...Has officially got the best of me. No more pit games. And this time I mean. Famous last words.
Two short sessions this year so far. Up $322 live. About 5 hours total play all at Harrah's Las Vegas. I put $20 online and steamed that off fast. I should have a little rakeback coming. We'll see if I can slowly run it back up. I'm hesitant to put more online, because it's so hard to get offline.
I plan on playing tomorrow and more when I tour less.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Atlantic City
October 1st
Casino: Harrah's
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 2 hours
Profit/Loss: $10
Notes: The action was okay. Mostly locals.
This was my first time playing in AC. The Borgota is packed, but I got a room for $25/night at Harrah's, so I'm just going to play here. Not to many exciting hands. I bought in for $165, and was up to $220 when this hand happened:
The guy in the hand with me is pretty tight. I've seen him limp AQ preflop, and miss a value bet with a straight when the board came runner runner heart, and he feared the flush.
Casino: Harrah's
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 2 hours
Profit/Loss: $10
Notes: The action was okay. Mostly locals.
This was my first time playing in AC. The Borgota is packed, but I got a room for $25/night at Harrah's, so I'm just going to play here. Not to many exciting hands. I bought in for $165, and was up to $220 when this hand happened:
The guy in the hand with me is pretty tight. I've seen him limp AQ preflop, and miss a value bet with a straight when the board came runner runner heart, and he feared the flush.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
PH & Freeroll
September 20th
Casino: Planet Hollywood
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: -$330
Notes: Great action.
The game was good at PH. I got stuck in a tricky spot where I squeezed from the small blind with Td7d, and the BB shoved on me. I think I probably should not have squeezed preflop against such a loose range of players. Not too many interesting hands. I just couldn't make anything work. I ended up stacking off $250 with AA on a KJ8 3 3 board. Bet flop, but turn, shove river. He has K3. The only other interesting spot was where I had QQ on a AA775 board and bet $15 on the river as a blocking bet, and I was good.
September 2nnd
Casino: Harrah's Las Vegas
Time: Swing
Game: Freeroll ($500 to top 10 players. - I have a deal worked out with some other players)
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: $200
Notes: I was the big stack with 12 left. Playing the bubble was easy and fun.
Early on in the free roll with blinds 50/100, I go down to $250 in chips when my 2nd nut flush ran into the nut flush and top 2 pair in a 3 way all in. I grinded back. I eventually became the big stack when I got it in with QQ vs 6s SB vs BB. Then playing the bubble was easy and fun. It's nice to have 50K of the 180K in play with 12 people left. I was just jamming on everyone preflop. Everyone was trying to survive the short stacks at the other table getting knocked out.
I'm going to take 1/2 of my money from freerolls and use it for personal money for now. The other half of the profit will go to my bankroll. I'll keep separate stats for freeroll play on here.
Right now:
3 Freerolls
Buy In: $10 Add-on * 3 = $30
Profits: $200
Net: $170
Hours played: 5
So right now my current bankroll is at: $432 ($347 from playing + $85 from freerolls)
Live Poker Stats:
Total Earnings: $347
Total Hours: 18 hr 20 min
Hourly Rate: $18.93
Freeroll Stats:
Total Earnings: $170
Total Hours: 5
Hourly Rate: $34
Combined Stats:
Total Earnings: $517
Total Hours: 23 hr 20 min
Hourly Rate: $22.16
Total Bankroll: $432
My goal is to get to a $5,000 bankroll by the end of the year. I think one big leak I have is being too impatient at really good tables. Just let the action come to me. It will happen eventually. Another problem I notice is, if I set a $400 stop loss and lose a big pot and have a $60 stack left, I should just leave. Instead I will sit for another hour and try to grind it back up. I should just leave and play another day. What I usually end up doing is putting my $60 into the pot in a mediocre spot.
Casino: Planet Hollywood
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: -$330
Notes: Great action.
