Finally Some Live Poker

I've been pretty lazy about getting to live games lately, mostly it's that there are no games I want to play within 30 minutes of my place. So, I went to play a $75 NL tourny last night, were supposed to be 2-3 tables, but there ended up being only 10 players so we played a $100 freezout. Placed 3rd. 3 left and I have 5k or so, weak player has 5k or so, decent player has 40k or so. My BB weak players makes it 1200 to go, chip leader calls, I see black 7s and push, knowing thet the chip leader respects to fears my play, so I will likely be heads up with the weak player. He thinks and calls with QJo, leader folds and shows JTs. Puts me a bit more ahead..A23 with 2 clubs, A23J with 3 clubs, blank and I'm out (obviously he had no clubs). I went in with the best hand and lost. After the hand I still am not sure if I liked how I played it/ I pushed to get in heads up with a medium PP, and there was a good chance that they'd both fold. If it was just the weak player and me I would have called and pushed on any bluffable flop (ie one paint card), which A23 definitely was. The problem is I needed the chip leader out, and I wanted 1st so I needed to double up at some point. So ended up getting my money back for third, could have made $450 if I won that coinflip.

Tournament was at the new Airport Club and had a fantastic structure, 5000 chips with 25 50 blinds going up slowly every 20 minutes.

I'm starting to be more of a tournament player, some of the underground tournaments have great structures and have an incredible amount of dead money.

Rooms with great tournament structures that I've played to date: Airport Club, Training Room, West Side Poker Club (although blinds got big fast near the end). Have to try out the River Room and see what the game is like there.

Have to examine my heads-up plpay in the 6 handed sngs lately. Just played one and placed second. Got heads up a bit short, but still lots of play, blinds 75 150. Opponent is very aggressive, so I'm looking to trap. Pick up AQ0 and limp, he makes in 450 to go, I push (like 3k in chips). He shows 88 and flops a set. Now, this isn't my game. If the blinds were alot larger I'd not have any problem with my play, AQ is a monster heads up. But in this situation, I think I could have outplayed this guy by seeing more flops. It was too soon to push a coinflip. Although, he would have likely called with and dominated ace as well, so the odds were in my favour...still not sure I like the play.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = 0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$0
Online O8shMTD = -$65US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$36US
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$110US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online HU NLHE SNGs MTD = +$19US
Online HU O8 SNGs MTD = +$9US
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$30US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$169US

Online MTD = +$54US ~~~~ Live MTD = +$0

Playing Focused

There's a big difference between playing focused and well rested and playing because you kinda feel like it and are kinda tired. Played 2 $35PLO8 sngs and a 6 handed NL sng.

Been doing well at the sngs again, three seconds at least one of which should have been a first. The last NL sng I got heads up and was short stacked, doubled up on A9 vs A5 all in preflop, this guy was raiaing every pot so I figured any ace and I'd push. Then I made a mistake and pushed with A4 when there was still alot of play left. I hate that move, big mistake. I was a much better player and then was still some play left with the blinds 200 400 and me having 3.5k or so, he showed 55 and I lost, bad play by me. Otherwise I played great.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online O8shMTD = -$65US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$36US
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$161US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$30US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$245US

Online MTD = +$1US ~~~~ Live MTD = 0

Why I Shouldn't Play MTTs Online (with fields > 200 players)

I just don't have the patience. I find tournaments with more than 200 players online incredibly boring.

That said, I played A $11+R PLO8 tourney on Stars and had maybe 10 playable hands the whole game, finished just inside the money 17th/100+ players.

Played the $22 HU NLHE tourney on Stars, which is now 256max from 128max. After easily winning the first round I realized how tired I was while I sat and waited over 40 minutes for round 2 of potentially 8 rounds. I played crappy and lost. Should not have entered. I'll have to play this sometime when I'm up for it, the competition is crap and first is now over $1.5k.

Played some sngs, generally did well. Nothing big, only $38s and lower lately.

Just finished another $38 6 handed. I played perfectly and got 2nd. As chip leader heads-up called an all-in with A9, he shows 75s, flop 877. Then I slopwplay 88 on the button, flop 652, I push as chip leader again and he shows 35 for a pair and a gutshot, 9 outs with 2 cards to come and I'm ahead roughly 60:40, river 3. Ended up losing when short-stacked and gambling to double-up. Won some money, but first was mine..how things have been for a bit.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online O8shMTD = -$65US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$36US
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$59US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$30US
Online 9 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = $-27US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$281US

Online MTD = -$137US ~~~~ Live MTD = 0

Time For A Switcharoooooo

Stepping back from sngs for the moment to clear my head. Played a $12 45 man turbo 9 handed sng on Stars, my A8 loses to KT when short stacked and I'm out...not a big favourite, but I've been in with the best hands lately and losing. Then I play a 6handed 2 table $38 sng on stars and finish 4th (3 pay), to make it worse I was chip leader when 4 handed with 7.5k the other largest stacks being 3.5k or so with a small stack in there at less than 2k. I took beat after beat after beat, money in ahead every time. So, instead of winning $170 or so I lose $38 again.

Time to take a break from sngs for a moment.

Why not some shLHE? Played 5 10 on absolute (my favourite cash-game site), and won over $100 in an hour or so (2 seperate sessions), and decided to make it a day.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online O8shMTD = -$57US
Online LHEshMTD = +$183US
Online MTT MTD = -$27US
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$13US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$30US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$352US

Online MTD = -$210US ~~~~ Live MTD = 0

If It Wasn't For The Losing Streaks, This Would Be Pretty Easy

Rough start to the month, 2 3rds in 6 handed $119s, a 4th in a 9 handed PLO8 sng, etc, etc...Very few hands and my moves are running into AA and AK quite alot. Played a MTT that I wasn't really up for, have to stop doing that.

