Lazy Saturday

I was feeling like playing a little poker Saturday afternoon, mostly because I'm ailing from a nasty case of Guitar-Hero-Wrist that makes it extremely painful to play on Expert.

I entered a $5.00+.50 45-person S&G, and here are some highlights:

Oh, wait. There are no fucking highlights. http://www.pokerhand.org/?2234170

The next hand I got my last 150 chips in with AsKs and got called by Qd4d. He turned a flush and I was toast.

Fuckin' A, that puts a sour taste in my mouth.

I'm gonna go play some Guitar Hero.

-The Gerk-

Woo-hoo!

We actually played a poker tournament Monday night at my apartment. I played ridiculously loose, leading to Ian busting me twice and Derek once. I dropped $15 and went to McDonald's.

Full Tilt offered me a $75 bonus that I could redeem over a span of ten days, so late in the evening I sat on the couch between Ian and Derek and played some .25/.50 NLHE. It is important for me to note that I NEVER play at stakes this high in an internet cash game. I have played higher stakes live, but on the internet I feel that competition in these games is above my level. I was wrong- at least tonight. I can't lie though, I caught cards CONSTANTLY, allowing me to make plays and build an image.

I made over $60 in less than an hour. This hand was the highlight of my night. Can you dream of anything working out more awesomely?

Feeling invincible, I moved on to .10/.25 PLO. I took over $30 in a very brief session, a lot of it coming from this wet dream of a hand.

I'm sitting at a .25/.50 Stud table right now. I'm up 4 big bets. Can I lose money tonight?


Who knows.


One thing is for sure; I'm having fun playing poker again.

-The Gerk-

A Sit-and-Go Just for the Purpose of an Update

I haven't updated this blog in a month.

Let me rank the reasons why:

1. Guitar Hero (I, II, and III)
2. Other work on the site Arabianmonkey.com
3. Work
4. Stuff around the apartment
5. School

Yet I digress- it's not like I just chose not to update. I have seriously played less that 12 hours of poker in 2008. Crazy, isn't it? I theorize that I will eventually get sick of Guitar Hero and my playing ability will plateau, leading me back to the poker table.

But since that hasn't happened yet, I purposely sat my ass down with my hand generator and this blog window specifically to write about a Sit-and-Go. So here it is, nothing fancy, just some simply hand analysis of a meat-and-potatoes $5+.50 NL Hold'em 9-player Sit-and-Go. I had to use the old hand generator because I forgot my password to the new-fangled one.


I folded through the first level. I took a flop with 66, whiffed and let it go. The table seemed pretty standard- nothing crazy happening. Then I picked up AsQs in my BB. UTG limped, so did the cutoff. SB makes it 200 to go, 5x the BB. UTG then shoves. What the fuck? Cutoff folds, SB thinks a while and calls. Easy fold for me, right? UTG must be looking for that classic limp and trap play with AA or KK. SB must have at least AK, right? It's been a while since I've played, so I guess I'm impatient. I call. SB has QQ, UTG has 88. Board bricks. I'm out. Did I say I was only going to play one tournamet? Hahahaha... LET'S TRY AGAIN!

ROUND 2

Things started out much the same, playing Texas Fold'em. I took a small pot in my SB with J9. Then in the second level a confrontation arose that nearly made this blog unworthy of posting. Check out the action...

I figured we might be racing. Shit, it was almost 2:30am- sleep isn't such a bad consolation prize.

Two hands later I woke up in the BB with AQ. The short-stacked button minraised, the SB called and I jammed it. It folded to the button, who promptly called, and I was racing again. Here's how it turned out.

With almost 4,500 chips under my belt, I was pretty set. We very quickly became 5-handed and things tightened up. I called a raise on the button with QsTs, hoping to hit a good flop against a pretty TAG player. It came down with the As and the Ks. I had a royal flush draw and a gut shot. He continuation bet, and I called, with the intention of jamming the turn no matter what fell and how he acted. The turn was an 8, giving me an extra 4 outs. He timidly checked, and I decided to push and take it down.

A little while later, this hand came up. I nearly folded the turn; I swear to God my poker senses kicked in and almost saved me some money. He made it so affordable that I had to pay him off though. The short stack played the hand perfectly.

I made it back later though. I wasn't too scared of AK here, so when I pushed I felt pretty safe. He seemed to pretend to think about a call before letting it go.

Ugh. This always seems to happen. I wish he had just folded.

You might say I had a pretty good read on the guy on my right. Check out the river action on this baby.

The blinds got higher and my opponents' stacks got smaller. Out of necessity I called the all in of the 4th place finsher, and the next hand I took out the 3rd place guy for the same reason- he was just too short stacked for me not to call.

