Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Session 25,26,27

Downward Sprial,

Well the last three sessions have been pretty bad.  Session 25 -200, Session 26 -200 and Session 27 - 50.  The only good point is I am hoping that only losing 50 the last time is a sign that my bad luck will be turning around.  Kinda disappointing to follow up a large 700 winning streak by giving 590 back over the next 4 sessions.  This is my longest losing streak in the 4-8 game.  Session 25 and 26 I bought in for 100 and then did one rebuy and left after I lost it.  The last time I did a thrid re-buy for 100 got down to 40 and then ended up cashing out 250.  I think that is a good display of varience.  According to my record when I have bought in for 100 and had to do one re-buy there have been sevearl times I have lost that or most of that and quit, but there has been a few times I bought that third 100 and came back even, winning, or close.  I would have done better the last time but had been there all day and once I got back to 300 and was getting ready to go I got dealt KK, and I lost 50 with it so left.  I had to play KK, but if I would have left one hand early or started getting ready to go one hand earlier I would have left exactly even.  If I would have got dealt almost anything but a big poket pair or A paint, I would have folded and left even.  But I got unlucky after winning all my money back with a losing KK.  I wanted to stay longer but it was Sat and I had to get home to get ready to go to the airport.  The only bright side is that I still have 645 of winnings and I know that I can rebound.  I am back to traveling so wont be playing much over the next few weeks.  i was too tired to go to Hollywood Casino in WVA on Sunday, and there is supposed to be possible hurricane like weather when I fly in next Sunday so doubt I will be making any long car trips. 

Total Time 17 hrs.

Total In 700

Total Out 250

BR 645

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Session 24

Session 24

The streak ended last night.  played for 3 hours and could not get a hand.  I had one good hand on my first buy in against an aggressive player.  I was down to $41 in a kill pot.  The aggresive kid raised pre flop to 16, I looked down and had KK so I three bet it and then he capped it to 32.  The flop was three diamonds, and I had a K of diamonds.  I led out and bet 8 he did not notice I only had one chip left and raised me so I put the one more in.  He turned over a gut-shot straight draw!  He four bet preflop with a 2-5!!  I hit the diamond on the turn for the nut flush and doubled up.  But then I got a whole lot of nothing.  I re-bought but only for 40 more was not feeling it last night. 

Time 3 hrs.

In 140
Out 0

BR 1095

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Session 23

Session 23

This was a great session.  exceeded my last record of consecutive cashes.  From May 30th to June 5th I had 5 consecutive cashes.  I hit 6 consecutive cashes from July 30th to today.  Also was my third highest cash out, second highest in a 4-8 game.  My highest was in vegas in a NL game.  Session 2 I cashed out 290 in 4-8K, today I cashed out 255.  Not bad for 5 hours in a 4-8 game.  I believe this also takes me to the highest my bankroll ahead has been if I subtract the starting bankroll before I took it away and was just using winnings.  Started off frustrating, I had lost 200 in the first 30-40 minutes.  Good thing I decided to try one more buy in and see if my bad luck would change.  In that first 30 minutes or so I flopped 2 sets, one on a kill pot and lost the hands to a straight and a four card flush!  Was a little on tilt and had to fold on some flops after calling pre-flop raised etc...Making alot of bad calls.  I refocused myself with the third buy in.
There were a few aggressive players, a few tight players, and the rest of the table was old guys 75+ years old.  One was playing every hand to the river and catching some winners at the end.  The first turning point was I had called an inital raise from an agressor with A5 Suited, but then it got 3 bet and then capped by the initial raiser by the time it came back to me.  I was losing anyway so decided that I was too far in not to call the other two bets.  The flop came 3 diamonds.  I hit the nut flush.  It was bet I called and then it was raised.  The better and I both called the raise.  I did not want to re-raise with both in, since there was not really much chance I would be beat.  The turn brought another diamond.  that kind of killed my action the first position checked.  I checked also and the last guy who raised the street before bet.  The other called, and I thought about raising but did not just called.  The river brought nothing and I decided to bet, and got one caller.  Not long after that I had AA that held up, I even hit an A on the river but did not need it to win the hand.  The only other real big hand I hit before the 4 hand streak I hit right before I left was with A2.  I flopped bottom pair but there where alot of players in the hand.  I was suited and there was one of my suites on the flop.  First position was the old guy playing every draw and he lead out and bet.  I decided to call becuase I was getting the right price, only 4 dollars into almost a 40 dollar pot at the time.  The turn brought another spade.  Well now I can't go anywhere because I also now have the nut flush draw.  The same player bet 8 and there was one caller and I called.  The river brought another 2, there may have been a wierd straight on possible on the board, but I felt my three 2's was good, so I raised the initial better, and then he re-raised me!  Now I had to think.  There was no flush possible, he could have been playing mediocre cards and hit a straight he had been doing it all day, so I just called becuase I had to see instead of re-raising him.  He had 2 pair.  I had a few other ok pots that I dont really remember to much but as I was getting ready to go I hit 4 or 5 hands in a row, had JJ on my own kill pot and flopped a set with 2 players calling me all the way down.  So with that little rush I ended up cashing out 255 ahead. 

