It never ceases to amaze me how people can put a significant portion of their chips in on a draw. Last night at the Legion we had just consolidated down to 2 tables (small turnout, only 24 to start). I pick up K/Q offsuit under the gun. I limp with a $120 call and about $1400 behind. There is one caller and the small blind completes and the big blind checks. The flop is king high with two hearts. When the small and big blind check, I bet $300 into the $480 pot with the limper calling and the others folding. A jack on the turn hits, and I go all-in for $1125, the pot is now $1080 plus my $1125 for a total of $2205. With some dumb remark about "probably shouldn't call" one of the worst players indeed calls with his A/3 of hearts and approximate pot odds of 2/1. Of course, the heart hits the river and I am gone.
I did some analysis using the poker hand calculator on my Droid and discovered:
Preflop I was 47.5% to 45% to win (not counting other players...just heads up against A/3
Turn I was 62.3% to 26.3% to win.
His 2/1 call was not horrible, since he had me covered, don't recall how many chips he had. My mistakes were: 1. I think the big blind was going to bet on the flop, but I acted too soon with my $300 (I thought it was check/check to me). If he bets first here, I would have come over the top all in and probably forced the flush draw to fold since he had the first bettor to worry about too.
2. I think an all in bet on the flop would have been the superior play, since I am down to 10 big blinds and probably in to the river irregardless of any action.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Omaha Problem
I went to bed mulling over this particular hand. In a 1/2 pot limit game with small stack of around 15 big blinds when I drew QQxx (don't recall other cards, but no low draw, so probably big cards to go with). The flop was Q/4/5 and when one of the other limpers bet 4, I came over the top all in for 24 more. Everyone else folded and he showed the 2/3xx for the open ended straight draw plus 2nd nut low draw. The straight hit with a 6, the board failed to pair, and I was "felted". My question is: Was I right to push with the existing nuts and no back up plan? I am thinking now that I could have flat called and if a small card or 6 failed to hit, then push with only the river to worry about, or just fold knowing I am playing for 1/2 the pot. I have lost in the past when drawing to these types of hands while the made hand punishes me all the way. Also, I was able to isolate the one drawing hand with my play. It did not work out for me that time but not sure how I will play it next time.
This is a common theme in hold em as well. Do you go for "pot control", or give the drawing hands insufficient odds to call. It seems to me that it is highly dependent on the players involved. There are many who will call with any draw for any amount. Including gutshots, bottom pairs, low end straight draws, and weak flushes. The question is, do you let them draw cheap, thus reducing your losses when they hit, or make them pay dearly for the lack of mathematical skills. If I am playing against thinking players who can lay down a draw for the wrong price it is one thing. If playing against the gambling type, I am thinking pot control might be better. If I am playing against the gambling type who really likes to gamble (thinking some who like to jam with draws), it is another thing. With the spread game I am thinking pot control since raises just improves the odds for the draws. In no limit, or tournaments definitely think the big raise is called for.
As a p.s., I ended up short buying twice more, but ended the session up winning one short buy (40) over my 3 buy ins. The website is telling me I can no longer play for cash, but still lets me. There will be issues if I ever need to cash out, just hoping the legalities get worked out before then.
This is a common theme in hold em as well. Do you go for "pot control", or give the drawing hands insufficient odds to call. It seems to me that it is highly dependent on the players involved. There are many who will call with any draw for any amount. Including gutshots, bottom pairs, low end straight draws, and weak flushes. The question is, do you let them draw cheap, thus reducing your losses when they hit, or make them pay dearly for the lack of mathematical skills. If I am playing against thinking players who can lay down a draw for the wrong price it is one thing. If playing against the gambling type, I am thinking pot control might be better. If I am playing against the gambling type who really likes to gamble (thinking some who like to jam with draws), it is another thing. With the spread game I am thinking pot control since raises just improves the odds for the draws. In no limit, or tournaments definitely think the big raise is called for.
