $110.62
Dumb ass did it again. He got very lucky, I would have loved it if he had not gotten lucky and Harriis would have been able to beat me. I am amazed that I see that kind of donkey play at a final table. He then busted out two positions later. I can't believe he made it that far. He was only alive still because of a very lucky 4 on a river giving each of us a full house earlier at the final table. WolvesFI you stink.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with my play and the amazing part is it is all profit. The $10 I started with on the site was free for installing the software. And I now have some seed money to try other tournaments. Overall, the play seems pretty weak on this site, a lot of European players, not sure if that is why. Will keep playing until the well is dry. Doing better on PoyalVegasPoker.com when compared to UB.
Friday, June 17, 2005
UB 1/2 = Kryptonite
It is a stretch to compare the Man of Steel to myself (Man of Too Much Pizza and Beer) but we both become powerless when exposed to a seemingly harmless object.
I cannot beat 1/2 on UB with any consistency. I find this frustrating because other levels have seemed pretty easy and the cards came often enough. I am not sure if it is my perception, or if I am not getting any cards at 1/2 and if I do, they miss the flop by a mile. Last night I paid off way too many times to the marked fish I had to my left. I chose the table because he was there and it turned out his luck was amazing. He was playing over half his hands (56% to be exact) and was very passive. I was playing tight aggressive and twice I got good hole cards in the SB and bet into his BB. The first time with AQo to his 7xo. I bet all the way to the river, he spikes a 7 on the river and takes the pot. It happens. The next time I have A6s in the SB and it is folded to me. I complete because I know that he will not raise and I want to see the flop. A6x rainbow. "Ha Ha", I think to myself. "I am not going to try any funny stuff, and I hope he caught a piece of that." I bet, he raises, I reraise and he completes. Turn is a rag. I bet, he calls. River is a 9, I bet, he raises. "Hmmm, no straight of flush draw on the board. He has to have two pair or was sitting on pocket 9's and made his set" I call with that bad feeling, but I cannot put it past him making a move with two pair or a single pair. Showdown he flips A9 to beat my flopped two pair of A6. I love it.
That was par for the course as I sat down with $90 and stood up with $70. Time to become a lower limit dweller again. I know that I will eventually beat this game, but it has become my nemesis for the time being.
STeelerJosh
I cannot beat 1/2 on UB with any consistency. I find this frustrating because other levels have seemed pretty easy and the cards came often enough. I am not sure if it is my perception, or if I am not getting any cards at 1/2 and if I do, they miss the flop by a mile. Last night I paid off way too many times to the marked fish I had to my left. I chose the table because he was there and it turned out his luck was amazing. He was playing over half his hands (56% to be exact) and was very passive. I was playing tight aggressive and twice I got good hole cards in the SB and bet into his BB. The first time with AQo to his 7xo. I bet all the way to the river, he spikes a 7 on the river and takes the pot. It happens. The next time I have A6s in the SB and it is folded to me. I complete because I know that he will not raise and I want to see the flop. A6x rainbow. "Ha Ha", I think to myself. "I am not going to try any funny stuff, and I hope he caught a piece of that." I bet, he raises, I reraise and he completes. Turn is a rag. I bet, he calls. River is a 9, I bet, he raises. "Hmmm, no straight of flush draw on the board. He has to have two pair or was sitting on pocket 9's and made his set" I call with that bad feeling, but I cannot put it past him making a move with two pair or a single pair. Showdown he flips A9 to beat my flopped two pair of A6. I love it.
That was par for the course as I sat down with $90 and stood up with $70. Time to become a lower limit dweller again. I know that I will eventually beat this game, but it has become my nemesis for the time being.
STeelerJosh
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
1/2 on UB remains my Huckleberry
I am at it again on the 1/2 tables on UB. I entered them with much more confidence but it was shaken again. Back to .50/1.00. I know I will be back, but it is frustrating. True there are very few "fish" I have seen at this level, but I keep getting frustrating beats like set over set, suckouts, etc. After two losing sessions this evening, I decided to pony up 14 for a TEC SNG. Playing as a type this. Decided to have a little fun (like it used to be!!), hoping for the best. If DNasty or HighOnPoker make it to this game before their deadline, I think it will be anyone's game. The swings are much greater and the losses sting more. GL to both of you.
