gutshotdonkey

2008-09-03T22:48:00.011+01:00

Results so far (ie since 16 July):

Full tilt - July (all six max)
50NL: 2182 hands, -$93.95 (-4.31BB/100)
25NL: 2,632 hands, +$91.15 (6.83BB/100)
10NL: 24 hands, +$3 (62.50BB/100)
Overall: 4,838 hands +$0.2

Full Tilt - August
50 NL: 7216 hands, +$491.80 (6.81BB/100)
25NL: 668 hands, +$9.95 (2.98BB/100)
Overall: 7884 hands,+$501.05 (6.48 BB/100 - $13.17/hour - 13.48BB/hour).

At 50NL I have 19.20/15.64 VPIP/PFR stats (something like 18/14 is roughly what I am looking for), AF is 4.48 (which I note now has fallen a bit recently) and I C-bet the flop 86% of the time, and turn 52%.

Always wanted to do this:

Obvious leaks:

1) Over playing/misplaying pocket pairs on low flops in the face of aggression - still struggling with this.

2) Set mining without the implied odds - in particular calling 3-bets - I identified this in broad terms myself, but have since read a very good article which suggests that if you are going to call, the raiser (and you) need to have a stack of approximately 16x the amount you have to call to make it a profitable call (the break even point is a bit lower than 16x). So any 3 bet to more than 5, following a standard raise to 1.75, is basically unprofitable for set mining when both players have standard 50 stacks. The standard 3 bet is to 6 - so both players will need stacks of 68 to make that a profitable call. I was calling 3 bets to about 8.5 at one point with 50ish stacks.

3) Combining 1 and 2

4) Not really knowing how to play against a particular type of fish - those that limp into every pot and won't fold most of the time - my two losingest sessions have involved one of these sitting to my right.

5) Not realising (or refusing to accept) that a min raise or a check min raise on the flop or turn usually signifies the nuts or something very strong (usually trips) and jamming with a non premium overpair. I think I have this one tagged now (but I stacked off 3x first). And now its basically a fold situation unless I have a monster or a note that the player uses it as a bluff (which as shameful a play it is - I have used a couple of times myself to bluff off fish who I have seen using the min raise with the nuts).

6) Failing to recognise that, at this level, players with full stacks rarely get it all in post flop without large hands - so its important to identify the passive players (who won't jam without the nuts) and the aggressive players who might. There are a lot more passive than aggressive players.

Interestingly/not surprisingly my 3 losingest hands so far including the first few days of September are QQ and 1010, and 33. My 3 winningest hands are JJ, AKo and AA.

33 makes an appearance because I have twice made sets, got all the money in, and then been rivered. But QQ and 1010 are a concern.

I will be having an enforced break over the next few days and plan to spend some time reviewing old hands.

2008-08-21T16:44:00.003+01:00

Epiphany, the sudden realisation or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something.

On any given Sunday there are probably 500,000 people playing online. How many are winning players? Not many I suspect. But then again how many are horrific losers? Again, not that many.

Most probably dribble away money or break even, and play for a combination of recreational (acceptable), addiction (not so good), and self deluding reasons (because playing legitimises the possibility, no matter how unlikely, that the dream might come true. The sheer volume of small time losers keeps the whole poker economy in business.

The moment you start playing poker you reach a crossroads. Turn left and join the path to greatness - study, learn, think, study, learn, think and you will prosper.

Turn right and join the shoal.

You will watch a lot of poker on telly. You will read a couple of books (written by people who play live against live players), you will absorb the starting hand requirements and nothing else (there may not be much else). You like everyone else will enjoy temporary success after reading Harrington, you will win a tournament or two (this is to be expected since every single tournament even the $1 ones have winners) temporarily camouflaging your weaknesses.

You will lose track of the goal - to win money (because you aren't winning any, so best not to think about it), but never the dream (because someone just like you, or Jerry Yang, is always winning money).

You will come to learn some fancy plays - floating, 3 betting, bluff shoving, but you won't know and understand when to use them, why or against whom. You will know that position is important, but you will not understand why or act accordingly. You will spot weakness in others and basque in your greatness when doing so, but be oblivious to your own.

Ultimately you will get nowhere. You will be oblivious to the other path.

Enough - the point is this: at the end of the day there is no point playing poker unless 1) your goal is to win money 2) you are constantly striving to improve your game 3) you are doing all you can to improve your game and win money.

I want to win money. I want to improve. I have to take several steps back to the beginning, turn left and start again. I worked this much out myself before joining Cardrunners in mid July. But I had no idea how little I knew about the basics or anything else until I start watching the low stakes videos.

In the last month I have spent more time thinking about how to play poker and win at the low levels (nb that is not the same as thinking about poker) than ever before. I'm grinding at $50NL (with an appropriately sized bank roll) and loving every minute of it. I'm making mistakes (mostly to do with playing overpairs) and learning from them. I'm improving, I want to learn more and for the first time I think I have a realistic chance of winning some money in the long run.

I started with a bank roll in Full Tilt of about $1250. I played a bit at $25NL to get used to the TAGGY basics. And now I'm 2 or 3 tabling at $50NL. I have one goal at the moment to reach $2,000 (hopefully by the end of August) and a longer term aim of reaching $4,000 (hopefully by the end of Novemberish) - at which point I will think about taking a shot at $100NL. I'm hoping to fit in about 10,000 hands per month. I will post my stats at the end of the month.

2008-08-04T13:53:00.002+01:00

I randomly recorded a middle of the night episode of the Party Poker European Open iv last week. Turned out to be the one featuring Andy Ward. What I learned: Andy Ward = Frank Skinner.

2008-07-14T22:31:00.003+01:00

So what have I been doing? Not alot. Since the end of May have been playing sit and go's quite successfully. Last night came 2nd in a small PLO8 tournament ($11, 170 runners, pays $285). Also playing some 2/4 HORSE on Stars and a lot of golf.

2008-06-07T21:31:00.002+01:00

Saturdays with Dr Pauly

Been meaning to play this for some time. Glad I did. In summary, hand 1:

PokerStars Game #17981921160: Tournament #91133061, $10+$1 Omaha Pot Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/06/07 - 16:20:00 (ET)Table '91133061 3' 9-max
Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: change1OO (1500 in chips) S
eat 3: kswaterboy (1500 in chips)
Seat 4: bayne_s (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: etl4 (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: boscodon (1500 in chips) Seat 8:
Sydney 8 (1500 in chips) is sitting out
Seat 9: Me (1500 in chips)
kswaterboy: posts small blind 10
bayne_s: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Me [Jd Td Jc 3c]
etl4: folds
boscodon: calls 20
Sydney 8: folds
Me: calls 20
change1OO: calls 20
kswaterboy: calls 10
bayne_s: checks
*** FLOP *** [7h Jh 4c]
kswaterboy: checks
bayne_s: bets 40
boscodon: folds
Me: raises 180 to 220
change1OO: calls 220
kswaterboy: folds
bayne_s: folds
*** TURN *** [7h Jh 4c] [2d]
Me: bets 580
change1OO: calls 580
*** RIVER *** [7h Jh 4c 2d] [3d]
Me: bets 680 and is all-in
change1OO: calls 680 and is all-in [oh ow]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Me: shows [Jd Td Jc 3c] (three of a kind, Jacks)
change1OO: shows [4h 5d Ts Ah] (a straight, Ace to Five)
change1OO collected 3100 from pot

Turns out I was a 2 to 1 favourite after the flop and a 3 to 1 favourite after the turn. So I can live with this, + sklansky$ etc.

I assumed she missed her flush draw and didn't think she would have 56 hence the bet on the end. Thought there was a chance she might have 2 pair and put me on a flush draw - and so I might get paid by a worse hand. Didn't even think about A5. Nh.

2008-05-18T22:17:00.002+01:00

Hand

Played FTOPS event 2 the $256 PLO knock out, where you get $40 for every player you knock out.

I really don't know why I play knock outs, because I don't tend to knock people out. I like to control the pot size and keep it small. Anyway - I played really badly. This was the highlight:

At the 50/100 level I have 1,779 out of the original 3,000 left. I manage to get all my chips on the flop with Qd Ad 9d 8s against mikeypiez Ah Qs Qc 9s on a board Qh 2c 4h Tc Jh. I am a luck box. This leaves mikeypiez with 1 whole chip. And I want his bounty - talk about do all the hard work eh! He manages to run that up to 5 on the next hand. Next hand, this happens.

I have 3,708 chips I get 6c 5c 7d 5d in mid position. UTG THAY3R (pro Thayer Rasmussen) who has 2,923 calls 100 mikeypiez calls 5 and is all in UTG+2 calls, I call looking to see a cheap one and liking my hand a lot (for the straight possibilitiesas much as anything).

The button OnlyPlayRagz (who won the WCOOP Razz event and has a misely 1,234) raises to 655, blinds fold. THAY3R raises to 2,320 (so he has about 600 left). UTG+2 folds. I go into the tank.

Basically I think I have to get em in - there is a chance to knock out three players and pick up $120 in bounties, and clearly no one is going to fold from here.

The way I see it OnlyPlay Ragz could have anything - it looks like a steel attempt gone wrong. He's probably got high cards and maybe a pair like jacks or queens. I suspect Thay3r has a fairly big hand maybe kings or queens with some draws - and figures he can pick off the steel - he has been playing tight so he might have a monster. Either way he's looking to isolate, hoping his hand will hold up.

Hopefully they both have (and need) high cards, which means their hands will act as blockers (Razz thinking). Hopefully one of my flush draws is live and you never know one of them might be dead against onlyplayragz and live against Thay3r. So I might get out of this in half decent shape even if I lose the main pot. I will definitey have 800 left - 8 bb's so I won't get knocked out.

I push - they call. OnlyPlayRagz shows [7h Kh Tc Kd] THAY3R shows [Ac Qh 2c 9h] mikeypiez shows [8h Ks 9d Ts]. This isn't too bad. There are some high blockers and only I am going low. My fives, diamond draw and straight draws are live. The club draw is gone (barring a str8 flush!).

FLOP *** [Td 5h 5s] and it all over. Meaningless Jd and Ad follow so I have the best and second best hands! 7,335 chips and $120 coming my way. Nice. I think I did the right thing.

Busted about an hour later playing like a prat.

2008-04-26T22:21:00.002+01:00

Relegation

The Saints will be relegated next Saturday - (we have two games left - I expect a 5v1 defeat at West brom and a 2v1 defeat against Sheffield Utd after leading one nil). We have to get 2 points just to have a chance of staying up. Aint gonna happen.

There is no getting away with it we deserve it. We are crap. We started our charge for relegation under Burley. In Baseball parlance, Pearson has been an excellent closer.

Throughout our charge for relegation all we heard was that we were only 5....6.....7.......8.......9.......10 points etc from the playoffs and a couple...three...four...five.... wins in a row bla bla bla.

We are shipping money faster than Jamie Gold on high stakes poker - we lose about £7 million every six months. Of course the Chairman disputes this - the interim accounts show that we actually made a small profit. But we managed that by selling off all our players.

The problem we have is that we are still losing £7 million pounds every six months and there are hardly any players left to sell.

Had we stayed up, we could probably raise £7 million in the summer by selling Raziak, Skacel, Viafara, Dyer, Surman and Bradley 'fingers' Wright-Phillips. But by Christmas there would be no one left to sell.

The clever fellas at Barclays realise this and are getting twitchy. Fortunately for Barclays the overdraft facility runs out in June/July - so its time to renegotiate.

To top it all off - faced with the prospect that Barclays will pull the plug on the overdraft facility - or thinking that Barclays are more likely to let things carry on with Lowe at the helm, the muppets Lowe and Wild are set to return.

They are basically the two biggest shareholders - and therefore the 2 people that administration (which is a certainty if we are relegated, likely if we stay up, and certain if we stay up and Barclays pulls the plug) will affect.

Lowe and Wilde probably didn't count on us getting relegated when they started the ball rolling to get let back in. And I suspect they are likely to find there is nothing they can do. Gutted for you gentleman.

There are 100 reasons why Saints are in the position they are in now - but Lowe and Wilde's contributions are a match for anyone

Letting our two best players - Raziak (who scores the goals) and Skacel (who creates the goals) go on loan (because we can't afford their wages) at Christmas was suicide - we can thank present Chairman Leon Crouch for that.

So there we have it - the destruction of a premier league football club - if we go down I think we can safely count on not getting back in the Premier league within the next 5-7 years. Grrrreeat.

Stupidly - I renewed my season tickets. But I paid using Barclaycard (so I can make a section 75 (of the Consumer Credit Act) connected lender liability breach of contract claim against Barclays if the club goes under.

Poker: still doing quite well at heads up no limit 50. But not playing very much - part of my new plan to only play when I feel A1.

2008-03-26T23:49:00.002Z

Neil Channing poker superstar

Genius.

Me on the other hand not so.

I have busted my Full Tilt account and am currently playing nl50 heads up on stars. Tonight I played about 360 hands against a guy - pointless - he couldn't trap me and I couldn't trap him. We ended up rebuying once each and both finished about $30 down. That's some rake.

But overall I seem to be doing reasonably well at the heads up cash tables. This time next year we'll be millionaires etc.

The last episode of the 24hr Poker Den was on last week. Neil Channing/genius. Andy Greekfish, however, must be the most annoying poker commentator in the world, ever - what were they thinking. Contrast with the classic Robert Williamson III effort on the Late Night Poker final table.

