This is not a bunch of bad beat stories, just enough to get my point accross.
I was continueing the aggressive strategy last night playing 3/6 and it is working but I am just running bad. I was catching cards and taking pots with nothing just like you are supposed to, when I hit a brick wall.
We were short handed and I flopped a fullhouse. I slow played it and it was check around. The turn brought a flush card and a K. It was bet, I raised, and it was called. The river was another K. It was bet and I thought or hoped he made the flush or lower fullhouse so I raised and he reraised. I was so disgusted that I exposed my hand and still called. He had the K. Looking back the raise was not to bad but the call was. The fact that I was over 90% to win the hand again, proves to me at least that I am running bad. A few beats like that fine, but 3 weeks of them and there is a problem. Later I would bet with top pair and get called down by raggedy two pairs. These plays came one after another and I was bust. It was getting late so I went home. Thank god it was only 3/6 so a $130 doesn't hurt my bankroll as much as my ego.
I could have played the hands more passively when I got called but there is just no way of knowing the guy calls with 73o and gets two pair. With no raises you can't put them on a hand and all you can do is lose. I did think about checking it down when called on the turn unimproved and for the low limits this might be the way to go. I just don't want to play like this in the higher limits.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Memorial Day Weekend
I went down to San Jose as planned. Overall it was a good trip but not profitable.
I took a different route this time going over 88 instead of up to I-80 and down. There was not much traffic but it was a two lane mountain road so the pace was slower. According to map quest it is 30 min shorter but I am not convinced. Maybe it seemed longer because I could not gage my progress. There were many small towns along the way but they weren't big enough to make the map and there weren't any signs that said x miles to such and such town. I really looked at my compass and figured as long as I was heading west or south west I was going in the right direction. I got great directions from a gas station just before I was going to go in the wrong direction. I don't know what made me ask but I am glad I did. There were two other times I got lost and had to ask directions but didn't loose much time.
I check into the Fairfield in by Marriot for $79+tax a night and it was worth every penny. It was clean and quite and a short drive to the bay. I signed up for the rewards and plan on staying there when ever I go down. If you need a room in the area I fully recommend you stay there.
Now for poker. I played a few hours fri. night and went up and down a few hundred dollars before getting frustrated and playing bad a dropping a rack. Sat. I went down a rack in the morning and went back to the room for a nap. I am trying hard to get sleep and I know I am getting better but the new bed did not help. I felt better in the evening and won back my two racks and another to cover expenses. I was very happy as I went to bed thinking the next two days would be profit and any amount would be good.
Well that didn't happen. First thing in the moring I couldn't sleep, and I did lay there for 3 hours trying, so I went down tired. I got into a very loose aggressive game and dropped 3 racks. I got up and walked away but the damage was done. I got in a nap and went back down to the same kind of game. I was up two racks for like 10 min and then started to loose it back. I was down a rack and 4/5ths of another when I changed tables. I only had enough for one more rack and I was busto. I came to terms with it and decided to play on.
Now before this weekend I figured out that my post flop play needed help and I started to look for my videos. I couldn't find them before I went down and in fact just found them this morning. As I was loosing I was watching the guys that were winning and tried to figure out what I was doing wrong. I did manage to figure out a few things that I will build on and it started to show.
I bought in for my last rack and finnally started to win. But more importantly I was keeping my winnings instead of giving them back. I managed to get back almost 3 racks before I had to leave. I could see results so I know I am on the right track.
With expenses the trip cost me two racks. I will continue to work on my game and stay local for a few weeks to rebuild my bankroll. If I run well or learn fast I could be back in one weekend but I am not going to force it.
I took a different route this time going over 88 instead of up to I-80 and down. There was not much traffic but it was a two lane mountain road so the pace was slower. According to map quest it is 30 min shorter but I am not convinced. Maybe it seemed longer because I could not gage my progress. There were many small towns along the way but they weren't big enough to make the map and there weren't any signs that said x miles to such and such town. I really looked at my compass and figured as long as I was heading west or south west I was going in the right direction. I got great directions from a gas station just before I was going to go in the wrong direction. I don't know what made me ask but I am glad I did. There were two other times I got lost and had to ask directions but didn't loose much time.
I check into the Fairfield in by Marriot for $79+tax a night and it was worth every penny. It was clean and quite and a short drive to the bay. I signed up for the rewards and plan on staying there when ever I go down. If you need a room in the area I fully recommend you stay there.
Now for poker. I played a few hours fri. night and went up and down a few hundred dollars before getting frustrated and playing bad a dropping a rack. Sat. I went down a rack in the morning and went back to the room for a nap. I am trying hard to get sleep and I know I am getting better but the new bed did not help. I felt better in the evening and won back my two racks and another to cover expenses. I was very happy as I went to bed thinking the next two days would be profit and any amount would be good.
Well that didn't happen. First thing in the moring I couldn't sleep, and I did lay there for 3 hours trying, so I went down tired. I got into a very loose aggressive game and dropped 3 racks. I got up and walked away but the damage was done. I got in a nap and went back down to the same kind of game. I was up two racks for like 10 min and then started to loose it back. I was down a rack and 4/5ths of another when I changed tables. I only had enough for one more rack and I was busto. I came to terms with it and decided to play on.
