Friday 19 October 2007

How do you win a SNG whilst hitting FA?

As Full Tilt are exceedingly homosexual in that they don't take Maestro - I've been pottering around, concentrating on work and other things. The month started badly, dropping £200 at poker from 30th August to 4th October, and I've decided to ease off the live poker, as I feel I'm not giving it my all, despite very positive recent results. With about $8 lying around in Stars I decide to play an SNG for fun. But I win, so play a $10 SNG, play well and make 2nd. Feeling like I'm playing very solid poker, I've decided to give SNGs a go over cash in the future. Far less variance!

6 $10 SNGs, 2 wins, 1 2nd, 1 3rd and 2 4ths - and one of the 4ths I made a terrible mistake which otherwise would've resulted in a cash. So into the 7th.

Hands 1-12: Bugger all, I see my first two BBs for free with 54o and Q2o. Limp with Kh9h and reminded it's a poor play when SB raises big and I pass. Only 20 chips though. If I play every hand here, I hit 2nd pair once (a 9 with 96o) and 3rd pair thrice on the flop.

Hand 13: SB, AQo, MP and button limp. I hate the hand and position, too early to raise, so complete. Flop comes K high and I pass to the bet.

Hand 16: AQo, 4th pos. 3rd limps, I raise to 5xBB, all fold and I take my first pot.

Hand 22: AJo, Button. Cutoff raises 4xBB, I flat call, board comes 2h 5d 9c Qc Tc. Checked down and he has the only hand I could've pushed off the pot (AK). Thought about betting the turn, but I don't like risking too many chips early on. If I'd played the last 11 hands, I'd have hit 3rd pair once.

Hand 24: QJs, 4th pos. I limp, one EP limper and button. T high flop and fold to the button's bet.

Hand 26: AKo, 2nd pos. I raise 4xBB. All fold.

Hand 28: 9s3c, BB. No raise on my BB for 4th consecutive time. Button limps. Board Js 8s 2d 3s and a 2/3 pot bet takes it down. Haven't hit another flop yet. Still on 1235 chips with blinds 25/50.

Hand 36: 99, SB. MP and button limp. I hate the position, all-in or pass realistically, and the blinds are small enough, so I flat call, miss and fold. Playing the last 8 hands would've seen me hit 2nd pair for the 2nd time (the 4 with 84o this time!).

Hand 47: 88, UTG. Down to 910 chips with blinds 50/100. I have no option but to push. All fold. Not hit another flop.

Hand 49: 97s, SB. Button limps, I complete. Flop 874 rainbow. A huge 2nd pair sees me bet 2/3 pot and take it down. That's now 3 2nd pairs and 4 3rd pairs on the flop.

Hand 52, QJo, 2nd pos. 6 players left, I raise 3xBB and take the pot.

Hand 64, KQo, 2nd pos. 860 chips, blinds 75/150. I move all-in, BB calls with JTs. Board 62574 doubles me up. No more hits in the last 15 hands.

Hand 66, T6s, BB. Blind on Blind, board AK5T sees me take it with a min bet on the turn.

Hand 74, K7o, Button. Still 6 left, blinds 100/200. Folded to me and I min raise on the button. BB calls. Board 9h Td Qh 4c 8s. It's checked down and his A3o wins. Still can't hit a flop.

Hand 75, AcKh, Cutoff. 1170 left, MP raises to 800, no option but to push. He shows 99. Board comes Qc Kc 2c Jh 6s. I HIT TOP PAIR! Oh, and I doubled up.

Hand 76, 92o, UTG. Would've hit 2 pair, when you're hot you're hot!

Hand 77, ATo, BB. Blind on blind. SB limps, I raise 3xBB, SB calls. Flop 456, he checks, I push, he folds. 2nd of 5 left now.

Hand 88, AA, SB. Not hit since last time. Blind on Blind. BB short stacked. I min raise and he flat calls. Flop down J65, I put him all-in and he insta-calls with JT. Turn 9, river 7 knock him out. Though I didn't actually hit that flop!

Hands 91-97. I win 4 of these 7 hands, hitting bottom pair once, 22 on a K44 board and two pre-flop raises. 4 left.

Hands 104-106. I win these 3 in a row with pre-flop raises. A couple of flop hits, but no top pair if I play every hand. Chipleader with 4600 and blinds 100/200/25.

Hand 111: A raise stops me from playing QTo, flop comes Q high and QJ hits two pair on turn.

Hand 117, QQ, SB. Now 3 handed and in the money, somehow. I over raise from SB to 6xBB, BB pushes and I call, he shows JJ and board 6726T puts me as monster chipleader 8800 with both opponents on 2300.

Hand 122, 22, BB. Blinds now 200/400/25. SB raises 60% of his stack, I reraise all-in, he shows ATs and 465KK board knocks him out and leaves me 4 to 1 chipleader heads up. The odd 2nd and 3rd pair, but nothing much.

Hands 125-130: I win 4 of 6 without hitting a thing.

Hand 131, 9c4c, SB. I've been raising every button to 3xBB, this time he calls, flop down Ac 3c 4s. Lovely flop, I put him all-in, and he folds, leaving him 1500 chips and me with an 8 to 1 leader.

