I've gotten busy and distracted lately and just haven't found time to post. Quick updates, I'm still running and playing meh in NL. I think I have some leaks in full ring and I need to table select better at 6max, but I've also been coolered and sucked out on a lot this month. I'm running at least 1.5k below equity, and had KK run into AA at least 5 times between NL200 and NL600 (not to mention the many times I've had QQ run in KK). I've also been experimenting with 12 tabling full ring NL200, but without much success. I think I'm trying to play too LAGGY and not giving the nitty regs enough credit. Even though I'm playing 12 tables I find myself playing a 20/14 style which is fairly LAG for full ring.
But, I still have limit. Of which I think my game is really really solid. I've been finding more and more spots to play looser and more aggressive, and I've found myself playing a consistent 33/25 style all month. I've definitely been running good, but I also feel like I've been really playing well. I do think that I have been a bit of a SD monkey in a few spots when it was very unlikely that my hand was good. But I think if you are going to err on one side or the other you are better off being a SD monkey than folding too much.
I've also been finding some good spots to bluff lately in limit when I likely would have given up on the pot before. Here was a hand that I thought I played well yesterday:
Absolute Poker
Limit Holdem Ring game
Limit: $15/$30
6 players
Pre-flop: (6 players) Hero is BB with jc 7h
3 folds, Button raises, SB folds, Hero calls.
Flop: ah qs 2d (4.67SB, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button checks.
Turn: ad (2.33BB, 2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button folds.
Uncalled bets: 1BB returned to Hero.
Results:
Final pot: 4.33BB
This guy was an aggressive TAG/LAGTAG and we had been going at it on 3 different tables for several hundred hands. He had definitely seen me make some loose and spewy plays, but he also definitely had respect for my raises on big streets. My defense is pretty standard, and I was planning on c/f'ing the flop. But when he checks behind his hand reeks of KJ, KT, or a small pkt pair that didn't want to get c/r'd and wanted to SD. The turn bet is super suspicious because he would never check back with either an A or a Q on the flop, so when he bets the turn I know he either has total air and is bluffing, or he is trying to charge 6 outers with K-high or a small pair and then check behind on the river. I decide that if I c/r him on the turn he can only call me down with Qx or KK, and I really think he would have bet either one of those on the flop.
Plus I can c/r the turn and credibly rep an A. I would have c/r'd the flop with any A, and if he checked back I would probably check the turn again to try and pick off a bluff or c/r the turn with an A. It is also very likely that I would c/r the turn with any Qx since he pretty much never has an A after taking that line. So if I bluff the turn I can very credibly rep a strong hand.
So I make a c/r and he mucks it. He certainly could have been folding a worse hand, but I can't just call down and see him turn over K-high. Also I think he folds 33-88 enough that my bluff definitely has value.
baseball has been going so-so. My workouts are great. I'm getting stronger, leaner, and in all around better shape. But my throwing has been a little dissappointing. My fastball control has been a mixed bag. Sometimes really good and sometimes not so great. My splitter has been dropping like crazy, but I'm struggling at times to throw it for strikes. I probably have 2.5 months at the max before I tryout, and I need to make a lot of progress. I was hoping to tryout sooner, but I think it would be smarter to wait until I feel like I'm at my best.
When I have details about my tryouts I'll definitely post them on here. Also checkout the coaching forum on http://www.chiptalk.net/. We are having a Feb, bankroll challenge for micro players, and the winner gets a free coaching lesson from yours truly or the very skilled jojobinks.
Here's the link: http://www.chiptalk.net/forum/poker-coaching-jojobinks-themightyjim2k/45544-chiptalk-net-february-bankroll-challenge.html#post698811
looking forward to rooting for the Pats this sunday in the super bowl, but more importantly we are only a week away from Duke-UNC round 1. I think UNC is definitely a favorite on their home court. But our speed, depth, and ball-handling gives us a chance against anyone. I'm hoping that if things go well we will be 7-0 in ACC play heading into that game, which should only add to the excitement. Needless to say I'll be acting like a fool and jumping and screaming in my apt while I root on the Devils.
