Friday, August 31, 2007

First game of the season!

I wasn't able to get in the Mookie this week. I will be back in next week though. Congratulations to Stl_Phily for taking down first! He's the one who took first in my last home game, and he'll be playing in our next one on the 15th. I hope his hot streak cools off a little (just for the night of the 15th though).

I am so excited today is the first night of "Friday Night Lights" for my family. My son Cal is a Junior and the starting tailback for his football team. We would be genuinely happy for him to start another season, however, this season is more special. He broke his leg in the first game of the season last year. He had helped his team drive down the field and get the first touchdown of the game. He was really looking good. The other team managed to score to tie the game and on the ensuing kickoff, he took a helmet to the shin, breaking his fibula.

He has been working hard for a full year, almost exact to this night, to play football again. He is so hyped up. It is like filling a water balloon with water until it pops and all that water flows out everywhere. Tonight we get to watch the "pop"!

OK, we have determined that I suck at drafting for fantasy football. See this link for my roster and my grades by my peers. So I am trying to make some creative trades prior to the first game of the season. I am probably taking a bad team and making it monumentally worse, but we'll see. I am looking forward to the start of the season on Thursday. I'll post my final roster before then.

Also, I wanted to thank HOY for his post on bayes theorem and his two problems. I took the first problem up with my co-workers and managed to get a small uproar going when half my office couldn't understand why you would want to switch the boxes. It was a great day at the office filled with many laughs.

I hope everyone is doing something fun this weekend. I will be out on my boat, doing a kickball tournament, BBQ-ing, relaxing, and spending a ton of time with my kids. See ya next week.

Stay patient...

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Playing the player, not the cards

Full Tilt Poker Game #3395451634: $26 Token Frenzy (25434859), Table 19 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:05:42 ET - 2007/08/28
Seat 1: TATS R 4 ME (845)
Seat 2: Mike Kowal (1,340)
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 (2,620)
Seat 5: FlyinHawaiin (320)
Seat 6: OldSilverFox (4,410)
Seat 7: Mattyaz (1,190)
Seat 8: Peach523 (2,800)
Seat 9: gussy22 (775)
gussy22 posts the small blind of 30
TATS R 4 ME posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [6s 7s]
Mike Kowal folds
jamyhawk2 calls 60<--sometimes i like to early position call with marginal hands. If I get a lot of callers behind, i am set up for a monster. if someone re-raises, i can fold easy enough. i also find a lot for AA-QQ players like to slow play with several limpers ahead, and if i hit my flush or straight on the flop, i get paid big.
FlyinHawaiin folds
OldSilverFox calls 60
Mattyaz calls 60
Peach523 folds
gussy22 calls 30
TATS R 4 ME checks
*** FLOP *** [7d 5h Qh]
gussy22 has 15 seconds left to act
gussy22 checks
TATS R 4 ME checks
SylverLeaf sits down
SylverLeaf adds 960
jamyhawk2 bets 150<--time to see where i am at. 2nd pair only, but feel i can outplay the players left in the hand.
OldSilverFox calls 150<--on a draw, perhaps? TPweak kicker?
Mattyaz folds<--perfect.
gussy22 has 15 seconds left to act
gussy22 folds<--and perfect. isolated so i can now outplay heads up opponent.
TATS R 4 ME folds
*** TURN *** [7d 5h Qh] [Ks]
jamyhawk2 checks<-- intend to check raise.
OldSilverFox has 15 seconds left to act
OldSilverFox bets 180<--weak bet at this buy in level (this might mean something different at fuel's levels)
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 raises to 450<-- check raise as planned.
OldSilverFox has 15 seconds left to act
OldSilverFox folds<--and it works. playing the person not the hand. was this a semi-bluff? i think he had a Qweak kicker or was on a flush draw. You disagree?
Uncalled bet of 270 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (960)
The blinds are now 40/80
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 960 Rake 0
Board: [7d 5h Qh Ks]
Seat 1: TATS R 4 ME (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Mike Kowal didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 collected (960), mucked
Seat 5: FlyinHawaiin didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: OldSilverFox folded on the Turn
Seat 7: Mattyaz folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Peach523 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gussy22 (small blind) folded on the Flop

Make sure to get over to the pokerchica website and congratulate lj on her #3 finish in the venetian $340buy in event. I don't think she is such the low limit grinder anymore.

stay patient...

Sunday, August 26, 2007

MTT success finally

So I had to thank HOY for my recent MTT success. See, he took me out late in the Mookie each of the last two weeks. And he wrote on his blog about aggressive play. I can't say enough about how much I learn from all the fellow poker bloggers. And how I get the confidence to play with bigger or should I say better, players than I. Of course my aggression took me down faster, but I would have never made this final table without them.
Actually, I was planning a blog soon about how I will no longer be playing MTT's. I have been doing great at the ring games, but couldn't hit anything in an MTT. Of course, today's freeroll meant I had to dodge all the pushmonkeys who tried to double/triple/quad up in the first 30 minutes...
I guess that's enough cheese. I guess I will play a couple more MTT's. Maybe I can eventually be half as good as the MTTmachine.

Until then,
Stay patient....

Raketherake hand by hand

<--example #1 (many more follow undocumented) of where HOY'S philosophy of aggressive MTT play works:
Full Tilt Poker Game #3372090772: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 229 - 200/400 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:00:29 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: Griffy_clyro (5,188)
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (7,740)
Seat 3: drake2005 (7,530)
Seat 4: Gamboooool20 (15,710)
Seat 5: KoX (1,075), is sitting out
Seat 6: wloehr26 (2,487)
Seat 7: Sharpster1989 (13,689), is sitting out
Seat 8: 5thSTpimp (11,500)
Seat 9: Belsebub (3,950)
Griffy_clyro antes 50
jamyhawk2 antes 50
drake2005 antes 50
Gamboooool20 antes 50
KoX antes 50
wloehr26 antes 50
Sharpster1989 antes 50
5thSTpimp antes 50
Belsebub antes 50
Gamboooool20 posts the small blind of 200
KoX posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [8h 4h]
wloehr26 folds
Sharpster1989 folds
5thSTpimp folds
Belsebub folds
Griffy_clyro folds
Sharpster1989 has returned
jamyhawk2 raises to 1,500
drake2005 folds
Gamboooool20 calls 1,300
KoX folds
*** FLOP *** [4s 4c Ts]
Gamboooool20 checks
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 checks
*** TURN *** [4s 4c Ts] [6c]
Gamboooool20 checks
jamyhawk2 bets 2,000
Gamboooool20 raises to 6,800
jamyhawk2 calls 4,190, and is all in
Gamboooool20 shows [2d 2h]
jamyhawk2 shows [8h 4h]
Uncalled bet of 610 returned to Gamboooool20
*** RIVER *** [4s 4c Ts 6c] [Js]
Gamboooool20 shows two pair, Fours and Twos
jamyhawk2 shows three of a kind, Fours
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (16,230) with three of a kind, Fours
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 16,230 Rake 0
Board: [4s 4c Ts 6c Js]
Seat 1: Griffy_clyro folded before the Flop
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 showed [8h 4h] and won (16,230) with three of a kind, Fours
Seat 3: drake2005 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Gamboooool20 (small blind) showed [2d 2h] and lost with two pair, Fours and Twos
Seat 5: KoX (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: wloehr26 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Sharpster1989 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: 5thSTpimp folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Belsebub folded before the Flop

This is where I took a big hit....
Poker Game #3372100534: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 229 - 200/400 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:01:29 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: Griffy_clyro (5,138)
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (16,230)
Seat 3: drake2005 (7,480)
Seat 4: Gamboooool20 (7,970)
Seat 5: KoX (625), is sitting out
Seat 6: wloehr26 (2,437)
Seat 7: Sharpster1989 (13,639)
Seat 8: 5thSTpimp (11,450)
Seat 9: Belsebub (3,900)
Griffy_clyro antes 50
jamyhawk2 antes 50
drake2005 antes 50
Gamboooool20 antes 50
KoX antes 50
wloehr26 antes 50
Sharpster1989 antes 50
5thSTpimp antes 50
Belsebub antes 50
KoX posts the small blind of 200
wloehr26 posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qc Qh]
Sharpster1989 folds
5thSTpimp folds
Belsebub folds
Griffy_clyro folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 1,500
drake2005 raises to 7,430, and is all in
Gamboooool20 folds
KoX folds
wloehr26 has 15 seconds left to act
wloehr26 folds
jamyhawk2 calls 5,930
drake2005 shows [Tc Td]
jamyhawk2 shows [Qc Qh]
*** FLOP *** [As 8s Th]
*** TURN *** [As 8s Th] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [As 8s Th 6s] [2c]
drake2005 shows three of a kind, Tens
jamyhawk2 shows a pair of Queens
drake2005 wins the pot (15,910) with three of a kind, Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15,910 Rake 0
Board: [As 8s Th 6s 2c]
Seat 1: Griffy_clyro folded before the Flop
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 showed [Qc Qh] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 3: drake2005 showed [Tc Td] and won (15,910) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 4: Gamboooool20 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: KoX (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: wloehr26 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: Sharpster1989 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: 5thSTpimp folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Belsebub folded before the Flop

Tripled up with QQ versus two AK’s
Next is another hand I would never have played without reading
HOY'S blogs.
Full Tilt Poker Game #3372572266: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 45 - 500/1000 Ante 125 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:50:17 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (21,445)
Seat 2: TheKris (32,142)
Seat 3: kevinb99 (8,035)
Seat 4: acelloyd (39,251)
Seat 5: themightyjim (19,415)
Seat 6: rosas2007 (18,020)
Seat 7: BS Manta (8,533)
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (27,625)
Seat 9: PaZZy BrEEz (15,615)
jamyhawk2 antes 125
TheKris antes 125
kevinb99 antes 125
acelloyd antes 125
themightyjim antes 125
rosas2007 antes 125
BS Manta antes 125
Griffy_clyro antes 125
PaZZy BrEEz antes 125
PaZZy BrEEz posts the small blind of 500
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of 1,000
PaZZy BrEEz: n
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Jh 3s]
TheKris folds
kevinb99 folds
acelloyd folds
kevinb99: y
kevinb99: t
themightyjim raises to 2,800
rosas2007 folds
BS Manta folds
Griffy_clyro folds
PaZZy BrEEz folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 5,000
themightyjim has 15 seconds left to act
themightyjim calls 2,200
*** FLOP *** [Js 4s 7c]
jamyhawk2 checks
themightyjim checks
*** TURN *** [Js 4s 7c] [6h]
jamyhawk2 bets 3,000
themightyjim folds
Uncalled bet of 3,000 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (11,625)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,625 Rake 0
Board: [Js 4s 7c 6h]
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (big blind) collected (11,625), mucked
Seat 2: TheKris folded before the Flop
Seat 3: kevinb99 folded before the Flop
Seat 4: acelloyd folded before the Flop
Seat 5: themightyjim folded on the Turn
Seat 6: rosas2007 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: BS Manta folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: PaZZy BrEEz (small blind) folded before the Flop

