A quick heads-up

Well it was a fairly long heads-up actually. On Monday I took second in the "early bird" single draw tournament after four hours and exactly 500 hands. The middle stages of the tournament went very well for me. It wasn't as it I took down pot after pot with sevens and eights - in fact over half the hands I showed down were losers - but I won the pots that mattered. When we got heads-up though it was a different story. I had a chip lead of nearly three to two, but my opponent quickly whittled away at that, then overtook me, and although I hung in there for a decent period of time I never came back. It turned out my conqueror is some kind of heads-up KCL expert. He told me in chat that he made a living from it. On the right is his graph for heads-up tourneys over the last three months. Forty-five-degree angle graphs are not what you want to see! That's a lot of money to make from three months of purely heads-up poker.

In this morning's early bird I came fourth. It had a massive overlay - I don't mind getting up early if there's free money up for grabs. Only six paid, i.e. one of the final table would miss out; as we got down to seven I was the most likely candidate. I was really hanging on for dear life. When the bubble burst I was told I'd "played my Kiwi arse off" - I found that funny.

This afternoon I finished 93rd in the PLO8 blogger tournament (WBCOOP), enough for an $11 SCOOP ticket and a WBCOOP main event ticket although I doubt I can make that. I also tried the PLO high tourney on Tuesday - I don't know what I'm doing in that game and it was hardly surprising that I busted out early.

Here are some of the more interesting hands (in my opinion) from the last few days:

Hand 1

Win this hand and I'm ahead by two and a half to one. Lose and I'm out. How many outs have I got here? Probably not many, which is why (after using my time bank) I folded. Make the six a seven (or an eight) and I'd have called.

PokerStars Game #56448105939: Tournament #353438578, $5.00+$0.50 USD Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit - Level XIV (600/1200) - 2011/01/23 16:41:21 ET

Table '353438578 8' 7-max Seat #1 is the button

Seat 1: Stevenrh1 (77692 in chips)

Seat 6: plutoman20 (43808 in chips)

Stevenrh1: posts the ante 300

plutoman20: posts the ante 300

Stevenrh1: posts small blind 600

plutoman20: posts big blind 1200

*** DEALING HANDS ***

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

Stevenrh1: raises 2400 to 3600

plutoman20: raises 7200 to 10800

Stevenrh1: raises 66592 to 77392 and is all-in

plutoman20: folds

Uncalled bet (66592) returned to Stevenrh1

Stevenrh1 collected 22200 from pot

*** SUMMARY ***

Total pot 22200 Rake 0

Seat 1: Stevenrh1 (button) (small blind) collected (22200)

Seat 6: plutoman20 (big blind) folded before Flop

Hand 2

PeccoKimi has been showing down flush draws and big trips; he's clearly playing for high. But because of him, I end up virtually stacking off trying to make an eight. There were various reasons why I called. For starters there's a whole heap of dead money here. Secondly Zaharik knows that Pecco is playing for high, so Zaharik's hand isn't necessarily super strong. Thirdly Pecco's high hand most likely contains high cards, so my outs are probably live (I was unlucky that he had two of the threes I needed). And finally it's a rebuy, so I can have another go. As it happened I didn't rebuy. I ran my last 200 chips up to more than 4000 before busting in the middle of the field. I read a comment recently that there's more money to be made from triple draw than single at the moment. That might be true, but if the overlays continue and there are still people who think the object of the game is the exact opposite of what it really is, I'll be playing single draw tournaments for a while yet.

PokerStars Game #56491193682: Tournament #355556779, $5.00+$0.50 USD Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2011/01/24 13:07:42 ET
Table '355556779 4' 7-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: Rene24101990 (1455 in chips)
Seat 2: desktom (3345 in chips)
Seat 3: Vindel (3135 in chips)
Seat 4: plutoman20 (1755 in chips)
Seat 5: _z@h@rik_ (1545 in chips)
Seat 6: PeccoKimi (935 in chips)
Rene24101990: posts the ante 5
desktom: posts the ante 5
Vindel: posts the ante 5
plutoman20: posts the ante 5
_z@h@rik_: posts the ante 5
PeccoKimi: posts the ante 5
Rene24101990: posts small blind 10
desktom: posts big blind 20
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 4c 2d Qc 8c]
Vindel: folds
plutoman20: raises 50 to 70
_z@h@rik_: raises 150 to 220
PeccoKimi: raises 280 to 500
Rene24101990: folds
desktom: folds
plutoman20: calls 430
_z@h@rik_: raises 1040 to 1540 and is all-in
PeccoKimi: calls 430 and is all-in
plutoman20: calls 1040
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [6c 4c 2d 8c] [Js]
_z@h@rik_: stands pat
PeccoKimi: stands pat
_z@h@rik_ said, "lol"
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [6c 4c 2d Js 8c] (Lo: J,8,6,4,2)
_z@h@rik_: shows [5s 7d 8h 6h 2c] (Lo: 8,7,6,5,2)
_z@h@rik_ collected 1220 from side pot
PeccoKimi: shows [Td 3c Ts Th 3h] (Lo: a full house, Tens full of Threes)
_z@h@rik_ collected 2850 from main pot
PeccoKimi finished the tournament in 37th place
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4070 Main pot 2850. Side pot 1220. Rake 0
Seat 1: Rene24101990 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: desktom (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: Vindel folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: plutoman20 showed [6c 4c 2d Js 8c] and lost with Lo: J,8,6,4,2
Seat 5: _z@h@rik_ showed [5s 7d 8h 6h 2c] and won (4070) with Lo: 8,7,6,5,2

