Onlines been picking up...

I've been trying out the 4 person $5.25 heads up SNGs on Stars and man...I'm comfortable in them. I'm something like 8/9 winning them. Insane run, but I've been really comfortable with my reads and putting in chips on stone cold bluffs. I've been catching cards too, but hey everythings easier then right? I've been going deep in $4.40 180 man SNGs too. I've managed to build up a nice stack in a couple of them, but I've fizzled out in 3rd and 5th respectively. Huge disappointments because I've had roughly 30% of the chips in play both times I've gotten really deep. I'm chip leader by 10,000 in one right now with 12 before the bubble and heres the hand that got me my chips. What do you think of my line?

PokerStars Game #19476129848: Tournament #101022601, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/08/09 - 04:29:17 (ET)
Table '101022601 9' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: www43 (2964 in chips)
Seat 2: dappermurray (4570 in chips)
Seat 3: someptnorth (1945 in chips)
Seat 4: kmankstew (9554 in chips)
Seat 5: The Son (1490 in chips)
Seat 6: MpleLfMuscle (14525 in chips)
Seat 7: Psworld1 (1115 in chips)
Seat 8: Fat Boy BB (9695 in chips)
Seat 9: wickd bishop (12722 in chips)
Fat Boy BB: posts small blind 100
wickd bishop: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [6d 6s]
www43: folds
dappermurray: folds
someptnorth: calls 200
kmankstew: folds
The Son: folds
MpleLfMuscle: raises 600 to 800
Nice raise in the cut off facing both blinds and a mid position limper.

Psworld1: folds
Fat Boy BB: folds
wickd bishop: calls 600
someptnorth: raises 1145 to 1945 and is all-in
Limp raise? Well crap...I figured a hefty raise to isolate myself against the limper.
*note* BB has called me down with air a few times not believing me. I've value bet the
absolute shit out of him for the past 4 hands we've had so he may be steaming a bit.

MpleLfMuscle: raises 4555 to 6500
wickd bishop: calls 5700
*** FLOP *** [2s 5h 8d]
wickd bishop: checks
MpleLfMuscle: bets 8025 and is all-in
Weak flop...I didn't really enjoy the call by the BB but see my read above. He flat called my earlier raise. Theres too much in the pot for me to check it down and risk having the pot taken away from me on a later street.
wickd bishop: calls 6222 and is all-in
ASAJKLDJAJDKAS NOOOOOO! Can't be ahead.
Uncalled bet (1803) returned to MpleLfMuscle
*** TURN *** [2s 5h 8d] [5s]
*** RIVER *** [2s 5h 8d 5s] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
wickd bishop: shows [Ad Kh] (a pair of Fives)
MpleLfMuscle: shows [6d 6s] (two pair, Sixes and Fives)
MpleLfMuscle collected 21554 from side pot
someptnorth: shows [Kc Ac] (a pair of Fives)
MpleLfMuscle collected 5935 from main pot
Gotta love the stack offs with AK. Feels great to see a small PP hold up.

*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 27489 Main pot 5935. Side pot 21554. | Rake 0
Board [2s 5h 8d 5s Tc]
Seat 1: www43 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: dappermurray folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: someptnorth showed [Kc Ac] and lost with a pair of Fives
Seat 4: kmankstew folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: The Son folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: MpleLfMuscle showed [6d 6s] and won (27489) with two pair, Sixes and Fives
Seat 7: Psworld1 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Fat Boy BB (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: wickd bishop (big blind) showed [Ad Kh] and lost with a pair of Fives

I folded KK finally...

So I finally folded KK. Didn't think I'd do it, but it was the early stages of a tournament and I re-raised a LP raiser only to get 3 bet by the BB and an all-in call by the LP raiser. If I had called, I would've been all in and I could just feel AA out there. Turns out, it was the BB's QQ vs the LP's AK. QQ > AK. FUCK.


