Full Tilt Take 2 promotion

Now is the time to sign up for Tilt. They are running a promotion in September called "Take 2," where you can get up to $50 for multi tabling for 1 poker point. There are various levels of money based on the amount of days you play. To receive the maximum payout, you have to play 25 days out of 30 in September. By my calculations, you can earn at least 1 FPP between two tables at $25NL within an orbit. If you post your blinds, it will cost you $.35 per table, or $.70 per day. Assuming you fold every hand, you will likely make your poker point and can call it quits for that day. $.70 * 25 days = $17.50 to earn $50.00? Sounds like a good deal!

If you want to sign up for the first time, sign up and get rakeback through raketherake.com using the link (it will get me a referral bonus). You are also eligible for the 100% bonus that they offer when you make a deposit.

Contact me if you're interested in trading Tilt $$$ for Stars $$$ as well. I am beginning to build up my Stars account and am sick of grinding it out with the $10NL donkeys.

Official rules / information:

Take 2 - Earn up to $50 and Double Points

Earn up to $50 cash AND double the number of Full Tilt Points you’d normally receive, during Take 2.

Take 2 runs from Tuesday, September 1st to Wednesday, September 30th. By playing at least two ring-game tables at the same time during Take 2, you’ll earn double Full Tilt Points on both tables. Play as often as you can during September and you’ll be rewarded with cash, up to $50, depending on the number of days you play.
Get up to $50 in Cash

The more you play during Take 2, the more cash you can earn. Reach four different levels depending on the number of days that you play and you can earn up to $50:

* Level 1: Play for 5 days and receive $5
* Level 2: Play for 10 days to get $10, for a cumulative total of $15
* Level 3: Play for 15 days and take home another $10, a cumulative total of $25
* Level 4: Play for 25 days and you’ll earn an additional $25, for a cumulative total of $50

Earn Double Points on Both Tables

When you play two tables on Full Tilt Poker, you get twice the points. During Take 2, we’ll give you a lot more: when you play on two ring-game tables at the same time, we’ll double the number of points you’d normally receive on BOTH tables.

For example, if you earn 60 points at one table and 40 at another, ordinarily you would get 100 points. However, during Take 2, you’ll get 200 points instead of 100. That’s 100 points for your play and 100 bonus points.

You can use your bonus points in the Full Tilt Poker Store to get plasma TVs, iPods, custom Full Tilt Poker jerseys and more, or to enter special Full Tilt Points Sit & Gos and Multi-Table Tournaments.
Register to Participate in Take 2

Follow these steps to claim your cash and double points during Take 2:

* Log in to Full Tilt Poker
* Click on the Cashier button
* Select the My Promotions box
* Click on the Take 2 box
* Follow the instructions on the Take 2 My Promotions page – you must elect to participate in this promotion or you will not receive cash or double points for your play during Take 2
* Return to the game lobby and play at two ring-game tables simultaneously to start earning cash and double Full Tilt Points at each table

Take 2

Keep track of how many bonus points and any cash you've earned on the Take 2 My Promotions page. Your bonus points will be deposited into your account within six hours of being earned and any cash will be deposited into your account after the promotion has finished. Please read the Take 2 Rules for more details.

Please note that the following stipulations also apply to the Take 2 promotion:

* Players who wish to earn cash and double Full Tilt Points during Take 2 must opt-in to the promotion via a web-registration page in order to qualify to earn bonus points. To opt-in to Take 2, players must go to the Cashier in the game lobby, enter the “My Promotions” section and follow the Take 2 link to the web-registration page.
* If a player plays at more than two real-money ring-game tables simultaneously during Take 2, that player will receive double points from the combination of their top two tables. For example, if a player is playing at three tables simultaneously for a one hour period during Take 2 and earns 60 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table A, 40 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table B and 30 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table C, that player will receive a total of 100 bonus Full Tilt Points for that hour of play.
* If a player is participating in Take 2 at the same time that Full Tilt Poker’s Happy Hour promotion is running, they will earn the appropriate number of bonus points for each promotion. For example, if a player is playing at three tables simultaneously for a one hour period during both Take 2 and Happy Hour and earns 60 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table A, 40 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table B and 30 Full Tilt Points while playing at Table C, that player will receive standard double points on all three tables for Happy Hour play (130 bonus points), plus double points from the combination of their top two tables for Take 2 play (100 bonus points), for a total of 230 bonus points for that period of play.

The Poker Meister #27 - Full house edition

Need I say more?

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/257265
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $24.56
Hero (BTN): $57.76
SB: $3.67
BB: $27.02
UTG: $14.65

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with 9c Jc
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, BB raises to $2.35, Hero calls $1.60
How do I lay down the nuts pre-flop? I'll have position and I have the power of J9 sooted behind me!

Flop: ($4.80) Js Jh 5s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2, BB calls $2
Flopped trips... Can't touch this!

Turn: ($8.80) 3c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $5, BB calls $5

River: ($18.80) 9h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $15, BB calls $15
Turned into a full fledged nut boat! Can't beat these nuts! By now, I'm putting him on a major pocket pair: AA, KK, less likely QQ. Based on the past action, he's not letting this hand go; I am going for maximum pain! I thought about pushing, but I didn't want it to seem totally obvious that I had the J.

Final Pot: $48.80
Hero shows 9c Jc (a full house, Jacks full of Nines)
BB mucks Ah As - No doubt! Gotta lay that down, pal!
Hero wins $46.36
(Rake: $2.44)

The Poker Meister #26 - suckout edition!

Always!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/257681
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (CO): $17.23
BTN: $4.80
SB: $22.70
BB: $7.00
UTG: $16.77
UTG+1: $4.20
UTG+2: $34.14
MP1: $9.90
MP2: $9.75

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with Jd 9d
5 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, SB calls $0.65, BB raises to $3.25, Hero calls $2.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($7.25) Qh Qc Js (2 players)
BB bets $3.75 all in, Hero calls $3.75

Turn: ($14.75) 3c (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($14.75) Jh (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $14.75
Hero shows Jd 9d (a full house, Jacks full of Queens)
BB shows Ac Ah (two pair, Aces and Queens)
Hero wins $14.02
(Rake: $0.73)
I will *NEVER* doubt the power of the Poker Meister! It can catch up with any hand, and conquer all.

Biggest $ pot ever won - Short @ .25/.5 session; I run good

~50 hands at two tabling; I got a few hands early, and I had the appearance of an aggrodonk in around 25 hands... That image probably helped me get it all in AA vs. KK - though I don't know that he was getting away from this hand regardless of my image:

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/257677
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $47.60
UTG+1: $35.80
MP1: $45.50
MP2: $38.45
CO: $66.30
BTN: $10.00
SB: $27.40
BB: $10.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG with As Ad
Hero raises to $1.50, UTG+1 calls $1.50, MP1 calls $1.50, 1 fold, CO raises to $4, 3 folds, Hero raises to $15, 2 folds, CO calls $11

Flop: ($33.75) 2h Qc 7d (2 players)
Hero bets $20, CO calls $20
He could be raising my UTG raise with just about any Ax, KK, QQ, or JJ. He took a long time to call the $20 lead, so I'm not putting him on a set. If so, GG him.

