Rolling Up a Stake: The Poker Bankroll Challenge

Downswing, Tilt, Self-Loathing, Respite - $420.30

2010-01-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

Upon approaching the heart of darkness (somewhere around the -$130 mark) , I caught myself tilting for the first time in a while. Whenever a prolonged downswing comes along, an inevitable doubt settles in where I begin to question my poker abilities, and as the descent continues, the very purpose of my seemingly inconsequential existence. It was also around that time when I started playing 8 tables at a time for two reasons: First because, in theory, the more hands I play means the sooner I will recover from a downswing, and second, because I tend to keep my concentration better playing many tables, whereas with three or four I just start surfing the web and lose focus. Then I won ~$180 in about an hour, and got to the next VIP status on PokerStars... and all was right with the world again.

I knew that $.50/$1 was going to be a different environment, but these stakes seem to be dominated by super tight-aggressive players who, unfortunately, also happen to know something about blind defense. I might even be better off playing $.25/.$50 the whole way, but I enjoy the challenge of sitting with skilled players.

I've really got to start marking the hands of interest as they're played instead of searching my entire database before a post...

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Kc Ac]
DragonSud19: calls $0.50
bennanpoker: folds
Ulovka22: folds
solsberry: folds
clientNr9: folds
angelmartin: calls $0.50
Anand19: raises $0.50 to $1
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1.50
Chilli7170: folds
DragonSud19: calls $1
angelmartin: folds
Anand19: calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [2s 3d 2c]
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50

*** Continuation Bet ***

DragonSud19: calls $0.50
Anand19: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [2s 3d 2c] [Th]
MorbidMorgan: bets $1

*** Continuation. I've put PFR on overcards since he didn't play back on the flop. JTs+, KJo+***

DragonSud19: folds
Anand19: calls $1
*** RIVER *** [2s 3d 2c Th] [7d]
MorbidMorgan: bets $1

*** Could be holding a T, but at this point he has a very wide range of overcard hands. I can't induce a bluff on this board, and I might get another bet out of him if he thinks his Ax could be good***

Anand19: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Kc Ac] (a pair of Deuces)
Anand19: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $10.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $11 | Rake $0.50
Board [2s 3d 2c Th 7d]
Seat 1: clientNr9 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: angelmartin folded before Flop
Seat 3: Anand19 (button) mucked [Ah Qh]
Seat 4: MorbidMorgan (small blind) showed [Kc Ac] and won ($10.50) with a pair of Deuces
Seat 5: Chilli7170 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: DragonSud19 folded on the Turn

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Qs Qh]
tjcian: folds
SipaPipa: folds
xplicitgame: folds
gdjo1: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1
hippopotam: folds
zips5: folds
sam1080: folds
Rik888: calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [Kd 7c 8d]
Rik888: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50
Rik888: raises $0.50 to $1
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

*** This guy was playing about 50% of hands with a high PFR and agression factor. A check/raise doesn't indicate Kx by any means, especially since he didn't 3-bet preflop. Could be any lower pair, an OOP flush/OES draw raise, or total bs. I consider 3-betting but decide to let him continue on the turn with a worse hand. ***

*** TURN *** [Kd 7c 8d] [Jc]
Rik888: bets $1
MorbidMorgan: calls $1
*** RIVER *** [Kd 7c 8d Jc] [5c]
Rik888: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $1

*** The J on the turn hit his drawing hand range, but since I hadn't seen him try any fancy plays earlier, and because an OESD on the flop was probably the least likely hand, I didn't think he would attempt a c/r on the river. So I just bet.*

Rik888: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Qs Qh] (a pair of Queens)
Rik888: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $8.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $8.75 | Rake $0.40
Board [Kd 7c 8d Jc 5c]
Seat 1: sam1080 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: Rik888 (big blind) mucked [Ts 8s]
Seat 4: tjcian folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: SipaPipa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: xplicitgame folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: gdjo1 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: MorbidMorgan showed [Qs Qh] and won ($8.35) with a pair of Queens
Seat 9: hippopotam folded before Flop
Seat 10: zips5 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Ts Qd]
zips5: folds
dyoniz: folds
ChawkDee: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1

*** I believe this hand was played during my tilting period. This is usually pretty loose to raise from MP1. ***

xxsamsunlu: raises $0.50 to $1.50
Nala2007: calls $1.50
bmod76: raises $0.50 to $2
Betting is capped
enes030285: calls $2
conkoi: folds
SlowFood: folds
MorbidMorgan: calls $1

