Quest of a Closet Poker Player

+$1,192.10 at $3/6 NLH 6-max, that’s what I knocked out before dinner tonight on PokerStars.  I know it’s not much for most folks, but it was a terrific 196 hands for me.

Of course, it followed the -$888.50 losing session over 1,064 hands over eleven tables.  But let’s put that behind us, shall we?  It drove me to the higher stakes single table more to change things up a bit.  And it was hardly a simple table to attack, at least for me.

There were two other big winners at the table:  a 53.68/18.09 player and a 34.62/28.85 guy (VP$IP and PFR).  The latter re-raised me three consecutive hands that I raise, driving me into submission.  I didn’t know what to do with him, although his stats settled to the above result.  The calling station was also tough for me as I just could not connect with a hand to pick him off.  He called flop and turn bets, often with just abysmal hands like 8-3o or 4-3s with no draw or connection.  Any weakness, and he would fire out.

The key hands from the session:

The Monster:  the Villain/Victim was fairly tight and solid, which is why I smooth-called from the bb.  I check-raised the flop due to the two spades being there.  The river king actually scared me a bit, but I figured I’d fire away and end my misery if he’d rivered a set of kings.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: line ($1031.45 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($791.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($631.45 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($1023.95 in chips)
Seat 5: Gujral ($330 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($566.05 in chips)
JeffBoston: posts small blind $3
csquard: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ac Ah]
Gujral: folds
MALUKAstar: folds
line: raises $18 to $24
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [4s 3d Ts]
csquard: checks
line: bets $36
csquard: raises $54 to $90
line: calls $54
*** TURN *** [4s 3d Ts] [6c]
csquard: bets $175
line: calls $175
*** RIVER *** [4s 3d Ts 6c] [Kd]
csquard: bets $350
line: calls $350
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Ac Ah] (a pair of Aces)
line: mucks hand
csquard collected $1278 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $1281 | Rake $3
Board [4s 3d Ts 6c Kd]
Seat 1: line mucked [Js Jh]
Seat 2: zio_slim (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: csquard (big blind) showed [Ac Ah] and won ($1278) with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: Gujral folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Tough Hand #1  I had a couple of hands that went south on me that I was fortunate to take down.  Here is one, the four flushed river card.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: line ($752.80 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($735.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($600 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($686.90 in chips)
Seat 5: stfu donny ($585 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($512.35 in chips)
stfu donny: posts small blind $3
MALUKAstar: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [7c 8c]
line: folds
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: raises $18 to $24
stfu donny: folds
MALUKAstar: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [Kc 4c Ac]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: bets $35
MALUKAstar: raises $35 to $70
csquard: calls $35
*** TURN *** [Kc 4c Ac] [2c]
MALUKAstar: bets $42
csquard: calls $42
*** RIVER *** [Kc 4c Ac 2c] [Ks]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MALUKAstar: shows [Qd Ah] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
csquard: shows [7c 8c] (a flush, Ace high)
csquard collected $272 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $275 | Rake $3
Board [Kc 4c Ac 2c Ks]
Seat 1: line folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: csquard (button) showed [7c 8c] and won ($272) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: stfu donny (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: MALUKAstar (big blind) showed [Qd Ah] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings

Tough Hand #2  I just didn’t feel comfortable slow-playing top two pair here.

POKERSTARS GAMEHOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: line ($708.15 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($754.30 in chips)
Seat 3: TrumpyDEV ($505.70 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($556 in chips)
Seat 5: stfu donny ($582 in chips)
Seat 6: LChaney ($600 in chips)
LChaney: posts small blind $3
line: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Jh Kc]
zio_slim: raises $12 to $18
TrumpyDEV: calls $18
csquard: calls $18
stfu donny: calls $18
LChaney: folds
line: folds
*** FLOP *** [6d Jc Ks]
zio_slim: checks
TrumpyDEV: bets $24
csquard: raises $51 to $75
stfu donny: folds
zio_slim: folds
TrumpyDEV: calls $51
*** TURN *** [6d Jc Ks] [4s]
TrumpyDEV: checks
csquard: bets $163
TrumpyDEV: folds
csquard collected $228 from pot
csquard: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $231 | Rake $3
Board [6d Jc Ks 4s]
Seat 1: line (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: zio_slim folded on the Flop
Seat 3: TrumpyDEV folded on the Turn
Seat 4: csquard collected ($228)
Seat 5: stfu donny (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: LChaney (small blind) folded before Flop

