CHOPPA thread

[Chopper]

hey all,

i am sort of "testing" something out here. i am a solid TAG-lite looking to maximize my winnings (who isnt?). i feel i miss a lot of value and spots to semi-bluff. yet, i also get a bit "frisky" it seems at the wrong times.

i dont feel i have a lot of "leaks," but i'd be overly arrogant if i didnt realize i have some for sure. hopefully, some of you can help me spot them.

the format...to blend the strategy and HHs together by giving my "thought process" and "reads" of both the hand and situation. so, you know EXACTLY where i am coming from when i make a move.

background...have played up as high as 100NL with a winning record, but barely. back in the bonus days for us in the US, i had that backing me up. a nit by trade, i dropped to 10NL for awhile to "open up" my game a bit. learned a great deal, and like many others soundly beat that level, but i also think that is where i picked up some "bad habits" that i need to get rid of like...soft-betting, refusing to raise pf with lots of limpers, pushing in marginal situations...all stuff i'd like to re-incorporate to my game.

i will try to keep the off-topic stuff to a minimum, as this is not a blog, but an attempt to KILL the 25NL level (both fr and 6max), and move up higher.

thanks in advance to all that take the time to respond.

[SHAKE]

bring it on!

[Chopper]

here come a couple...low content for sure, but i wanted to show you what to expect...visually speaking.

kind of the good, bad, and ugly.

HAND 1: THE GOOD...no player reads. table is looking tight. folding to a lot of pfr's.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($25.60)
UTG+1 ($23.35)
MP1 ($22.20)
Hero ($24.85)
CO ($23.65)
Button ($17.35)
SB ($14.80)
BB ($28.55)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, A.
3 folds, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, SB calls $0.90, BB calls $0.75.
i raise a little lighter to encourage a caller...not usually the best move, but this table was tight.

Flop: ($3) Q, 7, 4 (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $2, SB calls $2, BB folds.
gotta bet this, obv. once i get a caller, i pin him on the Q, and hope he'll raise later.

Turn: ($7) 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $4, SB calls $4.
still calling with the Q. looking to value bet river now.

River: ($15) 8 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5, SB calls $5.
gotta get that Q to call a little more...maybe minraise me...which i call...i dont shove over...dont want to give a floater my stack. real question is: do you value bet $7.50? if he calls $5, he prolly calls more...but how much? thats where i may be weak.
Final Pot: $25

summary: i look to value bet here, but dont know/remember how much the TP hands will pay at 25NL. what do you typically throw out there? he actually showed pocket K's...i could have gotten a good bit more..

when I have the kings...i am raising the flop or turn...i dont want AQ controlling this hand...hell, i RR pf, i dont call a simple 3X raise...i want MORE! wow was that passive of villain.

HAND 2: THE BAD...no initial reads on table or villains...just that i've been somewhat aggressive, and got caught a couple times.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($11.75)
UTG ($22.75)
UTG+1 ($24.75)
MP1 ($33.45)
MP2 ($21.25)
MP3 ($7.10)
CO ($5.95)
Hero ($18.70)
SB ($6)

Preflop: Hero is Button with J, A.
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.75, 2 folds, UTG calls $0.50. i normally dont call raises with AJ, even with position, as its too easily dominated, but i am trying to open up a bit...and feel that i can play post flop better than the normal 25NL guy. therefore, with position, i take a shot at calling a small raise...cant help but think at this level, AJ could be the best hand pf quite often?


Flop: ($2.60) A, 3, Q (3 players)
UTG checks, MP2 bets $1.25, Hero raises to $3.75, UTG folds, MP2 calls $2.50.
flop hits TP for me...i am looking for a shot here. i want to "test" this guy early, as its cheaper on flop than later. when he bets, i already planned to raise...more to see if he would call or raise, and i raise enough to barely give odds...too little still?

Turn: ($10.10) 7 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $4.5, MP2 calls $4.50.
he checks, i auto-fire to see if its weakness. once he calls, i figure i'm out.
River: ($19.10) 8 (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.
heart hits, and i'm likely against a better A? easy check-behind? no way i can see betting here, or even calling his bet if he leads. i was shocked at what he showed...QQ...he said he was afraid i had AA. i said, "who are you, jennifer tilly?"
Final Pot: $19.10

summary... maybe a bit loose with AJ, but i can get away from TP most times. i just dont like how expensive this can get.

HAND 3: THE UGLY. no reads, either.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($10.50)
SB ($17.45)
BB ($35.20)
UTG ($18)
UTG+1 ($10.25)
MP1 ($7.05)
Hero ($23.80)
CO ($5.65)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, 7.
3 folds, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold.
normally, i open-limp this, but i figure to grab some initiative and see if a cbet will possibly take this down.

Flop: ($2.25) 7, 9, T (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, Hero raises to $2, SB calls $1.25.
thought i'd get a little donkey aggro and see what becomes of it...lol. actually, i thought being the open-raiser that i could fold them off, repping an overpair or set.

Turn: ($6.25) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75.
[b]STOOOOPID call of the day right here. what the hell? i didnt want to raise again if he was leading into my flop raise. but, it was .75...thats what got me...look at those odds? i'm almost getting my 10:1."

River: ($7.75) J (2 players)
SB bets $2, Hero folds.

Final Pot: $7.75

summary: dumb, dumb, dumb. should have never called the .75 turn bet. thats what has me most upset. the flop raise wasnt great, but at least it was aggressive. but then to call the turn...HEEHAAAAAW.


that gives you some idea of what i will be doing. hope i will be giving enough thought behind my actions to receive some well deserved criticisms.

btw, 135 hands here, and finished up $17 for session...roll at 1640. i wont post my roll often, maybe a couple times a month, but i will keep tabs on it.

[Chopper]

threw a night of "serious" poker to the wind last night...and went and played a home game with a good friend's cronies, whom i dont know. interesting to say the least. the only guy who had any experience was on my left, with a call station like i've never seen to his left. my friend, then a guy with little experience, and another call station to my immediate right.

table looks like: ME, semi-aggro, caller, chaser (my friend...lol), fish, caller.

needless to say, i have the passives on my right, and the aggro on my left...not the best seat in the house...lol. but, even the aggro was so bad, i figure i am BY FAR the best player in the room.

strategy: play tight, no Fing around with anybody, especially in big pots. it became clear after 5 hands that these guys had NO concept of pot odds to draw, what was a strong hand (calling with any pair), or what to even start with...i was in for some kind of night, and knew that there was a high probability that i need to become a "regular" in this ring to make money...one night certainly was not going to do it.

i proved myself right, too.

i got a couple playable hands (AQo was the strongest i saw all night), was treading water with my stack, and just watching the chips fly back and forth...waiting for an opportunity.

for some reason, i decide to play Q4s from UTG+1, and call behind UTG (caller) that open-limped. aggro folds, and the rest call. flop is Q 4 T rainbow...i bet, get called by the caller on my left...the rest fold. the turn was the other T, counterfeiting my damned 4!! oh well, i give up the hand, and check...call station bets out 2X the POT!!!. i figure i will show my hand to let them know i will fold a hand when the scare cards come...as these guys are soooo bad, they wont see the opportunity to bluff, this will just earn free cards. the caller shows, J5o, for a total bluff. we all laugh, and i know now that this guy can bluff and not care.

another hand...i have KTs and raise pf...no more free cards to anyone if i have something decent. flop comes A A Q rainbow, and a couple of us check...call station/bluffer is in this hand, too...(i know..shocker). i figure to be good with the K high and gutshot on a scary board, but want to see the turn before i fire just to see if a spade falls giving me more outs...remember caller isnt going anywhere to any bet. turn brings 9h...he checks, bet small, he only calls...now i KNOW i'm good with K-high, and i have any K, T, J to make the hand even stronger...10 outs. river falls blank, and i bet bigger, he FOLDS!! i was surprised. he must have had total donkey shit.

last hand of night...for me... i was getting coolered, and took a couple smallish pot bad beats on the river. blinds were going up fast...as no one knew how to arrange the structure. i get JTs UTG, and actually forgot to realize that the blinds just went up on me...i have enough to see a flop at the last round's blinds, but when they doubled, it was time to push. so, when someone said i was only half in...i said, "well, then, i push all-in...how y'all like that?" (figuring it would confuse the hell out of them.) aggro to my left calls my push (which is what i wanted because i figure the other call station calls, and that forces my friend in with great odds...easy chance to quad up). nope, the callers fold leaving me with aggro...but the decisions are done, as the chips are in. he flips up 9To!!! i have him dominated like AK over AQ. i was thrilled to see that crap. flop hits T...so i feel very good about that and i start saying, "no 9...no 9..." the rest of the table wants to see the 9, obv. and they do...ON THE FUCKING RIVER!!! ouch...i'm gone just like that. if that hand holds, like i should, i double through a deeper stack, and am in serious business for the rest of the way, but oh well, poker gods laughed in my face and completed the 3-outer at my expense.

online poker is RIGGED, my ass...home games are...lol.

heres how i know i was the better player...that didnt even phase me. i didnt feel my heart rate jump or anything...i felt no anger whatsoever...i felt no need to berate the call of 9To (which wasnt bad given his stack and 2 loose players behind him)...nothing.

however, they went apeshit. saying, how does that not bother you? and, i've never actually seen such a beat live before. or, i'm sooooo pissed for you. etc, etc.

those used to put me on tilt, but all i could say to myself was, "should have played online tonight, and made that money instead of donking it up in a room full of chumps."

but, i want to start a cash game with these guys next month...and i'll BUY THE BEER!!!

thanks for listening, if you read the whole thing.

