Busted out of the main event... after playing for 11 hours.
Some random thoughts!
- I play better against good players.
- I shouldn't lose 5/6 pots with KK.
- Watching really terrible players winning so many pots by playing so badly, makes me think poker is not a game of skill.
- Be careful what you wish for. I had a tough table (ESPN table for 4 hours) to begin with and was playing pretty good, and built my stack with ease to 25000. I was wanting to feed on some fish though. My table broke.... it was the fish that ended up feeding on me.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Its cold in Vegas
Have managed about 15 hours online in the last two days. Yesterday i lost £9000 and today i won £7000. A good warm up for the main event..... I hope i don't have the cold deck in the tournament that i have had in cash.... losing two $10000 pots with the nut straight and second nuts all in on flop in Hold'em. There is skill in tournaments but if the cards don't fall right it doesn't matter if you are Phil Ivey or a total donkey.
Other than that been doing the usual stuff in Vegas... drinking, eating and sleeping (though not enough of the latter)
Looking forward to playing tomorrow. You can't really go into a field like this with any big expectations... i just hope i make the right decisions and see how i go from there.
I have a decent percentage in a few top players, so even if i bust out, i hope one of them can win enough to cover my expenses for the trip :-)
My four rules for tomorrow!
1. Don't limp into an unraised pot unless i plan to reraise.
2. Don't play KT or KJ non suited to a raise.
3. Muck any bad ace and that includes AT.
4. Don't walk KK into AA again.
Other than that been doing the usual stuff in Vegas... drinking, eating and sleeping (though not enough of the latter)
Looking forward to playing tomorrow. You can't really go into a field like this with any big expectations... i just hope i make the right decisions and see how i go from there.
I have a decent percentage in a few top players, so even if i bust out, i hope one of them can win enough to cover my expenses for the trip :-)
My four rules for tomorrow!
1. Don't limp into an unraised pot unless i plan to reraise.
2. Don't play KT or KJ non suited to a raise.
3. Muck any bad ace and that includes AT.
4. Don't walk KK into AA again.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The return
Well i am back in Las Vegas. I drew Day 3 for the main event so i start on Sunday. There is not much news on the poker front. I haven't played for a couple of weeks. I did an interview which can be seen here for one of the poker websites.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Home
I don't really like putting non poker stuff on my blog, but i guess the last post had people/friends guessing why i returned from Vegas, after looking forward to it for so long.
My Mum passed away after a long battle with a terminal illness. I was lucky enough to make it back just in time to see her. Of course, when things like this happen, poker isn't important.
At some point i'd like use poker to raise some money for the hospice that looked after her so well during her last 6 months, i'll think about that in the future.
My Mum passed away after a long battle with a terminal illness. I was lucky enough to make it back just in time to see her. Of course, when things like this happen, poker isn't important.
At some point i'd like use poker to raise some money for the hospice that looked after her so well during her last 6 months, i'll think about that in the future.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Home from Vegas
The trip didn't last too long.... i've had to return for family reasons.
Good luck to any of my mates playing the rest of the events.
Good luck to any of my mates playing the rest of the events.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Vegas - Update 3
I gave the $1000 No Limit Hold'em a miss yesterday as it was full and the alternate list was huge. I decided to play the $2000 pot Limit Hold'em today. It was short and sweet as my QQ on the 4th hand walked in to KK. Very tough not to lose the 2000 chips with those cards... especially when it flopped Jack high.
Still feeling a bit tired/jetlagged so haven't played any cash games so far. My next event will probably be the $2500 short handed or the $2000 Shootout in a few days.
The Rio is better organised than last year. They have more food places and toilets, so the queues aren't so bad. I'm not going to start moaning about the lack of chips in the smaller events, as everyone knew that before they arrived. Be nice to have a few more though :-)
Still feeling a bit tired/jetlagged so haven't played any cash games so far. My next event will probably be the $2500 short handed or the $2000 Shootout in a few days.
The Rio is better organised than last year. They have more food places and toilets, so the queues aren't so bad. I'm not going to start moaning about the lack of chips in the smaller events, as everyone knew that before they arrived. Be nice to have a few more though :-)
Monday, July 10, 2006
Vegas - Update 2 $10000 Pot Limit Omaha
I busted out of the Omaha after about 6 hours of play. Blinds started at 25/25 and i think after about 10 hands i was double the chip leader with 23000 ish. I hit top set three times and managed to win decent pots each time. It was the perfect start really and meant that i could afford to lose a few decent size pots without it crippling me. Couple of key hands that i lost then happened...
