In some ways one of the toughest players is the calling station. You know the guy? Flops a pair and will not go away in spite of any bet(s). You absolutely can not bluff them, nor should you try. I am running into a lot of these in the free online games, particularly at the lower buy in levels. Add to the fact that they will also call many times against demonstrated strengths like a raise with a reraise behind it, or a call a big raise out of position. They are also in many hands since they just love to limp in to see a flop.
I am finding success with this player by playing just like them with one obvious difference. I am limping more with big and potentially big hands, then punishing them when I connect. I play very tight, so my starting hands are nearly always stronger, thus I get their chips on a top pair flop with better kicker, a flopped set against their two pair (you can often put them on this with a ragged flop) or a higher flush.
One of the keys in playing against a calling station (or several of them at the table) is to keep pots small with just a single pair, whether it be top pair or an overpair. Because their calling range is so large the first hand I put them on when they are overly aggressive is 2 pair. Also, if they are calling you along with potential flush or straight draws out there, they have no idea usually of pot odds and thus it is nearly impossible to shake them from a flush or straight draw. Thus a better plan is to try for pot control and make it expensive, but not get them pot committed on their draws. I do tend to bet pot size when the obvious draws are out there, but slow it up a bit after the first call.
On another topic, tonight was my night at the Legion. 2nd place with never more than double the starting chip stack. Just stayed out of the way most of the time and shoved with decent hands. Got lucky at the end when 3 handed and the two monster stacks clashed...one with a flopped set, the other with nut flush draw in hearts. The shorter stack on the draw hit on the river, but it was a heart that paired the board. I played one hand after that, push all in from the big blind with pocket 8's and called by 7/8 offsuit. Runner hearts did me in on his dominated hand. Total win $259 less $20 dealer tip plus $40 buy in, for a net of $199.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Always the Luckbox
It seems that there is nearly always the guy at your table that just lucks into every hand... Like nobody has anything and his ace high wins, or he is checked into or calls to the river with a gutshot that comes in. Today online I had the pleasure of playing that guy. It didn't seem to matter what he needed, he got. I flop trip jacks and he turns the flush, I hit two pair, he makes a straight. We played down to the two of us in a SNG and he had me outchipped 2/1 when I get.....pocket aces. I raise, he reraises, I shove, he calls and reveals......K/Q offsuit. The flop naturally contains a king and the river brings the queen....player down. Proving the adage, you just can't beat luck.
Later, playing in a sit n go I was not exactly a luckbox, but something unusual happened. Out of the 8 other players, I knocked all but one of them out. Weird. Wish it had been a real money bounty tournament. Usually in those I wound people then others knock them out.
Later, playing in a sit n go I was not exactly a luckbox, but something unusual happened. Out of the 8 other players, I knocked all but one of them out. Weird. Wish it had been a real money bounty tournament. Usually in those I wound people then others knock them out.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Unlucky & Card Dead at Legion
First hand in the Legion tournament I call a raise from a non-stop talking kid with my AJ and flop top pair top kicker. Too bad he had aces....first hand dealt yet. Avoiding disaster, but losing 1/3 of my chips I call a short stack all-in with 3/6 on a 4/5/x flop with my open ended straight draw. The pair of 4's win with ace kicker.
I miss an open ended straight flush draw for a giant pot, then call all in with KQ against A/10 & 7/7. The sevens keep firing at the dry pot and A/10 calls all in with top pair. I hit my queen on turn, but the A/10 catches and ace on the river. Good night.
I miss an open ended straight flush draw for a giant pot, then call all in with KQ against A/10 & 7/7. The sevens keep firing at the dry pot and A/10 calls all in with top pair. I hit my queen on turn, but the A/10 catches and ace on the river. Good night.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Poker is Looking Cheap
Yesterday was an expensive day for me. Day before my car wouldn't start on the first, second, third or fourth time.....twice. Panicking somewhat I called the Nissan dealer in Portland and ended up driving my car there for service, including 60,000 mile scheduled work. Leaving it there in a rental car, I returned to the coast. The next day (yesterday), I had a 12:30 dental appointment for a root canal. Finishing the appointment I paid $1100 and jumped into the car to drive to Portland. My bill at the dealership? $1100. It would have been cheaper to get stuck in the $2/20 game.
Today I started the morning getting another tooth pulled. Ouch! But cheaper than my buy in for a poker game, so things are definitely looking up.