The game was good at PH. I got stuck in a tricky spot where I squeezed from the small blind with Td7d, and the BB shoved on me. I think I probably should not have squeezed preflop against such a loose range of players. Not too many interesting hands. I just couldn't make anything work. I ended up stacking off $250 with AA on a KJ8 3 3 board. Bet flop, but turn, shove river. He has K3. The only other interesting spot was where I had QQ on a AA775 board and bet $15 on the river as a blocking bet, and I was good.
September 2nnd
Casino: Harrah's Las Vegas
Time: Swing
Game: Freeroll ($500 to top 10 players. - I have a deal worked out with some other players)
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: $200
Notes: I was the big stack with 12 left. Playing the bubble was easy and fun.
Early on in the free roll with blinds 50/100, I go down to $250 in chips when my 2nd nut flush ran into the nut flush and top 2 pair in a 3 way all in. I grinded back. I eventually became the big stack when I got it in with QQ vs 6s SB vs BB. Then playing the bubble was easy and fun. It's nice to have 50K of the 180K in play with 12 people left. I was just jamming on everyone preflop. Everyone was trying to survive the short stacks at the other table getting knocked out.
I'm going to take 1/2 of my money from freerolls and use it for personal money for now. The other half of the profit will go to my bankroll. I'll keep separate stats for freeroll play on here.
Right now:
3 Freerolls
Buy In: $10 Add-on * 3 = $30
Profits: $200
Net: $170
Hours played: 5
So right now my current bankroll is at: $432 ($347 from playing + $85 from freerolls)
Live Poker Stats:
Total Earnings: $347
Total Hours: 18 hr 20 min
Hourly Rate: $18.93
Freeroll Stats:
Total Earnings: $170
Total Hours: 5
Hourly Rate: $34
Combined Stats:
Total Earnings: $517
Total Hours: 23 hr 20 min
Hourly Rate: $22.16
Total Bankroll: $432
My goal is to get to a $5,000 bankroll by the end of the year. I think one big leak I have is being too impatient at really good tables. Just let the action come to me. It will happen eventually. Another problem I notice is, if I set a $400 stop loss and lose a big pot and have a $60 stack left, I should just leave. Instead I will sit for another hour and try to grind it back up. I should just leave and play another day. What I usually end up doing is putting my $60 into the pot in a mediocre spot.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Ouch
September 18th
Casino: Harrah's Las Vegas
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: -$400
Notes: The game was good. Position on the only thinking player at the table.
I felt I played so good today. Had a great read on the table, and just couldn't catch a break. I picked a bad day to start running bad.
I'm pretty sure I'm getting laid off, so I'm going to try playing again. My roll is down to $677. Ideally I would like a $5,000 bankroll. The plus side is I'll be collecting unemployment for the next few months, so if I play well, I should be building up my bankroll without having to use much of it for living expenses. A $5,000 bankroll with less credit card debt would be better. A $10,000 bankroll with no credit card debt would be the best.
Here are some hands.
Let me start by saying, the big stack at this table is a thinking player, reads hands well, is very capable of folding good hands, and after we played a couple pots together, he said he's not looking to get into tough spots with me.
Hand #1 - Turned Set
The big stack to my right is going to call the flop light there. The original raiser was horrible and NEVER has a 10, and I know the big stack knows that, so I except the big stack to bet a 10. The big stack is capable of calling down light on the flop with 4s-9s, but he will fold to a 2nd barrel if he doesn't improve. I know he doesn't want to play a big pot out of position. At the same time, I know the big stack isn't giving me much credit because of my position, and I know that he knows that I know the original raiser doesn't have much. So I'm betting for value against the raiser and then plan on barreling the turn to pick up the pot. The turn was a great card.
Hand #4 - TT
The guy in the hand was an idiot, but I didn't see him bluff once. Apparently he bluffed once before this, but had more money at the time. He's been bleeding money. I just don't see what hand I can beat? I feel like 2 pair always checks because they have showdown value. Betting 2 pair on the river isn't for value. What bluff makes sense? The hand he woke up with makes no sense. If I assume him to check 2 pair, what hand can I beat on that river? His range could be J9,JT,JQ,KJ,AJ, hearts. I think I see QQ more often then I see what he had.
