That's it then ! Earlier today it looked like I was going to have a bumper PLO win to finish off the year, but I turned that into a decent size loss after stepping up to $3/6 and generally getting it in bad at $2/4 and $1/2.
A shame since the PLO on gutshot seems genuinely soft. Soft it may be, but basic discipline is still required. Next year ....
I did finish with a satellite win into this Sunday's $50k guarantee - that would be a good one to win to start off 2009 !
Will take a look back at the poker year in the next couple of days. For now, though, off to a quiet NYE party locally and see you next year !
Wednesday 31 December 2008
Monday 22 December 2008
Another target for next year
The World Blogger poker title will have to go on the "to do" list for next year along with everything else.
I never really got going in the event. After starting with 5k chips and making modest initial progress, I slipped back to just over 2k when missing a couple of times with AK, AQ.
I tend to be more comfortable with less chips and I regained the 5k mark in two hands. Once raising preflop with KQ-suited then moving in on a low flop which was checked to me.
Then, check-raising all-in on a ten-high 3-club board with black Jacks.
I was feeling I may have a chance and possibly should have avoided going broke on what turned out to be my last hand. I picked up QQ on the big blind (it felt like I hadn't seen many good hands, to be honest, so this seemed like the nuts).
I was folded to the button who was short-stacked and made it 480 to play (3BB). The Small Blind min-raised to 960. I had about 5,500 and the SB had me covered.
I didn't know quite what to make of the min-raise but as he had played not far short of every other hand I thought my QQ could well be good, and I opted to shove.
The button passed but the SB had KK which held. All of a sudden, after a decent recovery, I was out !
It was a pretty unsuccessful evening all-round tourney-wise. I played the $200k - very tight as I was concentrating on the blogger game. I think I had played 3 hands all night when the cut-off raised me to 400, and I shoved from the BB with AQ. He called me all-in with A6 (??) which proceeded to make a straight 7-high on the river. I was effectively out with < 2BB left.
As it was my last tourney night of the year, I decided to play the Sunday Million as well.
I nearly blew myself up when overplaying one pair in a SB vs BB confrontation. However, a double up with AK vs JJ and then a decent pot with AK vs KQ put me back at 11k and back in the fight.
However, as the blinds climbed I made an impatient BB vs BB shove with A8 into AK (oops).
Not a great way to finish the year. That's going to be pretty much it for live and online poker for 2008. In due course I will have to set out my plans for 2009.
I never really got going in the event. After starting with 5k chips and making modest initial progress, I slipped back to just over 2k when missing a couple of times with AK, AQ.
I tend to be more comfortable with less chips and I regained the 5k mark in two hands. Once raising preflop with KQ-suited then moving in on a low flop which was checked to me.
Then, check-raising all-in on a ten-high 3-club board with black Jacks.
I was feeling I may have a chance and possibly should have avoided going broke on what turned out to be my last hand. I picked up QQ on the big blind (it felt like I hadn't seen many good hands, to be honest, so this seemed like the nuts).
I was folded to the button who was short-stacked and made it 480 to play (3BB). The Small Blind min-raised to 960. I had about 5,500 and the SB had me covered.
I didn't know quite what to make of the min-raise but as he had played not far short of every other hand I thought my QQ could well be good, and I opted to shove.
The button passed but the SB had KK which held. All of a sudden, after a decent recovery, I was out !
It was a pretty unsuccessful evening all-round tourney-wise. I played the $200k - very tight as I was concentrating on the blogger game. I think I had played 3 hands all night when the cut-off raised me to 400, and I shoved from the BB with AQ. He called me all-in with A6 (??) which proceeded to make a straight 7-high on the river. I was effectively out with < 2BB left.
As it was my last tourney night of the year, I decided to play the Sunday Million as well.
I nearly blew myself up when overplaying one pair in a SB vs BB confrontation. However, a double up with AK vs JJ and then a decent pot with AK vs KQ put me back at 11k and back in the fight.
However, as the blinds climbed I made an impatient BB vs BB shove with A8 into AK (oops).
Not a great way to finish the year. That's going to be pretty much it for live and online poker for 2008. In due course I will have to set out my plans for 2009.
Sunday 21 December 2008
Group Theory
Soon after I joined facebook back in August, I tried an experiment.
I had discovered "groups" on facebook, and joined a few myself. These were either poker-related groups like "gutshot" or ones to do with Bear Stearns like "Equity Division alumni."
It got me thinking that it would be interesting to form a group for those who had played in one or more of the 8 BSPT (Bear Stearns Poker Tour) events.
I could see that quite a few of my friends would qualify for the group, and that probably a good proportion of the "qualifiers" were facebook members.
One approach would have been to invite all those people into the group. This would probably have resulted in quite a strong take-up, and then the long tentacles of facebook could get to work.
I opted for a minimalist approach. I didn't announce the group at all and relied on the idea that someone would notice (from my profile, or those facebook alerts) that the group had been created and that once a couple of people had signed up, it could start the ball rolling.
I was pleased to see that one person did do this - within about 48 hours - but the next step never happened.
It was tempting to now kick off the invites, but I decided to be really patient. I think about 3 months must have passed now with the membership stuck at 2 !
So, I think I will now deem that the experiment in mode1 was a relative failure. It is still possible that it might spark off at any time but I will probably go to mode2 where I invite people to the group and see how quickly and how far that takes things.
I had discovered "groups" on facebook, and joined a few myself. These were either poker-related groups like "gutshot" or ones to do with Bear Stearns like "Equity Division alumni."
It got me thinking that it would be interesting to form a group for those who had played in one or more of the 8 BSPT (Bear Stearns Poker Tour) events.
I could see that quite a few of my friends would qualify for the group, and that probably a good proportion of the "qualifiers" were facebook members.
One approach would have been to invite all those people into the group. This would probably have resulted in quite a strong take-up, and then the long tentacles of facebook could get to work.
I opted for a minimalist approach. I didn't announce the group at all and relied on the idea that someone would notice (from my profile, or those facebook alerts) that the group had been created and that once a couple of people had signed up, it could start the ball rolling.
I was pleased to see that one person did do this - within about 48 hours - but the next step never happened.
It was tempting to now kick off the invites, but I decided to be really patient. I think about 3 months must have passed now with the membership stuck at 2 !
So, I think I will now deem that the experiment in mode1 was a relative failure. It is still possible that it might spark off at any time but I will probably go to mode2 where I invite people to the group and see how quickly and how far that takes things.
Saturday 20 December 2008
Diminishing returns
It's interesting to look at how the qualifiers for the WBCOOP have developed.
There are/were 6 qualifiers - each guaranteeing 72 seats in the final. The final, therefore, is to be made up of 432 qualifiers.
However, if a players qualifies more than once, he wins only one seat (obviously) and the extra seat is not given to the next-highest placee in the qualifiers (contrasting with the method we adopted in the Gutshot forum league where there was a single final table).
It would have been interesting if pokerstars had given extra chips in the final to multi-qualifiers ! What they did instead was to give out prizes in each qualifier which were fairly substantial, so there was ample incentive to play >1 qualifier.
Another viable method would have been simpy to offer no incentive to win more than one seat.
In any case, the system in use means that lots of players have played several heats - I have played 3 and qualified from 2.
I guessed ther might be 400 eventual qualifiers (so I was speculating that there would be 32 overlapping qualifications).
In fact, the maximum possible has already shrunk to 383 and I would imagine it will be nearer to 350/360.
The sequence has been 72-141-203-260-311 so the actual number of unique qualifiers each day has been 72-69-62-57-51-??
With 100 places paying, that's approaching a 1 in 3 chance of cashing just for blogging. Not bad EV.
There are/were 6 qualifiers - each guaranteeing 72 seats in the final. The final, therefore, is to be made up of 432 qualifiers.
However, if a players qualifies more than once, he wins only one seat (obviously) and the extra seat is not given to the next-highest placee in the qualifiers (contrasting with the method we adopted in the Gutshot forum league where there was a single final table).
It would have been interesting if pokerstars had given extra chips in the final to multi-qualifiers ! What they did instead was to give out prizes in each qualifier which were fairly substantial, so there was ample incentive to play >1 qualifier.
Another viable method would have been simpy to offer no incentive to win more than one seat.
In any case, the system in use means that lots of players have played several heats - I have played 3 and qualified from 2.
I guessed ther might be 400 eventual qualifiers (so I was speculating that there would be 32 overlapping qualifications).
In fact, the maximum possible has already shrunk to 383 and I would imagine it will be nearer to 350/360.
The sequence has been 72-141-203-260-311 so the actual number of unique qualifiers each day has been 72-69-62-57-51-??
With 100 places paying, that's approaching a 1 in 3 chance of cashing just for blogging. Not bad EV.
Qualified Success
I qualified for the WBCOOP final at the first attempt (in the PLO qualifier on Monday).
