Sunday January 27, 2008 - Full day session!
I played a lot of poker today. I started at 12:00 pm ending at 5:00 and then played again around 7:00 until 2:00 am. It's been a while since I've played that much poker in a day. I usually reserve that to Vegas or Wendover.
First session: It was the usual crowd at Eric's with two new faces and this game was .25/.50. It didn't take me long to figure out how the two new players played which was nice. To me, that means my game was sharp and observant.
In the first hour, this hand came up: UTG+1 raises to $3.50 and I'm the only caller out of the BB with 88. Flop came 4 9 10. I check, UTG+1 bets $4 which I check raise to $12. He then re-raises me to $25. We have some history and I still felt like I had the best hand (I know, its crazy). My instincts tells me to shove here but playing a little conservative, I lay it down in which he turns over 4 6. I commend him for the play but at least I feel my instincts are right.
I was able to maintain my stack between 50 - 100 for most of the first half of the session. There was a twist at the midpoint in the game where we switched seats (the person that was on your left is now on your right). After that, things went really well.
The hand that got it started was this. I limp in middle position behind a few limpers with 109s and the button raises to $4. One of the blind calls as does the limpers and its 4 to the flop. Flop 5 9 9 rainbow, GIN! I decided to play this hand fast and lead out for $10 when it was checked to me. The original raiser, raises to $25 and its folded to me. Perfect! I'm pretty sure he definitely has a hand and now its time to maximize. The players know I'm the type to play a 5 in this spot and lead out so there's no way he will put me on a 9. I elected to just call the raise. Turn K and I check. He immediately goes all in for around $60 and I instacall. I don't know what hand he had (most likely AA) but the river bricked out and I take down a monster pot to put me in the 200+ range.
Another hand: I got cute and open raise on the button with J6s and was called by both blinds. Flop J 7 6, 2 suits. Not too shabby! Both blinds check and I bet $6 into the $9ish pot. SB immediately goes AI for $40ish. After some thought, I was pretty sure he was on a flush draw, straight draw, type hand and I call. Cards brick out and I take down another good sized pot.
I call a raise with K10s in LP and 4 of us go to the flop of 10 8 3 (2 to the flush). Original raiser leads out for $6, I raise to $18, and the button behind me pushes AI for an additional $40ish ($60 total) and folded to me. I would have to say MOST of the time in this spot, I'm way behind. But I know my opponent fairly well. He's the type that will push more often on draws and make standard raises reraises with strong hands. I've seen him push today with 3 draws, 2 of them getting there. Knowing what I knew, I felt I had the best hand right now. The decision is what draw is he on and how big of a favorite am I. I elected to call and it was better than I even thought. He tabled J8o, both the turn and river bricked out and I take down a big pot again!
The last interesting hand of the day: Button raises to $3 and I call out of the BB with 10s8s. Flop 7d 8d 10c. I check, button bets $6, I raise to $20, and he goes AI for $80. My thought process: The hands I beat. Initially, I felt my opponent had 99. He could a naked 9, or a flush draw. A9 of diamonds was a real possibility too. The hands I'm losing to are 69, J9, 77, 88, and 1010 with the last two less likely because of my hand. This hand had my mind spinning. I felt 99, Ad9d were most likely out of the hands I could beat but he could also push with 77 here because of the board. Because of my uncertainty, I laid the hand down, feeling I was going up against a made hand. I was wrong as my opponent tabled K9o. We ran it out and the turn was a J, completing his straight with this semi bluff. Even though I would have lost the hand, I was upset with myself for making the wrong decision in that hand. I wasn't aware my opponent was capable of making that play with a naked 9 and that is where I went wrong. I didn't let it affect me too much the rest of the day as I cashed out $384 for a profit of $334. Not too bad for a .25/.50 game!
Night session with Loge, March, Kyto, and Tim. Glad you could make it out Tim!
It was actually kinda nice to play two completely different sessions today. The one earlier was a full ring game and now I dive right into a short handed game. I lost my initial buy in with JJ on a board of 10 7 9 when Kyto flopped the straight with J8. It was one of those things where it was hard to put him on a hand with a J because I had two but I still have to consider it a possibility and thats where I made a mistake. When he re-raised my raise, there was no need for me to get tricky with the hand. With the amount of the re-raise, more times than not, I'm beat in that spot and I should be capable of laying it down.
The two big hands I won (and remember) were against March. First one: I open raised with 77 to $1.75, Loge called, and March re-raised out of the bb to $4.50. I called as did March. Flop 3 7 10, rainbow. March lead out for $6 and being in position of the original raiser, I called and Loge folded. Turn Q and March leads out again for $10. I decided at this point to raise to $22. I like to call the turn the defining moment in hands sometimes. Meaning, if he has a good hand, he's going to let me know here. If he doesn't, I wasn't going to make anymore money anyway. I was pretty sure he had a big pair and with our stacks the way they were, if he doesn't believe me, we're getting it all in there. March immediately went all in for about $40ish, which I called. River didn't help him, (he had AA) and I take down the pot.