As a p.s., I ended up short buying twice more, but ended the session up winning one short buy (40) over my 3 buy ins. The website is telling me I can no longer play for cash, but still lets me. There will be issues if I ever need to cash out, just hoping the legalities get worked out before then.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Well, if you're going to get beat......
This was an interesting hand. I flopped the set of 10's, with the other guy flopping the nut flush draw. The turn he hits the royal flush, and I fill up on the river (underfull). The betting did not get too crazy, but a lot of chips went in on the river.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Final Report Las Vegas
Back from Sin City with most of the money I left with. No more luck in tournaments, and frankly some pretty weak play. My final tournament at Aria was very bad. I was two to the left of a local gal who was aggressive and really catching some cards. With about average chip stack of 17,000 I was in o.k. shape when she raised (again) from the button. I had K/10 suited, and decided to call. The flop was awesome for my hand K/J/9, giving me top pair and the gutshot straight draw. I check raised her continuation bet, and she called me. When the turn failed to improve me, I bet and she reraise enough to put me all in. I decided to fold rather than take a stand with at least 8,000 in chips remaining. Moving to another table I tried to play very tight with a couple of the big stacks working every hand. Finding K/5 suited in the small blind with folds around to me, and the big blind shorter than me, I raised, and he reraised all in. Deciding that I may have live cards and/or suite, I called to see a suited AQ. Now short stacked at the table I pushed all in a couple of times and got back to around 7,000.
My last hand, the player to my right raised fairly big and decided to gamble with A/10 suited on an all-in reraise. He called with AA and I was done. In retrospect, the reraise from the BB could have been a fold for me, and the shove over the raise was exceptionally dumb.
Playing later in the 1/3 NL I crushed the table early on, flopping a set of 9's against a flush draw, getting all in and winning 150. Later hit a full house on the river for another big win, and was up about 250. After going a little card dead and missing every small pair, I lost a good chunk against the button when I was BB. He was an aggressive young player who raised nearly every hand and when I found AK played back hard at him. His 10 raise was met with a 40 reraise, which he called after enquiring about how many chips I had. The flop had 9/J/J and I checked out of position, he checked back. The turn was a brick, and we both checked. The river also a brick, and I checked, he bet 20, and I called figuring a bluff here from him was in order. He had paired his 9's and took down the 120 pot. I quit shortly after that.
All in all a good trip, almost a break even with miscellaneous expenses like buffets, cabs, tips, etc. My friend Bob did better than I in the tournaments, making several final tables, but bubbled on all of them. His worst one was KK getting beaten by 5/6 suited with a pair on the flop and trips on the river. We saw the Elvis show by Cirque de Soleil, it was excellent. More pros spotted in the Ivey room: Doyle & Todd Brunson, Shawn Sheikan, and others.
Here is an interesting hand from Full Tilt's Rush poker....more on that later. Found myself against not one but two sets. Note that I won the hand, and a king of clubs on the river would have given me the Royal flush!!!
My last hand, the player to my right raised fairly big and decided to gamble with A/10 suited on an all-in reraise. He called with AA and I was done. In retrospect, the reraise from the BB could have been a fold for me, and the shove over the raise was exceptionally dumb.
Playing later in the 1/3 NL I crushed the table early on, flopping a set of 9's against a flush draw, getting all in and winning 150. Later hit a full house on the river for another big win, and was up about 250. After going a little card dead and missing every small pair, I lost a good chunk against the button when I was BB. He was an aggressive young player who raised nearly every hand and when I found AK played back hard at him. His 10 raise was met with a 40 reraise, which he called after enquiring about how many chips I had. The flop had 9/J/J and I checked out of position, he checked back. The turn was a brick, and we both checked. The river also a brick, and I checked, he bet 20, and I called figuring a bluff here from him was in order. He had paired his 9's and took down the 120 pot. I quit shortly after that.
