Good Times at Table and Rakebake Tourney

One more day to vote on your favorite podcasts. Bart Hanson's Cash Plays is winning so far and I agree that is a good one. You can vote in the upper right hand corner of blog.

On a suggestion by Alan, I moved up to 50c/$1 from 25c/50c. While there wasn't too many differences, there were subtle differences. I will hold off from commenting on those to make sure that they are the rule and not the exception from my early sessions.

Unfortunately, I was greeted with some hands that weren't really bad beats and weren't quite coolers. Things like flush over flush over flush (there were only 3 hearts on board and we all had 2 hearts). I was the middle man playing the 3rd nuts, losing to the 2nd nuts. A7 on a board of AxK7A losing to AK, etc, etc.. The good news is that after about 1,200 hands, I am more or less break even (+3.50).

I did have one pretty entertaining hand. The hand itself wasn't too exciting other than I did hit a straight flush; but the chat the ensued following the hand was pretty entertaining. Well, at least to me. Take a look.

MP (MP): $71.50
(CO): $136.15
(BTN): $100.00
Hero (SB): $129.00
BB (BB): $171.10
(UTG): $65.40

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is SB with 4d 7d
1 fold, MP calls $1, CO $1, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, BB checks

Flop: ($4.00) 3d 6d 4h (4 players)
Hero bets $2, BB calls $2, MP raises to $12, CO folds, Hero calls $10, BB folds

Turn: ($30.00) Ad (2 players)
Hero checks, MP bets $30, Hero raises to $75, MP calls $28.50 all in

River: ($147.00) 5d

Final Pot: $147.00
MP shows 4c 4s (three of a kind, Fours)
Hero shows 4d 7d (a straight flush, Seven high)
Hero wins $144.00
(Rake: $3.00)


MP: omg
MP: ur so luckt
Hero: let's see
Hero: pair
Hero: flush draw
Hero: straight draw
Hero: and obv... str8 flush draw
MP: i had trips
MP: was pot wortjh it
Hero: I know...
MP: flush straight dont beat fh
Hero: really
Hero: I was a 79$ fav
Hero: 70%
Hero: 59%
Hero: 79%
Hero: I can't type
MP: cant play either
Hero: yeah.. I really shouldn't get my chips in the middle asa 79% fav
Hero: maybe you could give me some lessons some time
MP: u wasnt 79 percrent
Hero: oh yeah
MP: yes
Hero: you're right... it was 79.5%
MP: not it wasnt u mug
MP: u talk a good game
Hero: try p0kerstove.com
MP: dont need to
MP: i know the odds u were
Hero: you're right...
Hero: it was 79.55% per p0kerstove
MP: no it wasnt
Hero: I don't know what to tell you stevie...
MP: u think 79.55
Hero: nope...
Hero: I know
BB: did stevie say that a str8 flush doesnt beat a boat?
Hero: yep
Hero: actually he said flush straight
MP: Hero do u type in everyhand into p0kerstove lol#
Hero: nope...
Hero: but you know...
Hero: there are other programs that will do it as well
Hero: I knew you didn't have one of those
MP: i dont need one
Hero: that is obvious..
Hero: keep doing what you are doing
BB: stevie...save your money, try soiltaire...its free
MP: i know them enough
Hero: I wish you the best
Hero: truly...
Hero: except for the hands against me... ;-)
MP: thanks
MP: i didnt expexct u to be calling with that preflop
Hero: I was in SB in an urnraised pot..
Hero: who doesn't call that
MP: and as for u BB
MP: u aint funny
Hero: excuse my ignorance... Essex is in England?
MP: yes
Hero: what time is it there... I'm in the US
MP: r u gonna try be funny willi
Hero: no...
MP: man of ur knowledge
Hero: do you know what time it is in the Midwest in the US?
MP: england is same time all over
Hero: ?
MP: so a slight difference


I can stop smiling every time that I read that. Gotta love it. To his defense, he wasn't a terrible player. At least as far as YOU know.

