I have decided that my first New Year's Resolution for 2013 should be to take the entire month of January off and play absolutely no poker whatsoever. Why, you may ask?
I have found that when I take some time off it really seems to help my game. Lately, I don't feel like I've been playing all that well, with many "flawed decisions" at untimely moments. Also, I'm not having as much fun as I used to have. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm bound and determined to figure it out.
Taking the month of January off will give me 31 days to redirect my energies elsewhere. I have still done very little with my new house, such as putting up pictures and decorating it a bit, and maybe moving furniture around. It could use a super cleaning too. Ick. I am going to make a concerted effort to resist poker all month - no playing, no watching on TV and no reading about it - except on Dr. Phil's blog.
Plus, all of the money I'm going to save will go into my "off to Las Vegas someday" super secret bank account - LOL. I will play on New Year's Eve and will probably play into January 1, but I'm not really counting that as January, even though I know it is. So, come play some live poker with me on December 31 if you are available and, if not . . . see you in February!!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
My Very Own Flawed Decision
Thanks to Dr. Phil for his post about flawed decisions. It makes me feel a little better about my own stupid move last Sunday in the Crazy Moose deepstack.
I was rolling along with no trouble at all. I even bluffed a pot or two and did not detect any bad decisions on my part. I made it to the final table (again). When we were down to I believe 7 players, this hand came up.
I was on the button with 18,000 chips with blinds of 1,000-2,000 (or 9 big blinds). There were only 2 callers before play got to me, both of whom limped. On the button with 7-7 I naturally raised to 3,500. One limper folded and the other guy reraised to 12,000. Gak. Now this guy had been reraising me all day and even though I would have still had 7.5 big blinds left if I folded I picked the wrong time to get stubborn. Has this ever happened to you? I was just sick and tired of the reraising.
He had J-J and my 7-7 went down in a blaze of non-glory and I was out 2 or 3 away from a payday. Blast my terrible timing. Drat. Phooey. Etc.
I was rolling along with no trouble at all. I even bluffed a pot or two and did not detect any bad decisions on my part. I made it to the final table (again). When we were down to I believe 7 players, this hand came up.
I was on the button with 18,000 chips with blinds of 1,000-2,000 (or 9 big blinds). There were only 2 callers before play got to me, both of whom limped. On the button with 7-7 I naturally raised to 3,500. One limper folded and the other guy reraised to 12,000. Gak. Now this guy had been reraising me all day and even though I would have still had 7.5 big blinds left if I folded I picked the wrong time to get stubborn. Has this ever happened to you? I was just sick and tired of the reraising.
He had J-J and my 7-7 went down in a blaze of non-glory and I was out 2 or 3 away from a payday. Blast my terrible timing. Drat. Phooey. Etc.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Bad Luck With La Thief!
The last time I played 2-20 I had about $80 left when this hand came up.
I was on the button. One player limped UTG and Latif (a/k/a La Thief) raised to $7. Two players after him called the raise so I did as well with my A5 suited in clubs. The small blind and big blind both called so now it's a fairly good sized pot of $49.
The flop is pretty good for me: 5-7-3 with 2 clubs so I have a pair and 4 clubs. First player checks. Latif makes it $20 to go. Ouch. Did he flop a straight? I don't think so. One of the 2 players after him calls. I decide that I have no chips left and, hoping to isolate Latif I raise to $40. First player folds, Latif calls and other player folds. Good. Head's up. The pot is now $109.
The turn is an 8 and it's a club which makes me very happy because if Latif is playing those small cards like 4-6 and has a straight, he will definitely call me on the river. He bets out $20 again and I raise to put my last $33 into the pot and he calls so now the pot is $155.
He turns over 7-7. He flopped a frickin' set and called my first raise with a possible straight already on the board and called my all-in (I admit it wasn't much) with a possible flush already on the board as well. Great googly moogly. Yes, you guessed it. The 5 on the river pairs the board and I am screwed and out of chips. I said absolutely nothing and just left. Why do I even bother?
I was on the button. One player limped UTG and Latif (a/k/a La Thief) raised to $7. Two players after him called the raise so I did as well with my A5 suited in clubs. The small blind and big blind both called so now it's a fairly good sized pot of $49.
The flop is pretty good for me: 5-7-3 with 2 clubs so I have a pair and 4 clubs. First player checks. Latif makes it $20 to go. Ouch. Did he flop a straight? I don't think so. One of the 2 players after him calls. I decide that I have no chips left and, hoping to isolate Latif I raise to $40. First player folds, Latif calls and other player folds. Good. Head's up. The pot is now $109.
The turn is an 8 and it's a club which makes me very happy because if Latif is playing those small cards like 4-6 and has a straight, he will definitely call me on the river. He bets out $20 again and I raise to put my last $33 into the pot and he calls so now the pot is $155.
He turns over 7-7. He flopped a frickin' set and called my first raise with a possible straight already on the board and called my all-in (I admit it wasn't much) with a possible flush already on the board as well. Great googly moogly. Yes, you guessed it. The 5 on the river pairs the board and I am screwed and out of chips. I said absolutely nothing and just left. Why do I even bother?
Monday, December 3, 2012
To Shove or Not to Shove - That is the Question
OMG it is hard to make decisions in this game sometimes. I finally made it to the final table of the Sunday Crazy Moose deep stack tournament without being the final table bubble girl as per usual. There were also 2 people knocked out after I got to the final table so I was doing OK. I only had about 16 big blinds however. Then this hand came up.
In the big blind (500-1,000) I had 7-8 spades in an unraised pot. I almost shoved then because I love suited connectors against almost any other hand. I decided to check my option.
The flop was terrific - 6-9-10 with the 9 and 10 both being spades!! Not only did I flop a straight, but I had an open-ended straight flush draw. Did I shove? Oh hell no. I had the huge chip leader on the button and I decided to get greedy and get some of his chips. Stupid woman. It was checked to the chip leader. He bet 3,000 and I flat called.
The turn was J clubs. Not a bad card for me. Just gives me a bigger straight. I still have the nut flush draw if I hit a 6 or jack of spades and I have the regular flush draw. I am unconcerned. Stupid woman. Everyone checks this time.
The river is K clubs. Oh boy. Check. Chip leader puts me all in. Gak. Groan. Crap. Stupid woman calls and sees that chip leader has 10-Q diamonds. OMG. So, maybe shoving would never have worked anyway. If I shove on the flop, he probably calls me with top pair and semi-decent kicker. It won't hurt his stack much if he loses. If I shove on the turn, he has top pair and an open-ended straight draw, so again he's probably callling me (although I asked him later and he said he would have folded on the turn if I shoved, which I find hard to believe).
So, what are your thoughts my loyal reader(s)? How can I get so unlucky as to be beaten by runner runner bigger straight? When should I have gone all-in (if at all)? This game is starting to make me more "disturbed".
In the big blind (500-1,000) I had 7-8 spades in an unraised pot. I almost shoved then because I love suited connectors against almost any other hand. I decided to check my option.
The flop was terrific - 6-9-10 with the 9 and 10 both being spades!! Not only did I flop a straight, but I had an open-ended straight flush draw. Did I shove? Oh hell no. I had the huge chip leader on the button and I decided to get greedy and get some of his chips. Stupid woman. It was checked to the chip leader. He bet 3,000 and I flat called.
The turn was J clubs. Not a bad card for me. Just gives me a bigger straight. I still have the nut flush draw if I hit a 6 or jack of spades and I have the regular flush draw. I am unconcerned. Stupid woman. Everyone checks this time.
The river is K clubs. Oh boy. Check. Chip leader puts me all in. Gak. Groan. Crap. Stupid woman calls and sees that chip leader has 10-Q diamonds. OMG. So, maybe shoving would never have worked anyway. If I shove on the flop, he probably calls me with top pair and semi-decent kicker. It won't hurt his stack much if he loses. If I shove on the turn, he has top pair and an open-ended straight draw, so again he's probably callling me (although I asked him later and he said he would have folded on the turn if I shoved, which I find hard to believe).
So, what are your thoughts my loyal reader(s)? How can I get so unlucky as to be beaten by runner runner bigger straight? When should I have gone all-in (if at all)? This game is starting to make me more "disturbed".
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
578th out of 578
Yes, it is sad but true. After all the pep talks I gave myself and after the "play tight" pep talk from Dr. Phil right before the tournament started, I did indeed go out on the very first hand of the first Friday tournament in Pendleton.
I am not going to go into details no matter how much people beg. I will say that I had top two pair and got beat by a set. I played terribly and I know it. It's almost as if I knew I was playing badly while it was happening, but I couldn't stop myself. There were so many things that beat me but I had visions of 20,000+ chips in my brain. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
I will tell you that this will never happen again. I got QQ on the first hand of the Sunday deep stack at the Moose and folded it when 3 hearts hit the board (not having the queen of hearts). I am forever hereforth the tightest player who ever lived. Count on it.
I am not going to go into details no matter how much people beg. I will say that I had top two pair and got beat by a set. I played terribly and I know it. It's almost as if I knew I was playing badly while it was happening, but I couldn't stop myself. There were so many things that beat me but I had visions of 20,000+ chips in my brain. STUPID STUPID STUPID.
I will tell you that this will never happen again. I got QQ on the first hand of the Sunday deep stack at the Moose and folded it when 3 hearts hit the board (not having the queen of hearts). I am forever hereforth the tightest player who ever lived. Count on it.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Cheaper Than a Movie!
