My game?

Finally for the first time in a while I can boast of an encouraging graph over a nontrivial sample:



18k hands is hardly earthshattering - some people have been known to play more than that in a single day - but that graph as a whole is reassuring as hell. It's my NL100 results spanning April and May, and representative of 19 days of play. I've been playing NL100 almost exclusively for the past week or so now, having tried to jumpstart my month by playing NL200 and not doing particularly well at it. Pretty amazingly I've only had a single losing session in that span, out of six, and honestly I think I've run pretty poorly in this sample. More than a couple of those $50-$100 downspikes should be spikes in the other direction :)

I haven't done much to adjust my play, though I've mixed up my postflop routine some and vowed to be much less anxious to stack off with one pair hands. I've also opened up my game a bit preflop, drifting from my normal 13/10 to more like 14.5/9.5. My W$WSF has been 39% over this timeframe (a very good number) and my w$SD has been 58%, an artifact of my general lack of willingness to see a showdown unless I have a pretty good idea I'm best. That makes me bluffable, but I have shown a pretty decent knack for picking them off.

These past few months have been pretty rough but I'm feeling rejuvenated. Hopefully I can finish the month strong with a good Friday night and stick with my best game as June rolls around.

Oh yeah, and I made another $150 tonight in 1k hands of play. I didn't really feel like I was on top of my game and I made a couple of bonehead plays, but had people tossing me money anyway.

Um wut?

So, I know I post a lot of crap here complaining about one specific thing I've noticed: that in all of the big-stack pots I lose, I tend to either get coolered, have at least a semi-reasonable hand that I misplay, or go all-in as a favorite, while in the big pots that I lose, it's never a cooler for the other guy and is in fact usually the other guy behaving like an absolute retarded monkey.

But this is just insane.

I get off to a slow start in tonight's session with a fairly standard ugly 3bet hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607704548: Table Jasper Bluff - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:21:14 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: boobs_doobs ($75.20)
Seat 2: felsoned ($119.05)
Seat 3: gdshaffer ($102.80)
Seat 4: William Zei ($156.50)
Seat 5: FlopNutsOnYou ($114.15)
Seat 6: Fabusus ($129.65)
Seat 7: superman858mm ($51.65)
Seat 8: iluvharisu ($100), is sitting out
Seat 9: kirkir7 ($15.50), is sitting out
William Zei posts the small blind of $0.50
FlopNutsOnYou posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jh 9h]
Fabusus folds
superman858mm folds
boobs_doobs folds
felsoned raises to $3.55
gdshaffer raises to $12
William Zei folds
FlopNutsOnYou folds
felsoned calls $8.45
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6s Kc]
felsoned checks
gdshaffer bets $18
felsoned raises to $36
gdshaffer adds $27.20
gdshaffer folds
Uncalled bet of $18 returned to felsoned
felsoned mucks
felsoned wins the pot ($58.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $61.50 | Rake $3
Board: [Kh 6s Kc]
Seat 1: boobs_doobs didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: felsoned collected ($58.50), mucked
Seat 3: gdshaffer (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: William Zei (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: FlopNutsOnYou (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Fabusus didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: superman858mm didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: iluvharisu is sitting out
Seat 9: kirkir7 is sitting out

The player was kind of nitty but capable of calling my 3bet with lower pairs and unhappy to see that flop unless he had a K himself. My 3bet pre is profitable as is my flop cbet, and there's almost no way this particular player is bluffing here as anyone plays AK the same way right up until the fold.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607707490: Table Dove River - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:21:37 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: natedogg156 ($38.45)
Seat 2: KJACK10 ($65)
Seat 3: Gh00h13 ($103.55)
Seat 4: jprestofull ($93.60)
Seat 5: Derka4 ($2.20)
Seat 6: BU legal eagle1 ($41.75)
Seat 7: briaar ($113.05)
Seat 8: the squirrel ($38.25)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($100)
jprestofull posts the small blind of $0.50
Derka4 is sitting out
BU legal eagle1 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qs Qh]
briaar folds
Derka4 adds $17.80
the squirrel folds
Derka4 has returned
gdshaffer raises to $3.50
natedogg156 folds
KJACK10 calls $3.50
Gh00h13 folds
jprestofull folds
BU legal eagle1 folds
*** FLOP *** [5h As Jd]
gdshaffer checks
KJACK10 checks
*** TURN *** [5h As Jd] [Ah]
gdshaffer bets $5
KJACK10 calls $5
*** RIVER *** [5h As Jd Ah] [3s]
gdshaffer bets $10
KJACK10 calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [Qs Qh] two pair, Aces and Queens
KJACK10 shows [Kh Kd] two pair, Aces and Kings
KJACK10 wins the pot ($36.60) with two pair, Aces and Kings
BU legal eagle1 has been disconnected
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $38.50 | Rake $1.90
Board: [5h As Jd Ah 3s]
Seat 1: natedogg156 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: KJACK10 showed [Kh Kd] and won ($36.60) with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 3: Gh00h13 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: jprestofull (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Derka4 is sitting out
Seat 6: BU legal eagle1 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: briaar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: the squirrel didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gdshaffer showed [Qs Qh] and lost with two pair, Aces and Queens

Silly hand here. I was obv value betting hoping for action from lower pairs, and was pretty shocked when he showed down kings. Both playing this hand as a wa/wb.

Then things went really south with a pretty horrific beat:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607731881: Table Welch - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:24:41 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: InIt2WinIt604 ($64.40)
Seat 2: phunkiemonkey ($107.55)
Seat 3: FlopNutsOnYou ($100.90)
Seat 4: Talin222 ($100.35)
Seat 5: Suigin406 ($100)
Seat 6: gdshaffer ($100)
Seat 7: kirkir7 ($20), is sitting out
Seat 8: lil_cashen ($56.60)
Seat 9: JVAL22 ($88.90)
FlopNutsOnYou posts the small blind of $0.50
Talin222 is sitting out
Suigin406 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Js Ac]
gdshaffer raises to $3.50
lil_cashen folds
JVAL22 calls $3.50
Talin222 stands up
InIt2WinIt604 folds
phunkiemonkey folds
FlopNutsOnYou folds
Suigin406 adds $1
Suigin406 folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 5h Ah]
gdshaffer bets $6
JVAL22 raises to $12
cindy123 adds $60
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer calls $6
*** TURN *** [Jc 5h Ah] [6d]
gdshaffer checks
JVAL22 bets $12
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to $84.50, and is all in
JVAL22 calls $61.40, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Js Ac]
JVAL22 shows [Jh 9h]
Uncalled bet of $11.10 returned to gdshaffer
*** RIVER *** [Jc 5h Ah 6d] [2h]
gdshaffer shows two pair, Aces and Jacks
JVAL22 shows a flush, Ace high
JVAL22 wins the pot ($176.30) with a flush, Ace high
gdshaffer adds $88.90
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $179.30 | Rake $3
Board: [Jc 5h Ah 6d 2h]
Seat 1: InIt2WinIt604 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: phunkiemonkey (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: FlopNutsOnYou (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Talin222 is sitting out
Seat 5: Suigin406 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: gdshaffer showed [Js Ac] and lost with two pair, Aces and Jacks
Seat 7: kirkir7 is sitting out
Seat 8: lil_cashen didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: JVAL22 showed [Jh 9h] and won ($176.30) with a flush, Ace high

For the smoothcall of his gay minraise on the flop: I felt very strongly that I had the best hand and was either up against either a flush draw or a hand that I had very dominated. I didn't think either of those options were going to pay off a committing reraise on this flop but felt that a dry turn would allow me to get the money in, or at least put him in a rough spot on the turn. If a heart comes I can usually safely check-fold a big vbet by him on the turn, as after I've called his raise I doubt he's representing the flush for fear I might have it myself; I did call his raise, after all. The turn bricked and my plan worked perfectly, getting him to commit with a deceptively weak hand, only to have it hit on the river. Bad luck.

