Derustzelve poker

Think critically! (it might even help your game)

2012-01-11T09:33:00.001+01:00

Another Dilbert classic fo a change

2011-08-11T10:47:00.005+02:00

As I am working my way through the years in the library at www.dilbert.com and at the same time feel the unwaivering urge to try and wise up humanity in vain.

And while I am making statements anyway, let's make another one for future reference, hopefully long, long term reference, and so I won't forget, here's what I want above my obituary to in-vain-trying-to-wise-up-humanity-for-the-very-last-time:

When I die I do not really die
I will live on, but in one way only
In memoriam

And another best laid plan goes to waste

2011-08-08T14:20:00.002+02:00

and a nice trip it was.

But alas, it is over, much as my present bid for becoming a successful cash game player.

The nagging and unrelenting other half has once again made it quite clear that as far as she is concerned, the buck stops here..

As in, "Quit your weary pokerways and save more energy for the family and other stuff."

"Oh, how tired am I of thy cold beauty!"

Still, it seems that my aforementoned bid is in the fridge for the time being. The millions will need to find their way into my account by means of the occasional tournament win I guess.

Let me leave with the book suggestion to you all: "Farthest North", by Fridjof Nansen is truly epic! in adventure, humor and philosophicalness.

Don't you die without reading it is my advice.

leaving las Hollandas - Bon matin France

2011-07-23T01:51:00.001+02:00

Just a quick note here, as I am about to head for France for the next two weeks.

Last month in a nutshell;

profits;
none

losses;
I haven't checked but I would say about 700-900 smackeroonies,counting everything including software purchases and bonuses collected.

BUT, I received a real nice hoodie from the Pokerstars VIP store, and have ordered the other color variant as well.

Also got myself a new job in the real world, those losses must be compensated one way or another!

Goal when I return is to concentrate on training videos for a week or so and then do some 10NL microgaming.

The longer term plan is to reach Supernova in 2012 with a profitable winrate, let's all rejoice and make fun of that overly ambitious goal.

As I read somewhere:
"Shooting for the stars and hitting the moon is better than not shooting at all"!

5 more months to book a winning month first, and two weeks of none-related pokerfun ahead, life is still worth living!
Keep it so for the next 50-60 years, you royal Highness of the Providence.

GL

Cooler of the day

2011-07-12T00:11:00.003+02:00

Ouch!

Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players - View hand 1368448

Hand History Converter

UTG: $13.13
Hero (UTG+1): $28.22
MP1: $25.00
MP2: $25.00
CO: $25.00
BTN: $31.45
SB: $32.96
BB: $12.70

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+1 with J J
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, CO calls $1, 3 folds

Flop: ($2.35) 7 J 7 (2 players)

Hero checks, CO checks

Turn: ($2.35) 5 (2 players)

Hero bets $2, CO calls $2

River: ($6.35) T (2 players)

Hero bets $6, CO raises to $18.25, Hero raises to $25.22 all in, CO calls $3.75 all in

Final Pot: $50.35

Hero shows J J (a full house, Jacks full of Sevens)

CO shows 7 7 (four of a kind, Sevens)

CO wins $48.35
(Rake: $2.00)

Dilbert kicks ass

2011-07-08T10:41:00.001+02:00

Some usefull advice on assertivity for the working class heroes amongst you.

The hand of the month and June in colors

2011-07-03T11:34:00.013+02:00

As promised here the hands of the month and even a graph.

Bad beat jackpot special
Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players -

CO: $25.00
BTN: $26.28
SB: $12.67
BB: $15.00
UTG: $18.61
UTG+1: $76.31
Hero (UTG+2): $25.00
MP1: $10.00
MP2: $32.59

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is UTG+2 with Ad Td:
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.25, Hero calls $0.25, 5 folds, BB raises to $1.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.35) Qd Ah Kd (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $2.75, BB raises to $13.50 all in, Hero calls $10.75
Turn: ($30.35) Kc (2 players - 1 is all in)
River: ($30.35) Jd (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $30.35
BB shows As Ac (a full house, Aces full of Kings)
Hero shows Ad Td (a Royal Flush)
Hero wins $28.85
(Rake: $1.50)

Losing to quads sucks too
Poker Stars $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold'em - 7 players -

BB: $25.40
UTG: $10.00
UTG+1: $24.65
MP: $33.47
CO: $51.18
BTN: $29.35
Hero (SB): $25.75

Pre Flop: ($0.35) Hero is SB with 5h 5d
3 folds, CO raises to $0.75, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.25, 1 fold, CO calls $1.50

Flop: ($4.75) Kh 4c 2s (2 players)
Hero bets $4.50, CO calls $4.50
Turn: ($13.75) 5c (2 players)
Hero bets $9, CO raises to $18, Hero raises to $19 all in, CO calls $1
River: ($51.75) 2d (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: $51.75
CO shows 2h 2c (four of a kind, Deuces)
Hero shows 5h 5d (a full house, Fives full of Deuces)
CO wins $49.75
(Rake: $2.00)

June in graphics

I missed some hands at the start of June which account for small differences with earlier reported numbers.

Here's to hoping for a better July resultwise.

I should have been up about $200,- if allin EV was the holy grail. As it is I'm up $0,26 after another 13,500 hands.

And to top it off, I just broke my laptop screen...

Papa- 'The grinder' -G123

2011-07-01T10:02:00.018+02:00

So, let’s start off with a blog post that exceeds my average length.

What have I been doing on the virtual felt in June. Well, a lot I might say.

June 1st I stumbled across Frosty012's excellent blog and watched his 24 tabling video. Wow, just wow. Tableninja, never heard of it what’s that? Totally oblivious I have been over the past years, man, how I suck.

Instant giveaway that I wasn't an avid reader of the various poker forums. MTT tournament poker is just so much easier for the casual player. Or is that too bold of a fishy statement too?

Anyway, I saw a new opportunity right there and then and quickly started off to download hem and tableninja in order to try and 24 table cash games myself.

I decided on 25NL, because, how hard can it be at those levels. Probably all players are even bigger fish than me, dying to hand over their money to me.
Clicker theclickclack. Yeay baby, 24 tables, I am the king.

Many a day in June has since been filled with configuring my hud display since then and at night it was time to do some damage playing POKERRR.
Damage to my bankroll that is… Turns out, those 'fish' were not so eager to give up their money to me after all.

How rude can be the awakening but at the same time, how peculiar can it be to discover a new world opening up in a realm that I have been groping around in in the dark for the previous 8-10 years.

I think I played really tiltless, and after some practice, the 24 tables were not that big of a problem to handle on my 15 inch laptop, (only when it's toilet time... I then take the laptop with me, click really, really, fast, make a hasty back and forth, click really fast some more and return to my battle station position. I use XP so the "Sit out next hand" option does not work in TN and I hate to run down my time bank, since I do utilise these quite some times later on in the session) but after reading up on the twoplustwo- and other forums it quickly became apparent what my results already hinted at, at heart I may be a a shark, on the felt I am a big fat fish.

So tiltless play resulted in 20 days and 60,000 hands with a 15 buyin loss. Then I started thinking and playing less tables, and then tilt surfaced and another 15 or so buyins were quickly redistributed among the Micro poker gods of our age in the next 15,000 hands or so. Well, I realise it was not only tilt, I simply am not employing a profitable strategy and have difficulty finding the leaks, and finding the profit.

Still, 75,000 hands, to the seasoned grinder that might not mean a lot, to me this number is simply astonishing!

A tiny positive thing from my million dollar losses is that I have gathered about 10,000 fpp's, which might come in handy someday, if PS succeeds in staying afloat.

And Yeah, I achieved goldstar status at Stars now, how about that. No Supernova elite baby, G-0-L-D-S-T-A-R, how do you like the sound of that. Pfff.

Undeterred (well not entirely) I will head into July to see if I can achieve some kind of turnaround. If no new monthly update emerges come August then either I am off dancing in the Caribbean, blowing away the bulk of my profits, or else I went bust.

Losing a bunch of buyins did not stop me from seeing a few interesting hands though.
I am at work now but I will post some hands of the month in a day or so. Never mind that some of them were played non-optimally, HEY I AM 24 TABLING HERE! And don't forget I am a fish.

I'll post a HEM graph too and if anyone likes to give out some well meant advice (which is not akin to: play less tables or: move down or: quit your weary ways), go ahead and I might actually find the discipline to follow up on it.

Ending with the note that I have been reading up on the concepts of the week at twoplustwo, that I have been 'working on my game' as the no-good wanna-be's like to say, that one of my leaks is that I am actually down on AK after receiving AK +- 900 TIMES, not good.., and that I hope the turnaround can be achieved by learning to actually fold TPTK and overpairs when appropriate. But honestly, how can anybody really do that, IT HURTS SO MUCH! AHHHHH!

Results:
Poker: -745
Stellar rewards: 100
Poker software: -55

Net: -700$

Oh well, no wsop this year I'm afraid :-)

2011-05-29T22:40:00.004+02:00

Spreading the gospel

2011-05-12T12:23:00.000+02:00

"Storm" (Tim Minchin)

North London top floor flat
All white walls, white carpet, white cat,
Rice paper partitions
Modern art and ambition
The host's a physician,
Bright bloke, has his own practice
His girlfriend's an actress
An old mate of ours from home
And they're always great fun.
So to dinner we've come.

The fifth guest is an unknown,
The hosts have just thrown
Us together as a favor
'cause this girl's just arrived from Australia
And she's moved to North London
And she's the sister of someone
Or has some connection.

As we make introductions
I'm struck by her beauty
She's irrefutably fair
With dark eyes and dark hair
But as she sits
I admit I'm a little bit wary
'cause I notice the tip of the wing of a fairy
Tattooed on that popular area
Just above the derrière
And when she says "I'm Sagittarian"
I confess a pigeonhole starts to form
And is immediately filled with pigeon
When she says her name is "Storm".

Conversation is initially bright and light-hearted
But it's not long before Storm gets started:
"You can't know anything,
Knowledge is merely opinion"
She opines, over her Cabernet Sauvignon
Vis-à-vis
Some un-hippily
Empirical comment made by me

"Not a good start" I think
We're only on pre-dinner drinks
And across the room, my wife
Widens her eyes
Silently begs me, 'Be nice...'
A matrimonial warning
Not worth ignoring
So I resist the urge to ask Storm
Whether knowledge is so loose-weave
Of a morning
When deciding whether to leave
Her apartment by the front door
Or a window on her second floor.

The food is delicious and Storm,
Whilst avoiding all meat
Happily sits and eats
As the good doctor, slightly pissedly
Holds court on some anachronistic aspect of medical history
When Storm suddenly insists
"But the human body is a mystery!
Science just falls in a hole
When it tries to explain the nature of the soul."

My hostess throws me a glance
She, like my wife, knows there's a chance
I'll be off on one of my rare but fun rants
But I shan't- my lips are sealed.
I just want to enjoy the meal
And although Storm is starting to get my goat
I have no intention of rocking the boat,
Although it's becoming a bit of a wrestle
Because like her meteorological namesake -
Storm has no such concerns for our vessel:

"Pharmaceutical companies are the enemy
They promote drug dependency
At the cost of the natural remedies
That are all our bodies need
They are immoral and driven by greed.
Why take drugs
When herbs can solve it?
Why use chemicals
When homeopathic solvents
Can resolve it?
I think it's time we all return to live
With natural medical alternatives."

