Chuck M's Poker Blog

[Chuck M]

Hey everyone!
I had an idea. I’m a on a french speaking forum, and I started a blog on that site lately. Well I actually had a poker blog between 2008-2013 I think, but I wanted to start a new one. So I had this idea to translate it here, to make it a little more interactive, so feel free to comment at anytime 🙂

Maybe I should start with a little summary of my poker experience. Well I wrote an introduction post when I arrived on OTF, but I’ll try to make it quick on here. Played 1/2 from 2008 to 2011ish, and online too (but on micro stakes). Slight winner. Had a huge downsing, which made me lose my passion for the game. I took a break since late 2014. My passion for poker ignited back on in mid 2016 I think. And I finally found a spot in my weekly schedule for a poker day. So I play 1/2 with zero bankroll, once a week. I try not to lose too much, so I can go back week after week. I have no bankroll, but I have a little money saved, so I can pick some in it for my leisure. I consider myself as a recreationnal player (I once had the dream to turn pro, but I gave up on that idea). I think I’m a slight winner, even if I’m a break-even player, I don’t really mind. But ultimatelly, if I could win a couple thousands per year, that wouldn’t hurt.

Ok, enough for the intro, so let start that blog 🙂 I must say that I’ve played 6 sessions thus far, (and one blog per sesh, so, I’ll make a post per enrty).

[Chuck M]

originally posted on 2018-Jan-05

Before my first log of 2018, let’s start with a review of 2017.
I played twice last spring, and then, more regularly from september on. I ended up my year with 10 sessions (not a lot, but I don’t mind, I’m aiming to triple that in 2018)
I was playing 3hour sessions, in average. I’d like to increase it to 4.
Finished up in 6 out of 10 sessions (60%) (small sample, tho, but I like that winning rate)
On the downside, I lost more than what I won. Finished down $77, not so bad, not even half a buy-in.
I started to take notes at the table, on my cell phone. That’s something that I’ve never done before (for live poker). I take notes on players that I think I might see some other times afterwards. I also take notes about hands that I play, spots that I’d like to think about, and post and discuss about. Some lines that I’m not sure about, or some moves, and stuff like that.

So yeah, down 77, but when I think about 2-3 spots I played, sometimes, a single hand could make a diffrence between -77 and +77

I also started to take notes about the tips I give the dealers (I use the PokerIncome mobile app). And woah, I started to take note of that in my last 6-7 sessions, and I gave $49 in tips. Had I not tipped, that would’ve cut my losses significantly. But in the other hand, it’s live poker, and it’s standard to tip for good service, and I don’t freakout with that. I tip in a standard way, $1 tip, sometimes 2, and I usually don’t tip if there’s no flop. I don’t consider tips as a loss, it’s just surpsising how much you can tip at the end of the line.

My goals for 2018
– win between 55-70% of my sessions
– win more than my losses (just want to finish up, no amount in head)
– I’d like to play a little PLO
(bonus) – I could try a 2/5 session, just to see how it plays. I don’t know it 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…
– I’d like to set a goal as for number of sessions as well. I’d say around 30 (if I play 40, that’d be great). 25, wouldn’t be so bad, but 30-35, I’d be happy.

pretty much it

[Chuck M]

Sesh #1 (Jan.09)

So I went to play last night. 3 hours, card dead, nothing to declare. Finished down 35.

I noted three spots of a little importance.

First one, I’m in my session from about 45-60 minutes. We’re 7 handed. MP opens to 12 (a reg who seems to know his stuff, but not too aggro, he’s got a $600 stack). I flat with JJ from the CO. BB calls as well. I got 200 and BB had around 240.
Flop (34)
AJT (yay)
BB chk, MP chk, I bet 25, both call
Turn (109)
K (yuck)
checked around
River (109)
2 (making the board : AJT K 2)
BB pushed for 140, MP and I folded.

MP said he had AK, I said I had a set of Jacks, and BB said he flopped the straight (KQ). Turn killed the action, and made me save money.

. . .

