Saturday’s storm brought on a precipitous drop in temperature that was immediately noticeable on Sunday morning. I like mornings, especially Sunday mornings, and I like Autumn, especially when the air is crisp and just a little chilly. I made coffee and took a walk.
Though it was nearly 8:00, the city was still and fresh, just waking up. The only other people walking the streets of my neighborhood were solitary men well over twice my age.
And the cats. I had seen a few on the streets around here, including one scrawny, patchy-furred beast that was a perfect caricature of an alley cat, but I had no idea there were so many. I must have seen twenty in ten minutes, poking their heads out from under cars or scurrying into gardens.
There’s a bakery around the corner I’ve been meaning to try, and this seems the perfect opportunity. Finally I see someone other than old men on the street. A couple with a young daughter enter the bakery just ahead of me. I buy a croissant and follow them to the park.
Saturday’s storm must have intensified after I went to bed, because branches and tree limbs scatter the ground. My intention is to find a bench where I can read and enjoy my breakfast, and I do, but soon the squirrels find me.
A child of the mid-Atlantic, I’m no stranger to squirrels. It was clear that these rodents were used to being fed, but I figured that if I didn’t offer them anything, they’d keep their distance. Wrong. They hopped up on the bench and inched closer, barely flinching when I stomped the ground in an attempt to scare them off. I’m convinced that they would have climbed right into my lap if I didn’t move.
So now I’m wandering through the park like the Pied Piper, with a dozen squirrels creeping a few feet behind me. They didn’t leave me alone until I finished eating and threw away my garbage. Finally I got to sit in peace and read.
Friday and Saturday were supposed to be light poker days, but with Friday’s deep run and Saturday’s WCOOP special (ie playing for 8 hours to win a pittance), they were anything but. Not wanting my Sunday to drag on longer than necessary, I waited until the last minute to late register the first NLHE event of the day. Three orbits later I’d lost AKo < to AJs and 66 < 88 and that was that.
The $700 was a little more interesting. The guy on my left was a bit of a lunatic, and I found what I think was a pretty good spot against him, though it ended badly for me:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 700 Tournament, 40/80 Blinds (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t14833)
UTG+1 (t15543)
MP1 (t5280)
MP2 (t4798)
MP3 (t11924)
CO (t5565)
Button (t9500)
Hero (SB) (t9665)
BB (t4416)
Hero’s M: 80.54
Preflop: Hero is SB with A♦, 4♦
7 folds, Hero bets t320, BB calls t240
Flop: (t640) 10♥, 10♣, 2♣ (2 players)
Hero bets t369, BB raises to t1058, Hero calls t689
Turn: (t2756) K♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets t2756, Hero raises to t5512, BB calls t282 (All-In)
River: (t8832) 10♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: t8832
Results:
Hero had A♦, 4♦ (three of a kind, tens).
BB had 9♣, K♣ (full house, tens over Kings).
Outcome: BB won t8832
I treaded water for like two hours after that, finally got KK, flatted a 4-bet, and check-folded frustratedly to a big bet on a dry A-high flop. A few hands later I convinced myself that the same guy could be a lot weaker than he clearly was:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 700 Tournament, 150/300 Blinds 40 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t27812)
UTG+1 (t15042)
MP1 (t22581)
MP2 (t23368)
MP3 (t11516)
CO (t83612)
Button (t21029)
SB (t56371)
Hero (BB) (t10755)
Hero’s M: 13.28
Preflop: Hero is BB with Q♦, 10♣
2 folds, MP1 bets t750, 5 folds, Hero calls t450
Flop: (t2010) 4♣, J♥, A♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks
Turn: (t2010) 9♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t1555, MP1 raises to t3900, Hero calls t2345
River: (t9810) 4♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t6065 (All-In), MP1 calls t6065
Total pot: t21940
Results:
Hero had Q♦, 10♣ (one pair, fours).
MP1 had J♣, J♠ (full house, Jacks over fours).
Outcome: MP1 won t21940
I got off to a good start in the $500 2nd Chance but then lost a good-sized pot on a resteal gone wrong. Villain was a really aggressive 3-better, but I still think this is bad:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 100/200 Blinds 25 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO (t6800)
Button (t33153)
SB (t12535)
BB (t16855)
Hero (UTG) (t15808)
UTG+1 (t10215)
MP1 (t8177)
MP2 (t9682)
MP3 (t3214)
Hero’s M: 30.11
Preflop: Hero is UTG with A♠, 10♦
Hero bets t400, 1 fold, MP1 raises to t825, 6 folds, Hero calls t425
Flop: (t2175) 8♠, 9♦, 5♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets t1239, Hero raises to t14958 (All-In), MP1 calls t6088 (All-In)
Turn: (t16829) 9♣ (2 players, 2 all-in)
River: (t16829) 7♣ (2 players, 2 all-in)
Total pot: t16829
Results:
Hero had A♠, 10♦ (one pair, nines).
