March 3rd Sweat

Group sweat was narrowed down to just me (LuckySOB) and Dice this weeak. Dodgy is on his Great American Adventure and Noel was busy forgeting. Anyway, I put in some time 3 tabling the 400nl games on UB. It seemed that the main focus of the sweat was an area I think Dice has advanced skills at and I need a lot of work on still. Getting more value out of my hands was that subject.

In this first hand this was the third time this villian had donk lead into me he was playing 82/35.

SB $307
BB $751
UTG $449
CO $398
Hero on BTN $949

Preflop: (5 players) Hero on BTN with 6c 5c
Folded to Hero who raises to $14 SB calls BB folds

This is a standard open for me when folded to on the BTN.

Flop: 2h 5h Qc (2 players, $32)
SB bets $21 Hero calls

This guy has been donk leading a lot and I have no reason to think I'm not ahead here, but I don't want to play a big pot or get him to fold, so easy call.

Turn: 2d (2 players, $74)
SB checks Hero checks

Checking behind for same reason I'm not raising the best hand on flop. And will often induce a bluff on river here.

River: 9d (2 players, $74)
SB bets $22 Hero calls

He now bets $22 which is less than 1/3 pot and I'm never folding to this bet, I still think I have best hand here, but I'm given such great odds. The way this guy plays, always leading I think he bets turn with any pair or draw, so he either has complete air or a 9 that hit, but even then I think he bets more. Never not calling this.

Villian shows As 8d for Ace high, Hero wins $115 with pair of 5's.


Hand 2

SB $455
BB $528
UTG $206
MP $636
Hero on CO $501
BTN $696

The main focus on this hand is the river bet for value.

Preflop: (6 players) Hero is CO with Kc Jh
Folded to MP raises to $14, Hero calls, folded around.

This player was on 2 of my tables and playing around 31/26 so his opening range is light enough to call here with position.

Flop: Kh 4h 5c (2 players $34)
MP bets $28 Hero calls

No reason to raise here no reason to fold, standard call.

Turn: Js (2 players $90)
MP bets $64 Hero calls

No reason to raise here no reason to fold, standard call.

River: Qs (2 players $218)
MP checks, Hero bets $170, MP thinks long and calls

The key here is to bet an amount that looks opposite of what we want. If I want a call for value it would seem standard to bet small, but if we took this line with a flush draw and missed feeling we can only win by betting, we would bet large to get him off his hand. Knowing he's a thinking player enough to understand that, we bet the amount that looks more like the bluff so he will make his hero call.

MP shows Qd 9d, Hero wins $554 pot.

The bet amount I expect to get a call on changes based the type of player. You need to understand the level your opponent is thinking on and use it against him.


Hand 3

SB $409
BB $400
UTG $286
MP $400
CO $407
Hero is BTN $493

Preflop: (6 players) Hero is BTN with Ad Tc
UTG limps, MP and CO fold, Hero raises to $18, Blinds fold UTG calls.

Standard PFR, UTG is 43/8.

Flop: (2 players, $42) 2d 5s 2s
UTG checks BTN checks

Cbetting never folds out anything here except worse hands.

Turn: (2 players, $42) 9s
UTG bets $29 Hero calls

This type of player always reads a flop check behind as weakness and there's no reason to just give up here as he'll bet with anything here. Will see how river comes down.

River: (2 players, $100) Th
UTG bets $47 Hero calls $47

Same as turn, no reason to think I'm not best now but no reason to rasie here, so standard call.

UTG shows Kd 4d, Hero wins $199....Read more!

Group sweat

I was coming off a 7 hour day at the tables and definately not on my A-game. During the sweat I told Martin and Jason how i would probably shut down if we werent sweating. The reason I am writing this isnt because I spewed a shit ton of chips its simply because i think this is many gridners weakness. We plan a session and things start off crap and we dont quit. If you cant identify mini tilt and quit or correct it you are going to have some very spewy sessions imo. Enough preaching, read the hands bitches!

Hand 1: Thin value FTW. Villain in the hand was running some real nitty TAG numbers like 18/15/1 at the time. When he c/c the turn his hand looks like a weak made hand like a PP or T9 which we are ahead of most the time. Granted he had a low AF we can assume all OP DB and possibly even AXcc. On the river we missed value by not betting is the group consensus. Basically our range is nuts or northing here and we should get looked up much lighter then often based on this.


Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter

BB: $234
UTG: $179.60
MP: $369.25
CO: $214.95
Hero (BTN): $274.55
SB: $198

Pre-Flop: Jc Jh dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG raises to $7, 2 folds, Hero calls $7, 2 folds

Flop: ($17) 7d 9h 2c (2 Players)
UTG bets $14, Hero calls $14

Turn: ($45) 7c (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $28, UTG calls $28

River: ($101) Qs (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Results: $101 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG showed As Ad (two pair, Aces and Sevens) and WON $98 (+$49 NET)
Hero showed Jc Jh (two pair, Jacks and Sevens) and LOST (-$49 NET)

Hand 2: Thin value FTW take two. This guy was a spew tard who had shown a propensity to c/c with all sort of shite. Checking the turn back is horrible in our opinion. We lose so much value from all his weaker made hands/draws and we allow way to many hands that could improve his holding peel off. When he fires the river weak we called based on prior reads where he bluffed the river small.

Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter

BTN: $200
SB: $198
BB: $396.40
UTG: $214.50
Hero (MP): $235.55
CO: $200

Pre-Flop: 7d 7h dealt to Hero (MP)
UTG calls $2, Hero raises to $9, 4 folds, UTG calls $7

Flop: ($21) 9h 6h 9s (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $15, UTG calls $15

Turn: ($51) Td (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $27, UTG calls $27

River: ($105) 5s (2 Players)
UTG bets $25, Hero calls $25

Results: $155 Pot ($3 Rake)
UTG showed Qc Qs (two pair, Queens and Nines) and WON $152 (+$76 NET)
Hero mucked 7d 7h 7d 7h (two pair, Nines and Sevens) and LOST (-$76 NET)

Hand 3: If you bet it you will know. Thin value FTW take three. OK so really this is thin value/where am I. Villain is 19/16/3. The group felt the turn was a spot where we are betting for value as a larger part of his range could peel here and if raised we can fold without question. After heated debate and further analysis I feel the turn is a check. It seems imo that his weak holdings cant stand a DB but they may bluff the river or look us up lighter because we checked it back on the turn. Please comment on this hand.

Full Tilt Poker, $1/$2 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 6 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter

BB: $257.15
UTG: $247.40
MP: $62.60
CO: $307.35
Hero (BTN): $200
SB: $197

Pre-Flop: 9d Kc dealt to Hero (BTN)
3 folds, Hero raises to $7, SB folds, BB calls $5

Flop: ($15) 6d 9h Tc (2 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $12, BB calls $12

Turn: ($39) 3c (2 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $26, BB raises to $52, Hero folds

Results: $91 Pot ($3 Rake)
BB mucked and WON $88 (+$43 NET)

Hand 4: Thin value? Sorry not an option. This was early on and though we had started the session LAG there is no value in 4 betting as best case scenario is a flip. Also with position we can take the flop and play poker which is fun. Flop isnt horrible and we are obligated to call. On the turn betting is horrible as we get value from nothing we are ahead of, villains range to c/c or crai is AQ, QQ+. By the river it is quite obvious we are best but doubtful we can extract value from worse. A bet here might be ok but the info gained by seeing his whole cards rather then betting and having him fold is more valuable i believe.

FullTiltPoker Game #5398780128: Table Bonanza (6 max) - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 18:14:00 ET - 2008/02/25
Seat 1: sockervadd ($225.40)
Seat 2: DinoDino76 ($183.60)
Seat 3: JxMxC ($359.95)
Seat 4: adonis999 ($245.15)
Seat 5: Life_Heater ($200)
Seat 6: Spear1 ($203.10)
Spear1 posts the small blind of $1
sockervadd posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Life_Heater [Js Jh]
DinoDino76 folds
JxMxC folds
adonis999 folds
Life_Heater raises to $7
Spear1 raises to $26
sockervadd folds
Life_Heater calls $19
*** FLOP *** [3d Qh 7h]
Spear1 bets $38
Life_Heater has 15 seconds left to act
Life_Heater calls $38
*** TURN *** [3d Qh 7h] [9d]
Spear1 checks
Life_Heater has 15 seconds left to act
Life_Heater checks
*** RIVER *** [3d Qh 7h 9d] [7c]
Spear1 checks
Life_Heater has 15 seconds left to act
Life_Heater has requested TIME
Life_Heater checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Spear1 shows [8c 8h] two pair, Eights and Sevens
Life_Heater shows [Js Jh] two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Life_Heater wins the pot ($127) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $130 Rake $3
Board: [3d Qh 7h 9d 7c]
Seat 1: sockervadd (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: DinoDino76 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: JxMxC didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: adonis999 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Life_Heater (button) showed [Js Jh] and won ($127) with two pair, Jacks and Sevens
Seat 6: Spear1 (small blind) showed [8c 8h] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sevens...Read more!