Olympic Summer Festival 75€ NLHE rebuy

The Riga Olympic Summer Festival started with a 75€ rebuy no-limit hold'em event. 40 players registered for a 1000 chips starting stack and 30 minutes levels (first three offering unlimited rebuys, followed by an optional 2000 chips add-on).

I played awfully badly during the rebuy levels, doing extremely loosy calls and putting my money in stupid races. I ended doing 3 rebuys, which with the add-on put my total investment in the tournament at 375€.

Level 4 - 50/100 - 3950 chips
Card dead for almost all level, until this hand. I limp with 23d in early position and we are 5 on a KT4 flop with two diamonds. We all check and the turn is 6d. I bet 500 and all fold to UTG who calls. He may have a bigger diamond. River is As, opponent checks and I bet 1100 (he has 2200 left). He calls and show black pocket queens! He was trapping preflop, but couldn't lay down his queens, even with an ace and a king showing. A real gift!

Level 5 - 75/150 - 5800 chips
36 players, 4400 average stack.
I limp after a limper with Qc-Jc. Middle position player raises to 700. Limper calls, and I call for the pot odds. Flops is Ts-7c-4c. We check to the raiser, who bets 900. Other opponent folds, and I call with my flush draw and over cards. Turn is Jh. I go all in (opponent has the same stack), and opponent folds KTo.
I raise one limper with JJ on the button, all fold.

Level 6 - 100/200 - 7800 chips
31 players, 5100 average stack.
I raise a limper to 600 with 88. I get one caller in position, blinds fold and limper calls. Flop is 3h-6s-7s (I have the 8s). It is checked to me, I bet 1200, all fold.
I'm on the BB. 2 limpers, SB checks, I have Ad-Jd and raise to 800. All fold to SB who tilt raise all-in for total of 3000. I insta call and win against QJo.

Level 7 - 150/300 - 12425 chips
25 players, 6300 average stack.
I steal the blinds with QTo (I see that the two players with positions on me are going to fold, so I raise).
Button limps and I check my 85o big blind. Flop has an 8 with two babies and I bet 600. Button calls. Turn is another baby and I bet 1200. Button calls. River is a ten, I check and button check. He mucks AJ.
I raise to 900 with AA and get 2 callers in position. Flop is 963 with 2 diamonds (I have the Ad). Player on my left has only 2000 and I don't want to give the flush odds to third player so I go all in. Both insta fold.

Level 8 - 200/400 - 18200 chips
23 players, 7000 average stack.
Card dead. I don't play any pots.

Level 9 - 300/600 - 16000 chips
18 players, 8800 average stack.
I continue to be card dead, but thankfully we go to 2 tables so it stops the heavy blinds bleeding.

Level 10 - 400/800 - 14200 chips
15 players, 10600 average stack.
I raise 2400 with aces, all fold (this is the first hand I play in one hour, so I didn't expect any call). I show the AA, for my image.
A few hands later, I raise UTG with 66. All fold
Late position player raises to 1800, I reraise to 60 with A7s on the button (resteal), all fold.
I win AK vs AQ (I raise in early position to 2400, button reraise all in for 6000 and I call).
I lose KQ vs AJ all in preflop for 1500 chips.
I raise 2400 in early position withQ8o, BB goes all in and I fold.
Button raises to 2400 (he has 8000 total), I reraise all in from my SB with AKo. He insta call with KK and I lose my first big pot.

Level 11 - 500/1000 - 10500 chips
11 players, 14400 average.
We are on the final table bubble, the play is weak tight and we don't see any flop. I don't get good cards but I do my share of steals and get some chips.

We finally go to 9 players and final table is redrawn. Top 7 are paid (first place 3000€), so we are on the money bubble. Level 11 restarts for 30 minutes. I have 16500 chips.

I steal the blinds with K9 in middle position.
4 limpers, I have A7 on by BB and raise 7000. All fold.

Level 12 - 700/1500 - 19000 chips
8 players, 20000 average. Money bubble.
I raise 4500 wit A9s, BB reraise 13000. I fold and he shows AA.
Late position player raises to 4500. I smooth call with KJo on my BB. Flop Q46 with 2 hearts. I go all in and he folds.
I raise 4500 with 24s on the button, BB goes all in and I fold.
I finally manage to steal blinds with KQo.
Late position player raises to 4500, I go all in on my BB with AQo and he folds.
I steal blinds with A7o from cut off.

