So, I watched some training videos from Jonathan Little.
I cashed in 5 of first 25 tourneys I played online. One week later, I won a 180 man tourney and did the same thing the next day! Pay day was about $550 each. I think I got this.
Then I proceed to go to Vegas to play in the Venetian Deep Stack and come back to a string of coolers for about two weeks- cashing 6 times in 80 tourneys while taking bad beat after bad beat.
I decide to tighten up a bit and proceed to go on a streak more to my liking: cashing in 6 of last 15 tourneys with 1 win and 1 second place finish cashing for over $848 & profiting over $690 in average buy ins of $10.50.
This feels pretty good.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Crawfish Dinner
So, Victor Ramdin arrives in the second blind level and greets his fellow players at our table. He immediately begins moving chips around and busts one of the underling pros and builds his stack up very quickly. His fast play and friendly demeanor appear to be recreational in nature but also at odds with each other.
In between hands he pulls his phone out to text Chau Giang because they are to meet for dinner and have crawfish. Since he is directly across the table from me I query whether or not these crawfish will be served Cajun style like in New Orleans. He says yes, that Chau knows of a place where they serve it boiled in a bag and spread it out on the table in front of you. He invites me and another player to join them for dinner- I accept.
The only problem is that the dinner break is still at least 3 hours away and there is much danger between now and then. For instance, in one hand, I am dealt AJo in middle position and am facing an early position raise by Jonathon Little. I consider calling in position and announce "I think I'll wait for the crawfish." Little appears amused but actually more closely resembles a statue wearing sunglasses.
Contrary to his amicable nature throughout the tournament thus far, Ramdin announces for some reason that he will defend his big blind against whoever raises regardless of his holding. Actually, what he says is that he will go over the top of the preflop raiser with nothing. I am UTG +4 and look down at TT. I decide to push aside the ominous threat from the big blind and decide crawfish are really messy to eat anyway. With the blinds at 100/200 + 25 ante I make it 700 to go. I think I had about 4K stack (covering Ramdin). It is folded around to Ramdin and he says, "OK..." and calls. The flop is 743cc. He checks and I bet 1,100 into the pot of 1,750. He moves all in and I call. He shows J8 of clubs for the flush draw. He air balls the turn and river and is out of the tournament.
No crawfish dinner for me...
In between hands he pulls his phone out to text Chau Giang because they are to meet for dinner and have crawfish. Since he is directly across the table from me I query whether or not these crawfish will be served Cajun style like in New Orleans. He says yes, that Chau knows of a place where they serve it boiled in a bag and spread it out on the table in front of you. He invites me and another player to join them for dinner- I accept.
The only problem is that the dinner break is still at least 3 hours away and there is much danger between now and then. For instance, in one hand, I am dealt AJo in middle position and am facing an early position raise by Jonathon Little. I consider calling in position and announce "I think I'll wait for the crawfish." Little appears amused but actually more closely resembles a statue wearing sunglasses.
Contrary to his amicable nature throughout the tournament thus far, Ramdin announces for some reason that he will defend his big blind against whoever raises regardless of his holding. Actually, what he says is that he will go over the top of the preflop raiser with nothing. I am UTG +4 and look down at TT. I decide to push aside the ominous threat from the big blind and decide crawfish are really messy to eat anyway. With the blinds at 100/200 + 25 ante I make it 700 to go. I think I had about 4K stack (covering Ramdin). It is folded around to Ramdin and he says, "OK..." and calls. The flop is 743cc. He checks and I bet 1,100 into the pot of 1,750. He moves all in and I call. He shows J8 of clubs for the flush draw. He air balls the turn and river and is out of the tournament.
No crawfish dinner for me...
Event #39 WSOP $1500 No Limit Hold 'Em
So, I get to my table in the Brasilia Room and am seated next to James McManus, author of Positively Fifth Street and a very bright individual. Several players are seated at the table and speaking among each other. Great- some of them know eachother- that means they are professional players. As it turns out, one of them, a late arrival is from Europe and has played with Peter Eastgate so much that last year, 2008, when he won the Main Event, he offered this guy a swap of 10% of each other. He didn't play in the event and missed out on a $910K pay day.
Another guy at the table was talking to the other guys and was busy accumulataing chips. Turns out he got 6th place at a WPT event in Aruba. His name is Frank Ruskin I think. He played against Jonathan Little at that final table. Jonathan got moved to our table a couple of hours into the tournament.
We played 9 handed for about one and a half hours as seat one remained open for that whole amount of time until its occupant arrived: Victor Ramdin. (Mr. Aggression himself)
After trying a three barrel bluff at seat 7, a lower ranked pro, and getting called down by third or fourth pair by him, I decided to wait and be patient. So, I played my cards for a while. *After re-reading this, I am compelled to update the the lower ranked pro in Seat 7 here won a bracelet in 2010.
There were no less than 5 pros at the same time at my table.
Another guy at the table was talking to the other guys and was busy accumulataing chips. Turns out he got 6th place at a WPT event in Aruba. His name is Frank Ruskin I think. He played against Jonathan Little at that final table. Jonathan got moved to our table a couple of hours into the tournament.
