"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