Lucky Straights

The ramblings and mumblings of a wannabe poker pro

A moment of plo

I joined a friend of mine from Home Poker Tourney at a PLO table, when my 25nl session finished, here’s two hands that stood out.

Lol, I’m such a luckbox here, I’ve just realized I did not have A2A4 double suited, oops!

meh, can’t be bothered to re-upload the hh, as it’ll be a pain to find without Omaha on my HEM installation. Villain had 98sXX

http://www.flopturnriver.com/Poker-Hand-2dAh6d4h-Ring-MP2-1107889.php

AA55, flop C/F

EDIT: I was supposed to be going to bed early, taking a nap, but I can’t nod off so change of plan, hopefully a shower and a few chores will wake me up enough so that I can get in a a session or two and continue the day, if I get tired later guess I can always take a short nap later, as long as it is short, I really need to resist my body clock so as long as I don’t end up in bed for the majority of the day, things could work out.

Not all disasters are accidents... Buy the Sole Survivors Club, by Zoe E. Whitten

June 13th, 2010 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, cash games | no comments

O8 and Exclusion

I’m sorta on a break atm, not a real break though as my coach informs me, as I’ve been sneaking some play at the micro Omaha Hi/Lo sng’s. I haven’t read any strategy on this, not for some time at least, so I’m just trying to figure things out bit by bit. I managed to pick up my first victory in the form of a limit O8 stt earlier today, and despite the $1 entry it was really rewarding to take it down, especially after a rather long HU battle.

So, as I seem incapable of taking a real break from poker, I’ve excluded myself for 2 day’s and we have set back our coaching schedule to begin when play can resume. Its my first ever exclussion, I just hope it makes a difference when I return to the games.

June 7th, 2010 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, Sit N' Go's, cash games | no comments

Online Poker

I’ve been enjoying the benefits of online poker for a little over a year now and it truly is a great thing for the game. Not only do I have the option of playing in the comfort of my own home, in any condition I seem fit, I have a whole host of games that I probably wouldn’t have even heard of if it wasn’t for online poker, and it is even more likely that such games will not be available to me in a card room anyway.

My current situation also forces me to play micro poker, so I wouldn’t be able to afford to play in a casino anyway, it just makes me really thankful for the opportunities online poker has presented me with.

I really love the idea that you can enjoy all the action and excitement of online poker without having to leave the comfort of your home. Come to this exhilarating new online casino, and with all the games available to keep your interest you wont be disappointed.

The biggest problem I have at the moment is getting time on the computer, as now I have to fight for access with my friends who seem to spend more time at the tables then I do lol.

October 2nd, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Casino, Home Poker, Non-Hold'em, Sit N' Go's, Tournaments, cash games | no comments

4 Colour Deck

After watching a video on 2+2 of someone playing on Poker Stars with the simplified 4 colour deck, I’ve decided to switch to the same format. Last week I missed a value bet when I wrongly thought the flush hit, because my eyes struggle to pick up on the cards and stack sizes after an hour or so at the computer, and I expect this theme will help me out some.

August 13th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, Sit N' Go's, cash games | no comments

Pre-Flop Raising

I have just finished my first session since Friday. A nice little session, I didn’t take any stacks but took home enough moderate pots for it to be worthwhile and enjoyable. Throughout my next few sessions I will be looking at my pre-flop raising % again, this time focusing on widening my range a little, rather then reducing the amount of times I open limp. This is likely what got my win rate so close to the 10BB/100 I’ve been aiming for before, but following that success I threw it away by being too aggressive post flop. Hopefully I’ll be able to widen my pre-flop raising range enough whilst still keeping myself out of trouble post flop to help me sail across my 10BB/100 target.

June 23rd, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, cash games | one comment

No More Flush Draw Semi Bluffs!

Been a bit of a bumpy session. Called off my stack with a less then nut flush, a situation I usually avoid, and to rub it in villain flopped a full house. I then push into someone I’m certain is weak with a nut flush draw on the flop, only for him to call with AK, which holds up.

Here’s the hands :

I’m getting sick of posting these really embarrassing hands. On the turn I felt I could be ahead, as I’ve seen the villain stack off with TPWK, post session though, I was a fucking donkey, I’m getting sick of seeing me play like this. I’ve folded nut flushes in better spots then this… this hand makes me feel sick.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2756787

Same villain. I felt comfortable I could get a fold here, but I had to check-raise all-in, and If I’m wrong I say good bye to another buy-in. This was close enough to the above hand where it could have looked like tilt which could make a call more likely, so this looks like another badly timed play from me.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2756828

This hand is the last time, I’m semi-bluffing a flush draw in such a manner, its simply not working for me.

I had no doubt I was ahead here, but I felt a push was too much just to isolate the pre-flop raiser, if I had AKs I might have thought otherwise though, do you prefer a push pre-flop here? On the flop, I’m faced with a similar spot as before, villain leads out but I just know he’s weak, and I’ve got flush outs if I’m wrong, so I push looking to take the pot down. Obviously I have zero fold equity in this spot at 5NL, if he called with 99, TT, JJ, QQ, KK, AA fine but fucking AK!

