Sorry for not updating this in a while, but I have been rather busy. Most of it non poker related. But having said that, I did play some poker. I was on a P&O cruise for 2 weeks, and we played on an on-line table, but with all of us around it. It worked, but the rake was too much. I was up about 100 Euro on the table, but also won some of the tournaments we played, so overall profits 311 Euro for the 2 week.
On 15/06, I came 6th in the 3,000 Euro guaranteed on Virgin. 20 Euro buy-in, and 220 euro pay out, so overall 200 Euro profits.
Overall my running total pot is now at 2,144.
I am off to the Fitzwilliam on Tuesday, will give an up-date after that.
On a different note, I have found a new gear in terms of the N/L cash games. I am less aggressive, which seems to work. I definitely don't bluff as much as I used to. I am laying down a lot more hands. Even AK is becomming less attractive to me 3 handed. It is a strategy I am going to try in Pot Limit in the casino over the next couple of weeks.
I just wanted also to mention a few people off the cruise: Pat The Thieving Scouser (one of the nicest people in the world, and I will go and see you), Alan (for the camera), Trygve (for his insane but enjoyable play - and the Whiskey's), Pete and Julie (2 of the nicest people you will ever meet, and both very good poker players), Aidan (the rock, but also has superpowers), Scottish John (Churchill), and English John (I swear I had aces). But also Ellen (for putting up with a very drunk Tryg) and Laura for being a saint in general.
I hope we will all meet again and play some crazy poker.
TTFN
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
3rd in 50 Euro buy in... And losing big with KK
Tuesday 08/04
After getting donked 200 Euro in one hand by J2 suited when I had KK, I felt pretty bad. After a blind "straddle" in the cash game and 2 callers I find a pair of cowboys in my hand. I raise the pot, which is 45 Euro. I get called by the blind raiser. The flop comes 2-7-9 rainbow. I get checked, and put a 100 bet in. Again I get called. I can't put the guy on a set at this stage. The turn brings a 3, still a rainbow. I put the rest of my money in, 52 Euro. I get a call after about 3 mins, with the big sigh and a "OK I gamble with you"!!!. He turns over J2, and the devils Jack comes on the river. I steamed for a few seconds, then went on to get good cards but also reading everyone perfectly in the tournament.
My KQ all in preflop, when we were down to 3, was called by 78 of spades which of course wins with the flush... But I was happy. Was only behind on 1 of my all ins, and it was a 50/50 race.
So another 200 euro profit, running total now €1,633
After getting donked 200 Euro in one hand by J2 suited when I had KK, I felt pretty bad. After a blind "straddle" in the cash game and 2 callers I find a pair of cowboys in my hand. I raise the pot, which is 45 Euro. I get called by the blind raiser. The flop comes 2-7-9 rainbow. I get checked, and put a 100 bet in. Again I get called. I can't put the guy on a set at this stage. The turn brings a 3, still a rainbow. I put the rest of my money in, 52 Euro. I get a call after about 3 mins, with the big sigh and a "OK I gamble with you"!!!. He turns over J2, and the devils Jack comes on the river. I steamed for a few seconds, then went on to get good cards but also reading everyone perfectly in the tournament.
My KQ all in preflop, when we were down to 3, was called by 78 of spades which of course wins with the flush... But I was happy. Was only behind on 1 of my all ins, and it was a 50/50 race.
So another 200 euro profit, running total now €1,633
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
When to fold, and getting lucky
Monday night (08/04). Having been beaten in tennis by a couple of blokes who did nothing but lob the ball back over the net for an entire match, I more than likely should have cooled down first before playing a tight cash game. On-line especially so.
Having said that, playing mostly loose in a tight game is one of the best way to make money. Just ask Doyle Brunson.
I sit down with 50 USD in a 0.25/0.50 NL Texas Hold'Em game. 3rd hand in I get KQ of diamonds in the big blind. UTG raises to 2$. Everyone folds, and I call. The flop comes 4D, KC, and 10D. I bet 4$. I get a flat call from UTG. The turn comes QH. I put in a 10$ bet. I get raised to 20$. I now have 33$ left. I have a couple of options. Lets be honest folding is not one of them.
If he holds 44 or 1010, I am only a 30% underdog. I also have 17 outs with 1 card to come I am getting even money for being a 3/1 underdog. I should fold here if I put him on 4/4 or 10/10. Even if he holds AJ, the odds are the same. But I would not have expected him to call on the flop with AJ, or indeed raise me on the turn. For some reason I put him on AK, and decided to push all my money in as I figured he was slowplaying the top pair. Ehm, no.
He of course had the 44 , the river does nothing for me and my money are gone. My opponent played it perfectly. He got the most out of me on that hand, because I could not work out his hand. I would say 90/100 I don't fold there anyway though. Top 2 pairs and a flush draw is very hard to lay down with no house on the board
So I re-grouped (basically took out some of my funds) and went to the 0.50/1.00 € game instead. 2nd hand in I get a pair of 4's in the small blind. UTG raises to 2€. Min raising can be dangerous. I call, and there is also the big blind for good measure.
