Still disappointed and sad that things have come to this. Happy to be getting my funds. Still angry to be unable to grind online.
M
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Limit Hold'em vs. No Limit Hold'em
I think Limit Hold'em is underrated these days. It's a lot more fun than NLHE. Click the link and I'll tell you why.
To limit or not to limit, that is the question
To limit or not to limit, that is the question
Just a few short years ago, the game of choice in Tulsa's cardrooms, and indeed the nation's, was Limit Hold'em (LHE). The games were loose, friendly, and lots of fun. While most of the poker world has transitioned to No Limit Hold'em (NLHE), there are still many loyal fans who love the post-flop play of LHE. As a professional poker player, I make most (and sometimes all) of my profit playing NLHE. But I am a die-hard LHE player. It may be more difficult to find a game nowadays, and while my hourly win rate is much lower versus NLHE, I have loads more fun in LHE games.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
First week of live grinding complete ... recap and goals for week 2
I completed my first week of live grinding.
I played 6 of 7 days, posted 4 wins and 2 losses.
I played in 2 different casinos, and now know for certain which has the best games.
I played both $1/$2 NLHE and $3/$6 LHE.
Playing LHE, I lost $213.
Playing NLHE, I won $1293.
Altogether, I worked a total of 28.75 hours and won $1080. ($37.57/hr)
What I did right:
I chose games with the fewest regulars, whenever I could.
I was all in with the best hand 10 out of 13 times in heads-up pots.
I quit early on Friday night after being card dead for 2 hours and getting no respect for my preflop raises. Could have changed tables but wasn't in a positive frame of mind, so I quit.
Did not play scared.
Developed reads and went with them (was wrong only twice--that I know of).
Somehow managed to get seats directly to the left of maniacs on a regular basis.
Effectively exploited maniacs with a call-call-raise/shove line.
What I did wrong/need to work on:
I called too liberally with speculative hands OOP.
I failed to 3-bet preflop with hands that play best heads-up (i.e., AK, AQs, 88-JJ).
C-bet the turn too often after getting called on the flop.
Flatted too many c-bets (in raise/fold situations) and gave too many free cards.
Played too fit or fold without the initiative.
Betting too small on the turn and river.
Not bluffing in good spots for it.
I have a lot of non-poker projects that are going to get in the way of my felt hours next week, so I'm setting a goal of 20 hours for poker, and to move as many items as possible from the "work on" list to the "did right" list.
M
I played 6 of 7 days, posted 4 wins and 2 losses.
I played in 2 different casinos, and now know for certain which has the best games.
I played both $1/$2 NLHE and $3/$6 LHE.
Playing LHE, I lost $213.
Playing NLHE, I won $1293.
Altogether, I worked a total of 28.75 hours and won $1080. ($37.57/hr)
What I did right:
I chose games with the fewest regulars, whenever I could.
I was all in with the best hand 10 out of 13 times in heads-up pots.
I quit early on Friday night after being card dead for 2 hours and getting no respect for my preflop raises. Could have changed tables but wasn't in a positive frame of mind, so I quit.
Did not play scared.
Developed reads and went with them (was wrong only twice--that I know of).
Somehow managed to get seats directly to the left of maniacs on a regular basis.
Effectively exploited maniacs with a call-call-raise/shove line.
What I did wrong/need to work on:
I called too liberally with speculative hands OOP.
I failed to 3-bet preflop with hands that play best heads-up (i.e., AK, AQs, 88-JJ).
C-bet the turn too often after getting called on the flop.
Flatted too many c-bets (in raise/fold situations) and gave too many free cards.
Played too fit or fold without the initiative.
Betting too small on the turn and river.
Not bluffing in good spots for it.
I have a lot of non-poker projects that are going to get in the way of my felt hours next week, so I'm setting a goal of 20 hours for poker, and to move as many items as possible from the "work on" list to the "did right" list.
M
Guidelines to tipping in live poker rooms
Guidelines to tipping in live poker rooms
With many new poker players visiting Tulsa's casino poker rooms, some for the first time in a live setting, I've noticed some confusion (and a wide variety of methods) regarding what is customary when it comes to tipping dealers and cashiers. As someone who has played live poker for over five years, I thought I might share my guidelines for tipping. If you're new to the live poker scene, and unsure what a normal tip should be, perhaps this article will help.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Win streak broken -- card room PACKED!
Oh my God! The River Spirit poker room was absolutely packed tonight. Are there really that many online players in Tulsa? Judging by the size of the crowd and the amount of conversation revolving around online poker, YES there ARE!
Oh, and my win streak is busted. Was absolutely card dead. All my c-bets were called. Even with free turns & rivers, couldn't make a pair. Lost 1 buy-in over 2 hours. Decided to quit rather than rebuy and try again tomorrow.
Four out of five ain't bad, tho.
M
Oh, and my win streak is busted. Was absolutely card dead. All my c-bets were called. Even with free turns & rivers, couldn't make a pair. Lost 1 buy-in over 2 hours. Decided to quit rather than rebuy and try again tomorrow.
