Due for an Entry

I tend to stay away from writing for the blog when I'm in downswings, though I'm really not sure that I should. This can be a useful place to vent frustrations.

So yeah, in the two weeks since I last posted, poker is going not well, mostly. I did finish 143th in the FTOPS Main Event. The hand I went out on I've dissected to death (along with some help from the forum), and I definitely played it badly and got unlucky all at the same time. That hand still annoys me, but I don't feel like thinking about it anymore. Moving on.

This past Sunday, I finished 36th in the weekly $200K on AP(UB). Along with a couple of other cashes, that helped to ensure that I actually didn't lose money on either of the last Sundays that I played. Which can be an accomplishment sometimes on big field days. Hey I'm looking for silver linings here.

Otherwise, frankly there's not much good to say. Have I played bad? Some. Have I ran bad? God, yes. I really feel like my success is sort of inevitable though, because mostly I've played consistently and just haven't run well in key sports. Just a natural sort of correction from the week that I took over Cake Poker I guess.

I am annoyingly now +$1670 or so for the month, which would be worst month since November 2007, when I was still playing SNGs. Which I'm thankfully not anymore, since I find the idea of 10 tabling SNGs sort of soul crushing. I have been thinking about diversifying though, partially on the advice of forum members. Cash games and omaha may be on my list. I'm not particularly good at either of those things right now, but I think that could change with a little work. And also I could probably just use a break from NLHE tournaments. A casino trip may be called for.

This is hilarious, I especially like the "you don't understand, this is always happens to me" part of the rant: http://www.xtranormal.com/xtranormal/episode.php?aid=103870&mid=20090222182227485

Tonight will probably be my last poker day of the month, so maybe I'll win a tournament and actually post a respectable number for the month. Never know.

The Poker Gods Punish Arrogance

Just when I was thinking this poker thing was getting a little too easy, I got taught a little lesson on variance. Got smacked in full days last week and this week. This Monday was especially savage, because I basically couldn't crack the top half of the field in most of the tournaments that I played. Which is hard to do, since my game is basically tight at low blind levels. I made a couple just terrible plays, and then ran into a string of horrific beats as well. Was also playing quite a few FTOPS qualifiers, for the $1k second chance event, as well as the $5k 2 day event this Saturday that I really want to play in. Those turbos are good way to burn through money in a hurry, especially if getting it in with aces preflop means the other player will make quads.

The worst was the 20k sniper on the "some days you can't beat the donkeys" front:

Stage #1458381828 Tourney ID 4064296 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $30 - 2009-02-09 20:43:51 (ET)
Table: 11 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 1 - IQUEEN ($1592.50 in chips)
Seat 2 - MENDIETA19 ($5595 in chips)
Seat 3 - GUYBIRD8 ($5387.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - FEAR_ITSELF ($5822.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - PAULTORICO ($3430 in chips)
Seat 6 - SOUTHCJAY7 ($9130 in chips)
Seat 7 - BZIMZIM ($6612.50 in chips)
Seat 8 - MECITEK ($6545 in chips)
Seat 9 - STAKTURNER ($4545 in chips)
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $15
MECITEK - Posts big blind $30
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Kd Kc]
STAKTURNER - Calls $30
IQUEEN - Folds
MENDIETA19 - Folds
GUYBIRD8 - Calls $30
FEAR_ITSELF - Calls $30
PAULTORICO - Folds
SOUTHCJAY7 - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $200 to $215
MECITEK - Folds
STAKTURNER - Calls $185
GUYBIRD8 - Calls $185
FEAR_ITSELF - Calls $185
*** FLOP *** [Js 5d 10s]
BZIMZIM - Bets $600
STAKTURNER - Folds
GUYBIRD8 - All-In(Raise) $5172.50 to $5172.50
FEAR_ITSELF - Folds
BZIMZIM - Calls $4572.50
*** TURN *** [Js 5d 10s] [7s]
*** RIVER *** [Js 5d 10s 7s] [Qd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GUYBIRD8 - Shows [7d 10d] (Two Pair, tens and sevens)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Kd Kc] (One pair, kings)
GUYBIRD8 Collects $11235 from main pot

So got down to 600 chips, but built it back up, then this against the same player:

Stage #1458575623 Tourney ID 4064296 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $200 - 2009-02-09 21:59:48 (ET)
Table: 11 (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 1 - MIDDLEMISS08 ($6531.50 in chips)
Seat 2 - MAINIEDELANEY ($27292.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - GUYBIRD8 ($7007.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - SUNNYDYLN ($5030 in chips)
Seat 5 - SEANP100 ($5409 in chips)
Seat 6 - SOUTHCJAY7 ($13700 in chips)
Seat 7 - BZIMZIM ($6450 in chips)
Seat 8 - MECITEK ($13525 in chips)
Seat 9 - STAKTURNER ($14874 in chips)
SUNNYDYLN - Posts small blind $100
SEANP100 - Posts big blind $200
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ah Ad]
SOUTHCJAY7 - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $550 to $550
MECITEK - Folds
STAKTURNER - Folds
MIDDLEMISS08 - Folds
MAINIEDELANEY - Folds
GUYBIRD8 - Calls $550
SUNNYDYLN - Folds
SEANP100 - Folds
*** FLOP *** [3d Qh 7c]
BZIMZIM - Bets $800
GUYBIRD8 - All-In(Raise) $6457.50 to $6457.50
BZIMZIM - All-In $5100
GUYBIRD8 - returned ($557.50) : not called
*** TURN *** [3d Qh 7c] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [3d Qh 7c 4h] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GUYBIRD8 - Shows [3c 4d] (Two Pair, fours and threes)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ah Ad] (One pair, aces)
GUYBIRD8 Collects $13200 from main pot

Well, alright. Whatever. Believe it or not, that wasn't even the worst player I saw that day, as there was a play in the AP 30r that night that would min raise atc every hand, then get lucky more than anyone I've ever seen. He had a huge CL was 18 left. He finished 9th. I finished an unproductive 8th. Probably back to work tonight.

Other People Should Just Stop Playing the Cake 30r

Shipped Cake 30r again last night. Last four results in that tournament:

1/26: 3/292, $2500
1/27: 1/310, $5638
1/29: 71/225, $0
2/2: 1/354, $6057

What was I doing on January 29th? Terrible.

So apparently my Cake 30r heater is continuing. Last night was one of the most spectacularly inept final tables I've ever been at, with only one or two players seemingly having the faintest idea what they were doing. This last hand is fairly representative:

Hand #176540B744003922: DAILY $25K GUARANTEED!! - R&A
Seat 9: Mill*** (655966.00 in chips)
Seat 10: bzimzim (995534.00 in chips)
MilllerThyme posts ante of 3,000
bzimzim posts ante of 3,000
bzimzim: posts small blind 15,000
Mill***: posts big blind 30,000
Dealt to bzimzim [ Kc Tc ]
bzimzim: raises to 75,000
Mill***: calls
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 5d Ts 7d ]
Mill***: is all in 577966.0000
bzimzim: calls
Mill***: shows 7s Ks
bzimzim: shows Kc Tc
# # # TURN # # # [ Jc ]
&&& RIVER &&& [ 9h ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bzimzim wins 1,311,932 with Pair of Tens

Why not just shove 4 times the size of the pot with second pair. Not that I don't appreciate it.

That continues the excellent start for the year. I'm sure destroying the Cake 30r wouldn't impress anyone at pocketfives (which doesn't even link to Cake results) or make me a big name online pro or anything, but I'm pretty sure I'll take the money anyway. You know, once it clears the 45 day waiting period, because Cake still can't figure out how to send checks.

Probably a full work day today, can't really stop when I'm running this good. With a little Ohio State-Purdue mixed in.

January Wrap

January in the books.

Month: +$11,867

Year: +$11,867 (obviously)

I'll take 11 more just like that.

Coming up on the year anniversary of starting this blog. I'm thinking about buying myself some flowers.

Goal for this month: 25k score like last February. Or just more of the same will do just fine.

Ship Cake 30r

Went on a heater the last two days consisting almost entirely of the Cake 30r. Third on Monday, first yesterday. Nothing to feel bad about on the third on Monday, bustosoon was a big CL and was being very aggro and just catching ridiculous cards and was just running over the table. He then promptly finished second after catching some really bad breaks.