*** At this point the pot is obviously way too big to fold anything. ***

xxsamsunlu: calls $0.50
Nala2007: calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [9h 8d 9d]
MorbidMorgan: checks
xxsamsunlu: bets $0.50
Nala2007: calls $0.50
bmod76: raises $0.50 to $1
enes030285: folds
MorbidMorgan: calls $1

*** Getting 13:1 pot odds, I have to call with my two overcards, gut shot, and back door flush. ***

xxsamsunlu: calls $0.50
Nala2007: calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [9h 8d 9d] [Jh]
MorbidMorgan: checks
xxsamsunlu: checks
Nala2007: checks
bmod76: bets $1
MorbidMorgan: raises $1 to $2

*** :) ***

xxsamsunlu: calls $2
Nala2007: calls $2
bmod76: calls $1
*** RIVER *** [9h 8d 9d Jh] [Ks]
MorbidMorgan: bets $1
xxsamsunlu: raises $1 to $2
Nala2007: folds
bmod76: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $1 to $3

*** I have the nut straight, and there is no flush. He could have the boat, but two pair, slowplayed trips, or a split is far more likely... and besides, the pot is so massive that losing a couple more bets isn't really going to matter. ***

xxsamsunlu: raises $1 to $4
Betting is capped
MorbidMorgan: calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
xxsamsunlu: shows [Jd Kh] (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
MorbidMorgan: shows [Ts Qd] (a straight, Nine to King)
MorbidMorgan collected $30.25 from pot

*** Holy ***, that's big. ***

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $30.75 | Rake $0.50
Board [9h 8d 9d Jh Ks]
Seat 1: xxsamsunlu showed [Jd Kh] and lost with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 2: Nala2007 folded on the River
Seat 3: bmod76 folded on the River
Seat 4: enes030285 (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: conkoi (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: SlowFood (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: zips5 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: dyoniz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: ChawkDee folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: MorbidMorgan showed [Ts Qd] and won ($30.25) with a straight, Nine to King

Amount Won: $367.80

2010-01-10T23:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I have officially moved on to $.50/$1 stakes... and so far, it's been a roller coaster ride of epic proportions. Graph and hand postings to follow...

Just a Side Note...

2009-09-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

You may notice that my first three posts were all dated the same day... this is because I transferred my blog from another website.

The Poker Bankroll Challenge: 3.5k More Hands and Applying Poker Strategy Concepts - $273.60

2009-09-26T01:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I am over a quarter of the way toward my goal already, and I can honestly say that I am approaching the $350 mark faster than expected. Professional players can typically expect to see a long term average of 2BB/100 (that's Big Bets won for every 100 hands), and at the moment I'm averaging nearly 5BB/100. I can only hope the streak continues as I enter $.5/$1 stakes very soon. For those who are familiar with PokerTracker, my stats are currently 19 VPIP/12.5 PFR/2.2 AF. I expect that as I begin playing $.5/$1, my vpip/pfr will converge slightly, probably to 18/13, simply because I'll be open raising more hands as a result of the lower percentage of players going to flop. And as a side note, open limping is almost always a bad play. SSHE is outdated - Raise or Fold pre.

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Kd 4h]
bmf_rrh: folds
seelown: folds
kokoljohoh: folds
blanchedog: raises $0.25 to $0.50
nokyls: folds
knightowl: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.75

***This hand is an example of how to adjust your game to take advantage of over-agressive players. Knowing how to exploit them is key. This 3-bet was to isolate a maniac, and get him Heads Up***

rakhi-rules: folds
blanchedog: raises $0.25 to $1
Betting is capped
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25

***I'm really not concerned about the cap...***

*** FLOP *** [Kc Ad 7s]
josep355 has returned
MorbidMorgan: checks
blanchedog: bets $0.25
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50

***Yes, his range could contain an ace... and a whole bunch of other crap too***

blanchedog: raises $0.25 to $0.75
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25

***Ok, I'll slow down now***

*** TURN *** [Kc Ad 7s] [8s]
MorbidMorgan: checks
blanchedog: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50
*** RIVER *** [Kc Ad 7s 8s] [Ts]
MorbidMorgan: checks
blanchedog: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***This is usually where he'll show up with Js9s***

*** SHOW DOWN ***
blanchedog: shows [8h Qs] (a pair of Eights)
MorbidMorgan: shows [Kd 4h] (a pair of Kings)

***Did he 3-bet that flop with Queen high? Yes, yes he did...***

MorbidMorgan collected $5.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.75 | Rake $0.25
Board [Kc Ad 7s 8s Ts]
Seat 1: bmf_rrh folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: seelown folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: kokoljohoh folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: blanchedog showed [8h Qs] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 5: nokyls folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: knightowl (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: MorbidMorgan (small blind) showed [Kd 4h] and won ($5.50) with a pair of Kings
Seat 8: rakhi-rules (big blind) folded before Flop

