As u may have read I decided to take a break from Poker for the first time in a long time. The break wasn't long and I hate to say it worked but maybe it did, who knows b/c I played 3 FPP sngs and won them all for T$ and played one mtt and won it just now for 8k. I feel more strongly that it was my KQ beating KJ and my 66 beating A9 more than a break but I'll entertain the thought a bit.
I did play very well but I think I've been playing really well lately anyway. The day started with my friend Taylor accidentally throwing a baseball back to the mound that hit my son in the mouth. He was bleeding and crying so much it was hard to calm him down but I finally did. It is so tough when u see the person you love the most hurting. After about 30 minutes I calmed him down enough to step up to the plate and practice hitting and then I almost plunked him. He is doing so much better! I had him choke up on the bat and that seemed to help as he got his first two base hits of the year, the first one a triple that he rocketed to the fence and then he scored on a sac out while sliding under the tag at home. He was so proud of himself and it was great to watch! He got the game ball after the contest and was so excited and had a ball getting dogpiled by his teammates.
We have another game in 5 hrs from now (8:30, wtf) and he can't wait as he went to bed watching Sandlot and immitating Benny the Jet. What a gr8 movie that is.
Anyway, back to poker. I have been talking to a few people that are interested in taking the spot Elky left and I am mulling over my options. I sold 2% of my main event to ZeeJustin today for $400 getting 2-1 and I am happy with that price. I know I am going to do well this year, I can just feel that it's my time. It is a very calming feeling when you know that every move u make is the right one, even if it turns out bad.
Here is a hand when there were 3 tables left. Mind you that the villain was open limping and min raising a lot and I was giving him no respect although we hadn't tangled much. He limped in and I decided to take a flop in position with this piece of cheese.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [Kh 5h]
Mocoddity: folds
hulkhogan8: folds
masiani: calls 2500
nomaddman: folds
Mobatussin: folds
argar: folds
Sooners: calls 2500
iadvancemask: calls 1250
breexin05: checks
*** FLOP *** [6s 3c 9d]
iadvancemask: checks
breexin05: checks
masiani: bets 2500
Sooners: raises 5000 to 7500
iadvancemask: folds
breexin05: folds
masiani: calls 5000
*** TURN *** [6s 3c 9d] [6h]
masiani: checks
Sooners: checks
*** RIVER *** [6s 3c 9d 6h] [6c]
masiani: bets 7500
Sooners: calls 7500
*** SHOW DOWN ***
masiani: shows [7s 5s] (three of a kind, Sixes)
Sooners: shows [Kh 5h] (three of a kind, Sixes - King kicker)
Sooners collected 42700 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 42700 | Rake 0
Board [6s 3c 9d 6h 6c]
Seat 1: Mobatussin folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: argar folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Sooners (button) showed [Kh 5h] and won (42700) with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 4: iadvancemask (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: breexin05 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Mocoddity folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: hulkhogan8 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: masiani showed [7s 5s] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 9: nomaddman folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I don't normally take this line with opponents but I felt if I raised the flop that it would shut him down unless he had the goods. Once he checked the turn I had my mind made up that I was going to look him up on the river. Going with your reads is one thing I truly believe in. There are few players out there that read players better than I but one of my friends Ray Henson is extremely good at it. He has always been dead on and so have I.
The last hand is just a standard hand where the $ is almost always going to get in HU preflop in an online mtt but I'll post it anyway.
Dealt to Sooners [Kc Ac]
Sooners: raises 25000 to 50000
breexin05: raises 346799 to 396799 and is all-in
Sooners: calls 346799
*** FLOP *** [8c Tc Kd]
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
*** TURN *** [8c Tc Kd] [3c]
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
breexin05 said, "7"
Sooners said, "vgg"
*** RIVER *** [8c Tc Kd 3c] [Ad]
breexin05 said, "7gg"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
breexin05: shows [As 7c] (a pair of Aces)
Sooners: shows [Kc Ac] (a flush, Ace high)
Sooners collected 799848 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 799848 | Rake 0
Board [8c Tc Kd 3c Ad]
Seat 3: Sooners (button) (small blind) showed [Kc Ac] and won (799848) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: breexin05 (big blind) showed [As 7c] and lost with a pair of Aces
And there u have it. Maybe I'll take another break tomorrow and ship a Sunday tourney, lol
Russ
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Time for a break I guess
Most of you saw the 1 outer that cost me about $30k in equity on Sunday and the last 2 days have been nothing different. I have never taken a break b/c of running bad but I think it is time to do so. I do not feel like posting any HH but let's just say going 1 for 8 with AA (twice at Final Tables) and getting raped when I have wayyyyy the best of it the last 3 days has taken it's toll on me. I seriously doubt I will be blogging or answering my phone for at least a week.
If I simplify it and tell you I have never had a bad 1 month stretch like this in 10 yrs of playing that gives you a hint to where I am at emotionally at this time. Thankfully I have my son to keep me sane b/c w/o him I really don't know. We all know that when it rains it pours and to make matters worse I got an email from my backer's mgr saying that they are going to drop me as well. If only they paid attention to what is happening to me but oh well, whatever. And to think he thinks he runs bad. lololololol.
Anyway, if u wanna text that is fine but I won't be answering any calls through the weekend. Take care for now.
Russ
If I simplify it and tell you I have never had a bad 1 month stretch like this in 10 yrs of playing that gives you a hint to where I am at emotionally at this time. Thankfully I have my son to keep me sane b/c w/o him I really don't know. We all know that when it rains it pours and to make matters worse I got an email from my backer's mgr saying that they are going to drop me as well. If only they paid attention to what is happening to me but oh well, whatever. And to think he thinks he runs bad. lololololol.
Anyway, if u wanna text that is fine but I won't be answering any calls through the weekend. Take care for now.
Russ
Monday, May 11, 2009
Good Weekend, Bad Weekend
I had the best of both worlds this weekend. In my personal life I got to watch my son play 2 baseball games, take my nephew who I never get to see to one of them and to a Star Trek movie, went to Sea World with my two nieces and my son and also got to spend nite with a good friend in San Antonio. That was the good obv.
The frustration of the weekend comes from poker on Sunday (Shocking, I know) I played very well which has been the norm lately. I finished 3rd in the $215 Mixed HE which I have final tabled 4 of the 5 times I have played it and had good stacks in just about every tourney I played. I was cruising along in the $500 tourney which I have been cashing in on a regular basis. There were like 70 people left out of 1000 when utg shipped 50k with 99 the SB called and I reshoved KK only to lose. I was still ok and had $220,000 chips with blind at 3000-6000 so no worries. I took a few small pots and then this hand crushed my soul.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [Jd Js]
Spoli4tor: folds
Aduobe4: folds
ianiebops: folds
WacKyJaxon said, "ty u2 Sooners"
Dinhjo: raises 7345 to 12345
Mr_BigQueso: folds
BreakRibs: folds
Sooners: calls 12345
Sooners said, "ty"
WacKyJaxon: folds
govshark2: folds
*** FLOP *** [7d Jc 2c]
Dinhjo: bets 19999
Sooners: calls 19999
*** TURN *** [7d Jc 2c] [3h]
Dinhjo: bets 45678
Sooners: raises 268538 to 314216 and is all-in
Dinhjo: calls 160230 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (108308) returned to Sooners
*** RIVER *** [7d Jc 2c 3h] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dinhjo: shows [7h 7s] (four of a kind, Sevens)
Sooners: shows [Jd Js] (a full house, Jacks full of Sevens)
Dinhjo collected 488504 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 488504 | Rake 0
Board [7d Jc 2c 3h 7c]
Seat 1: Spoli4tor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Aduobe4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ianiebops folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Dinhjo showed [7h 7s] and won (488504) with four of a kind, Sevens
Seat 5: Mr_BigQueso folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BreakRibs folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Sooners (button) showed [Jd Js] and lost with a full house, Jacks full of Sevens
Seat 8: WacKyJaxon (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: govshark2 (big blind) folded before Flop
That's as bad as it can get in poker, getting it in with your opponent having one card he can catch with one card to come; furthermore, it happens deep in the biggest tournament of the day when you have a stack. That is the thing about luck. Everyone gives and takes these beats, it just depends on when and where the beats occur. If this happened in a $20 tourney who gives a shit or if I didn't have a stack or if it was the first hand of a tournament but ffs it happened at the worst fucking time possible but that is just the way it goes.
I was so exhausted from the weekend that as soon as I busted out of the tournament I went straight to bed and finally slept for more than 10 hrs so I guess that is good, lol
Russ
The frustration of the weekend comes from poker on Sunday (Shocking, I know) I played very well which has been the norm lately. I finished 3rd in the $215 Mixed HE which I have final tabled 4 of the 5 times I have played it and had good stacks in just about every tourney I played. I was cruising along in the $500 tourney which I have been cashing in on a regular basis. There were like 70 people left out of 1000 when utg shipped 50k with 99 the SB called and I reshoved KK only to lose. I was still ok and had $220,000 chips with blind at 3000-6000 so no worries. I took a few small pots and then this hand crushed my soul.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [Jd Js]
Spoli4tor: folds
Aduobe4: folds
ianiebops: folds
WacKyJaxon said, "ty u2 Sooners"
Dinhjo: raises 7345 to 12345
Mr_BigQueso: folds
BreakRibs: folds
Sooners: calls 12345
Sooners said, "ty"
WacKyJaxon: folds
govshark2: folds
*** FLOP *** [7d Jc 2c]
Dinhjo: bets 19999
Sooners: calls 19999
*** TURN *** [7d Jc 2c] [3h]
Dinhjo: bets 45678
Sooners: raises 268538 to 314216 and is all-in
Dinhjo: calls 160230 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (108308) returned to Sooners
*** RIVER *** [7d Jc 2c 3h] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Dinhjo: shows [7h 7s] (four of a kind, Sevens)
Sooners: shows [Jd Js] (a full house, Jacks full of Sevens)
Dinhjo collected 488504 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 488504 | Rake 0
Board [7d Jc 2c 3h 7c]
Seat 1: Spoli4tor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Aduobe4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ianiebops folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Dinhjo showed [7h 7s] and won (488504) with four of a kind, Sevens
Seat 5: Mr_BigQueso folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: BreakRibs folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Sooners (button) showed [Jd Js] and lost with a full house, Jacks full of Sevens
Seat 8: WacKyJaxon (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: govshark2 (big blind) folded before Flop
That's as bad as it can get in poker, getting it in with your opponent having one card he can catch with one card to come; furthermore, it happens deep in the biggest tournament of the day when you have a stack. That is the thing about luck. Everyone gives and takes these beats, it just depends on when and where the beats occur. If this happened in a $20 tourney who gives a shit or if I didn't have a stack or if it was the first hand of a tournament but ffs it happened at the worst fucking time possible but that is just the way it goes.