Yesterday got heads up with a player who was willing to be aggressive and make plays. He had, for instance, reraised on the flop and then showed Q high (I was so close to shoving that hand too). I like it. Started out outchipped a little more than 2:1, but got to use his aggressiveness against him here:

Hand #17593FCD57003207: DAILY $25K GUARANTEED!! - R&A
Seat 1: GILF*** (1043296.00 in chips)
Seat 9: bzimzim (475204.00 in chips)
GILFHUNTER posts ante of 2,000
bzimzim posts ante of 2,000
bzimzim: posts small blind 10,000
GILF***: posts big blind 20,000
Dealt to bzimzim [ Ks Kd ]
bzimzim: calls
GILF***: checks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 4h 6c 6h ]
GILF***: checks
bzimzim: bets 25,000
GILF***: calls
# # # TURN # # # [ Ac ]
GILF***: checks
bzimzim: bets 40,000
GILF***: raises to 120,000
bzimzim: is all in 388204.0000
GILF***: folds
bzimzim: returns uncalled bet 308,204

Cards help too. Clearly he just thought I was making a play here. If he has an A or 6 I go broke obviously, but I figured this was going to be a play a pretty good percentage of the time.

Won a couple other hands to build up 3:1 CL, then lost a flip. Back to work, aggro here:

Hand #17593FCD57003228: DAILY $25K GUARANTEED!! - R&A
Seat 1: GILF*** (760592.00 in chips)
Seat 9: bzimzim (757908.00 in chips)
GILFHUNTER posts ante of 2,000
bzimzim posts ante of 2,000
GILF***: posts small blind 10,000
bzimzim: posts big blind 20,000
Dealt to bzimzim [ Ad Jd ]
ILF***: calls
bzimzim: raises to 60,000
GILF***: calls
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 6c 7h Qs ]
bzimzim: bets 70,000
GILF***: calls
# # # TURN # # # [ 9c ]
bzimzim: bets 150,000
GILF***: folds
bzimzim: returns uncalled bet 150,000

A couple things: I felt like I'd bet the flop and shut it down on the turn a couple times. I also had very rarely raised OOP pre, content not to build big pots out of position with marginal hands. So I think by representing the turn I'm really representing big and have a good chance to take it away. Always nice when it works.

Hitting flops helps, hard to smack it much harder than this:

Hand #17593FCD57003230: DAILY $25K GUARANTEED!! - R&A
Seat 1: GILF*** (671592.00 in chips)
Seat 9: bzimzim (846908.00 in chips)
GILFHUNTER posts ante of 2,000
bzimzim posts ante of 2,000
GILF***: posts small blind 10,000
bzimzim: posts big blind 20,000
Dealt to bzimzim [ Ks 9s ]
GILF***: raises to 55,000
bzimzim: calls
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ 9c 2s Ts ]
bzimzim: checks
GILF***: bets 75,000
bzimzim: raises to 200,000
GILF***: folds
bzimzim: returns uncalled bet 125,000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bzimzim: mucks
bzimzim wins 264,000

As always, I run good. Eventually he open shoved 500k with K high, I made the call with A high, and it held.

So it took about half the month to get going, but thanks to a ten day heater of about 14k over ten days I'm at about 12k for the month. Very solid. I'll take 12 every month no questions asked. Probably not too much play in me left this month, I feel like I've played a lot lately.

Cake Poker Disclaimer

So got a check from Cake Poker. I really don't think it's the first one they've sent me, but maybe in the past I've just done trades and cashed out from other sites. But I really thought I'd cashed out from them before. Anyway, I got a check from them today, after paying their ridiculous $35 charge so they can send it by courier (just drop it in the mail folks). Anyway, it came with this disclaimer:

"If this is your first affiliate payment, please note the following.

Some branches of some US banks seem to have difficulty with the format of the line of numbers at the bottom of the cheque/check. The cheque. check you received is drawn off a Canadian bank, but is in US funds (clearly marked on the cheque/check). The row of numbers will not be the same as a cheque/check drawn on a bank in the USA. We cannot change that information to match what a US bank would use (Ed: why not?)

The cheque/check is valid and your bank can process it. You may experience a delay between the time you deposit your cheque/check, and the time the funds appear in your account. It takes between 10 days and three weeks from the date a cheque/check is issued, for the funds to clear our bank.

We have in the past heard from clients who have had problems with their bank. You can request that they send the cheque/check via collections. This is a separate system than a usual deposit and it will take longer for your cheque/check to clear.

A few banks also appear to have issues with the dollar amount of the cheque/check, most do not. The cheques/checks are sent in complaince with FinTrac guidelines as set out by the Canadian Government. This is why you were asked to submit ID prior to the cheque/check being sent.

We are contract to send cheques/checks only. I do not have the option of sending money orders or wire transfers at this time.

If you have any further questions please send an email to xxxxx."

Well. That inspired a lot of confidence. What the hell is this, 2004? Online poker has been around awhile now. How is it that Cake Poker still hasn't figured out how to send checks?

Second of all, where did the first person come in? I? Who the fuck is I?

So yeah, could be fun times when I go to the bank tomorrow.

Add this to my life of complaints about Cake, this may not be a good omen for the night:

Hand #17583FA7CC000248: DAILY $20K GUARANTEED!!
Seat 1: nets*** (4730.00 in chips)
Seat 2: ILik*** (4865.00 in chips)
Seat 3: true*** (5330.00 in chips)
Seat 4: txkf*** (1765.00 in chips)
Seat 5: lulu*** (6225.00 in chips)
Seat 6: sqls*** (6532.00 in chips)
Seat 7: wall*** (5135.00 in chips)
Seat 8: bzimzim (5690.00 in chips)
Seat 9: Hot*** (4818.00 in chips)
Seat 10: yeve*** (4910.00 in chips)
nets***: posts small blind 15
ILik***: posts big blind 30
Dealt to bzimzim [ Qd Th ]
true***: calls
txkf***: calls
lulu***: calls
sqls***: folds
wall***: calls
bzimzim: calls
Hot***: calls
yeve***: folds
nets***: calls
ILik***: checks
@@@ F_L_O_P @@@ [ Jc Ac 9d ]
nets***: checks
ILik***: checks
true***: checks
txkf***: checks
lulu***: checks
wall***: checks
bzimzim: checks
Hot***: bets 240
nets***: folds
ILik***: folds
true***: calls
txkf***: folds
lulu***: calls
wall***: folds
bzimzim: calls
# # # TURN # # # [ 8s ]t
rue***: checks
lulu***: bets 1,000
bzimzim: is all in 5420.0000
Hot***: folds
true***: folds
lulu***: calls
bzimzim: shows Qd Th
lulu***: shows 9c 8c
&&& RIVER &&& [ 8h ]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
lulu*** wins 12,040 with Full House, Eights full of Nines

Should know not to get it in with the nuts like that. Whatever. Time to get to work.

30k Sniper Roller Coaster

Tournaments are always going to up and down affairs, but the 30k sniper I just played had more twists and turns then just about any tournament I can remember.

First a couple fun hands:
Stage #1418426636 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $150 - 2009-01-19 22:37:17 (ET)
Table: 35 (Real Money) Seat #1 is the dealer
Seat 1 - GOLDEN28 ($3047.50 in chips)
Seat 2 - JMAN0971 ($4430 in chips)
Seat 3 - BZIMZIM ($4290 in chips)
Seat 4 - T LAING ($5640 in chips)
Seat 5 - KIDPVP ($6190 in chips)
Seat 6 - JAMESOB51 ($1027.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - JOHNNY2912 ($1537.50 in chips)
Seat 8 - SPIN31 ($3710 in chips)
Seat 9 - MANSTHEMAN ($1315 in chips)
JMAN0971 - Posts small blind $75
BZIMZIM - Posts big blind $150
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [4s Ac]
T LAING - Folds
KIDPVP - Folds
JAMESOB51 - Folds
JOHNNY2912 - Folds
SPIN31 - Folds
MANSTHEMAN - Folds
GOLDEN28 - Folds
JMAN0971 - Raises $225 to $300
BZIMZIM - Calls $150
*** FLOP *** [6s 2c Qc]
JMAN0971 - Checks
BZIMZIM - Checks
*** TURN *** [6s 2c Qc] [7c]
JMAN0971 - Bets $300
BZIMZIM - Raises $900 to $900
JMAN0971 - Calls $600
*** RIVER *** [6s 2c Qc 7c] [Ks]
JMAN0971 - Bets $730
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $3090 to $3090
JMAN0971 - Folds (Fold & Show [Jh Qs])
BZIMZIM - returned ($2360) : not called
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Does not show
BZIMZIM Collects $3860 from main pot

Here after I get called on the turn I'm pretty sure he has a hand just like he ended up showing, and decide to represent big and blow up his pot control bet on the river. Risky but in this case profitable play.

