How to Beat 25/50 NL

Until this year, I’d taken two shots at 25/50 NL games when I saw a fish sitting. It didn’t go well, as this post from last month documents. Anyway, Matusow was at three full ring tables tonight, so I had a seat and things went a bit better. I think I’ve finally figured out how to beat that game:

Full Tilt Poker, $25/$50 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 9 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter

CO: $8,822
Hero (BTN): $5,180
SB: $975
BB: $1,072
UTG: $5,972
UTG+1: $6,716
UTG+2: $5,346
MP1: $550
MP2: $5,397

Pre-Flop: A A dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $50, UTG+2 raises to $200, 3 folds, Hero raises to $725, 3 folds, UTG+2 raises to $2,000, Hero raises to $5,180 and is All-In, UTG+2 calls $3,180

Flop: ($10,485) 3 8 2 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Turn: ($10,485) 2 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

River: ($10,485) Q (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Results: $10,485 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed A A (two pair, Aces and Twos) and WON $10,482 (+$5,302 NET)
UTG+2 showed K K (two pair, Kings and Twos) and LOST (-$5,180 NET)

Full Tilt Poker, $25/$50 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter

BB: $1,097
UTG: $9,074
UTG+1: $5,556
MP1: $5,271
Hero (MP2): $5,000
CO: $3,764
BTN: $900
SB: $1,744

Pre-Flop: A A dealt to Hero (MP2)
2 folds, MP1 raises to $175, Hero raises to $600, 4 folds, MP1 raises to $1,409, Hero raises to $5,000 and is All-In, MP1 calls $3,591

Flop: ($10,075) 4 4 3 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Turn: ($10,075) Q (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

River: ($10,075) 8 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Results: $10,075 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP1 showed K K (two pair, Kings and Fours) and LOST (-$5,000 NET)
Hero showed A A (two pair, Aces and Fours) and WON $10,072 (+$5,072 NET)

Full Tilt Poker, $25/$50 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 5 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter

SB: $4,975
BB: $7,222
Hero (UTG): $8,500
CO: $1,180
BTN: $2,460

Pre-Flop: 8 8 dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $175, 3 folds, BB raises to $635, Hero calls $460

Flop: ($1,295) 9 6 8 (2 Players)
BB bets $875, Hero raises to $2,365, BB raises to $6,587 and is All-In, Hero calls $4,222

Turn: ($14,469) T (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

River: ($14,469) 2 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Results: $14,469 Pot ($3 Rake)
BB showed A A (a pair of Aces) and LOST (-$7,222 NET)
Hero showed 8 8 (three of a kind, Eights) and WON $14,466 (+$7,244 NET)

Full Tilt Poker, $25/$50 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter

UTG: $11,043
Hero (UTG+1): $10,105
MP1: $3,688
MP2: $4,362
CO: $5,522
BTN: $1,925
SB: $5,047
BB: $4,875

Pre-Flop: A A dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
2 folds, Hero raises to $150, 4 folds, SB calls $100

Flop: ($300) 9 2 8 (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $255, SB raises to $899, Hero calls $644

Turn: ($2,098) 6 (2 Players)
SB bets $1,750, Hero raises to $3,500, SB raises to $3,998 and is All-In, Hero calls $498

River: ($10,094) 2 (2 Players – 1 is All-In)

Results: $10,094 Pot ($3 Rake)
Hero showed A A (two pair, Aces and Twos) and WON $10,091 (+$5,044 NET)
SB showed 7 A (a pair of Twos) and LOST (-$5,047 NET)

Now I just need to learn to read the board. This is a thin river shove even if the board isn’t paired, which I failed to see that it was.

Full Tilt Poker, $25/$50 NL Hold’em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com – Hand History Converter

MP2: $8,185
Hero (CO): $6,648
BTN: $1,072
SB: $2,057.50
BB: $5,000
UTG: $6,244
UTG+1: $5,075
MP1: $3,052

Pre-Flop: 7 9 dealt to Hero (CO)
3 folds, MP2 raises to $150, Hero calls $150, BTN folds, SB calls $125, BB folds

Flop: ($500) 6 K J (3 Players)
SB checks, MP2 bets $400, Hero calls $400, SB folds

Turn: ($1,300) 6 (2 Players)
MP2 bets $1,000, Hero calls $1,000

River: ($3,300) T (2 Players)
MP2 bets $2,000, Hero raises to $5,098 and is All-In, MP2 calls $3,098

Results: $13,496 Pot ($3 Rake)
MP2 showed J J (a full house, Jacks full of Sixes) and WON $13,493 (+$6,845 NET)
Hero showed 7 9 (a flush, King high) and LOST (-$6,648 NET)