Heeeeeater at 400NL

I was inspired by Arrrtard's back-to-back 2K days at 400NL and decided to play there for a bit. I've played 200NL mostly to see if I can grind it out profitably (yes), but this was a lot of fun. I'm up over $2,500 for the day and playing really well ...

Set over set, standard:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1316471

I take an unusual line with AK in a re-raised pot. He INSTA-calls:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1316483

AK fills up. Turn bet is to get value out of weaker aces and price in draws.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1316489

This one I misplayed. River should be an EASY overbet-shove. I missed out on like $115 or so.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1316500

Should I flat call here IP? This guy is getting REALLY frustrated with me but his AF is only 0.7.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1316513

A 200NL session review ...

I 6-tabled for one hour and played very well:

The start sucked as I got stacked in the first 10 hands or so:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315171

I value-shove AK on the river. Is checking best here? I put one of them on a draw and the other on a weak ace.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315186

A collection of hands vs. the same player:

1. I get tw0-outed on the turn and call a river bet:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315216

2. I make a note on him. "min-raise IP weak for pot control". I decide to punish him for doing so.

3. I flop TPGK. I 3-bet him on the flop and shove turn:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315240

4. Finally ... the coup de grace. My set vs. his TP:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315267

5. I'm not folding ANYTHING against this guy. I call his small bet with33 on a 52265 board:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315352

The player in this hand was SUPER loose and SUPER aggro:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315299

This player is drawing dead against my full house when he c/r ai on the turn:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315341

Small set rivers FH:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315348

A note on small pocket pairs:

I've been folding those OOP to a 3-bet when we're only 100BB's deep or so. For example ...
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1315356

Overall good session. The QQ call on the river was bad, but other than that I think I played each hand optimally.

What a frustrating month ...

July has been incredibly frustrating. I just never got any momentum going. It seems like whenever I was starting to get something going I would lose my whole stack in a very frustrating fashion. Like this:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1313028

So while I'm up for the month, it's not much and that sucks. Worst of all I'm playing frustrated.

Value Shoving ...

This is something I've talked about a lot, and here is another textbook example of an overbet-shove:

1. Back door flush hits on a 4-to-a-straight board:

Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $1/$2 Blinds - 5 Players -

PKowalski: $337.10
Kylef41: $135.80
pauly007: $363.50
TheXC: $303.50
unclesnappy: $190.00

Preflop: TheXC is dealt 6d 7d (5 Players)
pauly007 folds, TheXC raises to $7.00, 2 folds, Kylef41 calls $5.00

Flop: ($15) Jd 9c 3h (2 Players)
Kylef41 checks, TheXC checks

Flop misses me completely and the J and 9 are likely to hit his blind calling range.

Turn: ($15) 8d (2 Players)
Kylef41 checks, TheXC bets $11.00, Kylef41 calls $11.00

Wheee! I've picked up a combo draw. Let's bet it ...

River: ($37) Td (2 Players)
Kylef41 bets $22.00, TheXC raises all-in to $285.50, Kylef41 calls all-in for $95.80
Uncalled bet of $0.00 returned to TheXC

Perfect card for me! Now there are 4 to a straight and I've got a very disguised hand. Any queen should call me here.

Pot Size: $272.60 ($3 Rake)

Result: Villain had KQo

Head's Up ...

I played some HU the past few days ... I'm a huge calling station.

Here, since I never give anyone any credit I called:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1302168

LOL ... I call!
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1302174

A couple of hands ...

K9o vs. horrible player. He's 66/14 and just doesn't play well.
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1299151

The flop was great so I potted it. Turn isn't bad so I bet pretty big. The river is horrible since it completes a flush draw. I check to him and he pots it. I think that if he bet smaller I would fold. Since he's a horrible player I called.

I am confused by his river play here. The player is 19/13 over 100 hands. wtf?
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1299162

Link to my 2+2 post about it.

I think this is a fold on the river vs. a pretty passive (18/4/0.67) player:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1299178

Quad Kings FTW!
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1299181

Pretty standard vs. shortie in a rr pot with that kinda flop. He INSTA-calls me:
http://www.pokerhand.org/?1299308

NH for me ... kinda deep

55 - flop a set, river quads:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1295410

A couple of hands ...

Not sure what to do on the turn here:

33 in position: Link to 2 + 2.

Flop/Turn Play ...

I played this interesting hand ... not sure what to do on the turn. I put him on 55:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=11329514&an=0&page=0&gonew=1#UNREAD

Two hands ...

I flop a set of 3's and shove the turn:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1266549

I turn a set of 7's and overshove the river:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1266561

I think I played both correctly ...

Playing some in Vegas ...

I played for a bit today after my first day in Vegas. Here is an interesting hand:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1261906

Button raiser is SUPER aggro and SUPER loose. I think he is 4-betting me light here. I hate calling in this spot because I will be out of position and I don't want to see an Ace on the flop. I think shoving is correct here, but I feel like I'm not giving him a chance to bluff again. On the other hand, if I call his 4-bet, he's probably shutting down anyhow ...

