I have been putting alot of hours in on the Omaha tables since i last posted. Luckily my form has continued to be good and after posting that i couldn't string three decent sessions on the trot, i have now won eight of the last nine times that i have played. Long may that sort of form continue.
In a way its been a very strange week. Twice i have been over £4000 down in sessions and feeling slightly tilty. Only to recover and book decent wins both times. Looking at my Omaha play in general, i think i have learned more in the last six months than in the previous fifteen years i have played the game. When i was primarily a live player i could categorise players into a few categories.....
- Very good/good player
- Rock
- Maniac
- Easy money
On the net though i encounter styles that i have never seen live. Players who raise a huge number of hands preflop even when the game isn't shorthanded and more often than not there extreme gambling seems to reap dividends for them. I still find the ultra aggressive opponents short handed the most tricky. Its scenarious like this that i struggle to make the correct decision.
Say i hold AQ45 double suited. My opponent like he will with every hand raises preflop to £60 to play on the button. I call. It flops AT5. I think the check raise is the correct play here as he is more likely to have nothing and he will always bet the flop if he raises preflop. I check. He bets £120. I reraise to £360 and he moves over the top of me for another £1000. I pass. Should i? I am losing too many of these kind of hands for my liking.
I've probably played 25 hours + this week. Some of the significant hands that i remember.
Hands played badly:
Five handed. Middle position makes it £100 to play. I call on the button with AQK9. Four of see a flop of 7TJ with two clubs. Original raiser bets £400. I call. Turn a Q clubs. he checks. I check. River a blank. He checks. I bet £500. He reraises and i pass. I hate my bet here there was just no need for it.
This one really annoyed me. I had just won a couple of pots over a £1000 and thought i would call a raise with 9422 double suited from the small blind. Flop 952. I ended up losing £1200 against 99xx in this hand. I hate losing money on hands that i should never have been involved with in the first place.
Hands i got lucky:
Very lucky in this one. I call raise in late position with KQ89 double suited and there is £500 in the middle when the flop comes Q82 to give me two pair and a King flush draw. Late postion player bets £300. I reraise it to £1000 and he goes all in for £1700. I call. He shows 88A5 for trips and the aces flush draw. Yikes. River a Queen to save me.
I did win one huge multiway pot on the $10/$20 table. I held 789T double suited and somehow ended up putting $800 in preflop along with 5 others. Three were all in preflop. Flop 89J rainbow. Everyone who is left has less than $2000 so i bet $2000 on the flop. One caller all in for $1500 with a Gutshot draw to beat me. The cards turn over and i am in great shape. No higher straight, no trips. Turn an Ace to give someone a set of Aces and now there is a diamond flush draw. River a low diamond. I quickly scan my opponents cards and realise my T high diamond flush is good. Nice $6300 pot there.
Hands i got gifts:
I call £80 to play with A567. Flop A49 with two hearts giving me the nut flush draw. I bet £150 and pick up one caller who is severely on tilt. Turn a J. I check. He bets £400. I may pass here alot of the time but i think if i hit i get paid. River a 2 hearts. I check. he bets £1200. I put him all in for another £1100 fully expecting him to pass. He calls with a straight.
I hold AKxx. Flop TJQ. £3000 pot by the turn. He shows K9xx and no out to even split it.
Hands i liked my play in:
I love the deception of raising in the small blind at the moment. Players put me on Aces which is exactly what i want them to think. I raise to £100 with 3456... four callers. Flop A29 rainbow. I bet £250. One caller. Turn 5. I check. Opponent bets £800. I call. River a K. I bet £1600. My opponent goes all in for £600 more. I call. He shows AAxx.
I call a raise preflop with 9TJ4. Flop 8T2 with two hearts. I check. Opponent bets £250. I call. Turn a 4. I check. He bets £750. I am pretty sure that this player is on a draw and my two pair is good. I call. The river is a 3. I check. He bets £1750. Errrgh time to close my eyes and press the call button. He shows AAKQ and my two pair is good.
I noticed that the schedule for EPT Season Two has been released. I am looking forward to a busy couple of months in September and October playing in events in Barcelona, Baden, London and Ireland.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Something different
I decided to try a few new games on Betfair just to vary it a bit from the PL Omaha. I played $30/60 Limit 7 Card Stud, $30/$60 Limit Holdem heads up, £5/£10 NL Holdem Headsup and £10/£20 NL Holdem.
The $30/$60 Limit 7 Card stud - I like playing stud though i think i am probably better at the Hi/Lo version
Couple of hands...
- I have AdTd hidden and a 9d showing. I raise and get two callers. 4th card is a 8d. I bet again. One caller. He pairs his Ace on the 5th card. I get a 7h. I check... he bets... i call. 6th card is 2h. I check with AdTd9d8d7h2h ... he bets. I call. Last card a 5h. I check. He bets. I reraise. He passes. Not sure how i got him to pass for one more bet. He must have put me on a banker straight.
- By the end of one hand i had QQ22 showing and get called by a player with two smaller pairs. Bizarre.
I enjoyed it and won about $300. I was gambling in places that i shouldn't have. May give it another go soon.
$30/$60 Limit Holdem heads up - Not sure why i tried this one out. My Limit play isn't great though i have read up on it a fair bit of late.
- I'm dealt QK. I raise preflop. He three bets. I call. Flop K26. He bets... i raise. He calls. Turn 7. He checks. I bet. He calls. River 9. He checks. I bet. He raises. I call. He shows K9. Now i remember why i hate Limit.
- I'm dealt 44. I raise preflop. He calls. Flop J23. Two hearts. He bets. I raise. He calls. Turn a 4. He bets. I reraise. He calls. River a heart. He checks. I raise. He reraises. I call. He shows 2h6h. Errgh .
I lost $2000 overall. Not a great experience. Though three crucial pots over $500 i was ahead till the river. Not again me thinks.
£5/£10 NL Holdem Headsup - Playing a guy from Denmark. We both started with £1000. I got up to £1450 without anything particularly interesting happening then he gave up.
£10/£20 NL Holdem - Started with £1100. Called a raise with AQs. Flop AT9. The original raiser bets £150. I make it £400. He goes all in. Its too likely here that he has trips, two pair or AK. The only hand i can beat that he is reraising with on that flop is AJ. I quickly ruled that out and passed. Overall down £600.
I don't particularly enjoy playing any game ten handed. Especially Holdem. I decided to scurry off to the Omaha tables again after that.
That little experiment cost me £1200.
So i started on the £10/£20 PL Omaha tables again.
Started with £1600.... my foe really got me good on this hand. Have never played against him before so had no idea how he plays.