However, someone pointed out to me that it is worth playing the other qualifiers because of the juicy cash-equivalent prizes on offer for the top 45 places (top 72 reach the final, which is the prime objective).
The prize for 45th is "only" a Step2 ticket (worth $27) but on the final table the prizes are worth $100s and well over a grand for first.
And since the qualifiers are freerolls, it is worth a shot. Especially since the standard of play doesn't seem great !
Last night I played the "8 game" qualifier. I only recently discovered what "8 game" even is. It is 8 different poker variants played in sequence. So for some period of time we play Hold'em, then we play some Omaha and so on.
The 8 games are ...
2x Limit High Games: Hold'em and 7card Stud
2x Limit Hi/Lo Split games : Omaha Hi/Lo and 7card Stud Hi/Lo
2x Limit Low games: Razz and 2-7 Triple Draw
2x Big-bet games: NLH and PLO
They are played in rotation (I forget the order) and the blinds, antes and so on are engineered (I suppose) to make sense in relation to the average chip stacks.
The intriguing thing about this qualifier was that many of the players would have scant knowledge of the games. I barely know the rules myself, but it seemed that even this level of awareness was an edge.
It's quite easy to forget which game you're playing - especially when you switch from one to the next. This must be the explanation for some of the plays. For example, one player called me on the river in 7card Stud Hi (you get 2 cards down, 4 cards up, then 1 card down and make your best 5 card hand). He can see that I have at least a pair of 9s showing. He had no pair !
Once I realised that most of the other players had really no idea, I tried to play tight hand selection pre-flop, play draws passively and value bet strongly with a made hand. tbh I think I could have gone even further down that road.
In any event, I advanced up the rankings to be 5th at one point. Actually, I was 5th at two points and in between that I moved down to last-but-one !
However, although I qualified again (the good thing about that is it means one less person in the final !) I failed to make the top45. The real damage was done in the PLO round.
I held 789J and flopped the nuts on the 456-rainbow board. I got it all in vs 78XX and unfortunately it came runner-runner clubs to give him a flush.
I then lost, and busted, in the 2-7 Triple Draw round when my 9-7 low was pipped by an 8-7 low.
The standard of play did noticeably improve as the field thinned, and with the higher blinds as well it did get a lot harder for me.
I dodged a few bullets earlier, so I can't really complain, but I am disappointed.
Still, there is one more qualifier I could play tonight (NLH) but the main thing is the final on Sunday - big prizes on offer. The top100 all get something, and the final table is big "money" and kudos of course !
However, someone pointed out to me that it is worth playing the other qualifiers because of the juicy cash-equivalent prizes on offer for the top 45 places (top 72 reach the final, which is the prime objective).
The prize for 45th is "only" a Step2 ticket (worth $27) but on the final table the prizes are worth $100s and well over a grand for first.
And since the qualifiers are freerolls, it is worth a shot. Especially since the standard of play doesn't seem great !
Last night I played the "8 game" qualifier. I only recently discovered what "8 game" even is. It is 8 different poker variants played in sequence. So for some period of time we play Hold'em, then we play some Omaha and so on.
The 8 games are ...
2x Limit High Games: Hold'em and 7card Stud
2x Limit Hi/Lo Split games : Omaha Hi/Lo and 7card Stud Hi/Lo
2x Limit Low games: Razz and 2-7 Triple Draw
2x Big-bet games: NLH and PLO
They are played in rotation (I forget the order) and the blinds, antes and so on are engineered (I suppose) to make sense in relation to the average chip stacks.
The intriguing thing about this qualifier was that many of the players would have scant knowledge of the games. I barely know the rules myself, but it seemed that even this level of awareness was an edge.
It's quite easy to forget which game you're playing - especially when you switch from one to the next. This must be the explanation for some of the plays. For example, one player called me on the river in 7card Stud Hi (you get 2 cards down, 4 cards up, then 1 card down and make your best 5 card hand). He can see that I have at least a pair of 9s showing. He had no pair !
Once I realised that most of the other players had really no idea, I tried to play tight hand selection pre-flop, play draws passively and value bet strongly with a made hand. tbh I think I could have gone even further down that road.
In any event, I advanced up the rankings to be 5th at one point. Actually, I was 5th at two points and in between that I moved down to last-but-one !
However, although I qualified again (the good thing about that is it means one less person in the final !) I failed to make the top45. The real damage was done in the PLO round.
I held 789J and flopped the nuts on the 456-rainbow board. I got it all in vs 78XX and unfortunately it came runner-runner clubs to give him a flush.
I then lost, and busted, in the 2-7 Triple Draw round when my 9-7 low was pipped by an 8-7 low.
The standard of play did noticeably improve as the field thinned, and with the higher blinds as well it did get a lot harder for me.
I dodged a few bullets earlier, so I can't really complain, but I am disappointed.
Still, there is one more qualifier I could play tonight (NLH) but the main thing is the final on Sunday - big prizes on offer. The top100 all get something, and the final table is big "money" and kudos of course !
Friday 19 December 2008
If you play enough poker
You see the most amazing things.
In a 10hour game at The International on Wednesday (which started out as a tag-cash game - not something you often see) I think there were more "omg" hands than can be expected in that timeframe. Definitely many hands where if it happened online there would be a chorus of derision ("it's soooooo rigged" etc.)
However, these hands really happened, I assure you. I will post up some more of the session later. But here is one hand that I will always remember I think.
It's about 3am, and I've come back from my low point to be sitting on about £600 in a £1-2 PLO game. There are some well-known players there from the club.
The key player in this hand is Chen - a PhD. student from Cambridge, known to be a very good player (who often plays much higher stakes) and is a proven winner. I haven't played that much with him, in fact, but I know how good he is and I think he's also willing to gamble. An excellent combination for him (in the long run).
I have picked up KdQdXX and posted the £5 straddle. 5 players call the straddle, and I check. Six players see a flop, and the pot is £30. My hand needs help !
Help comes in the form of a Td9d3d flop. I flopped the 2nd nuts, but in PLO we have to be afraid that if a lot of money goes in, someone has the Ace-high flush.
In fact, no one bets the flop.
The turn is the Ace of clubs. Chen, in the small blind, now bets £22. I'm not folding yet, even though he might very well have the Ace-flush to lead into 5 players. I call, and it's just us to the river. How much will I call if he bets again? Would I bet if he checks ?
The river is the Jack of diamonds ! I have a King-high straight flush, the second best possible hand in any form of poker - only a Royal Flush is better. In this hand, of course, it is the absolute nuts. What's more, Chen may have the Ace-high flush.
How to proceed ?
Before I can think about that very much, Chen bets the whole pot (£74). How much to raise ? I opt for a raise to £250 - a little less than the maximum possible.
It's now an agony for Chen, who is having the worst run of luck I have ever seen. The clock is called on him (not by me !) and eventually he finds a crying call rather than a hero fold.
What a tough spot for him, especially as his actual holding was Ad8dXX so he knows I can't have the straight flush from 7-J or 8-Q. He is only to losing to one possible hand !
There's a really funny post about it by Chen here on the forum.
In a 10hour game at The International on Wednesday (which started out as a tag-cash game - not something you often see) I think there were more "omg" hands than can be expected in that timeframe. Definitely many hands where if it happened online there would be a chorus of derision ("it's soooooo rigged" etc.)
However, these hands really happened, I assure you. I will post up some more of the session later. But here is one hand that I will always remember I think.
It's about 3am, and I've come back from my low point to be sitting on about £600 in a £1-2 PLO game. There are some well-known players there from the club.
The key player in this hand is Chen - a PhD. student from Cambridge, known to be a very good player (who often plays much higher stakes) and is a proven winner. I haven't played that much with him, in fact, but I know how good he is and I think he's also willing to gamble. An excellent combination for him (in the long run).
I have picked up KdQdXX and posted the £5 straddle. 5 players call the straddle, and I check. Six players see a flop, and the pot is £30. My hand needs help !
Help comes in the form of a Td9d3d flop. I flopped the 2nd nuts, but in PLO we have to be afraid that if a lot of money goes in, someone has the Ace-high flush.
In fact, no one bets the flop.
The turn is the Ace of clubs. Chen, in the small blind, now bets £22. I'm not folding yet, even though he might very well have the Ace-flush to lead into 5 players. I call, and it's just us to the river. How much will I call if he bets again? Would I bet if he checks ?
The river is the Jack of diamonds ! I have a King-high straight flush, the second best possible hand in any form of poker - only a Royal Flush is better. In this hand, of course, it is the absolute nuts. What's more, Chen may have the Ace-high flush.
How to proceed ?
Before I can think about that very much, Chen bets the whole pot (£74). How much to raise ? I opt for a raise to £250 - a little less than the maximum possible.
It's now an agony for Chen, who is having the worst run of luck I have ever seen. The clock is called on him (not by me !) and eventually he finds a crying call rather than a hero fold.
