Mind Games

OK, so he posted a BB out of position, which is usually just dead money, and a healthy raise usually just takes the pot...

But no, not this time...
When HJ calls, then pats, I'm pretty sure I'm in trouble...

PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

UTG: $17.32 (69 bb)
MP: $20.60 (82 bb)
CO: $10.00 (40 bb)
BU (Hero): $22.05 (88 bb)
SB: $32.67 (131 bb)
BB: $16.46 (66 bb)

Deal: ($0.60) Hero is BTN with 2♥:7♥:T♣:7♠:2♦:
1 fold, MP raises to $0.50, CO calls $0.25, Hero 3-bets to $2.35, 3 players fold, CO calls $1.85

Draw One: ($5.55) 2♥:7♥:7♠:2♦:K♣: (2 players)
CO stands pat, BU (Hero) draws T♣:
CO checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $5.55 (Rake: $0.25)

Showdown:
BU (Hero) shows 2♥:7♥:7♠:2♦:K♣: (two pair, Sevens and Twos)
CO shows Q♦:3♣:7♣:5♣:4♠: (high card, Queen)
BU (Hero) wins $5.30

If you call and pat pre-draw, you MUST lead post-draw to collect your winnings. No way I would call post-draw

Really the only explanation I have is that this player stood pat by accident and then simply gave up and checked in order not to risk wasting any more money.

But even in case of a misclick pat, they should have bet out and try to turn the mistake into something good.

Originally posted by Harrier88
But even in case of a misclick pat, they should have bet out and try to turn the mistake into something good.

Exactly!

The player left immediately after, so it is possible that they entered the game accidentally as well.
Who knows?

In the daily 2-7 Single Draw, you occasionally see people who are drawing to trips, and so on -- and I usually conclude they're playing the wrong game.

One FT, One cash

The FT was in the $3.30 NL 2-7 Single-Draw PKO -- by the time I hit the FT I had $6.94 in bounties, the $25 for 4th place was icing on the cake.
The other cash was in the $2.20 PLO8

Some side action in FL $0.10/$0.20 and PLO8 cash was profitable, but I lost a bit playing Stud 8 $0.10/$0.20

Rather enjoyable. Sometimes, though I think I play a bit too 🐔
I ran a few more bluffs today -- most of them (all but one I think) didn't get called, which reinforces the notion that I don't do it enough.

And not just the A, but the A that gives opponent the nut flush!

The 3Better pre-flop had stats of 72/52/50, which is pretty much the only reason I called the 3Bet -- I figured I was way ahead of that range.
As it turns out,

iPoker - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: €13.90
Hero (UTG): €20.68
MP: €12.14
CO: €9.66
BTN: €10.00
SB: €12.53

SB posts SB €0.05, BB posts BB €0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.15) Hero has 6♦:A♦: <<normally a fold for me UTG

Hero raises to €0.30, fold, CO calls €0.30, BTN raises to €0.50, fold, fold, Hero calls €0.20, CO calls €0.20 <<such a wimpy squeeze just begging to be called

Flop: (€1.65, 3 players) 2♥:3♠:6♠:
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN bets €0.60, Hero calls €0.60, CO calls €0.60 <<top pair, best kicker, I'll see another street.

Turn: (€3.45, 3 players) 6♥:
Hero checks, CO checks, BTN bets €0.90, Hero raises to €3.13, CO calls €3.13, fold <<A "Spanish Inquisition" call.[1]

River: (€10.61, 2 players) A♠:
Hero bets €5.41, CO raises to €5.43, Hero calls €0.02 <<I figured on the flush, or perhaps a worse full house

Hero shows 6♦:A♦: (Full House, Sixes full of Aces)
(Pre 62%, Flop 46%, Turn 77%)
CO shows K♠:4♠: (Flush, Ace High)
(Pre 38%, Flop 54%, Turn 23%)
Hero wins €20.04
Rake paid €1.43

[1] Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

the Spanish Inquisition

and certainly nobody expects a 5-Card Draw player to flat-call a pre-draw raise, stand pat, and shove post-draw with air[1]
PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players

UTG: $23.98 (96 bb)
MP: $4.37 (17 bb)
CO: $27.34 (109 bb)
BU: $35.64 (143 bb)
SB (Hero): $22.58 (90 bb)
BB: $17.01 (68 bb)

Deal: ($0.35) Hero is SB with Q♦:9♠:Q♣:K♠:Q♥:
4 players fold, Hero raises to $0.75, BB calls $0.50

Draw One: ($1.50) Q♦:9♠:Q♣:Q♥:K♣: (2 players)
SB (Hero) draws K♠:, BB stands pat
Hero checks, BB bets $16.26 (all-in), Hero calls $16.26

Total pot: $34.02 (Rake: $1.53)

Showdown:
BB shows 2♣:9♦:3♦:8♦:T♠: (high card, Ten)
SB (Hero) shows Q♦:9♠:Q♣:Q♥:K♣: (three of a kind, Queens)
SB (Hero) wins $32.49

I was especially thankful, because at this point I was set about $6.50

[1] It just occurred to me -- did opponent think we were playing NL 2-7 Single Draw? If so, his play makes perfect sense...

