Just flopped the nut flush over in a FTOPS SS and lost to the Super Nuts. [Th]xx gets stacked by [6h]xx on a [7h][5h] flop. Kinda felt it when he c/r'ed the turn, but can you really fold there knowing how bad Sunday MTTer's are?

So you know what sucks? NL$100. Yes, I am insane because I do continue to play NLHE cash games a couple of times per week. Tonight was my 5th session at NL$100 and I was still looking to book my 1st win. Tonight's summary -$1.70.

Wasn't without absurdity though. I finally did flop several sets, but was only able to get paid on 1....and I needed quads to do it.....and I gave it all back a few hands later. Other than that, everyone insta-folded when I bet or even called a flop bet. So then I decided I had to lag it up in order to get some action on some big hands or at least start stealing more. Bluff #1 - snap called on the Rv. Then entire table breaks.

Here's one ridiculous table that just gives you my whole experience at the $100 game so far in a nutshell.

In 45 hands at this table, I folded the first 5.

On hand #6 I pick up [Ks] and open to $3.50 from MP. The 2 players in CO and BTN, let's call them A and B for this summary, both call with full stacks.
[Kd][9d] P$12
There's my set. Beautiful board. I bet $8 hoping to get raised or at least for a non-diamond turn to bet bigger. I get a call from A (CO).
P$28
I decided to go for the dangerous c/r here. A bets $18 and I shove for $87. A takes some time and folds.

I raise the next hand with AQo and pick up the blinds, then fold the next 3.

On hand #11 I call the CO's open to $3 from the BTN w/ [8h]. A, now in the SB, takes the opportunity to squeeze to $16 and I fold.

So now I'm noting that A could be getting out of line.

5 more folds and then on hand #17 I pick up [Js] from BB. B limps from MP now and everyone else folds. I raise to $5 and B snap calls.
[2h][9h] P $10.50
I bet out $7.50 thinking that he'll probably float as I'd seen him do several times already and he does.
P $24.50
How many diamonds are in this deck. I check and decide just to call B's $11 bet.
P $46.50
I was considering c/r'ing but I hate to give him the opportunity to get away free here so I go for the weak bet hoping that he'll raise it, but at least call. I bet $15 and he insta-shoves $77 and I finally win my first stack at NL$100.

Needed those quads on the river to do it too as he only had the nuts on the turn [2d].

5 folded hands later, I pick up [Ts] in MP and raise to $3.50. And B comes along again.
[4c][8d] P $8.50
I bet $6 and B calls.
P $20.50
I check/call a $10 bet.
P $40.50
I plan to do the same vs a reasonable bet again, but B insta-shoves for $103 so I fold.

Now 7 folds later, it's [Qc] in MP. Raise to $3.50 and this time it's A again. BB calls too. I haven't taken part in 1 single hand at this table where A or B haven't jumped on my back yet.
[6c][7c] P $11
I thought about check-raising here because I knew that A wasn't folding to a c-bet, but I decided that I'd bet and shove to the raise which I thought was probably coming. So I bet $7, and A raises to $20, just like I knew was coming, but BB flat calls the $20!

I say fuck it and shove anyway. A snap calls and BB folds. I hit the on the river but A shows the set.

The entire table couldn't have been scripted any better with these two. What the hell his going on? Is Stars renting the Full Tilt RNG?

Back to normal beatable non-NLHE games tomorrow.

Oh....you know what else sucks?

Pink Eye!

Never knew that you could get Pink Eye from allergies, but I've been finding out several things you can get from allergies the last few weeks that I never knew before. Also learned that Allergic Pink Eye is the only non-contagious form of the virus, but it didn't make it any less painful last night or irritating today.

Two very slightly profitable sessions tonight. But I'm happy with that.
PLO$50 +$23 (or 1/2 a stack)
2/4 LHE 6max +$12 (or +3BB)

Patience is your friend....especially in limit games. My 1st 3 sessions at 2/4 LHE 6-max over the past month have all been profitable and it probably has to do with not spewing and making good folds and value bets. Eventually, I end up catching the hand and getting paid off.

Sure I got a little lucky with that perfect river card, but he'd been playing every hand and that's why I raised preflop in the first place.

