So, I logged my first session in May! AND IT WAS A WINNER!!!!
Not that things went so smoothly. There was a point during the evening that I seriously was beginning to think that I was cursed.
Things started out well enough. I called a raise in the bb with AQ the flop was A/10/6. I checked to the preflop raiser, he bet and the button called. I gave some serious thought to raising here but decided to play like a pussy and just called. The turn was a 4. checked around. I decided at this point that I had the best hand. River, 2. I led out for about 1/2 of the pot and the button called. I flipped up my hand and he said...wait, we have one more card???!!! lol. So, that was nice.
I then have 8/2 in the bb. Flop is K/J/8. UTG bets $2. I think that he meant to bet $10(2 reds instead of 2 whites) and everyone in the hand called, so I said, wth and called. The turn is a 2. I check, UTG bets $10, everyone folds to me. I raise to $25 and he calls. I bet the river and he calls with K/10 and I win a nice little pot with utter crap. Always a bonus.
Then things fall fucking apart. Basically I flop top set/middle set twice and get it all in on the flop vs a flush draw and both times, they hit. I lose $400 in these 2 hands.
People play so bad!
I am down to $100. I pick up a couple of small pots...build it up to $150, then this hand comes up. Guy to my right raises to $10. I call with pocket 6s as does the small blind. Flop is A/9/6, 2 spades. Sb bets $10, OR raises to $35. I reraise to $100. Sb folds, OR says, all right, Ill gamble with ya and moves in. I call and of course, he has a flush draw.....and you know what???? HE DOESN'T HIT!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!
I pick up few more little pots and leave $330 up!
A winning session! I had totally forgotten what it felt like to have one of those under my belt!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
New Month/New Attitude
I am so sorry to everyone who keeps emailing me asking when to expect a new post. I have only promised this 100 times over the past couple of weeks. It is just so hard to write about poker when you are not playing well/not winning.
So April, royally sucked ass. I am not even going to post how stuck I am/was because I am so sick of thinking about it. Basically I had 2 sessions where I lost more than 2 buyins and then the rest of the month was basically winning/losing the same $200-$300 over and over. I only played 2 days of the last 10 days of the month($1/$2) because I was feeling so defeated.
Only 3 hands from those 2 sessions even stand out in my mind. The first one happened at The Venetian(actually they all happened at The Venetian, I so need to stop playing there, for reasons other than poker, mainly) I had JJ utg. There was this loose aggressive player at the table who raised preflop almost every hand. My friend Daniel was sitting to my right and had played with him earlier in the day so he filled me in on his playing style(I love poker buddies!) Now, I know my rep at this table, if I raise, I am probably not going to get any action, so I limp. I hear the cries now.....limping with Jacks...Oh my god...what are you doing???? Trust me...geez. lol
So, I limp and sure enough..crazy guy raises to $13. 4 callers to me. My original plan had been to raise but with all of these callers, I decided to just call. I am not sure why I had decided to do this but set mining sounded like the way to go. Flop is J/10/6 2 clubs. SB bets $10(into a $70 pot!!!) I raise to $60. The OR(in the 1 seat) then shows his hand to the dealer, ranting about how he cant believe that he is going to fold and shit....which leads me to believe that he has a J. This donkey is not laying down an over pair. The SB calls. The turn is a 10c. SB checks and I bet $100, leaving $150 behind. I figured that he had to have had some sort of a draw, since I thought that the OR had the case J and I was hoping that it was the flush draw. He calls. Now thisis where most players are idiots. He has now put $173 in to this pot and I only have $150 behind. He should have given this situation some thought. He should have realized that by calling the $100 on the turn that he was going to have to call the $150 on the river. I dont recall what the river was but the $150 went it and the guy folded. Geez. He folded getting almost 4 to 1 on the call. He showed the case J. Apparently the OR had a 10 as he kept moaning about how the pot would have been his as he made trips on the turn.
So, the last 2 hands were from a session a few nights ago. I was card dead for about 2.5 hours, I had only raised once from the C/O with A/K and whiffed. I am not betting into 4 people on a paired face card board. I then pick up JJ in the C/O and raise to $12 and get 3 callers. The board comes 10/7/4, 2 spades. Checks to me, I bet $30, the button calls the SB calls and then MP goes all in for $63!!! Im like WTF???? I mean I have to call...it is $32 more to me for a $200 pot! But I also want to protect my hand and I figured that these other 2 guys have draws so I push all in for $200 more which covers both of those guys. They fold. The guy shows his pocket 9s when he hits a set on the turn but then the river is an 8 and I make a straight. He then bitches about how I sucked out(????). I dont have to say anything because 2 guys closer to him not so quietly inform him that I was a huge favorite when the money went it.
Then the last hand which took the session for a $100 winner to a break even session for me. UTG raises to $15. This is the first time that he has raised since he sat down and really has not played many hands at all. I knew that I was beat. I know...Im a "soul reader"....but I knew right then that I was beat. I look down at pocket Qs...god damnit! Of course, this is where I suck and even though I know that I am beat, I call and then get it all in on a 7 high board. He shows pocket As and I thank god that he only had $100 behind.
So, this is a new month. A fresh start. My goals for this month are pretty simple. Learn how to win again. Which really means that I have to put April behind me and stop playing like everyone is going to hit their 2 outters against me.
Everything in my life is so complicated right now. I just want poker to be easy so that I have the mental energy to devote to all of the other screwed up aspects of my life. God, that already sounds negative.
So April, royally sucked ass. I am not even going to post how stuck I am/was because I am so sick of thinking about it. Basically I had 2 sessions where I lost more than 2 buyins and then the rest of the month was basically winning/losing the same $200-$300 over and over. I only played 2 days of the last 10 days of the month($1/$2) because I was feeling so defeated.
Only 3 hands from those 2 sessions even stand out in my mind. The first one happened at The Venetian(actually they all happened at The Venetian, I so need to stop playing there, for reasons other than poker, mainly) I had JJ utg. There was this loose aggressive player at the table who raised preflop almost every hand. My friend Daniel was sitting to my right and had played with him earlier in the day so he filled me in on his playing style(I love poker buddies!) Now, I know my rep at this table, if I raise, I am probably not going to get any action, so I limp. I hear the cries now.....limping with Jacks...Oh my god...what are you doing???? Trust me...geez. lol
So, I limp and sure enough..crazy guy raises to $13. 4 callers to me. My original plan had been to raise but with all of these callers, I decided to just call. I am not sure why I had decided to do this but set mining sounded like the way to go. Flop is J/10/6 2 clubs. SB bets $10(into a $70 pot!!!) I raise to $60. The OR(in the 1 seat) then shows his hand to the dealer, ranting about how he cant believe that he is going to fold and shit....which leads me to believe that he has a J. This donkey is not laying down an over pair. The SB calls. The turn is a 10c. SB checks and I bet $100, leaving $150 behind. I figured that he had to have had some sort of a draw, since I thought that the OR had the case J and I was hoping that it was the flush draw. He calls. Now thisis where most players are idiots. He has now put $173 in to this pot and I only have $150 behind. He should have given this situation some thought. He should have realized that by calling the $100 on the turn that he was going to have to call the $150 on the river. I dont recall what the river was but the $150 went it and the guy folded. Geez. He folded getting almost 4 to 1 on the call. He showed the case J. Apparently the OR had a 10 as he kept moaning about how the pot would have been his as he made trips on the turn.
So, the last 2 hands were from a session a few nights ago. I was card dead for about 2.5 hours, I had only raised once from the C/O with A/K and whiffed. I am not betting into 4 people on a paired face card board. I then pick up JJ in the C/O and raise to $12 and get 3 callers. The board comes 10/7/4, 2 spades. Checks to me, I bet $30, the button calls the SB calls and then MP goes all in for $63!!! Im like WTF???? I mean I have to call...it is $32 more to me for a $200 pot! But I also want to protect my hand and I figured that these other 2 guys have draws so I push all in for $200 more which covers both of those guys. They fold. The guy shows his pocket 9s when he hits a set on the turn but then the river is an 8 and I make a straight. He then bitches about how I sucked out(????). I dont have to say anything because 2 guys closer to him not so quietly inform him that I was a huge favorite when the money went it.
Then the last hand which took the session for a $100 winner to a break even session for me. UTG raises to $15. This is the first time that he has raised since he sat down and really has not played many hands at all. I knew that I was beat. I know...Im a "soul reader"....but I knew right then that I was beat. I look down at pocket Qs...god damnit! Of course, this is where I suck and even though I know that I am beat, I call and then get it all in on a 7 high board. He shows pocket As and I thank god that he only had $100 behind.
So, this is a new month. A fresh start. My goals for this month are pretty simple. Learn how to win again. Which really means that I have to put April behind me and stop playing like everyone is going to hit their 2 outters against me.
Everything in my life is so complicated right now. I just want poker to be easy so that I have the mental energy to devote to all of the other screwed up aspects of my life. God, that already sounds negative.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Will This Ever End?
I am on the coldest streak of my life. I actually took the time to calculate yesterday how much money I would have won if I had won every pot where my money went in as a huge favorite in this session alone....$3k!!! Instead, I lost $700.