MP1 had 10♥, 10♠ (two pair, tens and nines).
Outcome: MP1 won t16829
That left me down but not out, and I rallied. I wrote at length in my recent WSOP report about how my own mistakes can be my biggest source of tilt, but I think I did a good job of collecting myself and choosing some good spots to accumulate without showdown like a true short stack ninja:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 100/200 Blinds 25 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t6675)
UTG+1 (t33028)
MP1 (t12310)
MP2 (t16430)
Hero (MP3) (t6651)
CO (t11073)
Button (t16429)
SB (t10754)
BB (t3089)
Hero’s M: 12.67
Preflop: Hero is MP3 with J♣, 8♣
4 folds, Hero bets t400, 1 fold, Button raises to t815, 2 folds, Hero raises to t6626 (All-In), 1 fold
Total pot: t2155
Results:
Hero didn’t show J♣, 8♣.
Outcome: Hero won t2155
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 125/250 Blinds 30 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP3 (t9019)
CO (t31643)
Button (t12715)
SB (t18560)
Hero (BB) (t6951)
UTG (t7440)
UTG+1 (t19967)
MP1 (t10759)
MP2 (t19561)
Hero’s M: 10.78
Preflop: Hero is BB with 2♥, Q♥
1 fold, UTG+1 bets t530, 3 folds, CO calls t530, 2 folds, Hero calls t280
Flop: (t1985) 9♥, 7♥, 7♣ (3 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 checks, CO bets t950, Hero raises to t6391 (All-In), 2 folds
Total pot: t3885
Results:
Hero didn’t show 2♥, Q♥.
Outcome: Hero won t3885
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 125/250 Blinds 30 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP1 (t8959)
MP2 (t30748)
MP3 (t12655)
CO (t18375)
Hero (Button) (t9171)
SB (t7130)
BB (t19377)
UTG (t18699)
UTG+1 (t19501)
Hero’s M: 14.22
Preflop: Hero is Button with 7♦, 7♠
UTG bets t500, 5 folds, Hero calls t500, 2 folds
Flop: (t1645) J♣, Q♦, 8♦ (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets t666, UTG calls t666
Turn: (t2977) 3♣ (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets t1666, UTG calls t1666
River: (t6309) A♣ (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets t6309 (All-In), 1 fold
Total pot: t6309
Results:
Hero didn’t show 7♦, 7♠ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t6309
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 125/250 Blinds 30 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP3 (t7925)
CO (t30808)
Button (t12070)
SB (t19009)
Hero (BB) (t13728)
UTG (t6795)
UTG+1 (t19437)
MP1 (t7282)
MP2 (t19561)
Hero’s M: 21.28
Preflop: Hero is BB with 3♥, 6♥
2 folds, MP1 bets t500, 4 folds, SB calls t375, Hero calls t250
Flop: (t1770) 5♦, 2♣, 10♥ (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP1 checks
Turn: (t1770) 3♣ (3 players)
SB bets t750, Hero raises to t2666, 2 folds
Total pot: t3270
Results:
Hero didn’t show 3♥, 6♥.
Outcome: Hero won t3270
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 150/300 Blinds 40 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG+1 (t7730)
MP1 (t49352)
MP2 (t12645)
MP3 (t29761)
Hero (CO) (t14623)
Button (t16702)
SB (t25432)
BB (t1777)
UTG (t23656)
Hero’s M: 18.05
Preflop: Hero is CO with K♠, 8♣
5 folds, Hero bets t600, 1 fold, SB raises to t1475, 1 fold, Hero raises to t2888, 1 fold
Total pot: t3610
Results:
Hero didn’t show K♠, 8♣.
Outcome: Hero won t3610
These next three are all against the same player in the span of less than two orbits:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 200/400 Blinds 50 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
BB (t8890)
UTG (t75936)
UTG+1 (t13768)
MP1 (t38577)
Hero (MP2) (t12444)
MP3 (t16972)
CO (t16631)
Button (t5555)
SB (t17806)
Hero’s M: 11.85
Preflop: Hero is MP2 with A♣, J♠
2 folds, MP1 bets t800, Hero raises to t1888, 6 folds
Total pot: t2650
Results:
Hero didn’t show A♣, J♠.
