October monthly report

After seven consecutive winning months, October was my worst ever month as I lost $171. My bankroll is now $3186. Even if you take out my horror two-hour session of $3/$6 badugi, it still wasn't a great month.
Here are a selection of hands:

Hand 1

Gah! I wouldn't normally break T42A pre but in a four-way capped pot it seemed right at the time as it was very likely my hand would be run down and I'd have implied odds with my draw. Of course in a big pot implied odds matter less. I never expected Victor to draw two. Even ignoring the result I think I should have patted but it's close. J42A would be a clear break.

PokerStars Hand #87574349868:  Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2012/10/12 23:52:32 ET

Table 'Peitho III' 8-max Seat #1 is the button

Seat 1: VICTORHUGOB ($36 in chips)

Seat 2: Hoyster87 ($39 in chips)

Seat 3: Respect ($38 in chips)

Seat 4: songyou3 ($32.89 in chips)

Seat 5: Yorugua666 ($51.32 in chips)

Seat 6: NickGrinder ($142.51 in chips)

Seat 7: plutoman20 ($14.42 in chips)

Seat 8: Avenryz ($33.36 in chips)

Hoyster87: posts small blind $0.50

Respect: posts big blind $1

*** DEALING HANDS ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ah 2s Td 4c]

songyou3: folds

Yorugua666: raises $1 to $2

NickGrinder: calls $2

plutoman20: raises $1 to $3

Avenryz: folds

VICTORHUGOB: raises $1 to $4

Betting is capped

Hoyster87: folds

Respect: folds

Yorugua666: calls $2

NickGrinder: calls $2

plutoman20: calls $1

*** FIRST DRAW ***

Yorugua666: discards 1 card

NickGrinder: discards 1 card

plutoman20: discards 1 card [Td]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ah 2s 4c] [9s]

VICTORHUGOB: discards 2 cards

Yorugua666: checks

NickGrinder: checks

plutoman20: bets $1

VICTORHUGOB: calls $1

Yorugua666: calls $1

NickGrinder: calls $1

*** SECOND DRAW ***

Yorugua666: discards 1 card

NickGrinder: discards 1 card

plutoman20: discards 1 card [9s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ah 2s 4c] [Kd]

VICTORHUGOB: stands pat

Yorugua666: checks

NickGrinder: checks

plutoman20: checks

VICTORHUGOB: bets $2

Yorugua666: calls $2

NickGrinder: calls $2

plutoman20: calls $2

*** THIRD DRAW ***

Yorugua666: discards 1 card

NickGrinder: discards 1 card

plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kd]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ah 2s 4c] [Kc]

VICTORHUGOB: stands pat

Yorugua666: checks

NickGrinder: checks

plutoman20: checks

VICTORHUGOB: bets $2

Yorugua666: folds

NickGrinder: folds

plutoman20: calls $2

*** SHOW DOWN ***

VICTORHUGOB: shows [Ad Js Qh 3c] (Badugi: Q,J,3,A)

plutoman20: mucks hand

VICTORHUGOB collected $32.70 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $33.50 | Rake $0.80

Seat 1: VICTORHUGOB (button) showed [Ad Js Qh 3c] and won ($32.70) with a Badugi: Q,J,3,A

Seat 2: Hoyster87 (small blind) folded before the Draw

Seat 3: Respect (big blind) folded before the Draw

Seat 4: songyou3 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Seat 5: Yorugua666 folded after the 3rd Draw

Seat 6: NickGrinder folded after the 3rd Draw

Seat 7: plutoman20 mucked [Ah 2s Kc 4c]

Seat 8: Avenryz folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 2

Something seemed weird about his line. I still thought about it for a few seconds before making the call.