Four out of five ain't bad, tho.
M
Still batting 1.000 -- four for four in live sessions
Went back to what I know best tonight: $3/$6 LHE at the River Spirit. Mainly just trying to get in enough hours to qualify for their WSOP freeroll in May. Finished a 4-hour session earning 7.08 BB/hr. I know this run is going to end at some point, but hopefully it won't be with a crash. Had to quit early tonight for an interview in the morning. Hope that goes well, too. Then I won't have to rely exclusively on poker for an income. Despite an average $74/hr win rate over 4 sessions, it's unrealistic to think that these results will continue without issue. I would think $40/hr would be a more realistic figure, and will use that as my yardstick for now. Would love to hear from any grinders with history at live $1/$2 NLHE tables to compare notes.
M
M
Friday, April 22, 2011
Why the indicted poker sites will not return to the US market
Whether or not we want to admit it, the indicted poker sites skirted the law in places. Unless the DOJ allows a settlement without an admission of guilt, the indicted sites will not be returning to the US.
Why the indicted poker sites will not return to the US market
Why the indicted poker sites will not return to the US market
The bottom line is that these sites, while providing and protecting their customers with a poker room of the highest possible integrity, conducted their back-office business dealings without regard for the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, or the Anti-Money Laundering laws included in the Patriot Act of 2001. The DOJ in its press releases has made it clear that these companies are no longer welcome in the US. And just as we cannot have a convicted felon voted into public office, the US will not allow a convicted fraudster access to US banks.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Threepeat live
Made it back to the River Spirit casino tonight. Started at $1/$2 NLHE, where I doubled up while waiting for a LHE seat. Played LHE for three hours and basically broke even. When the LHE table broke at midnight, went back to NLHE, where I went broke (QQ vs 88, flop 877 and we get it AIOTF), re-buy, and then doubled through three times for a nice profit. Still need to work on my game when it comes to big calls. That being said, I did fold ATs on a 3T7r flop where I led the flop for $10 and BTN raised to $40. It was a limped pot where I was in the big blind and checked my option. BTN was a newcomer and I had no read, so I just let it go. Also folded an under-full house on the river to an overbet, meh. The players here are a bit wild and can be hard to read as a result. Pretty much all of my double-ups came from TPTK hands, though, so maybe calling an all in is the right thing to do against wilder players.
For example: I'm the button with QTo. Two limpers, HJ raises to $15, CO reraises to $50, I fold, SB calls, folds back to HJ who goes all-in for $155, CO calls, SB calls. Flop 674r. CO checks, SB goes all-in, CO calls. Turn 7, Riv 2. SB shows 62hh and wins the side pot. HJ shows KK and wins the main. Who calls $155 pre-flop with 62s?
Example #2: I'm the HJ with AQhh. 4 limpers, I raise to $12. 5 callers incl both CO and SB. Flop 244hh. I bet $25, 3 callers. Turn Ad. Checks to me, I bet $60. CO calls, SB and MP fold. River 9s. I bet $75. CO calls and shows A5o.
Still feeling my way through it all as I'm more of a LHE player and don't have much history with the NLHE crowd. Mainly just happy that I'm not playing scared and showing good results so far.
For example: I'm the button with QTo. Two limpers, HJ raises to $15, CO reraises to $50, I fold, SB calls, folds back to HJ who goes all-in for $155, CO calls, SB calls. Flop 674r. CO checks, SB goes all-in, CO calls. Turn 7, Riv 2. SB shows 62hh and wins the side pot. HJ shows KK and wins the main. Who calls $155 pre-flop with 62s?
Example #2: I'm the HJ with AQhh. 4 limpers, I raise to $12. 5 callers incl both CO and SB. Flop 244hh. I bet $25, 3 callers. Turn Ad. Checks to me, I bet $60. CO calls, SB and MP fold. River 9s. I bet $75. CO calls and shows A5o.
Still feeling my way through it all as I'm more of a LHE player and don't have much history with the NLHE crowd. Mainly just happy that I'm not playing scared and showing good results so far.
My opinion, and others', on the Black Friday charges
Online poker: the charges and argumentsLet's say that you and I decide to flip coins. Every time it lands on heads, you pay me $1. Every time it lands on tails, I pay you $1.25. While we are both gambling, you should expect to make a profit in the long run. Now let's say for integrity's sake, we hire a third person to do the flipping, at 5 cents a throw. This third person has no interest in the outcome. He's just there to make sure nobody cheats, that the game is played by the rules, the results are judged accurately, and that the victor is paid his winnings. Is this third person gambling? Is this third person operating an illegal gambling business? Well, that's the question the courts will ultimately have to answer...
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
UB.com and Absolute Poker follow Pokerstars' lead
The third-largest poker network suspends real-money games and withdrawals for US players.
UB suspends real money games in the US
Five days ago, on Friday, April 15, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged 11 online poker executives with crimes including: conspiracy to violate the UIGEA, violation of the UIGEA, operation of an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Later that same day, online poker giants PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker suspended real money games and tournaments for all US players.
