TOC cash

Now that I'm at a stable location, I can post a quick "I cashed!"  It was not at all pretty, filled with plenty of suckouts and coolers - but I managed to luck my way into a 5th place finish.

Details to follow, but the short of it is: I'm in Ankara, Turkey on business.  Ankara is 7 hours ahead of east coast time, meaning that I was playing at 5 in the morning.  Moreover, I fly back to DC today - my flight from Ankara to Istanbul was scheduled for 10am. I managed to secure a broadband 3G card from work, and was forced to play on the go - in the hotel lobby, the 30 minute taxi ride and the airport (through security).  Oh yeah, and it's illegal to play in Turkey - they block the sites.  So I had to set up a VPN to my home network prior to travel, and VPN in over a broadband 1 megabit connection to the US in order to just get online in the first place.  I timed out quite a few times, with the last time being in a canyon shortly before the 12:55 (I think) break.  I nearly ran out of battery, and simply played the cards I was dealt for the last 40-60 minutes of the tournament.

Less than ideal conditions, but somehow, I was able to run good enough to cash!  Go me!

What would you do?#113 - Facing 4 flush river bet

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $92.30
UTG+1: $89.55
Hero (UTG+2): $50.00
MP1: $44.90
MP2: $20.00
CO: $12.50
BTN: $65.15
SB: $57.50
BB: $56.85 - 27/9 / NA ats / 16.7% 3bet / 1.0 AF / 11 hands

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+2 with 7d 7c
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, 5 folds, BB calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75) 5c 6c 7s (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($3.75) 2c (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.75, BB calls $3.75

River: ($11.25) Ac (2 players)
BB bets $6, Hero ???


Click to see results

Four flush really SUCKS. With very little money vested, I think I have to fold this out. I check the flop to "let him catch up" and it backfired in my face.
Hero folds

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

What would you do?#112 - Interesting second pair call

I don't know whether this was a good check on the turn, but I think this was a pretty well-played hand:

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $51.00
Hero (BB): $101.85
UTG: $22.15
UTG+1: $50.75
UTG+2: $20.85
MP1: $30.85
MP2: $60.15
CO: $67.85 - 19/13/0 ats/ 0.0 3bet / inf aggr @ 16 hands
BTN: $47.00 - No info on Button


Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is BB with 2c Tc
5 folds, CO calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.75) Td Ad 9h (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $1, BTN calls $1, Hero raises to $3.50, CO calls $2.50, BTN calls $2.50
Semi bluff for me; weak CO bet, flat BTN call is scary, but I really want to press both of them.

Turn: ($12.25) 6c (3 players)
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN checks
Talk about a brick; I was trying to check raise here again, depending on the size of the CO's expected bet, but it didn't work out.  I thought a lead here would be too fishy.

River: ($12.25) 7s (3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $6.75, BTN folds, Hero calls $6.75
To recap, I check / raised the flop... in CO's eyes "on a draw."  I've now checked the last two streets.  CO has to think he can take me off of my hand...  had he bet pot or over pot, he probably could have.  As is, though, he gives me a great price to call with my bluff catcher.

I can't put him on a single hand that he bets the river with that beats me, where he's not re-raising the flop or leading the turn.

Final Pot: $25.75
Hero shows 2c Tc (a pair of Tens)
CO shows Jd Kd (Ace King high)
Hero wins $24.50
(Rake: $1.25)

What would you do?#111 - Facing flop autoshove against very aggro opponent

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $62.45
UTG: $50.75
UTG+1: $59.30
UTG+2: $14.20
MP1: $51.60
MP2: $29.35
CO: $63.65 - 100/100/ 100% steal / 100% 3bet / inf aggression / 2 hands
BTN: $74.80
Hero (SB): $53.40

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with 7d Ah
5 folds, CO raises to $1.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $5, 1 fold, CO raises to $15.50, Hero calls $10.50

Flop: ($31.50) 8s 9c Ts (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $48.15 all in, Hero ???


Click to see results

I think this is a really dangerous player. If he doesn't show up with 100% aggression pre-flop, I'm tossing this away without a second thought. In fact, I'm not even calling pre-flop. His CO raise is suspect, and his 4bet is suspect. He's either playing bully or has a monster. I thought long and hard about making this call or passively tossing it and came to the following thought:
He's shoving pairs of Jacks and all sets. He's also shoving much more air, because there's no reason to shove here. Not a ton of a "typical" 4bet range smacked this flop. If he has KK, QQ, so be it, but I'm not drawing completely dead (an overcard and a 6 pretty much assure me to the nuts; 7 outs minimum.

