Category: Online Poker

I Love Poker – Still

It’s easy to love poker when you’ve just won a big game… and I just have. OK, not big in the sense that there was a lot of money involved, but big in that I did well – sometimes by luck, sometimes by skill.

This was a pokerstars.com 2-table $5.50 tournament. That makes 18 players with the top-4 getting paid. It’s $9/$18/$27/$36 for first through fourth respectively (and the house make $9 gross).

We started at 12:57 AM and finished at 2:38 AM. Helaine has pointed out that, win, lose or draw, that’s a lot of entertainment for $5.50.

I was hot (aka lucky) early on, going all in and quickly turning my $1500 tournament stake into $3000+. Then, I went all in and took three players out, all at once.

We went to the final table of 9 with me as the chip leader.

From there it was up and down slightly until the table was whittled to five. Of course, things become critical here because someone’s about to get shut out. But, I held my ground, playing very conservatively and went to the final three.

We went to two players when I won against a hand that should have never been played:

PokerStars Game #170171950: Tournament #534409, Hold’em No Limit – Level X (400/800) – 2003/11/08 – 02:32:53 (ET)

Table ‘534409 2’ Seat #9 is the button

Seat 2: d9090 (9520 in chips)

Seat 4: Britt1 (7899 in chips)

Seat 9: ctwxman (9581 in chips)

d9090: posts the ante 50

Britt1: posts the ante 50

ctwxman: posts the ante 50

d9090: posts small blind 400

Britt1: posts big blind 800

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to ctwxman [Js Jd]

ctwxman: raises 800 to 1600

d9090: folds

Britt1: calls 800

*** FLOP *** [2d Tc 5h]

Britt1: bets 800

ctwxman: raises 4800 to 5600

Britt1: calls 4800

*** TURN *** [2d Tc 5h] [Kc]

Britt1: checks

ctwxman: bets 800

Britt1: calls 649 and is all-in

*** RIVER *** [2d Tc 5h Kc] [Ts]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

Britt1: shows [7h 2h] (two pair, Tens and Deuces)

ctwxman: shows [Js Jd] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)

ctwxman collected 16248 from pot

The final hand saw me with Jacks. Jacks never win – never. But, I play them anyway. I have actually heard stories, probably apocryphal, about a player who folded Jacks; never played them. They will break your heart.

When the flop came Ace Ace Jack, I guessed the odds were too long for my opponent to have the third Ace.

PokerStars Game #170175214: Tournament #534409, Hold’em No Limit – Level X (400/800) – 2003/11/08 – 02:37:45 (ET)

Table ‘534409 2’ Seat #2 is the button

Seat 2: d9090 (14070 in chips)

Seat 9: ctwxman (12930 in chips)

d9090: posts the ante 50

ctwxman: posts the ante 50

d9090: posts small blind 400

ctwxman: posts big blind 800

*** HOLE CARDS ***

Dealt to ctwxman [Js 3c]

d9090: calls 400

ctwxman: checks

*** FLOP *** [As Ad Jd]

ctwxman: checks

d9090: bets 1600

ctwxman: raises 10480 to 12080 and is all-in

d9090: calls 10480

*** TURN *** [As Ad Jd] [Ac]

*** RIVER *** [As Ad Jd Ac] [2d]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

ctwxman: shows [Js 3c] (a full house, Aces full of Jacks)

d9090: shows [3d Ah] (four of a kind, Aces)

ctwxman said, “wow”

d9090 collected 25860 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 25860 | Rake 0

Board [As Ad Jd Ac 2d]

Seat 2: d9090 (button) (small blind) showed [3d Ah] and won (25860) with four of a kind, Aces

Seat 9: ctwxman (big blind) showed [Js 3c] and lost with a full house, Aces full of Jacks

I cashed out $27, minus my $5.50 for a $21.50 net. I shouldn’t have played that last hand so aggressively. But, with two players, you can afford to be a little more suspect of the very unlikely happening.

Were do we stand?

We started in early August with $250. It had gone down to near $100, then slowly back up until we were at $260 (+$10!). And, then, as if some sort of switch had been thrown, we plunged until we had about $120 left.

In the last week, mostly by Helaine’s skill, we’ve come roaring back. With my win tonight, we’re currently down $33.40 since early August.&#134

I am a much better poker player than I ever was before. Granted, these are low stakes games where the competition is less than stellar, and we are down. Still, being this close after hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of games is an accomplishment. Remember, Pokerstars takes 50&#162 every time we sit and play.