The evening started out well. I lost a few small pots but nothing too damaging. Then I ended up chopping what would have been a $300 pot when someone caught runner runner to make the same straight that I had flopped.
The first big pot that I won was when I had limped along on the button with K/10d. The BB raised to $20. Why he only raised to $20 when there is already $30 in the pot with the limpers, I cannot figure. I call, I have position and getting 5/1 on my money. Flop is K88, 1 diamond. BB bets $25(into a $120 pot!), I have to call. Turn is the 9d. He bets $100 of his $150 that he has left. I ask for time. I figure at this point that I am behind...Im thinking that he has a bigger K. But I also figure that any 8, K, 10 or diamond will make me the winner(or chop with a K or 8) so I put him all in. He calls and shows K/Q. A diamond hits the river so that was a nice little pot.
I then proceed to flop the first of 10 sets of the evening. Only 2 of which hold up. I have pocket 9s in the BB. Flop is AhQh9d. I check, UTG bets, Button goes all in, I call. He shows K/3h and hits it on the turn. He apologizes and says that he thought that he had flopped it.
The next one is so sick....I have had nightmares about it since. I have pocket 66s in the bb. Flop is J64 rainbow. I check, UTG bets a pot sized bet and a very laggy button calls and I call. I dont think that I have anything really to worry about and decide to let the UTG take another stab at it. Turn is a Q. I check, UTG makes another pot sized bet, button calls, I raise all in for another $400 more. There is about $275 in the pot. UTG folds Q/J face up! Button calls. River is a 5. He shows 7/8...he called $400 on the turn with a gutshot. I ask him how he can make such a call with 4 outs and he said...'I was gonna bluff you if I missed' ...wtf??? I was all in...how could he have bluffed me???
Then I flop a set of 7s on an 872, 2 spade board, I bet, someone checkraises me, I put him all in for $250 and he calls with a flush draw and hits and once again, I dont fill up.
I did make some excellent laydowns. I laid down pocket Js on a 6 high board. He showed AA. I only lost the $25 preflop raise. I also lost the minimum($75) with pocket 10s on a 9 high board.
The guy had flopped top set. I flopped top 2 facing a bet and raise and folded. So, money saved is just as good as money won, eh?
So, I am down to $175 after being in for $1200. I pick up a few small pots then I get QQ and I raise to $30, 2 callers. Flop is JJ9. SB checks, I check and the button bets $60. I checked because I was going to get the money in regardless. I thought that the button might take a stab at it with A/K or a smaller pr if checked to but I did not think that he would call a bet. So, he bet, I move all in and he folds. So I picked up an extra $60 by checking.
I manage to win little $50 pots here and there and end up leaving with $500.
So, I am running bad and poker and running bad at life. One month ago, I was on top of both. I loved poker, was doing extremely well at it and my life was a happy one. What I wouldn't give to relive the past 30 days of my life.
The evening started out well. I lost a few small pots but nothing too damaging. Then I ended up chopping what would have been a $300 pot when someone caught runner runner to make the same straight that I had flopped.
The first big pot that I won was when I had limped along on the button with K/10d. The BB raised to $20. Why he only raised to $20 when there is already $30 in the pot with the limpers, I cannot figure. I call, I have position and getting 5/1 on my money. Flop is K88, 1 diamond. BB bets $25(into a $120 pot!), I have to call. Turn is the 9d. He bets $100 of his $150 that he has left. I ask for time. I figure at this point that I am behind...Im thinking that he has a bigger K. But I also figure that any 8, K, 10 or diamond will make me the winner(or chop with a K or 8) so I put him all in. He calls and shows K/Q. A diamond hits the river so that was a nice little pot.
I then proceed to flop the first of 10 sets of the evening. Only 2 of which hold up. I have pocket 9s in the BB. Flop is AhQh9d. I check, UTG bets, Button goes all in, I call. He shows K/3h and hits it on the turn. He apologizes and says that he thought that he had flopped it.
The next one is so sick....I have had nightmares about it since. I have pocket 66s in the bb. Flop is J64 rainbow. I check, UTG bets a pot sized bet and a very laggy button calls and I call. I dont think that I have anything really to worry about and decide to let the UTG take another stab at it. Turn is a Q. I check, UTG makes another pot sized bet, button calls, I raise all in for another $400 more. There is about $275 in the pot. UTG folds Q/J face up! Button calls. River is a 5. He shows 7/8...he called $400 on the turn with a gutshot. I ask him how he can make such a call with 4 outs and he said...'I was gonna bluff you if I missed' ...wtf??? I was all in...how could he have bluffed me???
Then I flop a set of 7s on an 872, 2 spade board, I bet, someone checkraises me, I put him all in for $250 and he calls with a flush draw and hits and once again, I dont fill up.
I did make some excellent laydowns. I laid down pocket Js on a 6 high board. He showed AA. I only lost the $25 preflop raise. I also lost the minimum($75) with pocket 10s on a 9 high board.
The guy had flopped top set. I flopped top 2 facing a bet and raise and folded. So, money saved is just as good as money won, eh?
So, I am down to $175 after being in for $1200. I pick up a few small pots then I get QQ and I raise to $30, 2 callers. Flop is JJ9. SB checks, I check and the button bets $60. I checked because I was going to get the money in regardless. I thought that the button might take a stab at it with A/K or a smaller pr if checked to but I did not think that he would call a bet. So, he bet, I move all in and he folds. So I picked up an extra $60 by checking.
I manage to win little $50 pots here and there and end up leaving with $500.
So, I am running bad and poker and running bad at life. One month ago, I was on top of both. I loved poker, was doing extremely well at it and my life was a happy one. What I wouldn't give to relive the past 30 days of my life.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Coward
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. - Eleanor Roosevelt
Thursday, April 10, 2008
I Suck
I have got to get out of my head!!! Why can I not do this??? For 6 hours...why can't I just tune out the constant.....shit streaming through my brain?
Anyway, despite the above statement...I actually made money last night. $320...and once again, I had to fight back from a huge deficit to get there. One of my first hands, I pick up KK in the BB. A MP tourist from Orlando(that I had spoken with earlier and I could tell was very inexperienced) had raised to $25. I reraise to $60. He calls. Flop is AAK. I check, he bets, I call. Turn is a 10. I check, he bets, I raise, he goes all in, I call. He shows A/7. River, of course is a 7. Standard:(
Moving on. There was this guy in the 10 seat( I was in the 1 seat) that was just a whale. He owns a bunch of bar-b-que restaurants here. He was also a downright awful poker player. Thank God, for him or I might not have ever made it into the black. He chased(and bet) any draw. He raised with any 2 high cards, any pocket pr. I have a 3 hour run of 9/2, so I ask for a new setup. I know, I know....I hate people that do this too but I thought that psychologically, it might help me out a bit. The first hand after the switch, I get QQ utg in a straddled pot. I raise to $40. Mr Barbque calls(of course, he never folds pre) Flop is 10 high, 2 spades. He donks into me for $50, I raise to $150 and he folds. Then this hand comes up and God, I could have murdered this drunk guy at the table! I raise to $35 in the BB with JJ. Barbque calls. Flop is 9dJd4s. I bet $60 and Mr Bbq(very drunk at this point) says...I have a J...A/K is no good. Turn is 6c. He checks, I say..all in( I have like $600 behind)...he asks me how much??? Im in heaven. I pushed because I know that if he does in fact have a J, he will call. Then this old fucker at the table says..."what are you doing...she can beat a J" so, he folds!!! Why would anyone ever think that it was ok to say something like this???
So, our table breaks and I move to this table that has this awful lady from the night before...seriously, she never folded! She went through $2k in about 2 hours the previous night, so I made sure that I sat right to her left. I pick up about $100 by limping with 5/7c. The flop is Kc5sJc. Checked around...turn is 5d. SB bets $30, I raise to $75. He calls. River is a 6d. He checks, I check. He shows a busted 6 high flush draw.
Then the miracle of all hands..how this won, I will never know.
I limp with K/9c on the button. Flop is 9/8/5, 2 diamonds. The bbq guy bets $30, crazy lady calls, I have no clue where I am right now and I know that I have a look of befuddlement on my face because the super tight SB says, (with $30 in his hand, ready to make the call) "I know...what do they have??" So I call, SB calls and then a MP guy calls! The really hard thing about playing with really bad players is that you can NEVER put them on a hand. I am so completely lost at this point. Turn, thankfully, is the Ks. I think that is a good card for me but with the way these guys are playing...who knows, right? BBq bets $100, crazy lady calls, I announce very loudly, RAISE. I throw 3 $100 bills in. SB folds, as does MP calling station. BBq says, "uh oh, I know what that means". He folds. Then crazy lady calls(she is now all in). I dodge a diamond on the river and rake in a nice pot.
I then leave. It is now 3:30am and I am whooped.
Poker is beginning to feel like a bad, argumentative relationship for me. It just seems like so much work lately. Is it worth all of the fighting and arguing for the occasional night of good sex?
I already have one of those relationships in my life(minus the sex part)....do I really want another?
