I played some low stakes cash earlier in the year, one of my students was playing cash and I wanted to improve my game for coaching. I also wanted to show how your approach to poker can make all the difference: Here's is the link for reference
Monday, 16 December 2013
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Using Flopzilla Tutorial: Hand Analysis
This post has been moved to http://24caliber.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/flopzilla-tutorial.html
Thanks :)
Thanks :)
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Link to "Ask the Pro" interview
In case anyone is interested in questions made by tiltbook users:)
http://tiltbook.com/AskThePRO/24Caliber/
http://tiltbook.com/AskThePRO/24Caliber/
Friday, 31 May 2013
4 Betting Calculations
I made a spreadsheet for this...makes life a lot easier: However here is a breakdown of how to figure out spots to 4 bet with my response to a 2+2 MTT thread:
//
Earlier this month on Day 2 of the WPT Montreal Main Event $3300, start with 30K ran my stack up to 90K to end Day 1. Christian Harder, Ebony Kenney, Michael Linster and a few other good player on my table. The player im playing against is Michael Linster who has been playing pretty aggressive and just doubled up a couple orbits ago by shoving 30bb on the turn with a straight draw flush draw getting looked up and getting there. Second level of the day blinds 800/1600 and im now down to 54K after getting coolered and losing a couple small pots, and its folded around to me in the SB and I get dealt ATos. I open to 3900 and Michael Linster 3bets me in the BB to 10,250. Best move for hero sitting on ~33bb???
//
You could run some numbers in excel in adjacent with pokerstove to see how profitable it is, here is the 3 scenarios;
3 bet folds
3 bet calls (and you win)
3 bet calls (and you lose)
E.g. with 16% 3 bet range and 8% calling range then:
[B]3 bet folds [/B]
3 bets 16% but only calls 8%..so 8/16 = 50% of the time he folds
When he folds you make 15000 (I've rounded the numbers to make it simpler and I do not know the ante's so I estimated 1k..so it is your 4000 raise + his 10000 3 bet + antes 1k)
50% of 15000 = [B]7500[/B]
Then 100-50 = 50% of the times he calls:
[B]3 bet calls (and you win)[/B]
AT has 33.81% equity vs 8% of hands...so 33.81% of the time you win the lot: 55000 (antes 1000 + your raise 4000 + his 3 bet 10000 + his call 40000)
Hence 50% of time he calls and you win 33.81% of the time
55000 * (50% of 33.81%) = [B]9295[/B]
[B]3 bet calls (and you lose) [/B]
AT has 33.81% equity vs 8% of hands...so 66.19% of the time you lose the lot : -50000 (the 4k you already put it is dead)
Hence 50% of time he calls and you lose 66.19% of the time
-50000 * (50% of 66.19%) = [B]-16550[/B]
7500 + 9295 - 16550 = 245 chips...basically break even.
Worth tweaking some of the numbers (e.g. your SB opening size and his 3 bet size or his 3 bet range or your holding) to see how that impacts the results - for instance 22 has about 4% better equity than ATo vs a 8% calling range and if you change his 3 bet to 20% then it becomes + 3196 chips.
This spot specifically I'd probably open bigger then jam over his 3 bet ;)
Update - just use ICMIZER in the future (lol)
//
Earlier this month on Day 2 of the WPT Montreal Main Event $3300, start with 30K ran my stack up to 90K to end Day 1. Christian Harder, Ebony Kenney, Michael Linster and a few other good player on my table. The player im playing against is Michael Linster who has been playing pretty aggressive and just doubled up a couple orbits ago by shoving 30bb on the turn with a straight draw flush draw getting looked up and getting there. Second level of the day blinds 800/1600 and im now down to 54K after getting coolered and losing a couple small pots, and its folded around to me in the SB and I get dealt ATos. I open to 3900 and Michael Linster 3bets me in the BB to 10,250. Best move for hero sitting on ~33bb???
//
You could run some numbers in excel in adjacent with pokerstove to see how profitable it is, here is the 3 scenarios;
3 bet folds
3 bet calls (and you win)
3 bet calls (and you lose)
E.g. with 16% 3 bet range and 8% calling range then:
[B]3 bet folds [/B]
3 bets 16% but only calls 8%..so 8/16 = 50% of the time he folds
When he folds you make 15000 (I've rounded the numbers to make it simpler and I do not know the ante's so I estimated 1k..so it is your 4000 raise + his 10000 3 bet + antes 1k)
50% of 15000 = [B]7500[/B]
Then 100-50 = 50% of the times he calls:
[B]3 bet calls (and you win)[/B]
AT has 33.81% equity vs 8% of hands...so 33.81% of the time you win the lot: 55000 (antes 1000 + your raise 4000 + his 3 bet 10000 + his call 40000)
Hence 50% of time he calls and you win 33.81% of the time
55000 * (50% of 33.81%) = [B]9295[/B]
[B]3 bet calls (and you lose) [/B]
AT has 33.81% equity vs 8% of hands...so 66.19% of the time you lose the lot : -50000 (the 4k you already put it is dead)
Hence 50% of time he calls and you lose 66.19% of the time
-50000 * (50% of 66.19%) = [B]-16550[/B]
7500 + 9295 - 16550 = 245 chips...basically break even.
Worth tweaking some of the numbers (e.g. your SB opening size and his 3 bet size or his 3 bet range or your holding) to see how that impacts the results - for instance 22 has about 4% better equity than ATo vs a 8% calling range and if you change his 3 bet to 20% then it becomes + 3196 chips.
This spot specifically I'd probably open bigger then jam over his 3 bet ;)
Update - just use ICMIZER in the future (lol)
A poker hand through my eyes (wrote this a few years ago)
Often when I am playing my coach will observe and provide advice, especially when late in a tournament. There are lots of free software programmes available online to aid this, such as Mikogo, which allows a user to observe another users desktop in real time, and Skype which allows for audio communication.
---
So we're 4.5 hours in; 25e rebuy online, around 300 players started and only 7 remain. It's a shorthanded tournament, maximum players per table: 6 - we're on the final table bubble and everyone's play has adjusted to reflect the situation. Some players are more passive on bubbles due to fear of not cashing, other players are more aggresive to take advantage of the threat of bubbling and build a stack capable of winning the tournament.
For me I like to review each bubble as a individual scenario, and determine whether I am playing to just cash or for a top spot. Then, adjust my playing style accordingly - this could depend on many factors; the payout structure, my stack size, the cash size of the bubble. In this game? everything aligns, first place only.
The final table payouts increase with every spot and as with most poker payout structures, it is heavily weighted towards the top; just over 2.6k euros for first place, followed by 1.6k for second, 1k third, 650 fourth, 400 fifth, and a pitiful 250 euros for 6th - we currently have from our original 75e investment (1 rebuy 1 add on, standard), 190e guaranteed for a top 7 place but as always, we aspire for more.
Our position is 3rd out of 7, we have circa. 80k chips and the big blind is 1600 with running antes of 200. We recently moved table as 8th and 9th position dropped, and are now 3 handed. On our table is the chip leader with just over 120k chips and 5th position with around 40k chips. Noone in the competition is short and the standard is high; 7th place on the other table has over 20 big blinds...this means it will most likely be a long and gruelling final table bubble.
We pick up KJ offsuit on the button and open with a standard raise of around 2.5x the big blind to 4000. 3 handed, KJ on the button is off considerable strength. The small blind folds, and the big stack in the big blind re-raises to 11000.
Not for 1 minute do we believe this raise and we aint green. We've recently joined the table so don't have much information on the player but our gut says he is raising because he wants control of the table...if we fold here, our first button raise since joining the table, we'll be percieved as weak and will have an uphill battle being constantly re-raised until the final table bubble passes, by which time our stack may be short and it will be a struggle to take the 1st position finish. We haven't got time to wait for premium cards, not 3 handed.
Best to make a stand now, while we have enough chips to do so and prior to him having solid information on the style we play. Best to die trying than bimble into an average finish, one 1st place equates to finishing 7th seventeen times (2600/150) and we get late enough in tournaments to know that the top spots are worth risking it all for. We flat call to take advantage of position - second to act postflop, this might prove beneficial later.
The flop brings K92 with 2 clubs. The pot is around 26k and the big stack instantly raises to 13k, leaving around 95k behind....not convinced that he has a many made holdings in his range.
Lets re-raise, just over 30k, leaves us around 40k behind - We have the best hand a good enough percentage of the time, not the place for slow playing. Lets take the pot now. Our re-raise also achieves another, and just as vital goal; We will be percieved as the table bully. While we are 3 handed it will be us that steals blinds and small pots, it will be us that pressures the bubble and tops up my stack ready for a glorious final table victory!!
He is obviously blinded with ambition similiar to our own and instantly shoves all in for another 60k which covers our stack, threatening the final table bubble.
Best click the timebank. Time to think.
The pot is twice the size of any other player in the tournament and we're on the final table bubble. This pot will define the tournament, and the victor standing tall above all others on the final table.
Just think what we could buy with 2.7k, 54 premium noshes...Got to stay focused, back to the hand.
We realise that not much time has been invested into considering our opponents possible holdings as we've been too engrossed in the situation, he doesn't have AA or AK or KK that's pretty certain - but what else could he have? K92...999 or 222 maybe? AQ AJ AT KQ KJ QQ JJ TT?? none feel right. Reading opponents holdings is usually one of our strongest areas in the pokerworld, here we are at aloss.
"Nudge" sent to mentor on msn, he's watching the game via his own poker software but has not been paying much attention as he is probably in 4 or 5 games himself....A quick summary of the hand sent hastely to him over msn including details of the preflop and postflop action. We explain;
"I think he is weak here, but I can't figure out what he might have...."
After a moments silence and a short analysis of the situation, he replies "TJcc", which, in normal tongue, translates to; Ten Jack of Clubs.
Genius! and deduced within a moment of process, we are in awe.
This makes perfect sense, TJcc is an ideal hand to re-raise preflop with and a perfect hand to bet out and re-shove post flop. He is drawing of course! Queen gives him a straight and any club a flush, the reason he is shoving is to provide additional equity to his hand (the chance of us folding).
