Final July session and month-end results

Another good session to put a close on this frustrating month, just shy of 1500 hands for $633, 10.59PTBB/hr. As seems to be my tradition I stacked off early, 4bet shoving JJ in a button v BB spot against an aggro reg, and having him make a good call with QQ. Spewy shove imo as the reg in question is an 84% fold-to-3bet. Big mistake.

Lost big pots with a 66 3bet-bluff line gone horribly wrong against a reg (cr'd flop, big donk bet on turn that he called, river check-fold), called an overshove from a spewy donk with TP when he had KK three-handed, lost a big one with AT against AQ after turning TP and rivering trips (he floated the flop with AQ hi, the bastard), and an AA that I had the sense to fold on the river against what seemed a pretty obvious flush.

Stacks I won:

TT raised EP, MP and button called, flopped top set, bet, he called. Turn, bet, he raised pretty big, I shoved, he called with AA. River an unneeded but somewhat humorous T. FPS FTL.

88 facing KQs on an 8QK flop.

Button good TAG reg steals from button, I defend SB with AsQh. Flop 2TJ rainbow. I check he bets I call - not going anywhere with the gutshot+overs that are often good, not to mention no law says I can't have the best hand right now. Turn K. Woot :) I CR he calls, river offsuit 3 brick, I VB $108 into $142 pot, he calls with KJ. Implied odds FTW.

3 limpers, I overraise the SB to $18 with KhKd. Donkey in MP calls, flop 6QKcc. I bet $25 into $42 he calls, turn Jd. I push $78 into $92, he instacalls with JcAc, reasonable but very low EV call in this spot. River 9d.

AcKc in the BB. EP raise to $6, one cold-caller, I pop to $25. Coldcaller calls. Flopo 67Qcc. I bet $40, half the guy's remaining stack, he instashoves, I instacall, he tables AhQh and is ahead, but I turn the 2c.

I open MP2 with QQ, SB defends, flop 6QJ. 1/2 pot vbet on flop, called, turn A, 1/2 pot vbet, opponent minraised, I shoved, he called with AJ, I dodged his 2-outer.

For the month in cash games I finished +$2,598.90 for 1.85PTBB/100 over 35,056 hands. I definitely lost money in tournaments this month too, though exactly how much I'm not quite sure. A couple hundred, maybe.

It's funny. In terms of raw $$ this was actually a more profitable month than June, though I don't feel nearly as good about it becase last month I ran 5.93PTBB/100 and could basically do no wrong, whereas this month I ran 1.85PTBB/100 over 15k more hands for an hourly rate of much less ($63.97 last month compared to $41.09 this month).

Looking for a positive, though, I feel like my psychological fortitude is much tougher than it was earlier in the year and even when I was swinging downward, I never really let my emotions get the best of me, nor did I make major adjustments to my play in the spirit of trying to "catch up", which is what I'm pretty sure got me into so much trouble in the February-March timeframe. On balance it was a successful but frustrating month, and what I have to do, I think, is just remind myself that I'm making money playing a game, only "working" for 63 hours this month and still making enough to get by.

My graph for the month is a little crazy. LOL SineWaveAments.



Although I'm playing many less hands than a great many "pros", I will probably get fewer hands in over August as I will be preparing to move back to Wisconsin. Big month in terms of volume, and my first month spent entirely at 1-2.

Some of it is back

1400 hands for $634 today, winning my two biggest pots with aces. One was against an absolute donkey who cold-called from position, called a cbet on a Jd 8h 4d flop, called a huge cbet on a 2c turn, and stacked off a half-PSB river bet on a Js river. His hand? 8d 7d!!! LOL. I guess he put me on AK? The sick thing was even after the J paired my bet was still a v-bet. This guy just didn't fold. He was a pretty decent favorite on that flop but maybe didn't understand he didn't get another card :)

Another one was a generic AA v QQ where the dude overplayed it terribly on an undercard flop. Tables were really donkalicious tonight.

I also won about $165 on Sunday night, but that really only made back what I blew in donkaments, without a single cash. One of them, a $24 buyin with 800ish entrants, I bubbled, busting 5 from the money, when a donkey open-shoved from the button with JTo for 15bb. I snapcalled from the BB with AK and lost. That tilted me *hard*, I'd have had a top 10 stack at that point and had a very good shot to go deep. Such a sick game.

MTD is +$1965 for 1.46PTBB/100, minus maybe $150 in donkament losses. One more day to bet back to a respectable month.

Back down...

1,982 hands today, down another $750. Getting fucking tired of this shit.

Stacks I lost:

AA < QQ for 125bb
AK < AA on an A high flop
KK < AA, AIPF, overaggroo button vs. my SB
AK < AA, AIPF after 4betting a PF-3bet spewmonkey whose PF3B was 8%.

Stacks I won:
AA > QQ, 3bet preflop, AI on 9 high flop
AK > TT for 70bb, dude limp-called with TT, check-called 2 streets on K hi flop, donkshoved river when an undercard paired.
KK > 88 for 61bb, dude limp-called, donked a 7 hi flop, called my raise, donked again and called my AI.

Just so fucking disgusting. Between last night and today, monthly profit is down to $1,162 over 31,406 hands. 0.93PTBB/100 for those keeping track, a pathetic $20.59/hr.

I honestly don't think I'm playing bad, just running like shit over the past 24 hours.

When I said I was tired of breaking even, this is not the result I had in mind...

2,263 hands last night, -$443.15. Friday night variance. Lost a stack to an overset, lost quite a bit trying to pound through nitty players that actually turned out to have flopped huge hands, and lost a lot after having made sick value bets only to have my donkey opponents catch their 4-outers. Those sorts of things add up quickly, and while I wasn't playing great, definitely got unlucky.

Back to the tables for some Saturday afternoon action, though.

Moar breakeven prz!

866 hands for +$13.55. Over double yesterday's winrate! Yesterday was 0.18PTBB/100. Today was 0.39PTBB/100!

Every big hand I played and lost was either some kind of ridiculous bad beat or a fucked-up hand where my opponent had something completely screwy:

I open MP1 to $7 with 77, BB 3bets me to $20. We're 120BB deep so this is retarded. I call. Flop: 7JK rainbow. BB bets $25 into $41 pot, I raise to $100, he pushes ($108 more), I instacall. He shows Ad Kc. Turn Td, River Qd, gg me.