Hand 132, KdJd, BB. He doubles up wtih A8o, both miss. He starts folding his SB.

Hand 134, 95o, SB. I raise 3xBB again, he flat calls, board 4AA2K and I put him all-in on the river, he passes and I show, hahaha! He again folds his SB next hand (135), and I show him 93o.

Hand 136, 74s, SB. I stupidly put him all-in, and he doubles up with Q6 when we both miss.

Hand 138, KhJh, SB. I'm 12 to 1 leader - I put him all-in again, and he calls with J9o. I fittingly hit top pair and the board of 23J7T gives me the win.

If I play each of the 138 hands (played hands in bold):

I hit two-pair once (92o).

I hit top pair 3 times - played hands in bold (AKo, QTo, KJs).

I hit 2nd pair 7 times (with 84o, 96o, 97s, 72o, 96s, 64o, 94s).

3rd pair was hit 11 times, as good as a fold really, though I took a couple of pots down with these.

A pre-flop move with 88 was uncalled, as were many smaller raises with rags. QQ and AA both held as 4-1 favourites.

I won both my races (only one crucial one) 22 v ATs and AKo v 99. That is all, 4 key hands all won.

How do you win a SNG whilst hitting FA?

Patience.

And a little bit of luck ;)

Monday 24 September 2007

Mmmmm...satisfying

Sometimes, everything just comes together. The cards, experience, physical tells and poker strategy all combine.

It's just the freeroll at the casino, have been very stacked at some points but have fallen to just above the average (~13k) with around 18 left. I've not really put a foot out of line - absolutely unheard of for me, and have generally played good, solid poker. This time however, with blinds 300/600 I feel it's ripe for a raise and bump it up to 1800 UTG with 67o. Only 5 active players in the hand, the two after me fold, but the small blind calls. He's been looking to play some poker, and has been trusting his reads. Has made several aggressive raises and reraises and has been sensible in who he's been targeting. The flop comes T64 rainbow.

My instant feeling is that he'll believe I've not hit, so I am expecting him to bet. But he checks fairly quickly and 'naturally', not at forced check. I fire out a value bet of 3000, wish to charge him if he gets tricky. He goes into the tank and his demeanour instantly changes, muttering 'you HAVE to bet there', and then moves all-in for 7500 more. I'd be left with 400 if I call and lose. My initial assessment of the flop is that I would be ready for a stop and go re-raise a bet all in, but his talking out loud about his hand analysis made me stop and think. Is his chit-chat, suggesting I'm on the c-bet bluff, a cover for a monster?

I look into his eyes, he holds my gaze for the tiniest of split seconds and shifts his eyes around. He doesn't look comfortable, the smile is forced. He hasn't seen me get tricky with rags before, and I'm playing to get into this kind of position. But good players usually don't put their chips at risk without something. Surely he'd bet a T straight away on the flop? Anyway, if I were holding a T there I'd be pretty comfortable about it, so it just doesn't seem likely. I also don't think he's called me with rags, or he'd again bet out at that kind of flop. The only hands I'm worried about are now 77, 88 and 99. He's not pushing all-in with a set here on a drawless board, but these pairs would fit with the nervousness - 77 is slightly more unlikely given I hold a 7.

I come to the conclusion that he'd be fairly likely to reraise pre-flop if holding 99 out of position. 88 is entering risky mode, but I believe a fair chance of a reraise there too. 77 feels like a stop and go hand, but his failure to bet on the flop, combined with his instant body language change when I bet goes against everything he 'should' do in this spot. I call, and am rather pleased when he shows 55. When I call he asks if I have AK, and isn't best pleased when he sees the hand, it holds up, and I make another final table, I make it my 4th this month and soon follow it with a 5th with another FT at Harbour House. It's been a good month.

Sunday 2 September 2007

Casino Update

Over the last month, live tournament poker really hasn't been going too well. Out early in a £20 crapshoot Gutshot tournament making a play a few hands in (one move is all you have and I got in far too deep). That was preceded by an absolute nightmare of a £30 deep stack the previous evening. 90 runners with 3,000 starting chips, early on I pick up T8o on the small blind. 3 limpers around and I complete to see a flop of T85. I check BB makes a small probe bet which is called by one limper. I make a large overraise, hoping to confuse the opposition. It doesn't work as they both fold, but at least they're thinking about my raise - which was the aim. I'm not able to take advantage as I'm quickly moved to the most cramped poker table in the known universe. A few hands in, and I reraise an obvious button steal from the SB with J6o, the button passes and I show the bluff. Taps on the table all round, so hopefully that'll get them thinking. If only the table didn't get broken 5 minutes later. Great, as we go into the break I've run my stack up to 3,600, but gambled chips on some set up plays which I'm not able to follow through with.

Anyway, I feel I'm getting good reads and playing quite well. At my 3rd table in an hour and half I raise two limpers on the button with 94o. Again, showed, and I'm hoping one of the lesser experienced players will pay me off in the future. I don't have to wait long. A young lady moves to the table with blinds 150/300. UTG limps and she raises half her stack to 2,000. It's a massive raise and stupidly easy to put her on a hand. When I look down at QQ it's a no brainer and I shove for 4,600. She insta calls her final 1,900 as expected and shows 99. First card out is a 9. I can't even remember the hand I lost my last 700 chips on, but I know that was sick too.

