The revival of the blog!

Yes, yes. Hold your applause for after.

I decided to bring this back because hey, I'm playing a ton of online poker, so I figured I'd start blogging. This means this'll be update really frequently with thoughts and opinions and results and what not.

Before I get to that, I wanna give a shoutout to a few people. First of all, to all the guys I know that went down and crushed Vegas over this summer...kudos on a job well done and I wish I was there with you. Yves, you're an animal, Marc, that hand was disgusting, all the Elite Poker people you guys rock, congrats. I wish I had gone down again, unfortunately as those who know me know, family problems have become more serious, dad's been in and out(90% in) of the hospital for the past month and a half with blood clots and internal bleeding, so it was far from a good time to pack up and go try and kill Vegas again. Hopefully I'll get there in August, but we'll see.

Anywhoo, back to me, because hey, it's my blog so why the fuck am I giving Yves all the kudos? :P

Actually this leads me to one more shout out...to the lovely people at the CAW for having me on strike for well over a month and letting me really focus on playing poker. It's almost like a written invitation for me to try my hand at online poker full time.

So, I've been kind of exploring. I learned I hate SNG's, too hectic, and too swingy...I learned MTT's are gross as all hell, go deep and run into one setup and end up having 6 hours of perfect play erased in an instant.

So, I settled on the ring game life. I can't lie, partly, or largely, this is results based, I consistently, infact, it'd shock any regular player exactly how consistently I crush NL Cash Games. It frequently amazes me...I've rarely booked losing sessions in a long, long time now.

With that said, I started this run at limit hold'em, because I still consider myself a limit specialist(by specialist I mean that "Bet" button always seems easier to push than the "Fold" button, so consistently people end up folding to me).

So with all that out of the way, I had an illuminating discussion with a friend of mine. We discussed basically my poker career and the fact I was playing limit. Basically he told me he thinks it's a stupid idea for me because in his words : "I've never played anyone as good as extracting chips with made hands as you are."

So, on the heed of that advice, I decided to give NL games a chance. I've been 4 tabling 1/2 NL for a week now, and really cleaning the game up so easily it's scary.

So...tonight's session. Key hands and analysis :

Full Tilt Poker Game #7159601672: Table Sphinx (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:43:50 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: nm_21 ($369.60)
Seat 2: crystal_donkey ($168.40)
Seat 3: browerkid ($197)
Seat 4: DuckandHide ($260.95)
Seat 5: jloscottdale ($225.45)
Seat 6: bucfanjay ($251.10)
browerkid posts the small blind of $1
DuckandHide posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to crystal_donkey [9h 9s]
jloscottdale folds
bucfanjay raises to $8
nm_21 folds
crystal_donkey calls $8
browerkid folds
DuckandHide folds
*** FLOP *** [8s Qh 9c]
bucfanjay bets $11
jloscottdale is sitting out
crystal_donkey has 15 seconds left to act
crystal_donkey raises to $33
bucfanjay has 15 seconds left to act
bucfanjay raises to $75
crystal_donkey raises to $160.40, and is all in
bucfanjay calls $85.40
crystal_donkey shows [9h 9s]
bucfanjay shows [Ts Td]
*** TURN *** [8s Qh 9c] [2s]
*** RIVER *** [8s Qh 9c 2s] [Ks]
crystal_donkey shows three of a kind, Nines
bucfanjay shows a pair of Tens
crystal_donkey wins the pot ($336.80) with three of a kind, Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $339.80 Rake $3
Board: [8s Qh 9c 2s Ks]
Seat 1: nm_21 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: crystal_donkey (button) showed [9h 9s] and won ($336.80) with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 3: browerkid (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: DuckandHide (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: jloscottdale didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: bucfanjay showed [Ts Td] and lost with a pair of Tens

Not really alot to say here, there's no way I'm not stacking off on that flop if by chance he has J/10, so all my chips are going in here all day long. It was nice he decided to play along with a really mediocre hand to be playing that much action on that flop with.

This is from from one of the 4 tables, and was also the table that caused me to end the session, once I had this happen to me I wanted to step away from the game to avoid any possibility of "tilt" money leaving, because I was a little steamed at the setup I was a part of. There is never a time I'm going to play this hand any differently than this...