Another key example of betting by position/style regardless of your hand
Full Tilt Poker Game #3372620204: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 45 - 600/1200 Ante 150 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:55:21 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (48,313)
Seat 2: TheKris (59,794)
Seat 3: Tikk tikk boom (23,152)
Seat 4: acelloyd (20,351)
Seat 5: Moneypants (36,128)
Seat 6: rosas2007 (15,220)
Seat 7: suzieq5845 (7,699)
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (46,975)
Seat 9: PaZZy BrEEz (12,715)
jamyhawk2 antes 150
TheKris antes 150
Tikk tikk boom antes 150
acelloyd antes 150
Moneypants antes 150
rosas2007 antes 150
suzieq5845 antes 150
Griffy_clyro antes 150
PaZZy BrEEz antes 150
PaZZy BrEEz posts the small blind of 600
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of 1,200
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qh 2h]
TheKris folds
Tikk tikk boom folds
acelloyd folds
Moneypants raises to 5,000
rosas2007 folds
suzieq5845 folds
Griffy_clyro folds
PaZZy BrEEz folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 48,163, and is all in
Moneypants folds
Uncalled bet of 43,163 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (11,950)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,950 Rake 0
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (big blind) collected (11,950), mucked
Seat 2: TheKris folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Tikk tikk boom folded before the Flop
Seat 4: acelloyd folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Moneypants folded before the Flop
Seat 6: rosas2007 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: suzieq5845 folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: PaZZy BrEEz (small blind) folded before the Flop

Sorry skiddoo, sometimes you get really lucky using HOY's plan.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3372863317: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 45 - 1000/2000 Ante 250 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:20:05 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (29,511)
Seat 2: TheKris (67,444)
Seat 3: Tikk tikk boom (46,054)
Seat 4: acelloyd (67,950)
Seat 5: Moneypants (25,243)
Seat 6: skiddoo23 (87,322)
Seat 7: tigers4040 (17,228)
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (46,245)
jamyhawk2 antes 250
TheKris antes 250
Tikk tikk boom antes 250
acelloyd antes 250
Moneypants antes 250
skiddoo23 antes 250
tigers4040 antes 250
Griffy_clyro antes 250
Griffy_clyro posts the small blind of 1,000
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of 2,000
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [8c 9c]
TheKris has 15 seconds left to act
TheKris folds
Tikk tikk boom folds
acelloyd folds
Moneypants folds
skiddoo23 raises to 6,000
tigers4040 folds
Griffy_clyro folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 29,261, and is all in
skiddoo23 calls 23,261
jamyhawk2 shows [8c 9c]
skiddoo23 shows [Kd Ac]
*** FLOP *** [5h 7s 5d]
*** TURN *** [5h 7s 5d] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [5h 7s 5d Qc] [8d]
jamyhawk2 shows two pair, Eights and Fives
skiddoo23 shows a pair of Fives
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (61,522) with two pair, Eights and Fives

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 61,522 Rake 0
Board: [5h 7s 5d Qc 8d]
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (big blind) showed [8c 9c] and won (61,522) with two pair, Eights and Fives
Seat 2: TheKris folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Tikk tikk boom folded before the Flop
Seat 4: acelloyd folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Moneypants folded before the Flop
Seat 6: skiddoo23 showed [Kd Ac] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 7: tigers4040 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: Griffy_clyro (small blind) folded before the Flop

Trying to steal blinds, got caught and then priced in:
Full Tilt Poker Game #3372980233: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 200 - 1200/2400 Ante 300 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:32:03 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: bastet2004 (127,928)
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (67,272)
Seat 3: Tha Riparian (17,166)
Seat 4: djangho (64,215)
Seat 5: elba550 (53,294)
Seat 7: gilapoker (81,431)
Seat 8: YUWIN (91,776)
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro (23,235)
bastet2004 antes 300
jamyhawk2 antes 300
Tha Riparian antes 300
djangho antes 300
elba550 antes 300
gilapoker antes 300
YUWIN antes 300
Griffy_clyro antes 300
Tha Riparian posts the small blind of 1,200
djangho posts the big blind of 2,400
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qc Jd]
elba550 folds
gilapoker folds
YUWIN folds
Griffy_clyro folds
bastet2004 folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 10,000
Tha Riparian raises to 16,866, and is all in
djangho folds
jamyhawk2 calls 6,866
Tha Riparian shows [Ad Ks]
jamyhawk2 shows [Qc Jd]
*** FLOP *** [4d Ah 7d]
*** TURN *** [4d Ah 7d] [Ac]
*** RIVER *** [4d Ah 7d Ac] [8c]
Tha Riparian shows three of a kind, Aces
jamyhawk2 shows a pair of Aces
Tha Riparian wins the pot (38,532) with three of a kind, Aces
LeetMaster sits down
LeetMaster adds 107,125
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 38,532 Rake 0
Board: [4d Ah 7d Ac 8c]
Seat 1: bastet2004 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (button) showed [Qc Jd] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 3: Tha Riparian (small blind) showed [Ad Ks] and won (38,532) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 4: djangho (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: elba550 folded before the Flop
Seat 7: gilapoker folded before the Flop
Seat 8: YUWIN folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro folded before the Flop


Tha Riparian: u done stelaing now
Dealer: jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
Dealer: bastet2004 wins the pot (8,400)
Dealer: Hand #3373031548
jamyhawk2: lol
jamyhawk2: u did bust me twice
Tha Riparian: lol
jamyhawk2: what about the third time?
Tha Riparian: :)
Dealer: elba550 has 15 seconds left to act
Tha Riparian: na im sure ull cooler me that time

And then I hit this:
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373043079: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 200 - 1200/2400 Ante 300 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:38:25 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: bastet2004 (191,843)
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (34,406)
Seat 3: Tha Riparian (39,932)
Seat 5: elba550 (49,294)
Seat 6: LeetMaster (120,925)
Seat 7: gilapoker (78,131)
Seat 8: YUWIN (88,376)
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro (30,535)
bastet2004 antes 300
jamyhawk2 antes 300
Tha Riparian antes 300
elba550 antes 300
LeetMaster antes 300
gilapoker antes 300
YUWIN antes 300
Griffy_clyro antes 300
gilapoker posts the small blind of 1,200
YUWIN posts the big blind of 2,400
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ks Kh]
Griffy_clyro folds
bastet2004 folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 7,500
Tha Riparian raises to 39,632, and is all in
elba550 folds
LeetMaster folds
gilapoker folds
YUWIN folds
jamyhawk2 calls 26,606, and is all in
Tha Riparian shows [Td Th]
jamyhawk2 shows [Ks Kh]
Uncalled bet of 5,526 returned to Tha Riparian
*** FLOP *** [8d Qh Qc]
*** TURN *** [8d Qh Qc] [Ad]
*** RIVER *** [8d Qh Qc Ad] [Jd]
Tha Riparian: lol told u
Tha Riparian shows two pair, Queens and Tens
jamyhawk2 shows two pair, Kings and Queens
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (74,212) with two pair, Kings and Queens
Tha Riparian: im a retard
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 74,212 Rake 0
Board: [8d Qh Qc Ad Jd]
Seat 1: bastet2004 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 showed [Ks Kh] and won (74,212) with two pair, Kings and Queens
Seat 3: Tha Riparian showed [Td Th] and lost with two pair, Queens and Tens
Seat 5: elba550 folded before the Flop
Seat 6: LeetMaster (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: gilapoker (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: YUWIN (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro folded before the Flop

This was a key hand:
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373144850: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 200 - 1500/3000 Ante 400 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:48:48 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: bastet2004 (161,443)
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 (113,597)
Seat 4: PoulpoPoker (44,324)
Seat 5: elba550 (31,094)
Seat 6: LeetMaster (150,225)
Seat 7: gilapoker (45,896)
Seat 8: YUWIN (102,002)
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro (67,170)
bastet2004 antes 400
jamyhawk2 antes 400
PoulpoPoker antes 400
elba550 antes 400
LeetMaster antes 400
gilapoker antes 400
YUWIN antes 400
Griffy_clyro antes 400
LeetMaster posts the small blind of 1,500
gilapoker posts the big blind of 3,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ad Qs]
YUWIN folds
Griffy_clyro folds
bastet2004 raises to 9,000
jamyhawk2 raises to 113,197, and is all in
PoulpoPoker folds
elba550 folds
LeetMaster folds
gilapoker folds
GFaz sits down
GFaz adds 19,416
bastet2004 calls 104,197
jamyhawk2 shows [Ad Qs]
bastet2004 shows [Jh Jd]
*** FLOP *** [6c Kh Qh]
*** TURN *** [6c Kh Qh] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [6c Kh Qh 8c] [2s]
jamyhawk2 shows a pair of Queens
bastet2004 shows a pair of Jacks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (234,094) with a pair of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 234,094 Rake 0
Board: [6c Kh Qh 8c 2s]
Seat 1: bastet2004 showed [Jh Jd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: jamyhawk2 showed [Ad Qs] and won (234,094) with a pair of Queens
Seat 4: PoulpoPoker folded before the Flop
Seat 5: elba550 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: LeetMaster (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: gilapoker (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: YUWIN folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Griffy_clyro folded before the Flop