Anyway, despite the above statement...I actually made money last night. $320...and once again, I had to fight back from a huge deficit to get there. One of my first hands, I pick up KK in the BB. A MP tourist from Orlando(that I had spoken with earlier and I could tell was very inexperienced) had raised to $25. I reraise to $60. He calls. Flop is AAK. I check, he bets, I call. Turn is a 10. I check, he bets, I raise, he goes all in, I call. He shows A/7. River, of course is a 7. Standard:(
Moving on. There was this guy in the 10 seat( I was in the 1 seat) that was just a whale. He owns a bunch of bar-b-que restaurants here. He was also a downright awful poker player. Thank God, for him or I might not have ever made it into the black. He chased(and bet) any draw. He raised with any 2 high cards, any pocket pr. I have a 3 hour run of 9/2, so I ask for a new setup. I know, I know....I hate people that do this too but I thought that psychologically, it might help me out a bit. The first hand after the switch, I get QQ utg in a straddled pot. I raise to $40. Mr Barbque calls(of course, he never folds pre) Flop is 10 high, 2 spades. He donks into me for $50, I raise to $150 and he folds. Then this hand comes up and God, I could have murdered this drunk guy at the table! I raise to $35 in the BB with JJ. Barbque calls. Flop is 9dJd4s. I bet $60 and Mr Bbq(very drunk at this point) says...I have a J...A/K is no good. Turn is 6c. He checks, I say..all in( I have like $600 behind)...he asks me how much??? Im in heaven. I pushed because I know that if he does in fact have a J, he will call. Then this old fucker at the table says..."what are you doing...she can beat a J" so, he folds!!! Why would anyone ever think that it was ok to say something like this???
So, our table breaks and I move to this table that has this awful lady from the night before...seriously, she never folded! She went through $2k in about 2 hours the previous night, so I made sure that I sat right to her left. I pick up about $100 by limping with 5/7c. The flop is Kc5sJc. Checked around...turn is 5d. SB bets $30, I raise to $75. He calls. River is a 6d. He checks, I check. He shows a busted 6 high flush draw.
Then the miracle of all hands..how this won, I will never know.
I limp with K/9c on the button. Flop is 9/8/5, 2 diamonds. The bbq guy bets $30, crazy lady calls, I have no clue where I am right now and I know that I have a look of befuddlement on my face because the super tight SB says, (with $30 in his hand, ready to make the call) "I know...what do they have??" So I call, SB calls and then a MP guy calls! The really hard thing about playing with really bad players is that you can NEVER put them on a hand. I am so completely lost at this point. Turn, thankfully, is the Ks. I think that is a good card for me but with the way these guys are playing...who knows, right? BBq bets $100, crazy lady calls, I announce very loudly, RAISE. I throw 3 $100 bills in. SB folds, as does MP calling station. BBq says, "uh oh, I know what that means". He folds. Then crazy lady calls(she is now all in). I dodge a diamond on the river and rake in a nice pot.
I then leave. It is now 3:30am and I am whooped.
Poker is beginning to feel like a bad, argumentative relationship for me. It just seems like so much work lately. Is it worth all of the fighting and arguing for the occasional night of good sex?
I already have one of those relationships in my life(minus the sex part)....do I really want another?
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Losing Faith In The Human Race
I feel so discouraged today. I have said for years that there is nothing that a human being could do that would surprise me. Until recently, that statement held true. I have seen both ends of the human spectrum over the past week. I have experienced great kindness and support from a complete stranger and massive cruelness from someone that I believed cared about me.
I am bringing this up because I believe it has affected my game. I have had the worst run at poker over the past week. I am unsure as to whether it is variance or my inabilty to completely focus on my game. We shall see.
So, last night was another all nighter. I tried so hard to start off on the right foot. There was really no one at my table at first to flirt with so, I flirted with the only man that I could. Things started off on a downswing. I could not pick up a decent hand! I finally pick up 2 red Qs, raise, get 4 callers and the flop is K high all clubs! So I am in at this point for $600 when I pick up pocket As in the bb. There is a local on the button and he is seriously tilting off his money. He just tried to run a $450 bluff on a calling station. I have too much compassion for these types of people, I really do. I need to just let their crazy asses give away all of their money. But, NOOOOO, I have to try and be their savior. Well, never again! So, asshole raises his button to $25, sb folds, I pop it to $100 and say, Michael...I have As. What the fuck does he do?....he calls! Anyway, long story short, he wipes me out. The funniest thing about the whole story is right after, he says....hey Jess, we're still friends right? I politely say, Fuck No! we're not friends anymore and then I change tables.
So, I am in for 1k...and THANK GOD for miracles. One of my favorite dealers, Jake, sits down at my table. First off, he is hella sexy....blond hair, baby blue eyes, this super long soft eyelashes, very flirty.....*sigh* I ask him to please turn the cards around...I dont have to wait long. This table is a total limpfest...if anyone ever raises ..it is to $15. I am dealt Q/10d utg and limp. Normally, I dont like playing this hand UTG but if I have to call a raise of $10, Im fine with that.
Flop is 9d/Jd/7c! Nice flop for me, I would say! The flop gets checked around. The turn is 8s. The Sb bets $25, I raise to $60(dont want to lose anyone here). He calls. River is 4d. Sb checks..I bet $100 and he calls...shows the lone 10 and I rake in a nice pot. I wish that I had put out a small, pot building bet on the flop. I have been trying to work on bet sizing and pot building lately. This hand, I will rate as a C+.
So, I dont play another hand until my button. I pick up Ad/Kh and raise to $25. A MP limper calls. Flop is K46 all diamonds....Jake is on fire! The caller donks into me...$45! I decide to just call. I dont want to lose K/Q, K/J here. Turn is 7c. He donks again for $45. I pop it to $120 and he calls! River is a 10d! He checks, I bet $150 and he calls without a diamond in his hand!
Our table breaks and we disperse. I choose this table that is full of internet donkeys. I could hear them from my table talking about how bad live players are, spouting SPR, and using words like fold equity and value, and talking about how bad Phil Ivey plays. *eyeroll*
I dont get involved in too many hands. I folded pre 2 hands where I would have flopped the nuts and won massive pots. 20/20.
There is a straddle on almost every pot....not me of course...I prefer a different type of live straddle....if you know what I mean. Geez...I sound horrible...can you tell that it has been awhile??!!??
I pick up A/Qh in MP and raise. 2 callers. Flop is Q high 2 hearts! Yay me...I bet a 3/4 sized bet A wee high, I know but I know that this guy would call if he had a Q or any drawing hand and I wanted him to think that I was protecting my hand against the flush draw. Turn is an A. This is where I might have misstepped. I bet about 2/3 of the pot. He folded. After thinking about this later...I think that I should have checked the A...let him think that it was a scare card and maybe he could bluff the little live girl player off of the pot. Hmmm.
SO...sitting doing nothing, trying not to fall asleep at the table....I seriously have no stamina anymore. I am dealt Q/9s on the button. I raise. The SB reraises me...weel, so much for stealing the blinds! The BB calls, so I decide to call as well...didnt want them to think that I was stealing!
Flop is Ks/Qd/8s. The SB bets 1/3 of the pot!!???!!! The BB folds. I calls. Turn is the 10s. Sb checks. At this point, I am confused. I am thinking A/K maybe a set of Ks...I bet 3/4 of the pot. Then he starts talking....asking "why so much"..."how much do you have behind"? He then calls. River is a 3c. He checks...and this is where I totally lose it...wtf am I thinking???? I look at him...think about the talking and sitting with the 2nd fucking nuts, I CHECK! He shows a set of Ks!!!! I could have easily gotten another hundred or so out of him!!!
So, at this point, I decide that I have played way past my expiration date and call it a night(or morning if you wanna get technical).
So, I leave dead even....I suppose that I should be happy that I fought my way back from a $1000 deficit but I'm not. I am not happy about alot of things right now and I think that it has seriously impacted poker.
I have never felt so disillusioned.
I am bringing this up because I believe it has affected my game. I have had the worst run at poker over the past week. I am unsure as to whether it is variance or my inabilty to completely focus on my game. We shall see.
So, last night was another all nighter. I tried so hard to start off on the right foot. There was really no one at my table at first to flirt with so, I flirted with the only man that I could. Things started off on a downswing. I could not pick up a decent hand! I finally pick up 2 red Qs, raise, get 4 callers and the flop is K high all clubs! So I am in at this point for $600 when I pick up pocket As in the bb. There is a local on the button and he is seriously tilting off his money. He just tried to run a $450 bluff on a calling station. I have too much compassion for these types of people, I really do. I need to just let their crazy asses give away all of their money. But, NOOOOO, I have to try and be their savior. Well, never again! So, asshole raises his button to $25, sb folds, I pop it to $100 and say, Michael...I have As. What the fuck does he do?....he calls! Anyway, long story short, he wipes me out. The funniest thing about the whole story is right after, he says....hey Jess, we're still friends right? I politely say, Fuck No! we're not friends anymore and then I change tables.