This hand also gives a prime example of why those pair+draw combos are not always as strong as they seem, as his 2pair and trips outs aren't live.

Silly little hand next, but shows the strength of checking the flop with a weak made hand and calling the river:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607820589: Table Red Hawk - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:36:12 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: Thermo787 ($49.15)
Seat 2: William Zei ($93.55)
Seat 3: gdshaffer ($103.20)
Seat 4: FlopNutsOnYou ($109.30)
Seat 5: daznkidd ($51.85)
Seat 6: RobertoLuongo01 ($32.20)
Seat 7: yinchieh ($20)
Seat 8: cbelt2540 ($47.20)
Seat 9: Derka4 ($16.90)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of $0.50
FlopNutsOnYou posts the big blind of $1
yinchieh posts $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ad 7h]
daznkidd folds
RobertoLuongo01 folds
yinchieh checks
cbelt2540 calls $1
Derka4 has 15 seconds left to act
Derka4 folds
Thermo787 folds
William Zei folds
gdshaffer calls $0.50
FlopNutsOnYou checks
*** FLOP *** [Ah 8h 5c]
gdshaffer checks
FlopNutsOnYou checks
yinchieh checks
cbelt2540 checks
*** TURN *** [Ah 8h 5c] [6h]
gdshaffer bets $3
FlopNutsOnYou folds
yinchieh has 15 seconds left to act
yinchieh calls $3
cbelt2540 folds
*** RIVER *** [Ah 8h 5c 6h] [6d]
gdshaffer checks
yinchieh bets $10
gdshaffer calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
yinchieh shows [2d 7c] a pair of Sixes
gdshaffer shows [Ad 7h] two pair, Aces and Sixes
gdshaffer wins the pot ($28.50) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $30 | Rake $1.50
Board: [Ah 8h 5c 6h 6d]
Seat 1: Thermo787 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: William Zei (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Ad 7h] and won ($28.50) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 4: FlopNutsOnYou (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 5: daznkidd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: RobertoLuongo01 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: yinchieh showed [2d 7c] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 8: cbelt2540 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: Derka4 didn't bet (folded)

Here's a hand I misplayed:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607843132: Table Dove River - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:39:13 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: SassySara1 ($0), is sitting out
Seat 2: Roon2020 ($80)
Seat 3: Gh00h13 ($98.65)
Seat 4: jprestofull ($162)
Seat 5: adude321 ($36.15)
Seat 6: BU legal eagle1 ($56.05)
Seat 7: briaar ($108.55)
Seat 8: the squirrel ($31.85)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($100)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of $0.50
Roon2020 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jc Ad]
SassySara1 stands up
Gh00h13 folds
jprestofull folds
adude321 calls $1
BU legal eagle1 folds
briaar folds
the squirrel calls $1
gdshaffer calls $0.50
Roon2020 checks
*** FLOP *** [As 7d Qd]
gdshaffer bets $2
Roon2020 calls $2
adude321 calls $2
the squirrel calls $2
*** TURN *** [As 7d Qd] [Jh]
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $6
Roon2020 adds $3
Roon2020 folds
adude321 calls $6
the squirrel folds
*** RIVER *** [As 7d Qd Jh] [9d]
gdshaffer checks
adude321 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [Jc Ad] two pair, Aces and Jacks
adude321 mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($22.80) with two pair, Aces and Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24 | Rake $1.20
Board: [As 7d Qd Jh 9d]
Seat 1: SassySara1 is sitting out
Seat 2: Roon2020 (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 3: Gh00h13 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: jprestofull didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: adude321 mucked [Qc Jd] - two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 6: BU legal eagle1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: briaar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: the squirrel (button) folded on the Turn
Seat 9: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Jc Ad] and won ($22.80) with two pair, Aces and Jacks

Obv missed a lot of value on the river, and gave my opponent a prime chance to put me in a very difficult spot by shoving. Betting $15 on this river is much better, and he definitely pays me off.

Nice little pot to get me headed back in the right direction for real:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607874711: Table Jasper Bluff - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:43:34 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: boobs_doobs ($79)
Seat 2: felsoned ($124.05)
Seat 3: gdshaffer ($100)
Seat 4: William Zei ($145.50)
Seat 6: Fabusus ($160.85)
Seat 7: Derka4 ($17)
Seat 8: iluvharisu ($112.25)
Seat 9: OwenP ($100)
Pugilist_Poker sits down
felsoned posts the small blind of $0.50
gdshaffer posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kh Ah]
Pugilist_Poker stands up
Pugilist_Poker sits down
William Zei has 15 seconds left to act
Pugilist_Poker adds $100
William Zei folds
Fabusus folds
Derka4 raises to $4
iluvharisu folds
OwenP folds
boobs_doobs folds
felsoned calls $3.50
gdshaffer raises to $20
Derka4 calls $13, and is all in
felsoned calls $16
*** FLOP *** [Jc Kd Ks]
felsoned checks
gdshaffer bets $24
felsoned folds
gdshaffer shows [Kh Ah]
Derka4 shows [Qc Qh]
Uncalled bet of $24 returned to gdshaffer
*** TURN *** [Jc Kd Ks] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [Jc Kd Ks 3c] [2h]
gdshaffer wins the side pot ($5.70)
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Kings
Derka4 shows two pair, Kings and Queens
gdshaffer wins the main pot ($48.45) with three of a kind, Kings
Derka4 adds $20
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $57 Main pot $51. Side pot $6. | Rake $2.85
Board: [Jc Kd Ks 3c 2h]
Seat 1: boobs_doobs (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: felsoned (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [Kh Ah] and won ($54.15) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 4: William Zei didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Fabusus didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Derka4 showed [Qc Qh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens
Seat 8: iluvharisu didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: OwenP didn't bet (folded)

Pretty surprised the button called my oversqueeze after the original raiser called it as well. He obv. has some king of low pair but has to figure one of the two of us has a big pair and he has terrible setmining odds even with the shortstack putting $20 in behind. Of course the presence of the shortstack will keep me a bit more honest when it comes to bluffing, luckily I didn't have to :)

And then, the hand that left me completely mindboggled:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607913827: Table Village Center - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:48:59 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: lum53 ($77.90)
Seat 2: UltimateCommish ($92.50)
Seat 3: HommeDePlume ($84.40)
Seat 4: William Zei ($81.30)
Seat 5: Shrimped ($43.30)
Seat 6: Hussman2 ($163.35)
Seat 7: yesthatbig ($98.50)
Seat 8: eoqkrakdhkd ($102.10)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($100.50)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of $0.50
lum53 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [8d 8h]
UltimateCommish folds
HommeDePlume folds
William Zei folds
Shrimped folds
Hussman2 raises to $4
yesthatbig folds
eoqkrakdhkd folds
gdshaffer calls $3.50
lum53 folds
*** FLOP *** [9d 2c 8s]
gdshaffer bets $5
Hussman2 raises to $10
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to $35
Hussman2 has 15 seconds left to act
Hussman2 raises to $60
gdshaffer raises to $96.50, and is all in
Hussman2 has 15 seconds left to act
Hussman2 calls $36.50
gdshaffer shows [8d 8h]
Hussman2 shows [Ad Kc]
*** TURN *** [9d 2c 8s] [Ac]
*** RIVER *** [9d 2c 8s Ac] [Jh]
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Eights
Hussman2 shows a pair of Aces
gdshaffer wins the pot ($199) with three of a kind, Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $202 | Rake $3
Board: [9d 2c 8s Ac Jh]
Seat 1: lum53 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: UltimateCommish didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: HommeDePlume didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: William Zei didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Shrimped didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Hussman2 showed [Ad Kc] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: yesthatbig didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: eoqkrakdhkd (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [8d 8h] and won ($199) with three of a kind, Eights

Let's just say that after the flop 4bet, an unimproved AKo was not exactly part of the range I put him on. I stared at this handhistory for so long that I actually timed out on two of my tables. Um, thanks for the $100 I guess?