Full Tilt Poker Game #7159663499: Table Sphinx (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:50:15 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: nm_21 ($365.40)
Seat 2: crystal_donkey ($335.50)
Seat 3: browerkid ($200.25)
Seat 4: DuckandHide ($254.95)
Seat 5: jloscottdale ($225.45)
Seat 6: bucfanjay ($86.45)
crystal_donkey posts the small blind of $1
browerkid posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
***HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to crystal_donkey [Qc Qs]
DuckandHide folds
bucfanjay folds
nm_21 raises to $7
crystal_donkey raises to $29
browerkid folds
nm_21 has 15 seconds left to act
nm_21 has requested TIME
nm_21 raises to $90
crystal_donkey raises to $335.50, and is all in
nm_21 calls $245.50
crystal_donkey shows [Qc Qs]
nm_21 shows [Ac As]
*** FLOP *** [4h Kd 9h]
*** TURN *** [4h Kd 9h] [8s]
*** RIVER *** [4h Kd 9h 8s] [6d]
crystal_donkey shows a pair of Queens
nm_21 shows a pair of Aces
nm_21 wins the pot ($670) with a pair of Aces
crystal_donkey is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $673 Rake $3
Board: [4h Kd 9h 8s 6d]
Seat 1: nm_21 (button) showed [Ac As] and won ($670) with a pair of Aces
Seat 2: crystal_donkey (small blind) showed [Qc Qs] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 3: browerkid (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: DuckandHide didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: jloscottdale is sitting out
Seat 6: bucfanjay didn't bet (folded)

Ya, not the best hand I've ever played. There's never a time I'm smoothing the 3rd raise, the money goes in here all day, I don't care if it's 1/2 or 50/100...I don't see a way anyone's going to disagree with that being that he's on the button and his 3 bet range is as loose as A/10 and up probably...especially considering we're a 6-max and I have a fairly LAG image.

Anyway, while all that fun was going on, I had 3 other tables open. Here's some hands from over on another one of those tables... This one will require a little explanation...

Full Tilt Poker Game #7159544923: Table Saguaro (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:38:04 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: crystal_donkey ($185)
Seat 2: I HRT DVDA ($203)
Seat 3: She_IS_all_that ($63)
Seat 4: infi-nitty ($207)
Seat 5: StructureK ($200)
Seat 6: Tex_Perkins ($457.70)
infi-nitty posts the small blind of $1
StructureK posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to crystal_donkey [Ac 5c]
Tex_Perkins folds
crystal_donkey has 15 seconds left to act
crystal_donkey raises to $6
I HRT DVDA folds
She_IS_all_that has 15 seconds left to act
She_IS_all_that folds
infi-nitty folds
StructureK raises to $21
crystal_donkey calls $15
*** FLOP *** [5s Ad 2c]
StructureK has 15 seconds left to act
StructureK bets $30
crystal_donkey raises to $80
StructureK has 15 seconds left to act
StructureK raises to $179, and is all in
crystal_donkey calls $84, and is all in
StructureK shows [Ah Kd]
crystal_donkey shows [Ac 5c]
Uncalled bet of $15 returned to StructureK
*** TURN *** [5s Ad 2c] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [5s Ad 2c Td] [Js]
StructureK shows a pair of Aces
crystal_donkey shows two pair, Aces and Fives
crystal_donkey wins the pot ($368) with two pair, Aces and Fives
StructureK adds $185
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $371 Rake $3
Board: [5s Ad 2c Td Js]
Seat 1: crystal_donkey showed [Ac 5c] and won ($368) with two pair, Aces and Fives
Seat 2: I HRT DVDA didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: She_IS_all_that (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: infi-nitty (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: StructureK (big blind) showed [Ah Kd] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 6: Tex_Perkins didn't bet (folded)

I want to make clear, no typically I do not make habits of calling re-raises with A/5 even if its SOOOTED. The thing was, as I said I typically like to control my tables by taking a LAG approach and then developing action. Unfortunately every time I was doing anything on this table I was getting played back at, so eventually I decided instead of continuing to fold to re-raises preflop, I had to find a spot to play back, so I decided to call and see a flop and try and steal it afterwards, since I'm typically VERY confident in my post flop play and ability to steal pots where we both have no part. As it turns out, I did one better and flopped gin and got the money in. This is NOT a habit...worked though :P

The next one kind of baffled me still, I'm not sure if the guy's a prick and he's trying to slow roll me or if he's actually considering folding here which I can't even fathom. I'm also not sure if he's stupid and that's why he smoothe calls the flop, or if he's really smart and that's why he smoothe called and then checked the turn. Either way...I don't know if I'm going to play this differently any other time, feel free to comment, this was the one hand I was a little unsure of...