2/4 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($45.50)
UTG+1 ($78.00)
Hero ($123.00)
BTN ($85.00)
SB ($98.00)
BB ($103.50)

Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is CO [5d]
UTG calls, 1 fold, Hero raises, 2 folds, BB calls, UTG calls

Flop: [4d][5c] (6.5 SB, 3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets, BB calls, UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, BB folds, UTG 4-bets, Hero calls

Turn: (7.8 BB, 2 players)
UTG bets, Hero calls

River: (9.8 BB, 2 players)
UTG bets, Hero raises, UTG 3-bets, Hero 4-bets, UTG calls

Final Pot: 17.8 BB
UTG shows: [4h]
Hero shows: [5d]

Hero wins 17.0 BB ( won +9.0 BB )
BB lost 1.5 BB
UTG lost 8.0 BB

----------------

PLO - It's often difficult when you feel like you have to defend yourself against someone who calls you and idiot.......for 10 minutes straight......because they can't read hands.

$0.25/$0.5 Pot Limit Omaha Hi
5 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($74.25)
CO ($48.50)
BTN ($6.15)
SB ($52.30)
Hero ($50.05)

Pre-flop: ($0.75, 5 players) Hero is BB [As][9s][6d]
UTG raises to $1 ($73.25), CO calls $1 ($47.50), 2 folds, Hero calls $0.5 ($49.05)
50.50% (EV = $0.64)
49.50% (EV = $0.61)

Flop: [7s][8s] ($3.25, 3 players)
Hero bets $3 ($46.05), UTG calls $3 ($70.25), CO raises to $14 ($33.50), Hero raises to $48.1 ($0.00), UTG folds ($70.25), CO goes all-in $33.5 ($0.00)
47.10% (EV = -$1.22)
52.90% (EV = $5.46)

Turn: ($101.25, 2 players)
18.80% (EV = $18.47)
81.20% (EV = $82.22)

River: ($101.25, 2 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $101.25)

Final Pot: $101.25
CO shows: [7h][Jc][8h]
Hero shows: [As][9s][6d]

Hero wins $99.85 ( won +$50.75 )
UTG lost -$4.00
CO lost -$48.50

irockhos said, "wow ur terrible"
irockhos said, "nice play with a flush draw"
irockhos said, "idiot"
irockhos said, "assss"
Hero said, "haha. you can't read hands lol"

I figured the combination of PLO and then LHE worked last night, so why not try it again tonight? Same games, slightly different result.

2/4 LHE 6-max, dropped 10BB (-$41), but I'm really happy with the way I played. I was 3 outted 4x on the river and it didn't even bother me.

As a matter of fact, on one of those hands when I had flopped 2 pair and another player had also flopped 2 pair, a 3rd player called us down with A8-hi and ended up winning with broadway. The other player berated him for calling down with A-hi against heavy action and I occasionally would do the same, but tonight I took a different approach because I didn't want him to leave the table.

I complimented him on the picture of his wife in his avatar. He said she was an Irish Setter.

But otherwise, I didn't try to blow them off their 62s when they flopped a pair against my AK high. I made good folds and mostly good value bets, but I guess if all your value bets are right then your not making enough so it didn't bother me.

Ok, maybe this one really bothered me a little. But he had been running so hot and not folding anything, so I kinda felt it coming because I had just been waiting to catch him. In his defense, he did pick up the double gutter on the turn and he was getting paid off if he hit.

2/4 Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($108.00)
UTG+1 ($78.00)
CO ($107.00)
BTN ($196.00)
SB ($170.00)
Hero ($80.00)

Pre-flop: (1.5 SB, 6 players) Hero is BB [Ac]
4 folds, SB calls, Hero raises, SB calls

Flop: [Kh][Ah] (4.0 SB, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls

Turn: (3.0 BB, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB calls

River: (5.0 BB, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets, SB raises, Hero calls

Final Pot: 9.0 BB
SB shows: [4h]
Hero shows: [Ac]

SB wins 8.8 BB ( won +4.2 BB )
Hero lost 4.5 BB


-----------------------------


The PLO session had almost exactly the same results (+$24.25), but by a very different method. They just allowed me to steal at will, so that's what I did. I was not all-in 1x and don't even think I played a single big pot.

This was the biggest pot I played, and I just decided to shove preflop because it was a short stack and I was curious what my equity was there against AAxx if his kickers were bad. Turns out I was worse off than I thought I might be. So I guess I learned something.

$0.25/$0.5 Pot Limit Omaha Hi
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($75.70)
UTG+1 ($53.20)
CO ($46.10)
Hero ($49.60)
SB ($51.00)
BB ($12.70)

Pre-flop: ($0.75, 6 players) Hero is BTN [9c][Kh][Qc]
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.25, 1 fold, BB raises to $7.5, UTG+1 folds, Hero raises to $23.25, BB goes all-in $5.2
62.80% (EV = $3.72)
37.20% (EV = -$13.52)

Flop: [Ks][7d] ($26.15, 2 players)
66.00% (EV = $17.26)
34.00% (EV = $8.89)

Turn: ($26.15, 2 players)
95.00% (EV = $24.84)
5.00% (EV = $1.31)

River: ($26.15, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $26.15)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $26.15
BB shows: [Ac][5h][Ad]
Hero shows: [9c][Kh][Qc]

BB wins $24.85 ( won +$12.15 )
Hero wins $10.55 ( lost -$12.7 )
UTG+1 lost -$0.50

-----------------------

This hand might not seem like anything because it was a small pot, but I think it's an example of how I'm learning to read other players and situations better and pick good spots.