- I had AhTh8sQs. I made it 100 to play in middle position.... 5 callers. Flop came Qh9s5h so i had the nut flush draw and Jack for a straight. I bet 600. One caller and Paul Zimbler in the SB made it 2000 more. I called as did the other guy so there was about 8500 in the middle. Turn 7c.. so i now had a 6 for the straight as well. Paul no bet out 3200. This bet really priced me in to calling considering what was already in there, so i called. River a 4s and it was checked down. Paul had 5523 for a set and i mucked. I would have been on over 35000 if i won that hand.
- Next big hand blinds were 50/100. Someone made it 300 to play and i called with 467Q DS from the BB after a few other callers. Flop 35J giving me the queen flush draw as well. I bet 1500 and got two callers. Turn an Ace giving me my other flush draw as well. I check and the guy behind me bets 4500. I call as i need any 246 or 8 for a straight and both flush draws... so 24 cards improve my hand. I miss everything and start to feel its not my day.
After that i was pretty much card dead. I got lucky a few times when all in, and was between 1000 chips and 8000 for about 3 hours, but i just couldn't find a spot where i wanted to get my chips in the middle. My bust out hand summed it up.
Flop was A84 rainbow and my last chips went in... i had A8J4 and he had A8K7 and the king hit the turn.
Another day another tournament. Its the $1000 No Limit today no rebuy, so i'll get busy early or bust out i guess.
- I had AhTh8sQs. I made it 100 to play in middle position.... 5 callers. Flop came Qh9s5h so i had the nut flush draw and Jack for a straight. I bet 600. One caller and Paul Zimbler in the SB made it 2000 more. I called as did the other guy so there was about 8500 in the middle. Turn 7c.. so i now had a 6 for the straight as well. Paul no bet out 3200. This bet really priced me in to calling considering what was already in there, so i called. River a 4s and it was checked down. Paul had 5523 for a set and i mucked. I would have been on over 35000 if i won that hand.
- Next big hand blinds were 50/100. Someone made it 300 to play and i called with 467Q DS from the BB after a few other callers. Flop 35J giving me the queen flush draw as well. I bet 1500 and got two callers. Turn an Ace giving me my other flush draw as well. I check and the guy behind me bets 4500. I call as i need any 246 or 8 for a straight and both flush draws... so 24 cards improve my hand. I miss everything and start to feel its not my day.
After that i was pretty much card dead. I got lucky a few times when all in, and was between 1000 chips and 8000 for about 3 hours, but i just couldn't find a spot where i wanted to get my chips in the middle. My bust out hand summed it up.
Flop was A84 rainbow and my last chips went in... i had A8J4 and he had A8K7 and the king hit the turn.
Another day another tournament. Its the $1000 No Limit today no rebuy, so i'll get busy early or bust out i guess.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Vegas - Update 1
I arrived a few hours ago. The flight was tiring... managed to lose $55 to Gryko at Chinese Poker en route playing small stakes, and won it back betting on first bag to arrive off the conveyor belt.
I am very impressed with the Wynn so far. The rooms are fantastic and the bars are good from what i've seen so far. I headed down to the Rio after i arrived to register and see who was about. I managed to resist the temptation to play and i caught up with Dubai, Martin Green and Rob Sherwood and we headed to a steakhouse, and had a few bottles of wine. I bailed out early due to the Omaha starting tomorrow, but i learned more about the strategy for playing dice in an hour than i have in the last 5 years. Throwing a googli seems to be the way forward....
I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow. Its been ages since i played an Omaha tournament, and i expect there will be around 270 runners even though its a $10000 buy in. I'll will do some kind of update tomorrow... hopefully it won't be an early bust out story.
I am very impressed with the Wynn so far. The rooms are fantastic and the bars are good from what i've seen so far. I headed down to the Rio after i arrived to register and see who was about. I managed to resist the temptation to play and i caught up with Dubai, Martin Green and Rob Sherwood and we headed to a steakhouse, and had a few bottles of wine. I bailed out early due to the Omaha starting tomorrow, but i learned more about the strategy for playing dice in an hour than i have in the last 5 years. Throwing a googli seems to be the way forward....
I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow. Its been ages since i played an Omaha tournament, and i expect there will be around 270 runners even though its a $10000 buy in. I'll will do some kind of update tomorrow... hopefully it won't be an early bust out story.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Vegas
I jet off in just a few days now. The excitement is building. My first event is the $10000 Pot Limit Omaha, and after that i'll be playing pretty much every event except the $50000 H.O.R.S.E.
I'll be updating my blog as often as possible as well.....
I'll be updating my blog as often as possible as well.....
