June results

Just under 21k hands, just under $2500 profit, all at NL100. Ran a godlike 5.93PTBB/100. I didn't keep close track of tourney results but I believe I was up about $100 in tourneys as well. Bankroll is just south of $7.5k.

I want to get a lot more volume in over July and play 50k+ hands, maintaining a respectable winrate, and start taking pops at NL200 again. I feel like I'm a much better player than I was a few months ago; that ~20BI downswing wasn't just bad luck. Curbing impatient impulses and picking my spots with care are my most important things.

Made just shy of $64/hr this month, not bad at all for NL100. This is definitely an upswong and 6PTBB/100 isn't sustainable at all, not with my stats, but that doesn't mean I'm not playing very well.

Finished the month off with a 1380 hand, +$451 session. My value-bets were really on tonight, getting quite a bit of money in very thin spots and more or less always having an idea what my opponent was holding, getting very small river bets paid off with weak holdings when holding monsters. I also got very lucky in a couple of spots.

I only had 4 losing sessions this entire month. That's pretty damn sweet, even if two of them were for $350+.

Back home

Didn't play too much poker at Brian's parents place over the week. I didn't have my Internet up until Monday night, and played about 1300 hands on Tuesday and had a horrible session, losing about $360. Very early in the session I had QQ in the SB facing an UTG limp-caller. Flop: JQK. We get it all-in on the flop, he shows up with AT. Was a reg too, apparently some strange preflop concepts at work.

I didn't play Wednesday as we had a lot of stuff going on; Thursday I only had time for a short 300 hand session, winning $100 in a pretty horrific suckout: I raised AKs from UTG, folded to the SB who 3bet. I called, flop AJT, I called a big flop bet, river bricked, I raised AI on a turn bet and was snapcalled by JJ, rivered a Q. LOL. First huge suckout I've put on someone in a while.

Played 1300 more hands on Friday, in the middle of the day, and was amazed at how soft the tables were. Went on one of the biggest heaters I've been on at NL100, winning $543 in that timeframe. Both of my biggest hands were with 88 with virtually identical flops. First hand, raised 88 from UTG and the BB defended, flop 578 rainbow. Checked to me, I bet 10, BB called. Turn: 7. BB donks out full pot, $31. I Hollywood for about 20 seconds and call. River: K. BB instashoves for $60, I instacall, villain shows 56s for a bottom pair bluff.

I actually respect the move, although maybe it's a little desperate and bluffy; this bluff isn't gonna show much profit unless it consistently pushes me off AA, and I'm not sure how often it will work as I'd expect the sort of hand he's pretending to represent, like 67 or A7, to allow me to continue betting and go for a CR either on the turn or river. I Hollywooded the turn precisely because the line looked a little bluffy and I wanted him to continue. It may have helped. All that is relatively meaningless this hand as he happened to be bluffing into my nuts :)

The other big hand was a MP raise with 88, SB defended. Flop: 578 w/two clubs. Check to me, I bet 5, villain minraises to 10, I raise to $25, villain pushes, I call. Villain shows KK. Oops. I can respect not 3betting from OOP and stacking off on a low board, but this is why I don't generally do it.

Many other big hands, very few not in my favor, including an AhJh flush against a QhTh flush. Villain actually did well in not stacking off, but called a bigass PSB on the river.

Overall, +$278 for the trip in almost exactly 3000 hands, 4.62 BB/100. For the month I'm +$2025 in 19,500 hands, for 5.19BB/100. Playing very well but need to get more hands in.

I are teh uber master

Well, it's good to know that four years of education in electrical engineering didn't go completely to waste...

So, I'm up in Colorado at the moment, staying at my friend Brian's parent's place for the week. Brian's dad is ... well ... loaded, and I'd estimate the worth of the home to be about $1M. His parents retired out in Colorado and once a year they host Brian and any number of Brian's friends for a week. It started as a Spring Break thing, and usually is a ski trip, but this year for whatever reason they're doing it in the middle of June, so it's just a hanging out trip.

Anyway, they have a wireless network set up (like seemingly everyone else on the planet nowadays) but for whatever reason I couldn't connect to it. The wireless in my laptop is moody (I just plug it into my router at home), and I was stuck with no Internets. Since I plan on making this a working vacation (i.e. I can't afford to take a full week off) that was unacceptable.

So, Brian's dad, Sam, has the place completely wired with CAT-5. Seriously. Like, every room has 2-3 CAT-5 jacks on the outlets. But, since they use their wireless pretty much always, most of this CAT-5 is just hanging free in an electrical cabinet downstairs. They use CAT-5 for their phone jacks (since RJ45 will plug into a CAT-5 jack, and just use the middle 4 conductors). So it's all basically a big mess.

To compound the mess, about half of the CAT-5 is terminated at the connectors in, shall we say, a "non-standard" way. A normal straight-thru cable will go like: 1) Green Stripe, 2) Green, 3) Orange Stripe, 4) Blue, 5) Blue stripe, 6) Orange, 7) Brown Stripe, 8) Brown. This was more like, 1) Brown Stripe, 2) Green Stripe, 3) Orange Stripe, 4) Blue Stripe, 5) Blue, 6) Orange, 7) Green, 8) Brown. They just ordered the cables with stripes than solids, LOL. That ain't no straight-thru cable and it ain't no crossover cable. In fact I don't have the slightest idea WTF it is at all.

So. Before we figured any of this out, I got the genius idea that I could take an ethernet cable and run it from an output of the router in the office upstairs and plug it into the nearby CAT-5 jack, then use a female-female splice cable in the electrical room downstairs to hook that to the cable that runs to the wall near where my computer lives (moving my computer up to the office is and was not an option as the office has become the baby's room where Brian and Cam's 1yr old twins are sleeping). Brian's dad had plents of spare connectors lying around but no spare cable: no problem, I just took one of the free-standing cables that was hanging unterminated in the electrical room, snipped about a foot off of it, and reterminated it.

The next step was the creation of the cable itself, which involved taking two female CAT-5 jacks, wiring one side up in standard straight-thru configuration, and wiring the other side up in the screwed up fashion described above, as the cable from the computer's location was terminated correctly but the cable going up to the office was not.

Amazingly, the sumbitch worked on the first try, and I'm now connected to the Internet again, allowing me to play thepokers. Even lost $10 in a tourney last night :)

Well, it paid for dinner I suppose

1k hands, +$49. Don't want to complain about a day that's equal to or greater than a lot of reg's winrates, but I ran like ass tonight, with my big losing hands being:

EP raiser from a 43bb stack, two coldcallers, I squeeze to $20 from the SB with JJ. Raiser pushes, coldcallers fold, I call, lose to AQ on a 25Q board (honestly, who pushes AQ after an EP raise gets squeezed?)

I raise KK from MP with 1 limper, a coldcaller and a limpcaller. Flop 258 w/2 spades. Limpcaller (40bb stack) donks out for pot ($15), I raise to 40, coldcaller folds, limpcaller instacalls with 6c7c. Turn 9.

EP limpers x2, I limp from the SB with QTo, BB checks. Flop QT3 rainbow. I bet 3 (3/4 pot), 1 caller (a limper). Turn 7. I bet 8, call. River 9. I check, villain pots $26, I call. Villain had KJ and probably didn't understand the concept of "not even having implied odds to chase".

EP raiser, 1 caller, I squeeze from the CO w/QQ to $24. Raiser pushes for 33bb total, I call, raiser shows TT. Board J299T.

28bb Button opens for $3.50, I 3bet from the SB w/99 (to $12), villain pushes, I call. Villain shows AJ, flop comes J high.