And try as I like,
A small crack appears
In my diplomacy dike.
"By definition", I begin
"Alternative Medicine", I continue
"Has either not been proved to work,
Or been proved not to work.
Do you know what they call "alternative medicine"
That's been proved to work?
Medicine."

"So you don't believe
In ANY natural remedies?"

"On the contrary, Storm, actually:
Before we came to tea,
I took a natural remedy
Derived from the bark of a willow tree
A painkiller virtually side-effect free
It's got a weird name,
Darling, what was it again?
Ma-ma-masprin?
Basprin?
Oh, yeah, Aspirin!
Which I paid about a buck for
Down at the local drugstore.

The debate briefly abates
As my hosts collect plates
but as they return with desserts
Storm pertly asserts,

"Shakespeare said it first:
There are more things in heaven and earth
Than exist in your philosophy
Science is just how we're trained to look at reality,
It doesn't explain love or spirituality.
How does science explain psychics?
Auras; the afterlife; the power of prayer?"

I'm becoming aware
That I'm staring,
I'm like a rabbit suddenly trapped
In the blinding headlights of vacuous crap.
Maybe it's the Hamlet she just mis-quothed
Or the sixth glass of wine I just quaffed
But my diplomacy dike groans
And the arsehole held back by its stones
Can be held back no more:

"Look, uh, Storm, sorry I don't mean to bore you
But there's no such thing as an aura!
Reading auras is like reading minds
Or tea-leaves or star-signs or meridian lines
These people aren't plying a skill,
They are either lying or mentally ill.
Same goes for people who claim to hear God's demands
And spiritual healers who think they've got magic hands.

By the way,
Why do we think it's OK
For people to pretend they can talk to the dead?
Isn't that totally fucked in the head
Lying to some crying woman whose child has died
And telling her you're in touch with the other side?
I think that's fundamentally sick
Do we need to clarify here that there's no such thing as a psychic?
What, are we fucking two?
Do we actually think that Horton heard a Who?
Do we still believe that Santa brings us gifts?
That Michael Jackson didn't had facelifts?
Are we still so stunned by circus tricks
That we think that the dead would
Wanna talk to pricks
Like John Edward?

Storm to her credit despite my derision
Keeps firing off clichés with startling precision
Like a sniper using bollocks for ammunition

"You're so sure of your position
But you're just closed-minded
I think you'll find
Your faith in science and tests
Is just as blind
As the faith of any fundamentalist"

"Hmm that's a good point, let me think for a bit
Oh wait, my mistake, that's absolute bullshit.
Science adjusts its views based on what's observed
Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved.
If you show me
That, say, homeopathy works,
Then I will change my mind
I will spin on a fucking dime
I'll be embarrassed as hell,
But I will run through the streets yelling
It's a miracle! Take physics and bin it!
Water has memory!
And whilst its memory of a long lost drop of onion juice is infinite
It somehow forgets all the poo it's had in it!

You show me that it works and how it works
And when I've recovered from the shock
I will take a compass and carve "Fancy That" on the side of my cock."

Everyone's just staring now,
But I'm pretty pissed and I've dug this far down,
So I figure, in for a penny, in for a pound:

"Life is full of mystery, yeah,
But there are answers out there
And they won't be found
By people sitting around
Looking serious
And saying isn't life mysterious?
Let's sit here and hope
Let's call up the fucking Pope
Let's go watch Oprah
Interview Deepak Chopra

If you must watch telly, you should watch Scooby Doo.
That show was so cool
because every time there was a church with a ghoul
Or a ghost in a school
They looked beneath the mask and what was inside?
The fucking janitor or the dude who ran the water-slide.
Because throughout history
Every mystery
EVER solved has turned out to be
NOT magic.

Does the idea that there might be knowledge
Frighten you?
Does the idea that one afternoon
On Wiki-fucking-pedia might enlighten you
Frighten you?
Does the notion that there may not be a supernatural
So blow your hippy noodle
That you would rather just stand in the fog
Of your inability to Google?

Isn't THIS enough?
Just.. this.. world?
Just this.. beautiful, complex
Wonderfully unfathomable.. natural.. world?
How does it so fail to hold our attention
That we have to diminish it with the invention
Of cheap, man-made myths and monsters?
If you're so into your Shakespeare
Lend me your ear:
"To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw perfume on the violet, is just fucking silly"
Or something like that.
Or what about Satchmo?!
"I see trees of green,
Red roses too",
And fine, if you wish to
Glorify Krishna and Vishnu
In a post-colonial, condescending
Bottled-up and labeled kind of way
Then whatever, that's ok.
But here's what gives me a hard-on:
I am a tiny, insignificant, ignorant bit of carbon.
I have one life, and it is short
And unimportant
But thanks to recent scientific advances
I get to live twice as long as my great great great uncle-es and aunt-es.
Twice as long to live this life of mine
Twice as long to love this wife of mine
Twice as many years of friends and wine
Of sharing curries and getting shitty
At good-looking hippies
With fairies on their spines
And butterflies on their titties.

And if perchance I have offended
Think but this and all is mended:
We'd as well be 10 minutes back in time,
For all the chance you'll change your mind.

Two in a row - liking the overlay again!

2011-05-03T22:35:00.009+02:00

Wow! I am making it look easy!
Not missing the Americans yet, sorry guys.

Some nice hands on the road to victory:

Great call of his river pot bet here, not in the least because of the result: I just could not see him be not scared of that river card if he would have had a made hand and did not put him on anything stronger than my hand.

Two important bluffs to get me back in the game: I especially appreciated his FOLD on my rarely used post oak 1200 river bet!

This was a 2000 chips 'desperation' river bet.

And the nice final hand: On the flop his bet, raise, allin, I call and pretty much hope for what he actually is holding. Brick, brick, Yesss!!

Liking the overlay!

2011-05-02T22:29:00.002+02:00

Close but no cigar... #$@!!!

2011-04-29T23:22:00.001+02:00

2011-01-15T20:03:00.000+01:00

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker! The WBCOOP is a free online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers, so register on WBCOOP to play.

Registration code: XXXXXX 630699

Close but not close enough...

2010-12-25T11:49:00.001+01:00

I TOTALLY ruled this tournament!

2010-12-17T23:41:00.005+01:00

Yes, another win!
PLO is the game.
Funny coincidence was that UHave_3_outs was at the final table: he won the tournament of 4801 participants in which I got 6th some weeks ago.

In this instance he proved to be the only one at the FT that I din't personally eliminate.

I was in first place with about 100 left,with 80 left, 50 left, 36 left, 27 left, 9 left, I held a chip lead that was hunourmous in the end!

I'll post some screenshots to make the point. It was fun!

I got 6th of 600 two days ago, I registered for that tournament by mistake: it was a normal rebuy and lasted for ages! In the end I couldn't think just push allin it seemed.

I wanted to get eliminated but simply couldn't. Had a short night and a very rough day after that one.

Hope for more nice results ahead!

a not so deep run but still..

2010-12-03T23:07:00.002+01:00

60th of 9573.

Final table of a large 1

2010-11-27T21:24:00.004+01:00

Got 6th of 4801 in the end.
Out with kings but it was quite a nice ride nonetheless!

And a little something for a change

2010-10-04T23:13:00.004+02:00

Well played!

And very nice, those allin coinflips and all in flush draws that came in on the river!

Finally, finally some kind of a result

2010-06-10T23:53:00.002+02:00

Man I am going through a rough patch. Have been doing so for two months on end it seems. So only fitting I did not get first. Hope this marks the turnaround though!

PLO Victory!

2010-04-29T23:26:00.008+02:00

Today I finally took down a PLO tournament!

A super turbo but nonetheless!

Today everything went right right from the start in all 4 tourney's I started up. Made the money in three of them (micro stakes but hey) and it feels good to top one of them off with a win!

After reaching the final table I quickly grew out to be the biiiggg stack so everything went smooth! Especially after this hand where I take out stack 2 and 3 in one hand where I freerolled to victory.

So there I was going into headsup with a 10 to 1 stack surplus! Five hands later he led me 46000 - 45000 and things started to look gloomy...

But luckily the day was to end well as I called his allin after the turn two hands later and he didn't have a set or a flush or a straight or a sucking out hand. Victoire!!!

And for the record, these were my stats:

And for another record: "DeRustZelve received 18 Knockout Bounty Awards"

BBT5

2010-04-22T12:12:00.003+02:00

Just in case I feel like getting up at 04:00 and play: here it goes!

1 nice hand

2010-04-18T22:27:00.003+02:00

Well, unfortunately the tournaments I play are frustrating &^%!!##$##!

I think I play well, had some nice stacks but I endured a couple of major blowups.

One nice hand of late then: I won with the second low hand against the nut low on the rive after my postflop flop and turn bet had been called by him. check check on the river obviously. How often do you see this happen!

(Ok in hindsight: he could have held 36..)

another satellite victory!

2010-03-26T22:39:00.002+01:00

Things aren't going as they should most of the time but this one I cherish for the moment.

Right back in it!

2010-03-15T23:38:00.009+01:00

BIGGEST WIN IN PLYR NUMBER EVER FOR ME! 1st of 849!

SWEEET!

Things started off slow and after some hemming and hawing I was almost out allin with Ac7c vs AK but running clubs saved me from an early exit.

Then again I was almost out when my turned King high flush could not hold against the rivered fourflush AA.

But after a remarkably easy comeback from 2 bb at the 200 400 level I cruised along. Before I knew it we were down to 16. And thats where things started getting really interesting. I was I think 10th of 16 when this hand came along, just before the break.

And this put me in 1st place to go into the break.

A little later on the final table bubble I got JJ and calling the allin from a shorter stack on the T52 board I beat 77 to go into the FT again in first place.

Things stopped going my way for some time but with 6,5,4 left some bluffing here and there did go the right way. In the meantime REMSKI55 was steamrolling away..

With three left I was the smallstack and with 44 the other two tried to check me out. It was nice to see this hand progress:

From thereon the next 4 hands were the last hands to be played and they all went my way!

Raising and winning the blinds.

Reraising all in and picking up 90000 chips in return.

Gotta be able to win with A9 and beat A9 so it seems!

And this reraise of mine was enough to make him call and be severely dominated.
And all transpired as planned!

Thx for reading

Finally a bit of a score...

2010-03-14T21:58:00.006+01:00

Declined a 50/50 deal at the end...
still, nice to win this one -almost- after being on the ropes at a point with 70 or so left.

Some key hands!

Back in tournament land

2010-03-05T22:48:00.002+01:00

Finally won me a 36 player $7,60 satellite.
been playing a ton of omaha in the last months but with mediocre results. Logging 150 hours netted me maybe $800,- which is all rakeback I guess. Back to tournaments then!

Delivering a REAL bad beat

2009-12-01T22:30:00.002+01:00

with two cards it would have been the bad beat jackpot:

I got paid off in full.

ABSOLUTE POKER

2009-11-23T20:41:00.005+01:00

Tried som hu plo and made a killing three weeks ago, up 2200$ in two days!

Sadly down 2600 in the next three days and not liking poker anymore I can tell you that!!

Got my act back together, stopped playing for a while and started on Absolute Poker to have some change of environment. PLO only and doing ok, with pretty solid winnings till now. I have learned how fast this can change of late so no celebrations just yet.

This major setup hand fell in my favor only 5 minutes ago. Ouch.

Final table class 101

2009-10-30T22:50:00.009+01:00

Well, actually it is only my 101st post!

Kind of a big day today though, I reached two final tables at the same time in the 90 plyr sng's, a first for me!