Turn: ($73.75) 3d (2 players)
Hero bets $12.60 all in, CO calls $12.60
Getting the remainder of my stack should be easy; all in.

River: ($98.95) 9c (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $98.95
Hero shows As Ad (a pair of Aces)
CO shows Kh Kc (a pair of Kings)
Hero wins $95.95
(Rake: $3.00)
Do you know how many times I'm on the opposite end of this one? I'm happy to win the largest $ value pot ever on the right side of AA vs. KK.

The Poker Meister #25 - flush edition

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/257267
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP2: $25.00
CO: $57.96
Hero (BTN): $38.02
SB: $18.65
BB: $4.68
UTG: $11.20
UTG+1: $4.95
UTG+2: $36.52
MP1: $38.50

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with 9d Jd
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60) 2d 6c Kd (2 players)
BB bets $0.25, Hero raises to $1.25, BB raises to $3.93 all in, Hero calls $2.68
Are you kidding me? I have J9 sooted! I *KNOW* the flush is going to come. I've learned to trust in the power of the Poker Meister.

Turn: ($9.46) Ah (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($9.46) 8d (2 players - 1 is all in)
Of course!

Final Pot: $9.46
Hero shows 9d Jd (a flush, King high)
BB shows Kh Qc (a pair of Kings)
Hero wins $8.99
(Rake: $0.47)

The Poker Meister #24

No diggity!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/259522
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $5.93
MP1: $13.37
Hero (MP2): $40.62
CO: $17.97
BTN: $14.76
SB: $6.56
BB: $5.00
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $15.42

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with 9s Js
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to $0.85, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.85, 4 folds

Flop: ($2.05) 5s 7d 4s (2 players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($2.05) 6d (2 players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $2, UTG+2 calls $2

River: ($6.05) 8h (2 players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $3.08, UTG+2 folds

Final Pot: $6.05
Hero wins $5.75
(Rake: $0.30)

The comeback kid!

I finally had a very good session tonight. See the above session results graphic. I was up $180 at one point in the night, but came down to end tonight's session at ~$130. That brings me to +$250 for the month; not as good as last month, but certainly better than a losing month! I'm had a Poker Meister hand hit, where I got my money in bad (AA vs. J9s) on a QQJ board, but it came through for me to river a J and scoop the pot. In fact, that was really the only suckout of the night (that went my way), and that accounted for a $9 profit. All in all, I think I have regained confidence in math. I can't help but wonder how much I would be up if I hadn't run into a terrible streak during this past mid-month. I likely would have repeated July's results!

Anyway, I will be posting the Poker Meister hand as #26.

I must've played *A LOT* this week

While I was on vacation... This is the largest rakeback payment I've received to date!

Full Tilt Poker - Funds Transfer Request
1 message
cashier@fulltiltpoker.com Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Reply-To: cashier@fulltiltpoker.com
To: [redacted]
This is an automated message sent from Full Tilt Poker.

Affiliate Username: raketherake
Player ID: [redacted]
Date and Time: 2009-08-28 14:02:30
Transfer Number: A2P561257A38
Amount: 37.99

Status: APPROVED

This affiliate transfer has been approved. The funds transferred are
now available in your account.

Thank you for partnering with Full Tilt Poker

==

Flopped monster - play strong or wait for the hand to hit?

So I seem to have a problem, which I'm not really sure is a problem: What to do when flopping a monster draw?

The example below has me check / raising the flop with my open ended straight / flush draw.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/252296
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $19.15
UTG: $5.00
Hero (UTG+1): $27.50
MP1: $28.02
MP2: $6.26
CO: $24.68
BTN: $10.00
SB: $28.90

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with Qc Tc
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 2 folds, CO raises to $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75
Loose, out of position call. I call with a suited gapper to a tight raiser. If a Q hits and I run into resistance, I'm an easy fold.
Flop: ($2.35) 9c Jh Ac (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1.50, Hero raises to $4, CO folds
Bingo! I hit a monster flop with draws every which way. When he bets out, I don't really care what he has. I prefer it to be all in here (unless, of course, he has a set). I raise, hoping for a call and / or a re-raise. I get nothing. Now, the question is, did I play this too strong? Should I want to play this strong? My thought is I have max value on the flop; I have at least 45% equity. Plus, I have fold equity. Is that what I want, though? Fold equity? Do I want him laying down, or should I be smoothing here? I get into this situation a lot, and feel like I'm not getting max value for my monster draws like this...

Final Pot: $5.35
Hero wins $5.09
(Rake: $0.26)

The Poker Meister #23

This guy has been KILLING me all night. Rivering 6 outters, etc. (AKs vs. my 99) all in on turn, rivered flush (all in on turn), etc... It feels good to double up through him for once... WITH THE POKER MEISTER (of course!)

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/252313
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $64.79
MP1: $26.75
Hero (MP2): $11.37
CO: $30.36
BTN: $4.65
SB: $8.49
BB: $25.41
UTG: $27.08

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with 9h Jh
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, MP1 calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, 3 folds, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($2.10) Ah 2s 2c (4 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $0.75, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $0.75, MP1 folds

Turn: ($3.60) 4h (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

River: ($3.60) Qh (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $2.70, Hero raises to $10.12 all in, UTG+1 requests TIME, UTG+1 calls $7.42

Final Pot: $23.84
UTG+1 mucks Jd Ad
Hero shows 9h Jh (a flush, Ace high)
Hero wins $22.65
(Rake: $1.19)

I continue to suck

I *CANNOT* win those 88%/12% favorite hands where I'm 88% favorite. I continue to get my money all in good in these situations, only to be setted, runner quadded, two paired on the turn and / or river, runner two paired, or some other crap. This is getting absurd, and it is taking a *SERIOUS* toll on my bankroll. I don't get it. I have a serious case of the run bads.

The Poker Meister #22

Need I say more?

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/250968
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $7.21
UTG+2: $15.93
Hero (MP1): $26.83
MP2: $14.44
CO: $25.85
BTN: $3.29
SB: $6.88
BB: $25.00
UTG: $5.02

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with 9s Js
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, MP2 calls $1, 4 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.75

Flop: ($3.35) 3s 4d 8c (3 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $2, MP2 folds, UTG+1 calls $2

Turn: ($7.35) 4h (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $1, Hero calls $1
What is he really trying to represent here? I raised pre-flop. I bet out on the fairly dry flop. Now he's leading out on the turn? Does he expect me to believe trip 4's?

River: ($9.35) Th (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $0.25, Hero raises to $3.21, UTG+1 folds
$3.21 raise all in and he folds? I'm assuming he has nothing, but his nothing just MAY be better than my nothing. J9 holds up again!

Final Pot: $9.85
Hero wins $9.36
(Rake: $0.49)

I totally suck... I hate this game!