$0.25/$0.5 Pot Limit Omaha Hi
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($57.55)
UTG+1 ($55.35)
CO ($20.25)
BTN ($47.00)
Hero ($72.25)
BB ($26.25)

Pre-flop: ($0.75, 6 players) Hero is SB [As][Qd][Td]
3 folds, BTN raises to $1.75 ($45.25), Hero calls $1.5 ($70.50), BB calls $1.25 ($24.50)

Preflop I'm always calling against a BTN raise with 3 broadway, double suited.

Flop: [Kh][8c] ($5.25, 3 players)
Hero checks ($70.50), BB checks ($24.50), BTN checks ($45.25)

This is actually a great flop for me and I'm planning to c/r and even get it in here if I have to.

Turn: ($5.25, 3 players)
Hero bets $3 ($67.50), 2 folds

Usually the board pairing on the turn would be scary for my big straight draw, but as soon as that card hits I know that I can probably make a medium bet and pick up the pot fairly easily. Because if someone had top 2 pair or a set, they would have bet the flop.

Final Pot: $5.25

Hero wins $8 ( won +$3.25 )
BTN lost -$1.75
BB lost -$1.75

So there might be a lot of pure stations who will tell you exactly what draw they have at this level or even some that will call down with a pair that you can't bluff, but then there are also those that will never bluff and let you rob them blind. You have to mark those people and take advantage of them as well. Maybe even more importantly, because since they'll rarely resist, variance and risk will be smaller.

I know that I really can't complain much about tournament lucky lately, but how about playing 3 MTT's, being among the chip leaders and almost a lock to cash in all 3 after the first hour, getting your money in good several times afterward and being gone from all 3 less than a 1/2 hour into the 2nd hour.

No Limit Holdem Tournament
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG (2835)
UTG+1 (4650)
MP1 (8240)
MP2 (6095)
MP3 (2060)
CO (3830)
BTN (425)
SB (1915)
Hero (5670)

Blinds: 150/300 Ante 25

Pre-flop: (675, 9 players) Hero is BB [Qh]
6 folds, BTN goes all-in 400 (25), SB calls 250 (1515), Hero goes all-in 5645 (0), SB goes all-in 1490 (25)
28.50% (EV = $134.37)
29.00% (EV = -$482.05)
42.50% (EV = -$1985.75)

Flop: [Td][9h] (4405, 3 players)
8.90% (EV = $166.88)
61.50% (EV = $2985.82)
29.70% (EV = $2557.17)

Turn: (4405, 3 players)
9.50% (EV = $178.12)
69.00% (EV = $3349.95)
21.40% (EV = $1842.54)

River: (4405, 3 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $4855.00)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: 4405
BTN shows: [6c]
SB shows: [7c]
Hero shows: [Qh]

SB wins 4405 ( won +2515 )
Hero wins 3755 ( lost -1890 )
BTN lost -400

----------------
No Limit Holdem Tournament
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG (4625)
UTG+1 (8215)
MP1 (6070)
MP2 (2035)
MP3 (3805)
CO (3055)
BTN (4405)
Hero (3755)
BB (2810)

Blinds: 150/300 Ante 25

Pre-flop: (675, 9 players) Hero is SB [5d]
2 folds, MP1 calls 300 (5770), 2 folds, CO calls 300 (2755), 1 fold, Hero calls 150 (3455), BB checks (2510)
53.50% (EV = $465.05)
46.50% (EV = $364.95)

Flop: [Kh][7d] (1430, 4 players)
Hero checks (3455), BB checks (2510), MP1 checks (5770), CO checks (2755)
74.40% (EV = $1063.92)
25.60% (EV = $366.08)

Turn: (1430, 4 players)
Hero bets 1200 (2255), 1 fold, MP1 calls 1200 (4570), 1 fold
75.00% (EV = $1672.50)
25.00% (EV = -$242.50)

River: (3830, 2 players)
Hero goes all-in 2230 (25), MP1 calls 2230 (2340)
0.00% (EV = -$2230.00)
100.00% (EV = $6055.00)

Final Pot: 8285
Hero shows: [5d]
MP1 shows: [Jh]

MP1 wins 8285 ( won +4555 )
CO lost -300
Hero lost -3730
BB lost -300

----------------

Not sure why the stack sizes aren't showing, but there were 48 left and I was in the top 9 and opponent had me covered. We were biggest 2 stacks at the table and I did raise maximum on the flop.