Casino: Harrah's Las Vegas
Time: Swing
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 3 hours
Profit/Loss: -$400
Notes: The game was good. Position on the only thinking player at the table.
I felt I played so good today. Had a great read on the table, and just couldn't catch a break. I picked a bad day to start running bad.
I'm pretty sure I'm getting laid off, so I'm going to try playing again. My roll is down to $677. Ideally I would like a $5,000 bankroll. The plus side is I'll be collecting unemployment for the next few months, so if I play well, I should be building up my bankroll without having to use much of it for living expenses. A $5,000 bankroll with less credit card debt would be better. A $10,000 bankroll with no credit card debt would be the best.
Here are some hands.
Let me start by saying, the big stack at this table is a thinking player, reads hands well, is very capable of folding good hands, and after we played a couple pots together, he said he's not looking to get into tough spots with me.
Hand #1 - Turned Set
The big stack to my right is going to call the flop light there. The original raiser was horrible and NEVER has a 10, and I know the big stack knows that, so I except the big stack to bet a 10. The big stack is capable of calling down light on the flop with 4s-9s, but he will fold to a 2nd barrel if he doesn't improve. I know he doesn't want to play a big pot out of position. At the same time, I know the big stack isn't giving me much credit because of my position, and I know that he knows that I know the original raiser doesn't have much. So I'm betting for value against the raiser and then plan on barreling the turn to pick up the pot. The turn was a great card.
Hand #2 - 4d5d 4 bet shove
So now the big stack tells me he respects my play and doesn't want to get into tricky spots with me. I told him he was the only player at the table I didn't want to get into a big pot with. A few hands later, this hand comes up. The limpers to me are dead money and their range is HUGE. I still like my play, and I think this play works almost every time. The guy that 3 bet, his bet sizing just screamed he was feeling out where he was at. I've seen him play a lot and he isn't putting it in preflop very often without AA or KK. My range looks so strong with players between us. Most of the time here I have AA or KK and get paid. I didn't hesitate very long, because I didn't want it to look like JJ-QQ. I wanted it to look like KK and I know I'm not folding, or I have AA and am just playing straight forward.
Hand #3 - AcJc Betting the turn for value
This hand is tricky. The BB wasn't very good and has a wide range in the BB. The original raiser is terrible and will donk bet and bet top pair always. The button plays way too tight. When I bet the flop, the button may or may not have been ahead, but when he just calls my bet, he definitely has a 1 pair hand at best. He might have a flush draw. The BB still has a wide range. The original raiser has nothing. This is my prediction on the flop. The original raiser didn't seem like he wanted to call the flop bet. The BB hesitated before calling the flop bet, and his stack size, he should be shipping 2 pair, sets, or a straight every time. And the BB should be shipping AK preflop, so I only have to worry about AQ from him. When the turn hits, I knew I could barrel the button off the hand, and bet for value against the BB, and assumed the original raiser folds. I almost folded the river.
Hand #3 - AcJc Betting the turn for value
This hand is tricky. The BB wasn't very good and has a wide range in the BB. The original raiser is terrible and will donk bet and bet top pair always. The button plays way too tight. When I bet the flop, the button may or may not have been ahead, but when he just calls my bet, he definitely has a 1 pair hand at best. He might have a flush draw. The BB still has a wide range. The original raiser has nothing. This is my prediction on the flop. The original raiser didn't seem like he wanted to call the flop bet. The BB hesitated before calling the flop bet, and his stack size, he should be shipping 2 pair, sets, or a straight every time. And the BB should be shipping AK preflop, so I only have to worry about AQ from him. When the turn hits, I knew I could barrel the button off the hand, and bet for value against the BB, and assumed the original raiser folds. I almost folded the river.