Level 13 - 1000/2000 - 23000chips
8 players, 20000 average. Still on the money bubble. Play is ultra tight and no one seems to want to see a flop.
I raise to 6000 with AQo, all fold. I raise 5000 with KJo UTG, all fold.
Finally, the bubble bursts.
One player limps on the button, SB folds and I have 99. I raise to 6000 and he calls. He has around 12000 left, more or less the same than me. Flop is 24A rainbow. I check, he goes all in and I fold. I certainly made a mistake by raising preflop. I knew he would have called anyway so best option was to check and keep the pot small.
UTG raises to 4500. He his quite a loose player and I don't think he has much. I call with T7s on my BB and plan to shove on the flop. Flop is TTQ. I change my plans and check, he goes all in and I call. He show K5o and I win the pot.

Level 14 - 1500/3000 - 30000 chips
5 players, 31800 average stack.
We don't see much flops. All is preflop and I'm really card dead. I certainly lack the courage to raise on the button with 92o, or to defend my blind with 23o, and I'm bleeding chips.

Level 15 - 2000/4000 - 24000 chips
4 players, 40000 average stack.
There are two big stacks and another one like mine. I hang on doing some moves and steals, but the chips are just turning around. At some point, the other medium stack goes all in and is called. He busts and we are three.
I raise 12000 (half my stack) on the button with AQs and SB goes all in. BB folds. I insta call and he shows KTo. I'm a 65% favorite, but flop gives two pairs to my opponent and I bust in third place.

Final result: 3rd position, 1080€ (profit of 705€).

During this tournament, I didn't do any suckout, got one very lucky flop (TTQ with T7 on the final table) and got only one cooler (AK vs KK). I lacked some final luck on my last hand (had I won, I certainly had good chances for first or second place since I would have crippled one opponent).
I'm quite happy about my play. I didn't make any big mistakes, but I didn't have to make hard decisions as well so I can't really say that I played extremely well.

It's nice for the moral to finish in top 3. Let's hope I'll do good in the next events of the Olympic Summer Festival this week.

Sunday 10Ls rebuy

54 players registered for the no-limit hold'em Sunday 10Ls rebuy tournament in Olympic casino (I made it just in time from Tallinn to sign up to this small event).

I was quite fortunate during the rebuy period, and I ended with 4000 chips including the add-on. Total investment: 30Ls (45€).

Top 8 are paid, first place 700Ls. Levels are 20 minutes.

Level 4 - 50/100 - 4000 chips
I raise to 350 in early postion with 99. Button reraises to 700 and has 1600 chips left. The min raise is widely used here so it could mean anything. I put him on a weak ace or a small pair. Flop is 8JQ with 2 spades. I have the gut shot straight draw, and I have also a spade in my hand. I check, with the intention of going all in to any bet. He checks too, and turn is 6 of spade. I go all in and he folds.
I raise to 300 with AJo UTG. I get 2 callers. Flop is 88K and I go all in (both callers have a small stack). One calls and I lose to KJ.

Level 5 - 75/150 - 3725 chips
38 players, 3300 average stack.
I win a race all in preflop AJ vs 22.
I call a 550 raise on the button with 66 and see a 45Q rainbow flop with 4 players. All check to me, I bet 1500 and all fold.

Level 6 - 100/200 - 7350 chips
33 players, 4000 average stack.
I make a move on a tight player (reraising his bet on a TT6 flop) but he has the ten and he reraises. I instal fold.

Level 7 - 150/300 - 6250 chips
31 players, 4200 average stack.
I'm card dead for all level, and take a hit on the last hand. I'm in the BB with J4s, which I check (one early limper, and SB completed). Flop is 5T2 with 2 clubs. I have the flush draw and all check. Turn is 5 of clubs. I have the flush, but the board is paired. SB check. I bet 600 (pot is 900), limper folds but SB raises to 1200. He could have a 5, or a flush. I call. River is another 5. He bets 1500. I insta fold. He open mucks AT of clubs for the nut flush. I was very lucky to have a runner runner fives, otherwise I could ave been stacked on this one.