Absolute Poker suspends real money games in the US
Today, Absolute Poker has followed their lead and suspended real money cash games and tournaments in the US. The message at the left is displayed to US players who connect to the Absolute Poker poker client.
UB suspends real money games in the US
Five days ago, on Friday, April 15, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged 11 online poker executives with crimes including: conspiracy to violate the UIGEA, violation of the UIGEA, operation of an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Later that same day, online poker giants PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker suspended real money games and tournaments for all US players.
Absolute Poker suspends real money games in the US
Today, Absolute Poker has followed their lead and suspended real money cash games and tournaments in the US. The message at the left is displayed to US players who connect to the Absolute Poker poker client.
Speculation on the future of online poker
The future of online poker in the USLast night I visited the Hard Rock poker room in Catoosa. When I arrived, there were two tables of $1/$2 NLHE running, and I was first on the wait list (tip: always call ahead and put yourself on the list). The evening tournament still had two tables going, and players busting out were added to the list. As it worked out, before a seat could open up, they spread a new table. This turned out to be the liveliest table I'd been a part of since high school, when eight cards were wild and five aces won every pot. In this case, the first eight hands saw five all-ins called. As a Limit Hold'em specialist, I am rarely witness to that much action when a game has just started and players have full stacks...
Two for two playing live
Another 4 hour session, booked another win. This time played at the Hard Rock Tulsa, and was seated at a table with some very lively players. In the first orbit, seven-handed, we had 5 all-ins. All-in from 88 on a J56 board (and it was called by ATo). All in from 76 on a QJ5 board (called by QJ). Too many to remember. I made two semi-bad calls (both times with a pair and a draw) and went busto for my first buy-in. Then tripled my second buy-in for a small win.
Hope your offline endeavors are working out as well.
M
Hope your offline endeavors are working out as well.
M
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Local and Online reactions to Black Friday
I take a look at poker community reactions to Black Friday, both locally and online.
The online poker community is in turmoil
Two days after the announcement from the US Attorney of the SDNY, the poker community is still reeling. Full Tilt and Pokerstars, the two largest online poker sites in the US, have suspended both real money play and cash withdrawals for US account holders. No official statement has been made yet from Absolute Poker or UB.com (both operating on the Cereus network), the third largest US-facing poker site...
In Tulsa, it's poker business as usual
With the pullout of PokerStars and Full Tilt from the US market, US players are left with few choices--none of them particularly attractive. UB.com (now doing business as UBPoker.eu) is still allowing US players to sit and play at their real money tables, but cashouts are restricted--so what's the point? While I don't have the Absolute Poker (now doing business from AbsolutePoker.eu) software installed to verify personally, I presume AP is conducting its operations in the same manner as UB, since they share both ownership and management. Other online poker choices include Bodog, Doyle's Room, Sportsbook Poker, Players Only, Lock Poker, Everest Poker, and a slew of smaller sites I'd never heard of before...
The online poker community is in turmoil
Two days after the announcement from the US Attorney of the SDNY, the poker community is still reeling. Full Tilt and Pokerstars, the two largest online poker sites in the US, have suspended both real money play and cash withdrawals for US account holders. No official statement has been made yet from Absolute Poker or UB.com (both operating on the Cereus network), the third largest US-facing poker site...
In Tulsa, it's poker business as usual
With the pullout of PokerStars and Full Tilt from the US market, US players are left with few choices--none of them particularly attractive. UB.com (now doing business as UBPoker.eu) is still allowing US players to sit and play at their real money tables, but cashouts are restricted--so what's the point? While I don't have the Absolute Poker (now doing business from AbsolutePoker.eu) software installed to verify personally, I presume AP is conducting its operations in the same manner as UB, since they share both ownership and management. Other online poker choices include Bodog, Doyle's Room, Sportsbook Poker, Players Only, Lock Poker, Everest Poker, and a slew of smaller sites I'd never heard of before...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Live grinding is the nuts (so far)
Off to a good start playing live. Bought in short for $100 at a $1/$2 NLHE table, while waiting for a seat in the $3/$6 LHE game. Played roughly an hour and got up with $235. Took my seat at $3/$6, played for 3 hours and left with a total of $516. Played tight, ran good, and got paid off every time. Easiest poker session of my life. If you are a full time online grinder who's never played live, I highly recommend it.
M
M
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Pokerstars and Full Tilt suspend US real-money play, withdrawals
Naturally, in response to the DOJ's indictment, they're suspending US operations.
PokerStars suspends real money poker for US players
Less than twenty-four hours after the United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York unsealed its indictments for 11 online poker executives, PokerStars has suspended its "real money poker services" to US players. CardPlayer.com reports that Full Tilt will soon follow suit. The press release from the US Attorney's Office of the SDNY regarding the indictments can be read here...
Full Tilt Poker suspends US players from real money games
As reported by CardPlayer and other news media, Full Tilt Poker has suspended US players from access to real money games and tournaments. In anticipation of the FBI's seizure of the FullTiltPoker.com domain, operations have been moved to FullTiltPoker.co.uk...
