2019's ChuckM's Poker Blog

[Chuck M]

WOSP Circuit event, 330 Colossus @ Playground Poker Club

I went to play that tourney last week. Don’t play much tournaments, but once in a while, I enjoy them. Especially the special events like those festivals. My Bday was on that week too, so, I though it would be a nice treat to myself to get into such an event… and hopefully try to have a good run, and maybe a new score on my hendon mob profile, lol

So here we are, saturday august 24th. Took a week of vacation from work based on the series schedule.
I played day 1E, sat pm. Started pretty well. Played a short cash game session the night before and it didn’t go well. I told a friend, jokingly, that I used that session to get rid of my bad run, so I’d be fresh for the tournament, lol. Indeed, I was flopping sets! A thing that I didn’t see since 2017, I felt like! I even turned quad aces one time. I got action pre, and on the flop, but not further. So I went above average for a couple hours, untill the first break, I’d say. Then, I started to run a bit colder. I was fortunate enough not to get coolered (except maybe that hand when I lost a third of my stack with KQ vs AQ on QxxQx, but that’s ok.)

Let’s fast forward a bit to the end of the day. Out of 336 entries, 51 players were gonna make day2 (and the money at the same time). We were down to 52 players. Hand for hand since, i dunno, 30-40 minutes. Blinds were 2.5k/5k/5k… and at one point I was down to 4500!!! Blinds were getting closer and closer to me, was hopping for someone to bust on another table… but I became UTG, now was the time, I had to get lucky. No matter the hand I had to shove, ’cause had I waited for next hand, I would’ve had barely enough for the ante, and no bb… So shoving utg could allow me to triple up. J8o, (I could’ve shoved in the dark for more excitement, but I took a peak). MP iso’d me, SB 3bet shoved, MP snap called. TD asked us to keep our hands face down to avoid influencing the other tables around. Then showdown.
Me J8
MP AA
SB AK
*ok dealer 9TQ please*
Flop came 732 (ouch…)
*ok, I just don’t wanna be drawing dead on the turn…*
Turn 732_T
*ohhh! not dead yet… (and outloud) : nine, nine, nine, nine!!*
River 732_T_9
Woah!
A bunch of players from other tables were around, I had the official photographer above my shoulder, everybody went “WOOOOOOOHHHH”

AK lost, but he had MP covered, so nobody busted there.

Then I had a bit of air and folded a few hand when we learnt we were all in the money, qualified for day2. That felt awesome. Had I’ve lost that J8 hand, I was going home empty handed. That runner runner straight won me $600. The min cash.

. . .

Monday August 26th, Day2.

I bagged 10500 for day2, I was just hopping not to start in the BB. I was glad to learn that I was on the BTN! And that the blinds were back a level, 2k/4k/4k (not that it changed anything for my stack, lol)

First hand of the day. MP opens 8k, I’m otb with TT, i shove, he calls.
Me TT
MP 97dd

Flop 7XXdd (oh gosh… lol)
Turn Kc
Riv Jh, safe runout…
10.5k -­> 31k

Players were falling, one every 30-40 seconds! Afterwards, I read that they had 200 players busting in the first 2 hours!

I played a few hands, I won a flip or two, lost one for 1.25bb so it didn’t really matter.

And at the end, I shoved KTs from EP for 42k (blinds 3/6/6)
Got called by 55 and he held,
nh, gg

Out in 351st out of 3538 entries for 800. My best tournament result so far.

. . .

I was debating if I was gonna play the Closer event (same buy-in, same structure / smaller grtd prizepool). Dunno yet. Last day1 would be in 4 hours… I’ll think about it… I might go play cash instead. (maybe PLO, not sure yet)

[Chuck M]

Sesh #10, September 1st

Went for a cash game session after all. 1/2 NLHE.
Nothing much to say, except I was feeling more detached from money. I used to play on a “bankroll” of like 2 buy-ins, but from my recent tournament cash and some birthday gifts, i’m now more around like 6. Lol, I know it’s still very tiny, but the psychological step of the 4 digits… anyway… Maybe I was in a good state of mind, idk.