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Kd Qs]
doubledowndc: folds
seadoo3: folds
Diff47: folds
maddawg444: calls $0.25
neason080: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50
jailofficer2: folds
Archangel021: folds
fritz2412: folds
maddawg444: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [Jc Th 8d]
maddawg444: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.25
maddawg444: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [Jc Th 8d] [Jh]
maddawg444: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50
maddawg444: raises $0.50 to $1
winabit4me joins the table at seat #4
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***A lot of players will raise the turn when the board pairs no matter what, and I almost never give then credit for trips. Besides, I have 8 more outs to my straight, and as many as 12 outs total, plenty odds to call***

*** RIVER *** [Jc Th 8d Jh] [Kh]
maddawg444: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***With a good read that he's FoS on the turn, I might raise***

*** SHOW DOWN ***
maddawg444: shows [5c 8c] (two pair, Jacks and Eights)
MorbidMorgan: shows [Kd Qs] (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
MorbidMorgan collected $4.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.85 | Rake $0.20
Board [Jc Th 8d Jh Kh]
Seat 1: Archangel021 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 2: fritz2412 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: doubledowndc folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: seadoo3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Diff47 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: maddawg444 showed [5c 8c] and lost with two pair, Jacks and Eights
Seat 8: neason080 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: MorbidMorgan showed [Kd Qs] and won ($4.65) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 10: jailofficer2 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Th 9s]
OxPoker101: folds
OxPoker101 leaves the table
nikeoz: folds
SirGolphknut: folds
roostercogan: folds
dustinnoe80: folds
ZAHALL: calls $0.25
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50

***Was hoping to get Heads Up***

monah1987: folds
Starr Ling: calls $0.25
ZAHALL: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [5s 7c 3h]
Starr Ling: checks
ZAHALL: bets $0.25
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25

***Go overcards!***

Starr Ling: folds
*** TURN *** [5s 7c 3h] [Tc]
ZAHALL: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1
ZAHALL: calls $0.50
*** RIVER *** [5s 7c 3h Tc] [As]
ZAHALL: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50

***An Ace is obviously a blank card here***

xzerox87 joins the table at seat #8
ZAHALL: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Th 9s] (a pair of Tens)
ZAHALL: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $4.90 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.10 | Rake $0.20
Board [5s 7c 3h Tc As]
Seat 1: SirGolphknut folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: roostercogan folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: dustinnoe80 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: ZAHALL mucked [6d 7d]
Seat 5: MorbidMorgan (button) showed [Th 9s] and won ($4.90) with a pair of Tens
Seat 6: monah1987 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Starr Ling (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: OxPoker101 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: nikeoz folded before Flop (didn't bet)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Th Ts]
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50
burntwoods: folds
pktpairsuitd: folds
diamid.v: calls $0.50
hemul73: folds
Solar767: folds
Adnromeda: folds
angelina1103: calls $0.40
steamboatin: folds
*** FLOP *** [2s 6c 6h]
angelina1103: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.25
diamid.v: calls $0.25
angelina1103: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [2s 6c 6h] [9c]
angelina1103: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50
diamid.v: calls $0.50
angelina1103: calls $0.50

***At this point I can only put them on Overcards or really slowplayed trips***

*** RIVER *** [2s 6c 6h 9c] [Qc]
angelina1103: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50

***I think the Qc hits a lot of their range, but probably not enough for me to check***

diamid.v: folds
angelina1103: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Th Ts] (two pair, Tens and Sixes)
angelina1103: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $4.80 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5 | Rake $0.20
Board [2s 6c 6h 9c Qc]
Seat 1: pktpairsuitd folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: diamid.v folded on the River
Seat 3: hemul73 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Solar767 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Adnromeda (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: angelina1103 (small blind) mucked [As 9d]
Seat 7: steamboatin (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: MorbidMorgan showed [Th Ts] and won ($4.80) with two pair, Tens and Sixes
Seat 9: burntwoods folded before Flop (didn't bet)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Ah Ac]
Daltbe leaves the table
bras123: folds
petrella69: folds
chunnssa: folds
spenco84: folds
alfilius2: folds
rocketfuel15: raises $0.25 to $0.50
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.75
captain.arsk: calls $0.65
emmh: calls $0.50
rocketfuel15: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [6h Jh 3d]
captain.arsk: checks
emmh: checks
rocketfuel15: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.25
captain.arsk: calls $0.25
emmh: calls $0.25
rocketfuel15: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [6h Jh 3d] [Qh]
captain.arsk: checks
emmh: checks
rocketfuel15: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***A good example of when to play WA/WB (way ahead or way behind). Sure, a flush is possible, but it's far more likely that he's donking his top pair. At this point I want to get to a showdown as cheaply as possible.***

captain.arsk: folds
emmh: folds
*** RIVER *** [6h Jh 3d Qh] [Ks]
rocketfuel15: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.50

