The Poker Thread

[Red Devil]

Nice one.


Get to see a free BB 2 hands in to turbo with 93o. Flop is 934 two spades. 5 players to the flop. SB min bets, i re-raise to about 5bb, utg flats and SB calls. Turn is a 4. I bet pot. Both of them call. 10 of spades on the river so I put my last 5bb in to the put, UTG calls and SB folds ( ). UTG turns over 10/3.







EDIT: Raise KQ on the button, SB re-raises, I ship and he calls most of his stack with Ace strawberry floating 3.

strawberry floating joke.

[Red Devil]

No one thinks about their play on that site. The standard is worse than PokerSoc.

Treating 2nd pair/gooseberry fool kicker like it's the nuts. Way too many players to the flop. Some guy just limp called my shove with 89o for most of his stack and flops two pair...

That site's rigged.

[Psychic]

Fitting in?

[Phatman]

Sometimes playing cash games with rich idiots can be fun. While they will call with anything pre-flop, they do pay you off when you hit a big hand. A guy paid me off with his mid-pair-ace kicker while I had the nut flush. Took £50 to the casino and left with £320 - can't complain. Just sit tight at first, try to build a 'rock' reputation and then exploit pots when in position - easy money. Unfortunately it can go sour, as my mate found when J-2 cracked his J-J.

[Drumstick]

Nice!

Do you play online Phatman?

[Drumstick]

Isaac Haxton to Challenge Isildur1 in the SuperStar Showdown

Last week, the poker world was fascinated by the news that “Isildur1,” the mysterious Swede who rose to fame at the highest-limit online cash games in the world, had become the newest member of Team PokerStars. At the same time, PokerStars announced the creation of the SuperStar Showdown, a heads-up match consisting of 2,500 hands between Isildur1 and any challenger. This weekend, the SuperStar Showdown will kick-off its inaugural match, which will see Isildur1 square off against Isaac "philivey2694" Haxton.

While some poker fans may feel the SuperStar Showdown is just PokerStars’ version of the "durrrr" Challenge, they’ll soon find there are substantial differences. The "durrrr" Challenge was first issued by Tom “durrrr” Dwan in January 2009 when he said he would play against any opponent except Phil “OMGClayAiken” Galfond. Dwan offered 3-1 odds on a $500,000 bet, which both Patrik Antonius and Daniel “jungleman12” Cates have accepted. Per the challenge, the pairs will play heads up for 50,000 hands four-tabling $200/$400 or higher no-limit hold'em or pot-limit Omaha. The winner would be whoever was ahead after 50,000 hands. The "durrrr" Challenge proved to be quite popular at its inception, but its slow pace and inconsistency has tried the patience of the poker community. Neither of Dwan's two challenges are even close to finishing.

Unlike the "durrrr Challenge," the SuperStar Showdown is designed as a one-time high-stakes match. Challengers will face Isildur1 heads up in a single session of 2,500 hands played across four tables of $50/$100 or higher no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha. The winner will be whoever shows a profit at the end of the match or felts his or her opponent in the process. What’s more, the SuperStar Showdown matches will be announced in advance so poker fans can enjoy the action, live, on PokerStars.

Coincidentally, the first challenger of the SuperStar Showdown was announced this week. The inaugural match will feature Haxton (who plays under “luvtheWNBA” at Full Tilt Poker) squaring off against Isildur1. The match is set to take place this Sunday, December 19, at 6 p.m. EST. According to the PokerStars Blog:

"On December 19 at 6 p.m. EST, Haxton and Isildur1 will face off at four $50/$100 no-limit hold'em tables. On the line is $150,000 apiece over 2,500 total hands. The match, one of a series known as the SuperStar Showdown, will be played in public on PokerStars for everyone to watch. This isn't some run-of-the-mill promotion or made-for-tv event. The players are putting their own money on the table. Whoever loses is losing up to $150,000 from a real bankroll. Simple as that."

The highly anticipated match will feature two of the most popular high-stakes cash games players in the world. As most know, Isildur1 rose to fame in late 2009 by playing heads up $500/$1,000 PLO and no-limit hold’em against the likes of Dwan, Antonius, Brian Hastings, Cole South, and Brian Townsend. He peaked at $5.8 million in profits on Full Tilt Poker, with a vast sum coming off of Dwan before losing it all in dramatic fashion.

Haxton, who bypassed a computer science degree at Brown University to pursue poker, made his presence known to the world at the 2007 World Poker Tour PokerStars.com Caribbean Adventure where he finished second to Ryan Daut for $861,789. He then found success online before finishing second to Vitaly Lunkin in Event #2 of the 2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker, the $40,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $1.168 million. While a prestigious title has eluded Haxton twice, he is largely regarded as one of the best young guns in the game.