As it turns out, I'm ahead 60/40.
Hero calls $37.90 all in

Turn: ($107.30) 3d (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($107.30) 3c (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $107.30
CO shows Kh Qh (a pair of Threes)
Hero shows 7d Ah (a pair of Threes)
Hero wins $104.30
(Rake: $3.00)

What would you do? #110 - Facing very coordinated flop from 4bet pre-flop

Sorry for the break from "Back to Basics," but I haven't had time to write an article on the next subject.  For now, here is a WWYD - hopefully I'll be able write an entry for next Monday. 

Full Tilt Poker $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $44.42
Hero (BB): $25.25
UTG: $26.19
UTG+1: $41.21
UTG+2: $51.31
MP1: $27.28
MP2: $32.00
CO: $65.83 - 23/19/ 27% steal / 11.1% 3bet / 67 fold to 3bet
BTN: $33.98

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with Kd Qc
5 folds, CO raises to $0.75, 2 folds, Hero raises to $2.50, CO raises to $7, Hero calls $4.50
First what would you do: this guy is aware of what a steal is.  Are you folding to his 4bet?  11.1% 3bet coupled with his steal %.  I've seen a lot of this steal re-steal.

Flop: ($14.10) Ts Qs 9s (2 players)
Hero bets $18.25 all in, CO calls $18.25
Second what would you do: Are you shoving here or check / folding or check / calling?  What is your course of action?

I really put him on a bluff 4bet and air here.  I don't want a single spade drawing to the win for free.

Turn: ($50.60) 6h (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($50.60) 9d (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $50.60
Hero shows Kd Qc (two pair, Queens and Nines)
CO shows Jc Ah (a pair of Nines)
Hero wins $48.07
(Rake: $2.53)

What would you do?#109 - Flat / raised pre-flop + 2 barrels

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $63.90
BTN: $47.70
SB: $18.10
BB: $116.65
UTG: $89.20
UTG+1: $151.40
UTG+2: $54.15 - 13 / 8 / 41% ATS / 2.9% 3bet
Hero (MP1): $119.35
MP2: $61.15

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is MP1 with Kc Kh
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.50, 4 folds, BB calls $2, UTG+2 raises to $9.50, Hero calls $7, BB calls $7

Flop: ($28.75) 6h 5s Jd (3 players)
BB checks, UTG+2 bets $12, Hero calls $12, BB folds

Turn: ($52.75) Qd (2 players)
UTG+2 bets $18, Hero folds
Only thing I can believe is AA, but if it's not AA, then QQ or JJ...  I have to be beat at this point, right?  What other hands (other than KK) are flat / raising pre-flop like that, and setting up for stacks on the turn?  TT is not, AK may be overplayed, but are they continuing like this?  Less likely.  What do you think?

Final Pot: $52.75
UTG+2 wins $50.15
(Rake: $2.60)

Gotta hand it to the Devil Rays

They come into Yankee Stadium and simply DESTROY the Yankees.  Right now, they are the best team in baseball.

What would you do?#108 - Facing river shove with mid pocket pair

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG+2: $22.90
Hero (MP1): $55.00
MP2: $53.20 - 15/10 / 37% 3bet / 2.1 aggression factor @ 599 hands
CO: $28.20
BTN: $18.30
SB: $55.95
BB: $56.45
UTG: $59.40
UTG+1: $56.95

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is MP1 with 7s 7d
UTG raises to $1.75, 2 folds, Hero calls $1.75, MP2 calls $1.75, 1 fold, BTN calls $1.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($7.75) 6d 6s 2d (4 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $3.75, MP2 calls $3.75, BTN folds, UTG folds

Turn: ($15.25) Jh (2 players)
Hero bets $10, MP2 calls $10

River: ($35.25) 8h (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $37.70 all in, Hero ???
Are you calling? Why? What do you have the villain's range on?


Click to see results

Hero calls $37.70
I'm finding that more and more, these types are situations are completely polarized. I find that a check turn induces a lot of river bluffs, and river checks induce the same. The whole hand has been played so passively that the only reasonable hand that has me crushed and would be played like this is 22, which would have been horribly played. Obviously, overpairs have me beat, but are the calling 2 streets and shoving the river? His bet pattern does not make sense whatsoever, especially with a 2.1 aggression factor.
Final Pot: $110.65
Hero shows 7s 7d (two pair, Sevens and Sixes)
MP2 shows Kd Ad (a pair of Sixes)
Hero wins $107.65
(Rake: $3.00)

Pathetic state of the retirees in this country

Found this in my personal finance blogs:

"About 65% of people age 55 and older have less than $100,000 in retirement savings; just 37% have saved less than $25,000, while around one-third have less than $10,000, according to Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey."