[Da GOAT]

rough thoughts

hand 1: you are missing so much value on alot of streets which means your missing out on a hell of alot overall. this problem is costing you a few BB/100 seriously. Focus more on bet sizing, value betting rivers and not on semi-bluffing, WTF would you wanna focus on that at 25NL??

[Chopper]

rough thoughts

hand 1: you are missing so much value on alot of streets which means your missing out on a hell of alot overall. this problem is costing you a few BB/100 seriously. Focus more on bet sizing, value betting rivers and not on semi-bluffing, WTF would you wanna focus on that at 25NL??

i think semi-bluffing has its merits, and wouldnt think you would totally take it out of your game at 25NL...even if they call too much. wrong? because, that would be a biggie of a leak if so.

and, yes, missing value on the flop leads to missing value on turn/river, too. combining to cost me at least 3/100 in my guesstimates...thats why i am posting the thoughts for analysis...i need to maximize that winrate/$$ earned. i know i can beat the game, but i want to pwn it down here. maybe you spotted something for me...thanks.

and, you are saying the $2 flop bet was too small? shouldve potted it at $3? overbet? i feel if he missed with AJ or has TT he calls $2, but not $3...thats why...i want to string lesser hands along. i've often heard the saying that if they call a bet, they would call a bigger bet at the microstakes. how true is that? because, again, i would be missing out on a lot of money...

it would be easier here to bet pot, bet pot...and have him basically committed by the river...then, the "value bet" is not far off a push...in which case, i get a stack...not $15. BIG DIFFERENCE.

thats the stuff i need to know for 25NL.

[Chopper]

short sessions today...up $21.

nothing worth content...the big hands played themselves...twice hit sets w/ QQ. once against KK, and once against a draw. easy stack jobs.

[Chopper]

two things:

1) operation changed...sort of. i said at first i didnt want a "operation goal," but four entries in, and now i have one. told the wife i can pay our RE taxes with poker money easily, and she gave the ok to try. its not a lofty goal, but it IS a goal...and at least it gives me a "purpose." all i have to do is beat 25NL for 3 PTBB's/100 and play 650+ hands/day. not hard, but we'll see how it goes. the hands/day go lower if i move up to 50NL in the process.

oooooh, sounds like i have ambition after all.

2) some hands. just two. both with QQ setting up on me...so, not a lot of content, but in light of DG's comments about bet-sizing it got me to thinking...

HAND 1: i'll get better at reads once i have the chance to sit and play for longer sessions. assume none, though.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($21.65)
CO ($16.50)
Button ($12.90)
SB ($4.75)
Hero ($23.75)
UTG ($24.60)
UTG+1 ($6.05)
MP1 ($18.05)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Q, Q.
UTG calls $0.25, 5 folds, SB completes, Hero raises to $1, UTG raises to $3.25, SB folds, Hero calls $2.25.
usually, in a situation like this...facing a RR and oop...i set hunt or look for no overcards on flop, as to me it is AK, KK+ a lot.

Flop: ($6.75) Q, 8, 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $21.35 (All-In), Hero calls $20.50 (All-In).
when the Q hits, i am going to check bomb him AI anyway...he just did it for me. easy one.

Turn: ($47.75) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($47.75) A (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $47.75

Results in white below:
Hero has Qs Qh (full house, queens full of aces).
UTG has Kh Kd (two pair, aces and kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $47.75. UTG wins $0.85.

HAND 2: no reads again.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($24.35)
UTG+1 ($18)
MP1 ($5.30)
MP2 ($8.80)
MP3 ($27.80)
CO ($13.50)
Button ($14.65)
SB ($19.75)
BB ($4.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Q, Q.
Hero raises to $1, UTG+1 calls $1, 7 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) Q, A, 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $2, UTG+1 calls $2.

Turn: ($6.35) J (2 players)
Hero bets $5, UTG+1 calls $5.

River: ($16.35) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $10, UTG+1 folds.

Final Pot: $16.35

Results in white below:
Hero has Qs Qd (full house, queens full of threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $16.35.

tried to bet a bit bigger along the way, and get the stack on river. hindsight, i should have bet my usual half pot, and let him raise if he thought i got scared suddenly.

my question still is bet sizing? seems like if i bet smaller, i can string more along. unless, he had a busted draw here, i would have been paid on a typical $5 river bet, imo. or is it your experience that if he calls $5, he calls the other $5 and stacks off?[/b]

[Chopper]

got one question here...and 3 hands i cant resist showing (stack-a-donk style).

HAND 1: table VERY tight. however, maniac villain here. in most hands always coming in for a raise pf, and betting, but not necessarily shutting down to return aggression.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP2 ($6.95)
CO ($40)
Button ($14)
SB ($12.50)
BB ($30.25)
UTG ($26.60)
Hero ($37.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 7, 8.
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.75, MP2 calls $0.75, CO calls $0.75, Button calls $0.75, 1 fold, BB calls $0.50.
very surprising action here. 4X was getting no action whatsoever.

Flop: ($3.85) 4, A, J (5 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, CO checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($3.85) 6 (5 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, CO checks, Button checks.

River: ($3.85) 5 (5 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1, MP2 folds, CO calls $1, Button folds, BB folds.

Final Pot: $5.85

maniac villain showed A8o...and only called. this is why i like the smaller value bets on river, i wanted to give room to bluff, but still wanted to ensure i'd get paid...should i have bet bigger? why? i'm sure he alls a psb, but i figured he'd bet his A if he had one...so i think i'm up against trash here most times given the lines...and a larger than $1 bet folds less than TP, imo.

comments welcome, as i am struggling with bet sizing.[/b]

HAND 2: STACK A DONK series...3 hands. total maniac in position on me. fight fire with fire, if you have potential. possible important note: someone just bet me out of the pot on previous hand with a huge overbet into a small pot. i had a decent pair, but wasnt calling $4.40 into a $1 pot. you will see my comment, and that may have played a part in villain's big flop bet here.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP1 ($13.10)
MP2 ($25)
CO ($15)
Button ($25.65)
SB ($13.85)
Hero ($23.30)
UTG ($20.45)
UTG+1 ($26.45)

Preflop: Hero is BB with K, J.
UTG raises to $0.75, 6 folds, Hero calls $0.50.
usually i 3bet a maniac here, but wanted to see a flop and hit TP, as my kicker was likely good against his range.

Flop: ($1.60) J, 5, K (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $5.5, Hero raises to $22.55, UTG folds.
i get donkbet here, i think, because i commented "you guys and your overbets" right here about the last hand i got bumped, and i think a LAG takes advantage of that info. but, i figure if he's not bluffing, i dont want to see him draw out on me before the money goes in, as i am not letting this go against a LAG.

Final Pot: $12.60

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins $12.60.

may have tilted him, maybe not, but action against him definitely picks up, as you see in the next hand.

HAND 3: very next hand...he gets even...sort of.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG+1 ($13.10)
MP1 ($25)
MP2 ($15)
CO ($25.65)
Button ($13.75)
Hero ($29.05)
BB ($14.20)
UTG ($26.45)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6, 5.
6 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.
i know he may be pissed about my large RR on previous hand, so, i look for something with stack value.

Flop: ($0.50) 8, 4, 6 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.5, BB raises to $1, Hero calls $0.50.
i want to show him, the overbet was not an overbet last hand, and that i usually bet pot...not that this matters...just insight into the thoughts that i pretend work down here.