Another spot here. About 2 thirds in my session, didn’t make hands, dropped down to $125. I open AK to 10 and got a call. HU to the flop.
Flop (20)
A8x
I cbet 15, he calls,
Turn (50)
J (two flush draws on board)
I have 100 left, I tank a little bit, I take a look at villain’s stack, I cover him (he’s got 75-80), I ended up shoving. He tank called.
River brick, and I win
back up to 226

. . .

Then, I flopped a set of 4s in a limped pot, I’m in the blinds, multiway, 44 on KJ4, I take the lead by betting 5 into 12, folded around, oh well.

. . .

Here’s another semi important spot . I’m in a hand with 86s, 3way flop T88, yeah! (I called pf in LP). V1 checks, I decided to check to let the initial raiser cbet. As I thought, so he does. V2 bets 15 into 32ish. (yeah, i’m gonna get action!)
Back to V1, he c/raises to 40… oh wait a minute… I know that V1 loves to play connectors and gappers, I also know that he loves chasing his draws… But usually, he’s very passive when drawing, so here, I think I’m beat. He doesn’t necessarily have TT, but A8, K8, T8, 98, 87 are all in his range. Would he c/r an overpair? I don’t think he has an OP since he limp/called pf (and I saw him raise JJ+) I think he’d also open TT. I didn’t like it at all, but ended up folding.
V2 folded as well, so I didn’t see V1’s hand. But as I said, I haven’t seen him bluff in this session, and he’s really passive with his draws.

Pretty much it. Was card dead, but I still had fun at the table. I start 2018 with a losing session, but 18bb, it’s almost even.

[Chuck M]

Sesh #2 (Jan.30)

I went to play today. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much time to play… I even hesitated to go since I knew I only had 2 hours to play (takes me an hour to get there and another one to get back home). I decided to go anyway, since I skipped my poker-day for the last 3 weeks, and I was gonna meet a friend for a drink too, so I wasn’t going for nothing, lol

Indeed. 2nd hand I’m dealt, I’m UTG. Since we’re 5 or 6handed, I decided to open 97s to $8. both blinds called.
Flop (24)
872r,
checked around (opted to check back since, that hits more the blinds ranges than mine)
Turn (24)
2
SB c/f, BB bets 15 and I call.
River (74)
7
Villain bets 20, I raised to 50 (I could (and maybe should) have raised a bit more, but I don’t know if I’ll get called had I raised a lot more than that.)
he tank-called (with a deuce I think)

I won that nice pot, and never looked back 😀

In one hour of play, I got dealt KK four times, QQ twice, AKs once.
I didn’t double up, but I had a nice win anyway…
Bought in for 220, cashed out at 350 after 90 minutes of play.

I didn’t really get tricky spots…
One time, I opened KK to 8, I got 3bet, one cold caller, back to me, I got around 325, both villains have around 140-150… I was wondering which sizing I should’ve chosen to 4bet (I think I posted that hand here!) Well, I shoved, and they both folded.

Another time, I open KK and got a call. Flop AJ2, check check, (don’t remember, I think I was oop). Turn X, he bets I call (or I c/c?) River check check, I win vs his J. I don’t know if he calls a river bet, I dunno if I should’ve bet flop (maybe I should’ve to protect my opening range). Anyway, maybe villain would’ve called 2 streets, I dunno…

Anyway, that was super fun. Next time, I’ll try to go for a longer session.
Cheers !

[Chuck M]

Sesh #3 (Feb.06)

Went to play today.
A bit of a shitty session. I’m not really on tilt, don’t think so, I don’t feel angry or nothing close. Just a boring session.
That sucks because last week, I was running hot as hell but didn’t have much time to play, and now, I had a big 4 hours in front of me, but my best hand was 86s (I’m only slightly exagerating)

Bought in for 240

I won some small pots, like when I opened QJ on the BTN, a blind called, flop came KTx, he checked, I cbet and took it down.
I think my peak point was at +$13

Then after an hour or so, I got 88. UTG is a semi-tag reggish, opens to 13, one call, I call as well on the CO, 2 other calls behind (the blinds).
Flop : J98cc V1 donks 25, a call, OR calls, I tank a little, I would love to raise, there’s plenty of draws, but I might be already beat. I’ll raise later on a safe card maybe… I flat.
Turn Ko
V1 bets 25 again, V2 calls, OR shoves… I tank… I wasn’t that much concern about the straight… but with all that action, an OR’s range, and his raise here… I feel beat, so I folded… V1 folds (AQ), V2 calls (QJ), OP shows 99 (knew it!)
River T, (board : J98 K T), V2 wins with a straight.