So I guess I'm not really sure what to do in this spot.

Turn decision ...

I think I played this correctly:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1257027

Villain was 15/13 but very aggro. I think calling on the turn is -EV.

River Decision ...

I'm on a $2,500 upswing - I'm finally starting to hit some hands and bad players are paying me off.

This was the most interesting hand from my morning session:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1256457

Josh and I talked about it later regarding my river decision. I told him I think we are chopping so I called - his line makes sense for AK but not much else. Josh thought that calling to chop is like stabbing yourself in the eye - it's not fun and nothing good ever comes of it.

When I was thinking about the hand, I just thought AK would play it that way - 4-bet pre-flop, check the dry flop, bet the King, and then shove the river. So ... I called.

This hand ...

No pair, no draw I guess ...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1255690

Things that make me happy ...

Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $1/$2 Blinds - 6 Players - (http://www.legopoker.com/hh)

jags1818: $302.75
davcrehan: $33.80
iamdaisy: $305.00
SmookingBianco: $197.00
TheXC: $200.00
dadham9: $199.25

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Jc Jh (6 Players)
2 folds, TheXC raises to $7.00, dadham9 folds, jags1818 calls $6.00, davcrehan folds

Flop: ($16) Kc Js 6d (2 Players)
jags1818 checks, TheXC bets $11.00, jags1818 calls $11.00

Turn: ($38) Jd (2 Players)
jags1818 checks, TheXC bets $18.00, jags1818 calls $18.00

River: ($74) Ah (2 Players)
jags1818 bets $74.00 ...

A hand that came out of my discussion with Josh ...

Here is a discussion I had with Josh this morning about a hand (none of it seems personal or confidential and I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it):

joshuaashtondzl: I butchered this hand horribly and I was pretty upset about it
joshuaashtondzl:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1253270

Josh: I'm not huge on double barreling (even though I know it seems otherwise)
Josh: But this guy was a huge floater, so I figured if he had a big ace, he would have 3bet me and the line meets the float persona
Josh: Then, I get lucky - and I fuck up.
Josh: I think its possible I was ahead the whole time and he was on a flush draw
Josh: but if not, I made a relaly poor bet.

PokerXC: But he might also have like AJ ...
PokerXC: Yeah ...
PokerXC: bet smaller
PokerXC: Like $30 into $90

I was thinking about that hand and about our discussion when this hand came up:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1253447

Pre-flop and flop are standard. On the turn I want to get value out of flush draws and I want to price them in (price in/price out). River is a blank and I feel if I bet a lot he's just going to fold. I also think that if I check I might miss value out of a ten or some other random crap he's incapable of folding. So ... I bet weak like we talked about and get min-raised and call.

I think a call is correct there - if he's bluffing there is no value in raising and if he hit some sort of miracle diamonds (Ad 3d? Ad 7d? 4d 5d?) I am shoving into a worst hand. Basically ... I can't think of many worst hands that call here if I shove.

Here is the advice I got from 2+2. I don't know if I agree with it. I like Brian's advice of "Donk bet into donk players."

Pot control ...

Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $1/$2 Blinds - 5 Players - (http://www.legopoker.com/hh)

SteamboatM: $132.05
jwpoker4: $263.05
riverbaby11: $203.25
nuSFwck: $521.30
TheXC: $199.00

Preflop: TheXC is dealt Th 9c (5 Players)
2 folds, TheXC raises to $7.00, SteamboatM calls $6.00, jwpoker4 calls $5.00

Totally standard button raise. I get two callers.

Flop: ($21) 7c 9h 5d (3 Players)
SteamboatM checks, jwpoker4 bets $14.00, TheXC calls $14.00, SteamboatM folds

A 26/17 type player leads out. I have top pair and no kicker. There is one more person still behind me that could check raise. I have position. All signs point to "call".

Turn: ($49) Tc (2 Players)
jwpoker4 checks, TheXC bets $31.00, jwpoker4 folds
Uncalled bet of $31.00 returned to TheXC

The turn is a good card for me. It gives me top two and does not complete any draws. The only straights out there are 68 which he would have flopped and J8 - which means he would have just turned a gutter. He checks to me. Now ... I have to bet here - both for value and to make sure I don't get bluffed on the river.

If he check/raises me here, I don't think my two pair is good though ...

Pot Size: $49.00 ($2.45 Rake)

What a session ...

There was no tilt involved ... just cooler after cooler. Brian was sweating me and all he could say was "poker is swingy dude ... you're playing well."


Here is one of the hands that kicked off the huge drop:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1246704

And this one ... this one was strange:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1246708

Pretty big pot ... $658 - I'm 99.9% to win on the flop :)

I called pre-flop because avanto was in - not because I had the odds vs. Gambaholic:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1246230

I'm 5% to win on the flop ...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1244254

Two hands where I got stacked ...

