Yay! Full Tilt poker has finally implemented resizable tables in their software. Party Poker has had this feature for the last year and a half or so, I do not know what took the Full Tilt Poker developers so long to implement this feature, but I am sure glad they have.

I decided to test the feature to the extreme last night. Now, I normally four table very comfortably on my 20 inch monitor. I am able to have four tables in a 2x2 matrix at full size. Using the table resize feature, I was able to get 9 tables in a 3x3 matrix. I did not keep 9 tables open at all times, I mainly played on 6 tables, and used the other two or three spots to scout out tables that I thought I could profit at. After three years of playing online poker, I can usually tell in five or so minutes from watching a table if there are people at the table that are just throwing their money around. Naturally, I want to join those kinds of tables as over time, that money they are "throwing around" will eventually be mine :)

Anyway, I played for roughly five hours last night. Let me tell you, I've never played 6-8 tables before, but it was a CRAZY roller coaster ride. I was never up more than $20 in the entire session, which is pretty crappy. However, I was down as much as $350, but fought back for a loss of $200 after 5 hours of play.

I think I played for way too long. After about the third hour I started making some plays that I probably wouldn't have if I was a) well rested and b) had not been playing for so long and going through the ups and downs of the night.

There were a few situations where a guy (or girl) would check/call me on the flop and turn, then when they checked the river I bet, and I was raised a small amount and had to pay them off. Both times they ended up having sets, and BOTH TIMES I had turned top two pair. LOL. Not much I could do about that.

The only big hand I was involved in was in the first hour (when I was just on four tables). I had QJ late position and raised. SB and BB both called. Flop was JJ3 (two hearts). Both players checked and I bet half the pot. SB folds and BB calls. Next card is a K. He checks again, and I bet the pot. He calls. Last card is a 5. JJ3K5. The flush never came, and he checked the river. At this point the pot was about $150. I didn't want to check the river because I put him on either a weak King or flush draw. I bet $60 into $150 (wanting a call with a weak King or maybe even a weaker Jack.. possible JT?) He min-reraises me all in for another $60 to me. WTF. There is now $340 in the pot and it is $60 to me to call. Naturally, I have to call, as I am getting roughly 5:1 on my money, which means I need to have the best hand roughly 17% of the time (100/6 = 16.66%). I call, and he flips over 33 for the boat on the flop. What a great way to start the night.

In retrospect, I do not think there was anything I could have done in this spot. I think I am losing money by checking on the river. I think more often than not worse hands will pay me off in that spot by betting on the river. I think this guy just disguised his hand rather well (I won't get into whether he played it poorly or not, he won the money so I guess that is all that counts.)

In any case, I ended down $200 for the night, which roughly equals what I lost in this hand. Not too bad I suppose, especially considering I took some sick beats that cost me probably well over $300. Oh well, "that's poker" (I say that sarcastically because I hate it when people say that.... "that's poker". Just smile and realize that poor players will eventually give you all their money. So rather than say "that's poker" when your at the table, next time, say, "good hand, sir.... CHIPS table 5."

Finally. After a miserable March 1st session where I was down $950 in about an hour and a half... I just had made $560 in about 2 hours time. That profit took me to a profit of $120 for the month of March, at just about $13 an hour. Yes!

You have no idea how happy this makes me. I always find it really difficult to come back from such an awful session. Every time it happens (I guess I have only had two really bad sessions, ie: I consider a really bad session losing more than 4x buyins) I always rethink the way I am playing poker. Was I just playing awful or were the cards just not cooperating?

In any case, I am very happy I am back to profit for the month of March. I hope this can continue. I have a $500 bonus on Full Tilt right now so I am trying to play as much as possible. I do not have any tests this week in any of my classes, so I should be able to play a few hours each night.

My brother is coming into town this weekend so I will probably not have any time to play this weekend, but I might be able to sneak in a few hours :)

Vegas was awesome. I even enjoyed it more than the first time! Two factors went into that conclusion: I was up $460 in poker and I had the best steak of my life at DelMonico. I strongly encourage all to get the Barbecue Shrimp, Filet Mignon, and the Banana Cream Pie at DelMonico. You will not be disappointed.

As for poker, I played about 6 sessions for a total of 14 hours or so. First session I played at the Wynn and profited $200. All came from one hand. I had 66 and called a raise from mid position, both blinds called as well. Four to the flop. Flop comes 962 two spades. Check check, raiser bets 3/4 pot, I reraise, SB calls (wtf?), initial raiser pushes all in for like another $80 or so. I think for a minute then reraise all in and SB thinks for a minute then calls with 78 (rofl). Initial raiser had AKs for flush draw. Turn and river bricked and I took in like $300 pot. Profit $200.

Next session was at the Flamingo. Didn't get dealt a single premium hand (except AKs once), but still managed to chip away at people and walked out up $100.

Third session was limit $3/$6 at Mirage. I got destroyed here. I had AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and 44 and lost with all of them. 44 one was the worst, flop was 542, bets and raises blah blah blah. Flush draw never came so I check raised river, guy just calls with the nut straight (63). OOOOK. Maybe he put me on the 63 in the RAISED POT PREFLOP A HOLE. Down $150.

