Gingerwizard's Roll me to the Casino!

I've been meaning to do this for a while now and here it is.

Basically the B&M games around Newcastle are ridiculously fishy. I've never seen anything like them. Problem is they generally only offer either £0.50/£1 or £1/£2. Way out of my league as a lonely PhD student.

Having started on party around 8 months ago and losing three $50 deposits, I came to FTR to learn how to play, switched to stars and donked around on SNGs there. Having grown my roll to $500 I got bored and frustrated with Stars always shutting down their servers. I switched $200 to full tilt to use when stars shut down and played some SNGs there.

However SNGs lost their appeal for me around 2 months ago, much in the same way as they did for Da GOAT. So I read NLHE T&P, and started playing 25NL on stars and FT to clear the bonuses I had pending.

After 30k hands and making tonnes of silly mistakes I am at $1000 and have cleared my stars rebuy and all but $20 of my FT bonus. The time has come to get off these difficult games and follow FTRs directions to the fish!

This blog will track my Bonus whoring and progression up the limits from clearing this last $20 at FT, to wherever I end up.

Wish me luck and let the adventure begin!

GL man, u tapping empires ass first

yeah ill see what i can get from empire. It's a party skin right so i won't be able to get RB? Not sure from there, so much choice......

empire will clear in one good session tho and move on

+$60

A handy first evening session yesterday, it seems like almost everything held!

Here are a couple of hands

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

Hero ($26.45)
MP3 ($24.35)
CO ($13)
Button ($19.85)
SB ($27.80)
BB ($15.85)
UTG ($23)
UTG+1 ($19.45)
MP1 ($34.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A, A.
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.2, MP3 raises to $3.5, 4 folds, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $11.2, MP3 folds.

Final Pot: $15.30

Been waiting for this fish to pay me off all night

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

Hero ($30.55)
UTG+1 ($25)
MP1 ($12.25)
MP2 ($18.10)
MP3 ($27.70)
CO ($15.50)
Button ($24.85)
SB ($20)
BB ($34.25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9, 9.
Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold.

Flop: ($2.25) 3, 9, 5 (2 players)
SB bets $0.75, Hero raises to $3.5, SB raises to $19.75 (All-In), Hero calls $15.50.

Turn: ($41) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($41) K (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $41

Results in white below:
SB has 8d 7c (one pair, threes).
Hero has 9h 9d (full house, nines full of threes).
Outcome: Hero wins $41.

Nearly nailed this bonus. Will do empire then I think ill try Ladbrokes. They are running a big student tourny in 2 weeks. $1000 freeroll and nightly $1 tourns with $500 added to each. Mainly going for the bonus and soft cash games obv, but every little helps

Some weird stuff tonight. Here are a few standard and not so standard hands

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

Button ($24.65)
SB ($32.05)
BB ($27.05)
UTG ($22.95)
UTG+1 ($100.75)
MP1 ($32.10)
MP2 ($8.30)
MP3 ($7.20)
Hero ($23.25)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 9, T.
UTG calls $0.25, 3 folds, MP3 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, Button calls $0.25, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1.50) 7, 8, 2 (6 players)
SB bets $1.25, BB folds, UTG folds, MP3 raises to $3, Hero calls $3, Button folds, SB folds.

Turn: ($8.75) 7 (2 players)
MP3 bets $3.95 (All-In), Hero calls $3.95.

River: ($16.65) J (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $16.65

Results in white below:
MP3 has 7h 7c (four of a kind, sevens).
Hero has 9c Tc (straight, jack high).
Outcome: MP3 wins $16.65.

Next hand is typical of this table. People pushing the flop with either made hands or draws. One guy actually open pushed a $2 flop for $38 with a set! Don't know why i called this.

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

CO ($23.40)
Button ($9.40)
SB ($30)
BB ($5.20)
UTG ($128.35)
UTG+1 ($35.55)
MP1 ($20.35)
MP2 ($25.15)
Hero ($30.60)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, A.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, SB calls $1.15, 1 fold, MP2 calls $1.

Flop: ($4) K, 7, Q (3 players)
SB checks, MP2 checks, Hero bets $3, SB raises to $28.75 (All-In), MP2 folds, Hero calls $25.75.

Turn: ($61.50) 3 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($61.50) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $61.50

Results in white below:
SB has Kh Qc (two pair, kings and queens)
Hero has Kd Ah (two pair, kings and sevens).
Outcome: SB wins $61.50.

Weird spot this one.

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

Button ($18.95)
SB ($29.50)
BB ($5)
UTG ($13.35)
UTG+1 ($23.65)
Hero ($24.65)
MP2 ($9.80)
MP3 ($6.05)
CO ($25.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 4, 4.
2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, MP2 checks, 2 folds, Button raises to $1.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $1, MP2 calls $1.

Flop: ($4.10) Q, 6, 2 (3 players)
Hero checks, MP2 checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($4.10) 4 (3 players)
Hero bets $4.2, MP2 folds, Button calls $4.20. I decided to value bet this in case he had 1 heart. Really had no idea how to play the river after he called though!

River: ($12.50) 5 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: $12.50

Results in white below:
Hero has 4s 4c (three of a kind, fours).
Button has Ah Ks (high card, ace).
Outcome: Hero wins $12.50.

Boom.

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

UTG+1 ($10.10)
MP1 ($10.40)
MP2 ($28.30)
Hero ($23.25)
CO ($34.30)
Button ($10)
SB ($10.15)
BB ($6.35)
UTG ($9.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, K.
UTG calls $0.25, 3 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 1 fold, SB calls $1.15, 1 fold, UTG calls $1.

Flop: ($4) T, K, 5 (4 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $2.5, SB calls $2.50, UTG folds.

Turn: ($9) Q (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6.4, SB calls $6.40 (All-In).

River: ($21.80) J (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $21.80
Main Pot: $21.80, between Hero and SB. > Pot won by Hero ($21.80).

Results in white below:
SB has Qd 5d (two pair, queens and fives).
Hero has Kd Kh (three of a kind, kings).
Button has (three of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $21.80.

I really don't know what I was playing at here. This guy had bluffed a lot but looking back i played this awfully. I ended the session soon after because I was tired. Quite right consdering!

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

UTG+1 ($6.85)
MP1 ($30.70)
MP2 ($1.10)
CO ($22.45)
Hero ($30.35)
SB ($23.25)
BB ($5.95)
UTG ($44.10)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, 8.
3 folds, MP2 raises to $1.1 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls $1.10, SB raises to $2.05, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.85.

Flop: ($5.35) 8, 3, J (3 players, 1 all-in)
SB bets $1, Hero calls $1.

Turn: ($7.35) 7 (3 players, 1 all-in)
SB bets $1.25, Hero calls $1.25.

River: ($9.85) 4 (3 players, 1 all-in)
SB bets $3, Hero calls $3.

Final Pot: $15.85
Main Pot: $3.55, between MP2, Hero and SB. > Pot won by Hero ($3.55).
Pot 2: $12.30, between Hero and SB. > Pot won by Hero ($12.30).

Results in white below:
MP2 has Qs Ac (high card, ace).
Hero has Ad 8d (one pair, eights).
SB has Kc Qd (high card, king).
Outcome: Hero wins $15.85.

Overall it was a winning session and I cleared $20 bonus! Only $20 left then it's bye bye FT!!

bet more on all street with KK.

hand 3 is ok i guess

oh and hands 1 is meh but i might bet half pot/block bet on river

Originally Posted by Da GOAT

bet more on all street with KK.

hand 3 is ok i guess

oh and hands 1 is meh but i might bet half pot/block bet on river

Cheers for the feedback. We're all in on the turn in hand 1 though.

$3-$3.50 on the flop with KK? Turn bet put opp all in and couldnt bet more.

sorry i said hand 1 for the 44 hand you setted on turn.

were the hands b4 that posted when i read it, dont remember seeing them

Ahh I see what has happened. Yeah I put them all on last night. Cheers for the replies.

Now I look at the A8 hand again I feel it's not too bad post flop as his bets look ridiculously small. There seem to be 2 kinds of bluffers on FT. The first who bet as if they had the hand they represent, and the ones who bet really small relative to the pot, "just in case you call."

Still pissed about that AK call though

T9s should be repopped on flop

AK hand isnt too bad if he does this with draws

Nightmare tonight. 3 buyins down in 10 minutes!

When will I learn not to bluff $25NL longball?! I'll post some hands later. Finished only 1 buyin down I think after some serious camping for an hour.

I should stay and keep grinding but the beer won't drink itself! Have a good friday all!

Ok, hands from the bad Friday night session:

I'm really not sure if my flop call is loose here. I'd seen this guy raise up KJo from third position so i figured he whiffs a lot of flops here. obv from turn this plays itself.

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

BB ($15.65)
UTG ($27.70)
UTG+1 ($5)
MP1 ($26.90)
MP2 ($25.25)
Hero ($23.75)
CO ($23.70)
Button ($24.45)
SB ($21.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 3, 3.
UTG raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.75, 4 folds.

Flop: ($1.85) 5, 6, 2 (3 players)
UTG bets $0.75, Hero raises to $2, UTG calls $1.25.

Turn: ($5.85) 3 (3 players)
UTG bets $2.5, Hero raises to $13.35, UTG calls $10.85.

River: ($32.55) 7 (3 players)
UTG bets $11.6 (All-In), Hero calls $7.65 (All-In).

Final Pot: $51.80

Results in white below:
UTG has Ac 4c (straight, seven high).
UTG+1 has (straight, seven high).
Hero has 3d 3h (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: UTG wins $51.80.

Ok this is like two hands later and I wrongly decide to play this hard preflop (probably because of tilt.) I push the flop to continue the bluff i decided to make preflop. (This is really terrible stuff, but i figure shaming myself like this might stop me giving away stacks!)

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

MP3 ($15.30)
CO ($52.50)
Button ($4.65)
SB ($26.65)
BB ($25.25)
Hero ($25)
UTG+1 ($21.30)
MP1 ($24.45)
MP2 ($24.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, Q.
Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, SB raises to $3.35, 1 fold, Hero raises to $11, SB calls $6.75.

Flop: ($21.35) 6, T, 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $15 (All-In), SB calls $15.

Turn: ($51.35) 5 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($51.35) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $51.35

Results in white below:
SB has Kh Kd (one pair, kings)
Hero has Ac Qs (one pair, queens).
Outcome: SB wins $51.35.


This hand probably had a bit of tilt in it. I don't need telling how bad my flop shove was. What I would like to hear is should I have shoved preflop? Is a call ever good here because we will still suspect AA post flop and only a K will make us feel better about the hand.

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

BB ($13.40)
UTG ($25.25)
UTG+1 ($18.60)
MP1 ($16.35)
MP2 ($33.30)
Hero ($26.80)
CO ($5)
Button ($30.70)
SB ($9.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, K.
UTG raises to $1.5, 3 folds, Hero raises to $4.5, 4 folds, UTG raises to $15.35, Hero calls $9.35.

Flop: ($29.55) A, T, Q (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $12.95 (All-In), UTG calls $11.40 (All-In).

Turn: ($53.90) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($53.90) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $53.90

Results in white below:
UTG shows As Ah (Full house, Aces full of eights).
Hero has Kc Kh (two pair, kings and eights).
Outcome: UTG wins $53.90.

