Eureka Kid - Poker Player, Sports Fan, Entrepreneur, Libertarian & Blogger » Hand Analysis

Misplay of the Day: Sub Optimal Mentality = No Tough Laydowns

EurekaKid — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:13:45 +0000

I’ve been playing a lot of Zoom Poker on PokerStars since it was released. They’ve recently introduced the $1/$2 and $2.5/$5 limits and I’ve been having a pretty rough time since after crushing 100nl for a few weeks. I’ve been running terrible, but sometimes only have myself to blame. I think the hand below illustrates what I am talking about, I could just dismiss it by saying “oh I got flush over flushed for 100bb, cooler”, but if you want to be a good player at small-mid stakes these days, you need to be better. Ansky (supernova9) is the villain and all the other players involved in the hand are regulars of some variety. In his videos, Ansky talks about people who apply the “I wish I was good enough to fold” type logic to spots where you have a really strong hand and your opponents can only have a few combinations that beat you, but they are almost certainly never bluffing and you essentially have a bluff catcher. Even having watched his videos, listened to his advice, analyzed the hand as I was playing and deducing he held AJ or 87 near 100% of the time, I found myself making this same fishy mistake. So disappointed, posted this to publicly shame myself and get me back towards playing A game poker .

Poker Stars, $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em Cash, 6 Players

Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager – The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

BTN: $226.72 (113.4 bb)

Hero (SB): $472.25 (236.1 bb)

BB: $565.19 (282.6 bb)

UTG: $309.15 (154.6 bb)

MP: $273.72 (136.9 bb)

CO: $205.42 (102.7 bb)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q T

UTG raises to $6, MP calls $6, CO calls $6, BTN calls $6, Hero calls $5, BB folds

Flop: ($32) 2 6 4 (5 players)

Hero checks, UTG checks, MP bets $20, CO calls $20, BTN folds, Hero calls $20, UTG folds

Turn: ($92) 3 (3 players)

Hero checks, MP checks, CO checks

River: ($92) 5 (3 players)

Hero bets $64, MP folds, CO raises to $179.42 and is all-in, Hero makes a dumb call

AKs Flops Flush Draw on 654, Gets Potted Into, Deepish

EurekaKid — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:23:37 +0000

I have registered to play in the PokerStars World Blogger Championship of Online Poker!

The WBCOOP is an online Poker tournament open to all Bloggers.

Registration code: 609016

Villain is 39/20/3.5 over 143 hands, we are $281 deep. Didn’t particularly feel sexy about raising and stacking off on the flop, but thoughts on that would be appreciated.

Hadn’t seen the villain take a line like this and the couple of pots I played against him I iso’d his limp and he folded to a c-bet.

So anyway I need like 42% equity here…

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 7 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

MP: $119.35
CO: $175.35
BTN: $200.00
SB: $354.10
BB: $128.80
Hero (UTG): $281.00
UTG+1: $98.95

MP posts a big blind ($2)

Pre Flop: ($5.00) Hero is UTG with K A
Hero raises to $10, 1 fold, MP calls $8, 2 folds, SB calls $9, 1 fold

Flop: ($32.00) 6 4 5 (3 players)
SB bets $30, Hero calls $30, MP folds

Turn: ($92.00) A (2 players)
SB bets $314.10 all in, Hero has to call $241…

Aces Against Two Non-Regulars

EurekaKid — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:35:28 +0000

I’ve got a number of different responses from various regulars I’ve asked about this hand, so I thought I’d post it here and try and get some consensus. I haven’t seen either of these guys at 400nl (or anywhere) before this session. I didn’t see the hand that MP1 got his stack with and haven’t seen him showdown in any big pots. Anyway… what range are you putting him on here and what action do you proceed with mindful that there is another guy in the hand too?

Poker Stars $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

CO: $606.50
BTN: $412.80
SB: $400.00
BB: $403.40
UTG: $718.10
Hero (UTG+1): $429.50
UTG+2: $400.00 – 19/10 over 70 hands
MP1: $901.20 50/16/1.7 over 70 hands
MP2: $400.00

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is UTG+1 with A A
UTG calls $4, Hero raises to $20, UTG+2 calls $20, MP1 calls $20, 6 folds

Flop: ($70.00) T J J (3 players)
Hero bets $52, UTG+2 calls $52, MP1 raises to $104, Hero??

AQs Facing Three Barrels

EurekaKid — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:03:24 +0000

This hand was shared with me by WCGRider, UTG is 27/20 over a few hundred hands and the caller in the small blind is a fish.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold’em, $10.00 BB (9 handed) – Full-Tilt Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Q, A
Pipedreamzz raises to $35, 3 folds, WCGRider calls $35, 2 folds, Put up ur Dukes calls $30, 1 fold
This seems like a fairly standard course of action. Folding is out of the question and 3-betting for value doesn’t really fly against and UTG raiser because he probably isn’t putting more money in with much worse given the situation.

