December monthly report and 2011 annual review

I made $122 in December, playing on just ten days or so (and sometimes only a few hands), to take my bankroll to $1026. In 2011 I made $2439. A few hundred of that was from Full Tilt; I still hope I can get it (and my profits from late 2010 as well as my initial deposit) back. I never scaled the heights I reached in 2010, but I never got a big MTT payout and I had one of them job things to contend with for most of the year. For most of June and July I didn't play at all. Here is a chart showing my month-by-month profit in 2011:

Compare that to 2010. I honestly don't know how much I'll play in 2012. I'd like to say three hours on a Saturday morning and that'll be it, but I find the lure of a 24/7 gaming site, which includes games that I can beat, a little too much to resist, even when the opportunity cost of playing can be high. I'll admit that online poker is a means of relaxation for me. If I plonk $50 down on a poker table the worst that can happen is that I lose $50. In many areas of life that's far from true.

Milestones

I reached three milestones yesterday. My bankroll hit four figures, my all-time profit reached five figures (if you include the Full Tilt money I may or may not get back) and my profit on Poker Stars for 2011 broke through the $2000 barrier. With my recent plunge the shark-infested waters of real estate and everything that involves, I've played my last hand of 2011(I'll do a proper annual report just before year-end).

I made $158 yesterday. Most of that was at 50c/$1 badugi where I won at the rate of one big blind per hand (big blind, not big bet!) in my last 155 hands, showing down 18 winners out of 23, as my personal settings were switched to God mode. In a fairly recent post I bemoaned my bad luck at those stakes - I should complain more often! I capped off a good day with a win in a 30-man limit badugi tournament. We were three-handed for some time until I got heads-up with a guy who I'd coded purple, meaning aggro-spewy. I'd seen him before in the $2/$4 cash games earlier in the year. He routinely three-bet pre-flop and drew two, which is throwing money away because I'm never drawing any more than two when I open. Maybe he had a big bankroll and was just there to gamble. He was a tricky customer though and I had to three-bet my entire draw-one range so as not to turn over my hand. I tried to snow-catch on a few occasions but surprisingly never caught him. I started heads-up play with a 2½-to-one lead, he got back to even, but I pulled away again. I got a good run of cards and on a different day he might have won. His username ended in 1980, clearly a good year for badugi. I think we would both be inside the top third of online poker players by age (however I'd guess badugi has a slightly higher average age - and more females - than say NLHE, but I might be wrong).

Here are two highlights from yesterday's badugi hands:

Hand 1
A pat hand this strong comes up once every 1600 hands; it's a real bonus when you get it paid off in a five-way pot.

PokerStars Game #72272915979: Badugi Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/12/16 15:18:35 ET
Table 'China VIII' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: shoorikch ($16.70 in chips)
Seat 2: Dmetr ($13.65 in chips)
Seat 3: Tryanerror ($24.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Oleg Azmagul ($16.70 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($24 in chips)
Seat 7: solano1987 ($15.20 in chips)
Seat 8: XBlackDog81 ($35.25 in chips)
Hoyster87 will be allowed to play after the button
solano1987: posts small blind $0.25
XBlackDog81: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2c Ah 6d 4s]
shoorikch: calls $0.50
Dmetr: calls $0.50
Tryanerror: folds
Oleg Azmagul: calls $0.50
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1
solano1987: raises $0.50 to $1.50
XBlackDog81: folds
shoorikch: calls $1
Dmetr: calls $1
Oleg Azmagul: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $2
Betting is capped
solano1987: calls $0.50
shoorikch: calls $0.50
Dmetr: calls $0.50
Oleg Azmagul: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
solano1987: discards 1 card
shoorikch: discards 1 card
Dmetr: discards 2 cards
Oleg Azmagul: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [2c Ah 6d 4s]
solano1987: checks
shoorikch: bets $0.50
Dmetr: calls $0.50
Oleg Azmagul: calls $0.50
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1
solano1987: raises $0.50 to $1.50
shoorikch: calls $1
Dmetr: folds
Oleg Azmagul: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $2
Betting is capped
solano1987: calls $0.50
shoorikch: calls $0.50
Oleg Azmagul: calls $0.50
*** SECOND DRAW ***
solano1987: discards 1 card
shoorikch: discards 1 card
Oleg Azmagul: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [2c Ah 6d 4s]
solano1987: checks
shoorikch: checks
Oleg Azmagul: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
solano1987: calls $1
shoorikch: calls $1
Oleg Azmagul: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
solano1987: discards 1 card
shoorikch: discards 1 card
Oleg Azmagul: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [2c Ah 6d 4s]
solano1987: checks
shoorikch: checks
Oleg Azmagul: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
solano1987: folds
shoorikch: raises $1 to $2
Oleg Azmagul: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
shoorikch: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [2c Ah 6d 4s] (Badugi: 6,4,2,A)
shoorikch: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $28.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $29 Rake $0.50
Seat 1: shoorikch mucked [6s 3h 7d Ac]
Seat 2: Dmetr folded after the 1st Draw
Seat 3: Tryanerror folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Oleg Azmagul folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 5: plutoman20 (button) showed [2c Ah 6d 4s] and won ($28.50) with a Badugi: 6,4,2,A
Seat 7: solano1987 (small blind) folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 8: XBlackDog81 (big blind) folded before the Draw

Hand 2
Earlier in the day I ran number four into number three. I was a little hesitant to three-bet the river and when he capped I feared the worst. Putting in eight big bets with a rough seven is a massive overplay on his part.

PokerStars Game #72295046631: Badugi Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/12/17 0:17:46 ET
Table 'Tana VII' 8-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($22.20 in chips)
Seat 2: ozziandy ($19 in chips)
Seat 3: brumegmau ($6.85 in chips)
Seat 4: cj.com ($1 in chips)
Seat 6: ddcl ($8.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Miroslav AA ($4.05 in chips)
Seat 8: tweekout ($24.45 in chips)
cj.com: posts small blind $0.25
ddcl: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5d Jc As]
Miroslav AA: folds
tweekout: folds
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1
ozziandy: calls $1
brumegmau: folds
cj.com: calls $0.75 and is all-in
ddcl: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
cj.com: discards 1 card
ddcl: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Jc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5d As] [5h]
ozziandy: discards 1 card
ddcl: bets $0.50
plutoman20: calls $0.50
ozziandy: raises $0.50 to $1
ddcl: calls $0.50
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** SECOND DRAW ***
cj.com: discards 1 card
ddcl: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [5h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5d As] [4h]
ozziandy: stands pat
ddcl: checks
plutoman20: checks
ozziandy: bets $1
ddcl: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
ozziandy: raises $1 to $3
ddcl: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
ozziandy: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
cj.com: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [3c 5d As 4h]
ozziandy: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $1
ozziandy: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
ozziandy: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
plutoman20 said, "oh no"
plutoman20: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ozziandy: shows [7s 6c 2d 3h] (Badugi: 7,6,3,2)
plutoman20: shows [3c 5d 4h As] (Badugi: 5,4,3,A)
plutoman20 collected $19.70 from side pot
cj.com: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $3.80 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24 Main pot $3.80. Side pot $19.70. Rake $0.50
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [3c 5d 4h As] and won ($23.50) with a Badugi: 5,4,3,A
Seat 2: ozziandy showed [7s 6c 2d 3h] and lost with a Badugi: 7,6,3,2
Seat 3: brumegmau (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: cj.com (small blind) mucked [4d 6s Kh Ac]
Seat 6: ddcl (big blind) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 7: Miroslav AA folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: tweekout folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

That was quick

I just dropped $45 in 56 hands of single draw. That would be my worst session ever in that game. It was like a car crash. OK, I ran terribly there, but I did make one or two seriously spewy plays.

Rule number one of poker: don't play when you're depressed.

The chill-out tables

Tonight I fired up the poker tables as a means of relaxation. That may sound crazy but compared to all the hoops you have to jump through to buy a house, coupled with work which for me is just one big bluff, attempting the occasional snow in badugi is an absolute breeze. My bankroll is currently $939 and has been in a holding pattern between $860 and $960 for some time now. Here are two single draw hands I'm really not proud of:

Hand 1
I really need to bet this. Even out of position (I would say especially out of position) I need to protect against bluffs, and T87 is strong enough to be called by worse hands anyway. I think it would be OK to check a jack or a really rough T9. When I check the decision to call is a tough one.

PokerStars Game #71800564183: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/12/08 3:44:57 ET
Table 'Helewalda III' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: DaveBowman ($9.25 in chips)
Seat 2: postnomer1 ($14.25 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($34.60 in chips)
Seat 5: EGORSUPER ($5.65 in chips)
Seat 6: Big Baby 38 ($17.15 in chips)
Seat 7: xxemilyxx83 ($16.75 in chips)
postnomer1: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3h Td 8s 2d 7h]
EGORSUPER: folds
Big Baby 38: raises $1 to $1.50
xxemilyxx83: folds
Irie Inity joins the table at seat #4
DaveBowman: folds
postnomer1: folds
plutoman20: raises $3 to $4.50
Big Baby 38: calls $3
plutoman20: stands pat on [3h Td 8s 2d 7h]
Big Baby 38: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: checks
Big Baby 38: bets $12.65 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $12.65
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Big Baby 38: shows [6s 4h 3s 2c 7c] (Lo: 7,6,4,3,2)
plutoman20: shows [3h Td 8s 2d 7h] (Lo: T,8,7,3,2)
Big Baby 38 collected $32.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $34.55 Rake $1.70
Seat 1: DaveBowman (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: postnomer1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [3h Td 8s 2d 7h] and lost with Lo: T,8,7,3,2
Seat 5: EGORSUPER folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Big Baby 38 showed [6s 4h 3s 2c 7c] and won ($32.85) with Lo: 7,6,4,3,2
Seat 7: xxemilyxx83 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 2
I never normally do this. Why the hell didn't I just stick to a proper-size bet? The reraise was perhaps a bit optimistic too.