9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($0.00)
UTG+1 ($0.00)
MP1 ($0.00)
MP2 ($0.00)
Hero ($0.00)
CO ($0.00)
BTN ($0.00)
SB ($0.00)
BB ($0.00)

Pre-flop: ($0, 9 players) Hero is MP3 [Ac][Ts][Ks]
3 folds, MP2 raises to $0 ($0.00), Hero calls ($0.00), 4 folds
30.50% (EV = $0.00)
69.50% (EV = $0.00)

Flop: [3c][9h] ($0, 2 players)
MP2 bets $0 ($0.00), Hero raises to $0 ($0.00), MP2 goes all-in $0 ($0.00), Hero goes all-in $0 ($0.00)
19.30% (EV = $0.00)
80.70% (EV = $0.00)

Turn: ($0, 2 players)
12.50% (EV = $0.00)
87.50% (EV = $0.00)

River: ($0, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $16960.00)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $16960
MP2 shows: [Kd][Qs][3h]
Hero shows: [Ac][Ts][Ks]

------------------------------------

No Limit Holdem Tournament
$21.50+$2.00
7 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG (8645)
UTG+1 (5465)
MP (1455)
CO (4510)
BTN (6310)
Hero (3935)
BB (2430)

Blinds: 100/200

Pre-flop: (300, 7 players) Hero is SB [9s]
5 folds, Hero goes all-in 3935 (0), BB goes all-in 2230 (0)
58.20% (EV = -$55.97)
41.80% (EV = -$273.12)

Flop: [6h][6d] (4869, 2 players)
77.00% (EV = $5132.05)
23.00% (EV = $1186.80)

Turn: (4869, 2 players)
88.60% (EV = $5905.19)
11.40% (EV = $588.24)

River: (4869, 2 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $5160.00)

Final Pot: 4860
Hero shows: [9s]
BB shows: [Kd]

Hero wins 1505 ( lost -2430 )
BB wins 4860 ( won +2430 )

Had my 1st and 2nd profitable sessions at NLHE $100 FR tonight. Could be considered 1 long session with a half hour break in between, but who cares. During the 1st one, I was lucky enough to run into several huge idiots then tried to give it back being overly aggressive with AQ/AK from the blinds. No matter how large you raise, you'll be met with a shove every single time by the turn.

Thank you. No, seriously, THANK YOU.....

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($180.85)
UTG+1 ($96.60)
MP ($108.60)
Hero ($99.50)
BTN ($102.80)
BB ($72.90)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is CO [As]
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.5 ($96.00), 2 folds, BB calls $2.5 ($69.40)
68.50% (EV = $1.64)
31.50% (EV = -$1.14)

Flop: [Kh][Ad] ($7.5, 1 players)
BB bets $12 ($57.40), Hero raises to $31 ($65.00), BB raises to $50 ($7.40), Hero goes all-in $96 ($0.00), BB goes all-in $19.4 ($0.00)
99.40% (EV = $75.86)
0.60% (EV = -$68.52)

Turn: ($146.3, 1 players)
100.00% (EV = $172.90)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

River: ($146.3, 1 players)
100.00% (EV = $172.90)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $146.30
Hero shows: [As]
BB shows: [Ac]

Hero wins $169.9 ( won +$70.4 )
BB lost -$72.90

---------------------

Raising AK from the BB 8xBB, the single time it worked today....board still had to scare the shit out of me.

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
8 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($94.50)
UTG+1 ($75.85)
MP1 ($101.50)
MP2 ($155.00)
CO ($104.75)
BTN ($30.00)
SB ($117.70)
Hero ($100.90)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 8 players) Hero is BB [Ks]
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1 ($74.85), 1 fold, MP2 calls $1 ($154.00), 1 fold, BTN calls $1 ($29.00), SB calls $0.5 ($116.70), Hero raises to $8 ($91.90), UTG+1 folds ($74.85), MP2 calls $7 ($147.00), BTN folds ($29.00), SB folds ($116.70)

Flop: [Qh][9h] ($19, 2 players)
Hero bets $13 ($79.90), MP2 calls $13 ($134.00)

Turn: ($45, 2 players)
Hero bets $25 ($54.90), MP2 calls $25 ($109.00)

River: ($95, 2 players)
Hero checks ($54.90), MP2 checks ($109.00)

Final Pot: $95
Hero shows: [Ks]
MP2 shows: [Kd]

Hero wins $92 ( won +$46 )
BTN lost -$1.00
SB lost -$1.00
UTG+1 lost -$1.00
MP2 lost -$46.00

--------------------

And you too sir....thank YOU.....

