PStars Update: Pumped for the SCOOP

So it's been awhile since I last wrote but not because I haven't been playing. The week of 8-14 I was doing alot of losing. Cash games, heads-up and sit&go's the whole deal. The only saving grace I had from keeping the week from being a complete disaster. I finished 2nd in a 18 players S&G. I was pretty happy with the results considering I was 8th in chips at the final table and when the blinds were 400 had 470 in chips. I double up in key spots. So for the week I was down 3.87 for the week (my worst point in the week I was down 8.67).

I reevaulated my bankroll and started to buy-in to cash games for a dollar instead of three so I would avoid bad beats, bluffing to much and risking too much of my bankroll. So for the first half of the week I was buy-in for a dollar. It was a slow grind but I was making profit. And then I heard about the new Pokerstars tournament the SCOOP and the different buy-ins for each level. I've always wanted to play in a big prize pool tournaments. So this motivated me to get my bankroll up. I have stated to buy-in for $5 dollars and the nearly killed my bankroll.

One of the first 10 hands I called a raise from SB w/ 66 (for .08 cents), guy from the BB reraises to .14. I immediately put him on AA,KK or AK, More likely one of the first two. I call only to hit a set because otherwise I am in trouble. I flop: 6 8 10. I check with the intention of raising. I check he bets .24 cents, raise to .74. He moves all-in and has my 5 dollars covered (or whatever it was) I tanked for a second, just to think if he had a better set but they way the hand played out I figured KK or AA. I call he shows KK and hits a King on the river.

I was on tilt to say the least but I wasn't going to go out like that I bought back in for 5 dollars with only 6 dollars left in my accounts. It took my three hours but I got my money back plus a little profit with the last pot coming at the expense of the KK guy.

Breakdown:

By Game

Cash games +14.71

18 Player S&G's +4.20

9 Player S&G's -3.60

Heads Up S&G -4.80

By Week

Feb 1-7 +5.54

Feb 8-14 -3.87

Feb 15-21 +7.57

Feb 22-28 +1.27

So I'm hoping to get my bankroll up and make enough to play in some SCOOP events. Of course I'll update my progress

Current PStars Bankroll: $23.44

PStars Bankroll: Breaking 20 dollars, Tilt & Playing Well?

Since my last entry I have been on the upswing, I have finally broken 20 dollars with the free 5 dollar pokerstars gave me. I thought this would happen alot earlier (on the Jan 5th entry I set a goal of 20 dollars by the end of the next week). So far I have made 10.25 from .01/.02 cash games this week.

This number would have been much higher had I had not blown 3 hands. After playing a session getting my bankroll up to 19.66 I decided to reward myself with a heads-up S&G. I always raise and bluff at the first pot, to feel my opp. out to see if they are going to fold and give me respect early. And from there I see if I will be the aggressor or trap them. Well he folded the first hand but after that he got very aggr. He hit runner runner against me to complete a straight, so I was down about 1800 to 1200 early. He started to raise big on the button and even off the button (as I started to limp so I could trap him). He raised on the button like 4 times BB (too much for my taste). I finally picked up a non-folding hand (I folded early to make him think he could run me over) KJ. I reraise to 240. He moves all-in. I snap call, he shows K6 suited, I'm a 65% favorite he flops a 6 and I lose.

I've been trying not to let bad beats bother me...you great starting hand is just that a starting hand, but I got Tilted with this beat. I was very hungry and I think that had something to do with it (lol). So I went immediately to a Cash game. Long story short....flop three diamonds...I have no diamonds...guy bets....I think I am Kenny Tran or something putting him on something else other than flush...5 on the turns...guy bets turn, moves in on river...I for some reason think I am best with top pair...the only thing I can beat is like a weaker King (with worse than Q kicker)....I call...he shows trip 5's....Goodbye three dollars

Next day first hand in BB. Queens. Guy moves in one off the button...I tank...I put him on AK or AQ figuring he gets no value out of anything better...I call for my 3 dollars...Sidebar: I hate how Pokerstars turn up the hands after the river on a all-in, where's the drama?...I'm stuck guessing card helps him...anyway he shows AA...goodbye three dollars.

While I think the Heads-Up S&G wasn't my fault the other two were and I could be up 6 dollars more had I not making these plays. I had made a rule that I will only go all-in pre flop with AK, AA, or KK. I got too much of my bankroll in play to be making many all in moves.

After a lost those two 6 dollar, I made 4.80 later that night. Which to me raise the question: I am good or these guys just that bad? The answer is obviously a generalization but I think for the most part they are bad. Examples...guy moves all-in with top-top (9 with A kicker), I call with jacks...Guy call my river bet with top pair medium kicker...Guy bets half his amount with no pair when I have the nuts (him drawing dead), I raise him the rest and he is forced to call. I still I think I am alright player but the .01/.02 is not filled with amazin players.