Overall, playing pretty well, just have to play through it now. This kind of sums it up...Maniac raises UTG to 3bb, other maniac calls, I'm in the BB and decide to smooth call and wait for the bluff for a big pot...flop KJ8 rainbow, I check, he's all in for 6x the pot or so and has me covered, Maniac #2 folds I call with the nuts and he shows KQo. Turn T for KJ8T, River A for KJ8TA giving him broadway. Sometimes you feel like you can't win no matter what you do.

Well, just moved down to the $38 6 handeds, I'm UTG and limp with 33 midway into this thing, 3 callers. Flop KK3 with 2 spades, I check , get one big bettor, all fold and I call. Turn is a harmless 4, he bets big again and I go all-in putting him on a 4 outer KJ or worse. He shows QQ and hits a Q on the river, this is another of the ridiculous beats that I've been taking lately.

Moved over to Absolute to change sites for a bit, played some shorthanded 3 6 holdem to change things up, won $70 in 20-30 mins and quit ahead, at least it's a win for now.

B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online O8shMTD = -$57US
Online LHEshMTD = +$70US
Online MTT MTD = -$27US
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$13US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$80US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = -$352US

Online MTD = -$273US ~~~~ Live MTD = 0

OK, I Think I Get It

Didn't have much time to play today, so I sat for a bit of shO8, still can't win a hand more or less. Then played a 2 table $16 NLHE sng on Stars and placed first.

I get it, I get it...focus on my NL game for now. I'm having fun playing NL sngs, not having any fun playing cash games online at the moment, so I'll play what I'm enjoying at the moment.


B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online O8shMTD = -$32
Online MTT MTD = 0
Online Satellites = 0
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = 0
Online 9 handed NLHE Multitable SNGS MTD = +$92
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = 0

Online MTD = + $60US ~~~~ Live MTD = 0

Again, Success!!

TOTAL Online = + $524US
TOTAL Live = + $875CDN

Didn't Feel Much Like Playing

So, I blew 1000 FPP on Stars in a satellite and played terribly, knocked out early.

I Don't play satellites for cash as I always lose patience (other than these cheap shootouts), so the FPP games help to remind me not to play these same formats for money.

Played well in a $38 6handed sng, but couldn't hit a thing...placed third which was a small victory. Played another $11 double shootout super sat and placed 3rd...the other 2 were tight weak and we were all about evenly stacked and I decided to take over and ran into some monsters, A9 losing to AA on my final hand. Also lost to AA against a tight player when short stacked in the SNG, oh well.

Online O8shMTD = - $488US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $55US
Online Satellites = -$23US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $147US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $959US

Online MTD = + $524US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

Walking The Distance, I Think I'm Getting There

It feels like all my online experience has come together and made these 6 handed sngs perfect for me. I'm a very good short handed player, and when I get heads-up I have tons on heads-up experience, so more often than not I'm a favourite even with a somewhat shorter stack if the blinds are reasonalbe. Things are going well right now.

Played a WPT double shootout super sat, got 2nd at the first table...oh well, was only $12.

Just played another $38 6 handed NLHE sng, first again, very nice...these are going well. I only wish the $119s were not turbos, but I guess I cant's complain right now as I've yet to place out of the money in one. It just seems that in the $38 non-turbos I am almost guaranteed top 2 barring some disaster, and the $119s are more tenuous as we head down to 3 players as there is less play left. Fortunately the play is pretty fast in the $119s, last one that I won we were heads-up after only 20mins.

Online O8shMTD = - $573US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $55US
Online Satellites = -$12US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $147US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $997US

Online MTD = + $488US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

And Now We Dance...6 Handed NL SNGs Been Berry Berry Good To Me...

Started off slow today, played two $38 6 handed NL sngs, placed first then third. Then played a $119 and placed first...nice.

I finish top 3 in these things 90% of the time or more and have been moneying around 75%.

So far 3/3 in the $119s, first, second, first...very nice.

Online O8shMTD = - $573US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $55US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $147US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $898US

Online MTD = + $401US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

Moving Sideways Online

As I move up limits in shO8, my luck moves down. I am dealt A23x in LP my first 2 hands of a session, A24x the 4th hand, etc...and never hit a flop, it continues like that for an hour at 5 10 on stars and I quit and go play another $119 6 handed NL sng and get it heads up within 20mins, only to lose with the best hand HU.

So, I'm 2/2, a first and a 2nd, in these $119 sngs...I'm going to play more now and Omaha a rest for a bit. I'm not enjoying playing Omaha at the moment and am having fun with these tournaments, so that's what I'll play for the moment.

Online O8shMTD = - $573US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $55US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $147US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $527US

Online MTD = + $30US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

Some Wins...

Finally winning a bit at sh08, doing well at the 6 handed NLHE sngs on stars, I guess I should move up to the $120s...

Stars now has 6 handed daily MTTs...tried the O8, but it was limit, forgot that I hate limit tournies, busted pretty quickly. The NLHE and PLHE ones should be fun though, last time I played a 6 handed MTT I think I placed 2nd.

Online O8shMTD = - $359US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $55US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $147US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $453US

Online MTD = + $170US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

It's Been A While, But I Had A Winning O8 Session

Just some sh 2 4 O8 online. Haven't played much lately due to life and work...updated stats...cleared the PS reload bonus...

Online O8shMTD = - $412US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $33US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $159US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $392US

Online MTD = + $90US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

I Can't Win A Hand In Omaha8

...well, maybe 2...in 2 hours...gotta skip this game for a bit. I'm playing almost perfect poker, but getting rivered against the odds, etc,etc,etc...that's poker, right?

Fortunately, have been doing great in the 6 handed NL sngs, just finished 2nd in a 12 player 2 table match, haven't fininshed out of the money since I started playing them again. I've only been playing the $38 matches since the $119 match win, but maybe I should step it up and take a run at the $119s. It's just that I see these sngs as a diversion, but I kow I'm a very good short handed player, so maybe it's time to play 10 or so of the $119s.