Turn: ($2.50) Q (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $1, Hero folds.
he fires, i fold...simple as that.

Final Pot: $2.50

Results in white below:
No showdown. BB wins $2.50.

HAND 4: finale of stack-a-donk...lol. very next hand, easy grab here, as he was more than willing to play reckless crap to "stack" me. but...ooops.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($13.10)
UTG+1 ($25)
MP1 ($15)
MP2 ($25.65)
CO ($13.75)
Hero ($27.80)
SB ($15.35)
BB ($26.45)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 6, K.
5 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, SB calls $0.65, 1 fold.
i like to steal blinds in fr now, too. something i incorporated from 6max play.

Flop: ($1.75) 6, K, 4 (2 players)
SB bets $1.75, Hero raises to $27.05, SB calls $12.85 (All-In).
i figure to stack him here, as he thinks i may be bluffing with another huge overbet...but, i think he would call with any K, or pp here, thinking he is good.

Turn: ($30.95) T (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($30.95) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $30.95

Results in white below:
Hero has 6d Kd (two pair, kings and sixes).
SB has 3h 6h (two pair, sixes and threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $43.40.

i love when it works like this with a maniac! i understand they get paid on this most times...but calling a "steal" with 63s? c'mon. thats a donkey move anywhere, yes?

i cant help it, when youre hot, youre hot. this was about the only series of hands that i will call "skill." the rest were cards.

session length...724 hands. money up...$73.25

easy night tonight. lots of hands played themselves. i may have made one really tough call that, when running bad, doesnt work out, and adds to the mess.

[Chopper]

what a frigging night!!! may dig through the histories for some hands...but nothing questionable...that i remember.

started off in 6max, where my winnings are roughly the same as full ring, but felt like the table donkey. was getting trapped with second bests, and my pfr was only getting called by AA and shit. when the board flops low...youre almost always going to lose a stack there oop, imo.

lost big with AQ into a river flush. and TT oversetted. down $40.

went to fr for a spell, and made about $6 over there over 500 hands. woooohooo. but, they cant all be winning nights, or we'd never have fish to play against.

i'm sure i did a lot wrong. when i stabbed at pots, i got busted. even though i give up quickly, it still accumulates when you 2 barrel air...which i did twice, and shouldnt down here.

thats a leak most likely...the tendency to overplay draws on scary boards. i have to keep reminding myself to stay patient, and only bet hard when you have it...they will pay off.

700 hands, down $35. sucks, but up off my low of $50 in the hole, so its not all bad.

[Chopper]

i dont see variance like this...and it frustrates the shit out of me. i've been trying to bet larger, but it seems to be costing more money. not anyone's fault. its just like when you take a golf lesson, and implement something new...you SUCK for awhile. it just happens that way.

i'm trying to take more gambles when the payoff is big, but the odds are decent, not necessarily correct. i'm sure some of these hands will be donkeys, as i dont feel the "zone" right now...thats for sure. it seems everything is off. my semibluffs, my reads, my aggression is getting played back at...and it cant be real everytime...or maybe it can.

i wouldnt mind if i were missing hands, but i'm hitting the flop with strong hands/potential...the kind of stuff that makes you win a lot or lose a lot.

one hand was about a $100 swing. couldve tripled up, but lost a stack instead with runner-runner trips and a redraw to the 2nd nut flush (which was obvious no one hand the way the hand was played.)

i will break these up into a couple posts.

much thanks to those who will comment on the play itself...if anyone...

bueller? bueller?

i play 400 hands and drop two BI's. strange. prolly overplayed, but i watch my numbers to make sure i dont get out of hand pf...i believe thats the key to 25NL fr. i run low 20's/10ish/2.5ish and was on target today...in fact, a bit low. coolered or scared, i dont know which.

[Chopper]

HAND ONE:knew he had the str8 on turn...what else raises there? and had good implied odds if board paired to c/r the river and get a decent stack on a str8 w/ no flush up there.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($29.90)
Button ($26.55)
SB ($80.10)
BB ($48.45)
UTG ($24.30)
Hero ($24.80)
MP2 ($12.25)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 5, 5. MP2 posts a blind of $0.35.
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, MP2 (poster) checks, 1 fold, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.35) 5, J, 9 (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, MP2 checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($1.35) Q (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $1.5, MP2 raises to $4, Button folds, SB folds, BB folds, Hero calls $2.50.

River: ($9.35) 9 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $2.5, Hero raises to $8, MP2 calls $5.40 (All-In).

Final Pot: $25.15

Results in white below:
Hero has 5h 5s (full house, fives full of nines).
MP2 has Tc Kc (straight, king high).
Outcome: Hero wins $25.25.


HAND TWO:can you drop this? TAG in seat behind me, and super LAG behind him.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($20.25)
BB ($30.30)
UTG ($26.30)
UTG+1 ($79.85)
MP1 ($49.95)
MP2 ($32.55)
Hero ($36)
CO ($4.65)
Button ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Q, J.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, Button calls $0.75, SB calls $0.65, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.50.

Flop: ($3.25) A, J, Q (4 players)
SB bets $0.5, MP1 folds, Hero calls $0.50, Button raises to $3, SB calls $2.50, Hero folds.
i hate 2 pair. too much out there that beats me, or has better outs. caught in marginal situation, to me, so i fold.

Turn: ($9.75) 5 (2 players)
SB bets $2.5, Button calls $2.50.

River: ($14.75) T (2 players)
SB bets $14 (All-In), Button folds.

Final Pot: $0.75

Results in white below:
SB doesn't show.
Outcome: SB wins $28.75.


HAND THREE:against a TAG w/ pos, can you value bet this river? did i miss value here?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($28.05)
SB ($30.05)
BB ($26.30)
UTG ($79.85)
UTG+1 ($49.20)
MP1 ($32.55)
Hero ($34.75)
MP3 ($4.65)
CO ($18.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, J.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 5 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.75.

Flop: ($2.35) 3, 6, 8 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($2.35) 6 (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $1, UTG+1 calls $1.
alternate line...bet harder, to $2. does that make a difference in your opinions?

River: ($4.35) J (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks.
my reads are way off right now. i had no clue where to put a TAG-type player who is only calling a smallish bet. and with the diamond on the turn, i thought i'd take a shot, and he called. so, even with TP on the river, this was a scary enough board i took the free SD. bad move?

Final Pot: $4.35

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has 5h 5s (two pair, sixes and fives).
Hero has Ad Jc (two pair, jacks and sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins $4.35.

thats round one. trust me, it gets worse.

[Chopper]

round two...

HAND FOUR:at what point can you drop this? is this a good spot to gamble...triple up? my hand keeps improving with a very strong redraw. i knew i was behind until river...thought i may have sucked out.

i dont feel bad about gambling here, but it cost me a stack. if the heart hits, i know i have 2 stacks in my pocket...a $100 swing.

please help with this one...i feel somewhat justified, but still feel like the donkey when they dont work out. i only do this rarely for stacks. i usually bail before it gets too ugly, but i kept improving, if only slightly...the board, and my desire, trapped me here.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($28.85)
UTG ($29.70)
UTG+1 ($24.80)
MP1 ($79.50)
MP2 ($46.60)
MP3 ($33.05)
Hero ($36.55)
Button ($4.30)
SB ($20.15)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, Q.
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 3 folds, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.75, UTG+1 folds.
i raise lightish to "sweeten the pot" for a potential big hand.

Flop: ($3.50) 7, J, 6 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $2.5, SB raises to $7, UTG calls $7, Hero calls $4.50.
two overs, a strong flush draw, and a backdoor straight draw...you bet your ass i bet/call with another in the pot. i know my overs are weak/dead, but i got like 10-12 outs here by my count(9 flush, 1bd str8, and 2ish overs). this aggression is either a set, TPTK afraid of the draws/action, or overpair/weak 2 pair? with both wanting action, i know i got potential here...but it will be expensive.

Turn: ($24.50) Q (3 players)
SB bets $12.15 (All-In), UTG calls $12.15, Hero calls $12.15.
not what i was looking for, but i did improve. i shouldnt count this as improvement, but i did, and figure i have TKGK with a 2nd nut redraw...it was the redraw i was playing, and the possibility of the K/Q hitting to give me a great chance at best hand with stacks in. still 12ish outs, but dont want to shove just yet. besides...the first guy is done (AI) and the second has me covered with a $12 push into a $24 pot...AND A CALLER, TOO, how do you fold out now? and i have zero FE in this pot anyway...my only option, call and decide how scary the river is to save a potential $9...but not likely with minimal improvement..i'd have to whiff the river completely at this point.