2 weeks later I was at the only regular live freeroll in the country at Southampton Grosvenor. It's a lovely tournie, 72 runners, with 3,000 chips, 45/45/20 min blinds and time to have some fun. I start on the same table as a very aggressive young lady, calling my AK raise and my continuation bet on a 2 heart board, pushing all-in on the 3rd heart. Despite holding Kh I pass and wait, but she puts me to the test again when I raise with KK to see a TT7 board. I bet the flop and she pushes all-in, this time I call, and she shows K5 for the bluff. Nice try love, but I wasn't laying this one down. I spend most the tournament hanging on below the average stack and make the final table with just 15k of the 219k in play. Not that it matters, AJ v KT, 64s becomes a flush on the river against an appallingly played AK, and then my QQ holds up against 99. Within 20 minutes I have 160k of the 219k with 5 players left. I've never had this dominant a position, and despite an old regular clawing his way back to level by heads up, we do a slight deal and I take the extra tenner on offer for the winner when he runs into my KK. £85 for free!

The night gets even better when we get 8 players for a £10 dealer dealt Omaha SNG (fantastic!). I'm by far and away the most competent Omaha player at the table and cruise to victory, slightly aided by quad 9s and a flopped straight when holding AAKK. Another £60. It was a good night, but I spunk most of it at a snooker club £10 rebuy with the worlds worst structure.

Now skint, I borrow money off my mate Mark when he comes to stay last night (Sat 1st Sept). We decide to lose our Harbour House virginity and play their £10 1000 chip rebuy. It's Mark's first live tournament for well over a year, he's barely played over the last two. First hand I pick up 66, and a competent lady raises to 250, I call from the SB to see the perfect AT6 flop. I check, she shoves with AJ and I take the first pot. The very next pot, EVERYBODY limps, making 325 in the pot before my action. Holding AK I raise to 550, a perfectly reasonable raise imo, making sure any caller has to commit. Plus I don't want one caller and then everyone getting great odds to stick around. I get berated by one player who later tells everyone that "the correct raise is 3x BB". Can I play you every day? I hit a KK5 board against the one caller that I wanted and I'm already up to 2,800.

It continues to go smoothly, I don't lose any big pots where I'm ahead. 3xBB man is annoyed by a guy two to my left who raises anywhere between 6-10x BB. It's working, as 3xBB man is getting rather worked up. A limped 77 stands up on a 642 flop, going no further. A button limp with 33 is met with a J73 board. UTG bets with 73, I call and SB calls with KJ. The turn J loses me the UTG player, but I take the SBs stack. My play is again called into question soon after. With blinds 50/100 3xBB man raises to 250 (now that's just 2.5x BB mate). SB calls and I call with J9o. The flop comes AT7, both blinds check and 3xBB man bets 150, SB calls, and me, getting 6 to 1 odds, call also. With a small bet and a call, I am perfectly entitled to expect I might get paid enough to compensate if I hit my 11 to 1 shot. Turn K is checked all round and river Q is bet by the SB. I raise with the nuts, hoping against hope he's not got a J. 3xBB folds KQ and is astounded when SB shows J7 and sees my J9. He then goes on about 'how could we call with bottom pair and a gutshot?' respectively. Nothing to do with the fact he made a shit raise and a shit c-bet. A little discussion ensues, and he just doesn't understand the concept of implied odds. I've done some degree level maths thanks, but decide to count his chips rather than argue.

I cop it some more when competent lady raises to 400, 3xBB calls, I look down at Ts8s in the BB. 300 to call into a pot of 950. Obviously I call to see a JT8 board. I check, lady moves all-in for 2200, 3xBB folds and I win when I hit my boat on the river. She's stacked herself with AJ and she slags off my play again. Within a few minutes I fold my KhQh on a 762 board one heart to her 94o all-in and 3xBB's call with 22. Running hearts come, she asks if I would've won, I said yes, and she snidely remarks 'Oh, that's such a shame'. No need for that, and I'm a bit irked to have to double up her pushed AQ against my BB AJ. She's a bit of a hothead, but did calm down later.

I reach the break safely with 7,750, including the add-on. The first time I've completed a rebuy tournament without a rebuy since 20th November 2006! The good luck dries up for a while. I raise the button with A9 against 2 limpers, one old gent (another snide bastard) calls and checks a Q64 board, I put him all-in and he calls with a well played KQ. Again my play gets criticised! I double up a short stack when I'm forced to call and I'm down to 2,600 with blinds 200/400 after the blinds pass through me. I'm lucky enough to pick up TT on the button. I shove and SB reshoves with KJs. I hold on to double through. I again get all-in with 7d8d, reraising a MP limper on a Td9d3c board. He calls with KT and can't stop shaking his head when the board comes running 8s. Not the way I was expecting to take the pot, but why are you surprised you lost that pot?

