Iron Man FAQ for rakeback users

I've been trying to find out information on usage of Full Tilt's Iron Man bonuses. I was able to find the following, which I think is fairly definitive. Any disagreements? My end goal is to purchase a 600 medal backpack.

From Online Poker Forum - 600 dollar ironman bonus:

1] Using FTP points will deduct your MGR by $0.005 per point used.
>> Well known; the short of it is that the normal points clearly detract from your future rakeback.

2] Cash bonuses reduce your MGR by the face value of the bonus ($100 bonus = -$100 MGR)
>> Interesting; I have not experienced this at all - I have yet to receive a bonus which affects my rakeback, but I'm not following it all that closely. My earlier "Take 2" (April, 2009) bonus did not seem to affect rakeback, nor did the "Biggest Bonus Ever" (July, 2009) promotion. Perhaps this relates only to cash bonuses purchased in the Iron Man store?

3] Iron Man mid year, and Iron man year end bonuses have not affected Rakeback in the past, we assume this continues to be the case.
>> NICE! For those who don't know already (count me in that camp), the year end bonus follows a scheme of:

• Bronze - $25/Month
• Silver - $50/Month
• Gold - $75/Month
• Iron - $100/Month

I have qualified for 2 months of Silver, meaning if I stop my Iron Man status now, I will receive a $100 bonus in December to work off during 2010. Excellent! I plan on getting Iron for the rest of the year (good luck, I know; it ain't easy...), which would give me another $300 in bonus money for a total of $400.

4] Using iron man medals to purchase Full Tilt points, will not effect MGR or rakeback, when you use those Full Tilt Points, however, your MGR will be effected. Using Iron Man Medals for Iron Man exclusive items will also effect your MGR and rakeback. The only thing that you can purchase with iron man medals that will not effect MGR and Rakeback is the $26 and $75 tokens. This is probably because they have a fee built in ($24+2 and $69+6) so full tilt is making money back when you use them.
>> So according to this, if I were to buy the Iron Man backpack which I've been wanting for my new laptop, I would lose future rakeback. That kinda sux; I have yet to spend a single FTP on any of the store's items - but this is something that I need but do not want to spend $90 in real world money. Whatever; I guess I can afford the loss. When I buy the backpack, I'll report back as to how much rakeback I lose. However, it is implied here and in other posts that the tokens are the best value for the medals. They don't carry the weight of a rakeback hit, either.

Other things can effect your MGR and Rakeback negatively these are:

1.) Payment processing, using certain methods of depositing and withdrawal can negatively efffect your MGR (wire transfers, checks, moneygram, etc)

2.) Fraud, bouncing checks, or payments

3.) Playing a tournament where more money is paid out then is taken in. Example, if there's a $1000 prize pool in a tourney and 500 players each pay $1. There is a $500 overlay, the overlay is divided by the number of players in the tournament and each player gets an equal amount of negative MGR. In this case, 500 players and $500 overlay, means each player would get -$1.00 MGR.

Bad play? What would you do? #5

The following is a hand that I am very embarrassed to post. The SB is a 43 / 1 in 76 hands at this point; he's limp / calling a lot, and hardly ever raising. The reason I am embarrassed, is because I totally pwned myself... but maybe I'm not totally wrong here:

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/303713
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $20.00
UTG: $38.25
UTG+1: $50.00
MP1: $17.85
MP2: $21.05
CO: $16.50
Hero (BTN): $66.55
SB: $70.10

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BTN with Jc Js
5 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold
Standard BTN raise, this time with something good.

Flop: ($4.00) Jh 8h Ac (2 players)
SB bets $2, Hero raises to $6, SB calls $4
His bet out is somewhat suspicious... he hasn't been donk betting a heck of a lot. I immediately put him on Ax - perhaps even a good ace! I want value out of this, so I raise.

Turn: ($16.00) Qc (2 players)
SB bets $5, Hero raises to $20, SB calls $15
Once again, a lead out... Maybe he hit 2 pair? He had been calling down with second pair, so perhaps QJ is a combo, Ax, or [less likely] AQ?

River: ($56.00) 7d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $38.80 all in, SB calls $38.80
I want to value town; there are a lot less holdings that will be calling me, and the 7 doesn't change anything. To be honest, I was hoping for an 8, which would be his least likely holding, but a 7 will do.

Am I totally out of line at this point? In retrospect should I be checking behind? Would you be checking behind, or going for max pain for an Ax holding or two pair? Clearly, this guy is not getting away from his hand.




......






Final Pot: $133.60
Hero shows Jc Js (three of a kind, Jacks)
SB shows Th 9c (a straight, Queen high)
SB wins $130.60
(Rake: $3.00)
Totally PWNED! I did not even remotely put him on that.

The Poker Meister #34 - Bluff catcher edition

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/302210
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (MP2): $44.30
CO: $88.55
BTN: $46.65
SB: $38.65
BB: $23.00
UTG: $66.75
UTG+1: $33.50
MP1: $50.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is MP2 with 9d Jd
UTG raises to $1.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $1.25, Hero calls $1.25, 3 folds, BB calls $0.75

Flop: ($5.25) 6h 6d 4h (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($5.25) 9c (4 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $2.75, BB calls $2.75, UTG folds, MP1 folds

River: ($10.75) 4d (2 players)
BB bets $8, Hero calls $8

Final Pot: $26.75
Hero shows 9d Jd (two pair, Nines and Sixes)
BB shows 5c 7c (two pair, Sixes and Fours)
Hero wins $25.45
(Rake: $1.30)

The Poker Meister #33 - Stacker Edition

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/302208
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $71.35
Hero (SB): $42.65
BB: $25.80
UTG: $66.95
UTG+1: $9.10
UTG+2: $16.40
MP1: $28.85
MP2: $51.55
CO: $51.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with Js 9s
3 folds, MP1 raises to $1.50, 2 folds, BTN calls $1.50, Hero calls $1.25, BB calls $1

Flop: ($6.00) Jd 7d 9c (4 players)
Hero bets $3.50, BB folds, MP1 raises to $7, BTN folds, Hero raises to $27, MP1 raises to $27.35 all in, Hero calls $0.35

Turn: ($60.70) 6s (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($60.70) 8h (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $60.70
Hero shows Js 9s (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
MP1 shows 9d Kd (a pair of Nines)
Hero wins $57.70
(Rake: $3.00)

The Poker Meister #-1

I got stacked against my own hand!

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/297679
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $56.15
UTG+2: $10.00
MP1: $33.55
MP2: $50.00
Hero (CO): $39.00
BTN: $28.30
SB: $24.05
BB: $50.00
UTG: $24.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is CO with 5s 6s
5 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, BTN calls $1.50, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.75) Qs 7h 2s (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, BTN calls $1.75

Turn: ($7.25) Ts (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, BTN raises to $12.50, Hero raises to $35.75 all in, BTN calls $12.55 all in

River: ($57.35) Qh (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $57.35
Hero shows 5s 6s (a flush, Queen high)
BTN shows Js 9s (a flush, Queen high)
BTN wins $54.50
(Rake: $2.85)

Maybe there's something to 24s?

Poker Grump loves the 24, so I decided to play one hand... and it worked.

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/296304
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $56.85
MP2: $50.00
CO: $30.45
Hero (BTN): $39.25
SB: $25.00
BB: $50.00
UTG: $77.90
UTG+1: $50.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BTN with 4d 2d
UTG raises to $1, 1 fold, MP1 raises to $1.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.50, SB calls $1.25, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.50
Let's give this 24 a whirl...

Flop: ($6.50) 5h 4c 2s (4 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $5, MP1 calls $5, Hero raises to $15, SB folds, UTG calls $10, MP1 folds
A weak 2 pair, I want to play this fast.

Turn: ($41.50) 7h (2 players)
UTG bets $10, Hero raises to $22.75 all in, UTG calls $12.75

River: ($87.00) Qs (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $87.00
Hero shows 4d 2d (two pair, Fours and Twos)
UTG shows 6d 6s (a pair of Sixes)
Hero wins $84.00
(Rake: $3.00)
24 wins!

The Poker Meister #32

Always trust in the power...