Seat 6: PeccoKimi (button) showed [Td 3c Ts Th 3h] and lost with Lo: a full house, Tens full of Threes

Hand 3

Eight left in this morning's tournament. Had I decided to shove here, or if Ikawayim had, I'd have been out. It was a biggish bet and I just had an inkling that I might be beaten. I ended up finishing fourth for $50.

PokerStars Game #56611144924: Tournament #355556803, $5.00+$0.50 USD Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit - Level VIII (150/300) - 2011/01/26 14:54:24 ET
Table '355556803 2' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: plutoman20 (7225 in chips)
Seat 3: ikawayim (15775 in chips)
Seat 4: Rene24101990 (8155 in chips)
Seat 5: peggy360 (13390 in chips)
plutoman20: posts the ante 75
ikawayim: posts the ante 75
Rene24101990: posts the ante 75
peggy360: posts the ante 75
ikawayim: posts small blind 150
Rene24101990: posts big blind 300
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 2s Kc 8c 3c]
peggy360: calls 300
plutoman20: raises 600 to 900
ikawayim: calls 750
Rene24101990: folds
peggy360: folds
ikawayim: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 2s 8c 3c] [4c]
ikawayim: bets 2100
plutoman20: calls 2100
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ikawayim: shows [5h 3s 8d 2c 6d] (Lo: 8,6,5,3,2)
plutoman20: mucks hand
ikawayim collected 6900 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6900 Rake 0
Seat 2: plutoman20 (button) mucked [7c 2s 4c 8c 3c]
Seat 3: ikawayim (small blind) showed [5h 3s 8d 2c 6d] and won (6900) with Lo: 8,6,5,3,2
Seat 4: Rene24101990 (big blind) folded before Flop

Seat 5: peggy360 folded before Flop

Hand 4

After this hand this morning, I was in trouble again. I can't understand just calling a raise with such a strong hand.

PokerStars Game #56612163789: Tournament #355556803, $5.00+$0.50 USD Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit - Level VIII (150/300) - 2011/01/26 15:11:45 ET
Table '355556803 2' 7-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: Ruskor777 (17830 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 (5800 in chips)
Seat 3: ikawayim (19300 in chips)
Seat 4: Rene24101990 (8530 in chips)
Seat 5: peggy360 (10990 in chips)
Seat 6: E.K.X (11650 in chips)
Seat 7: lmmmjm (12900 in chips)
Ruskor777: posts the ante 75
plutoman20: posts the ante 75
ikawayim: posts the ante 75
Rene24101990: posts the ante 75
peggy360: posts the ante 75
E.K.X: posts the ante 75
lmmmjm: posts the ante 75
Ruskor777: posts small blind 150
plutoman20: posts big blind 300
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 2s 6d 6c 5d]
ikawayim: folds
Rene24101990: folds
peggy360: folds
E.K.X: raises 600 to 900
lmmmjm: calls 900
Ruskor777: folds
plutoman20: calls 600
plutoman20: discards 1 card [6c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [7c 2s 6d 5d] [9d]
E.K.X: discards 1 card
lmmmjm: stands pat
plutoman20: bets 2000
E.K.X: folds
lmmmjm: calls 2000
*** SHOW DOWN ***
plutoman20: shows [7c 2s 6d 9d 5d] (Lo: 9,7,6,5,2)
lmmmjm: shows [7d 4s 2d 6h 9c] (Lo: 9,7,6,4,2)
lmmmjm collected 7375 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7375 Rake 0
Seat 1: Ruskor777 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [7c 2s 6d 9d 5d] and lost with Lo: 9,7,6,5,2
Seat 3: ikawayim folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Rene24101990 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: peggy360 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: E.K.X folded on the Flop
Seat 7: lmmmjm (button) showed [7d 4s 2d 6h 9c] and won (7375) with Lo: 9,7,6,4,2

Hand 5

I guess drawing one (as you would with this hand in five-card draw high) would have been more convincing. I decide to give up when he bets even though I knew he wasn't betting a seven.