- Three handed. I raise on the button with 6s7s8hTh. Small blind calls. Big blind makes it £200 to play. I call. Small blind passes. Flop 9JQ rainbow. He checks. I bet £400. He thinks then calls. Turn a 2. He checks... i check. I am pretty sure now he has trips or maybe AAKQ or something like that. River a 3. He checks. I think about checking. But as i checked on the turn i think i may get a call from trips not believing i have the straight. So i bet £700 into a pot of £1260. He thinks then reraises all in. I only had £300 left so couldn't pass. He shows TJJK. Hmmmm.... the check on every street with the nuts.... thats my trick dammit!
I then bought in for another £1700 and was quickly down to £1000 when my opponents left. I sat and eventually was joined by one player. Ok player who likes to gamble alot with marginal draws. I went on a wonderful run of hitting cards and was soon up to £3000.
Another ultra aggressive/maniac player joined who raises all the time preflop shorthanded.
- I call a £60 bet with 5578 and three of us see a flop of 542 rainbow. I am in the small blind and check. Opponent bets £150. I don't put him on the straight so reraise to £600. He moves all in for £1700. I call. He shows 36xx for the nuts. Turn 8. River a 6 and i make a higher straight. Up to £5000.
- I went on the best run of cards i have had ever i think. I flopped top set every time i played with a high pocket pair. The most fruitful was when i called a raise in the SB with KK7T and it flopped K95. I checked... both my opponets checked. Turn a 5. Managed to milk £1200 out of opponent with 59xx.
- I was up to £7000. Playing five handed now. Under the gun with AA9J double suited. I call with the intention of reraising after the small blind has made his guaranteed preflop raise. He makes it £100 to play. Big blind calls. I make it £400. He calls. Big blind passes. Flop K83 with two of my suit. He bets £900. I put him all in for his £1600. He shows K942 with no flush draw. Turn pairs the 8 to leave him nearly dead and a blank river and i am up to £9000.
I finished shortly after. Too many times in the last month i have been up alot on the 10/20 tables only to play to watch it dwindle before i stop.
The $30/$60 Limit 7 Card stud - I like playing stud though i think i am probably better at the Hi/Lo version
Couple of hands...
- I have AdTd hidden and a 9d showing. I raise and get two callers. 4th card is a 8d. I bet again. One caller. He pairs his Ace on the 5th card. I get a 7h. I check... he bets... i call. 6th card is 2h. I check with AdTd9d8d7h2h ... he bets. I call. Last card a 5h. I check. He bets. I reraise. He passes. Not sure how i got him to pass for one more bet. He must have put me on a banker straight.
- By the end of one hand i had QQ22 showing and get called by a player with two smaller pairs. Bizarre.
I enjoyed it and won about $300. I was gambling in places that i shouldn't have. May give it another go soon.
$30/$60 Limit Holdem heads up - Not sure why i tried this one out. My Limit play isn't great though i have read up on it a fair bit of late.
- I'm dealt QK. I raise preflop. He three bets. I call. Flop K26. He bets... i raise. He calls. Turn 7. He checks. I bet. He calls. River 9. He checks. I bet. He raises. I call. He shows K9. Now i remember why i hate Limit.
- I'm dealt 44. I raise preflop. He calls. Flop J23. Two hearts. He bets. I raise. He calls. Turn a 4. He bets. I reraise. He calls. River a heart. He checks. I raise. He reraises. I call. He shows 2h6h. Errgh .
I lost $2000 overall. Not a great experience. Though three crucial pots over $500 i was ahead till the river. Not again me thinks.
£5/£10 NL Holdem Headsup - Playing a guy from Denmark. We both started with £1000. I got up to £1450 without anything particularly interesting happening then he gave up.
£10/£20 NL Holdem - Started with £1100. Called a raise with AQs. Flop AT9. The original raiser bets £150. I make it £400. He goes all in. Its too likely here that he has trips, two pair or AK. The only hand i can beat that he is reraising with on that flop is AJ. I quickly ruled that out and passed. Overall down £600.
I don't particularly enjoy playing any game ten handed. Especially Holdem. I decided to scurry off to the Omaha tables again after that.
That little experiment cost me £1200.
So i started on the £10/£20 PL Omaha tables again.
Started with £1600.... my foe really got me good on this hand. Have never played against him before so had no idea how he plays.
- Three handed. I raise on the button with 6s7s8hTh. Small blind calls. Big blind makes it £200 to play. I call. Small blind passes. Flop 9JQ rainbow. He checks. I bet £400. He thinks then calls. Turn a 2. He checks... i check. I am pretty sure now he has trips or maybe AAKQ or something like that. River a 3. He checks. I think about checking. But as i checked on the turn i think i may get a call from trips not believing i have the straight. So i bet £700 into a pot of £1260. He thinks then reraises all in. I only had £300 left so couldn't pass. He shows TJJK. Hmmmm.... the check on every street with the nuts.... thats my trick dammit!
I then bought in for another £1700 and was quickly down to £1000 when my opponents left. I sat and eventually was joined by one player. Ok player who likes to gamble alot with marginal draws. I went on a wonderful run of hitting cards and was soon up to £3000.
Another ultra aggressive/maniac player joined who raises all the time preflop shorthanded.
- I call a £60 bet with 5578 and three of us see a flop of 542 rainbow. I am in the small blind and check. Opponent bets £150. I don't put him on the straight so reraise to £600. He moves all in for £1700. I call. He shows 36xx for the nuts. Turn 8. River a 6 and i make a higher straight. Up to £5000.
- I went on the best run of cards i have had ever i think. I flopped top set every time i played with a high pocket pair. The most fruitful was when i called a raise in the SB with KK7T and it flopped K95. I checked... both my opponets checked. Turn a 5. Managed to milk £1200 out of opponent with 59xx.
- I was up to £7000. Playing five handed now. Under the gun with AA9J double suited. I call with the intention of reraising after the small blind has made his guaranteed preflop raise. He makes it £100 to play. Big blind calls. I make it £400. He calls. Big blind passes. Flop K83 with two of my suit. He bets £900. I put him all in for his £1600. He shows K942 with no flush draw. Turn pairs the 8 to leave him nearly dead and a blank river and i am up to £9000.
I finished shortly after. Too many times in the last month i have been up alot on the 10/20 tables only to play to watch it dwindle before i stop.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Onwards and Upwards
I have tried dropping a few levels and multitabling to take a break from the stresses of playing the 10/20 games. Mostly i have enjoyed it (probably because i am winning). The decisions are easier i find when i don't have to lump £3000 into a pot when i am only a marginal favourite. So i have dropped to 2/5 and so far so good. The bizarre thing i have found that as a general rule the players are actually better than on the 10/20 game. Some hands that developed into big pots....
I was treading water until this hand. I had sat down with $500 and was up to $620.
- I call a raise to $10 on the button with 4455 and six of us see a 236 rainbow flop. First player bets $60, call, call, call, call. Hmmm what to do now? I decide to just call as i suspect that they have two pair, trip hands and are all killing each other. I would have reraised if there was a flush draw. Turn a King of hearts to bring a flush draw. First player bets $150, call, pass, call, call. I move all in for about $400 more and all four players call. There hands 36xx (interesting), 33xx, KKxx and someone with the Ace flush draw. River a blank and i was up to over $3000.