Especially when you're used to playing freerolls...

I've been playing NL 10 at the new iPoker site "Optibet"
When trying to judge my play using a standard starting hands chart, it just doesn't work.
There is no such thing as in "isolation raise". The best you can do is sit back and fold a bunch of hands until you get something on the button, then go all agro.

Once you've done that a few times, they get out of your way a bit.

Here's the giraffe from today's session:

Some of those hands need some review...
But not this one:
(I know I made a mistake turning the hand into a bluff -- but it held)
iPoker - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 4 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

SB: €11.30
Hero (BB): €10.60
CO: €29.26
BTN: €10.23

SB posts SB €0.05, Hero posts BB €0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.15) Hero has Q♥:Q♦:

CO raises to €0.25, BTN raises to €0.90, fold, Hero raises to €2.75, fold, BTN calls €1.85

Flop: (€5.80, 2 players) 6♠:Q♠:K♥:
Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: (€5.80, 2 players) A♠:
Hero bets €2.95, BTN raises to €7.48, Hero calls €4.53

River: (€20.76, 2 players) 8♥:

BTN shows K♠:A♣: (Two Pair, Aces and Kings)
(Pre 43%, Flop 8%, Turn 30%)
Hero shows Q♥:Q♦: (Three of a Kind, Queens)
(Pre 57%, Flop 92%, Turn 70%)
Hero wins €19.38
Rake paid €1.38

The Session-Saver from 5-Card Draw...
PokerStars, 5 Card Draw No Limit - $0.10/$0.25 - 6 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

UTG: $12.00 (48 bb)
MP: $6.64 (27 bb)
CO (Hero): $27.40 (110 bb)
BU: $23.12 (92 bb)
SB: $15.81 (63 bb)
BB: $10.14 (41 bb)

Deal: ($0.35) Hero is CO with 6♥:J♥:9♠:J♣:6♦:
UTG raises to $0.60, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.60, 3 players fold

Draw One: ($1.55) 6♥:J♥:J♣:6♦:J♠: (2 players)
UTG draws 1, CO (Hero) draws 9♠:
UTG bets $1.48, Hero raises to $3.79, UTG raises to $11.40 (all-in), Hero calls $7.61

Total pot: $24.35 (Rake: $1.10)

Showdown:
UTG shows 7♠:7♣:T♣:T♥:7♦: (a full house, Sevens full of Tens)
CO (Hero) shows 6♥:J♥:J♣:6♦:J♠: (a full house, Jacks full of Sixes)
CO (Hero) wins $23.25

Especially when you get to play versus these guys...

iPoker - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

MP: €1.19
Hero (CO): €18.99
BTN: €11.11
SB: €10.00
BB: €3.90
UTG: €10.00

SB posts SB €0.05, BB posts BB €0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.15) Hero has K♥:T♣:

fold, fold, Hero raises to €0.25, BTN calls €0.25, fold, BB calls €0.15

Flop: (€0.80, 3 players) 2♣:T♥:8♦:
BB bets €0.30, Hero calls €0.30, BTN calls €0.30

Turn: (€1.70, 3 players) 5♥:
BB bets €0.30, Hero calls €0.30, BTN raises to €1.45, fold, Hero calls €1.15

River: (€4.90, 2 players) 9♥:
Hero checks, BTN bets €4.90, Hero calls €4.90

Hero shows K♥:T♣: (One Pair, Tens)
(Pre 68%, Flop 84%, Turn 93%)
BTN shows 7♠:T♠: (One Pair, Tens)
(Pre 32%, Flop 16%, Turn 7%)
Hero wins €13.72
Rake paid €0.98

Or get hands like...
iPoker - €0.10 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: €30.46
UTG: €47.34
MP: €10.00
Hero (CO): €14.77
BTN: €4.66
SB: €8.79

SB posts SB €0.05, BB posts BB €0.10

Pre Flop: (pot: €0.15) Hero has J♥:J♦:

fold, fold, Hero raises to €0.25, BTN calls €0.25, SB calls €0.20, fold

Flop: (€0.85, 3 players) J♣:J♠:4♥:
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN checks

Turn: (€0.85, 3 players) 9♦:
SB checks, Hero checks, BTN bets €0.39, fold, Hero calls €0.39

River: (€1.63, 2 players) 2♠:
Hero bets €0.83, BTN calls €0.83

Hero shows J♥:J♦: (Four of a Kind, Jacks)
(Pre 68%, Flop 100%, Turn 100%)
BTN shows Q♥:9♥: (Two Pair, Jacks and Nines)
(Pre 32%, Flop 0%, Turn 0%)
Hero wins €3.08
Rake paid €0.21

Nice giraffe again today...