PokerStars Game #56621170240: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/01/26 17:36:40 ET
Table 'Una XXIV' 7-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($30 in chips)
Seat 2: I am MAKLAUD ($8 in chips)
Seat 3: XxCraxerxX ($13.50 in chips)
Seat 4: percuni ($20.95 in chips)
Seat 5: Haleike ($51.10 in chips)
Seat 6: stefge ($58 in chips)
Seat 7: ANMACLAU ($60 in chips)
XxCraxerxX: posts small blind $0.25
percuni: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [7s 7d 7h 7c Qs]
Haleike: folds
stefge: folds
ANMACLAU: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $1.50
I am MAKLAUD: folds
XxCraxerxX: folds
percuni: calls $1
percuni: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [7s 7d 7h 7c Qs]
percuni: bets $1.50
plutoman20: folds
Uncalled bet ($1.50) returned to percuni
percuni collected $3.10 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.25 Rake $0.15
Seat 1: plutoman20 folded on the Flop
Seat 2: I am MAKLAUD (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: XxCraxerxX (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: percuni (big blind) collected ($3.10)
Seat 5: Haleike folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: stefge folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Seat 7: ANMACLAU folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 6

It's quite possible Milyang didn't break the best hand here. I decided to bet the end - he might have thought I was snowing.

PokerStars Game #56509645444: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/01/24 17:53:49 ET
Table 'T #831328974' 8-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: milyang ($31.25 in chips)
Seat 2: lynxjune ($39.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Foxy_Boxer ($92.50 in chips)
Seat 4: big fitz 4 ($77.50 in chips)
Seat 5: nick200484 ($10.75 in chips)
Seat 6: ZESUPERDONK ($72.75 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($67.75 in chips)
Foxy_Boxer: posts small blind $0.50
big fitz 4: posts big blind $1
BOBVESS: sits out
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [4d 7d 2s 5h]
nick200484: folds
ZESUPERDONK: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
milyang: raises $1 to $3
lynxjune: folds
Foxy_Boxer: folds
big fitz 4: folds
plutoman20: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [7d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [4d 2s 5h] [Qc]
milyang: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
milyang: bets $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
milyang: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [4d 2s 5h Qc]
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $2
milyang: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [4d 2s 5h Qc]
milyang: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $2
milyang: folds
Uncalled bet ($2) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $14.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $15.50 Rake $0.75
Seat 1: milyang folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 2: lynxjune (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Foxy_Boxer (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 4: big fitz 4 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: nick200484 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: ZESUPERDONK folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 7: plutoman20 collected ($14.75)

Hand 7

Playing against a monkey increases expected profits, but variance goes through the roof. You end up putting in a jillion bets and if you don't hit you won't get any of them back. Look what 24lexy was drawing to here.

PokerStars Game #56618082178: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/01/26 16:44:19 ET
Table 'T #833642309' 8-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: 24lexy ($11.75 in chips)
Seat 3: Marbous ($91 in chips)
Seat 4: matandkt ($39 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($41.50 in chips)
Seat 6: mooietruus ($48 in chips)
Seat 7: jdfm007 ($38.75 in chips)
Seat 8: w1972vw ($44 in chips)
jdfm007: posts small blind $0.50
w1972vw: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [As 4c 2c 2d]
24lexy: raises $1 to $2
Marbous: raises $1 to $3
matandkt: folds
plutoman20: calls $3
mooietruus: calls $3
jdfm007: folds
w1972vw has timed out
w1972vw: folds
24lexy: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
Marbous: calls $1
plutoman20: calls $1
mooietruus: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
24lexy: discards 3 cards
Marbous: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [2c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [As 4c 2d] [9d]
mooietruus: discards 2 cards
24lexy: bets $1
Marbous: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $2
mooietruus: calls $2
24lexy: raises $1 to $3
Marbous: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $2
mooietruus: calls $2
24lexy: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
24lexy: discards 1 card
Marbous: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [9d]
Dealt to plutoman20 [As 4c 2d] [Jc]
mooietruus: discards 1 card
24lexy: bets $2
Marbous: raises $2 to $4
plutoman20: calls $4
mooietruus: calls $4
24lexy: calls $1.75 and is all-in
*** THIRD DRAW ***
24lexy: discards 1 card
Marbous: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Jc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [As 4c 2d] [Kh]
mooietruus: discards 1 card
Marbous: checks
plutoman20: checks
mooietruus: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Marbous: shows [7s 9c 8d Th] (Badugi: T,9,8,7)
plutoman20: mucks hand
mooietruus: mucks hand
Marbous collected $0.75 from side pot
24lexy: mucks hand
Marbous collected $47.50 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $49.25 Main pot $47.50. Side pot $0.75. Rake $1
Seat 2: 24lexy mucked [3h Ts 7c Jh]
Seat 3: Marbous showed [7s 9c 8d Th] and won ($48.25) with a Badugi: T,9,8,7
Seat 4: matandkt folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: plutoman20 mucked [As 4c Kh 2d]
Seat 6: mooietruus (button) mucked [6s 2s 3d Ah]
Seat 7: jdfm007 (small blind) folded before the Draw

