Cincinnati Festival

Today is the opening day of the Cincinnati Club poker festival. Looking forward to it. I have not played live in awhile and I am anxious to get back to the felt rather then sit at my computer. (I do love playing online, dont get me wrong, just a nice change is all).

Tonight's event is the team event, and I am on a pretty strong team. There is me, Timaloy, hairydude, cambo, and craig from the Wabash. (These are all names from the Blondepoker.com forum) so I think we have a good shot. With twenty four teams the tourney is packed and fergus8 (the tourney director and also on Blondepoker.com forum) has done a good job organising it.

The format is simple. Every player is put at a table of ten players. Every table will have representatives from different teams and no team members will play on the same table. Each player begins with 5000 chips and a SnG commences. When a winner from each table is crowned points are awarded to each team. A win for each player is worth 15 points to his team, second place 10 points...all the way doen to eighth, ninth, and tenth which are negative points for your team. After all the tables are through, the team with the most points advances to the final. The next top 6 teams go to the semifinals while the other teams are eliminated. Second place through seventh place then play another SnG with a member from each team at each table. However, instead of starting out with even chip stacks, the teams are given stacks based upon their finish in the earlier SnG. Second place team members will get 8000 chips to begin their tables, third place 7000, fourth place 6000 etc. The team that ends up with the most points out of this round advances to the final. The final is five games heads-up against the winners from the first SnG. The team that wins three or more wins.

The entry fee for each team is £210, or £42 per player. The first place team will receive £3000 (£600 per member) while second place will receive £1500 (£300 per member).

I could do with £600! Especially as that would allow me to play Friday's comp (£75 freeze) and maybe even Sunday's main event. Although at £200 for the main event I would have to feel pretty confident to put that amount on one tourney.

Heres to hoping

PS I played three SnG's last night. One $25 turbo and two $15 turbos. I got third in the $25 and a third in a $15. I was chipleader in the third place $15 turbo and four handed I put a medium stack all in with JJ. He called with AQ and hit an ace. He shouldn't have called for his life, but he did and won. C'est la vie

Pokerstars balance - $453.01

Ahem...ermm Part II

Played last night for a litte while. Played mainly the $15 turbos. Was sucked out on quite a bit, which wasn't cool. I ended up finishing $4 dollars down which is basically even. I am tired of playing for a lenghty period of time and not showing any results for the past two days so I have come to the conclusion that I need some change. A challenge so to speak. I think I may play a ladder system and see where it takes me.

I will play a $6 turbo. If I win or get second place, I will jump to the next turbo level, the $15. If I win or get second, I jump to the $25 turbos, the $55 and so on. I find that I have no great desire in winning a $15 turbo based on the fact that I have won them before. However, if I knew a positive result could mean jumping to a $25 and beyond, I think I would. We'll see how it goes. I think I will try tonight.

Heres to hoping

Ahem...ermm

Played last night and went from $506 to $443. Did not play the way I was the day before. Wrong frame of mind going into the SnG's, my 'show up and win' mentality was going strong and I should have identified that. Unfortunately I didnt.

I am upset that I lost but upbeat in how I buckled down and finished strong.


Tonight I want to top $600.

Here's to hoping.

I Bought A New Computer

I bought a new computer last night online. It should be here in a week or so. Mine busted a little while ago (the pixels were shot) and I needed one badly as the fiancee was sick and tired of sharing.

I was gonna buy another windows machine, I was looking at a compaq C350, but after looking at different laptop reviews online and talking to some tech whiz friends, I think Apple is for me.

Here is the one I chose: Mac Book (the one in the middle) The details of the machine show it to have an 80 gig hard drive, but I upgraded to the 120 gig. I know what many people are thinking, "AN APPLE! But no more poker!". No that is not true. You can install windows onto a Mac and play poker very easily. There is a program called Boot Camp which is available for free on the net and is designed for exactly that. I plan on having poker sites and pretty much nothing else on my windows as I am sick of viruses and spyware. There are no viruse or spyware on a Mac. I am looking forward to that. Plus, with a mac I get ilife, which is a series of five sick programs which are incredible. Imovie, idvd, garageband, iphoto, and itunes (I know not really worth mentioning as its free but whatever). These programs allow me to make dvds, do some crazy stuff with music and photos, and basically have fun. I am also looking at taking my blog further as a Mac easily makes videoblogging and podcasts very simple. I am especially looking forward to that.

Along with my new computer I bought a new 80 gig video ipod. I have wanted one of these for awhile as I often see some of my students with them, and they look very cool. My current ipod is a 6 gig mini and I pretty much have it full to the brim with music. This sucks because I want to start listening to more podcasts such as cardplayer's 'The Circuit' and Phil Gordons 'Expert Insight'. Plus with a Mac, my ipod will be set to download all these podcasts automatically, making it much easier then hunting them down on my fiancee's machine.

I can't wait for them to arrive. In the meantime, I am hoping the success in the $15 turbos continues.

Heres to hoping

Positive Frame of Mind

The multis last night didnt produce anything. The deepstack I did not play as well as I would have liked. I was card dead for long stretches and as a result I was the short stack on my table most of the time. I ended up pushing in with AJ when the tourney chipleader raised. He called with 77 and I hit two jacks but he four flushed and that was it. I am disappointed as I let the stack size of others dictate my play rather then the blinds. Next time.