PokerStars Game #71800811800: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/12/08 3:58:17 ET
Table 'Helewalda III' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: DaveBowman ($12.60 in chips)
Seat 2: postnomer1 ($7.70 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($18.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Irie Inity ($23.25 in chips)
Seat 5: 888ELVIRA888 ($50 in chips)
Seat 7: xxemilyxx83 ($20.15 in chips)
postnomer1: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
888ELVIRA888: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8h 4d 7s 5s 3d]
Irie Inity: folds
888ELVIRA888: checks
xxemilyxx83: folds
DaveBowman: folds
postnomer1: calls $0.25
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
888ELVIRA888: calls $1
postnomer1: folds
plutoman20: stands pat on [8h 4d 7s 5s 3d]
888ELVIRA888: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $1
888ELVIRA888: raises $1.50 to $2.50
plutoman20: raises $3 to $5.50
888ELVIRA888: calls $3
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [8h 4d 7s 5s 3d] (Lo: 8,7,5,4,3)
888ELVIRA888: shows [6h 2d 3s 8c 4h] (Lo: 8,6,4,3,2)
888ELVIRA888 collected $13.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.50 Rake $0.70
Seat 1: DaveBowman (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: postnomer1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [8h 4d 7s 5s 3d] and lost with Lo: 8,7,5,4,3
Seat 4: Irie Inity folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: 888ELVIRA888 showed [6h 2d 3s 8c 4h] and won ($13.80) with Lo: 8,6,4,3,2
Seat 7: xxemilyxx83 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 3
I didn't win the pot but a good break all the same. Nine times out of ten I'd pat this.

PokerStars Game #71947106168: Badugi Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/12/10 17:08:33 ET
Table 'Rana V' 8-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: CrazyCleargy ($23.95 in chips)
Seat 2: gabrielandi ($8.95 in chips)
Seat 3: TensiAngel ($10 in chips)
Seat 4: youngzzang ($23.80 in chips)
Seat 5: Komondor ($25.65 in chips)
Seat 6: Igive2u2 ($16.80 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($55.55 in chips)
Seat 8: beserk007 ($33.50 in chips)
CrazyCleargy: posts small blind $0.25
gabrielandi: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c As 4h Td]
TensiAngel: folds
youngzzang: raises $0.50 to $1
Komondor: folds
Igive2u2: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1.50
beserk007: folds
CrazyCleargy: folds
gabrielandi: raises $0.50 to $2
Betting is capped
youngzzang: calls $1
Igive2u2: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
gabrielandi: stands pat
youngzzang: stands pat
Igive2u2: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Td]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c As 4h] [Qh]
gabrielandi: bets $0.50
youngzzang: calls $0.50
Igive2u2: calls $0.50
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** SECOND DRAW ***
gabrielandi: stands pat
youngzzang: stands pat
Igive2u2: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c As 4h] [Kc]
gabrielandi: bets $1
youngzzang: calls $1
Igive2u2: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
gabrielandi: stands pat
youngzzang: stands pat
Igive2u2: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c As 4h] [Ah]
gabrielandi: bets $1
youngzzang: calls $1
Igive2u2: calls $1
plutoman20: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
gabrielandi: shows [Kh 5s 8d 2c] (Badugi: K,8,5,2)
youngzzang: shows [2d 7h 9s 4c] (Badugi: 9,7,4,2)
Igive2u2: mucks hand
youngzzang collected $16.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $17.25 Rake $0.50
Seat 1: CrazyCleargy (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 2: gabrielandi (big blind) showed [Kh 5s 8d 2c] and lost with a Badugi: K,8,5,2
Seat 3: TensiAngel folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: youngzzang showed [2d 7h 9s 4c] and won ($16.75) with a Badugi: 9,7,4,2
Seat 5: Komondor folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Igive2u2 mucked [9h 6s 7d 5c]
Seat 7: plutoman20 folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 8: beserk007 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 4
I got caught out here. Komar's check on the flop after it went 2:1:2 fooled me into thinking his draw wasn't great (I don't think he was trying to fool us but that's what happened). I bet the turn thinking he might well check his hand again; when he raised I put him on a rough seven to a nine, something probably good enough to bet the river but beaten by my smooth seven, hence the check-raise.

PokerStars Game #71894624381: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/12/09 18:24:42 ET
Table 'Ilioneus X' 8-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: dragnet944 ($104.50 in chips)
Seat 2: Catchtheflax ($16.75 in chips)
Seat 3: huli2 ($22 in chips)
Seat 4: plutoman20 ($52.25 in chips)
Seat 5: wiessrut ($21.50 in chips)
Seat 6: redskinfox ($11 in chips)
Seat 8: KomaR ($39.75 in chips)
huli2: posts small blind $0.50
plutoman20: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d Qd 5h 7d]
wiessrut: folds
redskinfox: folds
KomaR: raises $1 to $2
dragnet944: folds
Catchtheflax: calls $2
huli2: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Qd 7d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 5h] [Jh Qs]
KomaR: discards 1 card
Catchtheflax: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: checks
KomaR: checks
Catchtheflax: checks
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Jh Qs]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 5h] [4s Ah]
KomaR: discards 1 card
Catchtheflax: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: bets $2
KomaR: raises $2 to $4
Joker Funch joins the table at seat #7
Catchtheflax: folds
plutoman20: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [5h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 4s Ah] [7c]
KomaR: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
KomaR: bets $2
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
KomaR: raises $2 to $6
plutoman20 said, "ugh"
plutoman20: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
KomaR: shows [3h 2s Ad 6c] (Badugi: 6,3,2,A)
plutoman20: mucks hand
plutoman20 said, "nh"
KomaR collected $25.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $26.50 Rake $1
Seat 1: dragnet944 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Catchtheflax (button) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 3: huli2 (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 4: plutoman20 (big blind) mucked [2d 4s 7c Ah]
Seat 5: wiessrut folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: redskinfox folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: KomaR showed [3h 2s Ad 6c] and won ($25.50) with a Badugi: 6,3,2,A

Hand 5
I've learnt not to Respect this guy's bets and raises. I wouldn't choose to snow this kind of hand off the bat.

PokerStars Game #71891612190: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/12/09 17:29:04 ET
Table 'Ilioneus X' 8-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: joca_batista ($36 in chips)
Seat 2: Catchtheflax ($28.50 in chips)
Seat 3: huli2 ($26 in chips)
Seat 4: plutoman20 ($36 in chips)
Seat 5: vlsdlek ($11.50 in chips)
Seat 6: redskinfox ($37.50 in chips)
Seat 7: MokkaCuka ($99.25 in chips)
Seat 8: Respect ($30.25 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.50
vlsdlek: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5c 4s Ad Th]
redskinfox: folds
MokkaCuka: folds
MokkaCuka leaves the table
Respect: raises $1 to $2
joca_batista: folds
Catchtheflax: folds
huli2: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
vlsdlek: folds
Respect: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [5c 4s Ad Th]
Respect: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $1
Respect: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [5c 4s Ad Th]
Respect: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Respect: bets $2
plutoman20: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [5c 4s Ad Th]
MokkaCuka joins the table at seat #7
Respect: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
Respect: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [5c 4s Ad Th] (Badugi: T,5,4,A)
Respect: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $16.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $17 Rake $0.75
Seat 1: joca_batista folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Catchtheflax folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: huli2 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [5c 4s Ad Th] and won ($16.25) with a Badugi: T,5,4,A
Seat 5: vlsdlek (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: redskinfox folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 7: MokkaCuka folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Respect mucked [6s 8h 9h 2d]

November monthly report

I made $256 in November, including a $50 bonus at the beginning of the month, to take my end-of-month bankroll to $903. It's doubtful I'll play much in December - my parents are coming up on Saturday to spend five nights with me, and Christmas will definitely be a poker-free zone.

Badugi mysteries

A fairly quick update: my current bankroll is $934, off my post-cash-out high by $26. So I've been doing OK, but there are a couple of things that puzzle me right now. One, why do I run so badly at 50c/$1 badugi (but thankfully much better at $1/$2)? Two, have I forgotten how to play micro pot-limit badugi? I haven't even looked like cashing in nine straight PL tournaments. Last night I came second in the fixed-limit variety, breaking a streak of seven wins in heads-up battles. This one was a real humdinger. I made the final two on the back of a monster pot when my five went up against a six, but was still down at least two to one when we got heads-up. I played quite aggressively, gradually chipping away at his lead and then edging in front. I moved well ahead and felt nailed-on for victory but lost some big pots and fell behind once more. I clawed back to even but eventually my eight ran into a seven and it was all over. This badly-timed snow attempt (he was repping a good tri; I really should have folded to his pre-flop reraise) was perhaps my undoing:

PokerStars Game #71155620616: Tournament #470937796, $3.00+$0.30 USD Badugi Limit - Level X (500/1000) - 2011/11/26 6:22:32 ET
Table '470937796 2' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 5: plutoman20 (16450 in chips)
Seat 7: YuriiLeonov (6050 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind 250
YuriiLeonov: posts big blind 500
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c Ts 9c 8c]
plutoman20: raises 500 to 1000
YuriiLeonov: raises 500 to 1500
plutoman20: calls 500
*** FIRST DRAW ***
YuriiLeonov: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [9c 8c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c Ts] [6s 7c]
YuriiLeonov: bets 500
plutoman20: calls 500
*** SECOND DRAW ***
YuriiLeonov: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [6c Ts]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6s 7c] [Kc Th]
YuriiLeonov: bets 1000
plutoman20: raises 1000 to 2000
YuriiLeonov: calls 1000
*** THIRD DRAW ***
YuriiLeonov: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [6s 7c Kc Th]
YuriiLeonov: checks
plutoman20: bets 1000
YuriiLeonov: calls 1000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [Kc Th 6s 7c] (3-card: T,7,6)
YuriiLeonov: shows [Ac 3h 2d Tc] (3-card: 3,2,A)
YuriiLeonov collected 10000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 10000 Rake 0
Seat 5: plutoman20 (button) (small blind) showed [Kc Th 6s 7c] and lost with a 3-card: T,7,6
Seat 7: YuriiLeonov (big blind) showed [Ac 3h 2d Tc] and won (10000) with a 3-card: 3,2,A

The no-go list

I've taken a bit of a hammering in single draw (down $55 in 400 hands) but I've added a few more names to my "avoid" list, which will come in handy. My losses were a combination of a complete inability to hit anything, some unsuccessful bluffs on my part, and some aggressive play from my opponents that put me in some uncomfortable spots. I wish I'd saved a few hands other than these two which are almost low-content material:

Hand 1
This might well have been the biggest pot I won in those 400 hands:

PokerStars Game #70993927532: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/23 2:52:27 ET
Table 'Octavia III' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: marciano999 ($50 in chips)
Seat 2: Kevz-VR6 ($26.35 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($12.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Ghengis6 ($49.35 in chips)
Seat 5: wk20a ($37.15 in chips)
Seat 6: Mr_Okil ($24.25 in chips)
Seat 7: mariq5009 ($97.45 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
Ghengis6: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6s 2d 6c 2s 2c]
wk20a: folds
Mr_Okil: folds
mariq5009: raises $1 to $1.50
marciano999: folds
Kevz-VR6: folds
plutoman20: raises $3.50 to $5
Ghengis6: folds
mariq5009: calls $3.50
plutoman20: stands pat on [6s 2d 6c 2s 2c]
mariq5009: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $7.50 and is all-in
mariq5009: folds
Uncalled bet ($7.50) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.50 Rake $0.50
Seat 1: marciano999 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Kevz-VR6 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: plutoman20 (small blind) collected ($10)
Seat 4: Ghengis6 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: wk20a folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mr_Okil folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: mariq5009 folded on the Flop

Hand 2
And this was definitely the biggest pot I didn't win.