PokerStars Game #18658578227: Tournament #94659154, $2.00+$0.20 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2008/07/07 - 20:20:46 (ET)
Table '94659154 68' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: VAAJZ (1530 in chips)
Seat 2: BigJohn60 (1370 in chips)
Seat 3: lololol18 (1990 in chips)
Seat 4: MpleLfMuscle (1140 in chips)
Seat 5: TBager666 (1470 in chips)
Seat 6: inkblot66 (1290 in chips)
Seat 7: shakiba (1470 in chips)
Seat 8: ufcfan120 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: slarse3 (1740 in chips)
inkblot66: posts small blind 10
shakiba: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [Kc Ks]
ufcfan120: folds
slarse3: folds
VAAJZ: folds
BigJohn60: folds
lololol18: raises 60 to 80
MpleLfMuscle: raises 140 to 220
TBager666: folds
inkblot66: folds
shakiba: raises 640 to 860
lololol18: raises 1130 to 1990 and is all-in
MpleLfMuscle: folds
shakiba: calls 610 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (520) returned to lololol18
*** FLOP *** [3c 8h Td]
*** TURN *** [3c 8h Td] [9d]
*** RIVER *** [3c 8h Td 9d] [3h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
shakiba: shows [Qc Qd] (two pair, Queens and Threes)
lololol18: shows [Kh As] (a pair of Threes)
shakiba collected 3170 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3170 | Rake 0
Board [3c 8h Td 9d 3h]
Seat 1: VAAJZ folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BigJohn60 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: lololol18 showed [Kh As] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 4: MpleLfMuscle folded before Flop
Seat 5: TBager666 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: inkblot66 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: shakiba (big blind) showed [Qc Qd] and won (3170) with two pair, Queens and Threes
Seat 8: ufcfan120 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: slarse3 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Take it down! Back in action!

So I took like 2 full weeks off to finish up the spring term. I was a little...no way rusty and way too impatient for the first week or so. I'm finally being able to sit down and relax and make some good decisions. I've made the money in 4 out of the last 10 SNG's I've been playing. Not bad I guess. 1 3rd, 2 2nds, and 1 1st. Pretty break even, I don't feel like calculating it out but I'm pretty sure thats break even...with no profit ha. I've dabbled a little bit in some cash games. .05/.10 Omaha on PStars is HELLA soft. I ran $5 into 48 in about 30 min.

Barack Obama you make me sick.

Anyone else see the pictures of him taking his family on a picnic? Of course that was a spontaneous event that photographers just managed to randomly capture and post pictures of... it couldn't be a "look I'm just like America" set up moment? I really hope he wins the nomination though so he gets torn to shreds by McCain.

1st SNG tournament win in a long time.

I just took down a $5.50 SNG on Stars for $22.50. It feels nice to finally take down a SNG. I finally played patiently the entire tournament and picked my spots. I didn't try any of the real big bluffs taht get me into trouble, I just generally played my straight forward tight ABC poker style. Looks like it payed off. Here are a few hands.

Here I decided to slow down with AQdd in the BB. I figured with the chip lead I could either get away from the hand if I didn't hit and protect my stack or stack the guy in the pot. I'd played tight the entire tournament and checked the flop if I hadn't hit. Flopped an Ace and he way overshoved. I snap-called and found myself against 4d4c. He hit runner runner wheel cards so shit happens.
PokerStars Game #17042727941: Tournament #86356765, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/04/27 - 21:45:27 (ET)
Table '86356765 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 2: migrater man (3567 in chips)
Seat 6: vl710 (2845 in chips)
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (665 in chips)
Seat 8: DAVEREA77 (1190 in chips)
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (5233 in chips)
DAVEREA77: posts small blind 75
MpleLfMuscle: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [Ad Qd]
migrater man: folds
vl710: calls 150
JUGGERKNOT7: folds
DAVEREA77: folds
MpleLfMuscle: checks
*** FLOP *** [7s Ah 2c]
MpleLfMuscle: checks
vl710: bets 2695 and is all-in
MpleLfMuscle: calls 2695
*** TURN *** [7s Ah 2c] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [7s Ah 2c 5h] [3d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MpleLfMuscle: shows [Ad Qd] (a pair of Aces)
vl710: shows [4d 4c] (a straight, Ace to Five)
vl710 collected 5765 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5765 | Rake 0
Board [7s Ah 2c 5h 3d]
Seat 2: migrater man folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: vl710 showed [4d 4c] and won (5765) with a straight, Ace to Five
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: DAVEREA77 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (big blind) showed [Ad Qd] and lost with a pair of Aces

