Looking back, I don't think I ever posted a summary for March. Maybe that's because I finished March down $300 after my PLO disaster and a couple of bad sessions.
Anyways, I started this month with a bankroll of $2495. I finished with a bankroll of $5133. That's an incredible 106% return. The net profit of $2638 was made up of $310 in rakeback, $250 in rake races, a $150 reload bonus on Euro, and about $120 of the RedStar signup bonus, and then about $1808 in poker profit (including $700 in tournament profit from Wednesday's second place).
Just reading that last paragraph, I can hardly believe it - especially with the relatively tough run I have had over recent months.
I actually went back to fixed limit for most of this month. Initially this was because the fishiness level on Eurolinx was very high, especially at the EUR3/6 level. My first sampling of the Cake (RedStar) waters was also very profitable on the limit tables. I wish I had tracker stats on RedStar, because I'd really like to know how hot I am running (apart from *very*) and how bad the fish are (some of them, also *very*).
The rake races on Eurolinx and RedStar were also great value this month, although RedStar got suddenly tougher in the last week when RTR emailed everyone to point out that there were 21 unclaimed prizes. I could have made it up to a $150 prize on Euro (rather than the $100 I ended up with), but I was tired after the tournament and needed a break so didn't play the last day.
One extra bonus showed up on Wednesday - I bought the Harrington tournament books as a set using my Eurolinx points. So that's an extra $100 or so of value right there.
For May, I plan to play a couple of live WSOP super sats and hopefully a bit of cash too. I will continue with the EL and RS races, and try to play some more no-limit. I will also aim to play a few more tournaments - maybe one or two a week, and maybe at slightly higher buyins.
Finally, here are a couple of hands from the tournament. I tried this overpot value bet on the river a couple of times and got paid off well by weak hands (gotta love the hero call with ace high).
Landmark of the month: I have now won more money playing poker in the last year than I lost on the stock market :)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Big tournament cash!!
I foolishly started a couple of $11 R&A tournaments last night at 10:30pm after getting home from some indoor climbing.
Four hours later (or was it five?) I took down 2nd place on Eurolinx for a very nice $750. In the similar tournament on RedStar (Cake), I busted out with TT when my top set was cracked by a rivered straight.
I have a theory that there is an awful lot of dead money in these R&A tournaments from players who rebuy very late in the rebuy period (like the third level). At that point, a rebuy buys so few blinds that you are forced to shove preflop pretty well straight away. The Cake R&A has extra value, since it takes late registrations until the end of rebuys. I think at least half of the players are usually late starters.
I will probably post some hands tonight or tomorrow. After watching Tom Dwan play in the Aussie Millions cash game, I was inspired to try a couple of overbet (1.5-2 times pot) river value bets. The results were great, with calls coming from hands (including an ace high call) that I'm pretty sure wouldn't have called a "normal" value bet.
Four hours later (or was it five?) I took down 2nd place on Eurolinx for a very nice $750. In the similar tournament on RedStar (Cake), I busted out with TT when my top set was cracked by a rivered straight.
I have a theory that there is an awful lot of dead money in these R&A tournaments from players who rebuy very late in the rebuy period (like the third level). At that point, a rebuy buys so few blinds that you are forced to shove preflop pretty well straight away. The Cake R&A has extra value, since it takes late registrations until the end of rebuys. I think at least half of the players are usually late starters.
I will probably post some hands tonight or tomorrow. After watching Tom Dwan play in the Aussie Millions cash game, I was inspired to try a couple of overbet (1.5-2 times pot) river value bets. The results were great, with calls coming from hands (including an ace high call) that I'm pretty sure wouldn't have called a "normal" value bet.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Blind battles 101
I love the hand to hand combat of blind battles. The villain of this piece was folding his BB way too often (over 60% IIRC), so I was pretty liberally raising from the SB.
In hand one, he plays back on the flop and I fold. In hand two, I started to get the feeling he was getting wise to my SB raises and making a play (he had also been 3betting my raises from the button a lot). The turn jack was a nice card to play back at him. A risky play though, and not one to attempt too often.
Hand three plays out similarly, except with a proper hand in AK I am happy to see a showdown. Sometimes the villain gets lucky on the end.
In hand one, he plays back on the flop and I fold. In hand two, I started to get the feeling he was getting wise to my SB raises and making a play (he had also been 3betting my raises from the button a lot). The turn jack was a nice card to play back at him. A risky play though, and not one to attempt too often.
Hand three plays out similarly, except with a proper hand in AK I am happy to see a showdown. Sometimes the villain gets lucky on the end.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Cake is bad, and theblindman runs goot!
How many bets does it take before you realise that your top pair 2nd kicker (no redraw) is no good on a paired flushing board? Quite a lot apparently!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Come to mention it, 3/6 on Cake is incredibad too!