I have learned to be less macho (the last hand not withstanding). There is no dishonor in throwing in a hand that won’t win. Sure, every so often, you throw in a winning hand, but I am convinced this game is won by not losing!

I try and only play quality hands and to be realistic about my chances.

There are analogies to be drawn from digital photography. I’ve become a better photographer because I take so many pictures and see them almost immediately. I’m a better poker player because I play so many games.

I think Helaine is an even better player than I am – much better.

What amazes me is after reading Usenet posts from time-to-time, it seems that everyone says they’re winning. Hello? This can’t be. There’s a whole lot of BS’ing going on.

&#134 The reason for the 40&#162 is that, from time-to-time, I sit in on “live” non-tournament games, where the betting can be in odd amounts.

Cable Outage and Poker

Helaine was playing poker, on the laptop, dragging it around the house. There were five players still in the game when -pfffft- gone. Turning on the TV produced nothing but snow (I predicted that snow, by the way).

On a day with wind gusts beyond 50 mph we had lost cable service, taking out TV and the Internet… and in the middle of a $5.00 tournament.

A few minutes later, at work, I got an email from pokerstars.com. Somehow, without playing a hand, two players had folded before her and Helaine had won $9.00!

Is this a wonderful country, or what?

By the way – we’re back to being down around $30.

Stuff About Poker I Will Never Understand… Never

Tonight, after work, I decided to play a little poker. With Helaine’s help we’ve crawled back to even. Tonight, I added to that.

A quick recap. On August 12, I deposited $250 at pokerstars.com. We’d play until the money ran out. After a few weeks we were down around $150. It wasn’t going to last all that long.

My game tonight was a 2 table, 18 player tournament. Entry fee $5.50 ($5 into the pot, 50&#162 for pokerstars). Someone was going home with $36. Three others would win lesser amounts.

I played nearly 30 hands before going in the first time. After a few small wins, I drew one player all in to get fairly flush with chips, and then spent the rest of the game being cautious and protective. My finish was second, good for $27.

The winner was nearly out long before the final four. His miraculous save came by winning a lucky hand, filling in a straight with a 5 after he had gone ‘all in.’

As he and I played head-to-head for the top spot, a player who had been in the game started typing on the chat screen. He was ranking my opponent because he had won lucky. Truthfully, he was cruel and abusive.

But why? Because he was beaten in a $5.50 game? Where is the perspective in this man’s life?

Can the $5.50 really matter that much? And, even if you do lose to someone you consider an inferior player, over the long run, you’ll get your money back.

I want lucky players at the table, because their early luck only encourages them to chase for winnings, and hopefully, I’ll end up with some of their cash. When I play in these little tournaments, I assume that there are 3 or 4 players who have no idea what they’re doing… maybe they’ve seen poker on ESPN… and are getting educated.

But why was this busted player going after the chip leader?

In a brick and mortar casino, a manager would already be talking to him, letting him know that one more outburst would get him tossed (and they really will do that). Maybe it’s the perceived anonymity of the Internet… or he’s just an ass.

Actually, that’s more likely.

Poker – Over the Top

As of this morning, with Helaine placing in the money in 3 consecutive 9 player tournaments (and me too busy to lose it back), we are up $1 at online poker since August 16th!

This is no small feat, especially since we were down nearly $150 at one point.

There’s no doubt I’ve gotten better, but Helaine is the story. At this level, and probably a bit beyond beyond, Helaine is clearly a superior no limit Hold’em player.

Poker Goes Well

Let me begin by saying, little of this is my doing. Helaine has come into her own playing single table, $5.00 (plus 50&cent for the house) no-limit Hold’em tournaments.

We have been playing on-line at pokerstars.com&#185 since mid-August. At one time, we were down nearly $150. Right now we’re down $38. More importantly, Helaine has begun to consistently win.

I think her skill is in the shorthanded game, when the table has been thinned to just a few players. Playing conservatively, it is very unusual for her to be the leader early in the game. It is also very unusual for her to be tapped out early.

On the other hand, my problem remains a lack of discipline. Often, I go in on hands Helaine wouldn’t touch. I’m trying to mend my ways, but it’s oh so hard.

And, then there’s the machismo thing. After betting up a hand that is bested on the flop, I sometimes hold on or even press my bet hoping to drive others away. It’s a strategy that doesn’t work, and I’m weaning myself.