This was the story at the start of the ft's:

See Focsani, runner up in my win from Monday present again as well, and so is Matthis another pretty good plyr that I see often.

I was watching TV as well a little and the action on the 12 table led me to fold too much on the 24 ft so after not doing probably ANYTHING there, I busted in 5th with an M of maybe 2.2 and two check down callers, suits me right.

In the other game I sure got more than my fair share of luck once more:

And also hu I couldn't complain too much, although I started with 3 to 1 stack.
A5 > A8 did the trick here.

Sooo, I am a happy man on the poker front today!

Took another 90 plyr sng

2009-10-26T23:41:00.003+01:00

13 ko bounties.

Deciding hand i got aces. lost to aces with KK with 8 ppl left and was on the ropes.
Some guys totally lost it against me at the FT caling all ins with KQ with even stacks and gifting me their chips every time. Was going for 7th, 6th, 5th,... and then I got my breaks and off I went.

(Almost) Won a true true donkament..

2009-09-25T22:44:00.003+02:00

Well, the last hand wasn't genius but I was hoping for a fold..

Anyway, second feels real good this time, especially since I've been playing like a true sucker lately. Finally a much needed replenishment of my bankroll.

Why raising preflop with 23 can be so much fun

2009-09-22T22:34:00.003+02:00

747-player WINNER!

2009-08-15T23:31:00.016+02:00

I have got a little time so let's build the story.

Aside from the 90 plyr sng's I started up the 14:50 $3,30 turbo. Well, as far as the 90plyr sng final table run goes, it ended today, but I did manage a deep run in the $3,30 trubo.

Because of the low entry fee I started pretty reckless in a double up or bust mode.

This resulted in the following hand, a big reraise preflop from me, allin on the flop, and 'ur a mf'-like comments.

Some pots left and right and hey, I am way up there at the first break.

Nothing major in the second hour for me, I kept afloat and built my stack a little here and there, and hey, still up with the live people. Stealing where I can but I can't recall any hands. Hour 2 and with 16 left. Blinds were getting out of cntrol and so I realised that I needed to double up and do it fast. 16th paid $9.34 and 10th like $18 so there wasn't too much incentive to be careful for me.

So first hand after break I pushed from the hijack with A5 and closed my eyes: no callers.
I t got to my big blind and I made a nice call against a relative shorty, especially because of the result.

And the obligatory push from the SB against the very short BB got rewarded as well.

And so I doubled up into 4th place and started thinking: "Unbelievable, this is gonna be another final table with a little luck!"

I got to work with my big stack and started abusing the ft table and so with 10 players left this was the look of the score card:

And so we reached the final table: first hand in this evolves.

And another one bites the dust.

I tried to bully the table but the player with the name blueberrysmole got the better of me in agression. And after I pushed from UTG with A3 < AK I was in the ropes. A walk, a steal and a round later I got his crucial double up:

Fifth place was nice but I wanted more. The next hand I called an allin from bigstack 'blueberriesmole' with AT, and I was correct in doing so, result wise that is. Still, really proud at my guts to call here.

And AT was good enough a little later again, to get three handed against the guy who didn't like the 33 hand too much at the ft.

And that's where the biggest hand of the tournament was about to take place. After a little dancing around one another I raised AQ 3x the big blind, fully willing to commit to an allin reraise.

I got a call. After the flop I got an allin. I called and this transpired.

Yesssss!

Fast forward to the final hand of the tournament as I am getting tired!

It was so sweet

oh.

Xanderules bet in to me big post flop and who can blame him.

I set himm allin as well and that was it.

My biggest win player field wise ever!!

Final table week

2009-08-15T13:32:00.004+02:00

Two 90 players sit n go's a day and I made the final table in one of them every day of the week! That's gonna be hard to maintain I'm afraid but I'll give it a try.

Total Ownage!

2009-08-13T23:34:00.008+02:00

This was the SnG where the bubble phase last the longest I have ever experienced.
The field was so close together in chips and every time the short stacks pushed everybody folded or they doubled up. Eventually I got on top and started pushing people around a bit. This resulted in this hand which propelled me way up that lonely mountain of chips and into the driving seat.

I owed it to myself to win it from hereon and I wasn't diappointed this time. Another win here feels great!

Finally a satellite win!

2009-08-07T22:58:00.003+02:00

It was about time, but I WON a 16 plyr $13,50 winner take all HU PLO satellite to the FTOPS event 10 for 216. Unfortunately my screen capture tool failed..

Especially nice to beat 4XTRADER in the semi-final, as I knew he had some really big wins in the past. I like it!

I-RUN-SO-HOOOTTTTTT

2009-07-30T23:53:00.003+02:00

I won another 90-plyr sng. Really didn't expect it, constant short stack and so on. With 5 or 6 plyrs left it became very obvious that some people were really just trying to climb the moneyladder. Ended hu with the only other player who really wanted to play and after some dancing around we got it all in preflop where my AT was good enough to beat his 88. A few hands later it was all over (A3>K3 yeah)

here's the screenprint and a nice hand from the tourn.

great timing.. ty rotten internet connection

2009-07-23T00:34:00.004+02:00

And just after I typed: lets get it on cause we started hu my internet failed and my opponent beat an empty chair. To be fair, he had a big chip lead and had put up quite a show from two tables left till hu.

So, a bit sad with not getting the fair chance, cause he was quite the loose cannon and the ideal hu opponent, still happy with another great performance.

FT Clean sweep

2009-07-21T22:10:00.003+02:00

This was a pretty cool final table, with me cleaning out the opposition and claiming all eight bounties! I made two ft's lately in these 90plr sng's and came out 2d each time, so it feels good to win it again.

still havent busted

2009-06-19T23:06:00.005+02:00

For the second night in a row, in my new home I haven't busted even once!
OK, I didn't play mtt's or very much but still, three 6-max sng's and 3 hu's and won them all, it feels allright!

Its good to be back

2009-06-18T23:09:00.005+02:00

I have moved recently and today my Internet got back online. I'll be taking it easy on the poker front I guess since there is a ton of work to do at my new place but for now it's good to start back up again with a win in my favourite current playground. Hope to keep it up.

edit: and another one for good measure!

oh well, there's always next year (I hope)

2009-06-01T21:53:00.002+02:00

Comfort is that I played well I think, I played pretty damn good come to think of it!

PLO 1-table st-n-go's

2009-05-21T20:37:00.003+02:00

Lately I have been playing a lot og 1 table sit-n-go's, plo turbo, with great success I might add.

On other fronts I haven't been able to break a leg, can't seem to get past the first hour of just about any mtt tournament. Keep on keeping on is the credo.

S-C-H-E-I-S-S-E

2009-05-04T23:08:00.002+02:00

FT in blogger land

2009-05-03T23:45:00.002+02:00

Out in 8th.

I was on fire but as happens often in those cases, I burnt out way before it started mattering. I had an amazing flow of AA, QQ, JJ, TT and a few hit sets, but in the end I threw it all away in stupid coin flips and the like. Baby cry = me tilt level risssssiiiing.

gl

Sigh

2009-05-03T22:02:00.004+02:00

Final tabled my usual tourney again, and came up a little short in 5th. Still, nice to see another final table again in May. Had a lot of real nice hands, sorry to see first place out of sight just before the finishing line.

3 cashes in a row feels good as well after 20 consecutive misses by the way.

How to crack AA & QQ with 44 preflop

2009-04-30T20:50:00.001+02:00

This is getting booorrringgg

2009-04-24T21:46:00.004+02:00

Well, it isn't off course! More boring is that this time around one of my allin bluffs got picked off early on in the FT.

Still, another FT feels good, AGAIN in the same tournament as the one I final tabled in on yesterday and last week. That's FIVE final tables in April alone, where my average has been about ONE per year in 2007 and 2008.

Guess I am doing something right this time around.
Hope I can keep it up.

And another final table!

2009-04-23T22:13:00.004+02:00

Same tournament as last thursday. And another third place, and another great chance at victory wasted...
But still, I like it immensely! Good stuff this.

Going stronger than ever!

2009-04-16T21:57:00.003+02:00

Another Final table!

Soooo too bad that I couldn't close it down. Had my chances though but hey, what can you do.

Check out the final table

2009-04-12T09:42:00.001+02:00

In this replay you can see all the highs and lows which led up to the victory.
Enjoy!

Another big win!

2009-04-11T23:52:00.003+02:00

Yeah baby!!!

And just as in my victory of December 26th I went into the FT with the Chiplead, only to lose it all except for I believe 1 big blind or so. But totally crazy allin pushfest behavior on my part (combined with some sick suckouts) secured the victory in the end. Wow, that feels good!

I hope I will make time for a nice recap later on, for now I'll enjoy the feeling of winning for a bit more, yeah!

Finally another final table

2009-04-10T00:16:00.002+02:00

And glad to have made it that far. I was in a great position for a win, with lots of chips and far more than anyone else but in the hand before the FT i got crippled when I made a lower flush on the river.

Now where's my TOC-seat?

2009-03-22T21:29:00.004+01:00

Good times!

First tournament dollars $$

2009-01-17T23:43:00.002+01:00

So I won't forget: FTOPS XI Schedule

2009-01-07T20:23:00.003+01:00

Let's try to make an appearance at least in one of the events...
I highlighted the ones that I find mildly and mildly more interesting to try and qualify for or drewl about)

The Full Tilt Online Poker Series XI Schedule:

Event # Date Time Buy-in Game Guarantee

#1 2/4 21:00 ET $200+16 NL Hold'em $1,000,000

#2 2/5 14:00 ET $240+16 PL Omaha/8 Knockout $200,000

#3 2/5 21:00 ET $200+16 Stud $100,000

#4 2/6 14:00 ET $300+22 NL Hold'em 3x Shootout $200,000

#5 2/6 21:00 ET $200+16 Limit Hold'em 6-max $150,000

#6 2/7 14:00 ET $500+35 PL Omaha 6-Max $300,000

#7 2/7 16:00 ET $100+9 NL Hold'em w/ Rebuys $500,000

#8 2/8 14:00 ET $240+16 NL Hold'em Knockout 6-max $600,000

#9 2/8 16:00 ET $500+35 NL Hold'em Heads Up $500,000

#10 2/8 18:00 ET $300+22 NL Hold'em $1,500,000

#11 2/9 14:00 ET $200+16 HA (half PLHE, half PLO) $150,000

#12 2/9 21:00 ET $1,000+60 NL Hold'em Second Chance $1,500,000

#13 2/10 14:00 ET $200+16 NL Hold'em (1R/1A) $300,000

#14 2/10 21:00 ET $500+35 HORSE $300,000

#15 2/10 21:00 ET $200+16 NL Hold'em Turbo 6-max $500,000

#16 2/11 14:00 ET $200+16 Omaha/8 $150,000

#17 2/11 21:00 ET $300+22 NL Hold'em 6-max w/ Rebuys $1,000,000

#18 2/12 14:00 ET $200+16 PL Omaha Heads-Up $100,000

#19 2/12 21:00 ET $300+22 NL Hold'em 4x Shootout 6-max $300,000

#20 2/13 14:00 ET $200+16 NL Hold'em 6-max $400,000

#21 2/13 21:00 ET $300+22 Razz $150,000

#22 2/14 14:00 ET $5,000+200 NL Hold'em (2-Day Event) $2,000,000

#23 2/14 16:00 ET $100+9 PL Omaha w/ Rebuys $350,000

#24 2/15 14:00 ET $120+9 NL Hold'em Knockout $750,000

#25 2/15 18:00 ET $500+35 NL Hold'em (Main Event) $2,500,000

Toernooioverwinning - The movie

2008-12-28T13:34:00.007+01:00

King of the hill !!!