I open MP3 to $7 with Ah Kd. CO, a 13/9/unstable who I note overplays TP 3bets me to $24. Folded to me, I call. Flop Ac 3h 5h. I check he bets $28. I call. Turn Qc. I check he checks. River 8c. I bet $20 into $107, he gross-raises me to $79. Because he's unstable I call, he tables Qs 8s. WTF?

OTB with 7d 8d. HJ limps, CO (total 65/10 spewbox station with 70bb) limps, I limp, SB limps, BB checks. Flop: 3d 4c Td. Checked to CO who bets $10 (PSB), I raise to $30, folded to him, he calls. Turn 5d. He checks, I bet $40, he minraises to $80, I push for $13 more, he calls, tables Ts 3s for top/bottom pair. River 3c. gg me.

MP1, a horrible, spewy SS with 25bb, limps. MP3 limps, I raise the HJ to $11 with Ac Kd. Folded to the limpers who both call. Flop 5d 6d Ks. Spewbox shortie instapushes for $38, $1 more than a PSB, I instacall. Spewbox shows 7c 8s (nice limp-call with 25bb!) Turn 5c, River 4c. gg me.

I limp UTG with 2c 2d. UTG+1, a pretty decent player, limps. Folded to the BB who checks. UTG+1 and I are 210bb deep. Flop 2h Qd Ah. Checked to me, I bet $4 (into $7), UTG+1 calls, BB folds. Turn Ks. I bet $10, UTG+1 raises to 30, I call. River 8d. I check to him, he overbets the pot, $100 into $75. I smell the nuts and fold.

Folding bottom set isn't something I do, particularly when i need to put my opponent exactly on TJ to do so, but here I thought it was absolutely correct as this villain isn't overbetting the pot without the nuts here, and as deep as we are his call on the flop is perfectly justifiable and in fact mandatory IMO. Maybe he VERY rarely shows up with two pair here, but this is basically never a bluff and I don't know that I ever really beat anything here. I feel very confident about the correctness of the fold.

That's every pot I lost in which I lost over $30. Sick. To offset it, I stacked two guys holding sets (once against KK overs, once against an overplayed AQ on a Q96 flop). KK on a 4A8 flop was good (don't know what the other guy had, 3bet pot pre he checked to me I checked back, he bet $38 into the $65 pot on a turn of 4c, I raised, and he folded for his last $18 into a $156 pot, LOL. 8d 9d made a flush against the spewbox that 4-outed me against a made flush earlier, got him to fold a big pot on the river. As Qh was good on a 9c 2d Ac Qs board (dude folded on the turn), and Kh Ks turned a boat when I'm pretty sure I was good anyway.

I flopped a lot of sets today, but thanks for the horrific runner-runner beat for 110bb and the other assorted craziness I was way, way below expectation.

Hey, though, at least I'm pulling breakeven sessions out of this bullshit.

Bbbbbbbbbbreakeven!

Played 1,684 hands today to win a grand total of $12.40, and I hate myself for it because I spewed off a stack completely unnecessarily. I defended an mp raise with AQo in the BB against a kinda spewy player, and then proceeded to call pot, pot, AI an on AAxxx from the preflop raiser. This guy didn't know how to do anything other than pot, so I thought he was still doing that with various aces, but of course he had AK. Why do I do stupid shit like that?

Got oversetted for another buyin, then played a weird hand with 7x7s where I raised UTG and a tight player called from MP. Flop came Qc6sKs, I bet he calls. Turn is As, I think, good card to 2barrel, bet 40 he calls. I decide he must actually think he has something. River comes 8s tho, I check he bets 80, and I just think he's bluffing because I can't see how any good spade hand actually got there. Maybe AQs, but this player was tight enough that I really didn't think AQo was a hand he cold-called an EP raise with a tight player. I feel like he's disgusted with AK and can't possibly have the flush, and call. He has QxQs. Doh.

I take a beat with KQo, shorthanded pot against a donkey that overplays everything. I raise, button calls, flop 4TK rainbow. Cbet 10, he calls, turn 7. Bet 20, he raises AI (34 more), snapcall, he shows AT, river T. FAWK.

$140 more at the same shorthanded table. Another big time overplayer, huge payoff wizard. He raises button, I oversize a 3bet from the BB with QQ, he snapcalls. Flop 557. I bet 40 into 57, he calls. Turn 3, I shove 74, he calls, shows 55. Doh.

At my low point I was down about $540. Then I have a nice one. Folded to CO whose ASB was 40%, he raises, I 3bet him with 66 on the button. Blinds fold, he calls. His fold-to-3bet was like 90% so I figure he actually has something. Flop 256 rainbow. Nice :). He CR's me AI, snapcall, he says "..." Bad luck for him, but it's an auto 3bet of course. No law says he can't 4bet it.

Then I played what may be my most interesting hand of the year. Still thinking about it.

A very tight 11/6 player opens UTG+1 for $8, folded to me in the BB where I call with 2s 2d. Flop comes Jh 3c 6h. I check, he bets $12 (into $17), and I decide to raise to $36. This is something I almost never do but like to do once in a while against a player that is very nitty and hates stacking off w/overpairs. That's my read here so I go with it. Unfortunately he calls.

Turn is 5h. Even if I was planning on turning my cr into a multistreet bluff, this is a good card to hit the brakes with as a hand like AhKh or AhQh is very much in his range, plus if we think he has an AA or KK overpair, half the time it'll have a big heart which we're not often getting to fold. I wasn't really planning to run a big multistreet bluff anyway, and check.

Curiously, he checks back. Odd, I think, but in my mind I'm still done with the hand. I don't think he has the flush as if he believes there's a decent chance I have a set, he absolutely must bet here to charge a draw to the boat. If he thinks there's a good chance he has the best hand, I'd say he has a big heart. Curious.

River is the 4d, giving me the bottom end of a miracle runner-runner straight. I think I'm absolutely golden, and bet $45 into the $89 pot.

Dude raises me to $125!!! This leaves me reeling. Obviously representing the flush. But I just thought on the turn, no way does he have the flush! So weird. He's not on the level in one of his two moves, either the turn check or the river raise. I tank. Which is less characteristic of this guy? That timer ticks down so f'ing fast. Finally I decided to go with my read on the turn, which was that he had like AhAx or possibly KhKx. I call. He flips over Ah As and I drag the $326 pot.