- I called a raise to $25 on the button with JJT4. Flop J23 with the spade flush draw. Early position bets $100. I reraise to $400 and he moves all in for $1000. I call and he had the Ace flush draw and no other outs. He hits and i am back down to $2000. Do players on the net actually realise that the Ace flush draw with no other outs v a set is not a good spot to put all your chips in on the flop?
My winning streak has hit five and i am actually at a high point of online poker profit for the year. Considering the horrendous day i had last week i feel pretty good at the moment.
My next tournament is probably going to be in Barcelona for the start of EPT season two. I have given some thought to my performances of late and though i have had some really bad luck i have also made a few mistakes that i will put right in the next few tournaments i play in.
I was treading water until this hand. I had sat down with $500 and was up to $620.
- I call a raise to $10 on the button with 4455 and six of us see a 236 rainbow flop. First player bets $60, call, call, call, call. Hmmm what to do now? I decide to just call as i suspect that they have two pair, trip hands and are all killing each other. I would have reraised if there was a flush draw. Turn a King of hearts to bring a flush draw. First player bets $150, call, pass, call, call. I move all in for about $400 more and all four players call. There hands 36xx (interesting), 33xx, KKxx and someone with the Ace flush draw. River a blank and i was up to over $3000.
- I called a raise to $25 on the button with JJT4. Flop J23 with the spade flush draw. Early position bets $100. I reraise to $400 and he moves all in for $1000. I call and he had the Ace flush draw and no other outs. He hits and i am back down to $2000. Do players on the net actually realise that the Ace flush draw with no other outs v a set is not a good spot to put all your chips in on the flop?
My winning streak has hit five and i am actually at a high point of online poker profit for the year. Considering the horrendous day i had last week i feel pretty good at the moment.
My next tournament is probably going to be in Barcelona for the start of EPT season two. I have given some thought to my performances of late and though i have had some really bad luck i have also made a few mistakes that i will put right in the next few tournaments i play in.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Luton Main Event
Frustration is the only word to describe my tournament form at the moment. I best pair that i saw during the first three levels was a pair of fours. I then picked up Queens and lost half my chips to someone with QK after i raised preflop. I was then moved and had just 4000 chips and went for a resteal with QK and walked into AK. Things will change i'm sure. Its not as if i am on a horrendous tournament run. Its only been seven tournaments since i cashed. I'm used to at least making the second day in the big events and that just isn't happening. At the moment if i go into an important hand behind i stay that way and if i am in front someone hits their miracle card.
Some good news on the poker front. Just finished my third consecutive win on the £10/£20 Omaha which more then paid for the disappointment of Luton. When i finally get broadband up and running in my new place i am going to vary my online play alot more to explore other ways of making money.
Some good news on the poker front. Just finished my third consecutive win on the £10/£20 Omaha which more then paid for the disappointment of Luton. When i finally get broadband up and running in my new place i am going to vary my online play alot more to explore other ways of making money.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Luton
I think Luton have the best festival held in the UK at the moment. The £500 Pot Limit, £750 No Limit and the main event all have at least 45 minute clocks and 10000 chips to play with. Compare this to The Vic £1000 event you get just 5000 starting chips and they also miss a few blind levels.
I played the the £750 yesterday. Was seated on a bad table including Surindar, Gryko and Bushy. I did hit a few hands. One where i flopped the nut flush against Bushy and overbet on the river. For some reason he thinks i am a bluffer and called. Flopped a set of sevens on a nice 742 board but other than that it was a battle against the cards. Didn't pick up a pair above nines or AK/AQ for the last two and a half hours and eventually lumped my last 10000 in with A4 on the button with blinds of 1000/2000 and the big blind found AT. Still hopefully my cards will be better for the main event today.
Despite black Wednesday last week which saw the bankroll tumble i have continued to play the 10/20 game on Betfair. I thought it was going to be another of those days on Thursday this week when i flopped top set three times with no straight or flush on the board, got all my $2000 in the middle and lost each time. Twice to the nut flush and once to up and down (27% chance..sigh). I wasn't to be deterred though and eventually got even before i decided to play £10/£20 heads up. The guy i was playing was tricky in that he made it £60 to play each and every hand and would also bet £180 on 95% of flops (I think he only checked when he was going to check raise). He whittled me down to £900 when i picked up 37AK. It flopped 37J with my Ace flush draw. It all went in the middle and my two pair was enough. I then flopped middle set when i held 677Q and it flopped Q72 rainbow. I called his £180 bet on the flop and when the turn was a 5 i check raised him all in. He had a straight draw and flush draw that missed and i was up to £5000. I then let him bully me back down to £4200 when i flopped top set on a KT4 board. It all went in on the flop again and he had K4xx and was drawing dead barring a miracle. I reached £7700 and he got up to £2800 after taking out a third player who had joined the game. I picked up KK78 and raised preflop and he reraised. It flopped K94 with two spades. Again it all went in on the flop and he held TJQ8 with two spades so it was practically a coin flip. The board paired on the river to put me up to £10000. I lost £2000 back when i flopped a king flush and he held bottom set and the board paired on the river. I then won lots of small pots and finished with £9700.
It was a good day. I even won £500 playing roulette in Luton of £30. The last time i played roulette was in Luton and i won alot that time too. Maybe i should stick to the roulette there......
Since Barcelona i just can't string together more then two wins on the spin playing the 10/20 game. I've had two decent winning sessions this week. So get ready for the next post *crash and tumble part 2*
I played the the £750 yesterday. Was seated on a bad table including Surindar, Gryko and Bushy. I did hit a few hands. One where i flopped the nut flush against Bushy and overbet on the river. For some reason he thinks i am a bluffer and called. Flopped a set of sevens on a nice 742 board but other than that it was a battle against the cards. Didn't pick up a pair above nines or AK/AQ for the last two and a half hours and eventually lumped my last 10000 in with A4 on the button with blinds of 1000/2000 and the big blind found AT. Still hopefully my cards will be better for the main event today.
Despite black Wednesday last week which saw the bankroll tumble i have continued to play the 10/20 game on Betfair. I thought it was going to be another of those days on Thursday this week when i flopped top set three times with no straight or flush on the board, got all my $2000 in the middle and lost each time. Twice to the nut flush and once to up and down (27% chance..sigh). I wasn't to be deterred though and eventually got even before i decided to play £10/£20 heads up. The guy i was playing was tricky in that he made it £60 to play each and every hand and would also bet £180 on 95% of flops (I think he only checked when he was going to check raise). He whittled me down to £900 when i picked up 37AK. It flopped 37J with my Ace flush draw. It all went in the middle and my two pair was enough. I then flopped middle set when i held 677Q and it flopped Q72 rainbow. I called his £180 bet on the flop and when the turn was a 5 i check raised him all in. He had a straight draw and flush draw that missed and i was up to £5000. I then let him bully me back down to £4200 when i flopped top set on a KT4 board. It all went in on the flop again and he had K4xx and was drawing dead barring a miracle. I reached £7700 and he got up to £2800 after taking out a third player who had joined the game. I picked up KK78 and raised preflop and he reraised. It flopped K94 with two spades. Again it all went in on the flop and he held TJQ8 with two spades so it was practically a coin flip. The board paired on the river to put me up to £10000. I lost £2000 back when i flopped a king flush and he held bottom set and the board paired on the river. I then won lots of small pots and finished with £9700.
