11/28 : Whoa, I played high stakes tonight

I played a $220 turbo for the first time in a while. It was a scouted game and if I lost I had all night to play (for once). It was fun, and I won...but there was a ridiculously scary moment...I'll post it as my "Scary Hand of the Night". I started off the night playing simple $110's, and I was all set to win both of them when my AQ lost to AJ on a jack spiked river :-/. Luckily it just set me up to win more money tonight, because I played a 110 with my 220 and won that as well. Good, quick night. I'm happy, because I'm kind of tired from shooting a movie all morning and afternoon. It's about 20 degrees here in Orono, and we were filming outside for the most part, bleh. Anyways, here's some hands of the day.

Scary Hand of the Night:
PokerStars Game #13528839824: Tournament #68622960, $220+$10 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level III (25/50) - 2007/11/28 - 19:00:47 (ET)
Table '68622960 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: maxv2 (2375 in chips)
Seat 2: 1Nookie1 (625 in chips)
maxv2: posts small blind 25
1Nookie1: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [Ac As]
maxv2: raises 50 to 100
1Nookie1: raises 525 to 625 and is all-in
maxv2: calls 525
*** FLOP *** [4h Td 6d]
*** TURN *** [4h Td 6d] [4c]
*** RIVER *** [4h Td 6d 4c] [3s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
1Nookie1: shows [Ah 4s] (three of a kind, Fours)
maxv2: shows [Ac As] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
1Nookie1 collected 1250 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1250 | Rake 0
Board [4h Td 6d 4c 3s]
Seat 1: maxv2 (button) (small blind) showed [Ac As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 2: 1Nookie1 (big blind) showed [Ah 4s] and won (1250) with three of a kind, Fours

This was a tragedy, and scared the crap out of me. Was I really going to lose the first 220 I've played in a long time...like this?

Noway, here's my Heroic Hand of the Day:
PokerStars Game #13528916922: Tournament #68622960, $220+$10 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level IV (50/100) - 2007/11/28 - 19:04:47 (ET)
Table '68622960 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: maxv2 (2100 in chips)
Seat 2: 1Nookie1 (900 in chips)
1Nookie1: posts small blind 50
maxv2: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [2h 2c]
1Nookie1: raises 800 to 900 and is all-in
maxv2: calls 800
*** FLOP *** [2d Ts 5s]
*** TURN *** [2d Ts 5s] [Kh]
*** RIVER *** [2d Ts 5s Kh] [Qh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
maxv2: shows [2h 2c] (three of a kind, Deuces)
1Nookie1: shows [Th As] (a pair of Tens)
maxv2 collected 1800 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1800 | Rake 0
Board [2d Ts 5s Kh Qh]
Seat 1: maxv2 (big blind) showed [2h 2c] and won (1800) with three of a kind, Deuces
Seat 2: 1Nookie1 (button) (small blind) showed [Th As] and lost with a pair of Tens

Summary: I had grinded him back down pretty well, then he started getting aggressive...so I called with 2's lol. It thankfully held up and made my night much more enjoyable. Honestly, if I had lost the hand...he was bad and I probably would've come back, but cheers to not having to.

Good Night -Max

11/27 : Exhausted

Whew, today was a long day. Class, Work, Class, Hurdle Practice, Regular Practice and then lifting. Luckily I got home and just won 3 out of 4 $55 turbo's to go up a quick $100 for the day. God knows I don't have the energy for anything else. Especially since I have to get up at 9am to shoot a movie tomorrow. It's been interesting this year trying to balance all of this stuff. Overall it's made for really sub-par earnings for 2007. While I watch players like Jmac, Phenom and BCM clear anywhere from 100k - 200k for the year while cashing in points for Porches and crap. I've made approximately 40k. My little 6500 slide earlier in the year hasn't helped, and playing no more then 15-20 hours a weak hasn't either. I've been playing probably 7 hours a week in general, sometimes less. Atleast I've played well when I've had the chance. Anyways, enough of that, here's some interesting hands of the day.

Huge Bummer of the Day (crap I left earlier and it didn't register):
maxv2 1300 chips [Qh Qc] raises 40 to 60
Villain 1700 chips reraises 100 to 160
maxv2 moves all-in
Villain calls [Ac Ad]
Flop: [Q78rainbow]
Turn: [As]
River: [x]

I had already won my other game, so for a second I thought I go lucky and ended my day right there. Nope. It really didn't upset me or anything, I mean I didn't deserve it anyway.