Seat 8: w1972vw (big blind) folded before the Draw

Hand 8

The monkey reloaded. Should I be keeping this jack? A queen would be a clear break while a ten would be a clear pat. Assuming neither of my opponents has a better three-card than mine, patting gives me 52% equity with two draws left.

PokerStars Game #56619099014: Badugi Limit ($1/$2 USD) - 2011/01/26 17:02:18 ET
Table 'T #833642309' 8-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: joaoomachado ($14 in chips)
Seat 2: 24lexy ($82 in chips)
Seat 3: Marbous ($161.75 in chips)
Seat 4: milyang ($18.50 in chips)
Seat 5: plutoman20 ($18 in chips)
Seat 6: allianzzz ($20 in chips)
Seat 7: jdfm007 ($29 in chips)
Seat 8: w1972vw ($25.75 in chips)
allianzzz: posts small blind $0.50
jdfm007: posts big blind $1
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [4h As Ac 3c]
w1972vw: calls $1
joaoomachado: folds
24lexy: raises $1 to $2
Marbous: folds
milyang: folds
plutoman20: raises $1 to $3
allianzzz: folds
jdfm007: folds
w1972vw: calls $2
24lexy: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $1
w1972vw: calls $1
*** FIRST DRAW ***
w1972vw: discards 1 card
24lexy: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ac]
Dealt to plutoman20 [4h As 3c] [Jd]
w1972vw: checks
24lexy: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
w1972vw: calls $1
24lexy: calls $1
*** SECOND DRAW ***
w1972vw: discards 1 card
24lexy: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [4h As 3c Jd]
w1972vw: checks
24lexy: checks
plutoman20: bets $2
w1972vw: calls $2
24lexy: calls $2
*** THIRD DRAW ***
w1972vw: discards 1 card
24lexy: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [4h As 3c Jd]
w1972vw: checks
24lexy: checks
plutoman20: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
w1972vw: shows [5c 7s 3d 6s] (3-card: 6,5,3)
24lexy: shows [9s Th 4c 7d] (Badugi: T,9,7,4)
plutoman20: mucks hand
24lexy collected $21.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $22.50 Rake $1
Seat 1: joaoomachado folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: 24lexy showed [9s Th 4c 7d] and won ($21.50) with a Badugi: T,9,7,4
Seat 3: Marbous folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: milyang folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: plutoman20 (button) mucked [4h As Jd 3c]
Seat 6: allianzzz (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: jdfm007 (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 8: w1972vw showed [5c 7s 3d 6s] and lost with a 3-card: 6,5,3

Hand 9

I hate these sorts of hands where you get whipsawed. Should I have folded the turn facing two more bets cold and possibly drawing to two outs to tie?