After a moments glisten, we sigh with realisation. These situations occur so often and end in the same manner; a great call rewarded with nothing but bitterness brought by the persistently cunning and deviant poker gods - call here and we are just over 50% favourite to win. This pot will define the game. A 50/50 coin flip worth probably 2500 euros.
The pot odds are too good to fold now, we have commited too many chips to fold, we are convinced of his holding!
A rush of excitement fills our senses and our eyes widen, "call"...click
The poker programme reveals his cards in preparation for the showdown - TJcc as depicted.
52.5% plays 46.5% with a 1% margin for tie (QT)
The turn card is a low club
The river card...meaningless
We lose to his flush.
Once again foiled when so close to glory
As always, Forever bitter. A breathe exits in sigh and a moments taken for realisation as the table closes.
Halfway through the moment...."beep beep beep", refocused we scan the displays and the other games flash as to beg for attention. While pondering actions on each, we concurrently flicker a moments notice to the second display where two black aces stare back at us in the 50 freeze.
AA, mid position, aggressive table with short stacks on edge to the left and last 15 with 20 big blinds? Showtime.
KJ already long forgotten - lets just win one of these bad boys
I love plans
---
So we're 4.5 hours in; 25e rebuy online, around 300 players started and only 7 remain. It's a shorthanded tournament, maximum players per table: 6 - we're on the final table bubble and everyone's play has adjusted to reflect the situation. Some players are more passive on bubbles due to fear of not cashing, other players are more aggresive to take advantage of the threat of bubbling and build a stack capable of winning the tournament.
For me I like to review each bubble as a individual scenario, and determine whether I am playing to just cash or for a top spot. Then, adjust my playing style accordingly - this could depend on many factors; the payout structure, my stack size, the cash size of the bubble. In this game? everything aligns, first place only.
The final table payouts increase with every spot and as with most poker payout structures, it is heavily weighted towards the top; just over 2.6k euros for first place, followed by 1.6k for second, 1k third, 650 fourth, 400 fifth, and a pitiful 250 euros for 6th - we currently have from our original 75e investment (1 rebuy 1 add on, standard), 190e guaranteed for a top 7 place but as always, we aspire for more.
Our position is 3rd out of 7, we have circa. 80k chips and the big blind is 1600 with running antes of 200. We recently moved table as 8th and 9th position dropped, and are now 3 handed. On our table is the chip leader with just over 120k chips and 5th position with around 40k chips. Noone in the competition is short and the standard is high; 7th place on the other table has over 20 big blinds...this means it will most likely be a long and gruelling final table bubble.
We pick up KJ offsuit on the button and open with a standard raise of around 2.5x the big blind to 4000. 3 handed, KJ on the button is off considerable strength. The small blind folds, and the big stack in the big blind re-raises to 11000.
Not for 1 minute do we believe this raise and we aint green. We've recently joined the table so don't have much information on the player but our gut says he is raising because he wants control of the table...if we fold here, our first button raise since joining the table, we'll be percieved as weak and will have an uphill battle being constantly re-raised until the final table bubble passes, by which time our stack may be short and it will be a struggle to take the 1st position finish. We haven't got time to wait for premium cards, not 3 handed.
Best to make a stand now, while we have enough chips to do so and prior to him having solid information on the style we play. Best to die trying than bimble into an average finish, one 1st place equates to finishing 7th seventeen times (2600/150) and we get late enough in tournaments to know that the top spots are worth risking it all for. We flat call to take advantage of position - second to act postflop, this might prove beneficial later.
The flop brings K92 with 2 clubs. The pot is around 26k and the big stack instantly raises to 13k, leaving around 95k behind....not convinced that he has a many made holdings in his range.
Lets re-raise, just over 30k, leaves us around 40k behind - We have the best hand a good enough percentage of the time, not the place for slow playing. Lets take the pot now. Our re-raise also achieves another, and just as vital goal; We will be percieved as the table bully. While we are 3 handed it will be us that steals blinds and small pots, it will be us that pressures the bubble and tops up my stack ready for a glorious final table victory!!
He is obviously blinded with ambition similiar to our own and instantly shoves all in for another 60k which covers our stack, threatening the final table bubble.
Best click the timebank. Time to think.
The pot is twice the size of any other player in the tournament and we're on the final table bubble. This pot will define the tournament, and the victor standing tall above all others on the final table.
Just think what we could buy with 2.7k, 54 premium noshes...Got to stay focused, back to the hand.
We realise that not much time has been invested into considering our opponents possible holdings as we've been too engrossed in the situation, he doesn't have AA or AK or KK that's pretty certain - but what else could he have? K92...999 or 222 maybe? AQ AJ AT KQ KJ QQ JJ TT?? none feel right. Reading opponents holdings is usually one of our strongest areas in the pokerworld, here we are at aloss.
"Nudge" sent to mentor on msn, he's watching the game via his own poker software but has not been paying much attention as he is probably in 4 or 5 games himself....A quick summary of the hand sent hastely to him over msn including details of the preflop and postflop action. We explain;
"I think he is weak here, but I can't figure out what he might have...."
After a moments silence and a short analysis of the situation, he replies "TJcc", which, in normal tongue, translates to; Ten Jack of Clubs.
Genius! and deduced within a moment of process, we are in awe.
This makes perfect sense, TJcc is an ideal hand to re-raise preflop with and a perfect hand to bet out and re-shove post flop. He is drawing of course! Queen gives him a straight and any club a flush, the reason he is shoving is to provide additional equity to his hand (the chance of us folding).
After a moments glisten, we sigh with realisation. These situations occur so often and end in the same manner; a great call rewarded with nothing but bitterness brought by the persistently cunning and deviant poker gods - call here and we are just over 50% favourite to win. This pot will define the game. A 50/50 coin flip worth probably 2500 euros.
The pot odds are too good to fold now, we have commited too many chips to fold, we are convinced of his holding!
A rush of excitement fills our senses and our eyes widen, "call"...click
The poker programme reveals his cards in preparation for the showdown - TJcc as depicted.
52.5% plays 46.5% with a 1% margin for tie (QT)
The turn card is a low club
The river card...meaningless
We lose to his flush.
Once again foiled when so close to glory
As always, Forever bitter. A breathe exits in sigh and a moments taken for realisation as the table closes.
Halfway through the moment...."beep beep beep", refocused we scan the displays and the other games flash as to beg for attention. While pondering actions on each, we concurrently flicker a moments notice to the second display where two black aces stare back at us in the 50 freeze.
AA, mid position, aggressive table with short stacks on edge to the left and last 15 with 20 big blinds? Showtime.
KJ already long forgotten - lets just win one of these bad boys
I love plans
Two interesting hands deep in $200 CC Ongame:
I was railing my friend play a few Sundays ago Matt Adams...he's FT 2 GSOPS this year included one deal then win for 40k+ euros.
In this game he had 2 very interesting spots ITM of the CC, well worth a read - what do you think, calls or folds ?:)
The first hand he was sitting about 18/40 and the second 6/17, the villains are all solid TAG reg's.
***** History for hand T5-320947370-395 (TOURNAMENT: "ChampionChip $100,000", R-345-205, buy-in: $200) *****
Start hand: Mon May 13 00:39:38 BST 2013
Table: Table #42 [320947370] (NO_LIMIT TEXAS_HOLDEM 2000/4000, ante: 400, Chips)
User: hero
Button: seat 5
Players in round: 8 (10)
Seat 1: _BoskoRock_ (150310)
Seat 2: KojG9 (138669)
Seat 4: KsenzovsLV (71691)
Seat 5: SBGstyle (110532)
Seat 6: p0ket00 (147353)
Seat 7: hero(118200)
Seat 8: 59Sound (66558)
Seat 10: inarcadia (72850)
p0ket00 posts ante 400
hero posts ante 400
59Sound posts ante 400
inarcadia posts ante 400
_BoskoRock_ posts ante 400
KojG9 posts ante 400
KsenzovsLV posts ante 400
SBGstyle posts ante 400
p0ket00 posts small blind (2000)
hero posts big blind (4000)
---
Dealing pocket cards
Dealing to hero: [Ks, As]
59Sound folds
inarcadia folds
_BoskoRock_ folds
KojG9 raises 8000 to 8000
KsenzovsLV raises 71291 to 71291 [all in]
SBGstyle folds
p0ket00 raises 144953 to 146953 [all in]
Hero?
***** History for hand T5-320947356-425 (TOURNAMENT: "ChampionChip $100,000", R-345-205, buy-in: $200) *****
Start hand: Mon May 13 02:05:05 BST 2013
Table: Table #28 [320947356] (NO_LIMIT TEXAS_HOLDEM 4000/8000, ante: 800, Chips)
User: hero
Button: seat 6
Players in round: 8 (10)
Seat 1: EpicHor (404160)
Seat 2: MustCallNow (51624)
Seat 3: Bifta100 (46480)
Seat 4: 59Sound (295841)
Seat 5: hero (203272)
Seat 6: BabyGates (140839)
Seat 9: Butcher1981_ (159916)
Seat 10: Sizzlinbett (356844)
Butcher1981_ posts ante 800
Sizzlinbett posts ante 800
EpicHor posts ante 800
MustCallNow posts ante 800
Bifta100 posts ante 800
59Sound posts ante 800
hero posts ante 800
BabyGates posts ante 800
Butcher1981_ posts small blind (4000)
Sizzlinbett posts big blind (8000)
---
Dealing pocket cards
Dealing to hero: [Qh, Qs]
EpicHor raises 16000 to 16000
MustCallNow folds
Bifta100 folds
59Sound folds
hero raises 34860 to 34860
BabyGates raises 140039 to 140039 [all in]
Butcher1981_ folds
Sizzlinbett folds
EpicHor raises 387360 to 403360 [all in]
Hero?
In this game he had 2 very interesting spots ITM of the CC, well worth a read - what do you think, calls or folds ?:)
The first hand he was sitting about 18/40 and the second 6/17, the villains are all solid TAG reg's.
