180-man sngs

I switched back to 9-man turbo sngs on tilt for a week or 2 and did pretty well, but they are still pretty boring to me. I had been thinking about playing the 180-man tourneys on stars for a while, but never really looked too far into it. After doing some research, I found that there are a lot of people who play them regularly, like I used to play 9-man sngs. I saw where many of them had sustained a 100% to 120% ROI over hundreds, and some around 1k tourneys. Now I know the variance must be really high in these, but I figured maybe the fields in the 4.40s on stars was probably weak enough for me to give it a shot... and man... was I right. There is an unbelievable amount of fish/donks in these things. There are some regs, yes, but for the most part it is terrible play. I played in 12 of them tonight, going 1 for 12 with a win for $216, which was pretty much a better start than I could have ever expected. I was in dead last a couple of times with 16-18 players left. When we got 3 handed, it was me and 2 bad players, 1 of which was HORRRRRRRRIBLE... he would open shove repeatedly for like 40bbs. Anyways, here are a few notable hands from the win:

*********** # 176 **************
PokerStars Game #20829676335: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XI (400/800) - 2008/09/30 21:40:09 ET
Table '111384384 8' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: AuntiePrue (18950 in chips)
Seat 3: sandmanxv (22298 in chips)
Seat 4: worldmaze (23396 in chips)
Seat 5: dumanson (1911 in chips)
Seat 7: rakan.s (30120 in chips)
Seat 8: BrandonAU (7884 in chips)
Seat 9: skully92 (5853 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 75
sandmanxv: posts the ante 75
worldmaze: posts the ante 75
dumanson: posts the ante 75
rakan.s: posts the ante 75
BrandonAU: posts the ante 75
skully92: posts the ante 75
skully92: posts small blind 400
AuntiePrue: posts big blind 800
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Ad Ac]
sandmanxv: folds
worldmaze: raises 22521 to 23321 and is all-in
dumanson: folds
rakan.s: folds
BrandonAU: calls 7809 and is all-in
skully92: folds
AuntiePrue: folds
Uncalled bet (15512) returned to worldmaze
*** FLOP *** [7c 2c 5h]
*** TURN *** [7c 2c 5h] [Ks]
*** RIVER *** [7c 2c 5h Ks] [7d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
worldmaze: shows [8d 8h] (two pair, Eights and Sevens)
BrandonAU: shows [Ad Ac] (two pair, Aces and Sevens)
BrandonAU collected 17343 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 17343 | Rake 0
Board [7c 2c 5h Ks 7d]
Seat 2: AuntiePrue (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: sandmanxv folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: worldmaze showed [8d 8h] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sevens
Seat 5: dumanson folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: rakan.s folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: BrandonAU (button) showed [Ad Ac] and won (17343) with two pair, Aces and Sevens
Seat 9: skully92 (small blind) folded before Flop


This is the same guy who open-shoved a lot at the final table... I guess he did it all tourney long... This pot was definitely a gift.





*********** # 205 **************
PokerStars Game #20830029777: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XII (500/1000) - 2008/09/30 21:55:28 ET
Table '111384384 8' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 2: AuntiePrue (29226 in chips)
Seat 3: sandmanxv (14713 in chips)
Seat 4: worldmaze (30773 in chips)
Seat 7: rakan.s (13919 in chips)
Seat 8: BrandonAU (25081 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 100
sandmanxv: posts the ante 100
worldmaze: posts the ante 100
rakan.s: posts the ante 100
BrandonAU: posts the ante 100
sandmanxv: posts small blind 500
worldmaze: posts big blind 1000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Ac Qh]
rakan.s: calls 1000
BrandonAU: raises 2788 to 3788
AuntiePrue: folds
sandmanxv: folds
worldmaze: folds
rakan.s: calls 2788
*** FLOP *** [8c Td 9s]
rakan.s: checks
BrandonAU: bets 8000
rakan.s: raises 2031 to 10031 and is all-in
BrandonAU: calls 2031
*** TURN *** [8c Td 9s] [9c]
*** RIVER *** [8c Td 9s 9c] [Jd]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
rakan.s: shows [3h 3d] (two pair, Nines and Threes)
BrandonAU: shows [Ac Qh] (a straight, Eight to Queen)
BrandonAU collected 29638 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 29638 | Rake 0
Board [8c Td 9s 9c Jd]
Seat 2: AuntiePrue (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: sandmanxv (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: worldmaze (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: rakan.s showed [3h 3d] and lost with two pair, Nines and Threes
Seat 8: BrandonAU showed [Ac Qh] and won (29638) with a straight, Eight to Queen


This hand was interesting to me... it was played on the final table bubble. This guy limp/calls UTG with 33, which is just a horrible horrible play at this point with the stacks and all, and probably a horrible play at any time. I guess he put me on precisely AK or AQ or something to call me... he did think for a while, but I can't see how someone would justify his call. From my side, I think I played it fine. I was just semi-bluffing on the FT bubble, and fortunately I ended up winning this hand. This pot boosted my stack pretty well.