I was so exhausted from the weekend that as soon as I busted out of the tournament I went straight to bed and finally slept for more than 10 hrs so I guess that is good, lol
Russ
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Saturday $300
Just saw X-Men movie with the kid after his baseball game and I played one tournament today which was the $300 and I got 4th for $9900. Here are a few hands from deep in the tourney with some explanation.
This first hand I am in the blinds with a crappy holding but I have control of the table and noone is willing to mess with me b/c I have them all covered. When you have an edge over you're opponents you need to exploit it. The opener in this hand was opening a high frequency and I wanted him off of my blinds. When I 3 bet him I assumed he would just fold instead of getting tangled with me but when he called I put him on a middle pair or KQ and QJ JT type hands. He would 've 4 bet shipped AK + TT so I wasn't worried about him trapping whatsoever.
Dealt to Sooners [8s 6s]
yanks1989: folds
xxxALBxxx: raises 3200 to 5200
Supa4real: folds
Sooners: raises 8800 to 14000
Exitonly4: folds
xxxALBxxx: calls 8800
*** FLOP *** [Qc 8c 6c]
Sooners: bets 12000
xxxALBxxx: raises 26000 to 38000
Sooners: calls 26000
*** TURN *** [Qc 8c 6c] [Ts]
Sooners: bets 101308 and is all-in
xxxALBxxx: calls 80835 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (20473) returned to Sooners
*** RIVER *** [Qc 8c 6c Ts] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Sooners: shows [8s 6s] (two pair, Eights and Sixes)
xxxALBxxx: shows [Qd Kc] (a pair of Queens)
Sooners said, "gg"
Sooners collected 268670 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 268670 | Rake 0
Board [Qc 8c 6c Ts Js]
Seat 1: Sooners (small blind) showed [8s 6s] and won (268670) with two pair, Eights and Sixes
Seat 5: Exitonly4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: xxxALBxxx showed [Qd Kc] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 8: Supa4real (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I was going to C-Bet any flop other than 9TJ, TJQ, JKQ flops and I would figure to take down most flops vs this guy. So I flop bottom 2 pair on an all flush board and fire out. When he raised me I immediately limited him to KQ and QJ with a club. If he didn't hold a club he most likely would have shipped it instead of just raising me. I have two options here, I can ship it now and take a flip or I can see the turn and get it in as 65% favorite if he misses the turn. If I check fold the turn if a club or Q hits I still have plenty of chips. So a blank rolls off on the turn and I know he doesn't have QT ( only hand he has that hurts me there is T Tc) He tanks for a good 30 seconds and calls and misses the river and I held a big lead at this point.
This 2nd hand is a little trickier and most people are too afraid to pull it off. They will either say that it is unnecessary or spewy or whatever when u lose but I have become less and less results oriented over time. Brandon Cantu made a move like this deep in the WSOP that maybe cost him millions but I am positive he accumulated a lot of chips playing like this and I know I do. So here we go. Everything in poker is situational and most people see a T4 and just hit auto fold button and for most people that is correct but not always.
Dealt to Sooners [4c Th]
Roberts34: folds
Exitonly4: folds
yanks1989: raises 3700 to 6200
IMAX 81: folds
Supa4real: folds
lousycards: folds
Sooners: raises 11300 to 17500
glfrgmblr: folds
pokerbrat13 is connected
pokerbrat13: folds
yanks1989: calls 11300
*** FLOP *** [8h Ks 2d]
yanks1989: checks
Sooners: bets 22500
yanks1989: calls 22500
*** TURN *** [8h Ks 2d] [5d]
yanks1989: checks
Sooners: bets 55000 ( FIRE THE 2ND BULLET FFS!!!!!!!)
yanks1989: folds
Uncalled bet (55000) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected 86000 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 86000 | Rake 0
Board [8h Ks 2d 5d]
Seat 1: Sooners (button) collected (86000)
Seat 2: glfrgmblr (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: pokerbrat13 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Roberts34 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Exitonly4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded on the Turn
Seat 7: IMAX 81 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Supa4real folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: lousycards folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Before this hand was even dealt I knew I was going to 3 bet Yanks the next time he opened. I was the only one at table who had him covered and as always the payouts are extremely top heavy and it just behooves the person in 2nd place to usually stay out of the Chip Leaders way.
When I 3 bet him I had a plan and you always have to have a plan. Obviously I made my 3 bet amount size to show strength but there are a lot of hands I can 3 bet fold so it's not that big a deal. When he just flats me pre flop out of position he's toast. I found out later that he held TT in the hand so basically he has 1 card in the deck where he continues the hand and I have every other card. Always nice when you're opponent is a 95% favorite to win and you just outplay them and the cards don't even matter. When the flop arrived with a King I was thrilled, as that card fits into so much of a 3 betting range. Then he check calls and I know he is weak. I end up gaining >40k on a hand that is complete trash; furthermore he is going to open less likely with me behind him and my image gets that much stronger.
Here is a 3rd and final hand.
Dealt to Sooners [Jh Jd]
glfrgmblr: folds
pokerbrat13: folds
Exitonly4: raises 4500 to 7500
yanks1989: raises 11700 to 19200
IMAX 81: folds
Supa4real: folds
Sooners: raises 200782 to 219982 and is all-in
Exitonly4: folds
yanks1989: folds
Uncalled bet (200782) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected 49500 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 49500 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Sooners (big blind) collected (49500)
Seat 2: glfrgmblr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: pokerbrat13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Exitonly4 folded before Flop
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded before Flop
Seat 7: IMAX 81 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Supa4real (small blind) folded before Flop
We are 7 handed at this time and it reminds me of a hand that I discussed with a few friends at the Venetian a couple weeks back. Different good players have different ways of playing hands but I have a certain friend who is just way too nitty. In this upcoming hand my friend would 've just flatted out of position pre or 4 bet to 45k and I think both are ridiculous, especially the 4 bet. The only way I would flat here is if the 3 bettor was extremely tight or the opener but the problem there is that I'm losing a ton of value from a gr8 hand 7 handed. By shipping it I take $32000 or so and add that to my 170k stack which is almost a 20% increase. Just as in the prev hand where I 3 bet T4 you do not want to call 3 bets out of position versus aggressive players as it is a recipe for disaster more often than not. If I happen to run into AK then so be it but they are going to fold AQ almost every time, KQ almost everytime and AJ and KJ probably everytime.
You always here people talking about 'losing a flip' or getting unlucky and the best way to not get unlucky is to build your stack without a showdown. I know it sounds easier than it is but when I have my best tournaments I normally have very little showdowns and held crappy cards the whole tournament.
I hope this helps a few of you who are always asking me how I build stacks in tournaments and are asking me if I just catch good cards. If it were only that easy :)
Russ
This first hand I am in the blinds with a crappy holding but I have control of the table and noone is willing to mess with me b/c I have them all covered. When you have an edge over you're opponents you need to exploit it. The opener in this hand was opening a high frequency and I wanted him off of my blinds. When I 3 bet him I assumed he would just fold instead of getting tangled with me but when he called I put him on a middle pair or KQ and QJ JT type hands. He would 've 4 bet shipped AK + TT so I wasn't worried about him trapping whatsoever.
Dealt to Sooners [8s 6s]
yanks1989: folds
xxxALBxxx: raises 3200 to 5200
Supa4real: folds
Sooners: raises 8800 to 14000
Exitonly4: folds
xxxALBxxx: calls 8800
*** FLOP *** [Qc 8c 6c]
Sooners: bets 12000
xxxALBxxx: raises 26000 to 38000
Sooners: calls 26000
*** TURN *** [Qc 8c 6c] [Ts]
Sooners: bets 101308 and is all-in
xxxALBxxx: calls 80835 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (20473) returned to Sooners
*** RIVER *** [Qc 8c 6c Ts] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Sooners: shows [8s 6s] (two pair, Eights and Sixes)
xxxALBxxx: shows [Qd Kc] (a pair of Queens)
Sooners said, "gg"
Sooners collected 268670 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 268670 | Rake 0
Board [Qc 8c 6c Ts Js]
Seat 1: Sooners (small blind) showed [8s 6s] and won (268670) with two pair, Eights and Sixes
Seat 5: Exitonly4 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: xxxALBxxx showed [Qd Kc] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 8: Supa4real (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
I was going to C-Bet any flop other than 9TJ, TJQ, JKQ flops and I would figure to take down most flops vs this guy. So I flop bottom 2 pair on an all flush board and fire out. When he raised me I immediately limited him to KQ and QJ with a club. If he didn't hold a club he most likely would have shipped it instead of just raising me. I have two options here, I can ship it now and take a flip or I can see the turn and get it in as 65% favorite if he misses the turn. If I check fold the turn if a club or Q hits I still have plenty of chips. So a blank rolls off on the turn and I know he doesn't have QT ( only hand he has that hurts me there is T Tc) He tanks for a good 30 seconds and calls and misses the river and I held a big lead at this point.
This 2nd hand is a little trickier and most people are too afraid to pull it off. They will either say that it is unnecessary or spewy or whatever when u lose but I have become less and less results oriented over time. Brandon Cantu made a move like this deep in the WSOP that maybe cost him millions but I am positive he accumulated a lot of chips playing like this and I know I do. So here we go. Everything in poker is situational and most people see a T4 and just hit auto fold button and for most people that is correct but not always.
Dealt to Sooners [4c Th]
Roberts34: folds
Exitonly4: folds
yanks1989: raises 3700 to 6200
IMAX 81: folds
Supa4real: folds
lousycards: folds
Sooners: raises 11300 to 17500
glfrgmblr: folds
pokerbrat13 is connected
pokerbrat13: folds
yanks1989: calls 11300
*** FLOP *** [8h Ks 2d]
yanks1989: checks
Sooners: bets 22500
yanks1989: calls 22500
*** TURN *** [8h Ks 2d] [5d]
yanks1989: checks
Sooners: bets 55000 ( FIRE THE 2ND BULLET FFS!!!!!!!)
yanks1989: folds
Uncalled bet (55000) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected 86000 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 86000 | Rake 0
Board [8h Ks 2d 5d]
Seat 1: Sooners (button) collected (86000)
Seat 2: glfrgmblr (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: pokerbrat13 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Roberts34 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Exitonly4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded on the Turn
Seat 7: IMAX 81 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Supa4real folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: lousycards folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Before this hand was even dealt I knew I was going to 3 bet Yanks the next time he opened. I was the only one at table who had him covered and as always the payouts are extremely top heavy and it just behooves the person in 2nd place to usually stay out of the Chip Leaders way.