AJ versus KQ puts me up to 350K in chips. Still 2nd though.
Aggression pays:
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373316226: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 74 - 2500/5000 Ante 600 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:06:26 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: ArkticFox (68,365)
Seat 2: BkF1nest (142,870)
Seat 3: Nekkar (72,174)
Seat 4: PoulpoPoker (45,116)
Seat 5: LeetMaster (234,050)
Seat 6: Nevrborn (165,726)
Seat 7: belligero (166,085)
Seat 8: shooter418 (211,317)
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (389,002)
ArkticFox antes 600
BkF1nest antes 600
Nekkar antes 600
PoulpoPoker antes 600
LeetMaster antes 600
Nevrborn antes 600
belligero antes 600
shooter418 antes 600
jamyhawk2 antes 600
LeetMaster posts the small blind of 2,500
Nevrborn posts the big blind of 5,000
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ah Jd]
belligero folds
shooter418 raises to 10,000
jamyhawk2 calls 10,000
ArkticFox folds
jamyhawk2: what up closer
BkF1nest folds
Nekkar folds
PoulpoPoker folds
LeetMaster folds
Nevrborn calls 5,000
*** FLOP *** [Td 9d 5d]
Nevrborn checks
shooter418 bets 37,900
jamyhawk2 raises to 75,800
Nevrborn folds
shooter418 has 15 seconds left to act
shooter418 folds
Uncalled bet of 37,900 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (113,700)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 113,700 Rake 0
Board: [Td 9d 5d]
Seat 1: ArkticFox folded before the Flop
Seat 2: BkF1nest folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Nekkar folded before the Flop
Seat 4: PoulpoPoker (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: LeetMaster (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Nevrborn (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 7: belligero folded before the Flop
Seat 8: shooter418 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 collected (113,700), mucked
Gotta get lucky too....
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373405458: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 74 - 3000/6000 Ante 750 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:15:25 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: elba550 (54,376)
Seat 2: BkF1nest (108,182)
Seat 3: Nekkar (112,098)
Seat 4: ScepterMan (98,960)
Seat 5: LeetMaster (216,550)
Seat 6: Nevrborn (82,852)
Seat 7: belligero (179,885)
Seat 8: shooter418 (305,648)
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (455,552)
elba550 antes 750
BkF1nest antes 750
Nekkar antes 750
ScepterMan antes 750
LeetMaster antes 750
Nevrborn antes 750
belligero antes 750
shooter418 antes 750
jamyhawk2 antes 750
Nevrborn posts the small blind of 3,000
belligero posts the big blind of 6,000
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ac Jc]
shooter418 folds
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 raises to 25,000
elba550 folds
BkF1nest folds
Nekkar has 15 seconds left to act
Nekkar has requested TIME
Nekkar folds
ScepterMan folds
LeetMaster folds
Nevrborn raises to 82,102, and is all in
belligero folds
jamyhawk2 calls 57,102
Nevrborn shows [Qs Qh]
jamyhawk2 shows [Ac Jc]
*** FLOP *** [Jh Jd 9c]
*** TURN *** [Jh Jd 9c] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [Jh Jd 9c Tc] [9s]
Nevrborn shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
jamyhawk2 shows a full house, Jacks full of Nines
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (176,954) with a full house, Jacks full of Nines
Nevrborn stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 176,954 Rake 0
Board: [Jh Jd 9c Tc 9s]
Seat 1: elba550 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: BkF1nest folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Nekkar folded before the Flop
Seat 4: ScepterMan folded before the Flop
Seat 5: LeetMaster (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Nevrborn (small blind) showed [Qs Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 7: belligero (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: shooter418 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 showed [Ac Jc] and won (176,954) with a full house, Jacks full of Nines

And sometimes unlucky...
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373556328: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 74 - 4000/8000 Ante 1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:30:18 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: NightVulture77 (62,838)
Seat 2: BkF1nest (140,932)
Seat 3: Nekkar (76,848)
Seat 4: ScepterMan (114,420)
Seat 5: LeetMaster (223,716)
Seat 7: belligero (188,635)
Seat 8: shooter418 (263,398)
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (605,154)
NightVulture77 antes 1,000
BkF1nest antes 1,000
Nekkar antes 1,000
ScepterMan antes 1,000
LeetMaster antes 1,000
belligero antes 1,000
shooter418 antes 1,000
jamyhawk2 antes 1,000
LeetMaster posts the small blind of 4,000
belligero posts the big blind of 8,000
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qh Ad]
shooter418 folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 30,000
NightVulture77 folds
BkF1nest folds
Nekkar folds
ScepterMan has 15 seconds left to act
ScepterMan raises to 70,000
LeetMaster folds
belligero folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 604,154, and is all in
ScepterMan calls 43,420, and is all in
jamyhawk2 shows [Qh Ad]
ScepterMan shows [Qs Kh]
Uncalled bet of 490,734 returned to jamyhawk2
*** FLOP *** [5s 3h 7h]
*** TURN *** [5s 3h 7h] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [5s 3h 7h Th] [4h]
jamyhawk2 shows a flush, Queen high
ScepterMan shows a flush, King high
ScepterMan wins the pot (246,840) with a flush, King high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 246,840 Rake 0
Board: [5s 3h 7h Th 4h]
Seat 1: NightVulture77 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: BkF1nest folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Nekkar folded before the Flop
Seat 4: ScepterMan (button) showed [Qs Kh] and won (246,840) with a flush, King high
Seat 5: LeetMaster (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: belligero (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: shooter418 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 showed [Qh Ad] and lost with a flush, Queen high

I left this in because someone said Nekkar is Chip Reese. I went all in to take him out earlier and he ended up doubling up. Here he still was...
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373663585: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 74 - 5000/10000 Ante 1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:40:56 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 2: BkF1nest (95,932)
Seat 3: Nekkar (95,848)
Seat 4: ScepterMan (313,840)
Seat 5: LeetMaster (231,716)
Seat 7: belligero (162,473)
Seat 8: shooter418 (258,398)
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (517,734)
BkF1nest antes 1,000
Nekkar antes 1,000
ScepterMan antes 1,000
LeetMaster antes 1,000
belligero antes 1,000
shooter418 antes 1,000
jamyhawk2 antes 1,000
LeetMaster posts the small blind of 5,000
belligero posts the big blind of 10,000
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Kh As]
shooter418 folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 40,000
BkF1nest folds
Nekkar raises to 94,848, and is all in
ScepterMan folds
LeetMaster folds
belligero folds
jamyhawk2 calls 54,848
Nekkar shows [Qd Jd]
jamyhawk2 shows [Kh As]
*** FLOP *** [6c Qh 6h]
*** TURN *** [6c Qh 6h] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [6c Qh 6h 6s] [9c]
Nekkar shows a full house, Sixes full of Queens
jamyhawk2 shows three of a kind, Sixes
Nekkar wins the pot (211,696) with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 211,696 Rake 0
Board: [6c Qh 6h 6s 9c]
Seat 2: BkF1nest folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Nekkar showed [Qd Jd] and won (211,696) with a full house, Sixes full of Queens
Seat 4: ScepterMan (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: LeetMaster (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: belligero (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: shooter418 folded before the Flop
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 showed [Kh As] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes

At least I was ahead going into the flop. Oh well. . .
Full Tilt Poker Game #3373846114: RakeTheRake $27,500 Freeroll (25383462), Table 74 - 8000/16000 Ante 2000 - No Limit Hold'em - 19:58:47 ET - 2007/08/26
Seat 1: Ouroboro5 (585,960)
Seat 3: Nekkar (407,844)
Seat 5: elephantsRcute (261,848)
Seat 6: acelloyd (690,408)
Seat 7: belligero (730,871)
Seat 8: wildsamoan1 (350,047)
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (337,522)
Ouroboro5 antes 2,000
Nekkar antes 2,000
elephantsRcute antes 2,000
acelloyd antes 2,000
belligero antes 2,000
wildsamoan1 antes 2,000
jamyhawk2 antes 2,000
wildsamoan1 posts the small blind of 8,000
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of 16,000
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [5c Ah]
Ouroboro5 folds
Nekkar folds
elephantsRcute folds
acelloyd raises to 144,000
belligero folds
wildsamoan1 folds
jamyhawk2 raises to 335,522, and is all in
acelloyd calls 191,522
jamyhawk2 shows [5c Ah]
acelloyd shows [Kh Tc]
*** FLOP *** [Kc Jd 8c]
*** TURN *** [Kc Jd 8c] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [Kc Jd 8c Js] [8h]
jamyhawk2 shows two pair, Jacks and Eights
acelloyd shows two pair, Kings and Jacks
acelloyd wins the pot (693,044) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
jamyhawk2 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 693,044 Rake 0
Board: [Kc Jd 8c Js 8h]
Seat 1: Ouroboro5 folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Nekkar folded before the Flop
Seat 5: elephantsRcute folded before the Flop
Seat 6: acelloyd showed [Kh Tc] and won (693,044) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 7: belligero (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: wildsamoan1 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: jamyhawk2 (big blind) showed [5c Ah] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Eights


Raketherake freeroll

I have much more detail to go into later, but here is how I finished:


Not bad for free money. Right now, I will just say: "Thank you HOY".

Stay patient....

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Saturday August 25th

It's my BIRTHDAY!
My wife made a perfect evening for us last night, taking our boat out on the lake with no kids. A first in 2 1/2 years living on the lake (no kids with us). Was stressfree. Then we showered and went out to dinner -El Maguey, my favorite.
Today, watched my son play football (scrimmage); his first official game is Friday night. May play a little poker tonight. Too bad I can't hit the tables with Miamidon and LJ in Vegas. My next trip out there probably won't be until January.

Make sure to remember the Raketherake freeroll is tomorrow, if you are in it! I'll see you there.

Stay patient...