PokerStars Hand #88236243759:  Badugi Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2012/10/26 5:17:01 ET

Table 'Leonisis III' 8-max Seat #6 is the button

Seat 1: yetsi ($19.24 in chips)

Seat 2: wonder_wld ($5 in chips)

Seat 4: plutoman20 ($33.45 in chips)

Seat 5: denisggg ($14.63 in chips)

Seat 6: timinator60 ($7.09 in chips)

Seat 8: inperator34 ($21.82 in chips)

inperator34: posts small blind $0.25

yetsi: posts big blind $0.50

zepherelli: sits out

*** DEALING HANDS ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [9d 4d 3h 2s]

wonder_wld: calls $0.50

plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1

denisggg: folds

timinator60: folds

inperator34: folds

yetsi: folds

wonder_wld: calls $0.50

*** FIRST DRAW ***

wonder_wld: discards 1 card

plutoman20: discards 1 card [9d]

Dealt to plutoman20 [4d 3h 2s] [7h]

wonder_wld: bets $0.50

plutoman20: calls $0.50

*** SECOND DRAW ***

wonder_wld: discards 1 card

plutoman20: discards 1 card [7h]

Dealt to plutoman20 [4d 3h 2s] [9s]

wonder_wld: bets $1

plutoman20: calls $1

*** THIRD DRAW ***

wonder_wld: stands pat

plutoman20: discards 1 card [9s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [4d 3h 2s] [8d]

wonder_wld: bets $1

plutoman20: calls $1

*** SHOW DOWN ***

wonder_wld: shows [3s Ah 3c 7d] (3-card: 7,3,A)

plutoman20: shows [8d 4d 3h 2s] (3-card: 4,3,2)

plutoman20 collected $7.40 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $7.75 | Rake $0.35

Seat 1: yetsi (big blind) folded before the Draw

Seat 2: wonder_wld showed [3s Ah 3c 7d] and lost with a 3-card: 7,3,A

Seat 4: plutoman20 showed [8d 4d 3h 2s] and won ($7.40) with a 3-card: 4,3,2

Seat 5: denisggg folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Seat 6: timinator60 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Seat 8: inperator34 (small blind) folded before the Draw

Hand 3

My hand looks super-strong when I check-raise the turn.

PokerStars Hand #88288258018:  Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2012/10/27 5:44:41 ET

Table 'Marcelle III' 8-max Seat #7 is the button

Seat 1: ogotop76 ($46.92 in chips)

Seat 2: wconanw ($72.97 in chips)

Seat 5: greatvegeta ($39.37 in chips)

Seat 6: stef456 ($63.20 in chips)

Seat 7: plutoman20 ($55.66 in chips)

ogotop76: posts small blind $0.50

wconanw: posts big blind $1

*** DEALING HANDS ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ks 2c Jh 4d]

greatvegeta: folds

stef456: folds

plutoman20: raises $1 to $2

ogotop76: folds

wconanw: raises $1 to $3

plutoman20: raises $1 to $4

Betting is capped

wconanw: calls $1

*** FIRST DRAW ***

wconanw: stands pat

plutoman20: stands pat on [Ks 2c Jh 4d]

wconanw: bets $1

plutoman20: calls $1

*** SECOND DRAW ***

wconanw: stands pat

plutoman20: stands pat on [Ks 2c Jh 4d]

wconanw: bets $2

plutoman20: raises $2 to $4

wconanw: folds

Uncalled bet ($2) returned to plutoman20

plutoman20 collected $13.92 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $14.50 | Rake $0.58

Seat 1: ogotop76 (small blind) folded before the Draw

Seat 2: wconanw (big blind) folded after the 2nd Draw

Seat 5: greatvegeta folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Seat 6: stef456 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Seat 7: plutoman20 (button) collected ($13.92)

Hands 4 & 5

Two attempted bluffs into weakly-played pat hands.

PokerStars Hand #88072971579:  Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/22 18:35:50 ET

Table 'Plaut IV' 7-max Seat #6 is the button

Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 ($22.10 in chips)

Seat 2: dpmaf ($39.79 in chips)

Seat 3: plutoman20 ($36.78 in chips)

Seat 4: BMW2XX2 ($29.40 in chips)

Seat 5: 0-T|nK ($28.18 in chips)

Seat 6: britje188 ($15.56 in chips)

Seat 7: ronnysl ($61.90 in chips)

ronnysl: posts small blind $0.25

ThaSlosh23: posts big blind $0.50

*** DEALING HANDS ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [9c Qh 7h 2d 8s]

dpmaf: folds

plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50

BMW2XX2: folds

0-T|nK: folds

britje188: folds

ronnysl: calls $1.25

ThaSlosh23: folds

ronnysl: stands pat

plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qh]