River: ($60.95) Q (3 players, 1 all-in)
UTG bets $9.55 (All-In), Hero calls $9.55.
dammit. now i am somewhat often best here, but to this action, i'm prolly not. but into a $60 pot, for $10 more, i'm committed...dammit.

Final Pot: $80.05

Results in white below:
SB has Ah As (two pair, aces and queens).
UTG has 6s 6d (full house, sixes full of queens).
Hero has Kh Qh (three of a kind, queens).
Outcome: UTG wins $80.05.

i understand the 66. i hate this when the trips commit you to river call into a boat...but the AA? c'mon. wheres the RR, buddy? you cant be that confident on this board. even i'm not that stupid.


HAND FIVE:combo draw i figure to have 12 outs or 48% odds. raise good here? but, i figure to drop to the paired board...just not working out so far...or spewy?

also, last big hand made me think, "oh no, not again...dont make another huge mistake." i know you need to treat every situation completely separately, but thats not so easy when you lost a stack you could have easily won.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($19.15)
BB ($16.85)
UTG ($20.35)
UTG+1 ($22.60)
MP1 ($26.20)
MP2 ($26.10)
Hero ($23.95)
CO ($5)
Button ($27.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with T, K.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 raises to $1, Hero calls $1, 4 folds, MP1 folds.
i call here feeling i will have position and MP1 will call, too. oops.

Flop: ($2.60) A, 3, Q (2 players)
MP2 bets $2.5, Hero raises to $5.5, MP2 calls $3.
spewy raise/semibluff? the villain is TAG. folding a lot to 3bet type lines. figured it was a good place for a shot, and had 12 outs backing me up. doubt my K is good. just playing for str8 or flush as best hand. put him squarely on the A.

Turn: ($13.60) A (2 players)
MP2 bets $19.6 (All-In), Hero folds.
i raised flop, and he leads out? he made a great bet here. the only thing, imo, that calls this is a set that went full...which takes balls to make the bet in the face of a flop raise, if he isnt ready for a caller.

Final Pot: $-6

Results in white below:
No showdown. MP2 wins $33.20.


HAND SIX: finally, get one back. thats the only reason i show it. i love sets.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($21.95)
Button ($23.85)
SB ($87.25)
BB ($25.55)
UTG ($25)
MP ($26.20)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 2, 2.
2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.75) 9, 2, J (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.75, Hero raises to $1.5, SB folds, BB raises to $4.25, Hero raises to $21.7, BB calls $17.45.
QUACK-FRIGGIN-QUACK, biotch

Turn: ($44.15) T (2 players)

River: ($44.15) A (2 players)

Final Pot: $44.15

Results in white below:
BB has Jh 9s (two pair, jacks and nines).
Hero has 2h 2d (three of a kind, twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $44.15.


all for round two.

[Silly String]

Hand #1: Played perfect if you're going to limp with 55 in EP. I personally raise it up anywhere, but that is just different PF play.

Hand #2: I like the fold. You only have $1.25 invested an this guy clearly wants to play a big pot. Your hand isn't getting any better. Half the time if you boat he makes a better boat.

Hand #3: I check behind here too. If you get raised you have to puke/fold. Be glad you hit the J and took down the pot.

I want to see the really bad ones that you speak of though. I know hands like these didn't cost you 2 buyins.

[Chopper]

round three...2 hands.

HAND SEVEN:needed to bet biggish. had a slpp out there with a high SD #. but any bet folds these guys here, i guess.

this is the struggle i'm having with bet-sizing. i dont think this texture needs a pot bet. 2/3 pot would prolly been fine. i like just barely enough to take away odds for the first guy, but do they call a buck more, if they are going to call?

PokerStars Game #11273311405: Hold'em No Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/08/02 - 16:12:45 (ET)
Table 'Shenzhen' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: keedn ($24.75 in chips)
Seat 2: PurpletrusT ($22.15 in chips)
Seat 3: mjgrannie ($28.15 in chips)
Seat 4: gjch ($21.10 in chips)
Seat 5: shawes8 ($14.65 in chips)
Seat 6: DeVo_013 ($8.25 in chips)
Seat 7: mastermindnr ($10.55 in chips)
Seat 8: MPAQS ($24.15 in chips)
Seat 9: pfsbulldawg ($24.45 in chips)
keedn: posts small blind $0.10
PurpletrusT: posts big blind $0.25
shawes8: posts small blind $0.10
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to pfsbulldawg [Kd As]
mjgrannie: calls $0.25
gjch: calls $0.25
shawes8: calls $0.25
DeVo_013: calls $0.25
mastermindnr: folds
MPAQS: folds
pfsbulldawg: raises $1.75 to $2
keedn: folds
PurpletrusT: folds
mjgrannie: folds
gjch: folds
shawes8: calls $1.75
DeVo_013: calls $1.75
*** FLOP *** [4c 8c Kh]
shawes8: checks
DeVo_013: checks
pfsbulldawg: bets $4
shawes8: folds
DeVo_013: folds
pfsbulldawg collected $6.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.95 | Rake $0.30
Board [4c 8c Kh]
Seat 1: keedn (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: PurpletrusT (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: mjgrannie folded before Flop
Seat 4: gjch folded before Flop
Seat 5: shawes8 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: DeVo_013 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: mastermindnr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: MPAQS folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: pfsbulldawg (button) collected ($6.65)


HAND EIGHT:against a slaa...32/15/2, do you make a stand here? obv, he woke up with a hand, but i figure him just as likely to do this with an A i beat, too.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($15.55)
BB ($33.45)
UTG ($7.10)
MP1 ($31)
Hero ($23.50)
CO ($4.65)
Button ($26.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, Q.
1 fold, MP1 raises to $1, Hero raises to $2.5, 4 folds, MP1 calls $1.50.
i like to 3bet AQ against aggressives...more so than AK, as it tells me where i stand. i feel that a call with AK traps AJ, or worse, all in an aggressives pf raising range, but a 3bet folds them off...which is why i 3bet AQ.

Flop: ($5.35) A, 6, 3 (2 players)
MP1 bets $5, Hero calls $5.
this is where post flop gets tricky...i need to raise or fold here...calling does nothing for me, except bring harder action from weaker A's...which only scares me more and more as the hand goes on and more goofy cards tend to fall.

Turn: ($15.35) T (2 players)
MP1 bets $10, Hero raises to $16, MP1 calls $6.
i figure i can sell the T here as two pair or TTT, but he doesnt bite. ouch. bad spot? nevermind...i wasnt watching the raise amount here. who doesnt call an additional $6 into a $30 pot?? dumb...really dumb speeeew.

River: ($47.35) K (2 players)

Final Pot: $47.35

Results in white below:
MP1 has Ad Ks (two pair, aces and kings).
Hero has Ah Qc (one pair, aces).
Outcome: MP1 wins $47.35.

its what i thought, AK minimum.


my guess is i was overplaying a bit...trying to get too aggressive, and getting tangled in hands where i could have gotten away a bit cheaper and minimized any damage...instead of spending my way into oblivion.

thoughts please?

[Silly String]

Hand #4: You just got strung along the whole way. I can't get away anywhere here. You got 4:1 on the turn(good enough if you flush outs are good & you have improved to TP). I would even call the river getting 7:1. Not a bad play, the deck just set you up and you opponents kept giving you = EV odds. I guess if you folded the turn, you would decrease variance over the long term.

Hand #5: I don't like the amount of the flop raise. I think $7.50 is a more realistic raise, but that puts you in one hell of a bind on the turn. As played easy turn fold. At 25NL I have begun playing big draws passively. Too many calling stations and people who stack off light, so I make the hand and then play it hard.

Hand #6: I don't like the size of the flop raise again. I would make it $2.50. The rest is played fine. Get it in while he thinks he is best. Another club ruins your ability to extract further.

Hand #7: Standard. Bet size is fine. Sometimes they just don't have a hand. Don't overthink it and get FPS. I would bet more though with a slpp, like $5.

Hand #8: First of all if you 3bet you have to make it is more than $2.50. How much is your 3bet for AA in the same situation. It should be $3.25 min. as standard play. Post flop I don't have a problem getting it all in this situation if your read is that he'll call a 3bet with AT+ or get aggressive with JJ+. I don't know many villains that will do that here. I think folding the turn or possibly min-raising flop is the best play. But I don't like raising for information.