Also I'm thinking about picking up a laptop for poker use while traveling. If anyone has any suggestions about a relatively cheap one that is dependable, sturdy, has decent battery life, and good size screen let me know. My budget ranges from $300-1k, but I'd like to not spend more than $600. I really want to be able to have all of my PT data and stuff available when I travel, plus I think it would be nice to get out of the apartment some afternoons and go play other places.
thats all for now.
see you on the tables.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Holy Crap! I ran good at NL!!!!!
Finally got some cards, hit some pairs and draws, and even won a flip tonight. Made a cool $1.15k playing NL200 over 775 hands. Thats right folks, 6 buy-ins in less than 800 hands. A nice 75 bb/100 (or 37 ptbb/100). sustainable? prolly not. However I was certainly due for a hot streak. I'm still down quite a bit in NL for the month, but I'm at least well into the plus side overall.
I'm also only 3 buy-ins away from letting myself take shots at NL400 again. I promised myself that I wouldn't take shots until I had won 10 buy-ins at NL200. I needed the confidence booster, and to make sure I was playing fundamentally sound poker. Plus I knew by the time that happened I would be back in the black for the month and the losses (which they always happen) at the higher stakes wouldn't bother me as much.
I looked for some interesting hands that I played, but to be honest they all looked pretty standard. Basic stuff where I flopped good hands and either slowplayed where applicable or got it in against a worse hand. I plan on playing some limit later this morning, so maybe I'll find something more interesting then.
Also I've really been working out a lot more recently, and throwing 3 times a week. My last bullpen was kind of crappy, but for some reason I had the shakes while I was throwing (dehydration?). But the two before that were really solid. I feel like my velocity is coming on strong, and I just need to get better command over all of my pitches. I'm also doing cardio almost every day, and getting into a steady routine of core workouts (abs and back). I'm lifting weight some, but I don't like to over do the weights. Overall I'm really excited to see the progress that I can make over the next two months. I'm also planning on trying to narrow down what tryouts I want to do in the next few weeks. I figure I'm going to have to buy some plan tickets and make some travel arrangements so I need to get that squared away.
And finally I was really proud of how my blue devils finished the game tonight. They played somewhat poorly for most of the second half, but when it really mattered they made the big shots, made their free throws, and got the defensive stops that we needed to pull out the victory. Also ignore the idiots on ESPN and sportscenter that tried to make it a big deal that greg paulus kicked an FSU player and should have gotten a tech foul along with the FSU player that slapped him in the face. If the idiots at ESPN would have paid attention they would have noticed that Paulus did get a tech foul just like the FSU player. The ref (Ted Valentine who I despise btw) T'd them both up which is why duke didn't get any free throws after the foul. Instead they merely retained the possession which they got from the jump ball call. Another case of people piling on the Blue Devils just because its Duke.
thanks for reading.
themightyjim
I'm also only 3 buy-ins away from letting myself take shots at NL400 again. I promised myself that I wouldn't take shots until I had won 10 buy-ins at NL200. I needed the confidence booster, and to make sure I was playing fundamentally sound poker. Plus I knew by the time that happened I would be back in the black for the month and the losses (which they always happen) at the higher stakes wouldn't bother me as much.
I looked for some interesting hands that I played, but to be honest they all looked pretty standard. Basic stuff where I flopped good hands and either slowplayed where applicable or got it in against a worse hand. I plan on playing some limit later this morning, so maybe I'll find something more interesting then.
Also I've really been working out a lot more recently, and throwing 3 times a week. My last bullpen was kind of crappy, but for some reason I had the shakes while I was throwing (dehydration?). But the two before that were really solid. I feel like my velocity is coming on strong, and I just need to get better command over all of my pitches. I'm also doing cardio almost every day, and getting into a steady routine of core workouts (abs and back). I'm lifting weight some, but I don't like to over do the weights. Overall I'm really excited to see the progress that I can make over the next two months. I'm also planning on trying to narrow down what tryouts I want to do in the next few weeks. I figure I'm going to have to buy some plan tickets and make some travel arrangements so I need to get that squared away.
