DVDTalk Group Daily Poker Journal II

[LasVegasMichael]

Maybe its just me, but with a short stack like yours, I would consider this an EASY push.

Anything under $100 is already short stacked (let alone half of it) so pushing here makes sense.

I would NEVER call in this situation, with only $50 to start, it is push, and rebuy if necessary, after the hand. In fact, let me go a step further and say that I would not be caught in this situation, as I would have rebought prior to the hand, to being me back to the max, and then play accordingly. Unless practicing your short stack play, why start the hand with only $50 behind? Was this one of those freaky short stack games where the max buy in was $40-$50 like at Commerce or Luxor?

[atari2600]

Originally Posted by LasVegasMichael

Maybe its just me, but with a short stack like yours, I would consider this an EASY push.

Anything under $100 is already short stacked (let alone half of it) so pushing here makes sense.

I would NEVER call in this situation, with only $50 to start, it is push, and rebuy if necessary, after the hand. In fact, let me go a step further and say that I would not be caught in this situation, as I would have rebought prior to the hand, to being me back to the max, and then play accordingly. Unless practicing your short stack play, why start the hand with only $50 behind? Was this one of those freaky short stack games where the max buy in was $40-$50 like at Commerce or Luxor?

yes. max buy in was $40 (local socal casino). you can rebuy i believe up to $60.

[Superboy]

Originally Posted by atari2600

yes. max buy in was $40 (local socal casino). you can rebuy i believe up to $60.

actually $40 is the cap. You can only recap up to $40. I like that game though. Pot odds makes most slight calls good ones b/c of good pot odds and the low rebuy. Great game.

[LasVegasMichael]

For some reason, I got the hankering to return to my roots and donk it up playing some low limit Hold'em in the last few days.

It started on Sunday when we were in Los Angeles on business. I managed to get away for a couple hours and hit up Commerce.

Commerce has always been a personal favorite room of mine for low limit HE. The crazy action allows for some pretty loose play, and some insanely big pots.

I was playing in a 3/6LHE game. I had won some pots here and there with trash hands, and built my $100 buy in to about $160 or so. Then, I get dealt 23s in the small blind. It was raised by a MP (tight aggressive older woman player), and called by everyone up to me. I also call, as does the rest of the table. Nine players go to the flop.

Flop: 2710rainbow.

Everyone checks to the raiser, who bets. Everyone calls to me, and I also call, as does the rest of the table. Going to the turn, we are STILL HINE HANDED!

Turn: 2 (bringing two clubs to the board, and giving me three dueces with a 3 kicker)

I check, as I honeslty thought that this woman has pocket 10s, as she has been showing down monster hands, and knew that this pot was going to stay big no matter what).

Everyone checks to the woman, and she bets. One player drops out, but everyone else calls before me. I also call. Yes, I was throwing caution to the wind, but I didn't care. I wanted to win a huge pot. Also, I invested a total of $100 in this game, with the sole purpose of DONKING IT UP. I have been playing so much NL, which is more serious obviously, that I just wanted to vent some aggression at the LHE game, with little to nothing to lose.

One more drops out, but we are still 6 handed going to the river.

River: 7d. Final board 2 7 10 2 7

I check, as I was honestly fearful of not only pocket 10s, but that I had allowed a 7 to get a better hand on the river.

It was checked around to the PF raiser, and she bets. I call, as does one other player.

I show down dueces full. She sows down QQ for two pair, and the other guy mucks. GIN!

I ended up leaving the 3/6 game shortly after that with that nice little score being the highlight.

I have been playing LHE at Santa Fe Station (my local casino) for the last couple of days, and have been doing pretty well, donking it up at 4/8 with half kill. I will report more later on my temporary trash hand donking it up phase soon, if anyone cares.

[atari2600]

please do - always love reading the reports.

as for me, i need to stick to limit. i love playing no limit but im far better at limit games. i think its a lot due to the fact that i dont have a big bankroll so im stuck playing the $40 buy in no limit games which severely limits my strategy and the things im able to do.

granted i have been able to walk away with huge profits playing no limit which is a lot more difficult in limit of course. but overall, im more likely to win in limit. thats just how ive done the past few months.

[El Scorcho]

This is the fucking shit that I keep running into the last month.

