LOL this is a perfect example of how NOT to play AA. Enjoy.

Full Tilt Poker Game #2326010971: $20 + $1 Heads Up Sit & Go (17552888), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:55:06 ET - 2007/05/01
Seat 1: thuwin3 (1,360)
Seat 2: Yowsers (1,640)
Yowsers posts the small blind of 20
thuwin3 posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [5h 6s]
Yowsers raises to 120
thuwin3 raises to 200
Yowsers calls 80
*** FLOP *** [9d Kc 4s]
thuwin3 checks
Yowsers checks
*** TURN *** [9d Kc 4s] [6c]
thuwin3 checks
Yowsers checks
*** RIVER *** [9d Kc 4s 6c] [6d]
thuwin3 bets 280
Yowsers raises to 700
thuwin3 raises to 1,120
Yowsers raises to 1,440, and is all in
thuwin3 calls 40, and is all in
Uncalled bet of 280 returned to Yowsers
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Yowsers shows [5h 6s] (three of a kind, Sixes)
thuwin3 mucks (As Ad)
Yowsers wins the pot (2,720) with three of a kind, Sixes
thuwin3 stands up
Yowsers stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2,720 | Rake 0
Board: [9d Kc 4s 6c 6d]
Seat 1: thuwin3 (big blind) mucked [Ah As] - two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 2: Yowsers (small blind) showed [5h 6s] and won (2,720) with three of a kind, Sixes

I just got done playing some low limit stud on Full Tilt. Much fun. I was playing $.25/$.50, $.05 ante, and bring in of $.10. I soon came to the conclusion that I suck at Stud, but enjoyed it thoroughly. After losing about $15 at Stud, I decided to play one heads up NL SNG before I went to sleep.

First hand...... and I win. It went something like this:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2255981510: $20 + $1 Heads Up Sit & Go (16990496), Table 1 - 10/20 - No Limit Hold'em - 8:33:19 ET - 2007/04/21
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [8h 8c]
Yowsers raises to 60
King Coronas calls 40
*** FLOP *** [8d Jh 5d]
King Coronas checks
Yowsers bets 120
King Coronas raises to 1,440, and is all in
Yowsers calls 1,320, and is all in
King Coronas shows [7d Jd]
Yowsers shows [8h 8c]
*** TURN *** [8d Jh 5d] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [8d Jh 5d Ks] [Qh]
King Coronas shows a pair of Jacks
Yowsers shows three of a kind, Eights
Yowsers wins the pot (3,000) with three of a kind, Eights
King Coronas stands up
Yowsers stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,000 | Rake 0
Board: [8d Jh 5d Ks Qh]
Seat 1: King Coronas (big blind) showed [7d Jd] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 2: Yowsers (small blind) showed [8h 8c] and won (3,000) with three of a kind, Eights

Ok, it went exactly like that :) LOL.

LOL. So I think variance is FINALLY CATCHING UP:

First one....

Full Tilt Poker Game #2232932232: Table Carey Grove - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:46:00 ET -