Update - My perfect record on UB SNGs is shattered!
Final Hand:
Hand #6522474-84 at EntryChip-401e (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 15/Jun/05 21:30:04
jimlo is at seat 0 with 5450.
STeelerJosh is at seat 1 with 9550.
The button is at seat 0.
jimlo posts the small blind of 100.
STeelerJosh posts the big blind of 200.
jimlo: -- --
STeelerJosh: Ah Kd
Pre-flop:
jimlo raises to 400. STeelerJosh re-raises to 1200.
jimlo calls.
Flop (board: 6c 4s 4c):
STeelerJosh bets 2400. jimlo calls.
Turn (board: 6c 4s 4c 2h):
STeelerJosh goes all-in for 5950. jimlo goes all-in
for 1850. STeelerJosh is returned 4100 (uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
jimlo shows Ad 9s.
STeelerJosh shows Ah Kd.
River (board: 6c 4s 4c 2h Js):
Showdown:
jimlo has Ad 9s 4s 4c Js: a pair of fours.
STeelerJosh has Ah Kd 4s 4c Js: a pair of fours.
STeelerJosh wins 10900 with a pair of fours.>
STeelerJosh wins $10 and 1 TEC
Did I mention that I hate AK? I think I tend to overvalue it, but HU, I felt I had to press.
Update - My perfect record on UB SNGs is shattered!
Final Hand:
Hand #6522474-84 at EntryChip-401e (No Limit Hold'em Sit and Go)
Powered by UltimateBet
Started at 15/Jun/05 21:30:04
jimlo is at seat 0 with 5450.
STeelerJosh is at seat 1 with 9550.
The button is at seat 0.
jimlo posts the small blind of 100.
STeelerJosh posts the big blind of 200.
jimlo: -- --
STeelerJosh: Ah Kd
Pre-flop:
jimlo raises to 400. STeelerJosh re-raises to 1200.
jimlo calls.
Flop (board: 6c 4s 4c):
STeelerJosh bets 2400. jimlo calls.
Turn (board: 6c 4s 4c 2h):
STeelerJosh goes all-in for 5950. jimlo goes all-in
for 1850. STeelerJosh is returned 4100 (uncalled).
Tournament all-in showdown -- players show:
jimlo shows Ad 9s.
STeelerJosh shows Ah Kd.
River (board: 6c 4s 4c 2h Js):
Showdown:
jimlo has Ad 9s 4s 4c Js: a pair of fours.
STeelerJosh has Ah Kd 4s 4c Js: a pair of fours.
STeelerJosh wins 10900 with a pair of fours.>
STeelerJosh wins $10 and 1 TEC
Did I mention that I hate AK? I think I tend to overvalue it, but HU, I felt I had to press.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
The Road to Recovery
Well, I appear to have made it through the bad run (knock on wood). I am disappointed that I lost so much of the ground I had gained, but pleased that I did not tilt my entire stack away and I stuck to the limit challenge rules. That is what saved me I am sure. I do not know the exact lowest the bankroll was, but I think it may have been a dollar or two shy of $25 at one point and I started building back up. Still about $40 short of my high water mark, but running well again.
I supplemented the Limit play with some cheap NL Hold 'Em. I saw a fish that I really beat up on when I first installed UB. He has been playing the Play chip tables recently so when I saw him on .05/.10 NL, I jumped at the chance. He is my third all time money maker on UB (I love looking at that stat in Poker Tracker). I figured my exposure was limited ($10 or $25 max buy in) and he was worth it. I doubled up twice on some maniac from France at the same table and got my marked fish's buy in. It helped that I was actually hitting some flops and I played very tightly. The French guy even typed that he "did not believe I had it AGAIN" and proceeded to call my bet that put him all in the second time that session. I made a believer of him and it felt great!!
I am back at the 1/2 tables with a nice start on my first trip back. Almost the exact opposite of the session that started this downward spiral..... Up $36 in 90 hands of play with only 5 show downs (and I was 4/5). My tight aggressive play was getting a lot of respect and I was hitting many of my flops, or had a good read that would allow me to manipulate the few calling stations at the table. One guy would go to the turn almost every hand and would fold to a check raise every time!! I quickly figured that out and stole a few decent sized pots.