4 hands after the previous hand this hand comes up. The villain had been playing pretty oddly. It was hard to put him on a hard. I raised to 450 pre and he cold called. He hadn't re-raised all day so I wasn't sure where I was at. Flop come out As 10h 10d. He way underbets the pot with 300. I debated for a long time on what to do. I was pretty sure he didn't have a 10 based on how he had played the hand but a bigger A was a concern. I shoved and he debated...finally calling with QhQd. Not sure what he expected to beat there. Turn was a scare card but thankfully the river blanked out. Chip lead again thanks!
PokerStars Game #17042775482: Tournament #86356765, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level V (75/150) - 2008/04/27 - 21:47:41 (ET)
Table '86356765 1' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 2: migrater man (3567 in chips)
Seat 6: vl710 (4950 in chips)
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (1330 in chips)
Seat 8: DAVEREA77 (1115 in chips)
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (2538 in chips)
JUGGERKNOT7: posts small blind 75
DAVEREA77: posts big blind 150
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [8s Ac]
MpleLfMuscle: raises 300 to 450
migrater man: calls 450
vl710: folds
JUGGERKNOT7: folds
DAVEREA77: folds
*** FLOP *** [As Th Td]
MpleLfMuscle: checks
migrater man: bets 300
MpleLfMuscle: raises 1788 to 2088 and is all-in
migrater man: calls 1788
*** TURN *** [As Th Td] [Kh]
*** RIVER *** [As Th Td Kh] [4c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MpleLfMuscle: shows [8s Ac] (two pair, Aces and Tens)
migrater man: shows [Qd Qh] (two pair, Queens and Tens)
MpleLfMuscle collected 5301 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5301 | Rake 0
Board [As Th Td Kh 4c]
Seat 2: migrater man showed [Qd Qh] and lost with two pair, Queens and Tens
Seat 6: vl710 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 8: DAVEREA77 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle showed [8s Ac] and won (5301) with two pair, Aces and Tens

Pretty straightforward here. I'm the tightest player left. I re-raise ou tof the SB when we're 3 handed with AhAd. Button who initally raised shoved. I snap call. AhAd > KhKs. Weeeee!
PokerStars Game #17042940021: Tournament #86356765, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/27 - 21:55:29 (ET)
Table '86356765 1' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 6: vl710 (6466 in chips)
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (2983 in chips)
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (4051 in chips)
MpleLfMuscle: posts small blind 100
vl710: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [Ah Ad]
JUGGERKNOT7: raises 400 to 600
MpleLfMuscle: raises 800 to 1400
vl710: folds
JUGGERKNOT7: raises 1583 to 2983 and is all-in
MpleLfMuscle: calls 1583
*** FLOP *** [5c Ts 7s]
JUGGERKNOT7 said, "gg"
*** TURN *** [5c Ts 7s] [2d]
*** RIVER *** [5c Ts 7s 2d] [Qs]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MpleLfMuscle: shows [Ah Ad] (a pair of Aces)
JUGGERKNOT7: shows [Ks Kh] (a pair of Kings)
vl710 said, "nh"
MpleLfMuscle collected 6166 from pot
MpleLfMuscle said, "u2"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 6166 | Rake 0
Board [5c Ts 7s 2d Qs]
Seat 6: vl710 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: JUGGERKNOT7 (button) showed [Ks Kh] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (small blind) showed [Ah Ad] and won (6166) with a pair of Aces