Flop: ($115) 7, J, 3 (3 players)
Put up ur Dukes checks, Pipedreamzz bets $66, WCGRider calls $66, 1 fold
Raising is definitely a viable option and I think it would be clsoer if the pot were heads -up. However, given that we wouldn’t mind the fish tagging along and that we can outplay Pipedreamzz on alter streets if we miss, I like a call.

Turn: ($247) A (2 players)
Pipedreamzz bets $144, WCGRider calls $144
A great card, but I don’t see how we can raise here. Not many worse hands will be playing for stacks given our line and the board, better just to under represent our hand and call for value. Important to note the ace represents a pretty good barrel card for him, whether he has one or not.

River: ($535) K (2 players)
Pipedreamzz bets $400, WCGRider???
Doesn’t change too much and the villain has fired a pretty solid bet at us. Given the stats we have on him over a limited sample and the passive nature of our play this is pretty awkward. Hands that he would three barrel for value like AJ/AK/KJ and sets are certainly a decent portion of his range, but I jsut feel like our hand looks like its so weak. In his mind we can never really have a set or aces up here, so its a pretty good opportunity for him to turn a hand into a bluff on the river. Not fist-pumping by any means, but I like a call here. Thoughts?

Royal Flush Greater Than Straight Flush

EurekaKid — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:01:22 +0000

So this hand was pretty sick… I mean I have no idea what the guy was doing pre-flop, but a pretty nice river card for my obviously. My second royal flush for the year that I can remember.

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

UTG: $251.05
Hero (UTG+1): $215.55
UTG+2: $442.80
MP1: $107.00
MP2: $121.80
CO: $200.00
BTN: $40.00
SB: $98.00
BB: $50.00

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is UTG+1 with A K
UTG raises to $8, Hero raises to $28, 7 folds, UTG calls $20

Flop: ($59.00) J 8 T (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero checks

Turn: ($59.00) 6 (2 players)
UTG bets $56, Hero calls $56

River: ($171.00) Q (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $131.55 all in, UTG calls $131.55

Final Pot: $434.10
UTG mucks A 9
Hero shows A K (a Royal Flush)
Hero wins $431.10

Another Party Poker 5/10NL Session

EurekaKid — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:45:20 +0000

Just finished up playing a $1000nl full ring session at Party Poker with Rohan. There weren’t very many games running in the afternoon Australian time so it was a pretty uneventful session. The only big hand we played was below against a half stacker. I love the limp/call pre-flop UTG with pocket kings… expert.

Party Poker $1,000 No Limit Hold’em – 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

UTG+1: $1739.50
MP1: $1947.25
MP2: $1184.00
CO: $1428.00
BTN: $689.00
Hero (SB): $1034.00
BB: $1000.00
UTG: $572.49

Pre Flop: ($15.00) Hero is SB with A A
UTG calls $10, 2 folds, MP2 calls $10, 1 fold, BTN calls $10, Hero raises to $80, 1 fold, UTG calls $70, 2 folds

Flop: ($190.00) J 2 8 (2 players)
Hero bets $130, UTG raises to $260, Hero raises to $954 all in, UTG calls $232.49 all in

Turn: ($1174.98) 7 (2 players – 2 are all in)

River: ($1174.98) 9 (2 players – 2 are all in)

Final Pot: $1174.98
Hero shows A A (a pair of Aces)
UTG shows K K (a pair of Kings)
Hero wins $1171.98
(Rake: $3.00)

AA in Blind Battle, Turn Line Check

EurekaKid — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:52:40 +0000

I am a full ring regular trying my hand at some six max. This hand could just as easily have happened at full ring, but was just interested on your perspective as the dynamic is a tad different.

Villain seemed pretty solid, we had just recently played a blind vs blind pot where I stacked off with AJ on an A high flop to his set of sixes.

Poker Stars $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 4 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (SB): $489.00
BB: $734.00
CO: $416.50
BTN: $199.80

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is SB with A A
2 folds, Hero raises to $16, BB calls $12

Flop: ($32.00) 4 T J (2 players)
Hero bets $26, BB calls $26

Turn: ($84.00) Q (2 players)
Hero c/r, b/c or other?

AK Misses, Donked Into… I Wants The Bluffness

EurekaKid — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:40:12 +0000

Villain is 21/1/2.3. Curious line and slight overbet out of the villain on such a dry board. If he has a set or weirdly played big pair why wouldn’t he check/raise? So I’m thinking his range is heavily weighted towards 5-77, 99-TT, maybe like some random small aces, wheel draws… and other random holdings. Am I stupid for thinking this guy is ever folding anything if I jam?

