"I love the smell of napalm in the morning"

Ethics and morals in poker. It's always an interesting debate and at the end of the day, it's really just a personal thing. I know what sits right with me and what doesn't.

The reason I mentioned that maybe lubing up Scotty in the 50K HORSE final table was a little dubious to me, was due to Lindgrens comment after the game "I couldn't even beat a drunk".

Not "I couldn't beat someone that was drunk" but to me, it sounded like he couldn't beat someone with an alcohol problem that was off their dial.

So now there's the moral debate, if hypothetically Scotty does have a serous problem with alcohol, is it okay to try and get him drunk? What if he was on the wagon? Still fair play?

Anything goes? Is the poker table total war as long as you don't break any rules?




FG

More human than human

A new addition to Taronga (Sydney) zoo. The little guys name is Mahale along with proud mother Mouila.

Their human traits never cease to blow me away. Some day I'd like to visit Africa and observe them in the wild.





(Photo: Nick Moir)

Cocktails! Cocktails baby!

For those that haven't seen the 50K HORSE event, I strongly suggest to get your hands on it. It's a little like watching a car crash slowly unfolding.

There' s been all sorts of discussions about Scotty's antics, but one of the key things for me was Erick Lindgren's calculated approach to the final table.

In an interview since this final table, he admitted:

a) He was aware Scotty likes to drink to 'loosen up' at a final table, so he encouraged the drinking early on. His goal was simply to get Scotty drunk and off his game.
b) Soon afterward he berated the young upstart De Michele for celebrating after every hand. This wasn't done because he though he was out of line but because he wanted to make him uncomfortable and put him off balance after gaining momentum.

By the time it got to three handed, Scotty was out of control and De Michele was caught in a whirlwind of drunken abuse. Lindgren couldn't have been happier with the situation that had unfolded and had substantially increased his edge in the game.

It's cold, very calculating, some might argue immoral, but to me this is the game within the game.


FG

Wise words from The Professor

When I sit down to play online, the amount of time I play or whether I even play at all depends on the tables available to me. If I can't find some loose tables where I think I have enough of an edge, I simply don't play. On Pokerstars, you're able to view how loose tables are playing and just as importantly, if they're overvaluing hands. The hand history is also an invaluable tool in identifying those spots at the table where I want to play a big pot, and those I'd like to avoid bumping heads with.

Of course it takes alot of disciple to sit down with a fresh coffee (AM) or a recently cracked beer (PM), fire up Pokerstars and then walk away if nothing looks particularly inviting. These days I have a few fallback options which I'm also finding have the added benefit of keeping my Holdem game fresh.

Fallback #1: 1c/2c Pot Limit Omaha. This is a safe way to get my feet wet learning a new game without much risk at all. Omaha is a very loose, post flop action game so it's incredibly refreshing after folding hand after hand playing Holdem. I usually play full ring Omaha as opposed to 6 max. This allows alot more breathing room so I can sit tight and watch the action without always being involved. Unfortunately full ring isn't as popular as its pretty much a game of playing the nuts.

Fallback #2: Play money 2-7 Triple Draw (lowball): If there's no full ring Omaha available, the next option is 2-7 Lowball. It's so refreshing to play a game nothing like Holdem. Omaha certainly has alot of cross-over but a draw lowball game is another world. On the surface it seems a very simple game with quite a bit of luck involved, but I'm enjoying it no end and may just take a dip at real $ soon. The fact that many don't even understand the basic rules could result in it being a money spinner also.


I recall a Full Tilt radio advert where Howard Lederer recommend everyone try other variations of poker. If you don't do this, he stated, you might not discover the game which you're alot better at, just as he discovered limit was his forte? It does appear 'The Professor' was onto something.


FG

Bedouin Song

Music is and always has been my biggest passion. In my younger days I spent quite a few years playing in a band. Musically, my tastes are all over the place a bit like this blog!

Feel free to enjoy the best of what Australia has to offer. Part I.

Both musically and lyrically this song floors me every time I hear it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWy8m-Cmak


Band: Lior
Album: Autumn Flow
Song: Bedouin Song


Leaving the western shadows
Naked in the face of tomorrow
Ooh, and the madness of black desert rain
That lets you rise up and flourish once again

Heading east
Bursting into calm sea like a river released
And the cool night will flow into the heat of the day
I will lose this shadow
I will find my way

Oh, Bedouin song
Is all i really own
Ooh, how strong the temptation to fall

While black desert rain
Runs through my veins
Opening windows of shame

Wild moon above
Go on tell me there is love
I will lose this shadow
I will find my way

Wild moon above
Go on tell me there is love
I will find my inspiration
I will find my way

.

Pot control out of position

Here's a fairly common ugly spot. I have an over pair, out of position against a loose aggressive player.

Raised preflop. Snap call.
Bet the flop. Snap call.

Now what? I don't particularly want to build a big pot out of position with only one pair.

One of the best pieces of advice I've picked up from listening to podcasts was Gavin Smith saying "Always bet the turn, check the river", not vice versa. The reasoning was:
- you're continuing the control the hand
- checking the river can induce all kinds of bluffs
- by checking the river you've kept the pot small and can now call most bets/bluffs



PokerStars Game #19845258778: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/23 - 19:10:03 (ET)
Table 'Deikoon III' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: manuelmade ($23.80 in chips)
Seat 3: yipyapsap ($27.20 in chips)
Seat 4: Schnurz ($23.80 in chips)
Seat 5: DDigglerDD ($24.75 in chips)
Seat 6: Forrest Gump ($40.90 in chips)
Seat 7: Seaboat ($26.10 in chips)
Seat 8: jack21221 ($66.10 in chips)
Seat 9: xwarlockx ($28.05 in chips)
DDigglerDD: posts small blind $0.10
Forrest Gump: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [As Ac]
Seaboat: folds
jack21221: folds
xwarlockx: folds
manuelmade: folds
yipyapsap: folds
Schnurz: calls $0.25
DDigglerDD: folds
Forrest Gump: raises $1.25 to $1.50
Schnurz: calls $1.25
*** FLOP *** [9h 8c 3d]
Forrest Gump: bets $1
Schnurz: calls $1
*** TURN *** [9h 8c 3d] [5c]
Forrest Gump: bets $2.50
Schnurz: calls $2.50
*** RIVER *** [9h 8c 3d 5c] [6h]
Forrest Gump: checks
Schnurz: bets $1.50
Forrest Gump: calls $1.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Schnurz: shows [Ts Qs] (high card Queen)
Forrest Gump: shows [As Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Forrest Gump collected $12.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $13.10 | Rake $0.60
Board [9h 8c 3d 5c 6h]
Seat 2: manuelmade folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: yipyapsap folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Schnurz (button) showed [Ts Qs] and lost with high card Queen
Seat 5: DDigglerDD (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Forrest Gump (big blind) showed [As Ac] and won ($12.50) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: Seaboat folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: jack21221 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: xwarlockx folded before Flop (didn't bet)

The Art of Poker

Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards... Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.
- Sun Tzu


Don't get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
- Bruce Lee


Fair to say both Sun and Bruce would have played a mean game!

"Hit me with your best shot"

A strategy I've been using quite a bit lately is calling down aggressive players rather than trying to protect my hand. If I think I have best hand, I let them keep firing and then just continue to call to the river. I'll also often call down with middle/bottom pair or ace high. I figure whether I win or lose, I've shown I'm willing to call down light and this can slow them down in the future.

The reasoning is:
- keeping the pot small and relative to your hand strength.
- if I think I have best hand on the flop, they're unlikely to improve on the turn/river.
- I'm comfortable in post flop play.
- betting doesn't define their hand as their range is any two cards.
- it frustrates the hell out of them.

I think the key to the LAG's strategy is that they build big pots and force people into situations where they overplay hands they typically wouldn't. This seems to be an effective counter strategy.

In hand #1 I have no idea what the villain has as he's hyper aggressive and winning most pots at the table. I plan to call just about any bet on the river. As it was, the small bet was designed to get under his skin a little.

In hand #2, I figure I have the usual outs in any heart, Q or J, but its also possible Q high is good. This hand occurred straight after hand #1.

Of course, it doesn't always work. In hand #3 I thought I had best hand until the river. I had planned to call on the river but the final bet just felt like the right amount if the villain actually wanted a call. Anything less I snap call, anything more feels a bit weak.




