Blog Watchers,
What's going on everyone? It is now Sunday evening and I am officially back at college in the stank dorm rooms of Dunn Hall. I went to Buffalo Wild Wings tonight with my friends and it was delicious!!! "Beer and Hot Wings....It's Like Moonshine!!" It is good to be back at school and I decided tonight to play the first poker of the new semester. I have developed a little war count in my poker logs between Domination and Fishing. "Domination" would be categorized as being obviously hands that you are dominating another play. I am not talking about flush draws but the pair over pairs or AK vs. AJ. In total between the last 3 nights of playing I tallied them all together and the Domination count is 9. Then there is another count....this is for the "Fish" count. This would be when a player opposite of you has been able to comeback from being dominated to pulling miracles out of their little avatar's ass. This could be pulling a 7 on the river to make trips over yours TT, or spiking an A on the turn to beat your KK. And wouldn't you guess what that number is....7. This means that out of the last 3 days I have lost 7 of the 9 hands in which I was dominating another player. Now statistics state that the best hand should usually win, however I am not finding this to be true. I will continue tracking this ratio in hopes to see if my luck can change...but I am skeptical.
I played $4 180 Sit-n-Go. But of course luck was not on my side and I busted in 86 place to win $0. I still am loving my playing right now. I am trying to cut down the amount of draws people are chasing but it seems like they never take the odds. I will have top two against a flush draw and bet 3/4 pot on the flop or turn to protect but they don't budge. I don't know if I am dumb, but I usually get away from draws when I don't hit on the Turn. If I do see the river it is because I have great odds to call and implied odds which are even greater. People are putting it all in on the flop with a weak draw and just leaving it to luck, but I refuse to go down that path.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO LIKE THE PROS PEOPLE. DON'T GO BUST ON A DRAW.
Dave
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Coin Flips And Amateurs
Blog Watchers,
What's going on everyone, how are you all doing tonight? I just went to dinner with the moms, and it was amazing. W went to P.F Changs as a going away dinner considering that come Sunday, I am taking the 2.5 hour drive down to Bloomington/Normal to start classes soon. I came back tonight and logged on to Pokerstars to play a 180 $4 Sit-n-Go. I played a heads up match earlier today which I won. The guy wanted to end it ASAP. Usually when I encounter players like that I play as slow as possible. I try to stretch it out so that they make the mistakes not me. But he asked for a quick match and I gave it to him, getting it All-In with JJ vs. KT. No King came and I took it down. I also played in a single table Sit-n-Go and came in 3rd. The guy in the 8 seat was the pure definition of a luck box. He hit ever draw, won ever coin flip and hit the elusive runner runner flush to knock me out in 3rd place.
Anyway....back to the 180. I was playing really go although short stack for mostly the whole tournament. I don't mind playing short stack, makes my plays very straight forward and I don't have to worry about losing position, only gaining. I made an AMAZING CALL at the 50/100 level. I had about 3500 and a guy limped from MP and the SB (Small Blind) called the 100 more. I was in the BB (Big Blind) with 10-3 so I checked. Flop came K-K-2...and it checked around. A 3 came on the turn, putting a flush draw on the board and it gave me two pair. I still checked around because I was still scared considering someone might have been slow playing a K on the flop. Sure enough it checks around and an 8 came on the river putting the third heart on the board. The SB checks and I think I have the best hand, or can represent me hitting the 8 so I bet 200 into 300. The MP limper folds and then the SB thinks for a couple seconds, then raises me to 700. I really thought I had the best hand. If he had a K he would have bet on the Turn to chase away any flush draw and if he hit the 8 or heart on the river, he would have bet out on the river. It was possible he could have been slow playing a big hand, but HIGHLY unlikely considering the previous action. I called just to see his hand and he showed T-9 for a bluff. I feel real confident about my play lately and I feel a big win coming soon. Nothing life changing, but I do think will have a big boost to my online bankroll.
I ended up busting out in roughly 25 place. I got all my money in with about 9BB holding AK. There were two limpers from MP and the one limper on a short stack called with 88. The classic coin flip with your tournament life on the line. I came out on the short end and did not make the money. I don't think he should have limped with 88, but either way I was going to get it All-In. I am waiting for when I win those crucial coin flips and that's why I say I am feeling a big win soon. I am not winning coin flips with over cards, and I am certainly not winning them with pairs.
Feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what ya think of my play. If you need any more information about anything at all. Also, if your ever on Pokerstars look me up and say hi....sn: YaniG.