Dealt to plutoman20 [9c 7h 2d 8s] [9h]

ronnysl: checks

plutoman20: bets $2.25

ronnysl: folds

Uncalled bet ($2.25) returned to plutoman20

plutoman20 collected $3.34 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $3.50 | Rake $0.16

Seat 1: ThaSlosh23 (big blind) folded before Flop

Seat 2: dpmaf folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 3: plutoman20 collected ($3.34)

Seat 4: BMW2XX2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 5: 0-T|nK folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 6: britje188 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 7: ronnysl (small blind) folded on the Flop

PokerStars Hand #88073246006:  Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/22 18:41:46 ET

Table 'Plaut IV' 7-max Seat #6 is the button

Seat 2: dpmaf ($49.25 in chips)

Seat 3: plutoman20 ($38.68 in chips)

Seat 4: BMW2XX2 ($24.59 in chips)

Seat 5: 0-T|nK ($23.63 in chips)

Seat 6: britje188 ($44.04 in chips)

Seat 7: ronnysl ($63.58 in chips)

ronnysl: posts small blind $0.25

dpmaf: posts big blind $0.50

*** DEALING HANDS ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 9c Jh 5s 2s]

plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50

BMW2XX2: folds

0-T|nK: folds

britje188: calls $1.50

ronnysl: folds

dpmaf: folds

plutoman20: discards 1 card [Jh]

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 9c 5s 2s] [5c]

britje188: stands pat

plutoman20: bets $2.25

britje188: calls $2.25

*** SHOW DOWN ***

plutoman20: shows [6c 9c 5c 5s 2s] (Lo: a pair of Fives)

britje188: shows [Td 5d 8d 2h 7d] (Lo: T,8,7,5,2)

britje188 collected $7.88 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $8.25 | Rake $0.37

Seat 2: dpmaf (big blind) folded before Flop

Seat 3: plutoman20 showed [6c 9c 5c 5s 2s] and lost with Lo: a pair of Fives

Seat 4: BMW2XX2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 5: 0-T|nK folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 6: britje188 (button) showed [Td 5d 8d 2h 7d] and won ($7.88) with Lo: T,8,7,5,2

Seat 7: ronnysl (small blind) folded before Flop

Hands 6, 7 & 8

So quartering is such a rarity in stud-8 that it isn't worth thinking about.

PokerStars Hand #88233248673:  7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/26 2:40:04 ET

Table 'Regina VI' 8-max

Seat 1: dihola ($10.60 in chips)

Seat 2: QiBall311 ($7.43 in chips)

Seat 3: dimula1990 ($11.11 in chips)

Seat 4: burrago1 ($3.15 in chips)

Seat 5: plutoman20 ($4.55 in chips)

Seat 6: alexmorcas ($7.14 in chips)

Seat 7: Rat61 ($3.16 in chips)

Seat 8: tamerlan058 ($11.85 in chips)

QiBall311 said, "hahaha idiot dimula is funny again"

dihola: posts the ante $0.05

QiBall311: posts the ante $0.05

dimula1990: posts the ante $0.05

burrago1: posts the ante $0.05

plutoman20: posts the ante $0.05

alexmorcas: posts the ante $0.05

Rat61: posts the ante $0.05

tamerlan058: posts the ante $0.05

*** 3rd STREET ***

Dealt to dihola [4h]

Dealt to QiBall311 [Qd]

Dealt to dimula1990 [6s]

Dealt to burrago1 [Jd]

Dealt to plutoman20 [5s 6c 3h]

Dealt to alexmorcas [8s]

Dealt to Rat61 [4c]

Dealt to tamerlan058 [Kd]

plutoman20: brings in for $0.10

alexmorcas: calls $0.10

Rat61: calls $0.10

tamerlan058: folds

dihola: calls $0.10

QiBall311: folds

dimula1990: folds

burrago1: folds

*** 4th STREET ***

Dealt to dihola [4h] [Js]

Dealt to plutoman20 [5s 6c 3h] [4s]

Dealt to alexmorcas [8s] [Ts]