This goes in "your read isn't as good as you think it is" category:

Stage #1418482838 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $200 - 2009-01-19 23:05:20 (ET)
Table: 35 (Real Money) Seat #2 is the dealer
Seat 1 - GOLDEN28 ($5185 in chips)
Seat 2 - ENDER555 ($6240 in chips)
Seat 3 - BZIMZIM ($5545 in chips)
Seat 4 - T LAING ($3365 in chips)
Seat 5 - KIDPVP ($5265 in chips)
Seat 6 - 47MABRY ($3567.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - JOHNNY2912 ($8250 in chips)
Seat 8 - MYLOJAMES ($9625 in chips)
Seat 9 - MANSTHEMAN ($4342.50 in chips)
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $100
T LAING - Posts big blind $200
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ks Js]
KIDPVP - Folds
47MABRY - Folds
JOHNNY2912 - Folds
MYLOJAMES - Folds
MANSTHEMAN - Folds
GOLDEN28 - Folds
ENDER555 - Raises $400 to $400
BZIMZIM - Calls $300
T LAING - Folds
*** FLOP *** [8c Jh 6h]
BZIMZIM - Checks
ENDER555 - Checks
*** TURN *** [8c Jh 6h] [Jd]
BZIMZIM - Bets $600
ENDER555 - Calls $600
*** RIVER *** [8c Jh 6h Jd] [Jc]
BZIMZIM - Bets $1800
ENDER555 - Calls $1800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ks Js] (Four of a kind, jacks)
ENDER555 - Mucks
BZIMZIM Collects $5800 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total Pot($5800)Board [8c Jh 6h Jd Jc]
Seat 1: GOLDEN28 Folded on the POCKET CARDS
Seat 2: ENDER555 (dealer) HI: [Mucked] [7h Ad]

My flat is a little unusual here, but I'd 3 bet Ender a couple times, and didn't want to get my chips in with K high if he just decided that he'd had enough. On the other hand I necessarily think he was that strong, though was a little wary of the min raise. If that all seems like contradictory logic, well, it probably is. Anyway, it just kept getting better, and ender tries to make an all-world call with the A high, putting me on some sort of busted draw. That didn't really work out.

Roller coaster time. First, good flop, ugly river:

Stage #1418502689 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $300 - 2009-01-19 23:15:53 (ET)
Table: 35 (Real Money) Seat #8 is the dealer
Seat 1 - GOLDEN28 ($5185 in chips)
Seat 2 - ENDER555 ($3440 in chips)
Seat 3 - BZIMZIM ($7745 in chips)
Seat 4 - T LAING ($3465 in chips)
Seat 5 - KIDPVP ($9282.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - JOHNNY2912 ($7800 in chips)
Seat 8 - MYLOJAMES ($10425 in chips)
Seat 9 - MANSTHEMAN ($4042.50 in chips)
MANSTHEMAN - Posts small blind $150
GOLDEN28 - Posts big blind $300
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ah 10s]
ENDER555 - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $800 to $800
T LAING - Calls $800
KIDPVP - Folds
JOHNNY2912 - Folds
MYLOJAMES - Folds
MANSTHEMAN - Folds
GOLDEN28 - Folds
*** FLOP *** [4s 6c Ad]
BZIMZIM - Bets $1200
T LAING - All-In(Raise) $2665 to $2665
BZIMZIM - Calls $1465
*** TURN *** [4s 6c Ad] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [4s 6c Ad 6h] [Kh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ah 10s] (Two Pair, aces and sixes)
T LAING - Shows [Ks Kd] (Full house, kings full of sixes)
T LAING Collects $7380 from main pot

Better river:

Stage #1418599316 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $600 - 2009-01-20 00:11:54 (ET)
Table: 31 (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 1 - BEATTRICE ($8573 in chips)
Seat 2 - DBLUPM0J ($8493 in chips)
Seat 3 - BPV ($26061 in chips)
Seat 4 - THE431TWOGO ($25496.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - WAWA711 ($7225 in chips)
Seat 7 - DNS1983 ($12372 in chips)
Seat 8 - PARTDEUX ($15532 in chips)
Seat 9 - BZIMZIM ($10210 in chips)
BEATTRICE - Ante $75
DBLUPM0J - Ante $75
BPV - Ante $75
THE431TWOGO - Ante $75
WAWA711 - Ante $75
DNS1983 - Ante $75
PARTDEUX - Ante $75
BZIMZIM - Ante $75
THE431TWOGO - Posts small blind $300
WAWA711 - Posts big blind $600
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ad 8s]
DNS1983 - Folds
PARTDEUX - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $10135 to $10135
BEATTRICE - All-In $8498
DBLUPM0J - Folds
BPV - Folds
THE431TWOGO - Folds
WAWA711 - Folds
BZIMZIM - returned ($1637) : not called
*** FLOP *** [3c Qs 10h]
*** TURN *** [3c Qs 10h] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [3c Qs 10h Jc] [Ah]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BEATTRICE - Shows [9s 9d] (One pair, nines)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ad 8s] (One pair, aces)
BZIMZIM Collects $18496 from main pot

Maybe a little light for that shove from that position 8 handed? I'm not sure about that one. Anyway, good catch.

Just posting this to taunt Deal:
Stage #1418643217 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $1000 - 2009-01-20 00:38:58 (ET)
Table: 38 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAGONDRAKE ($44410 in chips)
Seat 2 - BZIMZIM ($19639 in chips)
Seat 3 - UTTSNUTTS19 ($4556.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - SSBEATZ ($34724.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BLIZAIR ($20762 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOC_HENRY ($35233.50 in chips)
Seat 8 - DEALACE1 ($27111 in chips)
Seat 9 - PARLIGOD ($38357 in chips)
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $100
BZIMZIM - Ante $100
UTTSNUTTS19 - Ante $100
SSBEATZ - Ante $100
BLIZAIR - Ante $100
DOC_HENRY - Ante $100
DEALACE1 - Ante $100
PARLIGOD - Ante $100
DEALACE1 - Posts small blind $500
PARLIGOD - Posts big blind $1000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ac Qd]
DRAGONDRAKE - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $2550 to $2550
UTTSNUTTS19 - Folds
SSBEATZ - Calls $2550
BLIZAIR - Folds
DOC_HENRY - Folds
DEALACE1 - Raises $10000 to $10500
PARLIGOD - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $16989 to $19539
SSBEATZ - Folds
DEALACE1 - Calls $9039
*** FLOP *** [Qs Kh 9s]
*** TURN *** [Qs Kh 9s] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [Qs Kh 9s 9c] [Kd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ac Qd] (Two Pair, kings and queens)
DEALACE1 - Shows [10d As] (Two Pair, kings and nines)
BZIMZIM Collects $43428 from main pot

Deal picks an aggressive spot to 3 bet against my ep raise with the flatter in there for some extra change. I decide AQ is too good to fold and shove. I was a little surprised to see the AT. I'll remember that one Deal, haha.

Back in the ugly river category:

Stage #1418698237 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $1600 - 2009-01-20 01:16:33 (ET)
Table: 38 (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAGONDRAKE ($27138 in chips)
Seat 2 - BZIMZIM ($95218 in chips)
Seat 3 - BPV ($35372 in chips)
Seat 4 - SSBEATZ ($31924.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BLIZAIR ($34111 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOC_HENRY ($22133.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - TUMMO ($23619 in chips)
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $150
BZIMZIM - Ante $150
BPV - Ante $150
SSBEATZ - Ante $150
BLIZAIR - Ante $150
DOC_HENRY - Ante $150
TUMMO - Ante $150
SSBEATZ - Posts small blind $800
BLIZAIR - Posts big blind $1600
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ah Ad]
DOC_HENRY - Folds
TUMMO - Folds
DRAGONDRAKE - All-In(Raise) $26988 to $26988
BZIMZIM - Calls $26988
BPV - Folds
SSBEATZ - Folds
BLIZAIR - Folds
*** FLOP *** [10c Qh 2d]
*** TURN *** [10c Qh 2d] [Qc]
*** RIVER *** [10c Qh 2d Qc] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DRAGONDRAKE - Shows [9d 8d] (Straight, eight to queen)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ah Ad] (Two Pair, aces and queens)
DRAGONDRAKE Collects $57426 from main pot

From CL to short stack after I got spewy with 4s and spewy in general. Here 5 high is the nuts.