I'm moaning about needing a slash my this point (toilets, not wrists), pick up my 2nd pos hand, find KK. Curse you poker gods! I raise and one guy ignores this most obvious of tells and gets it all-in with AQ, I'm now up to around 20k and one of the chip leaders with around 35 left. I'm forced to stick around now the blinds pass me. Plenty of jiggling of legs and I'm almost dribbling when my next 2nd pos hand comes round...it's TT. I warn UTG about raising, but he does and I insta-push. He thinks about it for minutes, probably just to annoy me, before calling with JJ, but a flopped T knocks him out. A new player arrives, but I'm now UTG and wishing I had a catheter. By this time Mark has joined my table as we're down to the last 25-30, and he's sitting on a handsome stack of around 10k, from a breaktime stack of 1,800. He continues to build it nicely throughout the tournament. Mr. Tucker, I am impressed! I continue to dominate the table, reraising a quietish EP player's raise, putting him all-in with AK. He eventually calls with JTs (don't think that's a terrible call tbh). I catch the A on the flop, but avoid running clubs to boost my stack to nearly 40k of the 277k in play. About 15 left at this point and I have no need to mess around with blinds at 800/1600, only stealing once and having enough raising hands to maintain my stack. We break with me holding the chiplead at 45k, and Mark holding well over 20k after winning some key hands without showing. The final table is a mere 20 minutes away, I go slightly card dead, but Mark is well on his way, dominating the table to enter as chip leader with 50k. I enter 3rd with 36k.

Sadly, after a really good tournament the final table becomes a complete crapshoot. I'm lucky when I forget the BB is a short stack of just 5,500 with blinds 1,500/3,000. I raise to 8,000 with 83o. He actually passed (prize money for 9th and 10th identical)! It becomes a card catching contest. We've already done a deal to flatten out the prize structure (a ridiculous 45% going to the winner, £1,240 of the £2,770 prize pool) but one guy picks up AA and KK in quick succession and is soon sitting on 80k. Mark exits in 7th after his first mis-step in my opinion - though he was exceedingly unlucky to miss 19 and 22 outs on flop and turn respectively. After another 15 minutes of pushing chips around with blinds up to 4000/8000 the final 6 agree to chop the prize money. £350 each with the extra £180 left going to the waitress and top two chipleaders. More than happy with that - it was pure luck as to the outcome, and I was big blind with just 24k left! Badly needed the score, but very happy with my play.

Will most certainly be playing Harbour House again, despite some bad tempers!

The second most annoying thing in the world...

...are average speed checks. Now, they work, but they fuck me off. Big time. You just sit there, for mile after mile, no bleeding workforce to protect, and if they are there, they're having their tea - probably laced with vodka. So they'd do bugger all anyway, which makes me want to mow them down.

Anyway, day 1B in Luton. APAT European Amateur Championship for £75. 151 runners out of the total of 299 or 300. God knows which. 10,000 chips, 40 minute blinds. It's a tasty structure. I have good memories of APAT, the normal weak-tight play, plus I dropped 80% of my starting stack in Cardiff, only to run it up to almost 50k a few hours later. There's time to come back if you're struggling.

I make my first big mistake on the first hand. I win it. Or rather, I share it. On the BB with T3o it's checked to the river and share with the SB who was holding KT on a J7498 board. Up to 10,025 and an early chiplead on the table.

I'm then continually dealt the kind of hands that do their best to bust you. Most people who play with me know I hate AJ, with a passion, closely followed by JJ and AQ. Very next hand I pick up AQ suited and proceed to play it atrociously. UTG limps, I decide I don't fancy raising out of position against him this early on, so I just complete the big blind. The flop comes AJT and I bet out flop, turn comes 9. I bet 300 into the 500 pot, get raised to 1,000. Now, a blind man on the moon can see I'm behind, but I stack 1,700 calling this and 1,000 on a blank river. Of course he has the nuts, KQ. AJo on the button, I raise, get called, flop down KQ rag and I fold to the BB's lead. 76s next hand, raise and take the blinds. 4 hands in, and already down to 8,000. But at least I'm creating an image that might work to my benefit later on.

Yeah, right. I'd need to hit the odd hand. I miss with 88, 33, 22, 99 and JJ (x2) when I get in cheaply. I pick up AJ (x3), AQ (x4) and AK (x3) in the first 4 hours, playing them all differently. The ONLY one I win is when EP (dodgy player, didn't rate him) raises, I call on the button with AJs. Flop comes down A77. He bets 300 into 500, I dwell for over a minute before reraising to 1,100. He remarks 'nice bet' and lays down what I assume to be QQ or KK. At least I got that one right.

And it was pretty much the only marginal play I got correct all tournament. I win with AK, raising pre-flop and betting a 9 high flop when I miss yet again, and I make the first break with 6,700. After playing the 2nd hour rather tight I decide to come back and take the bull by the horns. First hand I raise 3 limpers from the button with J4s, two call, the board comes 456 and a bet from me takes the pot. The very next hand I reraise an EP raiser with AK, then move all-in on a 942 rainbow board. He passes and I'm up to 9,000 despite not hitting anything. Raises are generally being respected, and when I hit my most promising flop yet I'm quite hopeful. With blinds 100/200, I'm the 3rd limper on the button with Tc9c. The flop comes Jc9d7c. The BB bets out 400 into 800 and is called by the HJ (hijack, one to right of CO). I reraise to 1,900...and get called by both. Turn J is checked and River checked to me, I bet out 2,400 when I completely miss again but am called by the HJ, who shows QJo. I take a couple of small pots over the next half hour, but lose another 1,500 when I raise for the first time blind on blind with Q5s. I lead the A high flop and turn, but lay down to a reraise on the turn. I've gone and run into AQ. This hit shakes me, and I'm quite relieved when I'm moved tables, though the second one is far less friendly than the first.