Obv I got sickly lucky but I really don't think I like his river raise. I mean, I get that he thinks his AA has absolutely no showdown value and is going for the only way he can win the pot, but it's just not a credible representation of the flush imo, the turn gives him away. Folding is sick too. Gross spot for villain on river, but I think I just cry and call with the AA, I think it has some showdown value.

Very interesting hand.

Downswing? What downswing?

Very brief sessions both yesterday and today: 487 hands yesterday for -$45 (dropped a buyin TT<AK pre, won a buyin 9Js>QQ on 8TAQ board (ouch on turn for opponent), lost 1/4 a buyin in the ebb and flow.

Today I was feeling like shit and didn't want to play at all, but wanted to qualify for my ironman for the day. 395 hands, +$567.55. Ran like God. Perhaps even ran like Patrik Antonius.

Big hands were: AdKd>QQ on Qd4d3d flop (phew! it held!), KcAc>AA on 2cTs8c flop (phew! I sucked out!), 44>AA on K84 flop. Biggest hand I lost was QQ AIPF against AK for $70ish.

Here's my graph for the past four days. This shit is bananas.

~9k of breakeven? Sure, happens all the time!

Bu-yah

So, let's review:

In February, I had a bad day where I lost around $1500. It set me onto a two month spree of monkey life tilt where I was so desperate to win my money back that I started playing badly, going into a horrific streak at NL100 and having two losing months in a row.

Yesterday, I had a bad day where I lost around $1500. What do I do?

I follow it up with the best fuckin' day of cash game play that I've ever had, winning over 2/3 of it back over 4000+ hands :)

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($74.45)
MP2 ($185.50)
MP3 ($262.50)
CO ($98.70)
Button ($231)
SB ($24.25)
Hero ($200)
UTG ($275.50)
UTG+1 ($252.75)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 4d, 4c.
3 folds, MP2 calls $2, 1 fold, CO raises to $6, Button calls $6, 1 fold, Hero calls $4, MP2 calls $4.

Flop: ($25) 4s, Kd, 8s (4 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $25, CO folds, Button folds, Hero raises to $100, MP2 calls $75.

Turn: ($225) 2h (2 players)
Hero bets $94 (All-In), MP2 calls $79.50 (All-In).

River: ($398.50) 6d (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $384

Results below:
Hero has 4d 4c (three of a kind, fours).
MP2 has Kc 8c (two pair, kings and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $398.50.

Standard, bottom set vs. top 2, what he was doing in this pot with K8 I'm not quite sure...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($289.40)
CO ($203.25)
Button ($90.10)
SB ($72.20)
BB ($84.75)
UTG ($399.10)
UTG+1 ($177.45)
MP1 ($216.80)
MP2 ($40)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Ad, As.
UTG calls $2, 1 fold, MP1 calls $2, 1 fold, Hero raises to $15, 3 folds, BB calls $13, UTG calls $13, MP1 calls $13.

Flop: ($61) 9c, Ah, 3h (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $40, BB raises to $69.75 (All-In), UTG folds, MP1 folds, Hero calls $29.75.

Turn: ($200.50) Jd (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($200.50) 4h (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $200.50

Results below:
BB has 7c Ac (one pair, aces).
Hero has Ad As (three of a kind, aces).
Outcome: Hero wins $200.50.

Over-raise pre because MP1 was a huuuuge fish, I see why BB did what he did tho it was very risky. He's thinking he can get KK-'s stack, optimistic to think I bet it this hard on the flop tho.

In my 2nd session of the day, I didn't lose a single pot for more than $100, and I won a ton of $50-$100 stacks over the course of the session. 2747 hands in session 1 for $391.90, 1282 hands in session 2 for $644.10. Total: 4029 hands for $1036.00.

Still not out of Thursday's hold financially, but psychologically I'm doing a lot better than I was last night, lol. MTD is $1808 for 1.91PTBB/100.

A few more just like this one...

...and I'll be out of this hole.

Being able to deal with a bad day like yesterday psychologically is, I think, one of the most key skills in poker. A good poker player will know to let the bad days roll off their back, and not focus on results too much in the short term.

The last time I had a day as bad as yesterday was in February, and looking back, I dealt with it very poorly. I took a few days off, and when I came back, was obsessed with digging my way out as quickly as possible. As a result I played very poorly, getting my money in in some very marginal-at-best spots and consistently having the worst of it. The result was a downswing that lasted over two months and nearly broke me, financially and psychologically.

I can't keep myself from focusing on the hole I've dug for myself thanks to my session yesterday, but in digging my way back out, my emphasis is not on speed, but rather on volume. The way out of it is to simply play my game, which has been beating the level all month, and let the results come as they will.

So, in the spirit of getting back on the horse, I played just shy of 2750 hands today for $391, a respectable 3.57PTBB/100 (about equal to what I was running for the month two days ago). Brings my MTD to $1164 for 1.3PTBB/100.

Pretty good day considering the tables were stocked largely with regs. Still, even regs make mistakes:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG ($176)
UTG+1 ($305.60)
MP1 ($474)
MP2 ($526.10)
MP3 ($153.60)
CO ($397.25)
Hero ($249.95)
SB ($100)
BB ($247.55)

Preflop: Hero is Button with Ah, Qs.
3 folds, MP2 raises to $8, 2 folds, Hero calls $8, 2 folds.

Flop: ($19) 6h, Ad, Qh (2 players)
MP2 bets $13, Hero raises to $39, MP2 calls $26.

Turn: ($97) 2h (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $55, MP2 calls $55.

River: ($207) 6c (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $147.95 (All-In), MP2 calls $147.95.

Final Pot: $502.90

Results below:
MP2 doesn't show. [Ac Kh]
Hero has Ah Qs (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $502.90.

Interesting spot. My river value bet is very thin, but his call is terrible. Basically this was a predictable reg TAG and while my preflop call was a little loose. After he calls my turn bet I decide he probably doesn't have a set or a flush. I have the Ah which drastically cuts down his flush chances, and both AA and QQ, in addition to only having one combo each, are raising this turn (if not betting it outright) to prevent the final heart from coming and ruining everything. When he just called I had the thought "AK, probably with the K of hearts" and was spot-on. Bet the river and hope he thinks there's a decent chance I'm bluffing, as that's all his AK beats.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG+1 ($210.30)
MP1 ($245.50)
MP2 ($265.20)
MP3 ($314.40)
CO ($47.95)
Button ($36)
SB ($276.85)
BB ($258.40)
Hero ($216.30)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Th, Tc.
Hero raises to $7, 6 folds, SB calls $6, BB calls $5.

