PLO Pimpin'

What's up Degens?

This one is a little older but definitely a classic. Gangstarr is timeless imo. 

I haven't been able to put in very much volume the last few months because I've been tying up some loose ends with PLO QuickPro, so December was my first chance to finally put in some hours at the table. Here's a graph of the carnage.

Throw in ~$2k in tourney cash and that's my December. Would've been a better month had I not lost some buy-ins at 2/4 to a couple of very aggro fish, but whatcha gonna do. No complaints about finishing in the green, but looking back on the month, I made tons of mistakes and am very excited about plugging more leaks and continuing to improve. 

Also, on Christmas Eve, instead of spending time with my family, being the degen at heart that I am, I was waiting for action at a 1/2 HU table. Eventually some Brazilian sat down to join me, and was playing extremely aggressive and spewing really badly. I asked him if he wanted to play 2 tables, and he says "I'll only play 1, or 6. You pick". Even though it probably wasn't the best idea because I'd been playing all day and felt like I was losing focus, I've always wanted to play an Isildur-style match against someone, so I figured why not. We ended up playing 6 tables of .5/1 for about an hour. I felt like I did a really poor job of adjusting to him, and truthfully I was having a lot of trouble keeping up with the fast-paced action. He was playing hyper-aggressive and I was timing out and mindlessly betting in a ton of spots. I felt that I was adjusting pretty well once I settled in, but once I binked a couple of pots on him, he quit me, and I ended up losing 3-buyins from it all.  I definitely gained a shitload of respect for Isildur and the dudes who play 4+ tables of HU. Those guys must have a ton of mental RAM to handle it! 

A few things I noticed going through my PokerTracker:

• Somehow I'm getting absolutely destroyed at the deep/ante games. Perhaps it's just variance but overall I'm a solid loser on those tables. I think the allure of playing deep stacked with fish causes me to gamboool too much, and as a result I end up getting my money in too light for bigger pots, especially towards the end of my sessions. Ironically I also seem to get it in terrible in the shallow games far too often because it's "only 40bb's, so bet/calling can't be that bad, can it?". Yep, it can, and I've definitely given up a ton of equity by exercising poor bet sizing and not paying close enough attention to the action.
  
• Many of my sessions start off very well, but inevitably I either plateau or lose money towards the end. In other words, I suffer from "winners tilt", or I simply lose focus and don't play my A game after sitting at the tables for 90 minutes or so. Either that, or if I'm doing well on the session, I tend to play more conservatively towards the end because I don't want to lose a big pot and ruin the session (which is obviously a mistake). I begin to give up in spots where I should stay aggressive, and you can tell by looking at my NSDW from start to finish in the session; they typically start to taper off as the # of hands in the session go up. Particularly if I'm playing HU, I rarely quit someone even when I probably should (partly because I'm a cocky/competitive mother fucker and think I have an edge, but also because I'm a degen and enjoy the challenge). Staying focused and making sure I take breaks and practice quitting at the right times is something I'm going to work hard on in 2011. 

For new years I'm going to a champagne party at the Marriott near the Tech Center in Denver. I considered going to Steamboat Springs to snowboard on New Years Day, but it seems like a hassle and there'll likely be a huge crowd, so I decided to keep my drunkness in D-town. I just booked four nights at the Wynn during Super Bowl weekend in Vegas, so if anyone else is going out there and wants to meet up let me know. My roommates and a friend of mine from Sweden are all heading out as well, so it should be a fun weekend of degeneracy! 

Hopefully everyone has a good time on NYE! I'll post a few interesting hands at the bottom for those who're interested. GL!

John

Surprised to get the money in this far ahead in this spot. Expected him to have spades a lot more than Axxx. 