There is a four day South West Trains strike next week. Sack em all. There must be some Polish train drivers kicking around who would twice as long for half the cash.

2008-02-15T04:59:00.002Z

308th/592 - lost with 76432 to 75432.

I just couldn't get going after the second break and busted just before the third at the 250/500 level.

I'm not sure whether I have lost the ability to change gears in razz tournaments. i was certainly card dead for long periods and the bets were too big to get caught in a hand with hidden junk.

Ithink the major problem tonight was that the guy two to my right was getting involved a lot, whilst the guy to my right reraised me from the steel position when I tries to nick it from the 2nd steal position. So I couldn't steal much.

You gotta get lucky too. SGS Special has been all in about 6 times but is still in it. I didn't go below the starting stack at any point (I won the first hand) until my death hand. He made it on the river by the way.

I'm going to take a break from poker. Its just not going well at the moment. I just can't win, I'm playing badly and I only have about $850 left so haven't got enough to play at 3/6 that's for sure.

2008-02-15T00:10:00.002Z

FTOPS VII Razz

Is tonight. I am trying to satellite my way in as we speak. This could prove to be very expensive if I fail (I'm going to buy myself in whatever happens). At $55 and $75 these satellites are bloody dear - and they are turbo crapshoots to boot.

If I fail to cash my Full tilt bankroll will be crippled. Its been a bad month - I decided to play some nl cash with the usual results and this is just the final straw. Won't be too bad if I satellite in. But $322 is a bit high for a Razz tourny.

Am now limiting myself to Razz and HORSE but my hearts not in it and I'm not playing well - basically I'm knackered. The tourny starts at 2 am. I had bugger alll sleep last night and I won't get any if I cash in this one. I should probably go to bed instead.

Got knocked out of the satellites. So its the expensive way for me. Good luck me.

2008-01-23T23:55:00.000Z

Dear Leon Crouch, Chairman of Southampton Football Club

Please don't fuck this up. Appoint Glen Hoddle. Please don't make the same mistake Lowe did after Strachan left. Some Saints fans won't like it. Don't listen to them - they probably haven't even been to see that shower of shit that is Saints this season. The reason they got upset when Hoddle left last time was because we were doing so well under his leadership. And that's why we need him back now.

Poker: came second in a HORSE tourny on Stars today. Hopefully that will stem the losing tide.

Football: Burley has gone. Woohoo. What a bit of luck. If Saints appoint Billy Davis or Chris Coleman I won't renew my season ticket(s). Don't do it Leon.

Vote Hoddle.

2008-01-13T22:04:00.000Z

FTOPS

Full Tilt really has it in for small time European Razz players.

I know, lets make that FTOPS razz event a $300 buy in with a 2am start time on Valentines day.

Notwithstanding this I intend to play. I can't buy a pot at the moment and haven't cashed in a tournament for a while, so it shouldn't be a late night.

2008-01-04T22:34:00.000Z

Razz can be brutal

Looks like aim number 2 (get off to a good start in January) isn't going to happen.

I have just had what was undoubtedly the worst session of my Razz career, losing about 10 consecutive pots to the same player (and a few to some others as well). My stats were 4 and 16 as they say in America from 170 hands played. Total loss £230.25.

They don't mix up the hole cards on Poker Stars 3/6 Ante 25:

Hand 1 - Folded first 6 hands and then: Attempted steal gone wrong
Hero [4s Th Ah Ts 6s 8s Tc] and lost with Lo: T,8,6,4,A
Seat 4: Nemesis showed [9c Ac 6h 6d 8c 2d 8h] and won ($38) with Lo: 9,8,6,2,A
I complete and bet every street bar 7th, he calls - check check on river

Hand 2 - The very next hand
Hero mucked [3s 4c 5s Th 6d 5h 9d] Lo:9,6,5,4,3
Seat 4: Nemesis showed [5d 9h 3h 2h 2d 4s Ah] and won ($37.50) with Lo: 5,4,3,2,A
I complete, he calls; 4th he bets, I call; 5th I bet, he calls; 6th check, check; 7th he bets, I call.

Hand 3 - Two hands later
Hero showed [3d 5h 4c Jh Kd Ad Kh] and lost with Lo: J,5,4,3,A
Seat 4: Nemesis showed [4s 8c 2s 6s Td Jd 7c] and won ($48.25) with Lo: 8,7,6,4,2
I complete, he raises, I reraise, he calls; 4th he bets, I call; 5th he bets, I call; 6th he bets, I call; 7th check, check. [I should have folded on 5th - 2 big bets wasted]

Hand 4 - Amateur hour misread hand (I thought I had 5,8,3 in the hole until 6th)
Hero folds on 6th 3,8,3,6,2,K
Seat 8 XX 2,7,3,5 and collected $25.25
He limps, I complete, bring in folds, he calls; 4th I bet, he calls; 5th I bet, he calls; 6th he bets, I fold [he probably has an A and a 9 in the hole, he's not frightened by my board, and an 8 low won't win - I should never have been involved 2 big bets wasted ]

Hand 5 - 53 hands later (during which time I won 'winning hand number 1' and folded everything else)... Beware of multiway pots
Hero [folded on river] A,5,6, 5, A, 10,3
Seat 6: showed [Ah Th 4s 8h 2s 7d 9h] and won ($41.75) with Lo: 8,7,4,2,A
Seat 7: mucked [7h 2d 5d 4c Jh 2c 8s]
I complete, 2 callers; 4th I bet my 6,5 board, Seat 6 calls, seat 7 raises, we both call the extra bet; 5th and 6th are checked down; 7th Seat 6 bets, seat 7 calls I fold [the 4th street bet is a continuation bet of my 6,5 board; 5th Perhaps I should have bet again - now have a strong 6,5,A board, but I can't see either folding - no bets wasted]

Hand 6 - The very next hand - dead cards are Q,9,9,3,3
Hero folded on river 2,3,6,7,10,J,6
Seat 4: Nemesis shows [4c 9h 6d 7d 5c 2h Td] (Lo: 7,6,5,4,2) and collected ($39.75)
I complete he calls; 4th I bet, he calls; 5th he bets, I call; 6th he bets, I call; 7th he bets, I fold
[I stayed in on 5th because i have X, 7,6,3,2, and I put him on X (probably 8), 7,6,5 X, nb his starting hands before this against me were 9A6, 593, and 482.
I stayed in on 6th because I put him on a made 7652A or 76542 and I figure I have 7 outs - any ace any 4 (7 total either way) - there is 29.75 in the pot so I am getting just under 5 to 1 on my money to improve - there are 15 known card, 37 unknown - 30 cards won't help me, 7 will, 4.3 to 1(ish)]

At this point I decide to change seats so Nemesis is to my immediate right (rather than immediate left) - I want to choose when I play against him (and raise him because of his loose starting hand selection)

Hand 7 - 14 hands later
Hero shows [Ah 7h 5c 6d Qc Jc 8s] (Lo: 8,7,6,5,A)
Seat 7 shows [7c 3c 2c 9d 6c Ts 8d] (Lo: 8,7,6,3,2) and collected $42.50 from pot
Bring in, [4] limper, I complete, [A] caller, seat 7 caller, bringin folds, limper calls, 4 players; 4th [4,T] folds, [A,9] folds, seat 7 calls; 5th seat 7 bets, I call; 6th seat 7 bets, I call; 7th check, check. [standard, unlucky - there is an argument for fold on 6th but a 2,3,4,8 might win it, so I think it was ok to stay in]

Hand 8 - a few hands later - discards 9,8,J,K,K

Hero [folded on river] 5,3,4,10,5,8,Q
Seat 7: XX 2 7 J 4 X and collected $31.75 from pot
I complete, he raises, I call; 4th he bets, I call, 5th check, check; 6th I check, he bets, I call; 7th he bets, I fold [possibly loose call on 6th? Argument for calling 7th?]

Hand 9 - bloody wheel cards again!
Seat 4: Nemesis showed [7s 5s 4d Th 6h 5d Jd] and won ($32) with Lo: T,7,6,5,4
Hero mucked [4h 6c 2d 9d 6s 2h Kd] Lo: K,9,6,4,2
he completes, I raise, he calls; 4th I bet, he calls; 5th I bet, he calls; 6th he checks, I check; 7th he checks, I say nh and check.
[By 6th I know the game is up, arguably against this guy I should have checked 5th - he's not a folder - but I wanted to maintain the impression of strength]

Hand 10 - A23 best starting hand in Razz............discards T,5,3,T (and villain has an A, nice)
Hero mucked [3s Ad 2h Kc 5d Jh Qd]
Seat 8: showed [8c 2c Ah Ks 4s 7c 4h] and won ($66.50) with Lo: 8,7,4,2,A
he completes, I raise, he calls; 4th: I bet, he calls; he bets, I raise, he calls; 6th he bets, I call; 7th he bets, I call.
[5,3,2,A on 5th and brickity brick - I called on the end just to see what he had and because he did have a K - loose call - but he only has to be bluffing 1 in 10 times to make it pay]

Hand 11 - how about A36?
Seat 1: showed [5s 4d Ad 2c 8c 3h 6s] and won ($78) with Lo: 5,4,3,2,
Seat 5: Hero folded on the 5th Street 6,3,A,Q,A
Seat 8: mucked [8s 2s 6d 3c 4h Ks Ac]
I complete, 2 callers; 4th seat 1 bets, I call, seat 8 calls; 5th bet, I fold .....
[In a multiway pot, probably should have folded on 4th - too far behing - 1/2 a big bet wasted]

Hand 12 - Now this is taking the piss....Discards 7,4, 6,9.K
Nemesis showed [2c 2s 7d 8d Ah 3c 5c] and won ($49) with Lo: 7,5,3,2,A
Hero showed [8h 2d 3d 2h 5d 7c 6d] and lost with Lo: 7,6,5,3,2
He completes, I call; 4th I bet he calls; 5 th I bet, he calls; I bet, he calls; 7th I bet, he calls.
[Three to an 8 is a bad starting hand with these antes, but here, with four of my cards dead, and a 6 yet to act its awful. However, he's loose and I'm due + I have a 3 showing and have only played big hands.
4th he has 8,7 so I carry on, once the 5 comes I'm stuck and I'm not good enough to give up after that - I still think he has a 8,7 on 6th (hoping the A or 3 paired him) and I have an 8,7,5 so I might be ok.
When the 6 comes on the end I just assume I am ahead and nearly die when he turns them over - definitely should have checked on the end - he would have checked.
Shouldn't have been in the hand 4 big bets wasted - but he went in with 2 2 7 with a 3 and a 6 left to act....get over it)

Hand 13 - I was about to reload when...
Hero showed [2d 7d 3s Ts 4d Qc 2h] and lost with Lo: T,7,4,3,
Seat 7: [a newish player to the game] showed [8h 5h 6h 9s Kd 7s 7h] and won ($27) with Lo: 9,8,7,6,5
I complete, he calls; 4th I bet, he calls; I bet $3.50 and am all in, he calls.
[No doubt he would have folded if I had had another 3 bets available]

Hand 14- Rrrreeeeebuy and 2 winning hands.....A23 again...come on Hatch we can win this....discards A 9 K T
Nemesis collected ($25.50) X,X,6,4,4,8
Hero folded on the 6th Street A,2,3,Q, 3, J
He completes, I call; 4th he bets, I call; 5th I check, he bets, I call; 6th I check, he bets, I fold.
[Only called on 5th because he had a pair showing, buit should have folded - 1 wasted big bet]

Hand 15 - 2 hands later - what A23 again - hello ladies purrr
Seat 2: folded on the 6th Street XX 6747
Nemesis showed [2h 8s 5d 6c 3d Tc Ah] and won ($77.75) with Lo: 6,5,3,2,A
Hero mucked [3h 2c Ac 5c 9c 2s Td] Lo: 9,5,3,2,A
Seat 2 completes, nemesis, calls, I raise, seat 2 and nemesis call; 4th I check; seat 2 bets, nemesis calls, I raise, seat 2 and nemesis call; 5th nemesis bets, I call, seat 2 calls; 6th I bet, nemesis calls, seat 2 folds; 7th I check, he bets, I call.
[Oh come on! It must look like I have a wheel and you have an 8,6 on 6th - guess not - Had to call on the end]

Hand 16- 4 hands later........its goodnight sweetheat.....discards Q,9,A,6,6
Seat 2: showed [Ac 5d 2c 3d 4h Tc Th] and won ($114) with Lo: 5,4,3,2,A
Hero mucked [As 6c 5h 4d 8h Jh 2d] Lo: 6,5,4,2,A
Seat 7: folded on the 5th Street XX3 10 K
Seat 2 completes, I raise, seats 7 and 2 call;
4th seat 2 bets, I raise, seat 7 calls, seat 2 re-raises, I cap it, seats 7 and 2 call;
5th seat 2 bets, I call, seat 7 folds;
6th seat 2 bets, I call;
7th seat 2 bets, I raise, he re-raises, I call.
[I like my A 6 5 because two six's and an ace have gone - as have a 2 and a 3.
Maybe by 4th I should be worried, but I'm not - there is a 2 and two 3's gone, but I think he might not have an ace and part of the raising is to punish seat 7.
5th is a bad card, by 6th I am reduced to hoping for a miracle 2 nor a 3, but I still think that might do it because seat 2 didn't re-raise on 3rd - he might have had a 74, 75, 45 or A4 in the hole - he probablty doesn't have a 6.
7th looks like a great card for me, but I probably shouldn't have re-raised - its only a 65, although until he raised me back I thought I was going to win instead i typed nice wheel, gg, pressed sit out next hand and called]

[Nb Nemesis got up after folding half way through the hand $300 to the good - he hasn't got poker tracker (surprise surprise) and says gl Hero - I should have known I was going to lose at that point]

Winning hands
1
Hero showed [Ad 3c 2c 9d Jh 7s 9h] and won ($50.25) with Lo: 9,7,3,2,A
Seat 6: mucked [5s 8c As 9s 8s 5d Kh]

2
Hero [Ah 2h 3s 6c 8s] [Ac]
Seat 8 folded on 6th XX [2d 2s 8d] [4c] Pot $26

3
Seat 2:showed [8h 7h 2h Ah 4c Qd 2c] and lost with Lo: 8,7,4,2,A
Hero showed [5c 4h 2s As Js 8s 8c] and won ($45.50) with Lo: 8,5,4,2,A

4

Hero showed [6h 7h 2h 3d Th 5h 4c] and won ($48.75) with Lo: 6,5,4,3,)
Seat 7: mucked [3s 8d 4s Qh 9h 7d 4h]

Long post. I bet everyone at that table thought I was a FISH who had never played before, whilst my Nemesis was some kind of God.
.
I don't think I did too badly. But this is a big dent to the Poker Stars bankroll. But heh, that's poker............well running bad anyway.