[Red Devil]

Fitting in?

Yeah.

[Phatman]

Nice!

Do you play online Phatman?

Yeh, I do. So far, only on Full Tilt, as all my mates play there too. I'm thinking of starting a bankroll, as I've steadily improved my skills. I've only being playing properly for about a year, so my game is constantly evolving, but I'm at a stage now where I expect to see profit more often than not. Generally, I deposit $24 online (enough for two entries into $11+1 27 man tournaments) and try to finish in the cash, upping my balance to around $100, at which point I sit down at a $0.50/$1 ring game table and try to at least double my money before withdrawal. It's a tactic that's been working for me, but I'm now at the stage where really I should be able to create a large roll.

I play in a local poker league as well and play at the casino infrequently (was back tonight though - finished £20 down from my stack, but thanks to a profit-share scheme I had with two mates, I'm up £50).

[Clarkman]

Sharkscope has me down as superhot atm. Seven straight wins.

[Luwinski]

Nice!

Do you play online Phatman?

Yeh, I do. So far, only on Full Tilt, as all my mates play there too. I'm thinking of starting a bankroll, as I've steadily improved my skills. I've only being playing properly for about a year, so my game is constantly evolving, but I'm at a stage now where I expect to see profit more often than not. Generally, I deposit $24 online (enough for two entries into $11+1 27 man tournaments) and try to finish in the cash, upping my balance to around $100, at which point I sit down at a $0.50/$1 ring game table and try to at least double my money before withdrawal. It's a tactic that's been working for me, but I'm now at the stage where really I should be able to create a large roll.

I play in a local poker league as well and play at the casino infrequently (was back tonight though - finished £20 down from my stack, but thanks to a profit-share scheme I had with two mates, I'm up £50).

Managing Your Poker Bankroll

Some poker players pay for each session of poker as it comes, and those monies are usually taken from the "entertanment" section of their weekly budget. While playing recreational poker is a perfectly fine way to spend time, if you're taking your game more seriously you should use some form of bankroll management.

Your bankroll is the amount of money you've put aside for the sole purpose of playing poker. An example of this is a deposit at an online poker room. If you excercise solid bankroll management, you can make your poker money last, well, forever.

Of course, each player is different, so I'll list some criteria for those who play recreationally, and are willing to replace their bankrolls often, and those who never want to replace their bankroll.

Sit and Go Bankroll Requirements
Chris Ferguson went from $0 to $10,000 recently, and one of his rules was to never spend more than 5% of his bankroll on a Sit and Go. That translates into 20 buy-ins. The PokerFox recommends between 20 (gambler) and 65 (poker pro) buy-ins.

Multi-table Tournaments
Recommended bankroll for multitable events ranges widely. Chris Ferguson used a 50 buy-in minimum during his challenge. Some feel that that number is too low, and a typical player really needs closer to 100 buy-ins to protect them from the swings associated with larger tournaments.

Pay attention to the payout structure in the events you typically enter. Some pay "farther down the line" than others, and those events will reduce the variance in your bankroll since you will typically be making the money more often.

Limit Holdem
The general consensus is that you need at least 300 big bets in your bankroll to play limit holdem. So, if you are playing at a table where the blinds are $.25/$.50, a big bet (which comes on the turn and river) will be $1. You should have $300 in your bankroll to sit at these tables and play comfortably.

No Limit/Pot Limit Holdem
Since a player can win or lose their entire stack in a single hand at a no limit cash game, you will need a larger bankroll than at a limit game. No limit bankrolls are measured in buy-ins the same way that tournaments are measured.

Recreational players might use 15 buy-ins as a base number, while more serious players would want to have between 20-30 buy-ins in their bankroll before sitting down at a table. More conservative players keep as many as 45 buy-ins in their bankroll before cashing out/moving up in stakes.

When Do I Move Up in Stakes?
If you go by nothing other than your bankroll, move up when you have more than the minimum suggested bankroll for the next level. So, if you're a NL cash gamer, and have moved your $500 bankroll up to $1200 by grinding the $25NL tables, you can move up. You've got the 20 buy-ins that are recommended as a solid starting point for games at those stakes.

CASH GAME PLAYERS - I should tell a bit of a warning tale at this time. It is not uncommon for someone to begin playing, and start a heater that runs their bankroll all the way up to the next level stakes. Then, once they start playing at higher stakes the heater ends, and they find themselves overmatched and playing for higher stakes. It usually ends badly.