Stage #1418720901 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $2000 - 2009-01-20 01:34:13 (ET)
Table: 38 (Real Money) Seat #1 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAGONDRAKE ($56351 in chips)
Seat 2 - BZIMZIM ($23805.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - PARTDEUX ($93903 in chips)
Seat 4 - SSBEATZ ($58570.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BLIZAIR ($68872 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOC_HENRY ($56467 in chips)
Seat 7 - TUMMO ($10547 in chips)
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $200
BZIMZIM - Ante $200
PARTDEUX - Ante $200
SSBEATZ - Ante $200
BLIZAIR - Ante $200
DOC_HENRY - Ante $200
TUMMO - Ante $200
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $1000
PARTDEUX - Posts big blind $2000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [5h 4h]
SSBEATZ - Folds
BLIZAIR - Folds
DOC_HENRY - Folds
TUMMO - Folds
DRAGONDRAKE - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $22605.50 to $23605.50
PARTDEUX - Calls $21605.50
*** FLOP *** [Qd 7c 4d]
*** TURN *** [Qd 7c 4d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [Qd 7c 4d 7h] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [5h 4h] (Full house, fours full of sevens)
PARTDEUX - Shows [9c 10c] (Two Pair, sevens and fours)
BZIMZIM Collects $48611 from main pot

Hard to get it in pre much deader than this:

Stage #1418750578 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $3000 - 2009-01-20 01:58:08 (ET)
Table: 38 (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAGONDRAKE ($68151 in chips)
Seat 2 - BZIMZIM ($48461 in chips)
Seat 4 - SSBEATZ ($35978.50 in chips)
Seat 5 - BLIZAIR ($56922 in chips)
Seat 6 - DOC_HENRY ($163278 in chips)
Seat 7 - TUMMO ($24605.50 in chips)
Seat 8 - BELADONNA777 ($62703.50 in chips)
Seat 9 - FEEDMEMUNE ($100490 in chips)
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Ante $300
SSBEATZ - Ante $300
BLIZAIR - Ante $300
DOC_HENRY - Ante $300
TUMMO - Ante $300
BELADONNA777 - Ante $300
FEEDMEMUNE - Ante $300
BLIZAIR - Posts small blind $1500
DOC_HENRY - Posts big blind $3000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [10d 7h]
TUMMO - Folds
BELADONNA777 - Folds
FEEDMEMUNE - Folds
DRAGONDRAKE - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $48161 to $48161
SSBEATZ - Folds
BLIZAIR - Folds
DOC_HENRY - Calls $45161
*** FLOP *** [9s 3c 7c]
*** TURN *** [9s 3c 7c] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [9s 3c 7c 9c] [7d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [10d 7h] (Full house, sevens full of nines)
DOC_HENRY - Shows [10c 10h] (Two Pair, tens and nines)
BZIMZIM Collects $100222 from main pot

Hehe. That's a good one. This was more annoying, but hey, I didn't lose I suppose.

Stage #1418796675 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $6000 - 2009-01-20 02:48:18 (ET)
Table: 40 (Real Money) Seat #9 is the dealer
Seat 2 - FEEDMEMUNE ($215958.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - ONLINEPRONGP ($107805 in chips)
Seat 5 - DOC_HENRY ($139787.50 in chips)
Seat 6 - JOHNNY2912 ($128665.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - DRAGONDRAKE ($182557.50 in chips)
Seat 8 - BELADONNA777 ($32364 in chips)
Seat 9 - BZIMZIM ($149862 in chips)
FEEDMEMUNE - Ante $600
ONLINEPRONGP - Ante $600
DOC_HENRY - Ante $600
JOHNNY2912 - Ante $600
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $600
BELADONNA777 - Ante $600
BZIMZIM - Ante $600
FEEDMEMUNE - Posts small blind $3000
ONLINEPRONGP - Posts big blind $6000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ks Kh]
DOC_HENRY - Folds
JOHNNY2912 - Folds
DRAGONDRAKE - Folds
BELADONNA777 - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $15100 to $15100
FEEDMEMUNE - Folds
ONLINEPRONGP - All-In(Raise) $101205 to $107205
BZIMZIM - Calls $92105
*** FLOP *** [As 2h 3c]
*** TURN *** [As 2h 3c] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [As 2h 3c 5s] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ONLINEPRONGP - Shows [10d 9d] (Straight, ace to five)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ks Kh] (Straight, ace to five)
ONLINEPRONGP Collects $110805 from main pot
BZIMZIM Collects $110805 from main pot

Anyway, played fairly well at the final table. Then got to heads up, which ended up being a 113 hand battle. Played aggressively, made some good plays but made a few mistakes. And then this atrocity:

Stage #1418833827 Tourney ID 4039422 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $12000 - 2009-01-20 03:47:43 (ET)
Table: 40 (Real Money) Seat #9 is the dealer
Seat 7 - DRAGONDRAKE ($461781.50 in chips)
Seat 9 - BZIMZIM ($495218.50 in chips)
DRAGONDRAKE - Ante $1200
BZIMZIM - Ante $1200
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $6000
DRAGONDRAKE - Posts big blind $12000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Kc Ah]
BZIMZIM - Raises $24000 to $30000
DRAGONDRAKE - Calls $18000
*** FLOP *** [2d 4c 10d]
DRAGONDRAKE - Checks
BZIMZIM - Checks
*** TURN *** [2d 4c 10d] [Ad]
DRAGONDRAKE - Checks
BZIMZIM - Bets $36000
DRAGONDRAKE - Raises $110000 to $110000
BZIMZIM - Calls $74000
*** RIVER *** [2d 4c 10d Ad] [5c]
DRAGONDRAKE - Bets $180000
BZIMZIM - Calls $180000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DRAGONDRAKE - Shows [7d Qd] (Flush, ace high)
BZIMZIM - Mucks
DRAGONDRAKE Collects $642400 from main pot

Now against a certain kind of player, this is actually a perfectly defensible call, depending on the read. The problem is that dragon had played a fairly straight ahead game, and this line just screams giant hand. Particularly that river bet. My god, I hate that call so much. Hate it. Hate. I'm just so aghast with myself for my play here. I absolutely deserved to lose.

Soon after that, shoved 4s into 8s, nh, gg.

There was a quote from some entertainer (Janeane Garofalo) sometime that they stayed in the entertainment business because it provided the required "sheer depression and self-loathing" they needed. Sometimes I feel that way about poker.

At least the second place finish means I've actually made some money this month.

Inauguration Day

Barack Obama is now the President of the United States.

On a more bitter note, the absolute disastrous administration of George W. Bush has come to an end. In recent days, conservatives and Republican hacks have taken to writing columns about how history will look back and judge this President, and that his present popularity doesn't matter. Well, they're certainly right that history will judge this President. A President brought to power by a stolen election thanks to Katherine "if you have a similar name to a felon that's good enough to remove you from the rolls" Harris and an atrocious Supreme Court decision. A President who launched a war based on false pretenses. A President who had contempt for the law and liberty, while claiming to be acting in their defense. A President who brought ineptness in the federal government to an unprecedented level. A President that only looked out for his friends ("his base", he once "joked"). A President that authorized torture and rightfully earned the United States contempt around the world. Yes, conservative pundits and other hacks, history will look back and judge the Bush presidency. Be careful what you wish for.

I also reached the last page of my Bush quote-a-day calendar. The last quote was: "I hope you leave here and walk out and say, 'What did he say?'" Well played, Bush calendar. Well played.

On a more optimistic note, it's nice to know that our President is now a measured, intelligent, thoughtful human being. That's no guarantee of success, but it's certainly a nice start. I have higher hopes for this President then any in my lifetime. On the other hand, the other Presidents in my lifetime: Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II. Yikes. No wonder our country is in big trouble. But Obama was elected to bring change. His instinct, on the other hand, seems to be somewhat cautious. I just hope he isn't. Health care, Iraq, climate change, economic stimulus: go for it. Work with the Republicans, but don't be bipartisan just for the sake of being bipartisan. There are Democratic majorities for a reason. I hope he uses them. And follows my advice, because I'm sure the new President reads my poker blog, looking for potential political advice.