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/295845
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP2: $7.50
CO: $96.40
BTN: $40.30
Hero (SB): $79.50
BB: $54.05
UTG: $58.50
UTG+1: $54.60
MP1: $10.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with Jd 9d
6 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, BB raises to $4.50, Hero calls $3

Flop: ($9.00) 3d Td Jh (2 players)
Hero checks, BB requests TIME, BB bets $7.50, Hero raises to $20, BB requests TIME, BB raises to $49.55 all in, Hero calls $29.55
Top pair + flush draw, of course I'm pushing this! Even if villain has an overpair, I'm running 14 outs to take down the pot; 50/50... I want to get it in so he doesn't have a chance to get away from it. He willingly stacks off with nothing more than 2 overs & a draw to 7 diamonds (9 minus my 2), so we're about a coin flip. However, he doesn't realize that I have the Poker Meister, which wins... oh about 100% of the time!

Turn: ($108.10) 3c (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($108.10) Tc (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $108.10
Hero shows Jd 9d (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
BB shows Ad Kd (two pair, Tens and Threes)
Hero wins $105.10
(Rake: $3.00)
Win!

Biggest session to date - 2009-09-22

I won $271.25 off donkeys tonight. The cards cooperated and the donkeys obliged to hand me money like it was on fire. It was a slaughter fest and I was the executioner. I hit quads three times (once I got majorly paid... see post Stacking With Quads). I hit an overpair against two donkeys on flush draws, calling my all in shove, and hit an overpair against a TPTK guy who was willing to stack off with A6 (see post My single biggest $ pot to date - $125.20), giving me the biggest pot of my life. My [table (excludes rakeback and bonuses)] profit on the month is $821, and I'm running 5.92 BB/100. Obviously, I'm running really hot right now, but it sure is good to pad that bankroll!

Hand #1
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294314
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (BTN): $46.65
SB: $114.85
BB: $60.90
UTG: $126.90
MP: $115.20
CO: $50.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BTN with Ac Ad
UTG raises to $1, 2 folds, Hero raises to $3.25, 2 folds, UTG calls $2.25

Flop: ($7.25) 3s Ah As (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($7.25) Jd (2 players)
UTG bets $7.25, Hero calls $7.25

River: ($21.75) Qs (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $12, UTG folds
I kick myself for betting $12 here - I probably could have induced a bluff or raise had I bet $7 or $5, but I figured that would be too transparent.

Final Pot: $21.75
Hero wins $20.70
(Rake: $1.05)

Hand #2
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294315
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $49.50
Hero (UTG+1): $35.75
MP1: $10.85
MP2: $36.05
CO: $38.05
BTN: $50.00
SB: $19.00
BB: $18.15

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+1 with 7d 7h
1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.50, CO raises to $2, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.50, 1 fold
Set mining!

Flop: ($5.25) 7s 9s Ts (2 players)
Hero bets $5, CO calls $5
Bet the set.

Turn: ($15.25) 7c (2 players)
Hero bets $5, CO calls $5
Continue betting the turned nuts.

River: ($25.25) Tc (2 players)
Hero bets $10, CO calls $10
I wish he had raised the turn... how can he not raise the turn here?!?!?!? He has the nut flush draw & TP. Had I known he had AA, I would have shoved right here. I missed ~$10 value.

Final Pot: $45.25
Hero shows 7d 7h (four of a kind, Sevens)
CO mucks As Ac
Hero wins $43.00
(Rake: $2.25)

http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294314-294315

A Good Fold! - folding trips

Really, what am I beating here on the river? I think this is one of the finest hands I've played, just based on my read of the players and table. I am proud of this hand, because it speaks volumes to the fact that I am getting better at this game.

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294325
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (SB): $55.85
BB: $115.25
UTG: $50.00
UTG+1: $109.50
MP: $114.45
CO: $9.25
BTN: $50.35

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with 8d 5d
4 folds, BTN calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.25, BB checks
Suited gappers - easy SB call.

Flop: ($1.50) 8s 8h Jh (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, BTN checks
I'm hoping someone will bet out on the flop here, but it's a missed opportunity.

Turn: ($1.50) As (3 players)
Hero bets $1, BB calls $1, BTN calls $1
I can bluff / represent the Ace here; no one will give the SB credit for an A, and it opens me up for a raise which I welcome. However, the players don't give any information away and smooth my lead.

River: ($4.50) Th (3 players)
Hero bets $3, BB raises to $13.50, BTN calls $13.50, Hero folds
Not the greatest of rivers; clearly KQ & 97 beat me here. However, I still need to get value for my flopped trips, and I therefore lead out; I have not been given any information to the contrary, thus thinking I'm likely still good here. However, a BB raise (and a LARGE raise at that; he overbets pot), is a pretty good indication I'm busted with my trips. I immediately put him on a better trips, which is sick. When the BTN calls, I don't even think twice about folding what never-was the nuts. I'm just glad a 5 didn't fall.

Final Pot: $34.50
BB shows 8c Ad (a full house, Eights full of Aces)
BTN mucks 9d 7h
BB wins $32.80
(Rake: $1.70)

Stacking with Quads

Not often do I felt 2 opponents when I have quads, but I did here:

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294322
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $29.45
Hero (BTN): $63.25
SB: $11.75
BB: $24.80
UTG: $45.95
UTG+1: $31.40
MP1: $31.70
MP2: $25.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BTN with 6d 7d
UTG raises to $1.75, 2 folds, MP2 calls $1.75, CO calls $1.75, Hero calls $1.75, 2 folds
With all of the action behind, I call my suited connectors.

Flop: ($7.75) 5d 7h 7c (4 players)
UTG checks, MP2 bets $3.85, CO calls $3.85, Hero calls $3.85, UTG folds
MP2 cbets & CO calls - I do not have either of them on draws. With the flopped 2nd nuts, I'm going to draw them in & not give away my hand. Hopefully MP2 will play this one for me...

Turn: ($19.30) 7s (3 players)
MP2 bets $9.65, CO calls $9.65, Hero calls $9.65
Excellent! I'm not sure why he feels compelled to bet half pot here, but I think he's going for value. Clearly, neither of them put me on quads. Perhaps they are thinking either has a 5 or AK or AQ?

River: ($48.25) 3h (3 players)
MP2 bets $9.75 all in, CO calls $9.75, Hero raises to $19.50, CO calls $4.45 all in
Thanks, MP2. You have enabled me to stack the both of you. There was quite a bit of hesitation in the CO calling the last $4.45 - he knew he was beat the whole way.

Final Pot: $86.40
CO mucks Th Ts
Hero shows 6d 7d (four of a kind, Sevens)
MP2 mucks Td Tc
Hero wins $8.90
Hero wins $74.50
(Rake: $3.00)
7's full for both parties. I'm not quite sure why they stacked off here - the way I played this, I would have been scared if I were them. 2 streets I smooth on the end; I have to AT LEAST put them on a decent pair. They don't stop & think about the possibility of a better pocket pair? I could easily show up with JJ. I don't know that I'm going to stack off with an overpair on pretty much any board. I guess, though, they figure if I had a set of 5's on the flop, I'm counterfeited by the turn 7...?

My single biggest $ pot to date - $125.20

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/294319
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $51.35
UTG+1: $126.80
MP1: $51.85
MP2: $114.00
CO: $113.70
BTN: $10.00
SB: $45.40
BB: $22.15

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG with Jd Jc
Hero raises to $1.75, 2 folds, MP2 calls $1.75, 2 folds, SB calls $1.50, BB calls $1.25

Flop: ($7.00) 3s 6h 4h (4 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $3.75, MP2 calls $3.75, SB calls $3.75, BB folds
With 3 players to the flop, I am going to play this fast. This is a very scary board, with a lot of draws. The players are loose, and quite capable of a 5 and certainly hearts.

Turn: ($18.25) 3c (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP2 bets $18.25, SB calls $18.25, Hero raises to $45.85 all in, MP2 calls $27.60, SB requests TIME, SB folds
The MP2 lead was certainly unexpected. SB's call is a pretty clear indication that he's on a draw. MP2 has been uber aggro and running a high VPIP / PFR, so I am not giving him a whole ton of credit here. If he turned the trips, gg sir and great luck. But I'm not going to back down. A call is useless; we're playing for stacks.

River: ($128.20) 3d (2 players - 1 is all in)
The third 3 is very reassuring - much less chance of him holding a 3.

