CARDRUNNERS

What's Your Edge

Spudt24's Poker Blog

December 23, 2006

I recently went broke playing wayyyyyyy out of my roll (2/4nl) and tilting. These individually are bad; these aggregately are death to a bankroll. Fortunately I'm friends with some very successful internet players and one of them has loaned me $500 on full tilt poker. Originally I had no idea what I wanted to do with this, but I knew it was going to be small stakes.

I decided to fuck the ego and sit at 6handed 25NL games. I'd like to keep a 30 buyin rule, which is $625, but I know that $500 is more than enough for me at this level. In fact I've played much higher relative to my roll, compared to this. After about 5000 hands of 4-6 tabling this level I'm at $900. The first 2500 hands or so I crushed at around 40bb/100 got to $950, then I took a bunch of beats, dropped down to about $700, and then the last two nights didn't have bad luck happen and got it back up to $900. Truthfully, the only way I lose at this level is if I get sucked out on, or if a huge cooler happens. Other than that, this level (which I've never played before) is hysterically easy. In 4 buy ins, when I hit $1000, I'm going to return the $500 I owe, then grind this level back up to $1250. Once I get there I'm going to move to 50NL.

For the first time in my life, I respect money. Playing this low will do that to you. Since it's essentially someone else's money I'm playing with, I also am playing less careless and better. I only once have moved up prematurely and of course lost AQ vs K9 when he rivered two pair vs my top pair. I haven't attempted to move up since. I'm very content grinding profit, and honestly love the fact that I'm so much better than nearly everyone at the table. It's a great feeling.

I've been sweating a few CR members who play these stakes and giving advice where I see necessary. I'm still trying to figure out what the optimal method of teaching is, because it's hard for me to comment on aim on the fly, for someone who is playing 4 tables. I think I can definitely help these players, but am trying to figure out the best way to do so. Sending me incomplete hand histories seems like a great method.

Despite the hands below I still managed to win nearly 2 buy ins +$47

12/21/06

Big Losing Hands

Seat 2: atomicandydog ($16.25)
Seat 5: Spudt24 ($30.65)

Aces2323 posts the small blind of $0.10
SeldomSeen31 posts the big blind of $0.25
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ah Ad]
Spudt24 raises to $0.85, darth_bozo folds, coronito calls $0.85, atomicandydog calls $0.85, Aces2323 folds, SeldomSeen31 calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [Kh 6d 5d]
SeldomSeen31 checks, Spudt24 bets $2, coronito folds, atomicandydog calls $2, SeldomSeen31 folds
*** TURN *** [Kh 6d 5d] [2d]
Spudt24 bets $3, atomicandydog raises to $13.40, and is all in, Spudt24 calls $10.40
atomicandydog shows [6c 6h]
Spudt24 shows [Ah Ad]
*** RIVER *** [Kh 6d 5d 2d] [5h]
atomicandydog shows a full house, Sixes full of Fives, Spudt24 shows two pair, Aces and Fives
atomicandydog wins the pot ($32.60) with a full house, Sixes full of Fives

Pretty standard IMO. At this level I'll go broke here every time.

Seat 1: coronito ($12.90)
Seat 5: Spudt24 ($28.45)

Aces2323 posts the small blind of $0.10
SeldomSeen31 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ks Ad]
Spudt24 raises to $0.85, darth_bozo folds, coronito calls $0.85, Gab81 folds, Aces2323 folds, SeldomSeen31 folds
*** FLOP *** [8h Jd Kc]
Spudt24 bets $0.50, coronito calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [8h Jd Kc] [Qc]
Spudt24 checks, coronito bets $2, Spudt24 raises to $27.10, and is all in, coronito calls $9.55, and is all in
Spudt24 shows [Ks Ad]
coronito shows [Kh Jc]
Uncalled bet of $15.55 returned to Spudt24
*** RIVER *** [8h Jd Kc Qc] [8c]
Spudt24 shows two pair, Kings and Eights, coronito shows two pair, Kings and Jacks, coronito wins the pot ($24.85) with two pair, Kings and Jacks

I played this hand poorly looking back. The reason I pushed is to make myself look really strong, since he only had $9 behind him. I'm not beating much and probably should have just called the turn, and check/called or check/folded the river. Either way, with the board pairing, I probably would've gotten it in regardless. I'd love some input on this hand, especially dealing with the short stack.