It was a good day. I even won £500 playing roulette in Luton of £30. The last time i played roulette was in Luton and i won alot that time too. Maybe i should stick to the roulette there......
Since Barcelona i just can't string together more then two wins on the spin playing the 10/20 game. I've had two decent winning sessions this week. So get ready for the next post *crash and tumble part 2*
Monday, August 08, 2005
Crash and tumble
I gave the rest of the Vic festival a miss after a rather torturous session online last week. Poker really does suck big time sometimes. It was a pretty hefty loss. Not a monster but it was more the manner of how it happened that left me gasping for a few days away from poker.
This is a hand that i won't forget in a while. $10/$20 PL Omaha
I was in for $4000 but sitting on a $5800 stack so not too bad. I made it $90 to play in early/middle position with 9h9dThTd... next player makes it $150, one caller then the button makes it $600. Both the blinds call so i decide to take a flop along with five others. Flop 268 with two hearts. There is $3600 in the middle and i get ready to check pass to any serious bet. Everyone checks. Turn a 7 to give me the nuts. Checked to me again. I bet the pot as i am more then happy to take down the $3600 in the middle. It all goes smoothly till the last player to pass moves all in for $6000. I lump it in of course and he shows AAA7 with the Ace flush draw in hearts which duly pops up on the river to win him a $14000 pot. His play was bad in so many ways but what it did succeed in doing was to send me on tilt big style. The red mist hadn't descended like that for a long, long time.
I recovered somewhat only to lose another huge pot with the Ace flush against someone who was willing to call $3000 on the turn with bottom set. It was truly a day to forget.
Anyone who thinks that playing poker for a living is easy should think again. I have more stressful days doing this than i ever did when i was working. Its great when its going well but hellish when your luck is out. It does pose a question. Do i really need to play in games so big that they can have such an affect on a) My bankroll and b) My sanity?
This is a hand that i won't forget in a while. $10/$20 PL Omaha
I was in for $4000 but sitting on a $5800 stack so not too bad. I made it $90 to play in early/middle position with 9h9dThTd... next player makes it $150, one caller then the button makes it $600. Both the blinds call so i decide to take a flop along with five others. Flop 268 with two hearts. There is $3600 in the middle and i get ready to check pass to any serious bet. Everyone checks. Turn a 7 to give me the nuts. Checked to me again. I bet the pot as i am more then happy to take down the $3600 in the middle. It all goes smoothly till the last player to pass moves all in for $6000. I lump it in of course and he shows AAA7 with the Ace flush draw in hearts which duly pops up on the river to win him a $14000 pot. His play was bad in so many ways but what it did succeed in doing was to send me on tilt big style. The red mist hadn't descended like that for a long, long time.
I recovered somewhat only to lose another huge pot with the Ace flush against someone who was willing to call $3000 on the turn with bottom set. It was truly a day to forget.
Anyone who thinks that playing poker for a living is easy should think again. I have more stressful days doing this than i ever did when i was working. Its great when its going well but hellish when your luck is out. It does pose a question. Do i really need to play in games so big that they can have such an affect on a) My bankroll and b) My sanity?
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
The Vic - £250 Omaha Hi/Lo
It was a case of deja vu in the Omaha Hi/Lo tournament again. I managed to get my chips up to 30000 without to much of a sweat or a rebuy. Mainly due to the fact that most of the players on my table were totally clueless. With about 26 left i was average chipped. Then these happened.
Blinds 800/800/1600
- I raise to 6400 with A249 double suited and my opponent who was short stacked moved in for 9000. He flips over A248 rainbow. He has horrendous scooping chances with only a live 8 and of course it flops and all the other cards are high.
- I again raise to 6400 with A23K double suited and Lallee calls. Flop QQx and he moves in and i pass. He had AQ24 so again i was a decent favourite preflop.
Blinds 1000/1000/2000
- I'm on the big blind with A2TQ and there are two limpers and one of the small blinds calls. I move all in for 10000. Three callers. Nobody had A2. Of course a 2 flopped. With the river to come i could still win hald the pot with a TJQ or an A and missed.
Was feeling extremely tilty so left before the cash game tempted me. How i haven't made the money in these last two Omaha Hi/Lo tournaments is just a miracle.
Well i can look on the bright side in the bigger picture. I won £5000 earlier in the day playing in the PL Omaha $10/$20 on Betfair. I was in for $3000 which i turned into $6000.... then i got a maniac on tilt and took another $6000 of him.
Tonights Pot Limit Holdem is already sold out so its a day on the online cash tables for me.
Blinds 800/800/1600
- I raise to 6400 with A249 double suited and my opponent who was short stacked moved in for 9000. He flips over A248 rainbow. He has horrendous scooping chances with only a live 8 and of course it flops and all the other cards are high.
- I again raise to 6400 with A23K double suited and Lallee calls. Flop QQx and he moves in and i pass. He had AQ24 so again i was a decent favourite preflop.
Blinds 1000/1000/2000
- I'm on the big blind with A2TQ and there are two limpers and one of the small blinds calls. I move all in for 10000. Three callers. Nobody had A2. Of course a 2 flopped. With the river to come i could still win hald the pot with a TJQ or an A and missed.
Was feeling extremely tilty so left before the cash game tempted me. How i haven't made the money in these last two Omaha Hi/Lo tournaments is just a miracle.
Well i can look on the bright side in the bigger picture. I won £5000 earlier in the day playing in the PL Omaha $10/$20 on Betfair. I was in for $3000 which i turned into $6000.... then i got a maniac on tilt and took another $6000 of him.
Tonights Pot Limit Holdem is already sold out so its a day on the online cash tables for me.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
The Vic - £1000 NL Holdem
I never really go going in this one at all. I lost 1000 of my 5000 starting chips with TT and QQ when it flopped with an Ace and a King both times. Then a strange hand happened. Middle position raised to 300 when blinds were 50/100. Two limpers and i have QQ in the big blind. I decide to make it 1500 to play. The original raiser passes and he was the only one i was worried about until the button moved all in for 3100. I couldn't pass now with what i had already put in so called. I was still a bit surprised when he turned over KK. I was out shortly after. Hopefully i can do better in the PL Omaha Hi/Lo later.
