Updates and Re-Steal Chat (7.5.2010)

I played about 7 hours last night and ended up +$40.  Then I played a final hour from 3:45a.m – 4:45 a.m and got slammed for -$190.  I have never seen such a disgusting hour in my life.  Every suck-out, cooler, and coin-flip hit on me in the span of 40 minutes across 12 + tables and I dropped over 9 fucking buy-ins.  I sort of wish I never even logged on for the final hour.  There wasn't much I could do, just accept my EV ass-kicking an move on.

So things have yet to go well.  I’ve been doing a lot of research with regards to the math behind certain re-steal situations.  During my sessions I’ve been logging certain situations, and later I’ve been figuring out the math to see if it would have indeed been profitable to push.  Some of the findings have been surprising.  I think this is the key to plugging my most ugly leak which is not 3-betting light enough pre-flop.  Eventually I’ll have an excel book with positive ranges to push based on position, villain's opening range, and villains estimated calling range.  Effective stack size and initial raise size will also be factored into the equation.  I used some a forum and Pokerstove to help me out here.

For example, I already have the range of 28.8% (A common stealing range) mapped out.  The hardest part is estimated the villain’s calling range when you're planning a re-steal, which really comes down to experience based on the opponent.  For example let’s say the opponent steals 29.8%, and we estimate his calling range to be 19.8%.  If our effective stack size is 20BB, and he opens 3x from the BTN and we are in the BB what is our effective push range?  As in what hands would it be +EV in push all in.  There is a very specific answer and it happens to be something like:

55+, A8s+, A9o+, KJo+

This is a VERY WIDE range of hands.  And this ties in to a very serious leak that I have been playing with.  I would take the range above and play around with Pokerstove to figure out hands that will be EV to push no matter what the villains calling range is.  Even if the mother fucker calls 25% and steals 29.8% the positive range to push is still at minimum 55+, A8s+, ATo+.  I would personally adjust this range to favor hands like QK over 55 and 66 for example.  QKs has slightly more heads up equity than even 88.  Even if I expanded this range to 77+, ATs+, and QKo this would be a huge increase from what I was 3-betting in the past.  In the past with an opponent stealing around 28.8% I would really only 3-bet with hands like AQ+ and 99+ unless I had a read on an opponent that he was going after me and would fold to a 3-bet very light.  Huge huge leak, what a gaping hole in my logic.

Resteal analysis is something I’ve really been focusing on when I’m not playing.  Positive ranges to re-steal based on EV can be calculated for an endless amount of situations.  I plan to have EV push ranges for pretty much every situation I run into when everything is said and done.  My full buy in bum-hunts have been going well, but the short-stacking still miserable.  I actually think full buy in poker is easier at my stakes.  The regulars just sit there and play 8/7/3 and go after weak players.  If you play short-stack like that you get destroyed.  I've still been having nice success buying up to full and going after weak players.  Even when I get tangled with regulars their ranges are so clearly defined that they never represent a serious threat.  Really fulll buy in poker is more my style.

Anyways about to go out and play tennis.  Planning to put in 5 hours of poker later.  I’ve been having serious thoughts about pushing back my 2-week notice date at the day job.  I will discuss this in much greater detail later.  I just don’t feel like I’m ready yet.  My win rate online just isn’t there.  Oh I’m currently 92% to Supernova.

-bag    

Dating Confusion and Really Distracted (7/1/2010)

Dating confusion.... that's a SHOCKER.  I'm going to warn you there isn't a lot of poker in this post.  It's my blog and I talk about my personal life as well.  This is a rare post that will mostly be all about a dating situation.

Cutting to the chase I met two girls at the beach through a very good mutual friend.  They are twins, 21 years old, blonde, cute, and starting senior year during their next semester.  I'm going to make up two names here to protect the innocent: let's say Nicole and Jessica.  Sunday they stayed after at my place at the beach after the rest of their friends left and hung out about 5-6 hours with me before they left.  We spent most of the day just hanging out at the pool and relaxing.  We got along really well.  I thought they were both extremely sweet, down to earth, and respectful.  Sweet, respectful, and down to earth usually can't be found in the same sentence with girls I end up going after.  It got me thinking, why the hell am I not hanging out with/dating more girls like this?  I got both of their numbers.

Anyways, I liked Nicole slightly more than Jessica.  I thought she had a slightly better body and cutter face.  I was physically a little more attracted to Nicole.  I also thought she was more of a partier and would be able to keep up with me more in a good way.  However, Jessica seemed a little nicer and I was more in touch with her goals somewhat more.  She also seemed into me a little more.  So after they left the beach for home I realized Nicole left her phone charger and something else at my place.  She later contacted me and I assured her I would return her possessions.  However, the last text I sent to her she didn't respond to me.  Which was something like, "How are you, Did you guys make good time?"  I basically just wanted to keep the conversation going and keep talking to her.  But her not getting back to my last text on Sunday night gave me the sign that she wasn't all that interested.

