I decided to finally breakdown and purchase Poker Tracker 3 tonight and after uploading all my hands since I last used the 'free trial' version, I jumped onto a 6-person $10+1 SNG on Mansion. For the record, I had over 4000 hands in over 2 months. I know some people hit that in a day (and even much higher), but for me, whose average is less than 1 hr of playing per day, that is significant.
First thing I noticed was the numbers on the HUD. I've always wondered how much those little numbers actually helped. I've talked to friends, and probably have blogged a bit about it here, but I've never really known how much not knowing someone's VP$IP/PFR/Agg. Factor/Won@Showdown numbers really affected my play. I am convince that not having PT3 back in December is what caused me to go on a significant losing streak. Well tonight, during my game, I 'saw the light.' I had players who had VP$IP's in the upper 40's while the PFR was under 10. I knew I could raise those limpers light and steal their pots, as they were just looking to get into pots cheap. I did. It worked. I had 1 opponent (who acted before me everytime) who had an Aggression Factor of over 4, which meant he would bet/raise the flop/turn/river 4 times more often then calling. I knew I could probably check-raise him off many pots, or if I had a monster, I could catch him stealing. I did and I took him out in 4th. Eventually I ended up HU's against a fairly tight player and won it 8 hands.
So, when I ask myself if I can tell the difference between playing with and without PT3, I have to say yes. And if I can do this 2 more times, I will have made enough to pay for it!
Good luck at the tables.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Why the cards matter least - Poker Strategy Part 6
Poker is a very situational game, and if you can learn and adapt to all the nuances of the game, many situations will present themselves that will allow you to win pots with any 2 cards. At this point in the series I have given you some insight as to many of the factors that go into making a decision pre and post flop without even concerning yourself with your cards. The next couple of articles will focus on actually knowing what your cards are and playing according to all the information you gathered before looking at them.
In this article I will discuss the notion of playing with a plan. If you have not read the previous articles in this series, please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 at your convenience.
When it comes to discussing the notion of playing with a plan, many people have conflicting opinions. Some say tight-aggressive at the beginning then open your game the farther you go, while other say loose-aggressive early to accumulate chips to handle the bigger blinds in the later stages. Some will even say "I don't play with a plan, I just play the opposite of my table," and that in itself is playing with a plan. Some plans say you should be willing to commit up to 20% of your stack, early on, to play draw heavy hands, while others will defend their blinds no matter what. What ever manner you decide to play, you need to be able to adapt/change your game according to the table dynamics if you plan on making it far in a tournament. You also need to take chances to make it far into the tournament, no matter what type of game you start off playing. Remember nobody has ever folded their way to 1st place.
I have to tell you that I had full intentions on writing a detailed description on how to play with a plan, and on how it could be advantages to you, but after reading the following 2 articles, I don't think I can say it any better than those guys. If you take this game seriously, and would like to do well, then take the time to read and understand these articles, and they will help you in the long run.
The Poker Blog
Mitchell Cogert
So even though it is a great idea to start off playing a specific way, changes to your plan throughout the tournament will be required and expected. Even the best laid plans need modifications along the way! Remember to be prepared for anything when you sit down at the table, and stay focused on winning the big prize.
Good luck at the tables.
In this article I will discuss the notion of playing with a plan. If you have not read the previous articles in this series, please read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 at your convenience.
When it comes to discussing the notion of playing with a plan, many people have conflicting opinions. Some say tight-aggressive at the beginning then open your game the farther you go, while other say loose-aggressive early to accumulate chips to handle the bigger blinds in the later stages. Some will even say "I don't play with a plan, I just play the opposite of my table," and that in itself is playing with a plan. Some plans say you should be willing to commit up to 20% of your stack, early on, to play draw heavy hands, while others will defend their blinds no matter what. What ever manner you decide to play, you need to be able to adapt/change your game according to the table dynamics if you plan on making it far in a tournament. You also need to take chances to make it far into the tournament, no matter what type of game you start off playing. Remember nobody has ever folded their way to 1st place.