Then, but a few moments later:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6607964415: Table Village Center - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:56:06 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 2: UltimateCommish ($91.40)
Seat 3: HommeDePlume ($79.40)
Seat 4: William Zei ($80)
Seat 5: Shrimped ($61.75)
Seat 6: Hussman2 ($67.80)
Seat 7: yesthatbig ($97)
Seat 8: eoqkrakdhkd ($104.60)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($196.50)
UltimateCommish posts the small blind of $0.50
HommeDePlume posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qd Qs]
William Zei folds
CallMeCapo sits down
Shrimped calls $1
CallMeCapo adds $100
Hussman2 raises to $3
yesthatbig folds
eoqkrakdhkd folds
gdshaffer calls $3
UltimateCommish folds
HommeDePlume folds
Shrimped calls $2
*** FLOP *** [3h Th Jh]
Shrimped checks
Hussman2 bets $8
gdshaffer raises to $16
Shrimped folds
Hussman2 calls $8
*** TURN *** [3h Th Jh] [3c]
Hussman2 bets $42.50
gdshaffer raises to $85
Hussman2 calls $6.30, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Qd Qs]
Hussman2 shows [6c As]
Uncalled bet of $36.20 returned to gdshaffer
*** RIVER *** [3h Th Jh 3c] [6d]
gdshaffer shows two pair, Queens and Threes
Hussman2 shows two pair, Sixes and Threes
gdshaffer wins the pot ($137.10) with two pair, Queens and Threes
Hussman2 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $140.10 | Rake $3
Board: [3h Th Jh 3c 6d]
Seat 2: UltimateCommish (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: HommeDePlume (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: William Zei didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Shrimped folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Hussman2 showed [6c As] and lost with two pair, Sixes and Threes
Seat 7: yesthatbig didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: eoqkrakdhkd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gdshaffer (button) showed [Qd Qs] and won ($137.10) with two pair, Queens and Threes

Obv the last hand affected my play in this one, as I don't normally coldcall with QQ pre, but felt it was profitable here because despite these retard plays, the guy had fairly normal preflop stats and was capable of folding pre. Knowing that he was willing to stack off postflop with almost ATC I felt safe on most flops, and rolled the dice for the rest of his stack. Obv it worked as I got him to try a suicide bluff on the turn and snapraised faster than I've ever snapraised in my life. Even after the last hand with this donkey, I was amazed at what he stacked off with.

I'm almost half-worried that someone at the table will accuse him of chipdumping to me. Hell, if I didn't know that wasn't the case I'd be half-suspicious.

Anyway. Valuetown: population, us.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6608024170: Table Red Hawk - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:04:49 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: QuikSilvrDagger ($67)
Seat 2: William Zei ($104.85)
Seat 3: gdshaffer ($105.15)
Seat 4: gmandv888 ($37.50)
Seat 5: daznkidd ($113.90)
Seat 6: ACgr33ns ($77.45)
Seat 7: yinchieh ($10)
Seat 8: cbelt2540 ($38.05)
Seat 9: bustedaces94 ($110.20)
QuikSilvrDagger posts the small blind of $0.50
William Zei posts the big blind of $1
5 seconds left to act
yinchieh is sitting out
Time has expired
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [8c 8h]
gdshaffer raises to $3.50
gmandv888 folds
yinchieh has returned
daznkidd folds
ACgr33ns folds
bustedaces94 folds
QuikSilvrDagger calls $3
William Zei folds
*** FLOP *** [5c Ks 8s]
yinchieh adds $7.25
QuikSilvrDagger checks
gdshaffer bets $5
QuikSilvrDagger calls $5
*** TURN *** [5c Ks 8s] [3d]
QuikSilvrDagger checks
gdshaffer bets $12
QuikSilvrDagger calls $12
*** RIVER *** [5c Ks 8s 3d] [9c]
QuikSilvrDagger checks
gdshaffer bets $28
QuikSilvrDagger calls $28
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [8c 8h] three of a kind, Eights
QuikSilvrDagger mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($95) with three of a kind, Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $98 | Rake $3
Board: [5c Ks 8s 3d 9c]
Seat 1: QuikSilvrDagger (small blind) mucked [Qd Kh] - a pair of Kings
Seat 2: William Zei (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: gdshaffer showed [8c 8h] and won ($95) with three of a kind, Eights
Seat 4: gmandv888 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: daznkidd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: ACgr33ns didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: yinchieh is sitting out
Seat 8: cbelt2540 is sitting out
Seat 9: bustedaces94 (button) didn't bet (folded)

This is why we bet with our sets, ladies and gentlemen.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6608325360: Table Red Hawk - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:53:01 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: p1mpin_ken ($114.25)
Seat 2: William Zei ($152)
Seat 3: gdshaffer ($107.65)
Seat 4: gmandv888 ($23.45)
Seat 5: daznkidd ($113.65)
Seat 6: ACgr33ns ($81.55)
Seat 7: giveusakiss ($80)
Seat 9: txsholdm ($100)
William Zei posts the small blind of $0.50
gdshaffer posts the big blind of $1
_oilminer_ sits down
txsholdm posts $1
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ac As]
_oilminer_ adds $20
gmandv888 has 15 seconds left to act
gmandv888 folds
daznkidd calls $1
ACgr33ns folds
giveusakiss calls $1
txsholdm checks
p1mpin_ken folds
William Zei folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
daznkidd calls $6
giveusakiss adds $1
giveusakiss folds
txsholdm folds
*** FLOP *** [4h 7s 8d]
gdshaffer checks
daznkidd bets $10
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to $35
daznkidd calls $25
*** TURN *** [4h 7s 8d] [Kc]
gdshaffer bets $65.65, and is all in
daznkidd has 15 seconds left to act
daznkidd folds
Uncalled bet of $65.65 returned to gdshaffer
gdshaffer mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($83.50)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $86.50 | Rake $3
Board: [4h 7s 8d Kc]
Seat 1: p1mpin_ken (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: William Zei (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: gdshaffer (big blind) collected ($83.50), mucked
Seat 4: gmandv888 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: daznkidd folded on the Turn
Seat 6: ACgr33ns didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: giveusakiss folded before the Flop
Seat 9: txsholdm folded before the Flop

