[jmc]

Originally Posted by jdunford

I'm about to take all of PartyPoker's profits! Check out the email I got this morning:

Holy crap, really!? Start multitabling the limit tables and TRY to get your AA cracked -- limp and check/call every street!

[jdunford]

Originally Posted by jmc

Holy crap, really!? Start multitabling the limit tables and TRY to get your AA cracked -- limp and check/call every street!

Ya, I was trying to decide what strategy is ideal under this promotion. I mean, do you limp-call hoping to get them cracked, or do you do what I always do and get my money in pre-flop and lose? At least by pushing, you still have ~ 80% chance to double up, and when you lose ~ 20% of the time, you get $10 back... so your EV is awesome! Of course, for me it's more like 40% win and 60% loss, but that's because the math gods are still punishing me for getting 98% in grade 13 calculus. Stupid karma...

So, the next question is, how much should I buy in for at the $25NL tables? If I buy in (and keep topping up) for $10, then I can't lose, right? I mean, if I push and bust, I get my money back... and if I push and win, I win $10 (assuming 1 opponent), so I have a purely positive result - never lose a chip!

This deal could get my average with AA back in the black! Unfortunately, I'm busy today/tonight, and most of the weekend, so I'm not sure I'll have a chance to play before the deal expires!

[jdunford]

Well, I just played for 2 hours on 3 tables of $25NL. Never got dealt AA (although I had KK, QQ, and JJ several times each). The "dealer" messages are constantly saying "Congratulations to [insert name], who just won $10 through our AA promotion". Basically, it's nearly impossible to chat. Oh, and I walked away +$80... probably because I never got the opportunity to lose with AA.

Anyway, had this rather amusing hand. Keep in mind that it's a cash table, so cards aren't revealed when players are all-in until after the board has been dealt.

I watched this table for 30 minutes before joining (while on the wait list). Had the highest average pot of all 6-max tables at these stakes. All players are LAG, and a couple are maniacs, including the player immediately to my left. Just finished my first orbit at the table. On my very first hand (BB), I had QQ and made a large re-raise to take it down, and showed my cards so the players wouldn't think I'm also a maniac (just because I prefer not to play with that image, even though it could be to my advantage). Haven't played a hand since. BB has just got back to me.


#Game No : 6723654199
***** Hand History for Game 6723654199 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Friday, January 25, 23:13:18 ET 2008
Table Table 133552 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: InDeinUEKS ( $29.57 USD )
Seat 3: Ewoudus ( $26.49 USD )
Seat 4: Gambleking62 ( $47.04 USD )
Seat 5: DiaMantNegRo ( $28.83 USD )
Seat 6: Shaolin905 ( $66.85 USD )
Seat 2: iNano78 ( $25.90 USD )
InDeinUEKS posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
iNano78 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
Ewoudus raises [$4 USD] That's right; $4 from UTG at a 10¢/25¢ table.
Gambleking62 folds
DiaMantNegRo folds
Shaolin905 folds
InDeinUEKS folds
iNano78 raises [$9.75 USD]
Ewoudus raises [$12 USD]
iNano78 is all-In [$15.90 USD]
Ewoudus calls [$9.90 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
Ewoudus shows [ , ]a pair of Jacks.
iNano78 shows [ , ]two pairs, Kings and Jacks.
iNano78 wins $49.31 USD from the main pot with two pairs, Kings and Jacks.

[jdunford]

I should also mention that somebody at that same table did "win $10" for losing with AA. It seems I'm not the only person who can't beat QJo...

#Game No : 6723700375
***** Hand History for Game 6723700375 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Friday, January 25, 23:54:21 ET 2008
Table Table 133552 (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: InDeinUEKS ( $22.72 USD )
Seat 4: Gambleking62 ( $18.49 USD )
Seat 2: iNano78 ( $68.63 USD )
Seat 3: gitzmaster ( $46.46 USD )
Seat 5: LukeSnider ( $20.75 USD )
Seat 6: DIMA0787 ( $25 USD )
LukeSnider posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
DIMA0787 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
InDeinUEKS raises [$1 USD]
iNano78 folds
gitzmaster folds
Gambleking62 calls [$1 USD]
LukeSnider raises [$3.90 USD]
DIMA0787 folds
InDeinUEKS calls [$3 USD]
Gambleking62 calls [$3 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
LukeSnider is all-In [$16.75 USD]
InDeinUEKS is all-In [$18.72 USD]
Gambleking62 folds
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
LukeSnider shows [ , ]a pair of Aces.
InDeinUEKS shows [ , ]two pairs, Queens and Jacks.
InDeinUEKS wins $1.97 USD from side pot #1 with two pairs, Queens and Jacks.
InDeinUEKS wins $43.47 USD from the main pot with two pairs, Queens and Jacks.