That was my biggest lost pot (but felt like a 200 win, almost)

From there on, it went downhill. I overlimped on the BTN with 86cc in a multiway pot. Flopped oesd+fd, checked around, I hit flush on the turn, bet 5 and took it down.

And then, I was playing a hand per dealer (they rotate every half-hour). I was folding all my 94, 82, J3, stuff like that. Lost 50-75bb in $25 chunks by opening AJ+, missing the flop (or once I hit tptk, called flop, gaveup turn (and I was right)). Nothing to do (I think I posted about that session too) 🙂

So finished down a little under a buy-in. A bit disapointed.
Anyway, see ya next week 😉

[Chuck M]

Sesh #4 (feb.13)

Yeah, I got back from my today’s session. Small win, but feels somewhat bigger. Easy : I was even for half an hour, then down for the next 3:20, and in the last 10 minutes, I doubled up… cash out with a $9 profit, yeah! 🙂

Here’s some hands

I think I missplayed that one. Too weak, I’m embarassed, lol. I iso AK to 10 after a limp. HU (ip) to the flop
Flop (20)
TT2ss
check, I check back
Turn (20)
7dd
Villain bets 15, I folded.
I think I should’ve bet the flop. And if I choose to check back, then I think it becomes a call on the turn, probably even a call down, depending on the river. Was a little disapointing with myself on that one. Oh well…

Another spot.
I raise AThh on the CO. BTN and the blinds called.
Flop (40)
JTx ss
check, check, I bet my 2nd pair to 20, BTN calls, SB calls, BB shoved for 74…
I folded, BTN called with KQ. BB shows KT and holds!!

Even tho I would’ve won that pot, I’m ok with my fold, I think. If BB doesn’t have me beat, the BTN might. My 2nd pair being good in a 3way versus a c/r on 2 players?… nah…

Or, maybe I could’ve checked the flop, BTN would most likely have taken the free card. If the flop goes checked around, not sure if BB tries the same move on the turn. It’s true that I could question my bet. I value against what? KT, QT, T9, T8, flush draws… What does beat me? AJ, KJ, QJ, JT, J9, J8 and sets… yeah maybe it was a little thin to bet here. On the other hand, I’ll have Jacks in my opening range, so the cbet makes sense. But I also have showdown value, so maybe it’s a check. Betting here almost looks like a bet for info, and I never do that. I guess that if I check here, I should also check some jacks too…

. . .

Another hand. The one that put me down at a certain point in my session. I raise after a limp with AhQs (to 10), and I got two calls. (Villain, plus the limper). To me, villain seems to be an ok / good reg, but now, he’s down 2 buy-ins and I don’t think he’s really happy about it. I feel that makes him play a bit looser than usual
Flop (30)
QhXh6c
limper checks, villain checks, I bet 20
limper folds, villains shoves for 64 (44 on top)
I kinda snap called, and he had 63hh
Turn K, River 6, nh

(thought back about this one, and it was pretty much a flip after all)

. . .

After that, I made a fold that might look nitty, but I didn’t feel it was that hard of a fold.

I raise AA to 10, and got a call (a reg who built himself a $900 stack with a single bullet).
Flop (20)
KJQss
he checks, I’m not thrilled with that flop… I tank, and chose to check back… yeah, he’ll often have pair+gutshots, but also a lot of 2pair combos. I think I played it a little like I would if it was PLO.

Turn (20)
A s
well, top set, but, nasty board, 3 spades, 4 to a straight… he bets 10 and I flat.