A year ago we had to cancel our planned getaway that would have celebrated our 40th anniversary.
We rebooked for this year, leaving tomorrow returning Tuesday.
Guess what?
New restrictions mean we won't be able to eat in restaurants unless they have an outdoor patio.

Since the town we're going to is small, patios may be in short supply.

Have fun and good luck finding a place

Have a good one. I hope you both have a great anniversary!

Thanks all!
We will have the time of our lives -- or as much as you can do with all the restrictions.

But First!
(or is that butt first?)

I found two 23" monitors on sale for $150 each, so I bought them
I had one failing anyway, so it seemed ideal.

I love that setup Congratz for your new monitors.

Like the setup. 23 inch is a great watch and you got a good deal there!

First pics from our getaway weekend
This is the view from the patio of our unit

Brutal Day playing NL 20
Whenever I had a good hand, everyone folded.
Whenever I had a decent hand, I got beat up at showdown.

The graph:

I decided I like it a lot better this way.
Well, it looks better at any rate...

Made the FT of the 2-7 Single Draw, with 3 bounties along the way.
Profit for the session was about 9 bucks, not counting the slight profit from the cash games.

A couple of SCOOP tournaments to play on Tuesday and Wednesday -- I'll stream them if I run deep.

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

Good Day!

Made the FT of the 2-7 Single Draw, with 3 bounties along the way.
Profit for the session was about 9 bucks, not counting the slight profit from the cash games.

A couple of SCOOP tournaments to play on Tuesday and Wednesday -- I'll stream them if I run deep.

Man I miss playing on Stars. My country got ban in 2017 or sometime round there. The only choice I got now is PLO and Hold Em. I remember doing ballz the first time I played limit holdem ♦ The bets were so small and I was over rolled for 5nl so playing higher didn't seem so bad until I checked my graph after. Those min bets will be the death of roll.

Well, I had one good hand anyway...
I clearly had better than opponent, but he kept betting...

PokerStars, $9.80 + $1.20 - Razz Limit - 350/700 (140 ante) - 8 players
Replay this hand on CardsChat

Seat 7: 29,830 (43 bb)
Seat 8: 23,880 (34 bb)
Seat 1: 10,610 (15 bb)
Seat 2 (Hero): 16,590 (24 bb)
Seat 3: 26,545 (38 bb)
Seat 4: 19,120 (27 bb)
Seat 5: 12,920 (18 bb)
Seat 6: 76,595 (109 bb)

Third Street: (1,120) Hero is in Seat 2
Xx Xx Kx BI bring-in 210____BI folds
Xx Xx 3x UTG folds
Xx Xx 9x UTG+1 folds
Xx Xx 5x MP raises to 700____MP 3-bets to 2,100____MP calls 700
3x Ax 4x Hero raises to 1,400____Hero 4-bets to 2,800
Xx Xx Kx LP folds
Xx Xx Ax CO folds
Xx Xx 6x BTN folds

Fourth Street: (6,930) (2 players)
3x Ax 4x 2x Hero bets 700____Hero raises to 2,100____Hero calls 700
Xx Xx 5x 3x MP raises to 1,400____MP raises to 2,800

Fifth Street: (12,530) (2 players)
3x Ax 4x 2x 5x Hero checks
Xx Xx 5x 3x Jx MP checks

Sixth Street: (12,530) (2 players)
Xx Xx 5x 3x Jx 2x MP bets 1,400____MP calls 1,400
3x Ax 4x 2x 5x 4x Hero raises to 2,800

Seventh Street: (18,130) (2 players)
Xx Xx 5x 3x Jx 2x Xx MP checks____MP calls 1,400
3x Ax 4x 2x 5x 4x 5x Hero bets 1,400

Total pot: 20,930

Showdown:
Seat 2 (Hero) shows 3x Ax 4x 2x 5x 4x 5x (Lo: 5,4,3,2,A)
Seat 1 mucks 9x 8x 5x 3x Jx 2x 5x
Seat 2 (Hero) wins 20,930

No joy, though -- at the end I had two 6-lo hands on 4th street that failed to improve.
I finished out of the money by quite a ways, but made it through late registration.

I see why they call it "Grinding"
Optibet has a promotion where if you play 500 raked hands you get $5.00
It took several hours, and over 2600 hands and at the end I lost a stack to a two-outer that put me slightly down for the session. (so I was very thankful for the five bucks)

Originally posted by VorpalF2F

NL 2

I see why they call it "Grinding"
Optibet has a promotion where if you play 500 raked hands you get $5.00
It took several hours, and over 2600 hands and at the end I lost a stack to a two-outer that put me slightly down for the session. (so I was very thankful for the five bucks)

Well done! 500 raked hand; the optimal VPIP is around 21% => 2381 hands (but sometimes they don't defend their blinds or you not vs 3bet) therefore good stats! Too bad it didn't also reflect in pure winnings.