Feelings of a Tourney Donk

There are a lot of great feelings that poker gives you.

• When you have a sick session bringing in 5+ buyins, you feel good
  
• When you bluff your way out of a big pot, you feel great
  
• When you stack that faggot who keeps reraising you, you get a shorts splitting boner
  

But nothing, and I mean nothing is better than clawing your way out of early losses to book a winning session. When this happens, it is euphoric. There is simply no feeling on earth as good. Yes, not even that.

If you can't tell, I did this tonight. My night started comically bad. Within the first 75 hands I was down $400. Now while this isn't a huge amount in an absolute sense - I've lost more faster before - it is still very significant.

For the past week or so, I've been struggling with my cash game. Most of the days would consist of me playing cash games for a few hours, dropping a few hundred, then playing a few SNGs to make the money back. I was funding my cash game with my tournament winnings. In essence, I was the epitome of a tournament donk.

I was starting to lose hope. Last night was one of the worst nights, where I would just consistently lose with no glimmer of even the possibility of success in the future. Finally, I stopped playing, and just went through my database, going over every hand in which I won or lost more than 1/4 of a buyin ($50). A disturbing trend became evident. For the big pots I lost, I was either bluffing, got sucked out or simply a matter of 2 strong hands colliding. I rarely lost a big pot with a marginal holding at showdown. Conversely, every big pot I won, I simply had a big hand. There was only one big pot I won where I got it in on the flop and sucked out. And more importantly, there were almost no big pots where I won it by bluffing. Not to say it didn't happen, but the pots I won by bluffing were outweighed by the ones I lost by bluffing.

So as much as I hate to admit it, the 1/2 game on Stars seems like it just takes basic ABC poker skills to win. Not that I didn't know it, but I still thought there were some avenues for bluffing. But there aren't. Bluffing is -EV, even against "solid" regulars. I think that most good players know enough about 6-max aggression that they will just have to pay off sets and other big hands from time to time to balance out the over aggression and "outplaying" that goes on.

So all that leads us to tonight. With my new found "no bluffing" strategy, I was sure to dominate the tables. Alright here are, no joke, most of the hands within the first 10 minutes of sitting down to play.

Dealt to RikkiDee [Qs Kd]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
Edakaeh: folds
PrinceJulez: calls $8
kevy34: folds
Acid Fire: folds
rossii-1: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [2d 4d Qd]
rossii-1: checks
RikkiDee: bets $18
PrinceJulez: calls $18
rossii-1: calls $18
*** TURN *** [2d 4d Qd] [6s]
rossii-1: checks
RikkiDee: bets $64
PrinceJulez: calls $54.10 and is all-in
rossii-1: calls $64
*** RIVER *** [2d 4d Qd 6s] [9h]
rossii-1: bets $155 and is all-in
RikkiDee: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rossii-1: shows [Kc Kh] (a pair of Kings)
rossii-1 collected $19.80 from side pot
PrinceJulez: shows [Ad Td] (a flush, Ace high)

Dealt to RikkiDee [Qc Qs]
stall$on: folds
rake3: folds
RikkiDee: raises $5 to $7
farha: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [7s 8d 2h]
RikkiDee: bets $8
farha: calls $8
*** TURN *** [7s 8d 2h] [6h]
RikkiDee: checks
farha: bets $10
RikkiDee: raises $44 to $54
farha: calls $33.20 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [7s 8d 2h 6h] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Qc Qs] (a pair of Queens)
farha: shows [5h 8h] (two pair, Eights and Fives)
farha collected $114.40 from pot

Dealt to RikkiDee [Jh Js]
csulki: calls $2
ClvrNickname: folds
IKnewwwIt: raises $4 to $6
jdi23: calls $6
Reefypoopoo: folds
RikkiDee: raises $18 to $24
csulki: raises $21.95 to $45.95 and is all-in
IKnewwwIt: folds
jdi23: folds
RikkiDee: calls $21.95
*** FLOP *** [6h 8c 9h]
*** TURN *** [6h 8c 9h] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [6h 8c 9h 6d] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Jh Js] (two pair, Jacks and Sixes)
csulki: shows [7h Qh] (a straight, Five to Nine)

Dealt to RikkiDee [8c 8s]
Acid Fire: folds
rossii-1: calls $2
RikkiDee: raises $8 to $10
Edakaeh: folds
PrinceJulez: folds
kevy34: calls $8
rossii-1: folds
*** FLOP *** [5s 5d 6d]
kevy34: checks
RikkiDee: bets $18
kevy34: calls $18
*** TURN *** [5s 5d 6d] [4c]
kevy34: checks
RikkiDee: bets $44
kevy34: calls $37.05 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [5s 5d 6d 4c] [Ah]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
kevy34: shows [4d 4h] (a full house, Fours full of Fives)