When I 3 bet him I had a plan and you always have to have a plan. Obviously I made my 3 bet amount size to show strength but there are a lot of hands I can 3 bet fold so it's not that big a deal. When he just flats me pre flop out of position he's toast. I found out later that he held TT in the hand so basically he has 1 card in the deck where he continues the hand and I have every other card. Always nice when you're opponent is a 95% favorite to win and you just outplay them and the cards don't even matter. When the flop arrived with a King I was thrilled, as that card fits into so much of a 3 betting range. Then he check calls and I know he is weak. I end up gaining >40k on a hand that is complete trash; furthermore he is going to open less likely with me behind him and my image gets that much stronger.
Here is a 3rd and final hand.
Dealt to Sooners [Jh Jd]
glfrgmblr: folds
pokerbrat13: folds
Exitonly4: raises 4500 to 7500
yanks1989: raises 11700 to 19200
IMAX 81: folds
Supa4real: folds
Sooners: raises 200782 to 219982 and is all-in
Exitonly4: folds
yanks1989: folds
Uncalled bet (200782) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected 49500 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 49500 | Rake 0
Seat 1: Sooners (big blind) collected (49500)
Seat 2: glfrgmblr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: pokerbrat13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Exitonly4 folded before Flop
Seat 6: yanks1989 folded before Flop
Seat 7: IMAX 81 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Supa4real (small blind) folded before Flop
We are 7 handed at this time and it reminds me of a hand that I discussed with a few friends at the Venetian a couple weeks back. Different good players have different ways of playing hands but I have a certain friend who is just way too nitty. In this upcoming hand my friend would 've just flatted out of position pre or 4 bet to 45k and I think both are ridiculous, especially the 4 bet. The only way I would flat here is if the 3 bettor was extremely tight or the opener but the problem there is that I'm losing a ton of value from a gr8 hand 7 handed. By shipping it I take $32000 or so and add that to my 170k stack which is almost a 20% increase. Just as in the prev hand where I 3 bet T4 you do not want to call 3 bets out of position versus aggressive players as it is a recipe for disaster more often than not. If I happen to run into AK then so be it but they are going to fold AQ almost every time, KQ almost everytime and AJ and KJ probably everytime.
You always here people talking about 'losing a flip' or getting unlucky and the best way to not get unlucky is to build your stack without a showdown. I know it sounds easier than it is but when I have my best tournaments I normally have very little showdowns and held crappy cards the whole tournament.
I hope this helps a few of you who are always asking me how I build stacks in tournaments and are asking me if I just catch good cards. If it were only that easy :)
Russ
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
A Day 2 Remember
The other day I was rooting on my boy Elky to win the World Poker Tour Championship and he finished a disappointing 3rd. Although it is hard to grasp somebody upset over winning $775k it happens all the time. I can remember when my good friend Dave Baker got 5th at the Bellagio like it was yesterday. We had started off the day having lunch with Ray, Dave's brother Seth and Dave and Seth's parents. We ended the night off at Stack at The Mirage and in between Joe Pelton managed to fit a horseshoe insided his Ass and screw over Dave in the process and leaving Dave $120k day instead of much much more.
Anyway, Elky played unbelievably well and got his $ in as roughly a 60% favorite preflop which is hard to do in a 3 way preflop pot 4 handed. After the final table we all went to Picasso in the Bellagio and had a great meal, great wine, and great conversation. At one point at dinner we were talking about a poker player named prince who wears jewelry and is a gambling degenerate. Someone asked where PRince got all his $ and Eric Liu in his non americanized voice said "I would imagine from record sales" which I will never forget. We all cracked up and Eric had no clue why.
You might have thought that was a great day but the day I am remembering is today. I picked up Austin from after school day care and took him to the movies and we started talking baseball and I remembered I needed to get his basball stuff from his mother's house. Since I lost my phone 3 days ago I couldn' t call her so I decided to stop by (side note I still don't have a phone and really don't want one). My little honey Ashley was so happy to see me and my ex let me play with her for a long time. I helped Austin with his homework with Ashley on my lap and then Kathleen asked me if I wanted to put her to bed which I haven't gotten to do in over 2 years. I am crying while typing this because I miss my baby girl so much. I read her book after book after book and sang to her as I did when she was a baby girl. I really miss those days and am ecstatic I got to enjoy that again. Ashley told me she wishes that I were her Daddy and asked if she could come live with me and I just shed a tear and she says, "ahh, don't cry daddy" and don't tell Mommy I called you Daddy. She is truly the sweetest little girl in the whole world & I hope Kathleen and I continue to get along so I can see her more and more.
Ok back to Poker so I can quit crying. Here is a hand from a 10-20 plo game tonight on Stars. I just chopped a plo tourney in Caesars with xxsteinxx and no for a fact that he is done on the river if I fire and I have no info on the other villain. I decided to not raise the flop b/c my hand has no showdown value obv. In this instance I played the hand perfectly b/c I had 100% correct read on 1 of 2 opponents and that is sometimes all u need. I am 100% sure the other guy had AA and was about 70% sure he would fold to a big bet on the end. It's nice when a plan comes together. Enjoy and gla
** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [9d Jd Kh Qh]
yuanyuan: folds
yuanyuan is sitting out
xthesteinx: raises $40 to $60
damiancho2: folds
ScoopIdo: raises $150 to $210
flaneur: folds
ervinprifti: folds
Sooners: calls $210
Lt.McLuckbox: folds
EDWARDHOPPER: folds
xthesteinx: calls $150
*** FLOP *** [Ts 8d 8h]
xthesteinx: checks
ScoopIdo: checks
Sooners: checks
*** TURN *** [Ts 8d 8h] [5c]
xthesteinx: bets $280
ScoopIdo: calls $280
Sooners: calls $280
*** RIVER *** [Ts 8d 8h 5c] [2c]
xthesteinx: checks
ScoopIdo: checks
Sooners: bets $1400
xthesteinx: folds
ScoopIdo: folds
Uncalled bet ($1400) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected $1497 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
xthesteinx said, "shooow"
xthesteinx said, "booooo"
Sooners said, "i cant"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1500 | Rake $3
Board [Ts 8d 8h 5c 2c]
Seat 1: flaneur folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ervinprifti folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Sooners (button) collected ($1497)
Seat 4: Lt.McLuckbox (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: EDWARDHOPPER (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: yuanyuan folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: xthesteinx folded on the River
Seat 8: damiancho2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ScoopIdo folded on the River
Russ
Anyway, Elky played unbelievably well and got his $ in as roughly a 60% favorite preflop which is hard to do in a 3 way preflop pot 4 handed. After the final table we all went to Picasso in the Bellagio and had a great meal, great wine, and great conversation. At one point at dinner we were talking about a poker player named prince who wears jewelry and is a gambling degenerate. Someone asked where PRince got all his $ and Eric Liu in his non americanized voice said "I would imagine from record sales" which I will never forget. We all cracked up and Eric had no clue why.
You might have thought that was a great day but the day I am remembering is today. I picked up Austin from after school day care and took him to the movies and we started talking baseball and I remembered I needed to get his basball stuff from his mother's house. Since I lost my phone 3 days ago I couldn' t call her so I decided to stop by (side note I still don't have a phone and really don't want one). My little honey Ashley was so happy to see me and my ex let me play with her for a long time. I helped Austin with his homework with Ashley on my lap and then Kathleen asked me if I wanted to put her to bed which I haven't gotten to do in over 2 years. I am crying while typing this because I miss my baby girl so much. I read her book after book after book and sang to her as I did when she was a baby girl. I really miss those days and am ecstatic I got to enjoy that again. Ashley told me she wishes that I were her Daddy and asked if she could come live with me and I just shed a tear and she says, "ahh, don't cry daddy" and don't tell Mommy I called you Daddy. She is truly the sweetest little girl in the whole world & I hope Kathleen and I continue to get along so I can see her more and more.
Ok back to Poker so I can quit crying. Here is a hand from a 10-20 plo game tonight on Stars. I just chopped a plo tourney in Caesars with xxsteinxx and no for a fact that he is done on the river if I fire and I have no info on the other villain. I decided to not raise the flop b/c my hand has no showdown value obv. In this instance I played the hand perfectly b/c I had 100% correct read on 1 of 2 opponents and that is sometimes all u need. I am 100% sure the other guy had AA and was about 70% sure he would fold to a big bet on the end. It's nice when a plan comes together. Enjoy and gla
** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [9d Jd Kh Qh]
yuanyuan: folds
yuanyuan is sitting out
xthesteinx: raises $40 to $60
damiancho2: folds
ScoopIdo: raises $150 to $210
flaneur: folds
ervinprifti: folds
Sooners: calls $210
Lt.McLuckbox: folds
EDWARDHOPPER: folds
xthesteinx: calls $150
*** FLOP *** [Ts 8d 8h]
xthesteinx: checks
ScoopIdo: checks
Sooners: checks
*** TURN *** [Ts 8d 8h] [5c]
xthesteinx: bets $280
ScoopIdo: calls $280
Sooners: calls $280
*** RIVER *** [Ts 8d 8h 5c] [2c]
xthesteinx: checks
ScoopIdo: checks
Sooners: bets $1400
xthesteinx: folds
ScoopIdo: folds
Uncalled bet ($1400) returned to Sooners
Sooners collected $1497 from pot
Sooners: doesn't show hand
xthesteinx said, "shooow"
xthesteinx said, "booooo"
Sooners said, "i cant"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1500 | Rake $3
Board [Ts 8d 8h 5c 2c]
Seat 1: flaneur folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: ervinprifti folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Sooners (button) collected ($1497)
Seat 4: Lt.McLuckbox (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: EDWARDHOPPER (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: yuanyuan folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: xthesteinx folded on the River
Seat 8: damiancho2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ScoopIdo folded on the River
Russ
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Go Elky Go
Quick post b/c I 've been up way too long. Going to watch WPT Championship tomorrow where my good friend and backer Elky is going to take it down and $2.1 Mil in the process. I have been in Vegas for 3 weeks and I am in my 4th hotel and damn it's getting old. I used to love to come out here but I really don't like the town that much anymore. I did see a friend I haven't seen in 20 yrs today so that was nice. I will write more when I can think straight. Go Elky go!!!!
Friday, April 17, 2009
What is Pressure?
Lee Trevino was asked if he thinks Tiger is the best pressure player ever to which he quipped, 'Pressure? Are u joking? He has hundreds of millions whether he makes a putt or not. Pressure is playing for $25 a hole when u have $5 in your pocket, that's pressure'.