So while I was hanging out with Jessica at the beach I asked her if she would be interesting in having a drink or two around home on Thursday to break up the work-week.  She agreed and seemed very interested. 

This entire week I debated whether or not to text Jessica to meet up, text Nicole, or text both.  After some debate I decided that if I texted one to meet up I could not longer text the other girl.  Because they are twins and very close.  If I tried to get in touch and set something up with both I would be labeled a player and written off.  Or worse case scenario I would be completely put in the friend boat by both girls, as they might think OH LET'S ALL MEET UP AND CHILL LIKE BEST FRIENDS!  Not that it would be a horrible thing, I think they are both really sweet girls and I'd like to stay in touch.  But honestly I would like to theoretically take one out and hook up with her.  Well I guess in a perfect world I wouldn't mind taking them both out and hooking up with them both.  However, this is real life, NOT A PORNO.

So anyways.........

I suddenly realized if anything this situation shows how fucking insane I really am.  THEY ARE TWINS.  Almost any other person would probably not be able to tell the difference between them.  But I'm going to sit here and throw out the mad claim that Nicole is the better looking twin, and I like her that much more, EVEN KNOW Jessica seems more interested in me.  Besides, I would be more attracted to Jessica as I took her out and got closer to her right?  I don't know right?

So I decided to ignore how insane I really am.  I texted Jessica on Wednesday and asked if she still wanted to meet up for drinks.  She got back to me and said they were going out to another location after work, and I should come hang out with them for a bit.  By then I figured she meant her sister and some work friends.  So I was cool with this situation.  I figured I should just play it by ear and maybe be able to tell if one of them was into me more while I was out.  I could then theoretically try to set up a date alone with whoever seemed more interested.

So I met up with them earlier tonight after work.  They had some friends with them and we all hung out about 3-4 hours.  The first hour I actually thought maybe I was attracted to Jessica a little more, but the last 3 hours+ I definitely realized that I was indeed "IN LOVE" with Nicole more.  Jessica was sweet and our conversations flowed fine.  But whenever I talked to Nicole our senses of humor seemed to match more, and she always seemed to laugh in a good way.  And Nicole is just more attractive to me, I'm not going to lie no matter how crazy that sounds.

During the time out a few of Jessica's friends, Jessica, and myself tentatively planned for a bar-crawl at a local town tomorrow night.  Let's call the town Blowout-Ville, I don't know.  A bar crawl simply means getting smashed by having one drink at each bar and checking out the town.  They wanted me to show them around since they were very unfamiliar with Blowout-Ville.  I agreed of course.

So the night ended and I am really no less confused in anyway.  I told Jessica I would text her tomorrow and show them around Blowout-Ville.  At the end of the night I gave Nicole her phone charger out of my car.  I hugged her and she said "call us tommorow".  I also went back and gave Jessica a hug.  I have no god-damn clue.

It sounds ridiculous, but I still like Nicole more.  It's more of a physical attraction, but I know I like her enough to take her on a date and have it perhaps develop into more.  Meanwhile, Jessica is really sweet but I just don't see that raw animalistic SPARK there that I'm looking for.  So now what?  Do I text Nicole, Jessica or both tomorrow?  I think Jessica is a little more into me, but she is just a shy girl.  That is her nature, I would have to be more proactive and aggressive with her.  But I'm not sure if it would be fair to set up a date with her and go after her if I actually like her twin sister more.  Part of me says just be a fucking man here.  Text Nicole from here on out and if she doesn't get back to you just say screw it?  Even know I kinda already messed it up by only texting Jessica this week.  Part of me says BE A BITCH, keep trying to stick with the surer thing by only contacting Jessica.  She's a really good girl and maybe you could develop that extra spark as you get to know her more.

Right now I might be in the friend boat with both, I have no idea.  I'm not even sure if I should set something up for tomorrow.  I really like them, but I don't want to waste time.  If I go out tomorrow I wont be able to put in any poker.  Then I'll probably have to go to party on Saturday for 4th of July so there goes a lot of time I could be putting on the tables to go after Supernova status.

Let's go over some reasonable options:

A)  Text Jessica (attracted to her less, but a safer bet) and set things up for tomorrow.  Once you're out hit on Jessica and try to get things progressing further whenever you get a chance.

B)  Text Jessica and set things up for tomorrow.  Once you're out hit on NICOLE and try to get things progressing further whenever you get a chance.  If it doesn't work out just shift to having a good time no worries.

C)  Text Nicole and try to set things up for tomorrow.  If she's unresponsive say SCREW it and don't go out.  She did say "text us tomorrow".  Also when out, HIT ON NICOLE WHENEVER YOU GET A CHANCE.