Time 5 hrs.

In 300
Out 555

BR 1235

Session 22

Session 22.

Friday I headed down to play 4-8K after work.  I got down there at about 1:30 but had to wait an hour and a half until I got in the game.  I got in when they started a thrid table,  I was first on the change list.  We started 6 handed and after a few minutes got moved to the second game.  That game was also 6 or 7 handed at times.  There was a huge hand, there where two players who where being very aggressive and gambling alot.  Basically there where four players in a kill pot.  One had AA one had KK one had 86 and one had K6.  The flop was 8-6-8 turn was X and the river was a K.  The younger guy who had KK for the win bougt in 200 and ended up all in, in that hand, he had been getting beat alot, but it looked like it took him ahead, so it was over a 200 main pot with the side pot it was over 300.  Then I got moved to the main game not long afte that.  It was interesting I only had about 40 when I got moved to the main game.  and played tight but lost it.  There where some real aggressive gamblers at the table.  Alot of hands where getting three bet by the same players with nothing special, so it was costing some money on the hands that you wanted to play.  I did benefit from this on one huge hand.  I was in my second buy in, and ended getting down to only a few dollars at the end of the betting.  I was in the SB with KK in a kill pot.  The guy who usually raised just called and they guy who usually three bet raised to 16 so when it got to me I three bet it to 24.  There where three other callers so already there is 96 in the pot.  I think there was 2 J's on the flop but I was going all the way with this hand no matter what and if one of them had a J, oh well.  I bet 8 on the flop and all 3 called.  But these three where calling everything so was not too worried.  Dont remember what the turn was but I bet 16 and one dropped out and got 2 callers.   The river I bet and just one called to see my KK and it was good.  So that was real nice.  One minute I was down at the bottom then after one big hand with crazy players and I was back to even.  I was a little up and down again from there, it was just costing so much to see any hands that you had to be willing to take a bit of a swing.  But during the last 45 minutes or so all the crazy players had busted out and the game instantly changed to a more conservative game.  i took advantage of that and got a little aggressive.  Not nearly as bad as the players who busted, but as I was getting ready to go I won 4 or 5 medium hands in a row to get me back to even and then win some.  After 4 hours I was up 80.

Time - 4 hrs
In 200
out 280

BR 980

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Session 21

Session 21

I had a few hours to myself after work today and headed down to play 4-8K.  I got off work around 1:30, got down there at about 2 and had to wait about an hour to get into the main game.  I left at 5:30.  I am very happy with the way I played today.  I was very patient, the last 3 sessions where wins ranging from 10 to 170, but, I was really playing a volitle game.  Part was due to playing for too long trying to get high hands, to the table make-up forcing me to take alot more chances and put alot more money into pots so that I had to try to suck out and win some big ones to be able to keep up.  But today the table for the most part was pretty solid.  Good players.  I was able to sit back and could usually tell where I was at in the hand.  I was pretty patient and was getting some good flops with good cards.  And since they where mostly good players I was able to take advantage of position on some hands and crappy flops to bet and get them to fold for several small wins.  I did get unlucky a few times, but since I started off winning I was able to build up with solid hands, then I would get unlucky and get taken back down to just over my buy in.  But I got enough solid hands that I was able to leave after 2.5 hours 125 up.  I made a $173 mistake.  I got a monte carlo hand but did not think about the size of the pot.  There was only 16 in the pot pre flop and there needs to be 20 to qualify for a Monte Carlo Board.  I forgot that part.  I had 10 10 and the flop was 10 9 9.  I checked and the other two checked.  The turn was a 10 and I did not feel that anyone would call a bet so I checked, they both checked.  Dont remember the river but same, I was sure they would both fold if I bet, so I just checked and they both checked.  i was hoping that someone would bet but they didnt.  My quads won, but since there was not 20 in the pot I did not qualify for the bonus.  Everyone told me next time that it is alrigh for table talk and just say I need a call and bet and someone would call so you can get the bonus.  Next time will make sure I remember that.  I had AA cracked for a big loss.  The flop was A K 7.  I raised pre-flop also and had a few callers, I bet the flop and had 3 callers.  The turn was a J and I bet the turn and got 2 callers.  Dont remember what the river was  but I lead out in first position and bet and got raised.  and the other player called.  I figured he had a Q 10 but throught there was a chance he could have had a smaller set and the other was 2 pair.  there was so much in the pot already that I had to call another 8 to be sure.  Sure enough one had K J the other had Q 10 for the straight.  I had a few good sneakers in the BB.  Flopped 2 small pair and led out and bet all the way and got one to 2 callers all the way for some nice pots.  Also as I was getting ready to go, I had KK in first position in a kill pot. So I raised to 16 preflop.  Had a short stack call and one other caller.  The flop was J7J, the short stack only had 3 left so I checked and he bet 3 the other player folded and I called the 3.  he had a flush draw and did not hit it.  Overall though I did fold quite a bit with junky hands that I may have been calling with more the last few days, and my good cards where hitting more than missing so it was a good session.  I am on a bit of a hot streak right now, but dont think I will be able to play again till Sat or Sun.  Hopfully wont cool off by then.