Hand #4 - TT
The guy in the hand was an idiot, but I didn't see him bluff once. Apparently he bluffed once before this, but had more money at the time. He's been bleeding money. I just don't see what hand I can beat? I feel like 2 pair always checks because they have showdown value. Betting 2 pair on the river isn't for value. What bluff makes sense? The hand he woke up with makes no sense. If I assume him to check 2 pair, what hand can I beat on that river? His range could be J9,JT,JQ,KJ,AJ, hearts. I think I see QQ more often then I see what he had.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Poker Goals
So I just read Matt Affleck's blog. He sets goals every month or so, which is cool. He also talks about fitness and health, which are two things I'm big on. He even posted motivational videos from a speaker I watch all the time. It's worth the read.
He talks about not letting his ego get in the way of poker. I think that is a problem for a lot of people. Now he grinds mostly 2/5 NL and crushes it. That's why I'll be playing at less desirable casinos to look for easier games.
Poker Goals for 2012
He talks about not letting his ego get in the way of poker. I think that is a problem for a lot of people. Now he grinds mostly 2/5 NL and crushes it. That's why I'll be playing at less desirable casinos to look for easier games.
Poker Goals for 2012
- Make $5,000 in cash games (I'm up $1,077, so $3,923 more before the end of the year)
- Top 18 in a live tournament (A major tournament series like the Venetian Deep Stack or Big Poker October at The Bike)
- Play at least 150 hours of live poker
- Study at least 3 hours / week of poker
- Take breaks at least once every 2 hours
- Avoid tilting and stop playing if I lose too much (2 buy ins)
I have 11 days of work in September, 8 days in October, and a tournament in October to work. It might be hard to play certain weeks. I want to play 30 hours / week when I'm not working.
Live Tournament Schedule
- 10/8 - $60 + $15 $20,000 Guarantee Big Poker October at The Bike
- 10/9 - $60 + $15 $20,000 Guarantee Big Poker October at The Bike
- 10/11 - $300 + $40 NL Hold 'Em Wynn Poker Classic (If they have satellites or you can earn tournament vouchers through cash games)
- 10/16 - $100 + $30 No Limit Hold 'Em Six Max Caesar's Palace Poker Classic
- 11/3 - $400 NL Hold 'Em Day 1A Venetian Deep Stack
- 11/4 - $400 NL Hold 'Em Day 1B Venetian Deep Stack
The hard part is that I'm working a tournament 10/12 - 10/26.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
$6 Rake
My fight too Chicago was rocky and a red eye. The turbulence was insane, so I almost didn't go play poker today, but all my friends have real jobs, so it was poker or skateboard.
Let's start by pointing out, there was a $6 rake plus a $1 jackpot drop. I tipped less once I found out the dealers split their tips with the pit dealers.
Benefits of casinos like this as opposed to a Vegas casino:
Pros:
People work all day, then come play poker. So they are tired.
Always a game, since there is no real competition.
Less regular grinders.
Dealers were all pretty solid and excited to have jobs.
Play 2 hours, earn a free buffet.
Cons:
$6 rake.
No late night restaurants.
People have to stop drinking at 2am.
September 5th
Casino: Horseshoe
Time: Grave
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 4 hours
Profit/Loss: $462 ($90 from promotional money)
Notes: The game was good. Great mix of players. $50-$200 Buy In.
Hands: Nothing to interesting. Here are a couple.
This was a straddle to $5 preflop. I thought it was a close fold on the river. I just couldn't think of a hand he value bets. $20 is too small to be a bluff. I figured any KsXs I beat.
This was my last hand of the night. I think I should have bet $95 on the river to make it look more like a bluff. Or instead bet $50 to guarantee a call. There weren't a lot of river bets over $50-$60 unless it was 2 $100-$150 stacks and they were getting all in on the flop or turn. People were missing a lot of value bets on the river, so I think $95 looks bluffy. And I think $50 looks like "Oh I might have QQ, so I don't want to just check to you and let you bluff me off my hand."
There was some promotional drawing too. They drew 2 table numbers. Ours was drawn, so then we high card for $300. If someone gets the As, the rest of the table all get $100. I got $100 and tipped $10.