Now before this weekend I figured out that my post flop play needed help and I started to look for my videos. I couldn't find them before I went down and in fact just found them this morning. As I was loosing I was watching the guys that were winning and tried to figure out what I was doing wrong. I did manage to figure out a few things that I will build on and it started to show.
I bought in for my last rack and finnally started to win. But more importantly I was keeping my winnings instead of giving them back. I managed to get back almost 3 racks before I had to leave. I could see results so I know I am on the right track.
With expenses the trip cost me two racks. I will continue to work on my game and stay local for a few weeks to rebuild my bankroll. If I run well or learn fast I could be back in one weekend but I am not going to force it.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Up and Down Weekend
I ended up staying in on Fri night to try to get more sleep and don’t know I it helped. I know I was still tired Sat. when I went to the Grand Sierra in Reno to check out their Pot of Gold Tournaments.
They didn’t have any limit poker going higher then 4/8 so I sat in a 3/5 NL game. The smallest stack had 500 and the largest looked like 2,000, so I sat down with 300. I posted a few blinds and saw one flop when this hand came up. I had 242 in front of me with pocket 7s in the cut off. 6 people limped in when a MP3 raised it to twenty. I called and so did everyone else. The flop came with a 7 and there was a raise to 200 in early position. There where 3 callers when it came to me and I went all in for my last 22. Everyone called and my set holds up. I went from 242 to 900 in one hand. I stole a couple of small pots for a 100 when it is folded around to me in the cutoff position with A8o. I raised to 25 and am called by the big blind. I miss the flop but when it is checked to me I bet another 25. The turn is the A and we both check. The river is an 8 and the big blind bets 50, I raise to 150 and he calls. My two pair is good and I am up to 1200.
I was there such a short time and I am having a great day. 10 hands later I get AA in late position. There is a 50 bet in front of me with one caller and I raise it to 150. The initial raiser says I have AA but he wants to gamble and makes the call. The other play calls and it is 3 to the flop of KQ5 rainbow. The initial raiser goes all in for 700 and it is folded to me. I did think of KQ but I thought AK was more likely so I called with say five outs. 2 aces, and 1.5 for runner runner flush or straight draw. He has QQ and I am behind. No improvement and I drop down to 500 profit. I am pretty disgusted with my call and decide to play the 6pm tournament for 225 to slow down.
I go to table 4 of the tournament and there is Jerry Buss, the owner of the LA Lakers. Nobody was talking to him at first because IMO they didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. I was quite for awhile too but decided the heck with it and asked him a question about HSP on GSN. He assured me the players used their own money and the rest of the table opened up and started to talk to him. He was very pleasant and a nice guy.
He was pay very close attention to the table and was raising and stealing blinds and people limping in. So I decided to play back at him with A7s. There were 5 limpers when Jerry raised it in late position to 400. It was folded to me and I raised it 1k more. I was surprised when he called because I thought he was on a steal. The flop was ragged so I bet 500 into the 2500 pot and he folded. Whew. Gave me some chips too which I gave back when he re-raised me in late position, all in. I had him covered so I called. My 88 lost to his rivered queens full. I lost another big pot when I failed to re-raise a blind steal with QQ. I went all in on the flop but the button had an opened straight flush draw which and called. He got the straight on the river and I was short stacked. At this point I am just looking for all in opportunities and manage to steal a few blinds to stay alive. I miss two double up calls and finally loose to JJ with my A10o.
I left there and went to the Peppermill around 9pm. I don’t have any hands to really talk about. I was struggling in the beginning then I started to run ok. I was not running great but I was making what I consider my fair share of hands. The bonus of the night was Moe. He was drunk and just pumping money into the game. There was a stack over 2k and I managed to get there too.
Then the broken recorded started. I thought about leaving then wanted one more hundred to fill the rack and I never got it. I was so tired and a player went on a hot streak. Playing short handed and they were hitting their junk hands and killing me. I dropped 700 before I came to my senses and left with 800 in profit. Still made 1,200 for the day, but if I could have left at my high points, I would have been up 2,700.
Sunday I was supposed to have brunch with a friend so I drug myself out of bed at got ready by 10:15. Called to set up the meet and they never answered the phone. So I waited until 11:00 called again and started to pick at snacks. By 11:30 still no word and I left for the Peppermill. Now I was tired when I could have slept in more and pissed that I got stood up. I should have stayed home and did think about it, but you know I went.
Started at 4/8 and couldn’t hit a flop to save my life. I dropped 100 and bought another. I got a magazine and broke out the ipod determined to wait for a hand. Then the 10/20 was called so I moved over and it never happened. The floor tried but only half the list showed up so I went to 1/2nl and bought in for 200. I played a few small pots and was up a little when I flopped 2nd pair with a 10 high flush draw. There was a bet of 20 and I raised to 50 to try and take it right there. He called and we went heads up to the turn. The turn was a blank and he checked to me. I put him on a flush draw too so I bet 50 on my pair. He goes all in over the top and has me covered. Now I don’t think he has the flush draw so I call my last 100. My flush would have been good, but he filled up on the river and I re-bought. I got some chowmein and slowed my play down after that. As I was finishing I noticed the 10/20 got going so I moved there.