And finally I was really proud of how my blue devils finished the game tonight. They played somewhat poorly for most of the second half, but when it really mattered they made the big shots, made their free throws, and got the defensive stops that we needed to pull out the victory. Also ignore the idiots on ESPN and sportscenter that tried to make it a big deal that greg paulus kicked an FSU player and should have gotten a tech foul along with the FSU player that slapped him in the face. If the idiots at ESPN would have paid attention they would have noticed that Paulus did get a tech foul just like the FSU player. The ref (Ted Valentine who I despise btw) T'd them both up which is why duke didn't get any free throws after the foul. Instead they merely retained the possession which they got from the jump ball call. Another case of people piling on the Blue Devils just because its Duke.
thanks for reading.
themightyjim
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
running bad....
this month I've run KK into AA pf in NL 3 times. I've run KK into a small-med stack with a smaller pair who then flopped a set 4 times. I've run QQ into KK 5 times. And I've lost 5 coinflips with QQ vs AK. I would guess the total value of those losses to be around $5k of coolers or lost flips.
I'm only musing on this because I just played a 1k session of NL200 where I made a few bad plays and got down 1.5 buyins. But I battled back and worked my way to even despite running KK into AA for 1 buy-in and QQ into KK for .5 buy-in. Both of these were after I got back into the plus side for the session. In both cases they were players who sat down, limped a few hands. Then I get the pair and raise their limp, they come over the top, and I can't fold. I especially can't fold the QQ hand considering the guy only bought in for $90. The KK hand I did the shoving hoping to get called by JJ, QQ, or AK or AKs. So despite really battling for like 5 hours I end up +$2 on the session. If I cooler them in these pots I end up +$300 for the session. So that is basically how my month has gone.
Despite that I'm back in positive numbers (thanks the fact that I play LHE goot), and looking forward to trying to get in 2k hands or so today.
I'm only musing on this because I just played a 1k session of NL200 where I made a few bad plays and got down 1.5 buyins. But I battled back and worked my way to even despite running KK into AA for 1 buy-in and QQ into KK for .5 buy-in. Both of these were after I got back into the plus side for the session. In both cases they were players who sat down, limped a few hands. Then I get the pair and raise their limp, they come over the top, and I can't fold. I especially can't fold the QQ hand considering the guy only bought in for $90. The KK hand I did the shoving hoping to get called by JJ, QQ, or AK or AKs. So despite really battling for like 5 hours I end up +$2 on the session. If I cooler them in these pots I end up +$300 for the session. So that is basically how my month has gone.
Despite that I'm back in positive numbers (thanks the fact that I play LHE goot), and looking forward to trying to get in 2k hands or so today.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Back in the Green!
After some serious grinding the last two days, and really playing some of my best poker, I'm back in the green for the month.
I've been playing a super LAGTAG style at 6 max LHE (like 33/25 pf) and I think that people are really struggling to adjust to me. I haven't been running particularly hot with my big hands (AA, KK, and AKs not really getting it done) but I've been hitting draws and pairs in a lot of pots and really pounding on people for value.
I've also been table selecting well and finding some great games at 15/30 with some crazy maniacs. Nothing better than getting a guy on your right that you feel comfortable iso-3-betting hands like K8s against.
I had some interesting hands in my session today so I might dig through them and post them up here later. Also did anyone check out the Dukies last night? Despite the fact that injuries have given us almost no inside game (doh!) we absolutely dominated UVA. I'm hoping that are road shooting touch comes back a little on wednesday night when we play at FSU. I'm really pumped for the season though since this team is as exciting as we've had since 2004 ( thought not as good as 03/04 or 05/06).
I've been playing a super LAGTAG style at 6 max LHE (like 33/25 pf) and I think that people are really struggling to adjust to me. I haven't been running particularly hot with my big hands (AA, KK, and AKs not really getting it done) but I've been hitting draws and pairs in a lot of pots and really pounding on people for value.
I've also been table selecting well and finding some great games at 15/30 with some crazy maniacs. Nothing better than getting a guy on your right that you feel comfortable iso-3-betting hands like K8s against.
I had some interesting hands in my session today so I might dig through them and post them up here later. Also did anyone check out the Dukies last night? Despite the fact that injuries have given us almost no inside game (doh!) we absolutely dominated UVA. I'm hoping that are road shooting touch comes back a little on wednesday night when we play at FSU. I'm really pumped for the season though since this team is as exciting as we've had since 2004 ( thought not as good as 03/04 or 05/06).
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