Keep Grinding
Dave
What's going on everyone, how are you all doing tonight? I just went to dinner with the moms, and it was amazing. W went to P.F Changs as a going away dinner considering that come Sunday, I am taking the 2.5 hour drive down to Bloomington/Normal to start classes soon. I came back tonight and logged on to Pokerstars to play a 180 $4 Sit-n-Go. I played a heads up match earlier today which I won. The guy wanted to end it ASAP. Usually when I encounter players like that I play as slow as possible. I try to stretch it out so that they make the mistakes not me. But he asked for a quick match and I gave it to him, getting it All-In with JJ vs. KT. No King came and I took it down. I also played in a single table Sit-n-Go and came in 3rd. The guy in the 8 seat was the pure definition of a luck box. He hit ever draw, won ever coin flip and hit the elusive runner runner flush to knock me out in 3rd place.
Anyway....back to the 180. I was playing really go although short stack for mostly the whole tournament. I don't mind playing short stack, makes my plays very straight forward and I don't have to worry about losing position, only gaining. I made an AMAZING CALL at the 50/100 level. I had about 3500 and a guy limped from MP and the SB (Small Blind) called the 100 more. I was in the BB (Big Blind) with 10-3 so I checked. Flop came K-K-2...and it checked around. A 3 came on the turn, putting a flush draw on the board and it gave me two pair. I still checked around because I was still scared considering someone might have been slow playing a K on the flop. Sure enough it checks around and an 8 came on the river putting the third heart on the board. The SB checks and I think I have the best hand, or can represent me hitting the 8 so I bet 200 into 300. The MP limper folds and then the SB thinks for a couple seconds, then raises me to 700. I really thought I had the best hand. If he had a K he would have bet on the Turn to chase away any flush draw and if he hit the 8 or heart on the river, he would have bet out on the river. It was possible he could have been slow playing a big hand, but HIGHLY unlikely considering the previous action. I called just to see his hand and he showed T-9 for a bluff. I feel real confident about my play lately and I feel a big win coming soon. Nothing life changing, but I do think will have a big boost to my online bankroll.
I ended up busting out in roughly 25 place. I got all my money in with about 9BB holding AK. There were two limpers from MP and the one limper on a short stack called with 88. The classic coin flip with your tournament life on the line. I came out on the short end and did not make the money. I don't think he should have limped with 88, but either way I was going to get it All-In. I am waiting for when I win those crucial coin flips and that's why I say I am feeling a big win soon. I am not winning coin flips with over cards, and I am certainly not winning them with pairs.
Feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what ya think of my play. If you need any more information about anything at all. Also, if your ever on Pokerstars look me up and say hi....sn: YaniG.
Keep Grinding
Dave
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Don't You Love Holiday Poker
Blog Watchers,
Thank G-d for the holidays. As I told you all before my online bankroll has been rather...depressed since my last deposit and I have been playing real micro-tournaments just trying to make something grow. However micro-tourneys are crap shoots and I was having very very very slow progress. Luckily enough, the holiday season have just ended and thanks to generous family and grandparents I was able to deposit $100 more into my account. Of course this came with the condition that I deposit 50 into my fathers account...and I did with pleasure.
Now that I had more money in my account I decided to celebrate by playing in a $5 tourney on Pokerstars. First place was $1700 and I have been feeling really good about my play. I started off playing rather fast and picking up some nice small pots. I wasn't stealing per say, but the first hand I showed down was QQ so I was getting a ton of respect. I was playing perfectly up to about 2200 from the original 1800 and again I caught QQ in MP (Middle Position). The blinds were 50/100 The person UTG (Under The Gun) + 1, had about 1400 and limped in for 100. Then it was folded to me and I raised it to 350. I wanted to make sure I isolated the limper while still giving him pot odds to call. He was a solid player and so I had to put him on a marginal hand he wanted to see a flop with JT, Q9. I couldn't put him on a big pair because he would most likely raised UTG+1. It folded back around the the original limper so my isolation worked perfectly. He thought for about two seconds and then went all-in! It surprised me because I didn't see it coming but I have QQ and I insta-called him. I was right on my read and he had 98off for a bluff. I don't know why he did it, but you encounter those type of muscle plays in low-limit tournaments. I was feeling great and I was about to get my hands on about 4k when you guessed it...Q-J-T comes on the flop for the flopped straight. I had a chance to redraw for a full house but it was no good and I was crippled.
I was able to fight back to 1k but then my KK came in contact with a big stacks 99. Guess what came on the river...
I love holiday poker!
Dave
Thank G-d for the holidays. As I told you all before my online bankroll has been rather...depressed since my last deposit and I have been playing real micro-tournaments just trying to make something grow. However micro-tourneys are crap shoots and I was having very very very slow progress. Luckily enough, the holiday season have just ended and thanks to generous family and grandparents I was able to deposit $100 more into my account. Of course this came with the condition that I deposit 50 into my fathers account...and I did with pleasure.