I have always been a pressure player. From as far back as I can remember I always had my best games whether it be Football, Basketball, or Baseball when I needed to perform the most. Well, it's not supposed to be the same in the poker world because there is an adherent amount of luck that is involved in a game of chance like Poker. That being said I feel I always play my best when the pressure is on. I remember needing a $30 k retainer to go to court to try to get visitation to my son's sister who I view as my baby girl and I took $1000 and drove 8 hrs to New Orleans for 2 $500 tourneys.
The 1st tourney I was so choked up I could barely play but I righted myself for the 2nd tourney and shipped it for exactly $30k which I took back and gave to my lawyer. Well my backer Elky is on a huge downswing but I told him I had to play the $550 tourney today at Caesars and he told me to pick up a $1000 from his girlfriend Cathy who was over there so I did. I always get excited about live Pot Limit Omaha tourneys because it is my best game and Holdem players for the most part play PLO very poorly. I didn't have any luck for the 1st 2 hours and got unlucky several times but I stole enough chips to stay afloat & then got my $ in really good for a key pot with about 30 players left. When dinner break rolled around 6 hrs into the tournament we were down to 23 players and I had an avg stack and knew I 'd be fine unless I got very unlucky. To make a long story short I ended up 3 handed with 2 very good players and they asked for a chop. 1st place was 11.5 k and 3rd was 4500 so we agreed to take the $ and chop it evenly giving each of us $7700 for 10 hrs work.
I went to the Bellagio next door and there was a gr8 25-50 game that I got talked into playing by a couple of good friends who put up half the $ so I did and although I lost a little in the game I played fine but just got unlucky which is just how it goes sometimes. I do not know what I am going to play next but it feels good to have a little money in my pocket and have options.
Russ
I have always been a pressure player. From as far back as I can remember I always had my best games whether it be Football, Basketball, or Baseball when I needed to perform the most. Well, it's not supposed to be the same in the poker world because there is an adherent amount of luck that is involved in a game of chance like Poker. That being said I feel I always play my best when the pressure is on. I remember needing a $30 k retainer to go to court to try to get visitation to my son's sister who I view as my baby girl and I took $1000 and drove 8 hrs to New Orleans for 2 $500 tourneys.
The 1st tourney I was so choked up I could barely play but I righted myself for the 2nd tourney and shipped it for exactly $30k which I took back and gave to my lawyer. Well my backer Elky is on a huge downswing but I told him I had to play the $550 tourney today at Caesars and he told me to pick up a $1000 from his girlfriend Cathy who was over there so I did. I always get excited about live Pot Limit Omaha tourneys because it is my best game and Holdem players for the most part play PLO very poorly. I didn't have any luck for the 1st 2 hours and got unlucky several times but I stole enough chips to stay afloat & then got my $ in really good for a key pot with about 30 players left. When dinner break rolled around 6 hrs into the tournament we were down to 23 players and I had an avg stack and knew I 'd be fine unless I got very unlucky. To make a long story short I ended up 3 handed with 2 very good players and they asked for a chop. 1st place was 11.5 k and 3rd was 4500 so we agreed to take the $ and chop it evenly giving each of us $7700 for 10 hrs work.
I went to the Bellagio next door and there was a gr8 25-50 game that I got talked into playing by a couple of good friends who put up half the $ so I did and although I lost a little in the game I played fine but just got unlucky which is just how it goes sometimes. I do not know what I am going to play next but it feels good to have a little money in my pocket and have options.
Russ
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Of Course I Believe In Luck
How else can I describe the successes of those who play far worse than I? I haven't been playing hardly at all which is why I have not been updating lately. My backer Elky (who coincidentally is on the cover of Cardplayer Magazine) is on a 7 figure downswing and as such hasn't been in the best of moods. I had a schedule to play 20 events this month and I am not going to come close to that number if I don't get some funds from him quick. I am totally bored out of my mind sittin in my buddies apartment in Vegas watchin movie after movie but it is what it is.
The worst thing about this is that I have been playing so damn well I didn't want to take a break. I would rather be home with my kid if I am not going to be playing so this really sucks but hopefully we can get to work soon. I'll update more when I start playing again.
Russ
The worst thing about this is that I have been playing so damn well I didn't want to take a break. I would rather be home with my kid if I am not going to be playing so this really sucks but hopefully we can get to work soon. I'll update more when I start playing again.
Russ
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Vegas & Da Scoop
I got to Sin City on Saturday and am here for a few weeks and haven't blogged for a few days and have had a few people get onto me about it. I don't know what it is but I never seem to do well in Las Vegas whether I am playing online or not. I mean I have some successes (sunday million win) & won a few tourneys but overall I just do not do well here.
The playboy party the other night was a lot of fun. My buddies Ray and Taylor were there as well as a beautiful girl Shanna who I really pissed off by not paying enough attn to her apparently but w/e, if I was good with relationships I would still be married. Eric Mizrachi and Homeless showed up as well as a few other pals and we had a good time. I do not remember much of the night because I don't normally drink like that but everyone said I had a good time (lol)
The scoop stud h/l was brutal the other night. I cashed in both the $22 and the $215 and the $215 had over 3000 players and I was in 12th when this hand came up.
Seat 1: z32fanatic (78250 in chips)
Seat 2: BigOrange44 (403115 in chips)
Seat 3: Beat By Rags (111179 in chips)
Seat 4: icefloe (374336 in chips)
Seat 5: krookedDJ (12089 in chips)
Seat 7: Sooners (256358 in chips)
Seat 8: P0KERDUUDE (621709 in chips)
z32fanatic: posts the ante 2400
BigOrange44: posts the ante 2400
Beat By Rags: posts the ante 2400
icefloe: posts the ante 2400
krookedDJ: posts the ante 2400
Sooners: posts the ante 2400
P0KERDUUDE: posts the ante 2400
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to z32fanatic [5s]
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h]
Dealt to Beat By Rags [7d]
Dealt to icefloe [9c]
Dealt to krookedDJ [8c]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d]
Dealt to P0KERDUUDE [5h]
Sooners: brings in for 3600
P0KERDUUDE: folds
z32fanatic: folds
Beat By Rags said, "so lucky u are"
BigOrange44: raises 8400 to 12000
P0KERDUUDE said, "lol close one"
Sooners said, "yeah ur funny"
Beat By Rags: folds
icefloe: folds
krookedDJ: folds
Sooners: calls 8400
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h] [Qd]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d] [As]
Sooners: checks
BigOrange44: bets 12000
_cardy_ is connected
Beat By Rags said, "a pair and the nut low draw on 5th id say u got lucky"
Sooners: raises 12000 to 24000
BigOrange44: raises 12000 to 36000
Sooners said, " that hand i was lucky yes"
Sooners said, "not overall"
Sooners: raises 12000 to 48000
Betting is capped
BigOrange44: calls 12000
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h Qd] [Qc]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As] [Td]
BigOrange44: bets 24000
Sooners: calls 24000
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h Qd Qc] [8d]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As Td] [Ac]
Sooners: bets 24000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 48000
Sooners: raises 24000 to 72000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 96000
Betting is capped
Sooners: calls 24000
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac] [7h]
Sooners: bets 24000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 48000
Sooners: raises 24000 to 72000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 96000
Betting is capped
Sooners: calls 1958 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (22042) returned to BigOrange44
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BigOrange44: shows [Qh Qs 3h Qd Qc 8d 3s] (HI: four of a kind, Queens)
Sooners: shows [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac 7h] (HI: a full house, Aces full of Threes)
Sooners said, "yep im lucky"
BigOrange44 collected 524716 from pot
No low hand qualified
icefloe said, "ROTFL!"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 524716 | Rake 0
Seat 1: z32fanatic folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BigOrange44 showed [Qh Qs 3h Qd Qc 8d 3s] and won (524716) with HI: four of a kind, Queens
Seat 3: Beat By Rags folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 4: icefloe folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 5: krookedDJ folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Sooners showed [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac 7h] and lost with HI: a full house, Aces full of Threes
Seat 8: P0KERDUUDE folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Now to get bounced by Aces full to quads always sucks, it is even moreso after beating 3000 players (many have no clue & are even harder to beat) so instead of being the chip leader and a good shot at $26k I end up with shit ($400 or w/e it was)
Later that night this happened in cash game between about 6 more hands just like them.
Dealt to Sooners [Tc 9d Kh Ks]
bruce18lee: folds
jaymac111: folds
cane3418: folds
Gladys67: folds
flabbygaby: raises $20 to $40
Choron: calls $40
hamsa: folds
ktrieu: folds
Sooners: calls $20
*** FLOP *** [8h Kc Qh]
Sooners: bets $120
flabbygaby: calls $120
Choron: calls $120
*** TURN *** [8h Kc Qh] [7c]
Sooners: bets $487
flabbygaby: raises $530 to $1017 and is all-in
Choron: folds
Sooners: calls $530
*** RIVER *** [8h Kc Qh 7c] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Sooners: shows [Tc 9d Kh Ks] (three of a kind, Kings)
flabbygaby: shows [Qc Kd 2c 7d] (a flush, King high)
Sooners said, "omg"
flabbygaby collected $2521 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2524 | Rake $3
Board [8h Kc Qh 7c 3c]
Seat 1: Sooners (big blind) showed [Tc 9d Kh Ks] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 2: bruce18lee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: jaymac111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: cane3418 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Gladys67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: flabbygaby showed [Qc Kd 2c 7d] and won ($2521) with a flush, King high
Seat 7: Choron folded on the Turn
Seat 8: hamsa (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ktrieu (small blind) folded before Flop
Not really into posting bad beats but my boy Shaniac said people like to read HH and I ve been asked to post some hands. Hopefully next time I will be posting a hand that I actually win :) Going to Venetian tomorrow and plan on winning it so I will post more soon. GL
Russ
The playboy party the other night was a lot of fun. My buddies Ray and Taylor were there as well as a beautiful girl Shanna who I really pissed off by not paying enough attn to her apparently but w/e, if I was good with relationships I would still be married. Eric Mizrachi and Homeless showed up as well as a few other pals and we had a good time. I do not remember much of the night because I don't normally drink like that but everyone said I had a good time (lol)
The scoop stud h/l was brutal the other night. I cashed in both the $22 and the $215 and the $215 had over 3000 players and I was in 12th when this hand came up.