2007/04/18
Seat 1: dobieatwar ($168.60)
Seat 2: HOVA23 ($110.10)
Seat 3: Mauzinho ($187.95)
Seat 4: crazysmrguy ($34)
Seat 5: IGGU ($198)
Seat 6: lainiebeale ($202.90)
Seat 7: Cynicism ($252.95)
Seat 8: Yowsers ($205.20)
Seat 9: JGpp1101 ($168.10)
crazysmrguy posts the small blind of $1
IGGU posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Jd Js]
lainiebeale calls $2
Cynicism folds
Yowsers raises to $7
JGpp1101 folds
dobieatwar calls $7
HOVA23 folds
HOVA23 is sitting out
Mauzinho calls $7
crazysmrguy folds
IGGU folds
lainiebeale calls $5
*** FLOP *** [8c Jc 6h]
lainiebeale bets $18
Yowsers raises to $40
dobieatwar raises to $161.60, and is all in
Mauzinho folds
lainiebeale raises to $195.90, and is all in
Mauzinho: lol
Yowsers calls $155.90
lainiebeale shows [6s 8s]
Yowsers shows [Jd Js]
dobieatwar shows [6d 6c]
*** TURN *** [8c Jc 6h] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [8c Jc 6h 5s] [2c]
lainiebeale shows two pair, Eights and Sixes
Yowsers shows three of a kind, Jacks
Yowsers wins the side pot ($68.60) with three of a kind, Jacks
dobieatwar shows three of a kind, Sixes
Yowsers wins the main pot ($512.80) with three of a kind, Jacks
dobieatwar adds $200
lainiebeale is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $584.40 Main pot $515.80. Side pot $68.60. | Rake $3
Board: [8c Jc 6h 5s 2c]
Seat 1: dobieatwar showed [6d 6c] and lost with three of a kind, Sixes
Seat 2: HOVA23 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: Mauzinho (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: crazysmrguy (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: IGGU (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: lainiebeale showed [6s 8s] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sixes
Seat 7: Cynicism didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Yowsers showed [Jd Js] and won ($581.40) with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 9: JGpp1101 didn't bet (folded)

Second one happened about five hands after the previous:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2232968630: Table Carey Grove - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 1:52:02 ET -

2007/04/18
Seat 1: dobieatwar ($211.90)
Seat 2: HOVA23 ($110.10)
Seat 3: Mauzinho ($178.95), is sitting out
Seat 4: dzero ($196)
Seat 5: IGGU ($200)
Seat 6: lainiebeale ($0), is sitting out
Seat 7: Cynicism ($246.95)
Seat 8: Yowsers ($578.70)
Seat 9: JGpp1101 ($207.35)
dzero posts the small blind of $1
IGGU posts the big blind of $2
HOVA23 posts a dead small blind of $1
HOVA23 posts $2
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [6c 7c]
Cynicism folds
Yowsers calls $2
JGpp1101 folds
dobieatwar folds
HOVA23 has 15 seconds left to act
Mauzinho stands up
HOVA23 has timed out
HOVA23 checks
dzero folds
IGGU raises to $10
lainiebeale adds $200
Yowsers calls $8
lainiebeale has returned
HOVA23 folds
*** FLOP *** [9c 5c 8d]
IGGU bets $72
Yowsers raises to $568.70, and is all in
IGGU calls $118, and is all in
Yowsers shows [6c 7c]
IGGU shows [9d 9s]
Uncalled bet of $378.70 returned to Yowsers
*** TURN *** [9c 5c 8d] [3d]
*** RIVER *** [9c 5c 8d 3d] [Th]
Yowsers shows a straight, Ten high
IGGU shows three of a kind, Nines
Yowsers wins the pot ($401) with a straight, Ten high
IGGU is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $404 | Rake $3
Board: [9c 5c 8d 3d Th]
Seat 1: dobieatwar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: HOVA23 folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Mauzinho (button) is sitting out
Seat 4: dzero (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: IGGU (big blind) showed [9d 9s] and lost with three of a kind, Nines
Seat 6: lainiebeale is sitting out
Seat 7: Cynicism didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Yowsers showed [6c 7c] and won ($401) with a straight, Ten high
Seat 9: JGpp1101 didn't bet (folded)

Oh my lordy lordy.

I played a $20 rebuy MTT last night. I made a dumb mistake and thought I was short stacked with 20 big blinds and pushed with 33. I was called by KK and I was done. Stupid.

After that I decided to try and play the $1/$2 blinds 6 max table, but I opted for the $60 cap. That means the most I could lose in one hand was $60. Since I severely suck at 6 max tables, I thought the cap would be a great way to learn how to play at 6 max. HAHAHA, what a joke this game was.