PokerStars Game #70994105465: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/23 3:04:02 ET
Table 'Octavia III' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: marciano999 ($58.80 in chips)
Seat 2: Kevz-VR6 ($32.80 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($14.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Ghengis6 ($20.40 in chips)
Seat 5: wk20a ($25.70 in chips)
Seat 6: Mr_Okil ($51.70 in chips)
Seat 7: mariq5009 ($87 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
Ghengis6: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [9c Js Kc 5s 3d]
wk20a: folds
Mr_Okil: folds
mariq5009: raises $1.50 to $2
marciano999: raises $5.50 to $7.50
Kevz-VR6: folds
plutoman20: folds
Ghengis6: calls $7
mariq5009: raises $14 to $21.50
marciano999: raises $23 to $44.50
Ghengis6: calls $12.90 and is all-in
mariq5009: raises $42.50 to $87 and is all-in
marciano999: calls $14.30 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($28.20) returned to mariq5009
plutoman20 said, "yikes"
Ghengis6: discards 1 card
mariq5009: stands pat
marciano999: stands pat
*** SHOW DOWN ***
mariq5009: shows [2h 7s 4d 5c 6c] (Lo: 7,6,5,4,2)
marciano999: mucks hand
mariq5009 collected $76.80 from side pot
plutoman20 said, "nh"
Ghengis6: mucks hand
mariq5009 collected $58.45 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $138.25 Main pot $58.45. Side pot $76.80. Rake $3
Seat 1: marciano999 mucked [8s 5h 7d 4h 3c]
Seat 2: Kevz-VR6 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: plutoman20 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Ghengis6 (big blind) mucked [8h 3s 2d 6d 2s]
Seat 5: wk20a folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mr_Okil folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: mariq5009 showed [2h 7s 4d 5c 6c] and won ($135.25) with Lo: 7,6,5,4,2

Double play

I've just had my first ever heads-up-free tournament win. I don't consider heads-up play to be my forte, so winning it in this fashion is like a golfer who's a bit shaky on the greens holing a seven-iron. To be honest my heads-up play has improved, and in fact I've now won the last four tournaments I've cashed in. One of those was my first ever triple draw win. This was the final hand of tonight's tournament:

PokerStars Game #70783401542: Tournament #467663713, $2.00+$0.20 USD Badugi Limit - Level XII (800/1600) - 2011/11/19 5:51:00 ET
Table '467663713 3' 8-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: plutoman20 (21820 in chips)
Seat 5: joedlo78 (6300 in chips)
Seat 7: BigJ117 (1880 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind 400
joedlo78: posts big blind 800
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Js 3d Ah 5d]
BigJ117: raises 800 to 1600
plutoman20: calls 1200
joedlo78: calls 800
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Js 5d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3d Ah] [7c Qh]
joedlo78: discards 1 card
BigJ117: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
joedlo78: checks
BigJ117: bets 280 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls 280
joedlo78: calls 280
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3d Ah 7c] [5s]
joedlo78: stands pat
BigJ117: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
joedlo78: bets 1600
plutoman20: raises 1600 to 3200
joedlo78: raises 1220 to 4420 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls 1220
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [3d Ah 7c 5s]
joedlo78: stands pat
BigJ117: stands pat
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7c 3d Ah 5s] (Badugi: 7,5,3,A)
joedlo78: shows [9s 5h 7d 8c] (Badugi: 9,8,7,5)
plutoman20 collected 8840 from side pot
BigJ117: shows [Tc Jh Qd 3s] (Badugi: Q,J,T,3)
plutoman20 collected 5640 from main pot
joedlo78 finished the tournament in 2nd place and received $12.00.
BigJ117 finished the tournament in 3rd place and received $8.00.
plutoman20 wins the tournament and receives $20.00 - congratulations!
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 14480 Main pot 5640. Side pot 8840. Rake 0
Seat 2: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [7c 3d Ah 5s] and won (14480) with a Badugi: 7,5,3,A
Seat 5: joedlo78 (big blind) showed [9s 5h 7d 8c] and lost with a Badugi: 9,8,7,5
Seat 7: BigJ117 (button) showed [Tc Jh Qd 3s] and lost with a Badugi: Q,J,T,3

Update: after a good badugi session, my bankroll now stands at $907 which is a new high since I last cashed out (which was my whole cash balance, leaving just thirty-odd bucks of tournament money).

Double deuce disaster

I just lost $40 in 72 hands of single draw, losing nine of the ten hands I showed down. My bankroll is $812 and seems to be in a holding pattern around the $800 mark. A year ago I had a lot more upward momentum. This morning's badugi session was a swingy one - I was down $40, then back to almost even, then down $40 again, then up $40, before finishing up a little over $20. I guess I had to be happy with that.

Here are the two hands that led to my swift single draw demise:

Hand 1
I really must stop underestimating the strength of my opponents' hands. Here I should have done the safe thing by calling his reraise and drawing to the eight. I couldn't have got away if I'd hit a seven, but still. By four-betting I'm almost turning my hand into a bluff which probably won't work all that often.

PokerStars Game #70779185738: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/19 2:40:02 ET
Table 'Pythia III' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 ($37.35 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($27.85 in chips)
Seat 3: gabialx ($44.40 in chips)
Seat 4: Ctac!!! 1986 ($13.55 in chips)
Seat 5: drcrabbies ($8.10 in chips)
Seat 6: MeMe766 ($15.20 in chips)
Seat 7: HILWAR666 ($37.50 in chips)
drcrabbies: posts small blind $0.25
MeMe766: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5h 9d 3c 8c 4h]
HILWAR666: folds
ThaSlosh23: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
gabialx: folds
Ctac!!! 1986: folds
drcrabbies: folds
MeMe766: raises $2.50 to $4
plutoman20: raises $7 to $11
MeMe766: raises $4.20 to $15.20 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $4.20
MeMe766: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [5h 9d 3c 8c 4h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MeMe766: shows [7s 4c 3h 8s 2c] (Lo: 8,7,4,3,2)
plutoman20: shows [5h 9d 3c 8c 4h] (Lo: 9,8,5,4,3)
MeMe766 collected $29.15 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $30.65 Rake $1.50
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: plutoman20 showed [5h 9d 3c 8c 4h] and lost with Lo: 9,8,5,4,3
Seat 3: gabialx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Ctac!!! 1986 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: drcrabbies (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: MeMe766 (big blind) showed [7s 4c 3h 8s 2c] and won ($29.15) with Lo: 8,7,4,3,2
Seat 7: HILWAR666 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 2
Unlike the first hand, this one is close. Obviously I shouldn't have let my stack get this low but it might have saved me a few dollars here. I was unlucky of course to lose by one pip. I think it could be +EV in future to avoid ThaSlosh, who I've coded orange for some time.

PokerStars Game #70779238693: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/19 2:43:03 ET
Table 'Pythia III' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 ($34.60 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($12 in chips)
Seat 3: gabialx ($47.40 in chips)
Seat 4: Ctac!!! 1986 ($12.80 in chips)
Seat 5: drcrabbies ($8.10 in chips)
Seat 7: HILWAR666 ($36.50 in chips)
drcrabbies: posts small blind $0.25
HILWAR666: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d 2s 2c 5s 4d]
ThaSlosh23: raises $0.75 to $1.25
plutoman20: raises $2.50 to $3.75
gabialx: folds
Ctac!!! 1986: folds
drcrabbies: folds
HILWAR666: folds
ThaSlosh23: raises $6.50 to $10.25
plutoman20: calls $6.50
ThaSlosh23: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [2c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d 2s 5s 4d] [8s]
ThaSlosh23: bets $1.50
plutoman20: raises $0.25 to $1.75 and is all-in
ThaSlosh23: calls $0.25
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7d 2s 8s 5s 4d] (Lo: 8,7,5,4,2)
ThaSlosh23: shows [5d 7h 8h 3s 2h] (Lo: 8,7,5,3,2)
ThaSlosh23 collected $23.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24.75 Rake $1.15
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 showed [5d 7h 8h 3s 2h] and won ($23.60) with Lo: 8,7,5,3,2
Seat 2: plutoman20 showed [7d 2s 8s 5s 4d] and lost with Lo: 8,7,5,4,2
Seat 3: gabialx folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Ctac!!! 1986 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: drcrabbies (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: HILWAR666 (big blind) folded before Flop

STFU!

My current bankroll is $771, down on my last reported figure, but it actually represents something of a comeback.

One of the single draw regulars on Stars, namely ThaSlosh, is starting to annoy me. He's clearly a winning player, probably at a much higher rate than me. But why oh why does he keep berating the so-called fish at the table? Yes it isn't much fun when they hit unlikely draws to win pots they never should have been in in the first place, but if they didn't win occasionally, they'd stop playing. By giving them shit in chat, one of two things is likely to happen. Either they'll get better or they'll leave. Either of those options will only eat into this guy's Slosh fund. What's more, people aren't exactly falling over themselves to play single draw, and by trash-talking in chat you risk the games drying up completely.