***His check almost gurantees it's not a flush, and I might even 3-bet if raised. A made hand wouldn't want to risk a check-through on the river, especially when he showed strength on the turn (and of course he's just afraid of the K since he's now obviously holding Qx***

rocketfuel15: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Ah Ac] (a pair of Aces)
rocketfuel15: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $5.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6 | Rake $0.25
Board [6h Jh 3d Qh Ks]
Seat 1: alfilius2 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: rocketfuel15 mucked [As Qc]
Seat 4: MorbidMorgan (button) showed [Ah Ac] and won ($5.75) with a pair of Aces
Seat 5: captain.arsk (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 6: emmh (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: bras123 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: petrella69 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: chunnssa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: spenco84 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

The Poker Bankroll Challenge: The Next 2,500 Hands and Some Hand Details – $197.80

2009-09-26T01:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, my database history was wiped clean somehow, so I had to start a new graph. I ran really hot this session, especially where I won about 70 big bets in only 100 hands (between hands 600-700). It’s important to understand, though, that high variance can sway in either direction. Good runs are always welcome ego boosters, but they are never sustainable – keep that in mind when the pendulum swings the other way.

And now for some hands:

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Qh Ah]
hemul73: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Carlsberg 82: folds
maclords: folds
Rock0Star: raises $0.25 to $0.75
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $1

***Standard cap***

Betting is capped
golionsgo: calls $1
utkogrib: folds
lKlElNlGl: folds
walkermen: folds
card3322: folds
hemul73: calls $0.50
Rock0Star: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [Js Ad 8c]
hemul73: checks
Rock0Star: bets $0.25
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50

***Raise top pair, obv***

golionsgo: calls $0.50
hemul73: calls $0.50
Rock0Star: raises $0.25 to $0.75
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25

***AK/AJ are possibilities here, and I don’t have many redraws***

golionsgo: calls $0.25
hemul73: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [Js Ad 8c] [Qd]
hemul73: checks
Rock0Star: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1
golionsgo: calls $1
hemul73: folds
Rock0Star: raises $0.50 to $1.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***We can obviously rule out KT, but at this point I’m only beating AJ or splitting with AQ***

golionsgo: calls $0.50
*** RIVER *** [Js Ad 8c Qd] [Ac]
Rock0Star: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1
golionsgo: calls $1
Rock0Star: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Qh Ah] (a full house, Aces full of Queens)
golionsgo: mucks hand
Rock0Star: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $14.45 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.85 | Rake $0.40
Board [Js Ad 8c Qd Ac]
Seat 1: golionsgo mucked [Kc Qs]

***but every once in a while…***

Seat 2: utkogrib folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: lKlElNlGl (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: walkermen (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: card3322 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: hemul73 folded on the Turn
Seat 7: Carlsberg 82 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: maclords folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: Rock0Star mucked [8d 8h]

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Tc Kc]
Brundii: folds
klojo 25: calls $0.25
kappaaa21: folds
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25
Patronisa: raises $0.25 to $0.50
BKÃ–J: folds
Rock0Star: folds
midas281: folds
klojo 25: calls $0.25
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [9c 2c Qh]
klojo 25: bets $0.25
diddl1977 joins the table at seat #2
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.25

***Not much point in raising here***

Patronisa: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [9c 2c Qh] [5s]
klojo 25: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***Outs to the second nuts, 1 OC****