I did a little poker marathon on Saturday, all at the Crazy Moose. I played the 8:00 a.m. tournament (busting in 11th) and the 10:00 a.m. tournament (2nd place). In between the two I ate a yummy breakfast. I then took a 2-hour break for grocery shopping, etc.
I came back at about 2:00 p.m. and played the Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em table game for 1.5 hours while waiting for my seat in the poker room. This is a pretty spendy game at a minimum of $6 per hand and I never had to rebuy. Very nice.
I played 2-20 spread from 3:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. I ate a late lunch and a late dinner. Naturally, I tipped the waitresses also.
I walked into the Crazy Moose just before 8:00 a.m. with $130 and I left at 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning with $120 so all this grand entertainment cost me only $10. Where can you get this much entertainment for only 60 cents per hour? A movie is about $10 but it only last two hours. I love being a cheap gambler.
Playing in Pendleton on Friday. Wish me luck!
I came back at about 2:00 p.m. and played the Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em table game for 1.5 hours while waiting for my seat in the poker room. This is a pretty spendy game at a minimum of $6 per hand and I never had to rebuy. Very nice.
I played 2-20 spread from 3:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. I ate a late lunch and a late dinner. Naturally, I tipped the waitresses also.
I walked into the Crazy Moose just before 8:00 a.m. with $130 and I left at 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning with $120 so all this grand entertainment cost me only $10. Where can you get this much entertainment for only 60 cents per hour? A movie is about $10 but it only last two hours. I love being a cheap gambler.
Playing in Pendleton on Friday. Wish me luck!
Friday, November 2, 2012
For My Legions of Fans
Hi Dr. Phil. Since you so graciously requested a blog entry . . . I went to play live at the Crazy Moose on Halloween night after my 15-year old granddaughter took the younger grandchildren in tow and said I should go have fun.
I had recently read Dr. Phil's blog about hands he hates and I agree with most if not all of those hands. I was bound and determined to ignore Q-10, K-9, etc. Unfortunately, or may fortunately as it turns out . . . these hands did not ignore me. The very first hand I got was Q-10 offsuit in an unraised pot and I was in the cut-off so I played it. I flopped the nut straight.
The entire night was like that. I was pretty good and didn't call any raises with my trouble hands except once. I raised to $6 with A-10 on the button and got re-raised to $12 and called. I flopped 2 pair and went on to get the midnight high hand AAA1010. Happy face. Most of the time, however, I was folding 6-9 suited and 7-8 and Q-9, etc., etc., etc.
It was interesting that almost every time I had Q-10 or K-9 (and a couple of K-Js) I was in an unraised pot and won the hand almost every time. Sometimes these crappy hands just follow you around and there's nothing you can do about it and you definitely have to "play your heater". It's hard to be good when the junk is winning. I went home with a profit of $195 so there is something to be said for junk hands - at least once in a while!
I had recently read Dr. Phil's blog about hands he hates and I agree with most if not all of those hands. I was bound and determined to ignore Q-10, K-9, etc. Unfortunately, or may fortunately as it turns out . . . these hands did not ignore me. The very first hand I got was Q-10 offsuit in an unraised pot and I was in the cut-off so I played it. I flopped the nut straight.
The entire night was like that. I was pretty good and didn't call any raises with my trouble hands except once. I raised to $6 with A-10 on the button and got re-raised to $12 and called. I flopped 2 pair and went on to get the midnight high hand AAA1010. Happy face. Most of the time, however, I was folding 6-9 suited and 7-8 and Q-9, etc., etc., etc.
It was interesting that almost every time I had Q-10 or K-9 (and a couple of K-Js) I was in an unraised pot and won the hand almost every time. Sometimes these crappy hands just follow you around and there's nothing you can do about it and you definitely have to "play your heater". It's hard to be good when the junk is winning. I went home with a profit of $195 so there is something to be said for junk hands - at least once in a while!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Friday Girls Night Out
My friend Kerry invited me to play the Friday night live game at the Moose. I told her I was flat-ass broke and would have very little live game money until after the 1st of the year due to expensive house buying. She told me she would loan me $200 with 60 days to pay so I went on down.
I had just moved from the third table to the second table when I got AK and hit AAAKK for the high hand. It was just after 8pm and if it held until 10pm I would get $100. I honestly didn't think it would hold, but it did. I asked the floor for cash & paid Kerry back half what I owed her. Sweet.
We were playing at the main game by then and sitting next to each other. She unfortunately struggled and had to rebuy a couple of times. I went on a bit of a rampage and got up to $525 at one point. When it was 3am I decided to take my $310 and go home. YAWN!!! I gave Kerry the other $100 I owed her and still left with $210. Sweet again!
One thing I love about Kerry is that she's a real trooper. She texted me at 2:30pm on Saturday - "I stayed after you until 7am and guess where I am right now". That's right. She was playing at the Moose again. Crazy woman! I have about 20 years on her or I probably would have stayed too - LOL.
I had just moved from the third table to the second table when I got AK and hit AAAKK for the high hand. It was just after 8pm and if it held until 10pm I would get $100. I honestly didn't think it would hold, but it did. I asked the floor for cash & paid Kerry back half what I owed her. Sweet.
We were playing at the main game by then and sitting next to each other. She unfortunately struggled and had to rebuy a couple of times. I went on a bit of a rampage and got up to $525 at one point. When it was 3am I decided to take my $310 and go home. YAWN!!! I gave Kerry the other $100 I owed her and still left with $210. Sweet again!
One thing I love about Kerry is that she's a real trooper. She texted me at 2:30pm on Saturday - "I stayed after you until 7am and guess where I am right now". That's right. She was playing at the Moose again. Crazy woman! I have about 20 years on her or I probably would have stayed too - LOL.
Monday, October 8, 2012
I'm Glad Some People Don't Know What They're Doing
Playing in the Sunday deep stack at the Crazy Moose, the blinds were 1,000-2,000 and I was having the worst run of bad luck ever. I only had 1,500 chips left. I looked at an ace and just tossed my chips in the middle. I got three callers (not good) but after the flop (queen high) one of the callers pushed all-in and the other 2 folded. As it turned out, this was the stupiest play of the day. He had NOTHING except needing a gutshot 10 to fill his straight and my ace high held up keeping me in the tournament and infuriating the other 2 guys who were in the hand, both of whom would have knocked me out. They gave him some verbal abuse for a while and I thanked him profusely.
Two hands later my 6,000 chips and I were at the final table. I doubled up again with A-2 of spades against 8-5 off suit (he "had to call" with his bigger chip stack). I went on to take 2nd in the tournament ($420). I may have won if I hadn't hit 2 pair on the river on the last hand because I may not have called my opponent's all-in with just middle pair. He ended up hitting his straight on the turn.
Anyway, I appreciate this guy's bad play. He didn't cash. The poker gods were smiling on me.
Two hands later my 6,000 chips and I were at the final table. I doubled up again with A-2 of spades against 8-5 off suit (he "had to call" with his bigger chip stack). I went on to take 2nd in the tournament ($420). I may have won if I hadn't hit 2 pair on the river on the last hand because I may not have called my opponent's all-in with just middle pair. He ended up hitting his straight on the turn.
Anyway, I appreciate this guy's bad play. He didn't cash. The poker gods were smiling on me.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Fourth Place Two Weeks in a Row
I have taken to playing the deepstack on Sunday mornings at the Moose. I basically "got my money back" the last 2 weeks in a row. The first week I had 8-8 and got called by A-Q which I had no problem with and I was ahead until the queen hit the river. It was an easy call for the other player and so it goes.
Last week I was again short stacked when we got down to four players. Dave raised a small amount on the button and seeing KQ suited in the small blind I just shoved. I think he made a very "iffy" call with A-9 offsuit, but it's hard to say with only 4 players left.
The flop brought a queen for me and I was super happy until the dealer brought runners and Dave made a straight. Great googly moogly. Fourth place again. Hindsight - if I had simply called before the flop and shoved on the flop when I hit my queen, I don't believe Dave would have called with ace high nothing. Who knows?
I really didn't think I had enough chips to simply call however so I guess I made the right play. Blinds were 2,000-4,000 and I only had 22,000 chips (20,000 after small blind). I believe Dave had about 30,000. Any thoughts?
Last week I was again short stacked when we got down to four players. Dave raised a small amount on the button and seeing KQ suited in the small blind I just shoved. I think he made a very "iffy" call with A-9 offsuit, but it's hard to say with only 4 players left.
The flop brought a queen for me and I was super happy until the dealer brought runners and Dave made a straight. Great googly moogly. Fourth place again. Hindsight - if I had simply called before the flop and shoved on the flop when I hit my queen, I don't believe Dave would have called with ace high nothing. Who knows?
I really didn't think I had enough chips to simply call however so I guess I made the right play. Blinds were 2,000-4,000 and I only had 22,000 chips (20,000 after small blind). I believe Dave had about 30,000. Any thoughts?
Monday, July 30, 2012
An Average Chip Stack
I had some interesting conversations over the weekend regarding the way I play.
On Friday a player I had just knocked out of the Jokers tournament told me I play really well with a lot of chips. He said I really put the pressure on and put people to a lot of painful decisions. He indicated I also know when to just lay back with my big stack and wait for the right opportunity. I thanked him for his very nice comment.