D)  Text Jessica and set things up for tomorrow. Don't try to focus or over-hit on anyone.  Just play the situation by ear have fun.  If one of them shows stronger interest GO FOR IT.

E)  Don't text anyone.  If they get in touch with you that shows they're interested.  If not don't waste your time.  This move is somewhat foolish because it's suicide to leave it to the girl getting in touch with you.  Then again, I wouldn't be wasting time.  I could stay in and put the time towards my Supernova poker goals.

30 Minutes ago I was leaning towards option E because I just don't want to waste more time.  This feels like a bit of a time trap situation.  However, I really do love these girls, I think they are so cute and good hearted, it's just refreshing to me.  I wouldn't mind showing them around town and having a good time.  So yeah I would still really enjoy hanging out with them, even if I didn't end up dating either, even if I didn't hook up with either of them EVER.  Maybe I should just focus on taking them out and having a good time.  i think that is the logical approach.  Don't worry about dating, hooking up, etc, etc, blah blah.  If this leads to a friend boat so be it whatever.  I would enjoy their friendship, and these are some cute friends to have.  And cute friends have OTHER CUTE FRIENDS, this is how I met many girls I established relationships with in the past.  Besides they are 21 years old, that's a little young anyways.  We are in completely different stages of our lives.  If I do decide to try to take one out I think I should just be a man and ask Nicole.  If she says no so be it and move on, no big deal.  I don't think it's right to pursue Jessica if I honestly say that I don't feel that SPARK (no matter how crazy that sounds).  She's a really good girl and plenty of other people will feel that spark when hanging out with her.  Why waste her time?  Why waste my time? And this is where I separate from all of my other male friends.  The common answer would be: HOOK UP WITH JESSICA YOU FUCKING IDIOT IT'S A SURE THING.  HAVE FUN DO IT?  HELLLO?  I'LL DO IT FOR YOU??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  And I counter: "But I don't want to date her? Why waste my time, why waste her time? I could be using that time to meet someone else that I want to be with long term.  Besides wouldn't that be playing her by hooking up with Jessica?  Leading her on?  That's just not me.  I'm done screwing around like that, I'm not in college anymore. I don't need the hook-up sex to make me a better person.  I don't let sex control me anymore.  It has in the past and it will never control me again"

So right now I'm leaning towards E.  Stop being a bitch, set things up with Jessica, show them the town, don't expect anything from either girl, and have a great time.  I've been in a mood the last few weeks to really go out and have a good time.

I need to quit my fucking job next Friday.  Then I will be committing 30-40 hours per week to poker, while being able to do what I want in my free time.  I won't have to choose between going out with cute girls and playing poker 10 hours on a Friday night.  Fuck the stable corporate check, it's not important.  You have the back-up plans and additional financing sources in place. GO FOR IT.

YOU CAN PLAY BREAK-EVEN POKER.  LOL.  It's feasible.  Believe in yourself man, you're a solid player.  You are at a point where you are aggressively attacking ranges and exploiting opponents, this is pretty advanced.  Worst comes to worst we went over this, TROLL AC AND NIT THAT BITCH TOWN UP.  You can still make as much as you did in corporate even with this option.

Good night all.  Thanks to anyone who read and listened to all this bullshit.  Not sure why I'm so confused with this situation.  Any input would be much appreciated.

A Massive Decision Looming (6.29.2010)

The beach was once again amazing, but a tease.  Three days of absolute freedom only to be back to my corporate chains and failing poker goals.

I had a discussion with my brother (cell phone) when I was laying out at the beach Sunday.  It ended with: “I’m putting in my two week notice when I get back”.

And here I am, STILL HAVEN’T PUT IT IN YET.  By the end of this week I should have a bankroll worked out going forward for when I do quit.  Not only will I have a bankroll, I will have a back-up plan, and another back-up plan in case I need additional financing during an unimaginable downswing.  And even with all of these epic kick-ass plans in place I’m still understandably terrified.  My win-rate has yet to stabilize online.  There is no evidence that things are going to suddenly change for me.  Furthermore, there is no evidence that hitting Supernova will magically fix all of my "problems".  I think I’m in for a very tough road ahead when I do quit.

I have confidence that everything will stabilize, especially when I’m committing a full 40 hours per week to poker, but yeah I’m a little nervous to say the least.  It’s scary to think about going negative a month or two without that weekly corporate bail-out check coming in.

I think I should at least wait until I hit Supernova before I put in my two week notice.  That was my original plan and I should probably stick to it even know I have a bankroll worked out that will give me a legitimate shot to succeed.  It really comes down to an improved financial safety net against having my freedom back a week or two early.  What is more important?  That is the question I have to answer right now.  The safety net seems like a no brainer, but then again no one has experienced what I have during the last 2.5 years.