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Two ways to play AQ

Full Tilt Poker Game #3336761281: Table Mantua (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - Pot Limit Hold'em - 0:24:17 ET - 2007/08/23
Seat 1: jaley ($6.50) <--very important in this hand.
Seat 2: wj_texem ($7.65) <--very important in this hand.
Seat 3: croke36 ($18.50)
Seat 4: golfermatt ($22.85)
Seat 5: DrawingD3ad ($26.50)
Seat 6: jamyhawk2 ($56.50)
golfermatt posts the small blind of $0.25
DrawingD3ad posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qs Ah] <--unsuited. Can be very dangerous. I wouldn't mind buying the blinds.
jamyhawk2 raises to $1.50 <--steal attempt
jaley calls $1.50 <--short stacked player calls
wj_texem raises to $4 <--other short stack at the table raises.
croke36 folds
golfermatt folds
DrawingD3ad folds
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act <--I have to put the short stacks on a much wider range of cards right now than someone with a full buy in in front of them. And neither of these players have been impressive at the table. I decide to put the pressure on. I fully expect a call from wj and I can isolate it down to just the two of us.
jamyhawk2 raises to $10
jaley calls $5, and is all in <--wow. not overly surprised since he is so short. I may be in real trouble here.
wj_texem calls $3.65, and is all in <--expected.
jamyhawk2 shows [Qs Ah] <--58.28% to win
jaley shows [Qd Kd] <--woohoo. gotta love it. and I took away one of his outs. 21.2% to win.
wj_texem shows [Ts Kc] <--even better! they have one of each other's outs. And my cards substantially reduce his straight draw odds. 18.89% to win.
Uncalled bet of $2.35 returned to jamyhawk2
*** FLOP *** [Jh 3h 4h]
*** TURN *** [Jh 3h 4h] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 3h 4h 4c] [Jd]
jamyhawk2 shows two pair, Jacks and Fours
wj_texem shows two pair, Jacks and Fours
jamyhawk2 wins the side pot ($2.20) with two pair, Jacks and Fours
jaley shows two pair, Jacks and Fours
jamyhawk2 wins the main pot ($19.25) with two pair, Jacks and Fours
jaley is sitting out
wj_texem is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $22.55 Main pot $20.25. Side pot $2.30. Rake $1.10
Board: [Jh 3h 4h 4c Jd]
Seat 1: jaley showed [Qd Kd] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Fours
Seat 2: wj_texem showed [Ts Kc] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Fours
Seat 3: croke36 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: golfermatt (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: DrawingD3ad (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: jamyhawk2 showed [Qs Ah] and won ($21.45) with two pair, Jacks and Fours <--I got all my money in pre-flop with the best hand and it worked out. Normally, AQo/s is NOT an all in pre-flop hand, so I was VERY pleased it worked out. But I knew my competition was weak.


Full Tilt Poker Game #3336784573: Table Mantua (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - Pot Limit Hold'em - 0:26:38 ET - 2007/08/23
Seat 3: yoitssuke ($10)
Seat 4: golfermatt ($24.35)
Seat 5: DrawingD3ad ($23.25)
Seat 6: jamyhawk2 ($71)
jamyhawk2 posts the small blind of $0.25
yoitssuke posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ad Qh] <--we are 4 handed, which makes this hand a bit more valuable than 6 handed.
golfermatt raises to $1.10
DrawingD3ad calls $1.10
jamyhawk2 calls $0.85 <--I have a raiser and a caller ahead of me. I think this is a good time to call and see what the flop brings. I could have re-raised here, but I have to respect the UTG raise, and drawingd3ad could be trapping.
yoitssuke calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [7h Ah Ks]
jamyhawk2 checks <-- I like this flop. Check raise is planned.
yoitssuke checks
golfermatt bets $2.20 <--a draw? Half pot bet doesn't seem strong.
DrawingD3ad calls $2.20 <--he has to be on a draw! a trap would surely spring something here.
jamyhawk2 raises to $6 <--Check raise as planned. this will give me a great read on strength of opponents hands. Anyone comes over me and I'm out. 77,KK, AA all come back over me. AK might.
yoitssuke folds
golfermatt calls $3.80 <--Hmmmmm. This is odd. Does he really think that heart is coming? Does he have A7 and fears the AK? Surely AK would have re-raised me. Must be on the draw.
DrawingD3ad folds
*** TURN *** [7h Ah Ks] [3d] <--great turn for me.
DrawingD3ad stands up
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 bets $5 <--weak bet on my part. I was torn here between pushing him off of his draw and making a pull bet (see hoy's post on that). I decided to do the pull bet and hope no heart hits the river.
golfermatt calls $5
*** RIVER *** [7h Ah Ks 3d] [9d]
jamyhawk2 bets $5 <--Now I feel I am totally ahead here, but don't want to lose him. I probably could have bet bigger, but I want him to call with a weak ace.
golfermatt calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jamyhawk2 shows [Ad Qh] a pair of Aces
AndrewFH sits down
golfermatt shows [Ac Th] a pair of Aces
jamyhawk2 wins the pot ($36.70) with a pair of Aces <--BINGO. I am sure I played the turn and river wrong, but I did get another $10 from him with a weak hand.
AndrewFH adds $50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $38.60 Rake $1.90
Board: [7h Ah Ks 3d 9d]
Seat 3: yoitssuke (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: golfermatt showed [Ac Th] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: DrawingD3ad (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: jamyhawk2 (small blind) showed [Ad Qh] and won ($36.70) with a pair of Aces

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Wed Night Mookie 8/22


So I stunk it up this week... No cash. Hoy took me out with Q8o/s against my 44, which I knew was weak... Go over to Hoy's website and learn how to play all in Q8o/s.

I have a few HH but don't feel like posting it now. I hate not making the final table.

Playing cash now. Up almost a buyin at .25/.50 level.

Check out buddydank anytime you can. Great during blogger tourneys! And I can get updates on tourney while playing cash. Gotta love it!

Fantasy Football roster

I did a live-online (paradox?) fantasy football draft last night. So, I sit down and log into yahoo FF site and it brings up a Java screen that says "Your draft begins in 00:34:25" and it is counting down -34 being minutes. So I do some stuff; wait; wait and then it comes to 3 sec, 2 sec, 1...... and nothing happens. I look for a few minutes and decide to navigate away from the draft central page to my team homepage and there it has a link to enter the draft. Nice. Didn't see that before. So I got in a bit late and the bummer was that I had changed my mind on who I wanted to draft first, but since I was late getting in, I had to take who I had ranked highest 2 weeks ago. So I got Brian Westbrook instead of Frank Gore.


Take a look at my team and you will not be impressed. Overall, I think I did a poor job drafting. But I will say that on at least 3 occasions, the person right before me took the player/defense I was planning on taking, so then I wasn't as prepared on who to pick.


I will struggle at RB. I have great WR's (if healthy). I could have great QB's. I drank a little of my own koolaid (Broncos fan here -in case you couldn't tell) in taking Cutler and Elam. I also dropped Vernand Morency right after the draft and picked up Mike Bell just in case Travis Henry goes down. My defenses are risky picks, and I am way overloaded on New England. I am hoping to use some of my New England picks for trade (if for nothing else but to diversify).


I'd give myself a C grade (that may even be generous).

What grade would you give me?

Donkalicious -"isn't that a Fergie song?"

Nightly token frenzy. I had checked in from the BB. I put him on a draw. He is calling, not re-raising my flop bet. Turn comes a blank so I shove. He calls my all in and then this hits the river:





Incredible. Was I wrong to push with the best hand? Of course he figures he has a ton of outs if I am on AJ, A9, J10, etc. And he did have me covered 3-1.


According to Texasholdemcalculator, I was WIN:84.09% after the turn card hit. The best he could have figured was he was 40% to my 60% (assuming he didn't know I had a Q).





Then I moved over to cash. Didn't feel like donkin it up too much so sat down to .10/.25 NL 6max. So I just sit down to the table and see maybe 2 or 3 hands. Don't really know what I am getting into yet and haven't shown anything to the table (strong, weak, tight, etc.)
JJ raises preflop and I re-raise (steal attempt) with AJsuited. Bad hand, I know, but he just calls the steal attempt.
Flop comes with two Q's and a nothing. JJ checks, I bet out the pot to see where I am at. JJ calls. Turn comes nothing and I have to fire if I am going to represent Q's so I again bet out the pot after his check. JJ calls. No freakin way he has a Q. No way! I go all in on the river and JJ insta calls. I'm felted. Stacked just like that.






Now, that was a dumb move on my part, trying to bluff to the river, but I am set up perfect for this table now. I am down 1 buy-in and look like aggro donkey. I reload and tighten up. Any hand I play in everyone is raising and re-raising. Everyone wants a piece of my donkery. It was great because when I had a hand, my opponent was happy to go all in with 2nd pair or TPweakkicker. Everything moved pretty fast so I didn't grab any other screen shots, but within 30 minutes I stacked 3 people including MrJJ and finished with 1 1/2 buy-in profit for the night (on cash). And MrJJ felted on a similar hand to what he had hit me on. I called down his huge bets with 2nd pair only and he had A high. I could just feel him tilting and then to go all in with A high was the kiss of death. Another player at my table asked how I could call with those raises and only 2nd pair. Because I knew MrJJ would have nothing. When he had something, he would slow play it to trap me. I was just reading him so easy. Plain and simple.

Anyway, I don't recommend trying that often, but I do like to sit at a table and give a super loose image right away. Then when I tighten up, I get paid off much higher.

Stay patient...

Should have folded KK (part III)


Tier one Token Frenzy all in pre-flop. I hate going out this way!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Saturday Home Game at Somone ELSE'S house...

Well, we made it to the home game Saturday night. My wife, my son (21) and myself. It is rare that I get to play somewhere else (usually I host), so I was excited. I don’t like to finish 1st at my house, so I typically play good enough to get to the final table and make fairly aggressive moves with the intention of going out just into the money. If I am distracted by anything and go out early, it is just fine with me. I just feel weird about inviting everyone over to my house and then taking all their money (not that I could on purpose anyway). There were 4 others playing this night, who I will detail shortly. We decided on a friendly buy-in of $30 and with 7 players, paid $150 to first and $60 to second. We randomly assigned the seating –at my request, and I ended up with the best player at our table, 2 to my left (ugh!).