The APAT I did ok. I never had a big hand to break out with, I was around 13K-17K most of the night and as the blinds rose, my cards didnt rise to meet the occasion. I pushed with AJs and was called by AK.

The $3 rebuy I was bored with. I lost a coinflip and left the tourney. I was more interested in the deepstack.

Anyways, after last night, my balance was an extremely unhealthy $285. Yes, I know, pitiful. Especially for a player who wants $1000 by Christmas. Well after playing today I am back to $506. Quite a nice profit for a days work if I do say so myself (which I do). I bit the bullet and started playing the $15+1 turbos. They are fantastic as they suit my game extremely well. When it gets to four handed I make a movkery of the game and pretty much take control. I am much more dangerous in these games the in the $6 SnG turbos as people in the $6 get fed up and call me, whereas in the $15 turbos they fold.

I played 17 today and I finished in the money 11 times. Happy days!

1st - 5
2nd - 1 (I have a lot of confidence when it gets heads up as I have been playing very well)
3rd - 5
Out of money - 6

I realise that these games are out of my bankroll, but to be honest, I lost interest with the grind of the $6 turbos. I was not reaching my goal quick enough for my liking and I dont like playing when I am not focused. These new tourneys have me very interested and that is a good sign. I am hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

Day of the Multis

Planning on playing three multis today.

The first up is the $10 deepstack starting at 5pm GMT. 5000 chips, 30 minute blinds. I cannot wait. I played one before but was silly and got all the money in with K7 on KK9 board. He had K9 and that was me.

The second is the $3.30 rebuys at 7pm GMT. I played this 2 weeks ago and had KK beat by AK. I know I can peform well and a massive prize pool is a nice enticement to do so.

The third is the APAT Chinese Amateur Poker Open. The Amateur Poker Association Tour is a UK based business that provides poker for amateurs. They have a tourney on pokerstars every second Saturday for $22, and a starting chip count of 5000 but the levels are a regular 15 minutes.

I hope to have a nice cash in atleast one so I can get ready for next weeks Cincinnati Club Fetival.

Heres to hoping

Bond Is A Re-Buy Merchant

Saw Casino Royale last night. Not a bad movie, but the poker scenes. Oh, the poker scenes. Now I know these hands are not real, yes I know that, it's a movie. But as a poker enthusiast I like seeing the game I enjoy shown in the light it deserves. ie, winning hands with A high happens, you can get lucky, the better player usually wins. For those of you who have not seen the movie and do not want to know what the poker scenes are like, stop reading. Stopped yet? Stop, seriously. Just stop.

Ok, the first poker scene is the bad guy playing a women and some rich business man on a yacht. The turn card is the only part of the board shown and it is a K of diamonds. The bad guy goes all in and says, "I have two pair, you have a 17.4% chance of making your straight on the river." And guess what, the other guy folds! I thought for sure he had a set. Just kidding, wouldnt make much sense to see the bad guy lose to anyone but Bond. This scene I didnt like as he had no idea what the women folded, therefore he does not know how many outs the man has to make a straight.

The second scene is Bond playing a minor bad guy at a club in the Bahamas. Blinds are 100-200 and we pick up the big defining hand on the turn. It is a blank and the minor bad guy bets 5000 on an ace high board. Bond flat calls. The river is a K. The minor bad guy bets everything and then tries reaching into his pocket to write a cheque for 20,000. I would have left the cinema if the dealer allowed it, but thankfully she says only whats on the table can be bet. The minor bad guy then says, "well, my keys are on the table". And throws his expensive car into the pot. Bond then tells the dealer it's ok to bet it and calls. Minor bad guy flips KK hitting his set on the river, while Bond 'luckily' had AA for a higher set. So cheesey and cliched.

The rest of the poker is at Casino Royale in Montenegro and Bond has been bought in by the Mi6 as, "he is the best player in the service" (I am sure they keep records of such things). The buy in is 10 million with a rebuy if needed of 5 million.

Anyway, the first big hand shows the board as 589 hearts and the turn is the 9 clubs. Head bad guy (same from yacht) bets each round and is called by Bond. The river is a 2 and bad guy bets again. Bond calls to see a boat. 22299. I would say in a real game, Bond had either a low flush or a pair. Obviously they dont show it, but it would make sense for the hand. Bond then tells his cohorts at the bar that bad guy had a tell and gives the odds of hitting his set on the river as 23-1. Again, impressing those non poker people, but evident to anyone who has an odds calculator or goes to cardplayer.com. Anyways, the next big hand is where I have a big problem.

The board reads J K A J K and the bad guy goes all in. Bond lifts his cards to reveal AK, the third nuts, behind AA and JJ. Bond then calls for all his chips to be shown JJ. Bond leaves the table and is shown talking to his service friends. He is blamed for losing focus and "how could he lose with such a hand". Ok, that is upsurd. Yes he had the third nuts, but the fact he couln't lay it down is not an obvious mistake. Silly really. He buys back in and wins enough to be a contender again.

The final hand shows a board of Ah 4s 6s 8s As. Everyone goes all in (the four remaining) and they prepare to flip over their cards. Cue the cheese please. At this point I say to my finacee next to me "KQ spades". The lowest stack shows KQ spades. Thank you. I then say "pocket 8's". Next lowest stack shows 88. Thank you. I then say pocket Aces, but bad guy shows A6, hey, I was close. And then I say obviously, "57 spade". And yes incredibly, Bond has it. I know, I was worried he was bluffing as well.