Awesome Hand of the Day:
PokerStars Game #13512259179: Tournament #68540129, $55.00+$2.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/11/27 - 22:03:09 (ET)
Table '68540129 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: maxv2 (1470 in chips)
Seat 2: Jetman4109 (1530 in chips)
maxv2: posts small blind 10
Jetman4109: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [Ts 7d]
maxv2: raises 20 to 40
Jetman4109: calls 20
*** FLOP *** [Kc 8h Jd]
Jetman4109: checks
maxv2: bets 60
Jetman4109: calls 60
*** TURN *** [Kc 8h Jd] [9d]
Jetman4109: checks
maxv2: bets 200
Jetman4109: raises 1230 to 1430 and is all-in
maxv2: calls 1170 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Kc 8h Jd 9d] [7h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Jetman4109: shows [Jh 9s] (two pair, Jacks and Nines)
maxv2: shows [Ts 7d] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
maxv2 collected 2940 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2940 | Rake 0
Board [Kc 8h Jd 9d 7h]
Seat 1: maxv2 (button) (small blind) showed [Ts 7d] and won (2940) with a straight, Seven to Jack
Seat 2: Jetman4109 (big blind) showed [Jh 9s] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Nines

Summary: Again, I very rarely continuation bet on gutshots, but it was early and I was just looking to check-check the turn to get a free river...surprise surprise. Needless to say I was happy to see him move in on the turn (except for a small fear of Q10). I find it eases the pain to expect the worse when in this situation. Plus it makes seeing J9 that much better. Anyways, I'm going to sleep...early for once. -Max

P.S. I can't believe the Celtics let Drew Gooden beat them. *sigh*

10/23 : In a pretty good mood

Well, today went well. Now that I'm home and have absolutely nothing to do (a relief) I've gotten back into 100's, and it's gone very smoothly. While I'd like t oput in long sessions to boost my financial situation (which isn't bad to begin with) I feel like winning $400 yesterday and $200 today are perfectly fine...even if it only took about an hour and a half total. It's just nice to have a break from absolutely everything to clear my head. Even though I kind of hung out with a girl that I shouldn't of hung out with last night (It was good though, I kind of realized why I lost interest in her in the first place) I've really just been enjoying the complete lack of responsibility. I mean, right now my biggest responsibility is to make sure I take the time to eat 3-5 times a day. I can live with that. Anyways, sorry for boring you (if anyones reading this lol). Sadly I lost the hand history of a very intense game that I played really well in. I'll do my best to reinact.

Sequence of the day:
maxv2 1800 chips
Villain 1200 chips
25/50 blinds

Villain limps
maxv2 [KsKc] raises to 150
Villain reraises to 450
maxv2 reraises all-in
Villain calls [JdJs]
Flop: J810(rainbow) turn 10 river 7

Next Hand:
50/100 blinds
maxv2 [Jc3c] limps
Villain raises 100
maxv2 calls
Flop: QJ2
Villain checks
maxv2 checks
Turn: 4
Villain bets 200
maxv2 calls
River: Q
Villain bets 500
maxv2 (thinks for a long while) calls 500
Villain [10s10c]
maxv2 wins (up to 2k in chips)

Next Hand:
flip K9d vs j10c
he wins *sigh*

Next Hand:
flip 22 vs K10
I win

Next Hand
flip A6s vs 44
I win. Game.

The other game of this set I had turned an 8 with 88 on a KJ5 flop where the guy had KJ and won it on about the 3rd hand, so this game was vital to ending my day at +210.
I might play a little more later, but I doubt it.

Anyways, if anyone has any questions they'd like answered post away. Anything from strategy, to how much of an idiot I am, go for it. Peace -Max

11/20 : Sadly had to delete some old posts

As this was kind of serving as a journal for me I felt the need to delete some more personal posts of mine lol. Anyways I realized after reading through some of them that I really enjoy posting about things non-poker related...so I'll probably keep doing that, just on a smaller scale. I'll also make sure to label them so that if it's a topic of my life that's totally uninteresting to you, you can just skip it.

Anyways, today was a pretty awesome workout. I started off hurdling with fresh legs (finally, not hurdling the day after a lifting workout). And it went really well, I really need to work on my start...but I'm sure that will come. Then we proceeded into 10 100's with 3 minute rest at 12.7 seconds. Me Holman and Josh were in the lead group and progressed nicely (except Josh who looked like powder after #5 and had to stop). I felt my legs tighten up, but I feel like with the experience I've gained, I can control my stride and transition into a shorter more relaxed motion when I need to. It slows me down a little bit, but...I don't hurt myself.

Cards was a gigantic rollercoaster today. I went down about $450 early, but won two 100's and then in unstoppable ridiculously lucky fashion won a $119 6-handed. Then capped it off winning a few 50's to end up around +130. It was kind of fun, but easily could've spun out of control...luckily it didn't.