Seat 1: z32fanatic (78250 in chips)
Seat 2: BigOrange44 (403115 in chips)
Seat 3: Beat By Rags (111179 in chips)
Seat 4: icefloe (374336 in chips)
Seat 5: krookedDJ (12089 in chips)
Seat 7: Sooners (256358 in chips)
Seat 8: P0KERDUUDE (621709 in chips)
z32fanatic: posts the ante 2400
BigOrange44: posts the ante 2400
Beat By Rags: posts the ante 2400
icefloe: posts the ante 2400
krookedDJ: posts the ante 2400
Sooners: posts the ante 2400
P0KERDUUDE: posts the ante 2400
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to z32fanatic [5s]
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h]
Dealt to Beat By Rags [7d]
Dealt to icefloe [9c]
Dealt to krookedDJ [8c]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d]
Dealt to P0KERDUUDE [5h]
Sooners: brings in for 3600
P0KERDUUDE: folds
z32fanatic: folds
Beat By Rags said, "so lucky u are"
BigOrange44: raises 8400 to 12000
P0KERDUUDE said, "lol close one"
Sooners said, "yeah ur funny"
Beat By Rags: folds
icefloe: folds
krookedDJ: folds
Sooners: calls 8400
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h] [Qd]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d] [As]
Sooners: checks
BigOrange44: bets 12000
_cardy_ is connected
Beat By Rags said, "a pair and the nut low draw on 5th id say u got lucky"
Sooners: raises 12000 to 24000
BigOrange44: raises 12000 to 36000
Sooners said, " that hand i was lucky yes"
Sooners said, "not overall"
Sooners: raises 12000 to 48000
Betting is capped
BigOrange44: calls 12000
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h Qd] [Qc]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As] [Td]
BigOrange44: bets 24000
Sooners: calls 24000
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to BigOrange44 [3h Qd Qc] [8d]
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As Td] [Ac]
Sooners: bets 24000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 48000
Sooners: raises 24000 to 72000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 96000
Betting is capped
Sooners: calls 24000
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to Sooners [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac] [7h]
Sooners: bets 24000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 48000
Sooners: raises 24000 to 72000
BigOrange44: raises 24000 to 96000
Betting is capped
Sooners: calls 1958 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (22042) returned to BigOrange44
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BigOrange44: shows [Qh Qs 3h Qd Qc 8d 3s] (HI: four of a kind, Queens)
Sooners: shows [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac 7h] (HI: a full house, Aces full of Threes)
Sooners said, "yep im lucky"
BigOrange44 collected 524716 from pot
No low hand qualified
icefloe said, "ROTFL!"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 524716 | Rake 0
Seat 1: z32fanatic folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BigOrange44 showed [Qh Qs 3h Qd Qc 8d 3s] and won (524716) with HI: four of a kind, Queens
Seat 3: Beat By Rags folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 4: icefloe folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 5: krookedDJ folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Sooners showed [Ad 3c 3d As Td Ac 7h] and lost with HI: a full house, Aces full of Threes
Seat 8: P0KERDUUDE folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Now to get bounced by Aces full to quads always sucks, it is even moreso after beating 3000 players (many have no clue & are even harder to beat) so instead of being the chip leader and a good shot at $26k I end up with shit ($400 or w/e it was)
Later that night this happened in cash game between about 6 more hands just like them.
Dealt to Sooners [Tc 9d Kh Ks]
bruce18lee: folds
jaymac111: folds
cane3418: folds
Gladys67: folds
flabbygaby: raises $20 to $40
Choron: calls $40
hamsa: folds
ktrieu: folds
Sooners: calls $20
*** FLOP *** [8h Kc Qh]
Sooners: bets $120
flabbygaby: calls $120
Choron: calls $120
*** TURN *** [8h Kc Qh] [7c]
Sooners: bets $487
flabbygaby: raises $530 to $1017 and is all-in
Choron: folds
Sooners: calls $530
*** RIVER *** [8h Kc Qh 7c] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Sooners: shows [Tc 9d Kh Ks] (three of a kind, Kings)
flabbygaby: shows [Qc Kd 2c 7d] (a flush, King high)
Sooners said, "omg"
flabbygaby collected $2521 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2524 | Rake $3
Board [8h Kc Qh 7c 3c]
Seat 1: Sooners (big blind) showed [Tc 9d Kh Ks] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 2: bruce18lee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: jaymac111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: cane3418 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Gladys67 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: flabbygaby showed [Qc Kd 2c 7d] and won ($2521) with a flush, King high
Seat 7: Choron folded on the Turn
Seat 8: hamsa (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ktrieu (small blind) folded before Flop
Not really into posting bad beats but my boy Shaniac said people like to read HH and I ve been asked to post some hands. Hopefully next time I will be posting a hand that I actually win :) Going to Venetian tomorrow and plan on winning it so I will post more soon. GL
Russ
Friday, April 3, 2009
3 weeks in Vegas & greatest slowroll ever
Tomorrow morning is my son's first baseball game ever and so I put off my trip from Monday until tomorrow b/c well he's more important than anything. My friend Taylor & I leave tomorrow through the 27th and are going to grind the tournaments @ the Venetian Best cardroom in Vegas) but tomorrow will be all partying!
After I check into my suite next to the Bunny Hut (top floor of Palms) we are headed to a table on the dance floor of Moon for Hefner's (yes that Hefner) playboy bday party. I wouldn't spring for a dance floor table which is 4 bottle minimum and about $2500 but luckily I have a few friends who don't mind. After we drink an insane amount of Vodka with friends we will work but first things first.
Now I have always been against slowrolling and would never do it to someone who didn't ask for it or who I didn't know but this was too good to pass up. I sat down with my good friend Chris Moneymaker in a 1-2 plo game & Chris and I play a lot together online and we get along great. He is definitely one of my good friends and is a stand up guy. I could care less about the fact that he is a world champion but I love the fact that he's just a grounded normal fellow.
Anyway, we always call each other names like fishcakes and donkapotamus when playing and this hand comes up.
After I check into my suite next to the Bunny Hut (top floor of Palms) we are headed to a table on the dance floor of Moon for Hefner's (yes that Hefner) playboy bday party. I wouldn't spring for a dance floor table which is 4 bottle minimum and about $2500 but luckily I have a few friends who don't mind. After we drink an insane amount of Vodka with friends we will work but first things first.
Now I have always been against slowrolling and would never do it to someone who didn't ask for it or who I didn't know but this was too good to pass up. I sat down with my good friend Chris Moneymaker in a 1-2 plo game & Chris and I play a lot together online and we get along great. He is definitely one of my good friends and is a stand up guy. I could care less about the fact that he is a world champion but I love the fact that he's just a grounded normal fellow.
Anyway, we always call each other names like fishcakes and donkapotamus when playing and this hand comes up.
*********** # 31 **************
PokerStars Game #26703636670: Omaha Pot Limit ($1/$2) - 2009/04/04 2:44:01 ET
Table 'Silvretta' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Money800 ($789.15 in chips)
Seat 2: Sooners ($200 in chips)
Sooners: posts small blind $1
Money800: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Sooners [Qh Jc Tc 2d]
Money800 said, "lo"
Money800 said, "l"
Sooners: calls $1
Sooners said, "l"
Money800: checks
*** FLOP *** [6h 9c 8c]
Sooners said, "o"
Sooners said, "l"
Money800: checks
Sooners said, "im drining too obv"
Sooners: bets $3.80
Money800: calls $3.80
*** TURN *** [6h 9c 8c] [Qc]
Money800: checks
greasetrucks [observer] said, "i'm a peaty scotch drinker"
Sooners: bets $10
Money800: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [6h 9c 8c Qc] [6c]
Money800: checks
Sooners: bets $31.10
Sooners said, "raise"
greasetrucks [observer] said, "18 yr glenlivet"
Money800 said, "play worse when you drink"
Money800: raises $93.30 to $124.40
slvalley [observer] said, "the entire planet is drunk or on their way"
newluckytaco [observer] said, "Sooner the more money you give him the more i can take from him"
Sooners said, "what do u have?"
slvalley [observer] said, "good q"
Sooners said, "i have a frush"
Money800 said, "6"
slvalley [observer] said, "lol"
Sooners said, "6 what?"
Money800 said, "fold"
slvalley [observer] said, "omfg"
Sooners: raises $59.80 to $184.20 and is all-in
Money800 said, "fishcake"
Money800: calls $59.80
pepe8505 [observer] said, "is full"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Sooners: shows [Qh Jc Tc 2d] (a straight flush, Eight to Queen)
Money800: mucks hand
Sooners collected $399.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $400 | Rake $0.50
Board [6h 9c 8c Qc 6c]
Seat 1: Money800 (big blind) mucked [8s 2h 8d Qd]
Seat 2: Sooners (button) (small blind) showed [Qh Jc Tc 2d] and won ($399.50) with a straight flush, Eight to Queen
Omg I laughed so hard I could hardly breathe. The rail was blowing up as it always is when a top pro sits down
and that made it that much funnier. I guarantee you when he calls me tomorrow we are going to have some friendly banter.
Gl to everyone and I look fwd to this next few weeks. I am going to light it up, mark my words.
Russ
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Accountability
There is accountability in everyday life whether it be our personal life or business. Sometimes the two intertwine. I am watching Sportscenter at the moment and John Calipari's press conference and also awaiting any news on Oklahoma's Head Coach Jeff Capel who I really want to stay at OU.
Although I would love to see Capel stay I laugh at the people who ridicule anyone for taking better jobs for whatever reason. It is usually someone who is a working person who thinks coaches or players make too much money in the first place which may or may not be true. Others say that they have a contract and should honor it. Well let's imagine this. Let's say you work at Bank of America and have been there for 5 years and are making $50k. Now that's a lot of $ but here comes Wells Fargo offering you $75k. Do you pass it up b/c of loyalty? I mean seriously, is your loyalty to the companyu keep from 9-5 or your family you see the rest of the time? If you say the company I loathe you.
As it relates to sports the only people who are getting the shaft are the players. Once they commit to a university they have no recourse if the coach that recruited them and text msgd them every day leaves for another school. They either go play for a coach they don't know or they have to give up a year of playing and in some cases these high profile players are only going to school for 2 years or less to begin with. I hate to bitch w/o a solution but there is only one and that is to let the players out of their letter of intent in these instances but not allow them to follow the coach who just left. Here is a problem that noone ever talks about. What if the players are allowed out? Now the new coach wants them to come where he is going but there is a whole different set of players who are already signed to go to that school.
Now to the good stuff of the moment. The Scoop (Spring Championship of Online Poker) starts tomorrow and $30 million guaranteed. I think they put to big a guarantees on this series myself but that's fine by me obviously. With this and then the Ftops right after followed by the World Series of Poker there are going to be a few rich people and a lot of broke players by the end of July.
