A ship built from pure leaks

WTF?  Answers on a postcard please.....

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.04 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - 9 players - View hand 1766888
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.5 SB) Hero is SB with 9 5 A 3
1 fold, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls, MP1 raises, 2 folds, BTN calls, Hero calls, BB calls, UTG+1 calls, UTG+2 calls

Flop: (12 SB) 7 4 3(6 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, UTG+2 checks, MP1 bets, BTN calls, Hero calls, BB folds, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls

Turn: (8 BB) 2(4 players)
Hero bets, UTG+2 calls, MP1 raises, BTN calls, Hero 3-bets, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, BTN calls

River: (20 BB) 9(4 players)
Hero bets, UTG+2 calls, MP1 calls, BTN calls

Final Pot: 24 BB
UTG+2 mucks A 8 T 2
MP1 mucks A 6 4 A
BTN mucks 5 T J 2
Hero shows 9 5 A 3 (HI: a straight, Ace to Five; LO: 5,4,3,2,A)
Hero wins 12 BB
Hero wins 11.75 BB
(Rake: $0.01)

(Shame it's only play money)

My hand is junk obviously, but I had been given a lecture by one of the players in question that "we do not do preflop at this table" when I 3-bet in another hand so I couldn't really see folding A2xxss preflop.  I flop about the best I could possibly hope for, although it turns out at showdown that noone really had much of anything at any point.  If only cash O8 worked like this.

Poker Stars $10/$20 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo - 5 players - View hand 1743936
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Pre Flop: (1.5 SB) Hero is with 8 2 A 6
str8man498 raises, NEAGOE calls, Seber444 calls, AAAces1267 3-bets, Hero calls, str8man498 caps!, NEAGOE calls, Seber444 calls, AAAces1267 calls, Hero calls
Flop: (20 SB) 4 3 J(5 players)
AAAces1267 bets, Hero raises, str8man498 3-bets, NEAGOE calls, Seber444 calls, AAAces1267 caps!, Hero calls, str8man498 calls, NEAGOE calls, Seber444 calls

Turn: (20 BB) Q(5 players)
AAAces1267 checks, Hero bets, str8man498 raises, NEAGOE calls, Seber444 folds, AAAces1267 calls, Hero 3-bets, str8man498 caps!, NEAGOE calls, AAAces1267 calls, Hero calls

River: (36 BB) 9(4 players)
AAAces1267 bets, Hero raises, str8man498 3-bets, NEAGOE calls, AAAces1267 calls all in, Hero caps!, str8man498 calls, NEAGOE calls

Final Pot: 50.35 BB
NEAGOE shows 9 6 T Q (HI: two pair, Queens and Nines)
AAAces1267 mucks 3 4 2 9
Hero shows 8 2 A 6 (HI: a flush, Ace high)
str8man498 mucks A 5 K T
Hero wins 4.95 BB
Hero wins 45.4 BB

Hand #1
Poker Stars $5.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1741020
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $16.52
MP: $5.00 - VPIP: 11, PFR: 8, 3B: 8, AF: 0.0, Hands: 61
CO: $8.22 - VPIP: 31, PFR: 21, 3B: 5, AF: 1.2, Hands: 89
BTN: $13.09 - VPIP: 56, PFR: 16, 3B: 6, AF: 1.5, Hands: 171
SB: $5.02 - VPIP: 17, PFR: 11, 3B: 5, AF: 0.7, Hands: 127
BB: $14.56 - VPIP: 89, PFR: 70, 3B: 35, AF: 3.9, Hands: 84

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG with Q 6
3 folds, BTN calls $0.05, 1 fold, BB checks

Flop: ($0.12) Q A 9(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN calls $0.05

Turn: ($0.22) J(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN calls $0.05

River: ($0.32) J(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN calls $0.05

Final Pot: $0.42
BTN mucks 8 6
BB shows K 8
BB wins $0.40
(Rake: $0.02)

Hand #2
Poker Stars $5.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1741021
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $16.59
MP: $5.78 - VPIP: 11, PFR: 8, 3B: 8, AF: 0.0, Hands: 61
CO: $6.27 - VPIP: 22, PFR: 13, 3B: 0, AF: 1.7, Hands: 23
BTN: $18.38 - VPIP: 56, PFR: 16, 3B: 6, AF: 1.5, Hands: 171
SB: $5.03 - VPIP: 17, PFR: 11, 3B: 5, AF: 0.7, Hands: 127
BB: $6.84 - VPIP: 89, PFR: 70, 3B: 35, AF: 3.9, Hands: 84

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG with 6 4
3 folds, BTN raises to $0.10, 1 fold, BB raises to $0.15, BTN calls $0.05

Flop: ($0.32) J 4 K(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN raises to $0.25, BB calls $0.20

Turn: ($0.82) Q(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN raises to $0.70, BB calls $0.65