Level 8 - 200/400 - 4800 chips
24 players, 5500 average stack.
I'm starting to be low on chips compared to the blinds, and play is going tighter at this stage of the tournament so I switch gear and start to be aggressive.
I try to steal the blinds, raising to 1000 with trash in late position, but very tight player reraise all in and I fold. I continue my aggression and steal three times almost in a row with QK, KJ and 66.
I raise to 1200 with 33 in middle position. BB calls for half of his stack. Flop is 68K, he checks, I go all in and he folds. I love these players.

Level 9 - 300/600 - 6600 chips
19 players, 7000 average stack.
Button raises to 1500, SB calls. I'm on the BB and calls with A7. I have them both covered, so I plan to push on the flop. Flop is J89. SB goes all in with 3000, and button folds out of turn. I'm 27% to a Jack so I call. He shows KJ but Im lucky with a ten on the river and I win the pot.
I win a race AK vs A7.

Level 10 - 400/800 - 15000 chips
12 players, 11000 average stack.
I'm feeling quite good about making it in the money, but I play to win and I'm willing to take risks. I'm on the BB. UTG, a tight player with a 13500 stack, raises to 3000 and it's folded to me. I see 88 and decide to call. Flop comes 57Q and I push all in. Opponent insta calls with KK and I lose a big pot. I'm down to 1500 chips.
This was a really big mistake. I knew he could raise with AA/KK/QQ/JJ/AK so my pair wasn't really good. I should have folded preflop, or at least check fold on the flop (he is a straightforward player, betting when he has something and checking when not). I totally blew it when it wasn't necessary (to take risk is something, to give away chips is another story!).
I tripled to 4500 with 22 (flopping a set), but lost next hand A7 vs KQ.

I finished in 11th position.

It wasn't a big tournament, but it showed me I still need to work on my patience and analysis. I made a stupid aggressive move against one of the few who could hit me badly. I know I'm player better and making progress, but this kind of mistake show me how far I am to be a consistent winning player.

Olympic summer festival Main Event Tallinn

56 players registered for the Tallinn's Olympic summer festival main event. With a buy in of 500€ and a very nice structure (10 000 starting chips with 45 min levels), it was really worthy to come there. Furthermore, the dealers and staff are very professionals.

A two days event, first day would play until final 10 who all would get in the money. First prize is approximately 8 000 euros, quite nice.

I started the tournament on a table which I knew would be one of the last to break. This is quite important for me as I like to develop an image, and I usually pay attention to the way opponents are playing. The only players I knew was on my right, a quite tight solid opponent with a lot of tournament experiences.

Level 1 - 50/100 - 10 000 chips
After two orbits, I make my first raise to 150 with AQs UTG. I get one caller in middle position and blinds fold. Flop is 4JQ rainbow. I bet 600 (it seems I miscounted the pot, and overbet by mistake), opponent calls. Turn is 9. I check because it could feel a straight draw and I want to keep control of the pot. Opponent checks too. River is 6. I'm pretty sure I have the best hand, so I bet 600 and get called. He mucks.
One orbit later, I get KK UTG. I raise to 150 and get 2 callers. Flop is 49A rainbow. I bet 300 and get one caller (the same guy than the previous hand). I put him on an ace, as the flop is very dry. Turn is another A. I check and he bets 400. The second ace is a good news for me as it's more unlikely he has it. Maybe he has a pair of tens or jacks. I decide to call and see the river. It's a ten. I check and he bets 1200. I know I showed some weakness, but I don't think at all he is bluffing. He would check jacks or eights, so he has either an ace, or a set. I fold and he flashs pocket 4. I have been quite lucky to loose only 850 chips on this hands. If the flop had been only babies, it would have cost me a lot.

Level 2 - 50/100 - 10150 chips
Uneventful, won one pot with many limpers by betting my king UTG (everyone folded).

Level 3 - 75/150 - 10750 chips
One middle player raises to 400, button calls. I see JJ on my SB and smooth calls (I don't put button on a big hand, but middle player could have something big). BB folds. Flop is 76J all spades. I don't think that anyone could put me on pocket jacks, so I bet 1000, hoping a call or a reraise from someone holding the ace of spade. Middle position player folds, but button raises to 3000. I see him as a weak player, playing too much pots with trash. I instantly go all in. If he flopped the flush, more power to him, but it's unlikely. He hollywoods for a while but I'm sure he is going to fold, which he eventually does.

Level 4 - 100/200 - 15550 chips
48 players, 11700 average stack.
Nothing special in this level, won some small pots.