All in all, I was pleased to see poker in a major film which will be seen by poker players and non poker players alike. I think the movie did ok in portraying poker and because it is trying to appeal to many people, it had to be a bit cheesey.

RIP Six Seaters

Well that sucked.

Last night I began playing the six seater $12 SnG's. They are by far the most frustrating tables I have ever played on. My first table I played I looked up each of the players on sharkscope to see their monetary records on pokerstars. Two players were in the megative hundreds, two players were in the negative thousands (including one guy who was down eight grand) and the fifth player was a positive nine dollars in three hundred games. Yes, apparently games like this exist. Then why did I not finish in the money?

These players called everything. Let me repeat that, everything. I folded anything and everything early on waiting for a big hand to get paid off with. Said hand arrives in the form of AA on the button. I raise to 350 with the blinds at 25-50. I get four callers. Let me say that again I had not played a hand in over twenty minutes and I get four callers. The flop comes K98 with two spades. Damn. Dangerous flop. First player bets 3/4 of the pot, second player calls, third player calls, fourth player folds. What do I do? I thought I was ahead so I went all in. Two callers. One player flips up T2 spades. Yes that is the T2 of spades calling a raise of 300. The other player flips over K5o. Yes that hand again is a K5o. The turn is a blank and the river is the five of spades, making my hand the third best. Frustrating to say the least.

Yes I know many people will say I can make money in games like these and that when hands like that call my AA I will win in the long run. But to be honest, I didnt have fun. I played a few more and basically broke even by getting two second places but it wasn't poker, not even at the end. The game was just me sitting there waiting for the nuts, and because it is six handed, there are not enough chips three handed to get creative. All in all, the six seat mania was short lived.

Which brings me to my next point. I think I am going back to the good ole days of min raises and folding everything early. Yes, a normal, run of the mill, ten minute levels, nothing fancy early, fold 77 in early position, stay away from confrontation, nine player SnG's. But not the $5.50, nope, not for this hombre. I am venturing forth to the $10 SnG. The first place money is the same as the $6.50 18 man turbos and the six seater $12 SnG's, so it makes sense. I can't go back to the $5.50 SnG either as I may kill myself playing for over an hour and earning $17. I think I can play well and hopefully go back to the format which was most successful for me. I may also allow myself the occasional foray into the $20 SnG world if I win a few in a row, almost as a reward to liven up the game.

Here's to hoping

Six Seat Mania

I have decided to play the six seaters for a little while to see how I get on. The first prize is the same as the 18 man turbos, albeit double the entry fee. I think with the game not developing into a crap shoot I can do well. If I get any lower then $300 (approx nine buyins at this level) then I will drop back down.

Here's to hoping

Definition of Discipline and Focus - NOT ME!

I am very upset with myself.

Last Friday I had my roll as high as $560. I was playing so well. I went on a run where I played four 18 man turbos and I got three firsts. Crazy eh? My confidence was super high, I saw the game on a different level and I was really playing well. Then late Friday night I decided to log back on and play some more. I was destroying the 6.50 turbos...why not play the $16 turbos and ride my hot streak? For those of you with weak stomachs, stop reading. I played some $16 turbos, maybe four or five, and I believe I got a 4th place somewhere in there. I went to Ireland and played a $16 turbo. No dice. I played some more $6.50 turbos trying to get some confidence back. No dice yet again. I was getting cold decked supremely and getting bad beats galore. Nothing like getting kicked when your down. I then remembered talking to my college roommate Mike and that he started playing the $35 six seaters. I took a stab on them (I know I know totally not what my original goal was) and came up empty. I played some more today and again I could pick up nothing in the turbos. I was down to around $320, yes, about $240 away from where I was Friday night. (If I had only went to bed and stopped playing) So I collected myself and signed up for a $35 six seater. With my registration paid I had $285 left. I was down early but fought back. This is the final hand.



I felt it was nice of the poker gods to give me a straight flush as some form of redemption.

Well I am beaten but I feel that it was yet another good experience that did not leave me penniless. I am upset I let myself get so low, but I am glad I put it up on this blog as I thought about not posting it.

I am going to think it over about what game I should playing and what stakes suit me. I am getting a little tired of the turbos, but cannot go back to playing the five dollar SnG's. I am looking at the $12 six seaters, but we'll see.

Pokerstars Balance - $422.45

Thank You

Thank You Youtube, this made my day.

A player named Tuff_Fish is playing 2/4 No Limit on Party Poker. While playing, this player records his thoughts using a microphone as well as a camera pointing at the screen. Just watch this hand, his reaction is priceless.

Tuff_Fish goes on tilt.

PS Turn up the volume to make sure you hear everything, although there is some bad language so headphones may be in order depending on who is in the room

Rome Wasn't Built in A Day (Hopefully It Was A Week)

First of all, I must admit that yesterday's pokerstars balance was not correct at $450, rather it was $442. Not a massive difference but I want to keep such information accurate.