Final Pot: $128.20
Hero shows Jd Jc (a full house, Threes full of Jacks)
MP2 shows As 6s (a full house, Threes full of Sixes)
Hero wins $125.20
(Rake: $3.00)
And there you have it; the biggest pot I've won to date - in monetary value; pretty light of my opponent to stack off with 6's. Remember, I raised PF and continued to show extreme strength on the turn. What does he think? The only hands that he's really beating here are pocket 5's (UTG raising with that?), 44 (what are the combos that I'm raising with a 4, 22 or Ax. He's stacking off with TPTK in this spot, with only 5 outs for improvement? Realistically, given the PF action, the only hand he can POSSIBLY put me on to call my shove is an AK / AQ hand - which are the only Ax hands I'm raising with from UTG. That's a pretty narrow range with so many other hands out there that beat him.

Quick recap of $50NL

I wanted to get my multi-table Take 2 bonus time in for the day, so as I was setting up my new laptop, I logged ~75 hands without Poker Tracker running. I 2-tabled for that duration for a small profit. As a result of the 2-tabling, I was able to focus a lot more on my opponents, which also got me thinking about a few of the hands I was seeing last night.

As I stated in an earlier post, I have moved to .25/.50 NL hold'em. I am proud of the fact that I'm finally earning "real" money; capable of stacking off for something resembling an hourly wage. With the "real" money increase comes new challenges though. At the .1/.25 level, I was not seeing anywhere near the same aggression as I see at this level. I can't determine whether there is more pre flop raising going on, but I am sure that there is WAY more level 2 thinking happening.

As an example, there seems to be a lot more button steals, which has become a pretty obvious move. To counter that, a 3 bet from the blinds is a semi-frequent occurrence as well. The most interesting thing, though, was a 3 bet bluff from a button steal on the flop (don't have the HH, but it was a good example of the leveling wars that are happening at this stake). Mind you, the players are not better, they're just thinking a little more:

100BB effective stacks: I have QJo on the button. Folds around to me & I raise to $1.50 (typical 3x raise). I get the BB to call. Flop comes AJx rainbow. He checks, I bet $1.75 into $3.25... He min raises me to $3.50. Most players, at this point & stake, are folding their cbet or calling to peel another card (which is an awkward spot, because what happens if a Q or J hit, or a non-Ten? You know he's going to bet close to pot on the turn). I chose to take it to level 3 where: I know what he's thinking I have... He thinks: "Why would Poker Meister bet half pot on such a polarized board. He's either got an under pair or a missed flop - he' can't stand to call a raise because a check / raise is such a strong move. Therefore, I raise the flop and take it down right here and now." What he doesn't consider is that he's essentially making the same move as I just made; there's no need for him to be raising on such a polarized board... either he has an A or K (in which case he's going to check / call and check the safe turn with the hope that I 2 barrel him, or lead out the turn). I opted to min 3bet to $5.25, which induced a fold by my opponent. It was a nice little pot, a nice reward for a little bit of thinking.

A little stop & go

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/291777
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP: $24.50
CO: $65.70
BTN: $34.25
SB: $9.05
Hero (BB): $32.60
UTG: $115.15

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BB with Ac Td
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, 3 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, MP calls $1.25
MP has been playing FAR too many hands. He has a very high VPIP. I raise to juice the pot, knowing full well that he had been limp / calling a lot of hands.

Flop: ($3.75) 5c As Kh (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, MP calls $1.75
I donk bet out here, to see what he's going to do. I have established a high tendency to cbet most flops, and this is a good flop for a cbet. Villain has been showing down second pair, and worse, so I'm very comfortable with the call.

Turn: ($7.25) Ah (2 players)
Hero checks, MP checks
Good card to set the villain up for a bluff scare card. I think he tried to turn it around on me by checking behind; I expected him to bet out here to represent the trips.

River: ($7.25) 8c (2 players)
Hero bets $4.25, MP raises to $8.50, Hero calls $4.25
I guess he was saving his move for the river; I don't want to see a cheap showdown, so I bet ~half pot. His min raise concerns me because I'm not seeing him bluff river raise all that often. I conservatively call it and feel comfortable knowing that had I 3 bet, I think he would have folded.

Final Pot: $24.25
MP shows Qs 8s (two pair, Aces and Eights)
Hero shows Ac Td (three of a kind, Aces)
Hero wins $23.05
(Rake: $1.20)

Another misguided TAG

These guys need to stop betting a "push out" bet on the flop as a cbet... It just doesn't make any sense...

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/291773
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $49.95
MP1: $56.20
MP2: $44.75
CO: $20.40
BTN: $50.10
SB: $12.40
Hero (BB): $31.75
UTG: $42.50
UTG+1: $10.75

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BB with 7s 6s
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP1 raises to $2.25, 4 folds, Hero calls $1.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($5.25) Kh 7d 2c (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $3, Hero raises to $7, MP1 folds
Really? What are you trying to get value on? If you hold a K, you think there's a possibility that I may hold a K as well? And you can try to represent a better K? OR, do you have a pocket pair or AQ, AJ... that can't stand a re-raise? So my question is, why bet out this bone dry flop? Certainly, you can bluff 3 bet me, or you can flop a set and be donkishly aggro, but I think 9 times out of 10, you're getting better value out of me by peeling a turn card.

Final Pot: $11.25
Hero wins $10.70
(Rake: $0.55)

A good read

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/291770
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $20.00
UTG+1: $45.65
UTG+2: $10.00
MP1: $10.00
MP2: $18.50
Hero (CO): $89.15
BTN: $9.25
SB: $42.70
BB: $7.65

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is CO with 4c 4d
UTG calls $0.50, UTG+1 raises to $1.50, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.50, 1 fold, SB calls $1.25, 1 fold, UTG calls $1
Set mining odds; both UTG+1 & SB have close to 100 blind stacks.

Flop: ($6.50) Kc 9c Tc (4 players)
SB checks, UTG checks, UTG+1 bets $3, Hero calls $3, SB folds, UTG folds
I get the feeling he doesn't have a club. I can't give you hard data to back it up, but I believe he is scared of clubs. I also get the feeling I'm ahead here, because this player has been cbetting a TON.

Turn: ($12.50) 8c (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $6, Hero calls $6
On this bet, I'm 99% certain he doesn't have a club. I can't raise here, just in case I'm wrong. In addition, what would a raise here do but push out the non-club holding UTG+1?

River: ($24.50) 5d (2 players)
UTG+1 checks, Hero checks

Final Pot: $24.50
UTG+1 shows Js Ah (Ace King high) - Gut shot + over... Why would you lose $9.00 on chasing / pressuring? Doesn't make sense. Give up on the turn club. The only way you're getting called is if you're beat. At least he has the common sense to check down the river.
Hero shows 4c 4d (a flush, King high)
Hero wins $23.30
(Rake: $1.20)

Sunday night live poker recap

My old group is starting to get back into the swing of things... 2 games in under a month for the Sunday night poker game! That's what I call running good. We were very short handed for the duration of the night; 5 players showed up out of the 8 that were committed. Bummer - but that didn't stop me from running red hot. Quick rundown of our game: Buy ins are $25 or less @ .25/.50 blinds, so we buy in short-stacked. Game selection is Texas Hold'em.

The first hand of the night (I drew for small blind), I'm dealt 33 on a limped 2d 3d 4d board. I bet out $1.50 into $2.50 to get one caller. Next card: Ad. Puke. Check / call $2 (into $5.50). Check / check & villain shows down the Kd8c for a BB special.

The fifth hand, I hit a set of 8's and take down a little less than my losses on the first hand, to bring me essentially to even.

Few hands later, on the BB, I limp with Jc8c (which is pretty darn close to the Poker Meister :-). Flop comes Tc 9c 7s for a flopped nut straight and flush draw. I even told everyone I had a pretty good feeling about the hand... I got a gutshot draw to stick around to the river and then fold.

I hit quad 8's once and got paid a little on another gutshot draw.

Finally, I got all in pre-flop with AA, vs. 77 only to see quad 7's crush my $15 CALL (7's pushed into me). Fortunately, I had him covered and was up (at the time) around $20. Too bad my AA couldn't hold, because that would have sent me home with a profit for the night around $50... As is, I walked away with a $20 profit. I'll take it for a short handed, loose poker game.

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A misguided TAG

13/10/2.5 @ 106 hands; his flop bet is without purpose... It is an easy pick off. Although I may very well be good in this situation, I am putting him on JJ, QQ, or KK, sometimes 99.