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Six month review
Vegas is just around the corner now... 9 days and counting! I'm staying at the Wynn for two weeks and the Rio for the rest. I thought it would be good to break it up a bit, so i don't get bored of the same bars/restaurants etc.
I've played a bit of poker this week. Three winning sessions... no huge wins though. I'm playing a bit smaller, as i don't want any major losses before Vegas. I may not play now before i fly. June was good. As online months go its probably the best so far.
I set some goals for 2006 here ... as its half way through the year i thought i would check to see how they are going, and set some new ones for the second half of the year.
Not go broke.
I gave it a good shot in January, but haven’t got close to a zero bankroll since. Hopefully as the bankroll increases, this will become less and less likely.
Enjoy what i do. I love playing poker but get overly stressed whenever i lose or get knocked out of a big tournament. I have the best job i could hope for.
Its been a fun year in general. I’m really looking forward to the World Series, and am still enjoying what I do.
Make the money in a WSOP and WPT event.
Well WSOP is around the corner so will see how that goes. May fail in my aim to make the money in a WPT event this year. Will hopefully get at least one more chance this year.
Win £150000+ online.
Very very close on this one. Despite some brutal swings I’ve nearly achieved what was probably my number two goal for the year after not going broke!
Play at least five WSOP events at at least two WPT events.
Will have managed this by the end of July
Stop reading poker forums. I like what i read 10% of the time. The rest irritates me.
Still reading poker forums. Have to much free time not to…
Win 3 tournaments with buy ins over £750
Not even close. Be extremely tough to achieve this one. I’ve only played nine tournaments this year. I’d settle for a bracelet ;-)
Reduce my tilt to a manageable level.
Hmmm… its improved slightly but its still there. Hopefully I can keep it under control as much as possible in the second half of the year
Not play any Limit poker.
Not that I can remember. Maybe the H.O.R.S.E tourney in Vegas will be my first limit poker of the year! lol
If i'd been offered the six months i've had at the start of the year i would have taken it. The only major disappointment was my failure to take advantage of the excellent position i was in during the EPT grand final.
Now for some additional aims for the second half of the year.
- Start playing and becoming profitable at Limit poker. I've seen the kind of money that the good players make at this, so i'm going to give it a try.
- Play at least 30 tournaments and make at least 4 final tables.
- Have less than 3 days where i lose over £30000.
- Win more in tournaments than i have in the first 6 months of the year.
A couple of the bloggers are running regular updates on the WSOP. So click on these links if you fancy reading them. Rob Sherwood and Chris Fargis.
One other thing. My Dad has been doing mortgages for a few poker players/people who gamble for a living lately... so if you are interested you can email him here.
I've played a bit of poker this week. Three winning sessions... no huge wins though. I'm playing a bit smaller, as i don't want any major losses before Vegas. I may not play now before i fly. June was good. As online months go its probably the best so far.
I set some goals for 2006 here ... as its half way through the year i thought i would check to see how they are going, and set some new ones for the second half of the year.
Not go broke.
I gave it a good shot in January, but haven’t got close to a zero bankroll since. Hopefully as the bankroll increases, this will become less and less likely.
Enjoy what i do. I love playing poker but get overly stressed whenever i lose or get knocked out of a big tournament. I have the best job i could hope for.
Its been a fun year in general. I’m really looking forward to the World Series, and am still enjoying what I do.
Make the money in a WSOP and WPT event.
Well WSOP is around the corner so will see how that goes. May fail in my aim to make the money in a WPT event this year. Will hopefully get at least one more chance this year.
Win £150000+ online.
Very very close on this one. Despite some brutal swings I’ve nearly achieved what was probably my number two goal for the year after not going broke!
Play at least five WSOP events at at least two WPT events.
Will have managed this by the end of July
Stop reading poker forums. I like what i read 10% of the time. The rest irritates me.
Still reading poker forums. Have to much free time not to…
Win 3 tournaments with buy ins over £750
Not even close. Be extremely tough to achieve this one. I’ve only played nine tournaments this year. I’d settle for a bracelet ;-)
Reduce my tilt to a manageable level.
Hmmm… its improved slightly but its still there. Hopefully I can keep it under control as much as possible in the second half of the year
Not play any Limit poker.
Not that I can remember. Maybe the H.O.R.S.E tourney in Vegas will be my first limit poker of the year! lol
If i'd been offered the six months i've had at the start of the year i would have taken it. The only major disappointment was my failure to take advantage of the excellent position i was in during the EPT grand final.
Now for some additional aims for the second half of the year.