River (40)
7c
He bet 25… I folded kind of quickly. I don’t like to show hands, but this time I did. He insta-said : that turn helped you (meaning : saved you money). And he showed the flopped straight (T9). He said he never shows but thought my fold was so sick, so he showed his hand. I felt something was wrong on the flop.

I just hope I didn’t open him a door to bluff me in the future, lol. I’ll have to hero call him I guess 🙂

. . .

So my stack was around $100 at that moment (110-115 maybe). Then I got dealt that hand.
I got T7o in a limped family pot.
Flop (15)
TT7cc
I check, it’s checked around
Turn (15)
6
I bet 5, got two calls
River (30)
Kc
I now could see from the corner of my eye that the villain on my left was about to move towards his chips. I wanted to bet 25, but seeing him all excited like that, I chose to downsize my bet, hoping to see him raise. (that kind of player who could raise K9o here!) (even better if he has the flush)…

So I bet only $10. He flats (oh darn!) and the guy on my right min-raises to 20, I count down my stack, and I got 78… I shoved. Guy on my left folded (6x).

Guy on my right said “you got the flush?” and he tank a little bit. Now I took a look back at my cards (like if I wanted to check if I had that flush villain was talking about, lol). He then called, and I showed and took it down. He showed 89 for a turned straight.

Back to 219 (bought in at 210)

Cashed out 2 hands after that. Looks like a hit and run, but it was my time to go, had someone to go meet. And knowing that brought me just back to even, I felt less guilty to hit and run, lol.

So, had lots of fun, alreay looking forward for next week. Hope I’ll book a second win in a row (didn’t happen since october). On the upside, 2 losses in a row didn’t happen either, lol

[Chuck M]

sesh #5 (feb.20)

Just got back from my weekly session. Finished down half a buy-in. A bit shitty, ’cause I don’t feel I played bad, I don’t see spots where I made errors, nor too weak folds, or wtv. Just can’t make a hand.

Started well, I won a good pot with TT flopping top set, and I 3 barrell, 3 clubs came on the board, villains folded river.

Went quickly up +100 or so, and then, like often, I started to drop down, and I can’t stop my downfall. Dunno why.

Lost 60 in a hand where I’m still ok with my call down. That man from last week, fishy.
He limps, I raise KJs, he calls
Flop : J42
he donks 10, I flat
Turn : T
he bets 15, I flat
River : 7
he bets 25, I flat
He shows AA, nh.

He then told me he never raises his aces, cause he wants to hit quads over quads and get the bad beat jackpot. Good to know 😉 I’m still glad with my call down, cause I think he’d play QJ, and J9- the same way (based on the way I saw him play).

. . .

Then on a limped pot, I check my option on the BB with 64o
flop : 632ss
I lead 5 into 9 or 10, I got a call
Turn : 5 (boom, straight!)
I bet 7 (I know, I should’ve bet bigger, like 12-15) got called
River : 4s (board : 632 5 4 sss) (argh)
I check, V bets 15, I folded…

what do you guy do on those spots? We never win, we chop at best. We lose against 7x or spades. But might villain be playing the board too? (he’s a reg)

. . .

Pretty much it. One time, a reg a bit laggish, opened to 12, I 3bet AK to 32, he called.
Flop : Qhigh mono-clubs (and I don’t have any)
check, check
Turn : X
He bets 35-40, I folded…

He was freerolling, since he showed AcKd, nh

. . .

So all those little spots where I lost a little at the time made me drop down, and I cashed out at 122 (bought in for 229 lol)

Today was not the day I’d stopped my 1win/1loss cycle. I haven’t played a lot yet (for this year), but I’m starting to look forward to get a winning streak, or just a session where I’d win a buy-in at least.

Anyway, I’d just like to get some numbers to get my confidence back, and make me feel that maybe I can win at that game 🙂

oh well, cheers!