Just spent an hour in the Jesus seat on Cake 3/6 FL. Guy on my right was limping and cold calling nearly 100% of flops, and calling many bets beyond with no pair and no hope. Not only that, but he had $1000 in front of him! Sadly it didn't last, and he eventually went away. The bottom line was very good for my bankroll however - around 40BB
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
3/6 FL on Microgaming is incredibad
3/6 Limit Holdem
4 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 4 players) Hero is BTN
_temujin_ raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MrTromso18 calls, _temujin_ calls
Flop:
(9.5 SB, 3 players)
MrTromso18 checks, _temujin_ checks, Hero bets, MrTromso18 calls, _temujin_ calls
Turn:
(6.2 BB, 3 players)
MrTromso18 checks, _temujin_ checks, Hero bets, MrTromso18 raises, _temujin_ folds, Hero 3-bets, MrTromso18 4-bets, Hero calls
River:
(14.2 BB, 2 players)
MrTromso18 bets, Hero raises, MrTromso18 folds
Final Pot: 17.2 BB
Hero wins 16.8 BB ( won +8.8 BB )
_temujin_ lost 2.0 BB
MrTromso18 lost 7.0 BB
3/6 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises, taratoto calls, MrTromso18 calls, lowehjerte 3-bets, 1 fold, pikkupeto calls, Hero 4-bets, taratoto calls, MrTromso18 calls, lowehjerte calls, pikkupeto calls
Flop: 
(20.5 SB, 5 players)
pikkupeto checks, Hero bets, 1 fold, MrTromso18 raises, lowehjerte calls, pikkupeto calls, Hero calls
Turn:
(12.6 BB, 4 players)
pikkupeto checks, Hero checks, lowehjerte bets, pikkupeto calls, Hero calls
River:
(15.6 BB, 4 players)
pikkupeto checks, Hero checks, lowehjerte checks
Final Pot: 15.6 BB
lowehjerte shows:
pikkupeto shows:
Hero shows:
MrTromso18 shows:
Hero wins 15.1 BB ( won +11.5 BB )
lowehjerte lost 3.6 BB
pikkupeto lost 3.6 BB
taratoto lost 2.0 BB
MrTromso18 lost 2.6 BB
4 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| CO | _temujin_ | ($174.39) | |
| BTN | Hero | ($175.78) | |
| SB | puppy12 | ($686.53) | |
| BB | MrTromso18 | ($150.55) |
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 4 players) Hero is BTN
_temujin_ raises, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, MrTromso18 calls, _temujin_ calls
Flop:
(9.5 SB, 3 players)MrTromso18 checks, _temujin_ checks, Hero bets, MrTromso18 calls, _temujin_ calls
Turn:
(6.2 BB, 3 players)MrTromso18 checks, _temujin_ checks, Hero bets, MrTromso18 raises, _temujin_ folds, Hero 3-bets, MrTromso18 4-bets, Hero calls
River:
(14.2 BB, 2 players)MrTromso18 bets, Hero raises, MrTromso18 folds
Final Pot: 17.2 BB
Hero wins 16.8 BB ( won +8.8 BB )
_temujin_ lost 2.0 BB
MrTromso18 lost 7.0 BB
3/6 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| UTG | Hero | ($105.90) | |
| UTG+1 | taratoto | ($51.00) | |
| CO | MrTromso18 | ($15.53) | |
| BTN | lowehjerte | ($69.31) | |
| SB | _temujin_ | ($164.29) | |
| BB | pikkupeto | ($217.35) |
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is UTG
Hero raises, taratoto calls, MrTromso18 calls, lowehjerte 3-bets, 1 fold, pikkupeto calls, Hero 4-bets, taratoto calls, MrTromso18 calls, lowehjerte calls, pikkupeto calls
Flop:
(20.5 SB, 5 players)pikkupeto checks, Hero bets, 1 fold, MrTromso18 raises, lowehjerte calls, pikkupeto calls, Hero calls
Turn:
(12.6 BB, 4 players)pikkupeto checks, Hero checks, lowehjerte bets, pikkupeto calls, Hero calls
River:
(15.6 BB, 4 players)pikkupeto checks, Hero checks, lowehjerte checks
Final Pot: 15.6 BB
lowehjerte shows:
pikkupeto shows:
Hero shows:
MrTromso18 shows:
Hero wins 15.1 BB ( won +11.5 BB )
lowehjerte lost 3.6 BB
pikkupeto lost 3.6 BB
taratoto lost 2.0 BB
MrTromso18 lost 2.6 BB
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sometimes the flop deserts you
This is quite amazing. A short session of 1/2 tonight. 32 hands, which included: KK four times, AA once, QQ once, AKs twice, AQo once, AJs once, 77 once, JTs twice.