Those are my top 5 losing hands for the night, each of which either being a lost race or a bad beat of some sort. In 4 of the 5 my total EV was positive.

The big hands that I won, thankfully, made up for them, including one against an absolute donkey. I bought in for $100 at a deepstack table, and saw a player make some absolute fish moves, including betting $75 into a $4 pot. I raised AhTh from EP, fish calls from SB. Flop Kh6h3s. Check, check (didn't want to bet the draw as any kind of bluff, even a strong semi, is suicide against this mofo). Turn: 7h, giving me the nuts. Villain bets $2 (into $8 pot), I raise to $8, villain pops to $14, I pop to $35, villain calls. River 9s. Villain checks, I push for $61 ($78 pot), villain INSTAcalls with KsTs. LOL. I think the whole table but but knew I had the nut flush.

The other big one was an EP raise with AA, BB defended. Flop A39 rainbow. Check, check (dry enough board to justify it). Turn: 3. Villain bets $2 ($7 pot) I raise to $8, villain calls. River: 6, putting diamonds x3 on the board. Villain checks, I near-pot it for $18, villain minraises to $36, I push ($30 more), villain calls. Villain shows A3o. LOL. Absolute cooler from the flop on of course, but that's whatchoo get for defending against an EP raise with A3o. I felt like Teddy KGB in the first hand against Damon in Rounders.

"Yeah, I'm all in, cause I don't think you got the diamonds."

"You're right. I don't have diamonds. Aces full, Mike."

The best part? Villain's name was "MDamon84".

I are a winnah!

2200 hands tonight, +$240. Played questionably ran well, doing very well when my full ring games went to HU. Usually I just sit out when a table gets shorthanded, but I'm discovering more and more that the average FR player is completely lost when it comes to HU play. Case in point:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (2 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($148.50)
Button ($122.90)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4d, 6d.
Button raises to $3.5, Hero calls $2.

Flop: ($6.50) 5d, 8c, Kd (2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

Turn: ($6.50) 5c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $1, Hero calls $1.

River: ($8.50) 7h (2 players)
Hero bets $5, Button raises to $23, Hero raises to $149.5 (All-In), Button calls $95.90 (All-In).

Final Pot: $246.30

Results below:
Hero has 4d 6d (straight, eight high).
Button doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $276.90.

Goofy hand here. Very strange for him to check behind a drawy flop after flopping TP2K, and then give the shitty minbet on the turn. I couldn't believe he had a boat and knew this player had real trouble folding pair combos, making my shove +EV (albeit a little risky).

Such a bad call by him though, it's hard to get myself into the mindset that convinced me my shove was profitable. But, my First Theorum of Poker comes into play here, which is that to assume other players are thinking on your level is -EV.

Some hands to show how bad this dude was:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844806272: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 150/300 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:25:55 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (23,775)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (24,225)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 150
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [5h 4h]
gdshaffer calls 150
Dave4112 checks
*** FLOP *** [6h 6c 3h]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 600
Dave4112 calls 600
*** TURN *** [6h 6c 3h] [5s]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [6h 6c 3h 5s] [Js]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 600
Dave4112 calls 600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [5h 4h] two pair, Sixes and Fives
Dave4112 mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot (3,000) with two pair, Sixes and Fives
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,000 | Rake 0
Board: [6h 6c 3h 5s Js]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [5h 4h] and won (3,000) with two pair, Sixes and Fives
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) mucked [3c 4s] - two pair, Sixes and Threes

Pretty bad river call with bottom pair, not much I could show up here with that's worse, but we're just feeling each other out at this point.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844810309: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 150/300 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:26:29 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (25,275)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (22,725)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 150
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [3c Qc]
Dave4112 raises to 600
gdshaffer calls 300
*** FLOP *** [8s Td Tc]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [8s Td Tc] [Qh]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** RIVER *** [8s Td Tc Qh] [8d]
gdshaffer bets 600
Dave4112 calls 600
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [3c Qc] two pair, Queens and Tens
Dave4112 mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot (2,400) with two pair, Queens and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,400 | Rake 0
Board: [8s Td Tc Qh 8d]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [3c Qc] and won (2,400) with two pair, Queens and Tens
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) mucked [As Jh] - two pair, Tens and Eights

Questionable but understandable river call, but I'm beginning to think "payoff wizard" in the back of my mind.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844820457: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 150/300 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:27:52 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (26,175)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (21,825)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 150
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 300
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [9d 8d]
gdshaffer raises to 600
Dave4112 calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Kc 7h 4s]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** TURN *** [Kc 7h 4s] [Td]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 600
Dave4112 calls 600
*** RIVER *** [Kc 7h 4s Td] [6c]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 1,800
Dave4112 calls 1,800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [9d 8d] a straight, Ten high
Dave4112 mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot (6,000) with a straight, Ten high
The blinds are now 200/400
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,000 | Rake 0
Board: [Kc 7h 4s Td 6c]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [9d 8d] and won (6,000) with a straight, Ten high
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) mucked [As 8h] - Ace King high

OMG what a horrific river call. At this point I realize just how bad he is.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844824460: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 200/400 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:28:24 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (29,175)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (18,825)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 200
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [6h 2s]
Dave4112 calls 200
gdshaffer checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc 7d Ks]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [Tc 7d Ks] [Ah]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** RIVER *** [Tc 7d Ks Ah] [Jd]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [6h 2s] Ace King high
Dave4112 shows [8c Ts] a pair of Tens
Dave4112 wins the pot (800) with a pair of Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 | Rake 0
Board: [Tc 7d Ks Ah Jd]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [6h 2s] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) showed [8c Ts] and won (800) with a pair of Tens

You'd think he'd find a spot to bet his pair at SOME point during the hand.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844881792: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 250/500 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:36:27 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (29,175)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (18,825)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 250
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [5s Ah]
gdshaffer raises to 1,000
Dave4112 calls 500
*** FLOP *** [8c 2c 8s]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** TURN *** [8c 2c 8s] [6d]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [8c 2c 8s 6d] [2h]
Dave4112 bets 2,000
gdshaffer calls 2,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dave4112 shows [8h 7c] a full house, Eights full of Twos
gdshaffer mucks
Dave4112 wins the pot (6,000) with a full house, Eights full of Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,000 | Rake 0
Board: [8c 2c 8s 6d 2h]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) mucked [5s Ah] - two pair, Eights and Twos
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) showed [8h 7c] and won (6,000) with a full house, Eights full of Twos

He flops trips, slowplays all the way to the river. He's very lucky the 2 paired or there's no way I pay him off.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844887953: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 250/500 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:37:20 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (25,175)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (22,825)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 250
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 500
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kc 2c]
gdshaffer calls 250
Dave4112 checks
*** FLOP *** [6d Th 6c]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 750
Dave4112 calls 750
*** TURN *** [6d Th 6c] [Qd]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [6d Th 6c Qd] [3d]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [Kc 2c] a pair of Sixes
Dave4112 shows [6s 9h] three of a kind, Sixes
Dave4112 wins the pot (2,500) with three of a kind, Sixes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,500 | Rake 0
Board: [6d Th 6c Qd 3d]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Kc 2c] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) showed [6s 9h] and won (2,500) with three of a kind, Sixes

