I have also noticed a significant shift in high stakes cash game play online. The old guard is losing a ton of money. Maybe it has always been this swingy, but I look at guys - especially the cardrunner guys - and think that they should hang it up and do something else - or at least think about it. I don't know if it's because they post their videos online or if the game has changed, or if its the dramatic shift towards PLO. Seems like they're all on a downswing. I heard Durrrr on PAD say he was on a $2M downswing. Eric Liu, Benefield - Townsend goes nowhere near the games he used to play regularly. Even Wiggins - in his latest post he indicated that he was at or near busto on FTP. Guys like Gus and Benyamine are just degens and will always play at those stakes no matter who is playing. Antonius has also been losing a ton. Reading Daniel's blog about the golf stuff makes me seriously question how long he might still be able to live his life the way he's going.
Of whom can it be said that he/she is a "great online cash game player" right now? Benyamine is in the conversation, Ivey also. Singer has been playing well. Lolina, who I think is Tim Phan. Maybe durrr does still make a ton. My point is, I feel like things are shifting. I wonder how long CR will be able to last when all of their pros go online busto.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Can't complain
I know that I use this blog a lot to bitch about horrible beats in poker and all of that, but lately, I really can't complain about the way things have been going. My ROI this month is really high, (over 30% in SNGs) and my ROI in the $5 SNGs is climbing back to par (still just under 9%, which I consider to be par - for me, anyways). Lately, I've been able to catch huge hands early on, and then be able to sit back, sit back, and wait for another chance to pounce. Not that I've won every SNG or not made stupid moves, or suffered horrible beats (although my 80-20 situations have been holding up for the most part). In fact, over the most recent run, I think I have only won about 2 or 3. In the last 100 SNGs or so, I am up about $150, which is good, considering what my bankroll is. I think they key is just paying attention, and knowing when to fold when I'm beat. I am basically one $5 SNG away from crossing the $1k threshold on sharkscope, and crossing the $700 threshold on my BR. I don't want to get ahead of myself though.
There are spots now where I used to shove or raise pre-flop, but I'm starting to interpret certains spots where it's more effective to float pre, and bet later, especially when I am deepstacked. Look at that - me actually paying attention to post-flop play! I have realized that I should have been doing this for about a year and half now, and I think I go in and out of zones where I actually implement this strategy to my game. I think when I start raising all in pre, or trying to win hands preflop, it's just impatience or laziness. It all depends on stack sizes/blind sizes. Sometimes you're able to get in a zone where you can see the whole field - as they say in QB terminology. I feel like I've been close to that. There have been times where I feel like I have been firmly in it. Actually, probably only once - when I got back from my honeymoon and made $250 in about 80 games. That was a BR changer.
The MTTs have gone absolutely nowhere. Not really paying attention, and simply losing after flopping top pair or whatever.
I'm not naive enough to think that the good run will last forever, or that I cannot improve, or that some of this is just due to the fact that certain hands are holding up, or my AK is connecting with the flop. For one, my style of play is probably still too conservative to be optimal. I play to make the money, not necessarily to go for the win, and sometimes that mindset is what holds me back. Depending on relative stack sizes and blinds, I still cannot find it within me to raise A5dd on the button when it's 4 handed. Of course, I'm sure the bad run will start right when I hit the "publish post" button in about 10 seconds.
And of course this is all low stakes stuff, so to most people the $150 I'm talking about is a mere pittance.
There are spots now where I used to shove or raise pre-flop, but I'm starting to interpret certains spots where it's more effective to float pre, and bet later, especially when I am deepstacked. Look at that - me actually paying attention to post-flop play! I have realized that I should have been doing this for about a year and half now, and I think I go in and out of zones where I actually implement this strategy to my game. I think when I start raising all in pre, or trying to win hands preflop, it's just impatience or laziness. It all depends on stack sizes/blind sizes. Sometimes you're able to get in a zone where you can see the whole field - as they say in QB terminology. I feel like I've been close to that. There have been times where I feel like I have been firmly in it. Actually, probably only once - when I got back from my honeymoon and made $250 in about 80 games. That was a BR changer.
The MTTs have gone absolutely nowhere. Not really paying attention, and simply losing after flopping top pair or whatever.