I'm immediately put to the test with 5,600 left, first hand I'm dealt QT in MP, folded to me with blinds 200/400 I test the water with a raise to 1,200. I get instantly reraised by the small blind, and pretend I folded AQ. He shows AK. Not a good start and it only gets worse. With just over 4k left after putting in the big blind, the short stack moves all-in from MP for about 2,600. It's folded around to me as I announce 'An easy fold or a very easy call please', as I look down at A....J offsuit. I curse, though the rest of the table find it hilarious. I've been there for 3 minutes, I have no idea what his range is, if he's really waiting for a good hand. If I'm beat I'm crushed, and if I'm winning, it's probably not by much. I think for about 2 minutes, and then make probably the wrong decision and fold face up, apparently he had K8 suited. I'm low on confidence after the total coldness of the deck so far, and it was manifesting itself in my poor decision making. I was playing terribly. I limp to the dinner break with 3,500 left.

Blinds are 300/600 as we return, with 118 left. First hand in MP I look down a 7s8s, and as I'm about to announce all-in the big stacked guy on my left announces 'call'. It doesn't really affect my decision as he can't be that strong if he was only going to call, maybe he'd fold any connector or Ace than has me dominated. I move all-in anyway, he calls and all others fold, he shows AJo. Flop Ac6s2d hurts, the Ts on the turn gives me 12 outs but the 8 on the river sends me to the rail in 118th.

I've hit top pair twice all night, and one of those I'm against the nuts. I've missed every draw. A freezing cold deck.

The most annoying thing in the world?

Sunday 12 August 2007

APAT No Limit Hold Em Championship Main Event

148 entrants for this deep stack $50 freezeout. Top 18 paid with winner receiving $2,220.

Very quiet first hour, found some spots to gamble early on without sucess, generally playing rather tight and passive. Didn't lose a pot at showdown, but also failed to find a suitable spot to trap one of the 3 retards on my second table. My one effort led to AK being split against A4 on a 66228 board. Ended the first hour slightly up, building my 5,000 to 6,200 for a spot in the top 1/3.

Shortly after the break my progress was checked. Having raised the previous hand from the button to steal the blinds, my identical raise from the cut-off with 22 was met with two calls from the blinds. A flop of 9c 6h Js was checked round to see a beautiful 2s on the turn. The BB bet 450 into the pot of 1350, I reraised to 1350 and he called. He checked the river Qs, and correctly putting him on the flush, I checked behind to lose no more. The lost pot took me down to 4,300. Following that beat, I go card dead (not that I was particularly flush with good cards before), so sit back with the blinds just about manageable and look to pick my spots, though my patience is running thin as I'm dealt rubbish over and over again. Halfway through the second hour, antes come in, my stack drops below 4,000 and my M is just under 8.

Time for some aggression, a fairly new button raises to 700 with blinds 100/200/25. I find Ks7s and push all-in for 3,500, taking the pot and boosting my stack by 30%. The very next hand I lose 600, making a loose call of a raise on the button with AcTc. The raiser was a rock, so some quality donking off of chips when I inevitably miss the flop and fold to his c-bet.

I donk out in style soon after, picking up Kx suited on my SB several times in row leads me to decide to limp this hand and see a cheap flop if possible, but to reraise all-in if raised. When I eventually do it, I run Kd 4d into QQ. A flop of Qh Td 6d gives me hope, but a blank turn and the case Queen on the river knock me out in style. I have the consolation of knowing I probably would've taken a chance on the flop anyway, but it still wasn't the best move. Never got into this tournament, especially after the 22, finishing a poor 89th.

Saturday 11 August 2007

APAT No Limit Hold Em Heads Up Championship

Heads Up. I'm not really a fan if I'm honest, but I'm a sucker for poker action and hey, it's worth the most money in tournament play so practice is certainly no bad thing. 108 people are in for the 4th in APAT's online series. Top 16 pay, unfortunately I'm not one of the lucky 20 or so receiving byes into the next round.

Match 1:
Straight into the action on the big blind. Small blind...folds. So it's going to be like that is it? I hate matches like this and the need to be patient, taking 90% of pots whilst avoiding and pot where they bet unless you have a monster. I settle down for a long stint. I quickly discover minimum raises acheive what I want them to, so decide to minimum raise with my trash and continuation bet 1/2 pot regardless on the flop. After he folds his BB to my min raise with JJ, I'm now limping my big potential hands.

I take 4 of the first 6 pots no trouble, before I check my BB with Q7. We both check a T64 flop before I check, he bets pot and I call on turn 5. River is a blank and I bet 1/2 pot on the river and he flat calls, showing QT. A rock then.