Seat 1: Me: Donkey
Seat 2:Mr J-Host: Loose pre-flop. Loves to call BB, sometimes 2x BB. Easily folds to a c-bet, but will call down to chase draw on occasion. His favorite move is to bet a pot sized bet on the turn, after everyone checked on the flop. I took advantage of this and was able to re-raise with TPanykicker, or even draws and take down a good sized pot on the turns.
Seat 3:Mr B: Easily the best player at the table. Very aggressive, yet knows how to fold a hand. Give him chips and he is deadly! I’d say he has finished in the money in 70% of the tournaments I have played with him (probably 10 in the last year). I wanted him somewhere; anywhere to my right. No such luck.
Seat 4:Mr T: New blood. Very quiet, didn’t say much, but then asked how to deal the cards correctly when it came around to him. Should be our first player out.
Seat 5:Mrs.Jamyhawk: Solid, tight player. Plays very tight but will occasionally bluff with nothing. I mean nothing. When she gets caught, it is bad. It is not uncommon for her to go out very early, or end up in the final 3 players.
Seat 6:MrsC-Hostess: Calling station. Enough said. You better bet really big or she is calling all the way down. She has won plenty of tournaments when the cards are going her way. My plan was to overbet when she was in to make sure she can’t stay in and out draw me.
Seat 7:Brian-my son: Aggressive player. Plays way too many hands. Will chase draws and put up wild bluffs. Has to fold on the river to big bets when he misses his draws. He is going to be a great player as soon as he learns how to apply pot odds and calculate hand odds (which will be soon, since he is a math major in college. He just needs the book to get started).

Some notable plays/hands:

Mr B raises 2xBB from UTG and gets 3 callers. Flop comes JhKh6h. Mr B bets out a pot sized c-bet. Mr T takes his time and calls. I missed the flop completely so I fold as does another person. Heads up. The turn comes 7h. Mr B fires again ½ the pot sized bet. Mr T takes his time and calls. River is 2h. Now we have 5 hearts on the board. Mr B, who is notoriously aggressive checks to the “must have just learned how to play” Mr T. Mr T immediately checks and they flip over to show KcQs for Mr B and AhJd for Mr T (or what is also known as the NUT FLUSH!). So really, by just calling on each street he got maximum chips from Mr B. Of course, he didn’t know well enough to bet on the river. I am not even sure he knew he had the NUTS.

The very next hand, it got down to Mr B and Mr T again with 2 hearts on the flop. I don’t remember the exact progression, but Mr T hit the heart flush (again) on the turn. He did bet it this time but not aggressively. Mr B stayed in with a straight draw and hit on the river, but was nearly crippled after this hand. He was lucky to not be out thanks to Mr T being about as aggressive as a tight rock would be at bubble time.

Mrs C: hostess, was the first one out. I got her with pocket rockets. I bet just enough to keep her calling to the river and pricing her in with 2nd pair.

I started using the size of my stack to accumulate chips. When I was the cutoff , Mr T was in the BB. I raised 3xBB 2 out of every 3 orbits to take his chips. With Mr. B crippled (he would be SB in this situation), I could do this unchallenged (Mr J to my left would only call 3xBB with a monster hand). I would even pick up a few limpers once in a while. Pretty soon, I was more than double the size of the next player at the table.

Then I was dealt KK in the cutoff, but wanted action so only bet 2xBB. I got Mr J to call and Mr T who was already in the BB called, everyone else folded. Flop came Q high. Mr T bet a min bet, I min raised and Mr J folded. Mr. T called. Turn came a K. Mr T bet the minimum again, but this time I pushed him all in. He folded saying his Q was probably no good with the K hitting the turn. I wondered if I could have gotten more chips by calling here, but was afraid of what I saw earlier where he might hit runner runner straight or flush.

I put the pressure on MrT and even bought his blinds when he had less than 1 BB in front of him for the next orbit. He was out a couple of hands later.

With 5 of us left and my chip stack very healthy, I began raising 3x BB 3 out of 4 hands. If I was caught stealing, I could afford the fold and if I had something, then my opponent was risking their tournament life on that hand.

I doubled up Mr B a couple of times knowing he would shove with ATC whenever he was getting maximum value in the pot. Once I had K9off and hit a 9 on the flop, but his 8J held up when a J hit the turn. Eventually though, my wife caught his ATC’s when she had QQ. This put her comfortably into second place. Next to go was Brian. Blinds were getting big and he tried calling down with a couple of hands he should not have been in. So he was short stacked when I called his all in and won with some random ATC that I would have called him with there.

With 3 players left, my wife and I beat up on MrJ, raising on every hand. It wasn’t on purpose, but if she didn’t raise, I did with ATC. He folded most orbits and when he called, a c-bet would suffice to take the pot. If he re-raised, a fold was easy. My wife ended up taking him out and we were close in chips now.

Someone suggested a chop (not her or me) and we laughed knowing that it would be a fight to the death before we would miss taking the other down. 2nd hand HU, she raised pre-flop and I called with 7c8h. Flop came AsKc4h. She bet half the pot and I knew it was a bluff so I went all in. She said “I know you have an Ace so I have to fold” and I flipped over my bluff to hopefully put her on tilt (this is my wife we are talking about here). The next hand she went all in and I folded. I had her right were I wanted her. I called her BB on the next hand and she went all in with KJo/s. I called with A6sooooted, and it held up. My donkey ass took first and my lovely wife took 2nd. I could play in lot more tournaments that end up that way.

A few important lessons to get from this game about Home Games:
1) Home games see a lot more conservative betting patterns. Yes, more people will see a flop by calling the BB, but they will also fold to any bet. I like to overbet from the button, SB or BB, when 60% or more of the table has limped in. A bet of 5x the BB will easily push everyone out most of the time. I would rather buy the pot 3 out of 5 hands rather than limp 5 hands with everyone else and miss the flop each time or get outdrawn. And, you have to push people out when you are on a draw (which is easy) after you have seen the flop. Also, you have to keep opponents in when you have a big hand. Smooth calling or min raising works great. This puts you susceptible to being sucked out on, but if you can manage not to get in over your head, you can put the odds in your favor by slow playing monsters. You will only get sucked out on 2 out of 5 hands (IMO), just make sure you aren’t all in on the river when you know they were drawing to you and you don’t have the nuts.

2) Take advantage of new players. New players do not know how to protect their blinds. They limp in whenever they can and easily fold when they miss the flop. Take the blinds from them. Take them early and often. Especially if they are still in later in the tournament when blinds have increased. This is a critical stage to put pressure on someone new even if you are UTG. Most good players will fold to your raise from early position (when they have nothing and they are not in the SB or BB) and a new person doesn’t want to risk “so many chips” later in the tournament. A newer player tends to really tighten up with the bigger blinds. Mix it up, obviously. This is a great way to gradually build chip stacks around the middle to middle-late stages.

3) In the early stages, stay out of the way of someone you know is a great player. There is no reason for you to try to steal a pot from someone that knows how to re-steal. Stay very tight when in a pot with this opponent, and stick to your pure fundamentals. That is, until you are in the money. After that, everything goes, but early on, try to gang up on the other players. If you are the two most aggressive and knowledgeable players at the table, you should be able to outlast everyone else and fight for 1st and 2nd. Of course, if you see a great player crippled –CRUSH them, and fast.

4) Watch closely for betting patterns and exploit them. Most players in the home game have a preferred betting style and rarely stray from it.. Really! They rarely trap, they don’t mix up their raises, and they don’t bluff (at least not in different increments). I’m not talking about your typical blogger or the 3 times a week at the casino players. I mean the once or twice a month home game player. They have a certain style and they stick to it. It may take a couple of times playing with them to really identify it, but watch closely for it, and you will find it. Like the example above where the person would limp into a pot, let it check around after the flop, and then bet the pot on the turn; I learned to exploit that by re-raising him every time. He folded 3 out of 4 times. And on the 4th time, I could get out of the way knowing I am +EV for that move.

Overall, my point is that the Home Game is different than online poker and different than playing live at the casino (or underground rooms). Take advantage when you can, but remember to keep it friendly –or you might not get invited back.

Hope to see you at the next one.

Don't forget:
MATH tonight on Fulltilt
Tournament: Mondays at the Hoy
When: Monday. 10pm ET
Game: NLHE Deepstack
Password: hammer

Stay patient…

Friday, August 17, 2007

It's Friday!

Whoo hoo. I need the weekend! Had a really tough week at work. Almost quit my job, almost got myself fired. But I tend to be very cool, even when I blow up, so we move forward to another week -but first the weekend.

I am going into a weekend where I had nothing planned, but is filling up quickly. My wife will probably head over to my sister-law's tonight (6 houses up), meaning my brother will come down and hang with me and our 1 year old girls (cousins). I might even fire up the Friday night donkament. Check it out.

Tomorrow at 8am, it's off to Cal's football scrimmage; by noon I'll hit the boy scout picnic for Braden (my 6 year old); at 3:00 head to Cal's annual football team picnic and pie auction; and then try to make an 8pm home poker tournament at a friend's house. So much for a relaxing Saturday.

Maybe I'll get in some FT Poker on Sunday night. Maybe even play in the Pokerslut Tour. Check it out.

Stay patient...

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Wed Night Mookie!

Iplayed in the Mookie tonight. Didn't save the hands history but I had a lot of fun: I had to fold a lot, but I know that Hoy played a hell of a lot better than me...

I finished 4th. Not much to even mention. Here are the real studs:
3rd: doogman77
2nd: hoyazo
1st:surflexus

LJ was there and several others that didn't make my table but I wanted to say hi to a playah!
Someday I may be like LJ.....

Monday, August 13, 2007

This KK should have been folded


Two Bad Hands?

I would love your comments: This first hand I am playing two super loose players. They have been aggressive pre and post flop with ATC and C-bet a pot sized bet or more every time.
Full Tilt Poker Game #3246191884: Table Zoebird - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:24:12 ET - 2007/08/13
Seat 1: Arendt13 ($68.70)
Seat 2: Gamblour ($49.60)
Seat 3: Markuis ($22.25)
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 ($56.40)
Seat 5: nickthegreek420 ($40.60)
Seat 6: C-Note70 ($10.75)
Seat 7: The Shrog ($50)
Seat 8: mixmixmix ($50)
Seat 9: izclozed ($15)
Markuis posts the small blind of $0.25
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [9d 8d]
nickthegreek420 calls $0.50
C-Note70 folds
mixmixmix folds
izclozed folds
Arendt13 folds
Gamblour raises to $2.25
Markuis folds
jamyhawk2 calls $1.75<--not unusual call on this table.
nickthegreek420 calls $1.75
*** FLOP *** [Th 4d 7d]
Markuis adds $3
jamyhawk2 checks<--I plan to check raise since this table is so loose.
nickthegreek420 bets $5
Gamblour folds
jamyhawk2 raises to $10<--I am trying to count outs (diamonds, any J, any 6). Big semi-bluff!
nickthegreek420 calls $5<--OK. He has something. I put him on A10 with the pre-flop raising. I don't think 44 or 77 with this table, they have been more prone to play any Ace.
*** TURN *** [Th 4d 7d] [Ts]
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 checks<--I figure I am behind here.
nickthegreek420 checks<--??? What does he have? A 10 bets something. Diamond draw definately tries to push me out. A set of 4's or 7's bets.
*** RIVER *** [Th 4d 7d Ts] [Jh]<--Sweet action!
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 bets $10<--obvious bet. Look like a steal?
nickthegreek420 raises to $20<--NICE! He has a J? He can't have a 10J or would have bet on the set of 10's.
jamyhawk2 raises to $44.15, and is all in<--Insta re-raise.
nickthegreek420 calls $8.35, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $15.80 returned to jamyhawk2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jamyhawk2 shows [9d 8d] a straight, Jack high
nickthegreek420 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot ($80.70) with a straight, Jack high
nickthegreek420 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $83.70 Rake $3
Board: [Th 4d 7d Ts Jh]
Seat 1: Arendt13 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Gamblour (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Markuis (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 (big blind) showed [9d 8d] and won ($80.70) with a straight, Jack high
Seat 5: nickthegreek420 mucked [Ah Td] - three of a kind, Tens<--Odd he slow played on the turn. I don't think I could have called any sizeable bet on the turn.