That doesn’t mean it went well, lol. Actually, I wasn’t that card dead, I some time had good hands to open with, even 3bet, or call 3bets. The thing is, I was cold deck, didn’t hit a board in the entire night… Well, I think I made one top pair (JT, river T) raised pf, checked down, and took a little value otr.

I 3bet KK, villain folded QQ. He opened 12 on the CO after a few limps, I 3bet 32 BTN, he asked me if I had AK. Then asked me if I’d show if he showed I said I didn’t mind. He folded QQ face up, and I showed him my KK… he said I should’ve flat and try to hit the bad beat jackpot (lol).

One other time, a young good lag opened to 7 im MP, I 3bet QQ to 21 next to him, everybody folded, and he showed me KJ before mucking. I said he had 30% (or something like that)

I once opened QQ to 8, got 3bet to 16, I called.
Flop Kxx hh
I checked, V quickly checked back
Turn X
I c/c his 16
Riv X
I c/f to his 25, he flashed top set (KK)

Other than that, I was missing boards with my SC, PP, AXs.
Lowest point was -105, but the I found AQhh, I iso’d a few limps, got called in 2 spots.
Flop KQx, checked around
Turn x, 1 check, 2 (young lag) bet 15, I call, 1 fold
Riv. x, 2 bet 25, I called and he mucked, I didn’t show (he said either a K or a Q were good)

Ended my session -48 ($8 in tips)
Played 4 hours, around 95 hands and tracked my stats, even tho it’s short term (I’ll make an average at the end of the year), I played 26/16/2

Online, my vpip and pfr were way closer, but in live (especially 1/2 i guess) I some times flat, sometime overlimp, almost never open limp tho, but yeah, sometime I overlimp, try to hit a board with some potentially good implied odds hands, setmining and stuff. Maybe I could try and start to 3bet lighter. But I kind of wonder if it works in live 1/2. I guess I’ll try, then I’ll find out.

– – –

2019 so far
10 sesh of cash / 26 hours / down 296 / cashed 30% (really gotta pump that stat up)
3 tournaments / 16 hours / up 340 / cashed 33%

[Chuck M]

Just a little update
Played 3 sessions since the last post

2019 so far
13 cash sessions / 36 hours / down 235 (includes 69 in tips)
cashed 38% (still too low for now)

3 tourneys / 16 hours / up 340 / cashed 33%

—

Played 21/10/0.5 on almost 1000 hands
Small sample

I think i should pfr more, and 3b more
Or maybe i shouldn’t compare live stats with online stats…

But more 3b wouldn’t hurt

[Chuck M]

sesh #14, october 3rd 2019

Been playing last night.
When i don’t play, i train a little with apps and solvers and charts and stuff, i try to study to stay “sharp”.

When I go play, I try to think about range vs range, opening correct hands depending on positions. That being said, I feel like i’m the nittiest player at the table, even tho I repect the charts. Maybe it’s correct thing to do against too loose players. Maybe i play to short sessions. Anyway, I had fun, but I was kinda card dead. Played (even tho it’s too short of a sample) 16/8/2.

Anyway. Nothing much to say, I won a couple of pots preflop.

Then I played a key hand :

I open AQ to 8 in HJ, omc CO calls, BB calls.
Flop 3way (20ish) AJx
BB chk, I 12, CO c, BB f
Turn hu (44ish) K
I 20, CO c
Riv (84ish) Q
Yeah, aces up, but ew…

What to do? Chk/fold? (Probably)
Bet/fold? So i’d get called by worse 2pairs, kind of a blocker bet, so i cab fold to a raise…
Or c/c

I checked, he snap bet 45 (it’s a fold!) But at the moment, wasn’t sure about his omc’ness. Thought he could bet 2pairs since i showed weakness otr.

Called knowing i was beat a certain percentage of the time, but could be good some other time.

But not this time, he showed AT, i knocked the table twice and mucked, nh.

In retrospect, I think I prefer a small b/f.

He later told me he folded aces up A9 on AK9Jx cause he was scared of AK (i wasn’t involved in that hand). That made me think he would certainly have checked back with 2p in the hand vs me.