Dealt to RikkiDee [Kd Kh]
kmoneyk: folds
runner85: raises $6 to $8
RikkiDee: calls $8
kuddel27: folds
Dr. T Leary: folds
mscell: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [8s 2d 7d]
mscell: checks
runner85: bets $14
RikkiDee: calls $14
mscell: calls $14
*** TURN *** [8s 2d 7d] [Ks]
mscell: checks
runner85: checks
RikkiDee: bets $50
mscell: folds
runner85: raises $140.05 to $190.05 and is all-in
RikkiDee: calls $125 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [8s 2d 7d Ks] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
runner85: shows [7s 7h] (four of a kind, Sevens)
RikkiDee: mucks hand

And a few other smaller ones. I was dumbfounded. Completely lost. I wanted to crawl into a hole and cry. Keep in mind my mindset. I was all gung-ho about playing for like the first time in a year, and BOOM - ASS RAPE. GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE TOURNEY DONK.

But I wasn't really that mad. I was pretty shocked, but I hadn't been playing enough to get tilted yet. So I just kept playing. Who knows, maybe I'll be on the good end of quads vs a full house for once in my fucking life (it's happened 3 motherfucking times this week). And you know what? It worked. A few hours later, I was up $211 total. And while that alone is cause for boners, I did it without the aid of sick coolers. No set over set for me, just good old fashioned value betting and, not bluffing. It was tough at times to avoid bluffing, but I figured, without a good read, this bluff is almost certainly -EV. And if this night is any indication, I think I'll be just fine.

And yes, its only a 3 buy-in recovery, but its significance to my psyche is off the charts.

And I think I'm starting to really enjoy the benefits of raising in position with weak cards

Dealt to RikkiDee [9d Th]
Mikey11: calls $2
mmmbillski: folds
cheddarmon: folds
RikkiDee: raises $8 to $10
Reefypoopoo: folds
xtiger: folds
Mikey11: calls $8
*** FLOP *** [Jc Qc Ks]
Mikey11: bets $20
RikkiDee: raises $40 to $60
Mikey11: raises $136.35 to $196.35 and is all-in
RikkiDee: calls $127 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [Jc Qc Ks] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [Jc Qc Ks 3c] [3s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Mikey11: shows [Kh Ad] (two pair, Kings and Threes)
RikkiDee: shows [9d Th] (a straight, Nine to King)
RikkiDee collected $394 from pot

Dealt to RikkiDee [5h 6h]
Evergrey: folds
ClvrNickname: folds
Evergrey leaves the table
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
tonypokerman: calls $7
Y0URMOTHER: folds
*** FLOP *** [8s 7s 4c]
tonypokerman: checks
RikkiDee: bets $10
tonypokerman: raises $106.15 to $116.15 and is all-in
RikkiDee: calls $106.15
*** TURN *** [8s 7s 4c] [Jc]
*** RIVER *** [8s 7s 4c Jc] [8d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tonypokerman: shows [4s Ad] (two pair, Eights and Fours)
RikkiDee: shows [5h 6h] (a straight, Four to Eight)
RikkiDee collected $248.30 from pot

A graph of the night:

Can't stop the suck

Trying to figure out if you suck at poker is really hard. You can't even rely on results without a ridiculous sample size. I've hit the 10k hand mark in my cash game adventure and I'm rocking along at a super-star like 1.7bb/100. So theres some evidence of suck.

I still feel as though I'm better than at least the average player, and can hold my own vs the regulars. But obviously everyone thinks they are better than the average player, so really thats not evidence. Its actually pretty depressing, after playing poker for 2 years to not even be able to beat 1/2 NL. I'm still grasping to the sample size evidence. I hope its just variance.

Here are some hands. With most of them I think the decisions are super-marginal and could go either way and not make that much of a difference, but I could be wrong.