Level 5 - 100/200, 25 ante - 17000 chips
43 players, 13000 average stack.
The ante are kicking it, and I love it. I limp with 33 in early position and get called by SB and BB. Flop is TQ5 with two hears. SB bets 300 (pot is 800), BB folds. I have seen him making small bets before when he was on a draw, so I raise to 900. He ponders and call. Turn is a black deuce. He checks. I check too, not sure anymore about my previous read. Turn is a blank, he checks and I'm happy to check my pair. He shows 69 of hearts and I rake the pot.

Level 6 - 150/300, 25 ante - 17500 chips
40 players, 14000 average stack.
One players limps and I raise to 1500 with A6 in middle position using my solid image and hoping so steal. I get one caller on the button and the limper calls. So much for my move! Flop is QTT. First opponent checks to me. I take my courage and decide for a solid continuation bet of 3500. The both fold quickly (both stating to have AK).
I steal blinds with QTo on the button.
I made my first mistake of the day on the following hand. A short stacked player (5000) raises to 900 and decide to call with ATo on my BB. Flop is J97 and I decide to take a stab at the pot and bet 1700. He instantly goes all-in and I fold. I should either have folded preflop, or push.
I limp on the button with QJ (several limpers). Flop is TQQ, huge flop for me. One early position players bets 1000 and it's folded to me. I think that he would have checked a Q so he may have a ten or be on a strange draw. I smooth call and we are heads-up to see the turn: J. I make my full and it's checked to me. I hope he was on a straight draw and bets 1000. He insta folds.

Level 7 - 200/400, 50 ante - 19500 chips
40 players, 14000 average stack.
I'm on the BB. 2 limpers, SB calls. I see AsKd. I reraise to 1500 and only SB calls after some thinking. He is the solid player I was referring too in the beginning, and has around 40000 chips. He has showdown only powerful holdings, and played very few pots. I put him on a medium pair. Flop is Ac-Jd-7d. He checks, I bet 3000 and he goes all in. I'm really annoyed and starts to study him and talk to him, but can't get any read. One player calls the clock after 45 seconds of me studying my opponent and I'm quite pissed about that. It's not like I'm taking my time every hands! I put him on a set of sevens, or AJ or maybe the nut flush draw (with top pair). I really don't put him on a bluff. If I fold, I still have12000 chips and it's enough to make a come back. If I call and I'm wrong (the best case for me would be a flush draw), I'm out. I open folded my AK hoping for a reaction, but nothing. He told me later that he had ace rag and thinking I was making a stab at the pot. I therefore made a big mistake by folding, but it wasn't an easy call. I didn't want to bust with TPTK, and with his solid image it was hard to put him on a bluff. Maybe his overbet could have put me on the lead, but I preferred to fold and survive.
A few hands after, I raise with AQs in early position, and all fold.
I get a walk on my BB (always nice).

Level 8 - 300/600, 50 ante - 13200 chips
34 players, 16500 average stack.
I steal blinds with K8 in middle position.
I limp with 44 UTG, folded to SB who calls. BB checks. Flop comes J73, BB bets 1200. I call. SB folds. We check the turn and river, and I loose to Q7. A bad weak play!
Many limpers and I check my ATs on the BB. Ace on the flop, I bet and all fold.
I raise 1800 in middle position with AJo. SB reraises to 4000 and BB folds. He has 1500 left so I go all in, hoping for a coin flip. He shows KK and I'm 30% dog. Two aces on the flop and I get my first lucky situation of the day.

Level 9 - 400/800, 100 ante - 22000 chips
26 players, 22000 average stack.
One player raises to 2400 in early position. I have 77 and decide to make a move. I raise to 7500. It's folded to the initial raiser who ponders for a while before going all in (he has me covered). I feel like he is weak in his reraise and decide to gamble. Furthermore, I don't want to go back to 14000 chips at this stage of the tournament. I call and he shows AQh. My read was correct and it's a coin flip. I get lucky again and win.
In the euphoria, I raise to 2400 with A6 in middle position on the next hand. The player who just lost the race goes all in on his BB (12000 chips). I'm not sure he is on tilt and I feel him strong. I fold and he shows a pair of nines. Good fold then.
Next hand, I have 55 and decide to limp (I limped for bad reasons, feeling that if I raised again, someone would play back at me). SB (the same guy) calls and BB checks. Flop is 2c-3d-6c. SB bets 2500, BB folds and I call. Turn is Ad and he goes all in for something like 10000. I fold and he shows T7o for a total bluff. Nice move! I deserved to lose, as I didn't raise preflop, and didn't raise him on the flop (despite I had some impression he was weak).