Hand#1:
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/20 - 09:28:04 (ET)
Table 'Klytia' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($32 in chips)
Seat 2: Kid Duck85 ($8 in chips)
Seat 3: Higgins71 ($3.95 in chips)
Seat 4: mkvnet ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: NuRoN1 ($57.45 in chips)
Seat 6: J_BLACK2008 ($49.95 in chips)
Seat 7: BabyNuke ($6.40 in chips)
Seat 8: omalleyno1 ($30.95 in chips)
Seat 9: koko2585 ($5.05 in chips)
NuRoN1: posts small blind $0.10
J_BLACK2008: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [As Jd]
BabyNuke: folds
omalleyno1: folds
koko2585: folds
Forrest Gump: raises $0.75 to $1
Kid Duck85: folds
Higgins71: folds
mkvnet: folds
NuRoN1: folds
J_BLACK2008: calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [Ah Kd Ks]
J_BLACK2008: bets $1.50
Forrest Gump: calls $1.50
*** TURN *** [Ah Kd Ks] [2d]
J_BLACK2008: bets $2
Forrest Gump: calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Ah Kd Ks 2d] [9h]
J_BLACK2008: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $0.50
J_BLACK2008: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [As Jd] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
J_BLACK2008: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $9.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.10 | Rake $0.45
Board [Ah Kd Ks 2d 9h]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump showed [As Jd] and won ($9.65) with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 2: Kid Duck85 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Higgins71 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: mkvnet (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: NuRoN1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: J_BLACK2008 (big blind) mucked [8d Ac]
Seat 7: BabyNuke folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: omalleyno1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: koko2585 folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Hand #2
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/20 - 09:29:29 (ET)
Table 'Klytia' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($36.65 in chips)
Seat 2: Kid Duck85 ($8 in chips)
Seat 3: Higgins71 ($3.95 in chips)
Seat 4: mkvnet ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: NuRoN1 ($57.35 in chips)
Seat 6: J_BLACK2008 ($44.95 in chips)
Seat 7: BabyNuke ($6.40 in chips)
Seat 8: omalleyno1 ($30.95 in chips)
Seat 9: koko2585 ($5.05 in chips)
J_BLACK2008: posts small blind $0.10
BabyNuke: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Qh Jh]
omalleyno1: folds
koko2585: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
Kid Duck85: folds
Higgins71: folds
mkvnet: folds
NuRoN1: folds
J_BLACK2008: calls $0.15
BabyNuke: checks
*** FLOP *** [4h As 7h]
J_BLACK2008: bets $0.75
BabyNuke: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $0.75
*** TURN *** [4h As 7h] [9c]
J_BLACK2008: checks
Forrest Gump: checks
*** RIVER *** [4h As 7h 9c] [Jc]
J_BLACK2008: bets $0.75
Forrest Gump: calls $0.75
*** SHOW DOWN ***
J_BLACK2008: shows [3s 4s] (a pair of Fours)
Forrest Gump: shows [Qh Jh] (a pair of Jacks)
Forrest Gump collected $3.60 from pot
Forrest Gump said, ";)"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.75 | Rake $0.15
Board [4h As 7h 9c Jc]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump showed [Qh Jh] and won ($3.60) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: Kid Duck85 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Higgins71 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: mkvnet folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: NuRoN1 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: J_BLACK2008 (small blind) showed [3s 4s] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 7: BabyNuke (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: omalleyno1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: koko2585 folded before Flop (didn't bet)



Hand #3
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/20 - 09:23:21 (ET)
Table 'Sylvia IV' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($24.25 in chips)
Seat 2: Degering ($13.25 in chips)
Seat 3: Crotine ($24.60 in chips)
Seat 4: mattias2211 ($18.35 in chips)
Seat 5: marcel222 ($6.05 in chips)
Seat 6: skilljoy ($14.65 in chips)
Seat 7: kast295 ($36.45 in chips)
Seat 8: Tw3ntyThree ($4.30 in chips)
Seat 9: Sitgarth ($15 in chips)
kast295: posts small blind $0.10
Tw3ntyThree: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Ts Tc]
Sitgarth: folds
Sitgarth leaves the table
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
Degering: calls $0.25
Crotine: folds
mattias2211: raises $0.75 to $1
marcel222: folds
skilljoy: folds
kast295: folds
Tw3ntyThree: folds
K2Pro joins the table at seat #9
Forrest Gump: calls $0.75
Degering: folds
*** FLOP *** [7c 7s Js]
Forrest Gump: checks
mattias2211: bets $1
Forrest Gump: calls $1
*** TURN *** [7c 7s Js] [4d]
Forrest Gump: checks
mattias2211: bets $1.50
Forrest Gump: calls $1.50
*** RIVER *** [7c 7s Js 4d] [Kc]
Forrest Gump: checks
mattias2211: bets $5
Forrest Gump: folds
Uncalled bet ($5) returned to mattias2211
mattias2211 collected $7.25 from pot
mattias2211: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $7.60 | Rake $0.35
Board [7c 7s Js 4d Kc]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump folded on the River
Seat 2: Degering folded before Flop
Seat 3: Crotine folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: mattias2211 collected ($7.25)
Seat 5: marcel222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: skilljoy (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: kast295 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Tw3ntyThree (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: Sitgarth folded before Flop (didn't bet)

"Here kitty kitty!"

I work for a company that among other things is a large coffee roaster and supplier. I've been fortunate enough to sit in on some 'Barista' training courses as well as practice on a cafe style espresso machine in our office. The downside is that I'm a little spoiled when it comes to coffee and I tend to find it difficult to find a 'quality' coffee.

A few tips I've learned along the way for finding good quality coffee:

- Check out the person making the coffee. If the cafe is more food oriented and there's a regular rotation of waiter/waitresses making the coffees it probably won't be good. In contrast, if the cafe does a thriving coffee business and there appears to be one person making the coffee, hopefully its a trained barista and the coffee should be good.
- The espresso machine should be clean and look maintained. In particular, the milk wand should not be caked in dried milk.
- The grinder reservoir should not be filled to the brim and the beans shouldn't be pre-ground to speed up proceedings. Coffee beans go stale very quickly. The reservoir should be partially filled and the coffee should be freshly ground just prior to each coffee being made.
- The barista should 'flush', or quickly run a second or two of water through the machine and handle before tamping the fresh coffee. This removes the stale leftovers from the previous coffee.
- From start to finish, the 30ml espresso shot should take approximately 20-25 seconds. If they extract the coffee for longer you'll get a nasty bitter aftertaste. If the coffee is pouring quickly and only running for 15 seconds you're not getting a full bodied taste. You're also not getting the caffeine hit as this occurs in the final part of the extraction.
- Also note, for a 'large' coffee the barista should pour a double shot of espresso, NOT run the extraction for twice as long. This results in the most horrible, bitter tasting, caffeine loaded coffee you can imagine. You'd be surprised how many cafe and larger chains do this.
- When frothing the milk, the barista should have their hand under the jug to judge the correct temperature. The milk shouldn't be over heated and should be hot enough to drink straight away without burning your tongue. It should also look 'creamy', not bubbly like a milk-shake.
- The final coffee should taste sweet enough that you don't actually need sugar. This is a habit most of us develop from drinking instant coffee. It definitely should not have a bitter aftertaste but should taste a little sweet and slight chocolate flavour.

And one last little tidbit of trivia. The most expensive coffee in the world is picked from the droppings of the 'Civet', which looks a little like a cat. Believe it or not!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak



FG

"Dazed and confused"

I'm winning pretty comfortably with Omaha but at 1c/2c that's not saying much. Pretty much I'm waiting for the nuts and other players give me their chips. I know there's an awful lot of opportunities I'm missing along the way and I'd get destroyed at higher limits.