This punk is LAGgy and seems to have been targeting me specifically. I don't mind so much as he's not very good. A hand like this one pays for a lot of those ones where he flats me pre from position and picks up my $3.50 after I fail to cbet him. Very next hand at this table I caught AA again and bought the BB.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6608386154: Table Ogden - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:03:45 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: gdshaffer ($100)
Seat 2: William Zei ($212.50)
Seat 3: slickmick75 ($113.80)
Seat 4: BIOB ($63)
Seat 5: Tolkien2009 ($48.70)
Seat 6: toanvo ($69.50)
Seat 7: mulawampum ($51.70)
Seat 8: johnnyi2004 ($78.05)
Seat 9: Chadd Johnson ($100)
slickmick75 posts the small blind of $0.50
BIOB posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qc Qs]
Tolkien2009 calls $1
toanvo calls $1
mulawampum folds
johnnyi2004 calls $1
Chadd Johnson folds
gdshaffer raises to $6.50
William Zei folds
slickmick75 calls $6
BIOB folds
Tolkien2009 folds
toanvo calls $5.50
johnnyi2004 calls $5.50
*** FLOP *** [8s 7h Qh]
slickmick75 checks
toanvo checks
johnnyi2004 checks
gdshaffer bets $16
slickmick75 folds
toanvo calls $16
johnnyi2004 calls $16
*** TURN *** [8s 7h Qh] [As]
toanvo checks
johnnyi2004 checks
gdshaffer bets $77.50, and is all in
toanvo folds
johnnyi2004 has 15 seconds left to act
johnnyi2004 folds
Uncalled bet of $77.50 returned to gdshaffer
gdshaffer mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($73)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $76 | Rake $3
Board: [8s 7h Qh As]
Seat 1: gdshaffer collected ($73), mucked
Seat 2: William Zei (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: slickmick75 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: BIOB (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Tolkien2009 folded before the Flop
Seat 6: toanvo folded on the Turn
Seat 7: mulawampum didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: johnnyi2004 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: Chadd Johnson didn't bet (folded)

Flopping top set is profitable! I've just figured this out :). I shudder to think at how many of the overcreative FPS donks at NL100 would try to slowplay here and then get their opponents to get their money in on the river only when behind.

And we end on a beat against a lolshortstack:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6608158188: Table Village Center - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:25:31 ET - 2008/05/29
Seat 1: mustach8 ($45.70)
Seat 2: Tina_AA ($20)
Seat 3: FITRITE ($109.90)
Seat 4: William Zei ($80)
Seat 5: Shrimped ($13.40)
Seat 6: JTRITZ ($120.45)
Seat 7: yesthatbig ($128.80)
Seat 8: Sharpeagle ($87.40)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($263.80)
Sharpeagle posts the small blind of $0.50
gdshaffer posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kd Kc]
mustach8 folds
FITRITE folds
William Zei folds
Shrimped calls $1
JTRITZ folds
yesthatbig folds
Sharpeagle calls $0.50
gdshaffer raises to $5
Shrimped raises to $13.40, and is all in
Sharpeagle folds
gdshaffer calls $8.40
Shrimped shows [Jh 9h]
gdshaffer shows [Kd Kc]
*** FLOP *** [Qs 5h Ac]
*** TURN *** [Qs 5h Ac] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [Qs 5h Ac 8s] [Th]
Shrimped shows a straight, Queen high
gdshaffer shows a pair of Kings
Shrimped wins the pot ($26.45) with a straight, Queen high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $27.80 | Rake $1.35
Board: [Qs 5h Ac 8s Th]
Seat 1: mustach8 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Tina_AA is sitting out
Seat 3: FITRITE didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: William Zei didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Shrimped showed [Jh 9h] and won ($26.45) with a straight, Queen high
Seat 6: JTRITZ didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: yesthatbig (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Sharpeagle (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [Kd Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings

The funny thing was he said "I was just trying to go to bed". That kind of attitude always makes me laugh. I guess some people can't sleep until they've donked off the last $13 from their stack. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way, but I can't say I mind the EV.

Won about $30 in 1,000 hands despite having what I'm sure was a very bad run in terms of all-in luck. I've made the switch to PT3 which doesn't have PokerEV compatibility (and I don't feel like importing the hands into PT2 just to check) so no empirical verification, but I'm pretty confident.

Also, in semi-unrelated news, I've changed my wallpaper (on dual 17" flatscreens) to side-by-side 1280x1024 pics of Zooey Deschanel, who is imo by far the most gorgeous woman in Hollywood. I have to say this is +EV:



Yum. It's the eyes.

Kind of funny that I found two similar pics that work so well together despite being separate wallpaper pics. Had to copy-paste them into a single image but that's trivial enough. I'm quite happy with the end result.

Pretty sick hand

Full Tilt Poker Game #6537568618: Table Inez (deep) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 20:52:15 ET - 2008/05/23
Seat 1: Run You Over 22 ($111.65)
Seat 2: gdshaffer ($225.45)
Seat 3: Luckbox4 ($215.35)
Seat 4: mike7072222 ($334.95)
Seat 5: GeckoMike ($199)
Seat 6: ringo6624 ($86.80)
Seat 7: ctcdad ($111.10)
Seat 8: wendellsailor59 ($228.20)
Seat 9: notnroht11 ($181.80)
notnroht11 has 5 seconds left to act
notnroht11 has been disconnected
notnroht11 is sitting out
notnroht11 has timed out
Run You Over 22 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qd Ah]
notnroht11 has reconnected
gdshaffer raises to $3
Luckbox4 calls $3
mike7072222 folds
GeckoMike folds
ringo6624 folds
ctcdad folds
wendellsailor59 folds
notnroht11 has returned
Run You Over 22 calls $2
*** FLOP *** [Qc 2c Ac]
Run You Over 22 checks
gdshaffer bets $9
Luckbox4 calls $9
Run You Over 22 folds
*** TURN *** [Qc 2c Ac] [3h]
gdshaffer bets $12
Luckbox4 raises to $38
gdshaffer calls $26
*** RIVER *** [Qc 2c Ac 3h] [4h]
gdshaffer checks
Luckbox4 bets $94
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer has requested TIME
gdshaffer ?????????

Deepstack NL100 tables at full tilt, villain is running 19/12/3.3 over 440 hands with a preflop 3bet percentage of just under 3. Pretty good, thinking, observant player who I imagine is using a HUD. My table image is somewhat middlish, running around 20/11/2.1. (I play many more hands at the deepstack tables than at regular stack tables, because of the added implied odds of deceptive hands).

I took up my entire time bank, just about, before finally making the call. Just as I suspected, villain showed AxKc and I took down the $144 pot. My opponent having the flush he was repping just didn't make any sense unless it was the nut flush, and I had a very hard time accepting that he would call an EP raise from a tight player with KJs or worse. If he had a lesser flush I very seriously doubt he smoothcalls the flop (some will, but it's not this player's style) before making his move on the turn. However, a semi-made hand with the draw to the nuts makes perfect sense.

I don't think I like the river bluff by my opponent, though it's obviously tempting. After I call his turn raise he has to know I'm pretty serious about the hand and may very well be ahead. Because he holds the Kc he knows I'm not drawing, unless I happen to have AJ with the J of clubs and a desire to be suicidal. He might push me off AK, but pushing me off a chopped hand is hardly as +EV as pushing me off a hand that is ahead of him.

And he's not getting a call from worse hands, either. Does he seriously think I'm calling with AJ here? So it's obviously a bluff, meant to push me off AK/AQ.

As that's not going to work too often, I think he's much better off just checking behind and hoping for a chop.

Still lost like $136 in cash games today, though I made like $64 of it back in a tournament ($24+2 PL H/A tournament, I finished 8th/112 for a $90 prize). Got oversetted in a huge pot, and lost about $180 when a guy gave a tiny 3bet to me from out of the blinds, I called (a smooth-caller folded, so I had great odds) with 99, and I flopped a set on a 89Q flop. Raiser bet, I raised big to $45, (board is too wet to smoothcall) villain called. Turn: J. My heart sinks but I figure nobody's stupid enough to call with a T in their hand on that flop (unless he has TJ, which is a cooler start to finish), villain bets $50, I push, villain calls with ATs. Unbelievable. Calling that big flop raise from oop with NOTHING but an inside straight draw against a villain that just flop raised you after you 3bet him pre. That's like, total suicide. What, does he think he's getting 2 cards?