Full Tilt Poker Game #7159506269: Table Padbury (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:34:12 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: BuenazDiaz ($580.85)
Seat 2: Septs ($314)
Seat 3: Gle Rigon ($21.10)
Seat 4: mnguyen14 ($105.70)
Seat 5: bustedmonkey ($228.15)
Seat 6: crystal_donkey ($197)
Septs posts the small blind of $1
Gle Rigon posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to crystal_donkey [Ah 9h]
mnguyen14 has 15 seconds left to act
mnguyen14 raises to $6
bustedmonkey folds
crystal_donkey calls $6
BuenazDiaz foldsSepts folds
Gle Rigon folds
*** FLOP *** [7d 9c 2c]
mnguyen14 has 15 seconds left to act
mnguyen14 bets $12
crystal_donkey raises to $40
mnguyen14 has 15 seconds left to act
mnguyen14 calls $28
*** TURN *** [7d 9c 2c] [2h]
mnguyen14 checks
crystal_donkey bets $151, and is all in
mnguyen14 has 15 seconds left to act
mnguyen14 calls $59.70, and is all in
crystal_donkey shows [Ah 9h]
mnguyen14 shows [Ac Ad]
Uncalled bet of $91.30 returned to crystal_donkey
*** RIVER *** [7d 9c 2c 2h] [8s]
crystal_donkey shows two pair, Nines and Twos
mnguyen14 shows two pair, Aces and Twos
mnguyen14 wins the pot ($211.40) with two pair, Aces and Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $214.40 Rake $3
Board: [7d 9c 2c 2h 8s]
Seat 1: BuenazDiaz (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: Septs (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Gle Rigon (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: mnguyen14 showed [Ac Ad] and won ($211.40) with two pair, Aces and Twos
Seat 5: bustedmonkey didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: crystal_donkey showed [Ah 9h] and lost with two pair, Nines and Twos

Ya I know the hand itself was really kind of thin on that flop, but after he smoothed my raise on the flop I felt like I for sure had the best hand there, and he was either drawing to clubs, or had a hand like 88 or 66 and didn't buy me for calling a 9 in that spot. I never even considered an overpair, probably a bad oversight on my part.

This hand made up for it a while after on the same table though....

Full Tilt Poker Game #7159622325: Table Padbury (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:45:57 ET - 2008/07/10
Seat 1: BuenazDiaz ($570.75)
Seat 2: Septs ($302)
Seat 3: Gle Rigon ($41.70)
Seat 4: mnguyen14 ($201.65)
Seat 5: bustedmonkey ($250.80), is sitting out
Seat 6: crystal_donkey ($179.05)
crystal_donkey posts the small blind of $1
BuenazDiaz posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to crystal_donkey [Jd Td]
Septs folds
Gle Rigon folds
mnguyen14 folds
crystal_donkey calls $1
BuenazDiaz raises to $7
crystal_donkey calls $5
*** FLOP *** [6c Jc Jh]
crystal_donkey checks
BuenazDiaz bets $10
crystal_donkey raises to $35
BuenazDiaz raises to $70
crystal_donkey raises to $172.05, and is all in
BuenazDiaz calls $102.05
bustedmonkey has returned
crystal_donkey shows [Jd Td]
BuenazDiaz shows [Kc 9c]
*** TURN *** [6c Jc Jh] [Js]
*** RIVER *** [6c Jc Jh Js] [8d]
crystal_donkey shows four of a kind, Jacks
BuenazDiaz shows three of a kind, Jacks
crystal_donkey wins the pot ($355.10) with four of a kind, Jacks
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $358.10 Rake $3
Board: [6c Jc Jh Js 8d]
Seat 1: BuenazDiaz (big blind) showed [Kc 9c] and lost with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 2: Septs didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Gle Rigon didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: mnguyen14 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: bustedmonkey is sitting out
Seat 6: crystal_donkey (small blind) showed [Jd Td] and won ($355.10) with four of a kind, Jacks

For anyone wondering, yes, I realize my line in that hand preflop sucks ass...so sue me. I realized it as I was doing it, that I should have raised, I think he calls and we see the same flop anyway, but yes, I realize calling and re-calling there is a really weak line especially OOP for the rest of the hand, but oh well...

Anyway, I realize there's not alot of hands with fantastic deep thought, hopefully some will come in future days, I just really wanted to get back to writing this, and decided to do it tonight, it was a relatively short session because of my stopping after the QQ vs AA thing(more me being tired than me being super pissed at the setup, although it did kind of suck).

This'll be much more frequent...I know some people really used to like this blog when I had it up, god help me I can't fathom why since my writing is about as terrible as Akiva Goldsman's(see what I mean? No one will even get that reference, but I went for it anyway because I'm a stubborn dickhead, he's a Hollywood script writer who penned such abominations as "Batman Forever", "Batman and Robin", "I, Robot" and "The Da Vinci Code").

Anyway, like it or not, the blog is back. Enjoy reading it at your own discretion.

Oh, and I just realized I should probably put a tally for the end of the night. That session despite that 350 dollar cooler, I ended up basically even, I ended up down like $35 bucks or something. And after an $1100 dollar session yesterday...I'm alright with it.