Seat 6: C-Note70 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: The Shrog is sitting out
Seat 8: mixmixmix didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: izclozed didn't bet (folded)
<--Was this the right play? I felt I had the right outs/odds to check raise. His downfall was the turn.


Full Tilt Poker Game #3246257805: Table Zoebird - $0.25/$0.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:30:07 ET - 2007/08/13
Seat 1: Arendt13 ($68.20)
Seat 2: Gamblour ($46.85)
Seat 3: Markuis ($22.20)
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 ($96.25)
Seat 5: rufus27 ($60.65)
Seat 6: C-Note70 ($10)
Seat 7: The Shrog ($43.45)
Seat 8: mixmixmix ($57.40)
Arendt13 posts the small blind of $0.25
Gamblour posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [7d 7h]
Markuis folds
jamyhawk2 calls $0.50
rufus27 calls $0.50
C-Note70 folds
The Shrog raises to $2
mixmixmix folds
Arendt13 folds
Gamblour folds
jamyhawk2 calls $1.50<--same loose table. set mining is expensive and I have folded on the flop to several missed sets.
rufus27 calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [7s 8c Jh]<--Bingo!
jamyhawk2 checks<--I know. Bet your sets; but I am first to act so need to check raise.
rufus27 checks
The Shrog bets $5<--thank you.
jamyhawk2 raises to $10<--min re-raise.
rufus27 folds
The Shrog raises to $41.45, and is all in
jamyhawk2 calls $31.45<--I have to call.
The Shrog shows [Ac Jc]
jamyhawk2 shows [7d 7h]
*** TURN *** [7s 8c Jh] [8d]
*** RIVER *** [7s 8c Jh 8d] [5d]<--Now that's what I'm talking about.
The Shrog shows two pair, Jacks and Eights
jamyhawk2 shows a full house, Sevens full of Eights
jamyhawk2 wins the pot ($86.65) with a full house, Sevens full of Eights
The Shrog is sitting out
The Shrog stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $89.65 Rake $3
Board: [7s 8c Jh 8d 5d]
Seat 1: Arendt13 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Gamblour (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Markuis didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: jamyhawk2 showed [7d 7h] and won ($86.65) with a full house, Sevens full of Eights
Seat 5: rufus27 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: C-Note70 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: The Shrog showed [Ac Jc] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Eights
Seat 8: mixmixmix didn't bet (folded)
<--You do call with bottom set right? I know that JJ or 88 is possible, but I had the right odds to play bottom set, right?

Stay patient....

Sunday, August 12, 2007

FTOPS satellite to $1,000 buy in.

I played a 3$ re-buy tournament and finished first. As a matter of fact, I didn't even rebuy or add-on once. For that, I won a seat to a $55 6 handed NL tournament. 789 entrants, top 37 get $1,000 buy in to FTOPS #7. I really want to play that. Here's how it went for me.





Full Tilt Poker Game #3235353893: Satellite to FTOPS Event #7 (22693233), Table 22 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:51:55 ET - 2007/08/12
Seat 1: AKALEFTY (1,390)
Seat 2: terhahn (2,385)
Seat 3: Sasha Rosewood (1,500)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (3,700)
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (2,015)
Seat 6: ljbaden2007 (1,010)
AKALEFTY posts the small blind of 20
terhahn posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ad Kc]
Sasha Rosewood folds
LickerUpFront calls 40<--super loose player.
jamyhawk2 raises to 200
ljbaden2007 folds
AKALEFTY folds
terhahn folds
LickerUpFront calls 160
*** FLOP *** [4h Kh Ac]
LickerUpFront checks
jamyhawk2 checks<--with him checking, I have to figure I am way ahead.
*** TURN *** [4h Kh Ac] [Qs]
LickerUpFront checks
jamyhawk2 bets 200<--need to get some more from him. If he was on J10, he would have raised after the flop.
LickerUpFront calls 200
*** RIVER *** [4h Kh Ac Qs] [6s]
LickerUpFront checks
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 bets 500<--again trying to find the amount that he will call.
LickerUpFront has 15 seconds left to act
LickerUpFront calls 500<--did I underbet?
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jamyhawk2 shows [Ad Kc] two pair, Aces and Kings
LickerUpFront mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (1,860) with two pair, Aces and Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,860 Rake 0
Board: [4h Kh Ac Qs 6s]
Seat 1: AKALEFTY (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: terhahn (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Sasha Rosewood didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront mucked [7d Qd] - a pair of Queens <--Are you kidding me. This guy will eventually pay me off big. Nice! Seat 5: jamyhawk2 showed [Ad Kc] and won (1,860) with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 6: ljbaden2007 (button) didn't bet (folded)

Full Tilt Poker Game #3235472990: Satellite to FTOPS Event #7 (22693233), Table 22 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:02:51 ET - 2007/08/12
Seat 1: AKALEFTY (2,655)
Seat 2: terhahn (1,085)
Seat 3: Keats9 (1,305)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (5,095)
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (2,740)
Seat 6: ljbaden2007 (500)
LickerUpFront posts the small blind of 25
jamyhawk2 posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Qh Qc]
ljbaden2007 raises to 250
AKALEFTY folds
LickerUpFront: and i lasted a long time doing it
terhahn raises to 1,085, and is all in<--he just said that he is already in the tournament we are playing to get into and he is tired so he is all in every hand until up to 20K or out. Last hand he was all in with K8o/s and lost. I am definately calling this.
Keats9 folds
LickerUpFront calls 1,060
jamyhawk2 raises to 2,740, and is all in<--I need to isolate to get licker out, with any A.
ljbaden2007 calls 250, and is all in
LickerUpFront has 15 seconds left to act
LickerUpFront calls 1,655<--uh oh, I could be in trouble.
jamyhawk2 shows [Qh Qc]
ljbaden2007 shows [7c 7h]<--Good.
terhahn shows [Ac 5s]<--bummer, but I'm ahead.
LickerUpFront shows [Jd Qd]<--Sweet action. I am well ahead. What a shitty call! For him.
*** FLOP *** [3h 3d 5d]
*** TURN *** [3h 3d 5d] [8h]
*** RIVER *** [3h 3d 5d 8h] [Kc]
jamyhawk2 shows two pair, Queens and Threes
LickerUpFront shows a pair of Threes
jamyhawk2 wins side pot #2 (3,310) with two pair, Queens and Threes
terhahn shows two pair, Fives and Threes
jamyhawk2 wins side pot #1 (1,755) with two pair, Queens and Threes
ljbaden2007 shows two pair, Sevens and Threes
jamyhawk2 wins the main pot (2,000) with two pair, Queens and Threes
ljbaden2007 stands up
terhahn stands up
MzZzyzx sits down
MzZzyzx adds 2,060
MzZzyzx is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7,065 Main pot 2,000. Side pot 1 1,755. Side pot 2 3,310. Rake 0
Board: [3h 3d 5d 8h Kc]
Seat 1: AKALEFTY didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: terhahn showed [Ac 5s] and lost with two pair, Fives and Threes
Seat 3: Keats9 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (small blind) showed [Jd Qd] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (big blind) showed [Qh Qc] and won (7,065) with two pair, Queens and Threes<---Great hand for me! Seat 6: ljbaden2007 showed [7c 7h] and lost with two pair, Sevens and Threes

Full Tilt Poker Game #3235955484: Satellite to FTOPS Event #7 (22693233), Table 22 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:47:56 ET - 2007/08/12
Seat 1: BReaves (7,845)
Seat 2: Dr_Bait (15,666)
Seat 3: Keats9 (2,155)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (10,480)
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (6,600)<--I haven't played a lot of hands, so I'm still tight at the table. Seat 6: ellinida97 (730), is sitting out
ellinida97 posts the small blind of 60
BReaves posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [9d 9h]
Dr_Bait folds
Keats9 folds
LickerUpFront raises to 420<--Super loose is still in which is good news to me.
jamyhawk2 calls 420<--I can steal or hit a home run with a set.
ellinida97 folds
BReaves folds
*** FLOP *** [2d 9c 2c]<--That's all my flop! LickerUpFront bets 1,020<--like hitting the lottery
jamyhawk2 calls 1,020<--don't want to push him away.
*** TURN *** [2d 9c 2c] [8d]
LickerUpFront checks
jamyhawk2 bets 1,000<--Now, I know he will call me with any A or two clubs, so I don't want to bet too big, but keep him in.
LickerUpFront calls 1,000<--Yes!
*** RIVER *** [2d 9c 2c 8d] [8h]
LickerUpFront checks
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 bets 3,000<--really tough. I almost bet 2,000, but then delete and decide he will call 3,000. What a good move that was.
LickerUpFront has 15 seconds left to act
LickerUpFront calls 3,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jamyhawk2 shows [9d 9h] a full house, Nines full of Eights
LickerUpFront mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (11,060) with a full house, Nines full of Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 11,060 Rake 0
Board: [2d 9c 2c 8d 8h]
Seat 1: BReaves (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Dr_Bait didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Keats9 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront mucked [6s 6d] - two pair, Eights and Sixes
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (button) showed [9d 9h] and won (11,060) with a full house, Nines full of Eights
Seat 6: ellinida97 (small blind) folded before the Flop