I have to admit I was playing loose based on the previous day. I ran better then I had in awhile and thought my slump was over. I still had 1k profit and I was heading to my game. The lineup was a few regulars with some juicy fish. There was 6+ to most flops and they were calling to the river with weak hands. I thought I was set, but I couldn’t get my hands to hold up. I would miss the flop or they would out draw me. Even when I tightened way up I could get action on my big hands or got out drawn. To spare you the gory details, I dropped 900 of my remaining 1,000. I left with only 100 to show for a weekend worth of play.
I am in a cycle that I must break. I am making huge money but I can’t keep it. My card play is not the immediate problem, playing tired and not leaving is. I have renewed my efforts to get sleep this week and not play until Wed. and then take Thur off to make sure I am rested for the weekend. I will go back to Bay 101 for the holiday but if I loose or don’t even cover my expenses I won’t be going back for awhile.
Long and a lot of detail but that is why I am doing this. It is helpful to me to spell it out so I can review every detail. Any comments welcome if anyone runs across this.
They didn’t have any limit poker going higher then 4/8 so I sat in a 3/5 NL game. The smallest stack had 500 and the largest looked like 2,000, so I sat down with 300. I posted a few blinds and saw one flop when this hand came up. I had 242 in front of me with pocket 7s in the cut off. 6 people limped in when a MP3 raised it to twenty. I called and so did everyone else. The flop came with a 7 and there was a raise to 200 in early position. There where 3 callers when it came to me and I went all in for my last 22. Everyone called and my set holds up. I went from 242 to 900 in one hand. I stole a couple of small pots for a 100 when it is folded around to me in the cutoff position with A8o. I raised to 25 and am called by the big blind. I miss the flop but when it is checked to me I bet another 25. The turn is the A and we both check. The river is an 8 and the big blind bets 50, I raise to 150 and he calls. My two pair is good and I am up to 1200.
I was there such a short time and I am having a great day. 10 hands later I get AA in late position. There is a 50 bet in front of me with one caller and I raise it to 150. The initial raiser says I have AA but he wants to gamble and makes the call. The other play calls and it is 3 to the flop of KQ5 rainbow. The initial raiser goes all in for 700 and it is folded to me. I did think of KQ but I thought AK was more likely so I called with say five outs. 2 aces, and 1.5 for runner runner flush or straight draw. He has QQ and I am behind. No improvement and I drop down to 500 profit. I am pretty disgusted with my call and decide to play the 6pm tournament for 225 to slow down.
I go to table 4 of the tournament and there is Jerry Buss, the owner of the LA Lakers. Nobody was talking to him at first because IMO they didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. I was quite for awhile too but decided the heck with it and asked him a question about HSP on GSN. He assured me the players used their own money and the rest of the table opened up and started to talk to him. He was very pleasant and a nice guy.
He was pay very close attention to the table and was raising and stealing blinds and people limping in. So I decided to play back at him with A7s. There were 5 limpers when Jerry raised it in late position to 400. It was folded to me and I raised it 1k more. I was surprised when he called because I thought he was on a steal. The flop was ragged so I bet 500 into the 2500 pot and he folded. Whew. Gave me some chips too which I gave back when he re-raised me in late position, all in. I had him covered so I called. My 88 lost to his rivered queens full. I lost another big pot when I failed to re-raise a blind steal with QQ. I went all in on the flop but the button had an opened straight flush draw which and called. He got the straight on the river and I was short stacked. At this point I am just looking for all in opportunities and manage to steal a few blinds to stay alive. I miss two double up calls and finally loose to JJ with my A10o.
I left there and went to the Peppermill around 9pm. I don’t have any hands to really talk about. I was struggling in the beginning then I started to run ok. I was not running great but I was making what I consider my fair share of hands. The bonus of the night was Moe. He was drunk and just pumping money into the game. There was a stack over 2k and I managed to get there too.
Then the broken recorded started. I thought about leaving then wanted one more hundred to fill the rack and I never got it. I was so tired and a player went on a hot streak. Playing short handed and they were hitting their junk hands and killing me. I dropped 700 before I came to my senses and left with 800 in profit. Still made 1,200 for the day, but if I could have left at my high points, I would have been up 2,700.
Sunday I was supposed to have brunch with a friend so I drug myself out of bed at got ready by 10:15. Called to set up the meet and they never answered the phone. So I waited until 11:00 called again and started to pick at snacks. By 11:30 still no word and I left for the Peppermill. Now I was tired when I could have slept in more and pissed that I got stood up. I should have stayed home and did think about it, but you know I went.
Started at 4/8 and couldn’t hit a flop to save my life. I dropped 100 and bought another. I got a magazine and broke out the ipod determined to wait for a hand. Then the 10/20 was called so I moved over and it never happened. The floor tried but only half the list showed up so I went to 1/2nl and bought in for 200. I played a few small pots and was up a little when I flopped 2nd pair with a 10 high flush draw. There was a bet of 20 and I raised to 50 to try and take it right there. He called and we went heads up to the turn. The turn was a blank and he checked to me. I put him on a flush draw too so I bet 50 on my pair. He goes all in over the top and has me covered. Now I don’t think he has the flush draw so I call my last 100. My flush would have been good, but he filled up on the river and I re-bought. I got some chowmein and slowed my play down after that. As I was finishing I noticed the 10/20 got going so I moved there.