Preflop: 48.1% to 51.9%
Postflop: 96.5% to 3.5%
Turn: 84.1% to 15.9%
River: LOSE

Full Tilt Poker Game #1753959802: Table Dike (6 max) - $1/$2 - Limit Hold'em - 2:13:35 ET - 2007/02/08
Seat 1: PMPDynoMike ($98)
Seat 2: frdlvrxlt26 ($52)
Seat 3: DTSC ($47.50)
Seat 4: felsparz_crew ($42.25)
Seat 5: wicmiester ($18.50)
Seat 6: Gravicapa ($59.75)
felsparz_crew posts the small blind of $0.50
wicmiester posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DTSC [2d 2c]
Gravicapa folds
PMPDynoMike folds
frdlvrxlt26 folds
DTSC raises to $2
felsparz_crew raises to $3
wicmiester folds
DTSC calls $1
*** FLOP *** [Js 9c 2h]
felsparz_crew bets $1
DTSC calls $1
*** TURN *** [Js 9c 2h] [Jc]
felsparz_crew bets $2
DTSC raises to $4
felsparz_crew raises to $6
DTSC raises to $8
felsparz_crew calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Js 9c 2h Jc] [Jh]
felsparz_crew bets $2
DTSC: un god damn real
DTSC calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
felsparz_crew shows [Jd Kd] (four of a kind, Jacks)
DTSC mucks
felsparz_crew wins the pot ($28) with four of a kind, Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $29 | Rake $1
Board: [Js 9c 2h Jc Jh]
Seat 1: PMPDynoMike didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: frdlvrxlt26 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DTSC (button) mucked [2d 2c] - a full house, Jacks full of Twos
Seat 4: felsparz_crew (small blind) showed [Jd Kd] and won ($28) with four of a kind, Jacks
Seat 5: wicmiester (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Gravicapa didn't bet (folded)

[Deftones]

Ouch. That's a brutal beat.

[actyper]

Nice table name!

[El Scorcho]

Oh man I love raising with a big draw. I primarily raised because I thought 2 guys would come with me but one dropped out when it was 2 big bets back to him. The best is that with all the raising I did on the turn, the guy put me on a set or 2 pair and never saw the flush/straight as a possibility.

Full Tilt Poker Game #1760230103: Table Seth (6 max) - $1/$2 - Limit Hold'em - 2:06:06 ET - 2007/02/09
Seat 1: DTSC ($61)
Seat 2: shhhultzzie ($52)
Seat 4: birdynumnum ($80.75)
Seat 5: ZenPoker99 ($54.75)
Seat 6: JVPDog ($20.25)
birdynumnum posts the small blind of $0.50
ZenPoker99 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DTSC [8h Jh]
JVPDog calls $1
DTSC calls $1
shhhultzzie raises to $2
birdynumnum calls $1.50
ZenPoker99 folds
JVPDog calls $1
DTSC calls $1
*** FLOP *** [3c Td 9h]
birdynumnum bets $1
JVPDog calls $1
DTSC calls $1
shhhultzzie raises to $2
birdynumnum calls $1
JVPDog calls $1
DTSC calls $1
*** TURN *** [3c Td 9h] [Ah]
birdynumnum checks
JVPDog bets $2
DTSC calls $2
shhhultzzie raises to $4
birdynumnum folds
JVPDog raises to $6
DTSC raises to $8
shhhultzzie folds
JVPDog calls $2
*** RIVER *** [3c Td 9h Ah] [2h]
JVPDog bets $2
DTSC raises to $4
JVPDog raises to $6
DTSC raises to $8
JVPDog calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DTSC shows [8h Jh] (a flush, Ace high)
JVPDog shows [Ad As] (three of a kind, Aces)
DTSC wins the pot ($52) with a flush, Ace high
JVPDog is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $53 | Rake $1
Board: [3c Td 9h Ah 2h]
Seat 1: DTSC showed [8h Jh] and won ($52) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 2: shhhultzzie (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: birdynumnum (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: ZenPoker99 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: JVPDog showed [Ad As] and lost with three of a kind, Aces

[El Scorcho]

Please tell me this isn't good fortune coming my way!

Full Tilt Poker Game #1760268433: Table Seth (6 max) - $1/$2 - Limit Hold'em - 2:15:11 ET - 2007/02/09
Seat 1: DTSC ($100.50)
Seat 2: shhhultzzie ($39.25)
Seat 3: Xpo Ferens ($49.75)
Seat 4: birdynumnum ($51.25)
Seat 5: ZenPoker99 ($63)
ZenPoker99 posts the small blind of $0.50
DTSC posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to DTSC [As Ah]
shhhultzzie folds
Xpo Ferens folds
birdynumnum raises to $2
ZenPoker99 raises to $3
DTSC calls $2
birdynumnum calls $1
*** FLOP *** [Qh 2s 4d]
ZenPoker99 bets $1
DTSC calls $1
birdynumnum raises to $2
ZenPoker99 calls $1
DTSC calls $1
*** TURN *** [Qh 2s 4d] [Ad]
AZ and WI Kid sits down
ZenPoker99 checks
DTSC checks
birdynumnum bets $2
AZ and WI Kid stands up
ZenPoker99 calls $2
DTSC raises to $4
birdynumnum raises to $6
ZenPoker99 folds
DTSC raises to $8
birdynumnum calls $2
*** RIVER *** [Qh 2s 4d Ad] [5s]
DTSC bets $2
birdynumnum calls $2
houseedge sits down
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DTSC shows [As Ah] (three of a kind, Aces)
birdynumnum mucks
DTSC wins the pot ($36) with three of a kind, Aces
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $37 | Rake $1
Board: [Qh 2s 4d Ad 5s]
Seat 1: DTSC (big blind) showed [As Ah] and won ($36) with three of a kind, Aces
Seat 2: shhhultzzie didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Xpo Ferens didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: birdynumnum (button) mucked [Ac Qd] - two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 5: ZenPoker99 (small blind) folded on the Turn