This hand helped

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

UTG+1 ($46.90)
MP1 ($25.05)
MP2 ($10.30)
CO ($33.45)
Hero ($32.25)
SB ($9.60)
BB ($30.70)
UTG ($9.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, 9.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.75) 2, 9, 9 (4 players)
BB checks, MP2 bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, BB folds.

Turn: ($2.25) A (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks.

River: ($2.25) 7 (3 players)
MP2 bets $2.25, Hero raises to $7, MP2 calls $4.75.

Final Pot: $16.25

Results in white below:
MP2 has 6c 6d (two pair, nines and sixes).
Hero has Ac 9s (full house, nines full of aces).
SB doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $16.25.

As did this

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

MP2 ($13.15)
MP3 ($46.90)
CO ($25.05)
Button ($10.30)
SB ($33.55)
Hero ($25)
UTG ($5)
UTG+1 ($30.70)
MP1 ($9.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6, 2.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.60) 2, 2, 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $0.6, Hero calls $0.60.

Turn: ($1.80) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.8, MP2 calls $1.80.

River: ($5.40) K (2 players)
Hero bets $5.4, MP2 calls $5.40.

Final Pot: $16.20

Results in white below:
Hero has 6c 2s (three of a kind, twos).
MP2 has Ac 7h (two pair, sevens and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $16.20.

I'm glad i posted my tilting hands. Hopefully i'll recognise it a bit better next time

Absolutely dreadful night tonight. 3 buyins down.
This hand sums it up pretty much.

Opp was pushing preflop every 3 or 4 hands and had been for bout 2o mins. Was dying to get a hand against him and then I got what i wished for:

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

Button ($23.05)
SB ($3.50)
BB ($11.05)
Hero ($34.40)
UTG+1 ($18.15)
MP1 ($5.80)
MP2 ($24.25)
MP3 ($8.15)
CO ($24.65)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K, A.
Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $5.8 (All-In), 6 folds, Hero calls $4.80.

Flop: ($11.95) A, 7, 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($11.95) 9 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($11.95) 6 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $11.95

Results in white below:
Hero has Kh Ad (one pair, aces).
MP1 has 7s 8c (2 pair, eights and sevens).
Outcome: MP1 wins $11.95.

Ok my full tilt adventure came to a close last night. Had $20 of bonus left to clear and only $1 to go. During he 30 minutes or so it took me to clear this $1 I lost 3 stacks and have never been so pissed off.

No real need to post full details. Got AA in pre against 22 and KK in pre against 88 and QQ, for losses each time. That timely downswing, whilst clearing remaining bonus made sure that all I made from FT during my time there was bonus.

What have I learned? Well lots of things. I sucked at first playing $25NL and slowly ironed out most of my horrendous plays. I have lots to learn sure, but I at least plugged some of the major leaks and can honestly say that only bad beats have prevented me having a positive win rate at FT.

But the time has come to whore. I opened a neteller account for this purpose but FT and stars are cashing me out either direct to my bank or via cheque which sucks as I have a GBP account. Still i deposited the amount of my BR onto neteller and hopefully the cheques will arrive before I starve!

When it clears I will do empire at Goats recommendation but will put some onto laddies for these student tourns.

A bit of good news: I won £120 ($240) at a 5p/10p home game on wednesday night. Didnt show down at all for the first £50 or so, then we got into dealers choice. I have a rich maniac internet tournament pro on my left and it's sufficiently late that we are down to four handed from 10. Dealer chooses 6 omaha in my SB and I end up folding the flop, but maniac ends up losing £20 to dealer after dealer made a loose call on the turn and caught. Maniac is really pissed off and starts mouthing away and I suddenly know what is going to happen. He will try to get it all in next hand and its my deal. (i know this guy well, so good when you spot him about to tilt.)

I decide that my best opportunity is holdem because since I know he'll bet crazy i want to get it all in with him preflop when im ahead (if i can catch a reasonable hand. A different game would see him raise then push a flop.

Anyway i deal and he winges about me choosing holdem and i'm delighted to look down at A6o!! (more than enough against a 100% range i just have to hope his cards suck). UTG limps (dont know what he's thinking, its obv that Dickie will bet hard) I raise hoping he'll push over. He does for £25! UTG folds and I call. The table goes mad (whooping and saying awesome call) as he flips 92s (very happy that he hit something at the low end of his range.) It holds and I win. He calmed down a bit after that (eyes on my stack) He asked if he could buy in for £50. No objections!

Please with most things that happened for the rest of the night. Won £30 pot at the end playing 10 omaha triple board! (properly random game). Also learned super 7-stud hi-lo, where you get 5 cards and, after first round of betting, discard 2 and choose one of your three to turn face up begining the stud type game. Dealers choice is fun and really hones those postflop skills.

I'd put the money in my roll, but I think i'll treat the gf to a night out instead. She deserves one

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

I'm really not sure if my flop call is loose here. I'd seen this guy raise up KJo from third position so i figured he whiffs a lot of flops here. obv from turn this plays itself.

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

BB ($15.65)
UTG ($27.70)
UTG+1 ($5)
MP1 ($26.90)
MP2 ($25.25)
Hero ($23.75)
CO ($23.70)
Button ($24.45)
SB ($21.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 3, 3.
UTG raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.75, 4 folds.

Flop: ($1.85) 5, 6, 2 (3 players)
UTG bets $0.75, Hero raises to $2, UTG calls $1.25. I'm not making the call on this board. Set or forget for me on the flop.

Turn: ($5.85) 3 (3 players)
UTG bets $2.5, Hero raises to $13.35, UTG calls $10.85.

River: ($32.55) 7 (3 players)
UTG bets $11.6 (All-In), Hero calls $7.65 (All-In).

Final Pot: $51.80

Results in white below:
UTG has Ac 4c (straight, seven high).
UTG+1 has (straight, seven high).
Hero has 3d 3h (three of a kind, threes).
Outcome: UTG wins $51.80.

Ok this is like two hands later and I wrongly decide to play this hard preflop (probably because of tilt.) I push the flop to continue the bluff i decided to make preflop. (This is really terrible stuff, but i figure shaming myself like this might stop me giving away stacks!)

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

MP3 ($15.30)
CO ($52.50)
Button ($4.65)
SB ($26.65)
BB ($25.25)
Hero ($25)
UTG+1 ($21.30)
MP1 ($24.45)
MP2 ($24.75)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, Q.
Hero raises to $1, 6 folds, SB raises to $3.35, 1 fold, Hero raises to $11, SB calls $6.75. Problem #1, fold to the 3-bet every time with AQ.

Flop: ($21.35) 6, T, 3 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $15 (All-In), SB calls $15. Ugly, tough spot but I would just c/f. I think this is spewing.

Turn: ($51.35) 5 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($51.35) Q (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $51.35

Results in white below:
SB has Kh Kd (one pair, kings)
Hero has Ac Qs (one pair, queens).
Outcome: SB wins $51.35.


This hand probably had a bit of tilt in it. I don't need telling how bad my flop shove was. What I would like to hear is should I have shoved preflop? Is a call ever good here because we will still suspect AA post flop and only a K will make us feel better about the hand.

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

BB ($13.40)
UTG ($25.25)
UTG+1 ($18.60)
MP1 ($16.35)
MP2 ($33.30)
Hero ($26.80)
CO ($5)
Button ($30.70)
SB ($9.75)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with K, K.
UTG raises to $1.5, 3 folds, Hero raises to $4.5, 4 folds, UTG raises to $15.35, Hero calls $9.35. I shove over every single time in this spot. If opp has AA then I pay him.

Flop: ($29.55) A, T, Q (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $12.95 (All-In), UTG calls $11.40 (All-In). You said it man!

Turn: ($53.90) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($53.90) 8 (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $53.90

Results in white below:
UTG shows As Ah (Full house, Aces full of eights).
Hero has Kc Kh (two pair, kings and eights).
Outcome: UTG wins $53.90.

This hand helped

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

UTG+1 ($46.90)
MP1 ($25.05)
MP2 ($10.30)
CO ($33.45)
Hero ($32.25)
SB ($9.60)
BB ($30.70)
UTG ($9.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with A, 9.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.75) 2, 9, 9 (4 players)
BB checks, MP2 bets $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, BB folds.

Turn: ($2.25) A (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks. I bet this turn every time. I think you lose a lot of value by checking here. By betting $2 you set yourself up to just put him AI on the river without it being an overbet.

River: ($2.25) 7 (3 players)
MP2 bets $2.25, Hero raises to $7, MP2 calls $4.75. Just put him AI on the river but because you didn't build the pot on the turn it would look like an overbet.

Final Pot: $16.25

Results in white below:
MP2 has 6c 6d (two pair, nines and sixes).
Hero has Ac 9s (full house, nines full of aces).
SB doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $16.25.

As did this

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

MP2 ($13.15)
MP3 ($46.90)
CO ($25.05)
Button ($10.30)
SB ($33.55)
Hero ($25)
UTG ($5)
UTG+1 ($30.70)
MP1 ($9.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6, 2.
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.60) 2, 2, 7 (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $0.6, Hero calls $0.60.

Turn: ($1.80) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $1.8, MP2 calls $1.80.

River: ($5.40) K (2 players)
Hero bets $5.4, MP2 calls $5.40. I think you gain more value by just putting him AI on the river. Looks more like a bluff and I think he calls often enough to be more +EV compared to betting pot.

Final Pot: $16.20

Results in white below:
Hero has 6c 2s (three of a kind, twos).
MP2 has Ac 7h (two pair, sevens and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $16.20.

I'm glad i posted my tilting hands. Hopefully i'll recognise it a bit better next time

Thanks for the comments Tai

Well I finally got my Neteller funds cleared so I went to Empire last night. Ended up a buyin and a half up. Surprised at how low the standard was compared to FT and stars. Here are a couple of good/interesting hands:

SBvsBB goes all the way here. This is only my 2nd SB so no reads yet. Did I play the hand ok? Sorry for the format but it appears that the converter tool won't recognise the true pot size.

***** Hand History for Game 5954016751 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 18:10:17 ET 2007
Table Table 126430 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: anoli01 ( $4.05 USD )
Seat 3: Rogman0611 ( $25 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $33.95 USD )
Seat 6: HappyG1001 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 9: celph_tytled ( $25.30 USD )
Seat 10: TWRaysel ( $4.35 USD )
Seat 4: GingerW1zard ( $24.35 USD )
Seat 2: orange2111 ( $20.60 USD )
Seat 8: humseper ( $25 USD )
GingerW1zard posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
rodanlewarx posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ Js Qc ]
HappyG1001 folds
celph_tytled folds
TWRaysel folds
anoli01 folds
Rogman0611 calls [$0.25 USD]
GingerW1zard calls [$0.15 USD]
rodanlewarx checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jh, Qh, 4c ]
GingerW1zard checks
rodanlewarx bets [$0.50 USD]
Rogman0611 folds
GingerW1zard calls [$0.50 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
GingerW1zard bets [$1 USD]
rodanlewarx raises [$2 USD]
GingerW1zard raises [$5 USD]
rodanlewarx is all-In [$31.20 USD]
GingerW1zard is all-In [$17.60 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 2c ]
GingerW1zard shows [ Js, Qc ]two pairs, Queens and Jacks.
rodanlewarx shows [ 9s, Th ]a straight Eight to Queen.