So, a conservative approach to the game is to make sure that both your game and your bankroll are solid enough to attack the players at the next level. If you're a serious cash game player, you're probably already using pokertracker. A winrate of 4 ptbb/100 is solid play, anything in the 8-10 range is crushing the games. If you have numbers over that, you're probably on a heater.

While some people state that 100,000 hands will give you a solid idea of your winrate, I'd say get to 25,000 hands, and if your bankroll supports it, move up if you feel like it.

When Do I DROP DOWN in Stakes?
Regardless of your winrate, drop down when your bankroll dips below the minimum recommended threshold. For instance, playing $50NL, I recommend dropping down to $25NL when your bankroll goes under $1,000.

For some people the idea of moving down in stakes is unappealing. Actually, it's part of a "braking system" that serves several purposes. By playing at only the stakes that your bankroll can support, you can continue to play aggressive poker without undue worry about the money involved.

It also allows you the chance to play a group of opponents at a level that you've presumably already beaten. There's nothing liking chalking up a few wins to get the confidence back.

Stop Loss Technique
This is a concept aimed at the CASH GAME players. Set a maximum loss amount that you're willing to endure for a session. If you lose that much, Quit.

The truth is, sometimes players don't bring their A games to the tables. Sometimes players tilt. And most of the time these things aren't recognized in time before chips start to bleed away.

By setting a stop loss of say, three buy-ins in a NL game, players can justify walking away from the game. Then they can go back and examine what went wrong later, with a fresh mind. They can do that instead of tilting or bleeding away chips for the rest of the night.

Ferguson 10% Rule
Here's the rules . . . "If at any time during a No-Limit or Pot-Limit cash-game session the money on the table represents more than 10 percent of my total bankroll, I must leave the game when the blinds reach me".

This seems to be almost the opposite of a stop loss technique. It's more like a "lock in the win" technique. Let's say Chris had a bankroll of $1000. He sat down at the $50NL tables and ran his chip count from $50 up to $150. Now he has more than 10% of his entire bankroll on the table in front of him. He'd lock in the win, and leave.

here ya go

[Rex McGee]

Sharkscope has me down as superhot atm. Seven straight wins.

Screen name?

[DML]

Ike Haxton will get destroyed is my prediction there....

[satriales]

Just reached the cash in a $15 MTT, i'm 2/48 thanks to this sick hand:

Poker Stars $15.00+$1.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t350/t700 Blinds + t85 - 8 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (MP1): t30028 M = 17.36
MP2: t29401 M = 16.99
CO: t49217 M = 28.45
BTN: t36568 M = 21.14
SB: t18986 M = 10.97
BB: t39196 M = 22.66
UTG: t53052 M = 30.67
UTG+1: t19081 M = 11.03

Pre Flop: (t1730) Hero is MP1 with A A
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to t1750, Hero calls t1750, 3 folds, SB calls t1400, 1 fold

Flop: (t6630) 6 A Q (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets t4975, Hero raises to t14000, SB raises to t17151 all in, UTG+1 raises to t17246 all in, Hero calls t3246

Turn: (t58273) 7 (3 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t58273) 5 (3 players - 2 are all in)
CO says "sick"

Final Pot: t58273
Hero shows A A (three of a kind, Aces)
SB shows T J (high card Ace)
UTG+1 shows Q Q (three of a kind, Queens)
Hero wins t190
Hero wins t58083

[Nova]

You run so good sat

I got to the last 11 of a 180-man $12 yesterday in third, got aces cracked by Kings (AIPF obv), and bubbled FT

Gonna go and play some cash tonight, though. Will see how it goes.

[Nova]

Just saw that 44 hand Sat Still, makes up for the 55 vs AT.

[satriales]

Poker Stars $15.00+$1.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t2500/t5000 Blinds + t625 - 7 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

gbudding (SB): t533786 M = 44.95
cüker (BB): t195726 M = 16.48
jeremyliver (UTG): t152725 M = 12.86
druide176 (UTG+1): t77342 M = 6.51
Hero (MP): t218836 M = 18.43
allinandi25 (CO): t88644 M = 7.46
joelukeabi (BTN): t100941 M = 8.50

Pre Flop: (t11875) Hero is MP with Q Q
2 folds, Hero raises to t11925, 3 folds, cüker raises to t32500, Hero raises to t85999, cüker calls t53499

Flop: (t178873) T K 9 (2 players)
cüker bets t109102 all in, Hero calls t109102

Turn: (t397077) T (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: (t397077) 5 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t397077
cüker shows Q A (a pair of Tens)
Hero shows Q Q (two pair, Queens and Tens)
Hero wins t397077