On Saturday (also at Jokers) Michele told me she thought I was a super good short stack player and I was at my most dangerous when I had no chips. She said I seemed to have really good insight as to when I should shove and when I shouldn't and which cards I should do it with. I also thanked her for her very nice comment.
Gee, golly, if I could learn how to play an average chip stack, I might be a force to be reckoned with!
On Friday a player I had just knocked out of the Jokers tournament told me I play really well with a lot of chips. He said I really put the pressure on and put people to a lot of painful decisions. He indicated I also know when to just lay back with my big stack and wait for the right opportunity. I thanked him for his very nice comment.
On Saturday (also at Jokers) Michele told me she thought I was a super good short stack player and I was at my most dangerous when I had no chips. She said I seemed to have really good insight as to when I should shove and when I shouldn't and which cards I should do it with. I also thanked her for her very nice comment.
Gee, golly, if I could learn how to play an average chip stack, I might be a force to be reckoned with!
A Great Day at the Races
Just kidding. I don't do boat races, only horse races and only about once a year. However, it was a great poker weekend.
I went a tad overboard. I played in SEVEN poker tournaments: Friday afternoon at Jokers, both morning tournaments at the Crazy Moose on Saturday, the Saturday afternoon at Jokers, the Tournament of Champions at Jokers, and both Sunday morning tournaments at the Crazy Moose.
I spent a total of $325 for the 7 tournaments ($46.42 average) and earned $1,120.00. After a total of $95.00 deducted for tips, I made a profit of $700.00 or about $100.00 per tournament. I figured that I actually sat at the tables for about 14 hours so that's $50.00 per hour. I wish I could do that consistently - I wouldn't have to work - LOL!
For the record, I took second place at the Friday Jokers tournament, took a 3-way split of first place at the Crazy Moose 8:00 tournaments on both Saturday and Sunday, and then took second place in the big end-of-the month deepstack at the Moose.
I was bummed on my last hand in that tournament because I had A-J and that's a pretty damn good hand head's up so I limped in because I knew if my opponent had a good hand he would raise me. As expected, he did exactly that and I re-raised all-in with what I thought was a super good trap. He had A-A!!! Great googly moogly. Oh, well. It was still a great payday.
I went a tad overboard. I played in SEVEN poker tournaments: Friday afternoon at Jokers, both morning tournaments at the Crazy Moose on Saturday, the Saturday afternoon at Jokers, the Tournament of Champions at Jokers, and both Sunday morning tournaments at the Crazy Moose.
I spent a total of $325 for the 7 tournaments ($46.42 average) and earned $1,120.00. After a total of $95.00 deducted for tips, I made a profit of $700.00 or about $100.00 per tournament. I figured that I actually sat at the tables for about 14 hours so that's $50.00 per hour. I wish I could do that consistently - I wouldn't have to work - LOL!
For the record, I took second place at the Friday Jokers tournament, took a 3-way split of first place at the Crazy Moose 8:00 tournaments on both Saturday and Sunday, and then took second place in the big end-of-the month deepstack at the Moose.
I was bummed on my last hand in that tournament because I had A-J and that's a pretty damn good hand head's up so I limped in because I knew if my opponent had a good hand he would raise me. As expected, he did exactly that and I re-raised all-in with what I thought was a super good trap. He had A-A!!! Great googly moogly. Oh, well. It was still a great payday.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Why Am I So Stupid?
I've been talking to myself about the deepstack at the Island for two days now. The final table started discussing a chop at 9 players. There was $2352 in the prize pool so that would only be $261, but since I walked away with nothing, it seems pretty good now. Duh.
When we got down to 8 players I had a medium chip stack and the 8-way chop was $294 which was still $178 less than third place (which is the last place they were officially paying) so I did not agree. I think there was one other player who also didn't want to do it. Besides, it wasn't even 11 pm. Sheesh.
So about 2 hands later, everyone folds to me in the small blind. My stack had dwindled a bit, but I still got stupid and shoved all-in with A-9 offsuit even though I didn't need to. The big blind woke up with kings and knocked me out. My action was supremely stupid because (1) I could have simply raised and folded when he shoved all-in (we were exactly even in chips & he told me he would have shoved); (2) there were at least two people at the table with smaller chip stacks than me who may have gone out before me and then the chop would be more lucrative; and (3) I would be on the button the next hand and have a whole bunch of (hopefully) better cards than A-9 to shove with.
It's official. I'm a total moron. I'm sure they started discussing the chop again immediately ($336 for 7 ways). I should have waited. I might have agreed to a 6-way split for $392 and definitely a 5-way split for $470 because that was super close to 3rd place money. I must pay more attention and THINK.
When we got down to 8 players I had a medium chip stack and the 8-way chop was $294 which was still $178 less than third place (which is the last place they were officially paying) so I did not agree. I think there was one other player who also didn't want to do it. Besides, it wasn't even 11 pm. Sheesh.
So about 2 hands later, everyone folds to me in the small blind. My stack had dwindled a bit, but I still got stupid and shoved all-in with A-9 offsuit even though I didn't need to. The big blind woke up with kings and knocked me out. My action was supremely stupid because (1) I could have simply raised and folded when he shoved all-in (we were exactly even in chips & he told me he would have shoved); (2) there were at least two people at the table with smaller chip stacks than me who may have gone out before me and then the chop would be more lucrative; and (3) I would be on the button the next hand and have a whole bunch of (hopefully) better cards than A-9 to shove with.
It's official. I'm a total moron. I'm sure they started discussing the chop again immediately ($336 for 7 ways). I should have waited. I might have agreed to a 6-way split for $392 and definitely a 5-way split for $470 because that was super close to 3rd place money. I must pay more attention and THINK.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Three for Four!
I have been playing the Tuesday night deepstack at the Island regularly. May 29: I took a 3-way split of first place for about $700. June 5: I played really badly and got knocked out right before the last two tables. Bad girl. June 12: I took another 3-way split of first for another $700. June 19: I took 3rd place for $325.
The third place finish was bittersweet because I had A-10 and my opponent had A-8 which just happens to be the big hand of the past few weeks. I have won at least 3 big hands from behind with A-8. He hit his 8 on the river or I would have won. Phooey.
Nevertheless, I spent $260 on buy-ins for the four tournaments and (after tips and deducting buy-ins) had a profit of just over $1,300 so I really can't complain. I think I'll keep playing this one.
The third place finish was bittersweet because I had A-10 and my opponent had A-8 which just happens to be the big hand of the past few weeks. I have won at least 3 big hands from behind with A-8. He hit his 8 on the river or I would have won. Phooey.
Nevertheless, I spent $260 on buy-ins for the four tournaments and (after tips and deducting buy-ins) had a profit of just over $1,300 so I really can't complain. I think I'll keep playing this one.
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Really Sick Hand
Relative to my last posting I wanted to tell about the REALLY sick hand that I won a huge pot with. I had the 3-4 of hearts. I can't remember if it was raised pre-flop or not, but I'd been pretty lucky already so if it was I must have called a raise.
The flop was A-Q-6 with 2 hearts, so I basically only had a very small flush draw at that point. The betting was fast and furious. I called everything. The turn was a non-heart 2. This gave me a gutshut straight draw to go along with my monster (LOL) heart draw. The betting continued. I believe there were still four players in the pot and I think Miguel dropped out after the turn card. I know that Roland was still in and one other guy whose name I can't think of right now.
The river was a black 5 giving me the straight. There was no flush and the board wasn't paired so I bet out $20 knowing that I had the best hand. Roland and the other guy basically said, "What the f _ _ _?" at the same time. I whispered to Miguel, "That was just a totally sick card." He said, "Oh, I know."
The other guy in the pot said, "OMG 3-4 of hearts? No way!" Yet they both called me. I honestly think the entire table was amazed. It had to be a pot of at least $400. Wow. One had A-Q and Roland had A-6. Talk about LUCKY!
The flop was A-Q-6 with 2 hearts, so I basically only had a very small flush draw at that point. The betting was fast and furious. I called everything. The turn was a non-heart 2. This gave me a gutshut straight draw to go along with my monster (LOL) heart draw. The betting continued. I believe there were still four players in the pot and I think Miguel dropped out after the turn card. I know that Roland was still in and one other guy whose name I can't think of right now.
The river was a black 5 giving me the straight. There was no flush and the board wasn't paired so I bet out $20 knowing that I had the best hand. Roland and the other guy basically said, "What the f _ _ _?" at the same time. I whispered to Miguel, "That was just a totally sick card." He said, "Oh, I know."
The other guy in the pot said, "OMG 3-4 of hearts? No way!" Yet they both called me. I honestly think the entire table was amazed. It had to be a pot of at least $400. Wow. One had A-Q and Roland had A-6. Talk about LUCKY!
I Could Learn to Like This
I decided to play at the Moose last night in the 2-20 game because they were having drawings every 1/2 hour starting at 9pm with $100 on the half hour and $400 on the hour with $1000 at midnight. I went at about 5:00 because I wanted to eat too.
I don't usually play that late on a work night and I had to wait almost 2 hours before the game even started (at about 6:30 p.m.). However, the evening started off just fine because along with the drawings they were giving people with player's cards a free buffet dinner with yummy lasagna & salad.