Flop comes 4C, Qd, 8H. I read once that you should never check or check raise with sets in a raised pot. Gives the raiser the chance to get away from his hand. So I bet 8 Euro. Just above what's in the pot. Big blind folds, but the raiser gets over the top of me for 35 Euro. On that board there is no way he has a set. Especially with position on me. I can only put him on KK or AA. I shove all my money in, so there is now 195 Euro in the pot if he calls. No hesitation and he lost with an AQ. I would have laid down the AQ against my raise. Far too many hands that beat him. Q8,Q4,44,88,QQ, KK, AA. If you can think of 7 hands that could beat you. There is no way you should call for that much money if its 1/2 hands, its different.
Anyway, I still see myself as lucky there, because I went against someone who wanted to gamble his money away on 1 pair of queens....
Running total now 1,433.
Having said that, playing mostly loose in a tight game is one of the best way to make money. Just ask Doyle Brunson.
I sit down with 50 USD in a 0.25/0.50 NL Texas Hold'Em game. 3rd hand in I get KQ of diamonds in the big blind. UTG raises to 2$. Everyone folds, and I call. The flop comes 4D, KC, and 10D. I bet 4$. I get a flat call from UTG. The turn comes QH. I put in a 10$ bet. I get raised to 20$. I now have 33$ left. I have a couple of options. Lets be honest folding is not one of them.
If he holds 44 or 1010, I am only a 30% underdog. I also have 17 outs with 1 card to come I am getting even money for being a 3/1 underdog. I should fold here if I put him on 4/4 or 10/10. Even if he holds AJ, the odds are the same. But I would not have expected him to call on the flop with AJ, or indeed raise me on the turn. For some reason I put him on AK, and decided to push all my money in as I figured he was slowplaying the top pair. Ehm, no.
He of course had the 44 , the river does nothing for me and my money are gone. My opponent played it perfectly. He got the most out of me on that hand, because I could not work out his hand. I would say 90/100 I don't fold there anyway though. Top 2 pairs and a flush draw is very hard to lay down with no house on the board
So I re-grouped (basically took out some of my funds) and went to the 0.50/1.00 € game instead. 2nd hand in I get a pair of 4's in the small blind. UTG raises to 2€. Min raising can be dangerous. I call, and there is also the big blind for good measure.
Flop comes 4C, Qd, 8H. I read once that you should never check or check raise with sets in a raised pot. Gives the raiser the chance to get away from his hand. So I bet 8 Euro. Just above what's in the pot. Big blind folds, but the raiser gets over the top of me for 35 Euro. On that board there is no way he has a set. Especially with position on me. I can only put him on KK or AA. I shove all my money in, so there is now 195 Euro in the pot if he calls. No hesitation and he lost with an AQ. I would have laid down the AQ against my raise. Far too many hands that beat him. Q8,Q4,44,88,QQ, KK, AA. If you can think of 7 hands that could beat you. There is no way you should call for that much money if its 1/2 hands, its different.
Anyway, I still see myself as lucky there, because I went against someone who wanted to gamble his money away on 1 pair of queens....
Running total now 1,433.
Monday, April 7, 2008
The first day - post analysis
So, I went to the Fitzwilliam on 03/04 with renewed optimism in my game, and a real zest for playing. I also had a wonderful massage beforehand, so maybe that had something to do with my frame of mind. If the body feels good, the brain normally feels good. And so my game is better for it. Now there is a surprise.
Anyway, I entered the 100 Euro Double Chance freeze out tournament. As it was post Irish Open days, it only got 30 runners. 4 people got paid, so you had to be on your game.
I normally play a bit loose at the beginning and get involved with hands. Easier to do when the blinds are smaller. My first big hand of the night was a 9-10 hearts. It was an unraised pot with 4 of us in it. The flop comes 7H,8H,6C. I raise slightly above to the pot (4 blinds in there) I figure an ace of hearts may call me, and if the nuts flush draw is there I will get a flat call. Instead I get the middle caller re-raising me. Only double of what I put in. The other people quickly get out. Now, I have the best hand at this stage, so there is no way I am folding. I can smooth call him and see if I can get away from possibly the nut flush on the turn. I did not put him on that nutflush, as I don't think he would raise. So I just call. The turn comes QH. Again I put a pot bet in. He now comes over the top and goes all in. I have a flush, with a straight flush draw. There is no way I can put him on the nut flush, so I call. He smugly turns over J6 Hearts for a bigger flush.
Could I have gotten away from it? Of course, but the way it played out I was happy with my read on him. But it just made me realise that people will call with a lot of weird hands
Anyway, he was gone 3 hands later to my house with his 2-3 for a straight. Says it all.