*********** # 236 **************
PokerStars Game #20830563130: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIII (600/1200) - 2008/09/30 22:18:35 ET
Table '111384384 2' 9-max Seat #9 is the button
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (27539 in chips)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (54162 in chips)
Seat 3: Barbizon77 (27850 in chips)
Seat 5: Vinmaster9 (53640 in chips)
Seat 7: worldmaze (24418 in chips)
Seat 8: Spike1971 (46416 in chips)
Seat 9: MrSuperduper (35975 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 125
BrandonAU: posts the ante 125
Barbizon77: posts the ante 125
Vinmaster9: posts the ante 125
worldmaze: posts the ante 125
Spike1971: posts the ante 125
MrSuperduper: posts the ante 125
AuntiePrue: posts small blind 600
BrandonAU: posts big blind 1200
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Ah Ks]
Barbizon77: folds
Vinmaster9: folds
worldmaze: folds
Spike1971: calls 1200
MrSuperduper: folds
AuntiePrue: raises 1200 to 2400
BrandonAU: calls 1200
Spike1971: calls 1200
*** FLOP *** [4d 3h Jc]
AuntiePrue: checks
BrandonAU: bets 2400
Spike1971: folds
AuntiePrue: calls 2400
*** TURN *** [4d 3h Jc] [3c]
AuntiePrue: checks
BrandonAU: checks
*** RIVER *** [4d 3h Jc 3c] [2h]
AuntiePrue: checks
BrandonAU: checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
AuntiePrue: shows [Ad Td] (a pair of Threes)
BrandonAU: shows [Ah Ks] (a pair of Threes - Ace+King kicker)
BrandonAU collected 12875 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12875 | Rake 0
Board [4d 3h Jc 3c 2h]
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (small blind) showed [Ad Td] and lost with a pair of Threes
Seat 2: BrandonAU (big blind) showed [Ah Ks] and won (12875) with a pair of Threes
Seat 3: Barbizon77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Vinmaster9 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: worldmaze folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Spike1971 folded on the Flop
Seat 9: MrSuperduper (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)


On this hand I had a pretty good read on AuntiePrue. The min-raise and flop check looked too weak. Yes I think the size of my initial bet was probably a little donkish, but I figured it may at least get the other guy out. I was pretty confident I was good after the turn, but my hand had good showdown value in that spot so I checked it back, prepared to call a smallish bet if a blank hit the river.




*********** # 272 **************
PokerStars Game #20830949125: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XIV (800/1600) - 2008/09/30 22:35:07 ET
Table '111384384 2' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (47228 in chips)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (56562 in chips)
Seat 5: Vinmaster9 (75299 in chips)
Seat 7: worldmaze (77811 in chips)
Seat 9: MrSuperduper (13100 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 150
BrandonAU: posts the ante 150
Vinmaster9: posts the ante 150
worldmaze: posts the ante 150
MrSuperduper: posts the ante 150
BrandonAU: posts small blind 800
Vinmaster9: posts big blind 1600
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Ah As]
worldmaze: folds
MrSuperduper: folds
AuntiePrue: folds
BrandonAU: raises 3200 to 4800
Vinmaster9: raises 70349 to 75149 and is all-in
BrandonAU: calls 51612 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (18737) returned to Vinmaster9
*** FLOP *** [6s 2c 6h]
*** TURN *** [6s 2c 6h] [4h]
*** RIVER *** [6s 2c 6h 4h] [5c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BrandonAU: shows [Ah As] (two pair, Aces and Sixes)
Vinmaster9: shows [Kh Ac] (a pair of Sixes)
BrandonAU collected 113574 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 113574 | Rake 0
Board [6s 2c 6h 4h 5c]
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (small blind) showed [Ah As] and won (113574) with two pair, Aces and Sixes
Seat 5: Vinmaster9 (big blind) showed [Kh Ac] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 7: worldmaze folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: MrSuperduper folded before Flop (didn't bet)


This was a HUGE hand, as I vaulted into the chiplead by coolering a big stack in a blind vs blind battle. Nothing else to say about this hand really.