I just don't get it. When I run bad, I RUN BAD. This parallels last night's BS session. The pattern is to get up a buy in, and then get sucked out miserably. I just don't get it. I agree that the bet on the end on the hand with AA is a little suspect. I should have checked behind. Oh yeah, and I don't think I've won a coin flip since the Hoover administration. WTF?!?!?!?! However, this is a summary of my night:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/252340
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $38.17
MP2: $25.00
CO: $2.97
BTN: $42.29
SB: $28.06
BB: $10.00
Hero (UTG): $8.69
UTG+1: $25.35
UTG+2: $18.19

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG with Jh Ad
Hero calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 5 folds, SB calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.00) 4h 9h Jd (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $0.75, UTG+1 calls $0.75, SB folds, BB folds

Turn: ($2.50) 8d (2 players)
Hero bets $1.25, UTG+1 calls $1.25

River: ($5.00) 6d (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50

Final Pot: $10.00
Hero mucks Jh Ad
UTG+1 shows 8h 6h (two pair, Eights and Sixes)
UTG+1 wins $9.50
(Rake: $0.50)

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/252342
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $37.63
BTN: $2.66
SB: $22.83
BB: $24.50
UTG: $25.00
Hero (UTG+1): $26.07
MP1: $34.56
MP2: $21.10

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with Ah Ad
UTG raises to $0.75, Hero raises to $2, 6 folds, UTG calls $1.25

Flop: ($4.35) 8c 7s 5d (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $2.25, UTG calls $2.25

Turn: ($8.85) 7c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4, UTG calls $4

River: ($16.85) 6c (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $8, UTG calls $8

Final Pot: $32.85
UTG shows 9c 9s (a straight, Nine high)
Hero shows Ah Ad (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
UTG wins $31.21
(Rake: $1.64)

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/252343
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $42.03
BB: $29.32
Hero (UTG): $20.44
UTG+1: $4.80
MP1: $19.87
MP2: $26.57
CO: $59.19
BTN: $25.00

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG with 9d 9c
Hero calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, SB raises to $1.10, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.85, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.85

Flop: ($3.80) Jh 3c 5h (3 players)
SB bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50, MP2 folds

Turn: ($8.80) 2s (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3, SB raises to $10, Hero raises to $16.84 all in, SB calls $6.84

River: ($42.48) Ad (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $42.48
SB shows Ks As (a pair of Aces)
Hero shows 9d 9c (a pair of Nines)
SB wins $40.36
(Rake: $2.12)

The Poker Meister #21

LOL

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/249862
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $4.65
MP2: $4.15
CO: $16.83
BTN: $19.61
SB: $3.21
BB: $21.98
UTG: $19.78
Hero (UTG+1): $21.66
UTG+2: $12.73

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with 9h Jh
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, 5 folds, SB calls $0.90, 2 folds

Flop: ($2.50) 7s Ks Qc (2 players)
SB bets $2.21 all in, Hero calls $2.21

Turn: ($6.92) 9s (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($6.92) Qd (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $6.92
SB shows 7h 8h (two pair, Queens and Sevens)
Hero shows 9h Jh (two pair, Queens and Nines)
Hero wins $6.58
(Rake: $0.34)

The Poker Meister #20 - mirror edition

"The" Poker Meister hand vs. J9s... of course mine wins!

Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/249803
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $9.65
UTG: $4.35
UTG+1: $10.00
MP1: $4.90
Hero (MP2): $7.65
CO: $10.10
BTN: $5.85
SB: $15.25

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is MP2 with 9s Js -- SPADES!!!! My favorite!
2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.40, Hero calls $0.40, 4 folds

Flop: ($0.95) 4h 4s Td (2 players)
MP1 bets $0.50, Hero calls $0.50

Turn: ($1.95) Qs (2 players)
MP1 bets $0.50, Hero raises to $2.25, MP1 calls $1.75

River: ($6.45) 2s (2 players)
MP1 bets $1.75 all in, Hero calls $1.75

Final Pot: $9.95
MP1 shows Jc 9c (a pair of Fours)
Hero shows 9s Js (a flush, Queen high)
Hero wins $9.50
(Rake: $0.45)

The Poker Meister #19

Yet AGAIN!!! Villain is running 35/20, so I'm more prone to make this pre-flop call. He had been 3betting at a fairly regular pace. He just doesn't understand the power of The Poker Meister!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/249507
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP: $29.27
CO: $14.87
BTN: $23.40
SB: $28.74
BB: $23.50
UTG: $24.60
Hero (UTG+1): $36.08

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with Js 9s
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.75, MP raises to $2.25, 4 folds, Hero calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.85) 7h 5d Qc (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks

Turn: ($4.85) 9d (2 players)
Hero bets $2, MP calls $2
The NUTS ;-)!!!

River: ($8.85) Tc (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $4.75, Hero calls $4.75
Check / call on the end, in the event he hit his straight or slow played Queen (VERY doubtful)

Final Pot: $18.35
MP shows Ad Kd (Ace King high)
Hero shows Js 9s (a pair of Nines)
Hero wins $17.44
(Rake: $0.91)

Hand of the night... #6

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/246816
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $3.15
BTN: $33.10
SB: $27.27
Hero (BB): $23.50
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $12.98
MP: $5.35

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with 3h 3s
2 folds, MP raises to $0.85, 2 folds, SB calls $0.75, Hero calls $0.60

Flop: ($2.55) Kd 3c 6h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP bets $1.75, SB raises to $3.50, Hero raises to $6, MP folds, SB calls $2.50

Turn: ($16.30) 4h (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $10, SB calls $10

River: ($36.30) Th (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6.65 all in, SB calls $6.65

Final Pot: $49.60
SB shows 7d Kh (a pair of Kings)
LOL. This guy was running like 60/30 in limited hands. I kept periodically topping off at this table to ensure maximum value when I did hit him. But come on, Kings, no kicker? In a raised pot? What an idiot
Hero shows 3h 3s (three of a kind, Threes)
Hero wins $47.12
(Rake: $2.48)

KK vs. AA

I wound up running my KK into AA twice in 500 hands last night. The outcome doesn't really matter (though both times I flopped a set and once I hit quads), but the question is: Is getting KK all in pre-flop an EV- move? In other words, should I be avoiding committing my stack with KK pre-flop? Also, is KK AIPF vs AA simply bad luck, or is it bad play?

I suppose I'm going to run into all sorts of situations now that I'm playing down a level at $10NL on PokerStars (I started with that $50 trade from my friend; Tilt for Stars). All I can "afford" on there is .05/.1, so I see a lot of *TERRIBLE* play including checking AA down against a two-tone flop, checking sets down in similar situations, flopped nuts checking the river, etc. It's comical! However, the $10NL game is *VERY* easy! VERY EV++++! The players at this level play any suits and any gappers. Most cbets after pre-flop raised pots (probably 75% of the time) take down the pot. It's EASY!

I want to get to SilverStar status, but I think that is likely impossible at $10NL given that I played ~800 hands and accounted for 31 VPPs (1200 to get to Silver). I suppose once I make SilverStar, my accumulation rate for points will be much faster, but if I get 31 points / day, I'll need 38 days in a month :-(. P.S. SilverStar enables me to trade points for cash, similar to rakeback.

