Hi. I’ve been playing low stakes NLHE for a few months mostly on PokerStars and have done OK. Last week I signed up at Empire and have made a shitload. Is it really that easy to make money at Empire? I put in $250 and have almost tripled up in less than five days. Granted, I’ve been getting a lot of good cards, but it seems like every time I get a good hand I get handsomely rewarded. I think I’m getting lucky though because I’ve had few bad beats. And most of them aren’t that bad. Here are some noob hands for you experts to dissect and mock.


***** Hand History for Game 972887237 *****
Jared221 has left the table.
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Tue Sep 21 19:26:51 EDT 2004
Table Linger - On (Real Money) -- Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: richhong4 ( $13.50)
Seat 2: secstr ( $22)
Seat 3: hickman123 ( $40.70)
Seat 4: rivercrest13 ( $29.15)
Seat 5: Phoenix1985 ( $19.75)
Seat 7: edubs04 ( $24.50)
Seat 8: joshlive9 ( $56.85)
Seat 9: LuckySnuffy ( $25)
Seat 10: Harry_D ( $31.40)
richhong4 posts small blind (0.25)
secstr posts big blind (0.50)
LuckySnuffy posts big blind + dead (0.75)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to rivercrest13 [ Jh, 9h ]
hickman123 folds.
rivercrest13 raises (2.25) to 2.25
Phoenix1985 calls (2.25)
edubs04 folds.
joshlive9 folds.
Harry_D: hey edubs you swapped seats
LuckySnuffy raises (4.50) to 5
Harry_D folds.
richhong4 folds.
secstr folds.
rivercrest13 calls (2.75)
Phoenix1985 calls (2.75)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9s, 6h, 4d ]
rivercrest13 bets (15)
Phoenix1985 folds.
Harry_D: looking for the lucky chair?
LuckySnuffy folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $30.20 | Rake: $0.80
Board: [ 9s 6h 4d ]
richhong4 balance $13.25, lost $0.25 (folded)
secstr balance $21.50, lost $0.50 (folded)
hickman123 balance $40.70, didn't bet (folded)
rivercrest13 balance $39.35, bet $20, collected $30.20, net +$10.20
Phoenix1985 balance $14.75, lost $5 (folded)
MrDioon balance $23.37, sits out
edubs04 balance $24.50, didn't bet (folded)
joshlive9 balance $56.85, didn't bet (folded)
LuckySnuffy balance $19.75, lost $5.25 (folded)
Harry_D balance $31.40, didn't bet (folded

LAG, I know, but I feel like I have to win with Jh9h; it’s my favorite. Probably stupid as I could’ve easily run into an overpair.