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/287245
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $55.15
MP: $17.75
CO: $54.40
Hero (BTN): $78.20
SB: $31.45
BB: $52.85
UTG: $12.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BTN with Ts Tc
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to $1.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.50, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.75) 8c Ad 3h (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $2.50, Hero raises to $6, UTG+1 folds
He knows my range includes AT-AK, Axs in this situation. Particularly, he knows that I can call a huge range on the button. I'm not quite sure why he bets out; this is a dry board & if he checks, I think my line is to check behind. Since he bets, he gives his hand away given his "high-ish" aggression factor. I'm very sure he has 99-KK. He can't call the RR.

Final Pot: $8.75
Hero wins $8.35
(Rake: $0.40)
Nice little drag of the pot.

What would you do? #4

The MP2 is 13/9/9.0 @ 140 hands. I expect him to be aggressive post flop, but...

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/287242
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $10.00
MP2: $52.25
CO: $27.60
BTN: $64.75
SB: $50.45
BB: $50.00
UTG: $48.45
Hero (UTG+1): $91.95
UTG+2: $40.65

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+1 with Qs Qd
1 fold, Hero raises to $2, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $6.75, 4 folds, Hero calls $4.75
Given he has a full stack, I make the call, getting roughly 10:1 on his stack.

Flop: ($14.25) 2h 9s 9h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $10.25, Hero folds
He's very protective / aggressive in his bet out here. He has to have me beat, with a PF 3bet + a near pot bet out. If he has AK, TT, JJ, GG sir. I just can't stick around for my pot in this situation. Let it go & get another one...

Is this a "good" laydown?

Final Pot: $14.25
MP2 wins $13.55
(Rake: $0.70)

The Poker Meister #31

ALWAYS.WINS.EVERY.TIME!!!!

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/286308
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $17.75
BB: $31.80
Hero (UTG): $122.40
UTG+1: $62.40
UTG+2: $36.50
MP1: $19.50
MP2: $8.75
CO: $19.25
BTN: $23.70

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG with 9s Js
Hero raises to $1.50, 5 folds, BTN calls $1.50, 1 fold, BB calls $1
Of course! I have to raise this hand UTG. I will probably take it down without seeing a flop. BTN & BB call...

Flop: ($4.75) 9d As 4s (3 players)
BB bets $3, Hero calls $3, BTN raises to $9, BB requests TIME, BB folds, Hero calls $6
I have flopped a flush draw + middle pair. Based on the PF play, I don't believe he has a set of Aces - I don't believe he has a set of 9's because I have a 9. The hands I put him on are: Ax, 44. I don't believe a set is raising, so I discount the 44. Meanwhile, based on those hands, I am drawing to 3 Jacks, 2 9's & 9 spades: 14 outs / 50% odds....

Turn: ($25.75) 6d (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $13.20 all in, Hero calls $13.20
Are you kidding me? I'm not backing down.

River: ($52.15) Jc (2 players - 1 is all in)
Two pair... I hope he doesn't have AJ.

Final Pot: $52.15
Hero shows 9s Js (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
BTN shows Ac Qs (a pair of Aces)
Hero wins $49.55
(Rake: $2.60)
Good pull! Don't F with the Poker Meister!

Milestone reached - $2K!!!

The hand that did it:
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/286303
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $51.60
MP2: $20.00
CO: $10.00
BTN: $32.95
SB: $83.30
BB: $30.25
UTG: $20.00
Hero (UTG+1): $198.50
UTG+2: $5.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+1 with Js Jd
UTG calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2, 2 folds, MP2 calls $2, 5 folds

Flop: ($5.25) 8d 3d Td (2 players)
Hero bets $4, MP2 calls $4
Flopped an overpair, but all diamond board. I have a decent diamond, and this player is terrible.

Turn: ($13.25) 6d (2 players)
Hero bets $5, MP2 calls $5
Without a raise, I am *SURE* I am good here. I know it's a contradiction, but if he pushes all in, I really have to weigh on the side of calling. However, his lack of push at this point gives his hand away.

River: ($23.25) Qs (2 players)
Hero bets $9, MP2 calls $9 all in
If he calls the turn, he's calling the all in.

Final Pot: $41.25
MP2 mucks Ac 7d - Did he really think a 7 high flush would be good here? He lost $14 to find out whether his 7 is good... that'll make you money in the long run, pal!
Hero shows Js Jd (a flush, Jack high)
Hero wins $39.20
(Rake: $2.05)

On the road to profitability with AKs

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/286312
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $21.65
UTG+2: $20.20
MP1: $50.00
MP2: $65.60
CO: $50.00
BTN: $9.25
SB: $67.20
Hero (BB): $47.55
UTG: $50.25

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BB with Kd Ad
7 folds, SB raises to $1, Hero raises to $3, SB calls $2
I had been ultra aggro from in position for the duration...

Flop: ($6.00) 2d 4s Kc (2 players)
SB bets $6, Hero raises to $12, SB calls $6
Re-popping min here... it's just such an unlikely play on such a dry board. He min raised / called my RR. My guess is KQ.

Turn: ($30.00) 6c (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $15, SB calls $15
Now he's in call down mode. By betting $15, getting the rest of his stack in should be really easy.

River: ($60.00) 8d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $17.55 all in, SB calls $17.55
Please, AK, for once, HOLD UP.

Final Pot: $95.10
SB shows 9d Kh (a pair of Kings) - are you kidding? You're calling a PF RR with K9o?!?!? WOW. You got stacked with K9o!!!
Hero shows Kd Ad (a pair of Kings)
Hero wins $92.10
(Rake: $3.00)


Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/286313
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $11.90
SB: $23.30
BB: $35.25
Hero (UTG): $88.10
UTG+1: $10.40
MP: $17.25
CO: $20.45

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG with Kc Ac
Hero raises to $1.75, 5 folds, BB calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75) 3d 5c 4s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2.55, BB calls $2.55
Standard cbet.

Turn: ($8.85) Jd (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4.75, BB folds
These players have been folding to two barrels. Therefore, I hit again. I'd imagine I was likely good here, so this isn't a bluff, but I don't want him hitting his pair. I'm happy to take down a $9 pot.

Final Pot: $8.85
Hero wins $8.45
(Rake: $0.40)

Single best $ session to date... $260!

Tonight's session featured one suckout for a sizeable 3-way pot, but outside of that I ran extremely well coupled with correct decisions. I wound up winning $260, 32 PTBB/100 - in my first serious all-night $50NL session.

I 3 tabled, but found it extremely easy to stack my opponents... particularly the ones who buy in for half the max or less ($25 or less). These players are willing to get it all in with top pair, no kicker. They all seem to have a terrible implementation of short stack strategy.

Of course, there were a few tricky players, but in tonight's session, the players seemed easier than that of $25NL. Let's hope that's an indication of future play :-).

Laptop is in the mail...

"Your order XXXXX is on its way! Your chosen shipping method is Standard 5-7 Business Days** and your tracking number(s) is below."

When I run good, I run good! It is literally on the slow boat from China - "SHANGHAI CN." 6-tabling (no overlap), here I come!

A table full of high VPIP limpers...

Gotta kick them limpers to the curb! How to do it? Bet enough that they can't call.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/281355
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $15.59
MP2: $8.40
CO: $25.00
Hero (BTN): $35.93
SB: $28.89
BB: $20.03
UTG: $10.25
UTG+1: $31.42
UTG+2: $20.00

CO posts a big blind ($0.25)

Pre Flop: ($0.60) Hero is BTN with Th 8s
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, CO checks, Hero raises to $1.55, 5 folds
When it limps around to me, there is $.35 (blinds) + .75 (limpers & CO) - ripe for a steal from the BTN. The UTG+2 & MP2 limpers have very high VPIP & had been limp / folding when shown aggression.

These two had 30+ VPIP, so I put them on suits or connectors. My VPIP is 18/13-14, and I'm aware that they're aware. They know my range is better than theirs, so they wisely (or not so wisely in this case) choose to avoid a blowup.

Final Pot: $1.35
Hero wins $1.35
(Rake: $0.00)
A nice little no-rake steal.

Repping an Ace

How to turn 22 into a bluff. Kinda dangerous because both are short stacks that can push at any time, but I think the PF button raise from this guy is suspect to begin with...