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Rakeback. Everybody knows about this, right? If not, you need to. Click on either of the banners on the right to start getting rakeback, if you don't have it. I know they will also help you out if you already have an account on a site and aren't getting rakeback. Anyway, I played in the RakeTheRake $7,500 freeroll today with about 350 people. I made it to the final table sitting in 1st place by a pretty good margin. I got rivered on one hand (all in preflop) and then fell for a big bluff that put me down into the pack. To make this a short story, the disappointment was that I finished 5th for a $412 payday. The $1,900 would have been nicer. My final hand A7s hit 2 pair but was counterfeited by a higher pair. That's the way it goes. These freerolls are just another reason that you need to be getting rakeback.

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Olympics. The only thing that I will say is that I loved every minute of it.

Have a nice day!!!

Hammered

If you look at Webster's Dictionary for the word hammered, you find the following definition(s)

Function: adjective
Date: 1522
1: having surface indentations produced or appearing to have been produced by hammering
2: slang : drunk 1a

I submit one more. They say that a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Well, I don't have a picture; but maybe I have the next best thing. A hand history

This came from the 13th hand of the Mook tonight. Let me preface this that I wasn't even going to play tonight as I just wasn't really in the mood, if you can believe that. How can one not be in the mood to play the Moooookkkkk..

Anyway, here it is (and the names haven't been changed to protect the innocent):

Make note of the Waffles comment about our host. hmmmm.

One further note. This was my first hand at this table as I had just got moved.

Full Tilt Poker Game #7733104127: The Mookie (58100347), Table 7 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 22:11:14 ET - 2008/08/20
Seat 1: emptyman (2,895), is sitting out
Seat 2: VinNay (3,355)
Seat 3: SirFWALGMan (3,060)
Seat 4: xkm1245 (2,955)
Seat 5: PinkyStinky (2,865), is sitting out
Seat 6: SmBoatDrinks (3,075)
Seat 7: willwonka (2,285)
Seat 8: jeciimd (2,910)
Seat 9: IlkkaK (2,795)
SmBoatDrinks posts the small blind of 20
willwonka posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to willwonka [Td Ks]
SirFWALGMan: mookie has always been tight
jeciimd folds
IlkkaK folds
emptyman folds
VinNay folds
SirFWALGMan folds
xkm1245 raises to 120
PinkyStinky folds
SirFWALGMan: or do you mean the MTT?
VinNay: eah...ok
SmBoatDrinks folds
xkm1245: lol
VinNay: the MTT
SirFWALGMan: ahhh
willwonka has 15 seconds left to act
willwonka calls 80
*** FLOP *** [2s 2h Tc]
willwonka checks
xkm1245 bets 150
SirFWALGMan: one out already w/ DS
willwonka calls 150
*** TURN *** [2s 2h Tc] [2d]
willwonka checks
SirFWALGMan: cant be that tight
xkm1245 bets 350
willwonka has 15 seconds left to act
willwonka raises to 950
xkm1245 raises to 1,550
PinkyStinky has returned
willwonka has 15 seconds left to act
willwonka raises to 2,015, and is all in
xkm1245 calls 465
willwonka shows [Td Ks]
xkm1245 shows [7s 2c]
*** RIVER *** [2s 2h Tc 2d] [8h]
willwonka shows a full house, Twos full of Tens
xkm1245 shows four of a kind, Twos
xkm1245 wins the pot (4,590) with four of a kind, Twos
SirFWALGMan: HAMMMAH!
xkm1245: weeha
willwonka stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4,590 Rake 0
Board: [2s 2h Tc 2d 8h]
Seat 1: emptyman didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: VinNay didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: SirFWALGMan didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: xkm1245 showed [7s 2c] and won (4,590) with four of a kind, Twos
Seat 5: PinkyStinky (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: SmBoatDrinks (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 7: willwonka (big blind) showed [Td Ks] and lost with a full house, Twos full of Tens
Seat 8: jeciimd didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: IlkkaK didn't bet (folded)

I pretty knew I was beat; but wasn't really expecting to be "hammered". Oh well, what can you do.