I have to admit I was playing loose based on the previous day. I ran better then I had in awhile and thought my slump was over. I still had 1k profit and I was heading to my game. The lineup was a few regulars with some juicy fish. There was 6+ to most flops and they were calling to the river with weak hands. I thought I was set, but I couldn’t get my hands to hold up. I would miss the flop or they would out draw me. Even when I tightened way up I could get action on my big hands or got out drawn. To spare you the gory details, I dropped 900 of my remaining 1,000. I left with only 100 to show for a weekend worth of play.
I am in a cycle that I must break. I am making huge money but I can’t keep it. My card play is not the immediate problem, playing tired and not leaving is. I have renewed my efforts to get sleep this week and not play until Wed. and then take Thur off to make sure I am rested for the weekend. I will go back to Bay 101 for the holiday but if I loose or don’t even cover my expenses I won’t be going back for awhile.
Long and a lot of detail but that is why I am doing this. It is helpful to me to spell it out so I can review every detail. Any comments welcome if anyone runs across this.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Off Track
Planned on meeting some friends for sushi at the El Dorado and then get in some poker. Ate a light lunch so I could pig out on the all you can eat sushi. Plan worked out and I ate my fair share of the delicious art.
We went to the poker room after wards to see what was going on. They had two 1/2 NL games and a 3/6. We sat in the 1/2NL while waiting for the the 3/6 and hoped they could get a 4/8 going.
I managed to win $30 at the 1/2 NL and thought I could pick up the rest when they called me for the 3/6. We moved there and I lost my $30 profit. I managed to stay even but no head way. I told myself I was going to leave at 9:30 so when we were called for the 4/8 at 8:45 I knew this was going to be trouble.
Sure enough, every flop had an ace on it and twice ran into pocket aces. Managed to get lucky on one hand which I won a decent side pot with but lost the main pot. I was only down $25 when I flopped top two. I had two callers and the pot was looking good. Alas, they both got runner, runner straight on me and I left down $65 in a huff. I was time to go anyway.
I dropped my friend off at home and made bed by 11pm. Not as early I wanted but nothing I could do. Now I am at work the next afternoon trying to stay awake.
I found out the pot of gold tournaments are going on at the Grand Sierra with plenty of action but I don't know if I am awake enough to go. I have to be up early in the morning to fix my truck so I may wait until Sat afternoon. I think I will just play micro limit on line and get good sleep tonight for a Sat marathon. Almost forgot. I think I lost my ipod. I still have a few places to check but it doesn't look good. I still have my music library but may have to buy a new one. Crap.
We went to the poker room after wards to see what was going on. They had two 1/2 NL games and a 3/6. We sat in the 1/2NL while waiting for the the 3/6 and hoped they could get a 4/8 going.
I managed to win $30 at the 1/2 NL and thought I could pick up the rest when they called me for the 3/6. We moved there and I lost my $30 profit. I managed to stay even but no head way. I told myself I was going to leave at 9:30 so when we were called for the 4/8 at 8:45 I knew this was going to be trouble.
Sure enough, every flop had an ace on it and twice ran into pocket aces. Managed to get lucky on one hand which I won a decent side pot with but lost the main pot. I was only down $25 when I flopped top two. I had two callers and the pot was looking good. Alas, they both got runner, runner straight on me and I left down $65 in a huff. I was time to go anyway.
I dropped my friend off at home and made bed by 11pm. Not as early I wanted but nothing I could do. Now I am at work the next afternoon trying to stay awake.
I found out the pot of gold tournaments are going on at the Grand Sierra with plenty of action but I don't know if I am awake enough to go. I have to be up early in the morning to fix my truck so I may wait until Sat afternoon. I think I will just play micro limit on line and get good sleep tonight for a Sat marathon. Almost forgot. I think I lost my ipod. I still have a few places to check but it doesn't look good. I still have my music library but may have to buy a new one. Crap.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
On track
Went and played 4/8 according to my new schedule. Put air in my tires and headed to the Peppermill last night.
Got there about 6:30 and was told the 10/20 just broke but a 4/8 seat was open. This was a situation that I didn't take into account. Although the 10/20 during the week is even more hit or miss then the weekend I will play it instead of the 4/8 when available. This could add to my weekly income, make up a slow night, or (gasp) loose faster. I hope one of the first two.
Got a seat at a short handed 4/8. Forgot just how bad the play is at this level. I got paid off every time and could read them like a book. I was up $80 and started to get over confident and assumed I could outplay them post flop. I could and did, but they called down with any pair so I learned I had to have something. Tightened up but then I started getting out drawn.
I was down 10 when this hand saved me. A raised pot with 6 callers to me in the big blid with K7 suited. I called and flopped four to the flush. I bet, there was a raise and 5 callers. Blank on the turn, I checked, there was a bet and 3 callers. The river was my flush card and I bet and got paid off by all three. I was up $100 now but it was only 8:30 so I stayed.
Turned out to be a mistake because I immediately started to loose again. I was able to battle back and was back up $120 just when the table filled up and I thought I could win more. Lost another couple small pots and was down under my hundred goal. Mistake 2. Half the table left at this time and I thought I saw screwed.
Then a mexican guy sat down that was so drunk and so clue less that the dealer was skipping his action. He bought in for the min. $40, and had no clue how to play. He bought in 3 times and would call down with 83o. He was my saving grace when I felted him twice before he left. I was up 110 and we were down to 4 handed. I should have left then but I realized I didn't factor in gas money into my schedule, so I wanted to get another 10 to cover it. I limped in once, posted the big and little blinds that I folded to raises and our table broke.