2008-12-27T19:37:00.005+01:00

I finally did it! I won an mtt with 556 participants!

YES THIS FEELS GOOD!!!

Another 1 of those & keep em coming!

2008-11-15T00:11:00.008+01:00

SWEET!

With most of my chips in:

Love the one-outer!!!

And after dropping behind I fought back and took it in this hand (lucky me):

The stuff I need to put up with

2008-11-14T15:19:00.005+01:00

Had a few 2d & 3d spots in the turbo 90person SNG's, nothing real big to report I'm afraid. Maybe tonight.

King of 90!

2008-10-17T21:04:00.007+02:00

Finally, finally, I won my first 90 player SnG on FullTilt:

Lady luck was rooting for me every step of the way but hey, what do I care.

I guess the biggest hand I won on my luckbox ride, practically allin preflop:

(My note on him was spot on: 'pushes light')

They were falling to my reign of terror like flies, and before long the final hand emerged: (only hand of heads up play).

And that was that.
All in all I eliminated a whopping eleven players, and received my bounty back as the last man sitting.

LUXEMBURGGG!!!

2008-09-10T22:30:00.011+02:00

SWITZERLAND - LUXEMBURG 1 - 2 !!!

so close, but still a good run

2008-08-03T00:44:00.002+02:00

Finally... there it is... the final table!

2008-07-20T22:46:00.008+02:00

Today I finally had a nice result on Party, I made the final table out of a 170 contestants.

Never had a chance at winning here though, as the small stack I resorted to folding all the garbage the entire time as bigger stacks kept butting heads and getting kicked out along the way. So when I finally woke up with my 66 monster I felt I had to go with it.

Very pleased with my mental attitude in the tourney, hope I can keep it up. I got a membership at Stoxpoker the other day and I really feel like the videos on this site, especially the ones from Matt Matros, (as I haven't watched any others yet) have really improved my game play. More nice results to follow I hope!

35th is almost first...

2008-07-19T14:38:00.002+02:00

But... I like my play lately, very much improved if I might say, big thx go out to Matt Matros for showing me how. Feel that final table approaching.

Moderate at best over the last couple of weeks...

2008-07-07T21:04:00.004+02:00

Two 'highlights':

Tournament win!

2008-06-23T11:32:00.002+02:00

Last Friday I managed to win the local tournament at the bar I previously alluded to. 30 people signed up for the tournament. The format was a EUR 50,- + 10,- deepstack NLHE tournament, 15 minutes blind levels starting at 50/100 with 20.000 chips as a starting stack.

The fisrt few levels I didn’t play a hand at all and people started taking notice of this, referring to me being so tight. Just getting a feel for the table guys.

I noticed the guy to the left of me was talking a lot, and playing a seemingly straightforward game. Then there was a guy who acted like he was a pro, and I heard him mentioning that he was going to the WSOP later on in June. He was a little too loose so early on in the tournament I think and also overplaying mediocre hands. The guy next to him was playing an agressive game, and seemed a good player overall. He doubled up in hand 1 when his AA held up against KQo… Last player that I was paying attention to was the guy 2 to my right who had acquired the skill to flop quads twice and a fullhouse, and be paid off on all three occasions. All the other players played very weak tight I think.

First hand I got involved in was when the AA guy raised my big blind (level 2: 100 / 200) from the cutoff. I 3-bet with atc, he instafolds. Second hand I got involved in was when the blinds had reached 150/300 and the hijack (quads guy) raised it up to 1000 after it wass folded to him. He put it in immediately and I sensed weakness.So, after seeing that I was holding T4o I quickly raised it up to 3,500. The guy to my left starts hemming and hawing and moaning about how he knows I must have aces and how big a hand he has, and how he can't believe he's going to fold them preflop. After a while he does and the hijack follows suit. He claims he folded QQ and I even think he did, as he kept it up even after he was busted and I told him I rereaised with air. NICE!
Third hand I got involved in and first hand that I really played was in my next BB when AA guy bets at my big blind again (level 4: 200/400), up to 1200. I check my cards and look down at aces! Drewl, drewl.
I pause for a moment to control my breathing and heartbeat, and raise to 3500. He thinks for 2 seconds and reraises to 10K! My stack is 22,800, so after stalling a bit for a few seconds I reraise all in and he calls. He wasn't happy to see my rockets, I can tell you that! He turned over QQ and after the board blanked out I was sittting on a comfortable stack.

I continued to play tight and occasionally raised to stay ahead of the blinds, or reraised the quads guy when I thought he was weak (and my read wass spot on every time), and every time the other players folded. I think I took out a short stack with AQ all preflop and after that I was sitting on a stack of about 58,800 when I was called over to the other table. In two hours time I only showed AA and AQ, both allin preflop. Pretty amazing.

By this time there was 12 people left. The other table was tougher I think, and with the ever rising blinds I knew I had yet some work cut out for me.
Seat 1 was occupied by a guy I briefly played with a couple of months earlier (I think he even took me out then, when I was really shortstacked), he seemed straightforward. (He was a little unlucky when his once big stack was demolished because of three consecutive losses with AK.)
In seat 2 was a guy, who was a regular. He also was really tired or a bit drunk, or both, and complained constantly about still being in the game and wishing he was at home, sleeping or so.
Seat 3 I only remember vaguely as he busted soon after I sat down. Seat 4 was me. Seat 5 a guy who busted soon after I sat down as well, and while I was away from the table. Seat 6 held a guy I played a few hands with on a cash game table. I remembered that a guy was telling a story about how he lost a EUR 1200,- pot against seat 6-guy when seat 6-guy checked on the river with the nuts and the other guy went allin representing the nuts. I pegged him therefore to be an able and tricky player.

Blinds were 2000/4000 and I noticed that the first couple of hands were taken down uncontested. I raised it up to 12,000 from UTG with KJ, hoping the table was so tight that I would get away with it. Three folds, and then the SB (the tired guy) called. Bullocks@! To my surprise, the BB followed up with an allin reraise for about 60,000! OK, whatever you're holding, nice play. And so I meakly folded a good chunk of my stack. The tired guy thought for a bit, and then thought, F*** that shit, I call. He held KQ, the BB held JJ and after a Q fell on the flop and the rest of the board blanked out the SB almost doubled up while the BB was eliminated. I went though the now-huge blinds a couple of times and folded to a reraise and all of a sudden I was in danger of elimination! Blinds were 2,500/5000 and my stack hand been diminished to 27,000. Luckily the final table was set so I hoped to get to see a few hands (and at least one good one!) before the blinds would reach me. We redrew seats and I got seat 5. Tired guy with the monster stack had seat 4 and I realised that if I could survive long enough that this was a very favourable draw for me. Other noticable players were amongst others, Quads guy in seat 3 and aforementionted Frisky guy in seat 9. I folded twice and then, UTG I get AK, thank you poker gods! I go allin and I taunt the tired guy in the big blind a little by saying that I will bully hiss Big Blind a little. It is folded back to him and he thinks for a bit, says he has an ace and calls, with A8. Domination for president and I double through. I get a walk in the big blind and can breathe again.

With blinds at 3,000/6,000 Quads guy tried what I thought was another steal from the hijack. Tired guy folded after a little bit of thinking and again I reraised allin immediately with total air. Fold, fold and fold. Quads guy even tells me: "You really go all the way when you have a read, don't you?" I looked at him quasi-non-comprehending but I took it as a big compliment of course.

I tighten up for a bit and by the time I am in the big blind again the blinds have almost reached 5,000/10,000, the highest they will go. Still 8,000 though and a guy in middle position wants to raise and puts in 15,000. Not good enough and so it is only a call. The tired guy completes and I find QQ. I tell the dealer, shall Itry a squeeze? He tells me its probably not a good idea since MP-guy tried to raise. I say, well, I don’t think he’s very strong, and so I follow suit and reraise allin. I wouldn’t have mind a call but I took it down like this and my stack was about 95,000.

By now we were down to six so I held an average stack (600,000 chips in play), and four places paid. (First EUR 700,- Second EUR 400,- Third EUR 250,- Fourth EUR 150,-)

The tired guy put in sizeable raise of 40,000 from the Hijack and I look down at AQ. Again he didn't look very strong to me and so I went with my read and reraised allin. He sighed and moaned about that now he was committed, and was a bit angry with himself, then finally called with AxXx, I believe it wass A8 again. Domination still ruled and all of a sudden I was a big stack!

Soon after number 6 busted at I think the hands of Frisky guy so it was bubble time. The once big stack and even-more-tired-now-guy foretolled us that he would be bubble guy. I was thinking: “I hope so”, because I was really looking forward to a cash. And then I was dealt KK. Don't know which position anymore, all I know is that me and the tired guy got it allin preflop and he showed up with QQ. A king on the flop sealed his fate and we were in the money! I stole a lot after this and gradually built up my stack to almost 300,000 chips, only to give some back to a reraise from Frisky guy, who, so I learned then, had a pretty big stack himself. I told him I thought I was the big stack around and het told me: "Well, you will be if you call and you win" I opted to fold though, and after a while I called an allin from a shortstacked player with AQ. He held 3h4h, which didn't improve.
Quads guy was still in, though, really shortstacked now. I doubled him up once when I called his allin with T4 stating: "I have ten high, I can't fold now" (I read too much Gus Hansen) He had 35,000 left and I was in the big blind so there wasn't that much damage done when his QJ held up. A little while later Frisky guy raised, Quads guy goes all in and I go away with my 3d6d. Frisky guy's 55 hold up against AT and we are heads up!
Frisky guy has 310,000 and is in the big blind, I have 290,000 left. By now its 1:15 am and when he offers to split the price money and be joint winners I readily agree. About EUR 500,- profit for a hard days work, I like it!

Two funny things about the entire tournament:
- I haven’t sucked out in any hand;
- I haven’t been sucked out to in any hand neither.

I assume that is really very rare.

Very happy with the result, hope I can give it a nice follow-up in the nearby future!

2008-06-16T14:09:00.003+02:00

Just like last weekend, this weekend I played some tournaments, amassing enough chips to be chipleader after hour 1 in practically all of them, only to blow everything away in hour 2 or 3. Boy, it aint easy to play solid poker when the kids decide to start wailing anda moaning (and even singing, which is kinda funny) all the time and Mother Bear throws of piercing glances at me because I can't shut up the kids all the time every time. Women, you can't live with them and you can't ~~shoot them~~ live without them…

But of course I am putting the blame on side effects, whereas the real problem is that I am not proficient at playing 'distraction filled poker'. So gotta keep on keeping on and work on my skill level here I guess.

Took a couple of shots at the FT main event 150 seats qualifiers, but no luck here neither. Also bubbled in a tournament there, 112th with 108 being paid; I was getting blinded off and would have made the money but all of a sudden I couldn't bear it any longer and went allin. It's better to burn out than to fade away and I am sticking to it! Hope the next post will deliver something more interesting, hopefully filled with big money finishes and lots of final tables.
In the meantime, following EURO 2008 and the WSOP are splendid leisure pursuits. Have fun and keep winning.

Won a 20-person SnG at Pacific

2008-06-05T23:07:00.010+02:00

To kill some time I fired up a nitro SnG at Pacific, and what do you know, 23 minutes later I won it as well! Twice I have played in them now, second place in the first one, first just now, excellent!