2008-01-04T18:45:00.000Z

This will come in handy

http://www.propokertools.com/simulator/razzSimulationEditor.jsp

2008-01-01T11:55:00.000Z

Razz 08

One thing I have learned from keeping this blog is that I am only a little better than a break even player. I have made a profit since the blog started, but not a lot.

The last 8 months have been characterised by periods of rapid gain (mainly when I play tournaments) followed by periods of rapid decline (mainly when I am playing nl hold em cash).

Now that I play mainly limit games, the days of donking off the whole bank roll in one session are probably behind me. But downswings and boredom still have a part to play. So it was only fitting that 2007 ended with a bout of boredom hitting my Full Tilt balance and a downswing at 3/6 Razz leaving a mark on the PokerStars account.

Realistically this year I will do well to make $6,000. And so that is aim number 1.

My other aims are:

To have a good January.
To make it into the top 10 in the Bluff Razz tournament rankings at the silver level (there is no Gold level for Razz). This might be difficult as I probably won't be able to play in many tournies and I seem to have lost the knack of winning tournies.
To play in the FTOP Razz events and the WCOOP and to make it deep in at least one.
To play at the WSOP Razz.

I plan to play 3/6 Razz on PokerStars and the $22 tournies on FTP.

Encouragingly, whilst writing I hit my first wheel of 2008 for a 14 big bet pot at 3/6. Woohoo...

2007-12-15T23:04:00.000Z

Answers to last post and aims for 2008

I have more or less forgotten why I posted the hand. But the results were:

Villain 1 [2c 3d 5c 6d Tc 7c Ac] and won ($122.50) with Lo: 6,5,3,2,A
Hero showed [2s 8c 5s 3c 4d 6h 5d] and lost with Lo: 6,5,4,3,2
Villain [7d 4s 6c 2d 4c Kc 3s] and lost with 7,6,4,3,2

This might look like a bit of results orientated thinking, but I didn't 'feel right' as I was playing the hand. I don't like limping in. I don't like multi way pots. I was happy on 6th and 7th and amazed I lost to Villain 1. I was only worried about Villain 2. That's the problem with multi way pots and people who limp with 3 wheel cards rather than 3 to a 9 or 8. Not worried overall.

Since then I have been donking around a bit. Every now and then the urge comes to play nl tournies/cash (the dream of winning big and becoming a pro overcomes the reality - this is the problem with endless train journies, the mind wanders: is winning six bracelets in one year to much for a dream do you think?).

So I have done a l little damge to my FTP roll (about 25%). Fortunately I have re-given up on the 'making it' dream for the time being and have decided to refocus on an achievable aims, such as accumulating frequent player points to buy online poker clothing.

And so my poker aims and aspirations for 2008 are:

FTP Polo shirt.
Poker Stars Polo shirt.
Poker Stars Hoodie.
FTP US football shirt with online name on the back.
Poker Stars beanie.
Poker Stars cap.
Full Tilt Poker cap.
24 inch monitor.
Poker table.
Mini.

Like the faux pros that walk around Newquay with wet suit rolled down and a surfboard under their arm, at least I can look the part in my head.

I am currently racking up points at the 3/6 Razz table on Poker Stars where the low antes and shite opponents suit my game best.

2007-11-25T22:43:00.000Z

Razz Hand analysis - marks out of 10

What should Hero have done differently and why?
Who won the pot?

PokerStars Game #13466566052: Razz Limit ($5/$10/$0.5)

3rd STREET ***
player [Qd] folds
player [Ks] Brings in 2 - folds
Villain A [5c] calls - calls
Hero [2s 8c 5s] calls -calls
player [2h] folds
player [9s] folds
Villain B [6c] completes

4th STREET ***
Villain A [5c] [6d] - calls
Hero [2s 8c 5s] [3c] (1st to act) checks - calls
Villain B [6c] [2d] bets

5th STREET ***
Villain A [5c 6d] [Tc] - calls
Hero [2s 8c 5s 3c] [4d] (1st to act) checks - call
Villain B [6c 2d] [4c] bets

6th STREET ***
Villain A [X X 5c 6d Tc] [7c] calls
Hero [2s 8c 5s 3c 4d] [6h] (1st to act) Bets
Villain B [X X 6c 2d 4c] [Kc] calls

RIVER ***
Villain A [X X 5c 6d Tc 7c X] Calls
Hero [2s 8c 5s 3c 4d 6h] [5d] (1st to act) Bets
Villain B [X X 6c 2d 4c Kc X] Calls

SUMMARY ***Total pot $125.50 Rake $3
Villain A?
Hero 6 5 4 3 2
Villain B?

2007-11-12T22:23:00.000Z

Burley OUT

The mighty Saints are in real trouble. The club is making a beeline for administration. Burley is tactically inept. Plays everybody out of position. Never picks the same team twice. Buys crap.

The sign of a bad manager is when the team is weaker that the sum of the individual parts suggests it should. Burley has made that an artform.

The sign of a good manager is when the team is stronger than the sum of the individual parts. Roy Keane showed how that works last year. The players at Saints were significantly better than the dros Keane had to work with, but Sunderland were in a different league to Saints (and now they are literally).

I suspect we can't afford to fire Burley. So no doubt things will get worse before they get better. But that's ok - it is the club motto after all.

Hoddle started the rise of the Saints. Strachan took it to the summit. When Strachan left I wanted Hoddle back. I was in the minority. If Hoddle had come back when Strachan left, or when Sturrock left, chances are Saints would never have got relegated. But the fans got their way and here we are.

Lets forgive Hoddle for the mistakes he made in his former life and get him back.

There is local precedent. Harry Fartknocker (who referred to Saints as "they" in every interview he did whilst at Saints) went back to Skatesmouth (whereupon "we" reappeared) and look what happened. Lets learn from our fishy friends. Or we will be the next Leeds.

Saints rant over.

2007-11-09T18:26:00.000Z

Note to self

shush...what was that noise? Can you hear something?

Is that? Is sounds like.... I think it is you know. Yes I'm sure it is.....

...its the sound of pounding nl Razz donkey hooves.

Danny1313

The first of the new Razz fish?

Lets hope it's a stampede.

Names

Some names make you chuckle. This amused me for about 10 minutes. Because i is 3.

Player called crackyourase (which I initially misread as crackyourarse, erm naturally).

I told him he should have gone for yourarsecrack or better still you'rearsecrack.

If I ever join Sky poker "you'rearsecrack" is the name I will choose.

I can picture Kara now.

2007-11-07T22:04:00.000Z

The secret is out

SMSpecial aka Dr Razz and top Razzle Dazzle poker player has been signed up by stoxpoker. And his first Razz video is out. I haven't paid so I haven't watched it. But I think I will have to.

I'm not sure if taking Razz to the mainstream is a good or bad thing. It would be nice to have a whole bunch of holdem players come and fill up the the tables (especially the tournaments), but it would be better if they don't know how to play.

The beauty of Razz is that its actually quite simple, but most people haven't got a clue. It won't take many videos to change that.

The other thing is that being good at Razz gives you a big edge in HORSE tourneys. I wouldn't want that to change either.

Tomorrow night is the FTOPS Razz event. Starts at 2AM. So I won't be in it. Too much work on to take Friday off. In fact I would probably need tomorrow off to get a good kip in first.

With Razz now in the FTOPS it looks like there will be 5 big on line Razz tournies per year (4xFTOPS, 1xWCOOP). So not many chances to hit a big cash. I think I have an edge over most of the field and need to be playing all of them.

2007-11-01T00:00:00.000Z

And again

Trying Poker Stars for a change. $11 Razz tourney. 48 entrants. Pays six. I am about to finish 7th.

And now its official 7th.

And this is now officially a problem. I don't care about scraping into the money - so that is not my problem.

I was in a good position with 8 left. Lost a hand and I'm in about 5th. We lose a player. Then I stay in too long in a hand at the 750/1500 level with A246 against the chip leader who has 35 showing -he then hits a 7 and a 2 i brick out but keep calling 2 more bets that I should. Cripple myself down to 1800 (should have had $4,800. The next lowest has 2,400. Its clear he is not going to play a hand until I am am out.

Hit the 200/1000/2000 level. Fold 3 hands. I have 1200 left and find 2 4 6. I complete with my last 998 and get three callers. It looks good when I hit a 7 and they start hitting bricks. But a 2 and the QQ means I lose to an 8.

There is an element of bad luck to this. But I am clearly also doing something wrong. Not sure what it is yet. I know this because I have bubbled about 7 out of the last 8 Razz tournies. Given that these things pays between 3 and 6. I should be cashing about 80% of the time. But the stats work in reverse.

My bubble rate in all comps on P Stars is phenomenal.

At the moment I think my Razz bubbling is about being overly aggressive, not employing enough card selection and not getting out as soon as I get behind. Also I must stop calling with 3 to a hidden 8. I think this my weakness. You hit a brick and feel you have to fold..

Very angry with myself at the moment. In the last 2 weeks I have left over a $1,000 of prize money on the table.

2007-10-26T22:47:00.000+01:00

Fairy liquid boy

Bubbled again tonight 5/26 paid 4. Just couldn't find a hand with 5 left to double up with. Lost the last hand when I missed on my draw to beat a 10 low - had about a million outs twice, but hit KK and he didn't brick again.

Basically the problem at the final table was that I couldn't win 2 hands in a row, which is the key to these things once the levels get prohibitive. Generally I win more in hands I win, than I lose in the hands I lose. So I can stay level in chips for a long time. The idea being eventually you win two full hands in a row, get a big stack which allows you to start raising with junk and a baby (5 or less) showing to get more than your fair share of steels. Its quite simple really.

When stealing with junk its important to have a second card less than a six and no pair. (10 4) 2 is the kind of thing, although 3 to a 9 is preferred. Crappy players limp in with hands like this, but you have to bet out. Completing disguises your hand (and looks strong from early position) whereas limping defines your hand as weak. And with 2 babies you still have a chance to win it.

The other thing to try and avoid is stealing with an 8 showing. When 8's are showing people often know whether they can beat you or not. Plus its always better to be aiming for a 7 low. Losing with a 7 low late in a tourney is like getting AA cracked at hold em - there's not much you can do about it.

I was interested tonight to play for a while with one of the Bluff mag top ten online ranked Razz players. This is not unusual - he is in the tourney most days (and never cashes), but I rarely play with him (he goes out early a lot). I couldn't get over how passive he is (and he is only in the top 10 through weight of tourneys - he's played hundreds). He must basically get anted away all the time.

Its too late this year. But next year I plan to be the number 1 ranked Razz player in the Bluff rankings with the highest points per tourney average of any of the top 10.

2007-10-25T22:54:00.000+01:00

3 in a row

Played for the first time this week tonight. 28 players in the Razz tourney. Paid 4.

Came ?th.

Took a sick beat six handed against the short stack to get crippled. The old 3 brick special.

My approach play is excellent in these things. But something is going wrong at the final table, irrespective of a few bad beats notwithstanding.

Strike all that came back from the dead - wrote the bit above when I was down to 500 chips with 6 left on the 2nd break straight after getting crippled - ended up winning it for $246 (after 1hr 20 of 3 handed play). Its been coming for a while.

Knackered now. Bed time.

2007-10-24T21:52:00.000+01:00

Woops

I was not made for commuting. 3 days in - absolutely shattered. I feel like I have been up all night. Talk about buggering up the work/life balance. No poker.

On the subject of buggery, its not all bad news. I noticed that the Singapore parliament has finally passed an act making oral and botty sex between men and woman legal.

Might be worth a visit.

2007-10-19T23:02:00.000+01:00

Same old

5th again - paid 3. Had chip lead with 5 left. Lost half my stack to an all in stack when I had 2456 and he had 7259 finished him: 7 2 5 9 8 A 7 me 5 2 6 4 9 6 4. He had 8,7,5,2, and me 9,6,5,4,2.