I absolutely killed in the cash game. I started out with a $300 buy-in and walked out just after midnight with $1,310. I have never had such a good night and I wasn't playing crazy or anything, although Miguel seemed to think so. I had his number all night long and felted him twice. He would wave at me to say "go away" so naturally I called him and beat him almost every time. He seemed to go into revenge mode, but nothing worked. I just couldn't lose. Actually, I think he took two rather small pots off me, but oh well.
I even hit quad 8s for $171. Now that I think about it, I didn't include that in my total above, so I actually left with $1,481. Wow.
I was really surprised that being so lucky (skillful?) all night that I didn't win one of the drawings also, but I guess that would have been overkill. I could sure get used to this.
I don't usually play that late on a work night and I had to wait almost 2 hours before the game even started (at about 6:30 p.m.). However, the evening started off just fine because along with the drawings they were giving people with player's cards a free buffet dinner with yummy lasagna & salad.
I absolutely killed in the cash game. I started out with a $300 buy-in and walked out just after midnight with $1,310. I have never had such a good night and I wasn't playing crazy or anything, although Miguel seemed to think so. I had his number all night long and felted him twice. He would wave at me to say "go away" so naturally I called him and beat him almost every time. He seemed to go into revenge mode, but nothing worked. I just couldn't lose. Actually, I think he took two rather small pots off me, but oh well.
I even hit quad 8s for $171. Now that I think about it, I didn't include that in my total above, so I actually left with $1,481. Wow.
I was really surprised that being so lucky (skillful?) all night that I didn't win one of the drawings also, but I guess that would have been overkill. I could sure get used to this.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Winning at the Island Again!
Two weeks ago I chopped the Island Deepstack 3 ways for $700. Last week I played bad & didn't make the money. This past Tuesday I chopped it 3 ways again for $700. Boy, I wish I could do this all the time.
My favorite hand was when I had 10-8 suited in the cut-off and nobody raised. The flop was 5-10-10. Nobody bet on the flop. The turn was another 10 giving me quads. The betting was fast and furious on the turn. I simply called. The river was a perfect ace, which actually gave both my two remaining opponents full houses. They both went all-in. Oh darn. I had one covered and crippled the other one. My favorite thing in poker is ending up with the nuts and having people falling all over each other trying to get all their chips into the pot!
I also did well in the live game last night hitting quad 6s for $152 on the monte carlo board and leaving with a $280 profit. My astrological sign must be enjoying massive favor right now.
My favorite hand was when I had 10-8 suited in the cut-off and nobody raised. The flop was 5-10-10. Nobody bet on the flop. The turn was another 10 giving me quads. The betting was fast and furious on the turn. I simply called. The river was a perfect ace, which actually gave both my two remaining opponents full houses. They both went all-in. Oh darn. I had one covered and crippled the other one. My favorite thing in poker is ending up with the nuts and having people falling all over each other trying to get all their chips into the pot!
I also did well in the live game last night hitting quad 6s for $152 on the monte carlo board and leaving with a $280 profit. My astrological sign must be enjoying massive favor right now.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Playing Seven Deuce For Fun AND Profit
Everyone knows I like to play 7-2 suited or not. I'm just crazy that way. Yesterday at the Moose I had two fun hands with my favorite garbage.
In the first I was on the button and had 7-2 diamonds. I naturally raised as nobody raised in front of me making it $12 to go. Six callers. The flop was J-7-3 with one diamond. It was checked to me and I made it $20 to go. Only 3 callers this time and 1 all-in. Oops. The turn brought a 10. I bet $20 again into the side pot and both guys called me. The river was another 7. Bingo bango bongo! I bet another $20 and got called by both again. The all-in player ended up having 8-9 for a straight, but I got a pretty good side pot out of the deal.
In the second hand I decided it was time to go home and that I would stradle for my last hand. I had 7-2 offsuit and thought it was pretty funny that my last hand was my favorite. About 6 people called again and I bumped it another $4 before the flop pretending to have a pretty good hand in my under-the-gun stradle. The flop was 5-8-5 with 2 clubs. Ick. I bet $20 right out and EVERYBODY folded. A miracle. Naturally I had to show. Time to go home! I made a profit of almost $200 on the night. Extra money for the Oregon Coast. See you next weekend!
In the first I was on the button and had 7-2 diamonds. I naturally raised as nobody raised in front of me making it $12 to go. Six callers. The flop was J-7-3 with one diamond. It was checked to me and I made it $20 to go. Only 3 callers this time and 1 all-in. Oops. The turn brought a 10. I bet $20 again into the side pot and both guys called me. The river was another 7. Bingo bango bongo! I bet another $20 and got called by both again. The all-in player ended up having 8-9 for a straight, but I got a pretty good side pot out of the deal.
In the second hand I decided it was time to go home and that I would stradle for my last hand. I had 7-2 offsuit and thought it was pretty funny that my last hand was my favorite. About 6 people called again and I bumped it another $4 before the flop pretending to have a pretty good hand in my under-the-gun stradle. The flop was 5-8-5 with 2 clubs. Ick. I bet $20 right out and EVERYBODY folded. A miracle. Naturally I had to show. Time to go home! I made a profit of almost $200 on the night. Extra money for the Oregon Coast. See you next weekend!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
What To Do With Rude People
First, I can't believe it has been so long since I posted anything. Oops. Not much has been happening until lately however. I took a 3-way split of first place in the $115 Sunday tournament at the Moose and another 3-way split of first place in the $65 deepstack at the Island Casino last night.
At the final table Nick was the huge chip leader with over 50% of the chips in play and he was aggressive. I finally just got tired of him raising my big blind all the time & went all in with A-3 suited in spades after yet another raise. He called with K-Q offsuit. I hit a 3 on the flop which would have been enough, but also hit a flush on the turn which sealed the deal. His meltdown began and he started becoming a smart ass.
When we were down to 5 players, I jokingly said "suck out" at the end of a hand, and Nick said, "She wouldn't even be here if it weren't for all her suck outs." I did not respond. A few hands later, Nick went all in with 5-5 and another guy (Ken I think) called him with 9-9. Nick "sucked out" hitting a five and knocked Ken out, who left the tabling saying to Nick that he shouldn't ever talk about other people sucking out and Nick started calling him an idiot for calling in the first place (with a better hand) and I really thought a fight might break out sooner or later. It was just ridiculous. Nick also said the "f" bomb a few times.
Where were the dealers? Not really to be found. They tried, but were pretty uneffective. No one was at all upset when Nick finally went out in 4th and after a while we chopped. Honestly, there are some people who deserve to be pulled from a tournament for the way they act. The lack of manners in the modern world is simply deplorable.
Glad to be able to rant.
At the final table Nick was the huge chip leader with over 50% of the chips in play and he was aggressive. I finally just got tired of him raising my big blind all the time & went all in with A-3 suited in spades after yet another raise. He called with K-Q offsuit. I hit a 3 on the flop which would have been enough, but also hit a flush on the turn which sealed the deal. His meltdown began and he started becoming a smart ass.
When we were down to 5 players, I jokingly said "suck out" at the end of a hand, and Nick said, "She wouldn't even be here if it weren't for all her suck outs." I did not respond. A few hands later, Nick went all in with 5-5 and another guy (Ken I think) called him with 9-9. Nick "sucked out" hitting a five and knocked Ken out, who left the tabling saying to Nick that he shouldn't ever talk about other people sucking out and Nick started calling him an idiot for calling in the first place (with a better hand) and I really thought a fight might break out sooner or later. It was just ridiculous. Nick also said the "f" bomb a few times.
Where were the dealers? Not really to be found. They tried, but were pretty uneffective. No one was at all upset when Nick finally went out in 4th and after a while we chopped. Honestly, there are some people who deserve to be pulled from a tournament for the way they act. The lack of manners in the modern world is simply deplorable.
Glad to be able to rant.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Royalty At Last!!
Last Sunday I finally got my first "official" royal flush! I had never had a royal when holding two of the five necessary cards in my hand. I had one about 6 years ago holding only the ace of spades. About 3 years ago I got another one holding only the king of spades. I guess it was fitting that I got my first 2-card royal holding the A-K of spades!
I had been telling myself to go home for about 2 hours because I didn't want to spend all my Pendleton fun money ahead of time. I decided to play one more round. Good decision. It was an unraised pot. The flop was J of spades, 10 of diamonds, Q of spades, so I flopped the nut straight with a redraw to a flush and potential royal. I said to myself, "Come on, TJ put the right 10 on the turn." HE DID!!! It must have been ESP I swear. I also must have a pretty good poker face because nobody knew I had it.
I checked and called the entire hand and the river was checked as well. TJ was super happy with his tip and I was super happy to "break the seal" as it were and get this out of my way. I've been waiting for one for so darned long I didn't think it would ever happen. Plus I got even more fun money for Pendleton for winning the monte carlo! What a day :)
I had been telling myself to go home for about 2 hours because I didn't want to spend all my Pendleton fun money ahead of time. I decided to play one more round. Good decision. It was an unraised pot. The flop was J of spades, 10 of diamonds, Q of spades, so I flopped the nut straight with a redraw to a flush and potential royal. I said to myself, "Come on, TJ put the right 10 on the turn." HE DID!!! It must have been ESP I swear. I also must have a pretty good poker face because nobody knew I had it.
I checked and called the entire hand and the river was checked as well. TJ was super happy with his tip and I was super happy to "break the seal" as it were and get this out of my way. I've been waiting for one for so darned long I didn't think it would ever happen. Plus I got even more fun money for Pendleton for winning the monte carlo! What a day :)
How Did I Ever Get This Lucky?