Level 10 - 600/1200, 100 ante - 36000 chips
18 players, 31000 average stack. We are on the two final tables.
I raise to 3600 with K7s in late position, hoping to steal. Button goes all-in for 8500. It's 5000 chips more to me and I call. He shows 77 and I'm a clear dog. I lose.
A few orbits later, I raise to 3600 with QQ in early position. It's called by the SB (short stacked). BB folds. Flop is Q72 rainbow. SB checks. Flop is so dry that I decide to give him a free card, and I check. Turn is 9. He bets 3000. He has 5000 left so I go all in. He folds.
I steal blinds from early position with A9o.

Level 11 - 800/1600, 200 ante - 35000 chips
16 players, 35000 average stack.
I steal blinds again from early position with A8o.
And then... I got two black aces. It's folded to me on the cut off. I see the rockets, and I can't help myself but have the feeling that I'm going to bust right there and now. I make the mistake of raising to 3500 instead of 4500 (I wanted a call). Button and SB fold. BB calls.
Flop is 9h-7d-6c. Opponent checks. With such a draw heavy board, I'm not going to slow play anything. I bet 10000 a little bit more than the pot. SB goes all-in! I don't think he flopped the straight, anyway there is no way I'm going to fold and go back to 20000 chips. I call, SB looks disgusted and shows 86o. I'm a 55% favorite, a coin flip. Sure enough, the turn is a 6 and I'm drawing dead to an ace which would never come on the river.

I'm out in 14th position.

I made a gracious exit, but I was really pissed off back in my hotel room. 8 hours of play to finally find aces and bust with them. Second tournament in a row where I bust with aces. I certainly made the mistake of not raising enough. I'm not definitely convinced that modifying your play to entice action with aces is the biggest mistake anyone could do.
I wrote last week that I wouldn't ever slowplay aces again, well I should certainly have apply this preflop too. No way I will ever, ever do anything again to encourage action with aces.
When you have aces, you'll get action only when you are beat or you'll eventually ends all in being a 70% to 50% favorite (which is a 30% to 50% chance to bust).

Anyway, I made a good tournament, got lucky two times and limited my mistakes. I'm confident I would have make the final table without these aces. I feel that my game is improving, and I can't wait to play in another tournament!

Next week is the Olympic Summer Festival in Riga, lot of action in perspective!

Pokernews Cup in Lithuania, 1000€ event

30 players registered for the event, with a starting stack of 15000 and first blind level of 50/100. Nice structure.

I played a small ball poker during the first few levels, and I oscillated between 12000 and 17000. I made two bad calls/move in total, but I always managed to stay around my initial stack. I was quite card dead and I was happy enough to get some value from my occasional not so bad holdings.

And then I got aces under the gun at the 5th level, blinds 300/600. I raised to 1500 (which was my standard raise, I made it 3 times and never got called). A loose player reraised me to 4000 and blinds folded. He could have anything from AK to a pair. I made some small hollywood to sell my hand and smooth called. I even checked in the dark to confuse him. It worked a lot as he didn't understand why I checked before the flop. It seems it was the first time he say this play.
He had me covered my a little, and my plan was to have maximum value from my aces. I wanted to double to 30000.
Flop came J79, no flush draw. After pondering for a while about why I checked, he checked also. I was quite sure I didn't flop a set, and that he had no piece from the flop. Turn was another 9. I didn't think it helped him, so I checked. I was really slowplaying, inducing a bet, or at least get paid on the river. He checked. River is a T. I don't think he was on a straight draw, and I'm quite confident about my hand. I bet 5000 and he insta go all in. I called my last 6000 and I lost to a rivered set of tens.

I took some risks, and I paid it the maximum price. Any big bet on the flop or the turn may have forced him out of the hand. I don't think my river call was stupid, I was committed anyway, and he coud also have slowplayed queens or kings.

My reasonning was that preflop I was at least a 80% favorite and I wanted to get all the money in after the flop. I was ready to give him free cards. Of course now I have some regrets and I feel stupid to bust like that, but I can't blame myself too much. This wasn't an absolute bonehead play, sometimes you have to take risks to win.

