Heads up NL poker is a game of feel and timing. Picking off a bluff is always a good feeling.
Stage #994330423: Holdem (1 on 1) No Limit $0.50 - 2008-05-31 23:21:24 (ET)
Table: FAIRBROOK CT (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 6 - MIZZARK619 ($32.10 in chips)
Seat 4 - VILLAIN($24.90 in chips)
MIZZARK619 - Posts small blind $0.25
VILLAIN - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to MIZZARK619 [4s Js]
MIZZARK619 - Calls $0.25
VILLAIN - Raises $1 to $1.50
MIZZARK619 - Calls $1
*** FLOP *** [2h 9h 4d]
VILLAIN - Bets $1.50
MIZZARK619 - Raises $4 to $4
VILLAIN - Calls $2.50
*** TURN *** [2h 9h 4d] [7s]
VILLAIN - Checks
MIZZARK619 - Bets $11
VILLAIN - Calls $11
*** RIVER *** [2h 9h 4d 7s] [Ks]
VILLAIN - All-In $8.40
MIZZARK619 - Calls $8.40
*** SHOW DOWN ***
VILLAIN - Shows [8h Jh] (king high)
MIZZARK619 - Shows [4s Js] (One pair, fours)
MIZZARK619 Collects $49.30 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($49.80) | Rake ($0.50)
Board [2h 9h 4d 7s Ks]
Seat 4: VILLAIN (big blind) HI:lost with king high [8h Jh]
Seat 6: MIZZARK619 (dealer) (small blind) won Total ($49.30) HI:($49.30) with One pair, fours [4s Js]
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday Results
I played a lot of poker yesterday. I think I got in a really good mix of a little bit of everything: sit n gos, ring game, and tourney play. I had positive results booking +$160 to the bankroll when all was said and done.
I have noticed as of late that there is A LOT of overlay in the AP guaranteed tournaments. Basically this means AP guarantees a certain sized prize pool based on the assumption enough players will play the tournament to at least meet the guaranteed amount. An overlay occurs when not enough players sign up and AP has to cover the difference.
So for example: AP runs a daily $100 buy-in tourney that is a $10k guaranteed tourney. Last night only about 72 players signed up to play which only equals $7.2k. This means AP had to come up with the additional $2.8k to make it a 10k guaranteed. This is very good for the players as they have the opportunity to make more money in a smaller field. I almost bought into this tourney last night but the competition looked pretty stiff. There were a lot of TLB (Tournament Leader Board) players registered, obviously since the overlay was so huge. If I can increase my bankroll a bit, I may give this tourney a try.
Hmmm... if I start playing $100 buy-in tourneys, I will have to change the name of my blog from Micro Stakes to Low Stakes. Hahahaha!
Until next time, ship!
I have noticed as of late that there is A LOT of overlay in the AP guaranteed tournaments. Basically this means AP guarantees a certain sized prize pool based on the assumption enough players will play the tournament to at least meet the guaranteed amount. An overlay occurs when not enough players sign up and AP has to cover the difference.
So for example: AP runs a daily $100 buy-in tourney that is a $10k guaranteed tourney. Last night only about 72 players signed up to play which only equals $7.2k. This means AP had to come up with the additional $2.8k to make it a 10k guaranteed. This is very good for the players as they have the opportunity to make more money in a smaller field. I almost bought into this tourney last night but the competition looked pretty stiff. There were a lot of TLB (Tournament Leader Board) players registered, obviously since the overlay was so huge. If I can increase my bankroll a bit, I may give this tourney a try.
Hmmm... if I start playing $100 buy-in tourneys, I will have to change the name of my blog from Micro Stakes to Low Stakes. Hahahaha!
Until next time, ship!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Learning to like HU NL Poker
As of recent, I have been testing the waters with NL Heads Up poker. I have had mostly positive results and am beginning to identify players who play pretty weak. Not to say I am really good, but its obvious when I am up against a weaker player. I will continue to hone my skills and hopefully someday I will be as good as my HU NL idol: PeopleMover.
Here is an example of a hand I felt I played well. I was stuck against this opponent when on a previous hand he called off about $18 with a weak flush draw with one card to come. Of course the river was a spade to make his flush. Anyhow, revenge is sweet, LOL.