Seat 1: king10clubs ($155.55 in chips)
Seat 2: Soldier ($115.40 in chips)
Seat 3: RikkiDee ($213.40 in chips)
Seat 4: skeerow16 ($63.25 in chips)
Seat 5: tahoe111 ($75.80 in chips)
Soldier: posts small blind $1
RikkiDee: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [Ac As]
skeerow16: folds
tahoe111: calls $2
king10clubs: raises $8 to $10
Soldier: folds
RikkiDee: raises $20 to $30
tahoe111: folds
king10clubs: calls $20
*** FLOP *** [5c 8s 2s]
RikkiDee: bets $46
king10clubs: calls $46
*** TURN *** [5c 8s 2s] [Th]
RikkiDee: checks
king10clubs: checks
*** RIVER *** [5c 8s 2s Th] [Kh]
RikkiDee: bets $137.40 and is all-in
king10clubs: folds

My opponent here is playing a standard TAG game, and playing 8 tables at a time. I had reraised him a few times already and he had folded them all. By his preflop flat call and flop call, I'm fairly certain he has a pair. Now, what to do on the turn? Will he give me credit for having aces? Or was he just calling on the flop to see if I fired again on the turn? I really am not sure how to extract here. If he is just floating, then he probably won't bet the turn unless he has absolutely nothing or a set. Of course the river brings a King, making it even more likely that his pair is beat if I have AK.

Seat 1: timcrook ($198.85 in chips)
Seat 2: gamblegoddes ($335.90 in chips)
Seat 3: HHHthegame88 ($200 in chips)
Seat 4: RikkiDee ($200 in chips)
Seat 5: EZAWACKI888 ($322.50 in chips)
Seat 6: m@tze ($60.40 in chips)
timcrook: posts small blind $1
gamblegoddes: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [Kh As]
HHHthegame88: folds
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
EZAWACKI888: folds
m@tze: folds
timcrook: calls $7
gamblegoddes: folds
*** FLOP *** [8s Ad 8c]
timcrook: bets $10
RikkiDee: calls $10
*** TURN *** [8s Ad 8c] [Qh]
timcrook: bets $20
RikkiDee: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [8s Ad 8c Qh] [2h]
timcrook: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
timcrook: shows [Ac Js] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
RikkiDee: shows [Kh As] (two pair, Aces and Eights - King kicker)

My opponent here is a pretty much a fish. He calls a lot and bets when he thinks his hand is good. Most of the time, if someone bets into me and I'm the preflop raiser, I autoreraise with or without a hand. But when I have AK on an A88 flop, I don't see much value in raising. He'll either call the raise and check/fold the turn, or even fold to my raise, unless for some reason he has an 8. The best case scenario for me is that he calls all raises and bets with a worse ace, but it takes a pretty shitty player to do that, and in this case, with AJ, he probably would have, but I had to be at least a little concerned with AQ or an 8. Basically I think that if I raise an A88 flop, I'm turning my hand face up, allowing him to play perfectly. But maybe I'm giving bad players too much credit. Oh and I probably should have value bet that river as he is most likely firing again if he has me.

Seat 1: l0l3rsk8z ($193.55 in chips)
Seat 2: JeffMcShan ($222.40 in chips)
Seat 3: SALZHERZ ($506.65 in chips)
Seat 4: curtains ($198 in chips)
Seat 5: mills220 ($189.20 in chips)
Seat 6: RikkiDee ($200 in chips)
curtains: posts small blind $1
mills220: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [Ah Jh]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
l0l3rsk8z: folds
JeffMcShan: folds
SALZHERZ: calls $8
curtains: calls $7
mills220: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [7d 3s Qh]
curtains: checks
mills220: checks
RikkiDee: checks
SALZHERZ: checks
*** TURN *** [7d 3s Qh] [4h]
curtains: bets $24
mills220: folds
RikkiDee: calls $24
SALZHERZ: folds
*** RIVER *** [7d 3s Qh 4h] [8s]
curtains: checks
RikkiDee: checks

Here I made a pretty passive/stupid play. I simply can't c-bet this flop with that many players. But when my opponent, who is a good multitabler, bets out, I know I have at the very least 9 outs, and a decent chance that my ace or even jack is live. This is where I get confused tho. Should I raise? He will fold all but a set to a raise I think, and a set he is pushing. The second question, should I bluff this river? He is almost 100% sure to bet this river with a set, so he probably has something like KQ here. Therefore, is he just check/calling any bet? What if I push? What am I representing to him with a bet here? Probably exactly what I have, a busted flush draw. And there is almost zero chance my ace is good, so if I want this pot, I have to bet. But it probably isn't worth it in the long run. I think it may be best to reraise this turn, hoping he doesn't have a set, and hopefully getting him to lay down his pair to my "obvious" set.