Seat 4: SeldomSeen31 ($26.35)
Seat 5: Spudt24 ($32.05)

darth_bozo posts the small blind of $0.10
coronito posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ah As]
Gab81 folds, Aces2323 folds, SeldomSeen31 raises to $1, Spudt24 raises to $3, darth_bozo folds, coronito folds, SeldomSeen31 calls $2
*** FLOP *** [9s Th Js]
SeldomSeen31 checks, Spudt24 bets $5, SeldomSeen31 raises to $12, Spudt24 raises to $29.05, and is all in, SeldomSeen31 calls $11.35, and is all in
Spudt24 shows [Ah As]
SeldomSeen31 shows [7d 8d]
Uncalled bet of $5.70 returned to Spudt24
*** TURN *** [9s Th Js] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [9s Th Js 2c] [Tc]
Spudt24 shows two pair, Aces and Tens, SeldomSeen31 shows a straight, Jack high
SeldomSeen31 wins the pot ($50.40) with a straight, Jack high

Should have folded to the re raise. I definitely fall in love with Aces at this level because of the fact that so many bad players will play for it all with top pair any kicker. I think at this level unless it's +EV to get it in with AA the majority of the time. However, I should have at least thought 99, 1010, or JJ. 88, QQ, KQ and AQ are also possibilities. I never would've thought 78 though. That's 4 hands that dominate me and 3 that have a bunch of outs. Compared to really only KK that I'm hugely favored against, should have been an easy fold.

Seat 5: cadams237 ($16.30)
Seat 6: dave26gar ($12.30)

MatheusBR posts the small blind of $0.10
Spudt24 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ad 7c]
cadams237 calls $0.25, dave26gar folds, KeyzMaster folds, MF28 folds, MatheusBR folds, Spudt24 checks
*** FLOP *** [Jc As Kh]
Spudt24 checks, cadams237 bets $0.60, Spudt24 calls $0.60
*** TURN *** [Jc As Kh] [7h]
Spudt24 checks, cadams237 bets $1.80, Spudt24 raises to $7.20, cadams237 has 15 seconds left to act, cadams237 raises to $15.45, and is all in, Spudt24 calls $8.25
cadams237 shows [Tc Js]
Spudt24 shows [Ad 7c]
*** RIVER *** [Jc As Kh 7h] [Jd]
cadams237 shows three of a kind, Jacks, Spudt24 shows two pair, Aces and Jacks
cadams237 wins the pot ($31.10) with three of a kind, Jacks

No reason to not think I'm ahead here. He hits one of his 6 outs. Bad beat.

Seat 5: harribola ($9.20)
Seat 6: Spudt24 ($24.55)

harribola posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Jh Ah]
Spudt24 raises to $0.75, Gab81 folds, Ryanrizice folds, kleon folds, harribola calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [6d 2s 4d]
harribola checks, Spudt24 bets $1.50, harribola calls $1.50
*** TURN *** [6d 2s 4d] [Ad]
harribola checks, Spudt24 bets $2.25, harribola raises to $6.95, and is all in, Spudt24 has 15 seconds left to act, Spudt24 calls $4.70
harribola shows [6s 6h]
Spudt24 shows [Jh Ah]
*** RIVER *** [6d 2s 4d Ad] [5d]
harribola shows three of a kind, Sixes, Spudt24 shows a pair of Aces
harribola wins the pot ($17.50) with three of a kind, Sixes

Nothing I can do here.

Seat 4: monstermagic ($9.65)
Seat 6: Spudt24 ($28.35)

monstermagic posts the small blind of $0.10
harribola posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Qc Qs]
Spudt24 raises to $1, Gab81 folds, Ryanrizice folds, mattyb126 folds, monstermagic calls $0.90, harribola calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [5h Ts 4d]
monstermagic bets $3, harribola folds, Spudt24 raises to $6, monstermagic raises to $8.65, and is all in, Spudt24 calls $2.65
monstermagic shows [As 9s]
Spudt24 shows [Qc Qs]
*** TURN *** [5h Ts 4d] [6s]
*** RIVER *** [5h Ts 4d 6s] [7s]
monstermagic shows a flush, Ace high, Spudt24 shows a pair of Queens
monstermagic wins the pot ($19.30) with a flush, Ace high

Hilarious. Bad beat.

