Mind Games

The two-outer when you need it most
888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 2,500/5,000 (500 ante) - 9 players

UTG: 44,895 (9 bb)
UTG+1 (Hero): 30,502 (6 bb)
MP: 41,375 (8 bb)
MP+1: 138,390 (28 bb)
LP: 14,373 (3 bb)
CO: 54,415 (11 bb)
BU: 5,086 (1 bb)
SB: 35,012 (7 bb)
BB: 46,514 (9 bb)

Pre-Flop: (12,000) Hero is UTG+1 with 7♦:7♣:
1 fold, Hero raises to 30,002 (all-in), 5 players fold, SB 3-bets to 34,512 (all-in), 1 fold

Flop: (69,504) J♥:2♠:9♣: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (69,504) 2♦: (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: (69,504) 7♥: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: 69,504

Showdown:
SB shows K♣:K♠: (two pair, Kings and Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 80%, Flop: 90%, Turn: 95%, River: 0%)

UTG+1 (Hero) shows 7♦:7♣: (a full house, Sevens full of Twos)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 20%, Flop: 10%, Turn: 5%, River: 100%)

UTG+1 (Hero) wins 69,504

Desperation Equity

♦

Nice hand!

Can I hang on to the FT?
Film at 11
First of 19 is rare in these 888 Freerolls

I finish in 7th, losing in just about exactly the same way as I won earlier
888Poker, Hold'em No Limit - 60,000/120,000 (12,000 ante) - 7 players

UTG: 600,776 (5 bb)
MP: 607,916 (5 bb)
MP+1 (Hero): 488,951 (4 bb)
CO: 518,499 (4 bb)
BU: 347,882 (3 bb)
SB: 1,142,952 (10 bb)
BB: 719,524 (6 bb)

Pre-Flop: (264,000) Hero is MP+1 with Q♠:Q♥:
2 players fold, Hero raises to 476,951 (all-in), CO 3-bets to 506,499 (all-in), 3 players fold

Flop: (1,217,902) J♣:A♣:A♠: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Turn: (1,217,902) 4♥: (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: (1,217,902) 6♣: (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: 1,217,902

Showdown:
CO shows 6♦:6♥: (a full house, Sixes full of Aces)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 20%, Flop: 8%, Turn: 5%, River: 100%)

MP+1 (Hero) shows Q♠:Q♥: (two pair, Aces and Queens)
(Equity - Pre-Flop: 80%, Flop: 92%, Turn: 95%, River: 0%)

CO wins 1,217,902

I was on a waiting list for a long time and didn't hear back, but today I checked in and there was no waiting needed.

So I signed up: ChatGPT
I then created this thread to discuss it: https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/thread.php?postid=3384135#post3384135

It would be cool to see what comes of it.

I'm not sure whether this works for the on-line converters yet, but ...[1]
I had to play 3 full cycles of FL $0.20/$0.40 cash to get one playable razz hand to test...

PokerStars, Razz Limit (8-Game) - $0.20/$0.40 ($0.04 ante) - 4 players

Seat 5: $7.30 (37 bb)
Seat 6: $7.92 (40 bb)
Seat 3 (Hero): $10.48 (52 bb)
Seat 4: $34.56 (173 bb)

Third Street: ($0.16) Hero is in Seat 3
Xx Xx Q♥: BI bring-in $0.08____BI folds
Xx Xx J♠: UTG folds
Xx Xx A♠: CO raises to $0.20
4♣:9♥:2♠: Hero calls $0.20

Fourth Street: ($0.64) (2 players)
4♣:9♥:2♠:3♥: Hero bets $0.20
Xx Xx A♠:8♠: CO calls $0.20

Fifth Street: ($1.04) (2 players)
4♣:9♥:2♠:3♥:T♦: Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠:8♠:8♥: CO calls $0.40

Sixth Street: ($1.84) (2 players)
4♣:9♥:2♠:3♥:T♦:5♥: Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠:8♠:8♥:T♥: CO calls $0.40

Seventh Street: ($2.64) (2 players)
4♣:9♥:2♠:3♥:T♦:5♥:J♣: Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠:8♠:8♥:T♥: Xx CO calls $0.40