I have to tell you that I had full intentions on writing a detailed description on how to play with a plan, and on how it could be advantages to you, but after reading the following 2 articles, I don't think I can say it any better than those guys. If you take this game seriously, and would like to do well, then take the time to read and understand these articles, and they will help you in the long run.
The Poker Blog
Mitchell Cogert
So even though it is a great idea to start off playing a specific way, changes to your plan throughout the tournament will be required and expected. Even the best laid plans need modifications along the way! Remember to be prepared for anything when you sit down at the table, and stay focused on winning the big prize.
Good luck at the tables.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Trash talking - what are you trying to achieve?
Last night I finally had the opportunity to sit down and play a $10+1 6-person SNG on Mansion. It had been the first time since Sunday, I know not that long between sessions but still long enough for me.
Before a hand could be played, a player named SHERWHYNOT was already being very belligerent to the other players, that by the sounds of it, he/she just played against in another SNG/game. I just ignored him, as I mostly do with those type of players. First hand gets played down to the river where 2 players show their cards. I was not in the hand, but I was paying attention in hopes of picking up some information on the players. The player that won had bet a flush draw down to the river with A2 and hit, while the other player had played his flopped top pair weak kicker very weak by calling bets down to the river. Great, got some info on both. After the hand was done, SHERWHYNOT started to let loose on the player who lost, by commenting on how poorly they played their hand. He continued this for a while to the point where it was getting annoying.
The problem with this is there really is not point in trying to teach someone how they should play their hands, especially by criticizing them, or calling them names. If a player wants to get better than they will should be reviewing their hands after each session to see where they made mistakes and where they can improve. Personally, I want the weak players to continue to play weak hands out of position, so that I may exploit them for all their chips. Don't get me wrong, I've made some questionable calls from good and bad positions, and I will continue to occasionally do it as I keep learning this game. When I do, whether someone calls me on it or not, I take the time after the game to review my actions and try to learn from my mistakes, with hopes of becoming a better player. What I don't want is for some idiot to play teacher to those who don't know better and make them a better player, as this will lead me, and others, to eventually lose some money to them.
To make things even more interesting, a while later I was in a hand with SHERWHYNOT where I had raised pre-flop from the BTN, only to have him/her move all-in from the SB. In all honesty, I was tired and really didn't feel like playing any more, so I made the call with 87s! Not a great hand to be calling an all-in with (I was, he had some back), but in reality I was just a little under a coin flip behind and I spiked an 8 on the turn to take it down. Yeah, odds played in my favour. This tilted him/her, and they proceeded to criticize everything about me. I then proceeded to comment on how I knew an 8 would hit. Super Tilt now! My buddy was railing me and we were having a good laugh about it on the side. A few hands later, I again pick up 87s (different suit), this time from the SB and push the BB (SHERWHYNOT) all-in (he was very short stacked and I was the big stack). He calls with A5 and I hit a 7 on the flop to knock him/her out. Huge TILT now and for the next few minutes, we at the table had to listen to him/her rant on how bad I play. I admit my first call was donkey-ish, but my second was not as I had him/her chip dominated and I was first to push (I would push 99% of time from that position with those cards under those circumstances). After the game (I finished 2nd BTW) I didn't get the chance to review my play or to see what % I was ahead/behind in those situations, but plan to eventually (yes I'm a slacker/donkey somethings when it comes to learning from my mistakes).
The next time you are at a table and you see some questionable calls/raises/moves/whatever, instead of trying to point out the mistakes, make a note of it (all sites have note taking capabilities associated to the player) and use that to exploit them then and every other time you play against that person. Bottom line is sit down, shut up, observe, and take it down for all it's worth.
Good luck at the tables.
