Monday 30 April 2012

April Report Card


My terrible run in SnG turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I went back to the cash game.

This time, I tried Zoom Poker and have good success in it. I have more or less recovered my losses from SnG and I am on my way to gaining Supernova status by the end of this year. I have also started playing a bit of 50nl. My plan is to gradually move up to 50nl by playing at 50nl Zoom whenever I feel that I am playing well or running good.

My 25nl Result




  • Went on a mini heater initially.
  • But I have been breaking even for the past 40-50k hands. Hopefully, I will be able to get out of this breakeven stretch soon. 


My 50nl Result



  • My graph for 50nl and 25nl looked so different. Did I really play that differently for both stakes? Well, I need more hands to prove that I indeed play differently. 
Targets for May
  • Play at least 120k hands in 25nl and  5k hands in 50nl. 
  • Maintain my platinum status in PS and achieve 10k VPP for May
  • Continue to review videos and post interesting hand history reviews in my blog. 


Sunday 29 April 2012

A well played hand with AA... ...

A short intro of players:


BB - A TAG regular
MP1 - A super loose fish (32/20 after 80+ hands)


Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

BTN: $26.15 (104.6 bb)
SB: $39.46 (157.8 bb)
BB: $42.06 (168.2 bb)
UTG+1: $26.93 (107.7 bb)
UTG+2: $12.83 (51.3 bb)
MP1: $24.44 (97.8 bb)
MP2: $25.10 (100.4 bb)
Hero (MP3): $25.22 (100.9 bb)
CO: $28.35 (113.4 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with A of hearts A of diamonds
2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.50, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $2, 3 folds, BB calls $1.75, MP1 calls $1.50

Flop: ($6.10) 5 of diamonds 7 of clubs 9 of diamonds (3 players)
BB checks, MP1 bets $1, Hero raises to $4, BB calls $4, MP1 calls $3

Turn: ($18.10) 9 of hearts (3 players)
BB checks, MP1 bets $3, Hero calls $3, BB raises to $36.06 and is all-in, MP1 folds, Hero calls $16.22 and is all-in

River: ($59.54) Q of hearts (2 players, 2 are all-in)

Results: $59.54 pot ($2.00 rake)
Final Board: 5 of diamonds 7 of clubs 9 of diamonds 9 of hearts Q of hearts
BB showed K of hearts K of spades and lost (-$25.22 net)
MP1 mucked and lost (-$9 net)
Hero showed A of hearts A of diamonds and won $57.54 ($32.32 net)

Preflop:


  • The range that I put the Mp1 fish was very wide. It could basically be anything since he open any thrashes and not folding them vs my 3 bet. 
  • With regards to the BB, he could be calling with any pairs, suited connectors or AJs+, AQo. 

Flop:
  • I chose to raise MP1 fish flop donk bet as a form of protection for my hand as well as for value. I was expecting MP1 to call alot of my raise if I am ahead or he will reraise me if he is ahead.
  • What surprises me is that BB called as well in such a draw heavy board. 
Turn:
  • The 9 of hearts is a very bad card for me. Anyone holding on the a 9 is now crushing my AA. 
  • The guy most likely to hold the 9 is the Mp1 fish. The TAG BB is not likely to have an 9 due to all the preflop and flop actions. 
  • Therefore, when the MP1 fish leads out, I decided to just call his small bet.
  • All of a sudden, BB shoves! And the MP1 fish who is most likely to crush me folds!
  • The BB shoves here doesnt make sense. If he has a set, he will most likely going to raise flop when there are so much action then. The 9 of hearts doesnt seem to help him alot.
  • And after watching MP1 folds, I called the BB shove pretty quickly since I am quite confident I am right here. 
This actually causes me to think about why the TAG BB played this way. My hypothesis:

Preflop:
  1. Given that I 3 betted MP1, the BB is worried about bumping into AA (and correctly so) and thus, he chose to smooth call my preflop 3 bet. 

Flop
  1. Given that I reraised the MP1 donk bet, he perceived me to be holding a strong hand. Possibly a set. Or At least an AA. Thus, he chose to call with KK and not being able to lay it down (Most micro players just simply are married to their KK-AA). 
Turn
  1. When he saw me just calling a small donk bet by the fish, he thought that I have a weak hand that cannot withstand a shove from him. Maybe he put me on the exact AA hand which I have to fold if he shove. 
  2. Well, he is right in the sense that if MP1 shove, I am going to fold.
  3. But I am never going to fold vs his shove as he couldn't logically represent a hand that beats me.





Saturday 28 April 2012

My first ever Royal FLush at PS....

After 300k+ hands played, finally a royal flush!

And I think I did well here to induce a bet from the fish at turn... ...


Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

BTN: $32.21 (128.8 bb)
SB: $28.16 (112.6 bb)
Hero (BB): $44.43 (177.7 bb)
UTG+1: $29.71 (118.8 bb)
UTG+2: $10.95 (43.8 bb)
MP1: $12.52 (50.1 bb)
MP2: $20.74 (83 bb)
MP3: $11.87 (47.5 bb)
CO: $23.55 (94.2 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A of diamonds K of diamonds
3 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, 4 folds, Hero raises to $2.25, MP2 calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.60) 5 of diamonds T of diamonds 9 of spades (2 players)
Hero bets $3, MP2 calls $3

Turn: ($10.60) J of diamonds (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $5, Hero calls $5

River: ($20.60) Q of diamonds (2 players)
Hero bets $15, MP2 calls $10.49

Results: $41.58 pot ($1.87 rake)
Final Board: 5 of diamonds T of diamonds 9 of spades J of diamonds Q of diamonds
Hero showed A of diamonds K of diamonds and won $39.71 ($18.97 net)
MP2 showed 8 of diamonds A of clubs and lost (-$20.74 net)

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Difficult flop decision with 99 deep stacked

My biggest loss tonight......Did I play this hand correctly?




Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Cash, 9 Players

BTN: $26 (104 bb)
SB: $32.23 (128.9 bb)
BB: $25 (100 bb)
UTG+1: $25.10 (100.4 bb)
UTG+2: $25 (100 bb)
MP1: $27.89 (111.6 bb)
MP2: $36.11 (144.4 bb)
Hero (MP3): $38.34 (153.4 bb)
CO: $59.39 (237.6 bb)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 9 of diamonds 9 of hearts
3 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, CO raises to $3.50, 3 folds, MP2 calls $2.75, Hero calls $2.75

Flop: ($10.85) 7 of spades 8 of hearts 6 of spades (3 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $5, CO raises to $10, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $34.84 and is all-in, CO calls $24.84

Turn: ($80.53) 2 of clubs (2 players, 1 is all-in)


River: ($80.53) 7 of diamonds (2 players, 1 is all-in)

Results: $80.53 pot ($2 rake)

Final Board: 7 of spades 8 of hearts 6 of spades 2 of clubs 7 of diamonds
MP2 mucked and lost (-$3.50 net)
Hero showed 9 of diamonds 9 of hearts and lost (-$38.34 net)
CO showed K of clubs K of diamonds and won $78.53 ($40.19 net)