I played last Friday night. I'll write about one hand (not much excitement), but man was the game soft for a couple hours. Granted, I also ran good, hitting some flops, making some draws, etc; but it's insane how much I got paid off. I was playing pretty tight too! I started playing at 7pm and left the table at 10:50; I cashed out of a $1/$3 $200-max buy in table with $636 in profit. Yea, I bought in for $200 and cashed out $836. In less than 4 hours. Insane.
I'm obv not an amazing player; I just took advantage of weak, bad, or dumb players when I had hands.
I left when I did for 2 reasons:
1 - The biggest stack at the table by this time was only $150, with a number of $100 stacks
2 - I found myself becoming unwilling to put my chips in without a lock on a hand. Scared money.
So I took my profit and left.
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So I'm sitting on about $450 at this point; I'm in the cut-off. I've been playing tight: really only raising with premiums. I'll call preflop a bit light, in position, against raises from EP raisers with big stacks, but if I don't connect with the flop I'm gone.
A couple limpers, and I look down at 5c 6c. I haven't raised all night with these hands, but I wanted to mix-it-up (number of players are still here from when I sat down), so I raise it to $12. The SB calls, the limpers fold (at which I almost laughed out loud! How can you limp / fold in EP when it only costs another $9 to play for at least $24?). SB had been at the table for about 1 orbit, and came across as not really knowing what he was doing. I was happy for his call!
Flop: 2c Qc 7c
SB checks; I bet $20, SB calls.
Turn: [2c Qc 7c] 6d
SB leads out $30. I think this is a bit strange; I ask how much he has left, he counts out about $130 more.
Either he's sandbagging a flush, or he's trying to name his price for a river card.
Then, I look at him, and realize that he seriously looks confused. I'm not sure what to make of this, but it certainly doesn't strike me as confident. And it doesn't appear to be an act. I feel like he hasn't sat at a poker table very often.
I raise. I put two $100 stacks into the pot, and take a deep breath.
SB thinks. "Phew," I'm thinking, "no flush."
Then he says, "ah, I don't think you have the flush, I call," and turns over Qs 3c.
I say "flush," and turn over my cards. River was meaningless, I rake in a nice pot with a baby flush.
Guy next to me says "That was ballsy with a 6-high flush." I agreed. I trusted my read, though. Thankfully confusion != strength for this guy.
Maybe the confusion was because he surprised himself that he called a raise OOP with Q3o!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Easy, peasy
Tulalip $1/$3
I had been at a super-nit table all night. Should have put in for a table change, but - eh, I didn't mind taking advantage of the nits at the table to take down a number of small pots. I was at about $400 (in for $320) when our table broke, and I shuffled over to another table with stacks between $300-$800, which is a nice amount of cash for a $1/$3 game, and very VERY loose action!
BB: LAGGY-donk, $300ish
UTG: loose, passive, $175ish (shortest stack at the table)
Hero: MP, $400
I decide to limp with 8c Tc. I'll raise with suited gappers and suited connectors maybe 40%, limp 40%, and chuck the rest (usually due to position, stack sizes, etc). 6 of us see a flop; $18 in the pot.
FLOP: 9c Qc Jc
OK, I just flopped the stone-cold nuts, no higher straight flush out there due to the Tc in my hand. I'm praying someone's got a hand of some sort.
Blinds check; UTG bets $20. Folds to me.
What to do here? I could just smooth call and hope to trap someone else in, but the same time I don't want another club to come off and kill any action. If UTG has a real hand, he may be willing to get more money in now; if he doesn't have a hand then this pot is likely not going to get any bigger.
I decide to take a chance here, following one of my mantras "If you want to play a big pot, you've got to build a big pot."
I raise to $60. Folds to the BB who calls. (SWEET!). UTG then goes all-in for another $100.
I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.
Now, the trick is to make sure BB comes along. I need to sell being on a draw, or a hand I'm not sure about. I take some time, ask how much it will cost, take a look over at the big blind, kind of smile and sigh (like "crap, what do I do here with you still to act), and say "I'll call."
As I slide the chips in, BB declares all-in, for about another $200!!!!!
Of course, I snap call, wait for the dealer to ask to turn the cards over, and then turn my cards over first saying "I've got the nuts."
BB had Kc 10h, for a flopped straight with king-high flush redraw, UTG had Ac xc for the ace-high flush.
Without doing much work, I rake in a pot close to $500.