Dealt to Rat61 [4c] [3d]

dihola: checks

plutoman20: bets $0.25

alexmorcas: folds

Rat61: calls $0.25

dihola: folds

*** 5th STREET ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [5s 6c 3h 4s] [8c]

Dealt to Rat61 [4c 3d] [2d]

plutoman20: bets $0.50

Rat61: raises $0.50 to $1

plutoman20: calls $0.50

*** 6th STREET ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [5s 6c 3h 4s 8c] [2s]

Dealt to Rat61 [4c 3d 2d] [Ah]

Rat61: bets $0.50

plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1

Rat61: raises $0.50 to $1.50

plutoman20: calls $0.50

*** RIVER ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [5s 6c 3h 4s 8c 2s] [As]

Rat61: bets $0.26 and is all-in

plutoman20: calls $0.26

*** SHOW DOWN ***

Rat61: shows [Qc 5c 4c 3d 2d Ah 8d] (HI: a straight, Ace to Five; LO: 5,4,3,2,A)

plutoman20: shows [5s 6c 3h 4s 8c 2s As] (HI: a straight, Deuce to Six; LO: 5,4,3,2,A)

plutoman20 collected $3.33 from pot

plutoman20 collected $1.67 from pot

Rat61 collected $1.66 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $6.82 | Rake $0.16

Seat 1: dihola folded on the 4th Street

Seat 2: QiBall311 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 3: dimula1990 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 4: burrago1 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 5: plutoman20 showed [5s 6c 3h 4s 8c 2s As] and won ($5) with HI: a straight, Deuce to Six; LO: 5,4,3,2,A

Seat 6: alexmorcas folded on the 4th Street

Seat 7: Rat61 showed [Qc 5c 4c 3d 2d Ah 8d] and won ($1.66) with HI: a straight, Ace to Five; LO: 5,4,3,2,A

Seat 8: tamerlan058 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

  

PokerStars Hand #88233592540:  7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/26 3:02:46 ET

Table 'Regina VI' 8-max

Seat 2: QiBall311 ($8.98 in chips)

Seat 3: dimula1990 ($12.57 in chips)

Seat 4: blackvdow ($11.05 in chips)

Seat 5: plutoman20 ($4.58 in chips)

Seat 6: alexmorcas ($12.59 in chips)

Seat 7: Rat61 ($4.11 in chips)

Seat 8: tamerlan058 ($11.42 in chips)

QiBall311: posts the ante $0.05

dimula1990: posts the ante $0.05

blackvdow: posts the ante $0.05

plutoman20: posts the ante $0.05

alexmorcas: posts the ante $0.05

Rat61: posts the ante $0.05

tamerlan058: posts the ante $0.05

*** 3rd STREET ***

Dealt to QiBall311 [6d]

Dealt to dimula1990 [4s]

Dealt to blackvdow [3s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 3d 7s]

Dealt to alexmorcas [Ks]

Dealt to Rat61 [4h]

Dealt to tamerlan058 [Jd]

blackvdow: brings in for $0.10

plutoman20: calls $0.10

alexmorcas: folds

Rat61: calls $0.10

tamerlan058: calls $0.10

QiBall311: folds

dimula1990: folds

*** 4th STREET ***

Dealt to blackvdow [3s] [9c]

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 3d 7s] [8h]

Dealt to Rat61 [4h] [8s]

Dealt to tamerlan058 [Jd] [Ad]

tamerlan058: bets $0.25

blackvdow: folds

plutoman20: raises $0.25 to $0.50

Rat61: calls $0.50

tamerlan058: calls $0.25

*** 5th STREET ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 3d 7s 8h] [5d]

Dealt to Rat61 [4h 8s] [7d]

Dealt to tamerlan058 [Jd Ad] [Kd]

tamerlan058: bets $0.50

plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1

Rat61: calls $1

tamerlan058: raises $0.50 to $1.50

plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $2

Betting is capped

Rat61: calls $1

tamerlan058: calls $0.50

*** 6th STREET ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 3d 7s 8h 5d] [4c]

Dealt to Rat61 [4h 8s 7d] [3c]