As with one’s own personality, it is easier to dissect yourself in the abstract than actually take concrete action.

Poker is a microcosm of life… except nowhere near as well dressed or well groomed.

&#185I was contacted by pokerstars.com to be an ‘affiliate.’ Because this website is totally personal and non-commercial in naure, I passed.

More Poker

It has now been 1&#189 months since Helaine and I started playing poker online. We continue to enjoy it and be frustrated by it.

Maybe we have the wrong expectation of good play. After all, to quote Kenny Rogers, “every hand’s a loser, every hand’s a winner.” Still, it kills you when someone goes in with a 2-7 off suit (statistically the worst hand you can be dealt) and wins on the river (fifth and final turned card).

As of last night, we were down nearly $150 and then we got warm.

I came in 167th in an 1,100 player $3 tournament (only the top 99 won money), felt lucky, and switched to a $11 – 9 player tournament. I finished first and won $44 (actually net $34). Then, this morning, Helaine played in a $5.50 – 9 person tournament and finished first for $22.50 (net $17).

So, we’re back under $100 down and still having good, cheap fun. Considering a $5.50 single table tournament can take 1.5 hours or more, it’s a reasonable way to kill time.

I think I said this in one of my blog entries that was lost when the website crashed: We have probably won versus the other players. Our losses are entirely to the house for their share (rake) in hosting the games. It’s good to be the house.

Son of more online poker again

Helaine and I continue to play, and we continue to be down $43. However, over the past three days I have done two things which have proved very successful.

First, I’m playing in very low stakes games. These are normally $5 No Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments (plus $.50 for the house) with 9 or 18 players. The low stakes tends to attract people just getting their feet wet. You can win up to $36 if you place first in an 18 player tourney

So, is it a bit of an unfair fight? Sure.

Any card player can get lucky or hot, which is what keeps poor players coming back. But, you can’t depend on luck. Over time, the cards do even out.

Second, I’ve become very, very aggressive. I hardly play any hands early on, waiting for the top few draws to see the flop. As soon as I know I have something very good, I go all in. Most players fold immediately.

Will I bet KK and end up facing someone with AA… or someone who makes a ridiculous runner? Yes. But, by and large, this strategy (which cuts down on pot size by eliminating the last few bets) produces many more winning hands. More importantly, players fishing for a hand get scared off.

As I said, it’s been very good, as I’ve won money in 4 of the last 6 tournaments I’ve been in.

I do know my limitations. This strategy might not work at all in $10 tournaments. Certainly, in higher stakes games there will be a more educated class of player, and I might be seen for the ‘poker bully’ I’m being.

It’s also possible I’m on a hot streak and don’t see it. In that case, this strategy will fail rapidly.

So… any money left?

Nearly two weeks of online poker is now behind us, with Helaine and me playing a few times a day (I originally had I but I think it should be me).

Tonight, I played 3 – $11- 2 table tournaments. Two losses, including one incredibly quick flameout, and one third place. That’s $36 minus $33 for a $3 net tonight!

All right… Amarillo Slim.

All together, we’re down a bit over $50.

It continues to be fascinating. However, tonight I was chatting with my friend Bob, who was watching me play from Florida, and I realized how easily you could cheat. Except for the really huge tournaments (and we’ve never placed in the money in any of those) you pretty much select your own table.

But, these $11 tournaments take so long for someone to take home $72… would anyone find that worthwhile?

Poker, the good and the bad

Both Helaine and I have been playing on Pokerstars.com. Obviously, our inability to win consistently means it must be fixed. It couldn’t have anything to do with skill… could it?

Mostly, we stay in low stakes tournaments. Pokerstars runs a bunch of tournaments. Maybe too many!

With all the tournaments, you often have to wait for a table to fill up. So, you’ll see 3 of 9 seats filled here and 2 of 9 there or 4 of 18 somewhere else. If there were less choices, there would be more filled tables at any given time.

Tonight, Helaine made 3rd place in a single table, fixed limit Hold’em tournament. Entry fee, $5.50. Payoff for 3rd, $9.00.

We can retire!

After walking Ivy the dog, I tried my luck at a 2 table, no limit Hold’em tournament. Entry fee, $11.00

PokerStars Tournament #259015, No Limit Hold’em

Buy-In: $10.00/$1.00

18 players

Total Prize Pool: $180.00

Tournament started – 2003/08/22 – 00:33:24 (EST)

Dear ctwxman,

You finished the tournament in 1st place.