So last night I was late at work with parents night, so I came home tired but wanting to play for a little while. I logged on and signed up for the usual 18 man turbo. It filled quickly and we were away. I had little early, folding and watching a rather aggressive table. Then I got AQ suited on the button. With 3 mid position limpers at 15/30 I raised to 250. (yes I know it is a lot but I have found at this level, it is the way to go as I only want the pot heads up or I am content to take it down) One caller. The flop comes QJ4. He checks, I raise 400 he calls. The turn is a 3. He checks I go all in, he calls with A3. Yes, A3. River is not a 3, I am up to 2700 early. (yes I put in his notes he is a fish). A few hands later I get AA folded around to me in the cut off. I raise to 150 wanting one caller. The BB obliges. The flop is Q92. He checks I bet 300, he calls. The turn is a J. He checks, I go all. He calls 900 with T 7. River is a blank and I am up to 4000. (Yes I also put fish in his notes as well). A few hand later in the BB I get QTs. The shortstacked SB makes up the 100 BB, just the two of us. Instead of raising I decide to see a flop. The flop comes AT6. He checks, I bet 100, he goes all in. He wouldn't flat call the BB with an ace right? I call. Yes he would, he has A4. Turn is a T, river is a Q giving me a boat and 1200 more chips. Who says I have no luck right?

Final Table. With eight people left I get TT in mid position. Wth a stack of 6500 and being in second place I raise the 100-200 blinds to 800. A stack of 2300 goes all in. I call and he shows QQ. Board comes K T 8 7 4. Oops. I suck out again. As the game winds down, a fast game becomes a slow one, and for the first time, a turbo gets to 1000-2000 blinds. Heads up I am in the SB with 64. With a stack of 16000, I go all in as by this time it is a crap shoot. He calls with Q3. I flop a 6, no queen hits and I take it down. He berated me in the chat box how I could move with 64. Well, the fact he called with Q3 can hardly be called a good play, and he also sucked out on me with 97 v AQ earlier, so it evens out.

All in all, a great way to get back to winning ways. One game, one first place. Very satisfying. I realise that one good day is not enough to say I am back on track, but I hope it is a start.

Pokerstars Balance - $479.35

PS Going to Ireland this weekend so probably no poker. I may fit a game in hopefully but no guaruntees. I hope to play a few tonight but I am going to see Casino Royale and hopefully some proper poker scenes. (If it is royal flush v quads or full house v straight flush type stuff I will not be happy.)

Here's to Hoping

Purple Monkey Dishwasher

I played last night.

I went as low as $416.

Twice I had pairs beat by lower pairs.

Twice I had AK beat by Ax.

I wanted to play poker forever and never again at the same time.

I finished strong though and got back up to $450.

Luck is around the corner...I hope.

Why oh Why?

Well yesterday I was riding high. I had $520 in my account, and with the fiancee going to parents night at her school, I had a two hour window and aspirations of reaching $600. I started off with a different game plan. I opened a $6.50 turbo and a regular $5.50 18 man SnG. I thought that as the turbo fiished, the regular SnG would be heading into high gear with 75/150 blinds and where the min raise is king. It didnt pan out. I got 4th place in the turbo and no place in the regular. I tried again losing both. I tried yet again, losing both. By this time I am getting frustrated and in my frustration I do what I promised myself I wouldn't. I opened a $16 turbo. I know. I am ashamed and feel guilty. I just wanted to see the level of play and if there were any differences in the flow. Although, I must come clean...I played two of them. I know. I shouldn't have but I got unlucky in the first and thought the second would be better. It wasn't. I got 7th place for the big nada.

So here I am, feeling guilty after losing $58 in one sitting. I am a new man though, and I plan on attacking the turbos with a renewed sense of vigour. I have seen the dark side and lived to tell the tale. I am humbled yet again, but feel freed from any further temptation. I will return to the world of $500 bank rolls and hopefully the $600 club will follow soon after.

Knightsridge will be back. (yes I just spoke in the first person, thats how serious I am)

Pokerstars Balance - $462.85

Vegas Baby Vegas

No I am not in Vegas. I am still in rain soaked Glasgow Scotland, but I thought I would share a story from when I was in Vegas this past summer.

I work at a children's sports camp each summer in the Catskill Mountains of New York. I have done this the past six years and I love it. I teach tennis and roller hockey as well as act as the assistant head counselor. Where does Vegas come in you ask? Well, the oldest kids on camp are fifteen and each summer this age group takes a ten day trip to the west coast. (yes, the kids are loaded) I was asked by the camp director if I would fly with the kids and tour around as a chaperone. As in I pay nothing and see the west coast? As in I pay nothing and have fun with kids I have known for six years and my girlfriend who is also a counselor comes with us? As in I pay nothing and stay in beautiful hotels in San Fran, Beverly Hills, Arizona and (gulp) Las Vegas? As in...hell yes.

We went to the coast and had a great time, but for me for obvious reasons Las Vegas was by far my favorite part. It truly is an amazing place. Even though I was only there for a short period of time, a day and a half, it was enough to make me want to go back very soon. I went to the WSOP at the Rio, and saw Lederer and Lindgren, saw the tables spread out from wall to wall and saw the hoopla that surrounds poker's biggest spectacle. Absolutely thrilling. I saw The Bellagio and Caesar's Palace and I could have stayed forever. The buzz is incredible.

