It's been a little while since I posted. I spent 4 days in Memphis visiting friends and family. I brought my laptop though and was able to play a little poker as well. No sidetrip to Tunica though ... not enough time for that.
I'm back playing at Party Poker for now .... clearing the February bonus. I also have a bunch of bonus to clear at Absolute Poker as well, but the Party bonus has a 7 day time limit. I took a few sessions to get enough raked hands to qualify for Bet365's 30K freeroll. I'm spreading myself pretty thin and I think I'm gonna have to eliminate a room or two from the rotation. Right now, I am playing, Absolute, Party, Bet365 (only 250 raked hands/month), Interpoker (just enough to claim their $90 bonus), Caribbean Sun (enough to claim their $40 bonus). Basically, if no other bonus available, I go back to Absolute and play there because I always have bonus money there. I also have accounts at other rooms, and would probably chase down some other bonuses if they are good enough. I've been waiting for a Stars reload ... I like playing there.
It's just not worth it to play somewhere if you aren't getting a bonus. For instance, at AP, I get both a rake rebate and they are constantly running reloads. Not to mention, I love their tables and have done quite well there. I am getting a rake rebate at Caribbean Sun too, but the way they calculate rake is not as generous as at AP.
I have steadily increased my bankroll and am fairly pleased with my play of late. I am making better laydowns. I also am using Pokertracker now ... it is amazing software and I kinda wish I had started using it sooner.
Have backed off tournament play, but will probably play AP's Sunday tournament tonight ... although I still have 1100 or so raked hands at Party to clear in order to claim my bonus. So much poker, so little time!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Monday, February 14, 2005
Working for the Weekend
I had one of my better poker weekends, despite taking Friday evening off to take in some culture with the wife. We went to see a play entitled Permanent Collection, which was quite good.
Saturday was the www.poker-strategy.org Absolute Addict tournament, which is a single table tournament held at Absolute Poker. Coach at psorg is nice enough to kick in an extra $100 to the prize pool. I took a nice sized chip lead and was able to bully the table a bit. I ran into a snake pit when my AKs went up against QQ, the flop was a dangerous one ... KQx, and with top pair top kicker and a big chip lead, it was one I couldn't get away from. This swung the balance of power a bit.
Eventually, I was heads up with a fellow moderator at psorg, Darque, who pushed me around heads up. Heads up play is not a strong suit at all, and that was exposed.
Saturday turned out to be an excellent one though, as I had some nice results at the 5/10 table. I played in the Sunday AP 8K guaranteed tournament and had my worst finish in a while, bouncing out early. I didn't play well, but my cards were so poor I doubt it really mattered. Sunday was a struggle in general, but I managed to go from way down to slightly up for the day.
One hand in particular swung the balance ... I had pocket 5s and there was a preflop raise from the blinds, and 4 people see the flop, which comes K86 rainbow. I am last to act, and curiously the BB, who raised preflop, checks. UTG also checks as does the mid position player. I decide to go ahead and bet out just to see what happens ... everyone calls my obvious steal attempt. The turn is a 4, and although it brings a flush draw too, it gives me some outs. It is checked to me again, and since I have a few outs, I continue the bluff. This time the Big Blind check raises me and the UTG player calls the 2 bets cold. Naturally, I now know the BB is either on a big enough hand to slow play the flop, likely KK, which I kind of suspected all along; but I have no idea what the UTG player has to call 2 bets cold ... perhaps a flush draw ... I decide that I may only have 3.5 outs (I discounted one of the outs by a half since it makes a flush possible), but the pot is big enough to call the extra $10 bet (It's about 13 to 1 with 12 big bets in the pot, but I figured I would fold the river if I missed, and make an additional two bets if I hit, so the odds were just barely there). The river is the bingo card ... a 7, but it makes the flush too. The BB leads out, UTG calls, and being the river coward I am, I just call instead of raise. Turns out the big blind did in fact have KK, and UTG had pocket 8s, each making a set on the flop and slow playing. I typed "slow play dead" in the chat window after the hand just to rub it in a bit.