[Deftones]

Had an extremely frustrating session last night playing 2/4. I was up and down all night. Hit a big hand, and then get blinded down.

This table was extremely, extremely loose. It wasn't uncommon for at least 6 - 8 players in a pot, despite a raise. Higher pocket pair got routinely cracked.

There was one guy that was the worst calling station I'd ever seen. He played every hand. Sad fact, he was hitting a ton of cards and winning big pots.

One hand I had A8c and flopped an A. He had Q2, hit a Q on flop, and rivered the 2 for the two pair.

I had KK and he had QQ. He flops set, I flop up and down straight draw. He fills up on turn and it's over from there.

My friend had KT, he has T7. Flop is TT6. Turn is 8. River is 9. Guy takes a huge pot from my buddy.

It's like that all night. I ended up down $100. It's frustrating, to say the least, when you end up playing good hands, yet you get outdrawn or flopped constantly buy idiots that play garbage.

[El Scorcho]

It's casino 2/4 limit. We need to condition ourselves to expect this type of shit.

But yes, nothing's worse than a fish who is also a luckbox.

[Deftones]

To add insult to injury, my friend won a $500 "splash" pot shortly after I left last night. Basically a random drawing based on these tickets they hand out.

[namja]

Went to Foxwoods for the first time yesterday. Boy was it crowded. Had to wait to get a table (I signed up on 1/2 NL and 2/5 NL). They say it's like that every weekend. Yikes.

Sat at the 1/2 table. Lost $200 in about an hour. Lost the first $100 when I pushed all-in with AQ on a Q-high flop. Some guy with nothing but a flush draw called and caught in on the river. Bought in for another $100 and brought it up to $200, but lost when I overplayed my AT.

I haven't played in a couple months, and it definitely showed.

[mkdevo]

Originally Posted by namja

Went to Foxwoods for the first time yesterday. Boy was it crowded. Had to wait to get a table (I signed up on 1/2 NL and 2/5 NL). They say it's like that every weekend. Yikes.

Sat at the 1/2 table. Lost $200 in about an hour. Lost the first $100 when I pushed all-in with AQ on a Q-high flop. Some guy with nothing but a flush draw called and caught in on the river. Bought in for another $100 and brought it up to $200, but lost when I overplayed my AT.

I haven't played in a couple months, and it definitely showed.

heh.. i was at foxwoods the same day.. and yeah, it IS like that every weekend..

i got killed in a $120 SNG when my top 2 lost to a river straight.. then played a little 4/8 and slowly lost another $200.. not a good night.

[El Scorcho]

I forgot to relay this story from the B&M Friday night, when I drove to Spirit Mountain and spent 7 hours getting my ass handed to me with hands like 42 and 82 and such that managed to hit their kickers on the river against me pretty much all night long.

During one of the hands I had a small pair like 33 or so and saw the flop 142-handed (typical 2/4 limit game). I missed the flop completely and as such, there were 3 overcards on board, dictating an automatic fold for the hero.

However, as I'm waiting to fold, I look a few seats to my right (I was in seat 6, seat 3 had the action), and the ghetto fabulous old dude immediately to my right was looking at his cards and I managed to see them clear as day.

After the hand was over, I told him that I inadvertently saw his hole cards when I looked to my right at Seat 3 and that he needs to protect them better, as I didn't want to see them in the interest of keeping the game fair. However, I told him, if it continued I wasn't going to inform him of it again.

Ghetto fabulous looked at me, gave me a grunt, and turned his attention back to the table. I never saw his hole cards again, but I figured the fuckface would have said thank you for being honest. But no. This fucker was classless.

I was rewarded for my honesty by the poker gods with the shittiest run of cards I've ever had live. Every TT-KK that I had and raised with brought no sets, but often 1 or 2 overcards that mandated no continuation bet and an immediate fold (Some would call this play extremely passive but when you're holding JJ on an A-high flop with 7 people cold calling your raises, it's an insta-check/fold when you miss your set). Oh yes, also every AK/AQ/AJ swung and missed the flop. The only hands I won were stuff like 86s and 63s.

I was really annoyed at the ghetto fabulous guy. I think he was really bothered by some whiteboy telling him how to play cards.