Table: PENNSYLVANIA ST (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 6 - VILLAIN ($28.87 in chips)
Seat 4 - MIZZARK619 ($31.88 in chips)
VILLAIN - Posts small blind $0.25
MIZZARK619 - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to MIZZARK619 [Kd 7s]
VILLAIN - Calls $0.25
MIZZARK619 - Checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 4c Ah]
MIZZARK619 - Checks
VILLAIN - Bets $2
MIZZARK619 - Calls $2
*** TURN *** [7c 4c Ah] [7d]
MIZZARK619 - Checks
VILLAIN - Bets $2
MIZZARK619 - Raises $7 to $7
VILLAIN - Calls $5
*** RIVER *** [7c 4c Ah 7d] [Kc]
MIZZARK619 - Bets $8
VILLAIN - Calls $8
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MIZZARK619 - Shows [Kd 7s] (Full house, sevens full of kings)
VILLAIN - Mucks
MIZZARK619 Collects $34.50 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($35) | Rake ($0.50)
Board [7c 4c Ah 7d Kc]
Seat 4: MIZZARK619 (big blind) won Total ($34.50) HI:($34.50) with Full house, sevens full of kings [Kd 7s - P:7s,B:7d,B:7c,P:Kd,B:Kc]
Seat 6: VILLAIN (dealer) (small blind) HI: [Mucked] [Ac 3d]
I really liked my turn raise because I think it disguised my hand. I think a standard play is to raise the turn when on a draw which is what he possibly thought I was on. Even though the flush draw got there on the river, I stalled before betting for value. I was surprised to see he called my value bet with such a weak holding. I think that was the result of my constant pressure on him throughout our entire session. He quit me when I stacked him and had taken another $12 or so from him after he rebought in.
I am still buying into these HU sessions short, obviously because I am still learning the game. Hopefully in the next couple months, if I can continue to see positive results, I will begin to make full buy-ins($100) and continue to have +EV sessions.
Here is an example of a hand I felt I played well. I was stuck against this opponent when on a previous hand he called off about $18 with a weak flush draw with one card to come. Of course the river was a spade to make his flush. Anyhow, revenge is sweet, LOL.
Table: PENNSYLVANIA ST (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 6 - VILLAIN ($28.87 in chips)
Seat 4 - MIZZARK619 ($31.88 in chips)
VILLAIN - Posts small blind $0.25
MIZZARK619 - Posts big blind $0.50
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to MIZZARK619 [Kd 7s]
VILLAIN - Calls $0.25
MIZZARK619 - Checks
*** FLOP *** [7c 4c Ah]
MIZZARK619 - Checks
VILLAIN - Bets $2
MIZZARK619 - Calls $2
*** TURN *** [7c 4c Ah] [7d]
MIZZARK619 - Checks
VILLAIN - Bets $2
MIZZARK619 - Raises $7 to $7
VILLAIN - Calls $5
*** RIVER *** [7c 4c Ah 7d] [Kc]
MIZZARK619 - Bets $8
VILLAIN - Calls $8
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MIZZARK619 - Shows [Kd 7s] (Full house, sevens full of kings)
VILLAIN - Mucks
MIZZARK619 Collects $34.50 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($35) | Rake ($0.50)
Board [7c 4c Ah 7d Kc]
Seat 4: MIZZARK619 (big blind) won Total ($34.50) HI:($34.50) with Full house, sevens full of kings [Kd 7s - P:7s,B:7d,B:7c,P:Kd,B:Kc]
Seat 6: VILLAIN (dealer) (small blind) HI: [Mucked] [Ac 3d]
I really liked my turn raise because I think it disguised my hand. I think a standard play is to raise the turn when on a draw which is what he possibly thought I was on. Even though the flush draw got there on the river, I stalled before betting for value. I was surprised to see he called my value bet with such a weak holding. I think that was the result of my constant pressure on him throughout our entire session. He quit me when I stacked him and had taken another $12 or so from him after he rebought in.