New rule...once I break an increment of 5 (ex $20...$25...$30 etc.) I reward myself with a S&G. I think I am going to play a Single table next.

Current PStars Banrkoll: $20.98

Welcome to Tilt Town

The title comes from a Sit & Go I was playing. Facing a guy who make moves with any pair. I flopped top pair (Q) with top kicker (A). He bets, I raise trying to show strength. He reraises and I move all-in. He shows Q10 and hits a 10 on the river. So I'm down to my last 500 early in the tournament. He limps, I min raise with KK he reraises. I don't think theres a chance he limps with AA so I move in, he snap calls with AQ and flops Broadway (J K 10). Goodnight everyone. Thankfully I was out on that hand and couldn't tilt anymore. And I made sure that was all the poker I played for the night.

So my second month (not full) of Pokerstars has ended with my bankroll at $12.93. I started the month with 10.70 but when you consider I was down to my last 1.90. Cash games I found to be more profitable but I love sit and go's. I may treat sit &go's like a treat.

Jan Highlights:

High: $17.01

Low: $1.90

Best Day Jan 24: $4.30

Worst Day Jan 5: $-4.00

Best Game: Cash Games $5.83

Worst Game: Heads Up $-7.60

Now if you excuse I'm gonna play a quick cash game.

Peace out

PStars Bankroll Update: Sucking out for "big" cash

Cash games have been positive for the most part. I play .01/.02, and I buy in for 3 dollars so I have plenty of play. I made 2.89 my first time out because I kept typing in incorrect raises. I meant to raise to .08 but I typed .80...building up the pot more than I intended but it worked out twice as I made flushes both time and got paid off once. So far my sessions have been:

Jan 18- +2.89
Jan 19- +.22
Jan 19- -3.00 (was playing too many hands and got frustrated)
Jan 21- +3.79
Jan 21- +1.51

I'd be remissed if I didn't talk about my two big suck-outs. I raised with pocket 10's and got re-raise (for 8 cents with my about 1.14 behind) and got reraised, right behind me. One thing I noticed is that online people generally don't re-raise pre-flop unless they have AA, KK or AK. So I called in hopes of a scary flop for that hand. Flop comes complete air, with a Q on the board. I check looking to see what he does. He bets .60, putting my at a decision. I'm not quite sure he would bet with AA or KK but I thought he had it and I was frustrated so I shoved and he called showing Kings...I hit a 10 on the turn and won the pot...horrible I know.

Another game my first hand in I pick up KK in BB. Guy UTG raises. I reraise. He reraises. Being that I haven't seen him play- I move all-in for 3 dollars and if he has aces it's a cooler. He calls shows Aces. I then flop a King and take the big pot.

Those two pots won't go down as highlight reels for my poker career but sometimes you just rather be lucky.

Just finished a session winning 60 cents so my bankroll currently stands at $15.53...not too shabby

PStars Bankroll Update: On the Up Swing

So quick Pokerstars bankroll update: I lost a couple of 9 player Sit& Go with only two cashes out of five (both 3rd). I kinda realize that 9P S&G's are crap shoots: when you finish third you earn 1.80 while risking 1.20...so if you don't cash the next event you are in the negative. So it is almost imperative that you finish 1 or 2 at the mirco levels. I played an 18 player S&G in hopes of a bigger cash...finishing 9th. I played way to passive (hadn't been reading enough Gus, I guess). I went back to Heads-Up S&G and won three in a row. Heads-Up S&G are like boxes of chocolate...you never know what your gonna get. Some smart opponents, some really dumb opponents (a guy called my call all-in for his tourny life with 8 high). But I believe if I stay patient, I have a high percentage of winning. I also finished 2nd in 9 player Sit&Go as well. So my bankroll now sits at $13.90.

I was listening to All-Strategy on Pokerroad.com and Daniel advised that playing cash games was the best way to build your bankroll so I am going to try a shot at cash games. I have avoided cash games because I don't know the differences in style of play between them but I will give it a shot.

So the Freeroll last night I busted in 91st. I was taking alot of small pots but not big ones. I lost one flip 99 v. AJ. I wasn't feeling confident even though I was making a deep run, which I think was a bigger factor in my bust out. I had A10 in SB (folded around me), I min raised to 2,400 (hoping to steal). He re-raised to 6,000. I had it in my mind that I would shove if he re-raised (looking back I should folded or called but I had only about 15 or 16 BB). I shoved he called showing AJ I floped at 10 and then he hit runner runner to complete Broadway. I wasn't really mad just disappointed in my play. Anyway back to the grind!