Total pot: $3.44 (Rake: $0.15)

Showdown:
Seat 3 (Hero) shows 4♣:9♥:2♠:3♥:T♦:5♥:J♣: (Lo: 9,5,4,3,2)
Seat 6 mucks 5♣:3♣:A♠:8♠:8♥:T♥:9♦:
Seat 3 (Hero) wins $3.29

[1] Yes, the online converter now has suits displayed for razz
PokerStars, Razz Limit (8-Game) - $0.20/$0.40 ($0.04 ante) - 4 players
Hand delivered by Pokeit

Seat 5: $7.30 (37 bb)
Seat 6: $7.92 (40 bb)
Seat 3 (Hero): $10.48 (52 bb)
Seat 4: $34.56 (173 bb)

Third Street: ($0.16) Hero is in Seat 3
Xx Xx Q♥ BI bring-in $0.08____BI folds
Xx Xx J♠ UTG folds
Xx Xx A♠ CO raises to $0.20
4♣ 9♥ 2♠ Hero calls $0.20

Fourth Street: ($0.64) (2 players)
4♣ 9♥ 2♠ 3♥ Hero bets $0.20
Xx Xx A♠ 8♠ CO calls $0.20

Fifth Street: ($1.04) (2 players)
4♣ 9♥ 2♠ 3♥ T♦ Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠ 8♠ 8♥ CO calls $0.40

Sixth Street: ($1.84) (2 players)
4♣ 9♥ 2♠ 3♥ T♦ 5♥ Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠ 8♠ 8♥ T♥ CO calls $0.40

Seventh Street: ($2.64) (2 players)
4♣ 9♥ 2♠ 3♥ T♦ 5♥ J♣ Hero bets $0.40
Xx Xx A♠ 8♠ 8♥ T♥ Xx CO calls $0.40

Total pot: $3.44 (Rake: $0.15)

Showdown:
Seat 3 (Hero) shows 4♣ 9♥ 2♠ 3♥ T♦ 5♥ J♣ (Lo: 9,5,4,3,2)
Seat 6 mucks 5♣ 3♣ A♠ 8♠ 8♥ T♥ 9♦
Seat 3 (Hero) wins $3.29

There have been vast changes in NLHE strategy since last it was my main game
So much so, that it is necessary to re-think the game.

I'm playing NL 25. There is a saying "you must want to win, but not care if you lose". The problem with that is that if you care too little, you tend to just throw money away.

Today's hand...
Opponents: Only UTG and myself have decent stacks. UTG seems competent, has made a couple of post-flop folds, and is generally neutral aggression
Not too many hands though.
PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

UTG: $44.44 (178 bb)
MP: $17.21 (69 bb)
CO: $27.33 (109 bb)
BU (Hero): $37.71 (151 bb)
SB: $7.74 (31 bb)
BB: $26.83 (107 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BTN with T♣:T♥:
UTG raises to $0.75, 2 players fold, Hero calls $0.75, 2 players fold <<< heads up in position with a decent pocket pair I like this spot

Flop: ($1.85) 2♠:K♦:4♠: (2 players)
UTG bets $1.14, Hero calls $1.14 <<< in the olden days, I would just fold this, but I haz outs, and UTG could just be betting their range.

Turn: ($4.13) 8♣: (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks <<< I'm thinking here that the K is less likely. I'll take the free card even if it means giving a flush draw a free card.

River: ($4.13) 4♦: (2 players)
UTG bets $2.22, Hero calls $2.22 <<< another half-pot bet. If UTG holds a K, why not bet the turn? Pocket 4s would not play like this. So I "call for value" (bluff catch with confidence)

Total pot: $8.57 (Rake: $0.39)

Showdown:
UTG shows 9♥:A♥: (a pair of Fours) <<< OK, is A9o in anyone's UTG open-raising range? This is an example of what I meant by how different the game is now
BU (Hero) shows T♣:T♥: (two pair, Tens and Fours)
BU (Hero) wins $8.18

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Yes, the online converter now has suits displayed for razz

How did you do it?

The clubs suit still seems to have some issues, btw.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
UTG shows 9♥:A♥: (a pair of Fours) <<< OK, is A9o in anyone's UTG open-raising range? This is an example of what I meant by how different the game is now

Any suited A is in a lot of people opening range UTG/MP.