So really, he only loses $10.75 after Party adds his promotional winnings to his account. And it announces that he just won $10 to everyone at every table... along with 10 others per minute... very annoying...

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by jdunford

Well, I just played for 2 hours on 3 tables of $25NL. Never got dealt AA (although I had KK, QQ, and JJ several times each). The "dealer" messages are constantly saying "Congratulations to [insert name], who just won $10 through our AA promotion". Basically, it's nearly impossible to chat. Oh, and I walked away +$80... probably because I never got the opportunity to lose with AA.

Anyway, had this rather amusing hand. Keep in mind that it's a cash table, so cards aren't revealed when players are all-in until after the board has been dealt.

I watched this table for 30 minutes before joining (while on the wait list). Had the highest average pot of all 6-max tables at these stakes. All players are LAG, and a couple are maniacs, including the player immediately to my left. Just finished my first orbit at the table. On my very first hand (BB), I had QQ and made a large re-raise to take it down, and showed my cards so the players wouldn't think I'm also a maniac (just because I prefer not to play with that image, even though it could be to my advantage). Haven't played a hand since. BB has just got back to me.


#Game No : 6723654199
***** Hand History for Game 6723654199 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Friday, January 25, 23:13:18 ET 2008
Table Table 133552 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: InDeinUEKS ( $29.57 USD )
Seat 3: Ewoudus ( $26.49 USD )
Seat 4: Gambleking62 ( $47.04 USD )
Seat 5: DiaMantNegRo ( $28.83 USD )
Seat 6: Shaolin905 ( $66.85 USD )
Seat 2: iNano78 ( $25.90 USD )
InDeinUEKS posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
iNano78 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
Ewoudus raises [$4 USD] That's right; $4 from UTG at a 10¢/25¢ table.
Gambleking62 folds
DiaMantNegRo folds
Shaolin905 folds
InDeinUEKS folds
iNano78 raises [$9.75 USD]
Ewoudus raises [$12 USD]
iNano78 is all-In [$15.90 USD]
Ewoudus calls [$9.90 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
Ewoudus shows [ , ]a pair of Jacks.
iNano78 shows [ , ]two pairs, Kings and Jacks.
iNano78 wins $49.31 USD from the main pot with two pairs, Kings and Jacks.

What the hell was he thinking?!

I like a good bluff from time to time but I generally stay away from preflop allin fests when I am holding six high. Send this guy to my home game this weekend.

[jdunford]

So I play in this 60-man tourney tonight. Of the 3 people who know how to play poker at my table, I lasted the longest. In the end, we were no match against the 6 calling stations... Anyway, I come home and decide to play online for a bit to convince myself that I know how to play poker.

Oh, have I ever mentioned that I hate AA?
How about calling stations?
And that I can never beat a calling station holding QJ when I have AA?
Just checking...


#Game No : 6745820363
***** Hand History for Game 6745820363 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, February 02, 03:30:25 ET 2008
Table Table 129361 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: iNano78 ( $34.67 USD )
Seat 6: plaggy77 ( $50.67 USD )
Seat 3: TunsT ( $11.72 USD )
Seat 2: oz_smurf ( $30.60 USD )
Seat 5: sjearp ( $19.09 USD )
Seat 4: Felloge ( $41 USD )
plaggy77 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
iNano78 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
oz_smurf folds
TunsT calls [$0.25 USD]
Felloge folds
sjearp calls [$0.25 USD]
plaggy77 did not respond in time
plaggy77 folds
iNano78 raises [$1.25 USD]
TunsT calls [$1.25 USD]
sjearp calls [$1.25 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
iNano78 bets [$3 USD]
TunsT folds
sjearp calls [$3 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$7 USD]
sjearp calls [$7 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$8 USD]
sjearp is all-In [$7.59 USD]
iNano78 shows [ , ]a pair of Aces.
sjearp shows [ , ]two pairs, Queens and Jacks.
iNano78 wins $0.41 USD from side pot #1 with a pair of Aces.
sjearp wins $37.80 USD from the main pot with two pairs, Queens and Jacks.