Can't remember to have ever won something so easy as this one.
After a somewhat slow start I won a nice hand and was in 1st place of 14 left, never to relinquish the lead after that.

It helped that I won this coinflip of course:

And while people were dropping like flies all I needed to do was call some guys with high cards:

There wasn't even time to think about a bubble cause it was three handed before I knew it, me still flying high.

And with flops like this its quite easy to reach headsup in a matter of moments...

And with a 3:1 chip advantage I was pleased to see the money go in preflop with these holdings, especially once the board ran out like this:

And there it is, $ 200,- for 23 minutes work, wish it was that easy all the time!
Now next time I am hoping to report a big field mtt final table, let's see what the weekend brings.

Damn, but still a nice score

2008-05-31T22:41:00.003+02:00

I knew it when I saw the flop, the Pokerstars RNG couldn't let this opportunity go by.

In the money and OOOOH so close to first tournament win

2008-05-28T20:36:00.004+02:00

Nothing special here but the first time I finished in the money after a long cold spell.

The most interesting was to be the following story, in which I came sooo close to winning my first MTT with 100+ contenders, full of screenshots and stuff. But alas, I see now that I forgot to start my screenshot application so I have been pushing my hot key in vain...

A short recap then of the setting and the final hand: I played a nitro tournament at Pacific, 154 players joined in. After a slow start I tripled up after my A7 held up unimproved allin preflop and being called by no less than 2 KQ's(!)

After some nice cards that held up for a change I was in first place with 30 left, first when the bubble burst with 20 left, first when going to the final table and then, with four left, the hand of hands took place:

Two short stacks were in the blinds and because of that all in at the same time, the other big stack raised and I held AQ and decided to smooth call.

Flop Q55
Villain raises, I call
Turn 5
Villain raises, I go allin and he calls with 66 leaving me with 3000 behind, out of an total amount of chips of 154.000.

So, with only one card to come I am a 96% sure winner of this tournament!!!...

River:....
6

Second of 90

2008-05-08T23:19:00.003+02:00

Tonight I got second place in a 90 players 24+2 KO SnG at FullTilt.

29th of 33 in the break, but I managed to chip up nicely and was second in chips when reaching the final table. Everything went pretty well here, all the way up to the headsup play, where I over-excitedly reraised allin with A4 into AQ with +-9BB behind. Probably not very smart..., in fact I am pretty sure of that now!

Oh well, sometimes it pays to get in second and at least it makes for a good confidence builder after two third place finishes in the same SnG in the past.

One step up the ladder, one step still to go.

Week 16

2008-04-22T14:56:00.002+02:00

This is what happens when you forget you were blogging in English instead of Dutch and hence copy / paste your entire post into the google translation application and post the end result:
Aiiiii, I sit down again tilt!

It also just lost with bad luck and perhaps I also have a bit of a downswing, who will say.
Well, if you allins bets preflop goes callen with AJ you can surely tilt talk about I think.

My bankroll is approximately halved again by these unforeseen circumstances, return to a small $ 800 - and also back to the $ 0.25 / $ 0.50 level.
From the weekend I ha a weekendtrip and until that time I play no more, I put myself as a speelverbod on because otherwise it is not good, I fear.

What are goochelen with HoldemManager, I have the program already twice gekieperd overboard but I would still have a chance, I am en Sure that it is for me is that I can not agree to go: for the HoldemManager users the following questions:

1. How can I set some stats hud overlay a color, for example in tight red and always greener at increasingly VPIP%?
2. How can I change the background of the hud overlay stats, which are now a little transparent and for the rest a dark grey color, fully transparent?
3. How can I change the font size of the overlay hud stats modify / reduce?

If things go succeed me who I am completely happy with HoldemManager I think. Until that time. If you can help me, I like to hear.

Furthermore read at various blogs that Brandi Hawbaker themselves from side has made, but sin!
Her blog was a few years ago one of the first that I was reading and it is still zund to see that such a mèske there nie so well off.
Ramptoerist if I am I therefore know how to make things has addressed, but I can not find. It's like a poker-wise this strategy is presented on a poker forum without the results of the hand. I want to know if that suckout took place, whether a bet was gecalled, when I hear a story, I also know the interesting details.

The Bluff Europe in April bought finest story yet that the hickup at Betfair. A piece of 20 people were discovered that if you first-hand all went allin, 1 person was given the first prize and the others all the prize money for second place were paid. That they did so very quickly then you go and for increasing amounts. It is true, therefore, aggressiveness is the key to winning in this spelletetje. When she wakes up after a few hours were in Betfair was an amount between 1 and 4 million euro / pound weggesluisd already, so goes the story. The players are ge-emailed, and some had repented while others right "legal aid" enabled "in order to protect their winnings.

Week 14 + 15

2008-04-17T09:56:00.001+02:00

After a strenuous but nice enough holiday its back to the virtual felt for me.
Since the rakeback had been deposited in my account when I got back, my bankroll topped the required level for trying the 0,50/1 NL tables and consequently I ventured into these playing fields.
After about 1500 hands I am just above breakeven, but with a huge swing in there, dropping 4 buyins in about 100 hands and fighting back ever since. The main difference with the 0,25/0,50 NL level seems to be that there's much more 3-betting here. Beside that, adversaries don't seem to fold to a c-bet on the flop as much.

On other news I can tell you guys that I have applied to the position mentioned earlier at BWIN, no replies this far though. I also finally succeeded in getting a subscription to BLUFF Europe.

Oh, and before I forget, just before I went on holiday I played live again and went home a smal winner. The hand that knocked me out of the tournament, shortly after the rebuy period, in which I luckily didn't have to rebuy for a change, is worth mentioning though. Both on relatively big stacks, about 12000, more then 2 times average. Blinds 150/300`. I was holding 9d9c on the cutoff, raise and one caller.

flop comes 3h4c9h.
Check and I check behind.

Turn Qs
Check, I raise 2000, call, and I put him on a small Q or possible flush draw.

River 4h

He raises 5000, I push of course, he turns over…

4s4d…

That doesn't even happen to me on the Internet!

Week 13

2008-04-01T21:29:00.006+02:00

Good times at the poker tables in the past week. I have been 6-tabling on my 15,4 inch laptop and I am doing just fine, who needs a 24'' screen after all.

BR at about $ 1200,- now, almost ready to move up to the 0,5/1 NL tables, 6 max of course. (I will start to take shots when I reach $ 1500,-, stay there if all goes well and retreat at $ 1250,-)

The absolute winner in terms of most enjoyable hands during March (19,031 contenders) has to be this one; check it out for yourselves (allin preflop of course):

And this is how my graph looks like:

Possibly the last Pokergrapher graph as I have downloaded HoldemManager and I will this one a try, mainly because at the moment I have no 3bet reads on my adversaries.
2500 hands to try it out seems allright so lets see what gives.

Despite repeated efforts to get a subscription to BLUFF Europe magazine, I am getting no response whatsoever from their sales department or salesd application, so I wonder if the subscription plan will come to full fruitition...

I have been reading Sklansky and Miller's Theory on No Limit Hold'em, its nice enough but I still feels that their analysis in Limit is much more useful than in No Limit. Also re-read Chris Moneymaker's 2003 WSOP Champ story. Say what you will but man, it's a great story and really well written too if you ask me.

Week 12 1/2

2008-03-27T14:40:00.002+01:00

I am getting kinda excited when I see big lcd screens lately and I have been checking out several 22'' and 24'' inch screens at eBay and other places. It might be nice to increase my multitabling standards by a few tables and lift the number of tables from 4 to say 9, which I believe would be attainable for me, if only I had the screen to back up my ambitions. To be continued I hope.

I have got some free time on my hands to do some research on the big lcd monitor subject since I have been trying to reduce my amount of play. I had been kind a promising as much back home already, yet I haven't had much success with the cutting back part so far: my addiction-prone nature was getting the better of me way too often. Anyway, I (AGAIN!) intend to diminish my rate of play (the intention initiates from some serious comments and critique from 'the other half', of course, and right she is), so from here on I will only play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
It truly feels like a deep and saddening loss that I can't play on the other days, so it definitely is about time that I slowed down for a bit.

Back at work my thoughts have been wandering off to the possibility of giving up the current job and finding something I actually like doing. Not like or enjoy work as I do it now, (as currently at times it isn't all that bad) but something I really really really, wholeheartedly and truly like.

So after reading this Bruce Lee quote at Dr. Pauly's blog I have physically started looking for appealing job openings:

"Most people only live for their image. That is why where some have a self, a starting point, most people have a void. Because they are so busy projecting themselves as "this" or "that," they end up wasting and dissipating all their energy in projection and conjuring up the facade, rather than centering their energy and expanding and broadening their potential or expressing and relaying this unified energy for efficient communication. When another human being sees a self-actualizing person walk past, he cannot help but say: "Hey now, there is someone real!"

I googled for alternative job opportunities within the field of online gaming, since that seems to be one of the few environments that I think I would actually really like to make a living in. Did google for opportunities in the past, but always to no avail. This time however, an interesting position did pop up: Country Marketing Manager Netherlands at BWIN, the self-proclaimed largest online gaming site in Europe. Sounds like a fascinating job! I guess I fit the profile they are looking for so I might follow it up, write a cover letter, send it to them and see what happens. If something does happen I'll let you know.

Week 12

2008-03-25T14:03:00.002+01:00

After one week at Pacific I have already had it with that site: the fact that I can't play more than two tables on my laptop (because resizing isnt an option) really pisses me off, to an extent that tilting becomes easy.
Hence I have withdrawn my deposit from that site and stashed it in the warming glow of my credit card account.

Over at FT the playing is much easier for the eye and consequently that's where I'm at again. As some of you may know, I am the first to admit that my biggest problem in playing poker is not my overall skill rate (which, I believe, is extremely good) but my tendency to tilt in ways unfitting to a man as well educated, distinguished and in a word - coool - as I am. Cough. BUT... I think I have singled out a very important reason for me to tilt. Of course it is brought on by something at the virtual felt, but the way I react to f.e. a 'bad beat', a lot of times is with the appropriate feeling of grace and arrogance, and I can smile it off VERY EASILY. What then, makes for these rare, but incredibly expensive, moments of tilt in which I blow off carefully acquired funds like it's going out of style. Me thinks it is this: I dress too hot or that I am in a room which is simply to hot for poker comfort. That's it, plain and simple.

And it is not so easy to cure as it might seem. I will try of course, but that's not really the issue here: what I am saying is that it is easy to feel that you're cold and think: "ok, let's but on this sweater or turn up the heat: ahhhhhm MUCH BETTER!" But I find it way more difficult to notice that I am too hot for comfort and consequently take off the warm sweater. Usually this realisation only comes AFTER I have been steaming a significant part of my roll away. You guys ever noticed something like this or is tilting simply not in your repertoire? I am probably raving over something crazy but I 'll try to make sure I am not too hot when playing in the coming weeks.

Also picked up a copy of BLUFF magazine at the local bookstore, which made for some interesting reading material during those hours at which work seems particularly boring and futile. I found a link here to a blog I remember reading about a year ago, and 88percent is still at it! At first I did not believe this guy to be for real, but apparently he is, pretty sick: Check it out at www.88percent.blogspot.com, see link to the right.

Up & down this week, sadly with a downswing in the weekend. The downswing being entirely my own fault, trying to get people of hands with big bluffs is not the way to build a bankroll...it wasn't even the heat doing it to me, just the fatigue alone was more than enough this time.