I did manage to win £300 playing the PL Omaha cash game. I only played for ten minutes then a few players turned up that i wanted to chat to so gave up my seat. I'll probably play some more cash as the week progresses. No huge losses in the Dealers Choice like the last festival this time though......
I did manage to win £300 playing the PL Omaha cash game. I only played for ten minutes then a few players turned up that i wanted to chat to so gave up my seat. I'll probably play some more cash as the week progresses. No huge losses in the Dealers Choice like the last festival this time though......
Monday, August 01, 2005
Irritated
Unfortunately i have blocked comments for the time being. Somebody out there who has suddenly got it in for me decided to send me a rather abusive anonymous email, on top of three comments on my blog that i have had to delete. Some people really do need to get a life and grow up.... FAST!
Looking forward to playing the Vic £1000 tonight. I may get there early as i reckon it will sell out and i may play in the cash game beforehand.
Finally, congrats to Roland on winning the WPT in Paris..... what a result. When its your only result on the Hendon Mob database it looks pretty cool. No messing about with any 15th places or anything like that.
Looking forward to playing the Vic £1000 tonight. I may get there early as i reckon it will sell out and i may play in the cash game beforehand.
Finally, congrats to Roland on winning the WPT in Paris..... what a result. When its your only result on the Hendon Mob database it looks pretty cool. No messing about with any 15th places or anything like that.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Let the games begin
I stumbled across this earlier ... very strange! A fantasy stock market for blogs. Anyone like to shed some light?
Its been a good week so far on the $10/$20 PL Omaha. I've been giving some thought to my style of late and have made a few adjustments which seem to be paying off. Alot of the time i have been playing shorthanded which requires a whole new strategy... especially when you are playing opponents who raise 90% of hands before the flop.
Yesterday was another fun day of swings. After ten minutes i was up £1000. After and hour i was £2000 down. After three hours i was down £3500 and also was in for £2500 on the two tables that i was playing on. Then i went on a rush, hit hands and played a big stack reasonably well and after a six hour session ended the day up £3000.
Here's a thought for any Omaha players out there. Is playing in the small blind/big blind such a disadvantage on a full table, that you should sit out those two hands and post both the big blind and small blind on the button? Would it be bad form to do this or does anything go on the net?
I am kind of tempted to play in the £1000 Celeb Poker tournament at the Palm Beach casino in London this Saturday. I managed to watch an episode of celebrity poker on ITV last night and i think that may have put me of ever playing a celebrity at poker. It was just so bad - an embarrassment to poker.
Next week is the Vic. Here is my schedule.
The European Championships
Monday - £1000 NL Holdem freezeout
Tuesday - £250 PL Omaha Hi/Lo Rebuys
Wednesday - £200 PL Holdem Rebuys
Thursday - £1000 PL Omaha double chance freezeout
Friday - £5000 No Limit Holdem freezeout
Sunday - £300 No Limit Holdem freezeout
Its been a good week so far on the $10/$20 PL Omaha. I've been giving some thought to my style of late and have made a few adjustments which seem to be paying off. Alot of the time i have been playing shorthanded which requires a whole new strategy... especially when you are playing opponents who raise 90% of hands before the flop.
Yesterday was another fun day of swings. After ten minutes i was up £1000. After and hour i was £2000 down. After three hours i was down £3500 and also was in for £2500 on the two tables that i was playing on. Then i went on a rush, hit hands and played a big stack reasonably well and after a six hour session ended the day up £3000.
Here's a thought for any Omaha players out there. Is playing in the small blind/big blind such a disadvantage on a full table, that you should sit out those two hands and post both the big blind and small blind on the button? Would it be bad form to do this or does anything go on the net?
I am kind of tempted to play in the £1000 Celeb Poker tournament at the Palm Beach casino in London this Saturday. I managed to watch an episode of celebrity poker on ITV last night and i think that may have put me of ever playing a celebrity at poker. It was just so bad - an embarrassment to poker.
Next week is the Vic. Here is my schedule.
The European Championships
Monday - £1000 NL Holdem freezeout
Tuesday - £250 PL Omaha Hi/Lo Rebuys
Wednesday - £200 PL Holdem Rebuys
Thursday - £1000 PL Omaha double chance freezeout
Friday - £5000 No Limit Holdem freezeout
Sunday - £300 No Limit Holdem freezeout
Monday, July 25, 2005
Round in circles
Just like in Vegas when i had a really bad few sessions online then recovered, the last couple of days have been similar. Thursday - Saturday last week i lost £5000. Yesterday i won £2200 and today i have won £6000. I wish i could put together a run of good sessions like i did a few months ago. Its all very up and down at the moment.
Key hands today... and of course i was hitting big style to win £6000.
$10/$20 PL Omaha shorthanded (three players)
- I have AAragrag unsuited. Call a raise of $100 from ultra aggressive player from the small blind. Flop ATT. He bets $300 i call. Turn a J. He bets $900. I call (alarm bells anyone??). River a 2. He bets $1300 to put me all in. I call. He shows KKxx. Interesting.
- I raise with KKAT. Agressive player reraises from the big blind. I call the $350. Flop 557 rainbow. He bets $350. I call. Turn a T. he bets $400. I reraise and he passes.
- I call a reraise to $300 preflop from the big blind with 89TJ double suited. Flop 782 rainbow. I raise and my opponent goes all in for $1000. I call. He turns over and shows 89T4. Turn a 9 and i scoop another decent pot.
$10/$20 PL Omaha (six players)
- Everyone limps. I check in the big blind with JJT3. Flop JT2. I bet out $120. Get reraised to $400. I jam it. He goes all in for $2100. He shows TT74. Turn a Jack to give me quads...
- I call a small raise with 569A double suited. Flop 45T which gives me the Ace flush draw. Aggressive player raises to $250. I call. Turn a 2. We both check. River an A to give me two pair. I check. He bets $750. Against this player this is an instant call. He has two smaller pair.
$10/$20 PL Omaha (four players)
I had a two hour break then started up with $1300.
- I call a raise with TJ89 from a player i haven't played with but was raising preflop every hand.
Flop QKA rainbow. He bets $200. I call. Turn a 9. He bets $600. I go all in and he passes.
- Have $1700 when this hand happened. I raise on the button with AAJ9. He reraises from the big blind. I hate playing all in lottery Omaha preflop so i decide to call. Flop A22. Nice. He bets $300. I call. Turn a T. He bets $900. I call. River a 9. He moves all in for $850. He turns over TTxx for a smaller full house. Nice turn.
- I make it $100 from the small blind with 9TJA double suited (very unlike me to raise from the small blind). All the other three players call. Flop QK7 with gives me the nut flush draw on top of the wrap. I bet out $400. I get reraised to $1600. Hmmm i am slightly better than even money against trips 55%/45%. Do i want to gamble? Yes i am hitting today. All in. He calls and shows KKxx in a $6000 pot. Turn gives me the nut flush and no pair up on the river.