On Thursday April 12 I played the Lucky Bridge tournament. There were only 48 players as many were playing satellites for the Wildhorse poker round-up. I took third place for a profit (after tip) of $168 so that's not bad. My luck in this tournament was better than I've ever seen it.
My first 2 hands were K-K and A-K and they both held up. I folded my third hand (K-Q) to a raise. My 4th hand was 8-8. The blinds were 25-50 and I called a 200 raise out of position. The flop was J-5-5 rainbow. The original raiser bet 300 and I called with two pair. The turn was a 3 or something & he checked. I bet 1,000 having determined that my two pair was good when he checked the turn. After a brief hesitation he called, which I didn't like at all. However, the river brought my 2-outer with an 8. He shoved all-in. Even though I honestly thought he may have been slow playing J-J I called to find he had 9-9 and had been WAY ahead of me the entire way until the river. This was truly lucky.
My two super lucky hands came at the final table. I had K-7 suited in clubs on the button and there were about 4 limpers. Another K was accidently mucked face up before I called so it was probably a bad call except for the flush possibility. The flop was Q-7-4 giving me 2nd pair. I was second short stack so when everyone checked to me I shoved. Everyone folded except crazy Ali (who was in the big blind) who looked at me and said "I know just what you are doing" and called me with Q-6. I was so crushed, but then I hit another 7 on the turn. Good grief. Staying alive is fun! Ali just shook his head.
The best hand was when George raised to 4,000. I looked down at Q-Q and had only 14,000 remaining so I shoved all-in. Dustin went over the top and I knew immediately that he had K-K or A-A. Ali also went all-in for 14,000 and George folded A-10 face up. Ali also had A-10 and Dustin did indeed have K-K. I hit my 2-outer queen on the turn and took Ali out and left Dustin with 3,000 chips. Ouch! These chips enabled me to take 3rd place. (Also, when I did go all-in on my last hand I had A-7 and got called by the monster chip leader who was perfectly correct to call me with any 2 cards (8-6) and she hit a pair and I didn't.)
I honestly don't think I have ever been as lucky in any tournament as I was in this one.
My first 2 hands were K-K and A-K and they both held up. I folded my third hand (K-Q) to a raise. My 4th hand was 8-8. The blinds were 25-50 and I called a 200 raise out of position. The flop was J-5-5 rainbow. The original raiser bet 300 and I called with two pair. The turn was a 3 or something & he checked. I bet 1,000 having determined that my two pair was good when he checked the turn. After a brief hesitation he called, which I didn't like at all. However, the river brought my 2-outer with an 8. He shoved all-in. Even though I honestly thought he may have been slow playing J-J I called to find he had 9-9 and had been WAY ahead of me the entire way until the river. This was truly lucky.
My two super lucky hands came at the final table. I had K-7 suited in clubs on the button and there were about 4 limpers. Another K was accidently mucked face up before I called so it was probably a bad call except for the flush possibility. The flop was Q-7-4 giving me 2nd pair. I was second short stack so when everyone checked to me I shoved. Everyone folded except crazy Ali (who was in the big blind) who looked at me and said "I know just what you are doing" and called me with Q-6. I was so crushed, but then I hit another 7 on the turn. Good grief. Staying alive is fun! Ali just shook his head.
The best hand was when George raised to 4,000. I looked down at Q-Q and had only 14,000 remaining so I shoved all-in. Dustin went over the top and I knew immediately that he had K-K or A-A. Ali also went all-in for 14,000 and George folded A-10 face up. Ali also had A-10 and Dustin did indeed have K-K. I hit my 2-outer queen on the turn and took Ali out and left Dustin with 3,000 chips. Ouch! These chips enabled me to take 3rd place. (Also, when I did go all-in on my last hand I had A-7 and got called by the monster chip leader who was perfectly correct to call me with any 2 cards (8-6) and she hit a pair and I didn't.)
I honestly don't think I have ever been as lucky in any tournament as I was in this one.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Everyone Wins With King-Jack Except Me
I hate king-jack. I don't know why anyone ever plays it. I'm dead serious when I tell you that the only time I play it is in the small or big blind with no raises in front. If anyone raises at any time, my king-jack is in the muck.
I had a bad experience two weeks ago at the Lucky Bridge when I raised 4x the big blind under the gun and K-J suited called me & flopped two pair & knocked me out of the tournament. I wrote about this previously.
Last week (again at the Lucky Bridge) I had A-K of hearts. I was in the big blind and blinds were 100-200. I raised to 700 with 6 limpers that had already called. The next guy (who had only arrived at our table the hand before & who was one of the limpers) went all-in. He had me covered by all but 800 chips or so. Everyone else folded. I knew nothing about this guy but I thought he was making a move so I called. He was. But he had the dreaded K-J. He turned a straight. I was out on the very next hand after going all in with A-J (another of my least favorite hands).
I can probably understand the play of my opponents in both these hands. In the first instance, the raise I made wasn't that much & the K-J had another caller in front of him, so he had (barely) odds to call & he did flop a monster.
In the second instance, the guy was making a move & if I hadn't had a pretty good hand myself, I would have folded & perhaps I should have anyway, but oh well. It worked out well for him.
I am sticking to my guns, however. K-J is garbage most of the time & you won't catch me making these stupid calls & moves with that hand. Having said that, it's all about the timing right? Who knows what might happen next time.
I had a bad experience two weeks ago at the Lucky Bridge when I raised 4x the big blind under the gun and K-J suited called me & flopped two pair & knocked me out of the tournament. I wrote about this previously.
Last week (again at the Lucky Bridge) I had A-K of hearts. I was in the big blind and blinds were 100-200. I raised to 700 with 6 limpers that had already called. The next guy (who had only arrived at our table the hand before & who was one of the limpers) went all-in. He had me covered by all but 800 chips or so. Everyone else folded. I knew nothing about this guy but I thought he was making a move so I called. He was. But he had the dreaded K-J. He turned a straight. I was out on the very next hand after going all in with A-J (another of my least favorite hands).
I can probably understand the play of my opponents in both these hands. In the first instance, the raise I made wasn't that much & the K-J had another caller in front of him, so he had (barely) odds to call & he did flop a monster.
In the second instance, the guy was making a move & if I hadn't had a pretty good hand myself, I would have folded & perhaps I should have anyway, but oh well. It worked out well for him.
I am sticking to my guns, however. K-J is garbage most of the time & you won't catch me making these stupid calls & moves with that hand. Having said that, it's all about the timing right? Who knows what might happen next time.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Me vs. Joe
This interesting hand came up during the Island deepstack tournament when I was involved in a pot with Joe who is a pretty loose aggressive player. This was the 4th or 5th hand of the tournament, so blinds were only 25-50.
I was in the big blind with six limpers & not one raise in front of me. I checked my option with 6-5 suited (diamonds). Before the flop I told the guy next to me, "I shouldn't check this monster". I was only kidding.
The flop was 6-6-3 rainbow. Bingo bango bongo! I was very happy with that. Naturally, I checked. One check behind. One player bet $300. One player folded. Joe called. Another player folded.
The turn was a 5 and it also added a flush draw. Bingo bango bongo again! Naturally, I checked. The player who bet $300 now checked. He probably wasn't too happy with the 2 calls he got on the flop. Joe bet $1,000 into what was now approximately a $1,200 pot. I just called. The original bettor dropped out.
The river was an ace and I believe it made a flush, although I honestly can't remember. It didn't change my hand at all unless Joe was playing A-A or A-6 and I didn't believe that for one minute. I checked my full house. Joe bet $3,000. I raised to $6,500 and he insta-shoved. I said something out loud about him maybe playing A-6, but I just couldn't fold. I couldn't believe this was so early in the tournament. I called.
Joe proudly turned over 6-3 for the flopped full house. He simply couldn't believe my extraordinary luck of hitting the 5 on the turn. Quite frankly, I couldn't believe it either. I had no idea I was so far behind. Sometimes slow paying can really get you in trouble. Poor Joe was just mumbling and shaking his head all the way out the door.
The good news is that I doubled up early. The bad news is that I simply couldn't catch another hand at all. I went out 1 player before the final 2 tables. Phooey. I got to play for quite a while on Joe's chips though.
I was in the big blind with six limpers & not one raise in front of me. I checked my option with 6-5 suited (diamonds). Before the flop I told the guy next to me, "I shouldn't check this monster". I was only kidding.
The flop was 6-6-3 rainbow. Bingo bango bongo! I was very happy with that. Naturally, I checked. One check behind. One player bet $300. One player folded. Joe called. Another player folded.
The turn was a 5 and it also added a flush draw. Bingo bango bongo again! Naturally, I checked. The player who bet $300 now checked. He probably wasn't too happy with the 2 calls he got on the flop. Joe bet $1,000 into what was now approximately a $1,200 pot. I just called. The original bettor dropped out.
The river was an ace and I believe it made a flush, although I honestly can't remember. It didn't change my hand at all unless Joe was playing A-A or A-6 and I didn't believe that for one minute. I checked my full house. Joe bet $3,000. I raised to $6,500 and he insta-shoved. I said something out loud about him maybe playing A-6, but I just couldn't fold. I couldn't believe this was so early in the tournament. I called.