FT Update: Hansen Like Agression

So away from the virtual felt I have been reading Gus Hansen's book Every Hand Revealed, in which Gus details every hand he played in the 07 Aussie Millions. And needles to say it has had an effect on my game. I have been playing alot weaker hands that I wouldn't normally been playing in position. Generally I usually play about 15-22 percent of hand, but in one freeroll I was playing 30 percent at one time. I've also been more aggressive post-flop and looked more for possible back door draws.

My chip stack was up and down using his "style" (at least my verison of it). I eventually busted when I mistyped my bet LOL. Pot was 800 and I meant to bet 200 but I typed 2000 leaving me only 245 behind. Of course someone moved in and I was forced to call with 7-high. Good luck and goodnight.

Other than that I've been playing a couple of "Freguson" freerolls (top 100 get $1 tournment dollar). These freeroll arn't really poker. Blinds go up every 3 minutes, so it becomes a shovefest. I almost cashed in this. There was about 180 players left, and with the blind structure you never know how much time you actually have left. I thought I might have a shot but could use a double up. Guy moved in from the BB, I thought he might be making a play I had K5, not great but I had been running well and went with my read and called. He showed 6's and doubled up. I quickly was bounced shortly after.

I'm actually playing a freeroll now:

15,230 in chips (88 of 426)

blinds 100/200

Two hands stand out...I had Aces in a five way all-in pot. Frankly I don't remember what anyone had but nobody else had a pair or AK. Watching the action I had no clue what I need to dodge to win but I did.

I also called all-in Kh Qd with 3 hearts on the board (ace included) and caught on the river. It was a tough call but I was given decent pot odds.

I am feeling alright about my chances...I got along way to go before cashing.

FT Bankroll: $1.11

Pokerstars Bankroll Update: Back In Business

Well after nearly having my bankroll disintegrate before my very eyes (.70 cents if I didn't cash in 18 player Sit & Go, which I won...see previous entry), I'm back up to $10.60 after finishing 3rd, 8th and 1st in three 9 player Sit&Go's. I start out patient and wait for others, take a small pot here and there, double up, wait until 3 players are left then try to make a move.

I lost my first match on a couple of key hands: I caught Kings v. Queens and they held up to obtain a key double up with 4 players left. Then got King and slow played them into a loss: I limped in (sb) and BB checked. Flop: [5s Js 6d]. I check, he bets 400. Turn: [7h]. I bet 800 trying to show strength, he calls. River: [4c] I'm not crazy about that card, putting an open ended straight draw on the board. I check, he bets 800...in my mind he could still have Jacks and think he was ahead, so I call and he shows 5x 8x for the straight. Very next hand I pick up Aces on the button. BB moves all-in, I thank my lucky stars and call he shows [Ah Qs] (I'm a 92% favorite and pretty much cripple him). Flop: [5h Js 4h]. So hes drawing dead unless he hits a Queen or heart...heart on the turn...heart on the river. Hello third! While it is a cash (and that's the name of the game) it means little because you win $1.80 but you paid 1.20 for the tournament.

I lost my second tournament due to another trap gone wrong: I raise with [8s 9s]. One caller (in BB). Flop comes [Js Ks 2s]...Jackpot! She checks. I check. Turn [As], don't love that card but I could still have the best hand. She bets 30 I call. River:[Td] She bets 120. I decide to raise to 400 (thinking only one card beats me Qs...actually 10s also would beat me). She re-raised to 680. I call. She shows Qs. I lose. I should have probably either called the first bet or folded to the re-raise. I may or may not have been influenced by the fact she had the name of an ex-girlfriend in her name (lol). I shoved with K 4 with two limpers (for no real reason) got called by A 5. Hit a four, guy hit runner runner for a straight. Hello 8th!

In the third match...I played tight until there was only 4 left and then we got down to three handed. I had 2870 in chips (1st had 7370 and 2nd hand 3320). I let the other two battle it out and then made a move with Kings and got called by A5 and won. I eventually got heads up down in chips big time 9705 to 3795. I could read this guy very well so I was actually confident (he seems to call too much). I shoved on the river twice trying to get a quick double up (with two pair and straight). I eventually took the chip lead (7570 to 5930). However momentum shifted (a bad call, bad hands, and too much speculation) and I found myself down (12130 to 1370). Although I believe I can win heads-up even with large deficits, I was kicking myself for losing so much ground and thought I blew my chance. However, I got back when I shoved on the river (finally worked) with a straight and got paid off. I doubled up AK v. K10 (can't believe he made that call), giving me the chip lead again. I won the tournament when I flopped top two (KJ), he bet, I raised, he moved in...I called. He had a flush draw and blanked on the final two. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

So my bankroll is up to $10.60 and I am feeling very confident about my game.