So, I am in for 1k...and THANK GOD for miracles. One of my favorite dealers, Jake, sits down at my table. First off, he is hella sexy....blond hair, baby blue eyes, this super long soft eyelashes, very flirty.....*sigh* I ask him to please turn the cards around...I dont have to wait long. This table is a total limpfest...if anyone ever raises ..it is to $15. I am dealt Q/10d utg and limp. Normally, I dont like playing this hand UTG but if I have to call a raise of $10, Im fine with that.
Flop is 9d/Jd/7c! Nice flop for me, I would say! The flop gets checked around. The turn is 8s. The Sb bets $25, I raise to $60(dont want to lose anyone here). He calls. River is 4d. Sb checks..I bet $100 and he calls...shows the lone 10 and I rake in a nice pot. I wish that I had put out a small, pot building bet on the flop. I have been trying to work on bet sizing and pot building lately. This hand, I will rate as a C+.
So, I dont play another hand until my button. I pick up Ad/Kh and raise to $25. A MP limper calls. Flop is K46 all diamonds....Jake is on fire! The caller donks into me...$45! I decide to just call. I dont want to lose K/Q, K/J here. Turn is 7c. He donks again for $45. I pop it to $120 and he calls! River is a 10d! He checks, I bet $150 and he calls without a diamond in his hand!
Our table breaks and we disperse. I choose this table that is full of internet donkeys. I could hear them from my table talking about how bad live players are, spouting SPR, and using words like fold equity and value, and talking about how bad Phil Ivey plays. *eyeroll*
I dont get involved in too many hands. I folded pre 2 hands where I would have flopped the nuts and won massive pots. 20/20.
There is a straddle on almost every pot....not me of course...I prefer a different type of live straddle....if you know what I mean. Geez...I sound horrible...can you tell that it has been awhile??!!??
I pick up A/Qh in MP and raise. 2 callers. Flop is Q high 2 hearts! Yay me...I bet a 3/4 sized bet A wee high, I know but I know that this guy would call if he had a Q or any drawing hand and I wanted him to think that I was protecting my hand against the flush draw. Turn is an A. This is where I might have misstepped. I bet about 2/3 of the pot. He folded. After thinking about this later...I think that I should have checked the A...let him think that it was a scare card and maybe he could bluff the little live girl player off of the pot. Hmmm.
SO...sitting doing nothing, trying not to fall asleep at the table....I seriously have no stamina anymore. I am dealt Q/9s on the button. I raise. The SB reraises me...weel, so much for stealing the blinds! The BB calls, so I decide to call as well...didnt want them to think that I was stealing!
Flop is Ks/Qd/8s. The SB bets 1/3 of the pot!!???!!! The BB folds. I calls. Turn is the 10s. Sb checks. At this point, I am confused. I am thinking A/K maybe a set of Ks...I bet 3/4 of the pot. Then he starts talking....asking "why so much"..."how much do you have behind"? He then calls. River is a 3c. He checks...and this is where I totally lose it...wtf am I thinking???? I look at him...think about the talking and sitting with the 2nd fucking nuts, I CHECK! He shows a set of Ks!!!! I could have easily gotten another hundred or so out of him!!!
So, at this point, I decide that I have played way past my expiration date and call it a night(or morning if you wanna get technical).
So, I leave dead even....I suppose that I should be happy that I fought my way back from a $1000 deficit but I'm not. I am not happy about alot of things right now and I think that it has seriously impacted poker.
I have never felt so disillusioned.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Stagnant
Do you ever have one of those sessions where you seem to win and lose the same $200 over and over? And how is it that when I have these sessions, the number is always $200?
So, $2/$5 at The V...slightly distracted but overall focused. The first pot that I rake in is a bluff....folded to me on the button, I have 10/6s, raise and take it.
I then make a stupid call...I have J/10 in the C/O in a limped/family pot. It gets checked to the river on a board of 6/4/3/Q/10. This aggressive asian female to my right makes a pot sized bet on the river and of course, I have to play sheriff and call. She shows K/10. Bye Bye, $25.
I then move to the main game and sit and fold and sit and fold. I pick up enough small pots on the flop to stay even.
I did manage to pull of a nice bluff. This guy would always raise in LP when folded to him(which usually ended up being my BB) and I would always end up folding the garbage that I had but this time, I played back at him. He raised to $25 and I reraise to $60. He calls. Flop is nine high, I bet $75 and he folds. I never even looked at my cards.
I then pick up a set of 6s on a suited heart flop and check call the flop and turn, hoping to fill up. I knew that the guy had flopped a flush. The funny thing is that I checked the river to him and he checks back...and shows A/10h....the NUTS! He checked the nuts, in position, on the river!!!
So, I am down to like $275. I dont want to rebuy...I should have but I dont. I am dealt KK in the BB in a limped pot. I raise to $40 and the 2 seat calls me. He says that it is a tilt call....he had just lost $300 with the K high flush against an A high flush to the worst player at the table.
Flop is 10/7/3 rainbow. I throw in a bill. HE CALLS! Turn is an 8...I push my remaining $125 in...thinking that I am beat and HE CALLS! River is a 4, I flip my KK up and he says, nice hand. I asked him if he had 8/9 and he was tilting, so he wouldnt tell me. He changed tables and about an hour later, I went over and batted my eyelashes and said...8/9??? and he said yes.
So, tonight, I need to play well and have the deck hit me in the face....not too much to ask for, right?
So, $2/$5 at The V...slightly distracted but overall focused. The first pot that I rake in is a bluff....folded to me on the button, I have 10/6s, raise and take it.
I then make a stupid call...I have J/10 in the C/O in a limped/family pot. It gets checked to the river on a board of 6/4/3/Q/10. This aggressive asian female to my right makes a pot sized bet on the river and of course, I have to play sheriff and call. She shows K/10. Bye Bye, $25.
I then move to the main game and sit and fold and sit and fold. I pick up enough small pots on the flop to stay even.
I did manage to pull of a nice bluff. This guy would always raise in LP when folded to him(which usually ended up being my BB) and I would always end up folding the garbage that I had but this time, I played back at him. He raised to $25 and I reraise to $60. He calls. Flop is nine high, I bet $75 and he folds. I never even looked at my cards.
I then pick up a set of 6s on a suited heart flop and check call the flop and turn, hoping to fill up. I knew that the guy had flopped a flush. The funny thing is that I checked the river to him and he checks back...and shows A/10h....the NUTS! He checked the nuts, in position, on the river!!!
So, I am down to like $275. I dont want to rebuy...I should have but I dont. I am dealt KK in the BB in a limped pot. I raise to $40 and the 2 seat calls me. He says that it is a tilt call....he had just lost $300 with the K high flush against an A high flush to the worst player at the table.
Flop is 10/7/3 rainbow. I throw in a bill. HE CALLS! Turn is an 8...I push my remaining $125 in...thinking that I am beat and HE CALLS! River is a 4, I flip my KK up and he says, nice hand. I asked him if he had 8/9 and he was tilting, so he wouldnt tell me. He changed tables and about an hour later, I went over and batted my eyelashes and said...8/9??? and he said yes.
So, tonight, I need to play well and have the deck hit me in the face....not too much to ask for, right?
Baby Steps
Well, I have logged 3 sessions since the absolute worst poker night of my life....the first one being pretty much break even, the second, decent and the third...ok.
So...the first one is kind of a blur...played overnight and just could never get anything going. I only had 2 big pairs and only one held up. The 2 hands that turned the session from a winning one to a losing one are as follows.
I have pocket Js in the BB. The button is this really sexy asian guy from San Diego that did his absolute best in keeping my mind on him rather than the game. He was kinda laggy in the way that most asian poker players are. He raised his button to $10($1/$2, btw), I reraised to $25. Then a MP limper who only has $85 calls. Anyway...flop is 6/5/3, 2 hearts. I bet $40...he goes all in...I call..he has QJh...turn is the Ah and its over. How can you call off 1/4 of your stack preflop...especially with QJ when you are facing a 3 bet???
The other hand is just brutal. The button raises(I could tell that he wanted to fold and then threw in $10 at the last minute). This is my mistake...I saw this and didn't take advantage of it. I should have reraised him and I would have taken the pot down right then. I have pocket 7s. This old guy calls the raise as well and it is 3 to the flop. Flop is 5/7/9 rainbow. Checked to the button. He bets $20, I call as does the old guy. Turn is a 9. Checked to the button. He bets $40, I raise to $100. Old guy CALLS! Button pushes, I call. Old guy folds. He shows 9/10, I show my boat. I just have to dodge a 9, 10 or 5. Of course, the river is a 5! The funniest thing about all of this(and I should not be surprised anymore, really) is that when I said, "nice catch sir"..he actually says..."You mean that you could beat a set?" I wish that I could have held my tongue before I (tried) to educate the fish. Of course, I had to explain to him that he did, in fact, not have a set, but trips and that I had a full house and was a 90% favorite to win the hand.
The following night, I head down to the Venetian and decide to play $1/$2 until I double my money and then move to the $2/$5. I am unsure if this is a sound strategy or not....just giving it a try. So, I am card dead for the first hour or so. Then I get up $180 by picking up pocket Js twice in a row....first time flopping a boat and the 2nd time, turning quads! The I lose $80 with pocket Qs to a flush. I should be content that I didnt pay him off on the river with my straight.