Now that I had more money in my account I decided to celebrate by playing in a $5 tourney on Pokerstars. First place was $1700 and I have been feeling really good about my play. I started off playing rather fast and picking up some nice small pots. I wasn't stealing per say, but the first hand I showed down was QQ so I was getting a ton of respect. I was playing perfectly up to about 2200 from the original 1800 and again I caught QQ in MP (Middle Position). The blinds were 50/100 The person UTG (Under The Gun) + 1, had about 1400 and limped in for 100. Then it was folded to me and I raised it to 350. I wanted to make sure I isolated the limper while still giving him pot odds to call. He was a solid player and so I had to put him on a marginal hand he wanted to see a flop with JT, Q9. I couldn't put him on a big pair because he would most likely raised UTG+1. It folded back around the the original limper so my isolation worked perfectly. He thought for about two seconds and then went all-in! It surprised me because I didn't see it coming but I have QQ and I insta-called him. I was right on my read and he had 98off for a bluff. I don't know why he did it, but you encounter those type of muscle plays in low-limit tournaments. I was feeling great and I was about to get my hands on about 4k when you guessed it...Q-J-T comes on the flop for the flopped straight. I had a chance to redraw for a full house but it was no good and I was crippled.
I was able to fight back to 1k but then my KK came in contact with a big stacks 99. Guess what came on the river...
I love holiday poker!
Dave
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
THOU SHALL NOT USE CAPS LOCK
Blog Watchers,
I have been trying day by day to slowly build my PokerStars account but easier said then done. I think because I have had a taste of the high-life (Winning Thousands), I try desperately to get up there as soon as possible. The problem is my bankroll doesn't give me an opportunity to play in even low-stakes tournaments. So what I have to do is grind it out in tourneys with buy-ins less then $5. I don't enjoy it really because they are such "crap shoots"! You usually encounter crazy play like people calling your EP (early position) raise with Q4-off or go all-in with bottom pair with raggedy kicker. Don't get me wrong, I love playing them because usually you can pick off the weaker players very easily but with more weaker players you have many more all-in draws and suckouts on the river. Anyway it is an occupational hazard you have to deal with it.
I played a $3 NL Hold'em Tourney today and I was able to cash for a minimal R.O.I (return on my investment). Everything went pretty smoothly and I was able to get up to 6k in the first hour. I played my big-stack very well, taking some coin-flips when I was getting the right price and was able to get full value on some hands I really should not have. Hands that I would spell out obviously what I was holding, but they just wanted to keep paying to see. AA won 3k...Turned Flush for another 3k. I always wonder how people are not able to recognize these draws on the board or people's strengths through there betting patterns. Even though the tournaments are for penny-stakes, when someone calls with two hearts on the board you have to think flush draw and when someone goes all-in they often have enough of a hand to risk their tournament life on the line. What I have realized when playing micro-stakes tournaments is this...1) People always let their emotions get the best of them. The tilt factor goes up by 500% and 2) If you suck out on someone for a minimal pot, they will never forget it! I often try to use this to my advantage by literally trying to annoy, intimidate and frustrate people as much as possible. It makes it easier to take people of there game, allowing them to try to make plays that are unnecessary and not optimal!
A strategy that works for me with absolute perfection is talking in the chat box, with the CAPS LOCK on. Do not ask me how or why it works, but it does. People ask you to "Turn it down", or "Stop Screaming". I tell them "I AM NOT SCREAMING, I JUST ALWAYS WRITE IN CAPS". They all attack me for no reason. I tell them "WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN AS LAW THAT WRITING IN CAPS=SCREAMING?" But they get worse and worse, and the tilt starts to seep in. By me talking in CAPS they somehow see my typing as a loud voice in their head screaming. "I'll shut him up" they say to themselves and sure enough they play right into my hands. Calling with middle pair, or reraising me with rags. I keep chipping up and they keep getting the boot. So if you are ever playing in low-stake tournaments try it out. You have to talk a lot in order for it to work, but I have always seen great results.
THOU SHALL NOT USE CAPS LOCK IN THE CHAT BOX
Dave
I have been trying day by day to slowly build my PokerStars account but easier said then done. I think because I have had a taste of the high-life (Winning Thousands), I try desperately to get up there as soon as possible. The problem is my bankroll doesn't give me an opportunity to play in even low-stakes tournaments. So what I have to do is grind it out in tourneys with buy-ins less then $5. I don't enjoy it really because they are such "crap shoots"! You usually encounter crazy play like people calling your EP (early position) raise with Q4-off or go all-in with bottom pair with raggedy kicker. Don't get me wrong, I love playing them because usually you can pick off the weaker players very easily but with more weaker players you have many more all-in draws and suckouts on the river. Anyway it is an occupational hazard you have to deal with it.
