Card Dead

9-to-9 today. I tried to isolate my heads up matchs into sets, like trujm does. It works realy well for me, because I don't mind if I lose or win some money, I just try to win the sets. Here they are :

win-loss

1-2

1-2

2-1

2-1

2-1

1-2

First set I played realy bad, I totaly misjudged my opponents and let them to grind me down. They raised a couple of time early on the match and therefore I thought they were maniacs but it was not the case.

I have reviewed my HHs just after and corrected myself quickly. I have played the next games truly well. My strategies are well defined, and work well. I easily adapt my strategies to the weak opponents, and I feel like I have some sort of edge against the tough ones too. In my opinion, a good strategy is a set of three things which must be bounded : how play your opponent, your preflop strategy and you postflop strategy. Postflop and preflop must work together giving your overall strategy, hopefully beeing the most effective against villain's strategy.

Unfortunately, I still make some isolated mistakes here and there. It were not that illness if they were not occuring at the end of the match, when the blinds are high. It's currently the major leaks I have to clean up. They occur when I'm a little annoyed, tired. Sometimes I KNOW these likely are mistakes, but I do them, though ! I must take care, since they are really, really costly. I play the match perfectly, and, bing, the mistake, the match is lost...

Here is an exemple :

PokerStars Game #19667142113: Tournament #102535784, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/16 - 17:14:46 (ET)
Table '102535784 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: babaorumi (1640 in chips)
Seat 2: choucroute12 (1360 in chips)
choucroute12: posts small blind 50
babaorumi: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Ah 6s]
choucroute12: raises 1260 to 1360 and is all-in
choucroute12 said, "call"
babaorumi: calls 1260
*** FLOP *** [8h 3c 9d]
*** TURN *** [8h 3c 9d] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [8h 3c 9d 4h] [6d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
babaorumi: shows [Ah 6s] (a pair of Sixes)
choucroute12: shows [As 8d] (a pair of Eights)
choucroute12 collected 2720 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2720 | Rake 0
Board [8h 3c 9d 4h 6d]
Seat 1: babaorumi (big blind) showed [Ah 6s] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 2: choucroute12 (button) (small blind) showed [As 8d] and won (2720) with a pair of Eights

Villain already did some pushes before, so I thought I had to call. Then I realized how bad it was, I knew it during the match, I did it though.

Here an other exemple :

PokerStars Game #19667765104: Tournament #102539920, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/16 - 17:39:55 (ET)
Table '102539920 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: DanHoppe (1325 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1675 in chips)
babaorumi: posts small blind 50
DanHoppe: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Kh 6c]
babaorumi: calls 50
DanHoppe: checks
*** FLOP *** [6h 5h Qs]
DanHoppe: bets 100
babaorumi: raises 200 to 300
DanHoppe: raises 925 to 1225 and is all-in
babaorumi: calls 925
*** TURN *** [6h 5h Qs] [3c]
*** RIVER *** [6h 5h Qs 3c] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
DanHoppe: shows [Qc 8d] (a pair of Queens)
babaorumi: shows [Kh 6c] (a pair of Sixes)
DanHoppe collected 2650 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2650 | Rake 0
Board [6h 5h Qs 3c 4c]
Seat 1: DanHoppe (big blind) showed [Qc 8d] and won (2650) with a pair of Queens
Seat 2: babaorumi (button) (small blind) showed [Kh 6c] and lost with a pair of Sixes

This opponent was the most tough I ever played heads up. Average stack $30 on sharkscope, he already has won some good money. However, I did pretty well until this hand where I cracked up. Here is a hand :