I’m going to aim to get all my finances in order and put in the two week notice next Friday, July the 9^th (I think).  This would make my last day July the 23^rd.  I would certainly have cleared Supernova by then.  And if my current format continues to go terribly I will have the bankroll to switch and adjust.  I can drop to 50NL full buy in multi-tabling and/or live low-stakes NL in Atlantic City.  I’m not going to sit there and bleed 3 grand a month online if things aren’t going well.  I’ll set a monthly stop point and switch formats if I need to.   

That’s really all I have right now.  This is a stressful, sometimes exciting, and somewhat terrifying time for me.  I’ll be looking to put in at least 20 hours of play this weekend, which should be completely feasible with Monday being a holiday.

-bag

Taking a Break and Regrouping (6.24.2010)

The last session I logged was Sunday, a lovely break-even in 6 hours of play.  Monday I was so tired that I could barely see the road when I was driving home from work.  It was around that point that I realized I don’t even feel entirely human.  The push to put in as much volume as possible on the virtual poker tables has consumed a large part of my life during the past 3 months and I have very little substance to show for it.  Sure my skill has improved dramatically.  Sure I’ve shown an awesome ability to get myself in extremely favorable situations and still lose.  Also I’m nearly 90% to Supernova.  But that doesn’t change the net loss I have experienced.  That doesn’t change the unthinkable waves of negative EV that have pummeled me into the dirt.  And is it really worth playing those extra 3 hours to risk almost crashing my car on the way home from work the next day because I’m so tired?  Of course not.  At this point I’m endangering my life.  Even if I’m lucky and just damage another car I'm probably still going to pay at least $5,000 to cover the damages.

And all because I decided to play 3 more hours the night before to accumulate an additional 650 VPPs.

This event helped prompt me to take a break and get my thoughts in order.  I decided to not log another hand until July 1^st.  During July I plan to resume going at the tables like an animal.  I plan to hit Supernova by mid-July.  In the mean-time I’m going to meet obligations at my day job, and do whatever the I want when I'm not at the office from 9a.m-5p.m .  I’m going to the beach this weekend, and taking a vacation.  I will be back Tuesday, so yeah.  This trip is going to be epic.  Several friends helped push me into it, and I decided I really want to have fun at this time.  The beach is just awesome right now.  This is Russian season.

(Russian season defined:  A period of 4 months where extremely attractive female students from Russia are granted temporary Visa's if they agree to work at the beach city that happens to be located 3 hours away from me.  They make minimum wage here, but if they take that loot back home they are ballers.  Some are in it for the experience, some want to stay in America, some want to simply take the easy way out; find a guy and stay in the U.S.)  Many may feel very alone in this strange land, it is our duty to make them feel welcome.

Logically putting this in perspective: Russian season is GREATER THAN (>) my job.  Any time I've gone out with a girl during the past year and I didn't like her enough, I would think to myself: "Whatever Russian season is just a few months away, it doesn't matter, don't waste your time."  It's moderately below poker.  Not even far below, MODERATELY below.  That's saying a lot.  AND I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW UP?  Screw that.

The day job is extremely busy right now.  If I put in poker sessions at night I wouldn’t be able to meet my daily obligations at work.  I hate my job, but they are paying me to complete a project so it is my obligation to complete it.  Wednesday night I left my cube-farm office at 9 p.m.  I looked at myself in the mirror when I got home later and asked: “do you really want to live like this?” The answer was not surprisingly a resounding NO.

I don’t want to be a corporate bitch.  I don’t want my livelihood to revolve around sucking up to the next sequential level of power to climb the corporate ladder.  Fuck the corporate ladder, I want to be my own man.  However, it seems poker isn’t self sustaining online to the point where I can just quit and instantly make more money.  Since even when I hit Supernova I really don’t have the confidence that I will run at least break even EV, it just hasn’t been going like that for me.  So what the hell is the next step?  Do I keep torturing myself with the day job and poker sessions until I see signs of EV balance?  Do I slaughter a lamb and offer it to the God’s of EV? 

Here’s what I do: calculate what I would make during the next three months at my day job (done).  Take this total, pull it out of your savings account and QUIT.  There problem solved, you earned the bull-shit money, now quit torturing yourself.  And while you’re at it enjoy the rest of your summer like a normal human being.  Play poker around 30-40 hours a week, but vacation whenever you want during the next two months if you feel the need too.  Go enjoy russian season Mon-Wed whenever you want.  Prime poker traffic is Wed-Sun anyways.  And that’s it GOOD-BYE TO YOU corporate.

With the small amount added from the next three months I will have a combined minimum:

A)  A $10,000 bankroll online.

This should be plenty to continue your current path online.  I think with this amount I won’t feel the effects of EV swings as much.

B)  A $5,000 live bankroll.