With exactly $100 in profit I was moved to the other 4/8 game. I looked at and folded one hand before I came to my senses and left. I didn't cover my gas money but with that in mind I feared I would chase it and loose even more. I will make it up this weekend I'm sure.
+ $100
Got there about 6:30 and was told the 10/20 just broke but a 4/8 seat was open. This was a situation that I didn't take into account. Although the 10/20 during the week is even more hit or miss then the weekend I will play it instead of the 4/8 when available. This could add to my weekly income, make up a slow night, or (gasp) loose faster. I hope one of the first two.
Got a seat at a short handed 4/8. Forgot just how bad the play is at this level. I got paid off every time and could read them like a book. I was up $80 and started to get over confident and assumed I could outplay them post flop. I could and did, but they called down with any pair so I learned I had to have something. Tightened up but then I started getting out drawn.
I was down 10 when this hand saved me. A raised pot with 6 callers to me in the big blid with K7 suited. I called and flopped four to the flush. I bet, there was a raise and 5 callers. Blank on the turn, I checked, there was a bet and 3 callers. The river was my flush card and I bet and got paid off by all three. I was up $100 now but it was only 8:30 so I stayed.
Turned out to be a mistake because I immediately started to loose again. I was able to battle back and was back up $120 just when the table filled up and I thought I could win more. Lost another couple small pots and was down under my hundred goal. Mistake 2. Half the table left at this time and I thought I saw screwed.
Then a mexican guy sat down that was so drunk and so clue less that the dealer was skipping his action. He bought in for the min. $40, and had no clue how to play. He bought in 3 times and would call down with 83o. He was my saving grace when I felted him twice before he left. I was up 110 and we were down to 4 handed. I should have left then but I realized I didn't factor in gas money into my schedule, so I wanted to get another 10 to cover it. I limped in once, posted the big and little blinds that I folded to raises and our table broke.
With exactly $100 in profit I was moved to the other 4/8 game. I looked at and folded one hand before I came to my senses and left. I didn't cover my gas money but with that in mind I feared I would chase it and loose even more. I will make it up this weekend I'm sure.
+ $100
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Revelations in San Jose
I got out of work at 4:45 fri and headed to Bay 101. Hit a little traffic in Reno but all went pretty smooth. I hit San Jose at about 10pm and check into the Motel 6. Not the best room but it was the cheapest close by. The room was clean but small. I would say including the bathroom and vanity it was 17 to 20ft deep and 10-12ft wide, just big enough to put in the essentials. (Bed, TV, Bathroom, Vanity, table w/chair.) I was put in the back on the second floor. I didn’t mind the second floor but Hwy 101 ran right behind the parking lot. I ran the air conditioner and TV to drown out the traffic. I didn’t get much sleep the night before so I relaxed and went to sleep.
Didn’t sleep well on this bed but was up at 7am and out the door. Was at the Bay 5 min later and on the list for 20/40. The first hand I watched someone win with runner, runner straight and knew it was going to be a crazy day. The next hand I post my big blind to see KJo. Four limpers and I check. The flop is J high and I bet out. 2 callers to the turn and it is a blank, one caller to the river to see another blank and I get paid off. Not a bad start. Then I couldn’t get much going. I was sucked out on left and right and I dropped a rack. By 10am I was ready for a nap but played until noon. Managed to get 2-3 hrs of sleep before house keeping woke me up. Should have put out the do not disturb sign.
Back at the Bay and on the list by 4pm. They started a new game a little after 5pm and I got the 8 seat. Can’t remember any hands because I couldn’t get one, unless you want to hear about suck outs or open ended straight draws with a flush draw that didn’t come in. The normal, half the deck helps and I got nothing. I bought in for 400 more then had to buy another rack. I was down to my last stack -800 when I battled back to even for the night.
There were a few interesting people at the table that night. First there was some Indian guy (dot not feathers) that either sat next to me or one seat away, that kept snorting. He wasn’t laughing or coughing, he would just snort loudly every ten minutes or so. I cranked up the ipod and that helped but WTF. He was at my morning table and then later Sat. night and Sun morning. The only thing I could think of is that he has a sinus problem. I finally got so annoyed that I was going to say something when he went broke and left.
Second was this asian guy about mid 20s that sat down and started to win. I am not mad that he won, just that he was doing what I came to do but couldn’t. He was winning every big pot. By big I mean 1k or more. He would just press his +ev hands in multi way pots and 5 people would call or even re-raise then all call. He was in there with some weak hands too. I could see pressing hard with the nut flush draw but 7 high. Of course it was good and he was stacking. He was also playing good hand like AQ and flop QQ7. Two people call all the way. He was getting arrogant at the end and when his long rush was over he switched tables. He won 4k+ in 3-4 hours. He switch tables and won some there also. When I came back in the morning he was still there. He said he left for awhile and came back though. I would say he won 6k in the 10-15 hrs he was there.
The final guy was actually at a different table and I heard the stories. Apparently a white guy in mid 30s sits down at the other 20/40 game and drops 6k. I hear about it just after he leaves and can see two very large chip stacks at the table. This is why I go to the Bay when I can. There is so much action and deep pockets.