Seat 1: king10clubs ($197 in chips)
Seat 2: Soldier ($117 in chips)
Seat 3: RikkiDee ($289.40 in chips)
Seat 4: skeerow16 ($59.45 in chips)
Seat 5: tahoe111 ($94.15 in chips)
Seat 6: jaymzisking ($208.20 in chips)
Soldier: posts small blind $1
RikkiDee: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [6s 6c]
skeerow16: calls $2
tahoe111: folds
jaymzisking: raises $6 to $8
king10clubs: folds
Soldier: calls $7
RikkiDee: calls $6
skeerow16: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [6h 4s 5d]
Soldier: checks
RikkiDee: checks
skeerow16: bets $8
jaymzisking: raises $16 to $24
Soldier: folds
RikkiDee: raises $257.40 to $281.40 and is all-in
skeerow16: folds
jaymzisking: folds
RikkiDee collected $85 from pot

Again, just a problem with extraction. The first bet is from a short stacked donk and the raise is from a solid multitabler. He most likely has an overpair here with that raise, but is almost never going to call my push here without a set himself. I figured I'd get him out of the pot with this raise but didn't care because I was pretty sure the short stack was coming along. Its possible to lead this flop maybe, get a reraise from the original reraiser and 3 bet him, but again, he'll know I have a set and fold (probably). Without any history of me bluffing vs him, he should give me credit for a set here. The only thing I can think of is flat calling his flop reraise and hopefully check-raising the turn, but even that is pretty unlikely. Plus that flop is not exactly safe.

Dealt to RikkiDee [Jh Js]
ragamuffin44: folds
ragamuffin44 leaves the table
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
doddiebeadle: calls $8
Stevejo: folds
sandiego10: folds
*** FLOP *** [Jc 3s 3c]
RikkiDee: checks
doddiebeadle: checks
*** TURN *** [Jc 3s 3c] [Ad]
RikkiDee: bets $12
doddiebeadle: folds

I just hate when that ace comes. I guess I should bet the flop. Its a pretty safe flop for a pair, but anything else is going to fold.

Seat 1: xxFREAKxx ($187.85 in chips)
Seat 2: fireponyx ($64.20 in chips)
Seat 3: ragamuffin44 ($200 in chips)
Seat 4: RikkiDee ($198.75 in chips)
Seat 5: doddiebeadle ($268.60 in chips)
Seat 6: Stevejo ($76.10 in chips)
fireponyx: posts small blind $1
ragamuffin44: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [Th Tc]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
doddiebeadle: folds
Stevejo: calls $8
xxFREAKxx: folds
fireponyx: folds
ragamuffin44: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [5c Ts 9c]
ragamuffin44: checks
RikkiDee: bets $20
Stevejo: calls $20
ragamuffin44: folds
*** TURN *** [5c Ts 9c] [9h]
RikkiDee: bets $20
Stevejo: calls $20
*** RIVER *** [5c Ts 9c 9h] [7d]
RikkiDee: bets $32
Stevejo: calls $28.10 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Th Tc] (a full house, Tens full of Nines)
Stevejo: shows [9s 9d] (four of a kind, Nines)
Stevejo collected $158.20 from pot

Whatever

Dealt to RikkiDee [8s 9s]
typefrancis leaves the table
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
doddiebeadle: folds
xxFREAKxx: calls $7
Yello man: folds
*** FLOP *** [3h 2d 8h]
xxFREAKxx: checks
RikkiDee: bets $12
xxFREAKxx: calls $12
*** TURN *** [3h 2d 8h] [Qd]
xxFREAKxx: checks
fireponyx joins the table at seat #2
RikkiDee: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h 2d 8h Qd] [4d]
xxFREAKxx: bets $10
RikkiDee: calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
xxFREAKxx: shows [Th Tc] (a pair of Tens)
RikkiDee: mucks hand

Should I be paying these off? With that small bet, there is almost no chance of him bluffing here, and even if I read him as weak, what would a reraise by me represent here? Again, maybe I'm giving my opponents too much credit but getting called here sucks.

Seat 1: sandiego10 ($191 in chips)
Seat 2: Luran ($54.10 in chips)
Seat 3: Avaladze ($75 in chips)
Seat 4: RikkiDee ($205.05 in chips)
Seat 5: smutgremlin ($195 in chips)
Seat 6: Stevejo ($141.85 in chips)
Luran: posts small blind $1
Avaladze: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [Th Tc]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
smutgremlin: folds
Stevejo: folds
sandiego10: folds
Luran: calls $7
Avaladze: folds
*** FLOP *** [4h 4d 6h]
Luran: checks
RikkiDee: bets $12
Luran: calls $12
*** TURN *** [4h 4d 6h] [Ad]
Luran: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** RIVER *** [4h 4d 6h Ad] [Qc]
Luran: bets $14
RikkiDee: folds
Luran collected $39.95 from pot

So theres a hand just like the 89s one where I don't pay it off. I feel stupid both times.