Dealt to tamerlan058 [Jd Ad Kd] [Kh]

tamerlan058: bets $0.50

plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1

Rat61: calls $1

tamerlan058: raises $0.50 to $1.50

plutoman20: raises $0.43 to $1.93 and is all-in

Betting is capped

Rat61: calls $0.46 and is all-in

tamerlan058: calls $0.43

*** RIVER ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 3d 7s 8h 5d 4c] [9h]

*** SHOW DOWN ***

plutoman20: shows [6c 3d 7s 8h 5d 4c 9h] (HI: a straight, Five to Nine; LO: 7,6,5,4,3)

tamerlan058: shows [8d Td Jd Ad Kd Kh 2h] (HI: a flush, Ace high)

tamerlan058 collected $0.47 from side pot

plutoman20 collected $0.47 from side pot

Rat61: shows [5s 5h 4h 8s 7d 3c 6s] (HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 7,6,5,4,3)

tamerlan058 collected $6.24 from main pot

plutoman20 collected $3.12 from main pot

Rat61 collected $3.11 from main pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $13.57 Main pot $12.47. Side pot $0.94. | Rake $0.16

Seat 2: QiBall311 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 3: dimula1990 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 4: blackvdow folded on the 4th Street

Seat 5: plutoman20 showed [6c 3d 7s 8h 5d 4c 9h] and won ($3.59) with HI: a straight, Five to Nine; LO: 7,6,5,4,3

Seat 6: alexmorcas folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 7: Rat61 showed [5s 5h 4h 8s 7d 3c 6s] and won ($3.11) with HI: a straight, Four to Eight; LO: 7,6,5,4,3

Seat 8: tamerlan058 showed [8d Td Jd Ad Kd Kh 2h] and won ($6.71) with HI: a flush, Ace high

PokerStars Hand #88268385722:  7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/26 17:30:47 ET

Table 'Oberon III' 8-max

Seat 1: II JUSTME II ($13.29 in chips)

Seat 2: gnm777 ($9.10 in chips)

Seat 3: plutoman20 ($13.59 in chips)

Seat 4: germanSpb98 ($1.73 in chips)

Seat 5: pepi55 ($10.37 in chips)

Seat 6: Fedormiller ($3.07 in chips)

Seat 7: brokeal ($1.63 in chips)

Seat 8: valleyg ($8.79 in chips)

II JUSTME II: posts the ante $0.05

gnm777: posts the ante $0.05

plutoman20: posts the ante $0.05

germanSpb98: posts the ante $0.05

pepi55: posts the ante $0.05

Fedormiller: posts the ante $0.05

brokeal: posts the ante $0.05

valleyg: posts the ante $0.05

*** 3rd STREET ***

Dealt to II JUSTME II [5d]

Dealt to gnm777 [2s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6s 5s]

Dealt to germanSpb98 [Ad]

Dealt to pepi55 [Tc]

Dealt to Fedormiller [9d]

Dealt to brokeal [7d]

Dealt to valleyg [Kh]

gnm777: brings in for $0.10

plutoman20: calls $0.10

germanSpb98: raises $0.15 to $0.25

pepi55: calls $0.25

Fedormiller: folds

brokeal: folds

valleyg: folds

II JUSTME II: calls $0.25

gnm777: folds

plutoman20: calls $0.15

*** 4th STREET ***

Dealt to II JUSTME II [5d] [6c]

Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6s 5s] [As]

Dealt to germanSpb98 [Ad] [2h]

Dealt to pepi55 [Tc] [8h]

plutoman20: bets $0.25

germanSpb98: calls $0.25

pepi55: calls $0.25

II JUSTME II: calls $0.25

*** 5th STREET ***

Dealt to II JUSTME II [5d 6c] [4d]

Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6s 5s As] [4s]

Dealt to germanSpb98 [Ad 2h] [4h]

Dealt to pepi55 [Tc 8h] [Jc]

plutoman20: bets $0.50

germanSpb98: calls $0.50

pepi55: folds

II JUSTME II: calls $0.50

*** 6th STREET ***

Dealt to II JUSTME II [5d 6c 4d] [Js]

Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6s 5s As 4s] [8c]