We played 9 handed for about one and a half hours as seat one remained open for that whole amount of time until its occupant arrived: Victor Ramdin. (Mr. Aggression himself)
After trying a three barrel bluff at seat 7, a lower ranked pro, and getting called down by third or fourth pair by him, I decided to wait and be patient. So, I played my cards for a while. *After re-reading this, I am compelled to update the the lower ranked pro in Seat 7 here won a bracelet in 2010.
There were no less than 5 pros at the same time at my table.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sit N Go Tournament at the Rio
The day before my $1500 NLH Tournament (event 39) I played in a few single table satellites. You start off ten handed and play down to a single winner. It is typical for a deal to be made once down to a few players but usually it is divided among the final two.
In one SNG we were down to 3 players and I was the short stack when they made a deal to pay 3rd place the buy in back. We all agreed and I proceeded to chip away at the two larger stacks. Eventually, I climbed into and out of the lead and was in 2nd place when another deal was proposed to split the winnings 3 ways evenly. While considering the deal, I looked down at KTc in the small blind and decide to conceal my strength by limping. The big blind raises preflop and I make the call. The flop is QJx. I bet, he raises all in, and I call. He turns over AQ for top pair, top kicker. I have an open ended straight with a backdoor flush draw and have him covered. The turn is an A giving him top two pair but makes a straight for me. He groans and I beam. The river card is a Q giving him a full house, Queens full of Aces.
Moral of the story: Take the deal when presented if you have scrapped your way into bargaining position.
In one SNG we were down to 3 players and I was the short stack when they made a deal to pay 3rd place the buy in back. We all agreed and I proceeded to chip away at the two larger stacks. Eventually, I climbed into and out of the lead and was in 2nd place when another deal was proposed to split the winnings 3 ways evenly. While considering the deal, I looked down at KTc in the small blind and decide to conceal my strength by limping. The big blind raises preflop and I make the call. The flop is QJx. I bet, he raises all in, and I call. He turns over AQ for top pair, top kicker. I have an open ended straight with a backdoor flush draw and have him covered. The turn is an A giving him top two pair but makes a straight for me. He groans and I beam. The river card is a Q giving him a full house, Queens full of Aces.
Moral of the story: Take the deal when presented if you have scrapped your way into bargaining position.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Venetian Waiting Area
My most recent trip to Vegas found me playing at the Venetian for most of the trip. While waiting for a $2/5 table, I sat at the $1/2 table. We were 10 handed and I was dealt 33 in late middle position. BB raises to $15 and 5 players call. Yes, 5. The pot is $75. The flop is 345 rainbow. SB checks, BB bets $65. I consider raising and opt to smooth call. SB pushes all in for $115 more. BB deliberates and pushes all in for $220 over his bet. I had both of them covered and call. The pot is $850.
These are the hands:
SB- A2 (straight)
BB- KK (over pair)
Me- 33 (set)
Turn is a 9. So, I request a 9- but get a 4 instead on the river to give me a full house and a big pot at this level.
I pass on my seat change.
These are the hands:
SB- A2 (straight)
BB- KK (over pair)
Me- 33 (set)
Turn is a 9. So, I request a 9- but get a 4 instead on the river to give me a full house and a big pot at this level.
I pass on my seat change.
Caesar's Palace Deep Stack Tournament (July 2008)
During my trip to Vegas to play in the WSOP, I entered a Deep Stack Event @ Caesar's. I made it fairly deep and was beginning to feel a little pressure from the blinds. My stack was below average at 18K. I was in the Big Blind and the newest player at this table. I had witnessed a couple of hands before this hand came up.
The cutoff player was a Euro Pro that had recently belittled another player whom he had just beat. He was the kind of guy that everyone wants to bust- probably part of his game. I suspect he greatly admires Phil Helmuth. Anyway, this Euro dude limps in for $400, the Small Blind completes and I check with A4 Diamonds. 3 to the flop of A29 (two diamonds). I lead out for $800 after the SB checks and Deiter calls. SB folds. Turn is a blank- I check, Euro bets 5k. I call the 5k leaving 10K behind. As the river card is in the process of being turned over I push. By the way, the river is K Diamonds- sweet! Euro bitch begins his analysis: "You bet that as if you hit thte flush. If you hit it you would not bet there. You push and strong means weak/weak means strong; so I call. I have the second nuts- shows Q6 Diamonds.
I show the nuts. He says "How much?" Thus begins his post hand tirade. In true Helmuth manner, Euro Joe shakes his head lifts his hands up and shrugs. He is incredulous and asks, "Why would you bet there? If you made the flush, why bet?"
I replied, "I thought you would pay me- simple as that".
I busted out a couple of hours later. No cash.