Last friday I again visited Tilburg, but nothing eventful happened over there for me, a fast exit from the tournament and a slow exit from the cash game leaving me at quite a loss.
Bankroll is about $700,- at the moment, but the extra cash I lost over at the live tournament makes for a losing week. Hopefully I can recover next week.

Week 11

2008-03-18T23:02:00.003+01:00

During week 11 I saw a lot of poker-related business flying by.
First of all there was an invitation by a collegue of mine to join a 'private' (read: non-casino) game come friday evening, which I happily accepted.

More on this matter later on. Then I openend up an account at Pacific, mainly because of rumours that the money was easily attained at this site, since online casino players would stagger off to the virtual felt and make all kind of stupid decisions. I have seen some wild play on the NL $12c/25c tables, though nothing too outrageous, but still it makes for a nice change from my usual 'hunting grounds', this of course being the FullTilt gaming area. Won about $ 100,- at Pacific last week.

Over at FT I have been playing at the 6 max 10c/25c NL tables as well, four-tabling is just about the maximum I can handle at my 15.4 inch laptop. Slight profits over there last week, but not much play overall. As you can see, I have more or less quit playing limit since at 6 max I can't seem to get any traction going.Oh well, NL is sexier anyhow, or so evrybody everywhere anytime sort of keeps telling me. Lets be proficient at that then.

Also fabricated a fancy Excel-worksheet to keep track of my tiny, yet dispersed, bankroll, and to monitor how I have been doing on a weekly basis. My bankroll totals about $ 635 at the moment, so let's see what we can do with that in the weeks and months to come.

And then last friday. In a very nice & professionally equiped setting at the heart of Tilburg, about 50 contenders showed up for a € 20+10 Rebuy tournament.

Five places paid and although I fought valiantly, I busted in 7th and went home emptyhanded, minus 6 or 7 rebuys. I busted when my allin (M=5,5) was called by the big blind (m=8?) with pocket deuces!
Hard to believe but true. The river gave him an (unnessecary) set. What do you think, should I suspect foul play in this matter?
My collegue had a better time, busting early on from the tournament but winning a handsome amount in the sidegame.

All in all I broke even in week 11, losing in the B&M-game what I won online.
Good luck to you out there playing poker, let's see what week 12 will bring.

Oh, and yes, I have changed to writing in English and I really don't know why exactly, but I'll give it a go anyhow.

2008-03-01T16:04:00.006+01:00

Na weer eens flink te hebben getilt heb ik nu het idee de winnende lijn in 6max limit weer gevonden te hebben.

De mooiste hand van afgelopen avond, met een pot van $ 107,-, toch redelijk groot op een 2-4 tafel, was ongetwijfeld deze:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2193380

Gisteren 75 BB gewonnen over 500 handjes. Vandaag weer eens verder kijken. Naarmate de resultaten beter worden, geldt dit ook voor de posts hoop ik.

Weer eens eventjes terug

2008-02-21T20:46:00.002+01:00

Ok, weer eens een berichtje vanuit hier.
Tijd om e.e.a. weer eens op te pakken.

Na vanwege redelijke verliezen in 2007, laten we zeggen $1000,-, mezelf voorgenomen als 'goed voornemen' om in 2008 gewoon geen enkel potje meer te spelen. Enkele andere voornemens neem ik me nog altijd braaf ter harte maar dit voornemen is na een week of drie toch echt overboord gegaan, ik vind het gewoon te leuk om te laten.

Plan de campagne werd toen om wat $26,- tokens te vergaren op FullTilt dmv de $8,70satellietjes en zogezegd zogedaan. Ook onderdeel van het plan was en is om ze vervolgens te besteden aan de 90 deelnemers knockout bounty sitngo's en ook zo geschiedt inmiddels, met redelijk succes. Echt een aanrader die SnG's , gewoon kicken als je een bounty'tje opstrijkt, ook al gaat het dan slechts om $4,-.

Inmiddels al een keer of tien meegedaan, 2 keer derde van de 90 dus dat gaat lang niet slecht. Gisteren helaas gebubbled, nourishing the short stack maar op het einde toch nog glorieus eruit, gelukkig wel een goed gevoel aan over gehouden en daar doen we het toch allemaal voor hè, goed gespeeld telt ook voor something. Succes allen & Ill keep you posted.

Nog even een leuke (voor mij) hand van zoeven, ouch, allin on the flop.

Qualified part III

2007-11-27T22:29:00.000+01:00

Afgelopen zondag eruit op plek 545. Ik had een average stack (15000), table chip leader is flink aan het stampen, links van me. Ik krijg AA, verhoog 3x naar 1800, hij raised naar 6000 met zijn vrouwen, alore all in, Q op de vvvvflop en gg me zoals ze zeggen...

Qualified..Again!

2007-11-21T23:03:00.000+01:00

Nog maar es geprobeerd die qualifier, eerst met Hellkat het inkoopbedrag van $ 23,- verdienen en dan speulen maor.

Eergisteren ook gedaan, er al snel uit met een horrible call, gisteren ook weg, 38e van de 100, na een domme blind steal attempt diei fout afliep.

Vandaag, alles ok, de handen waarop ik dubbelde waren tegen people die met second pair all in gingen tegen sets en ongelukkige raises tegen mijn azen en meer van die fratsen. In totaal drie keer AA gehad, de laatste keer bustte ik ermee maar dat was gelukkig aan de finaletafel!

Bij 20.000 punten alles uitgezeten, dit blijkt toch geen altijd winnende strategie te zijn want ik werd toch 'ingeblind' met nog een of twee man voor de prijzen.

Geluk was met mij gelukkig en zie daar, $ 215,- erbij.

Qualified!

2007-11-18T15:36:00.000+01:00

Tja, alweer een tijdje geleden!
Weer veel gebeurd in de tussentijd, een keer of wat busto gegaan en de laatste tijd weer wat toernooien aan het spelen. Waar ik vroeger toch wel 15% van de keren in the money raakte ben ik bezig met een huge losing streak, echt al een keer of twintig achter elkaar niet in the money gefinished.

Vandaar dat ik gisterenavond zeer verheugd was met mijn resultaat in de qualifier voor de 300.000 Guaranteed op party, plaatsing is een feit. Vanavond echter geen tijd dus ik spaar ém even op voor een volgende zondag.

Verder veel Hellkat sng's aan het spelen op party, leuke spelvorm en ik finish er echt heel vaak in the money.

Poker: Neah ; Sportsbetting: Yeah

2007-10-04T10:05:00.000+02:00

tja, als je op Betfair zit is de verleiding wel heel groot om naast het pokeren af en toe een gokje op de voetbaltoto te wagen.

Eerst even qua spelersniveau op Betfair: op zaterdagavond is het een zegen van clueless-zijnde donateurs, maar doordeweeks zitten er veel regulars die ook niet allemaal goed zijn (met name ontzettend veel gelimp op de Limit 6max tafels tot 5/10 aan toe) maar dan moet het ook een beetje mee zitten en dat heeft het nog niet echt gedaan de laatste tijd.

Gisteren ongeveer $ 50,- op Liverpool-Marseille gezet, Marseille to win, wat me na de 0-1 natuurlijk geen windeieren heeft gelegd. (quote was iets van 1 to 14)
Voor vanavond ga ik de volgende zaken 'sponsoren':

- AZ gaat minstens 4 keer scoren (of Pacos, dat mag in principe ook), any unquoted uitslag heb ik op gebet. Quote van gemiddeld 1 tot 4.1 voor iets meer dan $100,- en $500,- winst ALS HET UITKOMT NATUURLIJK...

- ook nog $ 8,56 op Ajax-Zagreb voor de 0-0 uitslag en 1 tot 19 quote.

- en verder nog een echte longshot bet van 1 op 15 dat Grunn gaat winnen bij Fiorentina, voor $ 17,50.

Flinke bedragen natuurlijk. 'Knoweth Thy Self", dit kan wel eens een flinke leak gaan worden en daarom ga ik van Betfair geen gewoonte maken en heb ik mijn overige BR bij Betfair uitgecashed en dat gaat vermoedelijk terug naar FullTilt; daar speel ik veel lekkerder en geconcentreerder en het is beter vissen daar volgens mij. Ook nog even Everest geprobeerd maar ik krijg mijn hand history niet ingelezen in Pokertracker, ook niet na installatie van de patch (2.1700f), dus dan houdt het op.

OK, Go AZ en later meer.

edit: no dice helaas...blijft toch lastig dat voorspellen...
Better luck next time.

Bonus gecleared, alles uit FullTilt gehaald

2007-09-24T08:45:00.000+02:00

Nou, ik kan je vertellen dat de swings in 5/10 6max groot kunnen zijn!

Op zaterdag 1001 dollar gewonnen, zondag helaas weer 700 ingeleverd. Inmiddels de $ 600,- bonus van FullTilt gecleared, komen we uit op de som van 1222 dollar, oftewel $ 622,- winst voor 2 maanden grinden, $22,- netto...

Alles uitgecashed naar mijn Moneybookers account, eens zien wat we ermee gaan doen. Eerst even niks want ik heb er even genoeg van zogezegd. Ik hoop nog steeds een keer op een big cash uit een van de Sunday Majors, dus wellicht dat ik weer eens mee moet gaan doen aldaar.

BR:

Moneybookers: $ 1222,-

____________________

Live toernooi gespeeld, tweede!

2007-09-23T00:15:00.000+02:00

Ok, ok, er deden slechts 18 mensen mee maar toch, zeer blij met het resultaat.

Het toernooi werd door iemand bij mij op het werk georganiseerd en er deden enkel collega's aan mee. We werden verdeeld over drie tafels van zes, ieder 1660 chips als starting stack en blinds van 10/20 die om de 10, 15 minuten verdubbelden, dus de vaart zat er goed in. Al snel viel bij ons aan tafel het eerste slachtoffer te bespeuren, AA vs QQ no good. Er deden wat beginners mee, dus het bluffen en lezen van mensen was nou niet heel erg moeilijk te noemen. Met wat bluffen en zonder goede kaarten naar de 2500 chips geklommen toen we aan de finale tafel kwamen. Aangezien de blinds zo snel verdubbelden (Om 10 uur ging het licht uit dus we moesten wel) was een op de twee handen wel iemand all in. Er was een dame aan tafel die voor de eerste keer speelde en ook heel veel allins callde: als ware zij een zwart gat werden vervolgens alle chips naar haar stack toegezogen. Met nog vier man te gaan (eerste drie kregen een prijsje) was het mijn beurt om all in te gaan met A9: en prompt loop ik tegen AA aan... Board: T7826 YES! Ik had weer even lucht. Ook nog de chipleadster allin gecheckraised met J2 op een 3TJ board, ze callde en weer wat chips erbij.
Voor ik het wist zat ik heads up met haar en met nog twee dubbels zat ik bijna op gelijke hoogte met haar: inmiddels was het de hoogste tijd om af te ronden en dus ging ik met K9 maar meteen weer allin, haar A9 bleef echter staan en zo was ik toch tweede. In ieder geval vóór een aantal andere collega's waarmee ik wel eens naar het casino ga, dus ik was toch zeer tevreden. Was ik ook geweest als ik minder hoog was geëindigd trouwens want het was erg gezellig. Aan de 2e plaats ook nog een leuke pokerset overgehouden als prijs dus ik ben weer helemaal blij.