#2#
Think this is pretty standard. No reads but then with his stack I don't need any.

***** Hand History for Game 5953964202 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 17:54:18 ET 2007
Table Table 130563 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: ZigarrenBoy ( $5.15 USD )
Seat 2: DrAibolit ( $7.70 USD )
Seat 3: DieFetteSau ( $28.10 USD )
Seat 4: biigtuck23 ( $3.70 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $24.90 USD )
Seat 7: Boom_Slang ( $30.15 USD )
Seat 8: jillisg ( $24.50 USD )
Seat 9: illing2005 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 10: T7Shooter ( $26.05 USD )
Seat 6: GingerW1zard ( $24.60 USD )
GingerW1zard posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Boom_Slang posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ As Ah ]
jillisg folds
illing2005 folds
T7Shooter folds
ZigarrenBoy calls [$0.25 USD]
DrAibolit calls [$0.25 USD]
DieFetteSau folds
biigtuck23 folds
rodanlewarx folds
GingerW1zard raises [$1.40 USD]
Boom_Slang folds
ZigarrenBoy folds
DrAibolit calls [$1.25 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qs, 7d, 6d ]
GingerW1zard bets [$2.80 USD]
DrAibolit is all-In [$6.20 USD]
GingerW1zard calls [$3.40 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Ts ]

#3#

This guy had called a lot of my raises when he was out of position. The classic "that flop missed him" syndrome. Not sure I did such a good job of extracting though.

***** Hand History for Game 5953967141 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 17:55:10 ET 2007
Table Table 130563 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: ZigarrenBoy ( $4.90 USD )
Seat 2: DrAibolit ( $0 USD )
Seat 3: DieFetteSau ( $28.10 USD )
Seat 4: biigtuck23 ( $5 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $24.90 USD )
Seat 7: Boom_Slang ( $29.90 USD )
Seat 8: jillisg ( $24.50 USD )
Seat 9: illing2005 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 10: T7Shooter ( $26.05 USD )
Seat 6: GingerW1zard ( $32.05 USD )
Boom_Slang posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
jillisg posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ 6c 7h ]
illing2005 folds
T7Shooter folds
ZigarrenBoy folds
DieFetteSau folds
biigtuck23 folds
rodanlewarx folds
GingerW1zard raises [$1 USD]
Boom_Slang folds
jillisg calls [$0.75 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5c, 4s, 3d ]
jillisg checks
GingerW1zard bets [$1 USD]
jillisg calls [$1 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
jillisg bets [$3 USD]
GingerW1zard raises [$9 USD]
jillisg folds
GingerW1zard does not show cards.
GingerW1zard wins $15.60 USD

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Thanks for the comments Tai

Well I finally got my Neteller funds cleared so I went to Empire last night. Ended up a buyin and a half up. Surprised at how low the standard was compared to FT and stars. Here are a couple of good/interesting hands:

SBvsBB goes all the way here. This is only my 2nd SB so no reads yet. Did I play the hand ok? Sorry for the format but it appears that the converter tool won't recognise the true pot size.

***** Hand History for Game 5954016751 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 18:10:17 ET 2007
Table Table 126430 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: anoli01 ( $4.05 USD )
Seat 3: Rogman0611 ( $25 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $33.95 USD )
Seat 6: HappyG1001 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 9: celph_tytled ( $25.30 USD )
Seat 10: TWRaysel ( $4.35 USD )
Seat 4: GingerW1zard ( $24.35 USD )
Seat 2: orange2111 ( $20.60 USD )
Seat 8: humseper ( $25 USD )
GingerW1zard posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
rodanlewarx posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ Js Qc ]
HappyG1001 folds
celph_tytled folds
TWRaysel folds
anoli01 folds
Rogman0611 calls [$0.25 USD]
GingerW1zard calls [$0.15 USD] Standard
rodanlewarx checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ Jh, Qh, 4c ]
GingerW1zard checks Against 2 opps, I don't like checking here, particularly with that board. Why give anybody with two hearts or KT/T9 a free card? I lead here for $0.50
rodanlewarx bets [$0.50 USD]
Rogman0611 folds
GingerW1zard calls [$0.50 USD] If you were going to check the flop then you need to put in a good sized raise here. I would make it $2-$2.50 to go.
** Dealing Turn ** [ 8d ]
GingerW1zard bets [$1 USD] Too small IMO. I make it $1.50
rodanlewarx raises [$2 USD]
GingerW1zard raises [$5 USD]
rodanlewarx is all-In [$31.20 USD]
GingerW1zard is all-In [$17.60 USD] As played, you have to call.
** Dealing River ** [ 2c ]
GingerW1zard shows [ Js, Qc ]two pairs, Queens and Jacks.
rodanlewarx shows [ 9s, Th ]a straight Eight to Queen.

#2#
Think this is pretty standard. No reads but then with his stack I don't need any.

***** Hand History for Game 5953964202 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 17:54:18 ET 2007
Table Table 130563 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: ZigarrenBoy ( $5.15 USD )
Seat 2: DrAibolit ( $7.70 USD )
Seat 3: DieFetteSau ( $28.10 USD )
Seat 4: biigtuck23 ( $3.70 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $24.90 USD )
Seat 7: Boom_Slang ( $30.15 USD )
Seat 8: jillisg ( $24.50 USD )
Seat 9: illing2005 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 10: T7Shooter ( $26.05 USD )
Seat 6: GingerW1zard ( $24.60 USD )
GingerW1zard posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
Boom_Slang posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ As Ah ]
jillisg folds
illing2005 folds
T7Shooter folds
ZigarrenBoy calls [$0.25 USD]
DrAibolit calls [$0.25 USD]
DieFetteSau folds
biigtuck23 folds
rodanlewarx folds
GingerW1zard raises [$1.40 USD] I make it $1.50 to go but meh
Boom_Slang folds
ZigarrenBoy folds
DrAibolit calls [$1.25 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qs, 7d, 6d ]
GingerW1zard bets [$2.80 USD] I think you can bet a little less to make it look like a c-bet - $2 should be plenty. Other than that the hand plays itself.
DrAibolit is all-In [$6.20 USD]
GingerW1zard calls [$3.40 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3d ]
** Dealing River ** [ Ts ]

#3#

This guy had called a lot of my raises when he was out of position. The classic "that flop missed him" syndrome. Not sure I did such a good job of extracting though.

***** Hand History for Game 5953967141 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, May 09, 17:55:10 ET 2007
Table Table 130563 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: ZigarrenBoy ( $4.90 USD )
Seat 2: DrAibolit ( $0 USD )
Seat 3: DieFetteSau ( $28.10 USD )
Seat 4: biigtuck23 ( $5 USD )
Seat 5: rodanlewarx ( $24.90 USD )
Seat 7: Boom_Slang ( $29.90 USD )
Seat 8: jillisg ( $24.50 USD )
Seat 9: illing2005 ( $4.65 USD )
Seat 10: T7Shooter ( $26.05 USD )
Seat 6: GingerW1zard ( $32.05 USD )
Boom_Slang posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
jillisg posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to GingerW1zard [ 6c 7h ]
illing2005 folds
T7Shooter folds
ZigarrenBoy folds
DieFetteSau folds
biigtuck23 folds
rodanlewarx folds
GingerW1zard raises [$1 USD]
Boom_Slang folds
jillisg calls [$0.75 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5c, 4s, 3d ]
jillisg checks
GingerW1zard bets [$1 USD]
jillisg calls [$1 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6d ]
jillisg bets [$3 USD]
GingerW1zard raises [$9 USD] I think I would call here and hope he bluffs the river. Your hand isn't particularly vulnerable at this point, I think you can afford to just flat call and peel off a river.
jillisg folds
GingerW1zard does not show cards.
GingerW1zard wins $15.60 USD

TASTY bonus done already!

deposited $500 on empire at 9pm last night. Cashed out $704 at 1am tonight after about 5 hours play.

I know you all said it, but man you were all soooo right. Eurofish are juicy sweeeeeeeeet!

everest on recomendation of DaGoat next!

Must post some hands!!!

SO im on Everest at the moment and am around $120 up there taking the BR to $1300.

Just loading everything into PT. Have a friend who was a former $3/6 LIMIT player on pacific and he passed on some golden advice to me whilst railing the other night.

It was regarding value betting the river and pointing out all sorts of situations of when to and when not to value bet the river without the nuts. I had no idea I was leaving so much value behind!!

I'll look for examples of his advice to see if you guys agree. Made loads of sense though!

Here are a few hands from Everest. Anyone know a HH converter comatible with PT hands or with everest?

####1####

This guy had limped and raised a few hands and I didnt think he would limp call UTG with A-rag. My range for him included Pairs under 9's, gutshots, spade suited connectors and a less likely portion devoted to sets (less likely because he seems to want to push me out). I was so sure he wouldnt do this with A-rag that I should have shoved over the flop bet. I included results for any Euro players still on stars or FT. Check out how bad these guys can get!!

EverestPoker Game #1524942867: Table Berlin-19 - $0,000.25/$0,000.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:33:33 - 2007/05/14
Seat 1: tvidn ($0,045.50)
Seat 2: the_humster ($0,121.20)
Seat 3: gussssssssss ($0,041.50)
Seat 4: chessvince ($0,042.70)
Seat 5: CCCatch ($0,112.60)
Seat 7: GingerW1zard ($0,064.35)
Seat 8: Mrtomz ($0,044.40)
Seat 9: Stephenson ($0,005.75)
Seat 10: royalboss ($0,009.35)
gussssssssss posts the small blind of $0,000.25
chessvince posts the big blind of $0,000.50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GingerW1zard[Js Jd]
CCCatch calls $0,000.50
GingerW1zard raises to $0,002.50
Mrtomz folds
Stephenson folds
royalboss folds
tvidn folds
the_humster folds
gussssssssss folds
chessvince folds
CCCatch calls $0,002.00
*** FLOP *** [4s Ac 2s]
CCCatch checks
GingerW1zard bets $0,004.50
CCCatch raises to $0,009.00
GingerW1zard calls $0,004.50
*** TURN *** [4s Ac 2s] [7d]
CCCatch bets $0,023.75
GingerW1zard raises to $0,052.85 and is all-in
CCCatch calls $0,029.10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CCCatch shows [3h 3c]
GingerW1zard shows [Js Jd]
*** RIVER *** [4s Ac 2s 7d] [Ad]
*** SUMMARY ***
Board: [4s Ac 2s 7d Ad]
GingerW1zard collects $0,126.45

###2###
Here is one of those hands I would have checked behind on the river in the past. After his river check, im fairly sure i'm ahead and think he may call with a queen or with his more likely holding, a 6. I therefore make a value bet. Is this a reasonable line?