***** History for hand T5-320947370-395 (TOURNAMENT: "ChampionChip $100,000", R-345-205, buy-in: $200) *****
Start hand: Mon May 13 00:39:38 BST 2013
Table: Table #42 [320947370] (NO_LIMIT TEXAS_HOLDEM 2000/4000, ante: 400, Chips)
User: hero
Button: seat 5
Players in round: 8 (10)
Seat 1: _BoskoRock_ (150310)
Seat 2: KojG9 (138669)
Seat 4: KsenzovsLV (71691)
Seat 5: SBGstyle (110532)
Seat 6: p0ket00 (147353)
Seat 7: hero(118200)
Seat 8: 59Sound (66558)
Seat 10: inarcadia (72850)
p0ket00 posts ante 400
hero posts ante 400
59Sound posts ante 400
inarcadia posts ante 400
_BoskoRock_ posts ante 400
KojG9 posts ante 400
KsenzovsLV posts ante 400
SBGstyle posts ante 400
p0ket00 posts small blind (2000)
hero posts big blind (4000)
---
Dealing pocket cards
Dealing to hero: [Ks, As]
59Sound folds
inarcadia folds
_BoskoRock_ folds
KojG9 raises 8000 to 8000
KsenzovsLV raises 71291 to 71291 [all in]
SBGstyle folds
p0ket00 raises 144953 to 146953 [all in]
Hero?
***** History for hand T5-320947356-425 (TOURNAMENT: "ChampionChip $100,000", R-345-205, buy-in: $200) *****
Start hand: Mon May 13 02:05:05 BST 2013
Table: Table #28 [320947356] (NO_LIMIT TEXAS_HOLDEM 4000/8000, ante: 800, Chips)
User: hero
Button: seat 6
Players in round: 8 (10)
Seat 1: EpicHor (404160)
Seat 2: MustCallNow (51624)
Seat 3: Bifta100 (46480)
Seat 4: 59Sound (295841)
Seat 5: hero (203272)
Seat 6: BabyGates (140839)
Seat 9: Butcher1981_ (159916)
Seat 10: Sizzlinbett (356844)
Butcher1981_ posts ante 800
Sizzlinbett posts ante 800
EpicHor posts ante 800
MustCallNow posts ante 800
Bifta100 posts ante 800
59Sound posts ante 800
hero posts ante 800
BabyGates posts ante 800
Butcher1981_ posts small blind (4000)
Sizzlinbett posts big blind (8000)
---
Dealing pocket cards
Dealing to hero: [Qh, Qs]
EpicHor raises 16000 to 16000
MustCallNow folds
Bifta100 folds
59Sound folds
hero raises 34860 to 34860
BabyGates raises 140039 to 140039 [all in]
Butcher1981_ folds
Sizzlinbett folds
EpicHor raises 387360 to 403360 [all in]
Hero?
Hand from GUKPT Ports (£500+50)
Going to Vegas in a couple of weeks and there have a been a few nice live tournaments lately at so thought I'd get some live practise in and try my luck ;)
Had this hand from today, mixed thoughts on it - calling seems like a pretty big technical fail for my stack when it was such an easy table to accumulate chips...everyone was loose passive and folding way to much - if I were to imagine the VPIP/PFR of the players of the table, all of them except for villain in this hand (who was playing I'd say something like 25/15 - he was also one of the better live regs); would have been like 14/5 with fold to steal, 3 bet and/or C Bet about 10million % ha ;)
So the SS was 20k and I'm on around 38k now, villain just about has me covered - the blinds are 200/400 with antis 50.
Villain opens UTG to 1100, his range is pretty wide and I saw him open K3 suited from UTG earlier. I have 3 bet him a few times - one of the times he called 3 barrels on an AK3T2 board with A8 (no draws and OOP) and I had to muck my scraps, the other couple times he folded to continuation / turn bets, and once he 4 bet me pre flop and I folded.
I have 99 two positions after (9 handed) and elect to 3 bet for 2 reasons really; firstly because I know he is opening a relatively wide range and also doesn't like folding (so value) and secondly because the table is very honest, I will rarely get 4 bet but will likely get a few flats behind if I flat as well (then it is basically a set mine). On a different table or vs a different player I would be more inclined to flat...
It folds back to the villain [it should be noted that although his pre flop play certainly needs tweaking (although in live games and vs the type of players he is used to playing it has merit), his post flop game is pretty solid and has some spice] and he flats.
The flop brings 754 with 2 spades (74) and after he checks I bet 3.5k for value and to start building a pot, I certainly think he is capable of calling 3 streets pretty light. He flats, the turn brings a Jack to bring 2 flush draws and he checks.
I bet again, this time 6k to set the pot up for a value all in bet on the river of around 26k into around 24k...looking back on it I think I should have bet more like 7 or 8k so that the I am shipping under the pot on the river and giving him better odds/easier time to call. However he check-ships all in and here is where I am confused.
On a technical it an easy fold as the hand played obviously...but after he bet he just stared stiffly at the table, he looked up once or twice and made eye contact briefly but quickly looked back at the table. I've seen this a few times and I'm sure its the traits of a player that is bluffing ( I used to do it when I was making a big bluff in live games! If you want an example of what I mean...then check out this hand (7:11) and notice how Tom Dwan is acting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSqkhN9Rqk0 )
Next...what specific hands does he have that plays that way? I not going to list all the potential holdings I put him on (at least..not until I pump the numbers into flopzilla). He knows I am capable of 3 bet/3 barrelling light and his line doesn't really make sense with his style of play - I feel there is a lot more draw combinations than made hands; I'll have to play around with flopzilla and compare my pot odds against the equity / his ranges to get a better idea for the spot. I love flopzilla:D.
However my hand could be drawing to...0 outs, there is a lot he would need to protect against and also the table is so soft that risking my stack of 65 bigs; which was the average stack at the time, seems unnecessary and some sort of epic ICM fail, on the other hand winning that pot would put me way up in chips in a very soft field (70 left from around 100 runners) - this could be a great spot for it.
I did fold...but I'm looking forward to researching this hand more. If I figure from his range, my read and our history in pots together that it is profitable for me to call (in terms of chips), am I still making a losing $$$ call? If yes, then what is the line for BB's or edge vs table or position in tournament for when I can determine it is the most profitably line for me to call? and how much weight should I give live reads/history in my decision making process?
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
SS stats for 2+2 Coaching
This post has been moved to: http://24caliber.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/coaching-introduction.html
Thanks :)
Saturday, 30 March 2013
MentorHB: General
I started writing a book when I was working for pokerstaking to help improve the mentoring, wanted to keep a copy of it so posted it on my blog, I've only written 2 sections and the rest I'd just drafted the notes - still useful to get it on paper. Don't think I will finish it now as I quit working for PS and also intend to take on a few mentees in the following months, want to focus on them and as always, improving my own game :)
- Mentee Goals and Ambitions
- Developing a Relationship
- Game Selection
- Tracking Progress
- Mentallity
- Session Ideas
- MiscellaneousSession Ideas (HEM/Live/Sharkscope) - interactive sessions ensure mentee is active in the session / opening their mind with open ended questions / filters / marking up & reviewing hands / happy with HUD - elaborate more this section about actual poker & ways to improve their actual play / leak finding session - add filters to documentVideo (mentor can create in own time from hands sent by the mentee or a specific tournament), camtasiaEmail or Word Document Report – as above but with email or word document responseInteractive sessions – make sure mentee is participating, ask questions to stimulate thinking (what about if you 88 here rather than JJ, etc.)Ask for mentee to explain their thought process as that is what you need to know to help them improve (i.e. if they have any errors in their analysis or missing out vital information)Developing a Relationship:Relationship – first find out whats wrong, if the mentee was a winning player, but isn't now, then what has changed/what needs to change? (ask) important mentee believes in you/trusts in you/ enthusiasm is contagious (if they do not work hard or ignore your advice then give them grief!)Player needs to be honest about how he is playingEnsure on right level with the mentee, that they understand what you are saying and why you are saying itActive listener (not just a lecture, its 1 to 1)Game Selectionhow many to play at a timeensure they are playing within their limitsput together a schedule – add games for them to play when going well for the month (motivation)Sharkscope:Rebuys/non rebuys6 max/non 6 maxbuy in levelssatellitesturbosadd screenshotsMentalityBelieve they can win, focus their energy in the right place, improve their brain, balance poker and life, enjoying pokerEncouragementPositivityMentallity - warming up before playing, review tactical errors, time on tables against off the tables, learning process (do they play different in replayer then when at the table) attitude confidence / willing to learn / apply new ideas, positive attitude, accepts he is human will make mistakes,MiscellaneousLinks to articles and videos – if you read a good article or watch a good video online then email the links to your mentees, reference them to books you believe could improve their game.Post on forumsMisc - Feedback /
MentorHB: Tracking Progress
Tracking Progress:
It is important to track the
progress of mentee so that you both aware that he is improving.
This is also good for the
mentee's morale, and it is an easy way to re-assure the mentee, if he
does have a bad day at the tables but played well, that he can be
happy with the way he played and that he is improving as a player (it
should always be one of the mentee's “aims” to improve as a
player, so you can reassure the mentee he is achieving his aims and
consider it a successful day, even if a profit is not achieved);
rather than being disheartened and feeling that his efforts are not
being rewarded.
Mentality is a very import aspect
of poker and is discussed further in the “Mentality” section.
A good method for tracking
progress is by concluding each session with a summary, then
re-visiting the summary at the start of the next session. A short
summary in bullet point form is sufficient to remind the mentee of
all the areas he wants to work on, and he can keep them next to his
desk or on his desktop as a note to read in preparation for his next
session.
Notes on the
mentee's desktop are a good way to keep the mentee focussed on the
areas of his game that he wants to improve on, as well as a way for
him to track his own poker development
For example if you spotted that
the mentee wanted to improve on playing from the blinds and believed
he should play less hands, then you could start the next session by
reviewing his VPIP/PFR/etc. in HEM from the blinds and see if the
numbers have changed since the previous session (can use HEM filters
to set specific dates).
Another important factor about
tracking progress, is ensuring that the player continues to improve
after they have a win or multiple wins. It is common for players to
become complacent after a win or multiple wins and stop improving as
a player; it is the responsibility of the mentor to ensure the mentee
is constantly improving regardless of their results, and this is
should be your main goal as a mentor – to constantly improve your
mentee's poker game.
