Trend continues

Run deep in a tourney until some moron raises with A-rag and then calls your allin when he is way behind being dominated. Its so easy to flop your ridiculous kicker on PS. Again I was around 20/25 in a large MTT. When my AJ ran into the monster A7(min raised from UTG) and flops the 7. Do people have any sense of what they are doing? Min-raise I agree, testing waters, but follow it up with an allin call?? Such a drain for 4 hours and get beatdown on such hands. That double-up would have surely guaranteed me a FT finish, as I am sure I have an edge on half of the morons left. A few orbits before, same story, from button with QQ I almost put the big blind allin and with an ace in hand he is never gonna fold. Dont even bother asking what the kicker was. Makes the A on flop and gladly doubles up. Even that hand would have propelled me into top 10. What is it with ace rag on PS, someone please explain to me!

Joker Stars

This gets beyond ridiculous. I am sick of the bad beats! Its just unbelievable. It just doesnt matter to the folks on Joker Stars, if they see an Ace in the hand, thats it, they know they are guaranteed to win, never mind the kicker and never mind the stacks. Just push, give the bad beat and move on.

Was deep in a tourney when a guy on tilt pushes from cutoff with 56c, in SB and having him covered 2 to 1, I make the call with AsQs, hit a Q and then he goes runners to make a straight after pairing up the flop. I tightened back and retained my stack when this hand happens. Still playing tight and with a more than above average, folded around, SB who has me barely covered pushes with A9, I call with AK. I could almost bet 100, 9 would show up and it duly did on the river. I was still going strong on a different game and just took a deep breath and moved on.

This game I am at 35/65 and with almost 20BBs. I hadnt played a hand in probably countless orbits. Folded to SB (60K), and he raises to 2800 (600/1200). I snap push him with 99 and he insta-calls with A9, go figure who won the hand. Its just unreal how the kcuf does he make that call. Common, you play the game for 4 hours and you just put your stack with A9, really!!!! Aaaaargh!!!! I am way tired of this crap!

Here are a couple of joker hands that was played out. I was on the prowl for this guy and got all his chips in two hands. Believe me he got to that stack in the first place by just pushing allin on three different hands with absolute crap. Well, you cant last too far when there are more of the morons out to get you. No make it lucky morons.

-------------------------------

Seat 1: lerua21 (1950 in chips)
Seat 2: scheffe30 (3350 in chips)
Seat 3: goldeneye79 (1495 in chips)
Seat 4: fortea88 (3360 in chips)
Seat 5: villian2(2850 in chips)
Seat 6: HERO (4150 in chips)
Seat 7: villian1 (11625 in chips)
Seat 8: TheGame103 (5370 in chips)
Seat 9: littlefis428 (3445 in chips)
HERO: posts small blind 50
villian1 : posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO [Kh Jd]
TheGame103: folds
littlefis428: raises 300 to 400
lerua21: folds
scheffe30: folds
goldeneye79: folds
fortea88: folds
rydawgsw: folds
HERO: calls 350
villian1 : calls 300
*** FLOP *** [Kd Jh 5c]
HERO: checks
villian1 : checks
littlefis428: checks
*** TURN *** [Kd Jh 5c] [Kc]
HERO: checks
villian1 : checks
littlefis428: bets 700
HERO: calls 700
villian1 : raises 3400 to 4100
littlefis428: folds
HERO: calls 3050 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (350) returned to villian1
*** RIVER *** [Kd Jh 5c Kc] [2d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
HERO: shows [Kh Jd] (a full house, Kings full of Jacks)
villian1 : shows [9h Ks] (three of a kind, Kings)
HERO collected 9400 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 9400 | Rake 0
Board [Kd Jh 5c Kc 2d]
Seat 1: lerua21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: scheffe30 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: goldeneye79 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: fortea88 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: villian2(button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: HERO (small blind) showed [Kh Jd] and won (9400) with a full house, Kings full of Jacks
Seat 7: villian1 (big blind) showed [9h Ks] and lost with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 8: TheGame103 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: littlefis428 folded on the Turn