OMG FPS. Way to flop trips and be lucky to win 1 bet.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844917473: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 300/600 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:41:31 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (32,915)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (15,085)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 300
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Tc 3d]
Dave4112 calls 300
gdshaffer checks
*** FLOP *** [Ac 9d Ad]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [Ac 9d Ad] [9s]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** RIVER *** [Ac 9d Ad 9s] [Th]
gdshaffer bets 900
Dave4112 raises to 1,800
gdshaffer calls 900
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dave4112 shows [Jh 9h] a full house, Nines full of Aces
gdshaffer mucks
Dave4112 wins the pot (4,800) with a full house, Nines full of Aces
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,800 | Rake 0
Board: [Ac 9d Ad 9s Th]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) mucked [Tc 3d] - two pair, Aces and Tens
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) showed [Jh 9h] and won (4,800) with a full house, Nines full of Aces

Oh look. Another monster for him. Another slowplay. Another absolutely minimum win. FFS, if we could have swapped hands this match would have been over like 3 times over.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844940882: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 300/600 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:44:53 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (30,515)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (17,485)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 300
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Kc 2s]
Dave4112 calls 300
gdshaffer checks
*** FLOP *** [7d Qd Tc]
gdshaffer bets 900
Dave4112 raises to 16,885, and is all in
gdshaffer folds
Uncalled bet of 15,985 returned to Dave4112
Dave4112 mucks
Dave4112 wins the pot (3,000)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,000 | Rake 0
Board: [7d Qd Tc]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) collected (3,000), mucked

Gee, because that's not, like, desperate or anything.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844954652: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 400/800 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:46:53 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (29,815)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (18,185)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 400
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [5c 3c]
Dave4112 calls 400
gdshaffer checks
*** FLOP *** [5s 3h Kd]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [5s 3h Kd] [6d]
gdshaffer bets 900
Dave4112 calls 900
*** RIVER *** [5s 3h Kd 6d] [2d]
gdshaffer bets 1,700
Dave4112 calls 1,700
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [5c 3c] two pair, Fives and Threes
Dave4112 shows [4s 8s] a straight, Six high
Dave4112 wins the pot (6,800) with a straight, Six high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,800 | Rake 0
Board: [5s 3h Kd 6d 2d]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [5c 3c] and lost with two pair, Fives and Threes
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) showed [4s 8s] and won (6,800) with a straight, Six high

I love how he JUST CALLED. Pissing his pants for the flush. He had a ridiculous doubleup hand here, and absolutely MUST at least minrase. Instead he settles for a moderate pot.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844962130: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 400/800 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:47:58 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (28,215)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (19,785)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 400
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Th Jd]
Dave4112 calls 400
gdshaffer checks
*** FLOP *** [7d 4s Kh]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [7d 4s Kh] [Qh]
gdshaffer bets 800
Dave4112 calls 800
*** RIVER *** [7d 4s Kh Qh] [6s]
gdshaffer checks
Dave4112 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [Th Jd] King Queen high
Dave4112 shows [9c 4h] a pair of Fours
Dave4112 wins the pot (3,200) with a pair of Fours
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,200 | Rake 0
Board: [7d 4s Kh Qh 6s]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [Th Jd] and lost with King Queen high
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) showed [9c 4h] and won (3,200) with a pair of Fours

A reasonable call by him here, but I can't hit shit.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844984034: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 400/800 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:51:10 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (22,415)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (25,585)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 400
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 800
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [7c 7d]
gdshaffer raises to 1,600
Dave4112 calls 800
*** FLOP *** [Jd Ts Tc]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 1,600
Dave4112 calls 1,600
*** TURN *** [Jd Ts Tc] [2c]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [Jd Ts Tc 2c] [2s]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gdshaffer shows [7c 7d] two pair, Tens and Sevens
Dave4112 shows [6s Js] two pair, Jacks and Tens
Dave4112 wins the pot (6,400) with two pair, Jacks and Tens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6,400 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd Ts Tc 2c 2s]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [7c 7d] and lost with two pair, Tens and Sevens
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) showed [6s Js] and won (6,400) with two pair, Jacks and Tens

He just can't stop flopping pairs.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6844997812: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 500/1000 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:53:12 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: gdshaffer (21,815)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (26,185)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 500
Dave4112 posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jh Th]
gdshaffer raises to 2,000
Dave4112 calls 1,000
*** FLOP *** [Jd 5s 2s]
Dave4112 checks
gdshaffer bets 2,000
Dave4112 raises to 5,655
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer raises to 19,815, and is all in
Dave4112 calls 14,160
gdshaffer shows [Jh Th]
Dave4112 shows [Js Jc]
*** TURN *** [Jd 5s 2s] [As]
*** RIVER *** [Jd 5s 2s As] [2h]
gdshaffer: gg
gdshaffer shows two pair, Jacks and Twos
Dave4112 shows a full house, Jacks full of Twos
Dave4112 wins the pot (43,630) with a full house, Jacks full of Twos
Dave4112: ship it
gdshaffer stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 43,630 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd 5s 2s As 2h]
Seat 1: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Jh Th] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Twos
Seat 2: Dave4112 (big blind) showed [Js Jc] and won (43,630) with a full house, Jacks full of Twos

The final hand. Absolute setup. I should probably find a way to get away from top pair here but the board is drawy enough for me to feel pretty good about it. Unfortunately the donkey caught a miracle flop with the case J.

Jesus Christ

The donkey that busted me won the whole fucking tournament. The guy he was matched up with in the finals really wasn't very good, impatient and tilty, kept bluffing a player that couldn't fold. He didn't really catch anything and the moron continued to be a complete lucksack, but neither player really overmatched the other. So sad.

The guy that beat me just played a hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6845126684: $20 + $2 Heads-Up Shootout (51910305), Table 1 - 300/600 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:13:16 ET - 2008/06/16
Seat 1: Shortmat1444 (37,445)
Seat 2: Dave4112 (58,555)
Dave4112 posts the small blind of 300
Shortmat1444 posts the big blind of 600
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dave4112 calls 300
Shortmat1444 checks
*** FLOP *** [7h 8d 2c]
Shortmat1444 checks
Dave4112 checks
*** TURN *** [7h 8d 2c] [9c]
Shortmat1444 bets 600
Dave4112 calls 600
*** RIVER *** [7h 8d 2c 9c] [2h]
Shortmat1444 bets 2,400
Dave4112 calls 2,400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Shortmat1444 shows [Ts 3s] a pair of Twos
Dave4112 shows [2s 6c] three of a kind, Twos
Dave4112 wins the pot (7,200) with three of a kind, Twos
The blinds are now 400/800
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7,200 | Rake 0
Board: [7h 8d 2c 9c 2h]
Seat 1: Shortmat1444 (big blind) showed [Ts 3s] and lost with a pair of Twos
Seat 2: Dave4112 (small blind) showed [2s 6c] and won (7,200) with three of a kind, Twos

OMG I lost to this ridiculously passive donkey. I'm so fucking ashamed.

Out in the round of 16

Caught JT top pair J against JJ, lol. Rough way to go out. Opponent was not great, ridiculously passive. I caught nothing, and he couldn't stop winning moderate pots with slowplayed trips. Twice he should have had me out but butchered hands completely. Nothing to be done against that.

Round of 32: win

My round of 32 opponent seemed much better, more aggressive and capable of moves, semis, and discretion, but winded up ending in one massive spew move. I nevertheless managed to build up a small lead on him and then flopped top two with 67 on a 267 board with 2 spades (I had none). He donked out to me (I'd minraised preflop, he'd called), I decided to shut the hand down right then and raise, from 600 to 1750. He called, the turn came an offsuit 5, and he CR'd me AI, repping the 89 straight. Still, there was too much money in the pot to even think about folding, and I knew he was capable of pulling that move with much less (though I don't think he would have played many lower 2pairs and would have bumped an overpair pre, so I really only beat a bluff). He was indeed bluffing, a semi with 8Jo, and the river bricked off, giving me the match in 66 hands.