Tough Hand #3  I don’t know if the pre-flop re-raise was a good play or not to be honest.  I certainly like the call, which was why I just fired out the big bet on the flop.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: line ($712.95 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($615.95 in chips)
Seat 3: TrumpyDEV ($535.50 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($471 in chips)
Seat 6: LChaney ($616.05 in chips)
csquard: posts small blind $3
Fish4Walleye: is sitting out
LChaney: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ks Ah]
Fish4Walleye leaves the table
line: folds
zio_slim: raises $18 to $24
TrumpyDEV: calls $24
stfu donny joins the table at seat #5
csquard: raises $84 to $108
LChaney: folds
zio_slim: calls $84
TrumpyDEV: folds
*** FLOP *** [8c Kh 5c]
csquard: bets $200
zio_slim: folds
csquard collected $244 from pot
csquard: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $246 | Rake $2
Board [8c Kh 5c]
Seat 1: line folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: zio_slim folded on the Flop
Seat 3: TrumpyDEV (button) folded before Flop
Seat 4: csquard (small blind) collected ($244)
Seat 6: LChaney (big blind) folded before Flop

Tough Hand #4  Could there be any worse cards come on the turn and river for me? I can’t see firing out a value bet on the river, but I’m sure some of you could do it.

POKERSTARS GAME HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6)  6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: line ($752.80 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($735.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($600 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($686.90 in chips)
Seat 5: stfu donny ($585 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($512.35 in chips)
stfu donny: posts small blind $3
MALUKAstar: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [7c 8c]
line: folds
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: raises $18 to $24
stfu donny: folds
MALUKAstar: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [Kc 4c Ac]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: bets $35
MALUKAstar: raises $35 to $70
csquard: calls $35
*** TURN *** [Kc 4c Ac] [2c]
MALUKAstar: bets $42
csquard: calls $42
*** RIVER *** [Kc 4c Ac 2c] [Ks]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MALUKAstar: shows [Qd Ah] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
csquard: shows [7c 8c] (a flush, Ace high)
csquard collected $272 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $275 | Rake $3
Board [Kc 4c Ac 2c Ks]
Seat 1: line folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: csquard (button) showed [7c 8c] and won ($272) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 5: stfu donny (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: MALUKAstar (big blind) showed [Qd Ah] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings

Tough Hand #5  Heck, I thought I was trapping, then I thought I was done for when he calls my turn bet, then I know I’m done for on the river, then I drag the pot.

POKERSTARS GAMEHOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: line ($1040.45 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($812.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($664.45 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($985.20 in chips)
Seat 5: Gujral ($351 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($531 in chips)
MALUKAstar: posts small blind $3
line: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qs Ah]
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: raises $18 to $24
Gujral: folds
MALUKAstar: calls $21
line: folds
*** FLOP *** [Qd Ad 2s]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: bets $20
MALUKAstar: raises $20 to $40
csquard: calls $20
*** TURN *** [Qd Ad 2s] [9d]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: bets $75
MALUKAstar: calls $75
*** RIVER *** [Qd Ad 2s 9d] [4d]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MALUKAstar: shows [As 4h] (two pair, Aces and Fours)
csquard: shows [Qs Ah] (two pair, Aces and Queens)
csquard collected $281 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $284 | Rake $3
Board [Qd Ad 2s 9d 4d]
Seat 1: line (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: csquard showed [Qs Ah] and won ($281) with two pair, Aces and Queens
Seat 5: Gujral (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar (small blind) showed [As 4h] and lost with two pair, Aces and Fours

Tough Hand #6  Is this  just sad weak/tight play?  Do you check the turn?  Do you just call the river?