I leave Saturday for Las Vegas til the 27 and I heard from my close friend Ray Henson saying that he is out there as well for the Bellagio tournaments and he wants to join me (with his beautiful wife Rheanna) for Hefner's bday party and I am sure I can get him in so that will be fun. For those of you who don't know who Ray is you should. He got 12th in the main event the year Jerry Yang won and if not for a couple of hands things could have been so much different but that is poker at it's best. He and our friend David Baker have been close so many times for huge life changing $ only to let it escape yet our friend Cornel snaps off 1.7 mil the 1st time he goes deep in a huge tournament. That is just a small example of the bitch we refer to as variance. To Ray & Dave's credit they don't whine about their missed oppurtunities and just continue to play their best.
After we go to the party & do the show thing the next day I think maybe we'll get a few beers and watch the National Title game where I have UNC beating Uconn for the title. I will def not be blogging much from Sat thru weekend but I will get some pics from the party & post them.
Russ
Although I would love to see Capel stay I laugh at the people who ridicule anyone for taking better jobs for whatever reason. It is usually someone who is a working person who thinks coaches or players make too much money in the first place which may or may not be true. Others say that they have a contract and should honor it. Well let's imagine this. Let's say you work at Bank of America and have been there for 5 years and are making $50k. Now that's a lot of $ but here comes Wells Fargo offering you $75k. Do you pass it up b/c of loyalty? I mean seriously, is your loyalty to the companyu keep from 9-5 or your family you see the rest of the time? If you say the company I loathe you.
As it relates to sports the only people who are getting the shaft are the players. Once they commit to a university they have no recourse if the coach that recruited them and text msgd them every day leaves for another school. They either go play for a coach they don't know or they have to give up a year of playing and in some cases these high profile players are only going to school for 2 years or less to begin with. I hate to bitch w/o a solution but there is only one and that is to let the players out of their letter of intent in these instances but not allow them to follow the coach who just left. Here is a problem that noone ever talks about. What if the players are allowed out? Now the new coach wants them to come where he is going but there is a whole different set of players who are already signed to go to that school.
Now to the good stuff of the moment. The Scoop (Spring Championship of Online Poker) starts tomorrow and $30 million guaranteed. I think they put to big a guarantees on this series myself but that's fine by me obviously. With this and then the Ftops right after followed by the World Series of Poker there are going to be a few rich people and a lot of broke players by the end of July.
I leave Saturday for Las Vegas til the 27 and I heard from my close friend Ray Henson saying that he is out there as well for the Bellagio tournaments and he wants to join me (with his beautiful wife Rheanna) for Hefner's bday party and I am sure I can get him in so that will be fun. For those of you who don't know who Ray is you should. He got 12th in the main event the year Jerry Yang won and if not for a couple of hands things could have been so much different but that is poker at it's best. He and our friend David Baker have been close so many times for huge life changing $ only to let it escape yet our friend Cornel snaps off 1.7 mil the 1st time he goes deep in a huge tournament. That is just a small example of the bitch we refer to as variance. To Ray & Dave's credit they don't whine about their missed oppurtunities and just continue to play their best.
After we go to the party & do the show thing the next day I think maybe we'll get a few beers and watch the National Title game where I have UNC beating Uconn for the title. I will def not be blogging much from Sat thru weekend but I will get some pics from the party & post them.
Russ
Monday, March 30, 2009
Reflexion
I do not usually read other people's blogs but I came across traheho's who is a well established pro who plays at the highest levels where 100k swings are inevitable. He talks about where he loses KK to AA twice in one night for 250,000 against his good friend who he then went out and had drinks with. I can only imagine being numb to that type of a swing. I remember winning about a 200k pot on FTP 200-400 last year and losing one about the same size and I can tell you 100% that I wasn't numb to it at all & further the losing is always so much worse than the winning kind of like betting sports.
Alec talks about being emotionless and how he is taking time off. I think being emotionless is okay but not great. I mean if it doesn't matter and you don't put any value on the $ I think you are heading down a slippery slope but by the same token you can't put the $ on a pedestal and it be an end all or you will get owned so hard it will make your head spin. I just busted out of the 162 nightly hundred grand in 20th of 968 players and I am definitely upset. There were some huge pots where I was a heavy favorite that didn't work out my way but it doesn't change the fact that $28 k just possibly slipped through my hand.
I have been playing professionally for 9 years and I used to talk extensively with my fellow pro and friend David Baker about what it takes to be a professional. He & I have it a lot tougher because we have kids and lots of bills. I cannot imagine how much easier it would be to play my game if I had neither. Now I obviously am not saying that I would change a thing b/c anyone who knows me knows my son is the most important thing in the world to me and David's little girl to him, but it must be nice to have no worries about going broke and ruining others lives as well as our own. I do not know Traheho personally but he has my respect nonetheless.
Aside from poker I am headed for Las Vegas this Saturday after my son's baseball game to go to Hugh Hefner's bday bash at the Palms and I am in the suite next to the Bunny Hut :) so at least I can relax a bit and then it's Venetian series which I am gonna tear up and get me a live win which I haven't had in a year. I haven't played much but that's not the point.
Russ
Alec talks about being emotionless and how he is taking time off. I think being emotionless is okay but not great. I mean if it doesn't matter and you don't put any value on the $ I think you are heading down a slippery slope but by the same token you can't put the $ on a pedestal and it be an end all or you will get owned so hard it will make your head spin. I just busted out of the 162 nightly hundred grand in 20th of 968 players and I am definitely upset. There were some huge pots where I was a heavy favorite that didn't work out my way but it doesn't change the fact that $28 k just possibly slipped through my hand.
I have been playing professionally for 9 years and I used to talk extensively with my fellow pro and friend David Baker about what it takes to be a professional. He & I have it a lot tougher because we have kids and lots of bills. I cannot imagine how much easier it would be to play my game if I had neither. Now I obviously am not saying that I would change a thing b/c anyone who knows me knows my son is the most important thing in the world to me and David's little girl to him, but it must be nice to have no worries about going broke and ruining others lives as well as our own. I do not know Traheho personally but he has my respect nonetheless.
Aside from poker I am headed for Las Vegas this Saturday after my son's baseball game to go to Hugh Hefner's bday bash at the Palms and I am in the suite next to the Bunny Hut :) so at least I can relax a bit and then it's Venetian series which I am gonna tear up and get me a live win which I haven't had in a year. I haven't played much but that's not the point.
Russ
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Carnival Time
I finished up a light night of Poker late last night (3:30 a.m) and crashed after setting 3 alarm clocks to wake up for my son's baseball parade which he was obviously psyched about. Well we get outside at 8 a.m. and it's 35 degrees. WTF! The weather is one of the reasons why I live in Texas and 35 is way too cold to do anything outside. Furthermore, we had to park a mile down the road and take shuttle buses to the field b/c of no parking at baseball fields. There were over 1000 kids at this opening day parade for the new season. Jeff Kent was on hand and his 4 kids are playing in the league. I wouldn't say Kent was a favorite player of mine but I definitely like the way he put his family before the game and the way he always handled himself honorably on the diamond. Grammy award winner Rick Trevino was there for the national anthem and was introduced as Lee Trevino which was kinda funny.
After the parade there was a skills competition where my boy fired it 48 mph and I have no idea if that is good or not but he's having fun and that is all that matters. I got an invite to go to Hugh Hefner's bday party in Vegas at the Playboy Club and stay in a suite next to the Bunny Hut on the top floor but it's on Saturday and so are my son's games. I am going to try and do both but my boy comes before da bunnies.
Poker has sucked for the last 24 hrs but that is just the way it goes. I got 7th in a super turbo where I shipped ATh over a raise 5 handed and lost a huge stack when he woke up with QQ and I hated the shove after I did it. Usually it's a standard shove but I had a note that this player was uber tight and I neglected to use my notes. Hopefully I go deep & win something on Sunday and all is good.
Go Sooners tomorrow vs UNC Get your Griffin on!!!!!!
Russ
After the parade there was a skills competition where my boy fired it 48 mph and I have no idea if that is good or not but he's having fun and that is all that matters. I got an invite to go to Hugh Hefner's bday party in Vegas at the Playboy Club and stay in a suite next to the Bunny Hut on the top floor but it's on Saturday and so are my son's games. I am going to try and do both but my boy comes before da bunnies.
Poker has sucked for the last 24 hrs but that is just the way it goes. I got 7th in a super turbo where I shipped ATh over a raise 5 handed and lost a huge stack when he woke up with QQ and I hated the shove after I did it. Usually it's a standard shove but I had a note that this player was uber tight and I neglected to use my notes. Hopefully I go deep & win something on Sunday and all is good.
Go Sooners tomorrow vs UNC Get your Griffin on!!!!!!
Russ
Friday, March 27, 2009
Massage, Chiropractor, Baseball w/ da man & Late Night Poker
Not many things make a Poker player wake up in the morning and I am no exception but I do wake up for massages so as I rolled outta bed at 8:58 with my alarm going off ( I just went to bed at 4 btw) I was thinking 'can I cancel' & since that would be super rude and my masseusse is really cool I decided against it. After my 90 minute massage I went to the chiropractor, Dr. Perfect as I call her. She is truly one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, whether on Tv or in person and yet this is the only time I have gone & seen her. I got my back adjusted and went by to drop some $ off with my ex-wife who works across the street then headed home for lunch I had picked up at Kenobi's. Kenobi's is a spin off of the best Sushi place anywhere (Uptown Sushi in Houston)
After a quick bite I decided to go pick up my lil man at school and we went to Dick's Sporting Goods and I bought him a UT hat (PUKING AS I TYPE UT) and 12 baseballs so I can pitch to him and get him use to batting. His first baseball game is this Saturday and he is so excited! He is very nervous but as long as he tries his best I will be proud.
Then came the work part of the evening while watching Mizzou tear Memphis a new Ass with my buddy from Columbia, Missouri who was at the time destroying the $30 plo r for 1st place as well so all in all a good night. I hope OU comes to play tomorrow because Syracuse is no joke. Johhny Flynn is one of the best young stars in the game and Rautins and Devendorf can fill it up from outside. I don't think they can contain Blake Griffin who is definitely the Player of the Year but they are going to need a big game from Willie Warren to win.
Tomorrow is going to start with a hair appointment @11 followed by a visit to the Chiro as my back is so messed up. Then grabbin kid from school and take him to Orthodontist and then his baseball scrimmage to tune up for his 1st game. Saturday is a parade and then all day baseball.
Russ
After a quick bite I decided to go pick up my lil man at school and we went to Dick's Sporting Goods and I bought him a UT hat (PUKING AS I TYPE UT) and 12 baseballs so I can pitch to him and get him use to batting. His first baseball game is this Saturday and he is so excited! He is very nervous but as long as he tries his best I will be proud.