*********** # 310 **************
PokerStars Game #20831278867: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (1000/2000) - 2008/09/30 22:49:06 ET
Table '111384384 2' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (67356 in chips)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (86074 in chips)
Seat 7: worldmaze (116570 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 200
BrandonAU: posts the ante 200
worldmaze: posts the ante 200
BrandonAU: posts small blind 1000
worldmaze: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [9h 9d]
AuntiePrue: raises 4000 to 6000
BrandonAU: raises 12000 to 18000
worldmaze: raises 98370 to 116370 and is all-in
AuntiePrue: folds
BrandonAU: calls 67874 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (30496) returned to worldmaze
*** FLOP *** [Ah 8d 7d]
*** TURN *** [Ah 8d 7d] [6h]
*** RIVER *** [Ah 8d 7d 6h] [5s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BrandonAU: shows [9h 9d] (a straight, Five to Nine)
worldmaze: shows [Qd Jd] (high card Ace)
BrandonAU collected 178348 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 178348 | Rake 0
Board [Ah 8d 7d 6h 5s]
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (button) folded before Flop
Seat 2: BrandonAU (small blind) showed [9h 9d] and won (178348) with a straight, Five to Nine
Seat 7: worldmaze (big blind) showed [Qd Jd] and lost with high card Ace


Another big hand here... I mean, that was a horrible flop to sweat, but somehow I held. Sometimes I may consider folding to a 4-bet overshove 3-handed like this, but worldmaze was shoving every other hand, so I decided to go with it. I was up against about the worst thing possible besides an overpair, but I had a huge lead after this hand.




*********** # 319 **************
PokerStars Game #20831340137: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XV (1000/2000) - 2008/09/30 22:51:42 ET
Table '111384384 2' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (49156 in chips)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (176948 in chips)
Seat 7: worldmaze (43896 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 200
BrandonAU: posts the ante 200
worldmaze: posts the ante 200
BrandonAU: posts small blind 1000
worldmaze: posts big blind 2000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Th Ks]
AuntiePrue: folds
BrandonAU: calls 1000
worldmaze: checks
*** FLOP *** [7h Kc 7s]
BrandonAU: checks
worldmaze: checks
*** TURN *** [7h Kc 7s] [Kd]
BrandonAU: checks
worldmaze: bets 40000
BrandonAU: raises 40000 to 80000
worldmaze: calls 1696 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (38304) returned to BrandonAU
*** RIVER *** [7h Kc 7s Kd] [7c]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BrandonAU: shows [Th Ks] (a full house, Kings full of Sevens)
worldmaze: shows [2s As] (a full house, Sevens full of Kings)
BrandonAU collected 87992 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 87992 | Rake 0
Board [7h Kc 7s Kd 7c]
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (small blind) showed [Th Ks] and won (87992) with a full house, Kings full of Sevens
Seat 7: worldmaze (big blind) showed [2s As] and lost with a full house, Sevens full of Kings


I was just waiting for this to happen the whole time we were 3-handed. It was just a matter of time before I could check call him with the nuts for all my chips lol. Time for a big chiplead HU.




*********** # 345 **************
PokerStars Game #20831496479: Tournament #111384384, $4.00+$0.40 Hold'em No Limit - Level XVI (1500/3000) - 2008/09/30 22:58:27 ET
Table '111384384 2' 9-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (43656 in chips)
Seat 2: BrandonAU (226344 in chips)
AuntiePrue: posts the ante 300
BrandonAU: posts the ante 300
AuntiePrue: posts small blind 1500
BrandonAU: posts big blind 3000
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to BrandonAU [Td 7h]
AuntiePrue: raises 3000 to 6000
BrandonAU: calls 3000
*** FLOP *** [6c 7s 9d]
BrandonAU: checks
AuntiePrue: bets 6000
BrandonAU: raises 214044 to 220044 and is all-in
AuntiePrue: calls 31356 and is all-in
Uncalled bet (182688) returned to BrandonAU
*** TURN *** [6c 7s 9d] [5h]
*** RIVER *** [6c 7s 9d 5h] [8h]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
BrandonAU: shows [Td 7h] (a straight, Six to Ten)
AuntiePrue: shows [As 8c] (a straight, Five to Nine)
BrandonAU said, "gg"
BrandonAU collected 87312 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 87312 | Rake 0
Board [6c 7s 9d 5h 8h]
Seat 1: AuntiePrue (button) (small blind) showed [As 8c] and lost with a straight, Five to Nine
Seat 2: BrandonAU (big blind) showed [Td 7h] and won (87312) with a straight, Six to Ten


AuntiePrue actually played better HU than I expected, but I was able to get my chips in ahead, fall back on the turn, and re-suck on the river. Rollercoaster final hand, but I didn't mind it.