Also if the government was capable of performing basic tasks again, that would be nice too.

UBOC Main Event

I was trying a new thing yesterday called running good. It was a nice change of pace. Mostly it's been a pretty ugly month so far.

But if there was a time to start running good, the UBOC Main Event was as good a time as any. Just as it was starting to get interesting, top 20 chip stack with 75 left, it all came apart in four hands.

First, a three bet fold:

Stage #1416797850 Tourney ID 2118848 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $3000 - 2009-01-19 00:13:41 (ET)
Table: 62 (Real Money) Seat #4 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAWGANGSTA ($43290 in chips)
Seat 2 - CHICAGOCARDS1 ($41540 in chips)
Seat 3 - M3MENTOMORI ($87418.62 in chips)
Seat 4 - RETIREDAT30 ($54442.78 in chips)
Seat 5 - BRAINWASHER ($78427.72 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($99162 in chips)
Seat 7 - BOOTSWILD ($142432.18 in chips)
Seat 8 - PAPASMIRK ($33273.72 in chips)
Seat 9 - IMMAREALOG ($141182.85 in chips)
DRAWGANGSTA - Ante $300
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Ante $300
M3MENTOMORI - Ante $300
RETIREDAT30 - Ante $300
BRAINWASHER - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Ante $300
BOOTSWILD - Ante $300
PAPASMIRK - Ante $300
IMMAREALOG - Ante $300
BRAINWASHER - Posts small blind $1500
BZIMZIM - Posts big blind $3000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [9s Ac]
BOOTSWILD - Folds
PAPASMIRK - Folds
IMMAREALOG - Folds
DRAWGANGSTA - Folds
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Folds
M3MENTOMORI - Raises $7255 to $7255
RETIREDAT30 - Folds
BRAINWASHER - Folds
BZIMZIM - Raises $16500 to $19500
M3MENTOMORI - Raises $79745 to $87000
BZIMZIM - Folds
M3MENTOMORI - returned ($67500) : not called
*** SHOW DOWN ***
M3MENTOMORI - Does not show
M3MENTOMORI Collects $43200 from main pot

Meh. I'd three bet some, but hadn't been that active, this seemed like a good spot. After the shove, way behind any decent range, don't see how I can call unless I just think it's a play. Which it may have been I suppose. Whatever.

Very next hand, flip time:
Stage #1416800002 Tourney ID 2118848 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $3000 - 2009-01-19 00:15:05 (ET)
Table: 62 (Real Money) Seat #5 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAWGANGSTA ($42990 in chips)
Seat 2 - CHICAGOCARDS1 ($41240 in chips)
Seat 3 - M3MENTOMORI ($110818.62 in chips)
Seat 4 - RETIREDAT30 ($54142.78 in chips)
Seat 5 - BRAINWASHER ($76627.72 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($79362 in chips)
Seat 7 - BOOTSWILD ($142132.18 in chips)
Seat 8 - PAPASMIRK ($32973.72 in chips)
Seat 9 - IMMAREALOG ($140882.85 in chips)
DRAWGANGSTA - Ante $300
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Ante $300
M3MENTOMORI - Ante $300
RETIREDAT30 - Ante $300
BRAINWASHER - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Ante $300
BOOTSWILD - Ante $300
PAPASMIRK - Ante $300
IMMAREALOG - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $1500
BOOTSWILD - Posts big blind $3000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Jc Js]
PAPASMIRK - Folds
IMMAREALOG - Folds
DRAWGANGSTA - Folds
CHICAGOCARDS1 - All-In(Raise) $40940 to $40940
M3MENTOMORI - Folds
RETIREDAT30 - Folds
BRAINWASHER - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $77562 to $79062
BOOTSWILD - Folds
BZIMZIM - returned ($38122) : not called
*** FLOP *** [5s 2c Qh]
*** TURN *** [5s 2c Qh] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [5s 2c Qh Ks] [4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Shows [Kh Ac] (One pair, kings)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Jc Js] (One pair, jacks)
CHICAGOCARDS1 Collects $87580 from main pot

Since Chicagocards FT'd both this and the FT Sunday Brawl, I'd say he was running good that day.

Very next hand again, easy shove:
Stage #1416801263 Tourney ID 2118848 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $3000 - 2009-01-19 00:15:54 (ET)
Table: 62 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAWGANGSTA ($42690 in chips)
Seat 2 - CHICAGOCARDS1 ($87580 in chips)
Seat 3 - M3MENTOMORI ($110518.62 in chips)
Seat 4 - RETIREDAT30 ($53842.78 in chips)
Seat 5 - BRAINWASHER ($76327.72 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($38122 in chips)
Seat 7 - BOOTSWILD ($138832.18 in chips)
Seat 8 - PAPASMIRK ($32673.72 in chips)
Seat 9 - IMMAREALOG ($140582.85 in chips)
DRAWGANGSTA - Ante $300
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Ante $300
M3MENTOMORI - Ante $300
RETIREDAT30 - Ante $300
BRAINWASHER - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Ante $300
BOOTSWILD - Ante $300
PAPASMIRK - Ante $300
IMMAREALOG - Ante $300
BOOTSWILD - Posts small blind $1500
PAPASMIRK - Posts big blind $3000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [9s As]
IMMAREALOG - Folds
DRAWGANGSTA - Folds
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Folds
M3MENTOMORI - Folds
RETIREDAT30 - Folds
BRAINWASHER - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $37822 to $37822
BOOTSWILD - Folds
PAPASMIRK - Folds
BZIMZIM - returned ($34822) : not called
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Does not show
BZIMZIM Collects $10200 from main pot

And very next, and last, hand:
Stage #1416802274 Tourney ID 2118848 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $3000 - 2009-01-19 00:16:34 (ET)
Table: 62 (Real Money) Seat #7 is the dealer
Seat 1 - DRAWGANGSTA ($42390 in chips)
Seat 2 - CHICAGOCARDS1 ($87280 in chips)
Seat 3 - M3MENTOMORI ($110218.62 in chips)
Seat 4 - RETIREDAT30 ($53542.78 in chips)
Seat 5 - BRAINWASHER ($76027.72 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($45022 in chips)
Seat 7 - BOOTSWILD ($137032.18 in chips)
Seat 8 - PAPASMIRK ($29373.72 in chips)
Seat 9 - IMMAREALOG ($140282.85 in chips)
DRAWGANGSTA - Ante $300
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Ante $300
M3MENTOMORI - Ante $300
RETIREDAT30 - Ante $300
BRAINWASHER - Ante $300
BZIMZIM - Ante $300
BOOTSWILD - Ante $300
PAPASMIRK - Ante $300
IMMAREALOG - Ante $300
PAPASMIRK - Posts small blind $1500
IMMAREALOG - Posts big blind $3000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Qc Kc]
DRAWGANGSTA - Folds
CHICAGOCARDS1 - Folds
M3MENTOMORI - Folds
RETIREDAT30 - Folds
BRAINWASHER - Raises $7300 to $7300
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $44722 to $44722
BOOTSWILD - Folds
PAPASMIRK - Folds
IMMAREALOG - Folds
BRAINWASHER - Calls $37422
*** FLOP *** [4h 3h 2s]
*** TURN *** [4h 3h 2s] [9s]
*** RIVER *** [4h 3h 2s 9s] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BRAINWASHER - Shows [As Ks] (Flush, ace high)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Qc Kc] (king high)
BRAINWASHER Collects $96644 from main pot

Brain had been playing pretty aggressively, I don't see how this isn't a shove really. Ran into a big one instead. What can you do.

Back to work tonight.

Goals for 2009

Well with one full year as a poker player in the books, and a fairly successful one at that, time to focus on what I want to accomplish here in the new year.

1) Make 100k

First goal is monetary. I'm somewhat hesitant to make monetary goals, since some of that is out of my hands, in terms of how I run in spots where I can hit big cashes. On the other hand, a year is really a long enough time span that some of those breaks are going to even out. Plus after making 86k last year, 100k seems doable. Especially if I meet the other goals on this list. I'm a long way from my thinking at the beginning of last year, when I was sure I could make 50k but wasn't sure what would really happen beyond that.