After some back and forth heads-up action. I noticed my opponent was getting frustrated. I raised three straight hands and then picked up AA. He raised from the button, trying to steal his thunder back. I, of course, declared that this was my table and re-raised. He cold called and I checked him the flop to see if he would hang himself. Not yet. I even gave him a free river card when he opted out of suicide again. But I jammed the un-important river card and he called VERY quickly with King-high. What a bitch. Check out the hand- there's nothing better than ending a tourney with AA.

-The Gerk-

Through the Muck

I would like to post some hands, but it's not worth your time or my own.

I've won a couple of 5.50 9-players the last few days.

I finished 22nd in a 180 person when I couldn't get my KJ to hold up against JT all-in preflop for 7 BBs.

I played decent in a 90-person HORSE SNG but got coolered twice immediately after the first break, and I couldn't make my money back despite getting it all-in good in hold'em.

Last night I finished 2nd in a SNG where I thought I played about as close to perfect as ever, then got my money in facing three outs with two pulls against A4. Turn 4, river A. Heartbreak.

In the last week I'm up a small amount online, but I think I'm playing tremendously. When I'm in the zone, the decisions make themselves- abstract concepts become crystal clear and it feels like play slows down to the point that I become attached to no hand. I think a lot of this has been because of some extra aggression I've instituted in my play since my last bad run of cards. If you asked Paul the poker player a year ago whether he would bet out with two pair in the SB on a ragged flop, he would give a resounding "no." Today... ABSOLUTELY.

But despite what I consider solid play, I've been taking some rough beats lately. Not unexpected beats, but tough ones that cost me my tournament life in many cases. I can't race or win a 60/40 to save my life, and it seems like every time I get my money in facing three outs the dude turns or rivers his miracle. Since I started playing five years ago, I've never cared all that much if I was beaten as the result of being outplayed. In fact, that's the way I want to bust, knowing I can improve and fix something in my game. But over the last year it feels like most of my beats and bankroll drainers have not been the fault of getting outplayed, but rather getting outdrawn. Like I said, usually those outdraws fall under the category of "expected variance," but it still sucks when you're making a solid push with your bankroll and you hit a series of speed bumps when AK can't hold against AQ and JJ can't best AJ.

Either way, I'm happy with my play. In hold'em, anyway. I took too long of a break in Omaha and my game has suffered noticeably. It sounds funny, but I am really fond of my razz game. Stud... er, not as much.

I'm gonna end the blog here because I'm in a big Omaha pot that I should actually win!

-The Gerk-

P.S. I did win that pot, but didn't get the action I anticipated. I apparently don't have the reads I thought I did.

Whatever.

Played some Omaha .10/.25 PL the other day and made a couple buy-ins.

Bombed in a HORSE S&G yesterday because I was distracted and lost a huge pot in Stud when I thought we were still in Razz.

Played really well in a $10+1 NL Hold'em S&G today. This hand put us in the money:

http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/764


Then just when I had total control of the table...

http://www.pokerhandreplays.com/view.php/id/765

I definitely put this guy on a ragged 3 when he just called my flop bet. He had ten outs, but fuck that hurts when it's for my tournament life. Brutal shit.

-The Gerk-

Sit and Go

Before I get into the Sit and Go I played last night, let me remind you that I am a terrible and impatient limit hold'em player. I dropped a buy-in in the ring game I sat in yesterday. Now, onto some SNG hands!

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704404

This is every player's wet dream. It was also the first hand I played in the SNG, talk about building an image...


http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704425

This would be the second hand I played. Short handed, the only hand I'm afraid of playing back at me is the low-stacked player on the button. Sure as hell, he re-popped it all-in. Am I supposed to call here? I'm really not wanting to gamble in this spot, but I figure his range is pretty big against a cut-off raiser.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704439

An absolutely miserable call on the turn. I acted too quickly; how could he possibly pot without a hand that has me drawing near-dead? To compound my mistake, I missed a prime bluffing opportunity when he checked the river to me.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704452

I thought I had made a great play here against two big cards, but he has the one hand that is almost a must call. He took every last second of his TIME clock, and I swear to God the last second was the longest one second since the UM v. MSU game a while back.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704455

He just got unlucky that I found a hand. I was very pleased that it held up.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704461

I'm not going to lie to you, it is a wonderful feeling when your hands hold up. Had to sweat the river on this one though...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704473

I think my open push is the best play here. My hand is super vulnerable and indeed, I had to sweat two cards to burst the bubble.