------------------------------------

Seat 1: lerua21 (1950 in chips)
Seat 2: scheffe30 (3350 in chips)
Seat 3: goldeneye79 (1495 in chips)
Seat 4: fortea88 (3360 in chips)
Seat 5: villian2(2850 in chips)
Seat 6: HERO (9400 in chips)
Seat 7: villian1 (7475 in chips)
Seat 8: TheGame103 (5370 in chips)
Seat 9: littlefis428 (2345 in chips)
villian1 : posts small blind 50
TheGame103: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO [Kd Ks]
littlefis428: folds
lerua21: folds
scheffe30: folds
goldeneye79: folds
fortea88: folds
rydawgsw: folds
HERO: raises 200 to 300
villian1 : raises 7000 to 7300
TheGame103: folds
HERO: raises 2100 to 9400 and is all-in
villian1 : calls 175 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (1925) returned to HERO
*** FLOP *** [Td 3h 5c]
*** TURN *** [Td 3h 5c] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [Td 3h 5c 5s] [Jh]
goldeneye79 said, "lol"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
villian1 : shows [Js 3c] (two pair, Jacks and Fives)
HERO: shows [Kd Ks] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
HERO collected 15050 from pot
villian2said, "??"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 15050 | Rake 0
Board [Td 3h 5c 5s Jh]
Seat 1: lerua21 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: scheffe30 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: goldeneye79 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: fortea88 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: villian2folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: HERO (button) showed [Kd Ks] and won (15050) with two pair, Kings and Fives
Seat 7: villian1 (small blind) showed [Js 3c] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Fives
Seat 8: TheGame103 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: littlefis428 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

----------------------------

As I post these hands I see the id villain2. He was there early on to even see what hands I was playing and how, but still ends up calling my allin raise with A9. Wow, in the above hand I won, his comments - villain2 said, "??"
I guess he was surprised there were clones of himself all over the place on frikking Joker Stars.

Home Game - S'n'G Win

We have this home game once a month with 40 buyin and 5000 in starting chips. This tuesday, we had nine players and was the first time I took it down. I was determined to come first because at the ones before, I was just floating and having fun. I said to myself enough playing around and went with the mind made up to come first and so I did. It helped that the two players who just play crazy against me were sitting to the right of me. I say crazy, because they just assume I would bluff every pot. It was so much fun (of course its fun when you win), as I played aggressive and made the super-cool squeeze on those hapless souls.

There was a new guy who was playing tight and an hour into the session he makes his first raise - 400(75/150). Two callers (the crazy ones) and on button I popped it to 1400. First raiser disgustedly mucked it and the others after contemplating the call finally folded. I showed my Q6o to put the first raiser on tilt.

Then it was all me, as I kept punishing the early limpers with big raises knowing they would fold pre-flop. It whittled down to 4 players with top 3 paid. Two of them were super-tight and to my left, it was easy taking down their blinds. On button I made it 2k with J9o and SB pushed with 4K and he doubled up with AA obviously. I still had a monster stack, on button(Ks3s) later again, I made it 2K (5x raise), SB(7K) calls and BB folded. Flop was Th4d5s, he checked and I pushed. He calls and flips over AA. Again!! Turn was the 6s and the river was the 2 to take him out. Even if I had checked the flop, I guess the result would still have been the same once the turn was 6s. I told him if he shoved pf I was folding, he mentioned he wanted the BB to call. Kind of a mistake because BB was a tight player too and he probably should have shoved with bubble in play. Anyways I got lucky, then I duly ran down the other 2. The last one left, asked for a split and I know I have an edge on him and didnt go for it. He is one of the crazy ones too. The hand I took him out, I limped with JJ and hit the J on flop to slow-play and get all my money in on the river. He called with second pair on flop/board, thats how crazy they get against me!

Another ITM Finish

I finish ITM again but not getting lucky enough to last the distance. I shouldnt say lucky because it was all my doing. Had around 18BBs left and standing at 27 out of 29, took a shot at the blinds with A6o from the button and BB snapped me with 99. I was at 12th place at one point and made a bad call on a hand from the button when BB repopped me. That put me in a trouble spot and I was fighting to survive not being the bubble boy. The following hand gave me the life although I was almost busted. With 38 remaining and 36 paid, sitting at 32nd place, in EP I raised 3x with KhKd and an even stack pushed me, with fear I made the call and he showed TT. I was happy at that point, though momentary. Flop doles out T53hhh, I screamed in pain and then realized I am not in too bad a shape, then PS gave the standard crap turn - "K". Heart on turn would have been normal but with PS its always the hard way, I doubled up and was hoping that hand would propel me to the FT but it wasnt to be again! Well, the FT at a PS MTT is still elusive, still making the baby steps. Hopefully, I will have some good news over the weekend.