Patronisa: folds
*** RIVER *** [9c 2c Qh 5s] [Ks]

klojo 25: bets $0.50

MorbidMorgan: raises $0.50 to $1

***My OC hits – I might fold to a three-bet here with a read***

klojo 25: calls $0.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MorbidMorgan: shows [Tc Kc] (a pair of Kings)
klojo 25: mucks hand
MorbidMorgan collected $5.35 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $5.60 | Rake $0.25
Board [9c 2c Qh 5s Ks]
Seat 1: MorbidMorgan showed [Tc Kc] and won ($5.35) with a pair of Kings
Seat 3: Patronisa folded on the Turn
Seat 4: BKÃ–J (button) folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 5: Rock0Star (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: midas281 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: Brundii folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: klojo 25 mucked [Ah Qd]
Seat 10: kappaaa21 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Ks Kh]
avansare: folds
Brundii: folds
10tec: folds
10tec leaves the table
klojo 25: calls $0.25
morat84: calls $0.25
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50
nadnameloc: raises $0.25 to $0.75
Patronisa: calls $0.75
Dokkerfield: calls $0.65
nietzschess joins the table at seat #8
Rock0Star: folds
klojo 25: folds
morat84: calls $0.50
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $1
Betting is capped
nadnameloc: calls $0.25
Patronisa: calls $0.25
Dokkerfield: calls $0.25
morat84: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [Td 2c 6c]
Dokkerfield: checks
morat84: checks
MorbidMorgan: bets $0.25
nadnameloc: calls $0.25
Patronisa: raises $0.25 to $0.50
Dokkerfield: folds
morat84: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.75
nadnameloc: folds
Patronisa: folds
Uncalled bet ($0.25) returned to MorbidMorgan

***Thought this was kind of funny… This guy is getting 24:1 to call heads up and folds. Don’t ever fold your big pocket pairs/TP when you’re pot committed even if you think they’re cracked***

MorbidMorgan collected $6.45 from pot
MorbidMorgan: doesn’t show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $6.75 | Rake $0.30
Board [Td 2c 6c]
Seat 1: MorbidMorgan collected ($6.45)
Seat 2: nadnameloc folded on the Flop
Seat 3: Patronisa (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: Dokkerfield (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Rock0Star (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: avansare folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 7: Brundii folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 8: 10tec folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: klojo 25 folded before Flop
Seat 10: morat84 folded on the Flop

*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MorbidMorgan [Tc As]
thumper72: folds
dogs898: folds
Rockcity JÃ¼l: folds
hemul73: calls $0.25
maclords: folds
kappaaa21: folds
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50

***Raising here is read-dependent on the limper***

Dentagard: calls $0.50
izak555: folds
sheitan17000: folds
hemul73: calls $0.25
*** FLOP *** [8c 6d Td]
hemul73: bets $0.25
MorbidMorgan: raises $0.25 to $0.50

***Raise for value, some protection***

Dentagard: folds
hemul73: calls $0.25
*** TURN *** [8c 6d Td] [3c]
hemul73: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***I hate this spot. Donking this turn makes no sense, I should have raised***

*** RIVER *** [8c 6d Td 3c] [Jc]
hemul73: bets $0.50
MorbidMorgan: calls $0.50

***As played I can only call, the last thing I want is to be 3-bet by a set/runner’d flush on the river***

*** SHOW DOWN ***
hemul73: shows [Js Ts] (two pair, Jacks and Tens)

***Yeah, should have raised***

MorbidMorgan: mucks hand
hemul73 collected $4.65 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $4.85 | Rake $0.20
Board [8c 6d Td 3c Jc]
Seat 1: hemul73 showed [Js Ts] and won ($4.65) with two pair, Jacks and Tens
Seat 2: maclords folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 3: kappaaa21 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 4: MorbidMorgan mucked [Tc As]
Seat 5: Dentagard (button) folded on the Flop
Seat 6: izak555 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: sheitan17000 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: thumper72 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 9: dogs898 folded before Flop (didn’t bet)
Seat 10: Rockcity JÃ¼l folded before Flop (didn’t bet)

The Poker Bankroll Challenge: The First 13,745 Hands – $130.20

2009-09-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

I figured I would just get the ball rolling with a decently sized sample, without any hand details. In the future I will be posting some strategy as well as my thought process on selected hands.

The Challenge

2009-09-26T00:52:00.000-07:00

I have this theory. Just as the physical realm of the universe is in constant equilibrium, our notions of luck and chance are merely the short-term perceptions of a single event or circumstance without regard to the span of infinity. There is a natural balance to probability, and yet it can only be truly recognized after a long period. Similar to life, luck is only one component to the game of poker. I guarantee that the proper applications of analytical skill, patience, discipline, and logic will give you the edge over said equilibrium, even if I have to play a crap load of hands to prove it.

And so, my plan is to take my first deposit of $50 on PokerStars and turn it into a decently sized bankroll of $1,000. I am starting off at $.25/$.50 limit, and will move up to $.50/$1.00 when I reach ~$350, and may or may not make the jump to $1/$2 at the $600 mark since it is often considered a rake trap/shark fest.