8th-16th pays $102
5th-8th pays $192
3rd-4th pays $371
2nd pays $716
1st pays $1254

On to the round of 16!

Tournament Sunday

Didn't play any cash games tonight and am not planning on it, but did play in 3 tournaments in addition the ME Freeroll (which I crashed out late, pushing as a short stack against 33 and running into JJ). Cashed in 2 of the 3 cash tournaments though, the first being a $10+2 knockout (22/567 for $20, plus only one knockout for $2 more, incredible). I then played a $24+2 PLO8 and got knocked out late, with a crying call with 13 hi outs and 16 low outs (4 shared) that all missed. Final tournament of the night is a $20+2 HU NLHE shootout w/256 entrants, top 32 pay, and I'm currently waiting for my Round of 32 match.

First round was a marathon 102 hand session against a very weak player, who I whittled down to 600 chips out of our starting 1500 before he started pushing all in almost every hand, coinciding with my failure to see a card above an 8 for about twelve hands. Finally in a limped pot I caught 2pair in the BB on the flop with J2, unfortunately my opponent turned a straight and doubled up. We battled for a while with him w/a 1700/1300 chip lead, and he extended that to 2200/800 when he turned a full house with 55 (it was ahead all the way, I called a small river vbet). Even with a substantial chip deficit I wasn't too worried, and I soon overtook the lead by whittling him down (he was very passive, never seemed to bet his draws, and called down pretty light. My cbets were something like 75% effective, WAY too high, and he was still calling down my 2 and 3-barrels with middle pair quality hands. He seemed to lose his patience a bit and I caught him bluffing with npnd; I had JT on a 5JQ24 board that went check/check on the flop, which gave me the lead back, and I never surrendered it again, gaining a substantial chip lead with A5 in the BB. He minraised pre, I called, flop came 9J7, check check, turn A, I c/r'd him and he folded. I finally finished him off with AA, against his 67, on a 337 flop.

The second guy seemed a bit better, although I applied my HU rule of "keep betting 'til they make you stop" and seized a substantial lead at the start. I was up 3760/2340 with 25/50 blinds, he raised the button to 125, I called with 9cTs. Flop 66T, I check he checks, turn J, putting 3 hearts on the board, I bet 125 he raises to 325 I call thinking there's a good chance he's semibluffing some kind of draw. River T, I bet 600 he calls with a slowplayed 56 that had me totally fooled. After that suckout I finished him off fairly quickly.

The third match was over in 8 hands, lol, my opponent overplayed 99 in the 4th hand which ran into my KK in hand #5, leaving him impossibly short, I finished him off 3 hands later.

Aaaaannnnnddd... my 4th match is about to start, round of 32!

Another losing seshun

Couldn't get anything going last night, up against stations and never catching cards. Lost ~$58 in 750 hands. Also busted out of the Gold level Iron Man freeroll, just short of the money.

MTD: +$1460 for 5.51PTBB/100 over 13,243 hands.

Currently playing in what I think is the last of Full Tilt's Main Event Freerolls, which I've gotten free entry to every week for the past few weeks or so. Top 3 in a 494 person tourney is a long shot, but hell, I've done it before and this tourney is VERY soft.

This game is easy!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG+1 ($17.50)
MP1 ($18.55)
Hero ($491.10)
MP3 ($172.90)
CO ($94.20)
Button ($30.85)
SB ($99)
BB ($40.85)
UTG ($124.20)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 6d, 5d.
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, 4 folds, BB calls $2.50.

Flop: ($7.50) 2h, 3h, 4d (2 players)
BB bets $37.35 (All-In), Hero calls $37.35.

Turn: ($0) Jc (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($0) 7c (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $82.20

Results below:
BB has Kh Ac (high card, ace).
Hero has 6d 5d (straight, seven high).
Outcome: Hero wins $82.20.

Dontcha just love hands like this? Friday night FTW!

Didn't play last night, so I played 2,400 hands tonight to make up. Won $258. Up $1,516 so far this month.

Something I'm not used to doing:

...playing breakeven poker or better in flops that don't see a showdown!

...at least when I'm winning.

Here's the graph of my winnings, showdown winnings, and non-showdown winnings from 6-1 thru 6-6 when I was winning:

And here's the graph since 6-9, when I've also been winning:

Looking at the graphs of other timeframes in which I was winning, my non-showdown winnings were still always negative. That often tends to indicate someone who's basically nutpedaling, though I don't think that's always the case. People at twoplustwo are always talking about how having a blue line above your green line means you're getting outplayed, but I don't think that's necessarily the case. By winning money at showdown you're getting your opponents to make bad calls; by losing it in non-showdown pots you may be making good laydowns.

Still, I can't say exactly what in my game has changed, but something obviously has. From my first 39k hands where I won at 2.82 PTBB/100 to my last 16k where I've won at 5.42 PTBB/100, my play has definitely improved. Granted, I've run a little over expectation in my last 16k, but not a ton.

Let's not even talk about that 3 month stretch, from February through April, where I played 48k hands of breakeven, including an almost $2k, 20 buy-in downswing. Some of that was bad luck, and a lot of it was bad luck perpetuating a subtle tilt, but I've realized that my play during that timeframe was decidedly off. I was too anxious to stack off with marginal hands, not content enough to win moderate pots with my overpairs but rather swinging for the fences every time.

During that losing timeframe I was playing a completely vanilla 13/10/2.6 style and postflop acted like I was peddling the nuts even when I didn't have the nuts. Not smart. My graph looked something like this:


Filtering out all of my time at NL100 EXCEPT for those three months, the graph looks more like this:

My stats for this sample are actually pretty similar, 14/10/2.76, but my postflop play has been totally revamped and my bet sizing very much adjusted, and it makes all the difference.

Some of this is obviously the variance of poker, some of it is obviously adjustments in my play.

Interestingly, starting after the 20k hands of breakeven where I was playing breakeven as I adjusted to the level, and filtering out the big downswing, my graph looks like this:


This is the summation of my sessions from 1/12 to 2/23, and then from 4/20 to present, so it's edited, but not like too selectively.

It's amazing how subtle the differences in play are between a graph that looks that fucking sweet and a graph that's just going all over the damn place.

More winnin'

1055 hands, +$169. Things started out more or less par for the course as I got absolutely setup in one of my very first hands:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

SB ($53.20)
BB ($97.30)
UTG ($288.30)
UTG+1 ($80)
MP1 ($97.50)
MP2 ($100)
CO ($159)
Hero ($98.50)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Js, Jd.
3 folds, MP2 raises to $3.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $12, 2 folds, MP2 calls $8.50.

Flop: ($25.50) As, Kc, Jc (2 players)
MP2 bets $16, Hero raises to $48, MP2 raises to $104 (All-In), Hero calls $38.50 (All-In).

Turn: ($198.50) 6d (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($198.50) Ks (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $198.50

Results below:
MP2 has Ad Ah (full house, aces full of kings).
Hero has Js Jd (full house, jacks full of kings).
Outcome: MP2 wins $216.

After he pushed I wasn't crazy about calling, but couldn't exactly lay it down. This was a very tight and unimaginative player and this is the only way he gets my stack this hand (I fold to a 4bet from this guy, no question), but I figured he had AK just often enough to make the call. I wept.