Before a hand could be played, a player named SHERWHYNOT was already being very belligerent to the other players, that by the sounds of it, he/she just played against in another SNG/game. I just ignored him, as I mostly do with those type of players. First hand gets played down to the river where 2 players show their cards. I was not in the hand, but I was paying attention in hopes of picking up some information on the players. The player that won had bet a flush draw down to the river with A2 and hit, while the other player had played his flopped top pair weak kicker very weak by calling bets down to the river. Great, got some info on both. After the hand was done, SHERWHYNOT started to let loose on the player who lost, by commenting on how poorly they played their hand. He continued this for a while to the point where it was getting annoying.
The problem with this is there really is not point in trying to teach someone how they should play their hands, especially by criticizing them, or calling them names. If a player wants to get better than they will should be reviewing their hands after each session to see where they made mistakes and where they can improve. Personally, I want the weak players to continue to play weak hands out of position, so that I may exploit them for all their chips. Don't get me wrong, I've made some questionable calls from good and bad positions, and I will continue to occasionally do it as I keep learning this game. When I do, whether someone calls me on it or not, I take the time after the game to review my actions and try to learn from my mistakes, with hopes of becoming a better player. What I don't want is for some idiot to play teacher to those who don't know better and make them a better player, as this will lead me, and others, to eventually lose some money to them.
To make things even more interesting, a while later I was in a hand with SHERWHYNOT where I had raised pre-flop from the BTN, only to have him/her move all-in from the SB. In all honesty, I was tired and really didn't feel like playing any more, so I made the call with 87s! Not a great hand to be calling an all-in with (I was, he had some back), but in reality I was just a little under a coin flip behind and I spiked an 8 on the turn to take it down. Yeah, odds played in my favour. This tilted him/her, and they proceeded to criticize everything about me. I then proceeded to comment on how I knew an 8 would hit. Super Tilt now! My buddy was railing me and we were having a good laugh about it on the side. A few hands later, I again pick up 87s (different suit), this time from the SB and push the BB (SHERWHYNOT) all-in (he was very short stacked and I was the big stack). He calls with A5 and I hit a 7 on the flop to knock him/her out. Huge TILT now and for the next few minutes, we at the table had to listen to him/her rant on how bad I play. I admit my first call was donkey-ish, but my second was not as I had him/her chip dominated and I was first to push (I would push 99% of time from that position with those cards under those circumstances). After the game (I finished 2nd BTW) I didn't get the chance to review my play or to see what % I was ahead/behind in those situations, but plan to eventually (yes I'm a slacker/donkey somethings when it comes to learning from my mistakes).
The next time you are at a table and you see some questionable calls/raises/moves/whatever, instead of trying to point out the mistakes, make a note of it (all sites have note taking capabilities associated to the player) and use that to exploit them then and every other time you play against that person. Bottom line is sit down, shut up, observe, and take it down for all it's worth.
Good luck at the tables.
Monday, February 9, 2009
BR Side Project
Here's a little write up on a side project I have going on with pokerbankrollblog.com.
Good luck at the tables.
Good luck at the tables.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Finally!
I just finished a $10+1 MTT on Mansion, where 90 players registered and I made the money. The reason I say finally is that this is my first MTT cash, and even though I haven't played many (somewhere around 25), it feels good to get that monkey off my back.
Now the win is nowhere near what my buddy JGiles scored last week, but a cash is a cash.
Here are some of the hands that helped me get to the FT and in the money.
At this point I was very very short stacked and decided to chuck my chips in with so many limpers.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 100/200, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button IndustrialCF (2620)
SB patchdog999 (2110)
BB BlndStlr (705)
UTG Mabhen (7505)
UTG+1 josephpoulin (12442.50)
MP georgepatton (6847.50)
CO-1 DRMATIN (15425)
CO Live4Flopp (2845)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the BB with T
A
1 fold, josephpoulin raises to 400, 1 fold, DRMATIN calls 400, Live4Flopp calls 400, 2 folds, BlndStlr raises to 705, josephpoulin calls 305, DRMATIN calls 305, Live4Flopp calls 305.
Flop (2920) 4 8 K
josephpoulin bets 11737.50, 1 fold, Live4Flopp moves all-in for 2140.