2) Focus on improving as a player

Well, there's a lot to cover here. I've gotten exceeding lazy in terms of my own development as a player. In some ways that's not that surprising, since, well, I don't like to work that hard. Unfortunately that's bad for my aspirations as a poker player. So let's list the things I should be doing more:
a) Go over more hand histories, analyze where I think I'm making mistakes
I can't remember the last time I looked at one of my own hand histories. That's sad.
b) Get PT running again
My PT2 stopped working on Stars, I'm getting some sort of error message. Never got it fixed. Also got PT3, haven't even got it set up. Good work Brian. You are lazy. It doesn't help that I don't know anything about computers, so I tend to just throw up my hands (figuratively) and give up.
c) Training sites?
Have never had a subscription to any of the training sites, would probably be worth my time to figure out how other good players are thinking.
d) Better fundamental understand of the math involved
Involves putting opponents on ranges and being able to more precisely figure shove/fold situations when high blinds. Also need to improve at playing unexploitably.
e) Maintain better focus while playing
Less TV, more background music, since that's less distracting. Also the nights I'm having, say, glass of wine number four/five/six, maybe I shouldn't be doing that. Just a thought.
Wow I look at this list and it's a wonder I win at all. Anyway.

3) Volume, volume, volume

Improved on this toward the end of the year. Obviously need work/life balance, and I don't play much on the weekends (although I'd like to play some more Sundays actually in order to play majors). So the time I'm taking off is fine. Just want to be running at full speed if I am planning. Been much better recently that if I'm playing, I'm getting 4 or 5 tables going. Still not prepared to be one of those people that plays 13 at a time, I can't think that fast.

4) Play more live

Every time I got play live, I enjoy myself, and think I need to be doing that more. Yet I rarely go. It makes no sense.

Also my live game sucks. I mean, I usually just donk around at 1/2 NL, so I'm obviously fine there. But I'm terrible at reading people. And for some reason I still get nervous playing around people I don't know. Which is ridiculous. But whatever. I've got room for life growth.

Also on the live front, I'd really like to play some more live tournaments, as opposed to when I just go donk around for fun. Need to check out see if Gary/Hammond have any good size tournaments, or if there are some other casinos in driving distance doing the same. Speaking of live tourneys...

5) Play more qualifiers for big live events

I have a couple weddings to go to this summer, so depending on when the WSOP Main Event is, I may be out regardless. But whether it's circuit events, WPT events or just other big buyin events, I'd like to play some more qualifiers and play one. It's about time.

So there we go. Let's see how many of those things I actually accomplish.

Played all yesterday. Won qualifier for UBOC main event on the 18th. Otherwise nothing much good, two outed for 9th in FT $55 1r1a. That was about it. Not a useful day.

Year Wrap

Let's wrap this up.

Month: $11,000 (11 grand even, seriously)

Year: $85,832

There it is. Come get me IRS. Also, fuck you guys.

I'll have more on goals coming up for this year. First day of work tomorrow.

Christmas Bonus

Merry Christmas to all blog readers. One day late anyway. I know that some of the people from the poker forum actually read this thing, and I've talked to enough other random people to know that there is a group of people that actually read this thing. For whatever reason. So Merry Christmas.

I was in Lansing yesterday, but left to get back to Chicago since I had a wedding to go to tomorrow. So with nothing else to do on Christmas night, fired up a few poker tournaments, finished 2nd in the AP 30r. Truthfully I wasn't really even paying that close of attention to it until there were about 30 people left, but clearly I run good. The level of play in the AP 30r was pretty atrocious last night. My favorite was the guy who being determined to take a stand in the bb against the big stack, called off half his stack with 52o. And then flopped three deuces. WP sir.

But otherwise I continue to run good for the month of December, up about 11 grand or so at the moment. I'm not sure if I'm done for the year or if I'll try to sneak in one more day on Sunday. On Monday I'm flying down to Florida, and hanging out for the week with my parents and grandfather. In an RV. That's going to be an adventure.

Something that occurred to me last night after I made a particularly horrific river bluff after betting the turn: I need to learn when to slow down when I've taken a shot at the pot that hasn't worked. Particuarly when the range of hands that are calling on the turn and folding on the river is particularly low, which was the case last night. Felt I was better than the player I played against last night, but that one bluff really cost me. Still, even with high blinds, tried to play small ball, gradually chip up, and as a result had chip lead when we got it in for a tournament defining flip for most of the chips. Which I lost. 2nd it is.

That's it for now. Year wrap up to come, as well as goals for next year. There will be many.

Last Full Day?

With my travel/holiday/wedding schedule upcoming, today is probably my last full day of poker of the year.

It certainly won't be my last day, I'm sure I'll sneak in some tourneys here and there, especially when I'm at home. But I'm playing from now until I get busted out of the nightly tournies today. Snuck into always donktastic Cake 30r just now, many more to come.

It'd be nice to go out on a good note, not a "I played all day and I'm down a grand" note.

Ah So Close

Finished 12th in the Stars Nightly Hundred Grand a few nights ago. Finished 4th in the Cake 109 last night when I was the CL four handed. Ah being a multi player is a life of prepetual disappoinment. Except for those times when you feel really good.

The Cake end result was annoying. I was just rolling along, there was another fairly aggro player with the second big stack, but he was on my right, and I was occasionally three betting him with air essentially. Then there were two short stacks. Then ran QQ into KK into the other big stack. Now he's got about 500K chips, I've got 100K chips, and the two short stacks have about 50k. At this point, it takes on a little bit of a SNG dynamic, and I'm looking to raise the short stacks with anything decent and stay out of the big stacks way. It was another 1600 I think if I could move up to second, and only 1000 more for first. That may not be exactly right, but it's close. But I pick up 77 utg and 3k/6k, decide that's too good to just fold outright because I'm really only afraid of the big stack picking up a hand. Who of course had JJ. Sigh.

I think that tilted me a bit, because I played a little loose the rest of the night. Ah well. Still having a pretty good month overall.

Snow has totally taken over Chicago. I'm enjoying it really. I don't even mind that it's cold.

Ship 20K, Other Thoughts

Shipped 20K DS on Monday to get the month going. Some hands.

Stage #1349647478 Tourney ID 2111543 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $4000 - 2008-12-09 01:16:43 (ET)
Table: 7 (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 1 - MRQUIETSTRM ($81830.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - WAWA711 ($152343.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - CMB8757 ($243535.25 in chips)
Seat 5 - IMPROVED ($127797.75 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($80146 in chips)
Seat 7 - DZ00NUTS ($219343 in chips)
Seat 8 - SPUNKMONKEYB ($60004 in chips)
MRQUIETSTRM - Ante $400
WAWA711 - Ante $400
CMB8757 - Ante $400
IMPROVED - Ante $400
BZIMZIM - Ante $400
DZ00NUTS - Ante $400
SPUNKMONKEYB - Ante $400
CMB8757 - Posts small blind $2000
IMPROVED - Posts big blind $4000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Qc Qh]
BZIMZIM - Raises $10100 to $10100
DZ00NUTS - Calls $10100
SPUNKMONKEYB - Folds
MRQUIETSTRM - Folds
WAWA711 - Folds
CMB8757 - Folds
IMPROVED - Folds
*** FLOP *** [Qd 8d 8s]
BZIMZIM - Bets $16000
DZ00NUTS - Calls $16000
*** TURN *** [Qd 8d 8s] [4s]
BZIMZIM - Checks
DZ00NUTS - Bets $8000
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $53646 to $53646
DZ00NUTS - Calls $45646
*** RIVER *** [Qd 8d 8s 4s] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Shows [Qc Qh] (Full house, queens full of eights)
DZ00NUTS - Shows [Qs 8c] (Full house, eights full of queens)
BZIMZIM Collects $168292 from main pot

DZ is a AP tourney regular, but he was doing this a lot where he was calling preflop with a lot of marginal hands in this tourney, flatting from the button from 76o and the like. I remember him calling a little more playing against him before, but nothing like this. I'm not sure what he was doing frankly. And then of course the flop was absolutely filthy. But these are the moments you need in tournaments to win them.