The above strategy is firmly in play. A limped QQ takes down a pot on a flop of 88T as I win 15 of the next 16 pots, most pre-flop, losing my only one when I test to see if he folds to two bullets, check folding when a 3rd heart falls on the river after he check-calls flop and turn. Shock Horror, he takes two pots in a row before I pick up AA on my SB.

I complete the BB for 20. He raises to 60. I reraise to 140. He reraises to 300. I reraise to 640. He reraises to 1400 (surely some alarm bells must be ringing). I push all-in for 2620, expecting him to call with a big pair, and he does, with KK. A bit unlucky, but I did telegraph my hand to him. An 86JJ2 board make sure I'm the 5th person through.

Match 2:
The inevitable wait sees me unearth the diamond acoustic cover of Outkast's 'Hey Ya' by a fat, bearded bloke called Matt Weddle of an alt-rock band called Obadiah Parker. I loved the original, but this cover is even better.

The next opponent is far looser, but still fairly passive. The early spoils are shared as I see what he responds to. He seemingly calls down with below par hands as is proved by his calling down with 66 on a board 24Q8Q after I flat called his raise pre-flop with KK. I'm unable to exploit this weakness, as I'm continually dealt rubbish and can't hit a pair, let alone top pair. A couple of occasions I catch two pair and trips, both times he folds to my flop bet.

He's frustrating to play against, purely playing his cards and calling down with any pair, a couple of fortuitous rivers save his bottom pair with weak kicker, and I'm soon 2 to 1 down. I briefly retake the lead when my Qc9c hits a flush on a board of 2c 8s Kc Ks 6c. He calls my check-raise on the turn and pot sized bet on the river with JJ.

I give back the chip lead when I'm forced to lay down As6s on a 3d 7c Jd 2h in the face of an unusual bet from him and then I make a mistake with J6, hitting 2nd pair on the flop and paying off his bizarrely played TT when a K on the river leads me to believe he may have been counterfeited.

My plan finally comes to fruition when I raise with AsKs, he reraises and then calls my all-in with AhTh. I'd rather have set it on motion on the flop or later, but with the cards running pretty cold, I'm forced into a pre-flop all-in. It's heart in mouth time when the flop comes 5h 8h Js, a turn of 7d gives him 4 more outs but another 5 on the river gives me the 2 to 1 chip lead.

The end is in sight when I'm dealt AdAc the very next hand. I make a standard raise and am called. He raises my pot bet on a flop of Jd 5d Tc, I reraise all-in and he calls with 7d 4d, the 2d arrives on the turn and the river is no further help to me, as he regains all his chips lost in the previous hand.

The rising blinds force my hand and my aggressive play narrows the gap slightly. At blinds 50/100 I call his standard raise in the BB holding Kc Jd. The flop comes Ks 3s Th. I check, hoping he'll lead at it, but he checks behind. The turn brings the 9h, and I push all-in, hoping he'll make a dodgy call on a draw. He does, showing Ah6h, but the Ad on the river knocks me out in 46th place.

I've made a few mistakes, perhaps I should've lead at the final flop, but at the end of the day I've got my chips in at crucial points as a 66% and 72% favourite. Frustrating, but standard.

Wednesday 8 August 2007

APAT Razz Championship

More APAT, plus the shittest card game in the world, equals a tournament populated by 82 complete retards (can't really exclude myself here - in relation to most of this lot, I've just about dragged myself clear of the aquarium). Evidence can be provided by the player who, on his board of 3Q3 against my A72 proceeds to call two bets, catches two miracle cards for the nuts and FLAT CALLS my bet on the river. Give me strength, or a cash game against this muppet.

John Woodfield is also in the...erm...field, and he took 13th of 341 at the 2007 WSOP Razz event. Not too shabby.

I'm soon running in the top quarter, but hindered by numerous awkward hands like [Ks 2d] Ac which I feel compelled to at least see 4th street with. I also pick up dealt trip 3s and 4th street trip 10s, which is mildly irritating. Memo to Poker Gods: 3 days too late. After a run of brilliant stud hands, I somehow get paid off when calling the bring in, a raise, and then betting on every street with [4 5] 7 6 3 2. How it got to 6th street with my opponents showing Q 8 6 T (one of the chip leaders), and 5 Q 9 9 (earlier nuts muppet) - I have no freaking idea, but I sure feel good about my prospects. A short stint in 4th follows with a high point of 3,800 chips but a few dropped pots see me finish the first hour in 20th of the 81 left, holding just under 3,100.

Back to nuts retard from earlier. I limp with [A 2] 2, as does he, showing an A and giving away his non-premium under cards. The board eventually shows [A 2] 2 4 2 A [2] as I hit trips, then a boat, then quad 2s for the second time in a week. The board is scary though, so I bet it from 6th street, I'm somehow called by [8 5] A 4 K 8 [T] for 10-high. I resisted the temptation to curse in the chat box, but I now feel I must name and shame. pernille0, take a bow.

When the government decide on poker: skill or luck? They'd better not look at Razz.