What a tough spot for him, especially as his actual holding was Ad8dXX so he knows I can't have the straight flush from 7-J or 8-Q. He is only to losing to one possible hand !
There's a really funny post about it by Chen here on the forum.
Playing TAG
TAG as a poker term generally refers to the "Tight and AGgressive" style of play that is supposed to be the solid foundation on which to build a winning game.
On GOSCARS night at The International, it also referred to the style of tournament that we were about to take part in. Around 75 teams of 2 people playing a standard 6,000 chip freezeout, but with two players to one chipstack, "tagging" in and out every 15 minutes.
A fun tourney, but with some pretty serious cash on offer also - more than £1,000 for first place.
I was playing with Mat, a friend from Oxford. A solid player who got me interested in poker originally back in 2004.
I took the first stint, and I did play pretty tight, although the first significant hand I was involved in was with the rather less than premium QTs. I had raised to 175 (blinds 25/50) and received a caller in the SB.
I played the QT8 board (all red, two hearts) straightforwardly - betting 80% of the pot, and betting again when the 8 on the turn.
The river was an Ace - meaning I am now losing to quite a few hands. I checked behind, and announced "3 pair", turning over my hand.
A rather curious thing now happened. The other player threw his hand in face down and the cards were mixed inot the muck. As the chips were sent my way, the losing player suddenly realised that any Ace made a higher two pair.
He made a half-hearted attempt to try to retrieve his hand and claim the pot, but I think he realised that this wouldn't be allowed. Pretty sick way to lose a pot. I would never try to claim that pot when it wasn't "rightfully" mine but I realised, too, that even if I wanted to give him the pot then I couldn't. It's a very clearcut ruling. His hand is dead. The pot is mine with any cards.
Things were relatively uneventful. Our chips were at at 7,500 when Mat was involved with making a river bluff that "ought" to have worked, but didn't. I got most of our chips in preflop with JJ to a button push, and held against AK - back to 9,000+
I then lost a good chunk myself with AK - played out of position and badly.
Our stack became a push-or-fold stack. I had pushed in a couple of times already (AJs, 88, A8 in a SB vs BB contest) and the net result was that we had 5,100 left with blinds at 400/800.
I find pocket Tens in middle position. Easy shove. I am happy to be called, or not. The button makes the call with only 2,800 behind. Now the small blind wakes up and calls as well (somewhat reluctantly it seems). He has a lot more behind though.
So, a big pot if my hand can hold up! Nearly 16,000 chips.
The flop comes 743. Good news ! The button puts in his last 2,800 (not so good) and then small blind finds a check-call (hmm).
OK - now I get to see what I am up against !
66 (button) and 55 (small blind) !! We're all liking the flop. I have a good overpair. Both the other guys have seen only one overcard fall, and they each have the gutshot straight draw !
I was a good favourite pre-flop and NOW I am an 80% favourite to more than triple up, and move us into contention.
Facing just me, each of the smaller pairs needs to hit their set. Facing each other as well, however, making a set only make the other guy a straight ! They have each others' outs in a very special way.
Still, the main thing for me is that they only have 4 outs between them !
Turn - straight away come a 5.
Nooooooo! I'm drawing to 2-outs to split, and the river is no help.
Bad beat imo.
That's my live tourney career over for this year.
It's not the end of my live poker though. There is the PLO Cash to consider. Usually, one has to wait to be out of the tourney to get into the cash action.
Tonight though, in a victory for pure degeneracy, we already have a full table of 1-2 PLO going. It's a Tag-PLO table! Nearly all the players in it are playing the Tag tournament and sitting in the cash game as their turn ends in the MTT ! Like Mat and I, it is one stack/seat = 2 players.
The cardroom had quickly seen the sense in allowing this interpretation of the "one player to a hand" rule.
Great fun it was, and more on that in the next post !
On GOSCARS night at The International, it also referred to the style of tournament that we were about to take part in. Around 75 teams of 2 people playing a standard 6,000 chip freezeout, but with two players to one chipstack, "tagging" in and out every 15 minutes.
A fun tourney, but with some pretty serious cash on offer also - more than £1,000 for first place.
I was playing with Mat, a friend from Oxford. A solid player who got me interested in poker originally back in 2004.
I took the first stint, and I did play pretty tight, although the first significant hand I was involved in was with the rather less than premium QTs. I had raised to 175 (blinds 25/50) and received a caller in the SB.
I played the QT8 board (all red, two hearts) straightforwardly - betting 80% of the pot, and betting again when the 8 on the turn.
The river was an Ace - meaning I am now losing to quite a few hands. I checked behind, and announced "3 pair", turning over my hand.
A rather curious thing now happened. The other player threw his hand in face down and the cards were mixed inot the muck. As the chips were sent my way, the losing player suddenly realised that any Ace made a higher two pair.
He made a half-hearted attempt to try to retrieve his hand and claim the pot, but I think he realised that this wouldn't be allowed. Pretty sick way to lose a pot. I would never try to claim that pot when it wasn't "rightfully" mine but I realised, too, that even if I wanted to give him the pot then I couldn't. It's a very clearcut ruling. His hand is dead. The pot is mine with any cards.
Things were relatively uneventful. Our chips were at at 7,500 when Mat was involved with making a river bluff that "ought" to have worked, but didn't. I got most of our chips in preflop with JJ to a button push, and held against AK - back to 9,000+
I then lost a good chunk myself with AK - played out of position and badly.
Our stack became a push-or-fold stack. I had pushed in a couple of times already (AJs, 88, A8 in a SB vs BB contest) and the net result was that we had 5,100 left with blinds at 400/800.
I find pocket Tens in middle position. Easy shove. I am happy to be called, or not. The button makes the call with only 2,800 behind. Now the small blind wakes up and calls as well (somewhat reluctantly it seems). He has a lot more behind though.
So, a big pot if my hand can hold up! Nearly 16,000 chips.
The flop comes 743. Good news ! The button puts in his last 2,800 (not so good) and then small blind finds a check-call (hmm).
OK - now I get to see what I am up against !
66 (button) and 55 (small blind) !! We're all liking the flop. I have a good overpair. Both the other guys have seen only one overcard fall, and they each have the gutshot straight draw !
I was a good favourite pre-flop and NOW I am an 80% favourite to more than triple up, and move us into contention.
Facing just me, each of the smaller pairs needs to hit their set. Facing each other as well, however, making a set only make the other guy a straight ! They have each others' outs in a very special way.
Still, the main thing for me is that they only have 4 outs between them !
Turn - straight away come a 5.
Nooooooo! I'm drawing to 2-outs to split, and the river is no help.
Bad beat imo.
That's my live tourney career over for this year.
It's not the end of my live poker though. There is the PLO Cash to consider. Usually, one has to wait to be out of the tourney to get into the cash action.
Tonight though, in a victory for pure degeneracy, we already have a full table of 1-2 PLO going. It's a Tag-PLO table! Nearly all the players in it are playing the Tag tournament and sitting in the cash game as their turn ends in the MTT ! Like Mat and I, it is one stack/seat = 2 players.
The cardroom had quickly seen the sense in allowing this interpretation of the "one player to a hand" rule.
Great fun it was, and more on that in the next post !
Thursday 18 December 2008
Go Go GOSCARS
GOSCARS night (the 5th such event, the first 4 having been held at the now-extinct Gutshot Club). The International was a fine venue to continue the tradition.
A last minute change of plans saw me make the effort to dust off the DJ and turn out suitably attired. It's not often poker is played in black tie these days, but perhaps it is an idea that Harrahs can investigate for the WSOP2009.
At 6:30, when I arrived, the club was quiet. But with champagne (labelled as Cava, but we could taste the quality) on tap at 7, the place was soon buzzing. In contrast to the often dishevelled appearance of some players, there was a high incidence of bow-ties and smart suits.
Even Nik Persaud was sporting full black tie attire - missing the actual black tie. I supplied the missing article from my ubiquitous "poker bag". He was wearing bowling shoes, but there you go.
On to the next course - the never-ending buffet. Very welcome. Then, hardly late at all, our honoured guest for the evening, Mr Barry Martin. As usual, delivering a consummate performance in front of the boisterous crowd.
The acceptance speeches were admirably short - and very witty in many cases - even if some were a little off-topic - Irish Noel treated us to his Elvis Paisley, for example.
Some of the awards were a little controversial. Notably the "Internet player of the year" award.
I was actually nominated for this. A diversionary tactic no doubt. The crowd was calling for "riverman" Lawrence Houghton to take down the prize. However, within the context of a gutshot.com internet poker universe, Phil King (aka Ostrich) was a worthy winner. Lawrence will have to seek consolation from his 7-figure winnings online this year.
I even picked up a GOSCAR myself. Forum Poster of the Year 2008. An award based, arguably, more on quantity than quality, but I'm very pleased with it.