The 2nd hand was the last hand of the night. I limp in with KJ and its a 4 way family to the flop of Kd 6d 4c, with 2 diamonds. March bets $2, Kyto calls, and I decided to define my hand here and raise to $6. March calls and Kyto folds. Turn brings Q non diamond and March immediately went all in for $28ish. The bet had me really confused. The main question I was asking myself was "Why push here?" The hands that I'm losing to are KQ, K6, K4, Q4, Q6 or a set in my mind. I'm beating any K thats not paired his 2nd card. I felt 2 pair or better would have check raised the flop OR reraised me on the flop. I felt the strongest possibility I was losing to was Qd4d (flop flush draw, now 2 pair) and I was beating everything else. (Also side note that March was really frustrated at this point because he had just lost the last two hands and threw his cards in the air.) I concluded that I was about 75% sure I was ahead and that was good enough for me to make the call. He tabled K9, river bricked, and I take down the last pot of the night. I ended up the night about +$30 which isn't too bad considering I was in the game for $60 and if it wasn't for that last decision, I would have been down.
A few observations on the night: I don't think Tim was really in the game. Example: Early on in a limped pot, Tim flops two pair holding Q5 (board of Q 5 rag) river comes 5 (Final board Q 5 rag rag 5). Kyto held 7 5. Tim checks to Kyto who bets and Tim just calls with a boat. (I'm sure one of you two remember this hand.) I'm noticing bets and raises are more randomized and not always consistent (bet $3, raise to $6), which is good. Kyto played draws a lot faster, more aggressive. Raising with draws and continue to bet after missing. However, aggressiveness died down after losing initial rebuy. Did manage to fight back after stack dwindled to $3.50 to cash out around even. March also seemed to play more aggressive but needs to be more aggressive preflop. Kyto's aggression is also post flop and needs to be more aggressive preflop. If its good enough to limp in, why not just raise coming in? Not every time, but vary it. Many times they would limp, I'd raise and take down the pot on the flop with a continuation bet. Don't be afraid to play back at people and make a stand. Loge played a few monsters fast when the board wasn't too dangerous and he had position. Also had some lay downs where he was winning (top pair). Sometimes to just got to jump right in and fight back. I noticed some really good plays also but its hard for me to write about those because I don't get to see the hole cards. I can only assume it was a good play. Also, Loge remember on the board of K rag rag and you said you mucked KQ to me? It was a bad laydown, I had QQ.
See you fellas at the felt!
TK
First session: It was the usual crowd at Eric's with two new faces and this game was .25/.50. It didn't take me long to figure out how the two new players played which was nice. To me, that means my game was sharp and observant.
In the first hour, this hand came up: UTG+1 raises to $3.50 and I'm the only caller out of the BB with 88. Flop came 4 9 10. I check, UTG+1 bets $4 which I check raise to $12. He then re-raises me to $25. We have some history and I still felt like I had the best hand (I know, its crazy). My instincts tells me to shove here but playing a little conservative, I lay it down in which he turns over 4 6. I commend him for the play but at least I feel my instincts are right.
I was able to maintain my stack between 50 - 100 for most of the first half of the session. There was a twist at the midpoint in the game where we switched seats (the person that was on your left is now on your right). After that, things went really well.
The hand that got it started was this. I limp in middle position behind a few limpers with 109s and the button raises to $4. One of the blind calls as does the limpers and its 4 to the flop. Flop 5 9 9 rainbow, GIN! I decided to play this hand fast and lead out for $10 when it was checked to me. The original raiser, raises to $25 and its folded to me. Perfect! I'm pretty sure he definitely has a hand and now its time to maximize. The players know I'm the type to play a 5 in this spot and lead out so there's no way he will put me on a 9. I elected to just call the raise. Turn K and I check. He immediately goes all in for around $60 and I instacall. I don't know what hand he had (most likely AA) but the river bricked out and I take down a monster pot to put me in the 200+ range.
Another hand: I got cute and open raise on the button with J6s and was called by both blinds. Flop J 7 6, 2 suits. Not too shabby! Both blinds check and I bet $6 into the $9ish pot. SB immediately goes AI for $40ish. After some thought, I was pretty sure he was on a flush draw, straight draw, type hand and I call. Cards brick out and I take down another good sized pot.
I call a raise with K10s in LP and 4 of us go to the flop of 10 8 3 (2 to the flush). Original raiser leads out for $6, I raise to $18, and the button behind me pushes AI for an additional $40ish ($60 total) and folded to me. I would have to say MOST of the time in this spot, I'm way behind. But I know my opponent fairly well. He's the type that will push more often on draws and make standard raises reraises with strong hands. I've seen him push today with 3 draws, 2 of them getting there. Knowing what I knew, I felt I had the best hand right now. The decision is what draw is he on and how big of a favorite am I. I elected to call and it was better than I even thought. He tabled J8o, both the turn and river bricked out and I take down a big pot again!