Sooooo, where does this leave me? I guess overall a slightly more mature player. I demonstrated to myself that I can stick to my plan and not tilt off the bankroll even though I know in the back of my head it would be very easy to load on another $100. I want to earn this, it is not about size of the wins/losses right now, it is about developing as a player and proving to myself that I can be a long term winner at this game. DoubleAs is much more of an inspiration than he will probably ever appreciate. I know I am leagues away from his level, but I think he has proven that with some luck, a lot of work, a lot of reflection, and diligence and practice, it is attainable. Thanks DoubleAs and also thanks to all the other bloggers that entertain and teach me as I feed my addiction to this "poker fad" ;-)
I enjoy these "What would you do?" type posts on other blogs, will try my own here.
The Setup: .50/1 Limit Hold Em table that is playing normal to tight. I am in the SB.
Hand #6358101-9814 at Manilla ($.50/$1 Hold'em)Powered by UltimateBetStarted at 14/Jun/05 17:49:11
brownzfan is at seat 0 with $29.45. (maniac)
DrEazyE is at seat 1 with $36.05. (good player)
pigglywiggly is at seat 2 with $36.90. (LAG)
jonnypow is at seat 3 with $38.10.
STeelerJosh is at seat 4 with $53.10. (Hero)
River Mouse is at seat 5 with $104.70. (Solid Player)
betqueen19 is at seat 6 with $19.35. (Tight Passive)
housemusic19 is at seat 7 with $34.80.
punkrocker21 is at seat 8 with $14.20. (Fish)
Froggie1 is at seat 9 with $46.10. (Fish)
The button is at seat 3.
STeelerJosh posts the small blind of $.25.River Mouse posts the big blind of $.50.
Pre-flop:
betqueen19 calls. housemusic19 folds. punkrocker21folds. Froggie1 folds. brownzfan folds. DrEazyEfolds. pigglywiggly raises to $1. jonnypow folds.STeelerJosh re-raises to $1.50. River Mouse folds. betqueen19 folds. pigglywiggly re-raises to $2. STeelerJosh calls. (1 limper and it is folded around to one seat off the button. A place where I might take a shot at a steal with a halfway decent hand)
Flop (board: 3d 8c Jd):
STeelerJosh bets $.50. pigglywiggly raises to $1. STeelerJosh re-raises to $1.50. pigglywigglyre-raises to $2. STeelerJosh calls. (Two diamonds on the flop. Nice! Call the re-raise in case I miss completely)
Turn (board: 3d 8c Jd As):
STeelerJosh bets $1. pigglywiggly raises to $2. STeelerJosh re-raises to $3. pigglywiggly re-raisesto $4. STeelerJosh calls. (Couple ways I think I can win this hand now. TPTK, nut flush draw. Warning bells are warming up, but I am only afraid of one hand right now, and if a diamond falls on the river, hakuna matata)
River (board: 3d 8c Jd As Kc):
STeelerJosh bets $1. pigglywiggly raises to $2.STeelerJosh calls. (Have to call here, right? I am only afraid of AA or KK. I don't think he wold have been capping with Q 10. No flush draws or Full House and I have top two pair. I thought about raising the bettor, but had that bad feeling that he could have played KK or AA this far and my bet would probably be reraised. I called)
What do you think pigglywiggly was holding? Was there a happy ending? I would enjoy any comments on what (if anything) you might have done differently.
Showdown:
pigglywiggly shows Ac Ah. pigglywiggly has Ac Ah Jd As Kc: three aces.
STeelerJosh mucks cards.(STeelerJosh has Kd Ad.)
Hand #6358101-9814 Summary:
$1 is raked from a pot of $21.pigglywiggly wins $20 with three aces.
If you are like me and hate suspense, highlight the blank space above with your mouse and see the result.
Josh
I supplemented the Limit play with some cheap NL Hold 'Em. I saw a fish that I really beat up on when I first installed UB. He has been playing the Play chip tables recently so when I saw him on .05/.10 NL, I jumped at the chance. He is my third all time money maker on UB (I love looking at that stat in Poker Tracker). I figured my exposure was limited ($10 or $25 max buy in) and he was worth it. I doubled up twice on some maniac from France at the same table and got my marked fish's buy in. It helped that I was actually hitting some flops and I played very tightly. The French guy even typed that he "did not believe I had it AGAIN" and proceeded to call my bet that put him all in the second time that session. I made a believer of him and it felt great!!