A last minute change of plans saw me make the effort to dust off the DJ and turn out suitably attired. It's not often poker is played in black tie these days, but perhaps it is an idea that Harrahs can investigate for the WSOP2009.
At 6:30, when I arrived, the club was quiet. But with champagne (labelled as Cava, but we could taste the quality) on tap at 7, the place was soon buzzing. In contrast to the often dishevelled appearance of some players, there was a high incidence of bow-ties and smart suits.
Even Nik Persaud was sporting full black tie attire - missing the actual black tie. I supplied the missing article from my ubiquitous "poker bag". He was wearing bowling shoes, but there you go.
On to the next course - the never-ending buffet. Very welcome. Then, hardly late at all, our honoured guest for the evening, Mr Barry Martin. As usual, delivering a consummate performance in front of the boisterous crowd.
The acceptance speeches were admirably short - and very witty in many cases - even if some were a little off-topic - Irish Noel treated us to his Elvis Paisley, for example.
Some of the awards were a little controversial. Notably the "Internet player of the year" award.
I was actually nominated for this. A diversionary tactic no doubt. The crowd was calling for "riverman" Lawrence Houghton to take down the prize. However, within the context of a gutshot.com internet poker universe, Phil King (aka Ostrich) was a worthy winner. Lawrence will have to seek consolation from his 7-figure winnings online this year.
I even picked up a GOSCAR myself. Forum Poster of the Year 2008. An award based, arguably, more on quantity than quality, but I'm very pleased with it.
Maybe I can take a run at "Most Improved Player" for next year!
Wednesday 17 December 2008
Tag Along
Tonight is GOSCARs night. The famous awards, created by the Gutshot are being hosted by The International club this year.
After the awards, a Tag Team tournament - I haven't played one of those before but this year I am teamed up with Mat. He knows that I can be a lunatic, so hopefully he won't be too upset if I blow us up !
This will be the last time I'm playing live this year so I hope to end on a high note. In the next couple of weeks I guess I will need to review my poker goals for 2009 and also look at hte schedules to see what I want to play next year in terms of live tournaments.
After the awards, a Tag Team tournament - I haven't played one of those before but this year I am teamed up with Mat. He knows that I can be a lunatic, so hopefully he won't be too upset if I blow us up !
This will be the last time I'm playing live this year so I hope to end on a high note. In the next couple of weeks I guess I will need to review my poker goals for 2009 and also look at hte schedules to see what I want to play next year in terms of live tournaments.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Wold PLOgger Championship
So, having heard about it on someone else's blog, I duly applied to be entered into the WBCOOP (World Blogger Championship Of Online Poker).
After literally minutes of due diligence, Pokerstars accredited me and I was in !
You play in one or more of the freeroll qualifiers, in an attempt to reach the final. I suppose I expected them to be NLH, but when I looked I found all sorts. Yes, 3 of the 6 are NLH, but there is Omaha Hi/Lo on Wednesday and "8-game Mix" on Friday.
On Monday, it was PLO. I have a truly abysmal record in Omaha tournaments, but I decided to give it a spin.
I arrived slightly late into it, but the very low initial blinds meant I'd only lost 5% of my chips in 30 minutes of sitting out.
First hand, I was tempted to limp with some random holding. Almost fell into a typical Omaha trap of hitting some of it (like 1 pair and a weak flush draw and a backdoor straight). This tempted me into putting a few more chips in, but I did the decent thing and gave up on the turn.
Another false start soon after saw me fall to half my original stack. Time to take stock. Blinds were still low relative to the stacks although it feels like in PLO the pots get big quickly so 50BB at PLO seems like only enough for a hand or two really.
I came to see that some of the other players barely knew the rules of PLO (like me, they probably had NLH in mind when they registered) so I tightened up my starting hands and positional requirements, played my draws quite passively, but value bet strongly.
I moved back up to my starting 2,500 chips, and onwards, and soon I was in the top 72 (72 qualify from each freeroll).
The hand that really set me going in the right direction (and the first time I was all-in) was when I called a <>AcQc87.
The flop was pretty: Kc5c6x - so I flopped an open-ended straight draw to the high end, and the nut flush draw. The raiser bet, and I pushed. He called with K543hhcc - so he was winning with 2pair. He also had a low-end straight draw and a lower club draw.
It was close all the way - preflop and on the flop it is almost 50/50. The turn is an Ace giving me one pair and 3 live outs to two pair. The river in fact brings a club!
I went on, to be Top 20 and then top 5 at one point. I was starting to like this PLO !
I remained in good shape until the "bubble" burst at 72nd. I was now guaranteed a place in the final this weekend. There were prizes on offer for the top 45 on the day, as well, with the Top 9 actually getting some decent value (in free tournament entries).
I decided that now it was right to go for a big stack or the quick exit. So when I raised with KT88-double suited and got re-raised, I decided to push. The stacks were such that he had to call. I was expecting to be see AAxx, or KKxx at least, but in fact I was a favourite facing AK65ds.
However, this became academic when he flopped Aces-full.
So, out in 57th, but mission accomplished.
Meanwhile, I had entered a $10 NLH tourney to keep my mind from wandering too much (I suppose it might be better to just focus 100% on one thing, but that's not my approach !).
This time, I can genuinely claim that I played it tight-aggressive. What with the PLO tourney and some cash PLO I was playing on Cake, I only had time to play 7% of hands. I wasn't getting much in the way of starting cards until I managed to see a cheap flop with 67. The flop came K67 !
I bet 2/3rd of the pot and was a little surprised to find it raised back to me all-in.
I snap-called. He showed A7, so he has several cards to improve, and an Ace came straight away on the turn. I'm outta here, until the river brings another 6 !
After that, I continued to play pretty tight and later moved into the top10. On and on it went, and I remained in contention.
However, with 60 or so left (2,160 runners - 324 places paid) I again found myself re-raising all in with AK. The initial raiser called with pocket 9s and although the flop came JTx to give me 10 outs on the turn and river, the pair was good and I was out after more than 4 hours.
$30 approx in prize money seems scant reward for 4 hours play and finishing in the top 3%. As is usually the case, the big money is only at the end - and $3,500 was decent money to the winner although it did take another 3 hours to get there !
I suppose my performance was enough to keep me believing that I could go all the way sooner or later - that's the dream that keeps all tournament players going amidst the constant disappointment !
Next stop - the WBCOOP final on Sunday.
After literally minutes of due diligence, Pokerstars accredited me and I was in !
You play in one or more of the freeroll qualifiers, in an attempt to reach the final. I suppose I expected them to be NLH, but when I looked I found all sorts. Yes, 3 of the 6 are NLH, but there is Omaha Hi/Lo on Wednesday and "8-game Mix" on Friday.
On Monday, it was PLO. I have a truly abysmal record in Omaha tournaments, but I decided to give it a spin.
I arrived slightly late into it, but the very low initial blinds meant I'd only lost 5% of my chips in 30 minutes of sitting out.
First hand, I was tempted to limp with some random holding. Almost fell into a typical Omaha trap of hitting some of it (like 1 pair and a weak flush draw and a backdoor straight). This tempted me into putting a few more chips in, but I did the decent thing and gave up on the turn.
Another false start soon after saw me fall to half my original stack. Time to take stock. Blinds were still low relative to the stacks although it feels like in PLO the pots get big quickly so 50BB at PLO seems like only enough for a hand or two really.
I came to see that some of the other players barely knew the rules of PLO (like me, they probably had NLH in mind when they registered) so I tightened up my starting hands and positional requirements, played my draws quite passively, but value bet strongly.
I moved back up to my starting 2,500 chips, and onwards, and soon I was in the top 72 (72 qualify from each freeroll).
The hand that really set me going in the right direction (and the first time I was all-in) was when I called a <>AcQc87.
The flop was pretty: Kc5c6x - so I flopped an open-ended straight draw to the high end, and the nut flush draw. The raiser bet, and I pushed. He called with K543hhcc - so he was winning with 2pair. He also had a low-end straight draw and a lower club draw.
It was close all the way - preflop and on the flop it is almost 50/50. The turn is an Ace giving me one pair and 3 live outs to two pair. The river in fact brings a club!
I went on, to be Top 20 and then top 5 at one point. I was starting to like this PLO !
I remained in good shape until the "bubble" burst at 72nd. I was now guaranteed a place in the final this weekend. There were prizes on offer for the top 45 on the day, as well, with the Top 9 actually getting some decent value (in free tournament entries).
I decided that now it was right to go for a big stack or the quick exit. So when I raised with KT88-double suited and got re-raised, I decided to push. The stacks were such that he had to call. I was expecting to be see AAxx, or KKxx at least, but in fact I was a favourite facing AK65ds.
However, this became academic when he flopped Aces-full.