The killer hand came about 5 minutes later when I completed with 3 to a 7 and got called by 2 players with kings up. Yum Yum turned to disaster when I made a an 876 and he had an 874. But these things happen at Razz (a lot), so its no biggy. I just want some money! And I'm pissed that I missed out again. Its not like hold em - you can't just sign up for another tourney.

Still very happy with the way I played. The problem again was 5 handed. If, as has happened in the last 2 tourneys, 5 handed goes on for more than a few hands, it becomes a crap shoot. Tonight we were 5 handed for 45 minutes as the shortstacks (never me) kept doubling up - actually kept getting doubled up which is not the same [when will people learn that at Razz you need a starting hand even against short stacks]. By the end it was 500/1000 with the average stack just about 5000.

2007-10-17T23:09:00.000+01:00

Back

Have Internet. Bubbled the Razz tourney tonight (5th when 3 paid) Bricked out when it mattered, but that happens so no problem.

Have new house. Its great, but I haven't started commuting yet, so will reserve judgment.

Missing Samsuns.

Had massive barney with Sky because Sky Sports News is not free.

How can that be - it comes free with Freeview and I pay for Sky Sports, but apparently that doesn't include Sky Sports news, which is extra. They don't mention that when you sign up. Managed to "negotiate" 6 months' free (woo hoo £6 off). The 42 minute phone call will cost me more.

Sky wouldn't budge.

Eventually I asked them whether they would rather 1) lose my business - £35 per month, have me tell all my mates what a bunch of asses they are, and how good Telewest was when I had them and get the Sky man to come out and remove dish, box and phone line or 2) give me a channel which is free to all non sky people for free.

It wasn't sure.

2007-10-12T22:47:00.000+01:00

Start spreading the news I'm leaving today

Well tomorrow actually. And its a strange feeling.

I've lived in Sarf Lundin (that's south London to you) for years and most of the time right bang in the centre of the universe - Kennington Cross. Tomorrow I move to the sarf coast to a house with 4 bedrooms, a big garden and trees. We bought it a few weeks ago. Its been a while since I saw a living tree.

Things I am going to miss:

Samsun kebab shop Kennington - the greatest kebab shop in the world. I've been going there for 6 years. Five years ago they told me I was there second best customer. Bastards. The so called best customer strolled in whilst I was waiting. It was my brother.
The Famous Three Kings pub in West Kensington - best pub in London for watching footy.
The Thames - specifically walking along side it, specifically not drinking from it.
Kennington Cross - everything you need there - 3 curry houses, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Samsun, the Chinese, Oddbins, Newsagent, greasy spoon x 2, fish and chip shop, Thai Silk (Thai), 2 pubs, dry cleaners and about 24 MPs (and probably therefore 24 prostitutes/rent boys). And all within 50 yards of my house.
Not having to drive anywhere - having the tube on your door step is the best.
My mates.
Poker clubs (not that I use them).
Walking home.
The fitties.
Getting hammered after work

Things I won't miss

Cyclists. You know those road hogging wankers that consistently run red lights, knock kids over (I've seen em try) and whose parents get shirty when they get run down by cement lorries whilst undertaking. I have dreams about sticking my umbrella between the spokes of a passing bike and watching the fucker.....anyway I've limited myself to shouting oy cunt that's a red light every time I see one doing it.
The tube - specifically the northern line.
Commuters on the tube - why when the tube is almost empty and they have the whole carriage to chose from do people walk up to you and then turn around so that there poxy ruck sack pins you in the corner? Why, in the peak of rush hour, do people lean against the holding poles so that no one else can get there hands on it?
Tourists.
Having to pay £160 per year to park outside my house.
Traffic wardens giving my removal van a ticket.
My landlord - arse/ass/donkey/fucker/donkey fucking arse
Stockwell - aka Beirut. Elephant & Castle - up your arsehole.
Oxford street.
Taxi drivers saying - sarf of the river you must be jokin. Mini cab drivers who take you to Kensington

But its ok. I will still be working up here. Oh joy I am now a commuter - 2 hours each way - that's going to cut into the poker time. But I have a plan. Truly wireless broadband from Three mobile. It costs £15 per month and means you get broadband anywhere there is a mobile phone signal - like on the train for example. Hoorah! More poker (possibly). And I can get Sky at the house (which I can't at the house - see number 7 (above) for explanation.

Not sure when I will get to post again or play again. Don't think I will have any form of broadband until the end of next week.

2007-10-10T23:16:00.000+01:00

Speak of the Devil

After bemoaning my failure to cash in recent Razz tourneys, I knuckled down and managed a second tonight (my first ever second at Razz).

The guy who beat me was called Cardsharps_net. He won the HOSE event and came second in the omaha8 at the last FTOPS series, which is pretty impressive.

He was sat to my left throughout the whole tourney and was very complimentary about my play, which was encouraging (I wasn't fishing for compliments).

I was, however, a bit in awe heads up and lost for the first time ever at Razz heads up. I think he psychologically weakened me with compliments when we were 3 and 4 handed. Since that has never happened before I was caught a bit off guard.

But hey. I'm happy and more determined to play in the Razz at the next FTOPS.

2007-10-09T22:56:00.000+01:00

Nice

Managed to throw up in front of my boss today (it was neither alcohol related, nor a statement about how attractive my boss isn't). This bit of luck meant that I spent the rest of the day at home.

I have no idea what came over me. At 9.30 I was fine. At 10 I was in a feverish haze. A couple of hurls and 4 hours of kip and I felt largely fine again. Probably malaria (I'm a bloke; we only get proper illnesses).

Played quite a lot of Razz after I woke up. Started of well continuing a little hot streak that I am on. But I had a bad 2/4 session early this evening (I went from being $50 up after 15 hands to $65 down after 150 owing to repetitive bricking syndrome whilst simultaneously getting hammered at the 1/2 table) and ended up level at the end of the day after failing to cash in the Razz tourny and a bit of make up 1/2 grinding.

Happy with the way its going. My Razz is definitely improving.

The only downside is that I have now failed to cash in about 5 consecutive Razz tournys. I'm not really sure what I am doing differently. I seem to be unable to win a hand when the levels reach the critical 100/200 level. Lose 2 hands at that stage and you are out. Its also possible that I am starting to try and be a bit clever.

2007-10-07T20:19:00.000+01:00

Up and down week

Been playing 1/2, 2/4 and 3/6 Razz. Last weekend and this week to Wednesday went pretty badly. But since then things have picked up.

Only disappointing thing was I played a winning 3/6 session at my Dads and forgot to turn the hand history file on. So it won't appear on Poker Tracker.

The next FTOPS series (6) has now been announced and will take place in November. The last one was in August. So soon?

The good news is that there is a Razz event. The bad news is that is starts at 2am centre of the universe time and has a $300 buy in.

So why $300? The stud hi/low is $100. Ridiculous.

2007-09-29T16:01:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-24T21:23:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-22T05:24:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-20T21:12:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-13T08:43:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-10T23:30:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-08T00:04:00.000+01:00

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.

2007-09-06T21:43:00.000+01:00

Break

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

2007-08-28T23:15:00.000+01:00

Razz

I managed to do some damage to my bank roll playing limit, but extricated myself from that mess by winning a 48 man, $22, Razz tournament on Full Tilt for $346 - that's 3 out of 5 wins at Razz (update, now 3 out of 6) excluding the WCOOP satellite (mentioned in earlier post).

Only other thing of note is that I have downloaded the stud and omaha versions of pokertracker and am currently playing 1/2 Razz and HORSE.

Current aim remains to win a seat to the WCOOP Razz event - there is, however, a small problem with that plan. I have busted my Poker Stars a/c. Any Razz backers out there? Thought not.

2007-08-21T20:46:00.000+01:00

Satellites 2

Perhaps the most fundamentally flawed proposition in poker is attempting to satellite into a re-buy tournament. Only bad things can happen.

This thought crossed my mind as I won my seat in the £100 rebuy PLO FTOPS tournament on Saturday at the second attempt. I might have got in for $24 total, but what exactly did I think would happen when I got there?

If you can't afford to buy your way in, you shouldn't play in a rebuy, simple as that. At best you are scared deadmoney money trying to find a big hand which may or may not result in doubling up. If successful, what happens when it comes to adding on?

At worst you will end up rebuying and causing lasting damage to the bankroll. The further you go, the more likely you are to feel obliged to rebuy or add on, with the chances of cashing still miles away.

With this in mind I decided to double up or clear off, no rebuys, no add on. I failed in all respects but did manage to drag myself away after busting for the second time with just one wasted rebuy. So £124 wasted which would have been far more profitably spent elsewhere. Lesson learnt.

Bubble boy

I did manage to get to a final table in an $11nl tourny last night on FTP (7th for £110), which makes me feel a bit happier.

I have been bubbling tournaments (particularly $8 PLO tournys on Pokerstars) regularly for the last 2 weeks, so I tried something different - not looking at the prize money at any stage. I knew what 1-3 were going to get but not anyone else. I think it worked I didn't worry about the money or getting knocked out at all, just getting chips.

Having said that if I had known that the jump between 7 and 6 was $50, I might not have gone all in with 22 UTG when shortstacked with 6.5BB, I might have tried to wait out the other shortstack who had 5BB. But avoiding negative thoughts like that was the point of the exercise. Whether or not the 22 move was bad idea anyway, I'm not sure.

Incidentally the fear of failing to reach the money has not had anything to do with my persistent bubbling in PLO tournys - in fact the opposite is true - I seem to have an uncontrollable urge to play like a mad man in those as the bubble approaches.

2007-08-16T22:57:00.000+01:00

Satellites

Nothing more frustrating than coming 8th out of 40 in a Razz satellite to the WCOOP, when there are 6 seats and 7-10 play $39 (aka the buy in) back. Was doing fine but couldn't get 2 hands in a row once we hit 14 to move into the safety zone.

The frustration is compounded by the amount of time wasted - nearly 3 hours for exactly $0.

I do, however, think my Razz tournament game is relatively good. If I could have won one hand at the end I would have had every chance of getting in. Bets were 500/1000 with a 100 anti so even the biggest stacks were in serious trouble (60,000 chip in play - average 7,500).

2007-08-15T22:40:00.000+01:00

Learning Limit

Had a bit of a downturn this week. Bubbled a few tournys and then blew several more dollars playing PLO cash games. I was PLOwned as they say on the west bank.

So for a change of scene, I am taking up limit hold em as an experiment. I have set up a separate blog for that www.learninglimit.blogspot.com.

2007-08-09T19:33:00.000+01:00

Jennifer Tilly?

1st hand of the PLO tourny on Stars - players going all in everywhere else:

PokerStars Game #11395431906: Tournament #57261833, $10+$1 Omaha Pot Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/08/09 - 14:30:00 (ET)Table '57261833 10' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: gvonah (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: mama shmales (1500 in chips)
Seat 3: Moi (1500 in chips)
Seat 4: bluferfinger (1500 in chips)
Seat 5: Poor$Broke (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: chanceyd2007 (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: emefge (1500 in chips) mama shmales: posts small blind 10
Moi: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Moi [3s Jh 8s Jd]
bluferfinger: folds
Poor$Broke: calls 20
chanceyd2007: calls 20
emefge: folds
Lindin is connected
gvonah: folds mama shmales: calls 10
Moi: checks
*** FLOP *** [3h 2c Ac]
mama shmales: checks
Moi: checks
Poor$Broke: checks
chanceyd2007: checks
*** TURN *** [3h 2c Ac] [Ad]
mama shmales: checks
Moi: checks
Poor$Broke: checks
chanceyd2007: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h 2c Ac Ad] [4c]
mama shmales: checks
Moi: checks
Poor$Broke: checks
chanceyd2007: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mama shmales: shows [6s 3c As 5c] (a straight flush, Ace to Five)
Moi: mucks hand
Poor$Broke: mucks hand
chanceyd2007: mucks hand
mama shmales collected 80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 80 Rake 0 Board [3h 2c Ac Ad 4c]
Seat 1: gvonah (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: mama shmales (small blind) showed [6s 3c As 5c] and won (80) with a straight flush, Ace to Five
Seat 3: Moi (big blind) mucked [3s Jh 8s Jd]
Seat 4: bluferfinger folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Poor$Broke mucked [6c Kh 3d Th]
Seat 6: chanceyd2007 mucked [8c 9h Qh 9d]
Seat 8: emefge folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Full house on the turn, straight flush on the river and no bet.

PS moi is not my stage name.

2007-08-06T21:47:00.000+01:00

Razz

For some reason I have never particularly felt comfortable playing on PokerStars. I have dabbled a few times, but not managed to win a cent. I think I might have cashed in 1 tourny and 1 sit and go, but otherwise have just mown through a couple of hundred dollars in total in my brief visits.

With the WCOOP coming up, I decided to deposit £50 ($102) over the weekend with the aim of building that up sufficiently to allow me to play a couple of satellites to the WCOOP events. Ideally I would like to get a chance to play in at least one of the Razz, Horse and PLO.

It looks like the events start at 3pm US time - so 8pm here, which is far more Euro friendly than the FTOPS events which generally start at 2am in the morning.

Anyway, I finally broke my duck yesterday on PokerStars winning a Razz tournament ($11 buy in, 80 players) for $240. It may not be a lot of money, but I don't care and I felt like I played really well.

I broke out of the pack with about 50 remaining and just accumulated chips. I entered the final table with about 25% of the chips and quickly moved that up to 50% with controlled aggression. In the end it was relatively straightforward. Heads up Razz is tricky but having more chips makes it easier.