Dealt to RikkiDee [8s 8h]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
doddiebeadle: folds
Stevejo: calls $8
sandiego10: folds
Luran: folds
Avaladze: folds
*** FLOP *** [4d 5s 9d]
RikkiDee: bets $14
Stevejo: calls $14
*** TURN *** [4d 5s 9d] [3d]
RikkiDee: checks
Stevejo: bets $10
RikkiDee: folds

I know, seems ridiculously weak. But this player was like 45/1 and never ever bet. I just didn't see him betting with anything that I beat. Like seriously, is he floating me with like AQ and then betting $10 when checked to? I guess its possible but for someone who never bets, it seems unlikely.

Seat 1: sgunns ($234.30 in chips)
Seat 2: hirscheybar ($237.80 in chips)
Seat 3: SALZHERZ ($166.65 in chips)
Seat 4: firasfn ($30.85 in chips)
Seat 5: mills220 ($221.15 in chips)
Seat 6: RikkiDee ($213.75 in chips)
hirscheybar: posts small blind $1
SALZHERZ: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [9s 9h]
firasfn: calls $2
mills220: calls $2
RikkiDee: raises $10 to $12
sgunns: folds
hirscheybar: raises $16 to $28
SALZHERZ: folds
firasfn: folds
mills220: folds
RikkiDee: calls $16
*** FLOP *** [2c 7d 8s]
hirscheybar: bets $38
RikkiDee: calls $38
*** TURN *** [2c 7d 8s] [3s]
hirscheybar: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** RIVER *** [2c 7d 8s 3s] [Td]
hirscheybar: bets $80
RikkiDee: folds
hirscheybar collected $135 from pot
hirscheybar: doesn't show hand

Totally lost in what to do here. I raise a lot in this situation with a ton of shitty hands, so when a multitabling good player reraises me from the blinds, do I immediately have to give him credit for TT+? Do I raise that flop? Bet the turn? Call the river? I really have no fucking clue. Probably fold the flop? Seems like if I'm folding the flop I should be folding to his reraise preflop.

Dealt to RikkiDee [9h 9c]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
hirscheybar: raises $16 to $24
SALZHERZ: folds
firasfn: folds
RikkiDee: calls $16
*** FLOP *** [5d 8h Jh]
RikkiDee: checks
hirscheybar: bets $34
mills220 has returned
RikkiDee: calls $34
*** TURN *** [5d 8h Jh] [Kh]
RikkiDee: checks
hirscheybar: checks
*** RIVER *** [5d 8h Jh Kh] [8c]
RikkiDee: checks
hirscheybar: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [9h 9c] (two pair, Nines and Eights)
hirscheybar: shows [Kd As] (two pair, Kings and Eights)

Same opponent. Fold preflop?

Seat 1: Stallionkid ($767.30 in chips)
Seat 2: onekilla ($105 in chips)
Seat 3: RikkiDee ($241.75 in chips)
Seat 4: l0l3rsk8z ($262.90 in chips)
Seat 5: crispy4505 ($588.35 in chips)
Seat 6: twelver1232 ($203 in chips)
RikkiDee: posts small blind $1
l0l3rsk8z: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to RikkiDee [7h 7d]
crispy4505: folds
twelver1232: folds
Stallionkid: folds
onekilla: folds
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
l0l3rsk8z: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [3h 7s 3d]
RikkiDee: bets $12
l0l3rsk8z: calls $12
*** TURN *** [3h 7s 3d] [8c]
RikkiDee: checks
l0l3rsk8z: checks
*** RIVER *** [3h 7s 3d 8c] [Ad]
RikkiDee: checks
l0l3rsk8z: bets $30
RikkiDee: raises $70 to $100
l0l3rsk8z: raises $142.90 to $242.90 and is all-in
RikkiDee: calls $121.75 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
l0l3rsk8z: shows [3c 3s] (four of a kind, Threes)

This one almost didn't get all in. Heres my explanation. If I bet this flop he'll never put me on sevens full. He will probably call my flop bet with any pair, any ace, or even worse sometimes. I figure, he is probably going to bet when checked to with whatever hand he has, as this is a blind vs blind battle. I figured that his check meant he just had an ace and felt it may be good, which is why I checked the river. Probably a bad long run play but I like checking sometimes with the "nuts" on the river if I know my opponent is aggressive. Whatever. Gay.