To be perfectly honest I have no idea how I battled back to even. I had one hand at a deepstack table where there was a raise (to $3.50) a reraise (to $12) and a call with me yet to act with AA. I decided to come over the top to $88, an overraise, as I was a bit nervous about setmining and didn't want to give anything resembling odds. I don't think anyone laid down KK. I battled back with a few decent pots, then lost a big one again with QK top pair against flopped bottom set (lost ~$30) then won $34 with QQ overpair against JJ (nice PSB on the river from oop). Smooth-called a tight, unimaginative player's EP raise with AK, flopped the king, smooth-called a cbet and a 3barrel, pushed him off with a river v.bet. Turned a boat with 88 against a shortstack that rivered a baby flush, stacked him for $27. Stacked a shortstack, my 9Ts against his 88, flopped TP. Flopped top set with JJ, won a baby pot, flopped TP from the SB w/J8s in a multiway, won a decent little pot. Was the 5th limper into a pot with QhTh, checked flop 7-ways, turned Q, called two bets from a donkey that limped utg with Q2, won that pot. 3bet a LAGtard's EP raise from the CO with AKs, he called, flopped the A, got him AI w/AQ, won $50.

Somehow all those minimal-to-moderate pots put me back even. Then I played an interesting one w/7h8h:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6792572716: Table Havana (deep) - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:30:00 ET - 2008/06/12
Seat 1: dc5k20 ($61.40)
Seat 2: pride8 ($101.50)
Seat 3: KC ProTege ($446.35)
Seat 4: RammRodd ($73)
Seat 5: LASD218 ($116.70)
Seat 6: gdshaffer ($245)
Seat 7: Indio Bob ($188.85)
Seat 8: raisinchips ($227)
Seat 9: pimenman ($80.20)
dc5k20 posts the small blind of $0.50
pride8 posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [7h 8h]
KC ProTege folds
RammRodd folds
LASD218 raises to $3.50
gdshaffer calls $3.50
Indio Bob folds
raisinchips folds
pimenman has 15 seconds left to act
pimenman calls $3.50
dc5k20 calls $3
pride8 folds
*** FLOP *** [6s Ts 5d]
dc5k20 checks
LASD218 bets $15
gdshaffer calls $15
pimenman has 15 seconds left to act
pimenman folds
dc5k20 raises to $57.90, and is all in
LASD218 folds
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer has requested TIME
gdshaffer calls $42.90
dc5k20 shows [Qd Qs]
gdshaffer shows [7h 8h]
*** TURN *** [6s Ts 5d] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [6s Ts 5d 4h] [5h]
dc5k20 shows two pair, Queens and Fives
gdshaffer shows a straight, Eight high
gdshaffer wins the pot ($142.80) with a straight, Eight high
dc5k20 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $145.80 | Rake $3
Board: [6s Ts 5d 4h 5h]
Seat 1: dc5k20 (small blind) showed [Qd Qs] and lost with two pair, Queens and Fives
Seat 2: pride8 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: KC ProTege didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: RammRodd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: LASD218 folded on the Flop
Seat 6: gdshaffer showed [7h 8h] and won ($142.80) with a straight, Eight high
Seat 7: Indio Bob didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: raisinchips didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: pimenman (button) folded on the Flop

Staring at a $43 call into a $100 pot I have pretty clear equity against his range, I think. Pokerstoving it up, against TT+, 66, 55 I have 31% equity, against that plus spade+overcard hands I have 30.6%. Against sets only I have 25%, a clear fold, but I felt this player was a little more wild than that and just the sort to cold-call with his big pair pre. Mildly profitable call.

As for the call of the original $15 bet, that was trivial. He had a tendency to bet too big when he was bluffing and it was an ideal candidate for a big float/steal (or float/vbet given the turn).

Pretty much breakeven poker from there on out. Can't complain about 8 PTBB/100, particularly when the biggest hand of the night was a total setup against me.

Session

1648 hands, +$168.00. Should have been +$300ish but I lost my fucking mind for exactly one hand, 3betting AA at a deepstack table, opponent called, and proceeded to pot every street on a J high flop. Called off my entire fucking stack. Turned the flush draw, so that didn't help. Felt retarded. Opponent got up the very next hand. Bastard.

I've played *exactly* 9000 hands this month and am up $1089.80, still running 6.05 PTBB/100.

Got most of it back

957 hands, +$296, plus I cleared like $80 of the $100 bonus I bought from the FTP ironman store. Everything went right. Only had 4 pots that I lost more than $10 in, and none more than $20. Meanwhile, there are some idjits at NL100:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

BB ($140)
UTG ($20)
UTG+1 ($96.10)
MP1 ($100)
MP2 ($89)
Hero ($133.25)
Button ($105.75)
SB ($17.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Kc, Ac.
UTG+1 calls $1, MP1 raises to $4.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $16, 4 folds, MP1 calls $11.50.

Flop: ($34.50) 5d, 6d, Ad (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $38, MP1 raises to $84 (All-In), Hero calls $46.

Turn: ($0) 9s (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($0) 2c (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $202.50

Results below:
MP1 has As Ts (one pair, aces).
Hero has Kc Ac (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $202.50.

Ow. Just fuckity ow. How badly can you butcher ATs?

That deafening clunk you hear...

...is the sound of the other shoe dropping.

-$380 today, just a brutal night. Only lost one full stack, flopping top 2 with A5s from the bb on an A52 board. I bet out, limper called, shortstack pushed AI for $20 and I snapraised AI. Limper woke up with 22 (shortstack had a FD).

Absolutely nothing was working. I couldn't flop anything and I think I had like 3 cbets get folded to all night. I wasn't even being put in spots where I could represent anything, and just had to squeeze out what I could. Honestly I think my play was impeccable and that it could have been a lot worse.

I'm still up $600ish for the month so far, running 4.8PTBB/100, which is respectable. I knew that 10+PTBB/100 wasn't sustainable...

Huh?

Losing session!

Lost $56 in 600 hands, having slept 4 hours over the last 2 nights (good news is I'm due to sleep like a fucking log tonight). Not bad play, just hit some shit.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

SB ($63.55)
Hero ($133)
UTG ($51.15)
UTG+1 ($113.80)
MP1 ($182.45)
MP2 ($20)
MP3 ($116.65)
CO ($145.45)
Button ($19.90)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ks, Kc.
UTG calls $1, UTG+1 raises to $4.5, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $20 (All-In), 4 folds, Hero raises to $134 (All-In), UTG calls $50.15 (All-In), UTG+1 calls $109.30 (All-In).

Flop: ($299.25) 3c, 8c, 6s (4 players, 4 all-in)

Turn: ($299.25) Qh (4 players, 4 all-in)

River: ($299.25) 5c (4 players, 4 all-in)

Final Pot: $299.25

Results below:
Hero has Ks Kc (one pair, kings).
UTG has Ac 7c (flush, ace high).
UTG+1 has As Ad (one pair, aces).
MP2 has Jh Js (one pair, jacks).
Outcome: Totally fucked up

Seriously, what the hell am I supposed to do here? Answer = lose all my chips, lol.

Aaaaaannnnnd...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

BB ($93)
UTG ($29.90)
UTG+1 ($28.90)
MP1 ($15.35)
Hero ($100)
MP3 ($50.50)
CO ($139.20)
Button ($48.50)
SB ($247.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Jd, Jc. UTG posts a blind of $1.
2 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, 2 folds, Button calls $3.50, SB calls $3, 1 fold.

Flop: ($11.50) 5d, Td, 4s (4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8, Button raises to $35.5, SB folds, Hero raises to $71, Button calls $9.50 (All-In).

Turn: ($101.50) Kd (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($101.50) Kh (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $101.50

Results below:
BB doesn't show.
Hero has Jd Jc (two pair, kings and jacks).
Button has 7d Ad (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Button wins $101.50.