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($41.00)
UTG+1 ($99.45)
MP1 ($117.05)
Hero ($102.55)
MP3 ($45.70)
CO ($117.50)
BTN ($99.70)
SB ($47.00)
BB ($100.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is MP2 [Qc]
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.5 ($99.05), 3 folds, SB calls $3 ($43.50), 1 fold
90.90% (EV = $3.77)
9.10% (EV = -$2.77)

Flop: [Qd][Ac] ($8, 2 players)
SB checks ($43.50), Hero bets $5 ($94.05), SB raises to $10 ($33.50), Hero raises to $21 ($73.05), SB raises to $32 ($1.50), Hero raises to $44 ($34.05), SB goes all-in $11.5 ($0.00)
99.70% (EV = $50.72)
0.30% (EV = -$43.22)

Turn: ($95, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $95.00)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

River: ($95, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $95.00)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $95
Hero shows: [Qc]
SB shows: [9s]

Hero wins $92.5 ( won +$45 )
SB lost -$47.00

-------------------

When did I grow these?

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
8 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($103.70)
Hero ($177.10)
MP1 ($54.80)
MP2 ($114.00)
CO ($102.00)
BTN ($19.00)
SB ($53.50)
BB ($82.90)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 8 players) Hero is UTG+1 [8c]
1 fold, Hero raises to $3.5 ($173.60), 2 folds, CO raises to $13 ($89.00), 3 folds, Hero calls $9.5 ($164.10)

Flop: [7d][2s] ($27.5, 2 players)
Hero checks ($164.10), CO bets $16 ($73.00), Hero raises to $40 ($124.10), CO folds ($73.00)

Final Pot: $59.50

Hero wins $80.6 ( won +$27.6 )
CO lost -$29.00

Actually, I had notes on opponent that he liked to squeeze and re-raise a lot, but would frequently fold to counter-aggression/shoves. He was running 19/17 and had just thrown in a big button raise vs several limpers a couple of hands ago. This was his first orbit at this table. I had decided to c/r any decent flop before I even called the re-raise.

----------------------

Another stupid move. Villain was 74/8 22WTSD. Somehow I knew that he was calling preflop and raising no matter what the flop was......and that I was missing it.

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($100.00)
UTG+1 ($127.50)
MP1 ($80.95)
MP2 ($93.50)
MP3 ($96.00)
CO ($65.55)
BTN ($58.50)
SB ($99.00)
Hero ($114.20)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is BB [As]
1 fold, MP3 says "dumbass is" ($96.00), 1 fold, MP1 calls $1 ($79.95), CO says "nice picture of your wife" ($65.55), 1 fold, MP3 calls $1 ($95.00), CO calls $1 ($64.55), 2 folds, Hero raises to $7.5 ($105.70), MP1 calls $6.5 ($73.45), MP3 folds ($95.00), CO folds ($64.55)

Flop: [2c][9d] ($17.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $12 ($94.70), MP1 raises to $24 ($49.45), Hero folds ($94.70)

Final Pot: $41.50

MP1 wins $51.5 ( won +$20 )
MP3 lost -$1.00
CO lost -$1.00
Hero lost -$19.50

---------------------

They haven't believed me yet, unless I've actually had a big hand, so why should that start now? I strongly considered NOT double barreling here, but.......

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
7 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($98.00)
UTG+1 ($32.70)
MP ($22.50)
CO ($98.00)
BTN ($44.00)
SB ($242.15)
Hero ($122.20)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 7 players) Hero is BB [Kc]
3 folds, CO raises to $3 ($95.00), 2 folds, Hero raises to $11 ($110.20), CO calls $8 ($87.00)

Flop: [4s][Jh] ($22.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $15 ($96.20), CO calls $15 ($72.00)

Turn: ($52.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $32 ($64.20), CO goes all-in $72 ($0.00), Hero folds ($64.20)

Final Pot: $116.50

CO wins $153.5 ( won +$55.5 )
Hero lost -$58.00

---------------------

Made another couple of BADLY TIMED bluffs costing myself almost 80BB, but got a decent chunk of it back here, just before I left.

Villain was 30/18 and was calling/floating also betting when checked to against me a TON. I figured I was ahead on the flop, but didn't want to see a lot of turn cards. I was going to c/r, but it failed. The flush card on the turn didn't scare me because I had noted that he bets his flush draws hard.