Anyways. I was staying at The Excalibur. It is across the street from the MGM and is on The Strip. It is a massive hotel (I was in room 17235 meaning 17th floor, 2nd tower, room 35, insane eh?) and has a shopping mall, about twenty restaurants, and an indoor walkway to MGM which is also massive. Because I was with kids as a chaperone, I didnt feel comfortable leaving them and walking around Vegas at night when they are in their rooms, so I opted to stay at the Excalibur and play there. The kids had a curfew of midnight so at 12:05 I was at the table.

The game was 1-3 no limit with a max buy in of $200. I bought in for $200 and because cash is not my usual game, played tight early. I built up a reputation as a tight player and slowly loosened up winning a few pots. I was up to about $260, when the following hand happened. To this day I think about this hand and how different it could have ended up; both positively and negatively.

I was in the BB for three dollars and the UTG straddled for six dollars. (A straddle is doubling the BB UTG and if the straddle is only called and not raised the straddler has the option to raise.) The six dollars was called by three players (a new guy to the table but seemed solid, a drunk guy, and a guy who seemed on tilt and was running low on chips) The SB folded and I looked down to see AA. This was my first real starting hand and I definitely did not want five to the flop. I raised to $31 to play (25 raise plus the straddle of 6). The straddler folded. The solid new guy flat called (I immediately was worried and I put him on a mid pair hoping to hit a set.) The drunk guy called. By this time I was really worried. Then the tilter low on chips goes all in for $54. It is back to me facing a raise of $29. By this time the pot has grown quite large and I am content to play it heads up; I go all in for around $225. The solid player seemed disgusted and made a comment to the tilter about being forced out of the hand. The drunk guy then started staring at me. He was swaying and his eyes were blood red. He had less then me but more then the tilter. He took forever, and then called. What the hell is going on I thought? The drunk flips over AT offsuit (like I said...drunk) The tilter flips over 85 offsuit (like I said tilt) and I flip over bullets. The pot is quite big, the biggest since I had arrived at the table, and all I want is a flop of QQQ or KKK so I can breath again. As the dealer positions our cards on the felt preparing to deal the flop, the solid player says 'nice hand, I had sevens'. The flop comes T 4 7, giving drunk guy top pair needing another ten, and tilter a gutshot needing a six. As I am trying to figure this out, the dealer turns a blank; Q. One more blank please dealer. The river is the 6 giving tilter a straight. Tilter lets out a yell and some comment about gambling in poker and the courage he showed. He wins the main pot while I settle for the side pot of me and drunk guy (which strangely enough put me five dollars up for the hand after I finish counting)

This hand could have changed dramatically if the solid player had seen the flop with sevens. I would have gone broke when he hit his set. No doubt about it. I would have led out big and he would have reraised all in. Even more amazing however, is the amount I raised preflop. Had I reraised any more then $25, tilter guy's all in would have been an under raise not allowing me to go all in over the top shutting out solid guy and his sevens. A strange hand, both lucky in some ways and unlucky in others. To cap this though, as I was counting the chips from the side pot, some regulars start hitting the table in unison saying 'spin the wheel, spin the wheel' I give a 'what the hell is going on look' and the dealer explains. 'If you have aces cracked all in preflop you spin the bad beat wheel, just tell the poker cage and they will bring you over'. I walk to the cage in the middle of the poker area and say 'I had aces cracked preflop' The cage looks at the dealer from my table and she gives the nod. I walk up to the wheel and it looks heavy. I think I will have to give it a solid spin to make it go around. Well I spin as hard as I can and when I do this I realise it is not heavy, but in fact, light. The wheel takes off and shows no signs of stopping. I stand there like an idiot waiting for this wheel to stop and the whole poker room is looking at me. I also see that my table is dealing again and that I had posted the SB before I left. I run over and play the hand. The wheel is still going. I play my button hand and the wheel is still going strong. After the third hand, the wheel is slowing down. I walk over and the wheel finally stops at $30. I walk up and inform the cage that I won $30.

That hand was, and remains, by far the weirdest way I have ever won $35 in my life. But it definitely made the trip to Vegas memorable.

Late Night With A Monkey

Last night I couldn't sleep so I thought I would play a late night SnG to finish out the day. I logged on and thought I would check out the Sunday Million tourney to see if any big names were on. There was. 'matt674' an Irish player and friend from Blonde Poker was sitting on 40,000 or so at around 11:30. Great I thought, fire up an SnG and watch Matt play while the tedious opening levels of the SnG unfold.

Let's just say that Matt was faring better than my attempts as my AK was no match for AJ. I couldn't go to bed now though, not being 6.50 down and Matt going strong. This was my thought process at 11:30. This continued until close to 3:00am. 'matt674' (who's p-stars pic is something like this) was playing solid poker but was not getting the cards to fall as they should missing out on a double up with AJ v AT ending in a split pot.

After a run in with AJ v AQ, Matt found himself down to less then a BB and in the BB. Fortunately he quadrupled up with a K6, stole some blinds and had it folded around to him once while in the BB. Then this hand happened. Matt went all in for a little less then 200,000 with AK UTG to be called immediately by AQ in mid position. The flop came Q high and the turn gave trip Q's. Unlucky Matt, but 340th or something close as well as $1200 is nothing to be disappointed with. WP.

