Getting the hang of it

February has been a good month so far. There have been two main successes, the first being a purple patch at $2/$4 badugi. After 1400 hands (which I realise is a tiny sample) I'm running at a totally unsustainable nine big bets per hundred. As for the other achievement, I'm at last starting to get the hang of triple draw, or at least I think I am. I've posted some triple draw hands on Deuces Cracked (for some reason I don't like posting on forums) and have had some excellent and informative feedback, even if a lot of it wasn't conclusive. Here are a selection of hands I've played since I got back from Wellington:

Hand 1
As I was in the unusual position of having seen every deuce in the deck, as well as some other key cards, I decided to snow three-way. The real X-factor in this hand was Trillionaire, an aggressive player who doesn't like the fold button much. Had he made any sort of hand on the end he surely would have called me.

PokerStars Game #57469337615: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/11 1:05:20 ET
Table 'Leuschneria IX' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: trillionair3 ($115.85 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($14.15 in chips)
Seat 4: TheGanjaMan1 ($10.65 in chips)
Seat 5: jle420one ($11.40 in chips)
Seat 6: jeffnc ($10 in chips)
jle420one: posts small blind $0.10
jeffnc: posts big blind $0.25
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2s 2c 7s 7h 4s]
trillionair3: calls $0.25
plutoman20: raises $0.25 to $0.50
TheGanjaMan1: folds
jle420one: calls $0.40
jeffnc: folds
trillionair3: calls $0.25
*** FIRST DRAW ***
jle420one: discards 2 cards
trillionair3: discards 3 cards
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [2s 7h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2c 7s 4s] [2h 2d]
jle420one: checks
trillionair3: checks
plutoman20: bets $0.25
jle420one: calls $0.25
trillionair3: calls $0.25
*** SECOND DRAW ***
jle420one: discards 1 card
trillionair3: discards 3 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [2c 7s 4s 2h 2d]
jle420one: checks
trillionair3: checks
plutoman20: bets $0.50
jle420one: calls $0.50
trillionair3: calls $0.50
*** THIRD DRAW ***
jle420one: discards 1 card
trillionair3: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [2c 7s 4s 2h 2d]
jle420one: folds
trillionair3: checks
plutoman20: bets $0.50
trillionair3: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.50) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $3.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4 Rake $0.15
Seat 2: trillionair3 folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 3: plutoman20 collected ($3.85)
Seat 4: TheGanjaMan1 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: jle420one (small blind) folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 6: jeffnc (big blind) folded before the Draw

Hand 2
Storpu had been doing all kinds of crazy stuff (putting eight bucks into the pot with a two-card draw is craziness in itself), so I couldn't reasonably fold my 9-8 here. If you're going to lose a big pot, you may as well do so in style.

PokerStars Game #57004614248: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/02 16:35:20 ET
Table 'Selinur' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($36.55 in chips)
Seat 3: pawel9304930 ($57.25 in chips)
Seat 4: KOLUN KZ ($24.75 in chips)
Seat 5: storpu ($29.20 in chips)
Seat 6: Angyalfold ($55.40 in chips)
Seat 7: Gizi4U ($23.90 in chips)
pawel9304930: posts small blind $0.25
KOLUN KZ: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6s 4h 8c 9c 3c]
storpu: raises $2.50 to $3
Angyalfold: folds
Gizi4U: folds
plutoman20: raises $5 to $8
pawel9304930: folds
KOLUN KZ: folds
storpu: calls $5
storpu: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: stands pat on [6s 4h 8c 9c 3c]
storpu: bets $21.20 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $21.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
storpu: shows [3s 4s 7d 2c 5d] (Lo: 7,5,4,3,2)
plutoman20: shows [6s 4h 8c 9c 3c] (Lo: 9,8,6,4,3)
storpu collected $56.25 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $59.15 Rake $2.90
Seat 1: plutoman20 (button) showed [6s 4h 8c 9c 3c] and lost with Lo: 9,8,6,4,3
Seat 3: pawel9304930 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: KOLUN KZ (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: storpu showed [3s 4s 7d 2c 5d] and won ($56.25) with Lo: 7,5,4,3,2
Seat 6: Angyalfold folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Gizi4U folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hands 3 & 4
Consecutive hands that show how hard it can be to get value. For some reason people don't want to bet their hands any more.