Hopefully, I'll build up to $500 quickly so I can move to $25NL. If tonight is any indication, then I should be there in about a month.

The Poker Meister #18

Again, I did not take down this pot, but I should learn to trust the power of the Poker Meister; even when denied proper odds (or something resembling even close to such), I need to call off no matter the odds!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/246558
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $9.75
MP2: $7.63
CO: $6.48
BTN: $72.95
SB: $5.10
Hero (BB): $24.18
UTG: $20.63
UTG+1: $1.23
UTG+2: $35.08

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Jd 9d
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $1, CO calls $1

Flop: ($4.10) 8h Ad 3s (3 players)
Hero bets $1, MP1 calls $1, CO calls $1

Turn: ($7.10) 7c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $7.10, CO calls $4.23 all in, Hero folds

River: ($15.56) Ts (2 players - 1 is all in)
It should have been rivered running straight. It's amazing how well J9 sooted runs!

Final Pot: $15.56
MP1 shows Ac Jc (a pair of Aces)
CO shows Ah 6s (a pair of Aces)
MP1 wins $14.79
(Rake: $0.77)

Hand of the night #5 - Straight flush edition

2 straight flushes in about 3 days! This is a SB special!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/246256
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $13.46
MP1: $7.28
MP2: $22.65
CO: $72.70
BTN: $4.40
Hero (SB): $23.51
BB: $21.17
UTG: $1.85
UTG+1: $9.34

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with 6c 3c
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.25) 5c Jd 7c (5 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG bets $1.25, UTG+2 folds, MP2 calls $1.25, Hero raises to $3.75, BB folds, UTG calls $0.35 all in, MP2 calls $2.50

Turn: ($10.35) Qs (3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero bets $4, MP2 folds
Damn! Too aggressive to carry him, but I wanted to represent a made hand so I can steal on the river if all else fails, since it looks like he's on a draw. In addition, I am unsure whether he is drawing to a better flush so I definitely want to control this pot.

River: ($10.35) 4c (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $10.35
Hero shows 6c 3c (a straight flush, Seven high)
UTG shows 9h Jh (a pair of Jacks) - and wait! He tried to Poker Meister me!!!!
Hero wins $4.09
Hero wins $5.75
(Rake: $0.51)

The Poker Meister #17

Just don't go there...

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/246096
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $31.16
UTG+1: $4.50
MP1: $28.76
MP2: $5.40
CO: $29.19
BTN: $5.00
Hero (SB): $67.89
BB: $9.94

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with Jh 9h
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.00) 7d 7s 8d (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks
Don't worry; it's J9 suited - the backdoor straight will get there!

Turn: ($1.00) Qd (4 players)
Hero bets $0.50, BB folds, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $0.50
See? It's happening right now! Ten on the river makes me good!

River: ($2.00) Ts (2 players)
Hero bets $1, MP2 calls $1
Of course! Don't mess with the J9s!!!

Final Pot: $4.00
MP2 mucks 5h Ad
Hero shows Jh 9h (a straight, Queen high)
Hero wins $3.80
(Rake: $0.20)

Squeeze opportunity or donk play?

Perhaps some of you can help me out with these two questions:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/246089
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $8.48
UTG+2: $26.70
MP1: $25.00
Hero (MP2): $53.37
CO: $27.33
BTN: $5.00
SB: $41.47
BB: $6.38
UTG: $35.98

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with Ac Qh
UTG raises to $0.85, UTG+1 calls $0.85, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.85, Hero calls $0.85, 4 folds
Tight (13/10) UTG. If this were a looser UTG, I'd be more prone to RR here with all of the callers.

First question: Is this an incorrect approach? Am I wrong to re-raise an UTG open EVER, particularly with all of the callers? Does my answer change with AK? (Clearly, I want to isolate with a premium pocket pair; with lower pairs I think I am calling to set mine.)

Second question: In looking at the 2 folds, both from blinds, is this an incorrect move, given 3 callers? If I'm in the blinds, am I getting correct odds to call any two? Better, am I getting correct odds to raise / squeeze any two here?

As bad as my smoothing the UTG raise with 2 callers behind me is, I felt it is all too obvious to squeeze from the button. However, if the blinds attempt a squeeze in this spot, is this profitable?

Flop: ($3.75) Kd 2c Qd (4 players)
UTG checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.75, UTG folds, UTG+1 folds, MP1 folds
Well, it seems that all players have handed me the pot on a silver platter. This is an easy semi-bluff with second pair, which happens to be good.

Final Pot: $3.75
Hero wins $3.57
(Rake: $0.18)

The Poker Meister #16

No matter whether I made a hand or not... J9s always comes through.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/244752
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $25.13
BTN: $32.38
SB: $38.22
BB: $50.86
UTG: $55.20
UTG+1: $18.34
UTG+2: $25.60
Hero (MP1): $21.51
MP2: $23.40

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with Jd 9d
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 4 folds, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60) 7d 6s Td (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1, BB calls $1

Turn: ($3.60) 7h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.50, BB folds

Final Pot: $3.60
Hero wins $3.42
(Rake: $0.18)

Hand of the night... #4 + Quads

Once again, I had to taunt the fish who holds on to think he sucks out on the river.... FU little fishy! 120BB stack GONE!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/244722
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $16.94
BTN: $5.75
SB: $5.61
BB: $31.53
UTG: $4.30
UTG+1: $14.59
Hero (MP): $33.99

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP with 6c 6d
UTG raises to $0.55, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.55, 3 folds, BB raises to $0.85, UTG calls $0.30, Hero calls $0.30
WTF? .30 raise from a min UTG raise?

Flop: ($2.65) 4c 6s Ks (3 players)
BB bets $1.32, UTG folds, Hero raises to $3, BB calls $1.68
Good flop. Little scary with the spades, and if he has KK, gg sir!

Turn: ($8.65) 6h (2 players)
BB bets $4, Hero calls $4
GREAT turn! QUADS! Let's see how I can get it all in on the river...

River: ($16.65) 7s (2 players)
BB bets $16.65, Hero raises to $26.14 all in, BB calls $7.03 all in
Looks like I got a fish hooked! What does he have? A flush?

Final Pot: $64.01
BB mucks 7d 7h>> He rivered his 7 to makes sevens full of sixes... he deserves what he got!
Hero shows 6c 6d (four of a kind, Sixes)
Hero wins $61.01
(Rake: $3.00)

The Poker Meister #15

Just don't mess with the Poker Meister!
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/238013
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $5.48
Hero (MP1): $19.66
MP2: $25.81
CO: $34.77
BTN: $5.00
SB: $42.09
BB: $24.37
UTG: $4.30
UTG+1: $7.17

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with Js 9s
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, CO calls $0.75, 1 fold, SB calls $0.65, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($3.00) Jh Jd 3h (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $1.55, CO folds, SB folds, BB folds

Final Pot: $3.00
Hero wins $2.85
(Rake: $0.15)
LOL.

Hand of the night... #3 + Straight flush

A rivered straight flush is always awesome. When I get paid on it, that's like gravy!

Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/239840
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $8.25
BTN: $4.20
Hero (SB): $5.00
BB: $8.45
UTG: $16.00
MP: $16.60

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is SB with Js Qh
UTG calls $0.10, MP calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.05, BB checks

Flop: ($0.40) Qd 9h Th (4 players)
Hero bets $0.30, BB folds, UTG calls $0.30, MP folds

Turn: ($1.00) Kh (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, UTG calls $0.50

River: ($2.00) Jh (2 players)
Hero bets $4.10 all in, UTG calls $4.10

Final Pot: $10.20
Hero shows Js Qh (a straight flush, Nine to King)
UTG shows 4h Ac (a flush, King high)
Hero wins $9.70
(Rake: $0.50)

Gotta love the light calls at .05/.1!!! PLUS, Stacking off a straight flush really kicks A$$!!!

The Poker Meister #14

I traded $$$ with a friend and funded my PokerStars account. The following hand is 3rd hand into the session... I typed to the fish that he deserved to lose his whole bankroll for the following. Again, he should know that you can't mess with the Poker Meister:

Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/237935
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $9.65
Hero (UTG): $6.55
UTG+1: $2.65
UTG+2: $8.00
MP1: $4.45
MP2: $10.00
CO: $11.90
BTN: $5.80
SB: $1.80

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is UTG with Js 9s
Hero raises to $0.30, 5 folds, BTN calls $0.30, 1 fold, BB calls $0.20
Gotta raise up the most premium of hands... the hand that *NEVER* (okay, well hardly ever...) fails me!

Flop: ($0.95) Jh 8s Th (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.65, BTN calls $0.65, BB folds

Turn: ($2.25) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $1.25, BTN calls $1.25

River: ($4.75) 7h (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $3.60 all in, Hero calls $3.60
Hmmm... I'm sorta committed at this point, which is why I elect to call.

Final Pot: $11.95
Hero shows Js 9s (a straight, Seven to Jack)
BTN shows 7s 7d (three of a kind, Sevens)
Hero wins $11.40
(Rake: $0.55)
So you were hanging in there with a pocket pair you just COULDN'T lay down, huh. You deserve to be drawing dead, schmuck!

Ship or fold? What would you do? #1

No real history with villain; he had been playing tight in ~37 hands...
Perhaps AK suited being the biggest losing hand in my arsenal plays into my decision to fold, thus continuing the trend. I guess the question is: what would you do?

Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/237224
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $11.40
SB: $25.00
BB: $8.62
UTG: $25.27
UTG+1: $5.00
Hero (MP1): $16.33
MP2: $6.01
CO: $21.80

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with Kh Ah
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, CO calls $0.75, 3 folds

Flop: ($1.85) 4d 6s Ac (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1, Hero raises to $3, CO raises to $10.85, Hero requests TIME, Hero folds
Stack decision time... do I shove or fold?

Final Pot: $7.85
CO wins $7.46
(Rake: $0.39)

The Poker Meister - works for others as well...

Look at this guy stack off with J9 suited... It works for everyone. If I were you, I would start playing and raising every Jack Nine suited like it's the rivered nuts!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/232560
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $8.42
MP1: $28.14
MP2: $9.15
CO: $9.91
Hero (BTN): $22.72
SB: $23.79
BB: $6.38
UTG: $8.55
UTG+1: $25.88

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with Kd 8h
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 3 folds, BB raises to $1.35, 2 folds, MP2 calls $1.10

Flop: ($3.30) Ts 6s 9c (2 players)
BB bets $3.30, MP2 raises to $7.80 all in, BB calls $1.73 all in

Turn: ($13.36) 5s (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($13.36) 2d (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $13.36
MP2 shows 9d Jd (a pair of Nines)
BB shows Qs Ah (Ace Queen high)
MP2 wins $12.70
(Rake: $0.66)

BUT don't try that junk against me!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/232613
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (CO): $43.82
BTN: $5.51
SB: $27.00
BB: $5.00
UTG: $16.14
UTG+1: $10.73
MP1: $36.09
MP2: $37.11

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with Kc Ah
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25, 3 folds, UTG calls $1, UTG+1 calls $1

Flop: ($4.10) Qd 6c Kh (3 players)
UTG bets $1, UTG+1 calls $1, Hero raises to $4, UTG calls $3, UTG+1 folds

Turn: ($13.10) 9d (2 players)
UTG bets $6.55, Hero calls $6.55

River: ($26.20) 2h (2 players)
UTG bets $4.34 all in, Hero calls $4.34

Final Pot: $34.88
Hero shows Kc Ah (a pair of Kings)
UTG shows 9c Jc (a pair of Nines)>> LOL! You can't turn J9 suited on me!
Hero wins $33.14
(Rake: $1.74)

The Poker Meister #12 & #13

Hand #2
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226556
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $25.25
MP1: $17.69
MP2: $5.75
CO: $5.00
BTN: $5.99
SB: $45.27
Hero (BB): $19.84
UTG: $9.40
UTG+1: $7.47

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with 9c Jc
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, 4 folds, Hero raises to $1, MP1 calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.10) 7h 6c 4d (2 players)
Hero bets $1, MP1 calls $1

Turn: ($4.10) 2c (2 players)
Hero bets $2, MP1 calls $2

River: ($8.10) 4c (2 players)
Hero bets $5, MP1 folds
Absolutely nothing! But MP1 doesn't understand the fold equity power of J9 sooted!

Final Pot: $8.10
Hero wins $7.70
(Rake: $0.40)

Hand #3
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226557
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): $24.04
UTG: $37.24
UTG+1: $9.08
MP1: $26.86
MP2: $4.65
CO: $5.00
BTN: $29.72
SB: $1.97

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with 9h Jh
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $1.25, 3 folds, Hero calls $1, 1 fold
Probably EV- against a short stack to all this raise, but WTF? It's J9 suited!

Flop: ($2.85) 6h 3h 6c (2 players)
Hero bets $3.40, MP2 calls $3.40 all in
Flush draw + 2 overs; but MP2 calls; what does he have?!?!?!

Turn: ($9.65) Qh (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($9.65) 2d (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $9.65
Hero shows 9h Jh (a flush, Queen high)
MP2 shows Ah Kc (a pair of Sixes)
Hero wins $9.17
(Rake: $0.48)
9 + 6 outs for me... marginal call by MP2... Doesn't he know that J9 suited CONQUERS ALL!?!?!?

The Poker Meister #11

Can't lose!

Hand #1
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226555
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $25.52
UTG: $4.83
UTG+1: $24.56
MP1: $25.17
MP2: $5.32
Hero (CO): $18.87
BTN: $14.35
SB: $33.97

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 9h Jh
2 folds, MP1 raises to $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.75, 3 folds, MP1 calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.85) 8h 4c Jd (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.75, MP1 calls $1.75

Turn: ($7.35) 7h (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $3, MP1 folds
Note: I pick up the insides straight draw AND the flush draw!

Final Pot: $7.35
Hero wins $6.99
(Rake: $0.36)

The Poker Meister #9 & #10 (Fail!)