This is a much better effort than my first Razz tourny win last month on Full Tilt.

I am pretty much convinced now that if I am to be a profitable on line player its only going to happen if I stick to tournaments and stay away from No Limit Holdem as much as possible and cash games altogether.

The players at low level Razz, HORSE in particular and PLO (to a lesser degree) tournys are generally very bad. And I feel like I am better than most.

I have about $300 on PokerStars now so hopefully I grind that up to something worthwhile.

Update on the next door neighbour episode:

My next door neighbour is a trainee solicitor with a magic circle law firm.
Has he brought my tenner back?

Has he fuck.

Edit - Neighbour appeared one week later with tenner - I take it all back - he's a gentleman and a scholar etc.

2007-08-04T00:43:00.001+01:00

Played like a tit tonight.

Because its Friday and my main poker night of the week I ran (which means walked very fast) home from Southwick (where I get off the tube every night -because no one else does) to my flat in Kennington.

As I opened the front door to the block of flats where I live, I discovered my next door neighbour (or at last I assume it was my next door neighbour because he told me he was, but because this is London I've never met or spoken to anyone in my block) loitering sheepishly in the communal hallway.

It turned out (or at least this is what he told me) that he walked 2 yards out of his flat to put the rubbish out (in the hallway - nice) only to find that the door closed behind him. He had no wallet, phone or key.

He asked me if I had a ladder so that he could climb through his open first floor window. (??!!)
Strangely enough, not being a burglar, I don't have a ladder. But I thought it best to invite him in for a cup of tea (burglar's welcome at mine).

Apparently he had a friend staying who was out on the lash who has the spare key, but because this is the modern age and no one knows each others phone numbers he couldn't ring him to tell him to get his arse back home.

Anyway - he ended up on my computer for about 30 minutes trying to look up and send loads of messages to his mates on facebook asking them to get in contact with his friend that had the spare key.

By the time he buggered off to wander the streets for 3 hours (with a tenner of mine - sound investment) it was about 8.30pm and i had to cook the wife dinner.

When I finally logged on something was wrong with the computer (and my mind started turning to the possibility that this was just a big scam to hack into my computer - what did you do ya bastard). By the time I fixed that and finally started it was really too late to play much. And I played like a tit as well.

I shall be interested to see whether I will get the tenner back. But it seems he was legit (his mate popped round looking for him when he got back from the pub and found the note under the door).

Note to self: do good deed, lose cash at poker - life is so unfair.

2007-08-02T22:25:00.000+01:00

Not much to report over the last week. I have played a few tournaments and bubbled or crept into the money, but no big finishes and a particularly bad performance in a $5PLO rebuy (cost me $50).

I found a new blog to read (by Andy Ward):

http://getitquietly.blogspot.com

I like reading old posts from 2003 about how things were before the poker boom when £100 and £200 tournaments meant something.

Now in the pro's blogs all you read about is either how they busted out to some random donkey in $10k buy in tournys here, there and everywhere, and how they are suffering $500k swings in the online cash games. £200 tournaments somehow seem more real.

I am starting to think that the top tier of poker is incredibly artificial with half of the so called names being just that - sponsored names with no substance and few recent (or in some cases historical) cashes - whilst the second tier represents the real sole of poker - the grinding pros and rounders.

I'm not talking about the true greats like Chip Reece and Barry Greenstein here or the true ambassadors like Joe Hachem or Greg Raymer, but the plastic Mancs, attractive birds and one hit wonder pros, who happened to win a tournament when poker took off and will be shown in ESPN clips until 2067.

The lucky sponsored few are, however, living the life, which is what we all dream of. I would gladly be Chis Moneymaker (but I'd rather be Sammy Farha).

2007-07-26T23:32:00.000+01:00

Just busted out of the $109 $125k guaranteed Hendon Mob shoot out in 78 out of 1221 for $250 (not bad for my original $14 investment, but gutting beyond belief).

I started off really well when I managed to treble up on hand 16 with the nut full house against a lower boat and trips.

Got the stack up to about 14,000 at the second break. Then got moved to a table with I AM ARI (Bodog Ari) to my right. Got up to 23,000 there, before I got moved to a table with the top 3 stacks all to my right.

Got as high as 30,000, but folded AQ on a queen high flop after my continuation flop bet got re-raised by the chip leader. I am sure I was ahead. In a smaller tournament I would have jammed. Playing scared. Sums up tonight.

Had about 23,000 (average) when the bubble burst. Then couldn't get a hand and got anted away as the big stacks just kept raising and I had nothing to come over the top with.

Stole as many blinds as I could. Finally found KK UTG when I had $17k left. By this stage I am way behind the average (about 50,000), but I ran into AA and didn't get lucky.

I felt I really let things get away from me tonight. I was scared of bubbling and then scared of getting knocked out when I needed to build my stack or go home.

Thats the problem when you are playing above and beyond your usual level. Cashing is disproportionately important to the bank roll. If I knew that I was going to play in all the $100 to $200 buy ins, I could afford to be more aggressive, as I would when playing at my own stakes.

I have managed to get to two PLO final tables this week (small field tournys) and played scared (to place higher) in both of those (usually I only play to win at final tables). Aaron Bartley (FTP sponsored pro) was at one (a $33 buy in) playing very aggressively and it knocked me off my stride - I came 5th/69 after a long period of 5 handed play for $160.

There was also another player called Blackmetalhead who I think is an intenet pro at the final table. And Lee Watkinson also entered (last week the WSOP ME final table this week doing his bit for charity with the gutshot donkey).

Need to take a couple of days off now. Last time I got deep in a big buy-in tourny (on Party) I went on tilt for a month and lost $5k.

Although there, I was rivered in a monster pot by the chip leader with about 70 left when I had the 5th biggest stack. If I had won the pot or avoided getting involved, I would have had a real shot at the final table, as it was I was out.

Tonight was different. I never really felt like I was going to win it from the moment we hit the money. I was mentally knocked out about 30 minutes before I actually was, which is bad.

Have to remember I have been playing really well in tournys lately. Keep positive.

2007-07-22T13:37:00.001+01:00

I've had a mixed bag of results since my last post.

I lost a few dollars playing cash games when tired. I have started to realise that the difference (or at least one of the differences) between winning and losing at the games which make up HORSE is chasing hands. If you stay in hoping to hit hands you will lose a lot of money.

Starting hand selection is key. At the hi/low games, some hands that look pretty ( eg JJ56 double suited at omaha) are actually pretty/very bad hands and will lose you both halves of the pot.

Played a whole bunch of tournaments this weekend. Highlights include:

Winning a small HA tournament (no idea what that stands for) but its a mixed PLH and PLO hi game. Very small in fact $11 buy in, 24 entrants, 1st paid $120.
Getting second in a a very small HORSE tournament. $55 buy in, 16 entrants, 2nd paid $240. I should have won this, I had a 2 to 1 chip lead going heads up, but through it all away in the omaha round. I simply don't have any heads up experience at these limit games - 1st paid $400.
I won a satellite to the Hendon Mob shoot out event 1 on Thursday. Worth $109 - $15 buy in, 25 entrants.

Lows include:

Coming 12/91 in a $5.5 limit omaha hi/low tourny - 3 hours wasted there - I was almost the very first person knocked out down to 3 big bets, but survived to go deep and win nothing.
Coming 7/43 for $17 in a $15 satellite to the $109 Saturday $60k tourny on FTP, there were 5 seats and I had the chip lead with 8 left - that is just not acceptable to miss from there.
Getting knocked out to a a horrendous bad beat in 350th place out of 1007 in a $26 tourny where I played perfectly and had that winning feeling.

Sort term goals - win Hendon Mob shoot out 1. Win seat to HORSE event at FTOPS. Win HORSE event.

2007-07-16T22:23:00.000+01:00

Well Kirk Morrison was the last of my WSOP main event picks, Nordberg and Sorel Mizzi also made it to around about the top hundred. Not too bad, but ultimately no good.

I had a strange weekend. Lost $20 playing HORSE on Friday and $22 getting knocked out of the Razz tourny. After that I played some 5/10 Razz because Chris Jesus Ferguson was at the table. That was cool. I lost $34, although I was marginally ahead most of the time.

Yesterday I entered a $5 PLO high rebuy tourny and won it for $392.85 - there were 103 entrants.

I decided to take the Daniel Negreanu approach and invested $40 in the tourny, but it worked because I was in second at the end of the rebuy period with about 15k. Within half an hour of that I had 100k out of the 460k in play, with about 40 left.

I managed to maintain that level through to the final table. With about 5 left I found myself in third, but knocked out the other four in turn to take it down.

The tourny took 5 hours because there are no antes and short stacks can stay for hours without playing a hand.

I would have knocked out the 4th and 5th pace finishers much earlier if the big stack hadn't been inappropriately throwing his weight around with garbage - in doing so he kept pushing me out of the pots and doubling up the shortstacks. Ultimately though, this enabled me to knock him out later on.

I now have a stud high, a Razz, a PLO high and various no limit tourny wins to my credit. I also have the second in the HORSE tourny.

Tonight I began my quest to win a PLO hi/low tourny, but got knocked out in the first hand of an $11 tourny with trips and a six low, to a wheel - v poor play on my part.

Cash game results from the last few days (excluding the 5/10 Razz dalliance):

HORSE (-$20) 55 hands, 30 minutes.
Razz ($-11.70) 20 hands, 12 minutes

I plan to play more HORSE cash games. I will also try to win a seat to the HORSE event at the next FTOPS series in early August. I don't plan on playing any nl hold em for the forseeable future - the other games are so much more fun.

2007-07-12T20:50:00.000+01:00

Its the start of Day 3 of the main event. 4 of my runners are still alive. My number one pick Sorel Imper1um Mizzi is flying. JC Tran and Nordberg are doing well and Kirk Morrison is hanging in there (still I hope).

2007-07-10T22:55:00.000+01:00

My picks for the main event are dropping like flies. Sorel Mizzi and JC Tran had a good first day. Strange that only 5 players will be millionaires at the end. You get through 6,300 players, come 9th and pick up $500k and go back to work the next day - that would be gutting.

HORSE today +$61.65, 1.2 hours, 83 hands.

All money made at omaha in two monster hands. Some real donkeys playing tonight.

2007-07-09T23:10:00.000+01:00

Lost badly tonight.

HORSE (-$47.25), 1.5 hours, 125 hands.
Raxx (-$24.65), 1.3 hours, 128 hands
Real time 2hours.

I lost most of the HORSE money at stud hi, when three hands in a row I had 4 to a flush after 4th street (plus in the 2nd and 3rd hands straight possibilities), but couldn't make it over the last 3 cards.

Not to worry.

2007-07-08T22:55:00.001+01:00

Looks like the main event is going to get about 6,300/6,500 players, which probably equates to something like $7.5/$8 million for first.

Two of my picks definitely won't be winning: ZeeJustin Bonamo and Shaniac Schlegar are out.

Kirk Morrison and Joe Hachem are through to day two. I don't know about the others.

Played some 1/2 Razz today.

Razz (5) +$31.10, 1.4hours, 138 hands.

2007-07-06T21:29:00.000+01:00

HORSE(2) +$36.50, 0.8 hours, 60 hands.
Razz(4) (-$10.30), 0.7 hours, 56 hands.
Real time 0.8hrs.
I made the money in stud hi tonight. Struggled at Stud8.

2007-07-06T16:39:00.000+01:00

A friend and I have invested £1 on each of the following for the main event title:

1 Sorrel Mizzi
2 Justin Bonamo
3 Shane Schlegar
4 Alexander Stevic
5 Kirk Morrison
6 Alex Jacob
7 Joe Hachem
8 JC Tran
9 Peter Feldman
10 Phil Helmouth
11 Alan Cunningham

I am regretting some already. Odds are mostly 200/1 to 300/1 (which is rubbish really, even if there were only 3000 in the event).

The bookie had Howard Lederer at 40/1 (!!), Amarillo Slim at 100/1(!!!!!!) and Robert Varkonyi at 200/1(!!!!!!!).

I hope Barny Boatman wins even though I have not bet on him.

I think there will be 5,967 entrants.

2007-07-05T22:22:00.001+01:00

Played some 1/2 HORSE today. I struggle a bit with both stud rounds at the moment. Sat out for some of the stud hi hands. Played well in the omaha and razz rounds.

Also played some standard Razz. Chip Jett was at the table some of the time. So not always the easiest game on the Internet. I was about 25 ahead, but lost a couple of hands at the end - decided best to call it a day at that point.

HORSE (1) +$51.50, 2 hours, 127 hands
Razz(3) +$10.25, 2hrs, 162 hands
Total real time played 2 hours.

2007-07-04T23:53:00.000+01:00

Razz (2) 1.3hrs 106 hands (-$7.30).

2007-07-03T23:05:00.001+01:00

Ok things have gone very wrong over the last few weeks.

I have decided to pay 1/2 Razz for the rest of the month to see how I can get on. I strongly believe that the players at this game are the worst on the internet. At this level most of the players are no limit hold em sex tourists (who don't have the first idea how to play Razz) trying something different.

I will track my results here to see how I get on (I need to start working out which games, if any, I am winning at (should that be can win at?).

Razz day 1: +$51.25 (77 hands, 1.1hrs)

2007-07-01T14:14:00.000+01:00

More of the same.

1st tourny. $33 buy in, 51 entrants, 1st prize 580, six pay.