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In other news, I finally watched the WSOP 50K HORSE tourney on ESPN. I am really saddened by Scotty Nguyen's behaviour. I really hope that this is the exception and not the norm for him. I'm not going down the road of name calling because I have also heard plenty of good things about him. That was obviously not him. It was the alcohol. I personally believe that should have cut him off many beers ago. Regarding the young guy Michael DiMichelle, I personally didn't have any problems with his quasi celebrating. And to his credit, he toned it down once it was brought up.

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Luckily, I have thrown 3 positive sessions together. I didn't think that was going to happen as I got down early; but I continued to play my game and got some good hands when I needed.

Here is a graph of today's action.

I had one big hand with set over set; but other than that it was mostly small pots.

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Keep voting in the upper right hand corner for the podcasts that you most like to listen. Again, my time that I get to listen to podcasts has been shortened and I wanted to see what most of you podcasters are listening to. Feel free to vote for more than one item, if appropriate.

Have a nice Day!!!

Uninspired

Wow, have I been uninspired to post lately. It is not that I haven't been playing, because I have been. It's not that I have been playing badly or having bad results as the results have been OK. They have not been spectacular either; but things are ok.

As a matter of fact, let's just take a look at my month midway through August.




Things actually started pretty good; but then had a really bad weekend. Things went a little better yesterday as I made up 1 buyin of the 4 that I had lost the previous days. Hands like this help.


Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

SB: $82.45
BB: $60.70
UTG: $51.85
MP: $50.00
Hero (CO): $57.40
BTN: $75.65

Pre Flop: Hero is CO with 7d 8d
UTG raises to $1.75, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.75, 1 fold, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($5.75) 8s 8h 8c (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $5.75, Hero calls $5.75, SB folds

Turn: ($17.25) 6s (2 players)
UTG bets $17.25, Hero calls $17.25

River: ($51.75) 5c (2 players)
UTG bets $27.10 all in, Hero calls $27.10

Final Pot: $105.95
UTG shows Kd Kc (a full house, Eights full of Kings)
Hero shows 7d 8d (four of a kind, Eights)
Hero wins $102.95
(Rake: $3.00)

This one isn't bad either.. If you like Royal Flushes. I even got paid on it. NOT!!!!!

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

BTN: $22.05
SB: $51.45
BB: $52.70
Hero (UTG): $58.75
CO: $44.55

Pre Flop: Hero is UTG with Ad Td
Hero raises to $1.75, 2 folds, SB calls $1.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($4.00) 7d Qd Jd (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($4.00) Kd (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks

River: ($4.00) 3d (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $57 all in, SB folds

Final Pot: $4.00
Hero wins $3.80
(Rake: $0.20)

How do you like the All in for Value move? I didn't expect it to work either; but nothing like giving it the college try.

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For money/gas saving reasons, I am now carpooling with my wife. While I enjoy the ride into work with her, it has severely cut into my Podcast listening where there is no way that I can keep up with all of the podcasts.

I've put a new poll out there seeking your opinions on which podcasts that you like to listen to. I guess the two that I try to stay caught up on are the 2+2 pokercast and Cash Plays with Bart Hanson. I also like Poker Road Radio when it is going. Take a few seconds and let me know which ones you like. You can even vote for more than one. Also, there are plenty that I am missing, so please vote for other and let me know in the comments.

EDIT: By the way, for the best source of Poker Podcast's. Head over to Hard-Boiled Poker. He has an extensive list of most if not all poker podcasts... including the World Famous Hard Boiled Poker Radio Podcast

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Speaking of polls, it was pretty unanimous about the whole AP/UB thing. Most everyone would choose not to play there; but let it go as it is my money (or whomever) and you can do with it what you want. Again, it was pretty much the answer I thought I would get.

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I am beginning to think more about 6max vs full ring. Having gone much from there yet; but I hope to have more on that later. I am mixing in Pot Limit in with my No Limit. So far this month, I have played 3,324 hands of PL for 11.49 BB/100s as compared to no limit where I have played 8.107 hands at a 1.55 bb/100 clip. I am going to continue to try to add more PL games into the mix.

That should do it for now.

Have a nice day!!!