Despite the rake, I'll probably go play tomorrow too.
Let's start by pointing out, there was a $6 rake plus a $1 jackpot drop. I tipped less once I found out the dealers split their tips with the pit dealers.
Benefits of casinos like this as opposed to a Vegas casino:
Pros:
People work all day, then come play poker. So they are tired.
Always a game, since there is no real competition.
Less regular grinders.
Dealers were all pretty solid and excited to have jobs.
Play 2 hours, earn a free buffet.
Cons:
$6 rake.
No late night restaurants.
People have to stop drinking at 2am.
September 5th
Casino: Horseshoe
Time: Grave
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 4 hours
Profit/Loss: $462 ($90 from promotional money)
Notes: The game was good. Great mix of players. $50-$200 Buy In.
Hands: Nothing to interesting. Here are a couple.
This was a straddle to $5 preflop. I thought it was a close fold on the river. I just couldn't think of a hand he value bets. $20 is too small to be a bluff. I figured any KsXs I beat.
This was my last hand of the night. I think I should have bet $95 on the river to make it look more like a bluff. Or instead bet $50 to guarantee a call. There weren't a lot of river bets over $50-$60 unless it was 2 $100-$150 stacks and they were getting all in on the flop or turn. People were missing a lot of value bets on the river, so I think $95 looks bluffy. And I think $50 looks like "Oh I might have QQ, so I don't want to just check to you and let you bluff me off my hand."
There was some promotional drawing too. They drew 2 table numbers. Ours was drawn, so then we high card for $300. If someone gets the As, the rest of the table all get $100. I got $100 and tipped $10.
Despite the rake, I'll probably go play tomorrow too.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Late Night
Went to Harrah's around 12:00am last night. There was no game, but I sat and waited until we finally got enough players to play. The players were soft, but no one had big stacks. Had an easy hand where I picked up $150. Then I just grinded out $100. I made the nut flush vs 2nd nut flush and didn't get paid off.
August 29th
Casino: Harrah's
Time: Grave
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 2 hours 20 mins
Profit/Loss: $248
Notes: Game was good, then got filled with locals.
Hands:
This is just sick! This was the most frustrating hand I've had in a while. I knew the button was real tight, but come on! I thought the player to my right was on a flush draw, because the button tanked on the turn bet.
The player in the hand over values his hands, but he doesn't seem like an idiot. I've been aggressive but not out of control. One of these days, I'm going to call here. I just want a monster when this happens.
Against the only bigger stack at the table. I thought his range was very polarized, pretty weak or pretty strong. My c/r looks fishy, and if he has a marginal hand I can check turn, bet river. If he has nothing, I don't get anymore on the turn or river anyways and this sets up future hands. This will help balance my c-bet range, and help define his range later on when I play out of position. I'm hoping that worst case scenario my play at least puts the thought that I might c/r the flop with air against him.
At best he has pocket 3s? Maybe 5s or 6s.
August 29th
Casino: Harrah's
Time: Grave
Game: 1/2 NL
Hours: 2 hours 20 mins
Profit/Loss: $248
Notes: Game was good, then got filled with locals.
Hands:
This is just sick! This was the most frustrating hand I've had in a while. I knew the button was real tight, but come on! I thought the player to my right was on a flush draw, because the button tanked on the turn bet.
The player in the hand over values his hands, but he doesn't seem like an idiot. I've been aggressive but not out of control. One of these days, I'm going to call here. I just want a monster when this happens.
Against the only bigger stack at the table. I thought his range was very polarized, pretty weak or pretty strong. My c/r looks fishy, and if he has a marginal hand I can check turn, bet river. If he has nothing, I don't get anymore on the turn or river anyways and this sets up future hands. This will help balance my c-bet range, and help define his range later on when I play out of position. I'm hoping that worst case scenario my play at least puts the thought that I might c/r the flop with air against him.
At best he has pocket 3s? Maybe 5s or 6s.
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