I then say fuck it, I'm just going to move, $100 shy of my goal. I sit down at a must move $2/$5 game(7 handed) I come in behind the button and never play a hand until my SB. The whole table limped in and I have 9/8h in the SB. I complete and then the BB pops it to $25...the whole table calls! SO, I say, what the hell....Flop is 6/7/10 rainbow! BINGO! I check, BB bets $100, everyone folds(DAMN!) and I just move all in. I only have $175 behind and if he has an overpair, I dont think that he can fold for that....he calls. I quietly say, I have the nuts sir. Then I leave. Up $500 for the session. I was happy.
I love the drive home when I win...I crank the radio...sing at the top of my lungs and for 30 minutes....all is right with the world.
So...the first one is kind of a blur...played overnight and just could never get anything going. I only had 2 big pairs and only one held up. The 2 hands that turned the session from a winning one to a losing one are as follows.
I have pocket Js in the BB. The button is this really sexy asian guy from San Diego that did his absolute best in keeping my mind on him rather than the game. He was kinda laggy in the way that most asian poker players are. He raised his button to $10($1/$2, btw), I reraised to $25. Then a MP limper who only has $85 calls. Anyway...flop is 6/5/3, 2 hearts. I bet $40...he goes all in...I call..he has QJh...turn is the Ah and its over. How can you call off 1/4 of your stack preflop...especially with QJ when you are facing a 3 bet???
The other hand is just brutal. The button raises(I could tell that he wanted to fold and then threw in $10 at the last minute). This is my mistake...I saw this and didn't take advantage of it. I should have reraised him and I would have taken the pot down right then. I have pocket 7s. This old guy calls the raise as well and it is 3 to the flop. Flop is 5/7/9 rainbow. Checked to the button. He bets $20, I call as does the old guy. Turn is a 9. Checked to the button. He bets $40, I raise to $100. Old guy CALLS! Button pushes, I call. Old guy folds. He shows 9/10, I show my boat. I just have to dodge a 9, 10 or 5. Of course, the river is a 5! The funniest thing about all of this(and I should not be surprised anymore, really) is that when I said, "nice catch sir"..he actually says..."You mean that you could beat a set?" I wish that I could have held my tongue before I (tried) to educate the fish. Of course, I had to explain to him that he did, in fact, not have a set, but trips and that I had a full house and was a 90% favorite to win the hand.
The following night, I head down to the Venetian and decide to play $1/$2 until I double my money and then move to the $2/$5. I am unsure if this is a sound strategy or not....just giving it a try. So, I am card dead for the first hour or so. Then I get up $180 by picking up pocket Js twice in a row....first time flopping a boat and the 2nd time, turning quads! The I lose $80 with pocket Qs to a flush. I should be content that I didnt pay him off on the river with my straight.
I then say fuck it, I'm just going to move, $100 shy of my goal. I sit down at a must move $2/$5 game(7 handed) I come in behind the button and never play a hand until my SB. The whole table limped in and I have 9/8h in the SB. I complete and then the BB pops it to $25...the whole table calls! SO, I say, what the hell....Flop is 6/7/10 rainbow! BINGO! I check, BB bets $100, everyone folds(DAMN!) and I just move all in. I only have $175 behind and if he has an overpair, I dont think that he can fold for that....he calls. I quietly say, I have the nuts sir. Then I leave. Up $500 for the session. I was happy.
I love the drive home when I win...I crank the radio...sing at the top of my lungs and for 30 minutes....all is right with the world.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Cruel, Cold Deck
There is nothing more fustrating than getting your money in good and having someone suck out on you. Especially when it happens 5 or 6 times in one night for large sums of money.
Sorry that I haven't posted but things have been pretty tumultuous the last few days, on and off of the tables.
I just had my worst session ever. I know intellectually that you shouldn't judge a session based on how much money you lose but when the number is substantial, it is very hard to see past that aspect of it.
I think there was a bit of foreshadowing when 3 hands into the session, I pick up KK in the bb...folded to the very laggy button who raised(really, he would raise with ATC in this spot), the SB knows this of course and calls, and I raise....the Button reraises and I shove. Of course, he has AA!
So I buy in again and actually get back to even($1000) thanks to a sweet, sweet gift. One that only comes around once in a blue moon. I raise($25) from the C/O with A/Kc, the small blind calls and does a MP limper. Flop is AAQ, rainbow!!!...checks to me, I bet $30. I wanted that bet to come across as a feeler bet...kind of like, I have a Q and I am betting to see if anyone had an A. I was hoping for someone to view that as weakness and come over the top of me. Well, it worked. The SB minraises to $60. MP folds. I then push. I tried very hard to play this hand as confusing as possible past the preflop raise of course. Alot of inexperienced players would check trip As on that flop and certainly would not push the flop(ok...maybe REALLY inexperienced players would). The SB deliberates forever, so I start trying to appear weak...talking, acting nervous, saying .." well this is a good sign for me" I even offer to show him one card(which why in god's name, he didn't take, I will never know). I said, do you have an A and he said, no but the chances of you having one either is very slim and then ....HE CALLS! WITH KK!!! So drawing dead. YAY me! I won't even go into how horribly he played kings!
Then it all goes to shit. There was this guy at the table who would raise in any position with any K, any Q, any A...but then he was hitting monsters!...flopping flushes, 2pr, straights. So I set out to trap him(brilliant, I know). I have AA and limp in...He raises to $25...4 callers. Everyone is calling him because they know how wide his opening range is. I reraise to $200. He calls. Flop is AK9...all spades. I bet $400. He pushes all in. Now he should know(if he is even good enough to think at this level, which come on, who am I kidding, he isn't) that he has 0 fold equity. I have just put $600 into this pot with only $350 behind. If he thought about this hand at all, it should be pretty obvious with the UTG limp, reraise that I have either a set of Ks or a set of As. So, I call. He shows 3/5 with the 5 of spades. So, he just risked all of that with a 5 high flush draw and....HITS IT!!!
So, I buy in again....short this time. ...for $300. I get it all in good against the nutcase with A/Kh on a K59, 2 heart board against his KJ and what do you know, he spikes his 2 outter.
Why I didn't leave at this point is pure insanity on my part. I have 2 big downfalls in life, men and my stubborn nature.
I buy in again...actually grind it out and win back about half of my money to lose it all in nearly identical situations with top 2 on the turn, potting it and having someone call off the rest of their chips with flush draws and hitting.
So, today I need to pick myself up, dust myself off, put on my lowest cut blouse and get back into the game.
Wish me luck.......I think that I am going to need it.
Sorry that I haven't posted but things have been pretty tumultuous the last few days, on and off of the tables.
I just had my worst session ever. I know intellectually that you shouldn't judge a session based on how much money you lose but when the number is substantial, it is very hard to see past that aspect of it.
I think there was a bit of foreshadowing when 3 hands into the session, I pick up KK in the bb...folded to the very laggy button who raised(really, he would raise with ATC in this spot), the SB knows this of course and calls, and I raise....the Button reraises and I shove. Of course, he has AA!
So I buy in again and actually get back to even($1000) thanks to a sweet, sweet gift. One that only comes around once in a blue moon. I raise($25) from the C/O with A/Kc, the small blind calls and does a MP limper. Flop is AAQ, rainbow!!!...checks to me, I bet $30. I wanted that bet to come across as a feeler bet...kind of like, I have a Q and I am betting to see if anyone had an A. I was hoping for someone to view that as weakness and come over the top of me. Well, it worked. The SB minraises to $60. MP folds. I then push. I tried very hard to play this hand as confusing as possible past the preflop raise of course. Alot of inexperienced players would check trip As on that flop and certainly would not push the flop(ok...maybe REALLY inexperienced players would). The SB deliberates forever, so I start trying to appear weak...talking, acting nervous, saying .." well this is a good sign for me" I even offer to show him one card(which why in god's name, he didn't take, I will never know). I said, do you have an A and he said, no but the chances of you having one either is very slim and then ....HE CALLS! WITH KK!!! So drawing dead. YAY me! I won't even go into how horribly he played kings!
Then it all goes to shit. There was this guy at the table who would raise in any position with any K, any Q, any A...but then he was hitting monsters!...flopping flushes, 2pr, straights. So I set out to trap him(brilliant, I know). I have AA and limp in...He raises to $25...4 callers. Everyone is calling him because they know how wide his opening range is. I reraise to $200. He calls. Flop is AK9...all spades. I bet $400. He pushes all in. Now he should know(if he is even good enough to think at this level, which come on, who am I kidding, he isn't) that he has 0 fold equity. I have just put $600 into this pot with only $350 behind. If he thought about this hand at all, it should be pretty obvious with the UTG limp, reraise that I have either a set of Ks or a set of As. So, I call. He shows 3/5 with the 5 of spades. So, he just risked all of that with a 5 high flush draw and....HITS IT!!!
So, I buy in again....short this time. ...for $300. I get it all in good against the nutcase with A/Kh on a K59, 2 heart board against his KJ and what do you know, he spikes his 2 outter.