This is the sort of thing I'm talking about:

PokerStars Game #70451642938: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/12 18:05:30 ET
Table 'Innes VII' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 ($48.60 in chips)
Seat 2: Best5555 ($15.40 in chips)
Seat 3: Hrunchik ($15.15 in chips)
Seat 4: Victor Wild ($44.30 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($55.55 in chips)
Hrunchik: posts small blind $0.25
Victor Wild: posts big blind $0.50
DRAGÂO MTS: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 4h 9s Kd 4d]
plutoman20: folds
kokolinko123 joins the table at seat #5
ThaSlosh23: raises $1 to $1.50
Best5555: folds
Hrunchik: calls $1.25
Victor Wild: folds
Hrunchik: discards 2 cards
ThaSlosh23: discards 1 card
Hrunchik: checks
ThaSlosh23: bets $2.50
Hrunchik: raises $2.50 to $5
ThaSlosh23: calls $2.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hrunchik: shows [8c 3d 7c 6s 4s] (Lo: 8,7,6,4,3)
ThaSlosh23: mucks hand
Hrunchik collected $12.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $13.50 Rake $0.65
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 mucked [5s 2h 9h 3c 7s]
Seat 2: Best5555 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Hrunchik (small blind) showed [8c 3d 7c 6s 4s] and won ($12.85) with Lo: 8,7,6,4,3
Seat 4: Victor Wild (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: plutoman20 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

PokerStars Game #70451676785: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/11/12 18:06:10 ET
Table 'Innes VII' 7-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 ($42.10 in chips)
Seat 2: Best5555 ($15.40 in chips)
Seat 3: Hrunchik ($21.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Victor Wild ($43.80 in chips)
Seat 5: kokolinko123 ($12 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($55.55 in chips)
Victor Wild: posts small blind $0.25
kokolinko123: posts big blind $0.50
DRAGÂO MTS: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Ks 4s Ac 9d Js]
ThaSlosh23 said, "lol fkng fish"
plutoman20: folds
ThaSlosh23: folds
Best5555: folds
Hrunchik: raises $1 to $1.50
ThaSlosh23 said, "u fking suck"

The craziness continues

I played 96 hands of badugi this afternoon in two mini sessions. First I make $47.50 in 51 hands, then I relinquish my whole $50 stack in only 45 hands, losing all nine hands I saw a draw with.

Here are a few examples of the high-variance stuff on show:

PokerStars Game #70099199695: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 22:17:55 ET
Table 'Sigrid III' 8-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($46 in chips)
Seat 2: FLASGORDON ($49 in chips)
Seat 3: Recreativos ($86.25 in chips)
Seat 4: thegosu2 ($22.50 in chips)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel ($82 in chips)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio ($87.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Miles L. ($23.50 in chips)
Seat 8: leyjenpa ($89 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.50
FLASGORDON: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 2h 4c As]
Recreativos: calls $1
thegosu2: raises $1 to $2
PoldiPoesel: folds
GrandeSmokio: folds
Miles L.: folds
leyjenpa: calls $2
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
FLASGORDON: folds
Recreativos: calls $2
thegosu2: calls $1
leyjenpa: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [2h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 4c As] [Ad]
Recreativos: discards 2 cards
thegosu2: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: bets $1
Recreativos: calls $1
thegosu2: calls $1
leyjenpa: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ad]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 4c As] [5s]
Recreativos: discards 2 cards
thegosu2: discards 2 cards
leyjenpa: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: bets $2
Recreativos: calls $2
thegosu2: calls $2
leyjenpa: raises $2 to $4
plutoman20: calls $2
Recreativos: calls $2
thegosu2: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [5s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 4c As] [7c]
Recreativos: discards 2 cards
thegosu2: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Recreativos: checks
thegosu2: checks
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: calls $2
Recreativos: folds
thegosu2: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
leyjenpa: shows [8s 3d Ac Qh] (Badugi: Q,8,3,A)
plutoman20: mucks hand
leyjenpa collected $36 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $37 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 (small blind) mucked [2d 7c 4c As]
Seat 2: FLASGORDON (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 3: Recreativos folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 4: thegosu2 folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Miles L. folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: leyjenpa (button) showed [8s 3d Ac Qh] and won ($36) with a Badugi: Q,8,3,A

PokerStars Game #70099234735: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 22:19:07 ET
Table 'Sigrid III' 8-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($36 in chips)
Seat 2: FLASGORDON ($48 in chips)
Seat 3: Recreativos ($78.25 in chips)
Seat 4: thegosu2 ($14.50 in chips)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel ($82 in chips)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio ($87.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Miles L. ($23.50 in chips)
Seat 8: leyjenpa ($115 in chips)
FLASGORDON: posts small blind $0.50
Recreativos: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h Ac 3d 3h]
thegosu2: raises $1 to $2
PoldiPoesel: folds
GrandeSmokio: folds
Miles L.: folds
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $3
plutoman20: calls $3
FLASGORDON: folds
Recreativos: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
thegosu2: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
Recreativos: stands pat
thegosu2: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [3h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h Ac 3d] [4d]
Recreativos: bets $1
thegosu2: calls $1
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $2
Recreativos: calls $1
thegosu2: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
Recreativos: discards 2 cards
thegosu2: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [4d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h Ac 3d] [Qd]
Recreativos: checks
thegosu2: checks
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: calls $2
Recreativos: folds
thegosu2: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
thegosu2: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h Ac 3d] [Ks]
thegosu2: checks
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: calls $2
thegosu2: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
leyjenpa: shows [3s 7h 6d Kc] (Badugi: K,7,6,3)
plutoman20: shows [2h Ac 3d Ks] (Badugi: K,3,2,A)
plutoman20 collected $33.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $34.50 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 (button) showed [2h Ac 3d Ks] and won ($33.50) with a Badugi: K,3,2,A
Seat 2: FLASGORDON (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 3: Recreativos (big blind) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 4: thegosu2 folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Miles L. folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: leyjenpa showed [3s 7h 6d Kc] and lost with a Badugi: K,7,6,3

PokerStars Game #70099521071: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 22:29:06 ET
Table 'Sigrid III' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($65 in chips)
Seat 2: FLASGORDON ($37 in chips)
Seat 3: Recreativos ($63.50 in chips)
Seat 4: thegosu2 ($14.75 in chips)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel ($81.25 in chips)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio ($79.50 in chips)
Seat 8: leyjenpa ($116.50 in chips)
GrandeSmokio: posts small blind $0.50
leyjenpa: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qh As 4c]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
FLASGORDON: folds
Recreativos: calls $2
thegosu2: folds
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $1.50
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $3
plutoman20: calls $1
Recreativos: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
GrandeSmokio: discards 2 cards
leyjenpa: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d As 4c] [Th]
Recreativos: discards 1 card
PoldiPoesel: discards 1 card
GrandeSmokio: checks
leyjenpa: bets $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
Recreativos: calls $2
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $3
plutoman20: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
Recreativos: calls $2
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
GrandeSmokio: discards 2 cards
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [5d As 4c Th]
Recreativos: discards 1 card
PoldiPoesel: discards 1 card
GrandeSmokio: checks
leyjenpa: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
Recreativos: calls $2
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
GrandeSmokio: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [5d As 4c Th]
Recreativos: discards 1 card
PoldiPoesel: discards 1 card
GrandeSmokio: checks
leyjenpa: checks
plutoman20: checks
Recreativos: checks
PoldiPoesel: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
GrandeSmokio: shows [4h Ad 9c 5s] (Badugi: 9,5,4,A)
leyjenpa: mucks hand
plutoman20: mucks hand
Recreativos: mucks hand
plutoman20 said, "nh"
PoldiPoesel: mucks hand
GrandeSmokio collected $49 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $50 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 mucked [5d Th As 4c]
Seat 2: FLASGORDON folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Recreativos mucked [2d Ac 3h Td]
Seat 4: thegosu2 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel (button) mucked [Ah 4s 3d Jh]
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio (small blind) showed [4h Ad 9c 5s] and won ($49) with a Badugi: 9,5,4,A
Seat 8: leyjenpa (big blind) mucked [4d 2s Tc 5c]

PokerStars Game #70099566317: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 22:30:43 ET
Table 'Sigrid III' 8-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($55 in chips)
Seat 2: FLASGORDON ($37 in chips)
Seat 3: Recreativos ($53.50 in chips)
Seat 4: thegosu2 ($14.75 in chips)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel ($71.25 in chips)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio ($118.50 in chips)
Seat 8: leyjenpa ($106.50 in chips)
leyjenpa: posts small blind $0.50
plutoman20: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h As 5h Qs]
FLASGORDON: calls $1
Recreativos: calls $1
thegosu2: calls $1
PoldiPoesel: folds
GrandeSmokio: folds
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $1
FLASGORDON: calls $1
Recreativos: raises $1 to $3
thegosu2: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
FLASGORDON: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
leyjenpa: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [5h Qs]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h As] [Ac 3h]
FLASGORDON: discards 1 card
Recreativos: discards 1 card
thegosu2: discards 2 cards
leyjenpa: bets $1
plutoman20: calls $1
FLASGORDON: calls $1
Recreativos: calls $1
thegosu2: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Ac 3h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h As] [Th 6d]
FLASGORDON: discards 1 card
Recreativos: discards 1 card
thegosu2: discards 2 cards
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: calls $2
FLASGORDON: folds
Recreativos: calls $2
thegosu2: folds
*** THIRD DRAW ***
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Th]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h As 6d] [5c]
Recreativos: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
Recreativos: folds
leyjenpa: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [2h As 5c 6d] (Badugi: 6,5,2,A)
leyjenpa: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $33 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $34 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [2h As 5c 6d] and won ($33) with a Badugi: 6,5,2,A
Seat 2: FLASGORDON folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 3: Recreativos folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 4: thegosu2 folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: leyjenpa (small blind) mucked [4c Jd 5s Ah]