River: ($2.22) 2(2 players)
BB bets $0.05, BTN raises to $1.30, BB calls $1.25

Final Pot: $4.82
BTN shows J Q
BB mucks 9 A
BTN wins $4.62
(Rake: $0.20)

Hand #3
Poker Stars $5.00 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1741022
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (SB): $16.54
BB: $5.78 - VPIP: 11, PFR: 8, 3B: 8, AF: 0.0, Hands: 61
UTG: $6.27 - VPIP: 22, PFR: 13, 3B: 0, AF: 1.7, Hands: 23
MP: $21.79 - VPIP: 56, PFR: 16, 3B: 6, AF: 1.5, Hands: 171
CO: $5.01 - VPIP: 17, PFR: 11, 3B: 5, AF: 0.7, Hands: 127
BTN: $3.19 - VPIP: 89, PFR: 70, 3B: 35, AF: 3.9, Hands: 84

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is SB with 8 4
1 fold, MP calls $0.05, 1 fold, BTN raises to $0.10, 1 fold, BB raises to $0.40, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.30

Flop: ($0.87) 6 Q 3(2 players)
BB bets $0.60, BTN calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.07) 4(2 players)
BB checks, BTN bets $0.80, BB raises to $2.30, BTN calls $1.39 all in

River: ($6.45) 5(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $6.45
BB shows K K
BTN shows 3 8
BB wins $6.18
(Rake: $0.27)

View all 3 hands

It's going to be great when it comes to 2-7TD.

I remember Ansky saying in a vid that a lot of people overestimate the importance of short-term metagame.  That being said, I have seen one place where it is really really reliable both for my own behaviour and for others (at least at the stakes I play) and that is this.  The guy who has just won a big pot is very likely to overplay in the hand or two immediately afterwards. Must be the rush of adrenalin.  For example today I flopped a set >250bbs deep, bet flop, got called, bet turn, he raised i just jammed (about 4x pot) and he showed me the straight.  I hadn't even noticed there was a straight on board because the previous pot I had taken 100bbs off him.  Anyhow, the hand before the one below villain (who was a huge spot and the reason I was still at this table because everyone else was either a tough tag or a nit) had doubled up.  So when he does the big 3-bet I put him on aces and I'm sure I can stack him because he's going to overplay them.  Versus AA,KK I have direct odds to call the flop, and when I turn the nuts I'm just thinking, how do I get the money in when he obliges by overbet jamming drawing stone dead.  Easy game.

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1732638
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (MP): $12.54
CO: $5.00
BTN: $2.43
SB: $4.88
BB: $7.98
UTG: $5.00

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is MP with 6 7
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.17, 3 folds, BB raises to $0.60, Hero calls $0.43

Flop: ($1.22) 5 2 3(2 players)
BB bets $0.80, Hero calls $0.80

Turn: ($2.82) 4(2 players)
BB bets $6.58 all in, Hero calls $6.58

River: ($15.98) K(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $15.98
Hero shows 6 7 (a straight, Three to Seven)
BB shows A A (a straight, Ace to Five)
Hero wins $15.32
(Rake: $0.66)

The drunks, windowlickers and other maniacs are out in force today.  Must be because it's April fools' day.  So while I just couldn't catch a card at 2-7 TD, today was by far my most sucessful ever day at holdem in spite of taking some pretty nasty coolers and making a couple of big mistakes.

These two hands are from the same villain.  He kept doing massive open-raises, huge 3-bets, limping, then donking 10x pot etc.  As you can see he was bossing the table and had amassed an enormous stack.

Hand #1
Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1710750
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $12.28
MP: $4.86
CO: $6.93
BTN: $5.00
SB: $28.51
BB: $5.09

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is UTG with Q Q
Hero raises to $0.20, 3 folds, SB raises to $0.35, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1.10, SB raises to $1.85, Hero raises to $12.28 all in, SB calls $10.43

Flop: ($24.61) T 2 J(2 players - 1 is all in)

Turn: ($24.61) 3(2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($24.61) K(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $24.61
Hero shows Q Q (a pair of Queens)
SB shows 5 5 (a pair of Fives)
Hero wins $23.61
(Rake: $1.00)

Hand #2
Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1710751
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (MP): $23.54
CO: $4.45
BTN: $6.72
SB: $5.02
BB: $12.42
UTG: $1.93

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is MP with K K
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.20, 3 folds, BB raises to $0.55, Hero raises to $1.67, BB raises to $2.79, Hero raises to $23.54 all in, BB calls $9.63 all in

Flop: ($24.86) 6 K 9(2 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: ($24.86) Q(2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($24.86) 8(2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $24.86
Hero shows K K (three of a kind, Kings)
BB shows Q J (a pair of Queens)
Hero wins $23.86
(Rake: $1.00)

View all 2 hands

I felted him another couple of times after he reloaded (smaller)

This call felt pretty good.  Villain kept limping, then doing these huge overbets, wierd donks etc. I just couldn't see him playing any of the draws that way and he has loads of bluffs in his range.  Any set or legitimate big hand should be betting the turn for protection (although he's bad enough to slowplay here).  Anyhow I tanked and called.  It was extra sweet because he had got this big stack by sucking out on me pretty hard earlier.