Looks like a beat, is in fact a cooler. 55/45 loss, opponent is right to push.

Up like $100 but for those two, lol.

I do say...

...this graph do appear to be headin' in da right direction!


Another 1k, another good day. Already up more than $1k for the month, a grotesque 12.82 PTBB/100 over 4k hands. Heater! My W$SD percentage so far for the month is a gratuitous 68.70%. I'm making $135/hr. That's a nice wage :)

Ran very well today delivering a couple of beats (though my hand was always reasonable) and getting out of the way in a couple of tough spots.

When things are running well, playing poker feels like printing money; when things are going not-so-well, it feels like burning money. It's a weird spot to be in, but it feels good so far.

Bankroll shot north of $6k for (I think) the first time today, but I'm still planning on staying at NL100 for the month and hopefully making a substantial withdrawal.

Movie Roundup

I don't want to clutter this blog with too much non-poker content, but people who know me know that I am a pretty sick movie buff, and used to run a pretty decent movie reviews site. Here are some thoughts on a few movies that have come out in the past 12 months or so (yeah yeah, I'm running behind).

JUNO

Much and more has been written about JUNO, the winsome high school pregnancy comedy (is that not a genre? it should be) that can only be described as a collaboration between director Jason Reitman, writer Diablo Cody, and star Ellen Page. I'd been a fan of Cody's for a while, stumbling on her blog ("The Pussy Ranch") while she was just a Minneapolis stripper that had taken her unique story to the intertoobs, I bought her biopic ("Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper"), and I watched with elation as her storybook tale culminated in every first-time screenwriter's dream, an Oscar acceptance speech.

Every word of praise is deserved: this is one of the best High School comedies ever made. Every ingredient is in place. It's funny: the title character has an infectious, acerbic wit that keeps the laughs coming; it's touching: Juno's wit and candor masks a touching vulnerability; and I'd go so far as to say it has some importance, if for nothing more than as a social bellweather. The attitude that Juno (and by proxy, the movie) takes toward sex, pregnancy, and other important issues of teenage years, is refreshing, particularly in a movie where the primary theme is of innocence. "What was it like?" Juno's friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) asks her: "Humping Bleek's bony bod?" "Magnificent!" is the refreshing reply, and I think it's the first time I've seen a teenage girl allowed to remark on having enjoyed sex.

The cast, from the leads all the way down to the bored receptionist at the abortion clinic, is perfect, and yet Ellen Page still manages to steal the show as Juno, a character not quite like any I've ever seen on screen, and that reminds me so much of so many of the girls I've known, and fell in love with.

4 stars (out of 4).

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

If there's one thing the Coen Brothers can be counted on for, it is their inconstancy, which is not to say that they are inconsistent in the quality of their movies but rather that they are absolutely inconsistent in the material they choose to put on screen. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is not quite like any movie the Coen Brothers have made before; it's possible that it's not quite like any movie that anyone's ever made before. I mean that in the best possible way.

One doesn't much get the feeling in interviews that the Coens like much to talk about themes and symbolism in their flicks, and yet, with a movie like this one, it's overwhelming enough to be impossible not to talk about it. Because while for much of its length this is a chase movie, a cat and mouse game, as Ebert is prone to say, a movie is not about what it is about: it is about how it is about it. NCFOM is about evil, and the attempts of a sheriff who is played by Tommy Lee Jones and for the length of the conventional movie seems a secondary character at best, to understand and explain it. That he comes up somewhat blank on that score, that he learns that a man like Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is not so much a product of the times (as the characters are wont to assume) as he is a force inexplicable, a nightmare.

This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of this movie, but if I allow myself to continue I'll go on for pages and pages. This is a masterpiece of writing and direction, deserving of every accolade it received and then some, and the scene in which Sheriff Ed Tom talks with the man who was deputy under his grandfather will stay with me for a very long time.

4 stars (out of 4)

SAVED!

(okay, I know, this movie came out in 2004. Just getting around to it. So sue me.)

Speaking of high school pregnancy comedies, here's one starring Jena Malone, who you haven't heard of but who has the talent to be a star (she first caught my eye in the exceptional HBO movie "Cheaters", with Jeff Daniels, which fictionalized the true story of a High School math teacher who, fed up with the unspoken caste system of Chicago public schools, allowed and encouraged his team to cheat in the academic decathalon). She stars as the ironically-named Mary, a Good Christian Girl that goes to a Good Christian High School with the perfect Christian boyfriend. Only one problem: when the boyfriend confesses that he might be gay, she takes it upon herself to cure him by sleeping with him. Jesus can restore virginity, after all, and it's for a good cause.

The inevitable pregnancy that results helps to reflect those around her, which conveniently range from the uptight Jesus Freaks (Mandy Moore, having a great deal of fun in the roll, it seems), to the laid-back believers (Patrick Fugit, from ALMOST FAMOUS), to the non-believers (Macaulay Culkin, playing a paraplegic), to the Jewish rebel Cassandra (Eva Amurri) who is caustic and worldly, but the first to notice and empathize with Mary's condition.

The target of the movie is religion, where it effortlessly skewers the easy targets but remains soft on the tougher questions. There are quite a few good lines ("There's only one reason a Christian girl comes down to Planned Parenthood!" "She's planting a pipe bomb?") and the movie is not disingenuous in its exploration of the facets of faith, which stands it apart from a great many movies that explore similar territory.

Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 4)

Since moving back down

I started back at NL100 late last month, and have been doing very well ever since:

Number of sessions: 9
Winning sessions: 7
Losing sessions: 2
Multitable Ratio: 5.69
Hours played: 22.70
Hands: 9764
Amount Won: $1,247.95
BB/100: 6.39
$/Hour: $54.98
$/Table-Hr: $9.66
Rake: $567.00
Table sessions: 62
Table sessions won: 41 (66.13%)

Top 10 winning hands:
88 (46 times, +$452.55)
JJ (51 times, +$445.95)
AA (38 times, +$299.95)
AQo (86 times, +$295.80)
QQ (39 times, +$277.60)
77 (45 times, +$254.20)
AQs (39 times, +$123.70)
KK (47 times, +$119.40)
98s (34 times, +$106.75)
97s (29 times, +$101.40)

Top 5 losing hands:
99 (54 times, -$197.60)
JTs (31 times, -$177.05)
33 (46 times, -$119.85)
22 (41 times, -$102.00)
75s (28 times, -$96.10)

Position Stats:
Button: +$843.40
CO: +$266.65
MP3: +$316.00
MP2: -$51.30
MP1: +$508.40
UTG+1: -$102.25
UTG: +$271.95
BB: -$516.15 (+$714.85 w/o blind)
SB: -$288.75 (+326.25 w/o blind)

VPIP/PFR is 10.7/8.73 UTG, progressing to 20.8/13.3 on the button.

VPIP: 15.38
PFR: 9.45
W$WSF: 39.51%
WTSD: 23.18%
AF: 2.58
W$SD: 58.58%
ATS: 23.40%
Fold BB/Steal: 80.17%
Fold SB/Steal: 80.8%

Running hot over my last 10k? Absolutely. But my play has been pretty goddamn good, I think.

Another good day

Took Monday night off, then played 1,600 hands tonight:



Unlike Sunday night, no big beat I laid on anyone for the result. Nice $600ish rush over 1,300 hands after a bad start.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

CO ($109.25)
Button ($86.50)
SB ($69.10)
BB ($100)
UTG ($50)
Hero ($100)
MP1 ($37.80)
MP2 ($63.55)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 5c, 5d.
1 fold, Hero calls $1, MP1 calls $1, 3 folds, SB raises to $3.5, 1 fold, Hero calls $2, MP1 calls $2.