Dealt to germanSpb98 [Ad 2h 4h] [9h]

germanSpb98: checks

II JUSTME II: checks

plutoman20: bets $0.50

germanSpb98: calls $0.50

II JUSTME II: calls $0.50

*** RIVER ***

Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6s 5s As 4s 8c] [Ac]

germanSpb98: checks

II JUSTME II: checks

plutoman20: bets $0.50

germanSpb98: calls $0.18 and is all-in

II JUSTME II: calls $0.50

*** SHOW DOWN ***

plutoman20: shows [8d 6s 5s As 4s 8c Ac] (HI: two pair, Aces and Eights; LO: 8,6,5,4,A)

II JUSTME II: shows [Ah 8s 5d 6c 4d Js 6d] (HI: a pair of Sixes; LO: 8,6,5,4,A)

plutoman20 collected $0.32 from side pot

II JUSTME II collected $0.16 from side pot

plutoman20 collected $0.16 from side pot

germanSpb98: mucks hand

plutoman20 collected $2.94 from main pot

II JUSTME II collected $1.47 from main pot

plutoman20 collected $1.47 from main pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $6.68 Main pot $5.88. Side pot $0.64. | Rake $0.16

Seat 1: II JUSTME II showed [Ah 8s 5d 6c 4d Js 6d] and won ($1.63) with HI: a pair of Sixes; LO: 8,6,5,4,A

Seat 2: gnm777 folded on the 3rd Street

Seat 3: plutoman20 showed [8d 6s 5s As 4s 8c Ac] and won ($4.89) with HI: two pair, Aces and Eights; LO: 8,6,5,4,A

Seat 4: germanSpb98 mucked [Ks Kd Ad 2h 4h 9h Jd]

Seat 5: pepi55 folded on the 5th Street

Seat 6: Fedormiller folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 7: brokeal folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Seat 8: valleyg folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)

Hand 8

It felt like a fold to the two bets sixth but I'm still not 100% sure.

PokerStars Hand #88337571996:  7 Card Stud Hi/Lo Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2012/10/28 4:08:27 ET

Table 'Nash III' 8-max

Seat 1: finishedlast ($2.84 in chips)

Seat 2: master_vl ($27.33 in chips)

Seat 3: xiaoqianzi88 ($29.55 in chips)

Seat 4: mélabéla ($16.64 in chips)

Seat 5: dimula1990 ($9.98 in chips)

Seat 6: raexxx ($4.90 in chips)

Seat 7: Rat61 ($2.38 in chips)

Seat 8: plutoman20 ($7.78 in chips)

finishedlast: posts the ante $0.05

master_vl: posts the ante $0.05

xiaoqianzi88: posts the ante $0.05

mélabéla: posts the ante $0.05

dimula1990: posts the ante $0.05

raexxx: posts the ante $0.05

Rat61: posts the ante $0.05

plutoman20: posts the ante $0.05

*** 3rd STREET ***

Dealt to finishedlast [Th]

Dealt to master_vl [9c]

Dealt to xiaoqianzi88 [Ah]

Dealt to mélabéla [Kh]

Dealt to dimula1990 [7c]

Dealt to raexxx [5c]

Dealt to Rat61 [6h]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ad Qs Ac]

raexxx: brings in for $0.10

Rat61: calls $0.10

plutoman20: raises $0.15 to $0.25

finishedlast: folds

master_vl: folds

xiaoqianzi88: folds

mélabéla: folds

dimula1990: calls $0.25

raexxx: calls $0.15

Rat61: calls $0.15

*** 4th STREET ***

Dealt to dimula1990 [7c] [8h]

Dealt to raexxx [5c] [2h]

Dealt to Rat61 [6h] [6s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ad Qs Ac] [4d]

Rat61: checks

plutoman20: bets $0.25

dimula1990: calls $0.25

raexxx: calls $0.25

Rat61: calls $0.25

*** 5th STREET ***

Dealt to dimula1990 [7c 8h] [7s]

Dealt to raexxx [5c 2h] [Ts]

Dealt to Rat61 [6h 6s] [4s]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ad Qs Ac 4d] [2c]

dimula1990: checks

raexxx: checks

Rat61: checks

plutoman20: bets $0.50

dimula1990: calls $0.50

raexxx: folds

Rat61: calls $0.50

*** 6th STREET ***

Dealt to dimula1990 [7c 8h 7s] [8c]