I played a $3 NL Hold'em Tourney today and I was able to cash for a minimal R.O.I (return on my investment). Everything went pretty smoothly and I was able to get up to 6k in the first hour. I played my big-stack very well, taking some coin-flips when I was getting the right price and was able to get full value on some hands I really should not have. Hands that I would spell out obviously what I was holding, but they just wanted to keep paying to see. AA won 3k...Turned Flush for another 3k. I always wonder how people are not able to recognize these draws on the board or people's strengths through there betting patterns. Even though the tournaments are for penny-stakes, when someone calls with two hearts on the board you have to think flush draw and when someone goes all-in they often have enough of a hand to risk their tournament life on the line. What I have realized when playing micro-stakes tournaments is this...1) People always let their emotions get the best of them. The tilt factor goes up by 500% and 2) If you suck out on someone for a minimal pot, they will never forget it! I often try to use this to my advantage by literally trying to annoy, intimidate and frustrate people as much as possible. It makes it easier to take people of there game, allowing them to try to make plays that are unnecessary and not optimal!
A strategy that works for me with absolute perfection is talking in the chat box, with the CAPS LOCK on. Do not ask me how or why it works, but it does. People ask you to "Turn it down", or "Stop Screaming". I tell them "I AM NOT SCREAMING, I JUST ALWAYS WRITE IN CAPS". They all attack me for no reason. I tell them "WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN AS LAW THAT WRITING IN CAPS=SCREAMING?" But they get worse and worse, and the tilt starts to seep in. By me talking in CAPS they somehow see my typing as a loud voice in their head screaming. "I'll shut him up" they say to themselves and sure enough they play right into my hands. Calling with middle pair, or reraising me with rags. I keep chipping up and they keep getting the boot. So if you are ever playing in low-stake tournaments try it out. You have to talk a lot in order for it to work, but I have always seen great results.
THOU SHALL NOT USE CAPS LOCK IN THE CHAT BOX
Dave
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Man Behind The Avatar
Blog Watchers,
Now that I have began my poker blog, I thought I should tell you about myself so that you all know me a little better. My name is David and I am currently a Senior at Illinois State University. I am a Music Business and Management Major and I hope to become a talent agent when I graduate this Summer.
My poker career started when I was in high school and I have never looked back. I started playing penny poker, 5-card draw with my dad and then I saw the 2001 World Series of Poker. After That I read every book I could get my hands on and I learned a lot about optimal strategy. I learned that just by playing a solid game to start with you could easily beat and move up stakes. I moved from 1/2 Limit Hold'em to 2/4 and kept going till I moved up to 6/12 and 8/16 which is now where I play when I play seriously in brick and mortar casinos. Online, I usually limit my play to tournament play cause that is where I believe I have an edge online.
I never really won any major money online till about 2 years ago. I was on a major roll in my sit-n-gos up to about $400, which was a lot at the time for a college student. Most often if I ever bumped my bankroll to over $500 I would take half out and deposit it into my college fund. On a Saturday I felt great about my play and I decided to enter my first $100 Tourney. It was a deep stack on Pokerstars, and it gave me plenty of room to play my Selective Aggression game. Everything worked out PERFECTLY! I was making great reads on my opponents and if I ever found myself in with the worst of it, luck was on my side. I ended up making the final table with famous online-pro Brett Jungblut "Gank". I came in 3rd Winning $3,500...My first big payday.
I felt amazing, I took $2,500 into my college fund and celebrated with my friends like no other. The very next week I said F#$K IT again and enter my first Big-Buy In Live Satellite. It was for the EPT Polish Open over my spring break and luck was on my side again. I won, it and went to Warsaw and played really good. I didn't make the money, but my first major buy-in tournament I thought was a major success.
I would continue at home winning a $1000 here and there, but sure enough I am back down at the bottom again. I refuse to take money out of the college fund so I have to do with what I have in my online accounts. Anyway that is my background and I hope you all enjoy.
You can find me on Pokerstars a.k.a YaniG and on FullTilt a.k.a YaniAGoGos
From The Man Behind The Avatar
Dave
Now that I have began my poker blog, I thought I should tell you about myself so that you all know me a little better. My name is David and I am currently a Senior at Illinois State University. I am a Music Business and Management Major and I hope to become a talent agent when I graduate this Summer.