Somewhat important hand of the day (sorry I x'd out of stars and don't feel like searching for anything better right now).
PokerStars Game #13351565994: Tournament #67737955, $55.00+$2.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/11/20 - 01:12:20 (ET)
Table '67737955 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: nn888 (1940 in chips)
Seat 2: maxv2 (1060 in chips)
maxv2: posts small blind 10
nn888: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [Qs Qh]
maxv2: raises 40 to 60
nn888: calls 40
*** FLOP *** [3s 5c Kh]
nn888: checks
maxv2: checks
*** TURN *** [3s 5c Kh] [Td]
nn888: bets 120
maxv2: calls 120
*** RIVER *** [3s 5c Kh Td] [Qd]
nn888: checks
maxv2: bets 400
nn888: raises 400 to 800
maxv2: calls 400
*** SHOW DOWN ***
nn888: shows [Tc 5d] (two pair, Tens and Fives)
maxv2: shows [Qs Qh] (three of a kind, Queens)
maxv2 collected 1960 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1960 | Rake 0
Board [3s 5c Kh Td Qd]
Seat 1: nn888 (big blind) showed [Tc 5d] and lost with two pair, Tens and Fives
Seat 2: maxv2 (button) (small blind) showed [Qs Qh] and won (1960) with three of a kind, Queens

Summary: Awesome River.

Goodnight!

P.S. I found a comment from a while ago that I didn respond to by someone named Shandra (I think) something with an S...anyways, I just wanted to say hello.

Goodnight again

11/19 : A Little History

In response to the comment, I originally started as a tournament and 9-handed sitngo player. I made my first scores for $120 in a 7-card stud tournament and then went on a run in hold em winning about $2000 in the span of about 4 days. From there I started on 9-handed sitngos after cashing out $1000...I went broke...obviously. From there I received a $10 transfer from a friend and wanted to try and run it up fast, so I figured I could play these litte "1 on 1" games to try and build...and well, I built. From that $10 I've never been broke. I just fell in love with the speed and rush that came inherently from heads up poker. I started to pick up on betting tendencies and develop instincts. From there I began watching the high stakes games for long periods every day, trying to figure out what they were doing that made them so successful (I still do this today, but just out of curiousity). I don't generally read poker related books or articles, however I did read one thing that claimed to never gamble more then 5-10% of your bankroll at once. I've generally followed that rule, however nowadays I play small stakes so that I can keep up with my ever evolving life. At some point when I graduate I'd like to become my aggressive with my money and attempt to become "rich". But honestly, I really enjoy just coasting off of $700-$800 a week which takes anywhere from 5-15 hours to make throughout that week. Anyways, here's some hands of the day.

Quick Daily Summary: Lost two 50's to start the day, then played three 100's and won them all to boot my account up to 3k so that I could cash 1k out.

Mistake of the day:
PokerStars Game #13321365997: Tournament #67590917, $55.00+$2.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level V (75/150) - 2007/11/18 - 15:51:51 (ET)
Table '67590917 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: micaninho (1550 in chips)
Seat 2: maxv2 (1450 in chips)
maxv2: posts small blind 75
micaninho: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [3h 9d]
maxv2: calls 75
micaninho: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qs Qc Qh]
micaninho: checks
maxv2: checks
*** TURN *** [Qs Qc Qh] [Jh]
micaninho: checks
maxv2: checks
*** RIVER *** [Qs Qc Qh Jh] [8d]
micaninho: bets 300
maxv2: raises 450 to 750
micaninho: raises 650 to 1400 and is all-in
maxv2: folds
micaninho collected 1800 from pot
micaninho: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1800 | Rake 0
Board [Qs Qc Qh Jh 8d]
Seat 1: micaninho (big blind) collected (1800)
Seat 2: maxv2 (button) (small blind) folded on the River

Summary: Honestly, I have no idea what I was thinking. This guys had become somewhat aggressive at this point in the game, and I felt as though if I stole this pot I could grind out an easy win from here. What I actually did, was make a totally unnecessary move that left me short and desperate. I went on to lose the game...obviously.