I hardly lost any big pots at all today. If i did they were all lost in the haze of all the hands i was hitting and getting paid of on. Tomorrow is a strict no poker day. Don't want to push my luck.
Key hands today... and of course i was hitting big style to win £6000.
$10/$20 PL Omaha shorthanded (three players)
- I have AAragrag unsuited. Call a raise of $100 from ultra aggressive player from the small blind. Flop ATT. He bets $300 i call. Turn a J. He bets $900. I call (alarm bells anyone??). River a 2. He bets $1300 to put me all in. I call. He shows KKxx. Interesting.
- I raise with KKAT. Agressive player reraises from the big blind. I call the $350. Flop 557 rainbow. He bets $350. I call. Turn a T. he bets $400. I reraise and he passes.
- I call a reraise to $300 preflop from the big blind with 89TJ double suited. Flop 782 rainbow. I raise and my opponent goes all in for $1000. I call. He turns over and shows 89T4. Turn a 9 and i scoop another decent pot.
$10/$20 PL Omaha (six players)
- Everyone limps. I check in the big blind with JJT3. Flop JT2. I bet out $120. Get reraised to $400. I jam it. He goes all in for $2100. He shows TT74. Turn a Jack to give me quads...
- I call a small raise with 569A double suited. Flop 45T which gives me the Ace flush draw. Aggressive player raises to $250. I call. Turn a 2. We both check. River an A to give me two pair. I check. He bets $750. Against this player this is an instant call. He has two smaller pair.
$10/$20 PL Omaha (four players)
I had a two hour break then started up with $1300.
- I call a raise with TJ89 from a player i haven't played with but was raising preflop every hand.
Flop QKA rainbow. He bets $200. I call. Turn a 9. He bets $600. I go all in and he passes.
- Have $1700 when this hand happened. I raise on the button with AAJ9. He reraises from the big blind. I hate playing all in lottery Omaha preflop so i decide to call. Flop A22. Nice. He bets $300. I call. Turn a T. He bets $900. I call. River a 9. He moves all in for $850. He turns over TTxx for a smaller full house. Nice turn.
- I make it $100 from the small blind with 9TJA double suited (very unlike me to raise from the small blind). All the other three players call. Flop QK7 with gives me the nut flush draw on top of the wrap. I bet out $400. I get reraised to $1600. Hmmm i am slightly better than even money against trips 55%/45%. Do i want to gamble? Yes i am hitting today. All in. He calls and shows KKxx in a $6000 pot. Turn gives me the nut flush and no pair up on the river.
I hardly lost any big pots at all today. If i did they were all lost in the haze of all the hands i was hitting and getting paid of on. Tomorrow is a strict no poker day. Don't want to push my luck.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Wild Form
I guess every player goes through one of those runs where everything goes wrong. It seems like the poker gods are frowning on me at the moment.
I played three hands yesterday where i flopped the nuts with improvements... all the money went into the middle and i lost each of them. Each of the pots was over $5000 and i was at least a 65% favourite in each of them *sigh*
The worst of the lot happened the day before. On a flop of K72 with two spades i had KK and the nut flush draw. I was reraised on the flop and my $2500 went in. My opponent had K78T. Turn 9... river a Jack. You know you should retire from playing when that happens.
Considering the run that i have had the fact that i have lost less then £5000 is a blessing i guess. I am currently multitabling and am £2000 up today so maybe the tide has turned.
I was browsing pokerineurope yesterday and see the schedule for Barcelona in September has been released. The festival has the start of the Headsup Poker Circuit which is a €2500 event and the first EPT season 2 which is a €4000 event. That is a festival that i can't wait for......
I played three hands yesterday where i flopped the nuts with improvements... all the money went into the middle and i lost each of them. Each of the pots was over $5000 and i was at least a 65% favourite in each of them *sigh*
The worst of the lot happened the day before. On a flop of K72 with two spades i had KK and the nut flush draw. I was reraised on the flop and my $2500 went in. My opponent had K78T. Turn 9... river a Jack. You know you should retire from playing when that happens.
Considering the run that i have had the fact that i have lost less then £5000 is a blessing i guess. I am currently multitabling and am £2000 up today so maybe the tide has turned.
I was browsing pokerineurope yesterday and see the schedule for Barcelona in September has been released. The festival has the start of the Headsup Poker Circuit which is a €2500 event and the first EPT season 2 which is a €4000 event. That is a festival that i can't wait for......
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Back in London
I haven't played that much poker since returning from Vegas. I still am yet to sort out my accommodation in London so at the moment i can only play in internet cafes. I got a strange look today when i jumped around in excitement when someone called me down with a six flush in a big pot in Omaha :-)
It was good to see Willie Tann win the $1000 NL Holdem WSOP event and pick up a bracelet. He has been off form of late so i know how much the win will have meant to him.
Tournament wise i am looking forward to the festivals in Luton and the Vic. Hopefully the EPT schedule for season two will come out soon as well.
I was watching the updates on the final table of the WSOP. For someone to with $7.5 million is just incredible. Next year will there be 10000 runners? Or perhaps they will raise the buy in to $25000 or even $50000.
One thing i am really missing is playing Dealers Choice. I couldn't find a decent game in Las Vegas and i haven't played in one for at least three months now. So i guess a trip to the Vic may be in order next week.
When i do get myself connected to the internet i am keen to try out some new ways of making money online. It will look like this:
Week 1 - Pot Limit Omaha
Week 2 - Single table tournaments
Week 3 - Multi table tournaments
Week 4 - NL Holdem
I just fancy a bit of a change from Pot Limit Omaha. So if i put the same hours into each i will be able to see if i can make a decent profit at the others.
I did post this interview with Phil Hellmuth on Blondepoker but if you haven't watched you just have to.
It was good to see Willie Tann win the $1000 NL Holdem WSOP event and pick up a bracelet. He has been off form of late so i know how much the win will have meant to him.
Tournament wise i am looking forward to the festivals in Luton and the Vic. Hopefully the EPT schedule for season two will come out soon as well.
I was watching the updates on the final table of the WSOP. For someone to with $7.5 million is just incredible. Next year will there be 10000 runners? Or perhaps they will raise the buy in to $25000 or even $50000.
One thing i am really missing is playing Dealers Choice. I couldn't find a decent game in Las Vegas and i haven't played in one for at least three months now. So i guess a trip to the Vic may be in order next week.
When i do get myself connected to the internet i am keen to try out some new ways of making money online. It will look like this:
Week 1 - Pot Limit Omaha
Week 2 - Single table tournaments
Week 3 - Multi table tournaments
Week 4 - NL Holdem
I just fancy a bit of a change from Pot Limit Omaha. So if i put the same hours into each i will be able to see if i can make a decent profit at the others.