I played four hands for the entire 45 minutes I was sitting at the table. I was up $200 after 45 minutes of play, woot sauce. I think I might try those cap games more often :)

So I had a close friend of mine comment that my blog has been "depressing" as of late. Well, what can I say. Poker IS depressing when you are running bad. There's not much I can say or do to change that. To quote another friend, "when you're running bad, you're running REAL bad"

So I hate it when poker bloggers only post bad beats on their blogs. Everyone has their ups and downs, so why not post hands that are good and bad? Wellll... in my case, I haven't had any good hands (or a good session) in a very long time. I have been running so bad lately it scares me. I am not down as much as I have been in the past, but it is absolutely absurd the kind of hands I have been playing with and losing to. This hand sums up my sessions as of late:

Full Tilt Poker Game #2191730630: Table Cathedral Rock - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:06:35 ET - 2007/04/12
Seat 1: iamdaisy ($195)
Seat 2: DeFish007 ($47.80)
Seat 3: gooddadfamily ($458.55)
Seat 4: Yowsers ($186.95)
Seat 5: Wochoppi ($100.50)
Seat 6: o7 ($71.15)
Seat 7: kuljme ($238.65)
Seat 8: bryans07 ($202.10)
Seat 9: dude_69 ($96.10)
iamdaisy posts the small blind of $1
DeFish007 posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #9
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Ac Ah]
gooddadfamily folds
Yowsers raises to $7
Wochoppi raises to $12
o7 folds
kuljme folds
bryans07 folds
dude_69 folds
iamdaisy folds
DeFish007 folds
Yowsers raises to $22
Wochoppi calls $10
*** FLOP *** [7d 5d 6d]
Yowsers bets $26
Wochoppi raises to $78.50, and is all in
Yowsers calls $52.50
Wochoppi shows [Kc Ks]
Yowsers shows [Ac Ah]
*** TURN *** [7d 5d 6d] [Kh]
*** RIVER *** [7d 5d 6d Kh] [9h]
Wochoppi shows three of a kind, Kings
Yowsers shows a pair of Aces
Wochoppi wins the pot ($201) with three of a kind, Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $204 | Rake $3
Board: [7d 5d 6d Kh 9h]
Seat 1: iamdaisy (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: DeFish007 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: gooddadfamily didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Yowsers showed [Ac Ah] and lost with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: Wochoppi showed [Kc Ks] and won ($201) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 6: o7 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: kuljme didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: bryans07 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: dude_69 (button) didn't bet (folded)

I mean, if the Kd hits on the turn, at least I have a redraw with any diamond!!!!

Let me give you another one:

This is towards the end of the night. I'm down about $400 at this point. I have an excellent note on this player that he reraises with KQ KJ and low pocket pairs preflop. Naturally....

Full Tilt Poker Game #2191852482: Table Bosek - $1/$2 - Pot Limit Hold'em - 2:31:05 ET - 2007/04/12
Seat 1: Yowsers ($200.40)
Seat 2: friareric ($275.80)
Seat 3: engel1984m ($44)
Seat 4: BluffingXx ($19.95)
Seat 5: gooddadfamily ($157.15)
Seat 6: tilty_wilty ($123.45)
Seat 7: jaybru ($84.90)
Seat 8: DoctorTom ($171.80)
Seat 9: stephqc ($104.95)
engel1984m posts the small blind of $1
BluffingXx posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Td Tc]
gooddadfamily folds
tilty_wilty folds
jaybru raises to $6
DoctorTom folds
stephqc folds
Yowsers raises to $19
friareric folds
engel1984m folds
BluffingXx folds
jaybru raises to $60
Yowsers raises to $101
jaybru calls $24.90, and is all in
Yowsers shows [Td Tc]
jaybru shows [4h 4c]
Uncalled bet of $16.10 returned to Yowsers
*** FLOP *** [4s Kc As]
*** TURN *** [4s Kc As] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [4s Kc As 2d] [5c]
Yowsers shows a pair of Tens
jaybru shows three of a kind, Fours
jaybru wins the pot ($169.80) with three of a kind, Fours
jaybru: holla at me
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $172.80 | Rake $3
Board: [4s Kc As 2d 5c]
Seat 1: Yowsers showed [Td Tc] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 2: friareric (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: engel1984m (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: BluffingXx (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: gooddadfamily didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: tilty_wilty didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: jaybru showed [4h 4c] and won ($169.80) with three of a kind, Fours
Seat 8: DoctorTom didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: stephqc didn't bet (folded)

Oh... and just for shits and giggles...