Flop: ($21) Ts, 3h, 5d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $15, SB calls $15, BB folds.

Turn: ($51) 4c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $40, SB raises to $196, Hero calls $154.30 (All-In).

River: ($441.30) 8d (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $439.60

Results below:
SB has Qd Qc (one pair, queens).
Hero has Th Tc (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: Hero wins $439.60.

LO freaking L. I chortled coke out my nose when I saw what he was holding. Here's the definition of turning a QQ overpair into a bluff. FPS to the max. What's funny is his coldcall preflop followed by treating it like the immortal nuts postflop, when facing an EP raise that's jamming hard. About the only hand he beats that I could conceivably play this way is JJ, but no doubt he would say "I put you on AK" to justify it. As badly a butchered QQ as you'll see.

Only two pots I lost of >$100: KK<AA (AIPF) and QQ<AK (AIPF), for a full and half stack, respectively.

One final fun hand:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($202)
MP1 ($41.45)
MP2 ($259.20)
MP3 ($200)
CO ($214.35)
Button ($200)
SB ($201)
BB ($161)
UTG ($40)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Kc, Kh.
Hero raises to $7, MP1 calls $7, 3 folds, Button calls $7, 2 folds.

Flop: ($24) Th, Jd, 4d (4 players)
Hero bets $18, MP1 folds, Button calls $18.

Turn: ($60) 7d (3 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.

River: ($60) 3h (3 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $30, Hero calls $30.

Final Pot: $120

Results below:
UTG doesn't show.
Hero has Kc Kh (one pair, kings).
Button has As Jc (one pair, jacks).
Outcome: Hero wins $120.

What was funny was this dude (a mere 13/10 btw) berated me endlessly after the hand for my "nitty" play. It staggers the imagination that people would just keep pounding kings on a board like this, particularly after the crappy ass turn card comes, which fills the flush and a likely straight. Frankly I never even strongly considered that he only had TPTK for this hand, as a good player doesn't call an EP raise with that trash (particularly offsuit) pre, and I (quite mistakenly) had this guy pegged as a good thinking player. About the only hand that I might possibly get more action from that I'm ahead is KQ, and I'm not too happy about any additional action I get with the board that awful.

River is a toss-up between bet/fold and check/call, I think I got pretty max value in the spot. Plus I have a note on the dude that says "overplays TP, thinks I'm a nit." Not necessarily because he overplayed TP in this hand, but because he LOL'd at me when I said I thought I got pretty much max value. If he's stacking off to me in that spot, omg valuetown.

I'll probably put another late session in tonight, to take advantage of the drunks, but a break is good for now.

FUUUUUUCKKKKK

Um, not a good day today.

Just over 3400 hands.

Lost just under $1500.

FUUUUCK.

So goddamn sick. So many sick beats, and then a little bit of tilt as I tried some very low percentage bluffs.

Lost almost all of it in the first 1100 hands, the rest was a desperate and futile attempt to get unstuck. Basically played breakeven for 2200 hands. Went on a couple of $400 runs but couldn't get anything going again and wound up giving it back.

So fucking pissed. MTD has now crashed to +$772, a pathetic 0.98PTBB/100.

Session!

Took the day off yesterday, didn't feel much like playing. I've been feeling really weird recently, and been in a weird sleep schedule where one night I don't sleep for crap, the next I sleep for like 12 hrs.

Finally felt up to playing tonight, PT shots 1519 hands for +$550, but it's missing something along the lines of $50 profit as I had a disconnection in the midst of three hands that I won, one of them moderate sized, and they didn't register.

For a brief moment my bankroll crossed the five-digit barrier for the first time ever, but then I gave a couple hundred back, first with AQ < AK on an ace-high flop (dude smoothcalled out of the BB then took a weird line), and 66 < 99 when I tried to bluff an unknown that turned out to play like 8 hands at 83/0 and win $200 (he called a big flop PSB w/83s on a 39J flop against another guy who wound up having AA, and turned a 3. Ouch.) Why do I always choose the fish?

Okay, that's not true. I had some good bluffs today. My favorite:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7241711037: Table Haro (deep) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:11:09 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: echamp ($201.50)
Seat 2: gdshaffer ($200)
Seat 3: 13TH BASS PRO ($165.45)
Seat 4: acessorbetter ($160.60)
Seat 5: Class V ($430.15)
Seat 6: Ivanei Ivanov ($212.75)
Seat 7: klemovit ($438.30)
Seat 8: FullMoney ($280.10)
Seat 9: zekagrinder ($417.30)
FullMoney posts the small blind of $1
zekagrinder posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Jh Ah]
echamp folds
gdshaffer raises to $7
13TH BASS PRO calls $7
acessorbetter calls $7
Class V folds
Ivanei Ivanov folds
klemovit folds
FullMoney folds
zekagrinder folds
*** FLOP *** [7h Qc 4h]
gdshaffer bets $12
13TH BASS PRO calls $12
acessorbetter folds
*** TURN *** [7h Qc 4h] [2s]
gdshaffer bets $35
13TH BASS PRO calls $35
*** RIVER *** [7h Qc 4h 2s] [4d]
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer bets $65
13TH BASS PRO folds
Uncalled bet of $65 returned to gdshaffer
gdshaffer mucks
gdshaffer wins the pot ($115)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $118 | Rake $3
Board: [7h Qc 4h 2s 4d]
Seat 1: echamp didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: gdshaffer collected ($115), mucked
Seat 3: 13TH BASS PRO folded on the River
Seat 4: acessorbetter folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Class V didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Ivanei Ivanov didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: klemovit (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: FullMoney (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: zekagrinder (big blind) folded before the Flop