Online O8shMTD = - $633US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $33US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $159US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $468US

Online MTD = - $55US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

I'm Stunned

I have no words, here are the numbers for my last session...dropped down to 2 4 O8 6 max tonight and played some of the worst omaha players I've ever seen...

60 games, 2 pots won at showdown, 2 pots won uncontested...that's 4 pots in an hour in a split-pot game 5 handed...and I would say I played an almost perfect session...its gotta turn around soon...

Online O8shMTD = - $583US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $33US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $194US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online 6 handed NLHE SNGS MTD = + $345US

Online MTD = - $93US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

Bad Day/Good Day

Playing 5 10 Omaha 8 6handed today, I cannont believe the beats I'm taking...constantly losing scoops to 2 and 3 outers on the river. I mean, it's just getting silly. And I'm hankering for some holdem now...I really want to start playing some more live tournies.

So I drive to play a live tourney that it turns out isn't going tonight, I drive home still feeling like playing some NL and I notice that stars now has $119 6 handed NLHE sngs, so I say fuck it and sit...take it down for a $310 profit...hey only down about $150 on the day now...yay.

Online O8shMTD = - $548US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = - $33US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = + $229US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = - $16US
Online NLHE SNGS MTD = + $310US

Online MTD = - $58US ~~~~ Live MTD = + $875CDN

Is The Slump Over?

Won some sngs, played 2 4 sh O8 for a bit, win...win! Once I clear this Stars bonus, I'll be playing exclusively 5 10 shO8 from now on as far as cash games go.

Didn't get to the tourny today due to some other responsibilities, will likely play some more tonight after watching a movie.

Online O8shMTD = -$125US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = -$140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = -$33US
Online PLO8 SNGs MTD = +$255US
Online Stud8 SNGs MTD = -$16US

Running Bad

Well, what can I say? I played a few hours of shorthanded 2 4 O8 on Stars and won maybe 4 splits the entire session.

Tonight, another live tournament...at least I can steal in NL without cards.

Online O8shMTD = -$176US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = -$140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = -$33US
Online SNGs MTD = +$131US

Wed Nights -- Cold Cards Continue

It had been about a month since I played the Wed night hi/lo game down at The Office, but I felt like some live play. It was a very soft game as always, but I just couldn't catch any cards as had been the case there for the last few sessions. A coule monsters lost to 1 and 2 outers on the river to awful players, but that's poker at times.

I did play a few too many hands in stud8 drawing on 4th street here and there to try and pick up a playable hand, but other than that played really well, the cards just weren't there.

Played around 7-8 hours, down 14bb...not bad considering my cards. Made back a couple hundered once we went to shorthanded omaha8 exclusively.

Online O8shMTD = -$57US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = -$140CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = -$33US
Online SNGs MTD = +$145US

Not Feeling Online Cash Games

Bleh, I sit at 5 10 O8 for 20mins and don't really feel like playing much, play sloppy for a bit and leave usually down $50 or so, mostly because the tables are usually 6-7 handed and I don't enjoy the slow pace as compared to 3-4 handed.

Been playing some sngs on stars today and yesterday, all PLO8.

Will start getting some live poker in again this weekend, just really in the mood for tournaments lately, not seeming to enjoy the online cash games this month, have only played likely 4-6 hours total.

Online O8shMTD = -$57US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = -$33US
Online SNGs MTD = +$145US

A Little 5 10 Omaha h/l, not much play lately

Hadn't felt much like playing lately, played some 2 4 sh on Absolute, but I find my play getting a littel too loose now at lower limits.

Played a few sessions of 5 10, some decent players there in that they play more aggressively, but still some HUGE fish. The main problem is in getting a short game that remains short or a 5 10 game at all lately on Absolute. I did play a few rounds of a full table 5 10 game but found it very boring and actually lost $100.

My play so far this month has been less than optimal, I think it's time to cash out and head over to Stars and see how things go there at 5 10. It will suck not having a rakeback or any bonuses though.

Played 4-5 PLO8 sngs and kept getting 4th on some huge suckouts that would have made me chip leader -- just can't buy a win in a sng these days.

Played a small $11 NLHE rebuy today on Eurobet (50 players or so...first was $400+) and was doing great. WIth 28 players left picked up QQ on the button. 5 limpers to me including the chip leader at my table with 8k...this is a clueless player getting lucky and using some sort of flaw in the system to rebuy for $11 every time he is all-in in the middle of a hand...well, if he wants to spend $80 on the small tournament then ok with me. So, I make it 1200 to go, all fold to clueless who goes all in, I easily call hoping he doesnt have an ace because I keep getting screwed on those hands. Shows 33...yay! Flop K3x, boo...I lose. I win that hand and I'm chip leader in the tourney and likely get some top money, I can't win on Eurobet!!! Cost me $32, was fun until that bad beat.

I need to mix in some more live play with my online game, as it is getting sloppy.

This just in:
Ahhhhhhhh...just got 2 thirds and a second, best sng results in a month...I think I can, I think I can. Ok, so I'll never win much money playing $35 PLO8 sngs, but they're a fun diversion. Even if I wanted to go higher, there are no higher games running that I've seen.


NOTE TO SELF, NO FULL TABLE ONLINE PLAY.

Online O8shMTD = +$5US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = -$33US
Online SNGs MTD = +$51US

Ok...Well, I Played a Tournament

I just wrote a 3 page post detailing my tournament today, which somehow disappeared. There's no way I'm retyping that...fuck.

Well, finished 2/80 is the short story.

Online O8shMTD = +$20US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = +$1015CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = 0
Online SNGs MTD = 0

A New Month, The Same Goal...and Welcome to The Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

Going to see if I can win at least $1000US playing 2 4, 3 6 and 5 10 sh O8, will play some live poker here and there as well. Avoiding most games with excessive smoke these days though.

Online O8shMTD = + $62US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = 0
B&M Tournies MTD = 0
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = 0
Online MTT MTD = 0
Online SNGs MTD = 0

First Month Summary, Success!