Cake FT finish

Did everything right in an MTT(~280p) to make it to FT and also had a good chance to take it down. But busted at 6th when there was a small stack at the table. I had various factors riding, on putting all my chips in against the chip stack with AQo. Villain (220K) raised to 20K (3K/6K) from LP. BB had 9K left, I(65K) pushed in SB and chip lead made the call with A9 and obviously made the 9 on turn. Ideally,I should have let this hand go too, as there was a small stack and it would have been easy 5th. In fact, I had more odds at a higher finish with the maniacal play going on with big stacks. I had let go his various raises with 99, AJs knowing I could push and have him easily dominated but waited for a better spot because he was calling with anything on pushes. This hand, I knew I should be ahead with a weak ace for him but lady luck smiled on him again, as it was in the last hour or so. I was hoping his run ends at some point, but it was not to be. Anyways, nice to be back at a FT, and with weekend on the horizon I should grow in confidence and put in some good hours!

As I had said before, I am making good runs with small MTTs at Cake than the large fields at PS. I have more wriggle room to come back from bad beats or to make some tough laydowns. In large MTTs, I dont take long to think with tough hands and usually get my chips in and they are not always profitable. But at Cake it is paying off to wait and make a stand when you know you are ahead.

Pool - Playoff brain-freeze

Not much poker action lately as I didnt get enough spare time. I played very little in the last one week. Hopefully I would get in some hours during the weekend.

Wednesday pool season finally ended. Last week was division's final game and yesterday were the playoffs. It was such a stressful night playing the playoffs. We had to play 5 matches and the team racing to 3 wins makes it to next round. First game our SL5(skill-level) lost to SL4. Second, SL2 beat SL4. Third game was the big one SL6 beat SL7 but we lost the 4th, SL3 vs SL3. So it boiled down to the last game and I was up for the task. I was playing SL3 and now I am an SL4. It was a 3-2 handicap. The last time we played the skill levels were reversed and so was the handicap and I beat him 2-0. I rolled the first game and got him edgy with the way I was playing and the second game too I was in total control. I was up 2-0 and then I lost my marbles. I wasnt over confident but I was missing shots and was trying to make crazy plays though I was talking to myself to keep it straight and clean. As fate would want it, I lost the 3rd frame after I was close to wrapping it. And then on the fourth frame, things were going smooth until he made a luck shot and wrapped up the rest of the table with only one of mine hanging in the middle. That was a painful loss after being on the hill and losing the next two to hand him the match and the playoff. That should be disgraceful to any captain who should lead by example and I botched it on the last game! Well you have to learn from your mistakes and make sure you never repeat that. I will try to hang on to my own words.


As always good luck at the tables and keep it simple and dont over-do it!!

A Close-Shave with Destiny

Tuesday evening, I was driving back home on I270 cruising in the left lane when I heard a thump from the car. Even before I could realize what was happening, car started to dance on the road. As I tried to veer it away from the concrete barricade on the shoulder, car made a quick swirl. There I was spinning with the car in the fast lane, I had a glimpse of the oncoming traffic onto me and finally the car made the 360 degree turn and came to a screeching halt across two lanes. Horrified by the 5 second kamikaze move my car made on me, it sunk on me that not even one car from either lanes rammed into me and knew it was my lucky day. One car came close and stopped and the guy asked if I was ok and went on. It took me a while to jump out of the car and stand on the shoulder away from the traffic, which was closing in on the disabled car with hazard lights on, and at the last moment steer away from hitting it. I was shaken but as I stood there the feeling of being lucky was churning in the gut. I called 911 and the dispatcher connected me to the state police who arrived around 25 mins after. I hoped the police officer arrived quicker because I didnt want some poor soul or a maniac driver ramming into the disabled vehicle on speed lane. After the cop arrived, with his truck providing cover, we moved the car safely onto the shoulder. Towing truck arrived 45 mins after and finally got it to the shed. That was one hell of an experience. The car's rear-right tire went bust and I guess it tail-spun on impact. Yesterday I had the tire replaced and driving back from the dealership I was still scared, as it reminded me of the near-death experience it put me through. 'Not Yet' uttered by Russell Crowe in the movie 'Gladiator' was ringing in my ears for some time.