Easy game ;)
Raising with the straight flush, I know, isn't always recommended. Slow playing is the "typical" course of action with this hand. In the moment, though, what I thought of was this: if someone's got a hand, they're coming with me no matter what; if no one has a hand I'll likely not be getting any more money anyway, so let's try to build the pot.
I had been at a super-nit table all night. Should have put in for a table change, but - eh, I didn't mind taking advantage of the nits at the table to take down a number of small pots. I was at about $400 (in for $320) when our table broke, and I shuffled over to another table with stacks between $300-$800, which is a nice amount of cash for a $1/$3 game, and very VERY loose action!
BB: LAGGY-donk, $300ish
UTG: loose, passive, $175ish (shortest stack at the table)
Hero: MP, $400
I decide to limp with 8c Tc. I'll raise with suited gappers and suited connectors maybe 40%, limp 40%, and chuck the rest (usually due to position, stack sizes, etc). 6 of us see a flop; $18 in the pot.
FLOP: 9c Qc Jc
OK, I just flopped the stone-cold nuts, no higher straight flush out there due to the Tc in my hand. I'm praying someone's got a hand of some sort.
Blinds check; UTG bets $20. Folds to me.
What to do here? I could just smooth call and hope to trap someone else in, but the same time I don't want another club to come off and kill any action. If UTG has a real hand, he may be willing to get more money in now; if he doesn't have a hand then this pot is likely not going to get any bigger.
I decide to take a chance here, following one of my mantras "If you want to play a big pot, you've got to build a big pot."
I raise to $60. Folds to the BB who calls. (SWEET!). UTG then goes all-in for another $100.
I pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.
Now, the trick is to make sure BB comes along. I need to sell being on a draw, or a hand I'm not sure about. I take some time, ask how much it will cost, take a look over at the big blind, kind of smile and sigh (like "crap, what do I do here with you still to act), and say "I'll call."
As I slide the chips in, BB declares all-in, for about another $200!!!!!
Of course, I snap call, wait for the dealer to ask to turn the cards over, and then turn my cards over first saying "I've got the nuts."
BB had Kc 10h, for a flopped straight with king-high flush redraw, UTG had Ac xc for the ace-high flush.
Without doing much work, I rake in a pot close to $500.
Easy game ;)
Raising with the straight flush, I know, isn't always recommended. Slow playing is the "typical" course of action with this hand. In the moment, though, what I thought of was this: if someone's got a hand, they're coming with me no matter what; if no one has a hand I'll likely not be getting any more money anyway, so let's try to build the pot.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
At the tables again
Finally, after playing only once since September, I got out to Tulalip for some $1/$3 action last night. It may be the last time I'll play in the next few months too, as I have school starting up tomorrow night.
My biggest issue was trying to remain patient. I forgot how boring poker can be: fold, fold, fold, fold, fold...
Most of the table, most of the night, was either tight-passive or loose-passive. I was mostly tight-aggressive, but made a number of loose preflop calls when in position against passive preflop raisers: 90% of the time they'll check if they don't hit, I'll bet and take it down.
I was blessed with good cards at the right moments. Presto worked out for me nicely here:
MP: Loose-passive, $200. Plays suited anythings.
Button: Tightish. Almost aggressive. $120.
Me (BB): should have a tight-aggressive image; I've had a few bluffs picked off, too, which should throw some measure of doubt into the works too.
MP limps, button raises to $12. Folds to me, I make the call with 5c 5d; MP calls.
Pot: $37
FLOP: 6c 6s 5s
Floppin' a boat is sweet! I don't check-raise here: that's too big of a give away. I want to play a big pot, so I've got to build a pot.
I bet $15, hoping a weak-lead will encourage both players to at least call.
MP calls. Button immediately goes all-in.
Dream situation! My only issue now is how to get MP to come along. I do have a theatre degree, and did win best actor award at college, so hopefully I'm putting that to good use here.
I ask for a count, count out the chips, separate them from my stack, sit back... I may have pushed it too far when I said "Man, this would be a lot easier if you weren't behind me," though in all honesty I've said that exact same thing in situations where I really meant that too.
I make the call, hoping MP has something he can com along with. Unfortunately, he does the smart thing and folds.
Button flips over Th Td. Turn and river blank out, I win a nice pot.
Hand 2:
I rarely check-raise, but there are times it's the perfect thing to do.
Bunch of limpers, I look down at AKo in the SB, and just complete. AK totally out of position in a cash game isn't that great, so I won't think twice about just limping here. In position I raise 90% of the time.
BB (tight player, $250) raises to $12; MP calls (same MP from last hand); I call.