Here's a typical 'big draw' hand:


Hand #1
PokerStars Game #19705889786: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/08/18 - 05:59:12 (ET)
Table 'Pollux' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: SKUNK-FUU ($3.99 in chips)
Seat 2: RunnerRunn3r ($8.16 in chips)
Seat 3: Forrest Gump ($3.53 in chips)
Seat 4: Jamestown808 ($8.77 in chips)
Seat 5: origin1 ($8.67 in chips)
Seat 6: heeeeheeee ($3.70 in chips)
Seat 7: mcSchuepp ($4.97 in chips)
Seat 8: noahdog73 ($1.20 in chips)
RunnerRunn3r said, "gunna bluff this hand"
noahdog73: posts small blind $0.01
pftw: is sitting out
SKUNK-FUU: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Js Ad 5s As]
pftw leaves the table
heeeeheeee said, "go sick"
origin1 said, "ok ill call"
RunnerRunn3r: raises $0.04 to $0.06
Forrest Gump: calls $0.06
Jamestown808: calls $0.06
origin1: calls $0.06
heeeeheeee: calls $0.06
mcSchuepp: folds
noahdog73: calls $0.05
SKUNK-FUU: calls $0.04
*** FLOP *** [4s 8s Jh]
noahdog73: checks
SKUNK-FUU: bets $0.20
origin1 said, "ok maybe not"
RunnerRunn3r: raises $0.34 to $0.54
Forrest Gump: folds
origin1 said, "ill raise instead"
Jamestown808: folds
origin1: folds
heeeeheeee: folds
noahdog73: folds
SKUNK-FUU: calls $0.34
*** TURN *** [4s 8s Jh] [6s]
SKUNK-FUU: checks
RunnerRunn3r: bets $1.04
SKUNK-FUU: calls $1.04
*** RIVER *** [4s 8s Jh 6s] [9c]
SKUNK-FUU: bets $0.12
jaxxxs joins the table at seat #9
RunnerRunn3r: raises $3.67 to $3.79
SKUNK-FUU said, "color?"
origin1 said, "i want to rock with u"
SKUNK-FUU: calls $2.23 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($1.44) returned to RunnerRunn3r
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RunnerRunn3r: shows [5h 7d 6h 9d] (a straight, Five to Nine)
SKUNK-FUU: shows [Qh Ah 7c Td] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
SKUNK-FUU collected $7.88 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.28 | Rake $0.40
Board [4s 8s Jh 6s 9c]
Seat 1: SKUNK-FUU (big blind) showed [Qh Ah 7c Td] and won ($7.88) with a straight, Eight to Queen
Seat 2: RunnerRunn3r showed [5h 7d 6h 9d] and lost with a straight, Five to Nine
Seat 3: Forrest Gump folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Jamestown808 folded on the Flop
Seat 5: origin1 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: heeeeheeee folded on the Flop
Seat 7: mcSchuepp (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: noahdog73 (small blind) folded on the Flop

So the guy to my right is very LAG'y. Is the hand good enough to re-pop preflop? On the flop I have AA, top pair and a nut flush draw. If I figure someone for a set, is this the spot where i have enough outs to ship it and maybe even have best hand with a draw?

This is an example of the passive game I'm playing folding if i don't have it but passing up lots of opportunities.



Hand #2:
PokerStars Game #19706117451: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/08/18 - 06:24:19 (ET)
Table 'Pollux' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: GR_hask. ($1.68 in chips)
Seat 2: RunnerRunn3r ($3.28 in chips)
Seat 3: Forrest Gump ($3.32 in chips)
Seat 4: Sikkersen ($2.74 in chips)
Seat 5: origin1 ($8.40 in chips)
Seat 6: heeeeheeee ($6.71 in chips)
Seat 7: hawk0813 ($1.79 in chips)
Seat 8: noahdog73 ($1.01 in chips)
Seat 9: jaxxxs ($2.90 in chips)
heeeeheeee: posts small blind $0.01
hawk0813: posts big blind $0.02
Forrest Gump: posts small & big blinds $0.03
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [As 8c 5s Kc]
noahdog73: calls $0.02
jaxxxs: folds
GR_hask.: folds
RunnerRunn3r: raises $0.02 to $0.04
Forrest Gump: raises $0.08 to $0.12
Sikkersen: raises $0.08 to $0.20
origin1: folds
heeeeheeee: folds
hawk0813: folds
noahdog73: calls $0.18
RunnerRunn3r: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $0.08
*** FLOP *** [9s Ks 6c]
Forrest Gump: checks
Sikkersen: bets $0.68
noahdog73: calls $0.68
Forrest Gump: calls $0.68
*** TURN *** [9s Ks 6c] [3h]
noahdog73: bets $0.13 and is all-in
Forrest Gump: calls $0.13
Sikkersen: raises $1.73 to $1.86 and is all-in
Forrest Gump: calls $1.73
*** RIVER *** [9s Ks 6c 3h] [6s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [As 8c 5s Kc] (a flush, Ace high)
Sikkersen: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $3.31 from side pot
noahdog73: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $2.96 from main pot
Forrest Gump said, "weeee"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.57 Main pot $2.96. Side pot $3.31. | Rake $0.30
Board [9s Ks 6c 3h 6s]
Seat 1: GR_hask. folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: RunnerRunn3r folded before Flop
Seat 3: Forrest Gump showed [As 8c 5s Kc] and won ($6.27) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 4: Sikkersen mucked [4d Ts Ah Ac]
Seat 5: origin1 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: heeeeheeee (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: hawk0813 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: noahdog73 mucked [Kd Qh 2d Ad]
Seat 9: jaxxxs folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Pretty sure I slaughtered this hand. I just got sick of folding and decided on the flop to call it down. I'll look up TheDeuce and ask for his expert opinion!



Anyhow. So, I think I've had enough of a taste that it's time to start studying, get a clue on starting hands and learn a bit of the math! In a few weeks I should have my mitts on Ciaffone and Hwang's books. It does appear the games are well juicy though if even a clueless Gump can clean up at this game.



FG

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

This was my first bust out since I started blogging. Fair to say I've been on a nice little heater to this point.

I typically wouldn't limp from UTG with a low pair but I guess the good run has loosened my starting range. Calling the preflop raise against a TAG wasn't difficult as my 'spot' at the table was also involved along with some others. When he reraised, I figured either most likely he had QQ or just maybe, hopefully, he was going crazy with an overpair.


Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/16 - 03:58:13 (ET)
Table 'Phobos II' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($23.40 in chips)
Seat 2: smoke28 ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 3: islanders2 ($61.30 in chips)
Seat 4: Gore_2 ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 5: UMANSKY99 ($17.20 in chips)
Seat 6: hoop6ft4inva ($5.45 in chips)
Seat 7: te te1981 ($10.35 in chips)
Seat 8: pls1783 ($11.45 in chips)
Seat 9: H Kentala ($17.60 in chips)
te te1981: posts small blind $0.10
pls1783: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [4d 4s]
H Kentala: folds
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
smoke28: raises $1 to $1.25
islanders2: folds
Gore_2: folds
UMANSKY99: calls $1.25
hoop6ft4inva: folds
te te1981: folds
pls1783: calls $1
Forrest Gump: calls $1
*** FLOP *** [Qs 4c 7h]
pls1783: checks
Forrest Gump: checks
smoke28: bets $3
UMANSKY99: folds
pls1783: folds
Forrest Gump: raises $8 to $11
smoke28: raises $12.40 to $23.40 and is all-in
Forrest Gump: calls $11.15 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($1.25) returned to smoke28
*** TURN *** [Qs 4c 7h] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 4c 7h 2c] [Ks]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [4d 4s] (three of a kind, Fours)
smoke28: shows [Qh Qd] (three of a kind, Queens)
smoke28 collected $46.95 from pot
Forrest Gump said, "nh"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $49.40 | Rake $2.45
Board [Qs 4c 7h 2c Ks]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump showed [4d 4s] and lost with three of a kind, Fours
Seat 2: smoke28 showed [Qh Qd] and won ($46.95) with three of a kind, Queens
Seat 3: islanders2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Gore_2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: UMANSKY99 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: hoop6ft4inva (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: te te1981 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: pls1783 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: H Kentala folded before Flop (didn't bet)

"If a tree falls...."

As Bastin rightly pointed out in the last post, I rivered a set and would have won a nice pot had I called. Was it a good fold? The math guys would spit their coffee if they saw the hand history. The 'feel' guys would say "Hey, just trust your read". If the cards were played face up, it was a good fold. If I was a super-user and knew the river card, it was a terrible fold. :)

So did the King on the river bother me at all? Nope, not a blip on the tilt-o-meter radar. I've always been comfortably reassured that like most online poker sites, the deck is constantly reshuffled. Unlike a casino where the deck is shuffled then your fate is set in the cards, online poker sites shuffle the deck on every street. The shuffle of the deck is 'seeded' by the actions of the players at the table. If I had called, had another players took slightly longer to act, had I clicked on a different pixel in the call button etc etc, we should see an entirely different outcome. Why do this? Purely for additional security in case someone ever cracks the algorithm that randomizes the deck.

And so I thought I'd confirm this fact with Pokerstars support:


Thank you for writing us.

The answer is that just as in a brick-and-mortar casino with a real deck
of cards, our "deck" is randomized and then dealt. Once randomized, the
order of this "virtual stub" is never changed throughout the deal. The
cards that come out on any given round are totally independent of any
player action.