Nucking Futs

Yes thats what I was going last night after I busted yet another MTT around 20th place out of ~1350 players. There were couple of calls/raises that I could have avoided but both involved around 25% of my stack. At that stage in a tourney, I guess its okay to go for coin flips. I know a lot of people do but I usually sit back and watch the action as at some point some one would walk into my trap. I had doubled up to 135K(2k/4K) when I raised 3x in late position with 33, BB with around 33K shoved(AQ) and after the raise, I knew I had to call. He made broadway on the river(just flop ace as usual, why inflict so much pain on me). Then again, I was super lucky last night to survive KK vs AQ twice. The second time a flush draw on flop and dodged it. The other hand, I could have avoided, I was in BB with 80K and short stacked UTG+2 - 23K shoved. It was folded to me (3K/6K) and holding 89 I finally called. UTG+2 doubled up with JTs. Later on he would be the same guy who would be chip lead at the table and knock me out. Such trivial hands go a long way for some people.

As for Nucking Futs that is the name of my pool team. I love the name, any team I get into its pretty much guaranteed this as team name! Tomorrow is my league game and hopefully I will be back to my winning ways and also the last day of the season. Wish me luck so that I would end up top gun at my league. Until then, good luck to you all at the tables and I will come back with a post about an MTT win at PS as I had envisioned.

The Mad Raiser Story

Before I sign off for the week, a little insight into the Mad Raiser tag I had been given at my poker baptism. At work, I came across a couple of guys talking about poker and enquired what it was about. They played this season tourney every tuesday with a pool of around 40 players and I quickly got myself into that action. Prior to this I had only played poker twice with a few folks over some beers. With so much prior experience behind me, I entered this league where there were seasoned home game players. I still remember the first tuesday I played. It was 2 full tables with $20 buyin and a bounty on the TLB top gun. As we settled down to play my first tourney game and asking folks to help me out on what SB,BB were and what I could do with my chips; we hear a commotion on the first hand at the other table. I walk over and see that two guys were allin with black aces against red aces. And one guy took it down as there were 4 diamonds on the board. Lot of action for a newbie huh!

The monday after, I was out at blockbuster to pick a movie and Stu Ungar's movie was just out on video. I had no idea who Stu Ungar was, and as it was a movie about poker I picked it up and watched it with gusto like a kid who is given a new toy. There was this particular scene(probably wsop action) where Stu raised 4 consecutive hands and it was folded to him. That was my first lessons in poker about aggression. Armed with this, I went to the game the following day and without blinking I did the same the first four hands. I had no idea how I was to follow up on the hands. I was testing waters and imitating Stu and others unaware of my playing style or skill promptly folded to me. By my fourth raise, this big guy christened me 'MAD RAISER' and it stuck on me there-on as I entered the poker world of these guys. Since then, people call me with the same name. The guy I mentioned is a very nice guy and hosted these limit 3/6 games every friday, invited me to his game(why wouldnt you if you see a newbie/fish). That is where I had my initial poker lessons. Around a year later, I realized what a fish I was.(Maybe, I still am, now a Super-Fish) Yes, it was a very long time to realize that and expensive too. I still remind him the words he used to put in my ears - 'You can fold!!' as I had called another river bet one too many times after having flopped the bottom pair.

Crash and Burn

That is the gist of the story from my plays over the weekend. I got tired of the numerous beatdowns I took over a period of two days. That is nothing new to rant about. But still it takes the life out of your playing style or skill. I wouldnt even go into the finer details as it is the most recurring theme when you end up playing long hauls over and over. I guess playing huge MTTs(>3000) is never easy, as you would have to dodge quite a lot and to make it into the top ten you have to be super-lucky and I wasnt. Anyways, I am out for the whole week and have taken a poker sabbatical with the long weekend looming large. Hopefully next week I would start afresh with a different frame of mind. Until then, happy thanksgiving to everyone and good luck at the tables.

