Quest of a Closet Poker Player

Up over $1k playing $1/2 NLH 6-max on PokerStars!  I think that the past week I’ve been subconsciously playing bad so that it would help my meta-game.  For those new to poker, meta-game is when you do something really stupid in poker.  You then convince yourself that this will tell people that you are horrible, and they will then factor in whatever you did in their future decisions.

I was down one buy-in at one of the tables.  Even flopping two pair with 8h-7h on a Kh-7s-8s flop (paid off by A-K), I just couldn’t beat this table.  The guy two to my left was 44/11 player.  It was others though that took my chips at Mars.  I had to re-buy after slow-playing queens into slow-played aces.  Then I lost back another chunk with this hand.

Hand #1  POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) -Table ‘Mars III’ 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 1: cacou31 ($78.40 in chips)
Seat 2: BadgerPro ($227 in chips)
Seat 3: mka07 ($149.75 in chips)
Seat 4: csquard ($309.05 in chips)
Seat 5: UMASS11 ($220.50 in chips)
Seat 6: phatlat ($730.30 in chips)
csquard: posts small blind $1
UMASS11: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Th Qh]
phatlat: folds
cacou31: calls $2
BadgerPro: folds
mka07: calls $2
csquard: calls $1
UMASS11: raises $10 to $12
cacou31: calls $10
mka07: calls $10
csquard: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [9s Qd Jh]
csquard: bets $32
UMASS11: folds
cacou31: calls $32
mka07: calls $32
*** TURN *** [9s Qd Jh] [6d]
csquard: bets $110
cacou31: calls $34.40 and is all-in
mka07: calls $105.75 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [9s Qd Jh 6d] [7d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Th Qh] (a pair of Queens)
mka07: shows [Js Qc] (two pair, Queens and Jacks)
mka07 collected $142.70 from side pot
cacou31: mucks hand
mka07 collected $244.20 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $389.90 Main pot $244.20. Side pot $142.70. | Rake $3
Board [9s Qd Jh 6d 7d]
Seat 1: cacou31 mucked [9c Jc]
Seat 2: BadgerPro folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: mka07 (button) showed [Js Qc] and won ($386.90) with two pair, Queens and Jacks
Seat 4: csquard (small blind) showed [Th Qh] and lost with a pair of Queens
Seat 5: UMASS11 (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: phatlat folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

It was the other three tables where I did serious damage:

• Sarpedon (195 hands, 17.95/12.31, +$144.20)
• Ain (284 hands, 23.94/11.27, +$288.10)
• Sinon (267 hands, 25.84, 14.61, +$793.95)

My lone tough hand on Sinon was an easy laydown on the river, although I’d be interested in what folks think.

Hand #2  POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: pool_shark_1 ($317.50 in chips)
Seat 2: tomorrrow ($327.55 in chips)
Seat 3: needfood ($384.90 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($164.45 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($1056.05 in chips)
Seat 6: immie ($134 in chips)
tomorrrow: posts small blind $1
needfood: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qs Ad]
Dr. Fells: calls $2
csquard: raises $10 to $12
immie: folds
pool_shark_1: calls $12
tomorrrow: folds
needfood: folds
Dr. Fells: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [Th 9h Ks]
Dr. Fells: checks
csquard: checks
pool_shark_1: bets $24
Dr. Fells: folds
csquard: calls $24
*** TURN *** [Th 9h Ks] [Jh]
csquard: checks
pool_shark_1: bets $48
csquard: calls $48
*** RIVER *** [Th 9h Ks Jh] [9s]
csquard: checks
pool_shark_1: bets $233.50 and is all-in
csquard: folds
pool_shark_1 collected $180 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $183 | Rake $3
Board [Th 9h Ks Jh 9s]
Seat 1: pool_shark_1 (button) collected ($180)
Seat 2: tomorrrow (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: needfood (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Dr. Fells folded on the Flop
Seat 5: csquard folded on the River
Seat 6: immie folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

I left some value out there for sure, and I’m eager to hear about it and how to play these better.