Stage #1349656817 Tourney ID 2111543 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $4000 - 2008-12-09 01:25:40 (ET)
Table: 7 (Real Money) Seat #3 is the dealer
Seat 1 - MRQUIETSTRM ($65030.50 in chips)
Seat 3 - WAWA711 ($287262 in chips)
Seat 4 - CMB8757 ($241535.25 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($261322 in chips)
Seat 7 - DZ00NUTS ($109850.25 in chips)
MRQUIETSTRM - Ante $400
WAWA711 - Ante $400
CMB8757 - Ante $400
BZIMZIM - Ante $400
DZ00NUTS - Ante $400
CMB8757 - Posts small blind $2000
BZIMZIM - Posts big blind $4000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [As 8h]
DZ00NUTS - Folds
MRQUIETSTRM - Folds
WAWA711 - Raises $12000 to $12000
CMB8757 - Folds
BZIMZIM - Calls $8000
*** FLOP *** [2c 6c 4h]
BZIMZIM - Checks
WAWA711 - Bets $16000
BZIMZIM - Calls $16000
*** TURN *** [2c 6c 4h] [Ad]
BZIMZIM - Checks
WAWA711 - Bets $36000
BZIMZIM - Calls $36000
*** RIVER *** [2c 6c 4h Ad] [Kh]
BZIMZIM - Checks
WAWA711 - Bets $52000
BZIMZIM - Calls $52000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
WAWA711 - Shows [Qd 5d] (ace high)
BZIMZIM - Shows [As 8h] (One pair, aces)
BZIMZIM Collects $236000 from main pot

Speaking of the moments you need in tournaments, you have to have the one hand where the other guy calls you a donkey. Haha. Wawa had been raising a lot from the button, so I feel like I'm ahead of his range, so decide to flat here, which I like to do some with a variety of hands (suited connectors, medium strength hands like this one, monsters) once we get shorthanded. The call on the flop was what I took crap for. I felt like there was a good chance I was good, given how I perceived his range preflop, but didn't want to unleash a c/r, cause what am I representing on that board? So I call, wanting to see what he'll do on the air, and willing to c/r with air if I feel like I can take it away. Instead the A pops off the turn. Now I feel like I'm good, obviously, easy check and call for value, plus I want to control the pot in case I have run into a better ace. The river may be a value bet, bet there's certainly no folding as soft as I've played the hand. Ship.

Stage #1349675522 Tourney ID 2111543 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $5000 - 2008-12-09 01:44:16 (ET)
Table: 7 (Real Money) Seat #6 is the dealer
Seat 3 - WAWA711 ($107331.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - CMB8757 ($361396.25 in chips)
Seat 6 - BZIMZIM ($496272.25 in chips)
WAWA711 - Ante $500
CMB8757 - Ante $500
BZIMZIM - Ante $500
WAWA711 - Posts small blind $2500
CMB8757 - Posts big blind $5000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Qc Kd]
BZIMZIM - Raises $12600 to $12600
WAWA711 - Folds
CMB8757 - Raises $37200 to $42200
BZIMZIM - Calls $29600
*** FLOP *** [Jh 8s 6h]
CMB8757 - Bets $55000
BZIMZIM - Raises $135000 to $135000
CMB8757 - Folds
BZIMZIM - returned ($80000) : not called
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BZIMZIM - Does not show
BZIMZIM Collects $198400 from main pot

I've been raising from the button wide. I expect to get 3 bet decently wide. I find a hand I can call with here with KQ and take a flop in position. I raise here with air, er, two overs, and obviously I've gotten myself in big trouble if he shoved. But he knows I'm priced in with a draw and can't make me fold. Basically if he reshoves, the only thing I can think about folding is total air. So in a sort of reverse thinking, that actually makes him more likely to fold I think. And to shove here, he really needs an overpair a J, or maybe second pair or a mid pp if he just doesn't believe me at all and puts me on a draw. Basically I think he has to fold a lot of his wide three bet range here. And I just didn't read strength. And there's a good difference between second and third and he's still got a good deal of chips on the short stack if he folds. So overall it's a good play. I think. That was my reasoning behind the move anyway. Worked that time.

From there mostly cruised to first place. Needed that to get going after I didn't play much the first week of the month. I didn't even have anything going on except I was sick. I remember playing on the first Monday of the month and at one point thinking, wow, I'm playing terrible. So it was a light week. I played big days Monday and Tuesday this week, and I'll get in a full night session tonight. Second half of the month will be much busier, so trying to get hours in now. For the moment up 5500 for the month. Let's see if I can get it going tonight.

I'm on the Northwestern football mailing list, because I bought tickets to the Ohio State game through them once. They're going to the Valero Alamo Bowl to play Missouri, and the email I got says the Alamo Bowl: "For all the glory." I can promise Northwestern that there's no glory in the Alamo Bowl. Also they're probably going to lose.

An ESPN columnist wrote another "this is a big bowl season for the Big 10" column. It's true to a degree, because every bowl season becomes a measuring stick of the conferences. But why just us? It isn't a big bowl season for the horrid Pac-10, awful Big East or the consistently medicore at best ACC? Why don't those conferences have to prove anything? For that matter, if Ole Miss is the third best team in the SEC, they weren't really that great either. Whatever. Meanwhile, the top two teams in the Big Ten play the two best teams in the country that aren't in the title game. Yeah I'm not optimistic.

Time to go to work.

November Wrap

Not bad at all for a light volume month.

Month: +$5438

Year: $74,832

Now just have to close the year out strong, and I feel like I've succeeded for the year. Look Ma, I can make it as a poker player and all that. I was still somewhat disappointed in the showings I had at final tables this month, I was one breakthrough away from having a significantly better month. I still feel like I'm due for a big cash here at some point.

I was playing the Cake 30r, as I often do, and RespectMGame, who's a tourney regular there, said hi and actually knew my name. I can't remember if I told him (that I can recall) or if he got it from some other source. Or if I know him from another site. Hmm. Interesting.

It appears I was jumping the gun a little bit on the death of some of those AP tourneys. The nooner 20r returned after only one day, apparently by popular demand. The $109 at 10:30 is gone though, I always ran well in that tournament. Also gone are the $55s that I couldn't turn down just because they were free money cause the play was so horrific.

Obama just introducted Hilary as Secretary of State. It looks like reaching out, when in reality he now totally controls her destiny. It's brilliant. He's proven his politically savvy; now I just hope he has the will to pursue a liberal agenda aggressively.

Ohio State basketball starts for real this week with Miami (FL) and Notre Dame. Football team should get a BCS bid. Lakers are rolling. The Bengals are an embarassment to the sport of football.

Back to Chicago today, sometime, hopefully when it stops snowing.

The Death of AP

Four years ago I put 30 bucks on a little site called Absolute Poker. Somehow that took me down a path to where I now play poker for a living. AP died today, and will be missed.

Of course that's not really quite right, it's combining with Ultimate Bet to form Cereus. Annoying note number 1: instead of just combining our accounts, we have to pick a new sn for our UB account. I picked bzimzimm. I'm clever. But then, since I only had about 2 grand in there anyway, I promptly withdrew all the money from it save about two dollars, and I'll just use my AP account as my Cereus account. I just don't think I could part with the Ohio State logo I've had up for about three years, and the random hecklers it brings out.

One way AP does seem to be dying is that Cereus seems to be adopting what is primarily the UB tournament schedule. Today I woke up and there was no 20r at noon (11 ct). It was kind of sad. This was the defining hand from the last AP 20r ever:

Stage #1328615593 Tourney ID 2112826 Holdem Multi Normal Tournament No Limit $1000 - 2008-11-24 14:30:35 (ET)
Table: 15 (Real Money) Seat #7 is the dealer
Seat 1 - TCB21 ($11785 in chips)
Seat 2 - MIKECHR23 ($16155 in chips)
Seat 3 - EMPHORROR ($18673.50 in chips)
Seat 4 - CARWA78 ($8515 in chips)
Seat 5 - JP106623 ($17275 in chips)
Seat 6 - SHUNYOK ($45697.50 in chips)
Seat 7 - DOUBLET8 ($45585 in chips)
Seat 8 - BZIMZIM ($11565 in chips)
Seat 9 - BILLCARD15 ($9947.50 in chips)
TCB21 - Ante $100
MIKECHR23 - Ante $100
EMPHORROR - Ante $100
CARWA78 - Ante $100
JP106623 - Ante $100
SHUNYOK - Ante $100
DOUBLET8 - Ante $100
BZIMZIM - Ante $100
BILLCARD15 - Ante $100
BZIMZIM - Posts small blind $500
BILLCARD15 - Posts big blind $1000
*** POCKET CARDS ***
Dealt to BZIMZIM [Ac Qh]
TCB21 - Folds
MIKECHR23 - Folds
EMPHORROR - Folds
CARWA78 - All-In(Raise) $8415 to $8415
JP106623 - Folds
SHUNYOK - Folds
DOUBLET8 - Folds
BZIMZIM - All-In(Raise) $10965 to $11465
BILLCARD15 - Folds
BZIMZIM - returned ($3050) : not called
*** FLOP *** [8s 2d 9s]
*** TURN *** [8s 2d 9s] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [8s 2d 9s Js] [3s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CARWA78 - Shows [Ad 8d] (One pair, eights)
BZIMZIM - Shows [Ac Qh] (ace high)
CARWA78 Collects $18730 from main pot

So it goes.