On a side note, I am planning to make a trip to New Hampshire. This is my first trip to the state ever and meet up a cousin's family up there. I do plan to squeeze in a trip to Foxwoods, never been there either.

Pool League

Ok, I have lost my Top Gun status though I had won all my games previously. I won yesterday's game too. Just so I dont have to show up the day before thanksgiving played the make-up game for next week and finally broke my winning sequence. I LOST!! Dang, this guy I was beating up at regular games(his skill level is higher), he is a good player, just that the ignominy of losing to lesser skilled player always got to him and he would lose. But last night, I was at the receiving end. It was 2-3 handicap and first game was even battle. Second he breaks, and I clean up 6 balls and only have one and the 8-ball. It goes back and forth and finally I miss the 8-ball to hand him the game. Similar fate on the last game, I scratched on an easy ball and he completed the rest.

Actually the reason I brought up this post is to rant about my top gun status. There are a bunch of Asians (guess Koreans) at the league. An entire team is made up of them and there is atleast one on each team(excluding mine). So the top gun now is this Asian girl who was 2 points behind prior to last week's game. The Asian team's best player is 7 skill level(SL highest) and I have seen him play he is like a rock. So somehow they end up getting paired and loses to her (SL4) and she rakes up 7 points to go past me. Well, I would never know if he threw the game for her so that she becomes Top Gun. Yes, the thought seems silly but after having seen them both play before this, I will say my doubts are legitimate.

As a team we won 3 games last night and lost 1. We were short one player and would have forfeited like before but luckily the team we played were kind enough to play up today or tomm before the scoresheets are turned in. If we win that, thats only the second time we beat a team 4-1.

Being the captain to protect my SL6, I threw my SL2 under the bus by pitching her against a SL7 player. She got slaughtered, I am glad she took one for the team and thats sportsmanship. Else we would have been at probably 2-2.

Run deep without much results

I was playing this huge MTT $5+R (3300p) on PS and was grinding it again after putting in a bunch of hours. It was break time, had a nice little break, back to the grind, in LP I get KQcc. In EP, this guy who has been raising 2.5-3 times PF and then plays the flop meekly, again makes the standard raise. He had around 90K to my 200K chip count, so figured it was a decent hand to play with. I call, flop is QJ4, he bets, I raise, he pushes, after thinking for a few seconds I made the call. First I had him covered, second I still might improve if I am running against a made hand. Yes, he did have QQ and I didnt improve on the turn or river. Prior to this hand I was at around 30th out of 100 something left. I still had around 100K left, the next hand I get 99 and an active player with even in chips makes the standard raise. I pushed part tilt and hoping to project the same. Somehow the guy made the call with AJo and spikes the J on flop and I was gone in two hands after the break. It was hurtful to lose again after putting in the hours and being in top 3 at various points. I know I am good to take down one of these MTTs on PS and I will do it. When? not too far, I am gonna post about an MTT win on PS very soon. So stay glued and watch me post my biggest MTT win ever :-)
"A man has to live on hope, without that all is lost" - My quote (someone might have said it already)

So today is my pool league night and hopefully I would make it 8 (or 9 lost track) in a row and keep my Top Gun status.

Off Tilt

It took me a couple of hours to get over the KK vs AK beatdown that I took deep into an MTT. I have been doing pretty good lately with the MTTs I have been playing. The pattern I have observed most is tilting seems to be part of my repertoire. That is one bad play I need to weed out of my arsenal.

As for Step 3 on PS, yes I made it to Step 4 and have a 215 ticket. Now I am not sure if I should play step 4 and seek glory or bide my time to use this ticket for a big MTT. Any suggestions are welcome! Playing a 215 buyin would be out of character with the low buyin tourneys I have been playing. But heck, why not give it a shot right, its like playing a tourney with 7.50 buyin.

UTG Raise - KTo

What is it with KTo raise UTG. I have seen this happen so many times over the weekend that I have lost count. Is it the new AA hand that I am unaware of? I have seen so many players raise with KTo, seriously, not even suited? And they have actually followed on to a reraise behind! Does anyone out there think that more players are categorizing KT as a favorite hand and are mostly playing it or what exactly could be the reason behind it. Anyways, I guess KTo won around 80% of the time against the different hands I had seen dealt. From my end, hell no, I would much rather stay away from that hand. I read somewhere couple of months back that KT is one of the worst hands to play with even in late position and had put it in my mind. But now I see evidence contrary to that advice.