PS I fared ok in the SnG realm last night. Finishing with $502.54 which is exactly where I was Saturday morning, albeit after some multis including a rebuy. Quite satisfied for the time being, although I am anxious to hit $600.

Reflection of Recent Play

My play in the last three to four days has been solid. I have integrated some MTT's in and the results monetarily speaking have been desolate, but for my poker game have been immense.

I began to look at playing SnG's as a grind. The end of a turbo SnG is fast and all in is the only move. To start one up again is very tedious. Folding things like AJ and 77 so as not to lose chips early. It begins to wear down poker theory and it becomes just a game of couting how many rounds you can sustain and predicting a short stack's breaking point before the inevitable all in will occur.

MTT's however, have a semblance of normalcy and balance. A player leaves but a new one comes along. My luck in these MTT's recently has not been good. AK v AJ, KK v AK, KK v AJ have all been my exit hands in recent attempts. This is encouraging. I feel that I will have a serious cash in the near future. However, to go along with these non cashes, my roll has depleted somewhat. Enter 'renewed sense of urgency' in SnG form. My SnG performance now allows me to play these MTT's as I feel I can replace lost money quickly. Each of the past two nights I have lost MTT's and immediately played SnG's to replace lost money. And each time I won everything back and then some, as I felt the need to perform. A somewhat disciplined approach in allowing myself (and my roll) to play MTT's.

I hope to hit a major MTT cash soon, and that my SnG performance allows me to continue for this elusive result.

My Cowboys Are Broken

Played two tourneys tonight. The same ones as last night. The three dollar rebuy and the five dollar freezeout. I played well throughout each and if I had won either of these hands I would have been in great shape to make a good run. Really disappointed with both.

PokerStars Game #6983780005: Tournament #35144482, $3.00+$0.30 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (300/600) - 2006/11/11 - 16:33:43 (ET)
Table '35144482 214' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: dont77 (17700 in chips)
Seat 2: edd3800 (11230 in chips)
Seat 3: twotone1 (26361 in chips)
Seat 4: Knightsridge (11310 in chips)
Seat 5: superking168 (3826 in chips)
Seat 6: cheryl3011 (12420 in chips)
Seat 7: mikes1157 (38175 in chips)
Seat 8: Psikodelic (19535 in chips)
Seat 9: TheEinherjer (15350 in chips)
dont77: posts the ante 50
edd3800: posts the ante 50
twotone1: posts the ante 50
Knightsridge: posts the ante 50
superking168: posts the ante 50
cheryl3011: posts the ante 50
mikes1157: posts the ante 50
Psikodelic: posts the ante 50
TheEinherjer: posts the ante 50
Psikodelic: posts small blind 300
TheEinherjer: posts big blind 600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Knightsridge [Kd Kh]
superking168 is connected
dont77: folds
edd3800: folds
twotone1: folds
Knightsridge: raises 600 to 1200
superking168: folds
cheryl3011: folds
mikes1157: folds
Psikodelic: folds
TheEinherjer: raises 1800 to 3000
Knightsridge: raises 3000 to 6000
TheEinherjer: raises 3600 to 9600
Knightsridge: raises 1660 to 11260 and is all-in
TheEinherjer: calls 1660
*** FLOP *** [4d 2s Ac]
TheEinherjer said, "doh"
TheEinherjer said, "wow"
*** TURN *** [4d 2s Ac] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [4d 2s Ac 5h] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TheEinherjer: shows [Ks As] (two pair, Aces and Fives)
Knightsridge: shows [Kd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Fives)
TheEinherjer collected 23270 from pot



PokerStars Game #6984147694: Tournament #35144487, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (100/200) - 2006/11/11 - 17:01:37 (ET)
Table '35144487 162' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: jbm911 (10435 in chips)
Seat 2: Knightsridge (5170 in chips)
Seat 3: Eonwe (5892 in chips)
Seat 4: Gator615 (11150 in chips)
Seat 5: rea s k (12804 in chips)
Seat 6: mingo14 (4597 in chips)
Seat 7: MAVS2250 (8796 in chips)
Seat 8: rockyone123 (16418 in chips)
Seat 9: colorao6060 (5480 in chips)
jbm911: posts the ante 25
Knightsridge: posts the ante 25
Eonwe: posts the ante 25
Gator615: posts the ante 25
rea s k: posts the ante 25
mingo14: posts the ante 25
MAVS2250: posts the ante 25
rockyone123: posts the ante 25
colorao6060: posts the ante 25
mingo14: posts small blind 100
MAVS2250: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Knightsridge [Ks Kh]
rockyone123: folds
colorao6060: folds
jbm911: folds
Knightsridge: calls 200
Eonwe: folds
Gator615: raises 600 to 800
rea s k: folds
mingo14: folds
MAVS2250: folds
Knightsridge: raises 2700 to 3500
Gator615: calls 2700
*** FLOP *** [9s 7d 3h]
Knightsridge: bets 1645 and is all-in
Gator615: calls 1645
*** TURN *** [9s 7d 3h] [Ah]
*** RIVER *** [9s 7d 3h Ah] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Knightsridge: shows [Ks Kh] (a pair of Kings)
Gator615: shows [Jc Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Knightsridge said, "unreal"
Gator615 collected 10815 from pot

PS I checked back when the tourneys finished. Gator615 got 7th place while TheEinherjer got 52nd.