It *ALWAYS* gets there!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226551
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $25.00
BTN: $19.58
SB: $22.70
BB: $13.26
UTG: $12.75
UTG+1: $25.00
MP1: $10.28
Hero (MP2): $18.75

CO posts a big blind ($0.25)

Pre Flop: ($0.60) Hero is MP2 with 9s Js
UTG raises to $1, 1 fold, MP1 calls $1, Hero raises to $3.25, 4 folds, UTG calls $2.25, 1 fold
Gotta go crazy & re-raise with J9 suited; it's the NUTS (of course)!

Flop: ($8.10) 6c 3h Kh (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $4, UTG calls $4

Turn: ($16.10) Jh (2 players)
UTG bets $5.50 all in, Hero calls $5.50
Hmm... Smells like a pocket pair that has NO IDEA where he is. Now he's going to turn his hand into a bluff because why else would he all in with the 3rd heart?

River: ($27.10) 6d (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $27.10
UTG shows Ts Td (two pair, Tens and Sixes)
Hero shows 9s Js (two pair, Jacks and Sixes)
Hero wins $25.75
(Rake: $1.35)
Bingo!

Stupid me... I didn't trust it this time. I need to learn to trust the power of the J9 suited:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226553
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $31.81
SB: $25.00
BB: $50.00
UTG: $43.38
UTG+1: $28.21
MP1: $26.15
MP2: $15.48
Hero (CO): $40.85

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 9d Jd
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $1, 1 fold, MP2 calls $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds, BB calls $0.75

Flop: ($4.10) 8d 7s 6s (4 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets $2.75, MP2 raises to $5.50, Hero folds, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2.75
With an open ender, I plan on calling UTG+1's bet. When MP2 min raises, I expect UTG+1 to 3bet all in, which is why I have to fold.

Turn: ($15.10) 2d (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $9, MP2 calls $8.98 all in
I would have turned an open ended straight + flush draw!

River: ($33.06) Qd (2 players - 1 is all in)
I would have nailed the rivered flush!

Final Pot: $33.06
UTG+1 shows Kc Kd (a pair of Kings)
MP2 shows 7d 7c (three of a kind, Sevens)
MP2 wins $31.41
(Rake: $1.65)

Hand of the night... #2

2 hand of the nights for the price of 1! Today only! Special!

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226571
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $5.00
Hero (BTN): $19.15
SB: $15.36
BB: $18.84
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $25.00
UTG+2: $5.00
MP1: $9.08
MP2: $30.61

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with Ah 9c
4 folds, MP2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.75
Standard button steal.

Flop: ($2.35) Tc Qs 6d (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($2.35) Qd (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero checks

River: ($2.35) Td (2 players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $2, MP2 calls $2
Checks all the way through. MP2 would have been more aggressive if he had a pair of anything. He definitely doesn't have a Q or T, nor any pocket pair in between. I am going to try to bluff at the pot. It is interesting that he calls my river bluff.

Final Pot: $6.35
Hero shows Ah 9c (two pair, Queens and Tens)
MP2 mucks Jh Kc
Hero wins $6.04
(Rake: $0.31)
What does he hope to accomplish by flatting the river? Does he think that K high will be good? Perhaps he puts me on a pocket underpair that is counterfeited by the 2 pair on the board? He knows that A is well in my PF raising range - ESPECIALLY on the button.


Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226570
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $25.35
UTG: $30.37
UTG+1: $23.26
MP1: $7.82
MP2: $9.25
Hero (CO): $22.60
BTN: $17.59
SB: $22.02

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 6c 7c
4 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, SB calls $0.65, BB calls $0.50
Standard CO steal / raise.

Flop: ($2.25) 5c 4c 2s (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $1.25, Hero raises to $3, SB folds, BB calls $1.75
Open ended straight flush draw; I was amazed when I saw this!

Turn: ($8.25) 8d (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.50, BB calls $3.50
I hit my straight! Yay!

River: ($15.25) Jc (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $5.50, BB calls $5.50
But wait! That's not all! I flush up here.

Final Pot: $26.25
BB mucks 5h 3h
Hero shows 6c 7c (a flush, Jack high)
Hero wins $24.94
(Rake: $1.31)
Nice hero call! Do you really think, on that scary board, with a straight and a flush potential out there, that a pair of 5's (particularly with a large-ish dollar-wise bet) is going to be good EVER? I bet all three streets. Poor call... Very poor call... He got up after this hand.

The Poker Meister #7 & #8

Nothing exciting here; I take down a limped pot.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226547
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $30.25
BTN: $12.84
SB: $25.00
BB: $2.93
UTG: $28.98
UTG+1: $46.28
UTG+2: $16.55
Hero (MP1): $20.19
MP2: $30.65

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with 9h Jh
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 2 folds, BB checks

Flop: ($1.10) 8h 8c 5s (4 players)
BB checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $0.50, CO folds, BB folds, UTG+2 folds

Final Pot: $1.10
Hero wins $1.05
(Rake: $0.05)

But here, people just BOW to the power of the Poker Meister:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/226550
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $20.58
UTG: $25.95
Hero (UTG+1): $41.96
MP1: $18.00
MP2: $34.44
CO: $23.80
BTN: $50.00
SB: $24.83

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with Js 9s
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, CO raises to $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($2.60) 7c Jc Td (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $2.60, Hero raises to $6, CO calls $3.40

Turn: ($14.60) Ts (2 players)
Hero bets $5, CO folds

Final Pot: $14.60
Hero wins $13.87
(Rake: $0.73)

Suckouts galore & sucky poker...

Suckout...

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/222206
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG+1): $22.40
UTG+2: $4.65
MP1: $9.24
MP2: $6.64
CO: $3.15
BTN: $5.00
SB: $26.17
BB: $70.87
UTG: $12.47

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with 4h 4d
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 4 folds, BB checks

Flop: ($0.85) Qc 7d 4s (3 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, MP1 bets $0.85, BB folds, Hero calls $0.85

Turn: ($2.55) 8d (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $2.55, Hero raises to $6.25, MP1 calls $3.70

River: ($15.05) 5d (2 players)
Hero bets $1.89, MP1 calls $1.89 all in

Final Pot: $18.83
Hero shows 4h 4d (three of a kind, Fours)
MP1 shows 9c 6c (a straight, Nine high)
MP1 wins $17.89
(Rake: $0.94)

After suckout...

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/222207
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $21.43
Hero (BB): $20.00
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $31.19
UTG+2: $38.91
MP1: $5.35
MP2: $12.78
CO: $42.09
BTN: $23.25

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Jh Kh
7 folds, SB raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.50) Kc 5s 9c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1, SB calls $1

Turn: ($3.50) Jc (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.75, SB calls $1.75

River: ($7.00) As (2 players)
SB bets $2.75, Hero calls $2.75

Final Pot: $12.50
SB shows Jd Ah (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
Hero mucks Jh Kh
SB wins $11.88
(Rake: $0.62)

After suckout... (this was a marginal suckout, but sucky suckout nevertheless)...
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/222209
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (SB): $15.37
BB: $24.65
UTG: $25.00
UTG+1: $20.21
UTG+2: $34.30
MP1: $27.98
MP2: $11.78
CO: $18.07
BTN: $5.00

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with 4d 4c
2 folds, UTG+2 raises to $0.50, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.40, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($2.00) 3h 3d Th (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+2 bets $0.75, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $3, BB folds, UTG+2 calls $2.25

Turn: ($8.00) 9s (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+2 bets $1.75, Hero raises to $11.87 all in, UTG+2 requests TIME, UTG+2 calls $10.12
Background: UTG+2 is raising a HUGELY wide range (52/36 or something) so I'm positive I'm ahead...