I'm not naive enough to think that the good run will last forever, or that I cannot improve, or that some of this is just due to the fact that certain hands are holding up, or my AK is connecting with the flop. For one, my style of play is probably still too conservative to be optimal. I play to make the money, not necessarily to go for the win, and sometimes that mindset is what holds me back. Depending on relative stack sizes and blinds, I still cannot find it within me to raise A5dd on the button when it's 4 handed. Of course, I'm sure the bad run will start right when I hit the "publish post" button in about 10 seconds.
And of course this is all low stakes stuff, so to most people the $150 I'm talking about is a mere pittance.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The surge is coming
Been running like dog doo recently. One game I caught 55 three times and did not win with it once. I went from huge chipleader to finishing third, oh well. I backed down the $2 games for a few because at the times I was playing, I did not feel as if I could have focused 100% on the games. Plus, I am just not winning the flips. Last night had AQ vs. 33, I raised, he called. Flop is AJ3 rainbow, we get it all in right there, he has 33. Few hands later, I catch 77 in the BB, SB raises into me, we jam (maybe it was a bad idea to jam pre), he had AK, and catches it on the turn.
SNG madness has now ended. I think I won either 2 or 3 SNGs during the time, but didn't win anything in the raffle. The first raffle, I won a $75 token, which I still have not used.
I did a google search for "actzeng" and, unfortunately, this blog came up. I wish there was some way to escape that. I may have to start modifying the hand histories to erase my name, or put the hands through one of those hand-posting sites, which seems like a pain.
I was, however happy to see that the Marcus-Antoine guy or whatever his name is, was now negative on sharkscope, last I checked.
SNG madness has now ended. I think I won either 2 or 3 SNGs during the time, but didn't win anything in the raffle. The first raffle, I won a $75 token, which I still have not used.
I did a google search for "actzeng" and, unfortunately, this blog came up. I wish there was some way to escape that. I may have to start modifying the hand histories to erase my name, or put the hands through one of those hand-posting sites, which seems like a pain.
I was, however happy to see that the Marcus-Antoine guy or whatever his name is, was now negative on sharkscope, last I checked.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
I exchanged unfriendly words with this guy -
Full Tilt Poker Game #7490349996: $2 + $0.25 Madness (56984166), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 3:13:10 ET - 2008/08/03Seat 1: actzeng (2,900)Seat 3: nil45472 (2,150)Seat 4: Mark-Antoine (3,050)Seat 5: alenateli bags (890)Seat 7: yukug614 (1,615)Seat 9: Sheldonio (2,895)nil45472 posts the small blind of 80Mark-Antoine posts the big blind of 160The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [7c 7s]alenateli bags folds
yukug614 has 15 seconds left to act
yukug614 foldsSheldonio folds
actzeng raises to 480
nil45472 folds
Mark-Antoine raises to 3,050, and is all in
actzeng calls 2,420, and is all in
Mark-Antoine shows [2s Kd]
actzeng shows [7c 7s]
Uncalled bet of 150 returned to Mark-Antoine
*** FLOP *** [6d Ts Th]
*** TURN *** [6d Ts Th] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [6d Ts Th Ks] [As]
Mark-Antoine shows two pair, Kings and Tens
actzeng shows two pair, Tens and Sevens
Mark-Antoine wins the pot (5,880) with two pair, Kings and Tens
actzeng stands up***
This is the classic "he shoved because he has nothing" and I caught him on it. Too bad the cards wouldn't cooperate. He said "Sick", to which I responded "Stupid", to which he responded that calling with 77 was "stupid" to which I said "nice move with K2".
Guy was a total ass and a liar. He said he was four-tabling and up $220 on the day, sharkscoped him, he was up $22. I don't know what 4 tabling has to do with anything, but it suggests to me that he was even that much MORE stupid by making that move with K2. I kept the screen up, and he lost heads up after blowing a massive chiplead by being aggro with nothing. Go figure - when you get your $ in bad, it sometimes doesn't work out.
Won a $2 SNG after that.