Yep, it's the old "call to the river against a TAG with top-pair-bad-kicker and suck-out on the river" play! Classic. There goes 45 minutes of profit at that table...

On a more serious note, please help me out with the following hand. In particular, was it a mistake to call the all-in, rather than push behind? In hindsight it seems obvious, but I called to maximize the probability of keeping the other player in the hand, given I was holding the nuts at the time... but as we all know, the nuts can (and often does) change on the river.

#Game No : 6745781694
***** Hand History for Game 6745781694 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, February 02, 02:42:27 ET 2008
Table Table 131564 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 5: RickyPush ( $29.23 USD )
Seat 6: iNano78 ( $46.23 USD )
Seat 1: FUEZ2 ( $37.14 USD )
Seat 4: St_Wolf ( $7.24 USD )
Seat 2: jackblack269 ( $19.87 USD )
Seat 3: uiupada ( $24.30 USD )
iNano78 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
FUEZ2 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
jackblack269 calls [$0.25 USD]
uiupada calls [$0.25 USD]
St_Wolf calls [$0.25 USD]
RickyPush folds
iNano78 calls [$0.15 USD]
FUEZ2 checks
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
iNano78 bets [$0.75 USD]
FUEZ2 folds
jackblack269 folds
uiupada calls [$0.75 USD]
St_Wolf calls [$0.75 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$1.50 USD]
uiupada calls [$1.50 USD]
St_Wolf is all-In [$6.24 USD]
iNano78 calls [$4.74 USD]
uiupada calls [$4.74 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$12 USD]
uiupada is all-In [$17.06 USD]
iNano78 calls [$5.06 USD]
iNano78 shows [ , ]a flush, Ace high.
uiupada shows [ , ]a full house, Twos full of Aces.
St_Wolf doesn't show [ , ]two pairs, Aces and Nines.
uiupada wins $32.42 USD from side pot #1 with a full house, Twos full of Aces.
uiupada wins $21.11 USD from the main pot with a full house, Twos full of Aces.

[JoseRijo]

Fold pre-flop.

I think you have to raise the turn, and this might be a good spot for a min-raise. I can't come up a scenario where he'll call a river bet but fold to a small turn raise.

There's no way either one of you is folding the river. I think you played it fine.

[jdunford]

Well, I got dealt AA 6 times tonight: 4 times I took down the blinds. Guess what happened the other 2 times?!


The first one is "sushi" at its finest. The comments that followed went something like:
"Wow, nh! Very well played, sir. Absolutely brilliant how you played that hand!"

The second one was actually a very tricky (and dangerous) play by my opponent, who (arguably) out-played me. I congratulated him in sincerity.


#Game No : 6760613821
***** Hand History for Game 6760613821 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 07, 00:30:48 ET 2008
Table Table 131565 (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: Gailor68 ( $31.39 USD )
Seat 4: jonnykr ( $56.01 USD )
Seat 5: zulub0y ( $26.12 USD )
Seat 2: iNano78 ( $33.05 USD )
Seat 6: jimbo420999 ( $19.96 USD )
Gailor68 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
iNano78 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
jonnykr folds
zulub0y folds
jimbo420999 calls [$0.25 USD]
Gailor68 calls [$0.15 USD]
iNano78 raises [$1 USD]
jimbo420999 calls [$1 USD]
Gailor68 folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
iNano78 bets [$2 USD]
jimbo420999 raises [$4 USD]
iNano78 raises [$10 USD]
jimbo420999 is all-In [$14.71 USD]
iNano78 calls [$6.71 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
iNano78 shows [ , ]a pair of Aces.
jimbo420999 shows [ , ]three of a kind, Fives.
jimbo420999 wins $38.17 USD from the main pot with three of a kind, Fives.