So, my first month experimenting with Omaha h/l shorthanded online is over. I averaged over 2-3bb/h, or $24/100h at limits ranging from 1 2 to 3 6, not a bad start.

I love Absolute poker, it's a great site. I'm getting a good rakeback there and am still working through bonuses, they offer deposit bonuses every weekend it seems. I just wish they had some higher limit games going, it's hard to justify moving to stars at the moment with no rakebacks allowed and no bonuses to clear.

Didn't play much live poker this month, concentrating more on working my way up online at the moment.

On the negative side, I've played on Eurobet for the past 2 days and have yet to win more than 3 hands there, that's not very good in a 3 handed game. I need to start winning there as they offer bigger games on a regular basis.

Blew some money playing games I don't really enjoy much anymore (online sngs), but the main focus is the success at Omaha over the month, so the overall total isn't great but the low limit start has been successful -- will just stick to O8sh cash games online next month and some live cash and tournaments.

Going to play a charity event on Sunday in Markham, should be fun. Being organized by witchdoctorpoker.com and The West Side Poker Club.

Monthly stats from Absolute Poker, where almost 100% of my Omaha was played:

Session Games: 4151
Games Won: 31%
Showdowns Won: 72%
Flops Seen: 57%
Win% if flops seen: 55%
Fold (23.73%), Check (28.92%), Call (27.71%), Raise (2.20%), Reraise (1.49%)
Folding: Preflop (49.14%), Flop (16.63%), Turn (8.19%), River (4.57%), No fold (21.46%)

Not much raising or reraising, but I like to see alot of flops cheap shorthanded and decrease the variance by keeping it cheap preflop and letting people draw to lows and other hands with inappropriate odds. Maybe I'm not maximizing my big hands preflop, but I feel raising with what I consider monsters should only be done in late position to sweeten the pot and keep people in. Despite what I've read about short omaha, I prefer tossing hands like KKxx rather than raising them to shorten the field, or limping on the button with them when I know the blinds are tight to try and flop a monster scooping hand.


Month summary, including rakebacks and bonuses:

Online O8shMTD = + $995US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$120CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$250CDN
Online MTT MTD = -$22US
Online SNGs MTD = -$164US

Total = + $809 US, - $30 CDN

Sometimes Breaking Even is A Win

Couldn't hit ANYTHING all day...played about 4-5 hours of 2 4 O8 sh. Ended about even, I was amazed.

Started an account on Eurobet and am considering a Pokershare account. I won't play anywhere that I'm not getting a decent rakeback. Unfortunately, it's going to be tough to work up to higher limits without playing on Stars...no rakebacks there. I'll just have to do maximum deposits on their reloads.

Online O8shMTD = + $864US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$120CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$250CDN
Online MTT MTD = -$22US
Online SNGs MTD = -$164US

Omaha Hi/Lo Shorthanded -- can I lose??

I think since I started playing shorthanded O8 this month online that I've only had 2-3 losing sessions. My losing sessions tend to be heads up due to the increased variance and some awful runs of cards. Played for a few hours yesterday and today, won every session.

Have been playing mostly 2 4 and 3 6 5-6 handed over the past few days. My favourite site by far for these limits is Absolute, they have frequent bonuses (I think every weekend) and on top of that I have my rakeback. There were even a few 5 10 games going lately.

Last week I felt like playing some NLHE after my live 1 2 cash games, so I put some money into Pacific and played the 5 handed sngs -- I don't think I won once while ahead in any game. I used to love playing these sngs, but since starting my O8 cash games, the NL patience isn't there for online play. I played pretty well, didn't enjoy playing them as much as I used to, and lost just about every one despite outplaying people -- just a bad run but I'm not determined to win back this money in sngs, I just don't enjoy them right now.

Just sticking to some live play and ONLY O8 ONLINE for now.

Online O8shMTD = + $873US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$120CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$250CDN
Online MTT MTD = -$22US
Online SNGs MTD = -$164US

Up to 5 10

Decided to move up to 5 10 as 2 4 and 3 6 are now boring me. Was going to play for 1-2 hours on Absolute, but won a huge pot early and decided to rest for the night (felt more like watching poker torrents).

Also played the heads-up 256player on stars earlier...about 15min in realized that I didn't really feel like playing...I got out carded anyhow and lost.

5 10 O8 5-6 handed, 15min +15bb

Online O8shMTD = + $711US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$120CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$250CDN
Online MTT MTD = -$22US

1 2 NL cash games

Played 1 2 NL after each tourny.

I find full-table (more than 8 players) at this game mind-numbingly dull. You just sit and sit and wait for a hand because people will not let go of cards. The whole idea at a full table is to trap, crack an overpair, etc...but it's very boring.

I was likely behind $100 each night until the games became 4-6 handed, then I took over the tables with aggressive play and ended ahead.

I love short-handed NL tables, you get to isolate players, make moves out of your blinds, etc, etc...

Online O8shMTD = + $588US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN
B&M Tournies MTD = -$120CDN
B&M NLHE Cash MTD = +$250CDN

2 tournies, no cashes

Played a couple of low buyin tournies over the weekend. First one was a $65 buy-in with $5 being a bounty. Run by Westside poker club, well run and good structure. I think I finished 9th. We were down to 5 handed at my table and I had around 2-3k left with the BB around 1/4 my stack. UTG aggressive player raises, I find AJo in the BB and go all in. I want a coinflip to gain some chips, he turns over 66 and I don't improve, out 9th/24 or so.

Last night played a $60 buy-in with around 27 players. Down to 7 handed and I'm short, have 3k with blinds 400 800, pick up AKo on the button. Clueless player limps in EP, huge stack calls in EP, folded to me and I go all in for another 2k or so. I want the clueless player to call. I know he either has a weak ace or any random facecard with no kicker. Him calling is for 2k more is about 1/3 of his stack. He thinks a while and calls...turns over K6s...GREAT! Flops a 6, I don't hit an ace and I'm out. Oh well.