MentorHB: Mentee Goals and Ambitions
Mentee Goals and Ambitions:
Taking
some time to discuss with your mentee what he wants to achieve from
poker is a great way to get your player motivated and in the right
zone for playing winning poker. It is especially good if you have a
new mentee who has lost for a sustained amount of time, as you can
use it as a time to re-baseline (new mindset).
You
can break down their ambition into separate goals (i.e. the ambition
is what they want to achieve, the goals are how they are going to
achieve it) for short term and long term. It's well worth documenting
these once created and to schedule a time/date that you are going to
revisit the goals in the future.
It's
important to ensure that your mentee is able to balance his life and
poker, so when you create goals together ensure they are realistic,
achievable, and that the mentee agrees with them. Generally having
financial goals isn't recommend due to the nature of poker, however
using them as milestones for game selection (e.g. “if you are up
over 1k this month then try some 50 rebuys”) is a good way to help
progress players through the stakes and give them something to aim
towards
Some
example ambition/goals below (it does not matter what you label these
terms as):
Ambition
(this is what the mentee wants to do):
|
Goals
(this is how the mentee is going to do it):
|
Ambition
(this is what the mentee wants to do):
|
Goals
(this is how the mentee is going to do it):
|
It
is recommended that the goals are measurable, so that when they are
revisited you can determine whether they have been completed or not
(i.e. rather than a goal to “increase volume”, have a goal to
“play X amount of games a month”).
If
the goals are not complete by the deadline then make sure you explain
to the mentee that the goals/ambitions were agreed together, and if
they are not on-board, or not taking on the changes you recommend;
then it is a waste of both your time and that you'd rather be with
someone who wants your help.
Inform
Pokerstaking if you have players like this because when a player has
been assigned mentors it is because they are in deficit and we as
Pokerstaking decided they needed help with their game, sometimes
players can be stubborn when on losing streaks or neglect negative
aspects of their game that need improving, even when clearly
identified by their mentor – make sure they accept/confront these
areas and report it to Pokerstaking if not as we are a business that
cannot afford to waste money on players that are losing and not doing
anything to change it.
The
goals you create together don't necessarily have to be poker strategy
related, for instance if there is a disconnect between the way your
mentee plays when discussing hands in the HEM re-player, to when
playing hands at the tables; then you may need goals that will
improve the players mental state, e.g. to have MSN/TV/FB/Skype off
when playing or to have a break/eat fruit/drink water every hour,
etc.
Teach your mentee
professional/effective approaches on and off the tables (i.e. good
habits) based on your own experience and knowledge, and use the goals
to integrate it into their overall game.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
Quick though: Positive thinking
I read and talk to people about the concept of thinking positive. In my experience I think that a lot of people mis-understand it though or don't fully appreciate the benefits of thinking positive.
Thinking positive is about looking at a situation and deciding the best way forward and realising where you should focus your efforts. It is about taking responsibility for your own success. It's not neglecting negatively or saying "if I believe I will win, then I will win".
Yes, you need to believe you can win to win, and remembering past examples or reviewing previous wins is a good way to re-assure that belief and confidence in yourself. Mainly though, it is your approach to situations - how I can improve my situation? What can I control that can be changed to make things better? Why do I accept things that are holding me back or not fulfilling their potential? Who sets my limits?
You only have a certain amount of energy to apply yourself with, a healthy lifestyle will improve your stamina and mental efficiency - you must focus your energies in the area's that will benefit you most.
Positive thinking
Thinking positive is about looking at a situation and deciding the best way forward and realising where you should focus your efforts. It is about taking responsibility for your own success. It's not neglecting negatively or saying "if I believe I will win, then I will win".
Yes, you need to believe you can win to win, and remembering past examples or reviewing previous wins is a good way to re-assure that belief and confidence in yourself. Mainly though, it is your approach to situations - how I can improve my situation? What can I control that can be changed to make things better? Why do I accept things that are holding me back or not fulfilling their potential? Who sets my limits?
You only have a certain amount of energy to apply yourself with, a healthy lifestyle will improve your stamina and mental efficiency - you must focus your energies in the area's that will benefit you most.
Positive thinking
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Small Field Portsmouth Live Game £200 40 man Dec-2012
Day 1
Had a bit of a late night, so didn’t quite make the 2pm start but managed to bimble at about 3:59 to the casino (Grosvenior, Portsmouth Gunwarf) and late reg for the tourney (4pm late reg finished!). They have a new card room there, it’s pretty nice and I sat down to a table (seat 9 bitter) with no familiar faces which I definitely prefer as you can make and play whatever image you like
So anyway after a few rounds and not much drama I get KT in the big blind. The button has been raising basically every round (and me/bb have been folding) so I’d been looking for a good spot to play back at him and decided to 3 bet. The bb was 200 and he opened to 700 (this seemed to be the standard), I three bet to 2100 (I felt this sizing would make my hand look stronger as it was my first 3 bet) and he peeled - we were both very deep (20k was the starting stack, I think he had about 40k and me 22k)
The flop brings: A52 with FD and I lead out for half the pot (just over 2k) and he thinks a little then flats.
The turn brings: 2 and a second flush draw…I decide not to barrel as my stack is now about 18k and there is 8k in the pot, so if I bet I have to ship the river which when I think about the sizing and his range, I don’t like at all. I check and he bets 6k.
So I think check raising here is better than any other option with the situation, it definitely reps that I have AK (so he could fold out hands like at-aq, I’m hoping he is respecting my 3 bet preflop and not put me on too many suited connectors/air) and if he did float the flop he will probably bet behind the turn (i.e. keeping his range wide).
The other benefit I thought also to check raising (rather than check shipping) was that my stack size was pretty perfect to not give him the implied odds if I did check min raise him and he had a draw so I might even get some river ships through if he flats then misses river lol (because if he did have a draw like KQ suited and he believed that I had an ace, then it would actually make quite a lot of sense for him to flat turn and fold if he misses river).
I also knew he was a competent player, from seeing some of the hands he had played/button min raises, so felt that he would realise I hadn’t played any hands at all and with the: 3x preflop three bet and a complete disregard for my stack size / bet sizing, it would be enough for him to put me on AK.
If he shipped over my turn bet then I was going to fold (would have had around 8k left at 200 bb)
Fortunately he folded though and I picked up a nice pot, feeling happy with my play.
A few rounds later I still haven’t played many hands and completed sb (200) after a few limpers with KT, the bb checks. The flop is 345 and although it is quite a dangerous flop, I could definitely rep it and barrel a lot of completed draws, so lead out for half the pot – the table was playing really tight / honest as well. The EP limper called (just a traditional 40/4 type fish) and everyone folded.
The turn came a 6 bringing a flush draw and I barrelled again half the pot figuring he will have a hard time continuing with his epic range like any suited ace (q6/j2/59 anything suited I think he was limping lol). He called again but didn’t seem very thoughtful about it or really very happy about it and an off suit ace came on the river.
The pot had got pretty big now and I know I have to barrel the river to tell my story/not much chance of winning this pot with king high), so I lead again for half the pot and he instant folded. I have no idea of his holding, VPIP 40% does have some benefits lol.
Couple of rounds later and it is folded to me on the sb. I can’t remember the exact details of the hand but they are not really important, basically I flat pre – he checked, then I bet the flop with air and he folded.
However the interesting part of the hand is that when I bet the flop he looked at his hand, then leaned back to look at me and I instantly hid behind the dealer (I was in seat 9, him 1) haha! Completely subconsciously! I’m sure if Darren Brown had been at the table he would have read I was weak there lol, live tell fail. Anyway he didn’t notice but I’ve been thinking about live tells lately and read a whole internet site about body language not long ago (I think there is a lot of live tells people use that I’m not aware of, can’t find a strategy video on live reads eh!) so I might write an article on it in the future with my thoughts about live reads and tells.
The blinds have increased and there are anti’s now, I’ve had a few hands for opening/ 3 betting with and a decent level of success so have accumulated a few more chips and have a little bit of a looser image + a pretty standard online 23/19/7 style.
Came back from a break and first had I get: premium aces. The bb is 400 so I open to 1100 as the table is quite loose and I’m early position and I get one caller from late position, the guy is new to the table but seems like a local gambler type – so figure him for any fishy range really.
The flop comes AT7 with 2 clubs and I lead for 2k. He re-raises to 5k and I can feel blood draining from my head and nurturing the growth of a semi under the table. He’s got just under 40k and me about 35k and I’m pretty sure he’s keen to get it in on the flop…I was thinking about calling then check shipping the turn but I would hate to give 2 free cards (potentially lose the pot or lose my action) or not get a full stack of value, and flatting then leading turn I think gives a tough time / he could find a fold. So I raised it back to 12k and he insta shipped and showed up with AQ – my AA held and I picked up a wedge of chips, time to start swinging them about.
Soon after I get dealt KQ 4 in the big blind and it folds to the button who min raises - he has raised basically every button and the small blind flats. I decide to 3 bet for value and to take the initiative in the pot, but I think the button had realised by now that I'm playing spots and 4 bets me. The big blind was 600 and he raised to 1200, SB flat, then me 3k, then him 8k and me flat...so about 18k in the pot.
Pretty interesting spot, he started the hand with about 50k and I had him covered but not by a lot, but I was confident he was 4 betting light...I didn't fancy 5 betting but I wouldn't fault anyone for doing it, or just folding lol;/ So I flat which is pretty horrible if your playing a “technical” game but seemed like a good idea at the time, and then tank check-shipped over his 10k c bet on an ATX flop. He tanked as well (it's all about tanking) and I sat playing on my phone until he folded, as I could feel my heart beating like crazy and wanted to look relaxed. At one point put my elbow on the table and leaned my forehead into my hand...but my palm was so sweaty it basically just slipped through lol.
Anyway he tanked and folded, which was definitely a good result.