Flop: Ad 6h 3c
I check. BB bets $30. MP looks pained, and makes the call. I raise to $130; if either of them flopped a set - so be it, but chances are I'm good here.
BB takes quite a while, then folds, MP folds. After MP folds, BB says to me "I guess you have one pair beat." I say, "Which pair?" We laugh, then I ask if he had AK, which he confirms. My check-raise won me the pot instead of a chop. Sweet.
This is one of the few places I will check-raise liberally: TPTK on a dry board, if I lead out it's likely no one without an A will call. My check can look weak, and because I so rarely check-raise, against thinking and observant oponents they'll likely fold, and I'll take down a decent pot on the flop.
My biggest issue was trying to remain patient. I forgot how boring poker can be: fold, fold, fold, fold, fold...
Most of the table, most of the night, was either tight-passive or loose-passive. I was mostly tight-aggressive, but made a number of loose preflop calls when in position against passive preflop raisers: 90% of the time they'll check if they don't hit, I'll bet and take it down.
I was blessed with good cards at the right moments. Presto worked out for me nicely here:
MP: Loose-passive, $200. Plays suited anythings.
Button: Tightish. Almost aggressive. $120.
Me (BB): should have a tight-aggressive image; I've had a few bluffs picked off, too, which should throw some measure of doubt into the works too.
MP limps, button raises to $12. Folds to me, I make the call with 5c 5d; MP calls.
Pot: $37
FLOP: 6c 6s 5s
Floppin' a boat is sweet! I don't check-raise here: that's too big of a give away. I want to play a big pot, so I've got to build a pot.
I bet $15, hoping a weak-lead will encourage both players to at least call.
MP calls. Button immediately goes all-in.
Dream situation! My only issue now is how to get MP to come along. I do have a theatre degree, and did win best actor award at college, so hopefully I'm putting that to good use here.
I ask for a count, count out the chips, separate them from my stack, sit back... I may have pushed it too far when I said "Man, this would be a lot easier if you weren't behind me," though in all honesty I've said that exact same thing in situations where I really meant that too.
I make the call, hoping MP has something he can com along with. Unfortunately, he does the smart thing and folds.
Button flips over Th Td. Turn and river blank out, I win a nice pot.
Hand 2:
I rarely check-raise, but there are times it's the perfect thing to do.
Bunch of limpers, I look down at AKo in the SB, and just complete. AK totally out of position in a cash game isn't that great, so I won't think twice about just limping here. In position I raise 90% of the time.
BB (tight player, $250) raises to $12; MP calls (same MP from last hand); I call.
Flop: Ad 6h 3c
I check. BB bets $30. MP looks pained, and makes the call. I raise to $130; if either of them flopped a set - so be it, but chances are I'm good here.
BB takes quite a while, then folds, MP folds. After MP folds, BB says to me "I guess you have one pair beat." I say, "Which pair?" We laugh, then I ask if he had AK, which he confirms. My check-raise won me the pot instead of a chop. Sweet.
This is one of the few places I will check-raise liberally: TPTK on a dry board, if I lead out it's likely no one without an A will call. My check can look weak, and because I so rarely check-raise, against thinking and observant oponents they'll likely fold, and I'll take down a decent pot on the flop.
Friday, December 5, 2008
nothin'. Just - nothin'
Wow. Poker has been SO far out of my radar of late.
I'm in school to become a chemical dependency counselor, and that plus working full-time puts a serious dent into poker time. I fell out of love with online poker, and getting up to the local casino has been tough. I've been doing homework and reading most evenings I'm not in class - yes, that includes weekends. The last time I did go and play, I was too preoccupied with a test I had on Monday that I played like crap.
Class is over until January 5 now. I've got plans for this Saturday, but I'm hoping the next week to get up there. I'd honestly like to earn some money: what I won over the spring and summer ended up paying for my first 3 quarters of school (among other things). I just paid tuition for my 4th quarter, so it seems only right to head up there and win that back too :)
I miss playing, too. And hope I'm not too rusty what with 3 months since I was playing at least weekly...
I'm in school to become a chemical dependency counselor, and that plus working full-time puts a serious dent into poker time. I fell out of love with online poker, and getting up to the local casino has been tough. I've been doing homework and reading most evenings I'm not in class - yes, that includes weekends. The last time I did go and play, I was too preoccupied with a test I had on Monday that I played like crap.