I did post this interview with Phil Hellmuth on Blondepoker but if you haven't watched you just have to.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Days 10 + 11
The final result of my Vegas challenge:
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$10355
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$8367
I hardly played any poker in the last few days of my trip to Vegas. Just a quick session on the $10/$20 Omaha tables on Betfair. Feeling extremely jet lagged today after returning to London. Decided to return home a few days early as it was a bit of an anti climax after being knocked out of the main event. Vegas was fun and i will definitely be back. Considering my losses in tournaments i was very pleased to still end my trip showing a profit. I believe from scanning the guesses to my challenge that Mel Lofthouse is the winner.
Whats next? WPT Paris maybe.... definitely the Vic and Luton festivals. As soon as i have decided my schedule i will post it on here.
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$10355
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$8367
I hardly played any poker in the last few days of my trip to Vegas. Just a quick session on the $10/$20 Omaha tables on Betfair. Feeling extremely jet lagged today after returning to London. Decided to return home a few days early as it was a bit of an anti climax after being knocked out of the main event. Vegas was fun and i will definitely be back. Considering my losses in tournaments i was very pleased to still end my trip showing a profit. I believe from scanning the guesses to my challenge that Mel Lofthouse is the winner.
Whats next? WPT Paris maybe.... definitely the Vic and Luton festivals. As soon as i have decided my schedule i will post it on here.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 9
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$9755
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$7767
Despite my disappointment at getting knocked out of the main event i still have to have to try and earn some money on this trip. I played a long session of $10/$20 PL Omaha and it was a successful one.
These were the key hands.
- I am on $2200. I check raise preflop to $200 preflop with 8s9sThJh which is one of favourite hands. Flop 567 rainbow giving me the nuts. Loosey goosey checks to me. I bet $500. He goes all in for $1800. I call. He shows 7AQK and has just 3% chance of winning the pot. My hand stands up. I mention the 3% as that was the same odds i lost a $10000 pot with earlier in the week. He made a bold play and was probably thought that i was bluffing on that board after reraising preflop.
- I liked this hand. I call a raise preflop in early position with 9TJK. Flop TQ4. I call a $250 raise on the flop. Turn an A giving me the nuts. I bet $750. He calls. River a K. I assume we both have the same hand now. I pause then check as betting scares of any slight chance he may bluff. He bets $2250. I raise to put his last $120. He passes.
- The big one. Loosey goosey has managed to get up to $4700. I call a raise to $60 with TT22. Flop T34 rainbow. I check and smooth call his $200 bet planning on check raising the turn unless the board pairs. Turn an A. Rainbow board. He bets $600. I am pretty certain he doesn't have the straight or AA so reraise $2400 and he goes all in for around $3800. I call. River a 2. I hate that card. He shows K98A and was drawing dead in a pot over $10000.
I then lost this hand before i finished. Called a raise preflop with 7d8c9cAd. Flop 9dTd3s. $3000 in the pot on the flop. He has QQT4 and wins with two pairs. Had a whopping 77% of winning that hand.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 8
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$2400
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$412
Out of the main event. Started with Gus Hanson to my left and it all went well as i accumulated 22000 by end of level two. I was then moved to another table with three calling stations to my left. In over 6 hours of play i saw two pairs (2s both times) ... I saw pots over 30000 chips with people in with an underpair to the board.... i have truly never seen poker like it.
Eventually i found AK suited and walked into KK. Then with 12000 left i had KK v AA... both against the same guy who would just as easily throw all his chips in with a pair of tens!
The guy to my left hit a set 7 times and still went out before me.... insanity.
I know with any kind of decent cards i could have been up to a huge stack of chips as my table was so favourable... instead i am just gutted about my luck.
*Update*
As i a blogger i guess i should report how i won and lost my chips... here goes. I made these notes on my mobile.
WSOP 2005 - $10000 NL Holdem report
Level 1 - Blinds 25/50
Apart from Gus Hanson and Elvis everyone else at my table was visibly nervous about the WSOP. My tactics were to try and accumulate chips by taking as few a risks as possible.
- I limped in late position with Qd9d. Flop Kd4dJd. Wow thats a great flop for me. I call 400 planning on check raising the turn. Turn brings a fourth diamond and my opponent bets 300. I call. River a blank and he bets 2000. I pass. He shows Ad5d. I may have lost all my chips there if the fourth diamond didn't appear. Down to 9300
- I limp on the button with 7s4s. Flop 753. I raise and pick up one caller. Turn a 7. I bet 400. Called again. River a 2. I bet 500 and called. Opponent shows TT. Up to 10500
- I raise to 125 to play with AQ in late position. Flop A79. I get check raised to 700. Gus calls and so do i. Turn a 2. They both check. I check. River a 3. Again they both check so i bet 700 and get called. Up to 12700.
- I raise to 150 to play with QhKh. Flop Ad8h9h. Two pre flop callers check to me. I bet 400. Bruce Atkinson "Elvis" calls. Turn a 4h. He bets 800. I just smooth call. River a rag and he bets 1500. I call and take the pot. I was probably overly cautious on that hand. Up to 16000.
Level 2 Blinds 50/100
- One limper and i raised to 500 to play on the button with KdKs. Two callers in the blinds. Flop 559 with two diamonds. Checked to me. I decide to overbet the pot to knock out anyone playing for a flush draw. So i bet 2500. Small blind starts thinking. he says, "That bet sounds like you don't want a caller." He goes all in for 7000. I call. He shows TT and i am up to 23000.
- Raise in late position with TdJd and get two callers. Flop 8d9dKh. I bet 600 as my draw is massive. One caller. River a blank Ace. I decide to try and win it there and bet 1900 and get reraised. I passed. Down to 20000.
- Raise to 500 to play in middle position with AdKh. Two callers. Flop 2d5d7d. First player checks... i check, then Gus bets 1200. First player calls and i decide to make a semi bluff and raise to 5000. Both pass. Back to 23000.
Level 3 Blinds 100/200
Didn't play a pot over 1000 chips. No cards. Down to 21000.
Level 4 Blinds 100/200 running 25 ante
I got moved table now and saw chips flying around very fast and wanted a piece of the action.
- Early position player makes it 700 to play. I reraise to 2500 with AsKs. He calls. Flop 5s6s7h. He checks and i bet 5000. He passes. No pairs or Ace with a decent kicker for the rest of the level.
I had three calling stations to my left that would play nearly every pot to a reraise of 3000 with any two pictures or small pair. Now was the time to get the odd decent hand in 100 minute levels surely.
Frustration growing. There was not even any point in trying to nick the blinds due to the calling stations to my left. Still i was being very patient and had an ultra tight table image. Still had 21000 so no hurry.
Level 5 Blinds 150/300 running 50 ante
I witnessed so much loose play on my table but these were my two favourites.