Next round I raise two hands in a row from UTG+1 then UTG with 67 suited and TJ suited, and got 3 bet both times by the same guy lol. I didn’t have much info on him and didn’t fancy playing out of position vs an unknown without the goods, although he only done a min bet both times lol but decided I'd already pushed my luck so just folded both times. Got a nice stack now no need to do anything silly, the same guy went on to win the tournament.
A few hands later, the player I had check raised with KT earlier limped in 2nd position and it folded round to me with KQ in the cut off. I wasn’t too suspicious of his limp because I had seen him limp some hands EP before and at showdown presented 88/AJ, middle strength kind of range, played safely, so felt that I wanted to play vs him heads up and take the lead in the pot, so raised 3x. It folded back round to him and he called, we were both deep, I can’t remember the exact numbers but I had about 90k and him 40k, the blinds 300/600 with antis.
The flop came 349 with 2 diamonds (I had king of diamonds) and he checked; pretty standard c bet really, so I did 2.5k and he called.
The turn came an A of suit and he checked again not looking too excited about the ace. The pot was about 10k and I put in another 5k as the ace was a nice barrel card with the draw, he thought about it then called. I really felt at that the time that he knew I was just barrelling lol so when the king hit the river and he checked; I tanked then value bet 10k and he tanked/called/mucked – showboat.
Didn’t get to see what he had but I’m pretty sure he had a hand like 88/TT with one of suit. Online I might have played the hand a bit differently because generally I think barrelling the ace in this spot would be really risky as there is a lot of aces in his range (although it was of suit) – fish seem to love limp calling hands like a2 a3 a4 a5 and rarely fold to a cbet on a board like 349 with gutshots/bottoms pairs etc 58J flop is much nicer.…however now I think about it, this particular guy I’m sure was not limping those kind of hands pre-flop in EP (might not notice this online though).
Quite enjoying my table at the moment and running alright, got a real nice stack and done some big plays that worked out good.
The tourny was only about 40 runners and we were on the last 2 tables now.
There was only 2 more hands I played before the end of day 1, the first I three bet 22 from mid position vs an UTG raise (the raiser was the guy on my button who I'd seemed to giving a real tough time throughout the day lol) and a very short stack shipped behind me for less than 1 big blind. Unfortunately it folded back round to me and I had to call the 22, which I was bitter about as it was the first time I had to show my cards without the goods. The other player's JJ held and I paid the man. New plan for a bit now, nit up a little and conserve my stack / get paid with premiums.
After that for the next hour or so my VPIP dropped to basically zero, there was a few spots I could have taken but fancied staying out of trouble for a bit and I didn't really have any hands so just sat back for a while.
The second hand was against a new player at the table, he also had a big stack but had been raising and 3 betting and check raising, etc. playing a very aggressive game. I had already seen him show down some fishy hand like 8T suited after raising EP and seeing as I hadn't play a hand since he joined the table, I three bet with 46 from the button vs his UTG raise and he flat.
The flop came QT6xx and after 3 barrels he tank folded the river. Basically I felt that he was quite happy when flatting my 3 bet pre-flop, but then pretty unhappy calling my C bet, so I had to barrel the turn – once he called that and checked the river, I really felt that my 46 would not be good at showdown lol and also I'm repping a big hand / he hasn't seen me play a hand yet / I was confident his flat to my three bet pre was with a pretty big range / so went for the 3rd barrel and hoped to push of hands like TJ or AT, we were on the FT bubble aswell.
So ended day one about 150k and sitting 2/11
Day 2
If you read my Sheffield GPS live game report I said at the end how important it is to play focussed and play your best every hand at the tables. I had a really bad night after I left day 1 of the tournament, there was a party at my house til about 6 in the am and I just wanted to go to bed, people kept bothering me though and all my friends were annoyed cos I didn't go to the party to play poker....but I do like poker me.
Turned up just on time for day 2, but was really tired and didn't have time to have breakfast, was in a real bad mood from some of the events from the night before that I'm not going to go into – however am sure this affected my game! :(
So sat down and thought 'forget bout all that, lets play some poker 100%'. Ordered some food and not too long in we were on FT, back to full ring.
I picked up KK on the button and the cut off limps with an around a 40k stack. The big blind is 2k so I pop it up to 6k...I hadn't played a hand or seen any hands with this guy and he flatted as expected, the blinds folded.
The flop is j66 with a flush draw and he checks, I did a ½ pot C bet and he flats. There is a lot of bantering and chat at the table and after a brick (4) on the turn he checks and looks at me all honest and smiley. For some reason I thought it would be good to check behind here to act like I am playing honest aswell and checking behind ace high, then extract more value on the river. The river brings a 6 but of suit and he insta ships all in for about 30k when the pot is just under 20k. I tanked for a bit then made my 2nd mistake of the day already (first one being not bet the turn) and called....he showed q9 suited for a flush and I'm really bitter with the way I played the hand. As soon as he had flat pre-flop I should have realised he was a traditional and basically just shipped the turn or definitely folded the river. Urgh anyway I'm bitter, but no point worrying about it, re-evaluate my stack, still over 100k at 2k bb nuttin to worry bout.
I lost a bit of my stack in another hand shortly after with QQ on an Ace high flop, I c bet then folded but obviously a bit of action preflop aswell. A 3rd player was in the hand and lost about 80% of his stack with AT into AA (they both mates of mine and AA flat me pre, ha cheeekkyy could have got my stack!)
Down to about 80k now and the blinds still 2.4k, 8 handed – only 5 paid.
The next hand I played was JQ suited. UTG+1 min raise and the Q9 suited guy on my right flat, I was thinking about 3 betting but decided to flat as I knew the open was capable of doing nuttys and didn't fancy having him to a 4 bet nutty on me.
The flop came 752 rainbow and the UTG +1 raiser checked. The traditional then bet out for 6k into an about 20k pot and I knew the UTG + 1 raiser would C bet basically any value hand vs the traditional and multiway – so popped it up to 20k to push the traditional out of the pot...I also had a back door flush and 2 overs if he flats.
The UTG+1 raiser tanks and then re-pops me to 46k and the traditional folds. I knew instantly that this was a perfect spot to shove, just because when he checked the flop I was confident he had given up....then obviously changed his mind once he saw a nice spot brewing (he definitely capable of reading spots and making big bluffs). There's no value hands he plays that way imo.
Unfortunately after tanking a while and thinking about the previous few hands (basically I thought to myself, “is this a good spot? Or am I just spewing, I came to FT with epic stack and am I spewing it all way with queen high and making bad calls?) so I just folded and he showed K9 for an airball. So bitter, I'm sure if I was playing better I would have shipped there.
Sigh anyway re-evaulate and re-focus. I got about 55k now and the big blind is 3k...so looking for some good spots to re-ship rather than open.
A few hands later the traditional limps on my right for 3k and I have QT suited. I should have folded here really thinking about stack sizes but figured he was going to call/fold to c bet so often that I probably just about have enough chips (combined with the pace of the game / not much 3 or 4 betting – well at least not from the 2 players behind me lol)
The big blind peels and the traditional calls. The flop comes QJ2 with a flush draw, the bb checks and the traditional open ships....I sigh fold, he could turn up with a flush draw but I don't think he would because he was really playing a safe “I'll call until I hit then go all in when I do” style . I'd only put 2 bigs in the pot and my side of the table wasn't really tough at all, I was happy I'd be able to get ships and reships though enough to not go in a spot where I'm crushed or marginally +ev. He didn't show but I'm not sure if that was a good fold or not...it definitely felt like a good fold at the time from watching how the guy had been playing.
Down to about 50k now and we're 6 handed. Short stack. The other players all have at least 100k and only 5 are paid. When we started the final table one of the live regulars suggested everyone got £100 back for making FT and we took it out the prize pool....which is just ridiculous lmao, is he mental?? Anyway at that point I had a massive stack and was crushing. Now I was shorty and my balls were shrivelling. I had 12 bigs with not long until the blinds were increased, so I suggest we pay the bubble (5th was £550) for 250, £50 of all the other prize money and everyone agreed, touch. It was pretty funny in my eyes because the guy who suggested we all get £100 for making FT was sitting chippy by a wedge on the bubble so it was nice of him to make that deal :D
A few ships/no calls and folding some BB's I'm now on about 55k with the BB 4k. The K94 bet flop guy raises EP (he has a monster stack now) and I reship KJ from the button, he calls QQ and knocks me out bitter. Don't think it was a bad ship though, just for value and the blinds were going up to 60k in about 2 minutes which would mean I'd lose all my fold equity.
So got my £250 back for a really measly profit and urghh, so frustrating that I again played day 1 to a level I'm really happy with, probably my best ever poker on day 1 at this comp! And just blew up on day 2. Must work on this area, aspire to play every hand the best I can and in the future make sure I am properly prepared if I return to day 2, take it as a learning experience.
Wpld also to my mate Ally Baba (mmmmmcookies/treefidy online) who got 2nd for a nice £2k bink :)
GPS £400 Deepstack Sheffield, 23-24th Nov 2012
Day 1, I left Ports about 8am and arrived about 1pm jumped straight into the game cos of an epic crash on the motorway - car carrier turned over was pretty messy.
Started day 1 real slow, had the easiest table in the world with 2 old dears to my left who played in a very honest manor and some traditions on my right who didn't seem to mind open limping late position...I picked up a lot of big hands early KKx2 AQx2 and raised/3 bet them but didn't get any action, although it did mean the table started commenting on how active I was.
The starting stack was 25k and I slowly accumulated to around 30k before donking a portion into a happy Irish man on my right with a Mr Pringles Movember Tash: He had been quite loose generally but not very aggressive and he opened UTG+1 to 250 at 50 100. I had AQ suited in next position and popped it up to 650, it folded round to him and he flatted without too much thought. The flop came 955 and he check-called my small c bet, I figured him here for a hand like a small pocket pair and when the King hit the turn it I barreled and he tanked, then called....unfortunately I know I have to barrel basically any river now and once he checks the brick river (2), I barrel and he tanks then calls 9T. Bitter, image ruined.
Not too much happened after that until I got moved to the feature table.