F**** B*** S****

Played this tourney on PS for frikking 6 hours only to lose around 50th position out of 3400 players. The hand that got me out was just brutal, for many it could be a regular thing online, for me to go this deep and then get busted aiming for a big win just doesnt seem right. Well so it goes again in the dump another PS tourney. Raised UTG with KK and guy on button who has me barely covered pushes, I call he shows AK. Flop is T86 and then goes runner aces. One was good. First was around 6500 and I ended up making 60 for the 6 hour effort. I hateeeeeeeeeee PS MTTs. All the brain racking for that long not much to show for but a bad beat!

Thats how it has been the whole frikking weekend. All my kings ran into aces and my aces were brutally slaughtered by a variety of crappy hands A6c,KQ and what not.

I did win another tourney on Cake, took down another 1500 guaranteed at $6 buyin. Only PS hasnt been kind enough to me.

Not much action & life aside poker

I havent been playing much this week as I was busy with a lot of things. Wednesdays I cant really play as I am in a pool league and also the captain. It eats into most of my evening time after work and am almost exhausted with the booze and the active and passive smoking at the club. On Cake, I was 2-tabling 0.25/0.5NL and was mostly looking for trivial action boosted by alcohol in the system, as I cant play full throttle. I was up one buyin in two days of play. On PS, played a couple of Step 1s and made it to step 2 on one and busted 4th on the other. Played Step 2 right away and made it to Step 3. On a roll right, went in for Step 3 and hung in there with 5 people left and was pretty sure to make it next, when this happened. Short stack(650) pushes at 100/200 and another at 1600 with 99 reshoves and in BB(1900) I had to reshove with AA. I knew what was coming on flop and PS didnt disappoint, being a huge favorite 9 was out in a flash. Crippled I busted out at 4th. Happy that I could still play step 3 again. I got to plan my weekend well and try to get in some good tourneys so wish me luck!

Tonight I cant play either, its my anniversary and the wife would put a bullet through the head (metaphorically,not that she has one). I plan to treat her to the movie 'Men who stare at goats'(heard the reviews were good and I liked the trailer on telly) and dinner and probably go bowling with a close circle of friends.

Back to more on my APA league. I have been on a hot streak and have won the last 7 games on the trot. Right now I am Top Gun at my skill level (its a paltry 3). Team wise, we havent been doing good and right now are placed at the bottom of the rung. Three more weeks to go, and hopefully I will retain my top gun status and make it to the MVP game from each division.

So Good luck to everyone(if any) reading this and have a great weekend!!

First PS MTT Win

Cake Win detail

So I first made it to the FT and then took it all. Such a nice feeling to win a tourney and it adds to the confidence factor too. Came in 1/355 at $4+2+.60 buyin 1500 guaranteed tourney. I jumped into a monster lead with around 80 left and never let that lead dwindle. The two hands(lucky) that kept my lead were. Reraised a short stack with KK and in MP a big stack calls and all the money went in 843 flop with villian holding 88. I didnt understand why he would risk with 88 pf against a reraise. Anyways I went runner runner to make K-high flush.

On the FT, short stack raised and with 120BB on AK I re-raised and guy in LP with almost 120BB calls(a bell did ring in my ear). Flop is K-high I pot bet he pushes I call and he shows down AA, other had JJ, turn is K and both were gone. Thats what I thought do not ever slow play on the final table, after he was taking time to call, I was thinking of folding on a reraise because I dont want to go up against an even stack with A-high.

Headsup, I was almost a 2-1 favorite and had him crippled but then doubled him up one hand. He raised PF, I called with Qh8h and flop was 7h4h2c he bet and I pushed he called with AJ and A-high held up. Last hand was, in SB he(250K) raised to 25K and I (650K) with 5s7s reraised him to 82K he calls. Flop was Q68 and I pushed him. He calls with JQ, turn was a 9 and he couldnt improve on the river for me to take down my first Cake MTT. More of these to follow!