From there, i got down to 95-100.
Couldn’t find a spot, opened JJ checked down and folded to a river bet on a 3way pot on xxKAx

Opened KQ and folded on a bricked flop.

Setmined and missed

My stack dropped and dropped, and I didn’t retop.

Then last hand of the night for me, utg opens 10, I 3b allin to 38ish, he called
Board x235K and my JJ were good

In for 200
Out for 70
Not so bad

But i don’t relly like my results up to now. But i know i haven’t played much to get any conclusions. I’m 5/9 yet
I don’t thik I’ve won more than 2 sesh in a row. Well, I guess that in only 14 session, it’s too short of a sample, so, it can happen. I could be 11/3, as i could be 3/11. I’ll try to put more volume in 🙂

—
2019 so far
14 cash sessions / 39 hours / down 371 (includes 72 in tips)
3 tourneys / 16 hours / up 340

[Chuck M]

Oops I skipped a few blogs…

Session #17, october 23rd

I went to play a short-ish session yesterday. Was meeting a friend for dinner (at the casino) so I went for a little afternoon sesh beforehand.

Dropped a little with KQ<K8 on Qxxx8 when I bet-bet-x/c.

Then got back to even

Then a player made a straight flush on my table, and even tho i wasn’t involved in the hand, I received $50 (he got 250, and everyone else had 50)
So i was suddenly “up” 50 (lol)

Then continued to build my stack to get up +100.

Then lost a few small pots. (+75)

5pm (was meeting my friend between 5:15/30). He texted me to let me know he was arriving soon. Told him i was in the poker room, so as soon as he was getting in, I was gonna leave. Then I add I was up. And as a joke, wishing I wasn’t jinxing myself, hoping not to lose a big pot in the next 10minutes…

I put my cellphone down and got AJdd dealt from utg+1.
I open to 8 and got 2 calls. (Mp and btn)
Flop 722dd
I chk, mp chk, btn bet 25, we both called.
Turn J

Wow…

I chk, mp chk, btn bets 100.

Back on me, got 230-240 behind. I think it’s a shove… It’s gotta be a shove! Im way ahead like 97% of the time here… I can’t be affraid that btn has 77… And he would’ve 3b QQ+
…
On the other hand, I’m trying to get my year out of a hole… Just told my friend i didn’t want to get involved in a big pot…. I got the winner… But what if… What if i shove and get called only by a better hand? Id rather book a small win today than increasing my down-ness… Had my allin been for 150 or so, i would’ve happily shoved my stack in… But then, being up at the time…

That’s stupid, I was thinking of too many things except the actual hand…

I still feel sick thinking about it… I laid it down (i know, it’s almost a crime, im really ashamed of it…) But i folded, planning on leaving the table next hand…

Mp shoved for 150, btn called.

Mp had a naked flush draw with K5dd
And BTN had 99, my tptk was good as expected…

I don’t really know why i folded, it’s like i disconnected my brain, letting my hand throw my cards away.

Ended my sesh there, with a ~$45 win, but it felt like a 550 loss. I really should’ve raked that $600 pot… I felt stupid and weak. Didn’t like the feeling at all. Im really not beaten by much there…

That pot would’ve gotten my year back in the black!

I know i shouldn’t be playing scared, i should be playing money that I can afford to lose. I got a 1k bankroll, that’s why i wanted to protect my profit and not risking my stack… But that shouldn’t be an issue…

Hopefully I’ma learn from that and not do this again 🤢🤢🤢

Booking a win never felt as bad as last night’s lol

—

2019 so far

17 cash sessions / 50 hours / down 367 (463 with tips) (7/10)

4 tourneys (1 was a home game) / 27 hours / up 408

[Chuck M]

session #20, November 13th

Just noticed i missed a few sesh.
#18 +128 in 3 hours
#19 even (-$3 in tips) in 2:15

And last night was #20.

Nothing went my way. It’s been a while since I had such a bad session. Dropped -60 in the first 28 minutes or so (had hands to open with, but missed the board every time).

Then 137 eff, there are 2 limps ahead, and i find AQo in sb, decided to raise to 12, 2 calls.