[Chopper]

seriously, tonight was the worst...so bad i'm not posting hands.

lost two HUGE coin flips on combo draws. one where i had the draw, and shoved. the other where i had KK, an overpair, and he shoved. the latter, though stood to almost triple me up, as there was another caller. that was about $55ish, the other $35 was pure running bad.

i played extremely tight tonight. and played extremely nitty. all missed flops, cbets getting called, chasing draws with odds that never came, etc. and im sure some poor decisions mixed in...its never all bad cards.

but dammit, my good decisions werent being rewarded, and that makes it expensive.

589 hands...down $89!!!!

i know it'll turn...it always has, but it cant come fast enough....

[Chopper]

another night, another BI...lost. this is starting to really get to me. i have never lost more than 5 BIs in any downswing in over 2 1/2 yrs of playing 10k hands/month.

and, i've just lost 8 in a week!!!

however, my saving grace is looking at the biggest losing holdings...in order:
KK -$50.25
TT -$41.85
AQo -$39
T9s -$39 (lost 2 big pots w/ combo draws)
QQ -$36
KQs -$19 (another combo draw hand)
77 -$14
AKo -$14
33
KTs
99
KJo -$8.15

this is only over 2800 hands. i am down just under $200 at the 25NL. off 13.74 PTBB/100. so sick, it makes me laugh.

so, we know it will turn around in time, but geez.


heres the pledge. TO PROVE TO YOU GUYS THAT ITS HOW MANY HANDS YOU PLAY, NOTHING ELSE POWERS YOU THROUGH VARIANCE FASTER!!

granted, its virtually impossible for this ALL to be variance. theres some bad play mixed in there, i guarantee you that. but, not as much as one might think to get these numbers...lol.

i will come out of it, but do i want it to take a month? or, 2 weeks?

a lot of people recommend to "take time off." that is not the answer to me, never has been. the only way to handle a cold-streak (so long as you can keep your head on straight) is to POWER THROUGH IT.

i guess it comes from my sales background. its now how good you are, as long as you are fundamentally sound...its how many doors you knock on...period. if you want a better bottom line, work harder/play more hands.

[Jack Sawyer]

hang tough buddy.


you do sound like a fullback though, powering through the linebacker. i like that mentality.

just be careful, though.

[Chopper]

hang tough buddy.


you do sound like a fullback though, powering through the linebacker. i like that mentality.

just be careful, though.

that "mentality" is why i like bulldogs so much. they just are so stubborn they wont let go of the prize.

but, that "mentality" just cost me another 2 BI's beyond that post last night.

i got oversetted, and this...

i limped this because the BB was very aggro, and i wanted him to raise, so, i could immediately shove...as he has called that move already. the original raiser was tight-passive-somewhat aggressive, but his pfr's were any premiums, and to isolate against the maniac he had position on...i had no reason to think this was different until he called my shove.

doesnt matter, i dont drop KK here to anyone pf. if he RRes me, i may call and look for a flop, but with all these guys in, i am not letting it go pf, either, and am calling just about anything non-A on the flop AI. so, i figure the money was going in anyway...pf was where i had the most FE, so, i pushed. w/ TT, thats stupid, but with KK, the only thing i dont want to see is AA...oops.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($25.45)
Button ($43.55)
SB ($5)
BB ($112.80)
UTG ($19)
Hero ($29.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP with K, K.
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, CO raises to $1.25, Button calls $1.25, 1 fold, BB calls $1, Hero raises to $29.75, CO calls $24.20 (All-In), Button folds, BB folds.

Flop: ($53.50) 2, 8, J (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($53.50) 6 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($53.50) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $53.50

[Chopper]

can i tell you how good it felt to play 230 hands at lunch today, 6max mind you, and only be down $2.42?

that felt like a complete relief believe it or not.

[Chopper]

i think i figured something out.

i like to play small. i like to raise 3X with draws and button steals. i like to open pots w/ pps for 3X too. i like to throw in 4X when i really would rather avoid the flop. and, i dont usually go over a raise of $1.25, unless i have the goods...then, its $1.50 based on limpers. and, RRes go to 3X the original pot, or whatever it takes to destroy odds to draw.

i like to minraise sets on dry boards. i like to semi-bluff bigger hands repping sets. i like to bet some draws and check them when they hit. i like inducing bluffs, too.

it appears i like to value bet very softly. i do. my bluffs look like value bets, and they often come on scary boards...with my tight ass image, and they usually get folds. and with all that soft-betting...i fold to aggression, unless i'm setting you up.

thats my game. and i'm sticking to it. it wins. not maybe a ton, but it wins. my reads are better when i play like this, my variance is minimized, too. i'm a value-betting nit, that likes to semi-bluff.

however, lately, i have been doing a lot of talking about bet-sizing, picking off bluffs, etc. and i have received a lot of advice, from well respected posters here and elsewhere, and the advice varies a little, but is correct....more so than my game.

so, i decided to follow that advice. AND WENT ON THE WORST RUN OF MY LIFE!!

dont get me wrong, its not the advice. its that it took me completely out of my element, and may as well left me in the dark. and i couldnt make the adjustments.

i have learned something from this 12 BI swing over the last week...dont make wholesale changes to your game.

incorporate them a little bit at a time.

now its time to return to my normal game. small pots and value bets...with the occasional big pot mixed in when i have the big edge.

lets see the results over this week...combined with the fact that variance cant kick me in the ass any harder than it has.

nowhere to go but up, baby!!

[DemonDaze]

I'm also 12 BI down at 25NL, due to a mixture of 2 outers and bad play.

Trying to decide whether to attempt to play through it or drop down to 10NL to regain confidence.

GL

[Chopper]

believe me, i have had the same thoughts running through my mind......over and over.....over and over again.

tow the line? take a break? drop a level? and, of course...DO I JUST PLAIN SUCK ALL OF A SUDDEN?

how can a player kill 10NL for 12 PTBB/100 over the same 22k hands, and get killed by 25NL for what is now only 1.5 PTBB/100 over another 22k hands? it doesnt just switch like that. there is not that much of a difference between the levels...the skill didnt go from rookie ball to the majors in one jump...its not possible.

i would be making a ton more, or losing a ton less, if i were at 10NL right now...but i wont fully capatilize on the RUSH i have coming...at least not fully.

i have the fortunate standing of being so overly rolled for 25NL right now...i dont have to consider preserving my roll yet.

looking at your "operation" signature, i can see you dont necessarily have that luxury...but you still have 30BI's.

bigspenda says to drop down when you have 30BI's for the LOWER level. that would be $300. now, what you do, demon, is up to you, but i would stick around a bit longer...just not too long.

good luck, and thanks for following some of these long-ass posts. i appreciate it a lot.

[Chopper]

well, i cant get AP to convert so, i'll just say...MY LUCK IS TURNING.

got dealt AA and pushed into...thanks for the donation...half stack.

got dealt AA again, raised to $1, got RRed to $4, and RRed again to $10. innocent low flop, and he pushed TT...thanks for the donation...full stack.

got dealt 99 on button. minraised and called 4 ways...so, i call. flop comes 2 9 2. all check, i check. turn T, one bets .50, i call. river A. he bets $1, i shove over for $45. he calls with his $10....thanks for the donation...half stack.

needless to say, those hands play themselves...but its about friggin time!!

up $30 in 50 hands! c'mon baby, turn around, please.

however, this could be the poker gods just setting me up...lol.

[Vi-Zer0Skill]

how can a player kill 10NL for 12 PTBB/100 over the same 22k hands, and get killed by 25NL for what is now only 1.5 PTBB/100 over another 22k hands? it doesnt just switch like that. there is not that much of a difference between the levels...the skill didnt go from rookie ball to the majors in one jump...its not possible.

Actually, variance DOES switch like that. 22k hands is a relatively small sample for determining your true winrate. Don't worry about your results for now; the sample size is small and working on improving the quality of your decision making is more important.


GL with your operation!

[Knytestorme]

Hey Choppa, I'm in exactly the same boat...in fact the post you made describing how you like to play is exactly the same as me, including the bet sizing, it's scary.

I've also been trying to adjust my game in ways, such as expanding my range, and ran into the exact issue as you in regards to the downswing which leads me to think that it's not so much variance (though I have graphs from pokerev to show that's not quite true and I'm sure yours would do the same).