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/281357
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $25.00
UTG: $11.05
UTG+1: $8.83
Hero (MP1): $31.49
MP2: $6.65
CO: $5.86
BTN: $7.82
SB: $24.34

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP1 with 2c 2d
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, 2 folds, BTN raises to $0.75, 2 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.55, BTN calls $1.80, UTG+1 requests TIME, 1 fold
I thought about this BTN raise for a good while. He's raising .50 out of the button, with 2 limpers behind. Immediately, this line does not make sense, from a table that has been typically raising .75 + .25 for each limper. This raise SCREAMS weakness. My PF limp / RR cuts out one potential opponent. I'm more than happy to fade both players and take down the pot PF, but the BTN sticks around.

At this point, I'm sure he doesn't have AA, KK, etc. because I would have seen a short stack push right then & there. I'm actually putting him on 22 (unlikely), 33, 44, 55 (less likely), suited connectors (less likely).

Edit: After thinking about it, I am discounting an Ax, or AK, because he had not been showing down any of the Ax hands (moderate VPIP) and had been pushing the AK, QQ+ hands.

Flop: ($6.20) 8c Jc As (2 players)
Hero bets $2.75, BTN folds
Great flop to lead. If it had come down rainbow, my bet would be very suspicious, but I can represent a bet for value with the Ace, where I know his underpair (to the board) can't call an all-over flop without the set.

Edit: I'm not sure what I'm going to do if he calls / floats me here. My line is pretty strong at this point. He has ~$2 left if he makes this call, which, to me says he's is a shove or fold line. I think if he shoves, I am in a situation where I have to call ~$2 to win ~$16. It's an awkward spot for both him & me - glad I put the decision to him.

Final Pot: $6.20
Hero wins $5.89
(Rake: $0.31)
Nice takedown.

I know that he knows...

The only way I'm raising here is with a better spade than him... It's a neat little play you can't do more than once an hour, but when it works, it's great to drag a successful bluffed pot! I'm *SURE* he was better than me. His river bet is an "I have a spade, and I will bet enough where I can tell you I have a spade, but I don't have the nut spade."

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/281358
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $5.00
UTG: $25.54
UTG+1: $28.17
UTG+2: $26.20
MP1: $23.70
MP2: $48.81
Hero (CO): $27.53
BTN: $25.51
SB: $14.57

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 4h 2h
5 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, SB calls $0.65, BB calls $0.50
Let's mix it up a bit.

Flop: ($2.25) 9s 3s 5d (3 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $1.25, SB calls $1.25, BB folds
Two spades, but an open ender. I bet if the Ace hits, I'm going to get paid - no WAY he's putting me on 42...

Turn: ($4.75) Qs (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks
Spade hits and it's not my card - check / check.

River: ($4.75) Ts (2 players)
SB bets $1.75, Hero raises to $5, SB folds
Bingo! Another spade hits. I have played this hand like I have AK. He cannot call my river raise which is a little under pot ($5 into $7) because he puts me on AK and he has neither the As nor Ks. He probably has a Js or a pocket pair 99 with a spade. At any rate, I know that he knows I can't raise this spot without a good spade; his bet is more of a blocker bet.

Final Pot: $8.25
Hero wins $7.84
(Rake: $0.41)
I think the bluffed pots are more satisfying to take down than the hands where I have the best hand.

Continuing to run well / play well

Those downswings are very upsetting. Let's clear the air on that. I'm certain no player in their right mind would disagree (unless you're a masochist). It totally sucks that a poker player can run through streaks, which I read are a mathematical fact. Without a doubt, the first half of the month left me very frustrated. I kept telling myself that the upswings are way better than the downswings. However, as is the common course, I began to question it when I found myself down 8 buy ins mid-month. However, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and this is the third night in a row where I'm simply crushing the tables. I up-ticked another $85 tonight, in 800 hands. In a word, in three days, I have smashed my earlier deficit. A poker player lives for the upswings. The graph above is simply disgusting.

As a side note, I gave this very same advice to a friend of mine, who seems to be mired [hopefully just the start and end] in a downswing (AA broken twice + overpair JJ broken to an under set for bustouts of SnGs). He's the very same person that reciprocated the advice above to me last month when I started running bad. It's good to be able to coach each other along. A poker buddy is critical to player development.

The Poker Meister #30

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280457
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $5.27
BB: $7.07
Hero (UTG): $32.85
UTG+1: $10.25
MP: $14.23
CO: $16.93
BTN: $24.65

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG with 9d Jd
Hero calls $0.25, 4 folds, SB calls $0.15, BB raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.50, SB calls $0.50
Super loose BB - only raising $.50 with 2 limpers? Hell yeah - let him have the power of the Poker Meister!

Flop: ($2.25) 6d Ad Td (3 players)
SB checks, BB bets $2.25, Hero calls $2.25, SB folds
Gotta love its power; flopped FLUSH BABY!!! How to get it all in? BB seems to have a hand; will SB come along for the ride? Bummer.

Turn: ($6.75) 8c (2 players)
BB bets $4.07 all in, Hero calls $4.07
Easy peasy!

River: ($14.89) 6c (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $14.89
BB shows 7c Ac (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
Hero shows 9d Jd (a flush, Ace high)
Hero wins $14.15
(Rake: $0.74)

Out of the red...

Just put in a $225+ session in about 900+ hands, to bring me $100+ in the green for the month! Boo yah! Most of the hands I won were from opponents river bluffing and flopped / turned sets. Here are some interesting hands of the session:

Standard set vs. AA (super TAG) vs. TP (donkey):
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280434
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $16.46
BTN: $49.85
SB: $12.54
BB: $50.42
UTG: $10.79
Hero (UTG+1): $74.49
UTG+2: $31.86
MP1: $21.29
MP2: $25.68

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with 5d 5c
1 fold, Hero calls $0.25, 2 folds, MP2 raises to $1, 2 folds, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.75

Flop: ($3.25) 5h Qd 3d (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP2 bets $2, SB raises to $4, Hero raises to $15, MP2 raises to $24.68 all in, SB calls $7.54 all in, Hero calls $9.68

Turn: ($64.15) 6c (3 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($64.15) 9c (3 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $64.15
SB shows Qc 9s (two pair, Queens and Nines)
Hero shows 5d 5c (three of a kind, Fives)
MP2 shows As Ad (a pair of Aces)
Hero wins $25.17
Hero wins $35.98
(Rake: $3.00)

Villian is SUPER tight here, so I'm afraid that he/she has flopped a set of Queens, based on the the turn HUGE bet. I don't know if I should have called this, but I made the call FTW (for the win) and it held:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280435
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $25.00
UTG: $6.79
UTG+1: $9.49
MP1: $5.00
MP2: $28.86
CO: $5.00
BTN: $40.08
Hero (SB): $32.52

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with Ac As
UTG calls $0.25, 4 folds, BTN raises to $1.25, Hero raises to $3, 2 folds, BTN calls $1.75

Flop: ($6.50) Qh 7h 2s (2 players)
Hero bets $3, BTN raises to $8.75, Hero calls $5.75

Turn: ($24.00) 7d (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $11, Hero raises to $20.77 all in, BTN calls $9.77
So this is one of those way ahead, way behind situations. Calling does nothing here. Either I'm all in, or I'm folding. I thought about this long & hard. He raised a LOT on the flop, and he's continuing the press on the turn. Either AQ, QQ or KK given the PF action. This is a guy who would be folding all other lesser holdings - OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT SO...