WTF?  Is this scary to anyone else?  Seriously?  Why do most people have next to nothing saved in retirement?  Why isn't this more of a priority for our nation?  I understand that this does not account for primary residences or defined benefits (pension, etc.), but come on!  $10K?  (I truly wish this survey included defined benefit plans and overall net worth, because it would paint much more of a complete picture.)  What a bleak future for retirees.

My take is that I don't understand why companies don't employ an opt-out plan for 401(k) savings.  Essentially, part of the employee's benefits package assumes you set aside income into this tax-deferred savings account, rather than having the employee actively filling out paper work to start the 401(k) plan.  It's a simple change and I think it would automatically encourage new employees to utilize the system.  It's much easier to passively be enrolled than it is to expect the employee to actively seek to be enrolled; most people are lazy and don't care.

Rant over.

What would you do?#107 - When to fold AK?

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

MP2: $54.55
CO: $62.60
BTN: $54.45
Hero (SB): $61.05
BB: $93.10- 7/4 / 0% 3bet / 0% steal / infinite aggression factor @ 137 hands
UTG: $13.85
UTG+1: $72.40
UTG+2: $59.25
MP1: $104.45

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is SB with Ah Kc
UTG calls $0.50, 4 folds, CO calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, Hero raises to $4, BB raises to $12, 3 folds, Hero requests TIME, 1 fold
Am I too nitty here by folding AK?  I have to believe that in 137 hands, he's had ample opportunity to 3bet...  he chooses now, in the BB, with 4 players to act, to 3bet?  I have to assume that he has AA or KK...  What would you do?

Final Pot: $9.50
BB wins $9.50

What would you do?#106 - Slow played KK

I've been playing around with a few different styles, with my main focus being deceptive play. I've been check / raising a lot more flops, trying to slow play monster PF hands, etc. As a result, I've been getting into a few more interesting situations, where, out of position, I'm having tough decisions:

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $72.55
Hero (UTG): $69.90
UTG+1: $51.25
UTG+2: $31.05
MP1: $30.10
MP2: $89.95 - 9/4/ 11% steal / 0% 3bet / 1.5 aggression factor over 157 hands
CO: $126.45
BTN: $50.00
SB: $25.00

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG with Ks Kd
Hero calls $0.50, 3 folds, MP2 calls $0.50, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.50, 1 fold, BB checks
Well, when I was looking ahead at the players in front of me, I saw a bunch of aggros that I figured would be raising.  I did not get what I wished for, as I now face a handful of limpers.

Flop: ($2.25) 7c Qs 2s (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.50, MP2 raises to $4.50, BTN folds, BB folds, Hero calls $3
No Ace, which is a good thing.  I think it may be a mistake to lead this flop; instead I should be going for a check / raise.  However, when I get raised, I have a tough decision... remember this is a 9/4 we're dealing with...  The one good thing about this hand is that I'm no longer monkey-in-the-middle; i.e. BB & BTN have folded so we're HU.

I decide to cautiously call the raise.

Turn: ($11.25) 5d (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $6, Hero calls $6
Check / call and hope for a cheap river...

River: ($23.25) 4c (2 players)
Hero checks, MP2 bets $12.50, Hero calls $12.50
And finally, a fairly "cheap" river.  Very dangerous... I know...

Final Pot: $48.25
Hero shows Ks Kd (a pair of Kings)
MP2 shows Qc Ah (a pair of Queens)
Hero wins $45.85
(Rake: $2.40)

So here's the What would you?  Given that you're determined to slow play KK, and you get limped on, what do you differently in the hand?  Are you raising at all?  Are you going to be nit / passive like me?

His flop raise shouted sets to me, but by the river bet, I felt a lot more comfortable that he did NOT want stacks in, and bet half pot, indicating a medium strength (i.e. TPTK) hand, which is where I probably failed to make the proper read and raise the river.  Oh well; I learn for next time.

Disagree?  Is this dangerous though?

What goes around I guess...

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $59.10
BTN: $57.10
SB: $18.25
BB: $48.75
UTG: $69.10
UTG+1: $39.65
Hero (UTG+2): $56.55
MP1: $122.50
MP2: $52.15

Pre Flop: ($0.75) Hero is UTG+2 with Kd Kc
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.50, 6 folds, UTG calls $2

Flop: ($5.75) 4d Kh 6h (2 players)
UTG bets $4, Hero raises to $12, UTG raises to $20, Hero raises to $54.05 all in, UTG calls $34.05

Turn: ($113.85) 6s (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($113.85) Ts (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $113.85
UTG shows 6d 6c (four of a kind, Sixes)
Hero shows Kd Kc (a full house, Kings full of Sixes)
UTG wins $110.85
(Rake: $3.00)