The feature table went pretty horrible for me, the first hand I played I 3 bet a7 suited after a loose passive live reg opened utg (he did just over min 425 when BB 200 and I was pretty confident he was opening a range just to play vs the blinds because it was the 2 old dears who were epic fish) and a traditional fish peeled from mid position so I popped it up to bout 1100 thinking it would be a nice spot to get some folds pre or play a flop in position. The original raiser folded and the traditional peeled.
The flop bought KTx all of the same suit (not my suit) and he checks to me. I C bet about 1300 and he check raises...I could flat here and try something tricky but I have very little equity in the pot and the guys just a traditional fish so I think I might have a hard time making him fold whatever scrappy part of the flop he hit so I just fold.
After I made a few steals from EP with suited connectors and a few 3 bets with AQ/AJ so I figure the table is starting to think I'm getting active (when I joined the feature table I hardly played any hands) - then picked up AK suited in the small blind.
The Cut off who i think is a BRS player and a very good/situational player, min raised (so 400/425 I can't remember the exactly amount, the bb 200) and the button peeled. I rased it to bout 1600, I did a bit extra because I didn't want them both calling and I was out of postion. The BRS player flat and the other player folded and I did a standard c bet on a T43 board and he called.
The turn came a 9 and we were pretty deep so I figured I'd check raise him on the turn to put some real pressure on him (i.e. if he calls my check raise on turn he knows hes gonna have an ugly river spot where I bet massive again) seeing as I figured him for a float a lot of the time becuse I had been so active and he was good enough to recognise this, but he checked behind - which made me think he had some showdown equity with his hand like mid pair or a weak ten.
The river came a queen and I decided to barrel as I could definately have a queen in my range (although he may have expected my to barrel the turn with hands like QJ KJ KQ as I would then have 2 overs and some sort of gutshot straight draw) but bet anyway as I figured he would be able to fold out hands between 88-55 or a float/weak ten. However he raised me on the river (I think my bet was about 3500 and he did 10k) which confused me a lot as it wouldn't make much sense at all to raise the river....so I tanked for ages and toyed with the idea of reshipping as I think he may have had a hand like 22 or 55 and decided to turn it into a bluff on the river, but eventually folded as reason set in and he could have easily just had a set or top 2 (QT). Later I was told (from an observer of the feature table) that he had J8 and rivered a straight lol^ which is why nothing really made sense in the hand.
Afterwards I felt like I played the hand quite bad but I picked up AQ very shortly after and 3 bet again after an EP raise and a flat, and one of the old dears to my left instantly flat (oh boy) so she's obviously got a strong holding and this also induced some of the other players to flat resulting in a multiway pot. The flop came KQ2 with KQ of spades (I had ace of spades) and it checked to me, I put out a small bet and the old dear to my left started playing with her chips and I could feel myself looking really nervous/anxious about it lol as I know if she done anything there I'd be doomed in the hand - but then she folded and instead the next guy (the EP raiser who flat 3 bet multiway) reraised and it folded back round to me.
I had another tank and sweat about it because I couldn't figure out what hand he would have there - basically I would expect to flat almost 100% of his range of hands that would continue and the hands he might check-raise the flop with shudda probably 4 bet pre (QQ KK AK AA?), and further to that I had the ace of suit - so he could not have been doing it with a hand like AT or AJ suited....so after another tank and a review of my stack size (i had 70 bigs left after my bet) I folded and showed a bitter AQ which I felt was the best hand.
Struggling a bit I then had 2 more hands where I 3 bet preflop and the old dear on my left insta called, one with AQ and one with AK. It was quite fustrating cos I knew she was only playing her cards (i.e. had premiums) but obviously once she flats my 3 bet the rest of the world flat aswell.
Anyway the AQ hand I was c bet small on a 9 high flop - she was such a bad player I could really manipulate the pot size by changing my bet sizing on what I wanted to achieve, I didnt want to check to her much as then she might do a proper size bet so if I wanted another card I would do a tiny bet lol and set my own price...she didn't seem to notice. Once she called my tiny C bet I figured her for a pocket pair and fortunately a king came on the turn so I barreled and she folded.
The AK hand I 3 bet after some other preflop action and she insta flatted again :/ A few others peeled and the flop came KJ9. I c bet as standard and the old dear insta called, and the other 2 folded. The turn came a 9 and I bet again, but really small as I was worried she was just going to turn out JJJ but figured she basically had AK aswell or maybe QQ - but wanted to keep the pot size in check anyway as her range was really tight. She called the turn bet and the river was a Jack, so KJ99J....I done another small bet to get to showdown cheap and when she called I said we are probably splitting but the silly moo turned over KQ haa, definately bottom of her range tho! Was a bit bitter that I didn't get more value of her after seeing that but I wasn't too unhappy with how it played.
Didn't have too many hands after that and was moved off the feature table, but despite my stack being a bit vulernable I did quite a few 3 bets vs the BRS player who seemed like a very situational player like I said before and had stolen the two old dears blinds to my left almost every round, which kept me a float a little as I wasn't getting too many value hands that I could play.
I had 2 sketchy hands when my stack was at about 20 bigs:
The first one I opened 68 suited mid position with a 2.5x (bb 800 I think I did 2k)...it wasn't too worrying though because the 2 old dears to my left were just folding anything but premiums and button/sb didn't seem very interested /considered me honest I think but the big blind was very loose and peeling a lot / making some postflop plays, so I decided that I was gonna make sure I set up the betting so that I would be able to get them in first postflop lol^^
Anyway so the big blind peeled, he had me covered (I think I was about 20 bigs him 35-40 bigs) and the flop came KK7. He check and I tanked then checked behind as I definately didn't want to get check raised and stack off their + I figured he would think I could check behind a big king there. The turn was a 7 and he check again so I led a small bet, about 2k into 5k and he peeled, leaving me with bout 13k behind and 9k in the pot. The river was a brick and he checked so I just shipped and he folded lol easy game.
The second hand was QJ suited, I opened UTG+1 with a min raise and again had about 18k / 20~ bigs. I'd just lost a few hands earlier a prettty big pot for about 40k chips with AQ vs AT where I opened cut off and sb shipped for about a 30k pot but he spiked a ten which made me bitter, after I had been accumulating a stack quite nicely with some uncontested 3 bets and late position steals. Everytime I started to build a stack something seemed to happen to put me bck in my place lol:(
So JQ suited EP min raise, everyone folded except the BRS situational player in the small blind who peeled and the flop came AA5...he checked and I checked behind as I felt that he was ready to do something frisky and I wanted to make sure I was getting them in first. I don't mind c-betting either but then I would flat if he re raise and would hate for him to jam the turn. Anyway so we both checked and the turn came another 5 for AA55 with a FD although kinda irrevalant. He lead 1600 and i cliked it back to 3200 figuring that was the best way to rep the ace and left me about 13k behind and he called. The river was a brick and I was about to ship then thought for a sec that he may actually have an ace lol and had a quick look at him but he wasnt interested in the hand so I just bet 5k (and going to fold to a ship + makes it look a bit stronger I think) and he instantly folded and left the table.
So a few more steals and tidy 3 bets and I'm sitting about 35 bigs deep again - I've been pretty solid, well...only shown good hands on the table, and open with KJ suited utg....the old dear on my left (my nemesis) insta calls which is a nightmare as her range is pretty tight. One other player peels and the flop comes AJx and I do just under half the pot as a C bet as the other player is in the hand aswell, the old dear peels and the other player folds. The turn is a brick but I dont fancy letting the old dear bet behind me as I wouldn't mind trying to hit a king or jack on the turn, so I set my own price with a tiny bet (like 800 into 5k, but used a nice selection of chips, she is clueless) and she insta called again so obviously had an ace. The river was a brick and i check with the intention of folding and she checks behind with A3 suited for a scrappy top pair....A3 = wtf.
I had an epic amount of showdowns in the next few/last few hours of day 1 and I can't remember the order lol but I could never seem to get to or above 50k. The first I remember was JJ on the big blind, the old dear on my left limped utg and the button limped but sb folded (everyone else folded) I had just over 20 bigs and jacks in the big blind.
I looked at the old dear and she had an epic tell (lool) which was that she would put her hands on her chips when she was going to fold but I fancied getting a bit extra value out of my jacks and just made it 3500 (the bb was 1k I had 20k odd behind)- the old dear paniced and shipped all in for about 16k with the most nervous look on her face in the world and I reluctantly called and lost a showdown vs KQ suited (she flopped a flush bitter).
Next hand I was down to bout 4 bigs and tripled up from the SB with KK vs 88 (the 3rd player folded postflop) and then the next hand after that I reship AJ suited into AQ and hit a jack that put me just under 30k and actually in quite a lot better shape than I was before the Jacks hand.
Following that I had AQ vs AT that I lost, AJ vs 99 that I won and AK vs JJ that I lost...however at some point I was on about 35k with the blinds 1000 and I min raised opened the cut off with A9 off.
The 2 old dears/button folded and the big blind peeled...I didn't have much information on this guy he was new to the table but he had quite a big stack and was an old fella. The flop came 567 rainbow and he checked. I thought for a bit then bet 4k into a 5k odd pot, I figured this would look like an overpair that I wasn't going to fold like TT and I didn't fancy him messing about with me with a peel or check raise light etc. He called the c bet and checked a 9 on the turn...and I checked behind. The river was a brick 2 and he bet out 7.5k was bout 2/3 of the pot.
So I took a deep breathe and got ready for a tank as I always make sure I take a long time with decisions like this (if you had seen me at the feature table you'd know this as I spent the whole time tanking and apparently annoying the commentators lol) and the BRS player picked up on this and called "time" basically straight away.