Having got to the final table with a marginal the chip lead, end up getting knocked out 7th when going all in with 8,000 (blinds 250/500) from the cut off with JJ. Button who has 200 more than me has KK.

The key hand was actually about 5 minutes before when my raise got called by a limper. I have Ad Jc. J high flop brings three diamonds. I check limper makes a pot size bet, I re-raise all in, he calls with Qd4d and I don't improve. I went from 13,000 down to 4,000 at that point.

Bubble boy again. I hate tournys where getting to the final table is not enough to get paid. And this is the first final table where I have bottled it for some time.

2007-07-01T11:28:00.000+01:00

So I finished June with a balance of $679. I also have 2 x $26 MTT tokens which I won playing $13 heads up S&G's. So I am worth $731 in total.

I have been running bad and playing bad, particularly in cash games. But feel that I am playing better now (although I am not playing much cash).

I finished the month last night with a it of a come back, but the frustration continued..

I managed to win $28 playing 1/2 limit omaha8. And I then played 3 tournys at the same time with the following results:

$10+1 nl HE 47/360 (36 paid)
$5+0.5 HORSE 2/101 (for $101 - 1st ever 2nd place - I am getting much better at these mixed and low hand games)
$24+2 nl HE 31/587 (for $52 - I want to cry - I got bad beated out of the tourny, when a $1000+ finish was beckoning).

In the $24+2 - I had 22,000 chips (about average with blinds at 400/800) when I picked up 77. I raised to 2,400 from mid position with 77. Called by 2 players with stacks around 11000. Flop 7 A 5. I go all in and am called by A 4. Turn 8. River 6 for the runner runner straight. I am down to $11,000 - should be sitting with 37,000.

4 Hands later in button still with 11k. I get J 10 suited. There is a raise to 2,400 from mid position. I call. flop J 9 8. I jam. Get called by 33. Turn 4. River 3 and I'm out.

The $101 I earned in the HORSE was the hardest earned $101 have ever made. Pleased with it. But the other tourny was the important one.

July can only get better.

2007-06-28T23:25:00.000+01:00

Some knock outs are hard to take. Tonight I entered 2 tournys.

The first a $55 buy in, $15,000 guaranteed. I played exactly 2 hands in 30 minutes.

Hand 1 - I pick up KK in the button. Blinds are 10/20. Seat 3 raises to 40. Folded to me. I re-raise to 100, SB, BB call, seat 3 raises to $420. I call as do SB and BB. Flop A Q 8. Checked to seat 3 who bets $420. I fold - I think he has trip aces or queens. I am squeezed anyway, so fold.

10 minutes later. Blinds 15/30. I get 10 10 in the button. 2 limpers. I raise to 180 - SB, BB and 2 limpers call. Flop J 10 8 all clubs. Checked to me, I bet the pot folds round to final limper who goes all in. I am probably beat but have about 400 left so call - he has Q9 clubs for the straight flush.

Tourny 2 $69 +6. 226 entries - so prize pool is $16,000.

Down to 35 (pays 27). Blinds 200/400/50 I get AsQs in the SB. Folded to me. I min raise to 800. BB goes all in for 8000 more - he has me covered by 200. I call. He has 44. Flop A Q 4 and I am out in 35th.

Unbelievable. I really had the final table feeling - top 5 paid $1000+.

Instead bank roll is crippled - tonight was a desperate shot at trying to resurrect the month. It failed.

Balance of $777.

And on another note: Mr Clarke of Waterlooville, Hampshire you are a pathetic little agoraphobic wanker.

2007-06-26T22:30:00.000+01:00

Since my last post I have managed to lose about $80 on tournys and then another $200 playing 0.5/1 nl heads up - some tilting there.

I have, however, now (at last) discovered where the heads up sit and go's are on Full Tilt - I didn't think they spread any.

Tonight I lost a $22 HORSE HU S&G, I won a $33 pot limit omaha HU up S&G and a $55 pot limit omaha hi/low 8 or better HU S&G.

I've decided to give cash games a miss for a while and to play some S&G's and tournys. I just need to find a slab of spare time to play some tournys.

My 2 favourite games are definitely currently Omaha limit hi/low 8 or better and Razz.

So balance down to $924.

2007-06-21T23:32:00.000+01:00

Today was a slightly better day.

I have transferred all my Paradise balance to Full Tilt. It was $910 in Dise, but only $880 by the time it reached FTP - I managed to balls up the neteller transaction to leave about $15 there.

Anyway managed to grind the $880 down to $830 yesterday.

Today I decided to enter a $22 Razz tournament. And believe it or not - I won.

I should, however, qualify that by saying there were only 29 players and the first prize was only $261. But never-the-less I won a Razz (!!) tourny.

It took about 3 hours. I entered the final table with about 13,000 in chips out of the 42,000 - got up to 18,000 before losing a couple of big pots and the chip lead.

We got down to four handed, by which time there were basically 3 short stacks around the 5k mark and another guy with 28,000. But I picked my spots, knocked out the other two short stacks and then took a big pot on the 1st heads up hand. It was then just a case of picking him off.

Very pleased about this - I have now won MTT's at stud (high), Razz and no limit. Although the Stud tourny was also small about 55 players. My best result at p/l omaha is a 3rd (out of about 63), so I need to win one of those. Still no seconds.

This makes up for the tourny misery I have suffered in June (but not the bank roll devastation).

Balance $1,072.48

2007-06-18T21:06:00.000+01:00

The rakeback has come though but it didn't last long. I had about $3 left after yesterday, with the rakeback that makes $46.

I bought in for $20 on a 0.25/0.5nl table. Ground it up to $42 and came off. Bought into another table with $20. Lost that with 88 on a board of JJ8 - he had JJ.

I bought in for another $20 and lost with 77 to AQ on a 45Q6J board - the money went in on the turn. He had raised pre flop I called from the button. He made a 40% of pot bet on the flop, which I though was an AK continuation bet. He bet about 25% of the pot on the turn - I raised all in, he called.

So I had a crack at pot limit omaha. Ground the $20 buy in up to $38. Lost 2 pots with busted flush draws.

With $23 left I get Kd Kh 9d 10d in the big blind. Button and SB call. I raise to 2. SB calls. Flop 6d 10h 6c. He bets 6. I raise all in. He calls. Shows 10c Qc Qs Ah.

I am a 58.85% to 41.14% pre-flop. When the money goes in I am a 72.88% to 27.12% favourite. I reckon that's about as good as it gets with Omaha post flop.

Turn is a 10 and I lose with a worse kicker. I say unbelievable. He says what you getting upset about you can't get upset cos you lost with a pair of kings. I point out that I had a set too.

I then rebuy for my last 8.35 on a 0.1/0.25 omaha table. Grind it up to 14. I lose half with top two pair against trips - I have Ah K h 8d 8s - flop is Ac Kd 6h - so I have 6 outs for a full house, but don't get there. He thought he had quad 6's (but you can only use 2 from your hand donk - beaten by an idiot, grrreat).

I lose the rest to the same player three hands later when I make a straight against top two pair - all the money goes in on the turn and he hits his 4 outer for a boat.

The only good news is that my Dise withdrawal had made it to Neteller. I have now withdrawn the other £250 or so. I should have about $920 when its all there, which I will put in Full TILT poker.

I still have about $650 more than when I started this blog. [And I am $469 up for live play too].

I'm going to try a few free-rolls on Dise. The $2,500 ($1,000 for first) had about 260 runners last night and is still good value - particularly as they have reduced the buy in to 500 points from 1000.

I think the problem with all this is that its hard to keep grinding at the lower limits. My play has deteriorated massively over the last month. I have to get up to the next level, but that's now miles off - I need $2500 (or at least $2000 to try that).

2007-06-17T19:08:00.000+01:00

Well things have just got a whole lot worse, I have just lost, tilted and been bad beaten out of my entire Full Tilt Stack.

Started off 4 tabling at 0.25/0.5. Playing $40 per table. I lost buy ins with each of these hands.

JJ v 99 - Board 2, 4, 9 10, 6.
44 v AA - Board J 10 4 7 River A
99 v JJ - Board 9 4 4 8 River J
AK v KK - Board A K 3 5 7
AA v 9s3s - Board 9 5 K Qs 8s

And then I start playing badly I run Ak into Kings.

At this point I should quit. Instead I move up to 1/2nl. But in with about $140.

First hand in the cut off (I have posted 2) There is a raise to 7 and a caller. I call with Q 10 -(I was going to fold). Flop Q 10 J. Checked to me. I bet 12. Original raiser calls. Turn 3. I bet 25 - original raiser goes all in. I call the extra 30. Her has A K. Should have got away from that.

I rebuy to $180.

About 20 minutes later I get JJ. I raise to 8. Big stack calls. Flop 2 7 Q. I bet 10. He calls. Turn 6. I bet 2o. He raises to 65. I go all in. He has 22. I should have got away from that but I didn't think he had a Q. He had been bullying everyone. He said - you should have got away from that. F*** off you righteous b"stard.

I rebuy for my last £110.

Get a series of AK AQ JJ type hands where I raise get called and miss the flop (or there are over cards on the flop).

Lose another $40 against a short stack with JJ v QQ.

And the final straw was this:

Down to my last $35. Limper in seat 2. I raise to 9 from seat 4 with JJ. Cut off and limper call. Flop 6s 10s Jh. Checked to me. Everyone thinks I am tilting, so I go all in for the last 26. Both cut off and limper call. Yes I'm going to treble up to $105. Turn 3h. River Qc. Cut off goes all in andI realise he has A K.

Balance $0

My rakeback hasn't shown up yet. And my Dise withdrawal is neither with Dise nor Neteller. So I'm currently stuffed.

I do still have about $900 (about $500 in Dise and about $400 in transit) and $42 rakeback due from last month. But this shouldn't have happened. I've just had that its all going wrong feeling since I got back from Vegas and the Tilt took over tonight. If say 4 of the bad beats hands had gone the other way, I could be sitting on about $700 in FTP now. But that's poker.

I lose more money playing with JJ and 100 then any other hands.

2007-06-15T23:00:00.000+01:00

Disaster on every front tonight.

Down to $533 on Full Tilt (for no reason started playing 05/0.1 and blew $110 -also lost two tournys). Down to about $10 on P Stars (tilting played 1/2nl with 90% of the balance and got felted when my K 10 lost to K J on a board of K 10 7 3 J). Down to $900 on Dise (lost a $22 tourny when my Aces got cracked by trip 8's).

So about $600 down for the month. But I have that spiralling downwards feeling I had in January and March and April, which were all bad months (especially April).

Need some time off. Next time I play, I have to be fully focused.

In the process of removing my money from Dise (the new software is so bad its unbelievable). I'm going to put about half in FTP and $450 in Party Poker. And I'm going to grind back up. I'm going to keep all my money in 2 sites to avoid splitting the bank roll too much. I might even stick it all in FTP.

Trying to be positive. I'm probably still about $900 up from the start of the blog.

I have joined Stoxpoker's site. I'm going to pay the membership fee which lets you watch the videos. I think I need to retrain before playing again.

2007-06-14T20:57:00.000+01:00

Played very badly tonight. Lost a lot of money. Down to $674 on Full Tilt - so about $320 down there for the month and $180 for the day. Miles away from the $2500 I want before I move up top 0.5/1nl

Missed in a $22 tourny on Paradise and $5.50 mini turbo on P-Stars as well to top it off.

Tired and not concentrating. Plus stressed.

I have a strange job. There aren't many people who do what I do. There are about 8 of me.

We currently have about 6,500 pieces of work for me (and the other 7 to do). Each thing takes about 4 hours. So about 2 a day per person.

At the current rate it will take 81.25 weeks to do everything we have now. But we get 100 new pieces of work every week. So the number of things waiting grows by 20 every week.

I have a new boss. She and the other 5 people who applied for the job had to have a plan. Her plan was the best, so she got the job. The plan was announced whilst I was away. The plan is....

everyone needs to work twice as hard.

Doh, why didn't I think of that? said my old boss.

2007-06-13T22:41:00.001+01:00

Today is a big day at the WSOP with John Phan, Eric Lindgren, Daniel Negreanu, Humberto Brenes and Greg Raymer at various final tables.

The wife is also impressed because Devin "shortlegs" Porter has made it to a final table as well. He will most probably come 3rd (with Phan winning that one). Shortlegs is a good player though.

It would be nice to see Greg Raymer pick up a bracelet too. Incidentally, where's Joe Hachem this year?

My balance is going no where in particular at the moment.

2007-06-11T23:13:00.000+01:00

I guess online poker is not such a rosey world these days. Danny boy's personal site Full Contact Poker (of which I am a charter member) has announced it will merge (meaning basically cease to exist) with Pokerstars.

Danny boy himself is now a member of Team Pokerstars, whilst FCP will be a "training site"ie Danny boy's blog.

The demise of FCP as a live poker site is a shame, but I can't imagine there have been many players there since the UIGEA.

I decided to put $100 (or £51) into my Pokerstars account because I have a $50 bonus pending which expires in about 2 weeks.

I think its the first deposit bonus, which you get 6 months to release - I had 461 points and needed 499 to release the balls. It is incredible how much money I have lost trying to get this money (and bonuses in general).

This time I was down about $25 by the time I hit 499 points. Pokerstars balance $124.77.