We volleyed back and forth three-handed, and eventually I put the pedal to the metal and started jamming from my BB and button. Then CHAOS took a stand and jammed with AJ, to which the BB moved in with I mucked my QK, which would have been the winning hand. Either way, the shorter stacked player with A7 flopped his 3-outer and doubled through.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704491

I thought I played this hand sneakily, but I was for some reason truly scared of AA. I prolly could have eked out a river value bet too.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704499

I would have preferred this hand held; but it didn't, so we're back at square one.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1704500

Right before this hand I found KK in the BB and made it 940 to go. CHAOS called on the button, and unfortunately an Ace fell on the flop. I wanted to donk off and call when he pushed, but I resisted. By the outcome of the last hand, I would have rather got it in with KK just for the hell of it.

-Fuckin' third place-

The Theodore Roosevelt Theorum

My new poker philosophy is summarized in seven beautiful words from our nation's 26th president: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

I am becoming convinced that in order to be a truly dominant player, one must separate himself entirely from the face values of his cards. After all, you aren't playing "cards," are you? The kind of people that fall in love with face cards, small pairs, and suited connectors are the same ones who become endeared to a game they don't understand. And that is the beauty of the beast, the fact that obvious amateurs will show no desire to learn or improve, yet will continue to open their wallets to play in a game they think they can compete in. It's as if a 5'9'' 160 lb. man with an ego issue decided to pay a couple grand to step onto the field in an NFL game. He has no idea what he's getting himself into. But what's truly beautiful is that the amateurs don't get their heads kicked in with such consistency that they want to quit playing poker- no, quite the opposite. The amateur will occasionally walk away from the tables with a few buy-ins, or maybe a tournament cash, and it will only fuel the fire in his mind that has always burned with the idea of success at the poker table. And he is hooked, just like the other millions and millions of players.

There is no room for egos at the table. You must be secure and confident in your decision making, but holding vendettas for other players and for past opportunities squandered will only felt you. Just like in everyday life, you must delicately tip-toe the line between confidence and arrogance, being exceptionally careful not to tread to far into either side of the spectrum.

One must not only exude the proper amount of self-assuredness, but also keep a proper game theory in the front of his mind. One must lay low, folding often and keeping quiet, waiting for his turn to strike. And then when that chance arises, CARPE DIEM! Swing the striking hammer of justice upon those who oppose you! But yet, know that most of the time you will still have to retreat, back to waiting for another chance at glory.

--------------------------------------------------

As a side note, I played in two 5.50 9-player SNG's today. It was miserable. I made a hero play with 55 early in the first one, and made a play at a raggedy board on the turn when my opponent had bet into me twice. She had QQ. In the next tournament, I laid low for a while and raised in LP with AT. The button called, and so did the BB. The flop was 7-A-3, but something didn't feel right, so when the BB checked, I checked behind. The button checked as well, and I fired half the pot when another 3 fell on the turn. The button minraised (???), and I called hoping he had a diamond draw. The river was a 4, and I checked to his inevitable push. I was flummoxed, and I couldn't put him on any better Ace. He had the one hand I feared all along, A7, and I was out.

Now I'm playing limit hold'em in a ring game, waiting for my laundry to finish drying. I'll let you know how I did.

-The Gerk-

The Gerk Wins Full Tilt $5.50 Deep Stack 90-Person SNG

So, here's a long awaited update...

We played three tournaments at my apartment Monday night. I took the first two, and in last one I dropped two buy-ins from erratic play induced by slight drunkenness. Oh well, it had been a while since I had tasted the sweet nectar that is Blue Moon. The highlight of the evening occurred in the first tournament when Max called my all-in with a four card straight, 6 to 9. This would normally be really embarrassing, but it was doubly so because moments before it happened he was talking about when he first played the game years ago, and how he used to call his brothers with four card straights and flushes. WOW. It was one of the most entertaining moments our game has ever had.

I haven't been playing much internet poker lately. I partook in a 1200 person Knock-Out tournament (where each player has a bounty on his head) a few days ago, when I busted in the 400's and only took out two players, both on the same hand.

This morning I woke up early to do some science labs, and entered a 90 person deep-stack tournament to bide the time. The damn thing lasted almost four hours, but it was well worth it. I won the tournament and it's $112.50 first prize.

Here's the last hand: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1698047

I don't have any other hands to post, but there were other highlights. I doubled up to over 6000 very early, and played Texas Fold 'em while keeping a tight image through the first hour and a half. I was playing patiently, and it worked out. I got sucked out on in a big pot only once, in a 7k pot where we got it all in on a Q-9-7 flop. I had QJ and he had JT. The turn was an 8 and I was hammered down to about 3k. I rebuilt my stack, and got it up to around 12k before I two-outered a short stack. I raised from the cutoff with QK, he minraised on the button with KK. I just called, and the flop was Q-high. He only had about 1000 left, so we got it in and the turn fell a queen.