***** Hand History for Game 972908551 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Tue Sep 21 19:32:53 EDT 2004
Table Linger - On (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: richhong4 ( $15.40)
Seat 2: secstr ( $25)
Seat 3: hickman123 ( $36.95)
Seat 4: rivercrest13 ( $41.70)
Seat 5: Saka99 ( $24.25)
Seat 6: MrDioon ( $21.37)
Seat 7: edubs04 ( $25.15)
Seat 8: joshlive9 ( $55.85)
Seat 9: LuckySnuffy ( $26.05)
Seat 10: Harry_D ( $27.90)
edubs04 posts small blind (0.25)
joshlive9 posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to rivercrest13 [ As, 8s ]
LuckySnuffy folds.
Harry_D folds.
richhong4 calls (0.50)
secstr folds.
hickman123 folds.
rivercrest13 calls (0.50)
Saka99 calls (0.50)
MrDioon calls (0.50)
edubs04 calls (0.25)
joshlive9 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ Ts, 9d, 7s ]
edubs04 checks.
joshlive9 bets (2)
richhong4 calls (2)
rivercrest13 calls (2)
Saka99 calls (2)
MrDioon folds.
edubs04 folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 6s ]
joshlive9 checks.
richhong4 checks.
rivercrest13 checks.
Saka99 bets (2)
joshlive9 folds.
richhong4 calls (2)
rivercrest13 calls (2)
** Dealing River ** : [ 2d ]
richhong4 checks.
rivercrest13 checks.
Saka99 bets (8)
richhong4 folds.
rivercrest13 raises (20) to 20
Saka99 calls (11.75)
Saka99 is all-In.
Creating Main Pot with $53.70 with Saka99
** Summary **
Main Pot: $53.70 | Side Pot 1: $0.25 | Rake: $2.80
Board: [ Ts 9d 7s 6s 2d ]
richhong4 balance $10.90, lost $4.50 (folded)
secstr balance $25, didn't bet (folded)
hickman123 balance $36.95, didn't bet (folded)
rivercrest13 balance $71.15, bet $24.50, collected $53.95, net +$29.45 [ As 8s ] [ a flush, ace high with ace kicker -- As,Ts,8s,7s,6s ]
Saka99 balance $0, lost $24.25 [ Qs 2s ] [ a flush, queen high -- Qs,Ts,7s,6s,2s ]
MrDioon balance $20.87, lost $0.50 (folded)
edubs04 balance $24.65, lost $0.50 (folded)
joshlive9 balance $53.35, lost $2.50 (folded)
LuckySnuffy balance $26.05, didn't bet (folded)
Harry_D balance $27.90, didn't bet (folded)

I’m addicted to slowplaying monsters. See below.

***** Hand History for Game 972865684 *****
Bubba2001 has left the table.
chido has left the table.
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Tue Sep 21 19:22:25 EDT 2004
Table High Fives (Real Money) -- Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 8
Seat 1: foo_fighters ( $52.70)
Seat 2: Malacoda ( $21.90)
Seat 3: clayen ( $35.55)
Seat 4: hoooh ( $55.35)
Seat 5: Benimax ( $25.65)
Seat 6: CLUB_X ( $51)
Seat 9: rivercrest13 ( $27.50)
Seat 10: quataman ( $14.20)
rivercrest13 posts small blind (0.25)
quataman posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to rivercrest13 [ Ac, Ad ]
foo_fighters folds.
Malacoda calls (0.50)
clayen folds.
hoooh raises (2) to 2
Benimax folds.
rivercrest13 raises (3.25) to 3.50
quataman folds.
Malacoda folds.
hoooh calls (1.50)
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 6d, As, Jh ]
rivercrest13 checks.
hoooh bets (4)
rivercrest13 calls (4)
** Dealing Turn ** : [ 9s ]
rivercrest13 checks.
hoooh bets (9)
rivercrest13 raises (20) to 20
rivercrest13 is all-In.
hoooh calls (11)
** Dealing River ** : [ 2d ]
Creating Main Pot with $53.20 with rivercrest13
** Summary **
Main Pot: $53.20 | | Rake: $2.80
Board: [ 6d As Jh 9s 2d ]
foo_fighters balance $52.70, didn't bet (folded)
Malacoda balance $21.40, lost $0.50 (folded)
clayen balance $35.55, didn't bet (folded)
hoooh balance $27.85, lost $27.50 [ Ah Kd ] [ a pair of aces -- Ah,As,Kd,Jh,9s ]
Benimax balance $25.65, didn't bet (folded)
CLUB_X balance $51, sits out
tywhen balance $25, sits out
DWestern balance $25, sits out
rivercrest13 balance $53.20, bet $27.50, collected $53.20, net +$25.70 [ Ac Ad ] [ three of a kind, aces -- Ac,Ad,As,Jh,9s ]
quataman balance $13.70, lost $0.50 (folded