[Chuck M]

sesh #6 (Feb.26)

Omg. That’s been a little while since I had that boring of a session.
The peak of my session was just before I was dealt my first hand, lol

Got here, sat down, and got AK UTG.
I open to 8 (6 handed at that time). I got a call or two.
I missed post-flop, and had to give up.
That was the best hand I got.

I planned to play for 5-6 hours, but after 2:20, I was busto.
Didn’t even play a hand, didn’t have a spot to think about, I don’t geddit. I was calling pf raises (with legit hands), or I was opening myself, but couldn’t hit on any board. I had to b/f or c/f, but nothing to do. I think I hit bottom pair once… not even a draw…

I don’t know why I lost a buy-in while I didn’t play a hand! How did I lose a buy-in, that fast, by folding 95% of my hands. It’s crazy.

About an hour in my session, I’m down half my stack. Got A7s in a straddled pot, I’m on SB and decided to just complete.
Flop (30)
AA7 (yay)
I check, four checks, villain bets 16, I’m the only caller

Turn (62)
6 (brings in a bdoor fd)
I check, he bets 15, I shoved for 46
He folded J7.

The reason why I shoved is that I thought I was looking too strong if I only called the turn with that short of a stack. On the other hand, if I c/r, I scream that I have an ace. (well by c/c also I think…)

Let’s say I c/c, I’d have 30 left on the river, with a $90 pot. Let’s say I’d lead, villain would’ve folded. If I check, Villain would most likely check back (since he has a pair). I saw him 3 barrel air before. But since he’s got sdv, I think he’d check back. I guess I was hoping villain would call me with either a sd or the fd. I could’ve flat, and check river in the hope he fires again with air (but with my tiny stack, he doesn’t have so much fold equity I guess).

That’s the pot I won today. Not the most interesting, not the biggest, litterally the only pot I won 🙁
(well, I also took down a pot by opening QT on the BTN and blinds folded).

That put me around $115
30 minutes later, I got 60, bought another 50 (that’s all I had on me, and not having a bankroll, I can’t rebuy for real).

At the end, I got A8cc, two limps in front of me. I hesitated a little, wanted to raise, but with a $50 stack, not much to do but shove. But risking 50 to win 6… not sure… So I overlimped.
Flop (4way)
874r, checks to me, I bet (10 or 12), folded to villain on my right who calls.

Turn : 6 bringing a club draw
villain leads 25, I got 34, so I stackoff. He shows me 5x and holds. Ok then, I’m outta here, see ya.

(maybe I overplayed that one… maybe I could have made it 12 pf)

After 6 sessions, I’m up only in two of those, scray. Well, it’s still a mini sample, let’s say I have 6-8 losing sessions after 20ish sessions, that wouldn’t be that bad.

I don’t easily tilt on live poker, but I think I was a little after that session 🙂

It just sucks that I don’t have a roll, so it makes it harder to lose like two buy-ins in a row.

It’s now been a few days since I wrote that enrty, and I just can’t wait to go play my next session 😀

(my blog is now up to date)

You guys can tell me what you think about that thread. I didn’t want to spam the Off The Felt recent topics feed, but I figured that creating that thread, and update it weekly or so could be fun/interesting. 🙂

I’ll keep posting hands in the proper sections, here is just a way for me to summarize my sessions afterwards.

[Michael]

I think its a great idea, Chuck, to review and discuss your sessions as it will help you grow as a player. Keep up the good work!

[Chuck M]

Thanks Michael!

• This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Chuck M.

[Chuck M]

sesh #7 (march 13)

Went to play today. Didn’t go as planned.
Sat down on my 1/2 game with $200.

Few hands into the session, I open AK to 7 from utg (small open, but I think we were 6 or 7 handed at the moment). Folded to the blinds who both called.

Flop (21) AK9.
SB donks 10, BB folds, I chose to flat, thinking he might be leading with a weaker 2pair or a pair+draw type hand.