My poker career started when I was in high school and I have never looked back. I started playing penny poker, 5-card draw with my dad and then I saw the 2001 World Series of Poker. After That I read every book I could get my hands on and I learned a lot about optimal strategy. I learned that just by playing a solid game to start with you could easily beat and move up stakes. I moved from 1/2 Limit Hold'em to 2/4 and kept going till I moved up to 6/12 and 8/16 which is now where I play when I play seriously in brick and mortar casinos. Online, I usually limit my play to tournament play cause that is where I believe I have an edge online.
I never really won any major money online till about 2 years ago. I was on a major roll in my sit-n-gos up to about $400, which was a lot at the time for a college student. Most often if I ever bumped my bankroll to over $500 I would take half out and deposit it into my college fund. On a Saturday I felt great about my play and I decided to enter my first $100 Tourney. It was a deep stack on Pokerstars, and it gave me plenty of room to play my Selective Aggression game. Everything worked out PERFECTLY! I was making great reads on my opponents and if I ever found myself in with the worst of it, luck was on my side. I ended up making the final table with famous online-pro Brett Jungblut "Gank". I came in 3rd Winning $3,500...My first big payday.
I felt amazing, I took $2,500 into my college fund and celebrated with my friends like no other. The very next week I said F#$K IT again and enter my first Big-Buy In Live Satellite. It was for the EPT Polish Open over my spring break and luck was on my side again. I won, it and went to Warsaw and played really good. I didn't make the money, but my first major buy-in tournament I thought was a major success.
I would continue at home winning a $1000 here and there, but sure enough I am back down at the bottom again. I refuse to take money out of the college fund so I have to do with what I have in my online accounts. Anyway that is my background and I hope you all enjoy.
You can find me on Pokerstars a.k.a YaniG and on FullTilt a.k.a YaniAGoGos
From The Man Behind The Avatar
Dave
Those Who Endure Conquer
To My New Audience,
Hello, and Happy New Years! 2008 is going to be a BIG YEAR for me and I thought there would be no better way to start it off then by starting up my very first blog. The reason why I am doing this is because while I have been attending college I have been a recreational/part-time poker player. I have always been obsessed with the game due to its requirement to be a strategic and skillfull player who is willing to gamble. Since I started playing online at 18 and in brick and mortar casinos at 21, I have been able to pay off a quarter of my college tuition and traveled to Europe to play in the EPT Polish Open.
However, even with these few accomplishments under my belt, I still have falled victim to the seldom bluff gone amuck, and the ellusive Belly-Busters, Donkeys, Fish or whatever else you want to call poor players that have either crippled or devoured my minimal bankrolls. I always wanted to be able to discuss my play with friends and family however my support system was never fully educated on the intricases of Razz, Hold'em and Stud.
Therefore, I have decided to begin blogging in an attempt to discuss my strategies out loud and address the general public with my play and maybe be able to gain some knowledge from my reading audience. Every successful poker player says it helps to discuss out loud what you did in a tournament or cash game so you can better understand what went wrong or right. I urge readers to feel free to contact me through email and tell me their thoughts on my play...What did I do right? What did I do wrong? What would you differently? Etc. Etc.
I look forward to continuing my blog, getting your feedback, and hopefully becoming a better poker player.
Those Who Endure Conquer
David
Hello, and Happy New Years! 2008 is going to be a BIG YEAR for me and I thought there would be no better way to start it off then by starting up my very first blog. The reason why I am doing this is because while I have been attending college I have been a recreational/part-time poker player. I have always been obsessed with the game due to its requirement to be a strategic and skillfull player who is willing to gamble. Since I started playing online at 18 and in brick and mortar casinos at 21, I have been able to pay off a quarter of my college tuition and traveled to Europe to play in the EPT Polish Open.
However, even with these few accomplishments under my belt, I still have falled victim to the seldom bluff gone amuck, and the ellusive Belly-Busters, Donkeys, Fish or whatever else you want to call poor players that have either crippled or devoured my minimal bankrolls. I always wanted to be able to discuss my play with friends and family however my support system was never fully educated on the intricases of Razz, Hold'em and Stud.
Therefore, I have decided to begin blogging in an attempt to discuss my strategies out loud and address the general public with my play and maybe be able to gain some knowledge from my reading audience. Every successful poker player says it helps to discuss out loud what you did in a tournament or cash game so you can better understand what went wrong or right. I urge readers to feel free to contact me through email and tell me their thoughts on my play...What did I do right? What did I do wrong? What would you differently? Etc. Etc.
I look forward to continuing my blog, getting your feedback, and hopefully becoming a better poker player.
Those Who Endure Conquer
David
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