I finally got back from Iraq last month and was home just long enough to wash clothes, pack and head out on the Card Player Cruise. The cruise was a complete blast. The Guru and I had some pretty good moments I think. I probably could have played a little more cash poker and spent less time drinking in the casino but hey, that's my MO.
As far as the poker goes, I played all four tournaments, There were three no limit tourneys and an Omaha 8 high low. I don't think I ever got any ground in the first two NL events. I remember one hand in the 2nd that cost me more than 1/2 my stack with some pre flop raising and re-reaising going on. I eventually folded KK to a J high board when my opp re-raised my c bet by moving all in. I saw her later that evening in the casino and she said she had Aces. Who knows?
The Omaha event was fun but certainly not my area of expertise. With that being said and considering the company I was in, I felt pretty good about my play. I think I busted in 22nd or something out of a field of 80+.
The final and largest event was a $230 NL event with 119 players if memory serves me correctly. I felt relaxed and focused in that event and I think I made some great moves in that game. I did my job with the stealing in LP, made some key lay downs, three bet bluffed on occasion which resulted in the opponents folding. I know the poker gods showed me some love in one hand when I called an all in with 77 and the guy flipped over 10 10. A third 7 in the door for a double up put me in position to make a run at the final table. I eventually got into the money (paying 13 spots) and shoved with what else? 77 again. A very good European kid himmed and hawed for about 20 or 30 seconds and called with either KJ off or KQ off not sure which. A painted card came that hit him and I was out in 11th with $360 for my effort.
As far as cash games I played 2-4 limit (waiting for another table to open) lol. 4-8 limit and 1-3 NL at different times throughout the cruise. While most of these sessions (5 in total I think) were short in duration, I came out ahead in every one so no complaints from me.
All in all, I had a blast and I'm strongly considering another Card Player Cruise out of Galveston in April.
Hope you all had a great holiday and hope to see you soon.
Calico
P.S. I took 1st in a 45 man SnG last night for $171 skins ;)
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
I better take the elevator to the forth...
Still trying to get past step three. I played my step three ticket last night and busted out in tenth resulting in my having to start over.
Down to ten players and BeastieAu to my left was playing fairly aggressive when we got five handed. Raising a lot of hands pre flop and what I perceived to be a lot of stealing. His stats are good on Top Shark and looks like he knows most of the players are going to fold without a huge hand.
Ten players left
Five handed
Blinds 80/160
My chips stack before the hand $3965
The hand:
It's folded around to me and I picked up JJ on the button and make it $480 to go. BeastieAU in the SB shoves $4585 and has me covered. The BB folds and again, I reluctantly call (like the donkey I am) and he flips over an A 10 off. The flop comes Q22 rainbow. The turn brings his three outer (Ac) and I'm out in tenth. My reads have been good in these spots but my luck hasn't fared so well. Poker stove gives me a little better than 70/30 but that's poker.
This story has a familiar ring wouldn't you say? This time around however, I had plenty of chips and easily could have mucked JJ in that spot but is that the right play? Tossing JJ on the button at a five handed table is a play I'm having a hard time making despite our bubble discussions at poker group last week. If he has two overs in that same spot though, ie KQ, AQ etc, I'm less than 60/40 so... Donkey move on my part or justifiable call?
I put on my body armor so fire away.
Calico
Down to ten players and BeastieAu to my left was playing fairly aggressive when we got five handed. Raising a lot of hands pre flop and what I perceived to be a lot of stealing. His stats are good on Top Shark and looks like he knows most of the players are going to fold without a huge hand.
Ten players left
Five handed
Blinds 80/160
My chips stack before the hand $3965
The hand:
It's folded around to me and I picked up JJ on the button and make it $480 to go. BeastieAU in the SB shoves $4585 and has me covered. The BB folds and again, I reluctantly call (like the donkey I am) and he flips over an A 10 off. The flop comes Q22 rainbow. The turn brings his three outer (Ac) and I'm out in tenth. My reads have been good in these spots but my luck hasn't fared so well. Poker stove gives me a little better than 70/30 but that's poker.
This story has a familiar ring wouldn't you say? This time around however, I had plenty of chips and easily could have mucked JJ in that spot but is that the right play? Tossing JJ on the button at a five handed table is a play I'm having a hard time making despite our bubble discussions at poker group last week. If he has two overs in that same spot though, ie KQ, AQ etc, I'm less than 60/40 so... Donkey move on my part or justifiable call?
I put on my body armor so fire away.
Calico
Monday, June 7, 2010
Bubble Busted
Haven't been able to play much poker this week with the in processing going on but here's what I've have so far.
I played an 18 person step two last night with a ticket and didn't take the hill as the Guru would say. In fact, I had to start over. 8 spots paid.