My problem with these tournies is I run into the dilemma of trying not to make moves early as I know that a guy with J5o on a flop of J82 will never let go of top pair as he has no clue what he's doing. I play with the goal of simply hitting a hand and doubling up against a clueless player. But no cards in either game left me wondering if I should have taken a different approach. Either way, I win either all-in and I have a decent stack to play with for a few more rounds.

I'd say I played well, but probably could have run over some of the weaker players as the blinds got up a bit..waited too long to make a hand.

Well...shit

Played a short session of hu O8 2 4 limit. Guy I played hit every flop hard and I missed everything, no fun. I didn't play badly, just didn't hit anything. I think I'll stick to 3-6 handed for a bit.

45min -35BB.

Online O8shMTD = + $588US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN

Good day, a few short sessions

Played a few short sessions yesterday.

O8 3 6 3-5 handed, 30mins +8bb.
O8 2 4 4-6 handed, 30mins +8bb.
O8 1 2 hu-5handed, 15min +14bb.

Online O8shMTD = + $719US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = - $160CDN

Hmmmm. How they do dat?

Somehow my cards followed my from my computer to my Wed. night live O8/Stud 8 game. Played well, had nothing to speak of with respect to starting hands and even less with respect to flops.
So, I lost.
-16bb in 9hours, -1.5bb/h.

On the plus side, I found a 10 20 hi lo and a 15 30/20 40 hi low game in the city to try out later this month. I love finding bigger games when I'm running bad...uh...yay. I may play the 10 20 on Friday night.

OnlineO8shMTD = +$609US
B&M O8/Stud8 MTD = -$160CDN

Well, (#*!@&$(#@*&!!

Played some 2 4 O8 hu to 4/5handed. Played hu against a bad player, but he got hit over the head with the deck and I didn't get a hand. Same thing continued through both my sessions today.

Worst day since starting this shorthanded venture.

2h, -44BB!, -22BB/h....... jesus...worst sessions ever. The variance in shorthanded and heads up is great when youre getting your share of cards, but when you're running cold it's awful.

Possibly stayed in a bit too long on hu hands near the end of that session due to frustration, but overall played my cards well. Didn't get much at all to start with and hit maybe 1-2 flops total in 2 hours.

O8shTD = + $609US after 2 weeks

Short but Sweet

Summary for the past 2 days of play, brief sessions when I had some free time here and there.

O8 1 2 hu to 6 handed 1h +18bb.
O8 2 4 2-4handed 2.5h + 37bb.

O8shTD = +$777USD

Short Session Today

Spent the last few days downloading wpt and wsop torrents, haven't watched much poker on tv lately, there were some pretty good matches -- Doyle vs Lee Watkinson, Jennifer Harmon at a Circuit final table, Phil Ivey at a Circuit final table, Jesus at a Circuit final table...some great tv.

Only played for a short time so far today, not planning on playing anymore today.

HU 1 2 O8 10min -6bb.

HU 2 4 O8 10min + 15bb.

3handed to 5handed O8 2 4 30 min, +23bb.

Forgot to mention last night, I've noticed that heads-up my style is better suited to a 2 4 type structure with bb=2sb, you can play almost every hand for value. Have to start playing tighter in my sb in a 3 6 type structure where bb=3sb. A minoe adjustment that makes a big difference in a short-handed or hu game against certain types of players.

Not much play, but I'll take the chips. I've noticed in my 8-9 days of play that much weaker (if that's wholly possible) players show up starting on Friday. They'll sit with something like 10bb in a shorthanded or hu game, bust and leave...nice.

O8shTD = +$560US

...not bad for roughly 30hours of play at low limits, can it keep running this well?

Bad Day, Bad Cards, A Bit of Bad Play, Bad

Played 2.5 of 2 4 hu to 6handed O8. No cards, no cards, no cards...and then...no flops.

+3bb over 2.5h

Wanted to lose some steam so I played 1 2 hu O8 for 30min...no flops, no flops, then...no flops (and a few rivers for my opponent).

-7bb in 30min.

Played some 3 6 hu against was of the BIGGEST calling stations I've ever seen -- it was incredible, this guy would call a KT6 flop which was 2suited with 522T rainbow or worse and keep catching perfect perfect to scoop my set or top 2. I mean he was doing this more than hald the hands. I was down from $200 to $50 or something and got back to $105 or so then he left. Damn, I wanted him to stay, but that's the nature of online poker.

So, -16bb over 1h...damn i hate that.

Bad play -- perhaps stayed in a bit too long with a few hu hands later on due to frustration, also was raising more preflop than I should have been against this type of player.

Mostly just bad luck though. I'm done for the day.

Results so far in low limit Omaha 8 sh (including absolute sign-up bonus, excluding rakeback),

O8shTD = +410US in a week

Going Well

Played 2h of O8 3 6 tonight ranging from heads up to 5-6 handed. I swear, in the past few days I have seen some of the worst short-handed Omaha h/l players in my life, this game is the most beatable that I've ever seen, at least at these low limits.

There's always one player that I see sitting alone at the 3 6 or 5 10 table, I mean EVERY time I log on he's there. So I figure he's a strong, aggressive heads up player. Sat with him at the 3 6 tonight and he must have folded 50%-70% of his SB to me and folded 50% of the time to a raise out of my SB. It's quite boring winning this way in low limits, but you just can't leave while he's letting you run him over. I figured he'd finally make a stand, but instead he won one pot when he finally bet a flop and then sat out.

Great sessions, made 1-2 mistakes in 5 handed calling on draws against players that only bet the nuts or scooping nut draws, otherwise played very well.

2h, +12bb, +6bb/h

Weak heads-up players...different flavours, same sweet taste

I've always been a very good heads-up player -- from NL sngs or the full NL 128 player tournies on stars (won in once in about 3 trys and have monied in a few subsequent attempts). It's fun to play someone 1 0n 1 and try to take all their chips.