A $72.00 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

Congratulations!

Thank you for participating.

We’re still down $42 since we started around a week and a half ago. Quite honestly, it’s exciting, cheap entertainment. But, it would be more fun if we were currently winning.

Poker Update – We’re down $16!

I guess I haven’t been keeping good track, but as of this morning, we’re down an incredible $16 since we started.

Tonight I played two tiny $5+$.50 tournaments and came in 2nd once. So, that’s $3.50 on the upside. I think Helaine did the same earlier.

I find, because the action is there, that I’m playing a lot of No Limit Hold’em, which is a totally different game than what I had been playing. I’m not totally sure how much I like it, because there are major bluffs going on. So, it’s possible for another player, in essence, to ask you to put up your entire stake (and any chance to place in the tournament) and that player has nothing.

If you have a larger stack, it’s much easier to be bold, because you can force someone to make a life or death (so to speak) decision, yet you have much less on the line relatively speaking.

Even if I hadn’t placed, this game offered good entertainment for the investment. For my $5.50, I played for 1:15.

$11 – gone

Found a Hold’em tournament for $11 this afternoon. Top payoff was well over $700.

I bombed out with AQ off suit to an A-10 who paired up.

48th of 276. Unfortunately, they only pay the first 27.

But before bed

I couldn’t help it. One more time. A very small, one table tournament. Stakes were $5+1. I came in third, losing with three of a kind to a guy who caught a straight on the river (shit happens).

PokerStars Tournament #237041, No Limit Hold’em

Buy-In: $5.00/$0.50

9 players

Total Prize Pool: $45.00

Tournament started – 2003/08/13 – 02:31:08 (EST)

Dear ctwxman,

You finished the tournament in 3rd place.

A $9.00 award has been credited to your Real Money account.

Congratulations!

Thank you for participating.

$9, or $3.50 more net.

Poker On line

It’s nearly 2:00 AM as I write this. I have played on and off since 9’ish.

My first mistake was entering a $30+3 Pot Limit Hold’em tournament. I had never played pot limit before and it immediately adds something new to the game. If you show weakness, other players in better position will take advantage and raise like crazy.

Now a pretty good hand becomes suspect. It might have been worth a bet… but your whole stack? As it is, I finished in the middle of the pack. I went “all in” with a two reasonably good picture cards only to lose.

Next it was a one table No Limit Hold’em tournament for $10+1. I don’t know what I was thinking, because I had just done so poorly with pot limit. I came in third, again going all in with a reasonably good hand only to lose to someone with a reasonably better hand.

Third place pays $18, so that’s $7 net, minus the $33, leaving me down $26.

Helaine played a $10+1 Hold’em tournament. Nada. Now down $37.

I decided, before bed, to try some low stakes non-tournament poker. After all, this is what I play in casinos. The advantage of tournaments is you limit your risk. But, I decided to play $1/$2, so how wrong could I go? How much can you possibly lose playing $1/$2?

It should be noted that I’m playing at pokerstars.com. Earlier, I had played at partypoker.com. There’s really not much difference. Competition makes them all match each other. I met some folks from pokerstars at The Orleans in Las Vegas at a tournament and they seemed nice.

Maybe the biggest difference here (and I haven’t been to Partypoker in a while) is the very, very low stakes games you can find. You can literally play $.01/$.02 pot Limit Hold’em, and $.02/$.04 with fixed limits.

Of course, there are also free games, but the play is so different when there’s no real money on the line that it’s just no fun.

I played around a half hour at $1/$2 and got very hot, very quickly. By the time I was done, I had gone from $37 in the hole, to $12 up. Moving $49 to the positive at these stakes is pretty unusual… so luck and the other player’s lack of skill certainly had to enter into it.

Poker obsessed

This is ridiculous. I have become poker obsessed.

I have a few days off and went to try and play on-line. Pokerstars.com have some free tournaments, with 1,000 entrants. Before I could figure out how to enter, it was full!

I’m willing to put some cash into this, but my credit card company will not approve payments for Internet gambling (they being smarter than I). There’s a method where you tie your checking account… need I go further? That’s not happening.

What I will do is bring some money to Stop & Shop and wire it to Costa Rica via Western Union.

Even as I say this, I realize this is probably a dumb thing to do. However, I will limit my loss to less than what I won this past weekend and see what happens.