DEAD END

This blog is going to be POKER related, and long! That’s right folks! I have been playing a bit of poker!

My sexy little poker spreadsheet tells me I’m running at $165 up for the month.

Last night after going round a mates house for a bit, I came home, and thought I’d play a satellite for the Mansion $150k gtd tournament on Sunday, as I had no plans.

Whilst waiting for that to start I jumped on a couple of $0.50/1.00 tables on betfair. I made $100 net, but this hand intrigued me.

I was being a bit of a monkey on one of the tables, as per, I raised from the cutoff to $3. Re-raised to $9.50 by a guy ‘Kebabkungon’ that I’ve seen on there a few times, and seems a good player. Because they were I called with my modest 7h8h, pretty much 100% they have AA, KK, AK. Flop comes 9d10d5h. They raise $16. I’m not totally sure where I stand. I call. Turn a 10c. Smells like a bluffing card! He bets $40. I re-raise allin for $105 total. He calls in a flash. River a Qx. He scoops the pot with…? AK! Then he tells me on the chat… ‘I’ve been watching you. I have notes’… I don’t know whether to be annoyed or proud?! Any comments, I think the bet here is good. Doubtful he’s playing a 10 here. I feel he has to lay down anything in his range here, say JJ+. I know I would!

I got up to $300 on another table tho, with some donk calling a massive overbet by me with K8 on a 8 high board, I had top set.

I also qualified for the Mansion thing. I played pretty loose in this, wanting to accumulate some chips. Was splashing around in a lot of pots… Here are some key hands… xx/xx indicates the blinds.

10/20, in the cutoff. I raise to 60 with 7c5c. SB re-raises to 180, I call. Flop looks good at, 7 5 K. I bet 200, looking for a re-raise. Turn a 2. Wanting to induce a bet I check. He checks behind. River the marvellous K. Check, check. He turns up 1010 for a decent early pot. Looking at this, should I bet the river? I think not, most of the time I’m getting called in this spot, as I don’t think he puts me on a K (which is what I initially wanted!).

15/30… 99, call a raise to 90 from BB. Flop QJ5. I check raise. Call. Hmmm, what does he have? I follow up the turn (the turn follow up was an awful play I admit). Check, check river. Same guy as above sweeps up with KK.

Now down to 1,500… From, erm, 2500… Time to tighten up?

15/30… Raise early limper to 100 with QQ, all fold to limper who calls. Flop KJ6. Check, check. Turn a J. Check, check. River a Q. Limper bets 90. I re-raise to 350. Call. I take the pot.

A little frustrated with my play so far. Not really hitting much, and not picking good spots to play back. Back down to 1550… Blinds now near end of 25/50. 50/100 next. This is why I think it’s necessary to gamble a bit in the opening rounds on these tournaments, because it quickly becomes shortstack poker unless you do have a big stack, and to have 1500 is not greatly different to having 2500. Yes you have to be more selective, but it soon only becomes the difference of a preflop re-raise.

Next, a big bluff… 25/50… Kd7d in BB. MP raises to 150. 2xspots call. I call. Flop 6d 5x 10x. Checks all around. Turn a 9d. I have up and down, and flush draw. 690 pot. I bet 400, called in one spot (not original raiser). River a Qc. I bet out 800 of my remaining 1000. He dwells… and folds. PHEW! Just felt he hasn’t got a hand here he’s crazy about, and he only had 1800 left. Does he really want to put 800 in against the maniac with only 2nd pair?. Up to 2,250 after I raise two hands in a row, 1st from SB with JJ, and 2nd time with A6 from button. 1st one gets thru, second one gets re-raise from SB. I fold.

Last but not least!

50/100… AKh UTG, raise to 300. Called in 2xspots. Flop Ah 10h 7c. I bet out 600 into 1000. Called in one spot. Turn a dangerous Jc. Check, check. River a Qc. He goes all in, I call for my last 1,350. He turns over 8c9c. Should I have bet the turn? Was trying to keep the pot small, A10, and AJ are deffo playable hands, as is KhQh, and I only have 1xpair. Realistically tho it should all of gone in on the turn, and I’d have still done my money… Erm… A dead end!

Please. If anyone has comments about the above hand I’d like to hear em! Only way for this fish to learn.

Just keep swimming...

N-Dog