Full Tilt restricts US players from withdrawing funds
US players with real money accounts at Full Tilt "will temporarily be restricted from withdrawing" funds. Account holders are directed to contact support@fultiltpoker.co.uk with any questions...
PokerStars suspends real money poker for US players
Less than twenty-four hours after the United States Attorney of the Southern District of New York unsealed its indictments for 11 online poker executives, PokerStars has suspended its "real money poker services" to US players. CardPlayer.com reports that Full Tilt will soon follow suit. The press release from the US Attorney's Office of the SDNY regarding the indictments can be read here...
Full Tilt Poker suspends US players from real money games
As reported by CardPlayer and other news media, Full Tilt Poker has suspended US players from access to real money games and tournaments. In anticipation of the FBI's seizure of the FullTiltPoker.com domain, operations have been moved to FullTiltPoker.co.uk...
Full Tilt restricts US players from withdrawing funds
US players with real money accounts at Full Tilt "will temporarily be restricted from withdrawing" funds. Account holders are directed to contact support@fultiltpoker.co.uk with any questions...
Final results for April
I'm going to take the rest of the month off from online grinding. I may give other sites a try, I may not. Either way, I just renewed my CardRunners sub through September.
Since that means my current stats are the final for April, I'll go ahead and post them. Only half a month and still broke all my personal bests in terms of winrates and volume (pro-rated).
I'm going to take advantage of my local card rooms for the remainder of the month, but I'll still be active on CardRunners. I'm fortunate to have other venues nearby where I can play (one table at a time, 30 hands per hour, dammit). I hope all of you survive the storm unscathed and prosper despite the current legal debacle.
To Bill Frist: this is why the UIGEA should have been debated in the first place. A failure to define "illegal gambling" is the reason why we're here. Thousands of people, families, and billions of dollars all in jeopardy for failure to define this simple term. Well done, sir. Well done.
Since that means my current stats are the final for April, I'll go ahead and post them. Only half a month and still broke all my personal bests in terms of winrates and volume (pro-rated).
I'm going to take advantage of my local card rooms for the remainder of the month, but I'll still be active on CardRunners. I'm fortunate to have other venues nearby where I can play (one table at a time, 30 hands per hour, dammit). I hope all of you survive the storm unscathed and prosper despite the current legal debacle.
To Bill Frist: this is why the UIGEA should have been debated in the first place. A failure to define "illegal gambling" is the reason why we're here. Thousands of people, families, and billions of dollars all in jeopardy for failure to define this simple term. Well done, sir. Well done.
M
Friday, April 15, 2011
Black Friday -- online poker indictments?
It's all over the web. 11 online poker executives indicted. Two arrested so far. Too sad for words.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/04/three-largest-online-poker-sites-indicted-and-shut-down-by-fbi.html
http://money.cnn.com/rssclick/2011/04/15/news/economy/online_poker_indictments/?section=money_latest
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/founders-of-top-poker-web-sites-indicted-2011-04-15?link=MW_latest_news
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hxQXSRuLjxYniiKqet38bKwBV18w?docId=CNG.0d9a23b647ebc53de077adf8cd2bb6a0.541
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/04/three-largest-online-poker-sites-indicted-and-shut-down-by-fbi.html
http://money.cnn.com/rssclick/2011/04/15/news/economy/online_poker_indictments/?section=money_latest
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/founders-of-top-poker-web-sites-indicted-2011-04-15?link=MW_latest_news
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hxQXSRuLjxYniiKqet38bKwBV18w?docId=CNG.0d9a23b647ebc53de077adf8cd2bb6a0.541
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Forget about the curve ball Ricky, give him the heater
LHE RUSH. After struggling all March long, I'm finally hitting hands and holding up (most of the time). LHE graphs don't have an EV line, but if they did, I'd bet my profit line would be above it; and all I can say is it's about time.
I tweaked my game a little bit to plug some leaks. I played a little tighter (26/18), played fewer suited connector hands below QJ, C-bet 85%, and folded earlier and more often in marginal spots. The biggest payoff has been how I've played against donk bettors. You really need to know what donks are betting into you with. Take notes. If you know what a player will donk with, basically you own him. You know with relative certainty what you're up against and the optimal way to play the hand.
Results? Glad you asked. 9.83 pt BB/100 over 3400 hands.
I've been playing this new style for 2 days now, and while I know this is a small sample and I am running good, I'm sticking with it until I have a reason to change it.
Mid-month update...My win rate has doubled for the month from 1.15 to 2.37 pt BB/100. I hope this continues. I would like to take some shots at 1/2 next month.
Good luck at the tables!
M
I tweaked my game a little bit to plug some leaks. I played a little tighter (26/18), played fewer suited connector hands below QJ, C-bet 85%, and folded earlier and more often in marginal spots. The biggest payoff has been how I've played against donk bettors. You really need to know what donks are betting into you with. Take notes. If you know what a player will donk with, basically you own him. You know with relative certainty what you're up against and the optimal way to play the hand.