Next session was at Flamingo. Interesting hand here. I am UTG and raise with 56 diamonds. Three callers. Flop is 78K two spades. I bet, two callers. Next card is 4 spades. So I make my straight, but puts flush on the board. I check, check, last guy bets small. I call as does middle guy. River is another K, for 78K4K. I check, middle guy checks, last guy bets like half the pot, I call, middle guy folds. Guy has KJ, and I win with my straight. Woot. I finished up $140 after about 2 hours.

Fifth session was at Flamingo, up $80 after another 2 hours.

Last session was on Saturday at Caesar's. I played from about 2pm until 4pm. No really big hands. The guys at my table were actually decent. However, they kept saying how tight a table this was, how people needed to start loosening up. So I did that and proceeded to stomp all over everyone. Every continuation bet of mine on the flop won the pot for me. EVERY TIME. I guess they thought I had AA like five times during the session. Ended up $90 after 2 hours or so.

So all in all, $200 + $100 - $150 + $140 + $80 + $90 = $460 profit for 14 hours of play. $33 an hour. Not too bad I suppose. That $460 paid for my hotel and flight for the whole weekend. So I basically just payed for food while in Vegas. NICE!

Next blog I will talk about what I learned in Vegas and what you should look out for while scouting out where to play poker while in Vegas.

I am going to be in Vegas starting Wednesday March 14th through Saturday March 17th. I am not sure if I will have access to email, but send me any recommendations you may have for places to eat and/or play poker.

Also, lets hope this trip I return in the black in poker. I haven't played poker in over a week so I am rested and ready to play.

Wish me luck. pe@ce

Now that I have had some time to cool down, I took a look back at the hand histories from that awful night (see previous post). Wow was I playing horribly. I should have noticed after this hand and quit immediately:

FullTiltPoker Game #1902791382: Table Lake Mead - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:31:07 ET - 2007/03/02
Seat 1: Yowsers ($217.75)
Seat 2: minhchies ($196)
Seat 3: misee ($36)
Seat 4: PoorNapoleon ($210.60)
Seat 5: ArtieRufio31 ($186.10)
Seat 6: atlascasa ($450.65)
Seat 7: I-Con_Rad ($57)
Seat 8: Zaharia ($297.50)
Seat 9: smilingmink ($204.50)
smilingmink posts the small blind of $1
Yowsers posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Td Ts]
minhchies folds
misee calls $2
PoorNapoleon has 15 seconds left to act
PoorNapoleon calls $2
ArtieRufio31 folds
atlascasa folds
I-Con_Rad folds
Zaharia folds
smilingmink calls $1
Yowsers raises to $10
misee folds
misee stands up
PoorNapoleon raises to $25
smilingmink folds
Yowsers calls $15

Calling here so I can hit a set, I know I am behind but if I hit a T I can probably stack him.

*** FLOP *** [6c 9s 5s]
Yowsers checks
PoorNapoleon bets $36

WHY did I raise... WHY?!?! I was clearly drunk, although I had no alcohol in me at all. ZERO. NONE. Grr.

Yowsers raises to $96
PoorNapoleon raises to $156
Yowsers raises to $192.75, and is all in
PoorNapoleon calls $29.60, and is all in
Yowsers shows [Td Ts]
PoorNapoleon shows [As Ad]
Uncalled bet of $7.15 returned to Yowsers
*** TURN *** [6c 9s 5s] [Qs]
*** RIVER *** [6c 9s 5s Qs] [Kd]
Yowsers shows a pair of Tens
PoorNapoleon shows a pair of Aces
PoorNapoleon wins the pot ($422.20) with a pair of Aces
Yowsers: nh
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $425.20 | Rake $3
Board: [6c 9s 5s Qs Kd]
Seat 1: Yowsers (big blind) showed [Td Ts] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 4: PoorNapoleon showed [As Ad] and won ($422.20) with a pair of Aces

Wow. I don't think I could have played TT any worse than that... yay me.

Down $185 to stupidity.

LOL. Now this hand... man, I guess I put him on a bluff, eh?

FullTiltPoker Game #1903058557: Table Cathedral Rock - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:23:40 ET - 2007/03/02
Seat 1: azn-ace-boii ($333.65)
Seat 2: Tiltx ($97.35)
Seat 3: RDionisio79 ($80.85)
Seat 4: DIDDATHURT ($200), is sitting out
Seat 5: Coox ($204.60)
Seat 6: minhchies ($258.60)
Seat 7: Checkmate824 ($200)
Seat 8: Yowsers ($211.30)
RDionisio79 posts the small blind of $1
Coox posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Ah Jc]
minhchies folds
Checkmate824 folds
Yowsers raises to $7
azn-ace-boii raises to $18
Tiltx folds
DIDDATHURT stands up
RDionisio79 calls $17
Coox folds
Yowsers calls $11

Not a bad call... already multi way pot, maybe I can get lucky.