Dealt to RikkiDee [Ad Qc]
twelver1232: folds
mcnabulous5: folds
onekilla: folds
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
claudej50: calls $7
crispy4505: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [Ac 2s 7s]
claudej50: checks
crispy4505: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** TURN *** [Ac 2s 7s] [4d]
claudej50: checks
crispy4505: bets $18
RikkiDee: calls $18
claudej50: folds
*** RIVER *** [Ac 2s 7s 4d] [9s]
crispy4505: bets $42
RikkiDee: calls $42
*** SHOW DOWN ***
crispy4505: shows [Ts 8s] (a flush, Ten high)

Another wierd play by me. I generally autobet the flop here, but I had been playing on this table for a few hours and I always autobet. So I tried something different and I get screwed. Bad river call for sure tho, I'm never good. You just get in that mindset that, "I checked the flop, no way he knows I'm this strong" and call for no other reason.

Dealt to RikkiDee [Kd Kh]
gamblegoddes: folds
1kingme123: folds
damon135: folds
RikkiDee: raises $5 to $7
Collinari: calls $6
CrabClaws: folds
*** FLOP *** [3c Kc 6d]
Collinari: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** TURN *** [3c Kc 6d] [Qs]
Collinari: bets $6
RikkiDee: raises $14 to $20
Collinari: calls $14
*** RIVER *** [3c Kc 6d Qs] [4d]
Collinari: checks
RikkiDee: bets $170.30 and is all-in
Collinari: calls $74.30 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Kd Kh] (three of a kind, Kings)
Collinari: mucks hand
Seat 6: Collinari (small blind) mucked [5d 5s]

Sometimes slowplaying actually works out.

Dealt to RikkiDee [7s 7h]
RikkiDee: raises $6 to $8
gezuz: folds
dreieier: folds
crispy4505: folds
garbage1340: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [Ah 7c 8s]
garbage1340: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** TURN *** [Ah 7c 8s] [Qh]
garbage1340: checks
RikkiDee: bets $10
garbage1340: calls $10
*** RIVER *** [Ah 7c 8s Qh] [Td]
garbage1340: checks
RikkiDee: bets $432.35 and is all-in
garbage1340: calls $44.90 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [7s 7h] (three of a kind, Sevens)
garbage1340: mucks hand
Seat 3: garbage1340 (big blind) mucked [Qc Th]

Dealt to RikkiDee [Qc 8c]
crispy4505: folds
garbage1340: folds
RikkiDee: raises $5 to $7
gezuz: folds
dreieier: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [Qd 7d 2h]
dreieier: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** TURN *** [Qd 7d 2h] [9s]
dreieier: bets $11
RikkiDee: calls $11
*** RIVER *** [Qd 7d 2h 9s] [4h]
dreieier: checks
RikkiDee: bets $20
dreieier: calls $20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Qc 8c] (a pair of Queens)
dreieier: mucks hand

Value betting gives me a serious boner.

Ok thats enough hands. Its getting ridiculous. I still think that you can make arguments either way for most if not all of these hands. It generally has to do with the ebb and flow of the game. There are so many intangible feelings that you get during the course of action that the hand histories don't do it justice.

Wastin' Time

I think everyone, at one time or another considers the extent of how much of their life they've wasted or are currently wasting. The term "wasting life" obviously takes on all sorts of meanings, and applies differently to each individual. For myself, its meaning is two-fold. The first being that up to this point in my life, I've wasted a shit load of time doing completely pointless things that in no way advances me in the board game of life. Take today for instance. I woke up at noon and played video games for 10 hours. Complete waste.

The second meaning for me, is a bit more complex but is basically an extension of the first. By wasting blocks of time in my past, it has disabled a lot of possible avenues I could explore in the future. These avenues range greatly from social to economic, but all in all, my future is limited due to my past wasted time. Again, this is probably a fair assumption for all humans, as it seems like it is in the human spirit to always want improvement in their life and look back on some of their past decisions as a waste, or at least not the the most +EV move at the time.

However wasted time has affected you, it all leads to one thing - what are you going to do about it? Even if you feel as though you have made mistakes or wasted time in the past, it simply does not matter since you can't do jack shit about it. It is a sunk cost pure and simple and all that matters (read: things you can change) are events in the future.

I say all this as I see myself at a pretty big crossroad in my life. I've actually been at this crossroad for about a year now, mostly thanks to the existence of poker. As cliched as it sounds, I'd actually like to do something with my life. Now I'm not all that idealistic and don't really care how I end up contributing to society, as long as I don't have to go through years of soul-sucking office torture to do it. Occasionally I catch myself dreaming that I won the lottery and could just sit down and jerk it all day, but in reality, I know that would be a very boring and unfulfilling life. For the past year I've basically been doing nothing with my life. I haven't taken any steps forward towards what I want for my future - my last year has essentially been a waste. Its damn easy to waste a year and its actually kind of scary. I mean I'm 26 now, not old obviously but a lot older than I ever imagined I would be (as stupid as that sounds). I've never really planned too far in the future, hence the exorbitant amount of wasted time in my past. I feel like this latest blow to the online poker world may be a blessing in disguise, as it will force me to get out and actually do something. You know, like almost everyone else on the planet.