Results? Glad you asked. 9.83 pt BB/100 over 3400 hands.
I've been playing this new style for 2 days now, and while I know this is a small sample and I am running good, I'm sticking with it until I have a reason to change it.
Mid-month update...My win rate has doubled for the month from 1.15 to 2.37 pt BB/100. I hope this continues. I would like to take some shots at 1/2 next month.
Good luck at the tables!
M
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
This is too good not to share
Saw him in concert last summer and found this live version of an older song of his.
Getting love (and money) from my opponents
I have been running hot tonight in 25c/50c LHE RUSH so I put in a longer session than usual, much to my opponents' dismay. One in particular has nothing but love for me. Fairly standard, imo. But correct me if I'm wrong.
Full Tilt, $0.25/$0.50 Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Preflop: Hero is MP with A
7
UTG folds, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB 3-bets, BB folds, Hero calls
Flop: (7 SB) 7
3 6
(2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero calls
Turn: (6.5 BB) A (2 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds
SB : you fish again
SB : lolidiot
SB : hope you will have a deadly accident
Results: 8.5 BB pot (0.4 BB rake)
Final Board: 7 3 6 A
Hero mucked A 7 and won 8.1 BB (4.1 BB net)
SB mucked and lost (-4 BB net)
Full Tilt, $0.25/$0.50 Limit Hold'em Cash, 6 Players
Preflop: Hero is MP with A
7UTG folds, Hero raises, 2 folds, SB 3-bets, BB folds, Hero calls
Flop: (7 SB) 7
3 6 (2 players)SB bets, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, Hero calls
Turn: (6.5 BB) A
(2 players)SB bets, Hero raises, SB folds
SB : you fish again
SB : lolidiot
SB : hope you will have a deadly accident
Results: 8.5 BB pot (0.4 BB rake)
Final Board: 7
3 6 AHero mucked A
7 and won 8.1 BB (4.1 BB net)SB mucked and lost (-4 BB net)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Results-oriented thinking is bad?
Look, I'm a reasonably intelligent guy, and I know I should have this concept understood by now, but I guess I just don't get the distinction. What is the difference between making +EV plays and "results-oriented thinking"?
Let me explain.
I was having a conversation with a fellow poker player about a hand I played in a live game--and his opinion was that I suffer from results-oriented thinking. Here's what happened. It's a $1/$2 NLHE game, 8 players at the table. I'm sitting in the 9 seat next to the dealer. Across from me in Seat 6 is a 20-something maniac with about $900 in front of him. Two hands before this one he 4-bet 74o. His opponent flat called with AA (why he didn't 5b preflop, I will never know) and then shoved the flop which came 4Q7r, and the maniac takes his $400 stack. The guy with AA chose not to rebuy, so we're playing 8-handed.
Anyways, I'm in the CO with $160 total. Maniac raises UTG+1 to $12. It folds to me and I look down at JJ, one of my least favorite hands. Basically, there's 3 ways to play it and every one of them is wrong. I decide to flat and see a flop before I play for stacks. Everyone else folds and we see a flop heads up which comes T84ss. Maniac insta-bets $45 into a $27 pot. If I call, the pot will bloat to $117 and I'll have $103 left, and I'll be committed if an undercard falls on the turn. Taking my time, I look him over to see how comfortable he looks, and to me, he looks comfortable. My read is he's caling if I shove. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm beat, but he hadn't overbet the pot before so I had no idea if it meant anything. He could have an overpair to my jacks, or 77-TT, or Tx, or a complete air ball. I just wasn't sure, and since I was taking so long I decided to see the turn and if it was a blank (No A, K, Q, or T), I'd get it in. Turn falls an offsuit 9 and he shoves. I don't think the 9 helped him at all--if I was ahead before I'm still ahead now. I'm open ended now so if I'm behind at least I'm not drawing dead. Not sure where I am in the hand I call. He has AT for TPTK; the river bricks and I scoop.
Maybe this is going to sound defensive, but if I had been dealt QQ+ or AK, I would have played for stacks from the get-go. But with 22-JJ, AJs or AQ in this spot, I'm certainly not folding but I want to see a flop before I play for stacks. With these lesser hands, there's just so many things that can go wrong.
Is this results-oriented thinking? I guess, yeah, you could say so. But with a medium-strength hand is that so bad? Honestly, we make results-oriented decisions all the time. Like folding 72o preflop. How is results-oriented thinking and making +EV plays any different? Can one of you savvy pros explain this to me?
Thanks,
M
Let me explain.
I was having a conversation with a fellow poker player about a hand I played in a live game--and his opinion was that I suffer from results-oriented thinking. Here's what happened. It's a $1/$2 NLHE game, 8 players at the table. I'm sitting in the 9 seat next to the dealer. Across from me in Seat 6 is a 20-something maniac with about $900 in front of him. Two hands before this one he 4-bet 74o. His opponent flat called with AA (why he didn't 5b preflop, I will never know) and then shoved the flop which came 4Q7r, and the maniac takes his $400 stack. The guy with AA chose not to rebuy, so we're playing 8-handed.