Outcome: Hero won t2650
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 200/400 Blinds 50 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
MP2 (t9090)
MP3 (t75086)
CO (t12918)
Button (t36927)
Hero (SB) (t13644)
BB (t17772)
UTG (t17431)
UTG+1 (t5305)
MP1 (t18406)
Hero’s M: 12.99
Preflop: Hero is SB with 7♦, A♥
6 folds, Button bets t800, Hero raises to t1888, 2 folds
Total pot: t2450
Results:
Hero didn’t show 7♦, A♥.
Outcome: Hero won t2450
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 200/400 Blinds 50 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG+1 (t8990)
MP1 (t74986)
MP2 (t12818)
MP3 (t36027)
Hero (CO) (t14394)
Button (t19322)
SB (t16531)
BB (t5205)
UTG (t18306)
Hero’s M: 13.71
Preflop: Hero is CO with 3♣, A♥
4 folds, MP3 bets t800, Hero raises to t1888, 4 folds
Total pot: t2650
Results:
Hero didn’t show 3♣, A♥.
Outcome: Hero won t2650
Lest you think I’m being results oriented, I got it in bad here and lost but with my image I still think it was a good call:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 200/400 Blinds 50 Ante (9 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t8940)
UTG+1 (t74936)
MP1 (t12768)
MP2 (t35177)
Hero (MP3) (t16194)
CO (t19272)
Button (t16281)
SB (t4755)
BB (t18256)
Hero’s M: 15.42
Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 4♦, A♣
4 folds, Hero bets t800, 2 folds, SB raises to t4705 (All-In), 1 fold, Hero calls t3905
Flop: (t10260) 8♦, Q♦, 9♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Turn: (t10260) 10♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)
River: (t10260) Q♣ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: t10260
Results:
SB had 5♥, 5♠ (two pair, Queens and fives).
Hero had 4♦, A♣ (one pair, Queens).
Outcome: SB won t10260
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 200/400 Blinds 50 Ante (8 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
CO (t86126)
Button (t11918)
SB (t34527)
Hero (BB) (t10439)
UTG (t20872)
UTG+1 (t16031)
MP1 (t9260)
MP2 (t17406)
Hero’s M: 10.44
Preflop: Hero is BB with 10♠, Q♠
6 folds, SB bets t880, Hero calls t480
Flop: (t2160) 5♠, J♦, 9♣ (2 players)
SB bets t1036, Hero calls t1036
Turn: (t4232) 7♦ (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks
River: (t4232) K♣ (2 players)
SB bets t2962, Hero raises to t8473 (All-In), 1 fold
Total pot: t10156
Results:
Hero didn’t show 10♠, Q♠ (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won t10156
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, 530 Tournament, 250/500 Blinds 60 Ante (8 handed) – PokerStars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
UTG (t20814)
UTG+1 (t73664)
MP1 (t11558)
MP2 (t31579)
Hero (CO) (t17797)
Button (t21342)
SB (t11921)
BB (t26786)
Hero’s M: 14.47
Preflop: Hero is CO with Q♦, Q♥
4 folds, Hero bets t1000, Button calls t1000, 2 folds
Flop: (t3230) 3♠, 2♣, J♥ (2 players)
Hero bets t1600, Button calls t1600
Turn: (t6430) Q♠ (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets t3500, Hero raises to t15137 (All-In), Button calls t11637
River: (t36704) 4♠ (2 players, 1 all-in)
Total pot: t36704
Results:
Button had J♠, 10♠ (flush, Queen high).
Hero had Q♦, Q♥ (three of a kind, Queens).
Outcome: Button won t36704
D’oh.
Last hand where you lost with a set of Queens. Excellent play. By raising allin on the turn you prevent villain from getting anywhere near the odds to draw to his flush. So his call is not profitable. The rest is up to chance.
I am curious why in earlier hands do you raise odd amounts like 1666 or 1888?
His call happens not to be profitable against a set of Qs, but that doesn’t make it an unprofitable call. I’m capable of showing up quite a bit less here, notably KT and flush draws of my own, against which he is a big favorite.
As for the sizing, it’s something I started doing when multitabling. A lot easier/faster to type the same number a bunch of times than to hunt around for several different numbers. And I guess I’m a little OCD so i stuck with it even though I haven’t been playing that many tables during the WCOOP.
in the second to last hand, with q-10, don’t you have the nuts instead of nothing?
Yeah for some reason the hand converter screws that up a lot, says “nothing” when your bet isn’t called on the river no matter what you had.