EverestPoker Game #1524912794: Table Berlin-0 - $0,000.25/$0,000.50 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:26:30 - 2007/05/14
Seat 1: the_humster ($0,044.00)
Seat 2: trinity44 ($0,016.92)
Seat 3: GingerW1zard ($0,049.25)
Seat 4: Snooker147 ($0,055.95)
Seat 5: Mrtomz ($0,051.19)
Seat 6: Robb13 ($0,008.50)
Seat 8: .-.suus.-. ($0,010.70)
Seat 9: epoppy ($0,048.00)
Seat 10: vince0709 ($0,033.52)
epoppy posts the small blind of $0,000.25
vince0709 posts the big blind of $0,000.50
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GingerW1zard[Kh Jd]
the_humster folds
trinity44 folds
GingerW1zard calls $0,000.50
Snooker147 folds
Mrtomz folds
Robb13 folds
.-.suus.-. folds
epoppy calls $0,000.25
vince0709 raises to $0,001.00
GingerW1zard calls $0,000.50
epoppy calls $0,000.50
*** FLOP *** [Kd 9h 6c]
epoppy checks
vince0709 checks
GingerW1zard bets $0,002.00
epoppy folds
vince0709 calls $0,002.00
*** TURN *** [Kd 9h 6c] [9s]
vince0709 checks
GingerW1zard checks
*** RIVER *** [Kd 9h 6c 9s] [Qs]
vince0709 checks
GingerW1zard bets $0,004.00

bump bump

which casino's in newcastle? In in doncaster (south yorkshire fwiw) and i went to the one in the city centre when i went for a cricket tour last year. Walked out with £600 so are the games still horribly juicy as id catch the trian up the coast and come play if they are!

I used to live in hull (right near Doncaster). Casinos everywhere are just unbelievably bad right now. Good ones have a computer touch screen FR 0.50game called "PokerPRO" and the players are terrible!!

I went around February and only had £100 (that i shouldnt even have played with, but i was feeling reckless). Grobbled up to $150 and lost whole thing with a set of aces all in on turn to backdoor flush draw. Been with mates many times since (but not played cos not rolled) and its unreal. The £1/£2 pot limit is INSANE. straddled by at least one person most hands. (ive seen it straddled to the button!

Sometimes you get dealers choice £1/£2 PL live. I only wish I could afford to play, cos I would kill these games. Anyone good should make UK B&M their stomping ground because everyone is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. It's like aggressive $10NL with drunks thrown in.


Apparantly it's the same in Nottingham, Leeds, Leicester and so on. Apparantly UK players are GASH

ok i just came in my pants.

On a serious note, how much info do you have on casinos in the yorkshire/nottinghamsire area?

Are there any websites etc?

the first real date ive got booked from work is in august and i defintly wanna get to a live casino and pwn some fish if its truly this bad.

Well i live in the north east now, so not much info on Yorkshire casinos, but my dad goes to nottingham (think its the Gala) all the time. (worst player ever. Raises A6 UTG at full ring and slates me for folding it!). I only went once and watched my dad play. (he donked of 6 buyins in an hour, and he wasnt the only one.)

Example hand from Aspers casino in Newcastle. 0.50/1, my mate raises AA to £7. (standard pf raise at casino), and gets called by the small blind. (they both have 150BBs). flop is Q53. SB bets £30. Mate Shoves for £140ish. SB thinks then calls and says ive got queens!

He had Q6o!

Ive been to a few English casinos, and my friends go often. I can honestly say I would play every night if I had the roll, and I would beat it. (and you know from seeing my HH's that im not even that goot).

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Well i live in the north east now, so not much info on Yorkshire casinos, but my dad goes to nottingham (think its the Gala) all the time. (worst player ever. Raises A6 UTG at full ring and slates me for folding it!). I only went once and watched my dad play. (he donked of 6 buyins in an hour, and he wasnt the only one.)

Example hand from Aspers casino in Newcastle. 0.50/1, my mate raises AA to £7. (standard pf raise at casino), and gets called by the small blind. (they both have 150BBs). flop is Q53. SB bets £30. Mate Shoves for £140ish. SB thinks then calls and says ive got queens!

He had Q6o!

Ive been to a few English casinos, and my friends go often. I can honestly say I would play every night if I had the roll, and I would beat it. (and you know from seeing my HH's that im not even that goot).

youre learning, it takes time

I played at aspers, recognised the name straight away, so i might have to get myself up there at some point.

In terms of gala, is it actually like sitting at a table in vegas and playing or is there some sort or video thing that you play?

Originally Posted by Miffed22001

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Well i live in the north east now, so not much info on Yorkshire casinos, but my dad goes to nottingham (think its the Gala) all the time. (worst player ever. Raises A6 UTG at full ring and slates me for folding it!). I only went once and watched my dad play. (he donked of 6 buyins in an hour, and he wasnt the only one.)

Example hand from Aspers casino in Newcastle. 0.50/1, my mate raises AA to £7. (standard pf raise at casino), and gets called by the small blind. (they both have 150BBs). flop is Q53. SB bets £30. Mate Shoves for £140ish. SB thinks then calls and says ive got queens!

He had Q6o!

Ive been to a few English casinos, and my friends go often. I can honestly say I would play every night if I had the roll, and I would beat it. (and you know from seeing my HH's that im not even that goot).

youre learning, it takes time

I played at aspers, recognised the name straight away, so i might have to get myself up there at some point.

In terms of gala, is it actually like sitting at a table in vegas and playing or is there some sort or video thing that you play?

It was cards, but i think they may have installed a vid screen thing as well now.

Right, Ive never EVER been so pissed off with a game of poker. Ive had to shut all poker down cos im liable to tilt off my whole roll.

So a friend is gonna try to sat into the sunday mill and i decide to give it a crack for $11 (intending to use tourn $$ on the $16 turbos). Anyway, I play some good stuff and pick up a couple of hands and I final table. Great.

I have 20k, 4 players have between 9-12k, another player with 20k and 2 big stacks of 50-90k. 7 get into the mill (i have my entry fee back already)

Then I find that 90k big stack is the biggest cock EVER. he limp folds to pushes from the shorties. Gets into massive battles with the other big stack, and always limps my BB. Obv i don't wanna play back here, i should be able to fold my way in. 3 stacks have M of 1-3, and im fine. 1 goes out.

Then all kinds of shit goes down. Big continues to be an absolute C**T by raising to 4k and folding to 8k shove of shorty and other daft things. Then A shorty gets it all in with AQ and is looked up by TT. 6426 then A on river. We're still going.

Shortest is on my left. He has 6k. I have 15k folded round to my SB at 1500/3000/150 and i have K6dd. Sure I push. He finds 88 and it holds.

Then new shorty on button pushes into big stack, who has to call 4k (out of his 95) to possibly end the sat and he folds, giving shorty 6k extra.

Now im short.

I have 1BB and K9 will have to do. I shove, get one caller. He has QJ.
Flop KQ9 im happy. turn 8 river T, i bubbled a 3 hour satellite because big stack's brain shat itself on poker stars. $215 worth of $16 turbos lost.

If I had a cat I'd kick it.

So a friday night that for all will in the world looked like netting me $250 has actually earned me a pathetic $20 or so for 8 hours work.

Im off to be sick

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Right, Ive never EVER been so pissed off with a game of poker. Ive had to shut all poker down cos im liable to tilt off my whole roll.

So a friend is gonna try to sat into the sunday mill and i decide to give it a crack for $11 (intending to use tourn $$ on the $16 turbos). Anyway, I play some good stuff and pick up a couple of hands and I final table. Great.

I have 20k, 4 players have between 9-12k, another player with 20k and 2 big stacks of 50-90k. 7 get into the mill (i have my entry fee back already)

Then I find that 90k big stack is the biggest cock EVER. he limp folds to pushes from the shorties. Gets into massive battles with the other big stack, and always limps my BB. Obv i don't wanna play back here, i should be able to fold my way in. 3 stacks have M of 1-3, and im fine. 1 goes out.

Then all kinds of shit goes down. Big continues to be an absolute C**T by raising to 4k and folding to 8k shove of shorty and other daft things. Then A shorty gets it all in with AQ and is looked up by TT. 6426 then A on river. We're still going.

Shortest is on my left. He has 6k. I have 15k folded round to my SB at 1500/3000/150 and i have K6dd. Sure I push. He finds 88 and it holds.

Then new shorty on button pushes into big stack, who has to call 4k (out of his 95) to possibly end the sat and he folds, giving shorty 6k extra.

Now im short.

I have 1BB and K9 will have to do. I shove, get one caller. He has QJ.
Flop KQ9 im happy. turn 8 river T, i bubbled a 3 hour satellite because big stack's brain shat itself on poker stars. $215 worth of $16 turbos lost.

If I had a cat I'd kick it.

So a friday night that for all will in the world looked like netting me $250 has actually earned me a pathetic $20 or so for 8 hours work.

Im off to be sick

lol.

i just read a badbeat thread in another forum on million sats. Unlucky dude.

I'm just not doing enough at the moment, and really need some help with my game. Thought I was playing really well this weekend and was 2 buyins up after around 2k hands on stars. But last thing last night saw a busted set and ANOTHER KK vs AA. These have never come in my favour.

12 hours playing this weekend, up $4. I'm really sick. I just can't get past breakeven. been there for around 30k hands.

Thank god for bonus whoring. If not for that my roll would be stagnent.

im not playing stars ever again.
9 tabling 3/6nl fr as a ninja is sick, how many times do you see JJ+ versus JJ+ is just sickness.

I suck major donkey balls.

Dropped $170 tonight.
4th hand of $50NL and I raise UTG with and get a call from SB. Flop comes :Ts: and I get bet into for $4.
Not having any of that I raise to $12 and get smooth called.
Turn is BOOM!!

He bets $12, I shove for $20 more or so, he flips :Td: :Tc: and so it starts.

Got it all in with QQ on QJ6 flop. AA calls. turn T, river K.

Cleared silver star (in 5 days).

Lost buyin with AQ to slowplayed set of kings. Won a bit, lost a bit more and thought how excellent it was when I had to fold my :Ad: :Ac: because the flop came all hearts, villain called my cbet then he shoved when the 4th heart hit the turn. (super easy fold but really could have done with that buyin back!)

When I do clear the stars bonus, I will have made nothing except 2500FPPs. (will probably be down $$ wise)

When will this down swing end? Or am I just completely trash at this game.

The soul search continues.....

......and you thought I was done.

No Ive not berrated myself enough. Much of tonights gashness was tilt and fast play. Could have saved around $70 if i'd have played my A game and not been so stupid.

I mean WTF is it with me? I KNOW I shouldnt call... Then I have called.

E.g.
Full stacks, $50NL from tonight. Villain is Button I am Mp1.
Dealt to TiltingTWAT: :Qs:
Folded around. TiltingTWAT raises to $2, button calls, blinds fold. Pot=$4.75
Flop: :Ks:
TiltingTWAT bets $3.50, villain raises to $7. TiltingTWAT calls $3.50

Stop hand there: I mean WTF am I thinking? Ive called but I have no Idea if im ahead or behind. Much of his calling range has me smoked and we're pretty deep. Alarm bells should ring here (and they do a bit)
Pot = $18.75
Turn:
TiltingTWAT checks, Villain checks.
River:
TiltingTWAT figures, "Im ahead lots of his range, value be this, he calls with AJ, KQ, happy days" (what a noob).
TiltingTWAT bets $12, Villain Raises to $41 and is all in
TiltingTWAT INSTACALLS (WHat a C**T) I mean it's so obvious he's trapped me here. If someone posted this hand I would say "90% he has a set here and he's slowplayed the turn. Dump it" I didnt even think about it for a second. INSTACALL? NOB!

Villain shows table congratualtes him and adds me to their buddy list.