Why I didn't leave at this point is pure insanity on my part. I have 2 big downfalls in life, men and my stubborn nature.
I buy in again...actually grind it out and win back about half of my money to lose it all in nearly identical situations with top 2 on the turn, potting it and having someone call off the rest of their chips with flush draws and hitting.
So, today I need to pick myself up, dust myself off, put on my lowest cut blouse and get back into the game.
Wish me luck.......I think that I am going to need it.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Monday, Monday
God, I love Mondays! I do not know what it is but the last 3 Mondays that I have played at The Venetian, I have made over $200 an hour! Last Monday, I made over $500 an hour! I don't get it, Mondays are supposed to suck. Tourists are supposed to be on their flights back home and the tables empty. Granted, the tables are emptier, but not empty and the action is nice.
So, once again, I have to sit down at a $1/$2 table while waiting for a $2/$5 seat. The first 3 hands I get dealt small pocket prs, so I limp and check/fold the flop. What did amaze me at this table is the amount of limping going on. I think in the 10 hands that I was there only one got raised preflop. Such a change from $2/$5 where 90% of them are raised pots.
Then the fourth one I am dealt pocket 8s. I call a $10 preflop raise along with 4 others. The flop is 2/5/6, 2 clubs. It is checked to me in the c/o, I bet $30($50 in pot) The button calls. Turn is Ah. I bet $50 and he folds. Very uneventful but I like that I bet the scare card. There was a time not so long ago when I would have checked it. So, I'm growing.
Then I move and there is a guy at the table that was there for my crap session from a few nights ago. He is super nice to me. He keeps mentioning how he hasn't seen his wife in 8 days and how is room is only 12 minutes away. Ahhhh, men.
So, in like the first round, I flop 2 full houses! The first one, I called a raise($10???) with 3s...flop is 883. I check, the O/R bets, the SB raises(so, I figure that he has an 8 right???) so I reraise and he folds showing J2...geez.
The last big hand I call with 9/10 on the button in a limped pot. Flop is K87. C/O bets $20(almost a pot sized bet but I figure that I have implied odds) I call. Turn is the money card, J. C/O bets $75, I raise to $200, he then comes over the top of me and puts me all in. I have the nuts so, of course, I call stating, K/J no good sir. River is a meaningless 5 and I double up.
I love when I call out people's hands and other people look at me in awe.
Kidding.
Kind of.
Once again, I noticed that I was a flirting machine tonight and did well. I need to figure this out. Is it because guys think that I can't possibly know what I am doing since I am a flirt or is my confidence level higher because I have all of this attention?
So, once again, I have to sit down at a $1/$2 table while waiting for a $2/$5 seat. The first 3 hands I get dealt small pocket prs, so I limp and check/fold the flop. What did amaze me at this table is the amount of limping going on. I think in the 10 hands that I was there only one got raised preflop. Such a change from $2/$5 where 90% of them are raised pots.
Then the fourth one I am dealt pocket 8s. I call a $10 preflop raise along with 4 others. The flop is 2/5/6, 2 clubs. It is checked to me in the c/o, I bet $30($50 in pot) The button calls. Turn is Ah. I bet $50 and he folds. Very uneventful but I like that I bet the scare card. There was a time not so long ago when I would have checked it. So, I'm growing.
Then I move and there is a guy at the table that was there for my crap session from a few nights ago. He is super nice to me. He keeps mentioning how he hasn't seen his wife in 8 days and how is room is only 12 minutes away. Ahhhh, men.
So, in like the first round, I flop 2 full houses! The first one, I called a raise($10???) with 3s...flop is 883. I check, the O/R bets, the SB raises(so, I figure that he has an 8 right???) so I reraise and he folds showing J2...geez.
The last big hand I call with 9/10 on the button in a limped pot. Flop is K87. C/O bets $20(almost a pot sized bet but I figure that I have implied odds) I call. Turn is the money card, J. C/O bets $75, I raise to $200, he then comes over the top of me and puts me all in. I have the nuts so, of course, I call stating, K/J no good sir. River is a meaningless 5 and I double up.
I love when I call out people's hands and other people look at me in awe.
Kidding.
Kind of.
Once again, I noticed that I was a flirting machine tonight and did well. I need to figure this out. Is it because guys think that I can't possibly know what I am doing since I am a flirt or is my confidence level higher because I have all of this attention?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Distraction
One thing that I do need to stop doing pronto is playing while my mind is elsewhere. I think that men are better at this than women...men seem to have an on/off switch that they can hit and then they are all about poker...me, not so much.
The funny thing about this though is that I play really well when I am flirting and having fun at the table, so that kind of distraction seems to actually help me. Hmmmm...will have to give this some more thought.
Anyway...bad, bad night. First hand that I put any real chips in with, someone calls a pot sized bet on the turn with a gutshot and hits it on the river. The funny thing is that had position on me and I checked the river(I had 2 pr and there was 4 to a straight) and he checked back...and then grimaced and said "ahhh, I thought that you were going to bet that"...WTF??? So, I reminded him that he had position on me and could have bet and he looked at me like he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.
I then move to the main game and win a smallish pot after turning trip Js with a K kicker, they both called the flop, so I have no idea what they had...no real draws there. There was this real lagtard at the table...it was so funny...he raised every pot pre to $15. Apparently he was in for $2k and when he finally busted half of the table then left...they were all staying for him! So he raises my BB to $15 and most of the table calls because they know how wide his opening range is. I call with Q/10d. This is not a hand that I usually like playing, especially OOP but I am getting a discount and I know that if I hit hard, I am likely to get paid off. BINGO! Flop is 8/9/J . Come to mama! I check..laggy bets $15(into $75!!!) Button calls. I am torn at this point. I know that Laggy will call just about anything but I really want to keep the button in the hand as well. So I raise. I raise to $80. Laggy does not hesitate in calling. Button deliberates but then folds. Damn!. Turn is a 5 of clubs making 2 clubs. I go all in(wish that I had more) for $200. Laggy calls. He has a flush draw and a gutter. He misses! YAY! Unfortunately this is the last decent sized pot that I rake in.
A round or so later, I get pocket As in the C/O. I raise some limpers to $40 and the button from the previous hand calls in MP. This guy is pretty loose. He is used to playing at an Indian casino in California that has just an absolutely awful structure so it makes him kinda maniacal.
Flop is 8/8/6. I would think that is a good flop for As...silly me. He checks. I bet $60. He calls. Alarms going off. Turn is a Q. Check,Check. I figure at this point, I am either way ahead or way behind....fearing the latter. River is a 7. He bets $120. I figure that I have to call. I am getting 3 to 1 on my money. Of course, he has 7/8.
The rest of the night was more of the same. I would raise with A/K, A/Q and flop top pr and have someone raising the shit out of me. Luckily, and I don't know how I do it, but people show me their cards. Lots of sets and 2 prs. So, money not lost is just as good as money won, eh? I dont know if I totally buy into that but....yeah.
The funny thing about this though is that I play really well when I am flirting and having fun at the table, so that kind of distraction seems to actually help me. Hmmmm...will have to give this some more thought.
Anyway...bad, bad night. First hand that I put any real chips in with, someone calls a pot sized bet on the turn with a gutshot and hits it on the river. The funny thing is that had position on me and I checked the river(I had 2 pr and there was 4 to a straight) and he checked back...and then grimaced and said "ahhh, I thought that you were going to bet that"...WTF??? So, I reminded him that he had position on me and could have bet and he looked at me like he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.
I then move to the main game and win a smallish pot after turning trip Js with a K kicker, they both called the flop, so I have no idea what they had...no real draws there. There was this real lagtard at the table...it was so funny...he raised every pot pre to $15. Apparently he was in for $2k and when he finally busted half of the table then left...they were all staying for him! So he raises my BB to $15 and most of the table calls because they know how wide his opening range is. I call with Q/10d. This is not a hand that I usually like playing, especially OOP but I am getting a discount and I know that if I hit hard, I am likely to get paid off. BINGO! Flop is 8/9/J . Come to mama! I check..laggy bets $15(into $75!!!) Button calls. I am torn at this point. I know that Laggy will call just about anything but I really want to keep the button in the hand as well. So I raise. I raise to $80. Laggy does not hesitate in calling. Button deliberates but then folds. Damn!. Turn is a 5 of clubs making 2 clubs. I go all in(wish that I had more) for $200. Laggy calls. He has a flush draw and a gutter. He misses! YAY! Unfortunately this is the last decent sized pot that I rake in.
A round or so later, I get pocket As in the C/O. I raise some limpers to $40 and the button from the previous hand calls in MP. This guy is pretty loose. He is used to playing at an Indian casino in California that has just an absolutely awful structure so it makes him kinda maniacal.
Flop is 8/8/6. I would think that is a good flop for As...silly me. He checks. I bet $60. He calls. Alarms going off. Turn is a Q. Check,Check. I figure at this point, I am either way ahead or way behind....fearing the latter. River is a 7. He bets $120. I figure that I have to call. I am getting 3 to 1 on my money. Of course, he has 7/8.