So, out in 57th, but mission accomplished.
Meanwhile, I had entered a $10 NLH tourney to keep my mind from wandering too much (I suppose it might be better to just focus 100% on one thing, but that's not my approach !).
This time, I can genuinely claim that I played it tight-aggressive. What with the PLO tourney and some cash PLO I was playing on Cake, I only had time to play 7% of hands. I wasn't getting much in the way of starting cards until I managed to see a cheap flop with 67. The flop came K67 !
I bet 2/3rd of the pot and was a little surprised to find it raised back to me all-in.
I snap-called. He showed A7, so he has several cards to improve, and an Ace came straight away on the turn. I'm outta here, until the river brings another 6 !
After that, I continued to play pretty tight and later moved into the top10. On and on it went, and I remained in contention.
However, with 60 or so left (2,160 runners - 324 places paid) I again found myself re-raising all in with AK. The initial raiser called with pocket 9s and although the flop came JTx to give me 10 outs on the turn and river, the pair was good and I was out after more than 4 hours.
$30 approx in prize money seems scant reward for 4 hours play and finishing in the top 3%. As is usually the case, the big money is only at the end - and $3,500 was decent money to the winner although it did take another 3 hours to get there !
I suppose my performance was enough to keep me believing that I could go all the way sooner or later - that's the dream that keeps all tournament players going amidst the constant disappointment !
Next stop - the WBCOOP final on Sunday.
Monday 15 December 2008
Flush with Success
I am not sure that I have ever made a Royal Flush before - online or live. It's certainly a good deal more likely at Omaha - firstly, you have 4 cards instead of 2 so I guess that makes it 6x as likely that you are dealt a hand that CAN make a Royal Flush.
Then, more hands go to the river, so there are more opportunities for your suited broadway cards to complete the Royal.
On the whole, you are not likely to get a monster payoff to match the monster hand - although Quads vs Royal Flush does happen - I've seen it on TV !
Well, here it is for posterity anyway:
Sunday 14 December 2008
One hundred and eighty !
I was watching the darts the other day on the BBC - it took me back to University days. In those days it was darts, pool and video games (proper video games, not like today's nonsense) that were the distractions from study. I can only speculate what it would be like today with the Internet and poker !
However, in this instance, I am speaking of 180 runners rather than a perfect throw.
Pokerstars have Sit-n-go tournaments at various stakes that start when 180 people sign up. It is breathtaking how quickly they do fill up! I am not really a SnG player, but these are really proper MTTs but with instant gratification - no waiting around till the particular time that your MTT of choice starts.
Also, with 180 runners instead of 2,000 - 20,000+ you obviously have a better chance of a really big finish, and the run time is dramatically shorter. On the other hand, the prizes are obviously less.
I knew about these tourneys, but I was reminded by someone I spoke to at The International the other day. I imagine they are good fodder for the MTT grinders.
So, I signed up for a $12 turbo. I was soon out when I hit a set with 77 and check-raised the Ace-high flop against one opponent who was the UTG limper. I was called, and called again on the turn. The river seemed to be a total blank so I pushed to make sure I got paid. He called, having made the wheel with his 4-3suited ..... He had a gutshot on the flop and went all the way to the river with it against strong action. Wow!
Hmmm ... out 152nd, 142th, 144th and 88th in the ones I entered until on my last attempt, I won !
Even with only 180 runners, the payoff for winning is a pretty useful $594.
You can see a full replay of the event from my point of view here. I'm sure I played many of the hands differently from how many of you would ! Would love to hear any hand comments that you may have.
However, in this instance, I am speaking of 180 runners rather than a perfect throw.
Pokerstars have Sit-n-go tournaments at various stakes that start when 180 people sign up. It is breathtaking how quickly they do fill up! I am not really a SnG player, but these are really proper MTTs but with instant gratification - no waiting around till the particular time that your MTT of choice starts.
Also, with 180 runners instead of 2,000 - 20,000+ you obviously have a better chance of a really big finish, and the run time is dramatically shorter. On the other hand, the prizes are obviously less.
I knew about these tourneys, but I was reminded by someone I spoke to at The International the other day. I imagine they are good fodder for the MTT grinders.
So, I signed up for a $12 turbo. I was soon out when I hit a set with 77 and check-raised the Ace-high flop against one opponent who was the UTG limper. I was called, and called again on the turn. The river seemed to be a total blank so I pushed to make sure I got paid. He called, having made the wheel with his 4-3suited ..... He had a gutshot on the flop and went all the way to the river with it against strong action. Wow!
Hmmm ... out 152nd, 142th, 144th and 88th in the ones I entered until on my last attempt, I won !
Even with only 180 runners, the payoff for winning is a pretty useful $594.
You can see a full replay of the event from my point of view here. I'm sure I played many of the hands differently from how many of you would ! Would love to hear any hand comments that you may have.
WBCOOP
I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!
All bloggers can play in this exclusive online poker tournament.
Registration code: 089985
Saturday 13 December 2008
Game of two halves
After crashing out of the staff-punters challenge on Wednesday night, I was faced with the usual question: Should I stay or should I go ?
I generally take the train to London now. I drive occasionally, and about one time in 10 is enough to remind me why I don't do it. Traffic, parking, congestion charge and the cost are all against the car option. It also takes longer to drive. What's more, I can sleep on the train and 45minutes sleep on the return journey is pretty much all I get on a poker night!
The one key advantage of driving is that I can always get home whenever I finish playing. The fact is that I am rarely finished in time for the last train.
This leaves me with only one option: play through the night until the trains start again. As the main downside to the public transport route, it's not the worst thing ever !
On Wednesday, I could have made it to the last train if I'd left straight away. However, I wanted to see how the teams would get on and I also wanted to take another crack at the Omaha game.
I thought maybe I'd play for 45mins or so, then get the very last train home. Well, I remember that being in my mind but it's hard to see how that was ever likely.
If I started off well then I would want to "play the rush", plus I wouldn't want to hit'n'run. If I did badly, then I wouldn't want to leave straight away either.
It didn't start all that well !
After initially taking down some smallish pots, I proceeded to get into two large confrontations where I had the best of it. As is typical in Omaha, when a lot of money goes in on the flop, the made hand and the draw generally both have a lot of equity.
I could easily have won both of these, but they were hardly bad beats. I didn't think I had played badly - both times I got my money in first and got it in as slight favourite. However, maybe I should have tried to play smaller pots until I could get my chips in as the clear frontrunner.
It is typical of my style that I tend to get into rapidly escalating pots. This does make for a very exciting game, of course, especially when others take the same approach.
So, £700 down in fairly quick order. I pulled up another £500 and determined to wait for the right spot.
The first time this happened, I raised the straddle with KK66-double suited and this was re-raised to £60 and called in one spot before me. I flat called on the button. The flop was T84 with 2 clubs. It was checked to me so with the over pair, 2nd nut flush draw and position, I bet £150.
The pre-flop re-raiser folded, so that felt good. The other player called with 7543 - bottom pair with a back-door flush and gusthot straight draw. A brave call on the flop, perhaps putting me on a draw only or an outright button steal. Nice £60 call pre-flop as well !
Anyway, the straight hit right away, and the 7-high flush came in on the river just to rub it in.
OK ...
Kings-double suited not good enough ? So the next time, I re-raised to £62 on the button with AAQQ-with hearts.
The flop came out Q63rainbow. I check-raised all in with top set, over-pair and the backdoor nut flush draw.
My opponent called with 7542, and his low wrap hit straightaway. The board didn't pair, so that was another £500 gone.
It was an awkward time now. I had missed my chance to get the last train, and I'd also lost as much as I wanted to in one session. On the other hand, as you can tell, it was a very good game.
I am relatively good at not just chasing and chasing when I'm losing, but I found £100 left in my wallet and elected to fire one more bullet. I won a little, and then almost immediately I lost half my chips when a pretty well-judged (I thought) bluff on the river was called by sixes-up. That'll teach me to try to bluff Mo.
£60 left. The blinds are £1-2 with a near-mandatory £5 straddle and with players like Dharm in the game, it is commonly £18 minimum to see a flop.
I needed a change of luck and I got it ! I jammed my chips in pre-flop in a raised pot with a big pair, which held and gave me some chips to work with.
After that, things just worked out much better. I really started motoring when I saw an unraised flop with 88xx. The flop came 8s6c5c. With top set on a very connected board, I opted to lead out for £20 which was called in three spots.
Does that mean no-one has the straight yet ? That is my assumption but it's really hard to tell how people are playing, I find.
The turn was an offsuit Queen. Unless someone just made a set of Queens, it changes nothing really. I bet £75. Now Chinese Tim - on tilt from the previous hand - moves all in. Not great, and I don't like it much when Scottish Rob puts all his chips in as well.
Still, Rob only had about £100 so I am playing a decent side-pot against Tim. It's about £180 more to call and I presumably have outs even if one or both have the straight.