Otherwise having an ok month, I've been playing a lot when I have time so it hasn't been quite as low a volume as I feared I might be. I was CL at FT of Stars 20 1r1a yesterday and finished sixth. I continue to run bad (play bad?) at final tables. Played a big pot with AQs on A64 flop with flush draw as well, other guy had set. Still wondering if I should have slowed down a bet, we were sort of deep, and I felt like I was up against a set. Meh, I don't know. Here's a good read I made to get the CL in the first place.

PokerStars Game #22335974289: Tournament #122500787, $20+$2 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIX (3000/6000) - 2008/11/24 19:19:11 ET
Table '122500787 38' 9-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: DibicDave (173256 in chips)
Seat 2: achillezzzzz (143861 in chips)
Seat 4: JJ_69UK (329612 in chips)
Seat 5: Ice B (301513 in chips)
Seat 6: Snabel_Tann (67486 in chips)
Seat 7: GrandPrixGT (85025 in chips)
Seat 8: bzimzim (507924 in chips)
Seat 9: larryc123 (119928 in chips)
DibicDave: posts the ante 600
achillezzzzz: posts the ante 600
JJ_69UK: posts the ante 600
Ice B: posts the ante 600
Snabel_Tann: posts the ante 600
GrandPrixGT: posts the ante 600
bzimzim: posts the ante 600
larryc123: posts the ante 600
Ice B: posts small blind 3000
Snabel_Tann: posts big blind 6000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bzimzim [As Ts]
GrandPrixGT: folds
bzimzim: raises 9100 to 15100
larryc123: folds
DibicDave: folds
achillezzzzz: folds
JJ_69UK: calls 15100
Ice B: folds
Snabel_Tann: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jd Qh Ad]
bzimzim: bets 24000
JJ_69UK: calls 24000
*** TURN *** [Jd Qh Ad] [6h]
bzimzim: checks
JJ_69UK: checks
*** RIVER *** [Jd Qh Ad 6h] [4h]
bzimzim: bets 36000
JJ_69UK: raises 253912 to 289912 and is all-in
bzimzim: calls 253912
*** SHOW DOWN ***
JJ_69UK: shows [Jh Ks] (a pair of Jacks)
bzimzim: shows [As Ts] (a pair of Aces)
bzimzim collected 671824 from pot

I'd be playing with that guy for awhile, had a read on him pretty good and thought the odds he was making a move were very high. Just couldn't put him on a hand unless he backdoored that flush.

I've been running good just donking around four tabling 1/2 NL cash, been an easy way to make a couple quick hundred. Think I may start throwing in an hour or two of cash before I start playing tournaments for the day, both for some easy money and to improve cash game skills.

So I set up an account on Doyle's Room but apparently they won't let me access it because I'm in Illinois. I don't know if Illinois has some specific law that makes them more cautious, but I haven't heard anything about it or had any problems on any other sites. That's an interesting red flag with the regulations coming out for the anti-online gaming law, I don't know if those two are related.

42-7 is a beautiful score. My God Michigan is a horrible football team though. Just awful.

Another work day today before I head to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving via Lansing. RIP AP rebuys.

I Run Like a God on AP

FT of both 30r and 8k last night. The 8k only had 66 people, so a little overlay, which is nice. Unfortunately that tourney keeps shrinking field-wise. I worry that AP will keep making the guarantee smaller or just do away with it altogether at some point. There used to be a $109 4.5K on AP 1 ct, the field was so small it almost wasn't worth playing, since it was mostly AP regulars without your usual AP mix of total donkeys.

Ended up heads up with foolishgolf in 8k, had 2:1 CL, aipf two hands in a row, 77>99 and TT>AK. Ah well, foolish is a nice guy. Also I'm a lot less annoyed if I got two outed then when I play badly, as I did at a couple FTs earlier this month.

Ran like crap everywhere else yesterday, couldn't win a flip on any other site to save my life.

Up 2100 for the month, now I have to try to find time to play for the rest of the month.

Very Annoying Bubbles/Some Terrible Play

So this is an entry I was going to write before I went to Middletown, but never got to it. Before I left, I was in the Stars Super Tuesday, right before the bubble when this happened:


PokerStars Game #21206295502: Tournament #113525268, $1000+$50 Hold'em No Limit - Level XII (500/1000) - 2008/10/14 23:55:40 ET
Table '113525268 6' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: gregior (9783 in chips)
Seat 2: BabyGrand (13111 in chips)
Seat 3: g0lfa (77699 in chips)
Seat 5: HopeUfold (7675 in chips)
Seat 6: poker_lord76 (18432 in chips)
Seat 7: ael1979 (7444 in chips)
Seat 8: bzimzim (36961 in chips)
gregior: posts the ante 100
BabyGrand: posts the ante 100
g0lfa: posts the ante 100
HopeUfold: posts the ante 100
poker_lord76: posts the ante 100
ael1979: posts the ante 100
bzimzim: posts the ante 100
ael1979: posts small blind 500
bzimzim: posts big blind 1000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to bzimzim [Ac Ks]
gregior: folds
BabyGrand: folds
g0lfa: raises 1355 to 2355
HopeUfold: folds
poker_lord76: folds
ael1979: folds
bzimzim: raises 5255 to 7610
g0lfa: raises 69989 to 77599 and is all-in
bzimzim: calls 29251 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (40738) returned to g0lfa
*** FLOP *** [6c Js 7h]
*** TURN *** [6c Js 7h] [3h]
*** RIVER *** [6c Js 7h 3h] [8c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bzimzim: shows [Ac Ks] (high card Ace)
g0lfa: shows [Qs Qc] (a pair of Queens)
g0lfa collected 74922 from pot

And out for 46th and the bubble.

Obviously, this is extremely annoying on several levels. First, I'd qualified in, so the $1200 for 45th meant something to me, as opposed to normally where I don't care at all if I bubble out playing to win. I had a top ten stack at the time of this pot, so it was unexpected for sure. Would have had a top three stack if I'd won the flip though. With 70K for first, that woulda been a good flip to win.

The hand itself was interesting, because the chip leader opened, and I expected to be able to take it away fairly easily with the 3 bet. Instead he just shoved. Well that caught me be surprise. But I wondered if it was because he thought I was 3 betting weak because he'd been opening so much. In the end he showed down a real hand, nh, gg.

I can't seem to find the HH, but I flipped for another top 3 stack with AK in the UB 80k the next day, K on flop, T on river against TT. Out in 42nd and another bubble (well practically). That was just annoying. Only 20k for first in that one, but still, I win too many flips in small tourneys. I'd trade them for a few in a row in a big tourney. Been awhile for me and a big score.

Since being back from the Obama victory, I've been at a couple final tables and played horrifically. Played terrible at AP 30r a few nights ago, 4 betting 8s into QQ pre. Then I was big CL three handed in Cake 25r the other day, and managed to finish third, with some plays I'm too embarassed to even type. Not exactly taking advantange of my opportunities this month. Pretty annoyed at myself.

Back to work tonight.

October Wrap

This month pretty much redefined a "low volume" month, compared to all the other months that were low volume months. I didn't play at all after October 16. For that matter I've only played one day so far this month. That'll change today. But at least for October, I wasn't being lazy, I was helping to save my country. So that's a pretty good reason.

Month: +$2239

Year: +$69,394

Trying to crank it up the rest of this month, but I'll be out of town this weekend to Champaign, then probably to Columbus the week after for the last two Ohio State games. No excuse not to finish 10-2, with a BCS bowl being extremely likely if that happens. Also go Sparty. Anyway, then I'll be travelling to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving, so I'm going to have to take it while I can get it on poker this month. Maybe I'll just ship the Super Tuesday or something and call it a month. But barring a big score (which is always possible), it looks like the 100 grand goal I once proclaimed is looking more like a long shot. Ah well. I do need to spend more effort on improving my game though.

Work day today and tomorrow. MSNBC is on in the background, and told me that when Bush and Obama meet today, there will be some "joshing around". I remember why I don't watch news networks now.