So I couldn't put him on QQ cause he didn't reraise... def can't put him on quads. What beats me then? 88. Eh, he might have it, but maybe not. Oh, sweet. Quads.

Full Tilt Poker Game #2191863452: Table Cathedral Rock - $1/$2 - No Limit Hold'em - 2:33:24 ET - 2007/04/12
Seat 1: iamdaisy ($190)
Seat 2: DeFish007 ($54.50)
Seat 3: gooddadfamily ($504.55)
Seat 4: Yowsers ($175)
Seat 5: TsirhCitna ($243)
Seat 6: raylapsley ($197)
Seat 7: kuljme ($194.85)
Seat 8: Melo44 ($189)
Seat 9: dude_69 ($107.60)
DeFish007 posts the small blind of $1
gooddadfamily posts the big blind of $2
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [Ad As]
Yowsers raises to $7
TsirhCitna folds
raylapsley folds
kuljme folds
Melo44 folds
dude_69 calls $7
iamdaisy calls $7
DeFish007 folds
gooddadfamily folds
*** FLOP *** [8c 2d Qd]
Yowsers bets $11
dude_69 calls $11
iamdaisy raises to $38
Yowsers calls $27
dude_69 calls $27
*** TURN *** [8c 2d Qd] [2h]
Yowsers checks
dude_69 checks
iamdaisy bets $38
Yowsers raises to $130, and is all in
dude_69 folds
iamdaisy calls $92
Yowsers shows [Ad As]
iamdaisy shows [2s 2c]
*** RIVER *** [8c 2d Qd 2h] [7h]
Yowsers shows two pair, Aces and Twos
kuljme: omg
iamdaisy shows four of a kind, Twos
iamdaisy wins the pot ($395) with four of a kind, Twos
Yowsers: yay for drawing dead
Yowsers is sitting out
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $398 | Rake $3
Board: [8c 2d Qd 2h 7h]
Seat 1: iamdaisy (button) showed [2s 2c] and won ($395) with four of a kind, Twos
Seat 2: DeFish007 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: gooddadfamily (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Yowsers showed [Ad As] and lost with two pair, Aces and Twos
Seat 5: TsirhCitna didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: raylapsley didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: kuljme didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: Melo44 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: dude_69 folded on the Turn

Lol. I am still laughing about all these hands. Then it hits me, down $762. LOL SWEET!

To recap:

lost $75 on QQ v JJ, he hit set
lost $100 AA v KK, he hit K on turn, all in on flop
lost $200 when his 22 hits quads v my AA
nothing I could do about this pot
lost $85 TT v 44, all in preflop he spikes set

Who said poker is enjoyable?

I had a talk with a friend of mine this past Friday night that got me thinking. Why do I play poker?

I started to ponder for a minute... and couldn't really think of a good answer. I just said, "because it's fun (most of the time) and it is a good way to earn a side income)."

He responded, "so you treat poker like a job? you are in college, do you really want a job?"

This, to me, was the best advice I have been given these last four years of college. I like making money, don't get me wrong... but there are plenty of other ways to make money that don't present the frustrations that poker does day in and day out. I believe the hardest part about playing poker for a living (or even a side living) are the ups and downs that every player, yes, EVERY PLAYER, goes through eventually.