If things don’t work out online during a given month and you’re REALLY bleeding take a step back.  Go to Atlantic City and grind out live fishy low limit tables.  Do what you have to.  Sleep out of your car a night or two, I don’t care.  DO IT.  Make the money you need to feel as if you’re progressing for the month.

C)  At least $3,000 to live off of.

My expenses are at a minimum right now.  I don’t have to worry about rent or anything.  Also, the living expenses and live bankroll can have some over-lap here.  You may not need much of a live bank-roll if online is going well enough.  Still I could live off $3,000 for 5 months easily if I’m smart.

And what if it doesn’t work out?

Stop playing poker full-time, it’s as simple as that.  Cut your losses and move on.  Play part time if you want, but look for another career path and get damn serious about it.  I already have several back-up options.  I can get into the commercial Real Estate business with some family contacts I know.  Or pick up another office job and rot in a cube farm a few more years.  Or move to Manhattan and look for cube-farming opportunities up there.  Or get into Real Estate and coach tennis.  Besides, it's not like I don't have a solid degree.  I’m not close to giving up and considering one of these options right now, but it’s good to know that they are there.  It’s good to know that it’s not the end of the world if I fail at poker.  It's not the end of my existence.  I don't just vanish into thin air.  For the first time I’m realizing now that there is a possibility that I could fail.  This is really bad, but my confidence has taken a severe beat-down dropping around -$1000 last month even with eventually rake-back from the FPPs accumulated during that time.  I know deep down that this will change in time and I have to just battle through the storm, but it's sometimes tough for me to fully grasp. 

As long as I set stop points to the maximum I'm willing to invest online during any given month I think I will be just fine.  For example, this June I wasn't going to invest more than $2,000 to continue pushing for Supernova and I did not.  Even if I played the month out and dropped more money I would not have deposited another penny into my account.  I've heard from many regulars that getting to Supernova is the hardest part.  I think things will be much less stressful when I'm playing with weekly rake-back on my side.  Hoarding FPPs to eventually use at SuperNova status while short-stacking is not for the light-hearted.  You are seriously fucking with the God's of expected value when doing this.  I don't feel I'm a failure as a person because I've had to invest more money.  I'm playing without rake-back and I've ran extremely poorly even by HEM standards.  So either invest more money or waste FPPs at Platinum Star status to make yourself feel better, it's whatever.             

So yes I have much to think about, but I will be having one of the better times of my life on vacation this weekend.  My confidence is pretty shit right now with poker.  I’m confident in my ability and direction, but I’m not confident that I will EVER RUN anywhere even close to expected value.  A way to counter that would be boosting my bankroll and dropping to $50 full buy in.  I could even do this on the 100 NL 20-50 BB tables, so at least I’m getting more rake-back. 

Oh it’s officially 3:00 a.m, work should be fun tomorrow!  I stopped out tonight because it was my friend’s birthday and she’s a really important person in my life.  I was still happy I made the sacrifice even though I will be very miserable tomorrow.  At least I’m not drunk.  Well apologies for the lack of updates.  Perhaps I’ll have a good story to share from the weekend craziness.  If not I’ll be back at the tables soon enough.  I'm looking forward to a fresh July and a clean slate.

-bag

7 Hour Friday Session Commentary Down -$117 (6.18.2010)

10:00 p.m

Underway here with 12 tables up.

10:10 p.m

Table 2 I make an all in re-steal $20 push with Ajoff..  Opponent calls with A9 and HITS.

OH GO DIE IN A FIRE REALLY?

Only this fucking guy wins that hand.  He runs out a straight.  Wow dawg.  Ok relax relax relax relax.  I’m not self-destructing this early, no god damn way.  Keep making the right plays and expect the worst.  The worst will always happen, it always does, this session is no different.  Just keep making the right fucking plays.  CHILL DAWG.

16 TABLES ARE UP.  How about we get back to table selecting instead of typing a commentary that 5 people will end up reading?  Sound good?  A++ WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND PLAYING 16 TABLES AT ONCE AND TYPING COMMENTARY AGAIN.

10:20 P.M

Screwed over on table 12 with a nice suck-out flush draw.   He checks the river for some ungodly reason when he completes and I check behind saving $8.  Great play.  You know it was so transparent I would have felt bad calling the final $7 even that committed.  It’s like going on a date with a terrible girl or something.  You think shes not going to try to ruin your life?  Really?  DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT?   CAN YOU EVEN Pretend?  HOW THE HELL COULD YOU EVEN GET YOURSELF IN SUCH AN IMAGINATIVE MOOD?

10:35 p.m

30 minutes in and techno is blaring extremely loud.  It sounds amazing, but anything probably sounds amazing on 5-hour energies.  I could probably hire someone to stand outside my house and throw trash-cans against the wall and I’d get enjoyment out of the “refreshing new style” of music.