Joe proudly turned over 6-3 for the flopped full house. He simply couldn't believe my extraordinary luck of hitting the 5 on the turn. Quite frankly, I couldn't believe it either. I had no idea I was so far behind. Sometimes slow paying can really get you in trouble. Poor Joe was just mumbling and shaking his head all the way out the door.
The good news is that I doubled up early. The bad news is that I simply couldn't catch another hand at all. I went out 1 player before the final 2 tables. Phooey. I got to play for quite a while on Joe's chips though.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Smashing the 4-8 Game
Yes, you can still play 4-8 hold 'em in the Tri-Cities. For the last couple of weeks Jokers has been offering live 4-8 after the 12:30 tournament on Saturdays. I had played (sort of) in the monthly tournament of champions and after getting busted out, I decided to play 4-8 for the first time in forever.
I started with $75 and had no luck at all. I thought maybe I should stick to tournaments. However, I decided in the end that I should make ONE rebuy and try again. Never give up. Never surrender. Never get out of the boat (G_ _ damned right)(see "Apocalypse Now").
I rebought for $100 and was immediately glad that I did. I was so lucky (or skilled - whatever) that I had a hard time losing a pot. As an example, I had a set of queens hold up on a board that had 3 straight cards and 3 hearts. Wow!
Three hours later I cashed out (after basically breaking up the game which was not my intent) for $535. This was a $360 profit or $120 per hour. Good grief, I wish I could make that kind of money all the time. I could quit work - LOL!
It was a lot of fun playing 4-8 again and not just because I won big. It's just super cheap entertainment compared with a 2-20 game. I've noticed that players around here tend to play 2-20 like a 4-8 game anyway, so why not play for cheap? I may have to do this more often.
I started with $75 and had no luck at all. I thought maybe I should stick to tournaments. However, I decided in the end that I should make ONE rebuy and try again. Never give up. Never surrender. Never get out of the boat (G_ _ damned right)(see "Apocalypse Now").
I rebought for $100 and was immediately glad that I did. I was so lucky (or skilled - whatever) that I had a hard time losing a pot. As an example, I had a set of queens hold up on a board that had 3 straight cards and 3 hearts. Wow!
Three hours later I cashed out (after basically breaking up the game which was not my intent) for $535. This was a $360 profit or $120 per hour. Good grief, I wish I could make that kind of money all the time. I could quit work - LOL!
It was a lot of fun playing 4-8 again and not just because I won big. It's just super cheap entertainment compared with a 2-20 game. I've noticed that players around here tend to play 2-20 like a 4-8 game anyway, so why not play for cheap? I may have to do this more often.
Friday, March 30, 2012
I Just Don't Understand Some People
I played (if you want to call it that) at the Lucky Bridge last night. I took second in this tournament last week. This week, I went out before the end of the second round.
I had A-A. Blinds were 50-100. I raised to 400 under the gun. I got three callers. Great. The flop was K-J-3 rainbow. This looked good to me. I made it 800 to go. Jimmer goes all in for his last 1000. Some guy folds. Some other guy goes over the top and has me covered. I call for all my chips.
Jimmer has K-7 of diamonds. Really? Why would he even call my raise with that hand. And why would he go all-in with a king and a baby kicker? I thought he was a good player. I guess I was wrong about that. He had no chips left, so I he must have been gambling.
The other guy has K-J of spades so he flopped 2 pair and I didn't improve and I was gone. Now, I wish this guy was me. I would never call an under the gun raise holding K-J. Seriously, I just don't understand.
I had A-A. Blinds were 50-100. I raised to 400 under the gun. I got three callers. Great. The flop was K-J-3 rainbow. This looked good to me. I made it 800 to go. Jimmer goes all in for his last 1000. Some guy folds. Some other guy goes over the top and has me covered. I call for all my chips.
Jimmer has K-7 of diamonds. Really? Why would he even call my raise with that hand. And why would he go all-in with a king and a baby kicker? I thought he was a good player. I guess I was wrong about that. He had no chips left, so I he must have been gambling.
The other guy has K-J of spades so he flopped 2 pair and I didn't improve and I was gone. Now, I wish this guy was me. I would never call an under the gun raise holding K-J. Seriously, I just don't understand.
Friday, March 23, 2012
I Played Aces Wrong Again!
Last night I played the tournament at the Lucky Bridge and took second place. I felt I made good decisions throughout the tournament (except my final hand) and was fortunate enough to have some of my big hands hold up. As an example, I had K-K and Q-Q back-to back at the final table and took some huge pots and knocked two players out when both hands actually won.
When I was head's up, however, I made a bad mistake with A-A. Because there were only two of us, I was torn between raising and getting some action, so I limped. (We were fairly even in chips at that point.) The board was low and coordinated and the other player bet out at it. I should have folded my aces at that point and just "let it go".
The turn paired the board, which wasn't good either, but now I had aces and sixes, so I just went all-in. Oops. He had trip sixes. The lesson is - never let a blind hand see the flop if possible when you have pocket rockets.
I was still happy with second place (good profit for $37 buy-in), but would have liked to see if I could have taken it down. Oh well. There's always next week!
When I was head's up, however, I made a bad mistake with A-A. Because there were only two of us, I was torn between raising and getting some action, so I limped. (We were fairly even in chips at that point.) The board was low and coordinated and the other player bet out at it. I should have folded my aces at that point and just "let it go".
The turn paired the board, which wasn't good either, but now I had aces and sixes, so I just went all-in. Oops. He had trip sixes. The lesson is - never let a blind hand see the flop if possible when you have pocket rockets.
I was still happy with second place (good profit for $37 buy-in), but would have liked to see if I could have taken it down. Oh well. There's always next week!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Bluffing Pays Off . . . Eventually
I didn't cash in the Island tournament last night, but I did make the final 18 (out of 62) and had fun. One attempted bluff led to an interesting hand further down the road.
In the first hour sometime I attempted a bluff when a straight hit the river and got called by Dustin who only had 2nd or 3rd pair. He caught me! It paid off about an hour later when I had Q-9 offsuit on the button with 5 or 6 limpers ahead of me. I called hoping to hit something in position. Flop was Q-8-Q. A few people checked and then somebody bet and I just flat called. The turn was a 4 or some such card that basically meant nothing. There was no flush draw and no straight draw. The same people checked and the same person bet and I flat called again.
The river was a king. I still felt I had the best hand. Check - check - check - bet - I raised - fold - fold - then to Dustin. Dustin said out loud (with another person still in the pot) - "I may just call you because I saw you bluff before." I said nothing. He pondered. He said, "I just know you don't have a queen." I complained to the dealer that there was still another person in the pot. Dustin apologized.
After another 30 seconds or so he finally called and the original better folded. I never did see Dustin's hand, but he was pretty disgusted with either me or himself. I think he had A-8 or something like that. I was really surprised that he would say something like that out loud, but it worked to my advantage. Sometimes the bluff works - it just takes a while.
In the first hour sometime I attempted a bluff when a straight hit the river and got called by Dustin who only had 2nd or 3rd pair. He caught me! It paid off about an hour later when I had Q-9 offsuit on the button with 5 or 6 limpers ahead of me. I called hoping to hit something in position. Flop was Q-8-Q. A few people checked and then somebody bet and I just flat called. The turn was a 4 or some such card that basically meant nothing. There was no flush draw and no straight draw. The same people checked and the same person bet and I flat called again.
The river was a king. I still felt I had the best hand. Check - check - check - bet - I raised - fold - fold - then to Dustin. Dustin said out loud (with another person still in the pot) - "I may just call you because I saw you bluff before." I said nothing. He pondered. He said, "I just know you don't have a queen." I complained to the dealer that there was still another person in the pot. Dustin apologized.
After another 30 seconds or so he finally called and the original better folded. I never did see Dustin's hand, but he was pretty disgusted with either me or himself. I think he had A-8 or something like that. I was really surprised that he would say something like that out loud, but it worked to my advantage. Sometimes the bluff works - it just takes a while.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Winning Again!
I'm feeling much better again having achieved a 3-way split of first place last Sunday at Jokers. This is a 15,000 chip tournament with 15-minute rounds so there is plenty of playing time. I doubled up very early when a guy with 9-9 tried to get me to fold my 2 pair (A-Q) with an all-in bet on the 2nd or 3rd hand of the tournament. I barely had him covered and I almost did fold, but he hadn't reraised me before the flop and I just didn't think he had A-K (bigger 2 pair if he did) so I called him and was chip leader for most of the rest of the tournament.
I got lucky on the river a couple of times, one being the hand above and another when I held Q-J against A-A and hit a queen on the flop (no overcards) and a jack on the river. That guy was not happy, but he really never bet enough to get me off my top pair.
Anyway, I split with Debi (dealer Steve's mom) and Bob Johnson (a super nice guy who took my chip lead away from me but it was mostly my fault). Bob had a pretty big chip lead but offered to split anyway. We played one hand face up for the tournament of champions seat and I got that. Yippee!
Going to try the deepstack at Island tonight. Wish me luck!
I got lucky on the river a couple of times, one being the hand above and another when I held Q-J against A-A and hit a queen on the flop (no overcards) and a jack on the river. That guy was not happy, but he really never bet enough to get me off my top pair.
Anyway, I split with Debi (dealer Steve's mom) and Bob Johnson (a super nice guy who took my chip lead away from me but it was mostly my fault). Bob had a pretty big chip lead but offered to split anyway. We played one hand face up for the tournament of champions seat and I got that. Yippee!