Turn (16797.50) J
River (16797.50) T
BlndStlr shows T A
josephpoulin shows K T
Live4Flopp shows K Q
BlndStlr wins 16797.50 with Flush (Diamonds) with Ace high
Nice, runner runner for a flush. It's about time I get to be on the winning side of this. This also proves you need to get lucky to make it into the money.
I then followed it up on the very next hand with this.
saw flop | saw showdown
Button patchdog999 (2010)
SB BlndStlr (2920)
BB Mabhen (7505)
UTG josephpoulin (9597.50)
UTG+1 georgepatton (6847.50)
MP cruyff074 (4410)
MP DRMATIN (14720)
MP feoloco (3790)
CO-1 Live4Flopp (4280)
CO IndustrialCF (2620)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the SB with K K
1 fold, georgepatton raises to 900, 6 folds, BlndStlr raises to 2920, 1 fold, georgepatton calls 2020.
Flop (6140) 5 2 6
Turn (6140) 7
River (6140) Q
BlndStlr shows K K
georgepatton shows A Q
BlndStlr wins 6140 with One pair, Kings
Another double up and I'm in a good position. Several hands later this hand comes up.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 200/400, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button BlndStlr (5090)
SB Mabhen (15225)
BB lumba111 (4450)
UTG georgepatton (5255)
UTG+1 GrrrArrrg (12035)
MP DRMATIN (6332.50)
MP josephpoulin (17182.50)
MP Live4Flopp (3960)
CO-1 IndustrialCF (2620)
CO patchdog999 (3020)
Preflop: BlndStlr is on the Button with K K
1 fold, GrrrArrrg raises to 800, 5 folds, BlndStlr raises to 3200, 2 folds, GrrrArrrg raises to 8800, BlndStlr moves all-in for 1890.
Flop (14490) 4 Q Q
Turn (14490) 3
River (14490) J
BlndStlr shows K K
GrrrArrrg shows 5 5
BlndStlr wins 14490 with Two pair, Kings and Queens with a Jack for a kicker
The cowboys are playing nice for me tonight.
When the blinds go up next, I go on a run where I pick up AA, followed by KK, and then 99 raising each hand PF, get some callers and take down the hand on the flop.
Shortly before the bubble burst, this hand pretty much guaranteed me to make the money.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 400/800, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button Live4Flopp (6940)
SB patchdog999 (4340)
BB BlndStlr (19180)
UTG Mabhen (12565)
UTG+1 lumba111 (10995)
MP georgepatton (5855)
CO-1 DRMATIN (4432.50)
CO josephpoulin (10862.50)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the BB with Q Q
2 folds, georgepatton raises to 5855, DRMATIN moves all-in for 4432.50, 3 folds, BlndStlr calls 5055.
Flop (16542.50) 5 Q 4
Turn (16542.50) J
River (16542.50) T
BlndStlr shows Q Q
georgepatton shows A 8
DRMATIN shows K K
BlndStlr wins 16542.50 with Three of a kind, Queens
Once I made the final table, I was cheap leader by almost double. The problem I encountered was that my hands wouldn't hold up anymore. I managed to isolate the SS after they pushed all-in with AJo against my TT, only to see an A on the flop. I also got stung when mid-stack player min raised UTG and 2 people called, so I also called from the BB, only to see me hit TP (weak kicker) and get my money all-in vs the UTG limper with TPTK. Oh well, probably should have just folded. Hindsight is always better. Anyway, ended the tournament when I got my chips good against the loose calling station.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 800/1600, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button bulle333 (16710)
SB cruyff074 (9035)
BB D Dave (40090)
UTG litervina (34035)
UTG+1 josephpoulin (16047.50)
CO BlndStlr (19082.50)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the CO with 6 6
2 folds, BlndStlr raises to 6400, 2 folds, D Dave raises to 40090, BlndStlr moves all-in for 12682.50.