Seat 2: everything_nice ($25.45)
Seat 5: Spudt24 ($32.25)

jvans posts the small blind of $0.10
everything_nice posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [7c 5c]
Spudt24 raises to $0.85, jvans folds, everything_nice calls $0.60
*** FLOP *** [6d Qd Jd]
everything_nice checks, Spudt24 checks
*** TURN *** [6d Qd Jd] [7h]
everything_nice checks, Spudt24 bets $1.50, everything_nice calls $1.50
*** RIVER *** [6d Qd Jd 7h] [Ah]
everything_nice checks, Spudt24 bets $5, everything_nice calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Spudt24 shows [7c 5c] (a pair of Sevens), everything_nice shows [Ad 4c] (a pair of Aces)
everything_nice wins the pot ($14.10) with a pair of Aces

I didn't know too much about this opponent at this point, so I felt like I could represent a big hand on a scary board. Even if he hit a J I'm thinking a strong bet could get him to fold. I guess not.

Seat 2: everything_nice ($11.90)
Seat 5: Spudt24 ($24.55)

jvans posts the small blind of $0.10
everything_nice posts the big blind of $0.25
the spark dog posts $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Jd Ad]
the spark dog checks, Spudt24 raises to $1.10, jvans folds, everything_nice raises to $2.25, the spark dog folds, Spudt24 raises to $24.55, and is all in, everything_nice calls $9.65, and is all in
Spudt24 shows [Jd Ad]
everything_nice shows [5c 5h]
Uncalled bet of $12.65 returned to Spudt24
*** FLOP *** [6h 3c Td]
*** TURN *** [6h 3c Td] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [6h 3c Td 2c] [3d]
Spudt24 shows a pair of Threes, everything_nice shows two pair, Fives and Threes
everything_nice wins the pot ($22.95) with two pair, Fives and Threes

After 30 minutes of playing with above moron, and seeing some very loose stats, I figured he wasn't strong on this re raise, so I pushed his small stack. Lost a race, but I'm actually happy with my play and new he would be pretty light.

Some good hands from the session on 12/20 where I took 6 buy ins +$149. Pretty sick especially since the biggest hand I lost was for $11. Hands held, and I just played ABC poker.

Seat 1: booty818 ($25)
Seat 2: Spudt24 ($45.30)

TonyRomo88 posts the small blind of $0.10
booty818 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [4s 4h]
Spudt24 calls $0.25, GOB31 folds, oilerfan1 calls $0.25, bravo69 folds, TonyRomo88 folds, booty818 checks
*** FLOP *** [Jh Qd 4d]
booty818 bets $0.85, Spudt24 raises to $3.40, oilerfan1 folds, booty818 raises to $11.05, Spudt24 raises to $45.05, and is all in, booty818 calls $13.70, and is all in
Spudt24 shows [4s 4h]
booty818 shows [Qc 8d]
Uncalled bet of $20.30 returned to Spudt24
*** TURN *** [Jh Qd 4d] [Td]
*** RIVER *** [Jh Qd 4d Td] [7s]
Spudt24 shows three of a kind, Fours, booty818 shows a pair of Queens
Spudt24 wins the pot ($47.85) with three of a kind, Fours

I've played quite a few hands with Booty and he hates me. He commented that I'm always raising and what not. This hand shows why I'll play AA to the felt at this level. Standard push on the flop. I don't want to see a turn card with this board.