Just 3-bet a regular pre with 2 8 offsuit, he folds. GGGGG.  Mother fucker would fold your laundry for a year if you paid him a penny.  THAT’S RIGHT ONE PENNY he would do it.   He would stop trolling 24 tables 18 hours a day at my stakes and making my life slightly unpleasant. 

BRB 12 tables+ are flashing at me.   Ok no more commentary for an hour unless something really pisses me off, which will happen soon.

10:40 p.m

AK < KK all in preflop.

IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE MY LIFE SUCKS.

10:45 P.M

Just tripled up on table 8 with a flopped set and 2 maniacs pushing dogshit.  I’m like shocked they didn’t have a higher set or a straight, just unthinkable to me.

10:50 p.m

-$40 AA < 88 all in

I hit the set, but Vanilla Fish Town hit's a straight on the river.  Just wow.  I can't flop a top set of aces and hold.

ONLY ME.  A chair is going to go through a window really soon tonight.

How do you fucking lose that again?  It’s shit like this.

AK < TT all in pre -$60

IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I LITERALLY CAN’T WIN A FUCKING POT.

11:05 P.M THOUGHTS. 

What would happen if any regular with over 1 million hands played those last 3 pots:

A)  They get all in pre with AK and miraculously hit an ace against someone’s KK.

B)  Their AA holds against 88 100% of the time.

C)  They win the coin-flip with AK

D)  They are already up well over $100.

11:06 P.M

AK > QQ ALL IN PRE.  +$60.

I have to push there on based his range.  Much needed rare coin-flip won.

11:20 p.m

QQ > 88 all in pre-flop.

Opponent decides to limp re-pop me all in from EP with 88.  One of the stupider things I’ve seen tonight.  Though normally the 8 hits so I guess it isn’t terrible against me.  I had him on AK + but I have to call and feel the situation out with such a strong holding.  This is generally why you shouldn’t hero fold to fishy players.  It’s an absolutely necessary call even with TT, I see this guy all the time and need to  know what he is making such a bizarre play with.  He’s more likely to be holding AQ or AK, and a coinflip isn’t the end of the world.  Well for me a coin-flip is generally an instant loss, but a normal player you know.

11:30 p.m

Taking a break tables are slow and I need a drink.  This 5 hour energy is not sitting well for some reason.  Stupid taking one 1.5 hours in, but I’ll make up for it later.  Not looking at the bankroll don’t care, guessing around even (yeah right).

12:00 a.m

Another $60 pot lost with 80%+ EQUITY.  Top two pair all in on the turn loses to mid-pair fucking 8.  River 8  go fuck yourself.  I hate this site so much.

That just really angers me.  Trying to not completely lose it here.  I will log out if I make a dumb play because of this, I refuse to, I don’t do that shit.  It’s in the past whatever, just keep making the right play so you can get unmercifully screwed every time.  Another spot I just have to hold and can’t.

12:20 a.m

AK < QQ all in pre.

Yeah like I would in a million years win that.  The guy is a regular so the pot is already decided before the board even runs out.

Double up on table 6 great maybe we can stop running like garbage for an hour.

Techno back on, I need something.  SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN.

12:30 a.m

-$50 pot all in on the flop on table 1 after I raise 4x preflop  he calls with K 2s and goes all in on the flush draw.  TURN INSTANT FLUSH.  Exactly what I need when I’m running bad another miracle suck-out.  I’m beyond sick of this shit.  Always the biggest pots when this unthinkable garbage happend.  Another $50 pissed away.

12:50 a.m

AK < KK all in pre.

I hit the king, but he has the set.  Second time this exact situation has happened tonight.  -$40.   Again my opponent’s are going to get KK over my AK 3 fucking times in a row.  Even if I got a KK against AK it would rain aces.  An ace would leap out of the monitor with a bat and beat the living hell out of me.  Fuck my god damn life.  It’s like as soon as I see my pair I know it’s over and I lost, just another tease. Just stars screwing with me some more.  GOD FORBID HE HOLD ANY CARD COMBINATION OTHER THAN KK+.

AK = A9 all in pre SPLIT $35 pot

OF COURSE

1:00 a.m

Another massive suckout on table 4.  Top pair top kicker donked the fuck out by an idiot playing low-end straight draw.  RIVER STRAIGHT.  Will it ever end? -$40.

I’d be lucky to finish the night not down -$1,000 at this rate, so god damn sick.  Like usual, I can’t dodge a suck-out, I can’t win an 80% equity situation, I can ‘t win a fucking pot.  Go to the beach and log out? Seriously.

Ok ok I’m fine seriously.  Be cool wow.  Hi I’m baglife a raging tilt-box clown.  Who the fuck cares, make the right play.  Fuck the money.  I’ll burn through 10 grand if I have to whatever.