Dealt to Rat61 [6h 6s 4s] [8d]

Dealt to plutoman20 [Ad Qs Ac 4d 2c] [7d]

dimula1990: bets $0.50

Rat61: raises $0.50 to $1

plutoman20: folds

dimula1990: raises $0.50 to $1.50

Rat61: calls $0.33 and is all-in

Uncalled bet ($0.17) returned to dimula1990

*** RIVER ***

*** SHOW DOWN ***

dimula1990: shows [2d 3s 7c 8h 7s 8c 9s] (HI: two pair, Eights and Sevens)

Rat61: shows [5h 3h 6h 6s 4s 8d Kc] (HI: a pair of Sixes; LO: 8,6,5,4,3)

dimula1990 collected $3.20 from pot

Rat61 collected $3.20 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot $6.56 | Rake $0.16

A real grind

It's been a very frustrating month. I haven't been able to get anything going. One good session is inevitably followed by an equally bad one. I've even played some 25c/50c badugi for the first time in two years, almost in desperation I guess, and I've been crushing that just like in 2010, so at least that's something. But at $1/$2 badugi, which is one of my bread-and-butter games, I've gone through whatever the opposite of a purple patch is. Maybe a yellow patch. This graph, showing my win rates over successive groups of (roughly) 2000 hands, gives you some idea:

For that latest group I only won 41% of my showdowns. In badugi if you're only winning 41% of showdowns over 2000 hands you will take a hammering.

I was hoping stud-8 could become one of those bread-and-butter games but it hasn't quite turned out that way so far. I'm marginally ahead over an admittedly small sample size.

Since I last posted, my bankroll has traded over a narrow range from the high $3000s (I mean close to $3100, not close to $4000) to the low $3200s. I'm currently at $3168. I'll post a monthly report (with hopefully a few interesting hands) in the coming days.

Car crash

I had a go at 3/6 badugi on Saturday (makes sense really given that I'm over-rolled for the stakes I normally play) but ... it didn't go so well. I played three sessions. I fell behind early in my 145-hand opening session, then went on a tear only to fall back and finish even. In my second session (249 hands) I was up against it, going all-in twice (I know you shouldn't ever be all-in in a limit game) but got out of jail to be up $22 as the table broke. It was the third session that had me licking my wounds. It was just carnage. I broke a pat hand that I shouldn't have done, correctly stood my ground in another hand but it made no difference I was outdrawn anyway, and the 183-hand session ended up being a $300 car crash.

Although I ran badly on Saturday (in the last session nine of my eleven showdown hands were losers, and I didn't exactly run red hot in the other two sessions) I was guilty of playing scared. I was always looking over my shoulder at what my opponents might be doing. That's not good poker. Fear is most definitely the enemy.

I made a mini-comeback in my comfort zone that is 50c/$1 and 1/2, and my bankroll is now $3176, still more than $400 down on the high I reached in mid-September. For now I'll stay in my comfort zone, adding a spot of stud-8 which I'm enjoying.

I got quartered for the first time yesterday in stud-8. I finished up with K765432 in a three-way pot, and naturally jammed the river expecting to get half the pot. I was pretty sure one of my opponents had a wheel, but he turned over 765432A for three-quarters. Surprisingly I've already had his hand twice (you could call it a seven-card wheel I suppose); in my head I worked out the odds of making such a hand (or any specific unpaired hand) at around 8000 to one.

Here are some more probabilities I calculated (a bit more accurately):
The probability of making a low by the river when you have:
     4-low on 6th street.........34.8%
     4-low on 5th street.........57.0%
     3-low on 5th street.........14.8%
     4-low on 4th street.........71.3%
     3-low on 4th street.........32.4%
     3-low on 3rd street.........55.4%
     2-low on 3rd street.........19.6%

None of the probabilities above account for dead cards, which can be a pretty big factor. They show what a difference it makes if you catch good on fourth if you start with a three-low. Even if you have a four-low on fourth, you'll triple-brick two out of seven times, so having some high possibilities is huge especially if your low might not be the best if you make it.

I might have a go at a live tournament tomorrow night. Whatever happens, real people (!) will present an interesting challenge.