Heroic Move of the Day:
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [Jh Qs]
maxv2: raises 50 to 100
teoretik: calls 50
*** FLOP *** [5s 9s Kc]
teoretik: checks
maxv2: bets 100
teoretik: calls 100
*** TURN *** [5s 9s Kc] [Th]
teoretik: checks
maxv2: bets 200
teoretik: raises 350 to 550
maxv2: raises 500 to 1050
teoretik: calls 360 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [5s 9s Kc Th] [3c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
teoretik: shows [5c 5d] (three of a kind, Fives)
maxv2: shows [Jh Qs] (a straight, Nine to King)
maxv2 collected 2220 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2220 | Rake 0
Board [5s 9s Kc Th 3c]
Seat 1: teoretik (big blind) showed [5c 5d] and lost with three of a kind, Fives
Seat 2: maxv2 (button) (small blind) showed [Jh Qs] and won (2220) with a straight, Nine to King

Summary: This guy was playing pretty tight throughout, and I generally don't make continuation bets based on something as light as a gutshot draw (I feel like continuation bets are getting out of control in headsup, this whole auto-continuation bet phase that headsup is in...is totally lame.) Anyways, had the turn come blank, I would have checked and picked up the free river cards. However, alas...I nailed it on the turn and continued my aggression. I was pleasently suprised to find a re-reaise in my lap, and then immediately worried when a flipped a set over. Always a scary river, but I survived this one.

P.S. thanks for the comments, they inspire me to write more often...feel free to ask me anything.

11/17 : Back to talking about cards

I got a request from probably the only person who reads this to talk about poker again, so I guess I can do that lol. Pokers been flowing really easily for the last few weeks, and I really needed it. Just for the record, I gave up on my attempt to play 6-handed consistently. It's just too time consuming, swingy...and I'm better at Heads-Up. The problem I have about writing a poker blog is that right now, I have no real ambition with my talent. I simply make $100 a day on average and work through difficult days at times. It's really not that interesting (not that anything else I was writing about is), however having a journal is somewhat satisfying, I'll post some consistent updates on poker and how things are working out. I'll make sure to post a "hand of the week sort of thing" and my daily mistake hands.

Mistake:
PokerStars Game #13281617609: Tournament #67396710, $55.00+$2.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2007/11/16 - 18:04:19 (ET)
Table '67396710 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: Vadimius (1460 in chips)
Seat 2: maxv2 (1540 in chips)
maxv2: posts small blind 10
Vadimius: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [As Jh]
maxv2: raises 40 to 60
Vadimius: calls 40
*** FLOP *** [4d Ah Th]
Vadimius: checks
maxv2: bets 80
Vadimius: calls 80
*** TURN *** [4d Ah Th] [Jd]
Vadimius: checks
maxv2: bets 200
Vadimius: raises 320 to 520
maxv2: calls 320
*** RIVER *** [4d Ah Th Jd] [Qh]
Vadimius: bets 800 and is all-in
maxv2: calls 800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Vadimius: shows [Ks Qc] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
maxv2: shows [As Jh] (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
Vadimius collected 2920 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2920 | Rake 0
Board [4d Ah Th Jd Qh]
Seat 1: Vadimius (big blind) showed [Ks Qc] and won (2920) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 2: maxv2 (button) (small blind) showed [As Jh] and lost with two pair, Aces and Jacks

Summary: This was an absolute disaster of a call, and one that really makes me look like an idiot. #1 if he was semi-bluffing the turn...he got there on the river and #2 he was playing solid and I should've bailed on the river. I can't justify folding the turn...but the river? come on...I'd like to think that I'm better then that.


Pride Call of the day:
PokerStars Game #13281695433: Tournament #67396853, $55.00+$2.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2007/11/16 - 18:08:30 (ET)
Table '67396853 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: maxv2 (1640 in chips)
Seat 2: thinmint1211 (1360 in chips)
thinmint1211: posts small blind 15
maxv2: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to maxv2 [Qc Qs]
thinmint1211: calls 15
maxv2: raises 60 to 90
thinmint1211: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [8d 7d 5c]
maxv2: bets 180
thinmint1211: calls 180
*** TURN *** [8d 7d 5c] [7s]
maxv2: checks
thinmint1211: checks
*** RIVER *** [8d 7d 5c 7s] [8h]
maxv2: checks
thinmint1211: bets 300
maxv2: calls 300
*** SHOW DOWN ***
thinmint1211: shows [4s 9s] (two pair, Eights and Sevens)
maxv2: shows [Qc Qs] (two pair, Queens and Eights)
maxv2 collected 1140 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1140 | Rake 0
Board [8d 7d 5c 7s 8h]
Seat 1: maxv2 (big blind) showed [Qc Qs] and won (1140) with two pair, Queens and Eights
Seat 2: thinmint1211 (button) (small blind) showed [4s 9s] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sevens

thinmint is generally pretty agressive and willing to take shots. So I kind of guessed and placed him on some sort of draw, or thought he was floating (when a player calls to bluff later). I guessed right, and later moved in with J10s in this game (he's a solid player and I was pushing flips with a 2250-750 advantage) and he called with 65s....ok? KK4Jx...very nice.