Seat 2: Spudt24 ($32.20)
Seat 4: LouiDeBrusk ($15)

Spudt24 posts the small blind of $0.10
GOB31 posts the big blind of $0.25
LouiDeBrusk posts $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Qd As]
LouiDeBrusk raises to $0.85, TonyRomo88 folds, Spudt24 raises to $2.80, GOB31 folds, LouiDeBrusk calls $1.95
*** FLOP *** [Ac 7h 2d]
Spudt24 checks, LouiDeBrusk checks
*** TURN *** [Ac 7h 2d] [2h]
Spudt24 checks, LouiDeBrusk checks
*** RIVER *** [Ac 7h 2d 2h] [6h]
Spudt24 bets $2, LouiDeBrusk raises to $11.85, Spudt24 calls $9.85
*** SHOW DOWN ***
LouiDeBrusk shows [9s Th] (a pair of Twos), Spudt24 shows [Qd As] (two pair, Aces and Twos)
Spudt24 wins the pot ($28.10) with two pair, Aces and Twos

I played this hand much much differently than I typically play it. I took into consideration the ideal flop and his small stack. Since I figured to be ahead, I checked both the flop and the turn hoping to induce a bluff. I wasn't too concerned with the flush possibility and was willing to call.

Seat 3: tbeev11 ($23.90)
Seat 6: Spudt24 ($38.50)

FristYou posts the small blind of $0.10
DrewBlows is sitting out
Spudt24 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Tc 7c]
booty818 folds, got_tone raises to $1, tbeev11 calls $1, FristYou folds, Spudt24 calls $0.75
*** FLOP *** [Kc 5c Ac]
Spudt24 bets $1.25, got_tone raises to $5, tbeev11 raises to $22.90, and is all in, Spudt24 raises to $37.50, and is all in, got_tone folds
Spudt24 shows [Tc 7c]
tbeev11 shows [As Qc]
Uncalled bet of $14.60 returned to Spudt24
*** TURN *** [Kc 5c Ac] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [Kc 5c Ac 5h] [6s]
Spudt24 shows a flush, Ace high, tbeev11 shows two pair, Aces and Fives
Spudt24 wins the pot ($51.25) with a flush, Ace high

Got lucky here. I love hands like this because you typically know if you're ahead or behind. There is typically no marginal situation, as shown on this flop. One thing I do love to do at this level is play things fast. Some might check the flop, I might as well just bet out, knowing he likely has an A or K and won't let it go. He had an A and didn't let it go.

Seat 1: booty818 ($59.60)
Seat 6: Spudt24 ($24.40)

booty818 posts the small blind of $0.10
MikoHot posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ad 8d]
tbeev11 folds, KingKong30 folds, DrewBlows folds, Spudt24 raises to $0.85, booty818 calls $0.75, MikoHot folds
*** FLOP *** [Js Th Ac]
booty818 checks, Spudt24 bets $1, booty818 calls $1
*** TURN *** [Js Th Ac] [8c]
booty818 checks, Spudt24 bets $3, booty818 raises to $8, Spudt24 calls $5
*** RIVER *** [Js Th Ac 8c] [4d]
booty818 bets $15, Spudt24 calls $14.55, and is all in
Uncalled bet of $0.45 returned to booty818
*** SHOW DOWN ***
booty818 shows [Jh 8h] (two pair, Jacks and Eights), Spudt24 shows [Ad 8d] (two pair, Aces and Eights)
Spudt24 wins the pot ($46.60) with two pair, Aces and Eights
booty818: unreal

My favorite ftp player booty. On the button pretty standard raise with A8 sooted. Decent flop for me so I lead out to see where I am. His call didn't mean a whole lot as he could have been floating me with anything. This player hated me and was giving me action. I make 2 pair which is like the nuts at these stakes. I definitely think I'm ahead, but keep betting out as I want to build the pot big enough to get it all in, on a favorable river card. 4d comes and I'm going to play for it all. He puts me in and I happily call.

Seat 1: booty818 ($34.55)
Seat 2: Spudt24 ($99.85)

SpicyBait posts the small blind of $0.10
DEFJUXIE posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ah Jh]
pokerstars67 folds, Otis the Great folds, booty818 calls $0.25, Spudt24 raises to $1.10, SpicyBait folds, DEFJUXIE folds, booty818 calls $0.85
*** FLOP *** [2d 9h Kc]
booty818 checks, Spudt24 bets $1.80, booty818 calls $1.80
*** TURN *** [2d 9h Kc] [5h]
booty818 checks, Spudt24 bets $2.50, booty818 calls $2.50
*** RIVER *** [2d 9h Kc 5h] [Qh]
booty818 checks, Spudt24 bets $4, booty818 raises to $29.15, and is all in, Spudt24 calls $25.15
*** SHOW DOWN ***
booty818 shows [Ks Th] (a pair of Kings), Spudt24 shows [Ah Jh] (a flush, Ace high)
Spudt24 wins the pot ($66.45) with a flush, Ace high
booty818 is sitting out

Hey look, it's booty. Typical hand against a very weak player. Raise in position with AJ sooted. Cbet on a favorable board. He continues to play very passively on the turn, so I bet again having picked up a flush draw. The river brings the money card. Booty does the work for me.