Mr. KK had a big enough hand to slow play, but I thought he might be passive enough to check if he had a pocket pair below Kings or an AQ type hand.
Honestly, I figured out the odds on that hand after the fact ... I don't do specific odds calculations as I play, but I always have a general idea that is close enough to get me by.
I also opened an account at Carribean Sun Poker, which is a Crypto network site. 20% rake rebate if you sign up through www.poker-strategy.org, which is one of the sweeter deals around. My rebate at Absolute is up to 15% now as well. I will always prefer Absolute, it's just too good to pass up, rake rebate plus generous and constant reload specials; but its nice to have another alternative where I earn a rebate.
Saturday was the www.poker-strategy.org Absolute Addict tournament, which is a single table tournament held at Absolute Poker. Coach at psorg is nice enough to kick in an extra $100 to the prize pool. I took a nice sized chip lead and was able to bully the table a bit. I ran into a snake pit when my AKs went up against QQ, the flop was a dangerous one ... KQx, and with top pair top kicker and a big chip lead, it was one I couldn't get away from. This swung the balance of power a bit.
Eventually, I was heads up with a fellow moderator at psorg, Darque, who pushed me around heads up. Heads up play is not a strong suit at all, and that was exposed.
Saturday turned out to be an excellent one though, as I had some nice results at the 5/10 table. I played in the Sunday AP 8K guaranteed tournament and had my worst finish in a while, bouncing out early. I didn't play well, but my cards were so poor I doubt it really mattered. Sunday was a struggle in general, but I managed to go from way down to slightly up for the day.
One hand in particular swung the balance ... I had pocket 5s and there was a preflop raise from the blinds, and 4 people see the flop, which comes K86 rainbow. I am last to act, and curiously the BB, who raised preflop, checks. UTG also checks as does the mid position player. I decide to go ahead and bet out just to see what happens ... everyone calls my obvious steal attempt. The turn is a 4, and although it brings a flush draw too, it gives me some outs. It is checked to me again, and since I have a few outs, I continue the bluff. This time the Big Blind check raises me and the UTG player calls the 2 bets cold. Naturally, I now know the BB is either on a big enough hand to slow play the flop, likely KK, which I kind of suspected all along; but I have no idea what the UTG player has to call 2 bets cold ... perhaps a flush draw ... I decide that I may only have 3.5 outs (I discounted one of the outs by a half since it makes a flush possible), but the pot is big enough to call the extra $10 bet (It's about 13 to 1 with 12 big bets in the pot, but I figured I would fold the river if I missed, and make an additional two bets if I hit, so the odds were just barely there). The river is the bingo card ... a 7, but it makes the flush too. The BB leads out, UTG calls, and being the river coward I am, I just call instead of raise. Turns out the big blind did in fact have KK, and UTG had pocket 8s, each making a set on the flop and slow playing. I typed "slow play dead" in the chat window after the hand just to rub it in a bit.
Mr. KK had a big enough hand to slow play, but I thought he might be passive enough to check if he had a pocket pair below Kings or an AQ type hand.
Honestly, I figured out the odds on that hand after the fact ... I don't do specific odds calculations as I play, but I always have a general idea that is close enough to get me by.
I also opened an account at Carribean Sun Poker, which is a Crypto network site. 20% rake rebate if you sign up through www.poker-strategy.org, which is one of the sweeter deals around. My rebate at Absolute is up to 15% now as well. I will always prefer Absolute, it's just too good to pass up, rake rebate plus generous and constant reload specials; but its nice to have another alternative where I earn a rebate.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
More 7CS
I decided to clear my $90 bonus at Interpoker playing 7CS solely and I made a marginal profit at the tables plus the bonus. I had one bad session in which I got cleaned out heads up, but I played shorthanded quite a bit and found it far more entertaining than a full 7CS ring game.
I've decided to swear off stud for the rest of the month though and will stick with the bread and butter (Limit Hold Em) along with a few NL tournaments a week. So far, February is shaping up quite nicely.
I did manage to qualify for the Bet365 30K freeroll after all, but didn't get any cards and ended up out around 200 or so. Still looking for that big tourney score and I believe its coming eventually; but I'm patient!
