Verge of tilt

Have been playing 1/2 Razz cash games recently and have been grinding away nicely.

Ended up playing for too long last night and started a downward spiral which continued this morning when I moved on HORSE tables. My Omaha8 game sucks at the moment.

Managed to blow of $110 this morning, which is an achievement at 1/2.

Decided to play a $22 PLO tourny. 26 starters. Pays 3. Managed to come 4th, when the big stack QQ25 rainbow managed to suck out against by A7AJ double suited (which included spades) on a board 10 6s 4 9s 3 after calling three pot sized bets.

So rather than get me out of today's hole I am now officially in tilt mode. So no more poker for me this weekend.

Incidentally it was a criminal performance by me to come 4th. I was in second before aforementioned hand and could have folded my way to the money - I wouldn't do that, but so selective aggression was called for. To be fair though the big stack was not making it easy for me - he repeatedly made the classical mistake of trying to knock off the small stacks with absolute rags, thus doubling them up.

Bugger bugger bugger off

There are about 150 players left - pays 112 - average 21.000.
$200+$15 Razz Limit - Level XIII (1000/2000) - 2007/09/21 - 23:43:52 (ET)Table
Seat 1: 4c
Seat 2: mirri (21896 in chips) 4s
Seat 3: 8s
Seat 4: the champ (28561 in chips) 5h 4h 2c
Seat 5: Kc
Seat 6: Kd
Seat 7: 9h
Seat 8: DPRODIGY (21262 in chips) 3h
*** 3rd STREET ***
Bring in is 300
DPRODIGY: raises 700 to 1000 mirri: raises 1000 to 2000 the champ: raises 1000 to 3000
DPRODIGY: calls 2000 mirri: raises 1000 to 4000 the champ: calls 1000 DPRODIGY: calls 1000
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to mirri [4s] [Js]
Dealt to the champ [5h 4h 2c] [Jd]
Dealt to DPRODIGY [3h] [Qs]
the champ: checks DPRODIGY: checks mirri: bets 1000 the champ: calls 1000 DPRODIGY: calls 1000
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to mirri [4s Js] [As]
Dealt to the champ [5h 4h 2c Jd] [3c]
Dealt to DPRODIGY [3h Qs] [9c]
the champ: checks DPRODIGY: checks mirri: bets 2000 the champ raises 2000 to 4000 DPRODIGY: raises 2000 to 6000 mirri: raises 2000 to 8000 Betting is capped the champ: calls 4000 DPRODIGY: calls 2000
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to mirri [4s Js As] [Ah]
Dealt to the champ [5h 4h 2c Jd 3c] [9d]
Dealt to DPRODIGY [3h Qs 9c] [6c]
the champ: bets 2000 DPRODIGY: calls 2000 mirri: calls 2000
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to the champ [5h 4h 2c Jd 3c 9d] [Jc]
the champ: checks DPRODIGY: checks mirri: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mirri: shows [3d 2h 4s Js As Ah Tc] (Lo: T,4,3,2,A)
the champ: shows [5h 4h 2c Jd 3c 9d Jc] (Lo: 9,5,4,3,2)
DPRODIGY: shows [2s 7s 3h Qs 9c 6c 8c] (Lo: 8,7,6,3,2)
DPRODIGY collected 46900 from pot

Its the bold bits I don't like (particularly with his chip stack and the exposed cards) - he should have folded.

After that I folded a few hands and got stung for a few bring ins and was down to less than 10,000. Then then lost a pot when I had to fold on 5th street to a bring in defend [K showing]by DPRODIGY after a standard steal play went wrong.

At that point I was left with less than 6,000, the bets were 1500/3000 and the writing was on the wall.

Bugger

Just got knocked out o the WCOOP Razz event on the last hand before the 7th break. Its 5.26am and I can barely think straight. Came 106 out of 1176 for $352.80. Gutted.

I was doing well had 30,000 in chips when I got beat in a 3 way monster (with about 140 left) pot by DPRODIGY, who is without doubt the worst Razz player I played against tonight and possibly ever.

I will find the key hand and post it. But suffice to say there were very few ways he could win the hand, but he found one. If I had one I would have been up to about 66000 and think I would have been in with a big shout of taking it down.

I was left with about 12k in chips with the bubble approaching and basically got blinded away (1500/3000/300 level) because I couldn't bear the thought of not cashing after 7 hours of playing awesome Razz.

So pissed off by the plank DPRODIGY its unbelievable. If he goes on to make a big cash in this I will give up poker for good.

Spain, WCOOP.

No poker this week so far. I went to Spain to play some golf. Managed 6 rounds in 4 days, which was a bit much and my game fell apart. Basically my drives, usually the best part of my game, were going everywhere but straight.

I'm playing a bit of 1/2 Razz tonight to warm up for the WCOOP event tomorrow, which I plan to win.

And more Razz

Whilst searching for articles on Razz strategy I came across this guys' blog http://www.bickmat.com/ - Razz Poker Journey. He plays predominantly heads up Razz sit and go's.

Inspired by this I decided to take a crack and have now played 2, won 2, $11 games (they seem to take over 30 minutes, so I'm not going to play many of them).

I think the key to this is aggression and adapting to your opponents game.

I played a guy last night (STORMYTOO) who literally folded every hand when I raised to take the bring in and about half of his own steal opportunities. His plan was simple, let me steal all night and only fight back with 3 babies (and I think he was looking for 3 less than 7 as well).