River: ($65.54) Jd (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $65.54
BTN shows Jh Th (two pair, Jacks and Sevens) - WOW! I misjudged this guy! Stacking off with a flush draw and one card to go? Hmm...
Hero shows Ac As (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
Hero wins $62.54
(Rake: $3.00)

Loose call vs. tightish player results in a flopped straight vs. AA:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280436
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $15.05
MP2: $29.36
CO: $18.95
Hero (BTN): $40.94
SB: $20.03
BB: $19.95
UTG: $44.22
UTG+1: $24.65
UTG+2: $50.10

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with Ad Jd
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1, SB raises to $2.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.75

Flop: ($6.00) Td Qh Ks (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $2, SB raises to $7, Hero raises to $38.19 all in, SB calls $10.28 all in

Turn: ($40.56) 8d (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($40.56) Kh (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $40.56
Hero shows Ad Jd (a straight, Ace high)
SB shows Ah Ac (two pair, Aces and Kings)
Hero wins $38.54
(Rake: $2.02)

Another river bluff:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280438
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $23.90
UTG+2: $21.16
MP1: $19.30
Hero (MP2): $25.08
CO: $18.09
BTN: $28.60
SB: $45.32
BB: $23.33
UTG: $51.45

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with Jh Kh
4 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($1.85) Th 7c 4c (2 players)
Hero bets $1.25, BTN calls $1.25

Turn: ($4.35) 9h (2 players)
Hero bets $2.25, BTN calls $2.25

River: ($8.85) Kc (2 players)
Hero bets $4, BTN raises to $13, Hero calls $9

Final Pot: $34.85
Hero shows Jh Kh (a pair of Kings)
BTN shows Ac Qd (Ace King high)
Hero wins $33.11
(Rake: $1.74)

3 barrell bluffer holding AQo vs. my 33:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280441
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $31.52
SB: $10.64
Hero (BB): $20.00
UTG: $25.89
UTG+1: $5.35
MP: $13.44
CO: $44.30

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

Flop: ($1.80) 2c 5c 4h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $1.80, Hero calls $1.80
Drawing to the straight, plus an Ace will get him all in, no doubt.

Turn: ($5.40) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $5.40, Hero calls $5.40
He's still pressing, with no overcards; what is he pressing so hard for?

River: ($16.20) Js (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $5.39 all in, Hero calls $5.39
I've reached the point of no return, here, so I make the additional all-in call - if he had a hand, he'd likely be checking here because he has no idea where he is in the hand.

Final Pot: $26.98
Hero shows 3d 3h (a pair of Threes)
MP shows Ah Qd (Ace Queen high)
Hero wins $25.64
(Rake: $1.34)

And two quick mishaps for my detractor's pleasure:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280447
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP2: $24.25
CO: $25.00
BTN: $10.44
Hero (SB): $79.93
BB: $20.13
UTG: $24.75
UTG+1: $13.17
UTG+2: $9.00
MP1: $25.67

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with Jh 8h
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.50) 4h 7h Qs (6 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, MP2 bets $1, BTN calls $1, Hero raises to $3.25, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $3.25, MP2 calls $2.25, BTN calls $2.25
I smell weakness all around, so I raise it up.

Turn: ($14.50) Qd (4 players)
Hero bets $5, UTG+2 folds, MP2 calls $5, BTN raises to $6.94 all in, Hero calls $1.94, MP2 calls $1.94
Continue to represent the check / raise set or QQQ.

River: ($35.32) 4d (3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero checks, MP2 checks
LOL - He checks Queens full on the river? I'm not calling no matter, but LOL! I love checked nuts!

Final Pot: $35.32
MP2 shows Qh Td (a full house, Queens full of Fours)
BTN shows Qc Ah (a full house, Queens full of Fours)
Hero mucks Jh 8h
MP2 wins $0.00
BTN wins $0.00
(Rake: $35.32)

And finally, this doozie. Fourth hand in for this guy; no history:
Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/280452
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP2: $25.00
CO: $32.55
BTN: $10.82
SB: $25.00
BB: $5.00
Hero (UTG): $107.64
UTG+1: $9.84
UTG+2: $13.55
MP1: $41.00

MP2 posts a big blind ($0.25)

Pre Flop: ($0.60) Hero is UTG with Qc Qd
Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $1, 3 folds, BTN calls $1, SB raises to $6, 1 fold, Hero calls $5, 2 folds

Flop: ($14.50) 6d Ah 4c (2 players)
SB bets $10, Hero raises to $101.64 all in, SB calls $9 all in
What is he betting 2/3 pot here? That is what screwed me up for the hand. I would think he wants me to hit my hand - does he think I have 53 or 75 with the PF action?

Turn: ($52.50) Kh (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($52.50) Qs (2 players - 2 are all in)
LOL - I hit my set on the river. Useless!

Final Pot: $52.50
SB shows Ad Ac (three of a kind, Aces)
Hero shows Qc Qd (three of a kind, Queens)
SB wins $49.88
(Rake: $2.62)

Running better?

I finally had a "break through" session for the first time this month! Hopefully this is the start of something better ($134 uptick for the night, $145 for the day...)? Today sessions wipe out half of my monthly deficit; $110 to go.

One thing that helped TREMENDOUSLY is that all of my pocket pairs held, and I flopped and turned a LOT of sets. I also found donkey players who called my hands light, which game me a huge edge. Finally, my sets were countered by lesser, but decent holdings.

There was one interesting hand, which I think was a standard bluff. Question is, do you call here:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/278004
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $25.00
UTG+2: $23.65
MP1: $21.30
MP2: $62.91
CO: $3.85
BTN: $11.43
SB: $22.16
Hero (BB): $76.49
UTG: $9.00

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with 9h 6h
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, MP2 calls $0.25, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.60) Th 3h Jh (6 players)
Hero bets $1, UTG folds, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $1, MP2 folds, BTN folds
Bingo! A flopped flush. I'm going to bet out for value; with so many players, no one will believe the BB has two hearts. I think $1.00 was a little too much; I probably could have had another person or two drawing, or calling a T or J for $0.75. However, it is what it is and I want value.

Turn: ($3.60) Qs (2 players)
Hero bets $2.55, MP1 calls $2.55
MP1 is a 17/7/1.33 in 40 hands. At this point, I have him on a T or J. The Q may have helped him; hopefully it did!

River: ($8.70) 7h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $5, Hero calls $5
It sucks that the heart gets his draw there if he's on an over-heart. I have to check, but his nearly pot bet induces a call from me; I think he's turned his hand into a bluff. Believe me, prior to this call, I thought long & hard about it. Would you be calling here? I bet 9 times out of 10, I'm getting shown down a better heart.

Final Pot: $18.70
MP1 shows As Tc (a pair of Tens)
Hero shows 9h 6h (a flush, Jack high)
Hero wins $17.77
(Rake: $0.93)
Interesting; I don't see him 4 flush bluffing in this spot, unless he puts me on the flush the whole way through and plans on making a move when / if the heart hits. Question I have is: if the heart doesn't hit the river, should I be checking this? In the future, against this player, I will be checking rivers to induce a potential bluff.

Still plugging away...

I've earned $15 toward my $50 Take 2 Full Tilt bonus... Another 4 more days & the total will be $25. This should be easy money!

I've been running roughly even since my case of the run bads last week. Overall, I'm down about $200 on the month, which is NOT good. However, I do think I can overcome that amount and turn a profit.

I bought a new laptop today; a HP HDX16T, which has a 16" 1920x1080 resolution screen. I'm going to be able to 6 table without any overlap. Below are the stats if anyone is interested. I got quite a deal on it, in my opinion: $699.99 incl. shipping, before tax.


HP HDX16t Premium Series Notebook PC
• Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
• Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P7450 (2.13GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
• FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
• FREE Upgrade to 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
• 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
• FREE Upgrade to 16.0" diagonal High Definition HP Ultra BrightView Infinity Display (1920x1080p)
• FREE Upgrade to Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
• Webcam + Fingerprint Reader with HP Imprint Finish (Fluid)
• Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N Mini-card
• No TV Tuner w/remote control
• HP Color Matching Keyboard
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• No Productivity Software
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

If anyone is interested, I think the deal I got expires today (2009-09-11), so let me know & I will post the details.

A great misclick bet

I've been putting pressure on the limpers particularly from in position, when the following hand happens:

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/273828
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $24.75
MP1: $13.39
MP2: $26.30
CO: $27.45
Hero (BTN): $27.54
SB: $25.12
BB: $11.14
UTG: $9.56

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with 8h Ac
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, MP1 calls $0.75
Typical button steal; MP1 limp - get that junk outta here.

Flop: ($2.35) 9d Qh 6s (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $12, MP1 raises to $12.39 all in, Hero calls $0.39
Completely dry board; I'm going to take a stab at it. Problem is I accidentally bet $12 instead of $1.25! Oops. At this point, I'm not folding to his all in shove for $.39 more, even though I know I'm beat. I have an over card (ace).