All in all a good trip, almost a break even with miscellaneous expenses like buffets, cabs, tips, etc. My friend Bob did better than I in the tournaments, making several final tables, but bubbled on all of them. His worst one was KK getting beaten by 5/6 suited with a pair on the flop and trips on the river. We saw the Elvis show by Cirque de Soleil, it was excellent. More pros spotted in the Ivey room: Doyle & Todd Brunson, Shawn Sheikan, and others.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Vegas Day One & Two
The first day in Vegas started out well for me. Played in a 1/3 no limit game and won $270 in an hour. Took a dinner break, my treat, and returned for the 7:00 $125.00 tournament. Played fairly well, but ended up going out 23rd out of 63 players (or buyins, since it was a multiple entry) when my all in pocket queens ran into pocket kings in the big blind. Played some blackjack switch, $15 min. bet, and made a quick $200. Successful day one. The Aria is beautiful, but very spendy. Had a $4.50 Americano this morning with a $4.00 pastry. Cheaper to sit at the tables and tip 1.00 for table service on drinks.
Day two started well for me. Woke up super early and ended up walking around. Ended up in Excalibur's card room playing some blackjack (Down $35.) when they announced morning poker tournament. It was a very fast format, $35. for 3000 chips, with 15 min. blinds, and starting at 50/100. I got lucky early and ended up chopping 4 ways for a $222. gross win.
Returned to Aria in time for 1:00 tournament which was not good for me. I was tournament chip leader early, doubled up to over 16,000 in chips when I raised preflop with 9/9. Flop was a dream, A/K/9, and lots of calls on my continuation bet. The turn was meaningless, but decided to show weakness by checking. River also a blank, no possible flushes or straights. Another player bet into me, I raised, he went all in and I naturally called, expecting AK or other two pair. Nope. Pocket kings! new chip leader in town. Ironically he later doubled up again with pocket 9's when he was way behind and got runner runner quad 9's. Pocket 9's were my last hand, short stack, all in and called by AQ, ace on turn. Still up for the day but lots more poker to play tonight.
Almost forgot, Aria has the "Ivey Room" for the high rollers. Watched Johnny Chan stroll in yesterday to join John Paul Belmonde, Billy Baxter, and later Barry Greenstein plus another pro who I recognized from TV but can't recall his name.
Day two started well for me. Woke up super early and ended up walking around. Ended up in Excalibur's card room playing some blackjack (Down $35.) when they announced morning poker tournament. It was a very fast format, $35. for 3000 chips, with 15 min. blinds, and starting at 50/100. I got lucky early and ended up chopping 4 ways for a $222. gross win.
Returned to Aria in time for 1:00 tournament which was not good for me. I was tournament chip leader early, doubled up to over 16,000 in chips when I raised preflop with 9/9. Flop was a dream, A/K/9, and lots of calls on my continuation bet. The turn was meaningless, but decided to show weakness by checking. River also a blank, no possible flushes or straights. Another player bet into me, I raised, he went all in and I naturally called, expecting AK or other two pair. Nope. Pocket kings! new chip leader in town. Ironically he later doubled up again with pocket 9's when he was way behind and got runner runner quad 9's. Pocket 9's were my last hand, short stack, all in and called by AQ, ace on turn. Still up for the day but lots more poker to play tonight.
Almost forgot, Aria has the "Ivey Room" for the high rollers. Watched Johnny Chan stroll in yesterday to join John Paul Belmonde, Billy Baxter, and later Barry Greenstein plus another pro who I recognized from TV but can't recall his name.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Playing Well at Legion
The Friday tournament started out very good for me. I raised 4 limpers from the button with AQ suited and fired a continuation bet on the flop of J/J/3 and everyone folded. It is very good to win the first hand dealt in a tournament as you are now immune to getting knocked out for a few hands. It can really open your game up. I did play tight however, entering only a few hands and then only with a raise. During the night I only lost a couple of hands that I voluntarily entered, and only 2 that I had raised preflop, folding to all in reraises where I was behind (they showed their pocket pairs, both 10/10). All in all I was very satisfied with my play, not getting out of line, playing fairly aggressively and making good decisions.