PokerStars Game #70099866286: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 22:41:38 ET
Table 'Sigrid III' 8-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($76 in chips)
Seat 2: FLASGORDON ($22.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Recreativos ($65 in chips)
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel ($28.75 in chips)
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio ($137.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Miles L. ($24 in chips)
Seat 8: leyjenpa ($165.75 in chips)
Recreativos: posts small blind $0.50
PoldiPoesel: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 2d 4c As]
GrandeSmokio: calls $1
Miles L.: folds
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
FLASGORDON: folds
Recreativos: calls $2.50
PoldiPoesel: calls $2
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $1
Recreativos: calls $1
PoldiPoesel: calls $1
GrandeSmokio: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
Recreativos: discards 2 cards
PoldiPoesel: discards 2 cards
GrandeSmokio: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2d 4c As] [9h]
Recreativos: bets $1
PoldiPoesel: calls $1
GrandeSmokio: calls $1
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
Recreativos: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
PoldiPoesel: calls $3
GrandeSmokio: calls $3
leyjenpa: calls $2
plutoman20: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
Recreativos: stands pat
PoldiPoesel: discards 1 card
GrandeSmokio: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [2d 4c As 9h]
Recreativos: bets $2
PoldiPoesel: folds
GrandeSmokio: calls $2
leyjenpa: calls $2
plutoman20: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
Recreativos: stands pat
GrandeSmokio: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [2d 4c As 9h]
Recreativos: bets $2
GrandeSmokio: folds
leyjenpa: folds
plutoman20: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Recreativos: shows [7d 5c 9s 2h] (Badugi: 9,7,5,2)
plutoman20: shows [9h 2d 4c As] (Badugi: 9,4,2,A)
plutoman20 collected $51 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $52 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [9h 2d 4c As] and won ($51) with a Badugi: 9,4,2,A
Seat 2: FLASGORDON (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Recreativos (small blind) showed [7d 5c 9s 2h] and lost with a Badugi: 9,7,5,2
Seat 5: PoldiPoesel (big blind) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 6: GrandeSmokio folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 7: Miles L. folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: leyjenpa folded after the 3rd Draw

Good start to November

It's been a good start to November. Not least because of this news that broke on Tuesday concerning Groupe Bernard Tapie's acquisition of Full Tilt Poker. The way is clear for the deal to go ahead, which means that maybe, just maybe, I'll get my $1446.54 back. I just hope that money in limbo, like mine, is all accounted for. I'm still not counting my chickens here.

It's also been a successful few days on the virtual tables. My bankroll is now $812 (+$164 for the month). Fifty bucks of that profit came via a bonus which sort of crept up on me. I won two limit badugi tournaments back-to-back on Friday (albeit with fields of just 17 and 18); my bankroll is getting to the point where micro tourneys are no longer worth the time spent on them. Single draw is very much up-and-down; I wish I'd saved my hands from last session.

A couple of single draw hands that I do kind of remember:

I get 98654, UTG I think, and raise to $1.50. The next guy calls and it folds round to the button who reraises to $4. I consider a fold but instead make it $11. The third guy gets out of the way and the button goes all-in for $23 which I have covered. I'm getting three to one but I can't see me being good a quarter of the time and I can't really break, so I make an unhappy (but sensible I think) fold.

An aggressive player who plays lots of hands raises to $1.50 in early position. I reraise to $4.50 with (I think) a J98. It goes 0:1, I think of betting out post as a bluff but decide against it, and he shoves for about the size of the pot. I fold.

Badugi has been going well. This morning I dropped $20 in 173 hands, a strange session in which I most of my showdowns but didn't get many playable starting hands, and most of those I did play I folded before the end. Then I rang my brother in the UK but he was out (on the town? - it was Saturday night) so I got back to badugi where I made $70 in just 48 hands when the table broke. Here are some hands from the comedy poker game that I did keep an accurate record of:

Hand 1
I rarely cap draws pre-flop; it's something I should probably do more often. It seemed appropriate here because I was sure I had a significant equity edge even though I might not have been the favourite. Janetlee could well have had a good pat hand or a better tri than mine, but Kikimora liked to open with rough tris and Seoul also played lots of rough tris as well as two-card draws (duos?). The only downside to this play I guess was that Kikimora unexpectedly folded.

PokerStars Game #69842368748: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/01 1:10:06 ET
Table 'Aldhibah III' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: Yorugua666 ($36.25 in chips)
Seat 2: Pytchuka ($58.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Seoul 2010 ($50 in chips)
Seat 5: janetlee123 ($26 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($38.25 in chips)
Seat 7: ogotop76 ($106.25 in chips)
Seat 8: kikimora81 ($6.50 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.50
ogotop76: posts big blind $1
Seoul 2010: posts small & big blinds $1.50
Tacobilletes: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5s Ah 8c]
kikimora81: raises $1 to $2
Yorugua666: folds
Pytchuka: calls $2
Seoul 2010: calls $1
janetlee123: raises $1 to $3
plutoman20: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
ogotop76: folds
kikimora81: folds
Pytchuka: calls $2
Seoul 2010: calls $2
janetlee123: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5s Ah] [5d]
Pytchuka: discards 1 card
Seoul 2010: discards 2 cards
janetlee123: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Pytchuka: checks
Seoul 2010: checks
janetlee123: bets $1
plutoman20: calls $1
Pytchuka: calls $1
Seoul 2010: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [5d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [3c 5s Ah] [9d]
Pytchuka: discards 1 card
Seoul 2010: discards 1 card
janetlee123: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Pytchuka: checks
Seoul 2010: checks
janetlee123: bets $2
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
Pytchuka: folds
Seoul 2010: calls $4
janetlee123: folds
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [3c 5s Ah 9d]
Seoul 2010: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $2
Seoul 2010: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [3c 5s Ah 9d] (Badugi: 9,5,3,A)
Seoul 2010: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $36.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $37.50 Rake $1
Seat 1: Yorugua666 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Pytchuka folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 3: Seoul 2010 mucked [6c Ts 4d 5h]
Seat 5: janetlee123 (button) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 6: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [3c 5s Ah 9d] and won ($36.50) with a Badugi: 9,5,3,A
Seat 7: ogotop76 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 8: kikimora81 folded before the Draw

Hand 2
I sometimes raise a bad badugi in this situation, but mostly I'll just draw. It's good to try this against a relatively unknown player to see how they react. He might well have broken a worse hand here, but if he draws two then that's not a bad outcome at all.

PokerStars Game #70052904648: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 3:01:10 ET
Table 'Lola II' 8-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($37.75 in chips)
Seat 2: Chopper42 ($86.25 in chips)
Seat 3: dksxpsk ($46 in chips)
Seat 4: willylacot ($24.25 in chips)
Seat 5: ninja1004 ($34 in chips)
Seat 6: Pafosbusch ($53 in chips)
Seat 7: raffaelle ($47.25 in chips)
Seat 8: Lucky013 ($6.75 in chips)
ninja1004: posts small blind $0.50
Pafosbusch: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6s Kh 5h 3d]
raffaelle: folds
raffaelle leaves the table
Lucky013: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
Chopper42: folds
dksxpsk: raises $1 to $3
willylacot: calls $3
ninja1004: folds
Pafosbusch: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6s 5h 3d] [Qc]
dksxpsk: stands pat
Lucky013 leaves the table
clericvipr joins the table at seat #7
willylacot: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: checks
dksxpsk: bets $1
willylacot: calls $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
dksxpsk: calls $1
willylacot: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [6s 5h 3d Qc]
dksxpsk: discards 2 cards
willylacot: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: bets $2
dksxpsk: folds
willylacot: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $15.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $16.50 Rake $0.75
Seat 1: plutoman20 collected ($15.75)
Seat 2: Chopper42 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: dksxpsk folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 4: willylacot (button) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 5: ninja1004 (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: Pafosbusch (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: raffaelle folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Lucky013 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 3
Both my opponents were unpredictable enough that calling the pre-draw cap was a fairly easy decision. I almost broke on the flop, but it just felt as though he might be trying something. I'm surprised he didn't bet the turn after snowing because that would have put me in a very awkward spot with my hand face-up.

PokerStars Game #70053413638: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 3:33:06 ET
Table 'Lola II' 8-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($68.50 in chips)
Seat 3: dksxpsk ($60 in chips)
Seat 4: willylacot ($18.25 in chips)
Seat 5: ninja1004 ($45.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Pafosbusch ($70.75 in chips)
willylacot: posts small blind $0.50
ninja1004: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 4c 4s 7s]
Pafosbusch: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
dksxpsk: raises $1 to $3
willylacot: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
ninja1004: folds
plutoman20: calls $2
dksxpsk: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
willylacot: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [4s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 4c 7s] [Qd]
dksxpsk: discards 1 card
willylacot: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
dksxpsk: raises $1 to $2
willylacot: calls $2
plutoman20: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
willylacot: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [2h 4c 7s Qd]
dksxpsk: stands pat
willylacot: checks
plutoman20: checks
dksxpsk: checks
*** THIRD DRAW ***
willylacot: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [2h 4c 7s Qd]
dksxpsk: discards 1 card
willylacot: checks
plutoman20: checks
dksxpsk: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
willylacot: shows [6c Tc 5d Ah] (3-card: 6,5,A)
plutoman20: shows [2h 4c Qd 7s] (Badugi: Q,7,4,2)
dksxpsk: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $18.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $19 Rake $0.75
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [2h 4c Qd 7s] and won ($18.25) with a Badugi: Q,7,4,2
Seat 3: dksxpsk (button) mucked [9h 6s 3d 7h]
Seat 4: willylacot (small blind) showed [6c Tc 5d Ah] and lost with a 3-card: 6,5,A
Seat 5: ninja1004 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: Pafosbusch folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 4
Both my opponents were aggressive players. Folding to Milyang's river bet, once Leyjenpa called, worked out this time but in the long run, getting 11:1, I'm not sure. This is a close one I think.

PokerStars Game #70082293350: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 15:58:19 ET
Table 'Agapenor III' 8-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 3: milyang ($16.50 in chips)
Seat 4: leyjenpa ($51.75 in chips)
Seat 5: leppie4 ($150.50 in chips)
Seat 6: jokerheidi ($42.50 in chips)
Seat 7: maik1234 ($21 in chips)
Seat 8: plutoman20 ($47 in chips)
leppie4: posts small blind $0.50
jokerheidi: posts big blind $1
Cheereemoni: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [9d 5d 3h 4s]
maik1234: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
milyang: calls $2
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $3
leppie4: folds
jokerheidi: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
milyang: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [9d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d 3h 4s] [4c]
milyang: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
milyang: checks
leyjenpa: bets $1
plutoman20: calls $1
milyang: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [4c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d 3h 4s] [Qh]
milyang: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
milyang: bets $2
leyjenpa: calls $2
plutoman20: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d 3h 4s] [Jc]
milyang: stands pat
leyjenpa: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
milyang: bets $2
leyjenpa: calls $2
plutoman20: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
milyang: shows [8s 2c 7d Ah] (Badugi: 8,7,2,A)
leyjenpa: mucks hand
milyang collected $22.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $23.50 Rake $1
Seat 3: milyang showed [8s 2c 7d Ah] and won ($22.50) with a Badugi: 8,7,2,A
Seat 4: leyjenpa (button) mucked [3s Ks Ad 4h]
Seat 5: leppie4 (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 6: jokerheidi (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: maik1234 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: plutoman20 folded after the 3rd Draw

Hand 5
This hand (which came immediately after Hand 4) was a strange one. I tried the bluff-raise on the turn when I hit the queen, not expecting him to call me and pat with a worse hand. Milyang's cold call of the $4 on the turn was interesting; normally this would be bad but given what we actually held (did he have some kind of read?), it was just about correct.