PokerStars Game #57231079184: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/06 15:53:39 ET
Table 'Ianthe XVIII' 7-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: antoca901 ($24.45 in chips)
Seat 2: Ya Tigra ($19.90 in chips)
Seat 3: Scylla0805 ($18 in chips)
Seat 4: percuni ($35.65 in chips)
Seat 5: ayury ($11.15 in chips)
Seat 6: NightStarUz ($15.85 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($24 in chips)
ayury: posts small blind $0.25
NightStarUz: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 2d 7c 6h Ks]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
antoca901: folds
Ya Tigra: calls $1.50
Scylla0805: calls $1.50
percuni: folds
ayury: folds
NightStarUz: folds
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ks]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 2d 7c 6h] [7h]
Ya Tigra: discards 1 card
Scylla0805: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
Ya Tigra: checks
Scylla0805: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [8d 2d 7c 6h 7h] (Lo: a pair of Sevens)
Ya Tigra: shows [9c 5d 3d 6d 7d] (Lo: 9,7,6,5,3)
Scylla0805: shows [5h 9h 2c 4d 3s] (Lo: 9,5,4,3,2)
Scylla0805 collected $5 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.25 Rake $0.25
Seat 1: antoca901 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: Ya Tigra showed [9c 5d 3d 6d 7d] and lost with Lo: 9,7,6,5,3
Seat 3: Scylla0805 showed [5h 9h 2c 4d 3s] and won ($5) with Lo: 9,5,4,3,2
Seat 4: percuni (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ayury (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: NightStarUz (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: plutoman20 showed [8d 2d 7c 6h 7h] and lost with Lo: a pair of Sevens

PokerStars Game #57231121183: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/06 15:54:16 ET
Table 'Ianthe XVIII' 7-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: antoca901 ($24.45 in chips)
Seat 2: Ya Tigra ($18.40 in chips)
Seat 3: Scylla0805 ($21.50 in chips)
Seat 4: percuni ($35.65 in chips)
Seat 5: ayury ($10.90 in chips)
Seat 6: NightStarUz ($15.35 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($22.50 in chips)
NightStarUz: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 9d Jc 2c 3h]
antoca901: calls $0.50
Ya Tigra: folds
Scylla0805: calls $0.50
percuni: folds
ayury: folds
NightStarUz: folds
plutoman20: raises $1.50 to $2
antoca901: calls $1.50
Scylla0805: calls $1.50
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Jc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 9d 2c 3h] [6d]
antoca901: discards 1 card
Scylla0805: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $4
antoca901: folds
Scylla0805: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7c 9d 6d 2c 3h] (Lo: 9,7,6,3,2)
Scylla0805: shows [4c 8c 5s 7d 3s] (Lo: 8,7,5,4,3)
Scylla0805 collected $13.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.25 Rake $0.65
Seat 1: antoca901 folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Ya Tigra folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Scylla0805 showed [4c 8c 5s 7d 3s] and won ($13.60) with Lo: 8,7,5,4,3
Seat 4: percuni folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: ayury (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: NightStarUz (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [7c 9d 6d 2c 3h] and lost with Lo: 9,7,6,3,2

Hand 5
I had such a good draw...

PokerStars Game #57244897788: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/06 20:13:57 ET
Table 'Harmonia XX' 7-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($22.65 in chips)
Seat 4: chrismystero ($18.90 in chips)
Seat 5: MJSGEORGIA ($48.70 in chips)
Seat 6: Mikemorrison ($7.85 in chips)
Seat 7: pedorretas31 ($21.80 in chips)
Mikemorrison: posts small blind $0.25
pedorretas31: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7h 3s Tc 5h 2h]
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
chrismystero: folds
MJSGEORGIA: folds
Mikemorrison: raises $6.35 to $7.85 and is all-in
pedorretas31: folds
plutoman20: calls $6.35
Mikemorrison: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Tc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7h 3s 5h 2h] [5d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Mikemorrison: shows [8c Td 5s 6h 9c] (Lo: T,9,8,6,5)
plutoman20: shows [7h 3s 5d 5h 2h] (Lo: a pair of Fives)
Mikemorrison collected $15.40 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $16.20 Rake $0.80
Seat 1: plutoman20 showed [7h 3s 5d 5h 2h] and lost with Lo: a pair of Fives
Seat 4: chrismystero folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: MJSGEORGIA (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Mikemorrison (small blind) showed [8c Td 5s 6h 9c] and won ($15.40) with Lo: T,9,8,6,5
Seat 7: pedorretas31 (big blind) folded before Flop

Hand 6
The problem here was Wjcone's short stack. His reraise of the initial min-raise didn't necessarily mean he had a pat hand at all; I couldn't find a fold with my super-rough nine. Neither could I find a fold, getting three to one, when he went all in.