The river is the Queen of clubs ! We didn't see the other hands and my 8s-full is good enough for the lot.
There were some fantastic hands - like when I rivered the nut full house on a flush board and I was bet into ! There were some downswings too - e.g. when I flopped the nuts on a 554 board only to lose to 56 in Mike Tse's hand. I bet the flop and turn (6) and check-called £125 on the river (4). I was only losing to 56 and 66 but it's Omaha so you have to believe they may have it.
I didn't try moving all-in to represent 44 or 66 myself ! Maybe it would have worked, but I didn't want to put in £500 to test it.
My luck was certainly running. I remember seeing a QT7 flop with AKJ7 in my hand. I checked, to face a £75 bet by Disco Dave and a call. With a 13-card wrap to the nuts, I elected to move in for an effective £250 bet (the largest of the opposing stacks).
There were two clubs on board (I had just one club) but I decided to view this as an opportunity to get the chips in with what I thought was good equity.
What I didn't know was that Dave had AAKK with clubs, and the other players had some of the wrap cards as well.
Still, it didn't matter as the non-club Jack fell and the river blanked. £600 pot, ship it!
Another lucky hand developed with I called a 3-bet with JJ66 against what I thought were obvious Aces. The flop came T65. I check-raised the £65 bet to £200. The other fella obviously thought I was at it and moved in for £350 more.
I still put him on Aces, and didn't see how I could pass now, so I called pretty quickly. A 9 on the turn completed some straights, and I really hated the Ace on the river but my set was good (he had KKxx).
This was a huge pot, and the tilt factor was good for another few hundred later in the evening.
My stack ebbed and flowed somewhat, but there was no doubt that I was running well.
We now reached the stage in proceedings where I couldn't leave. Not because I couldn't get home, but because I didn't want to break the game ! Eventually, we ran out of players and the game came to a halt at about 11:30 the next morning.
So, £60 to £2,200. That's a pretty good spin up. If only I hadn't started out by turning £1,300 into £60 to begin with it would have been fantastic ! Why does Omaha have to be so exciting. Well, probably that's why we play ...
I generally take the train to London now. I drive occasionally, and about one time in 10 is enough to remind me why I don't do it. Traffic, parking, congestion charge and the cost are all against the car option. It also takes longer to drive. What's more, I can sleep on the train and 45minutes sleep on the return journey is pretty much all I get on a poker night!
The one key advantage of driving is that I can always get home whenever I finish playing. The fact is that I am rarely finished in time for the last train.
This leaves me with only one option: play through the night until the trains start again. As the main downside to the public transport route, it's not the worst thing ever !
On Wednesday, I could have made it to the last train if I'd left straight away. However, I wanted to see how the teams would get on and I also wanted to take another crack at the Omaha game.
I thought maybe I'd play for 45mins or so, then get the very last train home. Well, I remember that being in my mind but it's hard to see how that was ever likely.
If I started off well then I would want to "play the rush", plus I wouldn't want to hit'n'run. If I did badly, then I wouldn't want to leave straight away either.
It didn't start all that well !
After initially taking down some smallish pots, I proceeded to get into two large confrontations where I had the best of it. As is typical in Omaha, when a lot of money goes in on the flop, the made hand and the draw generally both have a lot of equity.
I could easily have won both of these, but they were hardly bad beats. I didn't think I had played badly - both times I got my money in first and got it in as slight favourite. However, maybe I should have tried to play smaller pots until I could get my chips in as the clear frontrunner.
It is typical of my style that I tend to get into rapidly escalating pots. This does make for a very exciting game, of course, especially when others take the same approach.
So, £700 down in fairly quick order. I pulled up another £500 and determined to wait for the right spot.
The first time this happened, I raised the straddle with KK66-double suited and this was re-raised to £60 and called in one spot before me. I flat called on the button. The flop was T84 with 2 clubs. It was checked to me so with the over pair, 2nd nut flush draw and position, I bet £150.
The pre-flop re-raiser folded, so that felt good. The other player called with 7543 - bottom pair with a back-door flush and gusthot straight draw. A brave call on the flop, perhaps putting me on a draw only or an outright button steal. Nice £60 call pre-flop as well !
Anyway, the straight hit right away, and the 7-high flush came in on the river just to rub it in.
OK ...
Kings-double suited not good enough ? So the next time, I re-raised to £62 on the button with AAQQ-with hearts.
The flop came out Q63rainbow. I check-raised all in with top set, over-pair and the backdoor nut flush draw.
My opponent called with 7542, and his low wrap hit straightaway. The board didn't pair, so that was another £500 gone.
It was an awkward time now. I had missed my chance to get the last train, and I'd also lost as much as I wanted to in one session. On the other hand, as you can tell, it was a very good game.
I am relatively good at not just chasing and chasing when I'm losing, but I found £100 left in my wallet and elected to fire one more bullet. I won a little, and then almost immediately I lost half my chips when a pretty well-judged (I thought) bluff on the river was called by sixes-up. That'll teach me to try to bluff Mo.
£60 left. The blinds are £1-2 with a near-mandatory £5 straddle and with players like Dharm in the game, it is commonly £18 minimum to see a flop.
I needed a change of luck and I got it ! I jammed my chips in pre-flop in a raised pot with a big pair, which held and gave me some chips to work with.
After that, things just worked out much better. I really started motoring when I saw an unraised flop with 88xx. The flop came 8s6c5c. With top set on a very connected board, I opted to lead out for £20 which was called in three spots.
Does that mean no-one has the straight yet ? That is my assumption but it's really hard to tell how people are playing, I find.
The turn was an offsuit Queen. Unless someone just made a set of Queens, it changes nothing really. I bet £75. Now Chinese Tim - on tilt from the previous hand - moves all in. Not great, and I don't like it much when Scottish Rob puts all his chips in as well.
Still, Rob only had about £100 so I am playing a decent side-pot against Tim. It's about £180 more to call and I presumably have outs even if one or both have the straight.
The river is the Queen of clubs ! We didn't see the other hands and my 8s-full is good enough for the lot.
There were some fantastic hands - like when I rivered the nut full house on a flush board and I was bet into ! There were some downswings too - e.g. when I flopped the nuts on a 554 board only to lose to 56 in Mike Tse's hand. I bet the flop and turn (6) and check-called £125 on the river (4). I was only losing to 56 and 66 but it's Omaha so you have to believe they may have it.
I didn't try moving all-in to represent 44 or 66 myself ! Maybe it would have worked, but I didn't want to put in £500 to test it.
My luck was certainly running. I remember seeing a QT7 flop with AKJ7 in my hand. I checked, to face a £75 bet by Disco Dave and a call. With a 13-card wrap to the nuts, I elected to move in for an effective £250 bet (the largest of the opposing stacks).
There were two clubs on board (I had just one club) but I decided to view this as an opportunity to get the chips in with what I thought was good equity.
What I didn't know was that Dave had AAKK with clubs, and the other players had some of the wrap cards as well.
Still, it didn't matter as the non-club Jack fell and the river blanked. £600 pot, ship it!
Another lucky hand developed with I called a 3-bet with JJ66 against what I thought were obvious Aces. The flop came T65. I check-raised the £65 bet to £200. The other fella obviously thought I was at it and moved in for £350 more.
I still put him on Aces, and didn't see how I could pass now, so I called pretty quickly. A 9 on the turn completed some straights, and I really hated the Ace on the river but my set was good (he had KKxx).
This was a huge pot, and the tilt factor was good for another few hundred later in the evening.
My stack ebbed and flowed somewhat, but there was no doubt that I was running well.
We now reached the stage in proceedings where I couldn't leave. Not because I couldn't get home, but because I didn't want to break the game ! Eventually, we ran out of players and the game came to a halt at about 11:30 the next morning.
So, £60 to £2,200. That's a pretty good spin up. If only I hadn't started out by turning £1,300 into £60 to begin with it would have been fantastic ! Why does Omaha have to be so exciting. Well, probably that's why we play ...
Friday 12 December 2008
Team Tactics
On the way into London for the Staff vs. Punters tournament, an idea started to form in my mind. Maybe I could play the famous £5 rebuy as well? Who says multi-tabling is only for online play ?
Could I really play two tournaments simultaneously ? A little bit sick (perhaps?) but when I arrived and mooted the idea, it was received by most people as almost sensible. Half a dozen others followed my lead !
My plan was to try to get quickly from 500 to 5,000 chips in the rebuy, then concentrate on the staff/punters fixture. If I survived in both games, my gameplan was to give priority to the team event and play positionally and very aggressively in the other game. That is, I would jump into that game when I was in late position and look to play big pots.
Conveniently, seat D3 in one tournament and C5 in the other were almost adjacent, which helped me considerably.