First Cake Win

Final Table - Hooray

Ok, I made it to the final table, not one but two. Though the second was a miniscule buy-in ($3) with no guaranteed prize money.

First I will go on with $3 buyin game(~120 players). I was playing 3 other tourneys and was waltzing through the fields on this one. With 11 left I had 45K compared to second place 25K chips. Headed to the final table almost confident(over, if you may say) with two others even in stacks with me and others just hanging in there. First hand I had my black out and went from 1st to 9th at the table. This guy who had 40K in chips limps in MP(800/1600 BB) and the SB shoves for 9K. In BB - 48K (the most common position for my bustouts) I get AQo and I push to eliminate the limper, but MP guy insta-calls and shows down AK. Wow. I have no idea why he did that or why I did that. Anyways SB has AA and I am crippled and was out later in 8th place. Unreal but hard truth!

Other tourney is one that I fought the hard battle. Around 700 players in $5K Guar and is a $10 buyin game. Was the chip lead with around 100 left and then hit the coldest of decks for the next hour and half. I kept saying to myself I will make the FT. This one was before I played the $3 game. Around 15 left, I was standing at 15th position and now kicking and screaming aloud that no matter what I am gonna make the FT. As I hung in and after playing only 3-4 hands in a 2 hour window I made my first FT appearance at Cake. Got the double up I needed with 88 against QJ and then hung in to watch people knock themselves out of the game. I even laid down 99 when folded to me in MP, as I wanted to crack this one open. I nearly got my wish. Ended up with 4 players with top being a monster stack 1.4m, others around 250K and me at around 180K. The hand that got me out was kind of played badly but I guess thats how it goes at FT online. On my blinds, I was folding to raises and wasnt getting into needless action but this hand the chip stack limps on button (10K/20K) and in BB I took a stand with 66. He makes the allin call with QT and the flop is T53. Gone at 4th. I dont understand why he limp calls, if he had raised I was surely going to fold as I would have waited for a better spot. Well, it was not to be.
On a side note, QT is my old nemesis hand and it is very conveniently haunting me around Cake. You wouldnt believe how many times QT hit me square in the nuts , I probably took 15 bad beats(mostly runner-runner against my sets or top pairs on flops) against that hand over the weekend. I started calling it out loud "Show me frikking QT" once the opponent called my big bet or allin on river.

Tiny slice of Cake

I still got only a slice of cake but not the cake all for myself. I mean, havent made inroads into any of the FTs in the tourneys I played. Played the 10+r and busted around 20th place out of 180 players. I am holding up well and good but the game is way volatile once it hits the 25 player mark. I still havent been able to adjust my game. I was sitting there hanging in with 12-13 BB and a ton of activity going on. I wasnt even able to make moves with that kind of stack with the morbid fear of running into big pairs. There were two hand ATs and KQo that I folded to raises from players even in stack with me. I wasnt sure if I should call or reraise and preferred the scared puppy route. I have cashed in almost every tourney I have played since I got onto Cake (yes only 4 days) and pretty much I have busted in all of them with AIPF hands and most of the times I was ahead. So cant see why people would call with any two cards against someone who is playing tight and pushes when entering a pot. I do know its not right to just keep pushing to get to the FT once I am around 15th position. But the kind of play that goes on at that stage, I prefer that kind of moves for a double up or bust out. One double up and I could loosen up a little bit but havent won any heads-up AIPFs at that stage yet. But anyone out there reading this, with Cake experience, please do let me know if I could be helped out in any kinda way to sneak into the FT. Again, I am pretty positive I will post next time with an MTT win at Cake :-)

Cake Poker

Well, I finally got onto Cake and made some nasty runs in MTTs but only to get run-down by stupid callers close to the FT. Thrice I busted in 12-15 positions at these MTTs when I was at or above the average stack. Probably I could have waited but the action and cards were such that I had to make a stand but the idiots wanted to make a stand too against the person who was playing TAG.
This one guy to my left was mad that I was open shoving some hands and wanted me to learn more tricks. I did give him an earful and he kept going at it. All said, close to the FT and even in chips he calls my SB allin(A8) in BB with Q2o (!!!!) and rivers the flush with 2h. Well you could be mad that ppl open shove but risk your stack with any two cards against an even stack. It just baffled me how he made that call! And the races at other MTTs were - pushed with KJs from MP to A4o(BB) and busted. And the last one was when I pushed on the button with A8 only for the BB to call with KJs and bust with two Ks on board. Deja Vu!!