- Player one has 19000 chips before this hand and raises to 1200 in early position. Late postion guy with a load of chips makes it 5000 to play. Player one calls. Flop 569 rainbow. Player one bets 5000. Player two calls. Turn another 9. Player one bets 7000 leaving himself 2000. Player two calls. Now i am thinking that they both must have a set/house/straight/overpair e.t.c. Pot is around 30000. River a T. Checked down. Player one shows TJ and wins with his pair of tens. Player two shows 33 and mucks his hand.
- Another 30000 pot develops on a Q78 flop. Again i am sitting there thinking a set v AQ maybe. No way. One guy has 99 and the other JJ.
It had now been five hours of play since i picked up a pair over 22 (which i had twice)
Level 6 Blinds 200/400 running 50 ante
I had 19000 chips at the beginning of the level. Still ok. Remember patience, patience, patience.
- Wow i picked up AsKs on the button. I have a ridiculously tight table image by now. I had raised pre flop two or three times in about six hours due to the trash i was getting dealt. Middle position guy who raises about 80% of the time if everyone folds to him makes it 1700 to play. He has 7000 so i put him all in. He has KK and doubles up. I know he would have called with hands like A9, JQ, AQ e.t.c. despite my table image *sigh*
- A few hands later i won 2000 back with AA when i limped and then reraised.
- Was at 12000 when i picked up KK on the button. I was desperate for a double up so when the usual raiser made it 1500 to play i decide to slowplay them. Anyway the end result would have been the same as he had AA. I had joked to Mike Lacey earlier that when i get KK someone will probably wake up with AA. I was out.
I walked back to my room feeling very frustrated. In the last four levels (nearly six hours) i had four premium hands (JJ or better) and lost with two of them. No middle pairs or even AQ. I hit a set once in ten hours of play, a flush twice and no straights.
I will be back for sure. I know that in poker you can go months when your form is out and then *bang* you are on fire again. I would be far more disappointed if i played badly or made the wrong decisions on key hands.
I'll be rooting for the remaining Brits from now on. Think i may return to the UK a few days earlier than planned as i haven't been back for over six weeks now.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 7
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$2400
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$412
For some reason i thought it was my seventh day yesterday. In Vegas its easy to lose track of days as each day is very much the same.
I checked out the tables on Betfair to see what was going on this afternoon (night UK time) and a couple of the players were playing that i know i can trap if i hit cards. I decided that it was worth investing £1000 just to give it a shot. I wasn't going to risk another -$10000 day though. With the blinds at £10/£20 i played it like it was a freezeout tournament so played alot less aggressive short handed than i normally do. I got my first double up when i called a preflop raise with 89TJ double suited. It flopped 579 with two diamonds which i didn't have. My opponent bet £180 and i just called as the flush potential killed many of my cards. Turn a 8 hearts and i check raised all in and he had a smaller straight.
I then won another big pot when i held A99J double suited and it was £100 to play. Five of us took a flop which was 7T2 with two hearts giving me a Gutshot and nut flush draw. I had the button and the player before me bet £500. I called even though i thought about raising. Turn a heart.... He checked and i bet him all in for about £1500. He called and had the King flush.
I was then lucky enough to make a straight flush against an Ace flush. My opponent passed on the river as he knew i would not have reraised £2000 without having the nuts. All the other players on the table would have called.
I was up to £7000 and decided the next pot i lost i would call it a day. I called a raise with TTJK from the small blind of £150 and five of us saw a flop of T45 rainbow giving me top set. An ultra aggressive opponent bet £500, one other player called. Normally i would have just gone for the pot reraise of over £2000 here. I am extremely glad that i didn't. Turn an A to bring a possible small straight. Aggressive player raised £2000 and the other went all in. I passed
Player 1 had 2367 and player two had 236Q so i would have lost all of my £7000 as the aggressive player would never have passed such a big draw. Phew.... that was my sign to get up and leave $8900 up.
The Rio is now buzzing with anticipation about the start of the main event. I have heard alot of players discussing their tactics for the main event. I have thought alot about how i am going to play. With a two hour clock i will play very cautiously to begin with. I'll be looking for extremely favourable situations to commit my chips. Then again if someone goes all in first hand and i have AA it may only last a few minutes. I'll be giving it my best shot whatever happens.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 6
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = -$6500
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = -$8488
Hmmm i had a bit of a disaster online yesterday. Played the big Omaha game on Betfair and dropped about $10000 in a few hours. Not going to go into details but lets just say my foe was extremely lucky in a $10000+ pot which sent me bang on tilt.
I have got my draw for the main event. Day 1 which i am pleased about. I am going to clear my mind and relax before Thursday. Latest i heard is that there are 5200 players registered.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 5
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$4435
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$2477
It was a very quite gambling day by Vegas standards and i played for just 20 minutes online. One hand i played accounts for my sudden profit. I held 6c Jd Ad Jc and was playing against a player that my notes said, "Drop everything and play him."
He had reraised preflop and it came 3c Ts 7c
I raised and he reraised to make it $200 to play. I called
Turn a Js to give me top trips. He bet $220 and i raised to $1120 and he moved all in for $1507.79 with Ah 7h 3h 5h for bottom two pair. Bonus!
I found out i have been drawn to play in the main event in day one. Time to focus on that....
Monday, July 04, 2005
Las Vegas Updates - Day 4
Cash Games = +$9212
Online = +$2275
Tournaments = -$11200
Overall = +$287
I was going to take a day off as i was still a bit down about how the cards went dead on me in the Omaha tournament. But after spending some time by the pool i decided to go and play in the $1060 mega satelite.... 130 players so 13 were due to win $10000. Here are the hands that eventually led to me being near the bubble. I finished 16/130...
We started with 3000 chips. These super satelites are great value i reckon from what i saw. You know you have a chance when this happens first hand.
- Blinds 25/25. I have KK. Raise UTG to 75. Late position guy reraises it to 250. I make it 800 to play. He calls. Flop 237. I move all in and he calls... does he have a set? No 66 so i double up.
I played some good poker to eventually get myself to 20000. I reckon you needed about 35000 to coast into the money. Blinds were 800/1600 and i picked up QQ on the button. All pass to me and i bet 5000 hoping one of the blinds would think i was on a steal. Bingo the big blind moved all in and i called. He had 8A. First two cards on the flop 88... i was short stacked then and soon exited. I was quite disappointed as that hand cost me $10000.
I can hardly say i am that unlucky when this happens online though.....
I decided to play a £300 NL Holdem Sixpack on Betfair. Was down to the last two and the blinds were 300/600 and i moved all in on a blind steal with 24 offsuit. Got called straight away by A5. Flop 234.. turn a 2. My opponent made a comeback and we got all in again. This time my A3 crushed AQ when the first card was a three.
Today i may play in the $1000 NL Holdem with rebuys. I can't make my mind up. You kind of have to rebuy immedietly and then have a double add on when the buy ins finish. So it could get messy. Not sure if i like getting only 4000 chips for $4000. We shall see.... if i don't play i will decide how it affects the profit/loss challenge that i set.
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