Oops! It seems Pokerstars is the exception.

Here's a post from another blogger that also delved into this topic:

http://hardboiledpoker.blogspot.com/2006/07/doing-what-if-shuffle.html




FG

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

KK was kind to me tonight.

The first hand I ran the clock down before I eventually put him on an over pair. The problem was his tight image so I knew he had a hand. If he’d smooth called with AA preflop or out flopped me, I’d just had to tip my cap and say “Well played”.

The second hand is not normal. I’ve never folded KK to a single re-raise before. Yet again, the raiser was playing super tight and waiting to isolate/trap the maniac to my right.






Hand #1
Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/15 - 08:38:31 (ET)
Table 'Rigilkent' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Bubba329 ($25.50 in chips)
Seat 2: nutcracker46 ($34.85 in chips)
Seat 4: billard113 ($24.40 in chips)
Seat 5: Hermon2224 ($31.35 in chips)
Seat 6: Cseh ($25 in chips)
Seat 8: Forrest Gump ($24.15 in chips)
Seat 9: NerfMePlease ($29.35 in chips)
NerfMePlease: posts small blind $0.10
Bubba329: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Kc Kh]
nutcracker46: folds
billard113: folds
Hermon2224: folds
Cseh: raises $0.75 to $1
FortyDeuceNI has returned
zepps_1-0 leaves the table
Forrest Gump: raises $2.35 to $3.35
NerfMePlease: folds
Bubba329: folds
Cseh: calls $2.35
*** FLOP *** [5d 5c 3s]
capa_audaz joins the table at seat #3
Cseh: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $3.75
Cseh: raises $5.50 to $9.25
Forrest Gump: raises $11.55 to $20.80 and is all-in
Cseh: calls $11.55
*** TURN *** [5d 5c 3s] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [5d 5c 3s Ts] [2d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Cseh: shows [Qs Qc] (two pair, Queens and Fives)
Forrest Gump: shows [Kc Kh] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
Forrest Gump collected $46.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $48.65 | Rake $2.40
Board [5d 5c 3s Ts 2d]
Seat 1: Bubba329 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: nutcracker46 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: billard113 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Hermon2224 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Cseh showed [Qs Qc] and lost with two pair, Queens and Fives
Seat 8: Forrest Gump (button) showed [Kc Kh] and won ($46.25) with two pair, Kings and Fives
Seat 9: NerfMePlease (small blind) folded before Flop


Hand #2
Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/08/15 - 08:45:04 (ET)
Table 'Sundmania' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Cseh ($48 in chips)
Seat 2: Anselmus ($86.30 in chips)
Seat 3: scheff ($71.75 in chips)
Seat 4: Forrest Gump ($30.75 in chips)
Seat 5: AlexB182s ($49.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Paddex II ($52.50 in chips)
Seat 8: corallivore ($45.05 in chips)
Seat 9: Poker_Muzz ($50 in chips)
AlexB182s: posts small blind $0.25
Paddex II: posts big blind $0.50
cornz: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Kd Kc]
corallivore: folds
Poker_Muzz: folds
Cseh: folds
Anselmus: folds
scheff: calls $0.50
Forrest Gump: raises $2 to $2.50
AlexB182s: folds
Paddex II: raises $4 to $6.50
scheff: calls $6
Forrest Gump: folds
*** FLOP *** [4s 9d 4c]
Paddex II: bets $9
scheff: calls $9
*** TURN *** [4s 9d 4c] [3s]
Paddex II: bets $16.50
scheff: calls $16.50
*** RIVER *** [4s 9d 4c 3s] [Kh]
Paddex II: bets $20.50 and is all-in
scheff: calls $20.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Paddex II: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
scheff: shows [Jc 9c] (two pair, Nines and Fours)
Paddex II collected $104.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $107.75 | Rake $3
Board [4s 9d 4c 3s Kh]
Seat 1: Cseh folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Anselmus folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: scheff showed [Jc 9c] and lost with two pair, Nines and Fours
Seat 4: Forrest Gump (button) folded before Flop
Seat 5: AlexB182s (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Paddex II (big blind) showed [Ac Ah] and won ($104.75) with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 8: corallivore folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Poker_Muzz folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Sports Betting 101

Before poker became my new gambling vice I would dabble in sports betting from time to time. In our office tipping comp I managed to win two years running for an $800 collect each year. As I work in I.T, the other workers conspiracy theory was that I had a computer program giving me the winners. ;)

In regular sports betting my biggest win was when I put my entire account (~$1000) on Australia to win the Rugby League world cup at $1.40. The betting line was about par, that was until I discovered the 2nd best team (and only threat) had been split into several teams consisting of New Zealand, Fiji, Maori's, Tonga etc. Now it looked a sure thing and I had a nervous wait throughout the series!

A couple of general pointers which I discovered over time:


1. Home ground advantage
Home ground advantage is like position in poker. Many don’t give it the weighting it deserves. The away team might look slightly better than the home team, but playing at home is a huge advantage. Put yourself in the mindset of the players. At home you have a set routine, you know where you’re going, your family are around, you know the change room and facilities and it’s all very familiar and comfortable. I’m always reluctant to bet against the home team.


2. Form versus Reputation

A simple formula: form > reputation

I often hear the comment "they're a great term, they're due, they can’t possible keep losing, this week they'll turn it around". This is a big mistake. I often see tipsters picking a ‘good’ team week after week after week – and each week they play terrible and lose. Meanwhile, the less fancied team which is humming like a machine and playing better than its roster would indicate keeps causing the upsets. When the ‘good’ team finally does get it’s act together and puts some form on the board, now is the time to jump on and not before.

Form is very temporary and the key is to knowing how the team is tracking week to week.


3. Plain old hard work
You simply need to know all the players in the teams. There’s no secret, its just comes down to watching the games and eventually recognising all the players.

· Who is key?
· Who is dispensable?
· Who does the hard work*?
· Who can make/break a game?
· Who is involved in all the plays?
· Who is playing injured? etc

* This is more important than many realize. Most teams have players who carry a large workload in the team. If they’re missing, this impacts all players in the team.


4. An interesting trend

A team having lost away the previous week will be more likely to win when they come home.

A team having lost at home the previous week is more likely to lose when going on the road.

Put yourself in their mindset of the players. If you’ve traveled away and lost, when you come home you’re back in familiar surroundings and it’s the ideal time to turn things around. On the flip side, when you travel after a loss it’s more difficult to travel a long distance and win in foreign surroundings.


5. Raw results can be misleading
Simply looking at the scores doesn’t give much information. A close final score might hide that the winning team was extremely lucky. They might have got the bounce of the ball and the referees decisions. Conversely, a team that lost by a large result might have played extremely well for the majority of the game. Perhaps they lost several keys players during the match and eventually got overwhelmed over in the tail end of the game.

You really need to look at how the team performed in relation to the final result.


Summary
When you consider the ratio of skill to luck, there’s much more luck in sports betting. There are so many random variables such as weather, injuries, refereeing decisions, or just the general bounce of the ball etc.

It’s a purer form of gambling though and it makes the game more exciting. As BarryG would say, it gets the juices going!

"Chocolate Rain"

This hand highlights a few changes I've made to my game lately:


TT as a middle pair
In the past I would consider TT a preflop raising hand. The problem is, you're almost always getting called at this level and apart from a set, there's no flop you really like. e.g.
- Any Ace flops, you know these guys never fold an ace so you're dumping it.
- The likely event a K, Q or J flops, you just don't know if you're pair is good or not.
- If you somehow luck an overpair to the flop, it's very difficult to both protect your vulnerable hand and keep the pot small with 1 pair.

Value betting
I've also changed my value betting on the river. Typically I would bet as close to the amount I think is 'likely' to get call. This is the wrong mindset as I'm looking for short term reward from my patience. In this case, I push allin on the river and I figure this is the most profitable play (in this situation) over the long term. I wasn't the slightest bit bothered I didn't get called.

Position on the LAG
Reyn is my spot at the table and I have the perfect position on he/she. I've slowly come to discover over time that LAG's sitting to your left are straight up bad news. Playing big pots out of position time and time again is pushing you know what up a hill with a stick. The more I play, the more I learn that position is critical to so many things in this game.


Finally, a quick summary of how i played this hand. Preflop I'm playing for set value pure and simple. I'd also call any reasonable raise depending on who and how many are in the pot etc. On the flop, the set is wonderful but its a little coordinated so I'm looking to get all the $ in now if I can. The turn was a beautiful card, so I bet what I thought might get the LAG pot committed. The river I ran the clock down then made an ugly allin, hoping it might be percepted as weakness.