Most profitable hand of the night:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7242295291: Table Cactus Wren - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:12:34 ET - 2008/07/16
Seat 1: quad stacks ($334.80)
Seat 2: Fongman123 ($158.10)
Seat 3: skrangeo ($309.50)
Seat 4: gdshaffer ($371.30)
Seat 5: Dino21Might ($332.45)
Seat 6: adult_diapers ($200)
Seat 7: Akhnaton ($98.15)
Seat 8: lucksallugot ($194.20)
Seat 9: ssphilly ($143.20)
Akhnaton posts the small blind of $1
lucksallugot posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ac Ah]
ssphilly calls $2
quad stacks folds
Fongman123 calls $2
skrangeo calls $2
gdshaffer raises to $13
Dino21Might folds
adult_diapers folds
Akhnaton folds
lucksallugot folds
ssphilly folds
Fongman123 folds
skrangeo calls $11
*** FLOP *** [3c Qd 5c]
skrangeo checks
gdshaffer bets $20
skrangeo raises to $63
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer calls $43
*** TURN *** [3c Qd 5c] [Ks]
skrangeo checks
gdshaffer checks
*** RIVER *** [3c Qd 5c Ks] [5h]
skrangeo bets $100
gdshaffer has 15 seconds left to act
gdshaffer: going for a 2nd cr on the turn?
gdshaffer has requested TIME
gdshaffer calls $100
*** SHOW DOWN ***
skrangeo shows [Jd Ad] a pair of Fives
gdshaffer shows [Ac Ah] two pair, Aces and Fives
gdshaffer wins the pot ($356) with two pair, Aces and Fives
skrangeo adds $66.50
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $359 | Rake $3
Board: [3c Qd 5c Ks 5h]
Seat 1: quad stacks didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Fongman123 folded before the Flop
Seat 3: skrangeo showed [Jd Ad] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 4: gdshaffer showed [Ac Ah] and won ($356) with two pair, Aces and Fives
Seat 5: Dino21Might didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: adult_diapers (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Akhnaton (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: lucksallugot (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: ssphilly folded before the Flop

His line made no bloody sense whatsoever, the turn check gave him away. After I call doesn't he want to protect a set against clubs, which is a huge part of my range? Then what? Is he repping that he hit the five? Bad, bad bluff, not a particularly hard call on my part, though I took my time. Villain had gotten out of line a few times already but preflop was fairly reasonable. He was repping, well, pretty much exactly what he had, total air :)

Ran pretty poorly today in AI pots with KK < 99 and AQ < AJ in nontrivial pots, too.

MTD +$2,254 for 3.69PTBB/100. Hourly rate: $82.56. Been running 13.4/9.32/2.64 with a preflop 3bet of 3.19%, ASB of 23.6. Those are the exact sorts of numbers that my opponents give me fits when they have them, just aggro enough without being ridic.

wtF

All from the same $69+6 tournament:

Full Tilt Poker Game #7235671700: $1 Million Guarantee Satellite (54906253), Table 3 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:20:31 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 1: ShipITUPS (1,605)
Seat 2: worldtuffer (1,710)
Seat 3: matthemagnet (780)
Seat 4: brewtusKK (2,025)
Seat 5: gdshaffer (1,440)
Seat 6: tomboy1936 (1,395)
Seat 7: CMCMCM (1,710)
Seat 8: RestlessP (1,500)
Seat 9: Take My Loot (1,335)
gdshaffer posts the small blind of 15
tomboy1936 posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ac Kc]
CMCMCM has 15 seconds left to act
CMCMCM folds
RestlessP folds
Take My Loot has 15 seconds left to act
Take My Loot calls 30
ShipITUPS folds
worldtuffer folds
matthemagnet raises to 135
brewtusKK folds
gdshaffer raises to 660
tomboy1936 folds
Take My Loot folds
matthemagnet raises to 780, and is all in
gdshaffer calls 120
matthemagnet shows [Ah Qd]
gdshaffer shows [Ac Kc]
*** FLOP *** [3s Jc 6d]
*** TURN *** [3s Jc 6d] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [3s Jc 6d Ks] [Tc]
matthemagnet shows a straight, Ace high
gdshaffer shows a pair of Kings
matthemagnet wins the pot (1,620) with a straight, Ace high
The blinds are now 20/40
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,620 | Rake 0
Board: [3s Jc 6d Ks Tc]
Seat 1: ShipITUPS didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: worldtuffer didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: matthemagnet showed [Ah Qd] and won (1,620) with a straight, Ace high
Seat 4: brewtusKK (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: gdshaffer (small blind) showed [Ac Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 6: tomboy1936 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: CMCMCM didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: RestlessP didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Take My Loot folded before the Flop

I then triple up when 44 hits a set on the flop AIPF against AJ and AT.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7235727341: $1 Million Guarantee Satellite (54906253), Table 3 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:25:04 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 1: ShipITUPS (275)
Seat 2: worldtuffer (1,710)
Seat 3: matthemagnet (1,620)
Seat 4: brewtusKK (1,380)
Seat 5: gdshaffer (1,880)
Seat 6: tomboy1936 (1,345)
Seat 7: CMCMCM (1,010)
Seat 9: Take My Loot (2,780)
ShipITUPS posts the small blind of 20
worldtuffer posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Ts Td]
matthemagnet folds
brewtusKK calls 40
gdshaffer raises to 180
tomboy1936 folds
CMCMCM folds
Take My Loot folds
ShipITUPS folds
worldtuffer folds
brewtusKK calls 140
*** FLOP *** [3s 4c 9c]
brewtusKK checks
gdshaffer bets 380
brewtusKK raises to 1,200, and is all in
gdshaffer calls 820
brewtusKK shows [6s 6d]
gdshaffer shows [Ts Td]
*** TURN *** [3s 4c 9c] [7d]
*** RIVER *** [3s 4c 9c 7d] [5s]
brewtusKK shows a straight, Seven high
gdshaffer shows a pair of Tens
brewtusKK wins the pot (2,820) with a straight, Seven high
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,820 | Rake 0
Board: [3s 4c 9c 7d 5s]
Seat 1: ShipITUPS (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: worldtuffer (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: matthemagnet didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: brewtusKK showed [6s 6d] and won (2,820) with a straight, Seven high
Seat 5: gdshaffer showed [Ts Td] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 6: tomboy1936 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: CMCMCM didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Take My Loot (button) didn't bet (folded)