Then came the work part of the evening while watching Mizzou tear Memphis a new Ass with my buddy from Columbia, Missouri who was at the time destroying the $30 plo r for 1st place as well so all in all a good night. I hope OU comes to play tomorrow because Syracuse is no joke. Johhny Flynn is one of the best young stars in the game and Rautins and Devendorf can fill it up from outside. I don't think they can contain Blake Griffin who is definitely the Player of the Year but they are going to need a big game from Willie Warren to win.
Tomorrow is going to start with a hair appointment @11 followed by a visit to the Chiro as my back is so messed up. Then grabbin kid from school and take him to Orthodontist and then his baseball scrimmage to tune up for his 1st game. Saturday is a parade and then all day baseball.
Russ
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Migraines are no fun!
This is going to be short & sweet since I feel like Shaq is standing on my temples at the moment. Long day of breaking even. Got 2nd in the Ha $69 tourney but not much else. In between my backer Elky practicing for his wsop kickboxing match versus Sorel Mizzi he is getting his head kicked in as well.
I am playing fantasy baseball for the first time since 03 when I drafted an unknown David Ortiz with the 19th pick when he was with the Twins (boy did they screw up letting him go) Gonna be a light weekend of playing and more spending time with the kiddo.
Russ
I am playing fantasy baseball for the first time since 03 when I drafted an unknown David Ortiz with the 19th pick when he was with the Twins (boy did they screw up letting him go) Gonna be a light weekend of playing and more spending time with the kiddo.
Russ
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Gossiping Poker Players & Baseball With the Kid
I was reminded today why I do not relate to a lot of poker players socially in that they seem like they are still in high school. It seems every day there is crap in the forums or I am getting a text about someone saying something that they have no clue about which gets old quickly. This person owes this person $ or this person said this. It would be quite funny if it weren't so sad and while we are on the subject of $ let me say this; If someone owes you money all you can really ask for is that they make an effort to pay you back in a timely manner and they don't dodge your phone calls or texts.
I am owed a ton that I will probably never see but I never (and wont in future) mention any names. I have loaned $ to friends, had people lose $ to me in sports, and many different avenues. I in turn have a few debts of my own but I have never and won't ever dodge a phone call from anyone, it's just not my style. If you ever see me talking shit about someone or telling someone that someone else owes someone $ please bish slap me immed!
On a good note I took my son to his first baseball scrimmage tonight and he got walked twice and scored once and got caught in a pickle the other time and tagged out sliding back into 3rd. I am so proud of him for finally getting into sports & I think it will help him get in shape and learn being a part of a team which is important for a young kid. I am taping every baseball game on espn classic and watching it with him and teaching him. I am gonna have him for the 2nd weekend in a row and so I won't be playing much poker this weekend which is fine with me. I got to see my baby Ashley tonight at the scrimmage and give her a purple care bear and a sheet of tattoos that Austin and I got her at Sea World last week. She is the sweetest girl ever!
A special congrats to my friend Cornel Andrew Cimpan who won the LAPC WPT a few weeks ago and to my good friends Dave Baker, Ray Henson, and Christopher Budak who seem to all be doing well at the moment. Always wishing you guys the best.
Russ
I am owed a ton that I will probably never see but I never (and wont in future) mention any names. I have loaned $ to friends, had people lose $ to me in sports, and many different avenues. I in turn have a few debts of my own but I have never and won't ever dodge a phone call from anyone, it's just not my style. If you ever see me talking shit about someone or telling someone that someone else owes someone $ please bish slap me immed!
On a good note I took my son to his first baseball scrimmage tonight and he got walked twice and scored once and got caught in a pickle the other time and tagged out sliding back into 3rd. I am so proud of him for finally getting into sports & I think it will help him get in shape and learn being a part of a team which is important for a young kid. I am taping every baseball game on espn classic and watching it with him and teaching him. I am gonna have him for the 2nd weekend in a row and so I won't be playing much poker this weekend which is fine with me. I got to see my baby Ashley tonight at the scrimmage and give her a purple care bear and a sheet of tattoos that Austin and I got her at Sea World last week. She is the sweetest girl ever!
A special congrats to my friend Cornel Andrew Cimpan who won the LAPC WPT a few weeks ago and to my good friends Dave Baker, Ray Henson, and Christopher Budak who seem to all be doing well at the moment. Always wishing you guys the best.
Russ
Monday, March 23, 2009
Old School Rap while gettin crushed
My buddy Taylor and I are sitting here grinding online and listening to old school rap. We all have music that we like to listen to when we play ( I stopped watching TV while playing b/c u miss so much info on opponents). So I find this channel in the 600's (lol) and it's got Heavy D, Notorius B.I.G., Tupac Outkast, Kid N Play and much more and I'm running like ass so this station might be gone.
Taylor got 2nd in a tourney so he likes the channel but this is my house :)
I scheduled my flight for Las Vegas although I am honestly sick of that town but will be at The Venetian for their series and in between might take trip to Tennessee to hang out with my buddy Chris Moneymaker who is in Destin with his beautiful family for Spring Break. Then I imagine the bright lights of Pendleton, Oregon (lmao) will be calling.
I might write later if someting is noteworthy but just a relaxing day really. I get to see my lil honey Ashley tomorrow so I can't wait as she went to spend spring break with Aunt Amy. God I miss that pretty little girl!!!!
Ok I just finished 2nd again in a tourney for 2nd night in a row and though the $ is good I hate losing no matter what. I can remember being a kid and I could never lose no matter what. I didn't get it from my mom and I never had a Dad around so I really do not know where it came from but it's just always been this way. Anyway, here is the last hand where I got sucked out on but that's just the way it goes. There is one person happy at end of 400+ runners which is why poker is so tough mentally
Full Tilt Poker Game #11304083872: Turbo Fiddy (84823505), Table 10 - 6000/12000 Ante 1500 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:22:37 ET - 2009/03/24
Seat 8: drhogue (551,977)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (346,023)
drhogue antes 1,500
MclovinLovin antes 1,500
drhogue posts the small blind of 6,000
MclovinLovin posts the big blind of 12,000
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MclovinLovin [Qs Ks]
MclovinLovin: nh
drhogue raises to 24,000
MclovinLovin raises to 55,001
drhogue calls 31,001
*** FLOP *** [2h 7h Qh]
MclovinLovin bets 289,522, and is all in
drhogue calls 289,522
MclovinLovin shows [Qs Ks]
drhogue shows [8h 7d]
*** TURN *** [2h 7h Qh] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [2h 7h Qh Tc] [Kh]
MclovinLovin shows two pair, Kings and Queens
drhogue shows a flush, King high
drhogue wins the pot (692,046) with a flush, King high
MclovinLovin stands up
drhogue stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 692,046 | Rake 0
Board: [2h 7h Qh Tc Kh]
Seat 8: drhogue (small blind) showed [8h 7d] and won (692,046) with a flush, King high
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (big blind) showed [Qs Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens
Nice river card huh? Anyway, I am excited about the way I am playing and I know I am about to ship a bunch of tourneys as I am going deep in everything while running below expectation. That's it for tonight.
Russ
Taylor got 2nd in a tourney so he likes the channel but this is my house :)
I scheduled my flight for Las Vegas although I am honestly sick of that town but will be at The Venetian for their series and in between might take trip to Tennessee to hang out with my buddy Chris Moneymaker who is in Destin with his beautiful family for Spring Break. Then I imagine the bright lights of Pendleton, Oregon (lmao) will be calling.
I might write later if someting is noteworthy but just a relaxing day really. I get to see my lil honey Ashley tomorrow so I can't wait as she went to spend spring break with Aunt Amy. God I miss that pretty little girl!!!!
Ok I just finished 2nd again in a tourney for 2nd night in a row and though the $ is good I hate losing no matter what. I can remember being a kid and I could never lose no matter what. I didn't get it from my mom and I never had a Dad around so I really do not know where it came from but it's just always been this way. Anyway, here is the last hand where I got sucked out on but that's just the way it goes. There is one person happy at end of 400+ runners which is why poker is so tough mentally
Full Tilt Poker Game #11304083872: Turbo Fiddy (84823505), Table 10 - 6000/12000 Ante 1500 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:22:37 ET - 2009/03/24
Seat 8: drhogue (551,977)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (346,023)
drhogue antes 1,500
MclovinLovin antes 1,500
drhogue posts the small blind of 6,000
MclovinLovin posts the big blind of 12,000
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MclovinLovin [Qs Ks]
MclovinLovin: nh
drhogue raises to 24,000
MclovinLovin raises to 55,001
drhogue calls 31,001
*** FLOP *** [2h 7h Qh]
MclovinLovin bets 289,522, and is all in
drhogue calls 289,522
MclovinLovin shows [Qs Ks]
drhogue shows [8h 7d]
*** TURN *** [2h 7h Qh] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [2h 7h Qh Tc] [Kh]
MclovinLovin shows two pair, Kings and Queens
drhogue shows a flush, King high
drhogue wins the pot (692,046) with a flush, King high
MclovinLovin stands up
drhogue stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 692,046 | Rake 0
Board: [2h 7h Qh Tc Kh]
Seat 8: drhogue (small blind) showed [8h 7d] and won (692,046) with a flush, King high
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (big blind) showed [Qs Ks] and lost with two pair, Kings and Queens
Nice river card huh? Anyway, I am excited about the way I am playing and I know I am about to ship a bunch of tourneys as I am going deep in everything while running below expectation. That's it for tonight.
Russ
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sunday Should Not Rhyme with Funday!
Well folks, I was right and wrong. I know I am playing fantastic but results do not often come along in the process. Today was a day of mixed emotions as Sunday's often are for an online poker professional. I said up front that I am at rock bottom but that I wanted to start this blog now because I know I am going to hit soon.