I think overall though it will actually be bad play and sucking all of a sudden but with a reason behind it. Think about when we first started playing a new form of card game (eg moving to hold'em from 5cd, plo from lhe, etc) and how much we usually suck at it compared to the players that have been there a while...we get reamed pretty much until we start picking up on the nuances of the game that are different to what we are used to, etc.

Well this is the same thing, we are trying to adjust our game from where we are comfortable to a new variant of the game and as such we are still trying to find the nuances of it comapred to our previous style so we are going to suck compared to the lag's that have played that way for ages (or the tags if you are moving from playing lag).

The benefit of this is that we know we can pull through it, as we have in the past, and as long as we remain confident in our ability to learn and adapt then we don't have to worry too much about our confidence in our actual underlying game and realize that while we might be suddenly sucking it's only a short-term thing until the new plays and strategies we need to employ click in our minds.

[Chopper]

thanks for the replies. and well stated, both of you.

tonight WAS a bit different. i went back to my "comfort zone."...

big pots under MY control, but mostly small stuff. at one point i was up $50. i finished up $36, but lost twice to KKK over my 999.

TWICE!! only one was a stack, though. the other i got off easy only losing about $15. that hand is in NL HH's for review. i feel i donked off $9 there, but felt the set was strong enough and the river raise repped the straight "begging for a caller." oh well.

its easy to say "oh well," when you finished up for the night. if i had finished down $50, you would see another post with me screaming, or posting emoticons..lol.

hands played...684. up $36.25...or 10.60/100

best session/day in a week...by far.

[Chopper]

well, the variance thing is easy to spot now.

i am getting it in with combo draws, and getting over setted, and against LAGs who have decent hands, but i always have outs when the money goes in, or am getting the occasional suckout.

but, the fact is...LUCK IS NOT BALANCING OUT. i am missing everything! if you push 4 combo draws with a 52% edge, you should, in theory, hit 2 of them...balancing yourself out. but, i am missing them all right now.

thats where the variance is...for now. that coupled with the missing of flops, raising more in position, cbetting harder than my normal 2/3-3/4 pot, and having to shut down to scare cards...and aggression along with them...is what is costing so much.

but anyway, i'm off the bottom of the swing, i think. some of the situations are paying off again. i am still making some stoopid moves, instead of letting the hand play out (pot control), but hopefully, i get better at recognizing those spots.

this month i have been down as much as $240ish...in a little more than a week.

time for a checkup.

last four sessions, about 2500 hands, have been all positive. not a lot, but at least positive.

i'm going through the "2nd phase" of a downswing...in my book. and thats where you arent getting killed anymore, but you arent getting paid, either.

and when you do get paid...its from the shorter stacks...not the deep ones.

but, we all know its a matter of time until we get a couple of the deep guys, too.

can you smell it? its coming...

[Chopper]

and btw, the "fullback" mentality is still in tact.

no time off, and still hitting my 650 hand minimum everyday....w/o dropping to 10NL.

its not the time you spend...its the number of hands you are dealt.

again. just like knocking on doors.

theres a stack behind one of them...i just gotta find which one. they dont have a sign on the front door...usually (the fish do...lol).

[Chopper]

682 hands...up $15ish.

not great. sat in some very live games, but couldnt catch shit. had some great seats, but couldnt buy action.

was up $40 early, but card dead last 250 hands, and got busted off my raised cbets, and missed pp's to raises.

what does a set look like again?

[SHAKE]

so im having a busy day but ive been meaning to ceck this thread out. I red the first few hands.

hand 1. I think you need to be potting the turn an sovingthe river.


i think most of that hands with QQQ are goot. I like the 10b into he 15 pot as played. So he folded. least you tried, if he wasnt calling 10 he wasnt calln .50, and 5. is not a good bet.

[Chopper]

man, maybe things are turning...yea!!

short session tonight. 400 hands...up $30. thats about 3-4 winning days in a row...more what i'm used to.

heres the toughest hand i have had to play in a month, easily.

read: villain is semi-loose and very aggressive. although, i saw him fold a hand while completely pot-committed earlier. had to have 10:1 on river and got minraised...and folded. which tells me he had complete AIR, and takes it too far. i'd be lying if i said it factored into my decision here....i was so freaked by the 3bet on turn. i thought it meant strength, and i was being stupid by not laying down rockets, but for some reason i called. prolly -EV, but it worked. i figure that strength 3bets, but bluffs shove.


PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($32.50)
BB ($24.90)
UTG ($41.85)
UTG+1 ($7.35)
Hero ($25.20)
MP2 ($41.40)
CO ($22.90)
Button ($97.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A, A.
UTG raises to $1.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $3.75, 3 folds, SB calls $3.65, 1 fold, UTG calls $2.50.

Flop: ($11.50) T, Q, 7 (3 players)
SB bets $2.75, UTG folds, Hero raises to $8.5, SB raises to $18.5, Hero raises to $21.45, SB calls $2.95.

Turn: ($54.40) 2 (2 players)

River: ($54.40) 3 (2 players)

Final Pot: $54.40

fruitcake had 56 of spades.

[Chopper]

well, we are officially off the bottom.

since 8/1... 6200 hands...down $151. though, down as much as $250.
since 8/7... 3400 hands...up $42

starting to take some stacks back, but still getting beat, too...just not as bad.

5 minutes into tonight...here we go again...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

SB ($45.20)
BB ($14.75)
UTG ($22.95)
UTG+1 ($5.95)
Hero ($25.25)
MP2 ($14.50)
CO ($21.25)
Button ($19)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, CO calls $0.75, 3 folds.

Flop: ($1.85) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $1.5, CO calls $1.50.

Turn: ($4.85) (2 players)
Hero bets $3.5, CO calls $3.50.

River: ($11.85) (2 players)
Hero bets $19.5 (All-In), CO calls $15.50 (All-In).
figure all i'm behind is 9T here, and if he chased that, he paid premium...and thats about all that beats me that would be calling. oversets would have raised me by now, and TP would call maybe. so, i figure the push is +EV being that he has called thus far. had him on a Q or J, but NNNNNOOOOTTT!!
noted him as a "chaser," and reloaded.

Final Pot: $42.85

Results in white below:
Hero has 8h 8d (three of a kind, eights).
CO has Ts 9s (straight, queen high).
Outcome: CO wins $42.85. Hero wins $4.


then, later....

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP ($5.70)
Hero ($24.20)
Button ($17.60)
SB ($27.25)
BB ($38.50)
UTG ($9.80)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
UTG raises to $0.75, MP calls $0.75, Hero raises to $24.2, 3 folds, UTG calls $9.05 (All-In), MP folds.
rarely do i shove pf right away, but i figure both shorties cannot get away with their hands, and only AA has me beat...so...SHOVE!!

Flop: ($20.70) , , (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($20.70) (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($20.70) (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $20.70

Results in white below:
UTG has Ts Td (one pair, tens).
Hero has Kc Ks (one pair, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $35.10.

and...the fun one...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP1 ($3.55)
Hero ($24.50)
CO ($64.85)
Button ($14.70)
SB ($19.95)
BB ($24.50)
UTG ($12.65)
UTG+1 ($24.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, 2 folds, SB completes, BB checks.
thought this was going all the way around...very passive table with a lot of limpers. thought i'd take a shot at a cheap flop here.

Flop: ($1.25) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.5, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $1, SB folds, BB calls $1, UTG+1 calls $0.50.
OOPS!!

Turn: ($4.25) (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $2.5, BB calls $2.50, UTG+1 calls $2.50.
i know that i will get a caller here, so, i plan on both and take away drawing odds...but make it too close to resist. note that first caller has no where near odds, but second caller is still only getting 4:1 and with only one card to come...he needs 5:1. profitable for me...being that i'm made already.

River: ($11.75) (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets $5, Hero raises to $20.75, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $15.70 (All-In).
when you donk bet me $5 after i've been betting, youre damned right i'm shoving...you just told me i can have your stack...thanks for the info.

Final Pot: $53.16

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has Kh Th (two pair, kings and tens).
Hero has 8c 6d (straight, ten high).
Outcome: Hero wins $53.19.

even with that, up only $7 tonight through 480 hands.

[Chopper]

some lunch stuff...210 hands...up $31.

here are a few hands....

first four hands...table full of shorties, and went on a bit of a run taking all four hands. the last one, though, i thought i was being "strung along," but just didnt have the balls to fold...that hand felt like i was being value bet to death.

hand one...standard cbet...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($6.95)
Button ($3.90)
SB ($2.75)
BB ($35.25)
Hero ($27.05)
UTG+1 ($4.75)
MP1 ($40.85)
MP2 ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, K.
Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, BB calls $0.75.