Turn (41) J
SB bets 20, I call, wasn’t too concern that vilain would donk the flop with a naked gutshot.
Plus, rangewise, that card puts more 2pairs possibilities…

River (81) Q
SB bets 20…
Yeah, the board is very connected, chances he’s got a T, but there’s still a lot of 2pair combos, out there, I played it very passively, my hand is underrep, near the top of my range, a good portion of his range that I beat. I obsiously will lose sometime, but I think I’m good a good amount of times here to make that call…

V shows QT… oh well, nh

. . .

A little later, there’s a straddle and a double straddle (so it’s 8 to go). Folded around to me in the BB, with KQo, and I decieded to open it to 22. Both the straddler and the double-straddler called.
Flop (66)
K94 (something like that)
I cbet 45, they both folded.

. . .

And then, by the end of my session, I found another AK in EP. I opened it to 8, got one call in MP, and we see a flop HU.
Flop (18) KJ2hh
I bet 11, he calls
Turn (40) 6ss
I bet 20, he raises to 40, I flat.
River (120) Tc
I check, he bets 40 again…
I tank for a moment, an finally called. I thought he might play Kx of spades or Jx + fd, like that. He might also have KJ, but that’s a small portion of his range. He may also be block betting / thin value betting KQ, stuff like that… I thought I had good odds, and called, and he showed me KT… urgh, nh bud…

I quit the game under 2 hours of play, cashed out for 45 😐
I’m -3 buy-ins in the last 3 sessions, that’s not super good, I’m looking forward for that next win 😀 I start to feel like I need it… or at least, it would feel so good.

later!

(feel free to comment on any of those hands) 🙂

[Chuck M]

Sesh #8 (march 27)

Skipped last week, so i was really excited to go play.

That has the potential to be the shortest entry of this blog.

In for 205
Out for 203, after 3:48 of play.

My lowest point was -30 or so and my peak was +40.

I won 2 nice pots.
Early in the session, i see a flop of TTx with QTs
Turn J / Riv K
I called F, called T, bet R after villain checked.
He called with QQ and that put me early on at my peak 🙂

Then against the same player at the end, I raised my btn with KQo
Flop AQT he donked I flat
Turn Q, he bet I call
River 5, he bet I call
He loses with Q6o

Was a nice and relaxed session, but nothing to crazy actionwise.
Can’t wait to go play next week, and hopefully turn my losing streak into a winning one.

Cheers

[Chuck M]

I was wondering something.

There were a few spots when I opened AJo from EP and got 3bet from MP/HJ. AJo or KQ kinda hands. I just endend up folding. Cause i felt i had a real tight image and getting 3bet when i open from ep represents strength. Had i opened from co/btn and got 3bet from the blinds I’d defend more easily, but in that situation, I didn’t feel really confident defending oop with a hand that could easily be dominated. I know it’s villain dependent, but still.

Then I was thinking… if my hand is to strong to fold but to weak to call, maybe I could’ve turned it into a light 4bet? But 100bb deep in a 1/2 live cash game, can we really 4bet/fold? Let’s say I open to 10, got 3bet to 30-32… i gotta make it, 75-90! That’s more than a third of my stack, close to half of it, now what if villains 5bet shoves? Can’t really call… or if he flats, i push any flop, i guess?!

I guess it’s really villain dependent, and i’ll have to test some moves 🙂

Used to play online, and it was super standard to open 3x (even smaller from LP) then a 3bet was 9-10bb, was easy to 4bet without even comitting a quarter of our stack… live is totally diffrent, I’ll have to try out stuff

Maybe Im mistaken thinking that live 3bet ranges (@ 1/2) consist of QQ+ and AKs.

That’s all very villain dependent, so I’ll keep taking notes on players at my tables and see what I can try next time 🙂

[Chuck M]

sesh #9 (April 3rd)

Here’s my weekly poker session’s log. Another loss 🙁
But I enjoyed my session (was way too short tho).

Buy-in 200, cashed-out 56.

Lost my first $100 in an hour / hour and a half… Dunno really why, opening 88s, KJs, defending a blind with 22, 33, missing postflop, cbetting, or floating, and fold turn.

