The Impossible

Has anyone ever heard of the triple double deal that Tilt offers? I didn't know this but apparently if you can somehow run like Jesus Christ himself and win all six double tournies within a calendar month, Full Tilt ponies up a cool million.

This sounds intriguing to me, updates to come...

Why We Plays

In poker, the rush and challenge of going deep in a tournament is unmatched. Not to belittle cash games, but oftentimes 1 brain-fart late can and will be the end of you in tournament poker. The worst part is, it doesn't even have to be your mistake. If your paying attention, something like this has probably happened at almost every table you've sat at.

Person A can play a hand perfectly, make Person B make a horrible call/raise only to suckout and win the hand. And since the only cure for a suckout is one of your own, Person A continues to shove something he or she obviously shouldn't be. In other words, Person A quit.

Of course there's something to be said about the # of BB's you have but all too often defeat is conceded at a tournament table. Amazingly, this sort of thing is even seen on the biggest stage as I'd like to remember some clown pushing every hand at the WSOP ME bubble. European if I recall; which doesn't surprise me in the least bit.

Moral of the story: don't quit I guess.

I bring this up because in my own poker adventures, lately it seems like heading into the 120/240 (25 ante) level Full Tilt won't allow me to have more then 3500 chips. 3 tournies I'd like to bring up specifically being yesterday's afternoon 50k and nighttime 65k, along with the Sunday weekly 750k.

Heading into the 3rd hour of these tournies I was at the stage of waiting for a hand to push. Yesterday, I was fortunately dealt some big hands at this time which allowed to me hang in there and play more poker. I grinded my way to the FT of the 50k but made a quick departure as my AK couldn't hold off an AT that had to call my all in.

I made it to about 4 or 5 tables left in the 65k and eventually pushed my KQo in MP only to be insta-called by what I think was an A3, (I now usually don't watch when I'm allin in a big spot as being sucked out on usually makes me lose more money elsewhere). All I saw was a board of 9 3 T rainbow, with more worthless cards on the turn and river, and that the villain won with a pair of 3's. Sweet dude, nice call.

And for the 750k, I've been holding back a big ol whine for some time now as on the bubble at the 400/800 level, I was in the BB and after everyone folded to the SB who made it 2400 to play, I made it 6200 with my KK, he shoves his stack with 99, and I lose a pot worth about 45 BB's with a 9 on the flop. But my time will come with the big Sunday tournies, I won't allow for it not to.

OK, this was somewhat of a rant but I hope something useful came out of it. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays.

Worth Mentioning

Finally, a run.

After looking through the HH for an interesting one to post it seems like nothing is really worth it. There was, though, one little mini-battle I thankfully won that helped me make it to the final table of the afternoon 50k on Tilt.

When it got down to short handed play with 2 tables left, I had an aggro chipleader who mashed the pot button every chance he got on my direct right. Everyone else was pretty nitty so maybe 7/10 times everyone folded down to him in his SB. After having to fold to his raise a couple times, he makes his standard raise to my BB and I pick up 22 in the BB and shove. He requested time which gave me a sweat but he eventually folded.

One orbit later he limps in SB and I shov 12 BB's or so with QJo, he folds. Another orbit, everyone folds, villain bets with pot button, I shove with AKs, he instacalls with J4o and my hand holds.

I also didn't see a lot of action at the FT but I managed to chip up and maintain my average stack, when with 4 left my QQ couldn't hold off Zaig's AK.

Anyways, I'm hopin this can get me goin again as confidence and momentum are slowly making their way back.



Appreciate the visit

Belated Final Table Thoughts

After unsuccessfully avoiding all spoilers, I finally got to watch the November 9 get after it, and like many, I was pretty disappointed.

Actually the first hour kept me pretty entertained as chip stacks fluctuated and the scenery alone was something to behold. But there is one thing that caught my attention the most and it was the play of the amateurs. I don't think it can be disputed that Phillips and the Canadian accountant (Surho or something?) were affected the most by the long layoff - and I'm not talking about in the obvious way of something like Phillips losing his momentum.

Instead, I'm gonna make a bold statement and say that the coaching they received was the biggest mistake they could of made. Of course this is strictly opinion but by being coached (with the limited action we actually see on TV), it surely looked like they both had a plan of attack set in their mind and to be honest I think it that was a huge mistake. As if they were assuming 'Player X' would play a certain way because the TV said so.

For example, I could almost see whomever it was that coached said Canadian say something like, "Demidov knows your conservative so if your in a hand w/ him and make a big move, he can't do anything but fold...." That is unless Demidov is holding the nuts that is. What it comes down to is that I certainly can't see this Canadian guy make a move like that 4 months ago. And if he can't make a move like that without the coaching, he still has a lot of chips to wait and play HIS game that got him this far.

And the hand where Ivan and Dennis played with AQ and AK almost made me puke. It was pretty obvious that Phillips was more concerned with advancing in the money and put to justice the 4 months of concentrating on the chip leader in the media, along with pleasing his contingent in the crowd.

But I suppose similar to baseball, sometimes you just gotta tip your cap to the opponent for being outplayed.


Anyways, I remember hearing Negraneu talk about how this final table would be the most "sophisticated" one ever played. That alone got me giddy to watch it but I think in the future things would be a lot more exciting if ESPN actually showed the FT live and cut out all the personal stories we already knew by there being a layoff. This is what I thought the original plan was.

So in the end it's painfully obvious that I should be running ESPN and the WSOP.

