Hello, Hi and How are ya! (and one hand for review)

firstyearclay · #1 04-08-2005, 06:26 PM

Hello Everyone including myself as the only one reading this right now. I play poker for a living. I am not a professional, just an Amateur learning the game and getting better. Only after I build my bankroll, pay off some debts, and move back to Las Vegas (I lived there for 3 years and NEVER played one hand) will I consider myself a professional.
I currently live in the State of Florida where the state limit on Texas HE, Stud, and Omaha are 2/2. This was a great training ground for me in the beginning when I was learning table texture, but other than that it is not where I primarily play. I play online and fluctuate between 5/10 and 15/30 daily inside a 5 day work week. I also play in daily ST and MT tournaments and some of the live tournaments in the casinos and dog tracks of southern Florida. If I want a bigger game I can play any of the 3 million NL house games currently running or get on a few of the cruise ships that travel out to the 3 mile marker and play higher limits/tournaments. This is on the schedule, but I don't generally do that much.
Every 4-6 weeks I have tried to get somewhere that has Poker so I can expand on my game. I have recently spent time in Las Vegas, Atlantic City (I am originally from NJ), and Mississippi. I learned, played, won, and lost in all of those places and it made my game better. To get better you have to live, breathe and be around poker. The amount of knowledge I took from the WPT event I attended (as an observor) in Mississippi in January was unreal; all potential players should attend one of these events as the learning/life lessons are extremely valuable.
Well that is a little background on me and hopefully my daily blog will give you some insight into my pursuit of playing poker full time. I hope I can respond to some of your comments and play with you all one day. Please keep Flopping Aces!!

Party Poker 5/10 Hold'em (10 handed) converter

Preflop: Hero is SB with T[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 7[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img].
UTG calls, 2 folds, MP1 calls, MP2 raises, 3 folds, Hero calls, BB 3-bets, UTG folds, MP1 calls, MP2 caps, Hero calls, BB calls, MP1 calls.

Flop: (17 SB) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img], 5[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (4 players)
Hero checks, BB bets, MP1 calls, MP2 raises, Hero calls, BB 3-bets, MP1 folds, MP2 calls, Hero caps, BB calls, MP2 calls.

Turn: (15 BB) 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, MP2 bets, Hero raises, BB calls, MP2 calls.

River: (21 BB) K[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img] (3 players)
Hero bets, BB calls, MP2 calls.

Final Pot: 24 BB

Fit or fold hand, stupid, over aggressive?? Well my thinking on this hand was two fold. I was up against two 20%/8%'ers over about 70 hands so I was thinking that I would need two pair, a straight draw, flush draw..... Two, if I hit my hand I am going to get paid off. I have other opinions on this hand but, would appreciate your feedback first. Thanks!!!

donger · #2 04-08-2005, 06:38 PM

Fold preflop!

firstyearclay · #3 04-08-2005, 06:42 PM

Sometimes it pays to advertise. My reputation definitely proceeds me as a tight vs. loose player. I have no fear when I am up to making some loose calls or leading with sone loose raises to change it up. Bottom line: If you play mechanical noone will ever bet into you unless they have no freaking clue. When you play 40-50 hours a week like I do, people start to read you and understand what you have no matter how many tables you switch too.

spamuell · #4 04-08-2005, 06:44 PM

Fold pre-flop, the first time.

With a probable 8 outs on the flop and no fold equity, your cap isn't for value against two opponents who certainly have better hands than you and are almost definitely taking them to showdown so just call the flop 3-bet.

Once you did cold-call and then cap the flop though, I'd bet the turn when you hit your hand, the board is four to a straight, your play has been scary and each opponent is probably worried both about you and the other opponent who is likely to hold a big pair. All of this means the turn is far too likely to get checked through. Also, in check-raising the turn you're making the BB face two bets cold which means you're much more likely to fold him out, which you don't want given he's probably drawing dead.

River is fine.

ErrantNight · #5 04-08-2005, 06:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes it pays to advertise. My reputation definitely proceeds me as a tight vs. loose player. I have no fear when I am up to making some loose calls or leading with sone loose raises to change it up. Bottom line: If you play mechanical noone will ever bet into you unless they have no freaking clue. When you play 40-50 hours a week like I do, people start to read you and understand what you have no matter how many tables you switch too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, well, I think you overestimate how much people read you playing this many hours a week. I think you underestimate the problems playing too loosely can cause you. But whatever...

Don't ever describe a hand as "fit or fold." What does that even mean, when it comes down to it.

I think the preflop call, both times, is REALLY marginal, not horrible, but I wouldn't make it unless that BB was passive AND played too many mands. His 3-bet here and the cap leaves you drawing thin, against only four opponents. Likewise I'm not that crazy about your flop cap. You don't have much of an edge at all once there's a fold, and there's been so much aggression I don't think you gain much of anything by becoming aggressive here.

And if your responses are generally going to be, "yeah, but i'm comfortable playing loosely" then why are you posting this hand?

ErrantNight · #6 04-08-2005, 06:48 PM

and why are you check/raising the turn after capping the flop?

donger · #7 04-08-2005, 06:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes it pays to advertise. My reputation definitely proceeds me as a tight vs. loose player. I have no fear when I am up to making some loose calls or leading with sone loose raises to change it up. Bottom line: If you play mechanical noone will ever bet into you unless they have no freaking clue. When you play 40-50 hours a week like I do, people start to read you and understand what you have no matter how many tables you switch too.

[/ QUOTE ]

I seriously doubt you need to manipulate your image to beat PP 5/10. In fact, I'm pretty sure plays like that are -EV.

donger · #8 04-08-2005, 06:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sometimes it pays to advertise. My reputation definitely proceeds me as a tight vs. loose player. I have no fear when I am up to making some loose calls or leading with sone loose raises to change it up. Bottom line: If you play mechanical noone will ever bet into you unless they have no freaking clue. When you play 40-50 hours a week like I do, people start to read you and understand what you have no matter how many tables you switch too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, well, I think you overestimate how much people read you playing this many hours a week. I think you underestimate the problems playing too loosely can cause you. But whatever...

Don't ever describe a hand as "fit or fold." What does that even mean, when it comes down to it.

I think the preflop call, both times, is REALLY marginal, not horrible, but I wouldn't make it unless that BB was passive AND played too many mands. His 3-bet here and the cap leaves you drawing thin, against only four opponents. Likewise I'm not that crazy about your flop cap. You don't have much of an edge at all once there's a fold, and there's been so much aggression I don't think you gain much of anything by becoming aggressive here.

And if your responses are generally going to be, "yeah, but i'm comfortable playing loosely" then why are you posting this hand?

[/ QUOTE ]

Good post. The one thing I disagree with is whether he's drawing thin on the flop. I have no doubt that his overcard outs are cheese, but judging by the preflop action, I think he has 8 clean outs to scoop this thing.