PokerStars Game #19667711484: Tournament #102539920, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/16 - 17:37:44 (ET)
Table '102539920 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: DanHoppe (970 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (2030 in chips)
DanHoppe: posts small blind 50
babaorumi: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Jd 8c]
DanHoppe: calls 50
babaorumi: checks
*** FLOP *** [8s Ac 4s]
babaorumi: checks
DanHoppe: bets 155
babaorumi: calls 155
*** TURN *** [8s Ac 4s] [Kc]
babaorumi: checks
DanHoppe: bets 715 and is all-in
babaorumi: folds
Uncalled bet (715) returned to DanHoppe
DanHoppe collected 510 from pot
DanHoppe: shows [9h 6h] (high card Ace)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 510 | Rake 0
Board [8s Ac 4s Kc]
Seat 1: DanHoppe (button) (small blind) collected (510)
Seat 2: babaorumi (big blind) folded on the Turn

I limp OTB, so I don't think he has an Ace, so I call. turn comes a King of clubs. This card is a key card because all the hands he bets on the flop he'll fire a 2nd barrel on the turn, that means, spade draw, air, and perhaps aces or kings. The all in bet say he doesn't want to be called, so I should have called. I felt like I had to call but the fear that he had an Ace or King made me fold. Now I realize it was a big mistake because I ccould have won the match right now.

Then I noticed There is 3 kinds of HU players :

1) The bad or not-so-good ones : you have to play a standard game

2) The good, winning ones : you can take an edge beeing a bit more tricky and agressive than them

3) The best ones : you no longer have any edge anymore and have to make hero calls here and there to stay alive, like the hand above. BUT you won't be crushed as long as you know what you have to do.  

Today I continued to win and was ahead 5-to-2. This is the first match :

PokerStars Game #19629935496: Tournament #102243415, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2008/08/15 - 04:27:01 (ET)
Table '102243415 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: iBeatMyKids (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1500 in chips)
iBeatMyKids: posts small blind 10
babaorumi: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Ah As]
iBeatMyKids: raises 40 to 60
babaorumi: raises 120 to 180
iBeatMyKids: calls 120
*** FLOP *** [2c 7s 9c]
babaorumi: bets 180
iBeatMyKids: raises 1140 to 1320 and is all-in
babaorumi: calls 1140 and is all-in
*** TURN *** [2c 7s 9c] [6d]
*** RIVER *** [2c 7s 9c 6d] [Js]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
babaorumi: shows [Ah As] (a pair of Aces)
iBeatMyKids: shows [7h 9s] (two pair, Nines and Sevens)
iBeatMyKids collected 3000 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3000 | Rake 0
Board [2c 7s 9c 6d Js]
Seat 1: iBeatMyKids (button) (small blind) showed [7h 9s] and won (3000) with two pair, Nines and Sevens
Seat 2: babaorumi (big blind) showed [Ah As] and lost with a pair of Aces

 Otherwise I played a mix of break even and losers players. Here is a hand where I was lost :

PokerStars Game #19635560115: Tournament #102293011, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level II (15/30) - 2008/08/15 - 12:12:14 (ET)
Table '102293011 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: cristinasexy (1760 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1240 in chips)
babaorumi: posts small blind 15
cristinasexy: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [9h Ac]
babaorumi: raises 60 to 90
cristinasexy: calls 60
*** FLOP *** [Qh 4c 4h]
cristinasexy: bets 120
babaorumi: calls 120
*** TURN *** [Qh 4c 4h] [3h]
cristinasexy: bets 150
babaorumi: raises 150 to 300
cristinasexy: calls 150
*** RIVER *** [Qh 4c 4h 3h] [Th]
cristinasexy: bets 1250 and is all-in
babaorumi: folds
Uncalled bet (1250) returned to cristinasexy
cristinasexy collected 1020 from pot
cristinasexy: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1020 | Rake 0
Board [Qh 4c 4h 3h Th]
Seat 1: cristinasexy (big blind) collected (1020)
Seat 2: babaorumi (button) (small blind) folded on the River

Villain is pretty tight preflop, and somewhat passive and predictable. When he donks the flop Q44hh, I saw weakness, because I cbet a lot and therefore I figured he c/r a good hand. Since he was passive, it was unlikely he was semi bluffing. So his range was likely something like a pp, or a Ace high hand trying to block me. So I called. The turn came a heart, and villain bets a small bet. I was still thinking he was weak because of the bet that small, then, I min raise showing strength on the turn and letting me enough chips to bet on the river in order to make him fold. He called. River a Ten of hearts putting four hearts on the board, and he shoved ! It was so unexpected, was in the hell could he have ? Maybe TT which just make a full house. At the moment a flush didn't make sense unless he just make it, and therfore, he had just an Ace of hearts on the flop and on the turn. Maybe, maybe, although this was not the kind of opponents to block bet twice.