- Start playing and becoming profitable at Limit poker. I've seen the kind of money that the good players make at this, so i'm going to give it a try.
- Play at least 30 tournaments and make at least 4 final tables.
- Have less than 3 days where i lose over £30000.
- Win more in tournaments than i have in the first 6 months of the year.
A couple of the bloggers are running regular updates on the WSOP. So click on these links if you fancy reading them. Rob Sherwood and Chris Fargis.
One other thing. My Dad has been doing mortgages for a few poker players/people who gamble for a living lately... so if you are interested you can email him here.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
More Blogging
Well i have time for it at the moment as i'm not playing too much. Firstly, the hand from the previous blog "Less is More."
Well i think there are just two options here. Raise or fold. Calling $2000 with the AA is just a non move. If the BB has me beat he will push. Apart from the Ace, no cards on the turn will help me either. I just don't think i had enough information to commit my entire stack with AA in this spot so i folded. I could be beating one of my opponents, but i think its unlikely given the action that i have them both beat. I could have been stubborn and hoped one had QA, and the other something like KK, but i think the pass is the correct move.
My mistake was not reraising preflop. The UTG preflop raiser made a 7 times the BB raise, so he probably has a big hand, and would call a reraise.
I never got to see my opponents hands either. The BB called the raise to $2000. The turn was a 7 and he moved all in. The other player passed. I'm sure i was beat seeing how the hand played out.
I have also finished writing a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph. After a year (how time flies) and around 55 columns, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep thinking of something interesting to write about NL Hold'em. They wanted me to aim it at the majority of readers, which is why it was just NL hold'em, i'm sure that i could have carried on longer if i was able to talk about all the other games. It was a great privilege to have been asked to write for a national newspaper for a year, and i'll probably do some one off pieces for them on major tournaments in the future.
I will write something for Cardplayer Europe in the next couple of months now i have more time on my hands. If there is anything interesting anyone thinks i should write about, feel free to post a comment.
I've also added a few new links to the right hand side of the blog... check them out!
Well i think there are just two options here. Raise or fold. Calling $2000 with the AA is just a non move. If the BB has me beat he will push. Apart from the Ace, no cards on the turn will help me either. I just don't think i had enough information to commit my entire stack with AA in this spot so i folded. I could be beating one of my opponents, but i think its unlikely given the action that i have them both beat. I could have been stubborn and hoped one had QA, and the other something like KK, but i think the pass is the correct move.
My mistake was not reraising preflop. The UTG preflop raiser made a 7 times the BB raise, so he probably has a big hand, and would call a reraise.
I never got to see my opponents hands either. The BB called the raise to $2000. The turn was a 7 and he moved all in. The other player passed. I'm sure i was beat seeing how the hand played out.
I have also finished writing a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph. After a year (how time flies) and around 55 columns, it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep thinking of something interesting to write about NL Hold'em. They wanted me to aim it at the majority of readers, which is why it was just NL hold'em, i'm sure that i could have carried on longer if i was able to talk about all the other games. It was a great privilege to have been asked to write for a national newspaper for a year, and i'll probably do some one off pieces for them on major tournaments in the future.
I will write something for Cardplayer Europe in the next couple of months now i have more time on my hands. If there is anything interesting anyone thinks i should write about, feel free to post a comment.
I've also added a few new links to the right hand side of the blog... check them out!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Less is more
I hate going out of big tournaments with KK v AA. If i count the two EPT grand finals, WPT Paris/Bellagio and the WSOP main event last year as the five biggest tournaments i've played, i've exited two of them with KK v AA. Another one i went out when holding the AA. It makes me think i actually do alot better when i don't get big pocket pairs as they often spell danger. When i am not hitting i have to duck and dive, and its easier to get away from hands when people play back at me.
Had a good week online. Didn't play more than about 8 hours... and i'll probably play about the same amount this week. The WSOP starts soon and i feel like i should be there for the start, but that would mean flying back after about a week for a few days, so i guess i should just wait until the 8th July. I'm counting down the days now.
I actually haven't played that many tournaments this year at all. Its stands at about nine for 2006. Its the Vic festival this week and i may get to play the PL Omaha Hi/Lo, but i'm too busy to play any of the others.
One interesting hand came up this week when i was playing $25/$50 NL Hold'em. What would you do?
6 handed. I am on the button with $6800. Both my opponents i have only played with a couple of times so no real information about them. UTG (with $6000 stack) opens for $350 (7 times the BB). I have AA and decide to just call. The BB then calls (with $5000 stack) as well. I was hoping to be heads up. Flop 8JQ rainbow. BB leads out with a bet of $800. Preflop raiser makes it $2000. Now what? Call, raise or fold?