PokerStars Game #19556139887: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/12 - 06:45:20 (ET)
Table 'Numidia' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: delgados ($25.20 in chips)
Seat 2: cruzitoVL38 ($22.70 in chips)
Seat 3: 4evergreat ($26 in chips)
Seat 4: FATSALI1 ($31.65 in chips)
Seat 5: ojajohhe ($5.45 in chips)
Seat 6: PiS.AA ($26.15 in chips)
Seat 7: emilytt ($47.35 in chips)
Seat 8: ReynB ($25.10 in chips)
Seat 9: Forrest Gump ($31.70 in chips)
FATSALI1: posts small blind $0.10
ojajohhe: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Ts Th]
PiS.AA: folds
emilytt: folds
ReynB: calls $0.25
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
delgados: folds
cruzitoVL38: folds
4evergreat: folds
FATSALI1: calls $0.15
ojajohhe: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc Td 3d]
FATSALI1: checks
ojajohhe: bets $0.75
ReynB: raises $1.75 to $2.50
Forrest Gump: raises $6.50 to $9
FATSALI1: folds
ojajohhe: folds
ReynB: calls $6.50
*** TURN *** [Qc Td 3d] [Qs]
ReynB: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $5
ReynB: calls $5
*** RIVER *** [Qc Td 3d Qs] [4c]
ReynB: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $17.45 and is all-in
ReynB: folds
Uncalled bet ($17.45) returned to Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump collected $28.35 from pot
Forrest Gump: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $29.75 | Rake $1.40
Board [Qc Td 3d Qs 4c]
Seat 1: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: cruzitoVL38 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: 4evergreat (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: FATSALI1 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: ojajohhe (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: PiS.AA folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: emilytt folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ReynB folded on the River
Seat 9: Forrest Gump collected ($28.35)

Run Forrest! Run!

And so today was the big day - City to Surf 08. It was a beautiful, if a little crisp, winters day. More than 70,000 Sydney-siders got out of bed early on a Sunday and made their way to Hyde Park for the 9am start.

I set myself the goal of 80 mins a few months back and this is how it went down:

1 min: Patiently waiting in the 3rd group for the starters gun. We're encouraged to wear jumpers which we can leave behind for charity. As I throw mine, it opens like a parachute, pulls up short and gently glides down perfectly over another unsuspecting runners head. If anything, it was good for a few laughs from the crowd. Nice one Gump!

15min: I'd forgotten how hilly the course is. Still waiting to reach that runners plateau where you're body stops complaining about the stupid thing you're putting it through.

25min: Thank God. I plateau out and actually start feeling pretty good. Could also have been the Red Bull I chugged before the start.

35min : Heartbreak Hill is approaching. I'll suck it and see but so far I might just keep jogging up it.

50min: Wow,the hill wasn't as bad as I remembered. I haven't needed to walk yet and still feel fresh. Well on track for my goal.

65min: Feeling good so I've picked up the pace. The crowds make it pretty hard going though. Is that the ocean I see???

75min: Home stretch! I try kick along the main street of Bondi but there's nothing left. Still, I'm happy I left nothing in the tank.

77min: Finish line - mission accomplished. :)

And now for a feast and a cool ale at one of Bondi's finest!

http://city2surf.sunherald.com.au/video.php




FG

Snoop Doggy Gump (or what's in a name?)

I usually replace my real screen name on with 'Forrest' as people (like me!) sometimes search on their screen names. I guess I really should use a hand converter but I find the output a little ugly and screen names sometimes give away a little info.

This as a fun little convo while playing penny Omaha. For the record, the 'MC' isn't a reference to rapping although I'm aware people will likely see it that way.



http://www.zorlacskates.com/stuff/

Another bad beat?

You're not alone...

This villain likes to....steal?

Sometimes I like to google my Pokerstars name and every so often it brings up a hand history. I'm the 'villain' in this hand below. It's interesting to read about yourself from someone elses perspective.

Apparently I'm 'loose' and 'always try to steal' which of course isn't the case. But I can see it might be the perception of someone that sits to my left. On the button my range widens alot and it's not such a bad play to re-pop some of these button raises. This obviously wasn't the right time!

I remember back on PAO some of the really good players would notice the hands I'd raise with on the button and often steal from out of position. When you raise with Ax then a good player limp re-raises its pretty tough to call with most hands.





-------cut
$25NL-What do you think of this shove??
the guy who raised on button always tries to steal. i would do 1/3 reraise, 1/3 fold, 1/3 call/bet (or call/check-raise). this time, i felt comfortable semi-bluffing. was this the correct play knowing that this guy is loose and can play with a decent range of hands?


PokerStars Game #18714089763: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/07/10 - 06:27:58 (ET)
Table 'Sakuntala III' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: Abunakkashii ($25.45 in chips)
Seat 2: CallMeLucid ($23.25 in chips)
Seat 3: xlarkman ($13.25 in chips)
Seat 4: Antreon ($42.80 in chips)
Seat 6: yogeesun ($24.85 in chips)
Seat 7: eggspoon ($25.10 in chips)
Seat 8: Godevilove ($11.40 in chips)
Seat 9: Forrest Gump ($23 in chips)
Abunakkashii: posts small blind $0.10
CallMeLucid: posts big blind $0.25
derjeTTa: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to CallMeLucid [Td Qd]
xlarkman: calls $0.25
Antreon: folds
yogeesun: folds
eggspoon: folds
Godevilove: folds
Forrest Gump: raises $1.25 to $1.50
Abunakkashii: calls $1.40
CallMeLucid: calls $1.25
xlarkman: folds
*** FLOP *** [2d 5d 9h]
Abunakkashii: checks
CallMeLucid: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $3.75
Abunakkashii: folds
CallMeLucid: raises $7.25 to $11
Forrest Gump: raises $10 to $21
CallMeLucid: raises $0.75 to $21.75 and is all-in
Forrest Gump: calls $0.50 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.25) returned to CallMeLucid
*** TURN *** [2d 5d 9h] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [2d 5d 9h Jh] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CallMeLucid: shows [Td Qd] (a pair of Fives)
Forrest Gump: shows [Kc Kd] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
Forrest Gump collected $45.40 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $47.75 | Rake $2.35
Board [2d 5d 9h Jh 5s]
Seat 1: Abunakkashii (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: CallMeLucid (big blind) showed [Td Qd] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 3: xlarkman folded before Flop
Seat 4: Antreon folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: yogeesun folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: eggspoon folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Godevilove folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Forrest Gump (button) showed [Kc Kd] and won ($45.40) with two pair, Kings and Fives



Quote:
Originally Posted by venice10 View Post
^^This. Tight is Right could have been more tactful, but he is correct. QTs is a horrible hand to play oop against two villains. Unless the flop contains 2 cards you need, you're going to never be able to play this hand strongly. Suppose the flop comes Qxx. Every other hand containing a Q that's in beats you. Txx is better, but is susceptible to over cards and again, any other T beats you. Flushes hit too infrequently to make up the inferiority of position and cards. If you plan to make a move, make it against one villain, not two. Easy fold.

As played on the flop, what are you trying to represent? QQ+ is going to 3bet pf. If you hit a set, you'd call to gather another bet, not try to chase him out. His obvious read is that you've got at best some sort of draw with over cards or maybe paired the board. Fold.


understandable. to be honest i was reraising with any two cards because the guy was trying to steal every time. the call raise on flop was working some times but looking back now the sb call should have been a good indication to fold. i just figured i had two over cards plus a flush draw (15 outs) if he hit the 9.

ps. sorry about not being converted. it was late and i was tired. thanks for the help. this is how i learn
-------cut

The calm before the storm

My training is all but over now and I'm all set for Sunday's 'fun' run. Yesterday I jogged for ~50 mins and felt pretty fresh at the end, so I'm really hopeful for the 80min mark.

For those not familiar with the 'City to Surf', its the biggest fun run in Australia and last year attracted over 60,000 people. It starts in the CBD then tracks out to Bondi Beach. It's also attracts all levels from the serious runners who travel from overseas, to the casual jogger, to those who walk the whole thing....right through to the specimen to the left!

Table Flux ??

Just some general musings on how tables are always changing:


The theory of ‘table flux’.

Every table is in a constant state of flux. There is an ‘equilibrium’ level, which is the balance of abilities and styles of all players across all tables in that environment.