Flop (59972.50) Q 8 K
Turn (59972.50) 5
River (59972.50) 3
BlndStlr shows 6 6
D Dave shows Q A
D Dave wins 59972.50 with One pair, Queens
Well that is all for the night, here's a pic of how I finished. I'm BlndStlr btw!
Good luck at the tables.
Now the win is nowhere near what my buddy JGiles scored last week, but a cash is a cash.
Here are some of the hands that helped me get to the FT and in the money.
At this point I was very very short stacked and decided to chuck my chips in with so many limpers.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 100/200, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button IndustrialCF (2620)
SB patchdog999 (2110)
BB BlndStlr (705)
UTG Mabhen (7505)
UTG+1 josephpoulin (12442.50)
MP georgepatton (6847.50)
CO-1 DRMATIN (15425)
CO Live4Flopp (2845)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the BB with T
A1 fold, josephpoulin raises to 400, 1 fold, DRMATIN calls 400, Live4Flopp calls 400, 2 folds, BlndStlr raises to 705, josephpoulin calls 305, DRMATIN calls 305, Live4Flopp calls 305.
Flop (2920) 4
8 Kjosephpoulin bets 11737.50, 1 fold, Live4Flopp moves all-in for 2140.
Turn (16797.50) J
River (16797.50) T
BlndStlr shows T
Ajosephpoulin shows K
TLive4Flopp shows K
QBlndStlr wins 16797.50 with Flush (Diamonds) with Ace high
Nice, runner runner for a flush. It's about time I get to be on the winning side of this. This also proves you need to get lucky to make it into the money.
I then followed it up on the very next hand with this.
saw flop | saw showdown
Button patchdog999 (2010)
SB BlndStlr (2920)
BB Mabhen (7505)
UTG josephpoulin (9597.50)
UTG+1 georgepatton (6847.50)
MP cruyff074 (4410)
MP DRMATIN (14720)
MP feoloco (3790)
CO-1 Live4Flopp (4280)
CO IndustrialCF (2620)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the SB with K
K1 fold, georgepatton raises to 900, 6 folds, BlndStlr raises to 2920, 1 fold, georgepatton calls 2020.
Flop (6140) 5
2 6Turn (6140) 7
River (6140) Q
BlndStlr shows K
Kgeorgepatton shows A
QBlndStlr wins 6140 with One pair, Kings
Another double up and I'm in a good position. Several hands later this hand comes up.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 200/400, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button BlndStlr (5090)
SB Mabhen (15225)
BB lumba111 (4450)
UTG georgepatton (5255)
UTG+1 GrrrArrrg (12035)
MP DRMATIN (6332.50)
MP josephpoulin (17182.50)
MP Live4Flopp (3960)
CO-1 IndustrialCF (2620)
CO patchdog999 (3020)
Preflop: BlndStlr is on the Button with K
K1 fold, GrrrArrrg raises to 800, 5 folds, BlndStlr raises to 3200, 2 folds, GrrrArrrg raises to 8800, BlndStlr moves all-in for 1890.
Flop (14490) 4
Q QTurn (14490) 3
River (14490) J
BlndStlr shows K
KGrrrArrrg shows 5
5BlndStlr wins 14490 with Two pair, Kings and Queens with a Jack for a kicker
The cowboys are playing nice for me tonight.
When the blinds go up next, I go on a run where I pick up AA, followed by KK, and then 99 raising each hand PF, get some callers and take down the hand on the flop.
Shortly before the bubble burst, this hand pretty much guaranteed me to make the money.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 400/800, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button Live4Flopp (6940)
SB patchdog999 (4340)
BB BlndStlr (19180)
UTG Mabhen (12565)
UTG+1 lumba111 (10995)
MP georgepatton (5855)
CO-1 DRMATIN (4432.50)
CO josephpoulin (10862.50)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the BB with Q
Q2 folds, georgepatton raises to 5855, DRMATIN moves all-in for 4432.50, 3 folds, BlndStlr calls 5055.