Sick, sick, sick, sick

What an insane graph. One session, 2,000 hands (or near enough). I don't even know where to begin. The jump up to nearly $500 up was largely simply played good hands, nothing too fancy, and players anxious to stack off to me. A couple of suckouts in there too, against shortstacks mostly.

Then the wheels just came off:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6475763148: Table Cathedral Rock - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:01:58 ET - 2008/05/19
Seat 1: Hulk23s ($108.35)
Seat 2: gdshaffer ($377.50)
Seat 3: ibadumb1 ($191.05)
Seat 4: PokerKidBC ($321.75)
Seat 5: LowCarbDiet ($119.70)
Seat 6: adult_diapers ($200)
Seat 7: brianc152 ($554.25)
Seat 8: muchdutch33 ($269.85)
Seat 9: shock_eng1 ($170.55)
ibadumb1 posts the small blind of $1
PokerKidBC posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [6d 5d]
LowCarbDiet has 15 seconds left to act
LowCarbDiet folds
adult_diapers folds
brianc152 calls $2
muchdutch33 calls $2
shock_eng1 calls $2
Hulk23s folds
gdshaffer calls $2
ibadumb1 calls $1
PokerKidBC checks
*** FLOP *** [3h 6s 4d]
ibadumb1 checks
PokerKidBC checks
brianc152 checks
muchdutch33 checks
shock_eng1 checks
gdshaffer bets $10
ibadumb1 folds
PokerKidBC folds
brianc152 folds
muchdutch33 folds
shock_eng1 calls $10
*** TURN *** [3h 6s 4d] [6h]
shock_eng1 checks
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $25
shock_eng1 raises to $96
gdshaffer raises to $365.50, and is all in
shock_eng1 calls $62.55, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [6d 5d]
shock_eng1 shows [4h 4s]
Uncalled bet of $206.95 returned to gdshaffer
*** RIVER *** [3h 6s 4d 6h] [Ks]
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Sixes
shock_eng1 shows a full house, Fours full of Sixes
shock_eng1 wins the pot ($346.10) with a full house, Fours full of Sixes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $349.10 | Rake $3
Board: [3h 6s 4d 6h Ks]
Seat 1: Hulk23s didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: gdshaffer (button) showed [6d 5d] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 3: ibadumb1 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: PokerKidBC (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: LowCarbDiet didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: adult_diapers didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: brianc152 folded on the Flop
Seat 8: muchdutch33 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: shock_eng1 showed [4h 4s] and won ($346.10) with a full house, Fours full of Sixes

This hand was maybe played badly by me. Not sure yet. I certainly had a solid enough hand, but should have been more alarmed by the turn check-raise. What an unfortunate turn in any case.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6475414146: Table Mary (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:22:59 ET - 2008/05/19
Seat 1: R D BIGGS ($408)
Seat 2: mvv01 ($385.20)
Seat 3: ProudDonkey ($221.70)
Seat 4: Blackfoot00 ($129.70)
Seat 5: gdshaffer ($476.75)
Seat 6: arka00 ($99.20)
Seat 7: rounder375 ($456.25)
Seat 8: cowboy6377 ($378.70)
Seat 9: mr_zhuave ($125.70), is sitting out
cowboy6377 posts the small blind of $1
R D BIGGS posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [7d 7s]
mvv01 folds
ProudDonkey folds
Blackfoot00 folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
arka00 calls $7
rounder375 folds
cowboy6377 calls $6
R D BIGGS folds
*** FLOP *** [5c 7h 4h]
cowboy6377 checks
gdshaffer bets $16
arka00 calls $16
cowboy6377 calls $16
*** TURN *** [5c 7h 4h] [As]
cowboy6377 checks
gdshaffer bets $50
arka00 raises to $76.20, and is all in
cowboy6377 has 15 seconds left to act
cowboy6377 has requested TIME
cowboy6377 calls $76.20
gdshaffer calls $26.20
*** RIVER *** [5c 7h 4h As] [2h]
cowboy6377 has 15 seconds left to act
cowboy6377 bets $160
gdshaffer folds
Uncalled bet of $160 returned to cowboy6377
*** SHOW DOWN ***
cowboy6377 shows [Kh 3h] a flush, King high
arka00 mucks
cowboy6377 wins the pot ($296.60) with a flush, King high
arka00 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $299.60 | Rake $3
Board: [5c 7h 4h As 2h]
Seat 1: R D BIGGS (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: mvv01 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: ProudDonkey didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Blackfoot00 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: gdshaffer folded on the River
Seat 6: arka00 mucked [Ac Ah] - three of a kind, Aces
Seat 7: rounder375 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: cowboy6377 (small blind) showed [Kh 3h] and won ($296.60) with a flush, King high
Seat 9: mr_zhuave is sitting out

Crazy hand here. Dream spot as I flop top set and get two callers, and the turn left me going wtf. Obv I couldn't raise the turn or I would have. Fucking shortstack, but maybe I should be glad as he did spike a 2-outer. River fold was trivial. No way does that guy not show up with a flush after that bet.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6475700970: Table Verbena Creek - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:54:35 ET - 2008/05/19
Seat 1: zuzs ($207.25)
Seat 2: Hulk23s ($34)
Seat 3: petey bomb ($167.40), is sitting out
Seat 4: Tachihara ($241.85)
Seat 5: gdshaffer ($201.05)
Seat 7: gDawgy ($96.10)
Seat 8: Viroptix ($201.80)
Seat 9: AmericanGangstr ($212.15)
Viroptix posts the small blind of $1
AmericanGangstr posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qd Td]
zuzs folds
Hulk23s folds
Tachihara folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
gDawgy has 15 seconds left to act
gDawgy calls $7
Viroptix folds
petey bomb has returned
AmericanGangstr folds
*** FLOP *** [6d 3d 4s]
gdshaffer bets $10
gDawgy has 15 seconds left to act
gDawgy has requested TIME
gDawgy raises to $30
gdshaffer raises to $194.05, and is all in
gDawgy has 15 seconds left to act
gDawgy calls $59.10, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Qd Td]
gDawgy shows [9h 9d]
Uncalled bet of $104.95 returned to gdshaffer
*** TURN *** [6d 3d 4s] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [6d 3d 4s 2c] [6h]
gdshaffer shows a pair of Sixes
gDawgy shows two pair, Nines and Sixes
gDawgy wins the pot ($192.20) with two pair, Nines and Sixes
gdshaffer adds $95.05
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $195.20 | Rake $3
Board: [6d 3d 4s 2c 6h]
Seat 1: zuzs didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Hulk23s didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: petey bomb is sitting out
Seat 4: Tachihara didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: gdshaffer showed [Qd Td] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 7: gDawgy (button) showed [9h 9d] and won ($192.20) with two pair, Nines and Sixes
Seat 8: Viroptix (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: AmericanGangstr (big blind) folded before the Flop

Not too much to see: I get it in on the flop as a slight favorite (~51/47) and miss. I was astounded that my opponent made that call with just the weak overpair. How often do I show up here with less than an overpair, really?