#Game No : 6760621976
***** Hand History for Game 6760621976 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, February 07, 00:41:37 ET 2008
Table Table 134169 (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 4
Seat 1: Koshkind ( $28.05 USD )
Seat 4: az707q2 ( $57.33 USD )
Seat 5: johnemo ( $44.89 USD )
Seat 3: iNano78 ( $23.60 USD )
az707q2 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
johnemo posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
Koshkind folds
iNano78 raises [$1 USD]
az707q2 folds
johnemo calls [$0.75 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
johnemo checks
iNano78 bets [$1.25 USD]
johnemo calls [$1.25 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
johnemo checks * maybe he's trying to be sneaky...
iNano78 bets [$3 USD]
johnemo calls [$3 USD] * yep, ok; looks like he hit his flush - I prepare to fold to a river bet
** Dealing River ** [ ]
johnemo checks * very confusing... expected a bet here.
iNano78 bets [$5 USD] * took me a long time before betting
johnemo raises [$19 USD] * Does he have the flush? Did he make trip 8s?
iNano78 is all-In [$13.35 USD] * now I'm pretty much committed, given he could be bluffing or have a Q.
johnemo shows [ , ]a flush, King high.
iNano78 doesn't show [ , ]two pairs, Aces and Eights.
johnemo wins $0.65 USD from side pot #1 with a flush, King high.
johnemo wins $45.30 USD from the main pot with a flush, King high.

In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have called that raise on the river... especially when I was fully prepared to fold to a bet. But it's so rare to see someone check on the river with a strong hand like that... couldn't figure out what his check-raise meant. Same situation happened the other day (see my "contest") and that guy showed down garbage, so you just never know.

[jdunford]

Played 800 hands tonight. Never lost with AA. Never saw a showdown with AA. I guess raising to $4 pre-flop discourages action. (Actually, kept getting callers but they folded to my C-bets).

Anyway, not AA, but check out this nasty beat.
Would you have laid it down?

Worst part about it was I went on tilt and lost another starting stack to this uber-loose donk (I had A5s, flopped an A and the flush draw, got it all-in against his AK and lost), then took over an hour to win my money back off him. At least he was interesting to chat with.

Background: Villain limped or min-raised every hand for 2 hours. Every hand. He would occasionally fold to a raise, but often called a 3-bet pre-flop after limping.

#Game No : 6796612196
***** Hand History for Game 6796612196 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Tuesday, February 19, 01:25:36 ET 2008
Table Table 125559 (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: joliveir ( $81.84 USD )
Seat 3: imahm ( $71.80 USD )
Seat 4: iNano78 ( $26.15 USD )
Seat 5: stas65 ( $24.55 USD )
Seat 2: pabell1 ( $27.83 USD )
Seat 6: Prestamista ( $25 USD )
imahm posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
iNano78 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
stas65 folds
Prestamista folds
joliveir calls [$0.25 USD]
pabell1 folds
imahm folds
iNano78 raises [$1 USD] (to $1.25 total)
joliveir calls [$1 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
iNano78 bets [$1.75 USD]
joliveir calls [$1.75 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$3.25 USD]
joliveir calls [$3.25 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
iNano78 bets [$7 USD]
joliveir is all-In [$75.59 USD] It sure looks like he has the 3, but I'd already built the pot... and he could easily be bluffing. He has pushed with middle-pair on a scary board several times, and keeps getting callers with something worse. Something like 56 could be in his range here, not to mention two random overcards, or just A-high with a rag.
iNano78 is all-In [$12.90 USD]
iNano78 shows [ , ]two pairs, Jacks and Threes.
joliveir shows [ , ]three of a kind, Threes.
joliveir wins $55.69 USD from side pot #1 with three of a kind, Threes.
joliveir wins $49.78 USD from the main pot with three of a kind, Threes.
Seat 1: joliveir ( $105.22 USD )

iNano78: amazing how you pulled out that 2-outer on the river with 63
joliveir: I have not won over $100 for nothing


Oh, and for the record, when we left the table > 1 hour later, I had a little over $62 and he had a little under $55...

[jdunford]

Well, I was dealt AA 3 times tonight. Took down the blinds once, and made it to two show-downs. Guess what happened?!

The first time I was just dumb. Up against two opponents; should have known I was toast. Of course, they both drew out to beat me... but still, I should know better.

Second hand, villain bluffed all-in. I honestly considered folding my "pocket blanks" pre-flop. In hindsight, that was the right move.

On the one hand, I'm glad my opponents can't do basic arithmetic and play like complete idiots... but I don't understand why they get rewarded so often! Or why I have such a huge net loss with AA. It's literally the biggest hole in my game! No exaggeration.