*** FLOP *** [4d 6c Jd]
RDionisio79 checks
Yowsers checks

MISTAKE. I definitely need to bet here to know where I am. If I am raised I can fold pretty easily. If I am called, then reevaluate on the turn.

azn-ace-boii bets $35
RDionisio79 folds
Yowsers calls $35
*** TURN *** [4d 6c Jd] [8s]
Yowsers checks
azn-ace-boii bets $50
Yowsers calls $50
*** RIVER *** [4d 6c Jd 8s] [5h]
Yowsers bets $108.30, and is all in

This honestly was not that bad of a play. I think it is hard for anything other than KK or AA to call in this spot. Naturally, he had QQ and I don't think I could have called with QQ in that spot. Then again, maybe I am just a donkey.

azn-ace-boii calls $108.30
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Yowsers shows [Ah Jc] (a pair of Jacks)
azn-ace-boii shows [Qs Qd] (a pair of Queens)
azn-ace-boii wins the pot ($439.60) with a pair of Queens
Yowsers is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $442.60 | Rake $3
Board: [4d 6c Jd 8s 5h]
Seat 1: azn-ace-boii showed [Qs Qd] and won ($439.60) with a pair of Queens
Seat 8: Yowsers showed [Ah Jc] and lost with a pair of Jacks

Down $211. So in total, $185 + $211 = $396

This next one is interesting. I think my ultimate mistake was calling preflop. Not enough people in the pot to warrant the call. But, I did hit my hand.

FullTiltPoker Game #1903083170: Table Calico Pines - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:29:11 ET - 2007/03/02
Seat 1: flyer413 ($73.80)
Seat 2: VERYLUCKYDOG ($402.60)
Seat 3: OtisDart ($465)
Seat 4: TopTizzlePizzle ($405)
Seat 5: alan333 ($1,346.80)
Seat 6: zeta_poker ($916.65)
Seat 7: bucfanjay ($166)
Seat 8: Yowsers ($353.60)
Seat 9: LawmakerDonk ($296)
bucfanjay posts the small blind of $2
Yowsers posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [7h 6h]
LawmakerDonk folds
flyer413 folds
VERYLUCKYDOG has 15 seconds left to act
VERYLUCKYDOG folds
OtisDart has 15 seconds left to act
OtisDart folds
TopTizzlePizzle folds
alan333 folds
zeta_poker raises to $15
bucfanjay folds
Yowsers calls $11
*** FLOP *** [7s 4c 6s]
Yowsers checks
zeta_poker bets $30
Yowsers raises to $75
zeta_poker calls $45
*** TURN *** [7s 4c 6s] [Tc]
Yowsers bets $99

I think I should have bet pot on this card. Granted, he still might have called cause I put him on AA, but at least I would have gotten more value out of it. Oh well.

zeta_poker calls $99
*** RIVER *** [7s 4c 6s Tc] [4d]
Yowsers checks
zeta_poker has 15 seconds left to act
zeta_poker bets $108
Yowsers folds

I don't think I call that any time right? Maybe I should have bet all in and not checked. I don't know. I just thought that guy had AA, and since the flush never came, he would probably call an all in putting me on busted draw. Who knows. Maybe he had AKs and sensed weakness when I checked the river. But I am pretty confident I am beat in this spot about 95% of the time.

Uncalled bet of $108 returned to zeta_poker
zeta_poker mucks
zeta_poker wins the pot ($377)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $380 | Rake $3
Board: [7s 4c 6s Tc 4d]
Seat 6: zeta_poker (button) collected ($377), mucked
Seat 8: Yowsers (big blind) folded on the River

Alllllrighty then. Down $189... so in total down $185 + $211 + $189 = $585. That should have been my night there. Oh well.

A bunch of horrible poker mistakes, and some bad luck (getting counterfeit in that last hand) led to a pretty miserable session.

I probably will not be playing online this next week until Vegas. Hopefully it gives me a time to rest up so I can play some good poker in Vegas. Wish me luck.

What a great way to end the week. I had one of the worst sessions (2nd worst to be exact) this evening. Or is it morning? I started at 12:30am and ended at 1:45am. Down $950 in an hour and a half.... that can't be good, no?

Poker sucks. Lets face it. There is no other game out there that fucks with your mind like poker does. You can be at your peak and then the next time you play doubting whether or not you should even keep playing this awful awful game.

If I had not already booked my tickets to Vegas I might not be going there this Spring Break.

I'm sure I am probably tilting a bit now (haha, now, wish I coulda stopped about an hour ago.) Honestly though, I did not tilt off MUCH of that $950. I'd say about $200 or so was tilted off, the rest was just bad luck (ie: poker sucks.)

My mistake was not quitting when I was down $490ish. I always tell myself that once I get to profit $500 or loss of $500 that I am to stop for the night. Guess what?!?!?! Mike decided not to follow his "guidelines" this evening and guess what happens? A shitty shitty $950 loss. Fuck poker.

Thanks for listening. Good night.