Anyway, I should not have played this hand, I should just have folded the flop. The conclusion to this is that against EV<=0 players, just play a standard game and don't think too much.

Later in the match, I notice 2 interesting hands. This is the second one :

PokerStars Game #19635721695: Tournament #102293011, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level IV (50/100) - 2008/08/15 - 12:20:05 (ET)
Table '102293011 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: cristinasexy (1590 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1410 in chips)
babaorumi: posts small blind 50
cristinasexy: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Ks 3h]
babaorumi: raises 100 to 200
cristinasexy: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [5c Qc Kc]
cristinasexy: checks
babaorumi: bets 300
cristinasexy: calls 300
*** TURN *** [5c Qc Kc] [8h]
cristinasexy: checks
babaorumi: bets 910 and is all-in
cristinasexy: calls 910
*** RIVER *** [5c Qc Kc 8h] [6h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
cristinasexy: shows [9s 8c] (a pair of Eights)
babaorumi: shows [Ks 3h] (a pair of Kings)
babaorumi collected 2820 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2820 | Rake 0
Board [5c Qc Kc 8h 6h]
Seat 1: cristinasexy (big blind) showed [9s 8c] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 2: babaorumi (button) (small blind) showed [Ks 3h] and won (2820) with a pair of Kings

I already described villain : predictable, somewhat passive, almost like a robot. So why did he call with the third pair and a ridiculous flush draw ?? Let's see back in the match :

PokerStars Game #19635689940: Tournament #102293011, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level III (25/50) - 2008/08/15 - 12:18:32 (ET)
Table '102293011 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: cristinasexy (1790 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1210 in chips)
babaorumi: posts small blind 25
cristinasexy: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [6s 7d]
babaorumi: calls 25
cristinasexy: checks
*** FLOP *** [5c 8s 5s]
cristinasexy: checks
babaorumi: bets 50
cristinasexy: calls 50
*** TURN *** [5c 8s 5s] [Ad]
cristinasexy: checks
babaorumi: checks
*** RIVER *** [5c 8s 5s Ad] [3h]
cristinasexy: bets 150
babaorumi: raises 300 to 450
cristinasexy: folds
Uncalled bet (300) returned to babaorumi
babaorumi collected 500 from pot
babaorumi: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 500 | Rake 0
Board [5c 8s 5s Ad 3h]
Seat 1: cristinasexy (big blind) folded on the River
Seat 2: babaorumi (button) (small blind) collected (500)

He already floated me once some few hands before, but I hopefully caught him. Since he is a robot and the situation is almost perfect for a float (exept the flush draw I can put him on) I raised bluff the river and fortunately it worked. I'm not prood of this move, because it could easily have failed if villain would have betted 65, K3s... Perhaps I'm just barrely EV+ on the long run. But it's the end of a long match and villain likely is more and more tired, and feels himself under a lot of pressure. That was the last raise he could bear, and maybe he has reached his thresehold, that's whay he missplayed his 98 hand in the previous example above.

Remember this : The goal is to make Villain mistakes, do all you can do in order to make him nervous, because he will make more mistakes.