Going to try the deepstack at Island tonight. Wish me luck!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Checking the Nuts on the River
Yes, I'm playing again. I went to the 20,000 chip turbo (10 min. rounds) tournament last night at Jokers and took 3rd. I basically only made a $10 profit, but that's OK. I feel right again. I had one hand that I particularly enjoyed and I think I played it well.
Blinds were 200-400. I had Q-J clubs in middle position. Michele (late position) raised to 1200 and there were 3 other callers so I joined in. The flop was 9-3-10 giving me my dreaded open ender that I never hit. Everyone checked to Michele who made it 2500 to go. One other person called and I did too, figuring to jump ship if I didn't hit the turn.
The turn was my king! Bingo bango bongo!! I was amazed to hit an open ender. It always shocks me because it just doesn't happen very often. This was the nuts. There was no higher straight possible and no flush draw. I naturally checked. Michele bet 3500 and the other person folded. I pondered. I double-checked my cards. I flat called.
The river was a 6 or something. Nothing important. Now, here's where the fun began. I just KNEW that if I checked the nuts Michele would bet. I put her on A-K or two pair. I don't know how I knew it but I knew it. It felt really good to know it. I checked. She bet 5000. Putty in my hands. I had 21,000 behind and I shoved it. I was thinking about raising a small amount, but figured if she had a big hand she might call.
Michele went into the tank for about 1 minute and called with K-10 for 2 pair. Yippee! It felt so good to be right. I rarely check the nuts, but I knew she would bet. It's a great feeling.
Blinds were 200-400. I had Q-J clubs in middle position. Michele (late position) raised to 1200 and there were 3 other callers so I joined in. The flop was 9-3-10 giving me my dreaded open ender that I never hit. Everyone checked to Michele who made it 2500 to go. One other person called and I did too, figuring to jump ship if I didn't hit the turn.
The turn was my king! Bingo bango bongo!! I was amazed to hit an open ender. It always shocks me because it just doesn't happen very often. This was the nuts. There was no higher straight possible and no flush draw. I naturally checked. Michele bet 3500 and the other person folded. I pondered. I double-checked my cards. I flat called.
The river was a 6 or something. Nothing important. Now, here's where the fun began. I just KNEW that if I checked the nuts Michele would bet. I put her on A-K or two pair. I don't know how I knew it but I knew it. It felt really good to know it. I checked. She bet 5000. Putty in my hands. I had 21,000 behind and I shoved it. I was thinking about raising a small amount, but figured if she had a big hand she might call.
Michele went into the tank for about 1 minute and called with K-10 for 2 pair. Yippee! It felt so good to be right. I rarely check the nuts, but I knew she would bet. It's a great feeling.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The (Temporary) End of My Poker Career
At least I think it's temporary. As I write this I may never play again. I am just sick & freaking tired of it. Lynne Loves Poker Hates Poker Right Now. The last straw was at Jokers on Sunday.
When I got there at 1:45 for the 2:00 tournament they had 2 Omaha games going and naturally they won't break up a live game for a tournament, so I ended up being a frickin' alternate, which I absolutely hate and I should have just gone home right then. Stupid woman.
I had to wait over an hour to get it. Luckily, this is a 15,000 chip, 15- minute round tournament, so I still had 14,100 chips. I did nothing for about 6 hands. Then I was on the button with SIX limpers and I just shoved it all in with A-Q. Everyone folded. Yippee!
After another couple of hands, I have Q-Q in middle position. There were already 4 limpers so I shoved all-in again. I still believe this was the correct move. Everyone folded except Dr. Miles who had me very well covered. He had A-J diamonds for God's sake. Was he just feeling lucky or what? I would never call an all-in with A-J suited or not. I knew the end was near.
The flop was Q-2-3. Excellent. The turn was a 5. Not good. The river was a 4. Typical. He got his runner-runner straight and I was out of the tournament having played only 2 hands. OUCH!!
However, it was just the icing on the cake. I have just had too much of this crap happening to me lately and (as they said in "Network") - I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!! So, it's break time, at least from tournaments. I seem to do better in cash games, but have no cash, so that's out for now unless some wonderful person wants to loan me $500 to get going.
I have no idea how long this break will be. It could be a week. It could be a month or more. I may not play again until I go to Pendleton. Yes, I made reservations. I'm an idiot. So, I will see you someday. I'm going to go do my yoga now.
When I got there at 1:45 for the 2:00 tournament they had 2 Omaha games going and naturally they won't break up a live game for a tournament, so I ended up being a frickin' alternate, which I absolutely hate and I should have just gone home right then. Stupid woman.
I had to wait over an hour to get it. Luckily, this is a 15,000 chip, 15- minute round tournament, so I still had 14,100 chips. I did nothing for about 6 hands. Then I was on the button with SIX limpers and I just shoved it all in with A-Q. Everyone folded. Yippee!
After another couple of hands, I have Q-Q in middle position. There were already 4 limpers so I shoved all-in again. I still believe this was the correct move. Everyone folded except Dr. Miles who had me very well covered. He had A-J diamonds for God's sake. Was he just feeling lucky or what? I would never call an all-in with A-J suited or not. I knew the end was near.
The flop was Q-2-3. Excellent. The turn was a 5. Not good. The river was a 4. Typical. He got his runner-runner straight and I was out of the tournament having played only 2 hands. OUCH!!
However, it was just the icing on the cake. I have just had too much of this crap happening to me lately and (as they said in "Network") - I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!! So, it's break time, at least from tournaments. I seem to do better in cash games, but have no cash, so that's out for now unless some wonderful person wants to loan me $500 to get going.
I have no idea how long this break will be. It could be a week. It could be a month or more. I may not play again until I go to Pendleton. Yes, I made reservations. I'm an idiot. So, I will see you someday. I'm going to go do my yoga now.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Pocket Rockets Suck
Why do I seem to have the world's worst luck whenever I have pocket aces? Two recent examples:
Jokers Tournament - Blinds are 100-200. I am in middle position with about 6,000 chips. I raise to 800. Gary reraises to 2500. I shove all-in and he insta-calls. He has POCKET THREES!!! I simply cannot believe (a) that he reraised me to begin with and (b) that he insta-called me. Naturally he hit his 2-outer on the turn and I was done shortly thereafter. YUCK! Don't you just love it when bad play gets rewarded?
Steve's Tournament - Blinds are 200-400 and Randy Taylor raises to 1200 in early position. I am in late position and reraise all-in. I have him covered by about 2000 chips. He only thinks about it for maybe 10 seconds and calls, risking all his chips with POCKET SIXES!!!! (In his defense I believe he thought he was pot committed.) He does not only hit his 2-outer, but he hits it twice getting quads. I swear there is no justice in this game. So now I am the one with very few chips and I don't last much longer.
As I recently discovered - it's a heartache - nothing but a heartache. LOL. Gotta love poker. Gotta get that song & listen to it while I play. :)
Jokers Tournament - Blinds are 100-200. I am in middle position with about 6,000 chips. I raise to 800. Gary reraises to 2500. I shove all-in and he insta-calls. He has POCKET THREES!!! I simply cannot believe (a) that he reraised me to begin with and (b) that he insta-called me. Naturally he hit his 2-outer on the turn and I was done shortly thereafter. YUCK! Don't you just love it when bad play gets rewarded?
Steve's Tournament - Blinds are 200-400 and Randy Taylor raises to 1200 in early position. I am in late position and reraise all-in. I have him covered by about 2000 chips. He only thinks about it for maybe 10 seconds and calls, risking all his chips with POCKET SIXES!!!! (In his defense I believe he thought he was pot committed.) He does not only hit his 2-outer, but he hits it twice getting quads. I swear there is no justice in this game. So now I am the one with very few chips and I don't last much longer.
As I recently discovered - it's a heartache - nothing but a heartache. LOL. Gotta love poker. Gotta get that song & listen to it while I play. :)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Hal Had My Number
I was bombarded twice by aggressive Hal in 2 different tournaments. On Friday at Jokers I had doubled my starting chip stack of 10,000 to just over 21,000 by the first break. Blinds were 200-400. On the 2nd or 3rd hand after the break, I raised to 1200 with the dreaded A-K. I was under the gun and probably over-played it as per usual. Anyway, I got about 3 callers including Hal who was in the big blind and only had to call 800. With 3 callers in front of him, it probably wasn't a bad call.
The flop was K-10-3 all diamonds. I had the king of hearts and the ace of diamonds. Top pair - top kicker - nut flush draw. I thought this was a beautiful flop. I bet about 2500. Everyone folded except Hal who pushed all-in. I made the big mistake of insta-calling. He tabled Q-8 of diamonds and already had a flush. Great googly moogly. Thinking about the hand later I realized I need to stop insta-calling and start thinking. I may have been able to lay the hand down, but I kinda doubt it. I was severely short-stacked then and was knocked out shortly thereafter. Hal went on to win the tournament.
On Saturday morning at the Moose I didn't even make it to the first break and Hal took me out. I had A-Q of hearts and he had 8-8 (both black). Being short stacked, I shoved pre-flop and he called me. The flop was beautiful with 2 hearts and no 8 so I had 2 overcards and the nut flush draw, none of which hit and I was out. Phooey. I may stay away from Hal for awhile - LOL.