Tot zover even, BR update hieronder, ik kan al vast zeggen dat ik mezelf schaam omdat ik met NIET aan mijn discipline-voornemen heb gehouden, dat ik zo laag als $106,- heb gestaan en dat het iets met 5/10 6max te maken heeft: dat blijkt gelukkig een goudmijn tot nu toe, Omaha is een ander verhaal...

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1588,- + 2 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 153,22

____________________

$ 2 / 4 (6 max) RULES! (So far...)

2007-09-15T23:17:00.000+02:00

Check out hoe ik run in mijn laatste 4 sessies:

Ook wat Omaha geprobeerd, loopt ook lekker. Verder geen FR Limit gedaan omdat ik daar even niet HET GEDULD voor heb kunnen vinden. Nu ga ik even 'quit-ten' while I'm ahead.

Verder heb ik de Poker Tracker Guide gekocht, en die is gearriveerd. Heb ik volgende week weer wat te analyseren.

Ook nog aan twee toernooien meegedaan: twee keer redelijk ver maar niet in the money, ook weinig schokkends over te vertellen.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1275,- + 2 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 207,22

____________________

Grote verliespartij en terug omhoog klimmen

2007-09-14T13:22:00.000+02:00

Woensdagavond onder het "genot" van Albanië-Nederland toch wat gepokerd. Het ging zeer slecht en ik verloor op de avond $ 200,- Dat is niet alleen maar pech, ik denk, achteraf gezien dat ik was vergeten dat ik met 'marginal cards' niet moet blijven callen tot aan de river...

Anyway, a little bit pissed off natuurlijk.

Gisteren gelukkig weer wat terug gewonnen en na een korte sessie zojuist is het verlies al weer voor een groot gedeelte weggewerkt. Woensdagavond wel weer een token gewonnen dus dat zijn er weer vier nu. Vanavond wellicht nog eens een toernooitje proberen.

Gisterenavond mijn meest lucratieve pot ooit gespeeld op de $ 2/4 limiet trouwens. Het had nog lucratiever kunnen zijn als ik had gezien dat ik een straight flush maakte op de river...

Anyway, doordat ik dat niet zag (multitabling hè) was ik des te blijer met de pot natuurlijk want ik dacht 'for sure' dat ik beat was.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1480347

Verder nog met list en bedrog geprobeerd om mijn username op Pokerstars in DeRustZelve veranderd te krijgen maar geen succes. Daar ga ik dan gewoon niet meer spelen, prima. E.e.a geprobeerd omdat ik nog even het limit-book van stoxtrader bij elkaar wil spelen voor mijn FPP's. En wellicht ook nog het NL Holdem' boek van Sklansky en Miller. Nou, wellicht dat ik nog wel ga doen ook.

Overigens $ 204,95 uitgecashed om mee op andere sites te gaan spelen van FT, en voor wie het interesseert, de Bonus van FT wordt daarmee niet in gevaar gebracht.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1035,- + 4 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 207,22

____________________

Moeilijke sessie

2007-09-12T10:42:00.001+02:00

Oef, dat startte ongekend matig gisteren.
Ik speelde mijn gewone spel maar tegen verlies na verlies kan mijn curve niet op: zie alhier hoe de eerste kleine 100 handjes verliepen: geen een potje gewonnen met spel na de flop en een stuk of 11, 12 verloren!

Positief is dat dit mijn spel niet negatief beïnvloedde, zoals dat in het verleden wel het geval was. Ik zit met veel vertrouwen te spelen en besloot deze tafels even te sluiten, even pauze en eens zien of er andere, meer potentieel bevattende tafels te vinden waren. (deze hadden een vpip% van 23%, zo zag ik toen ik ze afsloot...)

Ik had mezelf al voor aanvang van de maand voorgenomen om met name op de $ 1/2 limiet te gaan spelen en af en toe ook de $ 2 / 4 limiet te gaan aandoen. Daar ik me cool genoeg voelde en TILT voor mijn gevoel niet op de loer lag of reeds was toegeslagen ben ik daar maar eens gaan kijken. Hier ging het gelukkig beter en zodoende wist ik de gegraven BB-kuil weer redelijk te dichten.

Aangezien de overstap iets voor het diepste BB-punt werd gemaakt en de upswing op de hogere limiet lag betekent e.e.a. ook goed nieuws voor de BR, altijd meegenomen.

Waar ik voor mijn vakantie $1300,- nog als een hoog bedrag zag en deze weelde niet leek aan te kunnen gezien de daaropvolgende sterke terugval ben ik momenteel ‘totally at ease’ met mijn BR en is het opwaartse potentieel niet langer geremd door mijn verwachtingspatronen: ‘Up, up and away baby!’ Yes, I like Scotty Nyugen.

Vandaag waarschijnlijk geen poker daar ik thuis teveel van pokerverslaving wordt beticht de laatste tijd... valt best mee vind ik! “Kapitaalopbouw voor later” vind ik een stuk beter klinken.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1301,- + 3 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Holiday is over en september so far

2007-09-10T11:10:00.000+02:00

Daar gaan we weer. Fijne vakantie gehad, goed uitgerust, alle tilt uit m’n lijf, Sklansky’s en Malmuth’s “Holdem’ for Advanced Players” tot in den treure bestudeerd dus weer ready to go.
Discipline wordt het ‘keyword’ in september! Houdt je aan je starting hands, speel gedurfd en agressief en dan eens zien waar we uitkomen.

Vrijdag nog wat last van after-Italië ongemakken en een bekend voorkomende lichte hoofdpijn. Geleerd hebbende van voorgaande ervaringen ben ik, in plaats van toch plaats te nemen achter het scherm, gewoon vroeg gaan slapen! How’s that for positive expected value! Nog immer zeer tevreden met mezelf over dat besluit, ik denk dat het me zeker $ 50,- heeft bespaard, om nog maar niet te spreken van het gretig houden van mezelf en de winst die daaruit voortkomt in latere sessies.

Anyway, zaterdag voelde ik me een stuk beter en ’s avonds kon de show dan toch echt aanvangen. Er toch twee weken uitgeweest zijnde voelde e.e.a. toch wat onwennig en ik had eigenlijk ook geen zin om meteen weer te gaan grinden op de Limit tafels. Eureka, daar heb ik mijn tokens voor bij elkaar gesprokkeld en dus maar weer eens deelgenomen aan een toernooitje. Dik twee uur volgehouden, high point iets van 14.000 halverwege het tweede uur, gevolgd door een steady decline. In het begin van uur drie was mijn M nog iets van 7 en mijn Motivatie na het zien van de big stacks nog een stuk lager, dus tijd om eens lekker te gaan coinflippen. Dat ging niet lang goed en als 215e eruit (955 entrants, 90 places paid). Even later kon ik dus toch een paar limit $ 1 / 2 tafels opstarten. Geen nood en geen probleem, het doel was bereikt, het ijs was namelijk gebroken.

In den beginne een klein beetje down maar al snel begon de echte klasse weer boven te drijven (tuurlijk...) en begonnen de resultaten te verbeteren. Gisteren ook nog wat Holdem’ gespeeld en inmiddels sta ik al weer een 60 ptbb’s in de plus voor september voor een winrate van bijna 10 bb/100. Gaat weer lekker dus!

Tezamen met $ 75,- rakeback en nog een bonusje resulteert een en ander in de onderstaande bankroll.

Nog wel even de hand waar ik het meest van baalde afgelopen weekend.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1465154

Dit omdat ik gewoon wist dat de kans dat ie me aan het slowplayen was wel heel erg groot was: er waren weinig andere ongevaarlijk handjes waarmee ie me op de flop en turn zou callen vond ik en daarom had ik gewoon moeten checken en ik wist het ook. Toch geraised en dat was geen valuebet meer, dat was gewoon niet zo slim en daar leren we hopelijk weer van dan.

Volgende keer meer, good luck.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1165,- + 3 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Maandafsluiting Augustus

2007-08-25T13:51:00.000+02:00

Overall toch niet slecht al gaat het op het einde wat minder, de tiltfactor blijft een probleem...

Zo ziet e.e.a. eruit in Pokertracker, e.e.a. is exclusief zoveel Omaha-handjes en andere verliespartijen maar goed, het zij zo.

Qua gestelde doelen heb ik niet al te veel bereikt, maar achteraf ben ik toch niet ontevreden.

In grafiekvorm:

Volgende maand wordt het doel om met $ 1/2 te beginnen, evt. $ 2/ 4 erbij te spelen en gedisciplineerd te gaan spelen, op naar de $ 2000,-.

En een keer of meerdere keren spelen en cashen in een toernooitje.

Nu op vakantie, pokerliteratuurstudieboeken gaan mee dus ik hoop weer 'a wiser man' terug te komen.

Arrivederci!

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 950,- + 4 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

I succeeded!

2007-08-25T00:05:00.000+02:00

Jawel, het heeft even geduurd maar het is toch gelukt om mijn BR flink de vernieling in te helpen bij het scheiden van de markt hoor.

Wel een extra token erbij, hiep hiep hoera.

F*** that shit en ik denk/hoop dat ik de 7e september wel weer uitgetilt ben.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1000,- + 4 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Donderdag update: + 1 token en 1300$ reeds!

2007-08-23T23:08:00.000+02:00

O o o, wanneer gaat het nu eens fout? Ik blijf maar winnen de laatste dagen!

Vandaag ging het weer niet vanzelf maar toch weer 9 ptbb/100 gescoord over 250 handjes dus dat tikt lekker aan. Ik speel zeer gecontroleerd al zeg ik het zelf en heb het geluk dat ik in dit soort handjes (grootste pot van vandaag) niet tegen AA aan zit te kijken i.p.v. AK. Uit angst voor TT, KK, AA speel ik hem trouwens ook redelijk passief en daar is volgens mij niks mis mee, zeker niet zolang de resultaten goed blijven.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1403173

Verder ook weer een token verdiend: gisteren een poging gedaan die nog mislukte. Vandaag supergoed satellitespel laten zien, zo vind ik zelf dan toch. Ik had met nog zes man te gaan de, op die van mijn rechterbuurman na, kleinste stack. Drie handjes van de big blind af krijg ik JJ, gefold, volgende hand gaat buurman allin en wordt netjes afgechecked door drie anderen (Hij had AK, net zoals twee anderen, nummer vier had 24o en wint met een paartje tweeën, lol!) Straightforward wellicht maar met een geverfd pocketpaartje is de 'urge' om alles erin te knallen toch wel altijd aanwezig.

Zaterdag ga ik op vakantie dus ik kan al bijna aan de maandafsluiting beginnen: gezien de opgaande BR van de laatste dagen ben ik over het algemeen zeer tevreden over de gestelde doelen en de uitwerking daarvan. Doelstellingen voor september worden in Italië verder geformuleerd!

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1300,- + 3 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Weary feeling & grootste winnings uit 1 pot tot nu toe..

2007-08-23T11:08:00.000+02:00

Gisteren natuurlijk weer gespeeld ondanks dat ik zo'n slecht voorgevoel had.. wellicht ken je het: dan heb je de dag van te voren flink gewonnen en bereikt je BR een niveau waarvan je dacht dat je er nog niet aan toe was. En onbewust gaat er dan iets fout waardoor je heel je BR in de vernieling helpt... zo'n voorgevoel had ik gisteren dus, ik voelde me gewoon niet lekker in mijn pokervel zitten. Maar toch spelen natuurlijk, eens zien of ik ondanks deze slechte omens toch mijn mannetje kan staan.