And its not that I want to be like anyone else - these desires are selfish through and through. I want a good rewarding life, one where I get up everyday for a reason and goto bed with a smile on my face. It's not only a daily goal, but the end result as well. Its where I want to be tomorrow and 40 years from now. Maintaining that takes a great deal of life improvement on a day to day basis, and right now, online poker simply isn't the means to this end.

Sorry for the long rant there, just typing my mind so to speak.

My opponents are all stars

I think they put too much value in those mighty backdoor draws

Dealt to RikkiDee [Ad Kc]
billy99: folds
dustin4444: calls 20
jestr225: calls 20
profontaine: folds
Gshw: folds
unc thirdchn: folds
RikkiDee: raises 100 to 120
Murray: folds
mmmaaatttttt: folds
dustin4444: calls 100
jestr225: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [4s Th 5c]
dustin4444: checks
jestr225: checks
RikkiDee: bets 300
dustin4444: calls 300
jestr225: folds
*** TURN *** [4s Th 5c] [9h]
dustin4444: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** RIVER *** [4s Th 5c 9h] [Kh]
dustin4444: bets 160
RikkiDee: calls 160
*** SHOW DOWN ***
dustin4444: shows [Jh Qh] (a straight flush, Nine to King)
RikkiDee: mucks hand

nice call sir

But I still won for the night, +800 in good old Donk and Go's. I"M BACK BABY

Nothin doin

Haven't posted in a bit since I haven't been playing much (read: at all). I had a few mediocre and bad sessions in a row and lost all confidence and desire to play. I know cash games are the nuts, but I just can't force myself to play when I don't want to or I'll end up playing scared or shitty.

Most of my time has been taken up by my new awesome workout schedule, which I hope to keep for at least a few months, and also the appearance of yet another new video game system. This time I bought PS2. Thats right, 2. Why? Two words, Guitar Hero. Spent the last few nights playing this game for hours on end and I still suck balls. I can't imagine ever beating it on the expert difficulty, but I'll give it my best shot.


























Anyways, thats it for now, I hope to play tonight but I probably will puss out.

Runnin' goot

Its always excellent to run good when switching poker formats. Currently over about 5k hands (barely anything) at a combination of 1/2 6-max and full ring I'm running at a cool 18.9 ptbb/100. The very best 1/2 players run at a long term rate of about 10 ptbb/100 so, its pretty easy to see that I'm running ridiculously well considering I don't have a clue what I'm doing.

Most of my big wins have been the standard set over set, set vs overpair type. For now thats good, and I'm glad I'm stacking them, since eventually I know I'm going to get bent over, and over.

Playing cash games has definitely recharged the old poker batteries in me. I actually have to pay attention and stuff, quite a change from SNGs. But it doesn't come without a price. Paying meticulous attention to each and every player on 4-5 tables takes its toll and I find myself quiting earlier than I'd like just due to exhaustion. Yea I know, poker is tiring? Give me a break!

But it is true. It is simply mentally exhausting to do something that requires your full attention and concentration for hours on end. And you'd think I'd be slightly used to it since, you know, I've been multitabling "poker" for 2 years now. But SNGs simply don't require the same type of concentration cash games do. If you ever got to watch me in real life playing SNGs, you'd notice me load up 10 tables and never time out, all the while talking on MSN, reading/writing posts on 2+2 and probably watching TV. SNGs require a base knowledge of the game and from then on its just autopilot.

To reiterate, I'm just glad that my first few days of cash games have gone good. I mean, if I had dropped a dozen buy-ins my first week, I don't think I could ever return to them. I've already realized that the most potential lies in cash games, so its great that I've been given this 2nd chance by the powers that be.

And here are a few hands:

Dealt to RikkiDee [As Ah]
gmcrafter: folds
capaneo: folds
bigmick3: folds
playaa17: raises $6 to $8
aces2x: folds
RikkiDee: raises $17 to $25
Lip is Fat: folds
redargoe: folds
catalystic97: folds
playaa17: calls $17
*** FLOP *** [5h 6c 6s]
playaa17: checks
RikkiDee: bets $35
playaa17: calls $35
*** TURN *** [5h 6c 6s] [2h]
playaa17: checks
RikkiDee: checks
*** RIVER *** [5h 6c 6s 2h] [Ks]
playaa17: bets $143 and is all-in
RikkiDee: calls $137 and is all-in
*** SHOW DOWN ***
playaa17: shows [2s 4s] (two pair, Sixes and Deuces)
RikkiDee: shows [As Ah] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
RikkiDee collected $394 from pot