The flop was K-10-3 all diamonds. I had the king of hearts and the ace of diamonds. Top pair - top kicker - nut flush draw. I thought this was a beautiful flop. I bet about 2500. Everyone folded except Hal who pushed all-in. I made the big mistake of insta-calling. He tabled Q-8 of diamonds and already had a flush. Great googly moogly. Thinking about the hand later I realized I need to stop insta-calling and start thinking. I may have been able to lay the hand down, but I kinda doubt it. I was severely short-stacked then and was knocked out shortly thereafter. Hal went on to win the tournament.
On Saturday morning at the Moose I didn't even make it to the first break and Hal took me out. I had A-Q of hearts and he had 8-8 (both black). Being short stacked, I shoved pre-flop and he called me. The flop was beautiful with 2 hearts and no 8 so I had 2 overcards and the nut flush draw, none of which hit and I was out. Phooey. I may stay away from Hal for awhile - LOL.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Identity Crisis
A couple of weeks ago my friend Dr. Phil commented that he thought I was a "great player". This took me by surprise because I think Dr. Phil is a damn good player and that I am only competent and trying to catch up.
Shortly thereafter, I ran into Matt, the guy who told me months ago that I play so bad and get so lucky. He told me the exact same thing again on the night I last saw him after I beat him in a hand. (He only seems to get irked with me when this happens.)
As for me, I think I will stick to what I know and think. I know that I try to learn something every time I play. I think I am competent. I know that I get lucky now & again. I know that I play bad sometimes, but definitely not very often & usually when on "tilt". I think I can get better every day.
So, am I wrong about Dr. Phil? Is Matt right about me? Who decides who is great and who is terrible? I think ALL players are, at various times, great players, donkeys and/or extremely lucky.
So, my identity crisis continues. Am I a great player or a lucky idiot or a little of both? Hmmm.
Shortly thereafter, I ran into Matt, the guy who told me months ago that I play so bad and get so lucky. He told me the exact same thing again on the night I last saw him after I beat him in a hand. (He only seems to get irked with me when this happens.)
As for me, I think I will stick to what I know and think. I know that I try to learn something every time I play. I think I am competent. I know that I get lucky now & again. I know that I play bad sometimes, but definitely not very often & usually when on "tilt". I think I can get better every day.
So, am I wrong about Dr. Phil? Is Matt right about me? Who decides who is great and who is terrible? I think ALL players are, at various times, great players, donkeys and/or extremely lucky.
So, my identity crisis continues. Am I a great player or a lucky idiot or a little of both? Hmmm.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
One Mistake Is All It Takes
I played in the deep stack at the Island last Tuesday. At the beginning I couldn't lose. I was playing a lot of low suited connectors because they were hitting & hitting big. My first hand (not raised by anyone) was a 2-3 spades in the cut-off seat. The flop had 4 spades and a 2. A bet was made and I raised & got several callers. On the turn I added a gut-shot straight draw. They all checked to me & I bet again. I got 2 callers. The river brought a spade. Two players called my river bet and I won a nice pot early. I couldn't believe no one had a bigger flush.
This continued for the first 2 hours. I even made what I think was simply a "feel" call holding A-K. One player had been getting beat up pretty bad by me and some of the other players. You could just look at him and tell he wasn't happy. I raised on the button with A-K and he re-raised before the flop. I just called & then I called him all the way to the river because I just knew he was trying to buy it and didn't have anything. Is this woman's intuition or what? He just shook his head when I called and mucked his cards. The player to my right asked me how I could call with A-K and I indicated that I simply didn't know. It was just a "feeling". Good grief.
So then I got stupid or maybe cocky. I honestly don't know. We were down to 3 tables (from 5) and there was a guy (Tim) who raised every other hand and we didn't see a lot of what he was raising with. I've played with him in live games & I know he plays loose-aggressive, but I guess he plays tighter in tournaments because he got me good. This was another of those "feel" situations. I just "knew" he was raising light. I was sick of it because it was really starting to annoy me and therein lies my problem. I get annoyed too easily.
He raised again and I just lost it. I went all-in with A-5 suited and I HAD NO REASON TO DO SO except that I was annoyed and didn't believe him. He insta-called with A-K and knocked me out. This was my ONLY mistake all night and it was the one that did me in. OMG how can I be so stupid? I had plenty of chips. I need to just shake off my annoyance and get over it. This is a problem I really need to work on. I could have easily folded and moved on to the next hand.
This continued for the first 2 hours. I even made what I think was simply a "feel" call holding A-K. One player had been getting beat up pretty bad by me and some of the other players. You could just look at him and tell he wasn't happy. I raised on the button with A-K and he re-raised before the flop. I just called & then I called him all the way to the river because I just knew he was trying to buy it and didn't have anything. Is this woman's intuition or what? He just shook his head when I called and mucked his cards. The player to my right asked me how I could call with A-K and I indicated that I simply didn't know. It was just a "feeling". Good grief.
So then I got stupid or maybe cocky. I honestly don't know. We were down to 3 tables (from 5) and there was a guy (Tim) who raised every other hand and we didn't see a lot of what he was raising with. I've played with him in live games & I know he plays loose-aggressive, but I guess he plays tighter in tournaments because he got me good. This was another of those "feel" situations. I just "knew" he was raising light. I was sick of it because it was really starting to annoy me and therein lies my problem. I get annoyed too easily.
He raised again and I just lost it. I went all-in with A-5 suited and I HAD NO REASON TO DO SO except that I was annoyed and didn't believe him. He insta-called with A-K and knocked me out. This was my ONLY mistake all night and it was the one that did me in. OMG how can I be so stupid? I had plenty of chips. I need to just shake off my annoyance and get over it. This is a problem I really need to work on. I could have easily folded and moved on to the next hand.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Why Can't I Win This Tournament?
I'm not complaining . . . maybe a little. I took second place (for the second time) in Steve Stark's home game gone wild last Sunday. I have been the donkey once and I've taken 3rd or 4th once (can't remember which), but I can't seem to win. I really want my name on that damn wall!
As always, it was a fun tournament. I had a crazy little hand where Paul came in to deal and we were just talking about how he had given me some big pots recently with his favorite hand (J-9) and at the same time I looked down at my cards and had J-9. Go figure.
The blinds were 50-100. There were no raises and I was in the cut-off. Yippee. I raised to 400 just because I thought it was a good omen that we'd just been talking about the hand. Isn't that silly? Nonetheless, I got one caller and the flop gave me a gut shot straight draw needing an 8. The other player checked and I bet about half his stack (700). He called. Oops.
The turn was an 8. I couldn't believe it. He went all-in. Yippee again! I was so pleased to turn over my J-9 and Paul just smiled. The other player naturally wasn't too happy, but I've noticed that nobody ever seems to get too upset with anything in this tournament. It truly is just for fun and that's definitely what it is. Also, for 2nd place I got a nifty little pocket poker odds calculator with games on it to boot. Gotta love those prizes!
As always, it was a fun tournament. I had a crazy little hand where Paul came in to deal and we were just talking about how he had given me some big pots recently with his favorite hand (J-9) and at the same time I looked down at my cards and had J-9. Go figure.
The blinds were 50-100. There were no raises and I was in the cut-off. Yippee. I raised to 400 just because I thought it was a good omen that we'd just been talking about the hand. Isn't that silly? Nonetheless, I got one caller and the flop gave me a gut shot straight draw needing an 8. The other player checked and I bet about half his stack (700). He called. Oops.
The turn was an 8. I couldn't believe it. He went all-in. Yippee again! I was so pleased to turn over my J-9 and Paul just smiled. The other player naturally wasn't too happy, but I've noticed that nobody ever seems to get too upset with anything in this tournament. It truly is just for fun and that's definitely what it is. Also, for 2nd place I got a nifty little pocket poker odds calculator with games on it to boot. Gotta love those prizes!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Chopping at Jokers
The 12:30 tournament on Saturdays at Jokers is one of my favorites, as it is a deep stack with 20 minute rounds. One actually gets to play a bit of poker.
I couldn't lose during the first round except for one notable hand when I played 8-4 suited on the button against a raise (hello Dr. Phil) simply because I was on fire. I think anyone who was on the heater I was on at that point would have done the same thing. I flopped 2 pair and slow played it to my detriment as Dr. Phil got 2 bigger pair on the river. However, I didn't end up losing a lot on that hand, so it worked out OK.
In the end, I chopped 3 ways with Phil and Kim (a dealer at the Crazy Moose). We were trading chips back & forth for a little while & finally decided on the chop. It's always fun to make a profit.
The main thing I liked about this specific tournament was that (despite the 8-4 fiasco) I think I made pretty good decisions throughout. When a person consistently tries to make good decisions on each and every hand, I think the outcome is always better. I must work much harder on this so that my results improve.
I couldn't lose during the first round except for one notable hand when I played 8-4 suited on the button against a raise (hello Dr. Phil) simply because I was on fire. I think anyone who was on the heater I was on at that point would have done the same thing. I flopped 2 pair and slow played it to my detriment as Dr. Phil got 2 bigger pair on the river. However, I didn't end up losing a lot on that hand, so it worked out OK.
In the end, I chopped 3 ways with Phil and Kim (a dealer at the Crazy Moose). We were trading chips back & forth for a little while & finally decided on the chop. It's always fun to make a profit.
The main thing I liked about this specific tournament was that (despite the 8-4 fiasco) I think I made pretty good decisions throughout. When a person consistently tries to make good decisions on each and every hand, I think the outcome is always better. I must work much harder on this so that my results improve.
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