Full Tilt Poker $5/$10 Pot Limit Omaha Hi $1.50 Ante - 5 players - View hand 1099280
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (CO): $1442.50
BTN: $3478.50
SB: $5687.50
BB: $2933.50
UTG: $1299.50

Pre Flop: ($22.50) Hero is CO with 2 K T A
UTG calls $10, Hero raises to $40, BTN calls $40, 1 fold, BB requests TIME, BB calls $30, UTG calls $30

Flop: ($172.50) A 2 T(4 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $110, Hero calls $110, BTN folds, BB requests TIME, BB calls $110

Turn: ($502.50) 7(3 players)
BB checks, UTG bets $400, Hero raises to $1291 all in, BB folds, UTG calls $748 all in

River: ($2798.50) 9(2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $2798.50
Hero shows 2 K T A (two pair, Aces and Tens)
UTG shows 6 K 7 A (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
Hero wins $2796.50
(Rake: $2.00)

Isolating the limper is fine, but I think limping behind is fine too, given that I have very polar aces. I also thought there was a strong chance the BB would raise it up because he's pretty aggro bad and his stack size is perfect for raising it up in this spot. 

Full Tilt Poker $10/$20 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 6 players - View hand 1099283
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (BTN): $817.00
SB: $1801.00
BB: $400.00
UTG: $3238.00
MP: $800.00
CO: $374.00

Pre Flop: ($30.00) Hero is BTN with K A 9 A
UTG calls $20, 2 folds, Hero calls $20, SB calls $10, BB raises to $100, UTG calls $80, Hero raises to $420, 1 fold, BB calls $300 all in, UTG calls $320

Flop: ($1260.00) 2 8 T(3 players - 1 is all in)
UTG checks, Hero bets $397 all in, UTG folds

Turn: ($1260.00) 5(2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($1260.00) 3(2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $1260.00
Hero shows K A 9 A (a pair of Aces)
BB shows J T 9 A (a pair of Tens)
Hero wins $40.00
Hero wins $1217.00
(Rake: $3.00)

I think I'm ahead on the flop..

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 5 players - View hand 1099285
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (UTG): $252.20
CO: $490.45
BTN: $212.95
SB: $1133.80
BB: $926.90

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is UTG with A 7 Q A
Hero raises to $6, CO raises to $21, 1 fold, SB calls $20, 1 fold, Hero raises to $86, CO calls $65, SB calls $65

Flop: ($260.00) T 6 A(3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $166.20 all in, CO folds, SB calls $166.20

Turn: ($592.40) T(2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($592.40) Q(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $592.40
Hero shows A 7 Q A (a full house, Aces full of Tens)
SB shows 7 Q 3 A (two pair, Aces and Queens)
Hero wins $589.40
(Rake: $3.00)

Run gooooooot

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 2 players - View hand 1099287
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (BTN/SB): $237.50
BB: $416.50

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is BTN/SB with Q K A T
Hero raises to $6, BB raises to $18, Hero raises to $54, BB calls $36

Flop: ($108.00) T 7 9(2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($108.00) J(2 players)
BB bets $49, Hero requests TIME, Hero raises to $183.50 all in, BB calls $134.50

River: ($475.00) Q(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $475.00
Hero shows Q K A T (a straight, Ace high)
BB shows K 7 Q J (a straight, King high)
Hero wins $474.50
(Rake: $0.50)

Ran good here obviously. 3b'ing this preflop is fine but BB was very squeezy, so with good relative position and a pulling hand I think calling pre is the best option. 

Full Tilt Poker $5/$10 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 4 players - View hand 1099288
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BB: $964.25
CO: $739.00
BTN: $419.75
Hero (SB): $400.00

Pre Flop: ($15.00) Hero is SB with A Q J 4
1 fold, BTN raises to $20, Hero calls $15, BB raises to $80, BTN calls $60, Hero calls $60

Flop: ($240.00) 6 9 T(3 players)
Hero checks, BB bets $150, BTN raises to $339.75 all in, Hero calls $320 all in, BB folds

Turn: ($1030.00) 4(2 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($1030.00) K(2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $1030.00
BTN shows 7 K T T (three of a kind, Tens)
Hero shows A Q J 4 (a straight, King high)
Hero wins $1028.00
(Rake: $2.00)