#Game No : 6800072811
***** Hand History for Game 6800072811 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, February 20, 01:08:55 ET 2008
Table Table 134167 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: kayseri3 ( $23.95 USD )
Seat 2: luslaki ( $13.61 USD )
Seat 3: xdefiantx81 ( $27.18 USD )
Seat 4: QUEBEKING ( $25 USD )
Seat 5: EyesRed ( $55.38 USD )
Seat 6: iNano78 ( $18.25 USD )
luslaki posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
xdefiantx81 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ]
QUEBEKING folds
EyesRed calls [$0.25 USD]
iNano78 raises [$1.50 USD] (6 x BB from UTG+1 should be enough to isolate, right?)
kayseri3 calls [$1.50 USD]
luslaki folds
xdefiantx81 folds
EyesRed calls [$1.25 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ]
EyesRed checks
iNano78 bets [$3 USD]
kayseri3 calls [$3 USD]
EyesRed is all-In [$53.88 USD]
iNano78 is all-In [$13.75 USD]
kayseri3 is all-In [$19.45 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ] (of course... I mean, it's not enough that the flush hits, but how about the straight, just in case...)
** Dealing River ** [ ] (*sigh*)
iNano78 shows [ , ]a pair of Aces.
kayseri3 shows [ , ]a flush, Ace high. (figures)
EyesRed shows [ , ]a flush, Nine high. (to a 6xBB pre-flop raise? and pushes on the flop with TPNK + back-door flush draw?)
EyesRed wins $31.43 USD from side pot #2 with a flush, Nine high.
kayseri3 wins $11.15 USD from side pot #1 with a flush, Ace high.
kayseri3 wins $52.35 USD from the main pot with a flush, Ace high.


Don't worry. It gets worse.


#Game No : 6800089621
***** Hand History for Game 6800089621 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, February 20, 01:29:39 ET 2008
Table Table 134167 (Real Money)
Seat 5 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: luslaki ( $13.22 USD )
Seat 3: xdefiantx81 ( $148.78 USD )
Seat 4: QUEBEKING ( $32.46 USD )
Seat 6: iNano78 ( $28.35 USD )
Seat 1: kayseri3 ( $14.06 USD )
Seat 5: t4hfafu ( $24.65 USD )
iNano78 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
kayseri3 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [ ] (honestly considered folding pre-flop)
xdefiantx81 raises [$0.80 USD]
QUEBEKING folds
t4hfafu folds
iNano78 raises [$1.40 USD] (to $1.50 again... obviously that's not enough to isolate, though)
kayseri3 calls [$1.25 USD]
xdefiantx81 calls [$0.70 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ , , ] (OK, who's got A3? How about 36?)
iNano78 bets [$3.50 USD]
kayseri3 is all-In [$12.56 USD] (hmmm... got set? I knew I should've folded pre-flop... )
xdefiantx81 folds (And if I am ahead, this donk just cost me my implied odds by pushing the big stack out)
iNano78 calls [$9.06 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ ]
** Dealing River ** [ ]
iNano78 shows [ , ]two pairs, Aces and Fives.
kayseri3 shows [ , ]a full house, Fives full of Fours. (nh, sir)
kayseri3 wins $28.14 USD from the main pot with a full house, Fives full of Fours.


Those were the least of my bad beats tonight. Lost with flopped top-two-pair (AK/KQ/AQ) several times, a few straights, and a few flushes, three set-over-sets... Was down $300 at one point. Battled back to -$150. First losing session in several weeks. Won < 15% of hands, and < 50% of showdowns. Usually I'm around 90% of showdowns...

Here's another one that turned my stomach (not AA though; only got "pocket blanks" 3 times):


#Game No : 6800111765
***** Hand History for Game 6800111765 *****
$25 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, February 20, 01:56:47 ET 2008
Table Table 134167 (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 2: luslaki ( $12.26 USD )
Seat 4: QUEBEKING ( $33.42 USD )
Seat 6: iNano78 ( $51.26 USD )
Seat 1: kayseri3 ( $24.21 USD )
Seat 5: t4hfafu ( $28.52 USD )
Seat 3: xxDaddyCoolxx ( $15.20 USD )
QUEBEKING posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
t4hfafu posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to iNano78 [