Time 2.5 Hrs.

In 100
Out 225

Br 900

Session 20

Session 20

Taking advantage of working from home a bit more and headed out and played 4-8K for a few hours last night.  Took home another small win, considering how the game was playing, it was pretty wild I am happy to do as well as I did.  There where a few really aggressive players at the table, raising every hand and betting every street.  So had to just pick some hands and hold on tight.  Started out on the second table and we got down to four handed for a little while, was not the ideal situation, only one big blind, but it comes around so quick you pretty much have to play alot more hands than you normally would and raise alot more than you normally would.  When I got moved to the main table I was a little down.  The did not take long before the three remaining on the second table got moved to the main game.  My big hands where not holding up too well and when I was trying to draw out did not hit any good hands, lost the first buy in and decided to give it another try.  Not long after that I had a AJ and I raised pre-flop, it was then re-raised and I called there where four in the pot.  The flop was 77J, it was checked to me and I bet, 2 callers and then the initial raiser, raised.  So much in there I called as well as the other 2.  Normally I would have folded there, but people where betting everything and I had seen so many people betting with nothing and then beating players calling them down with second or third pair, only to have the better catch top pair on the river to win a big pot.  Any pair was worth going all the way with these players.  Dont remember what the turn was, but the inital raiser bet, I called as well as the other two.  The river was another J!!  Gave me the full house.  The initial raiser smartly checked, I bet, the other two folded and he called.  He actually had a hand this time QQ, but I drew out on him.  A few hands later I limped in with A-9 and the flop was 99A, I basically called all the way down, on the river it was just me and another and he bet his last 8 so I could not raise him, he did not show what he had.  These games can be fun, but not the best practice for playing smart, when everyone is trying to draw out and raise and bet all the way down with nothing, you just have to hold on and hope you git a few big hands and get away when you are ahead.

Time:  3 Hrs

In   200
Out 260

BR 775

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Session 17,18.19

Session 17

It has been several weeks since I have posted anything.  Session 17 continuted me on my slump.  Not much I could do here at all, I lost 140, could not win a hand, was very patient, but no good cards where holding up.

Session 18

This weekend the casino was giving away 30K for their 10 year anniversary.  They where giving away $500 high hands every hour until the money was gone.  It started on Saturday and I knew there would be alot of people there so I made sure I was at the main table.  I got up early on Sat mostly becuase I have been getting up early for work, and after a few hours of being awake at home I decided to just go down there and see if anyone else where there yet.  I had no idea what to expect.  I got there at about 7:30am and they dont open until 10am.  So I was the first one there.  I ate some breakfast in my car and then decided to go to Home Depot and walk around a bit it was 8am and no-one was there.  I got back at about 8:30 still no-one.  The first person arrived at about 8:45, I was sitting outside reading.  By 9:00 there was about 6 or 7 people there.  It started going real quick then.  9:15 there was about 30.  At 9:30 they came out and handed out seat cards to the people waiting in line.  I was one of the first 10 there so I got a random seat at the main table.  They could seat 45, after they passed out all the cards there was still about 30 people in line!  I played for 13.5 hours my focus was getting a high hand, and that really hurt my outcome.  I was up and down alot during that time, and ended up leaving up $10.  Not too happy about that, but had a fun day playing there during all that craziness.  It took about 5 hours before the first person on the waiting list got a seat.  When I left after about 13 hours there was still about 20 names on the list.  I really should have left a few hours earlier but really wanted to get a high hand, to the point where I was losing alot of money trying to chase a high hand.  But since I did not lose any money cant be too disappionted, would have been much worse if I would have lost it all.

Session 19

I headed out Monday after work and they where still giving away the high hands, I think I figured they had 60 hours worth of high hands to give away.  I got there around 2 pm and then left at 5:30.  I did not sit down though until 3pm.  Was a good session hit some good hands, nothing to spectacular.  I had an open ended straight flush draw, almost got me a high hand and I had three K's, just one more would have got me a high hand, but I was not focused on them so much, I was focused on taking away a win.  I ended up 170.  I am hoping this is marks the end of my slump and can start making some upward momentum on my next few sessions.

Total for 17-19

Total Time - 15.5 hrs
Total In  -   340
Total Out - 380

BR - $715