PokerStars Game #57352850245: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/02/08 19:36:58 ET
Table 'Sigelinde XL' 7-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: hit4me2 ($26.65 in chips)
Seat 3: WJCONE ($15.50 in chips)
Seat 4: Vortexx1111 ($32.70 in chips)
Seat 5: 'tacheman ($13.65 in chips)
Seat 6: plutoman20 ($31.55 in chips)
Seat 7: z02dsl ($39.65 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
z02dsl: posts big blind $0.50
TATAR TOPOR: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3d 7c 9s 5h 8s]
hit4me2: raises $0.50 to $1
WJCONE: raises $2 to $3
Vortexx1111: folds
'tacheman: folds
plutoman20: raises $5 to $8
z02dsl: folds
hit4me2: folds
WJCONE: raises $7.50 to $15.50 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls $7.50
plutoman20: stands pat on [3d 7c 9s 5h 8s]
WJCONE: stands pat
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [3d 7c 9s 5h 8s] (Lo: 9,8,7,5,3)
WJCONE: shows [4h 7d 6h 2d 8h] (Lo: 8,7,6,4,2)
WJCONE collected $30.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $32.50 Rake $1.60
Seat 1: hit4me2 folded before Flop
Seat 3: WJCONE showed [4h 7d 6h 2d 8h] and won ($30.90) with Lo: 8,7,6,4,2
Seat 4: Vortexx1111 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: 'tacheman (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: plutoman20 (small blind) showed [3d 7c 9s 5h 8s] and lost with Lo: 9,8,7,5,3
Seat 7: z02dsl (big blind) folded before Flop

Hand 7
Should I have just checked sixth? Why didn't he raise me there? Should I have double-bet fourth? (at that stage I wanted to keep people in, but at these stakes it's likely people will stay in regardless). After the hand, Hagisscoop said he had me "crushed" on third with his KK, implying that I shouldn't have raised. He's about a two-to-one favourite, so it's hardly hold 'em where KK really does dominate QQ before the flop. If he was so confident of being ahead (and two-to-one is still a healthy advantage) why didn't he reraise me?

PokerStars Game #57122704603: 7 Card Stud Limit ($0.10/$0.20 USD) - 2011/02/04 17:56:43 ET
Table 'Kilia XVII' 8-max
Seat 1: ekgude ($5.62 in chips)
Seat 2: KINGBTL ($2.75 in chips)
Seat 3: JokerAceWild ($6.36 in chips)
Seat 4: hagisscoop ($4 in chips)
Seat 5: HeartOfGold ($3.44 in chips)
Seat 6: banze4 ($1.21 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($9.12 in chips)
Seat 8: winkystinky ($2.73 in chips)
Everyone posts the ante $0.02
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to ekgude [8s]
Dealt to KINGBTL [6h]
Dealt to JokerAceWild [2s]
Dealt to hagisscoop [6d]
Dealt to HeartOfGold [Jh]
Dealt to banze4 [8d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qs Qh]
Dealt to winkystinky [7s]
JokerAceWild: brings in for $0.05
hagisscoop: raises $0.05 to $0.10
HeartOfGold: folds
banze4: folds
plutoman20: raises $0.10 to $0.20
winkystinky: calls $0.20
ekgude: folds
KINGBTL: folds
JokerAceWild: folds
hagisscoop: calls $0.10
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to hagisscoop [6d] [Th]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qs Qh] [Qc]
Dealt to winkystinky [7s] [8c]
Pair on board - a double bet is allowed
plutoman20: bets $0.10
winkystinky: calls $0.10
hagisscoop: calls $0.10
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to hagisscoop [6d Th] [3d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qs Qh Qc] [4c]
Dealt to winkystinky [7s 8c] [9c]
plutoman20: bets $0.20
winkystinky: calls $0.20
hagisscoop: folds
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qs Qh Qc 4c] [3s]
Dealt to winkystinky [7s 8c 9c] [Jd]
plutoman20: bets $0.20
winkystinky: calls $0.20
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [5d Qs Qh Qc 4c 3s] [8h]
plutoman20: checks
winkystinky: bets $0.20
plutoman20: calls $0.20
*** SHOW DOWN ***
winkystinky: shows [As Ts 7s 8c 9c Jd 2h] (a straight, Seven to Jack)
plutoman20: mucks hand
winkystinky collected $2.20 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $2.31 Rake $0.11
Seat 1: ekgude folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: KINGBTL folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 3: JokerAceWild folded on the 3rd Street
Seat 4: hagisscoop folded on the 5th Street
Seat 5: HeartOfGold folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 6: banze4 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 7: plutoman20 mucked [5d Qs Qh Qc 4c 3s 8h]
Seat 8: winkystinky showed [As Ts 7s 8c 9c Jd 2h] and won ($2.20) with a straight, Seven to Jack