Full Tilt Poker Game #27555080103: Table Dune Ridge (6 max) - $0.25/$0.50 - Limit 2-7 Triple Draw - 03:10:23 ET - 2011/01/24
Seat 1: plutoman20 ($11.65)
Seat 3: cruffles ($6.65)
Seat 4: Elvstroem ($13.75)
Seat 5: MisterJekyll ($0.55)
Seat 6: h-gerizson ($12.25)
cruffles posts the small blind of $0.10
Elvstroem posts the big blind of $0.25
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Ts 5c 8s 2d 7h]
MisterJekyll folds
h-gerizson raises to $0.50
plutoman20 calls $0.50
cruffles folds
Elvstroem raises to $0.75
h-gerizson raises to $1
plutoman20 calls $0.50
Elvstroem calls $0.25
*** FIRST DRAW *** (Pot: $3.10)
Elvstroem discards 1 card
h-gerizson discards 1 card
plutoman20 discards 2 cards [Ts 8s]
Elvstroem is dealt 1 card
h-gerizson is dealt 1 card
Dealt to plutoman20 [5c 2d 7h] [Jc Ks]
Elvstroem checks
h-gerizson bets $0.25
plutoman20 calls $0.25
Elvstroem calls $0.25
*** SECOND DRAW *** (Pot: $3.85)
Elvstroem discards 1 card
h-gerizson discards 1 card
plutoman20 discards 2 cards [Jc Ks]
Elvstroem is dealt 1 card
h-gerizson is dealt 1 card
Dealt to plutoman20 [5c 2d 7h] [9h 3s]
Elvstroem checks
h-gerizson bets $0.50
plutoman20 calls $0.50
Elvstroem raises to $1
h-gerizson raises to $1.50
plutoman20 calls $1
Elvstroem raises to $2
h-gerizson calls $0.50
plutoman20 calls $0.50
*** THIRD DRAW *** (Pot: $9.85)
Elvstroem stands pat
h-gerizson stands pat
plutoman20 discards 1 card [9h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [5c 2d 7h 3s] [Qs]
Elvstroem checks
h-gerizson checks
plutoman20 checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Elvstroem shows [7d 6d 5s 4h 2h] 7,6,5,4,2
h-gerizson mucks
plutoman20 mucks
Elvstroem wins the pot ($9.40) with 7,6,5,4,2
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $9.85 Rake $0.45
Seat 1: plutoman20 (button) mucked [Qs 7h 5c 3s 2d] - Q,7,5,3,2
Seat 3: cruffles (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 4: Elvstroem (big blind) showed [7d 6d 5s 4h 2h] and won ($9.40) with 7,6,5,4,2
Seat 5: MisterJekyll folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: h-gerizson mucked [8h 6c 5d 4d 2s] - 8,6,5,4,2

Hand 10

Here I make a regrettable fold. It just didn't seem I even a 6% chance of my hand being good. Spedtsberg was betting anything, so might well have had just a pair of kings. But unless Pacogreen is a complete muppet (or misclicked) he can beat KK. And there's nothing I beat that beats KK apart from, well, the hand Pacogreen actually had. What I didn't take into account, unfortunately, was that hadn't seen a single ace.

PokerStars Game #56500494588: 7 Card Stud Limit ($0.10/$0.20 USD) - 2011/01/24 15:32:26 ET
Table 'Iphiklos XXV' 8-max
Seat 2: sorrell88 ($4.73 in chips)
Seat 4: blufpoker_kk ($1.28 in chips)
Seat 5: spedtsberg ($2.60 in chips)
Seat 6: pacogreen ($3.96 in chips)
Seat 7: streusel66 ($2.65 in chips)
Seat 8: plutoman20 ($9.54 in chips)
sorrell88: posts the ante $0.02
blufpoker_kk: posts the ante $0.02
spedtsberg: posts the ante $0.02
pacogreen: posts the ante $0.02
streusel66: posts the ante $0.02
plutoman20: posts the ante $0.02
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to sorrell88 [Qd]
Dealt to blufpoker_kk [Qc]
Dealt to spedtsberg [Kh]
Dealt to pacogreen [Qh]
Dealt to streusel66 [Qs]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 2d 5s]
plutoman20: brings in for $0.05
sorrell88: raises $0.05 to $0.10
blufpoker_kk: calls $0.10
spedtsberg: calls $0.10
pacogreen: calls $0.10
streusel66: folds
plutoman20: calls $0.05
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to sorrell88 [Qd] [3h]
Dealt to blufpoker_kk [Qc] [2s]
Dealt to spedtsberg [Kh] [Kd]
Dealt to pacogreen [Qh] [9s]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 2d 5s] [5d]
Pair on board - a double bet is allowed
spedtsberg: bets $0.20
pacogreen: calls $0.20
looney ltd joins the table at seat #3
plutoman20: raises $0.20 to $0.40
sorrell88: folds
blufpoker_kk: folds
spedtsberg: calls $0.20
pacogreen: calls $0.20
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to spedtsberg [Kh Kd] [2c]
Dealt to pacogreen [Qh 9s] [7c]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 2d 5s 5d] [4s]
spedtsberg: checks
pacogreen: checks
plutoman20: bets $0.20
spedtsberg: calls $0.20
pacogreen: calls $0.20
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to spedtsberg [Kh Kd 2c] [5h]
Dealt to pacogreen [Qh 9s 7c] [Kc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 2d 5s 5d 4s] [6d]
spedtsberg: bets $0.20
pacogreen: calls $0.20
plutoman20: calls $0.20
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 2d 5s 5d 4s 6d] [9h]
spedtsberg: bets $0.20
pacogreen: calls $0.20
plutoman20: folds
*** SHOW DOWN ***
spedtsberg: shows [6h Js Kh Kd 2c 5h Td] (a pair of Kings)
pacogreen: shows [Ad As Qh 9s 7c Kc 4h] (a pair of Aces)
pacogreen collected $3.26 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $3.42 Rake $0.16
Seat 2: sorrell88 folded on the 4th Street
Seat 4: blufpoker_kk folded on the 4th Street
Seat 5: spedtsberg showed [6h Js Kh Kd 2c 5h Td] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 6: pacogreen showed [Ad As Qh 9s 7c Kc 4h] and won ($3.26) with a pair of Aces
Seat 7: streusel66 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 8: plutoman20 folded on the River