Tables which are slightly looser than the equilibrium will gradually tend back to becoming slightly tighter.

Tables which are tighter than the equilibrium will gradually tend back to become looser.

Tables which have many loose/aggressive/poor players and are far from the equilibrium will have a stronger tendency to swing back to becoming much tighter. These volatile tables have greater momentum and will swing further back in the opposite direction.


So why is this?

This is due to the method of table selection used by each type of player.

The poor ‘LAG’ players don't consider or care about table selection. They choose the first tables they see which don’t already have a queue. These tables are often short on players and are typically fairly tight or unattractive to the good players

At the other end of the spectrum, the good players take great consideration in table selection. At a loose table with several soft spots they will often be lined up several players deep looking for a seat. Over time, the bad players will bust out and the solid players will take their spot. Eventually, the bad players will all lose and be replaced by the queue of good players. When this occurs, the table is no longer attractive to the queue of good players and the table numbers will drop.

And then the bad players appear and the cycle repeats!



So what does it all mean to me?

Every ‘good’ table has a limited lifespan. You should always be reviewing and evaluating your edge and keeping a keen eye out for better options. These tables are always appearing then disappearing and you need to jump quickly when you see them!

I heard a quote from Sklansky recently saying that even in the casino, you should ALWAYS be looking around the room for a better table. If you set up camp for the night at one table without considering others, you're throwing away money.

"When you lose your temper, you lose the fight"

The one difficult thing I find in poker is to try and not make things personal. In the hand below I noticed that the villain would call every raise I made (in position) then push me off it. One hand that particularly stung was when I had KK, I raised, he called of course, an ace flops and he leads into me. Ugh.

So in this hand, I was steaming and determined to make him pay. But afterwards I thought, maybe its not personal? Maybe he wasn't targetting me? Just maybe he had a hand each time? And if the hands were reversed and he had the set, I was most likely going to overplay it because I wanted revenge.

I remember my old boxing coach always drummed into us, "When you lose your temper, you lose the fight". You gotta stay cool and you gotta smile when you get tagged.


PokerStars Game #19375633857: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/08/05 - 08:06:14 (ET)
Table 'Mizar II' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: Perikles ($15.80 in chips)
Seat 2: MarcDeFun ($77.20 in chips)
Seat 3: Forrest Gump ($46.75 in chips)
Seat 4: Jackson17 ($49.05 in chips)
Seat 5: diego ($30.75 in chips)
Seat 6: t.mara ($51 in chips)
Seat 7: likker ($19.35 in chips)
Seat 8: Robsntown ($13 in chips)
Seat 9: Riag ($61.95 in chips)
Perikles: posts small blind $0.25
MarcDeFun: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [6h 6s]
Forrest Gump: calls $0.50
Jackson17: folds
diego: calls $0.50
t.mara: folds
likker: folds
Robsntown: folds
Riag: folds
Perikles: calls $0.25
MarcDeFun: checks
*** FLOP *** [8s 6d Jd]
Perikles: checks
MarcDeFun: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $2
diego: calls $2
Perikles: folds
MarcDeFun: folds
*** TURN *** [8s 6d Jd] [Kc]
Forrest Gump: bets $5
diego: calls $5
*** RIVER *** [8s 6d Jd Kc] [As]
Forrest Gump: bets $15
diego: calls $15
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [6h 6s] (three of a kind, Sixes)
diego: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $43.75 from pot
Forrest Gump is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $46 | Rake $2.25
Board [8s 6d Jd Kc As]
Seat 1: Perikles (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: MarcDeFun (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Forrest Gump showed [6h 6s] and won ($43.75) with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 4: Jackson17 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: diego mucked [8h Js]
Seat 6: t.mara folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: likker folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Robsntown folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Riag (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

" Sweet Omaha, Sunday morning, I'm coming home today"

So I've started learning Omaha.

Rather than the usual gently, gently approach of reading books and playing for funny money, I've gone in (kinda) boots n' all. Well..., via NL5 anyway! ;)

I don't have much idea what I'm doing and its great being a complete fish at the table. Kinda liberating really! I'm sure there have been showdowns where a grinder has gone 'WTF!'. There was in fact one hand where I completely misread the board and thought I was slowplaying a boat. When the chips shipped the other way I had to stare at the hand history to figured out what happened.

BUT, I'm just play super tight (for Omaha), staying out of trouble and trying to figure it out as I go.



Here's a fun hand. I had so many outs and combinations my head was spinning. I didn't even notice I'd boated up straight away - at first I saw trip kings with a flush draw. A few seconds later I thought.....hang on a minute. Ship ahoy!



PokerStars Game #19348581916: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.01/$0.02) - 2008/08/04 - 08:03:57 (ET)
Table 'Errai V' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: naiik ($2.21 in chips)
Seat 2: Morningdon ($2.41 in chips)
Seat 3: Forrest Gump ($4.03 in chips)
Seat 4: TIBUTTOFUORI ($3.22 in chips)
Seat 5: DafarginNuts ($2 in chips)
Seat 6: treky ($5.50 in chips)
Seat 7: kenny231982 ($5.55 in chips)
Seat 8: kapiuksehing ($19.49 in chips)
Seat 9: B-Glizzy ($2.35 in chips)
naiik: posts small blind $0.01
Morningdon: posts big blind $0.02
DafarginNuts: posts big blind $0.02
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [8d Kc 2d Ac]
Forrest Gump: raises $0.06 to $0.08
TIBUTTOFUORI: calls $0.08
DafarginNuts: calls $0.06
treky: folds
kenny231982: folds
kapiuksehing: calls $0.08
B-Glizzy: folds
naiik: folds
Morningdon: folds
*** FLOP *** [4c 8c Kd]
Forrest Gump: bets $0.20
TIBUTTOFUORI: calls $0.20
DafarginNuts: folds
kapiuksehing: calls $0.20
*** TURN *** [4c 8c Kd] [Ks]
Forrest Gump: bets $0.75
TIBUTTOFUORI: calls $0.75
kapiuksehing: calls $0.75
*** RIVER *** [4c 8c Kd Ks] [5s]
Forrest Gump: bets $3 and is all-in
TIBUTTOFUORI: folds
kapiuksehing: calls $3
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [8d Kc 2d Ac] (a full house, Kings full of Eights)
kapiuksehing: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $8.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.20 | Rake $0.45
Board [4c 8c Kd Ks 5s]
Seat 1: naiik (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Morningdon (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: Forrest Gump showed [8d Kc 2d Ac] and won ($8.75) with a full house, Kings full of Eights
Seat 4: TIBUTTOFUORI folded on the River
Seat 5: DafarginNuts folded on the Flop
Seat 6: treky folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: kenny231982 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: kapiuksehing mucked [3h 4s 2c 4d]
Seat 9: B-Glizzy (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)




...and finally, here's on of those 'WTF' moments from good old NL. Note I'd raised with AK six times previously and missed every flop. Definitely normal for me and the reason I hate this hand so much.

Then this little peach arrives:


PokerStars Game #19348395776: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/04 - 07:48:30 (ET)
Table 'Kalypso' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: capulet7 ($25.05 in chips)
Seat 2: yipyapsap ($25 in chips)
Seat 3: mmdb3 ($75.95 in chips)
Seat 4: Forrest Gump ($25.35 in chips)
Seat 6: Cmarriott89 ($25.80 in chips)
Seat 7: NoPhobia ($27.45 in chips)
Seat 8: Aeryx ($26.10 in chips)
Seat 9: FEARisPOWER ($24 in chips)
NoPhobia: posts small blind $0.10
Aeryx: posts big blind $0.25
rokkenroll: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Ac Kh]
FEARisPOWER: folds
capulet7: raises $0.75 to $1
yipyapsap: folds
mmdb3: calls $1
Forrest Gump: calls $1
Cmarriott89: folds
NoPhobia: folds
Aeryx: folds
*** FLOP *** [Td 2d Kd]
capulet7: bets $2.50
mmdb3: calls $2.50
Forrest Gump: folds
*** TURN *** [Td 2d Kd] [Jd]
capulet7: bets $5.50
mmdb3: calls $5.50
*** RIVER *** [Td 2d Kd Jd] [7d]
capulet7: checks
mmdb3: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
capulet7: shows [7c 7s] (a flush, King high)
mmdb3: shows [Th Tc] (a flush, King high)
capulet7 collected $9.25 from pot
mmdb3 collected $9.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $19.35 | Rake $0.90
Board [Td 2d Kd Jd 7d]
Seat 1: capulet7 showed [7c 7s] and won ($9.25) with a flush, King high
Seat 2: yipyapsap folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: mmdb3 showed [Th Tc] and won ($9.20) with a flush, King high
Seat 4: Forrest Gump folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Cmarriott89 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: NoPhobia (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: Aeryx (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: FEARisPOWER folded before Flop (didn't bet)

"That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run"

It probably comes as no great surprise that I like to run. I'm no sprinter but distance really is my thing. I'm fortunate enough to live fairly close to a beautiful running track around a bay, so its no tough ask to head down there to clear my head after a long poker session.