I, personally, could never do this for a living. I can't stand getting my money in with the best of it and losing to that five outter on the river. Before you tell me, "Mike, for every time that person calls you with their 5 outter, you are going to win the other 90% of the time." Yes, friend, I know that. It's easy (ok not too easy, but easier) to take that 10% loss every now and then, but when you take that 10% loss 5 times in the span of a week... that's rough. Not just rough, that's demoralizing.

I'm glad I just play poker as a hobby and not as a full time job. There was a time where I wanted to play poker full time. All I could think about was poker. Poker poker poker. Still, that is mostly what I think about. I think I've realized, though, that making a living playing poker is a very tough gig. It is definitely not something that many people succeed at, although many attempt it.

I suppose I am lucky to have realized this BEFORE I attempted to make it as a professional player. I believe that if I continue with poker as a hobby, and develop my game, maybe in the future I could play poker as a living (once I make millions and have the time/money to properly invest in my poker career :)

I even called his raise on the flop to ensure that the turn did not pair the board (thus making my two pair crap).

I get the best thing on the turn, he bets into me, I push.. and naturally....

I don't know why my two pair keeps getting counterfeit... it's happened three times in the last week or so. Come on... it's like an 8 outter and people keep hitting it? hahaha.

Full Tilt Poker Game #2154443121: Table Wetlands Park - $2/$4 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:10:06 ET -

2007/04/07
Seat 1: GumbyRice ($629.80), is sitting out
Seat 2: RaiseXMeXAA ($154.50)
Seat 3: iamnotguilty ($407)
Seat 4: Yowsers ($554)
Seat 5: Dr_Bait ($574.10)
Seat 6: fishy27 ($546)
Seat 7: pokerRN72 ($433)
Seat 8: KissAlba ($394)
Seat 9: pittsburghkid ($282)
iamnotguilty posts the small blind of $2
Yowsers posts the big blind of $4
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Yowsers [7h 6h]
Dr_Bait folds
fishy27 folds
pokerRN72 folds
KissAlba folds
pittsburghkid folds
RaiseXMeXAA folds
iamnotguilty raises to $8
Yowsers calls $4
*** FLOP *** [7c 3d 6c]
iamnotguilty bets $12
Yowsers raises to $32
iamnotguilty raises to $52
Yowsers calls $20
*** TURN *** [7c 3d 6c] [2h]
iamnotguilty bets $120
Yowsers raises to $494, and is all in
iamnotguilty has 15 seconds left to act
iamnotguilty calls $227, and is all in
Yowsers shows [7h 6h]
iamnotguilty shows [Qh Qd]
Uncalled bet of $147 returned to Yowsers
*** RIVER *** [7c 3d 6c 2h] [2d]
Yowsers shows two pair, Sevens and Sixes
iamnotguilty shows two pair, Queens and Twos
iamnotguilty wins the pot ($811) with two pair, Queens and Twos
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $814 | Rake $3
Board: [7c 3d 6c 2h 2d]
Seat 1: GumbyRice is sitting out
Seat 2: RaiseXMeXAA (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: iamnotguilty (small blind) showed [Qh Qd] and won ($811) with two pair, Queens and Twos
Seat 4: Yowsers (big blind) showed [7h 6h] and lost with two pair, Sevens and Sixes
Seat 5: Dr_Bait didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: fishy27 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: pokerRN72 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: KissAlba didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: pittsburghkid didn't bet (folded)

Now, I don't want to jump to any conclusions. I've only been playing about six hours total 6 tabling $1/$2. However, I seem to be making many more mistakes 6 tabling than when I was 4 tabling.

I feel that my concentration is pulled away from the game when I add any more tables after 4. 4 tables seems to be my limit. That is rather upsetting, but I think, for now, I am going to stick with 4 tables.

Maybe once I get a 2nd monitor and can see the tables in full size (rather than using the resizable tables feature to shrink the tables down to where I can have 6 tables) I will try and 6 table again.

Maybe if I get bored this summer I'll attempt to six table again. We shall see.