Hand #3  POKERSTARS GAME HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: tomorrrow ($124 in chips)
Seat 3: needfood ($513.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($264 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($748.80 in chips)
Seat 6: IHasOuts ($197 in chips)
tomorrrow: posts small blind $1
needfood: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Jc Tc]
Dr. Fells: folds
csquard: raises $7 to $9
IHasOuts: raises $18 to $27
tomorrrow: folds
needfood: folds
csquard: calls $18
*** FLOP *** [9c 3c Ac]
csquard: checks
IHasOuts: bets $42
csquard: raises $133 to $175
IHasOuts: folds
csquard collected $139 from pot
csquard: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $141 | Rake $2
Board [9c 3c Ac]
Seat 2: tomorrrow (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: needfood (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Dr. Fells folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: csquard collected ($139)
Seat 6: IHasOuts (button) folded on the Flop

Hand #4  POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 2: Bluffcracker ($103.75 in chips)
Seat 3: AbacabDonkey ($287.55 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($192.75 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($217 in chips)
Seat 6: benam81 ($243.15 in chips)
csquard: posts small blind $1
benam81: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Ac 3s]
Bluffcracker: calls $2
AbacabDonkey: folds
Dr. Fells: folds
csquard: calls $1
benam81: checks
*** FLOP *** [Tc 6c Jc]
csquard: bets $5
benam81: folds
Bluffcracker: raises $5 to $10
csquard: calls $5
*** TURN *** [Tc 6c Jc] [Ah]
csquard: checks
Bluffcracker: bets $14
peterface72 joins the table at seat #1
csquard: raises $76 to $90
Bluffcracker: raises $1.75 to $91.75 and is all-in
csquard: calls $1.75
*** RIVER *** [Tc 6c Jc Ah] [6h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Ac 3s] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
Bluffcracker: mucks hand
csquard collected $207.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $209.50 | Rake $2
Board [Tc 6c Jc Ah 6h]
Seat 2: Bluffcracker mucked [Qc Jd]
Seat 3: AbacabDonkey folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: csquard (small blind) showed [Ac 3s] and won ($207.50) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 6: benam81 (big blind) folded on the Flop

Hand #5  Could I be any more of a big baby here?

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 2: tomorrrow ($124.30 in chips)
Seat 3: needfood ($504.80 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($297.15 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($912.80 in chips)
Seat 6: immie ($127.80 in chips)
Dr. Fells: posts small blind $1
csquard: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qh Kh]
immie: calls $2
anfänger12 has returned
tomorrrow: folds
needfood: raises $10 to $12
Dr. Fells: folds
csquard: calls $10
immie: calls $10
*** FLOP *** [3h 9s 5h]
csquard: bets $24
immie: calls $24
needfood: calls $24
*** TURN *** [3h 9s 5h] [As]
csquard: checks
immie: checks
needfood: bets $34
csquard: calls $34
immie: folds
*** RIVER *** [3h 9s 5h As] [Th]
csquard: checks
needfood: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Qh Kh] (a flush, King high)
needfood: mucks hand
csquard collected $175 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $177 | Rake $2
Board [3h 9s 5h As Th]
Seat 2: tomorrrow folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: needfood (button) mucked [9c Tc]
Seat 4: Dr. Fells (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: csquard (big blind) showed [Qh Kh] and won ($175) with a flush, King high
Seat 6: immie folded on the Turn

Hand #6  I don’t like my play on this hand, although it was a tough call for me on the river. I have to just bet out the river, yes?  Do you fold the river here?