Paradise has confirmed that my account is now held (from its point of view) in pounds sterling (although I see the numbers in dollars) and this is why my balance is going down in dollar terms - its static in pounds but the exchange rate is fluctuating.

I expect to lose more poker dollars this way as the dollar improves against the pound over the coming months (perhaps as much as 10% of the roll).

I think this is very unfair. I signed up to a dollar account. I didn't get the benefit of exchange rate improvements on my deposits when the exchange rate went up from 1.6 to 2 and so I don't see why I should lose poker dollars as the pound falls back.

Today the Paradise balance has fallen again to $948. So I have now lost $7 without playing (and in fact about $8.5 from the high point after the £1 credit they added to my account when I moaned).

PARADISE POKER SUCKS>

2007-06-10T22:14:00.000+01:00

Roller coaster ride today. Played two sessions on Full Tilt. One at my Dads and one at home. Was a bit tired and hungover when at Dads (I went to a stag do on Saturday). I got knocked out of a couple of tournys playing weakly and lost a buy-in as well.

Drove back to London and restarted as I left off. Reached a worrying balance low point of about $680 before winning some back in the cash games. Then messed up another $26 tourny before hitting a run on the cash games. Finished with $832. 31.

I am going to steer clear of $26 and $33 tournys for the rest of the month and concentrate on the cash games instead.

This is a good blog: www.doubleas.blogspot.com

2007-06-08T18:07:00.000+01:00

Decided to play for another 2 minutes and hit quad 9s, so FTP balance is now slightly, but not much, better at $822.96.

2007-06-08T17:27:00.000+01:00

Another losing day on the virtual felt.

I had the distinction of getting felted on three tables simultaneously when going all in with 99 v 88 (board of 6 7 8), QQ v 10 10 (board 10 6 4 rainbow) and A K v AA (board K 7 7). So about $95 gone in 3 seconds. Now down to $789.11 on Full Tilt.

I am having trouble getting back into playing small limits online after the excitement of Vegas and I have played very badly since arriving back.

To cheer me up, here is a recap of May:

Started with $116.35 at Betfair and $246.76 at Full Tilt. Total $363.11 total.
Finished with $983.61 in Full Tilt and about $955 in Paradise (I say about because my Balance has decreased by another $5 whilst I have been away - so a bit more than 11 cents this time!). Total $1,938.61.
Overall profit for May $1,574.50.

A good month, but 80% of this came from the tourny wins (I was up about $1475 on tournys) - I probably won about $300 playing 0.25/0.5nl. I lost about 3 ($22) S&Gs' and a little bit playing razz and HORSE, plus a 1/2nl tilt night.

I also lost the entire Betfair account balance playing heads up cash games at slightly higher limits.

So:

May +$1574.50. I will also pick up about $38 rakeback.
June (-$194.51) so far.

2007-06-07T19:58:00.000+01:00

Back to boring old on line poker last night. Lost about $30 playing 0.25/0.5nl. Then played $24 and $33 tournys without cashing.

Should have cashed in the $33 tourny but donked off my chips when in a good chip position with 39 left (18 paid). Sometimes I just get impatient and push to hard.

Also lost a few dollars playing stud. Balance is just under $900. Need to get back over a $1000.

2007-06-06T15:27:00.000+01:00

Poker

The games at Ballys were incredibly loose and the players split between incompetent, weak and local (lots of off duty dealers). The standard raise is to $12 and you can expect 3 callers.

It took me a while to get used to the game and to realise that most of the players had weaker hands than I was giving them credit for.

In the first session I lost $65 and in the second I won $165. The third session was very interesting.

I was actually in trouble (I had lost $200 and rebought for $300) when an incredibly drunk plumber from Ohio, who had just moved to Vegas, sat down at the table and shook the whole thing up.

Seat 1 me
Seat 2 was a weak player (who claimed his regular game was the 5/10 game at the Bellagio - !)
Seat 3 was a french bloke who didn't speak English and didn't know how to play poker (he was calling everything and at that point was holding about $400 and had a big FISH sign on his forehead)
Seat 4 was the card room stalwart, Marty (old guy - fairly rockish with $300)
Seat 5 drunk plumber
Seat 6 off duty dealer (very tight has $100 is looking to double up)
Seat 7, 8, 9 (30 something solid players with about $300 a piece)
Seat 10 - reasonable player with about $800 in front of him

Plumber sits down. 1st hand folded to him, he raises to $75 (might have been more but for the string bet) everyone folds. 2nd hand, two limpers, plumber raises to $75 (everyone folds) plumber shows KK and claims first hand was AA.

Plumber then proceeds to raise every pot to about 25 or 30 and is re-raising all in at every opportunity before showing a bunch of 23 off suit type hands and complete bluffs - he's now getting serious action and telling seat 10 he is going to take all his money.

Meanwhile Marty is creaming himself "hey let me get you another drink", "that's unlucky you had to call there - you had a load of outs with that (gutshot) straight draw and ace"; but gets felted when the plumber cracks his aces with 9 4. Half the table is on semi tilt and frightened "hey fella this is a 1/2 game". Marty buys back in.

I get K 10 (in the cut off) plumber is BB (seat 3 was on a break). I raise to 10, plumber calls. Flop K 8 8. I bet 15. Plumber raises to 45. I sit and think, before going all in. Plumber says I think we have the same hand and then folds (he claims AK).

Plumber still running over the table. I have K 3 spades in the button. 3 limpers. Flop 2 7 K. Checked to me. I bet 10. Three callers. Turn 10. Plumber bets 70, 1 fold, plumber says to seat 9 you go all in and I will call, seat 9 folds.

Plumber looks at me and says now your different. I think he has a 2, but possibly a 10. I go all in. He thinks and calls. River 10. He says if you have a 10 you got me. He shows 7 2 off suit for a smaller two pair (phew) and I have doubled up to about $650. with the lucky river (I had 8 outs).

Plumber rebuys (trys to buy in for $500, but the maximum is $300). He doubles up against seat 10, loses 2/3 of that to Marty who has also just cleaned out the Frenchman and is literally wetting himself ("I'm dying for a piss, but I can't leave this table").

Then I get Kh 7h in the button. Plumber bets 10, seat 10 calls, I call. Flop A 3 9 all hearts (hello). Plumber bets 10. Seat 10 calls. I call. Turn is 6s. Checked to me I bet 20, both plumber and seat 10 call. (pot is 123). River 3c.

Plumber goes all in for 89. Seat 10 agonizes before reluctantly calling (I think he has forgotten I am in the hand) and has about 200 left. I'm sure he doesn't have a boat. Plumber is now standing (so probably no boat).

I say raise. Seat 10 mucks before I say how much, showing AK. Plumber shows 43, shakes my hand, says I knew you would bust me and is gone.

I finished up $369 , so $469 up for the trip.

2007-06-06T13:56:00.000+01:00

Holiday

I am back.

Arrived back from Vegas this morning - we spent 5 days there, and two days in Chicago before that (plus one day at O'Hare waiting to get on a plane after ours was cancelled).

In Vegas we stayed at the Paris, which is a hotel I had previously had a pretty low opinion of, but it turns out that Paris is really quite nice. Its right bang in the middle of everything and is connected to Ballys (which has a very friendly poker room).

Non poker highlights included: playing a (not cheap) round of Golf at he Bally Hi course (just past the Mandalay Bay); getting drunk at the Crown and Anchor (the best place to watch football in Vegas) during the England v Brazil match); going to the Cirque de Soleil at the MGM (never thought I would say that); and dinner at the Country Club at the Wynn.

Poker

Poker wise - I decided against entering the $1500nl WSOP event 3, which started Saturday. I went over to the Rio after the England game on Friday to have a look - the registration queue was about 5 hours long (which was more time than I had) and that made up my mind for me.

I spent a couple of hours looking around - the whole thing is amazing - and whilst it is now my overriding aim to play at the WSOP, I think I made the right decision not to go in this year (I need to get some live experience first).

I only managed to play poker three times (at Ballys) for about 4 hours per session. I played 1/2nl.

2007-05-26T23:21:00.000+01:00

Dropped a few dollars on FTP tonight. Was significantly ahead - up to about $1075 - and then played like an idiot, getting all my chips in on about 4 occasions with by far the worst of it. Probably playing tired. Ended up back at $983.61.

I've been playing too much in the last couple of weeks, so I am going to take a couple of days off (from playing and posting).

Back in June.

2007-05-26T15:10:00.000+01:00

Don't think Dise is going to tell me what happened to the "missing 11 cents", but it has added £1 to the balance so all is well - $956.88 ( I even feel guilty for raising it!).

2007-05-25T23:37:00.000+01:00

Full Tilt played about an hour of 0.25/0.5nl - not very exciting - balance $1,018.11.

Dise is fobbing me off - balance still $954.89 - I guess we will never know what happened to the 11 cents - missing presumed dead.

The parent network told me I was wrong and my balance was $954.89 when I logged out on 24 May (brilliant - I know that, the point is that it was $955 when I logged out of the old system on 23 May and $954.89 when I logged in to the new system on 24th May), but I should really ask Dise. I have. It hasn't replied.

Tomorrow is the first day of my holiday. So I am going into work. Wonderful.

2007-05-24T21:27:00.001+01:00

Paradise announced a while ago that it would be discontinuing as a stand alone site and would merge with the main part of Sportingbet (or something like that).

Its happened today. There are loads more players and the future looks a bit brighter - particularly as they have replaced the 1000 point $2,000 free-roll (1st pays $1000), which I won with a 500 point $2,500 free-roll, first still plays $1,000. I suspect there will be a few more players, but it looks good.

They also have a big Sunday tourny which costs $90 - and this week is $75k guaranteed. I might play a bit more here in due course.

But SCANDAL (!), the new software has resulted in a reduction of my balance from $955 to $954.89 (yeah I know its nothing).

I suspect it has something to do with the fact that they have multiple currencies at the merged site and there is some exchange rate fluctuation, but its a bit worrying.

I have e-mailed Paradise (mainly out of interest) and await its response.

Very curious.

2007-05-24T19:39:00.000+01:00

Very happy today. Had a working lunch and came home at 4pm just in time to play a $22 tournament on Full Tilt. Had a very good feeling about it from the off.

There were 90 runners with a first prize of $576. And after an epic 3 handed and heads up battle (which combined lasted about an hour and 15 minutes) against MistaVR4 and 88tripeights8, I managed to take it down.

The blind structure on Full Tilt takes a bit of getting used to. The increases are much smaller than other sites, allowing more play, which is actually quite weird when you are used to all in in or bust poker.

I played very well at the final table. Went in with one of the smaller stacks (6 of 9), doubled up and then nearly crippled MistaVR4 when we got all our chips in when I had trip jacks and he had KJ.

Hats off to him though. He had 165 left and after most of the table went in against him about three times in a row in an attempt to knock him out, he was right back in it. Meanwhile I had a large chip lead.

Three handed the stacks fluctuated before I made a huge call with a straight (I had A 4, but no heart) on a board of 2h 2c 3h 5h to knock out MistaVR4 (3rd place) in a three way pot. I was certain he had an overpair (he had 77) but was concerned he would have lot of outs, which he did. River was a blank. 88tripeights8 said he folded K2.

Went into heads up mode with a 5 to 1 chip lead and after about 15 minutes called an all in bet (his third from the SB in a row) with Kh 10h to find he had Ah 9h. Flop was Q J 9, turn and river blanks; and it was all over.

Anyway :

Full Tilt $1005.61
Paradise $955

Hopefully the immediate danger to my bankroll has passed.

2007-05-23T22:58:00.000+01:00

Losing session on full tilt. Started off well - got the roll up to about $550; and then overdid the loose aggressive thing; ended up playing like a maniac. Damn. $476.51.

2007-05-21T21:56:00.000+01:00

Full Tilt Poker balance is finally over the $500 point ($507.76), so I am going to take a day or two off and concentrate on the proper job.

2007-05-20T21:31:00.000+01:00

Full Tilt Balance now $427.86 - would have been significantly higher were it not for my kings getting cracked when all in against KsJh (he made a flush) and QQ getting cracked by J 10 (all the money went in on the J high flop he called and hit a 10 on the river).

Although progress is slow - I think the trend is just about upwards.

Paradise $955 -I played another $20 tourny there and self destructed when 3rd out of 12 - paid 5, only 34 started, ended up 11th - only tiny tournys on Dise these days - that's why I stopped playing there.

2007-05-19T11:50:00.000+01:00

Had a few beers last night, so gave poker a miss. Quick session this morning on Full Tilt. Balance is now back to $409.61.

Got accused by some muppet of colluding/cheating with the guy to my right in a hand where I raise to $1.75 UTG with 99. Calls from seat 4 and the BB. Flop is an unattractive QJ3 rainbow.

BB checks. I bet $3.5 into the $5.50 pot. Called by seat 4. BB raises (another 11.5) to 14. I re-raise another 11 to 25 and am all in. Seat 4 folds. BB calls.

BB shows K 10 - 2 over cards and an open ended straight draw (although a 10 on the turn will give me some outs). Blank Blank follow and I have more than doubled up.

Seat 4 says -he folded the best hand -and then accuses me of cheating/colluding with the BB. What a nob.

Lesson don't mistake extremely bad play for cheating! I should have given up when the flop produced two over cards. The best I could hope for was that someone was getting frisky with AK or a small pocket pair (basically 88).