Another beat starting with "I was dealt pocket aces...".

The poker news cups is now over for me. I'm not going to play any cash games, they are playing mainly Omaha anyway. Tomorrow, back to Riga!

Pokernews Cup in Lithuania, 500€ event

I drove this week end to Vilnius in order to play the 500€ and the 1000€ main event of the Poker News cup, organized with Tony G in the Casino World.

I arrived one hour late due to traffic reasons, but I was allowed to play. This was a double chance tournament, meaning you started with a 5000 stack and a rebuy ticket (for another stack of 5000 which could be used anytime during the first 3 levels).

I started at the beginning of level 2 (50/100) with a 4700 stack. I played tight aggressive and went quickly to 7000 without any showdown. We are now on level 3, blinds 75/150. UTG (chip leader) limps and it's folded to me on the cutoff. I have AKo and I raise to 600. Blinds fold and UTG calls. Flop is 8TK all diamonds (I don't have any diamond in my hand). UTG checks and I bet 1500 to protect my hand. He raises to 4000. I don't have any specific read on him, but he has a lot of chips so I put him on a loose aggressive style of play. He may have an ace with a flush redraw. I go all in, and he insta calls. He shows K9 of diamonds for the stone cold nuts. Turn and river are of no help and I lose my stack.
I could have played it less aggressive, but I had my rebuy ticket and I was willing to gamble (odds that he had a made flus were quite low).
With 5000 chips, a few hands later, a strange player (always throwing his cards and acting out of turn, very nervous) open raises in middle position 10 times the big blind to 1500. I have AK and decide to gamble. We have the same stack. I go all in, he calls with QQ. K on the flop and I win the coin flip.
I'm at 10 000 chips for the diner break, so everything is still possible. Level 4 starts (200/400) and I play a small ball type of poker. I win a lot of pots and go up to 13000. I'm then moved to another table where I quickly go back to 10000 by losing two pots in a row (one against the nuts with a bad call, and one with a bad bluff). This table is broken and be go back to 8 handed (3 tables, 24 players left). I fold all my hands for two orbit, except for a blind battle with I win against a very tight straightforward player.
I busted on the following hand. 2 limpers, I'm in late position and I see TJo. I limp and it's folded to the blinds who called. I have position, and a tight image (first pot I volontary play on this table). Flop comes 892 rainbow. Blinds check, third player bets 600 (pot is 2000), fourth player (the tight player) calls, and I raise 2000 with my draw. Blinds fold. Original bettor calls, and the tight player calls. One must have A9, another a straight draw, but two pairs or a set are unlikely. Turn is 4c, and adds a club flush draw. Both opponent check. Pot is 8000 and I go all in (I have both player covered). First player folds, but the tight player call all in with 7000. She shows 67o for the nuts. I still have 7 outs on the river (14% chance) but it's a blank and I'm down to 1000 chips.
My raise on the flop was good. I'm sure that if the first player wouldn't have called, the tight player would have folded (not enought odds for her draw). I could certainly have checked the turn as the 4 was a dangerous card for me. I'm not sure my all in on the turn was the best play. Of course, hadn't had her the nuts, she would have folded and I would have looked like a genius...
I shoved my chips on the first ace I found (blinds 300/600 were coming fast to me), and busted.

I played after Omaha heads-up for 500€ and ended losing everything all in preflop with AQJ6 double suited against A3A3 double suited. In fact I played quite well for a few hours, maintaining my stack (it was cash game, so blinds didn't move), but I got so bored and tired at a moment that I pot-pot-pot with this hand (even knowing I would probably go for the worst, my opponent being quite tight and never called any raise without the goods).

Let's hope for a better play tomorrow! I'll try to be more focused, patient, disciplined, and not jumping and the first occasion to gamble my stack.

Misjudging the strength of a hand

I played today in the weekly 20Ls (30€) rebuy no limit hold'em tournament of Olympic Voodoo Casino. 500 chips stack, 3 rebuy levels of 30 minutes each (5/10, 15/30 and 30/60). 37 entries.

I made only one rebuy, and with the add-on, I ended the first 3 levels with a good stack of 3600 chips (total investment of 60Ls). The table was quite tight, except for one player who was on rebuy tilt and who was feeding the table with chips (he ended doing 12 rebuys; reminded of me in my rebuy maniac mode).