Different Day, Same Results and Sports Weekend

So, I played in the Mook and finally made another final table. It had been a long while since I had made any kind of splash in this thing. Something like 46 players started and 6 paid. Luckily, I didn't bubble; but I did finish in 6th when my AKs was no match for Waffles A9 on a A9x9K board. I didn't push preflop; but I doubt that would have made any difference. At last count, I believe Waffles had a dozen knockouts. That's pretty amazing. Somehow, he didn't finish the deal. I didn't stay up to watch. Congrats to DrewsPop.

I'm getting pysched for this weekend. Of course, there will be some football and that is never a bad thing; but it is preseason. There is the PGA Championship and that is always good to watch. Any golf major and I will promptly have the DVR set. But this weekend is all about the beginning of the Olympic Games which I just love. I won't really watch the Opening Ceremonies; but after that, I will be watching as much as I can. I know Direct TV has extra channels so I should be able to get my fill.

I did play poker tonight and my luck streak or lack thereof continued. Or did it? I'm going to post all of my all in hands from the night.

OK.. for anybody that is still with me here we go. I'm not going to analyze or give player stats because this post will be about the RESULTS not the decisions. These will be in the order played. Out of the 739 hands that I played tonight, there were 10 all in hands.

Hand #1

Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): $50.00
UTG: $21.60
MP: $11.50
CO: $24.80
BTN: $17.15
SB: $65.95

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with Qd Qc
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, SB calls $0.25, Hero raises to $3, 2 folds, BTN calls $2.50, 1 fold

Flop: ($7.50) 6c 2c 5d (2 players)
Hero bets $5, BTN raises to $14.15 all in, Hero calls $9.15

Turn: ($35.80) Ks

River: ($35.80) 3d

Final Pot: $35.80
Hero shows Qd Qc (a pair of Queens)
BTN shows 4c 4d (a straight, Six high)
BTN wins $34.05
(Rake: $1.75)


All in as 74.8% Favorite..... Lost


Hand #2
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (MP): $50.00
CO: $19.60
BTN: $33.30
SB: $33.40
BB: $30.50
UTG: $67.30

Pre Flop: Hero is MP with Qh Kd
UTG calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.25, CO calls $2.25, 3 folds, UTG calls $1.75

Flop: ($7.50) Qc Qd Ad (3 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks, CO bets $7.50, UTG calls $7.50, Hero raises to $22.50, CO calls $9.85 all in, UTG calls $15

Turn: ($69.85) 4c (3 players - 1 is all in)
UTG checks, Hero bets $25.25 all in, UTG calls $25.25

River: ($120.35) 6c

Final Pot: $120.35
Hero shows Qh Kd (three of a kind, Queens)
CO shows Ks As (two pair, Aces and Queens)
UTG shows Jd 2d (a pair of Queens)


All in as 78.6% Favorite... Won

Hand #3
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $112.10
CO: $50.00
BTN: $29.65
SB: $8.80
BB: $102.05

Pre Flop: Hero is UTG with 7h 7c
Hero raises to $1.75, 1 fold, BTN calls $1.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($4.25) 3d 2c 7s (2 players)
Hero bets $2.50, BTN raises to $5, Hero calls $2.50

Turn: ($14.25) 5h (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $14.25, Hero raises to $28.50, BTN calls $8.65 all in

River: ($60.05) 6c

Final Pot: $60.05
Hero shows 7h 7c (three of a kind, Sevens)
BTN shows 4s 4h (a straight, Seven high)
BTN wins $57.05
(Rake: $3.00)


Allin as 81 .8 % favorite.... Lost


Hand #4
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $47.60
SB: $41.15
BB: $122.20
UTG: $50.00
MP: $10.10
Hero (CO): $102.50

Pre Flop: Hero is CO with Kd Ks
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2.25, 3 folds, MP raises to $7.50, Hero raises to $12.75, MP calls $2.60 all in

Flop: ($20.95) 3s 4h Kh

Turn: ($20.95) 5h

River: ($20.95) Qs

Final Pot: $20.95
MP shows 2d Ad (a straight, Five high)
Hero shows Kd Ks (three of a kind, Kings)
MP wins $19.95
(Rake: $1.00)