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1710753
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BTN: $7.31
Hero (SB): $13.45
BB: $5.69
UTG: $27.57
MP: $16.92
CO: $4.34

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is SB with K Q
3 folds, BTN calls $0.05, Hero raises to $0.25, 1 fold, BTN calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.55) T Q 3(2 players)
Hero bets $0.35, BTN raises to $2.10, Hero calls $1.75

Turn: ($4.75) 9(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN checks

River: ($4.75) 7(2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $4.96 all in, Hero calls $4.96

Final Pot: $14.67
BTN shows 3 A (a pair of Threes)
Hero shows K Q (a pair of Queens)
Hero wins $14.06
(Rake: $0.61)

Today while I have been "working" (and playing the occasional hand or two of 2-7 triple draw) I have been looking in from time to time on DC coach Schweig as he plays an epic heads-up 100/200 match with oogee.  As I write this, our hero is up more than 30k (150BBs), which is really impressive.

I have been doing my bit for the triple draw economy today, taking about 45BBs in 3 sessions, albeit at somewhat lower stakes (.10/.20) and against weaker opposition :)

It's a fantastic game - if you haven't played it, I would heartily recommend watching "Triple The Gold" and reading Daniel Negreanu's chapter on triple draw in "Super System 2". On stars at least although there is seldom any possibility of table selection, the games are fantastic, with frequently 3 or more really weak players in a game (it's always played 6-max, never FR because you would run out of cards).  So even if you're a complete beginner (like me) it's easy to have a big edge over the opposition while you learn.

OK, limp/min-reraise is just screams aces, and if for whatever reason he had AK clubs he bets the flop.  So I'm x/f the flop.  On the turn, however my flush is just about always going to be good.  Really this sort of play is just so ridiculously bad, and yet so many people do it at the micros.

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 5 players - View hand 1684146
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

UTG: $3.44
CO: $2.11
Hero (BTN): $5.00
SB: $8.00
BB: $2.51

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BTN with Q 6
UTG calls $0.05, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.25, 2 folds, UTG raises to $0.45, Hero calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.97) 4 6 3(2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($0.97) J(2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.61, UTG raises to $1.35, Hero raises to $4.55 all in, UTG calls $1.64 all in

River: ($6.95) J(2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $6.95
UTG shows A A (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
Hero shows Q 6 (a flush, Queen high)
Hero wins $6.66
(Rake: $0.29)

A half-pot all-in shove on the river is a little less scary than villain maybe thinks.

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1679504DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

MP: $2.73
CO: $9.27
Hero (BTN): $5.00
SB: $10.03
BB: $5.00
UTG: $4.55

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BTN with 7 7
1 fold, MP calls $0.05, 1 fold, Hero raises to $0.25, 2 folds, MP calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.57) 7 6 9(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.31, MP calls $0.31

Turn: ($1.19) 4(2 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.75, MP calls $0.75

River: ($2.69) T(2 players)
MP bets $1.42 all in, Hero calls $1.42

Final Pot: $5.53
MP shows 3 4 (a pair of Fours)
Hero shows 7 7 (three of a kind, Sevens)
Hero wins $5.30
(Rake: $0.23)

In "How to read hands at no-limit hold'em", Ed Miller defines a fish as someone who plays for the thrill of gambling.  This makes a lot of sense.  A passive fish plays for the thrill of hitting their draw and an aggressive fish plays for the thrill of bluffing people out of the pot.  And occasionally you have a maniac who just loves doing both of those things.  Had an interesting hand today which really demonstrates how a fish really doesn't think like a regular poker player.  Specifically, the turn call and river fold.

Poker Stars $0.02/$0.05 No Limit Hold'em - 6 players - View hand 1672770
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

CO: $1.35
BTN: $8.73
SB: $4.05
Hero (BB): $12.68
UTG: $3.88
MP: $5.80

Pre Flop: ($0.07) Hero is BB with T Q
2 folds, CO calls $0.05, BTN calls $0.05, SB calls $0.03, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.20) 7 K J(4 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.13, CO raises to $0.26, BTN calls $0.26, SB folds, Hero calls $0.13

Turn: ($0.98) 6(3 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $0.85, BTN calls $0.85, Hero folds

River: ($2.68) 6(2 players)
CO bets $0.19 all in, BTN folds

Final Pot: $2.68
CO wins $2.57
(Rake: $0.11)

So,  what do you call at 3 to 1 on the turn that you then fold at 15 to 1 on the river?   Villain clearly had a draw and just wanted to see if it would hit.  It didn't, so he folds. Odds don't really matter to him, so it doesn't matter on the turn whether he's getting the right price and it doesn't matter on the river that he only has to call 19c in a pot of just under $3.

Note to self: bet bigger for value in small pots when there are draws out there.