The deck remains cold, but there's more donators here than at a charity convention, so a few hands and I will get paid off handsomely. Sadly, before my new found optimism comes to fruition, I'm moved tables. But fear not, Mr. Weak-Rock from Stud is here! Starts badly, buts I console myself by thinking that playing 3 card poker with my starting hands would be rather profitable. A straight-flush, two pairs,a flush and a straight in nine hands and I'm up £300 in my virtual life.

I'm shaken out of my daydreaming, as I realise the 2nd break is approaching and I'm on the way to becoming short stacked. A few pairs later, I limp to the break with 2,800. Stakes going up to 300/600/60 and I'm 32nd of 44.

Fortunately, this table actually has some respect for your upcards, and I rapidly move to 7,000. Then the deck returns cold, and I have a winless streak stretching for 23 hands, with a excruciating run of 11 hands where my upcard is 10 or greater before I finally take the antes when showing an Ace. It's hard going, whenever I pick up playable hands, the person to my right always seems to bring in, and everyone else has low upcards too, making my 1st position raise too risky. A 37% win rate when showing down isn't helping.

I donk off 2/3 of my chips when battling the bring in with a substandard hand, mine leading but failing to improve. I get away with it, however, raising with [3 4] 8, getting 3 callers, 5th street is kind, enabling me to thin the field, before Woodfield gives me maximum value, calling down whilst drawing dead. My 9-high beats his Q-high and I'm up to 11,000, but still just below the average with 17 left. He gets 4,000 back when calling my raise from his bring in. My [6 5] 3 looks good against his Q, but the board shafts me by 6th street. I enter the 3rd break with 8,200 chips. I'm 13th of 16, average 12,800 with stakes at 1000/2000/100.

Woodfield exited in 15th, and with the majority of short stacks finding hands I found myself 14th of 14, some way adrift. I find [7 4] 6 and raise in EP, two callers showing A and 8. 4th street brings J, K and 8 respectively and I'm going all the way. The AK folds and my [7 4] 6 J A 4 [K] is all-in on 6th street and rivered by [A 2] 8 8 J 6 [4] to send me to the rail in 13th, missing the money by 5 spots.

Razz is shit.

Monday 6 August 2007

APAT Stud Championship

The Amateur Poker Assocation and Tour have provided some excellent events, both online and live over the past few months. Unfortunately I've not been able to play many events during the first season, but am looking to significantly up the quota next season, starting in October. I went fairly deep in the Welsh Amateur Championship before a cold deck left me exiting in 59th of 200. Other than a couple of small online events, I made the decision to enter the grandly named APAT World Championship of Online Amateur Poker Stud Championship event. With some supposedly chunky medals up for grabs and a mere $20 entry fee, I decided to test my stud skill against 74 others.

The standard in many APAT events is generally weak-tight, a delicious combo, and so it proved in this event with many players playing purely for the ranking points on offer without any experience in the game, grossly overvaluing hands and playing for too passively. With little alarm my stack increased from 2500 to 3600 by the first break, knocking out the only player to fall in the first hour with trip Jacks. The second hour followed the pattern of the first, up to 4100 chips - 14th of 48 remaining.

First hand after the break I take a 1200 chip hit. Playing [Ts 9c] 8c 3c Jh 5s aggressively I'm forced to fold on 6th street against a 6d 6h 7c 7h board, he shows [8d 6c] for the full house. An unsuccessful raise takes me down to 2300, below my starting stack for the first time since beginning. Fortunately the presence of Mr. Weak-Rock enables me to bluff raise on 3rd and 4th street before 5th street pairs my open Ace and he scurries away in the face of aggression. With the aid of a flush a few hands later I'm back up to 4,000 with stakes at 300/600 and not much room for anybody to maneuver.

Halfway through the 3rd hour, getting anted away at 400/800, I raise with [4h Th] Jh. The player to my right (twice my stack) calls me with the only higher up card [Qh].

4th Street:
Me: [4h Th] Jh 2h
Him: [xx xx] Qh 4c

He checks, I bet 400, he calls.

5th Street:
Me: [4h Th] Jh 2h Qc
Him: [xx xx] Qh 4c Js

He checks, I bet 800, he calls. I put him on a draw or a weak hidden pair like 99 or TT (no re-raise on 3rd street)

6th Street:
Me: [4h Th] Jh 2h Qc 6c
Him: [xx xx] Qh 4c Js 3c

I bet 800, he calls. I know he's not in love with his hand, but I'm now left with 944 chips. I pick up Kd to miss my flush draw on the river, muster the courage to press 'bet 800', and he passes. Thank Christ for that.

More aggessive play from me gives me the chip lead. Bringing in with [3c 2h] 2s, it's folded around to a short-medium stack on my right who raises. I reraise and bet every street, hitting two pair on 6th street and eliminating him - who called all the way with [9h 6h] 4h Kc 5d 4d [Qs]. Shortly before the break, I attempt an ambitious mid-position steal with [6c 6s] 2d. I'm reraised by gulibert n2 with an Ad but decide to call, hitting my set on 4th street. I call here which enabled me to cap the betting on 5th street. He (eventual runner-up) check calls from thereon and my [6c 6s] 2d 6h 5d 3h [7c] crushes his [Tc Td] Ad Qd 7s 9c [4h]. I temporarily take the chip lead, and despite having my hidden JJ cracked by then 2nd places (eventual winner thetinkerman) rivered straight, I go into the 3rd break in 2nd of the 20 or so left with 22,000.