This is a fundamentally flawed plan, basically equivalent to playing big pairs and Ak - A10 in heads up hold em. It means my cards no longer matter and, if as was the case, he folded 75% and I folded 25% eventually I will win.

As it happens he nearly got away with it - he found 2 big hands when I did and won them both - I lost with a 7 5 against a wheel and a 76 against a 75. But after that I basically avoided facing off on these hands (I would only carry on if I was ahead after 4th street - he always folded anyway at that point if he drew a high card) and I started calling instead of raising with 3 babies in an largely unsuccessful attempt to induce him into hands.

He didn't adapt at all and was more or less anted away until he was forced to make a stand with rags.

The amusing thing about all this was that he berated me constantly throughout the match (it started when I paid off his wheel) about my complete ineptitude.

I'm not sure what it is about Razz players that makes them chronic chat box abusers (usually in capitals) - I know the game is frustrating but...

Once I have got my game up to speed, I will see if I can track down Bickmat for a heads up match at a $22 table.

Razztastic

Managed to win my usual Razz tournament again on Full Tilt. Only 20 players (but it still takes 3 hours) - so paid $200.

Took a monumental ear bashing after knocking this guy out in 5th (for $0).

300/600 Ante 50. 5 players left. I have 12,164 (aka the chip lead). He has 2,291 (aka the 4th stack) - average stack is 6,000.
*3RD STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c] [Ah]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c]
Other face up cards out there 6 - 4 - 9
The 9 brings in for 100
The Champ completes it to 300. rubbersoul raises, the champ calls.
* 4TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah] [Jh]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c] [Tc]
rubbersoul bets 300, the champ calls
***5TH STREET ***
Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh] [Qd]
Dealt to rubbersoul [5c Tc] [6s]
rubbersoul bets 600, the champ calls
***6TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh Qd] [4c]
***Dealt to rubbersoul [5c Tc 6s] [6d]
The champ bets 600, rubbersoul raises to 741, and is all in, the champ calls 141
rubbersoul shows [6c 2c 5c Tc 6s 6d]
*** 7TH STREET
***Dealt to the champ [8s 7c Ah Jh Qd 4c] [Ac] the champ has J 8 7 4 A
***Dealt to rubbersoul [6c 2c 5c Tc 6s 6d] [Td] rubbersoul has 6c 2c 5c Tc 6s (a pair of Sixes)
the champ wins the pot (4,832) with J,8,7,4,A rubbersoul stands up (and then mouths off)

If this had been 8 handed, I wouldn't have got involved with a 5,6,4 already gone. But its 5 handed and I have the chip lead and 2 players folded before me. If he had hit a baby on 4th street, I would have had a difficult decision to make, but the 10 means I have to stay in.

He hesitated briefly before betting on 5th street. The standard of Razz play at this level is so bad that this means one of two things - he just paired (about 80% of the time) or he has a monster and is thinking about checking to keep me in.

My experience is that 99% of the time in these tournies, if people are strong or have a couple of babies showing they insta bet (whatever they have in the hole). They check when they are not sure. To me the pause meant, oh crap pair, then look up, see my Q, oh ok lets bet (if he had had hit an 8 or less on 4th street and so had 5 6 8 showing - I would suspect a desperation trap to try and keep me in).

When the 4 comes on 6th street and he hits another six, I think I have three chances of winning the hand.

• If I bet he could fold - he has 741 left - it pays 3 places - (the 5th stack has 1600) . He must think from my original raise at the beginning that I now have 4 babies and a J low. He is stuck with trip sixes (although I am wondering about that read now) and is drawing to a 10 low and has just enough to hang in for a better chance.
• Based on my read that he has a six in the hole and assuming he is drawing to a 10 and he calls I will win if he hits a J Q K or pairs his 10, 5 or second (non six) hole card.
• If he calls and makes a 10 low, I will win with a 9, 2, 3 or a 5 (no sixes left).

I also have the added incentive of potentially knocking him out and knowing I won't have to call a proper raise on 6th street or make any decision on 7th. And I know that even if I am way off with my read, there are still a few combination of events that will save me like hitting a 2, or a 3 or a 5 would give me an 8 7and might be enough on its own.

If he has insta bet on 5th street, I would have folded. And I wouldn't have done any of this at any stage earlier in the tournament.

I can see why he was miffed though. But that's Razz baby doll. It hurts.

Edit: of course it turns out that rubbersoul has a pretty impressive tournament record (and is currently number 1 at HORSE and Razz in the mid buy in level of the Bluff Rankings). Never mind baby doll.

Get on your horse and ride cowboy

I just won a HORSE tournament. Unfortunately not the WSOPE. But a $33 one on Pokerstars with 48 players for $532.80. WCOOP Razz here I come.

This means I have broken my HORSE duck after 2 prior 2nds. I was most pleased with the way I ran the final table, staying aggressive and picking on the passive/scared players.

Good stuff.

Got busted out a Razz tournament when I had (A2)245 against a donkey defending his bring in with (XX)KK9 - he re-re-raised me all in at that point. I ended up with A2 2452 A. He ended up with 48 KK9J 7 for a jack low. I still can't believe he was raising me on 4th street with KK showing. But that's why I like Razz - them's donkeys Mayville.

Note: I put another $100 in Pokerstars earlier this week.

Break

Not playing poker this week - watching the first series of Prison Break instead. Quality.