Now for the revelations
First if you going on a quick weekend trip like I just did, don’t go out the night before and get drunk, eat a breakfast burrito at 11pm and wake up in 4 hours with heart burns and can’t get back to sleep. 4 hrs of sleep the night before and not getting much more the next night will make for a crabby weekend. You’re not sharp and your play will show it. I tried to be good on Sat. and took a nap but it just wasn’t enough.
Second, setting a specific amount of time you will play in one session is great but be ready to adjust. If you are feeling tired an hour before your set time; leave anyway. Don’t wait for the big blind, rack up and leave. I won all my money back and just enough to pay for my trip and lost it back in 20min right before I was to leave. One hand was just bad luck but the other 3 were tilt.
Lastly, I just got the “Grinder” part of my name. Sounds bad and it is. I have heard many times 1 big bet per hr but it didn’t sink in. I would have these big nights and think I could do it all the time and you can’t. If you are an above average player you will have more then your fair share of big nights because of your bad opponents but you should realize you can’t always or even almost always do it every time. If you don’t get it, and I mean really understand it, you will chase it on bad or even average nights and loose it all back twice as fast. It is like listening but not hearing what the other person is saying.
I wrote it out when I got back home, 1 bb per hr at each level. 4/8, 10/20, and 20/40 and realized if you think of it as a job you are talking about 8, 20, and 40 DOLLARS per hour to sit and play. Obviously, I would like to make $40 per hr and I have the money and skill to do that, but it is not always possible. In Reno a 20/40 game is hard to come by. Also, you end up playing with the same people and your win rate will drop as they figure out your play and stop giving you action.
I was thinking of it like I need to win $500 a night or it was a bad night. So I made a plan and wrote it out so it sinks in. I think I can make 2bb hr at the higher limits and 4bb hr at the lower, so I came up with the following.
Wed and Thur. 4/8 play 3hrs win $100 each night = 200 wk
Fri 10/20 play 6hrs = 300 wk
Sat 10/20 play 8hr = 400 wk
Sun 10/20 play 6hrs = 300 wk
That comes to $1,200 per wk for 26hrs work. $46.15 per hr is a great second job. $4,800 per mo, $57,600 per yr. Now that is some money.
At first it may appear that I set my goal high but if you consider a good night could be more then the whole week, along with special trips to higher limits and continuing to improve my game, it is reasonable. The things to watch out for are fatigue, tilt, and forcing the cards. It is not a race, a little each night adds up. Anyway, I will track it and see how it goes.
Didn’t sleep well on this bed but was up at 7am and out the door. Was at the Bay 5 min later and on the list for 20/40. The first hand I watched someone win with runner, runner straight and knew it was going to be a crazy day. The next hand I post my big blind to see KJo. Four limpers and I check. The flop is J high and I bet out. 2 callers to the turn and it is a blank, one caller to the river to see another blank and I get paid off. Not a bad start. Then I couldn’t get much going. I was sucked out on left and right and I dropped a rack. By 10am I was ready for a nap but played until noon. Managed to get 2-3 hrs of sleep before house keeping woke me up. Should have put out the do not disturb sign.
Back at the Bay and on the list by 4pm. They started a new game a little after 5pm and I got the 8 seat. Can’t remember any hands because I couldn’t get one, unless you want to hear about suck outs or open ended straight draws with a flush draw that didn’t come in. The normal, half the deck helps and I got nothing. I bought in for 400 more then had to buy another rack. I was down to my last stack -800 when I battled back to even for the night.
There were a few interesting people at the table that night. First there was some Indian guy (dot not feathers) that either sat next to me or one seat away, that kept snorting. He wasn’t laughing or coughing, he would just snort loudly every ten minutes or so. I cranked up the ipod and that helped but WTF. He was at my morning table and then later Sat. night and Sun morning. The only thing I could think of is that he has a sinus problem. I finally got so annoyed that I was going to say something when he went broke and left.
Second was this asian guy about mid 20s that sat down and started to win. I am not mad that he won, just that he was doing what I came to do but couldn’t. He was winning every big pot. By big I mean 1k or more. He would just press his +ev hands in multi way pots and 5 people would call or even re-raise then all call. He was in there with some weak hands too. I could see pressing hard with the nut flush draw but 7 high. Of course it was good and he was stacking. He was also playing good hand like AQ and flop QQ7. Two people call all the way. He was getting arrogant at the end and when his long rush was over he switched tables. He won 4k+ in 3-4 hours. He switch tables and won some there also. When I came back in the morning he was still there. He said he left for awhile and came back though. I would say he won 6k in the 10-15 hrs he was there.
The final guy was actually at a different table and I heard the stories. Apparently a white guy in mid 30s sits down at the other 20/40 game and drops 6k. I hear about it just after he leaves and can see two very large chip stacks at the table. This is why I go to the Bay when I can. There is so much action and deep pockets.
Now for the revelations
First if you going on a quick weekend trip like I just did, don’t go out the night before and get drunk, eat a breakfast burrito at 11pm and wake up in 4 hours with heart burns and can’t get back to sleep. 4 hrs of sleep the night before and not getting much more the next night will make for a crabby weekend. You’re not sharp and your play will show it. I tried to be good on Sat. and took a nap but it just wasn’t enough.