Turn: ($27.13) Tc (2 players - 1 is all in)
Runner

River: ($27.13) 7s (2 players - 1 is all in)
Runner

Final Pot: $27.13
MP1 shows Qd Td (two pair, Queens and Tens)
Hero shows 8h Ac (a straight, Ten high)
I don't feel bad at all for this. The guy is calling off his whole stack, 50+ blinds, with QT? Come on! There are a TON of better hands that clearly beat you. Now I know my shove is suspect, but are you really willing to play for your stack with a marginal holding like QT? Particularly when you have 30-40 hands on me, and I haven't done anything out of the ordinary? I definitely don't feel bad for this suckout.
Hero wins $25.78
(Rake: $1.35)

300 11.5 Gram Poker Set: $19.88

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/951116

Reasonable price; I think these are decent quality chips.

Live poker recap

This past Sunday, I hosted a .25/.50 $25 buy in NLHE game at my house. The turn out featured a mix of experienced and inexperienced players, most of whom, by my measure, were getting lucky as HELL! I wound up with a $19 profit, but that profit is nothing I am proud of - it was on a massive suckout: 44 (me) vs. TT on a 2 6 9 board where I runner runnered the 3 & 5 to make a straight. As well, the other interesting hand I played was laying down pocket Queens pre-flop. As it turns out, my laydown was 100% correct; my opponent (who would go on to get AA 5 times, and KK twice in the span of 4-5 hours) had KK - he bet 4x from UTG+1, folds around to me on the button & I raise 8x on top. He acted a little before raising another 40x, which is where I folded. I can't remember ever doing that in a live game... By comparison, the QQ was as good as I would get that night; I had JJ twice and trash for the rest of the game.

Bummer.

Ethics in online poker?

Sorry I haven't written much lately. I'm in the middle of a downswing and there simply have not been any interesting hands. Poker Meister was cracked for the first time in awhile, yesterday, but for very little money. Outside of that, nothing else interesting. I get out-flopped, out-setted, sucked out, etc. The last statement is fairly typical for a downswing, and I've become somewhat callused to the chain of events. The saving grace is the "it'll even out in the long run," and "my upswings are way more EV+ than my downswings are EV-." Perhaps that's a loser's motto, but so far, it's proven true...

At any rate, the point of this post was to discuss ethics in online poker. A few times [a month?] I run into situations where [action or no action pre-flop] my opponent will let his time meter run down to the end and the computer forces an insta-check. I am very aware of this situation, and the poker client software will essentially put the player into a "check / fold to any bet" mode. Being the aware player that I am, I immediately take note of this player and min bet the first second I can, thus forcing my opponent to involuntarily fold, and allowing me to scoop the pot (assuming we are heads up). The question I have is this: Is this ethical behavior?

I, myself, justify it by thinking that this player has other problems or issues going on, and should not be playing at the table. I should not be hampered by his inaction. If he is multi-tabling, perhaps he should not. If he is multi-tasking (other than poker), perhaps he should not. Clearly, he is not disconnected from the internet; there are different rules from the poker client software regarding disconnects. To end: This is a game of mistakes. I capitalize on my opponents mistakes, just as the reciprocal holds. Letting your timer time out is a mistake, and I should and will continue to capitalize on stealing those pots for a song (or in this case, a min bet).

The Poker Meister #29

Never fails...

Poker Stars $0.05/$0.10 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/268754
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $10.00
BB: $6.15
UTG: $2.00
Hero (UTG+1): $6.70
MP1: $0.65
MP2: $3.60
CO: $11.55
BTN: $9.80

Pre Flop: ($0.15) Hero is UTG+1 with 9s Js
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.40, 1 fold, MP2 raises to $1, CO calls $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.60

Flop: ($3.15) Jd Tc 8c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $0.70, CO folds, Hero raises to $5.70 all in, MP2 calls $1.90 all in

Turn: ($8.35) 9d (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($8.35) Jh (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $8.35
Hero shows 9s Js (a full house, Jacks full of Nines)
MP2 shows Kc Ah (a pair of Jacks)
Hero wins $7.95
(Rake: $0.40)

Down time...

I've been seeing a lot of posts from other bloggers about being less than motivated & taking some time off from playing. I think I'm in the same boat; my Wednesday night session was simply awful - a downswing of ~4 buy-ins! In addition to being card dead for the most part, every time I have a pre-flop hand, I find myself being out-flopped. My cbets are check raised continually, and my premium pocket pairs are running into better pocket pairs. Additionally, my pre flop raises are being re-raised. Finally, my sub-premium limps (Ax suited in position, suited gappers, etc.) are being picked off by raises which I cannot profitably call.

Combine all of the above with the fact that I'm getting less sleep than usual due to a virus running through each of my 3 kids (each child has thrown up at least twice at some time during the night, throughout this past week), and you have a recipe for disaster. I played a mini-session last night, where I think I played a total of 300 hands - met my 50 poker points (Iron Man) on Full Tilt and my 1 point for multi tabling (Take 2 promotion), but my heart just was not in it. I guess I'm going to see how I feel tonight. It may be best to take some time off. We'll see how I feel tonight.

Unfortunately for you, though, dear reader, I have no interesting hands to post from the past few sessions. Stay tuned, though; no doubt there will be something interesting.

What would you do? #3 - Another two for the price of one

Two hands from my first multi tabling experience at $50NL. Within the first 30 hands, two really interesting hands came up, which make me really question whether I'm in over my head here... This was the ~15th hand so no real reads on anyone...

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/263050
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $21.90
MP2: $55.50
CO: $30.00
BTN: $39.20
SB: $54.70
BB: $52.25
UTG: $16.35
UTG+1: $13.55
Hero (UTG+2): $80.55

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+2 with Ac Ah
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, 5 folds, BB calls $1
Standard (from $25NL at least) 3x raise.

Flop: ($3.25) Jh 7s 7h (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2, BB calls $2
Heart draw, and I want value.

Turn: ($7.25) 6h (2 players)
BB bets $4.60, Hero calls $4.60
Now he's leading ~half pot? With a paired board and a completed 3 heart board... hmmm...

River: ($16.45) 5d (2 players)
BB bets $12, Hero calls $12
Is he representing a flush here? If so, is he leading so strong? I'm making a hero call, but this is a pretty aggressive bet that leads me to believe that he's trying to push me off of the hand.

Final Pot: $40.45
BB shows Qs Qd (two pair, Queens and Sevens)
Hero shows Ac Ah (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
Hero wins $38.45
(Rake: $2.00)
I thought for a long while about folding the river bet. Would you be calling here? I calculated that I'm roughly a coin flip ahead / behind. Either I'm shown a flush or boat, or I'm shown nothing. The additional question is: Is this guy a fish or is he really good? He put me under a lot of pressure with his overpair; did he think he was good (and value betting), or was he turning his hand into a bluff? Is this the type of play I can expect (i.e. repping strength on a 3 heart board?) This particular table seemed especially difficult; the most difficult that I've played at so far.

Fortunately, I got good hands, which held up - as evidenced below, again:

This is from 30th hand so no real reads, same table, different player...
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/263052
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $15.10
BTN: $58.15
SB: $34.50
BB: $38.70
UTG: $59.35
UTG+1: $52.75
UTG+2: $9.75
MP1: $29.25
Hero (MP2): $107.95

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is MP2 with 9d Td
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.50, 1 fold, BB checks
Nice suited connector limp from MP. I'm limp / planning on calling a PF raise.

Flop: ($2.25) 2d 9s Tc (4 players)
BB checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $1, BTN calls $1, BB folds, UTG+2 folds
Fairly dry board, QJ & 78 play well here, so I lead to deny odds and hopefully get a call from a lesser hand (AT, KT, QT, etc.)

Turn: ($4.25) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $3, BTN raises to $9, Hero calls $6
He's playing a small pot with a flat on the flop. Now the 5c hits and he's blowing up the pot? What did the 5c change? It puts 2 clubs out there as well as the T9 straight draw, but is that enough to make BTN want to play a large pot? The only two hands I can put him on are: Overpairs (limped BTN AA-TT) or 22 for the set. However, thus far, his line does not make sense.

River: ($22.25) 5s (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $18, Hero calls $18
That's a HUGE bet, and unfortunately, the second 5 pairs the board, making all overpairs better than my top two. This is a HUGE aggressive play, making a pot bet on the river after raising the turn. His bet sizing is a little out of whack for an overpair or any made hand. If he's truly value betting me, I would think a $10 or $12 bet would be more appropriate. Perhaps my flatting the turn gave the impression of weakness, but I was certainly surprised with the turn raise. I have shown weakness by checking the river, figuring that betting out is only going to lead to getting called by better hands at this point. I have to believe that my opponent thinks the same thing, and therefore bets out, big enough to try to buy the pot... This is one of the few times that I am going to make this call - and I consider this to be a "hero" call.