Anyway, here are 3 small spots

I open 66 to $7 in HJ, CO and BTN call (two regs, BTN was running super hot this session, from the showdowns I saw from him)… and a fish in the blinds called.
Flop (28) 952ss
blind checks, I cbet 20, CO calls, BTN raises to 70, blind folds, to me… ??

I folded. Then I questionned my cbet. Was it a good spot to bet? The board hits more of their calling ranges than my opening range. But in the other hand, I wanted to get value against 2overs and draws… maybe oop vs 2 players, I could’ve checked… Depends if I also cbet my AK, AQ hands…

– – –

There’s 2 limps, I iso AQ to 11 on the BTN, BB calls, MP who limped, calls as well.
Flop 3 way (33) QTx
BB checks, MP checks, I cbet 22, BB folds, MP calls
Turn (77) K
MP checks, I opted for the check back
River (77) 4
MP leads 45 (I had $60 left at that point…)

I folded… Should I have bet the turn? I think my hand’s too strong to turn into a bluff. Well, I can still get value from QJ-, Jx, Tx… I got a lot of equity vs those holdings, I guess I can check back to avoid a semi-bluff c/r from villain’s part… Or is it just a standard spot!?

Then at the end, it limps everywhere, so do I with KTo on the CO.
Flop (12-16) ATx
checked around
Turn (12-16) T
Villain bets 12, I call
River (36) 8
Vilain bets 18, I thought about shoving (had 58 left at that time (would’ve been 40 on top)). But I then thought villain wold fold anything but a boat… (but maybe he could have trips with a lower kicker… but that’s a narrow range to value against)
Anyway, I just called, and he insta-mucked…

Deeper, I’d probably raise that river tho

At the end, I chose to open K4ss in EP (should be a fold, I know, but, well, we were short handed, and I thought I could play that postflop)…
flop K93cc,
V1 check, I cbet 60% pot, V2 calls, V1 calls
Turn 4c (K934 with 3 clubs)
V1 checks, I thought I had to bet, charge pair+draw combos… I bet 20 (leaving me 41 behind), V2 min raises… V1 (with a little bit of shaky hands) shoved… I though about getting it in, hoping to boatup… but I was sure I was up against a made flush, got 4:1, maybe 5:1, but felt I had at best 8%… so I laid it down… V2 folded, so I didn’t get to see V1’s hand… but pretty sure I was beat.

Very next hand, I open AQ to 6 UTG, got 2 or 3 calls, flop A76, I pushed my last 35 into the 26 dollar pot… and took it down…

Cashed out to 56…

Not quite sure when is gonna be my next session yet, but I’m looking forward to turn things around… Well, I’m down 3.5 buy-ins, in 9 sessions, not that bad… but it’s also all the sessions I played since january 2018… anyway, I should forget about short term results… I’m running bad, maybe I’m not playing the best, but the most important is to have fun (which I usually do). I also want to improve, and getting myself into spots and taking notes and posting here and talking strats and stuff, is gonna help me turning stuff around, hopefully 🙂

cheers

[Chuck M]

Sesh #10 (April 10) (+86)

I went to play last tuesday. Had a lot of fun. At last, a good result!

I bought in for a smaller amount due to my recent bad run, no bankroll, I chose to buy-in for 165 (in the hope of winning a pot early to get up to 200)… My stack went up, down, up, the game was soft, super passive, was fun and casual. I got a lot of spots, but it’s more to track my stack’s evolution than strat discussions… well, maybe i’ll come to it while transcribing my hands. That might be a long post, sorry, i’ll try to make it easy on the visual 🙂

1
Here’s a hand, I wasn’t super involved in it, but it made me smile, and it shows the passivness of the table.
UTG limps (QQ), limped around, CO limps as well (KK), I check my BB option with JTo.
Flop (12) J76ss
I lead halfpot, UTG flats, CO raises to 50, I fold, UTG calls
Turn (120) 7
UTG shoves for the 29 effective CO’s stack, who calls off..
UTG’s QQ loses to CO’s KK
River gave another 7

. . .