Yesterday I played 7 hu $23 and was ahead 6-to-1 ! I first played 2 Calling Station (cs). The cs are easy opponent to play if you adopt the right strategy. You no longer have to raise OTB because they call you anyway, so you must have good hands to put more money in the pot. Just limp all other playable hands, and fold the worst. It's still possible to bluff them in very specific situations (see the Andrew Blokos's blog). I'll show you an exemple if I find one. Then I played very very tough opponents, who was big winner on sharkscope. I fortunately won most of the matchs, but if they read me, hey, we have no interest playing against each other, so keep out of my way ! However, against such players, you can make more sophisticated moves, and it's very satisfying when you succeed them. For instance, pay particular attention to the draw heavy flops :

PokerStars Game #19614277897: Tournament #102120377, $22+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level III (25/50) - 2008/08/14 - 14:47:10 (ET)
Table '102120377 1' 2-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: micaninho (1625 in chips)
Seat 2: babaorumi (1375 in chips)
micaninho: posts small blind 25
babaorumi: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [6d 5d]
micaninho: calls 25
babaorumi: checks
*** FLOP *** [8c 7h Jc]
babaorumi: checks
micaninho: bets 100
babaorumi: raises 250 to 350
micaninho: calls 250
*** TURN *** [8c 7h Jc] [Kc]
babaorumi: bets 975 and is all-in
micaninho: folds
Uncalled bet (975) returned to babaorumi
babaorumi collected 800 from pot
babaorumi: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 800 | Rake 0
Board [8c 7h Jc Kc]
Seat 1: micaninho (button) (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 2: babaorumi (big blind) collected (800)
  

Villain cbets, like always. I have a OESD, and there is a club draw, which I can easily represent. Thus, I c/r, and I plan to bet all in wheter I hit a 9 or 4, or a club hits. Eventually, I have 8+9=17 "outs" ! Obviously, sometimes villain will be on a club draw himself and i'll lose all my chips but it's only a very small part of his range. You can only make this kind of moves against smart opponents, and not too often.

Btw, against such of players, you have to make moves if you want to have a chance. Anyway, you have no more than 50% to win if you play your standard game. I'm really surprised how often they work well as long as you don't repeat them. Cs are looking for excuses to call, and winning players are looking for excuses to fold : remember this !

Yesterday I played 6 HUnsgs 11$ and was ahead 4-to-2. One HU i lost was difficult, because I was Card Dead and because I played an opponent you can't beat beeing card dead : the agressive calling station (acs). This opponent is bluffing a lot and think you play like him, ie you bluff a lot. Then, he calls a lot too. Here is a hand :

PokerStars Game #19582342206: Tournament #101869598, $11.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Match Round I, Level I (10/20) - 2008/08/13 - 07:45:24 (ET)
Table '101869598 1' 2-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: babaorumi (1440 in chips)
Seat 2: Hirvinaama (1560 in chips)
Hirvinaama: posts small blind 10
babaorumi: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to babaorumi [Ts Ad]
Hirvinaama: raises 40 to 60
babaorumi: calls 40
*** FLOP *** [8c 3c Jc]
babaorumi: checks
Hirvinaama: bets 60
babaorumi: raises 120 to 180
Hirvinaama: raises 220 to 400
babaorumi: folds
Uncalled bet (220) returned to Hirvinaama
Hirvinaama collected 480 from pot
Hirvinaama: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 480 | Rake 0
Board [8c 3c Jc]
Seat 1: babaorumi (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: Hirvinaama (button) (small blind) collected (480)

Villain bets the flop like always. I thought I had to resist, and c/r. Against a decent player, think it's EV+, but against this acs, I have been obviously reraised. The problem here is that I don't know if villain bluff reraises, or he has something. So my raise didn't work and moreover i didn't get any piece of information at all : i still don't know if he is able to reraise bluff or not, and this is very very bad because I still don't know how to fight.

Conclusion

When you have to fight someone who might be a acs, don't raise bluff : Just wait seeing his cards or any information you could gather allowing to better profiling your tricky opponent. If you are confident you are aginst a acs, value bet and raise often, because he may not believe you and reraise you.

I ask myself often this question, and the answer is not that simple. I made a mental programm I'll try to follow.

1. Make at least one hh review per day (deep analysis)

2. Try to work with partners

3. To publish some interesting hands on 2+2

I think I'll use popopop player for my HHs reviews because this way i will able to see them when I want.

I'll publish the most interesting hands here. What more ? Hey, don't know.