Players left: 10
Table: 5 handed
Blinds 100/200 (I'm 9th in chips overall, pretty short with a M just over 3)
My Stack: 1115 (after posting my BB)
The hand:
I'm dealt a Qd 6s in the BB. Players 1,2 and 3 all fold around to the SB (1050 in chips) who completes and I check my option. Flop comes 5d 6d Qh giving me top two. The SB checks and I lead out with 200 (1/2 the pot) hoping to see either a quick fold or to get some value on forth street if no diamond comes and he already has a small piece. The SB calls the 200 and the turn brings an 8s. Not a great card but I feel my two pair are still good in this spot. The SB aka frankrizzo2000 shoves his last 815 and I reluctantly call after about 15-20 seconds. Frankie shows Ah 7h giving him an open ended straight draw. Not the small pair and/or flush draw I put him on. He catches the 4h on the river and I'm left with 100 in chips. I'm blinded into the SB on the next hand and out in tenth. Reflecting on the hand I feel my small bet on the flop allowed him to pick up the draw on forth street and gave him the opportunity to make the desparation shove. I suppose with the diamonds on the flop I should have just ended the hand right there with a shove of my own and grabbed the blinds but I fell victim to a little FPS.
All in all I thought I played the hand poorly and it cost me. I think the lesson learned is when faced with a bubble situation, hitting two pair in the BB with a scary board, embrace the poker love and grab those blinds while the gettin is good. Picking up the 300 I think would have been the smart play when playing to survive.
Any thoughts? Feel free to fire away.
Game two:
I bought directly into another step two and after witnessing one or two failed bluff attempts at my table, I made a good call and took an early double up. I played fairly ABC from that point and secured my objective of moving to step three. Maybe I can learn!
Calico
I played an 18 person step two last night with a ticket and didn't take the hill as the Guru would say. In fact, I had to start over. 8 spots paid.
Players left: 10
Table: 5 handed
Blinds 100/200 (I'm 9th in chips overall, pretty short with a M just over 3)
My Stack: 1115 (after posting my BB)
The hand:
I'm dealt a Qd 6s in the BB. Players 1,2 and 3 all fold around to the SB (1050 in chips) who completes and I check my option. Flop comes 5d 6d Qh giving me top two. The SB checks and I lead out with 200 (1/2 the pot) hoping to see either a quick fold or to get some value on forth street if no diamond comes and he already has a small piece. The SB calls the 200 and the turn brings an 8s. Not a great card but I feel my two pair are still good in this spot. The SB aka frankrizzo2000 shoves his last 815 and I reluctantly call after about 15-20 seconds. Frankie shows Ah 7h giving him an open ended straight draw. Not the small pair and/or flush draw I put him on. He catches the 4h on the river and I'm left with 100 in chips. I'm blinded into the SB on the next hand and out in tenth. Reflecting on the hand I feel my small bet on the flop allowed him to pick up the draw on forth street and gave him the opportunity to make the desparation shove. I suppose with the diamonds on the flop I should have just ended the hand right there with a shove of my own and grabbed the blinds but I fell victim to a little FPS.
All in all I thought I played the hand poorly and it cost me. I think the lesson learned is when faced with a bubble situation, hitting two pair in the BB with a scary board, embrace the poker love and grab those blinds while the gettin is good. Picking up the 300 I think would have been the smart play when playing to survive.
Any thoughts? Feel free to fire away.
Game two:
I bought directly into another step two and after witnessing one or two failed bluff attempts at my table, I made a good call and took an early double up. I played fairly ABC from that point and secured my objective of moving to step three. Maybe I can learn!
Calico
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The Starting Gun
Well for those of you that already know, I'm heading back overseas for another work assignment. Workload and Internet connection permitting, I plan on really getting down to business with my poker playing. At this point, I have spent enough money, time, book reading, tutelage and bad beat stories that I should be a better than break even player and it's time to step up to the plate and prove it.
Bug has inspired me to start a blog to really keep my feet to the fire. I feel these blogs kind of serve as a semi public report card so to speak. I hope it will be an instrument to keep me focused and as to not embarrass myself.
My main focus is going to be limit hold em. I'll also play a fair amount of steps, SnG's and MTT's however I feel I really need to start beating the low to mid stakes limit games to call myself a poker player. If, along the way, I can improve my ROI in both SnG and Tournament play, then that's a plus.
It may be a short time until I get situated in my new digs before I can get this plan underway so I'll keep you all posted.
Until then, "tight is right"
Calico
Bug has inspired me to start a blog to really keep my feet to the fire. I feel these blogs kind of serve as a semi public report card so to speak. I hope it will be an instrument to keep me focused and as to not embarrass myself.
My main focus is going to be limit hold em. I'll also play a fair amount of steps, SnG's and MTT's however I feel I really need to start beating the low to mid stakes limit games to call myself a poker player. If, along the way, I can improve my ROI in both SnG and Tournament play, then that's a plus.
It may be a short time until I get situated in my new digs before I can get this plan underway so I'll keep you all posted.
Until then, "tight is right"
Calico
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