Multis and Some of the Usual

Last night was Friday, and because I could sleep in, I thought I would take a shot at some multi table tourneys. First up was the three dollar rebuy 10,000 guarunteed. I had not played a rebuy online for quite awhile and I was not prepared for what I saw. People reloading to 3000 chips and going all in with nothing. I spent $18 before I left the tourney. The highlights were my KK all in against AJ and 67s. An A on the turn sealed that. AT v A8 all in preflop and an A8Q flop was the end of me. The final hand was me on tilt trying to gather a stack. I went all in over the top of a mid position raise with A9s v TT. No help, gg me. I must say though, I think I will play this one again as I now know what to expect. A few hands a little differently and I could have done well.

The second and third tourneys I played at the same time. One was a 180 4 dollar SnG while the other was a $5 multi with about 1300 runners. The 180 man I was low pretty much the whole time. I had QQ beat by KTs all in preflop and that crippled me. I ducked and dived my way back and had some good hands hold up JJ v TT and TT v 99. I was up to 15th of 21 remaining when I got AKs in mid position. A larger stack min raised the BB to 800 and I went all in over the top for 7600. He called immediately and I thought I was in trouble. He had AJo. Not sure what he thought I had but he called. A jack on the turn and another on the river was enough for 21st place. In hindsight I shouldnt have gone all in, I should have min raised him to 1600 and went all in on the flop regardless. Woulda coulda schoulda. Cant be too hard on myself as I was a big favorite and he hit, it happens. The five dollar tourney was a steady rise with no major bumps or bruises. I had KK v 77 all in pre and held to jumpstart me and I stole blinds and bobbed along. I was actually quite pleased with how I played. That is until the end. With 275 or so players left I raised from mid position with KJs after a limp just before me. It was folded around to the limper who went all in. I was thiking mid pair and along with this I was on tilt from the AK v AJ hand which had happened moments earlier. I called. I know stupid right? Why call with 4000 chips when the blinds are 100-200 w25 ante. Stupid mistake and as soon as I called I knew it was a mistake. He showed AK (why did he limp in mp?) and that was it for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing multis instead of an SnG but I had forgotten what it was like to be eliminated after playing for a couple of hours. It sucks. Next time I will be ready.

After the multi table fiascos, I played some more 18 man turbos and did really well. I recouped my MTT losses and a litte more. Even better though, was that I cracked the $500 mark. Finally.

Pokerstars balance - $502.57

A Stagnant Yo-yo

That's what I feel like. I played last night and after four games I was up fifteen dollars. Nothing to scoff at, I know, profit is profit, but I go up and down and finish somewhere around where I began. Frustrating really.

Yesterday's games were nothing out of the ordinary. I went all in with QQ when it was min raised with five callers. The original min raiser called with AA, no help. These things happen. I played a strange hand where I made up the SB with T4 and the BB checked. The flop came 3T3. I checked, with the hope of either check raising or slow playing my ten into the turn. The BB overbet the pot. Hmmm. I min raised and he min raised me back. Now I know what you're thinking, he has a three but I couldnt believe he overbet the pot with a three and I thought he was then trying to represent a three with the min raise of my min raise. The turn brought a four and I bet 3/5 of his stack. He went all in. By this time I was priced in and called with top two. Of course I knew he had a three but I had four outs (two other fours and two other tens). No help on the river and I was crippled. This hand was very strange though as I couldnt understand why he bet so much on the flop, almost like he wanted me out of the hand. Odd. Lesson learned, dont get in blind wars with bad hands out of position.

I am hoping to play some more tonight, possibly a multi but I am also thinking of playing live at the Cincinnati Club. However, the club started 'every Friday is £75' instead of the last Friday of the month. That is quite a bit of money and paying for the ring this week has put a severe dent in my finances. I will see how I feel later on.

Pokerstars Balance - $485.35

I so badly want to crack $500.....so close!

Hmmmmm

Well I haven't had much time for poker lately. This past Monday night, I got engaged to my girlfriend of over two years. A special day for sure, but the amount of texts, emails, and phone messages has been incredible. Anyways, enough about that, on to poker.

I played four games on Tuesday night and did not play well at all. Because of my lay off I was more excited about playing then actually playing well. Not a good mindset to say the least. I was calling raises hoping to hit and bluffing at parts of the game where bluffing was not needed. The worst hand I played which made me stop playing was when I was in third place of ten left and raised to 3 x BB with JJ. The SB then went all in. He was the chipleader and had a few more chips then me. I know I should have folded, but I called to prove to myself I should have folded. Unreal thought process right? I know terrible. Of Course he had KK and good night me. I got up and walked away. Definitely a good decision.

I played last night determined to do better then the night before. I started strong getting to two final tables in the top three. I ended up losing a coinflip in one and after having the lead heads up, missed 15 outs on the river and got second. Not bad I thought, a few more games are in order. I then proceeded to lose with QQ to A9 and AK to AT. Two hands I dominated in and both times I lose for a large pot. Diifcult to take especially when I wanted some good results.

I am feeling confident though that today will be a solid day perormance wise. My fiancee (wow, no longer my girlfriend) is going on a school trip with some students and will not be home till seven. I am hoping that I can push above the five hundred mark tonight. After all, the first five hundred is the hardest right?