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (UTG+2): $599.75
MP1: $200.00
MP2: $155.80
CO: $200.00
BTN: $271.60
SB: $200.00
BB: $173.45
UTG: $149.15
UTG+1: $197.00

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is UTG+2 with A K
UTG calls $2, 1 fold, Hero raises to $12, 6 folds, UTG calls $10

Flop: ($27.00) 3 2 8 (2 players)
UTG bets $28, Hero wants to increase the price of poker…

Having Your 3-bets Cold Called

EurekaKid — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:27:53 +0000

Okay I realise there is a few hands and situations here to digest, but I would be interested to hear everyone’s thoughts on these spots. For the most part I’m assuming AA, KK are mandatory stack offs in all these situations, where it gets interesting is when you have <=QQ or flop top pair or something. Additionally, are you just completely giving up with hands like AK and AQ when you miss? I think its kind of interesting when villain’s could be cold calling with these big ace hands also.

What ranges are you assigning to regs when they cold call you in these situations and consequently how are you proceeding on these flops with?

Villain is Epipen 20/18/3.4

Poker Stars $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 7 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

CO: $738.35
Hero (BTN): $406.00
SB: $523.10
BB: $241.50
UTG: $601.65
UTG+1: $294.95
MP: $475.75

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is BTN with a) Q Q b) K K c) K A
UTG raises to $12, 3 folds, Hero raises to $48, SB calls $46, 2 folds

Flop: ($112.00) 8 9 J (2 players)
SB checks, Hero…

Villain is 19/8/2.8 over 200

Poker Stars $2/$4 No Limit Hold’em – 7 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

UTG: $514.35
UTG+1: $299.70
MP: $394.00
CO: $240.00
Hero (BTN): $421.45
SB: $363.60
BB: $152.50

Pre Flop: ($6.00) Hero is BTN with a) Q Q b) A K c) T T
3 folds, CO raises to $12, Hero raises to $48, SB calls $46, 2 folds

Flop: ($112.00) 3 7 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero…

Villain is 23/10 over 78

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BB: $241.00
UTG: $334.40
UTG+1: $119.40
UTG+2: $200.00
MP1: $192.85
MP2: $230.15
Hero (CO): $197.00
BTN: $157.35
SB: $93.35

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is CO with a) Q Q b) T 9 c) J J d)A K
4 folds, MP2 raises to $6, Hero raises to $22, BTN calls $22, 3 folds

Flop: ($53.00) T 8 5 (2 players)
Hero???

Villain is xxBankxItxDrewxx 15/9/3.1 over thousands

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (MP2): $272.40
CO: $160.65
BTN: $119.80
SB: $212.35
BB: $287.00
UTG: $204.20
UTG+1: $206.55
MP1: $202.00

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is MP2 with a) Q Q b) A K c) T T
2 folds, MP1 raises to $6, Hero raises to $22, 3 folds, BB calls $20, 1 fold

Flop: ($51.00) 6 3 9 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero ??

Cold calling villain is XxLuciferianxX 12/8/2 over thousands, other guy is a fish.

Poker Stars $1/$2 No Limit Hold’em – 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

MP1: $136.40
MP2: $110.35
Hero (CO): $214.00
BTN: $214.60
SB: $198.00
BB: $167.60
UTG: $200.00
UTG+1: $233.00

Pre Flop: ($3.00) Hero is CO with a) Q Q b) A T c) J J
2 folds, MP1 raises to $4, 1 fold, Hero raises to $20, BTN calls $20, 2 folds, MP1 calls $16

Flop: ($63.00) 7 T 2 (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero ??

Flat or Jam River When Donked Into?

EurekaKid — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:38:28 +0000

This hand was played by somebody else. Villain is 38/7/2 over 146 hands. Personally, I would be raising 4x pre, betting a little more on the flop and larger on the turn. His stats indicate he is pretty bad, he potentially could play a worse set like this, definitely KQ. Other two pair combinations like K6 and crap like that are in this guys range too. At the same time this is a flush, straight or bluff a bit of the time too. I’m not sure whether to shove or just call in these situations.

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold’em – 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BTN: $100.00
SB: $116.65
BB: $158.20
UTG: $83.75
UTG+1: $200.00
UTG+2: $101.65
Hero (MP1): $106.20
MP2: $104.15
CO: $84.55

Pre Flop: ($1.50) Hero is MP1 with Q Q
3 folds, Hero raises to $3.50, 4 folds, BB calls $2.50

Flop: ($7.50) Q 5 6 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $5, BB calls $5

Turn: ($17.50) 7 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $13, BB calls $13

River: ($43.50) K (2 players)
BB bets $46, Hero calls or shoves for like 40 more?