I thought my re-raise would drive out seat 4 if he had a pair (although AQ would normally hang around at this level) giving me a chance against one opponent. But it was mostly wishful thinking - I was almost certainly going to find myself behind against the BB, with 2 outs (or needing runner runner nines). I was just very lucky.

2007-05-17T22:11:00.000+01:00

Played a little 1/2 Razz today. Chip Jett was at the table immediately to my left - got to love Full Tilt.

I actually played quite well for about 20 minutes, choosing my spots nicely. But I lost a massive pot when my made A3567 got beat by A2467 - opponent (random player) had two high cards showing and hit the Ace on 7th street (I think he would also have won with a 3).

As far as I can tell, any hand with a high card of 7 is pretty strong at Razz.

I lost another couple of largish pots and left with my tail between my legs $25 down. Still working on Razz!

Played a bit of no limit after that. After playing for ages without winning or losing much this happened.

I raise to $1.75 from seat 4 with 7s8s. Called by seat 5 and the button. Flop 9s Js 8d. I bet $6, seat 5 raises to $20.25 (hello overpair) pot $32.75, button folds I call ($14.25 more) and am all in. Seat 5 shows pocket aces.

At this point I am a 58.58% favourite (I win with a spade (9) a ten (3) and 8 (2) or a 7 (3) - so 17 outs).

Turn is 6h - I'm still going to win about 45% of the time (I can now win with a 5 as well, so have 20 outs). River is a 4d. I lose a buy in.

Paradise $975
Full Tilt $345.96

Got to get the Full Tilt balance back over $400 soon.

2007-05-16T22:17:00.000+01:00

Something other than poker. Absolutely gutted yesterday when Saints lost the play off semi to Derby. Watched it in the Famous Three Kings pub in West Kensington - great atmosphere.

Saints acquitted themselves well on the night (although allowing Best to take a penalty was an atrocious decision by Burley), but not over the season.

Reaching the play offs is not an achievement. It represents a failure when your aim is to get promoted - you wouldn't want to put all your money in on a 25% shot would you?

Johnny Viafara and Chis Baird were awesome - they have been all season.

Poker - failed to cash in a $25 tourny on Dise on Monday. Nudging the balance up on Full Tilt.

Paradise $975
Full Tilt $382.61

I'm going to be in Vegas when the WSOP starts. I will be there whilst event 2 the $1500 nl is taking place. The question is: do I have the balls to enter it. I'm not really concerned about the cash, but silly things like how do find your seat worry me (the internet is great for gamblers like me).

I have been to Vegas twice before (May 2006 and August 2005). I haven't seen the WSOP in action, but I spent about 4 hours railing at the WPT Mirage event last year. Pokerwise, I thought it was quite intimidating.

Spotted/watched a load of big names (Negreanu, Juanda, Benyamine, Harrington, Chip Jett, Greenstein, Esfandiari, Zolotow, Ted Forrest and Scotty N among others).

But the worrying thing was the number of players my wife recognised.

The fact that my wife recognised Devin "hasn't he got short legs" Porter http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=50563 says something about the extent of my poker addiction.

2007-05-13T22:20:00.000+01:00

Back in Paradise - success at last!! Yum Yum.

Paradise Poker has always been my favourite site (because I win there). The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act effectively crippled Paradise and in particular the games I played.

I was playing well had a large roll and then overnight, everything changed. My regular tournaments (or at least the players in them) disappeared. I started playing the $115 and $215 tournaments (because they were the only tournaments with prizes worth playing for), initially without success and ultimately in desperation, until eventually I moved away.

Since then I have had a bad run - leading to this blog.

On Thursday night I searched all of the sites for freerolls that might be worth playing and noticed that Paradise has a $1000 free roll every other night (pays 10, 1st prize $500) at a cost of 200 player points and a $2,500 free roll on Sundays (pays 20, 1st prize $1,000) at cost of 1000 player points.

There aren't many players left on Paradise. Player points are very hard to come by - I should know I've played there a lot and only have about 5,000. And since people racking up player points in the larger cash games aren't going to be interested in freerolls, it doesn't take a poker genius to realise there aren't going to be many people playing in these things.

There is no doubt these are the best value freerolls going. Compare and contrast with the prizes and entrants on Full Tilt, where you would probably have to beat off at least 3,600 people to win $100. If Chris "Jesus" Ferguson was doing his zero to $10,00o on Paradise, he'd be done in about 5 weeks, without investing a cent of his winnings at any stage.

Any way I had a crack at the $1,000 free-roll on Friday night (my third ever free-roll - I had a go at a couple of 1,000 point buy-ins for WSOP seats last year).

In common with most of my recent tournament attempts, I started well, built up a nice stack and then lost patience, donking off my chips having been in a very good 2nd position with about 50 left. Ended up about 38th out of 360.

I was unfortunately quite annoyed and stupidly logged on to Full Tilt where I immediately suffered two or three horrendous beats, leading to semi-tilt (and a stupid attempt at 1/2nl - lost $80 there). Ended the night with a balance of less than $300 but now back to $321.16 (not good).

Anyway today was the big day, the $2,500 free roll on Paradise. I had been looking forward to it all day, and for one reason, I knew I was going to win it. I had even planned what I was going to do with the money - I sat on the tube this afternoon debating whether to take out $600 or $500 to put on Full Tilt.

As expected a miserly 248 players (yes just 248 for $2,500 free roll!) stumped up the 1000 player points and, as expected, two hours 51 minutes later my Paradise balance increased from Zero to $1,000.

Get in there - its amazing how good it is to finally win again. Plus this is actually the biggest tournament I have won in terms of entrants (not cash). It is also the first MTT that I have won or even final tabled since September 2006 (although in fairness I have only played cash games and a couple of Sunday tournys since December).

Unfortunately this won't appear in my battered stats on officialpokerrankings.com, but who cares.

I got lucky twice on the way - fairly early on I got all my chip in with A Q against A K but two pair on the board and a split pot saved my skin.

I also got lucky in the all in phase with 3 tables left, when my A 7 on the button made a 9 high straight on the river to beat the big blinds A Q and to avoid losing about half my stack; and at

the same time this gave me a stack to really work with. Every other time I got my money in well ahead.

I made it to the final table in 2nd place with 90,000 chips (out of 372,00) and slowly nudged my way up to 180,000 by the time Bear497 and I went heads up (1st pays $1,000, second $500). Bear played almost perfect aggressive play at the final table (when one or two others contrived to cripple themselves against the shorter stacks).

I have never so far finished second in a MTT and as soon as we started playing I knew I was going to win. I have played a lot of heads up S&G's (in the past) and recognised his overly passive style straight away. I just chipped away at his stack without ever going all in and quickly had him down to about 80,000.

It took about 20 minutes to finish him off, ultimately knocking him out when my 9 6 hit trip nines to beat his 10 2 on a 10 high board.

Balances:

Full Tilt $321.16
Paradise $1,000

A sweet end to an otherwise pretty poor week. Paradise regained.

2007-05-10T22:13:00.000+01:00

Disaster, the Betfair account is dead. Bought in for $50 at the 0.5/1nl HU table. Lost the whole buy in when my straight flush draw didn't make it. Rebought for the rest of the roll (about $80) and basically built it up to about 120 when I lost a huge pot with aces, got caught check calling two large bets pre-the river, before moving all in only to find the guy had at which point the guy had made two pair on the river.

That's what happens - the trapper gets trapped. It was perfect as well, and I should have had the roll up to $240 - instead - felted from the site.

I must not make the same mistake playing on Full Tilt. If you play outside your roll's scope, getting felted is guaranteed. Ultimately poker is a game of percentages and on a 70/30 hand, you have to have enough to cover the 30 times to take advantage of the 70 times.

Anyway lesson learned. You go bust.

I have had to reset the goals. My aim now is to get the FTP balance up to $2,000 by 1 September. After that the aim is get the balance up to $2,500 at which point I can play 0.5/1 nl full ring games (and will move down if I drop down to $2,000)

Current balance $451.61 and I am buying in for $25 to $30 on the 0.25/0.5 tables. I will feel happier when I get to $750 - at that point I think the chances of going bust go down a lot.

2007-05-09T22:52:00.000+01:00

I have been giving the micro limit .25/.50HORSE game a go on Full Tilt.

I have absolutely no idea what I am doing at Razz and Stud Hi/Low apart from (for Razz) don't play unless you have 3 starting cards less than an 8 and (for Stud Hi/Low) play 3 high or 3 low, but never 3 in the middle. There is clearly more to it than that.

I am getting the hang of Omaha Hi/Low. And I am (at least at these levels) pretty good at Stud. Limit hold-em is not my speciality, but compared with the others, doesn't require too much thought.

Overall, I have lost a couple of dollars (but the buy in only about $10 -so its hard to lose big.

Won some on Full Tilt at the full nl ring game and also a bit on Betfair playing heads-up. Balance on Full Tilt is up to about $472. Betfair about $129.

2007-05-08T19:58:00.000+01:00

Just finished playing a ($o.5/1nl) heads up cash game on Betfair. This hand caused my opponent to ask "do you even know how to play?".

We had both started with $40 and after about 10 minutes thanks to the rake he still had about $40 and I had about $30. My opponent folds a lot of hands pre-flop. Check/calls or check/raises on the flop and bets hard on the turn.

I have caught him with his fingers in the till twice in recent hands. But have had to fold several times after betting the flop. He also tends to stay in with small pocket pairs no matter how many overcards hit.

Dealt to me in the small blind 9d7d. I raise to 2. Opponent calls. Pot 4.

Flop Kd, 8d, 10s. Opponent checks. I bet 2. Opponent raises to 4. I call. Pot 12.

Turn 3s. Opponent checks. I bet 10. Opponent re-raises to put me all in (Pot $46). I call $14.

River Jh.

I win $59 (oh the rake!) with a straight 8 to J. Opponent shows 8s 4s (a pair of eights and a busted flush draw).

And the odds:

Pre-flop me 63.06% opponent 36.93%
After the flop me 61.01% opponent 36.93%
After the turn me 34.09% opponent 65.90%

I reckon I was priced in for the call. Plus I didn't put him on the spade flush draw (I thought from previous hands that he had a pair of eights, pocket sevens or sixes, or possibly a pair of Kings).

So was this good or bad play?

Anyway, in response to opponent's original question, I said "yes and I also know when to leave".

And left.

2007-05-07T18:19:00.000+01:00

Its been a reasonable week.

I'm having difficulty getting the balance to increase on Betfair. Play there in the micro limits is especially passive. Big pairs don't play too well, its better to get smaller pairs and look for a set and small connectors (aggressively).

Full tilt is going reasonably well.

Full tilt $422.86
Betfair $92.17

2007-05-04T23:40:00.000+01:00

Lost a few dollars on Full Tilt today but managed to play a few hands with David Chiu who was playing 0.25/0.5, 6 handed limit omaha hi. Good bloke. One a nice hand against him with the nut flush.

Overall - up a bit in omaha, down a bit more in hold em, and down about $36 in total.

2007-05-03T19:28:00.000+01:00

A mixed start, particularly on Full Tilt.

I am struggling at 0.25/0.5 nl. I have had a string of bad beats after getting my chips in with by far the best of it.

The other problem is that whilst I am quite a loose player and raise a lot, no one seems to call my raise when i have aces. Its happened five times in row.

I have also played my worst hand ever.

I'm the small blind with AA. Cut off raises to $2.5. I delay and then call. I look at the screen expecting to see the flop, only to see my cards disappear. Miss-click on fold. Idiot.

Despite the bad results at 0.25/0.5, I am slightly ahead - but for all the wrong reasons. Basically I have been chasing my losses (successfully) at 1/2 nl. This involves playing with the entire bank roll and is a recipe for disaster.

One big hand. I am in the cut off with Ac7c and about $165. I call the BB as does the Button who has about $125. SB folds. Pot $7. F

Flop As Qd, 4d. I bet $3. Button calls, BB folds. I think Button has flush draw. Pot $13.

Turn 7d. Check, check. I think he has Kd and a Q and is looking for another diamond. I think he would have bet with Ad Qo or a made flush.

River Ad - Jackpot. I hope he's got the Kd now. He hasn't got the Ad, but there's about a 2% chance has the AQ boat. I think he would have raised pre flop and bet all streets with that. I bet $6. He raises to $20. I slow re-raise to $50 and he goes all in for another $69 - insta call - he has Kd9d.

Slightly better at the micro-limit today. But still suffering from a bad run of cards. Just lost a $30 buy in with 10h 8h flush against a Qh Jh flush. Got em back when I flopped the nut straight with 56 on a rainbow board of 2,3,4 - turn A, opponent has A3 and didn't get there on the river.

The folded ace count is now up to 6 in a row. No one ever folds if I have 10 10. About 8 folded hands later I get KJ suited in the c/o do the same raise get called, can't shake him off on the J high flop or on the turn and end up folding to a massive bet on the river with 7, 10, J, Q, 7, on the board losing $14 in the process.

So all in all lots of variance.

Betfair $131.32
Full tilt $334.16

2007-04-30T16:09:00.000+01:00

First post

This is the extent of my bank roll:

$116.35 at Betfair
$246.76 at Full Tilt

So not much.

I have one goal right now (aside from not busting), which is to get both sites to $1,000 ideally by 1 September. But Full Tilt is my main priority (because I get rakeback there).

I will be playing nl cash games $0.1/0.25 and $0.25/0.5 for the timebeing (I will need $1500 on the site to play at $0.5/1). It will be a slow grind, if it works.