Obviously, heads-up poker gives you opportunities to outplay weak opponents. Weak can mean an opponent who folds every time they don't hit a big flop or an opponent who overplays his hands every time in an attempt to run you over. The latter opponent is more difficult to beat, and causes a lot more variance, but is very beatable all the same. Of course, the toughest opponent is one that varies his play but tends toward the aggressive side...and will read your play and adjust.

Weak players come in different forms.

Meet weak-player #1:

Just played a brief heads-up 2 4 limit O8 session (I couldn't sleep so played for a brief time, now time to go back to bed). Only played for 15-20 minutes. Perhaps the weakest heads-up Omaha8 player I've ever played sat across from me. I sat with $100, he with $40. Within 5-7 mins I was up to $135. This guy would fold roughly 20%-30% of his SB to me -- there is almost no O8 hand not worth getting 3:1 on your money to see a flop. So that was awful trait #1. Awful trait #2 -- he folded to a flop bet 80% of the time. So I win uncontested almost all of the time. He bets into me or calls a flop bet and I'm done with the hand unless I turn a monster.

So, there was weak type #1.

Meet weak player #2:

About 10min in a 3rd player sits to my left. Guy is raising every hand. Not a bad strategy 3-handed against tight-weak players, but I'm not tight-weak. I'm more "do you know that in O8 I'm gonna catch a hand real soon and bust you-strong". So he sits with $40 or $50, gives a bit to the T-W player who catches a hand, and gives the remaining $30 or so to me heads-up in my sb. Flop 445 rainbow I have K-4-x-x where the xs are overs to the 4. Flop is check raised by me and I smooth-call the reraise. Turn K giving me the low nut FH. I bet and get him all-in on the turn with a cap. River 8, I'm thinking great, he just got bailed out with the low and less likely, please don't turn-over 55. He shows a turned nut flush draw or something.

So, there was weak type #2.

Lots of fun for a 15min session, now back to bed.

15min +13bb...fun.

No cards, broke even

Played 1 2, 2 4 and 3 6 sh O8, didn't hit much all day, broke even over 4-5h of play.

Good sessions considering the cards.

Think I'll head over to 5 10 next time on stars of eurobet and see how it goes.

More O8 sh Lowwwww Limits

Played for a few hours today, mostly 1 2. I had $25 sitting in neteller so put it into Stars as Absolute kept disconnecting. So, I sat at a 1 2 6max O8 game, played 3hours and was up18bb.

Tonight played 2 4 on Absolute, the game filled up to 7 then 9 players after 15min so I quit, plus I'm tired. Just sticking to 6handed or less. Up 10bb in 15min. The Absolute games are soft and you face the same players most of the time given that sh O8 isn't the most popular game and the traffic is only average on that site. Unfortunately, only rarely is there a 5 10 and never anything larger, so when I move up I'll have to move out too.

Just sticking to 3 6 or lower for now until I've played this game a couple weeks, then moving up if I'm winning consistantly.

Good sessions, 3h + 9bb/h.

Yippee I'm even now

Quick update, just recouped my $300 5 10 loss.

Have won $300 in about 8-10h of 2 4 O8 sh single table play (well, $60 of it is a sign-up bonus)...but still +$240 in play or roughly 60bb over 10hours (6bb/h) isn't a bad start to my online omaha8 career.

Think I'll only play live on Wed nights (hi/lo) for a while at the west end club and try to work my way up online for now.

Found an online game/goal

Omaha h/l short handed, I love this game. The amount of poor play out there is astounding -- I think there is a huge gap between good and bad O8 sh players as compared to holdem. You start with 4 cards, you have so much more information on a weak opponent. Even strong full-table players can be picked apart shorthanded when you notice what hands they always showdown. Bluffing is a big part of the sh Omaha game if you pick the right boards against the right players, fun game.

Well, it's just been a day but I'm having fun playing this online compared to my distain of HE cash games online.

Just been playing LOWWWWWWWWW limits, mostly 2 4 and 3 6 hu to 6 handed tables on Absolute, it's been profitable for what it is.

Goal is to move up slowly -- yes, I have the money to jump right into a 10 20 sh game, but I want to slowly build up to it and see if the players are improving with limits -- from what I've seen of the 6max tables on stars, up to 10 20 the play is still pretty poor, although some more aggressive players creep in.

Side note -- saw Raymer playing the 75/150 O8 today.

Haven't exactly been keeping track given how low I've been playing, but up 4-5bb/h (mostly at 2 4), played about 6-8 hours, made back more than 2/3 of my disasterous 5 10 session at absolute.

Great sessions...+4-5bb/h over 6-8h

Finding My Game Online

I can't stand full table ring online, never enjoyed it. I think it is a mistake to try and make money at a game I don't enjoy. This sunk in after my Absolute experience.

Bad run at 6 handed NLHE sngs, losing huge pots 3 handed 3 times today when going all in ahead...oh well, I still love those 6 handed games. Lost 3 $33 buy-ins there. I'm on a terrible run.

Now, short-handed O8 is a game I love, but hardly ever materializes in the real world. I decided to give Absolute 1 more shot after an email from their support. Found a 2 handed O8 table and played for af ew minutes, up a bit and the game broke. Sat in a 3/4 handed 3 6 game and it actually lasted an hour. Up 25bb in an hour...nice I can win online once in a while. Just some awful shorthanded O8 players out there. Problem is, it's tough to find a shorthanded O8 game online that doesn't either fill quickly or break quickly. Have to scout some sites for games. Saw a nice 5 10 6 handed table on stars with $200+ pots...have to try that game soon.

So the plan is to now try playing sh O8 online for a bit and see how it goes. Starting at lower limits (3 6 to 5 10) to see how things go and then hopefully jumping up to 10 20 if I'm winning.

Going to stay away from the undergrounds for a bit, too much smoke and too low limits for me right now...well I did hear about a 10 20/15 30 game close to my home that I may go try out this weekend. I do want to establish a game I like and win at online though.