Please someone come on here and tell me off. I have a wedding in 8 months and can't afford to pull shit like this.

Honeymoon in Brighton at this rate.

Right, ive sorted my head out.

I'm gonna play this bonus out on stars and im gonna sit at 4 25NL tables and grind my way to it. I will still at best maybe only break even for the week here, but damn it I'm gonna try and do it playing well. At least ill have the FPPs to spend after

Wish me luck and a speedy return to the fishier lands of everest

KK is a massive leak for me.

I 3bet, get 4bet and push over. At 25NL the only hand that ever 4bets me is AA. From now on I'm laying them down to big 4bets without ultra LAGG reads because I'm losing about 2-3 buyins per week with it.

When I move up, I may see a difference in play with it and reconsider.

So, What have I been doing lately?

Well ive been "mixing it up" baby! Playin plenty of PLOmaha, eight or better and triple draw. Even went to the dizzy heights of $2/$4 fixed triple draw this weekend.

This is all on stars, but most of my BR is at everest where I continue to play holdem (the only game offered). Fully up to $50NL, and really tempted to convert to 6max. Leaving it though. Every time I have a losing session I go play a "fun" game on stars. Making quite the tidy side BR from them.

This was tasty

PokerStars Game #10270596290: Omaha Pot Limit ($0.10/$0.25) - 2007/06/04 - 17:01:57 (ET)
Table 'Hubei' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: cashryders22 ($61.35 in chips)
Seat 3: HateHatchi ($14.30 in chips)
Seat 4: SkizoDK ($25 in chips)
Seat 5: GingerW1zard ($25.30 in chips)
Seat 6: bgbadams32 ($34.10 in chips)
cashryders22: posts small blind $0.10
HateHatchi: posts big blind $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to GingerW1zard [:Kd: :Qd:]
SkizoDK: raises $0.60 to $0.85
GingerW1zard: calls $0.85
bgbadams32: folds
cashryders22: folds
HateHatchi: folds
*** FLOP *** [:Td: :Jd: ]
SkizoDK: checks
cliffff joins the table at seat #1
GingerW1zard: bets $1.25
SkizoDK: raises $4.45 to $5.70
GingerW1zard: raises $5.55 to $11.25
SkizoDK: calls $5.55
*** TURN *** [:Td: :Jd: ] []
SkizoDK: checks
GingerW1zard: bets $13.20 and is all-in
SkizoDK: calls $12.90 and is all-in

Standard?

Oh,

Went to the Casino on Saturday night. Couldnt afford to play, but watched a mate and salivated at the juicyness. Its No-foldem for the first few hours (£1/£2) and anyone is calling down with a draw. They'll call pushes with a flush draw or a gutshot. Sure, you'll be pissed when they hit, and you need a proper roll, but man, im gonna kill this game!

Then the fun begins

At about 2am ish they started 1/2 PL dealers choice! (remember this is in £ not $ so its like 2/4 online). Man, if these guys can't play holdem, they don't even know the rules to omaha! One guy went all in on the flop with AAA in the hole!

It was like "I straddle", "I straddle", "yep me too" all the way round. These guys have hundreds of £££s and they don't really care if they lose. Even the regs arent that good. Sure they win (because someone has to and its really not that hard), but a good player, would just anihilate.

Lord, grant me the Bankroll and knowledge through many thousands of hours of online play, in order that I may be allowed to win all this lovely free money!

UPDATE

Well what have I be doing in the last 3 weeks since I posted. Mostly testing my LAGG game a la Brunsons super system 2, and now that I've called an end to the experiment here is what I learned:

The Lagg style has tonnes more Variance. I went down 7 buyins on party last weekend within the space of 2 hours!! Of course there were a couple of bad beats but mainly tilt. I.e. even slight tilt REALLY hurts when playing the Lagg style. I did have my upswings too, and nights where I felt I really outplayed all tables, but to be honest my winrate was slightly worse than usual (but not much) after 10k hands playing around 25/17 at FR.

Thoughts:

The style has real potential to be profitable, but it must have reads. Your postflop game needs more than just betting patterns to really boost you when playing this style. As such it is no way the correct way to play if 4 tabling FR.

Maybe single or two tabling, or if you are shorthanded and have good reads on many regulars, but basically for the low stakes with so many faces, it is really hard to get the sort of reads you need. You find yourself in trouble A LOT post flop and have many tough decisions to make. I have to say though, this aspect of the style has TOTALLY improved my general all round game, in a way I never thought it would.

Getting into so many tough spots, not only gives you a lot of experience, but helps you to learn to appreciate how much easier most of the spots you find yourself in playing TAGG. It also makes you value position so much more, and helps you to consider the value of leading the betting and being the aggressor.

I think most of all though it has given me insight into what the Laggs and the people who sit at my tables playing way too many hands are going through, how they may be thinking, and has therefore offered me loads of insight into just how to exploit them. Knowing now as I do what sorts of hands Laggs may play against me and just how they are hoping I'll react to their plays, I now understand how to put them in tough spots.

Wow so am I a great player now? Am I ****! I have broadened my horizons and feel so much more comfortable at the tables now, but I've more to learn, more leaks to fix and more levels to move up through. So what am I going to do about it?

Well it's back to the olf TAGG style and I've never been more comfortable. I almost feel that preflop I have my strategy down cold with the odd mixer thrown in every now and then for balance and to keep myself honest. I'm much happier with the postflop aspect but that doesnt mean I'm happy with it. In fact far from it.

So much more to learn, but a new and great thing has begun to happen. I'm starting to think in terms of inducing mistakes. If you're a low stakes player and you're reading this, you're probably like I have always been. Thinking about winning the hand you are playing and putting on the play that is most likely to get you that win. Like pushing over a flop check raise when you have AA as you would in a SNG, or 4 betting KK preflop. Start thinking about how to induce mistakes: It's hard, and harder than I ever thought, but It's slowly starting to come, and I can almost feel my BR twinging at the possibilities.

E.g. the KK thing. You've just been 3 bet preflop and action is on you. Most people 4 bet or 4 bet push here. I think that is a bad play and here is why: Because it forces your opponent to play correctly against you. I.e. call with KK/AA and fold rest of 3-bet range {TT+, AQ+}. But what you want to do is induce mistakes, and that will only happen if your opponent is either dumb (in which case you dont have to worry about inducing his mistakes) or if he doesnt put you on what you have. If he has QQ and the flop comes all unders he is likely to make many mistakes through the rest of the hand translating to money in your pocket. If you 4-bet then he folds his QQ or plays for sets. How do you win his money if he puts you on AA/KK?

Anyway I'm getting carried away with an example of the sort of thing ive been thinking about during my bigger hands. I've also been working on picking up small pots, betting when checked to, stealing blinds, and other things. So many things to do, try and one day maybe even perfect.

I'm nearly ready for a cardrunners subscription I think and am going to get one with my next cleared bonus (wherever that will be.)

Good luck at the tables everyone

hey ginger,
On your Omaha hand. Why did you 3bet minish raise on the flop? Just put the rest of your chips in here.

On turn, I check behind. I doubt villain folds here (after 3bet/calling). If you miss the river, fold and save 1/2 your stack.

Things are going better now, but still slowly. Had a big session last night and unfortunately went $100 down fairly early. Finished the night $10 up playing what I think was some of the best poker I've ever played. I'm going back to everest for a bit do do a reload and I'm going to try Eurobet after that.

Here's my favorite hand from the night. The reason I like it (aside from the bit where I won lots of money) is because I played as if someone had a K or a flush draw and sized my bets to get it all in in 3 chunks. This meant some big overbets but it worked in my head and on the table. In short I actually forulated a plan for the hand and stuck to it.

Seat 9: likelylad87 ( $62.45 USD )
Seat 5: GingerWizard1 ( $77 USD )
Seat 2: DonnusFerret ( $16.85 USD )
Seat 10: Sashi2P ( $10 USD )
Seat 1: flofun ( $39.55 USD )
Seat 7: chenny1977 ( $56.96 USD )
Seat 3: Ryco_Redleg ( $7.25 USD )
Seat 8: maradona77 ( $10 USD )
Seat 6: vahlley ( $48.75 USD )
Seat 4: cinzan0 ( $42.50 USD )
DonnusFerret posts small blind [$0.25 USD].
Ryco_Redleg posts big blind [$0.50 USD].
Dealt to GingerWizard1 [ ]
cinzan0 folds, GingerWizard1 calls [$0.50 USD], vahlley folds
chenny1977 calls [$0.50 USD], maradona77 calls [$0.50 USD], likelylad87 folds, flofun calls [$0.50 USD], DonnusFerret calls [$0.25 USD]
Ryco_Redleg checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ :Kh:, , :Kc: ]
DonnusFerret checks, Ryco_Redleg checks
GingerWizard1 bets [$3 USD]
chenny1977 calls [$3 USD]
maradona77 folds, flofun folds, DonnusFerret folds, Ryco_Redleg folds
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
GingerWizard1 bets [$12 USD]
chenny1977 calls [$12 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
GingerWizard1 bets [$42 USD]
chenny1977 is all-In [$41.46 USD]
GingerWizard1 shows [ , ]a full house, Fives full of Kings.
chenny1977 doesn't show [ , :Th: ]a flush, King high.


Of course it's easy to plan when you have a monster, what about when you don't. That's why I'm not good yet but at least I'm thinking in the right language now. Maybe I'll hit 100NL by the end of the summer.

Good luck man, i know what you mean about the super juicy live UK games, i play at casino's in west yorkshire, 1-2PL.

Well it's been a while but time for another update. I've been so busy for weeks now that real quality time to play has been hard to come by, still I've managed a few hours a week and really tightened up my cash game style, which has been giving me some small profit over the few hands I did play.

That was until this weekend when the fiancee went away. I decided to really put in some monster sessions and see if the leaks Id fixed would be as profitable as I'd hoped. And they were! +$445 for the weekend with pletherer of interesting stories along the way. So where to begin?

I decided that the main focus of the weekend would be to clear my reload at Everest for $75. This meant earning 1500 summit points (something I estimated would take 10 hours). So how did it start? Well friday night I went out and got hammered. Boom!!

Still I rolled out of bed around 1pm on Saturday and began the campaign with this hand:
Fool is a guy I know well who slowplays his monsters.

Me: $50
Fool:$35
He has the button.
Dealt to me
I raise to $2 foll calls BB calls. Pot = $6.25
Flop:
BB checks, Me bets $6, Fool raises to $12, BB folds Me calls.
Now on everest it is often the case that someone will minraise your cbets to find out if you have AK, AQ or something. More often than not they will try to push you off a turn check, so sometimes I like to call the minraise and turn check my strong hands just to mix it up.
Turn :jd;
Me checks, villain bets $21, Me calls.
Villain shows
River
Hero collects $72.25.

And so it went on, good hands the odd bad beat as usual. I remember 1 in particular and not because it upset me, but because I'd been working on this guy for an hour and just waiting for even an overpair. He was so loose and terrible it was really quite frightening. He was a 20 year old from France and you had to figure he was using his parents money or something cos theres no way he could have got to $50NL through grinding. I knew he'd only last so long (and ultimately was bust 6 hands after this one) so I really wanted a piece. Here's what happened:

sillyBoy: $35
Moi: $80
villain1: $45
I have the hijack and
UTG: raise to $1.75, 3 folds to sillyBoy (who calls as always with ATC), folded to me and I call, BB calls
pot = $8.75
Flop
BB checks, UTG bets $6, sillyBoy calls $6, Moi, raise to $14, BB folds, UTG folds, sillyBoy calls.
Turn
sillyBoy Bets $18.25 and is all in. Moi calls.
sillyBoy shows
River
sillyBoy wins lots of money!