Dealt to RikkiDee [3d Jd]
addikt: calls $2
ryanut03: folds
Bleve69: folds
xXprivXx: folds
PUTTIN4BIRDI: calls $1
RikkiDee: checks
*** FLOP *** [3s 7s 3h]
PUTTIN4BIRDI: checks
RikkiDee: checks
addikt: checks
*** TURN *** [3s 7s 3h] [Td]
PUTTIN4BIRDI: bets $2
RikkiDee: raises $8 to $10
addikt: folds
PUTTIN4BIRDI: raises $8 to $18
addikt is sitting out
RikkiDee: calls $8
*** RIVER *** [3s 7s 3h Td] [9d]
PUTTIN4BIRDI: bets $40
RikkiDee: calls $40
*** SHOW DOWN ***
PUTTIN4BIRDI: shows [Ac Ad] (two pair, Aces and Threes) LOL
RikkiDee: shows [3d Jd] (three of a kind, Threes)
RikkiDee collected $119 from pot

Dealt to RikkiDee [Qc Qh]
mrhotpicks2: raises $6 to $8
USANAMACK: folds
bigmick3: folds
Johnsonea: folds
luckybucks: folds
beeznutz69: folds
Random_Rules: folds
RikkiDee: raises $88 to $96
mrhotpicks2 said, "i HATE this damn hand too, lol"
RikkiDee said, "AK is a race"
mrhotpicks2 said, "i dont have A K"
mrhotpicks2 said, "u have queens, dont u?"
RikkiDee said, "then i got u"
RikkiDee said, "QQ"
mrhotpicks2 said, "u bull****ting? lol"
mrhotpicks2: calls $42.80 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Kd 4c 6h]
*** TURN *** [Kd 4c 6h] [Qd]
*** RIVER *** [Kd 4c 6h Qd] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
RikkiDee: shows [Qc Qh] (three of a kind, Queens)
mrhotpicks2: mucks hand
RikkiDee collected $99.60 from pot
mrhotpicks2 said, "i guess u weren't lol"
mrhotpicks2 said, "gh"
Seat 5: mrhotpicks2 mucked [Js Jd]

Dealt to RikkiDee [Ah Jc]
Stink823: folds
elev8urmind: folds
korndog: folds
tofirstorder: raises $5 to $7
RikkiDee: calls $6
CephusGordon: folds
*** FLOP *** [7s 4d 2d]
RikkiDee: checks
tofirstorder: checks
*** TURN *** [7s 4d 2d] [8h]
RikkiDee: checks
tofirstorder: bets $12
RikkiDee: calls $12
*** RIVER *** [7s 4d 2d 8h] [7c]
RikkiDee: checks
tofirstorder: bets $21
RikkiDee: calls $21
*** SHOW DOWN ***
tofirstorder: shows [9c Th] (a pair of Sevens)
RikkiDee: shows [Ah Jc] (a pair of Sevens - Ace kicker)

Dealt to RikkiDee [5s 5c]
franck36: folds
PrinceLuc23: raises $6 to $8
cazter: folds
TDD_SD: folds
jessicafk: folds
RikkiDee: calls $6
*** FLOP *** [6c 3s Kh]
RikkiDee: checks
PrinceLuc23: bets $12
RikkiDee: calls $12
*** TURN *** [6c 3s Kh] [Th]
RikkiDee: checks
PrinceLuc23: checks
*** RIVER *** [6c 3s Kh Th] [3h]
RikkiDee: checks
PrinceLuc23: bets $20
RikkiDee: raises $70 to $90
PrinceLuc23: folds
RikkiDee collected $78 from pot

I suck out goot

Dealt to RikkiDee [Ah Th]
gmcrafter: folds
capaneo: folds
bigmick3: folds
Prairie Hawk: folds
aces2x: folds
RikkiDee: raises $5 to $7
berggren: folds
redargoe: calls $6
El Tonners: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [4c 8h 4h]
redargoe: bets $12
El Tonners: calls $12
RikkiDee: raises $68 to $80
redargoe: raises $111 to $191 and is all-in
El Tonners: calls $179
RikkiDee: raises $111 to $302
El Tonners: calls $16.30 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [4c 8h 4h] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [4c 8h 4h 3c] [Qh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
El Tonners: shows [4d Ad] (three of a kind, Fours)
RikkiDee: shows [Ah Th] (a flush, Ace high)
RikkiDee collected $32.60 from side pot
redargoe: mucks hand
RikkiDee collected $591 from main pot
El Tonners said, "on a draw?"