2
Yeah! Here’s a hand putting me over a 200 stack. I think I had 150-160 at that time. We’re 6 handed. I open to $7 K3s on the HJ/CO, the player with the KKs on the previous hand calls me. We’re HU to the flop. I know it’s a loose open, but we’re short handed, and I thought I could play that hand post-flop IP.
Flop (14) A93
I cbet to 8, he c/c
Turn (30) 8
We both check
River (30) 3
He leads to 20, I raised to 50. He doen’t really understands how that card changed the board texture, I think there was a busted flush draw form the flop. He makes a strange face, and calls, so I win with trips tk. He muck with energy, claiming that he had AQ. He wasn’t happy… but I was…

. . .

3
Here, I might have lost some value somewhere 🙁

Family limped pot, I call on the BTN with J9o.
Flop (15) JJ4
BB checks, EP bets 6, I flat, BB flats
Turn (33) Q
BB check, EP bets 6, I flat, BB calls
River (51) blank
BB checks EP bets 10, I call, so does BB

I win vs. Qx and Qx

comments are welcome (raise turn? lead turn?, lead flop? river? C/R is too strong?)
. . .

4
Straddled pot. I open AQ to 14 in MP. 4way flop.
Flop (56) Q55
2 checks, I cbet 25, folds around.

. . .

5
Bleh, Fell back to even on that hand.

Double straddled pot (1/2/4/8). I got AA on the BTN (what a dream spot!) I open to 24, called by the player who double straddled. HU
Flop (50) 678
He checks, I cbet 30, he snap raises to 90, I semi-fast fold. I show and he tells me nice fold and shows T9 for the nuts
(I think the flop was rainbow)

Is it a spot to check back? Maybe he defends 99-JJ (3bets QQ+). He might call my flop bet with 2overs and gutshot or bdoor f.d. I might not have 3 streets of value, maybe I should’ve check back and reevaluate turn. What do you think? That flop doesn’t really hit my range (but I open on the btn, I can be wide) I’d cbet pretty much my whole range when v checks to me… I guess I had to bet to charge the draws, pair+draw…

. . .
6
Urhg, lost 50 on that.
I open AK from UTG, calls everywhere!
Flop Q8x
checked around
Turn K
I bet 15 (into 28 ish) got a call
River K
Villain shoves for 30 (into a 50-60 pot), I call, he shows J8 for a rivered flush, nh…

. . .
7
Then I opened AQ in MP, 3way flop
Flop (20) 356
checked around
Turn (20) A
I bet 15, 2 calls
River (65) 3
Checked around
I lose vs hand shaking BB who held AK (nh)

. . .
8
Lost 45 here
Straddled pot, I open AQ to 14, 3way flop
Flop (40) T97
I semi-missread my hand thinking that I have a double gutter (8 and J, but no, lol). Anyway I cbet 15 and got called once.
Turn (70) X
check, check
River (70) Q
Villain leads 20 and I call, he shows KJ, nh (he actually had a double belly buster) lol

. . .

I didn’t note any other hands. Once, I won a pot with AJcc. At first I thought I might have lost value on that hand, but I don’t think so, afterwards… not much…
A raise, some calls, I call AJcc on the BB (should’ve squeezed maybe)
Flop KQx with cc
I c/c
Turn blank
I c/c
River Qc
I bet 20, vilain clicks back (40) and I call, he shows T6cc. I win. His raise on the paired river kind of put me off balance, wasn’t sure what to do (but call), I guess that was the only move, as played.

. . .

Another time, I open AK, hit TPTK, I bet bet bet (or check, bet bet) and got called down by KT fold a lower kicker, that was a nice pot too

To summarize, my stack went :
Buy-in 160,
Up to 355
Down to 155
Up to 255,
cashed out there, after 4 hours
I whised i could’ve came back to that 355 point, but oh well, at least I book a win. Hopefully will be the first of a long winning streak 🙂

Thanks for reading (don’t worry if you didn’t get the rest of the blog, you really don’t have to). Feel free to comment at any time, on my hands, or anything else

Cheers! 🙂

[Author]

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