Flop: ($2.10) 3, T, 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.75, BB folds.

Final Pot: $2.10

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins $2.10.

hand two...may not be the best hand in my life, but it helped image, if that counts for anything...here, because of the next two hands, i think it might have.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP2 ($6.95)
CO ($3.90)
Button ($2.65)
SB ($34.25)
Hero ($28.05)
UTG ($4.75)
UTG+1 ($40.85)
MP1 ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
5 folds, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.75) , , (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.75, Button calls $0.75, SB folds.
this is something i do a lot...put money in when i am quite possibly way behind. but, i always feel i may be best, and no time like the now to see...never going to be cheaper, and lots of people drop potential in small pots.

Turn: ($2.25) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $0.5, Hero calls $0.50.
look at those odds!! what hand does that? either a monster, or absolutely nothing. i'll take my card, thank you. granted there's no money behind here, but geez....its profitable by pot odds alone.

River: ($3.25) (2 players)
Hero bets $1.25, Button calls $1.15 (All-In).
no way he can go anywhere here, and no way i'm folding off to a buck. shove, in case he can/will fold (to be safest), but dont sweat a call in the least.

Final Pot: $5.56

Results in white below:
Hero has 3s 8s (flush, ace high).
Button has Kh Qd (one pair, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $5.64.


hand three...another shorty...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP2 ($6.95)
CO ($3.90)
Button ($34)
Hero ($30.70)
BB ($4.75)
UTG ($40.85)
MP1 ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
2 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, CO calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, Hero completes, BB checks.
with this many callers/limpers, and being oop, i will set hunt with <QQ all day. just too many overcards to hit a flop, and never know whats out there...AXs, small pairs, sooted conns...etc. the only way for a nit to be aggressive here is to hit a set or overpair anyway.

Flop: ($1.25) , , (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP2 checks, CO bets $0.25, Button folds, Hero raises to $1.5, BB folds, MP2 folds, CO calls $1.25.
OOPS!! got the set. on a flushy board...let someone bet the draw or baby set, and lets get it on with a c/r!!

Turn: ($4.25) (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.5, Hero calls $0.50.
with a short-stack caller, i know he's intersted in going for stacks. i only call here to let the flush hit...just in case he's drawing. not that he lets the draw go here, either. it was prolly going in anyway.

River: ($5.25) (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.5, Hero raises to $2, CO calls $1.15 (All-In).
prolly should have shoved right from the start, but i figured he would if i didnt. the more i think about it, the more i shouldnt risk missing the $2. just shove....after all, the flush hit.

Final Pot: $8.55

Results in white below:
CO has Jc Qh (two pair, queens and jacks).
Hero has Jd Js (full house, jacks full of tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $8.90.


hand four...the biggie. this was hard to play because of the apparent "value betting," and the fact i was stacking a couple hands in a row. i know youre not supposed to think like this, but you never know when your luck will turn.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

MP1 ($6.70)
MP2 ($5)
CO ($33.75)
Hero ($34.95)
SB ($4.50)
BB ($40.85)
UTG ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO raises to $0.5, Hero raises to $1.75, 2 folds, MP1 folds, CO raises to $3, Hero calls $1.25.
bigger raise than normal out of me. i needed to weed out all the crap immediately. and the RR scares me, so, time for pot control and look for a good flop while oop.

Flop: ($6.60) , , (2 players)
CO bets $3.75, Hero calls $3.75.
damned overpair with KK and AA a distinct possibility here, but so is JJ and AK.

Turn: ($14.10) (2 players)
CO bets $4, Hero calls $4.
still firing? but, look, my odds are getting better. and my pot control gives me a chance against an overplayed AK/JJ.

River: ($22.10) (2 players)
CO bets $5.25, Hero calls $5.25.
i really wanted to raise here. i dont know why. this is a leak i think i am starting to fix. the only thing calling here is KK+, 2 pair, sets...all have me crushed. but i would fold off the hands i WANT to call like AK, JJ, maybe AT (but i doubt it would 3bet pf)

Final Pot: $32.60


hand five...this was just fun, period.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (5 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver Cards)

UTG ($25.35)
MP ($28.35)
Hero ($21.55)
SB ($48.35)
BB ($30.05)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
2 folds, Hero raises to $1, SB calls $0.90, BB calls $0.75.
i love raising pp's when i open a pot.

Flop: ($3) , , (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
since i raise pf, i look like i whiffed big time, and cant possibly have AK, an A or a K....and by calling, i think almost everyone would miss the possibility of the set.

Turn: ($3) (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.
once i see the boat, i let them lead again on river, as someone with the K will.

River: ($3) (3 players)
SB bets $1.5, BB raises to $4.25, Hero raises to $16.3, SB folds, BB calls $16.30.
sure, you lose this some times, but if you want to crush a game, you need to get trips to spend his stack, imo. prolly could have gotten it in on turn, and prolly should have, but why not make them think you are bluffing river? maybe you get both callers here. i'm sure i will get flamed for the way i played the turn and river here. to be honest, i was worried about AK, but figured he would be slowplaying his hand, too.

Final Pot: $41.35

villain showed KJ.

[Chopper]

pure craziness. i dont think i played horribly tonight at all. lost some races. made a couple stupid moves (par for the course, but not as many as earlier).

in fact, i thought i was turning a corner, so to speak.

my bet sizes are larger. my cbets, especially. they are giving me much easier decisions to make. my raises are larger, too. i seem to fold to aggression when i make bigger bets...which can be good and bad, but mostly good...i think.

i am also noticing things going back to the way they were a couple years ago. play solid cards...raise pf...cbet/value bet...fold to aggression. play draws with odds in position...slam nuts.

and things were coming around.

i started off solid. built some winnings early. then, it all collapsed, and then some.

coolered twice. both times i made top two on river, and villain made gutshot.

lost races to maniacs. and lost one with a kicker AQ v AK where maniac woke up with a hand.

it must sound like i'm whining a lot, and taking a lot of beats...that seem rare. but, i'm playing a lot more hands right now, and the beats are pretty bad...there seem to be an abnormal number of them, too.

when i take one...it costs dearly. but, i cant seem to get mine paid.

i dont like sessions like these...the ones where i'm up $25, up $15, up $30...then, down $55. its like i'm treading water...going nowhere. sucks.

778 hands...down $55.

you'd think the luck would turn a bit. cant just be the luck anymore. but, i'm gonna keep telling myself it is...for sanity's sake.

[Chopper]

after last night, this is what i need to constantly remind myself...

"other than the nitty tight player you have the action junkies that play with small bankrolls (if they even do that), and play a crappy LAG style. and everyone else seems to fall somewhere in between. all bad, and all exploitable. you just need to focus on "way ahead" situations, and determine what your villain thinks "a good hand" is...no doubt he'll take it too far."

i tend to forget that all too easily, and start getting "tricky." thats what causes MY variance.

[Pythonic]

Have you ever seen that dude named something beatme at 25NL ? His stats are like 48/39/5. Absolute craziness and he usually leaves the table up two buyins everytime I see him.

[Chopper]

nope, i havent. i'll watch.

[Chopper]

MONKEY LIFE TILT WINS!!!!!!!!

back in a few...

[Chopper]

GRAND RE-OPENING!! lol

i needed some time to "clear my head." i have never run that bad. i am convinced the deck was setting me up, but i didnt handle it well, either. i started trying to force things, and overplayed a lot of marginal hands. of course, that led to disaster. at least i learned something from that bullshit.

i have been mixing in some 10NL with some 25NL. and am running better now.

the secret: get back to your "zone." your "zone" is where you FEEL good about what you are doing because you KNOW (through experience) that it works...and having faith.

i was spiraling out of control and started to play extremely tight, not passive (well, weak maybe), but tighter than normal. the result...very predictable, and applying little pressure to opponents when THEY are in the tight spots.

so, i dropped to 10NL to see if things were different, and the play isnt...I AM!! i am much more aggressive and open raise a lot, and bet the flop a lot...draws, sets, TP. its all fair game for a bet on the flop. good luck figuring out what i'm on...you just know its a good starting hand. and, i dont take things too far when i get caught. not like i was.

anyway, to wrap up, i am re-opening the thread, and hopefully, you see some much stronger lines at both 10NL and 25NL in the coming days.

l8r

[Jack Sawyer]

Congrats. Maybe we'll see each other now at the tables finally, since I'm playing 10NL too or now.