Full Tilt Poker Game #6476200518: Table Stearman - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:59:27 ET - 2008/05/19
Seat 1: 88Bubba88 ($87)
Seat 2: EttTuTre ($235.75)
Seat 3: Arrival ($55.90)
Seat 4: gdshaffer ($430.90)
Seat 5: MasterChen ($249.95)
Seat 6: mkk19xxx ($80)
Seat 7: xwolf65x ($119)
Seat 8: AmericanGangstr ($216.10)
Seat 9: yeee fa sho ($134.75)
AmericanGangstr posts the small blind of $1
yeee fa sho posts the big blind of $2
mkk19xxx posts a dead small blind of $1
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kc Kh]
88Bubba88 calls $2
EttTuTre calls $2
Arrival folds
gdshaffer raises to $12
MasterChen folds
mkk19xxx folds
xwolf65x folds
AmericanGangstr folds
yeee fa sho folds
Arrival has been disconnected
88Bubba88 has 15 seconds left to act
Arrival has reconnected
88Bubba88 has requested TIME
88Bubba88 folds
EttTuTre calls $10
*** FLOP *** [8s 8h 2h]
EttTuTre checks
gdshaffer bets $22
EttTuTre calls $22
*** TURN *** [8s 8h 2h] [2d]
EttTuTre checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [8s 8h 2h 2d] [Td]
EttTuTre has 15 seconds left to act
EttTuTre bets $32
gdshaffer calls $32
*** SHOW DOWN ***
EttTuTre shows [Ts Tc] a full house, Tens full of Eights
gdshaffer mucks
EttTuTre wins the pot ($135) with a full house, Tens full of Eights
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $138 | Rake $3
Board: [8s 8h 2h 2d Td]
Seat 1: 88Bubba88 folded before the Flop
Seat 2: EttTuTre showed [Ts Tc] and won ($135) with a full house, Tens full of Eights
Seat 3: Arrival didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: gdshaffer mucked [Kc Kh] - two pair, Kings and Eights
Seat 5: MasterChen didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: mkk19xxx folded before the Flop
Seat 7: xwolf65x (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: AmericanGangstr (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: yeee fa sho (big blind) folded before the Flop

Sick hand here. I knew pretty much what this opponent had and was pretty sure he wasn't stacking off to me with an overpair. Obviously my turn check allowed my opponent to spike his two-outer but that check should still show a profit in the long run by giving my opponent the chance to make a mistaken river value bet.

And, the doozy:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6475923155: Table Mary (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:21:35 ET - 2008/05/19
Seat 1: R D BIGGS ($347.55)
Seat 2: mvv01 ($372.65), is sitting out
Seat 3: ProudDonkey ($257.40)
Seat 4: Blackfoot00 ($222.20)
Seat 5: gdshaffer ($430.20)
Seat 6: MasterChen ($213.70)
Seat 7: rounder375 ($559.50)
Seat 8: cowboy6377 ($472.25)
Seat 9: zahir68 ($158.15)
MasterChen posts the small blind of $1
rounder375 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [9c 9h]
cowboy6377 folds
zahir68 folds
R D BIGGS folds
ProudDonkey folds
Blackfoot00 folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
MasterChen folds
rounder375 raises to $24
gdshaffer calls $17
*** FLOP *** [4s 9s 6h]
rounder375 bets $30
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer calls $30
*** TURN *** [4s 9s 6h] [Th]
rounder375 checks
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $150
rounder375 raises to $505.50, and is all in
gdshaffer calls $226.20, and is all in
rounder375 shows [Td Tc]
gdshaffer shows [9c 9h]
Uncalled bet of $129.30 returned to rounder375
*** RIVER *** [4s 9s 6h Th] [2s]
rounder375 shows three of a kind, Tens
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Nines
rounder375 wins the pot ($858.40) with three of a kind, Tens
gdshaffer adds $200
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $861.40 | Rake $3
Board: [4s 9s 6h Th 2s]
Seat 1: R D BIGGS didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: mvv01 is sitting out
Seat 3: ProudDonkey didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Blackfoot00 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: gdshaffer (button) showed [9c 9h] and lost with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 6: MasterChen (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: rounder375 (big blind) showed [Td Tc] and won ($858.40) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 8: cowboy6377 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: zahir68 didn't bet (folded)

In a button vs. blind pissing match this deep, my preflop call is fine, and the smooth call on the turn is about 50/50 against raising, which gets more value out of big overpairs but allows air the chance to keep firing away with little risk. The turn overbet was my best move, I think, and obviously I just got grossly unlucky. My new biggest pot I've ever played in, and unfortunately I was on the wrong end of it ;;.

I consider finishing ahead for the session to be a major moral victory, though. After dropping nearly $1k so quickly, getting back that last $450 was monumental.

And back down we go

Lost $700 with an alarming rapidity today. Two buyins were pure cooler. Flush vs. bigger flush, and set vs. turned straight where I hit resistance on the turn only after being mathematically committed to draw to the boat. The third was at the end of the session, in a desperation move to try and turn the night around where I tried a bluff river push and ran into a set. The other $100? Lost in the ebb and flow, in draws that missed and situations where I got away at the right time. Nothing really went my way to speak of.

I had no business playing, really, but didn't lose most of the money I lost because of it. I was tired and am going to bed soon. Still, even refreshed, I'd have lost a bundle tonight. All but that last buyin was money I was flat-out supposed to lose.

Back to it tomorrow, though. Losing days happen.

Pluggin'

2 short sessions today, winning $220 in the first batch of hands and then having a rollercoaster 2nd session where I quickly went up a buyin, then dropped as low as ($330) before battling back to even. +1 buyin day for just over 1,000 hands, hard to complain about 5BB/100.

As I've made the switch to PT3 (which PokerEV does not yet support) I can't give an equity estimate, suffice to say that I was lucky in that I won two races against shortstacks where I had AK against their QQ, and then managed to lose a doozy with AA:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6447885874: Table Apache Hills - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:29:51 ET - 2008/05/17
Seat 1: josh012179 ($139.30)
Seat 2: DANFOUR1 ($60.65)
Seat 3: train226 ($173.45)
Seat 4: gdshaffer ($244.80)
Seat 5: m118834 ($200)
Seat 6: IDKbutchyInsted ($50)
Seat 7: LOLthisisEZ ($200)
Seat 8: MasterChen ($211.25)
Seat 9: Jackson1 ($196)
Jackson1 posts the small blind of $1
josh012179 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ad Ac]
DANFOUR1 calls $2
train226 has 15 seconds left to act
train226 calls $2
gdshaffer raises to $11
m118834 folds
IDKbutchyInsted folds
LOLthisisEZ folds
MasterChen folds
Jackson1 folds
Jackson1 adds $5
josh012179 has 15 seconds left to act
josh012179 folds
DANFOUR1 calls $9
train226 has 15 seconds left to act
train226 calls $9
*** FLOP *** [Th 2d 3c]
DANFOUR1 bets $12
train226 raises to $36
gdshaffer raises to $233.80, and is all in
DANFOUR1 calls $37.65, and is all in
train226 folds
gdshaffer shows [Ad Ac]
DANFOUR1 shows [4d Ah]
Uncalled bet of $184.15 returned to gdshaffer
*** TURN *** [Th 2d 3c] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [Th 2d 3c 5s] [9s]
gdshaffer shows a pair of Aces
DANFOUR1 shows a straight, Five high
DANFOUR1 wins the pot ($168.30) with a straight, Five high
gdshaffer adds $15.85
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $171.30 | Rake $3
Board: [Th 2d 3c 5s 9s]
Seat 1: josh012179 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: DANFOUR1 showed [4d Ah] and won ($168.30) with a straight, Five high
Seat 3: train226 folded on the Flop
Seat 4: gdshaffer showed [Ad Ac] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: m118834 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: IDKbutchyInsted didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: LOLthisisEZ didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: MasterChen (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Jackson1 (small blind) folded before the Flop

That's right boys and girls, the dude bet out his inside straight draw, was raised, reraised all-in, and decided to stack off with a his naked four outs. And, of course, he hits. Chat that followed is approximated:

Me: You've gotta be shitting me.