Anyway, it's thanks to players like this (although he may have been the worst) that I'm $180 up for saturday and decide to use some summit points to play a $5.50 MTT. I final table that and end up taking down 5th for another $60 and am pretty pleased with the days work.

Ok so I finished saturday $240 up and having earned 750 summit points. Sunday afternoon was to be the time I would clear the bonus and finish with everest for a while.

It doesnt take long for me to be on the up stacking a guy with QQ to my set of Jacks. I continue to grind out playing my preflop system and get a really interesting situation. This guy is on mega tilt having taking some pretty tough beats on one of the tables we have. All he does is moan and moan about how rubbish everest is and what not so when I have AQ and raise and he calls the BB I have him pretty wide. Flop is KJT and I get all his chips in on the river after he checked flop and turn then pushed the end. Turns out however that he was also slowplaying his AQ and we split. I chuckle to myself thinking I would have 3bet that preflop but nvm. He however is furious "Everytime I have a monster I get outdrawn then when i finally have the nuts someone else has them too." Anyway enough background here is the hand.

I am CO with :Ah: which is in my stealing range.
Moi: $102
MrBadBeat2007: $18 (BB)

Folded round. I raise to $2, he calls, pot is $4.25
flop
He checks I bet $3, he raises all in $10 more. This doesn't appear to be his usual extraction line. What can he have? I decide that this is a bluff often enough, and that if he does have a pair or two, I have enough outs to justify the call. His AK never catches and he goes ape shit. Rebought full and donated another stack to me. Ah such fun.

I decide that with all this good fortune i'd try a couple of mtts on the side as well. Bought into th $5k guaranteed for $11 and found myself up against 650 players. With 70 left (and 64 being the money) I am 8th in chips when three hands come together to knock me out.

The first I am not in, but a guy ive played the last hour with takes a bad beat and loses half his stack leaving him 9k with me on 18k and the preflop pot $1400. I have the small in the next hand and he is UTG.
He is all in for 9k and i have AK folded around. Deciding that he is tilting enough and does this with hands i dominate enough to make it an easy call and the BB folds. His QT catches however and now im down to 9k. Thats still only just below average but I am still unsure if, given that the bubble was so close, i should have called there. I mean my read is fine (and having started as a turbo sng player, winning and losing races never bothers me), but perhaps I just didnt need to get involved. I would still have been 8th in chips and set to go deep.

Anyway the next hand (his BB) I have KK (a dream really) and am right in thinking the best play is to just push making it look like im on tilt after a bad beat. two callers but our tilting villain has 2 diamonds and I am backdoored for a bubble finish. I have to say I was pretty gutted.

Anyway, the cash is going fine (apart from one very irritating mistake I made paying off a set when I knew to lay it down). Fortunately im up for the day and after the bonus clears im $400 up for the weekend. Not bad! I watch Kill Bill, greet the gf when she gets in from her trip, have some food then decide to play some on sunday night.

I've cashed out of everest (although the funds aint cleared yet) and figured I go looking for the next place. I decide that EuroPoker (ongame) is a good idea because I want to do hollywood but would like an idea of clearance rates before i choose which bonus to do there. I deposit some and just play one table of some of the loosest poker ive ever known. while I get used to the software. I'm getting bored with 1 table though yet don't want to open more until I can deposit my main 50NL BR (which is awaiting release from everest). So I go on stars for some fun.

I keep around $200 on stars for juicy tourns or non-holdem games. I think my best games are low making types like Razz and triple draw. Still tonight I fancy some mtts and a 20k guaranteed for $11 comes up that sounds great. Anyway I build well for an hour then play a terrible hand in which I have TT in the small and see the CO push his 400 chips and the button minraise isolate. I should have repopped right there (I have 6k and he has 15k), but i flat call. I have an overpair to the board and he keeps betting into me and i keep calling. the turn brings two clubs and the river 3 (and a K) I worry about calling the river for 1400 but do anyway and he had nothing all the way till his rivered flush. Really being passive can suck hard sometimes.

Anyway I never really get going again and get caught stealing with 42. In fairness I have 2.9k and the preflop pot was 1000 and the CO limped his 400 to my BB. I felt he'd lay it down for half his stack but his J8s was too tempting I guess.

Still unperterbed I play a couple more mtts and get nowhere. I play the shortest SNG of all time: here is the FULL HH.

GingerW1zard: 1500
Pleb: 1500
GingerW1zard posts SB 10
pleb posts BB 20
dealt to GW: :ad;
GW raises to 80, pleb is All in 1500, GW calls
pleb shows

flop
turn
river

LOL

I then decide to play a triple shootout for the million and some OhiLo while I wait for it to fill.

In the end I'm heads up on the first table of the shootout yet my flush gets housed. oh well!
But the Omaha was very profitable.

2 hands

hand 1

Dealt to me :Ac:
well thats a great start and I raise it. the board is so im frerolling against 3 players (both with half stacks). we get all in and it turns out my AA is enough for the high too. The following hand however will get more detail (and was quite naughty of me really)

Stacks
Me: $55
villain1: $25
villain2: $15
villain 1 is really aggressive after the flop but seems to fold later streets. I have BB, villain 1 is Mp1, villain2 is button.
6 limpers, I have and check.
Flop. :Ac:
I check, villain1 bets pot $1.75, villain 2 calls, I call. Pot =$8.50
Turn :Ac:
I check villain1 bets $6, i call. Pot = $20.50
A loose call I know, but I figure my low may be good, the flush may be good and so may a 5. Plus If he is bluffing (as he has before) I know he can fold the river.
River: :Ac:
I'm all in and he calls with A2KJ.
Lucky me.

I end the night at 4am having made 40 more in total and for a weekend of $440.

There may be a few lucky hands posted, but generally the tight taggy system of cash play is where most of this comes from. I'm back to grinding and I really feel like im beating 50NL. Only time will tell.....

Well after the glories of this weekend I was certainly due to be pulled back a peg or 2. Still thats what its all about really.

So last night I find Everest still havnt cashed me out so time for more fun games. Decide I'm gonna sat into the million via the soft $11.70 double shootouts. 4 of them later and I realise I'm destined not to have a hand hold up tonight. I't like SNG downswing all over again. Oh well I think, lets move on to something more interesting.

I play some 2-7 Triple draw at $0.50/1 for a profit of $10 and some $0.50/1 5cd for profit of $15 and a 200 or so hands of breakeven eight or better. So not a profitable night. Then, as im on my way to bed, I remember $4.50 sitting in Empire and, for some unknow reason decide to see if there is any low buyin donk fest I can blow some steam in.

Well I find the Steps tourns. The idea is you buy into the 10 man sng for $3. If you come 3rd or 4th you get another level 1 free. 1st or 2nd you move up to level 2. All the levels are similar (although 5th to 7th moves down a level and 8th to 10th moves 2 levels down when you get higher). This goes on till level 6 or something where there are some big $1000+ prizes.

Anyway I fire one up and triple up 3rd hand. This combined with some careful aggressive play in the final 3 ensures my move up. Wooo. Now it's 4am. crap. Oh well decide to have a crack at level 2. Made a great fold with 7 left having called a short stack push with AQ, but also finding big stack calling. flop was T3Q rainbow and im in the mood to check down. bb checks too and turn is 3. BB bets 1/2 the pot and suddenly I'm feeling pretty vunerable. I deduce that in order to bet here he needs a monster and so fold. He shows quads and I survive.

End up in 5th after A2 in small didnt hold up to BB's AA. (go figure. Sums up every sat id played in)

SO i have a ticket to level 1 back but decide it's bed time anyway. Down $20 for the night. Nothing

Took the day off and to my delight found my everest money was back. so I bought into Europoker fully and began 4 tabling 50NL

Well The software is shakey on my laptop to say the least but I can still play and read what is going on so no problems. Well there was one problem....

I played like a dick. ended up down $70 and really would have been $130 better off than that if I hadnt been such a station.

For some reason I made 4 ridiculously loose calls: Here is one and it really is terrible

Button: HoneyMon5ter $95
SB: Villain 1: $60
BB: Villain 2: $25

Dealt to HoneyMon5ter:
Folded to HM who raises to $2. SB calls, BB calls
Flop:
2 checks, HM bets $6, SB calls, BB calls
Turn: :Tc:
SB bets $15, BB folds, HoneyMon5ter calls. I think im behind but have outs and don't wanna let go yet.
River:
SB bets $30.
I know I'm smoked. This has to be the worst call I've ever made. Still I made it.

Had a couple of similars and was unlucky in 1 hand where I called a pf raise from the blinds with 77 and flop a set on a monotone board. I checked to the raiser who checked behind (as did the other caller). The deathly 4th spade came on the turn and i never improved. Oh well.

Still despite 3 bad calls there were some good plays and some nice hands (otherwise id be $200 down). My favorite hand was the following although nothing special by me, it was fun. I guess this doesnt happen to us very often!

UTG: HoneyMon5ster: $50
UTG+1: $150
MP2: $40
CO: $16
BB: $40
Dealt to HoneyMon5ter:
HM limps, UTG calls, MP2 raises $2, CO calls, BB calls, HM calls UTG+1 calls
pot = $10.25
Flop
BB checks, HM checks, UTG+1 checks, MP2 bets $3, CO raises $14 (all in), BB calls $14, HM calls $14, UTG+1 folds, MP2 folds
Pot = $55.25
Turn
BB checks, HM bets $10, BB folds
CO shows

I bet the turn cos I hoped BB was on a flush draw, so I gave him pot odds to draw to a flush. Guy said he had and put me on trip 4's. (Not everyone uses pot odds it would seem.)

I'm fairly mad at myself. I think my weekend high has given me a warranted air of invincibility, and has led me to make silly expensive calls. I need to remember that folding correctly makes just as much money as everything else and getting it wrong can destroy your winrate.

Still my preflop game was solid, and there are still tons of positives.

Think ill post some of the silly hands in the NLHE forum to check they were bad as soon as I get PT configured for ongame. (BTW if anyone has installed SQLite 3 ODBC let me know where I can get it. apparantly HH's cant be processed without.)

Till next time

Wooo, a decent afternoon and +$50. But it could have been so much better......

Button. Reg: $50
SB: HoneyMon5ter: $124
HoneyMon5ter:
Folded to button who raises to $2.50, HM raises to $7.75, BB folds, button raises to $17, HM calls. Pot = $34.50
Flop:
HM bets $35, Button is all in. Button shows :Ks: :Kd:

I didnt improve: Two problems I have with this hand. 1, I know this regular, and know he had a big hand when he repopped, so I should have looked at my implied odds and folded. 2, I pushed my overpair when i hand like 80% on him having me smoked. Why did I do this? Because I'm a tit! I decided that I wouldnt fold an overpair to the board (wtf why?) and that if I wasn't folding I should bet it all. Duh!