I was a bit taken aback by the request by it but didn't say anything as I wanted to think about the hand, and after an epic tank I folded with a few seconds left figuring that basically he could definately have an 8 in his range or a scrappy 2 pair and that my pot bet on the flop should mean he knows I have an overpair and would have a hard time folding. + I had no information on the guy and after reviewing my stack size (I had about 30k at big blind 1k which is enough room to do some light 3 bets/c bets/floats etc. - but if I called and lost would be on 23k odd, basically 20 bigs and in re-ship mode) so decided folding was best. He showed J4 for a missed straight (board was 56792) so I was a bit bitter but not to unhappy with my decision..I figured I was only beatin a4 a5 a6 a7 (cos he did call my raise pre) but a5-a6-a7 probably check the river, but losing to a massive range of 2 pairs n straights. On another note the guy also stared at me relentlessly after betting and said that he would have let me have all the time I like to make the decision rather than calling time..but tbh I dunno how to read into those 2 tells whether that means people are bluffing or not. I think if a traditional (like VPIP 40, VPR 4) fish stares at you then usually they got the nuts lol, although I did remember Billy Chattaway saying to me one time that when your bluffing stare at the player like "I got the nuts here so fold"...but I doubt that guy was on billys level ha!
A few 3 bet resteals and I got back to bout 30 bigs, I then had aces at 1200 big blind and a traditional limped in mid position with about 10 bigs...I popped it up to 3200 and the small blind peeled and the limped peeled. The flop came KKx and the SB check, then the limper shoved so I called and the SB folded. The limper turned over KQ for trips (outplayed much?) and being bitter again I re-evualated my stack which was about 20k.
The last few hands of the day I doubled TT vs 99 (+ a little bit of dead money), then lost AK vs JJ, then won 99 vs 55 against a shorty and finished the day with just under 40k. The last few hours were pretty manic and after a chat with chipjam and the guys I came to the tourny with (Chipjam was upset he didnt fold 44 on 477xx when the guy had quads lol?? cooler much.) I hit the hay, but didnt get to sleep til about 5am...
Next day I woke up about 12 and the comp started at 1...I was still really tired though and after a shower/quick breakfast from the sainsbury bakery I turned up and the comp had already started, bitter. I went to find my table and it took a while to get my seat which was fustrating as I had 40k at 1600 so not an epic amount of time, but eventually found my table and sat down right of the dealer. I hate sitting right or left of the dealer! You cannot see players or stack sizes or even whats going on at the table really, its like your an outsider to the game. Anyway I had a quick look at my new tables stack sizes and everyone was deep nightmare, the first hand I sat down the sb raised, bb 3 bet, sb 4 bet and bb folded. There had not been much 4 betting on my previous table at all so this was not a good sign + I'd ordered a tea but it hadn't arrived, bitttttter!
Next hand I get AJ suited early position and I open for a min, the same guy who just 4 bet (an old geezer) 3 bets me and the next guy (who just 3 bet folded) 4 bet ships and I think great, not the best table. I fold and the guy calls for AK vs QQ, and the QQ held.
The very next hand the same guy who 3 bet me opens and the bb peels. The bb check raised a pretty dead flop (952 or so) and the same guy jams the flop, and the bb folds. Hating the table. 1 or 2 hands later is my big blind and I have TJ suited, the same guy opens with a min lol and I decide to peel as I really don't want to 3 bet/have him peelor 4 bet and me have to jam etc, just a mess so I peel for 1 extra big and the flop comes AQ7. I check and he checks, which was not what I was expecting and the turn brings an 8. Usually I'd lead into the 8 with the double gutshot/bellybuster (or whatever it is) straight draw but elected to check raise as I figured this guy would surely bet if check to twice...but then once he bet realised that if I check raised the stack size was kinda perfect for him to ship and I wouldn't be able to call and that was an epic fail. If I lead and he raised, then I shipped it would have a lot nicer
So I check-called and figured I bet most rivers instead, but the river came a 7 and for some reason I checked (I thought actually I'll check raise the river) but he checked behind...and I was really unhappy with how I played the hand, especially after he turned over 44 for a measly pair to win the pot.
I then got moved to a new table sat next to SNGwonder and with a stack of just under 30k at big blind 1600. Again I was sat right of the dealer which I hate as I can't see players or stack sizes or even feel that I'm part of the game lol and my tea still hasn't arrived so I'm not very settled and SNGwonder opens with a min UTG. One player peels mid position who is pretty deep and just seems like a bog standard player and I look down at TJ suited again, I figure this time I'm not gonna play it like a fish and ship my 17-18 bigs, but SNGwonder calls AQ and knocks me out.
Really disappointed with how I played day 2, my head was not in the game at all and I let factors affect my mentallity which I shouldn't have. So gutted about that, and on the way home I had a big think and discussion with my mate about how important mentallity is in poker and how I need to improve mine, sometimes you can make 1 or 2 mistakes in a tournament and you'll get lucky or they won't be significant but other times it can cost your whole tournament and it's just unacceptable. Over the next few weeks I am going to spend a lot of focus trying to improving my mentallity and ensuring that I am able to play my best poker everytime I sit down at the tables, live or online, so watch this space Steve
Started day 1 real slow, had the easiest table in the world with 2 old dears to my left who played in a very honest manor and some traditions on my right who didn't seem to mind open limping late position...I picked up a lot of big hands early KKx2 AQx2 and raised/3 bet them but didn't get any action, although it did mean the table started commenting on how active I was.
The starting stack was 25k and I slowly accumulated to around 30k before donking a portion into a happy Irish man on my right with a Mr Pringles Movember Tash: He had been quite loose generally but not very aggressive and he opened UTG+1 to 250 at 50 100. I had AQ suited in next position and popped it up to 650, it folded round to him and he flatted without too much thought. The flop came 955 and he check-called my small c bet, I figured him here for a hand like a small pocket pair and when the King hit the turn it I barreled and he tanked, then called....unfortunately I know I have to barrel basically any river now and once he checks the brick river (2), I barrel and he tanks then calls 9T. Bitter, image ruined.
Not too much happened after that until I got moved to the feature table.
The feature table went pretty horrible for me, the first hand I played I 3 bet a7 suited after a loose passive live reg opened utg (he did just over min 425 when BB 200 and I was pretty confident he was opening a range just to play vs the blinds because it was the 2 old dears who were epic fish) and a traditional fish peeled from mid position so I popped it up to bout 1100 thinking it would be a nice spot to get some folds pre or play a flop in position. The original raiser folded and the traditional peeled.
The flop bought KTx all of the same suit (not my suit) and he checks to me. I C bet about 1300 and he check raises...I could flat here and try something tricky but I have very little equity in the pot and the guys just a traditional fish so I think I might have a hard time making him fold whatever scrappy part of the flop he hit so I just fold.
After I made a few steals from EP with suited connectors and a few 3 bets with AQ/AJ so I figure the table is starting to think I'm getting active (when I joined the feature table I hardly played any hands) - then picked up AK suited in the small blind.
The Cut off who i think is a BRS player and a very good/situational player, min raised (so 400/425 I can't remember the exactly amount, the bb 200) and the button peeled. I rased it to bout 1600, I did a bit extra because I didn't want them both calling and I was out of postion. The BRS player flat and the other player folded and I did a standard c bet on a T43 board and he called.
The turn came a 9 and we were pretty deep so I figured I'd check raise him on the turn to put some real pressure on him (i.e. if he calls my check raise on turn he knows hes gonna have an ugly river spot where I bet massive again) seeing as I figured him for a float a lot of the time becuse I had been so active and he was good enough to recognise this, but he checked behind - which made me think he had some showdown equity with his hand like mid pair or a weak ten.
The river came a queen and I decided to barrel as I could definately have a queen in my range (although he may have expected my to barrel the turn with hands like QJ KJ KQ as I would then have 2 overs and some sort of gutshot straight draw) but bet anyway as I figured he would be able to fold out hands between 88-55 or a float/weak ten. However he raised me on the river (I think my bet was about 3500 and he did 10k) which confused me a lot as it wouldn't make much sense at all to raise the river....so I tanked for ages and toyed with the idea of reshipping as I think he may have had a hand like 22 or 55 and decided to turn it into a bluff on the river, but eventually folded as reason set in and he could have easily just had a set or top 2 (QT). Later I was told (from an observer of the feature table) that he had J8 and rivered a straight lol^ which is why nothing really made sense in the hand.
Afterwards I felt like I played the hand quite bad but I picked up AQ very shortly after and 3 bet again after an EP raise and a flat, and one of the old dears to my left instantly flat (oh boy) so she's obviously got a strong holding and this also induced some of the other players to flat resulting in a multiway pot. The flop came KQ2 with KQ of spades (I had ace of spades) and it checked to me, I put out a small bet and the old dear to my left started playing with her chips and I could feel myself looking really nervous/anxious about it lol as I know if she done anything there I'd be doomed in the hand - but then she folded and instead the next guy (the EP raiser who flat 3 bet multiway) reraised and it folded back round to me.
I had another tank and sweat about it because I couldn't figure out what hand he would have there - basically I would expect to flat almost 100% of his range of hands that would continue and the hands he might check-raise the flop with shudda probably 4 bet pre (QQ KK AK AA?), and further to that I had the ace of suit - so he could not have been doing it with a hand like AT or AJ suited....so after another tank and a review of my stack size (i had 70 bigs left after my bet) I folded and showed a bitter AQ which I felt was the best hand.
Struggling a bit I then had 2 more hands where I 3 bet preflop and the old dear on my left insta called, one with AQ and one with AK. It was quite fustrating cos I knew she was only playing her cards (i.e. had premiums) but obviously once she flats my 3 bet the rest of the world flat aswell.
Anyway the AQ hand I was c bet small on a 9 high flop - she was such a bad player I could really manipulate the pot size by changing my bet sizing on what I wanted to achieve, I didnt want to check to her much as then she might do a proper size bet so if I wanted another card I would do a tiny bet lol and set my own price...she didn't seem to notice. Once she called my tiny C bet I figured her for a pocket pair and fortunately a king came on the turn so I barreled and she folded.
The AK hand I 3 bet after some other preflop action and she insta flatted again :/ A few others peeled and the flop came KJ9. I c bet as standard and the old dear insta called, and the other 2 folded. The turn came a 9 and I bet again, but really small as I was worried she was just going to turn out JJJ but figured she basically had AK aswell or maybe QQ - but wanted to keep the pot size in check anyway as her range was really tight. She called the turn bet and the river was a Jack, so KJ99J....I done another small bet to get to showdown cheap and when she called I said we are probably splitting but the silly moo turned over KQ haa, definately bottom of her range tho! Was a bit bitter that I didn't get more value of her after seeing that but I wasn't too unhappy with how it played.