Next weekend I'll be running in the City to Surf which is 14km's. There's a stretch called heartbreak hill which is 2km's of the nastiest incline you can imagine. My goal is 80 mins which won't be easy but I'm going to give it a crack and see how I'm tracking after the hill.

"Courage is grace under pressure"

This was meant to be a short session. I'm not really bankrolled for 50NL and i really don't like maniacs to my left either.

I noticed he would call ANY preflop raise, no matter how much was bet, so I thought I'd bet half my stack - if anything, it should look like i have AK and don't want to see a flop and miss.

On the flop, I ran the clock a little to make it look like I'd missed then eventually had pushed out of frustration:


Hand #1
PokerStars Game #19293795806: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/08/02 - 07:24:06 (ET)
Table 'Rosalind' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: t.mara ($75.60 in chips)
Seat 3: Faraon777 ($50 in chips)
Seat 4: Forrest Gump ($30.40 in chips)
Seat 5: CElbe ($10.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Fishman226 ($151.85 in chips)
Seat 7: Muehle69 ($50 in chips)
Seat 8: BigPapa1933 ($54.70 in chips)
Seat 9: Trustey ($57.15 in chips)
Faraon777: posts small blind $0.25
Forrest Gump: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Kd Kc]
CElbe: folds
Fishman226: calls $0.50
Muehle69: folds
BigPapa1933: folds
Trustey: folds
t.mara: folds
Faraon777: folds
Forrest Gump: raises $9.50 to $10
Fishman226: calls $9.50
*** FLOP *** [2h Qc 6c]
Forrest Gump: bets $20.40 and is all-in
Fishman226: calls $20.40
*** TURN *** [2h Qc 6c] [7s]
*** RIVER *** [2h Qc 6c 7s] [Jd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Forrest Gump: shows [Kd Kc] (a pair of Kings)
Fishman226: shows [Js 3c] (a pair of Jacks)
Forrest Gump collected $58.05 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $61.05 | Rake $3
Board [2h Qc 6c 7s Jd]
Seat 2: t.mara (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Faraon777 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Forrest Gump (big blind) showed [Kd Kc] and won ($58.05) with a pair of Kings
Seat 5: CElbe folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Fishman226 showed [Js 3c] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 7: Muehle69 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: BigPapa1933 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Trustey folded before Flop (didn't bet)




And then, the very next hand.

The thing is, they're always applying so much pressure. Even with top top on that fairly dry board, the river call wouldn't be that easy.



Hand #2
PokerStars Game #19293809374: Hold'em No Limit ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/08/02 - 07:25:15 (ET)
Table 'Rosalind' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 2: t.mara ($75.60 in chips)
Seat 3: Faraon777 ($49.75 in chips)
Seat 4: Forrest Gump ($58.05 in chips)
Seat 5: CElbe ($10.50 in chips)
Seat 6: Fishman226 ($121.45 in chips)
Seat 7: Muehle69 ($50 in chips)
Seat 8: BigPapa1933 ($54.70 in chips)
Seat 9: Trustey ($57.15 in chips)
Forrest Gump: posts small blind $0.25
CElbe: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [2c 3s]
Fishman226: calls $0.50
Muehle69: calls $0.50
BigPapa1933: folds
Trustey: calls $0.50
t.mara: raises $3.50 to $4
Faraon777: folds
Forrest Gump: folds
CElbe: folds
Fishman226: calls $3.50
Muehle69: calls $3.50
Trustey: folds
*** FLOP *** [Kc 9d Jd]
Fishman226: bets $8
Muehle69: folds
t.mara: calls $8
*** TURN *** [Kc 9d Jd] [7d]
Fishman226: bets $15
t.mara: calls $15
*** RIVER *** [Kc 9d Jd 7d] [2s]
Fishman226: bets $94.45 and is all-in
t.mara: calls $48.60 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($45.85) returned to Fishman226
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Fishman226: shows [Qd 9h] (a pair of Nines)
t.mara: shows [Ks Ad] (a pair of Kings)
t.mara collected $153.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $156.45 | Rake $3
Board [Kc 9d Jd 7d 2s]
Seat 2: t.mara showed [Ks Ad] and won ($153.45) with a pair of Kings
Seat 3: Faraon777 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Forrest Gump (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: CElbe (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: Fishman226 showed [Qd 9h] and lost with a pair of Nines
Seat 7: Muehle69 folded on the Flop
Seat 8: BigPapa1933 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Trustey folded before Flop

“Share the love..that's what it's for”

I love this image and it's now my avatar on Stars. I'm always pestering support for 'just one more change' but i think this one is a keeper. The back story from the artist makes this special.




Artist: Scott Robinson
T-shirt version of My Buddha.

I was initially reluctant to share this with anyone, because it was so personal for me, but after thinking about why, I thought different of it.

This design is a homage to a dearly departed friend of mine..his name was Mark Foote, but everyone knew him as Skip.
Skip was one of the finest skateboarders I`ve ever known, and his boundless energy and enthusiasm for life knew no equal.

He had a grin that would light the room, and he was always up for a “spiritual/way of the world” conversation..he tried to teach me to meditate on a few occasions, but I never really caught on.
I used to think that he was the embodiment of Buddha on earth, always smiling, laughter in his eyes, and skill on a board that must come from somewhere else.

Skip once told me to “share the love..that`s what it`s for” so that`s what I`m doing here..

http://www.redbubble.com/people/resisto/clothing/67622-15-skip-s-buddha




FG

"If only he used his powers for niceness instead of evil"

I must admit, I do enjoy playing with hyper aggressive players. I think I had some great training back in my PAO days against guys like Spammy and One who really knew how to play a good LAG game. When I watch these guys and they build a stack quickly up to 4, 5 or more buyins I always think "If they only found that extra gear and knew how to fold from time to time, they could actually be winning players". Which reminds me of that great line from Get Smart, "If only he used his powers for niceness instead of evil".

But I digress.

I got off to a horrible start when he cracked my AA with A5. I did my usual limp from UTG then raised to 20BB. He of course calls and flops trips - boom, I'm down a buyin off the cuff. I decide to bunker down and rebuy as I like my seat.

I start chipping away and manage to build from $25 to $45 with alot of small pots, basically calling down with any pair and trying to keep the pot small. Then this gem came along.

If there's one thing about these guys, its flying by the seat of your pants stuff. I've been running so bad I kept thinking "Here we go again, he's flopped a straight":



Hand #1
PokerStars Game #19266512193: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/01 - 04:28:44 (ET)
Table 'Hydra II' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($44.35 in chips)
Seat 2: bignbusty78 ($15.05 in chips)
Seat 3: PubBrawler ($9.85 in chips)
Seat 4: phrogman123 ($20.05 in chips)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa ($21.55 in chips)
Seat 6: carbonadium ($9.05 in chips)
Seat 7: delgados ($26.50 in chips)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier ($33.90 in chips)
Seat 9: NEBS ($129.95 in chips)
NEBS: posts small blind $0.10
Forrest Gump: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Kh Kd]
bignbusty78: folds
PubBrawler: folds
phrogman123: folds
Denny4Lisa: folds
carbonadium: folds
delgados: folds
ChrisFrazier: raises $0.50 to $0.75
NEBS: calls $0.65
Forrest Gump: raises $2.25 to $3
ChrisFrazier: folds
NEBS: calls $2.25
*** FLOP *** [Ts Jh Kc]
NEBS: bets $6.45
Forrest Gump: raises $19.35 to $25.80
NEBS: calls $19.35
*** TURN *** [Ts Jh Kc] [8s]
NEBS: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $15.55 and is all-in
NEBS: calls $15.55
*** RIVER *** [Ts Jh Kc 8s] [6c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NEBS: shows [3c Th] (a pair of Tens)
Forrest Gump: shows [Kh Kd] (three of a kind, Kings)
Forrest Gump collected $86.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $89.45 | Rake $3
Board [Ts Jh Kc 8s 6c]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump (big blind) showed [Kh Kd] and won ($86.45) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 2: bignbusty78 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: PubBrawler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: phrogman123 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: carbonadium folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier (button) folded before Flop
Seat 9: NEBS (small blind) showed [3c Th] and lost with a pair of Tens