POKERSTARS GAME HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: line ($773.05 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($871.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($621 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($861.20 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($926.75 in chips)
MALUKAstar: posts small blind $3
line: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ah 9d]
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: raises $18 to $24
MALUKAstar: calls $21
line: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [Qh Th As]
MALUKAstar: checks
line: checks
csquard: bets $50
MALUKAstar: calls $50
line: folds
*** TURN *** [Qh Th As] [5s]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: checks
*** RIVER *** [Qh Th As 5s] [9s]
MALUKAstar: bets $48
csquard: calls $48
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MALUKAstar: shows [3d Ac] (a pair of Aces)
csquard: shows [Ah 9d] (two pair, Aces and Nines)
csquard collected $266 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $268 | Rake $2
Board [Qh Th As 5s 9s]
Seat 1: line (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: csquard (button) showed [Ah 9d] and won ($266) with two pair, Aces and Nines
Seat 6: MALUKAstar (small blind) showed [3d Ac] and lost with a pair of Aces

Tough Hand #7  I love being tricky all the time and costing myself bets.  Maybe he doesn’t call the turn, I don’t know.  I think this one wasn’t done too well.

POKERSTARS GAME HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: Doughdebase ($913 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($735.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($608.40 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($1520.45 in chips)
Seat 5: Gujral ($266.15 in chips)
csquard: posts small blind $3
Gujral: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Td Kd]
Doughdebase: folds
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: raises $18 to $24
csquard: calls $21
Gujral: folds
*** FLOP *** [Ac Ks Qh]
csquard: checks
JeffBoston: bets $36
csquard: calls $36
*** TURN *** [Ac Ks Qh] [Kc]
csquard: checks
JeffBoston: checks
*** RIVER *** [Ac Ks Qh Kc] [5h]
csquard: bets $80
JeffBoston: calls $80
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Td Kd] (three of a kind, Kings)
JeffBoston: mucks hand
csquard collected $284 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $286 | Rake $2
Board [Ac Ks Qh Kc 5h]
Seat 1: Doughdebase folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston (button) mucked [2c Ad]
Seat 4: csquard (small blind) showed [Td Kd] and won ($284) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 5: Gujral (big blind) folded before Flop

Tough Hand #8  The loser hand of the session against the universal calling station.   I actually thought I was good here.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($3/$6) 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: line ($1031.45 in chips)
Seat 2: zio_slim ($800.15 in chips)
Seat 3: JeffBoston ($655.45 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($1118.20 in chips)
Seat 5: Gujral ($330 in chips)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar ($444.05 in chips)
MALUKAstar: posts small blind $3
line: posts big blind $6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Jd Js]
zio_slim: folds
JeffBoston: folds
csquard: raises $18 to $24
Gujral: folds
MALUKAstar: calls $21
line: folds
*** FLOP *** [9h Kd 7c]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: bets $35
MALUKAstar: calls $35
*** TURN *** [9h Kd 7c] [2s]
MALUKAstar: checks
csquard: checks
*** RIVER *** [9h Kd 7c 2s] [3s]
MALUKAstar: bets $60
csquard: calls $60
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MALUKAstar: shows [Kc 5c] (a pair of Kings)
csquard: mucks hand
MALUKAstar collected $241 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $244 | Rake $3
Board [9h Kd 7c 2s 3s]
Seat 1: line (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: zio_slim folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: JeffBoston folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: csquard mucked [Jd Js]
Seat 5: Gujral (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 6: MALUKAstar (small blind) showed [Kc 5c] and won ($241) with a pair of Kings

My overall stats were 23.98/8.18 for the session, and I was definitely affected by the two guys I mentioned.  I quit raising with nothing from the button or CO.

I played just a bit more after dinner, four-tabling $0.50/1 NLH 6-max, with one losing table and three winners for a +$225 session.  Anyways, I’m pretty tired as I type this after watching Top Chef with Sweetie asleep on the sofa.  I put her to bed then hopped down here to fire this up.  Hope everyone sleeps well tonight.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 1st, 2007 at 11:08 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.