Had a good week online. Didn't play more than about 8 hours... and i'll probably play about the same amount this week. The WSOP starts soon and i feel like i should be there for the start, but that would mean flying back after about a week for a few days, so i guess i should just wait until the 8th July. I'm counting down the days now.
I actually haven't played that many tournaments this year at all. Its stands at about nine for 2006. Its the Vic festival this week and i may get to play the PL Omaha Hi/Lo, but i'm too busy to play any of the others.
One interesting hand came up this week when i was playing $25/$50 NL Hold'em. What would you do?
6 handed. I am on the button with $6800. Both my opponents i have only played with a couple of times so no real information about them. UTG (with $6000 stack) opens for $350 (7 times the BB). I have AA and decide to just call. The BB then calls (with $5000 stack) as well. I was hoping to be heads up. Flop 8JQ rainbow. BB leads out with a bet of $800. Preflop raiser makes it $2000. Now what? Call, raise or fold?
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
WPT Paris
No good. I busted after four hours with KK v AA. Hadn't seen a hand in the first three levels so it was impossible to put down. The World Series is just a few weeks away, so hopefully my luck will be a bit better out there.
I did learn how to play Chinese poker on the way out from Roland De Wolfe.... and i won a quid on the trip thanks to that game.
I'm not going to play so much online in the next two weeks, including a full week off before i fly. I need to be fully prepared to play my best poker for 3/4 weeks of tournaments in Vegas, and I think the break will do me some good.
I did learn how to play Chinese poker on the way out from Roland De Wolfe.... and i won a quid on the trip thanks to that game.
I'm not going to play so much online in the next two weeks, including a full week off before i fly. I need to be fully prepared to play my best poker for 3/4 weeks of tournaments in Vegas, and I think the break will do me some good.
Monday, June 12, 2006
WSOP schedule
Well i have decided upon the schedule of events i am going to play as its less than a month away. Here they are....
9th July
Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event)
$10,000.00
11th July
Pot-Limit Hold'em (2 day event)
$2,000.00
13th July
No-Limit Hold'em- Short handed 6/table (3 day event)
$2,500.00
15th July
Omaha Hi-low Split (3 day event)
$3,000.00
17th July
Pot-Limit Omaha (2 day event)
$1,500.00
20th July
No-Limit Hold'em- Short handed 6/table (3 day event)
$5,000.00
21st July
No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event)
$2,000.00
22nd July
Pot-Limit Hold'em (3 day event)
$5,000.00
28th July
No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship Event
$10,000.00
I am also hopefully going to run a tournament with a chance of winning a % in me for all the events. Details on that sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Had a very good week online, so hopefully will be in good form for the WPT event in Paris when i start playing tomorrow.
9th July
Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event)
$10,000.00
11th July
Pot-Limit Hold'em (2 day event)
$2,000.00
13th July
No-Limit Hold'em- Short handed 6/table (3 day event)
$2,500.00
15th July
Omaha Hi-low Split (3 day event)
$3,000.00
17th July
Pot-Limit Omaha (2 day event)
$1,500.00
20th July
No-Limit Hold'em- Short handed 6/table (3 day event)
$5,000.00
21st July
No-Limit Hold'em (3 day event)
$2,000.00
22nd July
Pot-Limit Hold'em (3 day event)
$5,000.00
28th July
No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship Event
$10,000.00
I am also hopefully going to run a tournament with a chance of winning a % in me for all the events. Details on that sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Had a very good week online, so hopefully will be in good form for the WPT event in Paris when i start playing tomorrow.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Some hands
As i have been playing so much of late i've played a few weird/interesting hands....
- £10/£20 PL Omaha. 6 handed. I have a £5700 stack. I check the big blind after no raise with TcJcQcKc. Flop 2c7c9c. I check and the button makes it £120. I call. Knowing the player he is very likely to have raised his button with a suited ace, so with having 4 clubs in my hand i am confident he has the bare ace. Turn 3c. I check. He bets £260. I call. River Td. He now bets £600 into a pot of £880. Normally i would simply call but i figured him for the bare ace. So i minimum raised him another £600, as i knew it would be too much of a temptation for him to fire a big bet back at me even with the bare ace. He reraised the full pot of £3280. I called and he did have the bare ace. I scooped a near £10000 pot. I don't think i will make that play too often :-)
- £25/£50 NL Hold'em. 4 handed. I have £6200 stack. I make it £150 to play with 9cTc. Just the big blind called. Flop 2c7cJc. The caller now pushes all in for £6500. I have never seen him play before plus he has already made this move twice in the 30 minutes i have been at the table, and got no callers. I just couldn't pass. I called and he had the Ace flush. Yuck. Anyone pass there?