[Chopper]

this is a bit more like it.

1200 hands...up $40. and thats after getting stacked at a 25NL table.

prepare yourself to see a shitty hand here. i couldnt resist for some reason. i told myself to fold, not push, but i couldnt do it. i honestly felt like it was going to hit.......stupid train of thought.

my big mistake, however, was raising the flop instead of only calling. that one is bugging me, and will for awhile. but, at least i didnt make the same mistake twice. another situation came up just like it later on and i only called. so, i guess i learned my lesson.

heres the hand, fwiw...

STAGE #744470187: HOLDEM NO LIMIT $0.25 - 2007-08-25 22:54:11 (ET)
Table: CHEROKEE ST (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 6 - 916GREATEST ($43.77 in chips)
Seat 1 - RICKYTAN156 ($24.90 in chips)
Seat 2 - KARLV08 ($11.63 in chips)
Seat 3 - ROSS2443 ($7.05 in chips)
Seat 4 - PROJEKTEVO ($13.30 in chips)
Seat 5 - CHIPSPIT ($17.25 in chips)
RICKYTAN156 - Posts small blind $0.10
KARLV08 - Posts big blind $0.25
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to CHIPSPIT [Ks 10h]
ROSS2443 - Folds
PROJEKTEVO - Folds
CHIPSPIT - Raises $1 to $1
916GREATEST - Folds
RICKYTAN156 - Calls $0.90
KARLV08 - Calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [Jc Qs 10c]
RICKYTAN156 - Bets $2.75
KARLV08 - Folds
CHIPSPIT - Raises $7.50 to $7.50
RICKYTAN156 - Raises $12.25 to $15
CHIPSPIT - All-In(Raise) $8.75 to $16.25
RICKYTAN156 - Calls $1.25
*** TURN *** [Jc Qs 10c] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [Jc Qs 10c Js] [Kh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RICKYTAN156 - Shows [8c 9s] (Straight, nine to king)
CHIPSPIT - Shows [Ks 10h] (Two Pair, kings and jacks)
RICKYTAN156 Collects $33.75 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($35.50) | Rake ($1.75)
Board [Jc Qs 10c Js Kh]
Seat 1: RICKYTAN156 (small blind) won Total ($33.75) HI$33.75) with Straight, nine to king [8c 9s - B:Kh,B:Qs,B:Js,B:10c,P:9s]
Seat 2: KARLV08 (big blind) Folded on the FLOP
Seat 3: ROSS2443 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 4: PROJEKTEVO Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 5: CHIPSPIT HI:lost with Two Pair, kings and jacks [Ks 10h - P:Ks,B:Kh,B:Js,B:Jc,B:Qs]
Seat 6: 916GREATEST (dealer) Folded on the POCKET CARDS


sorry no conversion. i am tired and going to bed. just wanted to fire the results in before i log off.

[Chopper]

Congrats. Maybe we'll see each other now at the tables finally, since I'm playing 10NL too or now.

oh, we will. lol.

[Pythonic]

gl man at getting your bearings back

[Chopper]

oh, they're back. last 8200 hands...this week, basically, i am running at a 24/100 at the 10's, and 15/100 at the 25's. fairly hot, i would say.

got the time to log a good bit of hands now. wife's back in the classroom (teaching) and the grass aint growing right now in the midwest. had a lag in the powerwashing, too, but i got an estimate today that should bring in around a grand...and i'm estimating it low (not bad for 3 1/2 days work, conservatively).

also, cable tv went out this week. lost my cardinals baseball. seriously, though, the strongest wind gusts ive maybe ever seen...and i'm from Kansas! lost a 31 yr old branch from an oak tree in my front yard. it was about 25 ft off the ground, so i can only imagine how old the tree must be. prolly in the 60-80 year range, easily. the tree in the gust, had to be close to a 100 mph (again trying to be conservative) was leaning at about a 45 degree angle!! i was so surprised we didnt lose power or the tree.

with all that combining forces, i got in a ton of poker this week.

anyway, enough babble. heres the toughest hand i played today. i had the inclination to fold to the minraise, but thought, "thats likely a flush draw or a set. i dont want to go away just yet." the caller was certainly on the flush. no action to speak of on the A, so, i figured i was good still in the limped pot with KJ. when the flush busts, i am going to go down in flames, as i figure one of these chumps is raising me...so i dont check the river (like i used to), instead i lead out enough to be taken seriously, but not so much i cant get off a raise.

everyone will say that only better hands call that. i say, not necessarily. i think any K, given the hand action, calls this, and an A would have shown itself by now...sets/2 pair wouldnt have stopped pushing, either. and, if anything that beats me IS still around, it will raise the river.

to me, its a typical value bet...

Stage #747139146: Holdem No Limit $0.10 - 2007-08-28 18:10:02 (ET)
Table: BLOOMINGTON (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 3 - TEACHISNAWTY ($54.07 in chips)
Seat 4 - CHIPSPIT ($19.90 in chips)
Seat 5 - ZZZRICKZZZ ($22.09 in chips)
Seat 6 - EARL8K ($13.80 in chips)
Seat 1 - TXTRANSPLANT ($12.19 in chips)
Seat 2 - DK333 ($21.55 in chips)
CHIPSPIT - Posts small blind $0.05
ZZZRICKZZZ - Posts big blind $0.10
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to CHIPSPIT [Kh Jc]
EARL8K - Calls $0.10
TXTRANSPLANT - Folds
DK333 - Calls $0.10
TEACHISNAWTY - Calls $0.10
CHIPSPIT - Calls $0.05
i only call from sb, as i am oop and the pot is severely multi-way
ZZZRICKZZZ - Checks
*** FLOP *** [4c 6c Kd]
CHIPSPIT - Bets $0.50
likely good here, and dont want to give off a free card.
ZZZRICKZZZ - Folds
EARL8K - Raises $1 to $1
?? 2 pair, set? another K? maybe flush draw trying to price himself in?
DK333 - Folds
TEACHISNAWTY - Calls $1
definitely flushy feeling
CHIPSPIT - Calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [4c 6c Kd] [Ad]
CHIPSPIT - Checks
dont like the A here, as flush draws may have just picked up TP.
EARL8K - Bets $1
TEACHISNAWTY - Calls $1
CHIPSPIT - Calls $1
dont know why, but not sold on the A laying drawing odds to flushes.
*** RIVER *** [4c 6c Kd Ad] [8h]
CHIPSPIT - Bets $4
well, lets go down to the A. but, i dont think its out there.
EARL8K - Calls $4
TEACHISNAWTY - Folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CHIPSPIT - Shows [Kh Jc] (One pair, kings)
EARL8K - Mucks
CHIPSPIT Collects $13.80 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($14.50) | Rake ($0.70)
Board [4c 6c Kd Ad 8h]
Seat 1: TXTRANSPLANT Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 2: DK333 Folded on the FLOP
Seat 3: TEACHISNAWTY (dealer) Folded on the RIVER
Seat 4: CHIPSPIT (small blind) won Total ($13.80) HI$13.80) with One pair, kings(jack kicker) [Kh Jc - P:Kh,B:Kd,B:Ad,P:Jc,B:8h]
Seat 5: ZZZRICKZZZ (big blind) Folded on the FLOP
Seat 6: EARL8K HI: [Mucked] [Kc 10d]

told ya so. my biotch!!

sorry, converter didnt work with this hand.

KT had to be pissed.

[Chopper]

just ran some numbers to prove my "bulldawg theory."

bulldawg theory = when the going gets tough, dont take a break, PLAY MORE HANDS, and play through it. solid poker players worry about hands dealt, not whether we win or lose.

now i'll admit, my resolve was rocked, but i didnt stop playing. i tried to take a break, but it lasted one session...not even one day.

however, i logged 1k hands most days, and here are the results.

tonight was my first losing day, not session, in 6 days.
tonight was only the 2nd losing day since aug. 18th.

since then, i have played 11, 500 hands...up 8.15/100...ran 18/9/3.2 in a combination of 10NL, 25NL, both fr and 6max...net gain $246.45

imo, theory proven.

i can no longer bitch and moan about beats, bad cards, etc. i am officially off my bottom, and have almost gained back all i've lost this month. and why?

BECAUSE I PLAYED THROUGH IT!

[Jack Sawyer]

LOL, good going

[Pythonic]

love the KJ hand sir