Originally posted by Harrier88

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
Yes, the online converter now has suits displayed for razz

How did you do it?

The clubs suit still seems to have some issues, btw.

Hmm, I didn't notice that.
I'll pass that on.
I run a script on converted hands that changes

A♣ to  

The A:xclub: looks like this: A♣
The :Axc: looks like this: A♣:
The second hand of the pair is unconverted, but should have worked, since the two lines above rendered the clubs correctly.
I don't see how it can be a problem with the converter though, since the correct characters are provided.

Here is the same hand, run through the converter just now, and as you can see the clubs render correctly (or at least they do in the preview)

Originally posted by VorpalF2F
How did you do it?

I contacted the developer and asked politely.
For my next trick, I'll asked PokerStrategy.com IT department for an explanation of why the 5♣ did not render correctly in the post above.
It gets really weird. I copied and pasted the text from the above into a new post, and still it doesn't work.
I then copied and pasted into notepad, then back to PokerStrategy.com and it still did not render correctly

If cards that help your hand are called "outs", why don't we call cards that hurt our hand "ins"?
In 2-7 triple draw, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 with no more than 4 cards having the same suit.

PokerStars, 2-7 Triple Draw Limit (8-Game) - $0.20/$0.40 - 6 players

UTG: $6.01 (30 bb)
MP: $11.95 (60 bb)
CO: $15.88 (79 bb)
BU (Hero): $7.90 (40 bb)
SB: $4.75 (24 bb)
BB: $8.00 (40 bb)

Deal: ($0.30) Hero is BTN with 4♦:2♣:6♠:4♠:5♠:
1 fold, MP raises to $0.40, CO calls $0.40, Hero calls $0.40, SB calls $0.30, 1 fold <<< clearly I should throw the 4♠: or 4♦: — it doesn't matter which. My best outs are any 7 or any 8. Any 3 wrecks this hand totally, since straights are terrible hands. But then, how often to you hit a gutshot when you actually want one?

Draw One: ($1.80) 4♦:2♣:6♠:5♠:3♣: (4 players)
SB draws 1, MP draws 1, CO draws 2, BU (Hero) draws 4♠: So of course, I draw the 3 — but I still have a very good draw. and in this case I throw the 6♠:
SB bets $0.20, MP calls $0.20, CO folds, Hero calls $0.20

Draw Two: ($2.40) 4♦:2♣:5♠:3♣:6♥: (3 players)
SB stands pat, MP draws 1, BU (Hero) draws 6♠: <<< and receive another @$%@$ SIX
SB bets $0.40, MP calls $0.40, BU (Hero) folds

Draw Three: ($3.20) 4♦:2♣:5♠:3♣:6♥: (2 players)
SB stands pat, MP stands pat
SB bets $0.40, MP calls $0.40

Total pot: $4 (Rake: $0.16)

Showdown:
SB shows 4♣:8♣:6♦:2♦:5♣: (8-6-5-4-2)
MP mucks 8♠:7♠:2♥:4♥:5♥: (8-7-5-4-2)
SB wins $3.84

Ooof at drawing another 6 - that's gotta be unlikely....

Originally posted by UPAY4DINNER
Ooof at drawing another 6 - that's gotta be unlikely....

The funny part is hitting the gutshot.
It is 11:1 against, but I seem to do it with appalling regularity — except when I want to, of course

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Originally posted by UPAY4DINNER
Ooof at drawing another 6 - that's gotta be unlikely....

The funny part is hitting the gutshot.
It is 11:1 against, but I seem to do it with appalling regularity — except when I want to, of course

Haha yes, confirmation bias and all that

I remember the counter you once had for those draws on your stream.

OK, so we hate filling inside straights in lowball, what do we hate about hold'em?

How about sitting down and getting KK in your first BB and everyone folds. It will be 163 hands on average before you see KK again...
PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 3 players

BU: $17.88 (72 bb)
SB: $31.25 (125 bb)
BB (Hero): $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with K♥:K♣:
2 players fold, VorpalF2F reticulates splines

Total pot: $0.20 (Rake: $0)
BB (Hero) wins $0.20

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Things I Hate about Hold'em

OK, so we hate filling inside straights in lowball, what do we hate about hold'em?