Well I usually don't go through a bunch of hands like that, but I figured I'd switch it up for a change since I'm happy about my small win lol... Well this weekend Auburn plays Vandy in Nashville. There really must not be any games going on, since ESPN College Gameday will be there... I was like "what??????" when I heard that. Our offense is pitiful, but hopefully we can pull out a win. WAR EAGLE!!!!!!

- Brandon

Running bad... again...

I was having a decent night, until I went 3-10 in my last 13 HU SNGs... Finished 17-21 for the day for a loss of $126 ($35 of it was rake). I think I played alright and I don't think I really tilted, so hopefully its just variance. For what its worth, most of my opponents tonight were pretty good. It was really sick, because most of the time its about half fish and half pretty good players, and tonight it was probably like 20/80 or so. I'm glad I ran good Monday night so I could afford to run bad tonight. 90 down, 60 to go for the week. I'm going to lurk around the HU 2+2 forum alot more now, so hopefully that will improve my game a little. There is some good stuff out there. Well thats it for now.

- Brandon

Full Tilt...

After breaking even in about 40 or 50 SNGs on Pokerstars, I decided to take my money to Full Tilt. For one, the players are on average a little weaker in my opinion. Another thing is their software. I love their software. I can only look at Pokerstars tables for so long until it drives me crazy. And finally, the HU turbo SNGs there are a little bit faster than the ones on Stars, which means I'll play more per week. The only thing for the last year or so that has stopped me from moving to Full Tilt until now is the FPPs at Stars. I usually maintain at least Goldstar status on there, so I earn FPPs twice as fast as the normal recreational player. Their FPPs can get you alot more than the FTPs, or whatever they're called, at Full Tilt can. Not to mention the support at Pokerstars is great, and Full Tilt can take weeks to answer a simple email. So far this week on FTP I'm 31-21 in the $22+1 turbos for a profit of $168 and a 60% winrate. I ran hot yesterday at 19-11 and followed it up with 12-10 tonight. I'm shooting for playing 150 of them a week, so we'll see.

ESPN College Gameday will be in Auburn this weekend for the AU/LSU game. I'm excited about this game.. as its always a close one. I think I heard that something like 11 of the last 18 times we played the game was decided by less than a touchdown. I believe the home team has won the last 6 meetings. We're a 3 point dog, but that doesn't bother me, because I remember we were 11 or 12 point dogs last year and they had to pull off a last second miracle on their home turf to win. I think its going to be a defensive battle, but I'm worried that our offense will continue to struggle. I really want to see Kodi Burns more. Well hopefully we pull out a win.. I'll even take another 3-2 win like last week... haha.. WAR EAGLE!!!!

- Brandon

Switching it up again...

Cash games are just boring and frustrating (After about 18k hands I've had enough). 6-max and 9-man SNGs are a big risk because of disconnects, and they just take too long (I'm still tired of those too). I'm going to try out something that I think has always been a strength in my game, HU SNGs. I usually just play these when I want to play something quick and go do something else. They are convenient. Not to mention I'm pretty sure I've got a decent winrate in them since I've been playing, although I haven't kept up with them up to this point. I'll be able to squeeze a few in when I'm home for lunch, and a few on the weekend (when I rarely play). I'm going to try to play 100 $23 turbos this week on stars and see how I like it. I will probably continue to play the 30k guaranteed during the week too (got close to the money again tonight and lost QQ to AQ AIPF). I think I can profit in that tourney in the long run... I just need a couple of deep finishes. GLGLGL to me...

- Brandon

Not running too well...

After about 15,000 hands at full ring 50NL, I'm down about $150. I think I've been running bad, but it could very well be my play too. 15k hands isn't exactly a large sample size either though, so who knows. I'm going to switch it up and move down to 25NL, but play 6-max instead of full ring. I've always liked 6-max because I like to loosen up some, so hopefully I'll run good there. As far as tourneys go, I've been deep only once or twice lately, and have bubbled a few tourneys too. I bubbled the only 2 MTTs I played last night when 2 people made horrible calls for all their chips. One with A10 after an UTG limp and my 11x BB shove from MP, and one with AK on a jack high board. Needless to say I was ahead in both, and both guys hit. I'm used to it though, and its a big part of poker. I'm going to continue to play in the $10+1 buyin 30k guaranteed on almost a nightly basis during the week though, because I'd like to think I'm very +EV in it.

On a non-poker related note, Daniel's wedding is this Saturday. I have Friday off, so I'll be heading back to town Thursday night after work. The plan is to play golf Friday, watch the game Saturday afternoon, go to the wedding then the reception, which I think and hope is open bar. I'll update next week.

- Brandon