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: tomorrrow ($123 in chips)
Seat 3: needfood ($511.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($264 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($818.80 in chips)
Seat 6: IHasOuts ($200 in chips)
needfood: posts small blind $1
Dr. Fells: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qd Kh]
csquard: raises $7 to $9
IHasOuts: calls $9
tomorrrow: folds
needfood: folds
Dr. Fells: folds
*** FLOP *** [6h Qh Jd]
csquard: bets $14
IHasOuts: calls $14
*** TURN *** [6h Qh Jd] [9h]
csquard: bets $32
IHasOuts: calls $32
*** RIVER *** [6h Qh Jd 9h] [9c]
csquard: checks
IHasOuts: bets $89
csquard: calls $89
*** SHOW DOWN ***
IHasOuts: shows [Ad Td] (a pair of Nines)
csquard: shows [Qd Kh] (two pair, Queens and Nines)
csquard collected $289 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $291 | Rake $2
Board [6h Qh Jd 9h 9c]
Seat 2: tomorrrow (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: needfood (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: Dr. Fells (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: csquard showed [Qd Kh] and won ($289) with two pair, Queens and Nines
Seat 6: IHasOuts showed [Ad Td] and lost with a pair of Nines

Hand #7  The river check-raise, never ever to be used (at least I use it so rarely that I start shaking afterwards…).  Is min-raise the same as the check-raise all-in?  Does he pay me off on the turn or river?

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Sinon III’ 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: KOCMOC ($117 in chips)
Seat 2: TheReev ($146.70 in chips)
Seat 4: Dr. Fells ($314.55 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($358.50 in chips)
Seat 6: benam81 ($258.10 in chips)
KOCMOC: posts small blind $1
TheReev: posts big blind $2
NutPopper: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [4h Ah]
Dr. Fells: folds
csquard: raises $7 to $9
benam81: calls $9
KOCMOC: folds
TheReev: calls $7
*** FLOP *** [6h 2h 8s]
TheReev: checks
csquard: bets $18
benam81: calls $18
TheReev: folds
*** TURN *** [6h 2h 8s] [Qh]
csquard: checks
benam81: bets $35
csquard: calls $35
*** RIVER *** [6h 2h 8s Qh] [4c]
csquard: checks
benam81: bets $90
csquard: raises $206.50 to $296.50 and is all-in
benam81: folds
csquard collected $312 from pot
csquard: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $314 | Rake $2
Board [6h 2h 8s Qh 4c]
Seat 1: KOCMOC (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: TheReev (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Dr. Fells folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: csquard collected ($312)
Seat 6: benam81 (button) folded on the River

Hand #8  And of course, no reason for me not to get outplayed then suckout.  I mean, it wouldn’t be poker if I didn’t make some bone-headed play.

POKERSTARS HOLD’EM NO LIMIT ($1/$2) Table ‘Ain III’ 6-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: ToddDuke ($114.15 in chips)
Seat 2: Madman1506 ($102.90 in chips)
Seat 3: cgview69 ($73.60 in chips)
Seat 4: UMASS11 ($238.50 in chips)
Seat 5: csquard ($409.25 in chips)
Seat 6: wil69v ($37.50 in chips)
cgview69: posts small blind $1
UMASS11: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to csquard [Qh Ad]
csquard: raises $7 to $9
wil69v: folds
ToddDuke: folds
Madman1506: calls $9
cgview69: folds
UMASS11: folds
*** FLOP *** [6c Jd 4h]
csquard: bets $14
Madman1506: calls $14
*** TURN *** [6c Jd 4h] [Ah]
csquard: bets $32
Madman1506: raises $32 to $64
csquard: raises $32 to $96
Madman1506: calls $15.90 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [6c Jd 4h Ah] [Jh]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
csquard: shows [Qh Ad] (two pair, Aces and Jacks)
Madman1506: mucks hand
csquard collected $205.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $208.80 | Rake $3
Board [6c Jd 4h Ah Jh]
Seat 1: ToddDuke folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 2: Madman1506 (button) mucked [6s As]
Seat 3: cgview69 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: UMASS11 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: csquard showed [Qh Ad] and won ($205.80) with two pair, Aces and Jacks
Seat 6: wil69v folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

Thanks to Fuel for his support–and for not joining one of the table and playing J8o or 55!  I must say, it is great to be a terrific player again!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 at 4:22 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.