Anyways, I'm in the CO with $160 total. Maniac raises UTG+1 to $12. It folds to me and I look down at JJ, one of my least favorite hands. Basically, there's 3 ways to play it and every one of them is wrong. I decide to flat and see a flop before I play for stacks. Everyone else folds and we see a flop heads up which comes T84ss. Maniac insta-bets $45 into a $27 pot. If I call, the pot will bloat to $117 and I'll have $103 left, and I'll be committed if an undercard falls on the turn. Taking my time, I look him over to see how comfortable he looks, and to me, he looks comfortable. My read is he's caling if I shove. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm beat, but he hadn't overbet the pot before so I had no idea if it meant anything. He could have an overpair to my jacks, or 77-TT, or Tx, or a complete air ball. I just wasn't sure, and since I was taking so long I decided to see the turn and if it was a blank (No A, K, Q, or T), I'd get it in. Turn falls an offsuit 9 and he shoves. I don't think the 9 helped him at all--if I was ahead before I'm still ahead now. I'm open ended now so if I'm behind at least I'm not drawing dead. Not sure where I am in the hand I call. He has AT for TPTK; the river bricks and I scoop.
Maybe this is going to sound defensive, but if I had been dealt QQ+ or AK, I would have played for stacks from the get-go. But with 22-JJ, AJs or AQ in this spot, I'm certainly not folding but I want to see a flop before I play for stacks. With these lesser hands, there's just so many things that can go wrong.
Is this results-oriented thinking? I guess, yeah, you could say so. But with a medium-strength hand is that so bad? Honestly, we make results-oriented decisions all the time. Like folding 72o preflop. How is results-oriented thinking and making +EV plays any different? Can one of you savvy pros explain this to me?
Thanks,
M
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Saturday, April 9, 2011
Graphic Perspective
Sometimes you just don't want the reminder.
Looking at this graph:
Is a whole lot easier than looking at this graph:
'Nuff said.
M
Looking at this graph:
Is a whole lot easier than looking at this graph:
'Nuff said.
M
Friday, April 8, 2011
Handling adversity
Imagine for a moment you're a major league baseball player. Your goal at the plate is to succeed in getting a hit roughly 30% of the time, and get on base 40%. In essence, this means you accept you are going to fail to do so 60% of the time. That is a harsh figure to cope with. To remain confident in your ability while failing more than half the time, and yet to continue to focus all your effort into succeeding at the plate. It takes a tremendous amount of mental toughness, physical ability, and an unfailing passion for the game.
Poker players face this same challenge. It's an odd occupation--playing poker--and if you're doing it for a living, it can also be tough on the people around you. One might speculate it's even tougher than for the ball player, as the poker player must succeed more often than he fails, just to beat the rake and break even.
I had a bit of a rough night tonight, and wanted to get a few thoughts written down now, in hopes that I can put the bad beats to bed, and free my mind from the ghosts of variance's past. Every few weeks or so, I have one of those nights where nothing seems to go right. I patiently wait for good hands, make good plays at the right times against the right opponents, and yet the deck rewards the weak player with the miracle river or runner-runner nuts hand after hand, ad nauseum. That's poker, and that's why weak players continue to play the game. Because sucking out is fun. And honestly, I want them to chase their 2- and 3-outers to the river every time. I'll take my pocket kings vs underpairs all the way to the river every time. I have to keep that in mind. I WANT them to chase to the river. If I am the favorite, I want them to chase. Please, oh please, chase that sliver of a chance to win.
Even so, what does it take to be able to make nights like this irrelevant? Because isn't that what it should be? Completely irrelevant to the one-long-session theory of poker? I'd like to think so--I'm just not there yet. Until I am, I'm going to need a few reassurances. So, let me take a minute to remind myself of some basic facts of the game.
Fact #1: Bad beats are inevitable. If you play poker, you're going to take bad beats. Lots of them. And sometimes, you're going to experience nights chock full of them. There's nothing you can do about it. Be patient, be appropriately aggressive, gather as much information as you can, and always re-evaluate as the hand plays out. That's all you can do. Make the best decisions you can and hope for the best.
Fact #2: The random number generator has no respect for pocket aces. Take a deck of cards, and deal out 6 hands, face up. Imagine how the preflop action might play out, but don't muck any cards just yet. Now deal out a 5-card board. Which hand is best? Pocket aces versus 5 other random hands only has about a 30% chance of winning the pot. The harsh truth is trash wins, and it wins most often in the hands of a weak but perennially hopeful player who's willing to take that trash hand to showdown.
Fact #3: Some players have no idea what they are doing and some are just gambling like crazy, and you should be overwhelmingly pleased to find them both at your tables. These players are the reason you play the game. They're the ones putting food on your table. Be nice to them, and congratulate them on that lucky river. If all goes well, they'll try to put a beat on you again.