[Thrush]

I don't know. The way you worded it "He needs to protect them better", "If it continued I wasn't going to inform him of it again". Comes off as a bit condescending. No reason to get pissed off though. If he had cursed you out or something maybe then you can get angry. But getting upset that he didn't lavish you with gratitude seems silly. Any time a man gives another man he doesn't know unsolicited advice at a gambling table the man on the receiving end is often times not very grateful. Because often, said advice can come across as somewhat emasculating, in a "see honey the guys with the ball are trying to put it through that big metal hoop" kind of way.

But if you're going to play live you're going to see this a ton. People expose their hole cards inadvertently all the time. If you don't want to feel like you're cheating, just don't look while they check them. I think informing the party in question is -EV for more reasons than the obvious one.

[actyper]

You are too nice, I would have some fun with it. Come showdown I would announce his cards magically before my decision, and to the exact suit.

[El Scorcho]

Originally Posted by Thrush

I don't know. The way you worded it "He needs to protect them better", "If it continued I wasn't going to inform him of it again". Comes off as a bit condescending. No reason to get pissed off though. If he had cursed you out or something maybe then you can get angry. But getting upset that he didn't lavish you with gratitude seems silly. Any time a man gives another man he doesn't know unsolicited advice at a gambling table the man on the receiving end is often times not very grateful. Because often, said advice can come across as somewhat emasculating, in a "see honey the guys with the ball are trying to put it through that big metal hoop" kind of way.

But if you're going to play live you're going to see this a ton. People expose their hole cards inadvertently all the time. If you don't want to feel like you're cheating, just don't look while they check them. I think informing the party in question is -EV for more reasons than the obvious one.

I know it's hard to put into print, but the tone of voice I used with this guy was a very nice tone, not one with any hint of condescension. It wasn't emasculating at all.

It's a very gray topic area when you're sitting next to someone exposing their hole cards. Lots of players are of the opinion that if a player shows his/her cards, it's their own damn fault and you're under no obligation to do anything about it and that it's perfectly okay to use their card exposure to your advantage.

I'm of a different philosophy. In a game filled with a lot of liars, cheats, and thieves (by nature), I try to hold myself above all that and ensure as much of a fair game play as I can. I don't *want* to see anyone's hole cards. I think what annoyed me the most was that the guy's reaction didn't indicate that he realized I was not only looking out for his interests (despite it being -EV for me to do so compared to the alternative) but that I was looking to keep the gameplay fair. Instead, I get a shrug of indifference and a grunt.

Simply saying, "If you don't want to see his cards, don't look" isn't really a solution either. I looked to my right and they were right there in front of me. Kinda hard to miss. It's not as if I was actively dropping my head and eyesight down to peek under his hands.

[El Scorcho]

Originally Posted by actyper

You are too nice, I would have some fun with it. Come showdown I would announce his cards magically before my decision, and to the exact suit.

It's 2/4 limit in a casino. The way people play, you pretty much don't even need to see their hole cards to know what they had.

[El Scorcho]

Here was some of the fun hands I lost to all night:

1) T9s vs KTo on a 9xxxK board
2) K8s vs 82o on a 8xxx2 board
3) A9s vs QQ on a A9Qxx board (the guy didn't raise once the entire hand)
4) ATs vs 74s on a AxxTx board that gave the chick the flush on the river
5) JJ vs A3o on a xxxxA board

So then after all these shitty coolers and 2-3 outers, this doozy comes that puts me on monkey tilt:

Hero: 6s 5s
Dyke Villain: 4s 2s

Flop: Ts 7s 4c
Turn: 9h
River: 4h

Are you telling me that people are hitting 2 and 3 outers against me left and right all night, but the one time I ask for 2 chances at a 19-outer, I miss? Thanks poker gods!

[pinata242]

Originally Posted by El Scorcho

4) ATs vs 74s on a AxxTx board that gave the chick the flush on the river

Quit blaming everyone else. It is obvious you don't even know that an A-High flush beats her 7-High...

[namja]

Originally Posted by pinata242

Quit blaming everyone else. It is obvious you don't even know that an A-High flush beats her 7-High...

I think it's obvious he meant something like:

Scorcho: Ah Th
The Chick: 7c 4c
Board: Ac Jh 2c Ts 3c

ATs and 74s does not necessarily mean the same suit for AT74.

[pinata242]

Ah, I read that a "spades" not "suited".

[El Scorcho]

Originally Posted by namja

I think it's obvious he meant something like:

Scorcho: Ah Th
The Chick: 7c 4c
Board: Ac Jh 2c Ts 3c

ATs and 74s does not necessarily mean the same suit for AT74.

Bingo.

ATs just means suited. If it's relevant to the hand, I'll indicate the suit by saying Ah Th. That's the common lexicon I've seen on the boards.