I played live PL Omaha for the first time in ages last night at the Western. It was a £500 minimum sit down game with running £5 antes. I was down £4000 at one point, and managed to turn it around to win £3000. It feels more satisfying to win live than online. I plan on playing some live cash in Vegas during the WSOP, so it was good to get back in the swing of things.
Online has been going well this week, so i am going to have a more relaxing week than the last couple, and start watching the World Cup. Also, i am off to Paris for the WPT event Monday so i don't want to tilt myself for that.
- £10/£20 PL Omaha. 6 handed. I have a £5700 stack. I check the big blind after no raise with TcJcQcKc. Flop 2c7c9c. I check and the button makes it £120. I call. Knowing the player he is very likely to have raised his button with a suited ace, so with having 4 clubs in my hand i am confident he has the bare ace. Turn 3c. I check. He bets £260. I call. River Td. He now bets £600 into a pot of £880. Normally i would simply call but i figured him for the bare ace. So i minimum raised him another £600, as i knew it would be too much of a temptation for him to fire a big bet back at me even with the bare ace. He reraised the full pot of £3280. I called and he did have the bare ace. I scooped a near £10000 pot. I don't think i will make that play too often :-)
- £25/£50 NL Hold'em. 4 handed. I have £6200 stack. I make it £150 to play with 9cTc. Just the big blind called. Flop 2c7cJc. The caller now pushes all in for £6500. I have never seen him play before plus he has already made this move twice in the 30 minutes i have been at the table, and got no callers. I just couldn't pass. I called and he had the Ace flush. Yuck. Anyone pass there?
I played live PL Omaha for the first time in ages last night at the Western. It was a £500 minimum sit down game with running £5 antes. I was down £4000 at one point, and managed to turn it around to win £3000. It feels more satisfying to win live than online. I plan on playing some live cash in Vegas during the WSOP, so it was good to get back in the swing of things.
Online has been going well this week, so i am going to have a more relaxing week than the last couple, and start watching the World Cup. Also, i am off to Paris for the WPT event Monday so i don't want to tilt myself for that.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Swing swing swing
What a week! Not a particularly good one either..... had another very bad night on Monday losing £30000. This week i have played around 80 hours... the most i have ever managed in a week. The figures look like this:
Mon - £30000
Tues - £8000
Wed + £27000
Thurs - £12000
Fri +£5000
Sat +£8000
I need to cut out the nights when i am losing over £20000 and fast. I should impose a stop loss i guess.
Betfair have a new sign up bonus of $800 for June. Details are here
I am heading to Paris next week for the WPT... i'll try and do a few updates from there.
Mon - £30000
Tues - £8000
Wed + £27000
Thurs - £12000
Fri +£5000
Sat +£8000
I need to cut out the nights when i am losing over £20000 and fast. I should impose a stop loss i guess.
Betfair have a new sign up bonus of $800 for June. Details are here
I am heading to Paris next week for the WPT... i'll try and do a few updates from there.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
36 hours of mayhem
Wow i had the most crazy 36 hours online ever this week. I loaded up Betfair on Tuesday expecting a normal ish day but had the most horrific day possible. I must have gone 5 hours on 4 tables and not won a single pot over £1000 short handed. Ran bad, played not so good and had horrific luck, a lethal combination. I finally went to bed £25000 down and not happy.
I never know whether its a good idea to play the next day after such a heavy loss, but i hate being stuck for the week so thought i would try again. Cue more ridiculous bad luck, i lost with with Aces in Omaha three times all in preflop for a combined total of £20000 worth of pots. My opponent had the Aces as well each time and spiked a flush or two pair pair on me. I decided to try some £25/£50 NL Holdem which didn't go to much better, and after a few reloads of £3000 i was down £53000 in just 24 hours. I was so sick. 53 large was well over the online pain threshold.
I decided it was time for a break, and two hours later i was ready to go at it again. Between 10pm and 2am i won £45000. Got £25000 profit in the £25/£50 NL Holdem, and the other £20000 in Omaha. So after all that stress i lost £8000, and it feels like i had a big win. Rakeback is probably £3000 as well. Amazing that my biggest ever online loss in a short period is followed by my biggest ever win.
I am off to Dublin tomorrow to play in the second leg of the Showdown Poker Tour. Hopefully they will get more runners than the London leg. I may post some of the big pots i played during the big swing over the weekend.