After this one I shrugged my shoulders, typed "nh" and moved on:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1240511

... while after this one I just felt so deflated and steamed:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1240416

It's crap like the 2nd hand that has just killed me in the last few days. I also noticed that I tend to lost money when I play in the morning/afternoon while I tend to clean up in the afternoon/evenings. This is something I need to keep in mind in the future. Overall, I'm still struggling to get anything going. I'm down $675 for the month. I just want one good day ($500+) to get my confidence back and end my frustrations.

My session today ...

I usually don't whine about bad beats, but it was really getting to me today.

Here are some choice ones:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1237978

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1237992

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1237993

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1237997

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1238038

After a while I just felt so demoralized ... it was crazy.

Floating, taking it away on the turn ...

I thought he was squeezing ...

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1235923

chefrm: lol x got me good though
TheXC: I figured you were squeezing.
chefrm: i wasnt
chefrm: i almost shoved on turn
chefrm: knew u had nada
TheXC: So ... my plan was to call and try to take away the turn.
TheXC: How did you know?
chefrm: i know
TheXC: hahaha
TheXC: what did you have?
chefrm: cuz i have been really watching your game
chefrm: aks
TheXC: ok
TheXC: And I tend to fold to turn shoves?
chefrm: vnh though
TheXC: ty
chefrm: i just didnt think u could stand it with that weak bet
TheXC: value shove
TheXC: Wait ...
TheXC: so you were going to shove to my bet?
chefrm: yes
TheXC: Hmmm ...
TheXC: Given my hand I obviously can't call ...
chefrm: just had to decide if u had hand or not
TheXC: but generally ...
chefrm: donk bet goes both ways from u i think
TheXC: I hate a bluff-shove there when we're deep.
TheXC: yes
chefrm: i know
chefrm: so i gave up
TheXC: ty
chefrm: :)
TheXC: I'm going to take a break
chefrm: was well played

Given all this, I should have bet like $90 instead of my donk bet of $50. I figured $50 would be a good amount to bet vs. a very good player (chefm is a solid regular) if I was trying to milk him.

BTW ... unless you have a really good read on a situation, that play is usually burning money.

I don't feel like I'm getting max value out of my hands ...

For example ...

Full Tilt Poker - No Limit Hold'em Cash Game - $1/$2 Blinds - 6 Players - (http://www.legopoker.com/hh)

TheXC: $232.45
piriformis: $219.95
us3901: $324.05
WhaaataBLUFF: $273.05
Andykay: $253.75
jdb4_4: $852.15

Preflop: TheXC is dealt 3h 3s (6 Players)
us3901 calls $2.00, WhaaataBLUFF raises to $9.00, 2 folds, TheXC calls $8.00, piriformis calls $7.00, us3901 calls $7.00

Multi-way pot, I have a small pp, great spot to call and try to hit a set.

Flop: ($36) Td 3c Qh (4 Players)
TheXC checks, piriformis checks, us3901 checks, WhaaataBLUFF checks

I hit my set, but there is no betting ...

Turn: ($36) Qc (4 Players)
TheXC bets $21.00, piriformis calls $21.00, 2 folds

Board pairs ... I lead out with my set to try to build a pot. Maybe I bet too little here?

River: ($78) 4s (2 Players)
TheXC bets $66.00, piriformis calls $66.00

Now I try to bet for value ... should I check here and check/raise all in? I'm not sure.

Pot Size: $210.00 ($3 Rake)

piriformis had Kd Qd (three of a kind, Queens) and LOST (-$96.00)
TheXC had 3h 3s (a full house, Threes full of Queens) and WON (+$111.00)

Straight flush ...

I'm still running/playing poorly, but this always puts a smile on my face:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1235867

Variance ...

I'm currently down $200 for the month. I've been in a bit of a downswing and have just gotten BRUTALLY beat in some pots. It's very frustrating - hence the lack of updates. I'm trying to analyze my game and try to figure out what's going on. For one, I'm C-betting less. I've also tightened up. Finally, I think I'm going to get in fewer high-variance situations (shoving combo-draws, etc).

Losing sucks ... my graph for the month is horrible too.

Played way too long ...

I was up $425 early, got down to -$531, took a break, and came back and played till I was up. Finished the day with 3519 hands for $57.85. Basically didn't want to finish the day in the red. Ugh. It was nasty.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1226011

I made too many river calls when I shouldn't have. I also played too loose from some spots and C-bet into the wrong people. Ugh - not the way I wanted to start my month. At least I'm starting it up and not down. It's sad when my rakeback from a day >> amount won.

Oh well ... here is to a better day tomorrow.

July

My goal for July is what it was for June: Make $10,000 w/o rakeback. I will play pretty much 2ooNL 6-max until I get there.

I went ahead and played an orbit and saw this guy raise the previous two hands. I told myself if I hit ANYTHING I'm going with it:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1223669

ThisRiggIsSweet: @#&#ING MORRON
TheXC: short stack = no credit

I feel like this is the right way to kick off my month :)

Here is where I milk AA: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1224134

I bet 1/2 pot on the turn to keep a T and flush draw in. On the river they are pot committed.

I think I played this correctly: http://www.pokerhand.org/?1224152