Have to download a party skin and get a rakeback going.

1h +25bb/h

What to do...

Getting tired of the smoke at the underground games I play, I simply can't play in those conditions any more on a regular basis.

So, either to the casinos or taking a shot at online poker again...casinos are all an hour away from Toronto so I'm giving online a shot again. I'm generally a break-even online ring player, while being a big winning player live. Partly my game being worse online, I'm also much more prone to tilt online for some reason...it almost never enters my live game...hoping to play more solid poker and move up to 10 20 soon.

Scouted a few sites wanting to try something new. Decided on absolute poker as the 5 10 looked very soft with 4-5 per flop. My run of terrible cards continued, only hitting 1-2 flops or draws in a 4h session. I also fell into my online trap of calling with a few hands to the river that I would let go of live...I need to tighten up my ring game online, have to see how the next few sessions go.

On a side note, I will NEVER play this site again. The game itself was great, very sort, people calling raises with J8o etc etc. However, I got disconnected 4 times or more within 4 hours. I NEVER get d/c on any of the major sites, fast computer/cable modem etc. Also, the traffic on this site is less than I would have wished.

Withdrawing the rest and heading to a party skin with a decent rakeback.

-30bb in 4h.

Cold Cards Continue, Bad Play Creeping In

My string of cold cards continues. My weekly Hi/lo 4/8 with 1/2 kill last night. In stud8 I can't close a hand or I'm losing to miracle 1 or 2 outers on the river. In Omaha8 I can't hit a flop. I did play a few too many hands last night. Played some weaker Omaha hands from EP that I should have dumped. Made one terrible call on the turn in Omaha with A34x. Turn was capped and I called for a counterfeitable low draw 4 handed -- if I hit I get 1/4d, I missed completely but either way a terrible call. Played some marginal starting hands in stud8 to try and pick up a big draw on 4th, but dumped them all when I missed -- not a huge blunder in multihanded pots, but it adds up. Worst plays in stud8 were playing hands like KK in the hole too far in multiway pots, these are hands to dump if there isn't improvement on 4th in a spit card game.

My worst loss to date in this game. Found myself getting impatient and getting frustrated.

7h hours, -36BB for -5BB/h.

BAHHHHHHHHHHH

4 8 with 6 12 kill LHE tonight. Lost 30BB and quit. Big hand of the night in a kill round LP with black KKs. Capped 5 ways preflop...AK8 with 2 hearts. By the turn its 3 handed with a fishy player who would cap a flush draw and who would raise in EP with a variety of hands. Turn AK88. Gets capped heads up. River completes the flush, I bet out and get raised...I call knowing he has AA.

That's poker, I wouldn't play it any differently, tough hand.

After that I flop trip 9s from EP with a QT9 rainbow flop, bet into by ultratight player in SB. I just call with 3 players behind me hoping to fill and win a big one...I can't rule out a flopped straight by the tightest player at the table. When he bets out again on the turn QT96 I just call again. River QT967 and I lose to Q8. TOugh hand. Maybe if I raise the flop and bet the turn I win it, hard to say.

One other hand of note. Posting a $6 kill I get in for free with Q8o...flop the straight on a KJT rainbow board...5 handed or so. I decide to play it slow from EP and noone bets the flop. Turn brings KJT9 with 2 clubs, I bet get a call and a raise and I call thinking that I just lost 1/2 the pot and the raiser is now freerolling for the flush. Turn brings the flush and I lose the whole pot, not to the raiser but to 56s from the caller. The reason I slowplayed had to do with a hand last night where I flopped KJTs with AQo with A of the suit, bet the flop and all folded (5players).

I was down tonight and wanted to win a big one, instead may have cost myself 2 pots.

I wouldn't play the KK hand differently, but I know not to slowplay in this game as you get callers regardless.

One last bad hand. SB I limp into a 6 handed pot with 98o. Flop A65 with a flush draw. I don't draw to a gutshot with a flush draw on board as I only have 2 live outs and can get redrawn if I hit the turn. But.....I decide to bet the flop, all 5 call. Turn A652, no flush. I check, SB bets and 4 callers, I think I am 20:1 so I fold, but actually had the right odds to call with the implied odds and the fact that my hand was well concealed and the bettor was on my immediate left. I fold and hit my 2 outer. SB bets and all call. 84 takes it on the A5672 board.

Well, crappy session. Played 3-4 hands wrong and lost a big pot that I played right.

5 hours, -30BB, -6BB/h.

My first 30BB losing session in almost 4 months, 30BB is generally my cutoff unless there is an especially good game.

Boredom of Low Limit Makes for Bad Play

Last night played 3 6 w/ 5 10 true kill, so basically 3 6. The night started short handed 5-7 players for the first few hours which made for a lively game. The only thing I find tolerable about limit holdem at low limits is playing a short table. A full table is just tooooo boring.

Player in seat 1 was one of the most horrendous players I've ever played with. Would call to the river with Q7o on a flop of AK6, just amazing. He did flop many hands early, hitting 4 sets and flopping 3 straights. Of course, he left with no money. He paid me off well twice..my AKs vs his KQo. Flop K8x 2 suites (not my suit). Flop is capped between us after 5 saw the flop. Turn is an 8 -- could be a scare card with this player but, but he wouldn't cap an 8...he would bet it and call a raise, but not cap. He bets, I raise, he calls. River completes the flush..he checks, I bet, he calls. I win a big pot. Later on i flop a set against the same player who bets and raises all the way with top pair medium kicker.

So, I'm up almost $200 after 2 hours and then the table fills to 11 handed....yawn. I SHOULD HAVE JUST GOTTEN UP AND LEFT as I didn't feel like playing 11 handed, it's just too boring to sit and wait for cards in showdown poker.

