I finally fell off the ladder. On Step2 (on the way down from 4 and 5) I finished 7th and out. It was a meek ending.
The final sequence was 1-2-1-2-3-3-4-3-3-4-5-5-4-2-out.
One remarkable thing is how much Pokerstars raked out of this run. On the one hand, of course, I only put in $7.50 so I cannot have lost any more than that (and of the $7.50, supposedly only $0.50 was rake to begin with).
However, each step of the ladder is raked and you can buy directly into each step, so the rake is real even if I did not personally contribute it.
The rake-ladder would look like this:
$0.50 - $2 - $0.5 - $2 - $7 - $7 - $15 - $7 - $7 - $15 - $30 - $30 - $15 - $2
So I contributed $140 in rake during this ultimately unsuccessful attempt.
Now I am out, I am really ruing my misfortune at not making it thru Step5 when I was in the chip lead. I do not think there is anything I could have done differently, so no regrets, but still the question "what if ?".
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Out of Step
Nearly anyway.
After falling back from 5 to 4, I played my step 4 and really struggled - nothing went for me. I eventually limped into the last 6 (so retaining at least a foot on the ladder).
Then picked up pocket Queens on the SB. Button pushed with K6 - and caught a King on the river. So the only morsel of good news was that I get a spot back on Step 2 so it is not quite over yet.
After falling back from 5 to 4, I played my step 4 and really struggled - nothing went for me. I eventually limped into the last 6 (so retaining at least a foot on the ladder).
Then picked up pocket Queens on the SB. Button pushed with K6 - and caught a King on the river. So the only morsel of good news was that I get a spot back on Step 2 so it is not quite over yet.
The Joy of Steps
I have been musing on what kind of poker to play in the next few months. Online, there are three main strands:
- cash games
- MTTs
- SnGs
Those seeking to earn a steady income from poker generally work with SnGs or cash. It is widely recognised that SnGs can be approached very analytically and in this way the variance can be reduced and the edge from correct strategy (usually combined with software assistance) can be maximised.
Likewise, cash games at the right stakes can be multi-tabled and augmented with tracking tools to produce good returns.
Obviously MTTs offer the potential for large leverage but inevitably must come with long stretches of nil returns.
Mind you, is not clear that I want to align my approach with the standard professional. I am not necessarily in the business of trying to make money playing poker online. However, I do want to play and make money !
That's a bit of a contradiction. I suppose the point is that I am not driven in my choices entirely by the "best" return.
In the meantime whilst I try to decide what is the best plan, I have been playing the Pokerstars "Steps" qualifiers for the WSOP. Very interesting structure.
All the games are 9-person SnGs. There are 6 levels (steps) of buy-ins - the top level is $2,100 to buy in and offers the winner a $12,500 package to the WSOP. At the other end is the first step - $7.50.
The winner at each step moves up to the next step so the idea/dream is that you can buy in for $7.50 and win the $12,500 prize.
What is particularly interesting is the prize structure: at Step 1, 2 of 9 progress, and 3rd place gets to try again. At the later steps, the prizes are even more broadly spread. Generally the top 2 go up, the next two try again and the 5th and 6th get to try at a lower step.
I bought in to step 1 and am now at step 5 (2nd attempt). So far I have not had to buy in again and have travelled S1-S2-S1-S2-S3-S3-S4-S3-S3-S4-S4-S5-S5.
Step 5 is a $700 buy-in so in some sense I have multiplied my buy-in by 100x but it can't be cashed out and at any time I may be back at the ground level.
The tactic I am employing is a fairly obvious one: very tight early on, to try to ensure I am at least guaranteed a retry at a lower level. Of course, everyone else is doing the same and sometimes you just have to get all your chips in early on if the situation arises.
The Step where I went from S4 to S5 was an epic game - I think we were 3-handed for about 20minutes. Then at Step5, I was the chip-leader when I held AK vs TT and missed. Then, 5-handed I was still a slight leader when the short-stack pushed all-in. Holding AQ it was automatic to over-push.
Unfortunately, 2nd-in-chips behind me chose this moment to wake up with Aces. The good news was that the short-stakc was eliminated promoting me to 4th. I had a few chips left, but lost those vs another pair of Aces shortly thereafter.
Ah well. Next ....
- cash games
- MTTs
- SnGs
Those seeking to earn a steady income from poker generally work with SnGs or cash. It is widely recognised that SnGs can be approached very analytically and in this way the variance can be reduced and the edge from correct strategy (usually combined with software assistance) can be maximised.
Likewise, cash games at the right stakes can be multi-tabled and augmented with tracking tools to produce good returns.
Obviously MTTs offer the potential for large leverage but inevitably must come with long stretches of nil returns.
Mind you, is not clear that I want to align my approach with the standard professional. I am not necessarily in the business of trying to make money playing poker online. However, I do want to play and make money !
That's a bit of a contradiction. I suppose the point is that I am not driven in my choices entirely by the "best" return.