It's WBCOOP time!

That's the World Blogger Championship of Online Poker if you're wondering. It starts in a couple of days. The instructions mention something about waiting five days to get my blog ethereally verified (how it works is a mystery to me). So perhaps I've missed the boat, just like I do in stud whenever I make trips on an early street (from my limited experience so far). I'll be sure to tell you all how I get on if indeed I do play.

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: XXXXXX 071584

There aren't any draw WBCOOP tournaments (and why should there be? - only weird people like me play those games) but I like the sound of PLO8 and will try and play that one if I'm registered in time and not too busy hopelessly sending off CVs.

Today was a good one at the $2/$4 badugi tables (a little over a year ago I was playing limit hold 'em at the two and four cent level, so at that rate I'll be playing some form of $200/$400 limit poker by Easter 2012). There's still plenty of bad-ugi at these stakes, but some players are significantly more aggressive than you'll see at 25c/50c. I took a lot of notes today, and boy do you have to take notes. There were several interesting hands, some of which I've saved in a file, but so as not to give away too much information to the many thousands who read my blog, I'm only posting one of them. I'll also post an annoyingly typical single draw hand and four triple draw hands - it really is time I stopped playing that stupid bloody game.

Hand 1
I don't get excited easily these days (blame the medication) but I will admit to a whoop of delight when I unexpectedly won this hand and the half-a-Ben Franklin pot (it's a Ulysses Grant, I just checked). What should I do with my J632? Make it a Q632 and I'd break; I'd probably break a J432 three-way as well, but I think patting is clearly the way to go here. Cheeky Fish has been playing aggressively and running well prior to this hand, while Aabed has been opening two-card draws in any position. So that's the easy bit out of the way. Now when Cheeky raises me on the turn I've got to think my jack is no good. But his confidence looks to be sky-high after hitting all those sixes, he probably thinks he can win any pot he enters, so I feel he just might be trying to push me off my hand. It was still a surprise to see the king.

PokerStars Game #56349878157: Badugi Limit ($2/$4 USD) - 2011/01/22 1:01:22 ET
Table 'Bok VIII' 8-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: teleceo11 ($140 in chips)
Seat 3: CheekyFish ($141 in chips)
Seat 4: yellowundie ($133 in chips)
Seat 5: 10proguy ($76 in chips)
Seat 7: plutoman20 ($84 in chips)
Seat 8: aabed ($63 in chips)
10proguy: posts small blind $1
plutoman20: posts big blind $2
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3s Jc 2h 6d]
aabed: raises $2 to $4
teleceo11: folds
CheekyFish: raises $2 to $6
yellowundie: folds
10proguy: folds
plutoman20: raises $2 to $8
Betting is capped
aabed: calls $4
CheekyFish: calls $2
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [3s Jc 2h 6d]
aabed: discards 2 cards
CheekyFish: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $2
aabed: folds
CheekyFish: calls $2
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [3s Jc 2h 6d]
CheekyFish: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $4
CheekyFish: raises $4 to $8
plutoman20: calls $4
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [3s Jc 2h 6d]
CheekyFish: stands pat
plutoman20: checks
CheekyFish: bets $4
plutoman20: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
CheekyFish: shows [4c Ah Ks 5d] (Badugi: K,5,4,A)
plutoman20: shows [3s Jc 2h 6d] (Badugi: J,6,3,2)
plutoman20 collected $51 from pot
aabed leaves the table
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $53 Rake $2
Seat 2: teleceo11 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 3: CheekyFish showed [4c Ah Ks 5d] and lost with a Badugi: K,5,4,A
Seat 4: yellowundie (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: 10proguy (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 7: plutoman20 (big blind) showed [3s Jc 2h 6d] and won ($51) with a Badugi: J,6,3,2
Seat 8: aabed folded after the 1st Draw

Hand 2
It's that common tricky situation again, out of position with a pat hand against a one-card draw. I bet 60% of the pot with my 9-7-yuck, and then yowzers! Did I bet enough? Should I have just checked? I'm getting about 5:3 on my call, but I'd be surprised if he was bluffing three-eighths of the time.