Full Tilt Poker Game #3236037158: Satellite to FTOPS Event #7 (22693233), Table 22 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:55:35 ET - 2007/08/12
Seat 1: BReaves (7,945)
Seat 2: Dr_Bait (16,221)
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (5,820)
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 (13,000)
Seat 6: ellinida97 (490), is sitting out
LickerUpFront posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ac Jd]<--I really hate getting this hand. jamyhawk2 raises to 240
ellinida97 folds
BReaves folds
Dr_Bait raises to 540
LickerUpFront folds
jamyhawk2 calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Ah 7s Kh]
jamyhawk2 bets 500<--I have to fire at the pot.
Dr_Bait raises to 1,300<--standard steal attempt?
Macomb1411 sits down
Macomb1411 adds 2,085
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 has requested TIME
jamyhawk2 calls 800<--I should have re-raised right here. Bad move. I would learn I am behind and fold or win the pot here. . .
*** TURN *** [Ah 7s Kh] [7h]
jamyhawk2 checks <--7? another heart? Shit! Here is a bad play by me: check.
Dr_Bait bets 14,381, and is all in<--Of course: he has me covered. What the hell? Any A and he can bet figuring worst case, split pot. I can't call with no 7, no heart, and no set. Terrible hand I should not have even gotten into. jamyhawk2 folds
Uncalled bet of 14,381 returned to Dr_Bait
Dr_Bait mucks
Dr_Bait wins the pot (3,800)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,800 Rake 0
Board: [Ah 7s Kh 7h]
Seat 1: BReaves didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Dr_Bait (button) collected (3,800), mucked
Seat 4: LickerUpFront (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: jamyhawk2 folded on the Turn
Seat 6: ellinida97 didn't bet (folded)

A little while later I ran AKsuited into 77 all in preflop, then 7xA on flop. Set held up.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3236460336: Satellite to FTOPS Event #7 (22693233), Table 37 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:36:28 ET - 2007/08/12
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 (7,269)
Seat 2: HogHunter42 (9,010)
Seat 3: gsweetshot (15,549)
Seat 4: lucifers truth (9,370)
Seat 5: DrWheats (21,735)
Seat 6: NestOfSalt (15,650)
jamyhawk2 antes 25
HogHunter42 antes 25
gsweetshot antes 25
lucifers truth antes 25
DrWheats antes 25
NestOfSalt antes 25
gsweetshot posts the small blind of 150
lucifers truth posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ah As]
DrWheats folds
NestOfSalt raises to 875
jamyhawk2 calls 875<--I need more people in the pot so I just call here.
HogHunter42 folds
gsweetshot folds
lucifers truth calls 575<--good. Just what I needed.
*** FLOP *** [Qd 9d 6h]<--Good, but not great flop. lucifers truth checks
NestOfSalt checks
jamyhawk2 bets 2,000<--I'm worried about flush draw, but I want to get a call from someone with a Q. I may have overbet this one.
lucifers truth folds
NestOfSalt has 15 seconds left to act
NestOfSalt folds
Uncalled bet of 2,000 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (2,925)<--Looks like I overbet.
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,925 Rake 0
Board: [Qd 9d 6h]
Seat 1: jamyhawk2 collected (2,925), mucked
Seat 2: HogHunter42 (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: gsweetshot (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: lucifers truth (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: DrWheats folded before the Flop
Seat 6: NestOfSalt folded on the Flop
Needed to get more out of this hand….





I was out shortly thereafter being blinded out. I feel I can play the early game good. And I can win 1 and 2 table sit-n-go's all day, so my late play is good. I really struggle in the middle of MTT's. I really need to strengthen my middle game. I don't know if I am trying to play too many pots? At one point I was ranked 4th. Or am I not being aggressive enough to steal blinds?





Stay patient...

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Home game for August

First of all: Thank you MiamiDon for telling Stl_Phily that I live in Saint Louis. Stl_Phily made it to our home game last night.

We play once a month with small buy ins ($20). We get some real novice players and some donkeys (like me) looking to take down 1st. We start with $1,000 in chips and I move the blinds every 20 min with a 3 hour predicted end time. There is a lot of over betting. Several times you will see a pot that is raised 3 or 4x the pot pre-flop. And then after the flop it is not uncommon to see a $150 bet into a $60 pot with 3 players still in.

Here are some interesting hands:
With the blinds 20/40 and 5 players at my table, I am the cutoff with AQsuited.
UTG (Super loose player) calls,
Jamyhawk calls,
the button goes all in for 100.
SB folds,
BB folds,
UTG calls
Jamyhawk calls.
Flop comes AdAh3h. <---sweet action.
UTG checks
Jamyhawk checks <--slow play to super loose player UTG.
Turn is 6h <--ruh roh. could be a flush?
UTG checks
Jamyhawk bets 100<--need to push out the 4 cards to a flush draw.
UTG folds
River is Ac
Jamyhawk shows 4 Aces
Button mucks cards

Super loose and Super tight end up in a hand heads up. 3 4 7 5 is on the board with 2 clubs. A 2 of clubs hits the river: Super loose goes all in. Super tight folds and mucks face up a Q6. Super loose mucks but says had two pair... Hmmmmmm....

Super loose again in a pot, this time heads up with Stl_Phily. 4d5d6d7d is on the board. River comes 6c. Super loose goes all in and Stl_Phily thinks a long time. Finally calls with 56 for boat and Super loose shows 9high flush. Stl_Phily was worried straight flush was out there.

My final hand was when we were down to 5 (4 places paid) and I went all in from the SB (100/200 blinds) for 275 more than the BB with K8o/s. BB calls me with Ace/rag and A holds up. I'm bubble boy. I tend to be more aggressive in my house tournaments because I don't mind losing. I don't want to invite everyone over and then win all the time (of course that is for $20 buy ins -if bigger tournaments, I would play to the death).

Winner of the first tournament was Stl_Phily (CONGRATULATIONS!). 2nd place was Mr. Super tight (my brother) who folded a straight on the river to possible flush. I guess it worked for him. Stl_Phily did a great job of playing his big stack aggressively. I started at a separate table from him, but he came into the final table big stacked and bullied his way to first. Great job!

2nd tournament, another $20 buy in. The Calling Station (who I am so glad comes every tournament we have), went out within the first 5 hands. Flop comes K93rainbow. CS bets, someone calls. Turn is 8. CS goes all in with K10. Someone calls with K8 and wins with two pair. CS out early again (surprise).

I have AJ and raise pre-flop 3xBB. SB and BB fold. Same Super loose from before (had called the BB) is UTG and calls. Flop comes AQ4. Super loose raises it, I re-raise, he calls.
Turn is a Q, Super loose goes all in: I tank. Seriously? AK? QQ? AQ? I don't think so. I think A10 or worse, but I can't do it. I fold.

2 hands later:
I have AQ. I raise preflop 3x BB, super loose calls from BB. Flop comes AK9 rainbow. Super loose bets, I reraise 3x the bet. Super loose calls. Turn is a K. Super loose goes all in. Seriously? We just played this. I can't let him push me like this. I call. He turns over K4o/s. Holy SHIT! Raise pre-flop and re-raise after the flop and he is playing with K4o/s. Oh well, I'm glad he will be here next time. I need to at least finish in the money once in a while.

I went out early, Stl_Phily went out early. Q-(just learned to play: see Home Game Last Night .) took first and Super tight player #2 (not my brother) folded his way to 2nd place.

Then we started up the cash game. .25/.50 NL. 7 players. We played from 1am to 5am. We allowed any cash on the table to be in play. It was crazy, but fun. I finished up $9 for the entire night. That was after my buy ins to 2 tournaments, my wife's buy ins and $30 spent during the night. Not too shabby. Thank goodness I can kind of play ring games.
And thank you to my wife for letting me get 5 hours of sleep. The kids were up early and she took them.

Hope to see you next time.
Stay Patient...

Friday, August 10, 2007

Football Season is Upon Us!

Are you ready for some football? I can't wait. Football season is always such a busy time in my house. I am a die hard Broncos Fan and make sure to never miss a game. My wife is a Cowboys fan. Luckily we aren't in the same division, or we might not have ever gotten married (like if she had been a Chiefs fan). I used to trek off to some bar every Sunday, trying to beat the raiders fans or Packers fans there to request the Broncos be shown, but "thank you, DirecTV". Now I can work around the house up until game time and not miss a down ("thank you, TIVO").

My son's games have always kept us busy as well. My oldest son, Brian, broke his leg his Freshman year and stopped playing after that (he gets to keep the plate and 7 screws in his leg for the memory). He is a senior in college now, so that was a long time ago.

My 16 year old, Cal, has been playing for 7 years now. I was fortunate enough to be one of his coaches for 4 years (prior to high school). I can't express enough how great of an experience it is to coach kids sports. Get involved any chance you get! Anyway, Cal was blessed with speed (not from my genes), so has been a tailback all this time. I played countless hours of MaddenNFL with him (as did his older brother too) to teach him formations, play-making, and proper reactions on the field (and because it was fun!). Now he has skills and a solid understanding of the game that is way ahead of most kids his age. For example, on his 7th grade team, he scored 32 touchdowns in 10 games. He is really something to see.

He had a great Freshman year stats wise, and was moved up to play in the final JV game that year. He maybe played 4 plays in the first 3 quarters of the game. With 2 minutes to go in the game and his team losing by 4 points, they gave him the ball again and this time he made a 76 yard run for the winning score. How fun and what a great memory for him! He was really fired up to play his Sophomore year.

As a Sophomore, he earned the starting tailback position, but in the first game of the season, he took a hit to the leg that snapped his fibula right in half. End of season. I felt terrible for him. He worked so hard to get there, and before he got the chance to enjoy it, he was done. But he took it with a great attitude and worked hard to rehab in time for Track Season. Unfortunately, in the middle of Track season he had to have Hernia surgery.

Now we are getting ready for his Junior year. It will be "Friday Night Lights" (and some Saturdays) from now until early November. He is set to start at tailback again. In a county wide scrimmage 2 weeks ago, he took a helmet to the hip, so he is rehabbing a hip-pointer now, but hopes to be at 100% by the 31st of August -opening game of the season.