Flop: ($10.50) 8h, 3s, 5h (3 players)
SB bets $3, Hero calls $3, MP1 folds.

Turn: ($16.50) Jd (2 players)
SB bets $3, Hero raises to $15, SB calls $12.

River: ($46.50) Tc (2 players)
SB bets $3, Hero raises to $79 (All-In), SB calls $45.10 (All-In).

Final Pot: $142.70

Results below:
SB has 8c 8d (three of a kind, eights).
Hero has 5c 5d (three of a kind, fives).
Outcome: SB wins $142.70.

Standard set v. set cooler to open up my day. The only really annoying part is that the little cunt slowrolled his last call, using up almost all of his time bank. Hey dude (Full Tilt Screen Name: c2e2), I say this from the bottom of my heart: go fuck yourself with a rake.

Interestingly, with a name like "c2e2" (which could potentially be referring to a chess move, albeit a strange one) reminds me of this douchebag, who went onto twoplustwo a few months back posting about a 1/2 live hand where he slowrolled a donkey and then proceeded to go absolutely apeshit when people told him he should have instacalled and played the hand like a total douche. He couldn't stop babbling about how he was a great blitz chess player and how everyone else who posted in the thread was an idiot. Wonder if this was the same guy. Seems plausible.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($59.10)
MP2 ($100)
MP3 ($94.50)
CO ($47.40)
Button ($50.95)
Hero ($113.15)
BB ($120.55)
UTG ($64.10)
UTG+1 ($74.45)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Qc, Qd. UTG posts a blind of $1.
UTG+1 calls $1, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $4.5, 2 folds, Button calls $4.50, Hero raises to $15.5, 2 folds, MP2 folds, Button calls $10.50.

Flop: ($37) Jh, Kd, 4d (3 players)
Hero bets $36, Button calls $35.95 (All-In).

Turn: ($108.90) 9s (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($108.90) As (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $108.90

Results below:
Hero has Qc Qd (one pair, queens).
BB doesn't show.
Button has Ah Jc (two pair, aces and jacks).
Outcome: Button wins $108.90.

I don't know what kind of guy coldcalls AJo on the button, defends with it against a squeeze, and calls all-in with second pair, but it's also apparently the kind of person that hits an ace on the river.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($125.40)
MP2 ($67.30)
MP3 ($103.50)
CO ($52.55)
Button ($91.75)
SB ($65.15)
BB ($39.85)
UTG ($88)
Hero ($100)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 9d, Td.
UTG calls $1, Hero calls $1, 4 folds, Button calls $1, 1 fold, BB raises to $6.5, UTG calls $4.50, Hero calls $4.50, Button calls $4.50.

Flop: ($23.50) 6h, 9h, 7d (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $20, Button folds, BB raises to $34.35 (All-In), UTG folds, Hero calls $14.35.

Turn: ($0) 4c (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($0) Ah (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $92.20

Results below:
BB has Kd Ks (one pair, kings).
Hero has 9d Td (one pair, nines).
Outcome: BB wins $92.20.

Took a stab on the flop, ran into a villain that took a gutsy flop line with his kings, forced to call with my decent (9 out) draw, missed.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Button ($117.90)
SB ($51)
BB ($99)
UTG ($72.90)
UTG+1 ($98.90)
MP1 ($101.50)
MP2 ($97.50)
Hero ($101)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7s, 8s. UTG posts a blind of $1.
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.5, 2 folds, UTG (poster) raises to $7, Hero calls $2.50.

Flop: ($13.50) Ah, 2s, 5s (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($13.50) Qs (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $12.5, UTG calls $12.50.

River: ($38.50) Ad (3 players)
UTG bets $15, Hero requests TIME, hero says "so f'ing sick", Hero calls $15.

Final Pot: $68.50

Results below:
BB doesn't show.
UTG has As Ac (four of a kind, aces).
Hero has 7s 8s (flush, queen high).
Outcome: UTG wins $68.50.

Hilarious hand, kinda. Depressing in a way. Another instance of the gay min-3bet pre from OOP getting called down with a hand in a spot of perfect information, checking back after you almost certainly flopped a set, and then forcing you to draw big with a full PSB on the turn. That river hit and I just groaned: am I really up against AK often enough to call here? I honestly seriously thought about folding, so sure I was that I was up against quads. But 8 possibilities of AK (of which I beat 7) vs. the 1 possibility of AA said I had to. I wonder how many donkeys go broke here with an insane raise?

But I managed to bring it back quickly:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP2 ($96.40)
CO ($41.55)
Button ($124.25)
SB ($170)
Hero ($122.95)
UTG ($16)
UTG+1 ($51.95)
MP1 ($96.30)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 7d, 7s.
2 folds, MP1 raises to $3, MP2 calls $3, 3 folds, Hero calls $2.

Flop: ($9.50) 5h, As, 7c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $10, MP2 folds, Hero calls $10.

Turn: ($29.50) 4c (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $18, Hero raises to $55, MP1 calls $37.

River: ($139.50) Ah (2 players)
Hero bets $29, MP1 calls $28.30 (All-In).

Final Pot: $196.10

Results below:
Hero has 7d 7s (full house, sevens full of aces).
MP1 doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $196.79.

Here's a hand that shows the power of checking back the turn with TPGK on a dry board where your hand is transparent. Villain gets himself in ALL sorts of trouble IMO first with the turn bet, and then with calling my turn c/r (which obviously commits him into calling my river shove). The fact is, after I call his flop bet, there just isn't a whole hell of a lot of value in continuing to bet your TP, because it's so obvious what you have that almost no worse hand is going to pay you off. Check back this turn, which will keep the pot a manageable size and often induce a bluff on the river from your opponent, which you then call, and you only lose like $30 this hand.

Also, the PSB cbet is stupid. Half pot fully suffices here.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Button ($108.95)
SB ($85.30)
BB ($53.40)
UTG ($101.50)
UTG+1 ($193.50)
MP1 ($68.65)
MP2 ($47)
MP3 ($116.80)
Hero ($104.65)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Td, 8d.
2 folds, MP1 calls $1, 1 fold, MP3 calls $1, Hero calls $1, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($5) 5h, 9c, Tc (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, MP1 bets $5, MP3 folds, Hero calls $5, SB folds, BB folds.

Turn: ($15) 8h (2 players)
MP1 bets $15, Hero calls $15.

River: ($45) 4d (2 players)
MP1 bets $45, Hero calls $45.

Final Pot: $135

Results below:
MP1 has Th Jc (one pair, tens).
Hero has Td 8d (two pair, tens and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $135.

Very questionable hand on my part, very thin calls all throughout, made only because I felt villain was just way overaggro and despite not having much history I'd already seen him overvalue one pair hands. I wonder if he knew he was bluffing by the river. My flop call is meh, but justifiable. Obviously I'm not calling down further bets unless I improve, but I thought there was a good chance he'd check back turn with a lesser hand.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($137)
MP1 ($65.70)
MP2 ($128.35)
CO ($42.40)
Button ($216.85)
SB ($39.40)
BB ($95)
UTG ($108.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with As, Ac.
1 fold, Hero raises to $3.5, 4 folds, SB calls $3, BB calls $2.50.

Flop: ($10.50) Ah, 2s, 8h (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($10.50) Kh (3 players)
SB bets $6, BB folds, Hero raises to $18, SB calls $12.