PokerStars Game #70082326367: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 15:59:09 ET
Table 'Agapenor III' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 3: milyang ($31 in chips)
Seat 4: leyjenpa ($43.75 in chips)
Seat 5: leppie4 ($150 in chips)
Seat 6: jokerheidi ($41.50 in chips)
Seat 7: maik1234 ($21 in chips)
Seat 8: plutoman20 ($41 in chips)
jokerheidi: posts small blind $0.50
maik1234: posts big blind $1
Cheereemoni: sits out
barabas444: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6h Ac 3d 8c]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
milyang: calls $2
leyjenpa: raises $1 to $3
leppie4: folds
jokerheidi: folds
barabas444 leaves the table
maik1234: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
milyang: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6h Ac 3d] [Ks]
milyang: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
milyang: checks
leyjenpa: bets $1
plutoman20: calls $1
milyang: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ks]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6h Ac 3d] [Qs]
milyang: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
milyang: checks
leyjenpa: bets $2
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
xMissKimx joins the table at seat #2
milyang: calls $4
leyjenpa: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [6h Ac 3d Qs]
milyang: discards 1 card
leyjenpa: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
milyang: checks
leyjenpa: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [6h Ac 3d Qs] (Badugi: Q,6,3,A)
milyang: mucks hand
leyjenpa: shows [5d 9s Qc 7h] (Badugi: Q,9,7,5)
plutoman20 collected $24.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $25.50 Rake $1
Seat 3: milyang mucked [7c 4s Ad 6d]
Seat 4: leyjenpa showed [5d 9s Qc 7h] and lost with a Badugi: Q,9,7,5
Seat 5: leppie4 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: jokerheidi (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: maik1234 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 8: plutoman20 showed [6h Ac 3d Qs] and won ($24.50) with a Badugi: Q,6,3,A

Hand 6
A weakness of mine in the past has been a failure to get full value for strong (but sub-monster) hands against aggressive players, like both my opponents here (Milyang is aggro but solid, Spud verges on maniacal).

PokerStars Game #70086792103: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 17:21:30 ET
Table 'Sadr V' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($51 in chips)
Seat 2: thegosu2 ($68.75 in chips)
Seat 3: xMissKimx ($38.50 in chips)
Seat 4: robertokinho ($33 in chips)
Seat 5: spud1404 ($145 in chips)
Seat 6: Cheereemoni ($28.75 in chips)
Seat 7: MAIOR01 ($199 in chips)
Seat 8: milyang ($20 in chips)
Cheereemoni: posts small blind $0.50
MAIOR01: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c Qh 4s 3h]
milyang: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $2
thegosu2: folds
xMissKimx: folds
robertokinho: folds
spud1404: raises $1 to $3
Cheereemoni: folds
MAIOR01: folds
milyang: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 4s 3h] [6d]
spud1404: discards 1 card
milyang: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
spud1404: raises $1 to $2
milyang: raises $1 to $3
plutoman20: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
spud1404: calls $2
milyang: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
milyang: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [7c 4s 3h 6d]
spud1404: discards 1 card
milyang: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
spud1404: calls $2
milyang: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
milyang: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [7c 4s 3h 6d]
spud1404: discards 1 card
milyang: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
spud1404: folds
milyang: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7c 6d 4s 3h] (Badugi: 7,6,4,3)
milyang: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $31.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $32.50 Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [7c 6d 4s 3h] and won ($31.50) with a Badugi: 7,6,4,3
Seat 2: thegosu2 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: xMissKimx folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: robertokinho folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: spud1404 (button) folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 6: Cheereemoni (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: MAIOR01 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 8: milyang mucked [Ah 9d 8s 5c]

Hand 7
A similar situation here but with a slightly better hand.

PokerStars Game #70087146319: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/11/05 17:28:03 ET
Table 'Sadr V' 8-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($75.25 in chips)
Seat 2: thegosu2 ($65.25 in chips)
Seat 3: xMissKimx ($54.50 in chips)
Seat 4: robertokinho ($34.25 in chips)
Seat 5: spud1404 ($93.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Cheereemoni ($29 in chips)
Seat 8: milyang ($8 in chips)
milyang: posts small blind $0.50
plutoman20: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Ks 8d As 5h]
thegosu2: folds
xMissKimx: folds
robertokinho: calls $1
spud1404: calls $1
Cheereemoni: folds
milyang: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $1
robertokinho: calls $1
spud1404: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ks]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d As 5h] [7d]
robertokinho: discards 1 card
spud1404: discards 2 cards
milyang: bets $1
plutoman20: calls $1
robertokinho: calls $1
spud1404: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [As 5h 7d] [2c]
robertokinho: discards 1 card
spud1404: discards 1 card
milyang: bets $2
plutoman20: raises $2 to $4
thegosu2 leaves the table
robertokinho: calls $4
spud1404: raises $2 to $6
milyang: calls $3 and is all-in
plutoman20: raises $2 to $8
Betting is capped
robertokinho: calls $4
spud1404: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [As 5h 7d 2c]
robertokinho: discards 1 card
spud1404: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $2
robertokinho: folds
spud1404: calls $2
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7d 2c As 5h] (Badugi: 7,5,2,A)
spud1404: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $13 from side pot
milyang: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $31 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $45 Main pot $31. Side pot $13. Rake $1
Seat 1: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [7d 2c As 5h] and won ($44) with a Badugi: 7,5,2,A
Seat 2: thegosu2 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: xMissKimx folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: robertokinho folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 5: spud1404 mucked [4s 5d Ah 8c]
Seat 6: Cheereemoni (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 8: milyang (small blind) mucked [9h 2h 5c 3s]

October monthly report

I made $180 in October. I finished the month at $647, fifty bucks shy of the high I reached on the 22nd.

Here's another annoying micro PLO8 hand. I thought I'd be seeing the flop for ten cents. Bibs was a bad player, so chancing my arm seemed the right thing to do. I had 30% equity pre-flop which was plenty to stack off with given the money I'd already put in the pot. On the flop I became an odds-on favourite (56%) with my nut flush draw and open-ender, with only one low card out.

PokerStars Game #69843283374: Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05 USD) - 2011/11/01 2:11:48 ET
Table 'Polyxenos X' 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: bibs Kovrov ($6 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($7.11 in chips)
Seat 3: alex_malvina ($26.79 in chips)
Seat 4: VlasovVlas ($6.96 in chips)
Seat 5: 24andrei24 ($2.56 in chips)
Seat 6: thelesiya ($3.65 in chips)
VlasovVlas: posts small blind $0.02
24andrei24: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5s Ah Qs Th]
thelesiya: folds
bibs Kovrov: raises $0.05 to $0.10
plutoman20: calls $0.10
alex_malvina: calls $0.10
VlasovVlas: raises $0.05 to $0.15
24andrei24: calls $0.10
bibs Kovrov: raises $0.65 to $0.80
plutoman20: calls $0.70
alex_malvina: folds
VlasovVlas: raises $2.65 to $3.45
24andrei24: folds
bibs Kovrov: raises $2.55 to $6 and is all-in
plutoman20: raises $1.11 to $7.11 and is all-in
VlasovVlas: calls $3.51 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.15) returned to plutoman20
*** FLOP *** [4h 9h Jc]
*** TURN *** [4h 9h Jc] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [4h 9h Jc 6d] [4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
VlasovVlas: shows [2c As Jd Ad] (HI: two pair, Aces and Fours)
plutoman20: shows [5s Ah Qs Th] (HI: a pair of Fours)
VlasovVlas collected $1.83 from side pot
bibs Kovrov: shows [3d Ac 6c 5d] (HI: two pair, Sixes and Fours)
VlasovVlas collected $17.34 from main pot
No low hand qualified
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $20.17 Main pot $17.34. Side pot $1.83. Rake $1
Board [4h 9h Jc 6d 4d]
Seat 1: bibs Kovrov showed [3d Ac 6c 5d] and lost with HI: two pair, Sixes and Fours
Seat 2: plutoman20 showed [5s Ah Qs Th] and lost with HI: a pair of Fours
Seat 3: alex_malvina (button) folded before Flop
Seat 4: VlasovVlas (small blind) showed [2c As Jd Ad] and won ($19.17) with HI: two pair, Aces and Fours
Seat 5: 24andrei24 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: thelesiya folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Breakout!?

My bankroll hit $500 on a few occasions over the last six weeks, but each time I quickly got slapped back down. A chart of my bankroll would have shown some reverse candlestick patterns and head-and-shoulders formations. But I now that I've bashed through $600, I'm maybe, just maybe, into breakout territory. My bankroll is currently $606.