I managed to triple up twice in the rebuy (unfortunately going bust in between times) but never made the kind of progress I needed. So, after 5 rebuys and with only 5 minutes left in the rebuy period, I decided to throw in the towel there.
Meanwhile in the other event, 15 punters and 12 dealers (all the staff were dealers, some very strong players indeed) had started out, but right from the off the dealers had the better of it. In the very first hand, Dom (with T8 suited) knocked out Swiss Marco (J9) when the turn made a straight and 2-pair respectively.
All of the next 6 eliminations were punters as well and with collusive play allowed, it became even harder for the remaining players to fend off the home team. Not only that, but the dealers were outrageously lucky !
To give you a flavour .... with 14 players left, Haresh for the dealers moved in with K9-spades. Our player, Dharm, in the big blind dwelled and eventually made a good all-in call with KT. The flop was all spades ! That was kind of how it went all night.
The atmosphere was boisterous, to say the least !
I had played very tight. I played less than 10 hands all night I think and was all-in on most of those. We were playing 400/800 and I had only 6,900 left [5,000 starting chips]. We were 6-handed (of the 11 players left at this stage, 8 were dealers!).
I picked up KQ and decided this was good enough, especially with blinds about to rise to 500/1,000. Haresh raised UTG and I pushed from the Big Blind. I thought there was a small chance that he would fold but mainly I felt KQ was good enough to take on a race against 88 or AJ etc. I am only in really bad shape against the famous five (AA KK QQ AK AQ).
Unfortunately, it was about as bad as it could be - pocket Kings ! The flop was pretty bad also: all fives, leaving me needing running Queens (or running Aces, or the case 5 to tie for the pot).
So, I fell in 11th and almost simultaneously our captain, Gandi, was caught out in a move with 7-3 which was in really bad shape against A-3 for Lisa the dealer !
So, just one survivor from our team on the final table of 9 and unsurprisingly, all 4 of the qualifiers were dealers. The staff team has a 6 - 2 advantage in players going into tonight's final which may even mean they are guaranteed the win).
I stuck around to watch the end of the tourney, and then played PLO .... more on that in the next post.
Could I really play two tournaments simultaneously ? A little bit sick (perhaps?) but when I arrived and mooted the idea, it was received by most people as almost sensible. Half a dozen others followed my lead !
My plan was to try to get quickly from 500 to 5,000 chips in the rebuy, then concentrate on the staff/punters fixture. If I survived in both games, my gameplan was to give priority to the team event and play positionally and very aggressively in the other game. That is, I would jump into that game when I was in late position and look to play big pots.
Conveniently, seat D3 in one tournament and C5 in the other were almost adjacent, which helped me considerably.
I managed to triple up twice in the rebuy (unfortunately going bust in between times) but never made the kind of progress I needed. So, after 5 rebuys and with only 5 minutes left in the rebuy period, I decided to throw in the towel there.
Meanwhile in the other event, 15 punters and 12 dealers (all the staff were dealers, some very strong players indeed) had started out, but right from the off the dealers had the better of it. In the very first hand, Dom (with T8 suited) knocked out Swiss Marco (J9) when the turn made a straight and 2-pair respectively.
All of the next 6 eliminations were punters as well and with collusive play allowed, it became even harder for the remaining players to fend off the home team. Not only that, but the dealers were outrageously lucky !
To give you a flavour .... with 14 players left, Haresh for the dealers moved in with K9-spades. Our player, Dharm, in the big blind dwelled and eventually made a good all-in call with KT. The flop was all spades ! That was kind of how it went all night.
The atmosphere was boisterous, to say the least !
I had played very tight. I played less than 10 hands all night I think and was all-in on most of those. We were playing 400/800 and I had only 6,900 left [5,000 starting chips]. We were 6-handed (of the 11 players left at this stage, 8 were dealers!).
I picked up KQ and decided this was good enough, especially with blinds about to rise to 500/1,000. Haresh raised UTG and I pushed from the Big Blind. I thought there was a small chance that he would fold but mainly I felt KQ was good enough to take on a race against 88 or AJ etc. I am only in really bad shape against the famous five (AA KK QQ AK AQ).
Unfortunately, it was about as bad as it could be - pocket Kings ! The flop was pretty bad also: all fives, leaving me needing running Queens (or running Aces, or the case 5 to tie for the pot).
So, I fell in 11th and almost simultaneously our captain, Gandi, was caught out in a move with 7-3 which was in really bad shape against A-3 for Lisa the dealer !
So, just one survivor from our team on the final table of 9 and unsurprisingly, all 4 of the qualifiers were dealers. The staff team has a 6 - 2 advantage in players going into tonight's final which may even mean they are guaranteed the win).
I stuck around to watch the end of the tourney, and then played PLO .... more on that in the next post.
Wednesday 10 December 2008
Taking a Punt
I'm going to The International to play tonight. Most recently I was there for a rather disappointing showing in the live running of the forum game.
Tonight, there is a £5 rebuy - a revival of the legendary format from the days of Gutshot. I'd like to play and win that, but I'm in fact going to represent "The Punters" in a team match vs "The Staff".
The format is an MTT of 30 runners - 15 staff and 15 punters. The top four (which could be any combination of staff or punters I guess) will play in a final on Friday against the top four of 30 who played on Monday. Those 8 players score points that determine the winning team.
Obviously the whole thing is designed to be a bit of fun, although I suspect the play is still pretty serious at the same time. I know that the two "punters" who qualified on Monday were very solid players. Not too sure about the staff qualifiers though. As far as I know, they were non-poker players. From afar, I suspect a stitch-up of some kind !
In any case, I'll be hoping to do well as I feel in need of a good result. Although - being objective - my record in MTTs at the new club isn't actually that bad. Played 3, cashed in 2 (not counting the live forum game).
Still, I have not actually won a tournament of any kind for ages. The last one I can think of was the private £50 rebuy game back in July.
I suppose I can't actually "win" tonight either, as the format is effectively a satellite, but I'll settled for qualifying whilst being in the chip lead.
Tonight, there is a £5 rebuy - a revival of the legendary format from the days of Gutshot. I'd like to play and win that, but I'm in fact going to represent "The Punters" in a team match vs "The Staff".
The format is an MTT of 30 runners - 15 staff and 15 punters. The top four (which could be any combination of staff or punters I guess) will play in a final on Friday against the top four of 30 who played on Monday. Those 8 players score points that determine the winning team.
Obviously the whole thing is designed to be a bit of fun, although I suspect the play is still pretty serious at the same time. I know that the two "punters" who qualified on Monday were very solid players. Not too sure about the staff qualifiers though. As far as I know, they were non-poker players. From afar, I suspect a stitch-up of some kind !
In any case, I'll be hoping to do well as I feel in need of a good result. Although - being objective - my record in MTTs at the new club isn't actually that bad. Played 3, cashed in 2 (not counting the live forum game).
Still, I have not actually won a tournament of any kind for ages. The last one I can think of was the private £50 rebuy game back in July.
I suppose I can't actually "win" tonight either, as the format is effectively a satellite, but I'll settled for qualifying whilst being in the chip lead.
A Tens Finale
I waited 10 months for the forum league final. In fact, I had been waiting the longest of any of the runners as I qualified first. I was guaranteed my seat, more or less, just 8 days into the campaign. I had won the first MTT (28 runners) and finished 2nd in the next game (30 runners) so my lead was essentially insurmountable already.
I actually won the next month as well and again in June (so I would have qualified then if I had not already - but the rules sensibly called for the runner up to qualify instead).
Eventually, the final came around. I was very much hoping that the karma would be with me.
It seemed it might me.
Early on, I opened for 200 (blinds 25/50) with 5-2o (the Gutshot powerhouse) and received one caller. I was rewarded with an A-2-2 flop !
I decided to play it very cautiously. Check/check on the flop. I bet 325 when the turn came a Ten (called) and then checked the river, hoping to pick up a bet. My opponent bet about half the pot and I decided that it was best to just call on the basis that the only hand that gives me action on this paired board is a house of 9s or Tens.
That was probably too cautious. My opponent showed JJ so I probably did not miss much. It's also important to realise that my hand wasn't all that disguised. In the forum game, you have to assume that 5-2 is always a major part of any player's range !
After playing very tight for the first 2 or 3 levels, I undoubtedly got too busy out of position and then compounded the error by not being prepared to back up my aggression. For example, in the big blind I called an EP min-raise with 7-6. Probably should have just folded right there.
The flop (K-7-2) was checked around. I now check-raised the turn (a nine) hoping to take it down, but the pre-flop raiser called. An Ace came on the river and I gave up. My remaining stack was about the size of the pot and I was covered. I checked, and the other player checked behind with QQ.
If I push on the river, then he may have some doubts that the Ace really helped me but for nearly all his chips, will he really call ? Actually, in many MTTs online I will push here and then be shocked when I get called by 88. But this player, I know, was pretty tight and I am all but certain that the move will work.