I never know whether its a good idea to play the next day after such a heavy loss, but i hate being stuck for the week so thought i would try again. Cue more ridiculous bad luck, i lost with with Aces in Omaha three times all in preflop for a combined total of £20000 worth of pots. My opponent had the Aces as well each time and spiked a flush or two pair pair on me. I decided to try some £25/£50 NL Holdem which didn't go to much better, and after a few reloads of £3000 i was down £53000 in just 24 hours. I was so sick. 53 large was well over the online pain threshold.
I decided it was time for a break, and two hours later i was ready to go at it again. Between 10pm and 2am i won £45000. Got £25000 profit in the £25/£50 NL Holdem, and the other £20000 in Omaha. So after all that stress i lost £8000, and it feels like i had a big win. Rakeback is probably £3000 as well. Amazing that my biggest ever online loss in a short period is followed by my biggest ever win.
I am off to Dublin tomorrow to play in the second leg of the Showdown Poker Tour. Hopefully they will get more runners than the London leg. I may post some of the big pots i played during the big swing over the weekend.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Fun fun
My run of form on the PL Omaha tables has continued since i last posted. I've had a few more great days including one where i managed to have two tables running with $30000 on one, and $14000 on the other where the max sit down is $2000. I gave some of it back but it was still a great day. I doubt this kind of form can last, so I am taking advantage of it whilst it does.
I have played some massive pots in the last week. Here are a few of them.
- $10/$20 PL Omaha on Betfair. 6 handed. I am playing a $29000 stack. I was dealt 7h7d8h8d on a six handed table in middle position and made it $60 to play. Everyone called to the SB who made it $200. All six players decide to see the flop. 833 SB who made the original reraise preflop bets $600. Second position calls (playing a $16000 stack).I think that the guy who bets out has AA or KK. He could also have a 3. The caller has almost defintely got a 3. I make it $2000 to play hoping that at least one of them plays on. The original raiser passes and the other player calls. Turn 2c There is $5800 in the middle. He checks. I don't want to make a milking bet as it makes my hand look to strong so i bet $4500. He calls. River K. Now he bets $9300 all in!!! I call and he shows 23KK. Yuck that was a $33400 pot i lost.
- $10/$20. 6 handed. I have $10000. Everyone limps to me and i make it $60 to play on the button with 3456 DS. BB makes it $200 to play. Knowing the BB he is nailed on to have AAxx with this move. 2 callers and i call. Flop As2h5h (I have no flush draw). BB bets full pot of $830. Everyone passes to me. He had $9000 and he probably has AAxx, maybe even with the Ace flush draw too. I decide to take a card. The turn is a 9c. He bets $2400. I just called again. River a 6s. He checked and i bet $5000. He called and mucked AAxx with no flush draw.
- $10/$20 Heads Up. We both have $10000 stacks. Opponent makes it $60 to play and i raise with KK77 DS to $180 to play. He reraises to $540 to play. Given the stacks we are playing i have a great chance to win a huge pot especially as i am almost certain he has AAxx. I call. Flop 732 with two of my suit. I check. He bets $1080. I raise the full pot and he moves all in. He has AA9T with the Ace flush draw. The flush comes on the turn and the river is a blank and he wins a $20000 pot.
You can now get a $200 bonus if you sign up for Betfair here. If you are interested in rakeback as well drop me an email. I may be able to offer you a better deal than the other Crypto sites (Interpoker, William Hill, UKBetting, Sun Poker, PokerPlex and Littlewoods)
I have played some massive pots in the last week. Here are a few of them.
- $10/$20 PL Omaha on Betfair. 6 handed. I am playing a $29000 stack. I was dealt 7h7d8h8d on a six handed table in middle position and made it $60 to play. Everyone called to the SB who made it $200. All six players decide to see the flop. 833 SB who made the original reraise preflop bets $600. Second position calls (playing a $16000 stack).I think that the guy who bets out has AA or KK. He could also have a 3. The caller has almost defintely got a 3. I make it $2000 to play hoping that at least one of them plays on. The original raiser passes and the other player calls. Turn 2c There is $5800 in the middle. He checks. I don't want to make a milking bet as it makes my hand look to strong so i bet $4500. He calls. River K. Now he bets $9300 all in!!! I call and he shows 23KK. Yuck that was a $33400 pot i lost.
- $10/$20. 6 handed. I have $10000. Everyone limps to me and i make it $60 to play on the button with 3456 DS. BB makes it $200 to play. Knowing the BB he is nailed on to have AAxx with this move. 2 callers and i call. Flop As2h5h (I have no flush draw). BB bets full pot of $830. Everyone passes to me. He had $9000 and he probably has AAxx, maybe even with the Ace flush draw too. I decide to take a card. The turn is a 9c. He bets $2400. I just called again. River a 6s. He checked and i bet $5000. He called and mucked AAxx with no flush draw.