The last interesting hand of the day: Button raises to $3 and I call out of the BB with 10s8s. Flop 7d 8d 10c. I check, button bets $6, I raise to $20, and he goes AI for $80. My thought process: The hands I beat. Initially, I felt my opponent had 99. He could a naked 9, or a flush draw. A9 of diamonds was a real possibility too. The hands I'm losing to are 69, J9, 77, 88, and 1010 with the last two less likely because of my hand. This hand had my mind spinning. I felt 99, Ad9d were most likely out of the hands I could beat but he could also push with 77 here because of the board. Because of my uncertainty, I laid the hand down, feeling I was going up against a made hand. I was wrong as my opponent tabled K9o. We ran it out and the turn was a J, completing his straight with this semi bluff. Even though I would have lost the hand, I was upset with myself for making the wrong decision in that hand. I wasn't aware my opponent was capable of making that play with a naked 9 and that is where I went wrong. I didn't let it affect me too much the rest of the day as I cashed out $384 for a profit of $334. Not too bad for a .25/.50 game!
Night session with Loge, March, Kyto, and Tim. Glad you could make it out Tim!
It was actually kinda nice to play two completely different sessions today. The one earlier was a full ring game and now I dive right into a short handed game. I lost my initial buy in with JJ on a board of 10 7 9 when Kyto flopped the straight with J8. It was one of those things where it was hard to put him on a hand with a J because I had two but I still have to consider it a possibility and thats where I made a mistake. When he re-raised my raise, there was no need for me to get tricky with the hand. With the amount of the re-raise, more times than not, I'm beat in that spot and I should be capable of laying it down.
The two big hands I won (and remember) were against March. First one: I open raised with 77 to $1.75, Loge called, and March re-raised out of the bb to $4.50. I called as did March. Flop 3 7 10, rainbow. March lead out for $6 and being in position of the original raiser, I called and Loge folded. Turn Q and March leads out again for $10. I decided at this point to raise to $22. I like to call the turn the defining moment in hands sometimes. Meaning, if he has a good hand, he's going to let me know here. If he doesn't, I wasn't going to make anymore money anyway. I was pretty sure he had a big pair and with our stacks the way they were, if he doesn't believe me, we're getting it all in there. March immediately went all in for about $40ish, which I called. River didn't help him, (he had AA) and I take down the pot.
The 2nd hand was the last hand of the night. I limp in with KJ and its a 4 way family to the flop of Kd 6d 4c, with 2 diamonds. March bets $2, Kyto calls, and I decided to define my hand here and raise to $6. March calls and Kyto folds. Turn brings Q non diamond and March immediately went all in for $28ish. The bet had me really confused. The main question I was asking myself was "Why push here?" The hands that I'm losing to are KQ, K6, K4, Q4, Q6 or a set in my mind. I'm beating any K thats not paired his 2nd card. I felt 2 pair or better would have check raised the flop OR reraised me on the flop. I felt the strongest possibility I was losing to was Qd4d (flop flush draw, now 2 pair) and I was beating everything else. (Also side note that March was really frustrated at this point because he had just lost the last two hands and threw his cards in the air.) I concluded that I was about 75% sure I was ahead and that was good enough for me to make the call. He tabled K9, river bricked, and I take down the last pot of the night. I ended up the night about +$30 which isn't too bad considering I was in the game for $60 and if it wasn't for that last decision, I would have been down.
A few observations on the night: I don't think Tim was really in the game. Example: Early on in a limped pot, Tim flops two pair holding Q5 (board of Q 5 rag) river comes 5 (Final board Q 5 rag rag 5). Kyto held 7 5. Tim checks to Kyto who bets and Tim just calls with a boat. (I'm sure one of you two remember this hand.) I'm noticing bets and raises are more randomized and not always consistent (bet $3, raise to $6), which is good. Kyto played draws a lot faster, more aggressive. Raising with draws and continue to bet after missing. However, aggressiveness died down after losing initial rebuy. Did manage to fight back after stack dwindled to $3.50 to cash out around even. March also seemed to play more aggressive but needs to be more aggressive preflop. Kyto's aggression is also post flop and needs to be more aggressive preflop. If its good enough to limp in, why not just raise coming in? Not every time, but vary it. Many times they would limp, I'd raise and take down the pot on the flop with a continuation bet. Don't be afraid to play back at people and make a stand. Loge played a few monsters fast when the board wasn't too dangerous and he had position. Also had some lay downs where he was winning (top pair). Sometimes to just got to jump right in and fight back. I noticed some really good plays also but its hard for me to write about those because I don't get to see the hole cards. I can only assume it was a good play. Also, Loge remember on the board of K rag rag and you said you mucked KQ to me? It was a bad laydown, I had QQ.
See you fellas at the felt!
TK
I actually didn't go even. I ended up +$30. Get your facts right! Haha!
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