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
7 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($58.50)
UTG+1 ($140.85)
Hero ($104.85)
CO ($104.30)
BTN ($172.80)
SB ($85.95)
BB ($30.00)
[UTG posted $1.5]

Pre-flop: ($3, 7 players) Hero is MP [Kd]
UTG checks ($57.00), 1 fold, Hero raises to $5 ($99.85), 1 fold, BTN calls $5 ($167.80), 2 folds, UTG folds ($57.00)
17.50% (EV = -$2.73)
82.50% (EV = $5.72)

Flop: [2d][Tc] ($13, 2 players)
Hero checks ($99.85), BTN checks ($167.80)
22.70% (EV = $2.95)
77.30% (EV = $10.05)

Turn: ($13, 2 players)
Hero bets $8 ($91.85), BTN calls $8 ($159.80)
20.50% (EV = -$2.06)
79.50% (EV = $15.05)

River: ($29, 2 players)
Hero bets $18 ($73.85), BTN calls $18 ($141.80)
0.00% (EV = -$18.00)
100.00% (EV = $47.00)

Final Pot: $65
BTN shows: [Qd]
Hero shows: [Kd]

Hero wins $62 ( won +$31 )
BTN lost -$31.00
UTG lost -$1.50

How do you say more than double your bankroll in under 6 hours???........

Congrats!!

Tournament Win Recap
Few stats..
- Largest field I've ever taken down - 852
- Only 4 total KO bounties ($16), and that includes the last player, proving that you don't have to knock people out to win.
- 2nd largest tournament cash for me $3935.20 - $3909.20 profit

Going to try to keep this to only a few interesting hands and key spots.

Was running fairly blah early. Had $1500 (15BB) just before the first break then doubled up when I shoved over a $100 limper with [5d] and got called by [5c]

Got super-lucky when I had someone placed at my table with a huge stack who was open-shoving every hand (J2o, 86s, Q8o). The luck was not in just having him there, but in actually getting in with slightly better hands and holding up twice allowing me to double twice.
- [Tc] vs [7s] - 65% for 21BB
- [9h] vs [Td] - 53 for his last 25BB

Toughest Spot
This was only my 2nd orbit at this table. I have over 40BB and CO has me covered. We are, by far, the 2 biggest stacks at the table.

CO raises, BTN shoves for 5BB and I decide to isolate with pocket 9's, but not to commit myself. If it was any other player on the table I would have shoved, but then CO - who may or may not know what I was doing - shoves and I'm getting 2-1

No Limit Holdem Tournament
$9500 KO Guarantee
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG (3480)
UTG+1 (3043)
MP1 (4640)
MP2 (4425)
MP3 (1060)
CO (12005)
BTN (1015)
SB (3040)
Hero (8562)

Blinds: 100/200

Pre-flop: (300, 9 players) Hero is BB [9h]
5 folds, CO raises to 555 (11450), BTN goes all-in 1015 (0), 1 fold, Hero raises to 2400 (5962), CO goes all-in 12005 (0), Hero folds (6162)

Flop: [Ks][4h] (15523, 2 players)

Turn: (15527, 2 players)

River: (15527, 2 players)

Final Pot: 5915
CO shows: [Kc]
BTN shows: [3d]

CO wins 5915 ( lost -6090 )
BTN lost -1015
Hero lost -2400

I finally decided to fold and it was the right decision.

The next big hand takes place when at 150/300, a very aggro big stack (20K) in MP raises to 1300 (over 4xBB) and I shove AQo from BTN for 7772 and get snap called by AJo. I hold and now am very comfortably in the top 9.

AA > JTs and AK > A7 puts me at over 33K with 300/600 blinds.
Went a little card dead from there and basically maintained for a long time while other players caught up.

HUGE Hand - Suck, Re-suck
We're already in the money. Blinds 800/1600.
I have 30K (about 19BB) and raise [Kh] UTG to 3685. A fairly aggro player on the BTN calls who just has me covered. Big stack in BB calls too.
[6s][3s] P = 13,655
Instead of betting I decide to check because I think BTN will try to stab here a good % of the time. He bets 7,500, BB folds and I c/r all-in for 27,106.
BTN actually takes a few seconds to think about it before calling with top set!!!
No matter.... on the turn. River is .

Luck is obviously necessary to win tournaments.

Again, status quo for a long time, until I get moved to the table with Shuan Deeb (TedsFishFry) directly to my left. Thankfully that only lasted a few hands. I wasn't really paying attention to the hand he busted out, but I saw the whole table was "wow"ing in the chat and I looked up to see Deeb's [Jc] all-in preflop vs [Kh].