Today I started the morning getting another tooth pulled. Ouch! But cheaper than my buy in for a poker game, so things are definitely looking up.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Ups 'N Downs
Monday Moose Tournament
My Monday started off very bad indeed. Playing the first hand of the tournament I limped in late position with A/7 suited spades. Miguel's mom and 2 other players limped and the blinds checked. The flop was 9/9/A with 2 diamonds. Checked to me, I bet $75 as a feeler bet. Everyone folded except Mrs. Miguel, seated immediately to my right in the 6 seat. Rut row. The turn is the 7 of diamonds completing the flush draw and after she checks, I check smelling a trap. The river is another 7 and gives me the full house. Excellent, her trap has trapped the trappee. She checks, I value bet $250 and she check raises to $500! Great, I push all in only to see her table the 6/9 offsuit for 9's full of 7's to beat my 7's full of aces. I am stunned and then realize that I played like a complete donkey. I take my name off the cash game list and leave for the day because I realized that I had no business playing so stupid. It is never smart to get all your chips in on an underfull, but I leave wondering what kind of player limps the first hand in middle position with 6/9 offsuit. whatever.
Wednesday Moose Tournament
Just have to report on the worst play ever seen of pocket aces (not me). Sitting in the 1 seat an older fellow checks his small blind, and I check my 2/3. There is at least one limper, probably several more. The flop is K/X/X and we check to the UTG who bets 300. The small blind check raises to 600 and they are heads up after he calls. The turn is straightish, and the small blind bets $200. Call. The river is a jack, and he bets $200 again. Call. UTG turns over K/J for 2 pair and SB shows AA. Nicely played sir!
I make it to the final table and have words with Kathleen time after time. She really thinks she understands my play and is deeply resentful of my raises from the button of her big blind, which I do 3 or 4 times, showing big hands all but one time (AQ twice, pocket 10's once, and then...8/9 suited which tilts her a bit). Anyway, she gets her "revenge" on me at the 300/600 level when I push with 5/5 having around 3500 in chips and she calls with J/J. Oh well. Next time.
Short Cash Game, Big Results
Planning to leave for home Wednesday I played for around an hour in the cash game. My first big hand was A/8 which flopped two aces and rivered an 8 for the winner of the 1:00 high hand. Second big hand was pocket aces in BB. With several limpers, I made it $9 to go. Everyone folded except one player. Flop was rainbow disconnected with an ace, so I checked to trap. He checked. Turn is junk, I check again, he checks behind. River, ace!!!! With quad aces, no hand he could possibly call a bet with, and grateful he did not fold preflop, I check again and he checks behind. $138 Monte Carlo. I have to hit the road, so I cash out for a $250 win.
My Monday started off very bad indeed. Playing the first hand of the tournament I limped in late position with A/7 suited spades. Miguel's mom and 2 other players limped and the blinds checked. The flop was 9/9/A with 2 diamonds. Checked to me, I bet $75 as a feeler bet. Everyone folded except Mrs. Miguel, seated immediately to my right in the 6 seat. Rut row. The turn is the 7 of diamonds completing the flush draw and after she checks, I check smelling a trap. The river is another 7 and gives me the full house. Excellent, her trap has trapped the trappee. She checks, I value bet $250 and she check raises to $500! Great, I push all in only to see her table the 6/9 offsuit for 9's full of 7's to beat my 7's full of aces. I am stunned and then realize that I played like a complete donkey. I take my name off the cash game list and leave for the day because I realized that I had no business playing so stupid. It is never smart to get all your chips in on an underfull, but I leave wondering what kind of player limps the first hand in middle position with 6/9 offsuit. whatever.
Wednesday Moose Tournament
Just have to report on the worst play ever seen of pocket aces (not me). Sitting in the 1 seat an older fellow checks his small blind, and I check my 2/3. There is at least one limper, probably several more. The flop is K/X/X and we check to the UTG who bets 300. The small blind check raises to 600 and they are heads up after he calls. The turn is straightish, and the small blind bets $200. Call. The river is a jack, and he bets $200 again. Call. UTG turns over K/J for 2 pair and SB shows AA. Nicely played sir!
I make it to the final table and have words with Kathleen time after time. She really thinks she understands my play and is deeply resentful of my raises from the button of her big blind, which I do 3 or 4 times, showing big hands all but one time (AQ twice, pocket 10's once, and then...8/9 suited which tilts her a bit). Anyway, she gets her "revenge" on me at the 300/600 level when I push with 5/5 having around 3500 in chips and she calls with J/J. Oh well. Next time.
Short Cash Game, Big Results
Planning to leave for home Wednesday I played for around an hour in the cash game. My first big hand was A/8 which flopped two aces and rivered an 8 for the winner of the 1:00 high hand. Second big hand was pocket aces in BB. With several limpers, I made it $9 to go. Everyone folded except one player. Flop was rainbow disconnected with an ace, so I checked to trap. He checked. Turn is junk, I check again, he checks behind. River, ace!!!! With quad aces, no hand he could possibly call a bet with, and grateful he did not fold preflop, I check again and he checks behind. $138 Monte Carlo. I have to hit the road, so I cash out for a $250 win.