Class is over until January 5 now. I've got plans for this Saturday, but I'm hoping the next week to get up there. I'd honestly like to earn some money: what I won over the spring and summer ended up paying for my first 3 quarters of school (among other things). I just paid tuition for my 4th quarter, so it seems only right to head up there and win that back too :)
I miss playing, too. And hope I'm not too rusty what with 3 months since I was playing at least weekly...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Gross suckout
I'm playing a freeroll put on by seattlepokeropen.com. Super tight, in the top 5 or something. 30/60 blinds. I raise to 180 in EP with KT0 (tight enough that it should get some respect). Loosest player at the table (I barely cover him) calls.
FLOP:
Th 5d 7s
I bet 300, he min-raises to 600. If he hit a set, then so be it, but otherwise I'm likely ahead. I shove. Pause....call.
For your viewing pleasure:
Not so sure I put my tournament live on the line with 2 overs and a backdoor draw.
He proudly states "YES! 2nd suckout of the day" afterwards. I love players like this at the cash games! :)
FLOP:
Th 5d 7s
I bet 300, he min-raises to 600. If he hit a set, then so be it, but otherwise I'm likely ahead. I shove. Pause....call.
For your viewing pleasure:
Not so sure I put my tournament live on the line with 2 overs and a backdoor draw.
He proudly states "YES! 2nd suckout of the day" afterwards. I love players like this at the cash games! :)
Monday, October 13, 2008
no time...
I've had like no time for poker lately. I've in class 3 days a week, and doing homework most of the other 4. My Saturday class is over this week, though, so I'll have a little lighter of a load shortly. Still, I doubt I'll be playing until likely 11/1 (plans the next two weekends).
Feels odd to take such an extended break - I was playing literally every week for months now. Miss it, miss the extra cash. Looking forward to getting back into the action whenever I can.
Feels odd to take such an extended break - I was playing literally every week for months now. Miss it, miss the extra cash. Looking forward to getting back into the action whenever I can.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Raising for a free card
Some of this stuff may be 100% standard, 'everyone knows this sort of thing' strategy. I feel like my poker game has just taken some big strides forward, and a lot has to do with implementing specific techniques at the table. Some I found by trial / error, some I've picked up from watching Live at the Bike, some who knows...
Here's one I heard talked about on LATB, and subsequently put to good use in my game:
If I have an open ended straight draw or a duble-gut-shot on the flop, I have 8 outs. Using the rule of 4, I have about a 32% chance of hitting my hand by the river. However, that's only when I get to see both the turn and the river. Often, however, if an early position player bets the flop, and you raise in position, if EP calls, he'll often check the turn to you, fearing you will raise again if he bets.
Example: from this weekend's $1/$3 action:
MP raises to $10, I call OTB with J8o
FLOP: 69T rainbow.
MP bets $15.
Here, any 7 or any Q gives me a straight. I want to get to the river, but don't want to call a big turn bet. I raise to $45. MP pauses, then calls. He's likely got overs (AK/AQ) or a meduim-strength pair.
TURN: [69T] 4
MP checks. I'm more than happy to take a free card, so I check behind.
RIVER: [69T4] Q
MP bets $40, I raise to $100. MP calls.
MP shows QT for a rivered 2-pair; I show my straight.
Raising in position like this is a great way to often get your opponent to check the next street. Raise the flop, oponent checks the turn = free river; raise the turn, opponent checks the river = free showdown.
Here's one I heard talked about on LATB, and subsequently put to good use in my game:
If I have an open ended straight draw or a duble-gut-shot on the flop, I have 8 outs. Using the rule of 4, I have about a 32% chance of hitting my hand by the river. However, that's only when I get to see both the turn and the river. Often, however, if an early position player bets the flop, and you raise in position, if EP calls, he'll often check the turn to you, fearing you will raise again if he bets.
Example: from this weekend's $1/$3 action:
MP raises to $10, I call OTB with J8o
FLOP: 69T rainbow.
MP bets $15.
Here, any 7 or any Q gives me a straight. I want to get to the river, but don't want to call a big turn bet. I raise to $45. MP pauses, then calls. He's likely got overs (AK/AQ) or a meduim-strength pair.
TURN: [69T] 4
MP checks. I'm more than happy to take a free card, so I check behind.
RIVER: [69T4] Q
MP bets $40, I raise to $100. MP calls.
MP shows QT for a rivered 2-pair; I show my straight.
Raising in position like this is a great way to often get your opponent to check the next street. Raise the flop, oponent checks the turn = free river; raise the turn, opponent checks the river = free showdown.
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