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [7c 7s]alenateli bags folds
yukug614 has 15 seconds left to act
yukug614 foldsSheldonio folds
actzeng raises to 480
nil45472 folds
Mark-Antoine raises to 3,050, and is all in
actzeng calls 2,420, and is all in
Mark-Antoine shows [2s Kd]
actzeng shows [7c 7s]
Uncalled bet of 150 returned to Mark-Antoine
*** FLOP *** [6d Ts Th]
*** TURN *** [6d Ts Th] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [6d Ts Th Ks] [As]
Mark-Antoine shows two pair, Kings and Tens
actzeng shows two pair, Tens and Sevens
Mark-Antoine wins the pot (5,880) with two pair, Kings and Tens
actzeng stands up***
This is the classic "he shoved because he has nothing" and I caught him on it. Too bad the cards wouldn't cooperate. He said "Sick", to which I responded "Stupid", to which he responded that calling with 77 was "stupid" to which I said "nice move with K2".
Guy was a total ass and a liar. He said he was four-tabling and up $220 on the day, sharkscoped him, he was up $22. I don't know what 4 tabling has to do with anything, but it suggests to me that he was even that much MORE stupid by making that move with K2. I kept the screen up, and he lost heads up after blowing a massive chiplead by being aggro with nothing. Go figure - when you get your $ in bad, it sometimes doesn't work out.
Won a $2 SNG after that.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I love Cash Games!!!!
Full Tilt Poker Game #7489910247: Table Mabry (6 max) - $0.05/$0.10 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:22:05 ET - 2008/08/03
Seat 1: 79donDaane ($8.05)
Seat 2: Adiiiboiii ($5.90)
Seat 3: odoyle022 ($1.30)
Seat 4: actzeng ($3.60)
Seat 5: dagothegreat ($6.15)
Seat 6: zenmasterbeta ($4.20)
odoyle022 posts the small blind of $0.05
actzeng posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [As Ac]
dagothegreat folds
zenmasterbeta calls $0.10
79donDaane folds
Adiiiboiii folds
odoyle022 folds
actzeng raises to $0.20
zenmasterbeta calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [Qh Td 8d]
actzeng has 15 seconds left to act
actzeng bets $0.25
zenmasterbeta raises to $0.50
actzeng raises to $1.95
zenmasterbeta has 15 seconds left to act
zenmasterbeta raises to $4, and is all in
actzeng calls $1.45, and is all in
zenmasterbeta shows [Jh Qc]
actzeng shows [As Ac]
Uncalled bet of $0.60 returned to zenmasterbeta
*** TURN *** [Qh Td 8d] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [Qh Td 8d Jc] [4h]
zenmasterbeta shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
actzeng shows a pair of Aces
zenmasterbeta wins the pot ($6.55) with two pair, Queens and Jacksactzeng is sitting out*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $7.25 Rake $0.70Board: [Qh Td 8d Jc 4h]Seat 1: 79donDaane didn't bet (folded)Seat 2: Adiiiboiii (button) didn't bet (folded)Seat 3: odoyle022 (small blind) folded before the FlopSeat 4: actzeng (big blind) showed [As Ac] and lost with a pair of AcesSeat 5: dagothegreat didn't bet (folded)Seat 6: zenmasterbeta showed [Jh Qc] and won ($6.55) with two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 1: 79donDaane ($8.05)
Seat 2: Adiiiboiii ($5.90)
Seat 3: odoyle022 ($1.30)
Seat 4: actzeng ($3.60)
Seat 5: dagothegreat ($6.15)
Seat 6: zenmasterbeta ($4.20)
odoyle022 posts the small blind of $0.05
actzeng posts the big blind of $0.10
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to actzeng [As Ac]
dagothegreat folds
zenmasterbeta calls $0.10
79donDaane folds
Adiiiboiii folds
odoyle022 folds
actzeng raises to $0.20
zenmasterbeta calls $0.10
*** FLOP *** [Qh Td 8d]
actzeng has 15 seconds left to act
actzeng bets $0.25
zenmasterbeta raises to $0.50
actzeng raises to $1.95
zenmasterbeta has 15 seconds left to act
zenmasterbeta raises to $4, and is all in
actzeng calls $1.45, and is all in
zenmasterbeta shows [Jh Qc]
actzeng shows [As Ac]
Uncalled bet of $0.60 returned to zenmasterbeta
*** TURN *** [Qh Td 8d] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [Qh Td 8d Jc] [4h]
zenmasterbeta shows two pair, Queens and Jacks
actzeng shows a pair of Aces