1:30 a.m

Idea’s for a quick upcoming strategy post (if anyone is reading this you can skip down to 1:45 a.m, these are just incoherent notes I wrote for myself), three very over-looked topics that I think I’ve improved a lot on, but want/need to keep in mind while playing:

1)   Varying your isolation PFR size against loose limpers pre-flop based on their Cbet fold % post.  (also based on your holdings.  JJ needs to be protected for example.  Based on the situation one factor could be more important than the other at different times).  Also lower open raises = less committed to firing a hopeless c-bet.   And if you don’t know the player I’d generally keep the raise small and fire if at all possible.

2)  Table selection based on factors other than VPIP% and Average $ per pot.  (Where you are sitting in relation to your opponents, recognition of regulars.).   Sometimes when I sit at a table the stats will look very good, but it’s all regulars.  This is obviously a fluke.  Conversely, sometimes I will come across a table with really bad stats, however it will be a bunch of players I don’t recognize.  This generally indicates a fluke in a good way (A GOOD WAY FOR YOU THAT IS). 

3)  Stealing blinds is an art.

1:45 a.m

AK > JJ all in pre.  A COIN-FLIP WON.  Don’t worry it won’t last long.

TABLE 12:  QQ< KK ALL IN PRE -$40.  THERE WE GO BACK TO NORMAL.   How many times have I lost that  situation holding KK in the past week?  Stop messing with me!  Fuck you all.  That’s right everyone involved: the site, the idiot player, the virtual cards, the virtual table, the virtual dealer, fuck EVERYTHING.

2:00 a.m

And one of the funnier things I’ve heard all night.  Seat 5 says on table 4:

“Hey Ronfar is your brother dealing?”

BAHAHAHA.   Ok Ronfar3 is one of the most well known low-limit grinders on the site.  No one runs better than him for such nitty stats, but he’s rock solid and has perfected bum-hunting.  Yeah basically the mother fucker’s brother has been dealing to him the last 3 million hands LOL.  It’s funny because his brother might as well be dealing, yeah I’m sure the site doesn’t favor this guy in anyway, let’s be honest.  He probably generates a few hundred grand in rake per year.  Don’t get me wrong I respect him, but I think it’s hilarious that even a casual player who’s probably played 100 hands can instantly recognize how lucky this guy really is.

2:20 a.m

AK > AQ all in pre.  Don’t worry it won’t last long.  It’s humanly impossible for me to win 3 consecutive moderately sized all-in pots.  Two is like god-like. 

TWO SECONDS LATER AA< 99 ALL IN PRE -$45.  What the hell did I tell you?  WOW HE HITS A NINE.  Only on stars.  Just jam any two fucking cards like an idiot and hit.  You know I might as well auto-fold AK+ after I win a decent pot online, it’s instant-loss no matter what.  I know bitch more: BITCH BITCH BITCH BITCH WHINE CHEESE WINE.

Did I actually expect to win that?  Are you kidding?  What the hell am I thinking.  At least I didn’t type shit in the chat box and flip out like usual.   This commentary is good because I can vent my anger, in a way it keeps me out of trouble.

IN A WAY THIS COMMENTARY IS MY FATHER.

OH BTW.  WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND GETTING ALL IN PRE WITH AA AND LOSING TO 99 EVERY TIME.  A+++++ ALSO PORTABLE AND SHIPS EXTREMELY WELL! EXCELLENT! 

Ok BACK to table selecting so I can get all in pre with a monster and lose 20% equity some more.  That’s what I do baby.

2:40 a.m

QQ < AA all in pre.

Let’s catch the top 1% of our range against QQ+ some more.

AK  nut flush draw > High CARD KING? All in on the flop.  I’M certainly leaving my doubled up stack on that table.  I’m trying to brace myself for when I lose an enormous in the next few minutes.  We can’t have me winning more than two in a row.

WAIT FOR IT…………………..

KK > A9 all in on the flop holding against.  Over-pair holds.

OK WAIT FOR IT NOW IM REALLY GOING TO GET IT……………

AA > QK all in post.  I got tricky here and made a TAG look like an idiot.  Called him pre not wanting to fold out his range.  Perfect flop as he hits the king top pair/ solid kicker as I hold over-pair.  Then the Russian is unable to escape my all in check raise on the flop.  Owned.  And guess what man?  It doesn’t stop here.  I’m going to go to the beach later this summer after I quit my job to find your best looking Russian exchange student.   I’m going to date her and give her a free green card JUST SO YOU CAN’T HOOK UP WITH HER, even if I can’t understand a word that girl says, even if she completely screws me over.  TAKE THAT YOU SON OF A BITCH.  LAND OF OPPORTUNITY HOMIE.  WHAT NOW? WHO REALLY WINS?

Just kidding just kidding Russian’s are very fun A++.  But I’m taking one of your girls for reals. 