Monday, September 12, 2011
I always check when heads up....right.
Had some confrontation with an unnamed Hispanic man this week. He raised preflop (with aces) out of the straddle he created, I snap called after limping with 4/7 (Suited!!!!). Another player also called. With two hearts on the flop he bets $20 which I call and the other player folds. The turn brings my heart and he checks with a comment about "never betting heads up" and I bet. He acts all surprised and hurt but calls. The river is a blank, but I check anyway and he gets all pissy about my calling with 4/7 and keeps on yapping for a while. The next day I try to shake his hand, and he won't do it. We talk for a while about it and he tells me "I just want to have fun and don't care about the money". I have seen his act for a long time and know that he will have a friendly check down if he doesn't have the nuts, but will bet to "protect his hand". Hmmmm. Later watched him betting heads up against another player.
The very next day, playing against him and a preflop raise I called with pocket 5's. Hitting a set, and with another player in the hand, I checked, he bet, the other player folded and I check raised. He then folded making a comment about "just bet your hand, man". What a joke. I should have done the slow roll spread cards slowly that he loves so much.
The very next day, playing against him and a preflop raise I called with pocket 5's. Hitting a set, and with another player in the hand, I checked, he bet, the other player folded and I check raised. He then folded making a comment about "just bet your hand, man". What a joke. I should have done the slow roll spread cards slowly that he loves so much.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Card Dead in Freeroll
Playing in the much anticipated freeroll I went totally completely card dead early and just kept coming up with 2nd best hands that cost me a lot of chips. I was soon down to only 3000 from the starting stack of 10K. My nemesis at the table was Hal. He plays only omaha and earned his seat from those hours. He plays aggressively with draws (like omaha) and they were coming in for him. Ramon had the deck run over him, particularly against me and someone else where he flopped a set of 8's and rivered quads. He ended up the tournament in #1 position with almost 100K in chips, which is 1/2 of all the chips in our flight. Ended up on the final table and with about 15K in chips this hand came up. With blinds at 1/2000, I was in the small blind with A/5 suited!!! and one limper, my friend Ron and Hal in the big blind with about 30K in chips. I went all in and Hal goes over the top with Q/10 offsuit!!!! Dumb call, but on the flop a 10 and jack hit. I hit my ace on the turn and of course the river brings the king for his broadway straight. Dumb call, dumb luck. He ends up donking his chips off to end in 8th or 9th place.
I really had miserable cards and bad flops for the most part, picking up a few pots here and there with my pushes and hitting a set of 6's once against an all in call who flopped a pair of 10's with his Q/10. When will people learn to stop calling with this garbage???
The entire tournament I had these pocket pairs: 9's (twice), 7's, 6's (twice), and 4's. Pretty bad cards I would say. Also never had AK and seldom had two face cards, winning some uncalled raises with AQ. For the most part, unplayable hands.
I really had miserable cards and bad flops for the most part, picking up a few pots here and there with my pushes and hitting a set of 6's once against an all in call who flopped a pair of 10's with his Q/10. When will people learn to stop calling with this garbage???
The entire tournament I had these pocket pairs: 9's (twice), 7's, 6's (twice), and 4's. Pretty bad cards I would say. Also never had AK and seldom had two face cards, winning some uncalled raises with AQ. For the most part, unplayable hands.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Bad Beats Abound
Let me begin by saying that the "morning Moose" is not my favorite tournament. With it's blazing fast blinds and loose players it can be a nightmare. But hey, it's only $25 and if you bust out early you get a seat in the usually bad cash game. Kind of a "lose/lose" situation. So, yesterday I was handed two of the worst beats I have enjoyed for a while. With blinds escalating and me with about double starting stack size I push all in from early position with....Q/Q and am called by a shorter stack with....A/10. O.K., I get it, he figures I am pushing with just any ace or a small pair. He has outs. So the flop comes BINGO! Queen/ little/little, no flush draws, no connection. I comment to Kevin, "Drawing dead". Nope, not when runner J and K come for the broadway straight. Nice dealing Kev.
Two hands later I am in the small blind for about 1/2 my chips with Q/8. I call to see the flop heads up with the big blind, who is pretty short stacked, but has me covered. The flop is 8 high with 2 diamonds and I immediately shove. Joe comments, "This is a really bad call". Yes, he has Q/4 with the 4 of diamonds. The turn is of course a diamond, and drum roll please, a diamond on the river. His dominated hand has found a way to win. Sick.
But every cloud must have a silver lining, so as our tables now merge for the final table with me bubbling, I get a seat in the live game. Turns out very well as I plan to play for two hours and manage to hit an 8 high straight flush for a $248 Monte Carlo jackpot. I leave up over $300. The tournament chops 1st and 2nd place for less than that. A good ending.