River: ($46.50) 4s (2 players)
SB bets $17.9 (All-In), Hero calls $17.90.

Final Pot: $82.30

Results below:
Hero has As Ac (three of a kind, aces).
SB has Ad Tc (one pair, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $82.30.

A bit worried on this one, believe it or not, as it was hard to put this guy on anything but a flush after slowplaying a flop with a possible heart draw holding a set of aces. Still wasn't folding, particularly since this player in question (cutsr) struck me as being VERY weak.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG ($111.70)
UTG+1 ($119.50)
MP1 ($101.50)
MP2 ($75.85)
CO ($109.15)
Button ($100.60)
SB ($56.80)
Hero ($148.20)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 5c, 5h.
UTG raises to $2, 6 folds, Hero calls $1.

Flop: ($4.50) Qc, 5s, 6d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $2.5, Hero calls $2.50.

Turn: ($9.50) 6h (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets $3, Hero raises to $12, UTG calls $9.

River: ($33.50) Ks (2 players)
Hero bets $22, UTG calls $22.

Final Pot: $77.50

Results below:
Hero has 5c 5h (full house, fives full of sixes).
UTG doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $77.50.

Set vs. top pair, lucky flop, can't blame the other dude for getting it in.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Button ($80)
SB ($111.70)
BB ($87.50)
UTG ($35.45)
UTG+1 ($70.20)
MP1 ($28.15)
Hero ($198.40)
MP3 ($72.50)
CO ($112.60)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Kd, Ad.
UTG calls $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $4.5, 5 folds, UTG calls $3.50.

Flop: ($10.50) Td, 7h, Qd (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $6, UTG raises to $12, Hero raises to $199.9 (All-In), UTG calls $18.95 (All-In).

Turn: ($72.40) 4c (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($72.40) Jc (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $72.40

Results below:
UTG has Ts Qs (two pair, queens and tens).
Hero has Kd Ad (straight, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $241.35.

Flip win. I'm very surprised that this player limp-called QTs from UTG. Hand played itself from there.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

BB ($135.75)
UTG ($107.90)
UTG+1 ($42.65)
MP1 ($109.35)
MP2 ($169.50)
MP3 ($100)
CO ($76.10)
Button ($100)
Hero ($187.90)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 7h, 7d.
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1, 2 folds, MP3 calls $1, 2 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($4) Qh, 7s, Kc (4 players)
Hero bets $3, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, MP3 calls $3.

Turn: ($10) Kd (2 players)
Hero bets $5, MP3 calls $5.

River: ($20) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets $20, MP3 calls $20.

Final Pot: $60

Results below:
Hero has 7h 7d (four of a kind, sevens).
MP3 doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $60.

HUGE mistake by me on this one. After the miracle river I need to shove, as 1) opponent has a King here, like, always, and 2) opponent with a king is never ever folding. Didn't think long enough about what to do and as a result missed a ton of value.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($179.05)
CO ($70.80)
Button ($80)
SB ($14.90)
BB ($93.50)
UTG ($100)
Hero ($119.65)
MP1 ($64.40)
MP2 ($100)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 9h, 9d.
1 fold, Hero raises to $3.5, 3 folds, CO calls $3.50, Button calls $3.50, 2 folds.

Flop: ($12) 8s, 2h, 3h (3 players)
Hero bets $7, CO folds, Button calls $7.

Turn: ($26) 6c (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $15, Hero calls $15.

River: ($56) 9s (2 players)
Hero bets $15, Button folds.

Final Pot: $56

Results below:
Hero has 9h 9d (three of a kind, nines).
Outcome: Hero wins $56.

Weird hand here. Villain seems to have had missed hearts here. I was planning on making the defensive bet even before my set hit, which then turned into a small milk bet plus an opportunity for my opponent (who was good and aggressive) to read it as a defensive bet and come over the top with a missed hand, thinking it's part of a b/f line.

And finally:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $1 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP2 ($11.10)
MP3 ($100)
CO ($74.30)
Button ($10.60)
SB ($118.50)
Hero ($174.70)
UTG ($102.50)
UTG+1 ($115.50)
MP1 ($49.70)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ac, Jc.
2 folds, MP1 calls $1, 1 fold, MP3 calls $1, CO calls $1, Button calls $1, 1 fold, Hero checks.

Flop: ($5.50) Kc, Qc, Kd (5 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, MP3 checks, CO checks, Button bets $4, Hero calls $4, MP1 folds, MP3 calls $4, CO folds.

Turn: ($17.50) Tc (3 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $10, Button calls $5.60 (All-In), Hero raises to $30, MP3 folds.

River: ($54.30) Ks (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $43.10

Results below:
Hero has Ac Jc (straight flush, ace high).
Button has Ad 2s (three of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero jumps up and down!

ROYAL FLUSH BABY!!!!!

Quads and a royal flush today, plus lost to quads with a flush, all in nontrivial pots!

Won $300

Though it's hard to feel too good about it, since the majority of it came from the following hand:

Full Tilt Poker Game #6660377128: Table Deerfoot - $0.50/$1 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:47:42 ET - 2008/06/02
Seat 1: gdshaffer ($254.95)
Seat 2: Lunatic Pandora ($228.20)
Seat 3: pepaw ($44.15)
Seat 4: utickle igiggle ($115.05)
Seat 5: meatyballz85 ($86.75)
Seat 6: AbsolutJager ($100)
Seat 7: Uber Esel ($101.50)
Seat 8: fritzcat1 ($70.20)
Seat 9: JAKS450 ($199.20)
Lunatic Pandora posts the small blind of $0.50
pepaw posts the big blind of $1
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jh Jc]
utickle igiggle folds
meatyballz85 folds
AbsolutJager raises to $3
Uber Esel folds
fritzcat1 calls $3
JAKS450 has 15 seconds left to act
JAKS450 raises to $12
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer calls $12
Lunatic Pandora folds
pepaw folds
AbsolutJager adds $3
AbsolutJager folds
fritzcat1 folds
*** FLOP *** [Tc Js Qd]
JAKS450 has 15 seconds left to act
JAKS450 bets $18
gdshaffer raises to $36
JAKS450 has 15 seconds left to act
JAKS450 raises to $96
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer has requested TIME
gdshaffer raises to $242.95, and is all in
JAKS450 calls $91.20, and is all in
gdshaffer shows [Jh Jc]
JAKS450 shows [Kd Ah]
Uncalled bet of $55.75 returned to gdshaffer
*** TURN *** [Tc Js Qd] [Jd]
*** RIVER *** [Tc Js Qd Jd] [7h]
gdshaffer shows four of a kind, Jacks
JAKS450 shows a straight, Ace high
gdshaffer wins the pot ($402.90) with four of a kind, Jacks
JAKS450 is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $405.90 | Rake $3

Ouch. This opponent had run 9/4 over 100 hands or so which I felt like was a result of running cold and semi-tight play as his showdown hands had not been monsters. the cold-call preflop had a few purposes:

- If he had AK, he may cbet the flop but if I call he's likely to shut down and I can win the pot from position.

- If he has an overpair, the fact that we are so deep gives me very respectable setmining odds.

The flop was obviously scary. I've hit middle set, but because I felt like his range was basically QQ, KK, AA, and AK, I'm not in great shape. Maybe 46% equity against the range, and he's not stacking off with AA all the time here (I think he has real trouble laying down KK). Still, I just couldn't fold the set, and after he came over the top felt like it was my duty to push. Obv I got very lucky.

Still, this is the stuff that's been happening to me in big pots all throughout the year, so I don't feel too bad. It's definitely a hell of a way to kick off the month.