Some other dude: Ah, that's why the guy at another table was talking shit about how bad at poker you are.

Fish: Bad at poker? It's called a GAME, play for FUN.

I wonder if it would have surprised the fish if he were to learn that there were at least 2-3 people at the table who are playing this game as their primary, if not sole, source of income. I suppose I shouldn't complain about the fish at the table, and I'm not, but the level of ignorance is really something to behold. I wonder how much money that dude has dumped into the online poker sites. Some people have a lot more money than ability.

Of course he dumped my money off to some other dude, making me a very sad panda.

Incidentally, my biggest hand of the night was against the same dude I bluffed the tits off of yesterday:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6448315165: Table Magic Forest - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:23:31 ET - 2008/05/17
Seat 2: atlaslion08 ($34.40)
Seat 3: DengBangGang ($201)
Seat 4: jacknice220 ($90.10)
Seat 5: NuggetMaster420 ($271.50)
Seat 6: jballz1 ($123.45)
Seat 7: gdshaffer ($341.25)
Seat 8: sparky201184 ($191.60)
Seat 9: Belbus ($194)
DengBangGang posts the small blind of $1
jacknice220 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Th Td]
NuggetMaster420 folds
jballz1 folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
sparky201184 folds
Belbus folds
atlaslion08 folds
DengBangGang calls $6
jacknice220 folds
*** FLOP *** [Qs Ad Tc]
DengBangGang bets $14
UncleTuesday sits down
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to $44
UncleTuesday adds $40
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
DengBangGang has requested TIME
DengBangGang raises to $122
gdshaffer raises to $334.25, and is all in
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
DengBangGang calls $72, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Th Td]
DengBangGang shows [As Qc]
Uncalled bet of $140.25 returned to gdshaffer
*** TURN *** [Qs Ad Tc] [3s]
*** RIVER *** [Qs Ad Tc 3s] [6h]
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Tens
DengBangGang shows two pair, Aces and Queens
gdshaffer wins the pot ($401) with three of a kind, Tens
NuggetMaster420: nh
DengBangGang adds $200
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $404 | Rake $3
Board: [Qs Ad Tc 3s 6h]
Seat 2: atlaslion08 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: DengBangGang (small blind) showed [As Qc] and lost with two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 4: jacknice220 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: NuggetMaster420 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: jballz1 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: gdshaffer showed [Th Td] and won ($401) with three of a kind, Tens
Seat 8: sparky201184 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Belbus didn't bet (folded)

Close to a straight-up cooler for the guy, although to his credit he thought long and hard about it after I came over the top, and calling off his last $72 looked for all the world like a crying call (I made a small mistake in that my raise was immediate). Still, there's enough of a chance I have AK there (or AQ for the chop) that he has to call, getting those odds.

This guy appears to be a pretty decent player, though I think he could give himself a chance to get away from the hand if he c/r's the flop instead of throwing out the donk bet. No way to know that though, and the donk bet's not a bad play. Really his only mistake in the hand was calling preflop; he should know that AQo is not going to play well against my MP range from oop.

Sometimes I don't get it

My stats in 1/2NL are quickly devolving toward that of a nutpeddling nit. When people post stats similar to mine on 2+2, they're told that people with WtSD of 22-23 and w$SD of 55ish are just that. And yet, every time I try to make a move it seems I run stone cold into the biggest hero callers on the planet. It's eerie.

FullTiltPoker Game #6422777898: Table Ryan (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 4:32:19 ET - 2008/05/15
Seat 1: rounder375 ($417)
Seat 3: Zenni11 ($556.35)
Seat 4: gdshaffer ($416.20)
Seat 5: starbucknut ($187.10)
Seat 6: llounge ($179.65)
Seat 7: myulchee80 ($403)
Seat 9: loques ($210.55)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of $1
starbucknut posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kd Qs]
rounder375 has reconnected
llounge folds
myulchee80 folds
loques folds
rounder375 folds
Zenni11 raises to $7
gdshaffer calls $6
starbucknut folds
*** FLOP *** [Jh 9s 6d]
gdshaffer checks
Zenni11 bets $10
gdshaffer calls $10
*** TURN *** [Jh 9s 6d] [Jc]
gdshaffer bets $22
Zenni11 calls $22
*** RIVER *** [Jh 9s 6d Jc] [2h]
FubuAllstar sits down
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $55
FubuAllstar stands up
Zenni11 has 15 seconds left to act
Zenni11 calls $55
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [Kd Qs] a pair of Jacks
Zenni11 shows [Ad Tc] a pair of Jacks
Zenni11 wins the pot ($187) with a pair of Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $190 | Rake $3
Board: [Jh 9s 6d Jc 2h]
Seat 1: rounder375 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Zenni11 (button) showed [Ad Tc] and won ($187) with a pair of Jacks
Seat 4: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Kd Qs] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 5: starbucknut (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: llounge didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: myulchee80 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: loques didn't bet (folded)

This guy had been raising almost every button, and I'd just lost a big one to him when I 3bet him pre and had to give up with AKs on a disgusting turn. This time I elected to flatcall pre, with the hope of flopping a pair obv.

My line looks bluffy as hell, but I was absolutely shocked at how weak he called me down. My goodness.

In good news, I did get away with one big bluff:

FullTiltPoker Game #6422928981: Table Verbena Creek - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 5:03:32 ET - 2008/05/15
Seat 1: YaMamaIsHot-NOT ($35)
Seat 2: gdshaffer ($196)
Seat 3: Buddylistme ($219.15)
Seat 4: mazzler ($426.85)
Seat 5: Skizzo 73 ($146.25)
Seat 6: fatcox6363 ($60.35)
Seat 7: canuckblood ($82.35)
Seat 8: DengBangGang ($414.80)
Seat 9: Veghard ($78)
mazzler posts the small blind of $1
Skizzo 73 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [8s Ts]
fatcox6363 folds
canuckblood folds
DengBangGang raises to $7
Veghard folds
YaMamaIsHot-NOT folds
gdshaffer calls $7
Buddylistme folds
mazzler folds
Skizzo 73 folds
*** FLOP *** [5d 8h 6c]
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
DengBangGang bets $14
gdshaffer calls $14
*** TURN *** [5d 8h 6c] [Js]
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
Skizzo 73: AHAAHAHAHAHAHAH
DengBangGang bets $34
gdshaffer calls $34
*** RIVER *** [5d 8h 6c Js] [9d]
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
DengBangGang has requested TIME
DengBangGang bets $30
gdshaffer raises to $141, and is all in
DengBangGang has 15 seconds left to act
DengBangGang folds
Uncalled bet of $111 returned to gdshaffer
gdshaffer mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($170)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $173 | Rake $3
Board: [5d 8h 6c Js 9d]
Seat 1: YaMamaIsHot-NOT didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: gdshaffer collected ($170), mucked
Seat 3: Buddylistme (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: mazzler (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Skizzo 73 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: fatcox6363 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: canuckblood didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: DengBangGang folded on the River
Seat 9: Veghard didn't bet (folded)

Problem is, this line seems spewy, and I got very lucky that such a bluffable card hit on the river. The call preflop is justified as this specific villain seemed floatable, but the turn call is iffy at best (and at worst, outright spew). This was late in my session and I was starting to tilt after having to fold like 3 AK hands on the turn after 3betting them.