'S middags wat vroeger thuis, ik wéét weer dat ik het eigenlijk niet moet doen maar toch snel even FT opgestart op de PC zonder Pokertracker of iets dergelijks en daar notabene $ 1/ 2 en $ 2 / 4 (6 max) gaan spelen. Bad idea, al ging het pas echt fout in de laatste twee handjes waarin ik tegen respectievelijk KK en AA aanloop van dezelfde speler: - $ 50,- en een rotgevoel is wat ik eraan over hield.

'The weary feeling' ebde niet echt weg 's avonds maar goed, toch maar even zitten dan hè: je bent een pokerspeler of je bent het niet. Drie uur zitten 'grinden' en wonder boven wonder mijn BR niet in de vernieling geholpen maar met gedisciplineerd spel zelfs nog wat uitgebreid. Kijk, daar houd ik dus van!

Deze pot hielp ook wel:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1401363

En verder was het de hele avond wel een struggle, maar met zo'n eindspurt sluit je dan toch wel weer heel lekker af: Mijn stats liggen rond de 19/7/1,4 en dan is het goed om te zien dat ik in de laatste ronden 4x achtereen premium handjes kreeg, all out raisde en ook 4 keer won. So far zeer tevreden aldus.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1213,- + 2 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Mooie winrate zo

2007-08-21T22:17:00.000+02:00

Vandaag twee sitngo'tjes voor extra tokens gespeeld (ik ben eraan verslingerd geraakt ja): helaas geen successen geboekt: de eerste gewoon verloren en de tweede gebubbled: ik stond geheel veilig 2e in chips, krijg KK, de chipleader gaat allin met JJ, ik wéét dat ik gewoon moet folden om de token op te strijken, maar dat kon ik toch echt niet over mijn hart verkrijgen. River Jack komt weer even langs en IGHN.

Ook nog wat $ 2 / 4 gespeeld, iets meer als 100 handjes voor weer een enorme winrate.
Ik ga niet zitten wachten op de downswing maar geniet er gewoon nog maar even van.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1105,- + 2 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Ooit een mooiere eerste hand gezien?!!

2007-08-20T19:50:00.000+02:00

Zonder dollen, echt de allereerste hand van de avond vandaag:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1391273

Daarna wat gespeeld op $ 1/ 2 6 max om te checken of Pokertracker update werkte (dank voor de tip dat ie weer gemaakt was Panic). Pokertracker werkt weer als de beste, ik vind Gametime+ na twee weken proberen echter voort makkelijker in gebruik. Echt waar! Ongelofelijk maar waar, ik sta er zelf van te kijken. Wie had dat gedacht in het begin, toen vond ik het echt niks.
Met name het laten oplichten in een andere kleur (bij mij oranjerood) van stats van players die teveel handjes spelen vind ik zeer nuttig. Het blijft alleen lastig dat ik elke keer de stats naar de juiste mensen moet slepen, deze zet Gametime (bij mij) nooit of zelden op de juiste plek neer.
(Ligt dat aan mij, vraagteken. Tips meer dan welkom!)

Anyway, op deze limiet al snel $ 50,- in de min...

Ik had gisteren en eergisteren geprobeerd om eens een klein 2-tafel sitngo'tje te spelen voor het verkrijgen van een $ 26,- token. $8,- + 0.70 entry fee en de eerste vijf krijgen een token. Gisteren en eergisteren twee keer elfde geworden maar vandaag was het prijs, twee keer geprobeerd en twee keer een token. Nice!

Daarna nog even heel tight en heel geconcentreerd gespeeld op $ 2 / 4 en uiteindelijk mijn eerdere verliezen goed gemaakt. That's all for now folks.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1009,- + 2 $ 26,- tokens.

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Roerig weekendje 'part deux' en 1000 plus!!!!

2007-08-19T22:07:00.000+02:00

De $ 1000,- is bereikt! Zoals jullie me kennen, (ik ben toch immers derustzelve?) heb ik lekker voorzichtig, omslachtig en berekenend doorge'grind' op de $ 50 / 1 limieten en ben ik rustig en in een rechte lijn naar de $ 1000,- gekabbeld.

YEAH RIGHT!

Ik bedoel natuurlijk: door diepe dalen van tilt ben ik gegaan om uiteindelijk op deze piek uit te komen maar daar heeft het lang niet naar uitgezien!

Vrijdag ging het allemaal dus wel lekker op de $ 50 / 1 tafels, niks aan de hand en ik was vol vertrouwen dat ik dat in het weekend verder zou kunnen uitbouwen. Maar dan zaterdag...Zwarte zaterdag zogezegd.
Ik slaagde er maar niet in om ergens te komen en van lieverlee ging ik ook steeds losser en slechter spelen. Toen tiltniveau 1 weer eens werd bereikt door gegaan naar Omaha en hiermee ook weer meer verloren.. op een gegeven moment stond ik nog op iets van $ 640,- , uiteindelijk de avond afgesloten op $ 695,- Jawel lieve kijkbuiskinderen, u begrijpt, ik was er goed ziek van en ging niet lekker slapen!

Zondagochtend de FullTilt-server maar weer eens opgestart en voor mezelf geconcludeerd dat het gegeven dat ik slechter ging spelen er ook mee te maken zou kunnen hebben dat ik op de $ 50/ 1 tafels de bedragen toch wat aan de lage kant vind en daarom te snel te los ga spelen. Op hoop van zegen dus maar eens doorgeschoven in de limieten en uitgekomen op de $ 2/4 tafels. Natuurlijk was ik bang dat ik hier direct gekilled zou worden maar gelukkig bleek die vrees volstrekt ongegrond: op zondagmorgen komen in America de 'drunks' thuis om te pokeren zo leek het wel en ook zonder de 'occasional maniac' kon ik het niveau en de in $$$ grotere swings hier goed 'handlen'.

Om even een mooi voorbeeld te geven en ook een mooi handje te laten zien, zie hier hoe de grootste maniac van vanochtend niet een maar twee paar bullets kraakte!

Vandaag dus twee flinke sessies gehouden: in de ochtendsessie reeds mijn kleine $ 200,- verlies van gisterenavond uitgewist en deze avond dus in korte tijd door naar boven de $ 1000,-!!!

Dat ik nog eens onder de duizend ga komen, dat zal best, maar ik hoop dat de opgaande lijn zich nu lekker verder doorzet in de komende dagen.., weken.., maanden.., jaren!

Hier de twee allermooiste handjes van vandaag, zo zie ik ze niet elke dag voorbij komen dus ik geniet er nog maar even van.

Hand 1: Straight flush.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1388205

Hand 2: Grootste pot van de dag.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1388219

'Bastard' was het droge doch zeker wel 'heartfelt' commentaar van de trips nines guy alhier in de chat. LOL!

De stats zagen er dan zo uit en je zal begrijpen dat ik deze BB/100-rate graag nog heeeeel lang vol zou willen houden!

Een en ander brengt in mijn optiek ook het volgende voordeel (of eventueel nadeel, indien 'the whole shithouse goes up in flames') met zich mee: de $ 0.50 / 1 tafels heb ik voorgoed achter me gelaten dit weekend dus als het goed is gaat alles nu zeker twee en wellicht zelfs vier keer zo hard naar boven. Nee, niet naar beneden, naar boven, boven, boven! Higher! Higherrr!

Tijd voor een gelukzalig nachtje slapen zeg ik, ik wens u een goede nacht!

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 1006,-

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Friday night update

2007-08-17T21:12:00.000+02:00

Lekker verder gepokerd de afgelopen dagen en inmiddels 1 van mijn doelen behaald, de 10.000 handjes zijn al gespeeld.

Hoewel Limit Hold 'em dan wat minder zigzag up&down is per pot heb ik de afgelopen dagen toch weer een paar grote potten verloren en gewonnen die me (met name de verliespotten dan) aardig op tilt weten te krijgen!

Zo zag de meest frustrerende pot eruit:

En zo zag een van de, vanuit mijn oogpunt bekeken, mooiste potten eruit:

O, hier kon ik ook wel om lachen ja:

Maar goed, zoals gezegd, het tiltgehalte in mijn bloed was bij tijd en wijle
ver boven de toegestane waardes aanbeland en dan blijft het uitkijken geblazen. Deze keer uitgeweken naar de Omaha HI PL tafels, $50,- alwaar ik me dan voor $20 - $25 in heb gekocht. Natuurlijk hier en daar wel wat potjes verloren maar al met al zeker gewonnen hier: ik heb het idee dat 30-40% van de mensen die hier aanschuiven niet weten waar ze mee bezig zijn, in de zin van nog minder dan dat ik dat zou weten. Ze knallen er alles in met een draw en dat werkt nou eenmaal niet in de meeste gevallen. Het is dat ik me nu wil toeleggen op Limit, ik denk nl. dat die Omaha tafels ook wel lucratief zouden kunnen zijn wanneer ik ze wat vaker en langer zou bespelen.

Ik heb eens nagedacht en kwam tot de conclusie dat, mocht ik ooit wat substantieel geld willen verdienen met poker, ik nog heel wat limietjes omhoog zal moeten met Limit, maar dat dit wel "the way to go" is volgens mij, omdat ik het qua fundamenten goed onder de knie lijk te krijgen en het zo op gestructureerde wijze vorm kan krijgen. Hmmm, over pakweg 250.000 handjes nog eens kijken of het goed heeft uitgepakt...

Voor nu, eerst maar eens lekker verder op $ 0,50/1, eens zien of we binnen afzienbare tijd bij de 1000 dollar kunnen komen.

Ik kijk de afgelopen dagen trouwens ook met een enigszins afgunstige blik naar de FTOPS toernooien op Full Tilt, man o man, ik zou graag de buyins voor die toernooien zonder blikken of blozen willen kunnen ophoesten en een gooi doen naar een van die mooie prijzen aldaar. Wordt een van mijn 'goals in life' om daar nog eens ooit een mooi succesje bij te boeken. Maar niet deze augustus... Nog een weekje en dan bijna twee weken vakantie, eens zien of ik goed kan afsluiten.

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 877,-

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________

Suckouts, reads en check-raising

2007-08-15T12:23:00.000+02:00

Vandaag even drie handjes die in de sessie van gisteren een prominente rol speelden:

Hand 1 plaats ik een enorme suckout:
Laat hierbij wel vermeld worden dat ik zo gewoonlijk niet speel: mijn initiële call was eigenlijk te loose, granted, en mijn 3-bet call preflop was een regelrechte misclick. Vervolgens was de rest gewoon gerechtvaardigd i.v.m. de pot odds. Het leverde me wel een volle chatbox op natuurlijk.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1372796

Hand 2: een van mijn betere reads: de SB bet uit op de flop en ik moest meteen aan het SSH boek denken dat ik laatst heb gelezen en waarin werd geopperd dat het ‘unnatural’ is om toppair te betten vanuit eerste positie in een headsup: veel logischer is om te gaan voor een check-raise aangezien ik de preflop raiser was. Dus ik call hem down terwijl hij ‘barrels’ blijft afvuren.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1372802

Hand 3: het zal allemaal wel meevallen maar ik vond dit dus echt een ‘Advanced play’ van mezelf. Een mooie checkraise uit de big blind omdat ik enorm veel ‘pot equity’ heb met de straight en flush draw. En het pakt ook prima uit natuurlijk.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?1372808

Al met al een mooie sessie gehad gisteren waarbij ik nu en dan ook best tegen wat pijnlijke beats/coolers aanliep maar op die momenten goed, rustig bleef spelen. Keep it up!

BR:

Fulltilt: $ 820,-

Moneybookers: $ 2.27

____________________