Full Tilt Poker Game #7235841443: $1 Million Guarantee Satellite (54906253), Table 3 - 30/60 - No Limit Hold'em - 17:34:18 ET - 2008/07/15
Seat 2: worldtuffer (1,890)
Seat 3: matthemagnet (1,440)
Seat 4: brewtusKK (2,865)
Seat 5: gdshaffer (425)
Seat 7: CMCMCM (2,265)
Seat 9: Take My Loot (3,115)
brewtusKK posts the small blind of 30
gdshaffer posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to gdshaffer [Qc Ac]
CMCMCM folds
Take My Loot calls 60
worldtuffer calls 60
matthemagnet raises to 330
brewtusKK folds
gdshaffer raises to 425, and is all in
Take My Loot folds
worldtuffer folds
matthemagnet: oops didnt c ur stack
matthemagnet calls 95
gdshaffer shows [Qc Ac]
matthemagnet shows [6s 2s]
*** FLOP *** [4s 5c 9c]
*** TURN *** [4s 5c 9c] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [4s 5c 9c Jh] [2h]
gdshaffer shows Ace Queen high
matthemagnet shows a pair of Twos
matthemagnet wins the pot (1,000) with a pair of Twos
gdshaffer stands up
worldtuffer stands up
matthemagnet stands up
brewtusKK stands up
CMCMCM stands up
Take My Loot stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,000 | Rake 0
Board: [4s 5c 9c Jh 2h]
Seat 2: worldtuffer folded before the Flop
Seat 3: matthemagnet (button) showed [6s 2s] and won (1,000) with a pair of Twos
Seat 4: brewtusKK (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: gdshaffer (big blind) showed [Qc Ac] and lost with Ace Queen high
Seat 7: CMCMCM didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Take My Loot folded before the Flop

Wasn't just me, either. I don't think a single person got it in as a favorite and won, except my hand w/44.

Frustrating session

1700+ hands to win a grand total of $15.85. Gross. But it was something of an epic win to break even, seeing as how I lost two huge pots to suckouts. The first was KK from the small blind, CO raises (I have a note on him that notes he really doesn't like folding to my 3bets; I have a hand where he did so with 44 and then called down all the way), I 3bet, he calls. Flop is 5 high, I bet out, he calls, turn ten, I bet he pushes I call, he shows TT. Fuck. He was totally stacking off anyway, too.

Second hand I raise from the CO with QQ, the button 3bets, I push, he calls off 55BB with ATs. Ace hits the flop of course.

That's like $300 in suckouts, but I managed to spend the entire time clawing my way back.

MTD 12,151 hands, $1385 profit.

A few sessions

I decided to get another session in after my last update and wound up losing another $300, then played 1000 hands on Sunday, 650 hands Monday, 930 hands tonight. I took last night off, the first night I've taken off this month. Between those three sessions I won close to $600 ($75, then $297, then $221). Most of my money today came from two hands: a set over set in my favor (I turned it with KK, I was getting it in against this guy as the flop was wet and he was very active) and an AA vs KK pre. I'll take whatever I can get.

MTD I am up $1360 for 3.28 PTBB/100, plus I cleared my $325 midyear bonus, putting my bankroll at an all-time high.

I'm moving from Kansas to Wisconsin next month, and won't be cashing out until I get up there, so hopefully I can put up a pretty decent withdrawal once I get up there!

My favorite hand of the night:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Button ($90.80)
SB ($36)
BB ($268.20)
UTG ($40.75)
UTG+1 ($196)
MP1 ($201)
MP2 ($279.65)
Hero ($356.10)
CO ($214)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 9s, 9h.
4 folds, Hero raises to $7, 3 folds, BB calls $5.

Flop: ($15) 5h, 7s, As (2 players)

BB checks, Hero bets $10, BB raises to $32, Hero raises to $60, BB folds.

Final Pot: $76

Totally read-dependent, this guy had a fold to cbet of like 10% over 400 hands and such suspicious players are generally big fans of picking off cbets from stealers. I showed and then said "value amirite?" Maybe he had an ace, but it was almost always going to be a very weak one, so unless he has 2pair or a set I think I'm getting a fold.

100th post!

This marks my 100th post for this blog, and fittingly, it's a down day, lol. Played 883 hands losing $479, including one absolute setup where a guy limped AA from the SB, I raised with AQs, he called. Flop comes dry, Q high, check to me, I bet. Turn bricks, he checks I bet again he calls. I'm smelling a bit of a rat by this point but the river is an ace, which I think puts me ahead of much of his range. He bets out, which was almost all-in, I went ahead and raised, he called immediately of course. Without that case A on the river I save a lot of money.

Much of the rest of what I lost was just moderate-sized pots that weren't going my way. Had 77 on a 733 flop that I eventually had to dump: smooth-called flop bet from donk thinking he had a weak overpair or something like 66, 2 more smoothcallers behind which was fine with me. Turn 8, donk bets out again for $17, I smooth-call again looking for overcalls. River 8. FUUUUUCK. Checked to the button, who pots it for $107. Everyone folds.

I then entered the $100+9 MSOP main event, was able to double early after I raised from LP with 5c6c, retard in the BB defends, limper calls. Flop: Ac Jc Tc. Nice. Check to me, I bet, retard check-raises, I call. Turn: Qh. Retard bets pot, almost all-in, I raise, he instacalls with KhTh and is drawing dead. Heh.

Played tight for a while, lost a bunch of chips in an attempt to 3bet light from the blinds and then cbet, button had a steal % of 100% over 80 hands but didn't back down this hand, had to give it up to a river bet. At about 8000 chips a retard limps from UTG, 2 more limpers, I limp the button with Kc7c. SB limps, BB checks, flop K76 rainbow. Retard bets out, limper calls, I raise to 4x the bet, retard pushes, I call. Retard shows AA. Turn 4 river 4. GG me.

July 4 poker

I celebrated my Independence Day by participating in an activity that half the representatives in this country, once hailed as a bastion of freedom, wants desperately to make a federal crime despite the only participants being consensual adults. As we drift closer and closer to a police state, in the name of the perpetuation of an utterly false sense of security, remember that this country actually once prided itself on allowing people to do what they wanted, and be thankful for getting to ride the final coattails of the liberty granted by our once-great but ever-fading idealism.

Lest that sound too pessimistic, I posted a very short session, 600 hands, +$140 at NL200. Maintaining a good winrate for the month: 7.43 BB/100. MTD winnings: $1578.

Best session ever

1975 hands at NL200, finished the day +$890.40 for 11.27 BB/100. It never ceases to amaze me how many donks there are even at NL200:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

CO ($306.15)
Button ($179.10)
SB ($98)
BB ($40)
UTG ($62.05)
Hero ($200)
MP1 ($86)
MP2 ($530.25)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with 4d, 4c.
1 fold, Hero raises to $7, 1 fold, MP2 calls $7, 1 fold, Button calls $7, 2 folds.