Flop A24r
I cbet 25 into 36, one call
Turn 5hh
i lose to aces up and A3 or sets, but i can still get value from any Ax, and maybe pair+draw
I bet 60 into ~85, he shoved, i calloff for my last 40
He shows 33, nh
Riv Q, i was stacking off no matter what.

Went to the cage, and reloaded for another 200.

Then I finally won my first pot after 1:40 of play. Straddled pot (1/2/$5), I raised 15 and took it down.

Played a few more hands, and here’s another hand.

I open A3hh in mp (7), flop 3way
Flop Ac34dd
Chk to me, i cbet 12 (i should’ve gone 16-18), got 2 calls
Turn 7d
Checked to me
i rarely reload, i got a tiny roll, i really don’t want to go through my 2nd bullet… But my hand must be good
I checked back (with the intention of calling a river bet)
River Tc
Villain leads 55 (about pot size)
One fold, to me…
I guess it’s a call… But being down at the moment, i really didn’t wanna call to see his flush, A7, AT, or random straight, set…
But with a polarized bet like that, could he be betting AJ kinda hand… I dunno… Tanked a little and let it go…

Took a few pots preflop afterwards, but I never been able to climb out the hole.

Cashed out -280 after 3 hours, not so bad

I think it’s a call on the last hand…
Or a b/f on the turn.

—
2019
20 cash sessions / 59 hours / down 619 (515 @ table)
4 tourneys / 21 hours / up 408
—
I also played 2 home game sit and gos
Finished runner up and bubble = even for the night, so I didn’t add it up to my overall stats. I would had I ended up Up or Down.

[Chuck M]

Sesh #21, Nov. 20th

Went to play last night.
2-3 players on my right were about 1k deep (playing 1/2 250max).
But that’s not quite relevant, i folded for 4 hours, lol

Nah, i opened a few hands (played 17% of them). KK, called twice, x/f Axx flop vs action (both villains had Ax)

A couple AK hands, flop QJx.x.x had to give up vs agression.

JJ, gave up postflop on AKx.x.x

But I also called a raise with 55
Flop 4way T43 checked around
Turn 5, V bet 20 (into 40ish), folded to me, i raised to 60, and V folded.

Made top top once i think.

I didn’t take much notes, that was pretty much it.

In for 204, out for 168. 🤷‍♂️

– – –

2019
– 21 cash sessions / 63 hours / down 655 (includes 108 in tips)
– 4 tournaments / 21 hours / up 408

[Chuck M]

Sesh #22, nov.28th

Yay, a win.
Went to play a 3 hour session last night. Didn’t win a pot for the first hour or so.

Then got back to even with AQ on AA8xx
Ss shoved pf for 15, 2 called (including me)
There was a $2 side pot, i bet flop, and my villain unfortunately folded (maybe i should chk, and bet turn, anyway…)

That got me back to even.

Then won a 100ish pot with JT on
J7x89
Flop checked around
I called villain’s bet on turn
And villain x/c my river bet with 2 pairs

And finally, i won another pot with AJhh on 887hh Xh Xx

In for 208
Out for 283

– – –
2019 so far
– 22 sessions of cash / 66 hours / down 464 (580 with tips)
– 4 tourneys / 21 hours / up 408

[Chuck M]

Sesh #23, December 1st

I’ve been invited to a home game yesterday. 0.25/0.50 pretty deep stacked, played like a 0.5/$1 or sometimes 1/2.

I bought in for 150BB, but quickly found myself as one of the shortest stacks. I had money to rebuy, but I tried to grind my stack up.

When I was “down to” $50 (it’s still 100 bigs) i squeezed pre with QQ.
Flop came JJx dd
I checked (multiway, J’s in their ranges) with the intension to call, one bet, folded to me, my plan (when i 3b pre was to shove flops with no A no K)
I went all-in vs villain’s flush draw (who committed himself with his flop bet).
He made a flush on the turn
I hit a Q on the river.

Got lucky there.
That brought me up to 100-115ish

From there, I never really looked back.

We played for approx 8 hours.