zenmasterbeta wins the pot ($6.55) with two pair, Queens and Jacksactzeng is sitting out*** SUMMARY ***Total pot $7.25 Rake $0.70Board: [Qh Td 8d Jc 4h]Seat 1: 79donDaane didn't bet (folded)Seat 2: Adiiiboiii (button) didn't bet (folded)Seat 3: odoyle022 (small blind) folded before the FlopSeat 4: actzeng (big blind) showed [As Ac] and lost with a pair of AcesSeat 5: dagothegreat didn't bet (folded)Seat 6: zenmasterbeta showed [Jh Qc] and won ($6.55) with two pair, Queens and Jacks
Friday, August 1, 2008
Some Hands
Full Tilt Poker Game #7473814987: $5 + $0.50 Madness (56853585), Table 1 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:54:22 ET - 2008/08/01Seat 3: RubberDuck1 (4,975)Seat 6: actzeng (4,600)Seat 7: snowchance (3,925)RubberDuck1 posts the small blind of 80actzeng posts the big blind of 160The button is in seat #8*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to actzeng [4c 4h]snowchance foldsRubberDuck1 raises to 320actzeng calls 160*** FLOP *** [3d 5d Ts]RubberDuck1 checksactzeng checks*** TURN *** [3d 5d Ts] [4s]RubberDuck1 bets 160actzeng calls 160*** RIVER *** [3d 5d Ts 4s] [Th]RubberDuck1 bets 480actzeng has 15 seconds left to actactzeng raises to 1,600RubberDuck1 raises to 4,495, and is all inactzeng calls 2,520, and is all inUncalled bet of 375 returned to RubberDuck1*** SHOW DOWN ***RubberDuck1 shows [5h 5s] a full house, Fives full of Tensactzeng mucksRubberDuck1 wins the pot (9,200) with a full house, Fives full of Tensactzeng stands up*** SUMMARY ***Total pot 9,200 Rake 0Board: [3d 5d Ts 4s Th]Seat 3: RubberDuck1 (small blind) showed [5h 5s] and won (9,200) with a full house, Fives full of TensSeat 6: actzeng (big blind) mucked [4c 4h] - a full house, Fours full of TensSeat 7: snowchance didn't bet (folded)
Poker Update
Missed some wins in the last few games. Actually, the only real miss was yesterday. I finished 2nd in a $5 SNG. As usual, I was low stacked going into heads up and then made a charge, and then blew it all with A9 vs. AQ AIPF. I need to be more patient in those situations.
What really pissed me off was that the guy I had lost to should have knocked out by me waaaay earlier in the match. One hand, I limped in with 22, and flop came a 2. He bet, I called. Turn is a diamond, putting two diamonds on the board. He bet again. This time I raised pretty big. He called. River comes another diamond. he bets about the same size as my previous bet. I thought it unlikely that he hit runner runner flush, so I called, and he had it. Turns out that the called the turn raise with a diamond prayer.
One hand we had HU, I had turned trips, only to see him hit his open ended straight draw on the river. I will try to post the hands. They are on the laptop.
HU PLO continues to go pretty well, although I am probably jinxing myself as I type this. I think it's 6 in a row now.
On the baby front, it's still the waiting game. I have a daddy bootcamp tomorrow from 9 -12. Good to have it early and get it out of the way. Hopefully tonight is a quiet night where I can get in some poker. There won't be too many left.
What really pissed me off was that the guy I had lost to should have knocked out by me waaaay earlier in the match. One hand, I limped in with 22, and flop came a 2. He bet, I called. Turn is a diamond, putting two diamonds on the board. He bet again. This time I raised pretty big. He called. River comes another diamond. he bets about the same size as my previous bet. I thought it unlikely that he hit runner runner flush, so I called, and he had it. Turns out that the called the turn raise with a diamond prayer.
One hand we had HU, I had turned trips, only to see him hit his open ended straight draw on the river. I will try to post the hands. They are on the laptop.
HU PLO continues to go pretty well, although I am probably jinxing myself as I type this. I think it's 6 in a row now.
On the baby front, it's still the waiting game. I have a daddy bootcamp tomorrow from 9 -12. Good to have it early and get it out of the way. Hopefully tonight is a quiet night where I can get in some poker. There won't be too many left.
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