The rest of the night was more of the same. I would raise with A/K, A/Q and flop top pr and have someone raising the shit out of me. Luckily, and I don't know how I do it, but people show me their cards. Lots of sets and 2 prs. So, money not lost is just as good as money won, eh? I dont know if I totally buy into that but....yeah.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A few more hands from last night
I am not playing tonight due to some drama....I have been trying to be disciplined about playing when I am not able to 100% focus on poker and unfortunately tonight is one of those nights.
So, I am going to cover some of the more interesting hands that I played last night.
The first was obviously the bluff that made me feel like a pro for about 5 minutes. I then moved to a $2/$5 table. I recognized Jim, he used to the poker room manager at The Luxor...he now plays at The Venetian because he is fucking one of the dealers(who used to work at The Luxor). I normally would be happy for them.....I love her and he is ok...but he is married, to someone else, so....yeah.
Anyway, I am there for about a round and really haven't played a hand...most of the pots are raised to $25-$30 preflop and I like to get a feel for the table before I start throwing chips into the pot. There is a real fish at the table...this middle aged asian guy. He never knows what the action is...I can never understand how people can play at at table and never know what is going on. I can tell you what is going on in every hand, even when I don't have cards. So, this guy is bad...calling any raise preflop with any two cards. He calls Jim all the way down to the river, in a raised pot, with pocket 4s! There were only 5 overcards to his hand! But as usual, these types of guys give to everyone else and take from me.
I like to call asian fish, sushi(please do not get offended, I like asian men, just not at the poker table) So, Sushi, raises to $25 in MP, I reraise in the SB with pocket Ks to $60. He calls. Of course, the flop is A/Q/6. I check...he bets $20! $20 into a $125 pot! I have no idea what this means...so I call. I'm getting like 6/1 on my money. The turn he is nicer and bets like $300. How he goes from $20-$300, I will never know. I fold. He of course, shows that he is not bluffing and shows the A/Q. How is it whenever someone has 3 outs against me, they always hit???
That was pretty much the story of my night with big pocket prs....everytime that I had Ks or Qs, an A would hit.
Except for the one time that I had Js. Now, this table was doing some crazy ass shit with Js. I saw, no less than 4 times, people open raising $200 with Js....saying something stupid, like....."thats the only way to play Jacks" WTF...so I say, "well, if you dont wanna play them, give them to me and I will". Wouldn't you know, a few hands later, I get Js! I raise to $30, the loosest guy at the table calls(sushi had left by this point) This guy had just won a $1500 pot with 74o after raising and then calling 2 reraises....flops 2 pr and then turns a boat cracking As and Qs!
So, he calls...flop is 9/8/2. I bet $50...he calls. Turn is A...I confidently slide a $100 stack in all the while shaking inside, I mean who knows what this lagtard is playing? ...he calls....river is an 8....I slide $200 in...he folds! I then flip up the Js and say..."now boys, thats how you play Js!"
So, I am going to cover some of the more interesting hands that I played last night.
The first was obviously the bluff that made me feel like a pro for about 5 minutes. I then moved to a $2/$5 table. I recognized Jim, he used to the poker room manager at The Luxor...he now plays at The Venetian because he is fucking one of the dealers(who used to work at The Luxor). I normally would be happy for them.....I love her and he is ok...but he is married, to someone else, so....yeah.
Anyway, I am there for about a round and really haven't played a hand...most of the pots are raised to $25-$30 preflop and I like to get a feel for the table before I start throwing chips into the pot. There is a real fish at the table...this middle aged asian guy. He never knows what the action is...I can never understand how people can play at at table and never know what is going on. I can tell you what is going on in every hand, even when I don't have cards. So, this guy is bad...calling any raise preflop with any two cards. He calls Jim all the way down to the river, in a raised pot, with pocket 4s! There were only 5 overcards to his hand! But as usual, these types of guys give to everyone else and take from me.
I like to call asian fish, sushi(please do not get offended, I like asian men, just not at the poker table) So, Sushi, raises to $25 in MP, I reraise in the SB with pocket Ks to $60. He calls. Of course, the flop is A/Q/6. I check...he bets $20! $20 into a $125 pot! I have no idea what this means...so I call. I'm getting like 6/1 on my money. The turn he is nicer and bets like $300. How he goes from $20-$300, I will never know. I fold. He of course, shows that he is not bluffing and shows the A/Q. How is it whenever someone has 3 outs against me, they always hit???
That was pretty much the story of my night with big pocket prs....everytime that I had Ks or Qs, an A would hit.
Except for the one time that I had Js. Now, this table was doing some crazy ass shit with Js. I saw, no less than 4 times, people open raising $200 with Js....saying something stupid, like....."thats the only way to play Jacks" WTF...so I say, "well, if you dont wanna play them, give them to me and I will". Wouldn't you know, a few hands later, I get Js! I raise to $30, the loosest guy at the table calls(sushi had left by this point) This guy had just won a $1500 pot with 74o after raising and then calling 2 reraises....flops 2 pr and then turns a boat cracking As and Qs!
So, he calls...flop is 9/8/2. I bet $50...he calls. Turn is A...I confidently slide a $100 stack in all the while shaking inside, I mean who knows what this lagtard is playing? ...he calls....river is an 8....I slide $200 in...he folds! I then flip up the Js and say..."now boys, thats how you play Js!"
Pulling Off A BLuff
Up until about 6 months ago, I could count on 2 hands how many bluffs that I had executed. I could count on 3 fingers how many had been successful. Yuck!
So over the past few months, I have decided to up the frequency of my bluffs. My goal is to bluff at least once per session. I am hitting about 50/50 on that goal but so far they have all been successful. I think that, for me anyway, the key is to build up your image beforehand and make sure that you are running a bluff on someone who knows how to fold.
So, last night, I ran my best one. Usually when I bluff, it is a semi bluff, or I have A high, or a pr smaller than anything on the board....SOMETHING! Last night, I had 4 high.
Now when you are reading this please don't use words like donkey or idiot or fish. This is totally outside my normal realm of play. I have considered posting this hand on a forum that I frequent because they all think that I am a tight ass nit. But I didn't want to hear their thoughts on my total idiot pre river play.
So, I sat down at a $1/$2 game while waiting for a full $2/$5 game. The main problem that I have when playing $1/$2(after mainly playing $2/$5) is that I have trouble taking $10-$20 bets seriously(a leak, I know). I will call with just about any decent or speculative hand for $10. So I have voluntarily played 1 hand in the round and a half that I have been at this table, so my image has to be fairly tight considering these guys will play any two cards for $2. Utg raises to $7.....lol..small even for a $1/$2 game. I have 2/4c. What the hell...I'm bored...I call. C/O calls, Sb pops it to $25. Utg calls with hesitation, I deliberate for a minute and I actually make this call out of boredom, no other reason. I also pretend to be studying these guys for a minute like I am trying to put them on hands....you know, like is my 4 high good?
Flop is A/10/3 rainbow. Checked to me, I check. Turn is a 6c. Sb checks...so now I think that he has a big pr under As. UTG bets $30....into an $83 pot.....I pretend to study him for 10 secs or so and call...I am thinking that he is pretty weak here..SB folds. River is 8s. Not a good card for me. I have now invested $55 with an absolute turd of a hand. I am ready to muck until I am given a sweet gift....UTG checks to me. So, I decide to pull the trigger. I start counting out my chips while trying to decide on an amount that he will view as me wanting a call but not so little that he will call out of curiousity(yes, $1/$2 players do this, ALOT) There is $143 in the pot...I decide on $75. He mucks. I then cannot help myself, I flip them over......UTG gets all defensive, saying how he didnt have anything.....I knew this of course, but I bet that he had 4 high beat!
So over the past few months, I have decided to up the frequency of my bluffs. My goal is to bluff at least once per session. I am hitting about 50/50 on that goal but so far they have all been successful. I think that, for me anyway, the key is to build up your image beforehand and make sure that you are running a bluff on someone who knows how to fold.
So, last night, I ran my best one. Usually when I bluff, it is a semi bluff, or I have A high, or a pr smaller than anything on the board....SOMETHING! Last night, I had 4 high.
Now when you are reading this please don't use words like donkey or idiot or fish. This is totally outside my normal realm of play. I have considered posting this hand on a forum that I frequent because they all think that I am a tight ass nit. But I didn't want to hear their thoughts on my total idiot pre river play.
So, I sat down at a $1/$2 game while waiting for a full $2/$5 game. The main problem that I have when playing $1/$2(after mainly playing $2/$5) is that I have trouble taking $10-$20 bets seriously(a leak, I know). I will call with just about any decent or speculative hand for $10. So I have voluntarily played 1 hand in the round and a half that I have been at this table, so my image has to be fairly tight considering these guys will play any two cards for $2. Utg raises to $7.....lol..small even for a $1/$2 game. I have 2/4c. What the hell...I'm bored...I call. C/O calls, Sb pops it to $25. Utg calls with hesitation, I deliberate for a minute and I actually make this call out of boredom, no other reason. I also pretend to be studying these guys for a minute like I am trying to put them on hands....you know, like is my 4 high good?