I thought maybe he went off and shoved to a 3-bet, but all he did was open-shove 50K from MP with 2K/4K blinds. I don't think it was that big of a deal.

The good thing was, from the reactions of the other players who knew who he was, I kind of got an idea of who might be able to fold to raises and re-raises now. So now I was able to steal a little to keep myself even. Until.......

Quads Baby!
We're down to either 12 or 13 players at this point and I'm somewhere right in the middle. This is a HUGE hand because it catapults me into 2nd place. A bit risky because I waste the hand if he folds, but it seems that nobody folds anymore if there isn't an A or K on the flop and I had been fairly aggressive lately, so much so that I had considered folding the 55 UTG because I was pretty sure I'd meet resistance and figured I might end up in a situation where I'm probably playing it for set value. Anyway, this is how it worked out. SWEET!!!


No Limit Holdem Tournament
$9500 KO Guarantee
6 players
Converted at

Stacks:
Hero (129457)
UTG+1 (167941)
CO (77320)
BTN (146186)
SB (86940)
BB (258169)

Blinds: 2500/5000 Ante 600

Pre-flop: (11100, 6 players) Hero is UTG [5s]
Hero raises to 13655 (115802), UTG+1 calls 13655 (154286), 4 folds

Flop: [5c][8s] (42010, 2 players)
Hero bets 15000 (100802), UTG+1 raises to 83410 (70876), Hero goes all-in 115202 (0), UTG+1 calls 31792 (39084)

Turn: (272427, 2 players)

River: (272427, 2 players)
BTN says "wow" (146186), BTN says "gh" (146186)

Final Pot: 268814
Hero shows: [5s]
UTG+1 shows: [Tc]

Hero wins 268814 ( won +139957 )
UTG+1 lost -128857

The Final Table
There wasn't much else to happen until we got to the final table and even after we got to the final table for a while. I was oop to the biggest stacks and most aggressive players so I couldn't really do much.

Fortunately, it was some of the better players that went out the earliest and I was the shortest stack with 5 players left when I doubled up with KK vs KJ.

That put me in 3rd out of 5, or actually 4, when the next player went out soon after. With 4 left, it looked like this....
Me - 280K
Super aggro player - 248K
Donkey fish - 572K
Weak passive - 605K

The Super Aggro went out first, giving his entire stack to Donkey Fish and then were were down to 3.

822K - 630K - 251K

The problem was, I really couldn't figure them out. Weak passive was playing both weak and super strong hands very passively and Donkey Fish was 1/2 potting every card no matter who bet preflop.

Somehow, I slowly picked enough good spots to chip up to even with both of them without ever even having to get all-in once.

The Donkey Fish just got bled away as I started raising him more often until he had barely over 10BB left and then disconnected and never came back. If that really happened then it sucks, but I kinda think he just got so frustrated that he left.

After he was gone, I had built a 1.16M - 544K lead.
HU lasted 15 hands of which I was the sole aggressor vs the weak passive player.

I raised or re-raised 7 of the first 10 hands and took them down preflop. The other 3 didn't go to flop either, I either folded or was re-raised preflop once.

Hand 11 I raised 85o and took down on the flop.

Hand 12 I folded 93o.

Hand 13 I took down preflop with a raise and Hand 14 he just folded.

Hand 15 I continued raising to the exact same amount, praying that he was finally fed up........

No Limit Holdem Tournament
$9500 KO Guarantee
2 players
Converted at

Stacks:
Hero (1322463)
BB (381537)

Blinds: 12000/24000 Ante 3000

Pre-flop: (42000, 2 players) Hero is BTN [As]
Hero raises to 56500 (1253963), BB goes all-in 378537 (0), Hero calls 322037 (943926)
91.30% (EV = $323632.13)
8.70% (EV = -$309017.56)

Flop: [3h][6d] (769079, 2 players)
83.10% (EV = $639109.64)
16.90% (EV = $135043.51)

Turn: (769085, 2 players)
90.90% (EV = $699098.27)
9.10% (EV = $72715.73)

River: (769085, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $763074.00)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: 763074
Hero shows: [As]
BB shows: [5c]

Hero wins 763074 ( won +384537 )
BB lost -378537

Scary ass flop, but BIG WIN and I feel like it's a Monkey off my back, finally taking down a decent sized field and a decent score as most my other wins have been around 500 entries and never really more than 1K at once.

Dropped just over 2 stacks at PLO$50 yesterday. It was actually my worst loss at that level by $2.80. Did clear the $120 bonus on Stars though yesterday so the day was about break even anyway.