Here's to hoping.

Pokerstars balance - $470.96

216 Man Turbo Shootout

Like to say congrats to my roommate from college Mike on his performance today in a 216 man turbo sat to the Sunday Millions. The tournament is played six handed and only the winners of tables advance. He won his first table when I was railing and I watched the beginning of the second table before I had to go out for awhile. When I came back there were three people left at the final table and Mike was a massive chipleader. His AQ held against AT and he had a ticket to the Sunday Millions. He unregistered and plans on selling his ticket, but $215 for a $2.20 investment...not bad at all. Well done Mike.

Sharkscope

For anyone that plays a lot of SnG's you should check out a site called . Sharkscope. It is a site that allows players to see the monetary records of others. This way you can avoid players that consistently make money, and attack those that consistently lose money. The only downside to the site is the fact you can only search five times per day unless you subscribe which allows limitless searches. It is a valuable tool, especially when the play gets down to five and six handed.



This is a scren shot of a search I did with the remaining players recently in a SnG. I removed their names, but kept their records. (I know the screen shows a blue picture, but click on it and it shows the real picture, no idea why it appears blue) This little pictures next to their blanked out names are fish swimming in a bowl (thats not a good thing) It is amazing how many people play and lose money yet do not move down in levels.

Half Way!!!

Just took another 18 man down. Played smart final table. Very pleased.

Pokerstars Balance - $498.32

Just Look At This Hand

I limped with tens because the limp UTG scared me. But when it came back around and the UTG didnt reraise, I was confident I was ahead, so I pushed. Watch what happens and the comments that follow. (I kept the player in question's name out of the hand as I dont feel it's appropriate)

PokerStars Game #6891079006: Tournament #35141868, $6.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2006/11/04 - 13:16:19 (ET)
Table '35141868 1' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Bigby's (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: champ6666 (1490 in chips)
Seat 3: Shamana (1480 in chips)
Seat 4: tavvv (1440 in chips)
Seat 5: --------- (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: Bravehart69 (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: Knightsridge (1500 in chips)
Seat 8: muttmaker (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: bmrosser (1590 in chips)
Shamana: posts small blind 10
tavvv: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Knightsridge [Td Th]
---------: calls 20
Bravehart69: calls 20
Knightsridge: calls 20
muttmaker: calls 20
bmrosser: calls 20
Bigby's: calls 20
champ6666: folds
Shamana: calls 10
tavvv: raises 40 to 60
---------: calls 40
Bravehart69: calls 40
Knightsridge: raises 1440 to 1500 and is all-in
muttmaker: folds
bmrosser: folds
Bigby's: folds
Shamana: folds
tavvv: folds
---------: calls 1440 and is all-in
Bravehart69: folds
*** FLOP *** [7d 9c Ac]
*** TURN *** [7d 9c Ac] [Ts]
*** RIVER *** [7d 9c Ac Ts] [6h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
---------: shows [8h 9h] (a straight, Six to Ten)
Knightsridge: shows [Td Th] (three of a kind, Tens)
--------- collected 3200 from pot
--------- said, "knew u couldn't have a lot"
--------- said, "all in with 10's is terrible"

It's people like that and comments like that, that I know I will always make money playing poker. I also checked out the player on sharkscope and he is down 65 dollars. I wonder why? lol

Back on Track

Well.

The past few days I have not played much. My computer is shot and I have yet to get a new one. For the past while I have been using my girlfriend's. The past few days she has been doing reports for her school meaning no poker.

I started a new 18 man turbo this afternoon and I played well. I min raised the average stacks to death and I didnt commit chips in spots I didnt have to. To top off the game, heads up, my opponent folded his 1200 BB to my min raise leaving himself with 370 chips to my 26,630. Couldnt believe it.

All in all, this is what I like to see:

PokerStars Tournament #35131114, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $6.00/$0.50
18 players
Total Prize Pool: $108.00
Tournament started - 2006/11/04 - 09:41:19 (ET)

Dear Knightsridge,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.
A $43.20 award has been credited to your Real Money account.


Congratulations!
Thank you for participating.

I hope to go from here and have over $500 by Monday morning.

Here's to hoping

Pokerstars Balance - $468.12

Why Take Notes if I Don't Use Them?

Last night I played two 18 man turbo SnG's. The first I finished 14th or 15th when I called a raise from the BB with 99. The flop came QJ9. I check raised him all to be shown QQ. No problem, set over set is not a bad beat in my books, just unlucky. The second however, I did have a problem with.

It was down to five handed and I was third in chips. With blinds at 400-800 I was in the SB with A8 spades. The cutoff then flat called the BB. Now, two minutes earlier I had just written in this player's notes that he flat calls the BB with large pairs, as he had already done so with JJ and QQ. I notice this, realise he has a big pair, and yet I still pushed. The BB folded, the flat caller called, showed JJ, no help, I'm gone on the bubble. It was so frustrating to think I knew what he had and yet I still pushed into him. What amazes me however, is I dont know why I went all in. I really don't. Almost as if I knew what he had but took a risk in case he didn't. I walked away from the computer at that point I was so frustrated with myself.

I dont know how many games I will play tonight as I have to stay late at school due to parents evening. I hope to be home by 9:30 but I will be exhausted.

Pokerstars balance - 423.97