PokerStars Game #56327458433: Single Draw 2-7 Lowball No Limit ($0.25/$0.50 USD) - 2011/01/21 16:23:54 ET
Table 'Deimos XXV' 7-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: sngonta ($69.95 in chips)
Seat 3: plutoman20 ($50.35 in chips)
Seat 4: Henry Mits ($33.90 in chips)
Seat 5: VicLuvsKay ($25.25 in chips)
Seat 6: general85555 ($25.45 in chips)
Seat 7: yamaha750 ($13.05 in chips)
chrismystero was removed from the table for failing to post
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
Henry Mits: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [4h 5c 9h 6h 7c]
VicLuvsKay: calls $0.50
general85555: folds
yamaha750: folds
nl pokerr joins the table at seat #2
sngonta: raises $2 to $2.50
plutoman20: raises $4.50 to $7
Henry Mits: folds
VicLuvsKay: folds
sngonta: calls $4.50
plutoman20: stands pat on [4h 5c 9h 6h 7c]
sngonta: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $8.50
sngonta: raises $54.45 to $62.95 and is all-in
plutoman20: folds
Uncalled bet ($54.45) returned to sngonta
sngonta collected $30.45 from pot
sngonta: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $32 Rake $1.55
Seat 1: sngonta (button) collected ($30.45)
Seat 3: plutoman20 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Henry Mits (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: VicLuvsKay folded before Flop
Seat 6: general85555 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: yamaha750 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Hand 3
Was this a stroke of genius by my opponent? Going for a check-raise on the turn was interesting because I'm not always betting there. I'm not sure what I could have done differently.

PokerStars Game #56296792189: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/01/21 4:11:08 ET
Table 'Archid XVII' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: huracan mdp ($22.95 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($25.40 in chips)
Seat 3: iqpkia ($29.95 in chips)
Seat 4: Kubby ($6 in chips)
Seat 5: JP balkenend ($50.30 in chips)
huracan mdp: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [Kh 2h 7d 3d 6s]
iqpkia: folds
Kubby: folds
JP balkenend: folds
huracan mdp: raises $0.50 to $1
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1.50
huracan mdp: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
huracan mdp: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Kh]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 7d 3d 6s] [Qd]
huracan mdp: checks
plutoman20: bets $0.50
huracan mdp: calls $0.50
*** SECOND DRAW ***
huracan mdp: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 7d 3d 6s] [Ts]
huracan mdp: checks
plutoman20: bets $1
huracan mdp: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
huracan mdp: stands pat
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Ts]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 7d 3d 6s] [Qc]
huracan mdp: checks
plutoman20: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
huracan mdp: shows [Tc 4d 7c 5s 9h] (Lo: T,9,7,5,4)
plutoman20: mucks hand
huracan mdp collected $7.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8 Rake $0.35
Seat 1: huracan mdp (small blind) showed [Tc 4d 7c 5s 9h] and won ($7.65) with Lo: T,9,7,5,4
Seat 2: plutoman20 (big blind) mucked [Qc 2h 7d 3d 6s]
Seat 3: iqpkia folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Kubby folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: JP balkenend (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 4
I'm sure this was a bad snow. My logic for making this move is that I'd seen three eights but no sevens, so JP is extremely likely to have a seven draw. In other words I could quite possibly hit my draw but lose anyway and have to pay off multiple bets on the end. By snowing I eliminate that possibility! But 8632 is really too good a draw to sacrifice in this way.