AA didn't hold up, neither did QQ or either AKs. KK held up twice. Whole session ended up -$2.
AA didn't hold up, neither did QQ or either AKs. KK held up twice. Whole session ended up -$2.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Going fishing
Has anyone else noticed that sometimes there seem to be *more* fish at high stakes rather than fewer?
While dipping my toes back in the limit waters over the last couple of weeks, I have definitely found more fish at the 2/4 and 3/6 (Euro) tables compared to 1/2 (and 3/6 has usually been worse than 2/4). In the evenings I am finding a very consistent supply of fish in the 80/5, to 50/20 range. Some hyper aggressive postflop (60% bet percentage), some ultra-passive (15% bet percentage), but all pretty bad. I wonder if this is indicative that some players who are just there to gamble will simply play the highest stakes available - which is usually the 3/6 game.
The results have been very good, or at least I have managed to run reasonably well. The last few nights I have managed to rack up a few decent 10-30BB wins, which at 3/6 Euro is very nice indeed. This has dug me out of another hole which owed to my PLO disaster and a brief NL cooler. Meanwhile I am also racking up rakeback like gangbusters and shaping up well for a $100-$150 finish in the rake race.
While dipping my toes back in the limit waters over the last couple of weeks, I have definitely found more fish at the 2/4 and 3/6 (Euro) tables compared to 1/2 (and 3/6 has usually been worse than 2/4). In the evenings I am finding a very consistent supply of fish in the 80/5, to 50/20 range. Some hyper aggressive postflop (60% bet percentage), some ultra-passive (15% bet percentage), but all pretty bad. I wonder if this is indicative that some players who are just there to gamble will simply play the highest stakes available - which is usually the 3/6 game.
The results have been very good, or at least I have managed to run reasonably well. The last few nights I have managed to rack up a few decent 10-30BB wins, which at 3/6 Euro is very nice indeed. This has dug me out of another hole which owed to my PLO disaster and a brief NL cooler. Meanwhile I am also racking up rakeback like gangbusters and shaping up well for a $100-$150 finish in the rake race.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
LOL limitaments
I went down to the Casino for a $125 WSOP super satellite. I played ok, doubled up early and then crippled myself with a hand that I played very poorly. I picked up AKcc with the blinds at 50/100, and sitting on a stack of around 5800. With two limpers, I raised to 600 - called in one position. Flop came down KT9 with two hearts. I bet 700, call. Turn was an offsuit Q. Check to me, I bet 1500, villain checkraises all-in for 2200 more. I make some lame excuse about the pot having got too large and call. He has JJ.
A little bit of context: this guy was a fish. He was limp-calling about 60% of his hands. He doubled up a few hands earlier when he hit top set with his AA. His hands were shaking so much when he called the all-in. In this hand his hands didn't seem to be shaking, but I did notice him hiding his hands under the table while I was contemplating the all-in call.
Three pretty big mistakes in this hand. First, I should have raised more on the flop - maybe pot or more. At 700, I am pricing in the flush draw if not the gutshot that the villain actually held. Secondly, I should have checked behind on the turn. Even considering the bad player, there are very few hands I can beat here except maybe AT. Finally it was brutally obvious that the guy had me beat when he shoved. I should have just folded and saved my playable 3000 stack.
After busting out a mere 45 minutes into the tourney, I signed up to play limit. After waiting quite a while, I finally got a seat (nearly lost the seat because you can't hear your name being called in the stupid poker room). I had a horrendous run for the first hour or so. Flopped flush draw didn't get there. Flopped double belly didn't get there. Flopped pair and gutshot didn't catch up. I was down to $105 from my initial $300 when this little miracle happened:
I pick up A6cc in the big blind. I remember specifically thinking "please let me just flop the nuts for a change". Three players to my left limp (lol limitaments), the small blind completes, and I briefly contemplate raising for flush equity, but check. Flop is 865ccc - Hallelujah, I've hit the jackpot. I bet out, and get called in three places. Turn is some random overcard. I bet, player to my left raises, a fold and a call, and I obviously threebet in rhythm. At this point, they know what I have but can't fold. They both call me down on the river. One player says he had pocket eights, the other shows his ten high flush, and the player who folded said he had pocket fives. I rake in a pot over $300 and am back to slightly better than even for the session.
One particularly special hand was when I flopped TPTK with my AT against four runners, turned trips and checked a scary river (making a four straight on board) for the other guy to turn over an unimproved pair of deuces (reminder: five players saw the flop).
I went up a bit and down a bit from there, and finished up very happy to be only $10 down for the session when the table finally broke around 10:30pm.