Anyway, I taught myself a lesson in 3 betting but laying down to the 4bet and started playing my A game. Lost a $20 pot with the nuts because the software was too slow to accept my call. That really pissed me off. But I still wound the session a buyin up, thanks to 3 things:
1. Good preflop play
2. Bluff catching
3. Folding when I wanted to call but knew not to.

I didnt do 3 at all yesterday and paid for it. I saved $70 today in bets I would like to have called but was reasonable sure I was beat. I sometimes wonder why I find folding good hands so hard. Guess I need to play my way out of that one.

The bluff catching I've alluded to in 2. is the subject of a recent post I've written for the NLHE strategy forum, and is not as wild as it sounds. It basically pertains to checking the river with a strongish hand when you think opponent has missed his draw and allowing him to bluff. It's so profitable if you are right more often than not, because river bluffs are usually very big.

Anyway a good session and I'm getting used to Europoker. The players do suck in the main, and It's gonna take some pretty bad beats to have me in the red when i've finished the bonus.

Back to land of the idiots for me again tonight. My temperament is really quite terrible. This was the hand that started it all:

HoneyMonster: $85 (BB)
Villain1: $40 (button)
Villain2: $60 (Mp1)
Dealt to honey monster: [ ]
Villain2 limps, Villain1 raises to $2.5, HM calls, Villain 2 calls.
Flop: [:Kd: :As:]
HM checks, Villain2 Bets $4, Villain1 raises to $8, HM raises to $25, Villain 2 calls, villain1 folds. pot = $65.75
Turn: [ ]
HM checks, Villain2 bets $32.50 and is all in, HM calls
Final Pot = $130.75
River [ ]
Villain 2 shows [ ] and wins.

Fine, 2 outered no need to whine. Except It started me playing bad. Sure I kept it together preflop as always, but I started to let it go post.

Made 3 terrible 3 barrel bluffs. Always in BSB battles too. WHY DO I DO IT??!! I have to sort this leak out. I will if it kills me. Anyway thanks to 3 barreling im down $120 for the night. Played some killer stuff just to keep it from being $200 plus. Stopped making dumb calls. Just so angry with myself.

whatis encouraging is that when i dont do anything silly, you see the stacks on all 4 of my tables go up slowly but surely. That is encouraging at least. Must stop sucking!!

4 outer
Two aces as well would give him a better boat.

Very true.

My big hands from tonight:
##1##
Played this perfectly, as if he had an overpair he wouldnt be able to fold. When my current down swing ends, Sklansky will cough up for this.

Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #613,066,893
Table Tetouan, 1 Jan 1900 5:59 PM ET

Seat 1: jabba7805 ($0,095.60 in chips)
Seat 2: ReissuReijo ($0,042.65 in chips)
Seat 3: Angelina85 ($0,033.40 in chips)
Seat 4: 18901 ($0,065.80 in chips)
Seat 5: rodahund ($0,038.25 in chips)
Seat 6: a_mansador3 ($0,046.75 in chips)
Seat 7: bulimia11 ($0,063.75 in chips)
Seat 8: HoneyMon5ter [ , ] ($0,085.45 in chips)
Seat 9: spamalotalot ($0,049.50 in chips)
Seat 10: Omurtag ($0,048.75 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
rodahund posts blind ($0,000.25), a_mansador3 posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
bulimia11 folds, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,000.50, spamalotalot bets $0,003, Omurtag folds, jabba7805 folds, ReissuReijo folds, Angelina85 folds, 18901 folds, rodahund folds, a_mansador3 folds, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,002.50.

FLOP [board cards ,, ]
HoneyMon5ter checks, spamalotalot bets $0,006.50, HoneyMon5ter bets $0,016, spamalotalot calls $0,009.50.

TURN [board cards ,,, ]
HoneyMon5ter bets $0,031, spamalotalot calls $0,030.50 and is all-in.

RIVER [board cards ,,,, ]

SHOWDOWN
HoneyMon5ter shows [ , ]
spamalotalot shows [ , ]
HoneyMon5ter wins $0,000.50, spamalotalot wins $0,098.25.

###hand(s) 2###

Now follows a series of three hands with an idiot. He was brand new to the table in the first hand, and well, I guess you'll understand How I played the others when you see it.

#a#

Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #613,239,235
Table Lexington, 1 Jan 1900 6:40 PM ET

Seat 1: MaxSchmidt ($0,017.80 in chips)
Seat 2: montolamoney ($0,008.55 in chips)
Seat 3: fry9111 ($0,050.40 in chips)
Seat 4: triglau ($0,053.05 in chips)
Seat 5: rodahund ($0,050.75 in chips)
Seat 6: HoneyMon5ter [ , ] ($0,048.70 in chips)
Seat 7: HotLemon ($0,049.00 in chips)
Seat 8: wollofa ($0,008.00 in chips)
Seat 9: -2tone- ($0,038.30 in chips)
Seat 10: PotFlop ($0,051.40 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
triglau posts blind ($0,000.25), rodahund posts blind ($0,000.50), montolamoney posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
HoneyMon5ter bets $0,002.50, HotLemon folds, wollofa folds, -2tone- folds, PotFlop folds, MaxSchmidt folds, montolamoney bets $0,008.05 and is all-in, fry9111 folds, triglau folds, rodahund folds, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,006.05.

FLOP [board cards ,, ]

TURN [board cards ,,, ]

RIVER [board cards ,,,, ]

SHOWDOWN
montolamoney shows [ , ]
HoneyMon5ter shows [ , ]
montolamoney wins $0,017.

#b#

Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #613,256,888
Table Lexington, 1 Jan 1900 6:44 PM ET

Seat 1: MaxSchmidt ($0,017.30 in chips)
Seat 2: montolamoney ($0,010.50 in chips)
Seat 4: triglau ($0,052.80 in chips)
Seat 5: rodahund ($0,048.25 in chips)
Seat 6: HoneyMon5ter [ , ] ($0,051.15 in chips)
Seat 7: HotLemon ($0,048.25 in chips)
Seat 8: wollofa ($0,007.25 in chips)
Seat 9: -2tone- ($0,037.80 in chips)
Seat 10: PotFlop ($0,050.40 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
-2tone- posts blind ($0,000.25), PotFlop posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
MaxSchmidt folds, montolamoney bets $0,010.50 and is all-in, triglau folds, rodahund folds, HoneyMon5ter bets $0,020.50, HotLemon folds, wollofa folds, -2tone- folds, PotFlop folds.

FLOP [board cards ,, ]

TURN [board cards ,,, ]

RIVER [board cards ,,,, ]

SHOWDOWN
HoneyMon5ter shows [ , ]
montolamoney shows [ , ]
montolamoney wins $0,020.70, HoneyMon5ter wins $0,010.

#c#

Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #613,305,036
Table Lexington, 1 Jan 1900 6:57 PM ET

Seat 1: MaxSchmidt ($0,015.55 in chips)
Seat 2: montolamoney ($0,027.10 in chips)
Seat 3: jabba7805 ($0,050.00 in chips)
Seat 4: triglau ($0,054.10 in chips)
Seat 5: rodahund ($0,047.50 in chips)
Seat 6: HoneyMon5ter [ , ] ($0,053.65 in chips)
Seat 7: HotLemon ($0,042.25 in chips)
Seat 8: wollofa ($0,005.25 in chips)
Seat 9: huussisaari ($0,053.35 in chips)
Seat 10: PotFlop ($0,046.90 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
huussisaari posts blind ($0,000.25), PotFlop posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
MaxSchmidt folds, montolamoney calls $0,000.50, jabba7805 folds, triglau folds, rodahund folds, HoneyMon5ter bets $0,002.50, HotLemon folds, wollofa folds, huussisaari calls $0,002.25, PotFlop folds, montolamoney calls $0,002.

FLOP [board cards ,, ]
huussisaari checks, montolamoney bets $0,006, HoneyMon5ter bets $0,025, huussisaari folds, montolamoney calls $0,018.60 and is all-in.

TURN [board cards ,,, ]

RIVER [board cards ,,,, ]

SHOWDOWN
HoneyMon5ter shows [ , ]
montolamoney mucks cards
HoneyMon5ter wins $0,056.10.

So I guess some stories do have a happy ending.

On an even happier note:
Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #612,673,708
Table Northridge, 1 Jan 1900 4:25 PM ET

Seat 1: ThomasOh ($0,009.25 in chips)
Seat 2: viq844pl ($0,061.55 in chips)
Seat 3: itteronja ($0,009.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Bundes-Bruno ($0,030.00 in chips)
Seat 5: Karell81 ($0,051.85 in chips)
Seat 6: nasson ($0,110.15 in chips)
Seat 7: qrvapecer2 ($0,035.25 in chips)
Seat 8: game2meatu ($0,073.75 in chips)
Seat 10: HoneyMon5ter [ , ] ($0,056.90 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
itteronja posts blind ($0,000.25), Bundes-Bruno posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
Karell81 folds, nasson folds, qrvapecer2 calls $0,000.50, game2meatu folds, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,000.50, ThomasOh folds, viq844pl bets $0,003, itteronja calls $0,002.75, Bundes-Bruno calls $0,002.50, qrvapecer2 calls $0,002.50, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,002.50.

FLOP [board cards ,, ]
itteronja checks, Bundes-Bruno bets $0,011, qrvapecer2 folds, HoneyMon5ter bets $0,030, viq844pl folds, itteronja calls $0,006.70 and is all-in, Bundes-Bruno calls $0,016 and is all-in.

TURN [board cards ,,, ]

RIVER [board cards ,,,, ]

SHOWDOWN
HoneyMon5ter shows [ , ]
itteronja mucks cards
Bundes-Bruno mucks cards
HoneyMon5ter wins $0,077.20

Still seem to have wound up down for the session despite PT saying I was $60 up. Will have to look into that.

No more poker now till Harry Potter is good and read. Wished I'd been to the bookies and put some cash on Harry, Ron AND Hermoine all surviving.I reckon I'd have got great odds there.

Oh yeah!

The new Harry Potter Rocks! Won't spoil it for anyone who reads this blog, but it really is excellent.

Buy it, buy them all!

Couple of tasty 90 minute sessions before the gym the last 2 nights have seen +$150 and +$50 (roughly).

Back into the black for my mini Europoker adventure which is pretty cool. Hopefully I can keep my temperement on track and have a nice winning month when the bonus is counted at the end.

Here is one big hand. Villain was a bit of a wild one who loved the big bluff. Hope I played it right.

Texas Hold'em $0,000.50-$0,001 NL (real money), hand #628,735,417
Table Asheville, 1 Jan 1900 2:34 PM ET

Seat 1: HoneyMon5ter [ QH,AH ] ($0,048.75 in chips)
Seat 2: SlamWithNuts ($0,049.75 in chips)
Seat 3: Kamchatka.1 ($0,081.40 in chips)
Seat 4: -2tone- ($0,078.70 in chips)
Seat 5: zolinvitaly ($0,050.00 in chips)
Seat 6: alexFILINN ($0,072.60 in chips)
Seat 7: MrSimson ($0,024.20 in chips)
Seat 8: Dandonian ($0,075.50 in chips)
Seat 9: plakad ($0,049.50 in chips)
Seat 10: WasiNeva ($0,049.45 in chips)
ANTES/BLINDS
plakad posts blind ($0,000.25), WasiNeva posts blind ($0,000.50).