Dropped about $230, after going down ($350), working back to +$50, and dropping back to ($300). Swingy session, about 1800 hands, but I'm still showing a good winrate for the month at 1/2 over a small sample.

Deeper and deeper... way ... up?

I discovered the new deepstack tables at FT by accident today, buying in for 400 on a couple of my tables and then recognizing a pair of donkeys at each table that made them too profitable to leave. I'm nowhere near rolled enough for tables where I'm buying in for 400, but in terms of "taking a shot" it worked quite well:

FullTiltPoker Game #6343170278: Table Heath (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:07:53 ET - 2008/05/09
Seat 1: rounder375 ($400)
Seat 2: destrogal ($430.75), is sitting out
Seat 3: HiGh PoWeReD ($624.60)
Seat 4: mariojr ($200)
Seat 5: Ericwaaz ($345.75)
Seat 6: R D BIGGS ($407.25)
Seat 7: Chip_Dogger ($752.15)
Seat 8: tulegit21 ($223)
Seat 9: gdshaffer ($404.20)
HiGh PoWeReD posts the small blind of $1
mariojr posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [5c 5h]
Ericwaaz calls $2
R D BIGGS has 15 seconds left to act
Chip_Dogger stands up
R D BIGGS calls $2
Chip_Dogger folds
tulegit21 folds
gdshaffer raises to $11
mvv01 adds $200
rounder375 folds
HiGh PoWeReD folds
mariojr adds $2
mariojr folds
Ericwaaz folds
R D BIGGS raises to $20
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer calls $9
*** FLOP *** [Qc 5d 9s]
R D BIGGS bets $24
gdshaffer calls $24
*** TURN *** [Qc 5d 9s] [2s]
R D BIGGS bets $56
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to $150
R D BIGGS has 15 seconds left to act
R D BIGGS calls $94
*** RIVER *** [Qc 5d 9s 2s] [3s]
R D BIGGS checks
gdshaffer bets $210.20, and is all in
R D BIGGS calls $210.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [5c 5h] three of a kind, Fives
R D BIGGS mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($810.40) with three of a kind, Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $813.40 | Rake $3
Board: [Qc 5d 9s 2s 3s]
Seat 1: rounder375 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: destrogal is sitting out
Seat 3: HiGh PoWeReD (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: mariojr (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: Ericwaaz folded before the Flop
Seat 6: R D BIGGS mucked [Ad Ac] - a pair of Aces
Seat 7: Chip_Dogger didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: tulegit21 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gdshaffer showed [5c 5h] and won ($810.40) with three of a kind, Fives

What an idiot! First there's the donkish 2nd-limp-them-min-3bet line that NEVER is a good idea. He's announcing "I have aces" yet giving me perfect set mining odds, and then *stacking off* whnen I hit. My raise on the turn should announce to him that I'm pretty fucking serious here. I was almost scared to value bet on the river after he called, but hell, his preflop line seemed too strong for QQ. The value bet obviously paid off, of course, though he called so fast I groaned a little inside, thinking I'd been oversetted.

That hand, combined with one stone cold cooler (I had AA vs KK, smooth-called a 4bet pre with CRAI on the flop), and then hit AA against the *same player* who 4-bet me with QQ, and this time I decided to 5-bet all in pre with my AA. He called, which I think was a mistake. He has to get away from QQ here (I know I do), facing a $150 bet into a ~$125 pot, but possibly because I played the hand differently in virtually identical spots, maybe he thought I was getting cute with a lesser hand. Both hands were for full stacks.

Apart from those 3 hands I essentially broke even, winning just shy of $770 in just under 1200 hands. So far for the month I'm up $1100ish, and I'm basically out of my hole from the bad run at NL100. Another few days like today and we might be looking at a decent withdrawal at the end of the month!

NL200!

I was flirting with the idea of returning to NL200 for the time being, and decided as I was logging on that I would wait to earn just a bit more at NL100 before taking a shot. Still, I scrolled through the NL200 tables to see if I recognized any superfish and indeed there was one, a superdonk who runs 45/5/1 amd sits four tables at once. I first encountered him at NL100 and spotted him sitting NL400 once. Even though my roll was only like $2500 at the time, I strongly considered following him (though I didn't).

In any case, I decided I wasn't going to get a better opportunity to take a shot and so I followed the donk to all four of his tables, and opened up two more as well.

600 hands later, I was up $800 and decided to call it a night. Woot!

I ran quite well (+$160ish in all in equity) but still played quite well. I was surprised at how many complete fish there were. All six of my tables seemed a lot easier than any of my tables in recent memory at NL100 (although the better players are certainly a lot better).

My favorite hand of the night:

FullTiltPoker Game #6255340242: Table Cactus Wren - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:05:48 ET - 2008/05/02
Seat 1: bigrighteous125 ($50)
Seat 2: Bluffnbeaver ($40)
Seat 3: Jalapeno3 ($163.20)
Seat 4: tamu87 ($107.30)
Seat 5: cartparka ($194)
Seat 6: gdshaffer ($211)
Seat 7: Michael Bruce ($241.55)
Seat 8: frazier1979 ($138.65)
Seat 9: gajago ($241.95)
gajago posts the small blind of $1
bigrighteous125 has 5 seconds left to act
bigrighteous125 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jh Jd]
Bluffnbeaver folds
Jalapeno3 folds
tamu87 folds
cartparka raises to $6
gdshaffer raises to $21
Michael Bruce folds
frazier1979 folds
gajago folds
bigrighteous125 folds
cartparka calls $15
*** FLOP *** [Td 8c Js]
cartparka checks
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $36
cartparka calls $36
*** TURN *** [Td 8c Js] [4d]
cartparka bets $76
gdshaffer raises to $154, and is all in
cartparka has 15 seconds left to act
cartparka calls $61, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Jh Jd]
cartparka shows [7s As]
Uncalled bet of $17 returned to gdshaffer
*** RIVER *** [Td 8c Js 4d] [5h]
gdshaffer shows three of a kind, Jacks
cartparka shows Ace Jack high
gdshaffer wins the pot ($388) with three of a kind, Jacks
cartparka is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $391 | Rake $3
Board: [Td 8c Js 4d 5h]
Seat 1: bigrighteous125 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Bluffnbeaver didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Jalapeno3 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: tamu87 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: cartparka showed [7s As] and lost with Ace Jack high
Seat 6: gdshaffer showed [Jh Jd] and won ($388) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 7: Michael Bruce didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: frazier1979 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: gajago (small blind) folded before the Flop

This was like the dude's 2nd hand at the table, and the previous hand he had raised and I 3bet him with AK (he folded). So I was prepared to stack off on any undercard flop, and check back just about any overcard flop with the intention of calling at least one bet, but flopping top set was just an added bonus.

Villain obviously had a plan in the hand, which is a good thing I suppose, but probably needs to work a bit more on his timing, LOL. Still, that's an unjustifiable call on the river, drawing to at most seven outs (and often less). I made a mistake in the hand, actually, in that my river raise was *immediate*. I was so surprised at his turn bet that I just reflexively got it all in. Better would have been like a 5-8 second pause, then a push :)

This result gives me some confidence and I'll attack the tables again tomorrow night. I'm still implementing an aggressive stop-loss (probably $1k), but hoping for the best.