CARDRUNNERS

As part of my list of goals for 2009, one was to become more involved in the Card Runners community (one that has helped me immenesly since joining end of 2007). I have decided to give this blogging thing a go and get involved on the forums. So far so good!

First up an introduction of sorts and background etc. I have been playing poker all my life as a kid for matches in a very competitve household. Used to get beat up by my sister in most card games which sucked. I am Australian, grew up in Canberra, spent the last 4 years living in Melbourne, am very happily married, just turned 30 and have been playing poker seriously since mid way thru 2006.

Since leaving school I have travelled A LOT, partied hard and generally had a lot of fun. I really enjoy music (mostly electronic/hip hop/alternative/underground stuff) and cool films. I produce music and used to DJ which fortunately took me to most corners of the globe.

In terms of poker - I remember going to the cinemas to see Rounders when it came out not having a clue what it was about. Loved it (naturally) and went home that night, searched online for "Texas Poker" or whatever it was called and found that you could play online... sweet. Signed up a free account at I think Paradise Poker but I cant quite remember and played limit for play chips. Used to stay up late to play the freeroll vs 2000 other fish where you could win like $100! Deposited $10 and lost it so stuck to the freerolls on and off for a few years and playing home games with friends that I used to dominate. I was the expert of course cos I read somewhere you only had 20% chance of hitting a flush on the river!

Fast forward a few years and I meet a mate who was playing seriously who lent me Harrington on Holdem. Read them both very quickly and started to think and talk about poker non stop. Deposited money on FT and Stars and lost, re-deposited would run it up and down in the spare time I had to play. Was mostly playing MTT's but was always facinated by the cash games. Fast forward to October 2007, was freakin miserable at work and coping grief from the bosses. I remember one time we finally had nothing to do for the first time in months and I was sitting there having a conversation with a collegue when the boss walked past and said, "Get back to work!" I replied "There is nothing to do at the moment we are on top of it," to my suprise she replied, "Then pretend to work." I quickly shot back without much thought, "Why dont you pretend I'm working?" Naturally this didnt go down to well but hey I was working in corporate travel where you basically bend over for the company your servicing AND cop shit from your own company! No thanks...

Anyway my lovely wife suggested quiting to play poker full time (and getting a part time job I enjoyed like a music store or something). I didnt need much encouragement! At the time I was doing average but thought fuck it whats the worse that can happen? So joined up Card Runners, got Rakeback on UB (that was my part time job!) and played 100NL and 200NL 6 max. Did ok in these games and was quickly making more money than my old job. Suckers.

After the shit hit the fan with UB, I moved money to PS and then back onto FT where I was lucky enough to get rakeback. In June 08 we sold all our shit and packed our bags to do some travelling. Spent some time with Family and Friends in Sydney and Canberra and then set off for 2 months in Thailand, Tokyo, France, Spain, Switzerland and London. Got to catch up with some old friends on the trip that was awesome and had a great time. We are now in Brazil where we are living (wifes Brazilian).

After leaving my big LCD monitor in Oz I found it very difficult to play 6 max so focussed on playing Heads Up. I had played a decent amount of HU and did pretty well in the games. Since June 08 I have played just over 100k hands at 100NL HU and beaten the games for 6.7 PTBB/100. I have taken one shot at moving up to 200NL very recently, however, it didnt go to plan so I will be back to 100NL for a few more months I think. It is a little frustrating still playing the same stakes for over a year, but I have cashed out pretty much all Ive won this past year to pay billls, live well, travel and buy stuff for our new apartment here in Brazil. So I shouldnt complain cos 2008 was an amazing year.

Just had my first All In for 2009 and won...good omen!?!?!... Here is the hand:
Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners

Seat 1: DestroyerChris ($38) -
Seat 2: mr ladrao ($102) - -


PRE-FLOP:

mr ladrao posts small blind $0.50
DestroyerChris posts BIG blind $1
Dealt To: mr ladrao


RAISE mr ladrao ($3)
RAISE DestroyerChris ($5)
RAISE mr ladrao ($15)
CALL DestroyerChris ($10)


FLOP:

Pot: $30
   

BET DestroyerChris ($23)
CALL mr ladrao ($23)


TURN:

Pot: $76
     



RIVER:

Pot: $76
      



SHOWDOWN:
DestroyerChris:

mr ladrao:


mr ladrao collected $75.5 from main pot with two pair, Kings and Sixes

SUMMARY:
Total pot: $76 Rake: $0.50

Final Board:
     

Seat 1: DestroyerChris big blind showed [Ac Js] and lost with a pair of Sixes - Net Gain/Loss: ($-38)
  
Seat 2: mr ladrao small blind showed [Ks Ad] and won 75.50 with two pair, Kings and Sixes - Net Gain/Loss: ($37)


Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners So goals for 2009:

As I mentioned participate more here...

Poker wise I wanna clear $50k this year and move up succesfully!

Wanna travel more especially around Sth America and have a friends wedding in Europe in May.

Wanna get healthier - just hit 30 a week ago so its all on the downslide now. Woke up on my Bday feeling hungover and seriously felt like I was 40! Not cool. We got a puppy in December so taking him out for walks has been great. He is a 3 month old German Shepherd named Shadow and he is awesome.

Enjoy myself more than last year. If I can do this life will be great cos 08 was cool.

Here is my favourite hand from 2008 - read below for explanation (justification ;P)
Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners

Seat 1: mr ladrao ($201.50) - -
Seat 2: mrpots7 ($66.50) -


PRE-FLOP:

mr ladrao posts small blind $0.50
mrpots7 posts BIG blind $1
Dealt To: mr ladrao


RAISE mr ladrao ($3)
RAISE mrpots7 ($9)
RAISE mr ladrao ($22)
CALL mrpots7 ($13)


FLOP:

Pot: $44
   

CHECK mrpots7
BET mr ladrao ($45)
CALL mrpots7 ($44.50)
UNCALLED mr ladrao ($0.50)


TURN:

Pot: $133
     



RIVER:

Pot: $133
      



SHOWDOWN:
mr ladrao:

mrpots7:


mr ladrao collected $132.5 from main pot with a straight, Nine high

SUMMARY:
Total pot: $133 Rake: $0.50

Final Board:
     

Seat 1: mr ladrao small blind showed [7c 2s] and won 132.50 with a straight, Nine high - Net Gain/Loss: ($65.5)
Seat 2: mrpots7 big blind showed [Ah Th] and lost with Ace King high - Net Gain/Loss: ($-66.5)
  


Free hand converter brought to you by CardRunners


Happened only a few days ago after getting beaten up at 1/2.
Villain had bluffed me a few times and shown his cards. On my 4 bet I was CTRL M'ing to turn auto muck off so I could show him my bluff to tilt him back. He calls so i shove the flop cos I've got AK right? He insta-awesome calls me with his A hi and I laugh my ass off at how much I suck. I then suck out awesome of course - send him on monkey tilt and go on to take him for 2.5 buy-ins...