***** Hand History for Game 972805220 *****
altizz has left the table.
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Tue Sep 21 19:04:55 EDT 2004
Table High Fives (Real Money) -- Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 9
Seat 1: foo_fighters ( $59.40)
Seat 3: clayen ( $33.65)
Seat 4: hoooh ( $46.55)
Seat 5: Benimax ( $24.50)
Seat 6: CLUB_X ( $46.85)
Seat 7: Bubba2001 ( $38.25)
Seat 8: chido ( $14)
Seat 9: rivercrest13 ( $26.65)
Seat 10: quataman ( $10.75)
hoooh posts small blind (0.25)
Benimax posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to rivercrest13 [ 9c, 9s ]
CLUB_X folds.
chido folds.
rivercrest13 raises (1) to 1
clayen: meh... I hate bb cards...
quataman folds.
foo_fighters calls (1)
clayen raises (3) to 3
hoooh folds.
Benimax folds.
rivercrest13 calls (2)
foo_fighters folds.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 7h, 4d, Jd ]
rivercrest13 bets (5)
clayen raises (10) to 10
rivercrest13 folds.
** Summary **
Main Pot: $21.90 | Rake: $0.85
Board: [ 7h 4d Jd ]
foo_fighters balance $58.40, lost $1 (folded)
Malacoda balance $25, sits out
clayen balance $42.55, bet $13, collected $21.90, net +$8.90
hoooh balance $46.30, lost $0.25 (folded)
Benimax balance $24, lost $0.50 (folded)
CLUB_X balance $46.85, didn't bet (folded)
Bubba2001 balance $38.25, sits out
chido balance $14, didn't bet (folded)
rivercrest13 balance $18.65, lost $8 (folded)
quataman balance $10.75, didn't bet (folded)

Bad play? I though I’d test the waters, but quickly folded to strength.


***** Hand History for Game 972872775 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Tue Sep 21 19:24:26 EDT 2004
Table High Fives (Real Money) -- Seat 10 is the button
Total number of players : 10
Seat 1: foo_fighters ( $51.70)
Seat 2: Malacoda ( $21.40)
Seat 3: clayen ( $35.55)
Seat 4: hoooh ( $27.85)
Seat 5: Benimax ( $25.15)
Seat 6: CLUB_X ( $51)
Seat 7: tywhen ( $49.40)
Seat 8: DWestern ( $0)
Seat 9: rivercrest13 ( $53.20)
Seat 10: quataman ( $13.20)
foo_fighters posts small blind (0.25)
Malacoda posts big blind (0.50)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to rivercrest13 [ 4s, 4c ]
clayen folds.
hoooh folds.
Benimax folds.
tywhen calls (0.50)
rivercrest13 calls (0.50)
quataman calls (0.50)
foo_fighters calls (0.25)
Malacoda checks.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 3h, Qd, 4h ]
foo_fighters checks.
Malacoda checks.
tywhen checks.
rivercrest13 bets (3)
quataman calls (3)
foo_fighters folds.
Malacoda folds.
tywhen folds.
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Kd ]
rivercrest13 bets (8)
quataman raises (9.70) to 9.70
quataman is all-In.
rivercrest13 calls (1.70)
** Dealing River ** : [ Th ]
Creating Main Pot with $26.55 with quataman
** Summary **
Main Pot: $26.55 | | Rake: $1.35
Board: [ 3h Qd 4h Kd Th ]
foo_fighters balance $51.20, lost $0.50 (folded)
Malacoda balance $20.90, lost $0.50 (folded)
clayen balance $35.55, didn't bet (folded)
hoooh balance $27.85, didn't bet (folded)
Benimax balance $25.15, didn't bet (folded)
CLUB_X balance $51, sits out
tywhen balance $48.90, lost $0.50 (folded)
rivercrest13 balance $40, lost $13.20 [ 4s 4c ] [ three of a kind, fours -- Kd,Qd,4s,4c,4h ]
quataman balance $26.55, bet $13.20, collected $26.55, net +$13.35 [ Kh 6h ] [ a flush, king high -- Kh,Th,6h,4h,3h ]

Bad beat, but it could’ve been worse.