Tonight was very good. Planned 2 short sessions at NL$100 FR, but just played through a single 2 hour session instead. Way the best session so far (+2 stacks), 3rd consecutive winning session, and now even into slight profit at just over +1 BB/100.

There are some terrible short stackers at NL$100....some terrible non-short stackers too.

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($39.45)
UTG+1 ($60.85)
MP1 ($98.75)
MP2 ($150.65)
MP3 ($103.15)
CO ($76.65)
Hero ($95.50)
SB ($41.00)
BB ($100.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is BTN [Ad]
UTG calls $1 ($38.45), UTG+1 raises to $4 ($56.85), MP1 calls $4 ($94.75), 3 folds, Hero raises to $17 ($78.50), 2 folds, UTG folds ($38.45), UTG+1 calls $13 ($43.85), MP1 calls $13 ($81.75)
7.40% (EV = -$13.04)
92.60% (EV = $32.54)

Flop: [Jh][6d] ($53.5, 3 players)
UTG+1 bets $15 ($28.85), 1 fold, Hero goes all-in $78.5 ($0.00), UTG+1 goes all-in $28.85 ($0.00)
8.40% (EV = -$31.99)
91.60% (EV = $82.58)

Turn: ($141.2, 2 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $175.85)

River: ($141.2, 2 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $175.85)

Final Pot: $141.20
UTG+1 shows: [Js]
Hero shows: [Ad]

Hero wins $172.85 ( won +$77.35 )
UTG+1 lost -$60.85
MP1 lost -$17.00
UTG lost -$1.00

-------------------



$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($111.15)
UTG+1 ($138.70)
MP1 ($130.60)
MP2 ($98.00)
MP3 ($98.50)
Hero ($97.00)
BTN ($13.30)
SB ($20.00)
BB ($25.50)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is CO [Jh]
5 folds, Hero raises to $3.5 ($93.50), BTN goes all-in $13.3 ($0.00), 2 folds, Hero calls $9.8 ($83.70)
88.00% (EV = $11.43)
12.00% (EV = -$9.93)

Flop: [Kc][Ad] ($28.1, 2 players)
98.50% (EV = $27.68)
1.50% (EV = $0.42)

Turn: ($28.1, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $28.10)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

River: ($28.1, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $28.10)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $28.10
Hero shows: [Jh]
BTN shows: [8c]

Hero wins $26.7 ( won +$13.4 )
BTN lost -$13.30

----------------------

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
8 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($128.45)
UTG+1 ($24.95)
MP1 ($265.35)
MP2 ($94.50)
Hero ($243.65)
BTN ($98.50)
SB ($113.50)
BB ($100.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 8 players) Hero is CO [Qh]
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $1 ($23.95), 2 folds, Hero raises to $4 ($239.65), 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $3 ($20.95)
35.10% (EV = -$0.67)
64.90% (EV = $2.17)

Flop: [2h][3c] ($9.5, 2 players)
UTG+1 checks ($20.95), Hero bets $7 ($232.65), UTG+1 goes all-in $20.95 ($0.00), Hero calls $13.95 ($218.70)
22.40% (EV = -$9.44)
77.60% (EV = $18.94)

Turn: ($51.4, 2 players)
19.30% (EV = $9.92)
80.70% (EV = $41.48)

River: ($51.4, 2 players)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)
100.00% (EV = $51.40)

Final Pot: $51.40
UTG+1 shows: [6c]
Hero shows: [Qh]

Hero wins $48.9 ( won +$23.95 )
UTG+1 lost -$24.95

-----------------------

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at

Stacks:
UTG ($265.35)
UTG+1 ($97.30)
Hero ($267.60)
MP2 ($98.50)
MP3 ($22.05)
CO ($113.00)
BTN ($100.00)
SB ($127.45)
BB ($55.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is MP1 [Qc]
2 folds, Hero raises to $3.5 ($264.10), 1 fold, MP3 goes all-in $22.05 ($0.00), 4 folds, Hero calls $18.55 ($245.55)
80.30% (EV = $14.57)
19.70% (EV = -$13.07)

Flop: [4c][Ts] ($45.6, 2 players)
88.40% (EV = $40.31)
11.60% (EV = $5.29)

Turn: ($45.6, 2 players)
86.40% (EV = $39.40)
13.60% (EV = $6.20)

River: ($45.6, 2 players)
100.00% (EV = $45.60)
0.00% (EV = $0.00)

Final Pot: $45.60
Hero shows: [Qc]
MP3 shows: [7h]

Hero wins $43.35 ( won +$21.3 )
MP3 lost -$22.05