Then we get to this little pot. By this stage, I'm really getting a good read on his tendencies. Small bets with no hand, pot sized bets with a hand or any draw. I pretty much knew his hand before showdown so didn't bother building the rake:

Hand #2
PokerStars Game #19266605834: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/01 - 04:38:29 (ET)
Table 'Hydra II' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($85.85 in chips)
Seat 2: bignbusty78 ($13.85 in chips)
Seat 3: PubBrawler ($8.40 in chips)
Seat 4: phrogman123 ($19.45 in chips)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 6: carbonadium ($14.15 in chips)
Seat 7: delgados ($25.90 in chips)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier ($38.60 in chips)
Seat 9: NEBS ($92.60 in chips)
NEBS: posts small blind $0.10
Forrest Gump: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [9s 4s]
bignbusty78: folds
PubBrawler: folds
phrogman123: folds
Denny4Lisa: folds
carbonadium: folds
delgados: folds
ChrisFrazier: folds
NEBS: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [6s Th 8c]
NEBS: bets $0.25
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [6s Th 8c] [7d]
NEBS: bets $1.45
Forrest Gump: calls $1.45
*** RIVER *** [6s Th 8c 7d] [Qd]
NEBS: bets $3.50
Forrest Gump said, "split?"
Forrest Gump: calls $3.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NEBS: shows [3c 9c] (a straight, Six to Ten)
Forrest Gump: shows [9s 4s] (a straight, Six to Ten)
NEBS collected $5.45 from pot
Forrest Gump collected $5.40 from pot
Forrest Gump said, "yup"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $11.40 | Rake $0.55
Board [6s Th 8c 7d Qd]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump (big blind) showed [9s 4s] and won ($5.40) with a straight, Six to Ten
Seat 2: bignbusty78 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: PubBrawler folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: phrogman123 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: carbonadium folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: NEBS (small blind) showed [3c 9c] and won ($5.45) with a straight, Six to Ten



If you saw this hand in isolation you might say, why not raise with AKs preflop? The problem is this guy would raise pot EVERY hand. It's a great strategy for him because it takes away the edge from the better players and forces people to overplay hands. So each time I'm trying to keep the pot small preflop then build the pot gradually depending on what the flop brings. This is 5 card poker, not two:

Hand #3
PokerStars Game #19266641108: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/01 - 04:42:05 (ET)
Table 'Hydra II' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($84.80 in chips)
Seat 2: bignbusty78 ($13.25 in chips)
Seat 4: phrogman123 ($19.20 in chips)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa ($24.65 in chips)
Seat 6: carbonadium ($14.15 in chips)
Seat 7: delgados ($25.90 in chips)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier ($39.70 in chips)
Seat 9: NEBS ($100.30 in chips)
Clubberer80 will be allowed to play after the button
phrogman123: posts small blind $0.10
Denny4Lisa: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [As Ks]
carbonadium: folds
delgados: folds
ChrisFrazier: folds
NEBS: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Forrest Gump: calls $0.50
bignbusty78: calls $0.50
phrogman123: folds
Denny4Lisa: folds
*** FLOP *** [7s 5s 6s]
NEBS: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $1.25
bignbusty78: folds
NEBS: calls $1.25
*** TURN *** [7s 5s 6s] [Ad]
NEBS: checks
Forrest Gump: bets $3.50
NEBS: calls $3.50
*** RIVER *** [7s 5s 6s Ad] [Kh]
NEBS: bets $0.25
Forrest Gump: raises $9.75 to $10
NEBS: folds
Uncalled bet ($9.75) returned to Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump collected $11.30 from pot
Forrest Gump: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $11.85 | Rake $0.55
Board [7s 5s 6s Ad Kh]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump collected ($11.30)
Seat 2: bignbusty78 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: phrogman123 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: carbonadium folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: NEBS folded on the River



This is actually the next hand after the AKs hand. (I erm....may have been telling a little fib about my hand)

Again, it's all about pot control. the pot is so small at the river, I'm insta-calling any river bet. If he sucks out so be it. My goal is to not build the pot so large he can push me off it:

Hand #4
PokerStars Game #19266655106: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/01 - 04:43:32 (ET)
Table 'Hydra II' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($90.60 in chips)
Seat 2: bignbusty78 ($12.75 in chips)
Seat 3: Clubberer80 ($25 in chips)
Seat 4: phrogman123 ($19.10 in chips)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa ($24.40 in chips)
Seat 6: carbonadium ($14.15 in chips)
Seat 7: delgados ($25.90 in chips)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier ($39.70 in chips)
Seat 9: NEBS ($94.80 in chips)
Denny4Lisa: posts small blind $0.10
carbonadium: posts big blind $0.25
Clubberer80: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [Ac Ah]
Forrest Gump said, "flopped a baby flush"
Forrest Gump said, "good fold"
delgados: folds
ChrisFrazier: folds
NEBS: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Forrest Gump: raises $1.50 to $2
bignbusty78: folds
Clubberer80: folds
phrogman123: folds
Denny4Lisa: folds
carbonadium: folds
NEBS: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [9d 6h Jd]
NEBS: checks
Forrest Gump: checks
*** TURN *** [9d 6h Jd] [9h]
NEBS: bets $0.75
Forrest Gump: calls $0.75
*** RIVER *** [9d 6h Jd 9h] [4d]
NEBS: bets $2.25
Forrest Gump: calls $2.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NEBS: shows [7s 4h] (two pair, Nines and Fours)
Forrest Gump: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
Forrest Gump collected $10.10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.60 | Rake $0.50
Board [9d 6h Jd 9h 4d]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump showed [Ac Ah] and won ($10.10) with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 2: bignbusty78 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Clubberer80 folded before Flop
Seat 4: phrogman123 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Denny4Lisa (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: carbonadium (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: NEBS showed [7s 4h] and lost with two pair, Nines and Fours



This was hand where the call from Seat 4 really spooked me. He was fairly new to the table and I really had no idea what range he might have. The last thing i wanted was to get caught in the crossfire. Still, I know I missed a bet on the river:

Hand #5
PokerStars Game #19266952533: Hold'em Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2008/08/01 - 05:15:04 (ET)
Table 'Hydra II' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Forrest Gump ($92.35 in chips)
Seat 2: HHprinz63 ($4.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Clubberer80 ($40 in chips)
Seat 4: Addemon ($25.45 in chips)
Seat 5: ItsAGorilla ($13.35 in chips)
Seat 6: carbonadium ($25.30 in chips)
Seat 7: delgados ($65.45 in chips)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier ($76.65 in chips)
Seat 9: NEBS ($24 in chips)
Addemon: posts small blind $0.10
ItsAGorilla: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Forrest Gump [As Qd]
carbonadium: folds
delgados: folds
ChrisFrazier: folds
NEBS: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Forrest Gump: calls $0.50
HHprinz63: folds
Clubberer80: folds
Addemon: calls $0.40
ItsAGorilla: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [3h Ah 8s]
Addemon: checks
ItsAGorilla: bets $0.25
NEBS: calls $0.25
Forrest Gump: raises $1.75 to $2
Addemon: calls $2
ItsAGorilla: folds
NEBS: calls $1.75
*** TURN *** [3h Ah 8s] [2s]
Addemon: checks
NEBS: checks
Forrest Gump: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h Ah 8s 2s] [Ad]
Addemon: checks
NEBS: bets $0.25
Forrest Gump: calls $0.25
Addemon: calls $0.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
NEBS: shows [8d Ks] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
Forrest Gump: shows [As Qd] (three of a kind, Aces)
Addemon: mucks hand
Forrest Gump collected $8.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9 | Rake $0.40
Board [3h Ah 8s 2s Ad]
Seat 1: Forrest Gump showed [As Qd] and won ($8.60) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 2: HHprinz63 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Clubberer80 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Addemon (small blind) mucked [7h 8h]
Seat 5: ItsAGorilla (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: carbonadium folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: delgados folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: ChrisFrazier folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: NEBS showed [8d Ks] and lost with two pair, Aces and Eights


A small note on Pot Limit – the more I play, the more I find myself preferring this to NL. It really suits my style as it allows me to see more flops in position more cheaply.



FG