I am back at the 1/2 tables with a nice start on my first trip back. Almost the exact opposite of the session that started this downward spiral..... Up $36 in 90 hands of play with only 5 show downs (and I was 4/5). My tight aggressive play was getting a lot of respect and I was hitting many of my flops, or had a good read that would allow me to manipulate the few calling stations at the table. One guy would go to the turn almost every hand and would fold to a check raise every time!! I quickly figured that out and stole a few decent sized pots.
Sooooo, where does this leave me? I guess overall a slightly more mature player. I demonstrated to myself that I can stick to my plan and not tilt off the bankroll even though I know in the back of my head it would be very easy to load on another $100. I want to earn this, it is not about size of the wins/losses right now, it is about developing as a player and proving to myself that I can be a long term winner at this game. DoubleAs is much more of an inspiration than he will probably ever appreciate. I know I am leagues away from his level, but I think he has proven that with some luck, a lot of work, a lot of reflection, and diligence and practice, it is attainable. Thanks DoubleAs and also thanks to all the other bloggers that entertain and teach me as I feed my addiction to this "poker fad" ;-)
I enjoy these "What would you do?" type posts on other blogs, will try my own here.
The Setup: .50/1 Limit Hold Em table that is playing normal to tight. I am in the SB.
Hand #6358101-9814 at Manilla ($.50/$1 Hold'em)Powered by UltimateBetStarted at 14/Jun/05 17:49:11
brownzfan is at seat 0 with $29.45. (maniac)
DrEazyE is at seat 1 with $36.05. (good player)
pigglywiggly is at seat 2 with $36.90. (LAG)
jonnypow is at seat 3 with $38.10.
STeelerJosh is at seat 4 with $53.10. (Hero)
River Mouse is at seat 5 with $104.70. (Solid Player)
betqueen19 is at seat 6 with $19.35. (Tight Passive)
housemusic19 is at seat 7 with $34.80.
punkrocker21 is at seat 8 with $14.20. (Fish)
Froggie1 is at seat 9 with $46.10. (Fish)
The button is at seat 3.
STeelerJosh posts the small blind of $.25.River Mouse posts the big blind of $.50.
Pre-flop:
betqueen19 calls. housemusic19 folds. punkrocker21folds. Froggie1 folds. brownzfan folds. DrEazyEfolds. pigglywiggly raises to $1. jonnypow folds.STeelerJosh re-raises to $1.50. River Mouse folds. betqueen19 folds. pigglywiggly re-raises to $2. STeelerJosh calls. (1 limper and it is folded around to one seat off the button. A place where I might take a shot at a steal with a halfway decent hand)
Flop (board: 3d 8c Jd):
STeelerJosh bets $.50. pigglywiggly raises to $1. STeelerJosh re-raises to $1.50. pigglywigglyre-raises to $2. STeelerJosh calls. (Two diamonds on the flop. Nice! Call the re-raise in case I miss completely)
Turn (board: 3d 8c Jd As):
STeelerJosh bets $1. pigglywiggly raises to $2. STeelerJosh re-raises to $3. pigglywiggly re-raisesto $4. STeelerJosh calls. (Couple ways I think I can win this hand now. TPTK, nut flush draw. Warning bells are warming up, but I am only afraid of one hand right now, and if a diamond falls on the river, hakuna matata)
River (board: 3d 8c Jd As Kc):
STeelerJosh bets $1. pigglywiggly raises to $2.STeelerJosh calls. (Have to call here, right? I am only afraid of AA or KK. I don't think he wold have been capping with Q 10. No flush draws or Full House and I have top two pair. I thought about raising the bettor, but had that bad feeling that he could have played KK or AA this far and my bet would probably be reraised. I called)
What do you think pigglywiggly was holding? Was there a happy ending? I would enjoy any comments on what (if anything) you might have done differently.
Showdown:
pigglywiggly shows Ac Ah. pigglywiggly has Ac Ah Jd As Kc: three aces.
STeelerJosh mucks cards.(STeelerJosh has Kd Ad.)
Hand #6358101-9814 Summary:
$1 is raked from a pot of $21.pigglywiggly wins $20 with three aces.
If you are like me and hate suspense, highlight the blank space above with your mouse and see the result.
Josh
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