Flop: ($24) Qd, Ad, 4h (3 players)
Hero bets $15, MP2 calls $15, Button calls $15.

Turn: ($69) 9s (3 players)
Hero bets $45, MP2 calls $45, Button folds.

River: ($159) 9h (2 players)
Hero bets $133 (All-In), MP2 calls $133.

Final Pot: $425

Results below:
Hero has 4d 4c (full house, fours full of nines).
MP2 doesn't show. [Ac Td]
Outcome: Hero wins $425.

Holy CRAP am I glad I wasn't bluffing, LOL. I'd have been PISSED.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($226.80)
MP2 ($91.15)
CO ($81.75)
Button ($61)
SB ($41)
BB ($285.80)
UTG ($208.75)
UTG+1 ($124.50)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with Ah, Kh.
UTG calls $2, 1 fold, Hero raises to $9, 1 fold, CO calls $9, 3 folds, UTG calls $7.

Flop: ($30) Js, 8h, 4h (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $20, CO folds, UTG raises to $199.75 (All-In), Hero calls $179.75.

Turn: ($429.50) 8d (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($429.50) 6s (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $429.50

Results below:
UTG has Tc Ad (one pair, eights).
Hero has Ah Kh (one pair, eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $429.50.

I decided there was very little chance he was being that stupid with a set, and made the call reluctantly knowing that while a favorite, I never seem to hit in these situations. The bad news: I didn't hit. The good news: I was ahead the whole time!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Button ($262.70)
SB ($250.20)
BB ($398)
UTG ($165.45)
UTG+1 ($780.25)
MP1 ($204.55)
Hero ($200)
CO ($208)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 8h, 8d. UTG posts a blind of $2.
2 folds, Hero raises to $7, 1 fold, Button calls $7, 1 fold, UTG (poster) calls $5.

Flop: ($22) Ks, 8c, Qs (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $15, Button calls $15, UTG folds.

Turn: ($52) Kd (3 players)
Hero bets $25, Button calls $25.

River: ($102) 2d (3 players)
Hero bets $50, Button raises to $215.7 (All-In), Hero calls $103 (All-In).

Final Pot: $408

Results below:
BB has (three of a kind, kings).
Hero has 8h 8d (full house, eights full of kings).
Button has Kh Js (three of a kind, kings).
Outcome: Hero wins $408.

Almost a crying call on the river here actually, I didn't see what a rational opponent could turn over here other than KQ. However, he did seem a little unstable ... what a retarded river raise with that bullshit hand!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($393.70)
Button ($69.50)
SB ($154.20)
BB ($240.35)
UTG ($100)
UTG+1 ($264.40)
MP1 ($200)
MP2 ($132.40)
MP3 ($106.20)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Td, Kd.
5 folds, Hero raises to $7, 1 fold, SB calls $6, 1 fold.

Flop: ($16) 4h, 6d, 2d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $10, SB raises to $20, Hero raises to $50, SB calls $30.

Turn: ($116) 3d (2 players)
SB bets $97.2 (All-In), Hero calls $97.20.

River: ($310.40) Ts (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $310.40

Results below:
SB has Ah Jd (high card, ace).
Hero has Td Kd (flush, king high).
Outcome: Hero wins $310.40.

ROFL. Blind defense gone horribly wrong.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG ($139.25)
Hero ($264.75)
MP1 ($37)
MP2 ($210.90)
CO ($200)
Button ($221.45)
SB ($219.70)
BB ($78.90)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Qc, Ac.
UTG calls $2, Hero raises to $9, 1 fold, MP2 calls $9, 4 folds, UTG calls $7.

Flop: ($30) 3s, Qs, 7c (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $20, MP2 folds, UTG raises to $60, Hero raises to $255.75 (All-In), UTG calls $70.25 (All-In).

Turn: ($416) 3d (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($416) 6h (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $290.50

Results below:
UTG has As 4s (one pair, threes).
Hero has Qc Ac (two pair, queens and threes).
Outcome: Hero wins.

Naked CR with the NFD against a CBet, always risky. That said, I'm never anxious to stack off w/top pair except this guy had been a little active and FPS'y.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($117.65)
MP2 ($40)
MP3 ($17.60)
CO ($315.70)
Button ($103.75)
SB ($273.30)
Hero ($507.65)
UTG ($244.65)
UTG+1 ($213.50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qh, Qd.
2 folds, MP1 calls $2, 2 folds, CO calls $2, 1 fold, SB completes, Hero raises to $10, MP1 raises to $27, CO folds, SB folds, Hero raises to $507.65 (All-In), MP1 calls $90.65 (All-In).

Flop: ($629.30) 3h, 3s, 4h (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: ($629.30) 2s (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($629.30) 2d (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $239.30

Results below:
Hero has Qh Qd (two pair, queens and threes).
MP1 has Ks As (two pair, threes and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins.

I've just been going through my session from my most profitable hands down, and here's the first one where I don't feel my opponent made a big mistake. Granted the limp-RR with AKs is nonstandard, but I didn't feel it was worthy of all that respect here, and I run very well in races so far this month :)

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($200)
MP2 ($110.95)
Hero ($218.80)
CO ($200)
Button ($237.70)
SB ($69)
BB ($225.75)
UTG ($160.90)
UTG+1 ($41)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Qs, As.
UTG calls $2, 3 folds, Hero raises to $9, 3 folds, BB calls $7, UTG calls $7.

Flop: ($28) 3s, 5d, Ah (3 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $20, Hero calls $20, BB folds.

Turn: ($68) 3c (2 players)
UTG bets $44, Hero calls $44.

River: ($156) Qc (2 players)
UTG bets $24, Hero calls $24.

Final Pot: $204

Results below:
UTG has 7s Ac (two pair, aces and threes).
Hero has Qs As (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $204.

Played this hand just after dropping a brutal stack, was on semi-tilt for it I think. Missed a clear river raise.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

Hero ($554)
CO ($172.60)
Button ($200)
SB ($205.85)
BB ($218.35)
UTG ($200)
UTG+1 ($221.35)
MP1 ($261.65)
MP2 ($141.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with As, 8s.
4 folds, Hero raises to $7, CO calls $7, 3 folds.

Flop: ($17) Qs, 7s, Ts (2 players)
Hero bets $10, CO calls $10.

Turn: ($37) Qh (2 players)
Hero bets $25, CO calls $25.