I am still buying into these HU sessions short, obviously because I am still learning the game. Hopefully in the next couple months, if I can continue to see positive results, I will begin to make full buy-ins($100) and continue to have +EV sessions.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Super Stack Tourney
I feel that I played very well in this tourney. I think I could have played a little loser so it wouldn't have been so obvious when I had made huge hands. It was tough to get paid off. But I was able to make another FINAL TABLE which is really exciting for me. It seems that if I stay focused and don't let myself get frustrated by the cards, I tend to do very well. Ironically, after being SO patient the entire tourney, I decide to move all-in at the Final Table with a hand I hate to play: Ace Jack offsuit. Naturally, 2nd chip leader wakes up with pocket Kings and I can't hit an A or some type of draw to save my tournament life.
GG me.
GG me.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Back 2 Back
I played a lot of poker this evening. I dabbled in some Heads Up NL Holdem at the 25c/50c level and ran very well against two separate opponents. I was able to book a plus $95 session. I was also interested in playing the nightly $5+.50 $1500 Guaranteed tournament. I did very well in this tourney but got super lucky in a few key spots that allowed me to go deep in the tourney.
This evening marks the first time I have gone back to back in making final tables. Another milestone in my poker career. I took 5th after my KQd fell short to AJh. 5th place was good for about $80.
Until next time.
This evening marks the first time I have gone back to back in making final tables. Another milestone in my poker career. I took 5th after my KQd fell short to AJh. 5th place was good for about $80.
Until next time.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Its been a long time...
...Since I have posted on my blog. I have not had much to report in the past couple of months. Ever since I made some final tables to boost my confidence and my bankroll, it seemed like I had hit a brick wall. I either started playing really bad or started getting really unlucky. Who knows...
I am normally not a superstitious type of person but the "cash out curse" came to mind. This is the urban legend in the poker community that states if you win and either withdraw your winnings or transfer them elsewhere, you will become a losing player. The funny thing is, after I had transferred $100 to Ultimate Bet, everything went downhill. Since then, my Ultimate Bet bankroll has been since long gone and my bankroll on Absolute Poker had dwindled down to almost nothing.
I actually took a break and instead of running home to play as many tourneys as possible, I went on a fitness kick. I have changed the way I eat and now exercise on a regular basis. I have lost 15 lbs in two months and I feel physically and mentally stronger than I have in a long while. I think this has cleared my head a bit and brought me back to my winning ways. I have started to grind out more $2 sit n gos and have found a revitalized success. I built my bankroll up a bit in the past couple weeks, feeling like I have been playing some my best poker. So last night I decided to take a shot at a tourney I have only played a few times but have cashed in every single time I have played it. Yes... it was a little out of my bankroll range but I have been running high on confidence as of late so I did not doubt that I could at least make the money.
I did more than that. Last night I hit the biggest cash of my micro stakes poker career. Hopefully with a rebolstered bankroll and a new energized passion for the game, I will have more to post for the few of you that have stumbled onto my little blog.
Ship.
I am normally not a superstitious type of person but the "cash out curse" came to mind. This is the urban legend in the poker community that states if you win and either withdraw your winnings or transfer them elsewhere, you will become a losing player. The funny thing is, after I had transferred $100 to Ultimate Bet, everything went downhill. Since then, my Ultimate Bet bankroll has been since long gone and my bankroll on Absolute Poker had dwindled down to almost nothing.
I actually took a break and instead of running home to play as many tourneys as possible, I went on a fitness kick. I have changed the way I eat and now exercise on a regular basis. I have lost 15 lbs in two months and I feel physically and mentally stronger than I have in a long while. I think this has cleared my head a bit and brought me back to my winning ways. I have started to grind out more $2 sit n gos and have found a revitalized success. I built my bankroll up a bit in the past couple weeks, feeling like I have been playing some my best poker. So last night I decided to take a shot at a tourney I have only played a few times but have cashed in every single time I have played it. Yes... it was a little out of my bankroll range but I have been running high on confidence as of late so I did not doubt that I could at least make the money.
I did more than that. Last night I hit the biggest cash of my micro stakes poker career. Hopefully with a rebolstered bankroll and a new energized passion for the game, I will have more to post for the few of you that have stumbled onto my little blog.
Ship.
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