River: ($31.74) Jd (2 players - 1 is all in)
Motherf'er!

Final Pot: $31.74
Hero shows 4d 4c (two pair, Fours and Threes)
UTG+2 shows 8h Qh (a straight, Queen high)
UTG+2 wins $30.16
(Rake: $1.58)

Followed by TILT...
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/222213
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $21.93
Hero (MP1): $24.78
MP2: $25.00
CO: $28.26
BTN: $38.91
SB: $5.00
BB: $12.21
UTG: $22.16
UTG+1: $24.25

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with Ad As
UTG calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1, 5 folds, UTG calls $0.75

Flop: ($2.35) 8h Qs 9h (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $1.75, UTG raises to $4.25, Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($10.85) Qc (2 players)
UTG bets $5.50, Hero calls $5.50

River: ($21.85) Qd (2 players)
UTG bets $11.41 all in, Hero calls $11.41

Final Pot: $44.67
Hero mucks Ad As
UTG shows Qh Kh (four of a kind, Queens)
UTG wins $42.44
(Rake: $2.23)
So I am I laying down the nut boat to the possibility of QUAD F'ING QUEENS!?!?!?!?

I suck at poker.

A brief slowdown

I will be playing far less hands over this weekend due to wedding-related plans. My brother-in-law is getting married. In addition, I have been down [a total of] 1 buy in over the past 2 days. I feel as though I am not playing my "A" poker game. Therefore, I think a break is much needed. I will try to fit in at least 50 FPPs-worth of hands to qualify for Silver status in Full Tilt's Iron Man offering, but I am not going to bust myself up over getting there. I already qualified for today by playing late last night.

The Poker Meister #6 - BUSTED!

Just as I'm thinking that J9s *NEVER* fails me, it does. This was a well played hand from the BB. It was a big ouchie to me...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

CO ($45.38)
Button ($24.33)
SB ($26.33)
BB ($40.39)
UTG ($23)
UTG+1 ($28.36)
MP1 ($25.35)
MP2 ($18.17)
Hero (MP3) ($44.72)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with 9h, Jh
1 fold, UTG+1 bets $0.85, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.85, 3 folds, BB calls $0.60

Flop: ($2.65) 2d, 2h, Jc (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, Hero bets $1.55, BB calls $1.55, 1 fold
His range is AJ,KJ,QJ,JT. His call says that he is prepared to check/call this one down.

Turn: ($5.75) 9s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3, BB calls $3
Regardless of whether or not he has a better kicker, I turn top two. I'm going to continue to get value from this hand.

River: ($11.75) 4c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $5, BB raises to $12, Hero calls $7
Ouch! I should have checked behind to his check/calling a dry board. I actually put him on AJ, which is why I bet out on the flop. I *PROBABLY* could have gotten away from this & was very surprised to see A2 for the flopped trip deuces.

Total pot: $35.75 | Rake: $1.78

Results:
BB had 2s, As (three of a kind, twos).
Hero had 9h, Jh (two pair, Jacks and nines).
Outcome: BB won $33.97

An interesting post from budgetsaresexy.com:

Confessions of an Online Poker Player.

The article gives a nice insight into the ups & downs; a good read for someone with a casual interest in playing poker.

The Poker Meister #5

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

UTG+1 ($47.03)
MP1 ($23.83)
MP2 ($26.93)
CO ($12.15)
Button ($22.29)
SB ($35.21)
BB ($14.15)
Hero (UTG) ($29.48)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with 9d, Jd
Hero bets $0.75, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.75, 4 folds, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.35) 4c, As, 2s (3 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2, 2 folds

Total pot: $2.35 | Rake: $0.11

Results:
Hero didn't show 9d, Jd (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $2.24

Review

After reviewing my HH for my $1K milestone session the other night, I thought it would be good to stop & review all of my numbers. I started with positional stats and found that I am nearly profitable on the BB & SB (damn the cost of those blinds because I would be profitable in all spots if I didn't have to pay the cost of those blinds...)

My SB aggression tact of stealing the BB when I can (folds around, semi-strong hand against limped button, etc.) seems to be paying off. My thought to stealing the BB is this: I will keep hammering away at the player (my blind steal percentage is sometimes greater than 50%, though I don't have the data in front of me) until he plays back at me. I have no problem letting the issue drop, the minute I get played back, but my logic is that if I can steal 4 times and get played back on the 5th time, I'm profitable by a BB (3x raise each time). The math goes as follows (perhaps flawed; never was a math guy): stealing 3 blinds makes the loss of the 4th blind even money. If I can steal 4 times and get caught once, I'm up a BB. Moreover, I am ultra-aggressive from the button for this exact reason. It is a lot harder for the SB & BB to play back at me when they know I am very aggressive post flop, and they will play the remainder of the hand out of position. I get away with this tact a lot more when I have a "predictable" tight BB/SB combo (i.e. VPIP less than 15). I can rest assured that if they're re-raising my Button open, they have a hand and I can lay down (while simultaneously making a note to watch for the re-steal from that player later on).

Continuing with the review though, I think I am limping WAY too much from early positions. I need to either fold that junk pre flop or raise it up. I am limping AJo & KQs type hands from those positions (as well as your standard small pairs) - and with the AJ/KQ hands, I'm folding PF to any raise (which, from prior posts, in my opinion, is good, tight pre-flop poker - hands you don't want to go to the flop being potentially dominated). For the most part, though, when I hit with a limped pot on those types of hands, I'm usually good. I have started to raise my small pocket pairs more often - from around 2-5% of the time to maybe 20-25%. This way, I keep my AA, KK more hidden from those players who are paying attention (very few at this level, I'd imagine).

FYI: These are numbers since 2009-06-13, as is the basis of most of the writing on this blog. The reasoning behind the date threshold is because after that date is when I truly "learned how to play correctly." See the post on A long time... for a more detailed explanation.