So, self, here's my advice to you. First, stop focusing on the results. You can do everything right and still lose. Focus instead on making the best decisions you can, and let the results take care of themselves. Second, remember there is no doomswitch, there is no unholy conspiracy in place to separate you from your bankroll. There are the hands you're dealt and how you play them, and that's all. Third, remember that no matter how good you are, you are going to make mistakes. Fourth, learn all you can from your mistakes, and then forgive yourself for making them. Fifth, do not stand in the way of your own success through negative thought or action.
Okay, I think that should work for tonight. I especially like Fact #3. That reminder always makes me feel better.
M
Poker players face this same challenge. It's an odd occupation--playing poker--and if you're doing it for a living, it can also be tough on the people around you. One might speculate it's even tougher than for the ball player, as the poker player must succeed more often than he fails, just to beat the rake and break even.
I had a bit of a rough night tonight, and wanted to get a few thoughts written down now, in hopes that I can put the bad beats to bed, and free my mind from the ghosts of variance's past. Every few weeks or so, I have one of those nights where nothing seems to go right. I patiently wait for good hands, make good plays at the right times against the right opponents, and yet the deck rewards the weak player with the miracle river or runner-runner nuts hand after hand, ad nauseum. That's poker, and that's why weak players continue to play the game. Because sucking out is fun. And honestly, I want them to chase their 2- and 3-outers to the river every time. I'll take my pocket kings vs underpairs all the way to the river every time. I have to keep that in mind. I WANT them to chase to the river. If I am the favorite, I want them to chase. Please, oh please, chase that sliver of a chance to win.
Even so, what does it take to be able to make nights like this irrelevant? Because isn't that what it should be? Completely irrelevant to the one-long-session theory of poker? I'd like to think so--I'm just not there yet. Until I am, I'm going to need a few reassurances. So, let me take a minute to remind myself of some basic facts of the game.
Fact #1: Bad beats are inevitable. If you play poker, you're going to take bad beats. Lots of them. And sometimes, you're going to experience nights chock full of them. There's nothing you can do about it. Be patient, be appropriately aggressive, gather as much information as you can, and always re-evaluate as the hand plays out. That's all you can do. Make the best decisions you can and hope for the best.
Fact #2: The random number generator has no respect for pocket aces. Take a deck of cards, and deal out 6 hands, face up. Imagine how the preflop action might play out, but don't muck any cards just yet. Now deal out a 5-card board. Which hand is best? Pocket aces versus 5 other random hands only has about a 30% chance of winning the pot. The harsh truth is trash wins, and it wins most often in the hands of a weak but perennially hopeful player who's willing to take that trash hand to showdown.
Fact #3: Some players have no idea what they are doing and some are just gambling like crazy, and you should be overwhelmingly pleased to find them both at your tables. These players are the reason you play the game. They're the ones putting food on your table. Be nice to them, and congratulate them on that lucky river. If all goes well, they'll try to put a beat on you again.
So, self, here's my advice to you. First, stop focusing on the results. You can do everything right and still lose. Focus instead on making the best decisions you can, and let the results take care of themselves. Second, remember there is no doomswitch, there is no unholy conspiracy in place to separate you from your bankroll. There are the hands you're dealt and how you play them, and that's all. Third, remember that no matter how good you are, you are going to make mistakes. Fourth, learn all you can from your mistakes, and then forgive yourself for making them. Fifth, do not stand in the way of your own success through negative thought or action.
Okay, I think that should work for tonight. I especially like Fact #3. That reminder always makes me feel better.
M
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Stats that make me LOL
I posted last night about my disappointment in my performance at the tables yesterday. But today, it's just making me chuckle.
Looking at my stats, I'm still improving. For instance, My win rate for all of 2010 was around 0.3BB/100. My win rate for 1st Qtr 2011 was 0.8BB/100. And despite giving back half of my April winnings in one night, my win rate for April stands at 1.11BB/100. Definitely headed in the right direction.
Looked at my session from last night and saw this and just couldn't believe it. AA won only 78.3% of the time, and KK won only 63.6% of the time. That's really, really low. Historically those numbers have been in the 85 to 90% range. In fact, they've been cracked so often this month that I've broken even playing KK. That's pretty hard to do. In limit hold'em, you're going to take KK to showdown unless you have an A on board, or the board pairs and there's too much action, or you get coordinated boards multi-way. I've been pretty good about letting KK go in these situations. It's the rivered 2-outers and rivered gutshots that are getting paid off for 2 big bets, and I don't think it's realistic to think I can (or should) get away from KK on the river in these spots while getting what is usually 8-to-1 on a call or better. The fact is the deck just isn't breaking even, and my aces and kings are getting cracked.
It's amusing to me, really, because it means I'm doing something right. It tells me that my method of game selection is working like it should. It tells me, combined with other stats I've looked at, that I'm picking the right opponents and continually putting myself in +EV situations. They aren't working out according to expectation, that's all. In the long run, however, they will. And I'm fine with that.
M
Looking at my stats, I'm still improving. For instance, My win rate for all of 2010 was around 0.3BB/100. My win rate for 1st Qtr 2011 was 0.8BB/100. And despite giving back half of my April winnings in one night, my win rate for April stands at 1.11BB/100. Definitely headed in the right direction.