In the meantime whilst I try to decide what is the best plan, I have been playing the Pokerstars "Steps" qualifiers for the WSOP. Very interesting structure.
All the games are 9-person SnGs. There are 6 levels (steps) of buy-ins - the top level is $2,100 to buy in and offers the winner a $12,500 package to the WSOP. At the other end is the first step - $7.50.
The winner at each step moves up to the next step so the idea/dream is that you can buy in for $7.50 and win the $12,500 prize.
What is particularly interesting is the prize structure: at Step 1, 2 of 9 progress, and 3rd place gets to try again. At the later steps, the prizes are even more broadly spread. Generally the top 2 go up, the next two try again and the 5th and 6th get to try at a lower step.
I bought in to step 1 and am now at step 5 (2nd attempt). So far I have not had to buy in again and have travelled S1-S2-S1-S2-S3-S3-S4-S3-S3-S4-S4-S5-S5.
Step 5 is a $700 buy-in so in some sense I have multiplied my buy-in by 100x but it can't be cashed out and at any time I may be back at the ground level.
The tactic I am employing is a fairly obvious one: very tight early on, to try to ensure I am at least guaranteed a retry at a lower level. Of course, everyone else is doing the same and sometimes you just have to get all your chips in early on if the situation arises.
The Step where I went from S4 to S5 was an epic game - I think we were 3-handed for about 20minutes. Then at Step5, I was the chip-leader when I held AK vs TT and missed. Then, 5-handed I was still a slight leader when the short-stack pushed all-in. Holding AQ it was automatic to over-push.
Unfortunately, 2nd-in-chips behind me chose this moment to wake up with Aces. The good news was that the short-stakc was eliminated promoting me to 4th. I had a few chips left, but lost those vs another pair of Aces shortly thereafter.
Ah well. Next ....
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Poker nicknames
All the top players have one.
Some are better than others. Some are obvious in their provenance; others are a little mysterious. One thing they have in common, though, is that rarely were they chosen by the player. Nicknames are bestowed upon the player by others.
For a long time, I had to do without a nickname. The nearest thing to it was my online identity - pokersmith2
Then, suddenly, it happened. I was playing in the forum league (I think the first or the second game). I was using my trademark aggressive style, getting lucky and running over the game.
As another perfect card arrived and I knocked someone else out, one of the other players coined the phrase "H-bomb" in the chatbox and it has stuck ever since.
I believe another property of poker nicknames is that they are rarely changed. So, I have my poker-name for life. I'm pretty happy with it !
H-bomb stands for loose, aggressive and lucky. Those traits were in evidence on day3 of my Vegas trip when I finally made it down to MGM.
I had started the day with modest winning sessions at Mirage and Caesar's. It was getting pretty late in the day but I thought I'd better stick to my plan.
I arrived at MGM around 3:30am. There was no $2/5 game but there were 4 or 5 tables at $1/2 so I bought in for $200 (the max).
Almost immediately things began to go right. On the button with 9h7h I limped, then called a raise to $15 by the SB who I put on a big hand.
The flop was 99T - bingo ! I called a bet on the flop, then on the turn, I raised the next bet. "You can't have a 9 in your hand" declared the other player and re-raised all-in. Insta-call by me - I'm facing pocket Kings and double up to around $900.
After this, the table livened up considerably with frequent use of the $4 straddle. In one such hand, I made a raise from mid-position to $15, called by the BB and the straddler.
The flop came down Q87 with 2 clubs. Checked to me, I bet $30. The BB raised to $100 and I moved all in (confident I have the best hand). I was called by A7-clubs and avoided the flush to move onto about $900.
Next up .. AdQd. I bumped an initial raiser to $30. Four players saw the flop JdTd9s !! No made hand for me but a monster draw. I bet $100 and was raised all-in for another $280. Easy call. The unfortunate player has KQo for the current nuts but he was soon behind when a King turned me the higher straight.
Up to $1,400 and in danger of killing the action !
I followed this up with pocket 4s which flopped Quads, and 56 making the nut straight but I couldn't make much progress beyond the $1,500 mark and called it a night around 5:30 -- in need of some sleep !
Some are better than others. Some are obvious in their provenance; others are a little mysterious. One thing they have in common, though, is that rarely were they chosen by the player. Nicknames are bestowed upon the player by others.
For a long time, I had to do without a nickname. The nearest thing to it was my online identity - pokersmith2
Then, suddenly, it happened. I was playing in the forum league (I think the first or the second game). I was using my trademark aggressive style, getting lucky and running over the game.
As another perfect card arrived and I knocked someone else out, one of the other players coined the phrase "H-bomb" in the chatbox and it has stuck ever since.
I believe another property of poker nicknames is that they are rarely changed. So, I have my poker-name for life. I'm pretty happy with it !
H-bomb stands for loose, aggressive and lucky. Those traits were in evidence on day3 of my Vegas trip when I finally made it down to MGM.