This aborted steal moved me from the chip lead down to 8th, and now I had to lay down twice after raising with suited AQ and AJ and being re-raised (both times the re-raiser had KK and showed). This put me on <10BB, and onto life support.
However, I got a double up when I re-raised all-in with 88 and was called by AK. The board ran out J-3-3-J-Q. I thought for a moment that the double pair had counterfeited my hand, but this pot took me back up into 2nd place !
It seemed like I was going to get a second chance, but in tournaments you are only ever one hand away from disaster.
pokemon opened from UTG+1 for 1,800 (blinds 300/600). I held red Tens on the button, with my newly doubled stack of 12,000. pokemon, a very solid player who had taken a player out with AA vs AK, had 22k and the chip lead.
Part of me said "don't tussle with the chip-leader. respect the early position raise. give him credit for a tight range" but more of me said "he can't call 12k. TT is the 5th best hand in hold'em. gotta be in it to win it".
Usually in these cases, I reason that there is no point in a potentially committing raise, so I pushed all in.
Of course he snap-calls with KK and it's all over. I am livid with myself !
Actually, I nearly got away with it when I turned the open-ended straight, but the best hand won and pokemon went on to dominate the event until he did eventually lose out to CarpeDiemD who seized the big pay-day in the end.
I am still slightly in two minds about my move. 20BB deep, I do find a hand as good as TT hard to get away from, but in hindsight I think I need to give a tight player in early position credit for a very narrow range. Depending on how he's feeling, he's probably only laying down AQ !
In reality, I probably should simply open-fold the hand. Afterwards, I can't believe I have waited so long only to get so impatient. I feel really quite upset at losing out.
However, CarpeDiemD (Dru from the forum - actually this is him) is a very good player who deserved the win. He's already cashed in WSOP events, so there's a decent chance that he will turn this package into something big. I have 2% of his action, so I'm not completely out of it !
I actually won the next month as well and again in June (so I would have qualified then if I had not already - but the rules sensibly called for the runner up to qualify instead).
Eventually, the final came around. I was very much hoping that the karma would be with me.
It seemed it might me.
Early on, I opened for 200 (blinds 25/50) with 5-2o (the Gutshot powerhouse) and received one caller. I was rewarded with an A-2-2 flop !
I decided to play it very cautiously. Check/check on the flop. I bet 325 when the turn came a Ten (called) and then checked the river, hoping to pick up a bet. My opponent bet about half the pot and I decided that it was best to just call on the basis that the only hand that gives me action on this paired board is a house of 9s or Tens.
That was probably too cautious. My opponent showed JJ so I probably did not miss much. It's also important to realise that my hand wasn't all that disguised. In the forum game, you have to assume that 5-2 is always a major part of any player's range !
After playing very tight for the first 2 or 3 levels, I undoubtedly got too busy out of position and then compounded the error by not being prepared to back up my aggression. For example, in the big blind I called an EP min-raise with 7-6. Probably should have just folded right there.
The flop (K-7-2) was checked around. I now check-raised the turn (a nine) hoping to take it down, but the pre-flop raiser called. An Ace came on the river and I gave up. My remaining stack was about the size of the pot and I was covered. I checked, and the other player checked behind with QQ.
If I push on the river, then he may have some doubts that the Ace really helped me but for nearly all his chips, will he really call ? Actually, in many MTTs online I will push here and then be shocked when I get called by 88. But this player, I know, was pretty tight and I am all but certain that the move will work.
This aborted steal moved me from the chip lead down to 8th, and now I had to lay down twice after raising with suited AQ and AJ and being re-raised (both times the re-raiser had KK and showed). This put me on <10BB, and onto life support.
However, I got a double up when I re-raised all-in with 88 and was called by AK. The board ran out J-3-3-J-Q. I thought for a moment that the double pair had counterfeited my hand, but this pot took me back up into 2nd place !
It seemed like I was going to get a second chance, but in tournaments you are only ever one hand away from disaster.
pokemon opened from UTG+1 for 1,800 (blinds 300/600). I held red Tens on the button, with my newly doubled stack of 12,000. pokemon, a very solid player who had taken a player out with AA vs AK, had 22k and the chip lead.
Part of me said "don't tussle with the chip-leader. respect the early position raise. give him credit for a tight range" but more of me said "he can't call 12k. TT is the 5th best hand in hold'em. gotta be in it to win it".
Usually in these cases, I reason that there is no point in a potentially committing raise, so I pushed all in.
Of course he snap-calls with KK and it's all over. I am livid with myself !
Actually, I nearly got away with it when I turned the open-ended straight, but the best hand won and pokemon went on to dominate the event until he did eventually lose out to CarpeDiemD who seized the big pay-day in the end.
I am still slightly in two minds about my move. 20BB deep, I do find a hand as good as TT hard to get away from, but in hindsight I think I need to give a tight player in early position credit for a very narrow range. Depending on how he's feeling, he's probably only laying down AQ !
In reality, I probably should simply open-fold the hand. Afterwards, I can't believe I have waited so long only to get so impatient. I feel really quite upset at losing out.
However, CarpeDiemD (Dru from the forum - actually this is him) is a very good player who deserved the win. He's already cashed in WSOP events, so there's a decent chance that he will turn this package into something big. I have 2% of his action, so I'm not completely out of it !
Monday 8 December 2008
And Finally
It's been a long time since my last post. It also feels like a long time since I was last in Las Vegas, although it was less than 6 months ago.
Likewise, it feels like an eternity since I won my seat to go to Vegas for the 2008 WSOP. That was back in early February just a few days after I had resigned from my job. So, at the time, it was an immensely symbolic win.
A few days after the victory, I played in and won the first game in the Gutshot Forum League.
That league has now run its course, and today is the final. The league was a series of weekly MTTs scoring points towards a monthly winner. The 10 monthly winners line up today to play a single table for a winner-takes-all prize of a trip to the WSOP 2009.
I had a strong record in the league - winning 6 of my 30 appearances (more than any other player) and scoring the most points overall.
In the final we have other players who were stalwarts throughout the series (like "Ron Burgundy" and "Sweet Baby Jane"). Both of these players are very well known posters on the forum although in the latter case, no one actually knows who s/he really is.
Also in the game tonight we have some relative newcomers like "lostuzos", who only started participating in the league at the 11th hour but blitzed the November qualification, and "Hofzinser" who likewise came late to the league but took it somewhat by storm once he was involved.
Unlike "lostuzos" (who won his place by a convincing margin), Hofzinser sneaked in by the narrowest of margins imaginable - a single point separated him from the next-placed runner and only 5 points separated the top 4 ! (307-306-305-302).
However, it's a totally level playing field again tonight although I feel a certain "right" to win the final on the basis of my record from start to finish. Of course, it doesn't work like that !
I'm hoping that I'll get the right feel for the game tonight. I'm sure whoever wins it will have to survive a few all-too-exciting all-in moments especially when we get to the heads-up stage. Having said that, it will be far from a crapshoot - we have 10,000 chips and a 15-minute clock which is a very deep structure.
In truth, something a bit more rapid-fire would probably suit me better, but it's the same for everyone !
Likewise, it feels like an eternity since I won my seat to go to Vegas for the 2008 WSOP. That was back in early February just a few days after I had resigned from my job. So, at the time, it was an immensely symbolic win.
A few days after the victory, I played in and won the first game in the Gutshot Forum League.
That league has now run its course, and today is the final. The league was a series of weekly MTTs scoring points towards a monthly winner. The 10 monthly winners line up today to play a single table for a winner-takes-all prize of a trip to the WSOP 2009.
I had a strong record in the league - winning 6 of my 30 appearances (more than any other player) and scoring the most points overall.
In the final we have other players who were stalwarts throughout the series (like "Ron Burgundy" and "Sweet Baby Jane"). Both of these players are very well known posters on the forum although in the latter case, no one actually knows who s/he really is.
Also in the game tonight we have some relative newcomers like "lostuzos", who only started participating in the league at the 11th hour but blitzed the November qualification, and "Hofzinser" who likewise came late to the league but took it somewhat by storm once he was involved.
Unlike "lostuzos" (who won his place by a convincing margin), Hofzinser sneaked in by the narrowest of margins imaginable - a single point separated him from the next-placed runner and only 5 points separated the top 4 ! (307-306-305-302).
However, it's a totally level playing field again tonight although I feel a certain "right" to win the final on the basis of my record from start to finish. Of course, it doesn't work like that !
I'm hoping that I'll get the right feel for the game tonight. I'm sure whoever wins it will have to survive a few all-too-exciting all-in moments especially when we get to the heads-up stage. Having said that, it will be far from a crapshoot - we have 10,000 chips and a 15-minute clock which is a very deep structure.
In truth, something a bit more rapid-fire would probably suit me better, but it's the same for everyone !
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