Even tho I usually play 1/2, that 0.25/0.50 session was my biggest win of the year (for cash games).
It also brought my year back in the black

– – –
2019
– 23 sessions of cash / 73 hrs / down 104 (220 with tips)
– 4 tourneys / 21 hrs / up 408

[Chuck M]

Sesh #24, December 11th

I played last night. In for 200.

First hand dealt, im BB with AA.
MP limp, SB completes, I raise to 10, they fold.

From there, it went downhill.
Had good hands to open with, but missed postflop. Sometimes i cbet flop / turn, got called, had to give up.

At one point, i was down to a $50 stack.
There’s an open to 8, shortstack ahoves 34, i shove over the top (50) with TT.
OR calls.
Flop comes Txx, i show my top set
It holds vs OR’s KK and shortstack mucks.

Back to 140ish

Then gradually dropped to 85
And up to 150

Then there’s a limped hand, i overlimp TT (i usually raise, but here, I decided to setmine in that multiway pot)

Flop KT6ccc
Check to me, i bet, one call

Turn 6
V chk, I take a few seconds before checking back

River X
V leads 15, I raise to 40, he snap shoves, I snap call (115ish eff)
I win vs his flopped flush

Now up to 225

Cashed out soon after that for 220

Small win for a 4hour session, but after behing down 75bbs, I’m glad I’ve been able to come back

—
2019
– 24 cash sessions / 77 hrs / down 78 (203 with tips)
– 5 tourneys (played a sng home game last week) / 24 hrs / up 383

[Chuck M]

Sesh # 25, December 20th

yeah! The year is coming to an end. I’m up overall, but down in cash games. Not by much, it’s pretty doable to end that year in the black in both cash and tourneys

So, my vacations have started, had my hole day dedicated to poker today.
Got there, bought in for 200, had an extra 100 in my pockets but I was hoping no having to pull it out.

First hand dealt, I found red aces on my BB. CO opens to 12, I 3bet to 36, he calls.
Flop : xxx, I cbet 30, he calls
Turn : K, I bet 50, he calls
Riv : K, chk chk, I win

stack went 200 -> 300
yeah, not bad for a first hand.

Next, I folded my SB.
And next hand, I’m on the BTN, and get dealt black Aces! Wow, twice in 3 hands, that’s gonna be a fun night!

Same guy opens to 12 in MP, I 3bet 35, he calls.
Flop K98 mono spades, he chk, I bet 30 (or 35?) he calls
Turn 2h, he chk, I bet 50, he c/r to 140, if I call, I got 85 behind, and stacking off was pretty much my plan, he may have Kx and/or a flush draw, or if he already has the flush, I can redraw to the nuts. He never gonna put me on aces again, twice in 3 hands. Well, I shove, he calls with 22 (with 2c)
We agreed to run 2 rivers
Riv1 quads for him (K9822)
Riv2 boat (K9828)
NH

wow that was fast! “chips table 6” said the dealer as I got my spare 100 from my pocket.

Gradually went down to 70, then, in a limped pot, I got K8o in the blinds
Flop K86, I lead 5, folded to the BTN who raises 15, I flat
Turn 8, I check, he bets 26, I shove for basically a min raise
he calls, I show I win

back to 140

Not long after that, I hit a set of jacks, action, turn a boat on a flushy board, stacks went in, I win, back up to 280, yeah, almost even! 🙂

Then, I chipped up gradually, little at a time, to finish up at 404 (+104 in 6 hours)
not the best hourly, but a nice win, feels good.