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2756829

Variance was kind though, giving me back to back sets on the flop, here’s one of them.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?2756846

It’s unlikely I’ll be sitting in any more games today, though you never know. Its been a crap day really, started off almost a buy-in up, giving me some hope of a return to form, but that plus change has just been lost with the above. I should probably take tomorrow off to recompose myself, hopefully with a day off I’ll more focused and finally stop playing so pathetic.

June 14th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, cash games | no comments

Poker Games

When a lot of people hear the word poker, they immediately think of the version that they see on TV in Texas Hold’em. More specifically, they may think of No Limit Texas Hold’em as this is the type that is often broadcast. This is because it is the most exciting due to the lack of a betting limit. However, there are actually many different poker games out there.

First off, there is the aforementioned Texas Hold’em. This is definitely the most popular version of all the online poker games and Hold’em sees many new players join its ranks everyday. Poker as a whole has benefited greatly from the popularity of Texas Hold’em and its TV exposure has taken the game to new heights.

Another one that has become more and more widespread in online poker rooms is Omaha. It is hard to say if Omaha is truly the second most popular variation of poker or not but it is close. The reason for its rise among poker games is that Omaha is very similar to Texas Hold’em and people who have become used to Hold’em Poker can naturally make the switch to Omaha.

Before the popularity spike in Hold’em, 7 Card Stud used to be the most widely played version of the poker games. 7 Card Stud differs quite a bit from the previously mentioned games in that players are dealt two downcards each, four upcards each, and then one more downcard.

These are pretty much the three most popular of all the poker games. There are many other types of poker and variations to each type but these are the three that you’ll normally see being played across the world. And if you ever get tired of one type of poker, it doesn’t hurt to try something else once in a while in the form of another one of the poker games.

June 5th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, Sit N' Go's, Tournaments, cash games | 8 comments

End of Day

I’ve just come off my final session of the day, where I played probably the best I’ve done all day. That being said, I still finished with another loss. I was experiencing lots of lag so after loosing almost a full buy-in, I left and focused on my other table, where things began to fall my way, I would have liked to play until I recovered the loss from the other table, but I’m way too tired, so quit before I jeopardized another buy-in.

I know I can beat these games, I’ve done it before, albeit not for long, normally only 30 minute sessions. Though I have to admit, if things don’t look brighter tomorrow I will have to abandon the bonus altogether and re-focus my efforts elsewhere.

Tomorrow will be a new day. I’m going to mix in some other games to keep me focused when I sit down at the razz tables. I plan to start with a 10 table, turbo knock out Sit ‘n Go, which we’ll give me a nice break from the 7 hours of razz I’ve played today, before I begin all over again tomorrow. I’m also in need of boost to my now very meager bankroll on Full Tilt, which a high finish in one of these will do nicely.

After that, I’ll be back at the razz tables, with a bit of reading to help me find some leaks in my razz game and maybe a Sit ‘n Go or two on Poker Stars sandwiched in between.

March 5th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, cash games | no comments

Razz Lessons

I’ve just finished my 2nd, 2 hour razz session on Full Tilt, and I’m down almost 3 buy-in’s. Hardly a good start, but I’ve realized a few things, that should help me avoid a loosing session tomorrow.

General Lessons

1. Firstly, 2 hour sessions of razz is a little more then I can take, so I’m going to cut my sessions down to no more then 90 minutes, unless I’m on a rush.

2. To have any chance of earning at least the first increment ($20) of my Full Tilt bonus I have to multi-table my razz sessions.

3. If I’m spending most of everyday playing 25c/50c razz, it will become just another grind, so I’m going to throw some 50c/$1 razz sessions in on Poker Stars and do some 90 man Sit ‘n Go’s and other things to keep me entertained and focused.

Razz Strategy Lessons

1. If I’m facing a total idiot who’s raising and re-raising with junk, and I haven’t made a hand, don’t give him an opportunity to cap the betting on 3rd or 4th, wait until I hit my draw or make a hand to back my draw up. So I’m not going to pay him off if I miss and his runner, runner comes good.

2, Need to stop trying to pick up pots with and A or 2 up in the morning and lunch hours of server time, as there is way too much reckless raising and re-raising going on. This gets more successful into the afternoon.

3. I’ve loosened up a bit and its costing me money. Time to get back to not playing a hand if it contains a card 8 or higher and I really need to decide if I’m in our out by 5th street.

March 5th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, cash games | no comments

Bonus Bagged

I’ve just earned my deposit bonus on Poker Stars, 3 days ahead of my advanced deadline I set myself, and I am very pleased. Its been another terrible day though, slightly better then yesterday, but things just didn’t fall my way again, but I’m not going to dwell on it. I’ve achieved my aim ahead of schedule and minimized my losses as best as I could whilst not getting the best of it along the way.

Already, I feel I’m going to treat the Full Tilt bonus differently. I can’t really explain why, I just expect to focus more on my actually play, rather then the points towards the bonus. Though I do plan to focus on playing games that will allow me to earn the most Full Tilt Points I can, which is why I’ll be mostly playing the razz cash games instead of the turbo knockout Sit ‘n Go’s. I’ve seen a few people multi-table the 25c/50c limit razz tables, so I may even do the same.

March 4th, 2008 Posted by LuckyStraights | Non-Hold'em, Sit N' Go's, cash games | no comments