How about sitting down and getting KK in your first BB and everyone folds. It will be 163 hands on average before you see KK again...
PokerStars, Hold'em No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 3 players

BU: $17.88 (72 bb)
SB: $31.25 (125 bb)
BB (Hero): $25.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is BB with K♥:K♣:
2 players fold, VorpalF2F reticulates splines

Total pot: $0.20 (Rake: $0)
BB (Hero) wins $0.20

At least you won the hand :nh:. worst case scenario the sb Open Limp calls with T♦:5♠: and hit T♣:5♥:2♦: on the flop and Donk you all in

Could you go to my blog and see my second to last post and give me your 2 cents on what i post. TYVM

cheers and gl at the tables

I had a pretty good run in the $3.30 NL 2-7 Single-Draw PKO
One knockout, 3 gutshots hit (out of 3 played) and finishing with a 1-card draw to the nuts

Opponent to my right had and identical draw — only he hit the exact card he needed

PokerStars, $2.94 + $0.36 - 2-7 Single Draw No Limit - 125/250 (60 ante) - 6 players

UTG: 3,000 (12 bb)
MP: 11,747 (47 bb)
CO: 12,600 (50 bb)
BU: 7,571 (30 bb)
SB: 6,271 (25 bb)
BB (Hero): 3,919 (16 bb)

Deal: (735) Hero is BB with 3♣:4♠:2♦:7♠:Q♥:
UTG calls 250, 3 players fold, SB raises to 6,211 (all-in), Hero calls 3,609 (all-in), UTG calls 2,690 (all-in)

Draw One: (13,370) 3♣:4♠:2♦:7♠:J♠: (3 players, 3 all-in)
SB draws 1, BB (Hero) draws Q♥:, UTG stands pat

Total pot: 11,018

Showdown:
SB shows 2♠:3♠:5♦:7♥:4♣: (7-5-4-3-2)
BB (Hero) shows 3♣:4♠:2♦:7♠:J♠: (J-7-4-3-2)
UTG shows 6♣:4♥:5♣:7♣:A♥: (A-7-6-5-4)
SB wins 11,018

Seat 1 was being extremely pushy — raising any time the door card was 8 or less, then attacking any less-than stellar runouts on opponents board. That strategy appeared to be successful

PokerStars, Razz Limit - $0.50/$1.00 ($0.08 ante) - 6 players

Seat 1: $63.84 (128 bb)
Seat 2: $13.98 (28 bb)
Seat 3: $8.19 (16 bb)
Seat 5: $20.00 (40 bb)
Seat 7: $22.03 (44 bb)
Seat 8 (Hero): $16.10 (32 bb)

Third Street: ($0.48) Hero is in Seat 8
5♦:7♦:K♦: Hero bring-in $0.20____Hero calls $0.30
Xx Xx 2♠: UTG raises to $0.50
Xx Xx 6♦: MP folds
Xx Xx J♥: MP+1 folds
Xx Xx J♦: CO folds
Xx Xx 9♦: BTN calls $0.50

Fourth Street: ($1.98) (3 players)
Xx Xx 9♦:A♦: BTN bets $0.50
5♦:7♦:K♦:3♣: Hero calls $0.50
Xx Xx 2♠:T♦: UTG calls $0.50

Fifth Street: ($3.48) (3 players)
Xx Xx 2♠:T♦:3♥: UTG bets $1
Xx Xx 9♦:A♦:K♣: BTN folds
5♦:7♦:K♦:3♣:2♥: Hero calls $1

Sixth Street: ($5.48) (2 players)
5♦:7♦:K♦:3♣:2♥:4♠: Hero bets $1
Xx Xx 2♠:T♦:3♥:2♦: UTG calls $1

Seventh Street: ($7.48) (2 players)
5♦:7♦:K♦:3♣:2♥:4♠:5♠: Hero bets $1
Xx Xx 2♠:T♦:3♥:2♦: Xx UTG folds

Total pot: $7.48 (Rake: $0.34)
Seat 8 (Hero) wins $7.14