Flop (16542.50) 5
Q 4Turn (16542.50) J
River (16542.50) T
BlndStlr shows Q
Qgeorgepatton shows A
8DRMATIN shows K
KBlndStlr wins 16542.50 with Three of a kind, Queens
Once I made the final table, I was cheap leader by almost double. The problem I encountered was that my hands wouldn't hold up anymore. I managed to isolate the SS after they pushed all-in with AJo against my TT, only to see an A on the flop. I also got stung when mid-stack player min raised UTG and 2 people called, so I also called from the BB, only to see me hit TP (weak kicker) and get my money all-in vs the UTG limper with TPTK. Oh well, probably should have just folded. Hindsight is always better. Anyway, ended the tournament when I got my chips good against the loose calling station.
Mansion Poker 10 Freezeout 800/1600, hand converted by the iPoker Converter at Talking-Poker
saw flop | saw showdown
Button bulle333 (16710)
SB cruyff074 (9035)
BB D Dave (40090)
UTG litervina (34035)
UTG+1 josephpoulin (16047.50)
CO BlndStlr (19082.50)
Preflop: BlndStlr is in the CO with 6
62 folds, BlndStlr raises to 6400, 2 folds, D Dave raises to 40090, BlndStlr moves all-in for 12682.50.
Flop (59972.50) Q
8 KTurn (59972.50) 5
River (59972.50) 3
BlndStlr shows 6
6D Dave shows Q
AD Dave wins 59972.50 with One pair, Queens
Well that is all for the night, here's a pic of how I finished. I'm BlndStlr btw!
Good luck at the tables.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
February Goals
With January now past, and my Player point challenge over (I managed to accumulate $30 extra from it), I only need to get through my First deposit bonus before I can do something else. Because of all the run around I had when dealing with Mansion, I have decided to remove my money from their site and deposit on a site that will appreciate the rake I generate for them. Not exactly sure which site that will be on, but by then end of this month I will make a decision.
As for playing, for the most part of February, I plan on staying at the $10 level with goals of reaching a winning ratio of over 2 Buy-ins per week so that I can get on pace for my 2009 Goals and increase my BR. I'm also planning on devoting 2 hours per week on reading my new book Killer Tournament Poker: By the Numbers with hopes of taking down a MTT (like my buddy JGiles did last month).
Since my playing time has slowed down over the past few months, I will focus on these goals for this month and hopefully be able to add more next month.
Good luck at the tables.
As for playing, for the most part of February, I plan on staying at the $10 level with goals of reaching a winning ratio of over 2 Buy-ins per week so that I can get on pace for my 2009 Goals and increase my BR. I'm also planning on devoting 2 hours per week on reading my new book Killer Tournament Poker: By the Numbers with hopes of taking down a MTT (like my buddy JGiles did last month).
Since my playing time has slowed down over the past few months, I will focus on these goals for this month and hopefully be able to add more next month.
Good luck at the tables.
January Goals Review
Sorry for the delay on last month's goals review, but I had a busy weekend away from my computer.
If you didn't get a chance to read my January goals, check them out at your leisure.
Last month I decreased my playing time while mostly sticking in the $10 level. Because of this, I only showed a small profit for January (only a little more that 1 buy-in for the whole month). I didn't manage to read as much as I had planned, but I did play more live games during the month (for a loss). On another note, I did make some good progress with 1 of my side projects and it should be up and running by the end of February.
Overall, my month wasn't a failure, but I won't call it a success either. Hopefully I can improve in February.
Good luck at the tables.
If you didn't get a chance to read my January goals, check them out at your leisure.
Last month I decreased my playing time while mostly sticking in the $10 level. Because of this, I only showed a small profit for January (only a little more that 1 buy-in for the whole month). I didn't manage to read as much as I had planned, but I did play more live games during the month (for a loss). On another note, I did make some good progress with 1 of my side projects and it should be up and running by the end of February.
Overall, my month wasn't a failure, but I won't call it a success either. Hopefully I can improve in February.
Good luck at the tables.
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