All in as 67.8% Favorite.... Lost

Hand #5
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

Hero (BB): $86.95
UTG: $67.80
MP: $39.80
CO: $40.40
BTN: $69.05
SB: $58.65

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with 4s 2d
1 fold, MP calls $0.50, 2 folds, SB calls $0.25, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.50) 3s Ad 5h (3 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, MP bets $1.50, SB calls $1.50, Hero raises to $4, MP folds, SB calls $2.50

Turn: ($11.00) 2s (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8, SB raises to $25, Hero raises to $82.45 all in, SB calls $29.15 all in

River: ($119.30) 6d

Final Pot: $119.30
Hero shows 4s 2d (a straight, Six high)
SB shows 4d Qd (a straight, Six high)
SB wins $58.15
Hero wins $58.15
(Rake: $3.00)

All in as 50% Favorite and pushed.. Flop straights aren't gold by themselves

Hand #6
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $64.95
BTN: $6.60
SB: $50.00
BB: $109.10
Hero (UTG): $77.85

Pre Flop: Hero is UTG with Ks Ad
Hero raises to $1.75, 1 fold, BTN calls $1.75, 2 folds

Flop: ($4.25) 8s 9h Jd (2 players)
Hero bets $4.25, BTN raises to $4.85 all in, Hero calls $0.60

Turn: ($13.95) Tc

River: ($13.95) 7h

Final Pot: $13.95
BTN shows 9c Jh (a straight, Jack high)
Hero shows Ks Ad (a straight, Jack high)
Hero wins $6.65
BTN wins $6.65
(Rake: $0.65)


All in as a 5.8% Favorite... Oopss... Got lucky and chopped. Villain extremely shortstacked.


Hand # 1
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 Pot Limit Hold'em - 5 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

UTG: $64.95
CO: $6.65
BTN: $50.00
SB: $108.60
Hero (BB): $77.90

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with 6c 6s
1 fold, CO raises to $1, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.25) 4d Qd 8s (2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $2.25, Hero raises to $9, CO calls $3.40 all in

Turn: ($13.55) 7h

River: ($13.55) Qc

Final Pot: $13.55
CO shows 5s 5d (two pair, Queens and Fives)
Hero shows 6c 6s (two pair, Queens and Sixes)
Hero wins $12.90
(Rake: $0.65)

All in as 87.3% favorite and actually won... so After the first 7, I am 2-3-1

All of the above were Pot Limit hands. Below were my No Limit hands.


Hand #1
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

BB: $41.20
UTG: $50.00
MP: $9.50
Hero (CO): $64.90
BTN: $27.80
SB: $120.10

Pre Flop: Hero is CO with Kh Kd
2 folds, Hero raises to $1.75, BTN raises to $27.80 all in, 2 folds, Hero calls $26.05

Flop: ($56.35) As 5h 3d

Turn: ($56.35) 2d

River: ($56.35) Td

Final Pot: $56.35
Hero shows Kh Kd (a pair of Kings)
BTN shows Kc Ac (a pair of Aces)
BTN wins $53.55
(Rake: $2.80)

All in as 65.9 % Favorite and Lost

Hand #2
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $41.00
BTN: $50.00
SB: $5.95
Hero (BB): $52.35
UTG: $28.55
MP: $120.60

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with Qs Qc
3 folds, BTN raises to $1.75, SB raises to $5.95 all in, Hero calls $5.45, BTN calls $4.20

Flop: ($17.85) Td 3h 8c (3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero bets $10, BTN folds

Turn: ($17.85) 4s

River: ($17.85) Qh

Final Pot: $17.85
SB shows Th Tc (three of a kind, Tens)
Hero shows Qs Qc (three of a kind, Queens)
Hero wins $17.00
(Rake: $0.85)

All in as 10.2 % favoite and won... Can you see a theme.. get you chips in with the worst of it.