Here's a rather annoying micro PLO8 hand I played:
PokerStars Game #69037539793: Omaha Hi/Lo Pot Limit ($0.02/$0.05 USD) - 2011/10/15 22:45:35 ET
Table 'Mauderli II' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: sashaneo37 ($5.94 in chips)
Seat 2: Hawk N Nancy ($3.38 in chips)
Seat 3: jimmmibondi ($3.08 in chips)
Seat 4: mickeyr777 ($14.29 in chips)
Seat 5: Luckboxing ($5.38 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($6.19 in chips)
sashaneo37: posts small blind $0.02
Hawk N Nancy: posts big blind $0.05
jimmmibondi: posts big blind $0.05
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3h 5h Ac Jd]
jimmmibondi: raises $0.10 to $0.15
mickeyr777: folds
Luckboxing: folds
plutoman20: calls $0.15
sashaneo37: folds
Hawk N Nancy: raises $0.10 to $0.25
jimmmibondi: raises $0.10 to $0.35
plutoman20: calls $0.20
Hawk N Nancy: raises $0.10 to $0.45
jimmmibondi: raises $0.10 to $0.55
plutoman20: calls $0.20
Hawk N Nancy: raises $0.10 to $0.65
jimmmibondi: raises $0.10 to $0.75
plutoman20: raises $0.65 to $1.40
Hawk N Nancy: calls $0.75
jimmmibondi: raises $1.68 to $3.08 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $1.68
Hawk N Nancy: raises $0.30 to $3.38 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $0.30
*** FLOP *** [8d 7d 6h]
*** TURN *** [8d 7d 6h] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [8d 7d 6h 3d] [6d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Hawk N Nancy: shows [5c 2d 4c 2h] (HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 7,6,4,3,2)
plutoman20: shows [3h 5h Ac Jd] (HI: two pair, Sixes and Threes; LO: 7,6,5,3,A)
Hawk N Nancy collected $0.29 from side pot
Hawk N Nancy collected $0.28 from side pot
jimmmibondi: shows [4s As Qd Ah] (HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes; LO: 7,6,4,3,A)
Hawk N Nancy collected $4.40 from main pot
jimmmibondi collected $4.40 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.86 Main pot $8.80. Side pot $0.57. Rake $0.49
Board [8d 7d 6h 3d 6d]
Seat 1: sashaneo37 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Hawk N Nancy (big blind) showed [5c 2d 4c 2h] and won ($4.97) with HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 7,6,4,3,2
Seat 3: jimmmibondi showed [4s As Qd Ah] and won ($4.40) with HI: two pair, Aces and Sixes; LO: 7,6,4,3,A
Seat 4: mickeyr777 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Luckboxing folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: plutoman20 (button) showed [3h 5h Ac Jd] and lost with HI: two pair, Sixes and Threes; LO: 7,6,5,3,A

Going nowhere

It feels like I'm going nowhere in all aspects of my life at the moment, not just poker. In fact if I was going nowhere in poker it wouldn't be so bad, but I'm actually going backwards. My bankroll is $422, $45 less than it was at the start of the month and $142 shy of the mark I attained on 11th September (my high point since I cashed out).

Edit: I've just started playing a pot-limit badugi tournament, thinking it was limit as I hit a smooth seven on the first hand. Evidently my opponent thought it was limit too, or at least played like it was.

September monthly report and the Tetris effect

September was a slightly frustrating month. My profit of $164 took my end-of-month bankroll to $467, nearly $100 off the high that I reached three weeks ago.

In the past few days on Twoplustwo there was some discussion of the Tetris effect. One of the posters in the thread (who, as it happens, won five figures in the recent WCOOP) assigns hand values to household objects. While I haven't suffered from the phenomenon to that extent, I do see deuce-to-seven hands all the time. Last night the rugby match between South Africa and Samoa drew a crowd of 29,734. Do I break that? At work I'll see a figure of $62,835 and hope it holds up. When I'm in my car I'll be following someone with 9874 on his number plate and wonder what positions I should open that from. Then just after I moved to Wellington I saw a trailer with the ultimate lowball hand.

Edit: The game between Wales and Fiji had an attendance of 28,476. Off the top of my head that's a number 15, which in rugby is a full-back :)

More KCL hands

I haven't run particularly well in single draw since my last post, winning just nine (well 8½ actually) of 31 hands at showdown. Here are some hands:

Hand 1
Calling this bet is probably a mistake at these stakes.

PokerStars Game #68065791253: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/26 1:43:40 ET
Table 'Tombecka V' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: KALYGER ($8.50 in chips)
Seat 2: susankramer ($28.05 in chips)
Seat 3: popaionut ($21.20 in chips)
Seat 4: dportalis ($11.55 in chips)
Seat 5: juanromosr ($68.40 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($20.85 in chips)
Seat 7: ROIBE02 ($40.65 in chips)
susankramer: posts small blind $0.25
popaionut: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d 5d Tc 9c 3c]
dportalis is disconnected dportalis has timed out while disconnected
dportalis: folds
juanromosr: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
ROIBE02: calls $1.50
KALYGER: folds
susankramer: folds
popaionut: folds
plutoman20: stands pat on [7d 5d Tc 9c 3c]
ROIBE02: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: checks
ROIBE02: bets $2.50
plutoman20: calls $2.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ROIBE02: shows [4s 8d 3s 6c 2d] (Lo: 8,6,4,3,2)
plutoman20: mucks hand
ROIBE02 collected $8.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.75 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: KALYGER (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: susankramer (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: popaionut (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: dportalis folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: juanromosr folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: plutoman20 mucked [7d 5d Tc 9c 3c]
Seat 7: ROIBE02 showed [4s 8d 3s 6c 2d] and won ($8.35) with Lo: 8,6,4,3,2

Hand 2
I think I played this hand well, breaking the 10-8 out of position three-way, and of course I hit my best possible card to make number eleven only to run into number ten.

PokerStars Game #68065811832: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/26 1:45:06 ET
Table 'Tombecka V' 7-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: KALYGER ($8.50 in chips)
Seat 2: susankramer ($27.80 in chips)
Seat 3: popaionut ($20.45 in chips)
Seat 5: juanromosr ($66.90 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($18.45 in chips)
Seat 7: ROIBE02 ($45 in chips)
dportalis will be allowed to play after the button
juanromosr: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Th 7s 8d 3d 5s]
ROIBE02: raises $1 to $1.50
susankramer said, "\0/"
KALYGER: folds
susankramer: calls $1.50
popaionut: folds
juanromosr: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Th]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7s 8d 3d 5s] [2d]
ROIBE02: stands pat
susankramer: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $3
ROIBE02: raises $4.50 to $7.50
susankramer: folds
plutoman20: calls $4.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ROIBE02: shows [8c 3s 2s 4s 7h] (Lo: 8,7,4,3,2)
plutoman20: mucks hand
ROIBE02 collected $18.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $19.75 Rake $0.95
Seat 1: KALYGER folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: susankramer folded on the Flop
Seat 3: popaionut (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: juanromosr (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: plutoman20 (big blind) mucked [2d 7s 8d 3d 5s]
Seat 7: ROIBE02 showed [8c 3s 2s 4s 7h] and won ($18.80) with Lo: 8,7,4,3,2

Hand 3
Of my 8½ showdown wins, this was the half. Where's Dmitriy's raise button?

PokerStars Game #68109306568: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/26 21:01:16 ET
Table 'Drymas V' 7-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Hrunchik ($45.35 in chips)
Seat 2: mountebank83 ($44.15 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($37.85 in chips)
Seat 4: gonzo1900 ($17 in chips)
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy ($20.15 in chips)
Seat 6: inariage ($11.40 in chips)
Seat 7: Kama1596 ($51.15 in chips)
Hrunchik: posts small blind $0.25
mountebank83: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8s Js 6s 5c 2d]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
gonzo1900: folds
G.Dmitriy: calls $1.50
inariage: folds
Kama1596: folds
Hrunchik: folds
mountebank83: calls $1
mountebank83: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Js]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8s 6s 5c 2d] [3d]
G.Dmitriy: discards 1 card
mountebank83: checks
plutoman20: bets $3
G.Dmitriy: calls $3
mountebank83: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [8s 3d 6s 5c 2d] (Lo: 8,6,5,3,2)
G.Dmitriy: shows [6d 2c 8c 5d 3s] (Lo: 8,6,5,3,2)
plutoman20 collected $5.15 from pot
G.Dmitriy collected $5.10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $10.75 Rake $0.50
Seat 1: Hrunchik (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: mountebank83 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: plutoman20 showed [8s 3d 6s 5c 2d] and won ($5.15) with Lo: 8,6,5,3,2
Seat 4: gonzo1900 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy showed [6d 2c 8c 5d 3s] and won ($5.10) with Lo: 8,6,5,3,2
Seat 6: inariage folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: Kama1596 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 4
And where's Gonzo's raise button?

PokerStars Game #68109417355: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/26 21:04:49 ET
Table 'Drymas V' 7-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Hrunchik ($45.95 in chips)
Seat 2: mountebank83 ($43.15 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($36.25 in chips)
Seat 4: gonzo1900 ($16.25 in chips)
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy ($20 in chips)
Seat 6: inariage ($14.45 in chips)
Seat 7: Kama1596 ($50.15 in chips)
Kama1596: posts small blind $0.25
Hrunchik: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [9c 3h 4s 8c 8s]
mountebank83: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
gonzo1900: calls $1.50
G.Dmitriy has timed out while being disconnected
G.Dmitriy: folds
inariage: folds
Kama1596: folds
Hrunchik: folds
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [9c 3h 4s 8c] [2s]
gonzo1900: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $2.50
G.Dmitriy is disconnected
gonzo1900: calls $2.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [9c 3h 4s 8c 2s] (Lo: 9,8,4,3,2)
gonzo1900: shows [8h 3d 2d 4h 6c] (Lo: 8,6,4,3,2)
gonzo1900 collected $8.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.75 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: Hrunchik (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: mountebank83 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: plutoman20 showed [9c 3h 4s 8c 2s] and lost with Lo: 9,8,4,3,2
Seat 4: gonzo1900 showed [8h 3d 2d 4h 6c] and won ($8.35) with Lo: 8,6,4,3,2
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: inariage (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 7: Kama1596 (small blind) folded before Flop

Hand 5
People treat this game like triple draw at times. Have deuce, have seven, will see flop.

PokerStars Game #68110036838: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/26 21:25:25 ET
Table 'Behrens IV' 7-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($32.80 in chips)
Seat 2: Kama1596 ($34.30 in chips)
Seat 3: mountebank83 ($49.70 in chips)
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 ($29.70 in chips)
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy ($35.55 in chips)
Seat 6: Azullejos ($42.75 in chips)
Seat 7: SmithyJ#11 ($6.30 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
Kama1596: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5h 7d Kd 3s 9c]
mountebank83: folds
ThaSlosh23: raises $0.50 to $1
G.Dmitriy: calls $1
Azullejos: folds
SmithyJ#11: folds
plutoman20: calls $0.75
Kama1596: calls $0.50
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5h 7d 3s 9c] [2s]
Kama1596: discards 3 cards
ThaSlosh23: discards 1 card
G.Dmitriy: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $2.50
Kama1596: calls $2.50
ThaSlosh23: folds
G.Dmitriy: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [5h 7d 2s 3s 9c] (Lo: 9,7,5,3,2)
Kama1596: shows [5c 6d 2d 8s 7s] (Lo: 8,7,6,5,2)
Kama1596 collected $8.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [5h 7d 2s 3s 9c] and lost with Lo: 9,7,5,3,2
Seat 2: Kama1596 (big blind) showed [5c 6d 2d 8s 7s] and won ($8.60) with Lo: 8,7,6,5,2
Seat 3: mountebank83 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ThaSlosh23 folded on the Flop
Seat 5: G.Dmitriy folded on the Flop
Seat 6: Azullejos folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: SmithyJ#11 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Back in business

I had a good run on Friday night and Saturday morning. My bankroll is currently just above $500 having been in the $350s a week ago. Here are a bunch of semi-interesting single draw hands:

Hand 1
I don't often break a 987 but it's not an easy hand to play out of position. My play worked out nicely here.