Position	Hands	VP$IP	PFR	CCPF	Win %	W$WSF	Amount Blind	Amount Won	Without Blind	BB/Hand	W$SD	WTSD
Button	3,650	31.97	23.84	12.02	20.79	52.03	$0.55	$177.92	178.47	0.13	45.93	27.32
1	3,644	25.36	16.96	11.83	16.58	53.96	$16.25	$231.03	247.28	0.22	51.15	25.51
2	3,545	22.6	12.41	13.94	13.29	51.82	$3.40	$258.44	261.84	0.17	49.38	26.49
3	3,553	18.18	7.18	10.63	9.79	51.28	$1.35	$129.20	130.55	0.16	48.47	32.15
4	3,344	18	5.32	9.44	9.39	52.03	$0.20	$135.69	135.89	0.08	49.31	29.27
5	2,651	17.09	3.85	4.35	8.19	48.68	$0.45	$53.27	53.72	0.06	45.74	24.87
6	1,290	17.36	4.73	NA	8.68	50.28	$0.00	($5.34)	N/A	0	43.14	28.49
BB	3,566	17.61	8.16	NA	30.54	42.61	$503.35	($113.24)	390.11	-0.04	47.7	21.52
SB	3,540	31.55	12.8	NA	18.05	45.87	$228.15	($62.09)	166.06	-0.08	48.04	22.07
AVG		22.80	11.36

A short table of definitions:

VP$IP = Voluntary Put $$ into Pot (i.e. percentage of times I've entered a pot with a call or raise, pre-flop)
PFR = Pre-flop raise (i.e. percentage of times I've raised or re-raised a pot, pre-flop)
CCPF = Cold Call Pre-flop (i.e. pecentage of times I've flat called a raised pot, pre-flop)
W$WSF = Won $$$ When Saw Flop
W$SD = Won $$$ at Showdown
WTSD = Went to Showdown

Taking shots at $50NLHE

In practicing [perhaps] poor bankroll management, I decided to take a shot or two at the $50NLHE tables. I took played two different tables, on two different days, on 2009-08-01 & 2009-08-02. It was due to the lack of available [and favorable] $25NLHE tables that drove me to the decision. I played for a total of 2 hours between the two tables, at a profit of $52.25, in ~200 hands.

My experience was that the tables are seemingly a *LOT* tighter. They are also a *LOT* more aggressive, meaning there is a lot less limping. I was able to operate with the same pattern that I have been over at the $25NLHE tables, but there was a lot less pre-flop limp/calling and a lot more limp/folding to late raises. Therefore, there was a lot less flops seen. Also, in the limited experience I had, I saw a lot more winning players (based on pokertableratings.com 's profiles). I'd imagine that the more successful $25NL players move up to the $50NL tables, less so than the new players starting at the $50NL tables, which is what makes these tables a bit harder.

At any rate, I started blogging again to be open and honest about my poker triumphs [and failures]. Therefore, I wanted to report my latest attempt.

The Poker Meister #5

It just works... *EVERY TIME*!!!

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

SB ($25.45)
BB ($42.52)
UTG ($13.93)
UTG+1 ($24.65)
MP1 ($26.05)
MP2 ($25.67)
MP3 ($16.43)
CO ($8.15)
Hero (Button) ($33.02)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 9h, Jh
1 fold, UTG+1 bets $0.75, 3 folds, CO calls $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, 1 fold, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($3.10) 6d, As, Ad (4 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 checks, CO checks, Hero bets $2, 3 folds

Total pot: $3.10 | Rake: $0.15

Results:
Hero didn't show 9h, Jh (nothing).
Outcome: Hero won $2.95

$1K milestone reached

Still going, so I hope I'm not jinxing myself!

The WTF hand of the day...

Catch a donkey by the toe, if he hollers [don't] let him go...

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (7 handed) - Full-Tilt Converter Tool from http://www.flopturnriver.com

BB ($11.24)
UTG ($20.31)
MP1 ($20.59)
Hero (MP2) ($11.08)
CO ($60.33)
Button ($7.59)
SB ($19.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Qc, Qh
UTG bets $0.75, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.25, 3 folds, BB calls $2, UTG calls $1.50
I try to juice the pot a little. I think if UTG re-raises, I have to fold; perhaps my stack size dictates otherwise, so I need to look into that (I just don't want to be dominated by AA, KK and make a call). However, a raise from UTG is generally a strong move. I am a bit surprised to see BB smooth, though. Finally, I relax and absolve my fears of AA, KK, (most of the time) AK when UTG smooths my re-raise.

Flop: ($6.85) 2s, 3c, 10c (3 players)
BB bets $8.99 (All-In), UTG calls $8.99, Hero calls $8.83 (All-In)
I think no matter the flop, with ~$9 remaining, I've reached my commitment threshold (the pot is more than half of my stack). I really don't have a clue as to what the BB is up to at this point, with his call of a 3bet PF and a flop shove. UTG tanks for a long time before making the call. I have an overpair, though this is a crying call. I really don't like putting my whole stack in with a marginal hand like 1 pair. However, I'm happy to see UTG come along with his 99, 88, 77, or some such combination, which, based on his tanking at the decision, is what I'm putting him on).

Turn: ($33.66) 3d (3 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($33.66) As (3 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $33.66 | Rake: $1.68

Results:
BB had Qd, Ks (one pair, threes).
UTG had 8c, 6c (one pair, threes).
Hero had Qc, Qh (two pair, Queens and threes).
Outcome: BB won $0.30, Hero won $31.68
Alrighty then... So let's recap: The BB calls a RR'ed pot to $2.25, pre-flop.

First mistake: that's a semi-auto fold (KQo is beaten by a lot of hands, particularly facing the action that took place pre-flop; i.e. UTG raise, MP2 re-raise). I'm not saying that KQo is a bad hand to limp or call with. However, realize that you're either beat or drawing pretty thin and fold that hand, pre-flop, to not force yourself into a series of tough decisions. You're going to spend the entire hand out of position. But fine, you want to play (HUGE mistake).

Second mistake: So you miss the flop entirely. You think you're push of a little more than pot is going to get the other short stacks off of their hands? Hmmm... there is essentially ZERO fold equity to most hands that the remaining players have. Remember, stack sizes dictate that the pot is ~2/3 the remaining effective stack sizes. A push here is not a real strong move, because it is a pretty easy call from the remaining players.

Now as far as UTG:

You've gotten a little fancy, raising 86 suited UTG. Okay; I can live with that - in fact, I do it myself and like that line sometimes (as long as you don't make a habit of it...). However, you can't call the re-raise, PF, out of position on a speculative hand like that, for ~20% of the effective stacks (note that BB & Hero have ~$12 stacks). It is simply not feasible. You're playing for their stacks and they've both committed, pre flop. You need to lay that hand down and accept the fact that you're beat here.

MENTAL NOTE: If you're in a position where you get re-raised from a "short stack" and you have a marginal hand, fold it down. If UTG had only read my blog about Dealing with short stacks, perhaps he would have been in the know...

The UTG call on the flop is pretty bad as well. He's paying more than 33% odds for a flush draw with no implied odds of any more money. I think the pot is laying him 50/50 odds or thereabout, where his hand is only worth 33% (he can't believe that his 8 or 6 are live cards and he's up against a pair of tens minimum). He didn't know it at the time (perhaps he did think it though), but he would be getting correct pot odds to make a call if I make the call.

Anyway, poorly played hand by UTG & BB. I'm happy there was no suckout (there were 8 (flush outs minus my Qc) + 3 (remaining Kings) outs that could hurt me for ~56% equity for me against 44% between the two donkeys).