Second, setting a specific amount of time you will play in one session is great but be ready to adjust. If you are feeling tired an hour before your set time; leave anyway. Don’t wait for the big blind, rack up and leave. I won all my money back and just enough to pay for my trip and lost it back in 20min right before I was to leave. One hand was just bad luck but the other 3 were tilt.
Lastly, I just got the “Grinder” part of my name. Sounds bad and it is. I have heard many times 1 big bet per hr but it didn’t sink in. I would have these big nights and think I could do it all the time and you can’t. If you are an above average player you will have more then your fair share of big nights because of your bad opponents but you should realize you can’t always or even almost always do it every time. If you don’t get it, and I mean really understand it, you will chase it on bad or even average nights and loose it all back twice as fast. It is like listening but not hearing what the other person is saying.
I wrote it out when I got back home, 1 bb per hr at each level. 4/8, 10/20, and 20/40 and realized if you think of it as a job you are talking about 8, 20, and 40 DOLLARS per hour to sit and play. Obviously, I would like to make $40 per hr and I have the money and skill to do that, but it is not always possible. In Reno a 20/40 game is hard to come by. Also, you end up playing with the same people and your win rate will drop as they figure out your play and stop giving you action.
I was thinking of it like I need to win $500 a night or it was a bad night. So I made a plan and wrote it out so it sinks in. I think I can make 2bb hr at the higher limits and 4bb hr at the lower, so I came up with the following.
Wed and Thur. 4/8 play 3hrs win $100 each night = 200 wk
Fri 10/20 play 6hrs = 300 wk
Sat 10/20 play 8hr = 400 wk
Sun 10/20 play 6hrs = 300 wk
That comes to $1,200 per wk for 26hrs work. $46.15 per hr is a great second job. $4,800 per mo, $57,600 per yr. Now that is some money.
At first it may appear that I set my goal high but if you consider a good night could be more then the whole week, along with special trips to higher limits and continuing to improve my game, it is reasonable. The things to watch out for are fatigue, tilt, and forcing the cards. It is not a race, a little each night adds up. Anyway, I will track it and see how it goes.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Long Week
I finnaly got my bike to start. I had to get a new battery from the dealer, get another shop to put in the fluid, borrow a charger, take it back to the dealer, they charged it, determined it was bad, brought in another one that was bad and finnaly got a new one. Of course they don't call you so you drive down there 3 times to get this done. After another $40 in gas my bike starts. In fact, it starts so quickly that I think I have had a bad battery for years and didn't know it.
I have a rip in my seat that I am finnaly tired of so I start to look for a new one and find out it is $400. Friend tells me where to get it fixed for only $75, sweet. It will be done Sat. so I can't ride it on my trip but the weather man says it is going to be cold this weekend anyway. Once I get the seat back I just have to put air in the tires and change the oil and she will be ready to go.
Last week and half has been busy at work. Getting month long project done in 1&1/2 weeks means 12+ hour days and working on Sat. and Sun. Didn't get to play last weekend hence the trip this weekend.
Played a local tournament last night for $30. You could rebuy twice for $20 ea. but I didn't need to. Made it to the final 4, 2nd in chips, when they wanted to chop. I had been drinking the whole time so I was feeling good. I told them I wanted 1st place money and they could chop the rest. They thought I was kidding so I repeated it. The chip leader pointed out he had more chips and I just said "so what" We didn't chop. The next hand I completed the small blind with 34o and got bottom pair. Chip Leader bet 3k, I raised to 10k, he went all in and I folded. 2 hands later I got sucked out on the river and I was out on the bubble. Maybe I should have chopped?
Going down to Bay 101 and maybe check out Garden City in San Jose, CA. It is a 4&1/2 hr drive so I might not play tonight. I didn't get much sleep last night so am already tired. Damn burrito.
I will start out at 20/40 and see how it goes. I have been in a down swing and my bankroll is a little low. I am looking forward to going to these places a good bit over the summer if all works out. It is sad that the biggest limit game in Reno is 10/20, and even then it is with the same people or not at all. The regulars are starting to adjust to my play so new faces will be good. It also lets me know if I am a decent player or just play against horrible players. I figure if I can win in San Jose concistenly then I might know what I am doing. The money will be good too. Obviously 1 bb per hr at 20/40 is more profitable then 10/20.
I will have to track my play closely because I will now have more expenses to overcome. I will have gas, hotel, and food. The Bay doesn't have comps so I will be out of pocket for food. If I can't beat the game big, it will be more profitable to stay here at the lower limits and treat Bay 101 as a weekend get away.
I will do a trip report when I get back.
I have a rip in my seat that I am finnaly tired of so I start to look for a new one and find out it is $400. Friend tells me where to get it fixed for only $75, sweet. It will be done Sat. so I can't ride it on my trip but the weather man says it is going to be cold this weekend anyway. Once I get the seat back I just have to put air in the tires and change the oil and she will be ready to go.
Last week and half has been busy at work. Getting month long project done in 1&1/2 weeks means 12+ hour days and working on Sat. and Sun. Didn't get to play last weekend hence the trip this weekend.
Played a local tournament last night for $30. You could rebuy twice for $20 ea. but I didn't need to. Made it to the final 4, 2nd in chips, when they wanted to chop. I had been drinking the whole time so I was feeling good. I told them I wanted 1st place money and they could chop the rest. They thought I was kidding so I repeated it. The chip leader pointed out he had more chips and I just said "so what" We didn't chop. The next hand I completed the small blind with 34o and got bottom pair. Chip Leader bet 3k, I raised to 10k, he went all in and I folded. 2 hands later I got sucked out on the river and I was out on the bubble. Maybe I should have chopped?