Looked at my session from last night and saw this and just couldn't believe it. AA won only 78.3% of the time, and KK won only 63.6% of the time. That's really, really low. Historically those numbers have been in the 85 to 90% range. In fact, they've been cracked so often this month that I've broken even playing KK. That's pretty hard to do. In limit hold'em, you're going to take KK to showdown unless you have an A on board, or the board pairs and there's too much action, or you get coordinated boards multi-way. I've been pretty good about letting KK go in these situations. It's the rivered 2-outers and rivered gutshots that are getting paid off for 2 big bets, and I don't think it's realistic to think I can (or should) get away from KK on the river in these spots while getting what is usually 8-to-1 on a call or better. The fact is the deck just isn't breaking even, and my aces and kings are getting cracked.
It's amusing to me, really, because it means I'm doing something right. It tells me that my method of game selection is working like it should. It tells me, combined with other stats I've looked at, that I'm picking the right opponents and continually putting myself in +EV situations. They aren't working out according to expectation, that's all. In the long run, however, they will. And I'm fine with that.
M
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Rough day but still in the green
Great hole cards, few good flops, lots of bad rivers. Gave my fold button plenty of exercise and fought my way back to even--three times...
Cheers!
M
Investing in my infrastructure for poker profit payoff
Is that enough alliteration for one title or what?
Yes, boys and girls, I have purchased a new laptop. One that should have no trouble running a HUD. My microstakes villains are all in trouble now! My 2005 model will be recycled back into the world of non-poker, where it might actually be sufficient to its tasks.
That cold chill you just felt was Hell freezing over.
M
Yes, boys and girls, I have purchased a new laptop. One that should have no trouble running a HUD. My microstakes villains are all in trouble now! My 2005 model will be recycled back into the world of non-poker, where it might actually be sufficient to its tasks.
That cold chill you just felt was Hell freezing over.
M
Monday, April 4, 2011
Writing an article for publication..need your help
Last month I started writing articles for Examiner.com as their Tulsa Poker Examiner. I'm planning on doing a series on online poker, and could use input from some regular grinders on each site. If you put in at least 20000 hands/month, have cashed out at least once this year, and don't mind giving me an interview, please contact me at Mark74105@cox.net. You have your choice of being quoted by name or remaining anonymous. If you're a pro affiliated with a site (like CR), they can receive mention in the article as well.
The series will include subjets such as site profiles and reviews (including training sites), rakeback, player loyalty programs (points, bonuses, medals, etc.), the legalities and realities of playing online (i.e., the recent cash out problems), and others as suggested by the players.
The articles I've published so far have been about the brick & mortar poker rooms we have in the area (Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma). Take a look if you're interested by clicking here.
Thanks in advance for the help!
M
The series will include subjets such as site profiles and reviews (including training sites), rakeback, player loyalty programs (points, bonuses, medals, etc.), the legalities and realities of playing online (i.e., the recent cash out problems), and others as suggested by the players.
The articles I've published so far have been about the brick & mortar poker rooms we have in the area (Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma). Take a look if you're interested by clicking here.
Thanks in advance for the help!
M
Saturday, April 2, 2011
New articles: Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms
I contacted all 42 casinos in northeast Oklahoma to find out who has a poker room, how many tables, and general info about the cash games they typically have and what their daily tournament schedule is. Put it all together and it ran a little long, so I split it into two articles. If you're going out of town or from out of town, these are the nearby venues for poker.
Alphabetical by city:
Part 1 - Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms (A - R)
Part 2 - Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms (S - Z)
Alphabetical by city:
Part 1 - Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms (A - R)
Part 2 - Northeast Oklahoma poker rooms (S - Z)
Cheers!
M
Friday, April 1, 2011
It's April Fools Day but the joke's on them
I finally have a nemesis. He plays LHE 6-max rush, .25/.50 and 1/2 and he put a bunch of beats on me tonight. AQs vs A6o, board runs out ATxx6. JJ vs A4, flop AKT, I call his donk bet on flop & turn and fold river, finally convinced. QQ vs A2, flop looks good but he spikes the A on the turn and I let it go. Saved 2 bets on a cooler. KK vs AA. I raise from BTN and the BB 3bets and I flat. Flop 227. I raise his flop bet and he calls. Turn A and I check behind. River comes another 2 and I call his value bet which I expect him to make with plenty of worse hands, but this time he has the nuts. Oh, well. Starting off April at 7BB/100. Wouldn't it be nice if I end the month with this average? Oh, baby...
Cheers!
M
Cheers!
M
Ended March on a high note
Net for the month was a paltry $60 for 100 hours of play. I'm ballin, yo. When I go out to a club tomorrow night, all I have to do is say, "Hey, girl, I play poker for 60 cents an hour. Wanna jump my bones?"
Just for fun, here's the graph.
Here's to our hands holding up in April. Cheers!
M
Just for fun, here's the graph.
Here's to our hands holding up in April. Cheers!
M
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