PRE-FLOP
HoneyMon5ter bets $0,002, SlamWithNuts folds, Kamchatka.1 calls $0,002, -2tone- folds, zolinvitaly folds, alexFILINN folds, MrSimson folds, Dandonian folds, plakad folds, WasiNeva folds.

FLOP [board cards 3C,6H,AC ]
HoneyMon5ter bets $0,003, Kamchatka.1 calls $0,003.

TURN [board cards 3C,6H,AC,10S ]
HoneyMon5ter checks, Kamchatka.1 bets $0,010, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,010.

RIVER [board cards 3C,6H,AC,10S,JH ]
HoneyMon5ter checks, Kamchatka.1 bets $0,033.75, HoneyMon5ter calls $0,033.75 and is all-in.

SHOWDOWN
Kamchatka.1 shows [ 4S,5S ]
HoneyMon5ter shows [ QH,AH ]
HoneyMon5ter wins $0,096.75.

Anyway. Maybe get a few more hands in tonight.

So, whats going on with me?

Well poker wise not exactly loads. Down bout 1/2 a buyin over my last seriously card dead session, but not too worried. I have a hand to post when I've loaded it into PT, but that'll have to wait for now.

Been trying to improve my Mtt play by playng some $4.40s. I'm fine at the beginning of tourns and even final tables thanks to all the SNG experience. Problem is I can't play the transition very well. Not sure what im doing wrong, or what im missing out on but hopefully i'll figure it out. At least in $4.40s it's a really affordable way to learn.

Found out I have $150 worth of bonus to collect on Betfair so will hopefully grind that one away as well as Eurpoker.

Operation: get a new avatar.

So far they won't load. can anyone help?

Wow. Go me.
3rd in a $4.40 for $85.68
4th in $22 for $288.

Should have gone deeper in the $22, but took a stand at the wrong time against aggro big stack. min raised me so many flops. This time i Had TT on Q high flop and was having none of it. He had QT. Balls. SHould have realised I didnt need to take a stand there. Had 50000 at 1k/2k.

3rd place finish in $4.40 was due to a master bluff by me, that villain was too stupid to see. I check called 2 streets with the flush draw on board and pushed the river when it came in for his whole stack. Unfortunately top pair was too good to let go. and I was short. Played back for a bit but my KT ran into AQ and that was that.

ZOMG!

Another $100+ session. Nearing the graduation to $100NL now.

If you're reading this, and have any advice to give regarding the step up, please, feel free to comment.

Ok, havnt posted since saturday so quick update.

Played about 4 2 hour sessions this week. 2 losing 2 winning. and +$100 for the week i think. Got a 30% RB deal direct with betfair (thanks cheese) and will be playing there for a bit when i get to 100NL.

Gambled some up a bit this week. No luck on horses. Plenty on pool. Been betting £1-£2 on the outcome of frames with a mate, and the odd £5 here and there. Up a good few quid, feeding my hopeless horse play.

Been offered a game with the owner of the local club for £200 first to 13 and a 2 start. Reckon I've got the game to beat him, but will need the practise. Retipped my cue this weekend and whilst the tip is great not got my touch back yet.

The boys from the England Universities team are talking about coming together for an unofficial tournament which should be fun and plenty of chance to play poker on the side against the welsh (who suck).

Nearly sorted photographer for wedding too. Which will be awesome. Ill post pictures after the event (or link you to the site you can view them).

Poker on the backseat for a bit cos i'm feeling my love of pool returning. Still should cram a few thousand hands in per week. If I can get to $5k before the wedding, should be a crackin honeymoon!

TIME TO TAKE A SHOT!!

So after a couple more decent sessions im up to $2600 and im taking a shot at 100NL.

Just 1 table of the 4 I play for now and with a heavy review after.

If you're reading my blog anyone, please wish me luck!

Lol, how did you ever make the England team?

Originally Posted by mike2405

Lol, how did you ever make the England team?

You know student pool in the UK?

Getting an England trial was a simple case of making a last 16 place in the national individual and having a decent record in the team event.

Winning a place at trials meant getting through a swiss system event finishing top 6 out of 32 invited.

Well My shot didnt go great.

set of 8's vs set of 9's all in on flop for one buyin, and called a push from a 1/4 stack with JJ. He had AA.

Other than that, standard seems about the same. will have to grind a bit more 50NL before the next shot methinks

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Originally Posted by mike2405

Lol, how did you ever make the England team?

You know student pool in the UK?

Getting an England trial was a simple case of making a last 16 place in the national individual and having a decent record in the team event.

Winning a place at trials meant getting through a swiss system event finishing top 6 out of 32 invited.

You didn't need to get in the last 16 of the individuals, plenty made the trials that didn't. Even some that got knocked out the 1st round.

Didnt say everyone needed to do that. I'm saying thats what I did.

Maybe I shoulda put "Getting an england trial for me"

Who do you play for?

Actually nevermind, I've figured it out.

You're University of Essex.

Either Mike Potter (unlikely as he always seemed a pretty friendly guy), or Mike Werbowy (who I beat at trials and is one of the only people I've met on the student pool circuit who'd say something like "LOL how did you make it onto the England side?")

Either way, im looking at my gold medal now and hope you're enjoying those sour grapes. See you in February.

Oh dear.

Took some time off yesterday afternoon to play some poker. Dropped 7-8 buyins and really wish i hadn't. 1 was at 100NL and here was the hand.

2nd orbit of table.
Effective stacks $100
Hero is button with
EP Villain raises to $4, hero raises to $12 villain calls.
Pot = $25.50

Flop:
Villain bets $20, hero raises to $50, Villain raises to $88 hero calls.

Should I have gotten away from this???

Anyway I cracked open 50NL tables where i'm comfortable, and just couldnt get anything going. My big hands were folded to, my made hands didnt get paid, no cbets got through, i think i was floated like 100%.

Couple of maniacs at one table took 2 buyins from me via outdraws (like a rivered 9 high flush over a set), but after being 5 buyins down i then started to tilt and bluff more. Oh dear.

I'm gonna get some hands and post to see what was really bad. Lots of rebuilding to do I feel, and perhaps a switch to 6max.

I'm gonna finish this Europoker bonus and then take stock i think. Maybe i'll get a cardrunners subscription.

Anyway confidence is low.

Keep up the confidence you seem to play goot.
You'll be solidly at 100Nl in no time at all.

I think I know a guy on the UK pool team, Joe Latimer?

Originally Posted by topsoyale

Keep up the confidence you seem to play goot.
You'll be solidly at 100Nl in no time at all.

I think I know a guy on the UK pool team, Joe Latimer?

Aye Joe is a great lad. Warwick right? All the lads on the side were great. It's a handful of the guys that didnt make it that are penises.

Originally Posted by gingerwizard

Actually nevermind, I've figured it out.

You're University of Essex.

Either Mike Potter (unlikely as he always seemed a pretty friendly guy), or Mike Werbowy (who I beat at trials and is one of the only people I've met on the student pool circuit who'd say something like "LOL how did you make it onto the England side?")

Either way, im looking at my gold medal now and hope you're enjoying those sour grapes. See you in February.

Lol, calm down big guy, just a little joke. I just do my thing. Shame you think I'm not very friendly, never really had a problem with you. What exactly don't you like about me?

Why February? You not doing 9 ball in December?

Man I really should keep on top of this blog thing. So much pool been going on in the last week and in addition to a weekend stay at the parents has meant ive not kept up to date.

So where to begin?

Well last week I played only two sessions (for the above reasons) and ended up $700 down!!! Reasons for this:
1: 3 buyins lost while taking shots at 100NL FR
2: Normal variance at 50NL
3: A disaster ridden hour long crack a 6max

Ok so 1 and 2 we're not nice but normal i think. Maybe one iffy 100NL hand where I 3bet AK, and stacked off on an A high flop to a flat called AA on a drawy board, but I made my peace with both. 3. is a different story.

See I tried implementing Sauce's guide to 6max at ongame skin Europoker and either I played horribly or the guide just doesn't cut the mustard for such poor games. I think a bit of both and have every intention of posting all key hands from those sessions just as soon as I have time.

What seemed to be happening was that I'd 3 bet as per the guide and was really aggro post flop in the spots suggested in the guide, yet ended up playing for stacks against TP or middle pair and never improving my 9 out draws or getting my overpairs cracked. What I figured was that since the fish there seem so bad and stack off so light, the ilikeaces86 guide may be better suited. With only 5 6max games how can all opponents be multitabling HUD junkies?

Still I'm sure I didn't play too well either and will be posting all big hands to find out. Reason I don't have time is I have like 3 days to clear my bonus and still a 3rd of the points left to procure. (guess thats what you get for being busy). So I'm spending my evenings till late trying to log the hands. Problem is my laptop is so slow and decrepid that i can only 5-table and even then it's riskily slow. This means I get only around 300 hands per hour in (because ongame is so slow in general).

So this week i've spent two 3-hour sessions playing 50NL FR and both of them winning. So for this week im around 3 buyins up. My nitty 15/8 game at FR is a winning one and I feel I may as well stick to it while i'm waiting for this thing to clear.

Once it has I'm moving to betfair where I have a 30% RB deal with the site itself lined up. There i'm going to learn 6max once and for all, so expect a lot more posts in the SHNL forum.

Yeah from Warwick, small world.

You sound like you have a good plan for moving up and bonus whoring so hopefully your BR will skyrocket a bit in the near future.

Good luck graduating up a limit.

Originally Posted by topsoyale

Yeah from Warwick, small world.

You sound like you have a good plan for moving up and Bonus whoring so hopefully your BR will skyrocket a bit in the near future.

Good luck graduating up a limit.

tyty

Quick 90 minute session for +3buyins this afternoon. Going ok.

Poolwise i'll not be playing the 9-ball this year cos 9-ball sucks balls. 8-ball is on 22nd of Feb which is a problem owing to my wedding being on the 9th. Becky wants to be on honeymoon when 8-ball is on!!!

Hopefully I can sort it so that I can play the 8-ball championships and have a great honeymoon. Durham's gonna have a solid first team as we introduce the BUSA snooker champion into the side! Plus I wanna muster a defense of my England place now the Irish are to be included in the home nations.

Mike: I think telling your gf "This guy's shit" during our match cemented our relationship.

Warwick reprazent!! Are you from Warwick, topsoyale? God, I wish I'd known about poker back then (I graduated 11 years ago )

Ginger, I am a $100NL 6max player struggling a bit for confidence - I have been playing SNGs and MTTs since the start of July and want to get back to it. So if you fancy playing some 6max 50NL (or £25NL on crypto - my lifetime £25nl ptbb/100 is something like 9.3 over 80k hands, so it's a happy hunting ground) sometime, railing each other or chatting about hands, look me up - my AIM and MSN messenger handles are in my profile.

Yes I am, just going back for my second year this winter.
I'm still a young guy.

Poker scene here is really good aswell, lots of our poker society members winning big sats and one recently took 3rd in the Sunday Million.

Sorry for the thread hijack btw Gingerwizard

No problem!

Played 3 million sats myself last night, final tabled all and best finish was 6th!! Had a flopped boat runner runnered in one! Man I'll nver win a ticket to that thing.

Biondino that sounds good. First i'm gonna finish this europoker bonus playing FR. Then we'll hook up. Im not on crypto yet but i'm sure i could be...