2/1/2010 (Solid Weekend)

Something just happened at my job that pissed me off which freed up some time to put together the framework of this post. What better time to WRITE AN ENTRY. Since I have to stick to my rule (not doing any real work for an hour when something of corporate origin angers me) I might as well give some weekend updates.
I played 19 more hours total this weekend. I cleared the bonus in time and achieved gold-star. Overall I was also up +$180 on the tables (in addition to the bonus). So I'll just include the cleared bonus in my overall profit to make myself feel good and say up +$480 for the 20 hours.
Some thoughts below:
Thinking about depositing on Full Tilt.
I've done some research online with regards to the loosest sites for cash games. Full Tilt seems to have much better ring games. I'm seriously considering a deposit on Full Tilt in the next month or so. It feels so much better when you're grinding away with a bonus on your side. The problem is I would have to play very low stacks to clear the bonus. Maybe if I deposited $600 I could short-stack 50NL or something. Also I've said it before Stars is a fucking nitfest. I have no idea how to players grind out 200NL playing 14 tables at once and make any kind of worth-while profit on that site. I guess it's easier when you have the stack to steal from the nit-bags, and jack the living hell out of the few fundamentally flawed.
Sticking to Short-stacking 200 NL.
I am really liking the format so far and I'm happy with my strategy. With the bonus included I'm up over $800 so far. And there is no way I would have achieved that bonus in time if it wasn't for 200NL. This is a crazy high swing in a rather short time. Though my two biggest sessions involved doubling up at least once and using the stack to target a bad player.
I think some of my strengths at short-stacking 200NL include table selection, quickly profiling weak opponents, and a solid TAG strategy. I think a weakness is not having extensive knowledge on what the top short-stack NL grinders are specifically doing in every respect (though I have a general idea). I think some additional research could take care of this. I also think a weakness is being to tight at times. But this is a fine line. My bankroll is already small (now $2500) for these limits, and being tight cuts back on the bankroll fluctuations.
Example of Being Tight (Weakness).
If I'm confident I have someone at the time I need to get all in with the $40 obviously.
However, If I double up and that table isn't profitable enough I need to GET THE HELL OUT. This is why short-stacking regulars hit and run. They don't shift styles. They don't want to out-skill opponents playing real poker; they are PUSH-BOTS. I am striving to be a hybrid between the push-bot and the "real poker player".
If I double up and a table isn't profitable enough I need to get the hell out. There is no reason to risk an $80 stack vs a regular that has played over 2 million hands. At this point my doubled up short-stack becomes a disadvantage. Last night I lost a pot that put me down for a 2 hour session. I doubled up earlier and my stack was around $95. I raised to $6 pre flop with JJ and a solid regulare behind me elected to call. We are now head-ups up and the flop comes all low cards. I lead out betting $8 to a $15 pot and he CALLS. TURN comes queen. I lead out $14 more he CALLS. River comes another blank.
Now what?
CHECK you dumb-ass! He's already shown his strength the last two rounds. Pray he checks down. If he makes an average sized bet in comparison to the pot you can CALL. If the bet is to high for your liking throw the bitch away.
Instead I bet $14 (Thinking maybe he hasn't showed strength enough and I've been in control on the flop and turn).
He re-raises all in and I FOLD. It would have been 40-something more dollars to call.
With $40 I would have been all in with this hand and he shows down no matter what. I could even get close to all in on the flop with over-pair JJ (or even if the flop has something like a queen I can still get all in and be profitable in the long run since he's going to miss more times than not).
This is the problem with doubling up and sticking around with a bigger stack. It's so tempting because I like to try to work my way up from nothing and play "real poker" with terrible players. If I didn't play this way I wouldn't have won some of the biggest pots during the last week. One of my pots was a full $140 doubled up to $280 even though I only started the table with $40. But if the terrible players aren't there it's time to get the hell out. If I double up and stick around I need to make damn sure I focus that stack on a very weak player and get in the best situation. Even if I double up, go super tight, and wait for a hand I can still be playing unprofitably against skilled regulars because situations like the JJ hand discussed above will often arise.
Not sure if I'm going to play tonight. I would like to crush a nap and play a few hours. But if a friend stops over I might have to cancel out the session tonight. It's going to be a damn long week ahead like usual.....
Cheers,
-bag
Reader Comments (1)
You'd clear the $600 FT sign up bonus in no time if you played the rush tables mate, even the $0.05/$0.10, especially as you get 90 days to clear it