PokerStars Game #56297169494: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/01/21 4:29:20 ET
Table 'Archid XVII' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: huracan mdp ($38.05 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($12.05 in chips)
Seat 3: iqpkia ($38.05 in chips)
Seat 4: Kubby ($5 in chips)
Seat 5: JP balkenend ($36.60 in chips)
Seat 6: cycus82 ($27.70 in chips)
huracan mdp: posts small blind $0.25
plutoman20: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6h 2s 8h 3s]
iqpkia: folds
Kubby has timed out
Kubby: folds
JP balkenend: raises $0.50 to $1
cycus82: folds
huracan mdp: folds
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1.50
JP balkenend: raises $0.50 to $2
Betting is capped
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [8h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6h 2s 3s] [Qc]
JP balkenend: discards 1 card
plutoman20: checks
JP balkenend: checks
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 1 card [Qc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [8d 6h 2s 3s] [8s]
JP balkenend: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $1
JP balkenend: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [8d 6h 2s 3s 8s]
JP balkenend: discards 1 card
plutoman20: bets $1
JP balkenend: folds
Uncalled bet ($1) returned to plutoman20
plutoman20 collected $5.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.25 Rake $0.30
Seat 1: huracan mdp (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 2: plutoman20 (big blind) collected ($5.95)
Seat 3: iqpkia folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Kubby folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 5: JP balkenend folded after the 3rd Draw
Seat 6: cycus82 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 5
With the extra blockers, opening this hand on the button seems correct. Maybe I should have just called the turn bet and drawn to the seven.

PokerStars Game #56297636252: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/01/21 4:51:44 ET
Table 'Archid XVII' 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: huracan mdp ($57.50 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($17.90 in chips)
Seat 3: iqpkia ($26.55 in chips)
Seat 4: ryu1so4anko ($14.35 in chips)
Seat 6: familyguy420 ($5.55 in chips)
iqpkia: posts small blind $0.25
ryu1so4anko: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [3s 2s 2h 3d 9h]
familyguy420: folds
huracan mdp: folds
plutoman20: raises $0.50 to $1
iqpkia: folds
ryu1so4anko: raises $0.50 to $1.50
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** FIRST DRAW ***
ryu1so4anko: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 3 cards [3s 2s 9h]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 3d] [Jh 7h Tc]
ryu1so4anko: bets $0.50
plutoman20: calls $0.50
*** SECOND DRAW ***
ryu1so4anko: discards 1 card
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Jh Tc]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 3d 7h] [5d Ts]
ryu1so4anko: bets $1
plutoman20: raises $1 to $2
ryu1so4anko: calls $1
*** THIRD DRAW ***
ryu1so4anko: discards 1 card
plutoman20: stands pat on [2h 3d 7h 5d Ts]
ryu1so4anko: checks
plutoman20: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
ryu1so4anko: shows [5h 2d 6d 9c 4s] (Lo: 9,6,5,4,2)
plutoman20: mucks hand
ryu1so4anko collected $7.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.25 Rake $0.40
Seat 1: huracan mdp folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: plutoman20 (button) mucked [5d 7h 2h 3d Ts]
Seat 3: iqpkia (small blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 4: ryu1so4anko (big blind) showed [5h 2d 6d 9c 4s] and won ($7.85) with Lo: 9,6,5,4,2
Seat 6: familyguy420 folded before the Draw (didn't bet)

Hand 6
I expected JP to bet the flop here (he'd been playing aggressively) but he didn't, and trying for a check-raise and then a snow with my trip deuces cost me in the end. I'm trying to figure out JP's play - the only thing that makes sense is a slow-played seven or smooth eight.

PokerStars Game #56297811183: Triple Draw 2-7 Lowball Limit ($0.50/$1.00 USD) - 2011/01/21 5:00:51 ET
Table 'Archid XVII' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: JimmyA1979 ($17.95 in chips)
Seat 2: plutoman20 ($17.25 in chips)
Seat 4: ryu1so4anko ($17.95 in chips)
Seat 5: Kubby ($10.90 in chips)
Seat 6: JP balkenend ($9.20 in chips)
plutoman20: posts small blind $0.25
ryu1so4anko: posts big blind $0.50
*** DEALING HANDS ***
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 7c Jc Kd 6c]
Kubby: folds
JP balkenend: raises $0.50 to $1
JimmyA1979: folds
plutoman20: calls $0.75
ryu1so4anko: folds
*** FIRST DRAW ***
plutoman20: discards 2 cards [Jc Kd]
Dealt to plutoman20 [2h 7c 6c] [2s 2c]
JP balkenend: discards 2 cards
plutoman20: checks
JP balkenend: checks
*** SECOND DRAW ***
plutoman20: stands pat on [2h 7c 6c 2s 2c]
JP balkenend: stands pat
plutoman20: bets $1
JP balkenend: raises $1 to $2
plutoman20: folds
Uncalled bet ($1) returned to JP balkenend
JP balkenend collected $4.30 from pot
JP balkenend: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.50 Rake $0.20
Seat 1: JimmyA1979 (button) folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 2: plutoman20 (small blind) folded after the 2nd Draw
Seat 4: ryu1so4anko (big blind) folded before the Draw
Seat 5: Kubby folded before the Draw (didn't bet)
Seat 6: JP balkenend collected ($4.30)