- $10/$20 Heads Up. We both have $10000 stacks. Opponent makes it $60 to play and i raise with KK77 DS to $180 to play. He reraises to $540 to play. Given the stacks we are playing i have a great chance to win a huge pot especially as i am almost certain he has AAxx. I call. Flop 732 with two of my suit. I check. He bets $1080. I raise the full pot and he moves all in. He has AA9T with the Ace flush draw. The flush comes on the turn and the river is a blank and he wins a $20000 pot.
You can now get a $200 bonus if you sign up for Betfair here. If you are interested in rakeback as well drop me an email. I may be able to offer you a better deal than the other Crypto sites (Interpoker, William Hill, UKBetting, Sun Poker, PokerPlex and Littlewoods)
Saturday, May 13, 2006
River Rat
This week has been very good on the PL Omaha tables on Betfair. As weeks go, its been one of the best ever... i played every day Mon-Thurs and managed to have good wins every day.
Poker tracker really is my friend. I now have thousands of hands against my regular opponents, and over last weekend i spent a few hours studying my most frequent opponents statistics and replayed numerous hands. The information i gathered certainly helped this week. I also noticed an area i could improve and have put that right as well.
For those who have Poker Tracker my VP$IP is 79% over 37000 hands which basically means i am a loose fish! VP$IP is the % time i voluntarily put money into the flop. Most of the winners are between 35% and 55%.
Good luck to anyone playing this weekend!
Poker tracker really is my friend. I now have thousands of hands against my regular opponents, and over last weekend i spent a few hours studying my most frequent opponents statistics and replayed numerous hands. The information i gathered certainly helped this week. I also noticed an area i could improve and have put that right as well.
For those who have Poker Tracker my VP$IP is 79% over 37000 hands which basically means i am a loose fish! VP$IP is the % time i voluntarily put money into the flop. Most of the winners are between 35% and 55%.
Good luck to anyone playing this weekend!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Tougher
Thats how the PL Omaha games on Crypto have gone this week. A few new players have joined and there have often been 3 or 4 £10/£20 on the go at the same time. Two of these players in particular have been running very well and are tough opponents. They are extremely tricky and aggressive, the average pots with these two on the table have often been over £1000. The swings have been huge.
The week started badly. Monday i was in for £22000, and ended the day even after being up £10000 at one point and later down £15000. I finally went to bed even at around 8am. Tuesday was my first really bad day since January online. I was playing 5 tables and for five hours i was brutalised. I lost a £13000 pot when i made a back door Ace flush against a straight flush. Having been up £8000 early i gave up £17000 down. Not good.
Wednesday started very well. I did very well Heads Up winning £10000 in about an hour. I was hitting everything and even got quad Aces against quad nines. I hit a high point of £16000 up. Swung back down to £4000 up, played for about another 6 hours and finished £13000 up. I didn't play so much the rest of the week, with no big wins or losses anyway.
For the week i am down about £5000 which is not so bad. It could have been worse and i still have the Sunday night games to play, so i may be able to wipe out the loss.
I played the Showdown Poker Tour event yesterday. I managed to get some amazing hands and never got paid. Whenever i bluffed, or had a marginal hand i got called and lost, guess it goes that way sometimes. Not sure what the next tournament i play will be. Am starting to look forward to the WSOP. It's not so long to go...
The week started badly. Monday i was in for £22000, and ended the day even after being up £10000 at one point and later down £15000. I finally went to bed even at around 8am. Tuesday was my first really bad day since January online. I was playing 5 tables and for five hours i was brutalised. I lost a £13000 pot when i made a back door Ace flush against a straight flush. Having been up £8000 early i gave up £17000 down. Not good.
Wednesday started very well. I did very well Heads Up winning £10000 in about an hour. I was hitting everything and even got quad Aces against quad nines. I hit a high point of £16000 up. Swung back down to £4000 up, played for about another 6 hours and finished £13000 up. I didn't play so much the rest of the week, with no big wins or losses anyway.
For the week i am down about £5000 which is not so bad. It could have been worse and i still have the Sunday night games to play, so i may be able to wipe out the loss.
I played the Showdown Poker Tour event yesterday. I managed to get some amazing hands and never got paid. Whenever i bluffed, or had a marginal hand i got called and lost, guess it goes that way sometimes. Not sure what the next tournament i play will be. Am starting to look forward to the WSOP. It's not so long to go...
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