So we have football, Fridays and Sundays for awhile. It will be a couple of years before my next son is ready to start PeeWee Football. We have 2 boys and a girl all under the age of 6, so in about 7 years we will be slammed with kids sports. But it is so worth it, as long as they are having fun.

I just have to make sure to get in some poker during the weeks ; )
See you at the HOY and MOOKIE.

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Congratulations Lawchica!

Make sure to check out LJ's site about her cash in the 32K guarantee. Actually, not just a cash, but a 3rd place finish out of 253 entrants = big cash (for us low limit grinders). Way to represent us bloggers!

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Mookie and Dookie every Wed

First of all, make sure you stop by on Wednesdays for the Mookie and then the Dookie. Cheap tournaments with great players to learn from.

Full Tilt Poker Game #3195400141: The Mookie - Whatta Bonehet (24302891), Table 4 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:05:50 ET - 2007/08/08
Seat 1: photojenn (2,955)
Seat 2: wwonka69 (1,857)
Seat 3: jamyhawk2 (2,805)
Seat 4: cemfredmd (3,000)
Seat 5: hoyazo (2,970)
Seat 6: columbo (3,390)
Seat 7: jeciimd (3,000)
Seat 8: WPBT (4,023)
hoyazo posts the small blind of 15
columbo posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ah Th]<---not a great hand but I'll see a flop.
jeciimd folds
WPBT folds
photojenn folds
wwonka69 raises to 150
jamyhawk2 calls 150<---Limping in.
cemfredmd folds
hoyazo has 15 seconds left to act
hoyazo folds
columbo folds
*** FLOP *** [6h 4h 2c]
wwonka69 bets 180<---steal ???
jamyhawk2 raises to 400<---re-steal attempt
wwonka69 has 15 seconds left to act
wwonka69 calls 220<---hmmmm.
*** TURN *** [6h 4h 2c] [8d]
wwonka69 bets 1,307, and is all in<---Great bet. I can't call this. I start counting heart outs and then A's and 10's out there. But that is a donkey call, if I call this. IMO.
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 has requested TIME
jamyhawk2 folds
Uncalled bet of 1,307 returned to wwonka69
wwonka69 mucks
wwonka69 wins the pot (1,145)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,145 Rake 0
Board: [6h 4h 2c 8d]
Seat 1: photojenn didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: wwonka69 collected (1,145), mucked
Seat 3: jamyhawk2 folded on the Turn
Seat 4: cemfredmd (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: hoyazo (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: jeciimd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: WPBT didn't bet (folded)


Full Tilt Poker Game #3195679952: The Mookie - Whatta Bonehet (24302891), Table 4 - 25/50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:30:43 ET - 2007/08/08
Seat 1: photojenn (2,815)
Seat 2: wwonka69 (2,517)
Seat 3: jamyhawk2 (2,720)
Seat 4: cemfredmd (2,970)
Seat 6: columbo (2,300)
Seat 7: jeciimd (2,980)
Seat 8: WPBT (7,748)
Seat 9: pvanharibo (3,275)
cemfredmd posts the small blind of 25
columbo posts the big blind of 50
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ks Qc]<---A great hand for the button. Sometimes a limp, sometimes a raise depending on how the table has been. jeciimd folds
WPBT folds
pvanharibo folds
photojenn has 15 seconds left to act
photojenn raises to 150
wwonka69 folds
jamyhawk2 calls 150<---This table has been aggressive pre-flop, so I just call.
cemfredmd folds
columbo calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Qs 3s 5s]<---I like this flop but scary.
columbo checks<---remember this later.
photojenn has 15 seconds left to act
photojenn checks
jamyhawk2 bets 300<---I have to fire at this pot.
columbo has 15 seconds left to act
columbo raises to 600<---Looks like someone else has a Q. BB called a raise at 3.5-1 odds. So they could be on Q anything. Also could have Js, 10s, or trapping with a set. I put them on Qx10s.
photojenn folds
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 raises to 2,570, and is all in<---I feel I am ahead plus any spade gives me 2nd nut flush, which should be good. If they have Aspades only, this should push them out. And I can survive if they call and take this hand.
columbo calls 1,550, and is all in<---ruh roh...
jamyhawk2 shows [Ks Qc]
columbo shows [9s Ts]

Uncalled bet of 420 returned to jamyhawk2
*** TURN *** [Qs 3s 5s] [9h]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 3s 5s 9h] [As]
jamyhawk2 shows a flush, Ace high
columbo shows a flush, Ace high
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (4,775) with a flush, Ace high
wwonka69: gg
columbo stands up
The blinds are now 30/60
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,775 Rake 0
Board: [Qs 3s 5s 9h As]
Seat 1: photojenn folded on the Flop
Seat 2: wwonka69 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: jamyhawk2 (button) showed [Ks Qc] and won (4,775) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 4: cemfredmd (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: columbo (big blind) showed [9s Ts] and lost with a flush, Ace high
Seat 7: jeciimd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: WPBT didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: pvanharibo didn't bet (folded)


Full Tilt Poker Game #3196150369: The Mookie - Whatta Bonehet (24302891), Table 2 - 60/120 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:12:43 ET - 2007/08/08
Seat 1: FRicOG (4,925)
Seat 3: morrdt (7,315)
Seat 4: JoeMav (8,445)
Seat 5: BuddyDank (6,347)
Seat 6: SirFWALGMan (6,928)
Seat 7: jamyhawk2 (5,725)
Seat 8: pushmonkey72 (3,930)
Seat 9: Bone_Daddy84 (2,932)
pushmonkey72 posts the small blind of 60
Bone_Daddy84 posts the big blind of 120
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [7c 8c]
FRicOG folds
morrdt has 15 seconds left to act
morrdt folds
JoeMav folds
BuddyDank calls 120
SirFWALGMan folds
jamyhawk2 calls 120<---yeah! so many possibilities with suited connectors.
pushmonkey72 folds
Bone_Daddy84 checks
*** FLOP *** [5h 5c 2c]<---scary flop, but great for me in position.
Bone_Daddy84 checks<---yes,
BuddyDank checks<--YES,
jamyhawk2 bets 400<--FIRE!
Bone_Daddy84 has 15 seconds left to act
Bone_Daddy84 folds
BuddyDank folds
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to jamyhawk2
jamyhawk2 mucks
jamyhawk2 wins the pot (420)<--Here are the hands that really build your stack. At one point, I think I went from 4k to 6k on hands without showing down. Really a must to go deep into a tournament.
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 420 Rake 0
Board: [5h 5c 2c]
Seat 1: FRicOG didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: morrdt didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: JoeMav didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: BuddyDank folded on the Flop
Seat 6: SirFWALGMan didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: jamyhawk2 (button) collected (420), mucked
Seat 8: pushmonkey72 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Bone_Daddy84 (big blind) folded on the Flop


Full Tilt Poker Game #3196611977: The Mookie - Whatta Bonehet (24302891), Table 2 - 150/300 Ante 25 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:55:00 ET - 2007/08/08
Seat 1: FRicOG (8,580)
Seat 2: BuddyDank (23,124)
Seat 3: swimmom95 (14,370)
Seat 4: JoeMav (9,495)
Seat 5: RecessRampage (12,655)
Seat 6: SirFWALGMan (4,058)
Seat 7: jamyhawk2 (4,485)<---feeling shortstacked
Seat 8: pokerenthusiast (6,830)
Seat 9: HighOnPoker (28,229)
FRicOG antes 25
BuddyDank antes 25
swimmom95 antes 25
JoeMav antes 25
RecessRampage antes 25
SirFWALGMan antes 25
jamyhawk2 antes 25
pokerenthusiast antes 25
HighOnPoker antes 25
BuddyDank posts the small blind of 150
swimmom95 posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jamyhawk2 [Ad Ah]<--YES, time to double up.
SirFWALGMan: jesus some donk huge stacks in this thing
JoeMav folds
RecessRampage folds
HighOnPoker: BIG STACK SMASH PUNY MID-SHORT STACK!!!
SirFWALGMan raises to 1,275<--I like it. I know he plays a wide range of cards.
jamyhawk2 calls 1,275<--I have 5 bigger stacks behind me and I want callers or hopefully a reraise to build this pot.
pokerenthusiast folds
HighOnPoker folds
FRicOG folds
BuddyDank folds
swimmom95 folds<--arghhhh. no one reraised or even called.
*** FLOP *** [2s 5h Th]
SirFWALGMan: lol
SirFWALGMan has 15 seconds left to act
SirFWALGMan bets 1,500
jamyhawk2: cmon
jamyhawk2 has 15 seconds left to act
jamyhawk2 raises to 3,185, and is all in<--only a set has me now and I still have a chance at bigger set if I am behind. I'm hoping for AK, KK, QQ or JJ.
SirFWALGMan calls 1,258, and is all in
jamyhawk2 shows [Ad Ah]
SirFWALGMan shows [Ts Tc]
Uncalled bet of 427 returned to jamyhawk2
SirFWALGMan: lol
*** TURN *** [2s 5h Th] [6c]
*** RIVER *** [2s 5h Th 6c] [Qh]
jamyhawk2 shows a pair of Aces
SirFWALGMan shows three of a kind, Tens
SirFWALGMan wins the pot (8,741) with three of a kind, Tens
SirFWALGMan: oops
HighOnPoker: NH
jamyhawk2: nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,741 Rake 0
Board: [2s 5h Th 6c Qh]
Seat 1: FRicOG (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: BuddyDank (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: swimmom95 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: JoeMav folded before the Flop
Seat 5: RecessRampage folded before the Flop
Seat 6: SirFWALGMan showed [Ts Tc] and won (8,741) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 7: jamyhawk2 showed [Ad Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces

Seat 8: pokerenthusiast folded before the Flop
Seat 9: HighOnPoker folded before the Flop


Nice hand Waffles.
Shortly thereafter I finish 17 of 59

Overall , I feel I played good tonight (unlike last week). I know I can get into the money here so see you next week.


Oh, and here is the Dookie hand I went out on (two pair with flush draw, he hits two pair on river to take me out). No repeat for me, but I did hammer MiamiDon. Woohoo. He takes me down in a $75 buyin, and I pay him back in the $5 buyin. I have a lot of catching up to do...


Stay patient