As it turns out I came 4th and pocketed 150 Euro profit, and I was ahead every time I was all in pre- flop except for my very last hand where I tried to push and in-experienced player off a KJ pre-flop. I would not have changed that play either
The same night I ended up playing a cash game with some real moron's and also some very good players. My aces got cracked once, and held up once. I played a lot of very good poker, but it was a real grind and I ended up staying until 07.00 in the morning. On a school night. I felt good, but very naughty. The best hand of the night was my very last one, where I called off a big bluff from a player I have played with once before. There was 260 euro in the pot and he put in a 70 Euro bet. I had bottom pair, but my read of him having nothing had the whole table in awe. Needless to say I took my chips and left feeling very good after that.
On the night I was up 615 Euro, and my running total now stands at 1,370. So far so good, next game will be on Tuesday 08/04. Keep an eye out for the post
Anyway, I entered the 100 Euro Double Chance freeze out tournament. As it was post Irish Open days, it only got 30 runners. 4 people got paid, so you had to be on your game.
I normally play a bit loose at the beginning and get involved with hands. Easier to do when the blinds are smaller. My first big hand of the night was a 9-10 hearts. It was an unraised pot with 4 of us in it. The flop comes 7H,8H,6C. I raise slightly above to the pot (4 blinds in there) I figure an ace of hearts may call me, and if the nuts flush draw is there I will get a flat call. Instead I get the middle caller re-raising me. Only double of what I put in. The other people quickly get out. Now, I have the best hand at this stage, so there is no way I am folding. I can smooth call him and see if I can get away from possibly the nut flush on the turn. I did not put him on that nutflush, as I don't think he would raise. So I just call. The turn comes QH. Again I put a pot bet in. He now comes over the top and goes all in. I have a flush, with a straight flush draw. There is no way I can put him on the nut flush, so I call. He smugly turns over J6 Hearts for a bigger flush.
Could I have gotten away from it? Of course, but the way it played out I was happy with my read on him. But it just made me realise that people will call with a lot of weird hands
Anyway, he was gone 3 hands later to my house with his 2-3 for a straight. Says it all.
As it turns out I came 4th and pocketed 150 Euro profit, and I was ahead every time I was all in pre- flop except for my very last hand where I tried to push and in-experienced player off a KJ pre-flop. I would not have changed that play either
The same night I ended up playing a cash game with some real moron's and also some very good players. My aces got cracked once, and held up once. I played a lot of very good poker, but it was a real grind and I ended up staying until 07.00 in the morning. On a school night. I felt good, but very naughty. The best hand of the night was my very last one, where I called off a big bluff from a player I have played with once before. There was 260 euro in the pot and he put in a 70 Euro bet. I had bottom pair, but my read of him having nothing had the whole table in awe. Needless to say I took my chips and left feeling very good after that.
On the night I was up 615 Euro, and my running total now stands at 1,370. So far so good, next game will be on Tuesday 08/04. Keep an eye out for the post
Friday, April 4, 2008
The start of my own poker heaven
As most of you will know, I have for a couple of years been heavily in to poker. (I blame Dennis Ellis for this after one drunken night at the dog racing... and the day I left RTE when we won in the casino and spent the money on champagne in Renard's)
So, anyway after a couple of years of basically just messing about I have set myself a goal this year: I want to turn 1,000 Euro in to 5,000. I know I am a pretty good poker player, as I see the maths very well and I have a very good instinct about what other people have in their hand (well most of the time anyway) I also enjoy the banter around the poker table, which makes people open up more to me and that helps me get a read on them.
What I will also do, is discuss certain hands from both my cash games and tournament games. This will come from both my live play and my tournament play. Hopefully you will be amused by this, if not then at least it will be for my benefit so that I can see how I progress.
I will play mainly live cash games in the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin. I like the atmosphere there and I get on with most of the players there. I will play most of my online cash game on Virgin Poker. They have the best reward scheme, and I like the software.
So, from 01/04 I have started the quest for glory (there will be a blog about my amazing night of poker last night somewhere else on this site)
Good luck and may the cards be your friends
So, anyway after a couple of years of basically just messing about I have set myself a goal this year: I want to turn 1,000 Euro in to 5,000. I know I am a pretty good poker player, as I see the maths very well and I have a very good instinct about what other people have in their hand (well most of the time anyway) I also enjoy the banter around the poker table, which makes people open up more to me and that helps me get a read on them.
What I will also do, is discuss certain hands from both my cash games and tournament games. This will come from both my live play and my tournament play. Hopefully you will be amused by this, if not then at least it will be for my benefit so that I can see how I progress.
I will play mainly live cash games in the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin. I like the atmosphere there and I get on with most of the players there. I will play most of my online cash game on Virgin Poker. They have the best reward scheme, and I like the software.
So, from 01/04 I have started the quest for glory (there will be a blog about my amazing night of poker last night somewhere else on this site)
Good luck and may the cards be your friends
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