On the final table we were down to 4 players, two with big stacks and John and I with 8,000 each. John pushed all-in with A/10 suited and I insta-called with my AK offsuit. Bad news however as one of the two big stacks, Nick, called with KK. John & I were drawing very thin, but he picked up the 4 flush on the turn for lots more outs. The river was a brick and John & I chopped 3rd & 4th place for $149.00 each. I was fairly happy with the outcome, but would have meant another $30 for me if John & I had been heads up. The heart of the game is just getting it in with the best hands as Mike and I talked about before the tournament. You also have to get lucky at critical times like when I raised from the button with A/9 and ran into 9/9, but got 4 hearts on board and lucky enough to have the 9 of hearts.
Leaving Monday morning for Las Vegas until Thursday. One quick funny story about it. I stopped by the bank, located in the Seaside Safeway to get some cash for the trip yesterday. My wife came in to buy something and there was a long line for the tellers. She finished and came up to me just as the teller was working on my withdraw. I had a couple of fairly large checks to deposit and asked to just cash them plus another $800 from checking. She saw the withdrawl slip and was mildly shocked that I was getting that much (the $800). Her "walkaround money" would not buy you into a 2/4 game. When the teller said, "I have to get more $100's" she said, "How much are you getting?". I said, "You should just leave and browse around". She insisted on staying and was amazed to see the teller counting out $2500. I had to explain to her about the buy in's for tournaments ($120), the minimum buy ins for cash games, $100-400, and the fact that this was "only" $600 per day. Also, I have been fairly good at coming home with at least as much as I went to Vegas with, or only taking a small hit. Also, there is no way you want to visit a cash machine in Vegas as they take up to 10% on debit or visa transactions. LOL.
Last comment. It really sucks that the major poker websites have been charged with money laundering, bank fraud, etc. Not sure if I can get my money back on the two sites I play on. The games are still live however, played this morning and won, doubling up my buy in.
On the final table we were down to 4 players, two with big stacks and John and I with 8,000 each. John pushed all-in with A/10 suited and I insta-called with my AK offsuit. Bad news however as one of the two big stacks, Nick, called with KK. John & I were drawing very thin, but he picked up the 4 flush on the turn for lots more outs. The river was a brick and John & I chopped 3rd & 4th place for $149.00 each. I was fairly happy with the outcome, but would have meant another $30 for me if John & I had been heads up. The heart of the game is just getting it in with the best hands as Mike and I talked about before the tournament. You also have to get lucky at critical times like when I raised from the button with A/9 and ran into 9/9, but got 4 hearts on board and lucky enough to have the 9 of hearts.
Leaving Monday morning for Las Vegas until Thursday. One quick funny story about it. I stopped by the bank, located in the Seaside Safeway to get some cash for the trip yesterday. My wife came in to buy something and there was a long line for the tellers. She finished and came up to me just as the teller was working on my withdraw. I had a couple of fairly large checks to deposit and asked to just cash them plus another $800 from checking. She saw the withdrawl slip and was mildly shocked that I was getting that much (the $800). Her "walkaround money" would not buy you into a 2/4 game. When the teller said, "I have to get more $100's" she said, "How much are you getting?". I said, "You should just leave and browse around". She insisted on staying and was amazed to see the teller counting out $2500. I had to explain to her about the buy in's for tournaments ($120), the minimum buy ins for cash games, $100-400, and the fact that this was "only" $600 per day. Also, I have been fairly good at coming home with at least as much as I went to Vegas with, or only taking a small hit. Also, there is no way you want to visit a cash machine in Vegas as they take up to 10% on debit or visa transactions. LOL.
Last comment. It really sucks that the major poker websites have been charged with money laundering, bank fraud, etc. Not sure if I can get my money back on the two sites I play on. The games are still live however, played this morning and won, doubling up my buy in.
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