Hand #3
Full Tilt Poker $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players
The Official DeucesCracked.com Hand History Converter

CO: $15.75
BTN: $21.15
SB: $49.50
Hero (BB): $50.75
UTG: $79.15
MP: $96.45

Pre Flop: Hero is BB with Qh Kc
2 folds, CO calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB calls $0.25, Hero checks

Flop: ($1.50) 9s Jd Ks (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1, CO raises to $4, SB folds, Hero raises to $13.50, CO raises to $15.25 all in, Hero calls $1.75

Turn: ($32.00) 7d

River: ($32.00) 2c

Final Pot: $32.00
CO shows Kh Jh (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
Hero shows Qh Kc (a pair of Kings)
CO wins $30.40
(Rake: $1.60)

All in as 27.4% Favorite and Lost... So what for the theme of getting in with the worst of it.

So overall for my all in hands... I was 3-5-2 for a loss of $16.25 which I guess isn't too bad.

Overall, I was able to break even for the night. Actually a little ahead. It stinks because I was way up early on. Below is the chart. The second line is my EV line which represents what should have been based on my EV when the chips went into the middle.




So there you have it and there you are.

Have a good day!!

USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!

I guess I need to look at the big picture

Wow, it's been a week since my last post. That's what a bad stretch will do for you. The poll ended up with the majority of you saying that you need to play through it. If I had to answer the question, I would say that I:

either play through it, take a break, study or break something. Yep, I do it all. That's just how I roll. Initially, as things went south, I was determined to play through it while at the same time I was probably breaking some things (mostly my hand as I was punching something). Then I thought to study a little by watching videos which I seem to never really follow up on. And then, ultimately, I have just taken a short break. It was really only a few days; but whatever it takes to freshen things up. I played a little live poker during that time.

I did have some good comments from Klopzi and Jamyhawk. Thanks, and keep them coming.

So, how bad a month was it? A simple graph will give you a good idea. Very depressing.

Words can't really explain it. Was I running bad? Not really as my EV was about the same as what I ended up.

I played at a 21.7/14.7/2.26 clip for the month of almost 26,000 hands. That in itself isn't terrible. I won at showdown around 49% which again isn't terrible. It's not good; but doesn't represent the final numbers. I was down on all of my all in hands; but only $33. The truth be told, I just don't know. It was just a bad month.

So why do I need to look at the big picture? Because all in all, I actually was up $100 (ok, actually it was $93) when you take into account tournaments, Rakeback, Bonus, Blackjack and Live play. So, I won't say that I'm happy about it; but a positive month is a positive month when you look at the big picture; but definitely the small picture of my ring play is glaring and needs to be fixed. I am up in August so far; but as I said I took a small break and have only played 1,000 hands so far.

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Now, for my new poll question and I'm almost positive I know what the result of this one will be. This whole Absolute and Ultimate Bet thing is getting crazier by the minute; especially with the recent UB things. I'm not going to get on my high horse and defend either site or at the same time, I'm not going to say anything bad. At this point, you can go plenty of places to get the scoop and editorials. The truth of the matter is that I still have money on AP. In fact, I just put another $150 to get a 100% bonus. Wow, have they changed their bonus clearing structure. Maybe it is just the limits I play now; but it took over 1,000 hands to clear $5. That is terrible. Anyway, onto this weeks question.

Regardless of whether you have money there or not, let me know your thoughts on playing on AP/UB? Again, I think I know the answer; but don't hold back. Give me the business, if need be.

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Due to my 2nd place finish at Harrah's last month, I got to play in their 10K freeroll Tourney of champions. Unfortunately, I never got any cards. Out of 131 runners, I finished 15th which is amazing giving that I didn't have a pocket pair over pocket 6s. I had AK once which I folded. with blinds at 50/100 someone raised to 600 and someone called. It was early and I decided to let it go. Ace came on the flop and somebody when all in. Pocket Queens reluctantly laid his hand down and the winner showed A2o. HUH???? Nice play. Needless to say, this guy did not last much longer.

I finally went out on KQ. I went all in and somebody behind me went all in and somebody called him. Oops... I was up against TT and AQ. Flop was 9Tx so I was drawing dead to a Jack which never came. Top 10 paid here so it was close but no cigar. I was obviously short stacked and had to get some chips as that was the first time I saw any resemblance of a good hand.

That should do it for today..

Have a nice day!!!