A little bit of context: this guy was a fish. He was limp-calling about 60% of his hands. He doubled up a few hands earlier when he hit top set with his AA. His hands were shaking so much when he called the all-in. In this hand his hands didn't seem to be shaking, but I did notice him hiding his hands under the table while I was contemplating the all-in call.
Three pretty big mistakes in this hand. First, I should have raised more on the flop - maybe pot or more. At 700, I am pricing in the flush draw if not the gutshot that the villain actually held. Secondly, I should have checked behind on the turn. Even considering the bad player, there are very few hands I can beat here except maybe AT. Finally it was brutally obvious that the guy had me beat when he shoved. I should have just folded and saved my playable 3000 stack.
After busting out a mere 45 minutes into the tourney, I signed up to play limit. After waiting quite a while, I finally got a seat (nearly lost the seat because you can't hear your name being called in the stupid poker room). I had a horrendous run for the first hour or so. Flopped flush draw didn't get there. Flopped double belly didn't get there. Flopped pair and gutshot didn't catch up. I was down to $105 from my initial $300 when this little miracle happened:
I pick up A6cc in the big blind. I remember specifically thinking "please let me just flop the nuts for a change". Three players to my left limp (lol limitaments), the small blind completes, and I briefly contemplate raising for flush equity, but check. Flop is 865ccc - Hallelujah, I've hit the jackpot. I bet out, and get called in three places. Turn is some random overcard. I bet, player to my left raises, a fold and a call, and I obviously threebet in rhythm. At this point, they know what I have but can't fold. They both call me down on the river. One player says he had pocket eights, the other shows his ten high flush, and the player who folded said he had pocket fives. I rake in a pot over $300 and am back to slightly better than even for the session.
One particularly special hand was when I flopped TPTK with my AT against four runners, turned trips and checked a scary river (making a four straight on board) for the other guy to turn over an unimproved pair of deuces (reminder: five players saw the flop).
I went up a bit and down a bit from there, and finished up very happy to be only $10 down for the session when the table finally broke around 10:30pm.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Been a little while..
It's nearly two weeks since I posted! I'm a very bad boy. The reason for that, inevitably, is a horror cooler. Part of that was a live PLO rebuy tournament where I rebought twice and did not win a single hand whatsoever.
Recent days I have made a decent recovery playing some good old fixed limit on Eurolinx. The fish have been everywhere this week. Here is a nice hand from tonight:
2/4 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is BB
nkgud raises, 1 fold, redman42 calls, vortice calls, 1 fold, Hero calls (7:1 is good enough for ATC here)
Flop: 
(8.5 SB, 4 players)
Hero checks, nkgud bets, redman42 calls, vortice calls, Hero calls (middle pair is just fine getting about 100:1 here)
Turn: (6.2 BB, 4 players) (bingo, time to checkraise)
Hero checks, nkgud bets (awesome), redman42 raises (hmm, maybe not so great), vortice calls, Hero calls, nkgud calls (pot is huge, so I have to see a showdown)
River:
(14.2 BB, 4 players)
Hero checks, nkgud checks, redman42 bets, 1 fold, Hero calls, nkgud folds
Final Pot: 16.2 BB
Hero shows:
redman42 shows:
(that's right, folks two bets cold in the cutoff)
Hero wins 15.5 BB ( won +11.0 BB )
nkgud lost 3.5 BB
redman42 lost 4.5 BB
vortice lost 3.5 BB
Recent days I have made a decent recovery playing some good old fixed limit on Eurolinx. The fish have been everywhere this week. Here is a nice hand from tonight:
2/4 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com
Stacks:
| UTG | nkgud | ($22.35) | |
| UTG+1 | Rayon | ($143.55) | |
| CO | redman42 | ($89.16) | |
| BTN | vortice | ($101.38) | |
| SB | mallo83 | ($192.00) | |
| BB | Hero | ($94.90) |
Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is BB
nkgud raises, 1 fold, redman42 calls, vortice calls, 1 fold, Hero calls (7:1 is good enough for ATC here)
Flop:
(8.5 SB, 4 players)Hero checks, nkgud bets, redman42 calls, vortice calls, Hero calls (middle pair is just fine getting about 100:1 here)
Turn:
(6.2 BB, 4 players) (bingo, time to checkraise)Hero checks, nkgud bets (awesome), redman42 raises (hmm, maybe not so great), vortice calls, Hero calls, nkgud calls (pot is huge, so I have to see a showdown)
River:
(14.2 BB, 4 players)Hero checks, nkgud checks, redman42 bets, 1 fold, Hero calls, nkgud folds
Final Pot: 16.2 BB
Hero shows:
redman42 shows:
(that's right, folks two bets cold in the cutoff)
Hero wins 15.5 BB ( won +11.0 BB )
nkgud lost 3.5 BB
redman42 lost 4.5 BB
vortice lost 3.5 BB
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