Final Pot: $58.25
BTN shows Qc Js (a pair of Fives)
Hero shows 9d Td (two pair, Tens and Nines)
Hero wins $55.35
(Rake: $2.90)

Overall, is this the kind of play I can expect at the $50NL level? I am not getting any of this level of aggression at $25NL, and I'll tell you, if I had AT on the hand above, I probably would have folded the turn, which would have been a mistake. Is this donkishness or clever play?

What would you do? #2 - Two for the price of one

I ran into two conundrums last night, while playing. Two completely separate hands with the same result (for me). Perhaps I'm being too nitty here, but here goes:

Background: I recently sat down at this table. In *VERY* limited history, UTG+1 is 20/10/inf @ 10 hands.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 Pot Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/264208
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $9.59
MP2: $17.70
CO: $3.40
BTN: $31.86
SB: $33.40
BB: $1.93
Hero (UTG): $30.95
UTG+1: $27.85
UTG+2: $10.82

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG with As Kh
Hero raises to $0.75, UTG+1 calls $0.75, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.75, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($3.35) Jh Kd 2d (4 players)
Hero bets $1.75, UTG+1 raises to $5.17, MP2 folds, BTN folds, Hero calls $3.42
Ok. So what have I represented by raising PF, and leading on the flop? I've repped strength, and probably should have folded the re-raise. But WTF? I have AK! TPTK!

Turn: ($13.69) Tc (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $13.69, Hero folds
At this point, I have to imagine I'm beat here. He's either got KJ, AQdd, or a set. If he has AQdd, he's an idiot. If he has air, good bluff, sir. I can't call here with TPTK, with so many hands out there that beat me. What am I beating here? AJ (is he raising on the flop with that?), KQ (potentially raising the flop, but not so much since I led - and CERTAINLY not leading with a pot turn bet). My AK always runs so bad.

Final Pot: $13.69
UTG+1 wins $13.01
(Rake: $0.68)


Background: BTN had just won a major pot, and had taken down a few "significant" pots, to get himself to $64 from a starting stack of $25. He's been quite active to date, particularly with post flop action. BTN is 39/7/2.6 @ 74 hands.

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/264211
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $64.64
SB: $20.77
BB: $25.70
UTG: $27.23
UTG+1: $18.07
UTG+2: $8.65
MP1: $14.81
Hero (MP2): $26.77
CO: $15.41

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP2 with Qc Qh
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, BTN calls $1, SB calls $0.90, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.75
Not liking this already - too many callers.

Flop: ($4.25) 6s 5d 7s (4 players)
SB checks, MP1 bets $0.25, Hero raises to $3, BTN calls $3, SB folds, MP1 folds
This is a huge drawing board. I'm not going to let MP1 take control for .25. I probably stupidly raise it up, but I'm not going to shake off AKss or KQss, Ks9s, or any spades with overcards. I probably should have played this hand more passively, because it would have been easier to let it go with less money in the pot. By my raise on the flop, I want to take it down right then & there.

Turn: ($10.50) Kh (2 players)
Hero bets $4, BTN raises to $9.25, Hero requests TIME, Hero folds
BTN has been too quiet this hand. I think he has a spade draw, with the K. I can't call a raise here. It sucked to give up on this pot, but with a call, I'm committed; 50% of my stack is in the middle.

I played this hand very weakly; I am not proud of this play. In retrospect, I should have raised a lot more on the flop, or called. I gave a spade draw + overs odds on drawing out on me: $3 into $4.50 ($3 to call $7.50 = 40%) with 15 outs (~45% odds) is setting myself up for failure.

Final Pot: $18.50
BTN wins $17.58
(Rake: $0.92)

What do you think? Am I a total nit? Would you be calling / raising all in, or folding like I did as a weak tight monkey? I think the first hand was a good fold, but the second hand was poorly played all around.

The Poker Meister #28 - WTF Hand Edition

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players - http://www.thehandconverter.com/hands/258958
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+1: $26.14
MP: $26.91
Hero (CO): $27.73
BTN: $4.65
SB: $5.78
BB: $27.40
UTG: $25.98

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 9d Jd
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, 1 fold, SB calls $0.65, 1 fold
SB has been erratic at best; almost maniacal.

Flop: ($1.75) 4d As 5d (2 players)
SB bets $5.03 all in, Hero calls $5.03
$5.03 into $1.75? Hmm... can we say "buying the pot?" Well, what he doesn't know is I have The Poker Meister. I have a diamond flush draw and a chance to get it all in with the ultimate poker nuts. All in! You can't beat this!

Turn: ($11.81) 2s (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($11.81) 6s (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $11.81
Hero shows 9d Jd (Ace Jack high)
SB shows 9c 7c (Ace Nine high) - WTF? Two clubs? You're drawing to 3 outs? LOL! Thanks for shipping.
Hero wins $11.22
(Rake: $0.59)

A little *LIVE* poker scheduled for Sunday

I have [finally] organized a home poker game to break in that new poker table I bought from Sports Authority! I haven't played in a live poker game since the beginning of the summer; it should be interesting sitting down at a single table :-). The game will consist of a few of the regulars from the home game I used to play bi-weekly prior to summer, as well as a few new faces. Stakes will be $.25/.50 blinds @ $15.00 min / $35.00 max buy ins. I'm pretty psyched about it.

I have 9 players lined up, with space for one more... anyone in the Gaithersburg, MD area up for a home game?

Another good month... August 2009 comes to a close...

As with last month, I wound up crushing towards the end of the month. Some of the profit curve's steep incline is due to my moving up to $50NL/PL in limited action. In those 626 hands, I have run like a complete God! Below is a table of my stats at those tables:

Limit	Hands	Amount Won	BB/100	$/100	BB/Hour	$/Hour
$0.50 NL	513	$142.30	27.74	$27.74	28.56	$28.56
$0.50 PL	113	$52.30	46.28	$46.28	36.92	$36.92

~$200 of the $530 profit this month is accounted for by these ~600 hands. All the sets I've been missing at the lower levels (still averaging 1 out of 12 flopped sets overall) have hit me when it counts, because I'm running quite a bit better at 1 out of 10 in the $50 games. I am still not completely comfortable with multi tabling $50 tables, but have started 2 tabling for a little while to start / end each night. I am always going back to the $25 stakes and putting in my remainder ~500 hands at 4-5 tables, but I want to make a gradual transition.

Future thoughts:
The wifey has her hand out, though she is not pressuring me at all to give up a check. However, I think when I feel comfortable with my bankroll, I'm going to slice a check out and bring my online poker career back to even money in real world $. (Lifetime, I'm stuck for ~$500 during the last 4-5 years of my online career.) I figure that once I hit the $1500 mark, I'm going to request a funds withdrawal to settle up and go from there, working off the Tilt account as pure profit.

Quick month-to-month comparison:
Unlike last month, where my PT3 BB/100 (calculated as 2x the big blinds) ran at 13.05, my BB/100 for the month of August ran at an un-Godly 3.29. Most of my July was played at $10NL/PL, where it is probably a lot easier to stack people, accounting for the higher BB/100. I managed to put in 26,221 hands this month as opposed to 18,829 hands last month... mostly attributed to a week of vacation and 5 tabling (hours-wise, I put in roughly the same amount of hours month-to-month, but my $/hr average dropped $2 from $6.88/hr to $4.89/hr... I wonder if that's part of my run bad streak?)

Quick overall update:
I have ~29,000 hands at the $25 level... the weird thing is that I run 0.55 BB/100 at $25NL in 25,000 hands, yet I run 17.96 BB/100 in 7,000 hands at $25PL. Weird statistical difference; do I play PL better than NL? Is PL an easier game? I barely played any $10NL/PL, so my total remains around 21,000 hands with a BB/100 at 6.80 overall.... no huge difference between NL & PL at that level.

If anyone out there reading this can give thoughts, are any of these numbers normal? Can I expect to run 3 BB/100 here on out? Is 13 BB/100 ridiculous? What are you running and at what level?

Edit:
Online poker profits: $530.00
Live poker profits: $0.00
Rakeback bonus profits: $93.81
Full Tilt bonus profits: $0.00
Total: $623.81