Two hands later I am in the small blind for about 1/2 my chips with Q/8. I call to see the flop heads up with the big blind, who is pretty short stacked, but has me covered. The flop is 8 high with 2 diamonds and I immediately shove. Joe comments, "This is a really bad call". Yes, he has Q/4 with the 4 of diamonds. The turn is of course a diamond, and drum roll please, a diamond on the river. His dominated hand has found a way to win. Sick.
But every cloud must have a silver lining, so as our tables now merge for the final table with me bubbling, I get a seat in the live game. Turns out very well as I plan to play for two hours and manage to hit an 8 high straight flush for a $248 Monte Carlo jackpot. I leave up over $300. The tournament chops 1st and 2nd place for less than that. A good ending.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Chop Chop
A good night at the Legion last night. 4 tables and decent prize pool. Fortunately, got there late and was not asked to deal. Played well and on the final table got some great cards (AA twice, KK twice). Almost got knocked out with kings when my all in was called by Q/10 offsuit. The flop was 6/7/9 and despite my pleas, the turn brought the 8. Just when all was lost, the 10 hit on the river for a chop pot playing the board. Whew!
I took the caller out with my all in with pocket 10's and his call with KJ suited. I had just had a conversation with the most excellent player next to me about how "I always lose to KJ or lose with it" when that hand came up minutes later.
We got down to 4 players, I had 2nd or third in chips....the chip leader was once the short stack with only $800 at the 800/1600 blind level and he just kept going all in and winning. I had taken all but those chips when he called my all in with my KK. Lucky him. We gave him $300 and split the rest 3 ways for $286 each. Minus $20 dealer tip and $40 buy in, my net was $226.
I took the caller out with my all in with pocket 10's and his call with KJ suited. I had just had a conversation with the most excellent player next to me about how "I always lose to KJ or lose with it" when that hand came up minutes later.
We got down to 4 players, I had 2nd or third in chips....the chip leader was once the short stack with only $800 at the 800/1600 blind level and he just kept going all in and winning. I had taken all but those chips when he called my all in with my KK. Lucky him. We gave him $300 and split the rest 3 ways for $286 each. Minus $20 dealer tip and $40 buy in, my net was $226.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Poker Etiquette
A discussion came up today at the table regarding poker etiquette after a player "slow rolled" in a manner of speaking. In a monster pot, he announced that he "had nothing", when in fact he had flopped a set of jacks, which were the winning hand despite a very coordinated board and flush possibilities. Another player became quite angry. This brings up the subject of good poker etiquette. Some things that come to mind are:
1. Slow rolling. This can range from turning over one card, then delaying turning the other. One player in particular likes to slowly spread his cards when he has a winner. In general, i believe that you should quickly turn over what you believe to be the winning hand whether you be the bettor or the caller.
2. Folding hands out of order. This is a pet peeve of mine.
3. Mucking cards in early position, particularly the blinds, when the flop comes ugly for your hand. This relieves the pressure of a possible checkraise and is unfair to the other players.
4. Berating players for their choice of starting cards. Don't tap on the aquarium, it disturbs the fish.
5. Overtipping the dealers. This is just stupid, not manners. I have seen people give a dealer $10 out of a $100 pot and half the money is theirs.
6. Visibly reacting when two of kind appear on the flop. This clues the player with the one remaining one that his opponent(s) don't have it. Really bad when 3 of a kind hit.
7. Showing one card after opponent folds. Especially the non critical one (showing a 2 of hearts when there is a 4 card flush/straight where the 2 doesn't help). This is just annoying.
What are your peeves?
1. Slow rolling. This can range from turning over one card, then delaying turning the other. One player in particular likes to slowly spread his cards when he has a winner. In general, i believe that you should quickly turn over what you believe to be the winning hand whether you be the bettor or the caller.
2. Folding hands out of order. This is a pet peeve of mine.
3. Mucking cards in early position, particularly the blinds, when the flop comes ugly for your hand. This relieves the pressure of a possible checkraise and is unfair to the other players.
4. Berating players for their choice of starting cards. Don't tap on the aquarium, it disturbs the fish.
5. Overtipping the dealers. This is just stupid, not manners. I have seen people give a dealer $10 out of a $100 pot and half the money is theirs.
6. Visibly reacting when two of kind appear on the flop. This clues the player with the one remaining one that his opponent(s) don't have it. Really bad when 3 of a kind hit.
7. Showing one card after opponent folds. Especially the non critical one (showing a 2 of hearts when there is a 4 card flush/straight where the 2 doesn't help). This is just annoying.
What are your peeves?
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