Start Good, Finish Bad or Vice Versa

My favorite day of the Week. 90 Players out today for the Mook. Pocket Pairs would be my nemisis tonight.

When it got close to Mook time, I was busy with 5 tables, so I did not have time to Live Blog. I still my try it next week. I chipped all the way to first place about mid way through the first half and was doing well. Working the big stack and all that good stuff.

I had back to back hands with Donkette that more or less defined my tourney. Donkette raises and I reraise with AA; but get no action. The very next hand I get JJ and who raises it up before me? Donkette, of course. This time I just called the raise and unfortunately couldn't get away from the Q high flop. Donkette turned over KK and crippled me.

Next, I called a what I thought was a desperation button push from the man himself, Al. I had A6s and called. He turned over KJ and flopped Trips. Good Hand. These are the kind of hands that you need to win to go deep. Obviously, nobody did anything wrong here. It's just poker.

I finally reraised pushed with a middle pocket pair and was sad to see KK turned over. No suckout for me and I was out in 51st. They are at the final table now. We'll see who pulls it out. "Evil" Wonka is still in but at the bottom of the pack with 8 left so I have to root for him.

I had a nice night at the cash tables making almost 5 buy ins in 566 hands. I tried to play a little tighter even though the stats might not show it. I did start the night with two hands where top pair lost to flopped sets. This is still a huge leak... knowing when to lay down top pair. So started off bad but ended good. Vice Versa... started off good in Mook, but finished poorly.


I finished the nigh with 25.27/19.08/2.71. Surprisingly I only won 52% of my hands at showdown. After watching a Stoxpoker Video by Hunter Bick, I ramped up aggression and 3 betting a little bit and folded more to pressure. Especially middle pockets to 3 bets. Typically, I was calling there.. even if Heads Up. I think depending on player, it is still OK; but with the TAGs, got to let it go.

OK.. Not much on HH advice today as most of the big hands held up. Here is the one hand that I had the toughest time figuring out what to do:

Here's the setup. I had been stealing blinds quite a bit. Villain is a fairly strong player (18/16/8) so I knew they were going to play back at my blinds sooner or later. I had folded one other time to a 3 bet so I did not want to keep up that pattern.

I'm going to do my best RecessRampage impersonation here.

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (SB): $62.65
BB: $97.65
UTG: $50.85
CO: $50.00
BTN: $55.25

Pre Flop: Hero is SB with T J

3 folds, Hero raises to $1.50, BB raises to $4, Hero calls $2.50

Obviously JT isn't a hand that you are going to call a 3 bet very often. To me, Preflop raise is OK here. Again, I know Villain is tired of me stealing blinds. The nice thing about JT is that if you hit, you can get paid, if it doesn't you can get away. Knowing that you may need to lay down one pair hands, if the situation warrants it. Foreshadow hint!!!


Flop: ($8.00) 5 J 5 (2 players)

Hero checks, BB bets $5.75, Hero raises to $14, BB calls $8.25

I know Villian C-betting here. I opt for c/r and he just calls.

Turn: ($36.00) 3 (2 players)

Hero bets $19, BB raises to $79.65 all in, Hero calls ???

Now, I put a weak type of bet (I think). Should this bet be larger? Should I be checking? This hand is very similar to a previous hand that I posted in that I almost know that I must be beat; but I am getting over 3-1. Can you fold top pair here?

River: ($125.30) 7

Final Pot: $125.30

Hero shows Th Jd (two pair, Jacks and Fives)
BB shows Jc 6d (two pair, Jacks and Fives)
Hero wins $122.30
(Rake: $3.00)

Whew!!!! Thoughts?? I really do appreciate any and all comments.



Finally, for entertainment purposes. Here are two hands that were back to back.


Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
SB: $9.30
BB: $83.65
UTG: $57.55
CO: $101.20
Hero (BTN): $50.00

Pre Flop: Hero is BTN with 9 A

Hero raises to $1.75, 3 folds, CO calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75) 8 Q 5 (2 players)

CO bets $3, Hero calls $3

Turn: ($9.75) Q (2 players)

CO checks, Hero checks

River: ($9.75) 8 (2 players)

CO bets $2, Hero calls $2

Final Pot: $13.75

CO shows Qs 7s (a full house, Queens full of Eights)
Hero mucks 9c Ac
CO wins $13.10
(Rake: $0.65)

Who said Flop Nut flushes are gold? Ok nobody. Luckily, it wasn't too expensive.



Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter
UTG: $45.70
CO: $51.85
BTN: $35.40
SB: $71.00
Hero (BB): $54.95

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with K Q

UTG raises to $1.75, 3 folds, Hero calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.75) K A T (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG bets $2.50, Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($8.75) Q (2 players)

Hero checks, UTG checks

River: ($8.75) K (2 players)

Hero bets $5, UTG calls $5

Final Pot: $18.75
UTG mucks Js Ts
Hero shows Ks Qs (a full house, Kings full of Queens)
Hero wins $17.85
(Rake: $0.90)


Nothing like runner, runner.

Finally, I was gifted a hand. it is raised to me and I have QQ, I 3 bet and then fairly tight player 4 bets me and I call.

Flop is TK4.. Check Check
5 Check Check
Q Allin in.. Fold.

He Had AK. or so he says. He folded. He is either uber tight or he was not telling the truth. Who knows and who cares.

Mookie down to final two and Evil Wonka is hanging in there. Loretta8 has a 2-1 chip lead.

It's late so I will have to find out tomorrow.

Have a nice day!!!!