River: ($87) 6d (2 players)
Hero bets $60, CO calls $60.

Final Pot: $207

Results below:
Hero has As 8s (flush, ace high).
CO doesn't show. [Ad 6s]
Outcome: Hero wins $207.

Villain here was an absolute WHALE. Yes, that's three big calldowns with Ad 6s. Ace of diamonds, six of fucking spades. Unbelievable! Villain went broke in roughly 5 hands.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

UTG+1 ($98.80)
MP1 ($448.85)
MP2 ($200)
MP3 ($352.30)
CO ($50.65)
Button ($123)
Hero ($206.15)
BB ($210.15)
UTG ($214.65)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Ah, Qd.
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $6, 4 folds, Hero calls $5, BB calls $4.

Flop: ($18) Ac, 6h, Qs (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 bets $10, Hero raises to $30, BB folds, UTG+1 raises to $92.8 (All-In), Hero calls $62.80.

Turn: ($203.60) Qc (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($203.60) 6s (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $203.60

Results below:
Hero has Ah Qd (full house, queens full of aces).
UTG+1 has Ks Ad (two pair, aces and queens).
MP2 has (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $203.60.

The final hand where I won at least $100 today. Included for posterity. Obv I got lucky here.

As for hands where I lost more than $100, there were two, count 'em, TWO:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

BB ($103)
UTG ($200)
UTG+1 ($96.95)
MP1 ($200)
MP2 ($204.80)
MP3 ($193.55)
Hero ($375.15)
Button ($200)
SB ($104.40)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Kc, Kh.
2 folds, MP1 calls $2, 1 fold, MP3 calls $2, Hero raises to $11, 3 folds, MP1 raises to $36, MP3 folds, Hero calls $25.

Flop: ($77) 7c, 7h, 3c (2 players)
MP1 bets $40, Hero raises to $339.15 (All-In), MP1 calls $124 (All-In).

Turn: ($580.15) Js (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($580.15) 8s (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $405

Results below:
MP1 has Ah Ad (two pair, aces and sevens).
Hero has Kc Kh (two pair, kings and sevens).
Outcome: MP1 wins $405.

Standard AA vs. KK cooler.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP1 ($203.35)
MP2 ($246)
MP3 ($116.15)
CO ($225.95)
Button ($50.20)
SB ($144)
Hero ($208.35)
UTG ($122.45)
UTG+1 ($37)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Qc, Qh.
3 folds, MP2 raises to $8, 2 folds, Button calls $8, SB calls $7, Hero raises to $40, MP2 calls $32, Button folds, SB folds.

Flop: ($96) Td, Qd, 2c (2 players)
Hero bets $55, MP2 raises to $206 (All-In), Hero calls $113.35 (All-In).

Turn: ($470.35) Ks (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($470.35) Th (2 players, 2 all-in)

Final Pot: $432.70

Results below:
Hero has Qc Qh (full house, queens full of tens).
MP2 has Kh Kd (full house, kings full of tens).
Outcome: MP2 wins $429.70.

Whereupon my opponent played reasonably but had to catch a two-outer. After his preflop call I was totally spooked, and remarked after the hand was done that "that was the only way you get my stack there". Sick sick beat.

Wheeeeeee

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (8 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.comFlopTurnRiver.com (Format: Plain Text)

CO ($505.50)
Button ($239.50)
SB ($247.75)
BB ($186.80)
Hero ($232.55)
UTG+1 ($199)
MP1 ($262.25)
MP2 ($200)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 8h, 8c.
Hero raises to $7, UTG+1 calls $7, 1 fold, MP2 calls $7, 3 folds, BB calls $5.

Flop: ($29) Ts, 4s, 8d (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $20, UTG+1 raises to $60, MP2 calls $60, BB folds, Hero raises to $225.55 (All-In), UTG+1 calls $132 (All-In), MP2 calls $133 (All-In).

Turn: ($639.55) Kd (3 players, 3 all-in)

River: ($639.55) 3h (3 players, 3 all-in)

Final Pot: $607

Results below:
Hero has 8h 8c (three of a kind, eights).
UTG+1 has 4d 4h (three of a kind, fours).
MP2 has Th Td (three of a kind, tens).

A little set vs. set vs. set action to brighten my day ... or not.

+$228 today in a little over 1100 hands despite this one, MTD is +$547 running at almost exactly 5.00 PTBB/100. I'm not kidding myself, though: I'm definitely running well overall.

Diving back in

Back to the NL200 for now, one day in played 1600 hands for +$319, solid enough. Started off bad but then hit a couple of nice hands. I thought this was an interesting one:

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $2 BB (9 handed) Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com (Format: Plain Text)

MP3 ($172.70)
CO ($53.20)
Button ($97)
Hero ($200)
BB ($238.60)
UTG ($200)
UTG+1 ($307.45)
MP1 ($112.10)
MP2 ($182.20)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 6s, 6h.
4 folds, MP3 raises to $7, 2 folds, Hero calls $6, BB calls $5.

Flop: ($21) 6d, 8s, Jc (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP3 bets $12, Hero calls $12, BB calls $12.

Turn: ($57) Qs (3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $29, MP3 folds, Hero calls $29.

River: ($115) 5h (2 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $71, Hero calls $71.

Final Pot: $257

Results below:
Hero has 6s 6h (three of a kind, sixes).
BB has 5s 4s (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Hero wins $257.

The flop check/call with bottom set was justified, I think, as it seemed like a pretty dry board; the problem was that almost every damn draw got there and the wrong guy woke up; by the river I was seriously thinking about letting it go as 9T and 79 were both very real possibilities. I couldn't actually do that though, as my hand is so ridiculously underrepped and all sorts of weird 2pairs and the occasional bluff was also part of his range.

I'll admit that he had some stones for firing at this board the way he did. He said "LOL" after the hand, which could have meant one of two very polarizing things: LOLing at me because I had a set and never bet or raised it, and tanked the river bet, or LOL because he can't believe I called off when he was so aggressively repping the straight.

Also had a gift in the BB where the button stole, the SB called, and I popped up AA. The button folded, but then the SB came over the top. I went WTF for a few seconds before repopping, he instashoved, I instacalled, he showed AKs. Strange way to play it but still a cooler for him. $460 pot. I wasn't about to complain.

Crossing my fingers that I can continue to win at the level. I want to get some serious volume in this month.