Inch by Inch

Nothing to do with Pacino, though the phrase alone can't do anything but make you think of it:




Rather it has to do with my concept of BR right now. After a serious cold spell in MTT's, I've slowed down in them (meaning I'm playing less) and instead have been trying to build up in both funds and confidence with PLO8 9h SNG's, and the inexplicable $175 super turbo 300 chippers. Lots of fun, especially when on some form of tilt.

Umm, I guess here's a look at my SNG graph, but to be honest I have no idea what this represents. I thought I was killing the plo8's but I guess there's been too much spewing somewhere along the line. I'm not even sure what sharkscope does now that I think about it. Just wanted something new for you all to look at here...





In terms of MTT's and the cold streak, I'm never sure which line to cross about whining because I've been fortunate enough to run very well at times and make some decent cashes. Cashes that should let me just sweat my decision-making and not necessarily the results at this point.* Unfortunately my mind doesn't work like that and I get somewhat frustrated after awhile, as I'm sure almost everyone does.

And that's where I think this blog comes in handy for me, it helps me look at the big picture as opposed to short-term gains. I still have many issues in this area but certainly getting better.

Thanks for stoppin by, hope your havin more luck at the tables than I am. Later.








*line stolen from Raymer I'm pretty sure

FTOPS update

Hello. Nice misclick, might as well read what I have to say at this point.

Haven't been winning too much money lately, I actually think some may call it losing money. Updates to come on this matter...

And of course there's FTOPS. Let's see, I think I almost lasted half an hour for the first event.

Full Tilt Poker Game #8830717871: FTOPS Event #1 (62633143), Table 197 - 15/30 - No Limit Hold'em - 21:25:45 ET - 2008/11/05
Seat 1: docnoosh (5,810)
Seat 2: AreTheseUtz (4,810)
Seat 3: mwm5200 (3,475)
Seat 4: Gd3yuk (4,800)
Seat 5: lilkimmer77 (4,710)
Seat 6: 2too2handle (6,375)
mwm5200 posts the small blind of 15
Gd3yuk posts the big blind of 30
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to lilkimmer77 [Jd Jc]
lilkimmer77 raises to 95
2too2handle raises to 270
docnoosh folds
AreTheseUtz has 15 seconds left to act
AreTheseUtz folds
mwm5200 folds
Gd3yuk folds
lilkimmer77 calls 175
*** FLOP *** [Js 6s 2s]
lilkimmer77 checks
2too2handle bets 585
lilkimmer77 raises to 1,850
2too2handle calls 1,265
*** TURN *** [Js 6s 2s] [Kh]
lilkimmer77 bets 2,590, and is all in
2too2handle calls 2,590
lilkimmer77 shows [Jd Jc]
2too2handle shows [Kc Ks]
*** RIVER *** [Js 6s 2s Kh] [7s]
lilkimmer77 shows three of a kind, Jacks
2too2handle shows a flush, King high
2too2handle wins the pot (9,465) with a flush, King high
lilkimmer77 stands up

I actually didn't stand up after the hand, I more leaned back in my chair and murmered a quiet, yet forceful, "awesome".

Eventually event 2 rolled around which I cashed in (I believe around 80th of 1200 or so), but that was once again pretty disappointing as I waited and waited and waited and waited for a good position to push in and try and double up, only to do so to AAxx OTB when I thought my AKJx rainbow in the BB could and would be in pretty good shape. Nope.

I was contemplating playing the $300 cubed tourney but thought better of it as dishing out a K in a time I can't seem to buy a break did not seem like the brightest idea in the world.

I certainly won't quit though as the degenerate in me won't allow it.

Spain is getting cold, the women are unfortunately starting to bear more clothing, and I miss a lot of foods but I certainly can't complain.

You may now return to your normally scheduled pr0n viewing.

Gettin There

Playing a lot better these days, no big cashes to back it up but certainly do feel that it's right there again. Just got through with the nooner 16.5k on Tilt, made the final table but also made a quick exit in 9th mainly because of this hand right before the FT

Full Tilt Poker Game #8763342507: $16,500 Guarantee (66826715), Table 18 - 1500/3000 Ante 400 - No Limit Hold'em - 16:45:14 ET - 2008/11/01
Seat 1: xav (78,636)
Seat 3: dydak111 (107,495)
Seat 4: robinscl (107,211)
Seat 5: lilkimmer77 (37,208)
Seat 7: Tasdron61 (19,932)
xav antes 400
dydak111 antes 400
robinscl antes 400
lilkimmer77 antes 400
Tasdron61 antes 400
xav posts the small blind of 1,500
dydak111 posts the big blind of 3,000
The button is in seat #7
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to lilkimmer77 [5d 5s]
robinscl folds
lilkimmer77 raises to 36,808, and is all in
Tasdron61 has 15 seconds left to act
Tasdron61 has requested TIME
Tasdron61 calls 19,532, and is all in
xav folds
dydak111 folds
lilkimmer77 shows [5d 5s]
Tasdron61 shows [3h 3c]
Uncalled bet of 17,276 returned to lilkimmer77
*** FLOP *** [6s 2s 8d]
*** TURN *** [6s 2s 8d] [7h]
*** RIVER *** [6s 2s 8d 7h] [3s]
lilkimmer77 shows a pair of Fives
Tasdron61 shows three of a kind, Threes
Tasdron61 wins the pot (45,564) with three of a kind, Threes


To make matters worse I busted with KQ against 9T with yet another river miracle. No worries though, I plan on sucking out for a HUGE spot in a big Sunday tournament.

Hope the Halloween hangovers aren't too severe, hasta luego.