Pivotal heads up hand here. Villain limps on the Button for the 4th time in a row. I raised out of the BB with KcQh. Not optimal but I wanted to play big pots with this guy, he was calling almost anything. Flop came out 10d 10s 9s. Check check. Turn Jc. Good but not great card. Min bet by villain, raised up with my straight to a cold call. River 7h. Checked to me. 1800 into 3600. Called by Jc7h. Told you he called with anything...
PokerStars Game #17042966747: Tournament #86356765, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/27 - 21:56:46 (ET)
Table '86356765 1' 9-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 6: vl710 (6666 in chips)
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (6834 in chips)
vl710: posts small blind 100
MpleLfMuscle: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [Qh Kc]
vl710: calls 100
MpleLfMuscle: raises 400 to 600
vl710: calls 400
*** FLOP *** [Td Ts 9s]
MpleLfMuscle: checks
vl710: checks
*** TURN *** [Td Ts 9s] [Jc]
MpleLfMuscle: checks
vl710: bets 200
MpleLfMuscle: raises 1000 to 1200
vl710: calls 1000
*** RIVER *** [Td Ts 9s Jc] [7h]
MpleLfMuscle: bets 1800
vl710: calls 1800
*** SHOW DOWN ***
MpleLfMuscle: shows [Qh Kc] (a straight, Nine to King)
vl710: mucks hand
MpleLfMuscle collected 7200 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 7200 | Rake 0
Board [Td Ts 9s Jc 7h]
Seat 6: vl710 (button) (small blind) mucked [Jd 7d]
Seat 9: MpleLfMuscle (big blind) showed [Qh Kc] and won (7200) with a straight, Nine to King

Ended up taking it down with 73 off of all hands against his 53 off on a board of 8 7 5 rainbow. Turn and river blanked out and ship the money to me!

2nd in a $5.50 Head Up

I just took 2nd in a $5.50 head up shoot out SNG on Stars. I feel ok with how I played, I definately got lucky a couple of times, but I feel I out played everyone pretty well. I went out with trip 8s to a full house 6s full. Guy flopped a set and he disguised it. 2nd for $32...ok but not as good as the 1st for $56 would've been!

Busted in the $4.40 *sigh*

Called a raise...debatable if I should've but the chip leader raised and I was looking to double up since i was the short stack in the tournament. I flopped a gutshot straight flush draw, shoved the flop. got called and saw the worst possible hand for me. Left me drawing to 4 outs. Ugh. Another tournament with no cash...

PokerStars Game #16882193324: Tournament #85524805, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level VI (100/200) - 2008/04/21 - 00:26:11 (ET)
Table '85524805 7' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: wellaware12 (7735 in chips)
Seat 2: bigtat59 (4015 in chips)
Seat 3: MpleLfMuscle (2145 in chips)
Seat 4: OBXRentals (3160 in chips)
Seat 5: wickedchops (12240 in chips)
Seat 6: plunk2004 (5600 in chips)
Seat 8: Nvrquit29 (2600 in chips)
Seat 9: Team220 (7220 in chips)
bigtat59: posts small blind 100
MpleLfMuscle: posts big blind 200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to MpleLfMuscle [4s 5s]
OBXRentals: folds
wickedchops: raises 400 to 600
plunk2004: folds
Nvrquit29: folds
Team220: folds
wellaware12: folds
bigtat59: calls 500
MpleLfMuscle: calls 400
*** FLOP *** [7s Kc 3s]
bigtat59: checks
MpleLfMuscle: bets 1545 and is all-in
wickedchops: folds
bigtat59: calls 1545
*** TURN *** [7s Kc 3s] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [7s Kc 3s 8c] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
bigtat59: shows [Ks As] (two pair, Kings and Eights)
MpleLfMuscle: shows [4s 5s] (a pair of Eights)
bigtat59 collected 4890 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4890 | Rake 0
Board [7s Kc 3s 8c 8h]
Seat 1: wellaware12 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: bigtat59 (small blind) showed [Ks As] and won (4890) with two pair, Kings and Eights
Seat 3: MpleLfMuscle (big blind) showed [4s 5s] and lost with a pair of Eights
Seat 4: OBXRentals folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: wickedchops folded on the Flop
Seat 6: plunk2004 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Nvrquit29 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Team220 folded before Flop (didn't bet)