The cutoff player was a Euro Pro that had recently belittled another player whom he had just beat. He was the kind of guy that everyone wants to bust- probably part of his game. I suspect he greatly admires Phil Helmuth. Anyway, this Euro dude limps in for $400, the Small Blind completes and I check with A4 Diamonds. 3 to the flop of A29 (two diamonds). I lead out for $800 after the SB checks and Deiter calls. SB folds. Turn is a blank- I check, Euro bets 5k. I call the 5k leaving 10K behind. As the river card is in the process of being turned over I push. By the way, the river is K Diamonds- sweet! Euro bitch begins his analysis: "You bet that as if you hit thte flush. If you hit it you would not bet there. You push and strong means weak/weak means strong; so I call. I have the second nuts- shows Q6 Diamonds.
I show the nuts. He says "How much?" Thus begins his post hand tirade. In true Helmuth manner, Euro Joe shakes his head lifts his hands up and shrugs. He is incredulous and asks, "Why would you bet there? If you made the flush, why bet?"
I replied, "I thought you would pay me- simple as that".
I busted out a couple of hours later. No cash.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sonterra Meeting $2/$5- To Fold or Not?
I played poker after our visit to the stores and did well. Bought in for $200 and cashed out for $800. This happened at Sonterra.
Me: 9 10 off in position running well called raise to $15. Flop is 78x. I call a $25 bet. Turn- K, he leads out for $75. I put him on nothing more than a pair or over cards. I calculate my odds to the open ended draw and estimate I am 5:1 dog. Money is 160:75 or approx. 2:1. So I fold. Mark was sweating me and said I was wrong for folding because I would have stacked the aggressor ($400 or so- possible but likely he would put in 60%-75% of his stack or $300). BTW the dealer turned over the river and it was a 6. Aggressor said, upon seeing the 6 that we would have chopped it. I asked him how he knew that. He said he would have made the straight to the 9. I would have made it to the 10. I was second guessing my decision but it was based on preservation rather than accumulation.
Thoughts?
Another hand I was dealt 55 in late position and I called a raise to $15-$20. We took the flop 3 handed and it was 56J rainbow. Original raiser (Charlie) bets $30 into the $70ish pot and gets called so, I plan to isolate against possible straight draw and make it $80 so it's not a prohibitive bet. Original bettor (Charlie) throws up all over the pot and goes all in confidently. Sandwich guy shows others not in hand what he has and lays down (turns out to be AA). I go into the tank and immediately put Charlie on 66. I show my hand to people on my side of table- Randy admonishes me for not calling instantly as I am making Charlie feel like he is good. I told him I'm not convinced I should call and turn my hand over for a reaction. Nothing. After more deliberation, I fold and Charlie shows his 66 for a higher set. No reason to put your money in bad if you're sure or somewhat certain.
Antother hand I am dealt A7o and make a pre-flop raise to $15 and get 4 callers. Flop: TTT! Checked around. Turn card is 7. Checked to me and I bet $40. Fold around to Randy who check raises to $100. I call. River is an 8 and Randy leads out for $150 and I call with the 7 and he mucks. I believe this is an easy call on my part as the unlikelihood of him having a 10 there combined with me matching one of only two cards on the board and his ability to play with chips is enough to give me the green light there. I stacked about $460 on that hand alone.
Me: 9 10 off in position running well called raise to $15. Flop is 78x. I call a $25 bet. Turn- K, he leads out for $75. I put him on nothing more than a pair or over cards. I calculate my odds to the open ended draw and estimate I am 5:1 dog. Money is 160:75 or approx. 2:1. So I fold. Mark was sweating me and said I was wrong for folding because I would have stacked the aggressor ($400 or so- possible but likely he would put in 60%-75% of his stack or $300). BTW the dealer turned over the river and it was a 6. Aggressor said, upon seeing the 6 that we would have chopped it. I asked him how he knew that. He said he would have made the straight to the 9. I would have made it to the 10. I was second guessing my decision but it was based on preservation rather than accumulation.
Thoughts?
Another hand I was dealt 55 in late position and I called a raise to $15-$20. We took the flop 3 handed and it was 56J rainbow. Original raiser (Charlie) bets $30 into the $70ish pot and gets called so, I plan to isolate against possible straight draw and make it $80 so it's not a prohibitive bet. Original bettor (Charlie) throws up all over the pot and goes all in confidently. Sandwich guy shows others not in hand what he has and lays down (turns out to be AA). I go into the tank and immediately put Charlie on 66. I show my hand to people on my side of table- Randy admonishes me for not calling instantly as I am making Charlie feel like he is good. I told him I'm not convinced I should call and turn my hand over for a reaction. Nothing. After more deliberation, I fold and Charlie shows his 66 for a higher set. No reason to put your money in bad if you're sure or somewhat certain.
Antother hand I am dealt A7o and make a pre-flop raise to $15 and get 4 callers. Flop: TTT! Checked around. Turn card is 7. Checked to me and I bet $40. Fold around to Randy who check raises to $100. I call. River is an 8 and Randy leads out for $150 and I call with the 7 and he mucks. I believe this is an easy call on my part as the unlikelihood of him having a 10 there combined with me matching one of only two cards on the board and his ability to play with chips is enough to give me the green light there. I stacked about $460 on that hand alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