34 players were left on the start of level 4 (50/100), with an average stack of 2600. I was feeling quite confident and played a solid aggressive poker, taking hugely advantage of the position. I went up quickly to 4500 chips when the following hand came.

I'm on the cutoff. Two limpers. I see Ac-9h and raise to 350. Not that I think I'm holding a powerhouse, but I have position and I want to thin the field. Blinds fold and both limpers call. I put them on either small pairs or trash hands like QTo.
Flop comes Ah-Qh-Jh. I have top pair and a flush redraw. First opponent checks and second one bets 1000 in a 1200 pot (he has left 1300 chips). I immediately feel that he doesn't want a call, and I put him on a flush draw. Maybe a small pair with an heart. I'm quite confident I have the best hand, so I raise all in (in this situation, it's either fold or shove). He thinks a few seconds and calls. He doesn't want to show his hand immediately so my read was good: he is weak.
He shows Kh-Js. He has one pair, the nut flush draw and the nut straight draw. Turn is Ts, and river is a blank. He rakes the pot and I'm down to about 1600.

I busted one level later when I lost my race KQ against 22. But let's come back to the previous hand.

After losing the pot, I was quite sure I was ahead on the flop, something like 60%. I lost the race, but I didn't feel too bad about it as I shoved with the best of it.
Coming back home, I ran a computer simulation with PokerStove and it appeared that I was a 44% dog on the flop! He was a 56% favorite...

He had 8 nut outs for the flush (I have one heart in my hand), 3 tens for the nut straight (the ten of heart is already accounted for), 2 jacks for trips and 3 kings for two pairs! This makes an amazing total of 16 outs!

I was a clear dog against this hand. I ran other simulations against other holdings he could have had:
. Th-Js: 56% favorite
. Ad-Th: 81% favorite
. Ad-xh: 22% dog (he may have called my raise)
. 8d8h: 8% dog (hard to call my all in raise)

So conclusion is that with such a flop and with my hand, only huge favorite are going to call my all in raise (and only huge favorite too would bet 1000 on the flop, 8d8h being in check fold mode at best).

I was seeing strength in my hand, when in fact I was a slight dog. And I'm sure my opponent thought he had the worst of it (hence my read). When I showed my cards, he just stood up, ready to leave.

These computer simulations can really help to understand better the value of holdings in connexion with specific flops. Lets hope that next time I would be able to better analyse the odds and make a good fold instead of shoving with the worst of it when I have 40 big blinds.

Cash game roller coaster

I played 7 hours of cash game on PokerStars today. My bankroll was at $15.000 when I started. I played a mix of games, as well as 4 tournaments (for a total of around $400 in buy-ins, and no results at all).

$30/$60 Limit Stud
I lost $250 on a 45 minutes session. Had some variations, from -$500 to +$300. I don't think I played very well. Not tight enough and chasing stupid draws.

$30/60 Limit Razz (heads-up)
Started with $1200, and went up to $2141 before getting coolered down to $778, when my opponent decided to leave the table. Loss of $422 in 40 minutes.

$10/$20 Limit Stud
Lost $200 in a two hours session.

$3/$6 Limit Razz
Donked off $120 in 30 minutes.

$10/$20 No Limit Hold'em
Sat with $2000 (table maximum). After losing and winning some small pots, I was at $1767 when I got 99 in early position after a limper. I raised to $100, BB and limper called me. Flop was: 2s-6c-4h and it is checked to me. I bet $240 and limper call me. Turn is 6h. Limper bets $520. I thought that if he had a 6 for trips, he would check it to me. So I call, thinking he wants to represent the 6. Turn is 2c. Opponent goes all-in for $1140 (and I have $907 left). I stick to my first opinion and call. He shows 5h-6d and I'm stacked. My read was very bad, and he played very aggressively using reverse psychology. I could have min raised him on the turn, but any call would have pot committed me anyway.
I reloaded to $2000. I'm dealt JJ and reraise to $180 an early position $60 raiser. He calls and flop is 7h-Ks-3h. I make my continuation bet of $280 and he calls. We check turn and river, and I loose to K8! I'm down to $1500. I play a few pots in the next orbits and I'm down to $1257 when I'm dealt As-Qd in middle position. UTG raises to $66 and I reraise him to $200. He calls. Flop is 9c-Ac-8d. Opponent checks and I bet $350. He goes all-in, and I have $707 left (pot is $1507). I call and I lose to AK. I guess this was a very bad call. I have to learn to fold these hands. I could beat only a bluff (or a donkey reraising all-in with AT!).
So I'm down $4000!