PokerStars Game #67283473101: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/10 0:22:15 ET
Table 'Almeisan II' 7-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 2: pacosi ($34.40 in chips)
Seat 3: Hexagon ($10.30 in chips)
Seat 4: plutoman20 ($42.60 in chips)
Seat 5: ToureR V8 ($25.05 in chips)
Seat 6: NeverGotAces ($32.10 in chips)
Seat 7: Almost_Pr0_ ($79.70 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
ToureR V8: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 7h 8c 4c 9s]
NeverGotAces: folds
Almost_Pr0_: calls $0.50
pacosi: folds
Hexagon: folds
plutoman20: raises $1.25 to $1.75
ToureR V8: folds
Almost_Pr0_: raises $2.25 to $4
plutoman20: calls $2.25
plutoman20: discards 1 card [9s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 7h 8c 4c] [3c]
Almost_Pr0_: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Almost_Pr0_: bets $5.70
plutoman20: raises $7.30 to $13
Almost_Pr0_: calls $7.30
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [2s 7h 8c 4c 3c] (Lo: 8,7,4,3,2)
Almost_Pr0_: mucks hand
plutoman20 collected $32.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $34.50 Rake $1.70
Seat 2: pacosi folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Hexagon (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [2s 7h 8c 4c 3c] and won ($32.80) with Lo: 8,7,4,3,2
Seat 5: ToureR V8 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: NeverGotAces folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Almost_Pr0_ mucked [4d 9h 3h 8d 2h]

Hand 2
Another 987 but this time in position. I thought twice before calling this bet; if he'd bet $8 or $9 I think I'd have folded.

PokerStars Game #67321721644: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/10 18:48:11 ET
Table 'Aquilegia VI' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: raihor81 ($4.35 in chips)
Seat 2: Pfälzer-Wind ($17.80 in chips)
Seat 4: kolyan_w ($38.45 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($38.50 in chips)
Seat 6: kazmin66 ($8.45 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
kazmin66: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8s 2c 4h 9s 7c]
raihor81: raises $1 to $1.50
Pfälzer-Wind: calls $1.50
kolyan_w: folds
plutoman20: raises $4.50 to $6
kazmin66: folds
raihor81: folds
Pfälzer-Wind: calls $4.50
plutoman20: stands pat on [8s 2c 4h 9s 7c]
Pfälzer-Wind: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
Pfälzer-Wind: bets $5
plutoman20: calls $5
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Pfälzer-Wind: shows [5s 7d 4s 3s 6c] (Lo: a straight, Three to Seven)
plutoman20: shows [8s 2c 4h 9s 7c] (Lo: 9,8,7,4,2)
plutoman20 collected $22.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $24 Rake $1.15
Seat 1: raihor81 folded before Flop
Seat 2: Pfälzer-Wind showed [5s 7d 4s 3s 6c] and lost with Lo: a straight, Three to Seven
Seat 4: kolyan_w (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [8s 2c 4h 9s 7c] and won ($22.85) with Lo: 9,8,7,4,2
Seat 6: kazmin66 (big blind) folded before Flop

Hands 3 & 4
Short-handed, I hit two highly improbable hands in 4½ minutes, only to run into two equally improbable better hands.

PokerStars Game #67329242498: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/10 22:55:04 ET
Table 'Pannonia IV' 7-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: fyesta1 ($7.70 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($19.40 in chips)
Seat 7: M0FLES.22 ($31.85 in chips)
fyesta1: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Jh Ah 7d Ac Jd]
M0FLES.22: calls $0.50
fyesta1: calls $0.25
plutoman20: checks
fyesta1: discards 3 cards
plutoman20: discards 4 cards [Jh Ah Ac Jd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7d] [5s 2h 9h 4h]
M0FLES.22: discards 2 cards
fyesta1: bets $3
plutoman20: raises $4.50 to $7.50
M0FLES.22: folds
fyesta1: calls $4.20 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($0.30) returned to plutoman20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [5s 2h 7d 9h 4h] (Lo: 9,7,5,4,2)
fyesta1: shows [8s 3s 4d 5c 7h] (Lo: 8,7,5,4,3)
fyesta1 collected $15.15 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $15.90 Rake $0.75
Seat 1: fyesta1 (small blind) showed [8s 3s 4d 5c 7h] and won ($15.15) with Lo: 8,7,5,4,3
Seat 2: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [5s 2h 7d 9h 4h] and lost with Lo: 9,7,5,4,2
Seat 7: M0FLES.22 (button) folded on the Flop

PokerStars Game #67329322933: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/10 22:59:29 ET
Table 'Pannonia IV' 7-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: fyesta1 ($14.45 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($17.75 in chips)
Seat 3: pejos27 ($10.70 in chips)
Seat 7: M0FLES.22 ($34.95 in chips)
fyesta1: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8h 4s As Th Tc]
pejos27: calls $0.50
M0FLES.22: calls $0.50
fyesta1: calls $0.25
plutoman20: checks
fyesta1: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 3 cards [As Th Tc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8h 4s] [2d 7s 9d]
pejos27: discards 2 cards
M0FLES.22: discards 2 cards
fyesta1: checks
plutoman20: bets $1.50
pejos27: calls $1.50
M0FLES.22: calls $1.50
fyesta1: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [8h 4s 2d 7s 9d] (Lo: 9,8,7,4,2)
pejos27: shows [6s 4h 9h 3h 2h] (Lo: 9,6,4,3,2)
M0FLES.22: mucks hand
plutoman20 said, "lol"
pejos27 collected $6.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.50 Rake $0.30
Seat 1: fyesta1 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [8h 4s 2d 7s 9d] and lost with Lo: 9,8,7,4,2
Seat 3: pejos27 showed [6s 4h 9h 3h 2h] and won ($6.20) with Lo: 9,6,4,3,2
Seat 7: M0FLES.22 (button) mucked [4d 9c 7c 5c 8d]

Hand 5
Oh dear. I'm having a bad session here and it doesn't get any better when I dump the wrong card. I then hit the ultimate bluff card - a third eight - and I take down the pot.

PokerStars Game #67616118943: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/16 19:28:03 ET
Table 'Anacostia VII' 7-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: joanrocka ($28.45 in chips)
Seat 3: ernmic ($82.75 in chips)
Seat 4: 42llopi ($23.75 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($13.50 in chips)
Seat 6: G.Dmitriy ($13.50 in chips)
joanrocka: posts small blind $0.25
ernmic: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8c 9d 8h 4d 3d]
42llopi: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
G.Dmitriy: folds
joanrocka: calls $1.25
ernmic: folds
joanrocka: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [4d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8c 9d 8h 3d] [8d]
joanrocka: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
joanrocka: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $3.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.50 Rake $0.15
Seat 1: joanrocka (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 3: ernmic (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: 42llopi folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: plutoman20 collected ($3.35)
Seat 6: G.Dmitriy (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 6
Only my fourth hand at the table. If I was Jon I'd have folded instead of shoving, although I would have folded numerous better hands to his shove. Some people call big all-ins with draws; I'm not one of those people.

PokerStars Game #67631611868: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/17 6:41:55 ET
Table 'Amanda V' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($32.55 in chips)
Seat 2: antoca901 ($7.35 in chips)
Seat 4: SARIIA ($24.35 in chips)
Seat 5: guitarlord66 ($15.40 in chips)
Seat 6: BADIM1965 ($9.80 in chips)
Seat 7: jon011 ($64.40 in chips)
SARIIA: posts small blind $0.25
guitarlord66: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6h 5c 7d 2d 4d]
BADIM1965: folds
jon011: raises $1 to $1.50
plutoman20: raises $2.50 to $4
antoca901: folds
SARIIA: folds
guitarlord66: folds
jon011: raises $60.40 to $64.40 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $28.55 and is all-in
Uncalled bet ($31.85) returned to jon011
jon011: stands pat
plutoman20: stands pat on [6h 5c 7d 2d 4d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jon011: shows [5h 9s 8h 6s Tc] (Lo: T,9,8,6,5)
plutoman20: shows [6h 5c 7d 2d 4d] (Lo: 7,6,5,4,2)
plutoman20 collected $62.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $65.85 Rake $3
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [6h 5c 7d 2d 4d] and won ($62.85) with Lo: 7,6,5,4,2
Seat 2: antoca901 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: SARIIA (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: guitarlord66 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: BADIM1965 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: jon011 showed [5h 9s 8h 6s Tc] and lost with Lo: T,9,8,6,5

Hand 7
I posted this one on a forum. The consensus was that I should have just called the raise, mainly to balance my just-calling range but also because my eight flush outs seriously hurt me. I posted about a similar hand here (see hand 5); that time I chose a different (wrong?) option but also got away with it.

PokerStars Game #67825186325: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/09/21 5:36:30 ET
Table 'Sorga II' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Sharles1988 ($31.60 in chips)
Seat 3: 42llopi ($38.30 in chips)
Seat 4: popaionut ($44.75 in chips)
Seat 6: apolo321 ($20.55 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($25.50 in chips)
apolo321: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 7s 6s 3s 5s]
mikey m1985 leaves the table
Sharles1988: raises $1 to $1.50
42llopi: folds
popaionut: folds
apolo321: folds
plutoman20: raises $3 to $4.50
Sharles1988: calls $3
plutoman20: discards 1 card [6s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 7s 3s 5s] [9c]
Sharles1988: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $5
Sharles1988: folds
Uncalled bet ($5) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $8.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.25 Rake $0.45
Seat 1: Sharles1988 folded on the Flop
Seat 3: 42llopi folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: popaionut (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: apolo321 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: plutoman20 (big blind) collected ($8.80)