[satriales]

Finished 3rd for $735

Got a bit unlucky 3-handed:

Poker Stars $15.00+$1.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t3500/t7000 Blinds + t875 - 3 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

gbudding (BB): t721513 M = 54.97
jeremyliver (BTN): t288892 M = 22.01
Hero (SB): t357595 M = 27.25

Pre Flop: (t13125) Hero is SB with K K
1 fold, Hero raises to t19000, gbudding calls t12000

Flop: (t40625) 2 T A (2 players)
Hero bets t21000, gbudding calls t21000

Turn: (t82625) Q (2 players)
Hero bets t49000, gbudding calls t49000

River: (t180625) 4 (2 players)
Hero checks, gbudding bets t100000, Hero calls t100000

Final Pot: t380625
gbudding shows T Q (two pair, Queens and Tens)
Hero mucks K K
gbudding wins t380625

Poker Stars $15.00+$1.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t4000/t8000 Blinds + t1000 - 3 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

gbudding (SB): t938013 M = 62.53
jeremyliver (BB): t262892 M = 17.53
Hero (BTN): t167095 M = 11.14

Pre Flop: (t15000) Hero is BTN with 7 3
Hero raises to t19000, 1 fold, jeremyliver calls t11000

Flop: (t45000) T K 5 (2 players)
jeremyliver checks, Hero bets t24000, jeremyliver calls t24000

Turn: (t93000) 6 (2 players)
jeremyliver checks, Hero checks

River: (t93000) 4 (2 players)
jeremyliver bets t40000, Hero raises to t123095 all in, jeremyliver calls t83095

Final Pot: t339190
jeremyliver shows 9 K (a flush, King high)
Hero shows 7 3 (a straight, Three to Seven)
jeremyliver wins t339190

[Ecno]

Just reached the cash in a $15 MTT, i'm 2/48 thanks to this sick hand:

Poker Stars $15.00+$1.50 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t350/t700 Blinds + t85 - 8 players
DeucesCracked Poker Videos Hand History Converter

Hero (MP1): t30028 M = 17.36
MP2: t29401 M = 16.99
CO: t49217 M = 28.45
BTN: t36568 M = 21.14
SB: t18986 M = 10.97
BB: t39196 M = 22.66
UTG: t53052 M = 30.67
UTG+1: t19081 M = 11.03

Pre Flop: (t1730) Hero is MP1 with A A
1 fold, UTG+1 raises to t1750, Hero calls t1750, 3 folds, SB calls t1400, 1 fold

Flop: (t6630) 6 A Q (3 players)
SB checks, UTG+1 bets t4975, Hero raises to t14000, SB raises to t17151 all in, UTG+1 raises to t17246 all in, Hero calls t3246

Turn: (t58273) 7 (3 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t58273) 5 (3 players - 2 are all in)
CO says "sick"

Final Pot: t58273
Hero shows A A (three of a kind, Aces)
SB shows T J (high card Ace)
UTG+1 shows Q Q (three of a kind, Queens)
Hero wins t190
Hero wins t58083

It's not sick. If you 3b like a normal person the QQ just jams and it all goes in pre anyway.

[satriales]

It's not sick. If you 3b like a normal person the QQ just jams and it all goes in pre anyway.

Sick flop with both QQ and AA making sets and the JT suited guy having straight and flush draws.

I don't remember the last time I didn't 3bet with AA as I always do, but this time it felt best to just call as I had a tight image and the guy raising seemed pretty good so I needed to disguise the hand a bit.

[Nova]

Came back from live cash, lost £70 but thought I played ok.

Biggest hand was when I had £125 ish. I pick up AJdd OTB. There is one raise and 2 callers. I think I have good odds and position so I flat call. Then the BB raises, but it goes from £10 to £22, so after everyone calls I've got to call £12 to win £88, so I don't think I can fold.

Anyway, flop comes T83, two diamonds. Original 3 better bets out, but without much conviction (he had been very aggressive and bet large), betting £30 into £88. Shorty behind shoves in for £65 total. I don't love my spot, but I have to calculate my odds. It's £65 to win £183, so 2.81/1 are my pot odds. Against any good overpair I am more or less a coinflip, even against TT I'm 27%, so those are still calling odds, right? I figured I couldn't really fold, so I moved in.

Villain had JJ, and it held.

Then, with £37 left, I check a limped pot with A7o. Flop is 887, I call a small bet from the guy who beat me with JJ a few moments ago (he was quite loose). Turn was an 8. I don't think I can fold, and he (obv) has 85. gg.

I don't really get very far playing live...