I'm on slight tilt, and I decide to chase my losses by playing on two tables of $25/$50. What a good idea!

$25/50 No Limit Hold'em
Table A. I sit with $3000. I play a few pots and I'm dealt Ts-Js in middle position. I raise to $150 and I get two callers in position. Blinds fold. Flop is 5d-Ad-4d. All diamonds, and I have spades. Everyone check. Turn is 6d. I go for a total bluff and bet $350. I get one caller. Alarm bells should have rang! River is Ks. I continue in my bluff (what a fool!) and I bet $800. Insta call and I lose to Kd-Td (he flopped the nuts). What a stupid play! I'm down to $1675, and I'm on tilt. Next hand. UTG limps, I get 77 and raise to $200. Limper reraise me to $900. I reraise him all in, insta call, and I lose to QQ. Again a great play! I'm now on mega tilt.
Table B. Got also there with $3000. I lose a few pots (by playing like an idiot) and I'm down to $2350. When this hand starts, I busted out of table A, and I'm steaming. I get As-7d in BB. A middle position player min raise to $100, cut off calls, SB folds and I call. Flop is Ts-8h-Ad. I check, min raiser check, and cut off bets $200. I raise to $600. And then opponent reraise me all in. I want badly to call, but I calm myself and I fold. Down to $1650.
I manage to cool off, and I come back to $2900 by playing a few small pots and making some small successfull bluffs. I'm in middle position and I get QQ. UTG raises to $150, someone calls and I raise to $600. Then the button, a new player with a $5000 stack raise to $2050. I know he is a great player, quite aggressive. I have the intuition that he is making a play and I go all in. He calls. I was right in a way, he had AK so my reraise was correct. But a king on the river just sent me in a total rage and I lost my stack again.
Total damage: $6000.

I lost around $11.000 in a few hours! My bankroll is down to $4000 and I'm really feeling bad about it. I want to call it a night and go to sleep, but I decide to try another one...

$25/$50 No Limit Hold'em - final session
I sit with $3000. Almost everything I have left... I'm strangely calm, and decide to play a tight, solid poker. I'm not on tilt any more, and feel quite focus on the play.
I'm UTG and limp with 33. A late position player raises to $200. Small blind calls. BB folds, and I call. Flop is 5h-8d-7c. We all check. Turn is 8s. SB checks. I bet $400 and they all fold. Next hand, I reraise a raiser with AK and win the pot uncontested.
I'm up to $3447 and I'm on the button. Middle position player raises to $200 and I smoot call with 9d-8d. Both blind fold. Flop is 5s-Ad-Jd. Original raiser bets $450. I raise to $1500 with my flush draw (trying to represent a bigger ace, and hoping for a fold). Opponent reraise $962 to $2462 and is all in. I have to call $962 for a $4437, so I have the odds for my flush draw. I just hope I'm not against a set! Turn is ten of spade... River is queen of diamond! I hit my flush! Opponent shows Ac-Qh and I rake the pot.
I'm up to $6181. A few orbits later, I'm at $5875 and I limp UTG with 9s-Ts. UTG+1 raises to $200 and it's folded to me. I call. Flop is Td-4s-Kh. I check, he bets $350. I call, hoping for another spade on the turn, or a scare card to make a bluff. Turn is Jc. I check and opponent bets $500. I don't know really why, I just call. Maybe I'm hoping to hit the queen for the straight, or another ten. Very weak passive play. River is 6c and I check. I'm sure to lose the pot. But opponent checks and mucks when I show my pair of tens. I'm up to $7197 after this strange hand.
I win another small pot, and I end the session with $7500. A $4500 profit in 40 minutes.

After this last session, my bankroll is a better looking $9120. I still managed to lose around $6000, but I was lucky to limit my losses with a last good session. I think one of the reason for my bad plays is that I was multi-tabling, which I'm usually not doing. By spreading my attention over 4 tables (with 3 different plays: hold'em, stud high and razz!) I couldn't play my A game and I made a lot of mistakes.
From now on, I'll play my cash games one table at a time.

I have now the challenge to rebuild my bankroll back to $15.000, and more!