– – –
2019
– 25 cash game sessions / 83 hours / up 41 (down 99 with tips)
– 5 tournaments / 24 hours / up 383

– – –

Still time to play another session (maybe 2) and try to win enough to cover the tips, and end up Up for real. Maybe I’ll play that PLO session that I wanna play since forever, haha

[Chuck M]

sesh #26, December 21st

Nice 2 sessions in 2 days 🙂

But i knew i shouldn’t have played. My year was up 300, just down 99 in cash due to tips, but doesn’t matter, i was up at the game, i should’ve stopped for the year. (I know it’s silly, but…)

Ok ok, I’m happy to play
Bought in for 200
My 2nd or 3rd hand dealt i found KK.
Utg opens 6, mp calls, i squeeze from CO 24, utg 4bet to 46, mp folds
“Damn he’s got aces”
I cannot fold, but i cannot shove either to see his aces…
Ok I’ll call, it’s only a min raise anyway…
Flop Qxx
He bets 25, i flat
Turn x
He bets 50, i decided on a shove for about 80eff on top, (had him covered), he called with AA
Nh

Down to $36
Few hands later (like 2)
I opened KQ to 6, five calls
Flop QJ6
I shoved 30 into 36
Action behind me, lose to QQ, nh

Game is good though, so I rebuy
Really can’t beat myself up for that first buyin, I’m gonna get it back

Then i don’t know what happen, I had hands to open with, but folded to oversized 3bets, or fold postflop when i missed.
I won a $7 pot preflop with JJ.

Then next win was 1:45 later

Limped pot, I’m in the BB with 5c3d
Flop A34cc, checked around
Turn 2c, i bet 6 (into like 8), got 2 calls
River 8s, i really wanted that steel wheel, oh well, normal wheel will do, lol
I bet 12 and they folded

That the only other pot I won.

At the end, i’m around 100 stack
Realizing I went through my year’s profits, I should’ve left… But i guess statistically, it can’t happen to win a single hand in a 3 hour sessions, wind’s gotta change, things are gonna turn my way, must be!
Well nope…

Opened AJ, got 4-5 callers
Flop J98, dangerous, but i lead 20, got a call, hu to a turn
Turn 8, i bet 25, he raises 42, dealer told him min raise was 50, so 50 it is, i feel sick in my stomach, but can’t fold 25 in a pot of somewhere around 165.. i can still hope he’s got like JT or something… I call
River brick, goes check check, he wins with J9, nh

Left the table a few folded hands later with 4 red chips…

One of those nights, when nothing goes well.

Had I had folded those kings face up when villain 4b at the beginning, having him to show his aces, i wonder what table image it would’ve got me, the whole session might’ve been different… (Lol)

– – –
2019
– 26 sessions of cash / 86 hours / down 338 (479 with tips)
– 5 tourneys / 24 hours / up 383

– – –

I got my vacation “bonus” paycheck, so I thought I could transfer “regular” money into my bankroll, so I’d cover my loss with my “normal” money, so that session wouldn’t count. But at the same time, it would be a little bit like cheating, no matter the bankroll, I played it and got the result I got.

[Chuck M]

Happy new year to y’all 😀

Time for a little wrap up of 2019. Some good and some bad stuff.
Let’s start with reviewing my objectives for 2019 :

My goals for 2019
– win between 50-60% of my sessions
46%. Almost there. Better than my 2018’s 28%

– win more than my losses (just want to finish up, no amount in head)
Was up at the session before my last one. In the green at the tables. Played next night, just to try and cover my $100 I gave in tips this year… oupsy, lost 380…
So nope, I end up 2019 -338 in cash (plus 141 in tips = -479)
But I won 383 in tourneys, and 113 in casino games (mostly low limit black jack and a bit of craps).
+17 overall, so yeah, I ended up in the green (lol)

– I’d like to play a little PLO
haven’t played… Shouldn’t be that big of a deal, will most likely play in the near future

– I could try a 2/5 session, just to see how it plays. I don’t know if it’s worth it. Of course I have no roll, but I also don’t have a roll for 1/2. I’m just curious, just want to try out… maybe not this year, we’ll see…
haven’t tried, no, not yet

– I’d like to set a goal as for number of sessions as well. I’d say around 30, I’d be happy.
played 26.
If we count my tournaments, yeah, I played 32-33 “sessions” if we count my home games too…

– I would also like to play more than one tournament. (and if possible, add a score to my hendon mob page)
Yes! I played very few tournaments, but one of them was the Colossus Event from the WSOP circuit Montreal. Made my way to the 351st place over the 3538 player field

I’ll soon create my 2020 thread, and I’ll post my objectives for the year there

[Author]

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