Going down to Bay 101 and maybe check out Garden City in San Jose, CA. It is a 4&1/2 hr drive so I might not play tonight. I didn't get much sleep last night so am already tired. Damn burrito.
I will start out at 20/40 and see how it goes. I have been in a down swing and my bankroll is a little low. I am looking forward to going to these places a good bit over the summer if all works out. It is sad that the biggest limit game in Reno is 10/20, and even then it is with the same people or not at all. The regulars are starting to adjust to my play so new faces will be good. It also lets me know if I am a decent player or just play against horrible players. I figure if I can win in San Jose concistenly then I might know what I am doing. The money will be good too. Obviously 1 bb per hr at 20/40 is more profitable then 10/20.
I will have to track my play closely because I will now have more expenses to overcome. I will have gas, hotel, and food. The Bay doesn't have comps so I will be out of pocket for food. If I can't beat the game big, it will be more profitable to stay here at the lower limits and treat Bay 101 as a weekend get away.
I will do a trip report when I get back.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
What is this?
I started to follow another blogger but he had finals and stopped blogging so I decided to start my own. I don't know who will see this, but I can't say that I care right now. So lets get started.
Assuming not many people will see this I will treat it like a journal. (If you do find it, feel free to comment.) I will talk about what I do outside of work for the most part.
I am a single guy and fancy myself as a "semi-pro" poker player. By semi-pro, I mean I have a day job and my poker winnings or comp accumulation allow me to buy some things and eat out more then I would otherwise. Not that it is alot, but every little bit helps. I don't think I want to go full Pro. If I loose my job for one reason or another I may live off of my savings and try it for awhile, but I think it would change the game for me. Right now it is extra money, fun, and a time filler, if I went full Pro it would be rent, food, and living. Besides I don't think I am that good.
Other then play poker I ride my motorcycle in the summer. I have a 1996 Honda CBR 1000F. It is an older bike I got a great deal on 2 years back with only 5,400 miles on it. I only have it up to 19,000 mile now so there is plenty of life left in it. I have been thinking of trading it in on a newer one but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I am use to it and can push it pretty far to its limits. It is also a great half breed. It is a CBR so it has its sport bike feel and performance but the "F" designation is the sport cruiser part. You sit alittle more up right for the long rides and it has a much softer seat. The down sides are it is heavy and under powered compared to the newer bikes. The top end is not what drives me, it is the power to get from 0-60 or from 60-100 that I want. If I go on a hot streak in poker I may buy a new one anyway.
This summer I plan on marrying my two hobbies. I will ride my bike to and from the casinos and poker rooms. This may not seem like much, but I plan on branching out and taking some trips. The trip reports will be the bulk of my blog. Not just the games but the ride there. On a bike, just getting there can be an adventure.
I don't plan on spelling out who I am or the details of my life in full, but I am sure details will trickle out and if you read all of my posts you will piece together alot about me. Here is one detail I will spell out. I was NOT an English major in college so if my grammar, spelling, or writing style is not proper, tough. Smart ass comments will be ignored but actual constructive criticism my help my writing.
This is an experiment to me so I don't know where it will lead.
Assuming not many people will see this I will treat it like a journal. (If you do find it, feel free to comment.) I will talk about what I do outside of work for the most part.
I am a single guy and fancy myself as a "semi-pro" poker player. By semi-pro, I mean I have a day job and my poker winnings or comp accumulation allow me to buy some things and eat out more then I would otherwise. Not that it is alot, but every little bit helps. I don't think I want to go full Pro. If I loose my job for one reason or another I may live off of my savings and try it for awhile, but I think it would change the game for me. Right now it is extra money, fun, and a time filler, if I went full Pro it would be rent, food, and living. Besides I don't think I am that good.
Other then play poker I ride my motorcycle in the summer. I have a 1996 Honda CBR 1000F. It is an older bike I got a great deal on 2 years back with only 5,400 miles on it. I only have it up to 19,000 mile now so there is plenty of life left in it. I have been thinking of trading it in on a newer one but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I am use to it and can push it pretty far to its limits. It is also a great half breed. It is a CBR so it has its sport bike feel and performance but the "F" designation is the sport cruiser part. You sit alittle more up right for the long rides and it has a much softer seat. The down sides are it is heavy and under powered compared to the newer bikes. The top end is not what drives me, it is the power to get from 0-60 or from 60-100 that I want. If I go on a hot streak in poker I may buy a new one anyway.
This summer I plan on marrying my two hobbies. I will ride my bike to and from the casinos and poker rooms. This may not seem like much, but I plan on branching out and taking some trips. The trip reports will be the bulk of my blog. Not just the games but the ride there. On a bike, just getting there can be an adventure.
I don't plan on spelling out who I am or the details of my life in full, but I am sure details will trickle out and if you read all of my posts you will piece together alot about me. Here is one detail I will spell out. I was NOT an English major in college so if my grammar, spelling, or writing style is not proper, tough. Smart ass comments will be ignored but actual constructive criticism my help my writing.
This is an experiment to me so I don't know where it will lead.
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