I stayed, lost back alot, mostly on one hand that I though I played very well. Limp UTG +1 with black 10s. 4 or 5 to the flop. Flop is 997 with 2 spades. SB bets, 2 callers and I raise to see where I'm at. Player behind me folds, all limpers call. Now I know I'm leading given who was in the hand and that there was no reraise. Turn completes the flush with an undercard, checked to me I bet and get only the sb as a caller. river 7...997x7, not a spade which I know would have helped me. SB bets out. He is not tricky enough to check a 9 on the turn so he has a 7 and somehow stayed all the way. I call because the pot is big. He shows 73 or some such crap. I say nice hand. This is one of the many players that any decent player wins lots of money from in these small games, but this is the hand that keeps him playing...oh well.

A bigger game and I'd have left once I was up 30BB, but I don't take the 3 6 game too seriously wrt wins and losses.

Not a great session, didn't make too many errors with my play, but my leak of staying too long in a game I'm not in the mood for was evident...should have left earlier.

6h of play +1.5BB/h.

No cards

O8/stud 8 -- didn't catch many starting hands all night, maybe played a few too many hands here and there due to how soft the table was and not being able to enter any pots. Game was very beatable as always.

My first losing session in a long time, likely in 4-6mo at this hi/lo game.

Frustrating, but was patient for the most part, just couldn't get the cards to help me. Made a bit back when the table became short and it was Omaha only at the end of the night, but the bad players quickly left and the game broke.

A good session overall, bad cards overall.

8h, -1BB/h.

Hi Lo Night

Played the weekly Omaha8/Stud8 hi lo games last night. After 6.5h picked up maybe 10 playable hands, won 3-4 1/2 pots and was down 14-16BB. Played very patient. The game was great -- it was 11 handed, but if you can't get a hand there's nothing you can do. Tried representing a full house in a stud round with QQ88 showing only to be called down by trip 2s. Reminded myself that I just had to be patient in this game and the goal is not to try and make moves, but just wait for the cards against 90% of the table.

6.5h in the game became short, 5-6 players left and the consensus was to switch to only omaha8 for the rest of the night. Only 1 strong player in the game, and I thought at least I could play more hands now with less players. In the next 1.5h got some monster starting hands that I'd been waiting for all night and sinply outplayed almost everyone who wasn't a strong shorthanded omaha player -- went on a +50bb swing and ended up for the night.

For the night, 8h of play and +35BB for +4.5BB/h.

A frustrating night for the most part that turned out well. 11 handed stud rounds with no hands can take a longgggggg time to sit and fold, but that's what you have to do with rags, sometimes for hours, to beat this game.

Swings!!!

Didn't make it to the ex. Went to play some loose 3 6 at the West end club. Started off playing extremely loose for fun and was down 150 or so, then decided to play my regular game. Played an aggressive game, limping in with hands like Kxs in late position with 5-7 callers. MISSED EVERY DRAW ALL NIGHT -- built huge 5 way pots with the nut draw on more than 4 occasions only to lose to crap like K4o making 2 pair on the river, calling 3 bets cold on various streets with K hi or top pair no kicker. Played these hands perfectly, but missed every draw all night.

At my lowest down $450 in a 3 6/ 5 10 kill game!

Somehow had a $500 swing and was up $150 at some point late and ended up ahead a small amount by the time I left -- lets call it even.

To exemplify my night -- last hand of the night we are 5 handed UTG raise, cannon reraise, ends up 4 handed capped -- I have ATs. Flop 56T rainbow, capped on the flop -- both players at this point playing very looose as this is the last hand of the night and I know I'm ahead. Turn J, UTG is all in at some point on the turn, river is checked and I'm shown AJ and 66.

Still not sure how I broke even, played solid poker when I was down and the weak players stopped catching their miracle draws -- all the weak players busted out as usual.

Played a solid game except for the screwing around at the start -- I do this when I play very low limits once in a while just to test the waters.

+0.5BB/h, not accounting for the true kill.

Hi Lo So Beatable

Well, had to take a week off from playing due to work. I;m fortunate in that my job affords me lots of time off to pursue poker. I generally only have to work 10-11 days a month.

I played for the first time in aweek at my favourite West end club -- Wed is high/low night, and this is a very beatable game. I closed a few holes in my game that I had been noticing in past weeks and played a very good session. Only once during the night did I make a huge preflop blunder -- pots were getting capped 6 ways in a forced-betting O8 round and I originally called a single raise out of the SB with QQ23. Needless to say I called a capped flop and had to fold on the flop of K23. Other than that I played a solid game. I got outplayed in one hand of stud8 forced betting with a spit, but was happy with my fold after I thought about the hand for a bit. I folded aces up (AAJJ) on 5th street when facing a bet (low hand) and a raise from the strongest player in the game representing trip Js (J was the spit)...I almost reraised as calling was not an option given the only low was yet to act behind me. I had raised the strong player on earlier streets and he had just called, now he was raising into me. I ultimately folded the hand, but thought the raiser may have been making a move. Ultimately, in this game there are better spots to pay a cap on 5th street. Strong player showed down only a pair of Js for high (actually scooping a drawn low).

Great session -- up 6bb/h.**

Another hole in my game that is being smoothed out is playing too long a session when the game is no longer good -- this has been hard for me, but playing more frequently has helped me to drastically decrease losses based on this hole. I don't have to stay for 10hours when I'm not sharp or only the solid players remain, I can just play again tomorrow or the following day.

Generally a good session for me is 5-6 hours, after that I lose a bit of an edge, become afraid to lose what I'm up. Someone on RGP once told me that he locks-up sessions by not allowing himself to get below a certain fixed amount when he's up -- for example if he is up $400 in a 10 20 game after 5 hours, he will leave if he gets down to $300. For myself, this is a good rule as it is emotionally draining giving back alot of chips at the tail end of a session.

Game's going well. Next session will likely be 10 20 at the CNE during the day Saturday.

**note that in a kill game with many kill pots (this game is a kill based on the size of a single pot), I measure a BB as the average of the fill and non kill rounds (ie -- $10 in a 4 8/6 12 game)