Flop is A/10/3 rainbow. Checked to me, I check. Turn is a 6c. Sb checks...so now I think that he has a big pr under As. UTG bets $30....into an $83 pot.....I pretend to study him for 10 secs or so and call...I am thinking that he is pretty weak here..SB folds. River is 8s. Not a good card for me. I have now invested $55 with an absolute turd of a hand. I am ready to muck until I am given a sweet gift....UTG checks to me. So, I decide to pull the trigger. I start counting out my chips while trying to decide on an amount that he will view as me wanting a call but not so little that he will call out of curiousity(yes, $1/$2 players do this, ALOT) There is $143 in the pot...I decide on $75. He mucks. I then cannot help myself, I flip them over......UTG gets all defensive, saying how he didnt have anything.....I knew this of course, but I bet that he had 4 high beat!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A Super Short Session
So, I drove all of the way down to the Venetian last night. I am so glad that I did. It was one of those sessions where you seem to get perfect cards and the perfect flop just when you need it.
The $2/$5 was super shorthanded, so I played $1/$2 until it filled. Geez...I can't stand playing $1/$2 much anymore. I just sat there for 2 rounds thinking...what idiots! Why can't I get anything against these jackasses. I did get A/K in MP, put in a good sized raise and get 5 callers(the most from any raise in the 2 rounds that I had been there) I think that when tourists suspect that you are a local/play poker for a living, they are automatically suspicious of everything that you do. They always think that you are trying to make a move. Not that...well this person plays 50 hours per week so maybe, she can outplay me(which is what I would think if I was sitting with someone more experienced than I)
So, I raise, 5 caller and I whiff....not even a flop that I can make a decent c-bet with it came 678 2 spades...So, I said goodbye to that $15. Then I call a raise on the button with J/10o because it is only $10...so in my $2/$5 mind, it was just a min raise...so I have to call, right?
Then I get to go to the big girl's table. I sat down and immediatley lose $50 due to a straight flush draw. How is it whenever I have more outs than not, I never hit? I would have raised the guy but I could tell that he was an inexperienced tourist and would have never laid down top pr and would have pd me off if I hit, so I just check/called.
But then 3 hands turn it all around!
I get dealt q/9s in the Sb and complete, option checks. Flop Q/10/9, 2 clubs. I looked down the table and I can tell that UTG liked his hand. Checked around. Turn is a 9(nines were my friend this session) I check, UTG bets $40, Button raises to $75, I raise to $200, UTG immediately calls. I put him on the straight. Button folds. Then horror of horrors, the river is a Q! Worst card for me. UTG checks, I go all in and he folds K/J face up! Shit.
Then I move to the main game(reluctantly, if I only knew) I call a straddle with J/9h(it was my bb, so only $5 more and this is a hand known to me as 'The Royal Gannon', named for one of my bestest poker buddies, Mark Gannon. It is his fave hand and usually wins with it.
Flop is J/9/k all clubs. Checked around
Turn is 9. checked to the button...he bets $15(into a $60 pot, god, I love poker) I decide to just call. The only hand that he is probably going to call a raise with is a flush or a 9(or a better boat) and I want to get $15 from the other gys that might be chasing. 2 other callers. River is a 3.
Button bets $40, I raise to $140. Button calls. He doesnt show but he sees my boat.
I dont even limp with any other hand until this last hand. UTG raises to $10(???) I call(along with 4 others)OTB with K/Q. Flop is KKQ. I cant ask for much better than that, can I???
I am really big into reading people. I could tell that no one really liked that flop, so I check. Turn is a 9...hoping that helps open up some straight possibilites(that they are drawing dead with). I check.
River is a 10! YES! Utg bets $15(gotta love em), a caller and then C/O(same guy from prev boat) raises to $50. Now, since he saw my last full house, I wanted to make sure that I played this one a little differently. SO, I decide to min raise. Normally I dont do this but since I bet so strong(and big) last time, I wanted to do the opposite. Folds to the C/O and he raises $100 more, I then push(he only has like $150 behind) and he calls with a J for the straight!
So, then I leave. I made money and had a nice time but I wanted to make sure that I left on a high note.
The $2/$5 was super shorthanded, so I played $1/$2 until it filled. Geez...I can't stand playing $1/$2 much anymore. I just sat there for 2 rounds thinking...what idiots! Why can't I get anything against these jackasses. I did get A/K in MP, put in a good sized raise and get 5 callers(the most from any raise in the 2 rounds that I had been there) I think that when tourists suspect that you are a local/play poker for a living, they are automatically suspicious of everything that you do. They always think that you are trying to make a move. Not that...well this person plays 50 hours per week so maybe, she can outplay me(which is what I would think if I was sitting with someone more experienced than I)
So, I raise, 5 caller and I whiff....not even a flop that I can make a decent c-bet with it came 678 2 spades...So, I said goodbye to that $15. Then I call a raise on the button with J/10o because it is only $10...so in my $2/$5 mind, it was just a min raise...so I have to call, right?
Then I get to go to the big girl's table. I sat down and immediatley lose $50 due to a straight flush draw. How is it whenever I have more outs than not, I never hit? I would have raised the guy but I could tell that he was an inexperienced tourist and would have never laid down top pr and would have pd me off if I hit, so I just check/called.
But then 3 hands turn it all around!
I get dealt q/9s in the Sb and complete, option checks. Flop Q/10/9, 2 clubs. I looked down the table and I can tell that UTG liked his hand. Checked around. Turn is a 9(nines were my friend this session) I check, UTG bets $40, Button raises to $75, I raise to $200, UTG immediately calls. I put him on the straight. Button folds. Then horror of horrors, the river is a Q! Worst card for me. UTG checks, I go all in and he folds K/J face up! Shit.
Then I move to the main game(reluctantly, if I only knew) I call a straddle with J/9h(it was my bb, so only $5 more and this is a hand known to me as 'The Royal Gannon', named for one of my bestest poker buddies, Mark Gannon. It is his fave hand and usually wins with it.
Flop is J/9/k all clubs. Checked around
Turn is 9. checked to the button...he bets $15(into a $60 pot, god, I love poker) I decide to just call. The only hand that he is probably going to call a raise with is a flush or a 9(or a better boat) and I want to get $15 from the other gys that might be chasing. 2 other callers. River is a 3.
Button bets $40, I raise to $140. Button calls. He doesnt show but he sees my boat.
I dont even limp with any other hand until this last hand. UTG raises to $10(???) I call(along with 4 others)OTB with K/Q. Flop is KKQ. I cant ask for much better than that, can I???
I am really big into reading people. I could tell that no one really liked that flop, so I check. Turn is a 9...hoping that helps open up some straight possibilites(that they are drawing dead with). I check.
River is a 10! YES! Utg bets $15(gotta love em), a caller and then C/O(same guy from prev boat) raises to $50. Now, since he saw my last full house, I wanted to make sure that I played this one a little differently. SO, I decide to min raise. Normally I dont do this but since I bet so strong(and big) last time, I wanted to do the opposite. Folds to the C/O and he raises $100 more, I then push(he only has like $150 behind) and he calls with a J for the straight!
So, then I leave. I made money and had a nice time but I wanted to make sure that I left on a high note.
Getting Started
So, I finally did it! I started a poker blog. I think that my friends get tired of hearing the seemingly endless recap of poker hands(and most of them don't understand what I am talking about anyway) ;)
I'm Jessica. I moved to Las Vegas 2 years ago to give it a go at poker. I am also a grad student working on my Phd in psychology. Psychology used to be my passion. I read psychology books during all of my free time and my two heros were both famous psychologists. One, internationally so and the other only in our little community in Indiana.
I ended up here(this location and my my life, in general) by accident. I was heading home 2 years ago to Indiana for a vacation. I saw the sign to Vegas, and said, 'what the hell?'
I never left.
I love Las Vegas. I get to meet new, exciting people everyday. There are so many exciting things to do here but honestly, I spend most of my time at the tables. There are only a few things as exciting as having a big pot pushed towards you.
As far as the title to this blog, I cannot take credit. That all belongs to one of my favorite people, Jake. He is trying to convince me to post a pic of what inspired the title.....still mulling it over....don't know if I want pics of the girls floating on the internet. ;)
I'm Jessica. I moved to Las Vegas 2 years ago to give it a go at poker. I am also a grad student working on my Phd in psychology. Psychology used to be my passion. I read psychology books during all of my free time and my two heros were both famous psychologists. One, internationally so and the other only in our little community in Indiana.
I ended up here(this location and my my life, in general) by accident. I was heading home 2 years ago to Indiana for a vacation. I saw the sign to Vegas, and said, 'what the hell?'
I never left.
I love Las Vegas. I get to meet new, exciting people everyday. There are so many exciting things to do here but honestly, I spend most of my time at the tables. There are only a few things as exciting as having a big pot pushed towards you.
As far as the title to this blog, I cannot take credit. That all belongs to one of my favorite people, Jake. He is trying to convince me to post a pic of what inspired the title.....still mulling it over....don't know if I want pics of the girls floating on the internet. ;)
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