With 12 left I go on a rollercoaster hyper-aggressive streak. Hidden JJ turns into 2 pair against a new player to the table, but I give most back when forcing him in with [2h 7s] 2d against his [8c 8h] 7c when neither improves. I sadly waste a chance to double through the chip leader when raising once on 3rd street with [2h 2d] 2c. When the 2s falls on 4th street he folds his pair of Kings and the opportunity is gone. A few hands after we enter the final table and the money positions, I'm 5th of 8 with 24,000 chips. The standard has increased markedly, with the vast majority of hands being raised by the highest upcard. No more easy chips!

I cripple gulibert n2 again when he opens the pot with a bet with [Ks Kd] 2d. I call with [3d Ad] Jd. I eventually hit runner-runner-runner-runner full house with [3d Ad] Jd 3s Td Th [3h], (check calling 4th and 5th, both checking 6th and him check-calling the river), beating his [Ks Kd] 2c 8d 4s 5c [Tc] for a pot worth over 20k. I take the chiplead once more shortly but lose it when I fold my [Kc Kd] Ad 2d 5h against thetinkerman Js 8d Jh (two other Aces showing and a 3rd street raise from the Js). I recover with [Ts 8s] Th 9h 7c Kd [6c] v the aggressive Prieure's [As 4d] Qh 3d 6h 7s [Qs] (he 3 bets 3rd street and I call 4th and 5th, both check 6th and I bet river, he calls). gulibert n2 gets some revenge when my KK is beaten by his 6th street straight. We're soon 4 handed, and my 24,400 is half the amount of 3rd, but my favourite play of the night changes that. I bring in with [7d 6h] 4d, thetinkerman raises yet again with the 9d.

4th Street:
Me: [7d 6h] 4d Kh
Him: [xx xx] 9d Qs

I check, he bets, I raise, he calls. I've now got control and I'm going all the way!

5th Street/6th Street:
Me: [7d 6h] 4d Kh As 4c
Him: [xx xx] 9d Qs 2c 6s

I bet out both streets and he passes on 6th street, with me having just 3,000 chips left.

The play is to no avail though, despite Prieure throwing away a strong position. He's far too aggressive with a weak pair and draw and drops to 10k. I'm a solid 3rd with 38k, and the other two have around 70k. I make my first big mistake of the tournament, and it costs me a medal.

3rd street:
gulibert [xx xx] 5d
Me [3d 9h] 9d
Prieure [xx xx] 6c

gulibert n2 opens with raise, not bring in. Alarm bells should be ringing, but I reraise and Prieure moves all-in. gulibert reraises and I call.

4th street:
gul [xx xx] 5d 8s
Me [3d 9h] 9d 3h
Pri [xx xx] 6c Kh

I should be wary, but with Prieure all-in, I felt I was strong and guaranteed 3rd with a great chance to get in contention. gulibert checks, I bet and he calls.

5th street/6th street/river
gul [xx xx] 5d 8s 8h 7d [xx]
Me [3d 9h] 9d 3h 7s 8c [7c]
Pri [xx xx] 6c Kh 4d 5s [xx]

With blockers all over the shop I call all the way down, putting gulibert on a weaker 2 pair. I should've known better. He shows [Qd Qh] [9s] for a better two pair, whilst in a nightmare scenario, Prieure shows [Ad As] [5c] for the highest two pair on the river. I didn't bank on two hidden pairs, and I'm left with a shade over 6,000. I am out the very next hand.

Disappointing, but I would've taken 4th before the tournament. At least I've proved to myself I can play Stud to a reasonable standard. I took $150 and 6 irrelevant ranking points (only played 4 events this season of around 40 odd!) for 4th place, and am looking forward to the Razz event on Wednesday, followed by NL Hold Em at the weekend.

First Post

I've been planning a poker blog for some time. If no-one ever reads it apart from me...well, that's not really going to bother me too much.

Having started playing a little poker (badly) 3 years ago, I've eventually graduated to a point where I feel I can make some serious money from the game. During university I've always found enough money to enter local tournaments and win enough to support myself. I've never given cash a serious go and as for my bankroll - I've never really had one!

Now full-time studying is over, I aim to invest approximately $2,000 into online cash under stringent bankroll management conditions. In theory, if I can beat the levels I play at, I stand a minimal chance of ever going broke.

I'm a No-Limit Hold 'Em specialist, but proficient at other limits and disciplines. Primarily a live player, but the money is there to be made online. In the past year I've made $10,000 profit from largely live play.

Notable results include a runner up spot in a national student poker championships. After dominating the final table, the structure did not reward my aggressive play, and the poker gods deserted me in the crapshoot that was heads-up play. This is still my largest cash. I have cashed at a UK festival event (via a bubble deal sadly, so the aim of getting my name onto the Hendon Mob database will have to wait) and taken down a good mid-stakes event on Pokerstars, good for over $2,600.