I had started the day with modest winning sessions at Mirage and Caesar's. It was getting pretty late in the day but I thought I'd better stick to my plan.
I arrived at MGM around 3:30am. There was no $2/5 game but there were 4 or 5 tables at $1/2 so I bought in for $200 (the max).
Almost immediately things began to go right. On the button with 9h7h I limped, then called a raise to $15 by the SB who I put on a big hand.
The flop was 99T - bingo ! I called a bet on the flop, then on the turn, I raised the next bet. "You can't have a 9 in your hand" declared the other player and re-raised all-in. Insta-call by me - I'm facing pocket Kings and double up to around $900.
After this, the table livened up considerably with frequent use of the $4 straddle. In one such hand, I made a raise from mid-position to $15, called by the BB and the straddler.
The flop came down Q87 with 2 clubs. Checked to me, I bet $30. The BB raised to $100 and I moved all in (confident I have the best hand). I was called by A7-clubs and avoided the flush to move onto about $900.
Next up .. AdQd. I bumped an initial raiser to $30. Four players saw the flop JdTd9s !! No made hand for me but a monster draw. I bet $100 and was raised all-in for another $280. Easy call. The unfortunate player has KQo for the current nuts but he was soon behind when a King turned me the higher straight.
Up to $1,400 and in danger of killing the action !
I followed this up with pocket 4s which flopped Quads, and 56 making the nut straight but I couldn't make much progress beyond the $1,500 mark and called it a night around 5:30 -- in need of some sleep !
Friday, 2 May 2008
The truth is out there
Absolutely mad, but seems to be true:
http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/news/article.asp?newsid=2008
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Delayed Reaction
As far as I can tell on very brief investigation, this story may actually be true:
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2008/04/wsop-final-table-delayed-november.htm
It's ridiculous in my opinion, and may yet turn out to be a false rumour.
http://www.pokernews.com/news/2008/04/wsop-final-table-delayed-november.htm
It's ridiculous in my opinion, and may yet turn out to be a false rumour.
False Start
Down at the Gutshot on Wednesday evening. Turned out to be quite a small field for the £75 tournament (significantly affected by the Champions League).
35 runners. I had a pretty uneventful game - hovering a little below average for most of the tournament. With blinds 400/800 and chips at 5,100 (starting stack 5,000) it was folded to me on the button. With pocket 5s it was a pretty obvious push, and a pretty obvious call by the SB with AK-suited (in fact, he pushed all-in as well to isolate. Again, obvious).
An Ace came on the flop, obviously. Out in 16th.
The cash games were also very quiet indeed and very tight - not my sort of game at all. Especially after I lost a massive pot in the first orbit. My KK on the button vs. AA from the UTG player. It was a raised and re-raised pot pre-flop but after my raise, the UTG player just called and I must say that even then I thought AA was a distinct possibility. The rest of the money went in on the low flop. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be able to get away from it there.
I lost the rest of my initial buy-in with AhTh on the Jh9h6s board. Pre-flop raiser checked, I checked, there was a bet of £15, a raise to £50 and I re-raised all in to about £200. Called by KK. Lost that race - it's almost 50/50 (53/47 against me in fact).
Down £500 at that point - in very early running. Was almost exactly level after that, but the game didn't offer many opportunities to gain much back. I waited as long as I could for some action to arrive, but no joy. With hindsight I would have called it a day much earlier. If I'm going to lose I'd much prefer a livelier game to lose it in.
I did stay 100% clear of the Omaha. That was one correct decision, I'm sure.
35 runners. I had a pretty uneventful game - hovering a little below average for most of the tournament. With blinds 400/800 and chips at 5,100 (starting stack 5,000) it was folded to me on the button. With pocket 5s it was a pretty obvious push, and a pretty obvious call by the SB with AK-suited (in fact, he pushed all-in as well to isolate. Again, obvious).
An Ace came on the flop, obviously. Out in 16th.
The cash games were also very quiet indeed and very tight - not my sort of game at all. Especially after I lost a massive pot in the first orbit. My KK on the button vs. AA from the UTG player. It was a raised and re-raised pot pre-flop but after my raise, the UTG player just called and I must say that even then I thought AA was a distinct possibility. The rest of the money went in on the low flop. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be able to get away from it there.
I lost the rest of my initial buy-in with AhTh on the Jh9h6s board. Pre-flop raiser checked, I checked, there was a bet of £15, a raise to £50 and I re-raised all in to about £200. Called by KK. Lost that race - it's almost 50/50 (53/47 against me in fact).
Down £500 at that point - in very early running. Was almost exactly level after that, but the game didn't offer many opportunities to gain much back. I waited as long as I could for some action to arrive, but no joy. With hindsight I would have called it a day much earlier. If I'm going to lose I'd much prefer a livelier game to lose it in.
I did stay 100% clear of the Omaha. That was one correct decision, I'm sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)