Didn't have too many hands after that and was moved off the feature table, but despite my stack being a bit vulernable I did quite a few 3 bets vs the BRS player who seemed like a very situational player like I said before and had stolen the two old dears blinds to my left almost every round, which kept me a float a little as I wasn't getting too many value hands that I could play.
I had 2 sketchy hands when my stack was at about 20 bigs:
The first one I opened 68 suited mid position with a 2.5x (bb 800 I think I did 2k)...it wasn't too worrying though because the 2 old dears to my left were just folding anything but premiums and button/sb didn't seem very interested /considered me honest I think but the big blind was very loose and peeling a lot / making some postflop plays, so I decided that I was gonna make sure I set up the betting so that I would be able to get them in first postflop lol^^
Anyway so the big blind peeled, he had me covered (I think I was about 20 bigs him 35-40 bigs) and the flop came KK7. He check and I tanked then checked behind as I definately didn't want to get check raised and stack off their + I figured he would think I could check behind a big king there. The turn was a 7 and he check again so I led a small bet, about 2k into 5k and he peeled, leaving me with bout 13k behind and 9k in the pot. The river was a brick and he checked so I just shipped and he folded lol easy game.
The second hand was QJ suited, I opened UTG+1 with a min raise and again had about 18k / 20~ bigs. I'd just lost a few hands earlier a prettty big pot for about 40k chips with AQ vs AT where I opened cut off and sb shipped for about a 30k pot but he spiked a ten which made me bitter, after I had been accumulating a stack quite nicely with some uncontested 3 bets and late position steals. Everytime I started to build a stack something seemed to happen to put me bck in my place lol:(
So JQ suited EP min raise, everyone folded except the BRS situational player in the small blind who peeled and the flop came AA5...he checked and I checked behind as I felt that he was ready to do something frisky and I wanted to make sure I was getting them in first. I don't mind c-betting either but then I would flat if he re raise and would hate for him to jam the turn. Anyway so we both checked and the turn came another 5 for AA55 with a FD although kinda irrevalant. He lead 1600 and i cliked it back to 3200 figuring that was the best way to rep the ace and left me about 13k behind and he called. The river was a brick and I was about to ship then thought for a sec that he may actually have an ace lol and had a quick look at him but he wasnt interested in the hand so I just bet 5k (and going to fold to a ship + makes it look a bit stronger I think) and he instantly folded and left the table.
So a few more steals and tidy 3 bets and I'm sitting about 35 bigs deep again - I've been pretty solid, well...only shown good hands on the table, and open with KJ suited utg....the old dear on my left (my nemesis) insta calls which is a nightmare as her range is pretty tight. One other player peels and the flop comes AJx and I do just under half the pot as a C bet as the other player is in the hand aswell, the old dear peels and the other player folds. The turn is a brick but I dont fancy letting the old dear bet behind me as I wouldn't mind trying to hit a king or jack on the turn, so I set my own price with a tiny bet (like 800 into 5k, but used a nice selection of chips, she is clueless) and she insta called again so obviously had an ace. The river was a brick and i check with the intention of folding and she checks behind with A3 suited for a scrappy top pair....A3 = wtf.
I had an epic amount of showdowns in the next few/last few hours of day 1 and I can't remember the order lol but I could never seem to get to or above 50k. The first I remember was JJ on the big blind, the old dear on my left limped utg and the button limped but sb folded (everyone else folded) I had just over 20 bigs and jacks in the big blind.
I looked at the old dear and she had an epic tell (lool) which was that she would put her hands on her chips when she was going to fold but I fancied getting a bit extra value out of my jacks and just made it 3500 (the bb was 1k I had 20k odd behind)- the old dear paniced and shipped all in for about 16k with the most nervous look on her face in the world and I reluctantly called and lost a showdown vs KQ suited (she flopped a flush bitter).
Next hand I was down to bout 4 bigs and tripled up from the SB with KK vs 88 (the 3rd player folded postflop) and then the next hand after that I reship AJ suited into AQ and hit a jack that put me just under 30k and actually in quite a lot better shape than I was before the Jacks hand.
Following that I had AQ vs AT that I lost, AJ vs 99 that I won and AK vs JJ that I lost...however at some point I was on about 35k with the blinds 1000 and I min raised opened the cut off with A9 off.
The 2 old dears/button folded and the big blind peeled...I didn't have much information on this guy he was new to the table but he had quite a big stack and was an old fella. The flop came 567 rainbow and he checked. I thought for a bit then bet 4k into a 5k odd pot, I figured this would look like an overpair that I wasn't going to fold like TT and I didn't fancy him messing about with me with a peel or check raise light etc. He called the c bet and checked a 9 on the turn...and I checked behind. The river was a brick 2 and he bet out 7.5k was bout 2/3 of the pot.
So I took a deep breathe and got ready for a tank as I always make sure I take a long time with decisions like this (if you had seen me at the feature table you'd know this as I spent the whole time tanking and apparently annoying the commentators lol) and the BRS player picked up on this and called "time" basically straight away.
I was a bit taken aback by the request by it but didn't say anything as I wanted to think about the hand, and after an epic tank I folded with a few seconds left figuring that basically he could definately have an 8 in his range or a scrappy 2 pair and that my pot bet on the flop should mean he knows I have an overpair and would have a hard time folding. + I had no information on the guy and after reviewing my stack size (I had about 30k at big blind 1k which is enough room to do some light 3 bets/c bets/floats etc. - but if I called and lost would be on 23k odd, basically 20 bigs and in re-ship mode) so decided folding was best. He showed J4 for a missed straight (board was 56792) so I was a bit bitter but not to unhappy with my decision..I figured I was only beatin a4 a5 a6 a7 (cos he did call my raise pre) but a5-a6-a7 probably check the river, but losing to a massive range of 2 pairs n straights. On another note the guy also stared at me relentlessly after betting and said that he would have let me have all the time I like to make the decision rather than calling time..but tbh I dunno how to read into those 2 tells whether that means people are bluffing or not. I think if a traditional (like VPIP 40, VPR 4) fish stares at you then usually they got the nuts lol, although I did remember Billy Chattaway saying to me one time that when your bluffing stare at the player like "I got the nuts here so fold"...but I doubt that guy was on billys level ha!
A few 3 bet resteals and I got back to bout 30 bigs, I then had aces at 1200 big blind and a traditional limped in mid position with about 10 bigs...I popped it up to 3200 and the small blind peeled and the limped peeled. The flop came KKx and the SB check, then the limper shoved so I called and the SB folded. The limper turned over KQ for trips (outplayed much?) and being bitter again I re-evualated my stack which was about 20k.
The last few hands of the day I doubled TT vs 99 (+ a little bit of dead money), then lost AK vs JJ, then won 99 vs 55 against a shorty and finished the day with just under 40k. The last few hours were pretty manic and after a chat with chipjam and the guys I came to the tourny with (Chipjam was upset he didnt fold 44 on 477xx when the guy had quads lol?? cooler much.) I hit the hay, but didnt get to sleep til about 5am...
Next day I woke up about 12 and the comp started at 1...I was still really tired though and after a shower/quick breakfast from the sainsbury bakery I turned up and the comp had already started, bitter. I went to find my table and it took a while to get my seat which was fustrating as I had 40k at 1600 so not an epic amount of time, but eventually found my table and sat down right of the dealer. I hate sitting right or left of the dealer! You cannot see players or stack sizes or even whats going on at the table really, its like your an outsider to the game. Anyway I had a quick look at my new tables stack sizes and everyone was deep nightmare, the first hand I sat down the sb raised, bb 3 bet, sb 4 bet and bb folded. There had not been much 4 betting on my previous table at all so this was not a good sign + I'd ordered a tea but it hadn't arrived, bitttttter!
Next hand I get AJ suited early position and I open for a min, the same guy who just 4 bet (an old geezer) 3 bets me and the next guy (who just 3 bet folded) 4 bet ships and I think great, not the best table. I fold and the guy calls for AK vs QQ, and the QQ held.
The very next hand the same guy who 3 bet me opens and the bb peels. The bb check raised a pretty dead flop (952 or so) and the same guy jams the flop, and the bb folds. Hating the table. 1 or 2 hands later is my big blind and I have TJ suited, the same guy opens with a min lol and I decide to peel as I really don't want to 3 bet/have him peelor 4 bet and me have to jam etc, just a mess so I peel for 1 extra big and the flop comes AQ7. I check and he checks, which was not what I was expecting and the turn brings an 8. Usually I'd lead into the 8 with the double gutshot/bellybuster (or whatever it is) straight draw but elected to check raise as I figured this guy would surely bet if check to twice...but then once he bet realised that if I check raised the stack size was kinda perfect for him to ship and I wouldn't be able to call and that was an epic fail. If I lead and he raised, then I shipped it would have a lot nicer
So I check-called and figured I bet most rivers instead, but the river came a 7 and for some reason I checked (I thought actually I'll check raise the river) but he checked behind...and I was really unhappy with how I played the hand, especially after he turned over 44 for a measly pair to win the pot.
I then got moved to a new table sat next to SNGwonder and with a stack of just under 30k at big blind 1600. Again I was sat right of the dealer which I hate as I can't see players or stack sizes or even feel that I'm part of the game lol and my tea still hasn't arrived so I'm not very settled and SNGwonder opens with a min UTG. One player peels mid position who is pretty deep and just seems like a bog standard player and I look down at TJ suited again, I figure this time I'm not gonna play it like a fish and ship my 17-18 bigs, but SNGwonder calls AQ and knocks me out.
Really disappointed with how I played day 2, my head was not in the game at all and I let factors affect my mentallity which I shouldn't have. So gutted about that, and on the way home I had a big think and discussion with my mate about how important mentallity is in poker and how I need to improve mine, sometimes you can make 1 or 2 mistakes in a tournament and you'll get lucky or they won't be significant but other times it can cost your whole tournament and it's just unacceptable. Over the next few weeks I am going to spend a lot of focus trying to improving my mentallity and ensuring that I am able to play my best poker everytime I sit down at the tables, live or online, so watch this space
Steve
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