Seriously……

………

3:00 a.m

Taking a break and sitting out on all tables.  Damn I’m hungry and tired.  Going to get some food and fix one of those problems.   I’m sure my opponent’s will miss sucking me out VERY much.  Guess they have to find another rigged fool for 15 minutes.  I’m not looking forward to coming back, that was three pots in a row held with 70%+ equity at the end, something really bad is going to happen to me I’m sure.

3:20 a.m

Ok I’m back.  Slice of pizza and some push-ups, I’m awake again.  Blarring a Lady Gaga song that just streamed through.  Yes I’m a straight male and I’m blasting a Lady Gaga song.  Back to techno soon...

Here I am back WAITING FOR COMPLETE DISASTER……………

AQ < AK all in pre -$40  I called the final 16 over a blind fight.  Mistake there, I figured at least coinflip.   Like usual I expand my range one fucking slot and get hammered for it.  The guy is 3-betting 5% in 2.5k hands, he’s definitely making the same play with at least 88-JJ and AJ.  But yeah whatever that’s my luck, he just caught his top end.  Guess it comes back to “trying to do too much” and that’s doing too much for me.  Even know anyone else calls and they are at least a coin-flip.  Back to not trying to do too much and missing spots I need to hit!

3:50 a.m

QQ> AK all in pre.  Wow that’s a new one.

Currently have 14 tables up, 3 fast, and I’ve committed to two bum-hunts with doubled up stacks.

Crazy action just broke out all over the place.  Some lunatics seem to be coming out of the voids of nothingness at 4:00 a.m.

4:10 a.m

-$80 pot on table 2.  THE WORST PLAYER ON ALL OF MY TABLES COMBINED CRACKS MY AA PLAYING 2 5 OFFSUIT.  FLOPS THE FUCKING MIRACLE TWO PAIR.

AND THAT’S THE NIGHT.  No recovering from that; just IMPOSSIBLE.  So play on like a doomed tool-box some more and go to bed down 500 or whatever.

I am fuming.  I’d love to see RON fucking far lose that hand.  I want to stack up full and go after this prick, but won’t.  Stupid effing bankroll.

4:20 A.M

That pot may have fucked any chance for a decent night, but I’m not giving up yet.   I’m in a groove, there are awful players floating around, and I’m playing well.

5:00 a.m

Logging on all tables in 30 minutes.  I could force more, but I want to wake up at a semi-normal time tomorrow.  I’m pushing this because there are still some awesome tables.

5:20 a.m

I’ve trimmed it down to 8 tables right now.  The 9 worst tables (or best for me).  Four of them have waiting lists of 15+ with some pretty crazy action so hopefully I can get in a few profitable spots.  I also decided to say screw the time limit until a few break up.

5:40 a.m

Logging on all tables this is just isn’t going anywhere.  That’s the last time I see a bunch of normally psychotic players fold around to my AA tonight.  Time to end another incredibly disappointing session.  Damn I’m tired, it really hit me all at once.  I know who would have thought being tired at 5:30 a.m.  I’ve been up approaching 24 hours, but I did get a 2 hour nap in.

Session Overview:

Time:  7.5 Hours

Starting Bankroll:  $2,089.00

Ending Bankroll: $1972.00

Net Loss:  -$117

Hands:  5,170

VPPs cleared:  1,492 (Very nice and ahead of pace for the week.  1.5% closer to Supernova) 

Summary:

Yeah I’m disappointed it’s 6:00 a.m and a net loss again.  However, I was generally happy with the way I played.  My 3-bet % was still 1%-2% off from what I wanted it to be in those 5,000 hands, but I’ve been somewhat conservative to try to control variance.  As for my stats I was very happy, my VPIP and PFR seem to have expanded to a range that is acceptable to me.  I need to keep these numbers up.  The net loss really wasn’t a big deal.  -$117 in nearly 8 hours is pretty minor.  Also I ran -$150 in EV even by HEM standards, which is unbelievably atrocious.  This doesn’t even include ramming QQ+ into KK+ at least 4 times.  So I beat the EV by more than $30 which is always good.  Again I got myself in some great situations playing a full stack and going after people, it just didn’t work out for me.  If I win the three all in pre-flop pots with AA all in pre against 2 outs I profit for the session.  I won’t go into individual hands because I’m very tired and it’s boring, but ran bad like usual.  It has to turn around eventually from an EV standpoint.  Maybe in another year! 

The commentary was also a good change of pace.  It gave me a place to vent anger, which is better than taking my anger out on the tables and making border-line moves for big pots.  That’s a recipe for disaster when you already can’t hold an 80% equity pot as it is.  I can also compare a commentary from now to a few months ago which should be cool.  I think I’d be really surprised with regards to some of the concepts I’m focusing on now, as opposed to two months ago.

Anyways running some hills tomorrow in 95 degree weather, getting some sleep.  Night!  Or morning!  Oh man it’s 6:30….

-bag