:(

Full Tilt Poker $3/$6 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 6 players - View hand 1099292
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

UTG: $759.00
MP: $1917.85
Hero (CO): $600.00
BTN: $1112.50
SB: $600.00
BB: $581.30

Pre Flop: ($9.00) Hero is CO with 2 A 9 A
1 fold, MP raises to $18, Hero calls $18, BTN raises to $81, 1 fold, BB calls $75, 1 fold, Hero raises to $345, BTN calls $264, BB raises to $581.30 all in, Hero calls $236.30, BTN calls $236.30

Flop: ($1764.90) 4 J J(3 players - 1 is all in)
Hero bets $18.70 all in, BTN calls $18.70

Turn: ($1802.30) K(3 players - 2 are all in)

River: ($1802.30) Q(3 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $1802.30
Hero shows 2 A 9 A (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
BTN shows K 3 6 K (a full house, Kings full of Jacks)
BB shows 5 T T 5 (two pair, Jacks and Tens)
BTN wins $37.40
BTN wins $1761.90
(Rake: $3.00)

Easiest flat call pre ever. SB 3b's tonsssss. Got it in very good as a result.

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Pot Limit Omaha Hi $0.30 Ante - 5 players - View hand 1099293
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

BB: $738.85
UTG: $628.05
Hero (CO): $446.80
BTN: $404.30
SB: $3997.60

Pre Flop: ($4.50) Hero is CO with 6 A 9 A
UTG raises to $8.50, Hero calls $8.50, 1 fold, SB raises to $37.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $124.50, SB calls $87

Flop: ($261.00) 2 2 7(2 players)
SB bets $261, Hero raises to $322 all in, SB calls $61

Turn: ($905.00) 5(2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($905.00) Q(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $905.00
Hero shows 6 A 9 A (two pair, Aces and Twos)
SB shows K T A 4 (a pair of Twos)
Hero wins $902.00
(Rake: $3.00)

Full Tilt Poker $2/$4 Pot Limit Omaha Hi $0.75 Ante - 6 players - View hand 1099296
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

UTG: $263.90
MP: $715.70
CO: $400.00
BTN: $1327.25
SB: $466.95
Hero (BB): $415.00

Pre Flop: ($10.50) Hero is BB with 4 A A 4
1 fold, MP calls $4, CO requests TIME, CO raises to $22.50, 1 fold, SB calls $20.50, Hero raises to $98.50, 1 fold, CO requests TIME, 1 fold, SB calls $76

Flop: ($228.00) 4 6 6(2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $45, SB raises to $363, Hero calls $270.75 all in

Turn: ($859.50) 9(2 players - 1 is all in)

River: ($859.50) 5(2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $859.50
SB shows Q Q 7 6 (a flush, Queen high)
Hero shows 4 A A 4 (a full house, Fours full of Sixes)
Hero wins $856.50
(Rake: $3.00)

This hand is pretty funny. On the river, I meant to bet 65 but somehow accidentally fired min, and he still folded getting 10/1 haha. Could probably c-bet flop but given stacks I thought checking back and playing later streets against him was better. Turn I thought peeling was better because I steal it on the river a lot, and there's just no reason to turn it into a bluff when the river will be easy to play regardless. He should be stabbing pretty wide on the turn anyway.

Full Tilt Poker $5/$10 Pot Limit Omaha Hi - 5 players - View hand 1099300
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

SB: $400.00
BB: $624.00
Hero (UTG): $472.00
CO: $258.25
BTN: $200.00

Pre Flop: ($15.00) Hero is UTG with Q K 8 8
Hero raises to $20, 3 folds, BB calls $10

Flop: ($45.00) 9 T 5(2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($45.00) 4(2 players)
BB bets $22.50, Hero calls $22.50

River: ($90.00) 7(2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $10, BB folds

Final Pot: $90.00
Hero wins $87.00
(Rake: $3.00)