I've decided to swear off stud for the rest of the month though and will stick with the bread and butter (Limit Hold Em) along with a few NL tournaments a week. So far, February is shaping up quite nicely.
I did manage to qualify for the Bet365 30K freeroll after all, but didn't get any cards and ended up out around 200 or so. Still looking for that big tourney score and I believe its coming eventually; but I'm patient!
Friday, February 04, 2005
Tourney Game Back on Track
I played in the Absolute $12K guaranteed tourney last night ... well, last night into this morning ...
I felt like I really played well and was well on my way to the final table. I was in about 10th place with 23 left and 34K in chips. The blinds were 2K/4K. I get pocket deuces and am hoping to steal the blinds and raise it up to 8K from mid position. Folded around to the BB, who has about 10K more in chips than I, he calls.
The flop is a beauty 27Q ... there are two diamonds on the flop, but it's heads up now, and I'm not too worried about a flush draw. I bet the minimum (4K) and BB calls, turn is a 9 and it doesn't complete the flush. Fearing a TJ type hand, I push em all in, confident I am in the lead.
BB calls and flips 99 for an overset that he made on the turn. Analyzing the hand, I really don't think I played it poorly, just dumb luck that he hit his 2 outer. Mind you, the big blind played the hand correctly too, although he could have been more aggressive preflop.
Had he not hit his overset and had to fold to my turn bet, I would have been in great position with 48K in chips and would have likely coasted into the final table. I still netted $62, but all things considered it was disappointing, especially so because I really was playing well.
It was still a good night, made a little money at the ring games as well. Only bad thing was that the tournament lasts so dang long, and then you get close to the money and everyone starts stalling. I feel like I am on the verge of a big Multi Table Tournament breakthrough though.
I felt like I really played well and was well on my way to the final table. I was in about 10th place with 23 left and 34K in chips. The blinds were 2K/4K. I get pocket deuces and am hoping to steal the blinds and raise it up to 8K from mid position. Folded around to the BB, who has about 10K more in chips than I, he calls.
The flop is a beauty 27Q ... there are two diamonds on the flop, but it's heads up now, and I'm not too worried about a flush draw. I bet the minimum (4K) and BB calls, turn is a 9 and it doesn't complete the flush. Fearing a TJ type hand, I push em all in, confident I am in the lead.
BB calls and flips 99 for an overset that he made on the turn. Analyzing the hand, I really don't think I played it poorly, just dumb luck that he hit his 2 outer. Mind you, the big blind played the hand correctly too, although he could have been more aggressive preflop.
Had he not hit his overset and had to fold to my turn bet, I would have been in great position with 48K in chips and would have likely coasted into the final table. I still netted $62, but all things considered it was disappointing, especially so because I really was playing well.
It was still a good night, made a little money at the ring games as well. Only bad thing was that the tournament lasts so dang long, and then you get close to the money and everyone starts stalling. I feel like I am on the verge of a big Multi Table Tournament breakthrough though.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Look before you leap
I moved over to Bet365 to get enough hands in to qualify for their 30K freeroll and won about $120 the first two nights playing 2/4 ... then proceeded to give it all back and more the next two. And the worst part is I don't think I qualified for the freeroll. I had 204 hands as of Sunday night 1/30 and needed 44 more by midnight 1/31, but didn't realize it was UK time ...
Plus, I'm having issues with Bet365's cashier, and now I'm unable to even check without calling them.
The good thing is that my 5/10 adventures at Absolute continue to go well. I think I'm gonna give the AP guaranteed 12K tourney a go tonight. My tourney games is better lately, finally made another final table ... slow played trip 9s on a 99A flop, of course the turn was an Ace, which completely screwed me and sent me packing in 8th place.
Plus, I'm having issues with Bet365's cashier, and now I'm unable to even check without calling them.
The good thing is that my 5/10 adventures at Absolute continue to go well. I think I'm gonna give the AP guaranteed 12K tourney a go tonight. My tourney games is better lately, finally made another final table ... slow played trip 9s on a 99A flop, of course the turn was an Ace, which completely screwed me and sent me packing in 8th place.
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