The whole while I played at 0.50/1 NL and at the end of all tournaments made like 100 after buying in for $30. Not a bad deal. The games seemed real soft. The MTTs are fun until one gets into the last 20 or 30 remaining when the sharks remain and I gotta learn this stretch real fast if I dream to crack open one of these MTTs. So wish me good luck, so that the next time I post it would be about taking down an MTT at Cake!!

AC - II

I apologize for the late posts. Been tied up a lot more than I had imagined.
Live tourneys are so much fun! A hand from the tourney I played at Taj. This guy in BB (20K) sported a PS cap. Couple of limpers in MP and I limped on the button with A3.(300/600 - 10K chips). The blinds complete and the flop is 778. Checked around I bet 1800, BB makes the call and rest fold. Turn is A, he makes the forward motion to collect his chips and push and I hold up my stack to shove it. He retracts and I check, river is K and after more drama he pushes and I insta-call he shows down 89 and asks me how I bet with A3 on that flop and how I can call the river. I told him if he had made the move on the turn i would have thought about it but not on the river. It was way simple, the basics of TELLS!!

Guy in MP open shoves for 6K(200/400) and a guy I know who plays good reshoves for 11k. In BB with 9K in chips I wake up with red queens and cursing aloud I muck telling them what I folded. The reshove guy is aghast how I folded QQ and shows KK. The first shover had AJs and made the nuts on turn. Well I seemed to have got a hold of how to make the big laydowns!

AC over the weekend - I

I was at the Trop on Friday and Taj on Saturday. Was happy with my play but the poker gods were still merciless on me. Played 1/2 NL mostly and played the 100+20 tourney at Taj at 12:30AM.

Couple of hands that made me feel really good:

1/2 NL
This guy X to my left had a big stack ($800) and I had an impression if I get into a hand I got to have a hand close to the nuts. No point in making moves against him. I had built a roll to $450 from $150. This hand in MP I get AcAh, I raise to $12 ( I couldnt go really high either or less as there werent too many hands I raised prior to this). X calls, I am watchful now, 2 late callers and the BB makes it. Flop is JdTd5c. Now with 5 callers and holding AA I wanted to know where I stand and came out firing $50. Here is when Mr. X raises me to 100. Everyone folds I think a long time trying to figure out if he has 5's or AJ but hand being aces couldnt let it go and finally called. Turn is 3d, I check and he fires another 100 though I took a while to fold I was pretty sure he had a monster flop. And he just to make sure I dont have the flush I thought he bet the 100. I open folded and asked him if I was beat and he graciously showed me 55. Great job right! End of the hand, I was thinking I could have folded on the flop if you have so many signs telling you were beat!
There was an absolute idiot at the table of whom I couldnt get a piece of. He kept taking shots with bluffs on all streets with actual allins on rivers. This guy who was Loose-passive player had like $150 when I came in. By the time I left he got most of the donations and was upto $700 and the bluffer was into his 4th or 5th buyin and still playing. I wish I had a decent hand against the bluffer but couldnt at any point of time.

More to follow....

MTTs

Played a bunch of MTTs and couldnt cash in any :-(

$3.30+R
$5.50
$11
$11
$16.50
$27.50

Will be out for the weekend and start afresh next week, got to grind these MTTs out. I hope I dont get burnt out with MTTs like the last time. Wish me luck for that score that I am due for.

Another bad run

Dont know when the bad run of cards ends. Had the worst in AKo vs ATs, AJs vs ATo, AQ vs KQ, AK vs 99 and mind you all of them were AIPF. In almost all the situations it was BSB play. Well, atleast two of them would have leapfrogged me to monster stacks to continue with my tight game. I am trying to adjust my game but need a lot more patience to last these huge MTTs. Well as the saying goes you only remember the bad beats you get. Here is one that I gave, but I have an excuse that I was the short stack :-) Turned a 3 on a A3s Vs A9 AIPF.

Dan N's fun videos

First Post

This is my first post. I will keep it simple for now and keep reading to view more about my poker life.