Seat 2: Spudt24 ($71.05)
Seat 6: Otis the Great ($23.55)

booty818 posts the small blind of $0.10
Spudt24 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [Ks Kh]
SpicyBait folds, DEFJUXIE folds, Otis the Great raises to $0.75, booty818 calls $0.65, Spudt24 raises to $3, Otis the Great has 15 seconds left to act, Otis the Great calls $2.25, booty818 folds
*** FLOP *** [8d Qc Th]
Spudt24 bets $6.75, Otis the Great calls $6.75
*** TURN *** [8d Qc Th] [6s]
Spudt24 bets $61.30, and is all in, Otis the Great calls $13.80, and is all in, Spudt24 shows [Ks Kh], Otis the Great shows [Ah Qh]
Uncalled bet of $47.50 returned to Spudt24
*** RIVER *** [8d Qc Th 6s] [Td]
Spudt24 shows two pair, Kings and Tens, Otis the Great shows two pair, Queens and Tens
Spudt24 wins the pot ($45.50) with two pair, Kings and Tens

Pretty nice starting hand here. I always raise with KK at this level. Always. I want to build the pot and hopefully get any ace rag to fold. Great flop for me, as anyone with a Q is going to the felt. Once again I bet out strong, hoping he caught, and to build. I want to get it allin. Since he calls such a big bet on the flop, he clearly has something, so on the turn I just put him allin. I don't know if it helps, but I like to push here in hopes he thinks it's weakness. By pushing it might seem like I'm trying to buy the pot. If I simply bet $14, he might think I truly have him beat. I don't know if this is actually true, but damnit I think so. Hand held, ship it!

Seat 1: poundcake1 ($130.70)
Seat 3: Spudt24 ($31)

madmilk posts the small blind of $0.10
change100 posts the big blind of $0.25

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Spudt24 [As Jd]
borq123 folds, poundcake1 calls $0.25, Spudt24 calls $0.25, madmilk folds, change100 checks
*** FLOP *** [Kh Ts Ac]
change100 checks, poundcake1 bets $0.85, Spudt24 calls $0.85, madmilk adds $0.35, change100 folds
*** TURN *** [Kh Ts Ac] [2s]
poundcake1 bets $2.55, Spudt24 calls $2.55
*** RIVER *** [Kh Ts Ac 2s] [Kd]
poundcake1 bets $7.65, Spudt24 calls $7.65
*** SHOW DOWN ***
poundcake1 shows [Ks Td] (a full house, Kings full of Tens)
Spudt24 mucks
poundcake1 wins the pot ($21.85) with a full house, Kings full of Tens

This was my biggest loss of the 840 hand session from 12/20, only $11. Sometimes I do reraise here, but chose to mix it up and flat call. Flop is pretty good for me, I definitely think I'm ahead top pair good kicker , with a possible straight. I still think I'm good on the turn, but am trying to play a small pot, so I just call. The K comes and I think I'm still ahead. The call was a little loose and careless, but one thing I do like about the way I played the hand is controlling the pot size.

Some main points I'd like to mention. CTS wrote in his blog the concept of building a big pot, in preparation of pushing the river and it making sense, mathematically. I've applied this into my game and seen great payoffs. Before I'd be too concerned with slow playing, small feeler bets or small value bets. I now play nearly everything fast. My logic at this level is simple, if they have even just a piece, they're not letting go. Build the pot and hopefully play for it all when you're strong. Conversely, controlling the pot in marginal situations is crucial. The thing I see players do horribly at this level is play a huge pot with marginal holdings. I might make bad calls with marginal holdings, but I'm rarely going to stack off.

Entry Tags: the, and, calls, folds, shows, spudt24