We played ten handed for almost an hour, and at one point I was down to only 3200 with the blinds at 200/400. I pushed with AJ, was called by K-x, and it held. The very next hand I pushed my 7.5k with 44, and it held against AT. I was back in business.

At the final table I played pretty well, but I made one crucial mistake that ended up working out in my favor. With around 45k, I raised to 3200 UTG with 88 (we were 7-handed). Everyone folded to the BB, who called. The flop was 6-4-4. He bet out 9000, and I just called instead of pushing, despite thinking he was kind of LAGgy, and had a wide range. The turn was a Q, and he bet the pot. I moved in over the top, and he called... with AQ. I had given him a turn he didn't need to see. It was a huge mistake that would have left me with only hundreds of chips, but the fates aligned and the turn fell an 8. I was catapulted into the chiplead with 93,000 chips.

I laid low for a while, and eventually ended up busting 5 of 7 players to get myself heads-up. I had a 2:1 lead, but he played a stellar LAG style two-handed. He had me on the ropes, but I made the nut straight with 79 and took half of his stack. We exchanged blows until the final hand, which I posted earlier.

112.50 is cool with me, I'm pumped about another tournament win. I should seriously stop playing ring games, I am a much better MTT player.

-Peace out, and good luck at the tables!-

The Gerk Final Tables

I finished 7th in a Full Tilt 260+ person NL Hold'em tournament Monday. I would post some hands, but frankly I'm still a little sick over not winning the damn thing. I'm especially upset with the way I busted. I played my best TAG game the whole tourney, then the following hand came up. With blinds at 800-1600, it folded around to the SB, with myself in the BB. The SB had raised the last 3 pots and taken them without contest, but I knew very little about him, and had not played a hand against him all tourney. He opened for 4800, and I called with 7-3o. I did this for several reasons. One, I thought I could outplay him postflop. Two, he couldn't possibly have as many hands he'd been representing. And three, I hadn't defended a blind yet at the final table, so I thought it would be a good time to set a play up. At the time I had 50,000, with the average stack around 32,000. The flop came 7-2-9, and he fired 16,000, an enormous bet. It looked like a steal, and I like to go with my gut, so I pushed over the top. He tanked and called with A-9, the turn fell an ace, and he faded the two outer to bust me. I took home 48.50 for my trouble.

I felt like I played really well the whole tourney, much better than I have been lately in the cash games. When we played poker Monday night, I was ready to translate that online success into my live game. I won the first tournament and finished second in the other, despite having a 2:1 chiplead when we got it headsup. Max decided to just jam me with the blinds at 5.00/10.00, and pushed in 8 of the first 9 pots. Expectantly, I went completely card dead simultaneously. In the tenth hand, I found Q-8 in the SB and pushed back. He called instantly with A-4. The door card came an A, and that was that. I was surprised at how Max played heads-up... I'd never seen him do that before, and frankly, I don't know how I'm supposed to avoid a 60/40 clash for my tournament when a guy plays like that heads-up. If you have any ideas to counter a super-aggro heads-up style, I'd like to read about it in the comments section. Otherwise...

Good luck at the tables!

-The Gerk

An update?!?!?

I haven't updated in a while simply because I haven't been playing much poker.

I have taken a hiatus in large part due to my work and school schedule, saving little "me" time or time for my family. Plus my little brother Kevin has started his little league football season, so there go my Saturday mornings.

I feel like when I'm stressed or pressed for time, I rush my play, get a little spewy, and generally play too lose. Therefore, after dropping a few buy-ins, I just stopped playing.

Yesterday I did play an hour .10/.25 NLHE session on FullTilt. It was up and down, and I ran pretty shitty but still doubled my buy-in. That might be the first online win for me in two weeks or more.

My live play has been good, Hold'em wise anyway. I think my PLO game has regressed a bit. I won one tournament Monday night, and mounted a comeback in the second, only to finish 2nd when I got it all in with 66 v. Roy's A4 (He rivered an ace).

I'll keep you posted if anything crazy happens and I get to play this weekend, but it looks doubtful. I've got a pick-up football game at noon tomorrow, then the Homecoming parade and game from 4:30-9:30. Saturday Kevin has his game at noon, then I work 4:00PM-1:00AM (TV News sucks).

Good luck at the tables!

-The Gerk-