I just took 2nd in the $163 on FTP which is normally a star studded field b/c they don't run many satellites into it (if any). I will enjoy giving the $20k to my backer because well, it's his $ afterall but am upset that the monkey I lost to headsup shipped J5 pre and beat me but meh, that's poker. I lost with top set of Aces on flop 4 times today & was sick every time. Here is the one from the $535 Main Event Qual
FullTiltPoker Game #11276963763: Sunday Main Event Qualifier (83360266), Table 18 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:41:14 ET - 2009/03/22
Seat 1: rlstking (3,195)
Seat 2: dswdo (6,260)
Seat 3: adam-y-y-y (3,560)
Seat 5: barak obamup (2,530)
Seat 6: oneymunny (2,860)
Seat 7: Smaugs (2,895)
Seat 8: bizzleraises (2,730)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (2,970)
adam-y-y-y posts the small blind of 10
barak obamup posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MclovinLovin [Ah As]
oneymunny folds
Smaugs calls 20
bizzleraises folds
MclovinLovin raises to 120
rlstking calls 120
dswdo folds
adam-y-y-y folds
barak obamup folds
Smaugs calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Ad 2c 4s]
Smaugs checks
MclovinLovin bets 150
rlstking calls 150
Smaugs calls 150
*** TURN *** [Ad 2c 4s] [Ks]
Smaugs checks
MclovinLovin bets 440
rlstking calls 440
Smaugs folds
*** RIVER *** [Ad 2c 4s Ks] [Jh]
MclovinLovin bets 800
rlstking raises to 2,485, and is all in
MclovinLovin calls 1,460, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 225 returned to rlstking
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rlstking shows [3s 5s] a straight, Five high
MclovinLovin mucks
rlstking wins the pot (6,240) with a straight, Five high
*** SUMMARY ***
Duration 85s
Total pot 6,240 | Rake 0
Board: [Ad 2c 4s Ks Jh]
Seat 1: rlstking showed [3s 5s] and won (6,240) with a straight, Five high
Seat 2: dswdo (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: adam-y-y-y (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: barak obamup (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: oneymunny didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Smaugs folded on the Turn
Seat 8: bizzleraises didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin mucked [Ah As] - three of a kind, Aces
The one from the Double Deuce was particularly sickening. I usually do not play small buyins with huge fields but decided to anyway. My table ( I was in 10 games or so) never popped up so I missed the first hour of 10000 player field so no biggie. Well these lower limit mtters were just giving chips away and I soon had a stack. Hour after hour my stack was growing. They paid 1350 of 10000 players and I coasted into it and was hovering around 30th to 50th in chips for hours. I try not to resteal against worst players b/c they do not understand what hands they should and should not be playing. A lot of pros get mad at bad players for making bad calls butI have found that if you're trying to get a bad player to fold then you're often worse than he is for knowing he isn't capable of folding.
The blinds are at 6-12 k with like 150 left and I get AA utg. I had been opening a lot and had control of the table with 350k in chips. I had just picked up KK and got reshoved on so my image is gr8 even with my opening frequency. Anyway, a player with JTd behind me decides to shove and the board runs out AdKd3 Xd brick and he makes a flush and cripples me. I know I shouldn't be too upset but losing with a set is bad enough but to lose with flopped set of aces over and over is especially so.
The poker players who read this will understand my mood while my non-poker playing friends will say, wtf u made $20k today, I 'd kill for $20k in one day. There is a definite fine line in how important you make the $. The gr8 players don't think about the $ near as much as the lesser players who are constantly hitting the info button to see where they stand.
I know I am headed for the Venetian series in Vegas in a couple weeks & then maybe to Pendleton but past that I have no clue. I am not leaving town until my son's 1st baseball game and I cannot wait to watch him play. I truly have the best son in the world. I used to play poker for money but now I just play for him. I cannot wait for the day that I score big enough that I can truly play whenever I want and do more things with him!
Basketball was enjoyable to watch today other than Syracuse dominating. I have a feeling my Sooners are in for a lot of trouble. I haven't been betting but if I were I might actually bet against Oklahoma in this game which says a lot! Special shout to my friend who got deep in the $750k on FTP. (50th or so) Made a marginal call with AQ and it turned out poorly but there is a fine line between donkey and genius (most of us aren't far from either) .
Russ
I just took 2nd in the $163 on FTP which is normally a star studded field b/c they don't run many satellites into it (if any). I will enjoy giving the $20k to my backer because well, it's his $ afterall but am upset that the monkey I lost to headsup shipped J5 pre and beat me but meh, that's poker. I lost with top set of Aces on flop 4 times today & was sick every time. Here is the one from the $535 Main Event Qual
FullTiltPoker Game #11276963763: Sunday Main Event Qualifier (83360266), Table 18 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:41:14 ET - 2009/03/22
Seat 1: rlstking (3,195)
Seat 2: dswdo (6,260)
Seat 3: adam-y-y-y (3,560)
Seat 5: barak obamup (2,530)
Seat 6: oneymunny (2,860)
Seat 7: Smaugs (2,895)
Seat 8: bizzleraises (2,730)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin (2,970)
adam-y-y-y posts the small blind of 10
barak obamup posts the big blind of 20
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MclovinLovin [Ah As]
oneymunny folds
Smaugs calls 20
bizzleraises folds
MclovinLovin raises to 120
rlstking calls 120
dswdo folds
adam-y-y-y folds
barak obamup folds
Smaugs calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Ad 2c 4s]
Smaugs checks
MclovinLovin bets 150
rlstking calls 150
Smaugs calls 150
*** TURN *** [Ad 2c 4s] [Ks]
Smaugs checks
MclovinLovin bets 440
rlstking calls 440
Smaugs folds
*** RIVER *** [Ad 2c 4s Ks] [Jh]
MclovinLovin bets 800
rlstking raises to 2,485, and is all in
MclovinLovin calls 1,460, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 225 returned to rlstking
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rlstking shows [3s 5s] a straight, Five high
MclovinLovin mucks
rlstking wins the pot (6,240) with a straight, Five high
*** SUMMARY ***
Duration 85s
Total pot 6,240 | Rake 0
Board: [Ad 2c 4s Ks Jh]
Seat 1: rlstking showed [3s 5s] and won (6,240) with a straight, Five high
Seat 2: dswdo (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: adam-y-y-y (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: barak obamup (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: oneymunny didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Smaugs folded on the Turn
Seat 8: bizzleraises didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: MclovinLovin mucked [Ah As] - three of a kind, Aces
The one from the Double Deuce was particularly sickening. I usually do not play small buyins with huge fields but decided to anyway. My table ( I was in 10 games or so) never popped up so I missed the first hour of 10000 player field so no biggie. Well these lower limit mtters were just giving chips away and I soon had a stack. Hour after hour my stack was growing. They paid 1350 of 10000 players and I coasted into it and was hovering around 30th to 50th in chips for hours. I try not to resteal against worst players b/c they do not understand what hands they should and should not be playing. A lot of pros get mad at bad players for making bad calls butI have found that if you're trying to get a bad player to fold then you're often worse than he is for knowing he isn't capable of folding.
The blinds are at 6-12 k with like 150 left and I get AA utg. I had been opening a lot and had control of the table with 350k in chips. I had just picked up KK and got reshoved on so my image is gr8 even with my opening frequency. Anyway, a player with JTd behind me decides to shove and the board runs out AdKd3 Xd brick and he makes a flush and cripples me. I know I shouldn't be too upset but losing with a set is bad enough but to lose with flopped set of aces over and over is especially so.
The poker players who read this will understand my mood while my non-poker playing friends will say, wtf u made $20k today, I 'd kill for $20k in one day. There is a definite fine line in how important you make the $. The gr8 players don't think about the $ near as much as the lesser players who are constantly hitting the info button to see where they stand.
I know I am headed for the Venetian series in Vegas in a couple weeks & then maybe to Pendleton but past that I have no clue. I am not leaving town until my son's 1st baseball game and I cannot wait to watch him play. I truly have the best son in the world. I used to play poker for money but now I just play for him. I cannot wait for the day that I score big enough that I can truly play whenever I want and do more things with him!
Basketball was enjoyable to watch today other than Syracuse dominating. I have a feeling my Sooners are in for a lot of trouble. I haven't been betting but if I were I might actually bet against Oklahoma in this game which says a lot! Special shout to my friend who got deep in the $750k on FTP. (50th or so) Made a marginal call with AQ and it turned out poorly but there is a fine line between donkey and genius (most of us aren't far from either) .
Russ
Saturday, March 21, 2009
When a Normal Day Sucks
Hey all, I decided to finally create my own blog because well I think it will be good for me and I want some sort of accountability to myself, even if noone else reads this. I also have become tired of the forums as they are usually about attacking people(sometimes warranted but more than not unwarranted) and not about strategy in poker with the exception of the new Pokerroad forums created in part by Barry G.
The main reason I wanted to create this at this moment is because I am at rock bottom and I have always worn my emotions on my sleves and I can handle the criticism. Anyone can create a blog after winning a tournament and while I have had some success over the years the last year has been brutal, partly due to running bad and MAINLY due to bad financial decisions when I ran well. I know I will be back on top (sooners than later I hope) , and I just wanted to make sure that I started this blog now while I am down so I will appreciate it much more.
I have a lot of confidence in my game and how I am playing but to say that I am playing my best poker would be a stretch. I am staked by Elky for the moment and I hope that continues because not only is he a sick sick player, he is a really nice guy(weird for a frenchman imo). I cashed 26th in the $322 today on ftp and cashed in the $30r plo, & super turbo. I ran god awful so I guess that's an ok day even though I lost $; I am still in the $50 r as I write this(18 of 61 with 70 bb's so I'm in gr8 shape). Tomorrow is the big day in online poker and I'm feeling a shipament somewhere(hope that feeling isn't gas) I will post some hands tomorrow as I am just beat up at the moment.
On a side note my Sooners got past a very gritty Michigan team and are on to the sweet 16 to face the winner of the Syracuse/Arizona State game. Both are good teams but Cuse matches up very well OU so I will be a sun devil fan tomorrow.
EDIT: Ok so I am out of $50r as Solhomer decided to raise utg with 89h i 3 bet QQ in the BB and he called and he flopped a flush draw and called a bet then turned me dead. Sigh, we'll get em tomorrow!
Russ
The main reason I wanted to create this at this moment is because I am at rock bottom and I have always worn my emotions on my sleves and I can handle the criticism. Anyone can create a blog after winning a tournament and while I have had some success over the years the last year has been brutal, partly due to running bad and MAINLY due to bad financial decisions when I ran well. I know I will be back on top (sooners than later I hope) , and I just wanted to make sure that I started this blog now while I am down so I will appreciate it much more.
I have a lot of confidence in my game and how I am playing but to say that I am playing my best poker would be a stretch. I am staked by Elky for the moment and I hope that continues because not only is he a sick sick player, he is a really nice guy(weird for a frenchman imo). I cashed 26th in the $322 today on ftp and cashed in the $30r plo, & super turbo. I ran god awful so I guess that's an ok day even though I lost $; I am still in the $50 r as I write this(18 of 61 with 70 bb's so I'm in gr8 shape). Tomorrow is the big day in online poker and I'm feeling a shipament somewhere(hope that feeling isn't gas) I will post some hands tomorrow as I am just beat up at the moment.
On a side note my Sooners got past a very gritty Michigan team and are on to the sweet 16 to face the winner of the Syracuse/Arizona State game. Both are good teams but Cuse matches up very well OU so I will be a sun devil fan tomorrow.
EDIT: Ok so I am out of $50r as Solhomer decided to raise utg with 89h i 3 bet QQ in the BB and he called and he flopped a flush draw and called a bet then turned me dead. Sigh, we'll get em tomorrow!
Russ
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